bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
G20 Economic Growth Analysis Using VECM
Authors: Dominique Nancy Nikentary , Buntaran Carmen Ibanez Indrawati , Nurhanifah Ameilia , Ferdinand Ferry Vincenttius
Published: December 2023

This study analyzes the effect of Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF), Imports, Exports, and Government Expenditure of selected G20 member countries on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) using historical data from 1981 to 2021. The detailed analysis aims to explore the relationship between short-term and long-term causality that begins with examining and testing the degree of integration, Unit Root Test, Johansen cointegration test, and causality test. The Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) test results with a 95% confidence interval show that Gross Fixed Capital Formation causes Australia’s and South Africa’s long-term GDPs to have reached a balance point. In addition, Government Spending also causes the European Union’s Gross Domestic Product to achieve a balance point. Imports affect the GDP of the United States, China, and South Africa towards a balance point, and exports affect the GDP of Australia, China, and South Africa. The test results using VECM also conclude that GDP, GFCF, exports, and imports affect GDP growth in the short term. However, on the contrary, on the Australian continent, only GDP, GFCF, and imports which in the previous year had an impact on Australia’s GDP in the short term—concluded that differences in government policies in each country in regulating the economy could affect the causal relationship between the independent variable and GDP in the short and long term.
The Effect of Economic Growth, Education, Unemployment, and Human Development Index on Poverty in the Special Region of Yogyakarta for Period 2015-2021
Authors: Suci Lestari Etika , Addainuri Muhammad Isbad , Abidin Maulana
Published: December 2023

This study aims to analyze the impact of economic growth, education, unemployment, and HDI on poverty in the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) Province during 2015-2021. This study uses panel data linear regression analysis using data from five districts/cities in DIY Province. The Central Bureau of Statistics website was the source of information. The analysis techniques used include a model selection test, stationarity or unit root test, classical assumption test, panel data regression analysis, and hypothesis testing using a trial and coefficient of determination (R2) test. The research findings show that economic growth, education, and unemployment do not significantly affect poverty. In contrast, the Human Development Index shows a significant effect on poverty.
Impact of Recent Migration and Local Income Disparity: Does Time Variying Imply?
Authors: Fajri Moh Najikhul , Istifadah Nurul , Munawaroh Siti , Pratama Backtiar Putra
Published: December 2023

Temporary migration is one part of the potential for income inequality in the region. On this basis, this study aims to examine the effect of temporary migration on income disparity. This study uses SUSENAS panel data from 34 provinces during 2010-2019. This study uses the generalized method of moments dynamic panel regression to analyze the time change while reviewing the regional aspect. The results show that in-migration has a significant positive effect on income disparity. Meanwhile, out-migration has a negative effect on income disparity. Moreover, inflation and consumption expenditure are suspected to cause the severity of inequality. On the other hand, average years of schooling encourage people to get good labor productivity. This upward migration policy implies that it is an alternative for regions to reduce income inequality. The policy is navigated from various transmissions such as education, investment, access to public services, central and local coordination, and monitoring of labor exploitation practices.
Вирішення проблема комунікації в умовах втрати зв'язку до Azure IoT Hub
Authors: Ахаладзе I. , Лісовиченко O.
Published: December 2023

Об'єктом дослідження є процес передачі інформації між учасниками рою дронів що розширити зону покриття керуючим сигналом, та забезпечити гарантовану передачу інформації що дозволяє зберігати контроль над роєм дронів та безпечно керувати ним. Метою роботи є забезпечення гарантованої передачі інформації на відстань від 5до 10 км. в залежності від технічних можливостей та створення каналу комунікації між членами рою у умовах відсутності зв'язку з хабом. Використавши польотний контролер Pixhawk та інтеграційний модуль передачі прийому даних з підтримкою низько частотного протоколу LoRaWAN вдалося забезпечити надійний контроль у мовах втрати зв'язку з керуючим хабом. Також було визначено логіку присвоєння ролі комунікатора між керуючим хабом та членами рою для збільшення зони покриття керуючого сигналу.

Бібл. 13, рис. 5
Застосування адаптованого алгоритму utility ai для групової взаємодії інтелектуальних агентів без обміну інформацією
Authors: Романенко Л.
Published: December 2023

Предметом дослідження є командна взаємодія інтелектуальних агентів на прикладі футболу. У статті описано результати застосування модифікованого алгоритму Utility AI для забезпечення командної взаємодії в умовах відсутності комунікації. Зроблено огляд та порівняння найбільш близьких рішень. Так в статті наведено розробки, щозастосовуються в змаганнях «Drop-in player challenge» кубку RoboCup, дослідженнях мультиагентного навчання з підкріпленням університету Іллінойс та алгоритм жорсткої фіксації сценаріїв поведінки у випадку короткочасної втрати зв’язку. Коротко описаний алгоритм Utility AI, що застосовується переважно в ігрових застосунках для реалізації штучного інтелекту. Пропонується використання додаткових вагових коефіцієнтів алгоритмом для формування певної рольової поведінки. Також архітектура розділяється на два прошарки. Перший застосовує саме модифіковануверсію Utility Ai для групової координації. Другий – дерево прийняття рішень для індивідуальної тактики. Тестування проводилися в симульованому середовищі футбольного поля – RoboCup. Продемонстровано поетапне трасування ігрового сценарію з наведеними у таблиці вихідними даними та відповідні їм прийняті рішення. Також наданий приклад детального розрахунку алгоритмом майбутньої дії відповідно до обстановки.

Бібл. 8, іл. 3, табл. 3
Метод спрямованого пошуку рішення для складання розкладу заняттів у навчальних закладах
Authors: Сімоненко А.
Published: December 2023

Розглянуто метод та алгоритм вирішення задачі складання розкладу занять у навчальному закладі. Запропонований алгоритм дозволяє за кінцеве число кроків запропонувати суобоптимальний або прийнятний варіант розкладу. При цьому вразовуються організаційні, методичні та психофізіологічні вимоги до розкладу.

Бібл. 10, іл. 6
Підхід до консолідації контейнерів у хмарних центрах обробки даних
Authors: Cопов О. , Жаріков Е.
Published: December 2023

Об’єктом дослідження є хмарні центри обробки даних, алгоритми розміщення контейнерів у хмарі та симуляція роботи цих алгоритмів. Контейнерна віртуалізація наразі все частіше замінює класичні віртуальні машини, адже використання контейнерів забезпечує легку ізоляцію, масштабованість і швидкість запуску для застосунків. Усе більшої актуальності набуває задача ефективного розміщенні контейнерів у ЦОД задля оптимізації витрат. Метою дослідження є покращення алгоритму розміщення контейнерів у хмарному ЦОД шляхом прогнозування запитів клієнтів. У цій статті запропоновано модифікацію алгоритму Best Fit із використанням прогнозування запитів клієнтів на розміщення контейнерів. Розроблений алгоритм дає можливість зменшити загальні витрати хмарного ЦОД на 5 % і загальну ціну порушення SLA на 30 %, але збільшує вартість обслуговування ФС на 1 %.

Бібл. 17, іл. 4, табл. 2
TRANSPORT OF GOODS ON THE EXAMPLE OF A SELECTED SECTION OF TRANSPORT IN POLAND
Authors: MACIOSZEK Elżbieta , JURDANA Irena
Published: December 2023

The article presents the issue of the transport of goods in relation to sea transport. Sea transport has been known to mankind for a long time. Currently, maritime transport is not limited only to the transport of goods and/or passengers along sea routes, which are carried out between seaports using appropriately adapted means of transport. It is a branch of transport, which consists of a very good knowledge of navigation, highly specialized staff, and a wide range of containers for transporting various types of cargo, often requiring specialized conditions. In addition, sea transport is perfectly combined with intermodal transport, so that in the end, the transport process is the most beneficial for all participants, i.e., the customers, sellers, distributors, and manufacturers. The main purpose of the article was to present the volume of goods transported in this branch of transport. The article, after introducing the issue, presents the classification of sea vessels, refers to the market of maritime transport services and its conditions for further development, and analyzes the overall volume of goods transported in the seaports of Gdańsk and Gdynia against the background of other Polish seaports in the years 2011-2021.
Vintage Port prediction and climate change scenarios
Authors: Fraga Helder , Guimarães Nathalie , Santos João
Published: December 2023

The Douro region is renowned for its quality wines, particularly for the famous Port Wine. Vintage years, declared approximately 2–3 times per decade, signify exceptional quality linked to optimum climatic conditions driving grape quality attributes. Climate change poses challenges, as rising temperatures and extreme weather events impact viticulture. This study uses machine learning algorithms to assess the climatic influence on vintage years and climate change impacts for the next decades. Historical vintage data were collected from 1850 to 2014. Monthly climatic data for the same period were obtained, including temperature, precipitation, humidity, solar radiation, and wind components. Various machine-learning algorithms were selected for classification, and a statistical analysis helped identify relevant climate variables for differentiation. Cross-validation was used for model training and evaluation, with the hits and misses (confusion matrix) as the performance metric. The best-performing model underwent hyperparameter tuning. Subsequently, future climate projections were acquired for four regional climate models from 2030 until 2099 under different socio-economic scenarios (IPCC SSP2, SSP3, and SSP5). Quantile mapping bias adjustment was applied to correct future climate data and reduce model biases. Past data revealed that vintages occurred 23.6 % of the years, with an average of two vintage years per decade, with a slightly positive trend. Climate variables such as precipitation in March, air temperatures in April and May, humidity in March and April, solar radiation in March, and meridional wind in June were identified as important factors influencing vintage year occurrence. Machine-learning models were employed to predict vintage years based on the climate variables, with the XGBClassifier achieving the highest performance with 76 %/88 % hits for the vintage/non-vintage classes, respectively, and an ROC score of 0.86, demonstrating strong predictive capabilities. Future climate change scenarios under different socio-economic pathways were assessed, and the results indicated a decrease in the occurrence vintage years until 2099 (10.3 % for SSP2, 9.1 % for SSP3, and 5.8 % for SSP5). The study provides valuable insights into the relationship between climate variables and wine vintage years, enabling winemakers to make informed decisions about vineyard management and grape cultivation. The predictions suggest that climate change may challenge the wine industry, emphasising the need for adaptation strategies.
Net Energy Gain from a Berry Geometrical Phase: Low-Energy Perturbations of the Strong Interaction and the QCD Mass Gap
Authors: Gibbons Mark
Published: December 2023

A Berry geometrical phase is identified in a strongly metastable system containing dynamically responsive clathrate hydrate structures within a crystal-fluid material. High energy degeneracy in the associated chemistry produces local stability and false vacuum conditions that lead to non-extensive and non-additive contributions in the fundamental thermodynamic relation. The reciprocating action of a piston expander confirms a net energy gain despite the crystal-fluid material maintaining almost constant density. Application of Ginzburg-Landau theory and the scaling laws reveals a coherence length and a penetration depth for a macro-scale dual superconductor. The coherence length determines non-extensive volume changes whilst its inverse gives the Higgs mass. The penetration depth determines the extent of QCD vacuum suppression whilst its inverse gives the vector boson mass together with indirect manifestation as non-additive hyperbolic curvature. External pressure perturbations of the low-energy system initiate ‘rolling’ critical responses that see energy and momentum conserved across a synchronized U(2) symmetry group whilst a complex gauge field is also exposed. Simultaneous emergence of the Ginzburg-Landau superconducting phase transition is consistent with gauge-invariant coupling of this scalar field to the Yang-Mills action in QCD. The discovery of an energy gap in the gradient energy term of the system Lagrangian is associated with a critical correlation length revealed in the transition from a gapped to a gapless superconducting state. Together with the emergence and absorption of the Higgs-like scalar field, a mechanism for describing the QCD mass gap arises.
Environmental Radioactivity, Ecotoxicology (Uranium-238, Thorium-232 and Potassium-40) and Toxic Heavy Metals Contents in Water and Sediments from North Africa Dams. Tuniso-Algerian Transboundary Southern Mediterranean Basin
Authors: Hamed Younes , Ayadi Yosra , Hadji Rihab , Ben Saad Amina , Gentilucci Matteo , Elaloui Elimame
Published: December 2023

Natural radioactivity of 238U, 232Th and 40K for liquid and solid samples collected from Sidi Salem dam (Tunisia) and Aïn Dalia dam (Algeria) were measured using TERRA detector of rays (gam-ma, beta, and alpha), Atomic adsorption and Gamma-ray spectrometry were used to analyze the levels of radionuclides and toxic heavy metals, respectively. Toxic heavy metals (Fe, Bb, Zn, Ni, Cu, Cr and Cd) and associated health risks in surface water and sediment of dams have been in-vestigated in this present study. The radioactivity mean rates in the water samples were 1.72±0.01, 0.068±0.01 and 94.6±1.04 Bql-1 for 238U, 232Th and 40K respectively (Tunisia dam) and were 1.9± 0.24, 0.09±0.01 and 131.43±1.03 Bql-1 for 238U, 232Th and 40K respectively (Algeria dam). The 238U, 232Th and 40K radioactivity mean concentration measured in the sediment samples were 2.67±0.01, 0.18±0.012 and 197.87±2.01 Bqkg-1 respectively (Tunisian dam) and were 4.34±0.05, 0.27±0.05 and 287.61±3.34 Bqkg-1 respectively (Algeria dam). The activity concentration of 40K was higher than that of 238U and 232Th for the water and sediment samples. The mean activity concen-trations follow the order 40K > 238U > 232Th. The cumulative impact can be a serious immediate radiological health burden on the ecosystem, environment and people's health in this study area and can be transposable to any other similar region. The good knowledge of monitoring quality and quantity for the transboundary water resources and the international collaborations are es-sential to safeguard human health (women’s breasts cancer, thyroid cancer, neurological im-pact…), and avoid the conflicts, especially during these climatic upheavals of drought.
Development of Visual Detection of African Swine Fever Virus Using CRISPR/LwCas13a Lateral Flow Strip Based on Structural Protein Gene D117L
Authors: Zhang Desheng , Jiang Sen , Xia Nengwen , Zhang Jiajia , Liu Anjing , Deng Dafu , Zhang Chenyang , Chen Nanhua , Kang Xilong , Pan Zhiming , Zheng Wanglong , Zhu Jianzhong
Published: December 2023

African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a large double stranded DNA arbovirus that is highly contagious and seriously endangers the lives of domestic and wild pigs. In the past decade, African swine fever (ASF) has spread in many countries in the Caucasus, Russian Federation, Eastern Europe and Asia, causing significant losses to the pig industry. At present, there is a lack of effective vaccine and treatment for ASF. Therefore, the rapid and accurate detection is crucial for ASF prevention and control. In this study, we have developed a portable lateral flow strip (LFS) detection method mediated by recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) and DNA enzyme (LwCas13a), which is performed at 37 ℃ and visualized by eyes without the need for complex instruments. This RPA-LwCas13a-LFS is based on the ASFV structural protein p17 gene (D117L), with a detection sensitivity up to 2 gene copies. This method is highly specific and has no cross reactivity to 7 other pig viruses. In the detection of 33 clinical samples, the p17 (D117L) RPA-LwCas13a-LFS had 100% coincidence with conventional quantitative PCR (qPCR). These findings demonstrate the potential of this simple, rapid, sensitive, and specific ASFV detection method for on-site ASFV detection.
The Exometabolome of Xylella fastidiosa in Contact with Paraburkholderia phytofirmans Supernatant Reveals Changes in Nicotinamide, Amino Acids, Biotin, and Plant Hormones
Authors: Feitosa-Junior Oseias R. , Lubbe Andrea , Kosina Suzanne M. , Martins-Junior Joaquim , Barbosa Deibs , Baccari Clelia , Zaini Paulo A. , Bowen Benjamin P. , Northen Trent R. , Lindow Steven E. , Da Silva Aline Maria
Published: December 2023

Microbial competition within plant tissues affects invading pathogens' fitness. Metabolomics is a great tool for studying their biochemical interactions by identifying accumulated metabolites. Xylella fastidiosa, a Gram-negative bacterium causing Pierce's disease (PD) in grapevines, secretes various virulence factors including cell wall degrading enzymes, adhesion proteins, and quorum sensing molecules. These factors, along with outer membrane vesicles, contribute to its pathogenicity. Previous studies demonstrated that co-inoculating X. fastidiosa with Paraburkholderia phytofirmans strain PsJN suppressed PD symptoms. Here, we further investigated the interaction between the phytopathogen and the endophyte by analyzing the exometabolome of wild-type X. fastidiosa and a diffusible signaling factor (DSF) mutant lacking quorum sensing, cultivated with 20% P. phytofirmans spent media. LC-MS and MAGI were used to detect and map metabolites to genomes revealing a total of 121 metabolites, of which 25 were further investigated. These metabolites potentially relate to host adaptation, virulence, and pathogenicity. Notably, this study presents the first comprehensive profile of X. fastidiosa in the presence of P. phytofirmans spent media. The results highlight that P. phytofirmans and the absence of a functional quorum sensing affect the ratios of glutamine to glutamate (Gln:Glu) in X. fastidiosa. Additionally, two compounds with plant metabolism and growth properties, 2-Aminoisobutyric acid and Gibberellic Acid, were downregulated when X. fastidiosa interacted with P. phytofirmans. These findings suggest that P. phytofirmans-mediated disease suppression involves modulation of the exometabolome of X. fastidiosa, impacting plant immunity.
Membrane-Associated Ubiquitin Ligase RNF152 Orchestrates Melanogenesis via Tyrosinase Ubiquitination
Authors: Ueda Ryota , Hashimoto Rina , Fujii Yuki , Menezes José C.J.M.D.S. , Takahashi Hirotaka , Takeda Hiroyuki , Sawasaki Tatsuya , Motokawa Tomonori , Tokunaga Kenzo , Fujita Hideaki
Published: December 2023

Lysosomal degradation of tyrosinase, a pivotal enzyme in melanin synthesis, negatively impacts melanogenesis in melanocytes. Nevertheless, the precise molecular mechanisms by which lysosomes target tyrosinase have remained elusive. Here, we identify RING finger protein 152 (RNF152) as a membrane-associated ubiquitin ligase specifically targeting tyrosinase for the first time, utilizing AlphaScreen technology. We observed that modulating RNF152 levels in B16 melanoma cells, either via overexpression or siRNA knockdown, resulted in decreased or increased tyrosinase levels, respectively. Notably, RNF152 and tyrosinase colocalized at the trans-Golgi network (TGN). However, upon treatment with lysosomal inhibitors, both proteins appeared in the lysosomes, indicating that tyrosinase undergoes RNF152-mediated lysosomal degradation. Through ubiquitination assays, we found the indispensable roles of both the RING and transmembrane (TM) domains of RNF152 in facilitating tyrosinase ubiquitination. In summary, our findings underscore RNF152 as a tyrosinase-specific ubiquitin ligase essential for regulating melanogenesis in melanocytes.
Biochar Mitigates the Negative Effects of Microplastics on Sugarcane Growth by Changing Soil Nutrients and Microbial Community Structure and Function
Authors: Wu Qihua , Zhou Wenling , Chen Diwen , Tian Jiang , Ao Junhua
Published: December 2023

Microplastics pollution in sugarcane areas of China is severe, and reducing their ecological risks is critical. This study aims to explore the effects and mechanisms of microplastics combined with or without biochar on sugarcane growth, soil biochemical properties in red soil by a potted experiment. The results showed that compared with control (CK), microplastic alone treatments reduced the dry biomass of sugarcane, soil pH and the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) contents, obviously decreased the observed_OTUs, Chao1 and Shannon indices of soil total bacteria (16S rRNA gene-based bacteria) while increasing them in phoD-harbouring bacteria. Interestingly, microplastics combined with biochar could alleviate the negative effects of microplastic accumulation on sugarcane growth and soil quality. There were significant differences in the bacterial community compositions among different treatments. Compared with CK, all other treatments significantly decreased the relative abundance of Gemmatimonadota while only microplastic combined with biochar treatments significantly increased the abundance of Subgroup_10 for the 16S rRNA gene, and only microplastic alone treatments significantly increased the relative abundance of Streptomyces for the phoD gene. Moreover, the treatments with microplastics combined with biochar increased the relative abundance of Subgroup_10 and Bradyrhizobium while decreased the IMCC26256 and Streptomyces compared with that in the treatment with microplastics alone. Correlation analysis showed that Subgroup_10 and Bradyrhizobium were significantly positively correlated with sugarcane biomass and several soil properties, while IMCC26256 and Streptomyces were just the opposite. Additionally, different treatments also changed the abundance of potential microbial functional genes. Compared to CK, other treatments increased the abundance of aerobic_ammonia_oxidation, denitrification while decreased the abundance of nitrate_respiration, nitrogen_respiration; meanwhile, these four functional genes involved in N cycling processes were obviously higher in treatments with microplastics combined with biochar than in treatments with microplastic alone. In conclusion, microplastics combined with biochar could alleviate the negative effects of microplastic accumulation on sugarcane growth by improve soil nutrients and microbial community structure and function.
Vulnerable Road User Safety Using Mobile Phones with Vehicle-to-VRU Communication
Authors: Gelbal Sukru Yaren , Aksun-Guvenc Bilin , Guvenc Levent
Published: December 2023

Pedestrians, bicyclists, scooterists are Vulnerable Road Users (VRU) in traffic accidents. The number of fatalities and injuries in traffic accidents involving vulnerable road users has been steadily increasing in the last two decades in the U.S. even though road vehicles now have perception sensors like camera to detect risk and issue collision warnings or apply emergency braking. Perception sensors like camera are highly affected by lighting and weather conditions. Camera, radar and lidar cannot detect vulnerable road users in partially occluded and occluded situations. This paper proposes the use of Vehicle-to-VRU communication to inform nearby vehicles of VRUs having trajectories with potential collision risk. An Android smartphone app with low energy Bluetooth (BLE) advertising is developed and used for this communication. The same app is also used to collect motion data of VRUs for training. VRU motion data is smoothed using a Kalman filter and an LSTM neural network is used for future motion prediction. This information is used in an algorithm comparing Time-To-collision-Zone (TTZ) for the vehicle and VRU and issue a driver warning with different severity levels. The warning severity level is based on analysis of real data from a smart intersection for close vehicle and VRU interactions. The resulting driver warning system is demonstrated using proof-of-concept experiments. The method can easily be extended to a VRU collision mitigation system.
Casimir Forces with Periodic Structures: Abrikosov Flux Lattices
Authors: Castillo-López Shunashi G. , Esquivel-Sirvent Raúl , Pirruccio Giuseppe , Villarreal Carlos
Published: December 2023

We investigate the influence of the Abrikosov vortex lattice on the Casimir force in a setup constituted by high-temperature superconductors subject to an external magnetic field. The Abrikosov lattice is a property of type II superconductors in which normal and superconducting carriers coexist and these latter define a periodic pattern with squared symmetry. We find that the optical properties determined by spatial redistribution of the superconducting order parameter induce Casimir forces with a periodic structure whose minimal strengths coincide with the vortex cores.
Phytochemical, Technological and Pharmacological Study on the Galenic Dry Extracts Prepared from German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) Flowers
Authors: Sepp Janne , Koshovyi Oleh , Jakstas Valdas , Žvikas Vaidotas , Botsula Iryna , Kireyev Igor , Tsemenko Karina , Kukhtenko Oleksandr , Kogermann Karin , Heinämäki Jyrki , Raal Ain
Published: December 2023

German chamomile galenic preparations are used to treat mild skin diseases, inflammation and spasms, and they have also reported to have anxiolytic and sedative effects. The medicinal use of chamomile is well-known in ethnomedicine. Since chamomile has shown to have some adverse effects, there is a need to develop new formulations, such as dry extracts, for the present herb. The aims of this study were (1) to develop a novel method for preparing essential oils and dry extracts from German chamomile flowers, (2) to reveal the phytochemical composition of such extracts, and (3) to verify the analgesic and soporific activity of extracts in vivo with a rodent animal model. Furthermore, our study aims to gain knowledge of the ethnomedical status of chamomile in the past and presence. Essential oils and dry extracts were successfully prepared from the tincture and aqueous extracts obtained after hydrodistillation and from a tincture powder. Total 22 phenolic compounds (7 hydroxycinnamic acids, 13 flavonoids and 2 phenolic acids), were found in the dry extracts by using UPLC-MS/MS. Total 9 main terpenoids were identified in the chamomile oil, and these terpenoids represent the chemotype rich in bisabolol oxides A and B. In the highest yield, the ratio of phenolic compounds and extract was in the range of 1:14-1:16 and triple extraction was performed. In in-vivo studies with mice and rats, the extracts showed analgesic activity and improvements in sleep. The highest sedative effect in rodents was found with the extract prepared by using a 70% aqueous ethanol solution for extraction. The administration of such extract at the dose of 50 mg/kg significantly prolonged the sleeping time in rats.
Physiological and Transcriptomic Analyses Reveal Commonalities and Specificities in Wheat in Response to Aluminum and Manganese
Authors: Luo Daozhen , Xian Chunnuan , Zhang Wenjie , Qin Ying , Li Qing , Usman Muhammad , Sun Shiheng , Xing Yongxiu , Dong Dengfeng
Published: December 2023

Aluminum (Al) and manganese (Mn) toxicity are the top two constraints to crop production in acid soil. Crops have evolved common and specific mechanisms to tolerate the two stresses. In the present study, the responses (toxicity and tolerance) of wheat near-isogenic lines (ET8 and ES8) and their parents (Carazinho and Egret) to Al and Mn were compared by determining physiolog-ical parameters and transcriptome profiling of roots. The results showed that: (1) Carazinho and ET8 exhibited dual tolerance to Al and Mn as compared with Egret and ES8, indicated by higher relative root elongation and SPAD; (2) After entering into roots, Al was mainly distributed in the root and fixed in the cell wall, while Mn was mainly distributed in the cell sap and then trans-ported to leaves. Both Al and Mn stresses decreased the contents of Ca, Mg, and Zn; Mn stress al-so inhibited the accumulation of Fe, while Al showed an opposite effect; (3) Transcriptomic analy-sis identified 5581 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) under Al stress and 4165 DEGs under Mn stress. Among these, 2774 DEGs were regulated by both Al and Mn stresses, while 2280 and 1957 DEGs were exclusively regulated by Al and Mn stress, respectively. GO and KEGG analyses indi-cated that cell wall metabolism responds exclusively to Al, while nicotianamine synthesis exclu-sively responds to Mn. Pathways such as signaling, phenylpropanoid metabolism, and metal ion transport showed commonality and specificity to Al and Mn. TFs, such as MYB, WRKY, and AP2 families, were also regulated by Al and Mn, and WGCNA identified PODP7, VATB2, and ABCC3 as the hub genes for Al tolerance and NAS for Mn tolerance. The identified genes and pathways can be used as targets for pyramiding genes and breeding multi-tolerant varieties.
Dense Cold Quark-Gluon Matter Clusters and their Studies at the NICA Collider
Authors: Vechernin Vladimir , Belokurova Svetlana , Yurchenko Semyon
Published: December 2023

The production of particles outside the region of nucleon-nucleon kinematics due to interactions involving dense cold clusters of quark-gluon matter in nuclei is calculated. The possibility of observing this process in the region of central rapidities and large transverse momenta in heavy ion collisions at low energies with MPD detector at the NICA collider has been demonstrated.
The Prevalence of the Frailty Syndrome in a Hospital Setting – Is Its Diagnosis a Challenge?
Authors: Kasiukiewicz Agnieszka , Wojszel Zyta Beata
Published: December 2023

The study aimed to assess the prevalence of the frailty syndrome in older patients hospitalized in the geriatric ward depending on the diagnostic criteria used, the feasibility of particular diagnostic scales in hospitalized patients, and their compatibility. Material and methods: Patients admitted to the Department of Geriatrics of Hospital of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration in Bialystok within eight months were included in the study. Four diagnostic scales were used to identify the frailty syndrome: Fried criteria, 7-point Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), 40-item Frailty Index (FI), and FRAIL Scale. The compatibility of the scales was determined using Cohen's Kappa statistics. Results: 416 patients (mean age 81.2 ± 6.91 years, 77.4% women) were included in the study. Depending on the scale, the prevalence of frailty syndrome varied from 26.8% ( FRAIL Scale), 52.3% (Clinical Frailty Scale), and 58.1% (Fried criteria) up to 62.9% (Frailty Index). We observed the highest feasibility for CFS (100%), intermediate for Frailty Index (95.2%), FRAIL Scale (89.7%), and the lowest for Fried scale (79.8%). The highest level of agreement was found between the CFS and Fried scale, with 70.2% consistent ratings (Cohen Kappa 0.49). Conclusions: Patients in the geriatric ward are characterized by a high prevalence of frailty, although it differs depending on the criteria. The Frailty Index found the highest prevalence and the lowest in the case of the FRAIL scale. The feasibility of scales and their comparability differed; the most difficult to use in daily practice was the Fried scale, while the Clinical Frailty Scale was determined feasible in all patients. The highest agreement was observed between the Fried criteria and the Clinical Frailty Scale and the lowest between the FRAIL scale and the remaining ones.
Validation of Aeroponic Cultivation of Jalapeño Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) through Thermal and Morphometric Characterization of Roots and Leaves
Authors: Martinez-Nolasco Coral , Padilla-Medina Jose A. , Nolasco Juan J. Martinez , Barranco-Gutiérrez Alejandro I. , Prado-Olivarez Juan , Santoyo-Mora Mauro
Published: December 2023

Jalapeño peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) are an important agricultural product worldwide. Despite its high demand in recent years, there are few studies on its production under adverse conditions caused by environmental phenomena. Crops in protected environments such as aeroponics offer greater control of these phenomena and enable efficient use of resources. However, it is necessary to validate the cultivation technique for which new technologies are being used. One of these is the analysis of images captured in the visible and near and far infrared spectrum which involves using non-invasive techniques in order to characterize the growth of a plant and diagnose if it presents any type of stress. This study presents the characterization of vegetative growth and fruiting of jalapeño pepper plants in an aeroponic system, where the root, leaf development parameters and fruits were measured in four jalapeño pepper crops through images of plants captured in the visible (VIS), near infrared (NIR) and far infrared (IR) spectrums. Four crops of thirty jalapeño pepper plants were sown to obtain a total of one hundred and twenty plants which were characterized in the different phases of growth and fruiting. Each of the four jalapeño pepper crops were monitored for sixty days in an aeroponic system in a greenhouse. The first crop was intended to carry out tests to establish the appropriate fertigation times, the next three crops were grown under favorable conditions. Algorithms were developed in Matlab to obtain, over ten image capture sessions, the morphometric and thermal parameters of the roots (perimeter, area, length and average temperature), plants (perimeter, area, height and average temperature), and fruiting. (yield and number of fruits). The statistical analysis was carried out using the ANOVA and Tukey tests considering a value of p ≤ 0.05. The results obtained indicate that there is no significant difference between the characterizations of the four crops. This statement is also supported by the visual analysis of the growth curves parameters of the four crops. In addition, the temperature inside the aeroponic system was contrasted with the ambient temperature and it was verified that the temperature to which the roots are exposed was in the range of 10°C – 20°C. The thermal analysis determined that a plant that presents water stress and is also exposed to high temperatures has an average leaf temperature of 3.7 to 5 °C above the optimal condition for the plant, while a plant with stress at normal temperatures was 1.3 °C higher than the plant without stress.
Dimerization and Oligomerization of Alkenes Catalyzed with Transition Metal Complexes: Catalytic Systems and Reaction Mechanisms
Authors: Parfenova Lyudmila V. , Bikmeeva Almira Kh. , Kovyazin Pavel V. , Khalilov Leonard M.
Published: December 2023

Dimers and oligomers of alkenes represent a category of compounds that are in great demand for diverse industrial sectors. Among the developing synthetic methods, the catalysis of alkene dimerization and oligomerization using transition metal salts and complexes is of undoubted interest for practical application. This approach demonstrates substantial potential, offering not only elevated reaction rates but also precise control over the chemo-, regio-, and stereoselectivity of the reactions. In this review, we discuss the data on catalytic systems for alkene dimerization and oligomerization. Our focus lies in the analysis of how the activity and chemoselectivity of these catalytic systems are influenced by various factors, such as the nature of the transition metal, the ligand environment, the activator, and substrate structure. Notably, the review particularly discusses the reaction mechanisms, encompassing metal complex activation, structural and dynamic features, and the reactivity of hydride intermediates, which serve as potential catalytically active centers in alkene dimerization and oligomerization.
Temporal Trend of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant and Res-Piratory Syncytial Virus in the Nasal Cavity and Accuracy of the Newly Developed Antigen-Detecting Rapid Diagnostic Test
Authors: Tamura Daisuke , Morisawa Yuji , Mato Takashi , Nunomiya Shin , Yoshihiro Masaki , Maehara Yuta , Ito Shizuka , Ochiai Yasushi , Yamagishi Hirokazu , Tajima Toshihiro , Yamagata Takanori , Osaka Hitoshi
Published: December 2023

To analyze the viral titers of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) at the anterior nasal site (ANS) and nasopharyngeal site (NS), evaluate their virological dynamics, and validate the usefulness of a newly developed two antigen-detecting rapid antigen diagnostic test (Ag-RDT) that simultaneously detects SARS-CoV-2 and RSV using clinical specimens. This study included 195 asymptomatic to severely ill patients. Overall, 668 specimens were collected simultaneously from the ANS and NS. The cycle threshold (Ct) values calculated from real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to analyze temporal changes in viral load and evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the Ag-RDT. The mean Ct values for SARS-CoV-2-positive, ANS, and NS specimens were 28.8, 28.9, and 28.7, respectively. The mean Ct values for RSV-positive, ANS, and NS specimens were 28.7, 28.8, and 28.6, respectively. SARS-CoV-2 and RSV showed the same trend in viral load, although the viral load of NS was higher than that of ANS. The sensitivity and specificity of the newly developed Ag-RDT were excellent in specimens collected up to 10 days after the onset of SARS-CoV-2 infection and up to 6 days after the onset of RSV infection.
Demystifying the Deep Learning Building Blocks
Authors: Domínguez Humberto de Jesús Ochoa , Cruz Sánchez Vianey Guadalupe , Vergara Villegas Osslan Osiris
Published: December 2023

Building deep learning models proposed by third parties can become a simple task when specialized libraries are used. However, a great deal of mystery still surrounds the design of new models or the modification of existing ones. These tasks require in-depth knowledge of the different components or building blocks as well as their dimensions. This information is limited and broken up in different literature. In this article, we collect and explain in-depth the building blocks to design deep learning models, starting from the artificial neuron to the concepts involved in building deep neural networks. Furthermore, the implementation of each building block is exemplified using the Keras library.
Seasonal Bleaching and Partial Mortality of Pocillopora verrucosa Corals off the Coast of Central Vietnam
Authors: Lishchenko Fedor , Burmistrova Yulia , Petrochenko Roman , Nguen Thanh , Britayev Temir
Published: December 2023

Coral reefs are one of the most productive yet vulnerable ecosystems on Earth. An important step in understanding the functioning of coral communities is studying the environmental impact on the state of reefs. The present study aimed to assess the impacts of the water temperature, precipitation, wave action and population density on the seasonal bleaching, partial and complete mortality of shallow-water branching corals of Pocillopora verrucosa species complex. The present study was conducted at the Dam Bay research station (Nha Trang Bay) from 26 April 2020 to 2 April 2021. Throughout the study the percentage of bleached coral colonies varied from 1 to 41.5% with two peaks, in autumn (October) and spring (April). Rates of the development of partial mortality varied from 0 to 10%, with a pronounced peak in December. At the end of the experiment, the percentage of coral colonies suffering from partial mortality reached 47%. Only 4,5% of experimental colonies died by the end of the study. Analysis revealed that water temperature and partial mortality are the drivers of bleaching, while wave action, temperature and bleaching are the factors with a significant impact on partial mortality. In the present study, the main cause of coral death was the development of algal fouling at the sites of colony lesions, which gradually spread over the entire surface of the colony. We showed also that the impact of individual stress on mortality prevailed over the impact of seasonal bleaching and partial mortality events.
Morphological, Physiological And Molecular Stomatal Responses Of Wild Watermelon As A Drought Tolerance Mechanisms
Authors: Madumane Kelebogile Madumane , Sewelo Lesego T. , Nkane Metseyabeng N. , Batlang Utlwang , Malambane Goitseone
Published: December 2023

Drought-tolerant plants have become a convenient model to study the mechanisms underlying drought tolerance to improve the susceptible domesticated relatives. Various studies have shown that wild watermelon possess superior qualities that aid its survival in harsh environmental conditions. One of the key mechanisms that aids the tolerance of the crop has been noted as its timely stomatal regulation. In this study, the physiological, morphological and molecular stomatal responses of a drought-tolerant (wild watermelon) and four other watermelons genotypes were evaluated under drought stress. The watermelon plants were grown under water deficit (complete withholding of watering) and non-stress treatment. The highest SPAD values were recorded in wild and cooking (50 ± 3) watermelon genotypes and Crimson sweet (27 ± 0.37) had the lowest SPAD values showing the ability of the tolerant genotypes to maintain their system during drought stress. Fluorescence parameters also gave an important clue into the tolerant genotypes with cooking and wild watermelon under drought stress while the domesticated genotypes showed slow response to fluorescence parameters, something that might lead to damage to photosynthesis apparatus. Stomatal opening during drought showed that the wild watermelon limited its opening with the progress of drought as at day 9 it had the lowest opening of 23.1 ± 1.2 µm as compared to other genotypes and most importantly upon re-watering it showed rapid recovery than all the genotypes. And these was also expressed in mRNA quantification of stomatal aperture TFs where wild watermelon recorded 8 fold increase on stomatal closure CLROC3 TFs. And all these mechanisms have been attributed to the tolerance mechanisms of the drought tolerant watermelon genotypes.
Clinical Review of Hypertensive Acute Heart Failure
Authors: Lasica Ratko , Djukanovic Lazar , Vukmirovic Jovanka , Zdravkovic Marija , Ristic Arsen , Asanin Milika , Simic Dragan
Published: December 2023

Although acute heart failure (AHF) is a common disease associated with significant symptoms, morbidity and mortality, the diagnosis, risk stratification and treatment of patients with hypertensive acute heart failure (H-AHF) still remain a challenge in modern medicine. Despite great progress in diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, this disease is still accompanied by a high rate of both in-hospital (from 3.8% to 11%) and one-year mortality (from 20% to 36%). Considering the high rate of re-hospitalization (22% to 30% in the first three months), the treatment of this disease represents a major financial blow to the health system of each country. This disease is characterized by heterogeneity in precipitating factors, clinical presentation, therapeutic modalities and prognosis. Since heart decompensation usually occurs quickly (within a few hours) in patients with H-AHF, establishing a rapid diagnosis is of vital importance. In addition to establishing the diagnosis of heart failure itself, it is necessary to see the underlying cause that led to it, especially if it is de novo heart failure. Given that hypertension is a precipitating factor of AHF and in up to 11% of AHF patients, strict control of arterial blood pressure is necessary until target values are reached in order to prevent the occurrence of H-AHF, which is still accompanied by a high rate of both early and long-term mortality.
Multivariable Fractional-Order Controller Design of Nonlinear Dual Tank Device
Authors: Kochi Ryota , Deng Mingcong
Published: December 2023

Fractional calculus is defined by expanded integer order integration and differentiation. In this paper, multiple mathematical models of a nonlinear dual tank device are precisely formulated by fractional calculus. Using the accurate model, multivariable Fractional-Order Controller is designed for the nonlinear device. The merits of the fractional-order design include: 1) Control of multivariable nonlinearities, 2) Compensation of uncertainties, 3) Elimination of coupling effects. Simulations and experiments are conducted to verify the precision of the fractional order models and the effectiveness of the multivariable fractional-order control design.
Enhancing Osteoporotic Vertebral Fracture Diagnosis and Treatment Planning: Comparing CT and STIR Sequence MRI
Authors: Viola Reka , Aslan Siran , Al-Smadi Mohammad Walid , Viola Árpad
Published: December 2023

In response to a threefold increase in osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVF) at our institution over the past decade and the subsequent development of new fractures within a year in a third of cases, we evaluated the effectiveness of STIR MRI scans in conjunction with CT scans for initial OVF diagnosis. This study, conducted over five months, involved full spine sagittal STIR MRI scans alongside CT scans for patients over 50 with minor injury-related vertebral fractures. The independent assessments by radiologists and neurosurgeons of 64 patients revealed that while CT scans identified 161 fresh fractures, of which only 68 were previously reported, MRI detected 266 fractures, 1.65 times more than CT. CT scans showed single fractures in 27% of patients and multiple fractures in 73%, whereas MRI identified single fractures in 9% and multiple fractures in 91% of patients. Additionally, MRI demonstrated a 1.5-fold increase in adjacent fracture detection. The use of MRI influenced treatment plans in 67% of cases. Given these findings, we advocate for including a STIR MRI of the entire spine alongside CT scans in OVF cases, as it significantly enhances fracture detection and can alter treatment strategies.
Maximal Mass Within Sphere,Repulsion,Black Holes and Some Implications
Authors: Shalyt-Margolin Alexander
Published: December 2023

This paper presents one of the approaches to solution of the problem of the repulsion origin in gravity. The approach is based on the property of compactness characteristic for a self-gravitating object in General Relativity. Here we understand compactness as estimation of the upper boundary for mass such an object in a static two--dimensional sphere. Repulsion originates when this boundary is violated. The main hypothesis is formulated in the form of the principle of maximal mass within a two-dimensional static sphere. It is demonstrated that the principle is true for Schwarzschild black holes on absorption of the matter in the process of accretion, both in the classical case and with due regard for quantum-gravitational corrections. The results have been extended to black holes with the Schwarzschild-de Sitter metric in the early Universe. The applicability of the principle suggested is analyzed for the early and for the present Universe.