bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Combined Inoculation of Curvularia lunata AR11 and Biochar Stimulates Synthetic Silicon and Potassium Phosphate Use Efficiency, and Mitigates Salt and Drought Stresses in Rice
Authors: Adhikari Arjun , Khan Muhammad Aaqil , Imran Muhammad , Lee Ko-Eun , Kang Sang-Mo , Shin Jin Y. , Joo Gil-Jae , Khan Murtaza , Yun Byung-Wook , Lee In-Jung
Published: March 2022

Synthetic chemical fertilizers are a fundamental source of nutrition for agricultural crops; however, their limited availability, low plant uptake, and excessive application have caused severe ecological imbalances. In addition, the gravity of environmental stresses, such as salinity and water stress, has already exceeded the threshold limit. Therefore, the optimization of nutrient efficiency in terms of plant uptake is crucial for sustainable agricultural production. To address these challenges, we isolated the rhizospheric fungus Curvularia lunata ARJ2020 (AR11) and screened the optimum doses of biochar, silicon, and potassium phosphate (K2HPO4), and used them—individually or jointly—to treat rice plants subjected to salt (150 mM) and drought stress (20–40% soil moisture). Bioassay analysis revealed that AR11 is a highly halotolerant and drought-resistant strain with an innate ability to produce gibberellin (GA1, GA3, GA4, and GA7) and organic acids (i.e., acetic, succinic, tartaric, and malic acids). In the plant experiment, the co-application of AR11 + Biochar + Si + K2HPO4 significantly improved rice growth under both salt and drought stresses. The plant growth regulator known as abscisic acid, was significantly reduced in co-application-treated rice plants exposed to both drought and salt stress conditions. These plants showed higher Si (80%), P (69%), and K (85%) contents and a markedly low Na+ ion (208%) concentration. The results were further validated by the higher expression of the Si-carrying gene OsLSi1, the salt-tolerant gene OsHKT2, and the OsGRAS23’s drought-tolerant transcriptome. Interestingly, the beneficial effect of AR11 was significantly higher than that of the co-application of Biochar + Si + K2HPO4 under drought. Moreover, the proline content of AR11-treated plants decreased significantly, and an enhancement of plant growth-promoting characteristics was observed. These results suggest that the integrated co-application of biochar, chemical fertilizers, and microbiome could mitigate abiotic stresses, stimulate the bioavailability of essential nutrients, relieve phytotoxicity, and ultimately enhance plant growth.
Individual Differences in Cognitive Functioning Predict Compliance With Restoration Skills Training but Not With a Brief Conventional Mindfulness Course
Authors: Lymeus Freddie
Published: March 2022

Mindfulness training is often promoted as a method to train cognitive functions and has shown such effects in previous studies. However, many conventional mindfulness exercises for beginners require cognitive effort, which may be prohibitive for some, particularly for people who have more pronounced cognitive problems to begin with. An alternative mindfulness-based approach, called restoration skills training (ReST), draws on a restorative natural practice setting to help regulate attention effortlessly and promote meditative states during exercises. Previous research has shown that a 5-week ReST course requires less effort and is attended by higher compliance with practice recommendations than a conventional mindfulness course, without compromising long-term outcomes. Here, we compare ReST and a formally matched conventional mindfulness course regarding the role that initial individual differences in cognitive functioning play in determining practice compliance and long-term improvements in dispositional mindfulness and cognitive functioning. In line with expectations, ReST participants who had more pronounced cognitive problems to begin with practiced more during the course, which in turn explained much of their improvement in dispositional mindfulness and cognitive functioning. In contrast, initial cognitive functioning did not explain practice and improvement in the conventional mindfulness course. The results provide further support for the potential utility of ReST as a low-effort method for enhancing cognitive functioning among people who would struggle with the demands of conventional mindfulness training. With careful integration of mindfulness practices with a restorative natural setting, these people can develop mindfulness and self-regulation capabilities without relying on effortful training.
Proactive Vitality Management, Work–Home Enrichment, and Performance: A Two-Wave Cross-Lagged Study on Entrepreneurs
Authors: Tisu Luca , Vîrgă Delia
Published: March 2022

This study provides a cross-lagged examination of the relationships between proactive vitality management, work–home enrichment, and entrepreneurial performance. Specifically, based on the Job Demands-Resources and Conservation of Resources theories, we postulate a mediation model where proactive vitality management leads to entrepreneurs transferring resources developed in their work role to thrive in their home role (i.e., work–home enrichment), resulting in augmented entrepreneurial performance. The hypotheses were tested with data collected at two time points, 1 onth apart—T1 (N = 277) and T2 (N = 249), from Romanian entrepreneurs. We analyzed autoregressive, causal, reversed, and reciprocal models to test the mediation model. In the linkage between predictor and outcome variable, the reversed model is the best-fitting model, showing that proactive vitality management is only a distal precursor of performance. However, the best-fitting models for the relationship between predictor and mediator and between mediator and outcome were the reciprocal models. Thus, proactive vitality management and work–home enrichment have reciprocal effects on each other over time, as was the case between work–home enrichment and entrepreneurial performance. These results are in line with the resource gain cycle perspective of the Conservation of Resources theory. Employing proactive behaviors to optimize functioning at work enables the transfer of resources to the home role. Potentiating one role through aspects of another will thus generate additional resources reflecting on entrepreneurial performance. Hence, this study provides insights into precursors and mechanisms that can shape entrepreneurial performance.
Assessment in Sport and Exercise Psychology: Considerations and Recommendations for Translation and Validation of Questionnaires
Authors: Cid Luis , Monteiro Diogo , Teixeira Diogo Santos , Evmenenko Anastasiia , Andrade Ana , Bento Teresa , Vitorino Anabela , Couto Nuno , Rodrigues Filipe
Published: March 2022

Translating and validating measurement instruments in sport and exercise psychology is not an easy task. Rather, it is a task that requires effort and time, for the process is not limited to a simple translation to translate words from one language to another, just in order to make valid and reliable measure. All researchers should be aware that the only proper way is to adopt rigorous and robust methodologies to conduct the process from the preliminary stage of translation to reaching the validation stage of the psychological variable. Only so is it possible to avoid creating fragile and inadequate psychological assessment instruments that can jeopardize the entire investigation to be held with its use. Thus, the main objective of this work is to promote reflection and discussion on the subject by presenting some considerations and recommendations about translation and validation of questionnaires for psychological assessment applied to sport and exercise domain.
Preschoolers’ Attitudes, School Motivation, and Executive Functions in the Context of Various Types of Kindergarten
Authors: Kvintova Jana , Kremenkova Lucie , Cuberek Roman , Petrova Jitka , Stuchlikova Iva , Dobesova-Cakirpaloglu Simona , Pugnerova Michaela , Balatova Kristyna , Lemrova Sona , Viteckova Miluse , Plevova Irena
Published: March 2022

European policy has seen a number of changes and innovations in the field of early childhood preschool education over the last decade, which have been reflected in various forms in the policies of individual EU countries. Within the Czech preschool policy, certain innovations and approaches have been implemented in the field of early children education, such as the introduction of compulsory preschool education before entering primary school from 2017, emphasis on inclusive education, equal conditions in education and enabling state-supported diversity in the education concepts of kindergartens. The aim of our study was to assess the influence of various preschool education systems in the Czech Republic in the context of psychological variables reflecting selected children’s outcomes which may contribute to future school achievement. The monitored variables were the attitudes, motivations and executive functions of children in the last year of preschool education. A comparison was made between the traditional preschool education program and the so-called alternative types of preschool education, such as Montessori, Waldorf and religious schools. The total sample was divided into four subgroups, namely a group of children attending traditional kindergartens (731, 84.9%), religious (65, 7.5%), Montessori (35, 4.1%), and Waldorf (30, 3.5%) kindergartens. To determine empirical data, the following research methods were used: Attitude Questionnaire, School Performance Motivation Scale, and Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF). The results of our survey show the fact that the type of kindergarten attended has a significant effect on the child’s level of school performance motivation, attitudes toward school as well as executive functions. Significant differences were found between the different types of kindergartens attended in the monitored variables.
Design Meets Neuroscience: An Electroencephalogram Study of Design Thinking in Concept Generation Phase
Authors: Hu Ying , Ouyang Jieqian , Wang Huazhen , Zhang Juan , Liu An , Min Xiaolei , Du Xing
Published: March 2022

Extant research on design thinking is subjective and limited. This manuscript combines protocol analysis and electroencephalogram (EEG) to read design thoughts in the core design activities of concept generation phase. The results suggest that alpha band power had event related synchronization (ERS) in the scenario task and divergent thinking occupies a dominant position. However, it had event related desynchronization (ERD) in analogy and inference activities, etc., and it is stronger for mental pressure and exercised cognitive processing. In addition, the parietooccipital area differs significantly from other brain areas in most design activities. This study explores the relationship of different design thinking and EEG data, which is innovative and professional in the field of design, providing a more objective data basis and evaluation method for future applied research and diverse educational practices.
The Influence of Guanxi Between Boundary Spanners on Opportunistic Behaviors Based on the Theory of Reasoned Action Model
Authors: Zhao Shu-kuan , Cai Jia-ming
Published: March 2022

This study constructs a mechanism of the influence of Guanxi between boundary spanners on opportunistic behaviors in collaborative innovation projects based on the theory of reasoned action model. The study conducts a survey in the automobile industry in Changchun, Jilin Province, China, and analyzes the research data using the structural equation model. The findings show that Guanxi has a negative an significant influence on opportunistic behavior attitudes and subjective norms., Guanxi has the greater influence on subjective norms than attitudes. Then, opportunistic behavior attitudes and subjective norms positively influence intentions. The influence of subjective norms is stronger. The attitudes and subjective norms of opportunistic behaviors also play mediation roles. Furthermore, opportunistic behavior intentions have a positive and significant influence on behaviors. In short, the study’s findings reveal a mechanism of Guanxi between boundary spanners influencing opportunistic behaviors of boundary spanners. It also provides a reference for corporate managers to govern opportunistic behaviors of collaborator while inhabiting opportunistic behaviors of their own boundary spanners.
Status of Clinical Neuropsychology Training in Finland
Authors: Hokkanen Laura , Jokinen Hanna , Rantanen Kati , Nybo Taina , Poutiainen Erja
Published: March 2022

This paper provides information on different training models within clinical neuropsychology in Finland. Systematic specialization training program began in Finland in 1983. It was first organized mainly by the Finnish Neuropsychological Society and since 1997 by the Finnish universities. At present, close to 400 clinical neuropsychologists have completed the training. The number of professionals still does not cover the needs of the country (population 5.5 million, area 338,440 km2), and geographical disparities are a constant concern. The training models in Finland have changed over the years and will continue to evolve. Specialization training can be organized by national societies or by universities. It can lead to an academic degree or a diploma. It can be linked to doctoral studies or form a parallel track. Financial model can involve student fees or be governed by ministries (such as the Ministry of Education or Ministry of Health). This paper describes and compares different strategies in education that have impact on the output of professionals. One model does not fit all, or even one country at all times. The strategies of the stakeholder ministries can change over time. The experiences from Finland can be useful for other countries that are developing their models. The estimated need of practitioners and the educational resources including the available financial models for training differ between countries. The guiding principles in specialist training should focus on the advanced competencies expected from the neuropsychologist when entering the profession.
Born to Win: Reproductive Health Policy and Urban Education Returns in China
Authors: Gao Qing , Ren Xiu-Xiu , Yan Wei-Lan , Wang Ai-Hua , Zhang Wei-Hua
Published: March 2022

This study explores the relationship between China's reproductive health policy and the rate of return on urban education by using fixed-effect, mediating-effect, and breakpoint regression models. The authors study the impact of China's reproductive health policy on individual years of education, income, return on education, the impact of reproductive health policy on population health, and overall human development. The empirical results show that the implementation of China's reproductive health policy can improve the rate of return on urban education and increase the average length of education of urban residents by 0.29 years. Under the breakpoint regression model, the educational return rate of urban residents is approximately 12.2% higher than the ordinary least squares (OLS) estimate. China's reproductive health policy has significantly promoted the return rate of residents' education and simultaneously effectively promoted the income of urban residents. With the development of the economy, the government should properly adjust reproductive health policies and improve the population health rate so that the adjustment of reproductive health policies can comprehensively promote the health of residents of all ages. The overall relaxation of family restrictions on children's human capital investment will likely reduce the negative impact of the overall relaxation of family planning, not only improving the health of the population but also contributing to sustainable economic development.
Comparison of Structural Parsers and Neural Language Models as Surprisal Estimators
Authors: Oh Byung-Doh , Clark Christian , Schuler William
Published: March 2022

Expectation-based theories of sentence processing posit that processing difficulty is determined by predictability in context. While predictability quantified via surprisal has gained empirical support, this representation-agnostic measure leaves open the question of how to best approximate the human comprehender's latent probability model. This article first describes an incremental left-corner parser that incorporates information about common linguistic abstractions such as syntactic categories, predicate-argument structure, and morphological rules as a computational-level model of sentence processing. The article then evaluates a variety of structural parsers and deep neural language models as cognitive models of sentence processing by comparing the predictive power of their surprisal estimates on self-paced reading, eye-tracking, and fMRI data collected during real-time language processing. The results show that surprisal estimates from the proposed left-corner processing model deliver comparable and often superior fits to self-paced reading and eye-tracking data when compared to those from neural language models trained on much more data. This may suggest that the strong linguistic generalizations made by the proposed processing model may help predict humanlike processing costs that manifest in latency-based measures, even when the amount of training data is limited. Additionally, experiments using Transformer-based language models sharing the same primary architecture and training data show a surprising negative correlation between parameter count and fit to self-paced reading and eye-tracking data. These findings suggest that large-scale neural language models are making weaker generalizations based on patterns of lexical items rather than stronger, more humanlike generalizations based on linguistic structure.
Predicting Daylight Illuminance for 15 CIE Standard Skies Using a Simple Software Tool
Authors: Tsang Ernest Kin Wai , Li Danny Hin Wa , Li Shuyang
Published: March 2022

Estimation of internal daylight availability is the key step in evaluating various daylighting schemes. Interior daylight is often expressed as daylight factor under the traditional International Commission on Illumination (CIE) overcast sky. Nonetheless, such approach may be inflexible to estimate the kinetic situations as the solar locations vary under cloudless skies. Recently, the CIE adopted 15 standard skies covering the usual skies found in the world. The interior daylight illuminance is influenced by the sky conditions in terms of luminance levels and distributions with respect to the window-facing orientation at any given period. The daylight coefficient concept considering the variations of the sky luminance patterns can be employed to accurately compute the indoor daylight level. A full-scale computer simulation can be costly in modeling the building geometry with a long simulation time. Moreover, additional times and advanced skills are required for preparation and post-processing. Simple design programs would be convenient and helpful in preliminary design phase when various designs and schemes are being studied and analyzed. This paper adopts a simple computer program for computing the interior daylight under the 15 CIE standard skies. The capability of the suggested software was assessed against the simulated results using a computer program, namely, RADIANCE, and the field measurement readings. The running time based on the simple program was far less than that using RADIANCE. The findings showed that the internal daylight simulated by the proposed simple software were in good agreement with the simulated results by RADIANCE and measured readings. The peak daylight factor discrepancy was <2%, and the RMSE was 14.5% of the corresponding measured average values.
Insights on Fructans and Resistance of Plants to Drought Stress
Authors: Benkeblia Noureddine
Published: March 2022

Drought, one of the major abiotic stresses affecting plants, is characterized by a decrease of water availability, resulting in a decrease of the water potential (Ψ) of the cells. One of the strategies of plants in resisting to this low Ψ and related stresses is regulating their water-plant relation and the interplay between Ψsolutes and the turgor pressure (Ψp). This regulation avoids the dehydration induced by low Ψ and is resulting from the accumulation of specific molecules which induce higher tolerance to water deficit and also other mechanisms that prevent or repair cell damages. In plants, fructans, the non-structural carbohydrates (NSC), have other physiological functions than carbon reserve. Among these roles, fructans have been implicated in protecting plants against water deficit caused by drought. As an efficient strategy to survive to this abiotic stress, plants synthesize fructans in response to osmotic pressure in order to osmoregulate the cellular flux, therefore, protecting the membrane damage and maintaining Ψp. Although different studies have been conducted to elucidate the mechanisms behind this strategy, still the concept itself is not well-understood and many points remain unclear and need to be elucidated in order to understand the causal relation between water deficit and fructans accumulation during water scarcity. This understanding will be a key tool in developing strategies to enhance crop tolerance to stressful dry conditions, particularly under the changing climate prediction. This review aims to give new insights on the roles of fructans in the response and resistance of plants to water deficit and their fate under this severe environmental condition.
Skeletal Muscle Metastasis From Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Case Series and Literature Review
Authors: Sun Juan , Zhang Zimu , Xiao Yu , Li Hanzhong , Ji Zhigang , Lian Penghu , Zhang Xuebin
Published: March 2022

Objectives

Skeletal muscle metastasis (SMM) from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has been rarely reported. This case series was performed to increase the clinicians' understanding of its clinical features and treatments.

Methods

We evaluated the clinical presentations, diagnoses, and treatments of 2 patients with SMM from RCC in our hospital and 39 cases reported in the literature.

Results

Among the 41 patients, 4 (9.76%) were women and 37 (90.24%) were all men. The average age was 60.5 ± 12.6 years old (range from 7 to 81). The size of tumors varied from 1 to 28 cm, and the metastatic sites of 6 (14.63%) cases were in the heads, 20 (48.78%) in the limbs, 9 (21.95%) in the trunks, 3 (7.32%) in the buttock, and the other 3 (7.32%) were multiple sites. The mean of intervals between the RCC and the discovery of the first SMM was 73.61 months. More than half of the patients (25, 60.98%) were diagnosed by MRI and 25 (60.98%) patients performed a biopsy of the mass to establish the diagnosis. Finally, 30 (73.17%) cases performed mass excision. Then the adjuvant therapy was performed in 18 patients including immunotherapy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. The median follow-up after SMM was 9 months (P25, P75: 5, 23), in which the longest survival time of patients with SMM of RCC was 8 years while the shortest was only 3 months.

Conclusion

The characteristic clinical feature of SMM from RCC is asymptomatic masses or swelling with a long history which can be preoperative suspiciously diagnosed by MRI. The rapid biopsy of suspected lesions, determination of other metastasis sites, resection of metastasis, and systematic treatment are the recommended treatments of it.
Duodenal-Distal Ileal Fistula After Laparoscopic Radical Right Hemicolectomy: A Case Report
Authors: You Xiaolan , Zhao Xiaojun , Huang Chuanjiang , Cheng Zhiyi , Liu Guiyuan , Shen Xianhe , Zheng Tingrui
Published: March 2022

Right hemicolectomy for colon cancer may be complicated by leaks, stenoses, or fistulas. These complications usually occur at the ileocolic anastomosis and can be managed endoscopically. However, fistulas that are large cannot be managed by endoscopy and require surgical intervention. After laparoscopic radical right hemicolectomy, duodenal fistulae is relatively rare. Among duodenal fistulae, internal duodenocolic fistulae is relatively common, but duodeno-ileum fistulae is extremely rare. Here, we report a case of duodeno-distal ileum fistula after right hemicolectomy with short bowel syndrome, that was surgically treated. After surgical treatment, the symptoms of short bowel syndrome disappeared, weight gain was obvious, and the clinical effect was satisfactory.
Sound Reflections in Indian Stepwells: Modelling Acoustically Retroreflective Architecture
Authors: Cabrera Densil , Lu Shuai , Holmes Jonothan , Yadav Manuj
Published: March 2022

Retroreflection is rarely used as a surface treatment in architectural acoustics but is found incidentally with building surfaces that have many simultaneously visible concave right-angle trihedral corners. Such surfaces concentrate reflected sound onto the sound source, mostly at high frequencies. This study investigated the potential for some Indian stepwells (stepped ponds, known as a kund or baori/baoli in Hindi) to provide exceptionally acoustically retroreflective semi-enclosed environments because of the unusually large number of corners formed by the steps. Two cases—Panna Meena ka Kund and Lahan Vav—were investigated using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) acoustic simulation. The results are consistent with retroreflection, showing reflected energy concentrating on the source position mostly in the high-frequency bands (4 kHz and 2 kHz octave bands). However, the larger stepped pond has substantially less retroreflection, even though it has many more corners, because of the greater diffraction loss over the longer distances. Retroreflection is still evident (but reduced) with non-right-angle trihedral corners (80°–100°). The overall results are sufficiently strong to indicate that acoustic retroreflection should be audible to an attuned visitor in benign environmental conditions, at least at moderately sized stepped ponds that are in good geometric condition.
The New Gear Finishing Method Research for Highly Loaded Gears
Authors: Budzisz Wieslaw , Marciniec Adam
Published: March 2022

Achieving roughness parameters on tooth flanks for highly loaded gears and creating their non-directional surface texture are key to obtaining the required gearbox lifetime, durability, and performance. Many finishing techniques are well-known and described in technical literature, including gear teeth final grinding, shaving, honing, and superfinishing to create the proper surface condition. Unfortunately, there is still a lack of a simple finishing method which can be applied to highly loaded gears in the manufacturing process in order to optimize cost, time, and waste. This work presents the effect of a non-chemical, abrasive, highly effective process to remove quite a large amount of material from gear teeth flanks. The researched technology is called Stream Finishing (SF). The surface condition was inspected to observe its properties before and after the proper SF process parameters definition. It is useful for transmissions groups to define the proper manufacturing process application for obtaining the required gearbox lifetime within optimized parts cost. For each application the process parameters definition shall be determined individually and tested.
A Switching-Based Control Method for the Fairing Separation Control of Axisymmetric Hypersonic Vehicles
Authors: Zhong Qin , Fan Yonghua , Wu Wenbin
Published: March 2022

For hypersonic-vehicle fairing separation, the reliable separation of the fairing and rapid suppression of the separation disturbance are required in scenarios where there is high dynamic pressure and there are abrupt changes in the aerodynamic shape of the aircraft as well as overall parameters. A switching-based control method is proposed in this paper for the interference suppression of hypersonic-vehicle fairing separation, aiming to ensure the stability of the control system in cases of abrupt changes in the controlled object. First, an unsteady-flow calculation method is adopted to clarify the aerodynamic interference characteristics of the aircraft in fairing separation, and the aerodynamic calculation model of the hypersonic-vehicle fairing-separation process is established; then, two states of the aircraft, with and without fairing, are transformed into a subsystem with switching characteristics. The attitude-stability problem in the fairing-separation process is transformed into a problem of solving the arbitrary switching of the switched system by using the linear matrix inequality (LMI) approach. Meanwhile, the control system for interference suppression of the fairing separation is designed by considering the aerodynamic interaction of the fairing movement with the aircraft during the separation. The simulation results showed that the designed control system can realize the reliable separation of the fairing under high dynamic pressure and effectively suppress interference in the separation process.
Innovative Living Mulch Management Strategies for Organic Conservation Field Vegetables: Evaluation of Continuous Mowing, Flaming, and Tillage Performances
Authors: Sportelli Mino , Frasconi Christian , Fontanelli Marco , Pirchio Michel , Gagliardi Lorenzo , Raffaelli Michele , Peruzzi Andrea , Antichi Daniele
Published: March 2022

Organic vegetable production is particularly affected by weed pressure and mechanical weeding is the major tactic implemented by growers to keep weeds under economic thresholds. Living mulch (LM) has been shown to provide several environmental services; however, LM management is required to avoid competition between service crops and cash crops. The aim of this trial was to evaluate two innovative LM-based management systems: a system that provided LM growth regulation by means of flaming (LM-FL) and a system where the LM was regularly mowed by an autonomous mower (LM-AM), both compared with a control without LM and based on standard tillage operations (TILL). The three management systems were evaluated in terms of crop production, weed control, and energy consumption on a 2 yr organic crop rotation of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var botrytis) and eggplant (Solanum melongena L.). LM-AM produced an acceptable fresh marketable yield for both vegetable crops. Moreover, the weed dry biomass obtained in LM-AM-managed plots was lower compared to the LM-FL plots and ranged approximately from 200 to 300 kg ha−1. Furthermore, LM-AM management resulted in lower energy consumption (−2330 kWh ha−1 with respect to the TILL system and −7225 kWh ha−1 with respect to the LM-FL system). The results of this trial suggest that autonomous mowers have a great potential to improve LM management and help with implementing sustainable organic vegetable systems.
Correction: Rubiola et al. Risk Factors for Bovine Cysticercosis in North-West Italy: A Multi-Year Case-Control Study. Animals 2021, 11, 3049
Authors: Rubiola Selene , Moroni Barbara , Carisio Luca , Rossi Luca , Chiesa Francesco , Martano Giuseppe , Cavallo Elisa , Rambozzi Luisa
Published: March 2022

Error in Institutional Review Board Statement [...]
Application of a Universal Calibration Method for True Molar Mass Determination of Fluoro-Derivatized Technical Lignins by Size-Exclusion Chromatography
Authors: Esakkimuthu Esakkiammal Sudha , Marlin Nathalie , Brochier-Salon Marie-Christine , Mortha Gérard
Published: March 2022

The determination of the true molar mass distribution (MMD) of lignin is highly important to understand the physicochemical characteristics for lignin-based value-added applications. It is imperative to develop a universal method to quantify accurate MMD of lignin using size exclusion chromatography (SEC), as the conventional method with polymer standards provides irregular MMD results. This work aims to evaluate the MMD of five lignin samples (Protobind 1000, Organosolv, Indulin, Pine Kraft and Eucalyptus Kraft) in THF. Different derivatization methods (acetylation, fluorobenzylation and fluorobenzoylation) were performed. FTIR and 19F NMR analyses were used to follow derivatization. The MMDs of derivatized and underivatized lignins were determined by the conventional method and compared with the universal calibration method developed using intrinsic viscosity. The 19F NMR spectra provided the information to quantify the degree of substitution of lignin hydroxyl groups, to calculate the true molar mass of the derivatives of lignin monomers. The obtained MMDs values for all the derivatized lignin by universal calibration were found to be three to five times higher than that of the conventional calibration. The polydispersity values obtained with the acetylation method were higher than the fluoro-derivatives. The results demonstrated that fluoro-derivatization is an appropriate method to apply to higher molar mass technical lignins and lacks solubility and aggregation issues.
Implementation of Linear Programming and Decision-Making Model for the Improvement of Warehouse Utilization
Authors: Manoharan Shrinath , Stilling Denise , Kabir Golam , Sarker Sudipa
Published: March 2022

Warehouses are used to store raw materials, finished goods, defective products, tools, machinery, and other company assets until needed. In addition, the warehouse is a staging area for the storage and packaging of products delivered to the customer for consumer industries. Ideally, storage time, storage space, and delivery lead times are minimized by improving warehouse management. This study implements an integration of linear programming (LP) and decision-making models. The LP model provides decision-makers with the optimum quantity of products that can be stored in the warehouse based on different case scenarios considered in this study. Furthermore, the criteria affecting the space utilization of warehouses at total capacity are identified. An integrated approach of rough analytical hierarchical process (AHP) and rough technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) is utilized to determine the best pallet placement on the respective rack. Additionally, this technique identifies the storage racks that require improvements in warehouse space utilization for the products. This methodological approach will help many industries and logistics teams make optimal decisions and improve productivity.
ConvLSTM Network-Based Rainfall Nowcasting Method with Combined Reflectance and Radar-Retrieved Wind Field as Inputs
Authors: Liu Wan , Wang Yongqiang , Zhong Deyu , Xie Shuai , Xu Jijun
Published: March 2022

Strong convection nowcasting has been gaining importance in regional security, economic development, and water resource management. Rainfall nowcasting with strong timeliness needs to effectively forecast the intensity of rainfall in a local region in the short term. The forecast performance of traditional methods is limited. In this paper, a rainfall nowcasting model based on the Convolutional Long Short-Term Memory (ConvLSTM) is proposed. Combined reflectance (CR) and the retrieved wind field are selected as the key factors for prediction. The model considers the influence of water vapor content, transport, and change on rainfall by measuring CR and the retrieved wind field. Forecast results are compared to different models and different input data schemes. The analysis shows that the CSI scores of this method can reach about 0.8, which is 28% higher than that of the optical flow method. The ConvLSTM structure with spatial analysis and time memory can greatly enhance the predictive ability of the model, and the addition of wind field data also improves the forecasting performance of the model. Therefore, the idea of forecasting rainfall on the basis of water vapor content and water vapor transport is practical and effective, and the accuracy of a forecast can be improved by using ConvLSTM network to extract spatiotemporal features.
Influence of Convectively Driven Flows in the Course of a Large Fire in Portugal: The Case of Pedrógão Grande
Authors: Pinto Paulo , Silva Álvaro Pimpão , Viegas Domingos Xavier , Almeida Miguel , Raposo Jorge , Ribeiro Luís Mário
Published: March 2022

The influence of a mesoscale convective system (MCS) in the evolution of two wildfires that started during the afternoon of 17 June 2017 in Pedrógão Grande, Central Portugal is discussed and analysed using weather radar data, weather stations, video images and fire spread analysis. As the MCS approached the region, its convectively driven flows started to influence the fires. The overturning flows were formed by two main limbs: one organised as front-to-rear deep layer inflows that propagated over the convective region of the MCS and the other as rear-to-front mid-level inflows that descended below the anvil structure of the MCS. The rear-to-front inflows, while accelerating and descending to lower levels, contributed to modify the fires’ intensity and plume characteristics. After the two fires merged, the resulting junction fire became very intense and impossible to control. Then, a firestorm was generated, causing the deaths of 66 people. The main goal of this study is to detail the influence of the MCS in the fire spread, thus contributing to the general knowledge of outstanding fire behaviour modifications due to the influence of atmospheric convective processes.
The Combined Use of 5-ALA and Chlorin e6 Photosensitizers for Fluorescence-Guided Resection and Photodynamic Therapy under Neurophysiological Control for Recurrent Glioblastoma in the Functional Motor Area after Ineffective Use of 5-ALA: Preliminary Results
Authors: Kozlikina Elizaveta I. , Trifonov Igor S. , Sinkin Mikhail V. , Krylov Vladimir V. , Loschenov Victor B.
Published: March 2022

The treatment of glial brain tumors is an unresolved problem in neurooncology, and all existing methods (tumor resection, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, radiosurgery, fluorescence diagnostics, photodynamic therapy, etc.) are directed toward increasing progression-free survival for patients. Fluorescence diagnostics and photodynamic therapy are promising methods for achieving gross total resection and additional treatment of residual parts of the tumor. However, sometimes the use of one photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy does not help, and the time until tumor relapse barely increases. This translational case report describes the preliminary results of the first combined use of 5-ALA and chlorin e6 photosensitizers for fluorescence-guided resection and photodynamic therapy of glioblastoma, which allowed us to perform total resection of tumor tissue according to magnetic resonance and computed tomography images, remove additional tissue with increased fluorescence intensity without neurophysiological consequences, and perform additional therapy. Two months after surgery, no recurrent tumor and no contrast uptake in the tumor bed were detected. Additionally, the patient had ischemic changes in the access zone and along the periphery and cystic-glial changes in the left parietal lobe.
Neural Networks and Connectivity among Brain Regions
Authors: Ursino Mauro , Magosso Elisa , Petti Manuela
Published: March 2022

As is widely understood, brain functioning depends on the interaction among several neural populations, which are linked via complex connectivity circuits and work together (in antagonistic or synergistic ways) to exchange information, synchronize their activity, adapt plastically to external stimuli or internal requirements, and more generally to participate in solving multifaceted cognitive tasks [...]
Mechanisms of A-Type Lamin Targeting to Nuclear Ruptures Are Disrupted in LMNA- and BANF1-Associated Progerias
Authors: Sears Rhiannon M. , Roux Kyle J.
Published: March 2022

Mutations in the genes LMNA and BANF1 can lead to accelerated aging syndromes called progeria. The protein products of these genes, A-type lamins and BAF, respectively, are nuclear envelope (NE) proteins that interact and participate in various cellular processes, including nuclear envelope rupture and repair. BAF localizes to sites of nuclear rupture and recruits NE-repair machinery, including the LEM-domain proteins, ESCRT-III complex, A-type lamins, and membranes. Here, we show that it is a mobile, nucleoplasmic population of A-type lamins that is rapidly recruited to ruptures in a BAF-dependent manner via BAF’s association with the Ig-like β fold domain of A-type lamins. These initially mobile lamins become progressively stabilized at the site of rupture. Farnesylated prelamin A and lamin B1 fail to localize to nuclear ruptures, unless that farnesylation is inhibited. Progeria-associated LMNA mutations inhibit the recruitment affected A-type lamin to nuclear ruptures, due to either permanent farnesylation or inhibition of BAF binding. A progeria-associated BAF mutant targets to nuclear ruptures but is unable to recruit A-type lamins. Together, these data reveal the mechanisms that determine how lamins respond to nuclear ruptures and how progeric mutations of LMNA and BANF1 impair recruitment of A-type lamins to nuclear ruptures.
Whole and Purified Aqueous Extracts of Nigella sativa L. Seeds Attenuate Apoptosis and the Overproduction of Reactive Oxygen Species Triggered by p53 Over-Expression in the Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Mihoubi Wafa , Sahli Emna , Rezgui Fatma , Dabebi Najeh , Sayehi Rabiaa , Hassairi Hajer , Masmoudi-Fourati Najla , Walha Kamel , ben Khadhra Khalifa , Baklouti Mohamed , Ghzaiel Imen , Fattouch Sami , Menif Hela , Mokdad-Gargouri Raja , Lizard Gérard , Gargouri Ali
Published: March 2022

Plants are an important source of pharmacologically active compounds. In the present work, we characterize the impact of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) aqueous extracts on a yeast model of p53-dependent apoptosis. To this end, the Saccharomyces cerevisiae recombinant strain over-expressing p53 was used. The over-expression of p53 triggers the expression of apoptotic markers: the externalization of phosphatidylserine, mitochondrial defect associated with cytochrome-c release and the induction of DNA strand breaks. These different effects were attenuated by Nigella sativa L. aqueous extracts, whereas these extracts have no effect on the level of p53 expression. Thus, we focus on the anti-apoptotic molecules present in the aqueous extract of Nigella sativa L. These extracts were purified and characterized by complementary chromatographic methods. Specific fluorescent probes were used to determine the effect of the extracts on yeast apoptosis. Yeast cells over-expressing p53 decrease in relative size and have lower mitochondrial content. The decrease in cell size was proportional to the decrease in mitochondrial content and of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm). These effects were prevented by the purified aqueous fraction obtained by fractionation with different columns, named C4 fraction. Yeast cell death was also characterized by reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction. In the presence of the C4 fraction, ROS overproduction was strongly reduced. We also noted that the C4 fraction promotes the cell growth of control yeast cells, which do not express p53, supporting the fact that this purified extract acts on cellular mediators activating cell proliferation independently of p53. Altogether, our data obtained on yeast cells over-expressing p53 demonstrate that anti-apoptotic molecules targeting p53-induced apoptosis associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and ROS overproduction are present in the aqueous extracts of Nigella seeds and in the purified aqueous C4 fraction.
Failure of Alzheimer’s Mice Brain Resident Neural Precursor Cells in Supporting Microglia-Mediated Amyloid β Clearance
Authors: Lachish Marva , Fainstein Nina , Ganz Tal , Sofer Lihi , Ben-Hur Tamir
Published: March 2022

The failure of brain microglia to clear excess amyloid β (Aβ) is considered a leading cause of the progression of Alzheimer’s disease pathology. Resident brain neural precursor cells (NPCs) possess immune-modulatory and neuro-protective properties, which are thought to maintain brain homeostasis. We have recently showed that resident mouse brain NPCs exhibit an acquired decline in their trophic properties in the Alzheimer’s disease brain environment. Therefore, we hypothesized that functional NPCs may support microglial phagocytic activity, and that NPCs derived from the adult AD mouse brain may fail to support the clearance of Aβ by microglia. We first identified in the AD brain, in vivo and ex vivo, a subpopulation of microglia that express high Aβ phagocytic activity. Time-lapse microscopy showed that co-culturing newborn NPCs with microglia induced a significant increase in the fraction of microglia with high Aβ phagocytic activity. Freshly isolated NPCs from adult wild type, but not AD, mouse brain, induced an increase in the fraction of microglia with high Aβ phagocytic activity. Finally, we showed that NPCs also possess the ability to promote Aβ degradation within the microglia with high Aβ phagocytic activity. Thus, resident brain NPCs support microglial function to clear Aβ, but NPCs derived from the AD environment fail to do so. We suggest that the failure of AD brain NPCs to support Aβ clearance from the brain by microglia may accelerate disease pathology.
Estrogenic Action in Stress-Induced Neuroendocrine Regulation of Energy Homeostasis
Authors: Krolick Kristen N. , Shi Haifei
Published: March 2022

Estrogens are among important contributing factors to many sex differences in neuroendocrine regulation of energy homeostasis induced by stress. Research in this field is warranted since chronic stress-related psychiatric and metabolic disturbances continue to be top health concerns, and sex differences are witnessed in these aspects. For example, chronic stress disrupts energy homeostasis, leading to negative consequences in the regulation of emotion and metabolism. Females are known to be more vulnerable to the psychological consequences of stress, such as depression and anxiety, whereas males are more vulnerable to the metabolic consequences of stress. Sex differences that exist in the susceptibility to various stress-induced disorders have led researchers to hypothesize that gonadal hormones are regulatory factors that should be considered in stress studies. Further, estrogens are heavily recognized for their protective effects on metabolic dysregulation, such as anti-obesogenic and glucose-sensing effects. Perturbations to energy homeostasis using laboratory rodents, such as physiological stress or over-/under- feeding dietary regimen prevalent in today’s society, offer hints to the underlying mechanisms of estrogenic actions. Metabolic effects of estrogens primarily work through estrogen receptor α (ERα), which is differentially expressed between the sexes in hypothalamic nuclei regulating energy metabolism and in extrahypothalamic limbic regions that are not typically associated with energy homeostasis. In this review, we discuss estrogenic actions implicated in stress-induced sex-distinct metabolic disorders.