bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tidal Variations of Fish Larvae Measured Using a 15-Day Continuous Ichthyoplankton Survey in Subei Shoal: Management Implications for the Red-Crowned Crane (Grus japonensis) Population in Yancheng Nature Reserve
Authors: Xu Min , Liu Zunlei , Song Xiaojing , Wang Fei , Wang Yihe , Yang Linlin , Otaki Takayoshi , Shen Jiabin , Komatsu Teruhisa , Cheng Jiahua
Published: October 2023

The National Yancheng Rare Birds Nature Reserve is a vitally important staging habitat for the wild population of red-crowned cranes (Grus japonensis) in China. The population relies on local high-protein food sources, such as fish juveniles, to fuel their migratory journeys. However, little is known about the ecology of the fish larvae and juveniles that migrate to the inshore area via tidal rhythm in Subei Shoal, which is adjacent to the reserve. Therefore, we used a fixed study station (32°55′1.2″ N, 121°19′58.8″ E) to conduct a continuous 15-day ichthyoplankton survey at 2 h intervals beginning at 05:00 on 25 April and ending at 03:00 on 10 May 2019. We identified the tidal variations in the number of fish larvae and juveniles and the number at various developmental stages and assessed how they were related to environmental variables such as sea surface temperature, salinity, turbidity, and tidal height in the Dafeng Sea area of Subei Shoal. We found that the number of species and larval individuals were highest and lowest, respectively, at the highest and lowest tidal height, and they obviously increased and decreased with the rising and ebb tide, respectively. Our findings indicate that the variation in numbers of the larvae and juveniles depends on species and developmental stage. The species Acanthogobius ommaturus, Pholis fangi, Cynoglossus joyneri, Liza haematocheila, and Lateolabrax japonicus and the total number of larvae were most influenced by tidal height. These results provide a better understanding of the habitat of prey species of the red-crowned crane wild population as well as scientific data that can be applied to manage the wild population in the reserve sustainably.
Effect of Dietary Soy Protein Source on Effluent Water Quality and Growth Performance of Rainbow Trout Reared in a Serial Reuse Water System
Authors: Welker Thomas L. , Overturf Ken
Published: October 2023

Juvenile rainbow trout (125 ± 0.8 g) were fed a fishmeal control diet (C), a high soy protein concentrate diet (SP), a high soybean meal diet (HiS), or a diet with high levels of fermented soy protein concentrate (fSP) for 12 weeks in a tank system capable of receiving 1st and 3rd use water from a serial-reuse production hatchery. Water quality was generally lower in 3rd use compared to 1st use water and after passing through tanks (inflow vs. outflow). Total dissolved solids were significantly higher (p = 0.003) for 3rd use compared to 1st use water, and values were also higher (p < 0.001) for the fSP diet. Turbidity and ammonia were highest in tanks for trout fed the HiS and fSP and SP and fSP diets, respectively, but were characterized by high variation, which likely prevented the detection of significant differences. Weight gain (p < 0.001) and survival (p = 0.008) were significantly lower for trout in 3rd use compared to 1st use water. Trout fed the HiS diet were generally in poorer physiological condition with lower body fat stores (p = 0.05) and lower growth rate (p < 0.001) and survival (p = 0.05) compared to the other diets, which were similar. The expression of several stress-associated genes (FK506, DIO2, REGPS, Cyp1a, G6PH, GADD45a, and IRF-1) in the liver and gill showed that diet and water source affected their regulation. Replacement of FM by SP providing 50% of dietary protein promotes acceptable growth performance compared to an FM diet and was superior to HiS. The impacts of soy protein concentrate on water quality under commercial production conditions, however, require further study.
Insights into Canadians’ Perceptions of Service Dogs in Public Spaces
Authors: Gibson Maryellen , Williamson Linzi , Dell Colleen Anne
Published: October 2023

Service Dogs (SDs) are an increasingly common type of working dog supporting people with disabilities in Canada. One of the groups being paired with SDs is Veterans diagnosed with posttraumatic stress injuries (PTSIs). In past research, Veterans have expressed stress over negative interactions with people in public spaces because an SD brings attention to their disability. There is a dearth of research exploring perceptions of SDs in public settings. Methods: A total of 485 Canadians were surveyed via an online questionnaire about their demographic information and beliefs about SDs in public spaces. Data were analyzed using robust ordinary least squares (OLS) regression to determine which demographic features, if any, contribute to perceptions. Results: Generally, the Canadian public holds highly positive perceptions of SDs being in public spaces. Our analysis found that women, people who currently have pets, and Indigenous people were more supportive of SDs in public spaces than others. People with certain cultural heritages were less receptive. Conclusion: These findings are an important beginning contribution to the growing SD and Veteran health field.
Maternal Folic Acid Supplementation Improves the Intestinal Health of Offspring Porcine by Promoting the Proliferation and Differentiation of Intestinal Stem Cells
Authors: Zhang Yuhui , Zhang Xiaofeng , Chen Jianjun , Jiang Shouchuan , Han Yu , Du Huahua
Published: October 2023

Maternal folic acid intake has important effects on offspring growth and development. The mechanism involved in the renewal of intestinal epithelial cells remains unclear. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the potential effect of maternal folic acid supplementation during gestation and lactation on the structural and functional development of the small intestine in piglet offspring. Twenty-four Duroc sows were assigned to a control group (CON) and a folic-acid-supplemented group (CON + FA, supplemented with 15 mg/kg of folic acid). The results showed that maternal folic acid supplementation throughout gestation and lactation significantly increased the body weight, serum folate level, and intestinal folate metabolism in piglets. It also improved the villus length, villus height-to-crypt depth ratio, and transcript levels of nutrient transporters (GLUT4, SNAT2, FABP2, and SLC7A5) in piglets’ duodenum and jejunum. In addition, maternal folic acid supplementation increased Ki67-positive cells and the expression of proliferation-related marker genes (C-Myc, CyclinD1, and PCNA) in piglets’ intestinal stem cells. It also boosted the expression of genes associated with mature secreted cells (ChrA, Muc2, Lyz, Vil1), indicating enhanced proliferation and differentiation of intestinal stem cells. These findings demonstrate that maternal folic acid supplementation enhances growth performance and gut health in piglet offspring by promoting epithelial cell renewal equilibrium.
Dietary Inclusion Level Effects of Yoghurt Acid Whey Powder on Performance, Digestibility of Nutrients and Meat Quality of Broilers
Authors: Paraskeuas Vasileios V. , Papadomichelakis Georgios , Brouklogiannis Ioannis P. , Anagnostopoulos Evangelos C. , Pappas Athanasios C. , Simitzis Panagiotis , Theodorou Georgios , Politis Ioannis , Mountzouris Konstantinos C.
Published: October 2023

In recent years, the increasing demand for Greek strained yoghurt produced massive amounts of acid whey, which constitutes a major environmental pollutant. Whether yoghurt acid whey can be included in poultry diets is not known. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of four dietary levels of yoghurt acid whey powder (YAWP) on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, meat quality traits and oxidative stability. A total of 300 male 1-day-old Ross 308 broilers were assigned into four groups with five replicates of 15 broilers each: control-fed basal diet with no YAWP addition (WO) or basal diet supplemented with YAWP at 25 g/kg of diet (WA), 50 g/kg of diet (WB), or 100 g/kg of diet (WC). At the starter period, body weight and body weight gain were reduced after WB and WC treatments compared to the WO treatment. Breast meat oxidative stability was improved during refrigerated storage for 1 and 3 d in all YAWP treatments compared to control, while the WA treatment showed an improved oxidative stability after 6 and 9 d. The results suggest that YAWP inclusion at 25 g/kg of diet did not impair performance and extended the meat shelf life by reducing lipid oxidation rates.
Analysis of Bacterial Stent Colonization: The Role of Urine and Device Microbiological Cultures
Authors: Tulone Gabriele , Costanzo Angela , Pavan Nicola , Giaimo Rosa , Claps Francesco , Fasciana Teresa Maria Assunta , Giammanco Anna , Bartoletti Riccardo , Simonato Alchiede
Published: October 2023

In this study, we explored the incidence of double J (JJ) contamination of patients who underwent an endourological procedure for urinary stones and ureteral stenosis. We developed a prospective study between January 2019 and December 2021. Ninety-seven patients, 54 male and 43 female, were enrolled. Urine culture was taken during four steps: before stent insertion, a sample from selective renal pelvis catheterization, a sample two days after the JJ insertion and finally, after the stent removal procedure. At the time of the stent removal, 1 cm of proximal and distal ends were cut off and placed in the culture for bacterial evaluation. Cohen’s kappa coefficient value (k) and concordance rates of microbiological culture results were evaluated. The study group comprised 56% of male patients. Proximal and distal stent cultures were positive in 81 and 78 patients. The concordance rate of microbiological cultures between proximal and distal double J stent is 88% (k 0.6). The most common pathogens isolated from urine and stent cultures were Enterococcus spp. in 52 cases and Klebsiella spp. in 27 cases.
A Temperature-Controlled Apparatus for Gas Permeability under Low Gas Pressure
Authors: Wu Yuedong , Huang Yue , Liu Jian , Chen Rui
Published: October 2023

The measurement of soil gas permeability is influenced by the temperature and pressure fluctuation in the low gas pressure region. In order to investigate these influences, a soil temperature-controlled apparatus connected to a low-gas-pressure supply equipment is proposed in this study. The low constant gas pressure is supplied by two Mariotte bottles, by which the airflow rate is measured. Meanwhile, the soil specimen is controlled by a temperature-controlled apparatus. During the test, the negative pore water pressure and volume change of the soil specimen are measured. Through the temperature-controlled apparatus, it is observed that as the temperature increases from 25 °C to 60 °C, there is a corresponding increase in soil sample porosity by 5.4%, while the negative pressure of pore water decreases by 11.1%. This can be attributed to the reduction in the surface tension of contractile skin caused by elevated temperatures. Furthermore, due to variations in gas viscosity with temperature, there was a significant decrease in the gas flow rate by 50.5%. And, the relationship between permeability and volumetric gas content at different temperatures in low-pressure regions well confirms the existing power-law model. In addition, the existence of a temperature-independent critical negative pore water pressure is observed, beyond which the intrinsic permeability remains constant. At 36 kPa of negative pore water pressure, the intrinsic permeability at 60 °C exhibits an 81.8% reduction compared to that at 25 °C. This decline in intrinsic permeability can be attributed to a diminished pore connectivity, resulting from elevated temperatures.
Numerical Experiment and Design of a Two-Rod Crank Knee Press with an Internal Layout of the Motor Drive
Authors: Tuleshov Amandyk , Akhmetova Balzhan , Kuatova Moldir , Merkibayeva Bakhyt , Ibrayev Gulama-Garip Alisher
Published: October 2023

In crank presses, an important role is played by the presence of actuators with dwell, in which, with continuous movement of the input links, the output working link remains stationary at some part of the work. The use of a high-class structural group (fourth class) expands the functionality of the crank press, including it can ensure the link dwell of the working link on a given section of movement during the required period of time. As a result of the conducted numerical research, four variants of actuators of the crank knee press were designed. Due to the rational choice of the positions of racks and crosshead guide, the best layout of the dimensions of the press mechanism has been achieved. Changing the coordinates of the racks accordingly allows for designing a mechanism with upper or lower dwells of the working links. The duration of the dwell of the working link (slider) can be adjusted by selecting the distance between the racks with rotational pairs and a crosshead guide of the mechanism. All this is shown on the basis of a numerical experiment based on kinematic analysis. In addition, the proposed structure of the mechanism makes it possible to ensure the exact link dwell, which cannot be achieved due to the well-known knee presses based on the second-class mechanism.
An Electronic Commerce Big Data Analytics Architecture and Platform
Authors: Munshi Amr , Alhindi Ahmad , Qadah Thamir M. , Alqurashi Amjad
Published: October 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased e-commerce growth, adding more than 218 billion US dollars to the United States e-commerce sales. With this significant growth, various operational challenges have appeared, including logistic difficulties and customer satisfaction. Businesses that strive to take advantage of increased e-commerce growth must understand data and rely on e-commerce analytics. The large scale of e-commerce data requires sophisticated information technology techniques and cyber-infrastructure to leverage and analyze. This study presents a big e-commerce data platform to address several challenges in e-commerce. The presented platform’s design is based on a distributed system architecture that supports e-commerce analytics applications using historical and real-time data and features a continuous feedback loop to observe the decision-making and evaluation processes to achieve the desired objectives. The platform was validated using two analytical applications. The first application was to identify the periods in which customers prefer to place orders, while the second was used to verify the big e-commerce data platform. The resulting insights and findings promote informed e-commerce decisions. Furthermore, viewing and acting on insight results and findings promote informed decisions that potentially benefit the e-commerce industry. The proposed platform can perform numerous e-commerce applications that potentially benefit the e-commerce industry.
Finite Element Analysis and Optimization of Hydrogen Fuel Cell City Bus Body Frame Structure
Authors: Yang Rong , Zhang Wei , Li Shiyu , Xu Minmin , Huang Wei , Qin Zuhai
Published: October 2023

Hydrogen fuel cell city bus is a type of new energy public transportation. In this paper, in order to evaluate the safety performance of a newly developed hydrogen fuel cell city bus body frame designed by the collaborating enterprise, finite element analysis is conducted to investigate its structural mechanics and dynamic characteristics under four typical operating conditions, including horizontal bending, ultimate torsion, emergency cornering, and emergency braking. Based on the simulation results, although the body frame of the bus meets the stiffness design requirements and avoids body resonance, it exhibits maximum stresses of 328.9 MPa and 348.6 MPa under emergency cornering and ultimate torsion conditions, respectively, exceeding the material yield strength and failing to satisfy the strength design requirements. Therefore, the size optimization method is employed to optimize the thickness of the body frame components. After optimization, the maximum stresses are reduced to 262.7 MPa and 300.6 MPa, respectively, representing a reduction of up to 20.13%. The optimization significantly improves performance and meets the strength design requirements. Furthermore, the body frame is lightened by 106 kg, achieving the goal of weight reduction.
Genome-Wide Analysis of Q-Type C2H2 ZFP Genes in Response to Biotic and Abiotic Stresses in Sugar Beet
Authors: Li Menglin , Dong Xuanyu , Long Guozhang , Zhang Zongying , Han Chenggui , Wang Ying
Published: October 2023

A plant’s Q-type C2H2-type ZFP plays key roles in plant growth and development and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is an important crop for sugar production. Salt stress and viral infection significantly reduce the root yield and sugar content of sugar beet. However, there is a lack of comprehensive genome-wide analyses of Q-type C2H2 ZFPs and their expression patterns in sugar beet under stress. In this study, 35 sugar beet Q-type C2H2 ZFPs (BvZFPs) containing at least one conserved “QALGGH” motif were identified via bioinformatics techniques using TBtools software. According to their evolutionary relationship, the BvZFPs were classified into five subclasses. Within each subclass, the physicochemical properties and motif compositions showed strong similarities. A Ka/Ks analysis indicated that the BvZFPs were conserved during evolution. Promoter cis-element analysis revealed that most BvZFPs are associated with elements related to phytohormone, biotic or abiotic stress, and plant development. The expression data showed that the BvZFPs in sugar beet are predominantly expressed in the root. In addition, BvZFPs are involved in the response to abiotic and biotic stresses, including salt stress and viral infection. Overall, these results will extend our understanding of the Q-type C2H2 gene family and provide valuable information for the biological breeding of sugar beet against abiotic and biotic stresses in the future.
Biomethane Microturbines as a Storage-Free Dispatchable Solution for Resilient Critical Buildings
Authors: Rosales-Asensio Enrique , de Loma-Osorio Iker , Açıkkalp Emin , Borge-Diez David
Published: October 2023

Climate-change-related events are increasing the costs of power outages, including losses of product, revenue, and productivity. Given the increase in meteorological disasters in recent years related to climate change effects, the number of costly blackouts, from an economic perspective, has increased in a directly proportional manner. As a result, there is increasing interest in the use of alternators to supply dependable, instantaneous, and uninterruptible electricity. Traditional research has focused on the installation of diesel backup systems to ensure power requirements without deeply considering the resilience capabilities of systems, which is the ability of a system to recover or survive adversity, such as a power outage. This research presents a novel approach focusing on the resiliency impact of backup systems’ storage-free dispatchable solutions on buildings and compares the advantages and disadvantages of biomethane microturbines, natural gas engines, and diesel engines backup systems, discussing the revenue resulting from the resilience provided by emergency generators. The results show that, for several diesel fuel and natural gas safety assumptions, natural gas alternators have a lower probability of failure at the time of a blackout than diesel generators, and therefore, resilience increases.
A Novel Allogeneic Rituximab-Conjugated Gamma Delta T Cell Therapy for the Treatment of Relapsed/Refractory B-Cell Lymphoma
Authors: Li Hao-Kang , Wu Tai-Sheng , Kuo Yi-Chiu , Hsiao Ching-Wen , Yang Hsiu-Ping , Lee Chia-Yun , Leng Pei-Ju , Chiang Yun-Jung , Cheng Zih-Fei , Yang Sen-Han , Lin Yan-Liang , Chen Li-Yu , Chen Ciao-Syuan , Chen Yu-Ju , Hsiao Shih-Chia , Tang Sai-Wen
Published: October 2023

Chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy has been applied in the treatment of B-cell lymphoma; however, CAR-T manufacturing requires virus- or non-virus-based genetic modification, which causes high manufacturing costs and potential safety concerns. Antibody–cell conjugation (ACC) technology, which originated from bio-orthogonal click chemistry, provides an efficient approach for arming immune cells with cancer-targeting antibodies without genetic modification. Here, we applied ACC technology in Vγ9Vδ2 T (γδ2 T) cells to generate a novel off-the-shelf CD20-targeting cell therapy ACE1831 (rituximab-conjugated γδ2 T cells) against relapsed/refractory B-cell lymphoma. ACE1831 exhibited superior cytotoxicity against B-cell lymphoma cells and rituximab-resistant cells compared to γδ2 T cells without rituximab conjugation. The in vivo xenograft study demonstrated that ACE1831 treatment strongly suppressed the aggressive proliferation of B-cell lymphoma and prolonged the survival of tumor-bearing mice with no observed toxicity. Mass spectrometry analysis indicated that cell activation receptors including the TCR complex, integrins and cytokine receptors were conjugated with rituximab. Intriguingly, the antigen recognition of the ACC-linked antibody/receptor complex stimulated NFAT activation and contributed to ACE1831-mediated cytotoxicity against CD20-expressing cancer cells. This study elucidates the role of the ACC-linked antibody/receptor complex in cytotoxicity and supports the potential of ACE1831 as an off-the-shelf γδ2 cell therapy against relapsed/refractory B-cell lymphoma.
T4 Lung Carcinoma with Infiltration of the Thoracic Aorta: Indication and Surgical Procedure
Authors: Irqsusi Marc , Ghazy Tamer , Vogt Sebastian , Mirow Nikolas , Kirschbaum Andreas
Published: October 2023

Lung carcinomas infiltrate the aorta mostly on the left side and are altogether rare. As an initial step, complete staging is performed and the results are evaluated in an interdisciplinary tumor board. If the patient’s general condition including cardiopulmonary reserves is sufficient, and if there is neither distant metastasis nor an N2 situation, surgical resection may be indicated. The option for neoadjuvant chemotherapy should always be taken into consideration. Depending on the anatomic tumor location, partial lung resection and resection of the affected aortic wall are performed employing a cardiopulmonary bypass. The resected aortic wall is replaced by a vascular prosthesis. In recent years, this proven procedure has partly been replaced by an alternative one, avoiding extracorporeal circulation. An endoaortic stent is implanted in the affected area followed by partial lung resection and resection of the diseased aortic wall. This new procedure has significantly reduced perioperative mortality and morbidity. With proper patient selection, long-term survival can be improved even in this complex malignoma.
The Association between Mediated Deprivation and Ovarian Cancer Survival among African American Women
Authors: Lawson Andrew B. , Kim Joanne , Johnson Courtney , Ratnapradipa Kendra L. , Alberg Anthony J. , Akonde Maxwell , Hastert Theresa , Bandera Elisa V. , Terry Paul , Mandle Hannah , Cote Michele L. , Bondy Melissa , Marks Jeffrey , Peres Lauren C. , Schildkraut Joellen , Peters Edward S.
Published: October 2023

Background: Deprivation indices are often used to adjust for socio-economic disparities in health studies. Their role has been partially evaluated for certain population-level cancer outcomes, but examination of their role in ovarian cancer is limited. In this study, we evaluated a range of well-recognized deprivation indices in relation to cancer survival in a cohort of self-identified Black women diagnosed with ovarian cancer. This study aimed to determine if clinical or diagnostic characteristics lie on a mediating pathway between socioeconomic status (SES) and deprivation and ovarian cancer survival in a minority population that experiences worse survival from ovarian cancer. Methods: We used mediation analysis to look at the direct and indirect causal effects of deprivation indices with main mediators of the SEER stage at diagnosis and residual disease. The analysis employed Bayesian structural equation models with variable selection. We applied a joint Bayesian structural model for the mediator, including a Weibull mixed model for the vital outcome with deprivation as exposure. We selected modifiers via a Monte Carlo model selection procedure. Results: The results suggest that high SES-related indices, such as Yost, Kolak urbanicity (URB), mobility (MOB) and SES dimensions, and concentrated disadvantage index (CDI), all have a significant impact on improved survival. In contrast, area deprivation index (ADI)/Singh, and area level poverty (POV) did not have a major impact. In some cases, the indirect effects have very wide credible intervals, so the total effect is not well estimated despite the estimation of the direct effect. Conclusions: First, it is clear that commonly used indices such as Yost, or CDI both significantly impact the survival experience of Black women diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer. In addition, the Kolak dimension indices (URB, MOB, mixed immigrant: MICA and SES) also demonstrate a significant association, depending on the mediator. Mediation effects differ according to the mediator chosen.
Mistletoe Extracts from Different Host Trees Disparately Inhibit Bladder Cancer Cell Growth and Proliferation
Authors: Juengel Eva , Rutz Jochen , Meiborg Moritz , Markowitsch Sascha D. , Maxeiner Sebastian , Grein Timothy , Thomas Anita , Chun Felix K.-H. , Haferkamp Axel , Tsaur Igor , Vakhrusheva Olesya , Blaheta Roman A.
Published: October 2023

Extracts of European mistletoe (Viscum album) are popular as a complementary treatment for patients with many different cancer types. However, whether these extracts actually block bladder cancer progression remains unknown. The influence of different mistletoe extracts on bladder cancer cell growth and proliferation was investigated by exposing RT112, UMUC3, and TCCSup cells to mistletoe from hawthorn (Crataegi), lime trees (Tiliae), willow trees (Salicis), or poplar trees (Populi). The tumor cell growth and proliferation, apoptosis induction, and cell cycle progression were then evaluated. Alterations in integrin α and β subtype expression as well as CD44 standard (CD44s) and CD44 variant (CD44v) expressions were evaluated. Cell cycle-regulating proteins (CDK1 and 2, Cyclin A and B) were also investigated. Blocking and knock-down studies served to correlate protein alterations with cell growth. All extracts significantly down-regulated the growth and proliferation of all bladder cancer cell lines, most strongly in RT112 and UMUC3 cells. Alterations in CD44 expression were not homogeneous but rather depended on the extract and the cell line. Integrin α3 was, likewise, differently modified. Integrin α5 was diminished in RT112 and UMUC3 cells (significantly) and TCCSup (trend) by Populi and Salicis. Populi and Salicis arrested UMUC3 in G0/G1 to a similar extent, whereas apoptosis was induced most efficiently by Salicis. Examination of cell cycle-regulating proteins revealed down-regulation of CDK1 and 2 and Cyclin A by Salicis but down-regulation of CDK2 and Cyclin A by Populi. Blocking and knock-down studies pointed to the influence of integrin α5, CD44, and the Cyclin–CDK axis in regulating bladder cancer growth. Mistletoe extracts do block bladder cancer growth in vitro, with the molecular action differing according to the cell line and the host tree of the mistletoe. Integrating mistletoe into a guideline-based treatment regimen might optimize bladder cancer therapy.
Towards Photothermal Acid Catalysts Using Eco-Sustainable Sulfonated Carbon Nanoparticles—Part I: Synthesis, Characterization and Catalytic Activity towards Fischer Esterification
Authors: Militello María Paula , Martínez María Victoria , Tamborini Luciano , Acevedo Diego F. , Barbero Cesar A.
Published: October 2023

The development of photothermal catalysts for biodiesel synthesis reaction (transesterification) requires the production of light-absorbing nanoparticles functionalized with catalytic (acid) groups. Using Stöber method, it is possible to produce resorcinol/formaldehyde resin (RF) nanoparticles, which can be carbonized (pyrolysis in an inert atmosphere) and sulfonated. In this work, vegetable tannins are used as a replacement for synthetic resorcinol in the Stöber synthesis of resin (TF) nanoparticles. The nanoparticles are characterized using DLS, FESEM, TEM and N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms. Both resin and carbon nanoparticles are sulfonated by reaction with concentrated sulfuric acid. The attachment of sulfonic groups is verified by FTIR and EDX. The number of sulfonic groups is measured by acid/base titration and TGA. All sulfonated nanoparticles show catalytic activities towards Fischer esterification of ethanoic acid with ethanol, and high (up to 70%) conversion is obtained. The conversion is lower with TF-based nanoparticles, but the turnover numbers are similar in the RF- and TF-based materials. Sulfonated carbon and resin nanoparticles show higher catalytic activity compared to commercial acidic catalysts (e.g., Nafion®). Photothermal heating of carbon nanoparticles is observed. In Part II, sunflower oil transesterification, catalyzed by sulfonated nanoparticles, is observed. Photothermal catalysis of acetic acid esterification and sunflower oil transesterification is demonstrated.
CO and Propane Combustion on La0.8Sr0.2CoxFe1−xO3−δ Perovskites: Effect of Fe-to-Co Ratio on Catalytic Activity
Authors: Safakas Alexandros , Kournoutis Vasileios Ch. , Bampos Georgios , Bebelis Symeon
Published: October 2023

Perovskites are promising alternative catalysts for oxidation reactions due to their lower cost compared to noble metals, and their greater thermal stability. The catalytic oxidation of CO is essential in order to control CO emissions in a series of applications whereas the catalytic combustion of propane is considered an economical and environmentally acceptable solution for energy production and gaseous pollutant management, since propane is among the organic compounds involved in photochemical reactions. This work concerns the effect of the Co/Fe ratio in the B-sites of a series of eight La0.8Sr0.2CoxFe1−xO3−δ perovskites, with x ranging from 0 to 1, on the catalytic activity towards CO and C3H8 oxidation. The perovskite oxides were synthesized using the combustion synthesis method and characterized with respect to their specific surface areas, structures, and reduction properties. Increasing the Co/Fe ratio resulted in an increase in CO and propane conversion under both oxidative and stoichiometric conditions. The increase in Co content is considered to facilitate the formation of oxygen vacancies due to the lower redox stability of the cobalt cations compared to iron cations, favoring oxygen ion mobility and oxygen exchange between the gas phase and the oxide surface, thus enhancing the catalytic performance.
Dendritic Cell Vaccination in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Remodeling the Tumor Immune Microenvironment
Authors: Abascal Jensen , Oh Michael S. , Liclican Elvira L. , Dubinett Steven M. , Salehi-Rad Ramin , Liu Bin
Published: October 2023

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. While NSCLCs possess antigens that can potentially elicit T cell responses, defective tumor antigen presentation and T cell activation hinder host anti-tumor immune responses. The NSCLC tumor microenvironment (TME) is composed of cellular and soluble mediators that can promote or combat tumor growth. The composition of the TME plays a critical role in promoting tumorigenesis and dictating anti-tumor immune responses to immunotherapy. Dendritic cells (DCs) are critical immune cells that activate anti-tumor T cell responses and sustain effector responses. DC vaccination is a promising cellular immunotherapy that has the potential to facilitate anti-tumor immune responses and transform the composition of the NSCLC TME via tumor antigen presentation and cell–cell communication. Here, we will review the features of the NSCLC TME with an emphasis on the immune cell phenotypes that directly interact with DCs. Additionally, we will summarize the major preclinical and clinical approaches for DC vaccine generation and examine how effective DC vaccination can transform the NSCLC TME toward a state of sustained anti-tumor immune signaling.
Microstructure, Mechanical and Thermal Properties of ZTA/Al2TiO5 Ceramic Composites
Authors: Hassan A. M. , Elsayed Hamada , Awaad M. , Saleh A. M. , Naga S. M.
Published: October 2023

Zirconia-toughened alumina (ZTA)/Al2TiO5 composites were prepared via a sol–gel route. The prepared samples were uniaxially pressed and pressurelessly sintered at 1650–1700 °C for 1 h. The microstructure, densification, and X-ray diffraction patterns of the sintered ZTA/Al2TiO5 composites were investigated, and their mechanical properties, thermal coefficient, and shock resistance were characterized. The addition of Al2TiO5 hindered the grain growth of the alumina particles and enhanced the relative density, Vickers hardness, and bending strength of the composites compared with pure ZTA samples. The fracture toughness was improved by 19% upon the addition of 40 wt% Al2TiO5. Moreover, increasing the Al2TiO5 content resulted in an improvement in the thermal shock resistance.
Enhanced Corrosion Resistance and Surface Wettability of PVDF/ZnO and PVDF/TiO2 Composite Coatings: A Comparative Study
Authors: Mohamed Adel , Alateyah Abdulrahman , Hasan Hosam , Matli Penchal , El-Sayed Seleman Mohamed , Ahmed Essam , El-Garaihy Waleed , Golden Teresa
Published: October 2023

This study aims to enhance the practical performance of PVDF/ZnO and PVDF/TiO2 composite coatings known for their distinctive properties. The coatings, applied through spray coating with PVDF and ZnO or TiO2 nanoparticles on glass, steel, and aluminum substrates, underwent a comprehensive evaluation. Surface wetting properties and morphology were respectively evaluated using a technique involving liquid droplets and an imaging method using high-energy electrons. Potentiodynamic polarization was used to compare corrosion resistance between coated and bare substrates. Nanoindentation was used to assess coating hardness, and bonding strength was subsequently quantified. The results revealed that PVDF/ZnO composite coatings had higher water contact angles (161 ± 5° to 138 ± 2°) and lower contact angle hysteresis (7 ± 2° to 2 ± 1°) compared to PVDF/TiO2 and PVDF coatings. Moreover, corrosion tests demonstrated superior protection for steel and aluminum surfaces coated with superhydrophobic PVDF/ZnO. Nanoindentation indicated enhanced mechanical properties with TiO2 nanoparticles, with adhesion results favoring TiO2 over ZnO nanoparticles.
Less Energetic Routes for the Production of SiOx Films from Tris(dimethylamino)silane by Plasma Enhanced Atomic Layer Deposition
Authors: Spigarollo Danielle C. F. S. , Getnet Tsegaye Gashaw , Rangel Rita C. C. , Silva Tiago F. , Cruz Nilson C. , Rangel Elidiane Cipriano
Published: October 2023

SiOx films, frequently derived from amino silane precursors, have found several applications with high added value. Although frequently used, the deposition of coatings from Tris(dimethyl amino) silane (TDMAS) has been reported to demand considerable amounts of energy, mainly due to the difficulty of oxidizing such compounds. As is well known, Plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) is able to improve the oxidation efficiency, even under low processing temperatures. Owing to this, PEALD can be considered a very promising technique for the deposition of SiOx coatings. In this work, the deposition of silicon oxide films using TDMAS at 150 °C has been investigated. The effect of the plasma oxidation time (6 to 18 s) and atmosphere composition (pure O2 or O2 + Ar) on the chemical structure, elemental composition, and chemical bonding state of the films has also been evaluated. Increasing the plasma oxidation time in pure O2 resulted in a larger proportion of retained C (Si-CH3), whereas N was preserved in the structure (Si-N). On the other hand, the formation of SiOx films from TDMAS is favored in shorter oxidation times and O2 + Ar plasmas.
Virulence Potential, Biofilm Formation, and Disinfectants Control of Escherichia coli from Raw Milk Bulk Tanks in the Southeast of Brazil
Authors: Soares Sâmea Joaquim Aguiar , Guimarães Felipe de Freitas , Rossi Gabriel Augusto Marques , Guerra Simony Trevizan , Dalanezi Felipe Morales , Lopes Bruna Churocof , Ribeiro Mioni Mateus de Souza , Yamakawa Ana Carolina , da Silva Evelyn Cristine , de Moraes Gustavo Nunes , Bertolini Amanda Bezerra , Ribeiro Márcio Garcia , de Figueiredo Pantoja José Carlos , Lucheis Simone Baldini , Rall Vera Lucia Mores , Hernandes Rodrigo Tavanelli , da Silva Leite Domingos , Langoni Helio
Published: October 2023

Escherichia coli is a major player in foodborne illnesses, capable of forming biofilms on dairy facilities, leading to milk contamination. Thus, we examined the capacity of E. coli strains from raw milk bulk tanks to form biofilms on surfaces made of polystyrene, stainless steel, and silicone; the potential links between biofilm formation with genes responsible for fimbriae and virulence factors of extra-intestinal E. coli (ExPEC); and the susceptibility of biofilm-forming isolates to iodine and chlorhexidine digluconate. Out of 149 E. coli strains, 42.28% (63/149) formed biofilm on polystyrene, 56.38% (84/149) on silicone, and 21.48% (32/149) on stainless steel. The frequency of genes was: fimH (100%), hlyA (5.4%), irp2 (2.7%), sitA (10.7%), ompT (43.6%), and traT (98%). No biofilm developed when disinfectants were used prior to biofilm formation. However, iodine and chlorhexidine digluconate allowed 25.40% (16/63) of isolates displaying growth after a mature biofilm was formed. The presence of biofilm on different surfaces emphasizes the vital need for thorough equipment cleaning, both in farms and in industrial dairy settings. Rapid disinfection is crucial, given the reduced susceptibility of potentially pathogenic E. coli after biofilm maturity.
The Role of Checkpoint Inhibitor Expression Directly on Exfoliated Cells from Bladder Cancer: A Narrative Review
Authors: Di Gianfrancesco Luca , Crestani Alessandro , Amodeo Antonio , Corsi Paolo , De Marchi Davide , Miglioranza Eugenio , Lista Giuliana , Simonetti Francesca , Busetto Gian Maria , Maggi Martina , Pierconti Francesco , Martini Maurizio , Montagner Isabella Monia , Tormen Debora , Scapinello Antonio , Marino Filippo , Porreca Angelo
Published: October 2023

Bladder cancer (BCa) is a common type of cancer that affects the urinary bladder. The early detection and management of BCa is critical for successful treatment and patient outcomes. In recent years, researchers have been exploring the use of biomarkers as a non-invasive and effective tool for the detection and monitoring of BCa. One such biomarker is programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), which is expressed on the surface of cancer cells and plays a crucial role in the evasion of the immune system. Studies have shown that the PD-L1 expression is higher in BCa tumors than in healthy bladder tissue. Additionally, PD-L1 expression might even be detected in urine samples in BCa patients, in addition to the examination of a histological sample. The technique is being standardized and optimized. We reported how BCa patients had higher urinary PD-L1 levels than controls by considering BCa tumors expressing PD-L1 in the tissue specimen. The expression of PD-L1 in urinary BCa cells might represent both a diagnostic and a prognostic tool, with the perspective that the PD-L1 expression of exfoliate urinary cells might reveal and anticipate eventual BCa recurrence or progression. Further prospective and longitudinal studies are needed to assess the expression of PD-L1 as a biomarker for the monitoring of BCa patients. The use of PD-L1 as a biomarker for the detection and monitoring of BCa has the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes by allowing for earlier detection and more effective management of the disease.
Functional FDG-PET: Measurement of Task Related Neural Activity in Humans—A Compartment Model Approach and Comparison to fMRI
Authors: Madsen Saga Steinmann , Hvidsten Svend , Andersen Thomas Lund
Published: October 2023

Neuroimaging holds an essential position in global healthcare, as brain-related disorders are a substantial and growing burden. Non-degenerative disorders such as stress, depression and anxiety share common function related traits of diffuse and fluctuating changes, such as change in brain-based functions of mood, behavior and cognitive abilities, where underlying physiological mechanism remain unresolved. In this study we developed a novel application for studying intra-subject task-activated brain function by the quantitative physiological measurement of the change in glucose metabolism in a single scan setup. Data were acquired on a PET/MR-scanner. We implemented a functional [18F]-FDG PET-scan with double boli-tracer administration and finger-tapping activation, as proof-of-concept, in five healthy participants. The [18F]-FDG data were analyzed using a two-tissue compartment double boli kinetic model with an image-derived input function. For stand-alone visual reference, blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) functional MRI (fMRI) was acquired in the same session and analyzed separately. We were able to measure the cerebral glucose metabolic rate during baseline as well as activation. Results showed increased glucose metabolic rate during activation by 36.3–87.9% mean 62.0%, locally in the peak seed region of M1 in the brain, on an intra-subject level, as well as very good spatial accuracy on group level, and localization compared to the BOLD fMRI result at subject and group level. Our novel method successfully determined the relative increase in the cerebral metabolic rate of glucose on a voxel level with good visual association to fMRI at the subject-level, holding promise for future individual clinical application. This approach will be easily adapted in future clinical perspectives and pharmacological interventions studies.
Real-Time Object Detection Based on UAV Remote Sensing: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Cao Zhen , Kooistra Lammert , Wang Wensheng , Guo Leifeng , Valente João
Published: October 2023

Real-time object detection based on UAV remote sensing is widely required in different scenarios. In the past 20 years, with the development of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), remote sensing technology, deep learning technology, and edge computing technology, research on UAV real-time object detection in different fields has become increasingly important. However, since real-time UAV object detection is a comprehensive task involving hardware, algorithms, and other components, the complete implementation of real-time object detection is often overlooked. Although there is a large amount of literature on real-time object detection based on UAV remote sensing, little attention has been given to its workflow. This paper aims to systematically review previous studies about UAV real-time object detection from application scenarios, hardware selection, real-time detection paradigms, detection algorithms and their optimization technologies, and evaluation metrics. Through visual and narrative analyses, the conclusions cover all proposed research questions. Real-time object detection is more in demand in scenarios such as emergency rescue and precision agriculture. Multi-rotor UAVs and RGB images are of more interest in applications, and real-time detection mainly uses edge computing with documented processing strategies. GPU-based edge computing platforms are widely used, and deep learning algorithms is preferred for real-time detection. Meanwhile, optimization algorithms need to be focused on resource-limited computing platform deployment, such as lightweight convolutional layers, etc. In addition to accuracy, speed, latency, and energy are equally important evaluation metrics. Finally, this paper thoroughly discusses the challenges of sensor-, edge computing-, and algorithm-related lightweight technologies in real-time object detection. It also discusses the prospective impact of future developments in autonomous UAVs and communications on UAV real-time target detection.
Analytical Framework for Sensing Requirements Definition in Non-Cooperative UAS Sense and Avoid
Authors: Fasano Giancarmine , Opromolla Roberto
Published: October 2023

This paper provides an analytical framework to address the definition of sensing requirements in non-cooperative UAS sense and avoid. The generality of the approach makes it useful for the exploration of sensor design and selection trade-offs, for the definition of tailored and adaptive sensing strategies, and for the evaluation of the potential of given sensing architectures, also concerning their interface to airspace rules and traffic characteristics. The framework comprises a set of analytical relations covering the following technical aspects: field of view and surveillance rate requirements in azimuth and elevation; the link between sensing accuracy and closest point of approach estimates, expressed though approximated derivatives valid in near-collision conditions; the diverse (but interconnected) effects of sensing accuracy and detection range on the probabilities of missed and false conflict detections. A key idea consists of focusing on a specific target time to closest point of approach at obstacle declaration as the key driver for sensing system design and tuning, which allows accounting for the variability of conflict conditions within the aircraft field of regard. Numerical analyses complement the analytical developments to demonstrate their statistical consistency and to show quantitative examples of the variation of sensing performance as a function of the conflict geometry, as well as highlighting potential implications of the derived concepts. The developed framework can potentially be used to support holistic approaches and evaluations in different scenarios, including the very low-altitude urban airspace.
A Beamforming-Based Enhanced Handover Scheme with Adaptive Threshold for 5G Heterogeneous Networks
Authors: Zhang Ziyang , Jiang Zheng , Yang Bei , She Xiaoming
Published: October 2023

In order to tackle the explosive growth of data traffic and the number of terminals, 5G heterogeneous network (HetNet) has become an important evolution direction of 5G networking architecture. Densely deployed micro base stations (gNBs) in 5G HetNets will dramatically increase the handover frequency of user equipment (UE), resulting in more handover failures, and seriously reducing the user experience of mobile UE. Aiming at tackling this problem, this paper proposes a beam enhancement handover scheme with an adaptive threshold. Firstly, different beamforming gains are configured for the mobile UE in the overlapping area of two gNBs to improve the signal strength received by the UE at the edge of gNB coverage. Secondly, for mobile UE with different speeds, adaptive handover decision parameters are configured, and reference signal receiving strength (RSRP) as well as reference signal receiving quality (RSRQ) are used for joint handover decisions to achieve reliable handover. The simulation results verify that the proposed scheme can effectively improve the signal strength of the edge area, and the adaptive joint handover decision algorithm based on UE speed can also effectively improve the handover success probability.