bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design and Development of Food Waste Inspired Electrochemical Platform for Various Applications
Authors: Gandhi Mansi
Published: August 2023

Plants have a remarkable position among renewable materials because of their abundance, and nearly thousands of tons are consumed worldwide every day. Most unexploited plants and agricultural waste can be a real potential resource system. With increasing environmental awareness and the growing importance of friendly agricultural waste, crops and fruit waste can be used for efficient conversion into bio-fertilizers, biocarbons, bio-polymers, biosensors and bio-fibers. Global challenges based on limited natural resources and fossil energy reserves simulated keen interest in the development of various electrochemical systems inspired by food and plant scraps, which aid in curbing pollution. The successful adoption of a renewable energy roadmap is dependent on the availability of a cheaper means of storage. In order to cut down the cost of storage units, an improvement on energy storage devices having better stability, power, and energy density with low post-maintenance cost is the vital key. Although food and plant scraps have a huge need for energy storage, it has been extended to various sensing platform fabrications, which are eco-friendly and comparable to organic molecule-based sensors. Current research proclivity has witnessed a huge surge in the development of phyto-chemical-based sensors. The state-of-the-art progresses on the subsequent use of plant-waste systems as nano-engineered electrochemical platforms for numerous environmental science and renewable energy applications. Moreover, the relevant rationale behind the use of waste in a well-developed, sustainable future device is also presented in this review.
Field Programmable Analog Array Based Non-Integer Filter Designs
Authors: Pagidas Alexandros , Psychalinos Costas , Elwakil Ahmed S.
Published: August 2023

The approximation of the frequency behavior of fractional-order, power-law, and double-order filters can be performed by the same rational integer-order transfer function. This can be achieved through the utilization of a curve fitting based approximation. Moreover, their implementation can be performed by the same core, by only changing the corresponding time constants and scaling factors. The aforementioned findings are experimentally verified using a Field Programmable Analog Array device.
MHlinker: Research on a Joint Extraction Method of Fault Entity Relationship for Mine Hoist
Authors: Dang Xiaochao , Deng Han , Dong Xiaohui , Zhu Zhongyan , Li Fenfang , Wang Li
Published: August 2023

Triplet extraction is the key technology to automatically construct knowledge graphs. Extracting the triplet of mechanical equipment fault relationships is of great significance in constructing the fault diagnosis of a mine hoist. The pipeline triple extraction method will bring problems such as error accumulation and information redundancy. The existing joint learning methods cannot be applied to fault texts with more overlapping relationships, ignoring the particularity of professional knowledge in the field of complex mechanical equipment faults. Therefore, based on the Chinese pre-trained language model BERT Whole Word Masking (BERT-wwm), this paper proposes a joint entity and relation extraction model MHlinker (Mine Hoist linker, MHlinker) for the mine hoist fault field. This method uses BERT-wwm as the underlying encoder. In the entity recognition stage, the classification matrix is constructed using the multi-head extraction paradigm, which effectively solves the problem of entity nesting. The results show that this method enhances the model’s ability to extract fault relationships as a whole. When the small-scale manually labeled mine hoist fault text data set is tested, the extraction effect of entities and relationships is significantly improved compared with several baseline models.
Development of a Compliant Lower-Limb Rehabilitation Robot Using Underactuated Mechanism
Authors: Yang Yunlong , Guo Junlong , Yao Yufeng , Yin Hesheng
Published: August 2023

Most existing lower-limb rehabilitation robots (LLRR) for stroke and postoperative rehabilitation are bulky and prone to misalignments between robot and human joints. These drawbacks hamper LLRR application, leading to poor arthro-kinematic compatibility. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a novel robot with portability and compliance features. The developed robot consists of an underactuated mechanism and a crus linkage, respectively corresponding to the hip and knee joints. The underactuated mechanism is a new type of remote center of motion (RCM) mechanism with two sets of contractible slider cranks that can reduce the misalignments between robot and human joints. The underactuated mechanism is then optimized using the particle swarm optimization method, and the developed robot’s kinematic analysis is presented. The proposed robot can be simplified as a two-link mechanism with the ability to easily plan its trajectory using the modified Denavit–Hartenberg method. Finally, passive exercise trials demonstrate that the mismatch angles between the human and robot knee joints are less than 2.1% of the range of motion, confirming the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed robot.
The Unprecedented Natural Gas Crisis in Europe: Investigating the Causes and Consequences with a Focus on Italy
Authors: Desideri Umberto , Krayem Alaa , Thorin Eva
Published: August 2023

The energy prices in Europe have in recent years surpassed unprecedented thresholds and varied in unexpected ways compared to previous years. This paper presents a study of the fuel markets in Italy, supplemented by insights from Sweden. Italy is heavily dependent on natural gas. The results show that natural gas demand changed only slightly in the period 2017–2022, but prices started to increase at the end of 2021. Notable spikes occurred at the beginning of the events in Ukraine, even though the baseline was already three times higher than the average price from 2017 to 2019. Distinct dynamics can be identified with the increase in demand for power generation, contrasted with a decrease in industrial natural gas demand after August 2022. The trends in coal and wood chip prices are consistent with those of natural gas, while oil prices appear to be less correlated. Additionally, events such as CO2 trading and the launch of the Fit for 55 program by the EU show some correlation with the trend in natural gas prices during 2021. Interestingly, the origin of the increase in natural gas prices during 2021–2022 cannot be simply attributed to the mismatch of supply and demand or any singular external event. This paper aims at starting a discussion on the topic by proposing some explanations.
Seismic Mitigation Effect of Overlying Weakening Strata in Underground Coal Mines
Authors: Zhuang Jiaxin , Mu Zonglong , Zhang Xiufeng , Cai Wu , Cao Anye , Jiang Chunlong , Małkowski Piotr
Published: August 2023

Artificial construction of a weakening zone over the roadway is an essential method for preventing coal bursts and rock bursts caused by strong mining tremors. However, concerning the seismic absorption and load reduction capabilities of an artificial structural weakening zone, the degree of rock mass damage to the roadway under weakening zone protection remains unclear. This study employed principles of elasticity and UDEC (Universal Distinct Element Code) to explore the seismic attenuation and load reduction capabilities of the weakening zone. The results indicate that the absorbing ability of the weakening zone increases exponentially with its weakening coefficient. Under the same dynamic load disturbance, when the weakening coefficient rises from 0.00 to 0.99, the sidewall displacement from the elastic wave source side changes from 0.400 m to 0.228 m. The total number of cracks in the roadway-surrounding rock, and the ranges of overstressed zones decreased linearly. The critical threshold of the roadway resisting the mining tremor disturbance increased. In particular, when the mining tremor is located directly above the roadway, the initial deformation of the roof is the largest, and the cumulative deformation of the rib is greater than the roof. By creating a weakening zone with a coefficient exceeding 0.95, the roadway remains unaffected by the 20 MPa dynamic loading. The study provides a theoretical basis for controlling coal burst that is triggered by mining tremors.
Experimental Study of Thermal Runaway Process of 50 Ah Prismatic Nickel-Rich Battery
Authors: Wei Ningning , Li Minghai
Published: August 2023

Hazardous combustion and explosions during thermal runaway (TR) processes in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) present a significant limitation to their widespread adoption. The objective of this study was to quantitatively reveal the eruption characteristics of LIBs. A commercially available prismatic cell with a capacity of 50 Ah was employed, featuring Li(Ni0.6Co0.2Mn0.2)O2 as the cathode material and graphite as the anode material. The investigation focused on the thermal runaway behavior at 100% state of charge (SOC). Three replicates of thermal runaway experiments were conducted within a 1000 L lithium battery adiabatic experimental chamber (AEC) under a nitrogen atmosphere, and the thermal runaway moments were captured using a high-speed camera. The ejection velocity of smoke during the opening of the safety valve was approximately 40 m/s; within an extremely short time frame following the opening of the safety valve, the jet stream temperature reached a peak value of 340.6 ± 42.0 °C; the duration of the ultra-high-speed jet was 12.0 ± 1.0 s, the high-speed jet lasted 9.9 ± 2.2 s, and the slow-speed jet persisted for 32.1 ± 3.0 s, resulting in an overall ejection duration of 53.9 ± 6.0 s.
An Overview of Supervised Machine Learning Approaches for Applications in Active Distribution Networks
Authors: Radhoush Sepideh , Whitaker Bradley M. , Nehrir Hashem
Published: August 2023

Distribution grids must be regularly updated to meet the global electricity demand. Some of these updates result in fundamental changes to the structure of the grid network. Some recent changes include two-way communication infrastructure, the rapid development of distributed generations (DGs) in different forms, and the installation of smart measurement tools. In addition to other changes, these lead to distribution grid modifications, allowing more advanced features. Even though these advanced technologies enhance distribution grid performance, the operation, management, and control of active distribution networks (ADNs) have become more complicated. For example, distribution system state estimation (DSSE) calculations have been introduced as a tool to estimate the performance of distribution grids. These DSSE computations are highly dependent on data obtained from measurement devices in distribution grids. However, sufficient measurement devices are not available in ADNs due to economic constraints and various configurations of distribution grids. Thus, the modeling of pseudo-measurements using conventional and machine learning techniques from historical information in distribution grids is applied to address the lack of real measurements in ADNs. Different types of measurements (real, pseudo, and virtual measurements), alongside network parameters, are fed into model-based or data-based DSSE approaches to estimate the state variables of the distribution grid. The results obtained through DSSE should be sufficiently accurate for the appropriate management and overall performance evaluation of a distribution grid in a control center. However, distribution grids are prone to different cyberattacks, which can endanger their safe operation. One particular type of cyberattack is known as a false data injection attack (FDIA) on measurement data. Attackers try to inject false data into the measurements of nodes to falsify DSSE results. The FDIA can sometimes bypass poor traditional data-detection processes. If FDIAs cannot be identified successfully, the distribution grid’s performance is degraded significantly. Currently, different machine learning applications are applied widely to model pseudo-measurements, calculate DSSE variables, and identify FDIAs on measurement data to achieve the desired distribution grid operation and performance. In this study, we present a comprehensive review investigating the use of supervised machine learning (SML) in distribution grids to enhance and improve the operation and performance of advanced distribution grids according to three perspectives: (1) pseudo-measurement generation (via short-term load forecasting); (2) DSSE calculation; and (3) FDIA detection on measurement data. This review demonstrates the importance of SML in the management of ADN operation.
A Comparative Analysis of Measured and Simulated Data of PV Rooftop Installations Located in Poland
Authors: Krawczak Ewelina
Published: August 2023

In recent years, photovoltaics (PVs) is the main driver of the renewable energy market growth in Poland. The number of photovoltaic installations, most of which are rooftop prosumer systems, is consistently growing. Therefore, the determination of the applicability and feasibility of photovoltaic systems under different climate conditions is of great significance. This study presents the performance analysis of four prosumer photovoltaic installations situated in the Eastern part of Poland, Lublin Voivodeship. The influence of various tilt angles, ranging from 19° to 40°, and azimuths (south, east, south–east, and east–west) on the final yield have been determined under one year of operation (2022). The average yearly final yield was found to be 1022 kWh·kW−1, with the highest value obtained for the installation oriented towards the south, equal 1079 kWh·kW−1. Then, the PV systems were simulated by the use of four specialized photovoltaic software: DDS-Cad 16, PVGIS 5.2, PVSOL premium 2022, and the PVWatts Calculator 8.2.1. A comparative analysis of the measured and simulated data in terms of the final yield was carried out. The data obtained from PVGIS and PVSOL demonstrated the highest degree of overall alignment of 92% and 91%, respectively. The most significant underestimation was noticed for the DDS-Cad software, which was equal to 77%. The most accurate predictions stand out for the system oriented to the south, while the weakest was found for the E–W installation.
Assessment of Forest Ecological Function Levels Based on Multi-Source Data and Machine Learning
Authors: Fang Ning , Yao Linyan , Wu Dasheng , Zheng Xinyu , Luo Shimei
Published: August 2023

Forest ecological function is one of the key indicators reflecting the quality of forest resources. The traditional weighting method to assess forest ecological function is based on a large amount of ground survey data; it is accurate but costly and time-consuming. This study utilized three machine learning algorithms to estimate forest ecological function levels based on multi-source data, including Sentinel-2 optical remote sensing images and digital elevation model (DEM) and forest resource planning and design survey data. The experimental results showed that Random Forest (RF) was the optimal model, with overall accuracy of 0.82, recall of 0.66, and F1 of 0.62, followed by CatBoost (overall accuracy = 0.82, recall = 0.62, F1 = 0.58) and LightGBM (overall accuracy = 0.76, recall = 0.61, F1 = 0.58). Except for the indicators from remote sensing images and DEM data, the five ground survey indicators of forest origin (QI_YUAN), tree age group (LING_ZU), forest category (LIN_ZHONG), dominant species (YOU_SHI_SZ), and tree age (NL) were used in the modeling and prediction. Compared to the traditional methods, the proposed algorithm has lower cost and stronger timeliness.
Removal of Quinolone Antibiotics from Wastewater by the Biochar-Based Sludge Adsorbent
Authors: Zhang Yaoyu , Gong Yiwei , Shi Gang , Liu Xiping , Dai Maifan , Ding Lingyun
Published: August 2023

Antibiotics have been detected in tiny environmental matrices all over the world, which caused a lot of concern. To solve this problem, biological treatment can be a low-cost and high-efficiency way. The use of biochar adsorbents made from the residual sludge of sewage for wastewater treatment can achieve pollutant removal while realizing pollutant reduction and reuse, which is of great significance for green development. In this study, a prepared biochar-based adsorbent (PBA) was modified and used for norfloxacin (NOR) removal. The composition of the adsorbent was characterized, and the influence of application factors on adsorption performance was investigated. After being modified and optimized, an overall removal efficiency of 84% was achieved for NOR in 4 h. The adsorption behavior was spontaneous and consistent with the Lagergren pseudo-second kinetic model and Langmuir model. The adsorption capacity of PBA reached 8.69 mg·L−1 for NOR. A total removal efficiency of 62% was obtained for five mixed quinolone antibiotics by PBA. The PBA could be well regenerated and reused five times. This study explored a new method of the bio-waste utilization of sewage sludge for antibiotic removal from wastewater.
Research Progress of Lytic Chitin Monooxygenase and Its Utilization in Chitin Resource Fermentation Transformation
Authors: Pan Delong , Liu Jinze , Xiao Peiyao , Xie Yukun , Zhou Xiuling , Zhang Yang
Published: August 2023

Every year, seafood waste produced globally contains about 10 million tons of wasted crab, shrimp and lobster shells, which are rich in chitin resources. The exploitation and utilization of chitin resources are of great significance to environmental protection, economic development and sustainable development. Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) can catalyze polysaccharides by oxidative breakage of glycosidic bonds and have catalytic activity for chitin and cellulose, so they play an important role in the transformation of refractory polysaccharides into biomass. Although there have been many studies related to LPMOs, the research related to lytic chitin monooxygenases (LCMs) is still very limited. The specific catalytic mechanism of LCMs has not been fully elucidated, which poses a challenge to their application in industrial biomass conversion. This review introduces the present situation of resource development and utilization in chitin, the origin and classification of different LCMs families, the structural characteristics of LCMs and the relationship between structure and function. The research results related to activity detection, screening, preparation and transformation of LCMs were summarized and discussed. Finally, the synergistic effect of LCMs and chitin enzyme on biomass degradation was reviewed, and the existing problems and future research directions were pointed out. This is the first review focusing on Chitin-Active LPMOs in recent years, intending to provide a reference for applying chitin degradation enzymes system in the industry.
Optimization of the Ginkgo Wine Fermentation Process and Influence of Fermentation Starter Types on the Brewing Flavor
Authors: Chen Bolin , Zhang Fang , Li Zhifan , Hu Yaping , Guo Qirong , Su Erzheng , Cao Fuliang
Published: August 2023

Ginkgo biloba seed (GBS) contains rich nutrients, such as starch, protein, oil, and trace components, such as flavonoids and terpene lactones. Due to its high protein content, it can be used as a raw material for fermentation and brewing. In this study, GBS was selected as the object of a fermentation process optimization test. Six kinds of fermentation starter were selected to brew ginkgo wine. The results showed that different fermentation starters have significant impacts on the composition of the wine. The yeast group had higher total sugar content and comprehensive evaluation scores than the Jiuqu group, while the total acid and total free amino acid contents showed the opposite result. The total flavonoid and total terpene lactone contents of the yeast group were 21.0% and 12.8% higher than those of the Jiuqu group, respectively. However, the 4′-O-methylpyridoxine (MPN) and 4′-O-methylpyridoxine-5′-glucoside (MPNG) contents of the yeast group were also 12.6% and 2.3% higher than those of the Jiuqu group, respectively. The common volatile components in the two groups of samples were isoamyl alcohol, phenethyl alcohol, ethyl octanoate, and phenethyl acetate. The antioxidant capacity of ginkgo wine fermented by yeast was significantly higher than that of the Jiuqu group sample.
LoRa Communication Using TVWS Frequencies: Range and Data Rate
Authors: Askhedkar Anjali R. , Chaudhari Bharat S. , Abdelhaq Maha , Alsaqour Raed , Saeed Rashid , Zennaro Marco
Published: August 2023

Low power wide area network (LPWAN) is a wireless communication technology that offers large coverage, low data rates, and low power consumption, making it a suitable choice for the growing Internet of Things and machine-to-machine communication applications. Long range (LoRa), an LPWAN technology, has recently been used in the industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) band for various low-power wireless applications. The coverage and data rate supported by these devices in the ISM band is well-studied in the literature. In this paper, we study the usage of TV white spaces (TVWS) for LoRa transmissions to address the growing spectrum demand. Additionally, the range and data rate of TVWS-based LoRa, for different transmission parameter values using different path-loss models and for various scenarios such as free space, outdoor and indoor are investigated. A path-loss model for TVWS-based LoRa is also proposed and explored, and the evaluations show that TVWS offers a longer range. This range and data rate study would be useful for efficient network planning and system design for TVWS-based LoRa LPWANs.
Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins Alleviate the Detrimental Effects of Dietary Histamine on Intestinal Health of Juvenile American Eels (Anguilla rostrata)
Authors: Wang Shuo , He Yingxia , Xi Feng , Liang Ying , Zhai Shaowei
Published: August 2023

This study was conducted to evaluate the oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPC) in alleviating the detrimental effects of intestinal health caused by dietary histamine in juvenile American eels (Anguilla rostrata). A total of 480 fish with a similar body weight of 10.84 ± 0.16 g were randomly divided into four groups, and there were the control group fed a basal diet, the HIS group fed a diet with a high level of histamine (534 mg/kg), the H + OPC I group fed the high histamine diet with 300 mg/kg OPC, and the H + OPC II group fed the high histamine diet with 600 mg/kg OPC, respectiviely. After the fish were fed the trial diets for 77 days, the intestinal samples were taken, and the related parameters of intestinal health were analyzed. Dietary 300 mg/kg or 600 mg/kg OPC could reverse the decreased activities of lipase, protease, and glutathione peroxidase and the level of total antioxidant capacity, the increased intestinal malondialdehyde and D-lactate acid levels and the activity of diamine oxidase in serum, and the decreased villus height caused by a high level of dietary histamine. There were no significant differences above all the indices between the H + OPC I group and the H + OPC II group. The higher relative abundances of potentially pathogenic bacteria were induced by the high level of dietary histamine. Dietary 300 mg/kg OPC might increase the relative abundance of the potential probiotics and inhibit the colonization of intestinal pathogenic bacteria of juvenile American eels exposed to the stress of high dietary hisatamine. The intestinal health status of the H + OPC groups was similar to that of the control group. These results suggested that dietary 300 mg/kg OPC might alleviate the detrimental effects of dietary 534 mg/kg histamine on the intestine health of juvenile American eels by increasing the activity of digestive enzymes, improving the antioxidative potential and barrier function, and beneficially modulating the intestinal microbiota. Dietary 600 mg/kg OPC could not exert further improvement in growth performance and the intestinal health of juvenile American eels.
Self-Assembled Peptide Hydrogels in Regenerative Medicine
Authors: Li Shuangyang , Yu Qixuan , Li Hongpeng , Chen Meiqi , Jin Ye , Liu Da
Published: August 2023

Regenerative medicine is a complex discipline that is becoming a hot research topic. Skin, bone, and nerve regeneration dominate current treatments in regenerative medicine. A new type of drug is urgently needed for their treatment due to their high vulnerability to damage and weak self-repairing ability. A self-assembled peptide hydrogel is a good scaffolding material in regenerative medicine because it is similar to the cytoplasmic matrix environment; it promotes cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, and division; and its degradation products are natural and harmless proteins. However, fewer studies have examined the specific mechanisms of self-assembled peptide hydrogels in promoting tissue regeneration. This review summarizes the applications and mechanisms of self-assembled short peptide and peptide hydrogels in skin, bone, and neural healing to improve their applications in tissue healing and regeneration.
Characterization of the Effects of Host p53 and Fos on Gallid Alpha Herpesvirus 1 Replication
Authors: Liu Zheyi , Cui Lu , Li Xuefeng , Xu Li , Zhang Yu , Han Zongxi , Liu Shengwang , Li Hai
Published: August 2023

Treatment options for herpesvirus infections that target the interactions between the virus and the host have been identified as promising. Our previous studies have shown that transcription factors p53 and Fos are essential host determinants of gallid alpha herpesvirus 1 (ILTV) infection. The impact of p53 and Fos on ILTV replication has ‘not been fully understood yet. Using the sole ILTV-permissive chicken cell line LMH as a model, we examined the effects of hosts p53 and Fos on all phases of ILTV replication, including viral gene transcription, viral genome replication, and infectious virion generation. We achieved this by manipulating the expression of p53 and Fos in LMH cells. Our results demonstrate that the overexpression of either p53 or Fos can promote viral gene transcription at all stages of the temporal cascade of ILTV gene expression, viral genome replication, and infectious virion production, as assessed through absolute quantitative real-time PCR, ILTV-specific RT-qPCR assays, and TCID50 assays. These findings are consistent with our previous analyses of the effects of Fos and p53 knockdowns on virus production and also suggest that both p53 and Fos may be dispensable for ILTV replication. Based on the synergistic effect of regulating ILTV, we further found that there is an interaction between p53 and Fos. Interestingly, we found that p53 also has targeted sites upstream of ICP4, and these sites are very close to the Fos sites. In conclusion, our research offers an in-depth understanding of how hosts p53 and Fos affect ILTV replication. Understanding the processes by which p53 and Fos regulate ILTV infection will be improved by this knowledge, potentially paving the way for the development of novel therapeutics targeting virus–host interactions as a means of treating herpesvirus infections.
OsPMS1 Mutation Enhances Salt Tolerance by Suppressing ROS Accumulation, Maintaining Na+/K+ Homeostasis, and Promoting ABA Biosynthesis
Authors: Li Wang-Qing , Zheng Wen-Jie , Peng Yan , Shao Ye , Liu Ci-Tao , Li Jin , Hu Yuan-Yi , Zhao Bing-Ran , Mao Bi-Gang
Published: August 2023

World-wide, rice (Oryza sativa L.) is an important food source, and its production is often adversely affected by salinity. Therefore, to ensure stable rice yields for global food security, it is necessary to understand the salt tolerance mechanism of rice. The present study focused on the expression pattern of the rice mismatch repair gene post-meiotic segregation 1 (OsPMS1), studied the physiological properties and performed transcriptome analysis of ospms1 mutant seedlings in response to salt stress. Under normal conditions, the wild-type and ospms1 mutant seedlings showed no significant differences in growth and physiological indexes. However, after exposure to salt stress, compared with wild-type seedlings, the ospms1 mutant seedlings exhibited increased relative water content, relative chlorophyll content, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, K+ and abscisic acid (ABA) content, and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content, Na+ content, and Na+/K+ ratio, as well as decreased superoxide anion (O2−) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) accumulation. Gene ontology (GO) analysis of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of ospms1 mutant seedlings treated with 0 mM and 150 mM NaCl showed significant enrichment in biological and cytological processes, such as peroxidase activity and ribosomes. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) metabolic pathway analysis showed that the DEGs specifically enriched ascorbate and aldarate metabolism, flavone and flavonol biosynthesis, and glutathione metabolism pathways. Further quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis revealed significant changes in the transcription levels of genes related to abscisic acid signaling (OsbZIP23, OsSAPK6, OsNCED4, OsbZIP66), reactive oxygen scavenging (OsTZF1, OsDHAR1, SIT1), ion transport (OsHAK5), and osmoregulation (OsLEA3-2). Thus, the study’s findings suggest that the ospms1 mutant tolerates salt stress at the seedling stage by inhibiting the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, maintaining Na+ and K+ homeostasis, and promoting ABA biosynthesis.
HBIM: A Tool for Enhancing the Diagnosis of Historical Buildings: The Case of St. George’s Memorial Anglican Church, Oshawa
Authors: Taileb Ali , Dekkiche Hamoud , Sherzad Mohammed Fareed
Published: August 2023

The primary objective of this research is to address the research gap in the conservation of heritage buildings in Canada by integrating Historical Building Information Modeling (HBIM) as a tool. The proposed study aims to develop an enhanced framework for the preservation of historical buildings through the utilization of HBIM and 3D-scanning technology. As a result, the research aims to generate a comprehensive database comprising various families of models while also incorporating strategies for point-cloud clustering data. The significance of this research lies in its potential to contribute to the conservation and restoration process of historical buildings. Currently, there are a lack of standardized approaches and comprehensive databases for accurately documenting and reproducing historical buildings. By integrating HBIM and 3D-scanning technology, this research will enable the creation of highly accurate three-dimensional virtual models, consisting of millions of points, which will serve as a comprehensive dataset for the restoration of heritage buildings. The findings of this research will benefit multiple stakeholders. Preservation architects, conservationists, and heritage professionals will gain a valuable tool for documenting and analyzing historical buildings with a high level of precision. The comprehensive database and framework proposed in this study will facilitate decision-making processes during the restoration and preservation phases, ensuring that the original architectural elements and materials are faithfully reproduced. Additionally, policymakers and governmental organizations involved in heritage conservation can use the outcomes of this research to establish standardized guidelines and regulations for the preservation of historical buildings in Canada. Ultimately, the broader community will benefit from the enhanced preservation efforts, as it will contribute to the cultural and historical identity of the nation, fostering a sense of pride and connection to the past.
Synthetic CsCEP3 Peptide Attenuates Salinity Stress via ROS and ABA Signaling in Cucumber Primary Root
Authors: Shen Zeping , Zuo Tingting , Xia Hailin , Ai Shichang , Tao Qi , Zeng Cheng , Guo Xueping , Han Huibin
Published: August 2023

Salinity stress prominently limits cucumber growth and productivity. However, the mechanism underlying salinity response mediated by the C-TERMINALLY ENCODED PEPTIDE (CEP) peptide in cucumber primary root remains largely unclear. In this study, we show that salinity prominently inhibits cucumber primary root growth, and CsCEP gene expression is differentially induced by salinity. We further demonstrate that the exogenous application of synthetic CsCEP3 peptide partially suppresses salinity-triggered growth inhibition in cucumber primary root, although CsCEP3 peptide itself shows no obvious effect on cucumber primary root growth under normal conditions. Our transcriptomic and qRT-PCR data further reveal that CsCEP3 peptide may modulate gene expression related to abscisic acid (ABA) signaling pathway, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and slat-responsive transcription factors to attenuate the inhibitory effect of salinity on cucumber primary root growth. Taken together, our work provides a fundamental insight into CEP peptide-mediated cucumber salinity adaptation.
Results of the MOVE MS Program: A Feasibility Study on Group Exercise for Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Adamson Brynn , Wyatt Nic , Key Latashia , Boone Carrena , Motl Robert W.
Published: August 2023

Exercise improves a wide range of symptoms experienced by those living with multiple sclerosis (MS) and may foster community and a positive sense of disability identity. However, exercise rates remain low. Sustained exercise participation has the greatest likelihood of improving symptoms and requires a theory-based approach accounting for the barriers faced by people with MS that impede exercise participation long-term. MOVE MS is a once weekly group exercise program based on Social Cognitive Theory supporting long-term exercise participation through peer instruction, behavior change education, multiple exercise modalities, and seated instruction. This feasibility study evaluated MOVE MS with a 7-month trial. The primary scientific outcome was exercise participation and the secondary outcomes were MS symptoms/impact, self-efficacy, depression, anxiety, disability identity, and quality of life, among others. We further conducted semi-structured formative interviews post-intervention. Thirty-three participants began the program. The onset of COVID-19 necessitated a shift toward online delivery. Seventeen participants completed the program. There were non-significant improvements in exercise participation (Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire, baseline mean = 14.2 (SD = 11.8), post-intervention mean = 16.6 (SD = 11.2), F-value = 0.53 (Partial Eta2 = 0.08), and several secondary outcomes (including the MS Impact Scale, MS Walking Scale, and the Leeds MS Quality of Life Scale). Sixteen participants were interviewed, and analysis yielded five themes on program components and feedback. MOVE MS—delivered in-person or online—may be a feasible option for long-term exercise programming for people with MS.
Unconscious Bias among Health Professionals: A Scoping Review
Authors: Meidert Ursula , Dönnges Godela , Bucher Thomas , Wieber Frank , Gerber-Grote Andreas
Published: August 2023

Background: Unconscious biases are one of the causes of health disparities. Health professionals have prejudices against patients due to their race, gender, or other factors without their conscious knowledge. This review aimed to provide an overview of research on unconscious bias among health professionals and to investigate the biases that exist in different regions of the world, the health professions that are considered, and the research gaps that still exist. Methods: We conducted a scoping review by systematically searching PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, and AMED. All records were double-screened and included if they were published between 2011 and 2021. Results: A total of 5186 records were found. After removing duplicates (n = 300), screening titles and abstracts (n = 4210), and full-text screening (n = 695), 87 articles from 81 studies remained. Studies originated from North America (n = 60), Europe (n = 13), and the rest of the world (n = 6), and two studies were of global scope. Racial bias was investigated most frequently (n = 46), followed by gender bias (n = 11), weight bias (n = 10), socio-economic status bias (n = 9), and mental illness bias (n = 7). Most of the studies were conducted by physicians (n = 51) and nurses (n = 20). Other health care professionals were rarely included in these studies. Conclusions: Most studies show that health professionals have an implicit bias. Racial biases among physicians and nurses in the USA are well confirmed. Research is missing on other biases from other regions and other health professions.
Exploring Flood Response Challenges, Training Needs, and the Impact of Online Flood Training for Lifeguards and Water Safety Professionals in South Africa
Authors: Peden Amy E. , Mayhew Adrian , Baker Shayne D. , Mayedwa Mziwoxolo , Saunders Colleen J.
Published: August 2023

Flooding is a significant cause of human and economic loss in the African region, including in South Africa. Flood mitigation and response in South Africa is challenging due to a range of environmental, infrastructure, and policy constraints. Lifeguards represent a potential additional workforce to bolster flood mitigation and response. This study aimed to explore the feasibility and acceptability of online flood safety training for water safety professionals in South Africa, as well as assess the current flood response capacity and future needs of this group. Online surveys were completed by a convenience sample of South African water safety professionals (including lifeguards) pre-and post a series of four online flood training workshops. Free text responses were thematically coded and flood knowledge was compared between the pre-and post-workshop survey respondents. Sixty-eight responses were analysed (64.7% pre-workshop phase; 63.2% male, 29.4% aged 50–59 years). A range of challenges in flood mitigation and response were identified including equipment, training, and a lack of government support. However, positives were also identified including respondents’ willingness to assist in flood emergencies and good cooperation with neighbouring countries and across the region. Opportunities for better cross-municipal and government communication were discussed. In times of crisis, or in resource poor settings, water safety professionals can bolster traditional flood mitigation and response capacity. Opportunities exist to harness this willingness, but also improve cross-governmental and municipal knowledge sharing to improve future flood mitigation and response efforts in South Africa.
Age Diversity in Neighborhoods—A Mixed-Methods Approach Examining Older Residents and Community Wellbeing
Authors: Varjakoski Hanna , Koponen Samuli , Kouvo Antti , Tiilikainen Elisa
Published: August 2023

This paper focuses on age diversity in neighbourhoods and its possible impacts on community wellbeing. The aims of this paper are (a) to investigate whether age diversity in neighbourhoods contribute to older residents’ wellbeing and (b) to explore older residents’ experiences and views on age diversity in their neighbourhood. These questions are addressed using a mixed-method approach combining survey and interview data and analysis. The data is derived from a survey (n = 420) and 19 semistructured interviews addressed to the older residents of a rental house company located in Eastern Finland. The interview data is analysed using qualitative content analysis. The results of qualitative data indicate that older adults see various benefits in an age-diverse living environment. In the quantitative analysis, we apply multilevel models in our statistical analyses to take both community- and individual-level variation into account. The quantitative results show that older adults living in age-diverse neighbourhoods reported higher community wellbeing. Such association was not found among the younger residents. Overall, our study adds to the understanding of the importance of neighbouring relations on community wellbeing in later life. The results can be utilized when developing age-friendly environments and housing policies at local and national levels.
Downregulation of Swine Leukocyte Antigen Expression Decreases the Strength of Xenogeneic Immune Responses towards Renal Proximal Tubular Epithelial Cells
Authors: Schmalkuche Katharina , Schwinzer Reinhard , Wenzel Nadine , Valdivia Emilio , Petersen Björn , Blasczyk Rainer , Figueiredo Constanca
Published: August 2023

Xenotransplantation reemerged as a promising alternative to conventional transplantation enlarging the available organ pool. However, success of xenotransplantation depends on the design and selection of specific genetic modifications and on the development of robust assays allowing for a precise assessment of tissue-specific immune responses. Nevertheless, cell-based assays are often compromised by low proliferative capacity of primary cells. Proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTECs) play a crucial role in kidney function. Here, we generated immortalized PTECs (imPTECs) by overexpression of simian virus 40 T large antigen. ImPTECs not only showed typical morphology and phenotype, but, in contrast to primary PTECs, they maintained steady cell cycling rates and functionality. Furthermore, swine leukocyte antigen (SLA) class I and class II transcript levels were reduced by up to 85% after transduction with lentiviral vectors encoding for short hairpin RNAs targeting β2-microglobulin and the class II transactivator. This contributed to reducing xenogeneic T-cell cytotoxicity (p < 0.01) and decreasing secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and IFN-γ. This study showed the feasibility of generating highly proliferative PTECs and the development of tissue-specific immunomonitoring assays. Silencing SLA expression on PTECs was demonstrated to be an effective strategy to prevent xenogeneic cellular immune responses and may strongly support graft survival after xenotransplantation.
Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin (TSLP), Its Isoforms and the Interplay with the Epithelium in Allergy and Asthma
Authors: Smolinska Sylwia , Antolín-Amérigo Darío , Popescu Florin-Dan , Jutel Marek
Published: August 2023

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is a pleiotropic cytokine that has emerged as a critical player in the development and progression of allergy and asthma. It is primarily produced by epithelial cells and functions as a potent immune system activator. TSLP acts through interaction with its receptor complex, composed of the TSLP receptor (TSLPR) and interleukin-7 receptor alpha chain (IL-7Rα), activating downstream complex signalling pathways. The TSLP major isoform, known as long-form TSLP (lfTSLP), is upregulated in the airway epithelium of patients with allergic diseases. More research is warranted to explore the precise mechanisms by which short-form TSLP (sfTSLP) regulates immune responses. Understanding the dynamic interplay between TSLP and the dysfunctional epithelium provides insights into the mechanisms underlying allergy and asthma pathogenesis. Targeting TSLP represents an important therapeutic strategy, as it may upstream disrupt the inflammatory cascade and alleviate symptoms associated with allergic inflammation.
In Vitro Evaluation of Ferutinin Rich-Ferula communis L., ssp. glauca, Root Extract on Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity: Antioxidant Properties and Cell Cycle Modulation
Authors: Macrì Roberta , Bava Irene , Scarano Federica , Mollace Rocco , Musolino Vincenzo , Gliozzi Micaela , Greco Marta , Foti Daniela , Tucci Luigi , Maiuolo Jessica , Carresi Cristina , Tavernese Annamaria , Palma Ernesto , Muscoli Carolina , Mollace Vincenzo
Published: August 2023

The clinical use of anthracycline Doxorubicin as an antineoplastic drug in cancer therapy is limited by cardiotoxic effects that can lead to congestive heart failure. Recent studies have shown several promising activities of different species of the genus Ferula belonging to the Apiaceae Family. Ferula communis is the main source of Ferutinin—a bioactive compound isolated from many species of Ferula—studied both in vitro and in vivo because of their different effects, such as estrogenic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and also antiproliferative and cytotoxic activity, performed in a dose-dependent and cell-dependent way. However, the potential protective role of Ferutinin in myocardium impairment, caused by chemotherapeutic drugs, still represents an unexplored field. The aim of this study was to test the effects of Ferutinin rich-Ferula communis L. root extract (FcFE) at different concentrations on H9C2 cells. Moreover, we evaluated its antioxidant properties in cardiomyocytes in order to explore new potential therapeutic activities never examined before in other experimental works. FcFE, at a concentration of 0.25 µM, in the H9C2 line, significantly reduced the ROS production induced by H2O2 (50 µM and 250 µM) and traced the cell mortality of the H9C2 co-treated with Ferutinin 0.25 µM and Doxorubicin (0.5 µM and 1 µM) to control levels. These results showed that FcFE could protect against Doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. Further molecular characterization of this natural compound may open the way for testing FcFE at low concentrations in vivo and in clinical studies as an adjuvant in cancer therapy in association with anthracyclines to prevent side effects on heart cells.
The Role of Cytokine-Inducible SH2 Domain-Containing Protein (CISH) in the Regulation of Basal and Cytokine-Mediated Myelopoiesis
Authors: Naser Wasan , Maymand Saeed , Dlugolenski Daniel , Basheer Faiza , Ward Alister C.
Published: August 2023

Cytokine-inducible SH2 domain-containing protein (CISH) is a member of the suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) family of negative feedback regulators shown to play crucial roles in lymphoid cell development and function as well as appetite regulation. It has also been implicated in the control of signaling downstream of the receptors for the cytokines granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in myeloid cells. To investigate the physiological role of CISH in myelopoiesis, mice deficient in CISH were analyzed basally and in response to administration of these cytokines. CISH knockout (KO) mice possessed basally elevated neutrophils in the blood, bone marrow, and spleen compared to wild-type (WT) mice. During GM-CSF-induced myelopoiesis, the frequency of neutrophils, myeloid dendritic cells (DCs), and CFU-M in the bone marrow was higher in the KO, as were the neutrophils and CFU-G in the spleen. In contrast, no differences were observed between KO and WT mice during G-CSF-induced myelopoiesis apart from an elevated frequency of CFU-G and CFU-M in the spleen. This work has identified a role for CISH in the negative regulation of granulopoiesis, including that mediated by GM-CSF.