bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Municipal Sewage Sludge as a Source for Obtaining Efficient Biosorbents: Analysis of Pyrolysis Products and Adsorption Tests
Authors: Mazurek Krzysztof , Drużyński Sebastian , Kiełkowska Urszula , Węgrzynowicz Adam , Nowak Anna K. , Wzorek Zbigniew , Wróbel-Kaszanek Adriana
Published: March 2023

In the 21st century, the development of industry and population growth have significantly increased the amount of sewage sludge produced. It is a by-product of wastewater treatment, which requires appropriate management due to biological and chemical hazards, as well as several legal regulations. The pyrolysis of sewage sludge to biochar can become an effective way to neutralise and use waste. Tests were carried out to determine the effect of pyrolysis conditions, such as time and temperature, on the properties and composition of the products obtained and the sorption capacity of the generated biochar. Fourier transform infrared analysis (FTIR) showed that the main components of the produced gas phase were CO2, CO, CH4 and to a lesser extent volatile organic compounds. In tar, compounds of mainly anthropogenic origin were identified using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The efficiency of obtaining biochars ranged from 44% to 50%. An increase in the pyrolysis temperature resulted in a decreased amount of biochar produced while improving its physicochemical properties. The biochar obtained at high temperatures showed the good adsorption capacity of Cu2+ (26 mg·g−1) and Zn2+ (21 mg·g−1) cations, which indicates that it can compete with similar sorbents. Adsorption of Cu2+ and Zn2+ proceeded according to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm model. The biosorbent obtained from sewage sludge can be successfully used for the separation of metal cations from water and technological wastewater or be the basis for producing modified and mixed carbon sorbents.
Effective and Efficient Porous CeO2 Adsorbent for Acid Orange 7 Adsorption
Authors: Xu Yaohui , Gao Liangjuan , Yang Jinyuan , Yang Qingxiu , Peng Wanxin , Ding Zhao
Published: March 2023

A porous CeO2 was synthesized following the addition of guanidine carbonate to a Ce3+ aqueous solution, the subsequent addition of hydrogen peroxide and a final hydrothermal treatment. The optimal experimental parameters for the synthesis of porous CeO2, including the amounts of guanidine carbonate and hydrogen peroxide and the hydrothermal conditions, were determined by taking the adsorption efficiency of acid orange 7 (AO7) dye as the evaluation. A template−free hydrothermal strategy could avoid the use of soft or hard templates and the subsequent tedious procedures of eliminating templates, which aligned with the goals of energy conservation and emission reduction. Moreover, both the guanidine carbonate and hydrogen peroxide used in this work were accessible and eco−friendly raw materials. The porous CeO2 possessed rapid adsorption capacities for AO7 dye. When the initial concentration of AO7 was less than 130 mg/L, removal efficiencies greater than 90.0% were obtained, achieving a maximum value of 97.5% at [AO7] = 100 mg/L and [CeO2] = 2.0 g/L in the first 10 min of contact. Moreover, the adsorption–desorption equilibrium between the porous CeO2 adsorbent and the AO7 molecule was basically established within the first 30 min. The saturated adsorption amount of AO7 dye was 90.3 mg/g based on a Langmuir linear fitting of the experimental data. Moreover, the porous CeO2 could be recycled using a NaOH aqueous solution, and the adsorption efficiency of AO7 dye still remained above 92.5% after five cycles. This study provided an alternative porous adsorbent for the purification of dye wastewater, and a template−free hydrothermal strategy was developed to enable the design of CeO2−based catalysts or catalyst carriers.
A Proposal for a Simplified Systematic Procedure for the Selection of Electric Motors for Land Vehicles with an Emphasis on Fuel Economy
Authors: Bajrami Albin , Palpacelli Matteo Claudio
Published: March 2023

The selection of the electric motor for the propulsion system in electric vehicles is a crucial step, as it determines the final performance of the vehicle. The design of the propulsion system of an electric vehicle, although similar in principle to that of a conventional endothermic engine, requires a change in vision. Indeed, the main problem in an electric vehicle is its range, which depends not only on the weight of the vehicle but also on the type of powertrain, type of transmission and engine, several factors that are difficult to assess at an early stage. In some cases, during the preliminary design phase of the propulsion system, one simply estimates the maximum power required by the vehicle, neglecting the calculation of the range. This evaluation is postponed to later stages, causing increased complexity and interaction during the propulsion system evaluation process. In this study, vehicle autonomy is taken into account from the outset with the aim to reduce this iteration. This paper proposes a preliminary electric motor selection method for land vehicles, highlighting the importance of smoothing the sampled data of driving cycles. A method for obtaining approximate efficiency maps of the electric motor is also illustrated, and it is shown how the total gear ratio affects vehicle energy consumption. Ultimately, this work makes a contribution to the design of more efficient and high-performance electric vehicles. This topic is more oriented to helping automotive manufactures choose in a fast and structured way electric motors for their vehicles.
Developing a Machine Learning Algorithm for Service Robots in Industrial Applications
Authors: Kulaç Nizamettin , Engin Mustafa
Published: March 2023

Robots, which have mostly been effective in areas such as industrial, agricultural, and production facilities, have started to take a place in the service sector, as their technologies have become lower in cost and more easily accessible. This situation has attracted the attention of companies and researchers and has accelerated studies on this subject. In this study, an algorithm was developed for the autonomous mobile robot to serve in industrial areas. In line with this study, it was ensured that the autonomous mobile robot mapped the working environment, determined the working station in this environment, and then carried out transport operations between these working stations in accordance with a given work order. After the mobile robot fulfilled the work order, it went into a waiting state until a new work order was received. For the mobile robot to save energy, it was ensured that it waited close to the point where the work order came in the most, by means of machine learning in the waiting position. The developed algorithms were designed using the NI LabVIEW environment and then simulated in the RobotinoSIM environment and physically tested using the Robotino autonomous mobile robot platform. The experimental results showed that mapping and location reporting using an RGB camera, odometry, and a QR code eliminated permanent location errors, and the robot completed 50 work orders with 100% accuracy.
Research on the Optimal Control Strategy for the Maximum Torque per Ampere of Brushless Doubly Fed Machines
Authors: Wang Nannan , Xia Chaoying
Published: March 2023

This paper presents an optimization strategy for a brushless doubly fed motor (BDFM) to achieve the maximum torque per ampere (MTPA). This method resolves the issue of high stator currents in slip frequency vector feedback linearization control (SFV-FLC) during both no-load and light-load conditions. Firstly, the paper establishes a reduced-order state-space (SS) model of the BDFM in arbitrary rotating reference coordinates. Secondly, the expression of BDFM is obtained after the control motor rotor field orientation. To ensure a minimal stator current at a specific torque, this paper constructs an auxiliary function based on Lagrange’s theorem, which forces the control motor stator current derivative to be zero, resulting in the MTPA criterion. Finally, the superiority of the MTPA optimization algorithm proposed in the paper is validated through simulation experiments.
Globalization–Income Inequality Nexus in the Post-Soviet Countries: Analysis of Heterogeneous Dataset Using the Quantiles via Moments Approach
Authors: Badur M. Mesut , Islam Md. Monirul , Sohag Kazi
Published: March 2023

Deglobalization, as opposed to the term globalization, appears in the world order due to local solutions to problems and border controls, ignoring the principles of treaties, trade wars, and the expansion of regionalism. In addition, slowbalization helps shrink the global flow of trade, information, and societal and cultural exchange dynamism. However, this scary global order, as triggered by deglobalization and slowbalization, significantly impacts the income factors of allied nations. Against this background, we aim to investigate whether deglobalization and slowbalization proxied by the influencing magnitudes of globalization dimensions (e.g., globalization de facto and de jure, internet diffusions, and trade openness) impact the income inequality of the 12 post-Soviet countries, considering the panel data during 1991–2019. To this end, we apply the quantiles via moments approach to investigate the time-varying connectedness between variables that have country and data-centric heterogeneities. Our findings depict that deglobalization is futile in affecting the post-Soviet countries’ income dynamics, as globalization negatively affects income inequality in diverse quantiles. Specifically, globalization de facto (globalized policy-implementation spectrum) and internet diffusions have a significantly negative influence on reducing income inequality from low to medium quantiles (q.25–q.75). Globalization de jure (globalized policy-decision spectrum) and trade openness are statistically insignificant in entire quantiles (q.25–q.95), implying the likely existence of slowbalization. Finally, government expenditures and governance quality are monotonically negative in reducing income inequality at all quantiles (q.25–q.95). Therefore, policy suggestions enclose galvanizing globalization potentials in curbing income inequality to keep away the distressful phases of deglobalization and slowbalization.
Automatic Product Classification Using Supervised Machine Learning Algorithms in Price Statistics
Authors: Oancea Bogdan
Published: March 2023

Modern approaches to computing consumer price indices include the use of various data sources, such as web-scraped data or scanner data, which are very large in volume and need special processing techniques. In this paper, we address one of the main problems in the consumer price index calculation, namely the product classification, which cannot be performed manually when using large data sources. Therefore, we conducted an experiment on automatic product classification according to an international classification scheme. We combined 9 different word-embedding techniques with 13 classification methods with the aim of identifying the best combination in terms of the quality of the resultant classification. Because the dataset used in this experiment was significantly imbalanced, we compared these methods not only using the accuracy, F1-score, and AUC, but also using a weighted F1-score that better reflected the overall classification quality. Our experiment showed that logistic regression, support vector machines, and random forests, combined with the FastText skip-gram embedding technique provided the best classification results, with superior values in performance metrics, as compared to other similar studies. An execution time analysis showed that, among the three mentioned methods, logistic regression was the fastest while the random forest recorded a longer execution time. We also provided per-class performance metrics and formulated an error analysis that enabled us to identify methods that could be excluded from the range of choices because they provided less reliable classifications for our purposes.
Undirected Structural Markov Property for Bayesian Model Determination
Authors: Kang Xiong , Hu Yingying , Sun Yi
Published: March 2023

This paper generalizes the structural Markov properties for undirected decomposable graphs to arbitrary ones. This helps us to exploit the conditional independence properties of joint prior laws to analyze and compare multiple graphical structures, while being able to take advantage of the common conditional independence constraints. This work provides a theoretical support for full Bayesian posterior updating about the structure of a graph using data from a certain distribution. We further investigate the ratio of graph law so as to simplify the acceptance probability of the Metropolis–Hastings sampling algorithms.
Secure Access Control to Data in Off-Chain Storage in Blockchain-Based Consent Systems
Authors: Goint Mongetro , Bertelle Cyrille , Duvallet Claude
Published: March 2023

Data access control is a crucial aspect of data management. Actors who want to share data need systems to manage consent in order to decide who can access their data. This guarantees the privacy of data, which is often sensitive. As a secure distributed ledger, the blockchain is widely used today to manage consent for data access. However, a blockchain is not ideal for storing large volumes of data due to its characteristics. Therefore, it is often coupled with off-chain systems to facilitate the storage of these kinds of data. Therefore, data located outside the blockchain require security procedures. This article proposes a securing mechanism based on data encryption to secure data in off-chain storage in blockchain-based consent systems. The protocol uses a symmetric key system, which prevents the reading of data stored outside the sphere of the blockchain by malicious actors who would have access. The mechanism’s set up allows each set of data to be encrypted with a symmetric key that is anchored in a blockchain. This key is then used by the actors who have obtained the consent of the data owner to access and read the data stored outside the blockchain.
Upper-Limb Robotic Exoskeleton for Early Cardiac Rehabilitation Following an Open-Heart Surgery—Mathematical Modelling and Empirical Validation
Authors: Mocan Bogdan , Schonstein Claudiu , Murar Mircea , Neamtu Calin , Fulea Mircea , Mocan Mihaela , Dragan Simona , Feier Horea
Published: March 2023

Robotic exoskeletons have the potential to enhance the quality of life of patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation. Recent studies found that the use of such devices was associated with significant improvements in physical function, mobility, and overall well-being for individuals recovering from a cardiac event. These improvements were seen across a range of measures, including cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, and joint range of motion. In addition, the use of robotic exoskeletons may help to accelerate the rehabilitation process, allowing patients to make faster progress towards their goals. This article proposes a new robotic exoskeleton structure with 12 DOFs (6 DOFs on each arm) in a symmetrical construction for upper limbs intended to be used in the early rehabilitation of cardiac patients following open-heart surgery or a major cardiac event. The mathematical modelling and empirical validation of the robotic exoskeleton prototype are described. The matrix exponential algorithm, kinetic energy, and generalized forces were employed to overcome the problem of high complexity regarding the kinematic and dynamic model of the robotic exoskeleton. The robotic exoskeleton prototype was empirically validated by assessing its functionalities in a lab and medical environment.
From Wavelet Analysis to Fractional Calculus: A Review
Authors: Guariglia Emanuel , Guido Rodrigo C. , Dalalana Gabriel J. P.
Published: March 2023

In this note, we review some important results on wavelets, together with their main applications. Similarly, we present the main results on fractional calculus and their current applications in pure and applied science. We conclude the paper showing the close interconnection between wavelet analysis and fractional calculus.
Analytical Predictions on the Ground Responses Induced by Shallow Tunneling Adjacent to a Pile Group
Authors: Guo Caixia , Tao Yingying , Kong Fanchao , Shi Leilei , Lu Dechun , Du Xiuli
Published: March 2023

Prevalent buildings are supported by pile foundations in urban areas, and the importance of nearby excavation prediction is indisputable due to various engineering accidents caused by the density of urban buildings and the complexity of the underground environment. Recently, a case of tunneling adjacent to a pile group has received a lot of attention from the research community and engineers. In this study, a mechanical model of a shallow tunnel adjacent to a pile group is established. The proposed stress-release function is taken as the stress boundary condition of the tunnel periphery. Considering the pile group, the elastic stresses are calculated by complex variable theory, combined with the Mindlin’s solution. Then, the new analytical solutions to stress are obtained to predict the stratum responses induced by tunneling adjacent to the existing pile group loads inside the stratum in a gravity field. Ultimately, this study provides parameters to analyze their influence on ground stress and potential plastic zone, such as the stress release coefficient, pile group locations, and soil parameters. This research provides a theoretical basis for stratum stresses’ prediction in shallow tunneling engineering fields when tunneling adjacent to a pile group, and it can be applied to the construction of resilient cities.
Correction: Krulić Himmelreich et al. Generalizations of Hardy Type Inequalities by Abel–Gontscharoff’s Interpolating Polynomial. Mathematics 2021, 9, 1724
Authors: Krulić Himmelreich Kristina , Pečarić Josip , Pokaz Dora , Praljak Marjan
Published: March 2023

In the published publication [...]
Data-Driven pH Model in Raceway Reactors for Freshwater and Wastewater Cultures
Authors: Otálora Pablo , Guzmán José Luis , Berenguel Manuel , Acién Francisco Gabriel
Published: March 2023

The industrial production of microalgae is a process as sustainable as it is interesting in terms of its diverse applications, especially for wastewater treatment. Its optimization requires an exhaustive knowledge of the system, which is commonly achieved through models that describe its dynamics. Although not widely used in this field, artificial neural networks are presented as an appropriate technique to develop this type of model, having the ability to adapt to complex and nonlinear problems solely from the process data. In this work, neural network models have been developed to characterize the pH dynamics in two different raceway reactors, one with freshwater and the other with wastewater. The models are able to predict pH profiles with a prediction horizon of up to eleven hours and only using available measurable process data, such as medimum level, CO2 injection, and solar radiation. The results demonstrate the potential of artificial neural networks in the modeling of continuous dynamic systems in the field of industry, obtaining accurate, fast-running models that can adapt to different circumstances. Moreover, these models open the field to the design of data-driven model-based control algorithms to account for the nonlinear dynamics of this biological system.
Speed Regulation for PMSM with Super-Twisting Sliding-Mode Controller via Disturbance Observer
Authors: Hu Mingyuan , Ahn Hyeongki , Chung Yoonuh , You Kwanho
Published: March 2023

This paper focuses on the speed regulation of a permanent-magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) with an uncertain extended load disturbance. A novel super-twisting sliding-mode control (NSTSMC) was proposed via a nonlinear integral sliding surface and a modified reaching law, effectively suppressing the chattering phenomenon. In addition, the NSTSMC can improve the convergence performance with a 0.04 s settling time, satisfying the super-twisting algorithm stability condition. For the novel integral sliding surface, the integral power term of the system state variables was incorporated into the conventional sliding surface to effectively improve the convergence rate and anti-disturbance ability. Moreover, an extended sliding-mode disturbance observer (ESO) was used to estimate the lumped extended disturbance and add the corresponding feedback compensation value from the sliding-mode disturbance observer to the output of the speed controller for the improved robustness of the system. The ESO-NSTSMC was developed to improve the performance of PMSM speed regulation by combining the advantages of the novel integral sliding surface, achieving a settling time of 0.01 s without overshoot. We confirm the performance of the proposed NSTSMC through a PMSM speed simulation and demonstrate that the controller can enhance the dynamic performance and robustness of the system.
Automated EEG Pathology Detection Based on Significant Feature Extraction and Selection
Authors: Zhong Yunning , Wei Hongyu , Chen Lifei , Wu Tao
Published: March 2023

Neurological diseases are a significant health threat, often presenting through abnormalities in electroencephalogram (EEG) signals during seizures. In recent years, machine learning (ML) technologies have been explored as a means of automated EEG pathology diagnosis. However, existing ML-based EEG binary classification methods largely focus on extracting EEG-related features, which may lead to poor performance in classifying EEG signals by overlooking potentially redundant information. In this paper, we propose a novel Kruskal–Wallis (KW) test-based framework for EEG pathology detection. Our framework first divides EEG data into frequency sub-bands using wavelet packet decomposition and then extracts statistical characteristics from each selected coefficient. Next, the piecewise aggregation approximation technique is used to obtain the aggregated feature vectors, followed by the KW statistical test methodology to select significant features. Finally, three ensemble learning classifiers, random forest, categorical boosting (CatBoost), and light gradient boosting machine, are used to classify the extracted significant features into normal or abnormal classes. Our proposed framework achieves an accuracy of 89.13%, F1-score of 87.60%, and G-mean of 88.60%, respectively, outperforming other competing techniques on the same dataset, which shows the great promise in EEG pathology detection.
Insights into Common Octopus (Octopus vulgaris) Ink Proteome and Bioactive Peptides Using Proteomic Approaches
Authors: Imran Md Abdus Shukur , Carrera Mónica , Pérez-Polo Sara , Pérez Jaime , Barros Lorena , Dios Sonia , Gestal Camino
Published: March 2023

The common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) is nowadays the most demanded cephalopod species for human consumption. This species was also postulated for aquaculture diversification to supply its increasing demand in the market worldwide, which only relies on continuously declining field captures. In addition, they serve as model species for biomedical and behavioral studies. Body parts of marine species are usually removed before reaching the final consumer as by-products in order to improve preservation, reduce shipping weight, and increase product quality. These by-products have recently attracted increasing attention due to the discovery of several relevant bioactive compounds. Particularly, the common octopus ink has been described as having antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, among others. In this study, the advanced proteomics discipline was applied to generate a common octopus reference proteome to screen potential bioactive peptides from fishing discards and by-products such as ink. A shotgun proteomics approach by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) using an Orbitrap Elite instrument was used to create a reference dataset from octopus ink. A total of 1432 different peptides belonging to 361 non-redundant annotated proteins were identified. The final proteome compilation was investigated by integrated in silico studies, including gene ontology (GO) term enrichment, pathways, and network studies. Different immune functioning proteins involved in the innate immune system, such as ferritin, catalase, proteasome, Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase, calreticulin, disulfide isomerase, heat shock protein, etc., were found in ink protein networks. Additionally, the potential of bioactive peptides from octopus ink was addressed. These bioactive peptides can exert beneficial health properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antihypertensive, and antitumoral properties and are therefore considered lead compounds for developing pharmacological, functional foods or nutraceuticals.
Management of Pregnancy with Cervical Shortening: Real-Life Clinical Challenges
Authors: Kornete Anna , Volozonoka Ludmila , Zolovs Maksims , Rota Adele , Kempa Inga , Gailite Linda , Rezeberga Dace , Miskova Anna
Published: March 2023

Background and Objectives: Preterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal mortality worldwide and may be responsible for lifelong morbidities in the survivors. Cervical shortening is one of the common pathways to preterm birth associated with its own diagnostic and management challenges. The preventive modalities that have been tested include progesterone supplementation and cervical cerclage and pessaries. The study aimed to assess the management strategies and outcomes in a group of patients with a short cervix during pregnancy or cervical insufficiency. Materials and Methods: Seventy patients from the Riga Maternity Hospital in Riga, Latvia, were included in the prospective longitudinal cohort study between 2017 and 2021. Patients were treated with progesterone, cerclage, and/or pessaries. The signs of intra-amniotic infection/inflammation were assessed, and antibacterial therapy was given when the signs were positive. Results: The rates of PTB were 43.6% (n = 17), 45.5% (n = 5), 61.1% (n = 11), and 50.0% (n = 1) in progesterone only, cerclage, pessary, and cerclage plus pesssary groups, respectively. The progesterone therapy was associated with a reduced preterm birth risk (x2(1) = 6.937, p = 0.008)), whereas positive signs of intra-amniotic infection/inflammation significantly predicted the risk of preterm birth (p = 0.005, OR = 3.82, 95% [CI 1.31–11.11]). Conclusions: A short cervix and bulging membranes, both indicators of intra-amniotic infection/inflammation, are the key risk factors in preterm birth risk predictions. Progesterone supplementation should remain at the forefront of preterm birth prevention. Among patients with a short cervix and especially complex anamnesis, the preterm rates remain high. The successful management of patients with cervical shortening lies between the consensus-based approach for screening, follow-up, and treatment on the one side and personalising medical therapy on the other.
The Top Three Burning Questions in Total Hip Arthroplasty
Authors: Manouras Lefteris , Bastian Johannes Dominik , Beckmann Nicholas Andreas , Tosounidis Theodoros H.
Published: March 2023

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) for end-stage osteoarthritis is one of the most effective surgical treatments in medicine. Impressive outcomes have been well documented in the literature with patients gaining ambulation and recovery of hip joint function. Nevertheless, there are still debatable issues and controversies that the orthopedic community has not been able to provide a definitive answer for. This review is focused on the current three most debatable issues surrounding the THA procedure: (1) new cutting-edge technology, (2) spinopelvic mobility, and (3) fast-track protocols. The scope of the herein narrative review is to analyze the debatable issues surrounding the three aforementioned topics and conclude the best contemporary clinical approaches regarding each issue.
Sustained Remission Off-Treatment (SROT) of TPO-RAs: The Burgos Ten-Step Eltrombopag Tapering Scheme
Authors: González-López Tomás José , Provan Drew
Published: March 2023

Background and Objectives: TPO-RAs (romiplostim/eltrombopag/avatrombopag) have broadly demonstrated high efficacy rates (59–88%), durable responses (up to three years) and a satisfactory safety profile in clinical trials. The effect of TPO-RAs is classically considered to be transient because platelet numbers usually dropped rapidly to baseline unless therapy was maintained. However, several groups have reported the possibility of successfully discontinuing TPO-RAs in some patients without further need for concomitant treatments. This concept is usually referred as sustained remission off-treatment (SROT). Materials and Methods: Unfortunately, we still lack predictors of the response to discontinuation even after the numerous biological, clinical and in vitro studies performed to study this phenomenon. The frequency of successful discontinuation is matter of controversy, although a percentage in the range of 25–40% may probably be considered a consensus. Here, we describe all major routine clinical practice studies and reviews that report the current position on this topic and compare them with our own results in Burgos. Results: We report our Burgos ten-step eltrombopag tapering scheme with which we have achieved an elevated percentage rate of success (70.3%) in discontinuing treatment. Conclusions: We hope this protocol may help successfully taper and discontinue TPO-RAs in daily clinical practice.
Incidence, Mortality, and Survival Trends in Cancer of the Gallbladder and Extrahepatic Bile Ducts in Lithuania
Authors: Dulskas Audrius , Cerkauskaite Dovile , Patasius Ausvydas , Smailyte Giedre
Published: March 2023

Background and Objectives: Gallbladder cancer is a rare type of cancer, with aggressive clinical behavior. Limited treatment options provide poor survival prognosis. We aimed to investigate the incidence, mortality trends, and survival of gallbladder and extrahepatic bile duct cancer in Lithuania between 1998 and 2017. Materials and Methods: The study was based on the Lithuanian Cancer Registry database. The study included all cases of cancer of the gallbladder and extrahepatic bile ducts reported to the Registry in the period 1998–2017. Age-specific and age-standardized incidence rates were calculated. In addition, 95% confidence intervals for APC (Annual Percent Change) were calculated. Changes were considered statistically significant if p was <0.05. Relative survival estimates were calculated using period analysis according to the Ederer II method. Results: Age-standardized rates for gallbladder cancer and extrahepatic bile duct cancer among females decreased from 3.91 to 1.93 cases per 100.000 individuals between 1998 and 2017, and from 2.32 to 1.59 cases per 100.000 individuals between 1998 and 2017 among males. The highest incidence rates were found in the 85+ group with 27.5/100,000 individuals in females and 26.8/100,000 individuals in males. The 1-year as well as 5-year relative survival rates of both genders were 34.29% (95% CI 32.12–36.48) and 16.29% (95% CI 14.40–18.27), respectively. Conclusions: Incidence and mortality from gallbladder and extrahepatic bile duct cancer decreased in both sexes in Lithuania. Incidence and mortality rates were higher in females than in males. Relative 1-year and 5-year survival rates showed a steady increase during the study period among males and females.
In Vitro Evaluation Reveals Effect and Mechanism of Artemether against Toxoplasma gondii
Authors: Xu Qiong , Duan Yin-Yan , Pan Ming , Jin Qi-Wang , Tao Jian-Ping , Huang Si-Yang
Published: March 2023

Due to the limited effectiveness of existing drugs for the treatment of toxoplasmosis, there is a dire need for the discovery of new therapeutic options. Artemether is an important drug for malaria and several studies have indicated that it also exhibits anti-T. gondii activity. However, its specific effect and mechanisms are still not clear. To elucidate its specific role and potential mechanism, we first evaluated its cytotoxicity and anti-Toxoplasma effect on human foreskin fibroblast cells, and then analyzed its inhibitory activity during T. gondii invasion and intracellular proliferation. Finally, we examined its effect on mitochondrial membrane potential and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in T. gondii. The CC50 value of artemether was found to be 866.4 μM, and IC50 was 9.035 μM. It exhibited anti-T. gondii activity and inhibited the growth of T. gondii in a dose-dependent manner. We also found that the inhibition occurred primarily in intracellular proliferation, achieved by reducing the mitochondrial membrane integrity of T. gondii and stimulating ROS production. These findings suggest that the mechanism of artemether against T. gondii is related to a change in the mitochondrial membrane and the increase in ROS production, which may provide a theoretical basis for optimizing artemether derivatives and further improving their anti-Toxoplasma efficacy.
Effects of Hops Treatment on Nitrogen Retention, Volatile Fatty Acid Accumulations, and Select Microbial Populations of Composting Poultry Litter Intended for Use as a Ruminant Feedstuff
Authors: Castillo-Castillo Yamicela , Arzola-Alvarez Claudio , Fonseca Mozart , Salinas-Chavira Jaime , Ontiveros-Magadan Marina , Hume Michael E. , Anderson Robin C. , Flythe Michael D. , Byrd James Allen , Ruiz-Barrera Oscar
Published: March 2023

Poultry litter is a valuable crude protein feedstuff for ruminants, but it must be treated to kill pathogens before feeding. Composting effectively kills pathogens, but it risks losing ammonia to volatilization or leaching during degradation of uric acid and urea. Hops bitter acids also exert antimicrobial activity against certain pathogenic and nitrogen-degrading microbes. Consequently, the present studies were conducted to test if adding bitter acid-rich hop preparations to simulated poultry litter composts may improve nitrogen retention while simultaneously improving pathogen killing. Results from an initial study, testing doses of Chinook or Galena hops preparations designed to each deliver 79 ppm hops β-acid, revealed that, after nine days simulated composting of wood chip litter, ammonia concentrations were 14% lower (p < 0.05) in Chinook-treated composts than untreated composts (13.4 ± 1.06 µmol/g). Conversely, urea concentrations were 55% lower (p < 0.05) in Galena-treated than untreated composts (6.2 ± 1.72 µmol/g). Uric acid accumulations were unaffected by hops treatments in this study but were higher (p < 0.05) after three days than after zero, six, or nine days of composting. In follow-up studies, Chinook or Galena hops treatments (delivering 2042 or 6126 ppm of β-acid, respectively) for simulated composts (14 days) of wood chip litter alone or mixed 3:1 with ground Bluestem hay (Andropogon gerardii) revealed that these higher dosages had little effect on ammonia, urea, or uric acid accumulations when compared to untreated composts. Volatile fatty acid accumulations measured in these later studies were affected by the hops treatments, with butyrate accumulations being lower after 14 days in hops-treated composts than in untreated compost. In all studies, beneficial effects of Galena or Chinook hops treatments were not observed on the antimicrobial activity of the simulated composts, with composting by itself decreasing (p < 0.05) counts of select microbial populations by more than 2.5 log10 colony forming units/g compost dry matter. Thus, while hops treatments had little effect on pathogen control or nitrogen retention within the composted litter, they did lessen accumulations of butyrate, which may prevent adverse effects of this fatty acid on palatability of litter fed to ruminants.
Preparation and Evaluation of Zeolite Nanoparticles as a Delivery System for Helicoverpa armigera Nucleopolyhedrovirus (HaNPV) against the Spodoptera litura (Fabricius, 1775) Larvae
Authors: Miranti Mia , Panatarani Camellia , Joni I Made , Putri Maharani Herawan Ossa , Kasmara Hikmat , Melanie Melanie , Malini Desak Made , Hermawan Wawan
Published: March 2023

Synthetic insecticides frequently cause pest resistance and destroy non-target organisms. Thus, virus formulation is an issue that deserves considerable attention in developing virus-based insecticides. The hindrance of using nucleopolyhedrovirus alone as a virus-based insecticide is due to slow lethal time, though its mortality remains high (100%). This paper reports the formulation of zeolite nanoparticles as a delivery system to accelerate lethal time in controlling Spodoptera litura (Fabr.). Zeolite nanoparticles were prepared using the beads-milling method. The statistical analysis was carried out by a description exploration method with six replications. The occlusion bodies’ concentration in the virus formulation was 4 × 107 OBs in 1 mL medium. Zeolite nanoparticles formulation sped up the lethal time significantly (7.67 days) compared to micro-size zeolite (12.70 days) and only nucleopolyhedrovirus (8.12 days) and received acceptable mortality (86.4%). The zeolite nanoparticles delivery system provides an alternative formulation for nucleopolyhedrovirus with a significantly improved speed of killing the virus while maintaining suitable efficacy of the virus preparation in terms of the prevalence of mortality.
Anti-Inflammatory Effects of β-Cryptoxanthin on 5-Fluorouracil-Induced Cytokine Expression in Human Oral Mucosal Keratinocytes
Authors: Yamanobe Hironaka , Yamamoto Kenta , Kishimoto Saki , Nakai Kei , Oseko Fumishige , Yamamoto Toshiro , Mazda Osam , Kanamura Narisato
Published: March 2023

Oral mucositis is a typical adverse effect of chemotherapy, causing oral pain that significantly reduces the patient’s quality of life. β-cryptoxanthin (β-cry) is a carotenoid abundant in citrus fruits with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. However, the β-cry effect on oral mucositis remains unclear. We investigated the effects of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and β-cry on human normal oral mucosal keratinocytes (hOMK). hOMK was seeded on a culture plate and cultured with 5-FU and β-cry. The cell number, mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and production of inflammatory cytokines in hOMK were evaluated. Additionally, the cell count and inflammatory cytokine production were analyzed when hOMK was co-stimulated with Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (P. gingivalis LPS) in addition to 5-FU. The numbers of hOMK significantly reduced with 5-FU stimulation, whereas it increased with β-cry treatment. mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, and MMP-9 and protein production of IL-6 and IL-8 in hOMK were augmented on 5-FU stimulation. Simultaneously, β-cry treatment significantly suppressed IL-8 and MMP-9 mRNA expression, and IL-8 production was induced on 5-FU stimulation. Co-stimulation with P. gingivalis LPS and 5-FU enhanced IL-6 and IL-8 production in hOMK. β-cry could enhance cell proliferation and suppress 5-FU-induced expression of inflammatory cytokines and MMP in hOMK. Thus, β-cry can alleviate the symptoms of chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis, and its combination with oral care is effective in managing oral mucositis.
Ribosome Biogenesis Regulator 1 Homolog (RRS1) Promotes Cisplatin Resistance by Regulating AEG-1 Abundance in Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Song Junying , Peng Cuixiu , Wang Runze , Hua Yanan , Wu Qinglan , Deng Lin , Cao Yi , Zhang Li , Hou Lin
Published: March 2023

Many ribosomal proteins are highly expressed in tumors and are closely related to their diagnosis, prognosis and pathological characteristics. However, few studies are available on the correlation between ribosomal proteins and chemoresistance. RRS1 (human regulator of ribosome synthesis 1), a critical nuclear protein involved in ribosome biogenesis, also plays a key role in the genesis and development of breast cancer by protecting cancer cells from apoptosis. Given that apoptosis resistance is one of the causes of the cisplatin resistance of tumor cells, our aim was to determine the relationship between RRS1 and cisplatin resistance in breast cancer cells. Here, we report that RRS1 is associated with cisplatin resistance in breast cancer cells. RRS1 silencing increased the sensitivity of MCF-7/DDP cells to cisplatin and inhibited cancer cell proliferation by blocking cell cycle distribution and enhancing apoptosis. AEG-1 (astrocyte elevated gene-1) promotes drug resistance by interfering with the ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of MDR1 (multidrug resistance gene 1), thereby enhancing drug efflux. We found that RRS1 binds to and stabilizes AEG-1 by inhibiting ubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation, which then promotes drug efflux by upregulating MDR1. Furthermore, RRS1 also induces apoptosis resistance in breast cancer cells through the ERK/Bcl-2/BAX signaling pathway. Our study is the first to show that RRS1 sensitizes breast cancer cells to cisplatin by binding to AEG-1, and it provides a theoretical basis to improve the efficacy of cisplatin-based chemotherapy.
Kinetics and Mechanism of In(III) Ions Electroreduction on Cyclically Renewable Liquid Silver Amalgam Film Electrode: Significance of the Active Complexes of In(III)—Acetazolamide
Authors: Nosal-Wiercińska Agnieszka , Martyna Marlena , Pawlak Alicja , Bazan-Woźniak Aleksandra , Pietrzak Robert , Yilmaz Selehatin , Yağmur Kabaş Sultan , Szabelska Anna
Published: March 2023

The results of kinetic measurements revealed an accelerating effect of acetazolamide (ACT) on the multistep In(III) ions electroreduction in chlorates(VII) on a novel, cyclically renewable liquid silver amalgam film electrode (R–AgLAFE). The kinetic and thermodynamic parameters were determined by applying the DC polarography, square-wave (SWV) and cyclic voltammetry (CV), as well as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). It was shown that ACT catalyzed the electrode reaction (“cap-pair” effect) by adsorbing on the surface of the R–AgLAFE electrode. The catalytic activity of ACT was explained as related to its ability to form active In(III)- acetazolamide complexes on the electrode surface, facilitating the electron transfer process. The active complexes constitute a substrate in the electroreduction process and their different structures and properties are responsible for differences in the catalytic activity. The determined values of the activation energy ΔH≠ point to the catalytic activity of ACT in the In(III) ions electroreduction process in chlorates(VII). Analysis of the standard entropy values ΔS0 confirm changes in the dynamics of the electrode process.
Designing Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Polyethylene Films with Bioactive Compounds/Clay Nanohybrids for Potential Packaging Applications
Authors: Safakas Konstantinos , Giotopoulou Iro , Giannakopoulou Archontoula , Katerinopoulou Katerina , Lainioti Georgia C. , Stamatis Haralambos , Barkoula Nektaria-Marianthi , Ladavos Athanasios
Published: March 2023

In the present work, direct incorporation of bioactive compounds onto the surface and interlayer of nanoclays before their incorporation into the final polymeric film was conducted, based on a green methodology developed by our group that is compatible with food packaging. This will lead to the higher thermal stability and the significant reduction of the loss of activity of the active ingredients during packaging configuration. On this basis, the essential oil (EO) components carvacrol (C), thymol (T) as well as olive leaf extract (OLE), which is used for the first time, were incorporated onto organo-modified montmorillonite (O) or inorganic bentonite (B) through the evaporation/adsorption method. The prepared bioactive nanocarriers were further mixed with low-density polyethylene (LDPE), via melt compounding, in order to prepare films for potential use as fresh fruit and vegetable packaging material. Characterization of the bioactive nanocarriers and films were performed through XRD, TGA, tensile, antimicrobial and antioxidant tests. Films with organically modified montmorillonite loaded with carvacrol (OC), thymol (OT) and olive leaf extract (OOLE) at 5% wt. showed better results in terms of mechanical properties. The films with polyethylene and organically modified montmorillonite loaded with carvacrol or thymol at 20% wt. (PE_OC20 and PE_OT20), as well as with olive leaf extract at 5 or 10 %wt., clay:bioactive substance ratio 1:0.5 and 10% compatibilizer (PE_OOLE5_MA10 and PE_OOLE10_MA10) exhibited the highest antioxidant activity. The resulting films displayed outstanding antimicrobial properties against Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) with the best results appearing in the films with 10% OC and OT.
Review on Optical Methods Used to Characterize the Linear Birefringence of Polymer Materials for Various Applications
Authors: Dorohoi Dana Ortansa , Postolache Mihai , Nechifor Cristina Delia , Dimitriu Dan Gheorghe , Albu Raluca Marinica , Stoica Iuliana , Barzic Andreea Irina
Published: March 2023

Optical polymers are recognized for their high transparency, raised flexibility, low cost, and good film-forming ability; hence, they introduce a multitude of benefits in a wide range of devices, such as information storage, displays, optical communications, and filters. Among the optical properties, birefringence is an essential parameter in practical cases that demand the control of the state of polarization of light. This review is focused on describing some fundamental and applicative aspects concerning the optical birefringence of the polymer materials. First, elementary notions depicting the phenomenon of light double refraction in macromolecular media are provided. Furthermore, the most relevant optical techniques to determine birefringence are reviewed by highlighting the working principle and mathematical basis for computing this parameter. Then, a series of investigations of optically birefringent polymers are described, summarizing the most utilized approaches to induce light double refraction in such materials. The selected results are analyzed in relation to the pursued applications. In the end, the future of this scientific domain is briefly presented by establishing the research paths that need further exploration. Moreover, the novel directions that could be formulated and might contribute to certain considerable advancements in the materials employed in the modern optical technologies are mentioned.