bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
GLP-1 Increases Circulating Leptin Levels in Truncal Vagotomized Rats
Authors: Morais Tiago , Pereira Sofia S. , Andrade Sara , Neves Diogo , Guimarães Marta , Nora Mário , Carreira Marcos C. , Casanueva Felipe F. , Monteiro Mariana P.
Published: May 2023

GLP-1 is a gastro-intestinal hormone acting within the gut/brain axis for energy balance regulation. We aimed to evaluate the role of the vagus nerve in whole-body energy homeostasis and in mediating GLP-1 effects. For this, rats submitted to truncal vagotomy and sham-operated controls underwent a comprehensive evaluation, including eating behavior, body weight, percentage of white (WAT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT), resting energy expenditure (REE) and acute response to GLP-1. Truncal vagotomized rats had significantly lower food intake, body weight, body weight gain, WAT and BAT, with a higher BAT/WAT ratio, but no significant difference in REE when compared to controls. Vagotomized rats also had significantly higher fasting ghrelin and lower glucose and insulin levels. After GLP-1 administration, vagotomized rats depicted a blunted anorexigenic response and higher plasma leptin levels, as compared to controls. However, in vitro stimulation of VAT explants with GLP-1 resulted in no significant changes in leptin secretion. In conclusion, the vagus nerve influences whole-body energy homeostasis by modifying food intake, body weight and body composition and by mediating the GLP-1 anorectic response. The higher leptin levels in response to acute GLP-1 administration observed after truncal vagotomy suggest the existence of a putative GLP-1-leptin axis that relies on the integrity of gut–brain vagal pathway.
Redox Signaling Modulates Activity of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Cancer Patients
Authors: Allegra Alessandro , Murdaca Giuseppe , Mirabile Giuseppe , Gangemi Sebastiano
Published: May 2023

Although immunotherapy is already a staple of cancer care, many patients may not benefit from these cutting-edge treatments. A crucial field of research now focuses on figuring out how to improve treatment efficacy and assess the resistance mechanisms underlying this uneven response. For a good response, immune-based treatments, in particular immune checkpoint inhibitors, rely on a strong infiltration of T cells into the tumour microenvironment. The severe metabolic environment that immune cells must endure can drastically reduce effector activity. These immune dysregulation-related tumour-mediated perturbations include oxidative stress, which can encourage lipid peroxidation, ER stress, and T regulatory cells dysfunction. In this review, we have made an effort to characterize the status of immunological checkpoints, the degree of oxidative stress, and the part that latter plays in determining the therapeutic impact of immunological check point inhibitors in different neoplastic diseases. In the second section of the review, we will make an effort to assess new therapeutic possibilities that, by affecting redox signalling, may modify the effectiveness of immunological treatment.
The Interleukine-17 Cytokine Family: Role in Development and Progression of Spondyloarthritis, Current and Potential Therapeutic Inhibitors
Authors: Davydova Anna , Kurochkina Yuliya , Goncharova Veronika , Vorobyeva Mariya , Korolev Maksim
Published: May 2023

Spondyloarthritis (SpA) encompasses a group of chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases with a predilection for the spinal and sacroiliac joints, which include axial spondyloarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, arthritis associated with chronic inflammatory bowel disease, and undifferentiated spondyloarthritis. The prevalence of SpA in the population varies from 0.5 to 2%, most commonly affecting young people. Spondyloarthritis pathogenesis is related to the hyperproduction of proinflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IL-17A, IL-23, etc.). IL-17A plays a key role in the pathogenesis of spondyloarthritis (inflammation maintenance, syndesmophites formation and radiographic progression, enthesites and anterior uveitis development, etc.). Targeted anti-IL17 therapies have established themselves as the most efficient therapies in SpA treatment. The present review summarizes literature data on the role of the IL-17 family in the pathogenesis of SpA and analyzes existing therapeutic strategies for IL-17 suppression with monoclonal antibodies and Janus kinase inhibitors. We also consider alternative targeted strategies, such as the use of other small-molecule inhibitors, therapeutic nucleic acids, or affibodies. We discuss advantages and pitfalls of these approaches and the future prospects of each method.
Lightweight Visual Transformers Outperform Convolutional Neural Networks for Gram-Stained Image Classification: An Empirical Study
Authors: Kim Hee E. , Maros Mate E. , Miethke Thomas , Kittel Maximilian , Siegel Fabian , Ganslandt Thomas
Published: May 2023

We aimed to automate Gram-stain analysis to speed up the detection of bacterial strains in patients suffering from infections. We performed comparative analyses of visual transformers (VT) using various configurations including model size (small vs. large), training epochs (1 vs. 100), and quantization schemes (tensor- or channel-wise) using float32 or int8 on publicly available (DIBaS, n = 660) and locally compiled (n = 8500) datasets. Six VT models (BEiT, DeiT, MobileViT, PoolFormer, Swin and ViT) were evaluated and compared to two convolutional neural networks (CNN), ResNet and ConvNeXT. The overall overview of performances including accuracy, inference time and model size was also visualized. Frames per second (FPS) of small models consistently surpassed their large counterparts by a factor of 1-2×. DeiT small was the fastest VT in int8 configuration (6.0 FPS). In conclusion, VTs consistently outperformed CNNs for Gram-stain classification in most settings even on smaller datasets.
Targeted DNA Demethylation: Vectors, Effectors and Perspectives
Authors: Yano Naohiro , Fedulov Alexey V.
Published: May 2023

Aberrant DNA hypermethylation at regulatory cis-elements of particular genes is seen in a plethora of pathological conditions including cardiovascular, neurological, immunological, gastrointestinal and renal diseases, as well as in cancer, diabetes and others. Thus, approaches for experimental and therapeutic DNA demethylation have a great potential to demonstrate mechanistic importance, and even causality of epigenetic alterations, and may open novel avenues to epigenetic cures. However, existing methods based on DNA methyltransferase inhibitors that elicit genome-wide demethylation are not suitable for treatment of diseases with specific epimutations and provide a limited experimental value. Therefore, gene-specific epigenetic editing is a critical approach for epigenetic re-activation of silenced genes. Site-specific demethylation can be achieved by utilizing sequence-dependent DNA-binding molecules such as zinc finger protein array (ZFA), transcription activator-like effector (TALE) and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat-associated dead Cas9 (CRISPR/dCas9). Synthetic proteins, where these DNA-binding domains are fused with the DNA demethylases such as ten-eleven translocation (Tet) and thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG) enzymes, successfully induced or enhanced transcriptional responsiveness at targeted loci. However, a number of challenges, including the dependence on transgenesis for delivery of the fusion constructs, remain issues to be solved. In this review, we detail current and potential approaches to gene-specific DNA demethylation as a novel epigenetic editing-based therapeutic strategy.
Microbiota Metabolism Failure as a Risk Factor for Postoperative Complications after Aortic Prosthetics
Authors: Beloborodova Natalia , Pautova Alisa , Grekova Marina , Yadgarov Mikhail , Grin Oksana , Eremenko Alexander , Babaev Maxim
Published: May 2023

Postoperative complications in cardiovascular surgery remain an important unresolved problem, in particular in patients with aortic aneurysm. The role of the altered microbiota in such patients is of great interest. The aim of this pilot study was to determine whether the development of postoperative complications in patients with aortic aneurysm is related with initial or acquired disorders of microbiota metabolism by monitoring the level of some aromatic microbial metabolites (AMMs) circulating in the blood before the surgery and in the early postoperative period. The study comprised patients with aortic aneurysm (n = 79), including patients without complications (n = 36) and patients with all types of complications (n = 43). The serum samples from the patients were collected before and 6 h after the end of the surgery. The most significant results were obtained for the sum of three sepsis-associated AMMs. This level was higher before the surgery in comparison with that of healthy volunteers (n = 48), p < 0.001, and it was also higher in the early postoperative period in patients with all types of complications compared to those without complications, p = 0.001; the area under the ROC curve, the cut-off value, and the odds ratio were 0.7; 2.9 µmol/L, and 5.5, respectively. Impaired microbiota metabolism is important in the development of complications after complex reconstructive aortic surgery, which is the basis for the search for a new prevention strategy.
What to Do if the qPCR Test for SARS-CoV-2 or Other Pathogen Lacks Endogenous Internal Control? A Simple Test on Housekeeping Genes
Authors: Kuzan Aleksandra , Tabakov Ivo , Madej Lukasz , Mucha Anna , Fulawka Lukasz
Published: May 2023

Some of the products for the molecular diagnosis of infections do not have an endogenous internal control, and this is necessary to ensure that the result is not a false negative. The aim of the project was to design a simple low-cost RT-qPCR test that can confirm the expression of basic metabolism proteins, thus confirming the quality of genetic material for molecular diagnostic tests. Two successful equivalent qPCR assays for the detection of the GADPH and ACTB genes were obtained. The course of standard curves is logarithmic, with a very high correlation coefficient R2 within the range of 0.9955–0.9956. The reaction yield was between 85.5 and 109.7%, and the detection limit (LOD) with 95% positive probability was estimated at 0.0057 ng/µL for GAPDH and 0.0036 ng/µL for ACTB. These tests are universal because they function on various types of samples (swabs, cytology, etc.) and can complement the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens, as well as potentially oncological diagnostics.
Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance-Based Nanosensor for Rapid Detection of Glyphosate in Food Samples
Authors: Côco Ariany Soares , Campos Fabiana Vasconcelos , Díaz Camilo Arturo Rodríguez , Guimarães Marco César Cunegundes , Prado Adilson Ribeiro , de Oliveira Jairo Pinto
Published: May 2023

In this study, we developed a biosensor based on the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) phenomenon of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to detect the widely used herbicide glyphosate in food samples. To do so, either cysteamine or a specific antibody for glyphosate were conjugated to the surface of the nanoparticles. AuNPs were synthesized using the sodium citrate reduction method and had their concentration determined via inductively plasma coupled mass spectrometry. Their optical properties were analyzed using UV-vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. Functionalized AuNPs were further characterized via Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman scattering, Zeta potential, and dynamic light scattering. Both conjugates succeeded in detecting the presence of glyphosate in the colloid, although nanoparticles functionalized with cysteamine tended to aggregate at high concentrations of the herbicide. On the other hand, AuNPs functionalized with anti-glyphosate functioned at a broad concentration range and successfully identified the presence of the herbicide in non-organic coffee samples and when it was added to an organic coffee sample. This study demonstrates the potential of AuNP-based biosensors to detect glyphosate in food samples. The low-cost and specificity of these biosensors make them a viable alternative to current methods for detecting glyphosate in foodstuffs.
A UiO-66-NH2 MOF/PAMAM Dendrimer Nanocomposite for Electrochemical Detection of Tramadol in the Presence of Acetaminophen in Pharmaceutical Formulations
Authors: Garkani Nejad Fariba , Beitollahi Hadi , Sheikhshoaie Iran
Published: May 2023

In this work, we prepared a novel electrochemical sensor for the detection of tramadol based on a UiO-66-NH2 metal–organic framework (UiO-66-NH2 MOF)/third-generation poly(amidoamine) dendrimer (G3-PAMAM dendrimer) nanocomposite drop-cast onto a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) surface. After the synthesis of the nanocomposite, the functionalization of the UiO-66-NH2 MOF by G3-PAMAM was confirmed by various techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The UiO-66-NH2 MOF/PAMAM-modified GCE exhibited commendable electrocatalytic performance toward the tramadol oxidation owing to the integration of the UiO-66-NH2 MOF with the PAMAM dendrimer. According to differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), it was possible to detect tramadol under optimized circumstances in a broad concentration range (0.5 μM–500.0 μM) and a narrow limit of detection (0.2 μM). In addition, the stability, repeatability, and reproducibility of the presented UiO-66-NH2 MOF/PAMAM/GCE sensor were also studied. The sensor also possessed an acceptable catalytic behavior for the tramadol determination in the co-existence of acetaminophen, with the separated oxidation potential of ΔE = 410 mV. Finally, the UiO-66-NH2 MOF/PAMAM-modified GCE exhibited satisfactory practical ability in pharmaceutical formulations (tramadol tablets and acetaminophen tablets).
Bipolar Chronobiology in Men and Mice: A Narrative Review
Authors: Freund Nadja , Haussleiter Ida
Published: May 2023

In patients with bipolar disorder, we do not only see a cycling of mood episodes, but also a shift in circadian rhythm. In the present overview, the circadian rhythm, the “internal clock”, and their disruptions are briefly described. In addition, influences on circadian rhythms such as sleep, genetics, and environment are discussed. This description is conducted with a translational focus covering human patients as well as animal models. Concluding the current knowledge on chronobiology and bipolar disorder, implications for specificity and the course of bipolar disorder and treatment options are given at the end of this article. Taken together, circadian rhythm disruption and bipolar disorder are strongly correlated; the exact causation, however, is still unclear.
Emergence of Treadmill Running Ability and Quantitative Assessment of Gait Dynamics in Young Ts65Dn Mice: A Mouse Model for Down Syndrome
Authors: Scott-McKean Jonah J. , Jones Ryan , Johnson Mark W. , Mier Joyce , Basten Ines A. , Stasko Melissa R. , Costa Alberto C. S.
Published: May 2023

Down syndrome (DS), which results from the complete or partial trisomy of chromosome 21 (trisomy-21), is the most common genetically defined cause of intellectual disability. Trisomy-21 also produces, or is associated with, many neurodevelopmental phenotypes and neurological comorbidities, including delays and deficits in fine and gross motor development. The Ts65Dn mouse is the most studied animal model for DS and displays the largest known subset of DS-like phenotypes. To date, however, only a small number of developmental phenotypes have been quantitatively defined in these animals. Here, we used a commercially available high-speed, video-based system to record and analyze the gait of Ts65Dn and euploid control mice. Longitudinal treadmill recordings were performed from p17 to p35. One of the main findings was the detection of genotype- and sex-dependent developmental delays in the emergence of consistent, progressive-intensity gait in Ts65Dn mice when compared to control mice. Gait dynamic analysis showed wider normalized front and hind stances in Ts65Dn mice compared to control mice, which may reflect deficits in dynamic postural balance. Ts65Dn mice also displayed statistically significant differences in the variability in several normalized gait measures, which were indicative of deficits in precise motor control in generating gait.
DEAD-Box Helicase 17 Promotes Amyloidogenesis by Regulating BACE1 Translation
Authors: Liu Yue , Zhou Guifeng , Song Li , Wen Qixin , Xie Shiqi , Chen Long , Wang Lu , Xie Xiaoyong , Chen Xue , Pu Yalan , Chen Guojun
Published: May 2023

Amyloidogenesis is one of the key pathophysiological changes in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Accumulation of the toxic Aβ results from the catalytic processing of β-amyloid precursor protein (APP) associated β-amyloid converting enzyme 1 (BACE1) activity. It is reported that dead-box helicase 17 (DDX17) controls RNA metabolism and is involved in the development of multiple diseases. However, whether DDX17 might play a role in amyloidogenesis has not been documented. In the present study, we found that DDX17 protein level was significantly increased in HEK and SH-SY5Y cells that stably express full-length APP (HEK-APP and Y5Y-APP) and in the brain of APP/PS1 mice, an animal model of AD. DDX17 knockdown, as opposed to DDX17 overexpression, markedly reduced the protein levels of BACE1 and the β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) in Y5Y-APP cells. We further found that DDX17-mediated enhancement of BACE1 was selectively attenuated by translation inhibitors. Specifically, DDX17 selectively interacted with the 5′ untranslated region (5′UTR) of BACE1 mRNA, and deletion of the 5′UTR abolished the effect of DDX17 on luciferase activity or protein level of BACE1. Here, we show that the enhanced expression of DDX17 in AD was associated with amyloidogenesis; through the 5′UTR-dependent BACE1 translation, DDX17 might serve as an important mediator contributing to the progression of AD.
Differences in Cortical Area Activity and Motor Imagery Vivid-Ness during Evaluation of Motor Imagery Tasks in Right and Left Hemiplegics
Authors: Fujiwara Kengo , Shibata Masatomo , Awano Yoshinaga , Iso Naoki , Shibayama Koji , Higashi Toshio
Published: May 2023

The ability to develop vivid motor imagery (MI) is important for effective mental practice. Therefore, we aimed to determine differences in the MI clarity and cortical area activity between patients with right hemiplegia and left hemiplegia after stroke in an MI task. In total, 11 participants with right hemiplegia and 14 with left hemiplegia were categorized into two groups. The MI task required the flexion and extension of the finger on the paralyzed side. Considering that MI vividness changes with MI practice, we measured the MI vividness and cortical area activity during the task before and after MI practice. MI vividness was evaluated subjectively using the visual analog scale, and cerebral hemodynamics during the task were measured using near-infrared spectroscopy in cortical regions during the MI task. The MI sharpness and cortical area activity in the MI task were significantly lower in the right hemiplegia group than in the left hemiplegia group. Therefore, when practicing mental practices with right hemiplegia, it is necessary to devise ways by which to increase MI vividness.
Loss of Consciousness and Righting Reflex Following Traumatic Brain Injury: Predictors of Post-Injury Symptom Development (A Narrative Review)
Authors: Berman Rina , Spencer Haley , Boese Martin , Kim Sharon , Radford Kennett , Choi Kwang
Published: May 2023

Identifying predictors for individuals vulnerable to the adverse effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains an ongoing research pursuit. This is especially important for patients with mild TBI (mTBI), whose condition is often overlooked. TBI severity in humans is determined by several criteria, including the duration of loss of consciousness (LOC): LOC < 30 min for mTBI and LOC > 30 min for moderate-to-severe TBI. However, in experimental TBI models, there is no standard guideline for assessing the severity of TBI. One commonly used metric is the loss of righting reflex (LRR), a rodent analogue of LOC. However, LRR is highly variable across studies and rodents, making strict numeric cutoffs difficult to define. Instead, LRR may best be used as predictor of symptom development and severity. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the associations between LOC and outcomes after mTBI in humans and between LRR and outcomes after experimental TBI in rodents. In clinical literature, LOC following mTBI is associated with various adverse outcome measures, such as cognitive and memory deficits; psychiatric disorders; physical symptoms; and brain abnormalities associated with the aforementioned impairments. In preclinical studies, longer LRR following TBI is associated with greater motor and sensorimotor impairments; cognitive and memory impairments; peripheral and neuropathology; and physiologic abnormalities. Because of the similarities in associations, LRR in experimental TBI models may serve as a useful proxy for LOC to contribute to the ongoing development of evidence-based personalized treatment strategies for patients sustaining head trauma. Analysis of highly symptomatic rodents may shed light on the biological underpinnings of symptom development after rodent TBI, which may translate to therapeutic targets for mTBI in humans.
Enhancing Social Qualities in University Campus Outdoor Spaces through Islamic Spatial Configurations: The Case of the American University in Cairo
Authors: Abu Elkhair Kamel I. , Sarhan Alaa ElDin Nagy , Bayoumi Amr A.
Published: May 2023

Universities are under more pressure than ever before to attract more students and move up in rankings. Due to bounded space and rising plot values in city areas, a spatial configuration that meets user needs has become a very important topic for well-prepared and spatially suitable educational settings. However, today there is a rapid pace in the establishment of universities in Egypt. Insufficient use of university campus outdoor spaces (UCOS) is considered one of the main negative impacts on social quality in these universities in Egypt. This study aims to evaluate the social qualities according to the Islamic spatial configurations of UCOS in The American University in Cairo (AUC). The research is based on using integrated observational and computational methods in different UCOS. Observational methods are applied through behavioral mapping and movement tracing. Computational methods are applied through space syntax software. The AUC campus is selected as a case study because its design is based on different types of UCOS. The methodology follows three successive steps. Firstly, a field observation of the most used UCOS was undertaken. Secondly, a spatial analysis examining the potential effect of the campus spatial configuration was conducted. Finally, a comparative analytical approach that illustrates the relationship between Islamic spatial configurations of UCOS and activity categories according to user behaviors was taken. The research shows the considered types of UCOS and their ranking according to the observational and computational methods that achieve the highest values for social qualities.
Experimental Tests on Lightweight Cement Mortar and Concrete with Recycled Plastic Wastes
Authors: Meglio Emilia , Davino Antonio , Formisano Antonio
Published: May 2023

The management of plastic waste has become a fundamental issue in recent decades and several studies have focused on finding proper solutions to recycle and reuse these secondary raw materials in different sectors. Using plastic waste in the building sector allows for long-term application and reduces the number of times the recycling process is needed. This research focuses on experimenting with two building products, namely lightweight screed and concrete, with the addition of plastic waste in the form of irregular granules. The screed was produced by adding plastic granules of different sizes, while the concrete was produced by replacing different percentages of the coarse and fine aggregates with plastic granules and pulverized plastic. The screed has been tested under compressive and three-point bending tests, while the concrete has only been tested under compressive tests. The results have shown that the addition of plastic waste in both products led to the desired weight reduction. On one hand, plastic waste have provided a decrease in both tensile (−16%) and compressive (−25%) strengths of the screed with an increase of ultimate tensile strain (+60%). On the other hand, the only acceptable concrete mixture resulted to be the one with 25% of aggregates substitution, which exhibited a decrease in compressive strength (−40%) and an increase of ultimate strain (+38%), whereas samples with higher percentages of plastic aggregates have been not considered to be suitable as building materials.
Construction Workplace Trends and Work Health and Safety
Authors: Feng Yingbin , Zhang Peng
Published: May 2023

Construction workplaces are experiencing rapid changes as a result of digitalization, globalization, industrialization, and sustainability [...]
Thermal Diagnosis of Ventilation and Cooling Systems in a Sports Hall—A Case Study
Authors: Hurnik Maria , Ferdyn-Grygierek Joanna , Kaczmarczyk Jan , Koper Piotr
Published: May 2023

Air conditioning systems in buildings consume a significant part of the world’s energy, and yet there are cases wherein users are not satisfied with the quality of the thermal environment. Examples of such special cases are sports halls, which require different thermal conditions within a single zone. Thermal diagnostics for buildings can be used to diagnose problems. The aim of the paper was to analyse the effectiveness of the ventilation and cooling systems of a sports hall with a cubature of 16,300 m3 and to check the possibility of managing the hall’s cooling demands via the existing air conditioning system. Diagnostic measurements were performed, including in situ measurements of ventilation air flows from the diffusers and their temperatures, visualization of the supply air flows, and monthly registration of the indoor temperature in the hall at different set temperatures of the supply and exhaust air. Additionally, a numerical analysis, using EnergyPlus simulations, of cooling demand was performed with regard to the varying uses of the hall. The analysis based on measurement and simulation showed that it is not possible to remove heat gains from the hall with the current available ventilation air flow.
Building Energy Efficiency for Indoor Heating Temperature Set-Point: Mechanism and Case Study of Mid-Rise Apartment
Authors: Qi Xingyu , Zhang Yin , Jin Zhineng
Published: May 2023

Space heating accounts for a large part of building energy consumption. Lowering the heating temperature set-point (Tsp) is expected to be a feasible approach for energy efficiency. In this paper, eight globally typical cities are selected, and the energy-saving mechanism and variation trends of lowering heating Tsp are investigated under different working conditions (climate conditions, construction completion year and inner heat sources). The results show that significant energy-saving effects even appear in the relatively warm-winter cities. The energy-saving mechanism is dominated by two different categories of heating hours including the temperature-difference saving (TDS) hours and the behavioral saving (BS) hours. The contribution of TDS and BS to the whole annual heating energy saving amount (HSA) depends on the reducing level of heating hours. The HSA of lowing Tsp is mainly affected by TDS influence. After coupling the consideration of different factors, with the decreasing annual HSA of buildings, the dominance of the TDS influence mechanism shrinks gradually while the annual heating energy saving ratio (HSR) increases. This work provides the analysis method for building heating energy saving potential evaluation and reference for the establishment of standards and residents’ behavioral energy saving in different climatic zones.
The Reuse of Basic Oxygen Furnace Slag as Concrete Aggregate to Achieve Sustainable Development: Characteristics and Limitations
Authors: Zago Sara Carvalho , Vernilli Fernando , Cascudo Oswaldo
Published: May 2023

Basic oxygen furnace slag is considered a potential material for the replacement of natural aggregate in Portland cement concrete due to its similar physical characteristics. Therefore, in the present work, the slag was analyzed by Nitrogen sorption porosimetry, elemental analysis, mineralogical analysis, and volume stability. On the other hand, concrete mixtures were manufactured with basic oxygen furnace (BOF) slag aggregates and characterized mechanically and morphologically. The results showed superior compressive strength due to interfacial improvements in the slag aggregate. Statistically, there was no differentiation between the reference concrete and the slag concrete mixtures for tensile strength. Additionally, due to the porosity and low stiffness presented by the slag, the concrete elastic modulus showed a slight decrease. The replacement of sand with BOF slag as fine aggregate in Portland cement concrete presents itself as a sustainable alternative for the elimination and valorization of this environmental liability.
Investigating the Synergistic Evolution Mechanism of Multi-Scale Cities: A Case Study of Three Urban Agglomerations in Eastern China
Authors: Lv Xunwei , Mu Xufang
Published: May 2023

Urban growth has evolved from cities to metropolitan areas and urban agglomerations, exhibiting a multi-scale pattern. Urban scaling law can reflect the nonlinear relationship between urban indicators and population size, which is very important for urban planning through analyzing the evolution of urban system characteristics. However, existing studies mainly focused on scalar law within countries, neglecting the multi-scale synergistic evolution of complex urban systems. The purpose of this study is to investigate the scalar relationship between urban indicators and population size at multiple scales from the perspective of individual cities, metropolitan areas, and urban agglomerations, using data from 45 cities in three urban agglomerations in eastern China. Based on the urban scaling law, local spatial autocorrelation model is used to analyze and explore the collaborative evolution of multiple scales. Results show that from the perspective of time evolution, the three urban agglomerations exhibit greater scaling effects than metropolitan areas, with a scaling exponent (β) greater than 1 for urban indicators including economy, land, infrastructure, ecological pressure, and innovation. From the perspective of spatial differences, the spatial development gap between the metropolitan area scale and the urban agglomeration scale is relatively small compared with the city scale. In addition, the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei urban agglomeration (BTH) mainly displays the synergistic development of the dual-core structure of Beijing and Tianjin. The Yangtze River Delta (YRD) exhibits significant disparities between its cities, resulting in a low degree of overall synergy. In contrast, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) leads in terms of synergistic evolution. This study is crucial to help understand the development of urban systems at different scales and to support regional planning and the achievement of coordinated development.
Assessing Sustainable Development Initiatives in Central Taiwan Science Park: A Study of Residents’ Opinions and the Impact on the Urban Ecosystem
Authors: Chen Fu-Hsuan
Published: May 2023

The present study aims to explore the role of the Central Taiwan Science Park (CTSP) in promoting sustainable development, with a specific focus on the park’s recycling technologies. By combining survey research and conducting in-depth interviews with residents living around the CTSP, their observations were analyzed using statistical data released by the government. The purpose of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of how technology parks can promote circular economy and waste reduction, as well as to understand the potential impact of the CTSP on the environment and neighboring communities. The study found that the CTSP is committed to maximizing the use of recycling and has established advanced recycling facilities and green infrastructure to promote waste reduction. Residents’ opinions played a crucial role in understanding the current situation and the way forward, helping the CTSP design effective green infrastructure for the urban ecosystem. The results of this study could inform stakeholders about sustainable recycling and zero-waste initiatives in Taiwan’s technology industry and support government efforts to cultivate more sustainable urban ecosystems. Furthermore, this study found that environmental education can effectively raise awareness and promote action
Peroxymonosulfate Activation by Different Synthesized CuFe-MOFs: Application for Dye, Drugs, and Pathogen Removal
Authors: Fdez-Sanromán Antia , Lomba-Fernández Bárbara , Pazos Marta , Rosales Emilio , Sanromán Angeles
Published: May 2023

In this study, three CuFe-MOFs were successfully synthesized by a solvothermal process by changing the ratio of solvents, salts, or temperature. These MOFs named CuFe(BDC-NH2)R, CuFe(BDC-NH2)S, and CuFe(BDC-NH2)D showed rod-shaped, spindle-like, and diamond-like structures, respectively. The CuFe(BDC-NH2)D and CuFe(BDC-NH2)S were found to exhibit an improved PMS activation for Rhodamine B removal attaining levels around 92%. Their effective removal capability was investigated as a function of the pH, catalyst dosage, and the effect of the application of UV radiation. The best degradation system was photo-assisted activation of PMS when CuFe(BDC-NH2)D and CuFe(BDC-NH2)S were used. Under these conditions, the degradation of a mixture of antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drugs (sulfamethoxazole and antipyrine) was evaluated with the results revealing the total degradation of both drugs after 1 h. A higher antibacterial activity was attained with the system CuFe(BDC-NH2)R/PMS due to the high copper content with respect to the others.
Production of Human Milk Fat Substitutes by Lipase-Catalyzed Acidolysis: Immobilization, Synthesis, Molecular Docking and Optimization Studies
Authors: Soares Cleide M. F. , Barbosa Milson S. , Santos Samuel B. , Mattedi Silvana , Lima Álvaro S. , Pereira Matheus M. , Tecelão Carla , Ferreira-Dias Suzana
Published: May 2023

Human milk fat (HMF) triacylglycerols (TAGs) mainly contain palmitic acid esterified at the sn-2 position while oleic and other unsaturated fatty acids are located at positions sn-1,3. This study aimed at the production of HMF substitutes (HMFS) by lipase-catalyzed acidolysis of tripalmitin with oleic acid, in a solvent-free medium. Burkholderia cepacia lipase (BCL) was immobilized in silica (prepared with protic or aprotic ionic liquids) by covalent binding or encapsulation and used as biocatalyst. The supports and immobilized biocatalysts were characterized by FTIR, TGA, and SEM. Molecular docking analysis showed that BCL preferentially attacks oleic acid rather than tripalmitin, due to the lower free energy of hydrophobic binding with this acid (−6.5 kcal·mol−1) than with tripalmitin (5.4 kcal·mol−1). Therefore, the tripalmitin attack by BCL and subsequent HMFS production only occurs after the binding to most of the oleic acid molecules. The highest acidolysis activity was obtained with BCL immobilized by covalent binding in prepared silica with aprotic ionic liquid. A central composite rotatable design, as a function of temperature (58–72 °C) and oleic acid/tripalmitin molar ratio (MR = 2:1–6.8:1), was performed for acidolysis optimization. Under optimized conditions (58 °C and MR = 4:1 or 60 °C and MR = 2:1), the oleic acid incorporation of 28 mol.% was achieved after 48 h.
One-Pot Fabrication of 2D/2D CdIn2S4/In2S3 Heterojunction for Boosting Photocatalytic Cr(VI) Reduction
Authors: Hu Jiawei , Wu Jiaxin , Zhang Siyuan , Chen Wenxuan , Xiao Wen , Hou Haijun , Lu Xiaowang , Liu Chao , Zhang Qinfang
Published: May 2023

The development of efficient heterojunction photocatalysts with a facilitated charge carrier separation rate and improved light-harvesting capacity is still a challenging issue for effectively solving environmental pollution. Herein, a one-step refluxing process was employed to construct 2D/2D CdIn2S4/In2S3 (CISI) heterojunction photocatalysts with an intimate interface between these two components. The crystal structure, morphology, light-harvesting capacity, and Cr(VI) photoreduction performance were systematically investigated and discussed in detail. The tight interface formed between CdIn2S4 (CIS) and In2S3 (IS) could effectively facilitate the charge carrier separation and transfer. Thus, the resulting CISI composites exhibited a high efficiency for Cr(VI) photoreduction under visible light, with the optimal sample of 0.5 CISI. The charge transfer kinetics were deeply investigated by multiple techniques. Based on the characterization results, a possible mechanism for Cr(VI) photoreduction was proposed.
Pathogenesis of Alkali Injury-Induced Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency: A Literature Survey of Animal Models
Authors: Sprogyte Lina , Park Mijeong , Di Girolamo Nick
Published: May 2023

Limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) is a debilitating ocular surface disease that eventuates from a depleted or dysfunctional limbal epithelial stem cell (LESC) pool, resulting in corneal epithelial failure and blindness. The leading cause of LSCD is a chemical burn, with alkali substances being the most common inciting agents. Characteristic features of alkali-induced LSCD include corneal conjunctivalization, inflammation, neovascularization and fibrosis. Over the past decades, animal models of corneal alkali burn and alkali-induced LSCD have been instrumental in improving our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for disease development. Through these paradigms, important insights have been gained with regards to signaling pathways that drive inflammation, neovascularization and fibrosis, including NF-κB, ERK, p38 MAPK, JNK, STAT3, PI3K/AKT, mTOR and WNT/β-catenin cascades. Nonetheless, the molecular and cellular events that underpin re-epithelialization and those that govern long-term epithelial behavior are poorly understood. This review provides an overview of the current mechanistic insights into the pathophysiology of alkali-induced LSCD. Moreover, we highlight limitations regarding existing animal models and knowledge gaps which, if addressed, would facilitate development of more efficacious therapeutic strategies for patients with alkali-induced LSCD.
Research Progress on Chiral Supramolecular Sensors for Enantiomer Detection
Authors: Wu Xiao-Fan , Ge Qing-Mei , Jiang Nan , Zhao Wen-Feng , Liu Mao , Cong Hang , Zhao Jiang-Lin
Published: May 2023

Chiral substances occur naturally in abiotic and living systems. The recognition and detection of chiral substances in the natural environment or their analysis and detection in biological systems are crucial. Chiral recognition is a research hotspot in clinical medicine, pharmacology, biochemistry, and other fields. Indeed, many researchers have developed various sensors with different functionalized materials for detecting and analyzing enantiomers. Supramolecular systems have important applications in the development of molecular recognition technologies, and the development of supramolecular chemistry is closely related to research on molecular devices. Therefore, this review summarizes the principle of chiral supramolecular sensors for the detection of enantiomers from the perspective of various sensor types, including optical, electrochemical, electrochemical luminescence, photoelectric, and supramolecular chemical sensors. This review also summarizes the relevant reports on chiral supramolecular sensors in the last five years. Finally, we highlight the prospects of supramolecular chiral sensors in future research.
The Association between Music and Language in Children: A State-of-the-Art Review
Authors: Pino Maria Chiara , Giancola Marco , D’Amico Simonetta
Published: May 2023

Music and language are two complex systems that specifically characterize the human communication toolkit. There has been a heated debate in the literature on whether music was an evolutionary precursor to language or a byproduct of cognitive faculties that developed to support language. The present review of existing literature about the relationship between music and language highlights that music plays a critical role in language development in early life. Our findings revealed that musical properties, such as rhythm and melody, could affect language acquisition in semantic processing and grammar, including syntactic aspects and phonological awareness. Overall, the results of the current review shed further light on the complex mechanisms involving the music-language link, highlighting that music plays a central role in the comprehension of language development from the early stages of life.
Introduction to the Special Issue on Improving Early Childhood Nurturing Care to Support Childhood Development and Adult Health
Authors: Rocha Hermano Alexandre Lima
Published: May 2023

Background: Child development is an ongoing process that occurs from birth to adolescence and is shaped by various factors, such as genetics, the environment, and experiences [...]
Pediatric Dental Emergencies during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Romania: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Moca Abel Emanuel , Iurcov Raluca , Ciavoi Gabriela , Moca Rahela Tabita , Șipoș Lucian Roman
Published: May 2023

Pediatric dental emergencies can occur as a result of untreated dental caries, or can be caused by trauma or periodontal issues. The lockdown imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic reduced the number of centers authorized to deliver dental services in Romania, with only a small number of dentists delivering dental emergency treatments. The aim of this study was to investigate the demographic characteristics of children and adolescent patients who were treated in the dental emergency department of Oradea, Romania and to compare the patients who were treated in the dental emergency department in the pre-lockdown (2019), lockdown (2020) and post-lockdown year (2021). All patients who were treated in the dental emergency department were included in the study except for adults and medical files that did not contain all relevant information. Several variables were investigated (age, gender, living environment, location of affected teeth, type of emergency). In 2019, 257 children and adolescents were treated, in 2020, 198, and in 2021, 136. Most patients were aged 7–12 years in all investigated years (2019—47.9%; 2020—50.5%; 2021—43.4%), and the most affected teeth were located in the lower posterior arch (2019—53.3%; 2020—53%; 2021—48.5%). The most frequent emergencies were pulpitis (2019—40.5%; 2020—43.9%) and acute apical periodontitis (2021—42.6%). It was observed that in 2019, patients aged between 0 and 6 years were more frequently associated with trauma (p < 0.001), and in 2019 and 2020, patients aged between 7 and 12 years were more frequently associated with periodontal emergencies (p < 0.001). In 2020, patients from rural areas were more frequently associated with pulpitis (p = 0.025), and in 2021, patients from rural areas were more frequently associated with pulpitis or acute apical periodontitis, and patients from urban areas were associated more frequently with periodontal emergencies (p = 0.042). Pediatric patients with ages between 7 and 12 years old, who lived in an urban environment were most affected. Teeth located in the lower and upper posterior dental arches were most affected, and pulpitis or acute apical periodontitis were the most common pathologies.
COVID-19 and Related Vaccinations in Children: Pathogenic Aspects of Oral Lesions
Authors: Di Spirito Federica , D’Ambrosio Francesco , Di Palo Maria Pia , Giordano Francesco , Coppola Nicoletta , Contaldo Maria
Published: May 2023

Various clinical manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infections and adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccination have been described in children. The present narrative review aimed to collect and synthesize reported findings on oral lesions detected in SARS-CoV-2-positive subjects following COVID-19 EMA-authorized and WHO Emergency Use Listing-approved vaccine administration in the pediatric population to detail their clinical features and highlight possible pathogenic aspects of those lesions based on current evidence. Few and incomplete reports were retrieved from the literature, probably because most lesions belonged to a broad spectrum of systemic diseases and syndromes and were nonspecific or inaccurately described. The most common oral lesions in pediatric SARS-CoV-2-positive patients were erosive–ulcerative lesions and macules/petechiae, primarily erythematous. In the context of COVID-19 vaccination, oral adverse reactions were rare and typically presented as erosive–ulcerative lesions, with EM-like or unspecified patterns. Future studies should investigate oral lesions in SARS-CoV-2-positive subjects and after COVID-19 vaccination in the pediatric population, taking into account viral variants and newly developed vaccines. Deeper insight into oral lesions detectable in pediatric SARS-CoV-2-positive subjects and after COVID-19 vaccination may increase clinicians’ ability to improve multidisciplinary pediatric oral and general care.