bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pseudomonas aeruginosa Susceptibility in Spain: Antimicrobial Activity and Resistance Suppression Evaluation by PK/PD Analysis
Authors: Valero Ana , Rodríguez-Gascón Alicia , Isla Arantxa , Barrasa Helena , del Barrio-Tofiño Ester , Oliver Antonio , Canut Andrés , Solinís María Ángeles
Published: November 2021

Pseudomonas aeruginosa remains one of the major causes of healthcare-associated infection in Europe; in 2019, 12.5% of invasive isolates of P. aeruginosa in Spain presented combined resistance to ≥3 antimicrobial groups. The Spanish nationwide survey on P. aeruginosa antimicrobial resistance mechanisms and molecular epidemiology was published in 2019. Based on the information from this survey, the objective of this work was to analyze the overall antimicrobial activity of the antipseudomonal antibiotics considering pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) analysis. The role of PK/PD to prevent or minimize resistance emergence was also evaluated. A 10,000-subject Monte Carlo simulation was executed to calculate the probability of target attainment (PTA) and the cumulative fraction of response (CFR) considering the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) distribution of bacteria isolated in ICU or medical wards, and distinguishing between sample types (respiratory and non-respiratory). Ceftazidime/avibactam followed by ceftolozane/tazobactam and colistin, categorized as the Reserve by the Access, Watch, Reserve (AWaRe) classification of the World Health Organization, were the most active antimicrobials, with differences depending on the admission service, sample type, and dose regimen. Discrepancies between EUCAST-susceptibility breakpoints for P. aeruginosa and those estimated by PK/PD analysis were detected. Only standard doses of ceftazidime/avibactam and ceftolozane/tazobactam provided drug concentrations associated with resistance suppression.
Electrospun Nanofiber and Cryogel of Polyvinyl Alcohol Transdermal Patch Containing Diclofenac Sodium: Preparation, Characterization and In Vitro Release Studies
Authors: Sa’adon Shafizah , Ansari Mohamed Nainar Mohamed , Razak Saiful Izwan Abd , Yusof Abdul Halim Mohd , Faudzi Ahmad Athif Mohd , Sagadevan Suresh , Nayan Nadirul Hasraf Mat , Anand Joseph Sahaya , Amin Khairul Anuar Mat
Published: November 2021

Transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS) have drawn more interest from pharmaceutical scientists because they could provide steady blood levels and prevent the first-pass metabolism over a longer period. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) has been widely used in this application due to its biocompatibility, non-toxicity, nanofiber and hydrogel-forming ability. Despite those benefits, their morphology would easily be destroyed by continuous water absorption and contribute to burst drug release due to its hydrophilicity. The aim of this study was to prepare the diclofenac sodium (DS)-medicated dual layer PVA patch using a combination of electrospinning and cryogelation (freeze–thaw) methods to improve the physicochemical properties and drug compatibility and investigate the release of the DS-medicated dual layer PVA patch. Morphological observations using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) verified the polymer−polymer interaction between both layers, whereas Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy has demonstrated the compatibility of DS in PVA matrix up to 2% w/v of PVA volume. The DS loads were found amorphously distributed efficaciously in PVA matrix as no visible spectra of DS–PVA interaction were detected. The DS-medicated dual layer PVA patch with a thicker nanofiber layer (3-milliliter running volume), three freeze–thaw cycles and 2% DS loading labeled as 2%DLB3C show the lowest swelling capacity (18.47%). The in vitro assessment using Franz diffusion cells showed that the 2%DLB3C indicates a better sustained release of DS, with 53.26% of the DS being released after 12 h. The 2%DLB3C owned a flux (Jss) of 0.256 mg/cm2/h and a permeability coefficient (Kp) value of 0.020 cm/h. Thus, the results demonstrate that DS-medicated dual layer PVA patches prepared via a combination of electrospinning and cryogelation are capable of releasing drugs for up to 24 h and can serve as a drug reservoir in the skin, thereby extending the pharmacologic effects of DS.
Role of Pascalization in Milk Processing and Preservation: A Potential Alternative towards Sustainable Food Processing
Authors: Chughtai Muhmmad Farhan Jahangir , Farooq Muhammad Adil , Ashfaq Syeda Aiman , Khan Sonia , Khaliq Adnan , Antipov Sergey , Rebezov Maksim , Khayrullin Mars , Vorobeva Alla , Nelyubina Elena , Thiruvengadam Muthu , Ali Shariati Mohammad
Published: November 2021

Renewed technology has created a demand for foods which are natural in taste, minimally processed, and safe for consumption. Although thermal processing, such as pasteurization and sterilization, effectively limits pathogenic bacteria, it alters the aroma, flavor, and structural properties of milk and milk products. Nonthermal technologies have been used as an alternative to traditional thermal processing technology and have the ability to provide safe and healthy dairy products without affecting their nutritional composition and organoleptic properties. Other than nonthermal technologies, infrared spectroscopy is a nondestructive technique and may also be used for predicting the shelf life and microbial loads in milk. This review explains the role of pascalization or nonthermal techniques such as high-pressure processing (HPP), pulsed electric field (PEF), ultrasound (US), ultraviolet (UV), cold plasma treatment, membrane filtration, micro fluidization, and infrared spectroscopy in milk processing and preservation.
Multi-mJ Scaling of 5-Optical Cycle, 3 µm OPCPA
Authors: Alves Joana , Pires Hugo , João Celso P. , Figueira Gonçalo
Published: November 2021

We present the design of an ultrafast optical parametric chirped pulse amplifier (OPCPA) operating at 3 µm yielding few-cycle pulses and multi-mJ output energy. This design demonstrates that with a configuration of a single crystal or combination of crystals (KTA and MgO:LN) it is possible to achieve output energies above the mJ with sufficient bandwidth to allow compression to just 5-optical cycles. Here, we consider a 1 µm mJ-level picosecond chirped pulse amplifier (CPA), a typical pumping source for this type of non-linear amplifiers. Compression with a simple bulk material enables reaching close to the pulse Fourier-transform limited duration, paving the way to high energy, ultrafast mid-infrared pulses.
Usability of Tilted Plasmon Antenna with Structured Light
Authors: Quintero-Torres Rafael , Domínguez-Juárez Jorge Luis , Shutova Mariia , Sokolov Alexei V.
Published: November 2021

We study the effect of oblique illumination on the functioning of a plasmonic nanoantenna for chiral light. The antenna is designed to receive a structured beam of light and produce a nanosized near-field distribution that possesses nonzero orbital angular momentum. The design consists of metal (gold) microrods laid on a dielectric surface and is compatible with well-developed nanofabrication techniques. Experimental arrangements often require such an antenna to operate in a tilted geometry, where input light is incident on the antenna at an oblique angle. We analyze the limitations that the angled illumination imposes and discuss approaches to mitigate these limitations. Through our numerical simulations, we find that tilt angles require modifications to the antenna design. Our analysis can guide current and future experimental configurations to push the limits of resolution and sensitivity.
Polygon-Based Hierarchical Planar Networks Based on Generalized Apollonian Construction
Authors: Tamm Mikhail V. , Koval Dmitry G. , Stadnichuk Vladimir I.
Published: November 2021

Experimentally observed complex networks are often scale-free, small-world and have an unexpectedly large number of small cycles. An Apollonian network is one notable example of a model network simultaneously having all three of these properties. This network is constructed by a deterministic procedure of consequentially splitting a triangle into smaller and smaller triangles. In this paper, a similar construction based on the consequential splitting of tetragons and other polygons with an even number of edges is presented. The suggested procedure is stochastic and results in the ensemble of planar scale-free graphs. In the limit of a large number of splittings, the degree distribution of the graph converges to a true power law with an exponent, which is smaller than three in the case of tetragons and larger than three for polygons with a larger number of edges. It is shown that it is possible to stochastically mix tetragon-based and hexagon-based constructions to obtain an ensemble of graphs with a tunable exponent of degree distribution. Other possible planar generalizations of the Apollonian procedure are also briefly discussed.
Proteasome- and Calpain-Mediated Proteolysis, but Not Autophagy, Is Required for Leucine-Induced Protein Synthesis in C2C12 Myotubes
Authors: Osburn Shelby C. , Vann Christopher G. , Church David D. , Ferrando Arny A. , Roberts Michael D.
Published: November 2021

Muscle protein synthesis and proteolysis are tightly coupled processes. Given that muscle growth is promoted by increases in net protein balance, it stands to reason that bolstering protein synthesis through amino acids while reducing or inhibiting proteolysis could be a synergistic strategy in enhancing anabolism. However, there is contradictory evidence suggesting that the proper functioning of proteolytic systems in muscle is required for homeostasis. To add clarity to this issue, we sought to determine if inhibiting different proteolytic systems in C2C12 myotubes in conjunction with acute and chronic leucine treatments affected markers of anabolism. In Experiment 1, myotubes underwent 1-h, 6-h, and 24-h treatments with serum and leucine-free DMEM containing the following compounds (n = 6 wells per treatment): (i) DMSO vehicle (CTL), (ii) 2 mM leucine + vehicle (Leu-only), (iii) 2 mM leucine + 40 μM MG132 (20S proteasome inhibitor) (Leu + MG132), (iv) 2 mM leucine + 50 μM calpeptin (calpain inhibitor) (Leu + CALP), and (v) 2 mM leucine + 1 μM 3-methyladenine (autophagy inhibitor) (Leu + 3MA). Protein synthesis levels significantly increased (p < 0.05) in the Leu-only and Leu + 3MA 6-h treatments compared to CTL, and levels were significantly lower in Leu + MG132 and Leu + CALP versus Leu-only and CTL. With 24-h treatments, total protein yield was significantly lower in Leu + MG132 cells versus other treatments. Additionally, the intracellular essential amino acid (EAA) pool was significantly greater in 24-h Leu + MG132 treatments versus other treatments. In a follow-up experiment, myotubes were treated for 48 h with CTL, Leu-only, and Leu + MG132 for morphological assessments. Results indicated Leu + MG132 yielded significantly smaller myotubes compared to CTL and Leu-only. Our data are limited in scope due to the utilization of select proteolysis inhibitors. However, this is the first evidence to suggest proteasome and calpain inhibition with MG132 and CALP, respectively, abrogate leucine-induced protein synthesis in myotubes. Additionally, longer-term Leu + MG132 treatments translated to an atrophy phenotype. Whether or not proteasome inhibition in vivo reduces leucine- or EAA-induced anabolism remains to be determined.
Hd1 Allele Types and Their Associations with Major Agronomic Traits in Korean Rice Cultivars
Authors: Mo Youngjun , Lee Chang-Min , Park Hyang-Mi , Ha Su-Kyung , Kim Mi-Jung , Kwak Jieun , Lee Hyun-Sook , Lee Jeong-Heui , Jeung Ji-Ung
Published: November 2021

Optimizing flowering time in crop plants is critical for maximizing yield and quality under target environments. While there is a wide range of heading date variation in Korean rice cultivars, the underlying gene mechanisms are unclear. Here, we sequenced the protein coding regions of Hd1, the major rice heading date gene, from 293 Korean rice cultivars and investigated the associations between Hd1 allele types and major agronomic traits under four different environments. There were four functional Hd1 and five nonfunctional hd1 alleles distributed among the 293 Korean rice cultivars. The effects of the Hd1 allele types were highly significant for days to heading in all four environments, explaining 51.4–65.8% of the phenotypic variation. On average, cultivars carrying nonfunctional hd1 headed 13.7 days earlier than those carrying functional Hd1. While the Hd1 allele types exhibited highly significant effects on culm length and protein content under all four environments, the differences between cultivars carrying Hd1 and hd1 were minimal. The effects of the Hd1 allele types on amylose content were significant in only one of the four environments. Our results provide useful information for fine-tuning rice heading dates by utilizing different Hd1 alleles in rice breeding programs.
Adaptation of Interspecific Mesoamerican Common Bean Lines to Acid Soils and High Temperature in the Amazon Region of Colombia
Authors: Suárez Juan Carlos , Urban Milan O. , Contreras Amara Tatiana , Grajales Miguel Ángel , Cajiao Cesar , Beebe Stephen E. , Rao Idupulapati M.
Published: November 2021

Knowledge of the physiological basis for improved genetic adaptation of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) lines to acid soils and high temperature conditions in the Amazon region of Colombia is limited. In this study, we evaluated the differences among 41 common bean lines in energy use, leaf cooling, photosynthate partitioning to pod formation and grain filling, and grain yield over two seasons under acid soil and high temperature stress in the Amazon region of Colombia. Common bean lines evaluated included medium and large seeded interspecific lines of Mesoamerican and Andean gene pools with different levels of adaptation to abiotic stress conditions and some lines are improved for iron and zinc (biofortified) concentration in seeds. We found three bean lines (GGR 147, SMG 21 and SMG 12) that were superior in their photosynthetic response, leaf cooling, photosynthate partitioning ability to pod formation and grain filling, resulting in grain yields exceeding 1900 kg ha−1 under acid soil and high temperature stress conditions. The superior photosynthetic performance was attributed to the efficient use of absorbed energy on the electron level in thylakoids, which is mainly oriented to a higher quantum yield of PSII (ΦII), lower energy dissipation in the form of heat (ΦNPQ), high linear electron flow (LEF) and high fraction of PSI centers in open state (PSIopen). We speculate that these photosynthetic and photosynthate partitioning responses of superior bean lines are part of the genetic adaptation to acidic soils and high temperature stress conditions. Among the evaluated bean lines, three lines (GGR 147, SMG 21 and SMG 12) combined the desirable attributes for genetic improvement of stress tolerance and biofortification. These lines can serve as parents to further improve traits (energy use efficiency and multiple stress resistance) that are important for bean production in the Amazon region.
Optimization of the Warpage of Fused Deposition Modeling Parts Using Finite Element Method
Authors: Syrlybayev Daniyar , Zharylkassyn Beibit , Seisekulova Aidana , Perveen Asma , Talamona Didier
Published: November 2021

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is one of the most affordable and widespread additive manufacturing (AM) technologies. Despite its simplistic implementation, the physics behind this FDM process is very complex and involves rapid heating and cooling of the polymer feedstock. As a result, highly non-uniform internal stresses develop within the part, which can cause warpage deformation. The severity of the warpage is highly dependent on the process parameters involved, and therefore, currently extensive experimental studies are ongoing to assess their influence on the final accuracy of the part. In this study, a thermomechanical Finite Element model of the 3D printing process was developed using ANSYS. This model was compared against experimental results and several other analytical models available in the literature. The developed Finite Element Analysis (FEA) model demonstrated a good qualitative and quantitative correlation with the experimental results. An L9 orthogonal array, from Taguchi Design of Experiments, was used for the optimization of the warpage based on experimental results and numerical simulations. The optimum process parameters were identified for each objective and parts were printed using these process parameters. Both parts showed an approximately equal warpage value of 320 μm, which was the lowest among all 10 runs of the L9 array. Additionally, this model is extended to predict the warpage of FDM printed multi-material parts. The relative percentage error between the numerical and experimental warpage results for alternating and sandwich specimens are found to be 1.4% and 9.5%, respectively.
Poly(L-lactic acid) Reinforced with Hydroxyapatite and Tungsten Disulfide Nanotubes
Authors: Golan Ofek , Shalom Hila , Kaplan-Ashiri Ifat , Cohen Sidney R. , Feldman Yishay , Pinkas Iddo , Ofek Almog Rakefet , Zak Alla , Tenne Reshef
Published: November 2021

Poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) is a biocompatible, biodegradable, and semi-crystalline polymer with numerous applications including food packaging, medical implants, stents, tissue engineering scaffolds, etc. Hydroxyapatite (HA) is the major component of natural bone. Conceptually, combining PLLA and HA could produce a bioceramic suitable for implants and bone repair. However, this nanocomposite suffers from poor mechanical behavior under tensile strain. In this study, films of PLLA and HA were prepared with small amounts of nontoxic WS2 nanotubes (INT-WS2). The structural aspects of the films were investigated via electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman microscopy, and infrared absorption spectroscopy. The mechanical properties were evaluated via tensile measurements, micro-hardness tests, and nanoindentation. The thermal properties were investigated via differential scanning calorimetry. The composite films exhibited improved mechanical and thermal properties compared to the films prepared from the PLLA and HA alone, which is advantageous for medical applications.
Effect of Thermal Pretreatments on Phosphorylation of Corypha umbraculifera L. Stem Pith Starch: A Comparative Study Using Dry-Heat, Heat-Moisture and Autoclave Treatments
Authors: Aaliya Basheer , Sunooj Kappat Valiyapeediyekkal , Rajkumar Chillapalli Babu Sri , Navaf Muhammed , Akhila Plachikkattu Parambil , Sudheesh Cherakkathodi , George Johnsy , Lackner Maximilian
Published: November 2021

Talipot starch, a non-conventional starch source with a high yield (76%) from the stem pith of talipot palm (Corypha umbraculifera L.) was subjected to three different thermal treatments (dry-heat, heat-moisture and autoclave treatments) prior to phosphorylation. Upon dual modification of starch with thermal treatments and phosphorylation, the phosphorous content and degree of crosslinking significantly increased (p ≤ 0.05) and was confirmed by the increased peak intensity of P=O and P–O–C stretching vibrations compared to phosphorylated talipot starch in the FT-IR spectrum. The highest degree of crosslinking (0.00418) was observed in the autoclave pretreated phosphorylated talipot starch sample. Thermal pretreatment remarkably changed the granule morphology by creating fissures and grooves. The amylose content and relative crystallinity of all phosphorylated talipot starches significantly decreased (p ≤ 0.05) due to crosslinking by the formation of phosphodiester bonds, reducing the swelling power of dual-modified starches. Among all modified starches, dry-heat pretreated phosphorylated starch gel showed an improved light transmittance value of 28.4%, indicating reduced retrogradation tendency. Pasting and rheological properties represented that the thermal pretreated phosphorylated starch formed stronger gels that improved thermal and shear resistance. Autoclave treatment before phosphorylation of talipot starch showed the highest resistant starch content of 48.08%.
Thermal and Flame Retardant Behavior of Neem and Banyan Fibers When Reinforced with a Bran Particulate Epoxy Hybrid Composite
Authors: Raja Thandavamoorthy , Mohanavel Vinayagam , Sathish Thanikodi , Djearamane Sinouvassane , Velmurugan Palanivel , Karthick Alagar , Nasif Omaima , Alfarraj Saleh , Shing Wong Ling , Sureshkumar Shanmugam , Ravichandran Manikkam
Published: November 2021

Awareness of environmental concerns influences researchers to develop an alternative method of developing natural fiber composite materials, to reduce the consumption of synthetic fibers. This research attempted testing the neem (Azadirachta indica) fiber and the banyan (Ficus benghalensis) fiber at different weight fractions, under flame retardant and thermal testing, in the interest of manufacturing efficient products and parts in real-time applications. The hybrid composite consists of 25% fiber reinforcement, 70% matrix material, and 5% bran filler. Their thermal properties—short-term heat deflection, temperature, thermal conductivity, and thermal expansion—were used to quantify the effect of potential epoxy composites. Although natural composite materials are widely utilized, their uses are limited since many of them are combustible. As a result, there has been a lot of focus on making them flame resistant. The thermal analysis revealed the sample B was given 26% more short-term heat resistance when the presence of banyan fiber loading is maximum. The maximum heat deflection temperature occurred in sample A (104.5 °C) and sample B (99.2 °C), which shows a 36% greater thermal expansion compared with chopped neem fiber loading. In sample F, an increased chopped neem fiber weight fraction gave a 40% higher thermal conductivity, when compared to increasing the bidirectional banyan mat of this hybrid composite. The maximum flame retardant capacity occurred in samples A and B, with endurance up to 12.9 and 11.8 min during the flame test of the hybrid composites.
Sentinel-2 and Landsat-8 Observations for Harmful Algae Blooms in a Small Eutrophic Lake
Authors: Liu Miao , Ling Hong , Wu Dan , Su Xiaomei , Cao Zhigang
Published: November 2021

Widespread harmful cyanobacterial bloom is one of the most pressing concerns in lakes and reservoirs, resulting in a lot of negative ecological consequences and threatening public health. Ocean color instruments with low spatial resolution have been used to monitor cyanobacterial bloom in large lakes; however, they cannot be applied to small water bodies well. Here, the Multi-Spectral Instrument (MSI) onboard Sentinel-2A and -2B and the Operational Landsat Imager (OLI) onboard Landsat-8 were employed to assemble the virtual constellation and to track spatial and seasonal variations in floating algae blooms from 2016 to 2020 in a small eutrophic plateau lake: Lake Xingyun in China. The floating algae index (FAI) was calculated using Rayleigh-corrected reflectance in the red, near-infrared, and short-wave infrared bands. The MSI-derived FAI had a similar pattern to the OLI-derived FAI, with a mean absolute percentage error of 19.98% and unbiased percentage difference of 17.05%. Then, an FAI threshold, 0.0693, was determined using bimodal histograms of FAI images for floating algae extraction. The floating algae had a higher occurrence in the northern region than the southern region in this lake, whilst the occurrence of floating algae in summer and autumn was higher than that in spring and winter. Such a spatial and seasonal pattern was related to the variability in air temperature, wind speed and direction, and nutrients. The climatological annual mean occurrence of floating algae from 2016 to 2020 in Lake Xingyun exhibited a significant decrease, which was related to decreases in nutrients, resulting from efficient ecological restoration by the local government. This research highlighted the application of OLI-MSI virtual constellation on monitoring floating algae in a small lake, providing a practical and theoretical reference to monitor aquatic environments in small water bodies.
Deep Neural Networks to Detect Weeds from Crops in Agricultural Environments in Real-Time: A Review
Authors: Rakhmatulin Ildar , Kamilaris Andreas , Andreasen Christian
Published: November 2021

Automation, including machine learning technologies, are becoming increasingly crucial in agriculture to increase productivity. Machine vision is one of the most popular parts of machine learning and has been widely used where advanced automation and control have been required. The trend has shifted from classical image processing and machine learning techniques to modern artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning (DL) methods. Based on large training datasets and pre-trained models, DL-based methods have proven to be more accurate than previous traditional techniques. Machine vision has wide applications in agriculture, including the detection of weeds and pests in crops. Variation in lighting conditions, failures to transfer learning, and object occlusion constitute key challenges in this domain. Recently, DL has gained much attention due to its advantages in object detection, classification, and feature extraction. DL algorithms can automatically extract information from large amounts of data used to model complex problems and is, therefore, suitable for detecting and classifying weeds and crops. We present a systematic review of AI-based systems to detect weeds, emphasizing recent trends in DL. Various DL methods are discussed to clarify their overall potential, usefulness, and performance. This study indicates that several limitations obstruct the widespread adoption of AI/DL in commercial applications. Recommendations for overcoming these challenges are summarized.
Evaluation of Precipitable Water Vapor Retrieval from Homogeneously Reprocessed Long-Term GNSS Tropospheric Zenith Wet Delay, and Multi-Technique
Authors: Su Hang , Yang Tao , Wang Kan , Sun Baoqi , Yang Xuhai
Published: November 2021

Water vapor is one of the most important greenhouse gases in the world. There are many techniques that can measure water vapor directly or remotely. In this work, we first study the Global Positioning System (GPS)- and the Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS)-derived Zenith Wet Delay (ZWD) time series based on 11 years of the second reprocessing campaign of International Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) Service (IGS) using 320 globally distributed stations. The amount of measurement, the local environment, and the antenna radome are shown to be the main factors that affect the GNSS ZWDs and the corresponding a posteriori formal errors. Furthermore, antenna radome is able to effectively reduce the systematic bias of ZWDs and a posteriori formal errors between the GPS- and GLONASS-based solutions. With the development of the GLONASS, the ZWD differences between the GPS- and the GLONASS-based solutions have gradually decreased to sub-mm-level after GLONASS was fully operated. As the GPS-based Precipitable Water Vapor (PWV) is usually used as the reference to evaluate the other PWV products, the PWV consistency among several common techniques is evaluated, including GNSSs, spaceborne sensors, and numerical products from the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). As an example of the results from a detailed comparison analysis, the long-term global analysis shows that the PWV obtained from the GNSS and the ECMWF have great intra-agreements. Based on the global distribution of the magnitude of the PWV and the PWV drift, most of the techniques showed superior agreement and proved their ability to do climate research. With a detailed study performed for the ZWDs and PWV on a long-term global scale, this contribution provides a useful supplement for future research on the GNSS ZWD and PWV.
A Calibration/Disaggregation Coupling Scheme for Retrieving Soil Moisture at High Spatio-Temporal Resolution: Synergy between SMAP Passive Microwave, MODIS/Landsat Optical/Thermal and Sentinel-1 Radar Data
Authors: Ojha Nitu , Merlin Olivier , Amazirh Abdelhakim , Ouaadi Nadia , Rivalland Vincent , Jarlan Lionel , Er-Raki Salah , Escorihuela Maria Jose
Published: November 2021

Soil moisture (SM) data are required at high spatio-temporal resolution—typically the crop field scale every 3–6 days—for agricultural and hydrological purposes. To provide such high-resolution SM data, many remote sensing methods have been developed from passive microwave, active microwave and thermal data. Despite the pros and cons of each technique in terms of spatio-temporal resolution and their sensitivity to perturbing factors such as vegetation cover, soil roughness and meteorological conditions, there is currently no synergistic approach that takes advantage of all relevant (passive, active microwave and thermal) remote sensing data. In this context, the objective of the paper is to develop a new algorithm that combines SMAP L-band passive microwave, MODIS/Landsat optical/thermal and Sentinel-1 C-band radar data to provide SM data at the field scale at the observation frequency of Sentinel-1. In practice, it is a three-step procedure in which: (1) the 36 km resolution SMAP SM data are disaggregated at 100 m resolution using MODIS/Landsat optical/thermal data on clear sky days, (2) the 100 m resolution disaggregated SM data set is used to calibrate a radar-based SM retrieval model and (3) the so-calibrated radar model is run at field scale on each Sentinel-1 overpass. The calibration approach also uses a vegetation descriptor as ancillary data that is derived either from optical (Sentinel-2) or radar (Sentinel-1) data. Two radar models (an empirical linear regression model and a non-linear semi-empirical formulation derived from the water cloud model) are tested using three vegetation descriptors (NDVI, polarization ratio (PR) and radar coherence (CO)) separately. Both models are applied over three experimental irrigated and rainfed wheat crop sites in central Morocco. The field-scale temporal correlation between predicted and in situ SM is in the range of 0.66–0.81 depending on the retrieval configuration. Based on this data set, the linear radar model using PR as a vegetation descriptor offers a relatively good compromise between precision and robustness all throughout the agricultural season with only three parameters to set. The proposed synergistical approach combining multi-resolution/multi-sensor SM-relevant data offers the advantage of not requiring in situ measurements for calibration.
Small Object Detection in Traffic Scenes Based on YOLO-MXANet
Authors: He Xiaowei , Cheng Rao , Zheng Zhonglong , Wang Zeji
Published: November 2021

In terms of small objects in traffic scenes, general object detection algorithms have low detection accuracy, high model complexity, and slow detection speed. To solve the above problems, an improved algorithm (named YOLO-MXANet) is proposed in this paper. Complete-Intersection over Union (CIoU) is utilized to improve loss function for promoting the positioning accuracy of the small object. In order to reduce the complexity of the model, we present a lightweight yet powerful backbone network (named SA-MobileNeXt) that incorporates channel and spatial attention. Our approach can extract expressive features more effectively by applying the Shuffle Channel and Spatial Attention (SCSA) module into the SandGlass Block (SGBlock) module while increasing the parameters by a small number. In addition, the data enhancement method combining Mosaic and Mixup is employed to improve the robustness of the training model. The Multi-scale Feature Enhancement Fusion (MFEF) network is proposed to fuse the extracted features better. In addition, the SiLU activation function is utilized to optimize the Convolution-Batchnorm-Leaky ReLU (CBL) module and the SGBlock module to accelerate the convergence of the model. The ablation experiments on the KITTI dataset show that each improved method is effective. The improved algorithm reduces the complexity and detection speed of the model while improving the object detection accuracy. The comparative experiments on the KITTY dataset and CCTSDB dataset with other algorithms show that our algorithm also has certain advantages.
The Stability of Roadway Groups under Rheology Coupling Mining Disturbance
Authors: Yang Sen , Li Guichen , Bi Ruiyang , Yao Bicheng , Feng Ruiguang , Sun Yuantian
Published: November 2021

The deep roadway groups play an important role in transportation and ventilation in coal mine production. Therefore, it is very important to comprehensively analyze the coupling effect of rheological deformation and coal mining on the stability of the roadway groups. In this paper, the disturbance effects of different stop-mining lines on roadway groups under long-term rheology were investigated by numerical simulation, and the failure mechanism of roadway groups with large sections and multiple disturbances in a deep well was revealed. The results show that the long working face will lead to the collapse of key strata, and the influence range will spread to the adjacent roadway groups. When the distance between the working face and the stop-mining line is 100 m, the roadway groups cannot be affected by the working face mining, and the reserved width of the coal pillar can be determined to be 100 m, which increases the stability of the roadway’s surrounding rock and maintains the mine safety production. This paper aims to provide a reference for groups design and control under similar conditions.
Integrated Methodological Approach for the Documentation of Marine Priority Habitats and Submerged Antiquities: Examples from the Saronic Gulf, Greece
Authors: Georgiou Nikos , Dimas Xenophon , Papatheodorou George
Published: November 2021

The rising human activities and resource exploitation have increased pressure in the coastal zone and the marine environment, risking the very existence of Marine Priority Habitats (MPH) and Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH). The delimitation of these two priority areas in a time- and cost-effective way is essential for the sustainable management and exploitation of sea resources and natural-cultural heritage preservation. We propose an Integrated Methodological Approach for the Detection and Mapping of MPH and UCH. To achieve this, we used a downscale methodological approach of increasing spatial resolution based on three main methodological axes: (i) desk-based research, (ii) marine geophysics/seafloor classification, and (iii) in-depth visual inspection/3D mapping. This methodological scheme was implemented at the Saronic Gulf and focused on Aegina island. The methodology proposed, which combines existing and new techniques, proved successful in detecting and mapping the MPH and UCH in detail, while it compiled the information necessary for the establishment of Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) maps. Finally, the MSP map constructed for the Saronic Gulf demonstrated the lack of holistic coastal zone management plans due to impacts on UCH linked to anthropogenic intervention and the sparsity of marine habitats owing to marine pollution.
Do Social Media Posts Influence Consumption Behavior towards Plastic Pollution?
Authors: Rapada Maria Zunally , Yu Derrick Ethelbhert , Yu Krista Danielle
Published: November 2021

The continuous generation of plastic wastes is one of the most serious environmental problems that we are facing. Information campaigns have been used to encourage people to reduce plastic consumption. Moreover, social media has become the most prevalent and influential form of communication in this current era. This study seeks to analyze the influence of social media on consumer behavior towards plastic products. The survey includes 213 individual observations wherein four information posts that represent the overall facets of plastic usage problem were presented. These scenarios include (1) a general information post on sachet use, (2) an information post discouraging use of plastic bottles in celebration of zero waste month, (3) an information post on the adverse health effects of plastic food storage and (4) an information post on the harmful effects of plastic use to marine life and its indirect effect to human health. Results show that, prior to any information, most participants consume products in plastic packaging except for the usage of single-use plastic containers for storing food. For the first three scenarios, it has been found that social media intensifies the probability of avoiding plastic consumption when the likelihood on the involvement of self-interest on the topic, as well as the ability to read the link attached to the post, increases. However, for the scenario that shows harmful effects of plastic use to marine life, the probability of avoiding the use of plastic packaged products after seeing the post is only affected by the likelihood that the respondent will recommend the link to friends or network. This study establishes that social media can effectively influence consumer behavior towards plastic consumption if the information presented are from confirmed studies that can easily translate to results based on their own action and has a direct impact on their health. The contrasting findings based on the different scenarios can be used as palettes in constructing modulated social media posts that can effectively influence consumer behavior towards reducing plastic pollution.
Food Insecurity, Population Growth, Urbanization and Water Availability: The Role of Government Stability
Authors: Kousar Shazia , Ahmed Farhan , Pervaiz Amber , Bojnec Štefan
Published: November 2021

To examine the impact of population growth, urbanization and water availability on food insecurity, this study utilized time series data for the period of 1990–2019, from World Development Indicators (WDI), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and World Bank. The study applied an Auto-regressive distributive lag (ARDL) co-integration approach to test the hypothesized relationships among modeled variables. The study found a negative and significant association of water resources and agriculture research with food insecurity while urbanization and population growth has a significant and positive impact on food insecurity in the short-run as well as in the long-run period. Moreover, the study found that political stability has a negative and significant association with food insecurity in the short-run and long-run periods. Results also indicated that political stability significantly strengthens the relationship of water resources, and agriculture research with food insecurity while political stability weakens the relationship of urbanization and food insecurity significantly.
Existence Solution for Coupled System of Langevin Fractional Differential Equations of Caputo Type with Riemann–Stieltjes Integral Boundary Conditions
Authors: Salem Ahmed , Almaghamsi Lamya
Published: November 2021

By employing Shauder fixed-point theorem, this work tries to obtain the existence results for the solution of a nonlinear Langevin coupled system of fractional order whose nonlinear terms depend on Caputo fractional derivatives. We study this system subject to Stieltjes integral boundary conditions. A numerical example explaining our result is attached.
Effects of Bacillus subtilis ZJ-2019-1 on Zearalenone Toxicosis in Female Gilts
Authors: Zhang Junnan , Zheng Yunduo , Tao Hui , Liu Jie , Zhao Peng , Yang Fan , Lv Zonghao , Wang Jinquan
Published: November 2021

The purpose of this research was to investigate the toxicity of zearalenone (ZEN) on the growth performance, genital organs, serum hormones, biomarkers, and histopathological changes of female gilts and to evaluate the efficacy of Bacillus subtilis ZJ-2019-1 in alleviating ZEN toxicosis in gilts. Twenty-four female gilts were randomly allocated to four groups with six replicates per group and one gilt per replicate, fed on four feeds prepared previously, which were basic diet (control group, C group), ZEN diet (Z group), Zlb diet (Zlb group) containing B. subtilis ZJ-2019-1 in liquid form, and Zdb diet (Zdb group) containing B. subtilis ZJ-2019-1 in dehydrated form. The results showed that the vulva size and relative weight of reproductive organs had no significant difference in the control group, Zlb group, and Zdb group, but were significantly lower than in the Z group (p < 0.05); the relative weight of the liver was lower in the C group, Zlb group, and Zbd group than in the Z group (0.05 < p < 0.1). The concentration of serum glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) was lower, but follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) was higher in the Z group, Zlb group, and Zdb group than in the Z group (0.05 < p < 0.1). Additionally, serum luteinizing hormone (LH) concentration had no significant difference in the C group, Zlb group, and Zdb group but was significantly lower than in the Z group (p < 0.05); estradiol (E2) was significantly lower in the Zlb group and Zdb group than that in C group, but significantly higher than that in Z group (p < 0.05); PRL was significantly higher in the Zlb group and Zdb group than in the C group, but was significantly lower than in Z group (p < 0.05). ZEN and its reduced metabolites were measured in biological samples after enzymatic hydrolysis of the conjugated forms. The concentration of serum ZEN and its metabolite, α-zeralenol (α-ZOL), had no significant difference in Zlb, Zdb, and control groups but was significantly lower than in the Z group (p < 0.05); urine ZEN and its metabolites, α-ZOL and β-zeralenol (β-ZOL), had no significant difference in Zlb, Zdb, and control groups but was significantly lower than in the Z group (p < 0.05). Cell damages were observed in the liver, uterus, and ovary of gilts in the Z group and alleviated in Zlb and Zdb groups, but the loss of oocytes was irreversible in the ovary. The ZEN-contaminated diet caused serious changes in female hormones and brought harm to the livers and reproductive organs, but B. subtilis ZJ-2019-1 could naturally remove the ZEN significantly, which ameliorated the reproductive impairment in gilts caused by ZEN. The addition of B. subtilis ZJ-2019-1 to ZEN-contaminated feeds could ameliorate the toxic effects effectively, regardless of liquid or dry culture. Therefore, the B. subtilis ZJ-2019-1 strain has great potential industrial applications.
Nuclear Import of HIV-1
Authors: Shen Qi , Wu Chunxiang , Freniere Christian , Tripler Therese N. , Xiong Yong
Published: November 2021

The delivery of the HIV-1 genome into the nucleus is an indispensable step in retroviral infection of non-dividing cells, but the mechanism of HIV-1 nuclear import has been a longstanding debate due to controversial experimental evidence. It was commonly believed that the HIV-1 capsid would need to disassemble (uncoat) in the cytosol before nuclear import because the capsid is larger than the central channel of nuclear pore complexes (NPCs); however, increasing evidence demonstrates that intact, or nearly intact, HIV-1 capsid passes through the NPC to enter the nucleus. With the protection of the capsid, the HIV-1 core completes reverse transcription in the nucleus and is translocated to the integration site. Uncoating occurs while, or after, the viral genome is released near the integration site. These independent discoveries reveal a compelling new paradigm of this important step of the HIV-1 life cycle. In this review, we summarize the recent studies related to HIV-1 nuclear import, highlighting the spatial–temporal relationship between the nuclear entry of the virus core, reverse transcription, and capsid uncoating.
From Mosquito Bites to Sexual Transmission: Evaluating Mouse Models of Zika Virus Infection
Authors: Balint Elizabeth , Montemarano Amelia , Feng Emily , Ashkar Ali A.
Published: November 2021

Following the recent outbreak of Zika virus (ZIKV) infections in Latin America, ZIKV has emerged as a global health threat due to its ability to induce neurological disease in both adults and the developing fetus. ZIKV is largely mosquito-borne and is now endemic in many parts of Africa, Asia, and South America. However, several reports have demonstrated persistent ZIKV infection of the male reproductive tract and evidence of male-to-female sexual transmission of ZIKV. Sexual transmission may broaden the reach of ZIKV infections beyond its current geographical limits, presenting a significant threat worldwide. Several mouse models of ZIKV infection have been developed to investigate ZIKV pathogenesis and develop effective vaccines and therapeutics. However, the majority of these models focus on mosquito-borne infection, while few have considered the impact of sexual transmission on immunity and pathogenesis. This review will examine the advantages and disadvantages of current models of mosquito-borne and sexually transmitted ZIKV and provide recommendations for the effective use of ZIKV mouse models.
Small Molecule Inhibitors of MERTK and FLT3 Induce Cell Cycle Arrest in Human CD8+ T Cells
Authors: Powell Richard M. , Peeters Marlies J. W. , Rahbech Anne , Aehnlich Pia , Seremet Tina , thor Straten Per
Published: November 2021

There is an increasing interest in the development of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases inhibitors (RTKIs) for cancer treatment, as dysregulation of RTK expression can govern oncogenesis. Among the newer generations of RTKIs, many target Mer Tyrosine Kinase (MERTK) and Fms related RTK 3 (FLT3). Next to being overexpressed in many cancers, MERTK and FLT3 have important roles in immune cell development and function. In this study, we address how the new generation and potent RTKIs of MERTK/FLT3 affect human primary CD8+ T cell function. Using ex vivo T cell receptor (TCR)-activated CD8+ T cells, we demonstrate that use of dual MERTK/FLT3 inhibitor UNC2025 restricts CD8+ T proliferation at the G2 phase, at least in part by modulation of mTOR signaling. Cytokine production and activation remain largely unaffected. Finally, we show that activated CD8+ T cells express FLT3 from day two post activation, and FLT3 inhibition with AC220 (quizartinib) or siRNA-mediated knockdown affects cell cycle kinetics. These results signify that caution is needed when using potent RTKIs in the context of antitumor immune responses.
Attitudes of Medical Students toward COVID-19 Vaccination: Who Is Willing to Receive a Third Dose of the Vaccine?
Authors: Sugawara Norio , Yasui-Furukori Norio , Fukushima Atsuhito , Shimoda Kazutaka
Published: November 2021

Medical students may come in contact with individuals infected with COVID-19 in their clinical rotations. A high level of acceptance of vaccination is needed for them to protect their health and the health of patients from this disease. The objectives of this study were to (1) obtain information on medical students’ attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination, (2) assess factors associated with students’ attitudes, and (3) identify predictors of their willingness to receive a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Using a cross-sectional design, we conducted a questionnaire survey of medical students in July 2021. For this survey, we employed a 15-item questionnaire specifically developed to assess the students’ attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination. Of the 742 distributed questionnaires, 496 (294 males and 202 females) were completed. Among all the participants, 89.1% (442/496) received the second dose of the vaccine, and 90.7% (450/496) indicated that they would hypothetically receive the COVID-19 vaccine in the future. Furthermore, 84.5% (419/496) of all the participants were willing to receive a third dose of the vaccine. Regarding willingness to receive a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, multiple logistic regression models showed that students’ grade and their responses to Q1 (positive attitude toward vaccination), Q9 (belief in the protection offered by COVID-19 vaccination), Q10 (concern about the excessively rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines), Q12 (need for aspects of pre-pandemic life), and Q14 (concern about the sustainability of immunity) had significant associations with this outcome. Confidence in vaccines, relaxation of mobility restrictions, and concern about the sustainability of immunity motivate willingness to receive a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in medical students.