bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanisms of hunting native megafauna to extinction by Palaeolithic humans on Cyprus
Authors: Bradshaw Corey , Saltre Frederik , Crabtree Stefani , Reepmeyer Christian , Moutsiou Theodora
Published: January 2024

The hypothesised main drivers of megafauna extinctions in the late Quaternary have wavered between over-exploitation by humans and environmental change, with recent investigations demonstrating more nuanced synergies between these drivers depending on taxon, spatial scale, and region. However, most studies still rely on comparing archaeologically based chronologies of timing of initial human arrival into naïve ecosystems and palaeontologically inferred dates of megafauna extinctions. Conclusions arising from comparing chronologies also depend on the reliability of dated evidence, dating uncertainties, and correcting for the low probability of preservation (Signor-Lipps effect). While some models have been developed to test the susceptibility of megafauna to theoretical offtake rates, none has explicitly linked human energetic needs, prey choice, and hunting efficiency to examine the plausibility of human-driven extinctions. Using the island of Cyprus in the terminal Pleistocene as an ideal test case because of its late human settlement (~ 14.2 ka–13.2 ka), small area (~ 11,000 km2), and low megafauna diversity (2 species), we developed stochastic models of megafauna population dynamics, with offtake dictated by human energetic requirements, prey choice, and hunting-efficiency functions to test whether the human population at the end of the Pleistocene could have caused the extinction of dwarf hippopotamus (Phanourios minor) and dwarf elephants (Palaeoloxodon cypriotes). Our models reveal not only that the estimated human population sizes (N = 3,000–7,000) in Late Pleistocene Cyprus could have easily driven both species to extinction within < 1,000 years, the model predictions match the observed, Signor-Lipps-corrected chronological sequence of megafauna extinctions inferred from the palaeontological record (Phanourios at ~ 12 ka–11.1 ka, followed by Palaeoloxodon at ~ 10.3 ka–9.1 ka).
Improving Agricultural Productivity through IoT – Based Hydroponic Systems: Literature Review & Prototype Study
Authors: Sagar Lalit Kumar , Gupta Rolly
Published: January 2024

The global population is projected to reach above 10 billion by 2100, leading to increased demand for food production (United Nations, 2019). The traditional agricultural sector has been adversely affected by climate change, further exacerbating the challenge of feeding the world's population (FAO, 2021). Hydroponic farming has emerged as a solution and a revolution in the agricultural field, as it allows for carefully monitored and automated cultivation of crops with various other benefits (Wang et al., 2020). IoT-based hydroponic systems offerseveralbenefits,includingreal-timemonitoringofessentialgrowing variables, such as temperature, humidity, pH level, and nutrient concentration, leading to improved crop yield (Al-Fatihahetal., 2020).Additionally, IoT- based hydroponics systems are highly automated, which reduces the workload on farmers and minimizes water usage with up to 90% savings.(Ibrahimetal.,2020).This paper aims to review the existing literature on IoT- based hydroponics systems and present a prototype to illustrate the potency of this particular approach. The study presented also provides a basic prototype of the IoT-based hydroponic system which senses various factors like temperature, humidity, and pH value and provides control over the modules attached using these factors.
Determination of modes of interactions of lanosterol with bovine serum albumin (BSA) using different spectroscopic techniques and molecular docking
Authors: Khurshid Sahar , Akbar Zeeshan , Raza Rameen , Ahmad Malik
Published: January 2024

Graphical abstract
Abstract
Lanosterol is a natural steroidal molecule which is used as an anti-cataract agent. In the present work, binding interactions of lanosterol with bovine serum albumin (BSA) were determined with different spectroscopic techniques, including UV-spectrophotometry, fluorimetry, circular dichroism spectroscopy, nanoDSF, and molecular docking. UV absorption spectroscopy showed the formation of a ground-state complex between lanosterol and bovine serum albumin (BSA). Fluorimetric analysis showed that lanosterol quenched the intrinsic fluorescence of BSA through a static quenching mechanism with a binding constant of 6.19×107 M-1 at 297 K. Thermodynamic parameters showed that the reaction was spontaneous, and the main interacting forces of this complex were found to be hydrophobic. Circular dichroism showed stable changes in the secondary structural contents of BSA while binding with lanosterol. This indicated the conformational changes in the structure of the protein during the binding of this compound. NanoDSF studies showed an increase in protein stability in the presence of 9.75 µM to 78 µM concentration of lanosterol. Docking studies showed the binding of lanosterol in site I through hydrophobic interactions. Since no information is available so far regarding binding studies between lanosterol and BSA, this study may provide initial insights about lanosterol-BSA interactions that can be used for further to investigate pharmacological properties.
A study of the incidence of shivering after cesarean section surgery, a comparative study between general and spinal anesthesia
Authors: Alkhaled Laith , Almashouj Ahmad , Rekmani Najwa
Published: January 2024

Introduction:
Shivering is an involuntary, spontaneous, and repetitive contraction of the skeletal muscle and increases patients’ discomfort, oxygen-consuming, wound infection; increased surgical bleeding, and morbid cardiac events. The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude and associated factors of intraoperative shivering after cesarean sec
Methods and materials:
An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 80 willing patients were included in the study after obtaining ethical consent and we have used consecutive sampling techniques. Axillary temperature was recorded preoperatively and in the intra-operative period every 5 min. Descriptive statistics, cross-tabs, and binary logistic regression analysis were performed to identify the association shivering and independent variables. The strength of the association was presented using an adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval and a p-value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.
Results
In this study, the incidence of intraoperative shivering after cesarean section under spinal anesthesia was similar to several studies [7.5%], the incidence of intraoperative shivering after cesarean section under general anesthesia was [31.3%], hypothermia, and hypotension. Blood pressure, duration of surgery, age, body mass index, and type of anesthesia are factors strongly associated with shivering.
Conclusion
In this study duration of surgery, hypothermia and hypotension were the independent associated risk factors for intraoperative shivering.
Tryptophan-rich diet and its effects on brain Tregs in alleviating neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment
Authors: Xue Dinghao , Guo Xu , Liu Jingjing , Li Yanxiang , Liu Luyu , Liao Guosong , Cao Jiangbei , Liu Yanhong , Lou Jingsheng , Li Hao , Mi Weidong , Wang Long , Fu Qiang
Published: January 2024

Background: Perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PND) present a common challenge for elderly people and contribute to increased postoperative dementia rates and mortality. Notably, neuroinflammation serves as a pivotal pathogenic mechanism for PND. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) exhibit potent anti-inflammatory properties and can modulate neurodegenerative diseases arising from central nervous system inflammatory responses. However, the role of Tregs in neuroinflammation-related PND remains unclear. It is highly plausible that brain Tregs expressing unique genes associated with the nervous system, including the Htr7 gene encoding the serotonin receptor 5-HT7, play a pivotal role.
Methods: A model of neuroinflammation-mediated cognitive dysfunction was established via intracerebroventricular injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The activation and infiltration of Tregs were measured using flow cytometry. Metagenomic sequencing of fecal samples was employed to investigate alterations in gut bacterial abundance following LPS administration. TMT-based quantitative proteomics analysis was employed to detect the proteomes of hippocampal tissue following LPS treatment. Primary Tregs were cocultured separately with primary CD8+ T cells and primary microglia for in vitro validation of the impact of 5-HT and Htr7 on Tregs. Prior to their transfer into recombination activating gene 1 (Rag1−/−) mice, Tregs were ex vivo transfected with lentivirus to knock down the expression of Htr7.
Results:
In this study, the tryptophan-rich diet was found to reverse LPS-induced cognitive impairment and reduce the levels of 5-HT in peripheral blood. Following intracerebroventricular microinjection of LPS, there was a decrease in the abundance of 5-HT-related gut microbiota. The tryptophan-rich diet led to increased levels of 5-HT in peripheral blood, which in turn promoted the proliferation and activation of brain Tregs. Additionally, proteomic alterations were observed in the hippocampus of the mice following LPS treatment. The tryptophan-rich diet was also shown to attenuate LPS-mediated neuroinflammation by activating brain Tregs. Furthermore, 5-HT and Htr7 were found to enhance the immunosuppressive effect of Tregs on CD8+ T cells and microglia. In Rag1-/- mice, brain Tregs were shown to alleviate LPS-induced neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment.
Conclusions:
Our research revealed the ability of brain Tregs to mitigate neuroinflammation and prevent neuronal damage by suppressing the infiltration of CD8+ T cells into the brain and excessive activation of microglia, thereby ameliorating LPS-induced cognitive impairment. These insights may offer novel therapeutic targets involving Tregs for PND.
The Concentration of Black Carbon Emissions From Natural Gas Flaring Activities in Basra Province, Iraq
Authors: Alsabbagh Maha R ,   Nayyef M Azeez1,   Abdul haleem A Almuhyi2
Published: January 2024

Black carbon (BC) is generated from various sources of incomplete combustion. Both black carbon and particulate matter are emitted from flares, posing risks to health and contributing to climate change. This study focuses on assessing air pollution distribution in Basra Province by monitoring black carbon (BC) emissions. BC concentrations were measured using an aethalometer at sites rich in oilfields within Basra Province. These sites included six degassing stations (Tuba, Alluhais, Artawi, North Rumaila, Majnoon, and Nahran Omar) and two power plants (Alnajebia and Shatt Albasra). Along with wind direction, air velocity and wind speed were also recorded. All the sites were engaged in natural gas flaring. The BC concentrations were evaluated against the recommended exposure limit (REL). In winter, the average BC concentration was 5.66±1.49μg/m3; the lowest concentration was 3.7μg/m3 at the Majnoon oilfield, and the highest was 7.85μg/m3 at the Artawi Degassing Station—approximately eight times the REL. In spring, the average BC concentration was 4.94±1.28μg/m3; the lowest was 3.3μg/m3 at the Majnoon oilfield, and the highest was 7.05μg/m3 at the Altuba Degassing Station—around seven times the REL. Concentrations of BC at all monitored sites exceeded the REL. High BC levels in industrial areas are attributed to natural gas flaring. Incomplete combustion at these sites led to the emission of elevated concentrations of black carbon.
Histopathological changes following immunization with recombinant leukemia inhibitory factor
Authors: Seifati Seyed Mohammad , Ansariniya Hossein , hanzaii Fateme Poorhoseini , Hassanpour Azam , Fesahat Farzaneh , Zare Fateme
Published: January 2024

Background Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a multifunctional glycoprotein of the interleukin-6 superfamily that regulates many physiological processes as well as pathological conditions. LIF plays an important role in the initiation and progression of solid tumors as well as its role in leukemia suppression. The purpose of this study is to determine whether exogenous LIF has any side effects in liver and kidney tissues that have receptors for this cytokine in immunized mice compared with controls.Methods LIF and complete Freund's adjuvant were injected subcutaneously for the test group in the initial injection. Freund's incomplete adjuvant was injected intraperitoneal for the last injection. Phosphate-buffered saline was used with the adjuvant for the control group.Results The liver structure in the control group was normal. However, the LIF immunized group exhibited irregular sinusoidal plates and hyperemia in central and portal veins compared to the control group. The kidney tissue in the control group was also normal, with preserved tubule shapes and no cell destruction or degeneration. In the LIF injected group, hyperemia and an increase in the urinary space were observed, but the overall kidney tissue condition was similar to the control group, with no tissue destruction or infiltration of mononuclear cells, and the renal corpuscle and glomerular coil remained normal.Conclusion The results indicated that while the injection of exogenous LIF into the mouse body caused changes and destructive effects on the liver tissue, including the development of an inflammatory condition in the liver, it had no discernible effect on the kidney tissue.
Estimation of Fault Parameters in Southwest of the Thrace Basin from Gravity Gradient Data
Authors: UZUN Sibel
Published: January 2024

Characterization of fault zones plays an important role for earthquake studies, geothermal and mineral resource exploration. This problem can be achieved by optimizing parameters of a defined synthetic model iteratively using gravity, gravity gradients or magnetic data. Curvature gradients indicate deviations of an equipotential surface from a spherical surface, therefore, reflecting deviations of mass distributions from a source point. In this study, differential curvature gradient is used as it identifies linear structures such as dip-slip faults and geological contacts. Curvature gradients are computed from gravity gradient observations which are derived from the high-resolution Earth Gravitational Model 2008. Estimating the fault parameters from gravity gradients is a complex nonlinear geophysical inverse problem that requires finding the minimum of a multi-variable cost function. A global optimization technique called simulated annealing (SA) is used to estimate location, dip angle and some depth parameters of the faults located in southwest side of the Thrace basin in Türkiye. In the optimization technique, a straight solution is inevitably applied to calculate the theoretical anomaly to be compared with the observed anomaly in each search step. In this case, the problem requires constructing a mathematical or geophysical interpretation model. Such a model is designed as a dip-slip fault model. The results show that dip angle estimates indicate high-angle faults which are found to be consistent with the seismic studies.
Lead and noble gas isotopic constraints on the origin of Te-bearing adularia-sericite epithermal Au-Ag deposits in a calc-alkaline magmatic arc, NE China
Authors: Gao Shen , Hofstra Albert H. , Qin Kezhang , Zou Xinyu , Pribil Michael J. , Hunt Andrew G. , Manning Andrew H. , Lowers Heather A. , Xu Hong
Published: January 2024

Tellurium (Te)-bearing adularia-sericite epithermal Au-Ag deposits are widely distributed in calc-alkaline magmatic arcs and are an important current and future source of precious and critical metals. The source of ore-forming fluids in these deposits remains unclear due to the lack of in situ isotopic evidence on Au-, Ag-, and Te-bearing minerals. To advance the understanding of the source and evolution of Te and precious metals, herein, we combine in situ Pb isotope analysis with He, Ne, and Ar isotope and microthermometric analysis of fluid inclusions in ore and gangue minerals from two Te-rich and two Te-poor epithermal Au-Ag deposits that occur in an Early Cretaceous magmatic arc in the North Heilongjiang Belt, northeastern China. Ore minerals (hessite, petzite, calaverite, altaite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, and galena) from Te-rich Au-Ag deposits, including Sandaowanzi and Yongxin, have the least radiogenic Pb isotope compositions (206Pb/204Pb from 18.1 to 18.3) and the lowest μ1 values (the 238U/204Pb ratio of the lead source down to 9.14) of the deposits studied. For these Te-rich deposits, noble gas isotope data show that fluid inclusions in ore minerals contain a large proportion of mantle He (up to 25%), whereas barren early-stage minerals do not (<1%). The Pb, noble gas isotope, and fluid inclusion microthermometric results suggest that Te-rich ore-forming fluids were likely discharged from mafic magmas into convecting meteoric flow systems at shallow levels (<2 km). In contrast to the Te-rich deposits, ore minerals from the Te-poor Dong’an Au-Ag deposit have radiogenic Pb isotope compositions (206Pb/204Pb from 18.8 to 18.9) and the highest μ1 values (up to 10.54). Fluid inclusions in ore minerals contain a small proportion of mantle He (1% to 5%). The results suggest that metals and ore-forming fluids in these deposits were discharged from either more crustally contaminated intermediate-felsic magmas or leached from upper crustal rocks by convecting meteoric flow systems. Although the Te-poor Tuanjiegou Au-Ag deposit has a non-radiogenic Pb isotope composition consistent with a mafic magma source, Te is much less abundant (electrum [>95%] is the major gold- and silver-bearing mineral) than Au. The main exploration implication of these results is that unexplored volcano-plutonic centers in the northeast Xing’an Block with less radiogenic Pb isotope compositions (206Pb/204Pb < 18.3) and containing fluids with a high proportion of mantle He are more likely to generate Te-rich epithermal Au-Ag deposits than other volcano-plutonic centers in NE China.
Comparative Analysis of Machine Learning and Deep Learning Algorithms for Twitter-Based Depression Detection
Authors: Santos Emanoel , Lattari Lucas , Coelho Maurício , Castro Bianca
Published: January 2024

Depression is a significant mental health disorder affecting millions of individuals globally. Detecting depressive symptoms from written texts, especially on social media platforms like Twitter, has received considerable attention. In this paper, we present a comparative analysis of machine learning and deep learning algorithms for depression detection on Twitter. We propose an innovative approach that integrates a multilayer Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) architecture with a Multi-Head Attention component. Our approach achieves up to 99% across all key metrics, including accuracy, recall, F1- score, and precision. However, it should be noted that these high scores are obtained in certain instances, thus being highly competitive compared to other relevant works. Despite facing challenges such as imbalanced datasets and user-annotated data, these remarkable results mark a promising advancement in the field of text-based depression detection.
Detecção de Lesões de Retinopatia Diabética em Imagens de Fundoscopia Utilizando UNet++
Authors: Alves Antonio , Cortez Paulo , Assis Debora , Silva Bruno , Moreira Andressa
Published: January 2024

A Retinopatia Diabética (RD) e uma complicação microvascular progressiva do Diabetes Mellitus que afeta a retina devido ao excesso de glicose no sangue, causando alterações nos vasos sanguíneos. Em seus estágios iniciais a RD e assintomática, contudo pode levar a problemas visuais como visão turva e pontos cegos nos casos mais avançados. A prevenção dessa doença pode ser realizada pelo controle dos níveis de açúcar no sangue e exames oftalmológicos regulares. Desta forma, a detecção precoce e fundamental para preservar a visão e qualidade de vida do paciente. O avanço das técnicas de visão computacional também expandiu a aplicação de técnicas de segmentação semântica do campo de Deep Learning para localização automática das lesões intrarretinianas da Retinopatia Diabética. Neste contexto, este estudo visa comparar o desempenho da arquitetura da rede UNet++, com 4 diferentes redes que substituem o encoder dentro da sua arquitetura, para segmentação automática das lesões da RD em imagens de fundoscopia. são avaliadas a localização e segmentação dos microaneurismas, hemorragias, exsudatos moles e exsudatos duro dos bancos de dados IDRID e DIARETDB1. As análises indicaram que o encoder VGG16 alcançou os melhores resultados de segmentação, em especial para hemorragias, considerando Índice de Jaccard, Coeficiente de Similaridade de Dados e Acurácia.
Modernleşme Sorunsalı Çerçevesinde Yahya Kemal’in Şiirinde Mûsikî
Authors: ÖZGÜREL Emine Gözde
Published: January 2024

Modern Türk şiirinin kurucu kalemlerinden olan Yahya Kemal (1884-1958)’in eser verdiği 1908-1958 yılları arasındaki dönem, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti’nin ulus-devlet ilkesi temelinde kurulduğu ve gelişimini sürdürdüğü; modernleşme atılımı çerçevesinde önemli sosyal, siyasal değişimlerin yaşandığı; Türk Devleti’nin, Batı medeniyeti örneklemindeki modernleşme sürecinde önemli aşamalar kaydettiği bir dönemi işaret etmektedir. Bu makalede, Türkiye’de modernleşme sürecinin bir boyutunu oluşturan Kültür İnkılabı çerçevesindeki Türk Musiki İnkılabı ve şairin musiki inkılabına nazaran konumu, eserleri odağında incelenmiştir. Bu doğrultuda öncelikle kültür, sanat, edebiyat dünyası üzerinde önemli etkileri olan “modernleşme” üzerinde durulmuş ve Yahya Kemal’in “modern” kavramıyla kurduğu ilişki, dönemin hâkim anlayışıyla karşılıklı olarak incelenip tartışılmıştır. Türk Musiki İnkılabını hazırlayan tarihsel koşullar ve 1930’lu yıllarda alaturka musikinin yerine Batı tarzı müziğin ve enstrümanlarının Türk müzik kültüründe benimsetilmeye çalışılması ele alınmış; halk müziğinin Batı’nın çok sesli müzik kültürüne uyarlanması gibi uygulamalar yoluyla inkılabın hayata geçirilişinin panoraması ortaya konulmuştur. Ardından Yahya Kemal’in şiirlerinde musiki, metin merkezli okuma yoluyla ele alınmış; şairin musikiye değiniler içeren düz yazılarından ve yayımlanmış sohbetlerinden şiirlerin çözümlenmesinde gerektikçe yararlanılmıştır. Yahya Kemal, modernin -çağa uygun, çağcıl, asri olanın- inşasında milletin geçmişinden damıtılan sanatsal, estetik birikimin değerlendirilmesi, bu birikimin/belleğin, belli bir siyasete özgü kılınıp yadsınmaması gereğini, bir hatip olarak değil; bir şair olarak eseri üzerinden savunur. Bunu, şiirinde eski Türk musikisini konu ederek, ona gönderimlerde bulunarak, içinde bulunduğu psikolojiyi musiki terimleri üzerinden kavrayarak ve yansıtarak gerçekleştirir. Yahya Kemal’in şiirlerini musiki perspektifinden değerlendiren bu çalışmada, şairin eski Türk musikisini bir “şark musikisi” olarak görmediği; Türk vatanı ve milletine temsiliyet yetkisiyle bağlı, millî bir değer olarak benimsediği, şiirleri üzerinden tespit edilmiştir.
Optimization and experimental validation of the air intake holes of the lithium-ion battery pack
Authors: Bakar Oya , Uysal Murat , Feyzioğlu Ahmet
Published: January 2024

Energy storage systems enable the storage of energy and provide access to carbon-neutral, environmentally friendly energy whenever or wherever it is needed. Lithium-ion batteries are currently the most preferred type among various battery technologies and are widely used in energy storage systems. Some of the features that make lithium-ion batteries advantageous include high energy density, long life, low maintenance requirements, and high operating voltage. The growing demand for energy throughout the day increases the need for batteries with high storage capacity. However, the increased capacity also leads to heating issues in lithium-ion batteries. The heating problem in lithium-ion batteries can result in nonhomogeneous temperature distribution, shortened lifespan, thermal runaway, increased internal resistance, and performance loss. Therefore, an effective thermal management system is essential for cooling lithium-ion batteries. This study aims to provide insight into the forced air cooling of prismatic 280 Ah LiFePo4 batteries, which have limited information in the literature and are more prone to overheating compared to lower-capacity batteries. In this study, five different battery pack case designs, each with different sizes and numbers of air intake holes, were determined and modelled using the SolidWorks program. Within the battery pack cases, 16 280 Ah lithium-ion batteries are placed, and an axial fan is used to cool these batteries. Initially, computational fluid dynamics analyses of the five different designs were performed in the SolidWorks Flow Simulation program. An experiment was then conducted on the design that provided the most efficient thermal management to validate the numerical results. The selected design, fulfilling the purpose of homogeneous temperature distribution and having the minimum temperature difference between batteries, was designated as Design 5. It exhibited a 62 % improvement in cooling performance with a 0.25 °C temperature difference, indicating successful temperature homogeneity between batteries. During a two-hour experiment with a 140 A discharge current, temperature measurements were taken from the surfaces of the batteries using thermocouples. Finally, the maximum error rate between experimental and numerical studies was determined to be 1.47 %, indicating successful validation of the numerical study. The air intake hole optimization, a novel design approach, prevents temperature distribution inhomogeneity caused by the distance of the batteries to the fan and offers an effective way to cool down high-capacity 280 Ah batteries.
Investigating the changing pattern of groundwater levels and rainfall in the peninsular region of Bhagalpur and Khagaria, Bihar
Authors: Choudhary Abhishek Kumar , Singh Vivekanand
Published: January 2024

Groundwater is the primary source of water for domestic and irrigation purposes in the peninsular region of the Bhagalpur and Khagaria districts of Bihar. Though this region is bounded by perennial rivers on three sides, the groundwater level is decreasing gradually because of over exploitation and misuse. In this study, spatial and temporal analyses of rainfall and groundwater levels for pre- and post-monsoon seasons from 1996 to 2020 have been carried out using GIS tools, graphical plots, and statistical methods of pattern recognition. The spatial analysis of rainfall shows less rainfall in the western region of the study area, whereas it shows heavy rainfall in the region near the Vikramshila Bridge. The temporal analysis of rainfall shows decreasing trend in the whole study area and the rate of decrease was 25.05 mm/year during 1996–2020. The results of the pre-monsoon groundwater levels analysis show decreasing trend in the majority of wells, and the rate of decrease varies from 0.005 to 0.102 m/year. By contrast, the post-monsoon groundwater levels showed an increasing trend varying from 0.005 to 0.083 m/year at wells located near the River Ganga, except at Maheshkhunt. Thus, there is a need for proper groundwater management for a sustainable future.
Study on the existing forms and recovery efficiencies of phosphorus in biochar from excess sludge
Authors: Guo Changzi , Zhao Wanqin , Han Yi , Zhang Xuli
Published: January 2024

With the background of carbon neutrality, the resource and energy utilization of excess sludge (ES) have become the focus of future research. The pyrolysis of ES can produce biochar and enrich phosphorus (P). In this paper, the existing forms and recovery efficiencies of P in biochar from ES (BCES) were investigated. The results showed that the total phosphorus (TP) content of BCES at 850 °C was 65.1 mg/g, and the inorganic phosphorus (IP) content was 64.2 mg/g. The TP content of BCES was two times heavier than that of ES. The main ingredient of ES was quartz (SiO2), while the main phases of BCES were quartz (SiO2) and aluminum phosphate (AlPO4) at 650 –850 °C, and P mainly existed in the form of AlPO4. When the pyrolysis temperature was 800 and 850 °C, two new minerals appeared: Ca5(PO4)3OH and CaZn2(PO4)2·2H2O. Based on the conditions of a leaching time of 150 min, a H2SO4 concentration of 0.2 mol/L, a stirring rate of 220 rpm and a liquid–solid ratio of 50 mL/g, the leaching efficiency of P in BCES was found to be 100%. The pyrolysis temperature had no effect on leaching efficiencies of P; however, a higher pyrolysis temperature promoted metal leaching content.
Impact of low and high temperatures on aerobic granular sludge treatment of industrial wastewater
Authors: Tsertou Eirini , Caluwé Michel , Goettert Dorothee , Goossens Koen , Seguel Suazo Karina , Vanherck Catharina , Dries Jan
Published: January 2024

The goal of this study was to unravel the impact of high and low temperatures (T) on glycogen-accumulating microorganisms (GAOs) which were stimulated in an aerobic granular sludge plant fed with industrial wastewater, which is derived from the cleaning of trucks transporting chocolate and beer. Among GAOs, Candidatus Competibacter (Ca. Competibacter) was the most abundant. The long-term impact on (1) anaerobic dissolved organic carbon (DOC) uptake, (2) sludge morphology, and (3) microbial community composition was investigated. In addition, the short-term impact of T changes on the anaerobic uptake rate was evaluated. High T (above 38 °C) and low T (below 11 °C) had a negative impact on the relative read abundance of Ca. Competibacter and the anaerobic DOC uptake. Nevertheless, the carbon removal efficiency and the settleability of the biomass were not affected. Denitrifiers such as Thauera and Zoogloea were promoted over Ca. Competibacter under high T and low T, respectively, indicating their positive contribution to granulation maintenance.
Novel Adiponectin Receptor Agonist Inhibits Cholangiocarcinoma via
Adenosine Monophosphate-activated Protein Kinase
Authors: Bui Khac Cuong , Nguyen Thi Mai Ly , Barat Samarpita , Scholta Tim , Xing Jun , Bhuria Vikas , Sipos Bence , Wilkens Ludwig , Nguyen Linh Toan , Le Huu Song , Velavan Thirumalaisamy P. , Bozko Przemyslaw , Plentz Ruben R.
Published: January 2024

Background:

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) has a poor prognosis and only limited palliative
treatment options. The deficiency of adiponectin and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase
(AMPK) signaling was reported in several malignancies, but the alteration of these proteins in CCA is
still unclear.

Objectives::

This study aimed to assess the role of adiponectin and AMPK signaling in CCA. Furthermore, AdipoRon, a novel adiponectin receptor (AdipoR) agonist, was evaluated in vitro and in vivo as a
new anti-tumor therapy for CCA.

Methods:

The expression of AdipoR1 and p-AMPKα in human tissue microarrays (TMAs) was evaluated by immunohistochemistry staining (IHC). The effect of 2-(4-Benzoylphenoxy)-N-[1-(phenylmethyl)-4-piperidinyl]-acetamide (AdipoRon) was investigated in vitro with proliferation, crystal violet,
migration, invasion, colony formation, senescence, cell cycle and apoptosis assays and in vivo using a
CCA engineered mouse model (AlbCre/LSL-KRASG12D/p53L/L). RT-qPCR and western blot methods
were applied to study molecular alterations in murine tissues.

Results:

AdipoR1 and p-AMPKα were impaired in human CCA tissues, compared to adjacent non-tumor tissue. There was a positive correlation between the AdipoR1 and p-AMPKα levels in CCA tissues.
Treatment with AdipoRon inhibited proliferation, migration, invasion and colony formation and induced apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner in vitro (p<0.05). In addition, AdipoRon reduced the number of CCA and tumor volume, prolonged survival, and decreased metastasis and ascites
in the treated group compared to the control group (p<0.05).

Conclusions:

AdipoR1 and p-AMPKα are impaired in CCA tissues, and AdipoRon effectively inhibits
CCA in vitro and in vivo. Thus, AdipoRon may be considered as a potential anti-tumor therapy in CCA
Efficacy of Chemoimmunotherapy versus Chemotherapy for Gastric
Cancer: A Meta-Analysis of Survival Outcomes
Authors: Xie Juan , Chen Lin , Liu Qing , Li Xi-Tai , Lei Xiao-Yong
Published: January 2024

Background:

Gastric cancer has been traditionally treated with chemotherapy
as the primary mode of treatment. However, recent studies have shown that chemoimmunotherapy
is also effective and, in some cases, better than chemotherapy treatment.
Current study aimed to find the efficacy of chemoimmunotherapy versus chemotherapy
in the treatment of gastric cancer.

Methods:

Using electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, and EBSCO, a thorough
literature search was carried out for the years 2006 to 2023. The search strategy
was designed to identify relevant studies based on chemoimmunotherapy and chemotherapy
intervention, and the search was conducted using appropriate keywords and MeSH
terms. The retrieved studies were screened for relevance based on their titles, abstracts,
and full texts. The studies' inclusion criteria were predefined, and the selected studies
were then subjected to a quality assessment using GradePro GDT. The data from selected
studies were extracted and analyzed using Revman version 5.4.

Results:

The study found that chemoimmunotherapy treatment resulted in a significant
improvement in overall survival (OS) with a risk ratio (RR) of 1.54 and a 95% Confidence
Interval (CI) of 1.25 to 1.89. The overall effect was also found to be significant,
with a p-value of less than 0.001. Furthermore, we also observed an improvement in the
1-year, 3-year, and 5-year survival rates with risk ratio (RR) of 1.09 (95% CI: 1.01,
1.17), 1.43 (95% CI: 1.28, 1.60), and 1.59 (95% CI: 1.10, 2.30), respectively. In addition,
it’s also found that chemoimmunotherapy treatment also resulted in an improvement
in DFS with an RR of 1.94 and a 95% CI of 1.44 to 2.59. Overall, these results
suggest that chemoimmunotherapy treatment can be an effective approach in comparison
to chemotherapy for improving overall survival and disease-free survival in the
studied population.

Conclusion:

This study comparing chemoimmunotherapy versus chemotherapy for gastric
cancer showed that both treatments were effective, but chemoimmunotherapy had
more significant efficacy. To support these results, additional studies with a large sample
size and a longer follow-up time are required.
CTXP, The Major Cobra Toxin Peptide from Naja Naja Oxiana Venom; A Promising Target for Antivenom Agent Development
Authors: Chafi Mohammad Hosseininejad , Eslamnezhad-Namin Mohsen , Dastjerdeh Mansoureh Shahbazi , Zareinejad Mohammad Reza , Oghalaie Akbar , Bagheri Kamran Pooshang , Kazemi-Lomedasht Fatemeh , Karimi Gholamreza , Razzaghi-Abyaneh Mehdi , Seyedjavadi Sima Sadat , Behdani Mahdi
Published: January 2024

Background and Objective:

Snakebite envenoming is a serious public health issue causing
more than 135,000 annual deaths worldwide. Naja naja oxiana is one of the most clinically important
venomous snakes in Iran and Central Asia. Conventional animal-derived polyclonal antibodies
are the major treatment of snakebite envenoming. Characterization of venom components
helps to pinpoint the toxic protein responsible for clinical manifestations in victims, which aids us
in developing efficient antivenoms with minimal side effects. Therefore, the present study aimed
to identify the major lethal protein of Naja naja oxiana by top-down proteomics.

Methods:

Venom proteomic profiling was performed using gel filtration (GF), reversed-phase (RP)
chromatography, and intact mass spectrometry. The toxicity of GF-, and RP-eluted fractions
was analyzed in BALB/c mice. The rabbit polyclonal antisera were produced against crude venom,
GF fraction V (FV), and RP peak 1 (CTXP) and applied in neutralization assays.

Results:

Toxicity studies in BALB/c identified FV as the major toxic fraction of venom. Subsequently,
RP separation of FV resulted in eight peaks, of which peak 1, referred to as “CTXP” (cobra
toxin peptide), was identified as the major lethal protein. In vivo neutralization assays using
rabbit antisera showed that polyclonal antibodies raised against FV and CTXP are capable of neutralizing
at least 2-LD50s of crude venom, FV, and CTXP in all tested mice.

Conclusion:

Surprisingly, the Anti-CTXP antibody could neutralize 8-LD50 of the CTXP peptide.
These results identified CTXP (a 7 kDa peptide) as a potential target for the development of
novel efficient antivenom agents.
Roles of Accelerated Molecular Dynamics Simulations in Predictions of
Binding Kinetic Parameters
Authors: Chen Jianzhong , Wang Wei , Sun Haibo , He Weikai
Published: January 2024

Rational predictions on binding kinetics parameters of drugs to targets play significant
roles in future drug designs. Full conformational samplings of targets are requisite for accurate predictions
of binding kinetic parameters. In this review, we mainly focus on the applications of enhanced
sampling technologies in calculations of binding kinetics parameters and residence time of
drugs. The methods involved in molecular dynamics simulations are applied to not only probe conformational
changes of targets but also reveal calculations of residence time that is significant for
drug efficiency. For this review, special attention are paid to accelerated molecular dynamics (aMD)
and Gaussian aMD (GaMD) simulations that have been adopted to predict the association or disassociation
rate constant. We also expect that this review can provide useful information for future
drug design.
Calcium Modulating Effect of Polycyclic Cages: A Suitable Therapeutic
Approach Against Excitotoxic-induced Neurodegeneration
Authors: Egunlusi Ayodeji O. , Malan Sarel F. , Palchykov Vitalii A. , Joubert Jacques
Published: January 2024

Neurodegenerative disorders pose a significant challenge to global healthcare systems
due to their progressive nature and the resulting loss of neuronal cells and functions. Excitotoxicity,
characterized by calcium overload, plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of these disorders. In
this review article, we explore the involvement of calcium dysregulation in neurodegeneration and
neurodegenerative disorders. A promising therapeutic strategy to counter calcium dysregulation involves
the use of calcium modulators, particularly polycyclic cage compounds. These compounds,
structurally related to amantadine and memantine, exhibit neuroprotective properties by attenuating
calcium influx into neuronal cells. Notably, the pentacycloundecylamine NGP1-01, a cage-like
structure, has shown efficacy in inhibiting both N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors and voltage-
gated calcium channels (VGCCs), making it a potential candidate for neuroprotection against
excitotoxic-induced neurodegenerative disorders. The structure-activity relationship of polycyclic
cage compounds is discussed in detail, highlighting their calcium-inhibitory activities. Various
closed, open, and rearranged cage compounds have demonstrated inhibitory effects on calcium influx
through NMDA receptors and VGCCs. Additionally, these compounds have exhibited neuroprotective
properties, including free radical scavenging, attenuation of neurotoxicities, and reduction
of neuroinflammation. Although the calcium modulatory activities of polycyclic cage compounds
have been extensively studied, apart from amantadine and memantine, none have undergone clinical
trials. Further in vitro and in vivo studies and subsequent clinical trials are required to establish the
efficacy and safety of these compounds. The development of polycyclic cages as potential multifunctional
agents for treating complex neurodegenerative diseases holds great promise.
Traditional Herbal Medications Utilized in the Indian Medical System for
the Management of Diabetes: An Updated Review and Clinical Implications
Authors: Sachan Kapil , Verma Suryakant , Arora Kunal , Bharti Ujjwal , Singh Pranjal Kumar , Singh Smita
Published: January 2024

Phytomedicine, also called botanical medicine, is the practice of using plants to treat
disease. Diabetes, for example, has been treated and prevented with herbal medication for a lot
longer than Western medicine. Worldwide, diabetes has become a major health concern. The management
of diabetes and hyperglycemia, two of the most common public health threats, is far from
ideal. When hyperglycemia persists or is not under control, diabetes-related complications, like
blindness, lower limb amputations, renal disease, and cardiovascular disease, play a significant
role in the morbidity and mortality of the disease. Although chemicals and biochemical agents can
assist in managing diabetes, there is currently no complete cure for the disease. Herbal remedies
are one of many methods that can be used to treat and prevent diabetes and its subsequent problems.
Numerous traditional treatments have been discovered for diabetes as a result of extensive
research efforts. However, there are many factors to consider when deciding which herbs to use,
such as the patient's financial status, the presence or absence of co-morbidities, and the accessibility,
cost-effectiveness, and safety profile of the herbs. This article focuses on the use of herbal and
natural remedies in the treatment and prevention of diabetes, the mechanisms by which these remedies
lower blood glucose levels, and the specific herbal items now utilized in the management of
diabetes.
Unravelling the Crosstalk between Estrogen Deficiency and Gut-biota
Dysbiosis in the Development of Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Rishabh  , Bansal Seema , Goel Akriti , Gupta Sumeet , Malik Deepti , Bansal Nitin
Published: January 2024

Estrogens are classically considered essential hormonal signals, but they exert profound
effects in a number of physiological and pathological states, including glucose homeostasis
and insulin resistance. Estrogen deficiency after menopause in most women leads to increased
androgenicity and changes in body composition, and it is recommended to manipulate the β-cell
function of the pancreas, insulin-induced glucose transport, and hepatic glucose output, hence, the
increasing incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Recently, studies have reported that gut biota
alteration due to estrogen deficiency contributes to altered energy metabolism and, hence, accentuates
the pathology of diabetes mellitus. Emerging research suggests estrogen deficiency via
genetic disposition or failure of ovaries to function in old age modulates the insulin resistance and
glucose secretion workload on pancreatic beta cells by decreasing the levels of good bacteria such
as Akkermansia muciniphila, Bifidobacterium spp., Lactobacillus spp., Faecalibacterium
prausnitzii, Roseburia spp., and Prevotella spp., and increasing the levels of bad bacteria’s such as
Bacteroides spp., Clostridium difficile, Escherichia coli, and Enterococcus spp. Alteration in these
bacteria's concentrations in the gut further leads to the development of impaired glucose uptake
by the muscles, increased gluconeogenesis in the liver, and increased lipolysis and inflammation
in the adipose tissues. Thus, the present review paper aims to clarify the intricate interactions
between estrogen deficiency, gut microbiota regulation, and the development of diabetes mellitus.
Novel Strategies to Improve the Cardioprotective Effects of Cardioplegia
Authors: Osorio-Llanes Estefanie , Castellar-López Jairo , Rosales Wendy , Montoya Yuliet , Bustamante John , Zalaquett Ricardo , Bravo-Sagua Roberto , Riquelme Jaime A. , Sánchez Gina , Chiong Mario , Lavandero Sergio , Mendoza-Torres Evelyn
Published: January 2024

The use of cardioprotective strategies as adjuvants of cardioplegic solutions has become
an ideal alternative for the improvement of post-surgery heart recovery. The choice of the
optimal cardioplegia, as well as its distribution mechanism, remains controversial in the field of
cardiovascular surgery. There is still a need to search for new and better cardioprotective methods
during cardioplegic procedures. New techniques for the management of cardiovascular
complications during cardioplegia have evolved with new alternatives and additives, and each
new strategy provides a tool to neutralize the damage after ischemia/reperfusion events. Researchers
and clinicians have committed themselves to studying the effect of new strategies and
adjuvant components with the potential to improve the cardioprotective effect of cardioplegic
solutions in preventing myocardial ischemia/reperfusion-induced injury during cardiac surgery.
The aim of this review is to explore the different types of cardioplegia, their protection mechanisms,
and which strategies have been proposed to enhance the function of these solutions in
hearts exposed to cardiovascular pathologies that require surgical alternatives for their corrective
progression.
Nuchal Translucency and Congenital Heart Defects
Authors: Sofia-Gonçalves A. , Guedes-Martins L.
Published: January 2024

Nuchal translucency comprises a temporary accumulation of fluid in the subcutaneous
tissue on the back of a fetus’s neck, which accompanies the crown-rump length and is observed
through an ultrasound performed between 11 and 13 weeks + 6 days gestation. Nuchal
translucency is considered to be above normal when values are higher than the 95th/99th percentile
or equal to or higher than 2.5/3.5 mm. The first connection between increased nuchal
translucency and the presence of congenital heart defects is described in the study of Hyett et
al., who observed that they are directly proportional. Since that time, several studies have been
conducted to understand if nuchal translucency measurements can be used for congenital heart
defect screening in euploid fetuses. However, there is great variability in the estimated nuchal
translucency cutoff values for congenital heart defect detection. The purpose of this review was
to understand how increased nuchal translucency values and congenital heart defects are related
and to identify which of these defects are more frequently associated with an increase in these
values.
Cardiovascular Symptoms, Dysautonomia, and Quality of Life in Adult
and Pediatric Patients with Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome:
A Brief Review
Authors: Hertel Amanda , Black William R. , Malloy Walton Lindsey , Martin Julie R. , Jones Jordan T.
Published: January 2024

Background::

Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) is a connective tissue
disorder characterized by joint hypermobility and other systemic manifestations, such as cardiovascular
symptoms, musculoskeletal pain, and joint instability. Cardiovascular symptoms, such as
lightheadedness and palpitations, and types of dysautonomia, including postural orthostatic tachycardia
syndrome (POTS), are frequently reported in adults with hEDS and have been shown to
negatively impact quality of life (QoL).

Objective::

This brief review will be an overview of co-occurring symptoms in POTS and hEDS
to inform potential cardiovascular screening procedures.

Results::

While many patients with hEDS report cardiovascular symptoms, few have structural
abnormalities, suggesting that dysautonomia is likely responsible for these symptoms. One validated
screening measure for dysautonomia symptom burden is the Composite Autonomic Symptom
Scale (COMPASS-31). Studies have found that adults with POTS, hEDS, and both POTS
and hEDS have higher COMPASS-31 scores than the general population, suggesting a high
symptom burden due to dysautonomia, which leads to impaired QoL.

Conclusion::

While studies have examined cardiovascular symptoms and the impact of dysautonomia
in adults with and without hEDS, there is scant literature on dysautonomia in pediatric
patients with hEDS. Therefore, more studies on cardiovascular symptoms and dysautonomia, as
they relate to the quality of life in pediatric patients with hEDS, are needed. This brief review
summarizes the current literature on dysautonomia and cardiovascular symptoms in pediatric and
adult populations with hEDS.