bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Boronic Acid Esters and Anhydrates as Dynamic Cross-Links in Vitrimers
Authors: Gosecki Mateusz , Gosecka Monika
Published: February 2022

Growing environmental awareness imposes on polymer scientists the development of novel materials that show a longer lifetime and that can be easily recycled. These challenges were largely met by vitrimers, a new class of polymers that merges properties of thermoplastics and thermosets. This is achieved by the incorporation of dynamic covalent bonds into the polymer structure, which provides high stability at the service temperature, but enables the processing at elevated temperatures. Numerous types of dynamic covalent bonds have been utilized for the synthesis of vitrimers. Amongst them, boronic acid-based linkages, namely boronic acid esters and boroxines, are distinguished by their quick exchange kinetics and the possibility of easy application in various polymer systems, from commercial thermoplastics to low molecular weight thermosetting resins. This review covers the development of dynamic cross-links. This review is aimed at providing the state of the art in the utilization of boronic species for the synthesis of covalent adaptable networks. We mainly focus on the synthetic aspects of boronic linkages-based vitrimers construction. Finally, the challenges and future perspectives are provided.
Mechanical Properties of Cellulose and Flax Fiber Unidirectional Reinforced Plywood
Authors: Jorda Johannes , Kain Günther , Barbu Marius-Catalin , Köll Berndt , Petutschnigg Alexander , Král Pavel
Published: February 2022

This research presents the influence of two different cellulose (hydrophobic pretreated/non-pretreated) and one flax-fiber unidirectional nonwoven low areal weight fiber reinforcements on the mechanical properties of urea-formaldehyde bonded five layered beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) plywood as an alternative to commonly used synthetic fiber reinforcements. The results display divergent trends regarding the improvement of the mechanical properties—modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture, tensile strength, shear strength, and screw withdrawal resistance. The non-treated cellulose and flax reinforcing nonwoven fabrics revealed similar mechanical behaviors. The hydrophobic pretreatment of cellulose nonwovens improved the performance of plywood regarding tensile strength (10–11%), shear strength (7–16%), screw withdrawal resistance (11–15%), and modulus of rupture (0–2%), but lowered modulus of elasticity (2–3%) compared to the reference.
Experimental Setup for Irradiation of Cell Cultures at L2A2
Authors: Torralba Alberto , Palenciano Lidia , Reija Alicia , Rigla Juan , Peñas Juan , Llerena Juan , Contreras-Martínez Ramiro , Benlliure José , Vega Ana , Aguado-Barrera Miguel , Ruiz Camilo , Seimetz Michael
Published: February 2022

Laser–plasma proton sources and their applications to preclinical research has become a very active field of research in recent years. In addition to their small dimensions as compared to classical ion accelerators, they offer the possibility to study the biological effects of ultra-short particle bunches and the correspondingly high dose rates. We report on the design of an experimental setup for the irradiation of cell cultures at the L2A2 laboratory at the University of Santiago de Compostela, making use of a 1.2 J Ti: Sapphire laser with a 10 Hz repetition rate. Our setup comprises a proton energy separator consisting of two antiparallel magnetic fields realized by a set of permanent magnets. It allows for selecting a narrow energy window around an adaptable design value of 5 MeV out of the initially broad spectrum typical for Target Normal Sheath Acceleration (TNSA). At the same time, unwanted electrons and X-rays are segregated from the protons. This part of the setup is located inside the target vessel of the L2A2 laser. A subsequent vacuum flange sealed with a thin kapton window allows for particle passage to external sample irradiation. A combination of passive detector materials and real-time monitors is applied for measurement of the deposited radiation dose. A critical point of this interdisciplinary project is the manipulation of biological samples under well-controlled, sterile conditions. Cell cultures are prepared in sealed flasks with an ultra-thin entrance window and analysed at the nearby Fundación Pública Galega Medicina Xenómica and IDIS. The first trials will be centred at the quantification of DNA double-strand breaks as a function of radiation dose.
Critique of Nasḫ in Contemporary Qur’ānic Hermeneutics Using the Example of Naṣr Ḥāmid Abū Zayd’s Works
Authors: Moch Michal
Published: February 2022

This article highlights the importance of the issue of nasḫ in the context of the thought and works of the acclaimed Egyptian thinker Naṣr Ḥāmid Abū Zayd (1943–2010) who, while often perceived as a liberal intellectual, was at the same time deeply embedded in classical and modern Islamic thought and a hermeneutical approach to the Qur’ān. The practice of nasḫ is usually translated as “abrogation” and seems to be one of the most important procedures conducted by Muslim jurists within the frame of the Qur’ānic sciences. It is one of the deciding features of Islamic law as subsequently created and codified following the time of the Prophet Muḥammad and the Righteous Caliphs. For Abū Zayd, nasḫ was linked to a set of juridical approaches reducing the discursive aspect of the Qur’ān and turning it into a normative book of law. This article includes examples of Abū Zayd’s critique and analysis of the classical cases of nasḫ as contained in his most important books, Mafhūm an-naṣṣ and Naqd al-ḫiṭāb ad-dīnī, as well his English works published in the Netherlands after the so-called “Case of Abū Zayd” and his forced emigration to Europe. In the last part, the outcome of Abū Zayd’s approach will be assessed and his location among past and present Egyptian and Arab thinkers discussed and problematized.
Integrated Fire Management as a Renewing Agent of Native Vegetation and Inhibitor of Invasive Plants in Vereda Habitats: Diagnosis by Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems
Authors: Nascente Jéssika Cristina , Ferreira Manuel Eduardo , Nunes Gustavo Manzon
Published: February 2022

The Cerrado biome is being gradually reduced. Remote sensing has been widely used to investigate spatio-temporal changes in the landscape, which are frequently limited to mapping with orbital sensors, while the Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) proved to be advantageous in terms of spatial resolution and the application of advanced digital processing techniques. In this study, we investigated a vereda (humid area) of a conservation unit in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Object-Based Image Analysis (OBIA) was applied to images obtained by RPAS to distinguish the phytophysiognomies of plant strata from the vereda and to diagnose the recovery of native and invasive vegetation after prescribed burning. The study was carried out in the following five stages: biomass collection; quality analysis of the land cover; phytosociological survey; collection of control points using a GNSS receiver (type L1/L2); and the capture of aerial images with an RGB camera coupled to a DJI Phantom 4 Pro, which was performed through overflights in three different periods. Object–Based Image Analysis was subsequently performed using the Nearest Neighbor classifier combined with Feature Space Optimization, obtaining classifications with accuracy and Kappa indexes greater than 80% and 0.80, respectively. The results of image processing allowed us to infer that fire acted as a renewing agent for native vegetation and as an inhibiting agent for invasive vegetation. The classification analyses combined with the phytosociological analysis allowed us to infer that the vereda is in the process of maturation. Therefore, the study demonstrated the potential of data obtained by RPAS for the diagnosis and analysis of vegetation dynamics in small wetlands submitted to Integrated Fire Management (IFM).
Global Spatiotemporal Variability of Integrated Water Vapor Derived from GPS, GOME/SCIAMACHY and ERA-Interim: Annual Cycle, Frequency Distribution and Linear Trends
Authors: Van Malderen Roeland , Pottiaux Eric , Stankunavicius Gintautas , Beirle Steffen , Wagner Thomas , Brenot Hugues , Bruyninx Carine , Jones Jonathan
Published: February 2022

Atmospheric water vapor plays a prominent role in climate change and atmospheric, meteorological, and hydrological processes. Because of its high spatiotemporal variability, precise quantification of water vapor is challenging. This study investigates Integrated Water Vapor (IWV) variability for the period 1995–2010 at 118 globally distributed Global Positioning System (GPS) sites, using additional UV/VIS satellite retrievals by GOME, SCIAMACHY, and GOME-2 (denoted as GOMESCIA below), plus ERA-Interim reanalysis output. Apart from spatial representativeness differences, particularly at coastal and island sites, all three IWV datasets correlate well with the lowest mean correlation coefficient of 0.878 (averaged over all the sites) between GPS and GOMESCIA. We confirm the dominance of standard lognormal distribution of the IWV time series, which can be explained by the combination of a lower mode (dry season characterized by a standard lognormal distribution with a low median value) and an upper mode (wet season characterized by a reverse lognormal distribution with high median value) in European, Western American, and subtropical sites. Despite the relatively short length of the time series, we found a good consistency in the sign of the continental IWV trends, not only between the different datasets, but also compared to temperature and precipitation trends.
Robust Multimodal Remote Sensing Image Registration Based on Local Statistical Frequency Information
Authors: Liu Xiangzeng , Xue Jiepeng , Xu Xueling , Lu Zixiang , Liu Ruyi , Zhao Bocheng , Li Yunan , Miao Qiguang
Published: February 2022

Multimodal remote sensing image registration is a prerequisite for comprehensive application of remote sensing image data. However, inconsistent imaging environment and conditions often lead to obvious geometric deformations and significant contrast differences between multimodal remote sensing images, which makes the common feature extraction extremely difficult, resulting in their registration still being a challenging task. To address this issue, a robust local statistics-based registration framework is proposed, and the constructed descriptors are invariant to contrast changes and geometric transformations induced by imaging conditions. Firstly, maximum phase congruency of local frequency information is performed by optimizing the control parameters. Then, salient feature points are located according to the phase congruency response map. Subsequently, the geometric and contrast invariant descriptors are constructed based on a joint local frequency information map that combines Log-Gabor filter responses over multiple scales and orientations. Finally, image matching is achieved by finding the corresponding descriptors; image registration is further completed by calculating the transformation between the corresponding feature points. The proposed registration framework was evaluated on four different multimodal image datasets with varying degrees of contrast differences and geometric deformations. Experimental results demonstrated that our method outperformed several state-of-the-art methods in terms of robustness and precision, confirming its effectiveness.
Signal Activity Detection for Fiber Optic Distributed Acoustic Sensing with Adaptive-Calculated Threshold
Authors: Ma Lilong , Xu Tuanwei , Cao Kai , Jiang Yinghao , Deng Dimin , Li Fang
Published: February 2022

The key point on analyzing the data stream measured by fiber optic distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) is signal activity detection separating measured signals from environmental noise. The inability to calculate the threshold for signal activity detection accurately and efficiently without affecting the measured signals is a bottleneck problem for current methods. In this article, a novel signal activity detection method with the adaptive-calculated threshold is proposed to solve the problem. With the analysis of the time-varying random noise’s statistical commonality and the short-term energy (STE) of real-time data stream, the top range of the total STE distribution of the noise is found accurately for real-time data stream’s ascending STE, thus the adaptive dividing level of signals and noise is obtained as the threshold. Experiments are implemented with simulated database and urban field database with complex noise. The average detection accuracies of the two databases are 97.34% and 90.94% only consuming 0.0057 s for a data stream of 10 s, which demonstrates the proposed method is accurate and high efficiency for signal activity detection.
Numerical Study on Death of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Based on Various Shapes of Gold Nanoparticles Using Photothermal Therapy
Authors: Kim Donghyuk , Kim Hyunjung
Published: February 2022

Due to increased exposure to ultraviolet radiation caused by increased outdoor activities, the incidence of skin cancer is increasing. Incision is the most typical method for treating skin cancer, and various treatments that can minimize the risks of incision surgery are being investigated. Among them, photothermal therapy is garnering attention because it does not cause bleeding and affords rapid recovery. In photothermal therapy, tumor death is induced via temperature increase. In this study, a numerical study based on heat transfer theory was conducted to investigate the death of squamous cell carcinoma located in the skin layer based on various shapes of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) used in photothermal therapy. The quantitative correlation between the conditions of various AuNPs and the laser intensity that yields the optimal photothermal treatment effect was derived using the effective apoptosis ratio. It was confirmed that optimal conditions exist for maximizing apoptosis within a tumor tissue and minimizing the thermal damage to surrounding normal tissues when using AuNPs under various conditions. Furthermore, it is envisioned that research result will be utilized as a standard for photothermal treatment in the future.
Computer Aided Written Character Feature Extraction in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy and Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Stępień Paula , Kawa Jacek , Sitek Emilia J. , Wieczorek Dariusz , Sikorski Rafał , Dąbrowska Magda , Sławek Jarosław , Pietka Ewa
Published: February 2022

Parkinson’s disease (PD) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) are neurodegenerative movement disorders associated with cognitive dysfunction. The Luria’s Alternating Series Test (LAST) is a clinical tool sensitive to both graphomotor problems and perseverative tendencies that may suggest the dysfunction of prefrontal and/or frontostriatal areas and may be used in PD and PSP assessment. It requires the participant to draw a series of alternating triangles and rectangles. In the study, two clinical groups—51 patients with PD and 22 patients with PSP—were compared to 32 neurologically intact seniors. Participants underwent neuropsychological assessment. The LAST was administered in a paper and pencil version, then scanned and preprocessed. The series was automatically divided into characters, and the shapes were recognized as rectangles or triangles. In the feature extraction step, each rectangle and triangle was regarded both as an image and a two-dimensional signal, separately and as a part of the series. Standard and novel features were extracted and normalized using characters written by the examiner. Out of 71 proposed features, 51 differentiated the groups (p < 0.05). A classifier showed an accuracy of 70.5% for distinguishing three groups.
Methodology for Detecting Progressive Damage in Structures Using Ultrasound-Guided Waves
Authors: Aranguren Gerardo , Bilbao Javier , Etxaniz Josu , Gil-García José Miguel , Rebollar Carolina
Published: February 2022

Damage detection in structural health monitoring of metallic or composite structures depends on several factors, including the sensor technology and the type of defect that is under the spotlight. Commercial devices generally used to obtain these data neither allow for their installation on board nor permit their scalability when several structures or sensors need to be monitored. This paper introduces self-developed equipment designed to create ultrasonic guided waves and a methodology for the detection of progressive damage, such as corrosion damage in aircraft structures, i.e., algorithms for monitoring such damage. To create slowly changing conditions, aluminum- and carbon-reinforced polymer plates were placed together with seawater to speed up the corrosion process. The setup was completed by an array of 10 piezoelectric transducers driven and sensed by a structural health monitoring ultrasonic system, which generated 100 waveforms per test. The hardware was able to pre-process the raw acquisition to minimize the transmitted data. The experiment was conducted over eight weeks. Three different processing stages were followed to extract information on the degree of corrosion: hardware algorithm, pattern matching, and pattern recognition. The proposed methodology allows for the detection of trends in the progressive degradation of structures.
Bioeconomic Entrepreneurship and Key Factors of Development: Lessons from Argentina
Authors: Sili Marcelo , Dürr Jochen
Published: February 2022

For Argentina, a country with large biomass availability, scientific-technological capacities and a strong agro-industrial sector, bioeconomy comes with an opportunity for sustainable local and national development. As key actors in bioeconomic transition processes, entrepreneurs become an important source of information for the design and implementation of bioeconomic strategies and policies. However, bioeconomic activity cannot guarantee sustainable development outcomes. Here, we examine factors that influenced bioeconomic entrepreneurship and related sustainability outcomes. Our case study involved interviews with 23 enterprises of varying size and technological level, covering the main sectors and regions of the Argentine bioeconomy. We identify five bioeconomic pathways with distinct characteristics. Among the main factors driving development in these pathways of the Argentinian bioeconomy, entrepreneurs emphasized the rich endowment with natural resources and the high level of scientific, technological and entrepreneurial capacities. Public policies, economic stability and regulatory frameworks were considered as the most critical barriers to bioeconomic development. Entrepreneurs saw their contribution to sustainable development primarily in the generation of new knowledge and employment. Ecological or social motives were less frequently reported. Despite agricultural commodity production being the mainstay of the Argentinian bioeconomy, small-scale local initiatives, which also include socio-institutional and agro-ecological innovations, are coming up. Recommendations to improve the competitiveness of the Argentinean bioeconomy include the elaboration of a national bioeconomic development policy with the participation of private actors and their organizations, and the scientific and technological complex. Moreover, regulatory and normative frameworks have to be adapted and bureaucratic obstacles be reduced. Finally, a national strategy for the bioeconomy in Argentina should pay more attention to entrepreneurship as a driver of transformation.
The Effects of the Supercritical Extracts of Momordica charantia Linn., Pistacia lentiscus, and Commiphora myrrha on Oral Inflammation and Oral Cancer
Authors: Choi Mi Jeong , Yoo Hwa Seung , Park So Jung
Published: February 2022

In this study, mixed extract samples (MPC-1–4) of natural plants, Momordica charantia Linn., Pistacia lentiscus, and Commiphora myrrha, were prepared according to their respective extraction methods, and the efficacy of these samples for treating oral inflammation and oral cancer was investigated. As a result of the cell proliferation inhibition experiment, all samples (MPC-1 to 4) decreased the proliferation of oral cancer cell MC3 and HN22 cells in a concentration-dependent manner (p < 0.01). The survival rates of MPC-4 and MPC-1 were about 50% and about 80%, respectively, showing a difference according to the extraction method. In flow cytometry results, early apoptosis and late apoptosis of MPC-4 were 26.9% and 18.1%, respectively, indicating that apoptosis induction was the most effective. Although the induction effect was shown in other samples, the result was lower than that of MPC-4. As a result of confirming the regulation of the signaling pathway, it was confirmed that the expression of cleaved caspase 3 and Bak regulatory genes increased in a concentration-dependent manner in MC3 and HN22 cells (p < 0.01), thus inducing apoptosis in oral cancer cells. In addition, as a result of safety and Xenograft model experiments, it was found that MPC-4 had no toxicity to oral administration. These results suggest that the supercritical extract of Momordica charantia Linn., Pistacia lentiscus, and Commiphora myrrha can be applied as a preventive and therapeutic agent for oral mucosa inflammation and oral cancer.
Modeling the Sustainable Integration of Quality and Energy Management in Power Plants
Authors: Mahmood Noor , Ajmi Ahmed , Sarip Shamsul , Kaidi Hazilah , Jamaludin Khairur , Talib Hayati
Published: February 2022

(1) Background: this paper aimed at modeling the sustainable integration of quality and energy management system (IQEM) via identifying critical success factors (CSFs) and analyzing the effect on energy management; (2) Methods: The research adopted theoretical and practical methods, through carefully examining the literature to extract the research gap and CSFs that establish a sustainable model for the integration of quality and energy management, while the practical method was energy experts’ arbitration and to develop a sustainable model in power plants. The study used SmartPLS and SPSS software for analysis purposes, collected data using a 5-point Likert scale and employed a cross-sectional approach survey questionnaire; (3) Results: The research succeeded in identifying the most important CSFs necessary for the sustainable integration of (IQEM). This investigation discovered that the identified CSFs are significantly related to the electricity sector’s energy management integration success (EMIS). The study’s results showed that the identified IQEM’s CSFs, such as EP with p-values (0.000), SQI (0.000), EMT (0.019), A (0.003), SP (0.010), are significantly associated with EMIS and improve quality and energy management; (4) Conclusions: This study succeeded in modeling a framework that ensures integrated and sustainable success between energy management and quality in developing countries power plants.
A Cultural Route Perspective on Rural Revitalization of Traditional Villages: A Case Study from Chishui, China
Authors: Zhou Zijie , Zheng Xin
Published: February 2022

Traditional villages along rivers have contributed significantly to local–regional development by transporting production and spreading culture through certain routes. To date, the cultural continuity of traditional villages has been underestimated in sustainable development with regard to practical dilemmas between conservation and development. This study explores an integrated approach to traditional villages in river basins that considers historic relics, locality, and spatial form. The cultural routes concept is introduced from the field of cultural heritage to link geographically scattered villages that shared the same cultural values and purposes in the past and to stimulate their potential as dynamic routes for further rural revitalization. In this context, the following subtopics are defined for a specific analysis of the lower Chishui River in Guizhou: an evolving framework of cultural routes and the spatial-temporal route of “Sichuan salt into Guizhou”, including its contemporary transformation. The findings of cultural and spatial coherence in historical texts, maps, morphological structures, and rural landscapes support a multi-cultural route model for sustainable development. The study extends the prevailing knowledge on cultural sustainability in rural revitalization and it provides novel insights into spatial development in basin environments.
Evaluation of Scientific Research in Universities Based on the Idea of Education for Sustainable Development
Authors: Cheng Zhe , Xiao Tong , Chen Chen , Xiong Xiong
Published: February 2022

Our research aims to establish an evaluation framework and evaluate the sustainability of scientific research in universities. Based on the concept of Education for Sustainable Development and the function of scientific research activities, an evaluation framework was constructed including three dimensions: the sustainable trend of scientific research activity, research performance related to the topic of sustainable development, and sustainability of scientific research contributions. Descriptive analysis, Data Envelopment Analysis, and a Statistical Index Method were used to calculate the sustainability of scientific research of world-class universities in China. Results show that China’s world-class universities published more articles related to sustainable development than the best-performing universities in the UK and USA. They make sustainable contributions to society through cultivating Ph.D. graduates, publishing research papers, and transforming science and technology. However, the sustainable trend of the scientific research of universities is still to be improved. The result of resource efficiency is relatively low, and attention should be paid to the waste of human and financial resources. In addition, universities should improve their ability to withstand external risks to minimize the influence of external public emergencies such as COVID-19.
A New 4D Hyperchaotic System with Dynamics Analysis, Synchronization, and Application to Image Encryption
Authors: Nestor Tsafack , Belazi Akram , Abd-El-Atty Bassem , Aslam Md Nazish , Volos Christos , De Dieu Nkapkop Jean , Abd El-Latif Ahmed A.
Published: February 2022

In this paper, a new 4D hyperchaotic nonlinear dynamical system with two positive Lyapunov exponents is presented. Exhaustive dynamic analyses of the novel hyperchaotic model using several dynamical studies are described. The dynamics of the system considered are first investigated analytically and numerically to explore phenomena and the selection of hyperchaotic behavior utilized for designing image cryptosystem. Since the proposed hyperchaotic model has rich dynamics, it displays hidden attractors. It emerges from this dynamic the existence of a single unstable equilibrium point giving rise to self-excited attractors, hysteresis phenomenon, and hyperchaotic behavior strongly recommended for securing information by its character. Furthermore, the feasibility and synchronization of the proposed system are also presented by developing, respectively, Raspberry surveys and an adaptive synchronization approach of two identical hyperchaotic systems. By employing the hyperchaotic behavior of the 4D map, an image encryption scheme is proposed as well. It is one round of a pixel-based permutation and a bit-wise diffusion phase. The secret key of the 4D map is derived from the SHA-256 value of the input image. It acts as the signature of the input image. Hence, the secret key exhibits high sensitivity to single-bit alteration in the image, which makes the cryptosystem robust against chosen/known-plaintext attacks. Performance analyses prove that the proposed cryptosystem provides the best in terms of the performance/complexity trade-off, as compared to some recently published algorithms.
Novel Aspects of the SubA Subunit of the Subtilase Cytotoxin
Authors: Sessler Katharina , Schmidt Herbert , Barth Holger
Published: February 2022

The subtilase cytotoxin (SubAB) belongs to the family of AB5 toxins and is produced together with Shiga toxin (Stx) by certain Stx-producing E. coli strains (STEC). For most AB-type toxins, it is assumed that cytotoxic effects can only be induced by a complete holotoxin complex consisting of SubA and SubB. However, it has been shown for SubAB that the enzymatically active subunit SubA, without its transport and binding domain SubB, induces cell death in different eukaryotic cell lines. Interestingly, the molecular structure of SubA resembles that of the SubAB complex. SubA alone is capable of binding to cells and then being taken up autonomously. Once inside the host cell, SubA is transported, similar to the SubAB holotoxin, via a retrograde transport into the endoplasmatic reticulum (ER). In the ER, it exhibits its enzymatic activity by cleaving the chaperone BiP/GRP78 and thereby triggering cell death. Therefore, the existence of toxic single SubA subunits that have not found a B-pentamer for holotoxin assembly might improve the pathogenic potential of subtilase-producing strains. Moreover, from a pharmacological aspect, SubA might be an interesting molecule for the targeted transport of therapeutic molecules into the ER, in order to investigate and specifically modulate processes in the context of ER stress-associated diseases. Since recent studies on bacterial AB5 toxins contributed mainly to the understanding of the biology of AB-type holotoxins, this mini-review specifically focus on that recently observed single A-effect of the subtilase cytotoxin and addresses whether a fundamental shift of the traditional AB5 paradigm might be required.
Recombinant Expression of ABCC2 Variants Confirms the Importance of Mutations in Extracellular Loop 4 for Cry1F Resistance in Fall Armyworm
Authors: Franz Laura , Raming Klaus , Nauen Ralf
Published: February 2022

Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, is a highly destructive and invasive global noctuid pest. Its control is based on insecticide applications and Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) insecticidal Cry toxins expressed in transgenic crops, such as Cry1F in Bt corn. Continuous selection pressure has resulted in populations that are resistant to Bt corn, particularly in Brazil. FAW resistance to Cry1F was recently shown to be conferred by mutations of ATP-binding cassette transporter C2 (ABCC2), but several mutations, particularly indels in extracellular loop 4 (ECL4), are not yet functionally validated. We addressed this knowledge gap by baculovirus-free insect cell expression of ABCC2 variants (and ABCC3) by electroporation technology and tested their response to Cry1F, Cry1A.105 and Cry1Ab. We employed a SYTOXTM orange cell viability test measuring ABCC2-mediated Bt toxin pore formation. In total, we tested seven different FAW ABCC2 variants mutated in ECL4, two mutants modified in nucleotide binding domain (NBD) 2, including a deletion mutant lacking NBD2, and S. frugiperda ABCC3. All tested ECL4 mutations conferred high resistance to Cry1F, but much less to Cry1A.105 and Cry1Ab, whereas mutations in NBD2 hardly affected Bt toxin activity. Our study confirms the importance of indels in ECL4 for Cry1F resistance in S. frugiperda ABCC2.
Incidence and Risk Factors of Reinfection with HCV after Treatment in People Living with HIV
Authors: Cheng Chien-Yu , Ku Shin-Yen , Lin Yi-Chun , Chen Cheng-Pin , Cheng Shu-Hsing , Lin I-Feng
Published: February 2022

Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) does not induce protective immunity, and re-exposure to HCV can reinfect the population engaging in high-risk behavior. An increasing incidence of acute hepatitis C infection in people living with HIV (PLWH) has been described in recent years. This retrospective cohort study was conducted in PLWH who completed HCV therapy between June 2009 and June 2020 at an HIV care hospital, to analyze their basic characteristics and risky behavior. Of 2419 patients, 639 were diagnosed with HCV infection and 516 completed the HCV therapy with a sustained virologic response. In total, 59 patients (11.4%) were reinfected with acute hepatitis C, and the median time to reinfection was 85.3 weeks (IQR: 57–150). The incidence of reinfection was 6.7 cases/100 person-years. The factors associated with reinfection were being male (AHR, 8.02; 95% CI 1.08–59.49), DAA (direct-acting antiviral) treatment (AHR, 2.23; 95% CI 1.04–4.79), liver cirrhosis (AHR, 3.94; 95% CI 1.09–14.22), heroin dependency (AHR: 7.41; 95% CI 3.37–14.3), and HIV viral loads <50 copies/mL at the follow-up (AHR: 0.47, 95% CI 0.24–0.93) in the subgroup of people who inject drugs (PWID). Amphetamine abuse (AHR: 20.17; 95% CI 2.36–172.52) was the dominant factor in the subgroup of men who have sex with men (MSM). Our study suggests that education and behavioral interventions are needed in this population to prevent reinfection.
Soil–Water Conservation, Erosion and Landslide
Authors: Chen Su-Chin
Published: February 2022

In the wake of climate change, extreme storm events, catastrophic disasters (including soil erosion, debris and landslide formation, loss of life, etc [...]
Hydrochemical Characteristics of Arsenic in Shallow Groundwater in Various Unconsolided Sediment Aquifers: A Case Study in Hetao Basin in Inner Mongolia, China
Authors: Cai Zizhao , Liu Lingxia , Xu Wei , Wu Ping , Lu Chuan
Published: February 2022

This study focused on the entire Hetao Basin, which can fall into four hydrogeological units, the Houtao Plain, Sanhuhe Plain, Hubao Plain, and South Bank Plain of the Yellow River, all of which are under different geological and environmental conditions. To systematically investigate the hydrochemical characteristics and spatial distribution of high-As groundwater (As > 10 μg/L), 974 samples were collected from shallow groundwater. As indicated from the results, high-As groundwater had an extensive distribution, and its spatial distribution in the four hydrogeological units exhibited significant variability. Three concentrated distribution areas were reported with high-As groundwater, which were all in the discharge areas of groundwater, and the arsenic contents in the groundwater were found to exceed 50 μg/L. The hydrochemical types of high-As groundwater in the HT Plain and the SHH Plain consisted of HCO3 SO4·Cl for anions and Na for cations, while those in the other two plains included HCO3 for anions as well as Na·Mg·Ca for cations. According to the pH values, the groundwater was weakly alkaline in the areas with high-As groundwater, and arsenic primarily existed as arsenite. Furthermore, high-As groundwater in the Hetao Basin was characterized by high contents of Fe (mean value of 2.77 mg/L) and HCO3− (mean value of 460 mg/L) and a low relative concentration of SO42− (average value of 310 mg/L). This study did not identify any significant correlation between groundwater arsenic and other ions (e.g., Fe2+, Fe3+, HCO3−, SO42−, NO2− and NO3−) in the entire Hetao Basin over a wide range of hydrogeological units. The results remained unchanged after the four hydrogeological units were analyzed. The special sedimentary environment evolution of the Hetao Basin was found as the prerequisite for the formation of high-arsenic groundwater. Furthermore, groundwater runoff conditions and hydrogeochemical processes in the basin were indicated as the factors controlling the formation of high-arsenic groundwater.
Long-Term 10 m Resolution Water Dynamics of Qinghai Lake and the Driving Factors
Authors: Chen Qianqian , Liu Wanqing , Huang Chang
Published: February 2022

As the largest inland saltwater lake in China, Qinghai Lake plays an important role in regional sustainable development and ecological environment protection. In this study, we adopted a spatial downscaling model for mapping lake water at 10 m resolution through integrating Sentinel-2 and Landsat data, which was applied to map the water extent of Qinghai Lake from 1991 to 2020. This was further combined with the Hydroweb water level dataset to establish an area-level relationship to acquire the 30-year water level and water volume. Then, the driving factors of its water dynamics were analyzed based on the grey system theory. It was found that the lake area, water level, and water volume decreased from 1991 to 2004, but then showed an increasing trend afterwards. The lake area ranges from 4199.23 to 4494.99 km2. The water level decreased with a speed of ~0.05 m/a before 2004 and then increased with a speed of 0.22 m/a thereafter. Correspondingly, the water volume declined by 5.29 km3 in the first 13 years, and rapidly increased by 15.57 km3 thereafter. The correlation between climatic factors and the water volume of Qinghai Lake is significant. Precipitation has the greatest positive impact on the water volume variation with the relational grade of 0.912, while evaporation has a negative impact.
A Review of Documentation: A Cross-Disciplinary Perspective
Authors: Amiraslani Farshad , Dragovich Deirdre
Published: February 2022

Documents are tools of communication which are changing rapidly in nature and quantity. Prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, digital formats have become ubiquitous. However, documents and documentation have a long pre-digital history. In seeking to survey document types and features, two major online journal databases from the Web of Science database were analysed over a 30-year period to 2020. Documents were classified into types and the (arbitrary) features of format, dimension, production, administration and distribution. Such tabulation of journal documents has not been undertaken previously. As the sampled journals covered a range of fields, the types and features of documentation in selected specialised areas were included. Digitalisation of documentation, especially of rare documents, has accelerated in recent times, contributing to the retention of knowledge and its rapid dissemination, despite the accompanying disadvantages of the digital age, with its largely unregulated social media. Classifying and describing the diversity of existing documents is a major task and we have initiated this process by analysing two scientific databases.
Türkiye’de Yapılmış STEAM / [STEM + A (Sanat)] Araştırmalarındaki Eğilimlerin Analizi
Authors: GÜLHAN Filiz
Published: February 2022

STEM (Science-Technology-Engineering-Math) [Türkçesiyle (Fen-Teknoloji-Mühendislik-Matematik)] eğitiminin sıklıkla uygulanması ve araştırılmasını takiben; STEM’e “Art (sanat)” katkısının transdisipliner biçimde tam bir entegrasyonu oluşturacağını savunan STEAM [STEM + A (Sanat)] yaklaşımı da önemli bir araştırma alanı olmuştur. Bu araştırmada Türkiye’de 2017 yılından beri çalışılan STEAM eğitimi konusunda yayımlanmış araştırmaların incelenmesi ve STEM araştırmalarına benzer eğilimler gösterip göstermediğinin tespit edilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Bu amaçla yapılan tarama çalışmasında 36 araştırmaya ulaşılmış, PRISMA akış şeması izlenerek araştırmalar çeşitli özellikleri bakımından betimsel analize tabi tutulmuştur. Araştırma sonucunda STEAM ile ilgili alan yazında en çok nitel araştırma yönteminin kullanıldığı, ortaokul öğrencileriyle çalışıldığı, veri toplamada en çok görüşme ve test/anket kullanıldığı sonucuna varılmıştır. Ayrıca deneysel ders uygulaması içeren araştırmaların en çok Fen Bilimleri dersi kapsamında yapıldığı, araştırmaların STEAM uygulamalarının sıklıkla 5 hafta civarında sürdüğü, en çok araştırılan değişkenlerin tutum ve beceriler olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Deneysel ders uygulaması içermeyen STEAM araştırmalarında ise en çok incelenen alanın STEAM eğitimine yönelik tutumlar olduğu tespit edilmiştir. STEAM’in STEM’e benzer biçimde eğilimlerle ilerlediğinden hareketle araştırmacılara yönelik önerilerde bulunmuştur.
Fifth generation (5G) telecommunication systems and human health
Authors:   FSAOU VO «Peoples' Friendship University of Russia», Yargin Sergey Vadimovich
Published: February 2022

Reviews of experimental and epidemiological studies on supposed damaging and carcinogenic effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic waves have been published recently. This review is focused on millimeter waves used in 5G communication systems. The literature on this topic is controversial; some reports are of questionable objectivity. Under these conditions, importance of theoretical argumentation increases. Millimeter waves have low penetration depth being absorbed by the skin and visible mucous membranes. It is concluded in this review that there is no convincing evidence of non-thermal mechanisms of tissue damage under the impact of millimeter waves. Theoretically, there is no reason to expect more damaging or carcinogenic effects from electromagnetic radiation per unit of absorbed energy than from infrared rays. Bias and systematic errors are possible in epidemiological studies. According to conclusions of international organizations, the incidence of brain tumors has generally not reacted to the global spread of mobile communications. The incidence increase in some regions and age groups can be explained by improvements of magnetic resonance and other diagnostic methods. In the recent past, cumulative time of mobile phone use was associated with personal incomes and, correspondingly, with diagnostic quality and frequency of examinations. This bias could explain some correlations between the mobile phone use and incidence of certain diseases. Reliable results can be obtained in animal experiments comparing the average life duration in experimental and control groups. To make results extrapolable to humans, exposure parameters in experiments must be comparable to those associated with professional activities or cell phone use.
Health managers: insurance representatives in medical organizations
Authors:   Insurance Company SOGAZ-Med, Chumenko Nikolay Leonidovich
Published: February 2022

Many citizens are still not sufficiently informed about their rights in the field of obtaining medical care under compulsory medical insurance. The SOGAZ-Med insurance representatives, the employees of the insurance medical organization with special training who represent the interests and provide individual support in the provision of medical care guaranteed by law, will be able to help them.
Anemic cardiomyopathy (changes in the heart muscle in chronic iron deficiency anemia)
Authors:   Department of Internal Diseases, FSBEI of HE «Volgograd State Medical University» of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russia, Skvortsov Vsevolod Vladimirovich , Ponomareva Anastasia Romanovna ,   FSBEI of HE «Volgograd State Medical University» of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russia
Published: February 2022

The anemic heart (cor anemicum), or according to the modern classification of metabolic (anemic) cardiomyopathy, is a complex of clinical and structural-functional changes on the part of the cardiovascular system in patients with iron deficiency anemia. This article deals with etiology, pathogenesis, approaches to diagnosis and therapy of anemic cardiomyopathy.
An Architecture of IoT-Aware Healthcare Smart System by Leveraging Machine Learning
Authors: Aldabbas Hamza , Albashish Dheeb , Khatatneh Khalaf , Amin Rashid
Published: February 2022

In a healthcare environment, Internet of Things (IoT) sensors’ devices are integrated to help patients and Physicians remotely. Physicians interconnect with their patients to monitor their current health situation. However, a considerable number of real-time patient data produced by IoT devices makes healthcare data intensive. It is challenging to mine valuable features from real-time data traffic for efficient recommendations to patients. Thus, an intelligent healthcare system must analyze the real-time health conditions and predict suitable drugs based on the diseases’ symptoms. In this paper, an IoT architectural model for smart health care is proposed. This model utilizes clustering and Machine Learning (ML) techniques to predict suitable drugs for patients. First, Spark is used to manage the collected data on distributed servers. Second, the K-means clustering algorithm is used for disease-based categorization to make groups of the related features. Third, predictor techniques, i.e., Naïve Bayes and random forest, are used to classify suitable drugs for the patients. Two standard Unique Client Identifier (UCI) machine learning datasets have been conducted in the experiments. The first dataset consists of different types of thyroid diseases, while the second dataset contains drugs with recommended medicines. The experimental results depict that the performance, i.e., the accuracy of the proposed model, is superior in predicting the suitable drugs for patients, by which it provides a highly effective delivery healthcare service in IoT. Random Forest correctly classified 99.23% instances while Naive Bayes results are 95.52%.
Applying Deep Convolutional Neural Network (DCNN) Algorithm in the Cloud Autonomous Vehicles Traffic Model
Authors: Ramakrishnan Dhaya , Radhakrishnan Kanthavel
Published: February 2022

Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs) is an inspiring technology that has an immense prospect in minimizing road upsets and accidents, improving quality of life, and progressing the effectiveness of transportation systems. Owing to the advancements in the intelligent transportation system, CAV plays a vital role that can keeping life lively. CAV also offers to use to transportation care in producing societies protected more reasonable. The challenge over CAV applications is a new-fangled to enhance safety and efficiency. Cloud autonomous vehicles rely on a whole range of machine learning and data mining techniques to process all the sensor data. Supervised, Unsupervised, and even reinforcement learning are also being used in the process of creating cloud autonomous vehicles with the aim of error-free ones. At first, specialized algorithms have not been used directly in the cloud autonomous vehicles which need to be trained with various traffic environments. The creation of a traffic model environment to test the cloud autonomous vehicles is the prime motto of this paper. The deep Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) has been proposed under the traffic model to drive in a heavy traffic condition to evaluate the algorithm. This paper aims to research an insightful school of thought in the current challenges being faced in CAVs and the solutions by applying CNN. From the simulation results of the traffic model that has traffic and highway parameters, the CNN algorithm has come up with a 71.8% of error-free prediction.