bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New treatment paradigm with systemic therapy in intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Kudo Masatoshi
Published: May 2022

Since the approval of sorafenib for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma in 2007 (in 2009 in Japan), five more regimens have been approved: lenvatinib, and atezolizumab plus bevacizumab for first-line treatment, and regorafenib, cabozantinib, and ramucirumab for second-line treatment, which are currently available for clinical use. The positive results of durvalumab, a programmed cell death ligand 1 antibody, plus tremelimumab, an anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 antibody, were also presented at the 2022 American Society Clinical Oncology Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium as superior to sorafenib in prolonging the overall survival; this combination is expected to be approved by the end of 2022. These systemic therapies are changing the treatment paradigm not only for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma but also for intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma. This review focuses on the role of systemic therapy in intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma.
Disutility of injectable therapies in obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus: general population preferences in the UK, Canada, and China
Authors: McEwan Phil , Baker-Knight James , Ásbjörnsdóttir Björg , Yi Yunni , Fox Aimee , Wyn Robin
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Once-daily and once-weekly injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist therapies (GLP-1 RAs) are established in obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In T2DM, both once-daily and once-weekly insulin are expected to be available. This study elicited utilities associated with these treatment regimens from members of the general public in the UK, Canada, and China, to quantify administration-related disutility of more-frequent injectable treatment, and allow economic modelling.

Methods

Two anchor states (no pharmacological treatment), and seven treatment states (daily oral tablet and generic injectable regimens of variable frequency), with identical outcomes were tested A broadly representative sample of the general public in each country participated (excluding individuals with diabetes or pharmacologically treated obesity). An adapted Measurement and Valuation of Health protocol was administered 1:1 in web-enabled interviews by trained moderators: visual analogue scale (VAS) as a “warm-up”, and time trade-off (TTO) using a 20-year time horizon for utility elicitation.

Results

A total of 310 individuals participated. The average disutility of once-daily versus once-weekly GLP-1 RA was − 0.048 in obesity and − 0.033 in T2DM; the corresponding average disutility for insulin was − 0.064. Disutilities were substantially greater in China, relative to UK and Canada.

Discussion

Within obesity and T2DM, more-frequent treatment health states had lower utility. Scores by VAS also followed a logical order. The generated utility values are suitable for use in modelling injectable therapy regimens in obesity and T2DM, due to the use of generic descriptions and assumption of equal efficacy. Future research could examine the reasons for greater administration-related disutility in China.
Population genomics study for the conservation management of the endangered shrub Abeliophyllum distichum
Authors: Lee Jung-Hoon , Ong Homervergel G. , Kim Bo-Yun , Kim Yong-In , Jung Eui-Kwon , Chung Myong Gi , Kim Young-Dong
Published: May 2022

Natural monuments are IUCN Category III protected areas that play an important role in biodiversity conservation as they provide species refuge and allow species migration. Despite their status, natural monuments are often confined to cultural and fragmented landscapes due to anthropogenic land-use demands. In this population genomic study, we surveyed 11 populations of the endemic shrub Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai (Oleaceae), including five natural monument habitats, covering its range-wide distribution in South Korea. Using 2,254 SNPs as markers, our results showed a mean expected heterozygosity (He) of 0.319, with populations in the central distribution showing significantly higher He than those at the periphery. There was no significant heterozygote deficiency and inbreeding among studied populations overall (FIS = −0.098), except for a single natural monument population (GS-NM147). Population structure and differentiation was moderate to high (FST = 0.196), while recent gene flow between populations appeared weak, which can be attributed to the fragmented distribution and the outcrossing mating system of the heterostylous plant. Based on these findings, we provide suggestions for the population conservation and management of this endangered species.
Measuring private transfers between generations and gender: an application of national transfer accounts for Austria 2015
Authors: Hammer Bernhard , Prskawetz Alexia
Published: May 2022

Few data sources provide information on private transfers between generations and gender. We use a novel approach based on the National Transfer Accounts methodology to estimate the value of intra-family transfers between generations by age, gender and parental status in Austria 2015. The paper considers monetary transfers together with transfers of consumption goods and transfers of services produced by non-market work. Our results show that parents use one third of their disposable income and up to four hours of daily non-market work for their children. The total size of the intra-family transfers corresponds to 38 per cent of primary income.
Deep learning-based insights on T:R ratio behaviour during prolonged screening for S-ICD eligibility
Authors: ElRefai Mohamed , Abouelasaad Mohamed , Wiles Benedict M. , Dunn Anthony J. , Coniglio Stefano , Zemkoho Alain B. , Roberts Paul R.
Published: May 2022

Background

A major predictor of eligibility of subcutaneous implantable cardiac defibrillators (S-ICD) is the T:R ratio. The eligibility cut-off of the T:R ratio incorporates a safety margin to accommodate for fluctuations of ECG signal amplitudes. We introduce a deep learning-based tool that accurately measures the degree of T:R ratio fluctuations and explore its role in S-ICD screening.

Methods

Patients were fitted with Holters for 24 h to record their S-ICD vectors. Our tool was used to assess the T:R ratio over the duration of the recordings. Multiple T:R ratio cut-off values were applied, identifying patients at high risk of T-wave oversensing (TWO) at each of the proposed values. The purpose of our study is to identify the ratio that recognises patients at high risk of TWO while not inappropriately excluding true S-ICD candidates.

Results

Thirty-seven patients (age 54.5 + / − 21.3 years, 64.8% male) were recruited. Fourteen patients had heart-failure, 7 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, 7 had normal hearts, 6 had congenital heart disease, and 3 had prior inappropriate S-ICD shocks due to TWO. 54% of patients passed the screening at a T: R of 1:3. All patients passed the screening at a T: R of 1:1. The only subgroup to wholly pass the screening utilising all the proposed ratios are the participants with normal hearts.

Conclusion

We propose adopting prolonged screening to select patients eligible for S-ICD with low probability of TWO and inappropriate shocks. The appropriate T:R ratio likely lies between 1:3 and 1:1. Further studies are required to identify the optimal screening thresholds.
Analysis of interpenetrating metal ceramic composite structures using an enhanced random sequential absorption microstructure generation algorithm
Authors: Horny Dominik , Schulz Katrin
Published: May 2022

In this paper, we present the analysis of an interpenetrating metal ceramic composite structure. We introduce a new generation algorithm for the modeling of interpenetrating composite microstructures with connected, spherical cavities embedded into an open-porous foam structure. The method uses a geometric ansatz and is designed to create structures of special topology, as the investigated metal ceramic composite structures consisting of a connected AlSi10Mg phase showing spherical shapes embedded into an Al2O3 preform. Based on the introduced enhanced random sequential absorption approach, the generated microstructures yield numerical insights into the material that are not accessible by experimental techniques. The generated microstructures are compared to structures reconstructed from experimental CT scan data considering microstructural features and mechanical behavior. We show that the proposed method is able to generate statistically equivalent microstructures by using only a small number of statistical descriptors. The numerical formulation is validated using compression tests including plastic yielding in the aluminum and damage progression in the ceramic phase. Both the composite material and the pure ceramic preform are considered in this analysis, and good agreement is found between reconstructed and generated microstructures. Furthermore, the observations reveal the importance of the local geometrical sphere arrangement with respect to the mechanical behavior. A validation with experimental results is presented and it is shown that the model predicts microstructural properties and gives meaningful insights into the structural and material interplay. Finally, we discuss the potential of the method for the investigation of failure mechanisms.
A Systematic Review of the Factors Associated with Post-Traumatic Growth in Parents Following Admission of Their Child to the Intensive Care Unit
Authors: O’Toole S. , Suarez C. , Adair P. , McAleese A. , Willis S. , McCormack D.
Published: May 2022

This systematic review aims to identify the demographic, clinical and psychological factors associated with post-traumatic growth (PTG) in parents following their child’s admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). Papers published up to September 2021 were identified following a search of electronic databases (PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, PsycINFO, CINAHL, PTSDpubs and EMBASE). Studies were included if they involved a sample of parents whose children were previously admitted to ICU and reported correlational data. 1777 papers were reviewed. Fourteen studies were eligible for inclusion; four were deemed to be of good methodological quality, two were poor, and the remaining eight studies were fair. Factors associated with PTG were identified. Mothers, and parents of older children, experienced greater PTG. Parents who perceived their child’s illness as more severe had greater PTG. Strong associations were uncovered between PTG and post-traumatic stress, psychological well-being and coping. PTG is commonly experienced by this population. Psychological factors are more commonly associated with PTG in comparison with demographic and clinical factors, suggesting that parents’ subjective ICU experience may be greater associated with PTG than the objective reality.
Static vs dynamic connectivity: how landscape changes affect connectivity predictions in the Iberian Peninsula
Authors: Goicolea Teresa , Mateo-Sánchez M. Cruz
Published: May 2022

Context

Climate and land-use changes affect species ranges and movements. However, these changes are usually overlooked in connectivity studies, and this could have adverse consequences in the definition of effective management measures.

Objectives

We evaluated two ways to incorporate landscape dynamics: (i) by analyzing connectivity as a fluctuating phenomenon (i.e., time-varying connectivity); and (ii) by analyzing species movements from past to current ranges (i.e., spatio-temporal connectivity). We also compared these dynamic approaches with traditional static connectivity methods.

Methods

We compared the overall connectivity values and the prioritization of critical habitat patches according to dynamic and static approaches using habitat availability metrics (Probability of Connectivity and Equivalent Connected Area). This comparative research was conducted for species associated with broadleaf forests of the different ecoregions of the Iberian Peninsula. We considered species habitat preferences during movement and a wide range of dispersal abilities to assess functional connectivity.

Results

Static approaches generated varying overall connectivity values and priority patches depending on the time snapshot considered and different from those generated by dynamic approaches. The two dynamic connectivity approaches resulted in very similar priority conservation patches, indicating their potential to guide enduring conservation measures that enhance connectivity between contemporary habitat patches at multiple time snapshots but also species range shifts in time.

Conclusions

Connectivity is affected by landscape changes, and only dynamic approaches can overcome the issues associated with these changes and provide valuable information to guide improved and enduring measures in changing landscapes.
The long non-coding RNA LIMT inhibits metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma and is suppressed by EGF signaling
Authors: Hu Yu , Li Hao , Zhang Hongwei , Tang Qiang , Zhang Guangtan , Li Xiqing , Xue Fei
Published: May 2022

Background

The long non-coding RNA LIMT (lncRNA inhibiting metastasis) acts as a tumor suppressor factor in some cancers. However, the biological role of LIMT in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been explored.

Methods and Results

Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to evaluate the expression of LIMT in HCC tissue. The effects of LIMT on tumor growth and metastasis were assessed by in vitro experiments, including colony formation and transwell assays, and in vivo in nude mouse models. Western blot analysis was used to evaluate the expression levels of proteins associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). LIMT expression was significantly lower in HCC than in normal liver tissue. Functionally, overexpression of LIMT repressed the proliferation, invasion, and EMT of HCC cells, while LIMT knockdown increased proliferation, invasion, and EMT of HCC cells in vitro. Furthermore, LIMT overexpression suppressed HCC growth and metastasis while silencing of LIMT had an opposite effect in vivo. Finally, LIMT overexpression reversed EGF-induced EMT.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that LIMT could play an anti-cancer effect in HCC and might be a potential novel therapeutic target in HCC.
Oxygen saturation measurements using novel diffused reflectance with hyperspectral imaging: Towards facile COVID-19 diagnosis
Authors: El-Sharkawy Yasser H. , Aref Mohamed Hisham , Elbasuney Sherif , Radwan Sara M. , El-Sayyad Gharieb S.
Published: May 2022

Oxygen saturation level plays a vital role in screening, diagnosis, and therapeutic assessment of disease’s assortment. There is an urgent need to design and implement early detection devices and applications for the COVID-19 pandemic; this study reports on the development of customized, highly sensitive, non-invasive, non-contact diffused reflectance system coupled with hyperspectral imaging for mapping subcutaneous blood circulation depending on its oxygen saturation level. The forearm of 15 healthy adult male volunteers with age range of (20–38 years) were illuminated via a polychromatic light source of a spectrum range 400–980 nm. Each patient had been scanned five times to calculate the mean spectroscopic reflectance images using hyperspectral camera. The customized signal processing algorithm includes normalization and moving average filter for noise removal. Afterward, employing K-means clustering for image segmentation to assess the accuracy of blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) levels. The reliability of the developed diffused reflectance system was verified with the ground truth technique, a standard pulse oximeter. Non-invasive, non-contact diffused reflectance spectrum demonstrated maximum signal variation at 610 nm according to SpO2 level. Statistical analysis (mean, standard deviation) of diffused reflectance hyperspectral images at 610 nm offered precise calibrated measurements to the standard pulse oximeter. Diffused reflectance associated with hyperspectral imaging is a prospective technique to assist with phlebotomy and vascular approach. Additionally, it could permit future surgical or pharmacological intercessions that titrate or limit ischemic injury continuously. Furthermore, this technique could offer a fast reliable indication of SpO2 levels for COVID-19 diagnosis.
A review of marine stressors impacting Atlantic salmon Salmo salar, with an assessment of the major threats to English stocks
Authors: Gillson Jonathan P. , Bašić Tea , Davison Phil I. , Riley William D. , Talks Lawrence , Walker Alan M. , Russell Ian C.
Published: May 2022

Atlantic salmonSalmo salaris a socio-economically important anadromous fish species that has suffered synchronous population declines around the North Atlantic over the last five decades. Reduced marine survival has been implicated as a key driver of the declines, yet the relative importance of different stressors causing mortality at sea is not well understood. This review presents a synopsis of the principal stressors impacting Atlantic salmon in estuarine and marine environments. It also applies a semi-quantitative 2-D classification system to assess the relative effects of these stressors on English salmon stocks and their likely development over the next decade. Climate change and predation were identified as the biggest threats at present and over the next decade. Poor water quality and bycatch were classified as relatively high impact stressors, but with a lower likelihood of becoming more prevalent in the future due to available mitigation measures. Other, less influential, stressors included tidal barrages, artificial light at night, impingement in power-station cooling waters and thermal discharges, pile-driving noise pollution, invasive non-native species, electromagnetic fields, salmon mariculture, and tidal lagoons. Salmon fisheries exploitation was not regarded as an important stressor currently because effective exploitation rate controls have been implemented to substantially reduce fishing pressure. Future research priorities include addressing knowledge gaps on expanding stressor impacts from climate change, predation, renewable energy developments, and artificial light at night. Local management actions directed towards improving freshwater and estuarine habitats to maximise ecosystem resilience to stressors and minimise their cumulative impacts are recommended.
The Art of Being Ethical and Responsible: Print Media Debate on Final Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel in Finland and Sweden
Authors: Kojo Matti , Vilhunen Tuuli , Kari Mika , Litmanen Tapio , Lehtonen Markku
Published: May 2022

After decades of preparation, the final disposal of spent nuclear fuel has reached the construction stage in Finland, and the neighboring Sweden is likely to soon follow in the footsteps. These Nordic countries rely on a similar technical concept based on passive safety, advocated as a means of minimizing the burden to future generations. The scholarly literature on the ethics of nuclear waste management has thus far paid little attention to the views of the broader publics on the associated ethical challenges. This article helps to fill the gap through a longitudinal and comparative analysis of ethical discussion of the final disposal of SNF in news articles and letters to the editor in four leading Finnish and Swedish daily newspapers in 2008–2015. The study period included major milestones in the licensing processes of the respective two repository projects. The article examines the attention paid to intra- and intergenerational distributive and procedural justice, the changes in the ethical agenda over time, and the societal actor groups that receive attention in the media. The analysis reveals two distinct ethical media agendas: (1) the news article agenda that is dominated by framings of the main players (industry, politicians, authorities, and experts) and largely excludes future generations from the scope of justice, and (2) the agenda represented by the letters to the editor, which focuses on intergenerational justice concerns. Particularly, in the Finnish letters to the editor the value of the lives of distant future generations was discounted implicitly.
Astrospheres of Planet-Hosting Cool Stars and Beyond ⋅ When Modeling Meets Observations
Authors: Herbst Konstantin , Baalmann Lennart R. , Bykov Andrei , Engelbrecht N. Eugene , Ferreira Stefan E. S. , Izmodenov Vladislav V. , Korolkov Sergey D. , Levenfish Ksenia P. , Linsky Jeffrey L. , Meyer Dominique M.-A. , Scherer Klaus , Strauss R. Du Toit
Published: May 2022

Thanks to dedicated long-term missions likeVoyagerandGOESover the past 50 years, much insight has been gained on the activity of our Sun, the solar wind, its interaction with the interstellar medium, and, thus, about the formation, the evolution, and the structure of the heliosphere. Additionally, with the help of multi-wavelength observations by theHubble Space Telescope,Kepler, andTESS, we not only were able to detect a variety of extrasolar planets and exomoons but also to study the characteristics of their host stars, and thus became aware that other stars drive bow shocks and astrospheres. Although features like, e.g., stellar winds, could not be measured directly, over the past years several techniques have been developed allowing us to indirectly derive properties like stellar mass-loss rates and stellar wind speeds, information that can be used as direct input to existing astrospheric modeling codes. In this review, the astrospheric modeling efforts of various stars will be presented. Starting with the heliosphere as a benchmark of astrospheric studies, investigating the paleo-heliospheric changes and the Balmer$\text{H}\upalpha$Hαprojections to$1~\text{pc}$1pc, we investigate the surroundings of cool and hot stars, but also of more exotic objects like neutron stars. While pulsar wind nebulae (PWNs) might be a source of high-energy galactic cosmic rays (GCRs), the astrospheric environments of cool and hot stars form a natural shield against GCRs. Their modulation within these astrospheres, and the possible impact of turbulence, are also addressed. This review shows that all of the presented modeling efforts are in excellent agreement with currently available observations.
Analysis of fingermark constituents: a systematic review of quantitative studies
Authors: Robson Rachel , Ginige Tilak , Mansour Saleh , Khan Iftikhar , Assi Sulaf
Published: May 2022

Fingermark identification has significance in forensic science, particularly in the processing of crime scene evidence. The majority of literature focused on physical interpretation of fingermarks with limited studies relating to chemical analysis. This systematic review investigated prospective studies dealing with the analysis of latent fingermark constituents. Studies included were those concerned with the analysis of intrinsic organic constituents present in latent fingerprints. Studies with no clear procedure were excluded. Data from the studies were exported into SPSS v22 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA) where descriptive statistics were applied. The data extraction yielded 19 studies related to identification of lipids (n = 66) and/or amino acids (n =27) in latent fingermarks. The primary lipid identified was squalene and the major amino acids included: alanine, glycine, leucine, lysine, and serine. For identification of the aforementioned constituents both chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques of which the main technique was gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Prior to analysis, the majority of studies involved collection of fingermarks from both hands at room temperature. Deposition was done on different substrates of which the main were glass, Mylar strips, aluminium sheets or paper. In conclusion, chemical analysis of latent fingermarks enabled identifying key biomarkers of individual that could serve as complementary evidence in crime scene investigation.
Geochemical modeling of CO2 injection and gypsum precipitation at the Ketzin CO2 storage site
Authors: Jang Eunseon , Wiese Bernd , Pilz Peter , Fischer Sebastian , Schmidt-Hattenberger Cornelia
Published: May 2022

Gypsum crystals are found at the well perforation of observation well Ktzi 202 of the test site for CO2 storage at Ketzin, Germany. XRD analysis confirms pure gypsum. Fluid samples before and after CO2 injection are analyzed. Geochemical modeling is conducted to identify the mechanisms that lead to gypsum formation. The modeling is carried out with PHREEQC and Pitzer database due to the high salinity of up to 5 mol per kg water. Due to their significantly higher reactivity compared to other minerals like silicates, calcite, dolomite, magnesite, gypsum, anhydrite, and halite are considered as primary mineral phases for matching the observed brine compositions in our simulations. Calcite, dolomite, and gypsum are close to saturation before and after CO2 injection. Dolomite shows the highest reactivity and mainly contributes to buffering the brine pH that initially decreased due to CO2 injection. The contribution of calcite to the pH-buffering is only minor. Gypsum and anhydrite are no geochemically active minerals before injection. After CO2 injection, gypsum precipitation may occur by two mechanisms: (i) dissociation of CO2 decreases activity of water and, therefore, increases the saturation of all minerals and (ii) dolomite dissolution due to pH-buffering releases Ca2+ ions into solution and shifts the mass action to gypsum. Gypsum precipitation decreases with increasing temperature but increases with increasing partial CO2 pressure. Our calculations show that calcium sulfate precipitation increases by a factor of 5 to a depth of 2000 m when Ketzin pressure and temperature are extrapolated. In general, gypsum precipitation constitutes a potential clogging hazard during CO2 storage and could negatively impact safe site operation. In the presented Ketzin example, this threat is only minor since the total amount of gypsum precipitation is relatively small.
Experimental methodology for CO2 capture and sodium bicarbonate synthesis with producedwater from oil industry
Authors: Villardi Hugo Gomes D’Amato , Yokoyama Lidia , Young Andre , Veiga Andrea Azevedo , Pagnin Sergio
Published: May 2022

Produced water is the main residue from the petroleum extraction industry. Other critical factor in this sector is carbon dioxide emissions. This work presents a solution proposal for both problems throughout the development of an apparatus which allows the synthesis of salts dissolved in produced water with CO2 capture. The experimental unit developed in this work was based on the Solvay process, to convert sodium chloride (NaCl) into sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) from synthetic produced water and carbon dioxide (CO2). No previous work used the combination of produced water and CO2 aiming at the synthesis of new products. Four steps were made with different experimental setups. The best outcome for the reaction of bicarbonate attained a conversion of 44.5% of sodium chloride into sodium bicarbonate and capture of 250,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year. A preliminary financial analysis indicates an annual revenue of US$ 126,607,292.31 in sodium bicarbonate and ammonium chloride and US$ 2,862,897.23 in carbon credits per year. The studied methodology can be used as a starting point for new experimental works that have the purpose to obtain salts from produced water and can help for better understanding its potential as carbon capture agent and a source of valuable products, contributing to the reduction of the environmental impact and adding value to the production chain.
Digital characterization and fractal quantification of the pore structures of tight sandstone at multiple scales
Authors: Lin Wei , Wu Zhenkai , Li Xizhe , Yang Zhengming , Hu Mingyi , Han Denglin , Wang Chenchen , Zhang Jizhen
Published: May 2022

Pore structures determine reservoir storage capacity, control rock transportation characteristics and represent microscopic properties of the rock. Therefore, the characterization and quantification of the pore structures of tight oil and gas reservoir are of primary importance for quality evaluation and the successful production of these unconventional resources. In this study, we obtained X-CT images with two resolutions of the same tight sandstone and studied the pore structures and heterogeneity of tight sandstone using digital rock technology combined with fractal theory. In traditional Euclidean space, digital image analysis shows that the pore structure of tight sandstone is mainly flat, isolated pores that occupy a large number ratio in high-resolution images and a large volume ratio in low-resolution images. Most seepage channels are mainly composed of large pores. The porosity analysis of 2D and 3D suggests that the representative elementary volume of low-resolution digital rock is 300 voxels, and the axial heterogeneity of tight sandstone is stronger than the bulk heterogeneity. In non-Euclidean space, fractal characterization parameters indicate that the fractal dimension (FD) of low-resolution digital rock is 2.6548, that of high-resolution digital rock is 2.6194, and the FD of tight sandstone is insensitive to imaging resolution. The lacunarity of high-resolution digital rock is obviously larger than that of low-resolution digital rock, which suggests that lacunarity can be used to analyze the heterogeneous structures with similar FD of tight sandstone precisely.
Tropical agroindustrial biowaste revalorization through integrative biorefineries—review part II: pineapple, sugarcane and banana by-products in Costa Rica
Authors: Eixenberger Daniela , Carballo-Arce Ana-Francis , Vega-Baudrit José-Roberto , Trimino-Vazquez Humberto , Villegas-Peñaranda Luis Roberto , Stöbener Anne , Aguilar Francisco , Mora-Villalobos Jose-Aníbal , Sandoval-Barrantes Manuel , Bubenheim Paul , Liese Andreas
Published: May 2022

Biorefineries are a model for greener production processes, based on the concept of bioeconomy. Instead of targeting first-generation biofuels—that compete with food supply—the focus relies on lignocellulosic material, considering many aspects, such as sustainable fuel production, as well as valorization of waste, as an alternative to the traditional petrochemical approach of goods production. Especially, in tropical countries agricultural activities lead to tremendous amounts of biomass, resulting in waste that has to be dealt with. In the case of Costa Rica, the five major crops cultivated for export are coffee, oil palm, pineapple, sugarcane, and banana. Traditional ways of waste treatment cannot cope with the increasing amount of biomass produced and therefore, bear various challenges often related to increased pollution. This review aims to bring up the recent state of waste treatment but even more, stress potential opportunities of adding value to not used residues; thus, improve sustainability in the agro industrial sector.

Part I of the review already highlighted the potential of producing promising bioactive chemical compounds by novel biorefinery concepts from agricultural waste originating from coffee and oil palm cultivation.

This second part focuses on the lignocellulose-rich biowaste from pineapple, sugarcane, and banana, showing biorefinery concepts, where fuel and energy production, as well as establishment of novel products and new applications, play an important role.
Spectral Galerkin treatment of linear one-dimensional telegraph type problem via the generalized Lucas polynomials
Authors: Youssri Y. H. , Abd-Elhameed W. M. , Atta A. G.
Published: May 2022

The major goal of this research is to develop and test a numerical technique for solving a linear one-dimensional telegraph problem. The generalized polynomials, namely, the generalized Lucas polynomials are selected as basis functions. To solve the linear one-dimensional telegraph type equation, we solve instead its corresponding integral equation via the application of the spectral Galerkin method that serves to convert the equation with its underlying conditions into a system of linear algebraic equations that may be solved by a suitable numerical solver. The convergence and error analysis of the generalized Lucas expansion are discussed in depth. The current analysis is based on the assumption that the problem’s solution is separable. Finally, some explanatory numerical examples are displayed together with comparisons to some other articles, to demonstrate the suggested method’s validity, applicability, and accuracy.
Reliability of automated topographic measurements for spine deformity
Authors: Groisser Benjamin N. , Hillstrom Howard J. , Thakur Ankush , Morse Kyle W. , Cunningham Matthew , Hresko M. Timothy , Kimmel Ron , Wolf Alon , Widmann Roger F.
Published: May 2022

Purpose

This study introduces a novel surface-topographic scanning system capable of automatically generating a suite of objective measurements to characterize torso shape. Research Question: what is the reliability of the proposed system for measurement of trunk alignment parameters in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and controls?

Methods

Forty-six adolescents (26 with AIS and 20 controls) were recruited for a prospective reliability study. A series of angular, volumetric, and area measures were computed from topographic scans in each of three clinically relevant poses using a fully automated processing pipeline. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC(2,1)) were computed within (intra-) and between (inter-) raters. Measurements were also performed on a torso phantom.

Results

Topographic measurements computed on a phantom were highly accurate (mean RMS error 1.7%) compared with CT. For human subjects, intra- and inter-rater reliability were both high (average ICC > 0.90) with intrinsic (pose-independent) measurements having near-perfect reliability (average ICC > 0.98).

Conclusion

The proposed system is a suitable tool for topographic analysis of AIS; topographic measurements offer an objective description of torso shape that may complement other imaging modalities. Further research is needed to compare topographic findings with gold standard imaging of spinal alignment, e.g., standing radiography. Conclusion: clinical parameters can be reliably measured in a fully automated system, paving the way for objective analysis of symmetry, body shape pre/post-surgery, and tracking of pathology without ionizing radiation.
Photoinduced free radical-releasing systems and their anticancer properties
Authors: Yan Jieyu , Lai Haiwang , Zeng Boning , Wang Liqing , Xing Feiyue , Xiao Pu
Published: May 2022

Cancer has been a serious threat and impact on the health and life of human. Phototherapy is considered as a promising therapeutic method to replace the traditional treatment in clinic owing to its noninvasive nature and high efficiency. Photoinitiators have long been used in the field of photopolymerization; however, few studies have been carried out on their potential as anticancer agents under light irradiation. In this study, the effect of a photoinitiator, diphenyl (2, 4, 6-trimethylbenzoyl) phosphine oxide (TPO), on breast cancer is investigated and the related mechanism is elucidated. It is found that TPO has low dark toxicity and significant phototoxicity. TPO can inhibit cell growth and development and promote cell apoptosis through a mitochondrial pathway under light irradiation. Further studies show that cell apoptosis is induced by free radicals produced from the photolysis of TPO to activate JNK phosphorylation. Overall, we identify the antitumor effects of TPO in vitro for the first time, and provides a proof of concept for its application as a novel photolatent therapeutic drug.

Graphical abstract
Realizing multi-qubit controlled nonadiabatic holonomic gates with connecting systems
Authors: Xu G. F. , Tong D. M.
Published: May 2022

Multi-qubit controlled gates are frequently used in quantum information processing. Although they can be built with gates from the universal set of one- and two-qubit gates, this procedure typically becomes very demanding as the number of such gates rapidly grows with the size of the computational problem. Thus, finding a way to realize them with fewer steps and therefore with reduced decoherence errors is important. Particularly, quantum information is entering noisy intermediate-scale quantum era and in this era, quantum computers do not have enough resources for full fault tolerance and therefor can only support the computation with a short duration. This makes the reduction of the steps even more important. Here, we propose the realization of multi-qubit controlled nonadiabatic holonomic gates with connecting systems. Our proposal can efficiently reduce the operation steps of the realization, thereby reducing the affection from decoherence and increasing the precision of the computation. So, it is useful to realize efficient and robust quantum information processors.
AnthroShift in a warming world
Authors: Fisher Dana R.
Published: May 2022

Thirty years after the UN Conference on Environment and Development created the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, efforts to respond to the issue continue to be insufficient to meet the challenges of the climate crisis. This perspective builds on the experience of society’s responses to the COVID-19 pandemic to understand what is needed to get to meaningful climate action. It applies the framework of the AnthroShift to assess how transformational social change is likely to emerge. The paper concludes by determining that the most plausible pathway to an effective social response to the climate crisis would be driven by civil society. However, the level of mass mobilization needed is only possible if society is experiencing large-scale and sustained levels of risk that have tangible long-term consequences in terms of social cost to people and property.
The impact of El Niño southern oscillation and Indian Ocean Dipole on the burned area in Indonesia
Authors: Nurdiati Sri , Bukhari Fahren , Julianto Muhammad Tito , Sopaheluwakan Ardhasena , Aprilia Mega , Fajar Ibnu , Septiawan Pandu , Najib Mohamad Khoirun
Published: May 2022

Land and forest fire have been identified as one of the main problems contributing to forest biodiversity and Global Warming and well known as the phenomenon affected by El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). The total burned area becomes higher when either El Niño or positive IOD occur. This research aims to analyze and quantify the direct correlation of the Niño 3.4 and difference between west and east pole of IOD sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) to the burned area in Indonesia and the impact of ENSO and IOD of each category on the burned area. The correlation between spatial location with Niño 3.4 and difference IOD SST's will be analyzed using a heterogeneous correlation map. Meanwhile, the quantitative impact will be calculated based on the singular value decomposition analysis result to each year categories. The most significant impact of El Niño has occurred on Merauke following Kalimantan shows the strongest correlation between burned area and Niño 3.4 SST. However, the significant increase of burned area only occurred during very strong El Niño. Both areas can have double amount of burned area during peak fire in very strong El Niño. Moderate El Niño have the most diverse impact with the stronger one occurs on Kalimantan and Merauke. Weak El Niño can have a significant impact if occurred simultaneously with positive IOD. Even more, it can surpass the effect of a single Moderate El Niño. Meanwhile, the strongest IOD impact happened in the southern part of Sumatra.
266 The Study of the Effectiveness of CO2 Fractional Laser for Dyspareunia in Premenopausal Women with Vestibulodynia
Authors: Ninomiya N , Sekiguchi Y
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Among female sexual dysfunctions, a relatively large number of women with dyspareunia are encountered in clinical practice. However, there is no effective standard treatments in the absence of endocrine abnormalities.

Objective

The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy and safety of CO2 fractional laser for dyspareunia in premenopausal women with vestibulodynia.

Methods

From September 2019 to September 30, 2020, we enrolled the patients who were diagnosed with vestibular redness and vestibular pain but were not effective enough with symptomatic treatments or physical therapies. Patients with obvious atrophy findings were excluded. The patients received a CO2 fractional laser irradiation 3 times in total at 1-month interval. The equipment used was Smart Side Square. Irradiation was applied only to the vestibule and vulva, not to the vagina. Surface anesthesia was performed 10 to 20 minutes before laser irradiation. The irradiation output setting conformed to the basic setting, but it was adjusted at the discretion of the attending physician and the actual irradiation setting was recorded. The effect was evaluated using the VAS scale for vestibular pain.

Results

There were 20 patients aged 23 to 38 years (mean 28.7 years, median 28 years). Eighteen people completed the three times irradiation. The average VAS decreased from 8.5 before treatment to 5.1 after 3 treatments. No obvious adverse events were observed.

Conclusions

CO2 fractional lasers are effective for dyspareunia in premenopausal women with vestibular pain.

Disclosure

Work supported by industry: no.
Actigraphically measured psychomotor slowing in depression: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wüthrich Florian , Nabb Carver B. , Mittal Vijay A. , Shankman Stewart A. , Walther Sebastian
Published: May 2022

Psychomotor slowing is a key feature of depressive disorders. Despite its great clinical importance, the pathophysiology and prevalence across different diagnoses and mood states are still poorly understood. Actigraphy allows unbiased, objective, and naturalistic assessment of physical activity as a marker of psychomotor slowing. Yet, the true effect-sizes remain unclear as recent, large systematic reviews are missing. We conducted a novel meta-analysis on actigraphically measured slowing in depression with strict inclusion and exclusion criteria for diagnosis ascertainment and sample duplications. Medline/PubMed and Web-of-Science were searched with terms combining mood-keywords and actigraphy-keywords until September 2021. Original research measuring actigraphy for ⩾24 h in at least two groups of depressed, remitted, or healthy participants and applying operationalized diagnosis was included. Studies in somatically ill patients, N < 10 participants/group, and studies using consumer-devices were excluded. Activity-levels between groups were compared using random-effects models with standardized-mean-differences and several moderators were examined. In total, 34 studies (n = 1804 patients) were included. Patients had lower activity than controls [standardized mean difference (s.m.d.) = −0.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) −0.99 to −0.57]. Compared to controls, patients with unipolar and bipolar disorder had lower activity than controls whether in depressed (unipolar: s.m.d. = −0.82, 95% CI −1.07 to −0.56; bipolar: s.m.d. = −0.94, 95% CI −1.41 to −0.46), or remitted/euthymic mood (unipolar: s.m.d. = −0.28, 95% CI −0.56 to 0.0; bipolar: s.m.d. = −0.92, 95% CI −1.36 to −0.47). None of the examined moderators had any significant effect. To date, this is the largest meta-analysis on actigraphically measured slowing in mood disorders. They are associated with lower activity, even in the remitted/euthymic mood-state. Studying objective motor behavior via actigraphy holds promise for informing screening and staging of affective disorders.
Evidence for Seawater Retreat With Advent of Meghalayan Era (∼4200 a BP) in a Coastal Harappan Settlement
Authors: Das Archana , Sodhi Aashima , Vedpathak Chintan D. , Prizomwala S. P. , Agnihotri Rajesh , Makwana Nisarg , Joseph Jaquilin , Patel Nikhil , Chopra Sumer , Ravi Kumar M.
Published: May 2022

The transformation of mature (urbanized) phase of the ancient Indus civilisation between ∼4200 and 3800 years Before Present (yr BP) overlaps with the beginning of the Meghalayan Age (∼4200 ± 100 yr BP). Though exact cause(s) for decline of urbanized Indus phase are not yet clear, researchers continue to debate whether monsoonal dryness was the sole cause or several other regional factors manifested in a compounding manner. Here, we show a regional relative sea level fall in the downstream area of Indus habitation (south‐western Gujarat region) which initiated at 4150 ± 230 and continued up to 3625 ± 200 yr BP. We provide a multi‐proxy (chronological, sedimentological, mineralogical, isotopic and elemental abundance) data set from a well‐dated vertical sediment trench from Lothal (ancient dockyard area of Indus era) to support this inference. Chief proxies used for inferring the relative sea level fall were bulk sediment carbon and sulfur contents along with their stable isotopes (δ13C and δ34S) and foraminiferal assemblage. The conspicuous shifts in majority of proxies hint at a lowering of sea stand at the regional level that likely dried this ancient Harappan dockyard (used for sea trade). Findings of our study possess implications for Holocene climate changes and their plausible impact(s) on Harappan trade and culture. Additionally, it invites evidences for large scale geological changes at ∼4200 yr BP distinct to the Meghalayan era.
Nonagricultural Emissions Dominate Urban Atmospheric Amines as Revealed by Mobile Measurements
Authors: Chang Yunhua , Wang Hongli , Gao Yaqing , Jing Sheng'ao , Lu Yiqun , Lou Shengrong , Kuang Yaqiong , Cheng Kai , Ling Qingyang , Zhu Liang , Tan Wen , Huang Ru‐Jin
Published: May 2022

Gaseous amines have recently been identified as the key precursors for frequent new particle formation in polluted urban atmospheres. An open question that arises is why amines are abundant in urban areas despite the absence of agricultural emissions. Here, using the Vocus Proton‐Transfer‐Reaction Time‐of‐Flight Mass‐Spectrometry Mobile Laboratory, we present highly time‐resolved and ultrasensitive measurements of amines to elucidate their atmospheric abundance and source distribution over the Yangtze River Delta city cluster. Our results show strong spatiotemporal heterogeneity in atmospheric C2‐ and C3‐amine levels across various landscapes. Unexpectedly, we found that urban areas were ubiquitous hotspots of amines while amine source strength from agricultural areas were rather low. Corroborated by source measurements and source tracers, all of the evidence suggest that nonagricultural emissions are the most important sources responsible for the observed patterns of urban atmospheric amines, implying significant consequences for the global amine emission inventory.
Autogenic Signals in the Sedimentary Record of Organic Carbon Preservation
Authors: Hou Yi , Torres Mark A.
Published: May 2022

The burial of organic carbon (OC) preserves paleoenvironmental archives and drives the evolution of Earth's biogeochemical cycles. While the impact of kinetic heterogeneity on OC preservation has been studied, the effects of sedimentation dynamics remain largely unknown. Here, we incorporate the expected stochastic variability in sedimentation rates into a reactive‐transport model, generate predictions for stratigraphic variability of OC burial efficiency, and compare the model outputs to field observations. We find that internal sedimentation dynamics profoundly influence OC preservation efficiencies and create autogenic signals that may obscure signals originated from external forcings. Simulations match observations in terms of power spectra when our model considers transient periods of erosion during net deposition, implying that the manifestation of sedimentation dynamics and their interactions with biogeochemistry in chemostratigraphic records are prevalent in nature. As sedimentary OC records reflect both internal variability and external forcing, they may be used as proxies for past depositional conditions.