bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Genetic Variation of the Sorting Nexin 29 (SNX29) Gene on Growth Traits of Xiangdong Black Goat
Authors: Chen Yuhan , Yang Long , Lin Xiaoding , Peng Peiya , Shen Weijun , Tang Sipei , Lan Xianyong , Wan Fachun , Yin Yulong , Liu Mei
Published: December 2022

Previous studies have found that the copy number variation (CNV) and insertion/deletion (indels) located in the sorting nexin 29 (SNX29) gene, which is an important candidate gene related to meat production and quality, are associated with growth traits of African goats and Shaanbei white cashmere goats. However, the genetic effects of SNX29 genetic variation on growth traits of Xiangdong black (XDB) goat (a representative meat goat breed in China) are still unclear. The purpose of this study was to detect the mRNA expression level of SNX29 and to explore the genetic effects of CNV and indel within SNX29 on growth traits and gene expression in XDB goat. The SNX29 mRNA expression profile showed that the SNX29 was highly expressed in adipose tissues, indicating that the SNX29 gene could play a key role in subcutaneous adipose deposition of XDB goat. 17 bp indel (g.10559298-10559314), 21 bp indel (g.10918982-10919002) and CNV were detected in 516 individuals of XDB goat by PCR or qPCR. The association analysis of SNX29 CNV with growth traits in XDB goats showed that SNX29 CNV was significantly correlated with chest circumference and abdominal circumference (p < 0.01), and the normal type of SNX29 CNV goat individuals were more advantageous. For the mRNA expression of SNX29 gene, individuals with SNX29 copy number normal type had a higher trend than that of SNX29 gene with copy number gain type in longissimus dorsi muscle (p = 0.07), whereas individuals with SNX29 copy number gain type had a higher trend in abdominal adipose (p = 0.09). Overall, these results suggested that the SNX29 gene could play an important role in growth and development of XDB goats and could be used for marker-assisted selection (MAS) in XDB goats.
Effects of the Antimicrobial Peptide Mastoparan X on the Performance, Permeability and Microbiota Populations of Broiler Chickens
Authors: Zhu Chunling , Bai Yilin , Xia Xiaojing , Zhang Man , Wu Xilong , Wu Yundi , Bai Yueyu , Liu Shanqin , Zhang Gaiping , Hu Jianhe , Fotina Hanna , Wang Lei , Zhao Xueqin
Published: December 2022

Restrictions on antibiotics are driving the search for alternative feed additives to promote gastrointestinal health and development in broiler chicken production. Proteins including antimicrobial peptides can potentially be applied as alternatives to antibiotics and are one of the most promising alternatives. We investigated whether the addition of MPX to the diet affects the production performance, immune function and the intestinal flora of the caecal contents of broiler chickens. One hundred one-day-old chickens were randomly divided into two groups: control (basal diet) and MPX (20 mg/kg) added to the basal diet. The results indicated that dietary supplementation with MPX improved the performance and immune organ index, decreased the feed conversion ratio, increased the villus length, maintained the normal intestinal morphology and reduced the IL-6 and LITNF mRNA expression levels of inflammation-related genes. In addition, MPX increased the mRNA expression of the digestive enzymes FABP2 and SLC2A5/GLUT5 and the tight junction proteins ZO-1, Claudin-1, Occludin, JAM-2 and MUC2, maintained the intestinal permeability and regulated the intestinal morphology. Moreover, MPX increased the CAT, HMOX1 and SOD1 mRNA expression levels of the antioxidant genes. Furthermore, a 16S rRNA microflora analysis indicated that the abundance of Lactobacillus and Lactococcus in the cecum was increased after addition of MPX at 14 d and 28 d. This study explored the feasibility of using antimicrobial peptides as novel feed additives for broiler chickens and provides a theoretical basis for their application in livestock.
Covalent DNA Binding Is Essential for Gram-Negative Antibacterial Activity of Broad Spectrum Pyrrolobenzodiazepines
Authors: Picconi Pietro , Hind Charlotte K. , Sutton J. Mark , Rahman Khondaker Miraz
Published: December 2022

It is urgent to find new antibiotic classes against multidrug-resistant bacteria as the rate of discovery of new classes of antibiotics has been very slow in the last 50 years. Recently, pyrrolobenzodiazepines (PBDs) with a C8-linked aliphatic-heterocycle have been identified as a new broad-spectrum antibiotic class with activity against Gram-negative bacteria. The active imine moiety of the reported lead pyrrolobenzodiazepine compounds was replaced with amide to obtain the non-DNA binding and noncytotoxic dilactam analogues to understand the structure-activity relationship further and improve the safety potential of this class. The synthesised compounds were tested against panels of multidrug-resistant Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including WHO priority pathogens. Minimum inhibitory concentrations for the dilactam analogues ranged from 4 to 32 mg/L for MDR Gram-positive bacteria, compared to 0.03 to 2 mg/L for the corresponding imine analogues. At the same time, they were found to be inactive against MDR Gram-negative bacteria, with a MIC > 32 mg/L, compared to a MIC of 0.5 to 32 mg/L for imine analogues. A molecular modelling study suggests that the lack of imine functionality also affects the interaction of PBDs with DNA gyrase. This study suggests that the presence of N10-C11 imine moiety is crucial for the broad-spectrum activity of pyrrolobenzodiazepines.
Impact of a Primary Care Antimicrobial Stewardship Program on Bacterial Resistance Control and Ecological Imprint in Urinary Tract Infections
Authors: Jover-Sáenz Alfredo , Ramírez-Hidalgo María , Bellés Bellés Alba , Ribes Murillo Esther , Batlle Bosch Meritxell , Cayado Cabanillas José , Garrido-Calvo Sònia , Gracia Vilas María Isabel , Gros Navés Laura , Javierre Caudevilla María Jesús , Mari López Alba , Montull Navarro Lidia , Ortiz Valls Mireia , Terrer Manrique Gemma , Vaqué Castilla Pilar , Ichart Tomás José Javier , Justribó Sánchez Elena , Andreu Mayor Ester , Carrera Guiu Joan , Martorell Solé Roser , Pallàs Satué Silvia , Saura Codina Mireia , Vena Martínez Ana , Albalat Samper José Manuel , Cano Marrón Susana , Chacón Domínguez Isabel , Escuin David de la Rica , Estadella Servalls María José , Figueres Farreny Ana M. , Minguet Vidal Sonia , Montaña Esteban Luís Miguel , Otal Bareche Josep , Pallerola Planes Mercè , Pujol Aymerich Francesc , Rodríguez Garrocho Andrés , Solé Curcó Antoni , Toribio Redondo Francisca , Urgelés Castillón María Cruz , Valgañon Palacios Juan , Torres-Puig-gros Joan ,   the P-ILEHRDA Group,   on behalf of Translational Research Group on Infectious Diseases of Lleida (Head Group, TRIDLE-IRBLleida)
Published: December 2022

Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) are a central component in reducing the overprescription of unnecessary antibiotics, with multiple studies showing benefits in the reduction of bacterial resistance. Less commonly, ASPs have been performed in outpatient settings, but there is a lack of available data in these settings. We implemented an ASP in a large regional outpatient setting to assess its feasibility and effectiveness. Over a 5-year post-implementation period, compared to the pre-intervention period, a significant reduction in antibiotic prescription occurred, with a reduction in resistance in E. coli urinary isolates. ASP activities also were found to be cost-effective, with a reduction in medication prescription.
Vitamin B3 Provides Neuroprotection via Antioxidative Stress in a Rat Model of Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy
Authors: Chen Tu-Wen , Wu Po-Ying , Wen Yao-Tseng , Desai Tushar Dnyaneshwar , Huang Chin-Te , Liu Pei-Kang , Tsai Rong-Kung
Published: December 2022

Supplementing with vitamin B3 has been reported to protect against retinal ganglion cell (RGC) damage events and exhibit multiple neuroprotective properties in a mouse model of optic nerve injury. In this study, a rat model of anterior ischemic optic neuropathy was used to assess the neuroprotective benefits of vitamin B3 (rAION). Vitamin B3 (500 mg/kg/day) or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was administered to the rAION-induced rats every day for 28 days. The vitamin B3-treated group had significantly higher first positive and second negative peak (P1-N2) amplitudes of flash visual-evoked potentials and RGC densities than the PBS-treated group (p < 0.05). A terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay conducted on vitamin B3-treated rats revealed a significant reduction in apoptotic cells (p < 0.05). Superoxide dismutase and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance activity showed that vitamin B3 treatment decreased reactive oxygen species (p < 0.05). Therefore, vitamin B3 supplementation preserves vision in rAION-induced rats by reducing oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and mitochondrial apoptosis.
Oxidative Stress and Intracranial Hypertension after Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Authors: Hao Guangshan , Eser Pinar , Mo Jun
Published: December 2022

Intracranial hypertension is a common phenomenon in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) plays an important role in early brain injuries and is associated with unfavorable outcomes. Despite advances in the management of aSAH, there is no consensus about the mechanisms involved in ICP increases after aSAH. Recently, a growing body of evidence suggests that oxidative stress (OS) may play a crucial role in physio-pathological changes following aSAH, which may also contribute to increased ICP. Herein, we discuss a potential relation between increased ICP and OS, and resultantly propose antioxidant mechanisms as a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of ICP elevation following aSAH.
Dirac-Based Quantum Admittance of 2D Nanomaterials at Radio Frequencies
Authors: Rozzi Tullio , Mencarelli Davide , Zampa Gian Marco , Pierantoni Luca
Published: December 2022

Starting from a rigorous finite mass, Dirac equation-based model, we investigate the R.F. quantum admittance of a monolayer 2D material under the action of an electromagnetic (e.m.) wave with axially directed vector potential. With some reasonable approximations, the analysis yields a relatively simple RLC-equivalent circuit with frequency-independent elements depending on the bias, temperature, effective mass, Fermi velocity and effective e.m. index of the material, losses and other relevant parameters.
Analytical and Numerical Solutions to Static Analysis of Moderately Thick Cross-Ply Plates and Shells
Authors: Algül İlke , Oktem Ahmet Sinan
Published: December 2022

This study aimed to provide a static solution to the boundary value problem presented by symmetric (0°/90°/0°) and antisymmetric (0°/90°) cross-ply composite, moderately thick shallow shells and plates (a special case of the shells) subjected to mixed-type unsolved boundary conditions. The boundary-discontinuous double Fourier series (BDM) method, in which displacements are expressed in trigonometric functions, is employed in a well-established framework. The analytical solution obtained using the BDM is compared with the successful integration of the generalized differential quadrature (GDQ) method for the static analysis of composite shells with a roller skate-type boundary condition prescribed on two opposite edges, while the remaining two edges are subjected to simply supported constraints. Comprehensive results are presented in order to show the effects of curvature on the deflections and stresses of moderately thick shallow shells made up of symmetric and antisymmetric cross-ply laminated composite materials. The validity of the proposed model is authenticated through the available HSDT-based literature review, and the convergence characteristics are demonstrated. The changing trends of displacements and stresses are explained in detail by investigating the effect of various parameters such as lamination, material properties, the effect of curvature, etc. Based on the results obtained using the proposed static solution, analytical BDM results were found to be in very close agreement with the numerical GDQ method, especially for symmetric lamination. However, the results obtained using the BDM and GDQ methods for antisymmetric lamination show differences, possibly due to the presence of a discontinuity in the derivatives originating from the bending–stretching matrix in antisymmetric lamination. Important numerical results presented include the sensitivity of the predicted response quantities of interest to material properties, lamination, and thickness effects, as well as their interactions. The results presented here may also serve as benchmark comparison points with numerical solutions such as finite elements, boundary elements, etc.
Effects of Cement Treatment on Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of a Granite Residual Soil
Authors: Dong Xinxin , Bao Xiaohua , Cui Hongzhi , Xu Changjie , Chen Xiangsheng
Published: December 2022

A proper treatment of granite residual soil (GRS) in geotechnical practices requires both macro and microscopic evaluations. In this study, uniaxial and oedometric compression tests were conducted to investigate the mechanical properties of the saturated untreated and cement-treated GRS. Meanwhile, XRD, SEM, and MIP tests were conducted to identify the presence and types of C–S–H and the changes in the pore structure after cement treatment. The effects of cement treatment on the uniaxial compressive strength, secant modulus, compressibility, and vertical yielding pressure were revealed and the mechanisms of the soil structure to be modified through cement treatment were clarified based on the test results. A threshold volumetric cement content of 2–3% was determined based on the mechanical properties and microstructural characteristics of the saturated cement-treated GRS. Cement contents below this threshold would produce inadequate cementation between the soil particles. In contrast, cement contents above this threshold are considered inefficient because the transformation of the soil structure from single-porosity to dual-porosity increases the total porosity and retards the strength and stiffness gains.
Editorial of Special Issue “Advances in Neuropeptide Biology”
Authors: Maugeri Grazia , D’Agata Velia
Published: December 2022

This editorial aims to summarize the contents of the six scientific papers included in the Special Issue “Advances in Neuropeptide Biology” [...]
Rural Fires—Causes of Human Losses in the 2017 Fires in Portugal
Authors: Rodrigues Andreia , Santiago Aldina , Laím Luís , Viegas Domingos Xavier , Zêzere José Luís
Published: December 2022

Extreme wildfires are increasingly rising to intense and uncontrolled fires, with dimension and destructive potentials that are greater than what has been seen and dealt with. The hazards posed by these fires increase significantly when they approach the wild–urban interface, with relevant environmental and socio-economic consequences. The 2009 Victorian bushfires and the 2017 Portugal wildfires are powerful reminders, and they have demonstrated the need to better understand why mitigation plans have failed to protect the community in these events and to improve community resilience. The year 2017 is a milestone in the history of wildfires in Portugal, not only because of the vast burned area but also due to the high number of fatalities. The two occurrences were at different times (June and October) but were geographically close (region of centre of Portugal). A total of 117 deaths occurred in both events and 92% of the victims were in wild–urban interface areas. This paper analyses and discusses the characteristics and causes of death of the victims of these two events: age, place of death, distance from place of death to place of residence and last-minute choices to aim to understand the actions that people took in the face of the approaching fire, which led to their death. In both cases, most people died fleeing the fire without any information from the competent authorities. In the end, it is possible to identify risk factors that lead to the death of civilians due to wildfires, such as the increase in demand for rurality by young people from big cities with no previous contact with wildfires; on the other hand, there is the ageing of the population residing in forest areas, who were previously physically and structurally prepared to deal with fires and are currently no longer able to.
Special Issue on Structural and Thermo-Mechanical Analyses in Nuclear Fusion Reactors
Authors: Arena Pietro , Di Maio Pietro Alessandro
Published: December 2022

Nuclear fusion is one of the most promising technologies to be adopted for the production of electricity [...]
Evaluation of the Prospects for the Use of Microalgae in Functional Bread Production
Authors: Sukhikh Stanislav , Ivanova Svetlana , Dolganyuk Vyacheslav , Pilevinova Inna , Prosekov Alexander , Ulrikh Elena , Noskova Svetlana , Michaud Philippe , Babich Olga
Published: December 2022

Microalgae are widely used to produce sorbitol, ethyl and methyl alcohols, acetone, organic acids, esters, pigments, chlorophylls, carotenoids, and other compounds. The purpose of this work was to study the potential of the Baltic Sea microalgae Arthrospira platensis and Chlorella vulgaris, as new ingredients for functional bread. Bread was baked with a dry mixture of Arthrospira platensis and Chlorella vulgaris microalgae (1:1). Gas chromatography, sequencing, chromametry, pH-metry, rheological methods, methods for determining the antioxidant ability of bread samples with microalgae for ferric reduction and removal of active free radicals were used for the research. When baking bread, the organoleptic, physicochemical properties, density, coefficients of elasticity, chewiness, stickiness, resistance to crumbling, the content of polyphenols and volatile compounds in the samples of bread with microalgae were controlled. It was found that with a higher content of microalgae in bread (3% of the flour weight on dry basis), the color of the crust and crumb decreased due to the degradation of the pigment during baking. The specific volume of a loaf with a large amount of microalgae (5%) was lower than the volume of loaves with the addition of 1% and 3% microalgae. It is shown that the moisture content increased with an increase in the amount of microalgae in bread. Replacing wheat flour with the amounts of microalgae of 1% and 3% did not affect the pH and water activity in bread. With the addition of 5% microalgae, bread became more sour, sticky, with a slight “fishy” smell. The addition of more microalgae led to an increase in polyphenols in bread samples, and, accordingly, to an increased antioxidant capacity. In total, 42 volatile compounds were found in bread with microalgae, which makes it possible to obtain functional bread. It is assumed that in the future, bread with microalgae will be competitive with ordinary wheat bread due to improved nutritional and biological value.
PRSOT: Precipitation Retrieval from Satellite Observations Based on Transformer
Authors: Jia Zhaoying , Yang Shengpeng , Zhang Jinglin , Zhang Yushan , Yang Zhipeng , Xue Ke , Bai Cong
Published: December 2022

Precipitation with high spatial and temporal resolution can improve the defense capability of meteorological disasters and provide indispensable instruction and early warning for social public services, such as agriculture, forestry, and transportation. Therefore, a deep learning-based algorithm entitled precipitation retrieval from satellite observations based on Transformer (PRSOT) is proposed to fill the observation gap of ground rain gauges and weather radars in deserts, oceans, and other regions. In this algorithm, the multispectral infrared brightness temperatures from Himawari-8, the new-generation geostationary satellite, have been used as predictor variables and the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) precipitation product has been employed to train the retrieval model. We utilized two data normalization schemes, area-based and pixel-based normalization, and conducted comparative experiments. Comparing the estimated results with the GPM product on the test set, PRSOT_Pixel_based model achieved a Probability Of Detection (POD) of 0.74, a False Alarm Ratio (FAR) of 0.44 and a Critical Success Index (CSI) of 0.47 for two-class metrics, and an Accuracy (ACC) of 0.75 for multi-class metrics. Pixel-based normalization is more suitable for meteorological data, highlighting the precipitation characteristics and obtaining better comprehensive retrieval performance in visualization and evaluation metrics. In conclusion, the proposed PRSOT model has made a remarkable and essential contribution to precipitation retrieval and outperforms the benchmark machine learning model Random Forests.
EffResUNet: Encoder Decoder Architecture for Cloud-Type Segmentation
Authors: Nalwar Sunveg , Shah Kunal , Bidwe Ranjeet Vasant , Zope Bhushan , Mane Deepak , Jadhav Veena , Shaw Kailash
Published: December 2022

Clouds play a vital role in Earth’s water cycle and the energy balance of the climate system; understanding them and their composition is crucial in comprehending the Earth–atmosphere system. The dataset “Understanding Clouds from Satellite Images” contains cloud pattern images downloaded from NASA Worldview, captured by the satellites divided into four classes, labeled Fish, Flower, Gravel, and Sugar. Semantic segmentation, also known as semantic labeling, is a fundamental yet complex problem in remote sensing image interpretation of assigning pixel-by-pixel semantic class labels to a given picture. In this study, we propose a novel approach for the semantic segmentation of cloud patterns. We began our study with a simple convolutional neural network-based model. We worked our way up to a complex model consisting of a U-shaped encoder-decoder network, residual blocks, and an attention mechanism for efficient and accurate semantic segmentation. Being an architecture of the first of its kind, the model achieved an IoU score of 0.4239 and a Dice coefficient of 0.5557, both of which are improvements over the previous research conducted in this field.
Influence of Graft Positioning during the Latarjet Procedure on Shoulder Stability and Articular Contact Pressure: Computational Analysis of the Bone Block Effect
Authors: Martins Rita , Quental Carlos , Folgado João , Ângelo Ana Catarina , de Campos Azevedo Clara
Published: December 2022

The Latarjet procedure is the most popular surgical procedure to treat anterior glenohumeral (GH) instability in the presence of large anterior glenoid bone defects. Even though the placement of the bone graft has a considerable influence on its efficacy, no clear indications exist for the best graft position. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the medial–lateral positioning of the bone graft on the contact mechanics and GH stability due to the bone block effect. Four finite element (FE) models of a GH joint, with a 20% glenoid bone defect, treated by the Latarjet procedure were developed. The FE models differed in the medial–lateral positioning of the bone graft, ranging from a flush position to a 4.5 mm lateral position with respect to the flush position. All graft placement options were evaluated for two separate shoulder positions. Anterior GH instability was simulated by translating the humeral head in the anterior direction, under a permanent compressive force, until the peak translation force was reached. Joint stability was computed as the ratio between the shear and the compressive components of the force. The lateralization of the bone graft increased GH stability due to the bone block effect after a 3 mm lateralization with respect to the flush position. The increase in GH stability was associated with a concerning increase in peak contact pressure due to the incongruous contact between the articulating surfaces. The sensitivity of the contact pressures to the medial–lateral positioning of the bone graft suggests a trade-off between GH stability due to the bone block effect and the risk of osteoarthritis, especially considering that an accurate and consistent placement of the bone graft is difficult in vivo.
Weil’s Disease—Immunopathogenesis, Multiple Organ Failure, and Potential Role of Gut Microbiota
Authors: Petakh Pavlo , Isevych Vitaliia , Kamyshnyi Aleksandr , Oksenych Valentyn
Published: December 2022

Leptospirosis is an important zoonotic disease, causing about 60,000 deaths annually. In this review, we have described in detail the immunopathogenesis of leptospirosis, the influence of cytokines, genetic susceptibility on the course of the disease, and the evasion of the immune response. These data are combined with information about immunological and pathomorphological changes in the kidneys, liver, and lungs, which are most affected by Weil’s disease. The review also suggests a possible role of the gut microbiota in the clinical course of leptospirosis, the main mechanisms of the influence of gut dysbiosis on damage in the liver, kidneys, and lungs through several axes, i.e., gut-liver, gut-kidney, and gut-lungs. Modulation of gut microbiota by probiotics and/or fecal microbiota transplantation in leptospirosis may become an important area of scientific research.
The Potential Roles of Post-Translational Modifications of PPARγ in Treating Diabetes
Authors: Ji Xiaohui , Zhang Wenqian , Yin Liqin , Shi Zunhan , Luan Jinwen , Chen Linshan , Liu Longhua
Published: December 2022

The number of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which is mainly characterized by insulin resistance and insulin secretion deficiency, has been soaring in recent years. Accompanied by many other metabolic syndromes, such as cardiovascular diseases, T2DM represents a big challenge to public health and economic development. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), a ligand-activated nuclear receptor that is critical in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism, has been developed as a powerful drug target for T2DM, such as thiazolidinediones (TZDs). Despite thiazolidinediones (TZDs), a class of PPARγ agonists, having been proven to be potent insulin sensitizers, their use is restricted in the treatment of diabetes for their adverse effects. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) have shed light on the selective activation of PPARγ, which shows great potential to circumvent TZDs’ side effects while maintaining insulin sensitization. In this review, we will focus on the potential effects of PTMs of PPARγ on treating T2DM in terms of phosphorylation, acetylation, ubiquitination, SUMOylation, O-GlcNAcylation, and S-nitrosylation. A better understanding of PTMs of PPARγ will help to design a new generation of safer compounds targeting PPARγ to treat type 2 diabetes.
Pharmacogenetics and Schizophrenia—Can Genomics Improve the Treatment with Second-Generation Antipsychotics?
Authors: Płaza Olga , Gałecki Piotr , Orzechowska Agata , Gałecka Małgorzata , Sobolewska-Nowak Justyna , Szulc Agata
Published: December 2022

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a complex psychiatric disorder of multifactorial origin, in which both genetic and environmental factors have an impact on its onset, course, and outcome. Large variability in response and tolerability of medication among individuals makes it difficult to predict the efficacy of a chosen therapeutic method and create universal and precise guidelines for treatment. Pharmacogenetic research allows for the identification of genetic polymorphisms associated with response to a chosen antipsychotic, thus allowing for a more effective and personal approach to treatment. This review focuses on three frequently prescribed second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs), risperidone, olanzapine, and aripiprazole, and aims to analyze the current state and future perspectives in research dedicated to identifying genetic factors associated with antipsychotic response. Multiple alleles of genes involved in pharmacokinetics (particularly isoenzymes of cytochrome P450), as well as variants of genes involved in dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate neurotransmission, have already been identified as ones of significant impact on antipsychotic response. It must, however, be noted that although currently obtained results are promising, trials with bigger study groups and unified protocols are crucial for standardizing methods and determining objective antipsychotic response status.
Time and Cost Schedule Dynamic–Hidden Trojan Horses
Authors: Dlask Petr , Beran Vaclav , Kuda Frantisek , Teichmann Marek , Szeligova Natalie
Published: December 2022

Investment projects are not the only ones where significant complications in their implementation may occur. The fundamental question, how to specify threats hidden in time series, is one of the most important types of knowledge arising from the basic schedules’ documentation. Feasibility studies, project proposals, organizational and production procedures, research projects, and others are major resources of information. The reason why to specify threats hidden in time series is the high cost of not revealing hidden threats. An illustrative clarification of the cost is given on the current data of nuclear power plants. Wherever one works with schedules and resources, the above-mentioned issue may appear. Undeniably, valid data is discoverable ex post in accounting, documentation, or even in the documentation of the preparation and implementation, and in the analyzes of the mechanisms for non-compliance with deadlines and cost increases. For implementation (i.e., ex ante use), the majority of projects are created by expert intuitive decision-making. In terms of content, these are sources of errors from the past, lacking analytical quantitative support (suffering from the so-called evidence shortage). Production schedule time series comprise: (a) cumulative volume, (b) speeds, and (c) accelerations. More recent, in addition to statistical analysis, is the focus on the long-term memory of time series and to the application of the Hurst exponent as indicators of predictability (ex-ante). This article offers a procedure for how to reveal hidden chaotic states in the time series of a project’s output information. If it is possible to find chaotic behavior in the output information, these states must be searched for and removed in the original source model—the implementation project. Exceeding contractual terms and implementation costs leads to a threat to the economic basis—the collapse of the initial idea of the project’s economy. As an example, nuclear power plant projects are shown. The article broadens the perspective of ex ante decision-making.
Utilization of Solar Energy for Water Heating Application to Improve Building Energy Efficiency: An Experimental Study
Authors: Meena Chandan Swaroop , Prajapati Amit Nandan , Kumar Ashwani , Kumar Manoj
Published: December 2022

The manuscript is written for flow escalation based on an experimental data for a Solar Assisted Heat Pump Water Heater (SAHPWH) increasing building energy efficiency. For the investigation, a Solar Assisted Heat Pump (SAHP) was conceived, manufactured, and tested in real time. The findings of the experiments shows that single glazing with average sun radiation of 600–750 W/m2, COP of approx. 6 can be obtained with identical heat gains. This study shows that when a flat plate collector of area 1.83 m (L) × 1.22 m (W) × 0.1 m (T) with a 0.5-mm-thick black copper plate absorber with clear glazing as a cover receives average radiation of 700 W/m2, then setup can supply 60 litres of water for residential use from 15 °C to 45 °C in approx. 70 min. In addition, the study finds that the collector efficiency factor F’ is likewise shown to have a direct connection with the absorber and an inverse relationship of tube spacing. The findings indicated that the technology has significant commercial potential, particularly in sectors such as with solar resources for improving building energy efficiency.
Transient Receptor Potential Channels in Cardiovascular and Renal Diseases
Authors: Ma Shuangtao , Zhu Michael X.
Published: December 2022

Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels belong to a superfamily of integral membrane proteins with diverse functions in sensory perception and cellular physiology [...]
Derivatization Strategies in Flavor Analysis: An Overview over the Wine and Beer Scenario
Authors: Piergiovanni Maurizio , Termopoli Veronica
Published: December 2022

Wine and beer are the most appreciated and consumed beverages in the world. This success is mainly due to their characteristic taste, smell, and aroma, which can delight consumer’s palates. These olfactory characteristics are produced from specific classes of volatile compounds called “volatile odor-active compounds” linked to different factors such as age and production. Given the vast market of drinking beverages, the characterization of these odor compounds is increasingly important. However, the chemical complexity of these beverages has led the scientific community to develop several analytical techniques for extracting and quantifying these molecules. Even though the recent “green-oriented” trend is directed towards direct preparation-free procedures, for some class of analytes a conventional step like derivatization is unavoidable. This review is a snapshot of the most used derivatization strategies developed in the last 15 years for VOAs’ determination in wine and beer, the most consumed fermented beverages worldwide and among the most complex ones. A comprehensive overview is provided for every method, whereas pros and cons are critically analyzed and discussed. Emphasis was given to miniaturized methods which are more consistent with the principles of “green analytical chemistry”.
The Strategies for Treating “Alzheimer’s Disease”: Insulin Signaling May Be a Feasible Target
Authors: You Guanying , Yao Jinyi , Liu Qiong , Li Nan
Published: December 2022

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by senile plaques formed by amyloid-beta (Aβ) extracellularly and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) formed by hyperphosphorylated tau protein intracellularly. Apart from these two features, insulin deficiency and insulin resistance have also been observed in AD brains. Thus, AD has also been referred to as type 3 diabetes by some of the scientists in this field. Insulin plays a pivotal role in learning and memory and is involved in regulating tau phosphorylation though the PI3KAkt-GSK3b signaling pathway. Interestingly, recent studies revealed that in AD brains the microglia transformed into a disease-associated microglia (DAM) status in a TREM2-dependent manner to restrain the toxicity of Aβ and propagation of tau. This also correlated with PI3K-Akt signaling through the adaptor of TREM2. Whether insulin has any effect on microglia activation in AD pathology is unclear so far. However, many studies demonstrated that diabetes increased the risk of AD. In this review, we summarize the main strategies for curing AD, including lowering the level of Aβ, suppressing the phosphorylation of tau, the ablation and/or repopulation of microglia, and especially the supply of insulin. We also propose that attention should be given to the influences of insulin on microglia in AD.
Study on Microstructure and Properties of Mechanically Deposited Zn-Sn Coating
Authors: Liu Peng , Wang Shengmin , Wang Chengyu , Zhao Xiaojun
Published: December 2022

A Zn-Sn coating of ~30 µm thickness was prepared on an iron substrate by mechanical deposition using zinc and tin powders as raw materials. The Zn-Sn coating consists of zinc powder particles physically stacked with tin powder particles and filled with reduced tin, and the tin content in the coating is 20%–30%. The resulting Zn-Sn coating was characterized and analyzed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), polarization curves (Tafel), electrochemical impedance (EIS), and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS). The results showed that the Zn powder was co-deposited with the Sn powder in a portable manner and the Sn powder was deflected and deformed to a great extent. The spot-flocculated reduced Sn also covered the surface of the Zn powder to fill the interstices of the coating to make the coating more compact. Compared with the pure Zn coating, the Zn-Sn coating has a positive shift of 68 mV in the self-corrosion potential in the polarization test, and the corrosion current was only 20% of that of the pure Zn coating. The reduced Sn had a shielding effect on the Zn powder and at the same time, in combination with inert tin powder, the polarization resistance of the plated layer increased to 1118 Ω/cm2. Furthermore, compared to the pure zinc layer, the time of white rust and red rust increased by 24 and 240 h, respectively. In addition, the XPS results showed that the Zn-Sn plating layer was clearly passivated, which was mainly due to the formation of Zn(OH)2 and Sn(OH)2. The results also emphasized that the tin element in the Zn-Sn plated layer can maintain the morphology of zinc powder, compact the plating layer, and prevent the release of corrosion products, thus improving the corrosion resistance of the Zn-Sn coating.
The Influence of CO2 Curing on the Mechanical Performance and the Corresponding Chloride Ion Resistance of Alkali-Activated Compound Mineral Admixtures
Authors: Peng Ling , Yang Junchao , Wang Hui , Jin Xiaoqing
Published: December 2022

In this paper, the mechanical properties (the flexural strength, compressive strength and the drying shrinkage rate) of CO2-cured alkali-activated compound mineral admixtures (blast furnace slag powder (BFS) and fly ash (FA)) are investigated. In addition, the corresponding chloride ion mobility coefficient is measured. Additionally, the freeze–thaw cycles with an NaCl concentration of 3% is studied. Thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy are applied in analyzing the mechanical properties. The curing ages of the alkali-activated compound mineral admixtures are 1 day, 3 days and 28 days. Results show that the mechanical strengths are decreased by the addition of FA and increased by the increasing curing age and CO2 curing. The maximum reducing rates of flexural and compressive strengths by FA are 47.6% and 42.3%. Meanwhile, the corresponding increasing rates by CO2 curing are 26.5% and 23.1%, respectively. The improving effect of alkali-activated BFS by CO2 curing is higher than that of FA. Furthermore, the drying shrinkage rate is increased by the increasing dosages of BFS, the increasing curing ages and CO2 curing. Additionally, CO2 curing and the increasing dosage of BFS leads to decreasing the chloride ion mobility coefficient. Finally, CO2 curing and the addition of BFS can effectively improve the resistance of NaCl freeze–thaw cycles. The compactness of the hydration products is improved by the addition of BFS and the roughness of hydration products is increased by CO2 curing.
Influence of Milling Time and Ball-to-Powder Ratio on Mechanical Behavior of FeMn30Cu5 Biodegradable Alloys Prepared by Mechanical Alloying and Hot-Forging
Authors: Sivasankaran Subbarayan , Ammar Hany R. , Almangour Bandar , Elborolosy Samir Ali , Mekky Abdel-baset H. , Alaboodi Abdulaziz S.
Published: December 2022

FeMn30Cu5 is a biodegradable and multi-component alloy that can be used to repair bone defects in load-bearing parts in the medical field. This work focuses on studying the influence of milling time and ball-to-powder ratio (BPR) on the mechanical behavior of FeMn30Cu5 alloys via mechanical alloying and hot-forging. Three different milling times (1, 5.5, and 10 h) and BPRs (5:1, 10:1, and 15:1) were used as the main independent variables. MA was performed at 300 rpm in ethanol; the synthesized powders were dried, hot-compacted at 550 MPa, and sintered under an inert atmosphere (1000 °C, 15 min) using a medium-frequency induction furnace and hot-forging. The mechanical behavior in terms of Vickers hardness, compressive stress–strain curves, and percentage theoretical density was investigated. This experimental work revealed that both milling time and BPR significantly influenced the grain size reduction owing to variations in the severe plastic deformation and mechanical collisions produced by the milling medium. The hardness and ultimate strength of the FeMn30Cu5 alloy processed at 10 h and 15:1 BPR were 1788.17 ± 4.9 MPa, which was 1.5 times higher than those of the same alloy processed at 1 h and 5:1 BPR (1200.45 ± 6.5 MPa). Austenite iron (g-Fe), ferrite-iron (a-Fe), a-Mn, and a-Cu phases were observed in XRD and SEM images. The formed a-Mn and a-Cu overlapped with the g-Fe lattice because of the diffusion of Mn and Cu atoms during sintering and hot-forging. The incorporated 30 wt.% of Mn and 5 wt.% of Cu stabilize the austenite phase (good for MRI scans in medical applications), which contributed to promoting superior mechanical properties with milling time (10 h) and BPR (15:1) due to severe structural defects.
Consensus Control of Large-Scale UAV Swarm Based on Multi-Layer Graph
Authors: Wang Taiqi , Zhao Shuaihe , Xia Yuanqing , Pan Zhenhua , Tian Hanwen
Published: December 2022

An efficient control of large-scale unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) swarm to establish a complex formation is one of the most challenging tasks. This paper investigates a novel multi-layer topology network and consensus control approach for a large-scale UAV swarm moving under a stable configuration. The proposed topology can make the swarm remain robust in spite of the large number of UAVs. Then a potential function-based controller is developed to control the UAVs in realizing autonomous configuration swarming under the consideration of mutual collision, and the stability of the controller from the individual UAV to the entire swarm system is analyzed by a Lyapunov approach. Afterwards, a yaw angle adjustment approach for the UAVs to reach consensus is developed for the multi-layer swarm, then the direction state of each UAV converges with a fast rate. Finally, simulations are performed on the large-scale UAV swarm system to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
E-Ensemble: A Novel Ensemble Classifier for Encrypted Video Identification
Authors: Bukhari Syed M. A. H. , Afandi Waleed , Khan Muhammad U. S. , Maqsood Tahir , Qureshi Muhammad B. , Fayyaz Muhammad A. B. , Nawaz Raheel
Published: December 2022

In recent years, video identification within encrypted network traffic has gained popularity for many reasons. For example, a government may want to track what content is being watched by its citizens, or businesses may want to block certain content for productivity. Many such reasons advocate for the need to track users on the internet. However, with the introduction of the secure socket layer (SSL) and transport layer security (TLS), it has become difficult to analyze traffic. In addition, dynamic adaptive streaming over HTTP (DASH), which creates abnormalities due to the variable-bitrate (VBR) encoding, makes it difficult for researchers to identify videos in internet traffic. The default quality settings in browsers automatically adjust the quality of streaming videos depending on the network load. These auto-quality settings also increase the challenge in video detection. This paper presents a novel ensemble classifier, E-Ensemble, which overcomes the abnormalities in video identification in encrypted network traffic. To achieve this, three different classifiers are combined by using two different combinations of classifiers: the hard-level and soft-level combinations. To verify the performance of the proposed classifier, the classifiers were trained on a video dataset collected over one month and tested on a separate video dataset captured over 20 days at a different date and time. The soft-level combination of classifiers showed more stable results in handling abnormalities in the dataset than those of the hard-level combination. Furthermore, the soft-level classifier combination technique outperformed the hard-level combination with a high accuracy of 81.81%, even in the auto-quality mode.
Characterisation of Tannin and Aroma Profiles of Pinot Noir Wines Made with or without Grape Pomace
Authors: Wimalasiri Pradeep M. , Zhan Jicheng , Tian Bin
Published: December 2022

The contribution of grape pomace on tannin concentration, tannin composition and aroma profile of Pinot noir wine was studied using different fermentation media to make up four treatments: GJ-P, grape juice plus pomace; MJ-P, model juice plus pomace; GJ, grape juice; MJ, model juice. The MJ-P treatment showed significantly lower amounts of tannins, mean degree of polymerisation (mDP), similar amounts of anthocyanin, and a similar secondary aroma profile compared to the GJ-P treatment. Grape pomace addition significantly increased the tannin concentration in wines. This study was also revealed the importance of phenolics present in grape juice in tannin polymerisation and final tannin concentration in wines. Grape pomace addition significantly reduced some important aroma compounds such as acetate esters (except ethyl acetate), most of the volatile fatty acids, a few ethyl esters and β-damascenone but increased some primary aromas in wines due to the presence of their aroma precursors in skins. Hence, these results indicate that grape pomace may bind or delay the release of some aroma compounds and/or lose these compounds during cap management in GJ-P and MJ-P treatments compared to the respective juice treatments.
Effects of a Diet of Phragmites australis instead of Triticum aestivum L. on Immune Performance and Liver Tissue Structure of Ctenopharyngodon idellus
Authors: Wang Ronghua , Lei Chaobo , Li Zhenyu , Lei Yanju , Luo Congqiang , Shao Liye , Huang Chunhong , Yang Pinhong
Published: December 2022

This experiment aimed to study the effects on liver tissue structure and immune performance of grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idellus when the common reed Phragmites australis is in its diet, instead of wheat Triticum aestivum L. Seventy-two healthy grass carps (145.52 ± 2.56 g) were randomly divided into three groups according to their body weight. Fishes in each group were fed an essential diet with 0% (control group), 50% and 100% (test group) common reed, instead of wheat, respectively. After feeding for 41 days, the changes of serum biochemical indices, liver tissue structure and immune related indices of grass carp were detected. The results showed that, compared with the control group, the activities of serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) in the substitution groups were significantly increased (p < 0.05), but still at a normal level. The contents of total protein, albumin and globulin did not change significantly (p > 0.05). Compared with the control group, the liver cells of grass carp in the substitution groups had clear boundaries, tight arrangement and less vacuolation. The contents of serum interleukin-1 (IL-1) and complement 3 (C3) in the 100% substitution group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05), and the contents of liver IL-1 and total complement (CH50) in the 100% substitution group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). The contents of IL-1, C3 in serum and IL-1, CH50 in liver in the 50% substitution group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). The mRNA relative expression levels of C3, IL-1, MHC-I and interferon (IFN) in the head-kidney, kidney, liver and spleen of grass carp were significantly affected by feeding the grass carp with different common reed substitution ratios (p < 0.05). In summary, common reed, instead of wheat, in feed can improve the liver tissue structure, and increase the non-specific immune response level, of grass carp.