bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recent Trends in Highly Porous Structured Carbon Electrodes for Supercapacitor Applications: A Review
Authors: Sriram Ganesan , Kurkuri Mahaveer , Oh Tae
Published: June 2023

Globally, environmental and energy conservation concerns have sparked a push for more efficient and long-term energy sources. Researchers worldwide have put significant effort into developing supercapacitor-based energy storage devices by fabricating electrode materials from affordable porous carbon. The advantages of porous carbons are low-cost processes, high porosity, high surface area, facilitation of surface modification, high conductivity, high mechanical stability, high chemical stability, facilitation of fast ion transport, high rate capability, and high specific capacitance. Using them as electrodes in supercapacitors (SCs) may lead to better performance in specific capacitance and long-term cyclic stability. This study focuses on the recent development of electrode materials for SCs using porous carbons obtained from several diverse sources, such as biomass, polymers, lignite, metal salts, melamine, etc. Therefore, the topic of this review is the most current development of electrode materials for SCs applications. SCs were subjected to a battery of electrochemical tests, which focused on their performance from a crucial perspective, concentrating on the porous carbon’s surface area and surface functional groups. The report also highlights the supercapacitor’s prospects and challenges.
T-NPC Soft-Commutated Inverter Based on Reverse Blocking IGBTs with the Novel Concept of a DESAT Control Circuit in the Gate Driver
Authors: Mondzik Andrzej
Published: June 2023

This article presents the concept of switching and conduction loss reduction in a T-NPC inverter based on IGBT transistors. The method of limiting switching losses involves the connection of an LC circuit designed to cause transistors in vertical branches to shut down under zero voltage conditions. In order to reduce conduction losses, it was proposed to use two reverse blocking transistors connected anti-parallel in the horizontal branch of the inverter. To ensure safe operation of the transistors, a gate driver proposal for controlling the IGBT reverse blocking transistor is presented. The solution is characterized by a changed part of the driver, responsible for short-circuit protection. It eliminates excessive, destructive currents that can potentially flow through the driver circuit under the influence of the power supply voltage of the power circuit connected backwards to the controlled transistor. Examples of applications and benefits of the proposed solution are presented and verified with laboratory tests.
Review of Biofuel Effect on Emissions of Various Types of Marine Propulsion and Auxiliary Engines
Authors: Chountalas Theofanis D. , Founti Maria , Hountalas Dimitrios T.
Published: June 2023

The International Maritime Organization aims to reduce the maritime industry’s carbon emissions by 40% in the next two decades and has introduced measures to control CO2 emissions. These have significantly increased interest regarding biofuels, which can be used immediately on existing vessels, reducing their carbon footprint. The most common variant is B30, a blend of 70% crude oil and 30% biodiesel. Concerns exist for the potential effect on engine performance and NOx emissions. Scientific works on the subject are limited for two-stroke marine engines, while some studies are available for four-stroke ones, usually auxiliaries. To increase information availability on the subject, in this work, we review the results of testing on multiple marine engine types, two-stroke propulsion and four-stroke auxiliary units using B30 and conventional fuels. The effect on emissions and fuel efficiency is examined and cross-referenced with the available literature. A small increase in specific fuel consumption was observed for B30 use that varied with engine type. The increase was on average 1% for two-stroke and 2.5% for four-stroke engines. The effect of B30 on NOx emissions was low but varied between engines. For low-speed two-stroke engines, NOx increase was on average 4% compared to crude oil, and 2.4% for four-stroke auxiliary units, albeit with higher variance. For some four-stroke units, a decrease in emissions was found. All previous results were in line with other published studies. Overall, it was found that while biofuel effect can vary considerably between applications, 30% biodiesel blends can be used with no concerns regarding emissions and fuel efficiency.
Integrated Management Facilitates Soil Carbon Storage in Non-Timber Product Plantations in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area
Authors: Chen Jizhen , Huang Zhilin , Xiao Wenfa , Liu Changfu , Zeng Lixiong , Fan Zihao , Shen Chenchen
Published: June 2023

The Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA) in China has extensive non-timber product plantations (NTPP), in which integrated management based on intensive fertilization and weeding were required to maintain and improve yields for a long time. Uncertainties still existed regarding the compound effects of environment and the long-term integrated management on soil organic carbon content (SOC) in NTPP. Data from 341 sampling plots covering six primary NTPP types were collected to investigate the influence of environment and management on topsoil (0–10 cm) SOC of NTPP using a coupled algorithm based on machine learning and structural equation modeling. Results showed significant differences and spatial variabilities in SOC content among different types of NTPP. Integrated management accounted for approximately 53% of the accumulation of topsoil organic carbon, surpassing the total contribution of topography, climate, vegetation, and soil properties in NTPP of TGRA. SOC content increased with available nitrogen for NTPP at all altitudes in TGRA. The study highlighted the potential of enhancing SOC storage through adaptive integrated management in NTPP of vast areas. Improving soil organic carbon stock in large area of non-timber production plantations would benefit the realization of carbon neutralization in next decades.
Importance of Considering Enzyme Degradation for Interpreting the Response of Soil Enzyme Activity to Nutrient Addition: Insights from a Field and Laboratory Study
Authors: Mori Taiki , Wang Senhao , Peng Cheng , Wang Cong , Mo Jiangming , Zheng Mianhai , Zhang Wei
Published: June 2023

Soil enzyme activity can be affected by both production and degradation processes, as enzymes can be degraded by proteases. However, the impact of nutrient addition on enzyme activity is often solely attributed to changes in enzyme production without fully considering degradation. In this study, we demonstrate that the activities of β-1,4-glucosidase (BG), β-D-cellobiohydrolase (CBH), β-1,4-xylosidase (BX), and β-1,4-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase (NAG) in two tropical plantations exhibited comparable levels between nitrogen (N)- and phosphorus (P)-fertilized soils and the unfertilized control under field conditions. However, it was observed that the reduction in enzymatic activity was significantly higher in the fertilized soils during short-term laboratory incubation in the acacia plantation. Additionally, the eucalyptus plantation exhibited a similar tendency, although statistical significance was not achieved due to the high variance of the data. The results show that the interruption of the natural, continuous supply of organic matter or non-soil microbial-derived enzymes, which typically occurs under field conditions, leads to a more significant reduction in soil enzyme activities in fertilized soils compared to unfertilized control. This may be attributed to the higher abundance of protease in fertilized soils, resulting in faster enzyme degradation. Interestingly, P fertilization alone did not have a similar effect, indicating that N fertilization is likely the main cause of the larger decreases in enzyme activity during incubation in fertilized soils compared to unfertilized control soils, despite our study site being poor in P and rich in N. These findings highlight the importance of considering enzyme degradation when investigating material dynamics in forest ecosystems, including the impact of nutrient addition on enzyme activity, as enzyme production alone may not fully explain changes in soil enzyme activity.
Searching Online for Art and Culture: User Behavior Analysis
Authors: Pergantis Minas , Varlamis Iraklis , Kanellopoulos Nikolaos Grigorios , Giannakoulopoulos Andreas
Published: June 2023

With the constant expansion of the Web, search engines became part of people’s daily routines. How users behave during the search process depends on a variety factors, one of which is the topic of their search interest. This study focused on the behavior of users searching the Web for content related to art and cultural heritage. A proprietary, publicly available, federated search engine, in the form of a web and mobile app, was developed for this research’s purposes. This platform was used to monitor actual user behavior during a six-month period. Quantitative data related to the platform’s usage were collected and analyzed in order to provide a detailed picture of the way interested parties engaged with it. This information pertained not only to the search queries and results viewed, but also to the various characteristics of the search sessions themselves. The study presented an analysis of these data, with emphasis on query and result characteristics, usage devices, login preferences and session duration, and drew conclusions. The study’s findings showed, among other things, that art searchers showed a preference for shorter queries, a tendency for higher query repeatability, and showed interest in a wider number of results than general purpose searchers. Additionally, they were more keen to use desktop devices instead of mobile ones and displayed higher engagement metrics during longer search sessions or when logged in. These findings outlined an art searcher who was interested in concepts and people often revisited searches and results, showed interest for more than the first few hits, was attracted by rich content, and understood the art search process as a task which requires focus. They also pointed out a duality in the art search process itself which can be long and involved or short and purposeful.
The Effect of Leadership Style on Firefighters Well-Being during an Emergency
Authors: Curral Luís , Carmona Laura , Pinheiro Raquel , Reis Vítor , Chambel Maria José
Published: June 2023

Leaders are crucial to ensuring the well-being of their subordinates. This study aims to understand the effects of two leadership styles (empowering vs. directive) on subordinates’ well-being in an emergency situation (i.e., rural fire). A simulation study was conducted with two experimental conditions (empowering vs. directive leadership), and the subordinates’ stress levels were measured before and after the simulated episode. Contrary to expectations, empowering leadership had no significant effect on subordinates’ stress levels, while directive leadership contributed to reducing them. As expected, this effect was stronger for the subordinates with higher levels of stress prior to the simulated episode.
On a Quadratic Nonlinear Fractional Equation
Authors: Area Iván , Nieto Juan J.
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we study a quadratic nonlinear equation from the fractional point of view. An explicit solution is given in terms of the Lambert special function. A new phenomenon appears involving the collapsing of the solution and the blow-up of the derivative. The explicit representation of the solution reveals the non-elementary nature of the solution.
The Role of Chromatin Assembly Factors in Induced Mutagenesis at Low Levels of DNA Damage
Authors: Evstyukhina Tatiyana A. , Alekseeva Elena A. , Peshekhonov Vyacheslav T. , Skobeleva Irina I. , Fedorov Dmitriy V. , Korolev Vladimir G.
Published: June 2023

The problem of low-dose irradiation has been discussed in the scientific literature for several decades, but it is impossible to come to a generally accepted conclusion about the presence of any specific features of low-dose irradiation in contrast to acute irradiation. We were interested in the effect of low doses of UV radiation on the physiological processes, including repair processes in cells of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, in contrast to high doses of radiation. Cells utilize excision repair and DNA damage tolerance pathways without significant delay of the cell cycle to address low levels of DNA damage (such as spontaneous base lesions). For genotoxic agents, there is a dose threshold below which checkpoint activation is minimal despite the measurable activity of the DNA repair pathways. Here we report that at ultra-low levels of DNA damage, the role of the error-free branch of post-replicative repair in protection against induced mutagenesis is key. However, with an increase in the levels of DNA damage, the role of the error-free repair branch is rapidly decreasing. We demonstrate that with an increase in the amount of DNA damage from ultra-small to high, asf1Δ-specific mutagenesis decreases catastrophically. A similar dependence is observed for mutants of gene-encoding subunits of the NuB4 complex. Elevated levels of dNTPs caused by the inactivation of the SML1 gene are responsible for high spontaneous reparative mutagenesis. The Rad53 kinase plays a key role in reparative UV mutagenesis at high doses, as well as in spontaneous repair mutagenesis at ultra-low DNA damage levels.
CCND1 Overexpression in Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy: A Promising Biomarker?
Authors: Dehghani Khatereh , Stanek Agata , Bagherabadi Arash , Atashi Fatemeh , Beygi Mohammad , Hooshmand Amirreza , Hamedi Pezhman , Farhang Mohsen , Bagheri Soghra , Zolghadri Samaneh
Published: June 2023

Cardiomyopathy, a disorder of electrical or heart muscle function, represents a type of cardiac muscle failure and culminates in severe heart conditions. The prevalence of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is higher than that of other types (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and restrictive cardiomyopathy) and causes many deaths. Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM) is a type of DCM with an unknown underlying cause. This study aims to analyze the gene network of IDCM patients to identify disease biomarkers. Data were first extracted from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset and normalized based on the RMA algorithm (Bioconductor package), and differentially expressed genes were identified. The gene network was mapped on the STRING website, and the data were transferred to Cytoscape software to determine the top 100 genes. In the following, several genes, including VEGFA, IGF1, APP, STAT1, CCND1, MYH10, and MYH11, were selected for clinical studies. Peripheral blood samples were taken from 14 identified IDCM patients and 14 controls. The RT-PCR results revealed no significant differences in the expression of the genes APP, MYH10, and MYH11 between the two groups. By contrast, the STAT1, IGF1, CCND1, and VEGFA genes were overexpressed in patients more than in controls. The highest expression was found for VEGFA, followed by CCND1 (p < 0.001). Overexpression of these genes may contribute to disease progression in patients with IDCM. However, more patients and genes need to be analyzed in order to achieve more robust results.
Characterization and Optimization of Multiomic Single-Cell Epigenomic Profiling
Authors: Sandoval Leticia , Mohammed Ismail Wazim , Mazzone Amelia , Dumbrava Mihai , Fernandez Jenna , Munankarmy Amik , Lasho Terra , Binder Moritz , Simon Vernadette , Kim Kwan Hyun , Chia Nicholas , Lee Jeong-Heon , Weroha S. John , Patnaik Mrinal , Gaspar-Maia Alexandre
Published: June 2023

The snATAC + snRNA platform allows epigenomic profiling of open chromatin and gene expression with single-cell resolution. The most critical assay step is to isolate high-quality nuclei to proceed with droplet-base single nuclei isolation and barcoding. With the increasing popularity of multiomic profiling in various fields, there is a need for optimized and reliable nuclei isolation methods, mainly for human tissue samples. Herein we compared different nuclei isolation methods for cell suspensions, such as peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC, n = 18) and a solid tumor type, ovarian cancer (OC, n = 18), derived from debulking surgery. Nuclei morphology and sequencing output parameters were used to evaluate the quality of preparation. Our results show that NP-40 detergent-based nuclei isolation yields better sequencing results than collagenase tissue dissociation for OC, significantly impacting cell type identification and analysis. Given the utility of applying such techniques to frozen samples, we also tested frozen preparation and digestion (n = 6). A paired comparison between frozen and fresh samples validated the quality of both specimens. Finally, we demonstrate the reproducibility of scRNA and snATAC + snRNA platform, by comparing the gene expression profiling of PBMC. Our results highlight how the choice of nuclei isolation methods is critical for obtaining quality data in multiomic assays. It also shows that the measurement of expression between scRNA and snRNA is comparable and effective for cell type identification.
Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: A thorough Bioinformatic Analysis of Gene Expression and Clinical Data
Authors: Petrini Iván , Cecchini Rocío L. , Mascaró Marilina , Ponzoni Ignacio , Carballido Jessica A.
Published: June 2023

The likelihood of being diagnosed with thyroid cancer has increased in recent years; it is the fastest-expanding cancer in the United States and it has tripled in the last three decades. In particular, Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma (PTC) is the most common type of cancer affecting the thyroid. It is a slow-growing cancer and, thus, it can usually be cured. However, given the worrying increase in the diagnosis of this type of cancer, the discovery of new genetic markers for accurate treatment and prognostic is crucial. In the present study, the aim is to identify putative genes that may be specifically relevant in PTC through bioinformatic analysis of several gene expression public datasets and clinical information. Two datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset were studied. Statistics and machine learning methods were sequentially employed to retrieve a final small cluster of genes of interest: PTGFR, ZMAT3, GABRB2, and DPP6. Kaplan–Meier plots were employed to assess the expression levels regarding overall survival and relapse-free survival. Furthermore, a manual bibliographic search for each gene was carried out, and a Protein–Protein Interaction (PPI) network was built to verify existing associations among them, followed by a new enrichment analysis. The results revealed that all the genes are highly relevant in the context of thyroid cancer and, more particularly interesting, PTGFR and DPP6 have not yet been associated with the disease up to date, thus making them worthy of further investigation as to their relationship to PTC.
Immunohistochemical Expression of Programmed Cell Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) in Human Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma: A Narrative Review with Historical Perspectives
Authors: Cazzato Gerardo , Lettini Teresa , Colagrande Anna , Trilli Irma , Ambrogio Francesca , Laface Carmelo , Parente Paola , Maiorano Eugenio , Ingravallo Giuseppe
Published: June 2023

Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is the primary ligand of the receptor programmed death-1 (PD-1) which is constitutively expressed or activated in myeloid, lymphoid (T, B and NK), normal epithelial cells, and cancer. The PD-1/PD-L1 interaction is crucial for the physiological development of immunological tolerance but also in the development of the cancer. Among these, malignant melanoma represents a tumour in which the immunohistochemical expression of PD-L1 is important to guide future therapeutic choices based on the presence/absence of expression. Various clones have been used over time for immunohistochemical determination, and different results and heterogeneity remain among the various studies in the literature. We perform a narrative review of the present studies in order to discuss and take stock of what certain achievements have been made in this field, what challenges remain, and what possible solutions can be found.
Geovisualization of Historical Geospatial Data: A Web Mapping Application for the 19th-Century Kaupert’s Maps of Attica
Authors: Lampropoulos Georgios , Panagiotopoulos George , Giannakoula Christina , Kokkalas Alexandros
Published: June 2023

This paper presents the development procedure and significance of a web mapping application designed for disseminating, exploring, and analyzing Kaupert’s 19th-century Maps of Attica, Greece. The application facilitates historical and geographical study by providing access to high-resolution map images and overlaying multiple vector layers of geospatial data. The paper outlines the methods used to create the application, which includes the process of interpreting, digitizing, and organizing the original mapped data, georeferencing the historical cartographic sheets, and developing the web-based mapping application. The results of this work include a comprehensive and interactive digital reference tool for studying the ancient topography of Attica, as well as a framework for future research. Overall, this work highlights the potential of digital technologies to transform the way we approach and study historical maps and other cultural artifacts.
The Dynamic Properties of Sand under Torsion: A Literature Review
Authors: Ahmad Majd , Ray Richard
Published: June 2023

Resonant column (RC) and the torsional simple shear (TOSS) tests have shown proven competency in acquiring precise and repeatable measurements regarding the shear modulus and damping ratio of soil. For most dynamic geotechnical problems, the shear modulus represents the stiffness of the soil, while the damping ratio describes energy dissipation. Many studies in the last few decades focused on developing the relevant equipment and investigating the effect of different soil properties on the dynamic behavior of soil. Researchers have introduced correlations to approximate this behavior without conducting dynamic torsional testing. Soil models (e.g., Ramberg-Osgood and Hardin-Drnevich) can simulate shear stress-strain curves after finding the curve-fitting parameters. Due to the complexity of dynamic behavior and its dependency on various factors in soils, the RO and HD equations help model the behavior more simply. This paper presents a literature review and evaluation of the studies, correlations, soil models, and parameters affecting the dynamic behavior of dry sand under torsion.
Mpox: Fifty-Nine Consecutive Cases from a Mexican Public Hospital; Just the Tip of the STIs Iceberg
Authors: González-Díaz Esteban , Rodríguez-Lugo Christian E. , Quintero-Luce Sergio , Esparza-Ahumada Sergio , Pérez-Gómez Héctor Raúl , Morfín-Otero Rayo , Kasten-Monges Marina de Jesus , Aguirre-Díaz Sara A. , Vázquez-León Marisela , Rodríguez-Noriega Eduardo
Published: June 2023

Monkeypox (Mpox) is a zoonotic viral infection endemic to Africa, which has caused a global outbreak since April 2022. The global Mpox outbreak is related to Clade IIb. The disease has primarily affected men who have sex with men. Skin lesions are concentrated in the genital area, with lymphadenopathy as well as concurrent sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This is an observational study of adult patients with a recent development of skin lesions and systemic symptoms, which could not be explained by other diseases present. Fifty-nine PCR-positive patients with prominent skin lesions in the genital area (77.9%), inguinal lymphadenopathy (49.1%), and fever (83.0%) were included. Twenty-five (42.3%) were known to be living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and 14 of the HIV-naïve subjects (51.9%) were found to be positive during workup, totaling 39 (66.1%) patients with HIV. Eighteen patients (30.5%) had concurrent syphilis infections. It is worrisome that Mpox is present in large metropolitan areas of Mexico, but the underlying growth of cases of HIV infection and other STIs has not been well studied and should be evaluated in all at-risk adults and their contacts.
Defining the Characteristics of an e-Health Tool for Suicide Primary Prevention in the General Population: The StopBlues Case in France
Authors: Le Jeannic Anaïs , Turmaine Kathleen , Gandré Coralie , Vinet Marie-Amélie , Michel Morgane , Chevreul Karine ,   on behalf of the PRINTEMPS Consortium
Published: June 2023

With over one million deaths per year in the world, suicide is a major public health problem that could be significantly reduced by effective prevention programs. E-health tools are of particular interest for primary prevention as they can address a broad population including people unaware of their own risk and provide information and help without the fear of stigma. Our main objective was to define the overall characteristics of an e-health tool for suicide primary prevention in the French general population by defining the characteristics of the IT features; the content of the information delivered; the best way to structure it; and how it should be relayed and by whom. The research was carried out through a literature review and a co-construction phase with stakeholders. Four types of strategies may guide the construction of e-health tools for suicide primary prevention: education and awareness, (self-)screening, accessing support, and mental health coping. They should be accessible on different devices to reach the most users, and language and content should be adapted to the target population and to the issue being addressed. Finally, the tool should be consistent with ethical and quality best practices. The e-health tool StopBlues was developed following those recommendations.
Healthcare Services Utilisation and Financial Burden among Vietnamese Older People and Their Households
Authors: Giang Long Thanh , Pham Tham Hong Thi , Phi Phong Manh , Nguyen Nam Truong
Published: June 2023

Background: This research examined differences in the utilisation of healthcare services and financial burden between and within insured and uninsured older persons and their households under the social health insurance scheme in Vietnam. Methods: We used nationally representative data from the Vietnam Household Living Standard Survey (VHLSS) conducted in 2014. We applied the World Health Organization (WHO)’s financial indicators in healthcare to provide cross-tabulations and comparisons for insured and uninsured older persons along with their individual and household characteristics (such as age groups, gender, ethnicity, per-capita household expenditure quintiles, and place of residence). Results: We found that social health insurance was beneficial to the insured in comparison with the uninsured in terms of utilization of healthcare services and financial burden. However, between and within these two groups, more vulnerable groups (i.e., ethnic minorities and rural persons) had lower utilization rates and higher rates of catastrophic spending than the better groups (i.e., Kinh and urban persons). Conclusion: Given the rapidly ageing population under low middle-income status and the “double burden of diseases”, this paper suggested that Vietnam reform the healthcare system and social health insurance so as to provide more equitable utilisation and financial protection to all older persons, including improving the quality of healthcare at the grassroots level and reducing the burden on the provincial/central health level; improving human resources for the grassroots healthcare facilities; encroaching public–private partnerships (PPPs) in the healthcare service provision; and developing a nationwide family doctor network.
Does Social Media Affect a Patient’s Decision to Undergo Orthognathic Surgery?
Authors: Alsuhaym Omar , Aldawas Ibrahim , Maki Fahad , Alamro Mohammed , Alshehri Khaled , Alharthi Yazeed
Published: June 2023

Orthognathic surgery, also known as corrective jaw surgery, is a procedure that corrects abnormalities of the jaw and face. It is used to treat malocclusions, where the teeth and jaws are misaligned. This surgery can improve the function and appearance of the jaw and face, leading to improved mastication, speech, and quality of life for the patients. To assess if social media had any effect on the patients’ decision to undergo orthognathic surgery, a self-administered online questionnaire was distributed to patients who had undergone orthognathic surgery at the Oral and Maxillofacial department through the health information system (BESTCare, 2.0A) to participate in the study. In total, 111 responses were recorded from the patients, with 107 agreeing to answer the questionnaire and 4 refusing to answer. Twitter was a source of information about orthognathic surgery for 61 patients (57%). When using a social media platform, 3 patients (2.8%) were influenced by an advertisement or an educational post on social media that presented the surgical correction of the jaws, while 15 (14%) believed that they had been somewhat influenced, and 25 (23.4%) picked their surgeon through social media. Fifty-six patients (52.3%) took the neutral position regarding whether information on social media had answered their questions and concerns regarding the surgical procedure. Social media did not influence patients’ decision to undergo the procedure. Surgeons and specialists must utilize their platforms to answer any concerns or questions from any patient undergoing or having undergone this corrective jaw surgery.
Integrated Safety and Health Promotion among Correctional Workers and People Incarcerated: A Scoping Review
Authors: Hull Olivia J. , Breckler Olivia D. , Jaegers Lisa A.
Published: June 2023

Improving safety and health for correctional workers and people who are incarcerated are widespread yet separate initiatives. Correctional workers and people who are incarcerated experience similar challenges involved with poor workplaces and living conditions, including mental health crises, violence, stress, and chronic health issues, and the available resources lack integration with respect to safety and health promotion. This scoping review sought to contribute to an integrated approach for correctional system safety and health resources and identify studies of correctional resources that address health promotion among correctional workers and people who are incarcerated. Guided by PRISMA, a search of gray literature, also termed peer-reviewed literature, published between 2013–2023 (n = 2545) was completed, and 16 articles were identified. Resources primarily targeted individual and interpersonal levels. At every level of intervention, resources improved the environment for both workers and those incarcerated, with trends of less conflict, more positive behaviors, and improved relations, access to care, and feelings of safety. The corrections environment is impacted by changes from both workers and people who are incarcerated and should be examined using a holistic approach. Future health and safety resources should target the larger correctional environment by utilizing practices, policies, and procedures to improve safety and health for incarcerated people and workers.
Islamic Finance in the Era of Financial Technology: A Bibliometric Review of Future Trends
Authors: Qudah Hanan , Malahim Sari , Airout Rula , Alomari Mohammad , Hamour Aiman Abu , Alqudah Mohammad
Published: June 2023

This study focused on a current study on Islamic finance and financial technology as well as prospective topics for future research. As a bibliometric and visualization tool for the Web of Science core collection database and viewer-based literature, 918 papers dealing with Islamic finance and financial technology authored between 1999 and 2022 were analyzed. Cluster analysis, all-keyword co-occurrence analysis, and bibliographic coupling mapping are all investigated in the study. This research enables us to propose future research paths that may be useful in reflecting on the significant impact that technology will have on the growth of Islamic finance and financial technology. The survey discovered four main research trends: the first trend shown is “Financial Inclusion and Corporate Governance in Islamic Fintech”. The second trend focuses on “information technology and future financial Islamic services”. The third trend is “The Transformation of Islamic Finance: How Fintech is Changing the Game”. The fourth trend is related to “Islamic Finance: A Growing Force in the Digital Age”. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of research trends at the intersection of Islamic finance and financial technology, identifying future research directions.
The ndrg2 Gene Regulates Hair Cell Morphogenesis and Auditory Function during Zebrafish Development
Authors: Wang Cheng , Wang Xin , Zheng Hao , Yao Jia , Xiang Yuqing , Liu Dong
Published: June 2023

Damages of sensory hair cells (HCs) are mainly responsible for sensorineural hearing loss, however, its pathological mechanism is not yet fully understood due to the fact that many potential deafness genes remain unidentified. N-myc downstream-regulated gene 2 (ndrg2) is commonly regarded as a tumor suppressor and a cell stress-responsive gene extensively involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and invasion, while its roles in zebrafish HC morphogenesis and hearing remains unclear. Results of this study suggested that ndrg2 was highly expressed in the HCs of the otic vesicle and neuromasts via in situ hybridization and single-cell RNA sequencing. Ndrg2 loss-of-function larvae showed decreased crista HCs, shortened cilia, and reduced neuromasts and functional HCs, which could be rescued by the microinjection of ndrg2 mRNA. Moreover, ndrg2 deficiency induced attenuated startle response behaviors to sound vibration stimuli. Mechanistically, there were no detectable HC apoptosis and supporting cell changes in the ndrg2 mutants, and HCs were capable of recovering by blocking the Notch signaling pathway, suggesting that ndrg2 was implicated in HC differentiation mediated by Notch. Overall, our study demonstrates that ndrg2 plays crucial roles in HC development and auditory sensory function utilizing the zebrafish model, which provides new insights into the identification of potential deafness genes and regulation mechanism of HC development.
Hexavalent Chromium Disrupts Oocyte Development in Rats by Elevating Oxidative Stress, DNA Double-Strand Breaks, Microtubule Disruption, and Aberrant Segregation of Chromosomes
Authors: Wuri Liga , Burghardt Robert C. , Arosh Joe A. , Long Charles R. , Banu Sakhila K.
Published: June 2023

Environmental and occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), causes female reproductive failures and infertility. Cr(VI) is used in more than 50 industries and is a group A carcinogen, mutagenic and teratogenic, and a male and female reproductive toxicant. Our previous findings indicate that Cr(VI) causes follicular atresia, trophoblast cell apoptosis, and mitochondrial dysfunction in metaphase II (MII) oocytes. However, the integrated molecular mechanism of Cr(VI)-induced oocyte defects is not understood. The current study investigates the mechanism of Cr(VI) in causing meiotic disruption of MII oocytes, leading to oocyte incompetence in superovulated rats. Postnatal day (PND) 22 rats were treated with potassium dichromate (1 and 5 ppm) in drinking water from PND 22–29 and superovulated. MII oocytes were analyzed by immunofluorescence, and images were captured by confocal microscopy and quantified by Image-Pro Plus software, Version 10.0.5. Our data showed that Cr(VI) increased microtubule misalignment (~9 fold), led to missegregation of chromosomes and bulged and folded actin caps, increased oxidative DNA (~3 fold) and protein (~9–12 fold) damage, and increased DNA double-strand breaks (~5–10 fold) and DNA repair protein RAD51 (~3–6 fold). Cr(VI) also induced incomplete cytokinesis and delayed polar body extrusion. Our study indicates that exposure to environmentally relevant doses of Cr(VI) caused severe DNA damage, distorted oocyte cytoskeletal proteins, and caused oxidative DNA and protein damage, resulting in developmental arrest in MII oocytes.
PCTAIRE Protein Kinase 1 (PCTK1) Suppresses Proliferation, Stemness, and Chemoresistance in Colorectal Cancer through the BMPR1B-Smad1/5/8 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Wei Po-Li , Huang Chien-Yu , Chang Tung-Cheng , Lin Jang-Chun , Lee Cheng-Chin , Prince G. M. Shazzad Hossain , Makondi Precious Takondwa , Chui Angelina Wong-Ying , Chang Yu-Jia
Published: June 2023

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Even with advances in therapy, CRC mortality remains high. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop effective therapeutics for CRC. PCTAIRE protein kinase 1 (PCTK1) is an atypical member of the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) family, and the function of PCTK1 in CRC is poorly understood. In this study, we found that patients with elevated PCTK1 levels had a better overall survival rate in CRC based on the TCGA dataset. Functional analysis also showed that PCTK1 suppressed cancer stemness and cell proliferation by using PCTK1 knockdown (PCTK1-KD) or knockout (PCTK1-KO) and PCTK1 overexpression (PCTK1-over) CRC cell lines. Furthermore, overexpression of PCTK1 decreased xenograft tumor growth and knockout of PCTK1 significantly increased in vivo tumor growth. Moreover, knockout of PCTK1 was observed to increase the resistance of CRC cells to both irinotecan (CPT-11) alone and in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Additionally, the fold change of the anti-apoptotic molecules (Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL) and the proapoptotic molecules (Bax, c-PARP, p53, and c-caspase3) was reflected in the chemoresistance of PCTK1-KO CRC cells. PCTK1 signaling in the regulation of cancer progression and chemoresponse was analyzed using RNA sequencing and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Furthermore, PCTK1 and Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptor Type 1B (BMPR1B) in CRC tumors were negatively correlated in CRC patients from the Timer2.0 and cBioPortal database. We also found that BMPR1B was negatively correlated with PCTK1 in CRC cells, and BMPR1B expression was upregulated in PCTK1-KO cells and xenograft tumor tissues. Finally, BMPR1B-KD partially reversed cell proliferation, cancer stemness, and chemoresistance in PCTK1-KO cells. Moreover, the nuclear translocation of Smad1/5/8, a downstream molecule of BMPR1B, was increased in PCTK1-KO cells. Pharmacological inhibition of Smad1/5/8 also suppressed the malignant progression of CRC. Taken together, our results indicated that PCTK1 suppresses proliferation and cancer stemness and increases the chemoresponse of CRC through the BMPR1B–Smad1/5/8 signaling pathway.
Improving Mitochondrial Function in Skeletal Muscle Contributes to the Amelioration of Insulin Resistance by Nicotinamide Riboside
Authors: Li Qiuyan , Jiang Xuye , Zhou Yujia , Gu Yingying , Ding Yijie , Luo Jing , Pang Nengzhi , Sun Yan , Pei Lei , Pan Jie , Gao Mengqi , Ma Sixi , Xiao Ying , Hu De , Wu Feilong , Yang Lili
Published: June 2023

High-fat diet (HFD)-induced insulin resistance (IR) in skeletal muscle is often accompanied by mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. Boosting nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) using nicotinamide riboside (NR) can effectively decrease oxidative stress and increase mitochondrial function. However, whether NR can ameliorate IR in skeletal muscle is still inconclusive. We fed male C57BL/6J mice with an HFD (60% fat) ± 400 mg/kg·bw NR for 24 weeks. C2C12 myotube cells were treated with 0.25 mM palmitic acid (PA) ± 0.5 mM NR for 24 h. Indicators for IR and mitochondrial dysfunction were analyzed. NR treatment alleviated IR in HFD-fed mice with regard to improved glucose tolerance and a remarkable decrease in the levels of fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin and HOMA-IR index. NR-treated HFD-fed mice also showed improved metabolic status regarding a significant reduction in body weight and lipid contents in serum and the liver. NR activated AMPK in the skeletal muscle of HFD-fed mice and PA-treated C2C12 myotube cells and upregulated the expression of mitochondria-related transcriptional factors and coactivators, thereby improving mitochondrial function and alleviating oxidative stress. Upon inhibiting AMPK using Compound C, NR lost its ability in enhancing mitochondrial function and protection against IR induced by PA. In summary, improving mitochondrial function through the activation of AMPK pathway in skeletal muscle may play an important role in the amelioration of IR using NR.
Cystathionine γ-Lyase Self-Inactivates by Polysulfidation during Cystine Metabolism
Authors: Araki Shoma , Takata Tsuyoshi , Ono Katsuhiko , Sawa Tomohiro , Kasamatsu Shingo , Ihara Hideshi , Kumagai Yoshito , Akaike Takaaki , Watanabe Yasuo , Tsuchiya Yukihiro
Published: June 2023

Cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE) is an enzyme responsible for the biosynthesis of cysteine from cystathionine in the final step of the transsulfuration pathway. It also has β-lyase activity toward cystine, generating cysteine persulfide (Cys-SSH). The chemical reactivity of Cys-SSH is thought to be involved in the catalytic activity of particular proteins via protein polysulfidation, the formation of -S-(S)n-H on their reactive cysteine residues. The Cys136/171 residues of CSE have been proposed to be redox-sensitive residues. Herein, we investigated whether CSE polysulfidation occurs at Cys136/171 during cystine metabolism. Transfection of wild-type CSE into COS-7 cells resulted in increased intracellular Cys-SSH production, which was significantly increased when Cys136Val or Cys136/171Val CSE mutants were transfected, instead of the wild-type enzyme. A biotin-polyethylene glycol-conjugated maleimide capture assay revealed that CSE polysulfidation occurs at Cys136 during cystine metabolism. In vitro incubation of CSE with CSE-enzymatically synthesized Cys-SSH resulted in the inhibition of Cys-SSH production. In contrast, the mutant CSEs (Cys136Val and Cys136/171Val) proved resistant to inhibition. The Cys-SSH-producing CSE activity of Cys136/171Val CSE was higher than that of the wild-type enzyme. Meanwhile, the cysteine-producing CSE activity of this mutant was equivalent to that of the wild-type enzyme. It is assumed that Cys-SSH-producing CSE activity could be auto-inactivated via the polysulfidation of the enzyme during cystine metabolism. Thus, the polysulfidation of CSE at the Cys136 residue may be an integral feature of cystine metabolism, which functions to down-regulate Cys-SSH synthesis by the enzyme.
In the Pursuit of Metabolic Markers of Systemic Sclerosis—Plasma Adiponectin and Omentin-1 in Monitoring the Course of the Disease
Authors: Dopytalska Klaudia , Kalisz Małgorzata , Litwiniuk Anna , Walecka Irena , Bik Wojciech , Baranowska-Bik Agnieszka
Published: June 2023

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease leading to cutaneous and visceral fibrosis. Pathological features of SSc include immune dysregulation, vasculopathy, and impaired angiogenesis. Adipokines act as cytokines and hormones and are involved in various pathological processes, including metabolic disorders, inflammation, vasculopathy, and fibrosis. This study aimed to determine the level of omentin-1 and adiponectin to evaluate their potential role in the pathogenesis of SSc. We assessed serum omentin-1 and adiponectin as well as metabolic parameters in 58 patients with SSc and 30 healthy controls. The follow-up was performed in SSc individuals. Omentin-1 levels were significantly higher in SSc individuals as compared to the controls. In post-hoc analysis, omentin-1 was higher in the group with disease duration ≥7 years than in the control group. A positive correlation was noted between disease duration and both adipokines and increased with longer disease duration. However, there were no correlations between selected adipokines and metabolic parameters. Enhanced omentin-1 levels and higher levels of omentin-1 in patients with longer disease duration may suggest that omentin-1 is involved in the pathomechanisms of SSc as its concentrations are not directly related to BMI, age, and insulin resistance.
VAX014, an Oncolytic Therapy, Reduces Adenomas and Modifies Colon Microenvironment in Mouse Model of CRC
Authors: Grenier Shea F. , Khan Mohammad W. , Reil Katherine A. , Sawaged Savannah , Tsuji Shingo , Giacalone Matthew J. , Tian Mengxi , McGuire Kathleen L.
Published: June 2023

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains the third most common form of cancer and, despite its reduced mortality, results in over 50,000 deaths annually, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic approaches. VAX014 is a novel clinical-stage, oncolytic bacterial minicell-based therapy shown to elicit protective antitumor immune responses in cancer, but it has not been fully evaluated in CRC. Here, VAX014 was demonstrated to induce oncolysis in CRC cell lines in vitro and was evaluated in vivo, both as a prophylactic (before spontaneous development of adenomatous polyps) and as a neoadjuvant treatment using the Fabp-CreXApcfl468 preclinical animal model of colon cancer. As a prophylactic, VAX014 significantly reduced the size and number of adenomas without inducing long term changes in the gene expression of inflammatory, T helper 1 antitumor, and immunosuppression markers. In the presence of adenomas, a neoadjuvant VAX014 treatment reduced the number of tumors, induced the gene expression of antitumor TH1 immune markers in adenomas, and promoted the expansion of the probiotic bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila. The neoadjuvant VAX014 treatment was associated with decreased Ki67 proliferation in vivo, suggesting that VAX014 inhibits adenoma development through both oncolytic and immunotherapeutic effects. Combined, these data support the potential of VAX014 treatment in CRC and “at risk” polyp-bearing or early adenocarcinoma populations.
Condition Monitoring and Fault Detection in Small Induction Motors Using Machine Learning Algorithms
Authors: Sobhi Sayedabbas , Reshadi MohammadHossein , Zarft Nick , Terheide Albert , Dick Scott
Published: June 2023

Electric induction motors are one of the most important and widely used classes of machines in modern industry. Large motors, which are commonly process-critical, will usually have built-in condition-monitoring systems to facilitate preventive maintenance and fault detection. Such capabilities are usually not cost-effective for small (under ten horsepower) motors, as they are inexpensive to replace. However, large industrial sites may use hundreds of these small motors, often to drive cooling fans or lubrication pumps for larger machines. Multiple small motors may further be assigned to a single electrical circuit, meaning a failure in one could damage other motors on that circuit. There is thus a need for condition monitoring of aggregations of small motors. We report on an ongoing project to develop a machine-learning-based solution for fault detection in multiple small electric motors. Shallow and deep learning approaches to this problem are investigated and compared, with a hybrid deep/shallow system ultimately being the most effective.