bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fluctuating Rainfall, Persistent Food Crisis—Use of Rainfall Data in the Kenyan Drought Early Warning System
Authors: Sandström Sofie , Juhola Sirkku , Räsänen Aleksi
Published: December 2020

Early warning systems (EWSs) have been developed to trigger timely action to disasters, yet persistent humanitarian crises resulting from hazards such as drought indicate that these systems need improvements. We focus our research on the county of Turkana in Kenya, where drought repeatedly results in humanitarian crises, especially with regard to food insecurity. Focusing on the key elements of the Kenyan EWS, we ask two questions: firstly, what indicators, especially meteorological drought indicators, are used in the national biannual assessments conducted by the Kenyan National Drought Management Authority and monthly drought bulletins for Turkana? Secondly, are there differences in the methodology used for analysis of meteorological indicators in the different documents? Firstly, by utilizing a food systems framework, we conduct qualitative content analysis of the use of indicators in the documents; secondly, we analyze rainfall data and its use. The EWS relies primarily on food availability indicators, with less focus for food access and utilization. The biannual assessments and the country bulletins use different sets of rainfall data and different methodologies for establishing the climate normal, leading to discrepancies in the output of the EWS. We recommend further steps to be taken towards standardization of methodologies and cooperation between various institutions to ensure streamlining of approaches.
Special Issue Editorial: Biomonitoring of Atmospheric Pollution
Authors: Spagnuolo Valeria , Capozzi Fiore
Published: December 2020

Despite the introduction of cleaning technologies in industry, energy production and transport, air pollution remains a major health risk; nonetheless, achieving a good air quality is a necessity for human health and ecosystems [...]
HCAR Is a Limitation Factor for Chlorophyll Cycle and Chlorophyll b Degradation in Chlorophyll-b-Overproducing Plants
Authors: Zhao Xuan , Jia Ting , Hu Xueyun
Published: December 2020

The chlorophyll (Chl) cycle is the metabolic pathway for Chl a and Chl b inter-conversion. In this pathway, Chl b is synthesized from Chl a by the catalyzing action of chlorophyllide a oxygenase (CAO). In contrast, Chl b is firstly reduced to produce 7-hydroxymethyl Chl (HMChl) a, which is catalyzed by two isozymes of Chl b reductase (CBR), non-yellow coloring 1 (NYC1) and NYC1-like (NOL). Subsequently, HMChl a is reduced to Chl a by HMChl a reductase (HCAR). CAO plays a pivotal role in Chl a/b ratio regulation and plants over-accumulate Chl b in CAO-overexpressing plants. NYC1 is more accumulated in Chl-b-overproducing plants, while HCAR is not changed. To investigate the role of HCAR in Chl cycle regulation, the Chl metabolites of Chl-b-overproducing plants were analyzed. The results showed that HMChl a accumulated in these plants, and it decreased and the Chl a/b ratio increased by overexpressing HCAR, implying HCAR is insufficient for Chl cycle in Chl-b-overproducing plants. Furthermore, during dark-induced senescence, the non-programmed cell death symptoms (leaves dehydrated with green color retained) of Chl-b-overproducing plants were obviously alleviated, and the content of HM pheophorbide (HMPheide) a and Pheide b were sharply decreased by overexpressing HCAR. These results imply that HCAR is also insufficient for Chl degradation in Chl-b-overproducing plants during senescence, thus causing the accumulation of Chl metabolites and non-programmed cell death of leaves. With these results taken together, we conclude that HCAR is not well regulated and it is a limiting factor for Chl cycle and Chl b degradation in Chl-b-overproducing plants.
Evaluation of Naringenin as a Promising Treatment Option for COPD Based on Literature Review and Network Pharmacology
Authors: Chen Zhen , Chen Pan , Wu Hao , Shi Rui , Su Weiwei , Wang Yonggang , Li Peibo
Published: December 2020

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by incompletely reversible airflow limitation and seriously threatens the health of humans due to its high morbidity and mortality. Naringenin, as a natural flavanone, has shown various potential pharmacological activities against multiple pathological stages of COPD, but available studies are scattered and unsystematic. Thus, we combined literature review with network pharmacology analysis to evaluate the potential therapeutic effects of naringenin on COPD and predict its underlying mechanisms, expecting to provide a promising tactic for clinical treatment of COPD.
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Regulates Ishikawa Cell Proliferation through the TrkB-ERK1/2 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Cao Maosheng , Niu Qiaoge , Xiang XinYu , Yuan Chenfeng , Iqbal Tariq , Huang Yuwen , Tian Meng , Zhao Zijiao , Li Chunjin , Zhou Xu
Published: December 2020

(1) Background: Endometrial regulation is a necessary condition for maintaining normal uterine physiology, which is driven by many growth factors. Growth factors produced in the endometrium are thought to be related to the proliferation of endometrial cells induced by estradiol-17β (E2). In this study, we found that E2 can induce the secretion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in Ishikawa cells (the cells of an endometrial cell line). Furthermore, Ishikawa cells were used in exploring the regulatory role of BDNF in endometrial cells and to clarify the potential mechanism. (2) Methods: Ishikawa cells were treated with different concentrations of BDNF (100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 ng/mL). The mRNA expression levels of various proliferation-related genes were detected through quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and the expression of various proliferation-related genes was detected by knocking out BDNF or inhibiting the binding of BDNF to its receptor TrkB. The expression levels of various proliferation-related genes were detected by performing Western blotting on the TrkB-ERK1/2 signaling pathway. (3) Results: Exogenous BDNF promoted the growth of the Ishikawa cells, but the knocking down of BDNF or the inhibition of TrkB reduced their growth. Meanwhile, BDNF enhanced cell viability and increased the expression of proliferation-related genes, including cyclin D1 and cyclin E2. More importantly, the BDNF-induced proliferation of the Ishikawa cells involved the ERK1/2 signaling pathway. (4) Conclusions: The stimulating effect of exogenous E2 on the expression of BDNF in the uterus and the action of BDNF promoted the proliferation of the Ishikawa cells through the TrkB-ERK1/2 signal pathway.
The U94 Gene of Human Herpesvirus 6: A Narrative Review of Its Role and Potential Functions
Authors: Caselli Elisabetta , D’Accolti Maria , Caccuri Francesca , Soffritti Irene , Gentili Valentina , Bortolotti Daria , Rotola Antonella , Cassai Enzo , Fiorentini Simona , Zani Alberto , Caruso Arnaldo , Rizzo Roberta , Di Luca Dario
Published: December 2020

Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) is a β-herpesvirus that is highly prevalent in the human population. HHV-6 comprises two recognized species (HHV-6A and HHV-6B). Despite different cell tropism and disease association, HHV-6A/B show high genome homology and harbor the conserved U94 gene, which is limited to HHV-6 and absent in all the other human herpesviruses. U94 has key functions in the virus life cycle and associated diseases, having demonstrated or putative roles in virus replication, integration, and reactivation. During natural infection, U94 elicits an immune response, and the prevalence and extent of the anti-U94 response are associated with specific diseases. Notably, U94 can entirely reproduce some virus effects at the cell level, including inhibition of cell migration, induction of cytokines and HLA-G expression, and angiogenesis inhibition, supporting a direct U94 role in the development of HHV-6-associated diseases. Moreover, specific U94 properties, such as the ability to modulate angiogenesis pathways, have been exploited to counteract cancer development. Here, we review the information available on this key HHV-6 gene, highlighting its potential uses.
The Intricate Role of p53 in Adipocyte Differentiation and Function
Authors: Lee Yun Kyung , Chung Yu Seong , Lee Ji Hye , Chun Jin Mi , Park Jun Hong
Published: December 2020

For more than three decades, numerous studies have demonstrated the function of p53 in cell cycle, cellular senescence, autophagy, apoptosis, and metabolism. Among diverse functions, the essential role of p53 is to maintain cellular homeostatic response to stress by regulating proliferation and apoptosis. Recently, adipocytes have been studied with increasing intensity owing to the increased prevalence of metabolic diseases posing a serious public health concern and because metabolic dysfunction can directly induce tumorigenesis. The prevalence of metabolic diseases has steadily increased worldwide, and a growing interest in these diseases has led to the focus on the role of p53 in metabolism and adipocyte differentiation with or without metabolic stress. However, our collective understanding of the direct role of p53 in adipocyte differentiation and function remains insufficient. Therefore, this review focuses on the newly discovered roles of p53 in adipocyte differentiation and function.
Video Modeling and Social Skills Learning in ASD-HF
Authors: Frolli Alessandro , Ricci Maria Carla , Bosco Antonia , Lombardi Agnese , Cavallaro Antonella , Operto Francesca Felicia , Rega Angelo
Published: December 2020

Autism spectrum disorders represent a heterogeneous group of clinical situations, and are mainly represented by a deficit of social communication. In this study, we compare two strategies to enhance communicative/social skills, namely self-video modeling and peer video modeling. The subjects were divided into two groups treated via the method of self-video modeling (group 1) or peer video modeling (group 2). For both groups of subjects affected by ASD-HF (Autism Spectrum Disorder-high-functioning), three different activities were proposed: (a) interacting with a salesperson while making a purchase, (b) initiating and maintaining a conversation with peers, and (c) starting and maintaining an enjoyable activity with a peer. The ability to rapidly accomplish the task was used as the main criteria to appraise the groups’ responses to the proposed activities. In group 1, the use of self-video modeling procedures demonstrated a faster and correct execution of the three proposed tasks (especially task 3) when compared to group 2. In group 2, the use of peer video modeling has instead led to a slower acquisition of abilities to process and perform the tasks. The use of self-video modeling speeds up the acquisition of skills to perform communicative/social tasks, compared to peer video modeling’s slower performance in subjects with ASD-HF. Results could be related to either the amount of time the subject is exposed to the task or to the capacity of ASD-HF subjects to self-value one’s own actions more than others. In our work, we have tried to reset the differences in exposure time. Therefore, self-video modeling is demonstrated to be more effective, as it produces a response to the signification/mirroring characteristic of ASD-HF.
Generalized Pattern Search Algorithm for Crustal Modeling
Authors: Dugda Mulugeta , Moazzami Farzad
Published: December 2020

In computational seismology, receiver functions represent the impulse response for the earth structure beneath a seismic station and, in general, these are functionals that show several seismic phases in the time-domain related to discontinuities within the crust and the upper mantle. This paper introduces a new technique called generalized pattern search (GPS) for inverting receiver functions to obtain the depth of the crust–mantle discontinuity, i.e., the crustal thickness H, and the ratio of crustal P-wave velocity Vp to S-wave velocity Vs. In particular, the GPS technique, which is a direct search method, does not need derivative or directional vector information. Moreover, the technique allows simultaneous determination of the weights needed for the converted and reverberated phases. Compared to previously introduced variable weights approaches for inverting H-κ stacking of receiver functions, with κ = Vp/Vs, the GPS technique has some advantages in terms of saving computational time and also suitability for simultaneous determination of crustal parameters and associated weights. Finally, the technique is tested using seismic data from the East Africa Rift System and it provides results that are consistent with previously published studies.
A Combinatory Package for Diamond Anvil Cell Experiments
Authors: Jia Yating , He Xin , Feng Shaomin , Zhang Sijia , Zhang Changling , Ren Chongwen , Wang Xiancheng , Jin Changqing
Published: December 2020

In this work, we introduce the Architecture Tech for High-Pressure Experiments Net Assembly (ATHENA) package based on diamond anvil cells, combining both the deposition of specimens as well as the detection of probes on anvils layer by layer. The specimens are typically ~1 μm in thickness and very hard to manipulate with traditional hand skills. ATHENA represents an all-in-one package by accurately synergizing chip-like networks prepared using magnetic sputtering methods and guaranteeing well-designed dimensions, positions and perfect electric contacts. We apply ATHENA successfully to the study of lanthanum metal above 60 GPa, showing very sharp pressure-enhanced superconductivity and parabolic critical temperature (Tc) evolution as a function of pressure with pressure-enhanced itinerant behavior at normal state.
Heterometallic Complexes Containing the NiII-LnIII-NiII Moiety—Structures and Magnetic Properties
Authors: Raptopoulou Catherine P.
Published: December 2020

This review summarizes the structural characteristics and magnetic properties of trinuclear complexes containing the NiII-LnIII-NiII moiety and also oligonuclear complexes and coordination polymers containing the same trinuclear moiety. The ligands used are mainly polydentate Schiff base ligands and reduced Schiff base ligands and, in some cases, oximato, β-diketonato, pyridyl ketone ligands and others. The compounds reported are restricted to those containing one, two and three oxygen atoms as bridges between the metal ions; examples of carboxylato and oximato bridging are also included due to structural similarity. The magnetic properties of the complexes range from ferro- to antiferromagnetic depending on the nature of the lanthanide ion.
Yield of Rare Variants Detected by Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing in a Cohort of Romanian Index Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Micheu Miruna Mihaela , Popa-Fotea Nicoleta-Monica , Oprescu Nicoleta , Bogdan Stefan , Dan Monica , Deaconu Alexandru , Dorobantu Lucian , Gheorghe-Fronea Oana , Greavu Maria , Iorgulescu Corneliu , Scafa-Udriste Alexandru , Ticulescu Razvan , Vatasescu Radu Gabriel , Dorobanțu Maria
Published: December 2020

Background: The aim of this study was to explore the rare variants in a cohort of Romanian index cases with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Methods: Forty-five unrelated probands with HCM were screened by targeted next generation sequencing (NGS) of 47 core and emerging genes connected with HCM. Results: We identified 95 variants with allele frequency < 0.1% in population databases. MYBPC3 and TTN had the largest number of rare variants (17 variants each). A definite genetic etiology was found in 6 probands (13.3%), while inconclusive results due to either known or novel variants were established in 31 cases (68.9%). All disease-causing variants were detected in sarcomeric genes (MYBPC3 and MYH7 with two cases each, and one case in TNNI3 and TPM1 respectively). Multiple variants were detected in 27 subjects (60%), but no proband carried more than one causal variant. Of note, almost half of the rare variants were novel. Conclusions: Herein we reported for the first time the rare variants identified in core and putative genes associated with HCM in a cohort of Romanian unrelated adult patients. The clinical significance of most detected variants is yet to be established, additional studies based on segregation analysis being required for definite classification.
Identification and Characterization of Serum microRNAs as Biomarkers for Human Disc Degeneration: An RNA Sequencing Analysis
Authors: Cui Shangbin , Zhou Zhiyu , Liu Xizhe , Richards Robert Geoff , Alini Mauro , Peng Songlin , Liu Shaoyu , Zou Xuenong , Li Zhen , Grad Sibylle
Published: December 2020

Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have been associated with various degenerative diseases, including intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) often occurs in young patients, although the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. The aim of this work was to generate RNA deep sequencing data of peripheral blood samples from patients suffering from LDH, identify circulating miRNAs, and analyze them using bioinformatics applications. Serum was collected from 10 patients with LDH (Disc Degeneration Group); 10 patients without LDH served as the Control Group. RNA sequencing analysis identified 73 differential circulating miRNAs (p < 0.05) between the Disc Degeneration Group and Control Group. Gene ontology enrichment analysis (p < 0.05) showed that these differentially expressed miRNAs were associated with extracellular matrix, damage reactions, inflammatory reactions, and regulation of apoptosis. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis showed that the differentially expressed genes were involved in diverse signaling pathways. The profile of miR-766-3p, miR-6749-3p, and miR-4632-5p serum miRNAs was significantly enriched (p < 0.05) in multiple pathways associated with IVD degeneration. miR-766-3p, miR-6749-3p, and miR-4632-5p signature from serum may serve as a noninvasive diagnostic biomarker for LHD manifestation of IVD degeneration. Furthermore, several dysregulated miRNAs may be involved in the pathogenesis of IVD degeneration. Further study is needed to confirm the functional role of the identified miRNAs.
Employing New Hybrid Adaptive Wavelet-Based Transform and Histogram Packing to Improve JP3D Compression of Volumetric Medical Images
Authors: Starosolski Roman
Published: December 2020

The primary purpose of the reported research was to improve the discrete wavelet transform (DWT)-based JP3D compression of volumetric medical images by applying new methods that were only previously used in the compression of two-dimensional (2D) images. Namely, we applied reversible denoising and lifting steps with step skipping to three-dimensional (3D)-DWT and constructed a hybrid transform that combined 3D-DWT with prediction. We evaluated these methods using a test-set containing images of modalities: Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and Ultrasound (US). They proved effective for 3D data resulting in over two times greater compression ratio improvements than competitive methods. While employing fast entropy estimation of JP3D compression ratio to reduce the cost of image-adaptive parameter selection for the new methods, we found that some MRI images had sparse histograms of intensity levels. We applied the classical histogram packing (HP) and found that, on average, it resulted in greater ratio improvements than the new sophisticated methods and that it could be combined with these new methods to further improve ratios. Finally, we proposed a few practical compression schemes that exploited HP, entropy estimation, and the new methods; on average, they improved the compression ratio by up to about 6.5% at an acceptable cost.
On the Possibility of Chaos in a Generalized Model of Three Interacting Sectors
Authors: Nikolova Elena V. , Vitanov Nikolay K.
Published: December 2020

In this study we extend a model, proposed by Dendrinos, which describes dynamics of change of influence in a social system containing a public sector and a private sector. The novelty is that we reconfigure the system and consider a system consisting of a public sector, a private sector, and a non-governmental organizations (NGO) sector. The additional sector changes the model’s system of equations with an additional equation, and additional interactions must be taken into account. We show that for selected values of the parameters of the model’s system of equations, chaos of Shilnikov kind can exist. We illustrate the arising of the corresponding chaotic attractor and discuss the obtained results from the point of view of interaction between the three sectors.
Total Interpretive Structural Modelling of Graduate Employability Skills for the Built Environment Sector
Authors: Obi Lovelin , Hampton Paul , Awuzie Bankole
Published: December 2020

Contemporary practices and future projections in the Built Environment (BE) sector highlight an increasing demand on Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to produce graduates possessing relevant skills aligned to meet workplace demands. This study aims to analyse the key skills influencing BE graduate employability in the United Kingdom (UK) for the benefit of HEIs. This investigation leverages on a critical review of extant literature and an elicitation of the perceptions of targeted macro, meso, and micro level key stakeholders in the BE sector to identify key employability skills. The Total Interpretive Structural Modelling (TISM) technique was used to analyse the contextual interrelationships among the identified skills to develop a hierarchical model that provides HEI with insight for BE curriculum development. Six key employability skillsets hierarchically modelled into four levels were identified as crucial for potential graduates to successfully attract and adapt to contemporary practices in the Built Environment sector. Findings reveal communication and team-working skills as critical, independent skills driving the successful development of the remaining four skillsets. This research extends the literature on employability skills by investigating the interactions of various skills that predominantly predicts graduate employability in the Built Environment sector. The resulting TISM skills model provides hierarchical and logical interdependencies beneficial to assist HEIs to strategically design BE curricular to enhance graduate employability.
After the Move to a New Campus—Effects on Students’ Satisfaction with the Physical and Learning Environment
Authors: Costa Andreia P. , Steffgen Georges
Published: December 2020

Few empirical studies in higher education consider the importance of the physical environment on students’ satisfaction with the learning environment. The present study first examined the effects of a move to a new campus on students’ satisfaction with the physical and learning environments. Then, it examined how students’ satisfaction with a physical environment affects students’ satisfaction with the learning environment. It was hypothesised that the move to a new and modern university campus with better study facilities would increase students’ satisfaction both with the physical and learning environment, and that these two would be linked. Results contained 771 students’ assessments of the Bachelor Evaluation Questionnaire, which included students’ satisfaction with five aspects of their learning environment as well as five items assessing satisfaction with the physical environment. Findings showed that students were overall more satisfied with the physical environment in the new campus than in the old campus. These differences were even greater when comparing only students in their last study year than students of all study years. Furthermore, results showed that students’ satisfaction with lecturers and teaching was predicted by increased satisfaction with classrooms. The implications of these findings for the need to design physical learning environments are discussed.
What’s in the Box: Design of an Open Didactic Robot Environment
Authors: Jokić Dejan , Lubura Slobodan , Ristović Milica , Stankovski Stevan , Rajs Vladimir , Šiljak Harun
Published: December 2020

We present a realization of a didactic robot environment for robot PUMA 560 for educational and research purposes. Robot PUMA 560 is probably the mathematically best-described robot, and therefore it is frequently used for research and educational purposes. A developed control environment consists of a robot controller and teach pendant. The advantage of using a personally developed solution is its open structure, which allows various tests and measurements to be performed, and that is highly convenient for educational and research purposes. The motivation behind the design of this personal didactic robot control environment arose from a survey for students after the first Summer School on Mechatronic Systems. The student questionnaire revealed severe discrepancies between theory and practice in education. Even though the primary purpose of the new control environment for robot PUMA 560 was research, it was established that it is a viable lab resource that allows for the connection between theoretical and industrial robotics. It was used for the duration of four Summer Schools and university courses. Since then, it has been fully integrated into International Burch University’s Electrical and Electronics Engineering curriculum through several courses on the bachelor and master levels for multidisciplinary problem-based learning (PBL) projects.
Ka-Band Diplexer for 5G mmWave Applications in Inverted Microstrip Gap Waveguide Technology
Authors: Sanchez-Cabello Carlos , Herran Luis Fernando , Rajo-Iglesias Eva
Published: December 2020

A new cost-efficient, low-loss Ka-band diplexer designed in inverted microstrip gap waveguide technology is presented in this paper. Gap waveguide allows to propagate quasi-TEM modes in the air between two metal plates without the need for contact between them by using periodic metasurfaces. The diplexer is realized by using a bed of nails as AMC (Artificial Magnetic Conductor), first modeled with a PMC (Perfect Magnetic Conductor) surface for design simplification, and two fifth order end-coupled passband filters (BPFs) along with a power divider. The experimental verification confirms that the two channels centered at 24 GHz and 28 GHz with 1 GHz of bandwidth show measured insertion losses of 1.5 dB and 2 dB and 60 dB of isolation between them. A slight shift in frequency is observed in the measurements that can be easily explained by the variation in the permittivity of the substrate.
Hot Carrier Stress Sensing Bulk Current for 28 nm Stacked High-k nMOSFETs
Authors: Chen Chii-Wen , Wang Mu-Chun , Chang Cheng-Hsun-Tony , Chu Wei-Lun , Sung Shun-Ping , Lan Wen-How
Published: December 2020

This work primarily focuses on the degradation degree of bulk current (IB) for 28 nm stacked high-k (HK) n-channel metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs), sensed and stressed with the channel-hot-carrier test and the drain-avalanche-hot-carrier test, and uses a lifetime model to extract the lifetime of the tested devices. The results show that when IB reaches its maximum, the ratio of VGS/VDS values at this point, in the meanwhile, gradually increases in the tested devices from the long-channel to the short ones, not just located at one-third to one half. The possible ratiocination is due to the ON-current (IDS), in which the short-channel devices provide larger IDS impacting the drain junction and generating more hole carriers at the surface channel near the drain site. In addition, the decrease in IB after hot-carrier stress is not only the increment in threshold voltage VT inducing the decrease in IDS, but also the increment in the recombination rate due to the mechanism of diffusion current. Ultimately, the device lifetime uses Berkley’s model to extract the slope parameter m of the lifetime model. Previous studies have reported m-values ranging from 2.9 to 3.3, but in this case, approximately 1.1. This possibly means that the critical energy of the generated interface state becomes smaller, as is the barrier height of the HK dielectric to the conventional silicon dioxide as the gate oxide.
Modeling Tree Diameter Growth of Bertholletia excelsa Bonpl. in the Brazilian Amazon
Authors: Batista Anderson , Vitor Scolforo Paula Gomides , Scolforo Henrique Ferraço , de Mello José Marcio , Guedes Marcelino , Soares Scolforo José Roberto
Published: December 2020

Modeling the growth of Bertholletia excelsa Bonpl. (B. excelsa) trees in natural forests is important for understanding the species’ ecology and for better defining site-specific management. In this sense, this study aimed to model the diameter growth rate of B. excelsa trees in contrasting forest environments in the Brazilian Amazon. This study was conducted in the Extractive Reserve Rio Cajari (RESEX Cajari). Growth models were fitted at species level to predict diameter growth rate in the two Amazonian forest environments. Subsequently, the age at which the B. excelsa tree in each forest environment reaches the minimum diameter for seed production was calculated by integrating the growth models. In each forest environment, the negative exponential behavior of the diametric growth rate of the tree species was fitted by an appropriate model. The time required for B. excelsa trees to reach the minimum diameter was shorter in the secondary forest environment when compared with that of the old growth terra firme forest (47 and 78 years to reach the diameter of 25 cm in the secondary and old growth terra firme forest, respectively). While the average growth pattern indicated higher diameter growth rates of B. excelsa in the secondary forest environment, the high level of uncertainty in the model’s estimation makes this inference complex. In conclusion, the secondary forest seems a favorable forest environment for the growth of B. excelsa trees, which may be an indicator of the potential for secondary forest environments to produce B. excelsa seeds in the future.
Default versus Configured-Geostatistical Modeling of Suspended Particulate Matter in Potter Cove, West Antarctic Peninsula
Authors: Neder Camila , Sahade Ricardo , Abele Doris , Pesch Roland , Jerosch Kerstin
Published: December 2020

The glacier retreat observed during the last decades at Potter Cove (PC) causes an increasing amount of suspended particulate matter (SPM) in the water column, which has a high impact on sessile filter feeder’ species at PC located at the West Antarctic Peninsula. SPM presents a highly-fluctuating dynamic pattern on a daily, monthly, seasonal, and interannual basis. Geostatistical interpolation techniques are widely used by default to generate reliable spatial information and thereby to improve the ecological understanding of environmental variables, which is often fundamental for guiding decision-makers and scientists. In this study, we compared the results of default and configured settings of three geostatistical algorithms (Simple Kriging, Ordinary Kriging, and Empirical Bayesian) and developed a performance index. In order to interpolate SPM data from the summer season 2010/2011 at PC, the best performance was obtained with Empirical Bayesian Kriging (standard mean = −0.001 and root mean square standardized = 0.995). It showed an excellent performance (performance index = 0.004), improving both evaluation parameters when radio and neighborhood were configured. About 69% of the models showed improved standard means when configured compared to the default settings following a here proposed guideline.
Comparative Genomic and Functional Evaluations of Bacillus subtilis Newly Isolated from Korean Traditional Fermented Foods
Authors: Choi Hye Jin , Shin Donghyun , Shin Minhye , Yun Bohyun , Kang Minkyoung , Yang Hee-Jong , Jeong Do-Youn , Kim Younghoon , Oh Sangnam
Published: December 2020

Many fermented foods are known to have beneficial effects on human and animal health, offering anti-aging and immunomodulatory benefits to host. Microorganisms contained in the fermented foods are known to provide metabolic products possibly improving host health. However, despite of a number of studies on the functional effects of the fermented foods, isolation and identification of the effective bacterial strains in the products are still in progress. The objective of this study was to isolate candidate functional strains in various Korean traditional fermented foods, including ganjang, gochujang, doenjang, and jeotgal, and evaluate their beneficial effects on the host, using Caenorhabditis elegans as a surrogate animal model. Among the 30 strains isolated, five Bacillus spp. were selected that increased the expression level of pmk-1, an innate immune gene of C. elegans. These strains extended the nematode lifespan and showed intestinal adhesion to the host. Based on the bioinformatic analyses of whole genome sequences and pangenomes, the five strains of Bacillus subtilis were genetically different from the strains found in East Asian countries and previously reported strains isolated from Korean fermented foods. Our findings suggest that the newly isolated B. subtilis strains can be a good candidate for probiotic with further in-depth investigation on health benefits and safety.
Prebiotic Potential and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Soluble Polysaccharides Obtained from Soybean Residue
Authors: Le Bao , Pham Thi Ngoc Anh , Yang Seung Hwan
Published: December 2020

In the present study, we assessed the extraction of low molecular weight soluble polysaccharides (MESP) from soybean by-products using microwave-assisted enzymatic technology and proposed the chemical structure of MESP using Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, gas chromatography, and 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum analysis. The results suggested that MESP mainly comprised arabinose, rhamnose, and glucuronic acid with (1→4) glycosidic linkages in the backbone. Compared with inulin, MESP was found to selectively stimulate the growth of Lactobacillus probiotics. Moreover, the results of in vitro fermentation indicated that MESP significantly increased the concentrations of both acetate and butyrate (p < 0.05). MESP were treated on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells to determine the anti-inflammatory effect in vitro. It was observed that MESP inhibited nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 production. Furthermore, Western blotting results indicated that MESP significantly attenuated LPS-induced downregulation of phosphorylation levels of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in macrophages. The underlying mechanism might involve inhibition of the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, presumably via JAK2/STAT3 pathway. Collectively, the results of our study paved way for the production of MESP, which may be potentially used as nutraceutical ingredients for prebiotics and anti-inflammatory agents, from soybean residue.
Consumers’ Motives for Eating and Choosing Sweet Baked Products: A Cross-Cultural Segmentation Study
Authors: Mielmann Annchen , Brunner Thomas A.
Published: December 2020

This study aimed to examine consumers’ motives for eating and choosing sweet baked products (SBPs). A cross-cultural segmentation study on a South African (SA) and Swiss population sample (n = 216), was implemented using the Motivation for Eating Scale (MFES) and the Food Choice Questionnaire (FCQ). Cluster analyses provided three consumer segments for each population sample: the balanced and the frequenters for both countries, the deniers for SA, and the health conscious for Switzerland. South Africans liked SBPs more than the Swiss respondents, however the Swiss sample consumed SBPs more often. Environmental and physical eating were the most relevant motives when eating SBPs for the SA and Swiss group, respectively. For both samples, sensory appeal was the deciding factor when choosing SBPs. Cross-cultural studies of food choices are important tools that could help improve the current understanding of factors that influence the eating behavior of ultra-processed foods to promote healthy food choices through local and global perspectives. This paper highlights that more research is needed on consumers’ motives for choosing and eating ultra-processed foods in order to develop specific integrative cultural exchange actions or intervention strategies to solve the obesity issue.
Biochemical Changes during the Manufacture of Galician Chorizo Sausage as Affected by the Addition of Autochthonous Starter Cultures
Authors: Rodríguez-González Miriam , Fonseca Sonia , Centeno Juan A. , Carballo Javier
Published: December 2020

In this work, the effect of the use of two autochthonous starter cultures (Lactobacillus sakei LS131 + Staphylococcus equorum SA25 (EQU), or L. sakei LS131 + Staphylococcus saprophyticus SB12 (SAP)) on the physicochemical, microbiological, proteolytic and lipolytic changes taking place during the manufacture of Galician chorizo, a traditional Spanish sausage, was studied. Three different batches (control (CNT), EQU and SAP) were manufactured in triplicate and analysed during the manufacturing process (samples were taken and analysed at 0, 2, 5, 9, 14, 21 and 30 days of ripening) for proximate composition, pH, aw, colour parameters, nitrogen fractions, free amino acids, biogenic amines, fat parameters and free fatty acids. The use of either of these two starter cultures slightly but significantly reduced the pH values during the fermentation and increased the percentage of transformation to nitrosyl-heme pigments as well as the a* and b* values in the final products. The two starters significantly decreased the Enterobacteriaceae counts in the final product, but without this microbial group completely disappearing. Both starter cultures significantly increased the α-amino acidic nitrogen and the total basic volatile nitrogen fractions during manufacturing, also increasing the free amino acid content and reducing the total biogenic amine content by approximately 20%. The SAP starter enhanced the lipolytic processes, increasing the free fatty acid content. Due to their performances, these two starter cultures seem to be suitable for increasing the quality and safety of the Galician chorizo sausage.
Quantitative Determination of Acrolein in Cider by 1H NMR Spectrometry
Authors: de las Heras Enaitz , Zuriarrain-Ocio Andoni , Zuriarrain Juan , Bordagaray Ane , Dueñas María Teresa , Berregi Iñaki
Published: December 2020

Acrolein occasionally appears in cider, completely spoiling its quality due to its bitter taste. It is crucial to detect it in the early steps, before the taste is severely affected, to apply the appropriate treatment. A simple and rapid analytical method to determine this compound in cider is therefore desirable. In this work, a quantitative determination method of acrolein in cider is proposed using the proton nuclear magnetic resonance technique (1H NMR). Acrolein produces a doublet signal in the spectrum at 9.49 ppm, whose area is used to determine the concentration of this compound. 3-(trimethylsilyl)-2,2,3,3-d4-propionic acid sodium salt is added to the cider as a reference for 0.00 ppm and 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid as an internal standard for acrolein determination. The method is validated by gas chromatography (GC). There is a good correlation between the acrolein concentrations obtained by 1H NMR and by gas chromatography in different commercial ciders (Pearson coefficient 0.9994). The 95% confidence interval for the intercept is 0.15 ± 0.49 (includes 0) and for the slope is 0.98 ± 0.03 (includes 1). When applying the paired t test, no significant difference is observed. The proposed method is direct, and no prior derivatization is needed.
Effects of Saccharin Consumption on Operant Responding for Sugar Reward and Incubation of Sugar Craving in Rats
Authors: Aoyama Kenjiro , Nagano Akane
Published: December 2020

Repeated experience with artificial sweeteners increases food consumption and body weight gain in rats. Saccharin consumption may reduce the conditioned satiety response to sweet-tasting food. Rats were trained to press a lever to obtain sucrose for five days. A compound cue (tone + light) was presented with every sucrose delivery. On the following day, each lever press produced only the compound cue (cue-reactivity test). Subjects were then provided with yogurt for three weeks in their home cages. The rats were divided into two groups. Rats in the saccharin group received yogurt sweetened with saccharin on some days and unsweetened yogurt on others. For the plain group, only unsweetened plain yogurt was provided. Subsequently, the cue-reactivity test was conducted again. On the following day, the rats underwent a consumption test in which each lever press was reinforced with sucrose. Chow consumption and body weight gain were larger in the saccharin group than in the plain group. Lever responses increased from the first to the second cue-reactivity tests (incubation of craving) in both groups. During the consumption test, lever responses were higher in the saccharin group than in the plain group, suggesting that the conditioned satiety response was impaired in the saccharin group.
Seismic Density Model of the White Sea’s Crust
Authors: Belashev Boris , Bakunovich Lyubov , Sharov Nikolai , Nilov Michail
Published: December 2020

Study of the deep structure of the White Sea region is relevant to active geodynamics, manifestations of kimberlite magmatism, and the prospects of oil and gas searches. The aim of this work was to model the velocity and density structure of the earth’s crust in the White Sea region. Modelling was carried out using the known data of instrumental observations and the software complex “Integro”. With the help of 2D models based on deep seismic sounding (DSS) profiles and a digital map of the anomalous gravity field, the density structures of local areas of the region’s crust were refined. A 3D density model was built. Within the framework of this model, the positions of the density layers were determined. The relief of the Mohorovichich (Moho or M) discontinuity reflects the anomalies of the gravity field. Depression of the Moho boundary in the bottleneck of the White Sea indicates the vertical structure of the earth’s crust associated with manifestations of kimberlite magmatism.
Characterizing Tourism Destination Image Using Photos’ Visual Content
Authors: Xiao Xin , Fang Chaoyang , Lin Hui
Published: December 2020

“A picture is worth a thousand words”. Analysis of the visual content of tourist photos is an effective way to explore the image of tourist destinations. With the development of computer deep learning and big data mining technology, identifying the content of massive numbers of tourist photos by convolutional neural network (CNN) approaches breaks through the limitations of manual approaches of identifying photos’ visual information, e.g., small sample size, complex identification process, and results deviation. In this study, 531,629 travel photos of Jiangxi were identified as 365 scenes through deep learning technology. Through the latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) model, five major tourism topics are found and visualized by map. Then, we explored the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of different tourism scenes based on hot spot analysis technology and the seasonal evaluation index. Our research shows that the visual content mining on travel photos makes it possible to understand the tourism destination image and to reveal the temporal and spatial heterogeneity of the image, thereby providing an important reference for tourism marketing.
A Study of User Activity Patterns and the Effect of Venue Types on City Dynamics Using Location-Based Social Network Data
Authors: Khan Naimat Ullah , Wan Wanggen , Yu Shui , Muzahid A. A. M. , Khan Sajid , Hou Li
Published: December 2020

The main purpose of this research is to study the effect of various types of venues on the density distribution of residents and model check-in data from a Location-Based Social Network for the city of Shanghai, China by using combination of multiple temporal, spatial and visualization techniques by classifying users’ check-ins into different venue categories. This article investigates the use of Weibo for big data analysis and its efficiency in various categories instead of manually collected datasets, by exploring the relation between time, frequency, place and category of check-in based on location characteristics and their contributions. The data used in this research was acquired from a famous Chinese microblogs called Weibo, which was preprocessed to get the most significant and relevant attributes for the current study and transformed into Geographical Information Systems format, analyzed and, finally, presented with the help of graphs, tables and heat maps. The Kernel Density Estimation was used for spatial analysis. The venue categorization was based on nature of the physical locations within the city by comparing the name of venue extracted from Weibo dataset with the function such as education for schools or shopping for malls and so on. The results of usage patterns from hours to days, venue categories and frequency distribution into these categories as well as the density of check-in within the Shanghai and contribution of each venue category in its diversity are thoroughly demonstrated, uncovering interesting spatio-temporal patterns including frequency and density of users from different venues at different time intervals, and significance of using geo-data from Weibo to study human behavior in variety of studies like education, tourism and city dynamics based on location-based social networks. Our findings uncover various aspects of activity patterns in human behavior, the significance of venue classes and its effects in Shanghai, which can be applied in pattern analysis, recommendation systems and other interactive applications for these classes.
DEM Void Filling Based on Context Attention Generation Model
Authors: Zhang Chunsen , Shi Shu , Ge Yingwei , Liu Hengheng , Cui Weihong
Published: December 2020

The digital elevation model (DEM) generates a digital simulation of ground terrain in a certain range with the usage of 3D point cloud data. It is an important source of spatial modeling information. Due to various reasons, however, the generated DEM has data holes. Based on the algorithm of deep learning, this paper aims to train a deep generation model (DGM) to complete the DEM void filling task. A certain amount of DEM data and a randomly generated mask are taken as network inputs, along which the reconstruction loss and generative adversarial network (GAN) loss are used to assist network training, so as to perceive the overall known elevation information, in combination with the contextual attention layer, and generate data with reliability to fill the void areas. The experimental results have managed to show that this method has good feature expression and reconstruction accuracy in DEM void filling, which has been proven to be better than that illustrated by the traditional interpolation method.