bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The movement patterns and foraging resources of Atlantic walruses (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) in Franz Josef Land archipelago and connectivity with theKara‐BarentsSea population
Authors: Solovyova Maria , Gebruk Anna , Artemyeva Svetlana , Rozhnov Viatcheslav V. , Isachenko Artyom , Lazareva Renata , Chukmasov Pavel , Glazov Dmitry , Ermilova Yulia , Kokorin Alexander , Mardashova Maria , Shabalin Nikolay
Published: January 2024

The Franz Josef Land population of the Atlantic walrus (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) remains one of the least studied. Here, 26 walruses were tagged with satellite‐linked radio transmitters in Franz Josef Land archipelago and Victoria Island in summer‐autumn 2020 and 2021 to assess movements patterns and area utilization. In addition, 65 grab samples were taken to evaluate macrobenthic foraging resources. The mean duration of data records was 53 ± 27 days. The walruses traveled on average 29 ± 13.5 km/day with a mean speed of 1.2 ± 0.6 km/hr. The travel speed and distance were statistically different for male, female, and immature walruses. The individuals tagged on Victoria Island remained in the vicinity of the island, while walruses tagged within the Franz Josef Land archipelago moved between the islands, utilizing the entire area for foraging trips. One walrus migrated from Franz Josef Land to Novaya Zemlya in late November, providing evidence of connectivity with the Kara‐Barents Sea population. The area was characterized by high average biomass of macrobenthos. Bivalve mollusks,Hiatella arctica, were dominating macrobenthic biomass, likely being the main foraging resource for the walruses. Further observations are needed to better understand winter behaviors of Franz Josef Land walruses and possible impacts of climate change on movement patterns.
Metabolic effects of milk fatty acids: A literature review
Authors: Muñoz‐Alvarez Karla Y. , Gutiérrez‐Aguilar Ruth , Frigolet María E.
Published: January 2024

Milk and dairy products are known to have a significant role in human development and tissue maintenance due to their high nutritional value. With the higher incidence of obesity and metabolic diseases, nutrition and public health authorities have recommended the intake of fat‐free or low‐fat dairy due to the saturated fatty acid content of whole‐fat products and their effect on serum cholesterol levels. However, recent studies have questioned the association between milk fat consumption and cardiometabolic risk. This literature review aims to compile the scientific evidence of the metabolic effects of milk fatty acids in clinical and basic research studies, as well as their relationship with metabolic disorders and gut microbiota composition. Research shows that various milk fatty acids exert effects on metabolic alterations (obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases) by modifying glucose homeostasis, inflammation and lipid profile‐related factors. Additionally, recent studies have associated the consumption of milk fatty acids with the production of metabolites and the promotion of healthy gut microbiota. From mainly observational studies, evidence suggests that milk and dairy fatty acids are not directly linked to cardiometabolic risk, but further controlled research is necessary to clarify such findings and to assess whether dietary recommendations to choose low‐fat dairy foods are necessary for the population for the prevention of obesity and cardiometabolic disease.
The effect of discretionary snack consumption on overall energy intake, weight status, and diet quality: A systematic review
Authors: Cooke Carlton B. , Greatwood Hannah C. , McCullough Deaglan , Kirwan Richard , Duckworth Lauren C. , Sutton Louise , Gately Paul J.
Published: January 2024

The consumption frequency and portion size of discretionary snacks are thought to contribute to a greater food intake and risk of overweight or obesity in the developed world but evidence from epidemiological studies is inconclusive. To investigate this, we systematically evaluated evidence on the effects of discretionary snack consumption on weight status, energy intake, and diet quality. Articles involving discretionary snacks reported against the outcome measures of any primary, peer‐reviewed study using human participants from free‐living conditions for all age groups were included. A total of 14,780 titles were identified and 40 eligible publications were identified. Three key outcomes were reported: weight status (n = 35), energy intake (n = 11), and diet quality (n = 3). Increased discretionary snack consumption may contribute modestly to energy intake, however, there is a lack of consistent associations with increased weight/BMI. Although cross‐sectional analyses offered conflicting findings, longitudinal studies in adults showed a consistent positive relationship between discretionary snack intake and increasing weight or body mass index. Given that experimental findings suggest reducing the size of discretionary snacks could lead to decreased consumption and subsequent energy intake, food policy makers and manufacturers may find it valuable to consider altering the portion and/or packaging size of discretionary snacks.
Analyzing the effects of economic sanctions: Recent theory, data, and quantification
Authors: Egger Peter , Syropoulos Constantinos , Yotov Yoto V.
Published: January 2024

Inspired by the increased interest in economic sanctions and their consequences, this special issue contains a collection of studies by experts aiming to reflect the recent developments and trends in the literature on economic sanctions. The contributions contain theoretical research on the topic, data collection, and empirical work on the impact, effectiveness and success of sanctions. Moreover, the contributions come from economists and political scientists and are, therefore, interdisciplinary in nature. In this introduction, we highlight each paper in the volume by summarizing its salient features and by placing them in the broader context of the literature on economic sanctions. We also synthesize several takeaways and conclude by identifying questions we believe future research should shed further light on.
Engagement for Life's Sake: Reflections on Partnering and Partnership with Rural Tribal Nations☆
Authors: Schelly Chelsea , Gagnon Valoree , Brosemer Kathleen , Arola Kristin
Published: January 2024

In this paper, we reflect on our collective experiences engaging with Anishinaabe Tribal Nations in the Great Lakes region to support Tribal sovereignty in decision‐making for food, energy, and water (FEW) systems. In these diverse experiences, we find common lessons. The first set of lessons contributes new empirical knowledge regarding the challenges and opportunities that rural Great Lakes Tribal Nations navigate for enacting sovereignty in decision‐making. Our experiences illustrate that while Tribal Nations benefit from a broad and deep commitment to sovereignty and many cultural strengths, they are often challenged by shortages in administrative capacity; technical support; and embeddedness in economic, socio‐cultural, and institutional dynamics that must be further negotiated for Tribes to enact the sovereignty to which they are inherently (and legally) entitled. Productive partnerships struggle when university partners fail to acknowledge these realities. The second set of lessons addresses the potential for, and challenges of, effective engagement processes. We find that engagement with university professionals is often mismatched with the priorities and needs of Tribal Nations. Effective engagement with Tribal Nations requires practical knowledge, applied assistance, and grounded, genuine relationships; these requirements often run counter to the institutional structures and priorities imposed by universities, federal funding agencies, and student recruitment. These findings, associated with both empirical knowledge and lessons on process, highlight shared insights on formidable barriers to effective engagement. Based on our firsthand experience working with rural Tribal Nations on FEW decision‐making, we share these reflections with particular focus on lessons learned for professionals who engage, or hope to engage, with Tribal Nations in rural settings and offer opportunities to transform engagement processes to better support the immediate, practical needs of rural Tribal Nations.
The Lingering Banners of Hong Kong ‘National Day’
Authors: Ismangil Milan
Published: January 2024

What remains of a national day after it has passed? Weeks after it has ended banners celebrating China's ‘birthday’ on October first can still be seen all over Hong Kong. As government and pro‐China organizations hang up banners and flags all around Hong Kong, celebrating the birthday of the nation. These flags remind the people in Hong Kong that they are part of China, despite some thinking otherwise. I argue that these banners serve to 1. Remind people of Hong Kong's subordinate position within the nation state of China, 2. Show how the nation is performed, and 3. force the nation onto people as a forceful rather than a banal gesture. Drawing on theories of affect and space, ethnography, and photos taken by the author, this study adds to the theory and process of everyday nation‐making.
A single nucleotide substitution in exon 4 produced the novel allele, HLA‐C*07:1093
Authors: Loginova Maria , Druzhinina Svetlana , Paramonov Igor , Zarubin Maksim
Published: January 2024

Characterization of the novel HLA‐C*07:1093 allele in a Russian female bone marrow donor.
Genomic sequence of the HLA‐B*40:01:02:61, ‐B*48:01:01:14, and ‐C*01:02:01:69 alleles
Authors: Marín Rubio Luis Alberto , Ontañón Jesús
Published: January 2024

Characterization of HLA‐B*40:01:02:61, ‐B*48:01:01:14, and ‐C*01:02:01:69 alleles in Spanish individuals.
Chromosome‐level genome assembly of Prunella vulgaris L. provides insights into pentacyclic triterpenoid biosynthesis
Authors: Zhang Sixuan , Meng Fanqi , Pan Xian , Qiu Xiaoxiao , Li Caili , Lu Shanfa
Published: January 2024

Prunella vulgaris is one of the bestselling and widely used medicinal herbs. It is recorded as an ace medicine for cleansing and protecting the liver in Chinese Pharmacopoeia and has been used as the main constitutions of many herbal tea formulas in China for centuries. It is also a traditional folk medicine in Europe and other countries of Asia. Pentacyclic triterpenoids are a major class of bioactive compounds produced in P. vulgaris. However, their biosynthetic mechanism remains to be elucidated. Here, we report a chromosome‐level reference genome of P. vulgaris using an approach combining Illumina, ONT, and Hi‐C technologies. It is 671.95 Mb in size with a scaffold N50 of 49.10 Mb and a complete BUSCO of 98.45%. About 98.31% of the sequence was anchored into 14 pseudochromosomes. Comparative genome analysis revealed a recent WGD in P. vulgaris. Genome‐wide analysis identified 35 932 protein‐coding genes (PCGs), of which 59 encode enzymes involved in 2,3‐oxidosqualene biosynthesis. In addition, 10 PvOSC, 358 PvCYP, and 177 PvUGT genes were identified, of which five PvOSCs, 25 PvCYPs, and 9 PvUGTs were predicted to be involved in the biosynthesis of pentacyclic triterpenoids. Biochemical activity assay of PvOSC2, PvOSC4, and PvOSC6 recombinant proteins showed that they were mixed amyrin synthase (MAS), lupeol synthase (LUS), and β‐amyrin synthase (BAS), respectively. The results provide a solid foundation for further elucidating the biosynthetic mechanism of pentacyclic triterpenoids in P. vulgaris.
Effect of Engine Speed and Biogas Composition on Performance of a Small Biogas-Diesel Dual-Fuel Generator
Authors: Dahlseide Austin , Dev Shouvik , Stevenson David , Guo Hongsheng
Published: January 2024

Small diesel generators (< 10-kilowatt (kW) electricity output) are widely used as primary and backup sources of electricity in remote and other off-grid communities in Canada owing to their portability and durability. Major challenges associated with these generators include high costs of diesel and its transportation, as well as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Biogas, which can be produced from the local waste or biomass, can be introduced into a diesel generator to potentially reduce diesel consumption and GHG emissions. The objective of this experimental study is to investigate the impact of engine speed, biogas composition, and intake temperature on the performance of a small biogasdiesel dual-fuel generator.

This study was conducted using a 4-kW diesel generator with a normally aspirated, four-stroke, direct injection, single-cylinder diesel engine. A new intake manifold was installed on the engine to incorporate a biogas dosing port. The biogas was simulated by a mixture of compressed natural gas (composed of more than 95% methane), carbon dioxide (CO2), and nitrogen (N2). Exhaust gas temperature and composition were also recorded. Electrical load was maintained at 3.1 kW.

The results of this study indicated that raising the engine speed from 1800 to 3600 rpm increased the diesel consumption rate, thereby increasing the overall GHG emissions. However, NOx emissions were reduced. The impact of the biogas composition was significant, especially the effect of CO2 when compared to N2. Increasing intake temperature improved engine efficiency particularly at higher biogas flow rates. The results highlighted the challenges associated with the application of biogas-diesel dual-fuel technology in small diesel generators with highspeed engines.
Effect of Hydrogen Enrichment on Combustion and Emissions of a Heavy Duty Natural Gas - Diesel Dual Fuel Engine at Low and Medium Load Conditions
Authors: Guo Hongsheng , Yousefi Amin , Dev Shouvik , Liko Brian , Lafrance Simon
Published: January 2024

Diesel engines are widely used due to their higher reliability and superior fuel conversion efficiency. However, they generate significant amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) and particulate matter (PM) emissions. Natural gas is a low carbon and clean fuel that generates less CO2 and PM emissions than diesel during combustion. Replacing diesel by natural gas in internal combustion engines helps reduce both CO2 and PM emissions. A practical and efficient way to replace diesel by natural gas is natural gas-diesel dual fuel combustion. One concern for natural gas-diesel dual fuel combustion engines is the methane slip which offsets the advantage of low CO2 and PM emissions of natural gas combustion.

Hydrogen enrichment enhances the burning rates and extends flammability limits of hydrocarbon fuels, and therefore has potential to help address the issue of methane slip in natural gas-diesel dual fuel engines. This paper investigated the effect of hydrogen enrichment on combustion and emissions of a heavy duty natural gas-diesel dual fuel engine at low and medium load conditions. About 45% volume based hydrogen was blended with natural gas and introduced into the cylinder via engine intake manifold of a single cylinder heavy duty research engine. Overall 75% diesel was displaced by hydrogen enriched natural gas. The results revealed that hydrogen enrichment reduced methane emissions by about 44 to 58% at the investigated conditions. Meanwhile, hydrogen enrichment also improved engine efficiency at most operation conditions, especially when methane slip was significant. As a result, hydrogen enrichment helped reduce CO2 equivalent emissions by about 17 to 38% compared to natural gas only – diesel dual fuel operation, although the overall energy fraction from hydrogen in the fuel input to the cylinder was less than 15%. Hydrogen enrichment also significantly decreased carbon monoxide emissions. A side effect of hydrogen enrichment was the increase in NOx emissions.
Design of a Novel Impulse Turbine for a Supercharged Single Cylinder Diesel Engine – A Simulation Approach
Authors: Jayaraman Ramkumar , Krishnasamy Anand , A. Ramesh
Published: January 2024

Worldwide, single-cylinder engines have never been turbocharged commercially since the exhaust flow from the engine is intermittent. Hence, almost one-third of the energy supplied by the fuel as input to the single-cylinder engine is wasted as output into the atmosphere in the exhaust gas. In the current study, a supercharger was employed to enhance the power output from a single-cylinder diesel engine. A novel impulse turbine was proposed to recoup some energy from the pulsated exhaust flow. This novel supercharged, impulse turbine compounded single-cylinder engine layout was simulated using the commercially available AVL Boost model. Based on the results of the 1D model, an impulse turbine suitable for the supercharged engine was designed. Commercially available CAD modelling software NX was used to generate the 3D data of the designed impulse turbine. CFD analysis was conducted on the designed impulse turbine 3D model using commercially available Converge software. The impulse turbine design was further optimized based on the results of the CFD analysis. Design features like clearances of the turbine rotor, outlet port opening size, number of blades, blade speed, etc., were optimized. Simulated results show that the designed impulse turbine generated about 1.85 kW of power, thereby enhancing the power output of the supercharged engine by 15% at rated power conditions. Overall, the novel supercharged and impulse turbine compounded engine generated 14.65kW of power which was 39% higher than the base NA engine brake power output. Thus, the novel impulse turbine was designed using 1D and 3D simulations. Hence, with a simulation approach, the proposed novel method of employing a supercharged and impulse turbine compounded single-cylinder diesel engine was validated as the novel layout proved beneficial with improved engine performance.
Potential of H2-Assisted Light-Off of Oxidation Catalyst in H2-Diesel Dual-Fuel Engines
Authors: Piqueras Pedro , de la Morena Joaquín , Sanchis Enrique José , Conde Carla , Herreros José Martín , Tsolakis Athanasios
Published: January 2024

Hydrogen (H2) appears as a fundamental alternative to conventional fuels to lead the decarbonization of the transportation sector based on internal combustion engine propulsion. Being well assumed that neat H2 combustion demands the analysis of the exhaust aftertreatment systems (ATS) requirements and performance, this is also very relevant when considering dual-fuel strategies. This work addresses the impact of H2 presence in the exhaust gases on the conversion efficiency of CO and THC in an oxidation catalyst operating under representative real driving conditions. A reaction mechanism is proposed to cover the main conversion paths of CO, HC, and H2, including the formation and consumption of high-energy surface reaction intermediates. The mechanism has been implemented into a faster-than-real-time reduced-order model for multi-layer washcoat honeycomb catalytic converters and validated against experimental data. The model is applied to analyze the influence of the H2 concentration on the CO and HC light-off time during a vehicle driving test cycle. A wide span of concentrations, ranging from expected amounts in the exhaust of a dual-fuel Diesel engine to post-injected H2 strategies, was considered. Post-injection interest is analyzed regarding the eventual tradeoff between light-off and cumulative conversion efficiency in driving cycles and increased energy consumption. Additionally, the benefits in light-off time and increased reactivity were also assessed as a potential for catalyst downsizing at the expense of stress on the reactor in terms of bulk mass transfer limitations and pressure drop increase.
Numerical Investigation of the Effect of Ammonia Addition on the Performance of a Stoichiometric Operated Natural Gas Spark Ignition Engine
Authors: Yang Ruomiao , Yan Yuchao , Ou Juan , Liu Zhentao , Liu Jinlong
Published: January 2024

Due to the pressing issue of global warming, there has been a significant focus on zero and low carbon fuels within the international community. Among the hydrocarbon fuels available, methane has gained wide usage in spark ignition engines due to its abundance and its relatively smaller hydrocarbon mass ratio. However, in order to further mitigate carbon emissions, there is growing interest in exploring the potential of using ammonia, a zero-carbon fuel, as a partial replacement for methane. Consequently, it is essential to investigate the impact of ammonia addition on the performance of natural gas spark ignition engines. One of the key challenges in studying ammonia/methane engines is that the introduction of ammonia alters the formation mechanism of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and leads to a coupling of fuel NOx and thermal NOx. Consequently, there has been limited research on the NOx emissions of ammonia/methane engines. This study successfully addresses this issue by differentiating between atmospheric nitrogen and fuel nitrogen elements and effectively decoupling the thermal/fuel NOx. This approach provides valuable insights into the effect of ammonia addition on the NOx characteristics of natural gas engines. The results indicate that the addition of ammonia introduces the presence of N2O species, which is not observed in methane engines. The N2O species primarily originates from the cold wall regions formed during the late oxidation process. Furthermore, although ammonia addition increases the concentration of NO in the burning zone, it appears to slightly reduce the NO concentration at chemical equilibrium at stoichiometric operation. This effect leads to stoichiometric-operated engines fueled with 80% methane and 20% ammonia exhibiting lower NOx emissions compared to those fueled with pure methane. These findings suggest that even a modest addition of 20% ammonia to methane fuel has a significant impact on the formation and evolution of NOx, highlighting the need for further studies to explore the NOx emission characteristics in ammonia/methane spark ignition engines.
Combustion Research in Wide DCN Range Synthetic Aviation Fuels in a High Compression Ratio Engine
Authors: Soloiu Valentin , Weaver Amanda , Willis James , Rowell Aidan , Dillon Nicholas
Published: January 2024

An investigation was conducted on the performance and emissions characteristics of two Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) synthetic kerosenes, Gas-to-Liquid (GTL) S8 and Coal-to-Liquid (CTL) Iso-Paraffinic Kerosene (IPK), in a high compression ratio research engine with separate combustion chamber and using neat ULSD as a baseline. A 50% and a 70% by mass blend S8 with ULSD and a 50% and a 70% by mass blend of IPK with ULSD were analyzed for performance and emissions at 5, 6, and 7 bar Indicated Mean Effective Pressure (IMEP) and 2400 rpm.

Additionally, neat S8, neat IPK, and neat ULSD were investigated in the Constant Volume Combustion Chamber (CVCC) for Ignition Delay (ID), Combustion Delay (CD), and Derived Cetane Number (DCN). S8 was found to have the highest DCN at 62 with very short ID and CD while IPK was found to have the lowest DCN at 26 and with the longest ID and CD. ULSD has a DCN between the two F-T fuels at 48. As a result of its long ID and CD, IPK showed extended regions of Low Temperature Heat Release (LTHR) and Negative Temperature Coefficient Region (NTCR) in the CVCC. It was also found that neat IPK, 50ULSD50IPK, and 30ULSD70IPK exhibit little to no ringing events at peak pressure and after High Temperature Heat Release (HTHR).

In the research engine, peak heat release for ULSD, 50ULSD50S8, and 50ULSD50IPK was found to be 24.2 J/CAD, 20.5 J/CAD, and 23.4 J/CAD respectively. Due to the increase of the DCN with the addition of S8 to the blend, the 50ULSD50S8 blend exhibited minimal difference between the pre-chamber and the main chamber as it ignites earlier in the cycle with the flame front traveling quickly to the main chamber. IPK, however, had a short physical ignition delay and a long chemical ignition delay, as indicated by its low DCN, takes longer to ignite and creates a more homogeneous mixture in the highly turbulent pre-chamber. This causes a spike in heat release in the pre-chamber before the flame front propagates to the main chamber. This resulted in 50ULSD50IPK having the highest Peak Pressure Rise Rate (PPRR) and 50ULSD50S8 having the lowest PPRR. While both fuel blends reduced the soot emissions due to their low aromatic content, 50ULSD50IPK showed a 25% reduction in soot when compared to ULSD while 50ULSD50S8 showed only a 6% reduction in soot when compared to neat ULSD. There was a increase in CO emissions with the addition of IPK and a reduction in CO at low load with the addition of S8. With both F-T fuels, CO2 and NOx were found to decrease.
Optimization of the Combustion Chamber Design of a Natural Gas-Diesel Dual Fuel Engine Running at Low Load
Authors: Scrignoli Francesco , Savioli Tommaso , Rinaldini Carlo Alberto
Published: January 2024

A 3D-CFD investigation has been performed to optimize the design of the combustion system of a Dual Fuel (DF) natural gas-Diesel 4-Stroke engine, employed as a gen-set. The novelty of the study is the focus on low load operations (3000 rpm – 2 bar BMEP; 25 % load), where the control of CO and UHC emissions is quite critical, due to the large air excess of the premixed charge. Differently from high load conditions, here the combination of the combustion chamber shape and of the diesel spray patterns plays a fundamental role. Three piston bowl geometries, with same compression ratio (17.5), have been numerically compared: a conventional Omega-shaped bowl (baseline), an open shallow bowl and a hemispherical bowl. For each bowl, five Diesel sprays included angles have been considered: 170°, 150° (baseline), 120°, 90° and 60°. For all the configurations, it was found that performance improves as the spray angle increases. Moreover, the hemispherical combustion chamber behaves significantly better than the baseline in a range of spray included angle between 170° and 120°.

The effect of the Diesel injection strategy has been also investigated, starting from the best combustion chamber configuration (hemispherical bowl with Diesel spray included angle = 170°): Results show that the best SOI for single-Diesel injection is −10 °CA AFTDC.

In comparison to the baseline configuration, the optimized combustion system permits to improve the gross indicated thermal efficiency by 49.3 %, while UHC and CO emissions decrease by about 72 % and 61 %, respectively. The only drawback is the higher value of NOx emissions (+ 41 %), which should be not critical at these low loads.
Experimental Investigation of a Butylcyclohexane / Propylcyclohexane Based Naphthenic Bio-Blendstock Surrogate Fuel for Use in a Compression Ignition Engine
Authors: Ristow Hadlich Rodrigo , Ran Zhongnan , Yang Ruinan , Mante Ofei , Dayton David , Assanis Dimitris
Published: January 2024

Finding fuels derived from renewable sources that can displace fossil fuels is crucial to fight climate change as drop-in replacement fuels can immediately leverage ubiquitous, existing energy conversion hardware such as the reciprocating-piston internal combustion engine. However, any replacement fuel must necessarily maintain or ideally exceed the performance of fossil fuels. There are many possible pathways to obtain renewable fuels from biomass, but one pathway that has demonstrated the potential to meet the necessary thermophysical and performance requirements is the Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis pathway followed by hydrotreating to produce a bio-blendstock oil-rich in naphthenes. Due to the variability of bio-blendstock oil composition and variations in process parameters at such a production facility, developing a representative surrogate fuel is necessary for use in understanding compositional desirability and comparative experimental investigations are required to determine performance and emissions characteristics. This work builds upon past surrogate fuel formulation efforts to represent the naphthenic-rich bio-blendstock oils produced from a one ton per day (1TPD) catalytic biomass pyrolisis facility. Specifically, in this work a new formulation of surrogate fuel (SF), SF1.12, containing butylcyclohexane and propylcyclohexane, to represent the naphthenic hydrocarbon content, was created and produced and further blended (up to 30% by vol.) with research-grade No.2 diesel (DF2). These blends were then tested in a single-cylinder Ricardo Hydra compression ignition research engine. A range of conditions were evaluated by first holding the start of injection constant and varying the injection duration from max load (knock limit) to 40% of the max load value. In addition, experiments were performed by holding the fuel-air equivalence ratio constant while sweeping start of fuel injection, and the results were compared to previous generations of SF. It was demonstrated that increasing the proposed SF concentration in DF2 lead to an increase in load output, as well as to a decrease in sooting propensity without impacting NOx formation. It was also shown that this formulation of SF performs best in increasing load and reducing emissions compared to previously reported generations. This SF formulation in the concentrations evaluated (up to 30% by vol.) was shown to be a feasible candidate for displacing heavy distillate fossil fuels in engines.
Nanoimprint lithography guiding templates for advanced magnetic media fabrication
Authors: Staaks Daniel , Hsu Yautzong , Lee Kim Y. , Steiner Philip L. , Yu Zhaoning , Wu Jason J. , Xiao ShuaiGang , Yang XiaoMin , Chang Thomas Y.
Published: January 2024

Nanoimprint lithography presents unique opportunities for advanced magnetic storage media with ordered bit arrangements such as bit patterned media or heated dot magnetic recording. Providing sub-10 nm resolution and full disk imprinting capability, UV-nanoimprint lithography based on rigid quartz templates bears the entitlement for patterned recording media manufacturing with high throughput at low cost. However, a key challenge is the fabrication of the high-resolution template that can transfer the desired pattern onto the disk with high fidelity and low line edge roughness. In this article, we present fabrication routes and overcome challenges to the fabrication of quartz templates suitable for self-alignment and guiding purposes to be used for template replication toward full disk imprints. Guiding patterns down to 40 nm pitch are prepared using a rotary electron beam lithography tool. We compare three different process approaches to fabricate an etching mask for patterning the quartz. Two methods target chromium patterning, one with traditional lift-off and another by dry etching, both using an e-beam resist mask. The third approach is based on the development of a carbon-based Tri-layer hard mask. The template pattern profile is optimized for imprint-suitable sidewall angles using dry etching in a CF4/O2 chemistry. The templates were characterized using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy to evaluate the quality of the transferred pattern as well as line edge roughness. Our results show that the Tri-layer process using carbon resulted in the lowest line edge roughness of ≈0.65 nm at the imprinted disk level. In addition, we show that Tri-layer masking allowed for the use of conventional ZEP e-beam resist and fast writing speeds, while gaining high selectivity during quartz patterning.
Systemic inflammation from the brain
Authors: Foley John F.
Published: January 2024

The actions of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists in the CNS reduce systemic inflammation.
Pathogenicity and landscape of differential gene expression in mice orally infected with clinical coxsackievirus A6 (CA6)
Authors: Zhang Lihong , Peng Wanjun , Wu Jing , Wei Xiaohui , Rong Na , Zhang Gengxin , Yang Hekai , Ding Xiaoyue , Zhao Binbin , Liu Jiangning
Published: January 2024

This study holds great significance for the field of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD). It not only delves into the disease’s etiology, transmission pathways, and severe complications but also establishes a novel mouse model that mimics the natural coxsackievirus A6 infection process, providing a pivotal platform to delve deeper into virus replication and pathogenic mechanisms. Additionally, utilizing RNA-seq technology, it unveils the dynamic gene expression changes during infection, offering valuable leads for identifying novel therapeutic drug targets. This research has the potential to enhance our understanding of HFMD, offering fresh perspectives for disease prevention and treatment and positively impacting children’s health worldwide.
Sub-inhibitory antibiotic treatment selects for enhanced metabolic efficiency
Authors: Aduru Sai Varun , Szenkiel Karolina , Rahman Anika , Ahmad Mehrose , Fabozzi Maya , Smith Robert P. , Lopatkin Allison J.
Published: January 2024

Bacterial growth and metabolic rates are often closely related. However, under antibiotic selection, a paradox in this relationship arises: antibiotic efficacy decreases when bacteria are metabolically dormant, yet antibiotics select for resistant cells that grow fastest during treatment. That is, antibiotic selection counterintuitively favors bacteria with fast growth but slow metabolism. Despite this apparent contradiction, antibiotic resistant cells have historically been characterized primarily in the context of growth, whereas the extent of analogous changes in metabolism is comparatively unknown. Here, we observed that previously evolved antibiotic-resistant strains exhibited a unique relationship between growth and metabolism whereby nutrient utilization became more efficient, regardless of the growth rate. To better understand this unexpected phenomenon, we used a simplified model to simulate bacterial populations adapting to sub-inhibitory antibiotic selection through successive bottlenecking events. Simulations predicted that sub-inhibitory bactericidal antibiotic concentrations could select for enhanced metabolic efficiency, defined based on nutrient utilization: drug-adapted cells are able to achieve the same biomass while utilizing less substrate, even in the absence of treatment. Moreover, simulations predicted that restoring metabolic efficiency would re-sensitize resistant bacteria exhibiting metabolic-dependent resistance; we confirmed this result using adaptive laboratory evolutions of
Escherichia coli
under carbenicillin treatment. Overall, these results indicate that metabolic efficiency is under direct selective pressure during antibiotic treatment and that differences in evolutionary context may determine both the efficacy of different antibiotics and corresponding re-sensitization approaches.

IMPORTANCE

The sustained emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens combined with the stalled drug discovery pipelines highlights the critical need to better understand the underlying evolution mechanisms of antibiotic resistance. To this end, bacterial growth and metabolic rates are often closely related, and resistant cells have historically been characterized exclusively in the context of growth. However, under antibiotic selection, antibiotics counterintuitively favor cells with fast growth, and slow metabolism. Through an integrated approach of mathematical modeling and experiments, this study thereby addresses the significant knowledge gap of whether antibiotic selection drives changes in metabolism that complement, and/or act independently, of antibiotic resistance phenotypes.
Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Framework with Fuzzy Queries for Multimedia Data Fusion
Authors: Haseeb Khalid , Ahmad Irshad , Siraj Mohammad , Abbas Naveed , Jeon Gwanggil
Published: January 2024

Multimedia Internet of Things (MIoT) is widely explored in many smart applications for connectivity with wireless communication. Such networks are not like ordinary networks because it has to collect a massive amount of data and are further forwarded to processing systems. As MIoT is very limited in terms of resources for healthcare, smart homes, etc., therefore, energy efficiency with reliable data transmission is a significant research challenge. As smart applications rely on bounded constraints, therefore duplicate and unnecessary data transmission should be minimized. In addition, the timely delivery of data in crucial circumstances has a significant impact on any proposed system. Consequently, this paper presents a fuzzy logic-based edge computing framework to provide cooperative decision-making while avoiding inefficient use of the sensing power of smart devices. The proposed framework can be applied to critical applications to improve response time and processing cost. It consists of the following two functional components: Firstly, it provides the automated routing process with a natural language interface at the sink node. Secondly, to ensure reasonable performance, it also transmits semantic data between sensors using fuzzy queries and security. According to the performance evaluation, the proposed framework significantly outperformed related studies in terms of energy consumption, packet overhead, network throughput, and end-to-end delay.
Counting List Homomorphisms from Graphs of Bounded Treewidth: Tight Complexity Bounds
Authors: Focke Jacob , Marx Dániel , Rzążewski Paweł
Published: January 2024

The goal of this work is to give precise bounds on the counting complexity of a family of generalized coloring problems (list homomorphisms) on bounded-treewidth graphs. Given graphs
G
,
H
, and lists
L (v)
⊆
V(H)
for every
v
∈
V(G)
, a
f:V(G)
→
V(H)
that preserves the edges (i.e.,
uv
∈
E(G)
implies
f(u)f(v)
∈
E(H)
) and respects the lists (i.e.,
f(v)
∈
L(v)
). Standard techniques show that if
G
is given with a tree decomposition of width
t
, then the number of list homomorphisms can be counted in time
|V(H)|

t

⋅
n
𝒪(1)
. Our main result is determining, for every fixed graph
H
, how much the base
|V(H)|
in the running time can be improved. For a connected graph
H
, we define irr(
H
) in the following way: if
H
has a loop or is nonbipartite, then irr(
H
) is the maximum size of a set
S⊆ V(H)
where any two vertices have different neighborhoods; if
H
is bipartite, then irr(
H
) is the maximum size of such a set that is fully in one of the bipartition classes. For disconnected
H
, we define irr(
H
) as the maximum of irr(
C
) over every connected component
C
of
H
. It follows from earlier results that if irr(
H
)=1, then the problem of counting list homomorphisms to
H
is polynomial-time solvable, and otherwise it is #P-hard. We show that, for every fixed graph
H
, the number of list homomorphisms from
(G,L)
to
H

—

can be counted in time

\(\operatorname{irr}(H)^t\cdot n^{\mathcal {O}(1)}\)

if a tree decomposition of
G
having width at most
t
is given in the input, and,

—

given that

\(\operatorname{irr}(H)\ge 2\)

, cannot be counted in time

\((\operatorname{irr}(H)-\varepsilon)^t\cdot n^{\mathcal {O}(1)}\)

for any

\(\varepsilon \gt 0\)

, even if a tree decomposition of
G
having width at most
t
is given in the input, unless the Counting Strong Exponential-Time Hypothesis (#SETH) fails.

Thereby, we give a precise and complete complexity classification featuring matching upper and lower bounds for all target graphs with or without loops.
Influence of Abutment Screw‐Tightening Methods on the Screw Joint: Immediate and Long‐Term Stability
Authors: Sun Manlin , Shui Yusen , Zhang Yuqiang , Ma Ruiyang , Zhao Yuwei , Chen Hongyu , Yu Ping , Li Zhi , Wu Tingting , Yu Haiyang
Published: January 2024

Objective. To evaluate the influence of screw‐tightening methods on the immediate and long‐term stability of dental implant screw joints. Methodology. A total of 150 implants of three different implant systems with different diameters were used in this study. Each group was divided into three subgroups (n = 5), according to the tightening methods (A—tightening with recommended torque and retorque after 10 min; B—tightening with recommended torque, then loosening and immediate retorque; C—tightening with recommended torque only once). The operating time of tightening the assemblies was recorded. Ten minutes later, the immediate removal torque (IRT) (Ncm) was measured. After retightening the assemblies, a dynamic load between 20 and 200 N was applied for 105 cycles, and the postloading removal torque (PRT) (Ncm) was measured. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe the surface topography of the screws. Results. For different types of implants, the IRTs were 11.92 ± 1.04–34.12 ± 0.36 Ncm for method A, 11.64 ± 0.57–33.96 ± 0.29 Ncm for method B, and 10.30 ± 0.41–31.62 ± 0.52 Ncm for method C, and the IRTs of methods A and B were 6.28%–21.58% higher than that of method C (P ≤ 0.046). The PRTs were 4.08 ± 0.77–29.86 ± 0.65 Ncm for method A, 4.04 ± 0.40–29.60 ± 0.36 Ncm for method B, and 2.98 ± 0.26–26.38 ± 0.59 Ncm for method C, and the PRTs of methods A and B were 11.77%–44.87% higher than that of method C (P ≤ 0.016). The removal torque loss rates of methods A (12.49% ± 0.99%–65.88% ± 4.83%) and B (12.84% ± 0.96%–65.35% ± 1.95%) were 3.04%–7.74% lower than that of method C (16.58% ± 0.56%–71.10% ± 1.58%) (P ≤ 0.017). The operating time of method A was much longer than those of methods B and C (P < 0.001). The structural integrity disruption of the screw thread was observed according to the SEM results in all postloading groups. Conclusions. Method B (torquing and then loosening and immediate retorquing) increases the screw joint immediate stability by 6.28%–21.58% and the long‐term stability by 11.77%–44.87% compared with method C (torquing only once), has comparable screw joint stability compared with method A (retorquing after 10 min), saves time and is recommended in clinical settings.
Assessment of Factories on Adherence to COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures: A Case Study of Wakiso, Mukono, Buikwe, and Jinja Districts, Uganda
Authors: Kungu Joseph M. , Namyalo Edity , Musewa Angella , Nitumusiima Sarah , Keije Phiona , Nakakooza Catherine , Oyirwoth Osborn
Published: January 2024

Background. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Uganda confirmed the first case of COVID-19 on 21st March, 2020, which led to the first total lockdown in the country. During the lockdown, some factories remained operational; hence, there is a need for a study aimed at assessing the level of adherence to COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) in factories as a mitigator for the pandemic. Methods. A cross-sectional study to assess compliance of factories to COVID-19 SOPs was conducted in Wakiso, Mukono, Buikwe, and Jinja districts during the month of September, 2021. This involved visitation of factories and collection of data using the KoboCollect tool by interviewing general managers as well as human resource managers of the factories. A total of 39 factories were included in the study and were categorized into four major groups; food and beverages (15), plastics (5), construction (8), and others (11). Data analysis was done using STATA version 14.2. Results. Overall adherence to COVID-19 SOPs by the factories was 64.1% (95% CI = 49.1–79.1). Communication and training of employees (79.5%; 95% CI = 66.8–92.2), wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), and respiratory protection (79.5%; 95% CI = 66.8–92.2) as well as enhanced cleaning and disinfection of surfaces (74.4%; 95% CI = 60.6–88.1) were the most implemented SOPs in the factories. Implementation of the SOPs was the highest in Mukono district (88.9%; 95% CI = 68.4–100) and the least in Wakiso district (40.0%; 95% CI = 9.6–70.4). The COVID-19 SOPs were followed mostly in construction material factories (87.5%; 95% CI = 64.6–100) and least in food and beverage factories (40%; 95% CI = 15.2–64.8). There was no significant difference in the adherence of COVID-19 SOPs among the districts (X2 = 5.02 and P=0.17) and factories (X2 = 7.04 and P=0.07). Although good overall adherence to SOPs noted was not dependent on location and type of factory, adherence to some SOPs such as exposure control plan, presence of signages on COVID-19, maintenance of social distance, and implementation of a health control plan varied with location of the district. Likewise, exposure control plan, signages on COVID-19, and maintenance of social distance varied significantly with the type of factory. Conclusion. This study revealed moderately good overall adherence to COVID-19 SOPs by factories, with variations in the level of implementation of individual SOPs being observed.
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Efficacy and Safety of Rasagiline or Pramipexole in the Treatment of Early Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Seppänen Pauli , Forsberg Markus M. , Tiihonen Miia , Laitinen Heikki , Beal Selena , Dorman David C.
Published: January 2024

Background. Rasagiline or pramipexole monotherapy has been suggested for the management of early Parkinson’s disease (PD). The aim of this research was to systematically review the clinical efficacy and safety of rasagiline or pramipexole in early PD (defined as disease duration ≤5 years and Hoehn and Yahr stage of ≤3). Methods. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of rasagiline or pramipexole for early PD published up to September 2021 were retrieved. Outcomes of interest included changes in the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) Parts II and III and the incidence of adverse events. Standardized mean difference (SMD), odds ratio (OR), and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated, and heterogeneity was measured with the I2 test. Results. Nine rasagiline and eleven pramipexole RCTs were included. One post hoc analysis of one rasagiline study was included. Five studies for each drug were included in meta-analyses of the UPDRS scores. The rasagiline meta-analysis focused on patients receiving 1 mg/day. Rasagiline and pramipexole significantly improved UPDRS Part II and III scores when compared to placebo. Significant heterogeneity among the studies was present (I2 > 70%). Neither rasagiline nor pramipexole increased the relative risk for any adverse events, serious adverse events, or adverse events leading to withdrawal when compared with placebo. Conclusion. Applying a Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) approach to summarize the evidence, we found moderate confidence in the body of evidence for the efficacy of rasagiline or pramipexole in early PD, suggesting further well-designed, multicenter comparative RCTs remain needed.
Supplementary Data from Metabolomic Rewiring Promotes Endocrine Therapy Resistance in Breast Cancer
Authors: Ahn Songyeon , Park Jun Hyoung , Grimm Sandra L. , Piyarathna Danthasinghe Waduge Badrajee , Samanta Tagari , Putluri Vasanta , Mezquita Dereck , Fuqua Suzanne A.W. , Putluri Nagireddy , Coarfa Cristian , Kaipparettu Benny Abraham
Published: January 2024

Supplementary figures
Data S6 from Erythroid Differentiation Enhances RNA Mis-Splicing in SF3B1-Mutant Myelodysplastic Syndromes with Ring Sideroblasts
Authors: Moura Pedro L. , Mortera-Blanco Teresa , Hofman Isabel J. , Todisco Gabriele , Kretzschmar Warren W. , Björklund Ann-Charlotte , Creignou Maria , Hagemann-Jensen Michael , Ziegenhain Christoph , Cabrerizo Granados David , Barbosa Indira , Walldin Gunilla , Jansson Monika , Ashley Neil , Mead Adam J. , Lundin Vanessa , Dimitriou Marios , Yoshizato Tetsuichi , Woll Petter S. , Ogawa Seishi , Sandberg Rickard , Jacobsen Sten Eirik W. , Hellström-Lindberg Eva
Published: January 2024

STRING and Metascape enrichment analysis results, respectively separated per cluster and global (corrected by erythroid stage)
Data S4 from Erythroid Differentiation Enhances RNA Mis-Splicing in SF3B1-Mutant Myelodysplastic Syndromes with Ring Sideroblasts
Authors: Moura Pedro L. , Mortera-Blanco Teresa , Hofman Isabel J. , Todisco Gabriele , Kretzschmar Warren W. , Björklund Ann-Charlotte , Creignou Maria , Hagemann-Jensen Michael , Ziegenhain Christoph , Cabrerizo Granados David , Barbosa Indira , Walldin Gunilla , Jansson Monika , Ashley Neil , Mead Adam J. , Lundin Vanessa , Dimitriou Marios , Yoshizato Tetsuichi , Woll Petter S. , Ogawa Seishi , Sandberg Rickard , Jacobsen Sten Eirik W. , Hellström-Lindberg Eva
Published: January 2024

DESeq2 differential expression analysis of population-level RNAseq data