bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular Heterogeneity of the Brain Endothelium
Authors: Alnaqbi Nada , Mohammad Mohammad G. , Hamoudi Rifat , Mabondzo Aloïse , Harati Rania
Published: April 2023

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is part of a neurovascular structure located in the brain’s micro vessels, that is essential to maintain brain homeostasis, but prevents the brain uptake of most drugs. Because of its importance in neuro-pharmacotherapy, the BBB has been the subject of extensive research since its discovery over 100 years ago. Major advances in understanding the structure and function of the barrier have been made. Drugs are re-designed to cross the BBB. However, despite these efforts, overcoming the BBB efficiently to treat brain diseases safely remains challenging. The majority of BBB research studies focus on the BBB as a homogenous structure throughout the different brain regions. However, this simplification may lead to an inadequate understanding of the BBB function with significant therapeutic consequences. From this perspective, we analyzed the gene and protein expression profiles of the BBB in the micro vessels from the brains of mice that were isolated from two different brain regions, namely the cortex and the hippocampus. The expression profile of the inter-endothelial junctional protein (claudin-5), three ABC transporters (P-glycoprotein, Bcrp and Mrp-1), and three BBB receptors (lrp-1, TRF and GLUT-1) were analyzed. Our gene and protein analysis showed that the brain endothelium in the hippocampus exhibits different expression profiles compared to the brain cortex. Specifically, brain endothelial cells (BECs) of the hippocampus express higher gene levels of abcb1, abcg2, lrp1, and slc2a1 compared to the BECs of the cortex regions with a trend of increase for claudin-5, while BECs of the cortex express higher gene levels of abcc1 and trf compared to the hippocampus. At the protein levels, the P-gp expression was found to be significantly higher in the hippocampus compared to the cortex, while TRF was found to be up-regulated in the cortex. These data suggest that the structure and function of the BBB are not homogeneous, and imply that drugs are not delivered similarly among the different brain regions. Appreciation of the BBB heterogeneity by future research programs is thus critical for efficient drug delivery and the treatment of brain diseases.
Impact of Climate Change and Consumptive Demands on the Performance of São Francisco River Reservoirs, Brazil
Authors: Silva Marx Vinicius Maciel da , Lima Carlos Eduardo Sousa , Silveira Cleiton da Silva
Published: April 2023

Climate change in the coming decades could intensify extreme events such as severe droughts. Combined with the possible increase of water demands, these changes exert a great deal of pressure on the water systems. In order to confirm this assumption, a set of scenarios was proposed in this study to consider the combined impact of climate changes and the increase in water demand on the main multiple-use reservoirs of São Francisco River, Brazil. For this purpose, five CMIP6 climate models were used, considering two greenhouse gas emissions scenarios: the SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5. The affluent natural flows and regulated flows were estimated to the adopted reservoirs considering all existing, new and projected demands. The combination of scenarios indicated an increase in Potential Evapotranspiration; possible significant reduction in water availability, with a decrease in precipitation with a magnitude of −15% in the most pessimistic scenarios and a decrease in flows with a magnitude varying between −5% and −40% in the Sobradinho and Três Marias reservoirs; growth in water demand, mainly for irrigation, with annual rates of 6.80%, 7.42%, 10.99% and 9.29% for Itaparica, Sobradinho, Três Marias and Retiro Baixo, respectively; and a substantial reduction in the performance of the evaluated reservoirs, mainly for the Retiro Baixo and Itaparica reservoirs, which showed a high vulnerability index and a low sustainability index.
Ab-Initio Calculation of the Electrical Conductivity, Optical Absorption, and Reflectivity of the 2D Materials SnC and NbC
Authors: Delgado Nadxiieli , Salas Osiris , Garcés Erick , Magaña Luis Fernando
Published: April 2023

Using density functional theory (DFT), we performed first-principles calculations of the electrical conductivity, optical absorption, and reflectivity for the 2D carbides SnC and NbC. We calculated the electronic energy band structure of the materials. We performed the calculations without considering the spin–orbit coupling (SOC) term and including it. We determined that 2D SnC is a semiconductor material and 2D NbC is a conductor. We compared the optical absorption and reflectivity with those of graphene. We found that the 2D SnC and graphene optical absorptions in the infrared region are similar and small; the corresponding values for 2D NbC are approximately ten times larger. In the visible range, the absorption values for 2D SnC and 2D NbC are of the same magnitude and much more significant than graphene. We found that the 2D NbC optical absorption for the ultraviolet region was close to zero. Graphene and 2D SnC have similar maximum values for absorption but at different energies. We determined that graphene reflectivity is larger but similar to that of 2D NbC, and that the 2D SnC reflectivity is near zero. Finally, the 2D NbC electrical conductivity value was about ten times larger than the corresponding value for 2D SnC. As expected, when there was a change of dimensionality, the related 3D materials showed a vastly different value for the electrical conductivity. The 2D materials showed conductivities significantly smaller than those of 3D materials in both cases. The results we obtained for 2D SnC and 2D NbC when we included the SOC term showed that the electrical conductivity for 2D SnC increased by 13.18% and 2D NbC by 18.16%. The optical properties changed, particularly the location of the peaks in the optical absorption and reflectivity.
Quantum Chemical Approaches to the Encapsulation of Parathion, Chlorpyrifos and Coumaphos by Armchair and Zigzag Boron Nitride Nanotubes Doped with Aluminum
Authors: Wang Rong-Lieh , Chang Chia
Published: April 2023

Boron nitride nanotubes have been widely used as drug delivery vehicles and for the controlled release of targeted therapeutic drugs. In this study, we calculated the encapsulation efficiencies of three organophosphorus pesticides, parathion, chlorpyrifos, and coumaphous, using quantum chemical methods. The results show that the encapsulation energy of zigzag BNNT(20,0) is lower than that of armchair BNNT(12,12) to encapsulate parathion. Al doping helps to decrease the encapsulation energy and Al-doped zigzag BNNT(20,0) + parathion has the greatest binding affinity. In addition, the energy gap of armchair BNNT(12,12) encapsulating organophosphorus pesticides changed significantly. Al doping reduces the band gap of boron nitride nanotubes. Al-doped armchair BNNT(12,12) has the strongest electron-accepting ability and is a promising sensor material.
Influence of Strain Amplitude on Low-Cycle Fatigue Behaviors of a Fourth-Generation Ni-Based Single-Crystal Superalloy at 980 °C
Authors: Wang Pengfei , Zhao Xinbao , Yue Quanzhao , Xia Wanshun , Ding Qingqing , Bei Hongbin , Gu Yuefeng , Zhang Yuefei , Zhang Ze
Published: April 2023

Total strain-control, low-cycle fatigue experiments of a fourth-generation Ni-based single-crystal superalloy were performed at 980 °C. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy are employed to determine fracture morphologies and dislocation characteristics of the samples. As the strain amplitude increased from 0.6 to 1.0%, the cyclic stress and plastic strain per cycle increased, the cyclic lifetime decreased, more interfacial dislocation networks were formed, and the formation rate accelerated. Cyclic hardening is associated with the reaction of accumulated dislocations and dislocation networks, which hinder the movement of dislocations. The presence of interfacial dislocations reduces the lattice mismatch between the γ and γ′ phases, and the presence of dislocation networks that absorb mobile dislocations results in cyclic softening. At a strain amplitude of 1.0%, the reaction of a high density of dislocations results in initial cyclic hardening, and the dislocation cutting into the γ′ phase is one of the reasons for cyclic softening. The crack initiation site changed from a near-surface defect to a surface defect when the strain amplitude increased from 0.6 to 0.8 to 1.0%. The number of secondary cracks initiated from the micropores decreased during the growth stage as the strain amplitude increased.
Congenital Atrophic Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Salem Iman , Bradley Katherine , Mann Julianne A. , Shin Joseph H. , LeBoeuf Matthew , Sriharan Aravindhan
Published: April 2023

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare mesenchymal tumor of intermediate malignant potential. The neoplasm is locally aggressive with a high rate of recurrence. It typically presents in adults. Atrophic congenital DFSP is extremely rare. The few reported cases have presented as a morphea-like plaque that persists for years, before progressing into a nodular form. To our knowledge, congenital atrophic DFSP has been only reported fourteen times, and of those, only nine were confirmed by molecular studies. Herein we report a congenital case of atrophic DFSP, which initially presented as a bruise-like atrophic plaque on the dorsal forearm, initially mistaken for child abuse. The clinical appearance, histopathology, and molecular features of this rare form of DFSP are reviewed. Our case highlights the importance of early detection and adequate sampling of congenital DFSP; early treatment allows for treating small lesions without large, disfiguring, and potentially disabling excisions.
Endoscopic Ultrasound View of Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis
Authors: Yvamoto Erika Yuki , Cheng Spencer , de Oliveira Guilherme Henrique Peixoto , Sasso João Guilherme Ribeiro Jordão , Boghossian Mateus Bond , Minata Mauricio Kazuyoshi , Ribeiro Igor Braga , de Moura Eduardo Guimarães Hourneaux
Published: April 2023

Pneumatosis cystoid intestinalis (PCI) is a rare condition, with a worldwide incidence of 0.3–1.2%. PCI is classified into primary (idiopathic) and secondary forms, with 15% and 85% of presentations, respectively. This pathology was associated with a wide variety of underlining etiologies to explain the abnormal accumulation of gas within the submucosa (69.9%), subserosa (25.5%), or both layers (4.6%). Many patients endure misdiagnosis, mistreatment, or even inadequate surgical exploration. In this case, a patient presented acute diverticulitis, after treatment, a control colonoscopy was performed that found multiple rounds and elevated lesions. To further study the subepithelial lesion (SEL), a colorectal endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) was performed with an overtube in the same procedure. For safe insertion of the curvilinear array EUS, an overtube with colonoscopy was positioned through the sigmoid as described by Cheng et al. The EUS evaluation evidenced air reverberation in the submucosal layer. The pathological analysis was consistent with PCI’s diagnosis. The diagnosis of PCI is usually made by colonoscopy (51.9%), surgery (40.6%), and radiological findings (10.9%). Although the diagnosis can be made by radiological studies, a colorectal EUS and colonoscopy can be made in the same section without radiation and with high precision. As it is a rare disease, there are not enough studies to define the best approach, although colorectal EUS should be preferred for a reliable diagnosis.
Eccrine Porocarcinoma: A Review of the Literature
Authors: Tsiogka Aikaterini , Koumaki Dimitra , Kyriazopoulou Maria , Liopyris Konstantinos , Stratigos Alexander , Gregoriou Stamatios
Published: April 2023

Eccrine porocarcinoma (EPC) constitutes a rare malignant adnexal tumor, which accounts for about 0.005–0.01% of all cutaneous malignancies. It may develop de novo or arise from an eccrine poroma, after a latency period of years or even decades. Accumulating data suggest that specific oncogenic drivers and signaling pathways may be implicated in its tumorigenesis, while recent data have demonstrated a high overall mutation rate attributed to UV exposure. Diagnosis may be challenging and should rely on the combination of clinical, dermoscopical, histopathological and immunohistochemical findings. The literature is controversial regarding tumor behavior and prognosis and, therefore, there is no consensus on its surgical management, utility of lymph-node biopsy and further adjuvant or systemic treatment. However, recent advances in tumorigenesis of EPC may aid in the development of novel treatment strategies, which could improve survival of advanced or metastatic disease, such as immunotherapy. This review presents an update of the epidemiology, pathogenesis and clinical presentation of EPC and summarizes current data on diagnostic evaluation and management of this rare cutaneous malignancy.
Vertebra Plana: A Narrative Clinical and Imaging Overview among Possible Differential Diagnoses
Authors: Angelini Andrea , Mosele Nicolò , Gnassi Andrea , Baracco Riccardo , Rodà Maria Grazia , Cerchiaro Mariachiara , Ruggieri Pietro
Published: April 2023

Vertebra plana is a rare radiologic condition characterized by a uniform loss of height of a vertebral body that represents a diagnostic challenge for surgeons. The purpose of this study was to review all possible differential diagnoses that may present with a vertebra plana (VP) described in the current literature. For that purpose, we performed a narrative literature review in compliance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, analyzing 602 articles. Patient demographics, clinical presentation, imaging characteristics and diagnoses were investigated. VP is not a pathognomonic feature of Langerhans cell histiocytosis, but other oncologic and non-oncologic conditions should be considered. The list of differential diagnoses, based on our literature review, can be recalled with the mnemonic HEIGHT OF HOMO: H—Histiocytosis; E—Ewing’s sarcoma; I—Infection; G—Giant cell tumor; H—Hematologic neoplasms; T—Tuberculosis; O—Osteogenesis imperfecta; F—Fracture; H—Hemangioma; O—Osteoblastoma; M—Metastasis; O—Osteomyelitis, chronic.
Research on the Effects of Different Electrolyte Ratios on Heat Loss Control in Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Xu Xiaoming , Zhang Xinyang , Hong Jichao
Published: April 2023

As the demand for high-performance battery technology increases, the new energy vehicle industry has an urgent need for safer and more efficient battery systems. A model combining five side reactions was developed to be applied to the studies related to this paper. In this paper, the thermal runaway triggering process of Li-ion batteries is simulated, and the relationship between the local heating of the cathode collector surface and the change of the high-temperature area distribution of the diaphragm layer is analyzed. The thermal runaway mechanism is further revealed. Based on the simulation results, the following conclusions can be drawn: phosphonitene compounds can delay the decomposition of the solid electrolyte interphase membrane and reduce the energy yield of battery-side reactions. Compared with the phosphonitene compound, the optimized structure of adding phosphonitene has little effect on the thermal stability of the battery.
Blockchain-Based Security Configuration Management for ICT Systems
Authors: Chatziamanetoglou Dimitrios , Rantos Konstantinos
Published: April 2023

The world has become increasingly dependent on large-scale and distributed information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructures and systems in sectors such as energy, transport, banking, healthcare, water supply, and digital services, while their protection is considered of paramount importance and has already drawn remarkable attention from governments and key industry players. Establishing common approaches by leveraging existing frameworks and cyber security practices for improving the security postures of those systems is one of the major objectives for ensuring an adequate level of protection and avoiding the detrimental effects of disruptions on society and citizens. Configuration management (CM) is one of those common practices for establishing and maintaining the integrity and consistency of a system and its elements with regard to the function, performance, and status of technical and physical attributes, and it contributes to a desirable security posture throughout the lifecycle of a system. This study addresses the importance of CM, and while considering the corresponding frameworks, standards, and best practices, it proposes a permissioned blockchain-based approach, that inherits the benefits of the blockchain technology and ensures the integrity of the systems’ configuration across the complete lifecycle management of its products and services as an underlying model for mapping and integrating CM functions. Furthermore, this study briefly presents the benefits and challenges of the application of permissioned blockchain models and proposes a smart-contract-based role-based access control mechanism, in addition to presenting an operating concept based on brief but real-life lifecycle requirements of organizational configuration management.
A Novel AB-CNN Model for Multi-Classification Sentiment Analysis of e-Commerce Comments
Authors: Li Hongchan , Lu Yantong , Zhu Haodong , Ma Yu
Published: April 2023

Despite the success of dichotomous sentiment analysis, it does not encompass the various emotional colors of users in reality, which can be more plentiful than a mere positive or negative association. Moreover, the complexity and imbalanced nature of Chinese text presents a formidable obstacle to overcome. To address prior inadequacies, the three-classification method is employed and a novel AB-CNN model is proposed, incorporating an attention mechanism, BiLSTM, and a CNN. The proposed model was tested on a public e-commerce dataset and demonstrated a superior performance compared to existing classifiers. It utilizes a word vector model to extract features from sentences and vectorize them. The attention layer is used to calculate the weighted average attention of each text, and the relevant representation is obtained. BiLSTM is then employed to read the text information from both directions, further enhancing the emotional level. Finally, softmax is used to classify the emotional polarity.
Image Style Transfer Based on Dynamic Convolutional Manifold Alignment of Halo Attention
Authors: Li Ke , Yang Degang , Ma Yan
Published: April 2023

The objective of image style transfer is to render an image with artistic features of a style reference while preserving the details of the content image. With the development of deep learning, many arbitrary style transfer methods have emerged. From the recent arbitrary style transfer algorithms, it has been found that the images generated suffer from the problem of poorly stylized quality. To solve this problem, we propose an arbitrary style transfer algorithm based on halo attention dynamic convolutional manifold alignment. First, the features of the content image and style image are extracted by a pre-trained VGG encoder. Then, the features are extracted by halo attention and dynamic convolution, and then the content feature space and style feature space are aligned by attention operations and spatial perception interpolation. The output is achieved through dynamic convolution and halo attention. During this process, multi-level loss functions are used, and total variation loss is introduced to eliminate noise. The manifold alignment process is then repeated three times. Finally, the pre-trained VGG decoder is used to output the stylized image. The experimental results show that our proposed method can generate high-quality stylized images, achieving values of 33.861, 2.516, and 3.602 for ArtFID, style loss, and content loss, respectively. A qualitative comparison with existing algorithms showed that it achieved good results. In future work, we will aim to make the model lightweight.
An Estimation Model of the Ultimate Shear Strength of Root-Permeated Soil, Fully Considering Interface Bonding
Authors: Ning Po , Xia Xin , Jiang Yuanjun
Published: April 2023

Roots can be seen as natural soil reinforcement material. The prediction and quantitative evaluation of the shear strength of root-permeated soil is the focus of vegetation slope protection, in which the bonding effect of the root–soil interface is the key factor. Taking the roots of Chinese fir trees as an example, the shear resistance test of root–soil interface bonding strength and the direct shear test of root-permeated soil with different root area ratios and inclination angles were carried out. The results indicated that the bonding strength of the root–soil interface could be quantified by interfacial cohesion and friction angle. The shear strength of root-permeated soil increased with the root area ratio, and its relationship with the inclination angle of root relative shear direction was: 45° > 90°. In addition, an estimation model of the ultimate shear strength of root-permeated soil was developed, in which the bonding effect of the root–soil interface was quantified by the interface bonding strength parameters. The soil stress, root diameter, root length, and the initial angle between the root and shear direction can be considered in the estimation model. The rationality and accuracy of the estimated model were verified through the comparison of experimental results and Wu’s model. The proposed model can be used to calculate the stability of the biotechnical reinforcement landslides and evaluate the shear strength of the root-permeated soil.
Effects of Climate on Stand-Level Biomass for Larch Plantations in Heilongjiang Province, Northeast China
Authors: Mahardika Surya Bagus , Xin Shidong , Wang Weifang , Jiang Lichun
Published: April 2023

Climate change affects forest resource availability, growing season length, and thus forest biomass accumulation. However, only a limited number of studies have been conducted on forest biomass management based on climate effects, particularly at the stand-level. Thus, an allometric biomass equation based on conventional and climate-based stand biomass models, was developed and compared for larch trees (Larix spp.). A total of 160 experimental plots of larch plantations have been collected in Heilongjiang Province, Northeast China. In this study, we developed four types of additive model systems for stand-level biomass: two types of the stand-level biomass basic models (M-1 and M-2) with stand variables (stand basal area (BA) and stand mean height (Hm)) as the predictors, and two types of the proposed stand-level biomass climate-based models (M-3 and M-4) with stand variables (BA and Hm) and climatic variables (mean annual temperature (MAT) and annual precipitation (AP)) as the predictors. Accordingly, this study evaluated the effects of climatic variables (MAT and AP) and stand variables (BA and Hm) on the model’s performance. Model fitting and validation results revealed that the climatic variables significantly improved the model performance of the fitted equation by increasing the coefficient of determination (R2) values and reducing the root mean square error (RMSE) values. A higher R2 and a lower RMSE were consistently generated by M-2 and M-4, whereas M-1 and M-3 consistently generated a lower R2 and a higher RMSE. We found that the proposed stand-level biomass climate-based model type 4 (M-4) performed better than the other models and slightly better than in previous studies of climate-sensitive models. This study provided an additional and beneficial method of analyzing climate effects on stand-level biomass estimation.
A Review on Catalytic Depolymerization of Lignin towards High-Value Chemicals: Solvent and Catalyst
Authors: Wang Yannan , Wei Lianghuan , Hou Qidong , Mo Zhixin , Liu Xujun , Li Weizun
Published: April 2023

Lignin is a type of natural aromatic material with potential application prospects obtained from lignocellulosic biomass. Recently, the valorization of lignin has received increasing attention from both industry and academia. However, there is still a challenge in the efficient valorization of lignin due to the complexity and stability of the lignin structure. Recent work has been focused on the catalytic depolymerization of lignin to explore a promising and efficient way to valorize lignin into chemicals with high value and biofuels. Considerable research has focused on catalysts, solvents, and reaction parameters during the lignin depolymerization process, which significantly affects product distribution and productivity. Thus, in a catalytic depolymerization process, both catalysts and solvents have a significant influence on the depolymerization effect. This review article assesses the current status of the catalytic hydrogenolysis of lignin, mainly focusing on the solvents and catalysts during the reaction. First, various solvents applied in the lignin depolymerization reactions are extensively overviewed. Second, the recent progress of metal catalysts as well as their supports is summarized. Furthermore, a discussion of the challenges and prospects in this area is included.
Metagenomic Binning Revealed Microbial Shifts in Anaerobic Degradation of Phenol with Hydrochar and Pyrochar
Authors: Luo Tao , He Jun , Shi Zhijian , Shi Yan , Zhang Shicheng , Liu Yan , Luo Gang
Published: April 2023

Phenolic compounds, which are difficultly degraded, are one of the main toxic threats faced in the anaerobic digestion (AD) process. It has previously been reported that hydrochar/pyrochar produced by the hydrothermal liquefaction/pyrolysis of biomass can enhance AD by promoting direct interspecific electron transfer (DIET). The present study investigated the effects of different hydrochars and pyrochars on the anaerobic degradation of phenol and provided deep insights into the related micro-organisms at the species level through genome-centric metagenomic analysis. Compared with the control experiment, the addition of hydrochar and pyrochar shortened the lag time. However, hydrochar created a large increase in the maximum methane production rate (Rm) (79.1%) compared to the control experiments, while the addition of pyrochar decreased Rm. Metagenomic analysis showed that the addition of carbon materials affected the relative abundance of genes in the phenol anaerobic degradation pathway, as well as the species and relative abundance of phenol degrading micro-organisms. The relative abundance of key genes for phenol degradation, such as bsdB, bamB, oah, etc., under the action of hydrochar was higher than those under the action of pyrochar. In addition, hydrochar-enriched phenol degradation-related bacteria (Syntrophus aciditrophicus, etc.) and methanogen (Methanothrix soehngenii, etc.). These micro-organisms might improve the phenol degradation efficiency by promoting DIET. Therefore, hydrochar had a more significant effect in promoting anaerobic degradation of phenol.
Using a Statistical Model to Estimate the Effect of Wildland Fire Smoke on Ground Level PM2.5 and Asthma in California, USA
Authors: Schweizer Donald , Preisler Haiganoush , Entwistle Marcela , Gharibi Hamed , Cisneros Ricardo
Published: April 2023

Forest fire activity has been increasing in California. Satellite imagery data along with ground level measurements of PM2.5 have been previously used to determine the presence and level of smoke. In this study, emergency room visits for asthma are explored for the impacts of wildland smoke over the entire state of California for the years 2008–2015. Smoke events included extreme high-intensity fire and smoke along with low and moderate smoke events. The presence of wildland fire smoke detected by remote sensing significantly increased fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and significantly increased the odds of exceeding expected concentrations of PM2.5 at ground level. Smoke observed above a monitoring site increases the chance of PM2.5 exceeding 35 µg m−3 (odds ratio 114 (87–150) when high levels of smoke are detected). The strength of association of an asthma emergency room visit is increased with higher PM2.5 concentrations. The odds ratios (OR) are highest for asthma hospital visits when daily mean PM2.5 concentrations experienced exceed 35 µg m−3 for multiple days (OR 1.38 (1.21–1.57) with 3 days). Nonetheless, on days with wildland fire smoke, the association of an emergency room visit for asthma due to PM2.5 is not observed. Further study is needed to confirm these findings and determine if this is a product of smoke avoidance and reduction of personal exposure during smoke episodes.
Wildfires Improve Forest Growth Resilience to Drought
Authors: Camarero Jesús Julio , Guijarro Mercedes , Calama Rafael , Valeriano Cristina , Pizarro Manuel , Madrigal Javier
Published: April 2023

In seasonally dry forests, wildfires can reduce competition for soil water among trees and improve forest resilience to drought. We tested this idea by comparing tree-ring growth patterns of Pinus pinea stands subjected to two prescribed burning intensities (H, high; L, low) and compared them with unburned (U) control stands in southwestern Spain. Then, we assessed post-growth resilience to two droughts that occurred before (2005) and after (2012) the prescribed burning (2007). Resilience was quantified as changes in radial growth using resilience indices and as changes in cover and greenness using the NDVI. The NDVI sharply dropped after the fire, and minor drops were also observed after the 2005 and 2012 droughts. We found that post-drought growth and resilience were improved in the H stands, where growth also showed the lowest coherence among individual trees and the lowest correlation with water year precipitation. In contrast, trees from the L site showed the highest correlations with precipitation and the drought index. These findings suggest that tree growth recovered better after drought and responded less to water shortage in the H trees. Therefore, high-intensity fires are linked to reduced drought stress in Mediterranean pine forests.
Cytotoxic Effects of the Atrazine Herbicide on Erythrocytes and Liver Damage in Lithobates spectabilis
Authors: Méndez-Tepepa Maribel , Hernández-Pérez Karla , Juárez-Santacruz Libertad , Cruz-Lumbreras Senobia , García-Nieto Edelmira , Anaya-Hernández Arely , Morales-Cruz Cuauhtémoc
Published: April 2023

In Mexico, atrazine is one of the herbicides most widely authorized and used in different irrigation districts. Atrazine is a herbicide that contaminates aquatic systems. Previous studies have shown that atrazine causes damage to red blood cells and liver tissue in different aquatic species, including abnormalities in melanomacrophages. However, more information on amphibians is needed, since most of these studies have been done on fish. Furthermore, no study has determined the effect of atrazine on species native to Mexico. Therefore, in this study, we asked what the effects of atrazine are on the erythrocytes and melanomacrophages of the liver in the male frog (Lithobates spectabilis). In the present study, we analyzed (1) the cytotoxicity of atrazine using the micronucleus test, (2) the area of melanomacrophage centers and the presence of melanin, and (3) the characterization of liver damage using histological techniques. Our results show that atrazine is cytotoxic to erythrocytes, increases the area of and melanin presence in melanomacrophage centers, and causes liver damage in male L. spectabilis. Therefore, hepatotoxicity and cytotoxicity are indicators of environmental stress. We suggest monitoring Mexico’s aquatic systems and further analyzing atrazine effects and other pollutants on native species.
Dietary Effects of Nano Curcumin on Growth Performances, Body Composition, Blood Parameters and Histopathological Alternation in Red Tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) Challenged with Aspergillus flavus
Authors: Eissa El-Sayed Hemdan , Alaidaroos Bothaina A. , Jastaniah Samyah D. , Munir Mohammad Bodrul , Shafi Manal E. , Abd El-Aziz Yasmin M. , Bazina Walaa K. , Ibrahim Saadiah binti , Eissa Moaheda E. H. , Paolucci Marina , Alaryani Fatima S. , El-Hamed Nadia N. B. Abd , El-Hack Mohamed E. Abd , Saadony Saadea
Published: April 2023

This research examined the role of nano curcumin (NC) on growth performances, body composition, and blood parameters of red tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) challenged with Aspergillus flavus. Fish (5.0 g ± 0.30) were randomly distributed in four equal groups (20 fish per pond in triplicates) and fed various concentrations of NC fortified with 0 (Control), 40 mg/kg (NC1), 50 mg/kg (NC2), and 60 mg/kg diet (NC3) of nano curcumin. After eight weeks of the feeding trial, the fish were challenged with A. flavus for 15 days, and the cumulative mortality was recorded. Fish fed with different concentrations of NC improved significantly (p < 0.05) the growth performances, feed utilization, and survival rate. There was no significant (p > 0.05) difference between NC2 and NC3 treatments. However, NC3 exhibited higher performances. Fish feed supplemented with NC decreased the mortality rate when challenged with A. flavus. Hence, dietary supplementation of NC enhanced the growth and health status of Oreochromis sp. and protected it from A. flavus infection. This study suggests the optimum inclusion level of NC is a 50–60 mg/kg diet.
Effects of Steam Treatment Time and Drying Temperature on Properties of Sweet Basil’s Antioxidants, Aroma Compounds, Color, and Tissue Structure
Authors: Tsurunaga Yoko , Kanou Mina
Published: April 2023

This study has developed a production method for high-quality Genova tea with excellent antioxidant properties. The antioxidant properties of each part of the Genova basil plant (i.e., leaves, flowers, and stems) were determined; the leaves and flowers showed higher antioxidant values. We also investigated the effects of steaming time and drying temperature on the antioxidant composition and properties, color, and aroma using leaves with good yield potential and high antioxidant properties. The color showed excellent green color retention with freeze- and machine-drying at 40 °C without steam-heat treatment. Steaming for 2 min was effective in maintaining high values of total polyphenol content, antioxidant properties (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazine and hydrophilic oxygen radical adsorption capacity), rosmarinic acid, and chicoric acid, and a drying temperature of ≤40 °C was recommended. Freeze-drying without steaming was the best method to retain all three of Genova’s main aroma components, Linalool, trans-alpha-bergamotene, and 2-methoxy-3-(2-propenyl)-phenol. The method developed in this study can improve the quality of dried Genova products and be applied in the food industry, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries.
Antidepressant Effect of Alpha Lipoic Acid in Rats Exposed to Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress: Putative Role of Neurotransmitters and 5HT3 Receptor
Authors: Akotkar Likhit , Aswar Urmila , Patil Rashmi , Kumar Dileep , Aswar Manoj , Pandey Jyoti , Gurav Shailendra
Published: April 2023

Depression is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by altered emotion and cognition. Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is a potent natural antioxidant and exhibits neuroprotective effects. However, its antidepressant activity and its mechanism of action in rats exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) need to be evaluated. The rats were divided into six groups. Group, I vehicle control (without stress), II- CUMS, III- fluoxetine (FLX) (50 mg/kg p.o.), IV, V, and VI were treated with ALA (50, 100, 200 mg/kg, p.o.), respectively. All the groups, except I, were subjected to CUMS + treatments from day 1 to day 42. Body weight and behavioral parameters like sucrose preference test (SPT), Morris water maze (MWM), resident intruder test (RIT), and marble-burying test (MBT) were performed on day 0, day 21, and day 42, and forced swim test (FST) on last day 42 and 43 only. The rats were further sacrificed for biochemical and histopathological evaluation. ALA significantly improved behavioral function, increased antioxidant strength, reduced lipid peroxidation, restored monoamines, and protected CA3 neurons. Further, docking studies revealed strong binding of ALA on the 5HT3 receptor. The study demonstrates that ALA might be exhibiting antidepressant effects in part by restoring monoamines and modulating the 5HT3 receptor.
Deep-Learning-Based Hepatic Ploidy Quantification Using H&E Histopathology Images
Authors: Wen Zhuoyu , Lin Yu-Hsuan , Wang Shidan , Fujiwara Naoto , Rong Ruichen , Jin Kevin W. , Yang Donghan M. , Yao Bo , Yang Shengjie , Wang Tao , Xie Yang , Hoshida Yujin , Zhu Hao , Xiao Guanghua
Published: April 2023

Polyploidy, the duplication of the entire genome within a single cell, is a significant characteristic of cells in many tissues, including the liver. The quantification of hepatic ploidy typically relies on flow cytometry and immunofluorescence (IF) imaging, which are not widely available in clinical settings due to high financial and time costs. To improve accessibility for clinical samples, we developed a computational algorithm to quantify hepatic ploidy using hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) histopathology images, which are commonly obtained during routine clinical practice. Our algorithm uses a deep learning model to first segment and classify different types of cell nuclei in H&E images. It then determines cellular ploidy based on the relative distance between identified hepatocyte nuclei and determines nuclear ploidy using a fitted Gaussian mixture model. The algorithm can establish the total number of hepatocytes and their detailed ploidy information in a region of interest (ROI) on H&E images. This is the first successful attempt to automate ploidy analysis on H&E images. Our algorithm is expected to serve as an important tool for studying the role of polyploidy in human liver disease.
Examining the Hydro-Climatic Drivers of Lagoon Breaching and Healing in a Deltaic Barrier
Authors: Gómez Juan Felipe , Kwoll Eva , Walker Ian J. , Orejarena Andrés F.
Published: April 2023

As sea-level rise (SLR) and human-made interventions affect coastal currents and sediment transport, coastal barriers have become more vulnerable to the effect of storms, hurricanes, and climate variability. The response of each barrier is unique and depends on wave regime, coastline orientation, weather conditions, bathymetry, and type of human-made interventions, among other factors. In the Magdalena River deltaic barrier, located on the Colombian Caribbean coast, coastal erosion has caused the loss of hundreds of square kilometers of critical ecosystems, such as wetlands and lagoons, since the 1960s. This work aims to analyze the short-term drivers behind the observed loss of lagoons, particularly the drivers of lagoon breaching events and subsequent healing along the deltaic barrier. Lagoon breaching events and healings were detected using satellite imagery, and the timing of these events was related to prior local atmospheric, oceanographic, and fluvial conditions. The findings reveal that the dynamics of the lagoons are driven by extreme river discharges and energetic wave conditions associated with storms or hurricanes. Healing is driven by the sediment supplied by littoral currents and average waves punctuated by energetic events. The cumulative effect of breaching and healing has resulted in a deltaic barrier that has rolled over the lagoons, reducing their size over time. These findings provide a better understanding of the forces of coastal retreat and will help inform future management decisions of the coastal zone.
Analytical and Numerical Solutions for Three-Dimensional Granular Collapses
Authors: Wyser Emmanuel , Alkhimenkov Yury , Jaboyedoff Michel , Podladchikov Yury Y.
Published: April 2023

This research paper presents a comprehensive approach to investigating dry granular collapses in three dimensions, by combining analytical, numerical, and experimental methods. The experimental investigation utilised a novel apparatus to study granular collapses in the laboratory. It is demonstrated that a quasistatic understanding of granular collapses can accurately predict the final normalised run-out distances for dynamic granular collapses. Our approach involved establishing a correlation between the angle of repose and the initial aspect ratio of the granular column. It is also shown that the material point method (MPM) is suitable for modelling granular collapses in three dimensions. Our in-house solver was further validated using experimental evidence under an explicit formulation, resulting in good agreement between the numerical and experimental results. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of our in-house solver for three-dimensional granular collapse modelling.
The Response of Sandstone Sea Cliffs to Holocene Sea-Level Rise by Means of Remote Sensing and Direct Surveys: The Case Study of Punta Licosa Promontory (Southern Italy)
Authors: Tursi Maria Francesca , Amodio Antonio Minervino , Caporizzo Claudia , Del Pizzo Silvio , Figliomeni Francesco Giuseppe , Mattei Gaia , Parente Claudio , Rosskopf Carmen M. , Aucelli Pietro P. C.
Published: April 2023

Punta Licosa promontory is located in the northern part of the Cilento coast, in the southern Tyrrhenian basin. This promontory is bordered by sea cliffs connected to a wide shore platform sloping slightly towards the sea. This area has been considered stable at least since Late Pleistocene, as testified by a series of evidence well known in the literature. The aim of this research is to reconstruct the main coastal changes that have occurred in this area since the middle Holocene by means of the literature data, aerial photo interpretation, satellite images, GPS measurements, direct underwater surveys, GIS elaborations of high-resolution DTMs, bathymetric data and high-resolution orthophotos taken by UAV. Particular attention was paid to the wide platform positioned between −7.2 ± 1.2 m MSL and the present MSL, this being the coastal landform interpreted as the main consequence of sea cliff retreat. The elevation of this landform was compared with the GIA models calculated for the southern Tyrrhenian area, allowing establishing that it was shaped during the last 7.6 ± 1.1 ky BP. Moreover, the interpretation of archaeological and geomorphological markers led to the reconstruction of the shoreline evolution of this coastal sector since 7.6 ky BP. This research evaluates the cliff retreat under the effect of Holocene RSL variation on Cilento promontories, located in the western Mediterranean and characterised by the presence of monophasic platforms, and the applied method can be considered more effective and less complex and expensive if compared to other effective approaches such as those based on the usage of cosmogenic nuclides.
Assessing and Improving Provider Knowledge for a Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit Electronic Dashboard Initiative
Authors: Garlejo April , Bonner Jacob , Paddock Ashley , Park John , Lyda Nolan , Zaky Ahmed , McMullan Susan
Published: April 2023

Background: Electronic dashboards measure intensive care unit (ICU) performance by tracking quality indicators, especially pinpointing sub-standard metrics. This helps ICUs scrutinize and change current practices in an effort to improve failing metrics. However, its technological value is lost if end users are unaware of its importance. This results in decreased staff participation, leading to unsuccessful initiation of the dashboard. Therefore, the purpose of this project was to improve cardiothoracic ICU providers’ understanding of electronic dashboards by providing an educational training bundle in preparation for an electronic dashboard initiation. Methods: A Likert survey assessing providers’ knowledge, attitudes, skills, and application of electronic dashboards was conducted. Subsequently, an educational training bundle, consisting of a digital flier and laminated pamphlets, was made available to providers for four months. After bundle review, providers were assessed using the same pre-bundle Likert survey. Results: A comparison of summated scores from pre-bundle (mean = 38.75) and post-bundle surveys (mean = 46.13) yielded an increased summated score overall (mean = 7.38, p ≤ 0.001). Conclusion: An educational bundle improved providers’ understanding and increased their likelihood of using electronic dashboards upon its initiation. Further studies are needed to continue increasing staff participation such as providing specific education to navigate the interface for data retrieval and interpretation.
Research Topic Trends on Turnover Intention among Korean Registered Nurses: An Analysis Using Topic Modeling
Authors: Lee Jung Lim , Kim Youngji
Published: April 2023

This study aimed to explore research topic trends on turnover intention among Korean hospital nurses by analyzing the keywords and topics of related articles. Methods: This text-mining study collected, processed, and analyzed text data from 390 nursing articles published between 1 January 2010 and 30 June 2021 that were collected via search engines. The collected unstructured text data were preprocessed, and the NetMiner program was used to perform keyword analysis and topic modeling. Results: The word with the highest degree centrality was “job satisfaction”, the word with the highest betweenness centrality was “job satisfaction”, and the word with the highest closeness centrality and frequency was “job stress”. The top 10 keywords in both the frequency analysis and the 3 centrality analyses included “job stress”, “burnout”, “organizational commitment”, “emotional labor”, “job”, and “job embeddedness”. The 676 preprocessed key words were categorized into five topics: “job”, “burnout”, “workplace bullying”, “job stress”, and “emotional labor”. Since many individual-level factors have already been thoroughly investigated, future research should concentrate on enabling successful organizational interventions that extend beyond the microsystem.
Multivariate Assessment of Genetic Relationships between Two Streptocarpus Cultivars and Their F1 Progenies Using Morphological Characteristics and SCoT Molecular Markers
Authors: Hârţa Monica , Clapa Doina , Cornea-Cipcigan Mihaiela , Borsai Orsolya , Pop Rodica , Cordea Mirela Irina
Published: April 2023

Streptocarpus is a very popular houseplant with colorful flowers, and has thus piqued the curiosity of plant enthusiasts and breeders. In this study, “Natalie” and “Bristol’s Gum Drop” were artificially hybridized to study the influence of the parental reciprocal crosses (P1×P2 and P2×P1) on vegetative and generative morphological traits of F1 progeny. Mean comparisons for morphological characters of parents and F1 plants from both crosses revealed that F1 plants were able to express hybrid vigor for several valuable morphological characteristics. Pearson correlations showed both significant negative and positive correlations between morphological traits of F1 plants from P1×P2 cross, while in the case of P2×P1 no significant negative correlations were observed (p < 0.05). The Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) genetic profiles of the F1 plants with the identifiers P1×P2.19 and P1×P2.35 were remarkably similar, and they grouped with the maternal parent in a small group, supporting the findings of clustering based on morphological data. The parental combination P2×P1 revealed the presence of closely related progenies to the paternal parent, namely P2×P1.16 and P2×P1.5. Two F1 plants named P1×P2.33 and P2×P1.21 were selected based on their phenotypic characteristics and SCoT molecular fingerprinting. These selected genotypes will be tested in our future breeding programs with the aim to create and promote new valuable Streptocarpus cultivars.