bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analyzing the Driving Mechanism of Rural Transition from the Perspective of Rural–Urban Continuum: A Case Study of Suzhou, China
Authors: Yuan Yuan , Zhao Wentao , Li Hongqing , Mu Han
Published: July 2022

Rural transition has become a core topic in the study of the urban–rural relationship in China. Analyzing the transition process and sorting out the key driving factors in different periods is essential for providing critical references for the urban–rural integration and rural revitalization policy. This paper takes Suzhou, a rapidly urbanizing prefecture-level city that has experienced three obvious stages of rural transition since China’s reform and opening-up, as the case area to explore the driving mechanism from the perspective of rural–urban continuum. We first construct the index system for measuring rural transition from two dimensions of rurality and urbanity. Then, we identify the core influencing factors of different phases from 1990 to 2015, employing spatial regression models and then extract the main driving mechanism. The results revealed the following key findings. (1) Rural transition in Suzhou has both proximity effects and structural effects; the development patterns of rural areas are becoming more heterogeneous. (2) From the rurality dimension, the regression coefficient of index representing grain production changes from positive to negative during the research periods, reflecting the “non-grain” trend of agricultural production in rural areas. (3) From the urbanity dimension, the regression coefficient of index promoting by foreign direct investment increases from 0.372 in 1990 to 0.829 in 2015, indicating that the external driving force of rural transition has become stronger. (4) In 2015, the regression coefficient of index representing tertiary industry reaches 0.468, meaning the modern service industry has played an increasingly important role in rural development. Our study provides valuable insights into the dynamic change of driving mechanism of rural transition at the town level, argues that the general trend of viewing transition process as rurality weakens and urbanity enhances could be replaced by multifunctional pathways. This study supplements existing research to understand new phenomena during the transition process, the latter offer implications for policy-making, such as grain security, spatial spillovers, and rural tourism.
Tribological Properties of Brake Disc Material for a High-Speed Train and the Evolution of Debris
Authors: Wang Jinnan , Zafar Muhammad Qasim , Chen Yunbo , Pan Peng , Zuo Lingli , Zhao Haiyan , Zhang Xiangjun
Published: July 2022

The stability and reliability of braking system are essential factors for the safe operation of high-speed trains. In the proposed work, tribological properties of a newly developed brake disc material namely BD-1 were studied considering the thermal-mechanical effects, as well as the evolutions of wear debris, were particularly examined. The tribological properties were also compared with an existing commercial brake disc material namely BD-2 in text. Friction and wear tests were carried out on BD-1 and BD-2 against a commercial brake pad material (BP) to simulate the real emergence braking conditions of a 350 km/h high-speed railway. The thermal-mechanical coupling effects of the friction velocity, wear mass, temperatures and the friction coefficient were investigated. Local wear track and wear debris were analyzed by using SEM and EDS. Results show that the shape and size of wear debris evolve as the dominant wear mechanism varies during braking tests. As the sliding speed increases from 250 to 1250 rpm, the debris may become fine particles, then into a mixture of lamellar shape and flake shape, and finally becomes fine particles again at high speed. The maximum size of wear debris is first from 20 μm to 65 μm, and then down to 10 μm. As the local area temperature increased by more than 400 °C, debris adhere to the surface forming an adhesive layer that may act as a lubricant. Debris may help to form an adhesive lubrication layer and undertake plastics defor-mation at the speed range of 500–1000 rpm. The local area temperatures prompted the wear debris adhesion and oxidation. After reaching a certain speed limit, a uniform third body appears to protect the material surface from high speed and high temperature. Results suggested that the BD-1 could be a good candidate braking material for high-speed railway applications.
Effects of In-Process Ultrasonic Vibration on Weld Formation and Grain Size of Wire and Arc Additive Manufactured Parts
Authors: Zhang Jun , Xing Yanfeng , Zhang Jijun , Cao Juyong , Yang Fuyong , Zhang Xiaobing
Published: July 2022

Wire and arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) is a competitive technique, which enables the fabrication of medium and large metallic components. However, due to the presence of coarse columnar grains in the additively manufactured parts, the resultant mechanical properties will be reduced, which limits the application of WAAM processes in the engineering fields. Grain refinement and improved mechanical properties can be achieved by introducing ultrasonic vibration. Herein, we applied ultrasonic vibration to the WAAM process and investigated the effects of wire feed speed, welding speed, and ultrasonic amplitude on the weld formation and grain size during ultrasonic vibration. Finally, a regression model between the average grain size and wire feed speed, welding speed, and ultrasonic amplitude was established. The results showed that due to the difference in heat input and cladding amount, wire feed speed, welding speed, and ultrasonic amplitude have a significant influence on the weld width and reinforcement. Excessive ultrasonic amplitude could cause the weld to crack during spreading. The average grain size increased with increasing wire feed speed and decreasing welding speed. With increasing ultrasonic amplitude, the average grain size exhibited a trend of decreasing first and then increasing. This would be helpful to manufacture parts of the required grain size in ultrasonic vibration-assisted WAAM fields.
Microstructure and Wear Property of Graphene Nanoplatelets Reinforced Nickel-Based Composite Coating by Laser Cladding
Authors: Han Bin , Li Ge , Chen Zubin , Zhang Guoguang
Published: July 2022

Nickel-based composite coatings containing graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) were prepared on Q235 steel using laser cladding. In order to retain the multilayer GNPs in the composite coatings after laser cladding, NiGNPs were prepared by electroless nickel plating on GNPs as the additive phase. All the coatings contain γ-(Ni, Fe), Cr23C6, Cr7C3, Fe3C and WC phases, and multilayer GNPs were retained successfully in the composite coatings. With the addition of GNPs, the microstructure of the coatings was obviously refined and the content of Cr-C compounds were increased along with its changed morphology. The mean microhardness of the Ni-based composite coatings containing GNPs was significantly improved compared to that of Ni45 coating, and the maximum microhardness was 745.06 when 20% NiGNPs was added. The results indicated that, due to the refinement and lubricating effects of GNPs, the friction coefficients of composite coatings were reduced and the wear resistance was improved compared to Ni45 coating.
Effect of Combined Forming and Aging Processes on the Mechanical Properties of the Precipitation-Hardenable High-Strength Aluminum Alloys AA6082 and AA7075
Authors: Lotz Steffen , Scharifi Emad , Weidig Ursula , Steinhoff Kurt
Published: July 2022

The recently increasing demand for hot stamped aluminum components in the automotive and aerospace industries explains the necessity of designing efficient and resource-conserving thermo-mechanical processes. Within the thermo-mechanical process, the simultaneous effect of deformation and temperature accelerate the precipitation kinetics. Therefore, this study focuses on the combined effect of forming and aging processes on the mechanical properties of high-strength aluminum alloys AA6082 and AA7075. For this aim, two different thermo-mechanical aging process strategies after solution heat treatment and quenching in a water-dilutable polymer quenchant are proposed. The superpositioning of the forming step is either performed at the beginning or continuously during the aging treatment. The resulting mechanical properties are characterized using tensile tests. With increasing the plastic elongation, there is an increase in yield and tensile strength, which is accompanied by a significant decrease in strain after failure. Both thermo-mechanical aging strategies reveal mechanical properties similar to the conventional T6 peak aged condition with a significant reduction in process time from 24 h to 5 h.
MAVEN2: An Updated Open-Source Mass Spectrometry Exploration Platform
Authors: Seitzer Phillip , Bennett Bryson , Melamud Eugene
Published: July 2022

MAVEN, an open-source software program for analysis of LC-MS metabolomics data, was originally released in 2010. As mass spectrometry has advanced in the intervening years, MAVEN has been periodically updated to reflect this advancement. This manuscript describes a major update to the program, MAVEN2, which supports LC-MS/MS analysis of metabolomics and lipidomics samples. We have developed algorithms to support MS/MS spectral matching and efficient search of large-scale fragmentation libraries. We explore the ability of our approach to separate authentic from spurious metabolite identifications using a set of standards spiked into water and yeast backgrounds. To support our improved lipid identification workflow, we introduce a novel in-silico lipidomics library covering major lipid classes and compare searches using our novel library to searches with existing in-silico lipidomics libraries. MAVEN2 source code and cross-platform application installers are freely available for download from GitHub under a GNU permissive license [ver 3], as are the in silico lipidomics libraries and corresponding code repository.
Targeting Replication Stress Response Pathways to Enhance Genotoxic Chemo- and Radiotherapy
Authors: Nickoloff Jac A.
Published: July 2022

Proliferating cells regularly experience replication stress caused by spontaneous DNA damage that results from endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS), DNA sequences that can assume secondary and tertiary structures, and collisions between opposing transcription and replication machineries. Cancer cells face additional replication stress, including oncogenic stress that results from the dysregulation of fork progression and origin firing, and from DNA damage induced by radiotherapy and most cancer chemotherapeutic agents. Cells respond to such stress by activating a complex network of sensor, signaling and effector pathways that protect genome integrity. These responses include slowing or stopping active replication forks, protecting stalled replication forks from collapse, preventing late origin replication firing, stimulating DNA repair pathways that promote the repair and restart of stalled or collapsed replication forks, and activating dormant origins to rescue adjacent stressed forks. Currently, most cancer patients are treated with genotoxic chemotherapeutics and/or ionizing radiation, and cancer cells can gain resistance to the resulting replication stress by activating pro-survival replication stress pathways. Thus, there has been substantial effort to develop small molecule inhibitors of key replication stress proteins to enhance tumor cell killing by these agents. Replication stress targets include ATR, the master kinase that regulates both normal replication and replication stress responses; the downstream signaling kinase Chk1; nucleases that process stressed replication forks (MUS81, EEPD1, Metnase); the homologous recombination catalyst RAD51; and other factors including ATM, DNA-PKcs, and PARP1. This review provides an overview of replication stress response pathways and discusses recent pre-clinical studies and clinical trials aimed at improving cancer therapy by targeting replication stress response factors.
Co-Removal Effect and Mechanism of Cr(VI) and Cd(II) by Biochar-Supported Sulfide-Modified Nanoscale Zero-Valent Iron in a Binary System
Authors: Zhao Rui , Cao Xiufeng , Li Tao , Cui Xiaowei , Cui Zhaojie
Published: July 2022

This study aimed to explore the co-removal effect and mechanism of Cr(VI) and Cd(II) with an optimized synthetic material. The toxicity and accumulation characteristics of Cr(VI) and Cd(II) encountered in wastewater treatment areas present significant challenges. In this work, a rational assembly of sulfide-modified nanoscale zero-valent iron (SnZVI) was introduced into a biochar (BC), and a Cr(VI)–Cd(II) binary system adsorbent with high efficiency was synthesized. When the preparation temperature of the BC was 600 °C, the molar ratio of S/Fe was 0.3, the mass ratio of BC/SnZVI was 1, and the best adsorption capacities of BC-SnZVI for Cr(VI) and Cd(II) in the binary system were 58.87 mg/g and 32.55 mg/g, respectively. In addition, the adsorption mechanism of BC-SnZVI on the Cr(VI)-Cd(II) binary system was revealed in depth by co-removal experiments, indicating that the coexistence of Cd(II) could promote the removal of Cr(VI) by 9.20%, while the coexistence of Cr(VI) could inhibit the removal of Cd(II) by 43.47%. This work provides a new pathway for the adsorption of Cr(VI) and Cd(II) in binary systems, suggesting that BC-SnZVI shows great potential for the co-removal of Cr(VI) and Cd(II) in wastewater.
Biological Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles and Prospects in Plant Disease Management
Authors: Tariq Moh , Mohammad Khan Nazima , Ahmed Bilal , Siddiqui Mansoor A. , Lee Jintae
Published: July 2022

Exploration of nanoparticles (NPs) for various biological and environmental applications has become one of the most important attributes of nanotechnology. Due to remarkable physicochemical properties, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are the most explored and used NPs in wide-ranging applications. Also, they have proven to be of high commercial use since they possess great chemical stability, conductivity, catalytic activity, and antimicrobial potential. Though several methods including chemical and physical methods have been devised, biological approaches using organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and plants have emerged as economical, safe, and effective alternatives for the biosynthesis of AgNPs. Recent studies highlight the potential of AgNPs in modern agricultural practices to control the growth and spread of infectious pathogenic microorganisms since the introduction of AgNPs effectively reduces plant diseases caused by a spectrum of bacteria and fungi. In this review, we highlight the biosynthesis of AgNPs and discuss their applications in plant disease management with recent examples. It is proposed that AgNPs are prospective NPs for the successful inhibition of pathogen growth and plant disease management. This review gives a better understanding of new biological approaches for AgNP synthesis and modes of their optimized applications that could contribute to sustainable agriculture.
Synthesis and Antiviral Properties of Camphor-Derived Iminothiazolidine-4-Ones and 2,3-Dihydrothiazoles
Authors: Oreshko Vladislav V. , Kovaleva Kseniya S. , Mordvinova Ekaterina D. , Yarovaya Olga I. , Gatilov Yuri V. , Shcherbakov Dmitry N. , Bormotov Nikolai I. , Serova Olga A. , Shishkina Larisa N. , Salakhutdinov Nariman F.
Published: July 2022

A set of heterocyclic products was synthesized from natural (+)-camphor and semi-synthetic (−)-camphor. Then, 2-Imino-4-thiazolidinones and 2,3-dihydrothiazoles were obtained using a three-step procedure. For the synthesized compounds, their antiviral activity against the vaccinia virus and Marburg virus was studied. New promising agents active against both viruses were found among the tested compounds.
Phenolic Compounds’ Occurrence in Opuntia Species and Their Role in the Inflammatory Process: A Review
Authors: Zeghbib Walid , Boudjouan Fares , Vasconcelos Vitor , Lopes Graciliana
Published: July 2022

Within the Cactaceae family, Opuntia comprises the most widespread species, with a recognized importance in human life, including feeding, domestic use as home natural barriers, and as a traditional remedy for diverse diseases and conditions such asthma, edema, and burns. Indeed, scientific reports have stated that these health benefits may be due to various active compounds, particularly polyphenols, which are ubiquitously found in plants and have proven their pharmacological efficiency by displaying antimicrobial, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory activities, among others. Opuntia species contain different classes of phenolic compounds that are recognized for their anti-inflammatory potential. Among them, quercetin, isorhamnetin, and kaempferol derivates were reported to greatly contribute to modulate cells’ infiltration and secretion of soluble inflammatory mediators, with key implications in the inflammatory process. In this review, we make a summary of the different classes of phenolic compounds reported in Opuntia species so far and explore their implications in the inflammatory process, reported by in vitro and in vivo bioassays, supporting the use of cactus in folk medicine and valorizing them from the socio-economic point of view.
Surface-Enhanced Carboxyphenyl Diazonium Functionalized Screen-Printed Carbon Electrode for the Screening of Tuberculosis in Sputum Samples
Authors: Yunus Muhammad Hafiznur , Yusof Nor Azah , Ismail Suhainie , Md Noor Siti Suraiya , Mohammad Faruq , Sulaiman Yusran , Ahmad Raston Nurul Hanun , Abdullah Jaafar , Soleiman Ahmed A.
Published: July 2022

Curbing tuberculosis (TB) requires a combination of good strategies, including a proper prevention measure, diagnosis, and treatment. This study proposes an improvised tuberculosis diagnosis based on an amperometry approach for the sensitive detection of MPT64 antigen in clinical samples. An MPT64 aptamer specific to the target antigen was covalently attached to the carboxyphenyl diazonium-functionalized carbon electrode via carbodiimide chemistry. The electrochemical detection assay was adapted from a sandwich assay format to trap the antigen between the immobilized aptamer and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) tagged polyclonal anti-MPT64 antibody. The amperometric current was measured from the catalytic reaction response between HRP, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroquinone, which is used as an electron mediator. From the analysis, the detection limit in the measurement buffer was 1.11 ng mL−1. Additionally, the developed aptasensor exhibited a linear relationship between the current signal and the MPT64 antigen-spiked serum concentration ranging from 10 to 150 ng mL−1 with a 1.38 ng mL−1 detection limit. Finally, an evaluation using the clinical sputum samples from both TB (+) and TB (−) individuals revealed a sensitivity and specificity of 88% and 100%, respectively. Based on the analysis, the developed aptasensor was found to be simple in its fabrication, sensitive, and allowed for the efficient detection and diagnosis of TB in sputum samples.
Nanoparticle Sphericity Investigation of Cu-Al2O3-H2O Hybrid Nanofluid Flows between Inclined Channels Filled with a Porous Medium
Authors: You Xiangcheng
Published: July 2022

With the porous medium-filling inclined channels, we investigate the nanoparticle sphericity of Cu-Al2O3-H2O hybrid nanofluid flows. We consider the constant flow rate through the channels as well as the uniform heat flux on wall channels. We provide analytical solutions for both the velocity and temperature fields. Several parameters are considered in the analytical solutions, including the mixed convection variable, the Peclet number, the channel tilt angle, and nanoparticle sphericity and volume fractions. The significant findings of this study are that the effective thermal conductivity increases when increasing the temperature in the same nanoparticle volume fractions. Nanoparticles with a smaller average sphericity size have a greater specific surface area and contain a greater concentration of small particles, which enhances the internal heat transfer of nanofluids. The other noteworthy observation of this study is that when the nanoparticle volume fraction increases from 0.1 to 0.2, although the heat transfer enhancement rate has slowed down, it has also increased by about 25%. The hybrid nanofluids have suitable stability, and the enhanced heat transfer effect is better with the increase in nanoparticle compositions.
Study of Physico-Chemical Properties and Morphology of Phospholipid Composition of Indomethacin
Authors: Tikhonova Elena G. , Tereshkina Yulia A. , Kostryukova Lyubov V. , Khudoklinova Yulia Yu. , Sanzhakov Maxim A. , Tamarovskaya Anna O. , Ivankov Oleksandr I. , Kiselev Mikhail A.
Published: July 2022

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), inhibitors of cyclooxygenase-2, an enzyme involved in the formation of anti-inflammatory prostaglandin PGE2, are the most common treatment for chronic inflammatory diseases, such as, for example, arthritis. One of the most commonly used drugs of this class is indomethacin, a derivative of indolylacetic acid. In this work, we studied the physicochemical properties of the phospholipid composition of indomethacin obtained earlier (codenamed “Indolip”) and the effect of freeze drying on its parameters. It was shown that the properties such as particle size, light transmission, phospholipid oxidation index did not change significantly, which indicated the stability of the drug after lyophilization. Measurement of the spectra of small-angle neutron scattering has shown that morphologically, Indolip is a vesicle whose radius is five times greater than the value of the bilayer thickness.
Molecular Dynamics Study on Behavior of Resist Molecules in UV-Nanoimprint Lithography Filling Process
Authors: Iwata Jun , Ando Tadashi
Published: July 2022

In this study, we performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the filling process of few-nanometer-wide trenches with various resist materials in ultraviolet nanoimprint lithography (UV-NIL) to identify the main molecular features necessary for a successful filling process. The 2- and 3-nm wide trenches were successfully filled with the resist materials that had (experimentally determined) viscosities less than 10 mPa·s. The resist composed of a three-armed bulky and highly viscous molecule could not fill the trenches. The radius of gyration of this molecule was smaller than half of the distance in which the first peak of its radial distribution function occurred. The available shapes of 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate (HDDA) and tri(propylene glycol) diacrylate (TPGDA), which are linear photopolymers, were compared to reveal that TPGDA is more flexible and adopts more conformations than HDDA. The terminal functional groups of TPGDA can be close due to its flexibility, which would increase the probability of intramolecular crosslinking of the molecule. This simulation result could explain the difference in hardness between the UV-cured HDDA and TPGDA based materials observed by experiments. The findings revealed by our MD simulations provide useful information for selecting and designing resists for fine patterning by UV-NIL.
In Situ Direct Monitoring of the Morphological Transformation of Single Au Nanostars Induced by Iodide through Dual-Laser Dark-Field Microscopy: Unexpected Mechanism and Sensing Applications
Authors: Xu Weizhen , Luo Hongmei , Ouyang Min , Long Tiantian , Lin Qinlu
Published: July 2022

Single nanoparticle imaging is a significant technique to help reveal the reaction mechanism and provides insight into the nanoparticle transformation. Here, we monitor the in situ morphological transformation of Au nanostars (GNSs) induced by iodide (I−) in real time using dark-field microscopy (DFM) with 638 nm red (R) and 534 nm green (G) laser coillumination. The two lasers are selected because the longitudinal localized surface plasmon resonance of GNSs is located at 638 nm and that for GNSs after transformation is at 534 nm. Interestingly, I− can interact with GNSs directly without the engagement of other reagents, and upon increasing I− concentrations, GNSs undergo color changes from red to orange, yellow, and green under DFM. Accordingly, green/red channel intensities (G/R ratios) are extracted by obtaining red and green channel intensities of single nanoparticles to weigh the morphological changes and quantify I−. A single nanoparticle sensor is constructed for I− detection with a detection limit of 6.9 nM. Finally, a novel mechanism is proposed to elucidate this shape transformation. I− absorbed onto the surface of GNSs binds with Au atoms to form AuI−, lowering the energy of its bond with other Au atoms, which facilitates the diffusion of this atom across the nanoparticle surface to low-energy sites at the concaves, thus deforming to spherical Au nanoparticles.
Ginsenoside Rh4 Suppresses Metastasis of Esophageal Cancer and Expression of c-Myc via Targeting the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway
Authors: Chen Jun , Duan Zhiguang , Liu Yannan , Fu Rongzhan , Zhu Chenhui
Published: July 2022

The metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a leading cause of death worldwide, however, it has a poor prognosis. Ginsenoside Rh4 is a rare saponin that has been shown to have potential antitumor effectiveness in ESCC. However, the utility of Rh4 in ESCC metastasis and its undiscovered mode of action has not yet been explored. In this study, we found that Rh4 could inhibit ESCC metastasis by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and the level of c-Myc, which is an important transcription factor in cancer. In in vitro experiments, Rh4 could inhibit the migration and invasion of ESCC cells without affecting cell viability. In in vivo experiments, Rh4 restrained ESCC metastasis to the lymph nodes and lungs via the suppression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The Wnt agonist HLY78 promoted EMT and migration of ESCC cells, whereas treatment of Rh4 can attenuate the promotion effect of HLY78. The siRNA knocking out c-Myc can also significantly reduce the expression of EMT-related marker proteins. This study illustrates a new concept for further research on the mechanism of Rh4 in ESCC.
The Association between Smoking Cessation and Depressive Symptoms: Diet Quality Plays a Mediating Role
Authors: Liu Shuo , Jiang Hongbin , Zhang Dongfeng , Luo Jia , Zhang Hua
Published: July 2022

Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the association between smoking cessation and depressive symptoms and investigate the mediating role of dietary quality. Methods: We used data from the 2007–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Logistic regression models were applied to evaluate the associations between smoking cessation and depressive symptoms. Stratified analysis was performed according to different HEI levels. We examined the mediating role of HEI in the relationship between depressive symptoms and cessation duration using the Karlson–Holm–Breen (KHB) method. Results: A total of 20,004 participants aged 20 years or older were included in the analyses. There were significant correlations between years for smoking cessation and depressive symptoms (OR: 0.985, 95% CI: 0.971~0.999) after adjusting for correlation covariables. A likelihood ratio test showed that there was an interaction between smoking cessation and diet quality (p = 0.047). In the mediation analysis, we estimated that the increase in HEI scores after quitting smoking could explain the 6.91% decline in depressive symptoms. Conclusion: In this cross-sectional study, smoking cessation showed a protective effect on depressive symptoms and that diet quality can influence and mediate this association.
Profiling Risk Factors for Household and Community Spatiotemporal Clusters of Q Fever Notifications in Queensland between 2002 and 2017
Authors: Proboste Tatiana , Clark Nicholas J. , Tozer Sarah , Wood Caitlin , Lambert Stephen B. , Soares Magalhães Ricardo J.
Published: July 2022

Q fever, caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii, is an important zoonotic disease worldwide. Australia has one of the highest reported incidences and seroprevalence of Q fever, and communities in the state of Queensland are at highest risk of exposure. Despite Australia’s Q fever vaccination programs, the number of reported Q fever cases has remained stable for the last few years. The extent to which Q fever notifications cluster in circumscribed communities is not well understood. This study aimed to retrospectively explore and identify the spatiotemporal variation in Q fever household and community clusters in Queensland reported during 2002 to 2017, and quantify potential within cluster drivers. We used Q fever notification data held in the Queensland Notifiable Conditions System to explore the geographical clustering patterns of Q fever incidence, and identified and estimated community Q fever spatiotemporal clusters using SatScan, Boston, MA, USA. The association between Q fever household and community clusters, and demographic and socioeconomic characteristics was explored using the chi-squared statistical test and logistic regression analysis. From the total 2175 Q fever notifications included in our analysis, we found 356 Q fever hotspots at a mesh-block level. We identified that 8.2% of Q fever notifications belonged to a spatiotemporal cluster. Within the spatiotemporal Q fever clusters, we found 44 (61%) representing household clusters and 20 (27.8%) were statistically significant with an average cluster size of 3 km radius. Our multivariable model shows statistical differences between cases belonging to clusters in comparison with cases outside clusters based on the type of reported exposure. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that clusters of Q fever notifications are temporally stable and geographically circumscribed, indicating a persistent common exposure. Furthermore, within individuals in household and community clusters, abattoir exposure (a traditional occupational exposure) was rarely reported by individuals.
CD4+ Cytotoxic T Cells Involved in the Development of EBV-Associated Diseases
Authors: Ruiz-Pablos Manuel
Published: July 2022

Activated cytotoxic CD4 T cells (HLA-DR+) play an important role in the control of EBV infection, especially in cells with latency I (EBNA-1). One of the evasion mechanisms of these latency cells is generated by gp42, which, via peripherally binding to the β1 domain of the β chain of MHC class II (HLA-DQ, -DR, and -DP) of the infected B lymphocyte, can block/alter the HLA class II/T-cell receptor (TCR) interaction, and confer an increased level of susceptibility towards the development of EBV-associated autoimmune diseases or cancer in genetically predisposed individuals (HLA-DRB1* and DQB1* alleles). The main developments predisposing the factors of these diseases are: EBV infection; HLA class II risk alleles; sex; and tissue that is infiltrated with EBV-latent cells, forming ectopic lymphoid structures. Therefore, there is a need to identify treatments for eliminating cells with EBV latency, because the current treatments (e.g., antivirals and rituximab) are ineffective.
Mesoporous Materials as Elements of Modern Drug Delivery Systems for Anti-Inflammatory Agents: A Review of Recent Achievements
Authors: Moritz Michał , Geszke-Moritz Małgorzata
Published: July 2022

Interest in the use of mesoporous materials as carriers of medicinal substances has been steadily increasing in the last two decades. Mesoporous carriers have application in the preparation of delivery systems for drugs from various therapeutic groups; however, their use as the carriers of anti-inflammatory agents is particularly marked. This review article, with about 170 references, summarizes the achievements in the application of mesoporous materials as the carriers of anti-inflammatory agents in recent years. This article will discuss a variety of mesoporous carriers as well as the characteristics of their porous structure that determine further use of these materials in the field of medical applications. Special attention will be paid to the progress observed in the construction of stimuli-responsive drug carriers and systems providing site-specific drug delivery. Subsequently, a review of the literature devoted to the use of mesoporous matrices as the carriers of anti-inflammatory drugs was carried out.
Rational Design of Self-Emulsifying Pellet Formulation of Thymol: Technology Development Guided by Molecular-Level Structure Characterization and Ex Vivo Testing
Authors: Macku Jan , Kubova Katerina , Urbanova Martina , Muselik Jan , Franc Ales , Koutna Gabriela , Pavelkova Miroslava , Vetchy David , Masek Josef , Maskova Eliska , Brus Jiri
Published: July 2022

The growing need for processing natural lipophilic and often volatile substances such as thymol, a promising candidate for topical treatment of intestinal mucosa, led us to the utilization of solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ss-NMR) spectroscopy for the rational design of enteric pellets with a thymol self-emulsifying system (SES). The SES (triacylglycerol, Labrasol®, and propylene glycol) provided a stable o/w emulsion with particle size between 1 and 7 µm. The ex vivo experiment confirmed the SES mucosal permeation and thymol delivery to enterocytes. Pellets W90 (MCC, Neusilin®US2, chitosan) were prepared using distilled water (90 g) by the M1–M3 extrusion/spheronisation methods varying in steps number and/or cumulative time. The pellets (705–740 µm) showed mostly comparable properties—zero friability, low intraparticular porosity (0–0.71%), and relatively high density (1.43–1.45%). They exhibited similar thymol release for 6 h (burst effect in 15th min ca. 60%), but its content increased (30–39.6 mg/g) with a shorter process time. The M3-W90 fluid-bed coated pellets (Eudragit®L) prevented undesirable thymol release in stomach conditions (<10% for 3 h). A detailed, ss-NMR investigation revealed structural differences across samples prepared by M1–M3 methods concerning system stability and internal interactions. The suggested formulation and methodology are promising for other lipophilic volatiles in treating intestinal diseases.
Pharmacokinetics of Bupivacaine Following Administration by an Ultrasound-Guided Transversus Abdominis Plane Block in Cats Undergoing Ovariohysterectomy
Authors: Garbin Marta , Benito Javier , Ruel Hélène L. M. , Watanabe Ryota , Monteiro Beatriz P. , Cagnardi Petra , Steagall Paulo V.
Published: July 2022

Bupivacaine is commonly used for peripheral nerve block in veterinary medicine. This study described the pharmacokinetics of two doses of bupivacaine following administration by an ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block in cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy. Twelve healthy female adult cats were included in a randomized, prospective, blinded clinical trial. Anaesthetic protocol included acepromazine–buprenorphine–propofol–isoflurane–meloxicam. Each cat received 1 mL/kg of bupivacaine 0.2% or 0.25% (BUPI-2 and BUPI-2.5, respectively) via bilateral two-point TAP block before surgery (n = 6/group). Plasma concentrations of bupivacaine were detected using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. A one-compartment model and non-compartmental analysis described the pharmacokinetic parameters. Bupivacaine was detected up to 480 min (335 ± 76 in BUPI-2 and 485 ± 198 ng/mL in BUPI-2.5). For BUPI-2 and BUPI-2.5, maximum plasma concentrations were 1166 ± 511 and 1810 ± 536 ng/mL at 33 ± 14 and 47 ± 22 min, clearance was 5.3 ± 1.8 and 4.9 ± 1.5 mL/min/kg, and elimination half-life were 253 ± 55 and 217 ± 52 min, respectively. The two doses of bupivacaine via TAP block produced concentrations below toxic levels in cats. A dose of 2.5 mg/kg bupivacaine was safe to be administered using this block in healthy cats.
Lead and Zinc Uptake and Toxicity in Maize and Their Management
Authors: Abedi Tayebeh , Gavanji Shahin , Mojiri Amin
Published: July 2022

Soil contamination with heavy metals is a global problem, and these metals can reach the food chain through uptake by plants, endangering human health. Among the metal pollutants in soils, zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb) are common co-pollutants from anthropogenic activities. Thus, we sought to define the accumulation of Zn and Pb in agricultural soils and maize. Concentrations of Pb in agricultural soil (in Namibia) could reach 3015 mg/Kg, whereas concentrations of Zn in soil (in China) could reach 1140 mg/Kg. In addition, the maximum concentrations of Zn and Pb were 27,870 and 2020 mg/Kg in maize roots and 4180 and 6320 mg/Kg in shoots, respectively. Recent studies have shown that soil properties (such as organic matter content, pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), texture, and clay content) can play important roles in the bioavailability of Zn and Pb. We also investigated some of the genes and proteins involved in the uptake and transport of Zn and Pb by maize. Among several amendment methods to reduce the bioavailability of Zn and Pb in soils, the use of biochar, bioremediation, and the application of gypsum and lime have been widely reported as effective methods for reducing the accumulation of metals in soils and plants.
Prediction of Greenhouse Tomato Crop Evapotranspiration Using XGBoost Machine Learning Model
Authors: Ge Jiankun , Zhao Linfeng , Yu Zihui , Liu Huanhuan , Zhang Lei , Gong Xuewen , Sun Huaiwei
Published: July 2022

Crop evapotranspiration estimation is a key parameter for achieving functional irrigation systems. However, ET is difficult to directly measure, so an ideal solution was to develop a simulation model to obtain ET. There are many ways to calculate ET, most of which use models based on the Penman–Monteith equation, but they are often inaccurate when applied to greenhouse crop evapotranspiration. The use of machine learning models to predict ET has gradually increased, but research into their application for greenhouse crops is relatively rare. We used experimental data for three years (2019–2021) to model the effects on ET of eight meteorological factors (net solar radiation (Rn), mean temperature (Ta), minimum temperature (Tamin), maximum temperature (Tamax), relative humidity (RH), minimum relative humidity (RHmin), maximum relative humidity (RHmax), and wind speed (V)) using a greenhouse drip irrigated tomato crop ET prediction model (XGBR-ET) that was based on XGBoost regression (XGBR). The model was compared with seven other common regression models (linear regression (LR), support vector regression (SVR), K neighbors regression (KNR), random forest regression (RFR), AdaBoost regression (ABR), bagging regression (BR), and gradient boosting regression (GBR)). The results showed that Rn, Ta, and Tamax were positively correlated with ET, and that Tamin, RH, RHmin, RHmax, and V were negatively correlated with ET. Rn had the greatest correlation with ET (r = 0.89), and V had the least correlation with ET (r = 0.43). The eight models were ordered, in terms of prediction accuracy, XGBR-ET > GBR-ET > SVR-ET > ABR-ET > BR-ET > LR-ET > KNR-ET > RFR-ET. The statistical indicators mean square error (0.032), root mean square error (0.163), mean absolute error (0.132), mean absolute percentage error (4.47%), and coefficient of determination (0.981) of XGBR-ET showed that XGBR-ET modeled daily ET for greenhouse tomatoes well. The parameters of the XGBR-ET model were ablated to show that the order of importance of meteorological factors on XGBR-ET was Rn > RH > RHmin> Tamax> RHmax> Tamin> Ta> V. Selecting Rn, RH, RHmin, Tamax, and Tamin as model input variables using XGBR ensured the prediction accuracy of the model (mean square error 0.047). This study has value as a reference for the simplification of the calculation of evapotranspiration for drip irrigated greenhouse tomato crops using a novel application of machine learning as a basis for an effective irrigation program.
Population Dynamics of Wide Compatibility System and Evaluation of Intersubspecific Hybrids by indica-japonica Hybridization in Rice
Authors: Kallugudi Jayanth , Singh Vikram Jeet , Vinod Kunnumal Kurungara , Krishnan Subbaiyan Gopala , Nandakumar Shekharappa , Dixit Brijesh Kumar , Ellur Ranjith Kumar , Bollinedi Haritha , Nagarajan Mariappan , Kumar Amit , Chakraborti Mridul , Seth Rakesh Kumar , Mondal Tapan Kumar , Bhowmick Prolay Kumar , Singh Ashok Kumar
Published: July 2022

The exploitation of heterosis through intersubspecific hybridisation between indica and japonica has been a major breeding target in rice, but is marred by the cross incompatibility between the genomes. Wide compatibility (WC) is a triallelic system at the S5 locus on chromosome 6 that ensures the specificity of hybridisation within and between indica and japonica. The S5n allele that favours intercrossing is sparsely distributed in the rice gene pool and therefore warrants identification of diverse WC sources to develop superior intersubspecific hybrids. In this study, we have identified several novel WC sources through the marker-assisted screening of a large set of 950 rice genotypes. Seventeen percent of the genotypes carried S5n, which fell into two subpopulations. The WC genotypes showed wide phenotypic and genotypic variability, including both indica and japonica lines. Based on phenotypic performance, the WC varieties were grouped into three clusters. A subset of 41 WC varieties was used to develop 164 hybrids, of which WC/japonica hybrids showed relative superiority over WC/indica hybrids. The multilocation evaluation of hybrids indicated that hybrids derived from WC varieties, such as IRG137, IRG143, OYR128, and IRGC10658, were higher yielding across all the three different locations. Most of the hybrids showed the stability of performance across locations. The identified diverse set of wide compatible varieties (WCVs) can be used in the development of intersubspecific hybrids and also for parental line development in hybrid rice breeding.
Accurate Determination of Moisture Content in Flavor Microcapsules Using Headspace Gas Chromatography
Authors: Liu Xueyan , Zhu Chuxing , Yu Kang , Li Wei , Luo Yingchun , Dai Yi , Wang Hao
Published: July 2022

This study demonstrates an accurate method for determining the moisture content in flavor microcapsules using headspace gas chromatography. The method involves measuring the gas chromatography signals of water from vapor in a headspace vial containing flavor microcapsules at a temperature of 125 °C. The measurements were recorded over four headspace extractions, from which the moisture content in the microcapsule samples was extrapolated via simple vapor-phase calibration. The results revealed that the proposed method demonstrated good precision (a relative standard deviation of <3.11%) and accuracy. The proposed method is accurate, highly sensitive, automated, and suitable for testing the moisture content of flavor microcapsules and related products.
A Systematic Review and Bibliometric Analysis of Flame-Retardant Rigid Polyurethane Foam from 1963 to 2021
Authors: Pan Ying , Yin Chengliang , Fernandez Carlos , Fu Li , Lin Cheng-Te
Published: July 2022

Flame-retardant science and technology are sciences developed to prevent the occurrence of fire, meet the needs of social safety production, and protect people’s lives and property. Rigid polyurethane (PU) is a polymer formed by the additional polymerization reaction of a molecule with two or more isocyanate functional groups with a polyol containing two or more reactive hydroxyl groups under a suitable catalyst and in an appropriate ratio. Rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF) is a foam-like material with a large contact area with oxygen when burning, resulting in rapid combustion. At the same time, RPUF produces a lot of toxic gases when burning and endangers human health. Improving the flame-retardant properties of RPUF is an important theme in flame-retardant science and technology. This review discusses the development of flame-retardant RPUF through the lens of bibliometrics. A total of 194 articles are analyzed, spanning from 1963 to 2021. We describe the development and focus of this theme at different stages. The various directions of this theme are discussed through keyword co-occurrence and clustering analysis. Finally, we provide reasonable perspectives about the future research direction of this theme based on the bibliometric results.
Religion, Animals, and the Problem of Evil: A Decolonial Approach from Relational Ontology
Authors: Cordeiro-Rodrigues Luis , Ho Pao-Shen
Published: July 2022

The fact that there is animal suffering in the world seems to challenge the existence of God. This is because although we can find plausible reasons for the existence of human suffering (the pursuit of a greater good), it seems that the suffering of animals in the world is gratuitous and serves no function in terms of the pursuit of a greater good. In this article, however, we challenge the idea that animal suffering poses a problem to the existence of God by using an Afro-communitarian viewpoint. We contend that animal suffering is logically compatible with the existence of God because it can be understood as promoting different forms of social harmony. In particular, animal suffering can be understood as an enabler for being a subject and/or an object of communion.
A Model to Develop Chatbots for Assisting the Teaching and Learning Process
Authors: Mendoza Sonia , Sánchez-Adame Luis Martín , Urquiza-Yllescas José Fidel , González-Beltrán Beatriz A. , Decouchant Dominique
Published: July 2022

Recently, in the commercial and entertainment sectors, we have seen increasing interest in incorporating chatbots into websites and apps, in order to assist customers and clients. In the academic area, chatbots are useful to provide some guidance and information about courses, admission processes and procedures, study programs, and scholarly services. However, these virtual assistants have limited mechanisms to suitably help the teaching and learning process, considering that these mechanisms should be advantageous for all the people involved. In this article, we design a model for developing a chatbot that serves as an extra-school tool to carry out academic and administrative tasks and facilitate communication between middle-school students and academic staff (e.g., teachers, social workers, psychologists, and pedagogues). Our approach is designed to help less tech-savvy people by offering them a familiar environment, using a conversational agent to ease and guide their interactions. The proposed model has been validated by implementing a multi-platform chatbot that provides both textual-based and voice-based communications and uses state-of-the-art technology. The chatbot has been tested with the help of students and teachers from a Mexican middle school, and the evaluation results show that our prototype obtained positive usability and user experience endorsements from such end-users.