bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Flood Runoff Simulation under Changing Environment, Based on Multiple Satellite Data in the Jinghe River Basin of the Loess Plateau, China
Authors: Lyu Jiqiang , Yin Shanshan , Sun Yutong , Wang Kexin , Luo Pingping , Meng Xiaolan
Published: January 2023

Understanding the hydrological surface condition changes, climate change and their combined impacts on flood runoff are critical for comprehending the hydrology under environmental changes and for solving future flood management challenges. This study was designed to examine the relative contributions of the hydrological surface condition changes and climate change in the flood runoff of a 45,421-km2 watershed in the Loess Plateau region. Statistical analytical methods, including Kendall’s trend test, the Theisen median trend analysis, and cumulative anomaly method, were used to detect trends in the relationship between the climatic variables, the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), land use/cover change (LUCC) data, and observed flood runoff. A grid-cell distributed rainfall–runoff model was used to detect the quantitative hydrologic responses to the climatic variability and land-use change. We found that climatic variables were not statistically significantly different (p > 0.05) over the study period. From 1985 to 2013, the cropland area continued to decrease, while the forest land, pastures, and residential areas increased in the Jinghe River Basin. Affected by LUCC and climate change, the peak discharges and flood volumes decreased by 8–22% and 5–67%, respectively. This study can provide a reference for future land-use planning and flood runoff control policy formulation and for revision in the study area.
OpenCare5G: O-RAN in Private Network for Digital Health Applications
Authors: de Oliveira Wagner , Batista José , Novais Tiago , Takashima Silvio , Stange Leonardo , Martucci Moacyr , Cugnasca Carlos , Bressan Graça
Published: January 2023

Digital Health is a new way for medicine to work together with computer engineering and ICT to carry out tests and obtain reliable information about the health status of citizens in the most remote places in Brazil in near-real time, applying new technologies and digital tools in the process. InovaHC is the technological innovation core of the Clinics Hospital of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (HCFMUSP). It is the first national medical institution to seek new opportunities offered by 5G technology and test its application in the first private network for Digital Health in the largest hospital complex in Latin America through the OpenCare5G Project. This project uses an Open RAN concept and network disaggregation with lower costs than the traditional concept used by the telecommunications industry. The technological project connected to the 5G network was divided into two phases for proof-of-concept testing: the first with an initial focus on carrying out examinations with portable ultrasound equipment in different locations at HCFMUSP, and the second focusing on carrying out remote examinations with health professionals in other states of Brazil, who will be working in remote areas in other states with little or no ICT infrastructure together with a doctor analyzing exams in real time at HCFMUSP in São Paulo. The objective of the project is to evaluate the connectivity and capacity of the 5G private network in these the proof-of-concept tests for transmitting the volume of data from remote exams with higher speed and lower latency. We are in the first phase of the proof of concept testing to achieve the expected success. This project is a catalyst for innovation in health, connecting resources and entrepreneurs to generate solutions for the innovation ecosystem of organizations. It is coordinated by Deloitte with the participation of the Escola Politécnica da USP (The School of Engineering—University of São Paulo), Airspan, Itaú Bank, Siemens Healthineers, NEC, Telecom Infra Projet, ABDI and IDB. The use of 5G Open RAN technology in public health is concluded to be of extreme social, economic, and fundamental importance for HCFMUSP, citizens, and the development of health research to promote great positive impacts ranging from attracting investment in the country to improving the quality of patient care.
Design of Ultra-Wideband Phased Array Applicator for Breast Cancer Hyperthermia Therapy
Authors: Lyu Cheng , Li Wenxing , Li Si , Mao Yunlong , Yang Bin
Published: January 2023

Focused microwave−hyperthermia therapy has recently emerged as a key technology in the treatment of breast cancer due to non−invasive treatment. An applicator of a three−ring phased array consisting of ultra−wideband (UWB) microstrip antennas was designed for breast cancer therapy and operates at 0.915 GHz and 2.45 GHz. The proposed antenna has an ultra−wideband from 0.7 GHz to 5.5 GHz with resonant frequencies of 0.915 GHz and 2.45 GHz and dimensions of 15 × 43.5 × 1.575 mm3. The number of each ring was chosen to be 12 based on the SAR distribution and the performance indicators of tumor off−center focusing results for four different numbers of single−ring arrays. The homogeneous breast model is applied to a three−ring phased array consisting of 36 elements for focused simulation, and 1 cm3 and 2 cm3 tumors are placed in three different locations in the breast. The simulation results show that the proposed phased array has good performance and the capability to raise the temperature of different volumes of breast cancer above 42.5 °C after choosing a suitable operating frequency. The proposed applicator allows for precise treatment of tumors by selecting the appropriate operating frequency based on the size of the malignant tumor.
A Portable Measurement Device Based on Phenanthroline Complex for Iron Determination in Water
Authors: Fernandes Samuel , Tlemçani Mouhaydine , Bortoli Daniele , Feliciano Manuel , Lopes Maria Elmina
Published: January 2023

In this work, a newly developed self-contained, portable, and compact iron measurement system (IMS) based on spectroscopy absorption for determination of Fe2+ in water is presented. One of the main goals of the IMS is to operate the device in the field as opposed to instruments commonly used exclusively in the laboratory. In addition, the system has been tuned to quantify iron concentrations in accordance with the values proposed by the regulations for human consumption. The instrument uses the phenanthroline standard method for iron determination in water samples. This device is equipped with an optical sensing system consisting of a light-emitting diode paired with a photodiode to measure absorption radiation through ferroin complex medium. To assess the sensor response, four series of Fe2+ standard samples were prepared with different iron concentrations in various water matrices. Furthermore, a new solid reagent prepared in-house was investigated, which is intended as a “ready-to-use” sample pre-treatment that optimizes work in the field. The IMS showed better analytical performance compared with the state-of-the-art instrument. The sensitivity of the instrument was found to be 2.5 µg Fe2+/L for the measurement range established by the regulations. The linear response of the photodiode was determined for concentrations between 25 and 1000 µg Fe2+/L, making this device suitable for assessing iron in water bodies.
Data Augmentation for a Virtual-Sensor-Based Nitrogen and Phosphorus Monitoring
Authors: Paepae Thulane , Bokoro Pitshou , Kyamakya Kyandoghere
Published: January 2023

To better control eutrophication, reliable and accurate information on phosphorus and nitrogen loading is desired. However, the high-frequency monitoring of these variables is economically impractical. This necessitates using virtual sensing to predict them by utilizing easily measurable variables as inputs. While the predictive performance of these data-driven, virtual-sensor models depends on the use of adequate training samples (in quality and quantity), the procurement and operational cost of nitrogen and phosphorus sensors make it impractical to acquire sufficient samples. For this reason, the variational autoencoder, which is one of the most prominent methods in generative models, was utilized in the present work for generating synthetic data. The generation capacity of the model was verified using water-quality data from two tributaries of the River Thames in the United Kingdom. Compared to the current state of the art, our novel data augmentation—including proper experimental settings or hyperparameter optimization—improved the root mean squared errors by 23–63%, with the most significant improvements observed when up to three predictors were used. In comparing the predictive algorithms’ performances (in terms of the predictive accuracy and computational cost), k-nearest neighbors and extremely randomized trees were the best-performing algorithms on average.
Irregular Scene Text Detection Based on a Graph Convolutional Network
Authors: Zhang Shiyu , Zhou Caiying , Li Yonggang , Zhang Xianchao , Ye Lihua , Wei Yuanwang
Published: January 2023

Detecting irregular or arbitrary shape text in natural scene images is a challenging task that has recently attracted considerable attention from research communities. However, limited by the CNN receptive field, these methods cannot directly capture relations between distant component regions by local convolutional operators. In this paper, we propose a novel method that can effectively and robustly detect irregular text in natural scene images. First, we employ a fully convolutional network architecture based on VGG16_BN to generate text components via the estimated character center points, which can ensure a high text component detection recall rate and fewer noncharacter text components. Second, text line grouping is treated as a problem of inferring the adjacency relations of text components with a graph convolution network (GCN). Finally, to evaluate our algorithm, we compare it with other existing algorithms by performing experiments on three public datasets: ICDAR2013, CTW-1500 and MSRA-TD500. The results show that the proposed method handles irregular scene text well and that it achieves promising results on these three public datasets.
Efficient Extraction of Flavonoids from Lotus Leaves by Ultrasonic-Assisted Deep Eutectic Solvent Extraction and Its Evaluation on Antioxidant Activities
Authors: Liu Liangliang , Xiao Aiping , Zhang Yi , Duan Shengwen
Published: January 2023

The discovery of a green extraction solvent for natural plants could promote related research. In this study, deep eutectic solvents (DES) were used as green solvents coupled with an ultrasound-assisted extraction method (UAE) to extract flavonoids from lotus leaves. Thirty-four different DES were performed and choline chloride/urea with 40% water was chosen as the most promising one, and the related parameters in the procedures were optimized, resulting in the highest extraction amount of flavonoids in lotus leaves. D-101 was selected from four macroporous resins to separate the flavonoids from DES. Moreover, DES could be recycled and efficiently reused four times with satisfactory performances. In addition, the lotus leaf flavonoids from the DES extract exhibited antioxidant activities in five kinds of assays including DPPH, ABTS, Fe3+ reducing, FRAP, and Fe2+ chelating. It also showed antibacterial activities on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacterial strains with minimal inhibitory concentrations at 1666 μg/mL and 208 μg/mL, respectively. In the HPLC analysis, the three main components in the DES extract were identified as astragalin, hyperoside, and isoquercitrin. In conclusion, the developed UAE-DES followed by macroporous resin treatment could become an efficient and environmentally friendly extraction and enrichment method for flavonoids from lotus leaves and other natural products.
Management of Household Plastic Waste in Wollongong, Australia: The Role of Selective Waste Collection Systems
Authors: Bernardo Marcella , Forehead Hugh , De Carvalho Vallin Isabella , Gonçalves-Dias Sylmara L. F.
Published: January 2023

In addition to increasing requirements to adopt more circular economy approaches, Australian municipal waste management systems also face challenges due to the loss of capacity to export waste overseas. Accordingly, these systems will require effective sorting and collecting of waste. Selective Waste Collection (SWC) is the collecting and sorting of household recyclable waste. The study aimed at investigating how SWC systems in an Australian municipality (Wollongong) are organised and their role in the proper management of household plastic waste. For this purpose, we mapped the household plastic waste management system and characterised every SWC system in terms of, e.g., weight and type of plastic collected. We estimated that only about 20% of the household plastic waste generated in 2018–2019 was collected via the SWC systems. Our investigation enabled us to estimate Wollongong’s household plastic waste generation, recycling rate, and final disposal; identify the gaps in knowledge and challenges faced by the systems; and offer recommendations to overcome them. The challenges include contamination, insufficient community awareness, and lack of consistent waste data. Our recommendations include a transition from a commingled to a non-commingled system. The results provide a useful approach and crucial information for performance evaluation, strategy, and planning purposes.
Short-Term Prediction of the Wind Speed Based on a Learning Process Control Algorithm in Isolated Power Systems
Authors: Manusov Vadim , Matrenin Pavel , Nazarov Muso , Beryozkina Svetlana , Safaraliev Murodbek , Zicmane Inga , Ghulomzoda Anvari
Published: January 2023

Predicting the variability of wind energy resources at different time scales is extremely important for effective energy management. The need to obtain the most accurate forecast of wind speed due to its high degree of volatility is particularly acute since this can significantly improve the planning of wind energy production, reduce costs and improve the use of resources. In this study, a method for predicting the speed of wind flow in an isolated power system of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO), based on the use of a neural network with a learning process control algorithm, is proposed. Predicting is performed for four seasons of the year, based on hourly retrospective meteorological data of wind speed observations. The obtained wind speed average error forecasting ranged from 20–28% for a day ahead. The prediction results serve as a basis for optimizing the energy consumption of individual generating consumers to minimize their financial and technical costs. In addition, this study takes into account the possibility of exporting electricity to a neighboring country as an additional income line for the isolated GBAO power system during periods of excess energy from hydropower plants (March–September), which is a systematic vision of solving the problem of improving energy efficiency in the conditions of autonomous power supply.
Development and Research of Recyclable Composite Metamaterial Structures Made of Plastic and Rubber Waste to Reduce Indoor Noise and Reverberation
Authors: Naimušin Andrej , Januševičius Tomas
Published: January 2023

According to the Waste Management Policy of the European Union, the recycling and reuse of various wastes is considered the most ecological and advanced waste disposal technology with the lowest impact on the environment. By applying circular economy principles, plastic waste will extend its life cycle and be used as secondary raw materials to create structures with good sound insulation and absorption properties. Structures created from metamaterial with plastic were studied for their sound-absorbing properties in an impedance tube. A combined 100 mm long resonator design with a 2.0 mm perforation, 20 mm thick plate, regardless of whether it is an “X”- or “O”-shaped resonator, achieved a good sound absorption peak at 315 Hz of 0.94. When the combined structures of 50 mm long “X”- and “O”-shaped designs were compared, different sound absorption peaks at high frequencies were achieved. A slightly better sound absorption peak of 0.95 was achieved at 500 Hz with the “O”-shaped resonator and 0.93 at 630 Hz with the “X”-shaped resonator. The results show that the combined plastic and rubber structures can be integrated into building structures and be used as an alternative to improve building acoustics and reduce noise and reverberation.
Spatial Planning, Environmental Activism, and Politics—Case Study of the Jadar Project for Lithium Exploitation in Serbia
Authors: Stefanović Nebojša , Danilović Hristić Nataša , Petrić Jasna
Published: January 2023

It is an indisputable fact in the world today that lithium is one of the key chemical elements of the future, one that is critically important for the development of renewable energy sources, electromobility, green industry, and the overall sustainability of our planet. Lithium ore, in the form of jadarite, was discovered in Western Serbia in 2004, with an estimated 10% of the world’s reserves. This paper presents the basic elements and methodology of the spatial plan for implementing the Jadar project for the exploitation and processing of the mineral jadarite in Serbia and the accompanying strategic assessment of the plan’s impact on the environment, which was carried out by the authors of this paper. The procedure for public participation during the development of the plan was analyzed, as well as the subsequent campaign by environmental activists against the exploitation of lithium, and the political decision to invalidate the plan and stop the project. The aim of the paper is to point out the dilemma that arises, in the opinion of the authors, when the problem of lithium exploitation in the initial stages is moved from the domain of spatial planning to the domain of strictly environmental activism, and, in the end, the political domain. The authors take the position that if there is no plan for development, there is no foundation on which to develop and monitor the environmental dimension of development, direct the subsequent design process, or assess the environmental impact for each of the planned facilities, after which process it is possible to make final, binding decisions of a technical, legal, or financial nature. The basic conclusion is that the issue of the potential exploitation of lithium, the most important aspect of which is its environmental impact, must be considered and resolved in several steps, while the role of spatial planning cannot be neglected.
Coupling Nexus and Circular Economy to Decouple Carbon Emissions from Economic Growth
Authors: Uddin Mohammed Sakib , Mahmud Khaled , Mitra Bijoy , Hridoy Al-Ekram Elahee , Rahman Syed Masiur , Shafiullah Md , Alam Md. Shafiul , Hossain Md. Ismail , Sujauddin Mohammad
Published: January 2023

Experts have been searching for ways to mitigate the impacts of climate change on resources since the early 20th century. In response, the World Economic Forum introduced the concept of a “nexus”, which involves the simultaneous, systematic collaboration of multiple individuals or sectors, such as water, energy, and food, in order to create an integrated approach to reducing resource scarcity through a multi-disciplinary framework. In contrast, a circular economy (CE) involves restructuring material flows from a linear economic system and closing the loop on resource exploitation. Both the nexus and CE have been developed to address the overexploitation of resources, but they also contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and decouple carbon emissions from economic growth. This study explores the potential of combining the nexus and CE to pursue the SDGs on a global scale. Our findings reveal significant research gaps and policy implementation challenges in developing countries, as well as the potential consequences of adopting integrative scenarios. Finally, we propose a system dynamics model as a way to address the difficulties of coupling policies and to better understand the interdependencies between different parts of the economy.
Consumer Motivation behind the Use of Ecological Charcoal in Cameroon
Authors: Mfokeu Ahmed Moustapha , Chrysostome Elie Virgile , Gueyie Jean-Pierre , Mun Ngapna Olivier Ebenezer
Published: January 2023

Climate change and global warming are amplified by pollution and deforestation. For this reason, governments around the world meet every year to find ways to reduce pollution and deforestation and ensure sustainable development. The use of clean energy, particularly ecological charcoal, appears to be an appropriate solution in developing countries. The main objective of this research is to assess the motivations for the consumption of ecological charcoal in Cameroon, using a quantitative approach based on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Data were collected from 525 households in the cities of Yaoundé and Douala, Cameroon. The results show that the desire to protect the environment (ecological sensibility), the desire to reduce the energy costs of cooking (economic sensibility), the need to improve health and security, and the desire to enhance the quality of meals and to preserve the cleanliness of pots are all determinants in the consumers’ choice to use ecological charcoal. These results are refreshing. In Cameroon, in addition to its economic value, the massive consumption of ecological charcoal will contribute to a reduction in household waste management problems in cities and municipalities, while preserving the environment.
One-Dimensional Computational Model of Gyttja Clay for Settlement Prediction
Authors: Kacprzak Grzegorz , Zbiciak Artur , Józefiak Kazimierz , Nowak Paweł , Frydrych Mateusz
Published: January 2023

One of the most important subjects of geomechanics research is finding mathematical relationships which could correctly describe behavior of the soil under loading. Safety of every engineering structure depends strongly on accuracy and correctness of this description. As laboratory tests show, macroscopic properties of soil are complicated. Therefore, working out appropriate load-settlement relationships is considered to be a very difficult geomechanics tasks to solve. A majority of constitutive models proposed to date concern mineral soils and there is very little research related to modelling organic soil behavior under loading. In case of organic soils, due to their very complicated and composite structure, constitutive models are often formulated empirically based on laboratory tests of particular soils. The authors of this paper propose a 1-D rheological structure which accounts for complex behavior of soil related to the settlement process. The model simulates immediate reversible elastic settlement and plastic soil deformation as well as primary and secondary (creep effect) consolidation. Material parameters of the model were determined by a curve fitting procedure applied for a natural scale settlement test of plate foundation. The test was carried out in soil conditions connected with Eemian geological structure of Warsaw, i.e., Eemian glacial tunnel valley in Warsaw called Żoliborz Glacial Tunnel Valley filled with organic soils being up to 20 metres thick. This area has lately become an object of interest of investors as a site for building construction.
Time-Dependent 4D Quantum Harmonic Oscillator and Reacting Hydrogen Atom
Authors: Gevorkyan Ashot S. , Bogdanov Aleksander V.
Published: January 2023

With the help of low-dimensional reference equations (ordinary differential equations) and the corresponding coordinate transformations, the non-stationary 4D quantum oscillator in an external field is reduced to an autonomous form. The latter, in particular, reflects the existence of a new type of dynamical symmetry that reduces the equation of motion of a non-stationary oscillator to an autonomous form that does not change with time. By imposing an additional constraint on the wave function of the isotropic oscillator, we have obtained the total wave functions of the reacting hydrogen atom in two different cases: (a) when the non-stationary frequency has two asymptotic values and there is no external field; and (b) when, in addition to the non-stationary frequency, an external force acts on the hydrogen atom. The transition S-matrix elements of various elementary atomic–molecular processes are constructed. The probabilities of quantum transitions of the hydrogen atom to others, including new bound states, are studied in detail, taking into account the influence of external forces.
Face Mask: As a Source or Protector of Human Exposure to Microplastics and Phthalate Plasticizers?
Authors: Cao Jiong , Shi Yumeng , Yan Mengqi , Zhu Hongkai , Chen Shucong , Xu Ke , Wang Lei , Sun Hongwen
Published: January 2023

Wearing masks has become the norm during the Coronavirus disease pandemic. Masks can reportedly interface with air pollutants and release microplastics and plastic additives such as phthalates. In this study, an experimental device was set up to simulate the impact of five kinds of masks (activated-carbon, N95, surgical, cotton, and fashion masks) on the risk of humans inhaling microplastics and phthalates during wearing. The residual concentrations of seven major phthalates ranged from 296 to 72,049 ng/g (median: 1242 ng/g), with the lowest and the highest concentrations detected in surgical (median: 367 ng/g) and fashion masks (median: 37,386 ng/g), respectively. During the whole inhalation simulation process, fragmented and 20–100 μm microplastics accounted for the largest, with a rapid release during the first six hours. After one day’s wearing, that of 6 h, while wearing different masks, 25–135 and 65–298 microplastics were inhaled indoors and outdoors, respectively. The total estimated daily intake of phthalates with indoor and outdoor conditions by inhalation and skin exposure ranged from 1.2 to 13 and 0.43 to 14 ng/kg bw/d, respectively. Overall, surgical masks yield a protective effect, while cotton and fashion masks increase human exposure to microplastics and phthalates both indoors and outdoors compared to no mask wearing. This study observed possible risks from common facemasks and provided suggestions to consumers for selecting suitable masks to reduce exposure risks from microplastics and phthalate acid.
The Important Role of Membrane Fluidity on the Lytic Mechanism of the α-Pore-Forming Toxin Sticholysin I
Authors: Pedrera Lohans , Ros Uris , Fanani Maria Laura , Lanio María E. , Epand Richard M. , García-Sáez Ana J. , Álvarez Carlos
Published: January 2023

Actinoporins have emerged as archetypal α-pore-forming toxins (PFTs) that promote the formation of pores in membranes upon oligomerization and insertion of an α-helix pore-forming domain in the bilayer. These proteins have been used as active components of immunotoxins, therefore, understanding their lytic mechanism is crucial for developing this and other applications. However, the mechanism of how the biophysical properties of the membrane modulate the properties of pores generated by actinoporins remains unclear. Here we studied the effect of membrane fluidity on the permeabilizing activity of sticholysin I (St I), a toxin that belongs to the actinoporins family of α-PFTs. To modulate membrane fluidity we used vesicles made of an equimolar mixture of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and egg sphingomyelin (eggSM), in which PC contained fatty acids of different acyl chain lengths and degrees of unsaturation. Our detailed single-vesicle analysis revealed that when membrane fluidity is high, most of the vesicles are partially permeabilized in a graded manner. In contrast, more rigid membranes can be either completely permeabilized or not, indicating an all-or-none mechanism. Altogether, our results reveal that St I pores can be heterogeneous in size and stability, and that these properties depend on the fluid state of the lipid bilayer. We propose that membrane fluidity at different regions of cellular membranes is a key factor to modulate the activity of the actinoporins, which has implications for the design of different therapeutic strategies based on their lytic action.
Lipid Profile and 5α-Reductase Inhibition Activity of Proprietary Ultrahigh-Pressure Supercritical Carbon Dioxide and Hexane Saw Palmetto Extracts
Authors: Cartwright Elizabeth J. , Dohnalek Margaret H. , Hill W. Stephen
Published: January 2023

Inhibition of 5α-reductase (5αR), which blocks the conversion of testosterone to its active metabolite, dihydrotestosterone, has been shown to impact further prostate enlargement (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH). Clinical trials of standardized lipidosterolic extracts of Serenoa repens (LSESr), also known as standardized extracts of saw palmetto, have demonstrated improvement in lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and delayed progression of BPH. The aim of this preclinical study was to compare two standardized LSESr, a proprietary ultrahigh-pressure supercritical carbon dioxide extract of S. repens (UHP-sCESr) and the well-established hexanic extract of S. repens (HESr), for both 5αR inhibition activity and lipid profiles. UHP-sCESr and HESr had nearly identical inhibition curves and comparable IC50 values for 5αR-1 (9.25 ± 0.87 and 9.86 ± 0.11 μg/mL, respectively; p = 0.43) and 5αR-2 (7.47 ± 0.07 and 7.72 ± 0.05 μg/mL, respectively; p = 0.0544). UHP-sCESr and HESr also had comparable lipid profiles based on similar total fatty acid levels (87.7% and 91.5%, respectively), weight/weight comparisons of individual fatty acids, and individual fatty acid ratios to lauric acid. In addition, UHP-sCESr meets the standard set by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) monograph for authenticity and purity for a supercritical carbon dioxide (SCCO2) extract of saw palmetto, whereas HESr meets the standard set by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for a well-established medicinal product. In conclusion, based on enzyme inhibition curves and IC50 values, a standardized lipid profile is important to achieve comparable mechanisms of action for lipidosterolic extracts of saw palmetto. UHP-sCESr offers a comparable, standardized LSESr for men with LUTS/BPH in regions where the proprietary HESr is not available.
Subjective and Objective Cognitive Impairments in Non-Hospitalized Persons 9 Months after SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Authors: Kirchberger Inge , Peilstöcker Daniela , Warm Tobias D. , Linseisen Jakob , Hyhlik-Dürr Alexander , Meisinger Christine , Goßlau Yvonne
Published: January 2023

Studies on cognitive problems of persons with mild COVID-19 courses are still lacking. This study aimed to determine the frequency and associated factors of subjective and objective cognitive problems after COVID-19 in non-hospitalized persons. Study participants were examined at the University Hospital of Augsburg from 04/11/2020 to 26/05/2021. The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) IV digit span, Stroop Color and Word Test (SCWT), Regensburger verbal fluency test (RWT) and, subjective ratings of memory and concentration were applied. Of the 372 participants (mean age 46.8 ± 15.2 years, 54.3% women, median time after infection 9.1 months), 24.9% reported concentration and 21.9% memory problems. Overall, 55.6% of the participants had at least a mild negative alteration in any cognitive test. The strongest impairments were found regarding memory functions (41.1% mild alterations, 6.2% distinct impairments) and verbal fluency (12.4% mild alterations, 5.4% distinct impairments). SCWT showed negative alterations in no more than 3.0% of the participants. Level of school education, age, and depressiveness emerged as significantly related to the cognitive tests. The number of complaints and depressiveness were significantly associated with subjective memory and concentration problems. It is important to identify mild cognitive impairment in non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients early to offer them effective interventions.
Special Issue “New Frontiers in Small DNA Virus Research”
Authors: Strati Katerina , Pyeon Dohun
Published: January 2023

Scientific progress in understanding, preventing, treating, and managing viral infections and associated diseases exemplifies the extent to which research on small DNA tumor viruses has impacted human health [...]
Different Infectivity and Transmissibility of H5N8 and H5N1 High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza Viruses Isolated from Chickens in Japan in the 2021/2022 Season
Authors: Takadate Yoshihiro , Tsunekuni Ryota , Kumagai Asuka , Mine Junki , Kikutani Yuto , Sakuma Saki , Miyazawa Kohtaro , Uchida Yuko
Published: January 2023

H5N8 and H5N1 high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) caused outbreaks in poultry farms in Japan from November 2021 to May 2022. Hemagglutinin genes of these viruses belong to clade 2.3.4.4B and can be divided phylogenetically into the following groups: 20A, 20E, and 21E. In this study, we compared the infectivity and transmissibility of HPAIVs from three groups of chickens. Representative strains from 20A, 20E, and 21E groups are A/chicken/Akita/7C/2021(H5N8)(Akita7C), A/chicken/Kagoshima/21A6T/2021(H5N1)(Kagoshima6T), and A/chicken/Iwate/21A7T/2022(H5N1)(Iwate7T), respectively. Fifty percent lethal dose of Akita7C in chickens (103.83 fifty percent egg infectious dose (EID50)) was up to seven times lower than those of Kagoshima6T and Iwate7T (104.50 and 104.68 EID50, respectively). Mean death times for Akita7C- and Kagoshima6T-infected chickens (3.45 and 3.30 days, respectively) were at least a day longer than that of Iwate7T (2.20 days). Viral titers of the trachea and cloaca of Iwate7T-infected chicken were the highest detected. The transmission rate of the Akita7C strain (100%) was markedly higher than those of the two strains (<50%). These data suggest that the infectivity and transmissibility of the Akita7C strain (H5N8) in chickens are higher than those of H5N1 viruses, providing fundamental information needed for formulating effective prevention and control strategies for HPAI outbreaks.
Genomic Analysis of West Nile Virus Lineage 1 Detected in Mosquitoes during the 2020–2021 Outbreaks in Andalusia, Spain
Authors: Ruiz-López María José , Muñoz-Chimeno Milagros , Figuerola Jordi , Gavilán Ana M. , Varona Sarai , Cuesta Isabel , Martínez-de la Puente Josué , Zaballos Ángel , Molero Francisca , Soriguer Ramón C. , Sánchez-Seco Maria Paz , Ruiz Santiago , Vázquez Ana
Published: January 2023

Emerging infectious diseases are one of the most important global health challenges because of their impact on human and animal health. The vector-borne West Nile virus (WNV) is transmitted between birds by mosquitos, but it can also infect humans and horses causing disease. The local circulation of WNV in Spain has been known for decades, and since 2010, there have been regular outbreaks in horses, although only six cases were reported in humans until 2019. In 2020, Spain experienced a major outbreak with 77 human cases, which was followed by 6 additional cases in 2021, most of them in the Andalusian region (southern Spain). This study aimed to characterize the genomes of the WNV circulating in wild-trapped mosquitoes during 2020 and 2021 in Andalusia. We sequenced the WNV consensus genome from two mosquito pools and carried out the phylogenetic analyses. We also compared the obtained genomes with those sequenced from human samples obtained during the outbreak and the genomes obtained previously in Spain from birds (2007 and 2017), mosquitoes (2008) and horses (2010) to better understand the eco-epidemiology of WNV in Spain. As expected, the WNV genomes recovered from mosquito pools in 2020 were closely related to those recovered from humans of the same outbreak. In addition, the strain of WNV circulating in 2021 was highly related to the WNV strain that caused the 2020 outbreak, suggesting that WNV is overwintering in the area. Consequently, future outbreaks of the same strain may occur in in the future.
The Effect of Disease and Injury on Faecal Cortisol Metabolites, as an Indicator of Stress in Wild Hospitalised Koalas, Endangered Australian Marsupials
Authors: Santamaria Flavia , Schlagloth Rolf , Valenza Ludovica , Palme Rupert , de Villiers Deidre , Henning Joerg
Published: January 2023

Loss of habitat, urbanisation, climate change and its consequences are anthropogenic pressures that may cause stress in koalas. Non-invasive monitoring of faecal cortisol metabolites (FCMs) can be utilised to evaluate the impact of stressors. The aim was to determine if the tetrahydrocorticosterone (50c) and cortisol enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) could be effective in measuring FCM values in wild, stressed koalas. This research included 146 koalas from the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital (AZWH) and 88 from a study conducted by Endeavour Veterinary Ecology (EVE), Queensland, Australia. Faecal samples of diseased, injured and control koalas were analysed. The effect of hospitalisation on FCM values was also investigated. Diseased and injured koalas had significantly higher FCM values than clinically healthy control animals as measured by the 50c EIA. FCM values with the cortisol EIA differed significantly between control and diseased koalas, but not between control and injured ones. Moreover, only the 50c EIA detected higher absolute values in males compared to females, and also found that females showed a more elevated response to stress manifested by injury and disease compared to males. The 50c EIA detected stress during hospitalisation better than the cortisol EIA. The cortisol EIA was also found unreliable in detecting stress in rehabilitated koalas treated with synthetic glucocorticoids as it cross-reacts with these steroids providing artificially high values.
Characterization of Functional Connectivity in Chronic Stroke Subjects after Augmented Reality Training
Authors: Assis Gilda A. de , Brandão Alexandre F. , Correa Ana G. D. , Castellano Gabriela
Published: January 2023

Augmented reality (AR) tools have been investigated with promising outcomes in rehabilitation. Recently, some studies have addressed the neuroplasticity effects induced by this type of therapy using functional connectivity obtained from resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). This work aims to perform an initial assessment of possible changes in brain functional connectivity associated with the use of NeuroR, an AR system for upper limb motor rehabilitation of poststroke participants. An experimental study with a case series is presented. Three chronic stroke participants with left hemiparesis were enrolled in the study. They received eight sessions with NeuroR to provide shoulder rehabilitation exercises. Measurements of range of motion (ROM) were obtained at the beginning and end of each session, and rs-fMRI data were acquired at baseline (pretest) and after the last training session (post-test). Functional connectivity analyses of the rs-fMRI data were performed using a seed placed at the noninjured motor cortex. ROM increased in two patients who presented spastic hemiparesis in the left upper limb, with a change in muscle tone, and stayed the same (at zero angles) in one of the patients, who had the highest degree of impairment, showing flaccid hemiplegia. All participants had higher mean connectivity values in the ipsilesional brain regions associated with motor function at post-test than at pretest. Our findings show the potential of the NeuroR system to promote neuroplasticity related to AR-based therapy for motor rehabilitation in stroke participants.
Facile Green Synthesis of ZnO NPs and Plasmonic Ag-Supported ZnO Nanocomposite for Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue
Authors: Alzahrani Elham A. , Nabi Arshid , Kamli Majid Rasool , Albukhari Soha M. , Althabaiti Shaeel Ahmed , Al-Harbi Sami A. , Khan Imran , Malik Maqsood Ahmad
Published: January 2023

Removing organic pollutants, textile dyes, and pharmaceutical wastes from the water bodies has become an essential requirement for a safe environment. Therefore, the present study aimed to prepare semiconductor zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and plasmonic Ag-supported ZnO nanocomposite (ZnO–Ag) using an environmentally friendly bio-approach as an alternative to hazardous synthesis approaches. ZnO NPs and ZnO–Ag nanocomposite were characterized by using UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–DRS) (the Ag-supported ZnO nanocomposite exhibited an absorption band between 450–550 nm, attributed to the Ag NPs surface plasmon resonance (SPR)), Photoluminescence (PL) spectral investigation, which revealed the PL emission intensity of ZnO–Ag NPs was lower than pure ZnO NPs, describing an extended electron-hole pair (e--h+) lifespan of photogenerated charge carriers, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), FT-Raman, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses were deduced. In addition, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were performed and further ascertained the successful biosynthesis and thermally stable ZnO Nps and ZnO–Ag nanocomposite. The as-prepared ZnO–Ag nanocomposite displayed increased photocatalytic characteristics due to the decline in the bandgap energy from 3.02 eV (ZnO NPs) to 2.90 eV (ZnO–Ag nanocomposite). The photocatalytic activity of the developed nanocomposite for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye, a primary textile industry released water-pollutant, was conducted under UV light irradiation. Meanwhile, the maximum % degradation of MB dye molecules was attained by 98.0 % after 60 min exposure of UV-light irradiation. Increased photocatalytic activity of ZnO–Ag nanocomposites and a faster rate of MB degradation were achieved by the deposition of plasmonic Ag NPs and the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect possessed by Ag NPs. The primary oxidative route that resulted in MB degradation was the production of hydroxyl radicals (OH•). The SPR effect of the photocatalyst induced the synergistic enhancement of the optical response and separation of the photo-induced charge carriers. The combined study gives comprehensive information and directions for future research on noble metal-modified nanocatalysts for direct applications in the photocatalytic degradation of textile and organic wastes in water.
RUPA TOPENG PANJI GAYA YOGYAKARTA DI MUSEUM SONOBUDOYO
Authors: Tri Suwasono Bening
Published: January 2023

Artikel tentang rupa topeng Panji gaya Yogyakarta ini merupakan kajian hasil penelitian yang berusaha untuk mengetengahkan permasalahan berkaitan dengan bagaimana latar belakang keberadaan kesenian topeng di Yogyakarta, bagaimana makna simbolis yang terkandung di dalam topeng Panji, dan bagaimana rupa topeng Panji gaya Yogyakarta di Museum Sonobudoyo. Tujuan dari penelitian adalah untuk melihat sejauhmana keberadaan kesenian topeng Panji di Yogyakarta lewat penelusuran jejak artefak, selain itu hasil dari penelitian ini dapat menambah khasanah keilmuan khususnya seni rupa tradisi lewat visual topeng Panji gaya Yogyakarta yang menjadi bagian dari koleksi museum Sonobudoyo. Metode yang dipakai dalam penelitian ini adalah menggunakan pendekatan studi kasus tunggal, yaitu rupa topeng Panji gaya Yogyakarta koleksi museum Sonobudoyo. Sumber data yang pakai dalam penelitian ini didapatkan dari narasumber dan sumber tertulis. Secara teknis pengumpulan data dilakukan melalui cara observasi, wawancara, dan dokumentasi. Keberadaan topeng sebagai artefak budaya tida bisa diabaikan begitu saja. Terbukti setelah dilakukan sebuah kajian menunjukkan bahwa topeng Panji gaya Yogyakarta memiliki akar sejarah yang kuat, serta di dalamnya terdapat makna simbolis yang kuat pula. Topeng sebagai sebuah artefak budaya keberadaannya dapat terindra secara fisik. Topeng cerita Panji gaya Yogyakarta di museum Sonobudoyo memiliki bentuk visual yang menarik. Berdasarkan hasil kajian didapatkan sebuah kesimpulan bahwa topeng Panji gaya Yogyakarta memiliki karakteristik yang menjadi penciri/pembeda dengan topeng Panji lainnya
Perancangan Hiasan Dinding Berbahan Dasar Limbah Tektile Untuk Interior Kafe Dengan Teknik Tapestri
Authors: Jannah Annisa Khafsul
Published: January 2023

Perancangan hiasan dinding berbahan dasar limbah tekstil untuk interior kafe dengan teknik tapestri pada pelengkap interior kafe adalah upaya dalam pengurangan limbah  tekstil dengan menambahkan nilai baru, sekaligus memanfaatkan ketertarikan masyarakat dalam mendokumentasikan suatu momen untuk kemudian di upload kesosial media. Hiasan dinding untuk interior kafe dikarenakan kafe merupakan ruang public dengan peningkatan penyebaran jumlah kedai diseluruh Indonesia yang berkembang paling pesat antara tahun 2019-2020. Metode yang digunakan yaitu metode perancangan dengan teori Gustami, metode penciptaan seni kriya dengan carapendekatan metodologis melalui tiga tahap dan enam langkah dalam penciptaanseni kriya. Berdasarkan tahapannya, terdiri dari eksplorasi, perancangan, dan perwujudan. Tema untuk konsep karya hiasan dinding recycle ramah lingkungan ini yaitu kekayaan Indonesia dalam kekurangannya, tema ini mengangkat penggambaran keindahan dan kekayaan alam milik Indonesia sekaligus menyampaikan penyebab yang menjadikannya juga suatu kekurangan bagi Indonesia.
LIONG SEBAGAI SUMBER IDE PENCIPTAAN MOTIF BATIK PADA BUSANA CASUAL WANITA
Authors: Nursiyah Diyah Sri , - Agung Cahyana
Published: January 2023

Indonesia dihuni oleh masyarakat yang beranekaragam, keberagaman ini meliputi suku bangsa, agama, kepercayaan, bahasa dan ras. Oleh karenanya, Indonesia menjadi negara yang memiliki berbagai macam kebudayaan, salah satunya adalah  kebudayaan   yang  berbentuk  wastra  yang  sering disebut dengan batik. Motif-motif batik yang ada banyak dipengaruhi oleh kebudayaan yang beragam dari setiap suku dan   ras atau etnis yang mendiami Indonesia, salah satunya adalah etnis Tionghoa. Etnis Tionghoa memiliki satu hewan mitologi kepercayaan yang mendapat penghormatan tertinggi yaitu Liong atau Naga China. Karena kedudukannya yang tinggi ini, maka simbol Liong atau naga ini sering digunakan untuk melambangkan maharaja serta kaisar-kaisar Tionghoa. Selain itu, simbol Liong atau naga juga digunakan sebagai simbol pada bangunan-bangunan suci, salah satunya adalah klentheng.  Klentheng  merupakan  tempat  untuk  beribadah bagi masyarakat Tionghoa yang beragama Konghucu karena simbol naga dipercaya dapat menjembatani antara dunia manusia dan  Illahi, pelindung dan  pengusir roh jahat. Ide untuk menciptakan sebuah karya dengan motif baru dengan menggunakan teknik batik tulis. Dalam proses penciptaan ini dilakukan secara metedologis melalui beberapa tahapan yaitu eksplorasi, perancangan, dan penciptaan karya. Hasil yang dicapai adalah terciptanya motif batik tulis dengan sumber ide Liong atau Naga China. Karya berjumlah 4 yang terwujud dalam busana casual wanita. Adapun nama motif batik yang diciptakan meliputi: Genthala Akzha, Genthala Thalassa, Genthala   Sadana,   dan   Genthala   Anila.   Tujuan   dari penciptaan Tugas Akhir ini untuk mengenalkan percampuran budaya yang ada di Surakarta dalam wujud batik dengan inovasi baru.
Parvitas regni, villae dominicatae et vassalorum. Note sur un faux diplôme de Lothaire ii au profit de l’abbaye de Stavelot (†862 DD LII 37)
Authors: Schroeder Nicolas
Published: January 2023

Par un diplôme adressé aux moines de Stavelot le 13 avril 862 (DD LII 17), le roi Lothaire ii confirmait les domaines réservés à l’usage de la communauté. Un second diplôme de Lothaire, émis à la même date, détaille la consistance des domaines (DD LII † 37). Ce document a été identifié comme un faux qui aurait été rédigé entre 873 et 902. Le présent article cherche à élucider les raisons ayant motivé cette forgerie, ce qui amène également à en revoir la datation. La charte aurait en fait été préparée dans la période particulièrement troublée entre la mort de Lothaire ii, en août 869, et 873, avec un climax autour du traité de Meersen (8 août 870). L’objectif aurait été de proposer un document identique à LII 17 mais avec des listes de biens plus détaillées, afin de prévenir la dispersion du temporel par la royauté qui le mettait à contribution pour s’allier des fidèles.