bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Mediating Role of Extra-family Social Relationship Between Personality and Depressive Symptoms Among Chinese Adults
Authors: Zhao Hanfang , Shi Hong , Ren Zheng , He Minfu , Li Xiangrong , Li Yuyu , Pu Yajiao , Cui Li , Wang Shixun , Zhao Jieyu , Liu Hongjian , Zhang Xiumin
Published: September 2022

Objectives: This study aims to explore the associations of personality traits and extra-family social relationship with depressive symptoms among Chinese adults.

Methods: A nationally representative sample of 29,810 adults aged 16 and above were selected from 2018 CFPS. Personality and depressive symptoms were measured using CBF-PI-15 and the CES-D8 scale. Extra-family social relationship was assessed through the self-rated evaluation. The multiple regression analysis and the PROCESS macro were used for the mediation analysis.

Results: Extraversion (OR = 0.807, 95% CI = 0.773, 0.842), agreeableness (OR = 0.795, 95% CI = 0.756, 0.835) and extra-family social relationship (OR = 0.927, 95% CI = 0.913, 0.941) had negative associations with depressive symptoms. Extra-family social relationship could mediate between extraversion and depressive symptoms (Indirect effect = −0.049,95% CI = −0.060, −0.039) as well as agreeableness (Indirect effect = −0.056, 95% CI = −0.068, −0.046) and depressive symptoms. Comparing to females, the indirect effect accounts for a higher proportion of total effect in males.

Conclusion: Extra-family social relationship might mediate the association between extraversion and depressive symptoms as well as agreeableness and depressive symptoms.
COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptability Among Healthcare Facility Workers in Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda: A Multi-Centre Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Whitworth Hilary S. , Kitonsa Jonathan , Kasonia Kambale , Tindanbil Daniel , Kafeero Paddy , Bangura Joseph , Nije Yusupha , Tetsa Teta Darius , Greenwood Brian , Kavunga-Membo Hugo , Leigh Bailah , Ruzagira Eugene , Gallagher Katherine E. , Watson-Jones Deborah
Published: September 2022

Objectives: This cross-sectional survey explored COVID-19 vaccine acceptability among public healthcare facility workers in Kambia (Sierra Leone), Goma (Democratic Republic of Congo) and Masaka (Uganda).

Methods: Questionnaire-based interviews conducted between April–October 2021 explored participants’ knowledge and perceptions of, and attitudes towards, the COVID-19 pandemic and COVID-19 vaccines, as well as COVID-19 vaccine acceptability (defined as uptake of ≥1 dose or intent to get vaccinated).

Results: Whilst most (n = 444; 81.8%) of the 543 participants had one or more concerns about COVID-19 vaccines, 487 (89.7%) nonetheless perceived that they were important for pandemic control. Most participants from Kambia or Masaka either were vaccinated (n = 137/355; 38.6%) or intended to get vaccinated (n = 211/355; 59.4%) against COVID-19. In Goma, all 188 participants were unvaccinated; only 81 (43.1%) participants intended to get vaccinated, and this was associated with positive perceptions about COVID-19 vaccines. In Goma, the most common reasons for not wanting a COVID-19 vaccine were concerns that the vaccines were new (n = 75/107; 70.1%) and fear of side effects (n = 74/107; 69.2%).

Conclusion: Reported COVID-19 vaccine acceptability was high among healthcare facility workers in Kambia and Masaka. The lower vaccine acceptability in Goma may highlight the importance of social mobilisation and accurate, accessible information that addresses specific concerns.
Direct Thrust Force Control of Primary Permanent Magnet Linear Motor Based on Improved Extended State Observer and Model-Free Adaptive Predictive Control
Authors: Wang Xiuping , Yao Shunyu , Qu Chunyu , Wang Yiming , Xu Zhangwei , Huang Wenbin , Wang Hai
Published: September 2022

A model-free adaptive predictive control algorithm based on an improved extended state observer (IESO) is proposed to solve the problem that the primary permanent magnet linear motor is susceptible to time-varying parameters and unknown disturbances. Firstly, a model-free adaptive control algorithm based on compact format is designed to achieve high control precision of the system and reduce thrust fluctuation, only through the input/output data of the system. Because the traditional model-free adaptive control is too sensitive to the internal parameters of the controller, a combination of model-free adaptive control and predictive control is further developed. By predicting the data for a future time in advance, the sensitivity to the internal parameters of the controller is reduced and the control performance is further improved. Since the load change and other nonlinear disturbances in practical applications have a great impact on the control effect of the system, an improved extended state observer is further used to compensate for the impact of nonlinear disturbances on the control system. In addition, the stability of the closed-loop system is analyzed. Comparable simulation results clearly demonstrate the good tracking performance and strong robustness of the proposed control.
Contributions to the Mathematical Modeling of the Threshing and Separation Process in An Axial Flow Combine
Authors: Vlăduț Nicolae-Valentin , Biriş Sorin-Ştefan , Cârdei Petru , Găgeanu Iuliana , Cujbescu Dan , Ungureanu Nicoleta , Popa Lorena-Diana , Perişoară Lucian , Matei Gheorghe , Teliban Gabriel-Ciprian
Published: September 2022

The paper presents a mathematical model that characterizes the process of threshing and separation from the threshing machine with an axial flow of a thresher, taking into account the following input parameters: material flow, rotor speed, distance between rotor and counter rotor, mean density of processed material, feed speed, length of thresher and separating surface. Output parameters, such as the distribution function of separated seeds, distribution density function of separated seeds and distribution function of free seeds in the threshing space, as well as the distribution function of unthreshed seeds, together with the value of evacuation losses, were used to control the modeling process.
Grazing Intensity Has More Effect on the Potential Nitrification Activity Than the Potential Denitrification Activity in An Alpine Meadow
Authors: Dong Jingyi , Tian Liming , Zhang Jiaqi , Liu Yinghui , Li Haiyan , Dong Qi
Published: September 2022

On the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, nitrogen (N) cycling, such as nitrification and denitrification, in the alpine meadow soils have been considerably affected by grazing, with possible consequences for nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. However, there is a lack of understanding about how the potential nitrification activity (PNA) and the potential denitrification activity (PDA) might be affected by the grazing intensity. We collected the soil samples in alpine meadow in the east of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau that was grazed at different intensities from 2015 in peak growing season 2021. We determined the soil physical and chemical properties, the functional gene abundances of nitrifiers and denitrifiers, and the soil PNA and PDA to explore the relationships between a range of abiotic and biotic factors and the PNA and PDA. We found that the PNA and the nitrifiers were significantly affected by the grazing intensity but that the PDA and the denitrifiers were not. The ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) abundance was highest but the ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB)abundance was lower than the control significantly at the highest grazing intensity. The AOA abundance and the soil NH4+-N explained most of the variation in the PNA. The pH was the main predictor of the PDA and controlled the nirS abundance but not the nirK and nosZ abundances. Overall, the PNA was more responsive to the grazing intensity than the PDA. These findings can improve estimations of the nitrification and denitrification process and N2O emissions in alpine meadow.
Application Status and Prospect of Impedance Spectroscopy in Agricultural Product Quality Detection
Authors: Cheng Junhui , Yu Pengpeng , Huang Yourui , Zhang Gang , Lu Chengling , Jiang Xueping
Published: September 2022

The nondestructive testing of agricultural products has always been a key technology for the modernization of agriculture and food. By applying a sinusoidal voltage (current) excitation signal of variable frequency, the relationship between the amplitude, frequency and phase of the response signal is obtained, and the measured response function in a certain frequency range is obtained, constructing the correlation between impedance spectroscopy and matter properties. Electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is a widely used method for the nondestructive characterization of agricultural products, and its applications in the agricultural field has attracted increasing attention. This paper summarizes the research of electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in the detection of grain quality, fruit and vegetable quality, meat quality and food quality from 2005 to 2022. The potential and development direction of electrical impedance spectroscopy in the nondestructive testing of agricultural product quality are prospected, which provides a reference for scientific researchers who applied electrical impedance spectroscopy in agricultural product quality detection.
Dental Biofilm Removal and Bacterial Contamination of a New Doubled-Side Thermoplastic Polyurethane-Based Toothbrush: A Crossover Study in Healthy Volunteers
Authors: Zúñiga Ignacio , Iniesta Margarita , Virto Leire , Ribeiro-Vidal Honorato , Alonso-Español Andrea , Hernández Fernando , Cardona John Jairo , Maher-Lavandero Anushiravan , Alonso Bettina , Sanz Mariano , Herrera David
Published: September 2022

Multiple toothbrush designs have been developed to enhance dental biofilm removal and decrease bacterial contamination and retention over time. Therefore, the aim of this clinical study was to compare the efficacy of a prototype of a new double-sided thermoplastic polyurethane-based toothbrush with that of a conventional nylon-bristle toothbrush. A crossover study was conducted in systemically healthy volunteers (n = 24) for two one-week periods plus one washout week. As outcome variables, plaque and gingival indices, total bacterial contamination of the toothbrushes by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and patient-reported outcomes were measured. Clinical and microbiological variables were analysed using a general linear model and Friedman and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. No statistically significant differences between toothbrushes were detected neither for full-mouth PlI (p > 0.05) nor for GI (p > 0.05). Similarly, no statistically significant differences were detected for bacterial contamination after 40 seconds or 1 week of use, with results expressed either in CFU/mL or in CFU/mm2 (p > 0.05). In conclusion, the tested prototype toothbrush was as effective and safe as the control toothbrush, and the participating subjects did not experience any adverse effects from its use and rated its efficiency and effectiveness in cleaning their teeth as satisfactory.
Gastrointestinal Colonization of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii: What Is the Implication for Infection Control?
Authors: Wong Shuk-Ching , Chen Jonathan Hon-Kwan , Chau Pui-Hing , So Simon Yung-Chun , AuYeung Christine Ho-Yan , Yuen Lithia Lai-Ha , Chan Veronica Wing-Man , Lam Germaine Kit-Ming , Chiu Kelvin Hei-Yeung , Ho Pak-Leung , Lo Janice Yee-Chi , Yuen Kwok-Yung , Cheng Vincent Chi-Chung
Published: September 2022

The epidemiology of patients with gastrointestinal colonization of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) has not been systematically analyzed. We aimed to analyze the incidence, risk factors, and clinical outcomes of patients with newly identified gastrointestinal colonization of CRAB in a healthcare region in Hong Kong, where a multi-pronged screening strategy for gastrointestinal colonization of CRAB, together with other multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), was conducted by collecting fecal specimens (rectal swab or stool) upon admission and during hospitalization. From 1 October 2015 to 31 December 2019, a total of 161,339 fecal specimens from 63,588 patients, 61,856 (97.3%) of whom were hospitalized patients, and 54,525 (88.1%) were screened upon admission, with 1309 positive for CRAB (2.4% prevalence). Among patients positive for CRAB in fecal specimens, 698 (53.3%) had newly detected gastrointestinal colonization of CRAB, giving an incidence of 10.03 per 10,000 patient admissions and constituting 2646 CRAB colonization days in the general wards. Excluding the 164 patients with co-colonization of other MDROs, 534 patients had gastrointestinal colonization with only CRAB, and 12.5% (67/534) developed symptomatic CRAB infections at a median of 61 days (range: 2 to 671 days), during prospective follow-up for 2 years. Compared with age- and sex-matched controls, patients being referred from residential care homes for the elderly, the presence of indwelling devices, use of beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitors, carbapenems, and proton pump inhibitors in the preceding 6 months, and history of hospitalization in the past 6 months were significantly associated with gastrointestinal colonization with CRAB, as shown by multivariable analysis. Log-rank test showed that cases had significantly shorter survival duration than controls (p < 0.001). The adjusted hazard ratio of gastrointestinal colonization of CRAB was 1.8 (95% CI: 1.5–2.2; p < 0.001), as shown by Cox regression analysis. Whole-genome sequencing of eight patients with CRAB isolates in their blood cultures and rectal swabs during the same episode of hospitalization revealed ST-195 as the predominant type, as shown by multilocus sequencing type. Gastrointestinal colonization of CRAB poses a considerable challenge for infection prevention and control.
The Sodium–Glucose Co-Transporter-2 (SGLT2) Inhibitors Reduce Platelet Activation and Thrombus Formation by Lowering NOX2-Related Oxidative Stress: A Pilot Study
Authors: Pignatelli Pasquale , Baratta Francesco , Buzzetti Raffaella , D’Amico Alessandra , Castellani Valentina , Bartimoccia Simona , Siena Antonio , D’Onofrio Luca , Maddaloni Ernesto , Pingitore Annachiara , Chiariello Giovanni Alfonso , Santilli Francesca , Pastori Daniele , Cocomello Nicholas , Violi Francesco , Del Ben Maria , Cammisotto Vittoria , Carnevale Roberto
Published: September 2022

Sodium–glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors or gliflozins, the newest anti-hyperglycemic class, induce cardioprotective benefits in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). As platelet activation and oxidative stress play a key role in atherothrombotic-related complications, we hypothesized that gliflozins might modulate oxidative stress, platelet activation and thrombus formation. We performed an interventional open-label single-arm before-after study in 32 T2D patients on top of their ongoing metformin therapy. The population was divided into two groups: treatment with GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA, Group A) and gliflozins (Group B). Oxidative stress, platelet activation and thrombus growth were assessed before and after 15 days of treatment. Compared to the baseline, gliflozins treatment significantly decreased sNOX2-dp (−45.2%, p < 0.001), H2O2 production (−53.4%, p < 0.001), TxB2 (−33.1%, p < 0.001), sP-selectin (−49.3%, p < 0.001) and sCD40L levels (−62.3%, p < 0.001) as well as thrombus formation (−32%, p < 0.001), whereas it potentiated anti-oxidant power (HBA, +30.8%, p < 0.001). Moreover, a significant difference in oxidative stress, platelet activation and thrombus formation across groups A and B was found. In addition, an in vitro study on stimulated platelets treated with gliflozins (10–30 μM) showed a reduction in oxidative stress, platelet activation and thrombus growth. Our results showed that gliflozins have antiplatelet and antithrombic activity related to an NOX2 down-regulation, suggesting a new mechanism responsible for cardiovascular protection.
Enhancing Bioactive Components of Euryale ferox with Lactobacillus curvatus to Reduce H2O2-Induced Oxidative Stress in Human Skin Fibroblasts
Authors: Jiang Yanbing , You Shiquan , Zhang Yongtao , Zhao Jingsha , Wang Dongdong , Zhao Dan , Li Meng , Wang Changtao
Published: September 2022

This study investigated the effects of Lactobacillus curvatus fermentation on the oxidative stress attenuating effects of Euryale ferox on H2O2-induced human skin fibroblasts (HSF). The results showed that Lactobacillus curvatus fermentation (i) increases the content of the various bioactive components of Euryale ferox and is found to have smaller molecular weights of polysaccharides and polypeptides; (ii) increases the overall intracellular and extracellular antioxidant capacity of H2O2-induced HSF while reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) all showed simultaneous increases in activity. Aside from that, the Nrf2 and MAPK signaling pathways are activated to regulate downstream-associated proteins such as the Bax/Bcl-2 protein ratio, matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1) activity, and human type I collagen (COL-1). These results suggested that the fermentation of Euryale ferox with Lactobacillus curvatus enhances its antioxidant capacity and attenuates apoptosis and senescence caused by oxidative stress.
Cloud-Assisted Privacy Protection Energy Trading Based on IBS and Homomorphic Encryption in IIoT
Authors: Wang Huajie , Xiao Yao , Feng Yong , Qian Qian , Li Yingna , Fu Xiaodong
Published: September 2022

The decentralized and tamper-proof features of blockchain technology can solve the problems of low compatibility, poor flexibility, and single point of failure in the traditional Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). However, the transparency of the blockchain ledger makes the privacy disclosure of users a huge security risk. Given the privacy leakage problem exposed in the existing energy trading scheme based on the blockchain, this paper creatively proposes a privacy protection scheme for IIoT energy trading based on an identity-based signature (IBS) and homomorphic encryption. On the premise of satisfying the transaction traceability and verifiability, this scheme uses IBS technology to provide an anonymous mechanism for energy trading nodes and utilizes Paillier homomorphic encryption to prevent the disclosure of transaction amounts. To meet the high-concurrency and high-throughput energy trading requirements in IIoT, moreover, the proposed scheme combines the off-chain storage with cloud assistance and the off-chain transaction based on PCN to reduce redundant data written into the blockchain and to improve the concurrent trading efficiency, respectively. The security analysis and performance evaluation results show that the proposed scheme can realize the dual privacy protection of identities and transaction amounts in the trading process at the cost of reasonable calculation.
Reliability of Social Networks on Activity-on-Node Binary-State with Uncertainty Environments
Authors: Yeh Wei-Chang , Zhu Wenbo , Huang Chia-Ling
Published: September 2022

Social networks (SNs) and many other industrial types of networks, structured by many nodes and relationships between nodes, have become an integral part of our daily lives. A binary-state network (BN) is often used to model structures and applications of SNs and other networks. The BN reliability is the probability that a BN functions continuously, i.e., that there is always a path between a specific pair of nodes. This metric is a popular index for designing, managing, controlling, and evaluating networks. The traditional BN reliability assumes that the network is activity-on-arc, and the reliability of each arc is known in advance. However, this is not always the case. Functioning components operate in different environments; moreover, a network might have newly installed components. Hence, the reliability of these components is not always known. To resolve the aforementioned problems, in which the reliability of some components of a network is uncertain, we introduce the fuzzy concept for the analysis of these components and propose a new algorithm to solve this uncertainty-component activity-on-node BN reliability problem. The time complexity of the proposed algorithm is analyzed, and the superior performance of the algorithm is demonstrated through examples.
Speech Emotion Recognition Using a Dual-Channel Complementary Spectrogram and the CNN-SSAE Neutral Network
Authors: Li Juan , Zhang Xueying , Huang Lixia , Li Fenglian , Duan Shufei , Sun Ying
Published: September 2022

In the background of artificial intelligence, the realization of smooth communication between people and machines has become the goal pursued by people. Mel spectrograms is a common method used in speech emotion recognition, focusing on the low-frequency part of speech. In contrast, the inverse Mel (IMel) spectrogram, which focuses on the high-frequency part, is proposed to comprehensively analyze emotions. Because the convolutional neural network-stacked sparse autoencoder (CNN-SSAE) can extract deep optimized features, the Mel-IMel dual-channel complementary structure is proposed. In the first channel, a CNN is used to extract the low-frequency information of the Mel spectrogram. The other channel extracts the high-frequency information of the IMel spectrogram. This information is transmitted into an SSAE to reduce the number of dimensions, and obtain the optimized information. Experimental results show that the highest recognition rates achieved on the EMO-DB, SAVEE, and RAVDESS datasets were 94.79%, 88.96%, and 83.18%, respectively. The conclusions are that the recognition rate of the two spectrograms was higher than that of each of the single spectrograms, which proves that the two spectrograms are complementary. The SSAE followed the CNN to get the optimized information, and the recognition rate was further improved, which proves the effectiveness of the CNN-SSAE network.
A High-Gain and Wideband MIMO Antenna for 5G mm-Wave-Based IoT Communication Networks
Authors: Sehrai Daniyal Ali , Asif Muhammad , Khan Jalal , Abdullah Mujeeb , Shah Wahab Ali , Alotaibi Sattam , Ullah Nasim
Published: September 2022

In this paper, an antenna with a multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) configuration is demonstrated for mm-wave 5G-based Internet of Things (IoT) applications. The two antenna elements are arranged next to each other to form a two-port antenna system such that significant field decorrelation is achieved. Moreover, a dielectric layer is backed by an eventual multiport system to amend and analyze the radiation characteristics. The overall size of the MIMO configuration is 14 mm × 20 mm, and the operation bandwidth achieves ranges from 16.7 to 25.4 GHz, considering the −10 dB criterion with a maximum isolation of more than −30 dB within the operating band. The peak gain offered by the antenna system is nearly 5.48 dB, and incorporating a dielectric layer provides an increase in the gain value to 8.47 dB. Within the operating band, more than 80% total efficiency is observed, and analysis shows several MIMO performance metrics with favorable characteristics. The compactness of the proposed design with high isolation, improved gain, and wideband features make it a suitable candidate for mm-wave-based 5G applications.
Unfrozen Skewed Turbulence for Wind Loading on Structures
Authors: Cheynet Etienne , Daniotti Nicolò , Bogunović Jakobsen Jasna , Snæbjörnsson Jónas , Wang Jungao
Published: September 2022

The paper introduces an algorithm to generate a three-variate four-dimensional wind turbulence field suited for yawed wind dynamic load simulation. At large yaw angles, a relaxation of Taylor’s hypothesis of frozen turbulence becomes relevant as well as the flow phase lag in the along-wind direction, which modulates the real and imaginary parts of the coherence. To capture such a general wind action on a structure, a modified spectral representation method is used where the coherence of turbulence is described as a complex-valued function. The one-point and two-point co-spectra are implemented in the simulation setup using a square-root-free Cholesky decomposition of the spectral matrix. The numerical procedure is illustrated based on turbulence characteristics derived from data collected during storm Aina (2017) on the Norwegian coast by three-dimensional sonic anemometers. During this event, a remarkable 3-hour stationary time series with a mean wind speed of 24 m s−1 at a height of 49 m above ground was recorded. Since no computational grid is needed, the velocity fluctuations with representative spatio-temporal characteristics can be directly simulated on structural elements of slender structures. Such an algorithm may be essential for the design of super-long span bridges in coastal areas.
Kalman Filtering and Bipartite Matching Based Super-Chained Tracker Model for Online Multi Object Tracking in Video Sequences
Authors: Qureshi Shahzad Ahmad , Hussain Lal , Chaudhary Qurat-ul-ain , Abbas Syed Rahat , Khan Raja Junaid , Ali Amjad , Al-Fuqaha Ala
Published: September 2022

Object tracking has gained importance in various applications especially in traffic monitoring, surveillance and security, people tracking, etc. Previous methods of multiobject tracking (MOT) carry out detections and perform object tracking. Although not optimal, these frameworks perform the detection and association of objects with feature extraction separately. In this article, we have proposed a Super Chained Tracker (SCT) model, which is convenient and online and provides better results when compared with existing MOT methods. The proposed model comprises subtasks, object detection, feature manipulation, and using representation learning into one end-to-end solution. It takes adjacent frames as input, converting each frame into bounding boxes’ pairs and chaining them up with Intersection over Union (IoU), Kalman filtering, and bipartite matching. Attention is made by object attention, which is in paired box regression branch, caused by the module of object detection, and a module of ID verification creates identity attention. The detections from these branches are linked together by IoU matching, Kalman filtering, and bipartite matching. This makes our SCT speedy, simple, and effective enough to achieve a Multiobject Tracking Accuracy (MOTA) of 68.4% and Identity F1 (IDF1) of 64.3% on the MOT16 dataset. We have studied existing tracking techniques and analyzed their performance in this work. We have achieved more qualitative and quantitative tracking results than other existing techniques with relatively improved margins.
Arctic Stratosphere Dynamical Processes in the Winter 2021–2022
Authors: Vargin Pavel N. , Koval Andrey V. , Guryanov Vladimir V.
Published: September 2022

The Arctic stratosphere winter season of 2021–2022 was characterized by a stable, cold stratospheric polar vortex with a volume of polar stratospheric clouds (PSC) close to the maximum values since 1980, before the beginning of minor sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) events in the late February and early March and major SSW on 20 March. Analysis of dynamical processes of the Arctic stratosphere using reanalysis data indicates that the main reasons for the strengthening of the stratospheric polar vortex in January–February are the minimum propagation of planetary wave activity from the troposphere to the stratosphere over the past 40 years and its reflection in the upper stratosphere–lower mesosphere in the second half of January. The first minor SSW was limited to the upper polar stratosphere, whereas the second one propagated to the middle and lower stratosphere and led to the disappearance of the PSC, which prevented significant ozone depletion. Both minor and major SSW events led to a weakening of the residual meridional circulation in the upper Arctic stratosphere and its intensification in the middle and lower stratosphere, which contributed to additional warming of the subpolar region and weakening of the polar vortex.
Lead Acid Batteries (LABs) Closed-Loop Supply Chain: The Brazilian Case
Authors: Scur Gabriela , Mattos Claudia , Hilsdorf Wilson , Armelin Marcelo
Published: September 2022

In the circular economy, a closed-loop supply chain is essential to guarantee the logistics of raw materials to the correct destination of the end-of-life (EOL) product. This is magnified by hazardous products that can contaminate the environment, such as lead, as well as the people involved in their production processes. Through an exploratory study of multiple cases, we analyzed the Brazilian lead-based vehicle battery chain by investigating two main manufacturers, two recycling companies, and eight distributors/retailers. The aim of the study was to analyze the relationships between the actors in the lead acid battery chain and identify the mechanisms that induce recycling programs, and to propose an explanatory framework. The results indicate that although the sustainability strategies of OEMs are implemented by regulatory mechanisms, the impacts of these strategies cascade among all agents in the supply chain, promoting a convergence between actions and relationships between actors from the perspective of the triple bottom line, highlighting variables for each dimension (economic, social, and environmental). The study contributes to the consolidation of the triple bottom line concepts in the lead acid battery production chain and presents managerial implications for sustainability management.
Common Mechanism of Activated Catalysis in P-loop Fold Nucleoside Triphosphatases—United in Diversity
Authors: Kozlova Maria I. , Shalaeva Daria N. , Dibrova Daria V. , Mulkidjanian Armen Y.
Published: September 2022

To clarify the obscure hydrolysis mechanism of ubiquitous P-loop-fold nucleoside triphosphatases (Walker NTPases), we analysed the structures of 3136 catalytic sites with bound Mg-NTP complexes or their analogues. Our results are presented in two articles; here, in the second of them, we elucidated whether the Walker A and Walker B sequence motifs—common to all P-loop NTPases—could be directly involved in catalysis. We found that the hydrogen bonds (H-bonds) between the strictly conserved, Mg-coordinating Ser/Thr of the Walker A motif ([Ser/Thr]WA) and aspartate of the Walker B motif (AspWB) are particularly short (even as short as 2.4 ångströms) in the structures with bound transition state (TS) analogues. Given that a short H-bond implies parity in the pKa values of the H-bond partners, we suggest that, in response to the interactions of a P-loop NTPase with its cognate activating partner, a proton relocates from [Ser/Thr]WA to AspWB. The resulting anionic [Ser/Thr]WA alkoxide withdraws a proton from the catalytic water molecule, and the nascent hydroxyl attacks the gamma phosphate of NTP. When the gamma-phosphate breaks away, the trapped proton at AspWB passes by the Grotthuss relay via [Ser/Thr]WA to beta-phosphate and compensates for its developing negative charge that is thought to be responsible for the activation barrier of hydrolysis.
Persistent Depletion of Neuroprotective Factors Accompanies Neuroinflammatory, Neurodegenerative, and Vascular Remodeling Spectra in Serum Three Months after Non-Emergent Cardiac Surgery
Authors: Laudanski Krzysztof , Liu Da , Okeke Tony , Restrepo Mariana , Szeto Wilson Y.
Published: September 2022

We hypothesized that the persistent depletion of neuroprotective markers accompanies neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in patients after cardiac surgery. A total of 158 patients underwent elective heart surgery with their blood collected before surgery (tbaseline) and 24 h (t24hr), seven days (t7d), and three months (t3m) post-surgery. The patients’ serum was measured for markers of neurodegeneration (τau, τaup181–183, amyloid β1-40/β2-42, and S100), atypical neurodegeneration (KLK6 and NRGN), neuro-injury (neurofilament light/heavy, UC-HL, and GFAP), neuroinflammation (YKL-40 and TDP-43), peripheral nerve damage (NCAM-1), neuroprotection (apoE4, BDNF, fetuin, and clusterin), and vascular smoldering inflammation (C-reactive protein, CCL-28 IL-6, and IL-8). The mortality at 28 days, incidence of cerebrovascular accidents (CVA), and functional status were followed for three months. The levels of amyloid β1-40/β1-42 and NF-L were significantly elevated at all time points. The levels of τau, S100, KLK6, NRGN, and NCAM-1 were significantly elevated at 24 h. A cluster analysis demonstrated groupings around amyloids, KLK6, and NCAM-1. YKL-40, but not TDP-43, was significantly elevated across all time points. BDNF, apoE4, fetuin, and clusterin levels were significantly diminished long-term. IL-6 and IL-8 levles returned to baseline at t3m. The levels of CRP, CCL-28, and Hsp-70 remained elevated. At 3 months, 8.2% of the patients experienced a stroke, with transfusion volume being a significant variable. Cardiac-surgery patients exhibited persistent peripheral and neuronal inflammation, blood vessel remodeling, and the depletion of neuroprotective factors 3 months post-procedure.
Synthesis of Graphene Quantum Dots by a Simple Hydrothermal Route Using Graphite Recycled from Spent Li-Ion Batteries
Authors: Darabian Lyane M. , Costa Tainara L. G. , Cipriano Daniel F. , Cremasco Carlos W. , Schettino Miguel A. , Freitas Jair C. C.
Published: September 2022

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are nanosized systems that combine beneficial properties typical of graphenic materials (such as chemical stability, biocompatibility and ease of preparation from low-cost precursors) with remarkable photoluminescent features. GQDs are well-known for their low cytotoxicity and for being promising candidates in applications, such as bioimaging, optoelectronics, electrochemical energy storage, sensing and catalysis, among others. This work describes a simple and low-cost synthesis of GQDs, starting from an alcoholic aqueous suspension of graphene oxide (GO) and using a hydrothermal route. GO was prepared using graphite recycled from spent Li-ion batteries, via a modified Hummers method. The GO suspension was submitted to hydrothermal treatments at different temperatures using a homemade hydrothermal reactor that allows the control of the heating program and the assessment of the internal pressure generated in the reaction. The synthesized GQDs exhibited bright blue/green luminescence under UV light; showing the success of the chosen route and opening the way for future applications of these materials in the field of optoelectronic devices.
TBX21 Methylation as a Potential Regulator of Immune Suppression in CMS1 Subtype Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Shen Yuanyuan , Nussbaum Yulia I. , Manjunath Yariswamy , Hummel Justin J. , Ciorba Matthew A. , Warren Wesley C. , Kaifi Jussuf T. , Papageorgiou Christos , Cortese Rene , Shyu Chi-Ren , Mitchem Jonathan B.
Published: September 2022

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) infiltration is associated with survival, recurrence, and therapeutic response in colorectal cancer (CRC). Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy, which requires CTLs for response, does not work for most CRC patients. Therefore, it is critical to improve our understanding of immune resistance in this disease. We utilized 2391 CRC patients and 7 omics datasets, integrating clinical and genomic data to determine how DNA methylation may impact survival and CTL function in CRC. Using comprehensive molecular subtype (CMS) 1 patients as reference, we found TBX21 to be the only gene with altered expression and methylation that was associated with CTL infiltration. We found that CMS1 patients with high TBX21 expression and low methylation had a significant survival advantage. To confirm the role of Tbx21 in CTL function, we utilized scRNAseq data, demonstrating the association of TBX21 with markers of enhanced CTL function. Further analysis using pathway enrichment found that the genes TBX21, MX1, and SP140 had altered expression and methylation, suggesting that the TP53/P53 pathway may modify TBX21 methylation to upregulate TBX21 expression. Together, this suggests that targeting epigenetic modification more specifically for therapy and patient stratification may provide improved outcomes in CRC.
The Role of RKIP in the Regulation of EMT in the Tumor Microenvironment
Authors: Cessna Hannah , Baritaki Stavroula , Zaravinos Apostolos , Bonavida Benjamin
Published: September 2022

The Raf Kinase Inhibitor Protein (RKIP) is a unique gene product that directly inhibits the Raf/Mek/Erk and NF-kB pathways in cancer cells and resulting in the inhibition of cell proliferation, viability, EMT, and metastasis. Additionally, RKIP is involved in the regulation of cancer cell resistance to both chemotherapy and immunotherapy. The low expression of RKIP expression in many cancer types is responsible, in part, for the pathogenesis of cancer and its multiple properties. The inhibition of EMT and metastasis by RKIP led to its classification as a tumor suppressor. However, the mechanism by which RKIP mediates its inhibitory effects on EMT and metastases was not clear. We have proposed that one mechanism involves the negative regulation by RKIP of the expression of various gene products that mediate the mesenchymal phenotype as well as the positive regulation of gene products that mediate the epithelial phenotype via signaling cross talks between RKIP and each gene product. We examined several EMT mesenchymal gene products such as Snail, vimentin, N-cadherin, laminin and EPCAM and epithelial gene products such as E-cadherin and laminin. We have found that indeed these negative and positive correlations were detected in the signaling cross-talks. In addition, we have also examined bioinformatic data sets on different human cancers and the findings corroborated, in large part, the findings observed in the signaling cross-talks with few exceptions in some cancer types. The overall findings support the underlying mechanism by which the tumor suppressor RKIP regulates the expression of gene products involved in EMT and metastasis. Hence, the development of agent that can selectively induce RKIP expression in cancers with low expressions should result in the activation of the pleiotropic anti-cancer activities of RKIP and resulting in multiple effects including inhibition of tumor cell proliferation, EMT, metastasis and sensitization of resistant tumor cells to respond to both chemotherapeutics and immunotherapeutics.
AHSA1 Promotes Proliferation and EMT by Regulating ERK/CALD1 Axis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Jiakang , Ren Zhixuan , Zheng Dayong , Song Zhenghui , Lin Junhao , Luo Yue , Zou Xiaopei , Pan Yingying , Qi Na , Li Aimin , Liu Xinhui
Published: September 2022

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the major causes of cancer-related death worldwide. AHSA1 as a chaperone of HSP90 promotes the maturation, stability, and degradation of related cancer-promoting proteins. However, the regulatory mechanism and biological function of AHSA1 in HCC are largely unknown. Actually, we found that AHSA1 was significantly upregulated in HCC tissues and cell lines and was notably correlated with the poor clinical characteristics and prognosis of HCC patients in this study. Furthermore, both in vitro and in vivo, gain- and loss-of-function studies demonstrated that AHSA1 promoted the proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of HCC. Moreover, the mechanistic study indicated that AHSA1 recruited ERK1/2 and promoted the phosphorylation and inactivation of CALD1, while ERK1/2 phosphorylation inhibitor SCH772984 reversed the role of AHSA1 in the proliferation and EMT of HCC. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the knockdown of CALD1 reversed the inhibition of proliferation and EMT by knocking AHSA1 in HCC. We also illustrated a new molecular mechanism associated with AHSA1 in HCC that was independent of HSP90 and MEK1/2. In summary, AHSA1 may play an oncogenic role in HCC by regulating ERK/CALD1 axis and may serve as a novel therapeutic target for HCC.
Safety of Inhomogeneous Dose Distribution IMRT for High-Grade Glioma Reirradiation: A Prospective Phase I/II Trial (GLIORAD TRIAL)
Authors: Ciammella Patrizia , Cozzi Salvatore , Botti Andrea , Giaccherini Lucia , Sghedoni Roberto , Orlandi Matteo , Napoli Manuela , Pascarella Rosario , Pisanello Anna , Russo Marco , Cavallieri Francesco , Ruggieri Maria Paola , Cavuto Silvio , Savoldi Luisa , Iotti Cinzia , Iori Mauro
Published: September 2022

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive astrocytic primary brain tumor, and concurrent temozolomide (TMZ) and radiotherapy (RT) followed by maintenance of adjuvant TMZ is the current standard of care. Despite advances in imaging techniques and multi-modal treatment options, the median overall survival (OS) remains poor. As an alternative to surgery, re-irradiation (re-RT) can be a therapeutic option in recurrent GBM. Re-irradiation for brain tumors is increasingly used today, and several studies have demonstrated its feasibility. Besides differing techniques, the published data include a wide range of doses, emphasizing that no standard approach exists. The current study aimed to investigate the safety of moderate–high-voxel-based dose escalation in recurrent GBM. From 2016 to 2019, 12 patients met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in this prospective single-center study. Retreatment consisted of re-irradiation with a total dose of 30 Gy (up to 50 Gy) over 5 days using the IMRT (arc VMAT) technique. A dose painting by numbers (DPBN)/dose escalation plan were performed, and a continuous relation between the voxel intensity of the functional image set and the risk of recurrence in that voxel were used to define target and dose distribution. Re-irradiation was well tolerated in all treated patients. No toxicities greater than G3 were recorded; only one patient had severe G3 acute toxicity, characterized by muscle weakness and fatigue. Median overall survival (OS2) and progression-free survival (PFS2) from the time of re-irradiation were 10.4 months and 5.7 months, respectively; 3-, 6-, and 12-month OS2 were 92%, 75%, and 42%, respectively; and 3-, 6-, and 12-month PFS2 were 83%, 42%, and 8%, respectively. Our work demonstrated a tolerable tolerance profile of this approach, and the future prospective phase II study will analyze the efficacy in terms of PFS and OS.
Nanoparticle–Hydrogel Based Sensors: Synthesis and Applications
Authors: Zhang Junyu , Wang Zhao
Published: September 2022

Hydrogels are hydrophilic three-dimensional (3D) porous polymer networks that can easily stabilize various nanoparticles. Loading noble metal nanoparticles into a 3D network of hydrogels can enhance the synergy of the components. It can also be modified to prepare intelligent materials that can recognize external stimuli. The combination of noble metal nanoparticles and hydrogels to produce modified or new composite materials has attracted considerable attention as to the use of these materials in sensors. However, there is limited review literature on nanoparticle–hydrogel-based sensors. This paper presents the detailed strategies of synthesis and design of the composites, and the latest applications of nanoparticle–hydrogel materials in the sensing field. Finally, the current challenges and future development directions of nanoparticle–hydrogel-based sensors are proposed.
X-ray Diffraction, Micro-Raman and X-ray Photoemission Spectroscopic Investigations for Hydrothermally Obtained Hybrid Compounds of Delafossite CuGaO2 and Wurtzite ZnO
Authors: Choi Minuk , Brabec Christoph , Hayakawa Tomokatsu
Published: September 2022

P-type delafossite CuGaO2 is a wide-bandgap semiconductor for optoelectronic applications, and its lattice parameters are very similar to those of n-type semiconductor wurtzite ZnO. Accordingly, the investigation of crystalline heterostructures of CuGaO2 and ZnO has attracted significant attention. In this study, interfacial CuGaO2/ZnO hetero-compounds were examined through X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, confocal micro-Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy (XPS). XRD and Raman analysis revealed that the hydrothermal deposition of ZnO on hexagonal platelet CuGaO2 base crystals was successful, and the subsequent reduction process could induce a unique, unprecedented reaction between CuGaO2 and ZnO, depending on the deposition parameters. XPS allowed the comparison of the binding energies (peak position and width) of the core level electrons of the constituents (Cu, Ga, Zn, and O) of the pristine CuGaO2 single crystallites and interfacial CuGaO2/ZnO hybrids. The presences of Cu2+ ions and strained GaO6 octahedra were the main characteristics of the CuGaO2/ZnO hybrid interface. The XPS and modified Auger parameter analysis gave an insight into a specific polarization of the interface, promising for further development of CuGaO2/ZnO hybrids.
Recombinant Human Growth Hormone Therapy for Childhood Trichorhinophalangeal Syndrome Type I: A Case Report
Authors: Huang Dan , Zhao Jia , Xia Fang-Ling , Zou Chao-Chun
Published: September 2022

Trichorhinophalangeal syndrome type I (TRPS I; MIM 190350) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder of congenital malformations due to variants of the gene TRPS1. We reported on an 11-year-old Chinese boy with TRPS I. He had typical clinical findings, including sparse hair, a bulbous nose, a long philtrum, a thin upper lip, and skeletal abnormalities including cone-shaped epiphyses, shortening of the phalanges, and short stature. Trio whole exome sequencing identified a likely pathogenic heterozygous variant c.1957C > T (p.Q653*) in exon 4 of TRPS1, which has not been previously reported. He had been treated with rhGH therapy at a dose of 0.34 mg/(kg/week) at age 11, and a follow-up was conducted for one year. The rhGH therapy led to an increase in growth with a mean growth velocity of 1.12 cm/month (+1.1 SDS/year), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) concentration increased within normal range in our case. Moreover, we summarize 12 cases with TRPS I, including TRPS1 gene variants, growth hormone (GH) axis evaluation, IGF-1 concentration, and treatment in each analyzed case. Eight cases with TRPS I show a good response to rhGH therapy, and five of them have elevated IGF-1. Classic GH deficiency is not common among patients with TRPS I. The presence or absence of GH deficiency is not an absolute criterion for determining whether rhGH therapy should be used in TRPS I. It proves that rhGH therapy improves height outcomes before puberty in TRPS I in the short term. Effects on final adult height will need a longer follow-up and more adult-height data. The rise in IGF-1 could correlate with an increase in short-term height. Measuring IGF-1 levels is recommended as part of the assessment during the follow-up of patients with TRPS I.
Digitising Legacy Field Survey Data: A Methodological Approach Based on Student Internships
Authors: Casarotto Anita
Published: September 2022

In the Mediterranean, field survey has been the most widely used method to detect archaeological sites in arable fields since the 1970s. Through survey, data about the state of preservation of ancient settlements have been extensively mapped by archaeologists over large rural landscapes using paper media (e.g., topographical maps) or GPS and GIS technologies. These legacy data are unique and irreplaceable for heritage management in landscape planning, territorial monitoring of cultural resources, and spatial data analysis to study past settlement patterns in academic research (especially in landscape archaeology). However, legacy data are at risk due to often improper digital curation and the dramatic land transformation that is affecting several regions. To access this vast knowledge production and allow for its dissemination, this paper presents a method based on student internships in data digitisation to review, digitise, and integrate archaeological primary survey data. A pilot study for Central–Southern Italy and the Iberian Peninsula exemplifies how the method works in practice. It is concluded that there are clear benefits for cultural resource management, academic research, and the students themselves. This method can thus help us to achieve large-scale collection, digitisation, integration, accessibility, and reuse of field survey datasets, as well as compare survey data on a supranational scale.