bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Habitat and Features of Development of Plankton Communities in Salt Lakes (South-Eastern Transbaikalia, Russia)
Authors: Tashlykova Natalya A. , Afonina Ekaterina Yu.
Published: March 2023

Results of studies of plankton algae and invertebrates in salt lakes of the territory of a closed runoff in the south of South-Eastern Transbaikalia (Russia) carried out in 2021–2022 are presented. Phyto- and zooplankton of sixteen saline lakes were studied during the maximum vegetation period from July to August. Lakes are different in chemical type: chloride, soda and sulfate. For chloride, sulfate and some soda lakes, data on plankton have been obtained for the first time. Fifty-four taxa of phytoplankton and twenty-seven species of zooplankton were found in soda lakes; twenty-three taxa of phytoplankton and four species of zooplankton were found in the chloride lakes; fifteen phytoplankton species and five zooplankton species were found in the sulfate lakes. For phytoplankton in soda lakes, green algae, cyanobacteria and diatoms were dominant. Green algae dominated in species composition in sulfate lakes; cryptophyte algae and cyanobacteria dominated in chloride lakes. For zooplankton, in all types of lakes, Brachionus plicatilis, Moina brachiata and Metadiaptomus asiaticus dominated. The abundance and biomass of algae and invertebrates in the surveyed lakes varied widely. Based on the results of the correlation analysis, total dissolved solids (TDS) are a key factor in the formation of planktonic communities in soda lakes; depth, transparency and temperature—in chloride lakes and pH—in sulfate lakes.
Impact of No-Tillage on Soil Invertebrate Communities in the Southern Forest Steppe of West Siberia: Preliminary Research
Authors: Lyubechanskii Ilya I. , Golovanova Elena V. , Dudko Roman Yu. , Azarkina Galina N. , Rusalimova Olga A. , Samoylova Ekaterina S. , Shekhovtsov Sergei V. , Barsukov Pavel A.
Published: March 2023

The aim of our study is to assess changes in soil macroinvertebrate biodiversity when conventional tillage (CT) is replaced by no-tillage (NT) in agroecosystems of the southern part of the West Siberian forest steppe. The research was conducted in the Novosibirsk region at the end of May 2017, May 2018, and in June 2018. The agricultural plots with CT and NT were located close to each other on identical soils, at a distance of about 200 m from the nearest forest shelterbelts. NT technology has been applied on the experimental plot since 2007. Sampling of invertebrates was conducted in two ways, namely soil sampling and pitfall trapping. The majority of basic physicochemical properties of soil were the same or similar between the CT and NT plots. However, depending on the type of tillage, different soil invertebrate communities had already developed in the control (CT) and experimental (NT) plots during this time. The community of the CT plot includes a large number of flying predatory Carabidae species typical of early successional stages (such as Bembidion properans and B. quadrimaculatum, Poecilus spp.) and phytophages, i.e., larvae of Elateridae. The NT plot has significantly higher density and species richness of earthworms (Eisenia nordenskioldi and synanthropic E. fetida in the NT plot versus one individual of E. nordenskioldi in the CT plot). The NT plot has a significantly richer and more abundant assemblage of spiders (especially in spring) and a poor assemblage of insect predators (except for the superdominant ground beetle Poecilus cupreus and the subdominant P. versicolor in summer 2018). Large numbers of larvae of some carabids (e.g., Amara consularis) were found in the NT soil, suggesting that they complete a full life cycle in this habitat.
Cutaneous Epithelioid Angiomatous Nodule: Report of a New Case and Literature Review
Authors: Dubus Margaux , Kanitakis Jean
Published: March 2023

Cutaneous epithelioid angiomatous nodule is a rare benign vascular tumour of the skin with characteristic microscopic features, of which 65 cases have so far been reported after the initial description of this entity in 2004. We present here a new typical case of this rare lesion and provide a comprehensive review of all the previously published cases, delineating the salient clinicopathological features of this rare tumour.
Proteomic and Bioinformatic Tools to Identify Potential Hub Proteins in the Audiogenic Seizure-Prone Hamster GASH/Sal
Authors: García-Peral Carlos , Ledesma Martín M. , Herrero-Turrión M. Javier , Gómez-Nieto Ricardo , Castellano Orlando , López Dolores E.
Published: March 2023

The GASH/Sal (Genetic Audiogenic Seizure Hamster, Salamanca) is a model of audiogenic seizures with the epileptogenic focus localized in the inferior colliculus (IC). The sound-induced seizures exhibit a short latency (7–9 s), which implies innate protein disturbances in the IC as a basis for seizure susceptibility and generation. Here, we aim to study the protein profile in the GASH/Sal IC in comparison to controls. Protein samples from the IC were processed for enzymatic digestion and then analyzed by mass spectrometry in Data-Independent Acquisition mode. After identifying the proteins using the UniProt database, we selected those with differential expression and performed ontological analyses, as well as gene-protein interaction studies using bioinformatics tools. We identified 5254 proteins; among them, 184 were differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), with 126 upregulated and 58 downregulated proteins, and 10 of the DEPs directly related to epilepsy. Moreover, 12 and 7 proteins were uniquely found in the GASH/Sal or the control. The results indicated a protein profile alteration in the epileptogenic nucleus that might underlie the inborn occurring audiogenic seizures in the GASH/Sal model. In summary, this study supports the use of bioinformatics methods in proteomics to delve into the relationship between molecular-level protein mechanisms and the pathobiology of rodent models of audiogenic seizures.
Ophthalmic Vein Thrombosis Associated with Factor V Leiden and MTHFR Mutations
Authors: Teodoru Cosmin Adrian , Munteanu Mihnea , Mercea Nadina , Moatar Alina , Stanca Horia , Popescu Florina Georgeta , Dura Horațiu , Hașegan Adrian , Giurgiu Doina Ileana , Cerghedean-Florea Maria-Emilia
Published: March 2023

Superior ophthalmic vein thrombosis (SOVT) is a rare clinical entity that may be associated with hypercoagulability status. We present a case of a 77-year-old woman who presented to the emergency department complaining of eye ptosis, chemosis and conjunctival congestion in the right eye (RE). The ophthalmological examination revealed best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.5 for the right eye (RE) 0.5 and 0.06 for the left eye (LE). Intraocular pressure (IOP) was 25 mmHg in RE and 14 mmHg in LE. Non-contrast computed tomography (CT) of the brain and orbits revealed a hyperreflectivity at the level of the right ophthalmic vein and inferior rectus muscle hypertrophy. An extensive hypercoagulable panel was completed and we found a positive result for Factor V Leiden (heterozygous mutation) and methyl-enetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR-C677T homozygous mutations). Systemic steroidal anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant treatments were started immediately. Gradual resolution of symptoms was noted during the hospitalization, and BCVA in her RE was established at 0.7 at the 10-week follow-up.
Content of Corporate Vision Statements in Maritime Logistics: A Case Study of the Largest Companies
Authors: Yashalova Natalia N. , Ruban Dmitry A.
Published: March 2023

The importance of maritime logistics for the world’s economy necessitates urgent investigations of the corporate strategies in this industry. The present case study aims to examine the vision statements of the largest (by cargo capacity) companies of maritime logistics. Methodologically, it follows the previous research focused on the elements of corporate strategic communication: the principal components of the vision statements are distinguished, and their frequencies are calculated. Additionally, the similarity between all pairs of statements is measured. A total of twelve components are established, namely, service, customers, quality, business, geography, image, staff, history, innovation, sustainability, society, and environment. The most common from them are service and business, and the least common are history and staff. The contents of the vision statements differ to a certain degree between West European and East Asian companies. It is established that the average similarity of the vision statements is low. This case study provides an example for judgments about industry-level corporate strategic communication with vision statements. It contributes to the existing literature revealing the diversity of these statements. From the practical point of view, the study provides the information for designing vision statements by managers, who may choose from a wide set of components and should not forget about such important issues as the staff or environment.
HIT-GCN: Spatial-Temporal Graph Convolutional Network Embedded with Heterogeneous Information of Road Network for Traffic Forecasting
Authors: Xiong Haitao , Shen Guojiang , Lan Xiang , Yuan Haopeng , Kong Xiangjie
Published: March 2023

In road networks, attribute information carried by road segment nodes, such as weather and points of interest (POI), exhibit strong heterogeneity and often involve one-to-many or many-to-one relationships. However, research on such heterogeneity in traffic prediction is relatively limited. Our research examines how varying the network propagation pattern based on the degree of node-to-node heterogeneity of information affects the model prediction performance. Specifically, at the node level, we use knowledge embedding to generate knowledge vectors that quantify the heterogeneity among the attribute information of a node. At the road network level, we calculate a homogeneity adjacency matrix that captures both the topological structure of the road network and the similarity of node heterogeneity. This adjacency matrix assigns different weights to neighbors based on their homogeneity, guiding the propagation of graph convolutional networks (GCN). Finally, we separate the representation of propagation into self-representation and neighbor representation to extract multi-attribute information, including self, homogeneity, and heterogeneity. Experiments on real datasets demonstrate that the incorporation of our homogeneity adjacency matrix leads to a significant improvement in the accuracy of short-term and long-term prediction compared with previous work on homogeneous and single-dimensional information. Furthermore, our approach maintains its performance advantage over baseline models under different embedding dimensions and parameter settings.
An Improved Adaptive Service Function Chain Mapping Method Based on Deep Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Huang Wanwei , Li Song , Wang Sunan , Li Hui
Published: March 2023

With the vigorous development of the network functions virtualization (NFV), service function chain (SFC) resource management, which aims to provide users with diversified customized services of network functions, has gradually become a research hotspot. Usually, the network service desired by the user is randomness and timeliness, and the formed service function chain request (SFCR) is dynamic and real-time, which requires that the SFC mapping can be adaptive to satisfy dynamically changing user requests. In this regard, this paper proposes an improved adaptive SFC mapping method based on deep reinforcement learning (ISM-DRL). Firstly, an improved SFC request mapping model is proposed to abstract the SFC mapping process and decompose the SFC mapping problem into the SFCR mapping problem and the VNF reorchestration problem. Secondly, we use the deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG), which is a deep learning framework, to jointly optimize the effective service cost rate and mapping rate to approximate the optimal mapping strategy for the current network. Then, we design four VNF orchestration strategies based on the VNF request rate and mapping rate, etc., to enhance the matching degree of the ISM-DRL method for different networks. Finally, the results show that the method proposed in this paper can realize SFC mapping processing under dynamic request. Under different experimental conditions, the ISM-DRL method performs better than the DDDPG and DQN methods in terms of average effective cost utilisation and average mapping rate.
Incentive Public Auditing Scheme with Identity-Based Designated Verifier in Cloud
Authors: Shao Bilin , Zhang Li , Bian Genqing
Published: March 2023

With the rapid development of cloud storage and cloud computing technology, users can upload data to the cloud and share it with other users. However, the integrity and the privacy of data files at the cloud service provider suffer from challenges. In order to protect the data of user in the cloud, particularly for user groups without honest managers and semitrusted third-party auditors, we construct a new public auditing scheme that integrates a (t,n) threshold signature, an incentive mechanism, an identity-based designated verifier group, blinding technology, and a multiblock signature technique. In our scheme, the (t,n) threshold signature can eliminate the single power of the user group’s managers, to ensure that members of the user group take part in data sharing fairly and equally. The generation of a user’s key pairs and the signatures of data can be encouraged by an incentive mechanism based on a blockchain. Moreover, we introduce an identity-based designated verifier group and blinding technology to preserve data privacy during the data integrity auditing process. Furthermore, the multiblock signature technique reduces the costs to sign data blocks and verify. Finally, the security analysis and performance analysis demonstrate that our scheme is provably reliable and efficient.
Optimization of the Algorithm for the Implementation of Point Spread Function in the 3D-OSEM Reconstruction Algorithm Based on the List-Mode Micro PET Data
Authors: Zhao Jie , Song Yunfeng , Liu Qiong , Chen Shijie , Chen Jyh-Cheng
Published: March 2023

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a popular research topic. People are becoming more interested in PET images as they become more widely available. However, the partial volume effect (PVE) in PET images remains one of the most influential factors causing the resolution of PET images to degrade. It is possible to reduce this PVE and achieve better image quality by measuring and modeling the point spread function (PSF) and then accounting for it inside the reconstruction algorithm. In this work, we examined the response characteristics of the MetisTM PET/CT system by acquiring 22Na point source at different locations in the field of view (FOV) of the scanner and reconstructing with small pixel size for images to obtain their radial, tangential, and axial full-width half maximum (FWHM). An image-based model of the PSF model was then obtained by fitting asymmetric two-dimensional Gaussians on the 22Na images. This PSF model determined by FWHM in three directions was integrated into a three-dimensional ordered subsets expectation maximization (3D-OSEM) algorithm based on a list-mode format to form a new PSF-OSEM algorithm. We used both algorithms to reconstruct point source, Derenzo phantom, and mouse PET images and performed qualitative and quantitative analyses. In the point source study, the PSF-OSEM algorithm reduced the FWHM of the point source PET image in three directions to about 0.67 mm, and in the phantom study, the PET image reconstructed by the PSF-OSEM algorithm had better visual effects. At the same time, the quantitative analysis results of the Derenzo phantom were better than the original 3D-OSEM algorithm. In the mouse experiment, the results of qualitative and quantitative analyses showed that the imaging quality of PSF-OSEM algorithm was better than that of 3D-OSEM algorithm. Our results show that adding the PSF model to the 3D-OSEM algorithm in the MetisTM PET/CT system helps to improve the resolution of the image and satisfy the qualitative and quantitative analysis criteria.
Improving the Performance of Open-Set Recognition with Generated Fake Data
Authors: Halász András Pál , Al Hemeary Nawar , Daubner Lóránt Szabolcs , Zsedrovits Tamás , Tornai Kálmán
Published: March 2023

Open-set recognition models, in addition to generalizing to unseen instances of known categories, have to identify samples of unknown classes during the training phase. The main reason the latter is much more complicated is that there is very little or no information about the properties of these unknown classes. There are methodologies available to handle the unknowns. One possible method is to construct models for them by using generated inputs labeled as unknown. Generative adversarial networks are frequently deployed to generate synthetic samples representing unknown classes to create better models for known classes. In this paper, we introduce a novel approach to improve the accuracy of recognition methods while reducing the time complexity. Instead of generating synthetic input data to train neural networks, feature vectors are generated using the output of a hidden layer. This approach results in a less complex structure for the neural network representation of the classes. A distance-based classifier implemented by a convolutional neural network is used in our implementation. Our solution’s open-set detection performance reaches an AUC value of 0.839 on the CIFAR-10 dataset, while the closed-set accuracy is 91.4%, the highest among the open-set recognition methods. The generator and discriminator networks are much smaller when generating synthetic inner features. There is no need to run these samples through the first part of the classifier with the convolutional layers. Hence, this solution not only gives better performance than generating samples in the input space but also makes it less expensive in terms of computational complexity.
Domain-Aware Adaptive Logarithmic Transformation
Authors: Fang Xuelai , Feng Xiangchu
Published: March 2023

Tone mapping (TM) aims to display high dynamic range scenes on media with limited visual information reproduction. Logarithmic transformation is a widely used preprocessing method in TM algorithms. However, the conventional logarithmic transformation does not take the difference in image properties into account, nor does it consider tone mapping algorithms, which are designed based on the luminance or gradient-domain features. There will be problems such as oversaturation and loss of details. Based on the analysis of existing preprocessing methods, this paper proposes a domain-aware adaptive logarithmic transformation AdaLogT as a preprocessing method for TM algorithms. We introduce the parameter p and construct different objective functions for different domains TM algorithms to determine the optimal parameter values adaptively. Specifically, for luminance-domain algorithms, we use image exposure and histogram features to construct objective function; while for gradient-domain algorithms, we introduce texture-aware exponential mean local variance (EMLV) to build objective function. Finally, we propose a joint domain-aware logarithmic preprocessing method for deep-neural-network-based TM algorithms. The experimental results show that the novel preprocessing method AdaLogT endows each domain algorithm with wider scene adaptability and improves the performance in terms of visual effects and objective evaluations, the subjective and objective index scores of the tone mapping quality index improved by 6.04% and 5.90% on average for the algorithms.
Intelligent, In-Vehicle Autonomous Decision-Making Functionality for Driving Style Reconfigurations
Authors: Panagiotopoulos Ilias , Dimitrakopoulos George
Published: March 2023

Intelligent connected vehicles (ICVs) constitute a transformative technology attracting immense research effort and holding great promise in providing road safety, transport efficiency, driving comfort, and eco-friendly mobility. As the driving environment becomes more and more “connected”, the manner in which an ICV is driven (driving style) can dynamically vary from time to time, due to the change in several parameters associated with personal traits and with the ICV’s surroundings. This necessitates fast and effective decisions to be made for a priori identifying the most appropriate driving style for an ICV. Accordingly, the main goal of this study is to present a novel, in-vehicle autonomous decision-making functionality, which enables ICVs to dynamically, transparently, and securely utilize the best available driving style (DS). The proposed functionality takes as input several parameters related to the driver’s personal characteristics and preferences, as well as the changing driving environment. A Naive Bayes learning classifier is applied for the cognitive nature of the presented functionality. Three scenarios, with regards to drivers with different personal preferences and to driving scenes with changing environment situations, are illustrated, showcasing the effectiveness of the proposed functionality.
A New Framework for Circular Refurbishment of Buildings to Operationalize Circular Economy Policies
Authors: Fernandes Joana , Ferrão Paulo
Published: March 2023

The current policies aimed at promoting the decarbonization of existing buildings under the principles of the circular economy are in need of practical measures tailored to local conditions to increase their effectiveness. The lack of standard practices for assessing buildings’ refurbishment strategies toward energy efficiency and CE principles reflects this reality. To tackle this issue, a new framework for refurbishing circular buildings, is proposed in this paper, based on circular procurement and incorporating a lifecycle perspective. This framework articulates a dialogue between local authorities and private stakeholders through a set of steps that encompass building mapping, selective disassembly, (re)design, and (re)build practices, providing opportunities to implement policy-based incentives. The application of the framework within the Portuguese context demonstrates the potential to identify critical moments within the refurbishment process that can materialize in a new set of CE policy actions to be implemented at the building level. These policies are aligned with local construction permitting procedures and take advantage of the resources and incentives offered by the local administration, such as tax incentives.
Surface-Modified Activated Carbon Fibers by a Facile Microwave Technique for Enhancing Hydrocarbon Adsorption
Authors: Lee Jin-Young , Kim Byung-Joo
Published: March 2023

Evaporative emissions from automobiles, which mainly consist of hydrocarbons, are a major source of air pollutants. As such, prevention means are required to minimize such emissions. Evaporative emissions are collected using adsorbents, where the adsorption capacity is directly influenced by the ratio of oxygen-containing functional groups, which have high polarity. This study investigated the effect of controlling the oxygen functional group (OFG) on the hydrocarbon adsorption/desorption performance of activated carbon fiber (ACF) in adsorbents. We used microwave heating to remove OFG on the ACF surfaces. The removal of surface OFG by microwave heating was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscope (SEM-EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric–infrared gas analysis (TGA-IR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). According to microwave heating, textural properties were analyzed using N2/77K adsorption/desorption isotherms. The hydrocarbon adsorption/desorption performance of the ACF was evaluated according to a modified ASTM D5228. Compared to the untreated ACF, the butane working capacity of the modified (non-polarized) ACF was increased by up to 20% (adsorption capacity 27%).
Chemical Inhibitors Targeting the Histone Lysine Demethylase Families with Potential for Drug Discovery
Authors: Das Nando Dulal , Niwa Hideaki , Umehara Takashi
Published: March 2023

The dynamic regulation of histone methylation and demethylation plays an important role in the regulation of gene expression. Aberrant expression of histone lysine demethylases has been implicated in various diseases including intractable cancers, and thus lysine demethylases serve as promising therapeutic targets. Recent studies in epigenomics and chemical biology have led to the development of a series of small-molecule demethylase inhibitors that are potent, specific, and have in vivo efficacy. In this review, we highlight emerging small-molecule inhibitors targeting the histone lysine demethylases and their progress toward drug discovery.
Seasonal Dynamics of Soil Enzymatic Activity under Different Land-Use Types in Rocky Mountainous Region of North China
Authors: Kong Yuhua , Qu Anran , Feng Erpeng , Chen Rui , Yang Xitian , Lai Yong
Published: March 2023

To reveal the effects of different land-use types on soil enzyme activities, soil samples were collected from 0–10, 10–20 and 20–30 cm soil layers to compare and analyze soil β-glucosidase (BG), urease (URE), protease (PROT) and catalase (CAT) activities in farmland (FL), abandoned land (AL) and three plantation forests: Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco (PO), Robinia pseudoacacia L. (RP) and Quercus variabilis Bl. (QV) in the rocky mountainous region of North China. The results showed that the soil enzyme activities varied significantly under different land-use types, and the interannual mean values of FL and PO were remarkably higher than those of other land uses in the 0–30 cm soil layer, in which the soil BG and URE activities of FL were 22% and 12% higher than those of AL, and 428% and 179% higher than those of QV, respectively; the soil PROT and CAT activities of PO were 66% and 23% higher than those of AL, and 479% and 113% higher than those of QV, respectively. Soil BG, URE and PROT activities were all higher in June and lower in December, while soil CAT activity was slightly lower in June. The soil enzymatic activities all showed a notable decrease with the depth of the soil layer. Soil BG, URE, PROT and CAT activities were remarkably (p < 0.01) or significantly (p < 0.05) positively correlated with available nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), NO3−-N, soil organic carbon, water content, clay and silt volume fraction, and significantly negatively correlated with sand volume fraction. Soil DOC and pH were important factors influencing soil enzymatic activity, implying that changes in soil enzymatic activity under different land-use types may be the result of a combination of temperature, moisture and plant type. In conclusion, PO plantations are conducive to improving the physicochemical and biological properties of soil and enhance soil fertility, which is a reasonable land-use method to achieve sustainable development in the rocky mountainous region of North China.
Rain-Driven Failure Risk on Forest Roads around Catchment Landforms in Mountainous Areas of Japan
Authors: Watanabe Masaru , Saito Masashi , Toda Kenichiro , Shirasawa Hiroaki
Published: March 2023

Although the causes of and impacts against forest road failure differ according to the type of damage that occurs, the statistical understanding of the trends in the type of failure is insufficient. In this study, we collected data on 526 forest road failures due to heavy rainfall during 2006–2010 in the mountainous regions of Japan and statistically analyzed the characteristics. The forest roads covered in this study include those used primarily for timber extraction as well as those used for public purposes. Forest road segments were classified into four categories: streamside, stream crossings, zero-order basin, and others, and comparisons were made regarding the length of damage, the relative probability of occurrence, repair costs, and induced rainfall intensity in each category. Streamside segments accounted for only 15% of the total length of routes analyzed but 42% of all damaged segments. Furthermore, the relative risk of the streamside segments was about 6.0 times higher than that of the other categories of segments, indicating that they were the most likely to be damaged in this analysis. It is clear that the most important issue in the target area is to prevent damage to streamside segments.
Mapping Forest Cover and Estimating Soil Organic Matter by GIS-Data and an Empirical Model at the Subnational Level in Mexico
Authors: Arroyo Itzel , Tamaríz-Flores Víctor , Castelán Rosalía
Published: March 2023

Forests play an essential role in climate change as they are the terrestrial ecosystems that store the highest C content in their soils and biomass. Despite this, the lack of information at the subnational level hinders their proper management and conservation. This study aimed to identify the extension and distribution of forests and to develop an empirical model for the spatial prediction of soil organic matter (SOM) in Ixtacamaxtitlan, Puebla, Mexico, based on environmental variables generated through Geographical Information Systems. A supervised classification in Landsat 8 images was used to define the forest cover, and environmental variables related to topography, climate and vegetation were generated. Finally, a Multiple Linear Regression model validated with the leave-one-out cross-validation method was used to examine the relationships between the covariates and the SOM and estimate its content in forest. The results show that the forest cover extension is 41%, with an overall accuracy of 97.7%. The model shows a good fit (R2cv = 0.69, RMSEcv = 1.53). The mean of SOM was 5.2%, and upper values were consistent with higher altitude, precipitation and cooler temperature. Estimating SOM content in forest areas is essential in developing planning strategies at the subnational level to mitigate the harmful effects of climate change.
Quercus suber Bark as a Sustainable Source of Value-Added Compounds: Experimental Studies with Cork By-Products
Authors: Rego Liliana , Mota Sandra , Torres Ana , Pinto Cláudia , Cravo Sara , Silva Joana Rocha e , Páscoa Ricardo N. M. J. , Almeida Agostinho , Amaro Filipa , Pinho Paula Guedes , Cidade Honorina , Silva José Paulo , Sousa Lobo José Manuel , Almeida Isabel Filipa
Published: March 2023

Quercus suber L. bark (cork) is a sustainable material due to its ability to regenerate. The aim of this work was to explore cork powders, by-products of the cork industry, as sustainable sources of value-added compounds. Two types of cork powder were studied: coarse (P0) and fine (P1). A broad physicochemical characterization was carried out, regarding particle size, color, moisture content, hygroscopicity, pH, heavy metal content, NIR spectra, and volatile compounds. DPPH scavenging activity and total phenolic content were also evaluated for an ethanolic P1 extract. For both powders, Hg, As, Cd and Pb contents were below the acceptable limits and volatile compounds commonly used as fragrances were found in their composition. P1 had a smaller and more homogenous particle size, lighter brownish color, lower pH value, and lower moisture content than P0, and therefore appears to be more suitable for industrial application. P1 ethanolic extract also showed a high scavenging activity and a content of phenolic compounds of 50.46 ± 0.63 mg (as gallic acid equivalents) per g of extract. In conclusion, P1 cork powder seems to be a promising source of upcycled ingredients, such as fragrances and antioxidants, for the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmetic industries.
Habitat Ecology, Structure Influence Diversity, and Host-Species Associations of Wild Orchids in Undisturbed and Disturbed Forests in Peninsular Malaysia
Authors: Besi Edward Entalai , Mustafa Muskhazli , Yong Christina Seok Yien , Go Rusea
Published: March 2023

As an attempt to examine the causes of forest disturbance and degradation of the orchid community, a comparative study on diversity and ecology in eight undisturbed and ten disturbed forests in Peninsular Malaysia was conducted that varied in areas, elevations, vegetation types, and disturbance regimes. Density and individual-based rarefaction curves were used to describe the abundance. Univariate and multivariate analyses were also performed to explore the associations of species abundance with biotic and abiotic factors. The study reported 239 orchid species belonging to 65 genera. Species richness, abundance, density, and diversity of orchids varied by locality. Higher density of orchids (2.433 plants/km2) occurred in the undisturbed forests than in the disturbed forests (0.228 plants/km2). As with the character of undisturbed forests, the temperature was between 27.8 ± 0.3 °C and 31.2 ± 0.2 °C, humid (77.1 ± 1.2%–89.6 ± 0.9%), and with low light intensity (23.8 ± 3.3 μmol m−2s−1–171.7 ± 18.8 μmol m−2s−1), thus supporting the high density of the plants. Disturbed forests had higher diversity (H = 4.934 and 1-D = 0.990) and abundance (183 species of 57 genera) but were determined to be highly influenced by the higher abundance of epiphytic orchids on the fallen trees and ease of accessibility in the logged forests. Terrestrial and mycoheterotroph orchids were much lower in density and abundance in the disturbed habitat indicating a gradual reduction in their niche availability following the disturbance. Additionally, the ecology data show that the microclimate conditions of the canopy-covered forest was influenced by proximity to the logged area which had eventually reduced the orchids’ habitat quality. Furthermore, the results show that the abundance of epiphytic orchid communities was associated with the host plant characteristics. Host types and bark texture preference were apparent for the epiphytic orchid species, with certain types and textures hosting more orchid species than others. Overall results show that extreme temperature, humidity, and light intensity caused by the canopy opening inflicted damages to the habitat conditions and bark textures of the host plants and limits recolonisation of the orchids in the disturbed forests. The species diversity and density patterns of orchids in undisturbed and disturbed forests revealed in this study provide a baseline for conservationists, policy makers, and forest authorities in expanding the understanding of the forest ecology and vegetation along the disturbance gradient, forest regeneration, and criteria for plant selection for forest restoration in Peninsular Malaysia.
Seeds’ Early Traits as Predictors of Performance in Direct Seeding Restoration
Authors: Piotrowski Ivonir , Paladines Harvey Marin , de Almeida Lausanne Soraya , López Alex Mauri Tello , Dutra Felipe Bueno , Francisco Bruno Santos , da Silva José Mauro Santana , Piña-Rodrigues Fatima C. Márquez
Published: March 2023

Direct seeding is a promising and low-cost restoration technique. To avoid wasting seeds, the selection of species with high field performance in their establishment can increase efficiency. We aimed to identify groups of forest species with the ability for direct seeding in a seasonal forest, investigate taxonomic similarity effects on species behavior regarding seeds’ and seedlings’ early functional traits, and classify species based on their probability of success by direct seeding. A planting system of 38 seasonal forest species was implemented at a density of 250,000 seeds ha−1. The emergence was monitored over 720 days, and all individuals were identified, tagged, counted, and measured for height (H) and diameter at collar height (DCH). We evaluated early traits of seed vigor (field seed emergence), seedling performance, probability of success, and species autoecology. Species’ ability for direct seeding was more related to the level of species phylogeny than to their family. Pioneer and non-pioneer species demonstrated similar abilities for direct seeding associated with field emergence, seedling abundance, and persistence. Field seed emergence traits influenced species’ ability for direct seeding more than seedling survival or growth. Species’ ability for direct seeding was related to early seed vigor traits expressed by field seed emergence and was independent of their density.
Effect of Salt Concentration on Flavor Characteristics and Physicochemical Quality of Pickled Brassica napus
Authors: Zhang Sijie , Li Congcong , Wu Junling , Peng Simin , Mao Haifeng , Wu Weiguo , Liao Luyan
Published: March 2023

This study aimed to elaborate on the role of salt concentration on pickled Brassica napus leaf and stem (BLS); it also contributed to the development of low-salt and healthy Brassica napus products in the harvest period. Five sets of pickled BLS samples were prepared, and the physicochemical parameters, free amino acids (FAAs), and the volatile flavor components (VFCs) were analyzed after fermentation. Results showed that some antioxidants, FAAs, and VFCs underwent dynamic changes during fermentation. Nitrite increased with an increase in the salt concentration used for fermentation. Pickled BLS contained a wide range of FAAs; a total of 23 were detected, which might be used as a source of amino acid supplementation. The VFCs were analyzed via headspace solid-phase micro-extraction (HS-SPME) combined with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of 51 VFCs were tentatively identified. The contribution to flavor could be expressed by the relative odor activity value (ROAV). Salt is one of the important factors affecting the quality of vegetable fermentation. Therefore, for large-scale pickled BLS production, a key issue is to balance the low salt concentration and high fermentation quality. Under the action of salt and microorganisms, the fresh BLS fermented via dry pickling, which not only improved its FAAs and VFCs, endowed the production with a unique flavor, but also prolonged the shelf life.
Age and Growth of the Threatened Smalleye Round Ray, Urotrygon microphthalmum, Delsman, 1941, from Northeastern Brazil
Authors: Santander-Neto Jones , Santana Francisco Marcante , Vasconcelos-Filho Jonas Eloi , Lessa Rosângela
Published: March 2023

The age and growth of Urotrygon microphthalmum were studied using specimens captured between March 2010 and March 2012 as by-catch in the shrimp trawl fishery off the coast of the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. A total of 347 vertebrae were read, 161 from males (81.6–249.55 mm) and 186 from females (86.15–298.1 mm). The estimated average percentage index (IAPE) ranged from 0.71% to 4.33% (mean = 2.5%) in vertebrae from specimens with 1 and 6 band pairs, respectively. In the present study, the different approaches to validation produced variable results (partially valid growth zones). We then decided to discuss the growth of the species considering the formation of an annual ring. There were statistically significant differences in growth between the sexes. The best model to describe male growth was the von Bertalanffy growth model for two phases (VBGM TP) with growth parameters L∞ (maximum theoretical length) = 230.35 mm, k (growth constant) = 1.00, t0 (theoretical age of size zero) = −0.76 years and for females it was the von Bertalanffy with birth size (VBGM L0) model with parameters L∞ = 282.55 mm, k = 0.37. The age of maturity for males and females was 1.52 and 2.02 years, respectively, and the maximum age observed was 5.5 and 8.5 years, respectively. Despite being a fast-growing species, Urotrygon microphthalmum is threatened, probably due to the high mortality levels from shrimp trawling in a very narrow range of the shelf where all the life stages are captured.
The Roles of Vitamin D and Polyphenols in the Management of Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Narrative Review
Authors: Fernandes Nádia , Araújo Marta Castro , Lança Carla
Published: March 2023

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a chronic progressive ocular disease and the main cause of severe visual impairment in the elderly. Vitamin D deficiency may be a risk factor for AMD. Additionally, current evidence suggests dietary advice of increasing consumption of polyphenols, which may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this review was to describe the roles of vitamin D levels and polyphenols in the management of AMD. The results of this review showed mixed evidence regarding the protective effect of vitamin D against AMD. Polyphenols (flavonoids group, curcumin and resveratrol) seem to play an important role as angiogenesis inhibitors, but their effect on AMD is still unclear. Vitamin D and polyphenols may both play an important role as nutritional modifiable protective factors that reduce the risk of AMD progression. However, more research is necessary to better understand the roles of vitamin D and polyphenols in different stages of the disease.
The Analysis of Genetic Polymorphism on Mitochondrial Hypervariable Region III in Thai Population
Authors: Vanichanukulyakit Jirat , Khacha-ananda Supakit , Monum Tawachai , Mahawong Phatcharin , Moophayak Kittikhun , Penkhrue Watsana , Khumpook Taddaow , Thongsahuan Sorawat
Published: March 2023

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis is a genetic marker for human identification, especially matrilineal inheritance. Hypervariable regions (HVR) I and II of mtDNA have been currently performed for human identification worldwide. Further examination of HVRIII has been conducted with the aim of enhancing the power of discrimination. The aim of this research is to provide informative data on the polymorphisms of HVRIII in the Thai population in order to establish a national database for human identification. Thai people who were unrelated through the maternal lineage were recruited for blood collections. The mtDNA was extracted by Chelex extraction, amplified by polymerase chain reaction, and analyzed using Sequencing Analysis Software. The most common mutation in HVRIII was base substitution, followed by deletion and insertion. We discovered 40 unique haplotypes, with haplotype 489C being the most frequent. The haplotype diversity, power of discrimination, and random match probability were 0.8014, 0.7987, and 0.2013, respectively. Five-CA repeats were the most frequently observed in nucleotide positions 514–523. Our database can be employed as supplementary markers in addition to nuclear deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) markers in forensic investigations. Moreover, the data could potentially enhance genetic identification and anthropological genetics research in Thailand.
Association of APOE (rs429358 and rs7412) and PON1 (Q192R and L55M) Variants with Myocardial Infarction in the Pashtun Ethnic Population of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Authors: Rahman Naveed , Zakiullah  , Jan Asif , Saeed Muhammad , Khan Muhammad Asghar , Parveen Zahida , Iqbal Javaid , Ali Sajid , Shah Waheed Ali , Akbar Rani , Khuda Fazli
Published: March 2023

Coronary Artery Diseases (CAD) remains the top among Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs). Variations in Apolipoprotein E (APOE) and Paroxonase 1 (PON1) have been associated with Myocardial Infarction (MI) in several populations. However, despite the high prevalence of CAD, no such study has been reported in the Pashtun ethnic population of Pakistan. We have conducted a two-stage (i.e., screening and validation) case-control study in which 200 cases and 100 control subjects have been recruited. In the first stage, Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) was used to screen for pathogenic variants of Myocardial Infarction (MI). In the second stage, selected variants of both APOE and PON1 genes (rs7412, rs429358, rs854560, and rs662) were analyzed through MassARRAY genotyping. Risk Allele Frequencies (RAFs) distribution and association of the selected SNPs with MI were determined using the Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis. WES identified a total of 12 sequence variants in APOE and 16 in PON1. Genotyping results revealed that APOE variant rs429358 (ɛ4 allele and ɛ3/ɛ4 genotype) showed significant association in MI patients (OR = 2.11, p value = 0.03; 95% CI = 1.25–2.43); whereas no significant difference (p˃ 0.05) was observed for rs7412. Similarly, the R allele of PON1 Q192R (rs662) was significantly associated with cases (OR = 1.353, p value = 0.048; 95% CI = 0.959–1.91), with particular mention of RR genotype (OR = 1.523, p value = 0.006; 95% CI = 1.087–2.132). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that rs429358 (C allele) and rs662 (R allele) have a significantly higher risk of MI after adjustment for the conventional risk factors. Our study findings suggested that the rs429358 variant of APOE and PON1 Q192R are associated with MI susceptibility in the Pashtun ethnic population of Pakistan.
Influence of Menstrual Cycle on Internal and External Load in Professional Women Basketball Players
Authors: Arenas-Pareja María , López-Sierra Pablo , Ibáñez Sergio , García-Rubio Javier
Published: March 2023

The menstrual cycle can be seen as a potential determinant of performance. This study aims to analyze the influence of the menstrual cycle in women on sports performance, more specifically on the internal and external load of professional women basketball players. The sample consisted of 16 women players and 14 training sessions were recorded. A descriptive analysis of the mean and standard deviation of the variables according to the different phases of the menstrual cycle was performed, as well as an ANCOVA, partial Eta2 effect size criteria, and Bonferroni’s Post Hoc test to identify differences among phases. The results establish that ovulation is the phase in which higher values of external load are recorded and, therefore, the late follicular phase is the time of the cycle where a greater intensity in explosive distance, accelerations and decelerations are recorded. Considering women’s hormonal cycles, understanding their function and the individual characteristics of each athlete is essential since it allows for the development of specific training, the prevention of injuries and therefore positively affects the performance of women players. To this end, individual training profiles should be created in specific contexts, not following general rules. In addition, psychological factors and the specific position of the athletes should be monitored.
Detection of Drug-Related Problems through a Clinical Decision Support System Used by a Clinical Pharmacy Team
Authors: Robert Laurine , Cuvelier Elodie , Rousselière Chloé , Gautier Sophie , Odou Pascal , Beuscart Jean-Baptiste , Décaudin Bertrand
Published: March 2023

Clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) are intended to detect drug-related problems in real time and might be of value in healthcare institutions with a clinical pharmacy team. The objective was to report the detection of drug-related problems through a CDSS used by an existing clinical pharmacy team over 22 months. It was a retrospective single-center study. A CDSS was integrated in the clinical pharmacy team in July 2019. The investigating clinical pharmacists evaluated the pharmaceutical relevance and physician acceptance rates for critical alerts (i.e., alerts for drug-related problems arising during on-call periods) and noncritical alerts (i.e., prevention alerts arising during the pharmacist’s normal work day) from the CDSS. Of the 3612 alerts triggered, 1554 (43.0%) were critical, and 594 of these 1554 (38.2%) prompted a pharmacist intervention. Of the 2058 (57.0%) noncritical alerts, 475 of these 2058 (23.1%) prompted a pharmacist intervention. About two-thirds of the total pharmacist interventions (PI) were accepted by physicians; the proportion was 71.2% for critical alerts (i.e., 19 critical alerts per month vs. 12.5 noncritical alerts per month). Some alerts were pharmaceutically irrelevant—mainly due to poor performance by the CDSS. Our results suggest that a CDSS is a useful decision-support tool for a hospital pharmacist’s clinical practice. It can help to prioritize drug-related problems by distinguishing critical and noncritical alerts. However, building an appropriate organizational structure around the CDSS is important for correct operation.