bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hybrid Semi-Analytical Algorithm for Estimating Chlorophyll-A Concentration in Lower Amazon Floodplain Waters
Authors: Flores Júnior Rogério , Barbosa Claudio Clemente Faria , Maciel Daniel Andrade , Novo Evlyn Marcia Leão de Moraes , Martins Vitor Souza , Lobo Felipe de Lucia , Sander de Carvalho Lino Augusto , Carlos Felipe Menino
Published: April 2022

The Amazon Basin is the largest on the planet, and its aquatic ecosystems affect and are affected by the Earth’s processes. Specifically, Amazon aquatic ecosystems have been subjected to severe anthropogenic impacts due to deforestation, mining, dam construction, and widespread agribusiness expansion. Therefore, the monitoring of these impacts has become crucial for conservation plans and environmental legislation enforcement. However, its continental dimensions, the high variability of Amazonian water mass constituents, and cloud cover frequency impose a challenge for developing accurate satellite algorithms for water quality retrieval such as chlorophyll-a concentration (Chl-a), which is a proxy for the trophic state. This study presents the first application of the hybrid semi-analytical algorithm (HSAA) for Chl-a retrieval using a Sentinel-3 OLCI sensor over five Amazonian floodplain lakes. Inherent and apparent optical properties (IOPs and AOPs), as well as limnological data, were collected at 94 sampling stations during four field campaigns along hydrological years spanning from 2015 to 2017 and used to parameterize the hybrid SAA to retrieve Chl-a in highly turbid Amazonian waters. We implemented a re-parametrizing approach, called the generalized stacked constraints model to the Amazonian waters (GSCMLAFW), and used it to decompose the total absorption αt(λ) into the absorption coefficients of detritus, CDOM, and phytoplankton (αphy(λ)). The estimated GSCMLAFWαphy(λ) achieved errors lower than 24% at the visible bands and 70% at NIR. The performance of HSAA-based Chl-a retrieval was validated with in situ measurements of Chl-a concentration, and then it was compared to literature Chl-a algorithms. The results showed a smaller mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) for HSAA Chl-a retrieval (36.93%) than empirical Rrs models (73.39%) using a 3-band algorithm, which confirms the better performance of the semi-analytical approach. Last, the calibrated HSAA model was used to estimate the Chl-a concentration in OLCI images acquired during 2017 and 2019 field campaigns, and the results demonstrated reasonable errors (MAPE = 57%) and indicated the potential of OLCI bands for Chl-a estimation. Therefore, the outcomes of this study support the advance of semi-analytical models in highly turbid waters and highlight the importance of re-parameterization with GSCM and the applicability of HSAA in Sentinel-3 OLCI data.
Case Report: Splanchnic Vein Thrombosis as a Complication of Necrotizing Acute Pancreatitis in a Pediatric Patient
Authors: Figueroa-Sánchez Mauricio , Nuño-Guzmán Carlos M. , Álvarez-López M. Carmen , Ordónez-Cárdenas Mariana , Montaño-Rodríguez Leidy J.
Published: April 2022

Splanchnic vein thrombosis is an unusual manifestation of venous thromboembolism and includes portal vein thrombosis, mesenteric veins thrombosis, splenic vein thrombosis, and the Budd-Chiari syndrome. The most common risk factors include hematologic and autoimmune disorders, hormonal therapy, liver cirrhosis, solid abdominal cancer, recent abdominal surgery, and abdominal infections or inflammatory conditions, such as pancreatitis. Splanchnic vein thrombosis in acute pancreatitis is most commonly associated with the severe form of the disease and pancreatic necrosis. This report describes a case of splanchnic vein thrombosis as a complication of necrotizing acute pancreatitis in a pediatric patient. Splanchnic vein thrombosis was incidentally detected on contrast-enhanced computed tomography to assess the pancreas. There was no evidence of prior risk factors for the thrombotic condition. The patient was treated with anticoagulation and showed complete resolution after recovery from necrotizing acute pancreatitis, at a 16-month follow-up. The complication of necrotizing acute pancreatitis with splanchnic vein thrombosis in pediatric age is a rare presentation.
Application of Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Mixed Reality in Endourology and Urolithiasis: An Update by YAU Endourology and Urolithiasis Working Group
Authors: Hameed B. M. Zeeshan , Somani Shraddha , Keller Etienne Xavier , Balamanigandan R. , Mahapatra Satyasundara , Pietropaolo Amelia , Tonyali Şenol , Juliebø-Jones Patrick , Naik Nithesh , Mishra Dilip , Kumar Sarvesh , Chlosta Piotr , Somani Bhaskar K.
Published: April 2022

The integration of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) in urological practices and medical education has led to modern training systems that are cost-effective and with an increased expectation toward surgical performance and outcomes. VR aids the user in interacting with the virtual environment realistically by providing a three-dimensional (3D) view of the structures inside the body with high-level precision. AR enhances the real environment around users by integrating experience with virtual information over physical models and objects, which in turn has improved understanding of physiological mechanisms and anatomical structures. MR is an immersive technology that provides virtual content to interact with real elements. The field of urolithiasis has adapted the technological advancements, newer instruments, and methods to perform endourologic treatment procedures. This mini-review discusses the applications of Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Mixed Reality in endourology and urolithiasis.
Minimally Invasive Revisional Bariatric Surgery in a MBSAQIP Accredited High-Volume Center
Authors: Xie Julia , Dreifuss Nicolas H. , Schlottmann Francisco , Cubisino Antonio , Mangano Alberto , Vanetta Carolina , Baz Carolina , Valle Valentina , Bianco Francesco M. , Gangemi Antonio , Masrur Mario A.
Published: April 2022

Background

With the rising number of bariatric surgeries performed annually, there has also been an increase in revisional bariatric surgeries (RBS). The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and postoperative outcomes of RBS performed with a minimally invasive approach.

Methods

Retrospective analysis on a prospectively collected database of patients who underwent minimally invasive RBS between 2012 and 2019. Primary endpoints were conversion rate, major morbidity, mortality, and 30-day reoperation rate. Comparative analysis of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) conversion to sleeve gastrectomy (SG) vs. conversion to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) was performed.

Results

A total of 221 patients underwent minimally invasive RBS, 137 (62%) laparoscopically and 84 (38%) robotically. The most common RBS were LAGB to SG (59.3%) and LAGB to RYGB conversions (16.7%). The main indication was weight loss failure (88.7%). Conversion rate, major morbidity, and mortality were 0.9, 3.2, and 0.4%, respectively. Urgent reoperation was required in 3.2% of cases. Total weight loss at 1 and 2-years follow- were 14.3 and 17.3%, respectively. Comparative analysis of LAGB conversion to SG vs. RYGB showed similar major morbidity (SG: 2.3% vs. RYGB 0%, p = 1). Greater total weight loss was achieved in LAGB to RYGB conversions at 1-year (SG: 14.8% vs. RYGB 25.3%, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Minimally invasive RBS can be performed safely in a broad patient population with low conversion and complication rates, and improved weight loss outcomes. LAGB to RYGB conversions are associated with greater weight loss. Further randomized trials are needed to draw more conclusive recommendations.
Validity and Reliability of the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale—Chinese Version
Authors: He Yi , Liu Zhiqun , Zhang Juan , Yao Jiapei , Xiao Huan , Wan Huan
Published: April 2022

Objectives

To test the validity and reliability of the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale—Chinese version in clinical nurses.

Methods

According to the translation principles of the Brislin Scale, the original scale was translated, back translated and cross-culturally adapted to form the Chinese version of the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale. Nurses in three general hospitals in Changsha, Hunan province were surveyed by convenient sampling method from July 2020 to September 2021. Exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, content validity and criterion validity was used to evaluate the validity of the scale. Internal consistency Cronbach's α coefficient, split-half reliability and test-retest reliability were used to evaluate the reliability of the scale.

Results

A total of 678 nurses were included in the study. There were 460 people in sample 1 and 218 people in sample 2. Two common factors were extracted by exploratory factor analysis. The cumulative contribution was 65.560%. The two-factor structure model was good (χ2/df = 3.137, CFI = 0.928, IFI = 0.929, GFI = 0.842, TLI = 0.917, RMSEA = 0.099). The I-CVI of the scale was 0.8–1.0. The S-CVI/Ave was 0.94. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient is 0.956. The broken half reliability is 0.920. The retest reliability is 0.910.

Conclusion

This study identified two components of the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale—Chinese version, which has 2 dimensions and 17 items. With good validity and reliability, it is suitable for the assessment of secondary traumatic stress among clinical nurses in the Chinese context.
Critical Problems for Research in Animal Sheltering, a Conceptual Analysis
Authors: Horecka Kevin , Neal Sue
Published: April 2022

Animal shelter research has seen significant increases in participation over the past several decades from academic organizations, private organizations, public entities, and even corporations that aims to improve shelter programs, processes, operations, and outcomes for the various stakeholders/participants involved in a shelter system (animals, humans, the community, wildlife, and the environment). These efforts are scattered through a huge variety of different research areas that are challenging to define and scope for organizations seeking to start new lines of research inquiry. This work aims to enumerate some of the most critical outstanding problems for research in animal sheltering in a conceptual framework that is intended to help direct research conversations toward the research topics of highest impact (with the highest quality outcomes possible). To this end, we define seven (7) key areas for research: animal behavior, adoptions and special needs populations, medical conditions, disease transmission, community, ecology, and wellness (one health), operations, and public-private-academic-corporate collaboration. Within each of these areas, we review specific problems and highlight examples of successes in each area in the past several decades. We close with a discussion of some of the topics that were not detailed in this manuscript but, nonetheless, deserve some mention. Through this enumeration, we hope to spur conversation around innovative methodologies, technologies, and concepts in both research and practice in animal sheltering.
Computed Tomography Assessment of Tidal Lung Overinflation in Domestic Cats Undergoing Pressure-Controlled Mechanical Ventilation During General Anesthesia
Authors: Martins Alessandro R. C. , Ambrósio Aline M. , Fantoni Denise T. , Pinto Ana Carolina B. C. F. , Villamizar-Martinez Lenin Arturo , Soares João H. N. , Otsuki Denise A. , Malbouisson Luiz Marcelo S.
Published: April 2022

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate lung overinflation at different airway inspiratory pressure levels using computed tomography in cats undergoing general anesthesia.

Study Design

Prospective laboratory study.

Animals

A group of 17 healthy male cats, aged 1.9–4.5 years and weighing 3.5 ± 0.5 kg.

Methods

Seventeen adult male cats were ventilated in pressure-controlled mode with airway pressure stepwise increased from 5 to 15 cmH2O in 2 cmH2O steps every 5 min and then stepwise decreased. The respiratory rate was set at 15 movements per min and end-expiratory pressure at zero (ZEEP). After 5 min in each inspiratory pressure step, a 4 s inspiratory pause was performed to obtain a thoracic juxta-diaphragmatic single slice helical CT image and to collect respiratory mechanics data and an arterial blood sample. Lung parenchyma aeration was defined as overinflated, normally-aerated, poorly-aerated, and non-aerated according to the CT attenuation number (−1,000 to −900 HU, −900 to −500 HU, −500 to −100 HU, and −100 to +100 HU, respectively).

Result

At 5 cmH2O airway pressure, tidal volume was 6.7± 2.2 ml kg−1, 2.1% (0.3–6.3%) of the pulmonary parenchyma was overinflated and 84.9% (77.6%−87.6%) was normally inflated. Increases in airway pressure were associated with progressive distention of the lung parenchyma. At 15 cmH2O airway pressure, tidal volume increased to 31.5± 9.9 ml kg−1(p< 0.001), overinflated pulmonary parenchyma increased to 28.4% (21.2–30.6%) (p< 0.001), while normally inflated parenchyma decreased 57.9% (53.4–62.8%) (p< 0.001). Tidal volume and overinflated lung fraction returned to baseline when airway pressure was decreased. A progressive decrease was observed in arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure (PaCO2) and end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) when the airway pressures were increased above 9 cmH2O (p< 0.001). The increase in airway pressure promoted an elevation in pH (p< 0.001).

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

Ventilation with 5 and 7 cmH2O of airway pressure prevents overinflation in healthy cats with highly compliant chest walls, despite presenting acidemia by respiratory acidosis. This fact can be controlled by increasing or decreasing respiratory rate and inspiratory time.
The Selenium Yeast vs Selenium Methionine on Cell Viability, Selenoprotein Profile and Redox Status via JNK/ P38 Pathway in Porcine Mammary Epithelial Cells
Authors: Wu Caichi , Cui Chang , Zheng Xiaoyu , Wang Jun , Ma Ziwei , Zhu Pengwei , Lin Gang , Zhang Shihai , Guan Wutai , Chen Fang
Published: April 2022

Comprehensive studies have been conducted to compare the effect of organic and inorganic selenium previously, but there is still limited knowledge about the difference between organic selenium (Se) from varied sources despite the widely use of organic Se in both animal and human being nutrient additives. In the present study, we systemically compared the effect of two different types of organic Se including selenium yeast (SeY) and selenium methionine (Sel-Met) on cell viability, selenoprotein transcriptome, and antioxidant status in porcine mammary epithelial cells (PMECs) and the results indicated that appropriate addition of SeY and Sel-Met both significantly promoted cell viability and up-regulated the mRNA expression of most selenopreoteins including DIOs, GPXs, and TrxRs family et al. (P < 0.05). Besides, two different sources of Se supplementation both greatly improved redox status with higher levels of T-AOC, SOD, and CAT (P < 0.05), while less content of MDA (P < 0.05), and reduced protein expression of cleaved-caspase-3 (P < 0.05) to mitigate cell apoptosis. Furthermore, the key proteins related to p38/JNK pathway including p38, p-p38, JNK, and p-JNK were apparently reduced in the groups with both of SeY and Sel-Met (P < 0.05). Interestingly we found that the changes induced by SeY supplementation in cell viability, selenoprotein transcriptome, antioxidative capacity, and anti-apoptosis were comprehensively greater compared with same levels addition of Sel-Met in PEMCs (P < 0.05). In conclusion, both SeY and Sel-Met promoted cell viability and attenuated cell apoptosis by regulating the selenoprotein expression and antioxidative capacity via p38/JNK signaling pathway in PMEC, but SeY has more efficient benefits than that of Sel-Met.
Combinatorial Integral Approximation Decompositions for Mixed-Integer Optimal Control
Authors: Zeile Clemens , Weber Tobias , Sager Sebastian
Published: April 2022

Solving mixed-integer nonlinear programs (MINLPs) is hard from both a theoretical and practical perspective. Decomposing the nonlinear and the integer part is promising from a computational point of view. In general, however, no bounds on the objective value gap can be established and iterative procedures with potentially many subproblems are necessary. The situation is different for mixed-integer optimal control problems with binary variables that switch over time. Here, a priori bounds were derived for a decomposition into one continuous nonlinear control problem and one mixed-integer linear program, the combinatorial integral approximation (CIA) problem. In this article, we generalize and extend the decomposition idea. First, we derive different decompositions and analyze the implied a priori bounds. Second, we propose several strategies to recombine promising candidate solutions for the binary control functions in the original problem. We present the extensions for ordinary differential equations-constrained problems. These extensions are transferable in a straightforward way, though, to recently suggested variants for certain partial differential equations, for algebraic equations, for additional combinatorial constraints, and for discrete time problems. We implemented all algorithms and subproblems in AMPL for a proof-of-concept study. Numerical results show the improvement compared to the standard CIA decomposition with respect to objective function value and compared to general-purpose MINLP solvers with respect to runtime.
Projections of Drought Characteristics Based on the CNRM-CM6 Model over Africa
Authors: Nooni Isaac , Hagan Daniel , Ullah Waheed , Lu Jiao , Li Shijie , Prempeh Nana , Gnitou Gnim , Lim Kam Sian Kenny
Published: April 2022

In a warming climate, drought events are projected to increase in many regions across the world, which would have detrimental impacts on water resources for agriculture activity and human life. Thus, projecting drought changes, especially the frequency of future drought events, is very important for the African continent. This study investigates the future changes in drought events based on the France Centre National de Recherches Météorologiques (CNRM-CM6) model in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase six (CMIP6) datasets for four shared socio-economic pathways (SSP): SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5; and three time slices: near future (2020–2039), mid-century (2050–2069), and end-of-century (2080–2099), relative to a historical baseline period (1995–2014). The interannual variability and trends of the self-calibrating Palmer Drought Severity Index (scPDSI) based on the Penman–Monteith methods for measuring potential evapotranspiration (PET) are used to estimate future droughts. The temporal analysis shows that the drought frequency, intensity, and affected area will increase throughout the 21st century. Among the scenarios, SSP3-7.0 and SSP5-8.5 project a larger upward trend in drought characteristics than SSP1-2.6 and SSP2-4.5. The spatial pattern shows drought frequency decreases in humid regions and increases in non-humid regions across Africa. For all SSP scenarios, the projected wetting trend per decade ranges from 0.05 to 0.25, while the drying trend per decade ranges from −0.05 to 0.25. A regional trend analysis revealed key differences in spatial pattern, with varied trend projections of wetter and drier conditions in humid and non-humid regions under all SSP scenarios. Drier conditions are expected to intensify in Southern Africa under all SSP scenarios but are projected to be more intense under either SSP3-7.0 and SSP5-8.5. In general, the projected wetter trends in humid areas may favor agricultural production and ecological conservation, and drier trends in non-humid regions may call for the possible adoption of tailor-made drought adaptation strategies and development programmes to minimize impacts.
Novel 3-D Spacer Textiles to Protect Crops from Insect Infestation and That Enhance Plant Growth
Authors: Cave Grayson L. , West Andre J. , McCord Marian G. , Koene Bryan , Beck J. Benjamin , Deguenon Jean M. , Luan Kun , Roe R. Michael
Published: April 2022

Pesticide-free, 3-D, spacer fabrics (Plant Armor Generation (PA Gen) 1 and 2) were investigated for proof-of-concept as an insect barrier to protect plants and improve plant agronomics for organic farming. The time to 50% penetration (TP50) for tobacco thrips, Frankliniella fusca (Hinds) adults in laboratory Petri dish bioassays was 30 and 175 min for PA Gen 1 and 2, respectively, and 12 min for the control (a commercially available, single layer-crop cover, Proteknet). PA Gen 2 was ≥90% resistant to penetration of unfed caterpillar neonates, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), while the TP50‘s for Gen 1 and Proteknet were 3.1 and 2.35 h, respectively. In small cage studies, PA Gen 2 covered potted cabbage plants were 100% resistant to penetration by these insects through 10 d after which the study was ended. In small field plot studies for 3 summer months, cabbage plants grew approximately twice as fast when covered versus not covered with Gen 1 and Gen 2 without the need for insecticides or herbicides. This was not observed for the control crop cover. Martindale abrasion tests demonstrated Gen 1 and 2 were at least 6- and 1.8-fold more durable than the control crop cover used. Data are also presented on percentage light, water, air, and water vapor penetration across each textile and operational temperatures and humidity for cabbage plants covered and uncovered in small field plots.
Effect of Heating Time of Cottonseed Meal on Nutrient and Mineral Element Digestibility in Chicken (Based on Cottonseed Meal Replaced with All Soybean Meal)
Authors: Xu Xuean , Yang Haiming , Yang Zhi , Wang Zhiyue
Published: April 2022

A digestibility test was conducted to estimate the effects of the heating time of cottonseed meal on nutrient digestibility and mineral element absorption in chicken. A total of 36, 45-week-old healthy New Yangzhou chickens with similar body weight were randomly divided into 6 groups with 6 replicates per group and one chicken per replicate. The chickens in Group A (control group) were fed the corn-soybean meal diet. The chickens in Groups B, C, D, E, and F (experimental groups) were fed the cottonseed meal to replace all soybean meal. The cottonseed meal in the experimental groups was treated with wet heating. The heating temperature was set at 120 °C, and the humidity was set at 50%. The heating time was set to 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 min successively. The trial period was 4 day. The digestibility of crude protein, metabolic energy, and dry matter was highest using wet-heat treating for 15 min (p < 0.05). The digestibility of Fe increased significantly from 66.78% to 70.39% when the heating time of cottonseed meal was prolonged from 10 min to 30 min (p < 0.05). Compared with Group A, the digestibility of Zn was increased in Groups B and C, and then there was a decrease in Group D. Finally, the digestibility was increased again in Group F. The opposite pattern was shown in the digestibility of Cu and Zn. There was no significant effect of wet heat treatment time on the digestibility of calcium, phosphorus, and manganese (p > 0.05). When cottonseed meal is considered as feed for 45-week-old chickens, processing conditions of 120 °C and 50% humidity for 15 min are recommended.
Valorize to Protect Lucanian Sheep and Goat Biodiversity
Authors: D’Oronzio Maria Assunta , De Vivo Carmela , Lettieri Teresa , Telesca Paola , Verrascina Milena
Published: April 2022

European agriculture and rural development policies have promoted the diversity and genetic types of autochthonous breeds to increase sheep and goat biodiversity. Agri-environmental measures to support livestock farmers, have been the main tools used by these policies over the last twenty years. The COLAUTOC, “Collection of a seed bank for native sheep and goat breeds and strategies to increase their numbers”, research project in Basilicata, Southern Italy, investigated sheep and goat farms with autochthonous breeds with results proving a reduction in the number of sheep and goat farms in general, particularly those with native breeds at risk of extinction, a clear indication of policy failure with a devastating loss of sheep and goat biodiversity. The COLAUTOC used a variety of methodological tools, including, desk analysis, focus groups, interviews, school workshops and a survey on sheep and goat meat consumption. The results indicated that a recovery in sheep and goat biodiversity could be achieved by supporting farm livestock strategies with a view to diversify production methods and activities, whilst, recognizing the value added to the territory, landscape, biodiversity and sustainability. The strategies identified by the COLAUTOC project require a local vision, using agri-environmental funds to invest in training on innovation for farms, provide tools to improve the quality of life in the rural areas, to increase communication channels to further knowledge and awareness of biodiversity. These strategies could contribute to meeting several 2030 Agenda goals.
Phenotypical Variation of Ruminal Volatile Fatty Acids and pH during the Peri-Weaning Period in Holstein Calves and Factors Affecting Them
Authors: Kazana Panagiota , Siachos Nektarios , Panousis Nikolaos , Petridou Anatoli , Mougios Vasilis , Valergakis Georgios E.
Published: April 2022

Two hundred and forty-three clinically healthy Holstein calves from eight commercial dairy farms were used to: (a) describe the evolutionary course of ruminal VFA concentration and pH during the peri-weaning period and (b) assess management factors affecting their phenotypical variation of these parameters. Management practices were recorded individually for each calf as these were not fixed within farms. Samples of ruminal fluid were collected at −7 d, 0 d, and 7 d relative to weaning. Gas chromatography was used to measure ruminal VFAs, and pH was measured on site. Linear mixed models for repeated measurements were used to assess the effects of management factors and their interactions. A large among-calves phenotypical variability was observed. Estimated marginal means showed that concentrations of acetate, butyrate, and total VFAs (but not of propionate) significantly decreased, while acetate propionate increased, from −7 d to 7 d. Age at weaning and body weight at −7 d were positively associated with total and several individual VFA concentrations. Group housing and late forage feeding pre-weaning were associated with higher VFA concentrations; the same factors, as well as step-weaning, were associated with pH values around 6. Feeding 7–8 L of milk replacer daily did not preclude a smooth transition, irrespective of weaning method.
Enzymatic Depletion of Mitochondrial Inorganic Polyphosphate (polyP) Increases the Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and the Activity of the Pentose Phosphate Pathway (PPP) in Mammalian Cells
Authors: Hambardikar Vedangi , Guitart-Mampel Mariona , Scoma Ernest R. , Urquiza Pedro , Nagana Gowda G. A. , Raftery Daniel , Collins John A. , Solesio Maria E.
Published: April 2022

Inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) is an ancient biopolymer that is well preserved throughout evolution and present in all studied organisms. In mammals, it shows a high co-localization with mitochondria, and it has been demonstrated to be involved in the homeostasis of key processes within the organelle, including mitochondrial bioenergetics. However, the exact extent of the effects of polyP on the regulation of cellular bioenergetics, as well as the mechanisms explaining these effects, still remain poorly understood. Here, using HEK293 mammalian cells under Wild-type (Wt) and MitoPPX (cells enzymatically depleted of mitochondrial polyP) conditions, we show that depletion of polyP within mitochondria increased oxidative stress conditions. This is characterized by enhanced mitochondrial O2− and intracellular H2O2 levels, which may be a consequence of the dysregulation of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) that we have demonstrated in MitoPPX cells in our previous work. These findings were associated with an increase in basal peroxiredoxin-1 (Prx1), superoxide dismutase-2 (SOD2), and thioredoxin (Trx) antioxidant protein levels. Using 13C-NMR and immunoblotting, we assayed the status of glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) in Wt and MitoPPX cells. Our results show that MitoPPX cells display a significant increase in the activity of the PPP and an increase in the protein levels of transaldolase (TAL), which is a crucial component of the non-oxidative phase of the PPP and is involved in the regulation of oxidative stress. In addition, we observed a trend towards increased glycolysis in MitoPPX cells, which corroborates our prior work. Here, for the first time, we show the crucial role played by mitochondrial polyP in the regulation of mammalian redox homeostasis. Moreover, we demonstrate a significant effect of mitochondrial polyP on the regulation of global cellular bioenergetics in these cells.
Arsenic Toxicity on Metabolism and Autophagy in Adipose and Muscle Tissues
Authors: Ro Seung-Hyun , Bae Jiyoung , Jang Yura , Myers Jacob F. , Chung Soonkyu , Yu Jiujiu , Natarajan Sathish Kumar , Franco Rodrigo , Song Hyun-Seob
Published: April 2022

Arsenic, a naturally occurring metalloid derived from the environment, has been studied worldwide for its causative effects in various cancers. However, the effects of arsenic toxicity on the development and progression of metabolic syndrome, including obesity and diabetes, has received less attention. Many studies suggest that metabolic dysfunction and autophagy dysregulation of adipose and muscle tissues are closely related to the development of metabolic disease. In the USA, arsenic contamination has been reported in some ground water, soil and grain samples in major agricultural regions, but the effects on adipose and muscle tissue metabolism and autophagy have not been investigated much. Here, we highlight arsenic toxicity according to the species, dose and exposure time and the effects on adipose and muscle tissue metabolism and autophagy. Historically, arsenic was used as both a poison and medicine, depending on the dose and treatment time. In the modern era, arsenic intoxication has significantly increased due to exposure from water, soil and food, which could be a contributing factor in the development and progression of metabolic disease. From this review, a better understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms by which arsenic alters metabolism and autophagy regulation could become a cornerstone leading to the development of therapeutic strategies against arsenic-induced toxicity and metabolic disease.
Service Recommendations Using a Hybrid Approach in Knowledge Graph with Keyword Acceptance Criteria
Authors: Ahmad Jawad , Rehman Abdur , Rauf Hafiz Tayyab , Javed Kashif , Alkhayyal Maram Abdullah , Alnuaim Abeer Ali
Published: April 2022

Businesses are overgrowing worldwide; people struggle for their businesses and startups in almost every field of life, whether industrial or academic. The businesses or services have multiple income streams with which they generate revenue. Most companies use different marketing and advertisement strategies to engage their customers and spread their services worldwide. Service recommendation systems are gaining popularity to recommend the best services and products to customers. In recent years, the development of service-oriented computing has had a significant impact on the growth of businesses. Knowledge graphs are commonly used data structures to describe the relations among data entities in recommendation systems. Domain-oriented user and service interaction knowledge graph (DUSKG) is a framework for keyword extraction in recommendation systems. This paper proposes a novel method of chunking-based keyword extractions for hybrid recommendations to extract domain-specific keywords in DUSKG. We further show that the performance of the hybrid approach is better than other techniques. The proposed chunking method for keyword extraction outperforms the existing value feature entity extraction (VF2E) by extracting fewer keywords.
Shear Stress Induces α-Synuclein Aggregation Due to a Less Strained Protein Backbone and Protein Tyrosyl Groups Do Not Intervene in the Aggregation
Authors: Saraiva Marco A. , Florêncio Maria Helena
Published: April 2022

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is an increasingly prevalent and currently incurable neurodegenerative disorder. The aggregation of the amyloid disordered protein α-synuclein (Syn) has been implicated in the development of PD. In the literature, it has been suggested that tyrosine residues of Syn play an important role in the interactions established during the fibrillation process. Herein, the prevalence of the referred interactions under shear stress conditions of Nα-acetyl-L-tyrosinamide (NAYA) and of Syn solutions by using membrane centrifugal filters with different cut-off of 200 nm, 100 kDa, 50 kDa and 30 kDa, under centrifugation conditions, were investigated. In order to determine the nature of the interactions involving the protein tyrosine residues the NAYA compound, which mimics the peptide bonds in protein and also possesses a tyrosyl group similar to the tyrosyl groups found in the Syn protein molecular structure, was used. It is expected that for a small molecule, such as NAYA, no molecular association occurs, contrary to what exists in the Syn protein solutions, which can more adequately retrieve the type of interactions formed, involving the tyrosyl group. Therefore, sensing the tyrosyl group absorption, spectroscopic techniques, in particular, were used. For NAYA, an intramolecular interaction between the tyrosyl group and the peptide bond was evidenced. For NAYA and Syn, it was observed that decreasing the membrane centrifugal filters pore size, under centrifugation conditions, was concomitant with the minimization of the intramolecular interactions between the tyrosyl group and the peptide bond. With this, it is likely to assume that shear stress conditions in the Syn solutions propel protein aggregation by a less strained protein backbone. Contrary to the centrifugation of NAYA solutions, centrifuging Syn solutions revealed molecular association and a progressive exposure of protein tyrosyl groups to water. Thus, we can also infer that shear stress conditions in the Syn solutions cause the protein tyrosyl groups to not intervene in the protein aggregation.
Numerical Study on Transient Annular Pressure Caused by Hydration Heat during Well Cementing
Authors: Wang Xuerui , Pang Xueyu , Xian Ming , Sun Baojiang , Wang Zhiyuan , Ren Yong , Feng Yuqi , Zhang Zhen
Published: April 2022

Annular pressure has been recognized as one of the most challenging problems in the petroleum industry, posing a series of threats to wellbore integrity. Annular pressure caused by thermal expansion during the cement hydration process is rarely studied by researchers. In light of the hydration heat generation process, a kinetics model for cement hydration under different curing temperatures is demonstrated in this paper. Considering interactions between temperature and cement hydration, a transient temperature prediction model during well cementing is built. On the basis of these assumptions, the prediction model of annular pressure is established, considering the change in cement temperature and the change in annulus volume. Using the models illustrated in this paper, a series of numerical simulations are performed. The changing roles of transient cement hydration degree and temperature in wellbores are analyzed thoroughly. The annular pressure during well cementing shows a rapid increase and then a decrease, which is similar to that of the temperature. In addition, a sensitive analysis of annular pressure is conducted. The analysis shows that the annular pressure increases with the geothermal gradient, the cement hydration heat, and the wellbore diameter. Suggestions and conclusions can provide safety guidance for the management of annular pressure during well cementing.
Assessment on the Properties of Biomass-Aggregate Geopolymer Concrete
Authors: Liu Haibao , Li Qiuyi , Quan Hongzhu , Xu Xiaolong , Wang Qianying , Ni Songyuan
Published: April 2022

Energy efficiency is one of the important indicators for the evaluation of green buildings, and it is also related to the sustainable development of the building industry and energy conservation. Using agricultural waste in concrete to produce biomass recycled aggregates can effectively utilize agricultural solid waste to develop new wall materials with economic and energy-efficient properties. In this study, industrial wastes such as ground, granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) and fly ash (FA) were used to replace cement as cementitious material and coconut shell (CC) as lightweight coarse aggregate (LWA) in lightweight concrete. The lightweight coconut shell aggregate concrete with a density of less than 1950 kg/m3 was used as structural concrete. The thermal conductivity of synthesized biomass recycled aggregate concrete (SBRAC) was about 0.47 W/mK, which is 217% and 19% lower than that of natural aggregate concrete (NAC) and crushed coconut shell aggregate concrete (CCSAC), respectively. With the same volume, the costs of SBRAC and CCSAC are 25.1% and 4.9% lower than that of NAC, respectively.
Automatic Bug Triaging via Deep Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Liu Yong , Qi Xuexin , Zhang Jiali , Li Hui , Ge Xin , Ai Jun
Published: April 2022

Software maintenance and evolution account for approximately 90% of the software development process (e.g., implementation, testing, and maintenance). Bug triaging refers to an activity where developers diagnose, fix, test, and document bug reports during software development and maintenance to improve the speed of bug repair and project progress. However, the large number of bug reports submitted daily increases the triaging workload, and open-source software has a long maintenance cycle. Meanwhile, the developer activity is not stable and changes significantly during software development. Hence, we propose a novel bug triaging model known as auto bug triaging via deep reinforcement learning (BT-RL), which comprises two models: a deep multi-semantic feature (DMSF) fusion model and an online dynamic matching (ODM) model. In the DMSF model, we extract relevant information from bug reports to obtain high-quality feature representation. In the ODM model, through bug report analysis and developer activities, we use a strategy based on the reinforcement learning framework, through which we perform training while learning and recommend developers for bug reports. Extensive experiments on open-source datasets show that the BT-RL method outperforms state-of-the-art methods in bug triaging.
Identifying a Systems Thinker: Matching a Candidate’s Systems Thinking Abilities with the Job
Authors: Miller Anat Nissel , Kordova Sigal , Grinshpoun Tal , Shoval Shraga
Published: April 2022

Systems thinking is an evolving field, and there is growing demand to integrate systems thinking into many fields. The goal of the present study was to develop a new tool for identifying systems thinkers. The study was conducted in two stages. The first, a qualitative stage, consisted of interviews, which were followed by a quantitative factor analysis in the second stage. We interviewed industry executives, lecturers at a technological college for practical engineers, and college students in order to identify the needs for systems thinking. We found that interviewees from different disciplines and roles defined some common requirements for systems thinking, but they also specified some different requirements according to their current professional status. The second stage of the study involved 120 participants with varied professional characteristics. The participants attended a five-hour seminar on systems thinking. After learning about systems thinking, participants answered a questionnaire designed to identify systems thinkers. Factor analysis was then used by the researchers to divide the responses to the questionnaire into five factors that represent common characteristic of systems thinking. Analyzing the responses to the questionnaire according to the five factors facilitates identifying the respondents’ knowledge of systems thinking and their ability to use it. Such information is important both for the process of hiring employees and for employee training processes.
Meta-Heuristic Model for Optimization of Production Layouts Based on Occupational Risk Assessment: Application to the Portuguese Wine Sector
Authors: Freitas António Agrela , Lima Tânia Miranda , Gaspar Pedro Dinis
Published: April 2022

A factory layout is a decisive factor in the improvement of production levels, efficiency, and even in the sustainability of a company. Regardless of the type of layout to be implemented, they are typically designed to optimize the work conditions and provide high performance, reducing production losses. The wine sector encompasses a wide diversity of possible configurations of production layouts, from one-level designs with separate infrastructures in several buildings or centralized single facilities, or even subdivided into different levels or floors. The general purpose is to maximize energy efficiency and process performance while minimizing costs. Thus, an optimization model based on the organization of productive layouts is proposed, using a methodology based on a genetic algorithm. The obtained results reveal that the optimization model for winery layouts was successfully applied, providing feasible solutions to improve the production processes’ efficiency combined with the minimization of general and ergonomic risks.
Thermal Comfort-Based Spatial Planning Model in Jakarta Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)
Authors: Raya Andhy Bato , Hasibuan Hayati Sari , Sodri Ahyahudin
Published: April 2022

Transit-oriented development (TOD) is integrated spatial planning and transportation that enhances walkability and other green mobility. The issue of thermal comfort in walkability is a major concern in the TOD of cities in tropical climates such as Jakarta. This study aimed to model and compare microclimate conditions and thermal comfort between existing conditions and TOD spatial planning scenarios. The microclimate condition was modeled using ENVI-met, and thermal comfort was analyzed following the physiologically equivalent temperature (PET) and universal thermal comfort index (UTCI). The results of microclimate modeling showed that the average minimum temperature of the current condition was lower than the TOD at 0.149 °C; meanwhile, the average maximum temperature of the current condition was higher than the TOD at 0.761 °C. Furthermore, the results of the PET and UTCI calculation between the existing land use and the TOD plan scenario showed that both the minimum and maximum PET and UTCI values of the TOD plan scenario throughout the modeling time were lower than the existing conditions. In conclusion, the urban canyon formed by the designed TOD scenario resulted in lower wind speed than the existing condition. However, this factor potentially does not impact the increase in the urban heat island effect in the TOD area since the effect of shading the area by the high-rise building lowers the temperature.
Assessment of the Performance of a Low-Cost Air Quality Monitor in an Indoor Environment through Different Calibration Models
Authors: Suriano Domenico , Penza Michele
Published: April 2022

Air pollution significantly affects public health in many countries. In particular, indoor air quality can be equally, if not more, concerning than outdoor emissions of pollutant gases. However, monitoring the air quality in homes and apartments using chemical analyzers may be not affordable for households due to their high costs and logistical issues. Therefore, a new alternative is represented by low-cost air quality monitors (AQMs) based on low-cost gas sensors (LCSs), but scientific literature reports some limitations and issues concerning the quality of the measurements performed by these devices. It is proven that AQM performance is significantly affected by the calibration model used for calibrating LCSs in outdoor environments, but similar investigations in homes or apartments are quite rare. In this work, the assessment of an AQM based on electrochemical sensors for CO, NO2, and O3 has been performed through an experiment carried out in an apartment occupied by a family of four during their everyday life. The state-of-the-art of the LCS calibration is featured by the use of multivariate linear regression (MLR), random forest regression (RF), support vector machines (SVM), and artificial neural networks (ANN). In this study, we have conducted a comparison of these calibration models by using different sets of predictors through reference measurements to investigate possible differences in AQM performance. We have found a good agreement between measurements performed by AQM and data reported by the reference in the case of CO and NO2 calibrated using MLR (R2 = 0.918 for CO, and R2 = 0.890 for NO2), RF (R2 = 0.912 for CO, and R2 = 0.697 for NO2), and ANN (R2 = 0.924 for CO, and R2 = 0.809 for NO2).
Genome-Wide Analysis of Invertase Gene Family, and Expression Profiling under Abiotic Stress Conditions in Potato
Authors: Abbas Asad , Shah Adnan Noor , Shah Anis Ali , Nadeem Muhammad Azhar , Alsaleh Ahmad , Javed Talha , Alotaibi Saqer S. , Abdelsalam Nader R.
Published: April 2022

The potato is one of the most important and valuable crops in terms of consumption worldwide. However, abiotic stressors are the critical delimiters for the growth and productivity of potato. Invertase genes play key roles in carbon metabolism, plant development, and responses to stress stimuli. Therefore, a comprehensive genome-wide identification, characterization and expression analysis of invertase genes was performed in the potato. The current study identified 19 invertase genes, randomly distributed throughout the potato genome. To further elucidate their evolutionary, functional and structural relationship within family and with other plant species, we performed sequence and phylogenetic analysis, which segregated invertase genes into two main groups based on their sequence homology. A total of 11 genes are included in acidic invertases and 8 genes are in neutral or alkaline invertases, elucidating their functional divergence. Tissue specific expression analyses (RNA sequencing and qRT-PCR) of different plant tissues showed differential expression pattern. Invertase genes have higher expression in flower, leaf, root and shoot tissues, while under abiotic stress conditions, the expression of the invertase gene is significantly upregulated. Results of this study revealed that vacuolar and cell wall destined invertases are mainly the functional member genes of the invertase family. This study provides comprehensive data and knowledge about StINV genes in Solanum tuberosum for future genetic and epigenetic studies.