bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Biofuel Blending on Hydrocarbon Speciation and Particulate Matter from a Medium-Duty Multimode Combustion Strategy
Authors: Park Yensil , Moses-DeBusk Melanie , Sluder Scott S. , Huff Shean P.
Published: August 2023

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Co-Optima initiative simultaneous focused on diversifying fuel sources, improving efficiency, and reducing emissions through using novel combustion strategies and sustainable fuel blends. For medium-duty/heavy-duty diesel engines, research in this area has led to the development of a multimode strategy that uses premixed charge compression ignition (PCCI) at low loads and conventional diesel combustion (CDC) at mid–high loads. The aim of this study was to understand how emissions were impacted when using PCCI instead of CDC at low loads and switching to an oxygenated biofuel blend. It provides a detailed speciation of the hydrocarbon (HC) and particulate matter (PM) emissions from a multimode medium-duty engine operating at low loads in PCCI and CDC modes and high loads in CDC. The effect of the oxygenated biofuel blend on emissions was studied at all three mode–load conditions using #2 ULSD and a bio-derived fuel (25% hexyl hexanoate (HHN)) blended in #2 ULSD. The PCCI mode effectively decreased NOx, total HC, and PM/PN emissions, with a substantial decrease in larger particles (≥50 nm). A PM/PN reduction was observed at high loads with the 25% HHN fuel. While the total HC emissions were not impacted by fuel type, the detailed HC analysis exposed changes in the HC’s composition.
A Review of Power Transfer Systems for Light Rail Vehicles: The Case for Capacitive Wireless Power Transfer
Authors: John Williams Kyle , Wiseman Kade , Deilami Sara , Town Graham , Taghizadeh Foad
Published: August 2023

Light rail vehicles (LRVs) are increasingly in demand to sustainably meet the transport needs of growing populations in urban centres. LRVs have commonly been powered from the grid by direct-contact overhead catenary systems (OCS); however, catenary-free direct-contact systems, such as via a “hidden rail”, are popular for new installations. Wireless power transfer (WPT) is an emerging power transfer (PT) technology for e-transport with several advantages over direct contact systems, including improved aesthetics and reduced maintenance requirements; however, they are yet to be utilised in LRV systems. This paper provides a review of existing direct-contact and wireless PT technologies for LRVs, followed by an in-depth critical assessment of inductive power transfer (IPT) and capacitive power transfer (CPT) technologies for LRVs. In particular, the feasibility and advantages of CPT for powering LRVs are presented, highlighting the efficacy of CPT with respect to power transfer capability, safety, and other factors. Finally, limitations and recommendations for future works are identified.
Feasibility for the Recovery of Excavated Soils in Compressed Earth Blocks as a Sustainable Building Material
Authors: Hussain Mazhar , Zmamou Hafida , Provost Antony , Mahieu Angélique , Leblanc Nathalie , Levacher Daniel , Chenot Elise , Kane Abdoulaye
Published: August 2023

Soil is continuously excavated for development activities in urban and rural areas and treated as waste. This study investigates the characteristics of urban soils excavated from earthworks of buildings in the Brittany region of France for their perspective reuse in earthen construction materials to valorize soil waste and provide a sustainable building material locally. Excavated soil from earthwork activities was taken from the Brittany region of France from three different locations. Soil suitability for compressed earth blocks was investigated based on their granulometry, consistency limits, and mineralogy. Finally, compressed earth blocks with dimensions of 4 × 4 × 16 cm3 were manufactured with different formulations and compacted dynamically. Flexural and compressive strength tests were performed on bricks to observe their mechanical behavior. Grain size analysis of soil samples shows that the percentage of clay in the landfill stockpile of excavated soils varies between 13% and 16%, while at some local sites, the percentage of clay goes up to 57%. The grain size of soils varies from the recommended zone. The plasticity of soil samples ranges from 17.3% to 20.4%. The plasticity index and clay content of the soil show that these soils are inactive clays with a lesser possibility of swelling and shrinkage. Mineralogical analysis of soil shows the absence of water-sensitive clay minerals, while quartz, kaolinite, and illite are major minerals present in soils. Linear shrinkage in bricks ranges from 0.6% to 2.2% and is considerably higher for clayey soils. Mechanical testing of earth bricks shows that the compressive strength of earth blocks ranges from 0.92 MPa to 2.22 MPa while the flexural strength ranges from 0.25 to 0.74 MPa. A mixture of sandy and clayey soils shows good strength due to improved granulometry. Earth bricks with soils from some stockpiles, excavation sites, and soil mixture show compressive strength higher than 1 MPa, which is recommended strength by international standards, and offer the opportunity to produce sustainable building materials locally.
Evaluation of Exosomal miRNA as Potential Biomarkers in Cervical Cancer
Authors: do Nascimento Medeiros Jéssika Aline , Sarmento Ayane Cristine Alves , Bernardes-Oliveira Emanuelly , de Oliveira Ronnier , Lima Maysa Eunice Grigorio Bezerra , Gonçalves Ana Katherine , de Souza Dantas Deyse , de Oliveira Crispim Janaina Cristiana
Published: August 2023

Different studies show that small non-coding RNAs, such as microRNAs (miRNAs) obtained from exosomes, are considered potential biomarkers in several types of cancer, including cervical cancer (CC). Therefore, the present study seeks to present an overview of the role of circulating exosomal miRNAs with the potential to act as biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of CC and to analyze the presence of these miRNAs according to the stage of CC. For this purpose, a review was developed, with articles consulted from the electronic databases MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science published between 2015 and 2021. Seven articles were included after a selection of studies according to the eligibility criteria. In addition to the methods used for sample analysis, detection, and isolation of miRNAs in each article, clinical data were also extracted from the patients studied, such as the stage of cancer. After analyzing the network of the seven miRNAs, they were associated with the immune system, CC progression and staging, and cisplatin resistance. With the belief that studies on miRNAs in cervical cancer would have major clinical implications, in this review, we have attempted to summarize the current situation and potential development prospects.
Valorization of Mexican Rambutan Peel through the Recovery of Ellagic Acid via Solid-State Fermentation Using a Yeast
Authors: De La Rosa-Esteban Karen , Sepúlveda Leonardo , Chávez-González Mónica , Torres-León Cristian , Estrada-Gil Luis , Aguilar Cristóbal , Ascacio-Valdés Juan
Published: August 2023

Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.) is a tropical fruit that is originally from Southeast Asia and it was introduced to Mexico in the 1960s; the fruit’s peel is known to possess ellagitannins such as ellagic acid which give the peel great biological activity; solid-state fermentation has been used to obtain said compounds and rambutan peel can be used as a fermentation support/substrate; this work aims to obtain, identify and quantify ellagic acid obtained via SSF with a strain of yeast. The water-absorption index and the support’s maximum moisture were determined. To determine the ideal conditions for ellagic acid accumulation, a Box–Behnken 3k experimental design was applied using variables such as temperature, moisture and inoculum. The maximum accumulation time of ellagic acid via solid-state fermentation was determined to be 48 h with ideal conditions of 30 °C, 60% moisture and 1.5 × 107 cells/g using S. cerevisiae, and high-performance liquid chromatography was used to identify ellagic acid, geraniin and corilagin as the most abundant compounds. The maximum recovery of ellagic acid was 458 ± 44.6 mg/g. HPLC/ESI/MS analysis at 48 h fermentation showed biodegradation of geraniin and corilagin due to ellagic acid. Mexican rambutan peel has been demonstrated to be a suitable substrate for SSF.
Structural Characterization with Laser Scanning Microscopy and an Analysis of Volatile Components Using GC-MS in Vanilla Pods Coated with Edible Microorganisms
Authors: Chen Chun-Erh , Lin Yun-Sheng , Lo Hui-Chen , Hsu Tai-Hao
Published: August 2023

The aroma of vanilla pods is mainly derived from vanillin. Microbial biotransformation reactions of vanillin precursors yield “natural” vanillin-related aroma metabolites. In this study, we coated vanilla pods with three edible microorganisms and observed the changes in tissues with a laser scanning microscope during early curing. In addition, the conducted volatile components analysis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with ethanol extracts to investigate the differences in the aroma components of coated and uncoated microbial vanilla pods and to identify the correlation between processing and the oily luster of pods. The results demonstrate that the oily luster on the surface of vanilla pods coated with Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis is one of the necessary conditions for a high-quality vanilla product. Eight categories of compounds were found in the ethanol extract of vanilla pods. A total of 69 volatile components were analyzed. Different microbial species significantly influenced the volatile components, with 31 compounds not found in the control group. Furthermore, 30 odor and aroma compounds were identified. This study reveals the role of edible microbial coatings in enhancing the natural aroma of vanilla pods and offers possibilities for the development of new and unique vanilla aroma profiles.
Assessing the Potential of Milk-Based Encapsulation Matrix for Improved Bio-Accessibility of Probiotics
Authors: Saeed Muhammad , Azam Muhammad , Kiani Hafiza Sehrish , Hussain Majid , Ahsan Haseeb , Ahmad Tanveer , Waseem Hafiz Khuram , Bilal Muhammad , Fatima Arooj , Ali Akhtar
Published: August 2023

Milk and sodium alginate beads (SA) as encapsulation materials can improve the viability of Lacticaseibacillus acidophilus LAC5. The present study focused on interactive structural optimization of milk and SA-based beads for improved survival of L. acidophilus LAC5 in cheddar cheese. L. acidophilus was microencapsulated using varying concentrations of milk and SA, e.g., T0 (Milk/SA 0:0), T1 (Milk/SA 1/1:1), T2 (Milk/SA 1/2:1), T3 (Milk/SA 1/1:1.5), T4 (Milk/SA1/2:1.5), T5 (Milk/SA 1/1:2.0) and T6 (Milk/SA 1/2:2.0). Free and encapsulated L. acidophilus were compared for their survival in gastroenteric conditions. Structural and spectral analysis was performed using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR). The free and encapsulated probiotics were incorporated into cheddar cheese. Organic acids were quantified using HPLC. The combination of SA and milk significantly (p < 0.05) improved the survival of L. acidophilus as compared to free cells. The increase in polymer concentration improved the structure of beads and the survival of probiotics. However, the release profile of beads decreased with the increase in polymer concentration. FTIR showed the presence of milk and SA in the beads. Better storage stability (108 CFU/mL) was observed for T6 in all the treatments as compared to free cells. The addition of encapsulated cells improved the sensory characteristics of cheese. This may help the local food industry to utilize native probiotic strains to be incorporated into probiotic foods with improved bio-accessibility.
Spawning Migrations of the Atlantic Goliath Grouper along the Florida Atlantic Coast
Authors: Ellis Robert D. , Koenig Christopher C. , Locascio James V. , Malinowski Christopher R. , Coleman Felicia C.
Published: August 2023

Atlantic goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara), the largest reef fish in the Western Atlantic, exhibit high site fidelity to home reefs but also undertake annual migrations to distant spawning sites. Once relatively common throughout Florida and the Caribbean, the species; is now considered vulnerable (i.e., threatened with extinction) due to overfishing and loss of juvenile mangrove habitat. Goliath grouper in the southeastern US form annual spawning aggregations on high-relief reefs located offshore of both the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of Florida, US. To determine spawning site fidelity and describe migration patterns to aggregations, we implanted 50 adult goliath grouper with acoustic transmitter tags from 2010 to 2013. Fish were tagged at known spawning sites off the Florida Atlantic coast and tracked as they moved through the FACT Network array of acoustic receivers. From 2010 to 2020, we collected ~7 million detections from tagged goliath grouper at 153 sites along the southeastern US Atlantic coast. Results of this long-term tracking indicate that adult goliath grouper are relatively sedentary during non-spawning months (Nov to June) but move significantly more prior to, during, and immediately after spawning (July to Oct). Inter-annual spawning site fidelity was high: between 80–93% of tagged fish returned to the same spawning sites each year. Arrival timing at spawning sites coincided with the August new moon, with males arriving earlier than females. Some individuals migrated distances greater than 400-km per year, with observed migration rates of up to 44-km per day prior to spawning. Long-term tagging data are critical for understanding movement patterns and developing management strategies for this species of special conservation concern.
Quality Evaluation of Shiitake Blanched and Centrifuged Broths as Functional Instant Drinks
Authors: Chen Shin-Yu , Tseng Jim , Wu Cheng-Rong , Lin Sheng-Dun
Published: August 2023

In the process of making mushrooms into vacuum-fried crisps, the resulting blanched broth (BB) and centrifuged broth (CB) are often discarded, thereby increasing the amount of wastewater and treatment costs. This study measured the proximate compositions, bioactive components, taste components, and minerals of freeze-dried BB and CB and then used functional indigestible dextrin (Fibersol-2) as a carrier to make these two broths into instant drinks. The solids of the BB and CB contained protein (16.88–19.21%), fat (0.01–0.23%), ash (12.89–13.50%), carbohydrate (67.28–70.00%), sugars and polyols (40.55–45.68%), free amino acids (6.58–6.69%), 5′-nucleotides (0.98–1.47%), and bioactive components, especially polysaccharides (4.53–7.45%), ergothioneine (both 0.19%), and total phenols (0.15–0.36%). The equivalent umami concentration of BB was 2.77-fold higher than that of the CB. Both BB and CB showed compositions and essential minerals that are rich in taste. Using a nine-point hedonic test, it was found that the solid contents of BB and CB in the instant drink affected the consumer’s preference. The flavor and overall preference of instant drinks with 2.5% BB or CB were the best amongst consumers. Overall, the BB and CB were rich in nutrients and bioactive and taste components and could be developed as a functional food in the form of a drink.
Influence of Multi-Frequency Ultrasound Treatment on Conformational Characteristics of Beef Myofibrillar Proteins with Different Degrees of Doneness
Authors: Zhang Zhaoli , Yang Tingxuan , Wang Yang , Liu Jiarui , Shi Wangbin , Hu Haochen , Meng Yang , Meng Xiangren , He Ronghai
Published: August 2023

This study evaluated the effect of multi-frequency sonication (20 kHz, 25 kHz, 28 kHz, 40 kHz, 50 kHz) on structural characteristics of beef myofibrillar proteins (MPs) with different degrees of doneness (Rare 52~55 °C, Medium Rare 55~60 °C, Medium 60~65 °C, Medium Well 65~69 °C, Well Down 70~80 °C, and Overcooked 90 °C). The results showed that surface hydrophobicity and sulfhydryl content increased with the increase in degree of doneness. At the same degree of doneness, the sulfhydryl group contents reached the maximum at a frequency of 28 kHz. In addition, the absolute value of ζ-potential was significantly decreased after ultrasonic treatment (p < 0.05). SDS gel electrophoresis showed that the bands of beef MPs were not significantly affected by various ultrasonic frequencies, but the bands became thinner when the degree of doneness reached overcooked. Fourier transform infrared spectrum showed that with the increase of ultrasonic frequency, α-helix content decreased, and random coil content significantly increased (p < 0.05). The results of atomic force microscopy indicated that the surface structure of beef MPs was damaged, and the roughness decreased by sonication, while the roughness significantly increased when the degree of doneness changed from medium to overripe (p < 0.05). In conclusion, multi-ultrasound combined with degree of doneness treatment alters the structural characteristics of beef MPs.
Entrapment of Glucose Oxidase and Catalase in Silica–Calcium–Alginate Hydrogel Reduces the Release of Gluconic Acid in Must
Authors: del-Bosque David , Vila-Crespo Josefina , Ruipérez Violeta , Fernández-Fernández Encarnación , Rodríguez-Nogales José Manuel
Published: August 2023

Glucose oxidase (GOX) and catalase (CAT) were co-immobilized in silica–calcium–alginate hydrogels to degrade must glucose. The effect of the enzyme dose (1.2–2.4 U/mL), the initial must pH (3.6–4.0), and the incubation temperature (10–20 °C) on the glucose consumption, gluconic acid concentration, pH, and color intensity of Verdejo must was studied by using a Box–Behnken experimental design and comparing free and co-immobilized enzymes. A reduction of up to 37.3 g/L of glucose was observed in co-immobilized enzyme-treated must, corresponding to a decrease in its potential alcohol strength of 2.0% vol. (v/v), while achieving a slight decrease in its pH (between 0.28 and 0.60). This slight acidification was due to a significant reduction in the estimated gluconic acid found in the must (up to 73.7%), likely due to its accumulation inside the capsules. Regarding the operational stability of immobilized enzymes, a gradual reduction in glucose consumption was observed over eight consecutive cycles. Finally, co-immobilized enzymes showed enhanced efficiency over a reaction period of 48 h, with an 87.1% higher ratio of glucose consumed per enzyme dose in the second 24 h period compared with free enzymes. These findings provide valuable insights into the performance of GOX–CAT co-immobilized to produce reduced-alcohol wines, mitigating excessive must acidification.
Structure and Metabolic Activity of the Gut Microbiota in Diarrhea-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome Combined with Functional Dyspepsia
Authors: Kovaleva Aleksandra , Poluektova Elena , Maslennikov Roman , Zolnikova Oxana , Shifrin Oleg , Kudryavtseva Anna , Krasnov George , Fedorova Maria , Karchevskaya Anna , Ivashkin Vladimir
Published: August 2023

Gut dysbiosis presents in many digestive diseases. The aim of this study is to investigate the composition of the gut microbiota and its metabolic activity in patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome combined with functional dyspepsia (I + D). This study included 60 patients with I + D and 20 healthy controls. Gut microbiota composition was studied using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) spectrum was determined via gas–liquid chromatography. Patients with I + D had an increase in the abundance of Holdemanella, Erysipelotrichaceae, Erysipelotrichales, Prevotellaceae, Agathobacter, Slackia, Lactococcus, Pseudomonadaceae, Stenotrophomonas, Xanthomonadaceae, Rhizobiaceae, Erysipelatoclostridiaceae, Lachnospiraceae, and other taxa in addition to a decrease in the abundance of Frisingicoccus, Ralstonia, Burkholderiaceae, Hungatella, Eisenbergiella, Parabacteroides, Peptostreptococcaceae, Merdibacter, Bilophila, Rikenellaceae, Tannerellaceae, Bacteroidaceae, and Flavonifractor in comparison to controls. Patients with I + D showed significantly higher total SCFA content in feces; increased absolute content of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, and isoacids; and a significant negative shift in the anaerobic index. The relative levels of the main SCFAs and isoacids in the patient group did not differ significantly from those in the control group. The fecal acetate and isoacid levels correlated with the severity of diarrhea. The fecal butyrate level correlated with the severity of flatulence.
Comparative Evaluation of the Clinical Severity of COVID-19 of Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Patients in Southeastern Romania in the First 6 Months of 2022, during the Omicron Wave
Authors: Manole Corina , Baroiu Liliana , Nechita Aurel , Voinescu Doina Carina , Ciubara Anamaria , Debita Mihaela , Tatu Alin Laurențiu , Ciubara Alexandru Bogdan , Stefanopol Ioana Anca , Anghel Lucreția , Nechifor Alexandru , Firescu Dorel
Published: August 2023

(1) Background: The pandemic wave produced by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron was characterized by milder clinical forms and high contagiousness. The vaccination rate against COVID-19 in Romania was approximately 42%. (2) Objectives: Comparison of the clinical severity in vaccinated patients compared to unvaccinated ones. (3) Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on a group of 699 adult patients confirmed with COVID-19 who presented in the “Sf. Cuvioasa Parascheva” Infectious Diseases Clinical Hospital of Galati, Romania, between 1 January 2022 and 30 June 2022. The study compared the need for hospitalization, reinfections, demographic and comorbidity data, clinical and paraclinical parameters from the initial evaluation, and the ratio of unfavorable developments on subgroups chosen according to the vaccination status. (4) Results and Conclusions: Our study reveals that unvaccinated patients required hospitalization in 54.68% of cases, while fully vaccinated patients had a hospitalization rate of 40.72%, which was significantly lower than that of the unvaccinated group (p = 0.01); patients who received a booster dose had a hospitalization rate of 27.84% (p < 0.01, significantly lower than unvaccinated individuals; p = 0.01, significantly lower than fully vaccinated individuals); and among the four patients who received four doses, none required hospitalization. From the analysis of the two subgroups of hospitalized patients, we observed a significantly higher prevalence of radiological lesions, such as pulmonary opacities in the group of unvaccinated patients and a higher average duration of hospitalization, and serum values of D-dimers and blood-sugar at admission were significantly higher in unvaccinated patients. The higher presence of these parameters, which are indicators of severe progression in clinical studies, in the group of unvaccinated patients suggests the need to include them in the initial evaluation of the unvaccinated patients with COVID-19.The cumulative share of deaths and transfers in the ICU was higher in the group of unvaccinated patients, but the difference between the groups had no statistical significance. This study draws attention to the possibility of severe clinical forms among both vaccinated and unvaccinated populations, especially in the elderly and in patients with multiple comorbidities.
The Senses as Experiences in Wine Tourism—A Comparative Statistical Analysis between Abruzzo and Douro
Authors: Santos Eulália , Barattucci Massimiliano , Tavares Fernando Oliveira , Tavares Vasco Capela
Published: August 2023

Sensory experiences play a remarkable role in the visitor’s satisfaction and behavioral intention to return to a wine tourism unit, so it is important to frequently review the environment in which the experience is lived, to make it memorable. This study aimed to perform a comparative analysis of the perception of sensory experiences between the Abruzzo region in Italy and the Douro region in Portugal. This study also intended to understand the most important sensations sought by wine tourists in each region. A quantitative methodology was used, based on a questionnaire survey that analyses the perceptions of sensory experiences and some variables that characterize the profile of wine tourists. The sample consisted of 199 wine tourists who visited the wine tourism units of the aforementioned regions. The structural equation model results showed that sensory experiences were composed of five factors: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch, and sensory experiences manifested with greater intensity in the hearing and smell factors. By comparing the results between the two regions, it can be concluded that smell is the most important factor for wine tourists who visit the Douro region, while for those who visit the Abruzzo region, it is the taste. The obtained results are important, in that they allow perceiving the differences in perception in sensory experiences, which has an impact on the management of companies in the two regions studied. This comparison between two wine regions in two different countries is pioneering work. Different wine regions have different attractiveness factors.
Tailoring Ceria-Based Nanocatalysts for Enhanced Performance in Steam Reforming Processes: Exploring Fundamentals and Morphological Modulations
Authors: Eduardo Samuel da Silva , Mendonça Jhonatam Pinheiro , Romano Pedro Nothaft , de Almeida João Monnerat Araújo Ribeiro , Machado Giovanna , Garcia Marco Aurélio Suller
Published: August 2023

Ceria-based nanostructures, employed as catalytic supports for noble and non-noble metals, are well-known for their remarkable activity in steam-reforming reactions, exceptional resistance to degradation, and thermal stability. However, the catalytic activity and selectivity of such systems are strongly dependent on the size and shape of ceria, making it possible to tune the oxide properties, affecting catalyst design and performance. The rational manipulation of ceria nanostructures offers various features that directly impact steam-reforming transformations, including the possibility of tuning oxygen vacancies, redox properties, and oxygen storage capacity. Thus, the importance of shape control in ceria nanomaterials is highlighted herein, emphasizing how the surface atomic configurations (exposure of different facets) significantly impact their efficiency. Although the main focus of this review is to discuss how the catalyst design may affect the performance of hydrogen production, some other elemental studies are shown, when necessary, to exemplify the level of deepness (or not) that literature has reached. Thus, an overview of ceria properties and how the physicochemical control of nanostructures contributes to their tuning will be presented, as well as a discussion regarding elemental materials design and the most prominent synthetic procedures; then, we select some metals (Ni, Co, and Pt) to discuss the understanding of such aspects for the field. Finally, challenges and perspectives for nanoengineering catalysts based on shape-controlled ceria nanostructures will be described to possibly improve the performance of designed catalysts for steam-reforming reactions. Although there are other literature reviews on ceria-based catalysts for these reactions, they do not specifically focus on the influence of the size and shape of the oxide.
Hessian Distributed Ant Optimized Perron–Frobenius Eigen Centrality for Social Networks
Authors: Kumaraguru P.V. , Kamalakkannan Vidyavathi , H L Gururaj , Flammini Francesco , Sulaiman Alfurhood Badria , Natarajan Rajesh
Published: August 2023

Terabytes of data are now being handled by an increasing number of apps, and rapid user decision-making is hampered by data analysis. At the same time, there is a rise in interest in big data analysis for social networks at the moment. Thus, adopting distributed multi-agent-based technology in an optimum way is one of the solutions to effective big data analysis for social networks. Studying the development of a social network helps users gain an understanding of interactions and relationships and guides them in making decisions. In this study, a method called Hessian Distributed Ant Optimized and Perron–Frobenius Eigen Centrality (HDAO-PFEC) is developed to analyze large amounts of data (i.e., Big Data) in a computationally accurate and efficient manner. Designing an adaptable Multi-Agent System architecture for large data analysis is the primary goal of HDAO-PFEC. Initially, using a Hessian Mutual Distributed Ant Optimization MapReduce model, comparable user interest tweets are produced in a computationally efficient manner. Eigen Vector Centrality is a measure of a node’s importance in a network (i.e., a social network), which allows association with other significant nodes (i.e., users), allowing for a greater effect on social networks. With this goal in mind, a MapReduce methodology in the Hadoop platform using Big Data, which enables quick and ordered calculations, is used in a distributed computing method to estimate the Eigen Vector Centrality value for each social network member. Lastly, extensive investigative experimental learning demonstrates the HDAO-PFEC method’s use and accuracy as well as its time and overhead on the well-known sentiment 140 dataset.
Spatial Morphological Characteristics and Evolution of Traditional Villages in the Mountainous Area of Southwest Zhejiang
Authors: Zhu Quan , Liu Shuang
Published: August 2023

National-level traditional villages in Liandu District and Qingyuan County, Lishui City, in the southwestern mountainous area of Zhejiang Province serve as research objects in our exploration of the external representation and deep spatial structure changes in traditional village spatial forms from a synchronic and diachronic perspective. We use morphological indices, space syntax, city image surveys, and other analysis methods to reveal the formation and evolution of these forms. We find that: (1) Traditional village boundaries in the mountainous area of southwest Zhejiang are mainly clusters and bands, which are restricted by geographical conditions and tend to expand in the direction of rivers and roads. (2) The original spatial forms of settlements effectively organize the travel activities of local residents and external visitors, while the corresponding two fabric centers basically coincide. However, with the continuous evolution of settlements and the intervention of modern construction projects, the centers have shifted slightly. (3) Factors such as the natural environment, clan consanguinity, and economic and technological conditions jointly act on spatial forms manifesting as “stability maintenance” and “sudden change” games; thus, the forms show overlapping and integration across multiple temporal and spatial points.
Spatial–Temporal Analysis of Vehicle Routing Problem from Online Car-Hailing Trajectories
Authors: Feng Xuyu , Yu Jianhua , Kan Zihan , Zhou Lin , Tang Luliang , Yang Xue
Published: August 2023

With the advent of the information age and rapid population growth, the urban transportation environment is deteriorating. Travel-route planning is a key issue in modern sustainable transportation systems. When conducting route planning, identifying the spatiotemporal disparities between planned routes and the routes chosen by actual drivers, as well as their underlying reasons, is an important method for optimizing route planning. In this study, we explore the spatial–temporal differences between planned routes and actual routes by studying the popular roads which are avoided by drivers (denoted as: PRAD) from car-hailing trajectories. By applying an improved Hidden Markov Model (HMM) map-matching algorithm to the original trajectories, we obtain the Origin-Destination (OD) matrix of vehicle travel and its corresponding actual routes, as well as the planned routes generated by the A* routing algorithm. We utilize the Jaccard index to quantify the similarity between actual and planned routes for the same OD pairs. The causes of PRADs are detected and further analyzed from the perspective of traffic conditions. By analyzing ride-hailing trajectories provided by DiDi, we examine the route behavior of drivers in Wuhan city on weekdays and weekends and discuss the relationship between traffic conditions and PRADs. The results indicate that the average accuracy of GNSS trajectory point-to-road map-matching reaches 88.83%, which is approximately 12% higher than the accuracy achieved by the HMM map-matching method proposed by Hu et al. Furthermore, the analysis of PRAD causes reveals that PRADs occurring on weekdays account for approximately 65% and are significantly associated with traffic congestion and accidents during that time. The findings of this study provide insights for future research on sustainable transportation systems and contribute to the development of improved route-planning strategies.
Assessment of the Bike-Sharing Socioeconomic Equity in the Use of Routes
Authors: Suárez-Vega Rafael , Santana-Jiménez Yolanda , Hernández Juan M. , Santana-Figueroa José Juan
Published: August 2023

(1) Background: This work analyzes socioeconomic equity in bike-sharing systems. Specifically, we study the effect of income on bike use in an innovative way by analyzing the frequency of bike routes connecting areas with different mean incomes. (2) Methods: We use Social Network Analysis tools to estimate the probability of connection between two stations depending on income and controlling for other predictors. The method was applied to a bike-sharing system located in the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. (3) Results: Stations located in lower-income neighborhoods have a lower probability of generating routes, and stations located in higher-income areas are more likely to be connected to each other. (4) Conclusions: The frequency of bike routes is more influenced by income than other socioeconomic characteristics of the area, such as commercial and leisure use. Since socioeconomic inequities are corroborated by the work, policies for lower-income users should be promoted.
Antiretroviral Treatment-Induced Galectin-9 Might Impact HIV Viremia in Addition to Contributing to Inflammaging
Authors: Shete Ashwini , Wagh Vaishnav , Sawant Jyoti , Shidhaye Pallavi , Sane Suvarna , Rao Amrita , Kulkarni Smita , Ghate Manisha
Published: August 2023

Background: Galectin-9 induces HIV reactivation and also contributes to non-AIDS events through inflammaging. Hence, it is important to assess its levels in HIV-infected individuals to determine their association with HIV viremia and other comorbidities. Methods: Plasma galectin-9 levels were estimated in viremic (n = 152) and aviremic (n = 395) individuals on first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART). They were assessed for correlation with HIV-1 viral load (VL), CD4 count, and ART duration, as well as for receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Result: Plasma galectin-9 levels correlated positively with VL (r = 0.507, p < 0.0001) and ART duration (r = 0.308, p = 0.002) and negatively with CD4 count (r = −0.186, p < 0.0001). Area under the curve for galectin-9/CD4 count ratio for identifying viremic individuals was 0.906. Sensitivity and specificity of the ratio at a cutoff of 14.47 were 90.13% and 70.05%, respectively, for detecting viremic individuals. Further, galectin-9 levels correlated with cystatin C (r = 0.239, p = 0.0183), IL-18 (r = 0.311, p = 0.006), and systolic blood pressure (r = 0.220, p = 0.0355). Galectin-9-induced HIV reactivation was significantly lower in individuals on long-term ART than those on short-term ART. Conclusion: The galectin-9-to-CD4 count ratio indicated the potential of galectin-9 as a cheaper monitoring tool to detect HIV viremia. Strategies for countering the effects of galectin-9 for controlling HIV viremia and non-AIDS events are urgently warranted.
Genome-Wide Identification, Characterization, and Expression Analysis of NF-Y Gene Family in Ginkgo biloba Seedlings and GbNF-YA6 Involved in Heat-Stress Response and Tolerance
Authors: Wang Tongfei , Zou Helin , Ren Shixiong , Jin Biao , Lu Zhaogeng
Published: August 2023

Nuclear factor Y (NF-Y) transcription factors play an essential role in regulating plant growth, development, and stress responses. Despite extensive research on the NF-Y gene family across various species, the knowledge regarding the NF-Y family in Ginkgo biloba remains unknown. In this study, we identified a total of 25 NF-Y genes (seven GbNF-YAs, 12 GbNF-YBs, and six GbNF-YCs) in the G. biloba genome. We characterized the gene structure, conserved motifs, multiple sequence alignments, and phylogenetic relationships with other species (Populus and Arabidopsis). Additionally, we conducted a synteny analysis, which revealed the occurrence of segment duplicated NF-YAs and NF-YBs. The promoters of GbNF-Y genes contained cis-acting elements related to stress response, and miRNA–mRNA analysis showed that some GbNF-YAs with stress-related cis-elements could be targeted by the conserved miRNA169. The expression of GbNF-YA genes responded to drought, salt, and heat treatments, with GbNF-YA6 showing significant upregulation under heat and drought stress. Subcellular localization indicated that GbNF-YA6 was located in both the nucleus and the membrane. Overexpressing GbNF-YA6 in ginkgo callus significantly induced the expression of heat-shock factors (GbHSFs), and overexpressing GbNF-YA6 in transgenic Arabidopsis enhanced its heat tolerance. Additionally, Y2H assays demonstrated that GbNF-YA6 could interact with GbHSP at the protein level. Overall, our findings offer novel insights into the role of GbNF-YA in enhancing abiotic stress tolerance and warrant further functional research of GbNF-Y genes.
Ability of Lactobacillus brevis 47f to Alleviate the Toxic Effects of Imidacloprid Low Concentration on the Histological Parameters and Cytokine Profile of Zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Authors: Kochetkov Nikita , Smorodinskaya Svetlana , Vatlin Aleksey , Nikiforov-Nikishin Dmitry , Nikiforov-Nikishin Alexei , Danilenko Valery , Anastasia Klimuk , Reznikova Diana , Grishina Yelena , Antipov Sergei , Marsova Maria
Published: August 2023

In the present article, the possible mitigation of the toxic effect of imidacloprid low-concentration chronic exposure on Danio rerio by the probiotic strain Lactobacillus brevis 47f (1 × 108 CFU/g) was examined. It was found that even sublethal concentration (2500 µg/L) could lead to the death of some fish during the 60-day chronic experiment. However, the use of Lactobacillus brevis 47f partially reduced the toxic effects, resulting in an increased survival rate and a significant reduction of morphohistological lesions in the intestines and kidneys of Danio rerio. The kidneys were found to be the most susceptible organ to toxic exposure, showing significant disturbances. Calculation of the histopathological index, measurement of morphometric parameters, and analysis of principal components revealed the most significant parameters affected by the combined action of imidacloprid and Lactobacillus brevis 47f. This effect of imidacloprid and the probiotic strain had a multidirectional influence on various pro/anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8). Therefore, the results suggest the possibility of further studying the probiotic strain Lactobacillus brevis 47f as a strain that reduces the toxic effects of xenobiotics. Additionally, the study established the possibility of using imidacloprid as a model toxicant to assess the detoxification ability of probiotics on the kidney and gastrointestinal tract of fish.
Effects of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle Exposure on Human Glial Cells and Zebrafish Embryos
Authors: Valdiglesias Vanessa , Alba-González Anabel , Fernández-Bertólez Natalia , Touzani Assia , Ramos-Pan Lucía , Reis Ana Teresa , Moreda-Piñeiro Jorge , Yáñez Julián , Laffon Blanca , Folgueira Mónica
Published: August 2023

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are among the most widely used nanomaterials. They have multiple applications in cosmetics, textiles, paints, electronics and, recently, also in biomedicine. This extensive use of ZnO NPs notably increases the probability that both humans and wildlife are subjected to undesirable effects. Despite being among the most studied NPs from a toxicological point of view, much remains unknown about their ecotoxicological effects or how they may affect specific cell types, such as cells of the central nervous system. The main objective of this work was to investigate the effects of ZnO NPs on human glial cells and zebrafish embryo development and to explore the role of the released Zn2+ ions in these effects. The effects on cell viability on human A172 glial cells were assessed with an MTT assay and morphological analysis. The potential acute and developmental toxicity was assessed employing zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. To determine the role of Zn2+ ions in the in vitro and in vivo observed effects, we measured their release from ZnO NPs with flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Then, cells and zebrafish embryos were treated with a water-soluble salt (zinc sulfate) at concentrations that equal the number of Zn2+ ions released by the tested concentrations of ZnO NPs. Exposure to ZnO NPs induced morphological alterations and a significant decrease in cell viability depending on the concentration and duration of treatment, even after removing the overestimation due to NP interference. Although there were no signs of acute toxicity in zebrafish embryos, a decrease in hatching was detected after exposure to the highest ZnO NP concentrations tested. The ability of ZnO NPs to release Zn2+ ions into the medium in a concentration-dependent manner was confirmed. Zn2+ ions did not seem entirely responsible for the effects observed in the glial cells, but they were likely responsible for the decrease in zebrafish hatching rate. The results obtained in this work contribute to the knowledge of the toxicological potential of ZnO NPs.
Interactome of Arabidopsis ATG5 Suggests Functions beyond Autophagy
Authors: Elander Pernilla H. , Holla Sanjana , Sabljić Igor , Gutierrez-Beltran Emilio , Willems Patrick , Bozhkov Peter V. , Minina Elena A.
Published: August 2023

Autophagy is a catabolic pathway capable of degrading cellular components ranging from individual molecules to organelles. Autophagy helps cells cope with stress by removing superfluous or hazardous material. In a previous work, we demonstrated that transcriptional upregulation of two autophagy-related genes, ATG5 and ATG7, in Arabidopsis thaliana positively affected agronomically important traits: biomass, seed yield, tolerance to pathogens and oxidative stress. Although the occurrence of these traits correlated with enhanced autophagic activity, it is possible that autophagy-independent roles of ATG5 and ATG7 also contributed to the phenotypes. In this study, we employed affinity purification and LC-MS/MS to identify the interactome of wild-type ATG5 and its autophagy-inactive substitution mutant, ATG5K128R Here we present the first interactome of plant ATG5, encompassing not only known autophagy regulators but also stress-response factors, components of the ubiquitin-proteasome system, proteins involved in endomembrane trafficking, and potential partners of the nuclear fraction of ATG5. Furthermore, we discovered post-translational modifications, such as phosphorylation and acetylation present on ATG5 complex components that are likely to play regulatory functions. These results strongly indicate that plant ATG5 complex proteins have roles beyond autophagy itself, opening avenues for further investigations on the complex roles of autophagy in plant growth and stress responses.
Investigating the Role of FoxP3 in Renal Cell Carcinoma Metastasis with BAP1 or SEDT2 Mutation
Authors: Xu Shan , Hu Xinfeng , Chong Yue , Zhu Guodong
Published: August 2023

Forkhead box protein P3 (FoxP3) primarily functions as the master regulator in regulatory T cells (Tregs) differentiation, but its high level of expression has also been found in tumor cells recently. The aim of our study was to clarify the role of FoxP3 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) progression and metastasis. We verified the FoxP3 characteristic clinicopathological data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database using bioinformatics tools. Meanwhile, RNA sequencing was performed to determine the FoxP3 biofunction in RCC progression. Our results showed that high expression of FoxP3 was found in BAP1- or SETD2-mutant patients with RCC, and a higher FoxP3 expression was related to worse prognosis. However, there was no statistically significant relationship between the FoxP3 IHC score and RCC malignant progression owning to the limited number of patients in our tissue microarray. Using in vitro FoxP3 loss-of-function assays, we verified that silencing FoxP3 in 786-O and ACHN cells could inhibit the cell migration/invasion capability, which was consistent with the data from RNA sequencing in 786-O cells and from the TCGA datasets. Using an in vivo nude mice orthotopic kidney cancer model, we found that silencing FoxP3 could inhibit tumor growth. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that BAP1 or SEDT2 mutation could lead to higher expression of FoxP3 in RCC patients, and FoxP3 could eventually stimulate RCC cells’ invasion and metastasis, which might indicate that FoxP3 could function as a potential oncogene in RCC progression.
Natriuretic Peptide Signaling in Uterine Biology and Preeclampsia
Authors: Wu Qingyu
Published: August 2023

Endometrial decidualization is a uterine process essential for spiral artery remodeling, embryo implantation, and trophoblast invasion. Defects in endometrial decidualization and spiral artery remodeling are important contributing factors in preeclampsia, a major disorder in pregnancy. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is a cardiac hormone that regulates blood volume and pressure. ANP is also generated in non-cardiac tissues, such as the uterus and placenta. In recent human genome-wide association studies, multiple loci with genes involved in natriuretic peptide signaling are associated with gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. In cellular experiments and mouse models, uterine ANP has been shown to stimulate endometrial decidualization, increase TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand expression and secretion, and enhance apoptosis in arterial smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells. In placental trophoblasts, ANP stimulates adenosine 5′-monophosphate-activated protein kinase and the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 signaling, leading to autophagy inhibition and protein kinase N3 upregulation, thereby increasing trophoblast invasiveness. ANP deficiency impairs endometrial decidualization and spiral artery remodeling, causing a preeclampsia-like phenotype in mice. These findings indicate the importance of natriuretic peptide signaling in pregnancy. This review discusses the role of ANP in uterine biology and potential implications of impaired ANP signaling in preeclampsia.
The Genetic Susceptibility to Psoriasis and the Relationship of Linked Genes to Our Treatment Options
Authors: Patel Heli A. , Revankar Rishab R. , Pedroza Sofia T. , Graham Shaveonte , Feldman Steven R.
Published: August 2023

Understanding the factors creating genetic susceptibility in psoriasis may provide a basis for improving targeted treatment strategies. In this review, we discuss the genes linked to the pathogenesis of psoriasis and their relationship to the available treatment options. To identify the relevant genetic markers and treatments, we searched PubMed, Google Scholar, MEDLINE, and Web of Science with keywords, including genetic susceptibility to psoriasis, genetics and psoriasis, psoriasis treatments, and biologics treatments in psoriasis. The articles in English from database inception to 1/1/23 were included. Case reports and series were excluded. Gene variant forms commonly implicated in the pathogenesis of psoriasis include those encoding for interleukins, interferons, and other mediators involved in inflammatory pathways, such as JAK/STAT, and NF-κB. Several of the treatments for psoriasis (for example IL23 and TYK2 inhibitors) target the products of genes linked to psoriasis. Multiple genes are linked to the pathogenesis of psoriasis. This understanding may provide an avenue for the development of new psoriasis treatment strategies and for more effective, safer treatment outcomes.