bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analyzing Markov Boundary Discovery Algorithms in Ideal Conditions Using the d-Separation Criterion
Authors: Băncioiu Camil , Brad Remus
Published: March 2022

This article proposes the usage of the d-separation criterion in Markov Boundary Discovery algorithms, instead of or alongside the statistical tests of conditional independence these algorithms usually rely on. This is a methodological improvement applicable when designing, studying or improving such algorithms, but it is not applicable for productive use, because computing the d-separation criterion requires complete knowledge of a Bayesian network. Yet Bayesian networks can be made available to the algorithms when studied in controlled conditions. This approach has the effect of removing sources of suboptimal behavior, allowing the algorithms to perform at their theoretical best and providing insights about their properties. The article also discusses an extension of this approach, namely to use d-separation as a complement to the usual statistical tests performed on synthetic datasets in order to ascertain the overall accuracy of the tests chosen by the algorithms, for further insights into their behavior. To exemplify these two approaches, two Markov Boundary Discovery algorithms were used, namely the Incremental Association Markov Blanket algorithm and the Iterative Parent–Child-Based Search of Markov Blanket algorithm. Firstly, these algorithms were configured to use d-separation alone as their conditional independence test, computed on known Bayesian networks. Subsequently, the algorithms were configured to use the statistical G-test complemented by d-separation to evaluate their behavior on synthetic data.
A Beam Search-Based Channel Allocation Method for Interference Mitigation of NGSO Satellites with Multi-Beam Antennas
Authors: Zhang Haojie , Ren Di , Jiang Fanghua
Published: March 2022

In the past few years, non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite communication constellations have regained popularity due to their conspicuous advantages. Nevertheless, with more NGSO satellites getting involved in communications, the spectrum resources should become much more scarce. Multi-beam high throughput satellite and spectrum sharing are two major techniques in communication design. The two techniques can significantly mitigate interference and highly augment the capacity of the communication system. Thus, they are commonly used in satellite communication systems nowadays. With a massive number of NGSO satellites comprising the communication system and moving in their orbits, interference scenarios are pretty complex. In this article, the relationship between the level of interference and the beam distance is deduced. Moreover, for beams with different tilting angles, the different off-axis angles may correspond to the same beam distance, which is directly related to the interference level. Through the interference analysis, we propose a channel allocation method that uses a beam search algorithm to optimize the channel allocation problem and achieves outstanding time efficiency. The performance of the proposed method is validated by a coexisting scenario of the geostationary orbit and NGSO satellite communication systems. The results show that the level of interference can be largely mitigated, and the capacity of communication systems is significantly augmented.
Effects of Humic Acid Added to Controlled-Release Fertilizer on Summer Maize Yield, Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Greenhouse Gas Emission
Authors: Guo Yanqing , Ma Zhentao , Ren Baizhao , Zhao Bin , Liu Peng , Zhang Jiwang
Published: March 2022

Humic acid plays an important role in improving grain yield and reducing N losses. In order to explore the effects of humic acid added to controlled-release fertilizer on summer maize yield, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and the characteristics of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in maize farmland soil, a two-year field experiment was set up. The treatments consisted of two fertilizers: 3% humic acid added to controlled-release fertilizer (HACRF), controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) and a control (without N fertilizer, N0). The results demonstrate that the yield and NUE of summer maize were significantly increased with the addition of humic acid in N fertilizer. Compared with N0 and CRF, the yield of maize was increased by 99.1% and 5.0%, respectively. Compared with CRF, the contents of soil ammonium–nitrogen (NH4+-N) and nitrate–nitrogen (NO3−-N) in HACRF were higher during early maize growth stage but lower during the late grain-filling stage. The NUE and soil nitrogen interdependent rate of HACRF were significantly increased by 4.6–5.4% and 7.2–11.6%, respectively, across the years compared with those of CRF. Moreover, the annual cumulative N2O emissions in HACRF were decreased by 29.0% compared with the CRF. Thus, the global warming potential and greenhouse emission intensity of HACRF were significantly decreased by 29.1% and 32.59%, respectively, compared with CRF. In conclusion, adding humic acid to controlled-release fertilizer can result in higher yield and nitrogen uptake, improve nitrogen use efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which have better yield and environmental effects.
Dynamics of Temperature Variation in Soil under Fallow Tillage at Different Depths
Authors: Bulgakov Volodymyr , Pascuzzi Simone , Adamchuk Valerii , Gadzalo Jaroslav , Nadykto Volodymyr , Olt Jüri , Nowak Janusz , Kaminskiy Viktor
Published: March 2022

One of the important processes taking place during soil surface tillage is the variation of the soil temperature at different depths. The paper presents the results of research into the dynamics of soil temperature variation in terms of such parameters of the soil as its thermal diffusivity and temperature oscillation frequency. It has been established that the temperature oscillation amplitude decreases when the depth increases, following the logarithmic law. In this variation, the temperature difference between the 0–5 cm layer and the adjacent 5–10 cm layer has the greatest value. This circumstance is a favorable factor for the fallow tillage technology, where the soil is regularly cultivated to a depth of no more than 5 cm, in case of a moisture deficit. A decrease in the frequency of the soil temperature oscillations can result in the reduced level of its heating in different layers. In terms of qualitative changes, the reduction in soil thermal diffusivity results in the amplitude of the soil temperature oscillations being lowered and at the same time the maximum of these oscillations being shifted towards a delay.
Conception and Development of Recycled Raw Materials (Coconut Fiber and Bagasse)-Based Substrates Enriched with Soil Microorganisms (Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi, Trichoderma spp. and Pseudomonas spp.) for the Soilless Cultivation of Tomato (S. lycopersicum)
Authors: Masquelier Sylvie , Sozzi Tommaso , Bouvet Janie Camille , Bésiers Jérôme , Deogratias Jean-Marc
Published: March 2022

The global production quantity and the utilisation area harvested for the cultivation of tomatoes have significantly increased in the last three decades. Europe still plays an important role in the production of tomatoes, accounting for 12% of global production in 2020. Tomato production can be divided into greenhouse/soilless production and open field production. Greenhouse/soilless tomato production is mostly developed in northern Europe, and open field production in southern Europe. Soilless cultivation serves to improve control of the growing medium and to avoid any likely problems for watering and maintaining proper nutrient concentrations. Beneficial soil microorganisms, particularly arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), are increasingly being recognized as key elements of an agro-ecological approach to agricultural production. The use of these beneficial microorganisms on soilless tomato production may improve plant performance and reduce biotic and abiotic stress occurring during production with a consequent decrease of chemicals and increase of sustainability of the production system. In this paper, we tested different substrates composed of coconut fiber and bagasse (S1 to S4) and beneficial microorganisms (AMF, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Trichoderma harzianum), selecting the most suitable system for the soilless production of tomatoes. Our results showed that substrates S1 (100% coconut fiber) and S2 (66% coconut fiber + 33% bagasse) complementarily used with the consortium of “AMF IP21 + Trichoderma harzianum + Pseudomonas fluorescens IPB04” seem to be the “best formulation” for this purpose. That confirmed the feasibility of the development of recycled material (coconut fiber and bagasse)-based substrates together with soil microorganisms (AMF and beneficial bacteria) for soilless tomato production.
Successful Experiences and Lessons from Conservation Agriculture Worldwide
Authors: Kassam Amir , Friedrich Theodor , Derpsch Rolf
Published: March 2022

Since 2008/2009, conservation agriculture (CA) cropland area has been expanding globally at an annual rate of more than 10 M ha per year. In 2015/2016, the total CA cropland area was 180.4 M ha, corresponding to 12.5% of global cropland area. In 2018/2019, the total cropland area was 205.4 M ha, corresponding to 14.7% of global cropland area. The spread of CA has been expanding in Asia, Africa, and Europe in recent years because farmers are becoming better organized in working together and networking. More attention and resources are being allocated by stakeholders towards supporting farmers to adopt CA and in generating new knowledge to improve their performance. Globally, expansion of CA remains largely farmer-driven and has become a multi-stakeholder movement comprising formal and informal CA networks at national and international levels involving individuals and institutions in the public, private, and civil sectors. Several lessons from the global spread of CA are elaborated responding to the questions: (i) Why are the three interlinked CA principles universally applicable? (ii) Why does CA work sustainably and optimally? (iii) Why does CA deliver ecosystem services? (iv) Why is CA a valid alternative agricultural paradigm for sustainable development? (v) What are the sufficient conditions for scaling and mainstreaming CA?
Chemical Profile, Elemental Composition, and Antimicrobial Activity of Plants of the Teucrium (Lamiaceae) Genus Growing in Moldova
Authors: Ciocarlan Alexandru , Dragalin Ion , Aricu Aculina , Lupascu Lucian , Ciocarlan Nina , Vergel Konstantin , Duliu Octavian G. , Hristozova Gergana , Zinicovscaia Inga
Published: March 2022

Teucrium L. is a widely distributed genus often used for the treatment of digestive disorders and respiratory problems. The aim of the present study was to determine the chemical composition of essential oils and elemental content of the plant species Teucrium polium, Teucrium hircanicum, Teucrium botrys, Teucrium chamaedrys, Teucrium flavum, Teucrium orientale, and Teucrium scordium of Moldovan origin, as well as to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of their extracts. The composition of essential oils was determined using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and neutron activation analysis (NAA) was used to assess the elemental composition of plants. Antimicrobial tests were performed in vitro on the Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Xanthomonas campestris, Erwinia amylovora, Erwinia carotovora, and Candida utilis strains using the double-dilution method. GC–MS allowed the identification of 59 components of the analyzed essential oils, and showed that the analyzed species belong to four different chemotypes. Using NAA, 18 major and minor elements, the contents of which fell within the value ranges reported for other medicinal herbs of this genus, were identified. The hydroalcoholic extracts from Teucrium spp. exhibited in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activity at 0.03–0.06% and 0.015–0.03%, respectively. The extracts from Teucrium spp. exhibited high antibacterial and antifungal activity, enabling their application for medical purposes.
Understanding Social Dimensions in Wildlife Conservation: Multiple Stakeholder Views
Authors: Pimid Marcela , Mohd Nasir Mohammad Rusdi , Krishnan Kumara Thevan , Chambers Geoffrey K. , Ahmad A Ghafar , Perijin Jimli
Published: March 2022

Numerous studies show the importance of social understanding in addressing multifaceted conservation issues. Building on a conservation planning framework, this study examines the social dimensions of wildlife conservation in Kinabatangan, Sabah, Malaysia. It employs a qualitative approach by conducting in-depth, semi-structured interviews with sixty informants drawn from local community members, government officials, tourism operators, non-government organizations, and the private sector. Our results show that the incidence of human–wildlife conflicts has reduced in the region, but that conflicts among stakeholders themselves about wildlife still remain a significant threat for attaining successful conservation outcomes. Further stakeholder perceptions of increased wildlife numbers often contrast with actual counts returned by periodical surveys conducted by conservation agencies, e.g., showing a 30% decline of orangutans and a 29% decline of gibbon abundance. This shows that evidence-based conservation messages have not been communicated well. The study has implications for enhancing social values among conservation players, promoting local community empowerment and revising conservation awareness programs.
Antimicrobial Activity and 70S Ribosome Binding of Apidaecin-Derived Api805 with Increased Bacterial Uptake Rate
Authors: Ludwig Tobias , Krizsan Andor , Mohammed Gubran Khalil , Hoffmann Ralf
Published: March 2022

In view of the global spread of multiresistant bacteria and the occurrence of panresistant bacteria, there is an urgent need for antimicrobials with novel modes of action. A promising class is antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), including them proline-rich AMPs (PrAMPs), which target the 70S ribosome to inhibit protein translation. Here, we present a new designer peptide, Api805, combining the N- and C-terminal sequences of PrAMPs Api137 and drosocin, respectively. Api805 was similarly active against two Escherichia coli B strains but was inactive against E. coli K12 strain BW25113. These different activities could not be explained by the dissociation constants measured for 70S ribosome preparations from E. coli K12 and B strains. Mutations in the SbmA transporter that PrAMPs use to pass the inner membrane or proteolytic degradation of Api805 by lysate proteases could not explain this either. Interestingly, Api805 seems not to bind to the known binding sites of PrAMPs at the 70S ribosome and inhibited in vitro protein translation, independent of release factors, most likely using a “multimodal effect”. Interestingly, Api805 entered the E. coli B strain Rosetta faster and at larger quantities than the E. coli K-12 strain BW25113, which may be related to the different LPS core structure. In conclusion, slight structural changes in PrAMPs significantly altered their binding sites and mechanisms of action, allowing for the design of different antibiotic classes.
Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Chinese Herbal Medicines: Links between Traditional Characters and the Skin Lipoperoxidation “Western” Model
Authors: Prieto Jose M. , Schinella Guillermo R.
Published: March 2022

The relationship between lipid peroxidation and inflammation has been accepted as a paradigm in the field of topical inflammation. The underlying biochemical mechanisms may be summarised as unspecific oxidative damage followed by specific oxidative processes as the physio pathological response in skin tissues. In this experimental review we hypothesise that the characteristics attributed by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to herbal drugs can be linked to their biomolecular activities within the framework of the above paradigm. To this end, we review and collect experimental data from several TCM herbal drugs to create 2D-3D pharmacological and biochemical spaces that are further reduced to a bidimensional combined space. When multivariate analysis is applied to the latter, it unveils a series of links between TCM herbal characters and the skin lipoperoxidation “Western” model. With the help of these patterns and a focused review on their chemical, pharmacological and antioxidant properties we show that cleansing herbs of bitter and cold nature acting through removal of toxins—including P. amurense, Coptis chinensis, S. baicalensis and F. suspensa—are highly correlated with strong inhibition of both lipid peroxidation and eicosanoids production. Sweet drugs—such as A. membranaceus, A. sinensis and P. cocos—act through a specific inhibition of the eicosanoids production. The therapeutic value of the remaining drugs—with low antioxidant or anti-inflammatory activity—seems to be based on their actions on the Qi with the exception of furanocoumarin containing herbs—A. dahurica and A. pubescens—which “expel wind”. A further observation from our results is that the drugs present in the highly active “Cleansing herbs” cluster are commonly used and may be interchangeable. Our work may pave the way to a translation between two medical systems with radically different philosophies and help the prioritisation of active ingredients with specific biomolecular activities of interest for the treatment of skin conditions.
Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor-Dependent and -Independent Pathways Mediate Curcumin Anti-Aging Effects
Authors: Brinkmann Vanessa , Romeo Margherita , Larigot Lucie , Hemmers Anne , Tschage Lisa , Kleinjohann Jennifer , Schiavi Alfonso , Steinwachs Swantje , Esser Charlotte , Menzel Ralph , Giani Tagliabue Sara , Bonati Laura , Cox Fiona , Ale-Agha Niloofar , Jakobs Philipp , Altschmied Joachim , Haendeler Judith , Coumoul Xavier , Ventura Natascia
Published: March 2022

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor whose activity can be modulated by polyphenols, such as curcumin. AhR and curcumin have evolutionarily conserved effects on aging. Here, we investigated whether and how the AhR mediates the anti-aging effects of curcumin across species. Using a combination of in vivo, in vitro, and in silico analyses, we demonstrated that curcumin has AhR-dependent or -independent effects in a context-specific manner. We found that in Caenorhabditis elegans, AhR mediates curcumin-induced lifespan extension, most likely through a ligand-independent inhibitory mechanism related to its antioxidant activity. Curcumin also showed AhR-independent anti-aging activities, such as protection against aggregation-prone proteins and oxidative stress in C. elegans and promotion of the migratory capacity of human primary endothelial cells. These AhR-independent effects are largely mediated by the Nrf2/SKN-1 pathway.
SOD1 in ALS: Taking Stock in Pathogenic Mechanisms and the Role of Glial and Muscle Cells
Authors: Peggion Caterina , Scalcon Valeria , Massimino Maria Lina , Nies Kelly , Lopreiato Raffaele , Rigobello Maria Pia , Bertoli Alessandro
Published: March 2022

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. While the exact causes of ALS are still unclear, the discovery that familial cases of ALS are related to mutations in the Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1), a key antioxidant enzyme protecting cells from the deleterious effects of superoxide radicals, suggested that alterations in SOD1 functionality and/or aberrant SOD1 aggregation strongly contribute to ALS pathogenesis. A new scenario was opened in which, thanks to the generation of SOD1 related models, different mechanisms crucial for ALS progression were identified. These include excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunctions, and non-cell autonomous toxicity, also implicating altered Ca2+ metabolism. While most of the literature considers motor neurons as primary target of SOD1-mediated effects, here we mainly discuss the effects of SOD1 mutations in non-neuronal cells, such as glial and skeletal muscle cells, in ALS. Attention is given to the altered redox balance and Ca2+ homeostasis, two processes that are strictly related with each other. We also provide original data obtained in primary myocytes derived from hSOD1(G93A) transgenic mice, showing perturbed expression of Ca2+ transporters that may be responsible for altered mitochondrial Ca2+ fluxes. ALS-related SOD1 mutants are also responsible for early alterations of fundamental biological processes in skeletal myocytes that may impinge on skeletal muscle functions and the cross-talk between muscle cells and motor neurons during disease progression.
Role of a Novel Silver Fir (Abies alba) Extract, Abigenol®/AlbiPhenol®, in Modulating Cardiovascular Disorders: Key Factors
Authors: Leone Kevin , Micheletto Marta , Di Maira Giovanni , Tedesco Erik , Benetti Federico , Zaloker Urška
Published: March 2022

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) represent the leading cause of death worldwide, being responsible for about one third of deaths. Among CVDs, coronary artery diseases (CADs) are characterized by vascular endothelium dysfunction due to oxidative and inflammatory damages, the oxidation of circulating low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL), and the production of ROS in the steatotic liver with the consequent increase of lipids and cholesterol. Together with CADs, heart failure (HF) represents another high-mortality rate CVD. A major risk factor for HF is hypertension that is accompanied by oxidative stress. Phytoextracts, rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds, may have therapeutic value as they can interfere with several CVDs risk factors. In this work, a novel silver fir (Abies alba) bark extract, Abigenol®/AlbiPhenol®, was studied. First, Abigenol®/AlbiPhenol® cytotoxicity, bioaccessibility and bioavailability were evaluated by using an in vitro digestion model. Abigenol®/AlbiPhenol® was shown to be non-cytotoxic and showed good bioaccessibility. Then, by using in vitro hepatic, cardiac and vascular models, its antioxidant and anti-steatotic properties were assessed. Abigenol®/AlbiPhenol® showed an effective antioxidant action, and it was able to inhibit LDL and HDL oxidation, the main actors in atherosclerotic plaque formation. In steatotic conditions, Abigenol®/AlbiPhenol® induces decreased lipid and cholesterol accumulation in hepatocytes. In addition, in a cardiac model, the formulation reduced the activity of the hypertension-related angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). Altogether, these findings reveal a potential application of Abigenol®/AlbiPhenol® in the prevention and treatment of CVDs.
3D Printing Applications in Orthopaedic Surgery: Clinical Experience and Opportunities
Authors: Fidanza Andrea , Perinetti Tullio , Logroscino Giandomenico , Saracco Michela
Published: March 2022

Background: Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a technology capable of creating solid objects based on the reproduction of computerised images. This technology offers revolutionary impacts on surgical practice, especially in prosthetic and traumatological surgery. Methods: 20 patients with proximal humeral fractures were divided into two groups, one of which involved the processing of a 3D model. The model made it possible to plan the positioning and dimensions of the implants. The results were then compared with those obtained according to the usual procedures. We also reported the irreparable case of a custom revision implants acetabular bone loss treated with a 3D-printed, custom-made implant. Results: In the processed 3D proximal humeral fracture series, in the face of time and costs expenses, surgical and X-ray times were shorter than in the control group. On the other hand, there were no differences in terms of blood loss. The patient who underwent acetabular re-prosthetic surgery in a 3B Paprosky bone loss was managed and solved with a 3D-printed, custom-made implant and reported excellent outcomes at a 1 year follow-up. Conclusion: Three-dimensional printing made it possible to create better pre-operative planning in traumatology in order to optimise surgical procedures and outcomes. It also made it possible to deal with large losses of bone stock in prosthetic revision surgery, even when reconstruction may have appeared impossible with traditional implants.
Multi-Timescale Control of Variable-Speed Wind Turbine for Inertia Provision
Authors: Xu Zixiao , Qi Yang , Li Weilin , Yang Yongheng
Published: March 2022

The increasing deployment of power converters has led to a significant reduction in the power system inertia and consequently resulted in frequency stability issues. To improve the robustness of the grid against frequency disturbances, it is becoming more expected in many countries that renewable energy generation, such as wind turbine power systems, should provide equivalent inertia support to the power system. This can be achieved through advanced control of power converters, in addition to adding extra energy storage devices, e.g., batteries. In wind turbine systems, although the ancillary service of inertia provision can be realized by coupling the rotor speed with the grid frequency, the rotor speed recovery process affects the inertia response if the controller is not properly designed or well-tuned. To address this issue, in this paper, we propose a multi-timescale control strategy for a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) wind turbine system. Synthetic inertia control and speed recovery control are simultaneously incorporated into the controller of the rotor-side converter, whereas their dynamics are decoupled under different timescales to avoid control conflict. Extensive simulation results are provided, which validate the efficacy of the proposed inertia emulation scheme.
Casting Process Improvement by the Application of Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Dučić Nedeljko , Manasijević Srećko , Jovičić Aleksandar , Ćojbašić Žarko , Radiša Radomir
Published: March 2022

On the way to building smart factories as the vision of Industry 4.0, the casting process stands out as a specific manufacturing process due to its diversity and complexity. One of the segments of smart foundry design is the application of artificial intelligence in the improvement of the casting process. This paper presents an overview of the conducted research studies, which deal with the application of artificial intelligence in the improvement of the casting process. In the review, 37 studies were analyzed over the last 15 years, with a clear indication of the type of casting process, the field of application of artificial intelligence techniques, and the benefits that artificial intelligence brought. The goals of this paper are to bring to attention the great possibilities of the application of artificial intelligence for the improvement of manufacturing processes in foundries, and to encourage new ideas among researchers and engineers.
Novel Chitosan Derivatives and Their Multifaceted Biological Applications
Authors: Sivanesan Iyyakkannu , Hasan Nazim , Kashif Ali Syed , Shin Juhyun , Gopal Judy , Muthu Manikandan , Oh Jae-Wook
Published: March 2022

Chitosan is a rather attractive material, especially because of its bio-origins as well as generation from exoskeletal waste. As the mantle has been effectively transferred from chitin to chitosan, so has it been extrapolated to in-house synthesized novel chitosan derivatives. This review comprehensively lists the available novel chitosan derivatives (ChDs) and summarizes their biological applications. The fact that chitosan derivatives do comprise multifaceted biological applications is attested by the voluminous reports on their varied contributions. However, this review points out to the fact that there has been selective focus on bio functions such as antifungal, antioxidant, antibacterial, whereas other biomedical applications and antiviral applications remain relatively less explored. With their current functionality record, there is definitely no doubt that the plethora of synthesized ChDs will have a profound impact on the unexplored biological aspects. This review points out this lacuna as room for future exploration.
The Emission Characteristics of Pollutants from Thermal Desorption of Soil Contaminated by Transformer Oil
Authors: Jiang Shixiong , Weng Sunxian
Published: March 2022

In order to reduce pollutant emission from substation fires into the soil environment, developing technology to remove pollutants in soil after substation fires is necessary. Among the soil remediation technologies, thermal desorption has been proven to be an effective soil remediation method. In this paper, the effects of thermal desorption temperature and atmosphere on the releasing characteristics of pollutants in the soil polluted by waste oil in the accident oil pool in the substation were examined. The results showed that when the thermal desorption temperature was 500 °C, a large number of macromolecular organics decompose from the solid phase and change into long-chain alkanes and macromolecular acids under pure N2 atmosphere. When the thermal desorption temperature was higher than 500 °C the pollutants in the soil were further decomposed into small molecular organics. In addition, the organics were transformed to CO2, SO2, NOx, and CO under 20% O2/N2 atmosphere when the temperature was above 500 °C.
Online State-of-Health Estimation of Lithium-Ion Battery Based on Incremental Capacity Curve and BP Neural Network
Authors: Lin Hongye , Kang Longyun , Xie Di , Linghu Jinqing , Li Jie
Published: March 2022

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have been widely used in various fields. In order to ensure the safety of LIBs, it is necessary to accurately estimate of the state of health (SOH) of the LIBs. This paper proposes a SOH hybrid estimation method based on incremental capacity (IC) curve and back-propagation neural network (BPNN). The voltage and current data of the LIB during the constant current (CC) charging process are used to convert into IC curves. Taking into account the incompleteness of the actual charging process, this paper divides the IC curve into multiple voltage segments for SOH prediction. Corresponding BP neural network is established in multiple voltage segments. The experiment divides the LIBs into five groups to carry out the aging experiment under different discharge conditions. Aging experiment data are used to establish the non-linear relationship between the decline of SOH and the change of IC curve by BP neural network. Experimental results show that in all voltage segments, the maximum mean absolute error does not exceed 2%. The SOH estimation method proposed in this research makes it possible to embed the SOH estimation function in battery management system (BMS), and can realize high-precision SOH online estimation.
Elimination of Reprogramming Transgenes Facilitates the Differentiation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells into Hepatocyte-like Cells and Hepatic Organoids
Authors: Jeong Jaemin , Kim Tae Hun , Kim Myounghoi , Jung Yun Kyung , Kim Kyeong Sik , Shim Sehwan , Jang Hyosun , Jang Won Il , Lee Seung Bum , Choi Dongho
Published: March 2022

Hepatocytes and hepatic organoids (HOs) derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are promising cell-based therapies for liver diseases. The removal of reprogramming transgenes can affect hiPSC differentiation potential into the three germ layers but not into hepatocytes and hepatic organoids in the late developmental stage. Herein, we generated hiPSCs from normal human fibroblasts using an excisable polycistronic lentiviral vector based on the Cre recombinase-mediated removal of the loxP-flanked reprogramming cassette. Comparing the properties of transgene-carrying and transgene-free hiPSCs with the same genetic background, the pluripotent states of all hiPSCs were quite similar, as indicated by the expression of pluripotent markers, embryonic body formation, and tri-lineage differentiation in vitro. However, after in vitro differentiation into hepatocytes, transgene-free hiPSCs were superior to the transgene-residual hiPSCs. Interestingly, the generation and hepatic differentiation of human hepatic organoids (hHOs) were significantly enhanced by transgene elimination from hiPSCs, as observed by the upregulated fetal liver (CK19, SOX9, and ITGA6) and functional hepatocyte (albumin, ASGR1, HNF4α, CYP1A2, CYP3A4, and AAT) markers upon culture in differentiation media. Thus, the elimination of reprogramming transgenes facilitates hiPSC differentiation into hepatocyte-like cells and hepatic organoids with properties of liver progenitor cells. Our findings thus provide significant insights into the characteristics of iPSC-derived hepatic organoids.
Is There a Best First Line Biological/Small Molecule in IBD: Are We Ready for Sequencing?
Authors: Hahn Gustavo Drügg , Golovics Petra Anna , Wetwittayakhlang Panu , Al Khoury Alex , Bessissow Talat , Lakatos Peter Laszlo
Published: March 2022

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, life-long inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract. Treatment strategy depends on the severity of the disease course. IBD physicians need to be aware of the life-long treatment options available. The goal is not only to achieve clinical remission but to halt or stabilize the chronic inflammation in the intestines to prevent further structural damage. Therefore, the use of early biologic therapy is recommended in moderate-to-severe IBD patients. However, in the last decade, use of therapeutic drug monitoring has increased considerably, opening an opportunity for sequencing. This review summarizes the available evidence on biologic and small molecules therapy in Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) in different clinical scenarios, including perianal CD, the elderly, extra intestinal manifestations, and pregnancy.
Oxidative Stress and Inflammation: From Mechanisms to Therapeutic Approaches
Authors: Gambini Juan , Stromsnes Kristine
Published: March 2022

Oxidative stress and inflammation are two phenomena that are directly involved in practically all pathologies and especially in aging [...]
Time Course of Motor Sleep Inertia Dissipation According to Age
Authors: Tonetti Lorenzo , Fabbri Marco , Giovagnoli Sara , Martoni Monica , Occhionero Miranda , Natale Vincenzo
Published: March 2022

Sleep inertia (SI) refers to a complex psychophysiological phenomenon observed after morning awakening that can be described as the gradual recovery of waking-like status after a night of sleep. The time course of SI dissipation in an everyday life condition is little studied. The present study aims to investigate the SI dissipation in motor activity, as a function of age, upon spontaneous morning awakening after a usual night-time sleep. To this end, we performed a retrospective study in a naturalistic setting in a wide life span sample: 382 healthy participants (219 females) from middle childhood (9 years old) to late adulthood (70 years old). Participants were required to wear the actigraph on the non-dominant wrist for at least seven consecutive nights. Results show that SI of motor activity is dissipated in 70 min. Mean motor activity in such a time window was significantly modulated by age: lower age corresponded to higher motor activity.
Revealing Microclimate around Buildings with Long-Term Monitoring through the Neural Network Algorithms
Authors: Wu Xibin , Hou Jiani , Hui Jun , Tang Zheng , Wang Wei
Published: March 2022

The profile of urban microclimates is important in many engineering fields, such as occupant’s thermal comfort and health, and other building engineering. To predict the profile of urban microclimate, this study applies the artificial neural network and long short-term memory network predictive models, and an urban microclimate dataset was obtained with a long-term monitoring from year 2017 to 2019 with 5-min resolution including temperature, relative humidity, and solar radiation. Two predictive models were applied, and the first (Model 1) is to apply the predictive techniques to predict the urban microclimate in the real-time sequence, and then extract the characteristics of urban microclimate, while the second (Model 2) is to directly extract the characteristics of the microclimate, and then predict the characteristics of the microclimate. Backpropagation artificial neural network (BP-ANN) and long-short term memory (LSTM) techniques were applied in both models. The results show Model 1 with as the time-series prediction can reach the best (99.92%) of correlation coefficient and 98% of the mean average percentage error (MAPE), for temperature, while 99.66% and 98.18% for relative humidity, respectively, while accuracies in Model 2 decreased to 79% and 88.6% of MAPE for temperature and relative humidity, respectively. The prediction of solar radiation using ANN and LSTM are 51.1% and 57.8% of the correlation coefficient, respectively.
Cancer Patients’ Survival According to Socioeconomic Environment in a High-Income Country with Universal Health Coverage
Authors: Zadnik Vesna , Žagar Tina , Tomšič Sonja , Mihor Ana , Lokar Katarina
Published: March 2022

Despite having an established systematic approach to population survival estimation in Slovenia, the influence of socioeconomic environment on cancer patients’ survival has not yet been evaluated. Thus, the main aim of our study was to quantify the potential impact of socioeconomic environment on cancer patients’ survival in our population in the 21st century. The net survival was calculated and stratified into quintiles of Slovenian version of the European Deprivation Index for all adult cancer patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2018 using the national cancer registry data. After accounting for basic demographic variables (age and gender), differences in stage at diagnosis, as well as the impact of the cancer treatment improvements over time, we found that cancer patients in Slovenia with lower socioeconomic status experience worse survival and have higher mortality. In particular, the odds of dying from oral, stomach, colorectal, liver, pancreatic, lung, breast, ovarian, corpus uteri, prostate, and bladder cancers, as well as for melanoma, leukemia, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, are significantly higher in the socioeconomically most deprived group of patients compared to the most affluent group. The inequalities in cancer burden we found could help decision-makers to better understand the magnitude of this problem.
Biopsy Ratio of Suspected to Confirmed Sarcoma Diagnosis
Authors: Mosku Nasian , Heesen Philip , Studer Gabriela , Bode Beata , Spataro Vito , Klass Natalie D. , Kern Lars , Scaglioni Mario F. , Fuchs Bruno
Published: March 2022

The ratio of malignancy in suspicious soft tissue and bone neoplasms (RMST) has not been often addressed in the literature. However, this value is important to understand whether biopsies are performed too often, or not often enough, and may therefore serve as a quality indicator of work-up for a multidisciplinary team (MDT). A prerequisite for the RMST of an MDT is the assessment of absolute real-world data to avoid bias and to allow comparison among other MDTs. Analyzing 950 consecutive biopsies for sarcoma-suspected lesions over a 3.2-year period, 55% sarcomas were confirmed; 28% turned out to be benign mesenchymal tumors, and 17% non-mesenchymal tumors, respectively. Of these, 3.5% were metastases from other solid malignancies, 1.5% hematologic tumors and 13% sarcoma simulators, which most often were degenerative or inflammatory processes. The RMST for biopsied lipomatous lesions was 39%. The ratio of unplanned resections was 10% in this series. Reorganizing sarcoma work-up into integrating practice units (IPU) allows the assessment of real-world data with absolute values over the geography, thereby enabling the definition of quality indicators and addressing cost efficiency aspects of sarcoma care.
Autophagy, Oxidative Stress and Cancer Development
Authors: Taucher Elisabeth , Mykoliuk Iurii , Fediuk Melanie , Smolle-Juettner Freyja-Maria
Published: March 2022

Autophagy is an important cellular repair mechanism, aiming at sequestering misfolded and dysfunctional proteins and damaged cell organelles. Dysfunctions in the autophagy process have been linked to several diseases, like infectious and neurodegenerative diseases, type II diabetes mellitus and cancer. Living organisms are constantly subjected to some degree of oxidative stress, mainly induced by reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. It has been shown that autophagy is readily induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon nutrient deprivation. In recent years, research has increasingly focused on outlining novel therapeutic targets related to the autophagy process. With this review of the literature, we want to give an overview about the link between autophagy, oxidative stress and carcinogenesis.
Prospects and Technical Challenges in Hydrogen Production through Dry Reforming of Methane
Authors: de Medeiros Fábio Gonçalves Macêdo , Lopes Francisco Wendell Bezerra , Rego de Vasconcelos Bruna
Published: March 2022

Environmental issues related to greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions have pushed the development of new technologies that will allow the economic production of low-carbon energy vectors, such as hydrogen (H2), methane (CH4) and liquid fuels. Dry reforming of methane (DRM) has gained increased attention since it uses CH4 and carbon dioxide (CO2), which are two main greenhouse gases (GHG), as feedstock for the production of syngas, which is a mixture of H2 and carbon monoxide (CO) and can be used as a building block for the production of fuels. Since H2 has been identified as a key enabler of the energy transition, a lot of studies have aimed to benefit from the environmental advantages of DRM and to use it as a pathway for a sustainable H2 production. However, there are several challenges related to this process and to its use for H2 production, such as catalyst deactivation and the low H2/CO ratio of the syngas produced, which is usually below 1.0. This paper presents the recent advances in the catalyst development for H2 production via DRM, the processes that could be combined with DRM to overcome these challenges and the current industrial processes using DRM. The objective is to assess in which conditions DRM could be used for H2 production and the gaps in literature data preventing better evaluation of the environmental and economic potential of this process.
Leaky Gum: The Revisited Origin of Systemic Diseases
Authors: Park Do-Young , Park Jin Young , Lee Dahye , Hwang Inseong , Kim Hye-Sung
Published: March 2022

The oral cavity is the gateway for microorganisms into your body where they disseminate not only to the directly connected respiratory and digestive tracts but also to the many remote organs. Oral microbiota, travelling to the end of the intestine and circulating in our bodies through blood vessels, not only affect a gut microbiome profile but also lead to many systemic diseases. By gathering information accumulated from the era of focal infection theory to the age of revolution in microbiome research, we propose a pivotal role of “leaky gum”, as an analogy of “leaky gut”, to underscore the importance of the oral cavity in systemic health. The oral cavity has unique structures, the gingival sulcus (GS) and the junctional epithelium (JE) below the GS, which are rarely found anywhere else in our body. The JE is attached to the tooth enamel and cementum by hemidesmosome (HD), which is structurally weaker than desmosome and is, thus, vulnerable to microbial infiltration. In the GS, microbial biofilms can build up for life, unlike the biofilms on the skin and intestinal mucosa that fall off by the natural process. Thus, we emphasize that the GS and the JE are the weakest leaky point for microbes to invade the human body, making the leaky gum just as important as, or even more important than, the leaky gut.
Current Concepts in Endoscopic Bladder Neck Injection: Combined Antegrade and Retrograde Endoscopic Injection of the Bladder Neck in Children with Neurogenic Bladder
Authors: Haecker Frank-Martin , Mettler Anja , Mack Alexander
Published: March 2022

Introduction: Urinary incontinence is common in patients with neurogenic bladder, and efficient management is an ongoing challenge. Besides open surgical procedures like bladder neck reconstruction, artificial sphincter implantation, or sling procedures, endoscopic bladder neck injections of bulking agents enable minimally invasive access with promising results. Several studies report on the effect of antegrade vs. retrograde endoscopic injection techniques. We report our preliminary experience of combined antegrade and retrograde endoscopic injection of the bladder neck in children with neurogenic bladder, in selected cases combined with intravesical Botox® injection. Methods: With the patient in lithotomy position, antegrade urethrocystoscopy was performed using a 9.5 Fr cystoscope. In parallel, percutaneous suprapubic bladder access introducing a second 9.5 Fr. cystoscope was accomplished. Four quadrant Dx/H injections were performed, with the two surgeons guiding each other by parallel endoscopy to the optimal localization for injection. In selected patients, the procedure was completed with transurethral intravesical Botox® injection. Results: A total of 6 children underwent the combined procedure (2/6 patients including intravesical Botox® injection). The mean follow-up was 15 months (range 3 to 48). 5 Patients experienced a significant improvement of urinary incontinence, however one patient demonstrated complete failure. Conclusions: Even if we present only preliminary results with a limited number of patients, we present a minimally invasive technique with encouraging results. In carefully selected patients, combined antegrade and retrograde endoscopic injection of the bladder neck is a useful tool to treat urinary incontinence.
Modeling the Impact of Future Climate Change Impacts on Rainfed Durum Wheat Production in Algeria
Authors: Kourat Tassadit , Smadhi Dalila , Madani Azzeddine
Published: March 2022

The predicted climate change threatens food security in the coming years in Algeria. So, this study aims to assess the impact of future climate change on a key crop in Algeria which is rainfed durum wheat. We investigate the impact of climate change on rainfed durum wheat cultivar called Mexicali using AquaCrop crop model and the EURO-CORDEX climate projections downscaled with the ICHEC_KNMI model under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5. A delta method was applied to correct the incertitudes present in the raw climate projections of two experimental sites located in Sétif and Bordj Bou Arreridj (BBA)’s Eastern High plains of Algeria (EHPs). AquaCrop was validated with a good precision (RMSE = 0.41 tha−1) to simulate Mexicali cultivar yields. In 2035–2064, it is expected at both sites: an average wheat grain yield enhances of +49% and +105% under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5, respectively, compared to the average yield of the baseline period (1981–2010), estimated at 29 qha−1. In both sites, in 2035–2064, under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5, the CO2 concentrations elevation has a fertilizing effect on rainfed wheat yield. This effect compensates for the negative impacts induced by the temperatures increase and decline in precipitation and net solar radiation. An increase in wheat water productivity is predicted under both RCPs scenarios. That is due to the water loss drop induced by the shortening of the wheat-growing cycle length by the effect of temperatures increase. In 2035–2064, early sowing in mid-September and October will lead to wheat yields improvement, as it will allow the wheat plant to benefit from the precipitations increase through the fall season. Thus, this early sowing will ensure a well vegetative development and will allow the wheat’s flowering and grain filling before the spring warming period.