bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nonlinear Influence of Land-Use Transition on Carbon Emission Transfer: A Threshold Regression Analysis of the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River in China
Authors: Xia Qiuyue , Li Lu , Zhang Bin , Dong Jie
Published: September 2022

Land-use transition (LUT) refers to the change in the land-use form corresponding to the regional economic and social development. At different stages of LUT, changes in the land-use scale and structure may lead to carbon source transfer by affecting industrial transfer and carbon sinks, resulting in changes in the total carbon emission transfer (CET) from the land use in the whole region. The clarification of the relationship between LUT and CET is of great importance for the sustainable development of the regional economy and society and the realization of carbon peak and carbon neutrality. In this paper, we firstly conducted a theoretical analysis of the nonlinear relationship between LUT and CET, then took the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River in China as an example to explore the characteristics of LUT and CET, and finally constructed a threshold regression model to verify their nonlinear relationship. The following main findings were obtained. (1) From 2000 to 2020, profound LUT had occurred in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, with continuous decreases in farmland, substantial increases in construction land, and a first decrease and then increase in forest land; farmland is the main contributor to construction land and forest with a contribution rate exceeding 60%. (2) During the study period, the CET in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River exhibited certain regular characteristics. The phase characteristics of the carbon sink changes follow an intensification–moderation–reintensification–remoderation pattern, and those of the carbon source transfer and net carbon emissions follow an intensification–reintensification–moderation–remoderation pattern. In addition, carbon sink changes are far from enough to offset the effect of carbon source transfer. (3) The nonlinear relationship between LUT and CET was confirmed by the threshold effect at the economic development level, industrial optimization level, and technological progress level. The nonlinear relationship between the LUT and the carbon sink changes in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River is on the left side of the U-shaped curve and that between the LUT and the carbon source transfer or net carbon emissions is on the left side of the inverted U-shaped curve.
Variations in Soil Biological and Biochemical Indicators under Different Grazing Intensities and Seasonal Changes
Authors: Kamali Nadia , Sadeghipour Ahmad , Souri Mahshid , Mastinu Andrea
Published: September 2022

Knowledge of variations in soil biological and biochemical indicators with grazing and seasonal changes is important for assessing soil quality and required management. Lack of proper management could induce irreversible damage to the soil structure; therefore, a seasonal experiment was carried out in Salook National Park, Iran; arranged in a factorial-based randomized complete block design (RCBD) in all seasons of a year. The study area had three plots including a no-hunting area, national park, and protected area. Our data showed that overgrazing has altered the chemical–physical components of the soil with effects on the soil microbiome. The most affected areas are those subjected to the hunting ban and in the summer season. It could be concluded that low grazing intensity while protecting the soil ecosystem structure would increase the biochemical and biological characteristics of the soil and provide adequate conditions for providing forage to the natural herbivores living in this area. In order to preserve the biological resources of the region, it is strongly recommended that the level of protection be increased, especially in areas where hunting is prohibited.
Barriers, Drivers, and Social Considerations for AI Adoption in Supply Chain Management: A Tertiary Study
Authors: Hangl Johannes , Behrens Viktoria Joy , Krause Simon
Published: September 2022

Background: The number of publications in supply chain management (SCM) and artificial intelligence (AI) has risen significantly in the last two decades, and their quality and outcomes vary widely. This study attempts to synthesise the existing literature in this research area and summarise the findings regarding barriers, drivers, and social implications of using AI in SCM. Methods: The methodology used for this meta-study is based on Kitchenham and Charters guidelines, resulting in a selection of 44 literature reviews published between 2000 and 2021. Results: As a summary of the results, the main areas of AI in SCM were algorithms, followed by the Internet of Things (IoT). The main barriers to AI adoption in SCM are change management, existing technical limitations, and the acceptance of humans for these techniques. The main drivers of AI in SCM are saving costs and increasing efficiency in combination with reducing time and resources. The main social factor is human–robot collaboration. As a result, there will be a decreased amount of labour needed in the future, impacting many existing jobs, especially in low-income areas. Conclusions: Therefore, it is essential for organisations that implement new technology to start as early as possible to inform the organisation about the changes and help them successfully implement them. It is also important to mention that constant learning and improvement of the employees are critical for adopting and successfully using new AI tools. Before investing in new technology, a solid Return on Investment calculation (ROI) and monitoring costs and value are critical to transforming the business successfully.
The Influence of Mullite Shape and Amount on the Tribological Properties of Non-Asbestos Brake Friction Composites
Authors: Wang Nan , Yin Zixin
Published: September 2022

For investigating the effect of mullite as a reinforced fiber of the non-asbestos brake friction material on the performance of brake pads, mullite reinforced composites with different contents (5% and 10%) and shapes (powder-based and fiber-based) were developed, and the physical and mechanical properties of the composites were analyzed. The tribological properties of the composites were tested by a Chase tester followed by the IS-2742 standard, and the worn surface was investigated by three-dimensional surface topography and SEM. The results show that the brake friction material with 5% powdered mullite performs best, having the highest stable friction performance (0.86), the lowest wear rate (3%), the lowest friction variation performance (0.263), and the best fade-recovery performance. With the increase of mullite content, the friction variation, wear resistance, and friction stability of the composites become worse. Meanwhile, the performance of powder-based mullite composites is better than that of fiber-based. The worn surface analysis shows that the fiber-based mullite composite has a higher surface roughness, fewer contact platforms, more wear debris, and peeling pits. In contrast, the powder-based mullite composites have a better surface performance. It provides a practical basis for mullite-reinforced non-asbestos brake friction materials.
Tris(μ2-carbonyl)octacarbonyl(triphenylphosphite)tetracobalt
Authors: Jourdain Isabelle , Knorr Michael , Strohmann Carsten , Scheel Rebecca
Published: September 2022

In toluene solution, the reaction of [Co2(CO)8] with an equimolar amount of [P(OPh)3] yields first [Co2(CO)7{P(OPh)3}] 1. Following heating of 1, an alternative synthetic access to the tetranuclear cluster [{Co4(μ2-CO)3(CO)8{P(OPh)3}] 2 is provided in a condensation reaction. Compound 2 has been characterized by IR and 31P NMR spectroscopy. The tetranuclear cluster framework has been ascertained by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study performed at 100 K.
Effect of Different Surface Treatments on Repair Bond Strength of CAD/CAM Resin-Matrix Ceramics
Authors: Arkoy Semih , Ulusoy Mutahhar
Published: September 2022

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of different surface treatment methods on the micro-tensile bond strength (μTBS) of resin-matrix ceramic (RMC) blocks repaired with resin composite. Three different prefabricated RMC blocks including Lava Ultimate (LU), Grandio Blocs (GB), and Shofu Block HC (HC) were thermo-cycled and divided into five surface treatment groups: Control (C), bur grinding (G), airborne particle abrasion (APA), Er,Cr:YSGG laser irritation (LI), and APA combined with LI (APA+LI). After surface treatments, topographic alterations were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Then, Universal Adhesive (Single Bond Universal) was applied and repair was simulated with nanohybrid composite (Grandio SO). Bonded specimens were cut into 1 mm2 sized beams (n = 16) and a μTBS test was conducted by using a universal test machine. Fracture types were evaluated by using a stereomicroscope. The bond- strength data was evaluated by two-way ANOVA and Tukey post-hoc test (α = 0.05). The μTBS values were significantly affected by the surface treatment variable and the interaction terms of the variables (p ≤ 0.001). However, no significant effect of RMC type was detected (p > 0.05). Among all materials, GBAPA+LI indicated the highest µTBS value. Except for the GBC, all surface treatments showed clinically acceptable bond-strength values. However, the surface treatments applied to GB and LU before the repair processes increased the repair bond-strength values while causing a negative effect for HC. In addition, LI and APA+LI can be applied as an alternative route compared to other procedures recommended by the manufacturer for surface preparation in intraoral RMC repair.
The Rail Surface Defects Recognition via Operating Service Rail Vehicle Vibrations
Authors: Zheng Shubin , Zhong Qianwen , Chen Xieqi , Peng Lele , Cui Guiyan
Published: September 2022

Rail surface defects will not only bring wheel rail noise during train operation, but also cause corresponding accidents. Most of the existing detection methods are manual detection, which is time-consuming, laborious, inefficient, and subjective. With the development of technology, automatic detection replaces manual detection, which reduces manual labor, improves efficiency, and objectively evaluates the surface state of rails, which is in line with the purpose of modern intelligent production. The automatic detection of a single sensor is usually not enough to complete the recognition, but multiple sensors need to be additionally installed and refitted on the service vehicle, which creates difficulty for on-site test conditions. Therefore, in order to overcome these shortages and to adapt to the actual vibration characteristics of service vehicles, a rail surface defect recognition method based on optimized VMD gray image coding and DCNN is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the optimization method of VMD mode number based on the maximum envelope kurtosis is proposed. The VMD after parameter optimization is used to decompose the four-channel axle box vibration signal, and the component with the largest correlation coefficient between each order eigenmode component and the original signal is extracted. Secondly, the filtered IMF components are arranged in sequence and encoded into grayscale images. Finally, the DCNN structure is designed, and the training set is input into the network for training, and the test set verifies the effectiveness of the network and realizes the recognition of rail surface defects. The test accuracy of railway data set measured on the serviced vehicle is 99.75%, and the results show that this method can accurately identify the category of rail surface defects. After adding Gaussian noise to the original signal, the test accuracy reaches 99.20%, which proves that the method has good generalization ability and anti-noise performance. Additionally, this method can ensure the safe operation of vehicles without adding new equipment, which reduces operation costs and improves the intelligent operation and maintenance of rails.
A Roadside Unit Deployment Optimization Algorithm for Vehicles Serving as Obstacles
Authors: Feng Mingwei , Yao Haiqing , Ungurean Ioan
Published: September 2022

As an important direction of topology management and infrastructure construction in Internet of Vehicles (IoV), the problem of roadside unit deployment has been discussed a lot. Considering the problem of communication occlusion caused by mobile vehicles, a novel multi-objective optimization problem of roadside unit deployment under the constraints of target road coverage and communication reliability is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the traffic flow model of the vehicle is introduced, and the channel model considering the occlusion of a mobile vehicle is proposed by a practical two-ray model and knife-edge diffraction model. Then, on the basis of analyzing the difficulty of the problem, an Improved Artificial Bee Colony algorithm based on Neighborhood Ranking (NR-IABC) and a Greedy Heuristic (GH) algorithm are proposed to approximately solve the problem. The NR-IABC algorithm applies the “Neighborhood Ranking” method to reduce the search domain, and then to further reduce the solution time. In order to avoid a local optimum, the sensitivity and pheromone are used as the selection strategy to replace the traditional roulette selection method in the NR-IABC algorithm. In addition, the mutual attraction between bees is involved in the neighborhood search of the following bees, and a new nectar source is generated according to the reverse learning strategy to replace the worst nectar source at the end of each iteration. Finally, results of comparative simulations based on real-life datasets show that the NR-IABC-based solution can always deploy fewer RSUs, and thus is more cost-effective compared with the GH-based solution.
Markov Moment Problem and Sandwich Conditions on Bounded Linear Operators in Terms of Quadratic Forms
Authors: Olteanu Octav
Published: September 2022

As is well-known, unlike the one-dimensional case, there exist nonnegative polynomials in several real variables that are not sums of squares. First, we briefly review a method of approximating any real-valued nonnegative continuous compactly supported function defined on a closed unbounded subset by dominating special polynomials that are sums of squares. This also works in several-dimensional cases. To perform this, a Hahn–Banach-type theorem (Kantorovich theorem on an extension of positive linear operators), a Haviland theorem, and the notion of a moment-determinate measure are applied. Second, completions and other results on solving full Markov moment problems in terms of quadratic forms are proposed based on polynomial approximation. The existence and uniqueness of the solution are discussed. Third, the characterization of the constraints T1≤T≤T2 for the linear operator T, only in terms of quadratic forms, is deduced. Here, T1, T,and T2 are bounded linear operators. Concrete spaces, operators, and functionals are involved in our corollaries or examples.
Fractured Elbow Classification Using Hand-Crafted and Deep Feature Fusion and Selection Based on Whale Optimization Approach
Authors: Malik Sarib , Amin Javeria , Sharif Muhammad , Yasmin Mussarat , Kadry Seifedine , Anjum Sheraz
Published: September 2022

The fracture of the elbow is common in human beings. The complex structure of the elbow, including its irregular shape, border, etc., makes it difficult to correctly recognize elbow fractures. To address such challenges, a method is proposed in this work that consists of two phases. In Phase I, pre-processing is performed, in which images are converted into RGB. In Phase II, pre-trained convolutional models Darknet-53 and Xception are used for deep feature extraction. The handcrafted features, such as the histogram of oriented gradient (HOG) and local binary pattern (LBP), are also extracted from the input images. A principal component analysis (PCA) is used for best feature selection and is serially merged into a single-feature vector having the length of N×2125. Furthermore, informative features N×1049 are selected out of N×2125 features using the whale optimization approach (WOA) and supplied to SVM, KNN, and wide neural network (WNN) classifiers. The proposed method’s performance is evaluated on 16,984 elbow X-ray radiographs that are taken from the publicly available musculoskeletal radiology (MURA) dataset. The proposed technique provides 97.1% accuracy and a kappa score of 0.943% for the classification of elbow fractures. The obtained results are compared to the most recently published approaches on the same benchmark datasets.
Robust Code Constructions Based on Bent Functions and Spline Wavelet Decomposition
Authors: Levina Alla , Ryaskin Gleb
Published: September 2022

The paper investigates new robust code constructions based on bent functions and spline–wavelet transformation. Implementation of bent functions in code construction increases the probability of error detection in the data channel and cryptographic devices. Meanwhile, the use of spline wavelet theory for constructing the codes gives the possibility to increase system security from the actions of an attacker. Presented constructions combine spline-wavelets functions and bent functions. Developed robust codes, compared to existing ones, have a higher parameter of the maximum error masking probability. Illustrated codes ensure the security of transmitted information. Some of the granted constructions were implemented on FPGA.
An Analytical Solution for the Geometry of High-Speed Railway CRTS Ⅲ Slab Ballastless Track
Authors: Liu Lili , Jiang Lizhong , Zhou Wangbao , Liu Xiang , Feng Yulin
Published: September 2022

To study the mapping relationship between girder deformation and rail deformation for the CRTS Ⅲ slab ballastless track (SBT) multi-span simply supported bridge, this study derived a simplified analytical solution, and the corresponding ANSYS finite element model (AFEM) was established. Compared with the fine analytical model (FAM) and the AFEM, the calculation results of the three models under the conditions of pier settlement and girder vertical fault were compared, which verified the universal properties of the simplified analytical model (SAM). Based on the verified SAM, the influence of pier settlement, fastener stiffness, girder span, and girder vertical fault on rail deformation was studied. The results show that the rail deformation is approximately proportional to pier settlement and girder vertical fault. With the increase in fastener stiffness, the fastener internal force increases, the rail mapping deformation increases, and the length of the rail mapping deformation area decreases. With the increase in girder span, the rail deformation curve becomes smooth, the length of the rail mapping deformation area becomes longer, and the fastener internal force is significantly reduced.
Relation Extraction from Videos Based on IoT Intelligent Collaboration Framework
Authors: Lv Jinna , Shen Qi , Lv Mingzheng , Shi Lei
Published: September 2022

In the Internet of Things (IoT) era, various devices generate massive videos containing rich human relations. However, the long-distance transmission of huge videos may cause congestion and delays, and the large gap between the visual and relation spaces brings about difficulties for relation analysis. Hence, this study explores an edge-cloud intelligence framework and two algorithms for cooperative relation extraction and analysis from videos based on an IoT system. First, we exploit a cooperative mechanism on the edges and cloud, which can schedule the relation recognition and analysis subtasks from massive video streams. Second, we propose a Multi-Granularity relation recognition Model (MGM) based on coarse and fined granularity features. This means that better mapping is established for identifying relations more accurately. Specifically, we propose an entity graph based on Graph Convolutional Networks (GCN) with an attention mechanism, which can support comprehensive relationship reasoning. Third, we develop a Community Detection based on the Ensemble Learning model (CDEL), which leverages a heterogeneous skip-gram model to perform node embedding and detect communities. Experiments on SRIV datasets and four movie videos validate that our solution outperforms several competitive baselines.
A Fuzzy Design for a Sliding Mode Observer-Based Control Scheme of Takagi-Sugeno Markov Jump Systems under Imperfect Premise Matching with Bio-Economic and Industrial Applications
Authors: Alshammari Obaid , Kchaou Mourad , Jerbi Houssem , Ben Aoun Sondess , Leiva Víctor
Published: September 2022

Fuzzy theory is widely studied and applied. This article introduces an adaptive control scheme for a class of non-linear systems with Markov jump switching. The introduced scheme supposes that the system is submitted to external disturbances under imperfect premise matching. By using discrete-time Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy models, a sliding mode observer-based control scheme is utilized to estimate unmeasured states of the system. We build two fuzzy switching manifolds for the disturbance and sliding mode observer systems. Then, a linear matrix inequality-based criterion is developed using slack matrices. This criterion proves that the sliding mode dynamics are robustly admissible under an H-infinity performance often used in control theory. Hence, new adaptive sliding mode controllers are synthesized for the disturbance and sliding mode observer systems. This allows the reachability of pre-designed sliding surfaces to be guaranteed. Finally, experimental numerical illustrations on a bio-economic system and a tunnel diode circuit are presented to show potential applications, as well as validating the effectiveness of the scheme proposed in the present investigation.
Parameter Uniform Numerical Method for Singularly Perturbed 2D Parabolic PDE with Shift in Space
Authors: Subburayan V. , Natesan S.
Published: September 2022

Singularly perturbed 2D parabolic delay differential equations with the discontinuous source term and convection coefficient are taken into consideration in this paper. For the time derivative, we use the fractional implicit Euler method, followed by the fitted finite difference method with bilinear interpolation for locally one-dimensional problems. The proposed method is shown to be almost first-order convergent in the spatial direction and first-order convergent in the temporal direction. Theoretical results are illustrated with numerical examples.
Early Transcriptional Changes of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells (ADSCs) in Cell Culture
Authors: Taha Sara , Akova Elif , Saller Maximilian Michael , Giunta Riccardo Enzo , Haas-Lützenberger Elisabeth Maria
Published: September 2022

Background and Objectives: While autologous fat grafting has been carried out in the clinical field for many years, the utilization of isolated and cultured adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) is highly restricted in many countries. However, ADSCs are under investigation currently and heavily researched in many cell-based therapy approaches in the field of regenerative medicine. Objective: For the utilization of future cell-based therapies with ADSCs, in vitro cell expansion might be necessary in many cases. Thus, the cellular characteristics of ADSCs may be altered though the process of being cultured. The aim of this study was to assess changes in the gene expression profile of ADSCs after cell expansion for 48 h. Materials and Methods: Isolated ADSCs from five different donors were used for in vitro expansion. For the evaluation of the gene expression profile, mRNA deep Next-Generation Sequencing was performed to evaluate the differences between cultured and freshly isolated cells. Results: Our study gives insight into transcriptional changes in ADSCs after a short cell cultivation period. This includes the most prominent upregulated genes such as PPL, PRR15, CCL11 and ABCA9, as well the most downregulated genes, which are FOSB, FOS, EGR1 and DUSP6. Furthermore, we showed different biological processes that changed during short-term cell expansion, which led to downregulation of fat-associated metabolism hormone processes and to an upregulation of extracellular matrix-associated genes. Conclusion: In conclusion, our study reveals a detailed insight into early changes in the gene expression profile of cultured ADSCs. Our results can be utilized in future experiments.
The Significance of Blood and Peritoneal Fluid Biochemical Markers in Identifying Early Anastomotic Leak following Colorectal Resection—Findings from a Single-Center Study
Authors: Janež Jurij , Horvat Gašper , Jerin Aleš , Grosek Jan
Published: September 2022

Background and Objectives: The aim of our study was to evaluate the value of leukocyte, C reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin, lactate, and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in blood and peritoneal fluid in early recognition of anastomotic leak (AL) after colorectal resections. Materials and Methods: Our pilot prospective cohort study was conducted at the abdominal surgery department at University Medical Center Ljubljana. A total of 43 patients who underwent open or laparoscopic colorectal resection because of benign or malignant etiology were enrolled. All of the patients had primary anastomosis without stoma formation. Results: Three patients in our patient group developed AL (7%). We found a statistically significant elevation of serum lactate levels in patients that developed AL compared to those who did not but noted no statistically relevant difference in the blood or peritoneal fluid levels of other biochemical markers. Conclusions: Elevated lactate levels may be considered a promising biomarker for the early diagnosis of AL, but more research on bigger patient groups is warranted.
Early Enteral Nutrition with High-Protein Whey Peptide Digestive Nutrients May Improve Prognosis in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Patients
Authors: Suzuki Kaima , Sato Hiroki , Mori Hiromi , Matsumoto Ryosuke , Arimoto Yoshihiro , Sato Hiroshi , Kamide Tomoya , Ikeda Toshiki , Kikkawa Yuichiro , Kurita Hiroki
Published: September 2022

Background and Objectives: Nutritional management in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) during the acute phase is important; however, there is no proper evidence or recommendations on the appropriate nutrients for early enteral nutrition. This study compared the influence the two different tube-feeding liquid diets for early enteral nutrition might have on the prognosis of patients with SAH. Materials and Methods: In a seven-year period, this single-center retrospective study included 245 patients with aneurysmal SAH who underwent craniotomy and aneurysm neck clipping and received enteral nutrition. The patients were divided into two groups according to the nutrient received: (1) high-protein whey peptide oligomeric formula diet (oligomeric group, 109 patients); and (2) high eicosapentaenoic acid-containing polymeric formula diet (polymeric group, 136 patients). The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at discharge was evaluated as the primary outcome. The presence or absence of diarrhea (watery stool and mushy stool) during the period from initiation of enteral nutrition to discharge from the stroke unit was also evaluated. Results: There were no significant differences in patient characteristics between groups. The time until initiation of enteral feeding in the oligomeric and polymeric groups was 2.8 ± 2.3 and 2.9 ± 2.2 days, respectively. The proportion of patients with mRS scores of 0–1 was significantly higher in the oligomeric group (25.7%) than in the polymeric group (14.7%) (p = 0.036), while the incidence of watery stool was significantly lower in the oligomeric group (15.8% to 34.3% in the polymeric group) (p = 0.003). Multivariate analyses confirmed that the oligomeric diet and the presence or absence of diarrhea significantly affected the mRS scores. Conclusions: The adoption of early enteral nutrition with high-protein whey peptide digestive nutrients might be associated with superior mRS scores at discharge and decreased diarrhea in patients with SA, indicating that the choice of nutrients might affect the outcome and prognosis.
Understanding the Polyamine and mTOR Pathway Interaction in Breast Cancer Cell Growth
Authors: Akinyele Oluwaseun , Wallace Heather M.
Published: September 2022

The polyamines putrescine, spermidine and spermine are nutrient-like polycationic molecules involved in metabolic processes and signaling pathways linked to cell growth and cancer. One important pathway is the PI3K/Akt pathway where studies have shown that polyamines mediate downstream growth effects. Downstream of PI3K/Akt is the mTOR signaling pathway, a nutrient-sensing pathway that regulate translation initiation through 4EBP1 and p70S6K phosphorylation and, along with the PI3K/Akt, is frequently dysregulated in breast cancer. In this study, we investigated the effect of intracellular polyamine modulation on mTORC1 downstream protein and general translation state in two breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231. The effect of mTORC1 pathway inhibition on the growth and intracellular polyamines was also measured. Results showed that polyamine modulation alters 4EBP1 and p70S6K phosphorylation and translation initiation in the breast cancer cells. mTOR siRNA gene knockdown also inhibited cell growth and decreased putrescine and spermidine content. Co-treatment of inhibitors of polyamine biosynthesis and mTORC1 pathway induced greater cytotoxicity and translation inhibition in the breast cancer cells. Taken together, these data suggest that polyamines promote cell growth in part through interaction with mTOR pathway. Similarly intracellular polyamine content appears to be linked to mTOR pathway regulation. Finally, dual inhibition of polyamine and mTOR pathways may provide therapeutic benefits in some breast cancers.
Effects of Cooling Rate on the Solidification Process of Pure Metal Al: Molecular Dynamics Simulations Based on the MFPT Method
Authors: Chen Xiaohua , Fan Weijie , Jiang Wenwen , Lin Deye , Wang Zidong , Hui Xidong , Wang Yanlin
Published: September 2022

Isothermal solidification process of pure metal Al was studied by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation using EAM potential. The effects of different cooling rates on the isothermal solidification process of metallic Al were studied. Al was first subjected to a rapid cooling process, and then it was annealing under isothermal conditions. The mean first-passage times (MFPT) method and Johnson-Mehl-Avrami (JMA) law were used to qualify the solidification kinetic processing, and the nucleation rate, critical nucleus size, Avrami exponent and growth exponent of grains were calculated. Results show that the nucleation rate and critical size decrease as the cooling rate increases. Also, an increase in the cooling rate leads to the increase of grain growth rate. At all investigated cooling rates, nucleation and growth processes are in the typical three-dimensional growth mode.
A Company Is Only as Healthy as Its Workers: A 6-Month Metabolic Health Management Pilot Program Improves Employee Health and Contributes to Cost Savings
Authors: Norwitz Nicholas G. , Soto-Mota Adrian , Kalayjian Tro
Published: September 2022

Chronic diet-related metabolic diseases, including diabetes and obesity, impose enormous burdens on patient wellness, healthcare costs, and worker productivity. Given the interdependent nature of the human and economic costs of metabolic disease, companies should be incentivized to invest in the health of their workforce. We report data from an ongoing pilot program in which employees of a manufacturing company with obesity, prediabetes, or diabetes are being treated by a metabolic health clinic using a carbohydrate restriction, community-orientated telemedicine approach. 10 patients completed the first 6 months of the program, and all lost weight, with a mean weight reduction of 38.4 lbs (17.4 kg). Improvements in HbA1c, fasting glucose, HOMA-IR, triglycerides, C-reactive protein, and systolic blood pressure were also observed across the group. Furthermore, the 10-year risk of having a major cardiovascular event, as calculated by the American Heart Association risk calculator, decreased from a mean of 9.22 to 5.18%, representing a 44% relative risk reduction. As a result of improvements in their metabolic health, patients were able to discontinue medications, leading to an estimated annualized cost savings of USD 45,171.70. These preliminary data provide proof-of-principle that when companies invest in the metabolic health of their workers, both parties stand to gain.
Plant Metabolomics as a Tool for Detecting Adulterants in Edible Plant: A Case Study of Allium ursinum
Authors: Ivanović Stefan , Simić Katarina , Lekić Stefan , Jadranin Milka , Vujisić Ljubodrag , Gođevac Dejan
Published: September 2022

Allium ursinum and poisonous adulterants Convallaria majalis and Arum maculatum were used as a model for detection of adulterants in edible plant. A. ursinum samples were spiked with C. majalis and A. maculatum to mimic adulteration. Metabolomic fingerprinting of all samples was performed using 1H NMR spectroscopy, and the resulting data sets were subjected to multivariate data analysis. As a result of this analysis, signals of adulterants were extracted from the data, and the structures of biomarkers of adulteration from partially purified samples were elucidated using 2D NMR and LC-MS techniques. Thus, isovitexin and vicenin II, azetidine-2-carboxylic acid, and trigonelline indicated adulteration of A. ursinum samples with C. majalis. Isovitexin was also recognized to be an indicator of adulteration of A. ursinum with A. maculatum. In conclusion, the case study of A. ursinum suggested that plant metabolomics approach could be utilized for identification of low molecular weight biomarkers of adulteration in edible plants.
Biological Role of Pazopanib and Sunitinib Aldehyde Derivatives in Drug-Induced Liver Injury
Authors: Maillard Maud , Arellano Cécile , Vachoux Christelle , Chevreau Christine , Cabaton Nicolas J. , Pont Frédéric , Saint-Laurent Nathalie , Lafont Thierry , Chatelut Etienne , Thomas Fabienne
Published: September 2022

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors pazopanib and sunitinib are both used to treat advanced renal cell carcinoma but expose patients to an increased risk of hepatotoxicity. We have previously identified two aldehyde derivatives for pazopanib and sunitinib (P-CHO and S-CHO, respectively) in liver microsomes. In this study, we aimed to decipher their role in hepatotoxicity by treating HepG2 and HepaRG hepatic cell lines with these derivatives and evaluating cell viability, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress accumulation. Additionally, plasma concentrations of P-CHO were assessed in a cohort of patients treated with pazopanib. Results showed that S-CHO slightly decreased the viability of HepG2, but to a lesser extent than sunitinib, and affected the maximal respiratory capacity of the mitochondrial chain. P-CHO decreased viability and ATP production in HepG2. Traces of P-CHO were detected in the plasma of patients treated with pazopanib. Overall, these results showed that P-CHO and S-CHO affect hepatocyte integrity and could be involved in the pazopanib and sunitinib hepatotoxicity.
Acute Exercise and the Systemic and Airway Inflammatory Response to a High-Fat Meal in Young and Older Adults
Authors: Kurti Stephanie P. , Wisseman William S. , Miller Molly E. , Frick Hannah L. , Malin Steven K. , Emerson Sam R. , Edwards David A. , Edwards Elizabeth S.
Published: September 2022

The purpose of the present study was to determine fasting and high-fat meal (HFM)-induced post-prandial systemic inflammation and airway inflammation (exhaled nitric oxide (eNO)) in older adults (OAs) compared to younger adults (YAs) before and after acute exercise. Twelve YAs (23.3 ± 3.9 y n = 5 M/7 F) and 12 OAs (67.7 ± 6 y, n = 8 M/4 F) completed two HFM challenges. After an overnight fast, participants underwent an HFM session or pre-prandial exercise (EX, 65% VO2Peak to expend 75% of the caloric content of the HFM) plus HFM (EX + HFM) in a randomized order. Systemic inflammatory cytokines were collected at 0, 3, and 6 h, while eNO was determined at 0, 2, and 4 h after the HFM (12 kcal/kg body weight: 61% fat, 35% CHO, 4% PRO). TNF-α was higher in OAs compared to YAs (p = 0.005) and decreased across time from baseline to 6 h post-HFM (p = 0.007). In response to the HFM, IL-6 decreased from 0 to 3 h but increased at 6 h regardless of age or exercise (p = 0.018). IL-8 or IL-1β did not change over the HFM by age or exercise (p > 0.05). eNO was also elevated in OAs compared to YAs (p = 0.003) but was not altered by exercise (p = 0.108). There was a trend, however, towards significance post-prandially in OAs and YAs from 0 to 2 h (p = 0.072). TNF-α and eNO are higher in OAs compared to YAs but are not elevated more in OAs post-prandially compared to YAs. Primary systemic inflammatory cytokines and eNO were not modified by acute exercise prior to an HFM.
Epidemiological and Serological Analysis of a SARS-CoV-2 Outbreak in a Nursing Home: Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination and Enhanced Neutralizing Immunity Following Breakthrough Infection
Authors: Streibl Barbara I. , Lahne Heidi , Grahl Andreas , Agsten Philipp , Bichler Magdalena , Büchl Christa , Damzog Marco , Eberle Ute , Gärtner Stefan , Hobmaier Bernhard , Margos Gabriele , Hoch Martin , Jungnick Sabrina , Jonas Walter , Katz Katharina , Laubert Liane , Schutt Barbara , Seidl Cornelia , Treis Bianca , Weindl Daniel , Zilch Karen , Wildner Manfred , Liebl Bernhard , Ackermann Nikolaus , Sing Andreas , Fingerle Volker
Published: September 2022

Background: Despite a vaccination rate of 82.0% (n = 123/150), a SARS-CoV-2 (Alpha) outbreak with 64.7% (n = 97/150) confirmed infections occurred in a nursing home in Bavaria, Germany. Objective: the aim of this retrospective cohort study was to examine the effects of the Corminaty vaccine in a real-life outbreak situation and to obtain insights into the antibody response to both vaccination and breakthrough infection. Methods: the antibody status of 106 fully vaccinated individuals (54/106 breakthrough infections) and epidemiological data on all 150 residents and facility staff were evaluated. Results: SARS-CoV-2 infections (positive RT-qPCR) were detected in 56.9% (n = 70/123) of fully vaccinated, compared to 100% (n = 27/27) of incompletely or non-vaccinated individuals. The proportion of hospitalized and deceased was 4.1% (n = 5/123) among fully vaccinated and therewith lower compared to 18.5% (n = 5/27) hospitalized and 11.1% (n = 3/27) deceased among incompletely or non-vaccinated. Ct values were significantly lower in incompletely or non-vaccinated (p = 0.02). Neutralizing antibodies were detected in 99.1% (n = 105/106) of serum samples with significantly higher values (p < 0.001) being measured post-breakthrough infection. α-N-antibodies were detected in 37.7% of PCR positive but not in PCR negative individuals. Conclusion: Altogether, our data indicate that SARS-CoV-2 vaccination does provide protection against infection, severe disease progression and death with regards to the Alpha variant. Nonetheless, it also shows that infection and transmission are possible despite full vaccination. It further indicates that breakthrough infections can significantly enhance α-S- and neutralizing antibody responses, indicating a possible benefit from booster vaccinations.
Assessment of Lipopeptide Mixtures Produced by Bacillus subtilis as Biocontrol Products against Apple Scab (Venturia inaequalis)
Authors: Leconte Aline , Tournant Ludovic , Muchembled Jérôme , Paucellier Jonathan , Héquet Arnaud , Deracinois Barbara , Deweer Caroline , Krier François , Deleu Magali , Oste Sandrine , Jacques Philippe , Coutte François
Published: September 2022

Apple scab is an important disease conventionally controlled by chemical fungicides, which should be replaced by more environmentally friendly alternatives. One of these alternatives could be the use of lipopeptides produced by Bacillus subtilis. The objective of this work is to study the action of the three families of lipopeptides and different mixtures of them in vitro and in vivo against Venturia inaequalis. Firstly, the antifungal activity of mycosubtilin/surfactin and fengycin/surfactin mixtures was determined in vitro by measuring the median inhibitory concentration. Then, the best lipopeptide mixture ratio was produced using Design of Experiment (DoE) to optimize the composition of the culture medium. Finally, the lipopeptides mixtures efficiency against V. inaequalis was assessed in orchards as well as the evaluation of the persistence of lipopeptides on apple. In vitro tests show that the use of fengycin or mycosubtilin alone is as effective as a mixture, with the 50–50% fengycin/surfactin mixture being the most effective. Optimization of culture medium for the production of fengycin/surfactin mixture shows that the best composition is glycerol coupled with glutamic acid. Finally, lipopeptides showed in vivo antifungal efficiency against V. inaequalis regardless of the mixture used with a 70% reduction in the incidence of scab for both mixtures (fengycin/surfactin or mycosubtilin/surfactin). The reproducibility of the results over the two trial campaigns was significantly better with the mycosubtilin/surfactin mixture. The use of B. subtilis lipopeptides to control this disease is very promising.
A Quantitative ELISA to Detect Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Spike IgG Antibodies in Infected Patients and Vaccinated Individuals
Authors: Luo Ji , Klett Jennifer , Gabert Jörg , Lipp Thomas , Karbach Julia , Jäger Elke , Borte Stephan , Hoffmann Ralf , Milkovska-Stamenova Sanja
Published: September 2022

There is an ongoing need for high-precision serological assays for the quantitation of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Here, a trimeric SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein was used to develop an ELISA to quantify specific IgG antibodies present in serum, plasma, and dried blood spots (DBS) collected from infected patients or vaccine recipients. The quantitative S-ELISA was calibrated with international anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin standards to provide test results in binding antibody units per mL (BAU/mL). The assay showed excellent linearity, precision, and accuracy. A sensitivity of 100% was shown for samples collected from 54 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection more than 14 days after symptom onset or disease confirmation by RT-PCR and 58 vaccine recipients more than 14 days after vaccination. The assay specificity was 98.3%. Furthermore, antibody responses were measured in follow-up samples from vaccine recipients and infected patients. Most mRNA vaccine recipients had a similar response, with antibody generation starting 2–3 weeks after the first vaccination and maintaining positive for at least six months after a second vaccination. For most infected patients, the antibody titers increased during the second week after PCR confirmation. This S-ELISA can be used to quantify the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in the population exposed to the virus or vaccinated.
Marine Litter Impact on Sandy Beach Fauna: A Review to Obtain an Indication of Where Research Should Contribute More
Authors: Costa Leonardo Lopes , Fanini Lucia , Ben-Haddad Mohamed , Pinna Maurizio , Zalmon Ilana Rosental
Published: September 2022

In order to identify how research contributes to the knowledge of marine litter as a pressure on beaches, we reviewed interactions of beach fauna with this pollutant. Entanglement of pinnipeds in fishing gear, negative correlations between macroinvertebrates abundance and sediment pollution, and the presence of plastic surrounding burrows were primary evidence of beach fauna interacting with stranded litter. Ingestion represents the main body of research; microplastic uptake by invertebrates has been studied by laboratory experiments and field collections to report the presence of polymers in tissues. In the natural context, the higher the urbanization surrounding beaches and sediment pollution, the higher the concentration of microplastics in organs of bivalves. This approach currently constitutes the main research direction, but ecotoxicological assays are emerging prospects to assess the effects of exposure to microplastics. Beached macroplastics entangle and entrap invertebrates and vertebrates, and studies have reported increasing negative interactions with seals and sea turtles. Changes in nesting and feeding behavior of resident and transient organisms have been shown as typical early warning indicators of marine litter impacts. The focus on fauna–litter interactions holds terrific potential for research and citizen science projects, which finally becomes a powerful driver towards environmental awareness on sandy beaches.
Advanced Drug Delivery Micro- and Nanosystems for Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Iravani Siavash , Varma Rajender S.
Published: September 2022

Advanced drug delivery micro- and nanosystems have been widely explored due to their appealing specificity/selectivity, biodegradability, biocompatibility, and low toxicity. They can be applied for the targeted delivery of pharmaceuticals, with the benefits of good biocompatibility/stability, non-immunogenicity, large surface area, high drug loading capacity, and low leakage of drugs. Cardiovascular diseases, as one of the primary mortalities cause worldwide with significant impacts on the quality of patients’ life, comprise a variety of heart and circulatory system pathologies, such as peripheral vascular diseases, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and coronary artery diseases. Designing novel micro- and nanosystems with suitable targeting properties and smart release behaviors can help circumvent crucial challenges of the tolerability, low stability, high toxicity, and possible side- and off-target effects of conventional drug delivery routes. To overcome different challenging issues, namely physiological barriers, low efficiency of drugs, and possible adverse side effects, various biomaterials-mediated drug delivery systems have been formulated with reduced toxicity, improved pharmacokinetics, high bioavailability, sustained release behavior, and enhanced therapeutic efficacy for targeted therapy of cardiovascular diseases. Despite the existing drug delivery systems encompassing a variety of biomaterials for treating cardiovascular diseases, the number of formulations currently approved for clinical use is limited due to the regulatory and experimental obstacles. Herein, the most recent advancements in drug delivery micro- and nanosystems designed from different biomaterials for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases are deliberated, with a focus on the important challenges and future perspectives.
Controllable Construction of Amino-Functionalized Dynamic Covalent Porous Polymers for High-Efficiency CO2 Capture from Flue Gas
Authors: Qiu Mingyue , Wu Haonan , Huang Yi , Guo Huijuan , Gao Dan , Pei Feng , Shi Lijuan , Yi Qun
Published: September 2022

The design of high-efficiency CO2 adsorbents with low cost, high capacity, and easy desorption is of high significance for reducing carbon emissions, which yet remains a great challenge. This work proposes a facile construction strategy of amino-functional dynamic covalent materials for effective CO2 capture from flue gas. Upon the dynamic imine assembly of N-site rich motif and aldehyde-based spacers, nanospheres and hollow nanotubes with spongy pores were constructed spontaneously at room temperature. A commercial amino-functional molecule tetraethylenepentamine could be facilely introduced into the dynamic covalent materials by virtue of the dynamic nature of imine assembly, thus inducing a high CO2 capacity (1.27 mmol·g−1) from simulated flue gas at 75 °C. This dynamic imine assembly strategy endowed the dynamic covalent materials with facile preparation, low cost, excellent CO2 capacity, and outstanding cyclic stability, providing a mild and controllable approach for the development of competitive CO2 adsorbents.