bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Social and Solidarity Economy and Social Entrepreneurship: Encouraging Opportunities for Transformation in Complex Current Times
Authors: Guzmán Alfonso Carmen , Nogales Muriel Rocio
Published: April 2022

The current situation the world is experiencing with the Covid-19 pandemic is bringing forward the weaknesses of the prevailing economic system. In these circumstances, a demand for a change of paradigm is emerging, and the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) and social entrepreneurship play a key role in such scenario. This paper reflect on this situation and emphasizes the importance of going in depth in the field of research of SSE and social entrepreneurship, focusing in early-career researchers whose hands may hold some important keys for our future.
AUDIO TO SIGN LANGUAGE CONVERTER
Authors:   Department of Computer Science & Engineering, School of Engineering & Technology, Sharda University, Greater Noida, India, MAURYA AMAN , KAUR JASMEET ,   Department of Computer Science & Engineering, School of Engineering & Technology, Sharda University, Greater Noida, India, GARG RIYA ,   Department of Computer Science & Engineering, School of Engineering & Technology, Sharda University, Greater Noida, India, VARSHNEY SUDEEP ,   Department of Computer Science & Engineering, School of Engineering & Technology, Sharda University, Greater Noida, India
Published: April 2022

There is a communication gap between people who are not able to understand the thoughts of those people having these problems so with the help of AI this application artificially which will be able to help those peoples who have no sense of understanding the thoughts of others by their movement or motion. We will add some signs of English alphabets as predefined expressions. This application we made is for deaf people having hearing problems with them.
Regenerative Effects of Locally or Intra-Arterially Administered BMSCs on the Thin Endometrium
Authors: Guo Qi , Chang Yajie , Li Jingjie , Zhou Chuanchuan , Huang Rui , Yang Xing , Liu Guihua , Liang Xiaoyan
Published: April 2022

Stem cell–based therapy plays a pivotal role in the regeneration of damaged endometrium. Previous studies have demonstrated the therapeutic potential of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) through diverse administration ways. However, the homing, survival, and differentiation potential of these differently administered BMSCs are poorly defined, and the best route of administration is not well-defined. Herein, we aim to compare the engraftment, retaining time, and therapeutic efficiency of differently administered BMSCs. To achieve this, GFP/Luc-labeled BMSCs administered in two modes were assessed in a thin endometrium rat model: either into the damaged horns directly or through the ipsilateral iliac artery. The retaining time and hemi-quantitative distribution were evaluated by in vivo bioluminescence imaging and immunohistological analysis. Locally administered BMSCs were strongly detected in the abdomen at the first 4 days post treatment but underwent a rapid decrease in luminescent signal afterward and were rarely found 28 days after treatment. In contrast, the retaining time of BMSCs injected through the iliac artery was longer, reflected by more GFP-positive cells detected in the uterine section 28 days post treatment. Differentiation toward endometrial stromal cells was observed. Both routes of administration contributed to the restoration of the damaged endometrium, showing a comparable increase in the endometrial thickness and a decrease in fibrosis. However, more importantly, higher expression of LIF and VEGF, better recruitment, and longer retainment were found in the intra-arterial administration, contributing to the establishment of the optimal administration mode in clinical practice.
Production of Hexanol as the Main Product Through Syngas Fermentation by Clostridium carboxidivorans P7
Authors: Oh Hyun Ju , Ko Ja Kyong , Gong Gyeongtaek , Lee Sun-Mi , Um Youngsoon
Published: April 2022

The production of hexanol from syngas by acetogens has gained attention as a replacement for petroleum-derived hexanol, which is widely used in the chemical synthesis and plastic industries. However, acetogenic bacteria generally produce C2 compounds (e.g., acetate and ethanol) as the main products. In this study, the gas fermentation conditions favorable for hexanol production were investigated at different temperatures (30–37°C) and CO gas contents (30–70%) in batch gas fermentation. Hexanol production increased from 0.02 to 0.09 g/L when the cultivation temperature was lowered from 37 to 30°C. As the CO content increased from 30 to 70%, the CO consumption rate and hexanol production (yield, titer, and ratio of C6 compound to total products) increased with the CO content. When 70% CO gas was repeatedly provided by flushing the headspace of the bottles at 30°C, the total alcohol production increased to 4.32 g/L at the expense of acids. Notably, hexanol production (1.90 g/L) was higher than that of ethanol (1.20 g/L) and butanol (1.20 g/L); this is the highest level of hexanol produced in gas fermentation to date and the first report of hexanol as the main product. Hexanol production was further enhanced to 2.34 g/L when 2 g/L ethanol was supplemented at the beginning of 70% CO gas refeeding fermentation. Particularly, hexanol productivity was significantly enhanced to 0.18 g/L/day while the supplemented ethanol was consumed, indicating that the conversion of ethanol to acetyl-CoA and reducing equivalents positively affected hexanol production. These optimized culture conditions (gas fermentation at 30°C and refeeding with 70% CO gas) and ethanol supplementation provide an effective and sustainable approach for bio-hexanol production.
Research Progress on the Photo-Driven Catalytic Production of Biodiesel
Authors: Huang Jinshu , Jian Yumei , Zhu Ping , Abdelaziz Omar , Li Hu
Published: April 2022

Biodiesel considered a green, environmentally friendly, and renewable energy source is one of the most promising candidates to replace fossil fuels to supply energy for the world. The conventional thermocatalytic methods have been extensively explored for producing biodiesel, while inevitably encountering some drawbacks, such as harsh operating conditions and high energy consumption. The catalytic production of biodiesel under mild conditions is a research hotspot but with difficulty. Photocatalysis has recently been highlighted as an eco-friendly and energy-saving approach for biodiesel production. This mini-review summarizes typical photocatalysts for biodiesel production and discusses in detail the catalytic mechanism and strategies of the photo-driven (trans)esterification to produce biodiesel. The current challenges and future opportunities of photo-driven catalysis to prepare biodiesel are also outlined, in steps towards guiding the design of advanced photocatalysts for biodiesel production.
Role of Non-Coding RNA in Neurological Complications Associated With Enterovirus 71
Authors: Yang Feixiang , Zhang Ning , Chen Yuxin , Yin Jiancai , Xu Muchen , Cheng Xiang , Ma Ruyi , Meng Jialin , Du Yinan
Published: April 2022

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is the main pathogenic virus that causes hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD). Studies have reported that EV71-induced infections including aseptic meningitis, acute flaccid paralysis, and even neurogenic pulmonary edema, can progress to severe neurological complications in infants, young children, and the immunosuppressed population. However, the mechanisms through which EV71 causes neurological diseases have not been fully explored. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), are RNAs that do not code for proteins, play a key role in biological processes and disease development associated with EV71. In this review, we summarized recent advances concerning the impacts of ncRNAs on neurological diseases caused by interaction between EV71 and host, revealing the potential role of ncRNAs in pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of EV71-induced neurological complications.
The Emotional Experience of Members of Scotland's Citizens' Assembly on Climate Change
Authors: Andrews Nadine
Published: April 2022

In facing up to the reality of the climate crisis and the risks it poses, people encounter powerful emotions that can be difficult to bear. Consequently, various defences and coping strategies may be used to suppress or avoid feeling these emotions. The way in which emotions are regulated has important implications for wellbeing and decision-making. In recent years there has been growing interest in using citizens' assemblies to inform government climate policy. Assembly members learn about and discuss the subject, and produce recommendations for action. Given this element of learning about climate change, it is likely that difficult emotions will come up for assembly members. This paper investigates the emotional experience of members of Scotland's Climate Assembly to explore which, if any, emotions are experienced and how they are regulated. The findings are compared to a population survey, and discussed in relation to the assembly process including the evidence presented to members, and the assembly outputs. Assembly members appear to have had quite a different emotional experience compared to the general population, with higher levels of hopefulness and optimism, lower levels of worry and overwhelm, and a lower proportion reporting that their emotions about climate change were having a negative impact on their mental health. It is proposed that these differences in experience may in part be due to a focussed sense of purpose and agency that being an assembly member brings, along with exposure to evidence that may have underplayed the severity of the climate crisis and that was framed in ways that reassured the members that climate change can be tackled in an effective and fair way. However, after receiving the Scottish Government response to their recommendations, there are indications that levels of optimism and hopefulness dropped and levels of worry increased, with members expressing overall disappointment with the response. The findings enhance our understanding of how people perceive climate risk and how they experience that emotionally, and can be used to inform the design of future deliberative processes, and for supporting people to regulate their emotions about climate change and climate policy in an adaptive way.
The Topoi of Mandela's Death in the Arabic Speaking Media: A Corpus-Based Political Discourse Analysis
Authors: Mohammed Tawffeek A. S. , Banda Felix , Patel Mahmoud
Published: April 2022

The present study attempts a political discourse analysis of a spoken Arabic corpus on the death of Nelson Mandela. The corpus mainly consists of the coverage of some Arabic-speaking TV channels that was broadcasted in the aftermath of the announcement of Nelson Mandela's death in 2013. The discourse-historical approach was employed with a view to finding out the various topoi and ideologies deployed in the corpus. For this purpose, the spoken corpus used in this study was first transcribed using EUDICO Linguistic Annotator (ELAN), a transcription tool for multimodal texts. Afterward, the corpus was compiled using Sketch Engine to enable researchers to process the data automatically and hence to use different computational tools that can assist in finding the various topoi. A computational analysis using collocations, wordlists, N-grams, and concordance features can provide a more precise analysis of the various topoi in context and hence to uncover the ideologies of participants/politicians. The findings of the study showed that the corpus abounds in topoi that are not necessarily related to Mandela or his death, but they are rather related to heated political issues in various countries of the Middle East. Politicians have shifted their focus from the main topic which is the death of Nelson Mandela to conflicts and political plights in countries such as Egypt, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, and Palestine. Politicians have used the media coverage as a platform to express their feelings and to compare Mandela with the Arab leaders in their respective countries. The coverage has sometimes transcended speaking about Mandela to the deployment and projection of certain ideologies of the interviewees. Those ideologies are not only confined to one participant's country, but they are representative of the Arab identity and concerns at large.
Heart Failure Relapses in Response to Acute Stresses – Role of Immunological and Inflammatory Pathways
Authors: Hasselbach Lisa , Weidner Johannes , Elsässer Albrecht , Theilmeier Gregor
Published: April 2022

Cardiovascular diseases continue to be the most imminent health care problems in the western world, accounting for numerous deaths per year. Heart failure (HF), namely the reduction of left ventricular function, is one of the major cardiovascular disease entities. It is chronically progressing with relapsing acute decompensations and an overall grave prognosis that is little different if not worse than most malignant diseases. Interestingly acute metabolically and/or immunologically challenging events like infections or major surgical procedures will cause relapses in the course of preexisting chronic heart failure, decrease the patients wellbeing and worsen myocardial function. HF itself and or its progression has been demonstrated to be driven at least in part by inflammatory pathways that are similarly turned on by infectious or non-infectious stress responses. These thus add to HF progression or relapse. TNF-α plasma levels are associated with disease severity and progression in HF. In addition, several cytokines (e.g., IL-1β, IL-6) are involved in deteriorating left ventricular function. Those observations are based on clinical studies using inhibitors of cytokines or their receptors or they stem from animal studies examining the effect of cytokine mediated inflammation on myocardial remodeling in models of heart failure. This short review summarizes the known underlying immunological processes that are shared by and drive all: chronic heart failure, select infectious diseases, and inflammatory stress responses. In conclusion the text provides a brief summary of the current development in immunomodulatory therapies for HF and their overlap with treatments of other disease entities.
Syndecan-1 Is Overexpressed in Human Thoracic Aneurysm but Is Dispensable for the Disease Progression in a Mouse Model
Authors: Zalghout Sara , Vo Sophie , Arocas Véronique , Jadoui Soumaya , Hamade Eva , Badran Bassam , Oudar Olivier , Charnaux Nathalie , Longrois Dan , Boulaftali Yacine , Bouton Marie-Christine , Richard Benjamin
Published: April 2022

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) pooling has long been considered as one of the histopathological characteristics defining thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) together with smooth muscle cells (SMCs) apoptosis and elastin fibers degradation. However, little information is known about GAGs composition or their potential implication in TAA pathology. Syndecan-1 (SDC-1) is a heparan sulfate proteoglycan that is implicated in extracellular matrix (ECM) interaction and assembly, regulation of SMCs phenotype, and various aspects of inflammation in the vascular wall. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether SDC-1 expression was regulated in human TAA and to analyze its role in a mouse model of this disease. In the current work, the regulation of SDC-1 was examined in human biopsies by RT-qPCR, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry. In addition, the role of SDC-1 was evaluated in descending TAA in vivo using a mouse model combining both aortic wall weakening and hypertension. Our results showed that both SDC-1 mRNA and protein are overexpressed in the media layer of human TAA specimens. RT-qPCR experiments revealed a 3.6-fold overexpression of SDC-1 mRNA (p = 0.0024) and ELISA assays showed that SDC-1 protein was increased 2.3 times in TAA samples compared with healthy counterparts (221 ± 24 vs. 96 ± 33 pg/mg of tissue, respectively, p = 0.0012). Immunofluorescence imaging provided evidence that SMCs are the major cell type expressing SDC-1 in TAA media. Similarly, in the mouse model used, SDC-1 expression was increased in TAA specimens compared to healthy samples. Although its protective role against abdominal aneurysm has been reported, we observed that SDC-1 was dispensable for TAA prevalence or rupture. In addition, SDC-1 deficiency did not alter the extent of aortic wall dilatation, elastin degradation, collagen deposition, or leukocyte recruitment in our TAA model. These findings suggest that SDC-1 could be a biomarker revealing TAA pathology. Future investigations could uncover the underlying mechanisms leading to regulation of SDC-1 expression in TAA.
Nationwide Initiation of Cardiovascular Risk Treatments During the COVID-19 Pandemic in France: Women on a Slippery Slope?
Authors: Gabet Amélie , Grave Clémence , Tuppin Philippe , Lesuffleur Thomas , Guenancia Charles , Nguyen-Thanh Viêt , Guignard Romain , Blacher Jacques , Olié Valérie
Published: April 2022

Objectives

This study examines the initiation of prescribed medication treatments for cardiovascular risk (antihypertensives, lipid-lowering drugs, oral anticoagulants in atrial fibrillation, and smoking cessation medications) during the COVID-19 pandemic in the French population.

Methods

For each year between 2017 and 2021, we used the French National Insurance Database to identify the number of people with at least one reimbursement for these medications but no reimbursement in the previous 12 months. We computed incidence rate ratios (IRRs) between 2017–2019 and, respectively 2020 and 2021 using Poisson regression adjusted for age and 2017–2019 time trends. We recorded the number of lipid profile blood tests, Holter electrocardiograms, and consultations with family physicians or cardiologists.

Results

In 2020, IRR significantly decreased for initiations of antihypertensives (−11.1%[CI95%, −11.4%;−10.8%]), lipid-lowering drugs (−5.2%[CI95%, −5.5%;−4.8%]), oral anticoagulants in atrial fibrillation (−8.6%[CI95%, −9.1%;−8.0%]), and smoking cessation medications (−50.9%[CI95%, −51.1%;−50.7%]) compared to 2017–2019. Larger decreases were found in women compared to men except for smoking cessation medications, with the sex difference increasing with age. Similar analyses comparing 2021 to 2017–2019 showed an increase in the initiation of lipid-lowering drugs (+ 11.6%[CI95%, 10.7%;12.5%]) but even lower rates for the other medications, particularly in women. In addition, the 2020 number of people visiting a family physician or cardiologist decreased by 8.4 and 7.4%. A higher decrease in these visits was observed in those over 65 years of age compared to those under 65 years of age. A greater use of teleconsultation was found in women.

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic heavily impacted the initiation of medication treatments for cardiovascular risk in France, particularly in women and people over 65 years.
Predictive Value of Left Atrial and Ventricular Strain for the Detection of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Cryptogenic Stroke
Authors: Bufano Gabriella , Radico Francesco , D'Angelo Carolina , Pierfelice Francesca , De Angelis Maria Vittoria , Faustino Massimiliano , Pierdomenico Sante Donato , Gallina Sabina , Renda Giulia
Published: April 2022

Background and Aims

Cryptogenic stroke (CS) is associated with a high rate of recurrences and adverse outcomes at long-term follow-up, especially due to its unknown etiology that often leads to ineffective secondary prevention. Asymptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) could play an important pathophysiological role. Some studies have pointed to left atrial (LA) and left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic dysfunction as surrogate markers of AF. The aim of the study is to evaluate the relationship between echocardiographic parameters of LA and LV function, and the occurrence of AF revealed by continuous ECG monitoring in a cohort of patients with CS.

Methods

Single-center prospective cohort study. Seventy-two patients with CS with insertable cardiac monitors (ICM) underwent transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). TTE was focused on LA and LV function, including both standard and longitudinal strain-derived parameters. All detected AF episodes lasting more than 2 min were considered.

Results

Continuous ECG monitoring revealed subclinical AF in 23 patients (32%) at an average of 6.5 months after ICM implantation. Many echocardiographic parameters, indicating LA volume and LV systolic/diastolic function, were significantly associated with the occurrence of AF, suggesting the worst atrial function in the AF group. Furthermore, multivariable regression analysis revealed that peak atrial contraction strain and left ventricular strain were independently associated with AF (adjusted OR = 0.72, CI 95% 0.48–0.90, p = 0.005, and adjusted OR = 0.69, CI 95% 0.46–0.95, p = 0.041, respectively).

Conclusion

In patients with CS, LA and LV strain analysis add predictive value for the occurrence of AF over clinical and morpho-functional echocardiographic parameters. Impaired booster pump strain and LV longitudinal strain are strong and independent predictors of AF.
Feasibility and Safety of Drug-Coated Balloon-Only Angioplasty for De Novo Ostial Lesions of the Left Anterior Descending Artery: Two-Center Retrospective Study
Authors: Li Chuang , Ding Xuebo , Wang Lefeng , Li Kuibao , Yang Xinchun , Liu Liping , Xu Li
Published: April 2022

Introduction

There is limited evidence regarding the effectiveness of drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty in the percutaneous treatment of complex de novo ostial coronary lesions. This study primarily aimed to explore the feasibility and safety of this innovative approach for ostial lesions in the left anterior descending artery (LAD).

Methods

Patients treated with paclitaxel DCB or second-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) were retrospectively enrolled from two large centers. The primary endpoints were major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including cardiovascular death, target lesion revascularization (TLR), target vessel revascularization, and recurrent myocardial infarction related to target artery occlusion. Cox regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for MACE, and propensity score matching was performed to minimize selection bias.

Results

A total of 388 patients were included; among them, 52 were treated with paclitaxel DCB, and 336 with DES for ostial LAD lesions. Using propensity score matching, 49 patients were treated with DCB-only and 49 with the DES strategy. The average follow-up time was 12 months; subsequently, a non-significant decrease in MACE rate was observed in the DCB-only angioplasty treatment group (MACE: 6 vs. 6%, p = 1.0; TLR: 2 vs. 4%, p = 0.56). Cox regression analysis indicated that DCB-only angioplasty was not an independent risk factor for adverse events after adjusting for confounding risk factors (hazard ratio: 1.713, p = 0.43).

Conclusion

The use of the DCB-only approach is an innovative and optional strategy in the treatment of isolated ostial LAD disease. A further randomized trial is of necessity to confirm the feasibility and safety of drug-coated balloon-only angioplasty for LAD de novo ostial lesions.
Systems Biology in Periodontitis
Authors: Silva Davi Neto de Araújo , Monajemzadeh Sepehr , Pirih Flavia Queiroz
Published: April 2022

Systems biology is a promising scientific discipline that allows an integrated investigation of host factors, microbial composition, biomarkers, immune response and inflammatory mediators in many conditions such as chronic diseases, cancer, neurological disorders, and periodontitis. This concept utilizes genetic decoding, bioinformatic, flux-balance analysis in a comprehensive approach. The aim of this review is to better understand the current literature on systems biology and identify a clear applicability of it to periodontitis. We will mostly focus on the association between this condition and topics such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, as well as contextualize delivery systems for periodontitis treatment, biomarker detection in oral fluids and associated systemic conditions.
Unification of the Mechanical Model and Parameter Analysis of the Elastic Foundation Beam of Pipe-Roof
Authors: Xu Xiaojing , Song Zhanping , Li Hui , Tian Xiaoxu , Zhou Guannan
Published: April 2022

Based on the existing model of pipe-roof considering the arching effect, combined with the mechanical model of pipe-roof when the tunnel is excavated to the end, a unified mechanical model of the elastic foundation beam for pipe-roof is established. Deflection and internal force calculation formulas of the model were derived. Combined with actual engineering cases, the model was compared and analyzed, and the parameters affecting the pipe-roof were analyzed by taking the unified model as an example. The results show that the established unified elastic foundation beam model can better represent the actual stress state of a pipe-roof and the model has strong applicability. The stress state of the pipe-roof at the end of excavation can be calculated by changing the boundary conditions of the model. When the diameter of the steel pipe is 108–114 mm, the supporting effect of the pipe-roof is similar. When Ec (elastic modulus of converging) > 40.0Eg (elastic modulus of ground rock), the excavation footage and the diameter of the steel pipe have little effect on the deflection and bending moment of the pipe-roof. Therefore, increasing the elastic modulus of the reinforced area is the most effective method to reduce the deflection and internal force of the pipe-roof. The longer the residual length of the pipe-roof in surrounding rock, the safer the tunnel will be during excavation. The economically reasonable value of the residual length of the pipe-roof in surrounding rock is 2–3 m.
Looking Into the Entanglement Between Karst Landforms and Fault Activity in Carbonate Ridges: The Fibreno Fault System (Central Italy)
Authors: Saroli Michele , Albano Matteo , Moro Marco , Falcucci Emanuela , Gori Stefano , Galadini Fabrizio , Petitta Marco
Published: April 2022

The entanglement between active tectonics and karst systems is well-known in the literature. Karst systems are sound recorders of continental deformation in terms of brittle structures and seismic features and have been successfully used as markers for reconstructing tectonic stresses and assessing preferential directions of increased permeability in oil and gas fields. Karst systems could also be exploited to evaluate the past activity of faults bounding karst hydrostructures, thus providing useful data for the assessment of the seismic hazard of a specific area. In this work, we look into the complex relationship among karst development, recent tectonics and groundwater flow, which appear to be strongly interconnected with each other, to assess the activity of faults bounding karst hydrostructures. We focused our attention on an active karst area located in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic carbonate reliefs of the Italian central Apennines. In this context, the morphological and morphometric features of the karst landforms (dolines, dry valleys, and cave entrances), identified with geomorphological surveys, and their mutual relationship with fractures and fault segments, identified employing geostructural analysis, document stasis and deepening events in karst evolution. Such events are related to changes in the groundwater table and the consequent variation of the paleokarst base level associated with the Quaternary fault activity. A comprehensive evaluation of the evolution of karst systems at local and regional scales, considering the hydrogeological influence on base levels, allows us to use karst landforms as a proxy to unravel fault activity and evolution in Italy and in other similar karst environments.
Cenozoic Cichlids of Africa (Cichlidae: Pseudocrenilabrinae) With the Description of a New Species From the Oligocene of Somalia
Authors: Murray Alison M.
Published: April 2022

Cichlid fishes are an important component of the African freshwater ecosystem and the evolution of this group has captured the interest of ichthyologists for many decades. The distribution of cichlid fishes in both Africa and South America, and the apparent reciprocal monophyly of the cichlids in the two areas, has led to differences in opinion as to whether their modern distribution reflects a dispersal event from Africa to South America or was the result of a vicariant event–the break-up of the two continental masses in the mid-Cretaceous. If the vicariant event were the cause of the modern distribution, this would indicate an age for the family of at least 120 million years; however, the fossil record indicates a younger, Cenozoic, age for the family. The known fossil taxa in Africa often are difficult to assign to extant tribes which creates inaccuracies when they are used to date lineages within Cichlidae. The difficulty of assigning fossil cichlids to modern lineages is caused by most of these lineages being recognized based on DNA or soft-tissue characters, which are generally not preserved in fossils. This hampers our understanding of the early history of the family. Despite this, new African cichlid fossils that have been described in the past two decades and a new technique to determine relationships of these fossils are beginning to elucidate the early history of the family in Africa. Here the Palaeogene (Eocene and Oligocene) cichlids of Africa are reviewed and a new taxon from the Oligocene of Somalia, Somalichromis hadrocephalus gen. et sp. nov. is described.
Numerical Method for Predicting and Evaluating the Stability of Section Coal Pillars in Underground Longwall Mining
Authors: Shan Pengfei , Sun Haoqiang , Lai Xingping , Dai Jingjing , Gao Jianming , Yang Pan , Li Wei , Li Chenwei , Yan Chengwei
Published: April 2022

The stability of section coal pillars is one of the most important factors affecting the stability of coal rock systems in the stope and roadway. This study aimed to develop an artificial intelligence methodology to predict and evaluate coal pillar stability. Data from 125 published coal pillar historical cases were collected to build a sample dataset. Meanwhile, a mean impact value-genetic algorithm-back propagation neural network (MIV-GA-BP) fusion model was established to predict the stability of section coal pillars. MIV tests indicated that the main factors influencing coal pillar stability are (in order of decreasing importance): the coal seam buried depth > coal seam thickness > working face length > coal elastic modulus > cohesion > tensile strength > internal friction angle > Poisson’s ratio > volume weight > coal seam dip angle. The relative weights of mine design parameters are generally greater than those of the physical and mechanical parameters of coal and rock mass. After the BP model was optimized by GA, the relative error, R value, and mean squared error were 5%, 0.95, and 0.13, respectively. These results confirm that the machine learning model has significant potential for improving coal pillar stability evaluations. The developed prediction model was applied to two field cases to verify its effectiveness, and the results indicated that the innovative method can be extended for use in similar geological conditions or other mining and geaological engineering fields.
Design and Validation of a Research Motivation Scale for Peruvian University Students (MoINV-U)
Authors: Esteban Renzo Felipe Carranza , Mamani-Benito Oscar , Huancahuire-Vega Salomón , Lingan Susana K.
Published: April 2022

The aim of the study was to design and validate a research motivation scale for Peruvian university students (MoINV-U). Instrumental design study where a scale of 16 items distributed in two factors (willingness and interest) was designed and validated. A total of 2,249 university students (59.2% women) participated in the study. To analyze the evidence of content-based validity, Aiken’s V coefficient was used; for construct validity, confirmatory factor analysis was used, and reliability was studied through Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. The items received a favorable evaluation (Aiken’s V > 0.70). The goodness-of-fit indices were adequate (CFI = 0.959, TLI = 0.950 and RMSEA = 0.080), likewise, the correlation between factor 1 and 2 was significant (p < 0.05), evidence of validity was obtained based on the relationship with other variables with measures of academic self-efficacy and academic procrastination and the reliability was acceptable (α = 0.87; 95% CI = 0.86–0.88). The MoINV-U scale is a tool that presents evidence of validity and reliability for the sample of Peruvian university students.
Additive Effect of Parathyroid Hormone and Zoledronate Acid on Prevention Particle Wears-Induced Implant Loosening by Promoting Periprosthetic Bone Architecture and Strength in an Ovariectomized Rat Model
Authors: Zhou Chenhe , Wang Yangxin , Meng Jiahong , Yao Minjun , Xu Huikang , Wang Cong , Bi Fanggang , Zhu Hanxiao , Yang Guang , Shi Mingmin , Yan Shigui , Wu Haobo
Published: April 2022

Implant-generated particle wears are considered as the major cause for the induction of implant loosening, which is more susceptible to patients with osteoporosis. Monotherapy with parathyroid hormone (PTH) or zoledronate acid (ZOL) has been proven efficient for preventing early-stage periprosthetic osteolysis, while the combination therapy with PTH and ZOL has exerted beneficial effects on the treatment of posterior lumbar vertebral fusion and disuse osteopenia. However, PTH and ZOL still have not been licensed for the treatment of implant loosening to date clinically. In this study, we have explored the effect of single or combined administration with PTH and ZOL on implant loosening in a rat model of osteoporosis. After 12 weeks of ovariectomized surgery, a femoral particle-induced periprosthetic osteolysis model was established. Vehicle, PTH (5 days per week), ZOL (100 mg/kg per week), or combination therapy was utilized for another 6 weeks before sacrifice, followed by micro-CT, histology, mechanical testing, and bone turnover examination. PTH monotherapy or combined PTH with ZOL exerted a protective effect on maintaining implant stability by elevating periprosthetic bone mass and inhibiting pseudomembrane formation. Moreover, an additive effect was observed when combining PTH with ZOL, resulting in better fixation strength, higher periprosthetic bone mass, and less pseudomembrane than PTH monotherapy. Taken together, our results suggested that a combination therapy of PTH and ZOL might be a promising approach for the intervention of early-stage implant loosening in patients with osteoporosis.
Enhancement Attempts for a Three-Bladed Savonius Turbine Performance
Authors: Mohamed Mohamed H. , Alqurashi Faris , Ramadan A. , Thévenin D.
Published: April 2022

In this work, the performance of a new wind turbine design derived from a conventional Savonius turbine is investigated by numerical simulations. The new design consists of three blades without passage between them (closed center). All unsteady computations (which mean computational fluid dynamics as well in the next sections) presented in the current work depend on a commercial software ANSYS Fluent 19. In particular, the blade geometry, the influence of a deflecting plate, and the influence of mobile parts on the returning plate have been investigated in detail. Since first results were partly disappointing for the turbine with a deflector but very interesting for the turbine with an opening blade, these same properties have also been investigated for the classical Savonius turbine. By comparison between both, an optimal solution can emerge from this first study for these designs. The results indicated that the opening blade design improved the performance by 25.9% at λ = 0.7; however, the deflecting plate reduces the performance along the operating range.
Impedance-Based Stability Analysis of DAB Converters With Single-, Double-, or Cooperative Triple-Phase-Shift Modulations and Input LC Filter
Authors: Feng Fan , Fang Jingyang , Manandhar Ujjal , Gooi Hoay Beng , Xie Peng
Published: April 2022

The impedance-based criterion has turned out to be a very effective tool for the stability analysis of the dual active bridge (DAB) converter with its input LC filter. While the input impedance of the DAB converter is highly dependent on the modulation methods, the influences of the modulation methods on the input impedances of the DAB converters are still not clear. To close this gap, three typical modulation methods of DAB converters, traditional single-phase-shift (SPS), dual-phase-shift (DPS) and the emerging cooperative triple-phase-shift (CTPS) modulation, are studied in this paper. First, the full-order input impedance models of the DAB converter with these modulation methods are derived for the first time. Second, based on the developed models, the impacts of these modulation schemes on the DAB input impedances are revealed. An interesting phenomenon is found that the open-loop impedances of SPS-DAB and DPS-DAB converters present the characteristics of the parallel-connected inductor and capacitor, while the open-loop impedance of CTPS-DAB converter presents the resistor characteristics. Third, the optimal modulation scheme for system stability is investigated. Finally, the theoretical analysis has been validated by the experimental results.
Vertical Sand Flux Density and Grain-Size Distributions for Wind-Blown Sand Over a Gobi Surface in Milan, Southern Xinjiang, China
Authors: Tan Lihai , Zhang Kai , Wang Hongtao , An Zhishan , Wang Tao
Published: April 2022

Vertical sand flux density and grain-size distributions of wind-blown sand over gobi are an essential way for examining the complex grain-bed collisions over gobi surfaces and then understanding aeolian saltation dynamics. However, compared with sand surfaces, relatively few studies have reported regarding how sand flux density and grain size vary with elevation for wind-blown sand over gobi, especially in a field scale. Here, vertical sand flux density and grain-size distributions for wind-blown sand over a typical gobi surface during three transport events were revealed. The results show that the sand flux density exponentially decreased with elevation, which is different from the previous wind tunnel studies, and 99% of the sand transport amount was concentrated in the near-surface layer of 0.6 m. The mean grain size (Dm) first increased with elevation until an inflection in grain-size trends occurred at 0.175 m or 0.285 m above the ground, and then Dm decreased with height, which is significantly different from the vertical grain-size profile patterns of sand surfaces. The grain-bed collision process of medium sand over the gobi surface caused the increase of the mean grain size with height. Sorting was dominated by moderately sorted, skewness by symmetrical or fine skewed, and kurtosis by mesokurtic. The results of this study are significant for future numerical modeling studies of aeolian saltation over rough surfaces on Earth and even on Mars.
Carbon Emissions With Forest Cover Change and Wood Harvest in the Dry Temperate Region of Pakistan Between 1908 and 2015
Authors: Ahmad Adnan , Ahmad Shahid , Nabi Ghulam , Zeb Alam , Rajpar Muhammad Nawaz , Ullah Sami , Khalid Faisal , Rahman Mujibur , Liu Qijing , Zu Kuiling , Guo Xinle , Wanghe Kunyuan
Published: April 2022

Regional carbon emissions related to forest cover change (FCC) and wood harvest (WH) are critical for the accurate estimates of global carbon balance over an extended time period. Using remote sensing and inventory data, this study provides a comprehensive record of FCC, WH, and their integrated carbon emissions between 1908 and 2015 in the dry temperate regions of Pakistan. Results demonstrate a significant decline in forest area (21,034 ha) at an annual rate of 0.56% from 1973 to 2015. The total WH was 24.84 million m3 (0.23 million m3 yr−1) between 1908 and 2015. Deforestation was responsible for a net loss of 1.39 million Mg C (0.018 million Mg C yr−1), while WH-related carbon emissions accounted for 11.29 million Mg C (0.52 million Mg C yr−1). The present results indicate that under the existing FCC and WH harvest scenario, the forests are acting as a net source of 0.29 million Mg C yr−1. Agriculture expansion and the heavy dependency of local communities on the forest’s resources, exclusion of conservation and local communities from forest management, insufficient monitoring, and weak law-enforcement were the striking drivers of FCC, WH, and their related emissions. These findings suggest that to maintain forest carbon and meet the communities’ requirements, counter approaches such as agriculture incentives, agroforestry, trophy hunting, alternative energy sources, and inclusion of conservation and secure community-based management are needed.
Colorful Collar-Covers and Bells Reduce Wildlife Predation by Domestic Cats in a Continental European Setting
Authors: Geiger Madeleine , Kistler Claudia , Mattmann Prisca , Jenni Lukas , Hegglin Daniel , Bontadina Fabio
Published: April 2022

In many areas, domestic cats are the most abundant predators of small vertebrates. Due to the potential impact on prey populations by cats, there are calls to investigate the effectiveness of visual and acoustic cues as measures to reduce the cat’s hunting efficiency. In this study, we complement previous studies on the efficacy of Birdsbesafe collar-covers (BBScc) in a so far not investigated Continental European setting and explore the effectiveness in combination with a bell. We also evaluate the tolerability of these devices by the cat and the acceptance by their owners. With a randomized and comparative citizen science-based approach we collected data from 26 households with 31 study cats, which were wearing either a BBScc or both a BBScc and a bell. The BBScc reduced the number of birds brought home by 37% (probability of reduction of 88%). The number of mammals brought home was reduced by 54–62%, but only with the additional bell (probability of reduction of >99%). About one fourth of the birds that could be dissected were found to have collided with a hard object prior to having been brought home by the cats. Our results are in line with previous findings from Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom and highlight the great potential of visual and acoustic cues in reducing hunting success in domestic cats also in Continental Europe. On the other hand, our result show that the number of prey brought home by cats overestimates their hunting bag, if scavenging is not considered. The majority of cat owners reported that their cats habituated quickly to the BBScc. However, frequent scratching in some cats indicates that some individuals may not habituate. Most participating cat owners had a positive attitude toward the BBScc and said that they were willing to use it after the study. However, cat owners reported that their social environment (e.g., neighbors, family, friends) was relatively skeptical, which indicates a need for communication. To conclude, commercially available devices with visual and acoustic stimuli are straightforward and effective ways to mitigate the potentially harmful effect of domestic cats on wildlife.
Prognostic Value of Drug Targets Predicted Using Deep Bioinformatic Analysis of m6A-Associated lncRNA-Based Pancreatic Cancer Model Characteristics and Its Tumour Microenvironment
Authors: Cao Peng-Wei , Liu Lei , Li Zi-Han , Cao Feng , Liu Fu-Bao
Published: April 2022

The role of N6-methyladenosine (m6A)-associated long-stranded non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in pancreatic cancer is unclear. Therefore, we analysed the characteristics and tumour microenvironment in pancreatic cancer and determined the value of m6A-related lncRNAs for prognosis and drug target prediction. An m6A-lncRNA co-expression network was constructed using The Cancer Genome Atlas database to screen m6A-related lncRNAs. Prognosis-related lncRNAs were screened using univariate Cox regression; patients were divided into high- and low-risk groups and randomised into training and test groups. In the training group, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) was used for regression analysis and to construct a prognostic model, which was validated in the test group. Tumor mutational burden (TMB), immune evasion, and immune function of risk genes were analysed using R; drug sensitivity and potential drugs were examined using the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer database. We screened 129 m6A-related lncRNAs; 17 prognosis-related m6A-related lncRNAs were obtained using multivariate analysis and three m6A-related lncRNAs (AC092171.5, MEG9, and AC002091.1) were screened using LASSO regression. Survival rates were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the low-risk than in the high-risk group. Risk score was an independent predictor affecting survival (p < 0.001), with the highest risk score being obtained by calculating the c-index. The TMB significantly differed between the high- and low-risk groups (p < 0.05). In the high- and low-risk groups, mutations were detected in 61 of 70 samples and 49 of 71 samples, respectively, with KRAS, TP53, and SMAD4 showing the highest mutation frequencies in both groups. A lower survival rate was observed in patients with a high versus low TMB. Immune function HLA, Cytolytic activity, and Inflammation-promoting, T cell co-inhibition, Check-point, and T cell co-stimulation significantly differed in different subgroups (p < 0.05). Immune evasion scores were significantly higher in the high-risk group than in the low-risk group. Eight sensitive drugs were screened: ABT.888, ATRA, AP.24534, AG.014699, ABT.263, axitinib, A.443654, and A.770041. We screened m6A-related lncRNAs using bioinformatics, constructed a prognosis-related model, explored TMB and immune function differences in pancreatic cancer, and identified potential therapeutic agents, providing a foundation for further studies of pancreatic cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Evaluating a Panel of Autoantibodies Against Tumor-Associated Antigens in Human Osteosarcoma
Authors: Luo Manli , Wu Songmei , Ma Yan , Liang Hong , Luo Yage , Gu Wentao , Fan Lijuan , Hao Yang , Li Haiting , Xing Linbo
Published: April 2022

Background: The aim of this study was to identify a panel of candidate autoantibodies against tumor-associated antigens in the detection of osteosarcoma (OS) so as to provide a theoretical basis for constructing a non-invasive serological diagnosis method in early immunodiagnosis of OS.

Methods: The serological proteome analysis (SERPA) approach was used to select candidate anti-TAA autoantibodies. Then, indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to verify the expression levels of eight candidate autoantibodies in the serum of 51 OS cases, 28 osteochondroma (OC), and 51 normal human sera (NHS). The rank-sum test was used to compare the content of eight autoantibodies in the sera of three groups. The diagnostic value of each indicator for OS was analyzed by an ROC curve. Differential autoantibodies between OS and NHS were screened. Then, a binary logistic regression model was used to establish a prediction logistical regression model.

Results: Through ELISA, the expression levels of seven autoantibodies (ENO1, GAPDH, HSP27, HSP60, PDLIM1, STMN1, and TPI1) in OS patients were identified higher than those in healthy patients (p < 0.05). By establishing a binary logistic regression predictive model, the optimal panel including three anti-TAAs (ENO1, GAPDH, and TPI1) autoantibodies was screened out. The sensitivity, specificity, Youden index, accuracy, and AUC of diagnosis of OS were 70.59%, 86.27%, 0.5686, 78.43%, and 0.798, respectively.

Conclusion: The results proved that through establishing a predictive model, an optimal panel of autoantibodies could help detect OS from OC or NHS at an early stage, which could be used as a promising and powerful tool in clinical practice.