bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Blackleg: A Review of the Agent and Management of the Disease in Brazil
Authors: Sousa Anada Iara de Jesus , Galvão Cleideanny Cancela , Pires Prhiscylla Sadanâ , Salvarani Felipe Masiero
Published: August 2023

The genus Clostridium is an important group of pathogenic and nonpathogenic Gram-positive anaerobic bacteria with sporulation capacity and wide distribution in different environments, including the gastrointestinal tract of healthy and diseased animals and humans. Among the pathogenic species of the genus, Clostridium chauvoei stands out as a histotoxic agent. It causes important myonecroses such as blackleg, a disease with high lethality and mortality, especially in young cattle, and is responsible for significant losses to livestock worldwide. The pathogenic-ity of the disease is complex and has not yet been fully elucidated. The hypotheses cover pro-cesses from the initial absorption to the transport and deposition of the agent in the affected tis-sues. The virulence factors of C. chauvoei were divided into somatic and flagellar antigens and soluble antigens/toxins, which are the main antigens involved in vaccines against blackleg in Brazil and worldwide. This review provides important information on the first and current ap-proaches to the agent C. chauvoei and its virulence factors, as well as provides a compilation of data on Brazilian studies related to blackleg.
Perspectives on Saponin: Food Functionality and Applications
Authors: Timilsena Yakindra Prasad , PHOSANAM Arissara , Stockmann Regine
Published: August 2023

Saponins are a diverse group of naturally occurring plant secondary metabolites present in a wide range of foods ranging from grains, pulses, green leaves to sea creatures. They consist of a hydrophilic sugar moiety linked to a lipophilic aglycone, resulting in an amphiphilic nature and unique functional properties. The amphiphilic structures enable saponins to exhibit surface-active properties, forming stable foams and complexes with various molecules. In the context of food applications, saponins are utilized as natural emulsifiers, foaming agents, and stabilizers. They contribute to texture and stability in food products and have potential health benefits, including cholesterol-lowering and anticancer effects. Saponins possess additional bioactivities that make them valuable in the pharmaceutical industry as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, and antiparasitic agents to name a few. Saponins can demonstrate cytotoxic activity against cancer cell lines and can also act as adjuvants, enhancing the immune response to vaccines. Their ability to form stable complexes with drugs further expands their potential in drug delivery systems. However, challenges such as bitterness, cytotoxicity, and instability under certain conditions need to be addressed for effective utilization of saponins in foods and related applications. In this paper, we have reviewed chemistry, functionality, and application aspects of saponins from various plant sources and have summarised the regulatory aspects of food application of Quillaja saponins. Further research to explore the full potential of saponins in improving food quality and human health has been suggested. It is expected that this article will be a useful resource for researchers in food, feed, pharmaceutical and material science.
Time Course Studies toward Oxidation of Different Peroxidase Substrates in the Presence of Silver Nanozymes
Authors: Hormozi Jangi Saeed Reza
Published: August 2023

In this contribution, time course studies were performed toward oxidation of different peroxidase substrates in the presence of silver nanozymes. In this regard, two common peroxidase substrates, TMB and DAB, were selected as model chromogens. The process of the oxidation reaction was probed by recording the absorbance of the colored products using UV-Vis spectrophotometer. Thereafter, the nanozymatic activity was calculated and used as an index for comparing the performance of the silver nanozymes against different substrates in a certain reaction time. The time course curves, revealed that the maximal activity of the silver nanozymes were achieved after a very short time of 3.0 min toward TMB oxidation while regarding DAB, the maximal activity was observed after 25.0 min which is 6.5-fold slower than that of the TMB oxidation. The difference between the DAB and TMB can be assigned to their different reaction pathways and different reactivity. In fact, the oxidation of DAB has occurred via n-electron irreversible pathway while the TMB oxidation has occurred through a simple 2-electon reversible pathway. Besides, DAB is a high stable and less relative compound compared of TMB, resulting different oxidation times, different affinity for binding to nanozyme active nodes which lead to different nanozymatic activities.
Mediterranean Plants as Potential Source of Biopesticides: An Overview of Current Research and Future Trends
Authors: Fragkouli Regina , Antonopoulou Maria , Asimakis Elias , Spyrou Alexandra , Kosma Chariklia , Zotos Anastasios , Tsiamis George , Patakas Angelos , Triantafyllidis Vassilios
Published: August 2023

Development and implementation of safe natural alternatives to synthetic pesticides are urgent needs that will provide ecological solutions for control of plant diseases, bacteria, viruses, nematodes, pests, and weeds, to ensure economic stability of the farmers and food security as well as protection of the environment and human health. Unambiguously, production of botanical pesticides will allow sustainable and efficient use of natural resources and finally decrease the use of chemical inputs and burden. This is underlined by the strict regulations on pesticide residues in agricultural products and harmonized with the Farm to Fork strategy aimed to reduce pesticide use by 55%, by 2030. Recognizing the urgent need for natural pesticides development, this work is an overview of the current research on the valorization of Mediterranean plants as potential source of biopesticides. More specifically, the extraction methods, the chemical composition, the biopesticidal activity, the commonly used assays for evaluating the antimicrobial, the pesticidal, the repellant and the herbicidal activity of plant extracts as well as toxicological and safety aspects of biopesticides formulation are discussed in detail. Finally, the aspects that have not yet been investigated or are under- investigated and future perspectives are highlighted.
Assessing the Influence of Fracture Networks on Gas-Based Enhanced Oil Recovery Methods
Authors: Kharrat Riyaz , Alalim Nouri , Ott Holger
Published: August 2023

Numerous reservoirs that play a significant role in worldwide petroleum production and reserves contain fractures. Typically, the fractures must form a connected network for a reservoir to be classified as naturally fractured. Characterizing the reservoir with a focus on its fracture network is crucial for modeling and predicting production performance. To simplify the solution, dual continuum modeling techniques are commonly employed. However, to use continuum-scale approaches, properties such as average aperture, permeability, and matrix fracture interaction parameters must be assigned, making it necessary to improve fracture depiction and modeling methods.

This study investigates a fractured reservoir with a low matrix permeability and a well-connected fracture network. The focus is on the impact of the hyrachical fracture network on the production performance of gas-based enhanced oil recovery methods. The Discrete Fracture Model (DFN) was utilized to create comprehensive two-dimensional models for three processes: Gas Injection (GI), Water Alternating Gas (WAG), and Foam Assisted Water Alternating Gas (FAWAG). Moreover, dimensionless numbers were employed to establish connections between properties across the entire fracture hierarchy, spanning from minor to major fractures and encompassing the fracture intensity.

The results indicate that the FAWAG is more sensitive to fracture types and networks than the WAG and GI processes. Hence, the sensitivity of the individual EOR method to the fracture network requires a respective depth of description of the fracture network. However, other factors, such as reservoir fluids properties and fracture properties, might influence the recovery when the minor fracture networks are excluded.

This study has determined that, among the enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques examined, the significance of the hyrachical depth of fracture networks diminishes as the ratio of major (primary fracture) aperture to the aperture of medium and minor fractures increases. Additionally, the impact of the assisted-gravity drainage method was greater with increased reservoir height; however, as the intensity ratio increased, the relative importance of medium and minor fracture networks decreased.
Instrumental and Observational Problems of the Earliest Temperature Records in Italy: A Methodology for Data Recovery and Correction
Authors: Camuffo Dario , Della Valle Antonio , Becherini Francesca
Published: August 2023

A distinction is made between data rescue (i.e., copying, digitizing and archiving) and data recovery that implies deciphering, interpreting and transforming early instrumental readings and their metadata to obtain high-quality datasets in modern units. This requires a multidisciplinary approach that includes: palaeography and knowledge of Latin and other languages to read the handwritten logs and additional documents; history of science to interpret the original text, data e metadata within the cultural frame of the 17th, 18th and early 19th century; physics and technology to recognize bias of early instruments or calibrations, or to correct for observational bias; astronomy to calculate and transform the original time in canonical hours that started from twilight. The liquid-in-glass thermometer was invented in 1641 and the earliest temperature records started in 1654. Since then, different types of thermometers were invented, based on the thermal expansion of air or selected thermometric liquids with deviation from linearity. Reference points, thermometric scales, calibration methodologies were not comparable, and not always adequately described. Thermometers had various locations and exposures, e.g., indoor, outdoor, on windows, gardens or roofs, facing different directions. Readings were made only one or a few times a day, not necessarily respecting a precise time schedule: this bias is analysed for the most popular combinations of reading times. The time was based on sundials and local Sun, but the hours were counted starting from twilight. In 1789-90 Italy changed system and all cities counted hours from their lower culmination (i.e., local midnight), so that every city had its local time; in 1866, all the Italian cities followed the local time of Rome; in 1893, the whole Italy adopted the present-day system, based on the Coordinated Universal Time and the time zones. In 1873, when the International Meteorological Committee (IMO) was founded, later transformed in World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a standardization of instruments and observational protocols was established, and all data became fully comparable. In the early instrumental period, from 1654 to 1873, the comparison, correction and homogenization of records is quite difficult, mainly because of the scarcity or even absence of metadata. This paper deals about this confused situation, discussing the main problems, but also the methodologies to recognize missing metadata, distinguish indoor from outdoor readings; correct and transform early datasets in unknown or arbitrary units into modern units; finally, in which cases it is possible to reach the quality level required by WMO. The focus is to explain the methodology needed to recover early instrumental records, i.e., the operations that should be performed to interpret, correct, and transform the original raw data into a high-quality dataset of temperature, usable for climate studies.
First Report of Hemp Fusarium wilt Caused by Fusarium oxysporum in Croatia
Authors: Duvnjak Tomislav , Vrandecic Karolina , Sudarić Aleksandra , Cosic Jasenka , Siber Tamara , Matosa Kocar Maja
Published: August 2023

Wilted hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) plants were observed in August 2019 in commercial fields around Osijek, Croatia. Plants and roots with disease symptoms were collected. The single-spored isolates produced septate cottony white to light pink aerial mycelium and purple undersurface on potato dextrose agar (PDA). Smooth and hyaline hyphae were branched and septate. Macroconidia were fusiform to sickle-shaped with foot-shaped basal cell, elongated apical cell and three to five septa. Sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer and the partial elongation factor 1-α gene identified species as Fusarium oxysporum. Artificial infection fulfills Koch’s postulates, producing plants which showed stunted growth and wilt symptoms similar to those observed in the commercial fields. Control seedlings remained symptomless and healthy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of hemp Fusarium wilt causing F. oxysporum in Croatia. Considering that F. oxysporum has been reported in main field crops in Croatia, the presence of this pathogen could cause economically significant hemp production decreases, especially in humid and cold springs and susceptible varieties.
Digital Literacy Skills and System Quality as Predictors of Learning Management Systems Use of Postgraduate Students in Ibadan Nigeria
Authors: Adegbore Adebayo Muritala , Tella Adeyinka , Jide Ayoola
Published: August 2023

The use of learning management systems (LMS) was observed to be weak among students in Nigeria. Therefore, digital literacy skills and system quality were used as predictors to predict LMS use among postgraduate students in universities in Ibadan, Nigeria.  A survey design of the correlational type was adopted. At the same time, the population of the study comprised all the 4,750 postgraduate students of two universities in Ibadan, Nigeria, and 328 postgraduate students were drawn using a multi-stage sampling technique. The instrument adopted for data collection was a questionnaire which had three sections. The questionnaire return rate was 316 copies, representing a 96.3% retrieval rate. Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient and multiple regression analysis were conducted to test the null hypotheses at a 0.05 significance level. A significant relationship between digital literacy skills and the use of learning management (r =.319; p < 0.05) was found, while a significant relationship between system quality and the use of learning management systems (r =.501; p < 0.05) was equally established. There is a significant relationship between digital literacy skills and LMS system quality (r =.529; p < 0.05). Furthermore, a joint influence of digital literacy skills and system quality on the use of learning management systems of postgraduate students in universities in Ibadan, Nigeria (F =53.594; R=0.505; p < 0.05) was established. It was recommended that university management and lecturers should ensure the system quality of the LMS type to be adopted must support the convenience of use and have fewer technicalities in its use.
Leveraging Virtualization Technology in Teaching Cyber Security Courses in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Keyamo Clement Amone , Ejeh Patrick Ogholuwarami , Iyoha Daniel Osamwonyi
Published: August 2023

Teaching and learning can be effective and enjoyable if the course is well-packaged and presented. This was the experience of students and teachers participating in our hands-on Cyber Security course. Effective teaching of Cyber Security requires practical demonstration of attack patterns and their related countermeasures. This implies that outstanding and modern laboratories must be in place to teach and learn the necessary principles and practices effectively. Unfortunately, newly established universities in Sub-Saharan Africa need more funds for establishing and maintaining such laboratories. However, several researchers have shown that virtualization technology (VT) can enhance available but limited physical computing laboratories as an alternative to complex physical laboratories with huge procurement costs. This paper proposes an ad hoc and mobile laboratory for teaching practical principles in Cyber Security. The report aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of virtualization technology in teaching Cyber Security in newly established universities in Sub-Saharan Africa with zero to minimal computer laboratory infrastructure.
Experimental Study of Mechatronic System On Control of Air Flow Temperature
Authors: Yanto Asmara , Adriyan Adriyan , Saferi Rozi , Al Hafizh M. Hanif
Published: August 2023

In this work, an experimental study of a mechatronic system on control of airflow temperature has been conducted to identify the characteristics of the system. The system is tested by several reference temperatures from the monitor panel that programmed on the computer. The measurement of the output temperature by the sensor that is expected to be the same as the reference temperature is also displayed on the same monitor panel. While the measurement of AC power consumption by an actuator in the form of a heater is carried out by measuring the AC voltage on the heater during control. This voltage is measured with a computer-based oscilloscope. Based on the test results, with the initial temperature around the room temperature and reference temperature, the system time constant can be identified. This time constant value is obtained based on the output temperature graph which is identical to the first-order system response. Thus, this experimental study succeeded in identifying the characteristics of the system in the form of a time constant and the system was identified as identical to the first order system.
The Effect of Adding Prim ary Epoxy on the Corrosion Rate of Low Carbon Steel in 5.25% Calcium Hypochlorite Solution
Authors: Eka Putra Ismet , Hidayat Haleri Echo Yeyen
Published: August 2023

The  corrosion  process  occurs  in  almost  all  materials,  especially  metals, slowly but surely, which can cause a material to have a limited service life. Corrosion  cannot  be  prevented  but  the  rate  can  be  reduced.  One  of  t he methods  to  inhibit  the  effective  corrosion  rate  is by  giving  epoxy  primer treatment. This study aims to examine the effect of adding epoxy primer on the corrosion rate of low carbon steel immersed in a 5.25% Calcium hypochlorite solution. This research was conducted using 27 specimens in 9 vessels, each vessel contained 3 specimens immersed in low carbon steel without treatment, oil paint and epoxy primer. Volume of 1 liter of solution for 1 vessel. The results of this study indicate that the epoxy primer is able to inhibit the corrosion rate well. The reduction in weight of low carbon steel treated with oil paint is much greater than that of untreated low carbon steel using epoxy primer. The lowest corrosion rate was given by applying epoxy primer in 30 days of immersion with an average value of 0.001001695 mpy and the highest corrosion rate without treatment in 15 days of immersion with an average value of 0.005008473 mpy.
Failure Analysis of Induced Draft Fan Bearing in PT Semen Padang Using The RCM Method
Authors: Saferi Rozi , Sulaeman  , Defra Wanda Olka
Published: August 2023

The development of the technology is getting trigger competition in industri. To compete, companies should can provide products and the quality of services best for consumer. This study aims to find out the causes of bearings that are damaged in the Induced Draft Fan (IDF Bearing) and how to plan strategic maintenance of IDF Bearing. The method used is reliability centered maintenance (RCM). The causes of bearing damage are analyzed using the Failure Mode Effect and Critical Analysis (FMECA) method. The results of this study show that the cause of IDF Bearing damage is clearance with an RPN value of 210, lubrication system with an RPN value of 36, unbalance with an RPN value of 72, and high temperature with an RPN value of 54. Scheduled Restoration Maintenance is applied for IDF Bearing , where task or preventive maintenance in the form of oil change with a time of 5803.2 hours or 241 days.
Acoustic Doppler current profiler study of water and sediment movement through a deep scour hole in the Lower Mississippi River
Authors: Ramirez Michael , Dahl Travis , Brown Gary
Published: August 2023

A series of acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) transects were collected through a deep scour hole at the bend near River Mile 60 on the Lower Mississippi River. The measurements were collected during both a low and a high flow. The ADCP results show a 3D flow field through the deep bend. The backscatter intensity of the ADCP measurements indicates the majority of the sediment remains close to the inside of the bend and high in the water column, with minimal concentrations at the bottom of the bend. These findings have implications for numerical sediment transport models, which tend to deposit material at the bottom of deep scour holes like the one in this study.
Emergent false vacuum decay processes in a two-dimensional electronic crystal: experiment vs. simulations on a noisy superconducting quantum processor
Authors: Vodeb Jaka , Diego Michele , Vaskivskyi Yevhenii , Logaric Leonard , Gerasimenko Yaroslav , Kabanov Viktor , Lipovsek Benjamin , Topic Marko , Mihailovic Dragan
Published: August 2023

Emergent metastability in non-equilibrium systems is a subject that touches everything from the origins of life1 to the quantum nature of the universe2. In condensed quantum matter, a good topical example is the metastability of topologically inhibited self-organization of electronic domains in a correlated electronic crystal in the aftermath of a symmetry-breaking phase transition3. Understanding the dynamics of such systems is crucial for developing new quantum technologies and exploring fundamental aspects of many-body non-equilibrium quantum mechanics. Here, a non-equilibrium state is set up by carrier injection in the quantum material (M), resulting in a domain structure, whose time-evolution is investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy. Demonstrating a new approach to modelling of emergent non-equilibrium quantum behavior, we use an array of 2008 qubits in a programmable noisy superconducting quantum simulator (NSQS) without error correction (P), in which mutual qubit interconnections correspond directly to the electronic interactions on the triangular lattice of the electronic crystal material. The success of the simulations critically depends on both the faithfulness of the model correspondence between the two systems and careful management of the decoherence pathways. Importantly, decoherence of both P and M is driven by noise with a characteristic 1/ν frequency spectrum. The simulations reveal how an emergent false vacuum state arises, describing the time evolution and temperature dependence of the observed electronic domain dynamics of M solely on the basis of microscopic electronic interactions. The parallel experiments demonstrate the potential of NSQSs for studying emergent non-equilibrium dynamics in complex many-body quantum systems.
Development of Machine Learning Models for Studying the Premixed Turbulent Combustion of Gas-To-Liquids (GTL) Fuel
Authors: Sadeq Abdellatif , Hedayati Amin , Sleiti Ahmad , Ahmed Samer
Published: August 2023

Studying the spatial and temporal evolution in turbulent flames represents one of the most challenging problems in the combustion community. Based on previous 3D numerical analyses, this study aims to develop data-driven Machine Learning (ML) models for predicting the flame radius evolution and turbulent flame speeds for diesel, GTL, and their 50/50 blend (by volumetric composition) under different thermodynamic and turbulence operating conditions. Two ML models were developed in this study. Model 1 predicts the variations of the flame radius with time, equivalence ratio, and turbulence intensity, whereas Model 2 predicts the variations of the turbulence flame speed with the operating parameters. The k-fold cross-validation technique is used for model training, and the developed neural network-based model is used to investigate the effects of operating parameters on the premixed turbulent flames. In addition, the possible minimum and maximum values of responses at the corresponding operating parameters are found by using a Genetic Algorithm (GA) approach. Model 1 could capture the CFD outputs with high precision at different flame radiuses and time instants with a maximum absolute error percentage of 5.46%. For Model 2, the maximum absolute error percentage was 6.58%. Overall, this study demonstrates the applicability and promising performance of the proposed ML models, which will be used in subsequent research to analyze turbulent flames a posteriori.
A 16-yr movie of the spotted surface of the K-giant
XX Trianguli: evidence for a chaotic stellar dynamo
Authors: Strassmeier Klaus , Kovari Zsolt , Weber Michael , Granzer Thomas
Published: August 2023

Sunspots are the most well-known manifestations of solar magnetic fields and exhibit a range of phenomena related to the interior dynamo. Among the observables from the spatially resolved solar disk are the number, size, and morphology of sunspots, their growth and decay, and their migration in latitude and longitude. Starspots are the direct analogs
of sunspots on other stars but with the big observational restriction that we usually can not resolve other star’s surfaces. An indirect technique exists though, a technique historically called Doppler imaging. Typically, only occasional snapshots of spots on stellar surfaces are obtained while it is well-known that spots systematically change with time and, like on the Sun, only then tell us about the interior dynamo and structure of the target in question. Here we present a 16-year long time series of Doppler images for one of the most spotted stars in the sky. Creating this unique times series was only possible thanks to the continuous operation of the STELLA robotic telescope on Tenerife and its high-resolution echelle spectrograph SES. The robot has observed the star on every available clear night since July 2006, acquiring a total of over 2000 high-resolution, high signal-to-noise-ratio (S/N) spectra that are used to create 99 independent Doppler images. We combine these images into a movie visualizing XX Tri’s surface spot evolution for the past 16 years. Stellar-disk photocenter displacements of up to 24 µas, or ≈10% of the stellar disk radius, are reconstructed for XX Tri, but do not conclusively show the typical solar-like periodic behavior that could be interpreted as an activity cycle. A period of ≈4.1 yr is retrieved only from the effective temperature time series but could not be clearly confirmed from other surface tracers. It suggests a mostly chaotic, likely unperiodic, dynamo. The images also indicate missing (blocked) flux due to cool spots of up to 10% of the total flux.
Integrated frequency-modulated optical parametric oscillator
Authors: Safavi-Naeini Amir , Stokowski Hubert , Dean Devin , Hwang Alexander , Park Taewon , Celik Oguz , Jankowski Marc , Langrock Carsten , Ansari Vahid , Fejer Martin
Published: August 2023

Optical frequency combs have revolutionized precision measurement, time-keeping, and molecular spectroscopy.1-5 A substantial effort has developed around ``microcombs'': integrating comb-generating technologies into compact, reliable photonic platforms6. Current approaches for generating these microcombs involve either the electro-optic7 (EO) or Kerr mechanisms8. Despite rapid progress, maintaining high efficiency and wide bandwidth remains challenging. Here, we introduce a new class of microcomb -- an integrated optical frequency comb generator that combines electro-optics and parametric amplification to yield a frequency-modulated optical parametric oscillator (FM-OPO). In stark contrast to EO and Kerr combs, the FM-OPO microcomb does not form pulses but maintains operational simplicity and highly efficient pump power utilization with an output resembling a frequency-modulated laser9. We outline the working principles of FM-OPO and demonstrate them by fabricating the complete optical system in thin-film lithium niobate (LNOI). We measure pump to comb internal conversion efficiency exceeding 93% (34% out-coupled) over a nearly flat-top spectral distribution spanning ≈ 1,000 modes (≈ 6 THz). Compared to an EO comb, the cavity dispersion rather than loss determines the FM-OPO bandwidth, enabling broadband combs with a smaller RF modulation power. The FM-OPO microcomb, with its robust operational dynamics, high efficiency, and large bandwidth, contributes a new approach to the field of microcombs and promises to herald an era of miniaturized precision measurement, and spectroscopy tools to accelerate advancements in metrology, spectroscopy, telecommunications, sensing, and computing.
Low-Pressure Plasma as a Seed Coat to Enhance the Growth of Wheat Seedlings for Obtaining Future Outcomes Under Salinity Conditions
Authors: Elgendy Abdelfattah T. , Elsaid Hesham , Rizk Sameh A. , Saudy Hani S. , Wehbe Nimer , Hassine Mohamed Ben , Al-Nemi Ruba , Jaremko Mariusz , Emwas Abdul-Hamid
Published: August 2023

The increased drought and soil salinity are two effects of climate change that threaten global food security and food production. Soil salinity is a major challenge for agriculture in arid areas, creating conditions that may be unsuitable for the growth of crop plants. Here, we use recycled organic tree waste combined with low-pressure plasma treatment as grain coating to improve the ability of Egyptian wheat seeds (Misr-1 and Gemme-za-11) to survive, germinate and produce seedlings in highly saline soil. We coated the seeds with biofilms of lignin and hash carbon to form a protective extracellular polymeric matrix and then exposed them to low-pressure plasma for different periods of time. The effectiveness of the coating and plasma was evaluated by characterizing the physical and surface properties of coated seeds using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and wettability testing. We also evaluated biological and physiological properties of coated seeds and plants they produced by studying germination and seedling vigor, as well as by characterizing fitness parameters of the plants derived from the seeds. The analysis revealed the optimal plasma exposure time to enhance germination and seedling growth. Taken together, our study suggests that combining the use of recycled organic tree waste and low-pressure plasma may represent a viable strategy for improving crop performance in salty environments.
Warming and Disturbances Affect North American Arctic-Boreal
Vegetation Resilience
Authors: Liu Yanlan , Zhang Yue , Wang Jonathan , Berner Logan , Goetz Scott , Zhao Kaiguang
Published: August 2023

Rapid warming and increasing disturbances in Arctic-boreal regions have caused extensive vegetation shifts and uncertain future carbon budgets. Better predictions of vegetation dynamics and functions require characterizing resilience–the capability to recover from climate perturbations and disturbances. Here, we quantify time-varying vegetation resilience using temporal autocorrelation of remotely sensed greenness during 2000–2019 across North American Arctic-boreal ecosystems. We find vegetation resilience significantly decreased in most boreal forests, including in forests showing greening trends, while likely increased in the majority of Arctic tundra. Warm and dry areas with high elevation and dense vegetation cover were among the hotspots of reduced resilience. Resilience further diminished both before and after most land cover changes and fires. The findings highlight warming and disturbance have been undermining vegetation resilience, especially in relatively warm boreal forests, potentially undermining the expected long-term increase of high latitude carbon uptake under future climate.
Machine Learning Ensemble Directed Engineering of Genetically Encoded Fluorescent Calcium Indicators
Authors: Berndt Andre , Wait Sarah , Rappleye Michael , Lee Justin , Goy Marc , Smith Netta
Published: August 2023

In this study, we focused on the transformative potential of machine learning in the engineering of genetically encoded fluorescent indicators (GEFIs), protein-based sensing tools that are critical for real-time monitoring of biological activity. GEFIs are complex proteins with multiple dynamic states, rendering optimization by trial-and-error mutagenesis a challenging problem. We applied an alternative approach using machine learning to predict the outcomes of sensor mutagenesis by analyzing established libraries that link sensor sequences to functions. Using the GCaMP calcium indicator as a scaffold, we developed an ensemble of three regression models trained on experimentally derived GCaMP mutation libraries. We used the trained ensemble to perform an in silico functional screen on 1423 novel, uncharacterized GCaMP variants. As a result, we identified the novel ensemble-derived GCaMP (eGCaMP) variants, eGCaMP and eGCaMP+, that achieve both faster kinetics and larger fluorescent responses upon stimulation than previously published fast variants. Furthermore, we identified a combinatorial mutation with extraordinary dynamic range, eGCaMP2+, that outperforms the tested 6th, 7th, and 8th generation GCaMPs. These findings demonstrate the value of machine learning as a tool to facilitate the efficient pre-screening of mutants for functional characteristics. By leveraging the learning capabilities of our ensemble, we were able to accelerate the identification of promising mutations and reduce the experimental burden associated with trial-and-error mutagenesis. Overall, these findings have significant implications for optimizing GEFIs and other protein-based tools, demonstrating the utility of machine learning as a powerful asset in protein engineering.
Prevalence and associated factors of denture use among elderly living in rural and urban areas of China: A national cross-sectional study
Authors: Lin Yuxin Eva , Zhang Xiaoyue , Chen Meijun , Ji Ying , Shi Yuhui , Lin Yuting , Cao Wangnan , Chang Chun
Published: August 2023

Backgrounds:
Tooth loss, often considered as an inevitable result of ageing, is one of the most frequently stated problems with older adults worldwide, which entails a negative impact on physical and mental health, as well as quality of life. However, there is urban-rural gap among older adults in both oral health condition and dental service utilization. The study focused on the urban-rural gap in Chinese older population, aiming to describe their tooth loss and denture use status, and explore the associated factors, hoping to provide insights into improving the oral healthcare system in China and other developing countries.
Methods
This cross-sectional study used data collected from May to September in 2020. A stratified, multi-stage cluster sampling design was used to produce nationally representative samples of adults aged 60 years and older. The dependent variable was denture use of the participant. Determinants included demographic characteristics, health status, social support, oral health knowledge and health service utilization. Descriptive analysis was conducted to describe the sample characteristics, and logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent factors associated with denture use among older adults in rural and urban China respectively.
Results
There were significantly urban-rural differences in tooth loss, denture use and health service utilization among Chinese older adults. Urban participants who used dentures tended to have higher oral health knowledge levels (OR = 1.714, 95%CI = 1.280–2.297), have dental check-ups in 6 months (OR = 1.718, 95%CI = 1.267–2.329), and have higher levels of social support (OR = 1.749, 95%CI = 1.323–2.313). Rural participants who were older (70–74: OR = 1.600, 95%CI = 1.010–2.534; 75+: OR = 1.621, 95%CI = 1.016–2.584; 60–64 as the reference group), had higher oral health knowledge levels (OR = 1.933, 95%CI = 1.467–2.545), had dental checkups in 6 months (OR = 1.607, 95%CI = 1.113–2.321), and assessed their health status as higher (OR = 1.431, 95%CI = 1.024–1.998) were more likely to use dentures.
Conclusions
Greater efforts should be made to enhance oral health education and emphasize the importance of regular dental checkups among older population. Targeted focus on different aspects of oral health based on the characteristics of different populations is suggested. Policymakers should be aware of the urban-rural disparity in distribution and utilization of oral health services.
Local exosomes and Hoxa11 status affect the healing fate during autogenous bone grafting at different sites
Authors: Wang Xing , Hao Yujia , Chen Xiaohang , Zhou Zilan , Xie Qingpeng , Song Haoyue , Hong Jinjia , Li Na , Wang Jia
Published: August 2023

The gold standard for the repair of bone defects arising from trauma, infection, resection, or tumors continues to be autogenous bone grafting. The healing of autogenous bone grafts is affected by the following local factors: immunological tolerance, blood supply and biological mechanical stress, which cannot be discussed independently without considering the specific sites of the receptor and donor bones. With respect to bone structure, bone composition, the pattern of osteogenesis or embryonic development origins, the site-related differences in properties between long bone and maxillofacial bone are of great importance among the bones distributed throughout the body. Here, we report that grafting bone blocks from mesoderm-derived femurs has poorer restorative performance than grafting bone blocks from cranial neural crest-derived mandibles. Furthermore, there are disparities in osteogenic repair when the same femur block is transplanted to repair defects in different locations (mandible or femur). Specifically, the femur with mandible as the recipient bed shows advantages in newly formed bone area, bone mineral density, collagen fiber structure and mineralization degree. Mechanistically, exosomes of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) from the mandible recipient bed mediate the positive healing influence on femur grafting blocks via the miR-126a-5p/Hoxa11 axis during autogenous transdevelopmental lineage transplantation.
Climate damage projections beyond annual temperature
Authors: Waidelich Paul , Batibeniz Fulden , Rising James A. , Kikstra Jarmo , Seneviratne Sonia
Published: August 2023

Recent studies have linked variability and extremes in temperature and precipitation to lower economic growth, but global GDP projections under climate change remain focused on annual temperatures. Here we combine empirical dose-response functions for temperature variability, rainfall deviations, and extreme precipitation with 33 CMIP6 models to examine GDP impacts under different warming levels. We find that at +3°C, global average losses amount to 8% of GDP, with the worst effects (up to 13%) in poorer, low-latitude countries. Relative to annual temperature damages, the additional GDP impacts of projecting variability and extremes are smaller and dominated by inter-annual variability, especially in lower latitudes. However, accounting for variability and extremes when estimating temperature dose-response functions raises global GDP losses by over 1%-pt. Since tail risks for economic growth are substantial, our results emphasize the need for region-specific risk assessments and reducing uncertainties around future variability and extremes, particularly for developing countries.
Deficiency of FRMD5 results in neurodevelopmental dysfunction and autistic-like behavior in mice
Authors: Wang Yun , Lyu Tian-Jie , Ma Ji , Zhang Xi-Yin , Xie Guo-Guang , Liu Cheng , Du Juan , Xu Yi-Nuo , Yang De-Chao , Cen Cheng , Wang Meng-Yuan , Lyu Na-Yun , Zhang Hong-Quan
Published: August 2023

Postsynaptic scaffolding proteins are causally associated with the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), a finding that is supported by several large-scale genomic studies 1,2 as well as in vitro and in vivo neurobiological studies of mutations in animal models 3,4. However, since ASD patients illustrate distinct phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity, each individual mutation gene accounts for only a small proportion (<2%) of cases 1,5. Recently, a human genetic study indicated that de novo variants in FERM domain-containing-5 (FRMD5) are related to neurodevelopmental abnormalities 6. Here, we reveal that deficiency of the scaffolding protein FRMD5 results in neurodevelopmental dysfunction and ASD-like behavior in mice. FRMD5 deficiency leads to morphological abnormalities in neurons and synaptic dysfunction in mice. Frmd5-deficient mice exhibited learning and memory dysfunction, impaired social function, and increased repetitive stereotyped behavior. Mechanistically, tandem mass tag (TMT)-labeled quantitative proteomics showed that FRMD5 deletion affected the distribution of synaptic proteins involved in the pathological process of ASD. Taken together, our findings first delineate the critical role of FRMD5 in neurodevelopment and ASD pathophysiology, indicating a therapeutic potential for the treatment of ASD.
Fuzzy Cognitive Maps for Algorithmic Decision Making in eMental Health
Authors: Brandl Lena , Jansen-Kosterink Stephanie , Hofs Dennis , Heylen Dirk K.J.
Published: August 2023

Background: eMental health is on the rise to meet growing global mental healthcare needs and so is the need for applications with automatic decision-making capabilities to support clinical practitioners and to personalize eMental health interventions to their users. However, due to unresolved challenges and clinicians’ reluctance to adopt artificial intelligence in mental healthcare, the technology’s current state in mental health is still in the phase of proof-of-concepts rather than providing decision making algorithms that are ready to create clinical impact. Fuzzy cognitive maps (FCMs), a soft computing technique that leverages expert knowledge by combining cognitive maps with fuzzy logic, can be an alternative approach to equipping eMental health with automatic decision-making capabilities.
Method: This article provides an introduction to FCMs for developing decision algorithms for eMental health. It demonstrates step by step how FCMs are developed, based on an example from mental health, while discussing challenges and future directions for research.
Results: FCMs are a viable option at the disposal of developers and researchers in the field of eMental health that come with their own set of advantages and challenges: (1) they allow the construction of initial mental health decision models without depending on the availability of large amounts of historical client data, (2) they are explainable, and (3) they involve clinicians in the construction process, inherently promoting professionals’ acceptance of the resulting algorithm. Regarding challenges, (4) there is a pronounced trade-off between the simplicity of FCMs and the accurate representation of mental health constructs since their approach offers limited ways for modelling beyond direct causality and for including temporal aspects of mental health problems, and (5) FCM decision models are not usually on par with data-driven black box AI models in terms of classification accuracy.
Conclusion: FCMs are an interesting and promising alternative modelling approach for developing decision-making algorithms in eMental health. Their inherent expert-basis, explainability and independence of large clinical data sets to arrive at initial usable decision models makes them especially attractive for the mental health domain.
Topical application of calcitonin gene-related peptide as a regenerative, antifibrotic, and immunomodulatory therapy for corneal injury
Authors: Zidan Asmaa , Zhu Shuyan , Elbasiony Elsayed , Najafi Sheyda , Lin Zhirong , Singh Rohan Bir , Naderi Amirreza , Yin Jia
Published: August 2023

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a multifunctional neuropeptide abundantly expressed by corneal nerves. Using a murine model of corneal mechanical injury, we found CGRP levels in the cornea to be significantly reduced after injury. Topical application of CGRP as an eye drop accelerates corneal epithelial wound closure, reduces corneal opacification, and prevents corneal edema after injury in vivo. We then used a series of in vitro and in vivo techniques to investigate the mechanisms underlying CGRP’s functions. CGRP promotes corneal epithelial cell migration, proliferation, and the secretion of laminin. It reduces TGF-β1 signaling and prevents TGF-β1-mediated stromal fibroblast activation and tissue fibrosis. CGRP reduces corneal endothelial cell apoptosis, preserves cell density and morphology, and promotes their pump function, thus reducing edema. Lastly, CGRP reduces neutrophil infiltration, macrophage maturation, and the production of inflammatory cytokines in the cornea. Taken together, our results show that corneal nerve-derived CGRP plays a cyto-protective, pro-regenerative, anti-fibrotic, and anti-inflammatory role in corneal wound healing. Given that current treatment options for corneal injury and opacity are scarce, CGRP has significant therapeutic potential in this area of unmet medical needs. In addition, our results highlight the critical role of sensory nerves in ocular surface homeostasis and injury repair.
A Simple Time-Domain BEM Model for Heterogeneous Orthotropic Hill-Shaped Topographies Under Attenuated Incident SH-Wave
Authors: Mojtabazadeh-Hasanlouei Saeed , Panji Mehdi , Kamalian Mohsen
Published: August 2023

A simple numeric model named DASBEM was successfully developed to analyze the seismic heterogeneous orthotropic hill-shaped topographies by a time-domain boundary element method based on half-space Green’s functions. The model was elaborated only by discretizing the hill surface and its interface with the underlying half-space in the use of image source theory and substructure approach. To improve the model at the corners, the double node procedure was applied to extreme nodes of the used quadratic elements. An attenuation ratio is implemented in the boundary equations using a decremental exponential function. After presenting the technique, a validation example presented beside the literature to measure the convergence with an isotropic response. Then, a sample Gaussian–shaped hill model is prepared under propagating obliquely incident SH-waves as common sample topography and the surface response is obtained by considering some significant parameters as well as the shape ratio, isotropy factor, frequency content, and angle of the incident wave. The ground surface response is sensitized in two time and frequency realms. The results showed that the amplitude of the response was not only dependent on the impedance ratio but also the isotropy ratio was always effective in orienting the wavefront to amplify the ground movement.
Boolean dimension of a Boolean lattice
Authors: Briański Marcin , Hodor Jędrzej , La Hoang , Micek Piotr , Michno Katzper
Published: August 2023

For every integer $n$ with $n \geq 6$, we prove that the Boolean dimension of a poset consisting of all the subsets of $\{1,\dots,n\}$ equipped with the inclusion relation is strictly less than $n$.