bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Heart Rate Complexity and Autonomic Modulation Are Associated with Psychological Response Inhibition in Healthy Subjects
Authors: Riganello Francesco , Vatrano Martina , Tonin Paolo , Cerasa Antonio , Cortese Maria Daniela
Published: January 2023

Background: the ability to suppress/regulate impulsive reactions has been identified as common factor underlying the performance in all executive function tasks. We analyzed the HRV signals (power of high (HF) and low (LF) frequency, Sample Entropy (SampEn), and Complexity Index (CI)) during the execution of cognitive tests to assess flexibility, inhibition abilities, and rule learning. Methods: we enrolled thirty-six healthy subjects, recording five minutes of resting state and two tasks of increasing complexity based on 220 visual stimuli with 12 × 12 cm red and white squares on a black background. Results: at baseline, CI was negatively correlated with age, and LF was negatively correlated with SampEn. In Task 1, the CI and LF/HF were negatively correlated with errors. In Task 2, the reaction time positively correlated with the CI and the LF/HF ratio errors. Using a binary logistic regression model, age, CI, and LF/HF ratio classified performance groups with a sensitivity and specificity of 73 and 71%, respectively. Conclusions: this study performed an important initial exploration in defining the complex relationship between CI, sympathovagal balance, and age in regulating impulsive reactions during cognitive tests. Our approach could be applied in assessing cognitive decline, providing additional information on the brain-heart interaction.
Decision Criteria for Partial Nationalization of Pharmaceutical Supply Chain: A Scoping Review
Authors: Marrone Patrícia Véras , Mathias Fabio Rampazzo , Bernardo Wanderley Marques , Orlandini Marina Feliciano , Serafim Maria Carolina Andrade , Scoton Maria Lídia Rebello Pinho Dias , Lopes Juliano Marçal , Pereira Sérgio Luiz , Dias Eduardo Mario
Published: January 2023

(1) Background: Any disturbance in the pharmaceutical supply chain (PSC) can disrupt the supply of medicines and affect the efficiency of health systems. Due to shortages in the global pharma supply chain over the past few years and the complex nature of free trade and its limitations when confronted by a major global health and humanitarian crisis, many countries have taken steps to mitigate the risks of disruption, including, for example, recommending the adoption of a plus one diversification approach, increasing safety stock, and nationalizing the medical supply chains. (2) Objective: To scope findings in the academic literature related to decision criteria to guide national policy decisions for the “Partial Nationalization of Pharmaceutical Supply Chain” (PNPSC) from the viewpoints of the three main stakeholders: industry, payers (government and health insurance), and patients. (3) Methods: These consist of a scoping review of the peer-reviewed literature. (4) Results: A total of 115 studies were included. For local manufacturing decisions, five criteria and 15 sub-criteria were identified. Weighting, decision-making, risk assessment, and forecasting were the main data analysis tools applied; (5) Conclusions: The findings could serve as a baseline for constructing PNPSC frameworks after careful adaptation to the local context.
Developing Critical Perspectives among EFL Learners: Insights from Language Educators
Authors: Hamdi Sami Abdullah
Published: January 2023

The number of English as a foreign language (EFL) programs has increased around the world. However, they lack a critical perspective. Throughout their learning, EFL learners are exposed to diverse sociocultural and sociopolitical content that should be approached with a critical stance. EFL educators play a significant role in designing the curriculum and teaching EFL programs. The current study explores their views and opinions on incorporating critical language awareness (CLA) in EFL or English as a second language programs to develop critical perspectives among learners. The findings of this study revealed a recognition of the need for CLA in EFL classrooms in the context of a more socially informed learning experience. Three major themes arose from the interviews: making EFL teaching and learning informed by the social context, applying critical discourse analysis (CDA) and critical thinking skills as analytical tools to social issues, and empowering EFL educators with the appropriate professional training. The study’s findings also showed that the participants had a positive attitude and readiness to integrate CLA in EFL classrooms.
Evaluation of the Digital Data Performance Transmission on a Fiber-Radio System
Authors: Cuevas-Terrones Rodrigo , Castañeda-Camacho Josefina , Muñoz-Hernández Germán Ardul , Zaldívar-Huerta Ignacio Enrique
Published: January 2023

This work shows a set of numerical simulations to evaluate the digital data performance transmission for a fiber-radio system. For this goal, VPI Photonics software is used to simulate the transmission of a digital signal at a bit rate of 2.4 GHz through an optical link of 25 km of single-mode standard fiber (SM-SF). Whereas MATLAB software is utilized to emulate a wireless channel considering four main phenomena inherent to this channel, such as multipath and slow fading, co-channel interference, and additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN). The modeling carried out in MATLAB considers a user in movement within its coverage area cell. The constellation diagram, bit error rate (BER), and signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) statistical tests are used to evaluate the performance of this approach. This proposal finds potential applications in the field of cellular telephony, the Internet of Things (IoT), or any other communication system to evaluate the quality of the delivered signal to a user in motion within a particular coverage cell.
Study of the Seismoelectric Effect in Saturated Porous Media Using a Bundle of Capillary Tubes Model
Authors: Zhao Yongpeng , Sun Xiangyang , Nie Zaiping
Published: January 2023

The seismoelectric effect is the fundamental basis for seismoelectric logging. Most of the existing theories for the seismoelectric effect are based on the Pride theory, which adopts the assumption of a thin electric double layer and uses the volume-averaging method to derive the seismoelectric coupling equations; hence, the obtained electrokinetic coupling coefficient is not applicable to large-Debye-length cases. In addition, the Pride theory neglects the change in seepage velocity with the radial position of the pore when calculating the streaming current, which leads to an inaccurate reflection of the influence of pore size on the electrokinetic coupling coefficient. In this study, we proposed a flux-averaging method to solve the effective net residual charge density of porous media and further derived the electrokinetic coupling coefficient expressed by the effective net residual charge density. We also investigated the effect of formation parameters and compared the results with those calculated using the Pride theory. Since the proposed method is not limited by the thin electric double layer assumption, it is suitable for both small- and large-Debye-length cases. Moreover, we also carried out flume experiments to investigate the influence of salinity, where both thin and thick electric double layer cases were studied. The comparison between the results of the experiment and simulation verified the correctness of the proposed method. Furthermore, the proposed method took into account the variation in seepage velocity with pore location when solving for the streaming current; therefore, the influence of the pore size on the electrokinetic coefficient can be described more accurately.
Detection Model of Hangul Stroke Elements: Expansion of Non-Structured Font and Influence Evaluation by Stroke Element Combinations
Authors: Lim Soon-Bum , Lee Jongwoo , Zhao Xiaotong , Song Yoojeong
Published: January 2023

With the increase of various media, fonts continue to be newly developed. In Korea, numerous ‘Hangul’ fonts are also being developed, and as a result, the need for research on determining the similarity between fonts is emerging. For example, when creating a document, the font to be used must be downloaded from each computing environment. However, this is a very cumbersome process. If there is a font that is not supported in the system, the above problem can be easily solved by recommending the most similar font that can replace it. According to this need, we conducted various prior studies for similar font recommendations. As a result, we developed a ‘stroke element’ that exists in each consonant and vowel in Korean font and developed a font recommendation model using a stroke element. However, there is a limitation in that the existing research was studied only for the structured fonts corresponding to the printed type. Additionally, the font size was not considered in the font recommendation. In this study, two experiments were conducted to expand the font recommendation model by supplementing the limitations of existing studies. First, in order to enable similar font recommendations based on the stroke element even in fonts with various shapes, the font was classified according to the shape, and the stroke elements in each classification were detected. Second, when the font sizes were different, the change in the font recommendations result based on the stroke element was analyzed. In conclusion, we found that it was necessary to find a plan to extract stroke elements for font recommendation of fonts that do not belong to standard fonts. In addition, since the influence of the stroke element varies depending on the size of the font, we propose a stroke element weight model that can be used for recommendation by reflecting it.
An Iterative Filtering Based ECG Denoising Using Lifting Wavelet Transform Technique
Authors: Malik Shahid , Parah Shabir , Aljuaid Hanan , Malik Bilal
Published: January 2023

This research article explores a hybrid strategy that combines an adaptive iterative filtering (IF) method and the fast discrete lifting-based wavelet transform (LWT) to eliminate power-line noise (PLI) and baseline wander from an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal. Due to its correct mathematical basis and its guaranteed a priori convergence, the iterative filtering approach was preferred over empirical mode decomposition (EMD). The noisy modes generated from the IF are fed to an LWT system so as to be disintegrated into the detail and the approximation coefficients. These coefficients are then scaled using a threshold method to generate a noise-free signal. The proposed strategy improves the quality and allows us to precisely preserve the vital components of the signal. The method’s potency has been established empirically by calculating the improvement in signal-to-noise ratio, cross-correlation coefficient and percent root-mean-square difference for different recordings available on the MIT-BIH arrhythmia database and then compared to numerous existing methods.
Smart Electricity Meter Load Prediction in Dubai Using MLR, ANN, RF, and ARIMA
Authors: Sayed Heba Allah , William Ashraf , Said Adel Mounir
Published: January 2023

Load forecasting is one of the main concerns for power utility companies. It plays a significant role in planning decisions, scheduling, operations, pricing, customer satisfaction, and system security. This helps smart utility companies deliver services more efficiently and analyze their operations in a way that can help optimize performance. In this paper, we propose a study of different techniques: multiple linear regression (MLR), random forests (RF), artificial neural networks (ANNs), and automatic regression integrated moving average (ARIMA). This study used electricity consumption data from Dubai. The main objective was to determine the load demand for the next month in the whole country and different municipal areas in Dubai, as well as to assist a utility company in future system scaling by adding new power stations for high-demand regions. The results showed that the accuracy of using ARIMA was about 93% when working with only a single district, but both ANN and RF achieved excellent accuracy of about 97% in all cases. In addition, the mean absolute percentage errors improved from 2.77 and 2.17 to 0.31 and 0.157 for ANN and RF, respectively, after anomaly elimination and the use of our proposal. Therefore, the use of an ANN for such data types is recommended in most cases, particularly when working on a complete dataset. Additionally, both the ANN and RF models are good choices when working on a single-category region because they both attained the same accuracy of almost 91.02 percent.
Angular Super-Resolution of Multi-Channel APAR in Interference Environments
Authors: Liu Rui , Zhang Jindong , Deng Xiaobo , Zhu Daiyin , Zhou Huangrong , Guo Mingming
Published: January 2023

Aiming to resolve azimuth-dense targets in interference environments, the radar needs to have the ability of single snap echo angular super-resolution with anti-interference. To solve the problem, the angular super-resolution algorithm based on single snap echo while anti-interference with blocking matrix method is studied for active phased array radar (APAR) in this paper. Since the super-resolution ability of the conventional MUSIC algorithm and iterative adaptive algorithm (IAA) algorithm are limited in single snap echo, the iterative re-weighted least squares (IRLS) algorithm under p-norm constraint is proposed. Further, the near main lobe interference suppression ability is enhanced by the adaptive diagonal loading method. The performance differences of IAA and IRLS algorithms for single-target detection and double-target angular super-resolution are analyzed in detail by numerical simulation on three scenes of no interference, side-lobe interference, and near-main-lobe interference. The simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can effectively solve the problem of target angle estimation and super-resolution based on single sample echo in an interference environment, including near main-lobe interference.
Review of Voltage-Bucking/Boosting Techniques, Topologies, and Applications
Authors: Yi Feilong , Wang Faqiang
Published: January 2023

As non-isolated step-up and step-down DC–DC converters are at present widely used in various fields, this review will summarize and introduce non-isolated step-up and step-down DC–DC converters in various aspects. First of all, the origin and development of power electronics technology and the generation and principle of certain basic non-isolated step-up and step-down DC–DC converters are briefly stated. Subsequently, according to their different characteristics, including whether they are unidirectional or bidirectional, voltage-fed or current-fed, or hard-switching or soft-switching, the review will classify them and analyze their advantages and disadvantages. Meanwhile, in order to change the voltage gains of the DC–DC converters, different voltage change techniques are applied to them. The review will elaborate on the four technologies (switched capacitors, voltage multipliers, switched inductors and different ways of connecting), providing examples and analyzing the topologies in which they are applied, before summarizing the advantages and disadvantages of these techniques. Finally, this review will describe the specific applications of non-isolated step-up and step-down DC–DC converters and the reasons behind their ubiquity and popularity. Although the performances of current DC–DC converter topologies are good, there continues to be increasing demand, an updating of the topology structure, and improvements in terms of their performance. In the future, DC–DC converters will play a more important role in industrial production and people’s lives.
Influence of Sublacustrine Fan Depositional Model on Distribution and Morphology of Reservoirs: A Case Study in Eastern Slope of Liaoxi Uplift, Bohai Bay Basin, East China
Authors: Wang Hao , Jiang Shu , Zhang Yuying , Wang Xin , Liu Enhao , Dong Xiaobin
Published: January 2023

The study on morphology and distribution of sublacustrine fan are necessary for the exploration of oil and gas, which could help to effectively predict the reservoirs of sublacustrine fans. In this paper, the distribution and geomorphology of sublacustrine fans of Dongying Formation in Liaoxi uplift (Bohai Bay Basin, East China) and their controlling factors (including shape and formations) have been analyzed in detail based on seismic, core, and logging data. The main conclusions achieved in this study are: (1) During the sequence of the third member of Dongying Formation (SQd3), two types of sublacustrine fan, including channelized fan (in channel shape) and non-channelized fan (in tongue shape and lobe shape), developed on the eastern slope of Liaoxi uplift, which inherited the characteristics of sediments structural maturity in braided river delta front (good sandstone sorting and high structural maturity); (2) Steep slope was favorable for forming tongue shape sublacustrine fans with large ratio of length and width, while gentle slope tended to deposit lobe shape fans; high mud content tended to form stable channels with strong erosion on the slope end, while high sand content tended to form continuous lobes with lobe shape; (3) In the basin with uplift, the beneficial combination among provenance, relative lake level change and paleomorphology, determines the development and distribution of sublacustrine fan, and the sublacustrine fan deposits are mainly concentrated in the TST. The Yanshan fold belt in the west provided sufficient sediments to the Liaodong Bay during LST for the development of a sublacustrine fan in the east slope of Liaoxi uplift since the Liaoxi uplift sunk into the water, with the result that the deposition of braided river delta front can overlap the uplift. The incised canyons in the Liaoxi uplift provided the channels for sediments entering into the eastern slope, and the main sedimentary location of lacustrine fans was between two stages of faults. This study could provide a theoretical basis for researching the characteristics and distribution of other sublacustrine fans in similar basin backgrounds.
Reservoir Characterization and an Integrated Approach of Reservoir Modeling for Miano Gas Field, Middle Indus Basin
Authors: Yang Chen , Zhao Changsheng , Meng Xiangjuan , Dong Pingchaun , Chai Junxian , Wang Xiaoming , Nie Qihai , Yang Janfang , Yu Wenwen
Published: January 2023

The hydrocarbon-bearing formation of Miano gas field belongs to the Early Cretaceous and it is bounded by two shale intervals, which are considered as maximum flooding surfaces (MFS). The hydrocarbon-bearing interval includes two reservoir units: a tight gas reservoir and its overlying conventional reservoir. Core samples, borehole logs, and well production performance revealed that the two reservoirs present reversed trends in reservoir quality through the gas field without obvious barriers. The average shale volume of the tight gas reservoir changes from 24.3% to 12.2% and the average permeability changes from 32.65 mD to 0.02 mD from the south to north. However, the average effective porosity of the overlaying conventional reservoir increases from 20% to 26% and the average permeability increases from 10 mD to 300 mD. The reversed trends in the two reservoirs lead to challenges in production forecast and development well proposals in the tight gas reservoir. Therefore, reservoir characterization and a predictive reservoir model are essential for further exploitation of Miano gas field. The geological genesis analysis integrating cores, borehole logs, and three-dimensional (3D) seismic data reveals that the producing interval of the tight gas reservoir is tidal-influenced shore facies deposition with intergranular pore space reduced by mineral cementation during burial diagenesis, while the overlaying conventional reservoir is fluvial-influenced deltaic deposition with abundant, well-connected intergranular macropores, which leads to a better reservoir quality. A reservoir model containing both the tight gas reservoir and the conventional reservoir is constructed considering the reservoir nature understanding, and the accuracy of the model is confirmed by reservoir surveillance activities with the simulation model. The study will be critical to the further reservoir development and hydrocarbon production in Miano gas field.
Parallel Automatic History Matching Algorithm Using Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Alolayan Omar S. , Alomar Abdullah O. , Williams John R.
Published: January 2023

Reformulating the history matching problem from a least-square mathematical optimization problem into a Markov Decision Process introduces a method in which reinforcement learning can be utilized to solve the problem. This method provides a mechanism where an artificial deep neural network agent can interact with the reservoir simulator and find multiple different solutions to the problem. Such a formulation allows for solving the problem in parallel by launching multiple concurrent environments enabling the agent to learn simultaneously from all the environments at once, achieving significant speed up.
Hygrothermal Performance Evaluation of Internally Insulated Historic Stone Building in a Cold Climate
Authors: Blumberga Andra , Freimanis Ritvars , Biseniece Edite , Kamenders Agris
Published: January 2023

In most cases, internal insulation is the only solution to improve the energy efficiency of historic buildings. However, it is one of the most challenging and complex energy efficiency measures due to changes in boundary conditions and hygrothermal behavior of the wall, particularly in cold climates. This study presents the long-term monitoring of the hygrothermal performance of an internally insulated historic stone wall building. The study aimed to assess the hygrothermal behavior of the dolomite wall if mineral wool insulation is applied internally on the north-east wall in the rooms with and without high internal moisture load. The measurements included temperature, relative humidity, water content, and heat flux. Monitoring results are compared with 1D hygrothermal simulations and a building energy consumption simulation. The in situ measurement results and hygrothermal assessment shows energy consumption decreased by 55% with relative humidity under the insulation staying belove 60% for most of the time, with short periods of increase over 80%. Energy consumption simulation shows an energy saving potential of up to 72% in the case of proper energy management.
A Novel Semianalytical Model for the Relationship between Formation Pressure and Water Saturation in Coalbed Methane Reservoirs
Authors: Yang Long , Zhang Yizhong , Zhang Maolin , Ju Bin
Published: January 2023

The accuracy of the relationship between formation pressure and water saturation has a direct impact on predicting the production performance of coal reservoirs. As a result, researchers are becoming more interested in this connection. The most commonly used method to evaluate this connection is the semianalytic method, but it disregards the impact of coal matrix shrinkage on pore compressibility, resulting in inaccurate water saturation estimations for coal reservoirs. A material balance equation that considers the effect of coal matrix shrinkage on cleat porosity and pore compressibility, as well as the gas–water relative permeability curve, is used for the first time in this study to establish a model between pressure and water saturation. Furthermore, this study extends the proposed pressure–saturation model to predict cumulative gas production and gas recovery, resolving the difficult problem of calculating recovery for coalbed methane reservoirs. To verify its accuracy, this study compares the proposed method with numerical simulations and previous methods; the results of the comparison show that the water saturation under formation pressure calculated by the method proposed in this study is closer to the results of the numerical simulation. Sun’s model ignores the effect of matrix shrinkage on pore compressibility, resulting in larger calculation results. The findings of this study indicate that the effect of coal matrix shrinkage on pore compressibility cannot be ignored, and that the proposed method can replace numerical simulation as a simple and accurate method for water saturation evaluation, which can be applied to predict cumulative gas and recovery estimation for closed coalbed methane reservoirs. The proposed method increases the accuracy of the semianalytical method and broadens its application. It is critical for the prediction of coal reservoir production performance and forecasting of production dynamics.
A Review of Distributed Secondary Control Architectures in Islanded-Inverter-Based Microgrids
Authors: Rodriguez-Martinez Omar F. , Andrade Fabio , Vega-Penagos Cesar A. , Luna Adriana C.
Published: January 2023

The increasing energy demand, the shortage of energy resources, and the environmental challenges faced by conventional power-generation systems are some of the ongoing challenges faced by modern power systems. Therefore, many efforts have been made by the scientific community to develop comprehensive solutions to overcome these issues. For instance, current technological advances have allowed the integration of distributed generators into the power systems, promoting the use of microgrids to overcome these issues. However, the use of renewable distributed generators have introduced new challenges to the traditional control system schemes. To overcome these challenges, a hierarchical control approach has been proposed for distributed renewable sources. In other words, the control scheme have been divided into three hierarchical levels, primary, secondary, and tertiary, to overcome the new challenges present in modern power systems. Due to extensiveness of this topic, this overview is focused on secondary control systems, mainly for AC isolated microgrids. To improve the power quality of modern systems, several secondary control schemes have been proposed to overcome the well-known problem of frequency and voltage deviation. Some of these schemes have also introduced adequate active/reactive power sharing techniques to optimize the utilization of resources. Additionally, other secondary control schemes have also focused on reducing the communication load, to lower the network cost and adding robustness against communication problems. This article presents an insight of the different control techniques used to overcome power quality and communication problems. A comprehensive overview of distributed secondary control techniques for islanded microgrids is presented. In addition, the implementation of these techniques is explained in an orderly and sequential manner.
Variation in the Basic Density of the Tree Components of Gray Alder and Common Alder
Authors: Liepiņš Kaspars , Liepiņš Jānis , Ivanovs Jānis , Bārdule Arta , Jansone Līga , Jansons Āris
Published: January 2023

Species-specific basic density (BD) data are necessary to improve the indirect methods of biomass determination. The density of tree components (e.g., bark, branches, roots) is studied much less than that of stem wood. Nevertheless, ignoring the specific BD values of these components in biomass calculations can lead to errors. The study aims to investigate BD variation of aboveground and belowground tree components by studying a total of 162 gray alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench) and common alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.) trees. From them, 55 stumps were excavated to determine the BD of the belowground components. Our findings reveal that the volume-weighted BD of the stem (wood and bark) and the branch density of common alder are higher compared to gray alder. Both species have similar bark density, while the BD of belowground components is higher for gray alder. The stem wood density of both species increases upward from the stump to the top. Compared to gray alders, the stems of common alders have more distinct radial within-stem density variation. According to our results, the application of default Alnus spp. wood density values recommended in the IPCC guidelines for the calculation of total biomass and carbon stock is likely causing overestimation. The BD values obtained in our study on alders’ biomass components will allow for more accurate appraisals of total biomass and carbon stock for gray and common alder forests.
Moderate Nitrogen Deposition Alleviates Drought Stress of Bretschneidera sinensis
Authors: Wang Xiao , Wu Gaoyin , Li Deyan , Song Xiaohui
Published: January 2023

Droughts are becoming more frequent and intense, and the nitrogen deposition rate is increasing worldwide due to human activities. Young seedlings of Bretschneidera sinensis Hemsl. are susceptible to mortality under drought conditions because their root tips have few root hairs. We studied the effect of nitrogen deposition on the physiological characteristics of two-year-old B. sinensis seedlings under drought stress. Seedlings were grown under no nitrogen deposition (control; N0), low nitrogen deposition (N30, 30 kg·hm−2 year−1), medium nitrogen deposition (N60, 60 kg·hm−2 year−1), and high nitrogen deposition (N90, 90 kg·hm−2 year−1), and were subjected to either the normal watering regime (NW) or drought stress (DW). Under DW, the relative conductivity (RC) of seedlings receiving N60 was not significantly different from that of N0 seedlings, and the RC of seedlings receiving N90 was significantly higher than that of N0 seedlings. Under 10 d DW, N60 treatment increased antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) activities and content of soluble protein, chlorophyll a and a + b, with POD activity and soluble protein significantly increasing by 18.89% and 34.66%, respectively. Under DW, the proline (PRO) content of seedlings treated with N90 increased. Our data suggested that moderate nitrogen deposition could alleviate drought stress by decreasing cell membrane permeability, reducing cell membrane peroxidation, increasing the content of osmoregulatory substances, and reducing the tendency for chlorophyll to decline, whereas high nitrogen deposition increased the sensitivity of B. sinensis seedlings to drought stress and aggravated the degree of stress, thereby affecting growth.
Potential and Constraints on In Vitro Micropropagation of Juniperus drupacea Labill.
Authors: Ioannidis Kostas , Tomprou Ioanna , Panayiotopoulou Danae , Boutsios Stefanos , Daskalakou Evangelia N.
Published: January 2023

Juniperus drupacea Labill. (Cupressaceae) is a species with ecological and medicinal value. In Europe, it is native only in southern Greece, and is listed as endangered. Due to its uniqueness, this study attempted, for the first time, an in vitro propagation effort of Syrian juniper. Explants of the lateral shoot tips were surface-sterilized and cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. The cultures were subcultured on MS, woody plant medium (WPM), and Driver and Kuniyaki Walnut (DKW) supplemented with different concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BA), thidiazuron (TDZ), or meta-topolin [6-(3-hy-droxybenzylamino)purine] for shoot induction. Explants derived from female trees exhibited 54.17% bud proliferation on DKW medium with 4 μM meta-topolin or 4 μM TDZ and on WPM with 4 μM meta-topolin or 4 μM BA. A total of 62.50% of the male tree derived explants produced multiple shoots on DKW with 4 μM BA. The maximum average number of shoots per explant were 1.17 per explant in both cases. The length of the shoot derived from explants of female origin was 2.94 mm compared to 2.69 mm of the in vitro shoots from the explants of male trees. Overall, the best medium and plant growth regulator combination for the explants derived from both female and male trees, for the traits under study, was proven to be DKW + 4 µM TDZ. Our experiments show that Juniperus drupacea, under in vitro conditions, shows recalcitrance in rooting, as the applications of IBA, NAA, and IAA concentrations were proven to be ineffective treatments. Although the results show low values, this avant-garde study provides a foundation for further research on the in vitro regeneration of Juniperus drupacea.
Crystallization Behavior and Physical Properties of Monoglycerides-Based Oleogels as Function of Oleogelator Concentration
Authors: Zhang Yingzhu , Xu Jinqi , Tang Cuie , Li Yan
Published: January 2023

Oleogels have been shown as a promising replacer of hydrogenated vegetable oil. Fatty acid glycerides, including some typical mono- and di-glycerides, were used to form oleogels. The concentration effects of fatty acid glycerides on the crystallization behavior and physical properties of oleogels were investigated by using different analysis techniques. The results showed that all the oleogels formed by saturated fatty acid glycerides (glyceryl monostearate (GMS), glyceryl monolaurate (GML), glycerol monocaprylate (GMC)) exhibited a solid-like behavior and were thermally reversible systems, while a higher amount of unsaturated fatty acid glycerides (monoolein (GMO), diolein (GDO)) were needed to form oleogels. The onset gelation concentration of GMS and GMC was found to be 2 wt% (w/w), while that of GML was 4 wt% by the inverted tube method. The crystallization results illustrated that the GMS and GMC formed small needle-like crystals with the presence of β and β′ crystals, while GML formed large flake-like crystals with α crystals in oleogels, and faster cooling rates caused smaller crystals. GMS- and GMC-based oleogels had higher crystallinity, resulting in higher thermal stability and better mechanical properties than GML-based ones at the same monoglyceride (MAG) level. With the increasing MAG content, the oleogels showed a more compact three-dimensional network leading to higher mechanical properties and better thermal stability and resistance to deformations. Hence, MAG-based oleogels, especially GMC ones with medium chain fatty acid, could be a promising replacer for hydrogenation vegetable oils.
Molecular Detection of Salmonella spp. and E. coli non-O157:H7 in Two Halal Beef Slaughterhouses in the United States
Authors: Al-Mahmood Omar A. , Fraser Angela M.
Published: January 2023

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of pathogenic bacteria on halal beef carcasses and environmental surfaces in two halal beef slaughterhouses in the United States. To evaluate halal beef slaughter operations, 144 beef carcass samples (pre- and post-evisceration), and 24 environmental site samples (slaughter hall floor, brisket saw, and offal’s table) were collected in two halal beef slaughterhouses during June to September 2017. All carcass and environmental samples were analyzed for the presence of Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli O157:H7, and shiga toxin-producing E. coli (non-O157 STEC). Results revealed that Salmonella spp. was isolated and confirmed for the presence of invA gene in 5/36 samples (13.8%) and 5/36 samples (13.8%) at pre-evisceration in plants A and B, respectively. Salmonella spp. was isolated in 2/9 samples (5.6%) of plants A and was not detected in any sample at post-evisceration process. E. coli O157:H7 was not detected in any sample collected from plant A and B. E. coli non-O157 was isolated and confirmed for the presence of virulence genes in 4/36 samples (11.1%) and 2/36 samples (5.5%) at post-evisceration in plants A and B, respectively. Salmonella spp. was detected based on the presence of the Salmonella invA gene in the slaughter hall floor (4/4) and the offal’s table (2/4) samples using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR). In plant B, Salmonella spp. was also confirmed in the slaughter hall floor (2/4) and brisket saw (2/4) samples. On the other hand, one isolate of E. coli O157:H7 and one non-O157 STEC were obtained from the slaughter hall floor of plant A. The E. coli O157:H7 isolate was positive for stx1, stx2, eaeA, and EHEC-hly genes. Two isolates of non-O157 STEC (2/4) were detected in the environmental site samples, one from the slaughter hall floor, and one from an offal’s table sample of plant B. These data can be used to inform food safety interventions targeting halal meat operations in the southeastern United States.
Identification and Functional Prediction of Long Non-Coding RNA in Longissimus Dorsi Muscle of Queshan Black and Large White Pigs
Authors: Dou Yaqing , Qi Kunlong , Liu Yingke , Li Chenlei , Song Chenglei , Wei Yilin , Zhang Zhe , Li Xinjian , Wang Kejun , Li Xiuling , Qiao Ruimin , Yang Feng , Han Xuelei
Published: January 2023

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) participates in the regulation of various biological processes, but its function and characteristics in intramuscular fat (IMF) deposition in different breeds of pigs have not been fully understood. IMF content is one of the important factors affecting pork quality. In the present study, the differentially expressed lncRNAs (DE lncRNAs) and their target genes were screened by comparing Queshan Black (QS) and Large White (LW) pigs based on RNA-seq. The results displayed 55 DE lncRNAs between QS and LW, 29 upregulated and 26 downregulated, with 172 co-located target genes, and 6203 co-expressed target genes. The results of GO and KEGG analysis showed that the target genes of DE lncRNAs were involved in multiple pathways related to lipogenesis and lipid metabolism, such as the lipid biosynthetic process, protein phosphorylation, activation of MAPK activity, and the Jak-STAT signaling pathway. By constructing regulatory networks, lincRNA-ZFP42-ACTC1, lincRNA-AMY2-STAT1, and/or lincRNA-AMY2/miR-204/STAT1 were sieved, and the results indicate that lncRNA could participate in IMF deposition through direct regulation or ceRNA. These findings provide a basis for analyzing the molecular mechanism of IMF deposition in pigs and lay a foundation for developing and utilizing high-quality resources of local pig breeds.
Epigenetic Repression of RUNX2 and OSX Promoters Controls the Nonmineralized State of the Periodontal Ligament
Authors: Gopinathan Gokul , Luan Xianghong , Diekwisch Thomas G. H.
Published: January 2023

The nonmineralized state of the mammalian periodontal ligament is one of the hallmarks of vertebrate evolution as it provides resilient and nontraumatic tooth anchorage for effective predation. Here we sought to determine how the chromatin state of key mineralization gene promoters contributes to the nonmineralized periodontal ligament in the midst of fully mineralized alveolar bone and cementum anchor tissues. In developing mouse periodontal tissues, RUNX2 was localized to alveolar bone–lining cells, while OSX was localized throughout the periodontal ligament’s soft tissue. Matching RT-PCR amplification data and western blot comparisons demonstrated that the expression of RUNX2 and OSX bone mineralization transcription factors was at least 2.5-fold elevated in alveolar bone osteoblasts versus periodontal ligament fibroblasts. ChIP enrichment data along the RUNX2 and OSX promoters revealed increased H3K4me3 marks in alveolar bone osteoblasts, while H3K9me3 and H3K27me3 marks were elevated in periodontal ligament fibroblasts. In support of an epigenetic mechanism responsible for the inhibition of mineralization gene expression in periodontal progenitors, histone methylation inhibitors DZNep and Chaetocin reactivated RUNX2 and OSX expression in periodontal progenitors and increased alkaline phosphatase and Alizarin Red, while the in vivo application of DZNep in rat maxillae resulted in aberrant mineralization in the periodontal ligament and a narrowing of the nonmineralized periodontal space. Together, these studies demonstrate that the nonmineralized state of the mammalian periodontal ligament is controlled by an epigenetic regulation of the RUNX2 and OSX key mineralization gene promoters.
Fibromyalgia Syndrome Pain in Men and Women: A Scoping Review
Authors: Ruschak Ilga , Montesó-Curto Pilar , Rosselló Lluís , Aguilar Martín Carina , Sánchez-Montesó Laura , Toussaint Loren
Published: January 2023

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic musculoskeletal disorder of unknown etiology that affects up to 5.0% of the world population. It has a high female predominance, between 80 and 96%. Due to the low number of diagnosed men, research work has focused mainly on women. The extensive body of literature on sex differences in pain in the general population suggests that men and women differ in their responses to pain, with greater sensitivity to pain and a higher risk of clinical pain commonly observed among women. This review aims to: (1) determine how pain is assessed or what types of questionnaires are used, (2) examine whether there are differences in pain characteristics between men and women with FMS and (3) describe how pain is conceptualized or manifested in patients at a qualitative level. In this study, the scoping review method of articles published in the last 5 years (2016–2022) was used. Ten articles were included. The most used questionnaires and scales to assess pain were the PVAS (Pain Visual Analogue Scale) and the FIQ (Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire). On the other hand, five categories were obtained: (1) qualities of pain, (2) uncertainty and chaos, (3) pain as an aggravating factor, (4) adaptation to the new reality and (5) the communication of pain. It has been observed that both subjective perception and widespread pain are higher in women. Men, on the other hand, have a worse impact of the pathology, more painful experiences and more catastrophic thoughts about pain. An updated knowledge of pain in FMS and whether it differs according to sex would be beneficial for clinicians to make an earlier diagnosis and treatment and, in turn, benefit patients suffering from this chronic disease.
Saudi Nurse Interns’ Experiences during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Thematic Approach
Authors: Balay-odao Ejercito Mangawa , Cruz Jonas Preposi , Alsolais Abdulellah M. , Bajet Junel Bryan , Alquwez Nahed , Almansour Ahmed Mansour , Alotaibi Khalaf Aied , Mesde Jennifer , Almoghairi Ahmed , Alrasheadi Bader A. , Alotaibi Jazi Shaydied
Published: January 2023

Background: The learning process for nurses, including internships, was affected during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have made the nurse internship program more challenging and stressful for participants. Therefore, it is significant to explore the experiences of nurse interns during COVID-19. Aim: This study aimed to explore Saudi nurse interns’ field experiences during the pandemic. Design: The study utilised descriptive phenomenological qualitative research and a thematic approach. Methods: A total of 19 nurse interns participated in the study, which was conducted in Saudi Arabia. Participants undertook an internship program at different government hospitals in five cities in Saudi Arabia. Unstructured individual interviews were conducted to gather data from the participants. Results: The findings revealed five themes: being passionate, lacking knowledge and skills, being concerned about their families, being cautious, and being unoriented. Conclusion: The study findings document that the struggles of nurse interns in their internship programs during COVID-19 were related to their lack of knowledge, their family, and the working environment.
Fibromyalgia, Pain, and Physical Activity: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Denche-Zamorano Ángel , Barrios-Fernandez Sabina , Mendoza-Muñoz María , Carlos-Vivas Jorge , Vega-Muñoz Alejandro , Collado-Mateo Daniel , Olivares Pedro R. , Adsuar José Carmelo
Published: January 2023

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a rheumatic disease characterized by pain, fatigue, low-quality sleep, depression, anxiety, stiffness, fall risk, mood disturbance, cognitive impairment, poor physical condition, and other symptoms leading to a worse quality of life. Physical activity (PA) and exercise are effective methods to reduce FM symptoms, including pain. This study presents the first bibliometric study on FM, pain, and PA. An advanced search of the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection database performed on this topic using was carried out traditional bibliometric laws. A total of 737 documents were found. Annual publications presented an exponentially growing trend (R2 = 85.3%). Rheumatology International, Kaisa Mannerkorpi, and the USA were the journal, co-author, and country most productive, respectively. The exponential growth of annual publications on FM, PA, and pain shows the high interest of researchers and publishers in this topic. The document “Fibromyalgia A Clinical Review” was the most cited. Moreover, Kaisa Mannerkorpi was the most prolific co-author, Rheumatology International was the most prolific journal, “Fibromyalgia: a clinical review” was the most highly cited document, and Daniel Clauw was the most cited co-author.
Assessment of a Workforce Sustainability Tool through Leadership and Digitalization
Authors: Gutu Ioana , Agheorghiesei Daniela Tatiana , Tugui Alexandru
Published: January 2023

As organizational environment develops, the working environment increases in physical and mental demands. As a result, risk inadvertences could arise, along with organizational emotional and financial challenges. Within their efforts to diminish such risks, organizations strive for developing and training their workforce; a sustainable workforce can only be achieved through cultivating aptitudes and positive attitudes that will lead to organizational but also personal growth. Considered to be an important measuring instrument for social sustainability, workforce sustainability enhances organizational leadership projections and trajectories, along with digitalization initiatives. The aim of the current study is the development of an assessment tool for state and private organizational workforce sustainability, and to study it in relation to leadership and digitalization components. Through a quantitative approach, data was gathered by issuing an online survey that delivered 463 responses. By using structural equation modelling, the authors examined the aims and found that the designed workforce sustainability tool is reliable and valid; as predicted, all the leadership components contribute to organizational stability and a more favorable workforce sustainability development, along with enhancing digital learning. This study stresses the importance for state and private organizations to achieve workforce sustainability, while nurturing and providing the necessary tools for the development of leadership and digital learning.
A Soil Moisture Prediction Model, Based on Depth and Water Balance Equation: A Case Study of the Xilingol League Grassland
Authors: Fu Rong , Xie Luze , Liu Tao , Zheng Binbin , Zhang Yibo , Hu Shuai
Published: January 2023

Soil moisture plays an important role in ecology, hydrology, agriculture and climate change. This study proposes a soil moisture prediction model, based on the depth and water balance equation, which integrates the water balance equation with the seasonal ARIMA model, and introduces the depth parameter to consider the soil moisture at different depths. The experimental results showed that the model proposed in this study was able to provide a higher prediction accuracy for the soil moisture at 40 cm, 100 cm and 200 cm depths, compared to the seasonal ARIMA model. Different models were used for different depths. In this study, the seasonal ARIMA model was used at 10 cm, and the proposed model was used at 40 cm, 100 cm and 200 cm, from which more accurate prediction values could be obtained. The fluctuation of the predicted data has a certain seasonal trend, but the regularity decreases with the increasing depth until the soil moisture is almost independent of the external influence at a 200 cm depth. The accurate prediction of the soil moisture can contribute to the scientific management of the grasslands, thus promoting ecological stability and the sustainable development of the grasslands while rationalizing land use.