bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Residents’ Perception-Based Typology of Forest Landscape: A Case Study of Changsha, Central China
Authors: Wang Chen , Luo Fen
Published: October 2022

Forest management typically concentrates on biophysical phenomena, while social dimensions are relatively neglected in China. This manuscript aims to develop a typology of forest landscapes based on the individual perception in a cultural context of China with a random sample of 210 residents by utilizing the landscape image sketching technique. The results demonstrated that the typology of forest landscapes could be classified into ‘a recreational space,’ ‘an idealized homeland,’ ‘an untouched forest,’ and ‘a utopian forest.’ These types of forest landscapes suggest new ways of working with the public to achieve management goals of protecting and improving forest education and experience.
Self-Produced Hydrogen Sulfide Improves Ethanol Fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Other Yeast Species
Authors: Espinoza-Simón Emilio , Moreno-Álvarez Paola , Nieto-Zaragoza Elias , Ricardez-García Carolina , Ríos-Castro Emmanuel , Uribe-Carvajal Salvador , Torres-Quiroz Francisco
Published: October 2022

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a gas produced endogenously in organisms from the three domains of life. In mammals, it is involved in diverse physiological processes, including the regulation of blood pressure and its effects on memory. In contrast, in unicellular organisms, the physiological role of H2S has not been studied in detail. In yeast, for example, in the winemaking industry, H2S is an undesirable byproduct because of its rotten egg smell; however, its biological relevance during fermentation is not well understood. The effect of H2S in cells is linked to a posttranslational modification in cysteine residues known as S-persulfidation. In this paper, we evaluated S-persulfidation in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae proteome. We screened S-persulfidated proteins from cells growing in fermentable carbon sources, and we identified several glycolytic enzymes as S-persulfidation targets. Pyruvate kinase, catalyzing the last irreversible step of glycolysis, increased its activity in the presence of a H2S donor. Yeast cells treated with H2S increased ethanol production; moreover, mutant cells that endogenously accumulated H2S produced more ethanol and ATP during the exponential growth phase. This mechanism of the regulation of metabolism seems to be evolutionarily conserved in other yeast species, because H2S induces ethanol production in the pre-Whole-Genome Duplication species Kluyveromyces marxianus and Meyerozyma guilliermondii. Our results suggest a new role of H2S in the regulation of the metabolism during fermentation.
Comparative Study of Raw and Fermented Oat Bran: Nutritional Composition with Special Reference to Their Structural and Antioxidant Profile
Authors: Mustafa Ghulam , Arshad Muhammad Umair , Saeed Farhan , Afzaal Muhammad , Niaz Bushra , Hussain Muzzamal , Raza Muhammad Ahtisham , Nayik Gulzar Ahmad , Obaid Sami Al , Ansari Mohammad Javed , Nap Mircea-Emil , Sãlãgean Tudor
Published: October 2022

Oat bran has gained significant attention among cereal brans owing to its comparatively higher presence of dietary fibers and phytochemicals. The objective of the current research is to personify the nutritional and functional aspects of oat bran after yeast-induced (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) fermentation. For this purpose, a comparative study of raw and fermented oat bran was conducted to investigate the nutritional profile, antioxidant activity and functional characteristics of oat bran. Furthermore, pre- and post-structural variations on fermented bran were determined through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that crude fat, protein and total dietary fiber (soluble and insoluble) contents were significantly improved after fermentation. Moreover, the post-fermentation value of soluble dietary fiber was increased from 5.01 ± 0.21 to 7.2 ± 0.1%. Antioxidant activity, DPPH-RSA and ferric reducing antioxidant power values of bran samples were also enhanced through fermentation and the anti-nutritional factor, i.e., phytate, was significantly reduced from 1113.3 ± 8.5 to 283.4 ± 3.5 mg/100 g in bran samples after fermentation. Furthermore, the surface morphology of fermented oat bran shows scattering and pores, while raw oat bran shows visible aggregation in SEM micrographs. Water-holding capacity was also enhanced up to 2.11 (5.68%) after fermentation. In conclusion, the post-fermentation results revealed that yeast-induced fermentation enhanced the physicochemical, structural and antioxidant characteristics of oat bran.
Lychee-Derived, Thermotolerant Yeasts for Second-Generation Bioethanol Production
Authors: Nguyen Phu Van , Nguyen Khanh Hoang Viet , Nguyen Ngoc Linh , Ho Xuan Tuy Thi , Truong Phuc Hung , Thi Nguyen Kim Cuc
Published: October 2022

Thermotolerant yeasts are widely considered to be alternative strains to traditional yeasts for bioethanol production at high temperatures. In this study, thirty-two yeasts isolated from lychees were screened for thermotolerance, and seven selected isolates were identified as Candida tropicalis (isolates H8, H19, and H23), Meyerozyma guilliermondii (isolates H1 and H12) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (isolates H10 and H18). They tolerated up to 45 °C, 12% (v/v) ethanol concentration, 10 g/L acetic acid, and 5 g/L furfural, respectively, and produced 47.96 to 70.18 g/L of ethanol from 160 g/L glucose at 40 °C during 48 h of fermentation. Among the evaluated yeasts, M. guilliermondii H1 showed great potential for second-generation bioethanol fermentation with its ability to ferment xylose and arabinose. Under the optimal conditions resulting from a Plackett Burman design and a Box Behnken design, the highest ethanol concentration of 11.12 g/L was produced from 40 g/L substrate-based sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate (non-detoxified hydrolysate) at 40 °C by M. guilliermondii H1. These findings suggested that the newly isolated thermotolerant yeast M. guilliermondii H1 is a good candidate for ethanol production from agricultural wastes.
Complex Cases of Source Code Authorship Identification Using a Hybrid Deep Neural Network
Authors: Kurtukova Anna , Romanov Aleksandr , Shelupanov Alexander , Fedotova Anastasia
Published: October 2022

This paper is a continuation of our previous work on solving source code authorship identification problems. The analysis of heterogeneous source code is a relevant issue for copyright protection in commercial software development. This is related to the specificity of development processes and the usage of collaborative development tools (version control systems). As a result, there are source codes written according to different programming standards by a team of programmers with different skill levels. Another application field is information security—in particular, identifying the author of computer viruses. We apply our technique based on a hybrid of Inception-v1 and Bidirectional Gated Recurrent Units architectures on heterogeneous source codes and consider the most common commercial development complex cases that negatively affect the authorship identification process. The paper is devoted to the possibilities and limitations of the author’s technique in various complex cases. For situations where a programmer was proficient in two programming languages, the average accuracy was 87%; for proficiency in three or more—76%. For the artificially generated source code case, the average accuracy was 81.5%. Finally, the average accuracy for source codes generated from commits was 84%. The comparison with state-of-the-art approaches showed that the proposed method has no full-functionality analogs covering actual practical cases.
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) and Cryptocurrencies: Efficiency and Comovements
Authors: Pereira Éder , Ferreira Paulo , Quintino Derick
Published: October 2022

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are a type of digital record of ownership used in a unique way: ensuring authenticity and uniqueness. Due to these characteristics, NFTs have been used in several markets: games, arts, and sports, among others. In 2020, the volume of negotiations of the NFTs was about USD 200 million. Despite the strong interest of economic agents in operating with NFTs, there are still gaps in the literature, regarding their dynamics and price interrelation with other potentially related assets, which deserve to be studied. In this sense, the main purpose in this paper is to analyze the cross-correlation between NFTs and larger cryptocurrencies. To this end, our methodological approach is based on a Detrended Cross-Correlation Analysis correlation coefficient, with a sliding windows approach. Our main finding is that the cross-correlations are not significant, except for a few cryptocurrencies, with weak significance at some moments of time. We also carried out an analysis of the long-term memory of NFTs, which demonstrated the antipersistence of these assets, with results seemingly corroborating the market inefficiency hypothesis. Our results are particularly important for different classes of investors, due to the analysis on different time scales.
Double-Differenced dNBR: Combining MODIS and Landsat Imagery to Map Fine-Grained Fire MOSAICS in Lowland Eucalyptus Savanna in Kakadu National Park, Northern Australia
Authors: Williamson Grant J. , Ellis Todd M. , Bowman David M. J. S.
Published: October 2022

A neglected dimension of the fire regime concept is fire patchiness. Habitat mosaics that emerge from the grain of burned and unburned patches (pyrodiversity) are critical for the persistence of a diverse range of plant and animal species. This issue is of particular importance in frequently burned tropical Eucalyptus savannas, where coarse fire mosaics have been hypothesized to have caused the recent drastic population declines of small mammals. Satellites routinely used for fire mapping in these systems are unable to accurately map fine-grained fire mosaics, frustrating our ability to determine whether declines in biodiversity are associated with local pyrodiversity. To advance this problem, we have developed a novel method (we call ‘double-differenced dNBR’) that combines the infrequent (c. 16 days) detailed spatial resolution Landsat with daily coarse scale coverage of MODIS and VIIRS to map pyrodiversity in the savannas of Kakadu National Park. We used seasonal Landsat mosaics and differenced normalized burn ratio (dNBR) to define burned areas, with a modification to dNBR that subtracts long-term average dNBR to increase contrast. Our results show this approach is effective in mapping fine-scale fire mosaics in the homogenous lowland savannas, although inappropriate for nearby heterogenous landscapes. Comparison of this methods to other fire metrics (e.g., area burned, seasonality) based on Landsat and MODIS imagery suggest this method is likely accurate and better at quantifying fine-scale patchiness of fire, albeit it demands detailed field validation.
Resilience of Communities and Sustainable Aquaculture: Governance and Regulatory Effects
Authors: Engle Carole R. , van Senten Jonathan
Published: October 2022

One of the key underlying principles of sustainable food and agriculture systems is to enhance the resilience of people, communities, and ecosystems. This paper discusses broadly the intersection of community resiliency and sustainability of our food system through the lens of positive and negative contributions of aquaculture within the context of the underlying environmental, economic, social, and governance dimensions. Aquaculture has been part of the food supply system for humans for millennia, and its contributions to the resiliency of communities and to sustainability is critical to meet the nutritional, economic, and ecological challenges of the world. Aquaculture, as any human endeavor, can result in negative impacts on the environment, economy, social structure, and resilience of communities. Recent work has reported continued progress in the sustainability of aquaculture and dispelled myths that have proliferated in public media. As a result, aquaculture is increasingly viewed as a potential solution to global challenges of supplying a sustainably raised protein source, complementing fishing and other activities in communities, improving water quality, and responding to climate change, among others. Communities face ever more complex pressures that affect their resiliency when confronted with an array of environmental, social, and economic challenges. Whether aquaculture enhances or decreases the resilience of communities depends largely on the regulatory framework and associated public governance policies at local, state/provincial and national levels. In locales where aquaculture is under-regulated, communities can be affected negatively from resulting environmental, economic, and social problems. Over-regulation of aquaculture can stifle aquaculture activities that enhance ecosystem services and provide social and economic benefits. Greater attention is needed to aquaculture governance and regulatory processes to ensure that rulemaking, implementation, and enforcement provide adequate oversight, but avoid unintended negative consequences to the environment, social networks, and local economies. Participatory approaches that entail effective engagement among regulatory agency staff, aquaculture producers, local citizens, and other stakeholders are more effective than command-and-control regulatory approaches. Aquaculture, when practiced responsibly and sustainably by farmers and when appropriate science-based regulations are implemented rationally and efficiently, can enhance the resiliency of communities.
Measuring the Green Total Factor Productivity in Chinese Aquaculture: A Zofio Index Decomposition
Authors: Guo Wei , Dong Shuangshuang , Qian Jiarong , Lyu Kaiyu
Published: October 2022

Aquatic products are important sources of protein and food consumption, which are pivotal to solving the problem of food shortage. As the world’s largest producer of aquatic products, China’s aquaculture has developed rapidly. However, a large quantity of pollutants has also been generated in the fish farming process, which is detrimental to the sustainable development of China’s aquaculture. Therefore, under double constraints with regard to resources and the environment, fishery development must achieve cleaner production. Measuring green total factor productivity in aquaculture is fundamental to improving aquaculture production efficiency and reducing pollution emissions. This paper investigated the green total factor productivity in China using the SBM-ML method and analyzed the dynamic evolution of fish farming, measuring its change characteristics with regard to time and spatial differences. The results indicated that the total factor productivity indexes of mariculture and freshwater aquaculture in China are 1.050 and 1.060, respectively. Regionally, mariculture in the East China Sea region has the highest green total factor productivity of 1.072, followed by the South China Sea region with 1.056, and the green total factor productivity in the Yellow Sea region is the lowest—only 1.030. The results of the freshwater aquaculture calculations showed the opposite geographical distribution characteristics in China, with the highest in the western region (1.098), followed by the central region (1.046), with the lowest being in the eastern region (1.038). Evidently, both mariculture and freshwater aquaculture have noticeable spatiotemporal heterogeneity. Relevant policy recommendations are provided to improve the green production efficiency of fishery.
Perceptions of the Impact of Climate Change on Performance of Fish Hatcheries in Bangladesh: An Empirical Study
Authors: Siddique Mohammad Abu Baker , Ahammad A. K. Shakur , Mahalder Balaram , Alam Md. Mehedi , Hasan Neaz A. , Bashar Abul , Biswas Jatish Chandra , Haque Mohammad Mahfujul
Published: October 2022

The impacts of climate change (CC) on all spheres of human life are evident worldwide. Fish is the premier protein source, and its production in Bangladesh is mainly dependent on hatchery-based seed production. However, hatchery productivity is disrupted every year due to CC. This study assesses the impacts of CC on fish seed production in hatcheries from the perspective of hatchery owners. A semi-structured questionnaire survey was conducted with 60 hatchery owners in five sub-districts (Trishal, Mymensingh Sadar, Gouripur, Fulbaria, and Muktagacha) of the Mymensingh district, the highest aquaculture-producing zone in Bangladesh. Characteristically, hatchery owners are middle-aged and highly educated, with over a decade of experience in fish hatchery management. Likert scale results showed that hatchery owners concur with the evidence of CC, as seen by changes in air and water temperatures, rainfall, and sunlight intensity, as well as frequent natural disasters. Regression analysis showed that erratic rainfall, high temperature, and high solar radiation significantly influenced the hatchery owners’ perceptions of CC. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to divide the impact of CC into 12 components. Maximum variance (>70%) observed could be explained by problems related to embryonic and physiological development of fish fry, environmental changes, disease outbreaks, and poor growth of broodfish. The first PCA explained over 50% of the variances, with significantly higher factor loadings, comprising poor gonadal maturation, low hatching rate, poor egg and seed quality, low fecundity, and poor sperm quality of broodfish. The first PCA confirmed that the impacts of CC on fish hatchery operations were severe. Planting trees on the hatchery premises, aeration of brood ponds, increased water supply, and temperature control can be implemented to address the negative impacts on fish hatcheries. Further research in the laboratory and hatchery environments is needed.
Optimal Control for k × k Cooperative Fractional Systems
Authors: Serag Hassan M. , Hyder Abd-Allah , El-Badawy Mahmoud , Almoneef Areej A.
Published: October 2022

This paper discusses the optimal control issue for elliptic k×k cooperative fractional systems. The fractional operators are proposed in the Laplace sense. Because of the nonlocality of the Laplace fractional operators, we reformulate the issue as an extended issue on a semi-infinite cylinder in Rk+1. The weak solution for these fractional systems is then proven to exist and be unique. Moreover, the existence and optimality conditions can be inferred as a consequence.
Stock Prediction Model Based on Mixed Fractional Brownian Motion and Improved Fractional-Order Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Hu Hongwen , Zhao Chunna , Li Jing , Huang Yaqun
Published: October 2022

As one of the main areas of value investing, the stock market attracts the attention of many investors. Among investors, market index movements are a focus of attention. In this paper, combining the efficient market hypothesis and the fractal market hypothesis, a stock prediction model based on mixed fractional Brownian motion (MFBM) and an improved fractional-order particle swarm optimization algorithm is proposed. First, the MFBM model is constructed by adjusting the parameters to mix geometric Brownian motion (GBM) and geometric fractional Brownian motion (GFBM). After that, an improved fractional-order particle swarm optimization algorithm is proposed. The position and velocity formulas of the fractional-order particle swarm optimization algorithm are improved using new fractional-order update formulas. The inertia weight in the update formula is set to be linearly decreasing. The improved fractional-order particle swarm optimization algorithm is used to optimize the coefficients of the MFBM model. Through experiments, the accuracy and validity of the prediction model are proven by combining the error analysis. The model with the improved fractional-order particle swarm optimization algorithm and MFBM is superior to GBM, GFBM, and MFBM models in stock price prediction.
Global Collective Dynamics of Financial Market Efficiency Using Attention Entropy with Hierarchical Clustering
Authors: Cho Poongjin , Kim Kyungwon
Published: October 2022

The efficient market hypothesis (EMH) assumes that all available information in an efficient financial market is ideally fully reflected in the price of an asset. However, whether the reality that asset prices are not informational efficient is an opportunity for profit or a systemic risk of the financial system that needs to be corrected is still a ubiquitous concept, so many economic participants and research scholars have conducted related studies in order to understand the phenomenon of the financial market. This research employed attention entropy of the log-returns of 27 global assets to analyze the time-varying informational efficiency. International markets could be classified hierarchically into groups with similar long-term efficiency trends; however, at the same time, the ranks and clusters were found to remain stable only for a short period of time in terms of short-term efficiency. Therefore, a complex network representation analysis was performed to express whether the short-term efficiency patterns have interacted with each other over time as a coherent picture. It was confirmed that the network of 27 international markets was fully connected, strongly globalized and entangled. In addition, the complex network was composed of two modular structures grouped together with similar efficiency dynamics. As a result, although the informational efficiency of financial markets may be globalized to a high-efficiency state, it shows a collective dynamics pattern in which the global system may fall into risk due to the spread of systemic risk.
Impact of Biochar Addition in Microwave Torrefaction of Camelina Straw and Switchgrass for Biofuel Production
Authors: Agu Obiora S. , Tabil Lope G. , Mupondwa Edmund , Emadi Bagher , Dumonceaux Tim
Published: October 2022

The possibility of applying biochar in mild torrefaction treatment to improve the thermochemical characteristics of ground biomass was the focus of the study. Camelina straw and switchgrass were torrefied in a reactor using microwave irradiation at torrefaction temperatures of 250 °C and 300 °C with residence times 10, 15 and 20 min, under nitrogen-activated inert conditions. Both biochar addition of more than 10% and residence time significantly affected the product yields, as MW torrefaction temperatures shifted from 250 °C to 300 °C. Overall, the results indicated a slight increase in ash content, mass loss percentage intensification, heating values, and fixed carbon, while moisture content and volatile matter decreased in camelina straw and switchgrass, with or without biochar. Biochar addition with a long residence time (20 min) at 250 °C reduced energy requirement during the microwave torrefaction process. The combustion index values showed that torrefied camelina straw or switchgrass with biochar addition suits co-combustion with coal in a coal-fired plant and is a potential biomaterial for biofuel pellets.
Advances of Hydrogel Therapy in Periodontal Regeneration—A Materials Perspective Review
Authors: Li Maoxue , Lv Jiaxi , Yang Yi , Cheng Guoping , Guo Shujuan , Liu Chengcheng , Ding Yi
Published: October 2022

Hydrogel, a functional polymer material, has emerged as a promising technology for therapies for periodontal diseases. It has the potential to mimic the extracellular matrix and provide suitable attachment sites and growth environments for periodontal cells, with high biocompatibility, water retention, and slow release. In this paper, we have summarized the main components of hydrogel in periodontal tissue regeneration and have discussed the primary construction strategies of hydrogels as a reference for future work. Hydrogels provide an ideal microenvironment for cells and play a significant role in periodontal tissue engineering. The development of intelligent and multifunctional hydrogels for periodontal tissue regeneration is essential for future research.
Neutrophils in Intestinal Inflammation: What We Know and What We Could Expect for the Near Future
Authors: Arosa Laura , Camba-Gómez Miguel , Conde-Aranda Javier
Published: October 2022

Neutrophils are short-lived cells that play a crucial role in inflammation. As in other tissues, these polymorphonuclear phagocytes are involved in the intestinal inflammatory response, on the one hand, contributing to the activation and recruitment of other immune cells, but on the other hand, facilitating intestinal mucosa repair by releasing mediators that aid in the resolution of inflammation. Even though these responses are helpful in physiological conditions, excessive recruitment of activated neutrophils in the gut correlates with increased mucosal damage and severe symptoms in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and pre-clinical models of colitis. Thus, there is growing interest in controlling their biology to generate novel therapeutic approaches capable of reducing exacerbated intestinal inflammation. However, the beneficial and harmful effects of neutrophils on intestinal inflammation are still controversial. With this review, we summarise and discuss the most updated literature showing how neutrophils (and neutrophil extracellular traps) contribute to developing and resolving intestinal inflammation and their putative use as therapeutic targets.
Applications of Medical Digital Technologies for Noncommunicable Diseases for Follow-Up during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Hussein Eman Sobhy Elsaid , Al-Shenqiti Abdullah Mohammed , Ramadan Reda Mohamed El-Sayed
Published: October 2022

Background: Noncommunicable chronic diseases (NCDs) are multifaceted, and the health implications of the COVID-19 pandemic are far-reaching, especially for NCDs. Physical distancing and quarantine can lead to the poor management of NCDs because the visual tracking of them has been replaced with medical digital technology, that is, smartphone apps. This study aimed to explore medical digital technology applications for NCDs for follow-up during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The participants in this study were 400 adult patients with NCDs; they were selected by systematic random sampling. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used. The study was conducted in the outpatient department of Yanbu General Hospital and primary-care health centers in Yanbu Al-Baher, Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The tools used in this study were a structured questionnaire to collect the sociodemographic characteristics of the patients and their health history, an NCD questionnaire to assess follow-up of the patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a medical digital technologies questionnaire to explore the medical digital technology applications. Results: The mean age of the patients was 47.32 ± 14.362 years, and 62.8% of them were female and 372 were male. Of the patients, 69.2% and 57.5% had been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and hypertension, respectively; 52.4% were followed up monthly, and 29.75% used medical digital technology applications such as Tabeby Online to monitor their health. Furthermore, 71.75% and 75.5% of the patients used the Sehhaty and Tawakkalna medical digital applications, respectively. Overall, 38.7% of the patients were satisfied with using medical digital technology applications used for follow-up during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions: The study concluded that the services that use networks, smartphones, and medical digital technology applications on the Saudi Ministry of Health website and mobile applications to improve the quality of the health-care system, and that provide health services for noncommunicable or communicable diseases, are not effective. This is because the patients lack awareness of these services, with most of the chronic patients being elderly with lower levels of education and computer literacy.
Assessment of the Chronic Toxicity and Interactions between Arsenic and Riverbed Biofilms
Authors: Barral María Teresa , Rodríguez-Iglesias Diego , Martiñá-Prieto Diego , Paradelo Remigio
Published: October 2022

The toxic effect of exposure to arsenic, As(V), at concentrations of 0 to 30 mg L−1, for 49 days, on epipsammic biofilms, was evaluated in a microcosm experiment. The growth and composition of biofilms developed on sediments containing As concentrations of 31 mg kg−1 and 85 mg kg−1 were compared, using photosynthetic parameters and Live/Dead stains as end points. A toxic effect of arsenic could not be demonstrated; however, biofilm growth was higher over the sediment with higher arsenic concentrations, suggesting the development of pollution-induced community induced tolerance (PICT). Nevertheless, PICT was not observed after exposure to high arsenic concentration in the laboratory, as there were no differences in algal growth between the previous 0 and 30 mg L−1 systems exposed to new 30 mg As L−1 dissolution over 29 days. The algal composition was affected by the added arsenic, and brown algae were the most tolerant compared to green algae and cyanophyceae, as their percentage increased from 25 and 33% in the control samples to 57 and 47% in the samples with the highest added As concentration. In turn, the biofilm development influenced arsenic redistribution and speciation. Arsenic concentration in water decreased with time during the incubation experiment, retained by the sediment particles and the biofilm. In the biofilm, extracellular As was significantly higher (up to 11 times) than intracellular arsenic. As(V) was the predominant species in water and in the biofilm, but products of biotic transformation, namely As(III), DMA(V) and MMA(V), were also found in the solution and in the biofilm in some systems, demonstrating reduction and methylation by the organisms. As a conclusion, a toxic effect was not detected for the concentrations evaluated. Biofilms naturally exposed in the river system to high As concentrations acquire pollution-induced tolerance; however, tolerance was not acquired by exposure to 30 mg L−1 for 29 days in the laboratory.
CXCR4, CXCR5 and CD44 May Be Involved in Homing of Lymphoma Cells into the Eye in a Patient Derived Xenograft Homing Mouse Model for Primary Vitreoretinal Lymphoma
Authors: Babst Neele , Isbell Lisa K. , Rommel Felix , Tura Aysegul , Ranjbar Mahdy , Grisanti Salvatore , Tschuch Cordula , Schueler Julia , Doostkam Soroush , Reinacher Peter C. , Duyster Justus , Kakkassery Vinodh , von Bubnoff Nikolas
Published: October 2022

Background: Primary vitreoretinal lymphoma (PVRL), a rare malignancy of the eye, is strongly related to primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). We hypothesized that lymphoma cells disseminate to the CNS and eye tissue via distinct homing receptors. The objective of this study was to test expression of CXCR4, CXCR5, CXCR7 and CD44 homing receptors on CD20 positive B-lymphoma cells on enucleated eyes using a PCNSL xenograft mouse model. Methods: We used indirect immunofluorescence double staining for CD20/CXCR4, CD20/CXCR5, CD20/CXCR7 and CD20/CD44 on enucleated eyes of a PCNSL xenograft mouse model with PVRL phenotype (PCNSL group) in comparison to a secondary CNS lymphoma xenograft mouse model (SCNSL group). Lymphoma infiltration was evaluated with an immunoreactive score (IRS). Results: 11/13 paired eyes of the PCNSL but none of the SCNSL group were infiltrated by CD20-positive cells. Particularly the choroid and to a lesser extent the retina of the PCNSL group were infiltrated by CD20+/CXCR4+, CD20+/CXCR5+, few CD20+/CD44+ but no CD20+/CXCR7+ cells. Expression of CXCR4 (p = 0.0205), CXCR5 (p = 0.0004) and CD44 (p < 0.0001) was significantly increased in the PCNSL compared to the SCNSL group. Conclusions: CD20+ PCNSL lymphoma cells infiltrating the eye co-express distinct homing receptors such as CXCR4 and CXCR5 in a PVRL homing mouse model. These receptors may be involved in PVRL homing into the eye.
Inhibition of High-Temperature Requirement Protein A2 Protease Activity Represses Myogenic Differentiation via UPRmt
Authors: Sun Hongyu , Shen Luyan , Zhang Ping , Lin Fu , Ma Jiaoyan , Wu Ying , Yu Huimei , Sun Liankun
Published: October 2022

Skeletal muscles require muscle satellite cell (MuSC) differentiation to facilitate the replenishment and repair of muscle fibers. A key step in this process is called myogenic differentiation. The differentiation ability of MuSCs decreases with age and can result in sarcopenia. Although mitochondria have been reported to be involved in myogenic differentiation by promoting a bioenergetic remodeling, little is known about the interplay of mitochondrial proteostasis and myogenic differentiation. High-temperature-requirement protein A2 (HtrA2/Omi) is a protease that regulates proteostasis in the mitochondrial intermembrane space (IMS). Mice deficient in HtrA2 protease activity show a distinct phenotype of sarcopenia. To investigate the role of IMS proteostasis during myogenic differentiation, we treated C2C12 myoblasts with UCF101, a specific inhibitor of HtrA2 during differentiation process. A key step in this process is called myogenic differentiation. The differentiation ability of MuSCs decreases with age and can result in sarcopenia. Further, CHOP, p-eIF2α, and other mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt)-related proteins are upregulated. Therefore, we suggest that imbalance of mitochondrial IMS proteostasis acts via a retrograde signaling pathway to inhibit myogenic differentiation via the UPRmt pathway. These novel mechanistic insights may have implications for the development of new strategies for the treatment of sarcopenia.
RYBP Sensitizes Cancer Cells to PARP Inhibitors by Regulating ATM Activity
Authors: Maybee Deanna V. , Psaras Alexandra Maria , Brooks Tracy A. , Ali Mohammad A. M.
Published: October 2022

Ring1 and YY1 Binding Protein (RYBP) is a member of the non-canonical polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1), and like other PRC1 members, it is best described as a transcriptional regulator. Previously, we showed that RYBP, along with other PRC1 members, is also involved in the DNA damage response. RYBP inhibits recruitment of breast cancer gene 1(BRCA1) complex to DNA damage sites through its binding to K63-linked ubiquitin chains. In addition, ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase serves as an important sensor kinase in early stages of DNA damage response. Here, we report that overexpression of RYBP results in inhibition in both ATM activity and recruitment to DNA damage sites. Cells expressing RYBP show less phosphorylation of the ATM substrate, Chk2, after DNA damage. Due to its ability to inhibit ATM activity, we find that RYBP sensitizes cancer cells to poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors. Although we find a synergistic effect between PARP inhibitor and ATM inhibitor in cancer cells, this synergy is lost in cells expressing RYBP. We also show that overexpression of RYBP hinders cancer cell migration through, at least in part, ATM inhibition. We provide new mechanism(s) by which RYBP expression may sensitize cancer cells to DNA damaging agents and inhibits cancer metastasis.
Effect of Male Body Size on Female Reproduction in Pyrrhocoris apterus (L.) (Heteroptera, Pyrrhocoridae)
Authors: Honek Alois , Martinkova Zdenka
Published: October 2022

Females and males of the abundant heteropteran species Pyrrhocoris apterus (L.) mate with the larger of the available partners. The male benefits from copulation with a large female, which is more productive than a small female. However, the benefit to females from copulation with a large male has not yet been investigated. Overwintered sexually immature adults were transferred from the field to indoors for a long day at 25 °C and subsequently kept as female-male pairs with different partner size ratios. The female lays eggs in several successive clutches. We investigated the influence of male size on the number and weight of eggs in individual clutches and the time elapsed from the transfer to their deposition. These characteristics of reproduction were first regressed on female size, and residuals of this regression were then regressed on male size. The positive effect of increasing male size on the characteristics of female reproduction manifested as a significant value of the latter regressions. The expected positive effect of increasing male body size on female reproductive characteristics was not detected. Several reasons for this deficiency are discussed.
Effect of Rubber Heat Treatment on Rubberized-Concrete Mechanical Performance
Authors: Swilam Abdelrahman , Tahwia Ahmed M. , Youssf Osama
Published: October 2022

To eliminate the unfavorable effect of the accumulation of end-of-life car tires on the environment, many studies have been conducted to recycle those tires in concrete as a partial or full replacement of its natural aggregates. However, the produced rubberized concrete suffers from low compressive strength due to low adhesion at the rubber/cement interface. Pre-treating of rubber surfaces before use in concrete is the most effective way to overcome this adverse effect on the concrete strength. Several studies introduced different methods to enhance rubberized-concrete strength through pre-treating rubber particles, especially when using a high content of rubber in concrete. This study presents the results of experimental work on the effect of heat treatment on crumb-rubber–concrete mechanical performance. Rubber contents of 40%, 60% and 80% of sand volume were the variables in this study. Workability, density, compressive strength, and impact resistance were the measurements in this experimental work. The results showed that using saturated-surface dry (SSD) rubber can eliminate the adverse effect on concrete slump when using a high rubber volume or the heat-treated rubber. Using heat-treated rubber at 200 °C for 2 h as 40%, 60%, and 80% displayed compressive strength recoveries of 14.9%, 10.4% and 9.7%, respectively. Heat treatment of 40%, 60%, and 80% rubber contents increased the impact resistance for ultimate failure by 57%, 28%, and 7%, respectively, compared with those of the control mix. The thermal treatment enhanced the impact resistance at ultimate failure by 37%, 28%, and 15%, respectively, for mixes containing 40%, 60%, and 80% rubber contents compared with those of as-received rubber.
Detection and Analysis of Microfibers and Microplastics in Wastewater from a Textile Company
Authors: Akyildiz Sinem Hazal , Bellopede Rossana , Sezgin Hande , Yalcin-Enis Ipek , Yalcin Bahattin , Fiore Silvia
Published: October 2022

Textile wastewater is polluted by inorganic/organic substances, polymers, dyes, and microfibers (MFs), which are microplastics (MPs) and natural fibers. This work is aimed at the preliminary investigation of MFs and MPs in textile industrial wastewater, and at evaluating the removal efficiency of an on-site wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Ten samples of inflows and outflows of the WWTP of a textile company (applying a physic-chemical process) have been analyzed. Firstly, the samples underwent a pretreatment with 15% hydrogen peroxide at 25 °C for 5 days to remove organic compounds. Secondly, the MFs were recovered from the aqueous phase by pre-screening centrifugation, density separation, and filtration as alternative options. Filtration obtained the best performances, compared to the other recovery processes. Thirdly, the MFs were counted through optical microscopy and the MPs were identified through micro-FTIR. The MFs amount in the inflow samples was in the range of 893–4452 MFs/L. The outflow samples (310–2404 MFs/L) exhibited a 38–65% reduction compared to the inflows, demonstrating that up to 62% of residual MFs can enter the sewer network or the receiving water body. Cotton and wool, and numerous MPs (acrylic, polyester, polypropylene, polyamide, and viscose/rayon) were identified in the inflow and outflow samples (with the only exception of “dense” viscose (rayon), not detected in the outflows, and probably retained by the WWTP with the sludge). This study, even if just preliminary, offers interesting hints for future research on MFs/MPs detection in textile wastewater, and on the performance of a full-scale WWT process for their removal.
Social policy of metallurgical enterprises: the main guidelines
Authors:   FSBEI HE Nosov Magnitogorsk State Technical University, Ispulova S. N.
Published: October 2022

The main task of a modern enterprise is an effective management system that plays an important role in personnel management. Social policy has always been a key policy tool for solving emerging social problems and implementing the company's development strategy. In this article, the author analyzes the main directions of social policy implemented through social programs of the metallurgical industry enterprises: PAO Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works, PAO Novolipetsk Steel Works, and PAO Severstal.
Socio-pedagogical aspect of preventing aggressive behavior of adolescents in an educational organization
Authors:   FSBEI HE Nosov Magnitogorsk State Technical University, Guryanova I. V.
Published: October 2022

The manifestation of aggression and aggressiveness of children is one of the most pressing problems in the life of the children's team. It requires special attention from both teachers and parents. Some forms of aggression are typical for most students. Aggression manifests itself in all age strata, not only in adolescents and adults, but also in children of primary school and preschool age. Almost all children quarrel and use physical and verbal aggression towards each other. Typically, with the assimilation of the rules and norms of behavior, these direct manifestations of child aggression give way to prosocial forms of behavior. However, in a certain category of children, aggression as a stable form of behavior not only persists, but also develops, transforming into a stable personality trait — aggressiveness. As a result, the productive potential of the child is reduced, the possibilities of full-fledged communication are narrowed, and his/her personal development is deformed. An aggressive child is a source of trouble, both for himself/herself and for others. Thus, the high practical significance of this issue determines the relevance of the study.
Regulatory and legal bases of social work with children without parental care
Authors:   FSBEI HE Nosov Magnitogorsk State Technical University, Tomarov A. V.
Published: October 2022

The main reasons for the increase in the number of children without parental care are the decline in the social prestige of the family, its financial and housing difficulties, interethnic conflicts, an increase in the illegitimate birth rate, a high percentage of parents leading an antisocial lifestyle. In this regard, the protection of the rights and interests of orphans and children without parental care is becoming extremely important in the Russian Federation. The Family Code defines that the activities of legal entities and individuals other than guardianship and custody authorities to identify and place children without parental care are not allowed. This prohibition also applies to intermediary activities for the transfer of children for adoption, under custody (guardianship) or for upbringing in a family. In order to provide appropriate assistance, it is crucial to identify children without parental care in a timely manner. In accordance with Article 125 of the Family Code, the resolution of these issues is the responsibility of the guardianship and custody authorities at the children’s actual place of residence. In order to improve the situation of orphans and children without parental care, the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation «On Priority Measures to Improve the Situation of Children Without Parental Care» dated May 14, 2015 No. 374 was adopted. This document defines a 2‑fold increase in monetary benefits provided for children at the time of learning to purchase the necessary literature and accessories. The norms of financial support for orphans and children without parental care have been identified and extended to children transferred to foster families and family-type orphanages. The solution of these tasks is carried out within the framework of the implementation of the subprograms «Healthy Generation», «Gifted Children» and «Children and Family». It is important to note that the Federal Law provides for the development of targeted programs by the executive authorities of the subjects of the Russian Federation for the protection of the rights of orphans and children without parental care. The development of family policy, which, first of all, is aimed at strengthening the family as a social institution and preserving family values, is an urgent direction of state work. Educational institutions and teachers, in particular, are working hard with parents and children in order to return children to their families.
Educational resources in the prevention of deviant behavior in adolescents
Authors:   FSBEI HE Nosov Magnitogorsk State Technical University, Suprun N. G.
Published: October 2022

The variability and dynamism of the processes occurring in all spheres of human activity has a significant impact on the solution of the tasks facing the teaching staff of modern educational organizations. Due to the growth of deviations in the behavior of minors, the complex of tasks to be solved includes such an issue as the prevention of deviant behavior of adolescents. Education system plays a special role in solving the issue of elimination and prevention of deviations in the behavior of minors. From the standpoint of upbringing, training and socialization of the individual, it is the educational environment that, being specially created, acts as an important condition for the formation of a student's personality, determines his/her activity on the interiorization of living space, influences the development of value orientations, and activates his/her motivational attitudes in the process of socialization. Thus, the idea of prevention of deviant behavior in students is a priori included in the semantic field of the education system, and, therefore, the prevention of deviations is an important function of educational organizations. The use of resources of educational environment in the prevention of deviant behavior implies early identification of adolescents prone to deviant behavior, determination of the causes and factors of deviant behavior, and the introduction of preventive measures into the educational process at the initial stages. This article presents a study aimed at identifying adolescents prone to deviant behavior and proposes teaching adolescents the skills of social competence and including minors in extracurricular activities.