bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring the Potential Use of Wearable Devices as a Prognostic Tool among Patients in Hospice Care
Authors: Huang Yaoru , Kabir Muhammad Ashad , Upadhyay Umashankar , Dhar Eshita , Uddin Mohy , Syed-Abdul Shabbir
Published: December 2022

Background: Smartphones and wearable devices have become a part and parcel of the healthcare industry. The use of wearable technology has already proved its potentials in improving healthcare research, clinical work, and patient care. The real time data allows the care providers to monitor the patients’ symptoms remotely, prioritize the patients’ visits, assist in decision-making, and carry out advanced care planning. Objectives: The primary objective of our study was to investigate the potential use of wearable devices as a prognosis tool among patients in hospice care and palliative care, and the secondary objective was to examine the association between wearable devices and clinical data in the context of patient outcomes, such as discharge and deceased at various time intervals. Methods: We employed a prospective observational research approach to continuously monitor the hand movements of the selected 68 patients between December 2019 and June 2022 via an actigraphy device at hospice or palliative care ward of Taipei Medical University Hospital (TMUH) in Taiwan. Results: The results revealed that the patients with higher scores in the Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), and Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) tended to live at discharge, while Palliative Prognostic Score (PaP) and Palliative prognostic Index (PPI) also shared the similar trend. In addition, the results also confirmed that all these evaluating tools only suggested rough rather than accurate and definite prediction. The outcomes (May be Discharge (MBD) or expired) were positively correlated with accumulated angle and spin values, i.e., the patients who survived had higher angle and spin values as compared to those who died/expired. Conclusion: The outcomes had higher correlation with angle value compared to spin and ACT. The correlation value increased within the first 48 h and then began to decline. We recommend rigorous prospective observational studies/randomized control trials with many participants for the investigations in the future.
Laparoscopic Radical Trachelectomy after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Fertility Preservation in Early-Stage Bulky Cervical Cancer: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Vasilevska Danuta , Semczuk Andrzej , Vasilevska Dominika , Širvys Artiomas , Rudaitis Vilius
Published: December 2022

Management of early-stage cervical cancer (CC) in young women often faces challenges to preserve fertility, as well as to achieve an adequate oncological outcome. Although existing evidence supports a fertility-sparing treatment in the case of tumors <2 cm in diameter, the approach is less clear in bulky early-stage CC. In addition, the outcomes of radical trachelectomy performed by minimally invasive techniques are also highly debatable. Highlighting the high incidences of young women with early-stage CC, the lack of sufficient data raises considerable hindrances towards the proper counseling of this vulnerable patient group. In this report, a case of a young woman with bulky early-stage CC with a strong desire to preserve fertility is presented. A satisfactory oncological outcome was achieved after neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by laparoscopic radical trachelectomy. Ongoing prospective trials are expected to provide stronger evidence on this topic.
Modulatory Effect of Gut Microbiota on the Gut-Brain, Gut-Bone Axes, and the Impact of Cannabinoids
Authors: Ibrahim Iddrisu , Syamala Soumyakrishnan , Ayariga Joseph Atia , Xu Junhuan , Robertson Boakai K. , Meenakshisundaram Sreepriya , Ajayi Olufemi S.
Published: December 2022

The gut microbiome is a collection of microorganisms and parasites in the gastrointestinal tract. Many factors can affect this community’s composition, such as age, sex, diet, medications, and environmental triggers. The relationship between the human host and the gut microbiota is crucial for the organism’s survival and development, whereas the disruption of this relationship can lead to various inflammatory diseases. Cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are used to treat muscle spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis. It is now clear that these compounds also benefit patients with neuroinflammation. CBD and THC are used in the treatment of inflammation. The gut is a significant source of nutrients, including vitamins B and K, which are gut microbiota products. While these vitamins play a crucial role in brain and bone development and function, the influence of gut microbiota on the gut-brain and gut-bone axes extends further and continues to receive increasing scientific scrutiny. The gut microbiota has been demonstrated to be vital for optimal brain functions and stress suppression. Additionally, several studies have revealed the role of gut microbiota in developing and maintaining skeletal integrity and bone mineral density. It can also influence the development and maintenance of bone matrix. The presence of the gut microbiota can influence the actions of specific T regulatory cells, which can lead to the development of bone formation and proliferation. In addition, its metabolites can prevent bone loss. The gut microbiota can help maintain the bone’s equilibrium and prevent the development of metabolic diseases, such as osteoporosis. In this review, the dual functions gut microbiota plays in regulating the gut-bone axis and gut-brain axis and the impact of CBD on these roles are discussed.
Maternal Nutrition Affects Nitrogen Isotopic Signature in Blood Plasma of Beef Cattle Dams and Their Offspring
Authors: Meciano Gabriela de Pauli , Schalch Junior Fernando José , Polizel Guilherme Henrique Gebim , Fernandes Arícia Christofaro , Cracco Roberta Cavalcante , Saran Netto Arlindo , Gomes Rodrigo da Costa , Cônsolo Nara Regina Brandão , Santana Miguel Henrique de Almeida
Published: December 2022

This study evaluated the effects of gestational supplementation strategy on nitrogen isotopic signature in blood plasma of beef cows and their progeny. The study comprised 15 pregnant Nellore cows divided into three different supplementation protocols: NP) non-programmed group; PP) cows receiving protein–energy supplement in the last third of pregnancy; and FP) cows receiving protein–energy supplement throughout the gestational period. Blood plasma from cows was sampled at the beginning of gestation, in the prepartum, and postpartum periods as well as from their calves at 30 and 180 days of age, for the analysis of stable isotope ratios 15 N/14 N. At pre- and postpartum periods, cows fed PP and FP presented greater abundance of δ15 N compared to NP (p < 0.05) at pre- and postpartum. All three groups showed significant differences (p < 0.05) in the postpartum period. The δ15 N values of calves at 30 days of age differed between the NP group and PP and FP groups (p < 0.05), with no difference (p > 0.05) at 180 days of age. The different gestational supplementation strategies influenced isotopic fractionation of nutrients of cows and their calves after birth, indicating effects on nutritional metabolism and cumulative behavior on isotope abundance related to consumption during gestation.
Anti-Infective and Toxicity Properties of Carbon Based Materials: Graphene and Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Hadidi Naghmeh , Mohebbi Maryam
Published: December 2022

Recently, antimicrobial activities of various carbon-based nanomaterials against specific pathogens have become one of the most significant research interests in this field. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are promising multidisciplinary nanostructures in biomedicine, drug delivery, genetic engineering, biosensors, and artificial implants. However, the biomedical administration of CNTs is dependent on their solubility, toxicity, and biocompatibility, as well as novel drug-delivery applications through optimization of the drug’s loading capacity, cellular absorption, and continuous release within the target cell. The usage of CNTs and Graphene materials as antimicrobial agents and nanocarriers for antibiotics delivery would possibly improve their bioavailability and facilitate better anti-infective therapy. However, it is worth mentioning that CNTs’ antimicrobial activity and toxicity are highly dependent on their preparation and synthesis method. Various types of research have confirmed that diameter, length, residual catalyst, metal content, surface coating, electronic structure, and dispersibility would affect CNTs’ toxicity toward bacteria and human cells. In this review article, a general study was performed on the antimicrobial properties of carbon-based nanomaterials, as well as their toxicity and applications in confronting different microorganisms. This study could be useful for researchers who are looking for new and effective drug delivery methods in the field of microbial resistance.
Microbiome Analysis of New, Insidious Cave Wall Alterations in the Apse of Lascaux Cave
Authors: Alonso Lise , Pommier Thomas , Abrouk Danis , Hugoni Mylène , Tran Van Van , Minard Guillaume , Valiente Moro Claire , Moënne-Loccoz Yvan
Published: December 2022

Lascaux Cave is a UNESCO site that was closed to the public following wall surface alterations. Most black stains that had formed on wall surface are stable or receding, but a new type of alteration visually quite different (termed dark zones) developed in Lascaux’s Apse room in the last 15 years. Here, we tested the hypothesis that dark zones displayed a different microbial community than black stains previously documented in the same room, using metabarcoding (MiSeq sequencing). Indeed, dark zones, black stains and neighboring unstained parts displayed distinct microbial communities. However, similarly to what was observed in black stains, pigmented fungi such as Ochroconis (now Scolecobasidium) were more abundant and the bacteria Pseudomonas less abundant in dark zones than in unstained parts. The collembola Folsomia candida, which can disseminate microorganisms involved in black stain development, was also present on dark zones. Illumina sequencing evidenced Ochroconis (Scolecobasidium) in all collembola samples from dark zones, as in collembola from black stains. This study shows that the microbial properties of dark zones are peculiar, yet dark zones display a number of microbial resemblances with black stains, which suggests a possible role of collembola in promoting these two types of microbial alterations on wall surfaces.
Antioxidant Constituents and Activities of the Pulp with Skin of Korean Tomato Cultivars
Authors: Kang Dong-Min , Kwon Ji-Min , Jeong Woo-Jin , Jung Yu Jin , Kang Kwon Kyoo , Ahn Mi-Jeong
Published: December 2022

Tomato is a widely distributed, cultivated, and commercialized vegetable crop. It contains antioxidant constituents including lycopene, tocopherols, vitamin C, γ-aminobutyric acid, phenols, and flavonoids. This study determined the contents of the antioxidant components and activities of the pulp with skin of ten regular, six medium-sized, and two small cherry tomato cultivars at red ripe (BR + 10) stage cultivated in Korea. The relationships among the Hunter color coordinates, the content of each component, and antioxidant activities were measured by Pearson’s correlation coefficients. As the a* value increased, the carotenoid and vitamin C contents increased, while the L* value, hue angle and tocopherol content decreased. As the b* value increased, the lycopene and total carotenoid contents decreased, and the flavonoid content in the hydrophilic extracts increased. The contents of vitamin C and total carotenoids including lycopene showed high positive correlations with the DPPH radical scavenging activities of both the lipophilic and hydrophilic extracts. Tocopherols and total phenolics in the hydrophilic and lipophilic extracts were not major positive contributors to the antioxidant activity. These findings suggest the quality standards for consumer requirements and inputs for on-going research for the development of better breeds.
Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Dipeptide-Based Stilbene Derivatives Bearing a Biheterocyclic Moiety as Potential Fungicides
Authors: Zhu Yongchuang , Lin Xingdong , Wen Lan , He Daohang
Published: December 2022

The escalating demand for crop production, environmental protection, and food safety warrants the development of new fungicides with greater efficiency, environmental friendliness, and innocuous metabolites to fight against destructive phytopathogens. Herein, we report on the synthesis and antifungal activity of dipeptide-based stilbene derivatives bearing a thiophene-substituted 1,3,4-oxadiazole fragment for the first time. In vitro bioassay indicated that the target compounds had remarkable antifungal potency superior to previously reported counterparts without a dipeptidyl group, of which compound 3c exhibited the highest activity against Botrytis cinerea with EC50 values of 106.1 μg/mL. Moreover, the in vivo protective effect of compound 3c (59.1%) against tomato gray mold was more potent than that of carboxin (42.0%). Preliminary investigations on the mode of action showed that compound 3c induced marked hyphal malformations and increased the membrane permeability of B. cinerea as well as inhibiting mycelial respiration. These promising results suggest that this novel type of molecular framework has great potential to be further developed as alternative fungicides.
Phytochemistry and Biological Activities of Guarea Genus (Meliaceae)
Authors: Safriansyah Wahyu , Sinaga Siska Elisahbet , Supratman Unang , Harneti Desi
Published: December 2022

Guarea is one of the largest genera of the American Meliaceae family, consisting of over 69 species which are widely distributed in Mexico, Argentina, and Africa and are used in traditional medicine for several diseases. Previous studies reported that the Guarea species produce secondary metabolites such as sesquiterpenoid, diterpenoid, triterpenoid, limonoid, steroid, and aromatic compounds. The preliminary chemical investigation commenced by isolating the limonoid compound, dihydrogedunin, in 1962; then, 240 compounds were obtained from the isolation and hydrodistillation process. Meanwhile, sesquiterpenoid is a significant compound with 52% of Guarea species. The extract and compounds were evaluated for their anti-inflammation, antimalarial, antiparasitic, antiprotozoal, antiviral, antimicrobial, insecticidal, antioxidant, phosphorylation inhibitor, and cytotoxic biological activities. The Guarea genus has also been reported as one of the sources of active compounds for medicinal chemistry. This review summarizes some descriptions regarding the types of Guarea species, especially ethnobotany and ethnopharmacology, such as the compounds isolated from the part of this genus, various isolation methods, and their bioactivities. The information can be used in further investigations to obtain more bioactive compounds and their reaction mechanisms.
Dinuclear Lanthanide Compound as a Promising Luminescent Probe for Al3+ Ions
Authors: Chen Zhi , Xie Yinghao , Li Zhanbo , Lin Tao
Published: December 2022

Luminescent probes have wide applications in biological system analysis and environmental science. Here, one novel luminescent dinuclear europium compound with a crown ether analogous ligand was synthesized through a solvent–thermal reaction. Through transformation, upon the addition of Al3+ ions to the N,N′-dimethyl formamide solution of the europium compound, the luminescent intensity of the characteristic emission of Eu3+ decreased, and a new emission peak appeared at 346 nm and increased rapidly. The luminescent investigation indicated that it could act as a highly sensitive and selective luminescent probe for Al3+ ions. Moreover, mass spectrometry and single-crystal X-ray diffraction confirmed the formation of a new more stable trinuclear aluminium compound during the sensing process.
Naringinase Biosynthesis by Aspergillus niger on an Optimized Medium Containing Red Grapefruit Albedo
Authors: Bodakowska-Boczniewicz Joanna , Garncarek Zbigniew
Published: December 2022

This study aimed to develop a method of naringinase biosynthesis by Aspergillus niger KMS on an optimized culture medium. The concentration of the six medium components in shake flasks was optimized by the Box and Wilson factor gradient method. Naringinase’s substrate, naringin, powdered albedo, flavedo, and red grapefruit segment membranes were used to stimulate naringinase biosynthesis. Rhamnose was chosen as the carbon source, while the nitrogen source was yeast extract and sodium nitrate. Naringinase biosynthesis was most favorable in the culture medium with the following composition (g 100 mL): 3.332—NaNO3; 3.427—yeast extract; 0.184—KH2PO4; 0.855—red grapefruit albedo; 0.168—naringin; 2.789—rhamnose. The obtained Aspergillus niger KMS culture fluid was concentrated, thereby precipitating the protein. As a result, a naringinase preparation with high activity, equal to 816 µmol × min−1 × g−1, was obtained.
Phenethyl Ester of Gallic Acid Ameliorates Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
Authors: Stegnjaić Goran , Tsiailanis Antonios D. , Lazarević Milica , Gkalpinos Vasileios K. , Djedovic Neda , Antoniou Thomas , Stanisavljević Suzana , Dimitrijević Mirjana , Momčilović Miljana , Miljković Đorđe , Tzakos Andreas G. , Jevtić Bojan
Published: December 2022

Gallic acid is a phenolic acid present in various plants, nuts, and fruits. It is well known for its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. The phenethyl ester of gallic acid (PEGA) was synthesized with the aim of increasing the bioavailability of gallic acid, and thus its pharmacological potential. Here, the effects of PEGA on encephalitogenic cells were examined, and PEGA was found to modulate the inflammatory activities of T cells and macrophages/microglia. Specifically, PEGA reduced the release of interleukin (IL)-17 and interferon (IFN)-γ from T cells, as well as NO, and IL-6 from macrophages/microglia. Importantly, PEGA ameliorated experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, an animal model of chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS)—multiple sclerosis. Thus, PEGA is a potent anti-inflammatory compound with a perspective to be further explored in the context of CNS autoimmunity and other chronic inflammatory disorders.
Meroterpenoids and Steroids from the Marine-Derived Fungus Trametes sp. ZYX-Z-16
Authors: Ren Ziming , Yang Li , Ma Qingyun , Xie Qingyi , Dai Haofu , Sun Kunlai , Zhao Youxing
Published: December 2022

Marine fungi can metabolize structurally diverse active components, and have become an important source of drug lead molecules. In the present study, the chemical investigation on the EtOAc extract of the fermentation broth of the marine-derived fungus Trametes sp. ZYX-Z-16 led to the isolation of eight meroterpenoids (1–8), including two undescribed ones, together with ten ergostane steroid analogues (9–18). The structures of two new spiromeroterpenoids, asnovolin H (1) and asnovolin I (2), were determined based on 1D, 2D NMR, and HRESIMS spectroscopic data along with ECD spectra calculations. All compounds were tested for antibacterial and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Among them, compound 12 showed definite antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 (MIC 32 μg/mL) and Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 (MIC 16 μg/mL). In addition, compounds 9 and 10 showed superior inhibitory activity, with IC50 values of 104.1 and 111.3 μM, respectively, to the positive control acarbose (304.6 μM).
Polyphenolic Profile of Tunisian Thyme (Thymbra capitata L.) Post-Distilled Residues: Evaluation of Total Phenolic Content and Phenolic Compounds and Their Contribution to Antioxidant Activity
Authors: Hcini Kheiria , Bahi Abir , Zarroug Monia Bendhifi , Farhat Mouna Ben , Lozano-Pérez Antonio Abel , Cenis José Luis , Quílez María , Stambouli-Essassi Sondes , Jordán Maria José
Published: December 2022

During the last decade there has been growing interest in the formulation of new cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical products containing natural compounds with antioxidant activity and other beneficial properties. Aromatic and medicinal plants have always been the major source of bioactive compounds, especially, wild thyme (Thymbra capitata L.), which has been used since ancient times for its valuable health benefits that could be attributed to the richness of polyphenolic compounds. This study was undertaken with the following aims: to estimate the total polyphenolic content (TPC); to evaluate the antioxidant activity; to identify and quantify the phenolic compounds of post-distilled residues of Tunisian thyme, and their contribution to the antioxidant activity. The TPC, as determined by the Folin–Ciocalteu method, was found to reach the values of 126.7 and 107.84 mg gallic acid equivalent/g plant dry weight (mg GAE/g PDW). The antioxidant activity, which is assessed by DPPH and FRAP assays, reached the values of 42.97–45.64 μg/mL and 42.22–50.21 mMFe2+/mg PDW, respectively. HPLC analysis revealed the presence of fourteen polyphenolic compounds, of which diosmin and rosmarinic acid were found to be the most abundant (24.26 to 33.80 and 22.0.1 to 26.29 mg/g PDW, respectively). An important correlation was found between the antioxidant activity and several identified phenolic compounds (p < 0.05). The findings revealed that thyme post-distilled residues have an effective natural antioxidant potential due to their high concentration of bioactive molecules, and they appear to be useful in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries, with beneficial effects on human health. Therefore, supplementing a balanced diet with herbs may have beneficial health effects.
Effect of Dexamethasone on the Expression of the α2,3 and α2,6 Sialic Acids in Epithelial Cell Lines
Authors: Vicente-Fermín Onasis , Zenteno Edgar , Ramos-Martínez Ivan , Espitia Clara , Sánchez-Betancourt José Ivan , Huerta Leonor
Published: December 2022

N-acetylneuraminic acid linked to galactose by α2,6 and α2,3 linkages (Siaα2,6 and Siaα2,3) is expressed on glycoconjugates of animal tissues, where it performs multiple biological functions. In addition, these types of sialic acid residues are the main targets for the binding and entry of influenza viruses. Here we used fluorochrome-conjugated Sambuccus nigra, Maackia amurensis, and peanut lectins for the simultaneous detection of Siaα2,3 and Siaα2,6 and galactosyl residues by two-color flow cytometry on A549 cells, a human pneumocyte cell line used for in vitro studies of the infection by influenza viruses, as well as on Vero and MDCK cell lines. The dexamethasone (DEX) glucocorticoid (GC), a widely used anti-inflammatory compound, completely abrogated the expression of Siaα2,3 in A549 cells and decreased its expression in Vero and MDCK cells; in contrast, the expression of Siaα2,6 was increased in the three cell lines. These observations indicate that DEX can be used for the study of the mechanism of sialylation of cell membrane molecules. Importantly, DEX may change the tropism of avian and human/pig influenza viruses and other infectious agents to animal and human epithelial cells.
The Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of a Pharmacist-Managed Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) Service for Vancomycin—A Pilot Study
Authors: Firman Paul , Tan Ken-Soon , Clavarino Alexandra , Taing Meng-Wong , Dixon Sally , Singh Helender , Whitfield Karen
Published: December 2022

Background: In recent years, pharmacists in Australia have been able to expand their scope to include the provision of a range of services. Although evidence has demonstrated the benefits of pharmacist-managed TDM services, recent studies have shown that these services are not prominent within Australia and that the current TDM workflow may not be optimal. Methods: An interventional pilot study was conducted of a pharmacist-managed TDM program for vancomycin at a tertiary hospital in Australia. Results: In total, 15 pharmacists participated in the program. They performed 50.5% of the medication-related pathology over the intervention period. Pharmacist involvement in the TDM process was more likely to lead to appropriate TDM sample collection (OR 87.1; 95% CI = 11.5, 661.1) and to an appropriate dose adjustment (OR 19.1; 95% CI = 1.7, 213.5). Pharmacists demonstrated increased confidence after the education and credentialling package was provided. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that a credentialling package for pharmacists can improve knowledge, skills, and confidence around the provision of pharmacist-managed TDM services for vancomycin. This may lead to the evolution of different roles and workflows enabling pharmacists to contribute more efficiently to improving medication safety and use.
Improvement of Anther Culture to integrate Doubled Haploid Technology in Temperate Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Breeding
Authors: Lantos Csaba , Jancsó Mihály , Székely Árpád , Nagy Éva , Szalóki Tímea , Pauk János
Published: December 2022

Doubled haploid (DH) plant production, such as anther culture (AC), is an effective tool used in modern rice breeding programs. The improved efficient protocols applied can shorten the process of breeding. The effect of combinations of plant growth regulators (2.5 mg/L NAA, 1 mg/L 2,4-D and 0.5 mg/L kinetin; 2 mg/L 2,4-D and 0.5 mg/L BAP) in the induction medium were compared in AC for five rice breeding materials and combinations. Induction of calli ranged from 264.6 ± 67.07 to 468.8 ± 123.2 calli/100 anthers in AC of rice genotypes. Two basal media (MS and N6) and two combinations of growth regulators (1 mg/L NAA, 1 mg/L BAP and 1 mg/L kinetin; 1.5 mg/L BAP, 0.5 mg/L NAA and 0.5 mg/L kinetin) were used as regeneration media. The in vitro green plant production was the highest with the application of the N6NDK induction medium (NAA, 2,4-D and kinetin) and the MS-based regeneration medium (1 mg/L NAA, 1 mg/BAP and 1 mg/L kinetin) in anther culture of the ‘1009’ genotype (95.2 green plantlets/100 anthers). The mean of five genotypes was 24.48 green plantlets/100 anthers for the best treatment. Flow cytometric analyses conducted identified the microspore origin of the haploid calli produced in AC, while the uniformity of spontaneous DH plants was checked in the DH1 and DH2 generations. Spontaneous chromosome doubling ranged from 38.1% to 57.9% (mean 42.1%), depending on the breeding source. The generated and selected DH lines were tested in micro- and small-plot field experiments to identify promising lines for a pedigree breeding program. The improved AC method was integrated in a Hungarian temperate rice pedigree breeding program.
Response of Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.) to Waste Wood Fiber Substrates and Additional Nitrogen Fertilization
Authors: Čepulienė Rita , Butkevičienė Lina Marija , Skinulienė Lina , Steponavičienė Vaida
Published: December 2022

As the consumption of plant products grown under regulated-climate conditions intensifies, its production also intensifies. Peat substrate as a growing medium is widely used due to its desirable physical, chemical, and biological properties. Peatlands play an important ecological, economic, and cultural role in human well-being, but their resources are decreasing, so wood fiber can be used as a substitute for peat substrate. Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.) were cultivated in growing media (Factor A) of peat substrate and wood fiber: (1) peat substrate (PS); (2) wood fiber (WF); (3) WF and PS 50:50 v/v; or (4) WF and PS 25:75 v/v. To evaluate the amount of additional nitrogen, four fertilization rates were used (Factor B): (1) conventional fertilization (CF); (2) N13; (3) N23; or (4) N30. The yield of cucumbers grown in wood fiber depended on the amount of additional nitrogen. When plants were fertilized with the highest rate of additional nitrogen, N30, their yield increased by 22% compared to the yield of cucumbers that were grown in wood fiber using conventional fertilization. Chlorophyll synthesis was the most intense in the leaves of cucumbers grown in wood fiber when the plants were additionally fertilized with N23 and N30, and in mixtures of wood fiber with peat substrate in ratios of 50:50 and 25:75, fertilized with N23 and N13, respectively. In summary, it can be argued that cucumbers can be grown in wood fiber and in a mixture with peat substrate in a ratio of 50:50, but additional nitrogen is needed to compensate for the amount of nitrogen immobilized in the fiber.
Ionic Equilibria in Polytungstate Melts
Authors: Kosov Alexander V. , Semerikova Olga L. , Vakarin Sergey V. , Grishenkova Olga V. , Vorob’ev Alexey S. , Khudorozhkova Anastasia O. , Zaikov Yury P.
Published: December 2022

Polytungstate melts are used for the electrodeposition of oxide tungsten bronzes (OTBs). The scarce information on the ionic composition and properties of these electrolytes hinders effective control of the electrochemical synthesis of OTBs with desired electrical and optical properties. In this work, a comprehensive study of Na2WO4–WO3 melts that contained up to 55 mol% of tungsten trioxide was performed in the temperature range from 983 to 1073 K. Melt densities were measured using the Archimedes method. DFT calculations were carried out for various tungsten-containing compounds, including WxO3x−12+, WxO3x+12−, NaWxO3x+1−, and Na2WxO3x+1. The calculated values of the W–O bond energy indicate that the tested compounds are stable in the specified temperature range, and the  WO22+ cation is the most stable. The experimental dependences of the redox potential on the mole fraction of tungsten trioxide in the Na2WO4–WO3 melt were obtained using the EMF method. A model that considers the processes of interaction between tungsten-containing ions and O2− ions was proposed for the quantitative interpretation of these dependences. The equilibrium constants were found through fitting according to the Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm. The effect of the WO3 mole fraction and temperature on the concentrations of WO42−, W2O72−, W3O102−, W4O132−, WO22+, and O2− ions was analyzed.
Bioenergy, Electricity, Biogas Production, and Emission Reduction Using the Anaerobic Digestion of Organic Municipal Solid Waste in Campinas, One of the Largest Brazilian Cities
Authors: Pacheco Lívia Alencar , Tamayo-Peña Jenniffer , Moraes Bruna de Souza , Franco Telma Teixeira
Published: December 2022

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is an attractive process for bioenergy production and is considered to be an alternative way to reduce landfills. AD improves municipal solid waste (MSW) management, representing a profitable application of the circular economy and could reduce environmental impact. The methane (CH4) potential of four different organic fractions of MSW—paper (PFW), garden (GFW), food (FFW), and a mixture of these three (OFMSW)—via AD was used to investigate the energy potential and the economic and environmental impact of Campinas. Theoretical and experimental biochemical methane potential (BMP) and substrate biodegradability were determined using the Buswell and Müller equation and the VDI 4630 method. The Gompertz model was used to predict the kinetics of the biochemical processes. The highest experimental BMP (410.7 NmLCH4 gVS−1) and biodegradability (86.6%) were reached with OFMSW. OFMSW can avail an energetic potential of approximately 119 GWh year−1, with a biomethane production equivalent to diesel at 49.9 × 103 m3 year−1, hence, potentially curtailing the CO2 emissions of heavy-duty vehicles by almost 133 kt year−1. The electricity demand for approximately 11% of the households in Campinas could be met by the biogas produced by OFMSW, thus increasing local energy security. The replacement of fossil diesel with biomethane to fuel garbage trucks in Campinas could reduce 25% of the diesel demand.
Thermal Behavior of Passive Intelligent Radiant Cooling Systems
Authors: Yoo Seung-Ho
Published: December 2022

Efficient cooling and heating solutions for nearly zero-energy solar dwellings are required to mitigate climate change and to make dwellings sustainable. The installed pipeline for a radiant heating system, which is only used for space heating when heating is necessary, can also be used to cool the room with only the enthalpic use of natural city water by releasing the natural city water through the embedded pipeline already installed for radiant heating. Natural city water used for radiant cooling can be used in necessary locations such as for toilets, washing cars, laundry facilities, and garden water, which corresponds to approximately 56% of the water we use at home. As a result, the embedded pipes that make up a radiant heating system can be converted to a passive intelligent radiant cooling system with minimal added installation and control systems. Thermal comfort and behavior analyses in an enclosure with a radiant cooling system are fulfilled through experimentation, mean radiant temperature simulation, and asymmetric radiation calculation. No uncomfortable asymmetric radiation is encountered during the cooling period, so the cooling spaces are well controlled within the comfortable cooling range. A passive intelligent radiant cooling system that uses just the enthalpy of natural city water can be an appropriate ecological solution to better develop zero-energy dwellings. No extra cooling energy and power are required to cool a space that uses just enthalpy and pressure from natural city water.
Hyperspectral Core-Logging for Past Primary Productivity Assessment
Authors: Van Exem Antonin , Debret Maxime , Copard Yoann , Jacq Kévin , Verpoorter Charles , Marcotte Stéphane , Laignel Benoit , Vannière Boris
Published: December 2022

Past primary productivity is tracked in lake sediments to reconstruct environmental changes. However, the resolution of the routinely used destructive techniques is not suitable for the analysis of a large number of samples due to cost. Non-destructive analysis of chlorophyll-a performed by hyperspectral imagery enables the quick determination of indices of past primary productivity. Eighteen indices used in paleo-environmental reconstruction were inventoried to define the best index capable of tracking chlorophyll-a by this technique. All the indices were applied to hyperspectral data measured on the sediment of Lake Bresson, in which detrital organic matter input is likely to skew chlorophyll-a identification, and the results were compared with concentrations measured by a routinely used destructive analysis. The 18 indices all produced a different result and only three indices were positively correlated with chlorophyll-a concentrations (n = 28, p < 0.0001). The detrital organic matter impacts chlorophyll-a characterization and shows the bias produced by the sediment matrix variations. Moreover, artificial modification of the sediment matrix revealed an impact of the mineral phase. To tackle this issue, the indices are normalized by two proxies of the sediment components. This new approach reduces the impact of detrital organic matter, hence the sediment matrix variations also reduce the normalization of the chlorophyll-a indices by a specific proxy of the mineral phase. These results identify the impact of local geochemical features that limit past primary productivity assessment and show the necessity of characterizing the sediment composition prior to tracking the chlorophyll-a by hyperspectral imaging.
Working Capital Management Impact on Profitability: Pre-Pandemic and Pandemic Evidence from the European Automotive Industry
Authors: Demiraj Rezart , Dsouza Suzan , Abiad Mohammad
Published: December 2022

Efficient management of working capital is essential for firms to avoid overinvesting in short-term assets for maximum profitability while guaranteeing much-needed liquidity to run their operations. This study examines the impact of working capital management on firms’ profitability in the automotive industry in Europe before and during the COVID-19 pandemic period. The automotive industry is vital to the European economy, being a major component of the total industrial value added to the GDP of the continent. Existing research on this topic is inconclusive, and there is a gap in the literature exploring the working capital management effect on firm performance in periods of crisis. Unlike most research, this study focuses on a single industry to better capture the impact of working capital management on firm profitability. It also adds the COVID-19 dimension to stress the importance of proper working capital management, especially in periods of economic distress. The results show that the receivables collection period, inventory conversion period, accounts payable period, and cash conversion cycle have a significant negative impact on ROA for both the pre-pandemic and pandemic period, suggesting that managers must be prudent regarding their firm’s credit policy by not being overly generous with credit terms and making every effort to promptly collect their receivables. Moreover, excessive levels of inventory impair profitability by locking up valuable cash reserves, which are vital, especially in periods of crisis. Though seemingly counterintuitive, being profitable also means not postponing payables settlement unnecessarily.
Integrating the Generative Adversarial Network for Decision Making in Reinforcement Learning for Industrial Robot Agents
Authors: Paul Neelabh , Tasgaonkar Vaibhav , Walambe Rahee , Kotecha Ketan
Published: December 2022

Many robotics systems carrying certain payloads are employed in manufacturing industries for pick and place tasks. The system experiences inefficiency if more or less weight is introduced. If a different payload is introduced (either due to a change in the load or a change in the parameters of the robot system), the robot must be re-trained with the new weight/parameters and the new network must be trained. Parameters such as the robot weight, length of limbs, or new payload may vary for an agent depending on the circumstance. Parameter changes pose a problem to the agent in achieving the same goal it is expected to achieve with the original parameters. Hence, it becomes mandatory to re-train the agent with the new parameters in order for it to achieve its goal. This research proposes a novel framework for the adaption of varying conditions on a robot agent in a given simulated environment without any retraining. Utilizing the properties of Generative Adversarial Network (GAN), the agent is able to train only once with reinforcement learning and by tweaking the noise vector of the generator in the GAN network, the agent can adapt to new conditions accordingly and demonstrate similar performance as if it were trained with the new physical attributes using reinforcement learning. A simple CartPole environment is considered for the experimentation, and it is shown that with the propose approached the agent remains stable for more iterations. The approach can be extended to the real world in the future.
Landslide Risk Assessment in Eastern Kentucky, USA: Developing a Regional Scale, Limited Resource Approach
Authors: Crawford Matthew M. , Dortch Jason M. , Koch Hudson J. , Zhu Yichuan , Haneberg William C. , Wang Zhenming , Bryson L. Sebastian
Published: December 2022

Rapidly changing remote sensing technologies (lidar, aerial photography, satellites) provide opportunities to improve regional-scale landslide risk mapping. However, data limitations regarding landslide hazard and exposure data influence how landslide risk is calculated. To develop risk assessments for a landslide-prone region of eastern Kentucky, USA, we assessed risk modeling and applicability using variable quality data. First, we used a risk equation that incorporated the hazard as a logistic regression landslide susceptibility model using geomorphic variables derived from lidar data. Susceptibility is calculated as a probability of occurrence. The exposure data included population, roads, railroads, and land class. Our vulnerability value was assumed to equal one (worst-case scenario for a degree of loss) and consequence data was economic cost. Results indicate 64.1 percent of the study area is classified as moderate to high socioeconomic risk. To develop a more data-limited approach, we used a 30 m slope-angle map as the hazard input and simplified exposure data. Results for the slope-based approach show the distribution of risk that is less uniform, with large areas of over-and under-prediction. Changes in the hazard and exposure inputs result in significant changes in the quality and applicability of the maps and demonstrate the broad range of risk modelling approaches.
An Improved Altimeter in-Orbit Range Noise-Level Estimation Approach Based on Along-Track Differential Method
Authors: Liu Xiaonan , Kong Weiya , Sun Hanwei , Xu Yongsheng , Lu Yaobing
Published: December 2022

Satellite radar altimeters are advanced remote sensing devices that play an important role in observing the global marine environment. Accurately estimating the noise level of altimeter in-orbit ranging data is crucial for evaluating the payload performance, analyzing sea conditions, and monitoring data quality. In this study, we propose an approach based on the differential processing of along-track odd–even data sequences for altimeter in-orbit range noise-level estimation. Using the long-term along-track data sequence can notably improve the issue in the existing method in that the noise level is underestimated owing to the utilization of a relatively short data segment. On the basis of an analysis of the influence of low-frequency components on noise-level estimation, the mathematical formulas of the above differential method were deduced, and the efficacy of the approach in assessing the noise level of altimeter in-orbit data was demonstrated by simulation experiments. This method was used to estimate the noise levels of the 20 Hz datasets of Jason-3 and Sentinel-6, and the idea of the time-domain difference was extended to the frequency domain. The statistical results showed that the 20 Hz noise levels at the significant wave height (SWH) = 2 m were 7.41 cm (Jason-3 low-resolution (LR) mode), 6.66 cm (Sentinel-6 LR mode), and 3.13 cm (Sentinel-6 high-resolution (HR) mode). The power spectrum density analysis further verified its accuracy. By reprocessing the 20 Hz data of Sentinel-6 into 10, 5, and 1 Hz, the effectiveness of the along-track odd–even differential method to directly evaluate the noise level of 1 Hz data was explored, and the impact of ocean signals such as swells on noise-level estimation in synthetic aperture mode was discussed.
Tectonic Significances of the Geomorphic Evolution in the Southern Alashan Block to the Outward Expansion of the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Ji Tingting , Zheng Wenjun , Yang Jingjun , Zhang Dongli , Liang Shumin , Li Yige , Liu Ting , Zhou Haoyu , Feng Changhuan
Published: December 2022

Fluvial landscapes are a result of lithospheric tectonic movement, climate evolution and surface processes. Existing evidence proves that regional tectonic deformation can be reflected by the evolution of fluvial landforms. The southern Alashan Block lies the closest to the northeastern Tibetan Plateau and has become the latest plateau outward expansion boundary. Yabrai Shan is located at the intersection of the Tibetan Plateau, Alashan and Ordos Blocks, thereby recording the evolution of the surface processes and tectonic activities in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau and its surrounding regions. Herein, we conducted the quantitative landform analysis and field investigations of Yabrai Shan, and the spatiotemporal distribution of geomorphological parameters indicated that Yabrai Shan is in the mature stage of geomorphological evolution controlled by tectonic activities of the Yabrai range-front fault. Based on the paleochannel reconstruction model and previous research on fault activity, two tectonic acceleration events were identified, with estimated geomorphic response times of 0.15–1.10 Ma and 1.42–2.92 Ma. Different distribution characteristics of two-phase knickpoints are caused by the change of tectonic stress in this region, revealing that the late knickpoints are the result of tectonic acceleration under the influence of the northeast expansion of the Tibetan Plateau. The transformation of Yabrai Shan from the original extensional environment affected by the Ordos Block to the compressional environment affected by the northeast expansion of the Tibetan Plateau occurred after 1.10 Ma.
SRODNet: Object Detection Network Based on Super Resolution for Autonomous Vehicles
Authors: Musunuri Yogendra Rao , Kwon Oh-Seol , Kung Sun-Yuan
Published: December 2022

Object detection methods have been applied in several aerial and traffic surveillance applications. However, object detection accuracy decreases in low-resolution (LR) images owing to feature loss. To address this problem, we propose a single network, SRODNet, that incorporates both super-resolution (SR) and object detection (OD). First, a modified residual block (MRB) is proposed in the SR to recover the feature information of LR images, and this network was jointly optimized with YOLOv5 to benefit from hierarchical features for small object detection. Moreover, the proposed model focuses on minimizing the computational cost of network optimization. We evaluated the proposed model using standard datasets such as VEDAI-VISIBLE, VEDAI-IR, DOTA, and Korean highway traffic (KoHT), both quantitatively and qualitatively. The experimental results show that the proposed method improves the accuracy of vehicular detection better than other conventional methods.
Impact of Land Use/Land Cover Change on Ecological Quality during Urbanization in the Lower Yellow River Basin: A Case Study of Jinan City
Authors: Yu Guangting , Liu Tongwen , Wang Qi , Li Tao , Li Xiujing , Song Guanhan , Feng Yougui
Published: December 2022

Rapid urbanization in the lower Yellow River basin has greatly contributed to the socio-economic development of Northern China, but it has also exacerbated land use/land cover change, with significant impacts on ecology. Ecological quality is a comprehensive spatial and temporal measure of an ecosystem’s elements, structure and function, reflecting the ecological state under external pressures. However, how land use/land cover change affects the ecological quality during urbanization has rarely been explored. In this study, Jinan, a megacity in the lower Yellow River basin, was taken as a typical region, and the response of ecological quality to the land use/land cover change in 2000, 2010 and 2020 was retrieved using the remote sensing ecological index. For the mixed land use/land cover change types, a type-decomposition and spatial heterogeneity quantification method based on the abundance index was proposed, and the impact mechanisms of the land use/land cover change on the ecological quality were revealed by coupling with GeoDetector. The results show that: (1) Farmland and built-up areas, as the dominant land use/land cover types, were the primary factors controlling the spatial pattern of ecological quality. (2) Urban expansion and farmland protection policies resulted in the transfer of farmland and woodland to built-up areas as well as the transfer of woodland and grassland to farmland, which intensified the degradation of ecological quality. (3) Ecological protection policies prompted the transfer of farmland and grassland to woodland and the transfer of farmland to grassland as the main cause for the improvement of ecological quality. (4) Although ecological protection and urban development were implemented in parallel, uneven land use/land cover changes resulted in a 1.4 times expanded area of poorer ecological quality with increasingly serious spatial agglomeration effects. This study can provide scientific references for the ecological conservation and high-quality, sustainable development of cities in the lower Yellow River basin.