bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
THEORETICAL BASIS FOR MONITORING THE PERFORMANCE OF MOTOR TRANSPORT ENTERPRISES
Authors:   National Transport University, Kyiv, Ukraine, V Boiko , O Skladanivska ,   National Transport University, Kyiv, Ukraine
Published: September 2022

Based on the analysis of scientific views on the provision of a meaningful characteristic of the concept of «monitoring» and on the basis of the research carried out, the author's definition of the concept of «monitoring the performance of an enterprise» is given. formed, defined the main tasks of monitoring the activities of the enterprise; The content of the monitoring system has been clarified and the role and place of monitoring in the management system of a motor transport company has been substantiated. The object of the research is the process of monitoring the performance of motor transport enterprises. The purpose of the work is to develop the terminology for monitoring the performance of enterprises based on the analysis of domestic and foreign scientific sources, international concepts and regulatory documents. Research methods are general scientific. The growth of efficiency and effectiveness of activities is one of the urgent tasks for domestic transport enterprises. The statistics of recent years indicate that the profitability of transport enterprises is at a low level, and almost a third of the enterprises in the industry are unprofitable. Consequently, the present requires increased requirements for effective control over the processes carried out in the enterprise and allowing to obtain the planned results. The most acceptable means for solving this problem is to ensure the monitoring of the performance of enterprises in order to identify and assess the factors of influence and make corrective management decisions. Generalization of the results of the study of domestic and foreign scientists in the field of monitoring the activities of an enterprise allows us to give our own definition of monitoring the performance of a motor transport enterprise: a set of measures for the collection, accumulation, systematization, analysis and forecasting of performance indicators of an enterprise aimed at ensuring its sustainable development. Monitoring is a necessary part of performance management, which makes it possible to systematically assess the degree of achievement of the operational and strategic goals of the enterprise, to investigate emerging problems, to determine ways for further development and to adjust management actions. KEYWORDS: MONITORING, EFFICIENCY MONITORING, MONITORING SYSTEM, EFFICIENCY
Getting a seat at the (electoral) table: Partisan poll workers and electoral bias
Authors: Carrizosa Andres , Duarte Raul
Published: September 2022

How do party representatives as poll workers at electoral tables (voting booths) affect elections? Paraguay’s system of counting votes is partisan and adversarial. Every booth has three poll workers which are, by law, party representatives. In theory, multiple parties count votes at each booth, ensuring the integrity of elections. In practice, there are stark inequalities in partisan poll worker representation during the 2018 Paraguayan elections we study. We exploit a natural experiment to show that partisan poll workers decrease an opposing party's vote share by up to 2 percentage points (pp) and increase theirs by up to 0.7 pp. We also demonstrate how incentives for electoral manipulation vary by electoral system. Partisan poll workers collude more often with rival party poll workers within proportional representation races, as distributing votes among themselves can help their parties earn more seats for their legislative candidates. Instead, single-winner plurality voting yields less collusion.
Constitutional Design And the Perceived Legitimacy Of Court Systems: Evidence From Cross-National Time Series Data
Authors: Hemrajani Rahul
Published: September 2022

Studies of judicial legitimacy have largely focused on courts in the United States. We lack a cross-national measure of judicial legitimacy and little is known about the sources of legitimacy of court systems in different countries. In this paper, I combine cross-national surveys, expert data and government statistics, to build a new cross-national measure of judicial legitimacy for over 120 countries from 1990 till 2020. Drawing on this new measure, I test whether the constitutional structure of the legal system can affect the future legitimacy of courts. I find no evidence that courts in countries that have constitutional provisions such as guarantees of judicial independence and fair trial are more likely to be perceived as legitimate by the public. Instead, I find that variation in judicial legitimacy can be explained by the levels of democracy, gross domestic product and de-facto independence of courts.
Party of the Purse: The Effect of Legislator Partisanship on Congressional District Funding
Authors: McLaughlin Peter
Published: September 2022

Legislators’ pursuit of federal funding for their home districts represents a core element of congressional representation. Distributive politics is often characterized as less partisan than other aspects of congressional behavior, but it is unclear how legislator party affiliation affects district spending. I use a regression discontinuity design, leveraging close congressional elections, to examine whether Democratic and Republican MCs pursue different magnitudes and types of distributive benefits. Focusing on the years following a close election, I find that districts where Republicans narrowly win tend to receive more federal funding than districts where Democrats narrowly win. However, the effect of MC partisanship on district spending is not immediate – a distinguishable effect emerges only when the window of observation is expanded from one congress to two congresses following a close election. Finally, I separate spending by policy area and find that the general Republican funding advantage stems from transportation and agriculture spending.
De-historicization of “Wandering Womb”: A Study of Freudian Intervention
Authors: Ghosh Sourav
Published: September 2022

Hysteria, a mysterious symptom registers a lot of experiments and discourses for centuries to ultimately render erroneous arguments and a lack of scientific exuberance. The connotation of hysteria had a very gendered perspective and the entire discourse was based on the physicality of the sufferers. The intervention of Freud completely changed the discourse of hysteria. Hence, I propose to study the trajectory of hysteria from the ancient time through the Middle Ages through the 16th and 17th centuries to the Freudian intervention to signify the importance of Freud in order to create a reference point, using which the later scientists could develop the scientific technique to treat hysteria. In this paper, I would also study the modern interpretation of hysteria and the great role played by Freud in the academic understanding of hysteria.
História local num centro de memória: jovens estudantes ampliam sua compreensão da cidade
Authors: Duarte Hadler Maria Sílvia
Published: September 2022

No âmbito das relações entre instituições de memória, ensino de História e História Pública é apresentado neste artigo um projeto educacional pensado em torno da abordagem da história local e realizado no Centro de Memória – Unicamp com jovens estudantes do Ensino Médio de escolas públicas da região de Campinas no período de férias escolares. Tal projeto procurou introduzir estudantes na discussão de questões referentes às relações entre patrimônio cultural, memória e preservação, ao propiciar-lhes o contato com momentos da história de Campinas em que houve expressivas modificações da área urbana central, acompanhadas de sucessivos apagamentos de suportes de memória. Encontros entre passado e presente ocorreram no diálogo com documentos e observações realizadas pelas estudantes. A cidade tomada como eixo organizador de atividades associadas às aprendizagens da história se mostrou em sua potencialidade de estimular uma compreensão mais alargada da dinâmica das relações sociais no espaço urbano, ampliando suas experiências urbanas.
A atenção compartilhada para o mundo em comum
Authors: Alvez Cavanna Federico José , Antonio Picoli Bruno
Published: September 2022

O objetivo deste artigo é refletir acerca das (im)possibilidades de “autoridade compartilhada”, sobretudo no que diz respeito ao encontro escolar, e sustentar a pertinência da “atenção compartilhada”. Nesse sentido, realiza uma discussão teórica a partir de autores que se dedicaram a problematizar os conceitos de autoridade, cuidado, atenção e a “forma escolar”, dentre os quais destacam-se Larrosa, Masschelein, Biesta, Wallace e Arendt. Está organizado em duas partes. Na primeira discute o encontro escolar como uma “atenção compartilhada” incontornável ao “durante escolar” destacando a importância de pensar a potência da “forma” da scholè como um tempo livre e um espaço público compartilhado. Na segunda tensiona a ideia de autoridade compartilhada e sustenta, com base na concepção de responsabilidade de Hannah Arendt, que a atenção compartilhada resulta mais eloquente para pensar o ensino da História e as relações que se dão no tempo-espaço escolar.
Quem narra um conto, aumenta um ponto: responsabilidade social e escrita colaborativa a partir dos desenhos infanto-juvenis da Guerra do Contestado
Authors: Rosa Rodrigues Rogério
Published: September 2022

O que as crianças têm a dizer sobre experiências de violência e morte em tempos de guerra e de acirramento de repressão política? Tendo como ponto de partida oito desenhos produzidos por crianças que vivem em um dos municípios que serviu de palco para a Guerra do Contestado, convido a uma reflexão sobre a escrita colaborativa entre escola e universidade. A descrição interpretativa foi usada como método e como estratégia narrativa do texto. Por meio dela, mantém-se o compromisso de levar adiante o que foi contado ao autor, ao mesmo tempo que buscou cruzar esse relato com informações complementares disponíveis na historiografia e na documentação sobre o Contestado. O resultado proposto é uma escrita colaborativa que articula relato de experiência com análise de imagens, responsabilidade ética com compromisso social com a memória e a história dos mortos e dos remanescentes vivos do Contestado.
Characterization of a xylitol dehydrogenase from Aspergillus flavus and its application in l-xylulose production
Authors: Kumar Anurag , Li Jinglin , Kondaveeti Sanath , Singh Bakul , Shanmugam Ramasamy , Kalia Vipin Chandra , Kim In-Won , Lee Jung-Kul
Published: September 2022

An NAD+-dependent xylitol dehydrogenase from A. flavus (AfXDH) was cloned and successfully expressed in Escherichia coli. AfXDH gene sequence revealed an open reading frame of 1,110 bp, encoding a polypeptide of 369 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 38,893 Da. Among various polyols, sorbitol and xylitol were preferred substrates of AfXDH with Km values of 16.2 and 16.9 mM, respectively. AfXDH showed the highest activity in Tris-glycine-NaOH buffer (pH 9.5) at 50°C; it required Zn2+ or Mn2+ for enzyme activity. The half-life at 40°C and half denaturation temperature (T1/2) was 200 min and 45°C, respectively. Bioinformatic analyses along with biochemical properties confirmed that AfXDH belonged to the medium-chain dehydrogenase/reductase family. AfXDH exhibits higher thermostability and kcat values than those of other XDHs. The feasibility of using AfXDH in l-xylulose production was demonstrated. AfXDH, when coupled with Streptococcus pyogenes NADH oxidase, efficiently converted xylitol to l-xylulose with 97% yield, suggesting its usefulness for the industrial l-xylulose production from xylitol.
Plant-based production and characterization of a promising Fc-fusion protein against microgravity-induced bone density loss
Authors: Xiong Yongao , Hirano Hiroto , Lane Nancy E. , Nandi Somen , McDonald Karen A.
Published: September 2022

Microgravity-induced bone loss is a main obstacle for long term space missions as it is difficult to maintain bone mass when loading stimuli is reduced. With a typical bone mineral density loss of 1.5% per month of microgravity exposure, the chances for osteoporosis and fractures may endanger astronauts’ health. Parathyroid Hormone or PTH (1–34) is an FDA approved treatment for osteoporosis, and may reverse microgravity-induced bone loss. However, PTH proteins requires refrigeration, daily subcutaneous injection, and have a short shelf-life, limiting its use in a resource-limited environment, like space. In this study, PTH was produced in an Fc-fusion form via transient expression in plants, to improve the circulatory half-life which reduces dosing frequency and to simplify purification if needed. Plant-based expression is well-suited for space medicine application given its low resource consumption and short expression timeline. The PTH-Fc accumulation profile in plant was established with a peak expression on day 5 post infiltration of 373 ± 59 mg/kg leaf fresh weight. Once the PTH-Fc was purified, the amino acid sequence and the binding affinity to its target, PTH 1 receptor (PTH1R), was determined utilizing biolayer interferometry (BLI). The binding affinity between PTH-Fc and PTH1R was 2.30 × 10−6 M, similar to the affinity between PTH (1–34) and PTH1R (2.31 × 10−6 M). Its function was also confirmed in a cell-based receptor stimulation assay, where PTH-Fc was able to stimulate the PTH1R producing cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) with an EC50 of (8.54 ± 0.12) x 10−9 M, comparable to the EC50 from the PTH (1–34) of 1.49 × 10−8 M. These results suggest that plant recombinant PTH-Fc exhibits a similar binding affinity and potency in a PTH1R activation assay compared to PTH. Furthermore, it can be produced rapidly at high levels with minimal resources and reagents, making it ideal for production in low resource environments such as space.
Static composting of cow manure and corn stalk covered with a membrane in cold regions
Authors: Shi Fengmei , Xu Chengjiao , Liu Jie , Sun Fang , Yu Hongjiu , Wang Su , Li Pengfei , Yu Qiuyue , Li Dan , Zuo Xin , Liu Li , Pei Zhanjiang
Published: September 2022

The disposal of livestock wastes is an urgent task in China. Compost is highly regarded for its ability to treat livestock wastes and protect arable land. In particular, some problems of livestock manure in cold regions, such as low efficiency because of low environmental temperature in winter, urgently need to be solved. In order to provide valuable composting information in the cold area at low environmental temperatures, the composting experiments were carried out with cow manure and corn stalk as substrates. The properties and bacterial community of compost samples in different stages were investigated. The electrical conductivity (EC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and organic matter (OM) of the final compost were 551 μS/cm, 1.12, 0.77, and 63.5%, respectively. No E. coli or Ascaris eggs were detected. The temperature was the key factor to affect the physical-co-chemical and biological properties. The absolutely dominant genera were Sporosarcina, Virgibacillus, Flavobacterium, and Steroidobacter in heating, high temperature, cooling, and maturing stages, respectively. Also, these bacteria could act as biological indicators during the composting process. Cryobacterium, Caldicoprobacter, Virgibacillus, and Sporosarcina were relatively novel genera in the compost piles in a cold environment. The biodegradation of exogenous substances mainly occurs in the initial and maturing stages. It is proven that composting can be carried out successfully in early spring or later autumn after a harvest.
Dual drug delivery platforms for bone tissue engineering
Authors: V. K. Anupama Devi , Ray Sarbajit , Arora Udita , Mitra Sunrito , Sionkowska Alina , Jaiswal Amit Kumar
Published: September 2022

The dual delivery platforms used in bone tissue engineering provide supplementary bioactive compounds that include distinct medicines and growth factors thereby aiding enhanced bone regeneration. The delivery of these compounds can be adjusted for a short or prolonged time based on the requirement by altering various parameters of the carrier platform. The platforms thus used are fabricated to mimic the niche of the bone microenvironment, either in the form of porous 3D structures, microspheres, or films. Thus, this review article focuses on the concept of dual drug delivery platform and its importance, classification of various platforms for dual drug delivery specific to bone tissue engineering, and finally highlights the foresight into the future direction of these techniques for better clinical applications.
Therapeutic application of hydrogels for bone-related diseases
Authors: Liu Xiyu , Sun Shuoshuo , Wang Nan , Kang Ran , Xie Lin , Liu Xin
Published: September 2022

Bone-related diseases caused by trauma, infection, and aging affect people’s health and quality of life. The prevalence of bone-related diseases has been increasing yearly in recent years. Mild bone diseases can still be treated with conservative drugs and can be cured confidently. However, serious bone injuries caused by large-scale trauma, fractures, bone tumors, and other diseases are challenging to heal on their own. Open surgery must be used for intervention. The treatment method also faces the problems of a long cycle, high cost, and serious side effects. Studies have found that hydrogels have attracted much attention due to their good biocompatibility and biodegradability and show great potential in treating bone-related diseases. This paper mainly introduces the properties and preparation methods of hydrogels, reviews the application of hydrogels in bone-related diseases (including bone defects, bone fracture, cartilage injuries, and osteosarcoma) in recent years. We also put forward suggestions according to the current development status, pointing out a new direction for developing high-performance hydrogels more suitable for bone-related diseases.
Endothelial microparticles: A mechanosensitive regulator of vascular homeostasis and injury under shear stress
Authors: Feng Shuo , Chen Jia Wei , Shu Xin Yi , Aihemaiti Muladili , Quan Jin Wei , Lu Lin , Zhang Rui Yan , Yang Chen Die , Wang Xiao Qun
Published: September 2022

Hemodynamic shear stress (SS), a frictional force generated by blood flow, regulates vascular homeostasis. High and steady SS maintains physiological function of endothelial cells while low and disturbed SS promotes disturbance of vascular homeostasis and the development of atherosclerosis. Endothelial microparticle (EMP), a vesicular structure shed from endothelial cells, has emerged as a surrogate biomarker of endothelial injury and dysfunction. EMP release is triggered by disturbed SS in addition to multiple inflammatory cytokines. This review systematically summarizes the impact of SS on EMPs and the role of EMPs under SS in modulating vascular homeostasis and injury, including endothelial survival, vasodilation, inflammatory response, vascular permeability, and coagulation system.
Eyes on CHARGE syndrome: Roles of CHD7 in ocular development
Authors: Krueger Laura A. , Morris Ann C.
Published: September 2022

The development of the vertebrate visual system involves complex morphogenetic interactions of cells derived from multiple embryonic lineages. Disruptions in this process are associated with structural birth defects such as microphthalmia, anophthalmia, and coloboma (collectively referred to as MAC), and inherited retinal degenerative diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa and allied dystrophies. MAC and retinal degeneration are also observed in systemic congenital malformation syndromes. One important example is CHARGE syndrome, a genetic disorder characterized by coloboma, heart defects, choanal atresia, growth retardation, genital abnormalities, and ear abnormalities. Mutations in the gene encoding Chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 7 (CHD7) cause the majority of CHARGE syndrome cases. However, the pathogenetic mechanisms that connect loss of CHD7 to the ocular complications observed in CHARGE syndrome have not been identified. In this review, we provide a general overview of ocular development and congenital disorders affecting the eye. This is followed by a comprehensive description of CHARGE syndrome, including discussion of the spectrum of ocular defects that have been described in this disorder. In addition, we discuss the current knowledge of CHD7 function and focus on its contributions to the development of ocular structures. Finally, we discuss outstanding gaps in our knowledge of the role of CHD7 in eye formation, and propose avenues of investigation to further our understanding of how CHD7 activity regulates ocular and retinal development.
MRTF may be the missing link in a multiscale mechanobiology approach toward macrophage dysfunction in space
Authors: An Rocky
Published: September 2022

Macrophages exhibit impaired phagocytosis, adhesion, migration, and cytokine production in space, hindering their ability to elicit immune responses. Considering that the combined effect of spaceflight microgravity and radiation is multiscale and multifactorial in nature, it is expected that contradictory findings are common in the field. This theory paper reanalyzes research on the macrophage spaceflight response across multiple timescales from seconds to weeks, and spatial scales from the molecular, intracellular, extracellular, to the physiological. Key findings include time-dependence of both pro-inflammatory activation and integrin expression. Here, we introduce the time-dependent, intracellular localization of MRTF-A as a hypothetical confounder of macrophage activation. We discuss the mechanosensitive MRTF-A/SRF pathway dependence on the actin cytoskeleton/nucleoskeleton, microtubules, membrane mechanoreceptors, hypoxia, oxidative stress, and intracellular/extracellular crosstalk. By adopting a multiscale perspective, this paper provides the first mechanistic answer for a three-decade-old question regarding impaired cytokine secretion in microgravity—and strengthens the connection between the recent advances in mechanobiology, microgravity, and the spaceflight immune response. Finally, we hypothesize MRTF involvement and complications in treating spaceflight-induced cardiovascular, skeletal, and immune disease.
Novel family of nitrogen-rich energetic (1,2,4-triazolyl) furoxan salts with balanced performance
Authors: Larin Alexander A. , Pivkina Alla N. , Ananyev Ivan V. , Khakimov Dmitry V. , Fershtat Leonid L.
Published: September 2022

Nitrogen-rich energetic materials comprised of a combination of several heterocyclic subunits retain their leading position in the field of materials science. In this regard, a preparation of novel high-energy materials with balanced set of physicochemical properties is highly desired. Herein, we report the synthesis of a new series of energetic salts incorporating a (1,2,4-triazolyl) furoxan core and complete evaluation of their energetic properties. All target energetic materials were well characterized with IR and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis, while compound 6 was further characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction study. Prepared nitrogen-rich salts have high thermal stability (up to 232°C), good experimental densities (up to 1.80 g cm−3) and high positive enthalpies of formation (344–1,095 kJ mol−1). As a result, synthesized energetic salts have good detonation performance (D = 7.0–8.4 km s−1; p = 22–32 GPa), while their sensitivities to impact and friction are quite low.
Case report: Cytokine therapy and an intracoronary autologous bone marrow-derived cell infusion with Impella support in a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy and a severely reduced ejection fraction
Authors: Hall Russell Charles , Ramaseshan Rohini , Reid Alice , Jones Daniel A. , Mathur Anthony
Published: September 2022

Introduction

This is the first reported case of a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and severely impaired left ventricular function to receive a combined treatment of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor therapy and an intracoronary delivery of autologous bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells with percutaneous circulatory assistance (the Impella CP device; Abiomed, Danvers, MA).

Main symptoms and outcome

Three months post-treatment, the gentleman in his early 70s demonstrated an improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (13–17%) and a reduction in New York Heart Association class from III to class I. There was also an improvement in his 6-minute walk test (147–357 meters), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide level (14,099–7,129 ng/l) and quality of life scores. There were no safety concerns during the treatment or follow-up.

Conclusion

This case report suggests combined cell and cytokine therapy with adjunctive circulatory support could be a safe and promising treatment for patients with DCM and severely reduced ejection fraction.
Mechanism of tonifying-kidney Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of chronic heart failure
Authors: Chen Lizhen , Yu Dayun , Ling Shuang , Xu Jin-Wen
Published: September 2022

According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), chronic heart failure has the basic pathological characteristics of “heart-kidney yang deficiency.” Chronic heart failure with heart- and kidney-Yang deficiency has good overlap with New York Heart Association (NYHA) classes III and IV. Traditional Chinese medicine classical prescriptions for the treatment of chronic heart failure often take “warming and tonifying kidney-Yang” as the core, supplemented by herbal compositions with functions of “promoting blood circulation and dispersing blood stasis.” Nowadays, there are still many classical and folk prescriptions for chronic heart failure treatment, such as Zhenwu decoction, Bushen Huoxue decoction, Shenfu decoction, Sini decoction, as well as Qili Qiangxin capsule. This review focuses on classical formulations and their active constituents that play a key role in preventing chronic heart failure by suppressing inflammation and modulating immune and neurohumoral factors. In addition, given that mitochondrial metabolic reprogramming has intimate relation with inflammation, cardiac hypertrophy, and fibrosis, the regulatory role of classical prescriptions and their active components in metabolic reprogramming, including glycolysis and lipid β-oxidation, is also presented. Although the exact mechanism is unknown, the classical TCM prescriptions still have good clinical effects in treating chronic heart failure. This review will provide a modern pharmacological explanation for its mechanism and offer evidence for clinical medication by combining TCM syndrome differentiation with chronic heart failure clinical stages.
Prevalence of genetically defined familial hypercholesterolemia and the impact on acute myocardial infarction in Taiwanese population: A hospital-based study
Authors: Chen Yen-Ju , Chen I-Chieh , Chen Yi-Ming , Hsiao Tzu-Hung , Wei Chia-Yi , Chuang Han-Ni , Lin Wei-Wen , Lin Ching-Heng
Published: September 2022

Background

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a common genetic disorder with markedly increased risk of coronary artery diseases (CAD), especially acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, genetic tests for FH are not always necessary in the current diagnostic criteria of FH, which might lead to underestimation of the prevalence of FH and a lack of awareness of FH-associated CAD and AMI. We aimed to explore the prevalence of genetically defined FH in the hospital-based population and to determine the impact of FH risk variants on CAD and AMI.

Methods

The study participants were recruited between June 24, 2019 and May 12, 2021, at a medical center in Taiwan, in cooperation with the Taiwan Precision Medicine Initiative (TPMI) project. The prevalence of FH was calculated and the effects of FH pathogenic variants on CAD and AMI were analyzed by logistic regression models and shown as ORs and 95% CI.

Results

The prevalence of genetically defined FH was 1.13% in the hospital-based population in Taiwan. Highest LDL and total cholesterol levels were observed in patients with LDLR rs28942084 (LDL 219.4±55.2; total cholesterol 295.8±55.4). There was an approximately 4-fold increased risk of hyperlipidemia in subjects with the LDLR rs769446356 polymorphism (OR, 4.42; 95% CI, 1.92-10.19) and AMI in individuals with the LDLR rs730882109 polymorphism (OR, 3.79; 95% CI, 2.26-6.35), and a 2-fold increased risk of CAD in those with the LDLR rs749038326 polymorphism (OR, 2.14; 95% CI, 1.31-3.50), compared with the groups without pathogenic variants of FH.

Conclusions

The prevalence of genetically defined FH was 1.13% in the hospital-based population in Taiwan, which was higher than the rate observed in individuals with clinically defined FH. The risk of CAD and AMI was increased to varying degrees in subjects with different FH risk alleles. Close monitoring and risk stratification strategy are essential in high-risk patients with FH risk alleles to facilitate early detection and treatments.
Expanding the theory for reducing the CO2 disaster—Hypotheses from partial least-squares regression and machine learning
Authors: Xu Bai-Zhou , Li Xiao-Liang , Wang Wen-Feng , Chen Xi
Published: September 2022

The rapid increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration has caused a climate disaster (CO2 disaster). This study expands the theory for reducing this disaster by analyzing the possibility of reinforcing soil CO2 uptake (Fx) in arid regions using partial least-squares regression (PLSR) and machine learning models such as artificial neural networks. The results of this study demonstrated that groundwater level is a leading contributor to the regulation of the dynamics of the main drivers of Fx–air temperature at 10 cm above the soil surface, the soil volumetric water content at 0–5 cm (R2=0.76, RMSE=0.435), and soil pH (R2=0.978, RMSE=0.028) in arid regions. Fx can be reinforced through groundwater source management which influences the groundwater level (R2=0.692, RMSE=0.03). This study also presents and discusses some basic hypotheses and evidence for quantitively reinforcing Fx.
First-Order Stratigraphic Boundaries of the Late Cretaceous–Paleogene Retroarc Foreland Basin in Colombia
Authors: Carvajal-Torres Juan , Catuneanu Octavian , Mora Andres , Caballero Victor , Reyes Martin
Published: September 2022

The present-day Magdalena Valley, Eastern Cordillera, and Llanos Basin were part of a regional multiphase basin that started as an extensional basin in the Jurassic. Then, it was transformed into a retroarc foreland basin in the Late Cretaceous and subsequently separated into a hinterland and a foreland basin during the late Eocene. We incorporated new data from the Llanos Basin and Eastern Cordillera and chronostratigraphically correlated it with the adjacent basins. Their correlation contributed to establishing the stratigraphic boundaries formed during the first-order changes that marked the beginning and the end of the lifespan of the retroarc foreland basin. In the initial stage, the lateral extent along the dip of the significant depocenter that extended from the Magdalena Valley to the westernmost Llanos Basin was approximately 300–470 km. At the same time, the western flank of the Eastern Cordillera and most of the Llanos Basin were uplifting. The contact between the retrograding marine facies of the Upper Lidita, Buscavidas, Umir, Guadalupe, and Palmichal units marks a late Campanian maximum regressive surface formed during the initial exhumation of the orogen, the Central Cordillera. Therefore, it represents a first-order stratigraphic surface. This surface does not extend across the whole basin. In the uplifting areas, subaerial unconformities truncate the middle Campanian rocks. Their combination represents the lower first-order boundary of the sequence, and their diachroneity is the product of the northward migration of the orogen. The Teruel, Hoyon, Bogota, Cacho, Socha, Barco, and Cuervos formations are truncated by a regional subaerial unconformity. It was formed during orogenic unloading that marks the termination of the foreland basin in the Eocene. As it marks another first-order change, it is the upper boundary of the first-order sequence.
Quantification of soil textural and hydraulic properties in a complex conductivity imaging framework: Results from the Wolfsegg slope
Authors: Gallistl Jakob , Schwindt Daniel , Birgit Jochum , Aigner Lukas , Peresson Mandana , Flores Orozco Adrián
Published: September 2022

We present an approach that permits to predict hydraulic conductivity from extensive, multi-methodical geophysical data collected on a hillslope affected by landslides in Austria. The objective of the investigation is the spatial characterization of a slope affected by mass movements to derive hydrogeological structures and preferential flow paths. The geophysical data sets presented in this study consists of 24 densely distributed complex conductivity (CC) imaging profiles, collocated to these profiles we also collected 517 transient electromagnetic (TEM) soundings and 10 refraction seismic tomography (RST) profiles. Additionally, we also present well-logging data (namely electrical resistivity, natural gamma logs) collected in five boreholes. Cores recovered during the drilling of the boreholes are used to aid in the interpretation of the geophysical units, while analysis of the sediments was conducted to obtain grain size distributions, cation exchange capacity and mineralogy of the subsurface materials. While all geophysical data was processed initially independently, the final complex conductivity imaging results are based on the incorporation of structural constraints about the electrical units obtained from the TEM soundings. The interpretation of the resolved CC units is then sustained by the RST images and the lithological information from the boreholes. We estimate then the hydraulic conductivity of the subsurface derived from the CC images using a two-step approach. In a first step, we investigated the link between the complex conductivity and the different soil volume fractions of gravel, sand, silt and clay. In a second step, we applied a pedo-transfer function, namely the well-known Rosetta model, that permits to predict the hydraulic conductivity from the estimated grain size volumes. This approach allowed a quantitative interpretation of the geophysical data and thus a 3-dimensional (3D) representation of the grain size distribution and hydraulic conductivity in the investigated slope section. Thereby, we observed well-determined site-specific relationships (R2 > 0.7) from the comparison of the complex resistivity images and grain size analysis. The obtained hydrogeophysical 3D model permits to delineate the geometry of an aquiclude, and, thus, the analysis of preferential water-flow paths. In particular, we can identify a spatial correlation between the aquiclude interface and morphological features.
First observation of paired microseismic signals during solution salt mining
Authors: Qian Jiawei , Wang Kangdong , Zhang Haijiang , Tan Yuyang , Xu Chuanjian , Wang Qingsong , Xiong Qiangqing , Malinowski Michal
Published: September 2022

To monitor the status of cavern roof instability induced by solution salt mining, we deployed a surface microseismic monitoring system for Dongxing salt mine, Dingyuan county, China. The microseismic monitoring system consists of 11 three-component geophones installed in shallow holes of 5 m deep. From 7-month continuous monitoring data, we have detected a novel type of signal that consists of two events. The first event has a long duration (>15 s) and generally has higher frequencies at the beginning. The 2nd event has a shorter duration of ∼3 s with lower frequencies. The two events are separated by ∼30–90 s in time. From May 2017 to November 2017, there are a total of 88 distinct paired signals with two events in sequence. We propose the first event corresponds to a series of fracturing processes on the cavern roof, and microseismic signals associated with different fractures are mixed and overlapped to produce a mixed signal with a longer duration. Due to a series of fracturing processes, some zones of cavern roof become instable and some rock debris may fall from the roof and collide on the cavern floor. This collision can produce a short duration signal, which corresponds to the 2nd event of the paired signal. The further analysis of polarities of the first arrivals for the 2nd event further proves its collision origin. The time interval between two events is related to the time for the falling rock debris through the brine, which is controlled by the cavern height and various physical properties of the rock debris and brine. Through the detailed analysis of paired signals, we can have a better understanding of the cavity development status for solution salt mining.
How to measure the ecological compensation threshold in the upper Yangtze River basin, China? An approach for coupling InVEST and grey water footprint
Authors: Guan Dongjie , Wu Lei , Cheng Lidan , Zhang Yuxiang , Zhou Lilei
Published: September 2022

Defining a reasonable and feasible watershed ecological compensation threshold is the key to protecting watershed ecological functions and maintaining the sustainable utilization of watershed ecosystems. However, many studies have obtained compensation values that are too high to promote the implementation of ecological compensation policies. This study chose the upper reaches of the Yangtze River as the research area, taking water resources closer to people’s daily needs as the evaluation object. Based on the InVEST (Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs) model and grey water footprint method, the ecological compensation threshold model for water resources was established. Combined with the eco-compensation priority sequence coefficient identification of protected areas and beneficiary areas and allowed for the measurement of the watershed ecological compensation value in 2015 and 2020. Finally, compare the advantages and disadvantages of different ecological compensation calculation methods, compare the gap between different watershed ecological compensation standards and the theoretical threshold globally. The results showed that from 2015 to 2020, the value of the water content in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River increased, while the value of the grey water footprint decreased. The classified watershed ecological compensation beneficiary areas were mainly concentrated in the central-eastern and southern parts of the upper Yangtze River, while the ecological compensation protected areas were concentrated in the western and northwestern parts. The mean absolute values of the watershed ecological compensation thresholds for each prefecture-level city and state ranged from 0.43 to 24.63 billion CNY in 2015 and from 0.67 to 41.60 billion CNY in 2020, which were close to the actual values. Among the different land-use types, the water conservation service value per unit area of shrubs was the highest. The lower limit value of watershed ecological compensation calculated using the grey water footprint method was closer to the amount of compensation in practice than was the commonly used opportunity cost method. The findings of the study can help improve the watershed ecological compensation mechanism in the upper Yangtze River region, promote win–win cooperation among transboundary watershed areas, and form a harmonious and stable green development model.
Creating a R.A.F.T to engage teenage parents back into education: A case study
Authors: Subban Pearl , Round Penny , Fuqua Melyssa , Rennie Jennifer
Published: September 2022

Through the use of a case study, this paper explores the provision of educational and support services to a group of marginalized young parents in Melbourne, Australia. Teenage parents present as a vulnerable population, and are at risk of becoming socially, economically and culturally disadvantaged. However, young parent support programs, such as the program under study in this project, act as rafts, providing a much-needed lifeline to student participants. These programs engage young parents back into education, after withdrawal due to pregnancy, and increase their likelihood of a life without social disadvantage. Utilizing one site from the young parents’ program, this study examined the educational and support provision to young parents, through a strengths-based, social justice lens. The study yielded the RAFT framework, which may be used to better position young parents to tackle the challenges of their dual roles. Targeting educational providers, teachers and community organizations, the projects attempts to reduce social distance and barriers for the participants.
Tea consumption affects the absorption of levothyroxine
Authors: Lai Ying-Wen , Huang Shih-Ming
Published: September 2022

Levothyroxine (LT4) is a convenient treatment for hypothyroidism. Coffee, however, prevents the body from efficaciously absorbing LT4. It is unknown whether the intake of tea interferes with LT4 absorption. Thirty-seven hypothyroidism patients with the following types of consumption were recruited: 1) only tea, 2) tea and coffee, and 3) only coffee. The concentrations of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroxine (T4) were recorded before and 3 months after changing the consumption. The patients had reductions in the concentration of TSH to varying degrees after 3 months (p < 0.001 or p < 0.05). The natural logarithms of the differences between the concentrations of TSH before and after the change in the consumption (Δln-TSH) of tea and coffee, only coffee, and only tea were 1.94, 2.00, and 2.18, respectively. Long-term consumption of tea, like coffee, interfered with the absorption of LT4. We believe that avoiding tea when taking LT4 will reduce malabsorption.
Data encryption based on 7D complex chaotic system with cubic memristor for smart grid
Authors: Kou Lei , Huang Zhe , Jiang Cuimei , Zhang Fangfang , Ke Wende , Wan Junhe , Liu Hailin , Li Hui , Lu Jinyan
Published: September 2022

The information security has an irreplaceable position in the smart grid (SG). In order to avoid the malicious attack and ensure the information security, the cryptographic techniques are essential. This paper focuses on the encryption techniques to ensure the information security of SG. Firstly, an unusual 7-dimensional complex chaotic system (7D-CCS) combined with the cubic memristor is introduced. Besides its phase portraits, Lyapunov exponent, 0–1 test, complexity, and bifurcation diagram are investigated. Then, with the proposed 7D-CCS, we design a data encryption algorithm to ensure the encryption security. Finally, the data and monitoring images in SG are encrypted by the designed encryption scheme. Besides, the encryption performance is given in detailed. The experimental results show that the proposed encryption scheme has quite good encryption performance. Therefore, it can ensure the information security of SG.
Prediction of photovoltaic power output based on similar day analysis using RBF neural network with adaptive black widow optimization algorithm and K-means clustering
Authors: Liu Hui , Zhou Yongquan , Luo Qifang , Huang Huajuan , Wei Xiuxi
Published: September 2022

Solar photovoltaic power generation has become the focus of the world energy market. However, weak continuity and variability of solar power data severely increase grid operating pressure. Therefore, it is necessary to propose a new refined and targeted forecasting method to broaden the forecasting channels. In this paper, a hybrid model (KM-SDA-ABWO-RBF) based on radial basis function neural networks (RBFNNs), adaptive black widow optimization algorithm (ABWO), similar day analysis (SDA) and K-means clustering (KM) has been developed. The ABWO algorithm develops adaptive factors to optimize the parameters of RBFNNs and avoid getting trapped in local optima. SDA and K-means clustering determine the similarity days and the optimal similarity day through meteorological factors and historical datasets. Nine models compared forecast accuracy and stability over four seasons. Experiments show that compared with other well-known models on the four indicators, the proposed KM-SDA-ABWO-RBF model has the highest prediction accuracy and is more stable.
Does the carbon trading mechanism affect social and environmental benefits of the retailer-led supply chain: Strategic decisions of emissions reduction and promotion
Authors: Tong Wen , Liu Hengyu , Du Jianbang
Published: September 2022

Governments, enterprises, and customers have become more concerned about environmental protection. Following the world’s largest carbon trading market (EU ETS), China has also implemented a market-based carbon trading mechanism (CAT) to reduce CO2. Simultaneously, customers have low-carbon preferences for environmental products. Thus, the enterprises’ strategic decisions and collaboration modes have changed. This article develops the Stackelberg game model to explore the impacts of CAT and customers’ low-carbon preference on the carbon emission reduction and promotion strategies in a retailer-led supply chain (such as RT-Mart, Walmart, Amazon, etc.). In this model, the retailer decides whether to promote environmentally safe products and the manufacturer decides whether to reduce CO2. We find that carbon trading market price and customers’ low-carbon preference are key factors influencing the retail price, total carbon emissions, and social welfare. Interestingly, there is not always a positive correlation between customers’ low-carbon preference and social welfare. To achieve Pareto improvement of social welfare, manufacturers and retailers require co-optimization. Theoretically, our research enriches the research streams of the CAT policy and socially responsible operations of the supply chain. Moreover, managerial insights are provided for retailer-led supply chain stakeholders and emission reduction regulators, which contribute to enhancing the social and environmental benefits of the supply chains.
T cell interaction with activated endothelial cells primes for tissue-residency
Authors: Wienke Judith , Veldkamp Saskia R. , Struijf Eva M. , Yousef Yengej Fjodor A. , van der Wal M. Marlot , van Royen-Kerkhof Annet , van Wijk Femke
Published: September 2022

Tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM) are suspected drivers of chronic inflammation, but their induction remains unclear. Since endothelial cells (EC) are obligate interaction partners for T cells trafficking into inflamed tissues, they may play a role in TRM development. Here, we used an in vitro co-culture system of human cytokine-activated EC and FACS-sorted T cells to study the effect of EC on T(RM) cell differentiation. T cell phenotypes were assessed by flow cytometry, including proliferation measured by CellTrace Violet dilution assay. Soluble mediators were analyzed by multiplex immunoassay. Co-culture of T cells with cytokine-activated, but not resting EC induced CD69 expression without activation (CD25, Ki67) or proliferation. The dynamic of CD69 expression induced by EC was distinct from that induced by TCR triggering, with rapid induction and stable expression over 7 days. CD69 induction by activated EC was higher in memory than naive T cells, and most pronounced in CD8+ effector memory T cells. Early CD69 induction was mostly mediated by IL-15, whereas later effects were also mediated by interactions with ICAM-1 and/or VCAM-1. CD69+ T cells displayed a phenotype associated with tissue-residency, with increased CD49a, CD103, CXCR6, PD-1 and CD57 expression, and decreased CD62L and S1PR1. EC-induced CD69+ T cells were poised for high production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and showed increased expression of T-helper 1 transcription factor T-bet. Our findings demonstrate that activated EC can induce functional specialization in T cells with sustained CD69 expression, increased cytokine response and a phenotypic profile reminiscent of TRM. Interaction with activated EC during transmigration into (inflamed) tissues thus contributes to TRM-residency priming.