bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Critical Review on Physiological and Molecular Features during Bovine Mammary Gland Development: Recent Advances
Authors: Jaswal Shalini , Jena Manoj Kumar , Anand Vijay , Jaswal Avinash , Kancharla Sudhakar , Kolli Prachetha , Mandadapu Gowtham , Kumar Sudarshan , Mohanty Ashok Kumar
Published: October 2022

The mammary gland is a unique organ with the ability to undergo repeated cyclic changes throughout the life of mammals. Among domesticated livestock species, ruminants (cattle and buffalo) constitute a distinct class of livestock species that are known milk producers. Cattle and buffalo contribute to 51 and 13% of the total milk supply in the world, respectively. They also play an essential role in the development of the economy for farming communities by providing milk, meat, and draft power. The development of the ruminant mammary gland is highly dynamic and multiphase in nature. There are six developmental stages: embryonic, prepubertal, pubertal, pregnancy, lactation, and involution. There has been substantial advancement in our understanding of the development of the mammary gland in both mouse and human models. Until now, there has not been a thorough investigation into the molecular processes that underlie the various stages of cow udder development. The current review sheds light on the morphological and molecular changes that occur during various developmental phases in diverse species, with a particular focus on the cow udder. It aims to explain the physiological differences between cattle and non-ruminant mammalian species such as humans, mice, and monkeys. Understanding the developmental biology of the mammary gland in molecular detail, as well as species-specific variations, will facilitate the researchers working in this area in further studies on cellular proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, organogenesis, and carcinogenesis. Additionally, in-depth knowledge of the mammary gland will promote its use as a model organ for research work and promote enhanced milk yield in livestock animals without affecting their health and welfare.
LC-DAD–ESI-MS/MS and NMR Analysis of Conifer Wood Specialized Metabolites
Authors: Patyra Andrzej , Dudek Marta Katarzyna , Kiss Anna Karolina
Published: October 2022

Many species from the Pinaceae family have been recognized as a rich source of lignans, flavonoids, and other polyphenolics. The great common occurrence of conifers in Europe, as well as their use in the wood industry, makes both plant material and industrial waste material easily accessible and inexpensive. This is a promising prognosis for both discovery of new active compounds as well as for finding new applications for wood and its industry waste products. This study aimed to analyze and phytochemically profile 13 wood extracts of the Pinaceae family species, endemic or introduced in Polish flora, using the LC-DAD–ESI-MS/MS method and compare their respective metabolite profiles. Branch wood methanolic extracts were phytochemically profiled. Lignans, stilbenes, flavonoids, diterpenes, procyanidins, and other compounds were detected, with a considerable variety of chemical content among distinct species. Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H.Karst.) branch wood was the most abundant source of stilbenes, European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) mostly contained flavonoids, while silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) was rich in lignans. Furthermore, 10 lignans were isolated from the studied material. Our findings confirm that wood industry waste materials, such as conifer branches, can be a potent source of different phytochemicals, with the plant matrix being relatively simple, facilitating future isolation of target compounds.
Midbody Proteins Display Distinct Dynamics during Cytokinesis
Authors: Halcrow Ella F. J. , Mazza Riccardo , Diversi Anna , Enright Anton , D’Avino Pier Paolo
Published: October 2022

The midbody is an organelle that forms between the two daughter cells during cytokinesis. It co-ordinates the abscission of the nascent daughter cells and is composed of a multitude of proteins that are meticulously arranged into distinct temporal and spatial localization patterns. However, very little is known about the mechanisms that regulate the localization and function of midbody proteins. Here, we analyzed the temporal and spatial profiles of key midbody proteins during mitotic exit under normal conditions and after treatment with drugs that affect phosphorylation and proteasome-mediated degradation to decipher the impacts of post-translational modifications on midbody protein dynamics. Our results highlighted that midbody proteins show distinct spatio-temporal dynamics during mitotic exit and cytokinesis that depend on both ubiquitin-mediated proteasome degradation and phosphorylation/de-phosphorylation. They also identified two discrete classes of midbody proteins: ‘transient’ midbody proteins—including Anillin, Aurora B and PRC1—which rapidly accumulate at the midbody after anaphase onset and then slowly disappear, and ‘stable’ midbody proteins—including CIT-K, KIF14 and KIF23—which instead persist at the midbody throughout cytokinesis and also post abscission. These two classes of midbody proteins display distinct interaction networks with ubiquitylation factors, which could potentially explain their different dynamics and stability during cytokinesis.
A Study on MDA5 Signaling in Splenic B Cells from an Imiquimod-Induced Lupus Mouse Model with Proteomics
Authors: Su Yu-Jih , Li Fu-An , Sheu Jim Jinn-Chyuan , Li Sung-Chou , Weng Shao-Wen , Shen Feng-Chih , Chang Yen-Hsiang , Chen Huan-Yuan , Liou Chia-Wei , Lin Tsu-Kung , Chuang Jiin-Haur , Wang Pei-Wen
Published: October 2022

Introduction: Several environmental stimuli may influence lupus, particularly viral infections. In this study, we used an imiquimod-induced lupus mouse model focused on the TLR7 pathway and proteomics analysis to determine the specific pathway related to viral infection and the related protein expressions in splenic B cells to obtain insight into B-cell responses to viral infection in the lupus model. Materials and Methods: We treated FVB/N wild-type mice with imiquimod for 8 weeks to induce lupus symptoms and signs, retrieved splenocytes, selected B cells, and conducted the proteomic analysis. The B cells were co-cultured with CD40L+ feeder cells for another week before performing Western blot analysis. Panther pathway analysis was used to disclose the pathways activated and the protein–protein interactome was analyzed by the STRING database in this lupus murine model. Results: The lupus model was well established and well demonstrated with serology evidence and pathology proof of lupus-mimicking organ damage. Proteomics data of splenic B cells revealed that the most important activated pathways (fold enrichment > 100) demonstrated positive regulation of the MDA5 signaling pathway, negative regulation of IP-10 production, negative regulation of chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 2 production, and positive regulation of the RIG-I signaling pathway. A unique protein–protein interactome containing 10 genes was discovered, within which ISG15, IFIH1, IFIT1, DDX60, and DHX58 were demonstrated to be downstream effectors of MDA5 signaling. Finally, we found B-cell intracellular cytosolic proteins via Western blot experiment and continued to observe MDA5-related pathway activation. Conclusion: In this experiment, we confirmed that the B cells in the lupus murine model focusing on the TLR7 pathway were activated through the MDA5 signaling pathway, an important RNA sensor implicated in the detection of viral infections and autoimmunity. The MDA5 agonist/antagonist RNAs and the detailed molecular interactions within B cells are worthy of further investigation for lupus therapy.
Role of mGlu5 in Persistent Forms of Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity and the Encoding of Spatial Experience
Authors: Hagena Hardy , Manahan-Vaughan Denise
Published: October 2022

The metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptor family consists of group I receptors (mGlu1 and mGlu5) that are positively coupled to phospholipase-C and group II (mGlu2 and mGlu3) and III receptors (mGlu4-8) that are negatively coupled to adenylyl cyclase. Of these, mGlu5 has emerged as a key factor in the induction and maintenance of persistent (>24 h) forms of hippocampal synaptic plasticity. Studies in freely behaving rodents have revealed that mGlu5 plays a pivotal role in the stabilisation of hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) that are tightly associated with the acquisition and retention of knowledge about spatial experience. In this review article we shall address the state of the art in terms of the role of mGlu5 in forms of hippocampal synaptic plasticity related to experience-dependent information storage and present evidence that normal mGlu5 function is central to these processes.
Effect of Cannabidiolic Acid, N-Trans-Caffeoyltyramine and Cannabisin B from Hemp Seeds on microRNA Expression in Human Neural Cells
Authors: Di Palo Armando , Siniscalchi Chiara , Crescente Giuseppina , De Leo Ilenia , Fiorentino Antonio , Pacifico Severina , Russo Aniello , Potenza Nicoletta
Published: October 2022

Given the increasing interest in bioactive dietary components that can modulate gene expression enhancing human health, three metabolites isolated from hemp seeds—cannabidiolic acid, N-trans-caffeoyltyramine, and cannabisin B—were examined for their ability to change the expression levels of microRNAs in human neural cells. To this end, cultured SH-SY5Y cells were treated with the three compounds and their microRNA content was characterized by next-generation small RNA sequencing. As a result, 31 microRNAs underwent major expression changes, being at least doubled or halved by the treatments. A computational analysis of the biological pathways affected by these microRNAs then showed that some are implicated in neural functions, such as axon guidance, hippocampal signaling, and neurotrophin signaling. Of these, miR-708-5p, miR-181a-5p, miR-190a-5p, miR-199a-5p, and miR-143-3p are known to be involved in Alzheimer’s disease and their expression changes are expected to ameliorate neural function. Overall, these results provide new insights into the mechanism of action of hemp seed metabolites and encourage further studies to gain a better understanding of their biological effects on the central nervous system.
Immune Pathway and Gene Database (IMPAGT) Revealed the Immune Dysregulation Dynamics and Overactivation of the PI3K/Akt Pathway in Tumor Buddings of Cervical Cancer
Authors: Choi Yeseul , Park Nora Jee-Young , Le Tan Minh , Lee Eunmi , Lee Donghyeon , Nguyen Hong Duc Thi , Cho Junghwan , Park Ji-Young , Han Hyung Soo , Chong Gun Oh
Published: October 2022

Tumor budding (TB) is a small cluster of malignant cells at the invasive front of a tumor. Despite being an adverse prognosis marker, little research has been conducted on the tumor immune microenvironment of tumor buddings, especially in cervical cancer. Therefore, RNA sequencing was performed using 21 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded slides of cervical tissues, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed. Immune Pathway and Gene Database (IMPAGT) was generated for immune profiling. “Pathway in Cancer” was identified as the most enriched pathway for both up- and downregulated DEGs. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes Mapper and Gene Ontology further revealed the activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. An IMPAGT analysis revealed immune dysregulation even at the tumor budding stage, especially in the PI3K/Akt/mTOR axis, with a high efficiency and integrity. These findings emphasized the clinical significance of tumor buddings and the necessity of blocking the overactivation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway to improve targeted therapy in cervical cancer.
Brighter Time: A Smartphone App Recording Cognitive Task Performance and Illuminance in Everyday Life
Authors: Gardesevic Marina , Didikoglu Altug , Lawrence Samuel J. D. , Vetter Céline , Brown Timothy M. , Allen Annette E. , Lucas Robert J.
Published: October 2022

Light is an influential regulator of behavioural and physiological state in mammals. Features of cognitive performance such as memory, vigilance and alertness can be altered by bright light exposure under laboratory and field conditions. However, the importance of light as a regulator of performance in everyday life is hard to assess and has so far remained largely unclear. We set out to address this uncertainty by developing a tool to capture measures of cognitive performance and light exposure, at scale, and during everyday life. To this end, we generated an app (Brighter Time) which incorporated a psychomotor vigilance (PVT), an N-back and a visual search task with questionnaire-based assessments of demographic characteristics, general health, chronotype and sleep. The app also measured illuminance during task completion using the smartphone’s intrinsic light meter. We undertook a pilot feasibility study of Brighter Time based on 91-week-long acquisition phases within a convenience sample (recruited by local advertisements and word of mouth) running Brighter Time on their own smartphones over two study phases in winter and summer. Study compliance was suitable (median = 20/21 requested task completions per subject). Statistically significant associations were observed between subjective sleepiness and performance in all tasks. Significant daily variations in PVT and visual search performance were also observed. Higher illuminance was associated with reduced reaction time and lower inverse efficiency score in the visual search. Brighter Time thus represents a viable option for large-scale collection of cognitive task data in everyday life, and is able to reveal associations between task performance and sleepiness, time of day and current illuminance. Brighter Time’s utility could be extended to exploring associations with longer-term patterns of light exposure and/or other light metrics by integrating with wearable light meters.
Carbon Nanocoils and Polyvinyl Alcohol Composite Films for Fiber-Optic Fabry–Perot Acoustic Sensors
Authors: Sun Yanming , Dong Zhe , Ding Zhezhe , Wang Neng , Sun Lei , Wei Heming , Wang Guo Ping
Published: October 2022

Carbon nanocoils (CNCs) are widely used in functional devices due to their helical morphology, which can be utilized in the fabrication of functional materials with unique properties. In this study, CNCs/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composite films were prepared using an electrostatic spinning method and used to form a diaphragm for Fabry–Perot acoustic sensors. With the addition of CNCs, the fabricated composite film showed enhanced mechanical performance responding to acoustic wave pressure. Considering the optical and mechanical response, the content of CNCs was set as 0.14 wt.%; the highest acoustic wave pressure response of the sensor was 1.89 V/Pa at 16.2 kHz, which was relatively higher than that of devices with pure polymer films. Additionally, the sensor had a broadband frequency response from 2 to 10 kHz. The results indicate that the proposed composite film acoustic sensor is suitable for low-frequency acoustic sensing, which lays the foundation for the extended application of functional sensors based on CNCs.
Rabi Coupled Fermions in the BCS–BEC Crossover
Authors: Dell’Anna Luca , De Bettin Federico , Salasnich Luca
Published: October 2022

We investigate the three-dimensional BCS–BEC crossover in the presence of a Rabi coupling, which strongly affects several properties of the system, such as the chemical potential, the pairing gap and the superfluid density. We determine the critical interaction strength, below which the system is normal also at zero temperature. Finally, we calculate the effect of the Rabi coupling on the critical temperature of the superfluid-to-normal phase transition by using different theoretical schemes.
A Study on the Brittle-to-Ductile Transition Temperature of Forged β-Solidifying TiAlMn and TNM Alloys
Authors: Su Xiang , Li Pei , Qu Hongjie , Feng Chenming , Hou Rui , Song Weidong , Tian Bo , Xu Hao
Published: October 2022

To further determine the brittle-to-ductile transition temperature, the microstructures and mechanical properties of typical forged β-solidifying Ti-42Al-5Mn (TiAlMn) and Ti-43Al-4Nb-1Mo-0.5B (TNM) alloys were studied. The results show that the microstructures of both heat-treated alloys consist of γ/α2 lamellar colony, equiaxed γ phase, and β0 phase. In addition, the globular α2 phase appears in the TNM alloy. The yield strength of TiAlMn alloy increases gradually with the testing temperature, whereas a significant drop from 605 MPa to 469 MPa occurs between 650 °C and 700 °C. In contrast, the TNM alloy exhibits a declining trend with the increasing testing temperature, and a remarkable reduction is observed in the temperature range of 700 °C–750 °C. Moreover, the fracture mode transition from transcrystalline cleavage to intercrystalline with increasing testing temperature was applied to the auxiliary judgment of brittle-to-ductile transition. As a result, the brittle-to-ductile transition temperatures of TiAlMn alloy and TNM alloy are about 650 °C–700 °C and 700 °C–750 °C, which may provide a reference for service temperature range of both alloys.
Deep Ecology, Biodiversity and Assisted Natural Regeneration of European Hemiboreal Forests
Authors: Petrokas Raimundas , Ibanga Diana-Abasi , Manton Michael
Published: October 2022

Climate change and the associated disturbances have disrupted the relative stability of tree species composition in hemiboreal forests. The natural ecology of forest communities, including species occurrence and composition, forest structure, and food webs, have been affected. Yet, the hemiboreal forest zone of Lithuania is the least studied in the country for climate change risks and possible management adaption techniques. This problem is further complicated by the fact that Lithuania uses a traditional centralised forest management system. Therefore, this work proposes assisted natural regeneration (ANR) of tree species as a more viable means of building hemiboreal forest resilience to cope with future climate change risks. The ANR model implies that forest management is localised in local communities, to provide opportunities for the local people to participate in forest management based on local knowledge, thereby facilitating the transition from cultural diversity to biodiversity. Further, ANR is grounded on an ethical framework—deep ecology—to provide ethical justification for the proposal to transit forest management in Lithuania from the traditional centralised segregated system to a community-driven practice. The work combines the theories of ANR, deep ecology, and hemiboreal forest knowledge systems to provide complementary information that builds on gaps in the existing literature. This study is unique in that no previous work has linked ANR and deep ecology in the context of Lithuania’s forest ecosystems.
Groin Puncture to Recanalization Time May Be a Strong Predictor of mTICI 2c/3 over mTICI 2b in Patients with Large Vessel Occlusions Successfully Recanalized with Mechanical Thrombectomy
Authors: Wang Richard , Aslan Alperen , Khalili Neda , Garg Tushar , Kotha Apoorva , Hamam Omar , Hoseinyazdi Meisam , Yedavalli Vivek
Published: October 2022

Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is an important therapeutic option in the management of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) caused by large vessel occlusions (LVO). While achieving a modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (mTICI), grades of 2b, 2c, and 3 are all considered successful recanalization; recent literature suggests that mTICI grades of 2c/3 are associated with superior outcomes than 2b. The aim of this preliminary study is to determine whether any baseline or procedural parameters can predict whether successfully recanalized patients achieve an mTICI grade of 2c/3 over 2b. Consecutive patients from 9/2019 to 10/2021 who were successfully recanalized following MT for confirmed LVO were included in the study. Baseline and procedural data were collected through manual chart review and analyzed to ascertain whether any variables of interest could predict mTICI 2c/3. A total of 47 patients were included in the preliminary study cohort, with 35 (74.5%) achieving an mTICI score of 2c/3 and 12 (25.5%) achieving an mTICI score of 2b. We found that a lower groin puncture to recanalization time was a strong, independent predictor of TICI 2c/3 (p = 0.015). These findings emphasize the importance of minimizing procedure time in achieving superior reperfusion but must be corroborated in larger scale studies.
Wearable Technology for Monitoring Respiratory Rate and SpO2 of COVID-19 Patients: A Systematic Review
Authors: Takahashi Shizuko , Nakazawa Eisuke , Ichinohe Sakurako , Akabayashi Aru , Akabayashi Akira
Published: October 2022

With the significant numbers of sudden home deaths reported worldwide due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), wearable technology has emerged as a method for surveilling this infection. This review explored the indicators of COVID-19 surveillance, such as vitals, respiratory condition, temperature, oxygen saturation (SpO2), and activity levels using wearable devices. Studies published between 31 December 2019, and 8 July 2022, were obtained from PubMed, and grey literature, reference lists, and key journals were also searched. All types of articles with the keywords “COVID-19”, “Diagnosis”, and “Wearable Devices” were screened. Four reviewers independently screened the articles against the eligibility criteria and extracted the data using a data charting form. A total of 56 articles were on monitoring, of which 28 included SpO2 as a parameter. Although wearable devices are effective in the continuous monitoring of COVID-19 patients, further research on actual patients is necessary to determine the efficiency and effectiveness of wearable technology before policymakers can mandate its use.
Pulmonary Hypertension Associated Genetic Variants in Sarcoidosis Associated Pulmonary Hypertension
Authors: Groen Karlijn , Huitema Marloes P. , van der Vis Joanne J. , Post Marco C. , Grutters Jan C. , Baughman Robert P. , van Moorsel Coline H. M.
Published: October 2022

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a severe complication of sarcoidosis in a minority of patients. Several genetic defects are known to cause hereditary or sporadic PH, but whether variants in PH-associated genes are also involved in sarcoidosis-associated PH (SAPH) is unknown. Methods: 40 patients with SAPH were individually matched to 40 sarcoidosis patients without PH (SA). Whole exome sequencing was performed to identify rare genetic variants in a diagnostic PH gene panel of 13 genes. Additionally, an exploratory analysis was performed to search for other genes of interest. From 572 genes biologically involved in PH pathways, genes were selected in which at least 15% of the SAPH patients and no more than 5% of patients without PH carried a rare variant. Results: In the diagnostic PH gene panel, 20 different rare variants, of which 18 cause an amino-acid substitution, were detected in 23 patients: 14 SAPH patients carried a variant, as compared to 5 SA patients without PH (p = 0.018). Most variants were of yet unknown significance. The exploratory approach yielded five genes of interest. First, the NOTCH3 gene that was previously linked to PH, and furthermore PDE6B, GUCY2F, COL5A1, and MMP21. Conclusions: The increased frequency of variants in PH genes in SAPH suggests a mechanism whereby the presence of such a genetic variant in a patient may increase risk for the development of PH in the context of pulmonary sarcoidosis. Replication and studies into the functionality of the variants are required for further understanding the pathogenesis of SAPH.
Effects of CALR-Mutant Type and Burden on the Phenotype of Myeloproliferative Neoplasms
Authors: Kim Hyun-Young , Han Yujin , Jang Jun Ho , Jung Chul Won , Kim Sun-Hee , Kim Hee-Jin
Published: October 2022

Somatic CALR mutations occur in approximately 70% of patients with JAK2 V617F-negative essential thrombocythemia (ET) and primary myelofibrosis (PMF). We evaluated the effects of the CALR mutant type and burden on the phenotype of CALR-mutated myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). Of the 510 patients with suspected or diagnosed MPN, all 49 patients detected with CALR mutations were diagnosed with ET (n = 32) or PMF (n = 17). The CALR mutant burden was significantly higher in PMF than in ET (45% vs. 34%), and type 1-like and type 2-like mutations were detected in 49% and 51% patients, respectively. Patients with MPN and type 2-like mutation showed a significantly higher median platelet count than those with type 1-like mutation. Particularly, patients with ET and type 2-like mutation had no thrombotic events, despite higher platelet counts. The effect of CALR mutant burden differed depending on the mutant type. A higher mutant burden tended to be associated with a cytopenic phenotype (i.e., lower hemoglobin levels and platelet counts) in patients with the type 1-like mutation and a proliferative hematological phenotype (i.e., higher platelet and neutrophil counts) in patients with the type 2-like mutation. This study suggests that the disease phenotype of MPN may be altered through CALR mutant burden and mutant type.
The Frequency and Causes of Not-Detected Breast Malignancy in Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI
Authors: Song Donghun , Kang Bong Joo , Kim Sung Hun , Lee Jeongmin , Park Ga Eun
Published: October 2022

Breast MR is the most sensitive imaging modality, but there are cases of malignant tumors that are not detected in MR. This study evaluated the frequency and main causes of malignant breast lesions not detected in dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MR. A total of 1707 cases of preoperative breast MR performed between 2020 and 2021 were included. Three radiologists individually reviewed the DCE MRs and found not-detected malignancy cases in the MRs. The final cases were decided through consensus. For the selected cases, images other than DCE MRIs, such as mammography, ultrasounds, diffusion-weighted MRs, and, if possible, contrast-enhanced chest CTs, were analyzed. In the final sample, 12 cases were not detected in DCE MR, and the frequency was 0.7% (12/1707). Six cases were not detected due to known non-enhancing histologic features. In four cases, tumors were located in the breast periphery and showed no enhancement in MR. In the remaining two cases, malignant lesions were not identified due to underlying marked levels of BPE. The frequency of not-detected malignancy in DCE MR is rare. Knowing the causes of each case and correlating it with other imaging modalities could be helpful in the diagnosis of breast malignancy in DCE MR.
Correction: Patinen et al. Caries Experience and Erosive Tooth Wear in Finnish Men Conscripts 2021: A Cross-Sectional Study. Dent. J. 2022, 10, 122
Authors: Patinen Pertti , Tanner Tarja , Huttunen Mika , Muhonen Annakaisa , Räsänen Sari , Moilanen Pernelle , Päkkilä Jari , Anttonen Vuokko , Kämppi Antti
Published: October 2022

There was an error in the original publication [...]
Characterizing the Identity Formation and Sense of Belonging of the Students Enrolled in a Data Science Learning Community
Authors: Jaiswal Aparajita , Magana Alejandra J. , Ward Mark D.
Published: October 2022

Student attrition is a challenge experienced by higher education institutions. One of the key reasons for student attrition is the inability of students to develop an identity and a sense of belonging. This study aims to understand the role of a data science learning community in helping students to develop identity and a sense of belonging. The study used a mixed-methods approach to collect and analyze the data. The study used a pre–post survey to understand students’ perceptions regarding identity formation and sense of belonging. The results of the survey study indicated that the perception of identity formation and sense of belonging increased as students progressed through the semester. To further investigate the reasons for the increase in the perception of identity formation and sense of belonging, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted. The results of the interview revealed that living in the data science learning community, participating in various events and interacting with faculty, staff and working with peers of similar interest helped students to develop a data science identity and leader identity, as well as experience sense of belonging.
Does the Use of Videos in Flipped Classrooms in Engineering Labs Improve Student Performance?
Authors: Del Río-Gamero Beatriz , Santiago Dunia E. , Schallenberg-Rodríguez Julieta , Melián-Martel Noemi
Published: October 2022

This article analyzes whether the use of videos in flipped classrooms applied to lab practices in higher-education degrees improves the students’ performance. For this purpose, the flipped classroom methodology was used in the Sustainability and Environment Technologies subject, which is included in the curriculum of different engineering degrees. The results were evaluated by considering three different aspects: student satisfaction, student performance during the lab practice, and academic marks. The methodology of the study combines qualitative and quantitative approaches. The results show an improvement in student satisfaction, as well as in student performance during the lab practice. The academic marks of the test students in comparison to the control students also show some improvement. Overall, those who undertook the flipped classroom lab practice noted many benefits, including increased student engagement and satisfaction, as well as improvements in student skills and academic results. Novel aspects such as the qualitative and quantitative evaluations of the performance of the lab practice have been introduced in this research.
An Interval AHP Technique for Classroom Teaching Quality Evaluation
Authors: Qin Ya , Hashim Siti Rahayu Mohd. , Sulaiman Jumat
Published: October 2022

Classroom teaching evaluation is one of the most important ways to improve the teaching quality of mathematics education in higher education, and it is also a group decision making problems. Meanwhile, there is some uncertain information in the process of evaluation. In order to deal with this uncertainty in classroom teaching quality evaluation and obtain a reliable and accurate evaluation result, an interval analytic hierarchy process (I-AHP) is employed. To begin with, the modern evaluation tool named RTOP is adapted to make it more consistent with the characteristics of the discipline. In addition, the evaluation approach is built by using the I-AHP method, and some details of weights of the criteria and assessors are developed, respectively. Thirdly, a case study has been made to verify the feasibility of the assessment approach for classroom teaching quality evaluation on mathematics. Finally, a comprehensive evaluation of classroom quality under an interval number environment is conducted, and some results analyses and comparisons are also discussed to show that the proposed approach is sound and has a stronger ability to deal with uncertainty.
A Machine Learning Method for Prediction of Stock Market Using Real-Time Twitter Data
Authors: Albahli Saleh , Irtaza Aun , Nazir Tahira , Mehmood Awais , Alkhalifah Ali , Albattah Waleed
Published: October 2022

Finances represent one of the key requirements to perform any useful activity for humanity. Financial markets, e.g., stock markets, forex, and mercantile exchanges, etc., provide the opportunity to anyone to invest and generate finances. However, to reap maximum benefits from these financial markets, effective decision making is required to identify the trade directions, e.g., going long/short by analyzing all the influential factors, e.g., price action, economic policies, and supply/demand estimation, in a timely manner. In this regard, analysis of the financial news and Twitter posts plays a significant role to predict the future behavior of financial markets, public sentiment estimation, and systematic/idiosyncratic risk estimation. In this paper, our proposed work aims to analyze the Twitter posts and Google Finance data to predict the future behavior of the stock markets (one of the key financial markets) in a particular time frame, i.e., hourly, daily, weekly, etc., through a novel StockSentiWordNet (SSWN) model. The proposed SSWN model extends the standard opinion lexicon named SentiWordNet (SWN) through the terms specifically related to the stock markets to train extreme learning machine (ELM) and recurrent neural network (RNN) for stock price prediction. The experiments are performed on two datasets, i.e., Sentiment140 and Twitter datasets, and achieved the accuracy value of 86.06%. Findings show that our work outperforms the state-of-the-art approaches with respect to overall accuracy. In future, we plan to enhance the capability of our method by adding other popular social media, e.g., Facebook and Google News etc.
Electrical Characterization of Through-Silicon-via-Based Coaxial Line for High-Frequency 3D Integration (Invited Paper)
Authors: Zhao Zhibo , Li Jinkai , Yuan Haoyun , Wang Zeyu , Gugliandolo Giovanni , Donato Nicola , Crupi Giovanni , Si Liming , Bao Xiue
Published: October 2022

Through-silicon-via (TSV)-based coaxial line techniques can reduce the high-frequency loss due to the low resistivity in the silicon substrate and thus can improve the efficiency of vertical signal transmission. Moreover, a TSV-based coaxial structure allows easily realizing the impedance matching in RF/microwave systems for excellent electrical performance. However, due to the limitations of existing available dielectric materials and the difficulties and challenges in the manufacturing process, ideal coaxial TSVs are not easy to obtain, and thus, the achieved electrical performance might be unexpected. In order to increase the flexibility of designing and manufacturing TSV-based coaxial structures and to better evaluate the fabricated devices, modeling and analysis theories of the corresponding high-frequency electrical performance are proposed in the paper. The theories are finally well validated using the finite-element simulation results, hereby providing guiding rules for selecting materials and improving manufacturing techniques in the practical process, so as to optimize the high-frequency performance of the TSV structures.
On-Chip Bandstop to Bandpass Reconfigurable Filters Using Semiconductor Distributed Doped Areas (ScDDAs)
Authors: Allanic Rozenn , Le Borgne Fabien , Bouazzaoui Hassan , Le Berre Denis , Quendo Cédric , Silva De Vasconcellos Douglas , Grimal Virginie , Valente Damien , Billoué Jérôme
Published: October 2022

This paper presents two novel on-chip bandstop to bandpass reconfigurable filters in C and X bands. Designed on a silicon substrate, filter reconfigurability is achieved using semiconductor-distributed doped areas (ScDDAs), such as an N+PP+ junction integrated into the substrate. The active element is therefore co-designed with the passive parts, allowing flexibility in ScDDA size and position. This flexibility offers advantages in terms of integration, ease of manufacture, and performance. The synthesis was developed in the OFF-state in order to match with the well-known one in the ON-state. As proof of concept, 5 GHz and 10 GHz filters were built. The simulated and measured results showed good agreement in both bandpass and bandstop configurations.
High-Speed Antenna Measurement System Using Multi-Probe Array Technique for 5G Applications
Authors: Park Se-Ho , Jang Geon-Ho , Seo Young-Hun , Keum Hong-Sik , Bang Sung-Il
Published: October 2022

In this article, a high-speed antenna measurement system using multi-probe array technique for 5G application is suggested. The spherical near-field scan measurement system for millimeter wave frequency band (3 GHz–40 GHz) and the multi-probe array rotation method is adopted to improve the antenna measurement speed. The proposed measurement RF system consists of the 14 multi-probe array (28 channel with dual-polarization), switch matrix, downconverters, amplifiers/attenuators, digitizers, and signal generators, and is compared to the conventional planar near-field scan antenna measurement system. The measurement speed performance can be improved significantly and the 3D beam pattern of the AUT can be achieved. The designed system was verified through comparison with a verified far-field measurement system. In addition, to increase the measurement efficiency, an effective sampling technique was proposed and verified.
Effects of Tree Species Diversity on Fine Root Morphological Characteristics, Productivity and Turnover Rates
Authors: Wang Zhibao , Cai Yongli , Liang Jing , Zhong Qicheng , Jiang Hong , Lu Xinghui , Gao Xiangbin , Yu Shouchao , Dai Xiaojian
Published: October 2022

Fine roots (φ ≤ 2 mm) play an important role in the process of material and nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems, but the effect of tree species diversity on the functional characteristics of fine roots is unclear. In this study, 1−7 subtropical communities with different species richness were selected to study the morphological characteristics, productivity (PRO), and turnover rate (TUR) of fine roots by continuous soil core extraction, ingrowth soil core method, and root analysis system. The effects of tree species diversity on fine root morphological characteristics, PRO, and TUR are also analyzed. The results showed that with the increase in tree species diversity in the community, the effect of fine root morphological characteristics including specific root length (SRL) and specific surface area (SSA) of each community was not significant, but the fine root PRO in the community increased from 71.63 g·m−2·a−1 (Ligustrum lucidum pure forest) to 232.95 g·m−2·a−1 (Cinnamomum camphora mixed forest with seven species richness communities), and the fine root TUR increased from 0.539 times·a−1 to 0.747 times·a−1. Correlation analysis and redundancy analysis showed that species richness, root functional traits, and soil physicochemical properties were important driving factors affecting root characteristics. The increase in tree species diversity did not change the morphological characteristics of fine roots but increased the PRO and TUR of fine roots.
Log Construction Practices and Future Outlook: Perspectives of Finnish Experts
Authors: Lehtonen Johanna , Ilgın Hüseyin Emre , Karjalainen Markku
Published: October 2022

This paper analyzed practices and future outlooks of log construction from the perspective of Finnish experts through interviews. Key findings highlighted that: (1) interviewed experts emphasized the environmental benefits of log construction; (2) moving log buildings from one place to another was considered a natural way to reuse logs, but several challenges regarding wet areas and incompatibility of different producer profiles were reported; (3) single-material construction of log was stated to have many advantages such as ease of application during erection and relatively long service life; (4) log structures were mostly associated with health, safety, coziness, beauty, and warmth; (5) increasing trend in the use of log construction in large-scale public projects was reported; (6) experts stated that the use of logs in high-rise buildings in Finland is underdeveloped, but hybrid applications using engineered wood products can provide a solution to this issue; (7) modern log cities can be designed with proper solutions, paying attention to several issues e.g., large glass-faced facades; (8) cost competitiveness, familiarity, fire safety, and facade cladding were assessed among the biggest challenges of log construction; (9) issues such as increasing number of contractors specializing in log buildings, robotics in production automation, digitization of manufacturing control were on the future agenda of log construction. It is thought that this study will support the use of logs by contributing to log structures that will be diversified and developed in the Finnish construction market.
Review of the Genus Aemene Walker, 1854 (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae) in Korea with Description of a New Species
Authors: Bayarsaikhan Ulziijargal , Cha Yeong-Bin , Ko Jae-Ho , Kwon Hyung Wook , Bae Yang-Seop
Published: October 2022

The genus Aemene Walker, 1854 (Lithosiini, Cistheniina) is reviewed from Korea, with one new species, Aemene copaeninsulana sp. nov. Photographs of male and female and genitalia of the examined species from Korea are given. A key to Korean species of the genus Aemene is provided.
Zener Model with General Fractional Calculus: Thermodynamical Restrictions
Authors: Atanackovic Teodor M. , Pilipovic Stevan
Published: October 2022

We studied a Zener-type model of a viscoelastic body within the context of general fractional calculus and derived restrictions on coefficients that follow from the dissipation inequality, which is the entropy inequality under isothermal conditions. We showed, for a stress relaxation and a wave propagation, that the restriction that follows from the entropy inequality is sufficient to guarantee the existence and uniqueness of the solution. We presented numerical data related to the solution of a wave equation for several values of parameters.
Analytical and Computational Problems Related to Fractional Gaussian Noise
Authors: Mishura Yuliya , Ralchenko Kostiantyn , Schilling René L.
Published: October 2022

We study the projection of an element of fractional Gaussian noise onto its neighbouring elements. We prove some analytic results for the coefficients of this projection. In particular, we obtain recurrence relations for them. We also make several conjectures concerning the behaviour of these coefficients, provide numerical evidence supporting these conjectures, and study them theoretically in particular cases. As an auxiliary result of independent interest, we investigate the covariance function of fractional Gaussian noise, prove that it is completely monotone for H>1/2, and, in particular, monotone, convex, log-convex along with further useful properties.
Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of the Oat (Avena sativa L.) WRKY Transcription Factor Family
Authors: Liu Kaiqiang , Ju Zeliang , Jia Zhifeng , Liang Guoling , Ma Xiang , Liu Wenhui
Published: October 2022

The WRKY family is widely involved in the regulation of plant growth and stress response and is one of the largest gene families related to plant environmental adaptation. However, no systematic studies on the WRKY family in oat (Avena sativa L.) have been conducted to date. The recently published complete genome sequence of oat enables the systematic analysis of the AsWRKYs. Based on a genome-wide study of oat, we identified 162 AsWRKYs that were unevenly distributed across 21 chromosomes; a phylogenetic tree of WRKY domains divided these genes into three groups (I, II, and III). We also analyzed the gene duplication events and identified a total of 111 gene pairs that showed strong purifying selection during the evolutionary process. Surprisingly, almost all genes evolved after the completion of subgenomic differentiation of hexaploid oat. Further studies on the functional analysis indicated that AsWRKYs were widely involved in various biological processes. Notably, expression patterns of 16 AsWRKY genes revealed that the response of AsWRKYs were affected by stress level and time. In conclusion, this study provides a reference for further analysis of the role of WRKY transcription factors in species evolution and functional differentiation.
Effects of Bradyrhizobium Co-Inoculated with Bacillus and Paenibacillus on the Structure and Functional Genes of Soybean Rhizobacteria Community
Authors: Xing Pengfei , Zhao Yubin , Guan Dawei , Li Li , Zhao Baisuo , Ma Mingchao , Jiang Xin , Tian Changfu , Cao Fengming , Li Jun
Published: October 2022

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are widely used to improve soil nutrients and promote plant growth and health. However, the growth-promoting effect of a single PGPR on plants is limited. Here, we evaluated the effect of applying rhizobium Bradyrhizobium japonicum 5038 (R5038) and two PGPR strains, Bacillus aryabhattai MB35-5 (BA) and Paenibacillus mucilaginosus 3016 (PM), alone or in different combinations on the soil properties and rhizosphere bacterial community composition of soybean (Glycine max). Additionally, metagenomic sequencing was performed to elucidate the profile of functional genes. Inoculation with compound microbial inoculant containing R5038 and BA (RB) significantly improved nodule nitrogenase activity and increased soil nitrogen content, and urease activity increased the abundance of the nitrogen cycle genes and Betaproteobacteria and Chitinophagia in the rhizosphere. In the treatment of inoculant-containing R5038 and PM (RP), significant changes were found for the abundance of Deltaproteobacteria and Gemmatimonadetes and the phosphorus cycle genes, and soil available phosphorus and phosphatase activity were increased. The RBP inoculants composed of three strains (R5038, BA and PM) significantly affected soybean biomass and the N and P contents of the rhizosphere. Compared with RB and RP, RBP consistently increased soybean nitrogen content, and dry weight. Overall, these results showed that several PGPR with different functions could be combined into composite bacterial inoculants, which coordinately modulate the rhizosphere microbial community structure and improve soybean growth.
Climate-Driven Adaptive Differentiation in Melia azedarach: Evidence from a Common Garden Experiment
Authors: Liao Boyong , Que Qingmin , Xu Xingming , Zhou Wei , Ouyang Kunxi , Li Pei , Li Huaqiang , Lai Can , Chen Xiaoyang
Published: October 2022

Studies of local adaptation in populations of chinaberry (Melia azedarach L.) are important for clarifying patterns in the population differentiation of this species across its natural range. M. azedarach is an economically important timber species, and its phenotype is highly variable across its range in China. Here, we collected M. azedarach seeds from 31 populations across its range and conducted a common garden experiment. We studied patterns of genetic differentiation among populations using molecular markers (simple sequence repeats) and data on phenotypic variation in six traits collected over five years. Our sampled populations could be subdivided into two groups based on genetic analyses, as well as patterns of isolation by distance and isolation by environment. Significant differentiation in growth traits was observed among provenances and families within provenances. Geographic distance was significantly correlated with the quantitative genetic differentiation (QST) in height (HEIT) and crown breadth. Climate factors were significantly correlated with the QST for each trait. A total of 23 climatic factors were examined. There was a significant effect of temperature on all traits, and minimum relative humidity had a significant effect on the survival rate over four years. By comparing the neutral genetic differentiation (FST) with the QST, the mode of selection acting on survival rate varied, whereas HEIT and the straightness of the main trunk were subject to the same mode of selection. The variation in survival rate was consistent with the variation in genetic differentiation among populations, which was indicative of local adaptation. Overall, our findings provide new insights into the responses of the phenological traits of M. azedarach to changes in the climate conditions of China.