bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Increased Frequency of Circulating Activated FOXP3+ Regulatory T-cell Subset in Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Is Associated with the Estimate of the Size of the Tumor Mass, STAT5 Signaling and Disease Course during Follow-Up of Patients
Authors: Roškar Zlatko , Dreisinger Mojca , Homšak Evgenija , Avčin Tadej , Bevc Sebastjan , Goropevšek Aleš
Published: August 2024

Advanced chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is accompanied by increased circulating regula-tory T cells (Tregs) and increased susceptibility to severe infections, which were also shown to en-tail a striking induction of FOXP3 expression in Tregs. As homeostasis of the most suppressive CD45RA-FOXP3high activated Treg (aTreg) subset differs, it is critical to analyse homeostatic sig-naling in Treg subsets. Therefore, in this study, by using conventional and imaging flow cytome-try, we monitored STAT5 signaling/phosphorylation (pSTAT5) and investigated Treg subsets in relation to the Binet stage, the total tumor mass score (TTM) and disease course during follow-up of 37 patients with CLL. aTreg percentage was significantly increased among CD4+ T cells from patients with advanced disease and significantly correlated with the TTM. A subgroup of patients with higher aTreg percentages among CD4+FOXP3+ T cells at the start of therapy was character-ized by more frequent episodes of severe infections during follow-up, suggesting that aTreg frac-tion could represent a possible marker of severe disease course with infectious complications. Augmented homeostatic STAT5 signaling could support aTreg expansion, as higher pSTAT5 lev-els were significantly corelated with increased aTreg frequency among CD4+FOXP3+ T cells during follow-up of patients on therapy as well as following SARS-CoV-2 antigen-specific stimulation in vitro.
Educación museal en contexto: perspectivas docentes en Ciudad Juárez
Authors: Cervantes Evangelina , Ronquillo Chávez Cely Celene
Published: August 2024

En México, el Derecho a la Cultura se reconoce en un sólido marco jurídico; sin embargo, las acciones para asegurar su ejercicio son limitadas. Considerando que las escuelas y los museos son un referente en la promoción de actividades culturales para las infancias y sus familias, esta investigación tiene como objetivo generar un diagnóstico sobre las experiencias museales del profesorado de educación básica en Ciudad Juárez, que permita identificar los desafíos para el diseño de estrategias de mediación entre el museo y la escuela. Para el estudio, se recurrió a la investigación-acción cooperativa, cuyo rasgo distintivo es la colaboración de diversas personas provenientes de dos o más instituciones, a fin de resolver problemas de la práctica pedagógica mediante itinerarios formativos. Así, se recuperó la experiencia personal y docente de nueve profesoras en servicio que desempeñan diversas funciones en diferentes instituciones de la ciudad. Se concluye que el museo aparece como un recuerdo positivo en la memoria personal del profesorado, así como una experiencia formativa en el repertorio de actividades docentes, que permite abordar desde contenidos oficiales hasta problemáticas que pueden ser interpretados por los estudiantes a partir de sus contextos.
ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF THE EFFICIENCY OF COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND INDUSTRIAL INNOVATIONS
Authors: Cherep Alla , Fonareva Tetyana , Kosenko Oleksandra
Published: August 2024

The article is devoted to the study of existing approaches to the economic evaluation of the effectiveness of commercial opportunities of intellectual property and industrial innovations in the production and commercial activities of industrial enterprises. The most important groups of indicators characterizing the effectiveness of commercial opportunities of intellectual property and industrial innovations are defined and substantiated. These groups include: indicators characterizing the market characteristics of intellectual property (market target indicator, market prospects (development) indicator, intellectual technology positioning indicator on the market); cost characteristics reflecting the real costs of developers and consumers of intellectual property; commercial characteristics reflecting the consumer value of the intelligent technology for potential use; patent-legal characteristics of intellectual property and industrial innovations that reflect the patent purity of the object of intellectual property, the protection of exclusive rights to it, the impossibility (or in the extreme case - significant difficulty) of copying and counterfeiting. The currently used methods of assessing the effectiveness of the use of commercial opportunities of intellectual property and industrial innovations, which are based on the ratio of results and costs, i.e. are considered in detail. on the comparison of the obtained effect and costs. The feasibility of checking the obtained values of economic efficiency, as well as the organization of strict control over the spending of funds and compliance with the planned deadlines, has been proven.
STRATEGIES OF TOURISM DEVELOPMENT FOR UKRAINE IN THE CONDITIONS OF MILITARY OPERATIONS AND THE POST-WAR PERIOD
Authors: Bondarenko Valery , Medvedeva Nadia
Published: August 2024

The article examines the current features of the tourism sector in Ukraine. The role of external factors in the process of ensuring the effective development of the tourism industry is noted. The author highlights the main factors that contributed to the growth of outbound tourism in Ukraine: the introduction of a visa-free regime with the EU countries, the expansion of air travel and the opening of direct flights, the growth of low-cost tours, the growth of purchasing power of Ukrainians, and the strengthening of the national currency. However, quarantine restrictions closed airports, emptied hotels, and reduced demand for travel agency services. And as soon as the industry began to recover from the coronavirus, Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine again dealt a severe blow to the travel business. It is proved that an important feature of the tourism business is its dependence on sharp seasonal fluctuations in demand for the tourism product. The research results show that outbound tourism in Ukraine has a pronounced seasonality. Further growth in demand for outbound tourism is noted, which in the future will ensure an even greater outflow of foreign currency, which will negatively affect the country's balance of payments and gross domestic product. The main trends in the context of the impact of the level of population income on the development of outbound tourism are identified. The full-scale Russian invasion has had a negative impact on all sectors of the economy. The Ukrainian tourism sector has suffered the most. The closed skies, restrictions on men traveling abroad, and the forced relocation of a large part of the population have certainly limited the ability to travel. As a result of the negative impact of external factors, there has been a drop in demand for foreign tourism and the willingness of a significant proportion of the population to reorient to the consumption of recreational services in Ukraine. Under these conditions, it is of particular importance to study issues related to improving the efficiency of this industry, as well as expanding the range and range of services provided. It is worth noting the growing impact of the tourism industry on the nature of socio-economic processes within urban and rural communities. The growing demand for green and ethnic tourism opens up broad prospects for development for family businesses, as these areas do not require significant material costs as stratum capital. At the same time, there is a question of the proper qualification level of persons planning to realize themselves in the hospitality business, and there is a need for proper organizational and informational support in this area. This, in turn, necessitates the optimization of the theoretical and methodological framework and methodological tools.
FEATURES OF INNOVATIVE AND INVESTMENT DEVELOPMENT OF ENTERPRISES IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR
Authors: Volyk Sergii
Published: August 2024

The presence of a sufficient number of different forms of ownership and forms of management in the agricultural sector complicates the mechanism of financial investment in enterprises of the appropriate profile. It also affects investment processes in the agricultural sector. Stimulating investments in the agricultural sector has a decisive impact on both agriculture and the development of the economy in general. In the agrarian policy of Ukraine, as in the agrarian policy of developed countries, increasing investment attractiveness is one of the priorities. Of course, economic development is impossible without investments. From this point of view, the question of forming a financing mechanism for the sustainable development of agriculture remains relevant. Currently, investment growth is one of the main conditions for meeting the demand for high technologies, which is determined by the need for intensive development of agriculture. Low investment activity in the past years, the scale of investments in the fixed capital of agriculture do not meet the real needs of renewal and modernization of production. Therefore, the most urgent task for the development of the agricultural industry is the formation of a favorable investment climate and the activation of investment activities of all business entities. This is possible mainly on the basis of increasing investment activity while simultaneously increasing the efficiency of investment, especially innovative, which is very important in the conditions of limited resources necessary for rational financing of the development of agricultural production. Investments increase production productivity, increase the availability of food in the market and help keep prices low, making food more affordable for rural and urban consumers. Also, investments in agriculture reduce the vulnerability of food supplies to shocks, contributing to the stability of consumption. A favorable investment climate helps mobilize capital, skills, technology, and intermediate resources that enable firms to expand, thereby helping to direct resources to more productive uses.
RE-ENGINEERING OF BUSINESS PROCESSES IN THE DESIGN ACTIVITIES OF MODERN MACHINE-BUILDING ENTERPRISES
Authors: Mekhovych Serhiy , Tyufanov Georgy
Published: August 2024

Scientific and technical progress, globalization and market competition have faced manufacturers with the fact of a significant reduction in the life cycle of finished products. The modern stage of the development of mechanical engineering is characterized by the wide implementation of the latest achievements of science and technology, which ensures an increase in production efficiency due to the reduction of the length of the design process and the introduction of new, modern types of machines, equipment, materials, etc. Flexible production systems, robots, processing centers appeared, which significantly shortened the production cycle, and in these conditions, new requirements for design activities were formed. In connection with the rapid development of computer technologies, today there is practically no engineering activity that is not equipped with computer modeling and design tools in one way or another. Reengineering is a more radical measure that involves a global restructuring of business processes, therefore, during reengineering, the company's activities can be fundamentally changed. Today, you can find several understandings of the process approach to management. Among them, it is possible to single out an understanding that is based on a systematic consideration of the company's activity as a set of processes and the development of a process management system. This understanding of the process approach is based on the definition of the process and systems approach to the enterprise, the definition of the business process of the enterprise and the system of interrelated processes, as well as the understanding of the steps necessary to implement the process approach. Such an approach is the fundamental and determining point of increasing the efficiency of management, which is the management of production in the direction of its improvement. The peculiarities of design activity and the main approaches to its reengineering are considered.
FACTORS ANALYSIS USE ELECTRICAL ENERGY SOURCES IN MICROGRIDS FROM ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM POSITION
Authors: Oliynichenko Maxim , Bialobrzheskyi Oleksii , Postil Artur , Shokarov Dmytro
Published: August 2024

The analysis of the factors of the use of electrical energy sources in microgrids from the point of view of the energy management system is a comprehensive study aimed at studying and evaluating various aspects of the use of electrical energy in small energy systems that can function independently of centralized energy networks. The main purpose of such an analysis is to identify key factors , which affect the efficiency and stability of the microgrid, as well as in the development of strategies to optimize their operation from the point of view of energy management. To achieve this goal, research is conducted covering the following aspects: technical characteristics of electrical sources, economic aspects, environmental consequences, energy management, social aspects. This is an important stage in the development of energy systems, aimed at creating efficient and sustainable energy solutions for the future. The analysis of the efficiency, reliability and power of various energy sources, such as solar batteries, wind turbines, batteries, etc., was considered. The cost of installation and operation of electric energy sources was calculated. , including the costs of maintenance, maintenance and replacement of equipment. The method of analyzing the impact of the use of various energy sources on the environment and the development of strategies for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and other harmful substances are given. The essence of energy management systems that allow efficient management of production, storage and distribution of electricity in microgrids to ensure maximum efficiency and stability of system operation is considered. The question of the development of alternative energy sources has become particularly relevant, therefore, considering the existing structures of microgrids, it is advisable to notice the peculiarities of the construction of each microgrid, for example, the structure of a microgrid based on a wind generator can be built in several variants, and in a solar power plant, for efficient operation, the MPPT control algorithm is used, which aims to control the step-up converter in that point of the current and voltage characteristics of the photovoltaic battery, where the maximum output power can be obtained. In such microgrid structures, storage batteries are used for reserve, which are charged through step-up converters. Inverters are used to power the AC load. It is advisable to combine the solar power plant and the wind generator system into one microgrid structure, and to ensure the operation of the microgrid in conditions of low generation of one or both generating units, a diesel-generator system is used. In the built hybrid structure of the microgrid, there are operational costs that must be minimized.
Application of existing tools to systematically identify nearshore placement sites for BU of navigation sediments in Lake Michigan
Authors: Miller Jennifer , Krafft Douglas , McGill Sean , McClain Kaitlyn , Pattullo Cara , McFall Brian , Miller Joseph , Selegean James , Waddell Jonathan , Potthoff Johnna , Suedel Burton
Published: August 2024

The Great Lakes includes 140 federally maintained harbors with an annual dredging program of 2–4 million cubic meters (3–5 million cubic yards)1 of sediment. Many small harbors are not dredged regularly, and there is an undredged backlog of over 9 million cubic meters (12 million cubic yards) of sediment (USACE-LRD 2021). Current policy (Spellmon 2023) is to maximize the beneficial use (BU) of sediment, with a goal of beneficially reusing 70% of the federal navigation dredging volume by 2030 (that is, the 70/30 goal). In the Great Lakes, clean sands have often been placed on beaches or in the nearshore littoral zone to beneficially nourish the shoreline, but since many harbors are not dredged regularly, no plans exist to beneficially reuse dredged sediments. This lack of existing BU plans is particularly true for harbors with finer grained or mixed sediment. To achieve the 70/30 BU goal and support navigation maintenance and coastal management requires a strategic and systematic approach to identifying BU sites. The purpose of the technical note is to (1) provide an approach to identify potential nearshore placement sites using existing information and models; (2) describe available tools for placement site identification, coastal condition information, and the long-term fate of the sediment; and (3) provide a pertinent case study to describe this approach in practice.
Memilih Pasangan Menikah Melalui Media Sosial Ditinjau dari Psikologi Perkawinan
Authors: Awalina Maulida Nur , Maulidia Rohmah
Published: August 2024

Social media is a medium for socializing with each other and is done online which allows people to interact with each other without being limited by space and time. The presence of social media gives the public the freedom to participate in the competence of disseminating information around them. Apart from getting various information quickly and easily, many people use social media Facebook, Instagram or WhatsApp to search for personal things, such as looking for a boyfriend or soul mate. The aim of this research is to find out how people's behavior in seeking a mate through social media in Banggle village is from a marriage psychology perspective and what the impact of marriage relationships between Banggle village couples is from a marriage psychology perspective. This research is qualitative research with a type of field research with an empirical juridical approach. Data collection techniques use observation, interviews and documentation. The analytical method used in this research is the inductive method. From this research, it can be concluded that the behavior of people looking for a mate through social media in Banggle Village begins with social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram. A profile photo that attracts the opposite sex makes men dare to say hello to get to know each other, then build commitment until marriage. The marital relationship between couples who get to know each other via social media generally has a harmonious relationship and can build a good household in accordance with the psychological goals of marriage. This is proven by them being able to maintain their marriage by means of good communication patterns, being economically independent, and avoiding adultery.
Peran Hukum terhadap Strategi Pengembangan Filantropi Zakat Berbasis Kewirausahaan Halal di Pulau Pinang Malaysia
Authors: Rizqi Niqmah Kholifatul , Rofiah Khusniati
Published: August 2024

Poverty remains a problem that has not been systematically resolved in several countries around the world, including Malaysia. Various economic development policy plans are intertwined in the mission to alleviate poverty, one of which is through the internalization of Islamic philanthropy development in the field of zakat. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to examine the role of law in the effort to internalize zakat philanthropy as an agent of social change in promoting welfare by initiating a halal entrepreneurship program implemented at the Islamic Center of Universiti Sains Malaysia in an effort to transform the status of mustahiq to muzakki. Qualitative research methods, including in-depth interviews, observations, document analysis, and literature reviews, were used to collect data. Content analysis was used to analyze the data. The results of this study found that the optimization of the role of the Islamic Center of Universiti Sains Malaysia in the development of zakat philanthropy based on halal entrepreneurship has comprehensively covered all aspects, from the available laws including levels of legislation to Royal Decrees, the role of institutions as providers of infrastructure in the process of program registration, training, halal certification assistance, to financial aid, as well as the level of public awareness and prevailing culture which effectively are able to transform the status of mustahiq to muzakki.
An Improved Method to Calculate Gas-Lift Valve Set Pressure
Authors: Altarabulsi Khadhr , Waltrich Paulo
Published: August 2024

This study aims to enhance the accuracy of gas-lift valve (GLV) design set pressure calculations by incorporating the effects of silicone thermal expansion, silicone compression, and dome thermal expansion. The proposed method is compared with experimental measurements and current industry methods. The analysis includes an experimental assessment of the impact of internal dome volume changes on the design set pressure, considering various silicone fill levels, pressures, and temperatures. Experimental conditions cover silicone fills of 25%, 50%, and 75%, initial pressures from 975 psig to 1,250 psig, and temperatures from 60°F to 175°F. These conditions cover the conventional operating range in the industry.

The results show that silicone expansion is the most dominant factor among silicone compression and chamber thermal expansion. The proposed method significantly improves GLV design set pressure calculations, especially for high-pressure and high-temperature conditions. The study suggests improvements in injection-pressure-operated (IPO) valve design practices to avoid multipoint injection and unloading failures. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the impact of silicone expansion on GLV set pressure has not been investigated in the open literature. The enhanced method proposed in this research could significantly impact well unloading and production operations for wells equipped with GLVs. In addition, this work suggests an improvement on the American Petroleum Institute (API) recommended practice, especially when dealing with high-pressure, high-temperature wells and when utilizing refurbished GLVs.
Xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity and uric acid dissolution power of some local plant extracts: in vitro therapeutical approach in the treatment of gout
Authors: BOUAKKAZ Hicham , Djridane amar , Mahfoudi regia , Yilmaz Mustafa Abdullah , Oguz Cakir , TARHAN Abbas , lassakeur Zakkaria , Yousfi Mohamed
Published: August 2024

Elevated serum levels of uric acid are associated with an increased risk of hyperuricemia and gout. Recent attention has focused on the bioactive properties of plant extracts in preventing disease. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of 16 different extracts from four local plants on the inhibition of xanthine oxidase and the dissolution of uric acid, as well as the quantification of certain phytoconstituents and their haemolytic effects on human red blood cells. Results from quantitative phytochemical analysis revealed significant (p<0.0001) intra- and inter-specific variability in total phenols, flavonoids, tannins, uric acid, sodium, potassium, and calcium depending on the studied species and the type of solvent used in extraction. A total of 19 phenolic compounds were characterized and quantified using an ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatograph (UHPLC) coupled with an electrospray ionization (ESI) source operating in both negative and positive ionization modes mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS), including phenolic acids, flavonoids and other polyphenols. The in vitro anti-gout activity results indicated that all extracts had the ability to express the inhibitory activity of xanthine oxidase and to dissolve uric acid at different levels. Therefore, the acetonic extracts of Cistus creticus and Plantago ciliata had the most significant xanthine oxidase inhibiting effect with values of 13.480±0.596 and 13.020±0.627 µg of Allopurinol/mg of dry residue, respectively. Moreover, their aqueous extracts showed the highest dissolving properties of uric acid (solubilities > 450 mg uric acid/L). These extracts also showed no toxic effect against isolated human erythrocytes and may be able to help improve the efficacy of new therapies for gouty arthritis.
Email Outreach Successfully Attracts Attention but Advocacy Techniques Do Not Further Improve Policymaker Engagement with Climate Science
Authors: Loria Riley , Pugel Jessica , Goldberg Matthew , Bascom Rebecca , Halla Deborah , Scott Taylor , Crowley Max , Long Elizabeth
Published: August 2024

One of the most challenging aspects of climate change mitigation today is not identifying solutions but reaching political leaders with climate scientists’ existing solutions. Although there is substantial research on climate change communication, such research rarely focuses on one of the most impactful groups: policymakers. It is essential to test theoretically sound methods to increase lawmaker attention to research evidence. In a series of four rapid-cycle randomized controlled email trials (N = 6642–7620 per trial), we test three common and theoretically derived advocacy tactics to increase engagement with a climate change fact sheet sent via email (i.e., a norms manipulation, a number focused manipulation, and emotional language manipulation). In all four trials, the control message increased engagement more than the messages using advocacy tactics, measured by fact sheet clicks. This demonstrates the importance of testing communication methods within the appropriate populations, especially a population with significant influence over climate policy.
Analysis of Gross Alpha, Gross Beta Activities, Heavy Metal Concentrations, and Cancer Risk Assessment in Isparta's Drinking Tap Water
Authors: MANAV Ramazan
Published: August 2024

In this study, tap water samples were collected from different locations in the city center of Isparta. Gross alpha and gross beta activity concentrations were determined according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) protocol. The annual effective dose and lifetime cancer risk were calculated. The gross alpha activity concentrations ranged from 37 mBq/L to 136 mBq/L, and gross beta activity ranged from 111 mBq/L to 181 mBq/L. These values are below the World Health Organization (WHO) limits of 500 mBq/L for alpha and 1000 mBq/L for beta activities. The lifetime cancer risk assessment for adults, based on these concentrations, ranged from 0.59x10-4 to 2.36x10-4 (mean 1.37x10-4), with the highest value being lower than the UNSCEAR standard of 0.29x10-3. Additionally, concentrations of several heavy metals, including arsenic (As), barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), selenium (Se), and thallium (Tl), were measured at 0.0016, 0.0417, 0.0002, 0.0027, 0.005, 0.0016, 0.0088, 0.0028, and 0.0043 ppm, respectively. The concentrations of As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Se were below the WHO and EPA recommended limits. However, Hg and Tl concentrations were below the WHO limits but exceeded EPA standards. The cancer risk assessment was performed based on the concentrations of As, Pb, Cd, and Cr using the EPA's cancer slope factors. The calculated Hazard Index (HI) for these heavy metals was found to be lower than the EPA's critical level.
A study on porosity and mechanical properties of the open aluminum metal foam through Spark Plasma Sintering SPD Technique
Authors: Mahto Raju Prasad , Bhadauria Alok , Bandhu Din
Published: August 2024

Aluminum metal foam, distinguished by its lightweight nature, exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, and distinctive cellular structure, has emerged as a highly promising material with extensive applications across diverse industries. Various fabrication techniques, including the Sintering and Dissolution Process (SDP) and powder metallurgy, have been explored to produce metal foams. However, challenges persist in achieving uniform pore sizes and distributions, especially at temperatures surpassing the base material's melting point. To overcome this hurdle, simultaneous loading and heating during fabrication have been proposed, with Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) emerging as a viable solution. This study delves into the manufacturing of aluminum metal foam utilizing NaCl space holders via SPS, investigating variations in space holder volume to analyze pore morphology and porosity. Additionally, the mechanical properties of the resulting foams are examined, providing valuable insights into the potential of SPS for crafting aluminum metal open foams with tailored properties. Porosity analysis, conducted through X-ray micro CT, reveals porosity ranging from 55–70% in metal foams with NaCl space holder volume fractions of 60–80%. Notably, a maximum energy absorption capacity of 23 MJ/mm3 is achieved in a metal foam with 57% porosity.
Inventory Analysis and Environmental Life Cycle Impact Assessment of Hotel Food Waste Management for Bio-Circular Economy Development in Zimbabwe
Authors: Nhubu Trust , Mbohwa Charles
Published: August 2024

This study is an inventory analysis and environmental life cycle assessment (ELCA) of hotel food waste management (FWM) for bio-circular economy development in Zimbabwe. An audit of the food waste generation and inventory analysis of the prevailing FWM practices at the selected three hotels was undertaken. The greenhouse gas emissions from the prevailing disposal of FW at dumpsites and proposed biological treatment of FW were evaluated using the Tier 1 FOD method and Tier 1 method of biological treatment under the 2019 refined 2006 IPCC guidelines. ELCA was also conducted for the open dumping, composting and anaerobic digestion. The average FW generation within the Zimbabwean hospitality industry was estimated at 1.63 kg/guest/day with a maximum and minimum of 1.01 and 2.25 kg/guest/day respectively. These waste generation figures are lower than the reported figures from other studies and jurisdictions. Source separation of FW is currently being practiced though the source separated FW is indiscriminately collected by Municipal Waste collection trucks for final disposal at the official landfills or dumpsites rendering the FW source separation a futile exercise hence the need for an offtake system in the form of composting or anaerobic digestion (AD) for the FW. The disposal of FW at SWDS contributes to the highest GHG emissions followed by composting that brings about a maximum of 75% reduction in GHG emissions. AD brings about a maximum reduction in GHG emissions of 97%. ELCA results show that AD is the best methods leading to net negative environmental impacts.
Isolation of KH2PO4 from crude glycerol purified using Acromonia aculleata charcoal as adsorbent and its application in the synthesis of methyl salicylate.
Authors: Freitas Milton de Souza , de Sousa João Victor G. , Pedro Moises , Nelson David Lee , Neri Claudio Roberto , Zanatta Lucas D. , Rocha Raphael Ferreira , Pontes Rafaela Paula Carvalho , de Freitas Filipe Soares , Pantoja Lílian de Araújo , Santos Alexandre Soares dos , Bueno Gabriel de P. , Clososki Giuliano C. , Barbosa Sandro LUIZ
Published: August 2024

Activated charcoal was prepared from Acrocomia aculeata (macaúba) endocarp by ZnCl2 activation. The charcoal was used for the adsorptive purification of pretreated crude glycerol (CG) and potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH2PO4 or KDP) was formed by the addition of H3PO4 to the crude glycerol containing KOH, which was used as catalyst in the production of biodiesel and glycerol. The KH2PO4 was isolated and purified by recrystallization from aqueous solution. The KH2PO4 was characterized by X-Ray diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis (TGA/DTA) and spectrophotometry in the infrared region – FTIR. From 216.0 g of crude glycerol, 20.1038 g of purified KH2PO4 was obtained. The KH2PO4 was used in a simple, regioselective, green method as a selective base for the methylation of the salicylic acid (SA) carboxylate group using DMS as the methylating agent in the production of MS at reflux temperature (90 oC). The present method has a short reaction time, and it is simple with excellent yields of MS. In this process, DMS was used in excess because it has been shown to be an excellent eco-friendly, aprotic solvent for the SN2 mechanism. The reuse of organic waste was accompanied by the transformation of DMS into the K2SO4 drying agent and H3PO4 into KH2PO4, a source of potassium and phosphate in fertilizers. This reaction is the first example of the use of KH2PO4 as a useful selective base for methylation, and the present method obeys the reduce-reuse-recycle (RRR) principle for the development of a green protocol. Microbial susceptibility tests were accomplished by adding suspensions of microorganisms and spreading them on the surfaces of the Mueller Hinton and YPMD agar culture media, in which there were central wells containing 60 µL of pure MS, which inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Sporothrix sp, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, Galactomyces geotrichum, Candida orthopsilosis and Candida akabanensis.
Are female Pardosa spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae) from a Mexican coffee crop more efficient than males in capturing a standard prey of various sizes?
Authors: Pale Mauricio Alejandro Olvera , Pale Mauricio Alejandro Olvera , Hernández Luis Fernando García , Rodríguez-Morales Dulce
Published: August 2024

Wolf spiders (Lycosidae) are considered one of the main groups of predators in economically relevant crops. Despite their importance, most studies have focused on Nearctic species and have aimed to determining diet composition and analyzing predation primarily using female spiders as models. Although it is known that male spiders also hunt and consume prey effectively, the type and quantity of prey consumed by males may, due to sexual dimorphism, complement that of females. There is an evident lack of information regarding to males which limits their knowledge as potential biological control agents. The study aimed to experimentally assess prey acceptance, immobilization time, and the length of predatory behavior in both female and male Pardosa spiders when exposed to a standard prey (Acheta domesticus) of different sizes. Our findings revealed no significant differences between females and males in terms of prey acceptance, immobilization time, or length of predatory behavior. The increase in relative prey size was related to a decrease in prey acceptance by the spiders. Furthermore, prey immobilization time and length of predatory behavioral sequences increased in relation to increasing prey size. Our findings support the idea that both female and male Pardosa spiders are voracious predators with similar trophic attributes. Size emerges as a critical factor in prey selection by these generalist predators. Understanding the preferred prey size range can be useful for selecting beneficial controllers in various crops.
Mechanical Performance of Fiber-Reinforced Self-Compacting Concrete: Comparative Analysis and Structural Implications
Authors: Dahake Hemant B , Shinde Bhushan H
Published: August 2024

This study evaluates the mechanical properties of different types of fiber-reinforced self-compacting concrete (SCC), namely steel fiber (SFSCC), glass fiber (GFSCC), and polypropylene fiber (PFSCC), compared to plain SCC. Compressive strength tests reveal that SFSCC achieves the highest strength improvements, reaching 40.41 MPa at 0.5% fiber dosage. While SFSCC shows slightly lower split tensile strength values than plain SCC, GFSCC and PFSCC exhibit increasing tensile strength with higher fiber dosages. Flexural strength enhancements are observed across all fiber-reinforced SCC types, with SFSCC leading in performance. Moreover, SFSCC consistently demonstrates superior shear strength, particularly at higher shear span to depth ratios, compared to GFSCC, PFSCC, and plain SCC. These findings highlight the significant benefits of fiber reinforcement in enhancing the mechanical properties of SCC, offering tailored solutions for improving structural durability and performance in construction applications. Future research could focus on optimizing fiber dosages and combinations to further enhance specific performance criteria in diverse engineering contexts.
Secular change in seaweed species composition and coverage of Sargassaceae on the artificial reef in Wakasa Bay, Japan
Authors: Matsui Akira , Kawamura Masakatsu , Nozawa Shigehiro , Takeyama Masatomo , Inoue Naoya
Published: August 2024

The threat of declining seaweed beds has been a concern around the world. Seagrass and seaweed (brown algae) beds are essential habitats supporting fisheries. However, approximately 22% of these habitats have been lost in Japan due to increased coastal landfill sites and ports. This study aims to rehabilitate the depletion of these habitats by constructing an artificial reef in Wakasa Bay, Japan, and monitoring Sargassaceae succession in the second and fourth years after the construction was completed. In this study, we set up four sites on the artificial reef. Then we identified the seaweed species composition and coverage of the Sargassaceae using underwater visual observation by scuba divers. The seaweed coverage was already over approximately 80% in the second year after construction. However, the dominant species changed to Sargassum horneri in the second year after construction and Myagropsis myagroides in the fourth year after construction. Thus, the recovery of species composition takes longer than that of coverage. Therefore, when the artificial reef is constructed, it is important to observe the recovery of species composition.
Land Cover and Drought Risk Assessment in Türkiye's Mountain Regions Using Neutrosophic Decision Support System
Authors: Ateşoğlu Ayhan , Ayyıldız Ertuğrul , Karakaya İrem , Bulut Fidan Şevval , Serengil Yusuf
Published: August 2024

Earth observation (EO) provides dynamic scientific methods for tracking and defining ecological parameters in mountainous regions. Open-source platforms are frequently utilized in this context to efficiently collect and evaluate spatial data. In this study, we used Collect Earth (CE), an open-source land monitoring platform, to reveal and assess land cover, land cover change, and relevant ecological parameters such as drought risk. Mountain ecosystems were subject to an evaluation for the first-time by combining remote sensing with an hybridization of Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL), Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) for Neutrosophic sets in risk assessment problems of several connected criteria. The high and dispersed high alpine environment of Türkiye accommodates land with relatively less human influence, making it suitable to observe climate change impacts. In the framework of the study, we evaluated more than two decades (2000–2022) of Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) changes at the mountains regions of the country. Using nine identified ecological parameters, we also evaluated drought risk. The parameters included were the LULC classes and their change, elevation, slope, aspect, precipitation, temperature, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), water deficit, and evapotranspiration (ET). The risk map we produced revealed a high to very high drought risk for almost throughout the Türkiye’s mountainous areas. We concluded that integrating geospatial techniques with hybridization is promising for mapping drought risk, helping policymakers prepare effective drought mitigation measures to reasonably adapt to climate change impacts.
Gene-statin interaction study identifies 9 loci that moderate statin effectiveness in blood lipids
Authors: Verhulst Brad , Harris Jennifer , Adams Amy M. , Benstock Sarah E. , Tong Carl W. , Case Adam J. , Hettema John M.
Published: August 2024

Hyperlipidemia, and high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) in particular, is a risk factor for atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and stroke. High LDL-c is primarily treated with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, commonly known as statins. If statins interfere with the genetic pathways that endogenously increase the risk for hyperlipidemia, gene-statin interactions may identify individuals that are more sensitive to these drugs. Accordingly, we performed genome-wide gene-statin interaction analyses for LDL-c and two related lipids: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) and triglycerides (TG). Our results suggest statins selectively reduce LDL-c heritability. More specifically, we identified five genome-wide significant gene-statin interactions for LDL-c, two gene-interactions for HDL-c, and four gene-interactions for TG. Fifteen loci remained associated with LDL-c despite statin treatment, revealing treatment-resistant genotypes and suggesting additional genetic targets for drug development, enhancement, and repurposing. These results are an important step towards using targeted treatments for patients with hyperlipidemia.
Muscle weakness due to vasculitic neuropathy in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Wang Qian , Zhang Hua , Tong Qiang , Dai Sheng-Ming
Published: August 2024

The vasculitic neuropathies are a group of disorders that result from inflammatory destruction of nerve blood vessels and subsequent ischaemic injury. It’s not a common but severe complication in rheumatoid arthritis. It’s difficult to make a diagnosis especially when the patient is under regular treatment. It is imperative that rheumatologists recognize these disorders to initiate treatment promptly and prevent morbidity.
Long-term analysis of ABI auditory performance in patients with neurofibromatosis type 2-related schwannomatosis
Authors: Daoudi Hannah , Torres Renato , Mosnier Isabelle , Ambert-Dahan Emmanuelle , Liagre-Cailles Amélie , Smail Mustapha , Nguyen Yann , Ferrary Evelyne , Sterkers Olivier , Lahlou Ghizlène , Kalamarides Michel
Published: August 2024

Purpose This retrospective monocentric study aimed to evaluate long-term auditory brainstem implant (ABI) function in patients with neurofibromatosis type 2, and to investigate the prognostic factors for ABI use. Methods Between 1997 and 2022, 27 patients with at least five years of follow-up underwent implantation with 32 ABIs. At 1- and 5-years post-implantation and at last follow-up, ABIs were classified as used or non-used and the size of the ipsilateral tumor was recorded. For patients who used their ABIs, we assessed speech perception (disyllabic words, MBAA sentences) in quiet conditions with the ABI only, by lip-reading (LR), and with a combination of the two (ABI + LR). Hearing improvement was calculated as ABI=(ABI + LR)–LR scores. Predictive factors for ABI use were analyzed. Results One year post-implantation, 74% patients were ABI-users and 66% of the ABIs were used. Two of these patients were non-users at five years, and another two at last follow-up (14 ± 5.2 years); 54% of the patients were ABI-users at last follow-up. ABI revealed a hearing improvement of 32–41% (disyllabic words) and 28–37% (MBAA sentences). Among 16 ABIs with at least LR improvement at 1-year post-implantation, 4 decreased their performance, coinciding with a large growing ipsilateral tumor in 3/4 ABIs. We identified no significant prognostic factors for ABI use. Conclusions ABIs are indicated in case of bilateral deafness with a non-functional cochlear nerve. Half the patients with ABIs used their implants and auditory performance remained stable over time, except in cases of ipsilateral tumor growth.
SMARTINI3: Systematic Parametrization of Realistic Multi-Scale Membrane Models via Unsupervised Learning and Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithms
Authors: Soleimani Alireza , Risselada Herre Jelger
Published: August 2024

In this study, we utilize genetic algorithms to develop a realistic implicit solvent ultra-coarse-grained (PC) membrane model comprising only three interaction sites. The key philosophy of the ultra-CG membrane model SMARTINI3 is its compatibility with realistic membrane proteins, for example, modeled within the Martini coarse-grained (CG) model, as well as with the widely used GROMACS software for molecular simulations. Our objective is to parameterize this ultra-CG model to accurately reproduce the experimentally observed structural and thermodynamic properties of PC membranes in real units, including properties such as area per lipid, area compressibility, bending modulus, line tension, phase transition temperature, density profile, and radial distribution function. In our example, we specifically focus on the properties of a POPC membrane, although the developed membrane model could be perceived as a generic model of lipid membranes. To optimize the performance of the model (the fitness), we conduct a series of evolutionary runs with diverse random initial population sizes (ranging from 96 to 384). We demonstrate that the ultra-CG membrane model we developed exhibits authentic lipid membrane behaviors, encompassing self-assembly into bilayers, vesicle formation, membrane fusion, and gel phase formation. Moreover, we demonstrate compatibility with the Martini coarse-grained model by successfully reproducing the behavior of a transmembrane domain embedded within a lipid bilayer. This facilitates the simulation of realistic membrane proteins within an ultra-CG bilayer membrane, enhancing the accuracy and applicability of our model in biophysical studies.
Effect of acute hypervolemic hemodilution and fluid restriction on bleeding in hepatectomy: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Fu Yueyan , Liang Peng
Published: August 2024

BACKGROUND
Reducing bleeding in hepatectomy is beneficial to patient prognosis. Restricted fluid infusion based on the low central venous pressure (LCVP) concept is often advocated in hepatectomy to reduce intraoperative bleeding, but its safety and efficacy are controversial. Acute hypervolemic hemodilution (AHH) is used for blood protection in a variety of procedures, its use in liver surgery has not been reported in the literature. This study aims to investigate the effect of LCVP-guided restrictive infusion and AHH on intraoperative bleeding in hepatectomy.
METHODS
This historical cohort study collected data from 358 patients who underwent hepatectomy at West China Hospital of Sichuan University from July 2017 to November 2022, and classified them into the fluid restriction group (group L) and AHH group (group A) according to the different perioperative fluid management strategy. To determine if the two groups differed in intraoperative bleeding, postoperative alterations of biochemical indicators, and the occurrence of pulmonary complications.
RESULTS
358 patients were enrolled according to inclusive and exclusive criteria, including 143 patients in group L and 215 in group A. There was no difference between the two groups in intraoperative bleeding, blood transfusion rate, postoperative hospital stay, intraoperative infusion, the incidence of postoperative pleural effusion and pulmonary infection, coagulation indicator, liver and kidney function-related indicators. However, intraoperative urine decreased by 22.2 mL/h in group L compared to group A (P = 0.003), the norepinephrine use rate was 21.0% in group L and 8.8% in group A (P = 0.001), the albumin loss decreased by 1.4 g/L in group L compared to group A (P = 0.01).
CONCLUSION
There was no difference between the effect of AHH and LCVP-guided restrictive infusion strategy on intraoperative bleeding in hepatectomy, and the use of AHH was associated with an increase in intraoperative urinary output and a decrease in norepinephrine use rate. This study overthrows the previous idea that fluid infusion must be restricted during hepatectomy and provides a new idea for fluid management strategy, which is helpful for circulation management during partial hepatectomy.