bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of an Appeasing Substance Application at Weaning on Growth, Stress, Behavior, and Response to Vaccination of Bos indicus Calves
Authors: Vieira Douglas Gomes , Vedovatto Marcelo , Fernandes Henrique Jorge , Lima Eduardo de Assis , D’Oliveira Marcella Candia , Curcio Uriel de Almeida , Ranches Juliana , Ferreira Matheus Fellipe , Sousa Osvaldo Alex de , Cappellozza Bruno Ieda , Franco Gumercindo Loriano
Published: September 2023

An analog of a bovine-appeasing substance (BAS) was previously demonstrated to have calming effects, and it could be an alternative to alleviate the stress caused by weaning. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of BAS administration at weaning on growth, stress, behavior, and response to vaccination of Nellore calves. Eighty-six Nellore calves (40 females and 46 males) were abruptly weaned and randomly assigned into 1 of 2 treatments: (1) saline solution (0.9% NaCl; n = 43) and (2) BAS (Secure Catte, IRSEA Group, Quartier Salignan, France; n = 43). The solutions were topically applied (5 mL/calf) to the nuchal skin area of each animal. On d 0, before treatment application, calves were vaccinated against infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), parainfluenza-3 (PI3) virus, and bovine viral diarrhea virus types 1 and 2 (BVDV-1 and 2). Calves from each treatment were kept in different pastures for 15 d (time of BAS action) and then moved to a single pasture. Body weight (BW), blood samples, and temperament in the chute (entry score, chute score, and exit score) were collected on d 0, 3, 8, 15, 51, and 100, and behavior on pasture on d 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9. Calves assigned to BAS vs. Saline treatment tended to have greater BW on d 15 (p = 0.10), tended to have lower entry scores on d 8 and 51 (p = 0.10), and chute scores on d 8 (p = 0.07), and had lower exit scores on d 8 (p = 0.02). Calves assigned to BAS vs. Saline treatment also had greater time grazing on d 7 and 9 (p < 0.01), eating concentrate on d 2, 5, and 6 (p = 0.05), walking on d 1, 2, 5, and 9 (p < 0.01), standing and ruminating on d 2, 7 and 9 (p < 0.01), and playing on d 2, 4, 6, 7, and 9 (p < 0.01). Furthermore, they had lower time lying on 1 and 2 (p < 0.01), standing on d 5 and 9 (p < 0.01), and vocalizing on d 1 and 2 (p < 0.01). Calves assigned to BAS vs. Saline treatment had greater serum titter concentrations of PI3 t on d 15 and 51 (p = 0.05) and BVDV-1 on d 51 (p = 0.02). However, they had lower serum concentrations of cortisol on d 3 (p = 0.03). BAS administration did not affect (p ≥ 0.12) the serum titer concentration of IBR and BVDV-2 titers or the plasma concentration of haptoglobin and ceruloplasmin. The BAS administration improved BW, reduced temperament and serum cortisol concentration, and improved behavior and response to vaccination.
Tolerance Synthesis of Delta-like Parallel Robots Using a Nonlinear Optimisation Method
Authors: Brahmia Allaoua , Kerboua Adlen , Kelaiaia Ridha , Latreche Ameur
Published: September 2023

Robotic systems require high accuracy in manipulating objects. Positioning errors are influenced by geometric tolerances and various sources. This paper introduces a new technique based on the interior-point algorithm optimisation method to allocate tolerances to the geometric parameters of a robot. This method consists of three steps. First, a method for modelling the kinematic problem as well as the geometric errors must be used. The Denavit–Hartenberg rule is the most suitable method for this modelling case. Then, a mathematical model for tolerance allocation is developed and used as a nonlinear multivariable optimisation problem. Finally, the “interior-point” algorithm is used to solve this optimisation problem. The accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method, in determining the tolerance allocations for a Delta parallel robot, is illustrated via calculation and simulation results. The values of the dimensional tolerances found are optimal. As a result, these values always keep the accuracy less than or equal to the imposed value.
A Novel Simulation-Optimization Model Built by FloPy: Pollutant Traceability in a Chemical Park in China
Authors: Liu Yitian , Wang Wei , Li Jianhua , Jiao Yiwen , Li Yujiao , Liu Peng
Published: September 2023

Heavy metal pollution of groundwater will not only destroy the ecological environment but also negatively affect the functioning of the human liver. Tracing the source of groundwater pollution is an important way to protect groundwater resources. FloPy is promoting the use of big data in the groundwater field, especially in groundwater resource planning and management and contaminant traceability. This paper takes Mn as an example and codes a simulation-optimization model for solving the groundwater pollutant traceability problem using FloPy. The Bayesian optimization and strengthen elitist genetic algorithm (SEGA) algorithms are then used to optimize the hydraulic conductivity and pollutant sources in the study area. The results show that the model runs in 411 s, which is an acceptable amount of time spent, the slope of the fitted curve between the model-calculated water level and the actual observed water level is 0.914, and the contaminant traceability results can successfully locate the contaminant sources in real engineering problems. The numerical groundwater flow model and solute transport model can be quickly built, modified, and run by writing code, and can be easily and efficiently coupled with various optimization algorithms with FloPy.
Analytical Calculation Model of the TV3-117 Turboshaft Working Regimes Based on Experimental Data
Authors: Catana Razvan Marius , Dediu Gabriel
Published: September 2023

The paper presents a practical and relevant analytical calculation model for free turbine turboshaft working regimes and engine performance. The analytical calculation model is based on a post-processing method that analyzes a series of experimental data, specifically focusing on the percentage variations of the engine’s main parameters from the minimum to the takeoff working regime. The experimental data were acquired from three different types of engines: TV2-117A turboshaft, AI-20K turboprop, and Viper 632-41 turbojet. The analysis method aimed to identify, through calculations, certain similarity parameters that exhibit nearly constant variations or variations within tight limits. These parameters can then be used as approximate constants in the calculation model. By utilizing these constants related to similarity parameters, a mathematical connection between different engine regimes is established; more exactly, for the engine data from a known to unknown regime. In the current case, only the engine data from the takeoff regime are requested to be known, and in this way, the other working regimes of several engines can be calculated.
Detection and Classification of Buildings by Height from Single Urban High-Resolution Remote Sensing Images
Authors: Zhang Hongya , Xu Chi , Fan Zhongjie , Li Wenzhuo , Sun Kaimin , Li Deren
Published: September 2023

Recent improvements in remote sensing technologies have boosted building detection techniques from rough classifications using moderate resolution imagery to precise extraction from high-resolution imagery. Shadows frequently emerge in high-resolution urban images. To exploit shadow information, we developed a novel building detection and classification algorithm for images of urban areas with large-size shadows, employing only the visible spectral bands to determine the height levels of buildings. The proposed method, building general-classified by height (BGCH), calculates shadow orientation, detects buildings using seed-blocks, and classifies the buildings into different height groups. Our proposed approach was tested on complex urban scenes from Toronto and Beijing. The experimental results illustrate that our proposed method accurately and efficiently detects and classifies buildings by their height levels; the building detection rate exceeded 95%. The precision of classification by height levels was over 90%. This novel building-height-level detection method provides rich information at low cost and is suitable for further city scene analysis, flood disaster risk assessment, population estimation, and building change detection applications.
A Study on the Applicability of Waste Glass Wool and Waste Mineral Wool as Fiber Reinforcement
Authors: Lim Chi-Su , Jang Dae-Seong , Kim Jin-Cheol , Kim Hong-Sam , Lee Jae-Jun
Published: September 2023

Recently, the handling of waste industrial resources has become an issue, and the importance of sustainable resources has increased. Among these waste industrial materials are glass wool and mineral wool, which are fibrous materials used as insulation materials with characteristics such as sound absorption, insulation, and non-flammability. However, after their service life, glass wool and mineral wool used for insulation are generally buried or incinerated, causing problems such as air and soil contamination. This research was conducted to examine the applicability of waste glass wool and mineral wool obtained from expired insulation as fiber reinforcement in cement concrete. The research aimed to evaluate the fresh concrete properties, strength properties, and durability properties by adding waste glass wool and waste mineral wool up to 0.5–2.0% of the cement weight. Regarding the slump and air content of fresh concrete, the results showed that the addition of waste fibers within this range did not significantly affect the air content. However, the slump decreased as the addition amount increased due to the high absorption, which is a characteristic of the fibers. In addition, the evaluation of strength revealed that the incorporation of fibers decreased the compressive strength compared to the reference concrete. However, the tensile strength increased due to the load-supporting function of the waste fibers. In the evaluation of freezing–thawing resistance and chloride ion penetration resistance, it was confirmed that the freezing–thawing resistance improved in all cases where waste glass wool was added. The chloride ion penetration resistance was found to be similar to that of the reference concrete. However, in the case of waste mineral wool, it was observed that an addition rate of more than 2.0% of fibers was required to ensure freezing–thawing resistance. As the addition rate increased, the total charge passed (permeability) increased significantly, leading to a decrease in chloride ion penetration resistance.
Potential Health Impacts from a Wildfire Smoke Plume over Region Jämtland Härjedalen, Sweden
Authors: Tornevi Andreas , Andersson Camilla , Carvalho Ana , Langner Joakim , Forsberg Bertil
Published: September 2023

In the summer of 2018, Sweden experienced widespread wildfires, particularly in the region of Jämtland Härjedalen during the final weeks of July. We previously conducted an epidemiological study and investigated acute respiratory health effects in eight municipalities relation to the wildfire air pollution. In this study, we aimed to estimate the potential health impacts under less favorable conditions with different locations of the major fires. Our scenarios focused on the most intense plume from the 2018 wildfire episode affecting the largest municipality, which is the region’s only city. Combining modeled PM2.5 concentrations, gridded population data, and exposure–response functions, we assessed the relative increase in acute health effects. The cumulative population-weighted 24 h PM2.5 exposure during the nine highest-level days reached 207 μg/m3 days for 63,227 inhabitants. We observed a small number of excess cases, particularly in emergency unit visits for asthma, with 13 additional cases compared to the normal 12. Overall, our scenario-based health impact assessment indicates minor effects on the studied endpoints due to factors such as the relatively small population, limited exposure period, and moderate increase in exposure compared to similar assessments. Nonetheless, considering the expected rise in fire potential due to global warming and the long-range transport of wildfire smoke, raising awareness of the potential health risks in this region is important.
RNAi-Mediated Functional Analysis Reveals the Regulation of Oocyte Vitellogenesis by Ecdysone Signaling in Two Coleoptera Species
Authors: Zhang Xiaoqing , Jin Lin , Li Guoqing
Published: September 2023

Coleoptera is the largest taxa of animals by far. The robust reproductive capacity is one of the main reasons for such domination. Successful female reproduction partially relies on effective vitellogenesis. However, the hormone regulation of vitellogenesis remains to be explored. In the present paper, in vitro culture of Leptinotarsa decemlineata 1-day-old adult fat bodies in the 20E-contained median did not activate juvenile hormone production and insulin-like peptide pathways, but significantly stimulated the expression of two LdVg genes, in a cycloheximide-dependent pattern. In vivo RNA interference (RNAi) of either ecdysone receptor (LdEcR) or ultraspiracle (Ldusp) by injection of corresponding dsRNA into 1-day-old female adults inhibited oocyte development, dramatically repressed the transcription of LdVg genes in fat bodies and of LdVgR in ovaries; application of JH into the LdEcR or Ldusp RNAi L. decemlineata females did not restore the oocyte development, partially rescued the decreased LdVg mRNA levels but over-compensated LdVgR expression levels. The same RNAi experiments were performed in another Coleoptera species, Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata. Little yolk substances were seen in the misshapen oocytes in the HvEcR or Hvusp RNAi ovaries, in contrast to larger amounts of yolk granules in the normal oocytes. Correspondingly, the transcript levels of HvVg in the fat bodies and ovaries decreased significantly in the HvEcR and Hvusp RNAi samples. Our results here show that 20E signaling is indispensable in the activation of vitellogenesis in the developing oocytes of the two beetle species.
RNA-seq Analysis Reveals Potential Synergic Effects of Acetate and Cold Exposure on Interscapular Brown Adipose Tissue in Mice
Authors: Ou Hongtao , Chen Qingyan , Lin Zhongjing , Yang Yang , Wang Peixin , Sriboonvorakul Natthida , Lin Shaoling
Published: September 2023

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) exhibits remarkable morphological and functional plasticity in response to environmental (e.g., cold exposure) and nutrient (e.g., high-fat diet) stimuli. Notably, a number of studies have showed that acetate, the main fermentation product of dietary fiber in gut, profoundly influences the differentiation and activity of BAT. However, the potential synergic or antagonistic effects of acetate and cold exposure on BAT have not been well examined. In the present study, the C57BL/6J mice were treated with acetate at the systemic level before a short period of cold exposure. Physiological parameters including body weight, blood glucose, and Respiratory Exchange Ratio (RER) were monitored, and thermal imaging of body surface temperature was captured. Moreover, the transcriptome profiles of interscapular BAT were also determined and analyzed afterwards. The obtained results showed that acetate treatment prior to cold exposure could alter the gene expression profile, as evidenced by significant differential clusters between the two groups. GO analysis and KEGG analysis further identified differentially expressed genes being mainly enriched for a number of biological terms and pathways related to lipid metabolism and brown adipose activity such as “G-protein-coupled receptor activity”, “cAMP metabolic process”, “PPAR signaling pathway”, and “FoxO signaling pathway”. GSEA analysis further suggested that activation status of key pathways including “PPAR signaling pathway” and “TCA cycle” were altered upon acetate treatment. Taken together, our study identified the potential synergistic effect of acetic acid with cold exposure on BAT, which highlighted the positive dietary and therapeutic aspects of acetate.
Reduction in Obesity-Related Hepatic Fibrosis by SR1664
Authors: McVicker Benita L. , Simpson Ronda L. , Hamel Frederick G. , Bennett Robert G.
Published: September 2023

Peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is a transcription factor with adipogenic, insulin-sensitizing, and antifibrotic properties. Strong PPARγ activators, such as the thiazolidinediones, can induce unwanted effects such as edema, weight gain, and bone loss, and therefore selective modulators of PPARγ are in development. We previously reported that one selective PPARγ modulator, SR1664, reduced toxin-induced hepatic fibrosis and the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), the main collagen-producing liver cell in fibrosis. In this study, we used a high fat and high carbohydrate (HFHC) model of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis to determine the effect of SR1664. Mice were placed on a standard chow or HFHC diet for 16 weeks, with SR1664 or control treatment for the final 4 weeks. SR1664 did not alter weight gain or fasting insulin or glucose levels. The size of lipid droplets in the HFHC group was reduced by SR1664, but there was no effect on total liver triglyceride levels. The degree of fibrosis was significantly reduced by SR1664 in mice on the HFHC diet, and this was accompanied by a decrease in activated HSC. In summary, SR1664 improved insulin sensitivity and reduced fibrosis in the HFHC diet, suggesting selective PPARγ modulation is effective in obesity-related liver fibrosis.
ATP12A Proton Pump as an Emerging Therapeutic Target in Cystic Fibrosis and Other Respiratory Diseases
Authors: Dębczyński Michał , Gorrieri Giulia , Mojsak Damian , Guida Floriana , Zara Federico , Scudieri Paolo
Published: September 2023

ATP12A encodes the catalytic subunit of the non-gastric proton pump, which is expressed in many epithelial tissues and mediates the secretion of protons in exchange for potassium ions. In the airways, ATP12A-dependent proton secretion contributes to complex mechanisms regulating the composition and properties of the fluid and mucus lining the respiratory epithelia, which are essential to maintain the airway host defense and the respiratory health. Increased expression and activity of ATP12A in combination with the loss of other balancing activities, such as the bicarbonate secretion mediated by CFTR, leads to excessive acidification of the airway surface liquid and mucus dysfunction, processes that play relevant roles in the pathogenesis of cystic fibrosis and other chronic inflammatory respiratory disorders. In this review, we summarize the findings dealing with ATP12A expression, function, and modulation in the airways, which led to the consideration of ATP12A as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of cystic fibrosis and other airway diseases; we also highlight the current advances and gaps regarding the development of therapeutic strategies aimed at ATP12A inhibition.
Identification of Crustacean Female Sex Hormone Receptor Involved in Sexual Differentiation of a Hermaphroditic Shrimp
Authors: Liu Fang , Liu An , Ye Haihui
Published: September 2023

The neurohormone crustacean female sex hormone (CFSH) contains a highly conserved interleukin-17 (IL-17) domain in the mature peptide. Although CFSH has been demonstrated to stimulate female sexual differentiation in crustaceans, its receptors (CFSHR) have been poorly reported. The present study identified an IL-17 receptor (named Lvit-IL-17R), a candidate of CFSHR, from the protandric simultaneous hermaphroditic (PSH) shrimp Lysmata vittata through GST pulldown assays and RNAi experiments. Lvit-IL-17R is a transmembrane protein with an SEFIR (similar expression as the fibroblast growth factor and IL-17R) domain, as determined through sequence analysis. A GST pulldown experiment confirmed the interactions between the type I CFSHs (CFSH1a and CFSH1b) and Lvit-IL-17R. Meanwhile, the RNAi results revealed that Lvit-IL-17R displays similar functions to type I CFSHs in regulating sexual differentiation and gonad development. In brief, Lvit-IL-17R is a potential receptor for type I CFSHs aimed at regulating the sexual differentiation of the PSH species. This study helps shed new light on the mechanism of sexual differentiation among crustaceans.
Decanoic Acid Rescues Differences in AMPA-Mediated Calcium Rises in Hippocampal CA1 Astrocytes and Neurons in the 5xFAD Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Abghari Mina , Vu Jenny Thythy Cecilia Mai , Eckberg Ninna , Aldana Blanca I. , Kohlmeier Kristi A.
Published: September 2023

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a devastating neurodegenerative disease characterized by cognitive dysfunctions, is associated with high levels of amyloid beta 42 (Aβ42), which is believed to play a role in cellular damage and signaling changes in AD. Decanoic acid has been shown to be therapeutic in AD. Glutamatergic signaling within neurons and astrocytes of the CA1 region of the hippocampus is critical in cognitive processes, and previous work has indicated deficiencies in this signaling in a mouse model of AD. In this study, we investigated glutamate-mediated signaling by evaluating AMPA-mediated calcium rises in female and male CA1 neurons and astrocytes in a mouse model of AD and examined the potential of decanoic acid to normalize this signaling. In brain slices from 5xFAD mice in which there are five mutations leading to increasing levels of Aβ42, AMPA-mediated calcium transients in CA1 neurons and astrocytes were significantly lower than that seen in wildtype controls in both females and males. Interestingly, incubation of 5xFAD slices in decanoic acid restored AMPA-mediated calcium levels in neurons and astrocytes in both females and males to levels indistinguishable from those seen in wildtype, whereas similar exposure to decanoic acid did not result in changes in AMPA-mediated transients in neurons or astrocytes in either sex in the wildtype. Our data indicate that one mechanism by which decanoic acid could improve cognitive functioning is through normalizing AMPA-mediated signaling in CA1 hippocampal cells.
Differences in Cerebral Metabolism between Moderate- and High-Severity Groups of Patients with Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Undergoing Target Temperature Management
Authors: You Yeonho , Kang Changshin , Jeong Wonjoon , Ahn Hong Joon , Park Jung Soo , Min Jin Hong , In Yong Nam , Lee Jae Kwang , Jeon So Young
Published: September 2023

The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in cerebral metabolism and the prognostic value of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lactate 24 h after the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). CSF lactate and pyruvate levels were measured immediately and every 2 h for 24 h after the ROSC. The distribution of cerebral mitochondrial dysfunction (MD) and cerebral ischemia was also evaluated. In the moderate-severity group, the absence of cerebral MD or ischemia was observed in six patients (40.0%) immediately after ROSC and in nine patients (60.0%) 24 h after the ROSC. In the high-severity group, the absence of cerebral MD or ischemia was observed in four patients (30.8%) immediately after ROSC and in three patients (23.1%) 24 h after the ROSC. The distribution of cerebral metabolism over time varied depending on the severity of the OHCA. The predictive value of CSF lactate levels for a poor neurological prognosis was better for patients in the moderate-severity group than for the overall patient cohort. Therefore, the severity in the patients with OHCA should be considered when studying cerebral metabolism or using CSF lactate as a prognostic tool.
Multidimensional Spatial Driving Factors of Urban Vitality Evolution at the Subdistrict Scale of Changsha City, China, Based on the Time Series of Human Activities
Authors: Zeng Zhiwei , Li Yilei , Tang Hui
Published: September 2023

Urban vitality is an important reflection of a city’s development potential and urban quality. This study used exploratory spatio-temporal big data such as social media check-ins to portray the spatio-temporal evolution of urban vitality at the subdistrict scale in Changsha, a city in central China, from 2013 to 2021, finding that urban vitality in Changsha exhibited central agglomeration and outward circling expansion over time, and then we used Geodetector and spatial regression analyses to explain the interactive effects and spatio-temporal heterogeneity of the spatial elements of subdistrict form, subdistrict function, and subdistrict economy on urban vitality. The results show the following: (1) The subdistrict form and subdistrict function dimensions had a significant effect on urban vitality, and the effect of the economic dimension of the subdistrict was not significant. (2) The interaction effect of the density of entertainment and leisure facilities and the density of business office facilities in subdistrict function was the dominant factor in the change of urban vitality. (3) Under the spatio-temporal effect, land use diversity and park facility density had the strongest positive effect on urban vitality; road density and shopping facility density had the weakest effect. The study aimed to provide a reference for the optimization and allocation of spatial elements of subdistricts in sustainable urban development and urban renewal, in order to achieve the purpose of urban vitality creation and enhancement.
Horizontal Deformation Monitoring of Concrete Pile with FRP-Packaged Distributed Optical-Fibre Sensors
Authors: Tang Yongsheng , Cao Mengfei , Li Bo , Chen Xuhui , Wang Zhenyu
Published: September 2023

Horizontal deformation is a key parameter in the structural assessment of concrete piles, especially in landslide cases. However, the existing deformation-monitoring methods cannot satisfy the demands of long-term monitoring. Therefore, a new method based on distributed optical-fibre sensing technology is proposed for the long-term monitoring of the horizontal deformation of concrete piles. First, a distributed long-gauge optical-fibre sensor is embedded into a fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) for the excellent distributed strain measurement of the concrete piles in damage cases, such as concrete cracking and reinforcement yielding. Second, based on the typical Winkler beam model, a calculation theory can be constructed for the horizontal deformation of the concrete piles with the input of the strain measurement. Lastly, the proposed method is verified via finite element simulation and static experiments in a laboratory, and the results show good accuracy. Before the case of reinforcement yielding, the largest measurement error of deformation is about 1 mm. It can be up to several millimetres after reinforcement yielding due to the large gap between the calculation model and the actual structure, while the relative measurement error is only about 10%. Due to the distributed strain measurement, the inside horizontal deformation distribution of the concrete piles can be monitored online with the proposed method to implement a detailed assessment of the pile health. Additionally, considering the excellent long-term performance of FRPs and optical-fibre sensors, the proposed method can be applied for the long-term deformation monitoring of concrete piles.
Effect of Shield-Tunnel Construction on the Horizontal Response of Adjacent Piles in a Silty Layer
Authors: Zhang Shuai , Zhang Xue , Ning Xuan , Lu Haiyun , Jiang Minmin , Wei Shiguang , Xiao Xulian
Published: September 2023

This paper studies the problem of shield tunnels laterally passing through piles based on in situ tests and numerical methods. The effects of vertical load, pile–tunnel distance, and tunnel-cover depth on the horizontal displacement and the bending moment of adjacent piles were investigated. The results show that the shield tunnel induced adjacent pile displacement toward the tunnel side near the tunnel axis, and the soil below and above the tunnel axis constrained the pile, displacing toward the tunnel side. The maximum values of the horizontal displacement and bending moment were at the tunnel axis. The vertical load on the cap had little influence on the horizontal response of the pile. The main influence area induced by shield construction was located within 1.5 times the tunnel diameter. The maximum horizontal displacement and maximum bending moment were reduced by 36–45% and 45–78% on the far pile due to the shading effect induced by the near pile. The tunnel-cover depth had a significant influence on the distribution patterns of the horizontal displacement and the bending moment. The positions of the maximum horizontal displacement and the maximum bending moment moved downward with increases in tunnel-cover depth. The maximum horizontal displacement and bending moment increased with increases in tunnel-cover depth.
Research Progress on Features and Characteristics of Rural Settlements: Literature Distribution, Key Issues, and Development Trends
Authors: Yao Qiang , An Na , Gu Guangcan , Yang Ende , Yang Huihui , Li Chun , Yan Kai
Published: September 2023

During the development of rural settlements, the loss of distinctive rural characteristics, caused by the contradiction between urban expansion and the ideal of pastoralism, has attracted widespread attention from researchers worldwide. To effectively understand the development and trends of the Research of Features and Characteristics of Rural Settlements (abbreviated as RFCRS), this paper uses the knowledge mapping software CiteSpace to conduct co-citation analysis, research collaboration analysis, keyword clustering, and keyword co-occurrence. The study analyzes the basic concepts, the literature distribution characteristics, research clusters, key issues, and development trends of RFCRS. The research found that the current key issues in RFCRS include “Eco-logical services and environmental protection of rural settlements”, “Sustainable planning and architectural design issues of rural settlements”, and “Human settlement environment and service facility construction of rural settlements”. This paper predicts that future RFCRS research trends will focus on the study of landscape features and characteristics based on ecology, climate, and aesthetics; study of architectural features and characteristics based on characteristic factors and hierarchical structure; and research on rural revitalization based on sustainable development principles. The paper also offers four priority research suggestions for researchers from different disciplines.
Inhibition of O-GlcNAcylation Reduces Cell Viability and Autophagy and Increases Sensitivity to Chemotherapeutic Temozolomide in Glioblastoma
Authors: Leonel Amanda V. , Alisson-Silva Frederico , Santos Ronan C. M. , Silva-Aguiar Rodrigo P. , Gomes Julia C. , Longo Gabriel M. C. , Faria Bruna M. , Siqueira Mariana S. , Pereira Miria G. , Vasconcelos-dos-Santos Andreia , Chiarini Luciana B. , Slawson Chad , Caruso-Neves Celso , Romão Luciana , Travassos Leonardo H. , Carneiro Katia , Todeschini Adriane R. , Dias Wagner B.
Published: September 2023

Glioblastoma (GB) is the most aggressive primary malignant brain tumor and is associated with short survival. O-GlcNAcylation is an intracellular glycosylation that regulates protein function, enzymatic activity, protein stability, and subcellular localization. Aberrant O-GlcNAcylation is related to the tumorigenesis of different tumors, and mounting evidence supports O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) as a potential therapeutic target. Here, we used two human GB cell lines alongside primary human astrocytes as a non-tumoral control to investigate the role of O-GlcNAcylation in cell proliferation, cell cycle, autophagy, and cell death. We observed that hyper O-GlcNAcylation promoted increased cellular proliferation, independent of alterations in the cell cycle, through the activation of autophagy. On the other hand, hypo O-GlcNAcylation inhibited autophagy, promoted cell death by apoptosis, and reduced cell proliferation. In addition, the decrease in O-GlcNAcylation sensitized GB cells to the chemotherapeutic temozolomide (TMZ) without affecting human astrocytes. Combined, these results indicated a role for O-GlcNAcylation in governing cell proliferation, autophagy, cell death, and TMZ response, thereby indicating possible therapeutic implications for treating GB. These findings pave the way for further research and the development of novel treatment approaches which may contribute to improved outcomes and increased survival rates for patients facing this challenging disease.
Blockade of IL-10 Signaling Ensures Mifamurtide Efficacy in Metastatic Osteosarcoma
Authors: Nastasi Nicoletta , Pasha Amada , Bruno Gennaro , Subbiani Angela , Pietrovito Laura , Leo Angela , Scala Lucia , de Simone Lorena , Casazza Gabriella , Lunardi Federica , Taddei Maria , Tamburini Angela , Tondo Annalisa , Favre Claudio , Calvani Maura
Published: September 2023

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignancy of the bone, highly aggressive and metastasizing, and it mainly affects children and adolescents. The current standard of care for OS is a combination of surgery and chemotherapy. However, these treatment options are not always successful, especially in cases of metastatic or recurrent osteosarcomas. For this reason, research into new therapeutic strategies is currently underway, and immunotherapies have received considerable attention. Mifamurtide stands out among the most studied immunostimulant drugs; nevertheless, there are very conflicting opinions on its therapeutic efficacy. Here, we aimed to investigate mifamurtide efficacy through in vitro and in vivo experiments. Our results led us to identify a new possible target useful to improve mifamurtide effectiveness on metastatic OS: the cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10). We provide experimental evidence that the synergic use of an anti-IL-10 antibody in combination with mifamurtide causes a significantly increased mortality rate in highest-grade OS cells and lower metastasis in an in vivo model compared with mifamurtide alone. Overall, our data suggest that mifamurtide in combination with an anti-IL-10 antibody could be proposed as a new treatment protocol to be studied to improve the outcomes of OS patients.
Emerging Role of Nuclear Medicine in Prostate Cancer: Current State and Future Perspectives
Authors: Volpe Fabio , Nappi Carmela , Piscopo Leandra , Zampella Emilia , Mainolfi Ciro Gabriele , Ponsiglione Andrea , Imbriaco Massimo , Cuocolo Alberto , Klain Michele
Published: September 2023

Prostate cancer is the most frequent epithelial neoplasia after skin cancer in men starting from 50 years and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) dosage can be used as an early screening tool. Prostate cancer imaging includes several radiological modalities, ranging from ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance to nuclear medicine hybrid techniques such as single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/CT and positron emission tomography (PET)/CT. Innovation in radiopharmaceutical compounds has introduced specific tracers with diagnostic and therapeutic indications, opening the horizons to targeted and very effective clinical care for patients with prostate cancer. The aim of the present review is to illustrate the current knowledge and future perspectives of nuclear medicine, including stand-alone diagnostic techniques and theragnostic approaches, in the clinical management of patients with prostate cancer from initial staging to advanced disease.
Quantitating Wastewater Characteristic Parameters Using Neural Network Regression Modeling on Spectral Reflectance
Authors: Fortela Dhan Lord B. , Travis Armani , Mikolajczyk Ashley P. , Sharp Wayne , Revellame Emmanuel , Holmes William , Hernandez Rafael , Zappi Mark E.
Published: September 2023

Wastewater (WW) analysis is a critical step in various operations, such as the control of a WW treatment facility, and speeding up the analysis of WW quality can significantly improve such operations. This work demonstrates the capability of neural network (NN) regression models to estimate WW characteristic properties such as biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia (NH3-N), total dissolved substances (TDS), total alkalinity (TA), and total hardness (TH) by training on WW spectral reflectance in the visible to near-infrared spectrum (400–2000 nm). The dataset contains samples of spectral reflectance intensity, which were the inputs, and the WW parameter levels (BOD, COD, NH3-N, TDS, TA, and TH), which were the outputs. Various NN model configurations were evaluated in terms of regression model fitness. The mean-absolute-error (MAE) was used as the metric for training and testing the NN models, and the coefficient of determination (R2) between the model predictions and true values was also computed to measure how well the NN models predict the true values. The highest R2 (0.994 for training set and 0.973 for testing set) and lowest MAE (0.573 mg/L BOD, 6.258 mg/L COD, 0.369 mg/L NH3-N, 6.98 mg/L TDS, 2.586 m/L TA, and 0.014 mmol/L TH) were achieved when NN models were configured for single-variable output compared to multiple-variables output. Hyperparameter grid-search and k-fold cross-validation improved the NN model prediction performance. With online spectral measurements, the trained neural network model can provide non-contact and real-time estimation of WW quality at minimum estimation error.
Friction and Wear Characteristics of Cr-CNTs Composite Coating End Faces of High-Temperature Mechanical Seals
Authors: Yang Haichao , Li Shuangxi , Ma Runmei , Zhang Guoqing , Liu An
Published: September 2023

To improve the reliability of the end faces of high-temperature mechanical seals, a high-performance composite material that introduces carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into the laser-melted Cr coating is proposed. In this study, for high-temperature and high-speed mechanical seals under actual working conditions, friction and wear tests were conducted under different working conditions and using different end face materials. The high-temperature tribological properties of the Cr-CNTs coatings were analyzed, and the strengthening mechanism of the Cr-CNTs coatings on end faces was investigated. The results indicate that the wear resistance of the Cr-CNTs coating at high temperatures is first enhanced and then weakened with the increase in the CNTs content. The composite coating end face performance is optimal when the CNTs content is 10 wt%. The presence of CNTs between the end faces when grinding against the graphite ring favors the generation of a graphite film. The coefficient of friction of the Cr-CNTs coating is reduced by at least 12.46% compared to the Cr coating at a temperature of 483 K. This study provides reference examples for the application of carbon nanotubes in high-performance mechanical seals and new research ideas for improving the performance of mechanical seal end faces.
Enhancing the Fresh and Early Age Performances of Portland Cement Pastes via Sol-Gel Silica Coating of Metal Oxides (Bi2O3 and Gd2O3)
Authors: Cendrowski Krzysztof , Federowicz Karol , Techman Mateusz , Chougan Mehdi , Kędzierski Tomasz , Sanytsky Myroslav , Mijowska Ewa , Sikora Pawel
Published: September 2023

Incorporating metal oxide nanoparticles into cement-based composites delays the hydration process and strength gain of cementitious composites. This study presents an approach toward improving the performance of bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) and gadolinium oxide (Gd2O3) particles in cementitious systems by synthesizing core–shell structures via a sol-gel process. Two types of silica coatings on cementitious pastes with 5% and 10% substitution levels were proposed. The rheology, hydration, and mechanical properties of the pastes were analyzed to determine the relationship between the coating type and nanoparticle concentration. The results indicate that despite the significant disparities in the performance of the resulting material, both methods are appropriate for cement technology applications. Bi2O3’s silica coatings accelerate the hydration process, leading to early strength development in the cement paste. However, due to the coarse particle size of Gd2O3, silica coatings exhibited negligible effects on the early age characteristics of cement pastes.
Controllable Synthesis of Nano-Micro Calcium Carbonate Mediated by Additive Engineering
Authors: Shen Yuke , Hao Shuang , Suonan Angqian , Liu Yanxia , Li Hangqi , Ma Wei , Zhao Lin , Zhang Yagang
Published: September 2023

Nano-micro calcium carbonate has a small particle size, uniform distribution, and good dispersion performance, offering great research value and development prospects. It has been widely used as a filler material for rubber, paper, ink, pigments, and coatings. Developing an efficient and controllable approach to preparing nano-micro calcium carbonate with adjustable morphology and controllable size has significant economic and environmental benefits. This study reports the controllable synthesis of nano-micro calcium carbonate meditated by additive engineering. The effects of various additives including inorganic acids, organic acids, alcohol, and surfactants on the particle size and morphology of the prepared materials were investigated. SEM, FT-IR and other characterization methods were used to analyze the prepared nano-micro calcium carbonate particle size, dispersion, and uniformity. The results showed that the particle size of calcium carbonate was 4~7 μm with a cubic structure. The particle size of calcium carbonate prepared by adding surfactant additives is in the range of 1~4 μm, and the crystal shape of calcium carbonate changes from calcite to vaterite after adding sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate. With the aid of additives, the calcium carbonate particles dispersed more evenly. The mechanism of the controllable synthesis of nano-micro calcium carbonate mediated by additive engineering is elucidated and discussed. SDBS was found to be the best additive for preparing nano-micro calcium carbonate, and the synthesis conditions were explored and optimized.
Measured Effects of Anthropogenic Development on Vertebrate Wildlife Diversity
Authors: Smallwood K. Shawn , Smallwood Noriko L.
Published: September 2023

A major driver of the declining biodiversity is landcover change leading to loss of habitat. Many studies have estimated large-scale declines in biodiversity, but loss of biodiversity at a local scale due to the immediate effects of development has been poorly studied. California, in particular, is a biodiversity hotspot and has rapidly developed; thus, it is important to understand the effects of development on wildlife in the State. Here, we conducted reconnaissance surveys—a type of survey often used by consulting biologists in support of environmental review of proposed projects—to measure changes in the relative abundance and richness of vertebrate species in response to urban development. We completed 2 reconnaissance surveys at each of 52 control sites that remained undeveloped at the times of both surveys, and at each of 26 impact sites that had been developed by the time of the second survey. We completed the surveys as part of a before–after, control–impact (BACI) experimental design. Our main interest was the interaction effect between the before–after phases and the control–impact treatment levels, or the impact of development. After controlling for survey duration, we also tested for the effects of the number of years intervening the surveys in the before and after phases, project area size, latitude, degree of connectedness to adjacent open space, and whether the site was a redevelopment site, infill, or not infill. After development, the average number of vertebrate wildlife species we detected declined by 48% within the project area, and by 66% within the bounds of the project sites. Further, the average number of vertebrate animals we counted declined by 90% within the project area, and 89% within the bounds of the project sites. Development impacts measured by the mean number of species detected per survey were greatest for amphibians (−100%), followed by mammals (−86%), grassland birds (−75%), raptors (−53%), special-status species (−49%), all birds as a group (−48%), non-native birds (−44%), and synanthropic birds (−28%). Our results indicated that urban development substantially reduced vertebrate species richness and numerical abundance, even after richness and abundance had likely already been depleted by the cumulative effects of loss, fragmentation, and degradation of habitat in the urbanizing environment. Monitoring is needed in and around urbanizing areas to measure the cumulative effects of urbanization, and so are conservation measures to mitigate the effects of urbanization.
Synthetic Data Generation for Data Envelopment Analysis
Authors: Lychev Andrey V.
Published: September 2023

The paper is devoted to the problem of generating artificial datasets for data envelopment analysis (DEA), which can be used for testing DEA models and methods. In particular, the papers that applied DEA to big data often used synthetic data generation to obtain large-scale datasets because real datasets of large size, available in the public domain, are extremely rare. This paper proposes the algorithm which takes as input some real dataset and complements it by artificial efficient and inefficient units. The generation process extends the efficient part of the frontier by inserting artificial efficient units, keeping the original efficient frontier unchanged. For this purpose, the algorithm uses the assurance region method and consistently relaxes weight restrictions during the iterations. This approach produces synthetic datasets that are closer to real ones, compared to other algorithms that generate data from scratch. The proposed algorithm is applied to a pair of small real-life datasets. As a result, the datasets were expanded to 50K units. Computational experiments show that artificially generated DMUs preserve isotonicity and do not increase the collinearity of the original data as a whole.
Feasibility of In Vivo Metal Artifact Reduction in Contrast-Enhanced Dedicated Spiral Breast Computed Tomography
Authors: Wetzl Matthias , Wenkel Evelyn , Steiding Chrisitan , Ruth Veikko , Emons Julius , Wasser Martin N. , Uder Michael , Ohlmeyer Sabine
Published: September 2023

Background: Radiopaque breast markers cause artifacts in dedicated spiral breast-computed tomography (SBCT). This study investigates the extent of artifacts in different marker types and the feasibility of reducing artifacts through a metal artifact reduction (MAR) algorithm. Methods: The pilot study included 18 women who underwent contrast-enhanced SBCT. In total, 20 markers of 4 different types were analyzed for artifacts. The extent of artifacts with and without MAR was measured via the consensus of two readers. Image noise was quantitatively evaluated, and the effect of MAR on the detectability of breast lesions was evaluated on a 3-point Likert scale. Results: Breast markers caused significant artifacts that impaired image quality and the detectability of lesions. MAR decreased artifact size in all analyzed cases, even in cases with multiple markers in a single slice. The median length of in-plain artifacts significantly decreased from 31 mm (range 11–51 mm) in uncorrected to 2 mm (range 1–5 mm) in corrected images (p ≤ 0.05). Artifact size was dependent on marker size. Image noise in slices affected by artifacts was significantly lower in corrected (13.6 ± 2.2 HU) than in uncorrected images (19.2 ± 6.8 HU, p ≤ 0.05). MAR improved the detectability of lesions affected by artifacts in 5 out of 11 cases. Conclusion: MAR is feasible in SBCT and improves the image quality and detectability of lesions.