bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimation of Groundwater Potential in Njikoka, Anambra State, Southeastern Nigeria Using Resistivity and Pumping Test Method
Authors:   Department of Geology, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli Campus, Nigeria, Ifesinachi Onyenweife, Geraldine , Mgbolu Charles Chinedu Mgbolu Charles x ,   Department of Geology, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli Campus, Nigeria
Published: December 2024

The research, which is focused on the prediction of aquifer parameters was carried out in order to highlight the essence of
better knowledge of the groundwater sustainability of Njikoka and environs using a geophysical approach (Cooper-Jacob’s
method modified by David, 1959). Two (2) vertical electrical sounding (VES) in all the six (6) towns that made up Njikoka
and environs, which resulted in twelve (12) VES locations. From VES obtained, geoelectric sections of the locations
were modelled and aquifer information of the study area was inferred as thus; hydraulic conductivity, transmissivity,
longitudinal conductance, transverse resistivity, thickness, depth to water table from mean sea level (MSL), and resistivity.
Suitable software IPI2WIN was used to plot the apparent resistivity against the electrode spacing values obtained from
the litho units of the subsurface. The VES curve types produced from the area show thus; A, H, K, AK, and KH, which
was very useful to calculate the spatial percentages of the aquifer distribution in the study area. The geoelectric section
delineated three (3) to five (5) layers of different lithology and aquifer depth from the surface level ranging from 15 m
to 100 m with prevalently unconfined water saturated sands. The aquifer average resistivity value varied from 37 Ωm to
3451 Ωm throughout the study area. Two locations were chosen for pumping test exercises VES 3 and VES 9 whose data
helped to calculate the proportionality constant Kᴕ = A, needed to estimate the transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity
quantity. The two important aquifer parameters were calculated to be thus; transmissivity values ranged from 0.28 m2/
day to 22.54 m2/day and the hydraulic conductivity varied from 0.003 m/day to 0.9 m/day. Only part of Enuguagidi
showed evidence of little groundwater potential with 8.33% whose transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity rating were
low fairly good and well-structured clay respectively, while the majority of the aquifer layers with 91.67% were classified
as poorly structured clayey in transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity hence poorly productive aquifer zones. This is in
consonant with the geology of the area under study
Analisis Karakteristik Minyak Biji Karet Dengan Penambahan Zat Aditif Sebagai Alternatif Isolasi Cair
Authors: Anggraini Ika Novia , Fitri Aniva Juliah , Handayani Yanolanda Suzantry , Rodiah Yuli , Herawati Afriyastuti , Rinaldi Reza Satria
Published: December 2024

Pada umumnya minyak transformator terbuat dari olahan minyak bumi, dikarenakan daya serap dan daya isolasi yang terkandung pada minyak bumi sangat baik sebagai bahan isolasi, akan tetapi minyak bumi ini termasuk sumber daya alam yang tidak dapat diperbarui sehingga penggunaan yang terus menerus menyebabkan ketersediaan minyak bumi akan habis. Penelitian terkait penggunaan minyak nabati sebagai alternatif pengganti minyak trafo sudah mulai banyak dilakukan. Salah satunya adalah pengujian karakteristik minyak biji karet dengan penambahan zat aditif fenol dan BHT. Pengujian yang dilakukan untuk mendapatkan karakteristik seperti kadar air, titik didih, viskositas dan tegangan tembus dengan variasi penambahan fenol dan BHT 16%, 18% dan 20%. Hasil pengujian kadar air minyak biji karet dengan standar IEC60296:2012 pada suhu 105oC adalah 25,32 mg/kg. Pengujian viskositas dengan standar SPLN 49-1:1982 pada suhu ruang 20oC adalah 32 cSt. Pengujian titik didih mengacu standar IEC-296 dengan hasil titik didih minyak biji karet murni 115oC, dengan tambahan fenol 149oC dan dengan tambahan zat aditif BHT 160oC. Pengujian tegangan tembus dilakukan dengan standar SPLN 49-1:1982, hasil tegangan tembus untuk minyak biji karet murni 14,3 kV, tegangan tembus dengan tambahan zat aditif fenol tidak menunjukkan peningkatan nilai tegangan tembus yaitu berkisar di 12 kV sementara itu untuk penambahan zat aditif BHT menunjukkan penambahan nilai tegangan tembus dengan peningkatan variasi campuran yaitu 19,1 kV, 26 kV dan 37 kV.
Standart Klima Sistemini Yeniden Dizayn Ederek Otomobil Koltuklarının Soğutulması
Authors: Ateş Ali
Published: December 2024

Güvenli bir yolculuk için araç güvenlik sistemleri kadar insan vücudunun ısıl konforu da dikkate alınmalıdır. Seyahat esnasında yolcuların yanı sıra özellikle sürücünün araç kullanırken kendini rahat hissetmesi güvenlik açısından son derece önemlidir. Bu çalışmada insan vücudunun ısıl konforu dikkate alınarak konvansiyonel bir araç kliması üzerinde bazı değişiklikler yapılmıştır. Bu sayede daha etkili bir iklimlendirme ile daha konforlu bir sürüş gerçekleştirilebileceği hesaplanmıştır. Bunun için bir otomobilin sürücü koltuğu yeniden dizayn edilerek deneysel çalışmalar yapılmıştır. Çalışmalar sonunda soğutma proseslerinde en iyi sonuçlar ortalama devirler için elde edilmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular grafik çıktılarla desteklenmiş ve yorumlanmıştır.
Are uncrewed aerial spraying systems the future for forestry pesticide application?
Authors: Richardson Brian
Published: December 2024

Background: Pesticide application is a primary method for managing weeds, insect pests and pathogens in New Zealand’s forests. Apart from some manual spot spraying, most pesticide applications are made using helicopters, with herbicides the most widely used pesticide class. Current aerial application practices have evolved into efficient operations designed to provide a balance between performance criteria, i.e. maximising treatment efficacy, minimising unwanted environmental impacts (e.g. spray drift), and maximising productivity while minimising cost. Over the last decade, there has been a proliferation of relatively small, battery-powered, multi-rotor uncrewed aerial spraying systems (UASS) but their use to date in New Zealand forestry has been limited. This paper assesses the potential role of UASS in forest management and, where opportunities exist, identifies barriers slowing their adoption.
Methods: Publications on spray application in New Zealand forestry and use of UASS in both New Zealand and internationally were identified by conducting a Google Scholar literature search using a range of relevant keywords, and the retrieved studies were reviewed systematically. Unpublished reports from the New Zealand Forest Research Institute Ltd and Forest Growers Research Ltd were also considered. Information from the reviews was assessed critically, synthesised, and used to evaluate several potential forestry use cases for UASS.
Results: Several potential use cases for UASS were identified along with a set of research and development needs to support and accelerate the adoption of UASS into forest management operations and to provide regulators with the means to apply appropriate risk management measures. Based on the literature analysis, the opportunity for UASS, at least in the near term, is to realise the concept of ‘precision spraying’ rather than to replace conventional aircraft carrying out broadcast applications over large areas.  
Conclusions: Recent UASS technology improvements have provided the potential for a step-change for at least some pesticide application niches within New Zealand forestry. Significant opportunities for UASS in forestry include herbicide spot spraying, treatment of boundaries close to sensitive areas, low-volume fungicide or insecticide applications, especially for small areas or in pest eradication operations; and applying variable treatments to individual plants or zones within a target area defined by remote sensing tools. A coordinated research and development programme is needed to optimise UASS use and to provide performance data to underpin regulatory processes.
On The Representation of ‘Worst Case Scenarios’ in Kafka’s Short Stories “Metamorphosis” And “A Hunger artist’’
Authors: Bukies Gudrun
Published: December 2024

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Franz Kafka's death, this document presents some reasons why this author is still one of the most fascinating writers in the German-speaking world. The document examines the general principles of Franz Kafka's literary work together with some fundamental questions such as the relationship between literary representation and reality in two of his most-read stories, “Metamorphosis” and “A Hunger Artist”. Some important aspects of literary reception are considered and the theoretical approach is complemented by a more historical and descriptive section, in which Kafka's biography and his works (literary history) are presented. The focus is on the evaluation and interpretative approaches to the two works selected for our analysis, in particular on the progressive description of catastrophes (literary criticism). The sequence of negative events for the protagonists described in Kafka's stories are systematically recorded and processed to provide additional arguments that characterize Kafka today, one hundred years after his death, as an important modern author.
Preferensi Konsumen Keripik Singkong Amburiko di Kecamatan Nganjuk
Authors: Khomariyah Tiana , Nurul Arifiyanti  , Mardiyah Hayati
Published: December 2024

Keripik Singkong Amburiko merupakan salah satu produk nilai tambah dari komoditas unggulan Kabupaten Nganjuk. Hal ini menjadikan terbukanya peluang dan tantangan dalam persaingan pasar. Preferensi konsumen diperlukan untuk mendukung peningkatan penjualan serta mengetahui produk yang diinginkan oleh konsumen. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis kombinasi preferensi konsumen serta menganalisis keputusan pembelian pada keripik singkong Amburiko. Metode yang diterapkan yakni analisis konjoin menggunakan responden yakni konsumen UMKM Keripik Amburiko sebanyak 65 orang. Hasil menunjukkan kombinasi paling dominan dalam pembelian keripik singkong Amburiko adalah rasa original, harga Rp. 12.000, berat 250 gram, tekstur lembut, ketebalan tebal dan kemasan pouch. Pengambilan keputusan responden mengungkapkan penting untuk melakukan pembelian keripik singkong di Amburiko. Responden mendapat informasi terkait Keripik Amburiko sebagian besar dari teman dan keluarga. Pertimbangan utama dalam membeli keripik singkong yakni varian. Tingkat kepuasan pembelian keripik singkong Amburiko berada di tahap memuaskan sehingga responden bersedia merekomendasikan kepada orang lain.
Culture-led Regeneration in Historical and Cultural Areas
Authors: Afsari Bajestani Sepideh , Ranjbar Ehsan
Published: December 2024

Despite embracing various historical and cultural values, historical areas of Iran are experiencing massive changes in their functional, social and physical profiles, often without apt recognition of the role of culture in urban regeneration. This paper aims to examine the role of culture-led regeneration in enhancing the quality of a cultural and historical district in Mashhad, Iran and determine appropriate spatial strategies. Based on a critical literature review, this paper presents a conceptual framework for culture-led regeneration, which considers different approaches to culture-led regeneration and their associated spatial strategies: competitive-led, community-led and creativity-led. The framework's applicability in our case study is then assessed through multiple methods, including field observation, reviewing secondary documents and a three-round Delphi survey of experts' opinions. Our findings reveal the applicability of the three approaches to culture-led regeneration in the selected area considering context-specific adaptation. The results also highlight that community-led and then creativity-led strategies are perceived as more essential than competitive-led ones. The paper also offers practical implications for designing the historical district based on the prioritised approaches and strategies.
Milk ladder: Who? When? How? Where? with the lowest risk of reaction
Authors: Buyuktiryaki Betul , Soyer Ozge , Bingol Gulbin , Can Ceren , Nacaroglu Hikmet Tekin , Bingol Aysen , Arik Yilmaz Ebru , Aydogan Metin , Sackesen Cansin
Published: December 2024

The milk ladder (ML) approach, which is the gradual reintroduction of the milk allergen from the least allergenic forms to the most allergenic forms into the diet of the patients, has been utilized mostly in non-IgE-mediated but in some countries also in IgE-mediated-CMPA due to its possible benefits which include nutrition, quality of life and tolerance induction. Despite increasing interest, so far, there is no guideline on ML; thus, the use of this approach shows discrepancies among healthcare professionals as many factors such as dietary habits, patient history, test results, workload, and facilities of the hospitals, the anxiety of the parents/patients may affect the decision on how, when, where and whom to use ML. Here, we reviewed current data on implementing the ML, suggested a 4-step ML including receipts and amounts, and shared our experience on optimal patient selection, appropriate time and steps for initiating ML, and time intervals between the steps targeting the lowest risk of reaction. We also added the newly developed twice-baked biscotti cake to the ML. We presented the analyses of this product, showing its low allergenicity compared to conventional cake, which provides a safer introduction of milk into the diet.
Transcriptional regulation in the absence of inositol trisphosphate receptor calcium signaling
Authors: Young Michael , Booth David M. , Smith David , Tigano Marco , Hajnόczky Gyӧrgy , Joseph Suresh K.
Published: December 2024

The activation of IP3 receptor (IP3R) Ca2+ channels generates agonist-mediated Ca2+ signals that are critical for the regulation of a wide range of biological processes. It is therefore surprising that CRISPR induced loss of all three IP3R isoforms (TKO) in HEK293 and HeLa cell lines yields cells that can survive, grow and divide, albeit more slowly than wild-type cells. In an effort to understand the adaptive mechanisms involved, we have examined the activity of key Ca2+ dependent transcription factors (NFAT, CREB and AP-1) and signaling pathways using luciferase-reporter assays, phosphoprotein immunoblots and whole genome transcriptomic studies. In addition, the diacylglycerol arm of the signaling pathway was investigated with protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors and siRNA knockdown. The data showed that agonist-mediated NFAT activation was lost but CREB activation was maintained in IP3R TKO cells. Under base-line conditions transcriptome analysis indicated the differential expression of 828 and 311 genes in IP3R TKO HEK293 or HeLa cells, respectively, with only 18 genes being in common. Three main adaptations in TKO cells were identified in this study: 1) increased basal activity of NFAT, CREB and AP-1; 2) an increased reliance on Ca2+- insensitive PKC isoforms; and 3) increased production of reactive oxygen species and upregulation of antioxidant defense enzymes. We suggest that whereas wild-type cells rely on a Ca2+ and DAG signal to respond to stimuli, the TKO cells utilize the adaptations to allow key signaling pathways (e.g., PKC, Ras/MAPK, CREB) to transition to the activated state using a DAG signal alone.
Clostridium butyricum, a future star in sepsis treatment
Authors: Zhao Jinglin , Jiang Li , He Weizhi , Han Dingrui , Yang Xuan , Wu Liuli , Zhong Haiyan
Published: December 2024

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response syndrome of multiorgan failure caused by dysregulation of the host response to infection and is a major cause of death in critically ill patients. In recent years, with the continuous development of sequencing technology, the intestinal microecology of this disease has been increasingly studied. The gut microbiota plays a host-protective role mainly through the maintenance of normal immune function and the intestinal barrier. Recent evidence suggests that intestinal flora dysbiosis plays a crucial role in sepsis. Clostridium butyricum (C. butyricum), which has been used as a probiotic in poultry feed since its discovery, has been found to play a potential protective role in intestinal infections, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), colorectal cancer, and other diseases in recent studies. In this review, we continue to focus on the important role and mechanism of C. butyricum as a probiotic in human diseases, especially intestinal diseases. Additionally, we evaluate the research progress of C. butyricum in treatment of sepsis to identify more therapeutic targets for the clinical treatment of sepsis.
Influence of indigenous non-Saccharomyces yeast strains on the physicochemical and sensory properties of wine fermentation: a promising approach to enhancing wine quality
Authors: Thivijan Sathivel , Pavalakumar Dayani , Gunathunga Chathuri J. , Undugoda Lanka J. S. , Manage Pathmalal M. , Nugara Ruwani N. , Bandara Pasan C. , Thambugala Kasun M. , Al-Asmari Fahad , Promputtha Itthayakorn
Published: December 2024

This study explores the potential of indigenous non-Saccharomyces yeasts isolated from Vitis vinifera L. grape skins to improve the quality of regional wines by enhancing their physicochemical and sensory characteristics. Five promising yeast strains were identified at different stages of fermentation: Hanseniaspora opuntiae (J1Y-T1), H. guilliermondii (Y5P-T5), H. uvarum (JF3-T1N), Pichia kudriavzevii (Y8P-T8), and Starmerella bacillaris (WMP4-T4). Among these, H. uvarum and S. bacillaris were particularly noteworthy due to their superior alcohol production, achieving levels of 8.16 ± 0.05% and 8.04 ± 0.04% (v/v), respectively, and demonstrating higher alcohol tolerance even in later fermentation stages. Hanseniaspora uvarum also showed exceptional resilience, with a half-life of 3.34 ± 0.03 days and a Km value of 1.0200 ± 0.0100 mol L⁻¹, achieving the highest biomass even in the later stages of fermentation. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography analysis revealed that while tartaric acid levels remained constant, malic acid content decreased, and acetic acid was produced by all strains. Solid-Phase Microextraction-Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry identified ethyl acetate as the dominant volatile compound, with H. uvarum producing the highest concentration (43.411 ± 1.602%), contributing to a fruitier aroma and flavor. The combined attributes of H. uvarum higher alcohol content, enhanced fruity notes, improved clarity, lower acetic acid (0.52 ± 0.03 g L⁻¹), and significant residual sugar (162.37 ± 2.48 g L⁻¹) make it a promising candidate for improving the overall quality of regional wines. Incorporating H. uvarum into mixed starter cultures with specific Saccharomyces strains could further optimize the wine fermentation process.
Development of a two-stage depression symptom detection model: application of neural networks to twitter data
Authors: Tumaliuan Faye Beatriz , Grepo Lorelie , Jalao Eugene Rex
Published: December 2024

This study aims to help in the area of depression screening in the Philippine setting, focusing on the detection of depression symptoms through language use and behavior in social media to help improve the accuracy of symptom tracking. A two-stage detection model is proposed, wherein the first stage deals with the detection if depression symptoms exist and the second stage focuses on the detection of depression symptom category or type for English and Filipino language. A baseline data set with 14 depression categories consisting of 86,163 tweets was used as input to various machine learning algorithms together with Twitter user behaviors, linguistic features, and psychological behaviors. The two-stage detection models used Bidirectional Long-Short Term Memory type of Artificial Neural Network with dropout nodes. The first stage, with a binary output classifier, can detect tweets with “Depression Symptom” or “No Symptom” categories with an accuracy of 0.91 and F1-score of 0.90. The second stage classifier has 6 depression symptom categories, namely “Mind and Sleep,” “Appetite,” “Substance use,” “Suicidal tendencies,” “Pain,” and “Emotion” symptoms that has an accuracy of 0.83 and F1-score of 0.81. The two-stage algorithm can be used to complement mental health support provided by clinicians and in public health interventions to serve as high-level assessment tool. Limitations on misclassifications, negation, and data imbalance and biases can be addressed in future studies.
Optimization of the cardiac delirium index by including age, decrease in butyrylcholinesterase actitivity, preoperative HbA1c, and postoperative hemoglobin levels: results of a secondary analysis of a prospective observational study
Authors: Zajonz Thomas S. , Edinger Fabian , Markmann Melanie , Gräb Katrin , Sander Michael , Kunzemann Christian , Koch Christian , Schneck Emmanuel
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Postoperative delirium (POD) after cardiac surgery significantly affects the perioperative morbidity and mortality. Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) is an enzyme primarily produced in the liver, which plays a crucial role in the hydrolysis of acetylcholine outside of neuronal synapses, referred to as extraneuronal hydrolysis. The integration of BChE activity into the cardiac delirium (CARDEL) index might increase its predictive power for identifying POD after cardiac surgery. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to assess the applicability of the CARDEL index and determine whether integrating the BChE activity enables optimization of the predictive model.

Methods

This secondary analysis of a prospective observational study included patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery. BChE activity is expressed in units per liter (U/L), while the BChE drop refers to the percentage decrease in BChE activity from pre- to postoperative levels. POD risk factors were identified using multivariate regression analysis. The predictive power of the CARDEL index and an optimized model including BChE was calculated with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

Results

Of 93 included patients, 20 (21.5%) developed POD. Elevated preoperative HbA1c [OR 2.5 (1.2–4.8), p = 0.01], a decrease in BChE activity [%, OR 1.1 (1.0–1.2), p = 0.04], age [1 (0.94–1.1), p = 0.55], and a postoperative hemoglobin change [OR 0.86 (0.78–0.96), p < 0.001] were identified as independent risk factors for POD. While the CARDEL index showed a moderate prediction of POD [AUCROC of 0.74 (0.60–0.87)], the optimization including BChE resulted in a significant prognostic improvement: AUCROC of 0.84 (0.72–0.94, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Despite the small size of this derivation cohort, this study identified elevated HbA1c as the strongest risk factor for the development of POD, followed by a decrease in BChE activity, postoperative anemia, and age, respectively. By including these parameters to the CARDEL index, its predictive power for the identification of POD significantly improved in this derivation cohort. Moving forward, integrating these findings into clinical practice could enhance early risk stratification and targeted intervention for patients at high risk of POD. Therefore, further research should evaluate these results in a larger, external cohort.
Body mass index and waist-to-height ratio effect on mortality in non-alcoholic fatty liver: revisiting the obesity paradox
Authors: Jiang Hao , Li Mingkai , Yu Hongsheng , Huang Yinan , Yang Bilan , Wu Bin , Yang Yidong
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Emerging research indicates that individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) who carry excess weight have similar or even higher survival rates than their normal-weight counterparts. This puzzling “obesity paradox” may be attributed to underlying biases. To explore this phenomenon, we examined data extracted from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III, which spanned from 1988-1994.

Methods

We specifically targeted participants diagnosed with NAFLD through ultrasound due to fatty liver presence and employed multivariate Cox regression to assess mortality risk associated with body mass index (BMI) and the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR).

Results

Over a median follow-up period of 20.3 [19.9-20.7] years, 1832 participants passed away. The study revealed an intriguing “obesity−survival paradox”, in which individuals classified as overweight (HR 0.926, 95% CI 0.925–0.927) or obese (HR 0.982, 95% CI 0.981–0.984) presented reduced mortality risks compared with those categorized as normal weight. However, this paradox vanished upon adjustments for smoking and exclusion of the initial 5-year follow-up period (HR 1.046, 95% CI 1.044–1.047 for overweight; HR 1.122, 95% CI 1.120–1.124 for obesity class I). Notably, the paradox was less pronounced with the WHtR, which was significantly different only in quartile 2 (HR 0.907, 95% CI 0.906–0.909) than in quartile 1, and was resolved after appropriate adjustments. In particular, when BMI and WHtR were considered together, higher levels of adiposity indicated a greater risk of mortality with WHtR, whereas BMI did not demonstrate the same trend (p <0.05).

Conclusion

The “obesity paradox” in NAFLD patients can be explained by smoking and reverse causation. WHtR was a better predictor of mortality than BMI.
Research progress on the relationship between free fatty acid profile and type 2 diabetes complicated by coronary heart disease
Authors: Liu Xiuyan , Gong Ming , Wu Na
Published: December 2024

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have a 2 to 3 times higher risk of cardiovascular disease compared to non-diabetic individuals, and cardiovascular disease has consistently been a leading cause of death among diabetic patients. Therefore, preventing cardiovascular disease in diabetic patients remains a significant challenge. In addition to classic indicators such as cholesterol and lipoproteins, previous studies have demonstrated that plasma level of free fatty acid (FFA) is closely related to the occurrence of atherosclerosis, particularly in T2DM patients. In recent years, with further research and advancements in testing technologies, the FFA profile has garnered widespread attention. The FFA profile includes many different types of FFAs, and changes in the plasma FFA profile and concentrations in T2DM patients may lead to the development of insulin resistance, causing damage to vascular endothelial cells and promoting the occurrence and progression of atherosclerosis. Furthermore, some FFAs have shown potential in predicting cardiovascular complications in T2DM and are associated with the severity of these complications. Here, we aim to review the changes in the FFA profile in T2DM and discuss the relationship between the FFA profile and the occurrence of vascular complications in T2DM.
Research on the development path of Chengdu as a low-carbon city under the dual constraints of carbon emission and economic growth
Authors: Yu Ji , Yu Lu , Luo Yunan , Zhang Peiwen
Published: December 2024

As the proportion of carbon emissions from urban areas rises, cities like Chengdu have become critical frontiers for emission reduction in China. Consequently, constructing low-carbon cities has emerged as the primary strategy for mitigating carbon emissions. According to the LMDI additive decomposition analysis, Chengdu’s carbon emissions increased by 4,397,700 tons during the 13th Five-Year Plan, primarily due to economic expansion, which alone accounted for an increase of 8,078,200 tons. Meanwhile, shifts in industrial structure and reductions in energy intensity contributed to declines of 657,700 tons and 3,016,500 tons, respectively, while changes in energy structure resulted in a marginal decrease of 640 tons. The LMDI multiplicative decomposition indicates a 10.3% growth in carbon emissions, with economic size amplifying emissions by 1.197 times, while enhanced energy intensity mitigated growth, reducing emissions to 0.935 times 2016 levels. Adjustments in industrial and energy structures exerted minimal impact on emission reductions. By developing a decomposition model for carbon emission influencing factors across various industries, this study identifies challenges to economic growth within the context of carbon reduction constraints and proposes pathways for low-carbon city development, including industrial restructuring, urban optimization, green building initiatives, and comprehensive transportation systems, thereby offering valuable insights for national low-carbon city initiatives.
Case report: Multiple approach analysis in a case of clinically assessed myotonia congenita
Authors: Lucchiari Sabrina , Fortunato Francesco , Meola Giovanni , Mignarri Andrea , Pagliarani Serena , Corti Stefania , Comi Giacomo P. , Ronchi Dario
Published: December 2024

Myotonia congenita, both in a dominant (Thomsen disease) and recessive form (Becker disease), is caused by molecular defects in CLCN1 that encodes the major skeletal muscle chloride channel, ClC-1. This channel is important for the normal repolarization of muscle action potentials and consequent relaxation of the muscle, and its dysfunction leads to impaired muscle relaxation after voluntary or evoked contraction and muscle stiffness. More than 300 CLCN1 pathogenic variants have been found in association with congenital myotonia, inherited as recessive or dominant traits (with complete or incomplete penetrance). In this study, we describe the case of a 44-year-old woman complaining of “leg stiffness” since the age of 20 years and presenting with transient muscle weakness, especially after sitting for several minutes, with grip myotonia and feet myotonia, cold-sensitive and warm-up. The strength was normal, but muscle hypertrophy in the lower limbs was evident. EMG myotonia was detected in all explored muscles. The patient’s father had precocious cataract correction but did not show myotonic discharges at EMG. Examination of the patient’s sons (aged 18 years and 12 years) was unremarkable. The patient started treatment with mexiletine, with improvement in grip myotonia and limb stiffness, but it was soon interrupted due to gastrointestinal disturbances. Direct sequencing of CLCN1 identified the previously described heterozygous intronic variant c.1471 + 1G > A, which resulted in the skipping of exon 13 in the CLCN1 muscle transcript. In addition, the rare heterozygous synonymous nucleotide change c.762C > T p.Cys254Cys was identified and predicted to alter physiological splicing. The detection of multiple splicing abnormalities leading to premature termination codons supported the in silico prediction. We developed a Western blot assay to assess the ClC-1 protein in muscle biopsy, and we observed that ClC-1 levels were consistently reduced in the patient’s muscle, supporting the pathogenic behavior of the variants disclosed. Overall, we report a novel case of Becker myotonia and highlight the importance of multiple levels of analysis to achieve a firm molecular diagnosis.
Association between glucose to lymphocyte ratio and prognosis in patients with solid tumors
Authors: Liu Rongqiang , Shen Yankun , Cui Jiahui , Ma Wangbin , Wang Jianguo , Chen Chen , Wang Weixing
Published: December 2024

Background

Glucose-to-lymphocyte ratio (GLR) plays an important role in the prognosis of various tumors. The aim of this study was to comprehensively evaluate the prognostic value of GLR in solid tumors through the meta-analysis.

Methods

A comprehensive search of eligible studies was performed by scrutinizing the Pubmed, Embase and Web of science databases until May 30, 2024. The pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to evaluate overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) and recurrence free survival (RFS).

Results

A total of 22 studies from 14 articles involving 9472 patients were included in the study. The pooled analysis showed that cancer patients with high GLR was significantly associated with unfavorable OS (HR:1.48,95% CI:1.34-1.63) and DFS/RFS (HR:2.20,95% CI:1.66-2.92). Subgroup analysis further showed that high GLR had better predictive value in liver cancer (HR:2.66, 95%CI:1.80-3.93), breast cancer (HR:2.13, 95%CI:1.10-4.13) and pancreatic cancer (HR:1.92, 95%CI:1.30-2.84).

Conclusions

GLR can be used as an effective prognostic marker in patients with solid tumors.
Temporal changes of spinal microglia in murine models of neuropathic pain: a scoping review
Authors: Dhir Simran , Derue Hannah , Ribeiro-da-Silva Alfredo
Published: December 2024

Neuropathic pain (NP) is an ineffectively treated, debilitating chronic pain disorder that is associated with maladaptive changes in the central nervous system, particularly in the spinal cord. Murine models of NP looking at the mechanisms underlying these changes suggest an important role of microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system, in various stages of disease progression. However, given the number of different NP models and the resource limitations that come with tracking longitudinal changes in NP animals, many studies fail to truly recapitulate the patterns that exist between pain conditions and temporal microglial changes. This review integrates how NP studies are being carried out in murine models and how microglia changes over time can affect pain behavior in order to inform better study design and highlight knowledge gaps in the field. 258 peer-reviewed, primary source articles looking at spinal microglia in murine models of NP were selected using Covidence. Trends in the type of mice, statistical tests, pain models, interventions, microglial markers and temporal pain behavior and microglia changes were recorded and analyzed. Studies were primarily conducted in inbred, young adult, male mice having peripheral nerve injury which highlights the lack of generalizability in the data currently being collected. Changes in microglia and pain behavior, which were both increased, were tested most commonly up to 2 weeks after pain initiation despite aberrant microglia activity also being recorded at later time points in NP conditions. Studies using treatments that decrease microglia show decreased pain behavior primarily at the 1- and 2-week time point with many studies not recording pain behavior despite the involvement of spinal microglia dysfunction in their development. These results show the need for not only studying spinal microglia dynamics in a variety of NP conditions at longer time points but also for better clinically relevant study design considerations.
Heparin in sepsis: current clinical findings and possible mechanisms
Authors: Yu Sihan , Chi Yawen , Ma Xiaochun , Li Xu
Published: December 2024

Sepsis is a clinical syndrome resulting from the interaction between coagulation, inflammation, immunity and other systems. Coagulation activation is an initial factor for sepsis to develop into multiple organ dysfunction. Therefore, anticoagulant therapy may be beneficial for sepsis patients. Heparin possesses a variety of biological activities, so it has a broad prospect in sepsis. Previous studies suggested that patients with sepsis-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation and high disease severity might be suitable for anticoagulant therapy. With the development of artificial intelligence (AI), recent studies have shown that patients with severe coagulation activation represent the targeted patients for anticoagulant therapy in sepsis. However, it remains necessary to accurately define the relevant biomarkers indicative of this phenotype and validate their clinical utility by large randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Analyses of data from early small RCTs, subgroup analyses of large RCTs and meta-analyses have collectively suggested that anticoagulant therapy, particularly the use of heparin, may be an effective approach for managing sepsis patients. Concurrently, debate persists regarding the optimal selection of anticoagulants, proper timing, usage and dosage of administration that should be employed to assess treatment efficacy. The primary mechanisms of heparin are acting on heparan sulfate, histones, high mobility group box 1 and heparin-binding protein, which interfere with the regulation of inflammation, vascular permeability, coagulation, endothelial function and other biological activities. However, the underlying pathophysiological processes mediating the potential therapeutic effects of heparin in the context of sepsis remain incompletely understood and warrant additional rigorous investigation to establish the mechanism more conclusively.
NK cells-derived extracellular vesicles potency in the B cell lymphoma biotherapy
Authors: Cecchetti Serena , Federici Cristina , Canese Rossella , Iorio Egidio , Huber Veronica , Pisanu Maria Elena , Chirico Mattea , Iessi Elisabetta , Camerini Serena , Casella Marialuisa , Matteucci Andrea , Macchia Daniele , Spada Massimo , Lugini Luana
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Extracellular vesicles of Natural Killer cells (NKEV) exert an antitumor effect towards hematopoietic and solid tumors and have an immune modulating effect, suggesting a promising role in immune and biotherapy. In this study, a continuation of our former works, we demonstrated a network by mass spectrometry analysis between NKEV protein cargo and antitumor effects. Human healthy NKEV, both exosomes and microvesicles, have a significant and direct cytotoxic effect against human B cell lymphoma in in vitro and in vivo conditions.

Methods

We isolated extracellular vesicles from in vitro amplified healthy human NK cells and their treatment efficacy was monitored by cytometry analyses, in vivo MRI/MRS measurements, ex vivo MRS analyses and immunohistochemistry.

Results

We observed a remarkable NKEV cytotoxic effect, mainly by apoptosis, on B cell lymphoma in vitro when exosomes and microvesicles were administered simultaneously. In vivo results showed metabolic alterations in SCID mice xenografts after NKEV treatment, associated with a significant reduction of tumor growth (64%). In the in vivo1H MR spectra we found a significant increase in the tumor lipid/lactate and in taurine signals, both considered as apotosis markers. Ex vivo lymphoma metabolomics revealed a significant increase in fatty acid (FA) pool and decrease in unsaturated and mono-unsaturated FA in treated groups, as compared to control one, thus suggesting an alteration of tumor homeostasis. Immunohistochemistry analyses confirmed the reduction of B-cell lymphoma proliferation rate, as well as the induction of apoptosis following the NKEV treatment.

Conclusions

This study underscore the importance of NKEV as a novel biological acellular tool for B-cell lymphoma treatment, probably having a greater effect on combined treatment regimens. These nanovesicles have an extraordinary potential in innovative cancer immunotherapy, representing a safe and efficient tool naturally circulating in healthy individuals and ready to maintain the immune homeostasis, and therefore a good organism healthy state.
Exploring the heterogeneity of osteosarcoma cell characteristics and metabolic states and their association with clinical prognosis
Authors: Qin Sen , Hu YaoFeng , Deng RuCui , Wang Zhe
Published: December 2024

Background

Osteosarcoma is a malignant tumor originating from mesenchymal bone tissue, characterized by high malignancy and poor prognosis. Despite progress in comprehensive treatment approaches, the five-year survival rate remains largely unchanged, highlighting the need to clarify its underlying mechanisms and discover new therapeutic targets.

Methods

This study utilized RNA sequencing data from multiple public databases, encompassing osteosarcoma samples and healthy controls, along with single-cell RNA sequencing data. Various methods were utilized, such as differential expression analysis of genes, analysis of metabolic pathways, and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), to pinpoint crucial genes. Using this list of genes, we developed and validated a prognostic model that incorporated risk signatures, and we evaluated the effectiveness of the model through survival analysis, immune cell infiltration examination, and drug sensitivity evaluation.

Results

We analyzed gene expression and metabolic pathways in nine samples using single-cell sequencing data. Initially, we performed quality control and clustering, identifying 21 statistically significant cell subpopulations. Metabolic analyses of these subpopulations revealed heterogeneous activation of metabolic pathways. Focusing on the osteoblastic cell subpopulation, we further subdivided it into six groups and examined their gene expression and differentiation capabilities. Differential expression and enrichment analyses indicated that tumor tissues were enriched in cytoskeletal and structural pathways. Through WGCNA, we identified core genes negatively correlated with four highly activated metabolic pathways. Using osteosarcoma patient data, we developed a risk signature model that demonstrated robust prognostic predictions across three independent cohorts. Ultimately, we performed a thorough examination of the model, which encompassed clinical and pathological characteristics, enrichment analysis, pathways associated with cancer markers, and scores of immune infiltration, highlighting notable and complex disparities between high-risk and low-risk populations.

Conclusion

This research clarifies the molecular mechanisms and metabolic features associated with osteosarcoma and how they relate to patient outcomes, offering novel perspectives and approaches for targeted therapy and prognostic assessment in osteosarcoma.
Optimization and design of electromechanical control automation based on dual motor control algorithm
Authors: Lu Wei
Published: December 2024

Introduction

In response to the high demand for dynamic characteristics and control in current electromechanical automatic control systems.

Methods

This study first analyzes the dual motor system. A novel electromechanical control automation model based on a dual motor control algorithm is proposed through the control strategy of dual motor backlash elimination and digital proportional integral derivative control algorithm.

Results and Discussion

The results indicated that the optimization of the model had a promoting effect on the control performance of the electromechanical automatic control system. Compared with other popular electromechanical control automation models of the same type, the performance of the research method was the best. During the no-load start-up phase, the maximum tracking error and synchronization error speed of the proposed new electromechanical control automation model showed a significant decreasing trend, with the maximum synchronization error between the two motors being only 0.02%. Under steady-state sudden load, the research model could reach a stable state within 3 s, with errors within ±5%.

Conclusion

In summary, combining the dual motor control algorithm with the electromechanical control automation method can provide a theoretical basis and practical guidance for designing and implementing efficient dual motor electromechanical control systems.
Gut microbiota has important roles in the obstructive sleep apnea-induced inflammation and consequent neurocognitive impairment
Authors: Tang Mingxing , Wu Yongliang , Liang Junyi , Yang Shuai , Huang Zuofeng , Hu Jing , Yang Qiong , Liu Fei , Li Shuo
Published: December 2024

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a state of sleep disorder, characterized by repetitive episodes of apnea and chronic intermittent hypoxia. OSA has an extremely high prevalence worldwide and represents a serious challenge to public health, yet its severity is frequently underestimated. It is now well established that neurocognitive dysfunction, manifested as deficits in attention, memory, and executive functions, is a common complication observed in patients with OSA, whereas the specific pathogenesis remains poorly understood, despite the likelihood of involvement of inflammation. Here, we provide an overview of the current state of the art, demonstrating the intimacy of OSA with inflammation and cognitive impairment. Subsequently, we present the recent findings on the investigation of gut microbiota alteration in the OSA conditions, based on both patients-based clinical studies and animal models of OSA. We present an insightful discussion on the role of changes in the abundance of specific gut microbial members, including short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producers and/or microbes with pathogenic potential, in the pathogenesis of inflammation and further cognitive dysfunction. The transplantation of fecal microbiota from the mouse model of OSA can elicit inflammation and neurobehavioral disorders in naïve mice, thereby validating the causal relationship to inflammation and cognitive abnormality. This work calls for greater attention on OSA and the associated inflammation, which require timely and effective therapy to protect the brain from irreversible damage. This work also suggests that modification of the gut microbiota using prebiotics, probiotics or fecal microbiota transplantation may represent a potential adjuvant therapy for OSA.
Targeted dual-receptor phage cocktail against Cronobacter sakazakii: insights into phage-host interactions and resistance mechanisms
Authors: Kim Seongok , Son Bokyung , Kim Yeran , Kim Hyeongsoon , Nam Gahyeon , Shin Hakdong , Ryu Sangryeol
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Cronobacter sakazakii is a notorious foodborne pathogen, frequently contaminating powdered infant formula and causing life-threatening diseases in infants. The escalating emergence of antibiotics-resistant mutants has led to increased interest in using bacteriophage as an alternative antimicrobial agent.

Methods

Two phages, CR8 and S13, were isolated from feces and soil samples and their morphology, physiology, and genomics were characterized. Phage receptor was determined using deletion mutants lacking flgK, rfaC, fhuA, btuB, lamb, or ompC genes, followed by complementation. Phage-resistant mutants were analyzed for phenotypic changes and fitness trade-offs using motility assays and Caco-2 cell invasion models.

Results

CR8 and S13 were identified as members of Caudoviricetes. Phage CR8 and phage S13 utilize flagella and LPS, respectively, to adhere to host cells. Bacterial challenge assay demonstrated delayed emergence of the resistant mutant as well as stronger lytic activity of a phage cocktail consisting of CR8 and S13 than the single phage treatment. Phenotypic analysis of the phage cocktail resistant strain, designated as CSR strain, revealed that the resistance resulted from the impaired receptor proteins for phage, such as defects in motility and alteration in LPS structure. CSR strain exhibited significant attenuation in invading human intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells compared to WT cells.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that the development of the phage cocktail targeting distinct host receptors can serve as a promising antimicrobial strategy to effectively control C. sakazakii.