bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multi-Phase Vertical Take-Off and Landing Trajectory Optimization with Feasible Initial Guesses
Authors: Lu Zhidong , Hong Haichao , Holzapfel Florian
Published: December 2023

The advancement of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft has expanded the horizon of urban air mobility. However, the challenge of generating precise vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) trajectories that comply with airworthiness requirements remains. This paper presents an approach for optimizing VTOL trajectories considering six degrees of freedom (6DOF) dynamics and operational constraints. Multi-phase optimal control problems are formulated to address specific constraints in various flight stages. The incremental nonlinear dynamic inversion (INDI) controller is employed to execute the flight mission in each phase. Controlled flight simulations yield dynamically feasible trajectories that serve as initial guesses for generating sub-optimal trajectories within individual phases. A feasible and sub-optimal initial guess for the holistic multi-phase problem is established by concatenating these single-phase trajectories. Focusing on a tilt-wing eVTOL aircraft, this paper computes VTOL trajectories leveraging the proposed initial guess generation procedure. These trajectories account for complex flight dynamics, align with various operation constraints, and minimize electric energy consumption.
Dam Age Differentially Affects Immune Response of Her Calf to Bovine Respiratory Disease Vaccination
Authors: Reddout Cassidy , Chase Christopher C. L. , Beck Paul , Salak-Johnson Janeen L.
Published: December 2023

Understanding the biological factors that affect immunological responses may be beneficial in developing more effective bovine respiratory disease vaccination strategies. Dam traits, such as age and vaccination history, are not considered when developing vaccination protocols or assessing vaccination efficacy, even though both factors may influence the transference of passive immunity; therefore, a preliminary study was conducted to determine the effect of dam age on the immune response of their calves to vaccinations. Calves born to dams of various ages were vaccinated with a modified live vaccine at 3 to 4 months old, revaccinated with either the same modified live or an inactivated vaccine at weaning, and boosted with the same vaccine 28 days later. Immune and cortisol measures were taken upon initial vaccination, revaccination at weaning, and then 14 and 28 days post-revaccination and post-booster. Overall, calves from older-aged dams began to exhibit a pattern indicative of a dampened immunoglobulin-G response to revaccination and booster, regardless of vaccination type. In contrast, calves from the youngest and oldest dams who received one modified live and two inactivated vaccines had the highest serum-neutralizing titers for most antigens present in the vaccines. These preliminary data partly imply that it may be plausible that the more doses of modified live vaccines the dam receives, which increase with each pregnancy, may affect the immune response of her progeny to vaccination at weaning and revaccination. This may be due to the effects on maternal passive immunity and is further affected by the type of vaccination her progeny received for some measures. However, more research is necessary to elucidate further the effects biological factors have on the immune response to vaccination, develop better vaccination strategies, and further validate these findings through increased sample sizes.
Choice and No-Choice Feeding Assays of Cotton Fleahoppers (Pseudatomoscelis seriatus) on Cotton Expressing the Mpp51Aa2 Protein
Authors: Arthur Brady P. , Suh Charles P.-C. , McKnight Benjamin M. , Parajulee Megha N. , Yang Fei , Kerns David L.
Published: December 2023

In Texas, the cotton fleahopper (Pseudatomoscelis seriatus (Reuter)) is considered a highly economically damaging pest of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Current control methods rely heavily on foliar chemical insecticides throughout the growing season. Considering the cost of insecticides and the critical timeliness of their application, chemical control methods are often not optimized to reduce potential yield losses. The Mpp51Aa2.834_16 gene in cotton (ThryvOn) has shown effectiveness against thrips and several piercing and sucking mirid insect pests, suggesting it has the potential to mitigate yield losses caused by the cotton fleahopper. Choice and no-choice caged feeding assays were conducted to assess the impact of cotton fleahoppers on ThryvOn cotton square retention under controlled laboratory conditions. In the choice assay, feeding by cotton fleahoppers significantly reduced square retention in the gene-lacking cotton to 46%, while the ThryvOn cotton retained 60% of the squares. In the no-choice assay, cotton fleahopper nymph feeding significantly reduced square retention in the cotton not expressing Mpp51Aa2 to 61%, whereas the ThryvOn cotton was unaffected. Based on the differences in square retention observed in both the choice and no-choice feeding assays, our findings indicate that the Mpp51Aa2 protein influences cotton fleahopper feeding preferences and the susceptibility of cotton plants to damage caused by cotton fleahoppers. Our study offers confirmation of the activity of ThryvOn on cotton fleahoppers observed in the field. The ThryvOn trait’s activity towards cotton fleahoppers is consistent with that found for other mirid pests in cotton.
Assessing Phytotoxic Effects of Herbicides and Their Impact on Potato Cultivars in Agricultural and Environmental Contexts
Authors: Barbaś Piotr , Pietraszko Milena , Pszczółkowski Piotr , Skiba Dominika , Sawicka Barbara
Published: December 2023

Phytotoxicity refers to the capacity of chemical substances or environmental factors to have a negative impact on plants. This is a crucial issue in both the context of crop cultivation and environmental protection. The research results were based on a 3-year field experiment conducted at an experimental station in Jadwisin (52°28′ N, 21°02′ E) on loamy soil. The experiment was set up using a randomized sub-block design in a split–split–plot arrangement with three replications. The first-order factor consisted of potato cultivars, while the second-order factors were weed control methods: (1) without protection; (2) mechanical weed control, extensive mechanical treatments to close rows; (3) Sencor 70 WG—pre-emergence (PRE) of potatoes; (4) Sencor 70 WG + Titus 25 WG + Trend 90 EC—PRE of potatoes; (5) Sencor 70 WG—post-emergence (POST) of potatoes; (6) Sencor 70 WG + Titus 25 WG + Trend 90 EC—POST of potatoes; (7) Sencor 70 WG + Fusilade Forte 150 EC—POST of potatoes; and (8) Sencor 70 WG + Apyros 75 WG + Atpolan 80 SC—POST of potatoes. The phytotoxic effects of herbicides on potato plants and weeds were assessed every 7 days, starting from the date when the first signs of damage appeared until they stabilized or disappeared. Phytotoxic damage to potato and weed plants was caused by the chemical weed control methods used. The response of potato plants to herbicides was significantly related to the genetic traits of the cultivars and meteorological conditions in the years of research. Phytotoxicity is an important aspect in both agriculture and environmental protection. Research on its mechanisms and impact will enable the development of effective plant protection strategies and the preservation of ecosystem balance.
Nitrogen Cycle in Farming Systems
Authors: Grzebisz Witold , Niewiadomska Alicja
Published: December 2023

The challenge for people currently living on Earth is to develop a food production strategy to cover the food gap and at the same time maintain or even improve the soil use production potential [...]
Knowledge Graph Construction and Representation Method for Potato Diseases and Pests
Authors: Yang Wanxia , Yang Sen , Wang Guanping , Liu Yan , Lu Jing , Yuan Weiwei
Published: December 2023

Potato diseases and pests have a serious impact on the quality and yield of potatoes, and timely prevention and control of potato diseases and pests is essential. A rich knowledge reserve of potato diseases and pests is one of the most important prevention and control measures; however, valuable knowledge is buried in the massive data of potato diseases and pests, making it difficult for potato growers and managers to obtain and use it in a timely manner and to develop the potential of knowledge. Therefore, this paper explores the construction method of a knowledge graph for automatic knowledge extraction, which extracts the knowledge of potato diseases and pests scattered in heterogeneous data from multiple sources, organises it into a semantically related knowledge base, and provides potato growers with professional knowledge and timely guidance to effectively prevent and control potato diseases and pests. In this paper, a data corpus on potato diseases and pests, called PotatoRE, is first constructed. Then, a model of ALBert-BiLSTM-Self_Att-CRF is designed to extract knowledge from the corpus to form a triplet structure, which is imported into the Neo4j graph database for storage and visualisation. Furthermore, the performance of the model constructed in this paper is compared and verified using the datasets PotatoRE and People’s Daily. The results show that compared to the SOTA models of ALBert BiLSTM-CRF and ALBert BiGRU-CRF, the accuracy of our model has been improved by 2.92% and 3.12%, respectively, using PotatoRE. Compared to the Bert BiLSTM-CRF model on two datasets, our model not only improves the accuracy, recall, and F1 values, but also has a higher efficiency. The model in this paper solves the problem of the difficult recognition of nested entities. On this basis, through comparative experiments, the TransH model is used to effectively represent the constructed knowledge graph, which lays the foundation for achieving inference, extension, and automatic updating of the knowledge base. The achievements of the thesis have made certain contributions to the automatic construction of large-scale knowledge bases.
Effects of Dietary Protein Levels on Sheep Gut Metabolite Profiles during the Lactating Stage
Authors: Ali Sikandar , Ni Xiaojun , Khan Muhammad , Zhao Xiaoqi , Yang Hongyuan , Danzeng Baiji , Raja Imtiaz Hussain , Quan Guobo
Published: December 2023

Diet-associated characteristics such as dietary protein levels can modulate the gut’s primary or secondary metabolites, leading to effects on the productive performance and overall health of animals. Whereas fecal metabolite changes are closely associated with gut metabolome, this study aimed to see changes in the rumen metabolite profile of lactating ewes fed different dietary protein levels. For this, eighteen lactating ewes (approximately 2 years old, averaging 38.52 ± 1.57 kg in their initial body weight) were divided into three groups (n = 6 ewes/group) by following the complete randomized design, and each group was assigned to one of three low-protein (D_I), medium-protein (D_m), and high-protein (D_h) diets containing 8.58%, 10.34%, and 13.93% crude protein contents on a dry basis, respectively. The fecal samples were subjected to untargeted metabolomics using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). The metabolomes of the sheep fed to the high-protein-diet group were distinguished as per principal-component analysis from the medium- and low-protein diets. Fecal metabolite concentrations as well as their patterns were changed by feeding different dietary protein levels. The discriminating metabolites between groups of nursing sheep fed different protein levels were identified using partial least-squares discriminant analysis. The pathway enrichment revealed that dietary protein levels mainly influenced the metabolism-associated pathways (n = 63 and 39 in positive as well as negative ionic modes, respectively) followed by protein (n = 15 and 8 in positive as well as negative ionic modes, respectively) and amino-acid (n = 14 and 7 in positive as well as negative ionic modes, respectively) synthesis. Multivariate and univariate analyses showed comparative changes in the fecal concentrations of metabolites in both positive and negative ionic modes. Major changes were observed in protein metabolism, organic-acid biosynthesis, and fatty-acid oxidation. Pairwise analysis and PCA reveal a higher degree of aggregation within the D-h group than all other pairs. In both the PCA and PLS-DA plots, the comparative separation among the D_h/D_m, D_h/D_I, and D_m/D_I groups was superior in positive as well as negative ionic modes, which indicated that sheep fed higher protein levels had alterations in the levels of the metabolites. These metabolic findings provide insights into potentiated biomarker changes in the metabolism influenced by dietary protein levels. The target identification may further increase our knowledge of sheep gut metabolome, particularly regarding how dietary protein levels influence the molecular mechanisms of nutritional metabolism, growth performance, and milk synthesis of sheep.
Evaluating the Effects of Replacing Alfalfa with Broussonetia papyrifera Branch/Leaf Powder on Growth and Serum Indicators in Dezhou Donkeys
Authors: Chen Yongguang , Dong Boying , Qu Honglei , Cheng Jie , Feng Yulong , Liu Lilin , Ma Qiugang
Published: December 2023

The purpose of this experiment was to study the apparent digestibility and the effects of Broussonetia papyrifera (BP) branch/leaf powder supplementation on growth performance and serum indicators in donkeys. The results showed that the apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acidic detergent fiber (ADF), and digestible energy content (DE) of BP branch/leaf powder were 51.88%, 67.27%, 64.86%, 49.59%, 54.73%, 40.87%, and 6.37 MJ/kg, respectively. The average daily gain (ADG) in the 20% group was significantly higher than in the 0% and 30% groups. The serum albumin (ALB) levels in the 0% and 10% groups were significantly higher than those in the 20% and 30% groups, while the serum globulin (GLB) content in the 10% group was significantly lower than in the other groups. The 20% group showed decreased serum triglyceride (TG) levels compared to the other groups. Both the 20% and 30% groups exhibited lower total cholesterol (TC) levels and increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) compared to the 0% and 10% groups and higher serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels than the 10% group. The 30% group had higher serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels than the other groups, while all three BP branch/leaf powder groups had lower serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) levels than the 0% group. There was a gradual increase in serum total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) with the increasing amount of BP branch/leaf powder added. In conclusion, the optimal supplemental proportion of BP branch/leaf powder in the diet is 20%. Furthermore, BP branch/leaf powder can improve growth performance, serum immune indices, and antioxidant capacity in Dezhou donkeys.
Minimal Clinically Important Differences for a Weight Distribution Platform in Dogs with Osteoarthritis
Authors: Alves J. C. , Santos Ana , Lavrador Catarina , Carreira L. Miguel
Published: December 2023

In this retrospective study to determine the optimal method of evaluating static weight-bearing distribution to assess response to treatment in dogs with osteoarthritis using a weight distribution platform, data from the Clinica Veterinária de Cães (Portuguese Republican National Guard) clinical records were extracted. At baseline and at 15 days post-treatment, follow-up data from 80 dogs treated for bilateral hip osteoarthritis were categorized based on an anchor question. Estimates of minimal clinically important differences were calculated with distribution-based and anchor-based methods for deviation from normal weight-bearing and a symmetry index (SI). For deviation, the anchor-based methods provided a range from −0.3 to −3.1, and the distribution-based methods from 0.16 to 0.29. For SI, the anchor-based methods provided a range from −10.0 to −23.9, and the distribution-based methods from 1.31 to 2.88. Receiver operator characteristic curves provided areas under the curve >0.7, indicating an acceptable cut-off point. We presented estimates of −1 for deviation and −10 for SI in dogs with OA. These estimates can be used for research and patient monitoring. Future studies should include OA from other joints and animals from a broader clinical context.
Organic and Inorganic Selenium Compounds Affected Lipidomic Profile of Spleen of Lambs Fed with Diets Enriched in Carnosic Acid and Fish Oil
Authors: Białek Małgorzata , Białek Agnieszka , Wojtak Wiktoria , Czauderna Marian
Published: December 2023

The purpose of our study was to investigate the effect of 0.35 mg Se/kg basal diet (BD) (Se as sodium selenate (Se6) and yeast rich in seleno-methionine (SeYe)) and 0.1% carnosic acid (CA) supplementation to the diet containing 1% fish oil (F-O) and 2% rapeseed oil (R-O) on the contents of fatty acids (FA), malondialdehyde (MDA), tocopherols (Ts), and total cholesterol (TCh) in lambs’ spleens. A total of 24 male lambs (4 groups per 6 animals) have been fed: the control diet—the basal diet (BD) enriched in F-O and R-O; the CA diet—BD enriched in F-O, R-O, and CA; the SeYeCA diet—BD enriched in F-O, R-O, CA, and SeYe; the Se6CA diet—BD enriched in F-O, R-O, CA, and Se6. Dietary modifications affected the profiles of saturated (SFA), monounsaturated (MUFA), and polyunsaturated (PUFA) fatty acids in spleens. The SeYeCA and Se6CA diets increased the docosapentaenoic acid preference in Δ4-desaturase; hence, a higher content of docosahexaenoic acid was found in the spleens of SeYe- or Se6-treated lambs than in spleens of animals receiving the CA and control diets. The SeYeCA and Se6CA diets increased the concentration ratio of n-3long-chain PUFA (n-3LPUFA) to FA (n-3LPUFA/FA) in spleens compared to the control and CA diets. The content of n-3PUFA was higher in the spleens of Se6 treated lambs than in spleens of animals receiving the SeYeCA, CA, and control diets. The Se6CA diet increased the content of c9t11CLA in the spleen compared to the control, CA, and SeYeCA diets. Experimental diets reduced the level of atherogenic FA, the content ratios of n-6PUFA/n-3PUFA and n-6LPUFA/n-3LPUFA, and improved the content ratio of MUFA/FA and the value of the hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic FA ratio in the spleen in comparison with the control diet. The experimental diets supplemented with SeYe or Se6 increased levels of TCh and Ts in spleens in comparison with the CA and control CA diets. The present studies documented that Se6, SeYe, and CA influenced the metabolism of FA, Ts, and cholesterol in spleens.
Antibiotics Usage in Special Clinical Situations
Authors: Di Bella Stefano
Published: December 2023

Medicine and the treatment of infectious diseases are increasingly focused on patient-tailored diagnostics and therapy [...]
Adhesion of Varnish Coatings as a Background for Analogue and Digital Printing Technologies
Authors: Tokarczyk Maciej , Lis Barbara , Salca Emilia Adela , Krystofiak Tomasz
Published: December 2023

In analogue and digital printing technologies, from 3 up to 12 layers of lacquer products are applied. Technological parameters significantly influence the adhesion in the coating system. This article refers to the analysis of the influence of selected technological parameters, such as the number of layers, energy doses distributed by the radiators, and line speed, on the topography and adhesion of varnish coatings formed in the process of varnishing with rollers and UV-curing systems. The appropriately prepared surface can be used as a background layer for the analogue and digital printing technology. Manufacturers must adapt the production process to the particular varnish to obtain finished products with the best possible performance properties. The state of surface free energy and finally adhesion can be assessed by theoretically determining the possibility of an adhesive bonding between the product and the substrate, taking into account the assumptions of the adsorption theory of adhesion and measurement of the contact angle (Θ). An experimental confirmation of adhesion measurements included removing the coatings from the substrate via stamps glued to the coating.
Simulation of Spinal Cord Reflexes
Authors: Popescu Mihai , Ravariu Cristian
Published: December 2023

The importance of spinal reflexes is connected to the rehabilitation processes in neural prostheses and to the neuromuscular junction. In order to model neuron networks as electronic circuits, a simulation environment like LTSpice XVII or PSpice can be used to create a complete electronic description. There are four types of neurons employed in spinal reflexes: α-motoneurons, sensitive neurons, excitatory interneurons, and inhibitory interneurons. Many proposals have been made regarding methods that can be used for assimilating neurons using electronic circuits. In this paper, only a single internal model of a neuron is considered enough to simulate all four types of neurons implicated in the control loops. The main contribution of this paper is to propose the modeling of neurons using some electronic circuits designed either with a bipolar transistor or with CMOS transistors for the input and output of circuits stages. In this way, it is possible to mimic the neural pulses’ circulation along the loops of the spinal reflexes and to prove the accuracy of the simulation results with respect to the biological signals collected from the bibliographic materials.
Gorilla Glass Cutting Using Femtosecond Laser Pulse Filaments
Authors: Ahsan Md. Shamim , Sohn Ik-Bu , Choi Hun-Kook
Published: December 2023

Due to high durability, scratch resistance, and impact resistance, Gorilla glasses are a popular choice for protective screens of smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Precise cutting of Gorilla glasses is very important to maintain the overall aesthetics and user experience, which is very challenging. We demonstrated for the first time the cutting of Gorilla glass by means of femtosecond laser filamentation technique. To achieve laser filamentation, a femtosecond laser beam was focused and irradiated in different depths of the sample Gorilla glasses. The filament length varied with the change in the focus position of the laser beam. The effective numerical aperture of the objective lens rises due to the presence of dielectric material (i.e., the Gorilla glass itself) before the focus position of the femtosecond laser beam inside the glass samples. As a consequence, the focal distance of the incident laser beam was prolonged and focused in a very tiny spot with extremely high energy density. Consequently, filaments (i.e., high aspect ratio micro-voids) were evident inside the Gorilla glass samples. The filament length is controllable by changing the irradiation parameters of the laser beam, including magnification and numerical aperture of the lens, laser energy, and thickness of the Gorilla glass before the target focal point. The filament-engraved Gorilla glass samples go through mechanical cleaving process with 400 MPa pressure on both sides of the laser scanning line for smooth cutting of Gorilla glass. The proposed glass cutting technique show promises for commercial application.
Towards Optimizing Multi-Level Selective Maintenance via Machine Learning Predictive Models
Authors: Achour Amal , Kammoun Mohamed Ali , Hajej Zied
Published: December 2023

The maintenance strategies commonly employed in industrial settings primarily rely on theoretical models that often overlook the actual operating conditions. To address this limitation, the present paper introduces a novel selective predictive maintenance approach based on a machine learning model for a multi-parallel series system, which involves executing multiple missions with breaks between them. For this purpose, the proposed selective maintenance approach consists of finding, at each breakdown, the optimal structure of maintenance activities that provide the desired reliability level of the system for each mission. This decision is based on a component’s actual age, as determined by the prediction model. In addition, an optimization model with the Extended Great Deluge (EGD) algorithm uses these predictions as input data to identify the best maintenance level for each component considering the constrained maintenance resources. Finally, the numerical results of the proposed idea applied to the Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS) data are presented to show the robustness of the model.
Analysis of the Sum Minimization Possibilities of Heat Exchanger Core Masses in Internal Combustion Engine Cooling Systems
Authors: Moshentsev Yuryi , Gogorenko Oleksiy , Dvirna Olha , Kubit Andrzej
Published: December 2023

Rational designs for cooling systems (CS) of internal combustion engines are formulated in the form of a series of circulation circuits. The engine is integrated into a circuit with the highest and unregulated flow of internal circuit coolant (ICC). All heat exchangers are placed in circulation circuits with relatively reduced and adjustable ICC flow rates. While the circuits are usually interconnected, they can also be designed to operate independently. This CS scheme enables the achievement of the minimum possible value of the sum of masses of exchanger cores, denoted as MΣ. The reduction in MΣ is achieved through the regulation of ICC flow in a closed circulation loop involving two heat exchangers. The variations in MΣ based on the circuit parameters have been thoroughly investigated. The reduction in MΣ can also be applicable to more intricate systems. A decrease in MΣ, under identical initial CS parameters, may occur in different magnitudes, depending on the specific features of the CS scheme and the operating conditions of the heat exchangers within it. Cooling systems, constructed with the same initial parameters and comprising multiple circulation circuits that meet all criteria for rational design, may exhibit diverse configurations. Examples of such systems are explored, and the minimum values of MΣ are calculated for each. It has been determined that the disparity in the minimum values of MΣ for such systems, while maintaining equal efficiency, can exceed 30%. The selection of the optimal CS scheme is contingent not only on achieving the minimum possible value of MΣ but also on various other factors.
An Improved Preisach Model for Magnetic Hysteresis of Grain-Oriented Silicon Steel under PWM Excitation
Authors: Duan Nana , Gao Xinyang , Zhang Lingjia , Xu Weijie , Huang Song , Lu Mengxue , Wang Shuhong
Published: December 2023

In this paper, the Preisach model for magnetic hysteresis of grain-oriented silicon steel under PWM excitation is improved. First, an improved Preisach model for the magnetic hysteresis of grain-oriented silicon steel under PWM excitation is proposed. Second, the experimental platform for grain-oriented silicon steel sheets under PWM excitation is established. Finally, by comparative analysis, it is concluded that the error of the improved model is far less than that of the classical model (the error here refers to the discrepancy between experimental results and theoretical model predictions). The improved model is 1.4% to 9% more accurate than the classical model. A more accurate model can provide more accurate material parameters for the calculation of the magnetic field in the transformer core, which is of great significance to the production and design of the transformer.
Influences of Summer Precipitation Occurrence Time on Raindrop Spectrum Characteristics over the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Zhang Yuxin , Han Huibang , Zhang Boyue , Hou Yonghui
Published: December 2023

The impact of unique terrain on the microphysics of nighttime precipitation on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) has not been fully appreciated, due to a lack of observation. In this study, we used three raindrop spectrometers deployed in the northeastern TP to analyze the characteristics of the raindrop spectrum during two types of summer precipitation. These two types are classified according to their occurrence times: one starting in the daytime and lasting into the night (DP), while the other started at night and continuing into the daytime (NP). The results show that precipitation with a rain rate ranging from 1.0 to 5.0 mm h−1 contributes the most to the total precipitation, with this contribution rate being higher in the NP than in the DP. All the raindrop spectra follow a single-peak distribution pattern, and the logarithm of the generalized intercept parameter (lgNw) rises with the rain rate. The spectral widths of the DP-n (the nighttime part of the DP) are broader than those of the DP-d (the daytime part of the DP). Moreover, the average lgNw and mass-weighted mean diameter (Dm) over the northeastern TP were 2.65 mm−1 mm−3 and 1.04 mm, respectively, both of which are smaller than their equivalents in the plains. In addition, the gamma distribution can better fit the raindrop size distributions of the two types of precipitation. It is found that precipitation is more likely to occur over the TP at night. The characteristics of NP are reflected in two aspects. First, the sample size of the precipitation at the rain rate of 1.0–5.0 mm h−1 is higher in the NP-n (the nighttime part of the NP), and the precipitation at this rain rate contributes the most to the total precipitation. Second, for the same rain rate, the precipitation particles in the NP-n are larger.
Unravelling the Drought Variance Using Machine Learning Methods in Six Capital Cities of Australia
Authors: Yang Wenjing , Doulabian Shahab , Shadmehri Toosi Amirhossein , Alaghmand Sina
Published: December 2023

Understanding and projecting drought, especially in the face of climate change, is crucial for assessing its impending risks. However, the causes of drought are multifaceted. As the environmental research paradigm pivots towards machine learning (ML) for predictions, our investigation contrasted multiple ML techniques to simulate the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) from 2009 to 2022, utilizing various potential evapotranspiration (PET) methods. Our primary focus was Australia, the world’s driest inhabited continent. Given the challenges with ML model interpretation, SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) values were employed to decipher SPEI variations and to gauge the relative importance of precipitation (Prec) and PET in six key Australian cities. Our findings revealed that while different PET methods resulted in distinct mean values, their trends remained consistent. Post the Millennium Drought, Australia experienced several drought events. SPEI discrepancies based on PET methods were minimal in humid regions like Brisbane and Darwin. However, for arid cities, the Priestley–Taylor equation-driven SPEI differed notably from other methods. Ridge regression was the most adept at mirroring SPEI changes among the assessed ML models. Furthermore, the SHAP explainer discerned that PET-related climate variables had a greater impact on SPEI in drier cities, whereas in humid cities, Prec was more influential. Notably, the research emphasised CO2′s role in influencing drought dynamics in humid cities. These insights are invaluable for enhancing drought mitigation strategies and refining predictive models. Such revelations are crucial for stakeholders aiming to improve drought prediction and management, especially in drought-prone regions like Australia.
Initial Coefficient Bounds for Certain New Subclasses of bi-Bazilevič Functions and Exponentially bi-Convex Functions with Bounded Boundary Rotation
Authors: Sharma Prathviraj , Sivasubramanian Srikandan , Cho Nak Eun
Published: December 2023

The objective of the present article is to introduce new subclasses of bi-Bazilevič functions, bi-quasi-convex functions and α-exponentially bi-convex functions involving functions with bounded boundary rotation of order ν. For the above-said newly defined classes, we obtain first two initial coefficient bounds. In addition, the familiar Fekete–Szegö coefficient inequality is too found for the newly introduced subclasses of bi-univalent functions. Apart from the new findings that are obtained, it also improves the prior estimates that are presented already in the literature.
A Thermally Stable Recombinant Human Fibronectin Peptide-Fused Protein (rhFN3C) for Faster Aphthous Ulcer (AU) Healing
Authors: Cai Xiang , Zhu Jiawen , Luo Xin , Jin Guoguo , Huang Yadong , Li Lihua
Published: December 2023

Approximately 59.4–100% of head and neck cancer patients receiving radiotherapy or radio chemotherapy suffer from aphthous ulcers (AUs), which seriously affect the subsequent treatment. At the same time, AUs are a common oral mucosal disease with a high incidence rate among the population, often accompanied by severe pain, and affect both physical and mental health. Strategies to increase the ulcer healing rate and relieve pain symptoms quickly is a long-term clinical objective. Oral mucosal discontinuity is the main histological hallmark of AUs. So, covering the inner mucosal defect with an in vitro engineered oral mucosal equivalent shows good prospects for AU alleviation. Fibronectin (FN) is a glycopeptide in the extracellular matrix and exhibits opsonic properties, aiding the phagocytosis and clearance of foreign pathogens through all stages of ulcer healing. But native FN comes from animal blood, which has potential health risks. rhFN3C was designed with multi-domains of native FN, whose core functions are the recruitment of cells and growth factors to accelerate AU healing. rhFN3C is a peptide-fused recombinant protein. The peptides are derived from the positions of 1444–1545 (FNIII10) and 1632–1901 (FNIII12–14) in human native FN. We optimized the fermentation conditions of rhFN3C in E. coli BL21 to enable high expression levels. rhFN3C is thermally stable and nontoxic for L929, strongly promotes the migration and adhesion of HaCaT, decreases the incidence of wound infection, and shortens the mean healing time by about 2 days compared to others (p < 0.01). rhFN3C may have great potential for use in the treatment of AUs. The specific methods and mechanisms of rhFN3C are yet to be investigated.
A Machine Learning Approach for Highlighting microRNAs as Biomarkers Linked to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Diagnosis and Progression
Authors: Lauria Graziantonio , Curcio Rosita , Tucci Paola
Published: December 2023

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive loss of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. The early diagnosis of ALS can be challenging, as it usually depends on clinical examination and the exclusion of other possible causes. In this regard, the analysis of miRNA expression profiles in biofluids makes miRNAs promising non-invasive clinical biomarkers. Due to the increasing amount of scientific literature that often provides controversial results, this work aims to deepen the understanding of the current state of the art on this topic using a machine-learning-based approach. A systematic literature search was conducted to analyze a set of 308 scientific articles using the MySLR digital platform and the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) algorithm. Two relevant topics were identified, and the articles clustered in each of them were analyzed and discussed in terms of biomolecular mechanisms, as well as in translational and clinical settings. Several miRNAs detected in the tissues and biofluids of ALS patients, including blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), have been linked to ALS diagnosis and progression. Some of them may represent promising non-invasive clinical biomarkers. In this context, future scientific priorities and goals have been proposed.
A Novel Thermostable and Processive Reverse Transcriptase from a Group II Intron of Anoxybacillus flavithermus
Authors: Oscorbin Igor P. , Filipenko Maxim L.
Published: December 2023

Reverse transcriptases (RTs) are a family of enzymes that synthesize DNA using an RNA template and are involved in retrovirus propagation and telomere lengthening. In vitro, RTs are widely applied in various methods, including RNA-seq, RT-PCR, and RT-LAMP. Thermostable RTs from bacterial group II introns are promising tools for biotechnology due to their higher thermostability, fidelity, and processivity compared to commonly used M-MuLV RT and its mutants. However, the diversity of group II intron-encoded RTs is still understudied. In this work, we biochemically characterized a novel RT from a thermophilic bacterium, Anoxybacillus flavithermus, which was isolated from a hot spring in New Zealand and has an optimal growth temperature of around 60 °C. The cloned RT, named Afl RT, retained approximately 40% of the specific activity after a 45 min incubation at 50 °C. The optimal pH was 8.5, the optimal temperature was between 45 and 50 °C, and Mn2+ ions were found to be an optimal cofactor. The processivity analysis with MS2 phage gRNA (3569 b) demonstrated that Afl RT elongated fully up to 36% of the template molecules. In reverse transcription and RT-qLAMP, the enzyme allowed up to 10 copies of MS2 phage genomic RNA to be detected per reaction. Thus, Afl RT holds great potential for a variety of practical applications that require the use of thermostable and processive RTs.
Fast Determination of Rutin on a Biosensor Made Using a Layered Double Hydroxide Nanocomposite Modified Electrode
Authors: Liu Yuge , Li Zhiguo , Chen Weizhen , Feng Xiaomiao
Published: December 2023

In this study, a nanocomposite of LDH/graphene/polyaniline/gold (LDH/rGO/PANI/Au) was synthesized and characterized. The results of characterization showed that the composite material preserved the layered structure of LDH. The composite was dropped onto the glassy carbon electrode and laccase was then immobilized. Electrochemical tests showed that the composite could accelerate the electron transfer between the enzyme and the electrode. The composite/laccase showed an obvious response to rutin and the optimal detection conditions were discussed. The oxidative peak current of the biosensor constructed using the modified electrode was negatively correlated with rutin in the range of 0.05–4 μg/mL. The detection limit was 0.0017 μg/mL at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. This biosensor of rutin also possessed high sensitivity, excellent anti-interference ability, and stability. The contents of rutin in tablets, first determined using HPLC, were also detected using the sensor constructed in this research as an application, and the results were acceptable. This research here provides a facile way for the fast detection of rutin in real samples.
I CAN Intervention to Increase Grit and Self-Efficacy: A Pilot Study
Authors: Sigmundsson Hermundur , Hauge Håvard
Published: December 2023

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in increasing motivational factors within the domain of psychology. Among these factors, Grit, Mindset, Self-Efficacy, and Well-Being (Flourishing) have been suggested to play an important role in individuals’ performance and Well-Being. Thus, cultivating these factors in the general population is important. Previous interventions have displayed substantial effects in certain areas. However, these interventions have primarily been Mindset oriented. This paper presents a novel intervention approach by also emphasizing the importance of brain development; the importance of stimuli for building a network in the brain; the importance of repetition for strengthening the network; and the importance of perseverance and deliberate practice for achievement. The purpose of the current study was to examine the effects of a 35–40 min online intervention to increase the beliefs of ‘I CAN’ for 38 university students in Norway. The mean age of the 38 participants was 22.55 (SD = 1.59) and they completed a pre-test assessment of the Grit-S Scale, Theories of Intelligence Scale (Mindset), General Self-Efficacy Scale, and Flourishing Scale (Well-Being). This was followed up by the novel intervention and finally a post-test of the scales eight weeks later. The results showed an increase in Grit, Self-Efficacy, and Well-Being. However, only Grit displayed a significant increase. We aimed at creating an intervention where the participants would “turn on the switch”, meaning that they develop stronger beliefs. These promising results warrant a further development of the intervention, and studies with a larger group.
Assessment of the Anti-Amyloidogenic Properties of Essential Oils and Their Constituents in Cells Using a Whole-Cell Recombinant Biosensor
Authors: Stylianopoulou Electra , Daviti Anastasia , Giourou Venetia , Gerasimidi Eleni , Nikolaou Anastasios , Kourkoutas Yiannis , Grigoriou Maria E. , Paleologou Katerina E. , Skavdis George
Published: December 2023

Essential oils exhibit numerous medicinal properties, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Recent studies also indicate that certain essential oils demonstrate anti-amyloidogenic activity against β-amyloid, the protein implicated in Alzheimer’s disease. To investigate whether the anti-aggregating properties of essential oils extend to α-synuclein, the protein involved in Parkinson’s disease, we constructed and employed a whole-cell biosensor based on the split-luciferase complementation assay. We validated our biosensor by using baicalein, a known inhibitor of α-synuclein aggregation, and subsequently we tested eight essential oils commonly used in food and the hygienic industry. Two of them, citron and sage, along with their primary components, pure linalool (the main constituent in citron essential oil) and pure eucalyptol (1,8-cineole, the main constituent in sage essential oil), were able to reduce α-syn aggregation. These findings suggest that both essential oils and their main constituents could be regarded as potential components in functional foods or incorporated into complementary Parkinson’s disease therapies.
Correlation of Positive Psychological Health among US Adults (Aged ≥ 50 Years) with Pain and Documented Opioid Treatment
Authors: Axon David R. , Agu Uche
Published: December 2023

In this study, we aimed to identify the factors correlated with positive psychological health among United States older adults (≥50 years) with pain and documented opioid treatment. This retrospective cross-sectional study utilized a nationally representative dataset (Medical Expenditure Panel Survey). A multivariable logistic regression model was developed to assess the correlation of positive psychological health in the eligible population. The logistic regression model showed having excellent/very good/good (versus fair/poor) perceived health (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 9.062; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 5.383, 15.254) had a statistically significant correlation with positive psychological health among the eligible population. This finding offers important insights for clinicians and policymakers to consider when formulating approaches to better manage the psychological health of United States older adults with pain and documented opioid treatment.
The Association between Lifestyles (Walking/Diet) and Cultural Intelligence: A New Attempt to Apply Health Science to Cross-Cultural Research
Authors: Kokubun Keisuke , Nemoto Kiyotaka , Yamakawa Yoshinori
Published: December 2023

A growing amount of research is being conducted on cultural intelligence (CQ), which is the ability to adjust and adapt successfully to a variety of surroundings. CQ is a vital quality for people in diversified societies, as are seen today. However, it is still unclear how an individual can develop or strengthen CQ because previous studies have shown that variables such as foreign experience and personality are not exclusively sufficient as CQ antecedents. If CQ can be treated health-scientifically, as the CQ developers argue, diet and exercise that are effective in keeping the body and brain healthy may also correlate with CQ. It is of great significance to clarify the relationship between lifestyle and CQ by applying recent previous research showing the relationship between CQ and both the brain and intelligence, as well as between lifestyle and both the brain and intelligence. Using data derived from 142 Japanese businesspersons, the results of structural equation modeling indicate that lifestyles (dietary balance and walking frequency) are significantly associated with CQ after controlling for personalities (curiosity and grit) and international experiences (length of studying and working abroad), which have been used as predictors of CQ in previous studies. Furthermore, the moderation test showed that the effect of dietary balance on increasing CQ is greater for people with less overseas experience, indicating that dietary balance compensates for lack of overseas experience in the effect of maintaining the level of CQ. These suggest the effectiveness of a health-scientific approach to the influencing factors of CQ. This study is the first to show that CQ is influenced by lifestyle such as walking and dieting, in addition to personality and overseas experience, and will contribute to the future development of health science and cross-cultural research.
Building a Digital Transformation Maturity Evaluation Model for Construction Enterprises Based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process and Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory Method
Authors: Zhu Hongwei , Wang Liang , Li Chao , Philbin Simon P. , Li Hujun , Li Hui , Skitmore Martin
Published: December 2023

With digital transformation underway in various Chinese construction enterprises, each enterprise has progressed differently, and a clear direction for future digital transformation and upgrading is lacking. As such, the importance of measuring the level of digitization among Chinese construction enterprises is increasing. This paper presents a model for evaluating digital transformation maturity within construction enterprises. The model considers six aspects: digital strategy, digital business applications, digital technology capabilities, and so on. The digital maturity of enterprises is determined using the Analysis of Hierarchy (AHP)-Decision Making Experiment and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method. Technical abbreviations are explained when first used. This study demonstrates that digital business applications are the most significant primary indicator, with a weight of 29.53%. The success of digital transformation in the construction industry is strongly influenced by the interconnection between digital technology and construction sites, as well as other factors such as new technical personnel, digital infrastructure, digital innovation, and innovation iteration ability. It is crucial to understand how digital technology and the construction industry can effectively connect in order to achieve success in this realm. This paper aims to enhance the digital transformation capabilities and efficiency of construction companies and boost their core competitiveness through targeted measures.