bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of the Calmodulin-Binding Transcription Activator (CAMTA) Gene Family in Plants and the Expression Pattern Analysis of CAMTA3/SR1 in Tomato under Abiotic Stress
Authors: Fang Hua , Wang Peng , Ye Fujin , Li Jing , Zhang Meiling , Wang Chunlei , Liao Weibiao
Published: June 2022

Calmodulin-binding transcription activator (CAMTA) plays an important regulatory role in plant growth, development, and stress response. This study identified the phylogenetic relationships of the CAMTA family in 42 plant species using a genome-wide search approach. Subsequently, the evolutionary relationships, gene structures, and conservative structural domain of CAMTA3/SR1 in different plants were analyzed. Meanwhile, in the promoter region, the cis-acting elements, protein clustering interaction, and tissue-specific expression of CAMTA3/SR1 in tomato were identified. The results show that SlCAMTA3/SR1 genes possess numerous cis-acting elements related to hormones, light response, and stress in the promoter regions. SlCAMTA3 might act together with other Ca2+ signaling components to regulate Ca2+-related biological processes. Then, the expression pattern of SlCAMTA3/SR1 was also investigated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis. The results show that SlCAMTA3/SR1 might respond positively to various abiotic stresses, especially Cd stress. The expression of SlCAMTA3/SR1 was scarcely detected in tomato leaf at the seedling and flowering stages, whereas SlCAMTA3/SR1 was highly expressed in the root at the seedling stage. In addition, SlCAMTA3/SR1 had the highest expression levels in flowers at the reproductive stage. Here, we provide a basic reference for further studies about the functions of CAMTA3/SR1 proteins in plants.
Genomic Validation of Endometrial Cancer Patient-Derived Xenograft Models as a Preclinical Tool
Authors: Villafranca-Magdalena Beatriz , Masferrer-Ferragutcasas Carina , Lopez-Gil Carlos , Coll-de la Rubia Eva , Rebull Marta , Parra Genis , García Ángel , Reques Armando , Cabrera Silvia , Colas Eva , Gil-Moreno Antonio , Moiola Cristian P.
Published: June 2022

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the second most frequent gynecological cancer worldwide. Although improvements in EC classification have enabled an accurate establishment of disease prognosis, women with a high-risk or recurrent EC face a dramatic situation due to limited further treatment options. Therefore, new strategies that closely mimic the disease are required to maximize drug development success. Patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) are widely recognized as a physiologically relevant preclinical model. Hence, we propose to molecularly and histologically validate EC PDX models. To reveal the molecular landscape of PDXs generated from 13 EC patients, we performed histological characterization and whole-exome sequencing analysis of tumor samples. We assessed the similarity between PDXs and their corresponding patient’s tumor and, additionally, to an extended cohort of EC patients obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Finally, we performed functional enrichment analysis to reveal differences in molecular pathway activation in PDX models. We demonstrated that the PDX models had a well-defined and differentiated molecular profile that matched the genomic profile described by the TCGA for each EC subtype. Thus, we validated EC PDX’s potential to reliably recapitulate the majority of histologic and molecular EC features. This work highlights the importance of a thorough characterization of preclinical models for the improvement of the success rate of drug-screening assays for personalized medicine.
Impact of DNA Repair Kinetics and Dose Rate on RBE Predictions in the UNIVERSE
Authors: Liew Hans , Mein Stewart , Tessonnier Thomas , Karger Christian P. , Abdollahi Amir , Debus Jürgen , Dokic Ivana , Mairani Andrea
Published: June 2022

Accurate knowledge of the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) and its dependencies is crucial to support modern ion beam therapy and its further development. However, the influence of different dose rates of the reference radiation and ion beam are rarely considered. The ion beam RBE-model within our “UNIfied and VERSatile bio response Engine” (UNIVERSE) is extended by including DNA damage repair kinetics to investigate the impact of dose-rate effects on the predicted RBE. It was found that dose-rate effects increase with dose and biological effects saturate at high dose-rates, which is consistent with data- and model-based studies in the literature. In a comparison with RBE measurements from a high dose in-vivo study, the predictions of the presented modification were found to be improved in comparison to the previous version of UNIVERSE and existing clinical approaches that disregard dose-rate effects. Consequently, DNA repair kinetics and the different dose rates applied by the reference and ion beams might need to be considered in biophysical models to accurately predict the RBE. Additionally, this study marks an important step in the further development of UNIVERSE, extending its capabilities in giving theoretical guidance to support progress in ion beam therapy.
Ectopic Overexpression of Pineapple Transcription Factor AcWRKY31 Reduces Drought and Salt Tolerance in Rice and Arabidopsis
Authors: Huang Youmei , Chen Fangqian , Chai Mengnan , Xi Xinpeng , Zhu Wenhui , Qi Jingang , Liu Kaichuang , Ma Suzhuo , Su Han , Tian Yaru , Zhang Huiying , Qin Yuan , Cai Hanyang
Published: June 2022

Pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.) is an important tropical fruit with high economic value, and its growth and development are affected by the external environment. Drought and salt stresses are common adverse conditions that can affect crop quality and yield. WRKY transcription factors (TFs) have been demonstrated to play critical roles in plant stress response, but the function of pineapple WRKY TFs in drought and salt stress tolerance is largely unknown. In this study, a pineapple AcWRKY31 gene was cloned and characterized. AcWRKY31 is a nucleus-localized protein that has transcriptional activation activity. We observed that the panicle length and seed number of AcWRKY31 overexpression transgenic rice plants were significantly reduced compared with that in wild-type plant ZH11. RNA-seq technology was used to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between wild-type ZH11 and AcWRKY31 overexpression transgenic rice plants. In addition, ectopic overexpression of AcWRKY31 in rice and Arabidopsis resulted in plant oversensitivity to drought and salt stress. qRT-PCR analysis showed that the expression levels of abiotic stress-responsive genes were significantly decreased in the transgenic plants compared with those in the wild-type plants under drought and salt stress conditions. In summary, these results showed that ectopic overexpression of AcWRKY31 reduced drought and salt tolerance in rice and Arabidopsis and provided a candidate gene for crop variety improvement.
Smad3 Phospho-Isoform Signaling in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis
Authors: Yamaguchi Takashi , Yoshida Katsunori , Murata Miki , Suwa Kanehiko , Tsuneyama Koichi , Matsuzaki Koichi , Naganuma Makoto
Published: June 2022

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by hepatic steatosis with insulin resistance, oxidative stress, lipotoxicity, adipokine secretion by fat cells, endotoxins (lipopolysaccharides) released by gut microbiota, and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Together, these factors promote NAFLD progression from steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, and eventually end-stage liver diseases in a proportion of cases. Hepatic fibrosis and carcinogenesis often progress together, sharing inflammatory pathways. However, NASH can lead to hepatocarcinogenesis with minimal inflammation or fibrosis. In such instances, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and lipotoxicity can directly lead to liver carcinogenesis through genetic and epigenetic alterations. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling is implicated in hepatic fibrogenesis and carcinogenesis. TGF-β type I receptor (TβRI) and activated-Ras/c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) differentially phosphorylate the mediator Smad3 to create two phospho-isoforms: C-terminally phosphorylated Smad3 (pSmad3C) and linker-phosphorylated Smad3 (pSmad3L). TβRI/pSmad3C signaling terminates cell proliferation, while constitutive Ras activation and JNK-mediated pSmad3L promote hepatocyte proliferation and carcinogenesis. The pSmad3L signaling pathway also antagonizes cytostatic pSmad3C signaling. This review addresses TGF-β/Smad signaling in hepatic carcinogenesis complicating NASH. We also discuss Smad phospho-isoforms as biomarkers predicting HCC in NASH patients with or without cirrhosis.
Molecular Insight into the Therapeutic Effects of Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes in Respiratory Diseases and the Potential for Pulmonary Delivery
Authors: Azhdari Mohammad H. , Goodarzi Nima , Doroudian Mohammad , MacLoughlin Ronan
Published: June 2022

Respiratory diseases are the cause of millions of deaths annually around the world. Despite the recent growth of our understanding of underlying mechanisms contributing to the pathogenesis of lung diseases, most therapeutic approaches are still limited to symptomatic treatments and therapies that only delay disease progression. Several clinical and preclinical studies have suggested stem cell (SC) therapy as a promising approach for treating various lung diseases. However, challenges such as the potential tumorigenicity, the low survival rate of the SCs in the recipient body, and difficulties in cell culturing and storage have limited the applicability of SC therapy. SC-derived extracellular vesicles (SC-EVs), particularly SC-derived exosomes (SC-Exos), exhibit most therapeutic properties of stem cells without their potential drawbacks. Similar to SCs, SC-Exos exhibit immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antifibrotic properties with the potential to be employed in the treatment of various inflammatory and chronic respiratory diseases. Furthermore, recent studies have demonstrated that the microRNA (miRNA) content of SC-Exos may play a crucial role in the therapeutic potential of these exosomes. Several studies have investigated the administration of SC-Exos via the pulmonary route, and techniques for SCs and SC-Exos delivery to the lungs by intratracheal instillation or inhalation have been developed. Here, we review the literature discussing the therapeutic effects of SC-Exos against respiratory diseases and advances in the pulmonary route of delivery of these exosomes to the damaged tissues.
The Comparison of the Efficiency of Emodin and Aloe-Emodin in Photodynamic Therapy
Authors: Nowak-Perlak Martyna , Bromke Mariusz A. , Ziółkowski Piotr , Woźniak Marta
Published: June 2022

Skin cancer (melanoma and non-melanoma) is the most frequent type of malignancy in the Caucasian population. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) as an interesting and unique strategy may potentially boost standard therapeutic approaches. In the present study, the potential of emodin and aloe-emodin as photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy has been investigated. The conducted research presents for the first-time comparison of the phototoxic and anti-cancerous effects of emodin and aloe-emodin on skin cancer cell lines, including SCC-25 representing cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, MUG-Mel2 representing a melanoma cell line, and normal human keratinocytes HaCaT representing control normal skin cells. To assess the effectiveness of emodin and aloe-emodin as a photosensitizer in PDT on different skin cell lines, we performed MTT assay measuring cytotoxicity of natural compounds, cellular uptake, apoptosis with flow cytometry, and a wound-healing assay. Although emodin and aloe-emodin are isomers and differ only in the position of one hydroxyl group, our phototoxicity and apoptosis detection results show that both substances affect skin cancer cells (SSC-25 squamous cell carcinoma and MUG-Mel2 melanoma) and normal keratinocytes (HaCaT cell line) in other ways. In conclusion, our study provides evidence suggesting that emodin and aloe-emodin mediated PDT exhibits the potential for clinical development as a new effective and safe photosensitizer to treat skin cancer.
New Insights into Adipokines in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Valencia-Ortega Jorge , González-Reynoso Rebeca , Ramos-Martínez Edgar G. , Ferreira-Hermosillo Aldo , Peña-Cano María I. , Morales-Ávila Enrique , Saucedo Renata
Published: June 2022

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is the most common metabolic disorder of pregnancy and has considerable short- and long-term consequences for the health of both the mother and the newborn. Within its pathophysiology, genetic, nutritional, epigenetic, immunological, and hormonal components have been described. Within the last two items, it is known that different hormones and cytokines secreted by adipose tissue, known collectively as adipokines, are involved in the metabolic alterations underlying GDM. Although the maternal circulating profile of adipokines in GDM has been extensively studied, and there are excellent reviews on the subject, it is in recent years that more progress has been made in the study of their expression in visceral adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), placenta, and their concentrations in the umbilical circulation. Thus, this review compiles and organizes the most recent findings on the maternal and umbilical circulating profile and the levels of expression of adipokines in VAT, SAT, and placenta in GDM.
Lipid Metabolism and Signaling in Tumors and Cerebrovascular Diseases
Authors: Gatti Laura
Published: June 2022

The aim of this Special Issue was to update readers regarding state-of-the-art research into lipid metabolism and signaling in tumors and cerebrovascular diseases [...]
Comparison in Adherence to Treatment between Patients with Mild–Moderate and Severe Reflux Esophagitis: A Prospective Study
Authors: Mari Amir , Na’amnih Wasef , Gahshan Aiman , Ahmad Helal Saied , Khoury Tawfik , Muhsen Khitam
Published: June 2022

Purpose: Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is prevalent and causes erosive esophagitis (EE) with varying degrees of severity (A to D according to the Los Angeles Classification). Adherence to medical therapy is crucial for treatment success. We compared adherence to treatment recommendations between patients with EE grades C/D and A/B. Methods: A follow-up study was conducted during 2019–2020 among GERD patients who underwent a diagnostic gastroscopy 1–4 years earlier. Telephone interviews were conducted with patients diagnosed with severe EE grades C/D (n = 99) and randomly selected patients with mild–moderate EE grades A/B (n = 50). Patients with grades A/B were classified as adherent if they took proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for 2–3 months as recommended. Patients with grades C/D were classified as adherent if they took medications for a prolonged period (>6 months) and performed a follow-up endoscopy as recommended. Results: The mean age of the participants was 44.6 years (SD = 15.1). The mean duration of PPIs therapy in patients with EE grades A/B was 9.4 months (SD = 8.7). Fourteen (14.2%) patients with EE grades A/B were non-adherent to treatment, compared to 21 (40.8%) patients with EE grades of C/D: adjusted OR = 0.06; CI 95% 0.02–0.18, p < 0.001. Follow-up endoscopy was performed by 44% of EE–C/D patients. Unmarried patients compared to married ones were less adherent (adjusted OR = 0.23; 95% CI 0.08–0.69, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Patients with esophagitis (EE–A/B) were more adherent to medical therapy when compared to patients with more severe esophagitis (EE–C/D).
Age-Specific Characteristics of Adult and Pediatric Respiratory Viral Infections: A Retrospective Single-Center Study
Authors: Hwang Jae Kyoon , Na Jae Yoon , Kim Jihye , Oh Jae-Won , Kim Yong Joo , Choi Young-Jin
Published: June 2022

This study aimed to identify age-specific characteristics of respiratory viral infections. Hospitalized patients with confirmed viral respiratory infections were included in the sample. The patients were divided into the pediatric group (<19 years old) and the adult group (≥19 years old). The groups were then subdivided based on age: 0–6, 7–12, 13–18, 19–49, 50–64, and ≥65 years old. These groups were compared to evaluate the differences in the pattern of respiratory viral infections. Among a total of 4058 pediatric patients (mean age 3.0 ± 2.9 years, n = 1793 females), 2829 (48.9%) had mono-infections, while 1229 (51.1%) had co-infections. Co-infections were the most common in the 0–6-year-old group (31.6%). Among 1550 adult patients (mean age 70.2 ± 15.3 years, n = 710 females), 1307 (85.6%) had mono-infections and 243 (14.4%) had co-infections. Co-infections were most common in the ≥65-year-old group (16.8%). Viral infection and co-infection rates decreased with age in pediatric patients but increased with increasing age in adults. In pediatric patients, the rates of viral infections and co-infections were high; the rate of co-infections was higher in younger patients. In adult patients, the rates of viral infections and co-infections were lower than those in pediatric patients; the rate of co-infections was higher in older patients.
Efficacy of Core Training in Swimming Performance and Neuromuscular Parameters of Young Swimmers: A Randomised Control Trial
Authors: Khiyami Ahmad , Nuhmani Shibili , Joseph Royes , Abualait Turki Saeed , Muaidi Qassim
Published: June 2022

Background: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of core training in the swimming performance and neuromuscular properties of young swimmers. Methods: Eighteen healthy male swimmers (age: 13 ± 2 years, height: 159.6 ± 14.5 cm, weight: 48.7 ± 12.4 kg) were recruited from the Public Authority for Sports swimming pool in Dammam and randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. The experimental group performed a six-week core-training program consisting of seven exercises (three times/week) with regular swimming training. The control group maintained its regular training. Swimming performance and neuromuscular parameters were measured pre- and post-interventions. Results: The experimental group benefitted from the intervention in terms of the 50 m swim time (−1.4 s; 95% confidence interval −2.4 to −0.5) compared with the control group. The experimental group also showed improved swimming velocity (+0.1 m.s−1), stroke rate (−2.8 cycle.min−1), stroke length (+0.2 m.cycle−1), stroke index (+0.4 m2·s−1), total strokes (−2.9 strokes), and contraction time for erector spinae (ES; −1.5 ms), latissimus dorsi (LD; −7 ms), and external obliques (EO; −1.9 ms). Maximal displacement ES (DM-ES) (+3.3 mm), LD (0.5 mm), and EO (+2.2 mm) were compared with the baseline values for the experimental group, and TC-ES (5.8 ms), LD (3.7 ms), EO (2.5 ms), DM-ES (0.2 mm), LD (−4.1 mm), and EO (−1.0 mm) were compared with the baseline values for the control group. The intergroup comparison was statistically significant (p < 0.05; DM-ES p > 0.05). Conclusion: The results indicate that a six-week core-training program with regular swimming training improved the neuromuscular properties and the 50 m freestyle swim performance of the experimental group compared with the control group.
A Comparative Performance Analysis of Different Insulation Materials Installed in a Residential Building of a Cold Region in Pakistan
Authors: Iqbal Amna , Mubin Sajjad , Gavrishyk Ekaterina , Masood Rehan , Roy Krishanu , Moradibistouni Milad
Published: June 2022

Globally, the building sector consumes approximately 60% of the total energy usage, while the energy consumption of residential buildings lies between 20% to 40%. The majority of this energy is operational energy, which comes mainly from the heating and cooling of houses. Innovative and cost-effective insulation materials have the potential to reduce the operational energy requirements and can therefore make the buildings more energy efficient. In this study, three commonly available insulation materials were experimentally evaluated for a case study of residential buildings, located in a cold region of Pakistan. Glass wool, extruded polystyrene, and polyethylene were used, as insulation materials, for monitoring the case study building performance. Thermal data were collected for 21 days in the year 2019 using a Testo Saveries System and were then used for analyzing the thermal performance of each of the three types of insulation materials. Other relevant data including the cost of insulation materials, thickness, ease of application, design life, and fire resistance of the selected insulation materials were obtained for broader (based on the scorecard) analysis based on a multi-weighted decision model. It was concluded that Polyethylene was the most economical insulation material amongst the others, which also showed the best thermal performance. Polyethylene was also found to be the best insulation material for the case study building based on a multi-weighted decision model and, hence, is recommended for application in buildings around cold regions of Pakistan.
Dynamic Interactions of a Cable-Laying Vessel with a Submarine Cable during Its Landing Process
Authors: Kuang Jianxun , Chen Guodong , Yuan Zhoulong , Qi Xiajun , Yu Qianhao , Liu Zhen
Published: June 2022

The rapid development of offshore electricity grid construction has led to a great demand for submarine cable deployment. In this study, a numerical model is established based on the commercial software ANSYS-AQWA to investigate the dynamic interactions between a cable-laying vessel and a submarine cable during its landing process, which has not yet been reported and is critical to the safety of the cable. The numerical model was validated by an experimental test on the mooring stability of a vessel conducted in a wave tank. The effects of the cable length, the current velocity, the incident wave, and the wind direction on vessel stability and the tensions in the mooring lines and cable were investigated. When the cable length is short, the submarine cable acts as a mooring cable that can stabilize the hull, but it is not safe to apply force to the submarine cable. At the same time, an increase in the current speed also increases the tensile force of the submarine cable. The influence of different incident wave directions and wind directions on the stability and tension of ships in mooring lines and cables was studied, and the most unfavorable environmental conditions for submarine cable laying were determined under different environmental conditions.
Prediction-Based Region Tracking Control Scheme for Autonomous Underwater Vehicle
Authors: Lv Tu , Zhang Mingjun , Wang Yujia
Published: June 2022

This paper addresses the region tracking control problem for an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) and proposes a prediction-based region tracking control (PRTC) scheme for AUV. In the PRTC scheme, the idea of prediction is adopted to solve the problems of overshoot and high energy consumption due to the lack of consideration of the large inertia of the AUV in the traditional scheme. The PRTC scheme predicts the future position of AUV through the past time-series position of AUV and the outer boundary of the desired region, and then designs the controller depending on the predicted results. Furthermore, the relationship between the desired region and the control output of the proposed PRTC scheme is studied. It is found that its control output amplitude is susceptible to the desired region range, resulting in output saturation. Therefore, this paper proposes a control law optimization scheme considering the desired region. This optimization scheme modifies the error signal in the control law of the PRTC scheme so that it is only related to the relative position of the desired region where the AUV is located. Finally, the proposed schemes are applied on the ODIN AUV, and the simulation results verify the feasibility of the proposed schemes.
pH Distribution along Growing Fungal Hyphae at Microscale
Authors: Xiong Bi-Jing , Stanley Claire E. , Dusny Christian , Schlosser Dietmar , Harms Hauke , Wick Lukas Y.
Published: June 2022

Creating unique microenvironments, hyphal surfaces and their surroundings allow for spatially distinct microbial interactions and functions at the microscale. Using a microfluidic system and pH-sensitive whole-cell bioreporters (Synechocystis sp. PCC6803) attached to hyphae, we spatially resolved the pH along surfaces of growing hyphae of the basidiomycete Coprinopsis cinerea. Time-lapse microscopy analysis of ratiometric fluorescence signals of >2400 individual bioreporters revealed an overall pH drop from 6.3 ± 0.4 (n = 2441) to 5.0 ± 0.3 (n = 2497) within 7 h after pH bioreporter loading to hyphal surfaces. The pH along hyphal surfaces varied significantly (p < 0.05), with pH at hyphal tips being on average ~0.8 pH units lower than at more mature hyphal parts near the entrance of the microfluidic observation chamber. Our data represent the first dynamic in vitro analysis of surface pH along growing hyphae at the micrometre scale. Such knowledge may improve our understanding of spatial, pH-dependent hyphal processes, such as the degradation of organic matter or mineral weathering.
Design of a Blockchain-Based Service Platform for Industrial Interconnection Supply and Demand Networks
Authors: He Jianjia , Zhang Ni
Published: June 2022

With the continuous cross-border cooperation among industries, the concept of an industrial interconnection supply and demand network is constantly mentioned. As industry interconnectivity continues to grow, collaboration models have changed as companies work more closely with each other, and the synergy model has changed. In order to improve the efficiency of collaboration and to promote the free allocation of resources in the trading process of the industry interconnection supply and demand network, an industry interconnection supply and demand network resource matching platform based on the Alliance blockchain was built, steps for resource trading on the platform were proposed. Using blockchain technology’s smart contract technology to simplify the transaction process, the triggering mechanism and algorithm rules of smart contracts in the trading process of the platform were designed, and the smart contract code was developed, deployed, and tested using Remix IDE, and the test results showed the transaction process between the supply and demand sides. Through blockchain technology, it achieves information security and transparency in the process of resource trading in the industry interconnection supply and demand network, establishes a trust mechanism on both sides of the transaction, reduces redundant steps in the transaction and improves the operational efficiency of the industry interconnection supply and demand network by increasing the efficiency of resource allocation.
Crop Production and Carbon Sequestration Potential of Grewia oppositifolia-Based Traditional Agroforestry Systems in Indian Himalayan Region
Authors: Tariyal Naveen , Bijalwan Arvind , Chaudhary Sumit , Singh Bhupendra , Dhanai Chatar Singh , Tewari Sumit , Kumar Munesh , Kumar Sandeep , Cabral Pinto Marina M. S. , Thakur Tarun Kumar
Published: June 2022

Bhimal (Grewia oppositifolia) is the most important agroforestry tree species used for fodder, fuel and fiber in the Himalayan region. In the present study, G. oppositifolia-based traditional agroforestry systems were selected for the estimation of carbon stock and the production potential of barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea) and finger millet (Eleusine coracana), with two elevational ranges, i.e., 1000–1400 and 1400–1800 m amsl, in Garhwal Himalaya, India. The results of the investigation showed a decline in the growth and yield attributes of both the millet crops under the G. oppositifolia-based agroforestry system at both elevations as compared to their respective control sites (sole crops). Among the elevations, the total number of tillers per plant (2.70 and 2.48), the number of active tillers per plant (2.18 and 2.25), panicle length (17.63 cm and 6.95 cm), 1000-seed weight (5.49 g and 4.33 g), grain yield (10.77 q ha−1 and 11.35 q ha−1), straw yield (37.43 q ha−1 and 30.15 q ha−1), biological yield (48.21 q ha−1 and 41.51 q ha−1) and the harvest index (22.53% and 27.78%) were recorded as higher in the lower elevation in both E. frumentacea and E. coracana, respectively, while plant population per m2 (18.64 and 25.26, respectively) was recorded as higher in the upper elevation. Plant height for E. frumentacea (180.40 cm) was also observed to be higher in the upper elevation, while for E. coracana (98.04 cm), it was recorded as higher in the lower elevation. Tree carbon stock was reported negatively with an increase in altitude. The maximum amount of sequestered carbon in the tree biomass for G. oppositifolia was 23.29 Mg ha−1 at the lower elevation and 18.09 Mg ha−1 at the upper elevation. Total carbon stock in the tree biomass was reported to be the highest (15.15 Mg ha−1) in the 10–20 cm diameter class, followed by 20–30 cm (6.99 Mg ha−1), >30 cm (2.75 Mg ha−1) and the lowest (2.32 Mg ha−1) in the <10 cm diameter class. The results show that the yield of E. frumentacea and E. coracana was not reduced so severely under the G. oppositifolia system; however, keeping in mind the other benefits of this multipurpose tree, i.e., carbon sequestration and socioecological relevance, farmers can get benefit from adopting these crops under G. oppositifolia-based agroforestry systems.
Pharyngeal Airspace Alterations after Using the Mandibular Advancement Device in the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome
Authors: Ferraz Pedro Dias , Francisco Inês , Borges Maria Inês , Guimarães Adriana , Carvalho Fátima , Caramelo Francisco , Figueiredo José Pedro , Vale Francisco
Published: June 2022

Background: Mandibular Advancement Devices (MADs), inserted in non-surgical treatments for obstructive sleep apnea and hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), are used intra-orally during the sleep period, with the aim of promoting mandibular protrusion. The aim of the study is to analyze the changes in the upper airway after the use of an MAD in the treatment of OSAHS. Methods: 60 patients diagnosed with OSAHS, as established by the Sleep Medicine Service, underwent treatment with the Silensor SL device at the Stomatology Service of the University Hospital Center of Coimbra, from January 2018 to January 2019. All patients completed two polysomnographies and two lateral teleradiographies: one before starting treatment (T0) and one after 1 year of treatment (T1). In the lateral teleradiography performed after one year of treatment, the patient had the MAD placed intra-orally. The linear measurements of the airspace proposed by the Arnett/Gunson FAB Surgery cephalometric analysis were measured at four craniometric points: A, MCI, B, Pog. Results: The results demonstrate an anteroposterior airway enlargement in two of the four points studied with the MAD placed intra-orally (B and Pog point). The greatest average increase is observed at point Pog (3 mm), followed by B (1 mm), and finally, point A (0.6 mm). Conclusions: This study proved that there is an improvement in anteroposterior measurements at various points in the upper airways after treatment with MAD.
Monocyte Chemotactic Proteins Mediate the Effects of Hyperglycemia in Chondrocytes: In Vitro Studies
Authors: Quincey Adam , Mohan Subburaman , Edderkaoui Bouchra
Published: June 2022

Chemokines are secreted by a large variety of cells. They are involved in controlling cell trafficking, maturation, and differentiation. However, the specific responses and effects of chemokines on specific skeletal cell types under high glucose conditions have not been investigated. Chondrocytes play an important role in osteoarthritis and fracture healing. Delayed fracture healing is one of the major health complications caused by diabetes, so the goal of this study was to evaluate the response of several chemokines to high glucose conditions in chondrocyte cells and analyze their role in the catabolic effect of hyperglycemia. ATDC5 chondrocytes were cultured in normal and high glucose media, and mRNA expression levels of several chemokines and chondrocyte differentiation markers were quantified. Bindarit, a specific inhibitor of monocyte chemotactic proteins (MCPs), was used to determine the role of MCPs in mediating the effects of high glucose conditions in chondrocyte cells. High glucose treatment upregulated the expression of three Mcps, as well as the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 13 (Mmp13) and Osteocalcin (Oc). Furthermore, bindarit treatment downregulated Mmp13 and Oc but upregulated Collagen 2 (Col2) mRNA levels in chondrocytes treated with high glucose. Moreover, treatment of chondrocytes with ascorbic acid reduced the effect of high glucose conditions on the expression of chemokines and Mmps. These data together suggest that MCPs mediate the catabolic effect of high glucose in chondrocytes.
Nano-Structured Carbon: Its Synthesis from Renewable Agricultural Sources and Important Applications
Authors: Jirimali Harishchandra , Singh Jyoti , Boddula Rajamouli , Lee Jung-Kul , Singh Vijay
Published: June 2022

Carbon materials are versatile in nature due to their unique and modifiable surface and ease of production. Nanostructured carbon materials are gaining importance due to their high surface area for application in the energy, biotechnology, biomedical, and environmental fields. According to their structures, carbon allotropes are classified as carbon nanodots, carbon nanoparticles, graphene, oxide, carbon nanotubes, and fullerenes. They are synthesized via several methods, including pyrolysis, microwave method, hydrothermal synthesis, and chemical vapor deposition, and the use of renewable and cheaper agricultural feedstocks and reactants is increasing for reducing cost and simplifying production. This review explores the nanostructured carbon detailed investigation of sources and their relevant reports. Many of the renewable sources are covered as focused here, such as sugar cane waste, pineapple, its solid biomass, rise husk, date palm, nicotine tabacum stems, lapsi seed stone, rubber-seed shell, coconut shell, and orange peels. The main focus of this work is on the various methods used to synthesize these carbon materials from agricultural waste materials, and their important applications for energy storage devices, optoelectronics, biosensors, and polymer coatings.
Seismic Response Evaluation of High-Steep Slopes Supported by Anti-Slide Piles with Different Initial Damage Based on Shaking Table Test
Authors: Chen Hongyu , Jiang Guanlu , Zhao Xinhui , Zhu Dan , Liu Yong , Tian Hongcheng
Published: June 2022

In order to study the instability development process of the slope reinforced by anti-slide piles under earthquake conditions, the dynamic response characteristics of the slope are usually taken as the main characteristics, and the model test and numerical simulation are the main research methods. In this paper, a shaking table model test is designed and completed to investigate the influence of anti-slide piles with different initial damage on the failure mode of high and steep slope under earthquake conditions. The changes in velocity, strain and natural frequency during slope vibration are tested in combination with cloud maps when sinusoidal waves of different accelerations with a peak value of 5 Hz are applied. Thus, the differences of slope failure development process and dynamic response characteristics are obtained. The experimental results show that the anti-slide pile with different initial damage has obvious influence on the slope instability process. Under the condition of good anti-slide pile quality, the failure development of the slope behind the pile is limited to soil sliding on top of the slope, slope sliding and overburden sliding; the front slope foot of pile mainly forms shear belt and local sliding. With the decrease in the initial mass of the anti-slide pile, the slope failure develops into topsoil sliding, slope sliding and deep integral sliding; analogously, the failure of the slope in front of the pile develops into a whole slip along the slip belt. The natural frequency cloud map can directly reflect the damage location of the slope, and the frequency change rate is positively correlated with the cumulative shear strain. It shows that the macro-failure characteristics of the model slope change well when the natural frequency is used as the sensitive index to measure the influence of vibration on the model slope. The threshold value of the natural frequency change rate can distinguish different development stages of the slope; 1% is the threshold value of stage II, and 1.5% is the threshold value of stage III.
Synthesis, Performance Measurement of Bi2SmSbO7/ZnBiYO4 Heterojunction Photocatalyst and Photocatalytic Degradation of Direct Orange within Dye Wastewater under Visible Light Irradiation
Authors: Luan Jingfei , Ma Bingbing , Yao Ye , Liu Wenlu , Niu Bowen , Yang Guangmin , Wei Zhijie
Published: June 2022

Originally, the new catalyst Bi2SmSbO7 was synthesized by the hydrothermal synthesis method or by the solid-phase sintering method at a lofty temperature. A solvothermal method was utilized to prepare a Bi2SmSbO7/ZnBiYO4 heterojunction photocatalyst (BZHP). The crystal structure of Bi2SmSbO7 belonged to the pyrochlore structure and face-centered cubic crystal system by the space group of Fd3m. The cell parameter a was equivalent to 10.835(1) Å (Bi2SmSbO7). With Bi2SmSbO7/ZnBiYO4 heterojunction (BZH) as the photocatalyst, the removal rate (RR) of direct orange (DO) and the total organic carbon were 99.10% and 96.21% after visible light irradiation of 160 min (VLI-160M). The kinetic constant k toward DO concentration and visible light irradiation time (VLI) with BZH as photocatalyst reached 2.167 min−1. The kinetic constant k, which was concerned with total organic carbon, reached 0.047 min−1. The kinetic curve that came from DO degradation with BZH as a catalyst under VLI conformed to the second-order reaction kinetics. After VLI-160M, the photocatalytic degradation (PD) removal percentage of DO with BZH as the photocatalyst was 1.200 times, 1.268 times or 3.019 times that with Bi2SmSbO7 as the photocatalyst, ZnBiYO4 as the photocatalyst or with nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide as the photocatalyst. The photocatalytic activity (PA) was as following: BZH > Bi2SmSbO7 > ZnBiYO4 > nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide. After VLI-160M for three cycles of experiments with BZH as the photocatalyst, the RR of DO reached 98.03%, 96.73% and 95.43%, respectively, which meant that BZHP possessed high stability. By using the experiment of adding a trapping agent, the oxidative purifying capability for degradation of direct orange, which was in gradual depressed order, was as following: hydroxyl radical > superoxide anion > holes. Finally, the possible degradation pathway and degradation mechanism of DO were discussed systematically. A new high active heterojunction catalyst BZHP, which could efficiently remove toxic organic pollutants such as DO from dye wastewater after VLI, was obtained. Our research was meant to improve the photocatalytic property of the single photocatalyst.
Bio-Based Admixture (Black Tea Extraction) for Better Performance of Metakaolin Blended Cement Mortars
Authors: Fang Yi , Wang Jialai , Wang Xiaodong , Amaral Monica Lages Do , Kniffin Hannah , Reed Miranda , Wang Liang , Qian Xin
Published: June 2022

With high pozzolanic reactivity, metakaolin (MK) is a popular supplementary cementitious material (SCM), which can be used to partially replace Portland cement in concretes. Due to its small particle size, however, MK can agglomerate, resulting in a nonuniform matrix and underperformance of the produced concrete. To address this issue, this paper exploits a low-cost, bio-based admixture—black tea extract (BTE)—to replace the traditional petroleum-based chemical admixture to enhance the dispersion and workability of MK blended cement mortars. Major biomolecules in the BTE such as caffeine, catechin, theanine, and theaflavin are rich in polyphenol, hydroxyl, and carboxylic acid groups, which can interact with cement particles and have profound effects on the hydration process and microstructure of the hydration products. Experimental studies showed that BTE does improve the workability of the MK blended cement mortar. More importantly, the BTE introduces significant change on the microstructure of the hardened pastes. Both the pores with size less than 50 nm and the total porosity of the hardened paste were significantly reduced, leading to a significant improvement in the micro- and macro-mechanical properties of the hardened paste. Experimental results suggest that up to 35% greater improvement in the compressive strength at 28 days was achieved using the proposed bio-admixture. Economic and environmental advantages of using the BTE as a renewable admixture were also illustrated through analyzing the cost–benefit, embodied carbon, and eco-efficiency of the MK blended mortars.
Optimized Fuzzy Enhanced Robust Control Design for a Stewart Parallel Robot
Authors: Vu Mai The , Alattas Khalid A. , Bouteraa Yassine , Rahmani Reza , Fekih Afef , Mobayen Saleh , Assawinchaichote Wudhichai
Published: June 2022

The remarkable properties of sliding mode control (SMC)—such as robustness, accuracy, and ease of implementation—have contributed to its wide adoption by the control community. To accurately compensate for parametric uncertainties, the switching part of the SMC controller should have gains that are sufficiently large to deal with uncertainties, but sufficiently small to minimize the chattering phenomena. Hence, proper adjustment of the SMC gains is crucial to ensure accurate and robust performance whist minimizing chattering. This paper proposes the design and implementation of an optimal fuzzy enhanced sliding mode control approach for a Stewart parallel robot platform. A systematic approach of designing the table of rules of the fuzzy system so as to provide the required coefficients of the sliding mode controller is proposed. The aim is to attain optimum performance and minimum control effort, thus eliminating the need for computationally expensive expert systems and yielding control outputs below the actuator saturation ranges. The proposed approach was validated using a six degrees-of-freedom Stewart platform subject to external disturbances. Its performance was compared to that of a standard SMC approach. The obtained results and comparative study showed that the proposed control algorithm not only reduces chattering, but also responds effectively to the realistic demands of control energy, while preventing actuator saturation.
Optimizing Costs in a Reliability System under Markovian Arrival of Failures and Reposition by K-Policy Inspection
Authors: Montoro-Cazorla Delia , Pérez-Ocón Rafael
Published: June 2022

This paper presents an N warm standby system under shocks and inspections governed by Markovian arrival processes. The inspections detect the number of down units, and their replacement is carried out if there are a minimum K of failed units. This is a policy of the type (K,N) used in inventory theory. The study is performed via the up and down periods of the system (cycle); the distribution of these random times and the expected costs for each period comprising the cycle are determined on the basis of individual costs due to maintenance actions (per inspection and replacement of every unit) and others due to operation or inactivity of the system, per time unit. Intermediate addressed calculus are the distributions of the number of inspections by cycle and the expected cost involving every inspection, depending on the number of replaced units. The system is studied in transient and stationary regimes, and some reliability measures of interest and the cost rate are calculated. An optimization of these quantities is performed in terms of the number K in a numerical example. This general model extends to many others in the literature, and, by using the matrix-analytic method, compact and algorithmic expressions are achieved, facilitating its potential application.
Sustainable Technology Supplier Selection in the Banking Sector
Authors: Barrera Felipe , Segura Marina , Maroto Concepción
Published: June 2022

Sustainable supplier selection is a key strategic problem in supply chain management. The aim of this research is to provide a new hybrid multicriteria model for evaluating technology suppliers and validate it with a case study in the banking sector. This approach allows companies to perform qualification, selection, ranking and sorting of suppliers on a sustainable basis. Integration of several techniques is necessary to address this complex decision problem with conflicting economic, environmental and social criteria. Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is useful for problem structuring and weighting criteria collaboratively. Multi-attribute utility theory (MAUT) is applied to obtain indicators for product quality and supplier risks, whose utility functions are derived by data-driven models that favour evaluation objectivity and transparency. Preference ranking organisation method for enrichment evaluation (PROMETHEE) is suitable for supplier selection due to its discriminant power among alternatives. Finally, FlowSort is proposed to classify suppliers into ordered groups and the outcomes are compared with results from MAUT. Results show its applicability by increasing process transparency and reducing operational risks in practice.
The Classical Hom–Leibniz Yang–Baxter Equation and Hom–Leibniz Bialgebras
Authors: Guo Shuangjian , Wang Shengxiang , Zhang Xiaohui
Published: June 2022

In this paper, we first introduce the notion of Hom–Leibniz bialgebras, which is equivalent to matched pairs of Hom–Leibniz algebras and Manin triples of Hom–Leibniz algebras. Additionally, we extend the notion of relative Rota–Baxter operators to Hom–Leibniz algebras and prove that there is a Hom–pre-Leibniz algebra structure on Hom–Leibniz algebras that have a relative Rota–Baxter operator. Finally, we study the classical Hom–Leibniz Yang–Baxter equation on Hom–Leibniz algebras and present its connection with the relative Rota–Baxter operator.
Design of a Thermal Measurement System with Vandal Protection Used for the Characterization of New Asphalt Pavements through Discriminated Dimensionless Analysis
Authors: Sánchez-Pérez Juan Francisco , Motos-Cascales Gloria , Conesa Manuel , Moral-Moreno Francisco , Castro Enrique , García-Ros Gonzalo
Published: June 2022

This work focuses on the protection of measurement sensors against accidents, vandalism, or theft and on the improvement of the data collected due to the interference produced by these protections. These sensors are part of a larger study, within the framework of a LIFE Heatland project, carried out in a Spanish city, Murcia, with the fundamental objective of minimizing the urban heat island effect using pavements with lower solar energy storage than traditional ones. The study presented here has been carried out through the implementation of aluminum tubes that protect the sensors installed in the street. Once the problem of sensor protection had been solved, the problem of thermal interference in the measurements due to overheating inside the tubes had to be overcome by means of discriminated dimensionless analysis techniques, focusing on heat transfer by convection of the air flow in the inner part of the tube, by finding the most suitable size and materials to complement the outer aluminum coating. In particular, the search for the critical radius of the tubes was essential since it allowed the insulator size to be optimized. Derived from the study carried out to avoid the overheating of the tube, a small part was covered with a dark material and holes were made to improve air circulation inside the tube, allowing adequate measurement results to be obtained. Finally, the results showed that the designed device was suitable for temperature measurement, since small variations were observed with respect to the control device.