bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Leveraging a Wildfire Risk Prediction Metric with Spatial Clustering
Authors: KC Ujjwal , Aryal Jagannath
Published: December 2022

Fire authorities have started widely using operational fire simulations for effective wildfire management. The aggregation of the simulation outputs on a massive scale creates an opportunity to apply the evolving data-driven approach to closely estimate wildfire risks even without running computationally expensive simulations. In one of our previous works, we validated the application with a probability-based risk metric that gives a series of probability values for a fire starting at a start location under a given weather condition. The probability values indicate how likely it is that a fire will fall into different risk categories. The metric considered each fire start location as a unique entity. Such a provision in the metric could expose the metric to scalability issues when the metric is used for a larger geographic area and consequently make the metric hugely intensive to compute. In this work, in an investigative effort, we investigate whether the spatial clustering of fire start locations based on historical fire areas can address the issue without significantly compromising the accuracy of the metric. Our results show that spatially clustering all fire start locations in Tasmania into three risk clusters could leverage the probability-based risk metric by reducing the computational requirements of the metric by a theoretical factor in thousands with a mere compromise of approximately 5% in accuracy for two risk categories of high and low, thereby validating the possibility of the leverage of the metric with spatial clustering.
Proteomic Profiling of Major Peanut Allergens and Their Post-Translational Modifications Affected by Roasting
Authors: Đukić Teodora , Smiljanić Katarina , Mihailović Jelena , Prodić Ivana , Apostolović Danijela , Liu Shu-Hua , Epstein Michelle M. , van Hage Marianne , Stanić-Vučinić Dragana , Ćirković Veličković Tanja
Published: December 2022

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) are covalent changes occurring on amino acid side chains of proteins and yet are neglected structural and functional aspects of protein architecture. The objective was to detect differences in PTM profiles that take place after roasting using open PTM search. We conducted a bottom-up proteomic study to investigate the impact of peanut roasting on readily soluble allergens and their PTM profiles. Proteomic PTM profiling of certain modifications was confirmed by Western blotting with a series of PTM-specific antibodies. In addition to inducing protein aggregation and denaturation, roasting may facilitate change in their PTM pattern and relative profiling. We have shown that Ara h 1 is the most modified major allergen in both samples in terms of modification versatility and extent. The most frequent PTM was methionine oxidation, especially in roasted samples. PTMs uniquely found in roasted samples were hydroxylation (Trp), formylation (Arg/Lys), and oxidation or hydroxylation (Asn). Raw and roasted peanut extracts did not differ in the binding of IgE from the serum of peanut-sensitised individuals done by ELISA. This study provides a better understanding of how roasting impacts the PTM profile of major peanut allergens and provides a good foundation for further exploration of PTMs.
Extraction of Pectin from Passion Fruit Peel: Composition, Structural Characterization and Emulsion Stability
Authors: Liang Yonglun , Yang Yang , Zheng Lili , Zheng Xiaoyan , Xiao Dao , Wang Shenwan , Ai Binling , Sheng Zhanwu
Published: December 2022

Extraction methods directly affect pectin extraction yield and physicochemical and structural characteristics. The effects of acid extraction (AE), ultrasonic-assisted acid extraction (UA), steam explosion pretreatment combined with acid extraction (SEA) and ultrasonic-assisted SEA (USEA) on the yield, structure, and properties of passion fruit pectin were studied. The pectin yield of UA was 6.5%, equivalent to that of AE at 60 min (5.3%), but the emulsion stability of UA pectin was poor. The pectin obtained by USEA improved emulsion stability. Compared with UA, it had higher protein content (0.62%), rhamnogalacturonan I (18.44%) and lower molecular weight (0.72 × 105 Da). In addition, SEA and USEA had high pectin extraction yields (9.9% and 10.7%) and the pectin obtained from them had lower degrees of esterification (59.3% and 68.5%), but poor thermal stability. The results showed that ultrasonic-assisted steam explosion pretreatment combined with acid extraction is a high-efficiency and high-yield method. This method obtains pectin with good emulsifying stability from passion fruit peel.
Development of Plant-Based Adipose Tissue Analogs: Freeze-Thaw and Cooking Stability of High Internal Phase Emulsions and Gelled Emulsions
Authors: Hu Xiaoyan , McClements David Julian
Published: December 2022

There is great interest in the development of plant-based alternatives to meat products to meet the rising demand from vegans, vegetarians, and flexitarians. Ideally, these products should look, feel, taste, and behave like the meat products they are designed to replace. In this study, we investigated the impact of simulated freeze–thaw and cooking treatments on the properties of plant-based adipose tissues formulated using high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) or gelled emulsions (GEs). The HIPEs consisted of 75% oil, 2% soybean protein, 23% water, while the GEs consisted of 60% oil, 2% soybean protein, 2% agar and 36% of water. Low melting point (soybean oil) and high melting point (coconut oil) oils were used to create emulsions with either liquid or partially crystalline lipid phases at ambient temperature, respectively. In general, GEs were harder than HIPEs, and emulsions containing coconut oil were harder than those containing soybean oil at ambient temperatures. The thermal behavior of the plant-based adipose tissue was compared to that of beef adipose tissue. Beef adipose tissue was an opaque whitish semi-solid at ambient temperature. These properties could be mimicked with all types of HIPEs and GEs. The structure of the beef adipose tissue was resistant to freezing/thawing (−20/+20 °C) but not cooking (90 °C, 30 min). Soybean HIPEs and GEs were relatively stable to simulated cooking but not freeze–thawing. Conversely, coconut HIPEs and GEs exhibited the opposite behavior. These results have important implications for the formulation of alternatives to animal adipose tissue in plant-based foods.
Interaction between Kidney-Bean Polysaccharides and Duck Myofibrillar Protein as Affected by Ultrasonication: Effects on Gel Properties and Structure
Authors: Wu Yang , Du Qiwei , Fan Xiankang , Zhou Changyu , He Jun , Sun Yangying , Xia Qiang , Pan Daodong
Published: December 2022

The interaction of polysaccharides–protein with varied origins and structures provides opportunities for tailoring the physicochemical qualities of food protein-based materials. This work examined the feasibility of ultrasound-modified interaction between kidney bean dietary fiber (KSDF) and duck myofibrillar proteins (MP) to improve the physicochemical properties of the gel matrices. Accordingly, gel strength, water holding capacity, solubility, chemical interaction, secondary structure, and network structure of MP were determined. The addition of KSDF combined with the ultrasound treatment contributed to the improved water retention capability, G’ values, and the reduced particle size of protein molecules, corresponding with the formation of dense pore-like structures. The results demonstrated that 1% KSDF and ultrasonication at 400 W significantly enhanced gel strength by up to 109.58% and the solubility increased by 213.42%. The proportion of α-helices of MP gels treated with 1% KSDF and ultrasonication at 400 W was significantly increased. The sonication-mediated KSDF–MP interaction significantly improved hydrophobic interactions of the proteins, thus explaining the denser network structure of the MP gels incorporated KSDF with ultrasound treatments. These results demonstrated the role of ultrasonication treatments in modifying KSDF–protein interaction to improve the gel and structural properties of the MP gels.
DeepMDSCBA: An Improved Semantic Segmentation Model Based on DeepLabV3+ for Apple Images
Authors: Mo Lufeng , Fan Yishan , Wang Guoying , Yi Xiaomei , Wu Xiaoping , Wu Peng
Published: December 2022

The semantic segmentation of apples from images plays an important role in the automation of the apple industry. However, existing semantic segmentation methods such as FCN and UNet have the disadvantages of a low speed and accuracy for the segmentation of apple images with complex backgrounds or rotten parts. In view of these problems, a network segmentation model based on deep learning, DeepMDSCBA, is proposed in this paper. The model is based on the DeepLabV3+ structure, and a lightweight MobileNet module is used in the encoder for the extraction of features, which can reduce the amount of parameter calculations and the memory requirements. Instead of ordinary convolution, depthwise separable convolution is used in DeepMDSCBA to reduce the number of parameters to improve the calculation speed. In the feature extraction module and the cavity space pyramid pooling module of DeepMDSCBA, a Convolutional Block Attention module is added to filter background information in order to reduce the loss of the edge detail information of apples in images, improve the accuracy of feature extraction, and effectively reduce the loss of feature details and deep information. This paper also explored the effects of rot degree, rot position, apple variety, and background complexity on the semantic segmentation performance of apple images, and then it verified the robustness of the method. The experimental results showed that the PA of this model could reach 95.3% and the MIoU could reach 87.1%, which were improved by 3.4% and 3.1% compared with DeepLabV3+, respectively, and superior to those of other semantic segmentation networks such as UNet and PSPNet. In addition, the DeepMDSCBA model proposed in this paper was shown to have a better performance than the other considered methods under different factors such as the degree or position of rotten parts, apple varieties, and complex backgrounds.
Application of the Reuterin System as Food Preservative or Health-Promoting Agent: A Critical Review
Authors: Sun Mao-Cheng , Hu Zi-Yi , Li Dian-Dian , Chen Yu-Xin , Xi Jing-Hui , Zhao Chang-Hui
Published: December 2022

The reuterin system is a complex multi-component antimicrobial system produced by Limosilactobacillus reuteri by metabolizing glycerol. The system mainly includes 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde (3-HPA, reuterin), 3-HPA dimer, 3-HPA hydrate, acrolein and 3-hydroxypropionic acid, and has great potential to be applied in the food and medical industries due to its functional versatility. It has been reported that the reuterin system possesses regulation of intestinal flora and anti-infection, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities. Typically, the reuterin system exerts strong broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties. However, the antimicrobial mechanism of the reuterin system remains unclear, and its toxicity is still controversial. This paper presents an updated review on the biosynthesis, composition, biological production, antimicrobial mechanisms, stability, toxicity and potential applications of the reuterin system. Challenges and opportunities of the use of the reuterin system as a food preservative or health-promoting agent are also discussed. The present work will allow researchers to accelerate their studies toward solving critical challenges obstructing industrial applications of the reuterin system.
Can Molecularly Engineered Plant Galls Help to Ease the Problem of World Food Shortage (and Our Dependence on Pollinating Insects)?
Authors: Meyer-Rochow Victor Benno
Published: December 2022

The world faces numerous problems and two of them are global food shortages and the dwindling number of pollinating insects. Plant products that do not arise from pollination are plant galls, which as in the case of oak apples, can resemble fruits and be the size of a cherry. It is suggested that once research has understood how chemical signals from gall-inducing insects program a plant to produce a gall, it should be possible to mimic and to improve nature and “bioengineer” designer galls of different sizes, colorations and specific contents to serve as food or a source of medicinally useful compounds. To achieve this objective, the genes involved in the formation of the galls need to be identified by RNA-sequencing and confirmed by gene expression analyses and gene slicing. Ultimately the relevant genes need to be transferred to naïve plants, possibly with the aid of plasmids or viruses as practiced in crop productivity increases. There is then even the prospect of engineered plant galls to be produced by plant tissue culture via genetic manipulation without the involvement of insects altogether.
Exploring the Promotive Effects and Mechanisms of Different Polyphenolic Extracts from Prinsepia utilis Royle Seed Shell on Tyrosinase
Authors: Ma Shuang , Zheng Xiuqing , Zhang Yuanyue , Zhao Shuai , Yi Junjie , Cai Shengbao
Published: December 2022

Prinsepia utilis Royle (P. utilis) is commonly used as a food ingredient and herbal medicine according to folk records, yet little research has been done on the seed shell, a processing waste. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of polyphenolic components and the tyrosinase activation activity of different extracts from the seed shell by UHPLC-ESI-HRMS/MS, in vitro tyrosinase activity assay, molecular docking and molecular dynamics. A total of 16 phytochemicals were identified, of which (+)-catechin and (−)-epicatechin were the major polyphenolic compounds. Both the esterified and insoluble bound polyphenols exhibited tyrosinase activation activity, and the esterified polyphenols showed better tyrosinase activation activity. (+)-Catechin and (−)-epicatechin might be the main activators of tyrosinase, both of which may act as substrate to affect tyrosinase activity. By molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation studies, (+)-catechin and (−)-epicatechin can be efficiently and stably bound to the tyrosinase active site through hydrogen bonds, van der Waals forces and π-bonds. The results of this study may not only provide a scientific basis for exploring P. utilis seed shell as a potential activator of tyrosinase, but also contribute to the high value utilization of P. utilis processing by-products.
Sequential Caputo–Hadamard Fractional Differential Equations with Boundary Conditions in Banach Spaces
Authors: Arul Ramasamy , Karthikeyan Panjayan , Karthikeyan Kulandhaivel , Alruwaily Ymnah , Almaghamsi Lamya , El-hady El-sayed
Published: December 2022

We present the existence of solutions for sequential Caputo–Hadamard fractional differential equations (SC-HFDE) with fractional boundary conditions (FBCs). Known fixed-point techniques are used to analyze the existence of the problem. In particular, the contraction mapping principle is used to investigate the uniqueness results. Existence results are obtained via Krasnoselkii’s theorem. An example is used to illustrate the results. In this way, our work generalizes several recent interesting results.
Investigation of the Oriented Structure Characteristics of Shale Using Fractal and Structural Entropy Theory
Authors: Xie Xinhui , Deng Hucheng , Li Yong , Hu Lanxiao , Mao Jinxin , Li Ruixue
Published: December 2022

Unconventional shale reservoirs and typical fine-grained rocks exhibit complicated, oriented features at various scales. Due to the complex geometry, combination and arrangement of grains, as well as the substantial heterogeneity of shale, it is challenging to analyze the oriented structures of shale accurately. In this study, we propose a model that combines both multifractal and structural entropy theory to determine the oriented structures of shale. First, we perform FE–SEM experiments to specify the microstructural characteristics of shale. Next, the shape, size and orientation parameters of the grains and pores are identified via image processing. Then fractal dimensions of grain flatness, grain alignment and pore orientation are calculated and substituted into the structural entropy equation to obtain the structure-oriented entropy model. Lastly, the proposed model is applied to study the orientation characteristic of the Yan-Chang #7 Shale Formation in Ordos Basin, China. A total of 1470 SEM images of 20 shale samples is analyzed to calculate the structure-oriented entropy (SOE) of Yan-Chang #7 Shale, whose values range from 0.78 to 0.96. The grains exhibit directional arrangement (SOE ≥ 0.85) but are randomly distributed (SOE < 0.85). Calculations of samples with different compositions show that clay and organic matters are two major governing factors for the directivity of shale. The grain alignment pattern diagram analyses reveal three types of orientation structures: fusiform, spider-like and eggette-like. The proposed model can quantitatively evaluate the oriented structure of shale, which helps better understand the intrinsic characteristics of shale and thereby assists the successful exploitation of shale resources.
A Robust Controller of a Reactor Electromicrobial System Based on a Structured Fractional Transformation for Renewable Energy
Authors: Rahman Muhammad Zia Ur , Liaquat Rabia , Rizwan Mohsin , Martin-Barreiro Carlos , Leiva Víctor
Published: December 2022

The focus on renewable energy is increasing globally to lessen reliance on conventional sources and fossil fuels. For renewable energy systems to work at their best and produce the desired results, precise feedback control is required. Microbial electrochemical cells (MEC) are a relatively new technology for renewable energy. In this study, we design and implement a model-based robust controller for a continuous MEC reactor. We compare its performance with those of traditional methods involving a proportional integral derivative (PID), H-infinity (H∞) controller and PID controller tuned by intelligent genetic algorithms. Recently, a dynamic model of a MEC continuous reactor was proposed, which describes the complex dynamics of MEC through a set of nonlinear differential equations. Until now, no model-based control approaches for MEC have been proposed. For optimal and robust output control of a continuous-reactor MEC system, we linearize the model to state a linear time-invariant (LTI) state-space representation at the nominal operating point. The LTI model is used to design four different types of controllers. The designed controllers and systems are simulated, and their performances are evaluated and compared for various operating conditions. Our findings show that a structured linear fractional transformation (LFT)-based H∞ control approach is much better than the other approaches against various performance parameters. The study provides numerous possibilities for control applications of continuous MEC reactor processes.
Tramadol Steady-State Pharmacokinetics of Immediate-Release Capsules and Sustained-Release Tablets in Dogs
Authors: Winter Esther , van Geijlswijk Ingeborg , Akkerdaas Ies , Sturkenboom Marieke , Gehring Ronette
Published: December 2022

Tramadol is a veterinary analgesic for dogs. In this study, the steady-state pharmacokinetics of a sustained-release (SR) tablet (Tramagetic OD®) and immediate-release capsules (IR) were compared. In a crossover design, six dogs received five doses of IR 50 mg four times a day (qid), or two doses of SR 200 mg once a day (sid). Eight blood samples were collected per dog, per formulation, up to 6 and 24 h after the last dose, respectively. Serum concentrations of tramadol and its metabolites were measured with LC-MS/MS. Metabolite M1 levels were below the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) in all samples. The non-compartmental analysis of the time–concentration data showed a later Tmax with the SR formulation (median 6.00 h (3.00–9.00)) and a lower Cmax/D (median 7.74 µg/L/mg/kg (0.09–25.3)) compared to the IR formulation (median Tmax 1.75 h (0.75–2.00) and median Cmax/D 11.1 µg/L/mg/kg (4.8–70.4)). AUCtau/D after SR administration was 55.5 h × kg × µg/L/mg (0–174.1) compared to 29.8 h × kg × µg/L/mg (12.2–140.8) after IR administration. The terminal elimination half-lives were 2.38 h (1.77–6.22) and 1.70 h (0.95–2.11) for the SR and IR formulations, respectively. Strong conclusions cannot be drawn from this study because of the high percentage of samples that were below LLOQ and the great interindividual variability, but these results suggest that Tramagetic OD can be administered less frequently in dogs.
Multi-Task Vehicle Platoon Control: A Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient Approach
Authors: Berahman Mehran , Rostami-Shahrbabaki Majid , Bogenberger Klaus
Published: December 2022

Several issues in designing a vehicle platoon control system must be considered; among them, the speed consensus and space/gap regulation between the vehicles play the primary role. In addition, reliable and fast gap-closing/opening actions are highly recommended for establishing a platoon system. Nonetheless, the lack of research on designing a single algorithm capable of simultaneously coping with speed-tracking and maintaining a secure headway, as well as the gap-closing/opening problems, is apparent. As deep reinforcement learning (DRL) applications in driving strategies are promising, this paper develops a multi-task deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) car-following algorithm in a platoon system. The proposed approach combines gap closing/opening with a unified platoon control strategy; as such, an effective virtual inter-vehicle distance is employed in the developed DRL-based platoon controller reward. This innovative new distance definition, which is based on the action taken by the ego-vehicle, leads to a precise comprehension of the agent’s actions. Moreover, by imposing a specific constraint on a variation of the ego-vehicle’s relative speed with respect to its predecessor, the speed chattering of the ego-vehicle is reduced. The developed algorithm is implemented in the realistic traffic simulator, SUMO (Simulation of Urban Mobility), and the performance of the developed control strategy is evaluated under different traffic scenarios.
Preparation and Superstrong Adsorption of a Novel La(Ⅲ)-Crosslinked Alginate/Modified Diatomite Macroparticle Composite for Anionic Dyes Removal from Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Zhao Yuting , Li Beigang
Published: December 2022

In order to solve the problem of dye pollution of the water environment, a green macroparticle composite (CPAM-Dia/SA-La) as a bioadsorbent was prepared through a sodium alginate (SA) reaction with a polyacrylamide (CPAM)-modified diatomite (Dia) and further La(III) ion crosslinking polymerization, and characterized by various analytical methods. The important preparation and adsorption conditions of the composite were explored by the adsorption of Acid blue 113 (AB 113) and Congo red (CR) dyes. The dye adsorption efficiency was evaluated. The results show that CPAM-Dia/SA-La composite prepared under the optimized conditions displays superstrong adsorption capacities of 2907 and 1578 mg/g for AB 113 and CR and almost 100% removal efficiency within 60 min adsorption time at pH 2.0 and 298 K, and they decrease slightly with the pH increase to 10. The fitting of equilibrium data to the Langmuir model is the best and the adsorption kinetic processes can be expressed by the Pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The adsorption processes are both spontaneous and exothermic. The analysis results of FT−IR and XPS revealed that the superstrong adsorption of CPAM-Dia/SA-La for dyes. The composite adsorbed by the dye can be recycled. CPAM-Dia/SA-La is a promising biosorbent for dye wastewater treatment.
Effect of Thermal Treatment on the Structure and Morphology of Vanadium Doped ZnO Nanostructures Obtained by Microwave Assisted Sol–Gel Method
Authors: Vlăduț Cristina Maria , Mocioiu Oana-Cătălina , Preda Silviu , Pandele-Cusu Jeanina , Bratan Veronica , Trusca Roxana , Zaharescu Maria
Published: December 2022

In this paper, we conducted a fundamental study concerning the effect of thermal treatment on the structure and morphology of 2 mol% vanadium doped ZnO nanopowders obtained by microwave assisted sol–gel method (MW). The samples were analyzed by DTA, FTIR, XRD, SEM, and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The DTA results showed that above 500 °C, there was no mass loss in the TG curves, and ZnO crystallization occurred. The XRD patterns of the thermally treated powders at 500 °C and 650 °C showed the crystallization of ZnO (zincite) belonging to the wurtzite-type structure. It was found that in the 650 °C thermally treated powder, aside from ZnO, traces of Zn3(VO4)2 existed. FTIR spectra of the annealed samples confirmed the formation of the ZnO crystalline phase and V–O bands. The micrographs revealed that the temperature influenced the morphology. The increase in the annealing temperature led to the grain growth. The SEM images of the MW powder thermally treated at 650 °C showed two types of grains: hexagonal grains and cylindrical nanorods. UV–Vis spectra showed that the absorption band also increased with the increasing temperature of thermal treatment. The MW sample annealed at 650 °C had the highest absorption in ultraviolet domain.
Construction of a Novel Lipase Catalytic System Based on Hybrid Membranes with Interwoven Electrospun Polyacrylic Acid and Polyvinyl Pyrrolidone Gel Fibers
Authors: Wang Ziheng , Lin Shumiao , Zhang Qianqian , Li Jinlong , Yin Sheng
Published: December 2022

Efficient lipase catalysis requires sufficient oil–water interface engineered through structural design. Inspired by the architectural features of fabrics, a novel lipase-membrane catalytic system with interwoven polyacrylic acid (PAA) gel fibers and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) gel fibers was developed in this study by using double-needle electrospinning and gelation. It has been demonstrated that PAA/PVP hybrid gel fiber membranes (HGFMs) have a high swelling capacity for both water and oil phases, which created numerous discontinuous oil–water contact surface units in limited space of HGFMs, consequently forming effective interfacial catalytic systems. Volume competition between the water and oil phases suggests that balancing the proportions of these phases is very important for effective construction of oil–water interfaces and conditioning catalysis. Regulation of multiple factors of PAA/PVP HGFMs resulted in a catalytic efficiency of up to 2.1 times that of a macroscopic “oil-up/water-down” system (room temperature, pH = 7), and 2.9 times when three membranes are superimposed, as well as excellent pH and temperature stability. HGFMs were stacked to build a high-performing catalytic performance reactor. We expect that this study will be a beneficial exploration for expanding the lipase catalytic system.
Viscoelastic Analysis of Pectin Hydrogels Regenerated from Citrus Pomelo Waste by Gelling Effects of Calcium Ion Crosslinking at Different pHs
Authors: Tran Vo Tu Minh , Kobayashi Takaomi , Potiyaraj Pranut
Published: December 2022

Pectin was extracted from citrus pomelo waste, and the effects of calcium ions (Ca2+) on the gelation and hydrogels properties were investigated over a pH range of 3.2–8 by using viscoelastic analysis. The gelatinization of Ca2+-pectin was examined at concentrations of 0.9, 1.8, 2.4, and 3.6 M of Ca2+ in aqueous pectin solutions of 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4%. The gel transition of Ca2+-pectin solution to hydrogels was determined by measuring the storage modulus (G’) and loss modulus (G”) under mechanical strain from 0.01 to 100%. In a hydrogel of 3% pectin at Ca2+ = 2.4 M, as pH increased to 7, the G’ at 0.01 strain % was 3 × 104 Pa, and 3 × 103 Pa at pH 5, indicating that the crosslinking weakened at acidic pH. Due to the crosslinking between the calcium ions and the ionized carboxylic acid groups of pectin, the resulting hydrogel became stiff. When the mechanical strain % was in the range of 0.01–1%, G’ was unchanged and G” was an order of magnitude smaller than G’, indicating that the mechanical stress was relieved by the gel. In the range of 1–100%, the gel deformation progressed and both the moduli values were dropped. Collapse from the gel state to the solution state occurred at 1–10 strain %, but the softer hydrogels with G’ of 103 Pa had a larger strain % than the stiffer hydrogels with G’ of 104 Pa.
Recent Advances in Hydrogels for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Dry Eye Disease
Authors: Li Qiaoqiao , Cao Yifeng , Wang Ping
Published: December 2022

Dry eye disease (DED) is the most common clinical ocular surface disease. Given its multifactorial etiology, no consensus has been reached on the diagnosis criteria for dry eye disease. Topical drug administration remains the mainstay of treatment but is limited to the rapid clearance from the eye surface. To address these problems, hydrogel-based materials were designed to detect biomarkers or act as drug delivery systems by taking advantage of their good biocompatibility, excellent physical and mechanical properties, and long-term implant stability. Biosensors prepared using biocompatible hydrogels can be sensitive in diagnosing DED, and the designed hydrogels can also improve the drug bioavailability and retention time for more effective and long-term treatment. This review summarizes recent advances in the use of hydrogels for diagnosing and treating dry eye, aiming to provide a novel reference for the eventual clinical translation of hydrogels in the context of dry eye disease.
pH-Responsive, Thermo-Resistant Poly(Acrylic Acid)-g-Poly(boc-L-Lysine) Hydrogel with Shear-Induced Injectability
Authors: Karga Maria-Eleni , Kargaki Maria-Eleni , Iatrou Hermis , Tsitsilianis Constantinos
Published: December 2022

In this study we report the rheological behavior of aqueous solutions of an amphiphilic graft copolymer constituting a polyacrylic acid (PAA) grafted by poly(boc-L-lysine), P(b-LL). Due to the highly hydrophobic nature of the grafted chains, the copolymer self-assembles spontaneously in aqueous media forming three-dimensional (3D) finite size networks (microgels). The rheological analysis demonstrated that the copolymer behaves as a strong elastic hydrogel, showing characteristics of a “frozen” network. Moreover, it is noteworthy that the formulation shows the above-described characteristics in very small concentrations (0.25–1.20 wt%) compared to other naturally cross-linked hydrogels that have been studied so far. Concentration significantly affects the rheological properties of the hydrogel, showing considerable increase in elastic modulus, following the scaling law G’~C1.93. At the same time, the hydrogels can be described as intelligent stimuli-responsive systems, showing pH and shear responsiveness as well as stability with temperature changes. Thanks to the pH dependance of the degree of ionization of the weak polyelectrolyte PAA backbone, stiffness and swelling of the hydrogels can be tuned effectively by adjusting the pH conditions. Simulating conditions such as those of injection through a 28-gauge syringe needle, the gel demonstrates excellent response to shear, due to its remarkable shear thinning behavior. The combination of pH-sensitivity and shear responsiveness leads to excellent injectability and self-healing properties, given that it flows easily upon applying a low stress and recovers instantly in the site of injection. Therefore, the physically cross-linked PAA-g-P(b-LL) hydrogel exhibits remarkable features, namely biocompatibility, biodegradability of cross-links, pH responsiveness, shear-induced injectability and instantaneous self-healing, making it a potential candidate for various biomedical applications.
miRBind: A Deep Learning Method for miRNA Binding Classification
Authors: Klimentová Eva , Hejret Václav , Krčmář Ján , Grešová Katarína , Giassa Ilektra-Chara , Alexiou Panagiotis
Published: December 2022

The binding of microRNAs (miRNAs) to their target sites is a complex process, mediated by the Argonaute (Ago) family of proteins. The prediction of miRNA:target site binding is an important first step for any miRNA target prediction algorithm. To date, the potential for miRNA:target site binding is evaluated using either co-folding free energy measures or heuristic approaches, based on the identification of binding ‘seeds’, i.e., continuous stretches of binding corresponding to specific parts of the miRNA. The limitations of both these families of methods have produced generations of miRNA target prediction algorithms that are primarily focused on ‘canonical’ seed targets, even though unbiased experimental methods have shown that only approximately half of in vivo miRNA targets are ‘canonical’. Herein, we present miRBind, a deep learning method and web server that can be used to accurately predict the potential of miRNA:target site binding. We trained our method using seed-agnostic experimental data and show that our method outperforms both seed-based approaches and co-fold free energy approaches. The full code for the development of miRBind and a freely accessible web server are freely available.
Dynamic Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Transcription Factors Involved in the Synthesis of Ethyl Acetate in Aroma-Producing Yeast
Authors: Ni Bingqian , Li Weiwei , Ifrah Kiren , Du Binghao , Xu Youqiang , Zhang Chengnan , Li Xiuting
Published: December 2022

Ethyl acetate is an important flavor element that is a vital component of baijiu. To date, the transcription factors that can help identify the molecular mechanisms involved in the synthesis of ethyl acetate have not been studied. In the present study, we sequenced and assembled the Wickerhamomyces anomalus strain YF1503 transcriptomes to identify transcription factors. We identified 307 transcription factors in YF1503 using high-throughput RNA sequencing. Some transcription factors, such as C2H2, bHLH, MYB, and bZIP, were up-regulated, and these might play a role in ethyl acetate synthesis. According to the trend of ethyl acetate content, heat map results and STEM, twelve genes were selected for verification of expression levels using quantitative real-time PCR. This dynamic transcriptome analysis presents fundamental information on the transcription factors and pathways that are involved in the synthesis of ethyl acetate in aroma-producing yeast. Of significant interest is the discovery of the roles of various transcription factor genes in the synthesis of ethyl acetate.
Grasscycling: A Key Practice for Sustainable Turfgrass Management
Authors: Pornaro Cristina , Novello Alberto , Fidanza Micheal , Macolino Stefano
Published: December 2022

For aesthetic considerations, grass clippings are removed from lawns during mowing. When turfgrass clippings are returned, this practice is called “mulching” or grasscycling. Thus, grasscycling has increasingly become a standard practice for low-input lawns managed under a simpler maintenance system, and grasscycling has many environmental benefits. Primarily, grasscycling facilitates an increase in soil nitrogen content and soil carbon sequestered by the turfgrass ecosystem. Several studies reported that grasscycling positively influences turfgrass colour and quality. When clippings are returned, turfgrass colour and quality can be maintained with a lower amount of fertilisation than turfgrass with clipping removal. Together with these positive effects, grasscycling practices can contribute to an increase of thatch in the turfgrass sward, while its influence on weed invasion is still questionable. This grasscycling practice can result in a maintenance cost-savings and represent a low-input approach to turfgrass management in terms of nutrients returned and utilised by the turfgrass, and with carbon (C) emissions mitigated and C sequestered. The unwelcome appearance linked to grass clipping residues and vegetation on the turfgrass canopy can be easily obviated by the use of machinery that delivers clippings forcefully toward the ground to incorporate them into the verdure or by using mowers that produce clippings small enough to be returned and quickly decomposed.
Advancing Access to Healthcare through Telehealth: A Brownsville Community Assessment
Authors: Ely-Ledesma Edna , Champagne-Langabeer Tiffany
Published: December 2022

(1) Background: This paper focuses on the development of a community assessment for telehealth using an interprofessional lens, which sits at the intersection of public health and urban planning using multistakeholder input. The paper analyzes the process of designing and implementing a telemedicine plan for the City of Brownsville and its surrounding metros. (2) Methods: We employed an interprofessional approach to CBPR which assumed all stakeholders as equal partners alongside the researchers to uncover the most relevant and useful knowledge to inform the development of telehealth community assessment. (3) Results: Key findings include that: physicians do not have the technology, financial means, or staff to provide a comprehensive system for telemedicine; and due to language and literacy barriers, many patients are not able to use a web-based system of telemedicine. We also found that all stakeholders believe that telehealth is a convenient tool that has the capacity to increase patient access and care. (4) Conclusions: Ultimately, the use of an interprofessional community-based participatory research (CBPR) design allowed our team to bring together local knowledge with that of trained experts to advance the research efforts.
The Association between Bundled Payment Participation and Changes in Medical Episode Outcomes among High-Risk Patients
Authors: Liao Joshua M. , Wang Erkuan , Isidro Ulysses , Zhu Jingsan , Cousins Deborah S. , Navathe Amol S.
Published: December 2022

Background: Bundled payments for medical conditions are associated with stable quality and savings through shorter skilled nursing facility (SNF) length of stay. However, effects among clinically higher-risk patients remain unknown. Objective: To evaluate whether the association between participation in bundled payments for medical conditions and episode outcomes differed for clinically high-risk versus other patients. Design: Retrospective difference-in-differences analysis; Participants: 471,421 Medicare patients hospitalized at bundled payment and propensity-matched non-participating hospitals. Exposures were 5 measures of clinically high-risk groups: advanced age (>85 years old), high case-mix, disabled, frail, and prior institutional post-acute care provider utilization. Main Measures: Primary outcomes were SNF length of stay and 90-day unplanned readmissions. Secondary outcomes included quality, utilization, and spending measures. Key Results: SNF length of stay was differentially lower among frail patients (aDID −0.4 days versus non-frail patients, 95% CI −0.8 to −0.1 days), patients with advanced age (aDID −0.8 days versus younger patients, 95% CI −1.2 to −0.3 days), and those with prior institutional post-acute care provider utilization (aDID −1.1 days versus patients without prior utilization, 95% CI −1.6 to −0.6 days), compared to non-frail, younger, and patients without prior utilization, respectively. BPCI participation was also associated with differentially greater SNF LOS among disabled patients (aDID 0.8 days versus non-disabled patients, 95% CI 0.4 to 1.2 days, p < 0.001). Bundled payment participation was not associated with differential changes in readmissions in any high-risk group but was associated with changes in secondary outcomes for some groups. Conclusions: Changes under medical bundles affected, but did not indiscriminately apply to, high-risk patient groups.
Nursing Diagnoses, Planned Outcomes and Associated Interventions with Highly Complex Chronic Patients in Primary Care Settings: An Observational Study
Authors: Brito-Brito Pedro-Ruymán , Rodríguez-Álvaro Martín , Fernández-Gutiérrez Domingo-Ángel , Martínez-Alberto Carlos-Enrique , Cabeza-Mora Antonio , García-Hernández Alfonso-Miguel
Published: December 2022

The information logged by nurses on electronic health records (EHRs) using standardised nursing languages can help us identify the characteristics of highly complex chronic patients (HCCP) by focusing on care in terms of patients’ health needs. The aim of this study was to describe the profile of HCCPs using EHRs from primary care (PC) facilities, presenting patients’ characteristics, functional status based on health patterns, NANDA-I nursing diagnoses, health goals based on Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC), and care interventions using Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC). With an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, epidemiological study design, this study was carried out with a sample of 51,374 individuals. The variables were grouped into sociodemographic variables, clinical variables, resources, functional status (health patterns), nursing diagnoses, outcomes, and interventions. A total of 57.4% of the participants were women, with a mean age of 73.3 (12.2), and 51% were frail or dependent. Prevalent conditions included high blood pressure (87.2%), hyperlipidaemia (80%), osteoarthritis (67.8%), and diabetes (56.1%). The participants were frequent users of healthcare services, with 12.1% admitted to hospital in the past year. Some 49.2% had one to four health patterns assessed, with more information on biological and functional aspects than on psychosocial aspects. The mean number of nursing diagnoses was 7.3 (5.2), NOC outcomes 5.1 (4.1), and NIC interventions 8.1 (6.9). Moderately and highly significant differences were observed between dysfunction in physical activity/exercise health pattern and age group, and between dysfunction in other health patterns and classification as a frail or dependent elderly person. Regarding the presence of certain nursing diagnoses, significant differences were observed by age group, classification of elderly person status, and presence of diseases. A total of 20 NIC interventions showed moderately or relatively strong associations for older age groups, higher levels of dependency, and chronic health conditions.
Transcriptome Analysis of Watercore in Pineapple
Authors: Yao Yanli , Li Mingwei , Lin Wenqiu , Liu Shenghui , Wu Qingsong , Fu Qiong , Zhu Zhuying , Gao Yuyao , Zhang Xiumei
Published: December 2022

Watercore is a physiological disorder in pineapples, which is expressed as fluid deposition in intercellular spaces and presents as water soaked. This disorder affects the fruit quality and decreases storage life, resulting in enormous commercial losses to growers and restricting the development of the pineapple industry in China. However, the molecular mechanism of watercore remains unclear. In order to elucidate the molecular mechanism of pineapple watercore, the transcriptome analyses of watercored and normal fruits were carried out in pineapples for the first time using de novo RNA-seq technology. High-quality reads of 46.66 and 43.71 M were obtained in the transcriptomes of normal and mildly watercored fruits, respectively. Clean reads of 45.50 and 42.79 M were obtained after filtering the original data. These genes are useful resources in subsequent pineapple watercore research. Fifty genes in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, glucose metabolism, calcium transport, and cell wall metabolism were considerably different between normal and watercored fruits. Among them, the expressions of the AcPME, AcBGLU43, Ac4CL5, AcPER1, and AcPOD genes were upregulated by 7–21 times in watercored fruit, while the expressions of AcSUS7 were downregulated by 16.61 times, and the expressions of other differential genes were upregulated or downregulated by more than 2 times. A total of 38 differentially expressed transcription factors were obtained by screening. Among these transcription factors, WRKY was the most abundant, followed by MYB. The acquisition of these genes is important for the first understanding of the molecular mechanism of this physiological disorder.
Ascophyllum nodosum and Silicon-Based Biostimulants Differentially Affect the Physiology and Growth of Watermelon Transplants under Abiotic Stress Factors: The Case of Drought
Authors: Bantis Filippos , Koukounaras Athanasios
Published: December 2022

Climate change is an inevitable process characterized by an abrupt increase in global temperature and a decrease in precipitations leading to drought incidents. Biostimulants could be a valuable tool for mitigating these harsh conditions. The objective of our study was to test the efficiency of two biostimulants, a silicon-based seaweed and the seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum, to mitigate the drought stress endured by watermelon transplants during the first few weeks after transplanting. In order to achieve this, three water treatments (100%, 75%, and 50% of field capacity) were applied in pots. Important growth parameters (leaf number, fresh weight, and plant area) deteriorated depending on water availability. This was also the case for the root system development displayed by root dry weight, total length, and surface area. It is the first time the OJIP transient has been evaluated after the application of A. nodosum for drought-stressed plants. Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters showed that the photosynthetic apparatus was more stressed when A. nodosum was applied, especially in the harshest conditions (i.e., 50% field capacity). Overall, the silicon-based biostimulant failed to demonstrate drought-mitigating potential compared to the non-treated counterparts. On the other hand, A. nodosum alleviated the negative effects of water deficit, especially in the harshest conditions.
Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles and Fe-Modified Activated Carbon Affecting the In Vitro Growth of Date Palm Plantlets cv. Medjool
Authors: Abdellatif Yasmin M. R. , Elsayed Maha S. , Hassan Mona M. , Ahmed Inas A. , Ragab Ahmed H. , Shams El-Din Ibrahim M. , Abdelaal Walid B. , El-Aal Mona S. Abd , Zein El Din Amal F. M.
Published: December 2022

The survival and growth of in vitro plantlets are still problematic for the date palm; thus, the application of nanotechnology may provide date palm plantlets that develop faster with enhanced growth and biochemical parameters. Moreover, the usage of Fe-modified activated carbon (Fe-AC) prepared from date palm pits instead of activated charcoal (AC) in tissue culture media during the current investigation can be considered an innovative approach. Furthermore, the effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) and bulk particles (ZnO-BPs) on the rooting and growth of date palm plantlets and on some physiological indices was also investigated. X-ray diffraction, dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize Fe-AC and ZnO-NPs. As detected from the characterization, the particle size was 720 nm for Fe-AC and 60 nm for ZnO-NPs. The obtained results indicated that AC significantly enhanced plantlet growth, plantlet height, number of leaves/plantlet, root length, number of roots/plantlet, and the concentrations of IAA, chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b compared with Fe-AC. On the other hand, sugars and phenols concentrations, and POD and PAL activities were highly increased with Fe-AC. There was no significant difference in terms of plant fresh weight (FW), leaf length, leaf width, protein, amino acids, and carotenoids. ZnO nanoparticles significantly improved plant height, leaf length, leaf width, root length, and the concentrations of IAA, chlorophylls a and b, and carotenoids; in contrast, the bulk form increased roots/plantlet, amino acids, and total sugars. Supplying the MS medium with combinations of ZnO-NPs or ZnO-BPs and AC or Fe-AC significantly increased all growth and physiological parameters. Plant height, leaf length, leaf width, root length, and the concentrations of IAA, protein, and chlorophylls a and b significantly increased when ZnO-NPs were combined with AC. Amino acids, total sugars, carotenoids, and phenols concentrations and the activities of POD and PAL increased when ZnO-BPs and Fe-AC were added together.