bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fatty Acids of Semi-Hard Cheese Made from Milk of Goats Fed Diets Enriched with Extruded Linseed or Pumpkin Seed Cake
Authors: Klir Šalavardić Željka , Novoselec Josip , Ronta Mario , Čolović Dušica , Šperanda Marcela , Antunović Zvonko
Published: December 2021

The addition of oilseeds and their cakes to the diets of lactating dairy goats is an alternative to supplemental feeding, which improves the lipid profile of goat cheeses. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a diet containing extruded linseed or pumpkin seed cake on the fatty acid profile of semi-hard cheese made from goat milk. The research was carried out with 28 French Alpine goats fed the following diets: 1—basal diet based on extruded soybean and soybean meal; 2—basal diet with 90 g/kg DM extruded linseed (ELS); and 3—basal diet with 160 g/kg DM pumpkin seed cake (PSC). Bulk milk from three separated milk tanks at three samplings was used for the manufacture of four traditional semi-hard cheeses from each milk tank at each sampling on the family farm. The ELS and PSC diets increased fat content in the cheese. The ELS feeding increased the proportion of C18:1 c9, C18:2 c9t11, and C18:3 n-3 in cheese and lowered C8:0, C6:0, and C16:0, while PSC resulted in the highest C18:2 n-6 proportions in the cheese. The health-promoting index was the highest in the cheese of ELS. The ELS had a contribution to higher nutritional and health quality of semi-hard traditional goat cheeses, thus representing a food with health-promoting properties.
Export Competitiveness of Agri-Food Sector during the EU Integration Process: Evidence from the Western Balkans
Authors: Matkovski Bojan , Zekić Stanislav , Đokić Danilo , Jurjević Žana , Đurić Ivan
Published: December 2021

Trade agreements with the European Union (EU) and Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) significantly influenced the liberalisation of agri-food products in Western Balkan (WB) countries. In all Western Balkan countries, there has been an intensification of the trade of agri-food products and a partial change in the regional and commodity structures of trade. This paper aims to identify comparative advantages of agri-food sectors and consider its tendencies during the EU integration process. Additionally, this paper will discuss some opportunities for improvement of the export positions of agri-food products. In that context and based on the literature review, the indexes of revealed comparative advantages and its modified version will be used as a main method for analysis in this research. Results showed that all Western Balkan countries, except Albania, have comparative advantages in exporting agri-food products. It is evident that Serbia has the highest level of comparative advantages in this sector. Moreover, this paper suggests that all countries should aim to provide the best possible positions for their agri-food products during pre-accession negotiations for EU membership and take the necessary steps towards increasing the level of competitiveness in the common EU market.
Study on Date–Jimbo–Kashiwara–Miwa Equation with Conformable Derivative Dependent on Time Parameter to Find the Exact Dynamic Wave Solutions
Authors: Iqbal Md Ashik , Wang Ye , Miah Md Mamun , Osman Mohamed S.
Published: December 2021

In this article, we construct the exact dynamical wave solutions to the Date–Jimbo–Kashiwara–Miwa equation with conformable derivative by using an efficient and well-established approach, namely: the two-variable G’/G,  1/G-expansion method. The solutions of the Date–Jimbo–Kashiwara–Miwa equation with conformable derivative play a vital role in many scientific occurrences. The regular dynamical wave solutions of the abovementioned equation imply three different fundamental functions, which are the trigonometric function, the hyperbolic function, and the rational function. These solutions are classified graphically into three categories, such as singular periodic solitary, kink soliton, and anti-kink soliton wave solutions. Furthermore, the effect of the fractional parameter on these solutions is discussed through 2D plots.
Overlapping Climate Clubs: Self-Enforcing R&D Networks to Mitigate Global Warming
Authors: Silva Emilson Caputo Delfino , Yamaguchi Chikara
Published: December 2021

Free riding incentives make it difficult to control climate change. To improve the chances of the Paris Agreement’s ambitious goal, many nations are forming scientific networks in carbon capture and storage (CCS). These networks take many forms (bilateral, hub-and-spoke, and multilateral). Studies of social interactions among scientists demonstrate that research networks are limited because of relational issues, such as lack of trust. This paper provides a rationale for the formation of various types of international CCS networks and examines their impacts on climate change. Our concept of stability focuses on Nash equilibria that are immune to coalitional deviations in overlapping networks. Players may belong to various research networks. A particular research network is a climate club. We show that in the absence of top-down coordination in clubs, the type of global network that forms depends on relational attrition. The complex task is to mitigate free riding while enhancing trust.
Novel Solvent–Latex Mixing: Thermal Insulation Performance of Silica Aerogel/Natural Rubber Composite
Authors: Boonrawd Chayanan , Yodyingyong Supan , Benyahia Lazhar , Triampo Darapond
Published: December 2021

In this work, the novel natural rubber latex (NRL) mixing was approached. The mixing process was carried out by using n-hexane as the dispersed phase of silica aerogel which acted as thermal insulation filler prior to NRL mixing. The silica aerogel/NR composites were prepared with different silica aerogel contents of 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 parts per hundred rubber (phr). The morphology of the 40 phr composite showed the NR macropore formation with silica aerogel intercalated layers. The optimal content of silica aerogels and n-hexane were the key to obtaining the NR macropore. The thermal insulation performance of silica aerogel/NR composites was investigated because of their porous structures. The thermal conductivity of the composites were lower than that of the neat NR sheet and decreased from 0.081 to 0.055 W m−1·K−1 with increasing silica aerogel content. The lower densities of the composites than that of the NR sheet were revealed noticeably. In addition, the silica aerogel/NR composites exhibited a higher heat retardant ability than that of the NR sheet, and the comparable glass transition temperatures (Tg) of the composites and the neat NR indicated the maintained flexibility at ambient temperature or higher, which can benefit various temperature applications. The overall results demonstrated that the silica aerogel/NR composites from the novel NRL mixing preparation could be a promising technique to develop the porous materials and be utilised as thermal insulation products and building constructions.
The Effect of Gel-Type Contributions in Lime-Sand Bricks, Alkali-Activated Slags and CEMI/CEMIII Pastes: Implications for Next Generation Concretes
Authors: Rüscher Claus Henning , Lohaus Ludger , Jirasit Fongjan , Tchakouté Hervé Kouamo
Published: December 2021

Lime-sand bricks of different ages were investigated using IR-spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, and X-ray diffraction/scattering. After subtraction of the dominant quartz contribution (80%), the IR spectra show the absorption peaks of the hydrothermally formed binder phases. The spectra also show the alteration of the binder during ageing under atmospheric conditions by the influence of CO2 forming carbonate and a condensed SiO2-gel (secondary gel). The alteration could also be proven in X-ray pattern, obtaining a separation between crystalline CSH and amorphous contributions in the freshly produced lime-sand brick, too. Here, the formation of CSHamorph could be understood as a precursor state (primary gel) to the crystallization of CSH phases. X-ray patterns of aged bodies of alkali-silicate solution activated slags (AAS), CEM-I/CEM-III pastes, and CEM-I concrete indicate that in all cases a similar amorphous CSH-type phase (CSHamorph) was formed, which is responsible for the hardening properties as the glue. The main X-ray peak of CSHamorph obtained using CuKα-radiation with a usual diffractometer is observed between 24° and 35° 2 Theta with maximum at about 29° 2 Theta, whereas it appears much more broadly distributed between 15° and 35° 2 Theta with maximum between 26° and 28° 2 Theta for a geopolymer body prepared using the reaction of alkali-silicate solution and metakaolin (AAMK). This is due to the network formed by siloxo and sialate units in the case of AAMK, given that any crystallization can be ruled out. The origin of increasing mechanical strength during the ageing of AAS mortars must be due to further crosslinking of the preformed siloxo chains. Thermal treatment up to 800 °C leads to a complete loss of any mechanical strength of the CEM pastes due to the destruction of crystalline CSH-phases, whereas geopolymer bodies maintain their strength. Implications for next generation concrete include that cement clinker could be completely replaced by using a using alkali silcate solution technology for gel formation.
Who Packed the Drugs? Application of Bayesian Networks to Address Questions of DNA Transfer, Persistence, and Recovery from Plastic Bags and Tape
Authors: Fonneløp Ane Elida , Faria Sara , Shanthan Gnanagowry , Gill Peter
Published: December 2021

When DNA from a suspect is detected in a sample collected at a crime scene, there can be alternative explanations about the activity that may have led to the transfer, persistence and recovery of his/her DNA. Previous studies have shown that DNA can be indirectly transferred via intermediate surfaces and that DNA on a previously used object can persist after subsequent use of another individual. In addition, it has been shown that a person’s shedder status may influence transfer, persistence, prevalence, and recovery of DNA. In this study we have investigated transfer persistence and recovery on zip-lock bags and tape, which are commonly encountered in drug cases and how the shedder status of the participants influenced the results. A probabilistic framework was developed which was based on a previously described Bayesian network with case-specific modifications. Continuous modelling of data was used to inform the Bayesian networks and two case scenarios were investigated. In the specific scenarios only moderate to low support for Hp was obtained. Applying a continuous model based on the profile quality can change the LRs.
Identification of the Key Genes Associated with the Yak Hair Follicle Cycle
Authors: Zhang Xiaolan , Bao Pengjia , Ye Na , Zhou Xuelan , Zhang Yongfeng , Liang Chunnian , Guo Xian , Chu Min , Pei Jie , Yan Ping
Published: December 2021

The development of hair follicles in yak shows significant seasonal cycles. In our previous research, transcriptome data including mRNAs and lncRNAs in five stages during the yak hair follicles (HFs) cycle were detected, but their regulation network and the hub genes in different periods are yet to be explored. This study aimed to screen and identify the hub genes during yak HFs cycle by constructing a mRNA-lncRNA co-expression network. A total of 5000 differently expressed mRNA (DEMs) and 729 differently expressed long noncoding RNA (DELs) were used to construct the co-expression network, based on weighted genes co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Four temporally specific modules were considered to be significantly associated with the HFs cycle of yak. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed that the modules are enriched into Wnt, EMC-receptor interaction, PI3K-Akt, focal adhesion pathways, and so on. The hub genes, such as FER, ELMO1, PCOLCE, and HOXC13, were screened in different modules. Five hub genes (WNT5A, HOXC13, DLX3, FOXN1, and OVOL1) and part of key lncRNAs were identified for specific expression in skin tissue. Furthermore, immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting results showed that the expression location and abundance of DLX3 and OVOL1 are changed following the process of the HFs cycle, which further demonstrated that these two hub genes may play important roles in HFs development.
Diagnostic Yield and Economic Implications of Whole-Exome Sequencing for ASD Diagnosis in Israel
Authors: Tal-Ben Ishay Rotem , Shil Apurba , Solomon Shirley , Sadigurschi Noa , Abu-Kaf Hadeel , Meiri Gal , Flusser Hagit , Michaelovski Analya , Dinstein Ilan , Golan Hava , Davidovitch Nadav , Menashe Idan
Published: December 2021

Whole-exome sequencing (WES) is an effective approach to identify the susceptibility of genetic variants of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The Israel Ministry of Health supports WES as an adjunct tool for ASD diagnosis, despite its unclear diagnostic yield and cost effectiveness. To address this knowledge gap, we applied WES to a population-based sample of 182 Bedouin and Jewish children with ASD from southern Israel, and assessed its yield in a gene panel of 205 genes robustly associated with ASD. We then compared the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) for an ASD diagnosis by WES, chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA), and CMA + WES. Overall, 32 ASD candidate variants were detected in 28 children, corresponding to an overall WES diagnostic yield of 15.4%. Interestingly, the diagnostic yield was significantly higher for the Bedouin children than for the Jewish children, i.e., 27.6% vs. 11.1% (p = 0.036). The most cost-effective means for genetic testing was the CMA alone, followed closely by the CMA + WES strategy (ICER = USD 117 and USD 124.8 per child). Yet, WES alone could become more cost effective than the other two approaches if there was to be a 25% increase in its yield or a 50% decrease in its cost. These findings suggest that WES should be recommended to facilitate ASD diagnosis in Israel, especially for highly consanguineous populations, such as the Bedouin.
Maintaining Effective Beta Cell Function in the Face of Metabolic Syndrome-Associated Glucolipotoxicity—Nutraceutical Options
Authors: McCarty Mark F. , DiNicolantonio James J.
Published: December 2021

In people with metabolic syndrome, episodic exposure of pancreatic beta cells to elevated levels of both glucose and free fatty acids (FFAs)—or glucolipotoxicity—can induce a loss of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). This in turn can lead to a chronic state of glucolipotoxicity and a sustained loss of GSIS, ushering in type 2 diabetes. Loss of GSIS reflects a decline in beta cell glucokinase (GK) expression associated with decreased nuclear levels of the pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 (PDX1) factor that drives its transcription, along with that of Glut2 and insulin. Glucolipotoxicity-induced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), stemming from both mitochondria and the NOX2 isoform of NADPH oxidase, drives an increase in c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activity that promotes nuclear export of PDX1, and impairs autocrine insulin signaling; the latter effect decreases PDX1 expression at the transcriptional level and up-regulates beta cell apoptosis. Conversely, the incretin hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) promotes nuclear import of PDX1 via cAMP signaling. Nutraceuticals that quell an increase in beta cell ROS production, that amplify or mimic autocrine insulin signaling, or that boost GLP-1 production, should help to maintain GSIS and suppress beta cell apoptosis in the face of glucolipotoxicity, postponing or preventing onset of type 2 diabetes. Nutraceuticals with potential in this regard include the following: phycocyanobilin—an inhibitor of NOX2; agents promoting mitophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis, such as ferulic acid, lipoic acid, melatonin, berberine, and astaxanthin; myo-inositol and high-dose biotin, which promote phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt activation; and prebiotics/probiotics capable of boosting GLP-1 secretion. Complex supplements or functional foods providing a selection of these agents might be useful for diabetes prevention.
Motives for the Use or Not of Protective Equipment for the Recreational Practice of Skiing and Snowboarding in Spanish Winter Stations
Authors: Mecías-Calvo Marcos , Lago-Fuentes Carlos , Muñoz-Pérez Iker , Picabea-Arburu Jon Mikel , Velarde-Sotres Álvaro , Aparicio-Obregón Silvia , Navarro-Patón Rubén
Published: December 2021

The objective of this research was to analyze the motives for using or not using protections by recreational ski and snowboard athletes, specifically regarding gender and age in the winter resorts of Sierra Nevada and Alto Campoo (Spain). A total of 520 users participated in Sierra Nevada (n = 306 (58,8%)) and Alto Campoo (n = 214 (42.2%)); 257 of them were men (49.4%) and 263 (50.6%) were women; from 6 to 50 years old; classified by 4 stages of development (Childhood (n = 106 (20.4%); Teenagers (n = 110 (21.2%); Young adults (n = 101 (19.4%); Adults (n = 203 (39.0%)). For the data collection an ad hoc questionnaire was used (socio-demographic data, use/no use of protection, motives for the use). The data revealed that 76.5% used protections equipment, with the women being more likely to use protective equipment than men. Regarding age, young adults and adults were the ones using less protection. In relation to the motives of using protective equipment, security was the main motive for using it, while the reason to avoid using it was, most of the time, discomfort. Additionally, the childhood and teenager groups were the ones who reported, as motivation, family obligation, showing the importance of the influence of the parents.
Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Genes Respond to Chlorophyll Deficiency in Green and Yellow Leaves of Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat
Authors: Shao Gang , Liu Rui , Qian Ziyan , Zhang Hua , Hu Qian , Zhu Yuqing , Chen Sumei , Chen Fadi , Jiang Jiafu , Wang Likai
Published: December 2021

Chlorophyll is vital for photosynthesis to produce sugars and other useful biochemical products in green plants. However, the molecular effects of chlorophyll deficiency in Chrysanthemum are largely unknown. In this study, we identified a bud sport mutant chrysanthemum belonging to the variety ‘Nannong Binyun’, which has yellow branches. Plant physiological studies have shown that the yellow color is revealed due to chlorophyll loss. RNA extracts of yellow and green tissues were analyzed using high-throughput RNA-sequencing, and a total of 11,649 tissue enriched unigenes that respond to chlorophyll deficiency were identified, including 4803 unigenes upregulated in yellow tissues and 6846 unigenes in green tissues. GO analysis revealed that these tissue-enriched genes may involve in the physiological processes of chlorophyll accumulation and photosynthesis. In addition, many DEGs from the families of AP2-EREBP, bHLH, MYB, and FAR1 that are associated with plant development and stress response were detected. Our study found that most of the genes from the GRAS family were downregulated in yellow leaves, indicating their putative roles in stem cell maintenance and possible contribution to leaf size determination.
SNPs Associated with Foliar Phylloxera Tolerance in Hybrid Grape Populations Carrying Introgression from Muscadinia
Authors: Vasylyk Irina , Gorislavets Svetlana , Matveikina Elena , Lushchay Ekaterina , Lytkin Kirill , Grigoreva Elizaveta , Karzhaev Dmitry , Volkov Vladimir , Volodin Vitalii , Spotar Gennady , Risovannaya Valentina , Likhovskoi Vladimir , Volynkin Vladimir , Potokina Elena
Published: December 2021

Leaf-feeding phylloxera decreases the photosynthetic activity of a grape plant, leading to decreasing number of fruit buds. In addition, phylloxera larvae emerging from the leaf galls may colonize the roots, negatively affecting the growth of the grape plant. In this study, we evaluated host tolerance of three grapevine hybrid populations obtained from crossing of the same maternal grapevine M. no. 31-77-10 with interspecific hybrids carrying introgressions from Muscadinia and other North American Vitis species against leaf-feeding grape phylloxera. Combining genotyping data of the populations obtained with 12,734 SNPs and their resistance phenotypes evaluated in the laboratory experiment, we performed an association study. As the result of GWAS, nine SNPs with the lowest significant p-values were discovered in the whole sample of 139 hybrids as associated with variation of the scores ‘the percentage of infested leaves’ and ‘intensity of gall formation’. Three of the SNPs on LG 7 were located in the same chromosome interval where a major QTL (RDV6) for root phylloxera resistance was reported from Muscadine background. Two SNPs on LG 8 were detected within the gene, encoding E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase UPL4 involved in apoptosis. SNPs detected on LG 13 and LG 18 may overlap with the previously reported QTLs for phylloxera resistance inherited from V. cinerea.
Spatiotemporal Trend Analysis of Temperature and Rainfall over Ziway Lake Basin, Ethiopia
Authors: Hordofa Aster Tesfaye , Leta Olkeba Tolessa , Alamirew Tane , Chukalla Abebe Demissie
Published: December 2021

Rainfall and temperature trends detection is vital for water resources management and decision support systems in agro-hydrology. This study assessed the historical (1983–2005) and future (2026–2100) rainfall, maximum temperature (Tmax), and minimum temperature (Tmin) trends of the Ziway Lake Basin (Ethiopia). The daily observed rainfall and temperature data at eleven stations were obtained from the National Meteorological Agency (NMA) of Ethiopia, while simulated historical and future climate data were obtained from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 5 (CMIP5) datasets under Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) of 4.5 and 8.5. The CMIP5 datasets were statistically downscaled by using the climate model data for hydrologic modeling (CMhyd) tool and bias corrected using the distribution mapping method available in the CMhyd tool. The performance of simulated rainfall, Tmax, and Tmin of the CMIP5 models were statistically evaluated using observation datasets at eleven stations. The results showed that the selected CMIP5 models can reasonably simulate the monthly rainfall, Tmax, and Tmin at the majority of the stations. Modified Mann–Kendall trend test were applied to estimate the trends of annual rainfall, Tmax, and Tmin in the historical and future periods. We found that rainfall experienced no clear trends, while Tmax, and Tmin showed consistently significant increasing trends under both RCP 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios. However, the warming is expected to be greater under RCP 8.5 than RCP 4.5 by the end of the 21st century, resulting in an increasing trend of Tmax and Tmin at all stations. The greatest warming occurred in the central part of the basin, with statistically significant increases largely seen by the end of the 21st century, which is expected to exacerbate the evapotranspiration demand of the area that could negatively affect the freshwater availability within the basin. This study increases our understanding of historic trends and projected future change effects on rainfall- and evapotranspiration-related climate variables, which can be used to inform adaptive water resource management strategies.
The Role of Ownership Structure and Board Characteristics in Stock Market Liquidity
Authors: Abbassi Wajih , Hunjra Ahmed Imran , Alawi Suha Mahmoud , Mehmood Rashid
Published: December 2021

Corporate governance plays a significant role in the value of shareholders and share prices, hence stock market liquidity is affected. Previous research has mainly focused on the issue in developed markets, whereas in developing countries there is a need to analyze the influence of corporate governance on stock market liquidity. Therefore, the present study aims to examine the impact of ownership structure and board characteristics on stock market liquidity of non-financial firms of South Asian countries such as Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and India. The data in the study is collected from the DataStream for the 2011–2020 period. The study uses a fixed effect model for the analysis of the data and hypotheses testing and generalized method of moments (GMM) is used to check the robustness of the results. The findings of the study indicate that institutional ownership, board size, board independence, and CEO duality have a significant and positive impact on stock market liquidity, whereas managerial ownership has a significant and negative effect on stock market liquidity.
Developing Evaluation Framework for Intelligent Transport System on Public Transportation in Bangkok Metropolitan Regions Using Fuzzy AHP
Authors: Choosakun Aoonrot , Yeom Chunho
Published: December 2021

Public transportation has been encouraged as a significant solution to overcome traffic congestion. An advanced technology, known as advanced public transport system (APTS), was introduced to enhance the effectiveness of public transportation. To support appropriate decisions on selecting application development, significant indicators representing the impacts of the proposed projects are highlighted. This study aims to determine the desirable indicators of developing APTS to achieve smart mobility using the fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (fuzzy AHP) method and allocating weights to each indicator. The perception of a group of intelligent transport system (ITS) experts from three sectors in the Bangkok Metropolitan Regions (BMR) was examined to conduct a fuzzy AHP pairwise comparison. The ranking of 21 indicators categorized within six dimensions in accordance with the specific ITS master plan relating to APTS development is presented. The result presented that the safety dimension obtained the highest rank, and the three most important weight indicators are traffic accident reduction relating to public transportation, smart public transport network density and waiting time for public transportation. In addition, the perspectives towards APTS development and assessment framework development in BMR is highlighted to revise impediment of regulation and encourage integration among stakeholders. Then, the approaches of the APTS evaluation framework in BMR are proposed.
Waste-to-Reuse Foam Glasses Produced from Soda-Lime-Silicate Glass, Cathode Ray Tube Glass, and Aluminium Dross
Authors: Sassi Meriem , Simon Andrea
Published: December 2021

Aluminium dross is a hazardous industrial waste generated during aluminium production. It contains metallic oxides of aluminium and magnesium, other phases (aluminum nitride), and residues of fluxes and salts from the melting process of aluminium. Discarding this by-product is considered an environmental and economic challenge due to the high reactivity of dross with water or even air humidity. After removing the hazardous components from the as-received dross, one of the optional approaches is to incorporate the treated dross into construction materials. Dross is applied in several types of research as a secondary raw material source for alumina, clinker, cement or glass-ceramic production, but only a few papers focus on the usage of dross as a foaming agent for foams. Even fewer research are reported where dross was applied as a basic component of foam glasses. In this work, foam glasses were produced completely from waste materials: Aluminium dross, container (SLS) glass, and cathode ray tube (CRT) glass. The research holds several specificities, i.e., combining two industrial waste materials (CRT glass and dross), and adding an increased amount from the wastes. The physical and mechanical characteristics were examined with a special focus on the effect of the foam glass components on the microstructure, density, thermal conductivity, and compressive strength.
Just a Fragment of Undescribed Diversity: Twenty New Oriental and Palearctic Species of Sciaroidea (Diptera), including DNA Sequence Data and Two New Fossil Genera
Authors: Ševčík Jan , Hippa Heikki , Burdíková Nikola
Published: December 2021

The following 17 extant new species of Sciaroidea (Diptera: Bibionomorpha) are described: Bolitophila nikolae Ševčík sp. nov. (Bolitophilidae, Taiwan), Catocha jingfui sp. nov. (Cecidomyiidae, Taiwan), Catocha manmiaoe sp. nov. (Cecidomyiidae, Taiwan), Catocha shengfengi sp. nov. (Cecidomyiidae, Taiwan), Planetella taiwanensis sp. nov. (Cecidomyiidae, Taiwan), Diadocidia pseudospinusola sp. nov. (Diadocidiidae, Taiwan), Asioditomyia bruneicola sp. nov. (Ditomyiidae, Brunei), Asioditomyia lacii sp. nov. (Ditomyiidae, Taiwan), Ditomyia asiatica sp. nov. (Ditomyiidae, Thailand), Chetoneura davidi sp. nov. (Keroplatidae, Brunei), Euceroplatus mantici sp. nov. (Keroplatidae, Thailand), Setostylus fangshuoi sp. nov. (Keroplatidae, Taiwan), Platyceridion yunfui sp. nov. (Keroplatidae, Hainan), Terocelion adami sp. nov. (Keroplatidae, Taiwan), Hadroneura martini sp. nov. (Mycetophilidae, Taiwan), Paratinia furcata sp. nov. (Mycetophilidae, Czech Republic, Slovakia), and Nepaletricha sikorai sp. nov. (Sciaroidea incertae sedis, Thailand). Two new genera are described from the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber, Burmasymmerus gen. nov. (Ditomyiidae, type species Burmasymmerus korneliae sp. nov., including also B. wieslawi sp. nov.), representing the first record of the family Ditomyiidae from the Mesozoic, and Burmatricha gen. nov. (Sciaroidea incertae sedis, type species Burmatricha mesozoica sp. nov.). Molecular phylogeny of Ditomyiidae, based on two DNA markers (28S, COI), as well as that of Catocha Haliday, 1833, based on the mitochondrial COI and 16S fragments, are also presented.
Habituation to a Deterrent Plant Alkaloid Develops Faster in the Specialist Herbivore Helicoverpa assulta Than in Its Generalist Congener Helicoverpa armigera and Coincides with Taste Neuron Desensitisation
Authors: Zhou Dong-Sheng , Wang Chen-Zhu , van Loon Joop J. A.
Published: December 2021

The two closely related moth species, Helicoverpa armigera and H. assulta differ strongly in their degree of host-plant specialism. In dual-choice leaf disk assays, caterpillars of the two species that had been reared on standard artificial diet were strongly deterred by the plant-derived alkaloid strychnine. However, caterpillars of both species reared on artificial diet containing strychnine from neonate to the 5th instar were insensitive to this compound. Fifth instar caterpillars of H. assulta and 4th or 5th instars of H. armigera not exposed to strychnine before were subjected to strychnine-containing diet for 24 h, 36 h, 48 h, or 72 h. Whereas H. assulta displayed habituation to strychnine after 48 h, it took until 72 h for H. armigera to become habituated. Electrophysiological tests revealed that a deterrent-sensitive neuron in the medial sensillum styloconicum of both species displayed significantly reduced sensitivity to strychnine that correlated with the onset of habituation. We conclude that the specialist H. assulta habituated faster to strychnine than the generalist H. armigera and hypothesis that desensitization of deterrent-sensitive neurons contributed to habituation.
A High-Resolution Numerical Model of the North Aegean Sea Aimed at Climatological Studies
Authors: Mamoutos Ioannis G. , Potiris Emmanuel , Tragou Elina , Zervakis Vassilis , Petalas Stamatios
Published: December 2021

A new, high-resolution model for the northern part of the Aegean Sea, aimed primarily at climatological research (relaxation and data assimilation-free climate simulations), is hereby presented, along with the results of a 28-year-long simulation covering the period from 1986 to 2013. The model applied is the Regional Ocean Modelling System (ROMS). A significant improvement over previous models of the Aegean introduced in this work is the replacement of parameterizations of the Dardanelles exchange by a fully three-dimensional simulation of the flow in the Strait. The incorporation of part of the Marmara Sea in the model domain enables the interaction with other regional climate simulations, thus allowing climatic variability of the exchange of the Mediterranean and Black Seas. An extensive validation is carried out comparing the model output with all the available observations from several different platforms, i.e., satellite sea surface temperature and height, T/S profiles from R/V ships, and HF radar surface currents velocity. We focus on the model’s ability to reproduce, to some extent, the distinct thermohaline features and circulation patterns that characterize this specific area of the Mediterranean Sea. Our findings, after comparing simulation results with all the available observations, revealed the model’s sufficiency to simulate very adequately the complex hydrology of the North Aegean Sea, and the model’s ability to reproduce incidents of deep-water formation that took place in the region in previous decades during the Eastern Mediterranean Transient (EMT).
Overcome Double Trouble: Baloxavir Marboxil Suppresses Influenza Thereby Mitigating Secondary Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis
Authors: Seldeslachts Laura , Jacobs Cato , Tielemans Birger , Vanhoffelen Eliane , Van der Sloten Lauren , Humblet-Baron Stephanie , Naesens Lieve , Lagrou Katrien , Verbeken Erik , Wauters Joost , Vande Velde Greetje
Published: December 2021

Influenza-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (IAPA) is a global recognized superinfection in critically ill influenza patients. Baloxavir marboxil, a cap-dependent endonuclease inhibitor, is a newly approved anti-influenza therapeutic. Although the benefits as a treatment for influenza are clear, its efficacy against an influenza-A. fumigatus co-infection has yet to be determined. We investigated the therapeutic effect of baloxavir marboxil in a murine model for IAPA. Immunocompetent mice received intranasal instillation of influenza A followed by orotracheal inoculation with Aspergillus fumigatus 4 days later. Administration of baloxavir marboxil or sham was started at day 0, day 2 or day 4. Mice were monitored daily for overall health status, lung pathology with micro-computed tomography (µCT) and fungal burden with bioluminescence imaging (BLI). In vivo imaging was supplemented with virological, mycological and biochemical endpoint investigations. We observed an improved body weight, survival and viral clearance in baloxavir marboxil treated mice. µCT showed less pulmonary lesions and bronchial dilation after influenza and after Aspergillus co-infection in a treatment-dependent pattern. Furthermore, baloxavir marboxil was associated with effective inhibition of fungal invasion. Hence, our results provide evidence that baloxavir marboxil mitigates severe influenza thereby decreasing the susceptibility to a lethal invasive Aspergillus superinfection.
Exchange Rate Forecasting with Advanced Machine Learning Methods
Authors: Pfahler Jonathan Felix
Published: December 2021

Historically, exchange rate forecasting models have exhibited poor out-of-sample performances and were inferior to the random walk model. Monthly panel data from 1973 to 2014 for ten currency pairs of OECD countries are used to make out-of sample forecasts with artificial neural networks and XGBoost models. Most approaches show significant and substantial predictive power in directional forecasts. Moreover, the evidence suggests that information regarding prediction timing is a key component in the forecasting performance.
The Influence of Land Use Evolution on the Visitor Economy in Wuhan from the Perspective of Ecological Service Value
Authors: Chen Qiao , Mao Yan , Morrison Alastair M.
Published: December 2021

This research used transfer matrix, dynamic attitude, and a linear regression model to investigate the characteristics of land-use change and evolution of ecological service values and their impacts on Wuhan’s visitor economy. The results showed that: (1) the land-use scale in the Wuhan metropolitan area changed significantly from 1990 to 2018. The area of arable land, forest land, and grassland decreased at a faster rate, whereas that of water and construction land continued to increase; (2) there were differences in the dynamic attitudes of land-use at different stages. The dynamic attitude of construction land-use changed the most with cultivated land, water area, forest land, unused land, and grassland. From 1990 to 2005, land-use change exhibited a relatively gentle trend, whereas from 2005 to 2020, it accelerated; (3) although land-use regulation service, support service, and cultural service values positively responded to tourism economic growth, their influences were dissimilar. This study clarifies the effects of urban land-use on tourism economic development and provides a reference for its effective control.
Dimethyl 2-(2,4-Diamino-3-cyano-5H-chromeno[2,3-b]pyridin-5-yl)malonate
Authors: Ryzhkova Yuliya E. , Maslov Oleg I. , Elinson Michail N.
Published: December 2021

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is widely used as a solvent in organic synthesis and in pharmacology because of its low cost, stability, and non-toxicity. Multicomponent reactions are a powerful synthetic tool for the rapid and efficient construction of complicated molecular frameworks. In this communication, the multicomponent transformation of salicylaldehyde, malononitrile dimer, and dimethyl malonate in DMSO at room temperature was carefully investigated to give dimethyl 2-(2,4-diamino-3-cyano-5H-chromeno[2,3-b]pyridin-5-yl)malonate with good yield. The structure of the new compound was established by means of elemental analysis and mass, nuclear magnetic resonance, and infrared spectroscopy.
Simulation Analysis of Arc Interruption Characteristics in Disconnector
Authors: Yin Jianning , Yu Shanshan , Ge Shiwei , Liu Xinghua , Liu Chao
Published: December 2021

Wind and solar energy are examples of clean energy that are widely developed and utilized in order to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality. Higher requirements for the safety and reliability of the power grid are put forward after they are connected to it. In the case of disconnectors, as the power system’s protection equipment, their arc interruption characteristics are closely tied to the safety and reliability of the power system. In addition, a disconnector is required to be able to break the DC arc in the photovoltaic power generation system. Therefore, this paper focuses on the arc evolution characteristics in disconnectors. A magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) model of disconnectors was built. In this model, not only are the coupling of the electromagnetic field and the airflow field considered, but also the characteristics of the external circuit. Therefore, not only can arc evolution characteristics be obtained through this simulation model, but the breaking performance will also be directly obtained. The temperature, pressure and velocity distribution are obtained to analyze the evolution process. The curve of current versus time is calculated to analyze the breaking performance. The evolution characteristics of AC and DC arcs in the disconnector are analyzed by calculation and comparison. This provides theoretical guidance for the optimal design of DC disconnectors through simulation analysis.
An Uneven Chain-like Ferromagnetic Copper(II) Coordination Polymer Displaying Metamagnetic Behavior and Long-Range Magnetic Ordering
Authors: Liu Cai-Ming , Song You
Published: December 2021

Ferromagnetic coupling exists in an uneven chain-like copper(II) complex with both end-on azido and syn-syn carboxylato bridges, (Cu3(L)2(N3)4(H2O)3)n (1, HL = 6-hydroxynicotinic acid). It is the first example of one-dimensional (1D) chain-like copper(II) coordination polymer showing both metamagnetic behavior and long-range magnetic ordering (Tc = 6.7 K), thanks to the interchain hydrogen bonds, which make a three-dimensional (3D) supramolecular array of the entire molecular structure and mediate the interchain antiferromagnetic interaction.
CL-Net: ConvLSTM-Based Hybrid Architecture for Batteries’ State of Health and Power Consumption Forecasting
Authors: Khan Noman , Haq Ijaz Ul , Ullah Fath U Min , Khan Samee Ullah , Lee Mi Young
Published: December 2021

Traditional power generating technologies rely on fossil fuels, which contribute to worldwide environmental issues such as global warming and climate change. As a result, renewable energy sources (RESs) are used for power generation where battery energy storage systems (BESSs) are widely used to store electrical energy for backup, match power consumption and generation during peak hours, and promote energy efficiency in a pollution-free environment. Accurate battery state of health (SOH) prediction is critical because it plays a key role in ensuring battery safety, lowering maintenance costs, and reducing BESS inconsistencies. The precise power consumption forecasting is critical for preventing power shortage and oversupply, and the complicated physicochemical features of batteries dilapidation cannot be directly acquired. Therefore, in this paper, a novel hybrid architecture called ‘CL-Net’ based on convolutional long short-term memory (ConvLSTM) and long short-term memory (LSTM) is proposed for multi-step SOH and power consumption forecasting. First, battery SOH and power consumption-related raw data are collected and passed through a preprocessing step for data cleansing. Second, the processed data are fed into ConvLSTM layers, which extract spatiotemporal features and form their encoded maps. Third, LSTM layers are used to decode the encoded features and pass them to fully connected layers for final multi-step forecasting. Finally, a comprehensive ablation study is conducted on several combinations of sequential learning models using three different time series datasets, i.e., national aeronautics and space administration (NASA) battery, individual household electric power consumption (IHEPC), and domestic energy management system (DEMS). The proposed CL-Net architecture reduces root mean squared error (RMSE) up to 0.13 and 0.0052 on the NASA battery and IHEPC datasets, respectively, compared to the state-of-the-arts. These experimental results show that the proposed architecture can provide robust and accurate SOH and power consumption forecasting compared to the state-of-the-art.
Solution of Mixed-Integer Optimization Problems in Bioinformatics with Differential Evolution Method
Authors: Salihov Sergey , Maltsov Dmitriy , Samsonova Maria , Kozlov Konstantin
Published: December 2021

The solution of the so-called mixed-integer optimization problem is an important challenge for modern life sciences. A wide range of methods has been developed for its solution, including metaheuristics approaches. Here, a modification is proposed of the differential evolution entirely parallel (DEEP) method introduced recently that was successfully applied to mixed-integer optimization problems. The triangulation recombination rule was implemented and the recombination coefficients were included in the evolution process in order to increase the robustness of the optimization. The deduplication step included in the procedure ensures the uniqueness of individual integer-valued parameters in the solution vectors. The developed algorithms were implemented in the DEEP software package and applied to three bioinformatic problems. The application of the method to the optimization of predictors set in the genomic selection model in wheat resulted in dimensionality reduction such that the phenotype can be predicted with acceptable accuracy using a selected subset of SNP markers. The method was also successfully used to optimize the training set of samples for such a genomic selection model. According to the obtained results, the developed algorithm was capable of constructing a non-linear phenomenological regression model of gene expression in developing a Drosophila eye with almost the same average accuracy but significantly less standard deviation than the linear models obtained earlier.
Modelling Metabolic Shifts during Cardiomyocyte Differentiation, Iron Deficiency and Transferrin Rescue Using Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
Authors: Johnson Benjamin B. , Reinhold Johannes , Holmes Terri L. , Moore Jamie A. , Cowell Verity , Bernardo Andreia S. , Rushworth Stuart A. , Vassiliou Vassilios , Smith James G. W.
Published: December 2021

Cardiomyocytes rely on specialised metabolism to meet the high energy demand of the heart. During heart development, metabolism matures and shifts from the predominant utilisation of glycolysis and glutamine oxidation towards lactate and fatty acid oxidation. Iron deficiency (ID) leads to cellular metabolism perturbations. However, the exact alterations in substrate metabolism during ID are poorly defined. Using human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CM), the present study investigated changes in major metabolic substrate utilisation in the context of ID or upon transferrin rescue. Typically, during hiPSC-CM differentiation, the greatest increase in total metabolic output and rate was seen in fatty acid metabolism. When ID was induced, hiPSC-CMs displayed increased reliance on glycolytic metabolism, and six TCA cycle, five amino acid, and four fatty acid substrates were significantly impaired. Transferrin rescue was able to improve TCA cycle substrate metabolism, but the amino acid and fatty acid metabolism remained perturbed. Replenishing iron stores partially reverses the adverse metabolic changes that occur during ID. Understanding the changes in metabolic substrate utilisation and their modification may provide potential for discovery of new biomarkers and therapeutic targets in cardiovascular diseases.
Genital Chlamydia trachomatis Seroprevalence and Uterine Fibroid Development: Cohort Study of Young African-American Women
Authors: Moore Kristen , Baird Donna
Published: December 2021

Few studies have investigated the 1930s hypothesis that reproductive tract infections are risk factors for fibroid development. In our 2017 cross-sectional analysis from the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids (2010–2018), a large Detroit community-based cohort of 23–35 year-old African-American women with ultrasound fibroid screening, we found an inverse association between seropositivity for genital Chlamydia trachomatis (gCT) infection and fibroids. With prospective data from the cohort (standardized ultrasounds every 20 months over 5 years), we examined gCT’s associations with fibroid incidence (among 1158 women fibroid-free at baseline) and growth. We computed adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for incidence by gCT serostatus using Cox proportional hazards models. GCT’s influence on growth was assessed by estimating the difference between fibroid size change for seropositive vs. seronegative between successive ultrasounds (1254 growth measures) using a linear mixed model. Growth was scaled to change over 18 months. GCT seropositivity was not associated with fibroid incidence (aHR, 1.0 95% CI: 0.79, 1.29) or growth (4.4%, 95% CI: −5.02, 14.64). The current evidence based on both biomarker gCT data, which can capture the common undiagnosed infections, and prospective ultrasound data for fibroids suggests that Chlamydia is unlikely to increase fibroid risk.
Liquid-Liquid Extraction of Ferric Ions into the Ionic Liquids
Authors: Cubova Katerina , Semelova Miroslava , Nemec Mojmir , Benes Vit
Published: December 2021

Imidazolium ionic liquids containing acetylacetone, thenoyltrifluoroacetone, or 8-hydroxyquinoline, respectively, were used as the extracting agents for the separation of traces of iron (III) from its aqueous solutions with or without citric and oxalic acids. The results show that 8-hydroxyquinoline in imidazolium ionic liquids extract iron quantitatively from all the tested solutions including complexing ones, regardless of indications of unexpected iron behavior/speciation.