bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perception of Teachers’ Attitudes and Training Competence of Teachers in the Field of Mathematics
Authors: Sánchez-Mendías Javier , Miñán-Espigares Antonio , Rodríguez-Fernández Sonia
Published: January 2024

This article presents the results of a study on the perception that future teachers have in relation to the attitudes their teachers showed towards mathematics during the Primary Education stage, their level of competence in mathematics, and the possible relationship between both variables. A questionnaire was administered to a sample of 488 future Primary School teachers, subjecting the obtained data to a descriptive, multivariate, and inferential analysis in order to know the perception of these attitudes, establish subject profiles, and know the incidence between this variable and mathematical competence. The future teachers show an ambivalent perception of their teachers’ attitude towards mathematics. Three profiles of subjects with negative, neutral, and positive perception are set, with almost half of the sample included in the first two profiles. In the inferential study, values that reflect a significant incidence between both variables are obtained. It is important that teachers convey favourable attitudes towards mathematics to their students, since the more favourable they are, the better the levels of competence obtained. To minimise this deficit, content and activities aimed at improving mastery and encouraging the development of favourable attitudes towards this discipline through specific actions should be incorporated into training programs.
Modeling and Accuracy Assessment of Determining the Coastline Course Using Geodetic, Photogrammetric and Satellite Measurement Methods: Case Study in Gdynia Beach in Poland
Authors: Figliomeni Francesco Giuseppe , Specht Mariusz , Parente Claudio , Specht Cezary , Stateczny Andrzej
Published: January 2024

The coastal environment represents a resource from both a natural and economic point of view, but it is subject to continuous transformations due to climate change, human activities, and natural risks. Remote sensing techniques have enormous potential in monitoring coastal areas. However, one of the main tasks is accurately identifying the boundary between waterbodies such as oceans, seas, lakes or rivers, and the land surface. The aim of this research is to evaluate the accuracy of coastline extraction using different datasets. The images used come from UAV-RGB and the Landsat-9 and Sentinel-2 satellites. The method applied for extracting the coast feature involves a first phase of application of the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), only for satellite data, and consequent application of the maximum likelihood classification, with automatic vectorization. To carry out a direct comparison with the extracted data, a coastline obtained through a field survey using a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) device was used. The results are very satisfactory as they meet the minimum requirements specified by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) S-44. Both the UAV and the Sentinel-2 reach the maximum order, called the Exclusive order (Total Horizontal Uncertainty (THU) of 5 m with a confidence level of 95%), while the Landsat-9 falls into the Special order (THU of 10 m with a confidence level of 95%).
Capacity Allocation Method of Pumped-Storage Power Station for Multi-Level Market in New Power System
Authors: Ge Pengjiang , Wang Kangping , Lv Jinli , Duan Naixin , Zhi Yuan , Liu Jichun , Deng Jianhua
Published: January 2024

With the development of the electricity spot market, pumped-storage power stations are faced with the problem of realizing flexible adjustment capabilities and limited profit margins under the current two-part electricity price system. At the same time, the penetration rate of new energy has increased. Its uncertainty has brought great pressure to the operation of the power system. The ramp market and its market mechanism have emerged as the times require. To this end, this article proposes a bidding strategy for pumped-storage power stations to participate in multi-level markets such as the ramp market. Considering the demand calculation of ramping services, a two-layer model of pumped storage’s participation in multiple markets is constructed. The upper level makes trading decisions with the goal of maximizing pumped-storage revenue; the lower level aims to minimize the total social cost and jointly clears the primary and auxiliary markets. The income from pumped storage participating in the main energy and ramp-up auxiliary markets at the same time is significantly higher than the income from the two-part electricity price system. Its flexible adjustment ability can be quantified, reducing dependence on capacity electricity charges and providing a theoretical reference for cost recovery and profitability of future pumped-storage power stations.
The Impact of Technological Parameters on the Quality of Inkjet-Printed Structures
Authors: Kiliszkiewicz Milena
Published: January 2024

Printing electronics is emerging as one of the fastest-growing engineering technologies that are increasingly used and reliable. It provides an alternative to manufacturing electronics devices based on silicon compounds. This article discusses its challenges, problems, and ways of obtaining desired features efficiently and inexpensively. The influence of the most important parameters of the drop-on-demand (DOD) inkjet printing process on the quality of the conductive layers, together with the results of their ageing tests, is illustrated and discussed in terms of their applicability to general-purpose electronics circuits.
A Reinforcement Learning Approach to Guide Web Crawler to Explore Web Applications for Improving Code Coverage
Authors: Liu Chien-Hung , You Shingchern D. , Chiu Ying-Chieh
Published: January 2024

Web crawlers are widely used to automatically explore and test web applications. However, navigating the pages of a web application can be difficult due to dynamic page generation. In particular, the inputs for the web form fields can affect the resulting pages and subsequent navigation. Therefore, choosing the inputs and the order of clicks on a web page is essential for an effective web crawler to achieve high code coverage. This paper proposes a set of actions to quickly fill in web form fields and uses reinforcement learning algorithms to train a convolutional neural network (CNN). The trained agent, named iRobot, can autonomously select actions to guide the web crawler to maximize code coverage. We experimentally compared different reinforcement learning algorithms, neural networks, and actions. The results show that our CNN network with the proposed actions performs better than other neural networks in terms of branch coverage using the Deep Q-learning (DQN) or proximal policy optimization (PPO) algorithm. Furthermore, compared to previous studies, iRobot can increase branch coverage by about 1.7% while reducing training time to 12.54%.
Design, Fabrication, and Characterization of a PTAT Sensor Using CMOS Technology
Authors: Szermer Michał , Jankowski Mariusz , Janicki Marcin
Published: January 2024

This paper presents the design of an integrated temperature sensor. The sensor was manufactured using the 3 µm CMOS technology. The proportional to absolute temperature sensor output signal was produced by two MOS transistors with biasing and buffering circuits. The sensor output voltage was linearly proportional to the absolute temperature in a wide range of temperature values. The measurement results coincide very well with the results of the process corner analysis. Certain non-linearities occurring at high temperature values are investigated in this paper in more detail. Additionally, the influence of neighboring circuits present in the manufactured integrated circuit on the sensor temperature response is studied.
Research on the Production of Turquoise Hydrogen from Methane (CH4) through Plasma Reaction
Authors: Park Dong-Kyoo , Park Soo-Nam , Kim Hyun-Ji , Kim Hyo-Sik , Kim Ji-Hyeon , Ryu Jae-Hong
Published: January 2024

Turquoise hydrogen is produced through a process of separating carbon into solid carbon based on fossil fuels and refers to hydrogen that does not produce carbon dioxide. In this study, the characteristics of turquoise hydrogen production through a methane thermal cracking reaction using an arc plasma torch were investigated. The plasma torch operated stably under high voltage and transport gas flow conditions. The composition of the gas generated from the methane plasma reaction was analyzed using an online IR gas analyzer and GC-FID. The experimental results show that the hydrogen yield decreased to 16.4% as the methane feed rate increased but increased to 58.8% as the plasma power increased. Under these conditions, the yield of solid carbon, a valuable byproduct, was also shown to increase to 62.9%. In addition, solid carbon showed high-temperature heat-treated characteristics based on its generation location. Carbon oxides such as CO and CO2 are rarely generated under any experimental conditions. Consequently, it can be considered that plasma thermal cracking is a promising technology for CO2-free hydrogen production and a valuable solid carbon.
Life Cycle Assessment of Energy Production from Solid Waste Valorization and Wastewater Purification: A Case Study of Meat Processing Industry
Authors: Boukouvalas Christos , Kekes Tryfon , Oikonomopoulou Vasiliki , Krokida Magdalini
Published: January 2024

The meat processing industry is a very energy-intensive and water-demanding industry that produces large amounts of solid and aqueous wastes. Therefore, methods for the effective treatment of the produced wastes have been studied in order to treat and reuse water within the industry and valorize the solid wastes for the production of energy and value-added products. The primary aim of this work is to evaluate the overall sustainability of energy produced from solid waste valorization and wastewater treatment in the meat processing industry via Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). For this purpose, the total environmental impact of a typical meat industry that utilizes conventional waste management methods (Scenario A) was evaluated and compared with two different industries with appropriate waste treatment/valorization processes. In the first studied valorization scenario (Scenario B), waste management is conducted using anaerobic digestion, composting, membrane bioreactors, and ultraviolet (UV) treatment, whereas in the second studied valorization scenario (Scenario C), aeration treatment, chlorination, and hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) are the selected treatment techniques. As expected, it is evident from this LCA study, that both Scenarios B and C exhibited a significantly improved environmental footprint in all studied indicators compared with Scenario A, with the reduction in certain environmental impact categories reaching up to 80%. Between the two studied alternative scenarios, the biggest improvement in the environmental footprint of the meat industry was observed in Scenario C, mainly due to the substantial quantity of the produced thermal energy. According to the results of the present case study, it is evident that the incorporation of appropriate methods in the meat industry can result in the efficient generation of energy and a significant improvement in the environmental footprint contributing to environmental safety and sustainability.
Internal Arc Performance of Instrument Transformers Filled with Different Dielectric Liquids
Authors: Mihoković Ivan , Rački Anton , Žiger Igor , Plavec Eduard
Published: January 2024

Internal arc testing is still a controversial topic in the instrument transformer world. The main reason for that is the fact that even a fully successful test guarantees only a certain degree of transformer safety. Furthermore, the test does not cover a plethora of operational fault scenarios and has requirements which are not defined clearly enough. In addition, there are very few data available in the literature on the internal arc performance of alternative, biodegradable dielectric liquids. Some liquids (such as natural and synthetic esters) do inherently come with higher flash and fire points compared to conventional mineral oil, but there is insufficient test experience to corroborate the influence this high fire point has on the actual operation. Specifically, to the authors’ knowledge, internal arc tests on instrument transformers were never performed with biodegradable dielectric liquids, making the contributions of this paper a true world premiere. In short, this paper is intended to augment the existing standards, thus providing additional insight into how to test internal arc performance, what to look out for and what level of performance to expect, which is of broad interest to researchers, utility engineers and public alike.
A Performance Simulation Methodology for a Whole Turboshaft Engine Based on Throughflow Modelling
Authors: Zhang Shuo , Ma Aotian , Zhang Teng , Ge Ning , Huang Xing
Published: January 2024

To accurately predict the matching relationships between the various components and the engine performance in the whole aero-engine environment, this study introduces a two-dimensional throughflow simulation method for the whole aero-engine. This method is based on individual throughflow solvers for the turbo-machinery and the combustor. It establishes a throughflow simulation model for the whole engine by integrating with the compressor-turbine co-operating equations and boundary conditions. The turbo-machinery throughflow solver employs a circumferentially averaged form of the time-dependent Navier–Stokes equations (N-S) as the governing equation. The combustor solver uses the Reynolds Average Navier–Stokes (RANS) method to solve flow and chemical reaction processes by constructing turbulence, combustion, and radiation models. The accuracy of the component solver is validated using Pratt and Whitney’s three-stage axial compressor (P&W3S1) and General Electric’s high-pressure turbine (GE-EEE HPT), and the predicted results are consistent with the experimental data. Finally, the developed throughflow method is applied to simulate the throttling characteristics of the WZ-X turboshaft engine. The results predicted by the throughflow program are consistent with the GasTurb calculations, including the trends of shaft power delivered, specific fuel consumption (SFC), inlet airflow, and total pressure ratio of the compressor. The developed method to perform throughflow simulation of the whole aero-engine eliminates the dependence on a general component map. It can quickly obtain the meridian flow field parameters and overall engine characteristics, which is expected to guide the design and modification of the engine in the future.
Electric Vehicles—An Overview of Current Issues—Part 2—Infrastructure and Road Safety
Authors: Guzek Marek , Jackowski Jerzy , Jurecki Rafał , Szumska Emilia , Zdanowicz Piotr , Żmuda Marcin
Published: January 2024

The electrification of road transport is developing dynamically around the world. Many automotive companies are introducing electric vehicles to the market, and their popularity is constantly growing. The increasing popularity of electric vehicles is caused by individual countries’ governments encouraging people to switch to electric vehicles and their lower operating costs. In 2022, the number of electric vehicles in China will exceed 10 million. Europe and the USA rank second and third in global electric car stock, respectively. The number of available electric vehicle models is constantly growing, remaining approximately 2.5 times smaller than the case of vehicles with an internal combustion engine. Among others, a significant limitation to the popularity of electric cars is users’ fear of range and the density of the charging infrastructure network. This paper presents the objectives regarding public areas and charging stations around the European Union’s comprehensive and core transport network. It is worth noting that the vehicle and charging point’s charging connectors vary depending on the geographical region. Therefore, the currently used charging connectors for different regions are presented. Charging time depends significantly on the charging current, the power of the charging point, and the devices installed in the vehicle. The paper analyzes the limitations of charging power resulting from the onboard charger’s power and the charging point’s power. It presents the charging time of selected electric vehicles. The second aspect that is also the subject of user concerns and discussed in this article is issues related to the safety of electric vehicles. General safety indicators of such vehicles based on Euro-NCAP tests are characterized. Attention was also paid to more detailed problems related to active and passive safety and functional safety analyses. The issue of the fire hazard of electric vehicles was discussed together with modern experiences regarding post-accident procedures in the event of fires.
A Wide-Output-Range DC-DC Converter and Minimum Loss Collaborative Control Strategy
Authors: Xue Yuhang , Yang Guoliang
Published: January 2024

In response to the challenges faced by traditional LLC resonant converters in simultaneously achieving a wide output voltage and high efficiency, this paper proposes a cascaded DC-DC converter. The front stage of the converter adopts a new LLC topology, and it is cascaded with a boost converter through a reutilization of the output-side inductor. The proposed DC-DC converter leverages the electrical isolation and wide output voltage range advantages of LLC and boost converters, enabling the overall system to achieve broad output voltage regulation and high-efficiency operation. The reutilization of the inductor design further enhances the integration density of the DC-DC converter. A minimum loss collaborative control strategy is introduced for the proposed DC-DC converter. When determining the output voltage and operating the circuit in step-up mode, the duty cycles of the switch in the proposed LLC converter and the switch in the boost converter are adjusted to minimize overall circuit losses while ensuring the rated output voltage. Ultimately, the correctness and practicality of the proposed DC-DC converter and its control strategy are validated through a simulation and an experiment. The overall efficiency of the DC-DC converter can reach up to 94% under optimal conditions.
Zirconia Enrichment of Zircon from Arikya, Nasarawa State, Nigeria, by Magnetic and Gravity Separation Processes for Use as Reinforcing Agent in Composite Formulation
Authors: Okoli Benneth Ifenna , Agboola Olufemi A. , Onwualu Azikiwe Peter , Bello Abdulhakeem , Sholiyi Olusegun Samuel , Anye Vitalis C. , Yusuf Olatunbosun T.
Published: January 2024

Acceptable zircon for composite formulation in the aerospace industry requires that the mineral contains a minimum of 65% zirconia (ZrO2). Despite having vast deposits of zircon, Nigeria’s aerospace industry has historically relied primarily on imported mild steel tubes for solid rocket motor cases (SRMCs) construction, resulting in three major challenges: low strength-to-weight ratio, pressure, and temperature containment. In this study, the Arikya zircon deposit located in northern Nigeria was investigated with the aim of upgrading low-grade zircon ore using magnetic and gravity separation processes for use in composite formulation for SRMCs. The dry high-intensity magnetic separator (DHIMS) produced a ZrO2 grade of 52.48%, recovery of 57.99%, and an enrichment ratio of 0.78 with a separation efficiency of 0.56, while the air-floating separator (AFS) generated the highest of 65.52% ZrO2 grade with 70.81% recovery and enrichment ratio of 1.25 with a separation efficiency of 0.25. The ZrO2 content increased from 40.77 to 65.52% after beneficiation. Iron oxide and titanium dioxide contaminants at 0.73 and 0.83% were reduced to 0.66 and 0.54%, respectively, while the specific gravity increased from 4.4 to 4.6 g/cm3. The ZrO2 content and specific gravity were improved to the minimum standard specified for zirconia-reinforced composite application and competed effectively with industrially/globally accepted zircon. These results demonstrated the efficacy of combining DHIMS and AFS to upgrade the low-grade zircon ore from Arikya, Nasarawa State.
Brazilian Forest-Based Sector Perceptions and Contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—Developing Strategies Using the Strategic Options Development and Analysis (SODA) Approach
Authors: Aguayo Lopes da Silva Renata , Duarte dos Santos Leandro , Gonçalves Robert Renato Cesar , Purfürst Thomas
Published: January 2024

The Brazilian forest-based sector (FBS) has a complex and important role in leading local and global bioeconomy and sustainable development initiatives. Among these tasks is the improvement and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, key actors in the FBS still have different perspectives regarding their contributions to the implementation and achievement of the SDGs, and this shortage of understanding and complex problem structure may result in misleading strategic planning, which must be improved to increase and strengthen their participation. This study proposes a participatory assessment to comprehend the perceptions of the Brazilian forest-based sector’s key actors and their contributions to achieving the SDGs by using a problem structuring method (PSM). Strategic Options Development and Analysis (SODA), a method from PSM and soft operational research, was used to support the strategic decisions and assist in formulating the strategies. Following the SODA approach, this study interviewed 13 key actors from different forest sector institutions in Brazil and listed strategies to improve their contributions to the SDGs. As a result, 29 main goals and 68 strategic options were mapped. The goals reflect the key actor’s understanding of the main contributions of the Brazilian FBS to the SDGs, and the strategic options represent the main strategies that can be implemented to strengthen the participation and positioning of these institutions in Agenda 2030.
Allergen Diversity and Abundance in Different Tissues of the Redclaw Crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus)
Authors: Jerry Emily M. , Karnaneedi Shaymaviswanathan , Ruethers Thimo , Jerry Dean R. , Condon Kelly , Lopata Andreas L.
Published: January 2024

Shellfish allergy affects ~2.5% of the global population and is a type I immune response resulting from exposure to crustacean and/or molluscan proteins. The Australian Redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) is a freshwater species endemic to and farmed in northern Australia and is becoming an aquaculture species of interest globally. Despite being consumed as food, allergenic proteins from redclaw have not been identified or characterised. In addition, as different body parts are often consumed, it is conceivable that redclaw tissues vary in allergenicity depending on tissue type and function. To better understand food-derived allergenicity, this study characterised allergenic proteins in various redclaw body tissues (the tail, claw, and cephalothorax) and how the stability of allergenic proteins was affected through cooking (raw vs. cooked tissues). The potential of redclaw allergens to cross-react and cause IgE-binding in patients allergic to other shellfish (i.e., shrimp) was also investigated. Raw and cooked extracts were prepared from each body part. SDS-PAGE followed by immunoblotting was performed to determine allergen-specific antibody reactivity to sarcoplasmic calcium-binding protein and hemocyanin, as well as to identify redclaw proteins binding to IgE antibodies from individual and pooled sera of shrimp-allergic patients. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS) was utilised to identify proteins and to determine the proportion within extracts. Known crustacean allergens were found in all tissues, with a variation in tissue distribution (e.g., higher levels of hemocyanin in the claw and cephalothorax than in the tail). The proportion of some allergens as a percentage of remaining heat-stable proteins increased in cooked tissues. Previously described heat-stable allergens (i.e., hemocyanin and sarcoplasmic calcium-binding protein) were found to be partially heat-labile. Immunoblotting indicated that shrimp-allergic patients cross-react to redclaw allergens. IgE-binding bands, analysed by LC/MS, identified up to 11 known shellfish allergens. The findings of this study provide fundamental knowledge into the diagnostic and therapeutic field of shellfish allergy.
Habitual Dietary Intake and Adherence to Dietary Guidelines of Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Authors: Godala Małgorzata , Gaszyńska Ewelina , Walczak Konrad , Małecka-Wojciesko Ewa
Published: January 2024

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) belongs to a group of autoimmune conditions characterized by chronic inflammation and mucosal ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract. The etiology of IBD is complex. The etiological factors include environmental factors, among which diet is important. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diet of IBD patients. This case–control study was carried out on 82 patients with IBD; the control group consisted of 80 clinically healthy subjects. Food intake was assessed using a 24 h recall and frequency food questionnaire. Energy intake in the IBD group was insufficient and significantly lower than in the control group. The energy intake in the group of patients with active IBD was significantly lower than in the group of subjects in remission. The total fat and protein intake was significantly lower in the IBD group compared to the healthy subjects. IBD patients were characterized by underconsumption of all food groups analyzed, except for the intake of red meat and poultry. Our study showed inadequate intake of energy and most nutrients in IBD patients, even during the remission period. The study indicates the need for routine assessment of dietary intake and nutrition among IBD patients, as well as potential dietary interventions aimed at improving the energy and nutritional quality of diet in order to optimize treatment outcomes and prevent the development of accompanying diseases.
Clinical Signs in 166 Beagles with Different Genotypes of Lafora
Authors: Flegel Thomas , Dirauf Christine , Kehl Alexandra , Dietzel Josephine , Holtdirk Annette , Langbein-Detsch Ines , Müller Elisabeth
Published: January 2024

Lafora disease (LD) is a genetic disease affecting beagles, resulting in seizures in combination with other signs. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical signs of LD in beagles with different NHLRC1 genotypes. One hundred and sixty-six beagles were tested for an NHLRC1 gene defect: L/L (n = 67), N/L (n = 32), N/N (n = 67). Owners were asked to participate in a survey about the clinical signs of LD in their dogs. These were recorded for the three possible genotypes in the two age groups, <6 years and ≥6 years. In all genotypes, nearly all the signs of LD were described. In the age group ≥ 6 years, however, they were significantly more frequent in beagles with the L/L genotype. If the following three clinical signs occur together in a beagle ≥ 6 years—jerking of the head, photosensitivity and forgetting things he/she used to be able to do—98.2% of these dogs are correctly assigned to the L/L genotype. If one or two of these signs are missing, the correct classification decreases to 92.1% and 13.2%, respectively. Only the combination of certain signs truly indicates the L/L genotype. Yet, for many dogs, only genetic testing will provide confirmation of the disease.
Parametric Study of Lateral Load on Helical Pipe Piles in Clay
Authors: Sui Guowei , Li Lin , Zhou Jialin , Oh Erwin
Published: January 2024

In the past decades, as the world has placed emphasis on green energy, solar energy has become a favorable option. Different piled foundations have been designed to strengthen the structure supporting the solar panels. These piled foundations include rectangular and circular hollow section piles, as well as H-shaped piles. With various environmental loadings, lateral soil displacement will be encountered when large solar panels are installed on the supporting structure at an inclined angle. Presently, helical pipe piles are widely used in solar farms as part of the supporting structure. In this paper, the pile–soil interaction of steel pipe piles and helical pipe piles with wind loads is analyzed using ABAQUS. The Finite Element Method (FEM) models are assessed with varying strength moduli and cohesions of clay. Further, this paper examines the pile soil system, considering different clay stiffnesses, including very soft, soft, firm, stiff, very stiff, and hard. It is found that the helical piles’ horizontal capacity increases with soil strength and Young’s modulus, but the capacity increment rate reacts differently. This study has a guiding effect on the construction of solar farms using the “tracker” solar system.
Missing in Action: Where’s the Unconscious in Anti-Racist “Unconscious Bias Training”?
Authors: Kapoor Ilan , Cavanagh Sheila L.
Published: January 2024

This article carries out a psychoanalytic and political critique of recent attempts at fighting racism, focusing on antiracist “unconscious bias training” at universities and in international development. It claims that these regimes of institutional training depend on knowledge- and awareness-based education of university staff and international cooperants, thereby not only negating the significant psychoanalytic dimensions of racism, but also disavowing any meaningful or collective engagement precisely with the unconscious. The political consequence is the treatment of racism as both symptom and individualized responsibility, thereby depoliticizing the struggle against global/structural racism. The article concludes by considering what a psychoanalytic antiracist politics might look like.
Parenteral Iron Therapy for Pediatric Patients
Authors: Mantadakis Elpis , Alexiadou Sonia , Zikidou Panagiota
Published: January 2024

Iron deficiency (ID) is by far the most common nutritional disorder in developing and developed countries. When left untreated, ID leads to anemia. Although the usually recommended treatment for iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is oral iron therapy with countless products, such therapy necessitates administration for >3–6 months with questionable patient compliance since most oral iron products have an unpleasant metallic aftertaste and cause intestinal side effects. In addition, in certain gastrointestinal conditions, such as inflammatory bowel diseases or untreated gluten-sensitive enteropathy, oral iron therapy is contraindicated or unsuccessful. Intravenous iron is considered safe in adults, where adverse events are mild and easily managed. The experience with parenteral iron in children is much more limited, and many pediatricians appear reluctant to use it because of uncorroborated fears of serious anaphylactic reactions. In the current article, we thoroughly review the available pediatric literature on the use of all commercially available parenteral iron products except ferumoxytol, which was recently removed from the market. We conclude that parenteral iron appears to be safe in children; it works faster than oral iron, and the newer third-generation products allow replacement of the total iron deficit in a single sitting.
Optimization of In Vitro Regeneration of Pinus peuce (Gris.)
Authors: Stojičić Dragana , Budimir Snežana , Čokeša Vlado , Uzelac Branka
Published: January 2024

Pinus peuce (Macedonian pine) is considered a valuable ornamental tree that is frequently planted in parks and gardens, especially in Western Europe. This endemic pine is one of the most valuable conifer species in its native range, which currently consists of only two disjunct populations restricted to small mountainous areas of the Balkans and is listed as a near-threatened species. The reproduction of Macedonian pine by seed is limited, so in vitro propagation methods have emerged as a promising tool for large-scale propagation. The objective of this study was to develop an improved system for the micropropagation of P. peuce from juvenile plant material using a short-term liquid cytokinin pulse. For that, explants derived from 4-week-old seedlings were pulse-treated with different concentrations of N6-benzyladenine (BA) for 1 or 2 h to stimulate the induction of axillary buds. The highest axillary shoot formation was achieved with 222 µM BA pulse treatment, with an average number of ~six shoots per explant. Elongated shoots (≥10 mm) were detached from the explants and pulse-treated with 0.27 or 1.08 mM α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) or 0.25 or 0.98 mM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) for 1 or 2 h. IBA was more effective than NAA and led to a maximum rooting percentage (up to 40%) and the highest number of acclimatized plants (15–20%). Rooted plants were successfully transferred to ex vitro conditions.
Management of Cytomegalovirus Infections in the Era of the Novel Antiviral Players, Letermovir and Maribavir
Authors: Piret Jocelyne , Boivin Guy
Published: January 2024

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections may increase morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Until recently, standard antiviral drugs against CMV were limited to viral DNA polymerase inhibitors (val)ganciclovir, foscarnet and cidofovir with a risk for cross-resistance. These drugs may also cause serious side effects. This narrative review provides an update on new antiviral agents that were approved for the prevention and treatment of CMV infections in transplant recipients. Letermovir was approved in 2017 for CMV prophylaxis in CMV-seropositive adults who received an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Maribavir followed four years later, with an indication in the treatment of adult and pediatric transplant patients with refractory/resistant CMV disease. The target of letermovir is the CMV terminase complex (constituted of pUL56, pUL89 and pUL51 subunits). Letermovir prevents the cleavage of viral DNA and its packaging into capsids. Maribavir is a pUL97 kinase inhibitor, which interferes with the assembly of capsids and the egress of virions from the nucleus. Both drugs have activity against most CMV strains resistant to standard drugs and exhibit favorable safety profiles. However, high-level resistance mutations may arise more rapidly in the UL56 gene under letermovir than low-grade resistance mutations. Some mutations emerging in the UL97 gene under maribavir can be cross-resistant with ganciclovir. Thus, letermovir and maribavir now extend the drug arsenal available for the management of CMV infections and their respective niches are currently defined.
AQP3 and AQP9—Contrary Players in Sepsis?
Authors: Thon Patrick , Rahmel Tim , Ziehe Dominik , Palmowski Lars , Marko Britta , Nowak Hartmuth , Wolf Alexander , Witowski Andrea , Orlowski Jennifer , Ellger Björn , Wappler Frank , Schwier Elke , Henzler Dietrich , Köhler Thomas , Zarbock Alexander , Ehrentraut Stefan Felix , Putensen Christian , Frey Ulrich Hermann , Anft Moritz , Babel Nina , Sitek Barbara , Adamzik Michael , Bergmann Lars , Unterberg Matthias , Koos Björn , Rump Katharina
Published: January 2024

Sepsis involves an immunological systemic response to a microbial pathogenic insult, leading to a cascade of interconnected biochemical, cellular, and organ–organ interaction networks. Potential drug targets can depict aquaporins, as they are involved in immunological processes. In immune cells, AQP3 and AQP9 are of special interest. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that these aquaporins are expressed in the blood cells of septic patients and impact sepsis survival. Clinical data, routine laboratory parameters, and blood samples from septic patients were analyzed on day 1 and day 8 after sepsis diagnosis. AQP expression and cytokine serum concentrations were measured. AQP3 mRNA expression increased over the duration of sepsis and was correlated with lymphocyte count. High AQP3 expression was associated with increased survival. In contrast, AQP9 expression was not altered during sepsis and was correlated with neutrophil count, and low levels of AQP9 were associated with increased survival. Furthermore, AQP9 expression was an independent risk factor for sepsis lethality. In conclusion, AQP3 and AQP9 may play contrary roles in the pathophysiology of sepsis, and these results suggest that AQP9 may be a novel drug target in sepsis and, concurrently, a valuable biomarker of the disease.
Metabolic Flexibility of the Heart: The Role of Fatty Acid Metabolism in Health, Heart Failure, and Cardiometabolic Diseases
Authors: Actis Dato Virginia , Lange Stephan , Cho Yoshitake
Published: January 2024

This comprehensive review explores the critical role of fatty acid (FA) metabolism in cardiac diseases, particularly heart failure (HF), and the implications for therapeutic strategies. The heart’s reliance on ATP, primarily sourced from mitochondrial oxidative metabolism, underscores the significance of metabolic flexibility, with fatty acid oxidation (FAO) being a dominant source. In HF, metabolic shifts occur with an altered FA uptake and FAO, impacting mitochondrial function and contributing to disease progression. Conditions like obesity and diabetes also lead to metabolic disturbances, resulting in cardiomyopathy marked by an over-reliance on FAO, mitochondrial dysfunction, and lipotoxicity. Therapeutic approaches targeting FA metabolism in cardiac diseases have evolved, focusing on inhibiting or stimulating FAO to optimize cardiac energetics. Strategies include using CPT1A inhibitors, using PPARα agonists, and enhancing mitochondrial biogenesis and function. However, the effectiveness varies, reflecting the complexity of metabolic remodeling in HF. Hence, treatment strategies should be individualized, considering that cardiac energy metabolism is intricate and tightly regulated. The therapeutic aim is to optimize overall metabolic function, recognizing the pivotal role of FAs and the need for further research to develop effective therapies, with promising new approaches targeting mitochondrial oxidative metabolism and FAO that improve cardiac function.
Predictive Value of Various Atypical Cells for the Detection of Human Papillomavirus in Cervical Smears
Authors: Okayama Kaori , Kakinuma Mao , Teruya Koji , Oda Mizue , Fujii Masahiko , Kimura Hirokazu , Sasagawa Toshiyuki , Okodo Mitsuaki
Published: January 2024

It is thought that numerous genotypes of human papillomavirus (HPV) are associated with various atypical cells, such as multinucleated cells, koilocytes, binucleated cells, parakeratotic cells, and giant cells, in the cervix. We previously showed the specificity of HPV genotypes for koilocytes and multinucleated cells. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed the association among HPV genotypes and binucleated cells, parakeratotic cells, and giant cells in Papanicolaou (Pap) smears. We detected HPV genotypes and atypical cells in 651 cases of liquid-based cytology with an abnormal Pap smear. The HPV genotypes associated with atypical cells were evaluated using stepwise logistic regression with backward elimination and a likelihood ratio test for model construction. Polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the HPV genotypes in whole liquid-based cytology samples and microdissected cell samples from Pap smear slides. Binucleated cells were significantly associated with HPV genotype 42. Moreover, parakeratotic cells were significantly associated with certain HPV genotypes, such as HPV40. However, it was difficult to detect specific HPV genotypes by the manual microdissection-polymerase chain reaction method despite the presence of binucleated cells and parakeratotic cells. Thus, the presence of binucleated cells, parakeratotic cells, and giant cells in Pap smears may not be predictive of cervical lesions above low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions or infection with highly carcinogenic HPV genotypes.
Akt Signaling and Nitric Oxide Synthase as Possible Mediators of the Protective Effect of N-acetyl-L-cysteine in Prediabetes Induced by Sucrose
Authors: Castro María Cecilia , Villagarcía Hernán Gonzalo , Di Sarli Gutiérrez Luciana , Arbeláez Luisa González , Schinella Guillermo , Massa María Laura , Francini Flavio
Published: January 2024

The aim of this work was to evaluate possible mechanisms involved in the protective effect of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) on hepatic endocrine-metabolic, oxidative stress, and inflammatory changes in prediabetic rats. For that, normal male Wistar rats (60 days old) were fed for 21 days with 10% sucrose in their drinking water and 5 days of NAC administration (50 mg/kg, i.p.) and thereafter, we determined: serum glucose, insulin, transaminases, uric acid, and triglyceride levels; hepatic fructokinase and glucokinase activities, glycogen content, lipogenic gene expression; enzymatic and non-enzymatic oxidative stress, insulin signaling pathway, and inflammatory markers. Results showed that alterations evinced in sucrose-fed rats (hypertriglyceridemia, hyperinsulinemia, and high liver fructokinase activity together with increased liver lipogenic gene expression and oxidative stress and inflammatory markers) were prevented by NAC administration. P-endothelial nitric oxide synthase (P-eNOS)/eNOS and pAKT/AKT ratios, decreased by sucrose ingestion, were restored after NAC treatment. In conclusion, the results suggest that NAC administration improves glucose homeostasis, oxidative stress, and inflammation in prediabetic rats probably mediated by modulation of the AKT/NOS pathway. Administration of NAC may be an effective complementary strategy to alleviate or prevent oxidative stress and inflammatory responses observed in type 2 diabetes at early stages of its development (prediabetes).
The Dual Role of Sulforaphane-Induced Cellular Stress—A Systems Biological Study
Authors: Holczer Marianna , Besze Boglárka , Lehel Annamária , Kapuy Orsolya
Published: January 2024

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) plays a crucial role in cellular homeostasis. When ER stress is generated, an autophagic self-digestive process is activated to promote cell survival; however, cell death is induced in the case of excessive levels of ER stress. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of a natural compound called sulforaphane (SFN) upon ER stress. Our goal was to investigate how SFN-dependent autophagy activation affects different stages of ER stress induction. We approached our scientific analysis from a systems biological perspective using both theoretical and molecular biological techniques. We found that SFN induced the various cell-death mechanisms in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. The short SFN treatment at low concentrations promoted autophagy, whereas the longer treatment at higher concentrations activated cell death. We proved that SFN activated autophagy in a mTORC1-dependent manner and that the presence of ULK1 was required for its function. A low concentration of SFN pre- or co-treatment combined with short and long ER stress was able to promote cell survival via autophagy induction in each treatment, suggesting the potential medical importance of SFN in ER stress-related diseases.
Changes in Photosynthetic Characteristics between Green-Leaf Poplar Linn. “2025” and Its Bud-Sporting Colored-Leaf Cultivars
Authors: Wang Tao , Xu Donghuan , Zhang Fan , Yan Tengyue , Li Yuhang , Wang Zhong , Xie Yinfeng , Zhuang Weibing
Published: January 2024

Colored-leaf poplar is increasingly popular due to its great ornamental values and application prospects. However, the photosynthetic characteristics of these colored-leaf cultivars have not been well understood. In this study, the photosynthetic differences between green-leaf poplar Populus deltoids Linn. “2025” (L2025) and colored-leaf cultivars ‘Zhonghong poplar’ (ZHP), ‘Quanhong poplar’ (QHP), and ‘Caihong poplar’ (CHP) were investigated on several levels, including chloroplast ultrastructure observation, photosynthetic physiological characteristics, and expression analysis of key genes. The results showed that the photosynthetic performance of ZHP was basically consistent with that of L2025, while the ranges of light energy absorption and efficiency of light energy utilization decreased to different degrees in CHP and QHP. A relatively low water use efficiency and high dark respiration rate were observed in QHP, suggesting a relatively weak environmental adaptability. The differences in chloroplast structure in different colored-leaf poplars were further observed by transmission electron microscopy. The disorganization of thylakoid in CHP was considered an important reason, resulting in a significant decrease in chlorophyll content compared with other poplar cultivars. Interestingly, CHP exhibited extremely high photosynthetic electron transport activity and photochemical efficiency, which were conductive to maintaining its relatively high photosynthetic performance. The actual quantum yield of PSII photochemistry of ZHP was basically the same as that of QHP, while the relatively high photosynthetic performance indexes in ZHP suggested a more optimized photosynthetic apparatus, which was crucial for the improvement of photosynthetic efficiency. The differential expressions of a series of key genes in different colored-leaf poplars provided a reasonable explanation for anthocyanin accumulation and specific photosynthetic processes.
Abscisic Acid Affects Phenolic Acid Content to Increase Tolerance to UV-B Stress in Rhododendron chrysanthum Pall.
Authors: Zhou Xiangru , Gong Fushuai , Dong Jiawei , Lin Xiaoru , Cao Kun , Xu Hongwei , Zhou Xiaofu
Published: January 2024

The presence of the ozone hole increases the amount of UV radiation reaching a plant’s surface, and UV-B radiation is an abiotic stress capable of affecting plant growth. Rhododendron chrysanthum Pall. (R. chrysanthum) grows in alpine regions, where strong UV-B radiation is present, and has been able to adapt to strong UV-B radiation over a long period of evolution. We investigated the response of R. chrysanthum leaves to UV-B radiation using widely targeted metabolomics and transcriptomics. Although phytohormones have been studied for many years in plant growth and development and adaptation to environmental stresses, this paper is innovative in terms of the species studied and the methods used. Using unique species and the latest research methods, this paper was able to add information to this topic for the species R. chrysanthum. We treated R. chrysanthum grown in a simulated alpine environment, with group M receiving no UV-B radiation and groups N and Q (externally applied abscisic acid treatment) receiving UV-B radiation for 2 days (8 h per day). The results of the MN group showed significant changes in phenolic acid accumulation and differential expression of genes related to phenolic acid synthesis in leaves of R. chrysanthum after UV-B radiation. We combined transcriptomics and metabolomics data to map the metabolic regulatory network of phenolic acids under UV-B stress in order to investigate the response of such secondary metabolites to stress. L-phenylalanine, L-tyrosine and phenylpyruvic acid contents in R. chrysanthum were significantly increased after UV-B radiation. Simultaneously, the levels of 3-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, 2-phenylethanol, anthranilate, 2-hydroxycinnamic acid, 3-hydroxycinnamic acid, α-hydroxycinnamic acid and 2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropanoic acid in this pathway were elevated in response to UV-B stress. In contrast, the study in the NQ group found that externally applied abscisic acid (ABA) in R. chrysanthum had greater tolerance to UV-B radiation, and phenolic acid accumulation under the influence of ABA also showed greater differences. The contents of 2-phenylethanol, 1-o-p-coumaroyl-β-d-glucose, 2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropanoic acid, 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propionic acid and 3-o-feruloylquinic ac-id-o-glucoside were significantly elevated in R. chrysanthum after external application of ABA to protect against UV-B stress. Taken together, these studies of the three groups indicated that ABA can influence phenolic acid production to promote the response of R. chrysanthum to UV-B stress, which provided a theoretical reference for the study of its complex molecular regulatory mechanism.