bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in South American Most Prosperous Countries: National and Regional Level Perspectives
Authors: Calispa Evelyn , Calispa Aguilar Marcelo , Serrano Aguiar Carlos , Pozo Safla Edwin , Moreno Barriga Mónica , García Cabezas Eduardo , Cayán Martínez Juan
Published: March 2023

This paper aims to characterise the Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (EE) at the national and regional (subnational) level in Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay employing relevant scientific literature and the latest available data from two well-known entrepreneurial ecosystem indices. Our results show that overall, Chile offers the best national-level ecosystem conditions for productive entrepreneurship among the selected countries. Uruguay and Argentina perform relatively lower than Chile, but they still show potential for improvement by addressing their key system bottlenecks. Moreover, data at the regional level shows that the performance of subnational ecosystems within each country is not homogeneous and regional ecosystems have specific combinations of strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, in a way, these findings confirm the relevance of regional perspectives for research in EE. The data synthesised in this study may be of assistance to researchers interested in understanding entrepreneurship in South American countries and for local policymakers aiming to design context-sensitive entrepreneurship policies.
The Design and Content of an Online Continuous Professional Development Course in Special Education for Teachers in Irish Immersion Primary and Post-Primary Schools
Authors: Nic Aindriú Sinéad , Connaughton-Crean Lorraine , Ó Duibhir Pádraig , Travers Joe
Published: March 2023

This article discusses the design and content of an online continuous professional development (CPD) course in special education provision for students in Irish immersion (IM) primary and post-primary schools. The course was developed using the data from a mixed methods study on the needs of teachers in this area. This article describes the ABC course design method used. It presents the five modules of the course: (1) bilingualism and second language acquisition, (2) assessment, (3) inclusive pedagogies, (4) universal design for learning, and (5) ICT for the inclusion of all students. It also includes data from a course evaluation form completed by participating teachers (N = 25) in relation of the areas of the course that were effective, areas that they would like to learn more about, and recommendations on how the course could be improved. It is anticipated that this article will be of interest to immersion teacher educators internationally.
Two-Axis Optoelectronic Stabilized Platform Based on Active Disturbance Rejection Controller with LuGre Friction Model
Authors: Hu Xueyan , Han Shunjie , Liu Yangyang , Wang Heran
Published: March 2023

To realize the stable tracking control of the optoelectronic stabilized platform system under nonlinear friction and external disturbance, an active disturbance rejection controller (ADRC) with friction compensation is proposed to improve the target tracking ability and anti-disturbance performance. First, a nonlinear LuGre observer is designed to estimate friction behavior and preliminarily suppress the interference of friction torque on the system. Then, an ADRC is introduced to further suppress the residual disturbance after friction compensation, and the stability of the ADRC system is also proved. The effectiveness of this scheme is proved by simulation experiments, and this scheme is compared with conventional ADRC and LuGre friction feedforward compensation. The simulation results show that an ADRC with LuGre friction compensation is better with trajectory tracking performance, which suppresses the influence of disturbance and improves the stability of the optoelectronic stabilized platform system.
Theoretical Analysis of the Time Transient of the THz Self-Mixing Rectification Voltage in a Semiconductor Barrier
Authors: Palma Fabrizio
Published: March 2023

THz detection in a silicon structure can be an effective instrument not only for image detection, and material and gas sensing, but also for communications. Next-generation 6G communications assume the possibility of achieving a large-band transmission, using free space propagation with THz carriers. This possibility relies on the availability of an effective, low-cost detector technology. THz detection by self-mixing can provide an effective amplitude demodulation of the incoming carrier, with antennas directly fabricated on the chip. In this case, the speed of the detectors represents a crucial point in the definition of the bandwidth whereby several GHz are indeed required by the communication systems. The self-mixing process is intrinsically very fast, since it depends on the non-linear interaction of the radiation with the majority carriers inside the semiconductor structure. In this paper, we evaluate analytically the time dependence of the onset of the rectified voltage. A potential propagation along the detector channel follows the self-mixing rectification, accompanied by the charging of the parasitic capacitances of the structure. A numerical simulator can easily evaluate the delay due to this propagation along the structure, but the transient of the true origin of the signal, i.e., the establishment of the self-mixing voltage, at the current time, can be only inferred by analytical approach. In this work, we use the model developed for the THz rectification in the depletion region of an MOS capacitance to develop a transient model of the formation of the characteristic self-mixing charge dipole, and of the generation of the rectified potential. Subsequently, we show by TCAD simulations the propagation of the effect on the semiconductor structure, which surrounds the rectifying barrier, and evaluate the overall time response of a detector.
Evaluation of a Three-Parameter Gearshift Strategy for a Two-Speed Transmission System in Electric Vehicles
Authors: Ahssan Md Ragib , Ektesabi Mehran , Gorji Saman
Published: March 2023

This paper proposes a three-parameter gearshift scheduling strategy that has been implemented on both large and small electric vehicles with two-speed transmission systems. The new strategy evaluates vehicle performance under varying driving conditions on flat and hilly roads by assessing the vehicle speed, acceleration, and road grade. A heuristic approach is used to develop two gearshift schedules for vehicle acceleration and road grade, and gradient descent and pattern search methods are applied to optimize the gear ratios and primary gearshift schedules. The results show that the proposed gearshift strategy saves 16.5% of energy on hilly roads compared to conventional approaches. Optimal gearshift schedules for acceleration provide more room for second gear operation, while optimized gearshift schedules for the road grade increase the buffer zone for larger vehicles and allow more space for the second gear operating area. The experimental results validate the proposed approach’s performance for both large and small electric vehicles.
Employing the Peltier Effect to Control Motor Operating Temperatures
Authors: Lucas Stephen , Marian Romeo , Lucas Michael , Ogunwa Titilayo , Chahl Javaan
Published: March 2023

Electrical insulation failure is the most common failure mechanism in electrical machines (motors and generators). High temperatures and/or temperature gradients (HTTG) are the main drivers of insulation failure in electrical machines. HTTG combine with and augment other destructive effects from over-voltage, to voltage transients, overload and load variations, poor construction techniques, and thermal cycling. These operating conditions cause insulation damage that leads to electrical insulation failure. The insulation failure process is greatly accelerated by pollutants and moisture absorption. A simple and robust way to reduce HTTG and moisture adsorption is by maintaining constant internal temperatures. The current method to maintain elevated internal temperatures and reduce condensation issues is by internal electrical heating elements. This paper examines the effectiveness of applying thermoelectric coolers (TECs), solid-state heat pumps (Peltier devices), as heaters to raise a motor’s internal temperature by pumping heat into the motor core rather than heating the internal air. TEC technology is relatively new, and the application of TECs to heat a motor’s internal volume has not previously been explored. In this paper, we explore the hypothesis that TECs can pump heat into a motor when out of service, reducing the HTTG by maintaining high winding slot temperatures and eliminating condensation issues. This paper describes a test motor setup with simple resistive heating (traditional method), compared with the application of TECs with heat sinks, heat pipes, and a water circulation heat exchanger, to gauge the capability of TECs to heat the inner core or winding area. In this paper, we demonstrate the full integration of TECs into a motor. The results show that each of the systems incorporating the TECs would effectively pump heat into the core and keep the winding hot, eliminating condensation issues and water ingress due to thermal cycling.
Analysis of DC/DC Boost Converter–Full-Bridge Buck Inverter System for AC Generation
Authors: García-Rodríguez Víctor Hugo , Pérez-Cruz José Humberto , Ambrosio-Lázaro Roberto Carlos , Tavera-Mosqueda Salvador
Published: March 2023

This paper presents an analysis and simulation of the mathematical model associated to the DC/DC Boost converter–full-bridge Buck inverter system to regulate the voltage output of the DC/DC Boost converter allowing bipolar voltages higher than the input voltage via the full-bridge Buck inverter. To validate the model, the differential flatness property is applied via the flat outputs of the system (energy for the DC/DC Boost converter and the voltage of the full-bridge Buck inverter) considering the complete dynamics, in conjunction with fixed and time-variant trajectory planning. In the simulation results, it is observed that the error signals of the states versus the reference trajectories are acceptable. Regarding the validation of the model, this is performed with open-loop simulations at the circuit level using the SimPowerSystems Toolbox of Matlab-Simulink. The simulation results validate the good performance of the system under study. In this way, the main contribution of this work is that for the first time in the literature, the analysis of a complete dynamics for a conversion system from DC to AC without the use of a transformer and taking advantage of differential flatness is reported; thus, the system analyzed could be represented as an alternative in applications of renewable energies that require conversion from DC to AC.
Optimal Selection of Capacitors for a Low Energy Storage Quadratic Boost Converter (LES-QBC)
Authors: Solis-Rodriguez Jose , Rosas-Caro Julio C. , Alejo-Reyes Avelina , Valdez-Resendiz Jesus E.
Published: March 2023

This article studies a recently proposed dc-dc converter and its optimization in terms of capacitors selection through the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm. The converter under study is the so-called Low Energy Storage Quadratic Boost Converter (LES-QBC), a quadratic type of converter that offers a smaller Output Voltage Ripple (OVR) compared to the traditional quadratic boost topology with capacitors of the same characteristics. This study presents a way to select the capacitors for minimizing the OVR while achieving a constraint of a maximum stored energy in capacitors. The capacitor’s stored energy is given as a design specification. The results are compared against the traditional quadratic boost converter and the LES-QBC without optimization (equal capacitance in capacitors). The optimization algorithm used was the so-called Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposition. For the design exercise used for the results, the capacitor’s stored energy was kept almost the same, and a reduction in the OVR was achieved versus the non-optimized LES-QBC.
A Novel Remaining Useful Estimation Model to Assist Asset Renewal Decisions Applied to the Brazilian Electric Sector
Authors: Santiago Hemir da Cunha , Cavalcanti José Carlos da Silva , Prudêncio Ricardo Bastos Cavalcante , Mohamed Mohamed A. , Sarubbo Leonie Asfora , Converti Attilio , Marinho Manoel Henrique da Nóbrega
Published: March 2023

Assets deteriorate over time, as well as being covered, corroded, or becoming old in less obvious ways. Maintenance can extend the remaining useful life (RUL) of an asset system, but sooner or later it must surely be replaced. In this study, we propose a new RUL estimation methodology to assist in decision making for the maintenance and replacement of assets from prioritizing equipment in a renovation plan. Our methodology uses advanced data analysis techniques that consider multiple competing criteria with the goal of maximizing values of the asset throughout its life cycle, while considering the rules of remuneration and service quality of the current regulation, as well as the values at risk according to the decisions and actions taken. Experimental results with real datasets show the efficiency of the proposed approach. Finally, this work also presents the development of an analytical tool to optimize asset renewal decisions applying the RUL estimation methodology proposed and its application to the Brazilian electric sector.
Open-Source Energy, Entropy, and Exergy 0D Heat Release Model for Internal Combustion Engines
Authors: Depcik Christopher , Mattson Jonathan , Alam Shah Saud
Published: March 2023

Internal combustion engines face increased market, societal, and governmental pressures to improve performance, requiring researchers to utilize modeling tools capable of a thorough analysis of engine performance. Heat release is a critical aspect of internal combustion engine diagnostic analysis, but is prone to variability in modeling validity, particularly as engine operation is pushed further from conventional combustion regimes. To that end, this effort presents a comprehensive open-source, zero-dimensional equilibrium heat release model. This heat release analysis is based on a combined mass, energy, entropy, and exergy formulation that improves upon well-established efforts constructed around the ratio of specific heats. Furthermore, it incorporates combustion using an established chemical kinetics mechanism to endeavor to predict the global chemical species in the cylinder. Future efforts can augment and improve the chemical kinetics reactions for specific combustion conditions based on the radical pyrolysis of the fuel. In addition, the incorporation of theoretical calculations of energy and exergy based on the change in chemical species allows for cross-checking of combustion model validity.
CFD-Based Prediction of Combustion Dynamics and Nonlinear Flame Transfer Functions for a Swirl-Stabilized High-Pressure Combustor
Authors: Kapucu Mehmet , Kok Jim B. W.
Published: March 2023

Thermoacoustic instabilities in gasturbine combustor systems can be predicted in the design phase with a thermoacoustic network model. In this model, the coupling between acoustic pressure fluctuations and the combustion rate is described by the Flame Transfer Function. The present paper introduces a new, efficient, and robust method for deriving the FTF from CFD predictions by means of a discrete multi-frequency sinusoidal fuel flow excitation method. The CFD-based FTF result compares well with experimental data for the time delay, but for the gain, only up to 400 Hz. Above 400 Hz, the CFD result reveals a smooth low-amplitude gain, which is not found in the measured data. A novel, accurate continuous correlation function for the FTF gain is computed based on the results for discrete frequencies. When this is implemented into a 1D acoustic network model, the stability map shows, below 600 Hz, two eigenfrequencies, by both the experiment and CFD-based FTF, that are identical. The CFD-based FTF correctly predicts marginal activity at the highest eigenfrequency, while the experimentally based FTF suggests an unstable operation. The unstable operation is not observed in the experiments. This suggests that the CFD-based FTF is also correct for high frequencies.
Sustainable Buildings: A Choice, or a Must for Our Future?
Authors: Khiati Seif , Belarbi Rafik , Yahia Ammar
Published: March 2023

Construction is a key sector for green growth on a global scale [...]
Novel R2R3-MYB Transcription Factor LiMYB75 Enhances Leaf Callus Regeneration Efficiency in Lagerstroemia indica
Authors: Jiang Shengji , Lv Fenni , Gao Lulu , Gu Jiaojiao , Yang Rutong , Li Sumei , Li Ya , Li Shaofeng , Wang Peng
Published: March 2023

Lagerstroemia indica is an important woody ornamental plant worldwide. However, the application of many technologies, such as transgenic breeding and genome editing, has been severely hampered due to the lack of efficient calli induction and regeneration technology. Here, we discussed a reliable and efficient calli induction and regeneration protocol using whole-leaf explants. This protocol’s effectiveness for the calli induction and regeneration systems in crape myrtle were up to 70.33% and 44.33%, respectively. Next, an efficient and stable Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation system was created from leaf calli, and the green fluorescent protein (GFP) was able to detect up to 90% of its positive frequency. Meanwhile, two positive lines’ transfer DNA insertion sites and directions were identified using whole genome sequencing. LiMYB75, a novel R2R3-MYB transcription factor, was identified and transferred to the L. indica genome to enhance the leaf calli regeneration frequency. Surprisingly, overexpressing LiMYB75 increased the frequency of calli regeneration in the leaf by 1.27 times and the number of regenerated plantlets per callus by 4.00 times compared to the wild type, by regulating the expression levels of genes involved in callus formation, such as SHOOT MERISTEMLESS (STM). Overall, our findings revealed a simple, reliable, and highly efficient transformation approach and identified the desirable candidate gene LiMYB75, which improves L. indica’s calli regeneration efficiency.
Response Surface Methodology Approach for Predicting Convective/Infrared Drying, Quality, Bioactive and Vitamin C Characteristics of Pumpkin Slices
Authors: Joudi-Sarighayeh Fatemeh , Abbaspour-Gilandeh Yousef , Kaveh Mohammad , Szymanek Mariusz , Kulig Ryszard
Published: March 2023

In this research, a convective/infrared (CV/IR) dryer was used to dry pumpkin slices. For optimization of the drying conditions, the influence of three levels of independent variables including air temperature (40, 55, and 70 °C), air velocity (0.5, 1, and 1.5 m/s), and IR power (250, 500, and 750 W) were assessed by response surface method (RSM) through a face-centered central composite design. Analysis of variance (non-fitting factor and R2 value) was employed to determine the desirability of the model. Response surfaces and diagrams were also utilized to show the interactive influence of the independent variables with the response variables (drying time, energy consumption, shrinkage, total color variation, rehydration ratio, total phenol, antioxidant, and vitamin C contents). According to the results, optimal drying conditions involved a temperature of 70 °C, air velocity of 0.69 m/s, and IR power of 750 W. At the mentioned conditions, response variables of drying time, energy consumption, shrinkage, color, rehydration ratio, total phenol, antioxidant, and vitamin C contents were 72.53 min, 24.52 MJ/kg, 23%, 14.74, 4.97, 617.97 mg GA/100 g dw, 81.57%, and 4.02 mg/g dw, with a confidence level of 0.948, respectively.
Antioxidative and Protective Effect of Morchella esculenta against Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Alterations in Liver
Authors: Chen Shutong , Wang Min , Veeraperumal Suresh , Teng Bo , Li Rui , Qian Zhengming , Chen Jianping , Zhong Saiyi , Cheong Kit-Leong
Published: March 2023

Morchella esculenta is an edible mushroom with special flavor and high nutritional value for humans, primarily owing to its polysaccharide constituents. M. esculenta polysaccharides (MEPs) possess remarkable pharmaceutical properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and anti-atherogenic activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo antioxidant potential of MEPs. In vitro activity was determined using free radical scavenging assays, whereas in vivo activity was evaluated through dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced liver injury in mice with acute colitis. MEPs effectively scavenged 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2-azinobis-6-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline sulfonic acid) free radicals in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, DSS-induced mice showed severe liver damage, cellular infiltration, tissue necrosis, and decreased antioxidant capacity. In contrast, intragastric administration of MEPs showed hepatoprotective effects against DSS-induced liver injury. MEPs remarkably elevated the expression levels of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase. Additionally, it decreased malondialdehyde and myeloperoxidase levels in the liver. These results indicate that the protective effects of MEP against DSS-induced hepatic injury could rely on its ability to reduce oxidative stress, suppress inflammatory responses, and improve antioxidant enzyme activity in the liver. Therefore, MEPs could be explored as potential natural antioxidant agents in medicine or as functional foods to prevent liver injury.
Microclimate and Genotype Impact on Nutritional and Antinutritional Quality of Locally Adapted Landraces of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)
Authors: Bosmali Irene , Giannenas Ilias , Christophoridou Styliani , Ganos Christos G. , Papadopoulos Aggelos , Papathanasiou Fokion , Kolonas Alexandros , Gortzi Olga
Published: March 2023

This study aimed to assess the impact of genotype, location, and type of cultivation (organic) on the nutrient and anti-nutrient components of seven large-seeded bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) populations. All genotypes were cultivated during 2014 and 2015 in randomized complete block (RCB) experimental designs in three areas of the Prespa region (Pili, Patoulidio, Agios Germanos) in Greece. Particularly, total protein (18.79–23.93%), fiber (7.77–12%), starch (40.14–55.26%), and fat (1.84–2.58%) contents were analyzed and showed significant differences. In order to assess mineral content, firstly, the total ash percentage (4.31% to 5.20%) and secondly, trace elements and heavy metals were determined. The concentrations of identified inorganic metals showed large variations. The total phenolic content of the samples varied from 0.18 to 0.29 mg/g gallic acid equivalent (GAE). A major limitation of increasing the use of grain legumes as feed is the presence of diverse compounds in their grain, commonly referred to as antinutritional factors, and these are mainly trypsin inhibitors. Trypsin inhibitor levels were evaluated, with results varying from 21.8 to 138.5 TIU/g. Pili 2014 and 2015 were differently associated regarding the year of cultivation. Pili 2015 location was also very closely associated with the Patoulidio region, whereas Agios Germanos and Pili 2014 were the most different in terms of nutritional and antinutritional content.
Genetic Characterization of Listeria from Food of Non-Animal Origin Products and from Producing and Processing Companies in Bavaria, Germany
Authors: Wartha Simone , Bretschneider Nancy , Dangel Alexandra , Hobmaier Bernhard , Hörmansdorfer Stefan , Huber Ingrid , Murr Larissa , Pavlovic Melanie , Sprenger Annika , Wenning Mareike , Alter Thomas , Messelhäußer Ute
Published: March 2023

Reported cases of listeriosis from food of non-animal origin (FNAO) are increasing. In order to assess the risk of exposure to Listeria monocytogenes from FNAO, the genetic characterization of the pathogen in FNAO products and in primary production and processing plants needs to be investigated. For this, 123 samples of fresh and frozen soft fruit and 407 samples of 39 plants in Bavaria, Germany that produce and process FNAO were investigated for Listeria contamination. As a result, 64 Listeria spp. isolates were detected using ISO 11290-1:2017. Environmental swabs and water and food samples were investigated. L. seeligeri (36/64, 56.25%) was the most frequently identified species, followed by L. monocytogenes (8/64, 12.50%), L. innocua (8/64, 12.50%), L. ivanovii (6/64, 9.38%), L. newyorkensis (5/64, 7.81%), and L. grayi (1/64, 1.56%). Those isolates were subsequently sequenced by whole-genome sequencing and subjected to pangenome analysis to retrieve data on the genotype, serotype, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and virulence markers. Eight out of sixty-four Listeria spp. isolates were identified as L. monocytogenes. The serogroup analysis detected that 62.5% of the L. monocytogenes isolates belonged to serogroup IIa (1/2a and 3a) and 37.5% to serogroup IVb (4b, 4d, and 4e). Furthermore, the MLST (multilocus sequence typing) analysis of the eight detected L. monocytogenes isolates identified seven different sequence types (STs) and clonal complexes (CCs), i.e., ST1/CC1, ST2/CC2, ST6/CC6, ST7/CC7, ST21/CC21, ST504/CC475, and ST1413/CC739. The core genome MLST analysis also showed high allelic differences and suggests plant-specific isolates. Regarding the AMR, we detected phenotypic resistance against benzylpenicillin, fosfomycin, and moxifloxacin in all eight L. monocytogenes isolates. Moreover, virulence factors, such as prfA, hly, plcA, plcB, hpt, actA, inlA, inlB, and mpl, were identified in pathogenic and nonpathogenic Listeria species. The significance of L. monocytogenes in FNAO is growing and should receive increasing levels of attention.
Gravitational Instability of Gas–Dust Circumnuclear Disks in Galaxies
Authors: Tkachenko Roman , Korchagin Vladimir , Jmailov Boris
Published: March 2023

We numerically study the origin of the multi-armed spiral structure observed in the circumnuclear gaseous mini-disks of nearby galaxies. We show that the presence of dust in such disks and its interaction with the gravitationally stable gaseous component leads to the development of a multi-armed spiral structure. As a particular example, we study the formation of the multi-armed spiral pattern in the mini-disk of the galaxy NGC 4736, for which the observational data for the rotation and the density distribution are available. We find that the multi-armed spiral structure grows in the stable gaseous mini-disk of NGC 4736 if the gas-to-dust ratio is about 5–20 percent. We also demonstrate that together with the dust concentration, the important factor for the development of instability is the size of the dust grains. A nonlinear multi-armed spiral pattern develops in the stable gaseous disk with sizes of grains larger than one micron. If future observations confirm the presence of a large amount of dust in the mini-disks of galaxies, this will pinpoint the mechanism of the formation of the multi-armed spiral structure in them.
Pluronic® F127 Hydrogel Containing Silver Nanoparticles in Skin Burn Regeneration: An Experimental Approach from Fundamental to Translational Research
Authors: Francisco Pedro , Neves Amaral Mariana , Neves Afonso , Ferreira-Gonçalves Tânia , Viana Ana S. , Catarino José , Faísca Pedro , Simões Sandra , Perdigão João , Charmier Adília J. , Gaspar M. Manuela , Reis Catarina Pinto
Published: March 2023

Presently, skin burns are considered one of the main public health problems and lack therapeutic options. In recent years, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been widely studied, playing an increasingly important role in wound healing due to their antibacterial activity. This work is focused on the production and characterization of AgNPs loaded in a Pluronic® F127 hydrogel, as well as assessing its antimicrobial and wound-healing potential. Pluronic® F127 has been extensively explored for therapeutic applications mainly due to its appealing properties. The developed AgNPs had an average size of 48.04 ± 14.87 nm (when prepared by method C) and a negative surface charge. Macroscopically, the AgNPs solution presented a translucent yellow coloration with a characteristic absorption peak at 407 nm. Microscopically, the AgNPs presented a multiform morphology with small sizes (~50 nm). Skin permeation studies revealed that no AgNPs permeated the skin after 24 h. AgNPs further demonstrated antimicrobial activity against different bacterial species predominant in burns. A chemical burn model was developed to perform preliminary in vivo assays and the results showed that the performance of the developed AgNPs loaded in hydrogel, with smaller silver dose, was comparable with a commercial silver cream using higher doses. In conclusion, hydrogel-loaded AgNPs is potentially an important resource in the treatment of skin burns due to their proven efficacy by topical administration.
Identifying Genes Associated with Female Flower Development of Phellodendron amurense Rupr. Using a Transcriptomics Approach
Authors: He Lihong , Fan Yongfang , Zhang Zhao , Wei Xueping , Yu Jing
Published: March 2023

Phellodendron amurense Rupr., a species of Rutaceae, is a nationally protected and valuable medicinal plant. It is generally considered to be dioecious. With the discovery of monoecious P. amurense, the phenomenon that its sex development is regulated by epigenetics has been revealed, but the way epigenetics affects the sex differentiation of P. amurense is still unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of DNA methylation on the sexual development of P. amurense. The young inflorescences of male plants were treated with the demethylation agent 5-azaC, and the induced female flowers were obtained. The induced female flowers’ morphological functions and transcriptome levels were close to those of normally developed plants. Genes associated with the development of female flowers were studied by comparing the differences in transcriptome levels between the male and female flowers. Referring to sex-related genes reported in other plants, 188 candidate genes related to the development of female flowers were obtained, including sex-regulating genes, genes related to the formation and development of sexual organs, genes related to biochemical pathways, and hormone-related genes. RPP0W, PAL3, MCM2, MCM6, SUP, PIN1, AINTEGUMENTA, AINTEGUMENTA-LIKE6, AGL11, SEUSS, SHI-RELATED SEQUENCE 5, and ESR2 were preliminarily considered the key genes for female flower development. This study has demonstrated that epigenetics was involved in the sex regulation of P. amurense, with DNA methylation as one of its regulatory modes. Moreover, some candidate genes related to the sexual differentiation of P. amurense were obtained with analysis. These results are of great significance for further exploring the mechanism of sex differentiation of P. amurense and studying of sex differentiation of plants.
Characterization of Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) Markers Mined in Whole Grape Genomes
Authors: Pei Dan , Song Siyan , Kang Jun , Zhang Chuan , Wang Jing , Dong Tianyu , Ge Mengqing , Pervaiz Tariq , Zhang Peian , Fang Jinggui
Published: March 2023

SSR (simple sequence repeat) DNA markers are widely used for genotype DNA identification, QTL mapping, and analyzing genetic biodiversity. However, SSRs in grapes are still in their early stages, with a few primer pairs accessible. With the whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of several grape varieties, characterization of grape SSR changed to be necessary not only to genomics but to also help SSR development and utility. Based on this, we identified the whole-genome SSR of nine grape cultivars (‘PN40024’, ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’, ‘Carménère’, ‘Chardonnay’, ‘Merlot’, ‘Riesling’, ‘Zinfandel’, ‘Shine Muscat’, and ‘Muscat Hamburg’) with whole-genome sequences released publicly and found that there are great differences in the distribution of SSR loci in different varieties. According to the difference in genome size, the number of SSRs ranged from 267,385 (Cabernet Sauvignon) to 627,429 (Carménère), the density of the SSR locus in the genome of nine cultivars was generally 1 per Kb. SSR motif distribution characteristic analysis of these grape cultivars showed that the distribution patterns among grape cultivars were conservative, mainly enriched in A/T. However, there are some differences in motif types (especially tetranucleotides, pentanucleotides, and hexanucleotides), quantity, total length, and average length in different varieties, which might be related to the size of the assembled genome or the specificity of variety domestication. The distribution characteristics of SSRs were revealed by whole-genome analysis of simple repeats of grape varieties. In this study, 32 pairs of primers with lower polymorphism have been screened, which provided an important research foundation for the development of molecular markers of grape variety identification and the construction of linkage maps of important agronomic traits for crop improvement.
Use of Bacteria Isolated from Berry Rhizospheres as Biocontrol Agents for Charcoal Rot and Root-Knot Nematode Strawberry Diseases
Authors: Camacho María , de los Santos Berta , Vela María Dolores , Talavera Miguel
Published: March 2023

Strawberry is a high-value crop in Spain, where fruits for fresh consumption are produced off-season and exported to central and northern European countries. Soil-borne pathogens (SBP), such as Macrophomina phaseolina and Meloidogyne hapla, are widely spread in strawberry crops in Spain. The prevalence of these pathogens is a significant barrier to producing strawberries of premium quality and at profitable yields. The current ban on fumigant pesticides drives the search for alternative SBP control methods that can simultaneously control both SBP. Twenty-nine bacterial strains were isolated and identified from strawberry and blueberry rhizospheres and screened for plant growth promotion activities as well as for biocontrol potential on M. phaseolina and M. hapla. Two of these bacterial strains (Bacillus velezensis FC37 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa AC17), together with Brevibacterium frigoritolerans Hvs8 coming from IFAPA’s bacterial collection, were selected and evaluated in planta for their biocontrol potential on strawberry SBP diseases caused by M. phaseolina and M. hapla. The three tested bacterial strains reduced charcoal rot disease severity, crown incidence and severity, and petiole colonization by M. phaseolina. Root-knot nematode (RKN) symptoms were reduced by P. aeruginosa AC17 and B. velezensis FC37, but RKN reproduction was only reduced in plants inoculated with P. aeruginosa AC17. Pseudomonas aeruginosa AC17 showed the greatest potential as a biocontrol agent candidate to be included in integrated disease management programs to control the two most prevalent soil-borne pathogens of strawberry in Spain.
Profile of Bioactive Compounds in Orange Juice Related to the Combination of Different Scion/Rootstocks, Packaging and Storage
Authors: Martins Rafaelly Calsavara , Leonel Sarita , Souza Jackson Mirellys Azevedo , Lima Giuseppina Pace Pereira , Leonel Magali , Putti Fernando Ferrari , Monteiro Gean Charles , Züge Patrícia Graosque Ülguim , Napoleão Gabriel Maluf , Figueira Ricardo , Filho Jaime Duarte
Published: March 2023

Citrus scion/rootstock combinations alter the concentration of bioactive compounds in orange juice. The shelf life of freshly squeezed juice can be maximized through packaging and storage. The profiles of ascorbic (AA), dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA), and phenolic compounds were analyzed in juices of four sweet orange scions, Sanguínea de Mombuca (SM), Rubi (R), Lue Gin Gong (LGG), and Valência Delta Seedless (VDS), grafted onto ‘Rangpur’ lime (RL) and ‘Swingle’ citrumelo (SC) rootstocks. The juices obtained from the combination of the ‘Rubi’ orange in both rootstocks stood out by their higher concentration of ascorbic acid (AA) and dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA). Overall, all SC-grafted scions showed higher AA and DHAA and some phenolic compound concentrations. In all combinations, phenolic compounds showed the highest concentrations in the juices at the time of fruit extraction and decreased during storage. Dark packaging provided higher bioactive compounds in juices stored for longer periods. These findings can contribute to the diversification of scion/rootstock cultivars in order to increase the variety of orchards by choosing the best combinations for pasteurized orange juice with higher nutritional value.
On the Sensitivity of Standardized-Precipitation-Evapotranspiration and Aridity Indexes Using Alternative Potential Evapotranspiration Models
Authors: Tegos Aristoteles , Stefanidis Stefanos , Cody John , Koutsoyiannis Demetris
Published: March 2023

This paper examines the impacts of three different potential evapotranspiration (PET) models on drought severity and frequencies indicated by the standardized precipitation index (SPEI). The standardized precipitation-evapotranspiration index is a recent approach to operational monitoring and analysis of drought severity. The standardized precipitation-evapotranspiration index combines precipitation and temperature data, quantifying the severity of a drought as the difference in a timestep as the difference between precipitation and PET. The standardized precipitation-evapotranspiration index thus represents the hydrological processes that drive drought events more realistically than the standardized precipitation index at the expense of additional computational complexity and increased data demands. The additional computational complexity is principally due to the need to estimate PET within each time step. The standardized precipitation-evapotranspiration index was originally defined using the Thornthwaite PET model. However, numerous researchers have demonstrated the standardized precipitation-evapotranspiration index is sensitive to the PET model adopted. PET models requiring sparse meteorological inputs, such as the Thornthwaite model, have particular utility for drought monitoring in data scarce environments. The aridity index (AI) investigates the spatiotemporal changes in the hydroclimatic system. It is defined as the ratio between potential evapotranspiration and precipitation. It is used to characterize wet (humid) and dry (arid) regions. In this study, a sensitivity analysis for the standardized precipitation-evapotranspiration and aridity indexes was carried out using three different PET models; namely, the Penman–Monteith model, a temperature-based parametric model and the Thornthwaite model. The analysis was undertaken in six gauge stations in California region where long-term drought events have occurred. Having used the Penman–Monteith model as the PET model for estimating the standardized precipitation-evapotranspiration index, our findings highlight the presence of uncertainty in defining the severity of drought, especially for large timescales (12 months to 48 months), and that the PET parametric model is a preferable model to the Thornthwaite model for both the standardized precipitation-evapotranspiration index and the aridity indexes. The latter outcome is worth further consideration for when climatic studies are under development in data scarce areas where full required meteorological variables for Penman–Monteith assessment are not available.
Effects of Cannabis Legalization on Road Safety: A Literature Review
Authors: González-Sala Francisco , Tortosa-Pérez Macarena , Peñaranda-Ortega María , Tortosa Francisco
Published: March 2023

Background: Legalizing medical and recreational cannabis and decriminalizing this substance may have unanticipated effects on traffic safety. The present study aimed to assess the impact of cannabis legalization on traffic accidents. Methods: A systematic review was carried out following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) declaration of the articles included in the Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus databases. The number of papers included in the review was 29. Results: The results show that in 15 papers, there is a relationship between the legalization of medical and/or recreational cannabis and the number of traffic accidents, while in 5 papers, no such relationship is observed. In addition, nine articles indicate a greater number of risk behaviors related to driving after consumption, identifying young, male, and alcohol consumption together with cannabis as the risk profile. Conclusions: It can be concluded that the legalization of medical and/or recreational cannabis has negative effects on road safety when considering the number of jobs that affect the number of fatalities.
Psychometric Properties of the Child Neglect Scale and Risk Factors for Child Neglect in Chinese Young Males Who Were Incarcerated
Authors: Qin Jinliang , Wang Xi , Chen Chen
Published: March 2023

Child neglect is an important risk factor for juvenile delinquency, while few studies have examined child neglect in Chinese juvenile delinquents due to the lack of appropriate measurement tools. The Child Neglect Scale is a 38-item retrospective self-report scale that specifically focuses on child neglect. The current study, therefore, aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Child Neglect Scale and risk factors for child neglect among Chinese juvenile delinquents. A total of 212 young males who were incarcerated participated in this study, and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Child Neglect Scale, and basic information questionnaire were used to collect data. The results showed that the Child Neglect Scale has good reliability, and the mean inter-item correlation coefficients reach accepted standards. Moreover, it is found that child neglect is prevalent among Chinese young males who are incarcerated, with communication neglect occurring most frequently. Low levels of family monthly income and rural residency are risk factors for child neglect. The average scores of security neglect, physical neglect, and communication neglect of the participants respectively show statistically significant differences according to the type of major caregivers. Findings suggest that the Child Neglect Scale may be used to measure child neglect with four independent subscales in Chinese young males who are incarcerated.
Changes in Perceived Mental Load and Motor Performance during Practice-to-Learn and Practice-to-Maintain in Basketball
Authors: Gutiérrez-Capote Alejandro , Madinabeitia Iker , Torre Elisa , Alarcón Francisco , Jiménez-Martínez Jesús , Cárdenas David
Published: March 2023

Background: Attentional resource allocation during sports practice is associated with the players’ perceived mental load. However, few ecological studies address this problem by considering the players’ characteristics (e.g., practice experience, skill and cognition). Therefore, this study aimed to analyse the dose-response effect of two different types of practice, each with different learning objectives, on mental load and motor performance by using a linear mixed model analysis. Method: Forty-four university students (age 20.36 ± 3.13 years) participated in this study. Two sessions were conducted, one based on a standard rules 1 × 1 basketball situation (“practice to maintain”) and one with motor, temporal and spatial restrictions in 1 × 1 tasks (“practice to learn”). Results: “Practice to learn” produced a higher perceived mental load (NASA-TLX scale) and a worse performance than “practice to maintain”, but was moderated by experience and inhibition (p = 0.001). The same happens in the most demanding restriction (i.e., temporal, p < 0.0001). Conclusion: The results showed that increasing the difficulty of 1 × 1 situations through restrictions harmed the player’s performance and increased their perceived mental load. These effects were moderated by previous basketball experience and the player’s inhibition capacity, so the difficulty adjustment should be based on the athletes themselves.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Adolescent Self-Harm: Based on a National Emergency Department Information System
Authors: Park Ju-Hyeon , Seo Young-Woo , Chae Seungbum
Published: March 2023

Republic of Korea’s suicide rate is the highest among Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. In Republic of Korea, suicide is the leading cause of death among young people aged 10–19 years. This study aimed to identify changes in patients aged 10–19 years who visited the emergency department in Republic of Korea after inflicting self-harm over the past five years and to compare the situations before and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Analysis of government data revealed that the average daily visits per 100,000 were 6.25, 8.18, 13.26, 15.31, and 15.71 from 2016 to 2020, respectively. The study formed four groups for further analysis, with the population divided by sex and age (10–14 and 15–19 years old). The late-teenage female group showed the sharpest increase and was the only group that continued to increase. A comparison of the figures 10 months before and after the outbreak of the pandemic revealed a statistically significant increase in self-harm attempts by only the late-teenage female group. Meanwhile, visits (per day) in the male group did not increase, but the rates of death and ICU admission increased. Additional studies and preparations that account for age and sex are warranted.
Factors Associated with Increased or Decreased Stress Level in French Children during the First COVID-19 Lockdown
Authors: Faucher Juliette , Khanafer Nagham , Chauliac Nicolas , Essadek Aziz , Galia Perrine , Mamimoue Elise , Leroux Marie-Laure , Pollet Marie-Pierre , Imler-Weber Françoise , Gillet Yves , Fourneret Pierre , Espi Pauline
Published: March 2023

In spring 2020, governments of many countries implemented lockdown measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Worldwide, the pandemic forced about 1.5 billion children to stay at home for several weeks and to experience homeschooling. The objective of this study was to assess the variation in stress levels and associated factors in school-aged children in France during the first COVID-19 lockdown. A cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire was designed by an interdisciplinary team involving hospital child psychiatrists and school doctors. Between 15 June and 15 July 2020, Educational Academy of Lyon (France) invited the parents of school-aged children to participate in this survey. The first part of the questionnaire concerned the children with data on lockdown conditions, socio-demographic data, daily rhythms (eating and sleeping), perceived stress variations, and feelings. The second part assessed parental perspectives on their child’s psychological state and use of the mental health care system. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with stress variation (increased or decreased). A total of 7218 questionnaires were fully completed by children from elementary school to high school with a balanced sex ratio. In summary, 29% of children reported a higher stress level during the lockdown, 34% reported a lower stress level, and 37% reported no stress variation in the usual situation prior to COVID-19. Parents were most often able to identify signs of increased stress levels in their children. The most influential factors in the variation of stress for children were academic pressure, family relationships, and fear of being infected or infecting a family member with SARS-CoV-2. Our study underlines the high impact of school attendance stressors on children in usual conditions and encourages vigilance for children whose stress levels have decreased during the lockdown but who may have increased difficulty re-exposing themselves upon deconfinement.