bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biological Profile and Clinical Features as Determinants for Prolonged Hospitalization in Adult Patients with Measles: A Monocentric Study in Western Romania
Authors: Turaiche Mirela , Feciche Bogdan , Gluhovschi Adrian , Bratosin Felix , Bogdan Iulia , Bota Adrian Vasile , Grigoras Mirela Loredana , Gurban Camelia Vidita , Cerbu Bianca , Toma Ana-Olivia , Gurumurthy Srivathsava , Wulandari Prima Hapsari , Marincu Iosif
Published: September 2022

Measles is a highly infectious and sometimes deadly illness that is preventable with vaccination. The present research aims to analyze the most recent measles epidemic from Romania that occurred in a population with a falling desire to receive immunizations, by detailing the clinical picture and biological profile of hospitalized patients. A secondary goal of the present research is to identify characteristics that increase the likelihood of a longer hospitalization and the development of measles-related pneumonia. A retrospective cohort study was conducted to follow the course and effects of measles virus infection in adult hospitalized patients who were divided into two groups based on whether they had been in the hospital for more than 6 days or fewer than 6 days. A total of 114 adult patients with measles were eligible to participate in the trial if they had a positive measles-specific IgM antibody test resulting from the study. The average age in the short hospital stay group was 28.1 years, while the average age in the long hospital stay group was 31.9 years. There was a statistically significant difference in the number of Roma persons in the research groups, with 17.4 percent of them having a lengthy hospital stay compared to 5.9 percent in the group with a short hospital stay, according to the findings. It was observed that many patients had a long hospitalization associated with chronic lung disease (OR = 1.07), liver damage (OR = 1.66), Roma ethnicity (OR = 1.79), a long duration elapsed from the last MMR dose (OR = 2.02), elevated c-reactive protein (OR = 2.17), the presence of bilateral pulmonary condensations on X-ray (OR = 3.13), and elevated procalcitonin (OR = 3.49). The same significant independent risk factors were also associated with the development of pneumonia. It is of imperative need to address these risk factors in a patient with measles, moreover in association with an unknown status of vaccination. Vaccination awareness against measles must be pushed in Romania to determine a higher than 95% coverage. Significant efforts are still needed to ensure improved protection against measles epidemics within a specific region or population and, more importantly, in patients with significant risk factors for complications, as described in this study.
Modulation of Intestinal Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Signaling by the Herbal Preparation STW 5-II: Possible Mechanisms for Irritable Bowel Syndrome Management
Authors: Elbadawi Mohamed , Ammar Ramy , Rabini Sabine , Klauck Sabine , Efferth Thomas
Published: September 2022

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) mediates stress responses and alters the gut-brain axis, contributing to the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which is recognized by abdominal pain accompanied by bowel habit disturbance. STW 5-II, a mixture of six herbal extracts, is clinically effective in functional dyspepsia and IBS. Here we aimed to establish an organoid-based stress-induced IBS-like model to investigate the mechanisms of action of STW 5-II. STW 5-II (10, 20, and 30 g/mL) was applied to intestinal organoids for 24 h before being treated with CRF (100 nM) for 48 h. The effects of STW 5-II on CRF signaling were investigated using several in vitro and in silico approaches. STW 5-II activities were further explored by in silico PyRx screening followed by molecular docking of the main 52 identified compounds in STW 5-II with both CRF receptors CRFR1 and CRFR2. CRF exposure stimulated inflammation and increased proinflammatory mediators, while STW 5-II dose-dependently counteracted these effects. STW 5-II inhibited CRF-induced claudin-2 overexpression and serotonin release. Docking of the STW 5-II constituents oleanolic acid and licorice saponin G2 to CRFR1 and CRFR2, respectively, showed a good affinity. These multi-target activities support and elucidate the clinically proven efficacy of STW 5-II in disorders of gut-brain interaction.
Thymoquinone Inhibits JAK/STAT and PI3K/Akt/ mTOR Signaling Pathways in MV4-11 and K562 Myeloid Leukemia Cells
Authors: Al-Rawashde Futoon Abedrabbu , Al-wajeeh Abdullah Saleh , Vishkaei Mansoureh Nazari , Saad Hanan Kamel M. , Johan Muhammad Farid , Taib Wan Rohani Wan , Ismail Imilia , Al-Jamal Hamid Ali Nagi
Published: September 2022

Constitutive activation of Janus tyrosine kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) and Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/Akt/mTOR) signaling pathways plays a crucial role in the development of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Thymoquinone (TQ), one of the main constituents of Nigella sativa, has shown anti-cancer activities in several cancers. However, the inhibitory effect mechanism of TQ on leukemia has not been fully understood. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of TQ on JAK/STAT and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathways in MV4-11 AML cells and K562 CML cells. FLT3-ITD positive MV4-11 cells and BCR-ABL positive K562 cells were treated with TQ. Cytotoxicity assay was assessed using WSTs-8 kit. The expression of the target genes was evaluated using RT-qPCR. The phosphorylation status and the levels of proteins involved in JAK/STAT and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathways were investigated using Jess western analysis. TQ induced a dose and time dependent inhibition of K562 cells proliferation. TQ significantly downregulated PI3K, Akt, and mTOR and upregulated PTEN expression with a significant inhibition of JAK/STAT and PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling. In conclusion, TQ reduces the expression of PI3K, Akt, and mTOR genes and enhances the expression of PTEN gene at the mRNA and protein levels. TQ also inhibits JAK/STAT and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathways, and consequently inhibits proliferation of myeloid leukemia cells, suggesting that TQ has potential anti-leukemic effects on both AML and CML cells.
Co-Transcriptomic Analysis of the Maize–Western Corn Rootworm Interaction
Authors: Pingault Lise , Basu Saumik , Vellichirammal Neetha N. , Williams William Paul , Sarath Gautam , Louis Joe
Published: September 2022

The Western corn rootworm (WCR; Diabrotica virgifera virgifera) is an economically important belowground pest of maize. Belowground feeding by WCR is damaging because it weakens the roots system, diminishes nutrient uptake, and creates entry points for fungal and bacterial pathogens and increases lodging, all of which can significantly suppress maize yields. Previously, it was demonstrated that belowground herbivory can trigger plant defense responses in the roots and the shoots, thereby impacting intraplant communication. Although several aspects of maize-WCR interactions have been reported, co-transcriptomic remodeling in the plant and insect are yet to be explored. We used a maize genotype, Mp708, that is resistant to a large guild of herbivore pests to study the underlying plant defense signaling network between below and aboveground tissues. We also evaluated WCR compensatory transcriptome responses. Using RNA-seq, we profiled the transcriptome of roots and leaves that interacted with WCR infestation up to 5 days post infestation (dpi). Our results suggest that Mp708 shoots and roots had elevated constitutive and WCR-feeding induced expression of genes related to jasmonic acid and ethylene pathways, respectively, before and after WCR feeding for 1 and 5 days. Similarly, extended feeding by WCR for 5 days in Mp708 roots suppressed many genes involved in the benzoxazinoid pathway, which is a major group of indole-derived secondary metabolites that provides resistance to several insect pests in maize. Furthermore, extended feeding by WCR on Mp708 roots revealed several genes that were downregulated in WCR, which include genes related to proteolysis, neuropeptide signaling pathway, defense response, drug catabolic process, and hormone metabolic process. These findings indicate a dynamic transcriptomic dialog between WCR and WCR-infested maize plants.
Assessment of GGE, AMMI, Regression, and Its Deviation Model to Identify Stable Rice Hybrids in Bangladesh
Authors: Hasan M Jamil , Kulsum M Umma , Sarker Umakanta , Matin M Quamrul Islam , Shahin Nazmul Hoque , Kabir M Shahjahan , Ercisli Sezai , Marc Romina Alina
Published: September 2022

Twenty-six rice hybrids were evaluated at three locations. Data were normally distributed after running the Shapiro–Wilk test. Plant height and effective tillers/hills showed leptokurtic distribution, indicating these traits were controlled by fewer genes, whereas the rest of the attributes had platykurtic distribution, indicating these traits were controlled by many genes. Most of the traits were significant for variety, locations, and variety × locations. For yield stability, the data were analyzed using additive main effect and multiplicative interaction (AMMI), genotype and genotype–environment interaction (GGE), and Eberhart and Russell’s model. Among 26 hybrids, BRRI99A × BRRI38R and BRRI hybrid dhan5 exhibited high yields at three locations. BRRI99A × BRRI45R, BRRI99A × BRRI31R, IR79156A × BRRI38R, and BRRI hybrid dhan3 were selected for mega-environments: Gazipur and Ishwardi. Among the tested locations, Gazipur (E2) and Ishwardi (E3) were identified as mega-environments for the hybrid combinations, including BRRI99A × BRRI36R, BRRI99A × BRRI49R, IR79156A × BRRI31R, IR79156A × BRRI38R, BRRI hybrid dhan5, BRRI99A × BRRI38R, BRRI99A × BRRI45R, and BRRI99A × BRRI31R based on their average action and fixity. Gazipur and Ishwardi were the best environments because their discriminative and representative ability was remarkable. The hybrid assessment, as well as area selection for hybrid rice breeding in Bangladesh, were revealed in this study. The hybrid BRRI99A × BRRI38R, BRRI99A × BRRI36R, and IR79156A × Rline7 belonged to medium-to-long slender grain types. Nowadays, the citizens of Bangladesh prefer fine-grain rice. Therefore, these fine-grain hybrids can be cultivated as preferable commercial varieties at three locations, such as Barisal, Gazipur, and Ishwardi in Bangladesh. The stable hybrids identified in the current study can be recommended for cultivation throughout the whole country without compromising the loss of grain yield of rice.
The Role of Medicago lupulina Interaction with Rhizophagus irregularis in the Determination of Root Metabolome at Early Stages of AM Symbiosis
Authors: Yurkov Andrey P. , Puzanskiy Roman K. , Kryukov Alexey A. , Gorbunova Anastasiia O. , Kudriashova Tatyana R. , Jacobi Lidija M. , Kozhemyakov Andrei P. , Romanyuk Daria A. , Aronova Ekaterina B. , Avdeeva Galina S. , Yemelyanov Vladislav V. , Shavarda Alexey L. , Shishova Maria F.
Published: September 2022

The nature of plant–fungi interaction at early stages of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) development is still a puzzling problem. To investigate the processes behind this interaction, we used the Medicago lupulina MlS-1 line that forms high-efficient AM symbiosis with Rhizophagus irregularis. AM fungus actively colonizes the root system of the host plant and contributes to the formation of effective AM as characterized by a high mycorrhizal growth response (MGR) in the host plant. The present study is aimed at distinguishing the alterations in the M. lupulina root metabolic profile as an indicative marker of effective symbiosis. We examined the root metabolome at the 14th and 24th day after sowing and inoculation (DAS) with low substrate phosphorus levels. A GS-MS analysis detected 316 metabolites. Results indicated that profiles of M. lupulina root metabolites differed from those in leaves previously detected. The roots contained fewer sugars and organic acids. Hence, compounds supporting the growth of mycorrhizal fungus (especially amino acids, specific lipids, and carbohydrates) accumulated, and their presence coincided with intensive development of AM structures. Mycorrhization determined the root metabolite profile to a greater extent than host plant development. The obtained data highlight the importance of active plant–fungi metabolic interaction at early stages of host plant development for the determination of symbiotic efficiency.
Molecular, Histological and Histochemical Responses of Banana Cultivars Challenged with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense with Different Levels of Virulence
Authors: Rocha Anelita de Jesus , Soares Julianna Matos da Silva , Nascimento Fernanda dos Santos , Rocha Adailson dos Santos , Amorim Vanusia Batista Oliveira de , Ramos Andresa Priscila de Souza , Ferreira Cláudia Fortes , Haddad Fernando , Amorim Edson Perito
Published: September 2022

Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) is the most limiting factor in the banana agribusiness worldwide. Therefore, studies regarding pathogen attack mechanisms, and especially host defense responses, in this pathosystem are of utmost importance for genetic breeding programs in the development of Foc-resistant banana cultivars. In this study, analysis at the molecular, histological and histochemical levels of the Musa spp. x Foc interaction was performed. Three Foc isolates representative of race 1 (R1), subtropical race 4 (ST4) and isolate 229A, which is a putative ST4, were inoculated in two Prata-type cultivars (Prata-Anã and BRS Platina) and one cultivar of the Cavendish type (Grand Naine). Of seven genes related to plant–pathogen interactions, five were overexpressed in ‘BRS Platina’ 12 h after inoculation (HAI) with Foc R1 and ST4 but had reduced or negative expression after inoculation with Foc 229A, according to RT–qPCR analyses. While hyphae, mycelia and spores of the Foc 229A isolate grow towards the central cylinder of the Grand Naine and Prata-Anã cultivars, culminating in the occlusion of the xylem vessels, the BRS Platina cultivar responds with increased presence of cellulose, phenolic compounds and calcium oxalate crystals, reducing colonization within 30 days after inoculation (DAI). In general, these data indicate that the cultivar BRS Platina has potential for use in banana-breeding programs focused on resistance to Foc tropical race 4 (TR4) and in aggregating information on the virulence relationships of the Foc pathogen and the defense responses of banana plants after infection.
Response of the Fate of In-Season Fertilizer Nitrogen to Plastic Mulching in Rainfed Maize Croplands of the Loess Plateau
Authors: Zhang Xueli , Hu Bin , Wang Shangwen , Dong Wenyi , Gopalakrishnan Subramaniam , Jin Tao , Liu Enke
Published: September 2022

As plastic mulching is widely used for maize production on Loess Plateau, study of the fate of fertilizer nitrogen (N) in rain-fed croplands is of great significance. Field experiments were conducted during 2015–2016 at a typical dry-land farm on the Loess Plateau, China. The stable isotope tracer technique was applied to analyze the effects of plastic mulching on the maize crop yield, N content in the grain, and mechanism of N uptake and utilization in maize plants with plastic mulch (PM) and without plastic mulch (CK) on the Loess Plateau. Maize yield, aboveground dry matter, grain N concentration, and N uptake in aboveground biomass for PM significantly increased, in addition to fertilizer nitrogen recovery and nitrogen production efficiency. Compared to CK, PM improved the total N uptake from the soil in the aboveground biomass by 16.39 and 27.75 kg ha−1 and fertilizer nitrogen recovery by 10.89 and 22.02 kg ha−1, respectively. Furthermore, PM increased in-season fertilizer N retention in the soil by 11.9–24.8 kg ha−1, and the uncountable fertilizer N decreased by approximately 33.8 kg ha−1 on average. In conclusion, PM simultaneously improved the maize yield and N utilization, which provides a scientific basis for nitrogen management in maize croplands.
Proline Affects Flowering Time in Arabidopsis by Modulating FLC Expression: A Clue of Epigenetic Regulation?
Authors: Mattioli Roberto , Francioso Antonio , Trovato Maurizio
Published: September 2022

The recent finding that proline-induced root elongation is mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) prompted us to re-evaluate other developmental processes modulated by proline, such as flowering time. By controlling the cellular redox status and the ROS distribution, proline could potentially affect the expression of transcriptional factors subjected to epigenetic regulation, such as FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC). Accordingly, we investigated the effect of proline on flowering time in more detail by analyzing the relative expression of the main flowering time genes in p5cs1 p5cs2/P5CS2 proline-deficient mutants and found a significant upregulation of FLC expression. Moreover, proline-deficient mutants exhibited an adult vegetative phase shorter than wild-type samples, with a trichome distribution reminiscent of plants with high FLC expression. In addition, the vernalization-induced downregulation of FLC abolished the flowering delay of p5cs1 p5cs2/P5CS2, and mutants homozygous for p5cs1 and flc-7 and heterozygous for P5CS2 flowered as early as the flc-7 parental mutant, indicating that FLC acts downstream of P5CS1/P5CS2 and is necessary for proline-modulated flowering. The overall data indicate that the effects of proline on flowering time are mediated by FLC.
Understanding Powder Behavior in an Additive Manufacturing Process Using DEM
Authors: Sousani Marina , Pantaleev Stefan
Published: September 2022

The handling of bulk solids in the form of powders is a fundamental process in a wide range of manufacturing industries, such as the automotive, aerospace, food, and healthcare sectors. All these sectors employ additive manufacturing (AM), as it enables the production of complex parts in a short amount of time. Thus, it is considered an established method for developing an agile manufacturing environment that can drastically reduce the lead time from conception to the production stage. At the same time, powder is a unique material sensitive to environmental and machine conditions; hence, establishing an optimal configuration is not straight-forward. This work presents a discrete element method (DEM) simulation of an experimental dosing system used in AM. We introduce a robust workflow that correlates suitable experimental data with simulation results, establishing models of real powders with different flowability. The results showed an excellent agreement between the experimental data and the simulation results and provided a better understanding of the material behavior. Furthermore, we employed a coarse-grained approach to extract continuum fields from the discrete data. The results showed that the cohesion level in the system was enough to create agglomerates that hindered the transport of the material and produced nonuniform distribution.
Bifurcation and Stability Analysis of a Bolted Joint Rotor System Contains Multi-Discs Subjected to Rub-Impact Effect
Authors: Wen Chuanmei , Li Yuqi , Jin Long , Yang Dayong
Published: September 2022

In aero-engines, the rotor systems are frequently designed with multistage discs, in which the discs are fastened together through bolted joints. During operation, rotating machines are susceptible to rotor–stator rubbing faults. Those bolted joints are subjected to friction and impact forces during a rubbing event, leading to a dramatic change in mechanical properties at the contacting interfaces, influencing the rotor dynamics, which have attracted the attention of scholars. In the present work, a mathematical model, which considers the unbalance force, rotor dimensional properties, nonlinear oil-film force and rub-impact effect, is developed to study the bifurcation and stability characteristics of the bolted joint rotor system containing multi-discs subjected to the rub-impact effect. The time-domain waveforms of the system are obtained numerically by using the Runge–Kutta method, and a bifurcation diagram, time domain waveforms, spectrum plots, shaft orbits and Poincaré maps are adopted to reveal the rotor dynamics under the effect of the rub-impact. Additionally, the influences of rubbing position at the multi-discs on rotor dynamic properties are also examined through bifurcation diagrams. The numerical simulation results show that the segments of the rotating speeds for rubbing are wider and more numerous, and the middle disc is subjected to the rub-impact. When the rub-impact position is far away from disc 1, the rubbing force has little effect on the response of disc 1. The corresponding results can help to understand the bifurcation characteristics of a bolted joint rotor system containing multi-discs subjected to the rub-impact effect.
Cell Behavior on Peptide-Immobilized Substrate with Cell Aggregation Inducing Property
Authors: Amimoto Ikumi , Watanabe Rino , Hirano Yoshiaki
Published: September 2022

Cell aggregates have been applied in various fields such as regenerative medicine and drug toxicity testing. We have shown that H-(Lys-Pro)12-OH (KP24), a repeating sequence of lysine (Lys) and proline (Pro), induces uniformly sized cell aggregates simply by its presence in cell suspension. In this study, we considered that this peptide could be applied to a three-dimensional culture substrate that can induce uniform cell aggregates by immobilizing it on the substrate. Therefore, mouse fibroblasts (L929) were seeded on KP24-immobilized glass substrates and cell behavior was observed. We also seeded human-derived cells, namely, human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC), on KP24-immobilized substrates and characterized their cell assemblies. Furthermore, KP24 was chemically immobilized on the substrate surface, which allowed us to trace the mechanism of KP24–cell interaction. As a mechanism analysis of the cell aggregation ability of KP24, we investigated whether KP24 interacts with the cell surface without being incorporated into the cell.
Digital Food Twins Combining Data Science and Food Science: System Model, Applications, and Challenges
Authors: Krupitzer Christian , Noack Tanja , Borsum Christine
Published: September 2022

The production of food is highly complex due to the various chemo-physical and biological processes that must be controlled for transforming ingredients into final products. Further, production processes must be adapted to the variability of the ingredients, e.g., due to seasonal fluctuations of raw material quality. Digital twins are known from Industry 4.0 as a method to model, simulate, and optimize processes. In this vision paper, we describe the concept of a digital food twin. Due to the variability of the raw materials, such a digital twin has to take into account not only the processing steps but also the chemical, physical, or microbiological properties that change the food independently from the processing. We propose a hybrid modeling approach, which integrates the traditional approach of food process modeling and simulation of the bio-chemical and physical properties with a data-driven approach based on the application of machine learning. This work presents a conceptual framework for our digital twin concept based on explainable artificial intelligence and wearable technology. We discuss the potential in four case studies and derive open research challenges.
Supercritical Fluid Extraction from Zataria multiflora Boiss and Impregnation of Bioactive Compounds in PLA for the Development of Materials with Antibacterial Properties
Authors: Saadati Ardestani Nedasadat , Rojas Adrián , Esfandiari Nadia , Galotto María José , Babhadiashar Arman , Sajadian Seyed Ali
Published: September 2022

In this research, the extraction with supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) and the subsequent impregnation of the extracted bioactive compounds from Zataria multiflora Boiss (Z. multiflora) into polylactic acid (PLA) films was investigated. The effects of temperature (318 and 338 K), pressure (15 and 25 MPa) and cosolvent presence (0 and 3 mol%) on the extraction yield were studied. The SC-CO2 assisted impregnation runs were carried out in a discontinuous mode at different pressure (15 and 25 MPa), temperature (318 and 328 K), and time (2 and 8 h) values, using 0.5 MPa min−1 as a constant value of depressurization rate. ANOVA results confirmed that pressure, temperature, and time influenced the extraction yield. Moreover, antioxidant activities of extracts of Z. multiflora were evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assays. In addition, the antibacterial activities of the extracts were screened against standard strains of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). The results of this investigation indicated that extracts obtained from the aerial parts of Z. multiflora possessed antioxidant and antibacterial properties. The impregnated samples presented strong antibacterial activity against the selected microorganisms.
Mechanical Behavior of Subcutaneous and Visceral Abdominal Adipose Tissue in Patients with Obesity
Authors: Fontanella Chiara Giulia , Toniolo Ilaria , Foletto Mirto , Prevedello Luca , Carniel Emanuele Luigi
Published: September 2022

The mechanical characterization of adipose tissues is important for various medical purposes, including plastic surgery and biomechanical applications, such as computational human body models for the simulation of surgical procedures or injury prediction, for example, in the evaluation of vehicle crashworthiness. In this context, the measurement of human subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) mechanical properties in relation to subject characteristics may be really relevant. The aim of this work was to properly characterize the mechanical response of adipose tissues in patients with obesity. Then, the data were exploited to develop a reliable finite element model of the adipose tissues characterized by a constitutive material model that accounted for nonlinear elasticity and time dependence. Mechanical tests have been performed on both SAT and VAT specimens, which have been harvested from patients with severe obesity during standard laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy intervention. The experimental campaign included indentation tests, which permitted us to obtain the initial/final indentation stiffnesses for each specimen. Statistical results revealed a higher statistical stiffness in SAT than in VAT, with an initial/final indentation stiffness of 1.65 (SD ± 0.29) N/30.30 (SD ± 20) N compared to 1.29 (SD ± 0.30) N/21.00 (SD ± 16) N. Moreover, the results showed that gender, BMI, and age did not significantly affect the stiffness. The experimental results were used in the identification of the constitutive parameters to be inserted in the constitutive material model. Such constitutive characterization of VAT and SAT mechanics can be the starting point for the future development of more accurate computational models of the human adipose tissue and, in general, of the human body for the optimization of numerous medical and biomechanical procedures and applications.
Synergistic Action of Multiple Enzymes Resulting in Efficient Hydrolysis of Banana Bracts and Products with Improved Antioxidant Properties
Authors: Santos Karen Linelle de Oliveira , Daccache Isabella Shara Cortez , de Castro Ruann Janser Soares
Published: September 2022

This study investigated the effect of enzymatic hydrolysis of banana bracts from different varieties (Maçã, Nanica and Prata) using pectinase, protease and cellulase (singly or in combinations) on their antioxidant properties. The results showed that the antioxidant properties and total phenolic compounds (TPC) of extracts increased after the enzymatic treatment with a clear synergistic effect between the different enzymes. The ternary mixture of pectinase, protease and cellulase resulted in increases of 458% and 678% in TPC content for extracts obtained from Maçã and Nanica varieties and up to 65% in antioxidant properties of those produced from Prata variety compared to the non-hydrolyzed samples. In general, the extracts obtained from the Prata variety showed the highest levels of TPC, as well as antioxidant activity, as follows: 14.70 mg GAE g−1 for TPC, 82.57 µmol TE g−1 for ABTS, 22.26 µmol TE g−1 for DPPH and 47.09 µmol TE g−1 for FRAP. Phenolic compounds identified by HPLC in extracts included ρ-coumaric, ferulic, sinapic and vanillic acids and the flavonoid rutin. This study reported for the first time the enzymatic treatment applied to banana bracts as a promising method to release antioxidant compounds, offering a new opportunity to explore these residues as a source of molecules with high added value through an environmentally friendly and safe process.
Treatment of PBDEs from Soil-Washing Effluent by Granular-Activated Carbon: Adsorption Behavior, Influencing Factors and Density Functional Theory Calculation
Authors: Ma Yao , Li Haoliang , Xie Chunsheng , Du Xiaodong , Tao Xueqin , Lu Guining
Published: September 2022

Soil-washing is a potential technology for the disposal of soil contaminated by e-waste; however, the produced soil-washing effluent will contain polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and a large number of surfactants, which are harmful to the environment, so the treatment of PBDEs and the recycling of surfactants are the key to the application of soil-washing technology. In this study, coconut shell granular-activated carbon (GAC) was applied to remove PBDEs from Triton X-100 (TX-100) surfactant which simulates soil-washing effluent. The adsorption results show that, GAC can simultaneously achieve effective removal of 4,4′-dibromodiphenyl ether (BDE-15) and efficient recovery of TX-100. Under optimal conditions, the maximum adsorption capacity of BDE-15 could reach 623.19 μmol/g, and the recovery rate of TX-100 was always higher than 83%. The adsorption process of 4,4′-dibromodiphenyl ether (BDE-15) by GAC could best be described using the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Freundlich isothermal adsorption model. The coexistence ions had almost no effect on the removal of BDE-15 and the recovery rate of TX-100, and the solution pH had little effect on the recovery rate of TX-100; BDE-15 had the best removal effect under the condition of weak acid to weak base, indicating that GAC has good environmental adaptability. After adsorption, GAC could be regenerated with methanol and the adsorption effect of BDE-15 could still reach more than 81%. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation and characterization results showed that, Van der Waals interaction and π–π interaction are dominant between BDE-15 and GAC, and hydrogen bond interactions also exist. The existence of oxygen-containing functional groups is conducive to the adsorption of BDE-15, and the carboxyl group (-COOH) has the strongest promoting effect. The study proved the feasibility of GAC to effectively remove PBDEs and recover surfactants from the soil-washing effluent, and revealed the interaction mechanism between PBDEs and GAC, which can provide reference for the application of soil-washing technology.
The COVID-19 Pandemic, Academia, Gender, and Beyond: A Review
Authors: Dönmez Pınar E.
Published: September 2022

This article aims to engage critically with the scholarly narratives and the emerging literature on the gender impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in academia. It outlines the key contours and themes in these scholarly discourses and conceptions, acknowledging their richness, depth and strengths especially given the short timespan within which they have developed since 2020. The article then suggests broadening and historicising the critique advanced by the literature further. In doing so, the hierarchies and vulnerabilities exposed in the academic domain by the pandemic are positioned within a holistic understanding of crisis-ridden characteristics of social relations under capitalism.
An Islamic Revivalist Group’s Unsuccessful Attempt to Find Meaning on WhatsApp: A Case Study of Understanding Unsustainable Asymmetrical Logics between Traditional Religion and the Digital Realm
Authors: Rauf Ateeq Abdul
Published: September 2022

The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted society in myriad ways, but how the pandemic has changed traditional forms of religion has been relatively understudied. Addressing this caveat, in this paper, I try to understand how adherents of an Islamic revivalist movement, the Tablighi Jamaat, turn to WhatsApp for meaning-making at the onset of the pandemic in Pakistan. The adherents are unable to sustain the use of the digital space due to incompatibility between the logic of the movement and the online platform. Without structural authority and organization, communication is chaotic and, at times, combative. The mixing of pure and impure ideas is also detrimental to communal cohesiveness. This study provides a counterexample to previous claims of symbiosis between online and offline religion and their inevitable merger.
Nationalism, Post-Secular and Sufism: The Making of Neo-Bektashism by Moikom Zeqo in Post-Socialist Albania
Authors: Bria Gianfranco
Published: September 2022

This article focuses on Moikom Zeqo’s (1949–2020) work Syri i Tretë (“The Third Eye”, 2001) as a New Age reworking of Albanian Bektashism. The success of this book, and the recognition that Bektashi authorities themselves accorded it, make it highly representative of Bektashi neo-intellectualism and beyond: it is a cross-section that enables us to investigate the complex reworking of Sufi knowledge in a post-secular environment, such as Albania. This article examines this specific work while outlining a history of the Bektashiyya from the Ottoman era to the post-socialist Albanian period and highlighting its doctrinal and practical developments. Syri i Tretë is the expression of a secularist engulfment of post-socialist or even post-secular religion, which Bektashism embodies. Thus, Zeqo’s work expresses a common trend in Albanian society that is beyond the members of the Bektashi community.
Pricing Options with Vanishing Stochastic Volatility
Authors: Mastroeni Loretta
Published: September 2022

In the past years, there has been an extensive investigation of the class of stochastic volatility models for the evaluation of options and complex derivatives. These models have proven to be extremely useful in generalizing the classic Black–Scholes economy and accounting for discrepancies between observation and predictions in the simple log-normal, constant-volatility model. In this paper, we study the structure of an options market with a stochastic volatility that will eventually vanish (i.e., reaches zero) for very short periods of time with probability of one. We investigate the form of pricing measures in this situation, first in a simple binomial case, and then for a diffusion model, by constructing a weak approximation in discrete space and continuous time. The market described allows fleeting arbitrage opportunities, since a vanishing volatility prevents the construction of an equivalent measure, so that pricing contingent claims are, a priori, not obvious. Nevertheless, we can still produce a fair pricing equation. Let us note that this issue is not only of theoretical relevance, as the phenomenon of very low volatility has indeed been observed in the financial markets and the economy for quite a long time in the recent past.
The Mechanism of Budget Management as an Element of Risk Control in Regulatory Authorities
Authors: Fedchenko Elena A. , Gusarova Lyubov V. , Vasyunina Margarita L. , Lozhechko Alexander S. , Lysenko Anastasia A.
Published: September 2022

The activities of economic entities of the public sector in the conditions of uncertainty are associated with many risks, which manifest themselves in negative consequences, i.e., the lower effectiveness of executing assigned powers. Many subjective and objective factors influencing managerial decisions require the knowledge of methods for assessing and managing risks in order to reduce their consequences and achieve the strategic goals of economic entities. There is a promising theory of risk management that does not have the proper theoretical and methodological support, which limits its application. Currently, most studies are concerned with the feasibility of applying and adapting control mechanisms in the public sector. However, the theory of risk control, or risk management, is not considered by modern economists. The objective is to form a budget management mechanism in the Federal Treasury (regulatory body) as an element of risk control. The study considers the optimality and efficiency of the distribution of budgetary funds in the process of exercising the assigned budgetary powers by regulatory authorities and conducting a comprehensive analysis of causes and conditions that affect negative deviations from the standard values. The results of this study contribute to the body of knowledge about risk management, and the proposed approach can be used in similar studies in the public sector.
The Risk Management System as an Enhancement Factor for Investment Attractiveness of Russian Enterprises
Authors: Voskovskaya Anzhela Sergeevna , Karpova Tatiana Anatolievna , Tantsura Tatiana Anatolievna , Shirokih Anna Yurievna , Lebedeva Olga Yevgenievna , Lebedev Kostyantyn Anatol’evich
Published: September 2022

The business environment is characterized by a high degree of uncertainty and risk. This primarily requires using resources additional to those that can be obtained from profit. The purpose of the study is to assess the impact of a risk management system on the investment attractiveness of an enterprise. Structurally, the study consisted of three stages. At the first stage of the study, the selected information was grouped depending on the type of documents. The first group included statistical data, indicating the source of the data obtained. The second group of documents included scientific research on the characteristics of the risk management system at enterprises and investment attractiveness. At the second stage of the study, an analysis of enterprises was carried out with the calculation of a correction factor, which determined the possibility of obtaining a loan. At the third stage, an indicator of the effectiveness of the risk management complex was determined. The authors revealed two classes of factors influencing the decision to issue borrowed funds, namely, the parameters of the very enterprise and the parameters of the financed project. It is proposed to divide each of the presented classes into three groups: general reports; consolidated data on the personnel, management, and owners of the enterprise; and reports directly related to risk management. Expert analysis of the identified additional factors influencing the decision to issue borrowed funds supported the conclusion that the group of factors that directly relate to the risk management system has the greatest impact. The analysis of the correspondence of the number of points scored by enterprises according to existing methods and adjusted considering the effects of the identified additional factors gave reason to state that the presence of well-established risk management increases the investment attractiveness of the enterprise. It is revealed that using the methodology for assessing the effectiveness of risk management based on the ratio of the difference in the financial capabilities of the enterprise and the costs of risk management, reduced by the amount of expected damage after the implementation of risk management to the difference in the financial capabilities of the enterprise and the costs of risk management, allows for increasing the investment attractiveness of such enterprises as the Moscow Plant of High-Voltage Fittings JSC and the Moscow Instrumental Plant JSC.
The Eyes of the Gods: A Survey of Unsupervised Domain Adaptation Methods Based on Remote Sensing Data
Authors: Xu Mengqiu , Wu Ming , Chen Kaixin , Zhang Chuang , Guo Jun
Published: September 2022

With the rapid development of the remote sensing monitoring and computer vision technology, the deep learning method has made a great progress to achieve applications such as earth observation, climate change and even space exploration. However, the model trained on existing data cannot be directly used to handle the new remote sensing data, and labeling the new data is also time-consuming and labor-intensive. Unsupervised Domain Adaptation (UDA) is one of the solutions to the aforementioned problems of labeled data defined as the source domain and unlabeled data as the target domain, i.e., its essential purpose is to obtain a well-trained model and tackle the problem of data distribution discrepancy defined as the domain shift between the source and target domain. There are a lot of reviews that have elaborated on UDA methods based on natural data, but few of these studies take into consideration thorough remote sensing applications and contributions. Thus, in this paper, in order to explore the further progress and development of UDA methods in remote sensing, based on the analysis of the causes of domain shift, a comprehensive review is provided with a fine-grained taxonomy of UDA methods applied for remote sensing data, which includes Generative training, Adversarial training, Self-training and Hybrid training methods, to better assist scholars in understanding remote sensing data and further advance the development of methods. Moreover, remote sensing applications are introduced by a thorough dataset analysis. Meanwhile, we sort out definitions and methodology introductions of partial, open-set and multi-domain UDA, which are more pertinent to real-world remote sensing applications. We can draw the conclusion that UDA methods in the field of remote sensing data are carried out later than those applied in natural images, and due to the domain gap caused by appearance differences, most of methods focus on how to use generative training (GT) methods to improve the model’s performance. Finally, we describe the potential deficiencies and further in-depth insights of UDA in the field of remote sensing.
Generalized LiDAR Intensity Normalization and Its Positive Impact on Geometric and Learning-Based Lane Marking Detection
Authors: Cheng Yi-Ting , Lin Yi-Chun , Habib Ayman
Published: September 2022

Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data collected by mobile mapping systems (MMS) have been utilized to detect lane markings through intensity-based approaches. As LiDAR data continue to be used for lane marking extraction, greater emphasis is being placed on enhancing the utility of the intensity values. Typically, intensity correction/normalization approaches are conducted prior to lane marking extraction. The goal of intensity correction is to adjust the intensity values of a LiDAR unit using geometric scanning parameters (i.e., range or incidence angle). Intensity normalization aims at adjusting the intensity readings of a LiDAR unit based on the assumption that intensity values across laser beams/LiDAR units/MMS should be similar for the same object. As MMS technology develops, correcting/normalizing intensity values across different LiDAR units on the same system and/or different MMS is necessary for lane marking extraction. This study proposes a generalized correction/normalization approach for handling single-beam/multi-beam LiDAR scanners onboard single or multiple MMS. The generalized approach is developed while considering the intensity values of asphalt and concrete pavement. For a performance evaluation of the proposed approach, geometric/morphological and deep/transfer-learning-based lane marking extraction with and without intensity correction/normalization is conducted. The evaluation shows that the proposed approach improves the performance of lane marking extraction (e.g., the F1-score of a U-net model can change from 0.1% to 86.2%).
True2 Orthoimage Map Generation
Authors: Zhou Guoqing , Wang Qingyang , Huang Yongsheng , Tian Jin , Li Haoran , Wang Yuefeng
Published: September 2022

Digital/true orthoimage maps (D/TOMs) are one of the most important forms of national spatial data infrastructure (NSDI). The traditional generation of D/TOM is to orthorectify an aerial image into its upright and correct position by deleting displacements on and distortions of imagery. This results in the generated D/TOM having no building façade texture when the D/TOM superimposes on the digital building model (DBM). This phenomenon is no longer tolerated for certain applications, such as micro-climate investigation. For this reason, this paper presents the generation of a true2 orthoimage map (T2OM), which is radically different from the traditional D/TOM. The basic idea for the T2OM generation of a single building is to orthorectify the DBM-based building roof from up to down, the building façade from front to back, from back to front, from left side to right side, and from right side to left side, as well as complete a digital terrain model (DTM)-based T2OM, of which a superpixel is proposed to store building ID, texture ID, the elevation of each pixel, and gray information. Two study areas are applied to verify the methods. The experimental results demonstrate that the T2OM not only maintains the traditional characteristics of D/TOM, but also displays building façade texture and three-dimensional (3D) coordinates (XYZ) measurable at any point, and the accuracy of 3D measurement on a T2OM can achieve 0.025 m (0.3 pixel).
Mapping the Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Fall Armyworm in China by Coupling Multi-Factors
Authors: Huang Yanru , Lv Hua , Dong Yingying , Huang Wenjiang , Hu Gao , Liu Yang , Chen Hui , Geng Yun , Bai Jie , Guo Peng , Cui Yifeng
Published: September 2022

The fall armyworm (FAW) (Spodoptera frugiperda) (J. E. Smith) is a migratory pest that lacks diapause and has raised widespread concern in recent years due to its global dispersal and infestation. Seasonal environmental changes lead to its large-scale seasonal activities, and quantitative simulations of its dispersal patterns and spatiotemporal distribution facilitate integrated pest management. Based on remote sensing data and meteorological assimilation products, we constructed a mechanistic model of the dynamic distribution of FAW (FAW-DDM) by integrating weather-driven flight of FAW with host plant phenology and environmental suitability. The potential distribution of FAW in China from February to August 2020 was simulated. The results showed a significant linear relationship between the dates of the first simulated invasion and the first observed invasion of FAW in 125 cities (R2 = 0.623; p < 0.001). From February to April, FAW was distributed in the Southwestern and Southern Mountain maize regions mainly due to environmental influences. From May to June, FAW spread rapidly, and reached the Huanghuaihai and North China maize regions between June to August. Our results can help in developing pest prevention and control strategies with data on specific times and locations, reducing the impact of FAW on food security.