bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dielectric Properties of Electrical Insulating Liquids for High Voltage Electric Devices in a Time-Varying Electric Field
Authors: Havran Peter , Cimbala Roman , Kurimský Juraj , Dolník Bystrík , Kolcunová Iraida , Medveď Dušan , Király Jozef , Kohan Vladimír , Šárpataky Ľuboš
Published: January 2022

The motivation to improve components in electric power equipment brings new proposals from world-renowned scientists to strengthen them in operation. An essential part of every electric power equipment is its insulation system, which must have the best possible parameters. The current problem with mineral oil replacement is investigating and testing other alternative electrical insulating liquids. In this paper, we present a comparison of mineral and hydrocarbon oil (liquefied gas) in terms of conductivity and relaxation mechanisms in the complex plane of the Cole-Cole diagram and dielectric losses. We perform the comparison using the method of dielectric relaxation spectroscopy in the frequency domain at different intensities of the time-varying electric field 0.5 kV/m, 5 kV/m, and 50 kV/m. With the increasing intensity of the time-varying electric field, there is a better approximation of the Debye behavior in all captured polarization processes of the investigated oils. By comparing the distribution of relaxation times, mineral oil shows closer characteristics to Debye relaxation. From the point of view of dielectric losses at the main frequency, hydrocarbon oil achieves better dielectric properties at all applied intensities of the time-varying electric field, which is very important for practical use.
Comparative Life-Cycle Assessment of Liquefied Natural Gas and Diesel Tractor-Trailer in China
Authors: Hu Shuhan , Chen Hongyuan
Published: January 2022

Many countries, especially China, have extensively promoted liquefied natural gas (LNG) to replace diesel in heavy-duty vehicles for to achieve sustainable transport aims, including carbon peaks and neutrality. We developed a life-cycle calculation model for environmental load differences covering vehicle and fuel cycles to comprehensively compare the LNG tractor-trailer and its diesel counterpart in China on a full suite of environmental impacts. We found that the LNG tractor-trailer consumes less aluminum but more iron and energy; emits less nitrogen oxide, sulfur oxide, nonmethane volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter but more greenhouse gases (GHG) and carbon monoxide (CO); and causes less abiotic depletion potential, acidification potential, and human toxicity potential impacts but more global warming potential (GWP) and photooxidant creation potential (POCP) impacts. Poor fuel economy was found to largely drive the higher life-cycle GHG and CO emissions and GWP and POCP impacts of the LNG tractor-trailer. Switching to the LNG tractor-trailer could reduce carbon dioxide by 52.73%, GWP impact by 44.60% and POCP impact by 49.23% if it attains parity fuel economy with its diesel counterpart. Policymakers should modify the regulations on fuel tax and vehicle access, which discourage improvement in LNG engine efficiency and adopt incentive polices to develop the technologies.
Joint Research on Aerodynamic Characteristics and Handling Stability of Racing Car under Different Body Attitudes
Authors: Zhang Zhe , Wang Qiang , Song Shida , Zhang Chengchun , Ren Luquan , Zhang Yingchao
Published: January 2022

With the rapid development of FSAE, the speed of racing cars has increased year by year. As the main research content of racing cars, aerodynamics has received extensive attention from foreign teams. For racing cars, the aerodynamic force on the aerodynamic device ultimately acts on the tires through the transmission of the body and the suspension. When the wheel is subjected to the vertical load generated by the aerodynamic device, the ultimate adhesion capacity of the wheel is improved. Under changing conditions, racing wheels can withstand greater lateral and tangential forces. Therefore, the effects of aerodynamics have a more significant impact on handling stability. The FSAE racing car of Jilin University was taken as the research object, and this paper combines the wind tunnel test, the numerical simulation and the dynamics simulation of the racing system. The closed-loop design process of the aerodynamics of the FSAE racing car was established, and the joint study of aerodynamic characteristics and handling stability of racing car under different body attitudes was realized. Meanwhile, the FSAE car was made the modification of aerodynamic parameter on the basis of handling stability. The results show that, after the modification of the aerodynamic parameters, the critical speed of the car when cornering is increased, the maneuverability of the car is improved, the horoscope test time is reduced by 0.525 s, the downforce of the car is increased by 11.39%, the drag is reduced by 2.85% and the lift-to-drag ratio is increased by 14.70%. Moreover, the pitching moment is reduced by 82.34%, and the aerodynamic characteristics and aerodynamic efficiency of the racing car are obviously improved. On the basis of not changing the shape of the body and the aerodynamic kit, the car is put forward to shorten the running time of the car and improve the comprehensive performance of the car, so as to improve the performance of the car in the race.
Bond to Bar Reinforcement of PET-Modified Concrete Containing Natural or Recycled Coarse Aggregates
Authors: Assaad Joseph J. , Khatib Jamal M. , Ghanem Rawan
Published: January 2022

The use of post-consumer plastics in concrete production is an ideal alternative to dispose of such wastes while reducing the environmental impacts in terms of pollution and consumption of natural resources and energy. This paper investigates different approaches (i.e., reducing water-to-cement ratio and incorporating steel fibers or polymeric latexes) that compensate for the detrimental effect of waste plastics on the drop in concrete mechanical properties including the bond to embedded steel bars. The polyethylene terephthalate (PET) wastes used in this study were derived from plastic bottles that were shredded into small pieces and added during concrete batching at 1.5% to 4.5%, by total volume. Test results showed that the concrete properties are degraded with PET additions, given their lightweight nature and poor characteristic strength compared to aggregate particles. The threshold PET volumetric rates are 4.5% and 3% for concrete made using natural or recycled aggregates, respectively. The reduction of w/c from 0.55 to 0.46 proved efficient to refine the matrix porosity and reinstate the concrete performance. The incorporation of 0.8% steel fibers (by volume) or 15% polymers (by mixing water) were appropriate to enhance the bridging phenomena and reduce the propagation of cracks during the pullout loading of steel bars.
Accelerating the Nature Deficit or Enhancing the Nature-Based Human Health during the Pandemic Era: An International Study in Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, and Myanmar, following the Start of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Lee Ju-hyoung , Cheng Marady , Syamsi Muhammad Nur , Lee Ki Hwan , Aung Thu Rain , Burns Robert C.
Published: January 2022

In modern society, the opportunity to experience nature is separate from everyday life, requiring time and effort. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, restrictions on freedom of activity and communication around the world have become a crisis, causing a nature deficit by accelerating the process of separation from nature. At the same time, the pandemic has increased people’s motivation to return to nature, providing an opportunity to seek experiences and health recovery in nature. The authors conducted an international cross-sectional study in five Asian countries, investigating changes in the perception of recreational activities and health restoration in the natural environment, one of the many effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on human society. An online survey, completed by 524 respondents, has confirmed the efficacy of the SEM model, which includes COVID-19 stress, increased indoor activity, a preference for the natural environment, and the perception of health recovery. Although the five countries had different response values for each theme, the stress caused by restricted activities and communication during the pandemic was linked to a preference for natural experiences and the motivation to visit natural environments in all five countries, ultimately affecting perceptions of health recovery in nature. This study has shown that the COVID-19 pandemic, a disaster afflicting all human civilization, has changed people’s perceptions by enhancing their preference for natural recreational activities and health. It has accelerated people’s return to nature and fostered a positive perception of nature’s ability to promote good health.
Evaluation of Aerogel Spheres Derived from Salix psammophila in Removal of Heavy Metal Ions in Aqueous Solution
Authors: Zhong Yuan , An Yuhong , Wang Kebing , Zhang Wanqi , Hu Zichu , Chen Zhangjing , Wang Sunguo , Wang Boyun , Wang Xiao , Li Xinran , Zhang Xiaotao , Wang Ximing
Published: January 2022

Heavy metal wastewater treatment is a huge problem facing human beings, and the application degree of Salix psammophila resources produced by flat stubble is low. Therefore, it is very important to develop high-value products of Salix psammophila resources and apply them in the removal heavy metal from effluent. In this work, we extracted the cellulose from Salix psammophila, and cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) were prepared through TEMPO oxidation/ultrasound. The aerogel spheres derived from Salix psammophila (ASSP) were prepared with the hanging drop method. The experimental results showed that the Cu(II) adsorption capacity of the ASSP composite (267.64 mg/g) doped with TOCNF was significantly higher than that of pure cellulose aerogel spheres (52.75 mg/g). The presence of carboxyl and hydroxyl groups in ASSP enhanced the adsorption capacity of heavy metals. ASSP is an excellent heavy metal adsorbent, and its maximum adsorption values for Cu(II), Mn(II), and Zn(II) were found to be 272.69, 253.25, and 143.00 mg/g, respectively. The abandoned sand shrub resource of SP was used to adsorb heavy metals from effluent, which provides an important reference value for the development of forestry in this sandy area and will have a great application potential in the fields of the adsorption of heavy metals in soil and antibiotics in water.
Soil Carbon Sequestration in Novel Ecosystems at Post-Mine Sites—A New Insight into the Determination of Key Factors in the Restoration of Terrestrial Ecosystems
Authors: Misebo Amisalu Milkias , Pietrzykowski Marcin , Woś Bartłomiej
Published: January 2022

Mining activities are one of the main causes of land degradation around the world and reduce the quality of the surrounding ecosystems. Restoration approaches using different vegetations and reclamation methods have been implemented to address this issue. In this review, paper, different studies focusing on the effect of the restoration of mining sites on the accumulation of soil organic carbon (SOC) were analyzed. SOC in reclaimed mining soil (RMS) increased considerably after various restoration efforts were implemented. The amount of SOC accumulated in RMS was mostly influenced by the restoration age, vegetation type, and substrate or type of reclamation used. From the scientific papers analyzed, we found that SOC accumulation increases with restoration age; however, vegetation type and reclamation have varied effects. According to the review, the restoration of mine sites with vegetation resulted in a rate of SOC accumulation ranging from 0.37 to 5.68 Mg SOC ha−1 year−1. Climate conditions influenced the type of vegetation used for restoration. Regrading, liming, NPK fertilization, and seeding a mix of legumes and grasses were the most efficient reclamation techniques. Additionally, the use of grass and legume better facilitates the early accumulation of SOC compared with afforestation. Thus, the selection of appropriate tree species composition, reclamation treatments, and restoration age are the key factors for a high SOC accumulation rate.
Kenaf Fibre Reinforced Cementitious Composites
Authors: Abbas Al-Ghazali Noor , Aziz Farah Nora Aznieta Abdul , Abdan Khalina , Mohd Nasir Noor Azline , Norizan Mohd Nurazzi
Published: January 2022

Increased environmental awareness and the demand for sustainable materials have promoted the use of more renewable and eco-friendly resources like natural fibre as reinforcement in the building industry. Among various types of natural fibres, kenaf has been widely planted in the past few years, however, it hasn’t been extensively used as a construction material. Kenaf bast fibre is a high tensile strength fibre, lightweight and cost-effective, offering a potential alternative for reinforcement in construction applications. To encourage its use, it’s essential to understand how kenaf fibre’s properties affect the performance of cement-based composites. Hence, the effects of KF on the properties of cementitious composites in the fresh and hardened states have been discussed. The current state-of-art of Kenaf Fibre Reinforced Cement Composite (KFRCC) and its different applications are presented for the reader to explore. This review confirmed the improvement of tensile and flexural strengths of cementitious composites with the inclusion of the appropriate content and length of kenaf fibres. However, more studies are necessary to understand the overall impact of kenaf fibres on the compressive strength and durability properties of cementitious composites.
Optimal Design of Bacterial Carpets for Fluid Pumping
Authors: Rostami Minghao W. , Liu Weifan , Buchmann Amy , Strawbridge Eva , Zhao Longhua
Published: January 2022

In this work, we outline a methodology for determining optimal helical flagella placement and phase shift that maximize fluid pumping through a rectangular flow meter above a simulated bacterial carpet. This method uses a Genetic Algorithm (GA) combined with a gradient-based method, the Broyden-Fletcher-Goldfarb-Shanno (BFGS) algorithm, to solve the optimization problem and the Method of Regularized Stokeslets (MRS) to simulate the fluid flow. This method is able to produce placements and phase shifts for small carpets and could be adapted for implementation in larger carpets and various fluid tasks. Our results show that given identical helices, optimal pumping configurations are influenced by the size of the flow meter. We also show that intuitive designs, such as uniform placement, do not always lead to a high-performance carpet.
Egg Yolk Protein Water Extracts Modulate the Immune Response in BALB/c Mice with Immune Dysfunction Caused by Forced Swimming
Authors: Choi Mijoo , Lee Jae-Hoon , Lee Yun-Jung , Paik Hyun-Dong , Park Eunju
Published: January 2022

The objective of this study was to determine the immunomodulatory effects of egg yolk protein–water extract (EYW) on splenocyte proliferation, cytokine secretion, immunoglobulin production, and NK cell cytotoxic activity in BALB/c mice. The forced swimming test (FST) was used to provide a model for suppressing immune regulation. The proliferation of B cells in the EYW supplementation group was significantly increased from the level to which it was reduced by the FST (from 40.9% to 81.8%, p < 0.05). EYW supplementation affected cytokine secretion of splenocytes. Levels of interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-10—as Th1 and Th2 cytokines, respectively—were decreased after the FST. However, EYW supplementation showed that secretion levels of these cytokines were significantly increased to pre-FST levels (p < 0.05). The production of immunoglobulins (IgA and IgG) was increased abnormally after the FST, whereas EYW supplementation significantly decreased it to pre-FST levels (p < 0.05). EYW supplementation also improved NK cell cytotoxic activity against YAC-1 tumor cells compared to the PC group (p < 0.05). These data suggest that EYW has potential as an immunomodulatory agent in the food and/or pharmaceutical industries.
Application of High-Intensity Ultrasound to Improve Food Processing Efficiency: A Review
Authors: Chavan Prasad , Sharma Pallavi , Sharma Sajeev Rattan , Mittal Tarsem Chand , Jaiswal Amit K.
Published: January 2022

The use of non-thermal processing technologies has grown in response to an ever-increasing demand for high-quality, convenient meals with natural taste and flavour that are free of chemical additions and preservatives. Food processing plays a crucial role in addressing food security issues by reducing loss and controlling spoilage. Among the several non-thermal processing methods, ultrasound technology has shown to be very beneficial. Ultrasound processing, whether used alone or in combination with other methods, improves food quality significantly and is thus considered beneficial. Cutting, freezing, drying, homogenization, foaming and defoaming, filtration, emulsification, and extraction are just a few of the applications for ultrasound in the food business. Ultrasounds can be used to destroy germs and inactivate enzymes without affecting the quality of the food. As a result, ultrasonography is being hailed as a game-changing processing technique for reducing organoleptic and nutritional waste. This review intends to investigate the underlying principles of ultrasonic generation and to improve understanding of their applications in food processing to make ultrasonic generation a safe, viable, and innovative food processing technology, as well as investigate the technology’s benefits and downsides. The breadth of ultrasound’s application in the industry has also been examined. This will also help researchers and the food sector develop more efficient strategies for frequency-controlled power ultrasound in food processing applications.
Effect of Dairy, Season, and Sampling Position on Physical Properties of Trentingrana Cheese: Application of an LMM-ASCA Model
Authors: Ricci Michele , Gasperi Flavia , Endrizzi Isabella , Menghi Leonardo , Cliceri Danny , Franceschi Pietro , Aprea Eugenio
Published: January 2022

Trentingrana hard cheese is a geographic specification of the PDO Grana Padano. It is produced according to an internal regulation by many cooperative dairy factories in the Trentino region (northern Italy), using a semi-artisanal process (the only allowed ingredients are milk, salt, and rennet). Within the PSR project TRENTINGRANA, colorimetric and textural measurements have been collected from 317 cheese wheels, which were sampled bi-monthly from all the consortium dairies (n = 15) within the timeframe of two years, to estimate the effect on physical properties related to the season of the year and the dairy factory implant. To estimate the effect of the dairy and the time of the year, considering the internal variability of each cheese wheel, a linear mixed-effect model combined with a simultaneous component analysis (LMM-ASCA) is proposed. Results show that all the factors have a significant effect on the colorimetric and textural properties of the cheese. There are five clusters of dairies producing cheese with similar properties, three different couples of months of the year when the cheese produced is significantly different from all the others, and the effect of the geometry of the cheese wheel is reported as well.
Investigation of the Performance and Emission Characteristics of Diesel Engine Fueled with Biogas-Diesel Dual Fuel
Authors: Leykun Melkamu Genet , Mekonen Menelik Walle
Published: January 2022

Due to the popularity of diesel engines, utilization of fossil fuel has increased. However, fossil fuel resources are depleting and their prices are increasing day by day. Additionally, the emissions from the burning of petroleum-derived fuel is harming the global environment. This work covers the performance and emission parameters of a biogas-diesel dual-fuel mode diesel engine and compared them to baseline diesel. The experiment was conducted on a single-cylinder and four-stroke DI diesel engine with a maximum power output of 2.2 kW by varying engine load at a constant speed of 1500 RPM. The diesel was injected as factory setup, whereas biogas mixes with air and then delivered to the combustion chamber through intake manifold at various flow rates of 2, 4, and 6 L/min. At 2 L/min flow rate of biogas, the results were found to have better performance and lower emission, than that of the other flow; with an average reduction in BTE, HC, and NOx by 11.19, 0.52, and 19.91%, respectively, and an average increment in BSFC, CO, and CO2 by 11.81, 1.05, and 12.8%, respectively, as compared to diesel. The diesel replacement ratio was varied from 19.56 to 7.61% at zero engine load and 80% engine load with biogas energy share of 39.6 and 16.59%, respectively.
Antioxidant and Antifungal Activity of the Cynophalla flexuosa (L.) J. Presl (Capparaceae) against Opportunistic Fungal Pathogens
Authors: Salazar Gerson Javier Torres , Carneiro Joara Nalyda Pereira , da Silva Ana Cristina Albuquerque , Cruz Beatriz Gonçalves , da Silva Rakel Olinda Macedo , da Costa José Galberto Martins , da Cruz Rafael Pereira , da Silva Josefa Carolaine Pereira , Ferreira Maciel Horácio , dos Santos Antonia Thassya Lucas , Almeida-Bezerra José Weverton , da Silva Viviane Bezerra , Linhares Karina Vieiralves , Coutinho Henrique Douglas Melo , Andrade Jacqueline Cosmo , de Brito Edy Sousa , Ribeiro Paulo Riceli Vasconcelos , Sales Débora Lima , Morais-Braga Maria Flaviana Bezerra
Published: January 2022

The chemical composition of the Cynophalla flexuosa hydroethanolic extract (CFHEE) was identified and its antioxidant, antifungal and antipleomorphic activities against C. albicans and C. tropicalis strains were evaluated. Phytochemical prospecting evidenced polyphenolic and triterpenoid compounds while UPLC-MS analysis revealed the presence of Isopropyl/n-propyl-GLS; Methylpropyl-GLS/butyl-GLS; Methylbutyl-GLS; Quercetin O-di-hexoside; Quercetin-pentosyl-hexoside; Rutin; Quercetin O-glucoside; Kaempferol O-rhamnosyl-hexoside; Kaempferol O-pentosyl-hexoside and Lariciresinol hexoside. The CFHEE inhibited the effect of the DPPH● free radical, both when evaluated individually and in combination with the antifungal fluconazole. When associated with 256 μg/mL fluconazole, the extract, at concentrations from 128 μg/mL, reduced the effect of the DPPH● free radical with values ranging from 37.7% to 95.8%. The extract’s antifungal effect was considered clinically irrelevant and its combination with the antifungal triggered an antagonistic effect against the two strains, thus indicating the popular use of bravo beans in the form of teas or infusions should not be combined with the intake of the drug Fluconazole as this may lead to a reduction of its clinical effect. The extract, however, inhibited morphological changes (pleomorphism) in Candida species, preventing the development of hyphae. The CFHEE possesses an antioxidant effect and a potential pharmacological activity for the inhibition of one of the Candida spp. virulence factors.
Development and Evaluation of Clove and Cinnamon Supercritical Fluid Extracts-Loaded Emulgel for Antifungal Activity in Denture Stomatitis
Authors: Iyer Meenakshi Srinivas , Gujjari Anil Kumar , Paranthaman Sathishbabu , Abu Lila Amr Selim , Almansour Khaled , Alshammari Farhan , Khafagy El-Sayed , Arab Hany H. , Gowda Devegowda Vishakante
Published: January 2022

Denture stomatitis (DS), usually caused by Candida infection, is one of the common denture-related complications in patients wearing dentures. Clove and cinnamon oils have been acknowledged for their anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial activity, and antifungal effects in the oral cavity. The aim of this study, therefore, was to prepare clove/cinnamon oils-loaded emulgel and to assess its efficacy in treating Candida albicans-associated denture stomatitis. Central composite design was adopted to formulate and optimize clove/cinnamon extracts-loaded emulgel. The formulated preparations were assessed for their physical appearance, particle size, viscosity, spreadability, and in-vitro drug release. In addition, in-vivo therapeutic experiments were conducted on 42 patients with denture stomatitis. The prepared emulgel formulations showed good physical characteristics with efficient drug release within 3 h. In addition, in-vivo antifungal studies revealed that the optimized formula significantly (p < 0.001) reduced Candida colony counts from the denture surface, compared to commercially available gel (240.38 ± 27.20 vs. 398.19 ± 66.73 CFU/mL, respectively). Furthermore, the optimized formula and succeeded in alleviating denture stomatitis-related inflammation with a better clinical cure rate compared to commercially available gel Collectively, herbal extracts-loaded emulgel might be considered an evolution of polyherbal formulations and might represent a promising alternative to the existing allopathic drugs for the treatment of denture stomatitis, with better taste acceptability and no side effects.
Hybrid Sol-Gel Coatings Doped with Non-Toxic Corrosion Inhibitors for Corrosion Protection on AZ61 Magnesium Alloy
Authors: Rodríguez-Alonso Luis , López-Sánchez Jesús , Serrano Aida , Rodríguez de la Fuente Oscar , Galván Juan Carlos , Carmona Noemí
Published: January 2022

Physiological human fluid is a natural corrosive environment and can lead to serious corrosion and mechanical damages to light Mg–Al alloys used in prosthetics for biomedical applications. In this work, organic–inorganic hybrid coatings doped with various environmentally friendly and non-toxic corrosion inhibitors have been prepared by the sol-gel process for the corrosion protection of AZ61 magnesium alloys. Effectiveness has been evaluated by pH measurements, optical microscopy, and SEM during a standard corrosion test in a Hanks’ Balanced Salt Solution. The results showed that the addition of an inhibitor to the sol-gel coating can improve significantly the corrosion performance, being an excellent barrier for the L-cysteine-doped hybrid sol-gel films. The incorporation of TiO2 nanoparticles, 2-Aminopyridine and quinine organic molecules slowed down the corrosion rate of the Mg–Al alloy. Graphene oxide seemed to have the same response to corrosion as the hybrid sol-gel coating without inhibitors.
Influence of the Mixtures of Vegetable Oil and Vitamin E over the Microstructure and Rheology of Organogels
Authors: Martinez Renata Miliani , Oseliero Filho Pedro Leonidas , Gerbelli Barbara Bianca , Magalhães Wagner Vidal , Velasco Maria Valéria Robles , da Silva Lannes Suzana Caetano , de Oliveira Cristiano Luis Pinto , Rosado Catarina , Baby André Rolim
Published: January 2022

Candelilla wax (CW) and 12-hydroxystearic acid (12HSA) are classic solid-fiber-matrix organogelators. Despite the high number of studies using those ingredients in oily systems, there is scarce literature using a mixture of oil and antioxidants. Vitamin E (VE) is an important candidate for its lipophilicity and several applications on pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and food industries. In this work, we investigated the influences of mixtures between vegetable oil (VO) and VE on the microstructures and rheological properties of CW and 12HSA organogels. A weak gel (G′′/G′ > 0.1) with a shear-thinning behavior was observed for all samples. The presence of VE impacted the gel strength and the phase transition temperatures in a dose-dependent pattern. Larger and denser packed crystals were seen for 12HSA samples, while smaller and more dispersed structures were obtained for CW organogels. The results obtained in this work allowed the correlation of the structural and mechanical properties of the organogels, which plays an important role in the physical-chemical characteristics of these materials.
The Preservation of PPARγ Genome Duplicates in Some Teleost Lineages: Insights into Lipid Metabolism and Xenobiotic Exploitation
Authors: Páscoa Inês , Fonseca Elza , Ferraz Renato , Machado André M. , Conrado Francisca , Ruivo Raquel , Cunha Isabel , Castro Luís Filipe C.
Published: January 2022

Three peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor paralogues (PPARα, -β and -γ) are currently recognized in vertebrate genomes. PPARγ is known to modulate nutrition, adipogenesis and immunity in vertebrates. Natural ligands of PPARγ have been proposed; however, the receptor also binds synthetic ligands such as endocrine disruptors. Two paralogues of PPARα and PPARβ have been documented in teleost species, a consequence of the 3R WGD. Recently, two PPARγ paralogue genes were also identified in Astyanax mexicanus. We aimed to determine whether the presence of two PPARγ paralogues is prevalent in other teleost genomes, through genomic and phylogenetic analysis. Our results showed that besides Characiformes, two PPARγ paralogous genes were also identified in other teleost taxa, coinciding with the teleost-specific, whole-genome duplication and with the retention of both genes prior to the separation of the Clupeocephala. To functionally characterize these genes, we used the European sardine (Sardina pilchardus) as a model. PPARγA and PPARγB display a different tissue distribution, despite the similarity of their functional profiles: they are unresponsive to tested fatty acids and other human PPARγ ligands yet yield a transcriptional response in the presence of tributyltin (TBT). This observation puts forward the relevance of comparative analysis to decipher alternative binding architectures and broadens the disruptive potential of man-made chemicals for aquatic species.
Nucleic Acid-Based Therapeutic Approach for Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy and Related Neurological Disorders
Authors: Hirunagi Tomoki , Sahashi Kentaro , Meilleur Katherine G. , Katsuno Masahisa
Published: January 2022

The recent advances in nucleic acid therapeutics demonstrate the potential to treat hereditary neurological disorders by targeting their causative genes. Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is an X-linked and adult-onset neurodegenerative disorder caused by the expansion of trinucleotide cytosine-adenine-guanine repeats, which encodes a polyglutamine tract in the androgen receptor gene. SBMA belongs to the family of polyglutamine diseases, in which the use of nucleic acids for silencing a disease-causing gene, such as antisense oligonucleotides and small interfering RNAs, has been intensively studied in animal models and clinical trials. A unique feature of SBMA is that both motor neuron and skeletal muscle pathology contribute to disease manifestations, including progressive muscle weakness and atrophy. As both motor neurons and skeletal muscles can be therapeutic targets in SBMA, nucleic acid-based approaches for other motor neuron diseases and myopathies may further lead to the development of a treatment for SBMA. Here, we review studies of nucleic acid-based therapeutic approaches in SBMA and related neurological disorders and discuss current limitations and perspectives to apply these approaches to patients with SBMA.
Combined Zonation of the African-Levantine-Caucasian Areal of Ancient Hominin: Review and Integrated Analysis of Paleogeographical, Stratigraphic and Geophysical-Geodynamical Data
Authors: Eppelbaum Lev , Katz Youri
Published: January 2022

The origin of the man on Earth is directly associated with the determination of directions of the flow distribution of the ancient man dispersal to adjacent territories. In such studies, mainly landscape and climatological changes are traditionally considered. We suggest that along with the above factors, regional tectonic-geodynamic factors played a dominant role in the character of dispersal. The considered African-Levantine-Caucasian region is one of the most geologically complex regions of the world, where collisional and spreading processes of geodynamics converge. For the first time, we determined an essential influence of the Akchagylian hydrospheric maximum (about 200 m above the mean sea level) limiting the early dispersal of hominins from Africa to Eurasia. We propose that the Levantine Corridor emerged after the end of the Akchagylian transgression and landscape forming in the Eastern Mediterranean. This corridor location was formed by the movements between the Dead Sea Transform and the boundary of the carbonate platform of the Mesozoic Terrane Belt. Further landscape evolution was largely determined by the geodynamic behavior of the deep mantle rotating structure occurring below the central part of the region under study. All the mentioned events around and in the Levantine Corridor have been studied in detail on the basis of the combined geodynamic, paleogeographic, and paleomagnetic analyses performed in northern Israel (Carmel Uplift and Galilee Plateau). Careful studies of the Evron Quarry geological section indicate that it is unique for the dating of marine and continental archaeological sequences and sheds light on the early dispersal of hominins along the Levantine Corridor.
The Impact of Drug Interactions in Patients with Community-Acquired Pneumonia on Hospital Length of Stay
Authors: Schmitt Johannes Peter , Kirfel Andrea , Schmitz Marie-Therese , Kohlhof Hendrik , Weisbarth Tobias , Wittmann Maria
Published: January 2022

(1) Background: An aging society is frequently affected by multimorbidity and polypharmacy, which, in turn, leads to an increased risk for drug interaction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of drug interactions on the length of stay (LOS) in hospitals. (2) Methods: This retrospective, single-centre study is based on patients treated for community-acquired pneumonia in the hospital. Negative binomial regression was used to analyse the association between drug interactions and the LOS in the hospital. (3) Results: The total cohort contained 503 patients, yet 46 inpatients (9%) that died were not included in the analyses. The mean age was 74 (±15.3) years, 35% of patients older than 65 years were found to have more than two drug interactions, and 55% had a moderate, severe, or contraindicated adverse drug reaction. The regression model revealed a significant association between the number of drug interactions (rate ratio (RR) 1.02; 95%-CI 1.01–1.04) and the severity of drug interactions (RR 1.22; 95%-CI 1.09–1.37) on the LOS for the overall cohort as well as for the subgroup of patients aged 80 years and older. (4) Conclusion: Drug interactions are an independent risk factor for prolonged hospitalisation. Standardised assessment tools to avoid drug interactions should be implemented in clinical routines.
Pharmacy-Based Opportunistic Atrial Fibrillation Screening at a Community Level: A Real-Life Study
Authors: Olindo Stephane , Renou Pauline , Martial François , Heyvang Nathalie , Milan Lea , Ledure Sylvain , Rouanet François
Published: January 2022

Purpose: Opportunistic pharmacy-based screening of atrial fibrillation (AF) appears effective, but the proportion of detected citizens is unknown. The aim of our real-life study was to determine rates of screening in a community population according to age group and gender. Methods: We conducted four community campaigns of pharmacy-based single-time point AF screening that involved individuals ≥65 years. We used a single-lead and hand-held device MyDiagnostick (6229 EV Maastricht, The Netherlands) that generates a 60-s ECG trace. All pharmacies of the communities (n = 54) were involved. Rates of screening were assessed on the base of the French National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies data and were expressed as percentage and 95% Confidence interval (CI). Results: We screened 4208 individuals (Mean age, 74.2 ± 6.6 years; females, 60.2%). The screening rate in citizens aged ≥65 years was 17.2% (16.6–17.7), and higher in females than in males (17.9% [17.3–18.6] versus 16.0 [15.3–16.8], p < 0.001). The 70–74 age group showed the highest rate (25.7% [24.4–27]) compared to other groups. After 74 years, screening rates decreased steadily with age and dropped to 4.8% [3.8–6.1] in very elderly (≥90). Among the 188 (4.47%) positive screening, 117 (2.78%) showed an AF that was unknown in 53 (1.26%). Increasing age (OR: 1.05 [1.00–1.09], p = 0.04), male sex (OR: 4.30 [2.33–7.92], p < 0.0001) and high CHA2DS2-Vasc (OR: 1.59 [1.21–2.09], p = 0.0008) were independent predictors of unknown AF. Conclusion: Single-lead AF detection performed in community pharmacies result in screening one in six elderly citizens. Although male sex and elderly predicted unknown AF diagnosis, they were less involved in such designed campaigns.
Use of and Satisfaction with Telemedicine Services during the Pandemic: Findings from the COVID-19 Snapshot Monitoring in Germany (COSMO)
Authors: Hajek André , De Bock Freia , Merkel Christina , Kretzler Benedikt , König Hans-Helmut
Published: January 2022

Our aim was to investigate to what extent physician visits were replaced by telemedicine services because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the satisfaction with such telemedicine services. Cross-sectional data from the “COVID-19 Snapshot Monitoring in Germany” (COSMO, wave 49 from 11 to 12 August 2021 with n = 967). The average age was 44.9 years (SD: 15.6 years, ranging from 18 to 74 years) and 50.8% were female. Indiviuals were asked whether any physician visit was replaced by a telemedicine service (e.g., video consultation) since March 2020 because of the pandemic (yes, once; yes, several times; yes, always; no, not replaced; no, there was no need to see a doctor). Additionally, individuals who gave positive responses (i.e., yes, once; yes, several times; yes, always) were asked how satisfied they were with the corresponding telemedicine services (from 1 = very dissatisfied to 7 = very satisfied). While 55.4% of the respondents reported no need to see a doctor and 31.3% of the respondents did not replace physician visits by telemedicine services, about 13.3% of the respondents did replace physician visits by telemedicine services (4.8%: yes, once; 6.4%: yes, several times; 2.1%: yes, always). Among the individuals who used such services, the average satisfaction was moderately high (4.7, SD: 2.0). Additionally, several correlates of the replacing telemedicine service use were identified (e.g., perceived severity of a COVID-19 infection). In conclusion, about one out of seven individuals replaced physician visits by telemedicine services during the pandemic. For example, knowledge about the correlates of satisfaction with such services might be of importance to increase the quality of such services.
Suicidal Ideation during the COVID-19 Pandemic among A Large-Scale Iranian Sample: The Roles of Generalized Trust, Insomnia, and Fear of COVID-19
Authors: Lin Chung-Ying , Alimoradi Zainab , Ehsani Narges , Ohayon Maurice M. , Chen Shun-Hua , Griffiths Mark D. , Pakpour Amir H.
Published: January 2022

The novel 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is still not under control globally. The pandemic has caused mental health issues among many different cohorts and suicidal ideation in relation to COVID-19 has been reported in a number of recent studies. Therefore, the present study proposed a model to explain the associations between generalized trust, fear of COVID-19, insomnia, and suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic among a large-scale Iranian sample. Utilizing cluster sampling with multistage stratification, residents from Qazvin province in Iran were invited to participate in the present study. Adults aged over 18 years (n = 10,843; 6751 [62.3%] females) completed ‘paper–and-pencil’ questionnaires with the assistance of a trained research assistant. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to understand the associations between generalized trust, fear of COVID-19, insomnia, and suicidal ideation. Slightly over one-fifth of the participants (n = 2252; 20.8%) reported suicidal ideation. Moreover, the SEM results indicated that generalized trust was indirectly associated with suicidal ideation via fear of COVID-19 and insomnia. Furthermore, generalized trust was not directly associated with suicidal ideation. The proposed model was invariant across gender groups, age groups, and participants residing in different areas (i.e., urban vs. rural). Generalized trust might reduce individuals’ suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic period via reduced levels of fear of COVID-19 and insomnia. Healthcare providers and policymakers may want to assist individuals in developing their generalized trust, reducing fear of COVID-19, and improving insomnia problems to avoid possible suicidal behaviors.
Relationship between Eccentric-Exercise-Induced Loss in Muscle Function to Muscle Soreness and Tissue Hardness
Authors: Konrad Andreas , Kasahara Kazuki , Yoshida Riku , Yahata Kaoru , Sato Shigeru , Murakami Yuta , Aizawa Kodai , Nakamura Masatoshi
Published: January 2022

It is well-known that unusual exercise, especially eccentric contraction (ECC), could cause delayed-onset muscle soreness. However, the factors related to the loss of muscle strength and range of motion (ROM) caused by eccentrically damaged muscle, such as increases in muscle soreness, tissue hardness, and pain threshold, have not been investigated in detail. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the factors related to the loss of muscle strength and ROM caused by eccentrically damaged muscle in a large sample. Fifty-six sedentary healthy young male volunteers were instructed to perform 60 repetitions of ECC exercise. The outcome variables were measured before and 48 h after the ECC exercise. The results showed that a decrease in ROM was correlated to an increase in tissue hardness, whereas a decrease in muscle strength was correlated to an increase in muscle soreness. Our results suggested that tissue hardness must be controlled for ROM loss, and muscle soreness must be controlled for muscle-strength loss.
An Empirical Analysis of Income Elasticity of Out-of-Pocket Healthcare Expenditure in Mauritius
Authors: Jeetoo Jamiil , Jaunky Vishal Chandr
Published: January 2022

A free universal healthcare provision exists in Mauritius. Yet the share of out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure out of total household expenditure has been growing over time. This study estimates income elasticity of out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure using Mauritian household data within an Engel curve framework. In the absence of longitudinal data on out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure patterns, the study proposes the application of the pseudo-panel approach using cross-sectional Household Budget Survey waves from 1996/97 to 2017. Income elasticity of out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure is estimated to be 0.938, which is just below unity. This implies that out-of-pocket healthcare demand is not considered to be a luxury, but a necessity in Mauritius. In order to see the differences in income elasticities by income groups, separate regressions are estimated for each income quartile over different years. The results indicate that income elasticities of out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure vary non-monotonically.
Beyond Survival in AL amyloidosis: Identifying and Satisfying Patients’ Needs
Authors: Hassan Hamza , Sanchorawala Vaishali
Published: January 2022

The survivorship needs of patients with light-chain (AL) amyloidosis are complex, as is the diagnosis and treatment itself. Early diagnosis is critical in improving patient outcomes; however, given the nonspecific nature of the symptoms, most patients with AL amyloidosis require evaluation by multiple specialists, resulting in significant delays in diagnosis of up to 3 years. An early and accurate diagnosis can help reduce the psychological toll of the patient’s journey to diagnosis. Given the high symptom burden and complex process of diagnosis, it is not surprising that patients with AL amyloidosis report worse health-related quality of life than the general population. Organ dysfunction associated with AL amyloidosis also may make the treatment directed towards plasma cell clone difficult to tolerate, leading to morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, supportive care requires an integrated, multidimensional and patient-centered approach to improve survival and feelings of well-being, as organ responses lag behind hematologic responses. The impact of AL amyloidosis is often devastating for the patient and may last beyond the effects of treatment. Future research is needed to study and assess the needs of survivors of AL amyloidosis utilizing valid, reliable and standardized measures.
Interactive Effects of Intraspecific Competition and Drought on Stomatal Conductance and Hormone Concentrations in Different Tomato Genotypes
Authors: Gao Yang , Liang Yueping , Fu Yuanyuan , Si Zhuanyun , Hamani Abdoul Kader Mounkaila
Published: January 2022

Plant physiological responses to various stresses are characterized by interaction and coupling, while the intrinsic mechanism remains unclear. The effects of intraspecific competition on plant growth, stomatal opening, and hormone concentrations were investigated with three tomato genotypes (WT-wild type, Ailsa Craig; FL-a abscisic acid (ABA) deficient mutant, flacca; NR-a partially ethylene-insensitive genotype) under two water regimes (full irrigation, irrigation amount = daily transpiration; deficit irrigation, 60% of irrigation amount in full irrigation) in this study. Three kinds of competitions were designed, i.e., root and canopy competition, non-root competition, and non-canopy competition, respectively. Intraspecific competition reduced plant leaf area and stomatal conductance (gs) of wild-type tomato, accompanied by ABA accumulation and ethylene evolution. Intraspecific competition-induced decrease in gs was absent in FL and NR, indicating ABA and ethylene involved in plant response to intraspecific competition. As soil water becomes dry, the competition decreased gs by elevating ABA and ethylene accumulations. Under severe drought, the competition-induced decline in gs was covered by the severe drought-induced decrease in gs, as hydraulic signals most probably dominate. The absence of canopy competition insignificantly influenced plant stomatal opening of well-watered tomato, as canopy separation minimized the plant neighbor sensing by ethylene and other signals. Whereas under water deficit condition, the absence of canopy competition significantly reduced ABA accumulation in roots and then stomatal conductance, indicating the belowground neighbor detection signals maybe enhanced by soil drought. The absence of root competition increased ethylene evolution, confirming the importance of ethylene in neighbor detection and plant response to environmental stress.
Production of Highly Porous Biochar Materials from Spent Mushroom Composts
Authors: Chen Wen-Shing , Tsai Wen-Tien , Lin Yu-Quan , Tsai Chi-Hung , Chang Yao-Tsung
Published: January 2022

The edible mushroom industry has grown significantly in recent years due to the dietary change and the demand for heathy food. However, the spent mushroom compost (SMC) will be produced in large quantities after the harvest, thus forming an agricultural waste requiring proper management other than dumping or burning. In this work, two types of SMCs with the cultivation of shiitake fungus (SF) and black fungus (BF) were converted into porous biochar products (a series of SMC-SF-BC and SMC-BF-BC) at higher pyrolysis temperatures (i.e., 400, 600 and 800 °C) based on their thermochemical characteristics, using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The pore and chemical properties of the resulting products, including surface area, pore volume, average pore size, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), were studied to correlate them with the most important process parameter. The results showed that the pore properties of the biochar products indicated a significant increase with the increase in the pyrolysis temperature from 400 to 600 °C. The data on the maximal Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area for the biochar products produced at 800 °C (i.e., SMC-SF-BC-800 and SMC-BF-BC-800) were found to be 312.5 and 280.9 m2/g, respectively. Based on the EDS and FTIR, plenty of oxygen-containing functional groups were found on the surface of the resulting biochar products.