bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Artificial Intelligence and Pediatrics: Synthetic Knowledge Synthesis
Authors: Završnik Jernej , Kokol Peter , Žlahtič Bojan , Blažun Vošner Helena
Published: January 2024

The first publication on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in pediatrics dates back to 1984. Since then, research on AI in pediatrics has become much more popular, and the number of publications has largely increased. Consequently, a need for a holistic research landscape enabling researchers and other interested parties to gain insights into the use of AI in pediatrics has arisen. To fill this gap, a novel methodology, synthetic knowledge synthesis (SKS), was applied. Using SKS, we identified the most prolific countries, institutions, source titles, funding agencies, and research themes and the most frequently used AI algorithms and their applications in pediatrics. The corpus was extracted from the Scopus (Elsevier, The Netherlands) bibliographic database and analyzed using VOSViewer, version 1.6.20. Done An exponential growth in the literature was observed in the last decade. The United States, China, and Canada were the most productive countries. Deep learning was the most used machine learning algorithm and classification, and natural language processing was the most popular AI approach. Pneumonia, epilepsy, and asthma were the most targeted pediatric diagnoses, and prediction and clinical decision making were the most frequent applications.
Design, Implementation, and Control of a Wheel-Based Inverted Pendulum
Authors: Zaborniak Dominik , Patan Krzysztof , Witczak Marcin
Published: January 2024

Control of an inverted pendulum is a classical example of the stabilisation problem pertaining to systems that are unstable by nature. The reaction wheel and the motor act as actuators, generating the torque needed to stabilise the system and counteract inevitable disturbances. This paper begins by describing the design and physical implementation of a wheel-based inverted pendulum. Subsequently, the process of designing and testing the proportional–integral–derivative (PID) and unknown input Kalman-filter-based linear quadratic regulator (LQR) controllers is performed. In particular, the design and pre-validation were carried out in the Matlab/Simulink environment. The final validation step was realised using a constructed physical pendulum, with a digital controller implemented using the STM32 board. Finally, a set of various physical disturbances were introduced to the system to show the high reliability and superiority of the proposed Kalman-filter-based LQR strategy.
Balancing the Water-Carbon Trade-Off: Development of a Bi-Level Source-Grid-Load Synergistic Optimization Model for Multi-Regional Electric Power System
Authors: Liu Tao , Liu Jingru , Li Yanlei , Li Yanfeng
Published: January 2024

This study introduces the Bi-Level Source-Grid-Load Synergistic Optimization (BL_SGLSO) model, which effectively balances the competing objectives of water conservation and carbon emission reduction in the power industry. The model aims to establish a clean and low-carbon electric power system by harmoniously reconciling these two critical goals. Through the application of bi-level programming, the BL_SGLSO model adeptly manages the preferences and conflicts of decision makers at various levels while capturing regional interactions and the intricacies of electricity transmission. Key findings reveal that non-fossil energy conversion technologies are poised to become the dominant force in electricity generation, accounting for an impressive 89.34% share by 2050. To mitigate the spatial mismatch between power load and resource allocation, the development of new transmission pathways and the expansion of the “power transmission from west to east” initiative are paramount. Furthermore, the implementation of a carbon-reducing power system offers significant potential for conserving water resources and alleviating water stress. These insights provide invaluable guidance for decision makers seeking to optimize multi-regional electric power systems for both water efficiency and low-carbon outcomes while simultaneously promoting the adoption of renewable energy sources and fostering synergistic development across regions.
MixMobileNet: A Mixed Mobile Network for Edge Vision Applications
Authors: Meng Yanju , Wu Peng , Feng Jian , Zhang Xiaoming
Published: January 2024

Currently, vision transformers (ViTs) have rivaled comparable performance to convolutional neural networks (CNNs). However, the computational demands of the transformers’ self-attention mechanism pose challenges for their application on edge devices. Therefore, in this study, we propose a lightweight transformer-based network model called MixMobileNet. Similar to the ResNet block, this model only comprises a MixMobile block (MMb), which combines the efficient local inductive bias with the explicit modeling features of a transformer to achieve the fusion of the local–global feature interactions. For local, we propose the local-feature aggregation encoder (LFAE), which incorporates a PC2P (Partial-Conv→PWconv→PWconv) inverted bottleneck structure for residual connectivity. In particular, the kernel and channel scale are adaptive, reducing feature redundancy in adjacent layers and efficiently representing parameters. For global, we propose the global-feature aggregation encoder (GFAE), which employs a pooling strategy and computes the covariance matrix between channels instead of the spatial dimensions, changing the computational complexity from quadratic to linear, and this accelerates the inference of the model. We perform extensive image classification, object detection, and segmentation experiments to validate model performance. Our MixMobileNet-XXS/XS/S achieves 70.6%/75.1%/78.8% top-1 accuracy with 1.5 M/3.2 M/7.3 M parameters and 0.2 G/0.5 G/1.2 G FLOPs on ImageNet-1K, outperforming MobileViT-XXS/XS/S with an improvement of +1.6%↑/+0.4%↑/+0.4%↑ with −38.8%↓/−51.5%↓/−39.8%↓ reduction in FLOPs. In addition, the MixMobileNet-S assembly of SSDLite and DeepLabv3 achieves an accuracy of 28.5 mAP/79.5 mIoU at COCO2017/VOC2012 with lower computation, demonstrating the competitive performance of our lightweight model.
Efficient Prototyping of a Field-Programmable Gate Array-Based Real-Time Model of a Modular Multilevel Converter
Authors: Gong Wenming , Liu Chaofan , Wang Mingdong , Zhao Xiaobing
Published: January 2024

Field-programmable gate array (FPGA)-based real-time simulation plays a crucial role in testing power–electronic dominated systems with the formation of controller hardware-in-the-loop (CHIL) or power hardware-in-the-loop (PHIL). This work describes an efficient implementation of computation time and resource usage in the FPGA-based study of a modular multilevel converter (MMC) with detailed electromagnetic transients. The proposed modeling technique can be used in continuous control mode (CCM) and discontinuous control mode (DCM) for high-switching frequency semiconductor technologies. An FPGA-based designed solver structure is also presented to take advantage of the parallel features of FPGAs to achieve an ultra-fast calculation speed. In addition, two different switch modeling techniques are discussed with a five-level MMC case study. Experimental results on the NI PXIe platform show the feasibility of the proposed implementation, and a time step of 100 nanoseconds is achieved.
Enhancing Economic Efficiency: Analyzing Transformer Life-Cycle Costs in Power Grids
Authors: Gui Fangxu , Chen Heng , Zhao Xinyue , Pan Peiyuan , Xin Cheng , Jiang Xue
Published: January 2024

The transformer is a fundamental piece of equipment for power grids. The analysis and optimization of their life-cycle costs are of great importance to reinforce the economic efficiency of electrical networks. This paper constructs a comprehensive transformer life-cycle cost (LCC) model by fusing life-cycle cost theory with relevant transformer expenditure. It proceeds to examine the life-cycle cost aspects of the transformer, delving into its cost dynamics under various influencing factors, establishing interconnections between these factors and analyzing the cost relationship. By employing MATLAB software (Matlab 2021a) along with the whale optimization algorithm (WOA) this paper optimizes the objective function. Through this, it establishes the LCC model for 20 power transformers, obtaining the optimal objective function curve and the maximum value for LCC optimization of the transformer. Unlike previous research, this study adds a detailed analysis of several factors that influence LCC. At the same time, it develops a more complete, scientific and rational LCC optimization model. An illustrative example validates the model and the superiority of the whale optimization algorithm. The algorithm not only shows its scientific basis and superiority, but also serves as a guiding mechanism for LCC management in transformer engineering practices. Ultimately, it emerges as a fundamental tool to improve the efficiency of power grid asset management.
The Development of a Reduced-Scale Laboratory for the Study of Solutions for Microgrids
Authors: Guimaraes Bruno Pinto Braga , Ribeiro Junior Ronny Francis , Andrade Marcos Vinicius , dos Santos Areias Isac Antonio , Foster Joao Gabriel Luppi , Bonaldi Erik Leandro , Assuncao Frederico de Oliveira , de Oliveira Levy Ely de Lacerda , Steiner Fabio Monteiro , El-Heri Yasmina
Published: January 2024

The integration of renewable energy sources is crucial for achieving sustainability and environmental preservation. However, their intermittent nature poses challenges to electrical system stability, requiring robust integration strategies. Microgrids emerge as a flexible solution, but their successful deployment requires meticulous planning and intelligent operation to overcome these challenges. This paper presents the development of a reduced-scale laboratory dedicated to researching both hardware and software solutions for intelligent microgrid management. The laboratory was designed to incorporate key components that are becoming increasingly important in the present microgrid context, including renewable energy generation, storage systems, electrolyzers for hydrogen production, and combined heat and power sources. While some equipment consists of commercial models, the battery bank, converter, and supervisory systems were custom-designed to meet the specific requirements of the laboratory. The laboratory has proven itself as a robust tool for conducting studies on microgrids, effectively incorporating essential components, addressing pertinent system issues, and allowing for several tests on converting control algorithms.
Sex-Specific Associations between Prenatal Exposure to Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate, Epigenetic Age Acceleration, and Susceptibility to Early Childhood Upper Respiratory Infections
Authors: Merrill Sarah M. , Letourneau Nicole , Giesbrecht Gerald F. , Edwards Karlie , MacIsaac Julia L. , Martin Jonathan W. , MacDonald Amy M. , Kinniburgh David W. , Kobor Michael S. , Dewey Deborah , England-Mason Gillian ,   The APrON Study Team
Published: January 2024

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a common plasticizer that can affect immune system development and susceptibility to infection. Aging processes (measured as epigenetic age acceleration (EAA)) may mediate the immune-related effects of prenatal exposure to DEHP. This study’s objective was to examine associations between prenatal DEHP exposure, EAA at three months of age, and the number of upper respiratory infections (URIs) from 12 to 18 months of age using a sample of 69 maternal–child pairs from a Canadian pregnancy cohort. Blood DNA methylation data were generated using the Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip; EAA was estimated using Horvath’s pan-tissue clock. Robust regressions examined overall and sex-specific associations. Higher prenatal DEHP exposure (B = 6.52, 95% CI = 1.22, 11.81) and increased EAA (B = 2.98, 95% CI = 1.64, 4.32) independently predicted more URIs. In sex-specific analyses, some similar effects were noted for boys, and EAA mediated the association between prenatal DEHP exposure and URIs. In girls, higher prenatal DEHP exposure was associated with decreased EAA, and no mediation was noted. Higher prenatal DEHP exposure may be associated with increased susceptibility to early childhood URIs, particularly in boys, and aging biomarkers such as EAA may be a biological mechanism. Larger cohort studies examining the potential developmental immunotoxicity of phthalates are needed.
Seed Germination Characteristics of a Critically Endangered Evergreen Oak—Quercus marlipoensis (Fagaceae) and Their Conservation Implications
Authors: Liu Luting , Tu Yu , Li Qiansheng , Deng Min
Published: January 2024

Seed germination is among the most crucial and vulnerable stages in plant life cycles. Quercus marlipoensis is a critically endangered sclerophyllous oak. Only one population has ever been found worldwide in the tropical montane cloud forests of southeastern Yunnan, China, and it has shown difficulties with regeneration. However, its seed biological traits and key restrictive germination factors remain unknown. We investigate the impacts of scarification, temperature, and water potential on the seed germination of Q. marlipoensis. Results show that the seeds show typical epicotyl dormancy. The seed germination increased when removing part or all of the pericarp and part of the cotyledon (one-third and two-thirds). The seeds can germinate at 5 to 30 °C, but the highest T50 was achieved at 25 °C. When the water potential decreased from 0 to −1.0 MPa, the germination rate decreased but the germination time increased. Q. marlipoensis seeds are typically recalcitrant and highly sensitive to moisture loss, but the species can tolerate animal predation and low germination temperatures. The more frequent climatic extremes and droughts in the Indo-China region will severely degrade its natural habitats. Therefore, ex situ conservation to preserve its germplasm and introduce seedlings into a suitable habitat are essential for its conservation management.
Antioxidant Activity and Volatile Oil Analysis of Ethanol Extract of Phoebe zhennan S. Lee et F. N. Wei Leaves
Authors: Yu Liping , Cheng Wang , Tian Meifen , Wu Zhigang , Wei Xiaoli , Cheng Xing , Yang Mingwei , Ma Xuan
Published: January 2024

The medicinal value of P. zhennan has been documented in traditional Chinese medicine books. The aim of this paper was to study the antioxidant activity of alcoholic extracts of P. zhennan leavesusing 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazolineoxyl-1-oxyl-3-oxide (PTIO) radical scavenging and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. The active components of the leaves were identified via headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). The results showed that the scavenging rate of DPPH was 94.67%with an EC50 value of 0.674 mg/mL at a concentration of 2 mg/mL. The maximum scavenging rate was 47.40% at a Trolox equivalent of 0.33 mg TE/mL for PTIO radicals. The FRAP reached 84.80% at 0.20 mg/mL concentration. The results confirmed the strong antioxidant activity of the extracts. Furthermore, 44 compounds, mostly terpenoids, obtained from the alcoholic extracts of P. zhennan leaves were analyzed using HS-SPME-GC-MS and 15 of these compounds had a relative content exceeding 1%. The strong antioxidant activity of the alcoholic extracts of P. zhennan leaves could be attributed to the presence of copaene (33.97%), β-caryophyllene (4.42%), δ-cadinene (11.04%), γ-muurolene (4.78%), cis-calamenene (2.02%), linalool (1.04%), α-pinene (1.46%), borneol acetate (1.5%), and γ-terpinene (0.66%). This study demonstrates the potential medicinal value of alcoholic extracts of P. zhennan leaves.
Can Spatial Agglomeration Promote Exports? The Evidence from China’s Wood-Processing Industry
Authors: Tao Chenlu , Cheng Baodong , Li Lingchao , Wei Zhuoran , Zhang Qian , Chen Fawei , Wang Siyi , Yang Chao
Published: January 2024

Wood processing products can be used as a substitute for some high carbon emission materials, thus contributing significantly to climate change mitigation. China has significant importance in guaranteeing a stable global supply of wood products. However, China has experienced a decline in wood product exports recently, which could affect the world’s progress toward sustainable development. This study focuses on the spatial agglomeration of China’s wood-processing industry and explores the potential of integrating spatial agglomeration to address the diminishing export growth. We found that the spatial agglomeration of China’s wood-processing industry generally increased rapidly between 1999 and 2004, but decreased after 2004. The centroid of China’s wood-processing is shifting from the northeastern region toward the eastern coastal areas. The industry is more concentrated in the north–south direction and slightly dispersed in the east–west direction. Most sub-sectors of China’s wood-processing industry operate at the primary agglomeration level, indicating significant potential for improvement and further development. The empirical results unveil the substantial positive influence of spatial agglomeration on exports within China’s wood-processing industry, indicating the prospects for enhancing exports through the deliberate exploitation of agglomeration effects. The results advocate the view that spatial agglomeration acts as an essential accelerator for export growth and firms’ international competitiveness. Therefore, spatial agglomeration can alleviate the export constraints of China’s wood-processing industry. The results also show that exports are hampered by increased enterprise productivity. The ‘productivity paradox’ phenomenon has also surfaced in low-tech industries, like the wood-processing industry, as a result of issues with transaction costs, the development path, and policy orientation. Therefore, we should strategically leverage the spatial agglomeration effect, especially in the western region, and guide the moderate competition of enterprises to enhance the competitiveness of low-tech enterprises. China’s wood-processing industry can provide advanced experience and lessons for other countries regarding industrial cluster allocation and sustainable development models.
Characterization of Indonesian Sugar Palm Bunch (Arenga longipes Mogea) Properties for Various Utilization Purposes
Authors: Hakim Luthfi , Iswanto Apri Heri , Herawati Evalina , Batubara Ridwanti , Lubis Yunida Syafriani , Aini Erlina Nurul
Published: January 2024

Sugar palm bunch/SPB (Arenga longipes Mogea) waste is a lignocellulosic material derived from the harvest of sugar palm fruit (kolang-kaling). Therefore, this study aims to examine the anatomical, physical, chemical, and mechanical characteristics of SPB. The anatomical characterization results showed that SPB had two forms of fibrovascular bundles (FVBs), namely large and small. Based on morphology, SPB fibers had a length, diameter, average lumen diameter, and cell wall thickness of approximately 1346.42 ± 415.71 μm, 20.05 ± 3.81 μm, 11.82 ± 2.95 μm, and 4.12 ± 1.08 μm, respectively. FVB tissue of the sample had a fairly high density of 4–6 FVB per 4 mm2 with a non-vascular area/total area ratio of 57.25%. The results showed that the sample contained 45.31 ± 3.20% cellulose, 23.21 ± 3.73% hemicellulose, 27.23 ± 4.23% lignin, and 1.39 ± 0.32% ash content. In addition, the extractive content that dissolved in hot water, cold water, ethanol-benzene, and 1% NaOH was 4.79 ± 0.84%, 7.12 ± 0.68%, 7.27 ± 2.38%, and 29.81 ± 3.78%, respectively. The GC–MS analysis results showed that A. longipes bunch contained several compounds, including carboxylic acid (tetradecanoic, octadecanoic), methoxy group (3-hydoxyphthalide), and palmitic acid. Meanwhile, the FTIR analysis showed the presence of OH groups with high intensity, which were identified as aromatic groups, as well as phenol groups recognized as lignin. Based on these results, characteristics of SPB were more suitable as raw materials for biomass energy, absorbent activated carbon, composite board, and surfactant.
Climatic Warming Caused a Transition in Tree Growth Sensitivity from Temperature to Moisture Conditions: Evidence from Multi-Species Tree-Ring Data in the Southeastern Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Luo Wenwen , Xie Chengsheng , Shi Songlin , Li Jingji , Wang Guoyan , Bie Xiaojuan
Published: January 2024

Traditionally, investigations into the climatic response of various tree species have spanned different regions. However, dendrochronological studies within a single region, characterized by minor climatic differences, have received comparatively less attention. Therefore, this study collected 230 tree cores from four prevalent conifer species (P. yunnanensis, A. forrestii, P. likiangensis, and T. dumosa) in the Lugu Lake Wetland Nature Reserve of southwestern China, a region undergoing climate warming and drying. This study employed dendrochronological methods to investigate tree growth–climate static responses, individual tree responses to climate, and dynamic tree–climate interactions. Our findings revealed that as the trend of warming and drying persists, tree growth exhibits an initial increase followed by a subsequent decrease. Dynamic response analyses, along with standardized assessments, indicate that in the early stages of warming, tree growth benefits from elevated temperatures. However, in the later stages of warming, the combined effects of warming and drying become more pronounced. During this phase, the facilitating impact of temperature diminishes, while the controlling influence of moisture conditions intensifies. Looking ahead, with the ongoing intensification of warming and drying, tree growth in the region is anticipated to become increasingly reliant on the water supply. This shift may lead to the decline or mortality of tree species intolerant to drought, such as T. dumosa.
A Spectral Gap-Based Topology Control Algorithm for Wireless Backhaul Networks
Authors: González-Ambriz Sergio Jesús , Menchaca-Méndez Rolando , Pinacho-Castellanos Sergio Alejandro , Rivero-Ángeles  Mario Eduardo
Published: January 2024

This paper presents the spectral gap-based topology control algorithm (SGTC) for wireless backhaul networks, a novel approach that employs the Laplacian Spectral Gap (LSG) to find expander-like graphs that optimize the topology of the network in terms of robustness, diameter, energy cost, and network entropy. The latter measures the network’s ability to promote seamless traffic offloading from the Macro Base Stations to smaller cells by providing a high diversity of shortest paths connecting all the stations. Given the practical constraints imposed by cellular technologies, the proposed algorithm uses simulated annealing to search for feasible network topologies with a large LSG. Then, it computes the Pareto front of the set of feasible solutions found during the annealing process when considering robustness, diameter, and entropy as objective functions. The algorithm’s result is the Pareto efficient solution that minimizes energy cost. A set of experimental results shows that by optimizing the LSG, the proposed algorithm simultaneously optimizes the set of desirable topological properties mentioned above. The results also revealed that generating networks with good spectral expansion is possible even under the restrictions imposed by current wireless technologies. This is a desirable feature because these networks have strong connectivity properties even if they do not have a large number of links.
Numerical Investigation of Gas Bubble Interaction in a Circular Cross-Section Channel in Shear Flow
Authors: Santos Daniel B. V. , Oliveira Gustavo P. , Mangiavacchi Norberto , Valluri Prashant , Anjos Gustavo R.
Published: January 2024

This work’s goal is to numerically investigate the interactions between two gas bubbles in a fluid flow in a circular cross-section channel, both in the presence and in the absence of gravitational forces, with several Reynolds and Weber numbers. The first bubble is placed at the center of the channel, while the second is near the wall. Their positions are set in such a way that a dynamic interaction is expected to occur due to their velocity differences. A finite element numerical tool is utilized to solve the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations and simulate two-phase flow using an unfitted mesh to represent the fluid interface, akin to the front-tracking method. The results show that the velocity gradient influences bubble shapes near the wall. Moreover, lower viscosity and surface tension force account for more significant interactions, both in the bubble shape and in the trajectory. In this scenario, it can be observed that one bubble is trapped in the other’s wake, with the proximity possibly allowing the onset of coalescence. The results obtained contribute to a deeper understanding of two-phase inner flows.
Effects of Different Expansion Temperatures on the Non-Volatile Qualities of Tea Stems
Authors: Wang Xin , He Changxu , Cui Leyin , Liu Zhengquan , Liang Jin
Published: January 2024

Tea stems are a type of tea by-product, and a considerable amount of them is discarded during picking, with their value often being overlooked. To enhance the utilization of tea stems, we investigated the effects of different expansion temperatures on the non-volatile compounds of tea stems. The results showed that the contents of EC, EGC, EGCG, tea polyphenols, and amino acids all decreased with the expansion temperature, while the contents of GA and C increased. The best effect was observed at 220 °C for 20 s. Additionally, as the temperature increased, the umami and aftertaste of astringency values of tea stems decreased, and the value of bitterness increased. Meanwhile, the value of sweetness decreased first and then increased. EGC was identified as the key differential compound of tea stems at different temperatures. In this investigation, determining the optimum expansion temperature was deemed advantageous for enhancing the flavor quality of tea stems, consequently elevating the utilization efficacy of tea stems and tea by-products.
Comprehensive Analysis of Phenolic Constituents, Biological Activities, and Derived Aroma Differences of Penthorum chinense Pursh Leaves after Processing into Green and Black Tea
Authors: Xiang Zhuoya , Zhu Boyu , Yang Xing , Deng Junlin , Zhu Yongqing , Gan Lu , Yu Manyou , Chen Jian , Xia Chen , Chen Song
Published: January 2024

Penthorum chinense Pursh (Penthoraceae) is a traditional herb used in Miao medical systems that is also processed into foods (e.g., tea products) in China. Different processing methods significantly affect the volatile compounds, phenolic constituents, and biological activities. This study aimed to produce P. chinense green tea leaves (GTL), black tea leaves (BTL), and untreated leaves (UL) to investigate differences in their flavor substances, functional components, antioxidant activity, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity, and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity. The results showed that 63, 56, and 56 volatile compounds were detected in UL, GTL, and BTL, respectively, of which 43 volatile compounds were identified as differential metabolites among them. The total phenolic content (97.13–179.34 mg GAE/g DW), flavonoid content (40.07–71.93 mg RE/g DW), and proanthocyanidin content (54.13–65.91 mg CE/g DW) exhibited similar trends, decreasing in the order of UL > BTL > GTL. Fourteen phenolic compounds were determined, of which gallic acid, (−)-epicatechin, and pinocembrin 7-O-glucoside showed a sharp decrease in content from UL to BTL, while the content of pinocembrin 7-O-(3″-O-galloy-4″, 6″-hexahydroxydiphenoyl)-glucoside and pinocembrin significantly increased. GTL showed better DPPH/ABTS·+ scavenging ability and ferric-reducing ability than UL. The ADH and ALDH activities decreased in the order of GTL > UL > BTL. Therefore, tea products made with P. chinense leaves contained an abundance of functional compounds and showed satisfactory antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities, which are recommended for daily consumption.
Impact of Two Brown Seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum L.) Biostimulants on the Quantity and Quality of Yield in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)
Authors: Zamljen Tilen , Šircelj Helena , Veberič Robert , Hudina Metka , Slatnar Ana
Published: January 2024

Algal biostimulants are increasingly integral to vegetable cultivation due to their capacity to boost yield, alleviate abiotic and biotic stress, and enhance overall crop quality. This study evaluated the impact of two commercially available algal-based biostimulants on cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), examining their effects on yield, number of fruits, dry weight, color, flesh thickness, skin thickness, plastid pigments, and tocopherol content. Both biostimulant treatments resulted in a roughly 13% decrease in yield and fruit number compared to the control treatment. Notably, the biostimulants positively influenced the fruit brightness parameter (L*), leading to darker fruits. Fitostim® algal biostimulant exhibited a positive effect on dry weight during the initial harvest. The predominant pigments were chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b (constituting 80% of all analyzed pigments), and the most abundant tocopherol was α-tocopherol, comprising 80% to 90% of tocopherols. Skin tissues contained significantly higher levels of pigments and tocopherols compared to flesh. Both biostimulants caused a notable decrease in total tocopherol content in the skin at the first harvest, with reductions of 19.91 mg/kg DW for Phylgreen® and 9.43 mg/kg DW for Fitostim® algae. The study underscores the variable efficacy of biostimulants, emphasizing their dependence on the specific biostimulant type and fruit part. The application of biostimulants has the potential to substantially enhance the internal quality of cucumbers, particularly in terms of plastid pigments and tocopherols, offering potential health benefits for consumers.
Improving the Edible and Nutritional Quality of Roasted Duck Breasts through Variable Pressure Salting: Implications for Protein Anabolism and Digestion in Rats
Authors: Gao Ziwu , Zhou Yinna , Zhang Dequan , Wu Ruiyun , Ma Jiale , He Jinhua , Wang Zhenyu
Published: January 2024

Variable pressure salting (VPS) is considered a novel salting approach to improve meat quality. This study aimed to investigate the effects of roasted duck’s edible and nutritional quality after VPS through serum biochemical indicators and in vivo digestion properties in rats. The results show that roasted duck after VPS led to an increase in the total protein content (57.24 g/L) and blood glucose levels (6.87 mmol/L), as well as a decrease in the blood urea nitrogen content (11.81 mmol/L), in rats. Compared to rats fed base diets and roasted duck after static wet salting (SWS), those ingesting roasted duck after VPS exhibited higher values of apparent protein digestibility (51.24%), pepsin activity (2.40 U/mg), and trypsin activity (389.80 U/mg). Furthermore, VPS treatment improved the textural properties and microstructure of duck breasts shown by a higher immobilized water relaxation area and more ordered protein structures (α-helixes and β-sheets). These improvements enhanced the protein anabolism capacity and in vivo digestion properties in rats. Therefore, VPS represents a beneficial salting method for promoting effective digestion and absorption in rats.
Optimisation of an Industrial Optical Sorter of Legumes for Gluten-Free Production Using Hyperspectral Imaging Techniques
Authors: Romaniello Roberto , Barrasso Antonietta Eliana , Perone Claudio , Tamborrino Antonia , Berardi Antonio , Leone Alessandro
Published: January 2024

The market demand for gluten-free food is increasing due to the growing gluten sensitivity and coeliac disease (CD) in the population. The market requires grass-free cereals to produce gluten-free food. This requires sorting methods that guarantee the perfect separation of gluten contaminants from the legumes. The objective of the research was the development of an optical sorting system based on hyperspectral image processing, capable of identifying the spectral characteristics of the products under investigation to obtain a statistical classifier capable of enabling the total elimination of contaminants. The construction of the statistical classifier yielded excellent results, with a 100% correct classification rate of the contaminants. Tests conducted subsequently on an industrial optical sorter validated the result of the preliminary tests. In fact, the application of the developed classifier was able to correctly select the contaminants from the mass of legumes with a correct classification percentage of 100%. A small proportion of legumes was misclassified as contaminants, but this did not affect the scope of the work. Further studies will aim to reduce even this small share of waste with investigations into optimising the seed transport systems of the optical sorter.
Aerogel for Highly Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation
Authors: Yang Xue-Chun , Zhao Jing-Tai
Published: January 2024

Photocatalysis is one of the effective ways to degrade pollutant antibiotics. Agar is used as the adsorption module to provide abundant pore structure. Carbon dots (CDs) are selected as light energy conversion components. Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is used as the main material of the catalyst. Agar/CDs/g-C3N4-functionalized aerogel with a unique 3D pore structure is assembled. The Agar/CDs/g-C3N4 aerogel shows the highest photocurrent density, which is 3.7 times that of agar, 2.4 times that of 3-g-C3N4 and 1.6 times that of Agar/g-C3N4 aerogel. Compared with 3-g-C3N4 and Agar/g-C3N4 aerogel, which can completely remove AMX after 75 min, Agar/CDs/g-C3N4 aerogel can degrade amoxicillin (AMX) completely after 45 min of illumination. The reason is that Agar/CDs/g-C3N4 aerogel has a larger specific surface area, richer functional groups, a wider spectral range, higher photocurrent density and better carrier migration and separation efficiency. It is a good strategy with which to combine the effects of each component in the ternary system for the efficient photocatalysis of organic pollutants.
Lack of Association between LOXL1 Variants and Pigment Dispersion Syndrome/Pigmentary Glaucoma: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Rong Shisong , Yu Xinting
Published: January 2024

The phenotypic similarities between exfoliation syndrome (XFS)/exfoliation glaucoma (XFG) and pigment dispersion syndrome (PDS)/pigmentary glaucoma (PG), particularly their association with material deposition in the eye’s anterior segment, have prompted investigations into genetic commonalities. This study focuses on the LOXL1 gene, conducting a comprehensive meta-analysis of three candidate gene association studies. We analyzed three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of LOXL1: rs1048661, rs3825942, and rs2165241. Our results reveal nominal significance for the exonic SNPs rs1048661 and rs3825942 (p ≤ 0.01), but show no significant association for the intronic SNP rs2165241 (p = 0.83) with PDS/PG. There was homogeneity across study cohorts (I2 = 0), and sensitivity analyses and funnel plots confirmed a lower likelihood of bias in our findings. The lack of a statistically significant association between LOXL1 variants and PDS/PG at p < 0.05 was attributable to the insufficient statistical power of the pooled data, which ranged from 5% to 37% for the three SNPs. This study suggests no association between LOXL1 variants and PDS/PG. Further validation and exploration of XFS/XFG-associated genes in larger and more diverse cohorts would be helpful to determine the genetic correlation or distinctiveness between these conditions.
Genomic Features of Homologous Recombination Deficiency in Breast Cancer: Impact on Testing and Immunotherapy
Authors: Ali Umer , Vungarala Sunitha , Tiriveedhi Venkataswarup
Published: January 2024

Genomic instability is one of the well-established hallmarks of cancer. The homologous recombination repair (HRR) pathway plays a critical role in correcting the double-stranded breaks (DSB) due to DNA damage in human cells. Traditionally, the BRCA1/2 genes in the HRR pathway have been tested for their association with breast cancer. However, defects in the HRR pathway (HRD, also termed ‘BRCAness’), which has up to 50 genes, have been shown to be involved in tumorigenesis and treatment susceptibility to poly-ADP ribose polymerase inhibitors (PARPis), platinum-based chemotherapy, and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). A reliable consensus on HRD scores is yet to be established. Emerging evidence suggests that only a subset of breast cancer patients benefit from ICI-based immunotherapy. Currently, albeit with limitations, the expression of programmed death-ligand 1 (PDL1) and tumor mutational burden (TMB) are utilized as biomarkers to predict the favorable outcomes of ICI therapy in breast cancer patients. Preclinical studies demonstrate an interplay between the HRR pathway and PDL1 expression. In this review, we outline the current understanding of the role of HRD in genomic instability leading to breast tumorigenesis and delineate outcomes from various clinical trials. Furthermore, we discuss potential strategies for combining HRD-targeted therapy with immunotherapy to achieve the best healthcare outcomes in breast cancer patients.
Human Reproduction and Disturbed Genomic Imprinting
Authors: Eggermann Thomas
Published: January 2024

Genomic imprinting is a specific mode of gene regulation which particularly accounts for the factors involved in development. Its disturbance affects the fetus, the course of pregnancy and even the health of the mother. In children, aberrant imprinting signatures are associated with imprinting disorders (ImpDis). These alterations also affect the function of the placenta, which has consequences for the course of the pregnancy. The molecular causes of ImpDis comprise changes at the DNA level and methylation disturbances (imprinting defects/ImpDefs), and there is an increasing number of reports of both pathogenic fetal and maternal DNA variants causing ImpDefs. These ImpDefs can be inherited, but prediction of the pregnancy complications caused is difficult, as they can cause miscarriages, aneuploidies, health issues for the mother and ImpDis in the child. Due to the complexity of imprinting regulation, each pregnancy or patient with suspected altered genomic imprinting requires a specific workup to identify the precise molecular cause and also careful clinical documentation. This review will cover the current knowledge on the molecular causes of aberrant imprinting signatures and illustrate the need to identify this basis as the prerequisite for personalized genetic and reproductive counselling of families.
A Comprehensive View on the Protein Functions of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus
Authors: Li Xin , Wu Yiwan , Yan Zhibin , Li Gen , Luo Jun , Huang Shile , Guo Xiaofeng
Published: January 2024

Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus (PEDV) is one of the main pathogens causing diarrhea in piglets and fattening pigs. The clinical signs of PED are vomiting, acute diarrhea, dehydration, and mortality resulting in significant economic losses and becoming a major challenge in the pig industry. PEDV possesses various crucial structural and functional proteins, which play important roles in viral structure, infection, replication, assembly, and release, as well as in escaping host innate immunity. Over the past few years, there has been progress in the study of PEDV pathogenesis, revealing the crucial role of the interaction between PEDV viral proteins and host cytokines in PEDV infection. At present, the main control measure against PEDV is vaccine immunization of sows, but the protective effect for emerging virus strains is still insufficient, and there is no ideal safe and efficient vaccine. Although scientists have persistently delved their research into the intricate structure and functionalities of the PEDV genome and viral proteins for years, the pathogenic mechanism of PEDV remains incompletely elucidated. Here, we focus on reviewing the research progress of PEDV structural and nonstructural proteins to facilitate the understanding of biological processes such as PEDV infection and pathogenesis.
Automatic Characterization of Block-In-Matrix Rock Outcrops through Segmentation Algorithms and Its Application to an Archaeo-Mining Case Study
Authors: Cristóbal Andrés , Rigueira Xurxo , Pérez-Rey Ignacio , Estévez-Ventosa Xian , Pazo María , Napoli Maria Lia , Currás Brais X. , Alejano Leandro R.
Published: January 2024

The mechanical behavior of block-in-matrix materials is heavily dependent on their block content. This parameter is in most cases obtained through visual analyses of the ground through digital imagery, which provides the areal block proportion (ABP) of the area analyzed. Nowadays, computer vision models have the capability to extract knowledge from the information stored in these images. In this research, we analyze and compare classical feature-detection algorithms with state-of-the-art models for the automatic calculation of the ABP parameter in images from surface and underground outcrops. The outcomes of this analysis result in the development of a framework for ABP calculation based on the Segment Anything Model (SAM), which is capable of performing this task at a human level when compared with the results of 32 experts in the field. Consequently, this model can help reduce human bias in the estimation of mechanical properties of block-in-matrix materials as well as contain underground technical problems due to mischaracterization of rock block quantities and dimensions. The methodology used to obtain the ABP at different outcrops is combined with estimates of the rock matrix properties and other characterization techniques to mechanically characterize the block-in-matrix materials. The combination of all these techniques has been applied to analyze, understand and try, for the first time, to model Roman gold-mining strategies in an archaeological site in NW Spain. This mining method is explained through a 2D finite-element method numerical model.
We Came for the Lake—Late Pleistocene Landscape Reconstruction in Lieth Moor, District Pinneberg, Germany
Authors: Detjens Stine , Grimm Sonja B. , Oflaz Aslı , Wilken Dennis , Wunderlich Tina , Rabbel Wolfgang , Eriksen Berit V.
Published: January 2024

The Lieth Moor area, located in the district of Pinneberg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, is a hotspot of Late Palaeolithic settlement activity. The exceptional abundance of archaeological sites is commonly attributed to the presence of a large palaeolake. However, in the Weichselian Late glacial, there were numerous large lakes in Schleswig-Holstein. Thus, a well-founded explanation for the find concentration in Lieth Moor is still lacking, and forming a research desideratum until today. To improve our understanding of this Late Pleistocene landscape and its appeal to hunter–gatherer groups of that time, we conducted a large-scale archaeogeophysical study focusing on a possible ford of the potential palaeolake. We employed Ground-Penetrating Radar and Electromagnetic Induction measurements, supplemented by existing legacy drill-probing data, to identify and map limnic gyttja (organic lake mud) sediments and their spatial distribution within the area. The findings of our study indicate that during the Late Pleistocene to Early Holocene, the Lieth Moor area comprised a cluster of small ponds rather than a continuous lake. These ponds likely interconnected during periods of increased water levels. The presence of dry islands within the region corresponds with archaeological evidence, suggesting that Late Palaeolithic communities visited some of these islands. The absence of the previously postulated palaeolake places the known findings within a completely new palaeoenvironmental context: instead of the previously suspected ford, we assume that the proximity to the Elbe Palaeovalley played a decisive role in the repeated habitation of Lieth Moor. This area, rich in fresh water and fish, along with the dune chain situated to the west, serving as both a vantage point and windbreak, presented an ideal location for awaiting animals migrating along the river Elbe and/or as a resting place within the settlement system of mobile hunter–fisher–gatherer groups.
Improvements in Obstetric and Newborn Health Information Documentation following the Implementation of the Safer Births Bundle of Care at 30 Facilities in Tanzania
Authors: Kamala Benjamin Anathory , Ersdal Hege , Moshiro Robert , Mduma Estomih , Baker Ulrika , Guga Godfrey , Kvaløy Jan Terje , Bishanga Dunstan R. , Bundala Felix , Marwa Boniphace , Rutachunzibwa Thomas , Simeo Japhet , Rutatinisibwa Honoratha Faustine , Ndungile Yudas , Kayera Damas , Kalabamu Florence Salvatory , Mdoe Paschal
Published: January 2024

This paper examines changes in the completeness of documentation in clinical practice before and during the implementation of the Safer Births Bundle of Care (SBBC) project. This observational study enrolled parturient women with a gestation age of at least 28 weeks at the onset of labour. Data collectors extracted information from facility registers and then a central data manager summarised and reported weekly statistics. Variables of clinical significance for CQI were selected, and the proportion of non-documentation was analysed over time. A Pearson chi-square test was used to test for significant differences in non-documentation between the periods. Between 1 March 2021 and 31 July 2022, a total of 138,442 deliveries were recorded. Overall, 75% of all patient cases had at least one missing variable among the selected variables across both periods. A lack of variable documentation occurred more frequently at the district hospital level (81% of patient cases) and health centres (74%) than at regional referral hospitals (56%) (p < 0.001). Non-documentation decreased significantly from 79% to 70% after the introduction of the SBBC (p < 0.001). A tendency towards negative correlations was noted for most variables. We noted an increased attention to data quality and use which may have a positive impact on the completeness of documentation. However, halfway through the project’s implementation, the completeness of documentation was still low. Our findings support the recommendation to establish short-spaced feedback loops of locally collected data using one data platform.