bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Activation of LXRs Reduces Oxysterol Lipotoxicity in RPE Cells by Promoting Mitochondrial Function
Authors: Xie Lirong , Gu Qing , Wu Xingwei , Yin Lili
Published: June 2022

Effective treatments for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most prevalent neurodegenerative form of blindness in older adults, are lacking. Genome-wide association studies have identified lipid metabolism and inflammation as AMD-associated pathogenic changes. Liver X receptors (LXRs) play a critical role in intracellular homeostases, such as lipid metabolism, glucose homeostasis, inflammation, and mitochondrial function. However, its specific role in AMD and its underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the effects of lipotoxicity in human retinal pigmental epithelial (ARPE-19) cells and evaluated how LXRs reduce 7-ketocholesterol (7KCh) lipotoxicity in RPE cells using models, both in vivo and in vitro. A decrease in oxidative lipid accumulation was observed in mouse retinas following the activation of the LXRs; this result was also confirmed in cell experiments. At the same time, LXRs activation reduced RPE cell apoptosis induced by oxysterols. We found that oxysterols decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential in ARPE-19 cells, while LXR agonists counteracted these effects. In cultured ARPE-19 cells, activating LXRs reduced p62, mTOR, and LC3I/II levels, and the knockdown of LXRs elevated the expression of these proteins, indicating that activating LXRs could boost mitophagy. The findings of this study suggest LXR-active pharmaceuticals as a potential therapeutic target for dry AMD.
Hydroxybenzoic Acids as Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors: Calorimetric and Docking Simulation Studies
Authors: Budryn Grażyna , Majak Iwona , Grzelczyk Joanna , Szwajgier Dominik , Rodríguez-Martínez Alejandro , Pérez-Sánchez Horacio
Published: June 2022

One of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is low acetylcholine level due to high acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. For this reason, AChE inhibitors are used in the treatment of AD, the prolonged use of which may cause a cholinergic crisis. There is a need to search for safe natural AChE inhibitors. The study analyzed 16 hydroxybenzoic acids using calorimetry and docking simulation as AChE inhibitors. All tested compounds were shown to inhibit the hydrolysis of ACh. The best properties were shown by methyl syringinate, which acted as competitive inhibitor at a catalytic site. The tested compounds also interacted with the anionic or peripheral binding site known to block β-amyloid plaques formation. The activity of the tested hydroxybenzoic acids IC50 ranged from 5.50 to 34.19 µmol/µmol of AChE, and the binding constant Ka from 20.53 to 253.16 L/mol, which proves their reversible, non-toxic effect, and activity at physiological concentrations.
The Effect of Weaning with Adult Food Typical of the Mediterranean Diet on Taste Development and Eating Habits of Children: A Randomized Trial
Authors: de Franchis Raffaella , Bozza Luigi , Canale Pasquale , Chiacchio Maria , Cortese Paolo , D’Avino Antonio , De Giovanni Maria , Iacovo Mirella Dello , D’Onofrio Antonietta , Federico Aniello , Gasparini Nicoletta , Iaccarino Felicia , Romano Giuseppe , Spadaro Raffaella , Tedesco Mariangela , Vitiello Giuseppe , Antignani Angelo , Auricchio Salvatore , Valentino Vincenzo , De Filippis Francesca , Ercolini Danilo , Bruzzese Dario
Published: June 2022

Mediterranean Diet (Med Diet) is one of the healthiest dietary patterns. We aimed to verify the effects of weaning (i.e., the introduction of solid foods in infants previously fed only with milk) using adult foods typical of Med Diet on children eating habits, and on the microbiota composition. A randomized controlled clinical trial on 394 healthy infants randomized in a 1:1 ratio in a Med Diet group weaned with fresh; seasonal and tasty foods of Med Diet and control group predominantly weaned with industrial baby foods. The primary end point was the percentage of children showing a good adherence to Med Diet at 36 months. Secondary end points were mother’s changes in adherence to Med Diet and differences in children gut microbiota. At 36 months, children showing a good adherence to Med Diet were 59.3% in the Med Diet group and 34.3% in the control group (p < 0.001). An increase in adherence to the Med Diet was observed in the mothers of the Med Diet group children (p < 0.001). At 4 years of age children in the Med Diet group had a higher gut microbial diversity and a higher abundance of beneficial taxa. A Mediterranean weaning with adult food may become a strategy for early nutritional education, to develop a healthy microbiota, to prevent inflammatory chronic diseases and to ameliorate eating habits in children and their families.
Exploring the Biofilm Formation Capacity in S. pseudintermedius and Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci Species
Authors: Silva Vanessa , Correia Elisete , Pereira José Eduardo , González-Machado Camino , Capita Rosa , Alonso-Calleja Carlos , Igrejas Gilberto , Poeta Patrícia
Published: June 2022

The ability of biofilm formation seems to play an important role in the virulence of staphylococci. However, studies reporting biofilm formation of coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from animals are still very scarce. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the biofilm-forming capacity of CoNS and S. pseudintermedius isolated from several animal species and to investigate the effect of conventional antimicrobials on biofilm reduction. A total of 35 S. pseudintermedius and 192 CoNS were included. Biofilm formation was accessed by the microtiter plate assay and the biofilms were stained by crystal violet. Association between biofilm formation and staphylococci species and antimicrobial resistance was also performed. Biofilm susceptibility testing was performed with tetracycline and amikacin at the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and 10 × MIC. The metabolic activity of the biofilm cells after antimicrobial treatment was accessed by the XTT assay. All isolates formed biofilm, with S. urealyticus producing the most biofilm biomass and S. pseudintermedius producing the least biomass. There was a positive association between biofilm formation and multidrug resistance as well as resistance to individual antimicrobials. Neither tetracycline nor amikacin were able to eradicate the biofilm, not even at the highest concentration used. This study provides new insights into biofilm formation and the effects of antimicrobials on CoNS species.
The Synthesis, Characterization, Molecular Docking and In Vitro Antitumor Activity of Benzothiazole Aniline (BTA) Conjugated Metal-Salen Complexes as Non-Platinum Chemotherapeutic Agents
Authors: Islam Md. Kamrul , Ha Seongmin , Baek Ah-Rum , Yang Byeong-Woo , Kim Yeoun-Hee , Park Hyun-Jin , Kim Minsup , Nam Sung-Wook , Lee Gang-Ho , Chang Yongmin
Published: June 2022

Here, we describe the synthesis, characterization, and in vitro biological evaluation of a series of transition metal complexes containing benzothiazole aniline (BTA). We employed BTA, which is known for its selective anticancer activity, and a salen-type Schiff-based ligand to coordinate several transition metals to achieve selective and synergistic cytotoxicity. The compounds obtained were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. The compounds L, MnL, FeL, CoL, and ZnL showed promising in vitro cytotoxicity against cancer cells, and they had a lower IC50 than that of the clinically used cisplatin. In particular, MnL had synergistic cytotoxicity against liver, breast, and colon cancer cells. Moreover, MnL, CoL, and CuL promoted the production of reactive oxygen species in HepG2 tumor cell lines. The lead compound of this series, MnL, remained stable in physiological settings, and docking results showed that it interacted rationally with the minor groove of DNA. Therefore, MnL may serve as a viable alternative to platinum-based chemotherapy.
Phase I Clinical Trial Using [99mTc]Tc-1-thio-D-glucose for Diagnosis of Lymphoma Patients
Authors: Chernov Vladimir , Dudnikova Ekaterina , Zelchan Roman , Medvedeva Anna , Rybina Anstasiya , Bragina Olga , Goldberg Viktor , Muravleva Albina , Sörensen Jens , Tolmachev Vladimir
Published: June 2022

Similar to [18F]-FDG, [99mTc]Tc-1-thio-D-glucose ([99mTc]Tc-TG) also binds to GLUT receptors. The aim of this Phase I study was to evaluate the safety, biodistribution and dosimetry of [99mTc]Tc-TG. Twelve lymphoma patients were injected with 729 ± 102 MBq [99mTc]Tc-TG. Whole-body planar imaging was performed in 10 patients at 2, 4, 6 and 24 h after injection. In all 12 patients, SPECT/CT (at 2 h) and SPECT (at 4 and 6 h) imaging was performed. Vital signs and possible side effects were monitored during imaging and up to 7 days after injection. [99mTc]Tc-TG injections were well-tolerated and no side effects or alterations in blood and urine analyses data were observed. The highest absorbed dose was in the kidneys and urinary bladder wall, followed by the adrenals, prostate, bone marrow, lungs, myocardium, ovaries, uterus, liver and gall bladder wall. [99mTc]Tc-TG SPECT/CT revealed foci of high activity uptake in the lymph nodes of all nine patients with known nodal lesions. Extranodal lesions were detected in all nine cases. In one patient, a lesion in the humerus head, which was not detected by CT, was visualized using [99mTc]Tc-TG. Potentially, [99mTc]Tc-TG can be considered as an additional diagnostic method for imaging GLUT receptors in lymphoma patients.
PLGA Carriers for Controlled Release of Levofloxacin in Anti-Tuberculosis Therapy
Authors: Antonov Evgeny N. , Andreevskaya Sofya N. , Bocharova Irina V. , Bogorodsky Sergei E. , Krotova Larisa I. , Larionova Elena E. , Mariyanats Alexandra O. , Mishakov Gennady V. , Smirnova Tatiana G. , Chernousova Larisa N. , Popov Vladimir K.
Published: June 2022

Levofloxacin (LFX) is a highly effective anti-tuberculosis drug with a pronounced bactericidal activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). In this work, an “organic solvent-free” approach has been used for the development of polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) microparticles and scaffolds containing LFX at a therapeutically significant concentration, providing for its sustained release. To achieve the target, both nonpolar supercritical carbon dioxide and polar supercritical trifluoromethane have been used. By changing the composition, surface morphology, size, and internal structure of the polymer carriers, one can control the kinetics of the LFX release into phosphate buffered saline solutions and physiological media, providing for its acceptable burst and desirable concentration in the prolonged phase. The biocompatibility and bactericidal efficacy of PLGA/LFX carriers assessed both in vitro (against Mtb phagocytosed by macrophages) and in vivo (against inbred BALB/c mice aerogenically infected with Mtb) demonstrated their anti-tuberculosis activity comparable with that of the standard daily intragastric levofloxacin administration. These results make it possible to consider the developed compositions as a promising candidate for anti-tuberculosis control release formulations providing for the further evaluation of their activity against Mtb and their metabolism in vivo over long periods of tuberculosis infection.
Fast Point Cloud Registration Algorithm Based on 3DNPFH Descriptor
Authors: You Bo , Chen Hongyu , Li Jiayu , Li Changfeng , Chen Hui
Published: June 2022

Although researchers have investigated a variety of approaches to the development of three-dimensional (3D) point cloud matching algorithms, the results have been limited by low accuracy and slow speed when registering large numbers of point cloud data. To address this problem, a new fast point cloud registration algorithm based on a 3D neighborhood point feature histogram (3DNPFH) descriptor is proposed for fast point cloud registration. With a 3DNPFH, the 3D key-point locations are first transformed into a new 3D coordinate system, and the key points generated from similar 3D surfaces are then close to each other in the newly generated space. Subsequently, a neighborhood point feature histogram (NPFH) was designed to encode neighborhood information by combining the normal vectors, curvature, and distance features of a point cloud, thus forming a 3DNPFH (3D + NPFH). The descriptor searches radially for 3D key point locations in the new 3D coordinate system, reducing the search coordinate system for the corresponding point pairs. The “NPFH” descriptor is then coarsely aligned using the random sample consensus (RANSAC) algorithm. Experiment results show that the algorithm is fast and maintains high alignment accuracy on several popular benchmark datasets, as well as our own data.
A Nonlinear Radio-Photon Conversion Device
Authors: Vinogradova Irina L. , Gizatulin Azat R. , Meshkov Ivan K. , Bourdine Anton V. , Tiwari Manish
Published: June 2022

The article analyzes existing materials and structures with quadratic-nonlinear optical properties that can be used to generate a difference frequency in the terahertz and sub-terahertz frequency ranges. The principle of constructing a nonlinear optical-radio converter, based on an optical focon (a focusing cone), is proposed. Based on the assumption that this focon can be implemented from the metal-organic framework (MOF), we propose a technique for modeling its parameters. The mathematical model of the process of propagation and nonlinear interaction of waves inside the focon is based on a simplification of the nonlinear wave equation. Within the framework of the developed model, the following parameters are approximately determined: the 3D gradient of the linear refractive index and the function determining the geometric profile of the focon, which provide a few-mode-based generation of the difference frequency. The achieved theoretical efficiency of radio frequency generation is at least 1%; the proposed device provides a guiding structure for both optical and radio signals in contrast to the known solutions.
Multiplexed Holographic Combiner with Extended Eye Box Fabricated by Wave Front Printing
Authors: Wilm Tobias , Kibgies Jens , Fiess Reinhold , Stork Wilhelm
Published: June 2022

We present an array-based volume holographic optical element (vHOE) recorded as an optical combiner for novel display applications such as smart glasses. The vHOE performs multiple, complex optical functions in the form of large off-axis to on-axis wave front transformations and an extended eye box implemented in the form of two distinct vertex points with red and green chromatic functions. The holographic combiner is fabricated by our extended immersion-based wave front printing setup, which provides extensive prototyping capabilities due to independent wave front modulation and large possible off-axis recording angles, enabling vHOEs in reflection with a wide range of different recording configurations. The presented vHOE is build up as an array of sub-holograms, where each element is recorded with individual optical functions. We introduce a design and fabrication method to combine two angular and two spectral functions in the volume grating of individual sub-holograms, demonstrating complex holographic elements with four multiplexed optical functions comprised in a single layer of photopolymer film. The introduced design and fabrication process allows the precise tuning of the vHOE’s diffractive properties to achieve well-balanced diffraction efficiencies and angular distributions between individual multiplexed functions.
Intelligent Classification of Japonica Rice Growth Duration (GD) Based on CapsNets
Authors: Zhao Xin , Zhang Jianpei , Yang Jing , Ma Bo , Liu Rui , Hu Jifang
Published: June 2022

Rice cultivation in cold regions of China is mainly distributed in Heilongjiang Province, where the growing season of rice is susceptible to low temperature and cold damage. Choosing and planting rice varieties with suitable GD according to the accumulated temperate zone is an important measure to prevent low temperature and cold damage. However, the traditional identification method of rice GD requires lots of field investigations, which are time consuming and susceptible to environmental interference. Therefore, an efficient, accurate, and intelligent identification method is urgently needed. In response to this problem, we took seven rice varieties suitable for three accumulated temperature zones in Heilongjiang Province as the research objects, and we carried out research on the identification of japonica rice GD based on Raman spectroscopy and capsule neural networks (CapsNets). The data preprocessing stage used a variety of methods (signal.filtfilt, difference, segmentation, and superposition) to process Raman spectral data to complete the fusion of local features and global features and data dimension transformation. A CapsNets containing three neuron layers (one convolutional layer and two capsule layers) and a dynamic routing protocol was constructed and implemented in Python. After training 160 epochs on the CapsNets, the model achieved 89% and 93% accuracy on the training and test datasets, respectively. The results showed that Raman spectroscopy combined with CapsNets can provide an efficient and accurate intelligent identification method for the classification and identification of rice GD in Heilongjiang Province.
Overexpression of TcCHS Increases Pyrethrin Content When Using a Genotype-Independent Transformation System in Pyrethrum (Tanacetum cinerariifolium)
Authors: Li Jiawen , Xu Zhizhuo , Zeng Tuo , Zhou Li , Li Jinjin , Hu Hao , Luo Jing , Wang Caiyun
Published: June 2022

Pyrethrum (Tanacetum cinerariifolium) is one of the most important industrial crops for the extraction of pyrethrins, which are natural insecticidal compounds. Progress in pyrethrum molecular breeding with the objective of increasing pyrethrin content has been slow for lack of a suitable gene transfer system. Regeneration recalcitrance is a crucial barrier to establishing a genetic transformation system in pyrethrum. Therefore, in this study, an Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system in pyrethrum was developed using shoot apical meristems from germinated seedlings. Factors affecting transformation efficiency were optimized. Optimal conditions included explants at the “no true leaf” stage with a half apical meristem, an Agrobacterium tumefaciens cell density of OD600 = 0.5, two days of cocultivation, and the incorporation of 1.5 mg L−1 6-BA and 30 mg L−1 kanamycin into the selection medium. Under the optimized conditions, two expression cassettes (proTcCHS-GUS and proRbcS-TcCHS) were successfully transformed into pyrethrum. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Southern blotting, reverse-transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), and histochemical staining confirmed the identity of proTcCHS-GUS transgenic plants. PCR and RT-qPCR analyses confirmed the identity of proRbcS-TcCHS transgenic plants. The transformation efficiency was 0.83% (5 transgenic lines/600 infected explants). The relative concentration of pyrethrins in proRbcS-TcCHS transformants (OX T0-1: 1.50% or OX T0-2: 1.24%) was higher than that in nontransformed plants (WT: 0.76%). Thus, the genetic transformation system overcame the low regeneration efficiency and integrated a foreign gene into the pyrethrum genome. The new system is a suitable and effective tool for creating high-yielding cultivars of pyrethrum.
Phylogenetic Analysis and Flower Color Evolution of the Subfamily Linoideae (Linaceae)
Authors: Villalvazo-Hernández Alejandra , Burgos-Hernández Mireya , González Dolores
Published: June 2022

The taxonomy of the subfamily Linoideae at the intergeneric and section levels has been questioned throughout the years, and the evolution of floral characters remains poorly understood. In particular, the evolution of flower color is still uncertain, despite its ecological importance and being one of the most variable and striking traits in Angiospermae. We evaluated the phylogenetic relationships of the genera and sections and used the phylogeny to reconstruct the ancestral state of flower color. The results suggest reevaluating the taxonomic status of segregated genera and re-incorporating them into Linum. Four of the five sections currently accepted were recovered as monophyletic (Cathartolinum, Dasylinum, Linum, and Syllinum). We propose accepting the section Stellerolinon and reevaluating Linopsis, whose representatives were recovered in three separate clades. The ancestral flower color for Linoideae was yellow-white. The flower colors purple and yellow-white were recovered at the deepest nodes of the two main clades. Pink, blue, and red colors were the most recent to evolve. These results appear to be related to diversification events, biogeographical history, and ecological aspects of the subfamily. Our reconstruction constitutes the first plausible scenario that explores the evolution of flower color, leading to new testable hypotheses for future research on the flax group.
Bouquet Formation Failure in Meiosis of F1 Wheat–Rye Hybrids with Mitotic-Like Division
Authors: Silkova Olga G. , Loginova Dina B. , Zhuravleva Anastasia A. , Shumny Vladimir K.
Published: June 2022

Bouquet formation is believed to be involved in initiating homologous chromosome pairings in meiosis. A bouquet is also formed in the absence of chromosome pairing, such as in F1 wheat–rye hybrids. In some hybrids, meiosis is characterized by a single, mitotic-like division that leads to the formation of unreduced gametes. In this study, FISH with the telomere and centromere-specific probe, and immunoFISH with ASY1, CENH3 and rye subtelomere repeat pSc200 were employed to perform a comparative analysis of early meiotic prophase nuclei in four combinations of wheat–rye hybrids. One of these, with disomic rye chromosome 2R, is known to undergo normal meiosis, and here, 78.9% of the meiocytes formed a normal-appearing telomere bouquet and rye subtelomeres clustered in 83.2% of the meiocytes. In three combinations with disomic rye chromosomes 1R, 5R and 6R, known to undergo a single division of meiosis, telomeres clustered in 11.4%, 44.8% and 27.6% of the meiocytes, respectively. In hybrids with chromosome 1R, rye subtelomeres clustered in 12.19% of the meiocytes. In the remaining meiocytes, telomeres and subtelomeres were scattered along the nucleus circumference, forming large and small groups. We conclude that in wheat–rye hybrids with mitotic-like meiosis, chromosome behavior is altered already in the early prophase.
Breeding of Vegetable Cowpea for Nutrition and Climate Resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa: Progress, Opportunities, and Challenges
Authors: Mekonnen Tesfaye Walle , Gerrano Abe Shegro , Mbuma Ntombokulunga Wedy , Labuschagne Maryke Tine
Published: June 2022

Currently, the world population is increasing, and humanity is facing food and nutritional scarcity. Climate change and variability are a major threat to global food and nutritional security, reducing crop productivity in the tropical and subtropical regions of the globe. Cowpea has the potential to make a significant contribution to global food and nutritional security. In addition, it can be part of a sustainable food system, being a genetic resource for future crop improvement, contributing to resilience and improving agricultural sustainability under climate change conditions. In malnutrition prone regions of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries, cowpea has become a strategic dryland legume crop for addressing food insecurity and malnutrition. Therefore, this review aims to assess the contribution of cowpea to SSA countries as a climate-resilient crop and the existing production challenges and perspectives. Cowpea leaves and immature pods are rich in diverse nutrients, with high levels of protein, vitamins, macro and micronutrients, minerals, fiber, and carbohydrates compared to its grain. In addition, cowpea is truly a multifunctional crop for maintaining good health and for reducing non-communicable human diseases. However, as a leafy vegetable, cowpea has not been researched and promoted sufficiently because it has not been promoted as a food security crop due to its low yield potential, susceptibility to biotic and abiotic stresses, quality assurance issues, policy regulation, and cultural beliefs (it is considered a livestock feed). The development of superior cowpea as a leafy vegetable can be approached in different ways, such as conventional breeding and gene stacking, speed breeding, mutation breeding, space breeding, demand-led breeding, a pan-omics approach, and local government policies. The successful breeding of cowpea genotypes that are high-yielding with a good nutritional value as well as having resistance to biotics and tolerant to abiotic stress could also be used to address food security and malnutrition-related challenges in sub-Saharan Africa.
Ecology and Evolution of Plants in the Mediterranean Basin: Perspectives and Challenges
Authors: Lopez-Alvarado Javier , Farris Emmanuele
Published: June 2022

Preserving biodiversity at the global and local scales is a challenge for the future decades, both for protecting species and habitats and to enhance the ecosystem services they provide to the human population [...]
A Comprehensive Study of the WRKY Transcription Factor Family in Strawberry
Authors: Garrido-Gala José , Higuera José-Javier , Rodríguez-Franco Antonio , Muñoz-Blanco Juan , Amil-Ruiz Francisco , Caballero José L.
Published: June 2022

WRKY transcription factors play critical roles in plant growth and development or stress responses. Using up-to-date genomic data, a total of 64 and 257 WRKY genes have been identified in the diploid woodland strawberry, Fragaria vesca, and the more complex allo-octoploid commercial strawberry, Fragaria × ananassa cv. Camarosa, respectively. The completeness of the new genomes and annotations has enabled us to perform a more detailed evolutionary and functional study of the strawberry WRKY family members, particularly in the case of the cultivated hybrid, in which homoeologous and paralogous FaWRKY genes have been characterized. Analysis of the available expression profiles has revealed that many strawberry WRKY genes show preferential or tissue-specific expression. Furthermore, significant differential expression of several FaWRKY genes has been clearly detected in fruit receptacles and achenes during the ripening process and pathogen challenged, supporting a precise functional role of these strawberry genes in such processes. Further, an extensive analysis of predicted development, stress and hormone-responsive cis-acting elements in the strawberry WRKY family is shown. Our results provide a deeper and more comprehensive knowledge of the WRKY gene family in strawberry.
Comparison of Two-Component Silyl-Terminated Polyether/Epoxy Resin Model and Complete Systems and Evaluation of Their Mechanical, Rheological and Adhesive Properties
Authors: Berzins Ritvars , Merijs-Meri Remo , Zicans Janis
Published: June 2022

The current research is devoted to the investigation of the influence of a secondary amine compatibilizer and customized additive package on the tensile, rheological and adhesive properties of a Silyl-terminated polyether (SIL)/Epoxy resin (EP) model and completed two-component systems. A SIL/EP model and completed two-component systems were developed over a broad range of the both pre-polymer ratios (90/10–30/70 wt.-to-wt%). Additive packages of the components A and B were designed to prevent premature polycondensation of the respective pre-polymers (including suitable catalysts for each of the pre-polymers, as well as vinyltrimetoxysilane as a drying agent for moisture control), to ensure easy processing and stable performance of the system. Results of the investigation testify that the values of the tensile strength and Shore-A hardness of the compatibilized systems are higher in comparison to unmodified ones. In the presence of the additive package, a further improvement of tensile strength and tensile strain values is observed for SIL-rich compositions (SIL content above 70 wt%), whereas at lower SIL concentrations, the reinforcing effect is considerably reduced. In respects to adhesion properties, the highest values to a broad range of substrates with different surface polarities are observed at the SIL/EP range from 80/20 to 50/50 wt.-to-wt%.
The Effect of Ca2+ and Mg2+ Ions Loaded at Degradable PLA Membranes on the Proliferation and Osteoinduction of MSCs
Authors: Retegi-Carrión Sugoi , Ferrandez-Montero Ana , Eguiluz Alvaro , Ferrari Begoña , Abarrategi Ander
Published: June 2022

Biodegradable membranes, including Polylactic acid (PLA)-based membranes, are commonly used in bone-tissue-related clinical procedures as biointerface to promote bone tissue regeneration. Calcium (Ca2+) and Magnesium (Mg2+) ions have been related to the promotion of osteogenesis, where the PLA membranes could be used as carrier and delivery substrate for them to provide osteogenic properties to this material. For this aim, a new ion delivery system based on biodegradable PLA membranes loaded with Mg and hydroxyapatite (HA) particles has been processed by the combination of tape casting and colloidal route. Materials characterization shows that the incorporation of Mg and HA particles changes the surface and hydrophobicity of the PLA membrane, and the in vitro degradation test shows Mg2+ and Ca2+ ion release and occasionally the precipitation of different ion species onto the membrane surface. Mouse and human Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC) were used to define the biocompatibility and bioactivity of these PLA membrane composites, and data indicated Mg2+ promotes cell proliferation and potentiates osteoinductive signals, while Ca2+ induces the expression of ALP osteogenic marker in human MSCs. Biodegradable PLA membranes loaded with Mg and HA particles is a promising new ion delivery system of Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions that provides osteogenic signals and works as functional biointerface interfaces with bone tissues.
Evaluation of Growing Turkey Blood Biochemistry Panel Measured Using the VetScan VS2
Authors: Adams Daniel , Gruber Erika , Sather Hannah , Correa Maria , Crespo Rocio
Published: June 2022

Point-of-care analyzers such as the Vetscan VS2 (VS2) that provide fast results are becoming an important tool in a variety of clinical and research settings. Several studies have explored the use of the VS2 to evaluate blood chemistry values in chickens; however, the VS2 analyzer has not yet been tested in turkeys. The first objective of this study was to utilize the VS2 to evaluate possible time-dependent changes in biochemical blood analytes over time, such as glucose, calcium, or sodium. Blood samples from 30 turkeys were analyzed with the VS2 at three time points (0, 15–20, and 40–60 min post collection), and it was found that the blood biochemistry values were stable when stored at 4 °C and analyzed within 60 min of collection. Next, we assessed the agreement between the VS2 portable analyzer and the reference benchtop analyzer (Cobas c501) and found that all of the blood analytes were comparable between both analyzers. Finally, we determined reference intervals using 120 blood samples collected from turkeys in the brooding period (0–7 days) and 118 samples collected from turkeys in the growing period (1–12 weeks). Although the values were compared to the published data, the understanding of any observed differences was challenging because reference intervals for the biochemical values in turkeys are limited, and the origin of these interval values could not be traced. Significant differences in the whole blood analytes were noted between brooding and growing birds. This study offers reassurance of the validity of the use of portable analyzers in the field for turkey veterinarians. We conclude that the VS2 can be used to measure biochemical analytes in turkeys and provide the first reference intervals for brooding and growing turkeys using this instrument.
Assessment of Harmonic Mitigation in V/f Drive of Induction Motor Using an ANN-Based Hybrid Power Filter for a Wheat Flour Mill
Authors: Krishnasamy Bhuvaneswari , Ashok Kavithamani
Published: June 2022

Voltage/frequency (V/f) drive of a three-phase induction motor plays a crucial role in a flour mill for energy saving. Wheat consumption in India is increasing day by day, which reached 105,000 metric ton (MT) in 2021. India’s high wheat consumption and production increase flour mills. Thus, energy efficiency in a flour mill is a must in the present situation. Hence, V/f drives are widely used in flour mills. Apart from the advantages of V/f drive, electronic circuits in a drive induce harmonics in a power system. Power quality plays a vital role in a modern power system. Harmonics by V/f drive increase the current consumption, causing increased losses, cable overheating, and motor overheating, which necessitates a filter for harmonic mitigation. In this paper, an artificial neural network controller-based hybrid power filter is proposed for harmonic mitigation. A hybrid power filter (HPF) is presented to overcome the problems and achieve the active and passive power filter’s benefits. Harmonic mitigation of the proposed hybrid power filter is compared with the passive and active filter-based drives. This paper analyzes harmonic mitigation for three-phase induction motors with V/f drive installed in a 300-ton/day wheat flour mill’s purifier fan. The performance of the suggested system is analyzed under various speeds in the aspects of harmonic mitigation, reduction in current consumption, and energy saving using various filters. The entire system is developed and analyzed using MATLAB/Simulink. Energy saving is increased by around 10.97 kWh per year by HPF by means of reducing harmonics and current consumption compared to an active power filter, while it is increased by around 28.16 kWh/year compared to a passive power filter. Along with the harmonic mitigation, energy saving is also validated for various filters under various speeds.
Proteomics Analysis of Zygosaccharomyces mellis in Response to Sugar Stress
Authors: Xu Xiaolan , Zhu Yuxuan , Li Yujie , Yang Wenchao , Zhou Hao , Chen Xinchao
Published: June 2022

The high-osmotic-pressure environment of honey is not suitable for the survival of microorganisms, except for osmotic-tolerant fungal and bacterial spores. In this study, shotgun metagenomic sequencing technology was used to identify yeast species present in honey samples. As a result, Zygosaccharomyces spp. yeast, including Zygosaccharomyces rouxii, Z. mellis and Z. siamensis, were isolated. The intracellular trehalose and glycerin concentrations of yeast, as well as the antioxidant-related CAT, SOD and POD enzyme activities, increased under a high-glucose environment (60%, w/v). To learn more about the osmotic resistance of Z. mellis, iTRAQ-based proteomic technology was used to investigate the related molecular mechanism at the protein level, yielding 522 differentially expressed proteins, of which 303 (58.05%) were upregulated and 219 (41.95%) were downregulated. The iTRAQ data showed that the proteins involved in the pathway of the cell membrane and cell-wall synthesis, as well as those related to trehalose and glycerin degradation, were all downregulated, while the proteins in the respiratory chain and TCA cycle were upregulated. In addition, formate dehydrogenase 1 (FDH1), which is involved in NADH generation, displayed a great difference in response to a high-sugar environment. Furthermore, the engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains BY4741△scFDH1 with a knocked-out FDH1 gene were constructed using the CRISPR/Cas9 method. In addition, the FDH1 from Z. mellis was expressed in BY4741△scFDH1 to construct the mutant strain BY4717zmFDH1. The CAT, SOD and POD enzyme activities, as well as the content of trehalose, glycerin, ATP and NADH, were decreased in BY4741△scFDH1. However, those were all increased in BY4717zmFDH1. This study revealed that Z. mellis could increase the contents of trehalose and glycerin and promote energy metabolism to improve hypertonic tolerance. In addition, FDH1 had a significant effect on yeast hypertonic tolerance.
The Role of Diffusivity in Oil and Gas Industries: Fundamentals, Measurement, and Correlative Techniques
Authors: Ratnakar Ram R. , Dindoruk Birol
Published: June 2022

The existence of various native or nonnative species/fluids, along with having more than one phase in the subsurface and within the integrated production and injection systems, generates unique challenges as the pressure, temperature, composition and time (P-T-z and t) domains exhibit multi-scale characteristics. In such systems, fluid/component mixing, whether for natural reasons or man-made reasons, is one of the most complex aspects of the behavior of the system, as inherent compositions are partially or all due to these phenomena. Any time a gradient is introduced, these systems try to converge thermodynamically to an equilibrium state while being in the disequilibrium state at scale during the transitional process. These disequilibrium states create diffusive gradients, which, in the absence of flow, control the mixing processes leading to equilibrium at a certain time scale, which could also be a function of various time and length scales associated with the system. Therefore, it is crucial to understand these aspects, especially when technologies that need or utilize these concepts are under development. For example, as the technology of gas-injection-based enhanced oil recovery, CO2 sequestration and flooding have been developed, deployed and applied to several reservoirs/aquifers worldwide, performing research on mass-transfer mechanisms between gas, oil and aqueous phases became more important, especially in terms of optimal design considerations. It is well-known that in absence of direct frontal contact and convective mixing, diffusive mixing is one of most dominant mass-transfer mechanisms, which has an impact on the effectiveness of the oil recovery and gas injection processes. Therefore, in this work, we review the fundamentals of diffusive mixing processes in general terms and summarize the theoretical, experimental and empirical studies to estimate the diffusion coefficients at high pressure—temperature conditions at various time and length scales relevant to reservoir-fluid systems.
Thunderstorm Activity over the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau Indicated by the Combined Data of the FY-2E Geostationary Satellite and WWLLN
Authors: Du Yangxingyi , Zheng Dong , Ma Ruiyang , Zhang Yijun , Lyu Weitao , Yao Wen , Zhang Wenjuan , Ciren Luobu , Cuomu Deqing
Published: June 2022

Thunderstorm activity over the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) has important climatic effects and disaster impacts. Using the thunderstorm feature dataset (TFD) established based on the black body temperature (TBB) and cloud classification (CLC) products of the Fengyun-2E (FY-2E) geostationary satellite, as well as the lightning data of the World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN), the temporal and spatial distributions and some cloud properties of the thunderstorms over the QTP were analyzed. Approximately 93.9% and 82.7% of thunderstorms over the QTP occur from May to September and from 12 to 21 o’clock local time, and the corresponding peaks are in August and at 14:00, respectively. There are three centers featuring frequent thunderstorms in the southeast, south-central, and southwest regions of the QTP. The average thunderstorm cloud area (the region with TBB ≤ −32 °C) is 1.8 × 104 km2. Approximately 32.9% of thunderstorms have strong convective cells (SCCs) composed of areas with TBB ≤ −52 °C. The average number and area ratio of SCCs are 3.6 and 25.4%, respectively, and their spatial distribution is given. The average cloud area and the number and area ratio of SCCs of extreme-lightning thunderstorms (thunderstorms with the top 10% of lightning numbers) are approximately 30.0, 3.9, and 1.5 times those of normal thunderstorms. The spatial distribution of the thunderstorm activity is quite different from that of lightning activity given by the Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) and Optical Transient Detector (OTD) over the northeastern and southwestern QTP, which may mean that the convection intensity, cloud structure, and charge structure of the thunderstorms over the QTP are different between different regions and seasons.
Monitoring of Coastal Aquaculture Sites in the Philippines through Automated Time Series Analysis of Sentinel-1 SAR Images
Authors: Kurekin Andrey A. , Miller Peter I. , Avillanosa Arlene L. , Sumeldan Joel D. C.
Published: June 2022

With the unprecedented expansion of aquaculture around the world, there is a critical need to monitor its progress. In Palawan, Philippines, coastal aquaculture is gaining momentum towards increasing fish production, a pressure that presents a challenge to the sustainability of these areas. In this paper, we explore the application of Earth observation methods to map coastal aquaculture development in Palawan and evaluate the extent of its change. The European Space Agency Sentinel-1 synthetic aperture radar and Sentinel-2 multispectral instrument sensor data were applied in fully automatic mode to build maps of Palawan coastal aquaculture. The maps were validated using Google Earth high-resolution optical images and in situ observations in Malampaya Sound, and demonstrated a successful detection rate of 72%, while the false alarm rate was less than 7.5%. Objects only 5 m across, four times smaller than the spatial resolution of the Sentinel-1 sensors, were successfully detected using the developed methodology, thus exceeding the capabilities of other published methods that are limited to detecting large groups of aquaculture structures. The maps revealed aquaculture structures in high quantities in Malampaya Sound, Taytay Bay, and other locations in the coastal waters of Palawan, Philippines. A significant change of aquaculture spatial distribution was identified by comparing aquaculture maps generated with an interval of three years. This new automated methodology was validated as robust for mapping aquaculture objects in Palawan, Philippines, and can be applied to aquaculture studies in other regions worldwide.
Emotional Capital and Its Uses in Lithuanian Middle-Class Fathers’ Narratives
Authors: Tereskinas Arturas
Published: June 2022

The article examines Lithuanian middle-class fathers’ uses of emotional capital to learn which patterns of emotional engagement with children they employ in their fathering. Emotional capital is defined, in the article, as a type of interpersonal resource that consists of emotion-based knowledge and emotion-management abilities that can lead to social benefits. The 24 in-depth interviews with 35- to 48-year-old fathers show that males believe they are emotionally prepared to cope with their children’s concerns and challenges. The use of emotional capital is an attempt to strengthen their standing as fathers and gain pleasure. Emotional capital is activated by fathers regulating negative emotions and using positive emotions to speak with their children and form friendship bonds. Emotion-based knowledge, management abilities, and capacities to feel provide fathers with a sense of authority and pride. Importantly, in the interviews, it is indicated that men and women have similar emotional resources. Compared to their female partners or wives, men generally consider themselves capable of skillfully enacting emotional capital in their interactions with children.
Does Income Class Affect Life Satisfaction? New Evidence from Cross-Country Microdata
Authors: Haddad Joanne , Chaaban Jad , Chalak Ali , Ghattas Hala
Published: June 2022

This paper analyzes the impact of income class on subjective wellbeing. Using rich data from the Gallup World Poll, we investigate whether belonging to locally (both country- and time-specific) defined income classes influences individuals’ life satisfaction. We rely on a latent class analysis estimation method, using individual income proxied by household income divided by household size, as an observable characteristic to hypothesize the income classes. We fit a model with one categorical latent variable with three unobserved groupings, here: income classes, which we interpret as lower, middle and upper classes. Our estimates suggest that individuals in the low and middle income classes are, respectively, about 30 and 17 percent of a standard deviation less likely to report a higher life satisfaction in comparison to individuals belonging to the upper income class. The effect of income classes remains robust to the inclusion of standard explanatory variables in this literature.
Selenium Uptake by Lettuce Plants and Se Distribution in Soil Chemical Phases Affected by the Application Rate and the Presence of a Seaweed Extract-Based Biostimulant
Authors: Zafeiriou Ioannis , Gasparatos Dionisios , Ioannou Dafni , Massas Ioannis
Published: June 2022

To tackle selenium (Se) malnutrition, biofortification is among the proposed strategies. A biostimulant application in soils is thought to support a plant’s growth and productivity. Biofortification with Se(VI) may lead to a leaching hazard due to the high mobility of Se(VI) in the soil environment. In this study, the effect of the application of two Se(VI) rates—5 and 10 mg kg−1 soil—and a biostimulant on the Se uptake by lettuce plants and on the Se(VI) distribution in soil fractions following the plants harvest, was investigated. Phosphorus (P) and sulfur (S) concentrations in plants were also determined. A high Se(VI) rate suppressed plant growth, leading to a significant fresh weight decrease from 12.28 to 7.55 g and from 14.6 to 2.43 g for the control and high Se(VI) without and with biostimulants, respectively. Impaired plant growth was verified by the SPAD, NDVI and NDRE measurements. The significantly highest Se concentration in plants, 325 mg kg−1, was recorded for the high Se(VI) rate in the presence of the biostimulant. Compared to controls, the low Se(VI) rate significantly decreased P and increased the S concentrations in plants. The post-harvest soil fractionation revealed that, in the presence of the biostimulant, the Se(VI) soluble fraction increased from 0.992 to 1.3 mg kg−1 at a low Se(VI) rate, and decreased from 3.T85 to 3.13 mg kg−1 at a high Se(VI) rate. Nevertheless, at a low Se(VI) rate, 3.6 and 3.1 mg kg−1 of the added Se(VI) remained in the soil in less mobile forms, in the presence or absence of the biostimulant, respectively. This study indicated that the exogenous application of Se in soil exerted dual effects on lettuce growth and Se availability, depending on the level of selenate applied.
Wind Power Forecasting Based on LSTM Improved by EMD-PCA-RF
Authors: Wang Dongyu , Cui Xiwen , Niu Dongxiao
Published: June 2022

Improving the accuracy of wind power forecasting can guarantee the stable dispatch and safe operation of the grid system. Here, we propose an EMD-PCA-RF-LSTM wind power forecasting model to solve problems in traditional wind power forecasting such as incomplete consideration of influencing factors, inaccurate feature identification, and complex space–time relationships between variables. The proposed model incorporates Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD), Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Random Forest (RF), and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) neural networks, And environmental factors are filtered by the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) algorithm when pre-processing the data. First, the environmental factors are extended by the EMD algorithm to reduce the non-stationarity of the series. Second, the key influence series are extracted by the PCA algorithm in order to remove noisy information, which can seriously interfere with the data regression analysis. The data are then subjected to further feature extraction by calculating feature importance through the RF algorithm. Finally, the LSTM algorithm is used to perform dynamic time modeling of multivariate feature series for wind power forecasting. The above combined model is beneficial for analyzing the effects of different environmental factors on wind power and for obtaining more accurate prediction results. In a case study, the proposed combined forecasting model was verified using actual measured data from a power station. The results indicate that the proposed model provides the most accurate results when compared to benchmark models: MSE 7.26711 MW, RMSE 2.69576 MW, MAE 1.73981 MW, and adj-R2 0.9699203s.