bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Optimization Model for Ship Speed Based on Maneuvering Control
Authors: Li Xin , Gu Yiqing , Fan Xiang , Zou Kang , Hou Xianrui
Published: December 2022

The increasing frequency of serious environmental issues and high fuel costs have necessitated better energy efficiency in the shipping industry. According to a report by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), ship speed optimization has huge potential. This paper introduces an optimization model of ship speed based on maneuvering control. The trajectory tracking theory and sliding mode control method are applied to simulate the control load of a ship. The propeller mode and rudder mode are used to calculate the corresponding rotating speed of the propeller, the rudder angle and the energy consumption. The accuracy and robustness of the maneuvering control model are validated in a still water scenario and a level 5 sea state scenario. On this basis, a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is applied to determine the best speed combination. The result shows that sailing at a constant speed is the most energy-saving strategy in still water. Moreover, due to the effects of wind, waves and currents, ships should sail faster when the sea is calm and slower when the sea is rough. These results are consistent with the actual experiences of a captain.
The Impact of Anatomical Predisposition and Mechanism of Trauma on Dislocation of the Patella: A Retrospective Analysis of 104 Cases
Authors: Schubert Ilona , Morris Patrick , Dickschas Jörg , Strohm Peter C.
Published: December 2022

Background: The aim of this study was to determine whether traumatic dislocation of the patella is provoked by the presence of predisposing factors and examine the role of the mechanism of injury. Methods: Cases diagnosed with dislocation of the patella and covered by the workers’ compensation program were identified and classified as traumatic based on insurance regulations. We examined predisposing factors (e.g., frontal axis, torsional deviation, trochlear dysplasia, patella alta) in case groups based on age at dislocation and trauma mechanism. Retrospective cohort study, level of evidence III. Results: Our sample size comprised 104 cases, consisting of 54 children and 50 adults. The most common mechanism of injury in children and adults was rotational trauma. Only 20% of the children and 21% of the adults exhibited no relevant predisposing factors. Group specifically, falls accounted for the highest number of cases exhibiting none of the defined anatomical predisposing factors. Children are more frequently affected by predisposition-related dislocations than adults. Conclusion: The proportion of predispositions is high. A fall, direct impact, or rotational trauma can be viewed as an adequate mechanism of trauma. For successful treatment, it is paramount to analyze the exact mechanism of the trauma and address any underlying predispositions.
MAC-ResNet: Knowledge Distillation Based Lightweight Multiscale-Attention-Crop-ResNet for Eyelid Tumors Detection and Classification
Authors: Huang Xingru , Yao Chunlei , Xu Feng , Chen Lingxiao , Wang Huaqiong , Chen Xiaodiao , Ye Juan , Wang Yaqi
Published: December 2022

Eyelid tumors are tumors that occur in the eye and its appendages, affecting vision and appearance, causing blindness and disability, and some having a high lethality rate. Pathological images of eyelid tumors are characterized by large pixels, multiple scales, and similar features. Solving the problem of difficult and time-consuming fine-grained classification of pathological images is important to improve the efficiency and quality of pathological diagnosis. The morphology of Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC), Meibomian Gland Carcinoma (MGC), and Cutaneous Melanoma (CM) in eyelid tumors are very similar, and it is easy to be misdiagnosed among each category. In addition, the diseased area, which is decisive for the diagnosis of the disease, usually occupies only a relatively minor portion of the entire pathology section, and screening the area of interest is a tedious and time-consuming task. In this paper, deep learning techniques to investigate the pathological images of eyelid tumors. Inspired by the knowledge distillation process, we propose the Multiscale-Attention-Crop-ResNet (MAC-ResNet) network model to achieve the automatic classification of three malignant tumors and the automatic localization of whole slide imaging (WSI) lesion regions using U-Net. The final accuracy rates of the three classification problems of eyelid tumors on MAC-ResNet were 96.8%, 94.6%, and 90.8%, respectively.
Germany’s UNESCO Global Geoparks and National GeoParks: Experiences from a Two-Tier System
Authors: Megerle Heidi Elisabeth , Ellger Christof
Published: December 2022

Initiatives in Germany were among the pioneers of the international geopark movement. The Vulkaneifel Geopark was involved in the development of the first international geopark initiative at the end of the 1990s, establishing the European Geoparks Network in 2000. In addition, the national geoscientific community opted early, since the year 2000, for an additional national label, with the idea of establishing more geoparks than then possible if they had relied solely on the international certificate. Currently, eight geoparks in Germany are both National GeoParks and UNESCO Global Geoparks. A further ten geoparks are recognized as National GeoParks. After more than two decades, the two-tier system in Germany appears to be a successful approach. Opportunities as well as challenges of such a two-tier geopark system, are addressed in the article.
A New Lavender (Lavandula multifida L.) Ecotype from Arid Tunisia, with Differential Essential Oil Composition and Higher Antimicrobial Potential
Authors: Tofah Mohanad Lateef , Mseddi Khalil , Al-Abbasi Omar K. , Ben Yazid Ahmed , Khechine Ahmed , Gdoura Radhouane , Khannous Lamia
Published: December 2022

The lavender Lavandula multifida L., a medicinal plant grown in arid regions of Tunisia, was recently considered an endangered species; thus, its habitats regressed to some difficult zones in terms of access, such as the watershed of Oued Agareb in central-eastern Tunisia. This species was recorded only in deep and narrow shady Wadi of the watershed and benefited from protection against overgrazing, erosion and sunlight. L. multifida was rarely observed in an open area, such as a plateau or large-bed valley. The plant’s metabolism is linked to its response to environmental conditions, which is of particular interest to understanding the components of the considered population of L. multifida. Consequently, biochemical and antimicrobial analyses have been evaluated. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis reveals that among the 58 compounds identified in L. multifida essential oil extracted from aboveground plant tissues, camphor was the major component (15.68%), followed by 1,8-cineole (14.14%) and alpha-pinene (13.82%). Moreover, it has been observed that Escherichia coli was more susceptible than Staphylococcus aureus to the antimicrobial properties of L. multifida essential oil, while in the case of camphor, S. aureus was more susceptible than E. coli. The protected population of L. multifida exhibits a distinctive vegetative development and growth cycle, resulting in specific secondary metabolites and distinguished antimicrobial activity.
Synthesis and Characterization of Ni Nanoparticles via the Microemulsion Technique and Its Applications for Energy Storage Devices
Authors: Rehman Zia Ur , Nawaz Mohsan , Ullah Hameed , Uddin Imad , Shad Salma , Eldin Elsyed , Alshgari Razan A. , Bahajjaj Aboud Ahmed Awadh , Arifeen Waqas Ul , Javed Muhammad Sufyan
Published: December 2022

Herein, a unique synthetic approach called microemulsion is used to create nickel nanoparticles (Ni-NPs). SEM, TEM, EDX, and XRD techniques were employed for the investigation of morphology and structures of the synthesized material. Electrons from electroactive components are transferred to external circuits by Ni-NPs’ superior electrical conductivity and interconnected nanostructures, which also provide a large number of channels for ion diffusion and additional active sites. The experimental findings showed that as a positive electrode for supercapacitors (SC), Ni-NPs had an outstanding ability to store charge, with a dominant capacitive charge storage of 72.4% when measured at 10 mV/s. Furthermore, at 1 A/g, Ni-NP electrodes exhibit a maximum capacitance of 730 F/g. Further, the Ni-NP electrode retains 92.4% of its capacitance even for 5000 cycles, highlighting possible applications for it in the developing field of renewable energy. The current study provides a new method for producing high-rate next-generation electrodes for supercapacitors.
Glassy Carbon Modified with Cationic Surfactant (GCE/CTAB) as Electrode Material for Fast and Simple Analysis of the Arsenic Drug Roxarsone
Authors: Tyszczuk-Rotko Katarzyna , Gorylewski Damian
Published: December 2022

For the fast and simple sensing of the arsenic drug roxarsone (ROX), the development of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with cationic surfactant (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB) material is critical. The CTAB-modified glassy carbon electrode, in contrast to the unmodified one, showed excellent behavior for electrochemical reduction of ROX using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square-wave adsorptive stripping voltammetry (SWAdSV) techniques. CV studies reveal an irreversible reduction process of NO2 to NH–OH in the ROX molecule in NaAc–HAc buffer (pH = 5.6). The electrode material was characterized using CV and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The experiments show that the surfactant-modified material has faster electron transfer and a higher active surface area, and permits a diffusion–adsorption-controlled process. After optimization, the SWAdSV procedure with GCE/CTAB has linear ranges of 0.001–0.02 and 0.02–20 µM, and a detection limit of 0.13 nM. Furthermore, the procedure successfully determined roxarsone in river water samples.
Cost Model for Biogas and Biomethane Production in Anaerobic Digestion and Upgrading. Case Study: Castile and Leon
Authors: Sánchez-Martín Laura , Ortega Romero Marcelo , Llamas Bernardo , Suárez Rodríguez María del Carmen , Mora Pedro
Published: December 2022

The increase in pig production is a key factor in the fight against climate change. The main problem is the amount of slurry which causes environmental problems, therefore optimal management is needed. This management consists of an anaerobic digestion process in which biogas is produced and a subsequent upgrading process produces biomethane. In this study, a comparison of different biomethane production systems is completed in order to determine the optimum for each pig farm, determining that conventional upgrading systems can be used on farms with more than 11,000 pigs and, for smaller numbers of pigs, the biological upgrading system. The implementation of these technologies contributes to reducing fossil energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions by using biogas and biomethane as heat, electricity or vehicle fuel.
An End-to-End Formula Recognition Method Integrated Attention Mechanism
Authors: Zhou Mingle , Cai Ming , Li Gang , Li Min
Published: December 2022

Formula recognition is widely used in document intelligent processing, which can significantly shorten the time for mathematical formula input, but the accuracy of traditional methods could be higher. In order to solve the complexity of formula input, an end-to-end encoder-decoder framework with an attention mechanism is proposed that converts formulas in pictures into LaTeX sequences. The Vision Transformer (VIT) is employed as the encoder to convert the original input picture into a set of semantic vectors. Due to the two-dimensional nature of mathematical formula, in order to accurately capture the formula characters’ relative position and spatial characteristics, positional embedding is introduced to ensure the uniqueness of the character position. The decoder adopts the attention-based Transformer, in which the input vector is translated into the target LaTeX character. The model adopts joint codec training and Cross-Entropy as a loss function, which is evaluated on the im2latex-100k dataset and CROHME 2014. The experiment shows that BLEU reaches 92.11, MED is 0.90, and Exact Match(EM) is 0.62 on the im2latex-100k dataset. This paper’s contribution is to introduce machine translation to formula recognition and realize the end-to-end transformation from the trajectory point sequence of formula to latex sequence, providing a new idea of formula recognition based on deep learning.
Equivalence Analysis of Statistical Inference Results under True and Misspecified Multivariate Linear Models
Authors: Jiang Bo , Tian Yongge
Published: December 2022

This paper provides a complete matrix analysis on equivalence problems of estimation and inference results under a true multivariate linear model Y=XΘ+Ψ and its misspecified form Y=XΘ+ZΓ+Ψ with an augmentation part ZΓ through the cogent use of various algebraic formulas and facts in matrix analysis. The coverage of this study includes the matrix derivations of the best linear unbiased estimators under the true and misspecified models, and the establishment of necessary and sufficient conditions for the different estimators to be equivalent under the model assumptions.
MHD Micropolar Fluid in a Porous Channel Provoked by Viscous Dissipation and Non-Linear Thermal Radiation: An Analytical Approach
Authors: Saraswathy M. , Prakash D. , Durgaprasad Putta
Published: December 2022

The present exploration discusses the combined effect of non-linear thermal radiation along with viscous dissipation and magnetic field through a porous medium. A distinctive aspect of our work is the simultaneous use of porous wall and a porous material. The impact of thermal rays is essential in space technology and high temperature processes. At the point when the temperature variation is very high, the linear thermal radiation causes a noticeable error. To overcome such errors, nonlinear thermal radiation is taken into account. The coupled system of ordinary differential equations are derived from the partial differential equation. The dimensional model equations are transformed into non-dimensional forms using some appropriate non-dimensional transformation and the resulting nonlinear equations are solved numerically by executing persuasive numerical technique R-K integration procedure with the shooting method. Graphical analysis were used to assess the consequences of engineering factors for the momentum, angular velocity, concentration and temperature profiles. The skin friction values, local Sherwood and Nusselt number are the fascinating physical quantities whose numerical data are computed and validated against different parametric values. The vortex viscosity parameter and spin gradient viscosity parameter shows the reverse phenomenon on micro-rotation profile. The thermal radiation phenomena flattens the temperature and speeds up the heat transfer rate in the lower wall and a peak in the concentration is observed for the Pem>>1 due to the inertial force. The Variational Iteration Method (VIM) and Adomian Decomposition Method (ADM) are the two analytical approach which have been incorporated here to decipher the non linear equations for showing better approximity. Comparisons with existing studies are scrutinized very closely and they are determined to be in good accord.
VPP: Visual Pollution Prediction Framework Based on a Deep Active Learning Approach Using Public Road Images
Authors: AlElaiwi Mohammad , Al-antari Mugahed A. , Ahmad Hafiz Farooq , Azhar Areeba , Almarri Badar , Hussain Jamil
Published: December 2022

Visual pollution (VP) is the deterioration or disruption of natural and man-made landscapes that ruins the aesthetic appeal of an area. It also refers to physical elements that limit the movability of people on public roads, such as excavation barriers, potholes, and dilapidated sidewalks. In this paper, an end-to-end visual pollution prediction (VPP) framework based on a deep active learning (DAL) approach is proposed to simultaneously detect and classify visual pollutants from whole public road images. The proposed framework is architected around the following steps: real VP dataset collection, pre-processing, a DAL approach for automatic data annotation, data splitting as well as augmentation, and simultaneous VP detection and classification. This framework is designed to predict VP localization and classify it into three categories: excavation barriers, potholes, and dilapidated sidewalks. A real dataset with 34,460 VP images was collected from various regions across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) via the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing (MOMRAH), and this was used to develop and fine-tune the proposed artificial intelligence (AI) framework via the use of five AI predictors: MobileNetSSDv2, EfficientDet, Faster RCNN, Detectron2, and YOLO. The proposed VPP-based YOLO framework outperforms competitor AI predictors with superior prediction performance at 89% precision, 88% recall, 89% F1-score, and 93% mAP. The DAL approach plays a crucial role in automatically annotating the VP images and supporting the VPP framework to improve prediction performance by 18% precision, 27% recall, and 25% mAP. The proposed VPP framework is able to simultaneously detect and classify distinct visual pollutants from annotated images via the DAL strategy. This technique is applicable for real-time monitoring applications.
Solutions to the (4+1)-Dimensional Time-Fractional Fokas Equation with M-Truncated Derivative
Authors: Mohammed Wael W. , Cesarano Clemente , Al-Askar Farah M.
Published: December 2022

In this paper, we consider the (4+1)-dimensional fractional Fokas equation (FFE) with an M-truncated derivative. The extended tanh–coth method and the Jacobi elliptic function method are utilized to attain new hyperbolic, trigonometric, elliptic, and rational fractional solutions. In addition, we generalize some previous results. The acquired solutions are beneficial in analyzing definite intriguing physical phenomena because the FFE equation is crucial for explaining various phenomena in optics, fluid mechanics and ocean engineering. To demonstrate how the M-truncated derivative affects the analytical solutions of the FFE, we simulate our figures in MATLAB and show several 2D and 3D graphs.
Approximate Solution of Two Dimensional Disc-like Systems by One Dimensional Reduction: An Approach through the Green Function Formalism Using the Finite Elements Method
Authors: Ferrero Alejandro , Mallarino Juan Pablo
Published: December 2022

We present a comprehensive study for common second order PDE’s in two dimensional disc-like systems and show how their solution can be approximated by finding the Green function of an effective one dimensional system. After elaborating on the formalism, we propose to secure an exact solution via a Fourier expansion of the Green function, which entails solving an infinitely countable system of differential equations for the Green–Fourier modes that in the simplest case yields the source-free Green distribution. We present results on non separable systems—or such whose solution cannot be obtained by the usual variable separation technique—on both annulus and disc geometries, and show how the resulting one dimensional Fourier modes potentially generate a near-exact solution. Numerical solutions will be obtained via finite differentiation using Finite Difference Method (FDM) or Finite Element Method (FEM) with the three-point stencil approximation to derivatives. Comparing to known exact solutions, our results achieve an estimated numerical relative error below 10−6. Solutions show the well-known presence of peaks when r=r′ and a smooth behavior otherwise, for differential equations involving well-behaved functions. We also verified how the Green functions are symmetric under the presence of a “weight function”, which is guaranteed to exist in the presence of a curl-free vector field. Solutions of non-homogeneous differential equations are also shown using the Green formalism and showing consistent results.
Diversity of Bacterial Secondary Metabolite Biosynthetic Gene Clusters in Three Vietnamese Sponges
Authors: Dat Ton That Huu , Steinert Georg , Cuc Nguyen Thi Kim , Cuong Pham Viet , Smidt Hauke , Sipkema Detmer
Published: December 2022

Recent reviews have reinforced sponge-associated bacteria as a valuable source of structurally diverse secondary metabolites with potent biological properties, which makes these microbial communities promising sources of new drug candidates. However, the overall diversity of secondary metabolite biosynthetic potential present in bacteria is difficult to access due to the fact that the majority of bacteria are not readily cultured in the laboratory. Thus, use of cultivation-independent approaches may allow accessing “silent” and “cryptic” secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters present in bacteria that cannot yet be cultured. In the present study, we investigated the diversity of secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) in metagenomes of bacterial communities associated with three sponge species: Clathria reinwardti, Rhabdastrella globostellata, and Spheciospongia sp. The results reveal that the three metagenomes contain a high number of predicted BGCs, ranging from 282 to 463 BGCs per metagenome. The types of BGCs were diverse and represented 12 different cluster types. Clusters predicted to encode fatty acid synthases and polyketide synthases (PKS) were the most dominant BGC types, followed by clusters encoding synthesis of terpenes and bacteriocins. Based on BGC sequence similarity analysis, 363 gene cluster families (GCFs) were identified. Interestingly, no GCFs were assigned to pathways responsible for the production of known compounds, implying that the clusters detected might be responsible for production of several novel compounds. The KS gene sequences from PKS clusters were used to predict the taxonomic origin of the clusters involved. The KS sequences were related to 12 bacterial phyla with Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Firmicutes as the most predominant. At the genus level, the KSs were most related to those found in the genera Mycolicibacterium, Mycobacterium, Burkholderia, and Streptomyces. Phylogenetic analysis of KS sequences resulted in detection of two known ‘sponge-specific’ BGCs, i.e., SupA and SwfA, as well as a new ‘sponge-specific’ cluster related to fatty acid synthesis in the phylum Candidatus Poribacteria and composed only by KS sequences of the three sponge-associated bacterial communities assessed here.
The Soft Coral Sarcophyton trocheliophorum: A Warehouse of Terpenoids with Structural and Pharmacological Diversity
Authors: Yang Qi-Bin , Wu Qihao , Chen Jun-Kun , Liang Lin-Fu
Published: December 2022

The soft coral Sarcophyton trocheliophorum, which was frequently encountered on Indo-Pacific and Red Sea coral reefs, furnished a wealth of secondary metabolites. Notably, terpenoids dominated the chemical profile of this species. In this review, we summarized the discovery of 156 terpenoids from the soft coral S. trocheliophorum specimens in different geographical areas. The structures comprised 13 terpenoidal classes with various functionalities. We covered the era from the first report of S. trocheliophorum-derived metabolites in 1976 up to October 2022. The biological effects of these chemical compositions on a vast array of potential pharmacological activities such as protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) inhibitory, neuroprotective, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antivirus, and immunomodulatory activities were also presented. This review also revealed an immense demand to explore the terpene biosynthetic gene clusters of this species besides the chemo- and bio-investigations.
Pulmonary Effects of One Week of Repeated Recreational Closed-Circuit Rebreather Dives in Cold Water
Authors: Gouin Emmanuel , Balestra Costantino , Orsat Jeremy , Dugrenot Emmanuel , L’Her Erwan
Published: December 2022

Background and Objectives: The use of closed-circuit rebreathers (CCRs) in recreational diving is gaining interest. However, data regarding its physiological effects are still scarce. Immersion, cold water, hyperoxia, exercise or the equipment itself could challenge the cardiopulmonary system. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of CCR diving on lung function and autonomous cardiac activity after a series of CCR dives in cold water. Materials and Methods: Eight CCR divers performed a diving trip (one week) in the Baltic Sea. Spirometry parameters, SpO2, and the lung ultrasonography score (LUS) associated with hydration monitoring by bioelectrical impedance were assessed at the end of the week. Heart rate variability (HRV) was recorded during the dives. Results: No diver declared pulmonary symptoms. The LUS increased after dives combined with a slight non-pathological decrease in SpO2. Spirometry was not altered, and all body water compartments were increased. Global HRV decreased during diving with a predominant increase in sympathetic tone while the parasympathetic tone decreased. All parameters returned to baseline 24 h after the last dive. Conclusions: The lung aeration disorders observed seem to be transient and not associated with functional spirometry alteration. The HRV dynamics highlighted physiological constraints during the dive as well as environmental-stress-related stimulation that may influence pulmonary changes. The impact of these impairments is unknown but should be taken into account, especially when considering long and repetitive CCR dives.
Expression of Markers Ki-67, Nestin, VEGF, CD34 and Apoptosis in Relatively Healthy Lung Tissue with Non-Changed and Metaplastic Bronchial Epithelium
Authors: Zarina Kaiva Zile , Pilmane Mara
Published: December 2022

Background: Knowledge about the occurrence of processes such as proliferation, apoptosis and angiogenesis in healthy lung tissues with different bronchial epitheliums is limited, and further exploration can contribute to a better understanding of the physiological renewal of lung tissues. The processes mentioned above occur with the help of important tissue factors; therefore, the aim of the study was to determine the expression of markers Ki-67, nestin, CD34 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEFG) and detect apoptotic cells in relatively healthy lung tissue. Methods: Samples of relatively healthy lung tissue were obtained from 19 patients and divided into groups of patients with non-changed and patients with metaplastic bronchial epithelium. Tissue samples were examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Ki-67, nestin, VEGF and CD34-positive cells were detected by the immunohistochemistry method. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay was carried out to detect apoptotic cells. The number of positive structures was counted semi-quantitatively by microscopy. Results: Ki-67-positive cells were detected in only one case. An occasional to moderate number of nestin-positive structures was found in various tissues of relatively healthy lungs with different bronchial epitheliums. No apoptotic cells were seen in non-changed bronchial epithelium, compared with few apoptotic cells in metaplastic bronchial epithelium. Metaplastic bronchial epithelium contained more VEGF-positive cells than non-changed bronchial epithelium. Samples with non-changed, and metaplastic bronchial epithelium both contained a similar number of CD34-positive structures. Conclusions: Proliferative activity and programmed cell death are not prominent events in normal lung tissue. A moderate number of nestin-positive cells in the alveolar epithelium and cartilage of bronchi with pseudostratified ciliated epithelium suggests a significant role of neuronal origin cells in these structures, to be intensified in metaplastic bronchial epithelium. A practically non-changed number of CD34-positive cells excludes any difference in stimulation of endothelial origin cells between lungs with different types of epithelium, while an increase in VEGF in structures with metaplastic epithelium suggests the presence/influence of tissue ischemia impact on possible development/maintenance of metaplasia.
Synergism between B and Nb Improves Fire Resistance in Microalloyed Steels
Authors: Ferreira Pedro Pires , Carvalho Felipe Moreno , Ariza-Echeverri Edwan Anderson , Delfino Pedro Meirelles , Bauri Luiz Felipe , Ferreira Andrei Marx , Braga Ana Paola , Eleno Luiz Tadeu Fernandes , Goldenstein Hélio , Tschiptschin André Paulo
Published: December 2022

The long exposure of structural components to high temperatures (above 600 °C) negatively changes their mechanical properties, severely compromising the structural capacity of buildings and other structures in which safety is a primary concern. Developing new cheaper fire-resistant steels with better mechanical and thermal performances represents a challenging, cutting-edge materials science and engineering research topic. Alloying elements such as Nb and Mo are generally used to improve the strength at both room and high temperatures due to the formation of precipitates and harder microconstituents. This study shows that adding small amounts of boron in Nb-microalloyed fire-resistant steels may be crucial in maintaining mechanical properties at high temperatures. The widely used 66% yield-strength criteria for fire resistance was achieved at ≈574 °C for the B-added alloys. In contrast, for those without boron, this value reached ≈460 °C, representing a remarkable boron-induced mechanical strengthening enhancement. First-principles quantum mechanics calculations demonstrate that boron additions can lower 11.7% of the vacancy formation energy compared to pure ferrite. Furthermore, for Nb-added steels, the reduction in the vacancy formation energy may reach 33.2%, suggesting that the boron-niobium combination could act as an effective pinning-based steel-strengthening agent due to the formation of B-induced higher-density vacancy-related crystalline defects, as well as other well-known steel strengthening mechanisms reported in the literature. Adding boron and niobium may, therefore, be essential in designing better structural alloys.
Staphylococcal Enterotoxins Enhance Biofilm Formation by Staphylococcus aureus in Platelet Concentrates
Authors: Chi Sylvia Ighem , Ramirez-Arcos Sandra
Published: December 2022

Biofilm formation and slow growth by Staphylococcus aureus in platelet concentrates (PCs) cause missed detection of this bacterium during routine PC screening with automated culture systems. This heightens the chances of false-negative screening transfusions and pre-disposes transfusion patients to an elevated risk of sepsis due to secretion of staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) in PCs. A hybrid approach of comparative RNAseq analyses and CRISPR mutagenesis of SE genes was employed to investigate the effect of SEs in S. aureus growth and biofilm formation in PCs. RNAseq data showed no differential expression for key biofilm genes, whereas SE genes were upregulated (>0.5- to 3.6-fold change) in PCs compared to trypticase soy broth (TSB). Remarkably, growth and biofilm formation assays revealed increased growth for the S. aureus SE mutants, while their ability to form biofilms was significantly impaired (−6.8- to −2.4-fold change) in comparison to the wild type strain, in both PCs and TSB. Through the well-established superantigen mechanism of SEs, we propose three roles for SEs during biofilm development in PCs: (1) provide a scaffold for biofilm matrix, (2) mediate cell-to-cell aggregation, and (3) guarantee biofilm survival. Furthermore, SE contribution to both growth and biofilm development seems to be centrally regulated by agr via quorum sensing and by saeSR and sigB. This study reveals new roles for SEs, which enforce their relevance in ensuring PC safety for transfusion patients. It further deciphers the underlying reasons for failed S. aureus detection in PCs during screening with automated culture systems.
Adaptive Laboratory Evolution of Microorganisms: Methodology and Application for Bioproduction
Authors: Hirasawa Takashi , Maeda Tomoya
Published: December 2022

Adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) is a useful experimental methodology for fundamental scientific research and industrial applications to create microbial cell factories. By using ALE, cells are adapted to the environment that researchers set based on their objectives through the serial transfer of cell populations in batch cultivations or continuous cultures and the fitness of the cells (i.e., cell growth) under such an environment increases. Then, omics analyses of the evolved mutants, including genome sequencing, transcriptome, proteome and metabolome analyses, are performed. It is expected that researchers can understand the evolutionary adaptation processes, and for industrial applications, researchers can create useful microorganisms that exhibit increased carbon source availability, stress tolerance, and production of target compounds based on omics analysis data. In this review article, the methodologies for ALE in microorganisms are introduced. Moreover, the application of ALE for the creation of useful microorganisms as cell factories has also been introduced.
Intestinal IgA-Coated Bacteria in Healthy- and Altered-Microbiomes (Dysbiosis) and Predictive Value in Successful Fecal Microbiota Transplantation
Authors: DuPont Herbert L. , Jiang Zhi-Dong , Alexander Ashley S. , DuPont Andrew W. , Brown Eric L.
Published: December 2022

IgA-coated bacteria in the gut (IgA-biome) provide a homeostatic function in healthy people through inhibition of microbial invaders and by protecting the epithelial monolayer of the gut. The laboratory methods used to detect this group of bacteria require flow cytometry and DNA sequencing (IgA-Seq). With dysbiosis (reduced diversity of the microbiome), the IgA-biome also is impaired. In the presence of enteric infection, oral vaccines, or an intestinal inflammatory disorder, the IgA-biome focuses on the pathogenic bacteria or foreign antigens, while in other chronic diseases associated with dysbiosis, the IgA-biome is reduced in capacity. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), the use of fecal product from well-screened, healthy donors administered to patients with dysbiosis, has been successful in engrafting the intestine with healthy microbiota and metabolites leading to improve health. Through FMT, IgA-coated bacteria have been transferred to recipients retaining their immune coating. The IgA-biome should be evaluated in FMT studies as these mucosal-associated bacteria are more likely to be associated with successful transplantation than free luminal organisms. Studies of the microbiome pre- and post-FMT should employ metagenomic methods that identify bacteria at least at the species level to better identify organisms of interest while allowing comparisons of microbiota data between studies.
Inaccuracies of the ISO 11731 Method for Environmental Validation of Legionella in Building Water Systems: Opportunities to Improve Sensitivity and Detect Viable but Non-Culturable Legionella
Authors: Wickenberg Leah P. , Fisher Katherine E. , Cain Melissa F. , McCoy William F.
Published: December 2022

Current environmental diagnostics for the detection of Legionella fail to detect viable but non-culturable Legionella, have sensitivity limitations and are time-consuming (10–14 days to results). The objective of this study was to compare Legionella detection results between the standard ISO 11731 and an innovative Legionella detection method that utilizes a hybrid methodology of traditional microbiology and molecular detection. In this study, four hundred and seventy-six (476) potable building water samples were analyzed with ISO 11731 and the novel method in parallel. Of the 476 total samples that were tested, a discrepancy of 21% was observed when comparing the ISO 11731 method to the novel method. Separating the samples based on hazard control methods yielded a 15.4% discrepancy for chlorinated systems (n = 284) and a 29% discrepancy for monochloraminated systems (n = 192). The data presented here conclusively show inaccuracies in environmental validation for building water systems based on results returned by the standard ISO 11731 method. This is especially evident in systems primarily disinfected with monochloramines. Overall, these data highlight the need for new and innovative methods to overcome the inaccuracies of the traditional ISO 11731 spread plates to prevent disease and injury caused by Legionella.
Effects of Caffeine Supplementation on the Recovery of Professional Soccer Players
Authors: e Silva Thais Marques , Abreu Wilson Cesar , Pimenta Eduardo , da Silva Sandro F.
Published: December 2022

(1) Introduction: Soccer players face high demand for training and games. To facilitate their performance, many studies have investigated ergogenic supplements that can assist in the recovery and performance of players. The aim of this research was to assess whether caffeine supplementation can help soccer players’ recovery and performance. (2) Methods: Professional players were given 210 mg of caffeine or placebo in seven games during the state championship, being offered placebo in three matches and caffeine in four matches, administered 30 min before the game, during the game, and after the game. Blood creatine kinase (CK) and heart rate variability (HRV) were measured. Participants rated their perceived recuperation (RPR) and exertion (RPE) on scales developed by Laurent and Borg, respectively. The time that the player spent on the field was also evaluated. t-tests and Levene’s test were used to analyze the results. In addition to mean differences, variations in the results were also analyzed. (3) Results: No significant differences were found in CK, HRV, RPR, RPE, or minutes on the field when comparing caffeine supplementation with the placebo. (4) Conclusion: Caffeine supplementation throughout the championship appears to have had no ergogenic effect on athlete performance and recovery.
First Autochthonous Report on Cattle Babesia naoakii in Central Java, Indonesia, and Identification of Haemaphysalis bispinosa Ticks in the Investigated Area
Authors: Hamid Penny Humaidah , Cahyadi Muhammad , Wardhana April Hari , Sawitri Dyah Haryuningtyas , Setya Nadya Nurvita R. , Insyariati Titis , Kurnianto Heri , Hermosilla Carlos R.
Published: December 2022

In tropical countries, clinical bovine babesiosis is a tick-borne disease primarily caused by Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina. Here, we investigated 11 cattle with presumptive diagnosis of clinical babesiosis in Boyolali district, Central Java, Indonesia. The majority of the animals were anemic, as evidenced by lower hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, and red blood cell counts than the normal ranges. Blood DNA was analyzed by a PCR assay targeting the 18S rRNA-ITS region of babesial origin, and the results confirmed that the cattle were infected with Babesia species. The sequencing and phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that the animals were infected with Babesia naoakii. This is the first report of B. naoakii in Indonesia and of B. naoakii-induced clinical bovine babesiosis outside of Sri Lanka. B. naoakii causes a persistent infection, as indicated by positive PCR results for serial blood samples of the circulatory system taken two weeks after treatment. Consequently, subclinical or newly recovered cattle may serve as potential intermediate hosts and infect ticks as definitive hosts to complete the life cycle. To identify potential tick vectors, we collected ticks from cattle, including 11 animals with clinical babesiosis. Based on the morphology and the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COX1) of collected ticks, we found that all of the collected ticks were Haemaphysalis bispinosa, identifying this tick species as a potential vector of B. naoakii in Indonesia. In this study, the evaluation of local farmers’ awareness and practices regarding tick-borne diseases is presented, as disease prevention is also reliant on the implementation of strategies for vector control. Since livestock activities in Java represent the country’s busiest animal trade, thereby the spread of disease to other regions is possible through anthropogenic factors. In conclusion, B. naoakii is a causative pathogen of clinical bovine babesiosis autochthonously occurred in this report and further research on B. naoakii-infection is required in other regions of the country. The prompt treatment of the disease seemed crucial for animal survival, which implies the necessity of early diagnosis and a sensitive detection method.
Thermosolutal Marangoni Convection for Hybrid Nanofluid Models: An Analytical Approach
Authors: Mahabaleshwar Ulavathi Shettar , Mahesh Rudraiah , Sofos Filippos
Published: December 2022

The present study investigates the effect of mass transpiration on heat absorption/generation, thermal radiation and chemical reaction in the magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) Darcy–Forchheimer flow of a Newtonian fluid at the thermosolutal Marangoni boundary over a porous medium. The fluid region consists of H2O as the base fluid and fractions of TiO2–Ag nanoparticles. The mathematical approach given here employs the similarity transformation, in order to transform the leading partial differential equation (PDE) into a set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODEs). The derived equations are solved analytically by using Cardon’s method and the confluent hypergeometric function. The solutions are further graphically analyzed, taking into account parameters such as mass transpiration, chemical reaction coefficient, thermal radiation, Schmidt number, Marangoni number, and inverse Darcy number. According to our findings, adding TiO2–Ag nanoparticles into conventional fluids can greatly enhance heat transfer. In addition, the mixture of TiO2–Ag with H2O gives higher heat energy compared to the mixture of only TiO2 with H2O.
Characterization of the Mechanism of Action of Serratia rubidaea Mar61-01 against Botrytis cinerea in Strawberries
Authors: Alijani Zahra , Amini Jahanshir , Karimi Kaivan , Pertot Ilaria
Published: December 2022

Several bacterial strains belonging to Serratia spp. possess biocontrol capability, both against phytopathogens and human pathogenic species, thanks to the production of secondary metabolites, including as a red-pink, non-diffusible pigment, 2-methyl-3-pentyl-6-methoxyprodiginine (prodigiosin). Botrytis cinerea is the causal agent of gray mold, which is an economically relevant disease of many crops worldwide. Gray mold is normally controlled by chemical fungicides, but the environmental and health concerns about the overuse of pesticides call for environmentally friendly approaches, such as the use of biocontrol agents. In this study, the efficacy of a specific strain of Serratia rubidaea (Mar61-01) and its metabolite prodigiosin were assessed against B. cinerea under in vitro and in vivo conditions. This strain was effective against B. cinerea, and the effect of prodigiosin was confirmed under in vitro and in vivo conditions. The strain suppressed mycelial growth of B. cinerea (71.72%) in the dual-culture method. The volatile compounds produced by the strain inhibited mycelial growth and conidia germination of B. cinerea by 65.01% and 71.63%, respectively. Efficacy of prodigiosin produced by S. rubidaea Mar61-01 on mycelial biomass of B. cinerea was 94.15% at the highest concentration tested (420 µg/mL). The effect of prodigiosin on plant enzymes associated with induction of resistance was also studied, indicating that the activity of polyphenol oxidase (PPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) were increased when prodigiosin was added to the B. cinerea inoculum on strawberry fruits, while catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) did not change. In addition, the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by S. rubidaea Mar61-01 reduced mycelial growth and inhibited conidial germination of B. cinerea in vitro. The findings confirmed the relevant role of prodigiosin produced by S. rubidaea Mar61-01 in the biocontrol of B. cinerea of strawberries, but also indicate that there are multiple mechanisms of action, where the VOCs produced by the bacterium and the plant-defense reaction may contribute to the control of the phytopathogen. Serratia rubidaea Mar61-01 could be a suitable strain, both to enlarge our knowledge about the potential of Serratia as a biocontrol agent of B. cinerea and to develop new biofungicides to protect strawberries in post-harvest biocontrol.
Transcriptome Analysis Identifies Novel Genes Associated with Low-Temperature Seed Germination in Sweet Corn
Authors: Xiao Yingni , Chen Mei , Zheng Nannan , Xu Zhuoyi , Zhang Jie , Hu Xinmin , Li Li , Gu Riliang , Du Xuemei , Wang Jianhua
Published: December 2022

Typically, sweet corn, particularly sh2 sweet corn, has low seed vigor owing to its high sugar and low starch content, which is a major problem in sweet corn production, particularly at low temperatures. There is considerable variation in the germination rates among sweet corn varieties under low-temperature conditions, and the underlying mechanisms behind this phenomenon remain unclear. In this study, we screened two inbred sweet corn lines (tolerant line L282 and sensitive line L693) differing in their low-temperature germination rates; while no difference was observed in their germination rates at normal temperatures. To identify the specifically induced genes influencing the germination capacity of sweet corn at low temperatures, a transcriptome analysis of the two lines was conducted at both normal and low temperatures. Compared to the lines at a normal temperature, 3926 and 1404 differently expressed genes (DEGs) were identified from L282 and L693, respectively, under low-temperature conditions. Of them, 830 DEGs were common DEGs (cDEGs) that were identified from both L282 and L693, which were majorly enriched in terms of microtubule-based processes, histone H3-K9 modification, single-organism cellular processes, and carbohydrate metabolic processes. In addition, 3096 special DEGs (sDEGs), with 2199 upregulated and 897 downregulated, were detected in the tolerant line L282, but not in the sensitive line L693. These sDEGs were primarily related to plasma membranes and oxygen-containing compounds. Furthermore, electric conductivity measurements demonstrated that the membrane of L282 experienced less damage, which is consistent with its strong tolerance at low temperatures. These results expand our understanding of the complex mechanisms involved in the cold germination of sweet corn and provide a set of candidate genes for further genetic analysis.
A Novel CSAHP Approach to Assess the Priority of Maintenance Work Outsourced by a Metro Company
Authors: Peng Sung-Neng , Huang Chien-Yi , Liu Hwa-Dong
Published: December 2022

To lower maintenance costs and improve a metro company’s competitiveness, this research came up with an innovative technique using a considering sensitivity and analytic hierarchy process (CSAHP). Along with interviews with managers and workers at the Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation, this study was able to undertake quantitative analysis. To determine which subsystems and metro lines should be prioritized for outsourcing based on the CSAHP framework, we used the criterium decision plus (CDP) program. This research adds to the existing body of knowledge by advancing the existing analytic hierarchy process (AHP) technique and recommending the CSAHP strategy for assessment. According to the findings, the power supply system was the most in need of outsourcing, followed by air conditioning, firefighting, and elevator systems. When considering which of the four metro lines to outsource first, the blue line came out on top, followed by the red, green, and brown lines. By prioritizing the outsourcing of the power supply system as a result of this research, the Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation may cut the system’s maintenance expenditures from USD 1.57 million to USD 1.33 million, saving 15% on maintenance costs. Applying these findings can improve the economic benefits of outsourced maintenance for the Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation.