bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optical Engineering of FAPbBr3 Nanocrystals via Conjugated Ligands for Light‐Outcoupling Enhancement in Perovskite Light‐Emitting Diodes
Authors: He Siwei , Lee Hock Beng , Ko Keum‐Jin , Kumar Neetesh , Jang Jee‐Hun , Cho Sung‐Ok , Song Myungkwan , Zhou Weiyang , Lee Bum‐Joo , Lee Jeong‐Hwan , Kang Jae‐Wook
Published: June 2023

Formamidinium lead bromide (FAPbBr3) nanocrystals (NCs) that exhibit ultra‐pure green emission are the most promising candidates for future displays. Despite the rapid development of light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) based on perovskite NCs (PeNCs), there is limited research detailing their intrinsic light outcoupling. Herein, the use of a short‐chain fluoroaromatic ligand, 4‐fluoro‐phenethylammonium bromide (FPEABr), via a facile spin‐casting method is proposed to fine‐tune the refractive index (n) and horizontal dipole ratio values (ΘH) of the perovskite emitter layer and simultaneously suppress the defects formed during film deposition. After FPEABr ligand exchange, the FAPbBr3 NC films exhibit a refractive index n that is significantly lower (by about 0.4) than bulk (2D/quasi‐2D or 3D) perovskite films and show an enhanced ΘH value of 77%. Therefore, ultra‐pure green perovskite LEDs are successfully produced with a maximum current efficiency of ≈50 cd A−1, a maximum luminance of 21 304 cd m−2, and a peak external quantum efficiency of 11.34% at a high luminance of 2804 cd m−2, approaching the theoretical value of 11.90% given the structure, photoluminescence quantum yield, and ΘH.
Chemical Modification of Peptides and Proteins Using Spirooxindole Oxirane Derivatives
Authors: Chavan Santosh S. , Saze Hidetoshi , Tanaka Fujie
Published: June 2023

Methods for chemical modification of proteins and peptides at certain positions are required for the preparation of antibody‐drug conjugates, protein‐ or peptide‐biotin conjugates, and conjugates used as therapeutics or as tools in biomedical research. We have developed chemical modification methods that use spirooxindole oxirane derivatives for the synthesis of protein‐ and peptide‐conjugates. In most cases, the epoxide group of the spirooxindole oxirane derivatives reacted to form a covalent bond with certain histidine residues and/or the N‐terminal amino group of peptides and proteins. The modification reactions of various proteins resulted in the formation of proteins modified at only one or two positions.
Interlayer Nano‐Dots Induced High‐Rate Supercapacitors
Authors: Li Chunyan , Wang Xinkun , Ma Dongge , Yan Yan , Huo Pengwei , Yang Qingjun
Published: June 2023

The fast OH− transfer between hydroxide layers is the key to enhancing the charge storage efficiency of layered double hydroxides (LDH)‐based supercapacitors (SCs). Constructing interlayer reactive sites in LDH is much expected but still a huge challenge. In this work, CdS nano‐dots (NDs) are introduced to interlayers of ultra‐thin NiFe‐LDH (denoted CdSinter.‐NiFe‐LDH), promoting the interlayer ions flow for higher redox activity. The excellent performance is not only due to the enlarged layer spacing (from 0.70 to 0.81 nm) but also stems from anchored interlayer reactive units and the undamaged original layered structure of LDH, which contribute to the improvement of OH− diffusion coefficient (1.6 × 10−8 cm2 s−1) and electrochemical active area (601 mF cm−2) better than that of CdS NDs on the surface of NiFe‐LDH (2.1 × 10−9 cm2 s−1 and 350 mF cm−2). The champion CdSinter.‐NiFe‐LDH electrode displays high capacitance of 3330.0 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 and excellent retention capacitance of 90.9% at 10 A g−1, which is better than the NiFe‐LDH with CdS NDs on the surface (1966.6 F g−1). Moreover, the assembled     asymmetric SCs (ASC) device demonstrate an outstanding energy density/power density (121.56 Wh kg−1/754.5 W kg−1).
Stabilized Perovskite Quantum Dot Solids via Nonpolar Solvent Dispersible Covalent Ligands
Authors: Han Sanghun , Seo Gayoung , Yong Taeyeong , Choi Seongmin , Kim Younghoon , Choi Jongmin
Published: June 2023

The ligand exchange procedure of CsPbI3 perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) enables the fabrication of thick and conductive PQD solids that act as a photovoltaic absorber for solution‐processed thin‐film solar cells. However, the ligand‐exchanged CsPbI3 PQD solids suffer from deterioration in photovoltaic performance and ambient stability due to the surface traps, such as uncoordinated Pb2+ sites on the PQD surface, which are generated after the conventional ligand exchange process using ionic short‐chain ligands dissolved in polar solvents. Herein, a facile surface stabilization is demonstrated that can simultaneously improve the photovoltaic performance and ambient stability of CsPbI3 PQD photovoltaic absorber using covalent short‐chain triphenylphosphine oxide (TPPO) ligands dissolved in a nonpolar solvent. It is found that the TPPO ligand can be covalently bound to uncoordinated Pb2+ sites and the nonpolar solvent octane can completely preserve the PQD surface components. Owing to their synergetic effects, the CsPbI3 PQD photovoltaic absorber stabilized using the TPPO ligand solution dissolved in octane exhibit higher optoelectrical properties and ambient stability than the control absorber. Consequently, CsPbI3 PQD solar cells composed of PQD photovoltaic absorbers fabricated via surface stabilization strategy provide an improved power conversion efficiency of 15.4% and an enhanced device stability.
Microrobotic Locomotion in Blood Vessels: A Computational Study on the Performance of Surface Microrollers in the Cardiovascular System
Authors: Bozuyuk Ugur , Ozturk Hakancan , Sitti Metin
Published: June 2023

Surface microrollers have emerged as a promising microrobotic platform for navigation in the circulatory system as future drug/gene delivery applications. The circulatory system comprises various vessels with different dimensions, blood flow velocities, and flow regimes. Therefore, the performance of surface microrollers would vary in blood vessels. Herein, the performance of surface microrollers, with diameters between 5 and 50 μm, inside vessels of the systemic circulation including veins, venules, capillaries, arterioles, and arteries is investigated with computational fluid dynamics simulations. The simulation environment consists of a simplified fluid with the viscosity and density of blood, without red blood cells, in a cylindrical pipe. The microrollers demonstrate successful upstream locomotion ability in veins and partially in arteries but fail to perform in smaller blood vessels due to significant confinement and flow effects. Overall, the results presented here establish a preliminary result for the future in vivo use of surface microrollers.
Estimates of life history parameters in a high latitude, arid‐country vervet monkey population
Authors: Henzi S. Peter , Blersch Rosemary A. , Bonnell Tyler R. , Clarke Madison , Dostie Marcus J. , Lucas Miranda , Jarrett Jonathan , McFarland Richard , Nord Christina , Takahashi April , Vilette Chloé , Young Chris , Young Mirjam M. , Barrett Louise
Published: June 2023

We present data on life history parameters from a long‐term study of vervet monkeys in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Estimates are presented of age at first conception for females and age at natal dispersal for males, along with the probability of survival to adulthood for infants born during the study, female reproductive life‐span, reproductive output (including lifetime reproductive success for a subset of females), and inter‐birth interval (IBI) duration. We also assess the effect of maternal age and infant survival on length of IBI. We then go on to compare life history parameters for our population with those from two East African populations in Kenya (Amboseli and Laikipia). We find there is broad consensus across the three populations, although mean infant survival was considerably lower for the two East African sites. Such comparisons must be made cautiously, however, as local ecology across the duration of the studies obviously has an impact on the estimates obtained. With this caveat in place, we consider that the concordance between values is sufficient to enable the values reported here to be used in comparative studies of primate life history, although data from habitats with higher rainfall and lower levels of seasonality are needed, and the results presented here should not be seen as canonical.
Zataria multiflora and its constituent, carvacrol, counteract sepsis‐induced aortic and cardiac toxicity in rat: Involvement of nitric oxide and oxidative stress
Authors: Hosseini Mahmoud , Arab Zohreh , Beheshti Farimah , Anaeigoudari Akbar , Shakeri Farzaneh , Rajabian Arezoo
Published: June 2023

Background

Zataria multiflora and carvacrol showed various pharmacological properties including anti‐inflammatory and anti‐oxidant effects. However, up to now no studies have explored its potential benefits in ameliorating sepsis‐induced aortic and cardiac injury. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effects of Z. multiflora and carvacrol on nitric oxide (NO) and oxidative stress indicators in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced aortic and cardiac injury.

Methods

Adult male Wistar rats were assigned to: Control, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal (i.p.)), and Z. multiflora hydro‐ethanolic extract (ZME, 50–200 mg/kg, oral)‐ and carvacrol (25–100 mg/kg, oral)‐treated groups. LPS was injected daily for 14 days. Treatment with ZME and carvacrol started 3 days before LPS administration and treatment continued during LPS administration. At the end of the study, the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), NO, thiols, and antioxidant enzymes were evaluated.

Results

Our findings showed a significant reduction in the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and thiols in the LPS group, which were restored by ZME and carvacrol. Furthermore, ZME and carvacrol decreased MDA and NO in cardiac and aortic tissues of LPS‐injected rats.

Conclusions

The results suggest protective effects of ZME and carvacrol on LPS‐induced cardiovascular injury via improved redox hemostasis and attenuated NO production. However, additional studies are needed to elucidate the effects of ZME and its constituents on inflammatory responses mediated by LPS.
Analysis of fluid flow behaviour in different proton exchange membrane fuel cell flow field configurations
Authors: Sarjuni C. T. Aisyah , Lim Bee Huah , Majlan Edy Herianto , Rosli Masli Irwan , Wong Wai Yin
Published: June 2023

The performance of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) stack is largely affected by the bipolar plate design. Uniform gas distribution throughout the active area with effective mass transport is critical to avoiding activation, concentration and ohmic losses that can reduce the overall stack performance. In this study, three inlet/outlet turning angles (90, 135 and 180°) were first simulated with a conventional parallel (CP) flow field. It was found that the 135° inlet/outlet angle showed the most optimised fluid distribution in the flow field. Thus, improving fluid uniformity up to 6% and reducing pressure drop up to 36%. This turning angle was then simulated in three different flow fields (modified serpentine [MS], modified fishbone [MF] and Tesla valve [TV]). MF generated the lowest pressure drop value of 80.11 Pa, but flow channelling was apparent in the fluid channels. The pressure drop in MS was 43% higher than in TV. Furthermore, the continuous fluid flow mechanism of the TV design generated up to two times higher uniformity level than MS. Hence, a TV flow field with a 135° inlet/outlet angle evidently demonstrated uniform fluid distribution, which can significantly enhance the multi‐phase fluid dynamics in a PEMFC.
The impact of expression vector position on transgene transcription allows for rational expression vector design in a targeted integration system
Authors: Beal Kathryn M. , Bandara Kalpanie R. , Ali Syed R. , Sonak Renuka G. , Barnes Michael R. , Scarcelli John J. , Zhang Lin
Published: June 2023

Site‐specific integration (SSI) technology has emerged as an effective approach by the pharmaceutical industry for the development of recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines. While SSI systems have been demonstrated to be effective for the development of CHO cell lines, they can be limiting in terms of both transgene expression and in the case of multi‐specifics, the ability to generate the correct product of interest. To maximize the performance of Pfizer's dual SSI expression system for expressing monoclonal and multi‐specific antibodies, we used a novel approach to investigate the positional effect of transgenes within expression vectors by engineering nucleotide polymorphisms (NP)s to use as biomarkers to track the level of transcript output from each expression vector position. We observed differences in transcript level for two different transgenes across all four expression vector positions interrogated. We then applied these learnings to rationally design expression vectors for six different mAbs and a multi‐specific antibody. We showed enhanced productivity and optimal product quality when compared to a conventional expression vector topology. The learnings gained here can potentially aid in the determination of optimal vector topologies for several IgG‐like multi‐specific formats.
In silico induced effect of N‐ε‐lysine acetylation on microtubule stability and subsequent interaction of microtubule‐associated proteins
Authors: Rayevsky Alexey , Bulgakov Elijah , Sharifi Mohsen , Samofalova Dariya , Ozheredov Daniil , Karpov Pavel , Pantano Sergio , Blume Yaroslav
Published: June 2023

Plant systems have been considered valuable models for addressing fundamental questions of microtubule (MT) organization due to their considerable practical utility. Protein acetylation is a very common protein modification, and therate of acetylation can be modulated in cells in different biological states, and these changes can be detected at a molecular level. Here, we focused on K40, K112, and K394 residues as putative acetylation sites, which were shown to exist in both plants and mammals. Such residual effect of acetylation causes critical but unclear effect on MT stability. In turn, it was shown that acetylation indirectly affects the probability of interaction with different MAPs (Microtubule‐associated proteins). In a multiscale study using an all‐atom force field to reproduce several lattice‐forming elements found on the surface the microtubule, we assembled a fragment of a plant microtubule composed of nine tubulins and used it as a model object along with the existing human complex. Triplets of tubulins assembled in a lattice cell were then simulated for both human and plant protein complexes, using a coarse‐grained force field. We then analyzed the trajectories and identified some critical deformations of the MAP interaction surface. The initial coordinates were used to investigate the structural scenario in which autophagy‐related protein 8 (ATG8) was able to interact with the MT fragment.
Matrix metalloproteinase‐2 delivery to extracellular vesicles produced by HPV‐positive cervical cancer cells enhances metastasis via the Akt pathway
Authors: Sun Jianan , Mou Junjun , Zhang Yunmei , Yuan Kang , Yang Ying , Tang Qing
Published: June 2023

Here, we aimed to analyze the effects of matrix metalloproteinase‐2 (MMP‐2) delivery to extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by human papillomavirus (HPV)‐associated cervical cancer cells on human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) angiogenesis. First, MMP‐2 expression was compared among SiHa (HPV16), HeLa (HPV18), and C‐33A (negative) cells. Then, EVs were isolated from these cells, and MMP‐2 expression in the EVs was compared. SiHa and HeLa cells were transfected with MMP‐2 or control siRNA. HUVECs were treated with EVs isolating from transfected cells. Migration and angiogenesis of HUVECs were measured, and p‐Akt protein expression in HUVECs was detected. An Akt inhibitor or activator was used to analyze the effect of MMP‐2 delivery to EVs on the migration of HUVECs. The SiHa‐induced xenograft tumors were treated with 2 µg of EVs every 3 d for a total of 27 d. Tumor growth, and the expression levels of p‐Akt, MMP‐2, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were observed in the tumors. The results showed that MMP‐2 expression was higher in SiHa‐ and HeLa‐derived EVs than that in the C‐33A‐derived EVs. Interference with MMP‐2 suppressed the invasion of SiHa and HeLa cells. The migration and angiogenesis of HUVECs were enhanced by MMP‐2 delivery to EVs secreted by SiHa and HeLa cells through regulation of the Akt pathway. The growth of xenograft tumors was accelerated by EVs secreted by SiHa cell with differential MMP‐2 expression. Our results indicate the delivered MMP‐2 in EVs acts as a messenger between HPV‐associated cancer cells and HUVECs.
Process characterization and pretreatment of container and drum cleaning industry wastewater using a heat‐activated persulfate oxidation process
Authors: Güneş Elçin , Çifçi Deniz İzlen , Çelik Suna Özden
Published: June 2023

The aim of this study was to treat wastewater from washing, cutting or crushing of intermediate bulk containers (IBCs), steel drums and plastic drums, using the sulfate radical‐based oxidation method. In this study, it was planned to make the wastewater suitable for activated sludge treatment by applying neutralization after a sulfate radical‐based oxidation process. Samples were taken from the industry three times to study these treatment processes. To determine the optimum conditions in the study, chemical oxygen demand (COD), removal efficiency was calculated, and optimum temperature, optimum time, and optimum persulfate dose were determined. Since the washing is done with hot water in the industry, the thermal activation method was used for the activation of persulfate. In the results of the study, COD removal efficiency, and total organic carbon (TOC), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and potentially toxic metal(s) removal efficiency was measured in three wastewater samples. According to the results of the study, the temperature at which the best COD removal efficiency was observed was 70°C, the COD/S2O82− ratio was 1:2, and the contact time was 5 h. As a result of the study, it has been revealed that such wastewater can be given to the activated sludge after sulfate radical‐based oxidation and neutralization in the same existing reactor instead of the existing FeCl3 process.
Metabolism of (R)‐Praziquantel versus the Activation of a Parasite Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin Ion Channel
Authors: Friedrich Lukas , Park Sang‐Kyu , Ballard Peter , Ho Baeurle Tobias Hyun , Maillard David , Bödding Matthias , Keiser Jennifer , Marchant Jonathan S. , Spangenberg Thomas
Published: June 2023

Praziquantel (PZQ) is an essential anthelmintic drug recently established to be an activator of a Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin (TRPMPZQ) ion channel in trematode worms. Bioinformatic, mutagenesis and drug metabolism work indicate that the cyclohexyl ring of PZQ is a key pharmacophore for activation of trematode TRPMPZQ, as well as serving as the primary site of oxidative metabolism which results in PZQ being a short‐lived drug. Based on our recent findings, the hydrophobic cleft in schistosome TRPMPZQ defined by three hydrophobic residues surrounding the cyclohexyl ring has little tolerance for polarity. Here we evaluate the in vitro and in vivo activities of PZQ analogues with improved metabolic stability relative to the challenge of maintaining activity on the channel. Finally, an estimation of the respective contribution to the overall activity of both the parent and the main metabolite of PZQ in humans is reported.
Identification of novel oncogenes in oral cancer among elderly nonsmokers
Authors: Inoue Hitoshi , Hirasaki Masataka , Kogashiwa Yasunao , Nakachi Yutaka , Kuba Kiyomi , Ebihara Yasuhiro , Nakahira Mitsuhiko , Yasuda Masanori , Okuda Akihiko , Sugasawa Masashi
Published: June 2023

Objectives

In recent years, an increase in oral cancer among elderly nonsmokers has been noted. The aim of this study was to identify novel oncogenes in oral cancer in older nonsmokers.

Material and Methods

Whole‐exome sequencing (WES) data from 324 oral cancer patients were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and insertions/deletions (INDELs) were extracted from the WES data of older patients. Fisher's exact test was performed to determine the specificity of variants in these genes. Finally, SNVs and INDELs were identified by target enrichment sequencing.

Results

Gene ontology analysis of 112 genes with significant SNVs or INDELs in nonsmokers revealed that nonsynonymous SNVs in HECTD4 were significantly more frequent in nonsmokers than in smokers by target enrichment sequencing (p = .02).

Conclusions

Further investigation of the function of HECTD4 variants as oncogenes in older nonsmokers is warranted.
A Salt‐Resistant and Antibacterial Cu2ZnSnS4‐Based Hydrogel for High Efficient Photothermal Distillation in Seawater Desalination and Sewage Purification
Authors: Liu Pan , Xu Lei , Wang Zhen‐Yu , Huo Yang , Hu Yi‐bo , Fu Ming‐Lai , Yuan Baoling
Published: June 2023

Solar steam generation technology (SSGT) using unlimited solar energy is regarded as one of the most promising sustainable technologies to produce clean water. However, most of studies on SSGT simply focus on how to improve salt resistance as well as exclude inorganic and organic pollutants in targeted water, and only very limited studies pay attention to the micro‐organisms in the collected water. Herein, one porous Cu2ZnSnS4‐based photothermal hydrogel (CZTS‐PH) with antibacterial properties as well as good salt resistance was successfully prepared. The CZTS‐PH was measured with the water evaporation rate as high as 3.249 kg m−2 h−1 and photothermal conversion efficiency of 96.3 % under one sun irradiation. Impressively, owing to the amino groups in the skeleton, CZTS‐PH can significantly deteriorate the cell membrane and lead to the death of the Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), which ensures its long‐term stability photothermal conversion and the safety of clean water. Overall, the admired photothermal conversion efficiency, and the excellent salt resistance and antibacterial performance suggest that CZTS‐PH could be a promising full‐scale device applied in seawater desalination and water purification.
Implicit affectivity as the predictor of the relationship between paternal postpartum depression and self‐stigma in fathers: A structural equation modeling analysis
Authors: Tarsuslu Bedia , Sahin Ayse , Durat Gulgun
Published: June 2023

Objective

To investigate the moderating role of the implicit affect in the relationship between postpartum depression and self‐stigma.

Methods

In this cross‐sectional study, data were collected from 233 fathers using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS), Self‐Stigma of Depression Scale (SSDS), and Implicit Positive and Negative Affect Test (IPANAT) between July and August 2021. The structural equation model was used in data analysis.

Results

Fathers received the following mean scores from the EPDS, SSDS, Implicit Positive Affect (IPA), and Implicit Negative Affect (INA) tests: 7.36 ± 5.55; 41.44 ± 10.04; 1.84 ± 0.62, and 2.50 ± 0.83, respectively. From the EPDS, 29.2% of the fathers received 10–30. It was found that postpartum depression negatively affects IPA (ß = −0.248, P < 0.001), whereas it positively affects SSDS (ß = 0.333, P < 0.001) and INA (ß = 0.344, P < 0.001). It was concluded that postpartum depression has a significant effect on the SSDS with the partial moderating role based on the IPA (ß = −0.298, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Postpartum depression is an important health problem in fathers. Implicit positive affect partially affects self‐stigma in fathers with depressive symptoms. These results will guide the understanding of the stigmatization of fathers who experience depression during the transition to fatherhood.
Clinicopathological characteristics of pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma and screening of prognostic markers
Authors: Lei Jinghao , Qu Tengfei , Cha Lichao , Tian Lantian , Qiu Fabo , Guo Weidong , Cao Jingyu , Sun Chuandong , Zhou Bin
Published: June 2023

Background

Malignant pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma (PCPG) is lethal and difficult to diagnose before metastasis. This study is aiming to characterize the PCPG and explore novel prognostic markers.

Methods

Clinical data of patients with pathologically confirmed invasive and noninvasive PCPG were collected and analyzed. Then, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and HUB genes were identified by R package “limma” in GSE67066‐GPL570. Afterward, the prognostic markers were screened out using R packages of “survival” and “survminer” based on the TCGA data.

Results

The 34 invasive PCPGs were characterized by irregular contour and unclear boundary on CT and capsule/extracapsule tissue invasion on pathology compared with the 42 noninvasive PCPGs. Then, 29 upregulated and 30 downregulated DEGs were identified in malignant PCPG compared with benign, which were mainly enriched in the terms of calcium ion binding, neuron cell–cell adhesion, axon, regulation of hormone levels, and regulation of secretion by cell. Of which, nine DEGs were furtherly selected as the HUB genes. Finally, CNTN4 and SH3GL2 were found to be highly expressed in malignant PCPGs and negatively correlated with progression‐free interval.

Conclusions

Malignant PCPGs tend to be aggressive in imaging and pathology. The high expression of CNTN4 and SH3GL2 in PCPGs may indicate a poor prognosis.
Controlled Synthesis of Statistical Polycarbonates Based on Epoxides and CO2
Authors: Denk Alina , Fulajtar Emilia , Troll Carsten , Rieger Bernhard
Published: June 2023

The controlled synthesis of terpolymer structures is often limited by the intrinsic reactivities of the monomers. For the synthesis of a statistical terpolymer from cyclohexene oxide (CHO) and propylene oxide (PO) with CO2, an instrumental solution is demanded. Implementing a setup where one monomer can be added to the reaction mixture over the whole course of the reaction, the random distribution of the epoxides over the whole chain is realized. The successful terpolymerization can be determined with diffusion‐ordered nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography measurements while the statistical microstructure of the generated polymers is indicated in NMR spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry measurements. Furthermore, the concept is transferred to the terpolymerization of limonene oxide with PO and CO2 underlining the versatility of the setup.
Mathematical modeling of COVID‐19 and Omicron outbreak spread: Optimal control approach for intervention strategies
Authors: Amouch Mohamed , Karim Noureddine
Published: June 2023

In Morocco, 966,777 confirmed cases and 14,851 confirmed deaths because of COVID‐19 were recorded as of January 1, 2022. Recently, a new strain of COVID‐19, the so‐called Omicron variant, was reported in Morocco, which is considered to be more dangerous than the existing COVID‐19 virus. To end this ongoing global COVID‐19 pandemic and Omicron variant, there is an urgent need to implement multiple population‐wide policies like vaccination, testing more people, and contact tracing. To forecast the pandemic's progress and put together a strategy to effectively contain it, we propose a new hybrid mathematical model that predicts the dynamics of COVID‐19 in Morocco, considering the difference between COVID‐19 and the Omicron variant, and investigate the impact of some control strategies on their spread. The proposed model monitors the dynamics of eight compartments, namely susceptible , exposed , infected with COVID‐19 , infected with Omicron , hospitalized , people in intensive care units , quarantined , and recovered , collectively expressed as . We calculate the basic reproduction number , studying the local and global infection‐free equilibrium stability, a sensitivity analysis is conducted to determine the robustness of model predictions to parameter values, and the sensitive parameters are estimated from the real data on the COVID‐19 pandemic in Morocco. We incorporate two control variables that represent vaccination and diagnosis of infected individuals and we propose an optimal strategy for an awareness program that will help to decrease the rate of the virus' spread. Pontryagin's maximum principle is used to characterize the optimal controls, and the optimality system is solved by an iterative method. Finally, extensive numerical simulations are employed with and without controls to illustrate our results using MATLAB software. Our results reveal that achieving a reduction in the contact rate between uninfected and infected individuals by vaccinating and diagnosing the susceptible individuals, can effectively reduce the basic reproduction number and tends to decrease the intensity of epidemic peaks, spreading the maximal impact of an epidemic over an extended period of time. The model simulations demonstrate that the elimination of the ongoing SARS‐COV‐2 pandemic and its variant Omicron in Morocco is possible by implementing, at the start of the pandemic, a strategy that combines the two variables of control mentioned above. Our predictions are based on real data with reasonable assumptions.
Quantitative proteomics reveals PPAR signaling pathway regulates the cardiomyocyte activity of neonatal mouse heart
Authors: Li Xinyu , Wang Nannan , Gui Minhui , Wang Chengzhi , Ding Yibing , Bai Bing , Li Chaojun , Zhang Jingzi , Fang Lei
Published: June 2023

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are among the most morbid and deadly types of diseases worldwide, while the existing therapeutic approaches all have their limitations. Mouse heart undergoes a very complex postnatal developmental process, including the 1‐week window in which cardiomyocytes (CMs) maintain relatively high cell activity. The underlying mechanism provides an attractive direction for CVDs treatment. Herein, we collected ventricular tissues from mice of different ages from E18.5D to P8W and performed iTRAQ‐based quantitative proteomics to characterize the atlas of cardiac development. A total of 3422 proteins were quantified at all selected time points, revealing critical proteomic changes related to cardiac developmental events such as the metabolic transition from glycolysis to beta‐oxidation. A cluster of significantly dysregulated proteins containing proteins that have already been reported to be associated with cardiac regeneration (Erbb2, Agrin, and Hmgb) was identified. Meanwhile, the peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathway (Cpt1α, Hmgcs2, Plin2, and Fabp4) was also found specifically enriched. We further revealed that bezafibrate, a pan‐activator of PPAR signaling pathway markedly enhanced H9C2 cardiomyocyte activity via enhancing Cpt1α expression. This work provides new hint that activation of PPAR signaling pathway could potentially be a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of CVDs.
Postgraduate education and job mismatch in Italy: Does migration help?
Authors: Aronica Martina , Faggian Alessandra , Insolda Debora , Piacentino Davide
Published: June 2023

Doctoral graduates represent the pinnacle of education. While the importance of increasing their number has been recognised by the Italian government and there has been a huge increase in the number of publicly funded PhD scholarships, doctoral graduates still struggle in the labour market to find employment commensurate with their skills and competencies. It is against this backdrop that the role of migration becomes crucial. Exploiting Italian microdata at the census level, this study aims to investigate how human capital migration, occurring at different ‘times’ of individual's life and across different regions, could mitigate the potential education–job mismatch, which is measured here from a multidimensional perspective by looking at overeducation, overskilling and satisfaction. Our findings reveal some positive effects of migration on reducing this mismatch. Moreover, the study highlights two relevant gaps, the first between domestic and foreign workers and the second between genders.
Counterurbanization, gentrification and the potential for rural revitalisation in China
Authors: Liu Pingyang , Bai Xue , Ravenscroft Neil
Published: June 2023

Stimulating counterurbanization has long been understood as a potential approach to revitalising rural areas. While well‐established in many countries, in China, it is taking a particular time‐limited form and characteristic dominated by issues of domicile and property rights. Rather than being characterised by long‐term life choices, counterurbanization in China is predominantly a shorter‐term leisure and tourism activity in which urbanites ‘curate’, for a limited period, a gentrified country lifestyle in accessible near‐urban villages. These lifestyles are in some ways akin to second‐home tourism. However, rather than purchase property as an investment, this new movement rents and renovates property as a consumption good with which to welcome other urbanites to visit, to consume and affirm these newly gentrified spaces and leisure opportunities. Based on a case study of Cenbu Village near Shanghai, this paper argues that current approaches to counterurbanization in China have limited impact on the revitalisation of local communities. Rather, newcomers from the cities largely superimpose their needs on the village in a way both ephemeral and removed from local people and village life. This comes about less as a mark of distain on the part of the incomers, and more as a result of their exclusion from key village institutions such as collective ownership, rights of domicile and ability to contribute to local governance. The paper concludes by arguing that mechanisms should be developed to enhance the long‐term confidence of newcomers, to encourage them to engage with community governance as a means of shaping the community and contributing more effectively to endogenous village revitalisation.
A review on environmental effect of various designs and types of drying methods
Authors: Mani Purusothaman , Nataraj Praveen Kumar , Gopi Shrivishnupathy , Ponnappan Venkatesan Sorakka
Published: June 2023

Fruits and vegetables are nutritious and good in minerals, vitamins, and fib. Most fresh fruits and vegetables contain a minimum of 70% of moisture content which causes the formation of bacteria, fungi, and viruses to affect and cause the items to rot. But dried fruits contain only less than 20% of moisture content. So drying the fruits and vegetables helps to preserve the items for longer use without causing them to rot. Dried fruits have a great source of antioxidants and help in health benefits like improving blood flow, and reducing the effects of many diseases. Compared to fresh fruits, dried fruits are good in nutrition and have less weight for packaging and transportation usage. For drying materials, various types of solar dryers are used. Natural or open sun drying methods comparatively consume more than 12 h to dry material, whereas, direct and indirect drying methods would enhance the efficiency and dry the products quicker than open drying. For the consideration of quality drying and to increase efficiency, various modifications of solar dryers are designed and fabricated. In this review, we discussed the most appropriate developments in the drying of food items, required phase change materials (PCMs), performance, and environmental analysis of SD, and also reported the various designs of the solar drying techniques.
The Economics and Politics of Dedicated Funerary Provision for Migrant and Minority Groups: A Perspective from the Netherlands
Authors: Jedan Christoph
Published: June 2023

The present chapter analyses the economic, political and cultural factors that enhance or limit dedicated funerary provision for migrant and minority groups. The chapter underscores the importance of a clear analysis of the specific local conditions. To demonstrate the impact of contextual factors, the chapter offers an analysis of how migratory trends in the Netherlands as well as cultural, political and economic trends at the municipal level have knock-on effects for funerary provision. At the same time, researchers, planners and policy makers need to be aware of a significant “diversity within diversity-readiness”: there is considerable (historical and contemporary) variation of funerary provision that can claim to “include” (accommodate, integrate and/or assimilate) migrant and minority groups. In this vein, the chapter distinguishes four “ideal types” of cemetery design. The chapter argues for a framework (“Eight Factor Framework of specific funerary provision for minority and migrant groups”), which can serve as a heuristic tool for researchers and stakeholders who need to decide on dedicated funerary facilities. The chapter concludes by suggesting that “free fields”, with few restrictions on the placement and adornments of graves, might be a fairer and more cost-effective way of accommodating the ritual needs of members of smaller minorities than separate funerary facilities aimed at different ethnic and religious groups.
Cemeteries as Translocal Contact Zones: Navigating Regulations, Unwritten Rules and Divergent Expectations in Luxembourg City
Authors: Westendorp Mariske , Kmec Sonja
Published: June 2023

Migration, intercultural encounters and integration do not cease with death, but are taken with the deceased into cemetery grounds. This chapter explores the translocal dimension of cemeteries, where diverse expectations and practices are confronted by, engage with and respond to regulations and unwritten rules of this particular public space. This chapter looks at migrants who wish to be buried or have buried close kin or friends in Luxembourg, a small country in Northwestern Europe. Disposition of the dead in the host country instead of post-mortal repatriation is often seen as sign of integration or belonging. However, this choice must be understood in the context of a set of constraints that can be experienced in a variety of ways. Examining three contested issues at cemeteries (burial practices, cemetery and grave design, and grave perpetuity), we show how both the regulations and unwritten rules of cemeteries are negotiated and challenged by individual migrants and migrant communities, highlighting different practices of lived citizenship. Based on participant experiences and narratives, we argue for the necessity of valuing and managing cemeteries, less as bounded spaces that can foster integration during life and after, but as permeable and transformative contact zones in which translocal citizenship can be enacted.
Minorities In, Minorities Out: Cemeteries, Religious Diversity and the French Body Politic in Contemporary and Historical Perspective
Authors: Hunter Alistair
Published: June 2023

This chapter focuses on religious diversity and cemeteries in France, comparing historical practice with the contemporary management of death in diversity. Its starting point is the present-day intransigence of local authorities in creating space for Muslims in French municipal cemeteries. The chapter proceeds to link these contemporary manifestations with historical perspectives. In earlier times, Jews, Protestants and free-thinkers were regularly denied burial as equals in French cemeteries, and sometimes expelled entirely from cemeteries (refus de sépulture). The laicising state of the nineteenth century intervened to ensure equality of burial and by extension full membership of the French body politic. The second part of the paper argues that today’s refusal to create Muslim sections in French municipal cemeteries constitutes a modern-day refus de sépulture which harms social harmony and cohesion. Nonetheless, the scale at which this rejection takes place is of a different magnitude: not removal from the consecrated part of the cemetery, but potentially complete ejection from the national territory, with perverse effects for the integration of migrant-origin communities. The chapter is based on qualitative fieldwork undertaken in France in 2016, drawing from semi-structured interviews with religious representatives, funerary professionals and politicians, combined with an analysis of secondary sources for the presentation of historical perspectives.
Contemporary ‘Outsiders’ in Narratives of Belonging in Cork’s Cemeteries: Reflections on Experiences of Irish Travellers and Recent Polish Migrants
Authors: McClymont Katie , House Danielle
Published: June 2023

This chapter explores how cemeteries function as spaces of inclusion or exclusion for recent migrants and longstanding ‘outsiders’. It does so by focusing on experiences of the Polish and Irish Traveller communities, the most recent and longstanding minorities in Cork, Ireland. As such it highlights the many ways mobilities intersect with identity and belonging within the contemporary Irish context.
Co-creating and Co-producing Multicultural Cemeteries in Norway and Sweden: A Comparative Study with Insights from Drammen, Eskilstuna and Umeå
Authors: Nordh Helena , Knapskog Marianne , Priya Uteng Tanu , Wingren Carola
Published: June 2023

This study aims to broaden the scope of attention paid to multicultural societies in existing migration and mobilities literature, through expanding on the topic of spatial design, planning and management of contemporary cemeteries in light of increasing multiculturalism. The chapter explores how national judicial acts and practices facilitate or hinder inclusion of minorities’ needs and the existing local level measures in three Scandinavian towns to safeguard the needs of minorities in cemeteries and crematoria. The empirical data consists of analysis of legislative acts and qualitative interviews with 28 stakeholders in three medium/large-sized towns. As will be shown, Swedish and Norwegian burial acts share many similarities – for example, both acknowledge the need to meet particular burial and cremation needs for people not belonging to the Christian church. Differences mainly relate to how religion and belief communities are involved in the development of cemeteries. Through the interviews, we extract a nuanced picture of how individual towns work with ‘multiculturalism’ by elaborating on the following components that emerged from the analysis: presence of diversity, accommodation of various needs, cooperation with minorities, and reflections over special grave areas or cemetery sections for minorities. This study’s comparative outlook informs current debates on migration and mobilities and further sheds light on the specific inputs for forming policies and practices aiming at facilitating a multicultural approach when designing, planning and managing cemeteries and crematoria.
European Language Equality: Introduction
Authors: Rehm Georg , Way Andy
Published: June 2023

This chapter provides an introduction to the EU-funded project European Language Equality (ELE). It motivates the project by taking a general look at multilingualism, especially with regard to the political equality of all languages in Europe. Since 2010, several projects and initiatives have developed the notion of utilising sophisticated language technologies to unlock and enable multilingualism technologically. However, despite a landmark resolution that was adopted by the European Parliament in 2018, no significant progress has been made. Together with the whole European LT community, and making use of a concerted community consultation process, the ELE project produced strategic recommendations that specify how to bring about full digital language equality in Europe and reach the scientific goal of Deep Natural Language Understanding by 2030, not only addressing but eventually solving the problem of digital inequality of Europe’s languages.
Language Report Czech
Authors: Hlaváčová Jaroslava
Published: June 2023

This chapter provides basic data about Language Technology for the Czech language. After a brief introduction with general facts about the language (history, linguistic features, writing system, dialects), we touch upon Czech in the digital sphere. The main achievements in the field of NLP are presented: important datasets (corpora, treebanks, lexicons etc.) and tools (morphological analyzers, taggers, automatic translators, voice recognisers and generators, keyword extracters etc).
Language Report Estonian
Authors: Muischnek Kadri
Published: June 2023

This chapter gives a brief overview of Estonian LT tools and resources (Muischnek 2022; Liin et al. 2012). The Estonian language has only around one million speakers and so the market for Estonian LT products is also a small one. In general, the current situation of Estonian LT is acceptable for a small language, but far from perfect. The main force driving the development of Estonian LT has been the public sector and so the resources and tools developed by publicly funded projects are mainly open source. Nonetheless, during the last decade, the private sector has also engaged in creating tools and solutions for Estonian.
Language Report French
Authors: Adda Gilles , Vasilescu Ioana , Yvon François
Published: June 2023

This chapter presents a survey of the current state of technologies for the automatic processing of the French language. It is based on a thorough analysis of existing tools and resources for French, and also provides an accurate presentation of the domain and its main stakeholders (Adda et al. 2022). The chapter documents the presence of French on the internet and describes in broad terms the existing technologies for the French language. It also spells out general conclusions and formulates recommendations for progress towards deep language understanding for French.
Language Report Latvian
Authors: Skadiņa Inguna , Auziņa Ilze , Valkovska Baiba , Grūzītis Normunds
Published: June 2023

Ten years ago, when META-NET conducted a study on Language Technology support for Europe’s languages, Latvian was assessed as a language with little or no support (Skadiņa et al. 2012). During the last decade, progress has been made in the development of language resources and tools for Latvian, particularly with respect to advanced datasets and language models, machine translation solutions, speech technologies, and technologies for natural language understanding and human-computer interaction. This chapter provides a summary of the current state of the Latvian language, the only official language of Latvia, in the digital environment and highlights the most important activities in the language technology field.
Language Report Lithuanian
Authors: Gaidienė Anželika , Tamulionienė Aurelija
Published: June 2023

Significant progress has been made in adapting the Lithuanian language to the digital environment. A number of digital language resources and basic language analysis tools, as well as complex online language services and the Lithuanian language ontology have been developed, while a number of computer programs and tools have been localised. Computer applications relevant to society are being Lithuanianised, and the standardisation of computer terms is being carried out. Lithuanian researchers actively participate in the cooperation and mobility activities of international associations, and a core of Lithuanian specialists working in the field of IT application, and developing innovative work in this field, has been formed. Lithuania also strives for all citizens to have full access to digital solutions, which adds importance to the policy of adapting them for those living with disabilities.
Language Report Maltese
Authors: Rosner Michael , Borg Claudia
Published: June 2023

This chapter is a highly abbreviated version of an update (Rosner and C. Borg 2022) to the META-NET White Paper on Maltese (Rosner and Joachimsen 2012). Like its predecessor, the update forms part of a series for all European Languages. Section 1 provides a brief description of the language, its national status, its general typology as a language, and its current usage in the digital sphere. Section 2 gives an overview of technologies and resources that are currently available. Finally, Section 3 frames the main shortcomings of Maltese language technology in terms of fragmentation, and offers some recommendations on how that might be reduced.