bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Puzzling Protein from Variovorax paradoxus Has a PLP Fold Type IV Transaminase Structure and Binds PLP without Catalytic Lysine
Authors: Boyko Konstantin M. , Matyuta Ilya O. , Nikolaeva Alena Y. , Rakitina Tatiana V. , Popov Vladimir O. , Bezsudnova Ekaterina Yu. , Khrenova Maria G.
Published: April 2022

Effective biocatalysts for the synthesis of optically pure amines from keto precursors are highly required in organic synthesis. Transaminases are a large group of PLP-dependent enzymes, which can be utilized for production of chiral amines or amino acids. The bioinformatic approach previously made to search for promising transaminases with unusual characteristics surprisingly revealed mysterious genes in some Gram-negative bacteria, which products were annotated as aminotransferases, but they lacked the key catalytic lysine residue required for covalent binding of the PLP-cofactor. To address the question of which products these genes encode, we obtained the first structure of such a type of protein from the bacterium Variovorax paradoxus (VP5454) and provided its comprehensive analysis. We demonstrated that VP5454 has a typical aminotransferase fold and architecture of the active site, where substitution of the catalytic lysine with asparagine was observed. Despite that no covalent adduct can be formed between PLP and asparagine residue, using X-ray analysis and molecular dynamic (MD) simulation, we demonstrated that VP5454 is able to bind the PLP molecule in the transaminase in a specific manner, with PLP coordinated via its phosphate moiety. Taking into account a number of sequences homologous to VP5454 with a substituted catalytic lysine found in the genomes of various bacteria, we speculate that the proteins encoded by these sequences may have hidden functional roles.
Comparative Studies of Blue-Emitting Zinc Selenide Nanocrystals Doped with Ag, Cu, and Mg towards Medical Applications
Authors: Nguyen Van Khiem , Pham Duy Khanh , Tran Ngoc Quyen , Dang Le Hang , Nguyen Ngoc Hoa , Nguyen Thanh Viet , Nguyen Thi Hiep , Luong Thi Bich
Published: April 2022

Blue-emitting Ag(+)-, Cu(2+)-, and Mg(2+)-doped ZnSe nanoparticles (NPs) were successfully synthesized at 80 °C by the precipitation method by using mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) as a stabilizer. UV–visible and photoluminescence (PL) studies were applied to investigate their physicochemical properties. Their structural properties were confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The size of the ZnSe: X-capped MPA showed a strong relationship with dopant metals. The diameters of the Mg-doped ZnSe and the Cu-doped ZnSe were 22–24 nm, while the Ag-doped ZnSe was halved, at about 13 nm. The photoluminescence was within a wavelength range of 400–550 nm. In addition, the PL intensities, as well as the photoluminescence quantum yields, were in the order of the decreasing ionic radii of the dopant metals (ZnSe:Ag < ZnSe:Mg < ZnSe:Cu). Furthermore, through the interaction with lysine, the PL intensity of the ZnSe:X was changed. Interestingly, the capacity of the ZnSe:Mg for lysine was significantly higher than that of other dopant metals. Moreover, the toxicity of the ZnSe:Mg was relatively insignificant toward the hMSCs (about 80% cell viability at 320 ppm), compared to the transition-metal dopant. Therefore, the ZnSe:Mg material could have great potential for bioapplications.
Flora and Vegetation of Yunnan, Southwestern China: Diversity, Origin and Evolution
Authors: Zhu Hua , Tan Yunhong
Published: April 2022

Yunnan has a complicated geological history, a particular geography, and a complex topography, which have influenced the formation of various habitats of high biodiversity: 245 families; 2140 genera; 13,253 species and varieties of seed plants; more than 12 types of vegetation; and 167 plant formations, including tropical rain forests, tropical dry forests, subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest, cold temperate coniferous forests, and alpine bushes and meadows. An analysis of the geographic elements to the current Yunnan flora shows that the tropical distribution contributed to 51% of all families and to 57.5% of all genera, of which the genera from the tropical Asian distribution make up the highest proportion among all geographical elements. During the late evolution of Yunnan, its flora was strongly affected by the tropical Asian flora. The complicated patterns and diversity in Yunnan flora and vegetation have been shaped mainly by its particular geological histories, which include the differential uplifts in topography, the clock-wise rotation of the Simao-Lanping geoblock, and the extrusion of the Indochina geoblock by the Himalayan uplift. The flora and vegetation of Yunnan were possibly derived from tropical-subtropical Tertiary flora before later diverging. Northwestern Yunnan flora likely evolved due to rapid speciation from families and genera from cosmopolitan and northern temperate distributions during the uplift of the Himalayas and climatic oscillations after the late Tertiary. Southern Yunnan flora likely evolved into tropical Asian flora following the southeastward extrusion of the Indochina block, which brought along tropical Asian elements. Central Yunnan flora inherited most of the elements of the Tertiary flora from East Asia. The formation and strengthening of the southwest monsoon by the uplift of the Himalayas was also a direct factor in the formation of the tropical rain forests found in southern Yunnan. The flora from southern and southeastern Yunnan also diverged, with the former being more closely related to Indo-Malaysian flora and the latter being more closely related to Eastern Asian flora. This floristic divergence is well supported by the geological history of these regions: that is, the tropical flora of southeastern Yunnan derived from the South China geoblock, whereas the flora of southern and southwestern Yunnan mainly derived from the Shan-Thai geoblock.
Risk Factors for the Development of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Pulmonary Disease during Long-Term Follow-Up after Lung Cancer Surgery
Authors: Kim Bo-Guen , Choi Yong Soo , Shin Sun Hye , Lee Kyungjong , Um Sang-Won , Kim Hojoong , Cho Jong Ho , Kim Hong Kwan , Kim Jhingook , Shim Young Mog , Jeong Byeong-Ho
Published: April 2022

The aim of this study is to determine the cumulative incidence of, and the risk factors for, the development of nontuberculous mycobacteria pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) following lung cancer surgery. We retrospectively analyzed patients with non-small cell lung cancer who underwent surgical resection between 2010 and 2016. Patients who met all the diagnostic criteria in the NTM guidelines were defined as having NTM-PD. Additionally, we classified participants as NTM-positive when NTM were cultured in respiratory specimens, regardless of the diagnostic criteria. We followed 6503 patients for a median of 4.89 years, and NTM-PD and NTM-positive diagnoses occurred in 59 and 156 patients, respectively. The cumulative incidence rates of NTM-PD and NTM-positive were 2.8% and 5.9% at 10 years, respectively. Mycobacterium avium complex was the most commonly identified pathogen, and half of the NTM-PD patients had cavitary lesions. Several host-related factors (age > 65 years, body mass index ≤ 18.5 kg/m2, interstitial lung disease, bronchiectasis, and bronchiolitis) and treatment-related factors (postoperative pulmonary complications and neoadjuvant/adjuvant treatments) were identified as risk factors for developing NTM-PD and/or being NTM-positive after lung cancer surgery. The incidences of NTM-PD and NTM-positive diagnoses after lung cancer surgery were not low, and half of the NTM-PD patients had cavitary lesions, which are known to progress rapidly and often require treatment. Therefore, it is necessary to raise awareness of NTM-PD development after lung cancer surgery.
Gas within the Intervertebral Disc Does Not Rule Out Spinal Infection—A Case Series of 135 Patients with Spontaneous Spondylodiscitis
Authors: Schömig Friederike , Li Zhao , Becker Luis , Vu-Han Tu-Lan , Pumberger Matthias , Diekhoff Torsten
Published: April 2022

Gas in the intervertebral disc is mainly associated with degenerative disc diseases and experts generally assume that it is unlikely in spinal infection. However, large-scale studies supporting this notion are lacking, which is why our study’s aim was to analyze the prevalence of and factors associated with the occurrence of gas in patients with spontaneous spondylodiscitis. Patients presenting with spontaneous spondylodiscitis from 2006 to 2020 were included retrospectively. Exclusion criteria were previous interventions in the same spinal segment and missing imaging data. Clinical data were retrieved from electronic medical reports. Computed tomography (CT) scans were evaluated for the presence of intervertebral gas. Causative pathogens were identified from CT-guided biopsy, open biopsy, intraoperative tissue samples, and/or blood cultures. 135 patients with a mean age of 66.0 ± 13.7 years were included. In 93 patients (68.9%), a causative pathogen was found. Intervertebral gas was found in 31 patients (23.0%) in total and in 19 patients (20.4%) with positive microbiology. Patients with gas presented with significantly higher body temperatures (37.2 ± 1.1 vs. 36.8 ± 0.7 °C, p = 0.044) and CRP levels (134.2 ± 127.1 vs. 89.8 ± 97.3 mg/L, p = 0.040) on admission. As a considerable number of patients with spondylodiscitis showed intervertebral gas formation, the detection of intervertebral gas is not suited to ruling out spondylodiscitis but must be interpreted in the context of other imaging and clinical findings, especially in elderly patients.
Clinical Evaluation of Nasopharyngeal, Oropharyngeal, Nasal Swabs, and Saliva for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 by Direct RT-PCR
Authors: Kiryanov Sergei A. , Levina Tatiana A. , Kadochnikova Vladislava V. , Konopleva Maria V. , Suslov Anatoly P. , Trofimov Dmitry Yu.
Published: April 2022

Nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) and oropharyngeal swab (OPS) are the most widely used upper respiratory tract specimens for diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 using RT-qPCR. In contrast, nasal swab (NS) and saliva (SS), recently recommended by the WHO, are rarely used, and their test accuracy is limited. The method for direct RT-PCR detection of SARS-CoV-2 does not require an RNA extraction and is faster and easier than standard RT-PCR tests with RNA extraction. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of upper respiratory tract samples for SARS-CoV-2 detection using the direct RT-PCR without preliminary heat inactivation. Here we report the application and validation of direct RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 RNA on 165 clinical specimens of NPS/OP, and 36 samples of NS/NPS and 37 saliva samples (for the latter with prior deproteinization). The overall sensitivity estimates were 95.9%, 94.2%, 88.9%, and 94.6% for NPS/OPS/NS/SS samples, respectively, and the specificity was 100% against standard RT-PCR with RNA extraction. Overall, NS and SS testing by direct RT-PCR had sufficient sensitivity to detect SARS-CoV-2. They can be acceptable alternative to NPS/OPS for rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 infections in future.
Comparison of Two Kinds of Two-Dimensional Shear Wave Elastography Techniques in the Evaluation of Jaundiced Infants Suspected of Biliary Atresia
Authors: Zhou Wenying , Liang Jinyu , Shan Quanyuan , Chen Huadong , Gao Pengfei , Cao Qinghua , Wang Guotao , Xie Xiaoyan , Zhou Luyao
Published: April 2022

Purpose: To compare the reliability and performance of Supersonic shear wave elastography (S-SWE) and Toshiba shear wave elastography (T-SWE) in the diagnosis of biliary atresia (BA) and assessment of liver fibrosis among jaundiced infants suspected of BA. Material and Methods: A total of 35 patients with suspected BA who underwent both S-SWE and T-SWE examinations were prospectively included. Diagnostic performances of S-SWE and T-SWE in identifying BA were evaluated. The correlation between two types of SWE values and histological liver fibrosis stages by Metavir scores were investigated in 21 patients with pathology results. The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated in 16 patients for inter- and intra-observer agreement. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) analysis was compared using a DeLong test. Results: There were 22 patients with BA and 13 patients without BA. The diagnostic performance of S-SWE was comparable to that of T-SWE (AUC 0.895 vs. 0.822, p = 0.071) in diagnosing BA. The AUCs of S-SWE in predicting liver fibrosis stages were from 0.676 to 1.000 and showed no statistical differences from that of T-SWE (from 0.704 to 1.000, all p > 0.05). T-SWE provided higher inter-operator agreement (ICC 0.990) and intra-operator agreement (ICCs 0.966–0.993), compared with that of S-SWE in a previous study (ICC 0.980 for inter-operator and 0.930–0.960 for intra-operator). Conclusions: For infants suspected of BA, T-SWE had good performances in the diagnosis of BA and the assessment of liver fibrosis compared with S-SWE. Furthermore, T-SWE showed higher measurement reproducibility than S-SWE.
Respecting the Voices of Individuals from Marginalised Communities in Research—“Who Is Listening and Who Isn’t?”
Authors: Shevlin Michael , Rose Richard
Published: April 2022

Internationally, Governments have signed up to the principles of ensuring that they support the development of greater equity and inclusion in education [...]
Research on the Modeling of Bending-Torsional Coupling and Vibration Characteristics of Planetary Roller Screw Mechanism
Authors: Wu Linping , Ma Shangjun , Deng Pan , Huang Qiangqiang
Published: April 2022

A general bending-torsional coupling dynamic model of the planetary roller screw mechanism is developed by the lumped mass method in this paper to analyze the vibration characteristics. Firstly, the components of the planetary roller screw mechanism are treated as lumped mass, and the meshing relationships are expressed by the spring element. Secondly, the natural vibration characteristics of the planetary roller screw mechanism are analyzed, and four vibration modes based on the bending-torsional coupling dynamic model are summarized: carrier mode, torsional mode, transverse mode and roller mode. This reveals the vibration characteristics when the two kinds of meshing pairs (thread pair and gear pair) come into meshing synchronously. Then, the relationships between the structural parameters and the natural frequency of each vibration mode are discussed. Finally, the matrix equation is simplified according to the characteristics of vibration mode, and the analytic expressions of natural frequency under carrier mode and roller mode are obtained.
An Image Captioning Algorithm Based on Combination Attention Mechanism
Authors: Liu Jinlong , Cheng Kangda , Jin Haiyan , Wu Zhilu
Published: April 2022

With the maturity of computer vision and natural language processing technology, we are becoming more ambitious in image captioning. In particular, we are more ambitious in generating longer, richer, and more accurate sentences as image descriptions. Most existing image caption models use an encoder—decoder structure, and most of the best-performing models incorporate attention mechanisms in the encoder—decoder structure. However, existing image captioning methods focus only on visual attention mechanism and not on keywords attention mechanism, thus leading to model-generated sentences that are not rich and accurate enough, and errors in visual feature extraction can directly lead to generated caption sentences that are incorrect. To fill this gap, we propose a combination attention module. This module comprises a visual attention module and a keyword attention module. The visual attention module helps in performing fast extractions of key local features, and the keyword attention module focuses on keywords that may appear in generated sentences. The results generated by the two modules can be corrected for each other. We embed the combination attention module into the framework of the Transformer, thus constructing a new image caption model CAT (Combination Attention Transformer) to generate more accurate and rich image caption sentences. Extensive experiments on the MSCOCO dataset demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of our method over many state-of-the-art methods.
TID Sensitivity Assessment of Quadrature LC-Tank VCOs Implemented in 65-nm CMOS Technology
Authors: Karmakar Arijit , De Smedt Valentijn , Leroux Paul
Published: April 2022

This article presents a comprehensive assessment of the ionizing radiation induced effects on the performance of quadrature phase LC-tank based voltage-controlled-oscillators (VCOs). Two different quadrature VCOs (QVCOs) that are capable of generating frequencies in the range of 2.5 GHz to 2.9 GHz are implemented in a commercial 65 nm bulk CMOS technology to target for harsh radiation environments like space applications and high-energy physics (HEP) experiments. Each of the QVCOs consumes 13 mW power from a 1.2 V supply. The architectures are based on the popular implementation of two different types of QVCOs: parallel-coupled QVCO (PQVCO) and super-harmonic coupled QVCO (SQVCO). The various performance metrics (oscillation frequency, quadrature phase, phase noise, frequency tuning range, and power consumption) of the two different QVCOs are evaluated with respect to a Total ionizing Dose (TID) up to a level of approximately 100 Mrad (SiO2) through X-ray irradiation. During irradiation, the electrical characterization of the samples of the prototype are performed under biased condition at room temperature. Before irradiation, the QVCOs (PQVCO and SQVCO) achieve phase noise equal to −115 dBc/Hz and −119 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset, resulting in figure-of-merit (FoM) of −172.2 dBc/Hz and −176.4 dBc/Hz respectively. The test-setup of the TID experiment is discussed and the results obtained are statistically analyzed in this article to perform a comparative study of the performance of the two different QVCOs and evaluate the effectiveness of the radiation hardened by design techniques (RHBDs) employed in the implementations. Post-irradiation, the overall variations of the frequencies of the oscillators are less than 1% and the change in tuning range (TR) is less than 5% as observed from the tested samples.
EMI Minimization from Stacked Radiation Sources by Means of Multiple Objective Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Cecchetti Riccardo , de Paulis Francesco , Olivieri Carlo , Orlandi Antonio
Published: April 2022

The containment of unwanted electromagnetic radiation and interference is a relevant topic for the system design of any electrical system, and even more for data centers. In this context, the racks hosting piles of servers are one of the main sources of electromagnetic noise. Such unwanted radiation can couple and interact with other computing machines, but also with sensitive electronic devices needed for the management and/or maintenance of the center. The aim of this work is to show how the proper stack-up of the trays in the rack gives rise to a decrease in the unwanted physical electromagnetic radiation. Based on the application of the spherical wave expansion technique, a multi-objective genetic algorithm is developed to evaluate the optimal set of rack configurations that allows for a reduction of the external radiated field. The algorithm and the implemented constraints are described, and the results are discussed.
Enhanced Control of Three-Phase Grid-Connected Renewables with Fault Ride-Through Capability under Voltage Sags
Authors: Rey-Boué Alexis B. , Guerrero-Rodríguez N. F. , Stöckl Johannes , Strasser Thomas I.
Published: April 2022

The uninterruptible operation of grid-connected renewables under the occurrence of grid voltage sags is addressed in this work. This is achieved due to the incorporation of an enhanced control algorithm of a renewable source. The low-voltage ride-through algorithm was developed in accordance to the voltage profile introduced by IEC 61400-21 regarding grid voltage sags. To guarantee continuous operation of the renewable agent during voltage sags, not only instantaneous reactive power but also instantaneous active power under moderate voltage sags was injected to the utility grid fulfilling grid code requirements. A dual second-order generalized integrator frequency-locked loop synchronization algorithm was used to estimate the system’s frequency, together with the positive and the negative sequences of the three-phase utility grid voltages when unbalanced sags occurred. The current control was made in a stationary reference frame by using proportional-resonant regulators, and a DC voltage source was used to emulate the primary energy from any type of renewable system. The validation of the proposed control algorithm was conducted for a three-phase grid-connected renewable system with an apparent power of 500 kVA. The results from several experimental tests demonstrated the proper behavior of the enhanced algorithm.
Acoustic Descriptors for Characterization of Musical Timbre Using the Fast Fourier Transform
Authors: Gonzalez Yubiry , Prati Ronaldo C.
Published: April 2022

The quantitative assessment of the musical timbre in an audio record is still an open-ended issue. Evaluating the musical timbre allows not only to establish precise musical parameters but also the recognition, classification of musical instruments, and assessment of the musical quality of a sound record. In this paper, we present a minimum set of dimensionless descriptors, motivated by musical acoustics, using the spectra obtained by the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), which allows describing the timbre of wooden aerophones (Bassoon, Clarinet, Transverse Flute, and Oboe) using individual sound recordings of the musical tempered scale. We postulate that the proposed descriptors are sufficient to describe the timbral characteristics in the aerophones studied, allowing their recognition using the acoustic spectral signature. We believe that this approach can be further extended to use multidimensional unsupervised machine learning techniques, such as clustering, to obtain new insights into timbre characterization.
On the Development of Offshore Wind Turbine Technology: An Assessment of Reliability Rates and Fault Detection Methods in a Changing Market
Authors: Turnbull Alan , McKinnon Conor , Carrol James , McDonald Alasdair
Published: April 2022

Offshore wind turbine drive train technology is evolving as developers increase size, aim to maximise availability and adapt to changing electricity grid requirements. This work first of all explores offshore technology market trends observed in Europe, providing a comprehensive overview of installed and planned capacity, showing a clear shift from smaller high-speed geared machines to larger direct-drive machines. To examine the implications of this shift in technology on reliability, stop rates for direct-drive and gear-driven turbines are compared between 39 farms across Europe and South America. This showed several key similarities between configurations, with the electrical system contributing to largest amount of turbine downtime in either case. When considering overall downtime across all components, the direct-drive machine had the highest value, which could be mainly attributed to comparatively higher downtime associated with the electrical, generator and control systems. For this study, downtime related to the gearbox and generator of the gear-driven turbine was calculated at approximately half of that of the direct-drive generator downtime. Finally, from a perspective of both reliability and fault diagnostics at component level, it is important to understand the key similarities and differences that would allow lessons learned on older technology to be adapted and transferred to newer models. This work presents a framework for assessing diagnostic models published in the literature, more specifically whether a particular failure mode and required input data will transfer well between geared and direct-drive machines. Results from 35 models found in the literature shows that the most transferable diagnostic models relate to the hydraulic, pitch and yaw systems, while the least transferable models relate to the gearbox. Faults associated with the generator, shafts and bearings are failure mode specific, but generally require some level of modification to adapt features to available data.
Indirect Thermographic Temperature Measurement of a Power-Rectifying Diode Die
Authors: Dziarski Krzysztof , Hulewicz Arkadiusz , Dombek Grzegorz , Drużyński Łukasz
Published: April 2022

This article concerns the indirect thermographic temperature measurement of a die of the semiconductor diode D00-250-10. The article shows how the goal was achieved. The methodology of selecting the point at which thermographic measurements of the temperature of the diode cases were performed is discussed. The method of thermographic measurement of the case temperature and the measuring system used is described. The method of simulations making it possible to obtain the die’s temperature on the basis of thermographic casing temperature measurement is presented. In order to enable a better understanding of the discussed issues, the construction of the diode used and the heat flow equation are described. As a result of the work carried out, the point at which the temperature is closest to the die temperature was indicated on the diode case. It is shown that the difference between the casing temperature and the die temperature does not exceed 2 °C at the point indicated. An indirect measurement of the die’s temperature is carried out for different values of the power dissipated on the die.
Impact of Air Density Variation on a Simulated Earth-to-Air Heat Exchanger’s Performance
Authors: Michalak Piotr
Published: April 2022

Due to their simple design and reliable operation, earth-to-air heat exchangers (EAHE) are used in modern buildings to reduce ventilation heat losses. EAHE operation in atmospheric conditions results in variation in ambient air temperature and pressure affecting air density. The paper presents the study on the impact of ambient air density variation on the calculated hourly air temperature at the EAHE outlet and the resulting energy use for space heating and cooling of an exemplary residential building. The ground temperature was computed from the model given in EN 16798-5-1. Then, air density was obtained using five various methods. Energy use for space heating and cooling of the building was computed using the 5R1C thermal network model of EN ISO 13790. Depending on the chosen method and concerning the base case without EAHE, a reduction in annual heating and cooling needs was obtained from 7.5% to 8.8% in heating and from 15.3% to 19% in cooling. Annual heating and cooling gain from EAHE were 600.9 kWh and 628.3 kWh for heating and 616.9 kWh and 603.5 kWh for cooling for the Typical Meteorological Years (TMY) and International Weather for Energy Calculation (IWEC) files, respectively. Unit heating and cooling gains per heat exchanger area were from 34.9 kWh/m2 to 36.8 kWh/m2 and from −35.1 kWh/m2 to −36.3 kWh/m2. Density variation with temperature from the relevant typical Polish meteorological year at constant pressure, in comparison to the method of EN 16798-5-1, resulted in an hourly difference of that unit gain up to 4.3 W/m2 and 2.0 W/m2 for heating and cooling, respectively. The same was true inthe case of IWEC files that resulted in differences of 5.5 W/m2 and 1.1 W/m2.
ReSQoV: A Scalable Resource Allocation Model for QoS-Satisfied Cloud Services
Authors: Khan Hassan Mahmood , Chua Fang-Fang , Yap Timothy Tzen Vun
Published: April 2022

Dynamic resource provisioning is made more accessible with cloud computing. Monitoring a running service is critical, and modifications are performed when specific criteria are exceeded. It is a standard practice to add or delete resources in such situations. We investigate the method to ensure the Quality of Service (QoS), estimate the required resources, and modify allotted resources depending on workload, serialization, and parallelism due to resources. This article focuses on cloud QoS violation remediation using resource planning and scaling. A Resource Quantified Scaling for QoS Violation (ReSQoV) model is proposed based on the Universal Scalability Law (USL), which provides cloud service capacity for specific workloads and generates a capacity model. ReSQoV considers the system overheads while allocating resources to maintain the agreed QoS. As the QoS violation detection decision is Probably Violation and Definitely Violation, the remedial action is triggered, and required resources are added to the virtual machine as vertical scaling. The scenarios emulate QoS parameters and their respective resource utilization for ReSQoV compared to policy-based resource allocation. The results show that after USLbased Quantified resource allocation, QoS is regained, and validation of the ReSQoV is performed through the statistical test ANOVA that shows the significant difference before and after implementation.
On the Use of the Multi-Agent Environment for Mobility Applications
Authors: Zargayouna Mahdi
Published: April 2022

The multi-agent environment is now widely recognised as a key design abstraction for constructing multi-agent systems, equally important as the agents. An explicitly designed environment may have several roles, such as the inter-mediation between agents, the support for interaction, the embodiment of rules and constraints, etc. Mobility applications fit perfectly with a design in the form of a multi-agent system with an explicit environment model. Indeed, in these applications, the components of the system are autonomous and intelligent (drivers, travellers, vehicles, etc.), and the transportation network is a natural environment that they perceive and on which they act. However, the concept of the multi-agent environment may be profitably used beyond this specific geographical context. This paper discusses the relevance of the multi-agent environment in mobility applications and describes different use cases in simulation and optimisation.
Inverse Molecular Docking Elucidating the Anticarcinogenic Potential of the Hop Natural Product Xanthohumol and Its Metabolites
Authors: Kores Katarina , Kolenc Zala , Furlan Veronika , Bren Urban
Published: April 2022

Natural products from plants exert a promising potential to act as antioxidants, antimicrobials, anti-inflammatory, and anticarcinogenic agents. Xanthohumol, a natural compound from hops, is indeed known for its anticarcinogenic properties. Xanthohumol is converted into three metabolites: isoxanthohumol (non-enzymatically) as well as 8- and 6-prenylnaringenin (enzymatically). An inverse molecular docking approach was applied to xanthohumol and its three metabolites to discern their potential protein targets. The aim of our study was to disclose the potential protein targets of xanthohumol and its metabolites in order to expound on the potential anticarcinogenic mechanisms of xanthohumol based on the found target proteins. The investigated compounds were docked into the predicted binding sites of all human protein structures from the Protein Data Bank, and the best docking poses were examined. Top scoring human protein targets with successfully docked compounds were identified, and their experimental connection with the anticarcinogenic function or cancer was investigated. The obtained results were carefully checked against the existing experimental findings from the scientific literature as well as further validated using retrospective metrics. More than half of the human protein targets of xanthohumol with the highest docking scores have already been connected with the anticarcinogenic function, and four of them (including two important representatives of the matrix metalloproteinase family, MMP-2 and MMP-9) also have a known experimental correlation with xanthohumol. Another important protein target is acyl-protein thioesterase 2, to which xanthohumol, isoxanthohumol, and 6-prenylnaringenin were successfully docked with the lowest docking scores. Moreover, the results for the metabolites show that their most promising protein targets are connected with the anticarcinogenic function as well. We firmly believe that our study can help to elucidate the anticarcinogenic mechanisms of xanthohumol and its metabolites as after consumption, all four compounds can be simultaneously present in the organism.
Effects of Purple Corn Anthocyanin on Growth Performance, Meat Quality, Muscle Antioxidant Status, and Fatty Acid Profiles in Goats
Authors: Tian Xingzhou , Li Jiaxuan , Luo Qingyuan , Wang Xu , Wang Tiansong , Zhou Di , Xie Lingling , Ban Chao , Lu Qi
Published: April 2022

This study was conducted to examine the effect of purple corn anthocyanin on performance, meat quality, muscle antioxidant activity, antioxidant gene expression, and fatty acid profiles in goats. The feeding trial period lasted 74 d. The adaptation period was 14 d, and the formal experimental period was 60 d. Eighteen Qianbei-pockmarked goats (Guizhou native goat breed; body weight, 21.38 ± 1.61 kg; mean ± standard deviation) were randomly allotted into three equal groups, including a control with no purple corn pigment (PCP) and groups receiving either 0.5 g/d PCP or 1.0 g/d PCP. The inclusion of PCP did not affect (p > 0.05) the dry matter intake, average daily gain, or feed conversion ratio compared to the control group. The addition of PCP reduced (p < 0.05) shear force in the longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle (LTL) during the growth phase of the goats. Goats receiving PCP showed higher (p < 0.05) levels of reduced glutathione, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity and peroxidase in LTL compared to the control. Moreover, compared to the control, the PCP group displayed lower (p < 0.05) concentrations of 12:0, C16:0, and total saturated fatty acids, but increased (p < 0.05) concentrations of various unsaturated fatty acids, including C18:1n9, C20:3n6, C20:4n6, C18:2n6 cis, C20:3n6, C22:5n3, C22:6n3, and total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). The abundance of nuclear factor, erythroid 2 like 2, superoxide dismutase 1, glutathione peroxidase 1, and catalase was upregulated (p < 0.05) in the LTL of goats receiving 0.5 g/d PCP in comparison to the other groups. Collectively, result of the current study indicated that PCP anthocyanin could be used as a source of natural functional additive because anthocyanin-rich PCP has the potential to improve meat quality and enhance muscle antioxidant status as well as improve the proportions of PUFAs in goat muscle.
Application of Response Surface Methodology to Optimize Solid-Phase Extraction of Benzoic Acid and Sorbic Acid from Food Drinks
Authors: Kefi Bochra Bejaoui , Baccouri Sana , Torkhani Rachel , Koumba Sidrine , Martin Patrick , M’Hamdi Naceur
Published: April 2022

An experimental design was applied for the optimization of the extraction process of two preservatives, benzoic and sorbic acids (BA, SA), from food drinks. A simple, rapid, and reliable solid-phase extraction (SPE) method for the simultaneous extraction of these two preservatives and their determination by liquid chromatography with a diode array detector was considered. Box–Behnken design (BBD) was applied to both steps of the SPE process: (i) the sample percolation to ensure the retention of the totality of the acids by the silica-based C18 sorbent; (ii) the elution step to ensure desorption of the totality of the acids from the cartridge. Thus, the volume, pH, and flow rate of the sample, and the percentage of MeOH, volume, and flow rate of the elution solvent, were optimized. Sample volume and pH have a significant influence (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0115) on the percolation yield. However, no effect was recorded for the flow rate (p > 0.05). Flow rate also has no significant effect on the elution efficiency. The proposed new solid-phase extraction method, which can be easily applied to routine monitoring of preservatives BA and SA in juice and soft drink samples, included 0.5 g of C18 sorbent, 1 mL of food drink adjusted to pH 1 and percolated at 4.5 mL min−1, and 1 mL of a solvent mixture composed of methanol/acidified water (pH = 2.6) (90:10, v/v) used in the elution step at a flow rate of 4.5 mL min−1. Validation of the SPE method and the technique of analysis were evaluated, namely, the accuracy, precision, detection, and quantification limits and linearity. Recovery percentages of benzoic and sorbic acids were above 95% with relative standard deviations lower than 1.78%. Detection and quantification limits were 0.177 and 0.592 µg mL−1, and 0.502 and 0.873 µg mL−1 for benzoic acid and sorbic acid respectively. Optimal conditions were applied to commercial fruit juices and soft drinks and a minimal matrix effect was observed. This method was compared with other SPE methods using oxidized activated carbon and multiwalled carbon nanotubes as adsorbents. The yields determined with these last two were low compared to those determined with our method.
The Effects of Different Processing Methods on the Levels of Biogenic Amines in Zijuan Tea
Authors: Liu Dandan , Wang Kang , Xue Xiaoran , Wen Qiang , Qin Shiwen , Suo Yukai , Liang Mingzhi
Published: April 2022

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of processing methods on the content of biogenic amines in Zijuan tea by using derivatization and hot trichloroacetic acid extraction with HPLC-UV. The results showed that the most abundant biogenic amine in the original leaves was butylamine, followed by ethylamine, methylamine, 1,7-diaminoheptane, histamine, tyramine, and 2-phenethylamine. However, during the process of producing green tea, white tea, and black tea, the content of ethylamine increased sharply, which directly led to their total contents of biogenic amines increasing by 184.4%, 169.3%, and 178.7% compared with that of the original leaves, respectively. Unexpectedly, the contents of methylamine, ethylamine, butylamine, and tyramine in dark tea were significantly reduced compared with those of the original leaves. Accordingly, the total content of biogenic amines in dark tea was only 161.19 μg/g, a reduction of 47.2% compared with that of the original leaves, indicating that the pile-fermentation process could significantly degrade the biogenic amines present in dark tea.
Research on the Cross-Chain Model of Rice Supply Chain Supervision Based on Parallel Blockchain and Smart Contracts
Authors: Peng Xiangzhen , Zhang Xin , Wang Xiaoyi , Li Haisheng , Xu Jiping , Zhao Zhiyao , Wang Yanhong
Published: April 2022

Rice is one of the three major staple foods in the world, and the quality and safety of rice are related to the development of human beings. The new crown epidemic, pesticide residues, insect pests, and heavy metal pollution have a certain security impact on the food supply chain. The rice supply chain is characterized by a long life cycle; complex roles in the main links; many types of hazards; and multidimensional, multisource, and heterogeneous information. To strengthen the rice supply chain’s supervision ability under the epidemic situation, a supervision cross-chain model suitable for the complicated data of the rice supply chain based on parallel blockchain theory and smart contract technology was built. Firstly, the data collected in the rice supply chain and different types of data stored in different parallel blockchains were analyzed. Secondly, based on data analysis, a collection/supervision cross-chain mechanism based on “hash lock + smart contract + relay chain”, a concurrency mechanism based on the K-means algorithm and a Bloom filter, and a consensus mechanism suitable for multichain consensus named the Supervision Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance (SPBFT) were proposed. Furthermore, a cross-chain model of rice supply chain supervision was constructed. Finally, theoretical verification and simulation experiments were used to analyze the operation process, safety, cross-chain efficiency, and scalability of the model. The results showed that the application of parallel blockchains and smart contracts to supervision of rice supply chain information improved the convenience and security of information interaction between various links in the rice supply chain, the storage cost of supply chain data and the high latency of interaction was reduced, and the refined management of the rice supply chain data and personnel was realized. This research applied new information technology to the coordination and resource sharing of the food supply chain, and provides ideas for the digital transformation of the food industry.
Recent Advances in Syndactyly: Basis, Current Status and Future Perspectives
Authors: Zaib Tahir , Rashid Hibba , Khan Hanif , Zhou Xiaoling , Sun Pingnan
Published: April 2022

A comprehensive summary of recent knowledge in syndactyly (SD) is important for understanding the genetic etiology of SD and disease management. Thus, this review article provides background information on SD, as well as insights into phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity, newly identified gene mutations in various SD types, the role of HOXD13 in limb deformities, and recently introduced modern surgical techniques for SD. This article also proposes a procedure for genetic analysis to obtain a clearer genotype–phenotype correlation for SD in the future. We briefly describe the classification of non-syndromic SD based on variable phenotypes to explain different phenotypic features and mutations in the various genes responsible for the pathogenesis of different types of SD. We describe how different types of mutation in HOXD13 cause various types of SD, and how a mutation in HOXD13 could affect its interaction with other genes, which may be one of the reasons behind the differential phenotypes and incomplete penetrance. Furthermore, we also discuss some recently introduced modern surgical techniques, such as free skin grafting, improved flap techniques, and dermal fat grafting in combination with the Z-method incision, which have been successfully practiced clinically with no post-operative complications.
Metagenomics Reveals the Diversity and Taxonomy of Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes and Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Suancai Bacterial Communities
Authors: Song Qiaozhi , Wang Binbin , Han Ye , Zhou Zhijiang
Published: April 2022

Suancai, as a traditional fermented food in China with reputed health benefits, has piqued global attention for many years. In some circumstances, the microbial-driven fermentation may confer health (e.g., probiotics) or harm (e.g., antibiotic resistance genes) to the consumers. To better utilize beneficial traits, a deeper comprehension of the composition and functionality of the bacterial species harboring enzymes of catalytically active is required. On the other hand, ingestion of fermented food increases the likelihood of microbial antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) spreading in the human gastrointestinal tract. Besides, the diversity and taxonomic origin of ARGs in suancai are little known. In our study, a metagenomic approach was employed to investigate distribution structures of CAZymes and ARGs in main bacterial species in suancai. Functional annotation using the CAZy database identified a total of 8796 CAZymes in metagenomic data. A total of 83 ARGs were detected against the CARD database. The most predominant ARG category is multidrug-resistant genes. The ARGs of antibiotic efflux mechanism are mostly in Proteobacteria. The resistance mechanism of ARGs in Firmicutes is primarily antibiotic inactivation, followed by antibiotic efflux. Due to the abundance of species with different ARGs, strict quality control including microbial species, particularly those with lots of ARGs, is vital for decreasing the risk of ARG absorption via consumption. Ultimately, we significantly widen the understanding of suancai microbiomes by using metagenomic sequencing to offer comprehensive information on the microbial functional potential (including CAZymes and ARGs content) of household suancai.
Functions and Regulation of Meiotic HORMA-Domain Proteins
Authors: Prince Josh P. , Martinez-Perez Enrique
Published: April 2022

During meiosis, homologous chromosomes must recognize, pair, and recombine with one another to ensure the formation of inter-homologue crossover events, which, together with sister chromatid cohesion, promote correct chromosome orientation on the first meiotic spindle. Crossover formation requires the assembly of axial elements, proteinaceous structures that assemble along the length of each chromosome during early meiosis, as well as checkpoint mechanisms that control meiotic progression by monitoring pairing and recombination intermediates. A conserved family of proteins defined by the presence of a HORMA (HOp1, Rev7, MAd2) domain, referred to as HORMADs, associate with axial elements to control key events of meiotic prophase. The highly conserved HORMA domain comprises a flexible safety belt sequence, enabling it to adopt at least two of the following protein conformations: one closed, where the safety belt encircles a small peptide motif present within an interacting protein, causing its topological entrapment, and the other open, where the safety belt is reorganized and no interactor is trapped. Although functional studies in multiple organisms have revealed that HORMADs are crucial regulators of meiosis, the mechanisms by which HORMADs implement key meiotic events remain poorly understood. In this review, we summarize protein complexes formed by HORMADs, discuss their roles during meiosis in different organisms, draw comparisons to better characterize non-meiotic HORMADs (MAD2 and REV7), and highlight possible areas for future research.
Cloning and Functional Verification of CmRAX2 Gene Associated with Chrysanthemum Lateral Branches Development
Authors: Song Jingjing , Chen Yijun , Li Xin , Ma Qiqi , Liu Qinglin , Pan Yuanzhi , Jiang Beibei
Published: April 2022

Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium), as one of the four major cut flowers in the world, occupies a large position in the world’s fresh cut flower market. The RAX2 gene is an R2R3 MYB transcription factor that is associated with the development of the axillary bud. In this study, the CmRAX2 gene cloned by homologous cloning in Chrysanthemum morifolium ‘Jinba’ is localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm, having a complete open reading frame (ORF) of 1050 bp and encoding 350 amino acids. The transactivation assay in yeast indicates that CmRAX2 is a transcriptional activator. Quantitative Real-Time PCR (qRT-PCR) Analysis indicated that CmRAX2 was preferentially expressed in the lateral branches and roots of Chrysanthemum morifolium ‘Jinba’, 14.11 and 10.69 times more than in leaves. After the overexpression vector of CmRAX2 was constructed and transformed into Chrysanthemum morifolium ‘Jinba’, it was found that the number of lateral branches and plant height increased, and the emergence time of lateral branches and rooting time advanced after the overexpression of CmRAX2. The results showed that CmRAX2 can promote the lateral bud development of the chrysanthemum, which provides an important theoretical basis for the subsequent molecular breeding and standardized production of the chrysanthemum.