bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Constructing Robust Solid Electrolyte Interface via ZrO2 Coating Layer for Hard Carbon Anode in Sodium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Gong Yuteng , Yu Chengxin , Li Yu , Qian Ji , Wu Chuan , Bai Ying
Published: September 2022

Hard carbon (HC) has attracted extensive attention due to its rich material source, environmental non-toxicity, superior sodium storage capacity, and lower sodium storage potential, and is considered most likely to be a commercial anode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Nevertheless, the limited initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) of HC is the main bottleneck hindering its practical application. To alleviate this issue, herein, a ZrO2 coating was skillfully constructed by using a facile liquid phase coating method. The ZrO2 coating can act as a physical barrier to prevent direct contact between the HC surface and the electrolyte, thus effectively reducing irreversible sodium adsorption and inhibiting the continuous decomposition of the electrolyte. Meanwhile, this fresh interface can contribute to the generation of a thinner solid electrolyte interface (SEI) with high ionic conductivity. As a result, the ICE of the ZrO2-coated HC electrode can be optimized up to 79.2% (64.4% for pristine HC). Furthermore, the ZrO2-coated HC electrode delivers outstanding cyclic stability so that the capacity retention rate can reach 82.6% after 2000 cycles at 1 A g−1 (55.8% for pristine HC). This work provides a flexible and versatile surface modification method to improve the electrochemical property of HC, and hopefully accelerate the practical application of HC anodes for SIBs.
Rechargeable Magnesium Ion Batteries Based on Nanostructured Tungsten Disulfide Cathodes
Authors: Guo Wuqi , Hanaor Dorian A. H. , Kober Delf , Wang Jun , Bekheet Maged F. , Gurlo Aleksander
Published: September 2022

Finding effective cathode materials is currently one of the key barriers to the development of magnesium batteries, which offer enticing prospects of larger capacities alongside improved safety relative to Li-ion batteries. Here, we report the hydrothermal synthesis of several types of WS2 nanostructures and their performance as magnesium battery cathodes. The morphology of WS2 materials was controlled through the use of sodium oxalate as a complexing agent and different templating agents, including polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB). A high capacity of 142.7 mAh/g was achieved after 100 cycles at a high current density of 500 mA/g for cathodes based on a nanostructured flower-like WS2. A solution consisting of magnesium (II) bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (MgTFSI2) and magnesium (II) chloride (MgCl2) in dimethoxyethane (DME) was used as an effective electrolyte, which contributes to favorable Mg2+ mobility. Weaker ionic bonds and van der Waals forces of WS2 compared with other transition metal oxides/sulfides lay the foundation for fast discharge/charge rate. The enhanced surface area of the nanostructured materials plays a key role in enhancing both the capacity and discharge/charge rate.
MiR-223 and MiR-186 Are Associated with Long-Term Mortality after Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Elbaz Meyer , Faccini Julien , Laperche Clémence , Grazide Marie-Hélène , Ruidavets Jean-Bernard , Vindis Cécile
Published: September 2022

Background—The identification and stratification of patients at risk of fatal outcomes after myocardial infarction (MI) is of considerable interest to guide secondary prevention therapies. Currently, no accurate biomarkers are available to identify subjects who are at risk of suffering acute manifestations of coronary heart disease as well as to predict adverse events after MI. Non-coding circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have been proposed as novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in cardiovascular diseases. The aims of the study were to investigate the clinical value of a panel of circulating miRNAs as accurate biomarkers associated with MI and mortality risk prediction in patients with documented MI. Methods and Results—seven circulating plasma miRNAs were analyzed in 67 MI patients and 80 control subjects at a high cardiovascular risk but without known coronary diseases. Multivariate logistic regression analyses demonstrated that six miRNAs were independently associated with MI occurrence. Among them, miR-223 and miR-186 reliably predicted long-term mortality in MI patients, in particular miR-223 (HR 1.57 per one-unit increase, p = 0.02), after left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) adjustment. Kaplan–Meier survival analyses provided a predictive threshold value of miR-223 expression (p = 0.028) for long-term mortality. Conclusions—Circulating miR-223 and miR-186 are promising predictive biomarkers for long-term mortality after MI.
Evidence for an Intrathecal Immunoglobulin Synthesis by Kappa Free Light Chains in Neurological Patients with an Isolated Band in Isoelectric Focusing
Authors: Weiss Bastian , Pichler Alexander , Damulina Anna , Buchmann Arabella , Hochmeister Sonja , Seifert-Held Thomas , Enzinger Christian , Archelos Juan-Jose , Khalil Michael
Published: September 2022

The gold standard for detecting intrathecal immunoglobulin synthesis is the determination of the oligoclonal band (OCB) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) using isoelectric focusing (IEF). Controversy still exists regarding the significance of an isolated band in the CSF. A highly promising alternative method for the assessment of intrathecal inflammation is the quantification of kappa free light chains (k-FLC). Our aim was to evaluate the clinical significance of quantitative k-FLC in patients with an isolated band in the CSF. Using the Human Kappa Freelite Mx Kit on a turbidimetric Optilite®, we quantified the k-FLCs in paired CSF and serum samples in 47 patients with a single band in IEF. We classified patients into 27× inflammatory neurological disorders (IND), 2× peripheral inflammatory neurological disorders (PIND), 9× non-inflammatory neurological disorders (NIND) and 9× symptomatic controls (SC) based on their medical diagnosis. k-FLC were below the lower measurement limit of the analyser (LML) in all SC and PIND, as well as in 8 out of 9 NIND and 11 IND. Only 1 NIND and 16 IND were above the LML, and of these, only 14 IND were above the upper discrimination limit (Qlim). A neuroinflammatory nature of the diseases can be indicated in many cases by positive k-FLC in patients with an isolated band in IEF. The measurement of k-FLC can support the diagnosis of neurological diseases if they are included in the routine work-up.
Clinical Prospective Assessment of Genotoxic and Cytotoxic Effects of Fluoride Toothpaste and Mouthwash in Buccal Mucosal Cells
Authors: Puizina Mladinic Ema , Puizina Jasna , Gavic Lidia , Tadin Antonija
Published: September 2022

Background: Fluorides are an essential component of oral hygiene products used to prevent dental decay. Therefore, a question arises about the potential harms of joint use of fluoridated toothpaste and mouthwashes regarding the increased amount of fluoride in the oral mucosa. Methods: This prospective, double-blinded parallel randomized clinical trial was conducted using a buccal micronucleus cytome assay (BMCyt assay). Forty-one participants were randomly assigned to the two groups. All participants used the same kinds of toothpaste for 12 weeks, designed explicitly for this study (non-fluoride, 1050 ppm F, and 1450 ppm F each for 4 weeks). Simultaneously, during the 3 months of the research, one group used mouthwash with fluoride (450 ppm) and another without fluoride. The buccal mucosal sampling was taken before using the tested products and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of their use. Results: The frequency of micronuclei and the majority of other scored endpoints from the BMCyt assay showed no statistically significant differences within and between the studied groups. Comparing two groups, only statistically significant increases in the number of cells with nuclear buds (p = 0.048) and karyorrhexis (p = 0.020) at four weeks of usage were observed in the group that used mouthwash with fluoride. Conclusion: On the basis of the results, it can be concluded that simultaneous application of fluoridated toothpaste and fluoride mouthwash does not lead to cytogenetic damage in buccal mucosal cells.
Antitumor Effect of Brusatol in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Models Is Triggered by Reactive Oxygen Species Accumulation
Authors: Jorge Joana , Magalhães Nisa , Alves Raquel , Lapa Beatriz , Gonçalves Ana Cristina , Sarmento-Ribeiro Ana Bela
Published: September 2022

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is one of the most common hematological malignancies at pediatric ages and is characterized by different chromosomal rearrangements and genetic abnormalities involved in the differentiation and proliferation of lymphoid precursor cells. Brusatol is a quassinoid plant extract extensively studied due to its antineoplastic effect through global protein synthesis and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor-2 (NRF2) signaling inhibition. NRF2 is the main regulator of cellular antioxidant response and reactive oxygen species (ROS), which plays an important role in oxidative stress regulation. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of brusatol in in vitro models of ALL. KOPN-8 (B-ALL), CEM (T-ALL), and MOLT-4 (T-ALL) cell lines were incubated with increasing concentrations of brusatol, and the metabolic activity was evaluated using the resazurin assay. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate cell death, cell cycle, mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψmit), and to measure ROS and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels. Our results show that brusatol promoted a decrease in metabolic activity in ALL cell lines in a time-, dose-, and cell-line-dependent manner. Brusatol induced a cytostatic effect by cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 in all cell lines; however, cell death mediated by apoptosis was only observed in T-ALL cells. Brusatol leads to an oxidative stress imbalance by the increase in ROS levels, namely, superoxide anion. Redox imbalance and cellular apoptosis induced by brusatol are highly modulated by mitochondria disruption as a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential is detected. These data suggest that brusatol might represent a new therapeutic approach for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, particularly for ALL T-cell lineage.
LRRK2 Deficiency Aggravates Sleep Deprivation-Induced Cognitive Loss by Perturbing Synaptic Pruning in Mice
Authors: Cheng Xiaojuan , Wu Xilin , Zhang Yuying , Li Weian , Feng Linjuan , You Hanlin , Yang Siyu , Yang Dongping , Chen Xiaochun , Pan Xiaodong
Published: September 2022

Mutations of the leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) gene are associated with pronounced sleep disorders or cognitive dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases. However, the effects of LRRK2 deficiency on sleep rhythms and sleep deprivation-related cognitive changes, and the relevant underlying mechanism, remain unrevealed. In this study, Lrrk2-/- and Lrrk2+/+ mice were subjected to normal sleep (S) or sleep deprivation (SD). Sleep recording, behavioral testing, Golgi-cox staining, immunofluorescence, and real-time PCR were employed to evaluate the impacts of LRRK2 deficiency on sleep behaviors and to investigate the underlying mechanisms. The results showed that after SD, LRRK2-deficient mice displayed lengthened NREM and shortened REM, and reported decreased dendritic spines, increased microglial activation, and synaptic endocytosis in the prefrontal cortex. Meanwhile, after SD, LRRK2 deficiency aggravated cognitive impairments, especially in the recall memory cued by fear conditioning test. Our findings evidence that LRRK2 modulates REM/NREM sleep and its deficiency may exacerbate sleep deprivation-related cognitive disorders by perturbing synaptic plasticity and microglial synaptic pruning in mice.
Association of Trimethylamine N-Oxide with Normal Aging and Neurocognitive Disorders: A Narrative Review
Authors: Chen Xiangliang , Gu Mengmeng , Hong Ye , Duan Rui , Zhou Junshan
Published: September 2022

Aging-related neurocognitive disorder (NCD) is a growing health concern. Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), a gut microbiota-derived metabolite from dietary precursors, might emerge as a promising biomarker of cognitive dysfunction within the context of brain aging and NCD. TMAO may increase among older adults, Alzheimer’s disease patients, and individuals with cognitive sequelae of stroke. Higher circulating TMAO would make them more vulnerable to age- and NCD-related cognitive decline, via mechanisms such as promoting neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, and reducing synaptic plasticity and function. However, these observations are contrary to the cognitive benefit reported for TMAO through its positive effects on blood–brain barrier integrity, as well as from the supplementation of TMAO precursors. Hence, current disputable evidence does not allow definite conclusions as to whether TMAO could serve as a critical target for cognitive health. This article provides a comprehensive overview of TMAO documented thus far on cognitive change due to aging and NCD.
New Frontiers in Child, Adolescent and Young Adult Psycho-Oncology Survivorship Care
Authors: Sansom-Daly Ursula M. , McLoone Jordana K. , Touyz Lauren , Signorelli Christina
Published: September 2022

The landscape of cancer survivorship has changed considerably from Fitzhugh Mullan’s conceptualization of the three sequential phases or ‘seasons of survival’ that an individual might expect to pass through, from the acute (cancer diagnosis and treatment), extended (the period following treatment), and permanent (survivorship, aligned with cure) survivorship phases [...]
miR-302 Suppresses the Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion of Breast Cancer Cells by Downregulating ATAD2
Authors: Hwang Yo Sep , Park Eun Sun , Oh Byung Moo , Uhm Tae Gi , Yoon Suk Ran , Park Jong-Lyul , Cho Hee Jun , Lee Hee Gu
Published: September 2022

Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor in women. The ATPase family AAA domain-containing protein 2 (ATAD2) contains an ATPase domain and a bromodomain, and is abnormally expressed in various human cancers, including breast cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of ATAD2 expression in breast cancer remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the expression and function of ATAD2 in breast cancer. We found that ATAD2 was highly expressed in human breast cancer tissues and cell lines. ATAD2 depletion via RNA interference inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasive ability of the SKBR3 and T47D breast cancer cell lines. Furthermore, Western blot analysis and luciferase assay results revealed that ATAD2 is a putative target of miR-302. Transfection with miR-302 mimics markedly reduced cell migration and invasion. These inhibitory effects of miR-302 were restored by ATAD2 overexpression. Moreover, miR-302 overexpression in SKBR3 and T47D cells suppressed tumor growth in the xenograft mouse model. However, ATAD2 overexpression rescued the decreased tumor growth seen after miR-302 overexpression. Our findings indicate that miR-302 plays a prominent role in inhibiting the cancer cell behavior associated with tumor progression by targeting ATAD2, and could thus be a valuable target for breast cancer therapy.
Killer-Cell Immunoglobulin-like Receptor Diversity in an Admixed South American Population
Authors: Castrillon Marlon , Marin Nancy D. , Karduss-Urueta Amado J. , Velasquez Sonia Y. , Alvarez Cristiam M.
Published: September 2022

Natural Killer (NK) cells are innate immune cells that mediate antiviral and antitumor responses. NK cell activation and induction of effector functions are tightly regulated by the integration of activating and inhibitory receptors such as killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR). KIR genes are characterized by a high degree of diversity due to presence or absence, gene copy number and allelic polymorphism. The aim of this study was to establish the distribution of KIR genes and genotypes, to infer the most common haplotypes in an admixed Colombian population and to compare these KIR gene frequencies with some Central and South American populations and worldwide. A total of 161 individuals from Medellin, Colombia were included in the study. Genomic DNA was used for KIR and HLA genotyping. We analyzed only KIR gene-content (presence or absence) based on PCR-SSO. The KIR genotype, most common haplotypes and combinations of KIR and HLA ligands frequencies were estimated according to the presence or absence of KIR and HLA genes. Dendrograms, principal component (PC) analysis and Heatmap analysis based on genetic distance were constructed to compare KIR gene frequencies among Central and South American, worldwide and Amerindian populations. The 16 KIR genes analyzed were distributed in 37 different genotypes and the 7 most frequent KIR inferred haplotypes. Importantly, we found three new genotypes not previously reported in any other ethnic group. Our genetic distance, PC and Heatmap analysis revealed marked differences in the distribution of KIR gene frequencies in the Medellin population compared to worldwide populations. These differences occurred mainly in the activating KIR isoforms, which are more frequent in our population, particularly KIR3DS1. Finally, we observed unique structural patterns of genotypes, which evidences the potential diversity and variability of this gene family in our population, and the need for exhaustive genetic studies to expand our understanding of the KIR gene complex in Colombian populations.
Can X-ray Diffraction Distinguish Natural from Anthropogenic Hematite? Replication of the Conversion of Natural Goethite in Both Furnace and Campfire
Authors: Picuri Jules C. , Natoli Julia M. , Shaw Sophia E. , Shyam Shruthi P. , VanHoesen Stephen R. , Lin Zhenyu , Bowyer Walter J.
Published: September 2022

Hematite, the mineral that gives color to bright red iron ochres, occurs naturally, but there is much evidence that early humans sometimes artificially produced hematite by heating a related mineral, goethite, in wood fires. This represents an important cognitive and technological advance in early human prehistory. Thus, there is a need to distinguish natural hematite from hematite generated by heating goethite in a wood fire. Measuring the line widths of powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) in hematite has been explored, and synthetic goethite heated in a modern furnace has been used as a model system for studying this process. We now show that to be an inappropriate model. Although chemically identical, natural goethite is physically different from and much more variable than goethite produced in a laboratory. Furthermore, by replicating the process using Stone Age technology, we show that heating goethite in a wood fire complicates the interpretation of XRD line widths of the resulting hematite. We conclude that strategies other than powder XRD are necessary to draw conclusions about the ancient processing of iron ochres.
Chinese Colorless HPHT Synthetic Diamond Inclusion Features and Identification
Authors: Ma Ying , Qiu Zhili , Deng Xiaoqin , Ding Ting , Li Huihuang , Lu Taijin , Song Zhonghua , Zhu Wenfang , Wu Jinlin
Published: September 2022

Chinese HPHT diamonds have improved dramatically in recent years. However, this brings a challenge in identifying type IIa colorless diamonds. In this study, eleven HPHT and three natural, colorless, gem-quality IIa diamonds were analyzed using magnified observation, Raman, PL and chemical element analysis. The results show that only HPHT samples possessed kite-like inclusions and lichenoid inclusions, as verified by their complex Raman spectra (100–750 cm−1). Through PL mapping, HPHT and natural IIa diamonds were distinguished by their growth environments, which were reflected by PL peaks at 503, 505, 575, 637, 693, 694 and 737 nm. The chemical components of HPHT IIa diamond carbide inclusions are mainly Fe, Co, Ni and Mn, but those of Natural IIa are mainly Fe and Ni. As a result, the chemical components can be used to distinguish a natural colorless IIa diamond from a synthetic diamond.
Comparison of Structural, Microstructural, Elastic, and Microplastic Properties of the AAAC (A50) and ACSR (AC50/8) Cables after Various Operation Periods in Power Transmission Lines
Authors: Levin Aleksandr A. , Narykova Maria V. , Lihachev Alexey I. , Kardashev Boris K. , Kadomtsev Andrej G. , Prasolov Nikita D. , Panfilov Andrei G. , Sokolov Roman V. , Brunkov Pavel N. , Sultanov Makhsud M. , Strizhichenko Alexander V. , Boldyrev Ilia A.
Published: September 2022

In modern economic infrastructure, Al cables of overhead power transmission lines are used both without and with a steel core (respectively, all aluminum alloy conductor (AAAC) and aluminum conductor steel reinforced (ACSR) cables). In this article, the changes in structural, microstructural, and elastic-microplastic properties have been analyzed for the outer wires of the AAAC (A50) and ACSR cables (AC50/8 cables with a steel core of ~8 mm2 cross-section, hereinafter referred to as AC50) with the cross-section of the stranded conductor of ~50 mm2, which were in operation for 0–20 years in the Volgograd region of Russia. Using the techniques of X-ray diffraction, electron backscattered diffraction, densitometry, and the acoustic method, the structural and microstructural features of the wires have been compared and found to be correlated with their elastic-microplastic properties. It has been ascertained that the presence of a steel core in AC50 leads to a decrease in the defectiveness of the near-surface layer of their aluminum wires. Compared with A50 cables, the development of void defects in the near-surface layer of Al-wires of AC50 cables slows down (by ~1 year with a service life of ~10 years and by ~3 years with a service life of ~20 years).
Genome Insight and Description of Previously Uncultured N2-Fixing Bacterium Rhizobium terricola sp. nov., Isolated from Forest Rhizospheric Soil by Using Modified Culture Method
Authors: Dahal Ram Hari , Chaudhary Dhiraj Kumar , Kim Jungmin , Kim Dong-Uk , Kim Jaisoo
Published: September 2022

A bacterial strain S-51T was isolated from rhizospheric forest soil at Kyonggi University during the study of previously uncultured bacterium. The phylogenetic analysis was based on 16S rRNA gene sequences that indicated that strain S-51T belonged to the genus Rhizobium within the family Rhizobiaceae. The closest members of strain S-51T were Rhizobium naphthalenivorans TSY03bT (98.2% sequence similarity) and Rhizobium selenitireducens ATCC BAA-1503T (98.1%). The sequence similarities of other members were <97.7%. The sole respiratory quinone was Q-10 and the major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, and unidentified glycolipid. The principal fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18:1ω7c and/or C18:1ω6c), cyclo-C19:0ω8c, and C18:0. The DNA G+C content was 63.1 mol%. The genome was 4930044 bp long and contained N2-fixing genes, such as fixF, ntrC, and ptsN, in addition to respiratory nitrate reductase genes, such as narC, narG, narH, narI, and narJ. The average nucleotide identity (ANIu), average amino acid identity (AAI), and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) relatedness between strain S-51T and phylogenetically related species were ≤82.6, ≤83.6 and ≤25.3%, respectively, much lower than the species delineation thresholds. Based on the polyphasic taxonomic study, strain S-51T represents a new species in the genus Rhizobium, for which the name Rhizobium terricola is proposed. The type strain is S-51T (=KACC 19117T = KEMB 9005-539T = NBRC 112711T).
Viability and Adhesion of Periodontal Ligament Fibroblasts on a Hydroxyapatite Scaffold Combined with Collagen, Polylactic Acid–Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer and Platelet-Rich Fibrin: A Preclinical Pilot Study
Authors: Espitia-Quiroz Leonor C. , Fernández-Orjuela Andrés L. , Anaya-Sampayo Lina M. , Acosta-Gómez Adriana P. , Sequeda-Castañeda Luis Gonzalo , Gutiérrez-Prieto Sandra Janeth , Roa-Molina Nelly S. , García-Robayo Dabeiba A.
Published: September 2022

Background: Conventional periodontal therapy relies on bone regeneration strategies utilizing scaffolds made of diverse materials, among which collagen, to promote cell adhesion and growth. Objective: To evaluate periodontal ligament fibroblast (HPdLF) cell adhesion and viability for periodontal regeneration purposes on hydroxyapatite scaffolds containing collagen (HAp-egg shell) combined with polylactic acid–polyglycolic acid copolymer (PLGA) and Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF). Methods: Four variations of the HAp-egg shell were used to seed HPdLF for 24 h and evaluate cell viability through a live/dead assay: (1) (HAp-egg shell/PLGA), (2) (HAp-egg shell/PLGA + collagen), (3) (HAp-egg shell/PLGA + PRF) and (4) (HAp-egg shell/PLGA + PRF + collagen). Cell adhesion and viability were determined using confocal microscopy and quantified using central tendency and dispersion measurements; significant differences were determined using ANOVA (p < 0.05). Results: Group 1 presented low cell viability and adhesion (3.70–10.17%); groups 2 and 3 presented high cell viability and low cell adhesion (group 2, 59.2–11.1%, group 3, 58–4.6%); group 4 presented the highest cell viability (82.8%) and moderate cell adhesion (45%) (p = 0.474). Conclusions: The effect of collagen on the HAp-egg shell/PLGA scaffold combined with PRF favored HPdLF cell adhesion and viability and could clinically have a positive effect on bone defect resolution and the regeneration of periodontal ligament tissue.
National Governance Quality, COVID-19, and Stock Index Returns: OECD Evidence
Authors: Almustafa Hamza
Published: September 2022

This research argues that national governance quality may moderate the relationship between COVID-19 and stock returns across markets. Building on the well-established relationship between COVID-19 shock and stock returns, we focus on how the quality of a country’s governance system affects the relationship between the COVID-19 crisis and stock returns. Using data from the World Governance Indicators, the World Bank, and the John Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Centre (JHU-CRC) for 29 OECD markets from 23 January to 31 December 2020, our findings confirm this hypothesis. Our results suggest that, the estimated coefficient on the interaction term is negative (−0.004) and statistically different from zero at the 5% level of significance. This result can be inferred that the higher the national governance quality is, the weaker the effect of COVID-19 on stock returns will be. Specifically, the negative impact of COVID-19 on stock market returns was more pronounced in countries where the national governance quality index is lower. Our results also show a strong negative association between COVID-19 and stock market returns across the sample. The results are robust to changes in governance quality measures, estimation methods, and explanatory variables. The results have several policy implications such that better institutions may partially offset the adverse impact of the COVID-19 shock on stock market returns.
Is Market Power or Efficiency behind Economic Performance? The Case of the Czech Food Processing Industry
Authors: Žáková Kroupová Zdeňka , Trnková Gabriela , Roman Monika
Published: September 2022

This article attempts to identify the main reason for the profitability of Czech food processing companies. For this purpose, an analysis of the profitability of the food industry was carried out in the framework of the Structure–Conduct–Performance (SCP) paradigm; specifically, the relative market power (RMP) hypothesis versus the efficiency hypothesis was tested. The analysis used data at the micro-economic level of six Nomenclature of Economic Activities (NACE) sub-sectors of the Czech food processing industry in the period 2016–2020. The final dataset consisted of 2639 observations of 623 companies. The data came from the database of Bisnode Albertina and the Czech Statistical Office. Stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) and a regression model were used in the study. Based on the research carried out, performance does not seem to be explained by a greater market power represented by a firm’s market share. Only one sub-sector was proven to have a higher marginal effect of market power on profitability than technical efficiency. Thus, it can be concluded that companies with relatively larger market shares do not have greater market power and thus do not achieve higher profitability.
A Survey of Trajectory Planning Techniques for Autonomous Systems
Authors: Mir Imran , Gul Faiza , Mir Suleman , Khan Mansoor Ahmed , Saeed Nasir , Abualigah Laith , Abuhaija Belal , Gandomi Amir H.
Published: September 2022

This work offers an overview of the effective communication techniques for space exploration of ground, aerial, and underwater vehicles. We not only comprehensively summarize the trajectory planning, space exploration, optimization, and other challenges encountered but also present the possible directions for future work. Because a detailed study like this is uncommon in the literature, an attempt has been made to fill the gap for readers interested in path planning. This paper also includes optimization strategies that can be used to implement terrestrial, underwater, and airborne applications. This study addresses numerical, bio-inspired, and hybrid methodologies for each dimension described. Throughout this study, we endeavored to establish a centralized platform in which a wealth of research on autonomous vehicles (on the land and their trajectory optimizations), airborne vehicles, and underwater vehicles, is published.
Advanced Cybersecurity Services Design
Authors: Villagrá Victor A.
Published: September 2022

Cybersecurity technologies have been researched extensively in the last few years in order to face the current threat landscape, which has shown a continuous growth in the quality and quantity of attacks that are oriented toward any potentially vulnerable items (people, software, firmware, hardware, etc [...]
The Adaptive Streaming SAR Back-Projection Algorithm Based on Half-Precision in GPU
Authors: Xu Yihao , Zhang Zhuo , Chen Longyong , Li Zhenhua , Yang Ling
Published: September 2022

The back-projection (BP) algorithm is completely accurate in the imaging principle, but the computational complexity is extremely high. The single-precision arithmetic used in the traditional graphics processing unit (GPU) acceleration scheme has low throughput and its usage of the video memory is large. An adaptive asynchronous streaming scheme for the BP algorithm based on half-precision is proposed in this study, and then it is extended to the fast back-projection (FBP) algorithm. In this scheme, the adaptive loss factors selection strategy ensures the dynamic range of data, the asynchronous streaming structure ensures the efficiency of large scene imaging, and the mixed-precision data processing ensures the imaging quality. The schemes proposed in this paper are compared with BP, FBP, and fast factorized back-projection (FFBP) algorithms of single-precision in GPU. The experimental results show that the two half-precision acceleration schemes in this paper reduce the video memory usage to 74% and 59% of the single-precision schemes with guaranteed image quality. The efficiency improvements of the proposed schemes are almost one and 0.5 times greater than that of the corresponding single-precision scheme, and the advantage can be more obvious when dealing with large computations.
Integrated Distributed Energy Resources (DER) and Microgrids: Modeling and Optimization of DERs
Authors: Twaisan Kumail , Barışçı Necaattin
Published: September 2022

In the near future, the notion of integrating distributed energy resources (DERs) to build a microgrid will be extremely important. The DERs comprise several technologies, such as diesel engines, micro turbines, fuel cells, photovoltaic, small wind turbines, etc. The coordinated operation and control of DER together with controllable loads and storage devices, such as flywheels, energy capacitors and batteries, are central to the concept of microgrid. Microgrids can operate interconnected to the main distribution grid, or in an islanded mode. This paper reviews the studies on microgrid technologies. The modeling and optimization methodologies of DERs are also presented and discussed in this paper along with system control approaches for DERs and microgrids. The review findings indicate that the use of multimodal indicators that take into consideration the financial, technological, ecological, and social elements of microgrids increased the community’s and stakeholders’ reaction capability. The microgrid structure under consideration comprises several types of combined heat power devices, boilers, and various types of DERs, including FC units, distributed generators, and MTs. Moreover, compared to grid-connected mode, the microgrid’s total operation cost is significantly higher in isolated mode.
Influence of Surface Emissivity of Target Environment on Whole Heat Transfer of Porous Ceramics Radiant Burner
Authors: Zhang Shuhao , Xu Qian , Su Shan , Peng Shini
Published: September 2022

The heat transfer between a porous ceramic radiant burner (PCRB) and a target environment was studied. The black aluminum pot (BAP) and white aluminum pot (WAP) with an emissivity of 0.72 and 0.22 were experimentally used to obtain the temperature distribution and thermal efficiency of a burner. Under the same heat load, the porous ceramic plate (PCP) of WAP is 79~90 °C higher than BAP, but the measured thermal efficiency of BAP is 15~20% higher than WAP. A heat transfer model for PCRB and pots was established based on the radiant and convection heat transfer theories. This model is applicable to common infrared radiant burners. The heat gain type of the pot was analyzed quantitively, with a relative error of less than 7%. The influence of the pot surface emissivity on the burner and heat transfer change of the pot was discussed, and the solid radiation heat gain of BAP is approximately double that of BAP under the same heat load. For PCRBs whose main heat is from radiation, the pot with a high surface emissivity can achieve better radiation utilization to improve thermal efficiency.
Comparison of Machine Learning Algorithms for Sand Production Prediction: An Example for a Gas-Hydrate-Bearing Sand Case
Authors: Song Jinze , Li Yuhao , Liu Shuai , Xiong Youming , Pang Weixin , He Yufa , Mu Yaxi
Published: September 2022

This paper demonstrates the applicability of machine learning algorithms in sand production problems with natural gas hydrate (NGH)-bearing sands, which have been regarded as a grave concern for commercialization. The sanding problem hinders the commercial exploration of NGH reservoirs. The common sand production prediction methods need assumptions for complicated mathematical derivations. The main contribution of this paper was to introduce machine learning into the prediction sand production by using data from laboratory experiments. Four main machine learning algorithms were selected, namely, K-Nearest Neighbor, Support Vector Regression, Boosting Tree, and Multi-Layer Perceptron. Training datasets for machine learning were collected from a sand production experiment. The experiment considered both the geological parameters and the sand control effect. The machine learning algorithms were mainly evaluated according to their mean absolute error and coefficient of determination. The evaluation results showed that the most accurate results under the given conditions were from the Boosting Tree algorithm, while the K-Nearest Neighbor had the worst prediction performance. Considering an ensemble prediction model, the Support Vector Regression and Multi-Layer Perceptron could also be applied for the prediction of sand production. The tuning process revealed that the Gaussian kernel was the proper kernel function for improving the prediction performance of SVR. In addition, the best parameters for both the Boosting Tree and Multi-Layer Perceptron were recommended for the accurate prediction of sand production. This paper also involved one case study to compare the prediction results of the machine learning models and classic numerical simulation, which showed the capability of machine learning of accurately predicting sand production, especially under stable pressure conditions.
Numerical Study on Planning Inductive Charging Infrastructures for Electric Service Vehicles on Airport Aprons
Authors: Pöch Niklas , Nozinski Inka , Broihan Justine , Helber Stefan
Published: September 2022

Dynamic inductive charging is a contact-free technology to provide electric vehicles with energy while they are in motion, thus eliminating the need to conductively charge the batteries of those vehicles and, hence, the required vehicle downtimes. Airport aprons of commercial airports are potential systems to employ this charging technology to reduce aviation-induced CO2 emissions. To date, many vehicles operating on airport aprons are equipped with internal combustion engines burning diesel fuel, hence contributing to CO2 emissions and the global warming problem. However, airport aprons exhibit specific features that might make dynamic inductive charging technologies particularly interesting. It turns out that using this technology leads to some strategic infrastructure design questions for airport aprons about the spatial allocation of the required system components. In this paper, we experimentally analyze these design questions to explore under which conditions we can expect the resulting mathematical optimization problems to be relatively hard or easy to be solved, respectively, as well as the achievable solution quality. To this end, we report numerical results on a large-scale numerical study reflecting different types of spatial structures of terminals and airport aprons as they can be found at real-world airports.
Compact Ammonia/Water Absorption Chiller of Different Cycle Configurations: Parametric Analysis Based on Heat Transfer Performance
Authors: Tao Xuan , Thanganadar Dhinesh , Patchigolla Kumar
Published: September 2022

Ammonia/water absorption chillers are driven by low-grade heat and cover wide refrigeration temperatures. This paper analyses single-stage ammonia/water absorption chillers. A numerical model was developed based on the heat exchanger performance. The model captures variational heat exchanger performances and describes the actual cycle with varying boundary conditions. The detrimental effects of refrigerant impurity were analysed quantitatively under different operating conditions. The model was validated with experimental data. A basic cycle and three advanced cycles were analysed for sub-zero refrigeration by comparing the thermodynamic performances. A compression-assisted cycle extended the activation temperature from 80 to 60 °C. At the heat source of 120 °C, when a counter-current desorber or bypassed rich solution was used, the COP increased from 0.51 to 0.58 or 0.57, respectively. The operating parameters included the heat source temperatures, heat sink temperatures, the mass flow rates and mass concentrations of rich solutions. Higher heat source temperatures increase cooling capacity. The increase was around 20 kW for the basic cycle of sub-zero refrigeration. There is an optimum heat source temperature maximising the COP. Higher heat source temperatures increased the refrigerant mass flow rate and reduced the mass concentration. The mass concentration can decrease from 0.999 to 0.960.
Identification of AP2/ERF Transcription Factor Family Genes and Expression Patterns in Response to Drought Stress in Pinusmassoniana
Authors: Sun Shuang , Liang Xingxing , Chen Hu , Hu La , Yang Zhangqi
Published: September 2022

Pinus massoniana Lamb. is found in 17 Chinese provinces and is an important timber tree species in southern China. The current seasonal drought climate is becoming increasingly severe, threatening P. massoniana growth and limiting the development of the P. massoniana industry. Plant growth, development, and stress were all regulated by AP2/ERF. We identified 124 AP2/ERF transcription factor family members in this study and discovered that all the genes had their own conserved structural domains and that PmAP2/ERFs were divided into 12 subfamilies with high conservation and similarity in gene structure and evolutionary level. Nine PmAP2/ERF genes were constitutively expressed under drought treatment, and it was hypothesized that the PmAP2/ERF96 gene negatively regulated drought stress, PmAP2/ERF46 and PmAP2/ERF49 genes showed a positive or negative response to drought in different tissues, while the remaining six genes were positively regulated. The PmAP2/ERF genes responded to drought stress following treatment with the exogenous hormones SA, ABA, and MeJA, but the expression patterns differed, with each gene responding to at least one exogenous hormone to induce up-regulation of expression under drought stress, with PmAP2/ERF11, PmAP2/ERF44, PmAP2/ERF77, and PmAP2/ERF80 genes significantly induced by three hormones. The genes mentioned above may be involved in hormone signaling pathways in response to drought stress. The results indicate that the PmAP2/ERF genes may positively or negatively regulate the corresponding signaling pathways in P. massoniana to improve drought resistance.
Clonal Diversity and Fine-Scale Genetic Structure of a Keystone Species: Ilex aquifolium
Authors: Vega Clara , Fernández Victoria , Gil Luis , Valbuena-Carabaña María
Published: September 2022

Resprouting species, such as English holly (Ilex aquifolium L.), can be severely affected by long-lasting forest management. In the present study, the clonal and fine-scale spatial genetic structure (FSGS) of English holly are evaluated in a sub-Mediterranean mixed forest of Central Spain, where this species was subjected to different and intense human interventions for centuries, including coppicing in dense structures and in open woody pastures. Using seven microsatellite loci, we assessed the contribution of clonal and sexual reproduction to the diversity of holly in both areas and the fine-scale genetic structure was evaluated. For the dense coppiced area, the results showed high clonal diversity derived mainly from stem resprouting. Stems were separated an average of 3 m and up to 10 m, and dense aggregations of stems sometimes included various genotypes. The results also showed recent seed recruitment leading to small unique and isolated genotypes. Furthermore, FSGS was detected at close distances as being stronger in the coppiced area than in the open woody pasture area, especially for individuals of greater diameter at breast height. The results obtained suggest that current management strategies are not negatively affecting the genetic diversity of this species.
Exploring the Potential of Machine Learning for Modeling Growth Dynamics in an Uneven-Aged Forest at the Level of Diameter Classes: A Comparative Analysis of Two Modeling Approaches
Authors: Dumollard Gaspard
Published: September 2022

Growth models of uneven-aged forests on the diameter class level can support silvicultural decision making. Machine learning brings added value to the modeling of dynamics at the stand or individual tree level based on data from permanent plots. The objective of this study is to explore the potential of machine learning for modeling growth dynamics in uneven-aged forests at the diameter class level based on inventory data from practice. Two main modeling approaches are conducted and compared: (i) fine-tuned linear models differentiated per diameter class, (ii) an artificial neural network (multilayer perceptron) trained on all diameter classes. The models are trained on the inventory data of the Canton of Neuchâtel (Switzerland), which are area-wide data without individual tree-level growth monitoring. Both approaches produce convincing results for predicting future diameter distributions. The linear models perform better at the individual diameter class level with test R2 typically between 50% and 70% for predicting increments in the numbers of stems at the diameter class level. From a methodological perspective, the multilayer perceptron implementation is much simpler than the fine-tuning of linear models. The linear models developed in this study achieve sufficient performance for practical decision support.
The Effect of Forage Source and Concentrated Liquid Feedstuff Supplementation on Improving the Synchronization of Ruminant Dietary Energy and Nitrogen Release In Vitro
Authors: Chen Yi-Hsuan , Chen Ching-Yi , Wang Han-Tsung
Published: September 2022

This study aimed to investigate the effect of supplementation with a mixture of molasses and condensed molasses fermentation solubles (M-CMS) in different synchronization diets formulated with different forage sources in an attempt to improve the fermentation efficiency of diets by M-CMS. In the first experiment, three levels of M-CMS (N: 0%; L: 1.75%; and H: 3.50%) were supplied to diets with or without corn silage to evaluate the supplementation effect on the diet with a synchrony index (SI) of 0.80. In the second experiment, diets containing different corn silage levels (60 or 30% of the forage source) were used to evaluate the effects of M-CMS supplementation on higher SI (at 0.88). The in vitro digestibility, fermentation products, microbial crude protein (MCP), and gas kinetic parameters were determined after 48 h of fermentation. The results demonstrated that M-CMS supplementation improved MCP synthesis in both diets with low and high SI, but did not enhance digestibility. M-CMS supplementation was beneficial to the fermentation stability and extent. It also affected the gas kinetic parameters of the fast- and slow-degradation fractions during fermentation. M-CMS supplementation improved MCP synthesis in diets containing less corn silage. The forage source and degradation rate of individual ingredients should be considered simultaneously to enhance the rumen fermentation efficiency. M-CMS provided a practical choice to further improve MCP synthesis and fermentation stability, even in a diet with high SI.
A Novel Salt-Tolerant L-Glutaminase: Efficient Functional Expression, Computer-Aided Design, and Application
Authors: Zhang Hengwei , Hu Mengkai , Wang Qing , Liu Fei , Xu Meijuan , Zhang Xian , Rao Zhiming
Published: September 2022

The low productivity in long fermentation duration and high-salt working conditions limit the application of L-glutaminase in soy sauce brewing. In this study, a novel L-glutaminase (LreuglsA) with eminent salt tolerance was mined and achieved more than 70% activity with 30% NaCl. To improve the robustness of the enzyme at different fermentation strategies, mutation LreuglsAH105K was built by a computer-aided design, and the recombinant protein expression level, an essential parameter in industrial applications, was increased 5.61-fold with the synthetic biology strategy by improving the mRNA stability. Finally, the LreuglsAH105K functional expression box was contributed to Bacillus subtilis 168 by auxotrophic complementation, and the production in a 5-L bioreactor was improved to 2516.78 ± 20.83 U mL−1, the highest production ever reported. When the immobilized cells were applied to high-salt dilute-state soy sauce brewing, the L-glutamate level was increased by 45.9%. This work provides insight into the salt-tolerant enzyme for improving the efficiency of industrial applications.