bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Potential of Green Development and PM2.5 Emission Reduction for China’s Cement Industry
Authors: Tian Li
Published: March 2023

The atmospheric dust caused by the cement industry is one of the main components of air pollutants. China is the largest producer and consumer of cement. It is challenging to balance cement needs and environmental protection. Based on the emission source data, this study examined the spatial and temporal patterns of PM2.5 by the cement industry’s contribution (PM2.5Cement). The annual value of PM2.5Cement decreased from 1.40 × 106 µg/m3 in 2010 to 0.98 × 106 µg/m3 in 2017, which was reduced by 30.31%. I used the standard deviation ellipse and gravity center transfer method and identified that the cement industry center shifted from the east to the midwest of China, where a high-density population exists and a large portion of the population is exposed to the air pollution. The geographical detector method was used to analyze the contribution of the natural environment, green development, and socioeconomic development to PM2.5Cement. The main driving factors were identified as the socioeconomic development and the traffic conditions in 2010, which was giving way to the regional independent innovation in 2017. The cement industry’s contributions to atmospheric PM2.5 vary spatially, suggesting that green development and optimized location for the cement industry are crucial to reducing the size of the population exposed to the pollutants.
Trends in Rainfall and Temperature Extremes in Ethiopia: Station and Agro-Ecological Zone Levels of Analysis
Authors: Wubaye Gizachew Belay , Gashaw Temesgen , Worqlul Abeyou W. , Dile Yihun T. , Taye Meron Teferi , Haileslassie Amare , Zaitchik Benjamin , Birhan Dereje Ademe , Adgo Enyew , Mohammed Jemal Ali , Lebeza Tadele Melese , Bantider Amare , Seid Abdulkarim , Srinivasan Raghavan
Published: March 2023

Climate extreme events have been observed more frequently since the 1970s throughout Ethiopia, which adversely affects the socio-economic development of the country, as its economy depends on agriculture, which, in turn, relies heavily on annual and seasonal rainfall. Climate extremes studies conducted in Ethiopia are mainly limited to a specific location or watershed, making it difficult to have insights at the national level. The present study thus aims to examine the observed climate extreme events in Ethiopia at both station and agro-ecological zone (AEZ) levels. Daily rainfall and temperature data for 47 and 37 stations, respectively (1986 up to 2020), were obtained from the National Meteorology Agency (NMA). The Modified Mann–Kendall (MMK) trend test and the Theil–Sen slope estimator were employed to estimate the trends in rainfall and temperature extremes. This study examines trends of 13 temperature and 10 rainfall extreme indices using RClimDex in R software. The results revealed that most of the extreme rainfall indices showed a positive trend in the majority of the climate stations. For example, an increase in consecutive dry days (CDD), very heavy rainfall days (R20), number of heavy rainfall days (R10) and consecutive wet days (CWD) were exhibited in most climate stations. In relation to AEZs, the greater number of extreme rainfall indices illustrated an upward trend in cool and sub-humid, cool and humid, and cool and moist AEZs, a declining trend in hot arid AEZ, and equal proportions of increasing and decreasing trends in warm semi-arid AEZs. Concerning extreme temperature indices, the result indicated an increasing trend of warm temperature extreme indices and a downward trend of cold temperature extreme indices in most of the climate stations, indicating the overall warming and dryness trends in the country. With reference to AEZs, an overall warming was exhibited in all AEZs, except in the hot arid AEZ. The observed trends in the rainfall and temperature extremes will have tremendous direct and indirect impacts on agriculture, water resources, health, and other sectors in the country. Therefore, the findings suggest the need for identifying and developing climate change adaptation strategies to minimize the ill effects of these extreme climate events on the social, economic, and developmental sectors.
Study on the Speciation of VOCs at Oil Refining Plant Fenceline through Active Sampling
Authors: Kim Jeong-Hun , Lee Hyo Eun , Yoon Seok J.
Published: March 2023

The petroleum refining industry emits various volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including high-volatility benzene, which can have a significant impact on the local community. To address this issue, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has implemented a fenceline monitoring system to ensure that benzene concentrations at the fenceline do not exceed 9 μg/m3. However, there are various types of VOCs, and some with high potential atmospheric oxidation (POCP) values, that may cause secondary air pollution. This study found that both study sites exceeded the action level of benzene (9 μg/m3), and the locations where the level was exceeded were close to the crude distillation unit (CDU) (max concentration 34.07 μg/m3). Additionally, a significant amount of xylene with a high POCP was also released. The xylene emission rate of study site A was 27.71%, and the xylene emission rate of study site B was 46.75%. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce both high-volatility benzene and high-POCP xylene. In various industries that use organic solvents, it is important to prioritize VOCs for continuous measurement and analysis and to establish reduction strategies.
Analysis of E3 Transitions in Ag-like High-Z Ions Observed with the NIST EBIT
Authors: Takacs Endre , Dipti  , La Mantia David S. , Yang Yang , Hosier Adam , Naing Aung , Szypryt Paul , Staiger Hunter , Tan Joseph N. , Ralchenko Yuri
Published: March 2023

We report measurements and identification of the E3 4f7/2,5/2-5s1/2 transitions and E1 allowed transitions in Ag-like W (Z = 74), Re (Z = 75), and Ir (Z = 77). The spectra were recorded at the NIST EBIT using a grazing-incidence EUV spectrometer. The present measured wavelengths and theoretical predictions using GRASP2K calculations confirm previous observations of the same E3 transitions in Ag-like W. Our collisional–radiative model using the NOMAD code offers an insight into the population kinematics for Ag-like ions of heavy elements. We discuss the observed spectra and comparisons of the measured and simulated spectral lines.
Ekeland Variational Principle and Some of Its Equivalents on a Weighted Graph, Completeness and the OSC Property
Authors: Ali Basit , Cobzaş Ştefan , Mabula Mokhwetha Daniel
Published: March 2023

We prove a version of the Ekeland Variational Principle (EkVP) in a weighted graph G and its equivalence to Caristi fixed point theorem and to the Takahashi minimization principle. The usual completeness and topological notions are replaced with some weaker versions expressed in terms of the graph G. The main tool used in the proof is the OSC property for sequences in a graph. Converse results, meaning the completeness of weighted graphs for which one of these principles holds, are also considered.
The VM2D Open Source Code for Two-Dimensional Incompressible Flow Simulation by Using Fully Lagrangian Vortex Particle Methods
Authors: Marchevsky Ilia , Sokol Kseniia , Ryatina Evgeniya , Izmailova Yulia
Published: March 2023

This article describes the open-source C++ code VM2D for the simulation of two-dimensional viscous incompressible flows and solving fluid-structure interaction problems. The code is based on the Viscous Vortex Domains (VVD) method developed by Prof. G. Ya. Dynnikova, where the viscosity influence is taken into account by introducing the diffusive velocity. The original VVD method was supplemented by the author’s algorithms for boundary condition satisfaction, which made it possible to increase the accuracy of flow simulation near the airfoil’s surface line and reduce oscillations when calculating hydrodynamic loads. This paper is aimed primarily at assessing the efficiency of the parallelization of the algorithm. OpenMP, MPI, and Nvidia CUDA parallel programming technologies are used in VM2D, which allow performing simulations on computer systems of various architectures, including those equipped with graphics accelerators. Since the VVD method belongs to the particle methods, the efficiency of parallelization with the usage of graphics accelerators turns out to be quite high. It is shown that in a real simulation, one graphics card can replace about 80 nodes, each of which is equipped with 28 CPU cores. The source code of VM2D is available on GitHub under GNU GPL license.
An Obstacle-Finding Approach for Autonomous Mobile Robots Using 2D LiDAR Data
Authors: Mochurad Lesia , Hladun Yaroslav , Tkachenko Roman
Published: March 2023

Obstacle detection is crucial for the navigation of autonomous mobile robots: it is necessary to ensure their presence as accurately as possible and find their position relative to the robot. Autonomous mobile robots for indoor navigation purposes use several special sensors for various tasks. One such study is localizing the robot in space. In most cases, the LiDAR sensor is employed to solve this problem. In addition, the data from this sensor are critical, as the sensor is directly related to the distance of objects and obstacles surrounding the robot, so LiDAR data can be used for detection. This article is devoted to developing an obstacle detection algorithm based on 2D LiDAR sensor data. We propose a parallelization method to speed up this algorithm while processing big data. The result is an algorithm that finds obstacles and objects with high accuracy and speed: it receives a set of points from the sensor and data about the robot’s movements. It outputs a set of line segments, where each group of such line segments describes an object. The two proposed metrics assessed accuracy, and both averages are high: 86% and 91% for the first and second metrics, respectively. The proposed method is flexible enough to optimize it for a specific configuration of the LiDAR sensor. Four hyperparameters are experimentally found for a given sensor configuration to maximize the correspondence between real and found objects. The work of the proposed algorithm has been carefully tested on simulated and actual data. The authors also investigated the relationship between the selected hyperparameters’ values and the algorithm’s efficiency. Potential applications, limitations, and opportunities for future research are discussed.
Infrared-Photoacoustic Spectroscopy and Multiproduct Multivariate Calibration to Estimate the Proportion of Coffee Defects in Roasted Samples
Authors: Dias Rafael , Valderrama Patrícia , Março Paulo , Scholz Maria , Edelmann Michael , Yeretzian Chahan
Published: March 2023

Infrared-photoacoustic spectroscopy (IR-PAS) and partial least squares (PLS) were tested as a rapid alternative to conventional methods to evaluate the proportion of coffee defects in roasted and ground coffees. Multiproduct multivariate calibration models were obtained from spectra of healthy beans of Coffea canephora and C. arabica (Arabica) and blends composed of defective and healthy beans of Arabica in different proportions. The blends, named selections, contained sour, black, broken, whole beans, skin, and coffee woods. Six models were built using roasted and ground coffee samples. The model was optimized through outlier evaluation, and the parameters of merit such as accuracy, sensitivity, limits of detection and quantification, the inverse of analytical sensitivity, linearity, and adjustment were computed. The models presented predictive capacity and high sensitivity in determining defects, all being predicted with suitable correlation coefficients (ranging from 0.7176 to 0.8080) and presenting adequate performance. The parameters of merit displayed promising results, and the prediction models developed for %defects can be safely used as an alternative to the reference method. Furthermore, the new method is fast, efficient, and suitable for in-line application in quality control industrial coffee processing.
The Role of Lignin Structure on Cellulase Adsorption and Enzymatic Hydrolysis
Authors: Wu Wenjuan , Li Penghui , Huang Lijing , Wei Yumeng , Li Jiaquan , Zhang Lu , Jin Yongcan
Published: March 2023

Lignin is one of the important components of lignocellulosic cell walls, which endows plant cell walls with rigidity and strength and protects them from microbial invasion. The presence of lignin is thought to hinder the conversion of biomass to bioenergy, so understanding enzyme-lignin interactions is very important in order to reduce the inhibition of lignin and improve the hydrolysis yields. Conversion of lignocellulosic raw materials into bioethanol is divided into pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, and fermentation. In this paper, both pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulose are described in detail. Finally, the reasons why lignin hinders enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency, mainly from forming spatial barriers and interacting with cellulase, are discussed, and the influencing factors and mechanisms of action of cellulase hydrolysis are explored with a view to targeted regulation of lignin structure to improve lignocellulosic saccharification.
Factors Influencing the Yield of Progenitor Cells in Bone Marrow Aspiration Concentrate—A Retrospective Analysis of 58 Patients
Authors: Muthu Sathish , Jeyaraman Madhan , Narula Aditya , Ravi V. R. , Gandi Avinash , Khanna Manish , Maffulli Nicola , Gupta Ashim
Published: March 2023

This study aims to identify the role of subjective factors (age, sex, and comorbidities) and procedure-specific factors (aspiration volume) in influencing the yield of progenitor cells in bone marrow aspiration concentrate (BMAC) harvested from the iliac crest. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 58 patients (male:female = 31:27; mean age: 52.56 ± 18.14 years) who underwent BMAC therapy between January 2020 and June 2021. The factors analyzed include individual factors such as age, sex, and comorbid conditions, and procedural factors such as aspirate volume. The mononuclear cell (MNC) count and colony-forming unit (CFU) assay were used to assess the yield of progenitors in the aspirate. Pearson’s correlation test was performed for the age, aspirate volume, and outcome parameters, such as MNC and CFU. We used the chi-square test to analyze the role of sex and comorbidities on cellular yield. The mean volume of aspirate used for BMAC therapy was 66.65 (±17.82) mL. The mean MNC count of the BMAC was 19.94 (±16.34) × 106 cells, which formed 11 (±12) CFUs. Evidence of statistically significant positive associations was noted between the CFUs developed from the BMAC and the MNC count within them (r = 0.95, p < 0.001). The sex of the individual did not play any significant role in MNC count (p = 0.092) or CFUs formed (p = 0.448). The age of the individual showed evidence of a statistically significant negative association with the MNC count (r = −0.681, p < 0.001) and CFUs (r = −0.693, p < 0.001), as did the aspiration volume with the MNC count (r = −0.740, p < 0.001) and CFUs (r = −0.629, p < 0.001). We also noted a significant reduction in the MNC count (p = 0.002) and CFUs formed (p = 0.004) when the patients presented comorbidities. Individual factors such as age, comorbid conditions, and procedure factors such as aspirate volume significantly affected the yield of progenitor cells in the BMAC. The sex of the individual did not influence the yield of progenitor cells in BMAC.
Cholesterol-Related lncRNAs as Response Predictors of Atorvastatin Treatment in Chilean Hypercholesterolemic Patients: A Pilot Study
Authors: Paez Isis , Prado Yalena , Loren Pía , Ubilla Carmen G. , Rodríguez Nelia , Salazar Luis A.
Published: March 2023

Statins are currently the treatment of choice for hypercholesterolemia. However, wide interindividual variability has been observed in the response to treatment. Recent studies have reported the role of lncRNAs in the metabolism of lipids; nevertheless, there are few studies to date that show their role in the response to treatment with statins. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the levels of expression of three lncRNAs (RP1-13D10.2; MANTIS; lncHR1) associated with genes involved in cholesterol homeostasis in leukocyte cells of hypercholesterolemic patients after treatment with atorvastatin and compare them with levels in subjects with normal cholesterol levels. A secondary aim was to assess the levels of expression in monocytic THP-1 cells differentiated to macrophages. The study included 20 subjects with normal cholesterol (NC) levels and 20 individuals with hypercholesterolemia (HC). The HC patients were treated with atorvastatin (20 mg/day/4 weeks). THP-1 cells were differentiated to macrophages with PMA and treated with different doses of atorvastatin for 24 h. Expression of lncRNAs was determined by RT-qPCR. The lncRNAs RP1-13D10.2 (p < 0.0001), MANTIS (p = 0.0013) and lncHR1 (p < 0.0001) presented increased expression in HC subjects compared with NC subjects. Furthermore, atorvastatin had a negative regulatory effect on the expression of lncHR1 (p < 0.0001) in HC subjects after treatment. In vitro, all the lncRNAs showed significant differences in expression after atorvastatin treatment. Our findings show that the lncRNAs tested present differential expression in HC patients and play a role in the variability reported in the response to atorvastatin treatment. Further research is needed to clarify the biological impact of these lncRNAs on cholesterol homeostasis and treatment with statins.
Insights into the Substrate Uptake Mechanism of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Ribose 5-Phosphate Isomerase and Perspectives on Drug Development
Authors: Bartkevihi Leonardo , Caruso Ícaro P. , Martins Bruna , Pires José R. M. , Oliveira Danielle M. P. , Anobom Cristiane Dinis , Almeida Fabio C. L.
Published: March 2023

The active site of the dimeric ribose 5-phosphate isomerase B (RpiB) contains a solvent-exposed barrier formed by residues H12, R113, R137, and R141, which is closed upon the complexation of phosphate. The substrate ribose 5-phosphate (R5P) has to overcome the surface barrier to reach an internal cavity and then bind in the linear configuration of ribose to the interface between the two subunits. NMR and molecular dynamics simulation are suitable methods to describe the transient nature of the RpiB active site and help our understanding of the mechanism of substrate entrance. In this study, we show that the entrance of the nucleotides AMP/ADP into the internal cavity of mycobacterium tuberculosis RpiB (MtRpiB) does not involve a canonical open/close-lid conformational transition usually observed in many enzymes. Instead, a flipping mechanism in which the nucleotide phosphate interacts with the surface barrier followed by the flip of the nitrogenous base and ribose is responsible for changing the substrate/ligand orientation from a solvent-exposed to a buried state. Based on these results, we propose a substrate/inhibitor uptake mechanism that could provide a basis for rational drug design using MtRpiB, which is an essential enzyme and a good target for drug development.
Beyond Avoiding Hemiplegia after Glioma Surgery: The Need to Map Complex Movement in Awake Patient to Preserve Conation
Authors: Rech Fabien , Duffau Hugues
Published: March 2023

Improving the onco-functional balance has always been a challenge in glioma surgery, especially regarding motor function. Given the importance of conation (i.e., the willingness which leads to action) in patient’s quality of life, we propose here to review the evolution of its intraoperative assessment through a reminder of the increasing knowledge of its neural foundations—based upon a meta-networking organization at three levels. Historical preservation of the primary motor cortex and pyramidal pathway (first level), which was mostly dedicated to avoid hemiplegia, has nonetheless shown its limits to prevent the occurrence of long-term deficits regarding complex movement. Then, preservation of the movement control network (second level) has permitted to prevent such more subtle (but possibly disabling) deficits thanks to intraoperative mapping with direct electrostimulations in awake conditions. Finally, integrating movement control in a multitasking evaluation during awake surgery (third level) enabled to preserve movement volition in its highest and finest level according to patients’ specific demands (e.g., to play instrument or to perform sports). Understanding these three levels of conation and its underlying cortico-subcortical neural basis is therefore critical to propose an individualized surgical strategy centered on patient’s choice: this implies an increasingly use of awake mapping and cognitive monitoring regardless of the involved hemisphere. Moreover, this also pleads for a finer and systematic assessment of conation before, during and after glioma surgery as well as for a stronger integration of fundamental neurosciences into clinical practice.
Impact of the 21-Gene Assay in Patients with High-Clinical Risk ER-Positive and HER2-Negative Early Breast Cancer: Results of the KARMA Dx Study
Authors: Llombart-Cussac Antonio , Anton-Torres Antonio , Rojas Beatriz , Andrés Raquel , Martinez Noelia , Rodríguez César A. , Marin Sara , Puértolas Teresa , González Alejandro Falcón , Fernández-Murga María Leonor , Hagen Carlos , Ruiz-Borrego Manuel
Published: March 2023

Background: The 21-gene Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score® assay is prognostic and predictive of chemotherapy benefit for patients with estrogen receptor-positive, HER2− early breast cancer (EBC). The KARMA Dx study evaluated the impact of the Recurrence Score® results (RS) on the treatment decision for patients with EBC and high-risk clinicopathological characteristics for whom chemotherapy (CT) was considered. Methods: Eligible patients with EBC were candidates for the study if CT was considered standard recommendation by local guidelines. Three high-risk EBC cohorts were predefined: (A) pT1-2, pN0/N1mi, and grade 3; (B) pT1-2, pN1, and grades 1–2; and (C) neoadjuvant cT2-3, cN0, and Ki67 ≤ 30%. Treatment recommendations before and after 21-gene testing were registered, as well as treatment received and physicians’ confidence levels in their final recommendations. Results: A total of 219 consecutive patients were included from eight Spanish centers: 30 in cohort A, 158 in cohort B, and 31 in cohort C. Ten patients were excluded from the final analysis as CT was not initially recommended. After 21-gene testing, treatment decisions changed from CT + endocrine therapy (ET) to ET alone for 67% of the whole group. In total, 30% (95% confidence interval [CI] 15% to 49%), 73% (95% CI 65% to 80%), and 76% (95% CI 56% to 90%) of patients ultimately received ET alone in cohorts A, B, and C, respectively. Physicians’ confidence in their final recommendations increased in 34% of cases. Conclusions: Use of the 21-gene test resulted in an overall 67% reduction in CT recommendation in patients considered candidates for CT. Our findings indicate the substantial potential of the 21-gene test to guide CT recommendations in patients with EBC considered to be at high risk of recurrence based on clinicopathological parameters, regardless of nodal status or treatment setting.
Artificial Diets with Selective Restriction of Amino Acids and Very Low Levels of Lipids Induce Anticancer Activity in Mice with Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Guillén-Mancina Emilio , Jiménez-Alonso Julio José , Calderón-Montaño José Manuel , Jiménez-González Víctor , Díaz-Ortega Patricia , Burgos-Morón Estefanía , López-Lázaro Miguel
Published: March 2023

Patients with metastatic triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) need new therapies to improve the low survival rates achieved with standard treatments. In this work, we show for the first time that the survival of mice with metastatic TNBC can be markedly increased by replacing their normal diet with artificial diets in which the levels of amino acids (AAs) and lipids are strongly manipulated. After observing selective anticancer activity in vitro, we prepared five artificial diets and evaluated their anticancer activity in a challenging model of metastatic TNBC. The model was established by injecting 4T1 murine TNBC cells into the tail vein of immunocompetent BALB/cAnNRj mice. First-line drugs doxorubicin and capecitabine were also tested in this model. AA manipulation led to modest improvements in mice survival when the levels of lipids were normal. Reducing lipid levels to 1% markedly improved the activity of several diets with different AA content. Some mice fed the artificial diets as monotherapy lived much longer than mice treated with doxorubicin and capecitabine. An artificial diet without 10 non-essential AAs, with reduced levels of essential AAs, and with 1% lipids improved the survival not only of mice with TNBC but also of mice with other types of metastatic cancers.
Age-Stratified Analysis of First-Line Chemoimmunotherapy for Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer: Real-World Evidence from a Multicenter Retrospective Study
Authors: Takeda Takayuki , Yamada Tadaaki , Kunimatsu Yusuke , Tanimura Keiko , Morimoto Kenji , Shiotsu Shinsuke , Chihara Yusuke , Okada Asuka , Horiuchi Shigeto , Hibino Makoto , Uryu Kiyoaki , Honda Ryoichi , Yamanaka Yuta , Yoshioka Hiroshige , Kurata Takayasu , Takayama Koichi
Published: March 2023

Chemoimmunotherapy improved overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) in two phase III trials. They set the age-stratified subgroup analyses at 65 years; however, over half of the patients with lung cancer were newly diagnosed at ≥75 years in Japan. Therefore, treatment efficacy and safety in elderly patients ≥ 75 years with ES-SCLC should be evaluated through real-world Japanese evidence. Consecutive Japanese patients with untreated ES-SCLC or limited-stage SCLC unfit for chemoradiotherapy between 5 August 2019 and 28 February 2022 were evaluated. Patients treated with chemoimmunotherapy were divided into the non-elderly (<75 years) and elderly (≥75 years) groups, and efficacy, including PFS, OS, and post-progression survival (PPS) were evaluated. In total, 225 patients were treated with first-line therapy, and 155 received chemoimmunotherapy (98 non-elderly and 57 elderly patients). The median PFS and OS in non-elderly and elderly were 5.1 and 14.1 months and 5.5 and 12.0 months, respectively, without significant differences. Multivariate analyses revealed that age and dose reduction at the initiation of the first chemoimmunotherapy cycle were not correlated with PFS or OS. In addition, patients with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG-PS) = 0 who underwent second-line therapy had significantly longer PPS than those with ECOG-PS = 1 at second-line therapy initiation (p < 0.001). First-line chemoimmunotherapy had similar efficacy in elderly and non-elderly patients. Individual ECOG-PS maintenance during first-line chemoimmunotherapy is crucial for improving the PPS of patients proceeding to second-line therapy.
Okadaic Acid Activates JAK/STAT Signaling to Affect Xenobiotic Metabolism in HepaRG Cells
Authors: Wuerger Leonie T. D. , Kudiabor Felicia , Alarcan Jimmy , Templin Markus , Poetz Oliver , Sieg Holger , Braeuning Albert
Published: March 2023

Okadaic acid (OA) is a marine biotoxin that is produced by algae and accumulates in filter-feeding shellfish, through which it enters the human food chain, leading to diarrheic shellfish poisoning (DSP) after ingestion. Furthermore, additional effects of OA have been observed, such as cytotoxicity. Additionally, a strong downregulation of the expression of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes in the liver can be observed. The underlying mechanisms of this, however, remain to be examined. In this study, we investigated a possible underlying mechanism of the downregulation of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes and the nuclear receptors pregnane X receptor (PXR) and retinoid-X-receptor alpha (RXRα) by OA through NF-κB and subsequent JAK/STAT activation in human HepaRG hepatocarcinoma cells. Our data suggest an activation of NF-κB signaling and subsequent expression and release of interleukins, which then activate JAK-dependent signaling and thus STAT3. Moreover, using the NF-κB inhibitors JSH-23 and Methysticin and the JAK inhibitors Decernotinib and Tofacitinib, we were also able to demonstrate a connection between OA-induced NF-κB and JAK signaling and the downregulation of CYP enzymes. Overall, we provide clear evidence that the effect of OA on the expression of CYP enzymes in HepaRG cells is regulated through NF-κB and subsequent JAK signaling.
Identification of Clinically Relevant HIV Vif Protein Motif Mutations through Machine Learning and Undersampling
Authors: Altamirano-Flores José Salomón , Alvarado-Hernández Luis Ángel , Cuevas-Tello Juan Carlos , Tino Peter , Guerra-Palomares Sandra E. , Garcia-Sepulveda Christian A.
Published: March 2023

Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and its clinical entity, the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) continue to represent an important health burden worldwide. Although great advances have been made towards determining the way viral genetic diversity affects clinical outcome, genetic association studies have been hindered by the complexity of their interactions with the human host. This study provides an innovative approach for the identification and analysis of epidemiological associations between HIV Viral Infectivity Factor (Vif) protein mutations and four clinical endpoints (Viral load and CD4 T cell numbers at time of both clinical debut and on historical follow-up of patients. Furthermore, this study highlights an alternative approach to the analysis of imbalanced datasets, where patients without specific mutations outnumber those with mutations. Imbalanced datasets are still a challenge hindering the development of classification algorithms through machine learning. This research deals with Decision Trees, Naïve Bayes (NB), Support Vector Machines (SVMs), and Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs). This paper proposes a new methodology considering an undersampling approach to deal with imbalanced datasets and introduces two novel and differing approaches (MAREV-1 and MAREV-2). As theses approaches do not involve human pre-determined and hypothesis-driven combinations of motifs having functional or clinical relevance, they provide a unique opportunity to discover novel complex motif combinations of interest. Moreover, the motif combinations found can be analyzed through traditional statistical approaches avoiding statistical corrections for multiple tests.
Synthesis and Dielectric Relaxation Studies of KxFeyTi8-yO16 (x = 1.4–1.8 and y = 1.4–1.6) Ceramics with Hollandite Structure
Authors: Tsyganov Alexey , Artyukhov Denis , Vikulova Maria , Morozova Natalia , Zotov Ilya , Brudnik Sergey , Asmolova Aleksandra , Zheleznov Denis , Gorokhovsky Alexander , Gorshkov Nikolay
Published: March 2023

Some solid solutions with the chemical composition KxFeyTi8-yO16 (KFTO) and a hollandite-like structure were successfully synthesized by modified sol–gel method. The obtained powders were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The ceramic pellets based on KFTO powders were obtained by compressing and sintering at 1080 °C for 4 h. The sinters were characterized by X-ray and impedance spectroscopy. XRD results show that KFTO powders have a mono-phase tetragonal structure at x = 1.4–1.8 and y = 1.4–1.6. However, it was recognized that the hollandite-like phase could be broken during sintering to form TiO2 and Fe2TiO5 crystals distributed throughout the volume of the ceramics. A frequency dependency of dielectric properties for the sinters was studied by impedance spectroscopy. It was found that an increase in the TiO2 (rutile) phase during the sintering contributes to a decrease in dielectric losses. At the same time, the KFTO ceramics with reduced content of potassium had increased permittivity. The contribution of electron-pinned defect dipoles (EPDD) and internal barrier layer capacitance (IBLC) in the permittivity of the obtained ceramics was estimated using the Havriliak–Negami equation. It is shown that the KFTO ceramics have the polydisperse characteristic of dielectric relaxation. The observed grain and grain boundary dipole relaxation times were 1.03 × 10−6 to 5.51 × 10−6 s and 0.197 to 0.687 s, respectively.
Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity Levels during Second Period of Lockdown in Chilean’s Schoolchildren: How Bad Is It?
Authors: Martínez-Flores Ricardo , Castillo Cañete Ignacio , Pérez Marholz Vicente , Marín Trincado Valentina , Fernández Guzmán Carolina , Fuentes Figueroa Rodrigo , Carrasco Mieres Gabriela , González Rodríguez Maximiliano , Rodriguez-Rodriguez Fernando
Published: March 2023

Objective. The objective of this study was to compare the levels of sedentary behaviour and physical activity in relation to sociodemographic variables of Chilean schoolchildren before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods. This retrospective study considered a non-random sample of 83 boys and 232 girls, and their respective parents, who attended public schools (n = 119) and private schools (n = 196) in Chile. A self-report instrument was applied that included sociodemographic variables, sedentary behaviour (SB), and physical activity (PA) in the second period of the pandemic in 2021. Results. The main results show that pre-pandemic SB had significant differences when compared between sexes, except for television time. During the pandemic, there was no significant difference in television time or telephone time. There were no significant differences by sex before and during the pandemic. When comparing the SB scores, video game time in boys decreased (p < 0.001), as did video game time in girls (p < 0.001), and computer time in boys (p < 0.001) and girls (p < 0.001). Telephone time increased in boys (p < 0.001) and girls (p < 0.001), as did television time (p < 0.001). Likewise, PA increased in boys (Δ + 9.51min) and girls (Δ + 3.54 min) during the pandemic (p < 0.001). Conclusions. Both PA and SB underwent changes according to sex before and during the second period of the COVID-19 pandemic in Chilean schoolchildren.
Biomarker Profiles Associated with COVID-19 Severity and Mortality
Authors: Sánchez-Díez Silvia , Gómez-Ollés Carlos , Cruz María-Jesús , de Homdedeu Miquel , Espejo David , Ferrer Jaume , Roca Oriol , Pacheco Andrés , Muñoz Xavier
Published: March 2023

Introduction: The aim of this study was to analyze biomarkers that might predict the severity and progression of the SARS-CoV-2 infection, both in the acute phase and after recovery. Methods: Unvaccinated patients infected with the original strain of COVID-19 requiring ward (Group 1, n = 48) or ICU (Group 2, n = 41) admission were included. At the time of admission (visit 1), a clinical history was acquired, and blood samples were obtained. One and six months after discharge from the hospital (visits 2 and 3, respectively), a clinical history, lung function tests, and blood samples were carried out. At visit 2, patients also underwent a chest CT scan. Different cytokines (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-13, IL-17A, G-CSF, GM-CSF, IFN-ɣ, MCP-1, MIP-1β, and TNF-α) and lung fibrosis biomarkers (YKL-40 and KL-6) were measured in blood samples obtained at visits 1, 2, and 3. Results: At visit 1, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-6 levels were higher in Group 2 (p = 0.039, 0.011, and 0.045, respectively), and IL-17 and IL-8 levels were higher in Group 1 (p = 0.026 and 0.001, respectively). The number of patients in Groups 1 and 2 who died during hospitalization was 8 and 11, respectively. YKL-40 and KL-6 levels were higher in patients who died. Serum YKL-40 and KL-6 levels determined at visit 2 correlated negatively with FVC (p = 0.022 and p = 0.024, respectively) and FEV1 (p = 0.012 and p = 0.032, respectively) measured at visit 3. KL-6 levels also correlated negatively with the diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO, p = 0.001). Conclusions: Patients who required ICU admission had higher levels of Th2 cytokines, while patients admitted to the ward showed an innate immune response activation, with IL-8 release and Th1/Th17 lymphocyte contribution. Increased levels of YKL-40 and KL-6 were associated with mortality in COVID-19 patients.
Climate Scenarios for Coastal Flood Vulnerability Assessments: A Case Study for the Ligurian Coastal Region
Authors: Re Alice , Minola Lorenzo , Pezzoli Alessandro
Published: March 2023

Extreme sea levels and coastal flooding are projected to be among the most uncertain and severe consequences of climate change. In response, a wide development of coastal vulnerability assessment methodologies has been observed in research to support societal resilience to future coastal flood risks. This work aims to explore the scope of application of index-based methodologies for coastal vulnerability assessment, in terms of their suitability to convey information on variations in climate variables potentially leading to sea-level changes and inundation. For this purpose, the InVEST Coastal Vulnerability model was coupled for the first time with the ERA5 reanalysis and used to develop a case study assessment of the biophysical exposure component of vulnerability to coastal flooding for Liguria, an Italian coastal region facing the Mediterranean Sea. Different scenarios of wind speed and wave power were created in order to test the sensitivity of this approach to climate data inputs. The results support the applicability of this approach to provide a preliminary grasp of local vulnerability to coastal inundation. Yet, this work also highlights how the method’s data aggregation and indicator computation processes result in its insensitivity to wind and wave variations, and therefore in its unsuitability to reproduce climate scenarios. The implications of these findings for research methodology and regarding the operationalisation of vulnerability assessment results are discussed.
Effect of Grain Sizes on the Friction and Wear Behavior of Dual-Phase Microstructures with Similar Macrohardness and Composition
Authors: Penfornis Corentin , Jourani Abdeljalil , Mazeran Pierre-Emmanuel
Published: March 2023

The tribological behavior of dual-phase steels have been studied at the macroscopic scale taking the macrohardness as the main material property to control friction and wear. However, the contribution to the macroscopic behavior of the varying properties of the phase at the microscopic scale are yet to be fully understood. In this study, dual-phase microstructures with various grain sizes and martensite volume fraction are generated. Microhardness of ferrite and martensite are measured by nanoindentation tests while their friction and wear behavior are studied by conducting scratch tests with various conical tips. Results show that for martensite, friction coefficient and wear resistance are proportional to its carbon content, whatever the martensite grain size. Whereas changing the ferrite grain size has two effects on the tribological behavior of the microstructure. First, the friction and wear resistance of ferrite are related to its grain size through a Hall–Petch relationship. Second, at a given martensite volume fraction, the mean wear resistance changes from the Equal Wear mode to the Equal Pressure mode as the ratio of the contact size to the ferrite grain size increases, while the mean friction coefficient always correlates to the Equal Pressure mode.
Synthesis, Characterization and Single Crystal X-ray Diffraction Analysis of Fused Triazolo/Thiadiazole Clubbed with Indole Scaffold
Authors: Altowyan Mezna Saleh , Haukka Matti , Soliman Saied M. , Barakat Assem , Alaswad Saleh O. , Boraei Ahmed T. A. , Gad Emad M. , Youssef Mohamed F.
Published: March 2023

The present synthetic strategy involves the synthesis of indolyl-triazolo-thiadiazole heterocyclic ring systems 8–13 from the condensation of 4-amino-5-(1H-indol-2-yl)-3H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thione 1 with the aromatic carboxylic acid derivatives 2–7 in presence of POCl3 for 1 h. All compounds were obtained in very good yields and have been well-characterized using spectroscopic techniques. Exclusively, good quality crystals from the target organic hybrid 8-(1H-indol-2-yl)-5-(p-tolyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo [3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazole 9 were obtained and found suitable for X-ray single crystal diffraction measurement, which is used to confirm and analyze the molecular and supramolecular structure aspects of 9. The solid-state structure of the synthesized molecule 9 agrees very well with other characterizations. The packing of 9 is dominated by the N…H, S…H, C…C and S…C non-covalent interactions, which agree with the Hirshfeld surface analysis. The percentages of these contacts are calculated to be 20.3%, 5.4%, 9.4% and 4.3%, respectively.
Cartusia hunanesis sp. nov. (Oculatellaceae, Oculatellales) from a Stream in China Based on Polyphasic Approach
Authors: Li Shuheng , Yu Denghang , Zhang Hang , Li Renhui , Cai Fangfang
Published: March 2023

Cartusia hunanesis sp. nov. was isolated from a stream in China, and two strains (ZJJ02 and ZJJ03) of which were inquired using morphological features, ecological evidence, and molecular data consisting of the 16S rRNA gene and 16S–23S rRNA intergenic transcribed spacer (ITS) region. Cartusia hunanesis varies from the type species Cartusia fontana by having only a single trichome in the sheath and large granules near the cross wall. The investigated strains of C. hunanesis were revealed to be a sister clade of C. fontana, according to the phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene. In addition, the Cartusia was clustered with the family Oculatellaceae members, genera Pegethrix and Elainella. These two strains displayed 97.6% similarity to C. fontana. The ITS region of C. hunanesis was found to be considerably distinct from that of C. fontana in terms of the secondary structure, which demonstrated that C. hunanesis is a novel species owing to the divergences in its morphological and genetic data compared with the related C. fontana.
Spider Diversity in the Fragmented Forest-Steppe Landscape of Northeastern Ukraine: Temporal Changes under the Impact of Human Activity
Authors: Polchaninova Nina , Savchenko Galina , Ronkin Vladimir , Shabanov Dmytro
Published: March 2023

Semi-natural forests and dry grasslands are highly fragmented and influenced by human activity. Despite the small area, they serve as the refuge for habitat-specific species and enhance agrolandscape biodiversity. We studied spiders in Velykoburlutskyi Steppe Regional Landscape Park (northeastern Ukraine) for 10 years and found 224 species of 26 families; of these, 27 are rare and require protection. The araneofauna of small forests in gullies is poorer than that of the large oakeries and hosts fewer sylvatic species; the dry grassland fauna is rich, has typical steppe traits, and varies depending on topography and grazing history. The ungrazed gully hosted 125 spider species. The richest assemblages (97 species) were at the bottom, and they were similar to those of meadows and forest edges. The most typical steppe assemblages were formed on the ungrazed slope (77 species). The human-induced disturbance had a negative effect on spiders: we found only 63 species at the grazed bottom and 62 on the slope. After abrupt grazing cessation, four spider species appeared and occurred constantly at the bottom, while no species left this habitat. Grazing on the slopes declined gradually, and spider assemblages did not change significantly after the final cessation; moreover, they enriched on the abandoned slope (75 species). The presence of rare species and a variety of spider assemblages confirm the conservation value of the study site and the need to maintain its mosaic pattern.
Correction: Michel et al. SEN2VENµS, a Dataset for the Training of Sentinel-2 Super-Resolution Algorithms. Data 2022, 7, 96
Authors: Michel Julien , Vinasco-Salinas Juan , Inglada Jordi , Hagolle Olivier
Published: March 2023

There was an error in the original publication [...]
Dataset on SCADA Data of an Urban Small Wind Turbine Operation in São Paulo, Brazil
Authors: Bassi Welson , Rodrigues Alcantaro Lemes , Sauer Ildo Luis
Published: March 2023

Small wind turbines (SWTs) represent an opportunity to promote energy generation technologies from low-carbon renewable sources in cities. Tall buildings are inherently suitable for placing SWTs in urban environments. Thus, the Institute of Energy and Environment of the University of São Paulo (IEE-USP) has installed an SWT in an existing high-height High Voltage Laboratory building on its campus in São Paulo, Brazil. The dataset file contains data regarding the actual electrical and mechanical operational quantities and control parameters obtained and recorded by the internal inverter of a Skystream 3.7 SWT, with 1.8 kW rated power, from 2017 to 2022. The main electrical parameters are the generated energy, voltages, currents, and power frequency in the connection grid point. Rotation, referential wind speed, and temperatures measured in some points at the inverter and in the nacelle are also recorded. Several other parameters concerning the SWT inverter operation, including alarms and status codes, are also presented. This dataset can be helpful for reanalysis, to access information, such as capacity factor, and can also be used as overall input data of actual SWT operation quantities.
Zoonotic Tuberculosis: A Neglected Disease in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region
Authors: Kasir Dalal , Osman Nour , Awik Aicha , El Ratel Imane , Rafei Rayane , Al Kassaa Imad , El Safadi Dima , Salma Rayane , El Omari Khaled , Cummings Kevin J. , Kassem Issmat I. , Osman Marwan
Published: March 2023

Mycobacterium bovis is the etiologic agent of bovine tuberculosis (BTB), a serious infectious disease in both humans and animals. BTB is a zoonotic disease primarily affecting cattle and occasionally humans infected through close contact with infected hosts or the consumption of unpasteurized dairy products. Zoonotic tuberculosis is strongly associated with poverty and poor hygiene, and low- and middle-income countries bear the brunt of the disease. BTB has been increasingly recognized as a growing public health threat in developing countries. However, the lack of effective surveillance programs in many of these countries poses a barrier to accurately determining the true burden of this disease. Additionally, the control of BTB is threatened by the emergence of drug-resistant strains that affect the effectiveness of current treatment regimens. Here, we analyzed current trends in the epidemiology of the disease as well as the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of M. bovis in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, a region that includes several developing countries. Following PRISMA guidelines, a total of 90 studies conducted in the MENA region were selected. Our findings revealed that the prevalence of BTB among humans and cattle varied significantly according to the population size and country in the MENA region. Most of the available studies were based on culture and/or PCR strategies and were published without including data on antimicrobial resistance and molecular typing. Our findings highlighted the paramount need for the use of appropriate diagnostic tools and the implementation of sustainable control measures, especially at the human/animal interface, in the MENA region.
COVID-19: Where We Are and Where We Are Going
Authors: Abenavoli Ludovico , Gentile Ivan
Published: March 2023

The impact of COVID-19 on global health has been colossal [...]