bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Three Active Phytotoxic Compounds from the Leaves of Albizia richardiana (Voigt.) King and Prain for the Development of Bioherbicides to Control Weeds
Authors: Hossen Kawsar , Ozaki Kaori , Teruya Toshiaki , Kato-Noguchi Hisashi
Published: September 2021

The global population is increasing day by day. To meet the food demand for such a huge number of people, crop production must increase without damaging the environment, and to prevent synthetic chemical herbicides from polluting the environment, controlling weeds using bioherbicides is essential. Accordingly, using phytotoxic substances obtained from plants for biological weed management has attracted attention. The plant Albizia richardiana possesses phytotoxic compounds that have been previously recorded. Hence, we have conducted this research to characterize more phytotoxic compounds in Albizia richardiana. Aqueous methanolic extracts of Albizia richardiana plant significantly restricted the growth of the examined plants lettuce and Italian ryegrass in a species- and concentration-dependent manner. Three active phytotoxic compounds were isolated through various chromatographic methods and identified as compound 1, 2, and 3. Compound 3 exhibited stronger phytotoxic potentials than the other two compounds and significantly suppressed the growth of Lepidium sativum (cress). The concentration of the compounds required for 50% growth reduction (I50 value) of the Lepidium sativum seedlings ranged between 0.0827 to 0.4133 mg/mL. The results suggest that these three phytotoxic compounds might contribute to the allelopathic potential of Albizia richardiana.
Potential Therapeutic Effect of Micrornas in Extracellular Vesicles from Mesenchymal Stem Cells against SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Park Jae Hyun , Choi Yuri , Lim Chul-Woo , Park Ji-Min , Yu Shin-Hye , Kim Yujin , Han Hae Jung , Kim Chun-Hyung , Song Young-Sook , Kim Chul , Yu Seung Rok , Oh Eun Young , Lee Sang-Myeong , Moon Jisook
Published: September 2021

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cell-released, nanometer-scaled, membrane-bound materials and contain diverse contents including proteins, small peptides, and nucleic acids. Once released, EVs can alter the microenvironment and regulate a myriad of cellular physiology components, including cell–cell communication, proliferation, differentiation, and immune responses against viral infection. Among the cargoes in the vesicles, small non-coding micro-RNAs (miRNAs) have received attention in that they can regulate the expression of a variety of human genes as well as external viral genes via binding to the complementary mRNAs. In this study, we tested the potential of EVs as therapeutic agents for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. First, we found that the mesenchymal stem-cell-derived EVs (MSC-EVs) enabled the rescue of the cytopathic effect of SARS-CoV-2 virus and the suppression of proinflammatory responses in the infected cells by inhibiting the viral replication. We found that these anti-viral responses were mediated by 17 miRNAs matching the rarely mutated, conserved 3′-untranslated regions (UTR) of the viral genome. The top five miRNAs highly expressed in the MSC-EVs, miR-92a-3p, miR-26a-5p, miR-23a-3p, miR-103a-3p, and miR-181a-5p, were tested. They were bound to the complemented sequence which led to the recovery of the cytopathic effects. These findings suggest that the MSC-EVs are a potential candidate for multiple variants of anti-SARS-CoV-2.
Ocular Neurodegenerative Diseases: Interconnection between Retina and Cortical Areas
Authors: Marchesi Nicoletta , Fahmideh Foroogh , Boschi Federica , Pascale Alessia , Barbieri Annalisa
Published: September 2021

The possible interconnection between the eye and central nervous system (CNS) has been a topic of discussion for several years just based on fact that the eye is properly considered an extension of the brain. Both organs consist of neurons and derived from a neural tube. The visual process involves photoreceptors that receive light stimulus from the external environment and send it to retinal ganglionic cells (RGC), one of the cell types of which the retina is composed. The retina, the internal visual membrane of the eye, processes the visual stimuli in electric stimuli to transfer it to the brain, through the optic nerve. Retinal chronic progressive neurodegeneration, which may occur among the elderly, can lead to different disorders of the eye such as glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and diabetic retinopathy (DR). Mainly in the elderly population, but also among younger people, such ocular pathologies are the cause of irreversible blindness or impaired, reduced vision. Typical neurodegenerative diseases of the CSN are a group of pathologies with common characteristics and etiology not fully understood; some risk factors have been identified, but they are not enough to justify all the cases observed. Furthermore, several studies have shown that also ocular disorders present characteristics of neurodegenerative diseases and, on the other hand, CNS pathologies, i.e., Alzheimer disease (AD) and Parkinson disease (PD), which are causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, show peculiar alterations at the ocular level. The knowledge of possible correlations could help to understand the mechanisms of onset. Moreover, the underlying mechanisms of these heterogeneous disorders are still debated. This review discusses the characteristics of the ocular illnesses, focusing on the relationship between the eye and the brain. A better comprehension could help in future new therapies, thus reducing or avoiding loss of vision and improve quality of life.
Inhibition of Metabolism as a Therapeutic Option for Tamoxifen-Resistant Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Steifensand Friederike , Gallwas Julia , Bauerschmitz Gerd , Gründker Carsten
Published: September 2021

Cancer cells have an increased need for glucose and, despite aerobic conditions, obtain their energy through aerobic oxidation and lactate fermentation, instead of aerobic oxidation alone. Glutamine is an essential amino acid in the human body. Glutaminolysis and glycolysis are crucial for cancer cell survival. In the therapy of estrogen receptor α (ERα)-positive breast cancer (BC), the focus lies on hormone sensitivity targeting therapy with selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) such as 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT), although this therapy is partially limited by the development of resistance. Therefore, further targets for therapy improvement of ERα-positive BC with secondary 4-OHT resistance are needed. Hence, increased glucose requirement and upregulated glutaminolysis in BC cells could be used. We have established sublines of ERα-positive MCF7 and T47D BC cells, which were developed to be resistant to 4-OHT. Further, glycolysis inhibitor 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose (2-DG) and glutaminase inhibitor CB-839 were analyzed. Co-treatments using 4-OHT and CB-839, 2-DG and CB-839, or 4-OHT, 2-DG and CB-839, respectively, showed significantly stronger inhibitory effects on viability compared to single treatments. It could be shown that tamoxifen-resistant BC cell lines, compared to the non-resistant cell lines, exhibited a stronger reducing effect on cell viability under co-treatments. In addition, the tamoxifen-resistant BC cell lines showed increased expression of proto-oncogene c-Myc compared to the parental cell lines. This could be reduced depending on the treatment. Suppression of c-Myc expression using specific siRNA completely abolished resistance to 4OH-tamoxifen. In summary, our data suggest that combined treatments affecting the metabolism of BC are suitable depending on the cellularity and resistance status. In addition, the anti-metabolic treatments affected the expression of the proto-oncogene c-Myc, a key player in the regulation of cancer cell metabolism.
The Assessment of Brain Volume Differences in Idiopathic Central Precocious Puberty Girls; Comparison of Age-Matched Girls and Normal Puberty Girls
Authors: Park Shin-Eui , Ahn Ji-Ye , Kim Eun-Young
Published: September 2021

Objective: Although there have been several studies on the neuroanatomical changes in idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP), the association between each brain region and ICPP has not yet been clearly elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate the difference in brain structure in ICPP compared with age-matched healthy controls and normal puberty controls, and additionally the correlation between brain volume difference and the luteinizing hormone (LH). Materials and Methods: The study enrolled fifteen girls with ICPP, as well as 15 age-matched healthy girls and 15 normal puberty girls as controls. The subjects underwent a 1.5 Tesla Avanto MR Scanner. Anatomical T1-weighted images were acquired with a T1 spin-echo sequence. The volumes of total and regional brain were compared with each of the two control groups and analyzed through the paired T-test, and the brain region related to the peak LH level was also analyzed through a simple correlation test. Results: The mean age of the ICPP group, age-matched group, and puberty group were 8.0 ± 0.9 years, 7.8 ± 0.9 years, and 11.9 ± 0.9 years, respectively. In our findings, the regional cerebral volumes in ICPP were different from age-matched controls. Compared with controls, ICPP showed a significant increase in gray matter (GM) volumes (the medial prefrontal cortex, superior parietal gyrus, supramarginal gyrus, angular gyrus, postcentral gyrus, superior occipital gyrus, cuneus, hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, posterior cingulate gyrus (PCgG), cerebellar cortex (Cb)) and in white matter (WM) volumes (the insular, caudate, splenium of corpus callosum (p < 0.001)). Especially, the GM volumes of the PCgG (r = 0.57, p = 0.03) and Cb (r = 0.53, p = 0.04) were correlated positively with LH concentrations stimulated by the gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist. Compared to the normal puberty control, no significant difference in GM volume was found. Conclusions: This study showed the overall brain volumetric differences between ICPP girls and age-matched controls using voxel-based morphometric analysis, and further showed the correlation between brain volume and the sex hormone in ICPP. Through a comparison between the two groups, the cerebral development pattern of ICPP is similar to that of normal puberty, and these local differences in cerebral volume may affect social and congenital changes. These findings will be useful for understanding the neuroanatomical mechanisms on the specific morphological variations associated with ICPP.
Effect of Aggregate Types on the Mechanical Properties of Traditional Concrete and Geopolymer Concrete
Authors: Alanazi Hani
Published: September 2021

For the same concrete quality, different types of coarse aggregates may result in different mechanical properties. This paper presents a study on the effect of aggregate types on the mechanical properties of two concretes, namely, geopolymer concrete (GP) and traditional Portland cement (TC) concrete. The mechanical properties were investigated through several large-scale tests. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and laser scanning microscope (LSM) images were obtained to study the microstructure of tested mixes. The results revealed that the aggregate type has different effects on the mechanical properties of TC and GP, as they were behaving opposite to quartz and limestone aggregates. Microstructure analysis further confirmed the growth of well-bonded regions between the paste and aggregate in the GP with limestone aggregates, and the formation of several weak interfacial zones in concrete mixtures made with quartz aggregates. It was concluded that the mechanical properties of GP are very sensitive to the stiffness of aggregate, concentrations of stress, and the physical and chemical reactions occurring in the interfacial transition zone which may lead to improved or weakened bond strength between paste and aggregates.
Safety and Efficacy of Convalescent Plasma in COVID-19: An Overview of Systematic Reviews
Authors: Franchini Massimo , Corsini Fabiana , Focosi Daniele , Cruciani Mario
Published: September 2021

Convalescent plasma (CP) from patients recovered from COVID-19 is one of the most studied anti-viral therapies against SARS-COV-2 infection. The aim of this study is to summarize the evidence from the available systematic reviews on the efficacy and safety of CP in COVID-19 through an overview of the published systematic reviews (SRs). A systematic literature search was conducted up to August 2021 in Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane and Medrxiv databases to identify systematic reviews focusing on CP use in COVID-19. Two review authors independently evaluated reviews for inclusion, extracted data and assessed quality of evidence using AMSTAR (A Measurement Tool to Assess Reviews) and GRADE tools. The following outcomes were analyzed: mortality, viral clearance, clinical improvement, length of hospital stay, adverse reactions. In addition, where possible, subgroup analyses were performed according to study design (e.g., RCTs vs. non-RCTs), CP neutralizing antibody titer and timing of administration, and disease severity. The methodological quality of included studies was assessed using the checklist for systematic reviews AMSTAR-2 and the GRADE assessment. Overall, 29 SRs met the inclusion criteria based on 53 unique primary studies (17 RCT and 36 non-RCT). Limitations to the methodological quality of reviews most commonly related to absence of a protocol (11/29) and funding sources of primary studies (27/29). Of the 89 analyses on which GRADE judgements were made, effect estimates were judged to be of high/moderate certainty in four analyses, moderate in 38, low in 38, very low in nine. Despite the variability in the certainty of the evidence, mostly related to the risk of bias and inconsistency, the results of this umbrella review highlight a mortality reduction in CP over standard therapy when administered early and at high titer, without increased adverse reactions.
On the Replica of US Pulmonary Artifacts by Means of Physical Models
Authors: Demi Marcello
Published: September 2021

Currently, the diagnostic value of the artefactual information provided by lung ultrasound images is widely recognized by physicians. In particular, the existence of a correlation between the visual characteristics of the vertical artifacts, which arise from the pleura line, and the genesis (pneumogenic or cardiogenic) of a pulmonary disorder is commonly accepted. Physicians distinguish vertical artifacts from vertical artifacts which extend to the bottom of the screen (B-lines) and common vertical artifacts from well-structured artifacts (modulated B-lines). However, the link between these visual characteristics and the causes which determine them is still unclear. Moreover, the distinction between short and long artifacts and the distinction between common and structured artifacts are not on/off, and their classification can be critical. In order to derive further information from the visual inspection of the vertical artifacts, the mechanisms which control the artifact formation must be identified. In this paper, the link between the visual characteristics of the vertical artifacts (the observed effect) and the distribution of the aerated spaces at the pleural level (the cause) is addressed. Plausible mechanisms are suggested and illustrated through experimental results.
Root Fracture and Extrusive Luxation in Primary Teeth and Their Management: A Case Report
Authors: Di Giorgio Gianni , Zumbo Giulia , Saccucci Matteo , Luzzi Valeria , Ierardo Gaetano , Biagi Roberto , Bossù Maurizio
Published: September 2021

Background: Extrusion, lateral luxation, and intrusion are among the most serious types of dental trauma. Only a few studies have specifically focused on extrusion; the present one was aimed at reporting a case of domestic traumatic dental injury to primary tooth and describing the measures taken in managing the trauma in order to avoid future consequences to the underlying permanent tooth germ. Case report: A 3.5-year-old boy reported a dental injury with extrusion and root fracture of deciduous tooth 5.1. After intraoral and radiographic evaluation, the element was repositioned and stabilized by an orthodontic flexible splint attached to the adjacent teeth. Several follow-up checkups were made and showed good healing of the tissues and physiological exfoliation of the tooth, with a healthy and unaffected corresponding central permanent incisor. Conclusion: This case report strengthens the importance of well-timed diagnosis and treatment and of regular follow-up of traumatized teeth as they may affect both dentitions with a negative impact on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life. Conservative treatment should be taken into consideration when possible, being in some cases more appropriate.
Oral Healthcare and Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura: Early Recognition, Dental Management and Case Report
Authors: Lanza Antonio , Di Spirito Federica , Petrosino Serena , Sbordone Ludovico
Published: September 2021

A 47-year-old Caucasian man, in good general, oral and periodontal health, presented with a non-bleeding bluish lesion on the back of his tongue, presumably due to an ecchymotic area of traumatic origin which was left untreated. The day after, other ecchymotic-type lesions on the mucous membranes of the cheeks and the upper lip, a bleeding lesion at the apex of the tongue and gingivorrhagia, along with petechiae on the back, scalp, lower limbs and feet, occurred, with rapid clinical deterioration, requiring immediate hospitalization. Oral, dermatological, and hematological evaluations lead to idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) diagnosis and hydrocortisone prescription, with a complete recovery in the next few days.The presented case of ITP, with early intra-oral manifestations, aimed both to emphasize the role of oral healthcare workers in theearly recognition of ITP, which may be especially relevant for those cases with extremely fast platelet depletion, high risk of internal bleeding and consequent potentially fatal complications, and in the differential diagnosis of the diseasethat may be aided by the diagnostic protocol described, and to provide dentists with recommendations on oral care management of cases of ITP, both in dental and multi-disciplinary settings.
Determination of Parameters for an Entropy-Based Atrial Fibrillation Detector
Authors: Zhao Lina , Li Jianqing , Wan Xiangkui , Wei Shoushui , Liu Chengyu
Published: September 2021

Entropy algorithm is an important nonlinear method for cardiovascular disease detection due to its power in analyzing short-term time series. In previous a study, we proposed a new entropy-based atrial fibrillation (AF) detector, i.e., EntropyAF, which showed a high classification accuracy in identifying AF and non-AF rhythms. As a variation of entropy measures, EntropyAF has two parameters that need to be initialized before the calculation: (1) tolerance threshold r and (2) similarity weight n. In this study, a comprehensive analysis for the two parameters determination was presented, aiming to achieve a high detection accuracy for AF events. Data were from the MIT-BIH AF database. RR interval recordings were segmented using a 30-beat time window. The parameters r and n were initialized from a relatively small value, then gradually increased, and finally the best parameter combination was determined using grid searching. AUC (area under curve) values from the receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC) were compared under different parameter combinations of parameters r and n, and the results demonstrated that the selection of these two parameters plays an important role in AF/non-AF classification. Small values of parameters r and n can lead to a better detection accuracy than other selections. The best AUC value for AF detection was 98.15%, and the corresponding parameter combinations for EntropyAF were as follows: r = 0.01, n = 0.0625, 0.125, 0.25, or 0.5; r = 0.05 and n = 0.0625, 0.125, or 0.25; and r = 0.10 and n = 0.0625 or 0.125.
A Particle Swarm Algorithm Based on a Multi-Stage Search Strategy
Authors: Shen Yong , Cai Wangzhen , Kang Hongwei , Sun Xingping , Chen Qingyi , Zhang Haigang
Published: September 2021

Particle swarm optimization (PSO) has the disadvantages of easily getting trapped in local optima and a low search accuracy. Scores of approaches have been used to improve the diversity, search accuracy, and results of PSO, but the balance between exploration and exploitation remains sub-optimal. Many scholars have divided the population into multiple sub-populations with the aim of managing it in space. In this paper, a multi-stage search strategy that is dominated by mutual repulsion among particles and supplemented by attraction was proposed to control the traits of the population. From the angle of iteration time, the algorithm was able to adequately enhance the entropy of the population under the premise of satisfying the convergence, creating a more balanced search process. The study acquired satisfactory results from the CEC2017 test function by improving the standard PSO and improved PSO.
Further Results on the Proportional Vitalities Model
Authors: Kayid Mohamed
Published: September 2021

In contrast to many survival models such as proportional hazard rates and proportional mean residual lives, the proportional vitalities model has also been introduced in the literature. In this paper, further stochastic ordering properties of a dynamic version of the model with a random vitality growth parameter are investigated. Examples are presented to illustrate different established properties of the model. Potentials for inference about the parameters in proportional vitalities model with possibly time-varying effects are also argued and discussed.
Improved Treatment of the Independent Variables for the Deployment of Model Selection Criteria in the Analysis of Complex Systems
Authors: Spolladore Luca , Gelfusa Michela , Rossi Riccardo , Murari Andrea
Published: September 2021

Model selection criteria are widely used to identify the model that best represents the data among a set of potential candidates. Amidst the different model selection criteria, the Bayesian information criterion (BIC) and the Akaike information criterion (AIC) are the most popular and better understood. In the derivation of these indicators, it was assumed that the model’s dependent variables have already been properly identified and that the entries are not affected by significant uncertainties. These are issues that can become quite serious when investigating complex systems, especially when variables are highly correlated and the measurement uncertainties associated with them are not negligible. More sophisticated versions of this criteria, capable of better detecting spurious relations between variables when non-negligible noise is present, are proposed in this paper. Their derivation is obtained starting from a Bayesian statistics framework and adding an a priori Chi-squared probability distribution function of the model, dependent on a specifically defined information theoretic quantity that takes into account the redundancy between the dependent variables. The performances of the proposed versions of these criteria are assessed through a series of systematic simulations, using synthetic data for various classes of functions and noise levels. The results show that the upgraded formulation of the criteria clearly outperforms the traditional ones in most of the cases reported.
FPGA Remote Laboratory Using IoT Approaches
Authors: Magyari Alexander , Chen Yuhua
Published: September 2021

Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are relatively high-end devices that are not easily shared between multiple users. In this work, we achieved a remotely accessible FPGA framework using accessible Internet of Things (IoT) approaches. We sought to develop a method for students to receive the same level of educational quality in a remote environment that they would receive in a typical, in-person course structure for a university-level digital design course. Keeping cost in mind, we are able to combine the functionality of an entry-level FPGA and a Raspberry Pi Zero to provide IoT access for laboratory work. Previous works in this field allow only one user to access an FPGA at a time, which requires students to schedule time slots. Our design is unique in that it gives multiple users the ability to interact simultaneously with one individual top-level design on an FPGA. This novel design has the benefit for classroom presentations, collaboration and debugging, and eliminates the need for restricting student access to a time slot for FPGA access. Further, our hardware wrapper is lightweight, utilizing less than 1% of tested FPGA chips, allowing it to be integrated with resource-heavy designs. The application is meant to scale with large designs; there is no difference between how many users can interact with the remote design, regardless of the complexity of the design. Further, the number of users who can interact with a single project is limited only by the bandwidth restrictions imposed by Google Fire Base, which is far beyond any practical number of users for simultaneous access.
A Coloured Petri Net- and D* Lite-Based Traffic Controller for Automated Guided Vehicles
Authors: Mugarza Imanol , Mugarza Juan Carlos
Published: September 2021

Mobile robots, such as Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), are increasingly employed in automated manufacturing systems or automated warehouses. They are used for many kinds of applications, such as goods and material handling. These robots may also share industrial areas and routes with humans. Other industrial equipment (i.e., forklifts) could also obstruct the outlined routes. With this in mind, in this article, a coloured Petri net-based traffic controller is proposed for collision-free AGV navigation, in which other elements moving throughout the industrial area, such as humans, are also taken into account for the trajectory planning and obstacle avoidance. For the optimal path and collision-free trajectory planning and traffic control, the D* Lite algorithm was used. Moreover, a case study and an experimental validation of the suggested solution in an industrial shop floor are presented.
FeI Intermediates in N2O2 Schiff Base Complexes: Effect of Electronic Character of the Ligand and of the Proton Donor on the Reactivity with Carbon Dioxide
Authors: Bonetto Ruggero , Civettini Daniel , Crisanti Francesco , Sartorel Andrea
Published: September 2021

The characterization of competent intermediates of metal complexes, involved in catalytic transformations for the activation of small molecules, is an important target for mechanistic comprehension and catalyst design. Iron complexes deserve particular attention, due to the rich chemistry of iron that allows their application both in oxidation and reduction processes. In particular, iron complexes with tetradentate Schiff base ligands show the possibility to electrochemically generate FeI intermediates, capable of reacting with carbon dioxide. In this work, we investigate the electronic and spectroscopic features of FeI intermediates in five Fe(LN2O2) complexes, and evaluate the electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 in the presence of phenol (PhOH) or trifluoroethanol (TFE) as proton donors. The main findings include: (i) a correlation of the potentials of the FeII/I couples with the electronic character of the LN2O2 ligand and the energy of the metal-to-ligand charge transfer absorption of FeI species (determined by spectroelectrochemistry, SEC-UV/Vis); (ii) the reactivity of FeI species with CO2, as proven by cyclic voltammetry and SEC-UV/Vis; (iii) the identification of Fe(salen) as a competent homogeneous electrocatalyst for CO2 reduction to CO, in the presence of phenol or trifluoroethanol proton donors (an overpotential of 0.91 V, a catalytic rate constant estimated at 5 × 104 s−1, and a turnover number of 4); and (iv) the identification of sudden, ligand-assisted decomposition routes for complexes bearing a ketylacetoneimine pendant, likely associated with the protonation under cathodic conditions of the ligands.
Preparing the Ecuador’s Power Sector to Enable a Large-Scale Electric Land Transport
Authors: Godoy Janeth Carolina , Villamar Daniel , Soria Rafael , Vaca César , Hamacher Thomas , Ordóñez Freddy
Published: September 2021

The Ecuador’s expansion plans for the power sector promote the exploitation of hydro power potential, natural gas and a small share of alternative renewable energies. In 2019, electricity generation reached 76.3% from hydroelectric power, 21.9% from thermal plants and 1.8% from other renewable resources. Although the power energy mix is mainly based on renewable technologies, the total energy demand is still dependent on fossil fuels, which is the case of the transport sector that alone accounted for 50% of the total primary energy consumed in the country. This paper analyzes the pathway to develop a clean and diversified electricity mix, covering the demand of three specific development levels of electric transportation. The linear optimization model (urbs) and the Ecuador Land Use and Energy Netwrok Analysis (ELENA) are used to optimize the expansion of the power system in the period from 2020 to 2050. Results show that reaching an electricity mix 100% based on renewable energies is possible and still cover a highly electrified transport that includes 47.8% of land passenger, and 5.9% of land freight transport. Therefore, the electrification of this sector is a viable alternative for the country to rely on its own energy resources, while reinforcing its future climate change mitigation commitments.
The Highest Peaks of the Mountains: Comparing the Use of GNSS, LiDAR Point Clouds, DTMs, Databases, Maps, and Historical Sources
Authors: Szombara Stanisław , Róg Marta , Kozioł Krystian , Maciuk Kamil , Skorupa Bogdan , Kudrys Jacek , Lepeška Tomáš , Apollo Michal
Published: September 2021

Advances in remote data acquisition techniques have contributed to the flooding of society with spatial data sets and information. Widely available spatial data sets, including digital terrain models (DTMs) from aerial laser scanning (ALS) data, are finding more and more new applications. The article analyses and compares the heights of the 14 highest peaks of the Polish Carpathians derived from different data sources. Global navigation satellite system (GNSS) geodetic measurements were used as reference. The comparison primarily involves ALS data, and selected peaks’ GNSS measurements carried out with Xiaomi Mi 8 smartphones were also compared. Recorded raw smartphone GNSS measurements were used for calculations in post-processing mode. Other data sources were, among others, global and local databases and models and topographic maps (modern and old). The article presents an in-depth comparison of Polish and Slovak point clouds for two peaks. The results indicate the possible use of large-area laser scanning in determining the maximum heights of mountain peaks and the need to use geodetic GNSS measurements for selected peaks. For the Polish peak of Rysy, the incorrect classification of point clouds causes its height to be overestimated. The conclusions presented in the article can be used in the dissemination of knowledge and to improve positioning methods.
The Impact of Public Administration Digitalization on the Decarbonization of the Economy
Authors: Jakimowicz Aleksander , Rzeczkowski Daniel
Published: September 2021

According to wikinomics, the decarbonization of the economy it is not possible without the involvement of people’s creativity and ingenuity under the form of prosumption channeled into the public administration. In order to achieve this goal, it is necessary to transform the existing websites of municipal offices into participation platforms that would become the local growth poles concentrating the economic forces operating in a given area. As Adam Smith, the father of economics, noted, synchronization between the economic goals of people and the preferences of local authorities are the main factors of development and the lack of them can create the highest degree of chaos in the economy. Consequently, the research began with defining prosumption and determining the degree of cooperation between society and the public administration sector in the digital sphere. Correspondence analysis was used to analyze the data collected from a survey. The issue of the quality of websites of municipal public administration offices, which in the digital economy function as growth poles and development axes, was also discussed. It was observed that society is prepared to perform the role of prosumers in the public administration sector; however, the low quality of websites constrains full disclosure of society’s prosumer potential. Under these conditions, the best ways to decarbonize the local economy are: (1) acceleration of the digitization of municipal public administration; and (2) use of the already existing infrastructural growth poles and development axes. The first postulate is related to the improvement of the existing, and the construction of new, computer networks. The second point mainly concerns the achievements of molinology, which studies the existing and partially functional infrastructure of former watermills and the location of former windmills. It is a valuable clue that facilitates the location and construction of modern renewable energy sources. The subject of the research is the Warmia and Mazury Province, which includes 116 municipalities and is the fourth largest province in Poland.
Evaluation of the Shallow Geothermal Potential for Heating and Cooling and Its Integration in the Socioeconomic Environment: A Case Study in the Region of Murcia, Spain
Authors: Ramos-Escudero Adela , García-Cascales M. Socorro , Urchueguía Javier F.
Published: September 2021

In order to boost the use of shallow geothermal energy, reliable and sound information concerning its potential must be provided to the public and energy decision-makers, among others. To this end, we developed a GIS-based methodology that allowed us to estimate the resource, energy, economic and environmental potential of shallow geothermal energy at a regional scale. Our method focuses on closed-loop borehole heat exchanger systems, which are by far the systems that are most utilized for heating and cooling purposes, and whose energy demands are similar throughout the year in the study area applied. The resource was assessed based on the thermal properties from the surface to a depth of 100 m, considering the water saturation grade of the materials. Additionally, climate and building characteristics data were also used as the main input. The G.POT method was used for assessing the annual shallow geothermal resource and for the specific heat extraction (sHe) rate estimation for both heating and, for the first time, for cooling. The method was applied to the Region of Murcia (Spain) and thematic maps were created with the outputting results. They offer insight toward the thermal energy that can be extracted for both heating and cooling in (MWh/year) and (W/m); the technical potential, making a distinction over the climate zones in the region; the cost of the possible ground source heat pump (GSHP) installation, associated payback period and the cost of producing the shallow geothermal energy; and, finally, the GHG emissions savings derived from its usage. The model also output the specific heat extraction rates, which are compared to those from the VDI 4640, which prove to be slightly higher than the previous one.
Participatory Evaluation of Water Management Options for Climate Change Adaptation in River Basins
Authors: Sanchez-Plaza Anabel , Broekman Annelies , Retana Javier , Bruggeman Adriana , Giannakis Elias , Jebari Sihem , Krivograd-Klemenčič Aleksandra , Libbrecht Steven , Magjar Manca , Robert Nicolas , Verkerk Pieter Johannes
Published: September 2021

Climate and other human-induced changes will increase water scarcity in world areas such as in the Mediterranean. Adaptation principles need to be urgently incorporated into water management and stakeholder engagement needs to be strengthened at all steps of the management cycle. This study aimed to analyse and compare stakeholder-preferred water management options (WMOs) to face climate change related challenges and to foster adaptation in four Mediterranean river basins. The challenges and WMOs of the four river basins identified by stakeholders were analysed examining to what extent the WMOs tackled the identified challenges. The impact of the WMOs resulting from a participatory modelling method was included in a comparative analysis of the stakeholders’ WMOs preferences. The results indicate the participatory approach that was applied allowed local priorities and real-world challenges to be defined with adequate detail as well as the definition of tailored responses. The participatory impact analysis provided an integrated view of the river basin as an interrelated system. The participatory evaluation of the WMOs was able to consider a wide range of elements and was able reflect the combined preferences of the stakeholders. Moreover, it allowed groups of basin actors with highly diverse profiles and concerns to further promote sets of these WMOs as input into decision making processes.
Comparison between Empirical Models and the CBM-CFS3 Carbon Budget Model to Predict Carbon Stocks and Yields in Nova Scotia Forests
Authors: Heffner Jason , Steenberg James , Leblon Brigitte
Published: September 2021

In response to the global climate crisis, the Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forestry is using the Carbon Budget Model of the Canadian Forest Sector (CBM-CFS3) and associated methodologies to assess the carbon dynamics of the provincial forestry sector. The CBM-CFS3 bases simulations on a range of studies and national forest inventory plots to predict carbon dynamics using merchantable volume yield curves. Nova Scotia has also maintained thousands of permanent forest sample plots (PSPs) for decades, offering the opportunity to develop empirical, province-specific carbon models. This study used PSP tree measurements and allometric equations to compute plot-level forest carbon models from the PSP dataset and compared their output to that of the CBM-CFS3 model. The PSP-based models were stratified into five forest types and predict the carbon for seven carbon pools as a function of the plot age. Predictions with the PSP- and CBM-CFS3 models were compared to observed PSP data at the plot level and compared against each other at the stand and landscape level. At the plot level, the PSP-derived models predicted carbon closer to the observed data than the CBM-CFS3 model, the extent of over- or under-estimation depending on the carbon pool and forest type. At the stand scale, the CBM-CFS3 model predicted forest carbon to within 3.1–17.6% of the PSP method on average. Differences in predictions between the CBM-CFS3 and PSP models decreased to within 2.4% of the PSP-based models at the landscape level. Thus, the implications of using one method over the other decrease as the prediction scale increases from stand to landscape level, and the implications fluctuate as a function of the forest type and age.
Stress Resistance and Adhesive Properties of Commercial Flor and Wine Strains, and Environmental Isolates of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Eldarov Michail A. , Avdanina Daria A. , Ivanova Elena , Shalamitskiy Maksim Y. , Tanashchuk Tatiana N. , Vybornaya Tatiana , Ravin Nikolai V. , Kishkovskaya Svetlana A. , Mardanov Andrey V.
Published: September 2021

Flor strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae represent a special group of yeasts used for producing biologically aged wines. We analyzed the collection of commercial wine and flor yeast strains, as well as environmental strains isolated from the surface of grapes growing in vineyards, for resistance to abiotic stresses, adhesive properties, and the ability to form a floating flor. The degree of resistance of commercial strains to ethanol, acetaldehyde, and hydrogen peroxide was generally not higher than that of environmental isolates, some of which had high resistance to the tested stress agents. The relatively low degree of stress resistance of flor strains can be explained both by the peculiarities of their adaptive mechanisms and by differences in the nature of their exposure to various types of stress in the course of biological wine aging and under the experimental conditions we used. The hydrophobicity and adhesive properties of cells were determined by the efficiency of adsorption to polystyrene and the distribution of cells between the aqueous and organic phases. Flor strains were distinguished by a higher degree of hydrophobicity of the cell surface and an increased ability to adhere to polystyrene. A clear correlation between biofilm formation and adhesive properties was also observed for environmental yeast isolates. The overall results of this study indicate that relatively simple tests for cell hydrophobicity can be used for the rapid screening of new candidate flor strains in yeast culture collections and among environmental isolates.
Application of a Biosurfactant Produced by Bacillus cereus UCP 1615 from Waste Frying Oil as an Emulsifier in a Cookie Formulation
Authors: Durval Italo J. B. , Ribeiro Beatriz G. , Aguiar Jaciana S. , Rufino Raquel D. , Converti Attilio , Sarubbo Leonie A.
Published: September 2021

Biosurfactants have attracted increasing interest from the food industry due to their emulsifying, foaming and solubilizing properties. However, the industrial use of microbial biosurfactants has been hampered by the high production costs related mainly to the use of expensive substrates. The search for low-cost alternative substrates is one of the strategies adopted to overcome this problem. In the present study, a biosurfactant produced by Bacillus cereus UCP1615 by fermentation in a medium supplemented with waste frying soybean oil as a low-cost substrate was evaluated as a bioemulsifier for the production of cookies. The biosurfactant was evaluated for its emulsifying capacity against different vegetable oils, antioxidant activity and toxicity, demonstrating favorable results for use in food. In particular, it showed satisfactory antioxidant activity at the tested concentrations and no cytotoxicity to the L929 (mouse fibroblast) and Vero (monkey kidney epithelial) cell lines using the MTT assay. The biosurfactant was then added at different concentrations (0.25%, 0.5% and 1%) to a standard cookie dough formulation to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics of the product. Cookies formulated with the biosurfactant exhibited similar energy and physical characteristics to those obtained with the standard formulation but with a lower moisture content. The biosurfactant also ensured a good preservation of the cookie texture after 45 days of storage. These results suggest that the biosurfactant has a potential application as a green emulsifier in accordance with the demands of the current market for biocompatible products.
Shelf-Life Prediction of Glazed Large Yellow Croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea) during Frozen Storage Based on Arrhenius Model and Long-Short-Term Memory Neural Networks Model
Authors: Chu Yuanming , Tan Mingtang , Yi Zhengkai , Ding Zhaoyang , Yang Dazhang , Xie Jing
Published: September 2021

In this study, the changes in centrifugal loss, TVB-N, K-value, whiteness and sensory evaluation of glazed large yellow croaker were analyzed at −10, −20, −30 and −40 °C storage. The Arrhenius prediction model and long-short-term memory neural networks (LSTM-NN) prediction model were developed to predict the shelf-life of the glazed large yellow croaker. The results showed that the quality of glazed large yellow croaker gradually decreased with the extension of frozen storage time, and the decrease in quality slowed down at lower temperatures. Both the Arrhenius model and the LSTM-NN prediction model were good tools for predicting the shelf-life of glazed large yellow croaker. However, for the relative error, the prediction accuracy of LSTM-NN (with a mean value of 7.78%) was higher than that of Arrhenius model (with a mean value of 11.90%). Moreover, the LSTM-NN model had a more intelligent, convenient and fast data processing capability, so the new LSTM-NN model provided a better choice for predicting the shelf-life of glazed large yellow croaker.
A Review on Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry Applications on Anthocyanin and Ellagitannin Metabolites of Blackberries and Raspberries
Authors: Rai Dilip K. , Tzima Katerina
Published: September 2021

Berries have been widely assessed for their beneficial health effects, predominately due to their high (poly)phenol content of anthocyanins and ellagitannins. After ellagitannins and ellagic acid are metabolized by the gut microbiome, a class of compounds known as urolithins are produced, which exert potential advantageous health effects. Anthocyanins, on the other hand, undergo a complex metabolic pathway after their interaction with microbial and endogenous enzymes, forming a broad range of metabolites and catabolic products. In most cases, in vitro models and cell lines are used to generate metabolites, whereas their assessment in vivo is currently limited. Thus far, several analytical methods have been developed for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of phenolic metabolites in berries, including liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, and other hyphenated techniques, and have been undoubtedly valuable tools for the detailed metabolite characterization and profiling. In this review, a compilation of studies providing information on the qualitative and quantitative analysis of (poly)phenol metabolites in blackberries and raspberries after the utilization of in vitro and in vivo methods is presented. The different analytical techniques employed are assessed, focusing on the fate of the produced metabolic compounds in order to provide evidence on their characteristics, formation, and beneficial effects.
Study of the Lipolysis Effect of Nanoliposome-Encapsulated Ganoderma lucidum Protein Hydrolysates on Adipocyte Cells Using Proteomics Approach
Authors: Krobthong Sucheewin , Yingchutrakul Yodying , Visessanguan Wonnop , Mahatnirunkul Thanisorn , Samutrtai Pawitrabhorn , Chaichana Chartchai , Papan Phakorn , Choowongkomon Kiattawee
Published: September 2021

Excessive lipid accumulation is a serious condition. Therefore, we aimed at developing safe strategies using natural hypolipidemic products. Lingzhi is an edible fungus and potential lipid suppression stimulant. To use Lingzhi as a functional hyperlipidemic ingredient, response surface methodology (RSM) was conducted to optimize the time (X1) and enzyme usage (X2) for the hydrolysate preparation with the highest degree of hydrolysis (DH) and % yield. We encapsulated the hydrolysates using nanoscale liposomes and used proteomics to study how these nano-liposomal hydrolysates could affect lipid accumulation in adipocyte cells. RSM analysis revealed X1 at 8.63 h and X2 at 0.93% provided the highest values of DH and % yields were 33.99% and 5.70%. The hydrolysates were loaded into liposome particles that were monodispersed. The loaded nano-liposomal particles did not significantly affect cell survival rates. The triglyceride (TG) breakdown in adipocytes showed a higher TG increase compared to the control. Lipid staining level upon the liposome treatment was lower than that of the control. Proteomics revealed 3425 proteins affected by the liposome treatment, the main proteins being TSSK5, SMU1, GRM7, and KLC4, associated with various biological functions besides lipolysis. The nano-liposomal Linzghi hydrolysate might serve as novel functional ingredients in the treatment and prevention of obesity