bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Scaling Climate Smart Agriculture in East Africa: Experiences and Lessons
Authors: Kirina Thomas , Groot Annemarie , Shilomboleni Helena , Ludwig Fulco , Demissie Teferi
Published: March 2022

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) responds in order to sustain agriculture under a changing environment, and is a major priority in the development sphere. However, to achieve impact at scale, CSA innovations must address agricultural systems’ context-specific and multi-dimensional nature and be purveyed through feasible scaling processes. Unfortunately, knowledge on the scaling of CSA innovations under smallholder farming systems and in the context of developing countries remains scant. Understanding scaling processes is essential to the design of a sustainable scaling strategy. This study aimed to draw lessons on scaling from 25 cases of scaling CSA, and related projects in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania implemented by public institutions, local and international research organisations, Non-Govermental Orginsations(NGOs), and community-based organisations. Generally, scaling follows a linear pathway comprising technology testing and scaling. Most cases promoted technologies and models geared towards climate change adaptation in crop-based value chains, and only a few cases incorporated mitigation measures. Efforts to engage the private sector involved building business models as a potential scaling pathway. The cases were very strong on capacity building and institutionalisation from local, national, and even regional levels. However, four critical areas of concern about the sustainability of scaling emerged from the study: (i) There is little understanding and capture of the dynamics of smallholder farming systems in scaling strategies; (ii) climate data, projections, and impact models are rarely applied to support the decision of scaling; (iii) considerations for the biophysical and spatial-temporal impacts and trade-offs analysis in scaling is minimal and just starting to emerge; and (iv) there are still challenges effecting systemic change to enable sustainable scaling. In response to these concerns, we propose investment in understanding and considering the dynamics of the smallholder farming system and how it affects adoption, and subsequently scaling. Programme design should incorporate climate change scenarios. Scaling programmes can maximise synergies and leverage resources by adopting a robust partnerships model. Furthermore, understanding the spatio-temporal impact of scaling CSA on ecological functioning deserves more attention. Lastly, scaling takes time, which needs to be factored into the design of programmes.
Effects of Cultivar, Nitrogen Rate and Biostimulant Application on the Chemical Composition of Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) Biomass
Authors: Olszewska Marzenna
Published: March 2022

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of cultivar, nitrogen (N) rate, and biostimulant application on the chemical composition of the aboveground biomass of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). A small-area field experiment was established in the Agricultural Experiment Station in Tomaszkowo (53°42′40.8″ N 20°26′04.7″ E, north-eastern Poland). The experiment had a split-plot design with three replications, and the experimental variables were as follows: (i) perennial ryegrass cultivar: Bajka and Baronka, (ii) N fertilizer rate: 0, 120, 240 kg N ha−1, (iii) application of biostimulants: Blatt Boden-Foliar (BB-F) and Blatt Boden-Foliar + Blatt Boden-Multical (BB-F + BB-M). This study demonstrated that the tetraploid cultivar Baronka had a more desirable chemical composition than the diploid cultivar Bajka. The biomass of cv. Baronka had a higher content of CP, CF, and K, and it was characterized by higher leaf greenness (SPAD) values. Nitrogen fertilization considerably increased the content of CP, P, and K, and leaf greenness (SPAD) values in both cultivars, and the noted increase was higher when N was applied at 240 kg ha−1. The N fertilizer rate of 120 kg ha−1 led to a significant decrease in the average Ca content of plants, whereas the N fertilizer rate of 240 kg ha−1 had no significant effect on Ca concentration. The tested biostimulants significantly affected the chemical composition of perennial ryegrass biomass, and their influence was greater when they were applied in combination. The foliar application of Blatt Boden-Foliar and Blatt Boden-Multical increased the content of CP, P, and chlorophyll in perennial ryegrass leaves, whereas it decreased the accumulation of CF, K, and Ca in plants. The analyzed biostimulants had a positive effect on the chemical composition of perennial ryegrass biomass. This is an important practical consideration because high-quality green fodder for livestock can be produced while minimizing the use of mineral fertilizers and adverse environmental impacts.
Effect of Genetics and Climate on Apple Sugars and Organic Acids Profiles
Authors: Mignard Pierre , Beguería Santiago , Giménez Rosa , Font i Forcada Carolina , Reig Gemma , Moreno María Ángeles
Published: March 2022

Apple is widely cultivated in temperate regions. The beneficial properties of apple for preventing several illnesses are widely known. Nevertheless, qualitative variables such as sweetness or sourness may influence consumer satisfaction; they are critical factors for fruit consumption and essential in plant breeding. In the present work, 155 apple accessions were assessed during five consecutive years (2014–2018). Four individual sugars and seven organic acids were analysed by HPLC. A mixed-effects model was fitted with accessions and the years’ climatic features as independent variables. A cluster analysis was applied on the mixed-effects model coefficients. Four groups were considered as optimum. Genetics seemed to have the strongest effect and showed clear differences between accession groups, while climate effects were strong only for certain compounds and had a more horizontal behaviour equally affecting the different accession groups. In fact, non-Spanish cultivars tended to concentrate, while autochthone accessions had a much wider spread. Individual sugars and acids concentrations correlated negatively with precipitation and positively with temperature range and solar radiation in all accession groups. The geographic region where the orchard is grown is thus very important in the resulting metabolites profiles. Moreover, apple genetics would also play a decisive role as highlighted in the cluster analysis.
Estimation of Crop Height Distribution for Mature Rice Based on a Moving Surface and 3D Point Cloud Elevation
Authors: Sun Yixin , Luo Yusen , Zhang Qian , Xu Lizhang , Wang Liying , Zhang Pengpeng
Published: March 2022

Estimation of rice plant height distribution plays a significant role in keeping the feed rate of rice combine harvesters stable. This is an effective way to guarantee the working stability of the whole machine, as a consequence, improving threshing and cleaning efficiency and reducing loss and damage rates. However, dense growth and leafy and bent branches of mature rice make it difficult to detect the lowest point of aggregated growing plants in three dimensional (3D) point cloud data. Therefore, the objective of this study was to put forward a method to estimate plant height distribution on the basis of a moving surface and 3D point cloud elevation. The statistical outlier removal (SOR) algorithm was used to reduce noise points far away from target point cloud body, and then moving surface fitting elevation was applied to achieve accurate classification of ground and crop point cloud data for plant height estimation. Experiments showed that, compared with the actual value, the average square root error (RMSE) of the estimation results was 8.29, the average absolute percentage error (MAPE) was 9.28%, and the average accuracy was 90%. The proposed method could accurately estimate the height of mature rice and is beneficial to calculating the feed rate in advance, which can provide a reference for further investigation in automatic and intelligent harvesting.
Correction: Saastamoinen et al. Protein Source and Intake Effects on Diet Digestibility and N Excretion in Horses—A Risk of Environmental N Load of Horses. Animals 2021, 11, 3568
Authors: Saastamoinen Markku , Särkijärvi Susanna , Suomala Heli
Published: March 2022

There was an error in the original publication [...]
The Combined Effect of IgG and Fe Supply and Feeding Management on Growth Rates of Calves on Eight Commercial Dairy Farms in Germany
Authors: Hecker Odile C. , Schröter Iris , Rienhoff Andreas , Thönnissen Anne , Meininghaus Elena , Burkert Sabrina , Mergenthaler Marcus , Boelhauve Marc
Published: March 2022

During the first days of a calf’s life, the foundations are laid for successful growth and thus also for the later performance of the cows. The aim of the present study was to analyze the impact on the weight gain of newborn calves due to important management factors related to colostrum supply, iron supply, feeding regime and microbial load at first feeding. In spring 2017, information of 123 Holstein calves were analyzed with regard to the colostrum supply and management factors on eight commercial dairy farms located in Germany. Additionally, blood samples of newborn calves were analyzed for total immunoglobulin G (IgG) and serum iron content. Furthermore, Brix analysis and analysis of contamination by E. coli were performed on first colostrum samples from teats or buckets. Average daily weight gain of calves at days 14 and 50 was calculated. The colostrum IgG was estimated by Brix refractometer. The volume of initial colostrum supply and the time between birth and colostrum intake significantly (p < 0.05) influenced the serum IgG concentration. The serum IgG concentration, the serum iron concentration and the feeding regimen (restrictive or not restrictive feeding) had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on daily weight gains. In conclusion, this study shows that, in addition to a sufficient supply of immunoglobulins, other aspects, such as an adequate colostrum, iron and milk supply, play an essential role in calf growth rates.
A Literature Review of Unintentional Intoxications of Nonhuman Primates
Authors: Bakker Jaco , Bomzon Arieh
Published: March 2022

Reports of unintentional intoxications in nonhuman primates (NHP) are few and an up-to-date review of such intoxications in NHP is lacking. We reviewed the published veterinary literature on unintentional intoxications in wild and captive NHP in order to provide a useful resource on known toxic agents of NHP for veterinarians, caregivers, and researchers who work with NHP. To these ends, we first conducted a literature search for books, book chapters, peer-reviewed publications, conference proceedings, and newsletters in academic literature databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, BioOne Complete, and Web of Science using the words and word combinations such as heavy metals, pesticides, poisonings, and nonhuman primates. We then evaluated the search results for those reports that we considered as clinically relevant and then classified them according to the toxic agent. We identified lead, zinc, phytotoxins, pesticides, botulinum toxin, polychlorinated biphenyls, and snake and spider venoms as the main toxic agents in wild and captive NHP. We concluded that the toxic threats to wild NHP are different to those of captive NHP because of the environment in which they live. We recommend that an intoxication should be part of a differential diagnosis when a NHP presents with clinical signs that cannot be linked to a known disorder or dies suddenly with no preceding clinical signs. In cases of the former, laboratory testing for known toxins and pollutants should be conducted. In cases of the latter, a thorough postmortem examination, together with extensive laboratory testing, for known toxins and environmental pollutants in all tissues and organs should be performed.
Effect of a High Welfare Floor and a Concrete Slatted Floor on the Growth Performance, Behavior and Cleanliness of Charolais and Limousin Heifers: A Case Study
Authors: Leskovec Jakob , Voljč Mojca , Žgur Silvester
Published: March 2022

Various floor systems are used in cattle housing with different characteristics in terms of roughness, abrasion, wetness, bedding material, ease of cleaning, etc. Thus, the activity and welfare of the animals are greatly influenced by the type of floor. The floor of the barn can influence the development of health diseases, technopathies and the production and quality of animal products. Therefore, in the present case study, we studied the effects of two different flooring systems on the performance and on some behavioral and cleanliness parameters in heifers. Two floor systems (concrete slatted flooring (CSF) and high welfare flooring (HWF)) and two breeds (Charolais and Limousin) were used in the experiment. Heifers on HWF tended to show a higher frequency of grooming, rubbing and aggression than those on CSF, but not of standing, lying, eating, drinking, rumination, resting, stereotypies and covering of the animals. In addition, animals housed on HWF also appeared to show higher cleanliness than those housed on CSF. Results indicated that animals housed on HWF exhibited more social and self-care behaviors, suggesting that animals housed on such floors show more species-specific behaviors and have higher welfare.
Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling of a Broiler House Microclimate in Summer and Winter
Authors: Küçüktopcu Erdem , Cemek Bilal , Simsek Halis , Ni Ji-Qin
Published: March 2022

Appropriate microclimate conditions in broiler housing are critical for optimizing poultry production and ensuring the health and welfare of the birds. In this study, spatial variabilities of the microclimate in summer and winter seasons in a mechanically ventilated broiler house were modeled using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technique. Field measurements of temperature, relative humidity, and airspeeds were conducted in the house to compare the simulated results. The study identified two problems of high temperature in summer, which could result in bird heat stress and stagnant zones in winter, and simulated possible alternative solutions. In summer, if an evaporative cooling pad system was used, a decrease in temperature of approximately 3 °C could be achieved when the mean air temperature rose above 25 °C in the house. In winter, adding four 500-mm circulation fans of 20-m spacing inside the house could eliminate the accumulation of hot and humid air in the stagnant zones in the house. This study demonstrated that CFD is a valuable tool for adequate heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system design in poultry buildings.
Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide Protects Corneal Epithelial Cells against UV-B-Induced Apoptosis via ROS/JNK Pathway Inhibition
Authors: Maugeri Grazia , D’Amico Agata Grazia , Magrì Benedetta , Pricoco Elisabetta , Giallongo Cesarina , Musumeci Giuseppe , Bucolo Claudio , Giunta Salvatore , D’Agata Velia
Published: March 2022

PACAP is widely expressed throughout the body. It exerts a beneficial role in the eye, including the cornea. The corneal epithelium is regularly exposed to diverse types of insults, including ultraviolet B (UV-B) radiation. Previously, we showed the protective role played by PACAP in counteracting UV-B ray insults in human corneal endothelial cells; however, its involvement in corneal epithelium protection against ROS induced by UV-B radiation, and the underlying mechanisms, remain to be determined. Here, we demonstrated that the peptide treatment reduced UV-B-induced ROS generation by playing an anti-apoptotic role via JNK-signaling pathway inhibition. Overall, our results can provide guidance in the therapeutic use of PACAP for the treatment of epithelial corneal damage.
A Novel Method for the Mechanical Testing of Sports Mouthguards
Authors: Goldberg Thomas , Lißner Maria , Townsend David , Petrinic Nik , Bergmann Jeroen
Published: March 2022

Current mouthguard test methods require improvement, as the impact energies during traditional testing do not reflect the higher energy that can be observed in actual use during sport. A new data set of ball speeds experienced during the sport of field hockey was obtained. These ball speeds have then been used to estimate impact energies. This information was used to subsequently develop a new test method consisting of a high-speed camera and drop tower. Observations show an increase in energy experienced by the mouthguard for higher-impact energies. The work carried out showed that current testing methods for sports mouthguards use lower-energy impacts than experienced during the sport of field hockey. The new method that is proposed allows for a more realistic representation of real-world impacts.
Simulation of a Low Concentrator Photovoltaic System Using COMSOL
Authors: Alqurashi Maryam Mohammad , Ganash Entesar Ali , Altuwirqi Reem Mohammad
Published: March 2022

The use of photovoltaic (PV) systems presents a great solution to high energy demand. Many factors limit the output of PV systems. One method of increasing the output of PV systems is to employ concentrators. The function of these concentrators is to increase the amount of solar radiation falling on a PV panel using optical devices. In this work, a simulation of a low concentrated photovoltaic system (LCPV) (V-trough model) will be conducted using COMSOL Multiphysics software package. The ray-tracing technique, based on the finite-element method, was used to study the performance of a V-trough without the incorporation of a tracking system. By investigating the effect of the mirrors’ inclination angles on the performance of the system, the optimum inclination angles were determined. The simulation was done for a non-tilted concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) system if placed in different geographical locations in Saudi Arabia with the inclination of the mirrors being changed every hour of the daylight. It was found that the concentration ratio of the suggested model increased for the city of Jeddah, for example, by 171% and 131% for double and partial coverage cases, respectively. In order to reduce the operation cost, the simulation was repeated with the restriction of the mirrors’ inclination to only three positions during the day. The concentration ratio decreased in this case by not more than 14%. When mirrors were fixed throughout the day, the concentration ratio dropped to about 50%. Such simulations will assist in investigating different designs of PV systems prior to their manufacturing. In addition, it could assist in determining the best geographic location for such CPV systems.
Are There Sex Differences in Balance Performance after a Short-Term Physical Intervention in Seniors 65+? A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Krejčí Milada , Kajzar Jiří , Psotta Rudolf , Tichý Miroslav , Kancheva Radmila , Hošek Václav , Hill Martin
Published: March 2022

A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies demonstrated a relationship between sex and balance determinants in seniors; however, no study has focused on sex-related differences in static and dynamic balance performance after a physical intervention as primary interest. The aim was to investigate sex differences in the static and dynamic balance performance after a 4-week physical intervention based on yoga in seniors 65+ years of age. Five-hundred participants (234 males, 266 females) were assessed with the Tinetti Balance Assessment Tool in pre-and post-testing. The experimental group (122 males, 140 females) underwent the intervention, while the control group (112 males, 126 females) ran their usual daily program. ANCOVA model was used for the statistical evaluation of the results. No sex differences were found in balance performance after a short-term physical intervention in seniors 65+ years of age. At the same time, a significant positive shift was demonstrated in performance in both static and dynamic balance.
Automatic Air-to-Ground Recognition of Outdoor Injured Human Targets Based on UAV Bimodal Information: The Explore Study
Authors: Qi Fugui , Zhu Mingming , Li Zhao , Lei Tao , Xia Juanjuan , Zhang Linyuan , Yan Yili , Wang Jianqi , Lu Guohua
Published: March 2022

The rapid air-to-ground search of injured people in the outdoor environment has been a hot spot and a great challenge for public safety and emergency rescue medicine. Its crucial difficulties lie in the fact that small-scale human targets possess a low target-background contrast to the complex outdoor environment background and the human attribute of the target is hard to verify. Therefore, an automatic recognition method based on UAV bimodal information is proposed in this paper. First, suspected targets were accurately detected and separated from the background based on multispectral feature information only. Immediately after, the bio-radar module would be released and would try to detect their corresponding physiological information for accurate re-identification of the human target property. Both the suspected human target detection experiments and human target property re-identification experiments show that our proposed method could effectively realize accurate identification of ground injured in outdoor environments, which is meaningful for the research of rapid search and rescue of injured people in the outdoor environment.
Advances in the Research on Cosmic Rays and Their Impact on Human Activities
Authors: Sparvoli Roberta , Martucci Matteo
Published: March 2022

It is well known that the galactic cosmic-ray spectrum extends over 14 orders of magnitudes in energy and about 12 in intensity, and the detection methods can be divided into two classes [...]
Damage to Oral Mucosae Induced by Weekend Alcohol Consumption: The Role of Gender and Alcohol Concentration
Authors: González-López Laura Ligia , Morales-González Ángel , Sosa-Gómez Alejandra , Madrigal-Santillán Eduardo Osiris , Anguiano-Robledo Liliana , Madrigal-Bujaidar Eduardo , Álvarez-González Isela , Delgado-Olivares Luis , Valadez-Vega Carmen , Esquivel-Chirino César , Vargas-Mendoza Nancy , Morales-González José A.
Published: March 2022

The damage caused by chronic alcohol consumption is frequently reported, but the effects caused by weekend recreational consumption, which is much more frequent than even daily consumption, have not, to our knowledge, been reported. The metabolism of ethanol, once consumed, starts from the mouth, and the biotransformation process follows different routes. In this study, the effect of weekend alcohol consumption on the oral cavity was observed. Methods: Thirty male and female rats were divided into six groups (n = 5), with control groups (male/female) and groups administered with 5% and 40% ethanol solution ad libitum consumption 2 days a week for 3 months. After treatment, the animals were sacrificed, an incisional slice of the cheek and back of the tongue was obtained, and the tissues were processed according to the histological technique and routine staining (hematoxylin-eosin, H&E). Samples were observed using light microscopy. Results: Histological changes were observed in samples of tongue and cheek mucosa including different levels of keratinization of the surface layer. Epithelial dysplasia, acanthosis, and chronic inflammation were also observed. The vascularization level also increased because of the ethanol-induced damage. The results were very similar between female and male groups. Conclusion: Weekend alcohol consumption for a period of 3 months causes oral-cavity tissue alterations that could contribute to tumor growth and the development of cancer in the oral cavity.
Accuracy Improvement of a Laser Diode-Based System for Measuring the Geometric Errors of Machine Tools
Authors: Cai Yindi , Gao Yinghao , Yin Kedi , Fu Qin , Fan Kuangchao
Published: March 2022

Active methods are proposed to improve the measurement accuracy of a compact laser diode-based (LD-based) system, which is designed to measure the geometric errors of machine tools. The LD has some advantages, such as a small size, low cost and high efficiency. However, the laser spot of the LD is elliptical and the stability in the output power of the LD is low, which limits the accuracy of the measurement system, where the LD is used as the laser source. An active shaping method is proposed to shape the elliptical laser spot of the LD without adding additional optical elements. In addition, the laser beam drifts, including the linear drift and angular drift, are compensated in real-time by a proposed improved active error compensator, which consists of two drift feedback units and a Backpropagation Neural Networks-based PID controller, during the long-distance measurement. A series of experiments were conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed methods and the capability of the constructed LD-based system.
New Isolated Autochthonous Strains of S. cerevisiae for Fermentation of Two Grape Varieties Grown in Poland
Authors: Wójcicki Michał , Świder Olga , Choińska Renata , Bujak Marzena , Sokołowska Barbara , Szczepańska Magdalena , Bartosiak Elżbieta , Roszko Marek Łukasz , Juszczuk-Kubiak Edyta
Published: March 2022

Many commercial strains of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae species are used around the world in the wine industry, while the use of native yeast strains is highly recommended for their role in shaping specific, terroir-associated wine characteristics. In recent years, in Poland, an increase in the number of registered vineyards has been observed, and Polish wines are becoming more recognizable among consumers. In the fermentation process, apart from ethyl alcohol, numerous microbial metabolites are formed. These compounds shape the wine bouquet or become precursors for the creation of new products that affect the sensory characteristics and quality of the wine. The aim of this work was to study the effect of the grapevine varieties and newly isolated native S. cerevisiae yeast strains on the content of selected wine fermentation metabolites. Two vine varieties—Regent and Seyval blanc were used. A total of 16 different yeast strains of the S. cerevisiae species were used for fermentation: nine newly isolated from vine fruit and seven commercial cultures. The obtained wines differed in terms of the content of analyzed oenological characteristics and the differences depended both on the raw material (vine variety) as well as the source of isolation and origin of the yeast strain used (commercial vs. native). Generally, red wines characterized a higher content of tested analytes than white wines, regardless of the yeast strain used. The red wines are produced with the use of native yeast strains characterized by higher content of amyl alcohols and esters.
The Association between Inflammatory Biomarkers and Cardiovascular Autonomic Dysfunction after Bacterial Infection
Authors: Arias-Colinas Mónica , Gea Alfredo , Khattab Ahmed , Vassallo Michael , Allen Stephen C. , Kwan Joseph
Published: March 2022

Heart rate variability (HRV) is a known measure of cardiac autonomic function. A cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction (CAD), measured as changes in HRV, is usually presented after an infectious process. The aim of the present study is to assess the association between serum inflammatory markers and CAD. For this purpose, 50 volunteers (13 of them recovering from an infection) were recruited and followed-up for 6 weeks. Their serum inflammatory biomarkers (CRP, IL1, IL4, IL6, IL10, and TNFalpha) were quantified throughout those weeks, along with their HRV resting, in response to the Valsalva maneuver, metronome breathing, standing and sustained handgrip. The correlation of within-subject changes in both HRV and inflammatory biomarkers was assessed to evaluate the concurrent changes. An inverse within-subject correlation was found between CRP and HRV in response to the Valsalva maneuver (rho (95% CI): −0.517 (−0.877 to −0.001); p = 0.032) and HRV standing (rho (95% CI): −0.490 (−0.943 to −0.036); p = 0.034). At the beginning, increased values of CRP are found along with reduced levels of HRV. Then, the CRP was reduced, accompanied by an improvement (increase) in HRV. These results suggest that CRP is a potential marker of CAD. Whether it is the cause, the consequence or a risk indicator non-causally associated is still to be determined.
Acoustic Emission Analysis of Fracture and Size Effect in Cementitious Mortars
Authors: Deresse Nuhamin Eshetu , Van Steen Charlotte , Sarem Mina , François Stijn , Verstrynge Els
Published: March 2022

The size effect is a phenomenon where the strength and the ductility of a material depend on the size of the structure. Investigating size effects and related crack formation in brittle materials requires advanced monitoring methods. The aim of this research is to experimentally investigate the impact of size effect with the acoustic emission (AE) technique. Brazilian splitting tests with AE monitoring were performed on cement-based mortar cylinders of three sizes. It was found that in addition to the size, the boundary condition affects the final strength. When adopting similar boundary conditions in samples with different sizes, the larger samples had the lowest tensile splitting strength. For the larger samples, initially, there were fewer AE activities. However, there was a surge of high-amplitude AE events near the peak load. This indicates that as size increases, there is a lack of micro-cracking before macro-crack propagation, and the material fails in a more brittle manner. The width of the fracture process zone was quantified with AE and increased with sample size. A further analysis of the AE amplitude distribution demonstrated a change in the distribution in the pre-peak phase for the larger samples and for the smaller samples in the post-peak phase, signifying the brittle to ductile failure transition that occurs as size decreases.
Provoking Actual Mobile Payment Use in the Middle East
Authors: JosephNg Poh Soon , Al-Rawahi Mohamed Musallam Khasib , Eaw Hooi Cheng
Published: March 2022

Monetary transactions have advanced into a portable, simple, and comfortable process. Regardless of the advantages of a versatile method of disbursement, the global take-up ratio is inadequate. Consequently, greater insight into the factors that influence acceptance by stakeholders is fundamental for industrialists and scholars. This study analyses the goals and real purpose behind portable disbursement by unifying the definition of its concept, which consolidates the “Mobile Technology Acceptance Model” and the “Theory of Planned Behaviour” as well as an updated profound variable that is more synergistic. The new framework incorporated 12 factors influenced by the user’s insight and was analysed by collecting data based on the PLS-SEM condition mix-mode. Identifying the impact of versatile methods of disbursement will shape essential business choices and the community and will change current lifestyles into contactless ones. This article demonstrates the connection between innovative factors and human preferences concerning the use of portable disbursement. Interestingly, we embrace this uniqueness for an incorporated framework that consolidates MTAM as well as the TPB.
Control of String Vibrations by Displacement of One End with the Other End Fixed, Given the Deflection Form at an Intermediate Moment of Time
Authors: Barseghyan Vanya , Solodusha Svetlana
Published: March 2022

We consider a boundary control problem for the equation of string vibration with given initial and final conditions, given the deflection form at an intermediate moment of time. The control is carried out by displacement of one end with the other end fixed. The problem is reduced to the problem of a distributed action control with zero boundary conditions. We propose a constructive approach to constructing a boundary control action by the separation of variables and methods of the theory of control of finite-dimensional systems. The approach is applied to given functions. A computational experiment was carried out with the construction of the corresponding graphs and their comparative analysis. They confirm the obtained results.
Homomorphic Encoders of Profinite Abelian Groups II
Authors: Ferrer María , Hernández Salvador
Published: March 2022

Let {Gi:i∈N} be a family of finite Abelian groups. We say that a subgroup G≤∏i∈NGi is order controllable if for every i∈N, there is ni∈N such that for each c∈G, there exists c1∈G satisfying c1|[1,i]=c|[1,i], supp(c1)⊆[1,ni], and order (c1) divides order (c|[1,ni]). In this paper, we investigate the structure of order-controllable group codes. It is proved that if G is an order controllable, shift invariant, group code over a finite abelian group H, then G possesses a finite canonical generating set. Furthermore, our construction also yields that G is algebraically conjugate to a full group shift.
COVID-19-Associated Myocarditis: An Evolving Concern in Cardiology and Beyond
Authors: Fraser Meg , Agdamag Arianne Clare C. , Maharaj Valmiki R. , Mutschler Melinda , Charpentier Victoria , Chowdhury Mohammed , Alexy Tamas
Published: March 2022

The direct and indirect adverse effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the cardiovascular system, including myocarditis, are of paramount importance. These not only affect the disease course but also determine clinical outcomes and recovery. In this review, the authors aimed at providing an update on the incidence of Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19)-associated myocarditis. Our knowledge and experience relevant to this area continues to evolve rapidly since the beginning of the pandemic. It is crucial for the scientific and medical community to stay abreast of current information. Contrasting early reports, recent data suggest that the overall incidence of SARS-CoV-2-associated myocarditis is relatively low, yet infected individuals are at a substantially increased risk. Therefore, understanding the pathophysiology and diagnostic evaluation, including the use of serum biomarkers and imaging modalities, remain important. This review aims to summarize the most recent data in these areas as they relate to COVID-19-associated myocarditis. Given its increasing relevance, a brief update is included on the proposed mechanisms of myocarditis in COVID-19 vaccine recipients.
Mass Spectrometry-Based Proteome Profiling of Extracellular Vesicles Derived from the Cerebrospinal Fluid of Adult Rhesus Monkeys Exposed to Cocaine throughout Gestation
Authors: Rather Hilal A. , Mishra Shalini , Su Yixin , Kumar Ashish , Singh Sangeeta , Misra Biswapriya B. , Lee Jingyun , Furdui Cristina M. , Hamilton Lindsey R. , Gould Robert W. , Nader Susan H. , Nader Michael A. , Deep Gagan
Published: March 2022

Cocaine use disorder has been reported to cause transgenerational effects. However, due to the lack of standardized biomarkers, the effects of cocaine use during pregnancy on postnatal development and long-term neurobiological and behavioral outcomes have not been investigated thoroughly. Therefore, in this study, we examined extracellular vesicles (EVs) in adult (~12 years old) female and male rhesus monkeys prenatally exposed to cocaine (n = 11) and controls (n = 9). EVs were isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and characterized for the surface expression of specific tetraspanins, concentration (particles/mL), size distribution, and cargo proteins by mass spectrometry (MS). Transmission electron microscopy following immunogold labeling for tetraspanins (CD63, CD9, and CD81) confirmed the successful isolation of EVs. Nanoparticle tracking analyses showed that the majority of the particles were <200 nm in size, suggesting an enrichment for small EVs (sEV). Interestingly, the prenatally cocaine-exposed group showed ~54% less EV concentration in CSF compared to the control group. For each group, MS analyses identified a number of proteins loaded in CSF-EVs, many of which are commonly listed in the ExoCarta database. Ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) demonstrated the association of cargo EV proteins with canonical pathways, diseases and disorders, upstream regulators, and top enriched network. Lastly, significantly altered proteins between groups were similarly characterized by IPA, suggesting that prenatal cocaine exposure could be potentially associated with long-term neuroinflammation and risk for neurodegenerative diseases. Overall, these results indicate that CSF-EVs could potentially serve as biomarkers to assess the transgenerational adverse effects due to prenatal cocaine exposure.
Curcumin and Ethanol Effects in Trembler-J Schwann Cell Culture
Authors: Vázquez Alberdi Lucia , Rosso Gonzalo , Velóz Lucía , Romeo Carlos , Farias Joaquina , Di Tomaso María Vittoria , Calero Miguel , Kun Alejandra
Published: March 2022

Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) syndrome is the most common progressive human motor and sensory peripheral neuropathy. CMT type 1E is a demyelinating neuropathy affecting Schwann cells due to peripheral-myelin-protein-22 (PMP22) mutations, modelized by Trembler-J mice. Curcumin, a natural polyphenol compound obtained from turmeric (Curcuma longa), exhibits dose- and time-varying antitumor, antioxidant and neuroprotective properties, however, the neurotherapeutic actions of curcumin remain elusive. Here, we propose curcumin as a possible natural treatment capable of enhancing cellular detoxification mechanisms, resulting in an improvement of the neurodegenerative Trembler-J phenotype. Using a refined method for obtaining enriched Schwann cell cultures, we evaluated the neurotherapeutic action of low dose curcumin treatment on the PMP22 expression, and on the chaperones and autophagy/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways in Trembler-J and wild-type genotypes. In wild-type Schwann cells, the action of curcumin resulted in strong stimulation of the chaperone and macroautophagy pathway, whereas the modulation of ribophagy showed a mild effect. However, despite the promising neuroprotective effects for the treatment of neurological diseases, we demonstrate that the action of curcumin in Trembler-J Schwann cells could be impaired due to the irreversible impact of ethanol used as a common curcumin vehicle necessary for administration. These results contribute to expanding our still limited understanding of PMP22 biology in neurobiology and expose the intrinsic lability of the neurodegenerative Trembler-J genotype. Furthermore, they unravel interesting physiological mechanisms of cellular resilience relevant to the pharmacological treatment of the neurodegenerative Tremble J phenotype with curcumin and ethanol. We conclude that the analysis of the effects of the vehicle itself is an essential and inescapable step to comprehensibly assess the effects and full potential of curcumin treatment for therapeutic purposes.
Leptin Receptor Deficiency Results in Hyperphagia and Increased Fatty Acid Mobilization during Fasting in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Authors: Mankiewicz Jamie L. , Picklo Matthew J. , Idso Joseph , Cleveland Beth M.
Published: March 2022

Leptin is a pleiotropic hormone known for regulating appetite and metabolism. To characterize the role of leptin signaling in rainbow trout, we used CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to disrupt the leptin receptor (LepR) genes, lepra1 and lepra2. We compared wildtype (WT) and mutant fish that were either fed to satiation or feed deprived for six weeks. The LepR mutants exhibited a hyperphagic phenotype, which led to heavier body weight, faster specific growth rate, increased viscero- and hepatosomatic indices, and greater condition factor. Muscle glycogen, plasma leptin, and leptin transcripts (lepa1) were also elevated in fed LepR mutant fish. Expression levels of several hypothalamic genes involved in feed regulation were analyzed (agrp, npy, orexin, cart-1, cart-2, pomc-a1, pomc-b). No differences were detected between fed WT and mutants except for pomc-b (proopiomelanocortin-b), where levels were 7.5-fold higher in LepR fed mutants, suggesting that pomc-b expression is regulated by leptin signaling. Fatty acid (FA) content did not statistically differ in muscle of fed mutant fish compared to WT. However, fasted mutants exhibited significantly lower muscle FA concentrations, suggesting that LepR mutants exhibit increased FA mobilization during fasting. These data demonstrate a key role for leptin signaling in lipid and energy mobilization in a teleost fish.
Overview of Liquid Crystal Biosensors: From Basic Theory to Advanced Applications
Authors: Qu Ruixiang , Li Guoqiang
Published: March 2022

Liquid crystals (LCs), as the remarkable optical materials possessing stimuli-responsive property and optical modulation property simultaneously, have been utilized to fabricate a wide variety of optical devices. Integrating the LCs and receptors together, LC biosensors aimed at detecting various biomolecules have been extensively explored. Compared with the traditional biosensing technologies, the LC biosensors are simple, visualized, and efficient. Owning to the irreplaceable superiorities, the research enthusiasm for the LC biosensors is rapidly rising. As a result, it is necessary to overview the development of the LC biosensors to guide future work. This article reviews the basic theory and advanced applications of LC biosensors. We first discuss different mesophases and geometries employed to fabricate LC biosensors, after which we introduce various detecting mechanisms involved in biomolecular detection. We then focus on diverse detection targets such as proteins, enzymes, nucleic acids, glucose, cholesterol, bile acids, and lipopolysaccharides. For each of these targets, the development history and state-of-the-art work are exhibited in detail. Finally, the current challenges and potential development directions of the LC biosensors are introduced briefly.
Determining Perceived Self-Efficacy for Preventing Dengue Fever in Two Climatically Diverse Mexican States: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Annan Esther , Angulo-Molina Aracely , Yaacob Wan Fairos Wan , Kline Nolan , Lopez-Lemus Uriel A. , Haque Ubydul
Published: March 2022

Knowledge of dengue fever and perceived self-efficacy toward dengue prevention does not necessarily translate to the uptake of mosquito control measures. Understanding how these factors (knowledge and self-efficacy) influence mosquito control measures in Mexico is limited. Our study sought to bridge this knowledge gap by assessing individual-level variables that affect the use of mosquito control measures. A cross-sectional survey with 623 participants was administered online in Mexico from April to July 2021. Multiple linear regression and multiple logistic regression models were used to explore factors that predicted mosquito control scale and odds of taking measures to control mosquitoes in the previous year, respectively. Self-efficacy (β = 0.323, p-value = < 0.0001) and knowledge about dengue reduction scale (β = 0.316, p-value =< 0.0001) were the most important predictors of mosquito control scale. The linear regression model explained 24.9% of the mosquito control scale variance. Increasing age (OR = 1.064, p-value =< 0.0001) and self-efficacy (OR = 1.020, p-value = 0.0024) were both associated with an increase in the odds of taking measures against mosquitoes in the previous year. There is a potential to increase mosquito control awareness and practices through the increase in knowledge about mosquito reduction and self-efficacy in Mexico.
Egress Safety Criteria for Nursing Hospitals
Authors: Choi Seung-Ho , Darkhanbat Khaliunaa , Heo Inwook , Jeong Hoseong , Kim Kang Su
Published: March 2022

Nursing hospitals have a high probability of casualties during a fire disaster because they have many patients with impaired mobility. In this study, fire and egress simulations were conducted to evaluate the egress safety of a typical nursing hospital. The available safe egress time (ASET) of the prototype nursing hospital was calculated using Fire Dynamics Simulator, and the required safe egress time (RSET) was estimated by Pathfinder, reflecting characteristics of the occupants. The egress safety of the nursing hospital was then evaluated by comparing the ASET and RSET, considering the number of egress guides and delay time. According to the simulation results, the RSET increased as the egress delay time increased and the number of egress guides decreased. In addition, it is estimated that at least 20 workers (egress guides) should be on duty in the prototype nursing hospital, even during shiftwork and night duty. Based on the simulation results, egress safety criteria have been proposed in terms of normalized numbers of egress guides and egress delay time. The proposed criteria can be very easily applied to evaluate the egress safety of a typical nursing hospital in operation.
Depolymerization of P4HB and PBS Waste and Synthesis of the Anticancer Drug Busulfan from Plastic Waste
Authors: Lourenço Daniel L. , Fernandes Ana C.
Published: March 2022

Sustainable synthesis of pharmaceuticals is one of the main challenges for the pharmaceutical industry. Production of these compounds from plastic waste can provide an innovative and ecological approach to their sustainable synthesis. In this context, plastic waste can be regarded as a potential cheap resource for the production of compounds of interest to the pharmaceutical industry. In this work, the first methodologies for the reductive depolymerization of poly(4-hydroxybutyrate) (P4HB) and polybutylene succinate (PBS) plastic waste are reported using the catalyst systems MoO2Cl2(H2O)2/silane, MoO2Cl2(H2O)2/borane and KOH/PhSiH3 with moderate to excellent yields. We also developed the first synthetic strategy for the synthesis of a drug, the anticancer busulfan, from P4HB and PBS plastic waste with moderate overall yields.
Assessment of the Impact of the Application of a Quercetin—Copper Complex on the Course of Physiological and Biochemical Processes in Wheat Plants (Triticum aestivum L.) Growing under Saline Conditions
Authors: Jańczak-Pieniążek Marta , Migut Dagmara , Piechowiak Tomasz , Balawejder Maciej
Published: March 2022

Salt stress is one of the main stressors limiting plant growth and yield. As a result of salt stress, unfavorable changes in the photosynthesis process take place, leading to a decrease in plant productivity. Therefore, it is necessary to use biologically active substances that reduce the effects of this stress. An example of such a substance is quercetin, classified as a flavonoid, which plays an important role in alleviating the effects of salt stress, mainly by the inactivation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and by improvement of the photosynthesis process. A study was made of the effect of the quercetin–copper complex (Q-Cu (II)), which has a stronger antioxidant effect than pure quercetin. By means of a pot experiment, the influence of solutions of the Q-Cu (II) complex (100 mg∙L−1 [Q1], 500 mg∙L−1 [Q2] and 1000 mg∙L−1 [Q3]) on the physiological and biochemical processes occurring in wheat plants subjected to salt stress was investigated. The plants were given two sprays of Q-Cu (II) solution, and their physiological parameters were examined both 1 and 7 days after each application of this solution. The level of ROS and the activity of antioxidant enzymes (catalase [CAT], superoxide dismutase [SOD] and guaiacol peroxidase [GPOX]) were also determined. It has been shown that spraying with Q2 and Q3 solutions improves the chlorophyll content, the values of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (the photochemical efficiency of PS II [Fv/Fm], the maximum quantum yield of primary photochemistry [Fv/F0], and the performance index of PS II [PI]), and gas exchange (net photosynthetic rate [Pn], stomatal conductance [gs], transpiration rate [E] and intercellular CO2 concentration [Ci]). As a result of the application of Q2 and Q3 solutions, the level of ROS and the activity of the antioxidant enzymes tested decreased, which means that these concentrations are most effective in counteracting the effects of salt stress.