bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identifying xenobiotic metabolites with in silico prediction tools and LCMS suspect screening analysis
Authors: Boyce Matthew , Favela Kristin A. , Bonzo Jessica A. , Chao Alex , Lizarraga Lucina E. , Moody Laura R. , Owens Elizabeth O. , Patlewicz Grace , Shah Imran , Sobus Jon R. , Thomas Russell S. , Williams Antony J. , Yau Alice , Wambaugh John F.
Published: January 2023

Understanding the metabolic fate of a xenobiotic substance can help inform its potential health risks and allow for the identification of signature metabolites associated with exposure. The need to characterize metabolites of poorly studied or novel substances has shifted exposure studies towards non-targeted analysis (NTA), which often aims to profile many compounds within a sample using high-resolution liquid-chromatography mass-spectrometry (LCMS). Here we evaluate the suitability of suspect screening analysis (SSA) liquid-chromatography mass-spectrometry to inform xenobiotic chemical metabolism. Given a lack of knowledge of true metabolites for most chemicals, predictive tools were used to generate potential metabolites as suspect screening lists to guide the identification of selected xenobiotic substances and their associated metabolites. Thirty-three substances were selected to represent a diverse array of pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and industrial chemicals from Environmental Protection Agency’s ToxCast chemical library. The compounds were incubated in a metabolically-activein vitroassay using primary hepatocytes and the resulting supernatant and lysate fractions were analyzed with high-resolution LCMS. Metabolites were simulated for each compound structure using software and then combined to serve as the suspect screening list. The exact masses of the predicted metabolites were then used to select LCMS features for fragmentationviatandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Of the starting chemicals, 12 were measured in at least one sample in either positive or negative ion mode and a subset of these were used to develop the analysis workflow. We implemented a screening level workflow for background subtraction and the incorporation of time-varying kinetics into the identification of likely metabolites. We used haloperidol as a case study to perform an in-depth analysis, which resulted in identifying five known metabolites and five molecular features that represent potential novel metabolites, two of which were assigned discrete structures based onin silicopredictions. This workflow was applied to five additional test chemicals, and 15 molecular features were selected as either reported metabolites, predicted metabolites, or potential metabolites without a structural assignment. This study demonstrates that in some–but not all–cases, suspect screening analysis methods provide a means to rapidly identify and characterize metabolites of xenobiotic chemicals.
Animal shelter management of feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus infections in cats
Authors: Dezubiria Paola , Amirian E. Susan , Spera Keegan , Crawford P. Cynda , Levy Julie K.
Published: January 2023

Approximately 5% of cats in animal shelters in the United States test positive for either feline leukemia virus (FeLV) or feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), which translates to more than 100,000 positive cats managed by shelters each year. Little is known about the current status of retroviral management in animal shelters, particularly in regions burdened by chronic pet overpopulation and high shelter admissions, such as the southern United States. The purpose of this study was to describe feline retroviral management in Florida shelters. Shelters were surveyed on practices including selection of cats for testing, diagnostic techniques, and outcome options for cats with positive test results. Responses were received from 139 of 153 animal shelters known to admit cats, including 55 municipal shelters (40%), 70 private shelters (50%), and 14 private shelters with municipal contracts (10%). A total of 115 shelters (83%) performed at least some testing, most using combination point-of-care devices for simultaneous FeLV antigen and FIV antibody screening. Of shelters that performed any testing, 56 (49%) tested all cats for FeLV and 52 (45%) tested all cats for both FeLV and FIV. The most common reason for testing was screening adoptable cats (108 shelters; 94%) and cats available for transfer to other organizations (78; 68%). Testing cats in trap-neuter-return/return-to-field programs was least common (21; 18%). Most common outcome options for positive cats included adoption (74; 64%), transfer (62; 54%), and euthanasia (49; 43%). Euthanasia following a positive test result was more common for cats with FeLV (49; 43%) than for cats with FIV (29; 25%) and was more common in municipal shelters, rural shelters, shelters taking in <500 cats a year, and shelters with overall live outcome rates for cats <70%. Although Florida shelter compliance with national guidelines for identification and management of FeLV and FIV positive cats was variable, most had live outcome options for at least some of their cats with positive test results. Increased access to training and practical programmatic tools may help more shelters implement cost-effective testing protocols, reduce risk for transmission to other cats, and support the best outcomes for this vulnerable population of cats.
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Administrative Sciences in 2022
Authors:   Administrative Sciences Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Effects of Organic Amendments on Soil Pore Structure under Waterlogging Stress
Authors: Xuan Kefan , Li Xiaopeng , Zhang Jiabao , Jiang Yifei , Ma Bin , Liu Jianli
Published: January 2023

Organic amendments are a proven method of reducing soil erosion. However, the effect of organic additives on the pore properties of soils waterlogged by extreme rainfall has been minimally investigated. In this study, we collected rainfall data, established a field experiment consisting of randomized groups, and imaged the pore structure of waterlogged soil treated with different organic amendments (9 t ha−1 of maize straw [MS], 2.37 t ha−1 of cattle manure [OF], a mixture of 9 t ha−1 of MS and 1.89 t ha−1 of cattle manure [SOF], 7.4 t ha−1 of biochar [BC], 8.1 t ha−1 of woody peat [WP], and 3 L ha−1 of polyacrylamide [PAM]) in three-dimensions by X-ray microtomography and digital image analysis, which further quantified the effects. The results showed that, compared with the control, BC increased the total porosity by 54.28% and the connected porosity by 119.75%, but did not affect the pore shape and size distribution. BC and SOF improved the soil connectivity indexes; e.g., their C/I ratios increased by 177.44% and 149.62%, and the coordination numbers increased by 6.75% and 15.76%, respectively. MS had fewer, but longer and larger, channels and throats. Extreme precipitation events were significantly negatively correlated with all connectivity indicators. This study shows that organic materials can optimize the pore structure of waterlogged soil, with BC being the most resistant to erosion. However, extreme precipitation events can counteract the benefits organic additives have on soil pore structure.
Practice Patterns in Fournier’s Gangrene in Europe and Implications for a Prospective Registry Study
Authors: Schneidewind Laila , Kiss Bernhard , Stangl Fabian P. , Tandogdu Zafer , Wagenlehner Florian M. E. , Johansen Truls E. Bjerklund , Köves Béla , Medina-Polo Jose , Tapia Ana Maria , Kranz Jennifer
Published: January 2023

Background: Fournier’s gangrene (FG) is a life-threatening, necrotizing infection. Due to the rareness of the disease, it is challenging to plan robust prospective studies. This study aims to describe current practice patterns of FG in Europe and identify implications for planning a prospective FG registry. Methods: Online non-validated 17-items survey among urologists treating FG in in European hospitals. Questionnaires were analyzed with LimeSurvey (LimeSurvey GmbH Hamburg, Germany). Results: 229 responses from ten different European countries were submitted, and 117 (51.1%) urologists completed the questionnaire. The departments treat a mean of 4.2 (SD 3.11) patients per year. The urology department mostly takes the lead in treating FG patients (n = 113; 96.6%). The practice in FG is very heterogenic and mostly case-based all over Europe, e.g., vacuum-assisted wound closure (VAC) is mostly used (n = 50; 42.7%) as adjunct wound. The biggest challenges in FG are the short time to diagnosis and treatment, standardization and establishment of guidelines, and disease awareness. Additionally, participants stated that an international registry is an outstanding initiative, and predictive models are needed. Conclusions: There is no standard of care in the diagnosis, treatment, and long-term care of FG all over Europe. Further research could be conducted with a prospective registry.
Inside the Mechanism of Action of Three Pyrazole Derivatives in Human Platelets and Endothelial Cells
Authors: Brullo Chiara , Russo Eleonora , Garibaldi Silvano , Altieri Paola , Ameri Pietro , Ravera Silvia , Signorello Maria Grazia
Published: January 2023

In the effort to obtain multitarget compound interfering with inflammation, oxidative stress, and tumorigenesis, we synthesized a small library of pyrazole compounds, selecting 4a, 4f, and 4g as the most noteworthy being IC50 against platelet ROS production induced by thrombin of about 10 µM. The in vitro antioxidant potential of the three molecules was evaluated, and since they show a remarkable antioxidative activity, their effect on several parameter indicative of oxidative status and on the efficiency of the aerobic metabolism was tested. The three molecules strongly inhibit superoxide anion production, lipid peroxidation, NADPH oxidase activity and almost restore the oxidative phosphorylation efficiency in thrombin-stimulated platelet, demonstrating a protective effect against oxidative stress. This effect was confirmed in endothelial cell in which 4a, 4f, and 4g show an interesting inhibition activity on H2O2-stimulated EA.hy926 cells. At last, antiproliferative activity of 4a, 4f, and 4g was submitted to a large screening at the NCI. The molecules show interesting anticancer activity, among them the most remarkable is 4g able to strongly inhibit the proliferation of both solid tumor and leukemia cells lines. In conclusion, all the three newly synthetized pyrazoles show remarkable antioxidant and antiproliferative effect worthy of further study.
Comparative Investigation of Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Effects of the Extracts from the Inflorescences and Leaves of the Cannabis sativa L. cv. strawberry
Authors: Serventi Laura , Flores Giancarlo Angeles , Cusumano Gaia , Barbaro Davide , Tirillini Bruno , Venanzoni Roberto , Angelini Paola , Acquaviva Alessandra , Di Simone Simonetta Cristina , Orlando Giustino , Zengin Gokhan , Menghini Luigi , Ferrante Claudio
Published: January 2023

Cannabis sativa products have historically been used for healing purposes; now their biological properties are supported with scientific evidence, but modern research has not yet fully developed its therapeutic potential. This study focuses on the cultivar of C. sativa called strawberry to understand the biological and medical potentials of hydroalcoholic extracts from two different parts of the plant: leaves and inflorescences. Two biological assets were investigated including antioxidant and antimicrobial potential. Additionally, quantitative determination of phenolic and terpenophenol compounds was conducted. The antimicrobial action was highlighted for the hydroalcoholic extract from inflorescences, especially against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. Among the dermatophytes’ strains, the most sensitive was Arthroderma currey. These effects could be related albeit partially to the pattern of the phenolics detected, among which the most prominent one was benzoic acid. On the other hand, antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of the extracts could be also mediated by the main terpenophenolics identified and quantified, namely cannabidiolic acid and cannabidiol. Collectively, the present data point to the potential use of the inflorescences from the C. sativa cultivar strawberry as a valuable plant material for the development of bioactive extracts with antioxidant and antimicrobial effects
A Novel Hybrid High-Dimensional PSO Clustering Algorithm Based on the Cloud Model and Entropy
Authors: Zhang Ren-Long , Liu Xiao-Hong
Published: January 2023

With the increase in the number of high-dimensional data, the characteristic phenomenon of unbalanced distribution is increasingly presented in various big data applications. At the same time, most of the existing clustering and feature selection algorithms are based on maximizing the clustering accuracy. In addition, the hybrid approach can effectively solve the clustering problem of unbalanced data. Aiming at the shortcomings of the unbalanced data clustering algorithm, a hybrid high-dimensional multi-objective PSO clustering algorithm is proposed based on the cloud model and entropy (HHCE-MOPSO). Furthermore, the feasibility of the hybrid PSO is verified by the simulation of the multi-objective test function. The results not only broaden the new theory and method of clustering algorithm for unbalanced data, but also verify the accuracy and feasibility of the hybrid PSO. Furthermore, the clustering analysis method based on information entropy is a new method. As a result, the research results have both important scientific value and good practical significance.
Measurement of Dielectric Properties in Soil Contaminated by Biodiesel-Diesel Blends Based on Radio Frequency Heating
Authors: Yodrot Teerapon , Santalunai Samran , Thongsopa Chanchai , Thosdeekoraphat Thanaset , Santalunai Nuchanart
Published: January 2023

Several recent studies have found that measuring the dielectric permittivity of soil can be used to determine the level of environmental pollution. However, there is limited research on the measurement of dielectric properties in soil contaminated with biodiesel-diesel blends from Thailand. This paper presents to monitor the dielectric properties of soil contaminated with biodiesel-diesel blends. Specifically, we use the commercial grade diesel B7 to contaminate a sample of sand soil. We also study the measurement of dielectric properties in contaminated soil with the diesel B7 using a dual electrode plate-based radio frequency (RF) heating system. This allows us to observe the behavior of the contaminated soil before and after RF heating treatment. The experimental result showed that the dielectric properties of uncontaminated and contaminated soil were different. In addition, the RF heating system utilizing the electric field intensities of 450 kV/m resulted in the dielectric properties of the contaminated soil becoming similar to those of uncontaminated soil. These findings suggest that using RF heating on contaminated soil samples improve the air in the pore space compared to unheated contaminated soil. This approach may be effective for the treatment of soil in Thailand using an RF heating system with dual electrode plates.
Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) for Intrusion Detection and Mitigation in Intelligent Connected Vehicles: A Review
Authors: Nwakanma Cosmas Ifeanyi , Ahakonye Love Allen Chijioke , Njoku Judith Nkechinyere , Odirichukwu Jacinta Chioma , Okolie Stanley Adiele , Uzondu Chinebuli , Ndubuisi Nweke Christiana Chidimma , Kim Dong-Seong
Published: January 2023

The potential for an intelligent transportation system (ITS) has been made possible by the growth of the Internet of things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI), resulting in the integration of IoT and ITS—known as the Internet of vehicles (IoV). To achieve the goal of automatic driving and efficient mobility, IoV is now combined with modern communication technologies (such as 5G) to achieve intelligent connected vehicles (ICVs). However, IoV is challenged with security risks in the following five (5) domains: ICV security, intelligent device security, service platform security, V2X communication security, and data security. Numerous AI models have been developed to mitigate the impact of intrusion threats on ICVs. On the other hand, the rise in explainable AI (XAI) results from the requirement to inject confidence, transparency, and repeatability into the development of AI for the security of ICV and to provide a safe ITS. As a result, the scope of this review covered the XAI models used in ICV intrusion detection systems (IDSs), their taxonomies, and outstanding research problems. The results of the study show that XAI though in its infancy of application to ICV, is a promising research direction in the quest for improving the network efficiency of ICVs. The paper further reveals that XAI increased transparency will foster its acceptability in the automobile industry.
Robustness of 3D Navier–Stokes System with Increasing Damping
Authors: Cao Jie , Su Keqin
Published: January 2023

The principal objective of the paper is the study of the three-dimensional Navier–Stokes system with non-autonomous perturbation force term and increasing damping term, which often appears in the fluid system within saturated porous media and other complex media. With some suitable assumptions on the system parameters and external force term, based on the known result on global well-posedness, the existence of pullback attractors is educed, and the system robustness is shown via the upper semicontinuity of system attractors as the perturbation parameter approaches a certain value.
Closed-Loop Current Stimulation Feedback Control of a Neural Mass Model Using Reservoir Computing
Authors: Pei Alexander , Shinn-Cunningham Barbara G.
Published: January 2023

Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) is a non-invasive neuromodulatory technique that alters ongoing neural dynamics by injecting an exogenous electrical current through the scalp. Although tES protocols are becoming more common in both clinical and experimental settings, the neurophysiological mechanisms through which tES modulates cortical dynamics are unknown. Most existing tES protocols ignore the potential effect of phasic interactions between endogenous and exogenous currents by stimulating in an open-looped fashion. To better understand the mechanisms of closed-loop tES, we first instantiated a two-column Jansen and Rit model to simulate neuronal dynamics of pyramidal cells and interneurons. An echo-state network (ESN) reservoir computer inverted the dynamics of the model without access to the internal state equations. After inverting the model dynamics, the ESN was used as a closed-loop feedback controller for the neural mass model by predicting the current stimulation input for a desired future output. The ESN was used to predict the endogenous membrane currents of the model from the observable pyramidal cell membrane potentials and then inject current stimulation to destructively interfere with endogenous membrane currents, thereby reducing the energy of the PCs. This simulation approach provides a framework for a model-free closed-loop feedback controller in tES experiments.
Quality Control and Homogeneity Analysis of Precipitation Time Series in the Climatic Region of Iraq
Authors: Mohammed Ruqayah , Scholz Miklas
Published: January 2023

Non-climatic reasons, such as station replacement and changing the measurement device and calculation method, may make climate data unrepresentative of the actual variation of the regional climate. Data quality control and homogenization tests for climate data are critical. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the quality and homogeneity level of precipitation time series in arid and semi-arid climatic zones and specify the breakpoint in the datasets. The proposed methodology has been used to conduct arid and semi-arid representative case studies comprising 40 annual precipitation series for Iraq between 1979 and 2014. A Box-Cox transformation has been used to adjust the non-normally distributed datasets. Outliers have been censored by truncating extreme values. The results of the outliers indicate that they may be caused more by climate variability than by human-induced reasons. Homogeneity adjustments have been developed by applying these four homogeneity tests: Pettitt’s test, the Standard Normal Homogeneity method, Buishand’s test, and von Neumann’s check. Approximately 40% of the series (i.e., 16 stations out of 40) were homogeneous. Each homogeneity test was evaluated separately, and non-homogeneous stations were identified. Then, the series was classified into three groups that were assigned the labels “useful”, “doubtful”, and “suspect”. The results indicated that twenty-one stations were associated with the class ‘suspect’, three of the stations belonged to the class ‘doubtful’, and sixteen locations were within the class ‘useful’. Furthermore, the data analysis indicated no influence of the outliers on the results of the homogeneity tests. Accordingly, the study recommends further research on homogeneity tests that can be applied without considering outlier tests for similar case studies.
SimuBP: A Simulator of Population Dynamics and Mutations Based on Branching Processes
Authors: Wu Xiaowei
Published: January 2023

Originating from the Luria–Delbrück experiment in 1943, fluctuation analysis (FA) has been well developed to demonstrate random mutagenesis in microbial cell populations and infer mutation rates. Despite the remarkable progress in its theory and applications, FA often faces difficulties in the computation perspective, due to the lack of appropriate simulators. Existing simulation algorithms are usually designed specifically for particular scenarios, thus their applications may be largely restricted. There is a pressing need for more flexible simulators that rely on minimum model assumptions and are highly adaptable to produce data for a wide range of scenarios. In this study, we propose SimuBP, a simulator of population dynamics and mutations based on branching processes. SimuBP generates data based on a general two-type branching process, which is able to mimic the real cell proliferation and mutation process. Through simulations under traditional FA assumptions, we demonstrate that the data generated by SimuBP follow expected distributions, and exhibit high consistency with those generated by two alternative simulators. The most impressive feature of SimuBP lies in its flexibility, which enables the simulation of data analogous to real fluctuation experiments. We demonstrate the application of SimuBP through examples of estimating mutation rates.
Dietary Sodium Butyrate Improves Intestinal Health of Triploid Oncorhynchus mykiss Fed a Low Fish Meal Diet
Authors: Liu Siyuan , Zhang Shuze , Wang Yaling , Lu Shaoxia , Han Shicheng , Liu Yang , Jiang Haibo , Wang Chang’an , Liu Hongbai
Published: January 2023

This study aimed to determine the effects of dietary sodium butyrate (NaB) on the growth and gut health of triploid Oncorhynchus mykiss juveniles (8.86 ± 0.36 g) fed a low fish meal diet for 8 weeks, including the inflammatory response, histomorphology, and the composition and functional prediction of microbiota. Five isonitrogenous and isoenergetic practical diets (15.00% fish meal and 21.60% soybean meal) were supplemented with 0.00% (G1), 0.10% (G2), 0.20% (G3), 0.30% (G4), and 0.40% NaB (G5), respectively. After the feeding trial, the mortality for G3 challenged with Aeromonas salmonicida for 7 days was lower than that for G1 and G5. The optimal NaB requirement for triploid O. mykiss based on weight gain rate (WGR) and the specific growth rate (SGR) was estimated to be 0.22% and 0.20%, respectively. The activities of intestinal digestive enzymes increased in fish fed a NaB diet compared to G1 (p < 0.05). G1 also showed obvious signs of inflammation, but this inflammation was significantly alleviated with dietary NaB supplementation. In comparison, G3 exhibited a more complete intestinal mucosal morphology. Dietary 0.20% NaB may play an anti-inflammatory role by inhibiting the NF-κB-P65 inflammatory signaling pathway. Additionally, the relative abundance of probiotics was altered by dietary NaB. In conclusion, dietary 0.20% NaB improved the intestinal health of triploid O. mykiss fed a low fish meal diet.
The Effect of Magnetized Water on the Fresh and Hardened Properties of Slag/Fly Ash-Based Cementitious Composites
Authors: Sevim Ozer , Demir İlhami , Alakara Erdinc H. , Guzelkucuk Selahattin , Bayer İsmail Raci
Published: January 2023

The physicochemical structure of the mixing water used in concrete has a significant effect on the physical and mechanical properties of cementitious composites. The studies on the effect of magnetized water (MW) on the properties of FA/BFS-based cementitious composites are still in their infancy. This study explores the effect of MW on the fresh and hardened properties of fly ash (FA)/blast furnace slag (BFS)-based cementitious composites. A total of 22 different mixture groups having FA/BFS (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25%) by weight of cement were produced using tap water (TW) and MW. The fresh-state properties (the initial and final setting times and the consistency) and hardened-state properties (the compressive strength, water absorption properties, and rapid chloride ion permeability test) of produced cementitious composites were investigated. The development of hydration products was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) test. The results reveal that the fresh- and hardened-state properties of cementitious composite samples produced with MW are significantly improved. The properties of the samples utilizing MW showed that FA and BFS could be used at a higher rate for the same target properties in cementitious composites by using MW as mixing water. Using up to 25% FA/BFS in cementitious composites prepared with MW is recommended.
Development of the Historical Analysis of the Seismic Parameters for Retroffiting Measures in Chilean Bridges
Authors: Calderón Enrique , Valenzuela Matías , Minatogawa Vinicius , Pinto Hernán
Published: January 2023

Chile is exposed to the occurrence of medium- and large-magnitude earthquakes. As a result, national and international design codes have been developed, whose objectives are to grant an ideal behavior to the structures. However, in Chile, many of these structures do not comply with the design and construction standards of current regulations. Therefore, we propose to carry out a historical compilation that allows establishing the components that present the seismic vulnerability in bridges built from 1920 to 2010. We explored information gathered from the Government of Chile. We analyzed 553 bridges out of a total of 6835, considering superstructure and infrastructure components and seismic design evolution. The analysis emphasizes the elements that help improve the seismic performance of a bridge when natural or induced dynamic forces act on it, such as the length support, elastomeric bearing, seismic hold-down bars, transverse girders, seismic stoppers, bracing, and expansion joints. We identified that the most significant problems in bridges are the lack of seismic stoppers, both interior and exterior; lack of development length in the support tables; use of deficient expansion joints; and the inefficient construction of cross girders and baring support; in addition to the presence of differential settlements in elements of the infrastructure.
Beyond Bacteria: Fungi in the Tumor Microbiome
Authors: Inamura Kentaro
Published: January 2023

The microbiota is widely recognized to influence diverse biological processes, including metabolism, neurological and cardiovascular functions, the inflammatory response and immunity [...]
A Highly Sensitive Flow Cytometric Approach to Detect Rare Antigen-Specific T Cells: Development and Comparison to Standard Monitoring Tools
Authors: Dror Levinsky Meytal , Brenner Baruch , Yalon Michal , Levi Zohar , Livneh Zvi , Cohen Zoya , Paz-Elizur Tamar , Grossman Rachel , Ram Zvi , Volovitz Ilan
Published: January 2023

Personalized vaccines against patient-unique tumor-associated antigens represent a promising new approach for cancer immunotherapy. Vaccine efficacy is assessed by quantification of changes in the frequency and/or the activity of antigen-specific T cells. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISpot) and flow cytometry (FCM) are methodologies frequently used for assessing vaccine efficacy. We tested these methodologies and found that both ELISpot and standard FCM [monitoring CD3/CD4/CD8/IFNγ/Viability+CD14+CD19 (dump)] demonstrate background IFNγ secretion, which, in many cases, was higher than the antigen-specific signal measured by the respective methodology (frequently ranging around 0.05–0.2%). To detect such weak T-cell responses, we developed an FCM panel that included two early activation markers, 4-1BB (CD137) and CD40L (CD154), in addition to the above-cited markers. These two activation markers have a close to zero background expression and are rapidly upregulated following antigen-specific activation. They enabled the quantification of rare T cells responding to antigens within the assay well. Background IFNγ-positive CD4 T cell frequencies decreased to 0.019% ± 0.028% and CD8 T cells to 0.009% ± 0.013%, which are 19 and 13 times lower, respectively, than without the use of these markers. The presented methodology enables highly sensitive monitoring of T-cell responses to tumor-associated antigens in the very low, but clinically relevant, frequencies.
Unraveling the Mechanism for H2O2 Photogeneration on Polymeric Carbon Nitride with Alkali Metal Modification
Authors: Li Zehao , Chen Yufei
Published: January 2023

K and Na have been widely used in photocatalytic H2O2 production. However, Rb and Cs have rarely been studied for their photocatalytic potentials. In addition, the mechanism regulating H2O2 production from different alkali metal (M)-modified polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) is still unknown. Therefore, M-doped PCN was fabricated using thermal copolymerization in the presence of Li, Na, K, Rb, or Cs. The activity of CN-M was enhanced by the increase in the metallic character of alkali metals. However, CN-Cs’s photocatalytic H2O2 activity is not optimal even though it has the strongest metallic character. A stronger metallic character is anticipated to yield stronger Lewis acidic sites. Although ethanol can be adsorbed and activated at strong Lewis acidic sites, H2O2 can also be activated at these sites, which speeds up H2O2 degradation. CN-Rb—with its acceptable metallic character, excellent oxygen adsorption capacity, and reduced H2O2 degradation—has the best photocatalytic H2O2 yield.
Conflicts in Mitochondrial Phylogenomics of Branchiopoda, with the First Complete Mitogenome of Laevicaudata (Crustacea: Branchiopoda)
Authors: Sun Xiaoyan , Cheng Jinhui
Published: January 2023

Conflicting phylogenetic signals are pervasive across genomes. The potential impact of such systematic biases may be reduced by phylogenetic approaches accommodating for heterogeneity or by the exclusive use of homoplastic sites in the datasets. Here, we present the complete mitogenome of Lynceus grossipedia as the first representative of the suborder Laevicaudata. We employed a phylogenomic approach on the mitogenomic datasets representing all major branchiopod groups to identify the presence of conflicts and concordance across the phylogeny. We found pervasive phylogenetic conflicts at the base of Diplostraca. The homogeneity of the substitution pattern tests and posterior predictive tests revealed a high degree of compositional heterogeneity among branchiopod mitogenomes at both the nucleotide and amino acid levels, which biased the phylogenetic inference. Our results suggest that Laevicaudata as the basal clade of Phyllopoda was most likely an artifact caused by compositional heterogeneity and conflicting phylogenetic signal. We demonstrated that the exclusive use of homoplastic site methods combining the application of site-heterogeneous models produced correct phylogenetic estimates of the higher-level relationships among branchiopods.
Emerging Low-Dimensional Materials (Volume I)
Authors: Chen Bo , Wang Rutao , Wang Nana
Published: January 2023

We recently published the first volume of the Special Issue “Emerging Low-Dimensional Materials” [...]
Clinicians’ and Patients’ Perceptions and Use of the Word “Cured” in Cancer Care: An Italian Survey
Authors: Tralongo Paolo , Cappuccio Francesco , Gori Stefania , Donato Vittorio , Beretta Giordano , Elia Ausilia , Romano Fabrizio , Iacono Margherita , Tralongo Antonino Carmelo , Bordonaro Sebastiano , Di Mari Annamaria , Giuliano Sebastiano Rametta , Buccafusca Gabriella , Careri Maria Carmela , Santoro Armando
Published: January 2023

Background. The words “hope” and “cure” were used in a greater number of articles and sentences in narrative and editorial papers than in primary research. Despite concomitant improvements in cancer outcomes, the related reluctance to use these terms in more scientifically oriented original reports may reflect a bias worthy of future exploration. This study aims to survey a group of physicians and cancer patients regarding their perception and use of the word cure. Materials and Method. An anonymous online and print survey was conducted to explore Italian clinicians’ (the sample includes medical oncologists, radiotherapists, and oncological surgeons) and cancer patients’ approach to the perception and use of the word “cure” in cancer care. The participants received an email informing them of the study’s purpose and were invited to participate in the survey via a linked form. A portion, two-thirds, of questionnaires were also administered to patients in the traditional paper form. Results. The survey was completed by 224 clinicians (54 oncologists, 78 radiotherapists, and 92 cancer surgeons) and 249 patients. The results indicate a favourable attitude for patients in favour of a new language (“cured” vs. “complete remission”) of the disease experience. Conclusions. The use of the word cured is substantially accepted and equally shared by doctors and patients. Its use can facilitate the elimination of metaphoric implications and toxic cancer-related connotations registered in all cultures that discourage patients from viewing cancer as a disease with varied outcomes, including cure.
Hysteroscopic Endometrial Ablation: From Indications to Instrumentation and Techniques—A Call to Action
Authors: Vitale Salvatore Giovanni , Della Corte Luigi , Ciebiera Michał , Carugno Josè , Riemma Gaetano , Lasmar Ricardo Bassil , Lasmar Bernardo Portugal , Kahramanoglu Ilker , Urman Bulent , Mikuš Mislav , De Angelis Carlo , Török Péter , Angioni Stefano
Published: January 2023

The development of minimally invasive techniques has led to the creation of innovative alternatives in cases where traditional methods are not applicable. In modern gynecology, hysteroscopy has become the gold standard for the evaluation and treatment of intrauterine pathology. Endometrial ablation (EA) is a procedure that uses different types of energy to destroy the endometrium and is currently used as an alternative technique in cases of heavy menstrual bleeding when medical treatment has failed and uterine preservation is desired. The aim of this review was to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and clinical outcomes of hysteroscopic EA as an alternative in patients with abnormal uterine bleeding. A detailed computerized search of the literature was performed in the main electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, PubMed, and Cochrane Library), from 1994 to June 2022, to evaluate the outcomes in patients with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) undergoing EA using hysteroscopic and non-hysteroscopic techniques. Only scientific publications in English were included. Twelve articles on the current use of endometrial ablation were included. Data on patient symptoms, tools used for EA, primary outcomes, and adverse events were recorded. EA should be considered an effective and safe approach in the management of patients with abnormal uterine bleeding caused by benign pathology, in whom medical treatment has failed or is contraindicated. Due to the lack of evidence, it would be interesting to determine whether EA would also have a role in the treatment of women with premalignant lesions, avoiding invasive surgical procedures or medical treatment in those patients for whom hysterectomy or the use of hormonal treatment is contraindicated.
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Disabilities in 2022
Authors:   Disabilities Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Diseases in 2022
Authors:   Diseases Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Drones in 2022
Authors:   Drones Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Wind Energy Infrastructure and Socio-Spatial Conflicts
Authors: Rochmińska Agnieszka
Published: January 2023

The aim of the article is to identify problems related to the siting of wind farms, both those that have arisen as a result of recent legislative revisions and those arising from social developments in Poland. In 2022 a map defining ‘exclusion zones’ around wind turbines, i.e., areas where residential development was prohibited, was released in Poland. It was only then that many territorial governments realised the scale of the problems generated by the entry into force of the 2016 Wind Farm Act. It turned out that this group of municipalities included towns that might suffer some consequences despite the fact that there are no or few wind farms in their area. The aim of this paper is to identify towns and cities where more than one quarter of the area is land within the H10 zones, where the construction of wind farms is banned, if their distance from the nearest building or from the boundary of a national park is less than ten times the height of the turbine mast. The example of the town and rural municipality of Darłowo shows that in the early phase of their construction in Poland, wind turbines were perceived positively and did not give rise to conflicts. It was only after some time, as existing wind farms started to be expanded and new ones built, that protests emerged. The arguments of the parties to the conflict focused mainly on economic considerations: profits for the municipality versus losses for the residents neighbouring the wind turbines, such as barriers to the development of agritourism. The conflicts were fuelled and prolonged by irregularities in the municipality’s planning documents and a poor flow of information about planned investments. In 2022, The Council of Ministers adopted a draft amendment to the Wind Farm Investment Act. This legislation represents a compromise between the opportunities for wind energy development and the needs of local communities.
Numerical and Experimental Study on an Anti-Oscillation Device for the DeepCwind Floating Semi-Submersible Turbine Platform
Authors: Wang Wei , Fan Sheming , You Yunxiang , Zhao Cheng , Xu Liqun , Wang Guibiao
Published: January 2023

The DeepCwind floating wind turbine platform has become one of the most successful structures for accommercial floating wind farms, and the stability of it is crucial for survivability. Hence, this paper studies an anti-oscillation device with the purpose of reducing the heave and surge effects of the platform. The influence of various chamfered perforations at different sizes of the anti-heave device on the floating platform was further studied by numerical and experimental methods. Furthermore, through an analysis of the surge and heave of the pedestal with anti-heave devices with different chamfered perforations under different wave heights and wave periods, the effects on the hydrodynamic performance of the pedestal were studied. Physical experiments were conducted on a pedestal with anti-heave devices with chamfered perforations under the working conditions of different wave heights and wave periods to verify the reliability of the numerical simulation. The results show that the anti-heave effect of the anti-oscillation device is obvious under the small wave period and large wave height. Under the working conditions of different wave heights and wave periods, different perforated chamfers have different effects on reducing the oscillation of the pedestal, and its effect does not change linearly with an increasing chamfer. Under most working conditions, the anti-heave effect of the 35° chamfered perforated model was found to be the most obvious.
Porosity Assessment in Geological Cores Using 3D Data
Authors: Kujawa Paulina , Chudy Krzysztof , Banasiewicz Aleksandra , Leśny Kacper , Zimroz Radosław , Remondino Fabio
Published: January 2023

The porosity of rocks is an important parameter used in rock mechanics and underground mining. It affects the movement of fluids in the rock mass and the internal processes taking place (the ability to store water or gases), allowing us to characterize the type of rock and determine possible future applications. Conventional porosity testing methods (e.g., test drill cores in the laboratory) are complex and time-consuming. On the other hand, more modern technologies, such as computed tomography, are high-cost. In the presented study, a core sample with karst and porous structures inside was used. This core sample was poured with resin to reinforce the outer surfaces of the core and make it easier to cut with a rock saw. It was then cut into 3 mm thickness slices in preparation for the next step—the 3D optical scanning. Measurements were made with the ATOS CORE 500 optical scanner. Data processing was then performed in open-source software using popular and commonly used modeling methods. The 3D model of the core reconstructing the actual shape (with internal voids) and the standard model (without internal voids) were created. Based on these, the total porosity of the core was assessed. The presented solution ensures obtaining results with high accuracy at an adequate computational cost using cheap and easily available tools.
A Comparison and Introduction of Novel Solar Panel’s Fault Diagnosis Technique Using Deep-Features Shallow-Classifier through Infrared Thermography
Authors: Ahmed Waqas , Ali Muhammad Umair , Mahmud M. A. Parvez , Niazi Kamran Ali Khan , Zafar Amad , Kerekes Tamas
Published: January 2023

Solar photovoltaics (PV) are susceptible to environmental and operational stresses due to their operation in an open atmosphere. Early detection and treatment of stress prevents hotspots and the total failure of solar panels. In response, the literature has proposed several approaches, each with its own limitations, such as high processing system requirements, large amounts of memory, long execution times, fewer types of faults diagnosed, failure to extract relevant features, and so on. Therefore, this research proposes a fast framework with the least memory and computing system requirements for the six different faults of a solar panel. Infrared thermographs from solar panels are fed into intense and architecturally complex deep convolutional networks capable of differentiating one million images into 1000 classes. Features without backpropagation are calculated to reduce execution time. Afterward, deep features are fed to shallow classifiers due to their fast training time. The proposed approach trains the shallow classifier in approximately 13 s with 95.5% testing accuracy. The approach is validated by manually extracting thermograph features and through the transfer of learned deep neural network approaches in terms of accuracy and speed. The proposed method is also compared with other existing methods.
Sliding Mode Controllers in Energy Systems and Other Applications
Authors: Latosinski Pawel , Bartoszewicz Andrzej
Published: January 2023

The process of obtaining the necessary electrical energy to satisfy the needs of society is becoming an increasingly difficult issue in current times [...]
Advisability-Selected Parameters of Woodworking with a CNC Machine as a Tool for Adaptive Control of the Cutting Process
Authors: Kminiak Richard , Němec Miroslav , Igaz Rastislav , Gejdoš Miloš
Published: January 2023

The operation of CNC machining centers, despite their technological progress, can still be affected by undesirable events associated with the technological parameters of their operation. The minimization of these risks can be achieved via their adaptive control in the process of operation. Several input parameters for adaptive control are still the subject of research. The work aimed to find out the influence of the change in feed speed, revolutions, and radial depth of cut on the noise and temperature of the tool during the milling of wood-based composite material particleboard. At the same time, it was evaluated whether it is possible to use the measured values of these parameters in the future in the process of an adaptive control of the CNC machine with the minimization of their negative influence. The methods of measuring these parameters were chosen based on valid legislation and previous research. The results of the research show that all parameters influence both the noise and temperature of the tool, while the rate of the radial depth of cut has the greatest influence on the increase in temperature, and the noise is most affected by the revolutions. The effect of temperature during woodworking can also be characterized in terms of the potential long-term wear of the cutting tool. The setting of optimization algorithms of monitored parameters in the adaptive control of the CNC machining center will be the subject of further research.
Pine Wilt Disease in Northeast and Northwest China: A Comprehensive Risk Review
Authors: Xu Qinwang , Zhang Xuejiao , Li Jiaxing , Ren Jiaru , Ren Lili , Luo Youqing
Published: January 2023

Pine wilt disease (PWD) caused by the pine wood nematode (PWN) is China’s most serious forest disease in recent decades. Its complex disease system with unclear pathogenesis and differentiated pathogenicity makes it challenging to manage and control. PWD has spread rapidly in Northeast and Northwest China in recent years, exceeding previous predictions and the traditional understanding of its potential distribution. This paper reviewed the comprehensive risk of PWD in Northeast and Northwest China through the occurrence of influencing factors. Regarding PWN’s temperature resistance, all regions of China are suitable for PWD. In terms of altitude, the PWD system is mainly distributed below 1000 m. In China, Pinus and Larix species are confirmed host trees of PWN, while Monochamus alternatus and M. saltuarius are confirmed vector insects of PWN. In this case, PWD may occur in all low-altitude pine forests in China. Northeast China has a higher risk than Northwest China due to its distribution of suitable host trees and vector beetles at low altitudes. To confront the threat, two scientific bottlenecks are required to be demonstrated. The first is the pathogenicity of Chinese PWN strains to Chinese Picea and Abies species. The other is the geographical distribution and highest altitude distribution of other Monochamus species in the Palaearctic region of China and their PWN transmission ability. We also suggest strengthening plant quarantining in Northeast China. In conclusion, this review comprehensively analyzes the risk of PWD in Northeast and Northwest China in terms of temperature, altitude, host trees, and vector insects. It provides a new perspective and reference for the management and research of PWD in China.