bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Digital Literacy of Open Access Services to Support Online Learning During The Covid-19 Pandemic
Authors: Lusianai Wa Ode , Rachim Muhamad Djufri , Muliati  , Astin
Published: November 2022

The covid-19 pandemic has changed the pattern of learning and information tracing in the world of education. This condition becomes a challenge for academics amid various limitations and new habits. In addition to the problem of online learning, currently, students are also faced with difficulties in finding and accessing references to support online learning given the limitations of library services that have not provided loans and reading services online. This condition is faced by the partner of the service program, namely students of Fisip UHO. Problems faced by partners, first limited knowledge in access ebook services and open access e-journal. Second, the ability to use Mendeley as a means of citation scientific work. Solving the problem is done through ebook access training, e-journal and the use of Mendeley continued with the practice of finding open access reference sources and doing the citation independently in Mendeley The results showed significant changes in knowledge and skills for access to ebooks and e-journal services as well as Mendeley. There are only 60% of partners understand ebook access, 64% understand e-journal access, and there are 33.3% of partners who ady understand using Mendeley. This percentage value was obtained through the distribution of questionnaires before the training activities to 22 participants. After the training was carried out there was a change of one part to 100% of partners already understunderstooding ebook and e-journal services, but only 93.8% were able to use Mendeley.
Plug-In Platforms: The Push for Offshore Electrification
Authors: Wright Blake
Published: November 2022

The energy transition march toward net zero moves to different beats all around the world. With much of the initial focus on industry and what it can do to help curb CO2 emissions, attention soon turns to the worst offenders.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency in 2020, one quarter of all CO2 emissions came from electricity generation. Approximately 60% of our electricity comes from burning fossil fuels, mostly coal and natural gas. Coming in second, at 24%, was industry. Greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions from industry primarily come from burning fossil fuels for energy, as well as GHG emissions from certain chemical reactions necessary to produce goods from raw materials.

While these numbers pertain to the US, they ring mostly true around the globe where across the Atlantic Ocean some oil and gas companies are facing the challenge on both fronts by working to eliminate gas-fired turbines that generate electricity offshore. No country has done more with offshore electrification to date than Norway.

Oil and gas extraction on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS) accounts for 27% of the country’s total CO2 emissions. Norway’s top producer Equinor has been on the forefront of offshore electrification for almost 3 decades. Electrification requires an efficient solution to convert electric power transmitted to an offshore field into mechanical motion to operate components. Size, weight, efficiency, cost, and equipment availability play key factors in determining the outcome. Historically, the solution has been the use of shore power but today, innovative approaches can be implemented using renewable sources.

“The Norwegian Climate Action Plan for 2021 to 2030 came one-and-a-half year ago, where the previous government, then with actually strong support from most politicians, said that the CO2 tax shall rise to NOK 2,000 ($200) per tonne within 2030,” explained Simen Moxnes, senior advisor, new energy systems, Climate Initiative Norway for Equinor. “CO2 tax is a quite strong signal because then abatement projects that earlier had negative net present value suddenly get profitable since we don’t have to pay that tax if we can avoid emissions. Then we got the new government one year ago and, in their platform, they said that the target of 40% for oil and gas industry shall be increased to 50%. We have a quite large toolbox to obtain this. Operational measures that need energy efficiency is the go-to solution first. The best energy is the energy we don’t use.”

Moxnes added, “We also have several other technologies developed like carbon capture and storage on brownfield platforms. These have proved to be very difficult to implement due to weight and space limitations. Weight and space on platforms are a scarce quality resource. Even these compact plants are quite weight intensive. In addition, you must install big equipment close to exhaust channels to catch the flue gas, and a lot of the brownfield projects have really struggled with that. For greenfield it’s much simpler.”
Lessons Learned from a Prematurely Ended High-Pressure Air Injection Test in a Light Oil Naturally Fractured Reservoir
Authors: Gonzalez Guevara Jose Antonio , Chavez Morales Silvia Maria , Hernandez Hernandez Thalia Iveth , Gachuz-Muro Heron , Lopez Jimenez Bruno A.
Published: November 2022

Sixty billion barrels of oil still reside in the matrix of mature onshore and offshore Mexican reservoirs located in the southeast basins after primary and secondary recovery. Capillary and viscous forces are responsible for this amount of oil retained within the pore structure of the matrix (immobile oil). Gravitational forces are not enough to counterattack these forces due to the high fracturing intensity. On the other hand, laboratory testing demonstrates that oil residing in the matrix could be mobilized by the exothermic reaction that takes place with air injection.

Air injection in homogeneous heavy and light oil sandstones and nonfractured limestones, at small or large scales during short and long periods of time, is feasible for producing resources technically and economically nonrecoverable by other means. However, to the best of our knowledge, the published literature does not report any application of an air injection project in naturally fractured reservoirs.

During 2015, an air injection pilot test was performed in a light oil naturally fractured reservoir in Mexico, referred to as “A” field. The implementation of the pilot test was preceded by its corresponding laboratory study, which consisted of five accelerating rate calorimeter (ARC) tests and two combustion tube (CT) experiments. The analysis of the aforementioned experimental work led us to corroborate that air and oil react at reservoir conditions. Based on the above finding, the pilot test was conducted by injecting air at a rate of 10 MMscf/D with a wellhead pressure of 4,500 psia for 1.5 years, which was followed by a 1.5-year production period giving a total of 3 years for the pilot test.

The results indicate that combustion was successfully applied in the reservoir. However, no oil was produced. This paper discusses the results of a prematurely ended air injection pilot test in “A” field and the main lessons learned from it, which could help in the design and its subsequent implementation in other naturally fractured reservoirs.
Mapping the planet’s critical natural assets
Authors: Chaplin-Kramer Rebecca , Neugarten Rachel , Sharp Richard , Collins Pamela , Polasky Stephen , Hole David , Schuster Richard , Strimas-Mackey Matthew , Mulligan Mark , Brandon Carter , Diaz Sandra , Fluet-Chouinard Etienne , Gorenflo LJ , Johnson Justin , Kennedy Christina , Keys Patrick , Longley-Wood Kate , McIntyre Peter , Noon Monica , Pascual Unai , Liermann Catherine Reidy , Roehrdanz Patrick , Schmidt-Traub Guido , Shaw M. , Spalding Mark , Turner Will , Soesbergen Arnout van , Watson Reg
Published: November 2022

Sustaining the organisms, ecosystems, and processes that underpin human well-being is necessary to achieve sustainable development. Here we identify critical natural assets, natural and semi-natural ecosystems that provide 90% of the total current magnitude of 14 types of nature’s contributions to people (NCP). Critical natural assets for maintaining local-scale NCP (12 of the 14 NCP mapped) comprise 30% of total global land area and 24% of national territorial waters, while 44% of land area is required for maintaining all NCP (including those that accrue at the global scale, carbon storage and moisture recycling). At least 87% of the world’s population lives in the areas benefiting from critical natural assets for local-scale NCP, while only 16% lives on the lands containing these assets. Critical natural assets also overlap substantially with areas important for biodiversity (covering area requirements for 73% of birds and 66% of mammals) and cultural diversity (representing 96% of global Indigenous and non-migrant languages). Many of the NCP mapped here are left out of international agreements focused on conserving species or mitigating climate change, yet this analysis shows that explicitly prioritizing critical natural assets for NCP could simultaneously advance development, climate, and conservation goals. Crafting policy and investment strategies that protect critical natural assets is essential for sustaining human well-being and securing Earth’s life support systems.
Preferences for telehealth: A qualitative study with people accessing a new mental health service
Authors: Honey Anne , Hines Monique , Barton Rebecca , Berry Bridget , Gilroy John , Glover Helen , Hancock Nicola , Waks Shifra , Wells Karen
Published: November 2022

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a sudden increase in the need for mental health services and a rapid escalation in the delivery of these services via telehealth. Little is known about how people experience telehealth as part of a new mental health service, where relationships with service providers have not yet been established. In this paper, we present data from a qualitative service evaluation relating to people’s experiences of telehealth and their preferences regarding future use.
Methods: Data are drawn from semi-structured interviews with 45 participants (32 people who accessed mental health services, 7 informal support people, and 6 people who had accessed services themselves as well as identifying as informal supports). Data relating to experiences of telehealth, comparisons with in-person services, and preferences were coded inductively and analysed using constant comparative analysis.
Results: Just over half of the people in our sample preferred telehealth or at least regarded it as a suitable option. Those who preferred telehealth were more likely to have had direct experience with it, particularly via videoconferencing, as part of their access to this new mental health service. Reasons for preferring in-person services included the belief that interpersonal communication was superior in these settings, compatibility with personal communication style, and discomfort with technology. Those who preferred telehealth modalities cited its convenience, elimination of the need to travel for services, the comfort and safety afforded by being able to access services at home, and the ability to communicate more openly online.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that telehealth services have a legitimate place in future models of mental health care outside of pandemic situations. Many people who accessed services expressed a preference for participating in at least some of their mental health services remotely as it enhances choice and accessibility. Hybrid models of care may harness the unique benefits of both in-person and remote service modalities. These findings help to illuminate the potential of telehealth services when engaging with people seeking mental health help for the first time and in situations where existing relationships with those who provide services have not yet been established.
Atrioventricular Node Ablation Combined with Permanent His-Purkinje Conduction System Pacing in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation with Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: wang Lina , Hu Xue hong , Zhao Wei , Tan Chen
Published: November 2022

Introduction

As there are no relevant systematic reviews that evaluate the efficacy of His-Purkinje conduction system pacing (HPCSP) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) with heart failure who have undergone atrioventricular node ablation (AVNA), we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of HPCSP after AVNA in such cases.

Methods

We searched the PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Embase databases for studies on the impact of AVNA combined with HPCSP on patients with AF with heart failure published between 2000 and 2021. Review Manager 5.3 software was used for the meta-analysis. The clinical results evaluated included changes in left ventricular (LV) function, QRS duration, pacing threshold, and medication after surgery.

Results

The pooled results showed a significant difference in LV ejection fraction, LV end-diastolic dimension, New York Heart Association classification, and brain natriuretic peptide when baseline and follow-up values were compared (P < 0.01). The number of patients taking diuretics, β-blockers, and digoxin at baseline was significantly reduced at follow-up (P < 0.01). However, the number of patients taking angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors did not change significantly (P = 0.89). Regarding QRS duration, there was no significant difference between AVNA and HPCSP compared with before implementation (P = 0.05); however, an increasing trend was observed in the pacing threshold at follow-up compared with baseline (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

AVNA combined with HPCSP could significantly improve LV function at follow-up and reduce the administration of diuretics, β-blockers, and digoxin for patients with AF with heart failure.
The risk of first hospital contact with a musculoskeletal disorder in Danish Occupational Fishers: A register-based study.
Authors: Remmen Line Nørgaard , Christiansen David Høyrup , Herttua Kimmo , Klakk Heidi , Berg-Beckhoff Gabriele
Published: November 2022

Background: The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among occupational fishers is high, yet knowledge of the risk factors is scarce and inconsistent. This study investigated the risk of first hospital contact due to MSDs among occupational fishers, taking period effect into account.
Methods: This register-based study comprised data from the Danish Occupational Cohort with eXposure (DOC*X) for all persons registered as occupational fishers between 1994 and 2017. Time-to-event analysis with cox regression model was used with age as the time scale.
Results: Among the 15,739 fishers, 40% (n = 5,669 cases) had a first hospital contact with an MSD during follow-up. Back disorders were the dominant complaint. Male fishers working less than 5 years or more than 15 years had higher risks of MSD (HR 2.40 (95% CI: 2.06, 2.80), HR: 2.40 (95% CI: 1.76, 2.35), respectively, than those working for over 20 years. Period effects confounded and reduced the risk from occupational seniority.
Conclusions: Fishers occupational seniority vary in risk of MSDs across working life. Results showed a nonlinear relationship between the highest risk for fishers working less than 5 years and the lowest risk working more than 20 years as occupational fisher. More years in the workforce, a captain education, and primarily working part time significantly reduced the risk of experiencing a first MSDs for men. Healthy worker effect was documented.
Preparation of carbon self-doped g-C3N4 for efficiently degradation of bisphenol A under visible light irradiation
Authors: Lei Ling , He Xi , Lin Xiaoyu , Zhao Yufeng , Yang Chen , Cui Longzhe , Wu Guiping
Published: November 2022

In this study, visible-light-driven carbon self-doped graphitic carbon nitride (C-doped g-C3N4) photocatalyst was fabricated by a facile method with urea and ammonium citrate and used for photodegradation of bisphenol A (BPA) in aqueous environment. These experimental data showed that the prepared C-doped g-C3N4 showed high catalytic activity, and its photocatalytic degradation rate constant and mineralization rate of BPA were about 6.7 and 3.5 times higher than that of the pristine g-C3N4, respectively. The prepared modified g-C3N4 introduced additional carbon atoms, which generated C-O-C bonds with C in the g-C3N4 lattice. In contrast to g-C3N4, carbon doping enhanced the visible light absorption range of C-doped g-C3N4, reduced its band gap, and improved the separation efficiency of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Reactive species, among which are superoxide radicals (·O2−) and photogenerated holes (h+) acted as an important part to the high photodegradation activity under visible light irradiation, which was revealed by radical quenching experiment and ESR results. This work puts forward a one-pot strategy for the preparation of C-doped g-C3N4, displacing the high-energy consuming and complicated preparation technology with a promising industrial applications.
Variable Neighbourhood Search for Learning to Rank Problem
Authors: Ibrahim Osman Ali Sadek , Younis Eman M. G.
Published: November 2022

Variable Neighbourhood Search (VNS) is used to optimize the solutions for heuristic problems. Solutions are based on neighboring solution systematic changes. The changes are made during the ascending phase to get local optimum and the perturbation phase to gain the global optimum solutions. Exploration and Exploitation procedures are made through various mutation step-size. The objective function to choose the best offspring to be move to the next evolving generation. Thus, this paper uses two variations of VNS based on four random probability distributions for adapting the Offspring solution in the next iteration. The first variant generates each Offspring ranking model solution from one probability distribution in the whole mutation procedure (all mutation step-sizes made by only one probability distribution for each Neighbourhood candidate). On the contrary, the second variant of VNS perturbed each Offspring Neighbourhood solution by a random choice of the probability distribution in each mutation step size. From the obtained results, we can conclude that the second VNS method outperformed the first variant and recent research. In the experiments, we used Yahoo, Microsoft Bing Search (MSLR-WEB10K) and LETOR 4 (MQ2008, MQ2007) datasets.
NaMLP, a new identified Kunitz trypsin inhibitor regulated synergistically by JA and ethylene, confers Spodoptera litura resistance in Nicotiana attenuata
Authors: Yang Mao , Cheng Junbin , Yin Min , Wu Jinsong
Published: November 2022

Upon insect herbivore attack, Nicotiana attenuata accumulates trypsin protease inhibitor (TPI) activities as a defense response from different protease inhibitor (PI) coding genes, including WRKY3-regulated NaKTI2, and JA-dependent NaPI. However, whether any other TPI gene exists in N. attenuata is still unclear. A miraculin-like protein gene (NaMLP) was highly up-regulated in N. attenuata after Alternaria alternata infection. However, silencing NaMLP had no effect on lesion diameter developed on N. attenuata leaves after A. alternata inoculation. Meanwhile, the transcripts of NaMLP could be induced by wounding and amplified by Spodoptera litura oral secretions (OS). S. litura larvae gained significantly more biomass on NaMLP-silenced plants but less on NaMLP over-expressed plants. Although NaMLP showed low sequence similarity to NaKTI2, it had conserved reaction sites of Kunitz trypsin inhibitors, and exhibited TPI activities when its coding gene was over-expressed transiently or stably in N. attenuata. This was consistent with the worst performance of S. litura larvae on NaMLP over-expressed lines. Furthermore, NaMLP-silenced plants had reduced TPI activities and better S. litura performance. Finally, OS-elicited NaMLP was dramatically reduced in JA-deficent irAOC and ethylene-reduced irACO plants, and the expression of NaMLP could be significantly induced by methyl jasmonate or ethephon alone, but dramatically amplified by co-treatment of both methyl jasmonate and ethephon. Thus, our results demonstrate that in addition to JA-regulated NaPI, and WRKY3/6-dependent NaKTI2, N. attenuata plants also up-regulates TPI activities via NaMLP, which confers S. litura resistance through JA and ethylene signaling in a synergistic way.
Possible-sarcopenic Screening with Disturbed Plasma Amino Acid Profile in the Elderly
Authors: Duan Yushuang , Fang Zilong , Lu Yifan , Tao Kuan
Published: November 2022

Background
The mass and strength of skeletal muscle decline with age, leading to its progressive dysfunction. High-throughput metabolite profiling provides the opportunity to reveal metabolic mechanisms and the identification of biomarkers. However, the role of amino acid metabolism in possible sarcopenia remains unclear.
Objectives
The aim of this study included exploring changes in plasma amino acid concentrations in elderly individuals who may have possible sarcopenia and attempting to characterize a distinctive plasma amino acid profile through targeted metabolomics.
Methods
A cross-sectional, correlational research design was used for this study. Thirty possible-sarcopenic elderly participants were recruited ( n = 30 ), as determined by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia ( AWGS ). Meanwhile, a reference group of non-sarcopenic ( sex-, age-, and Appendicular Skeletal muscle Mass Index ( ASMI )-matched non-sarcopenic controls, n = 36) individuals was included in their comparisons to reflect potential differences in the metabolic fingerprint of the plasma amino acids associated with sarcopenia. Both groups were conducted the body composition analysis, physical function examination, and plasma amino acid-targeted metabolomics. The amino acids in plasma were measured using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry ( UPLC-MS-MS ). Also, orthogonal partial least-squares-discriminant analysis ( OPLS-DA ) was applied to characterize the plasma amino acid profile.
Results
With respect to Handgrip Strength ( HGS ), the Five-Repetition Chair Stand Test ( CS-5 ), the Six-Minute Walking Test ( 6MWT ), the arm curl, the 30s-Chair Stand Test ( CST ), the 2-Minute Step Test ( 2MST ), the 8-Feet Timed Up-and-Go Test ( TUGT ), there was a decline in skeletal muscle function in the possible-sarcopenic group compared to the non-sarcopenic group. The mean plasma concentrations of arginine, asparagine, phenylalanine, serine, lysine, glutamine, and threonine were significantly lower in the possible sarcopenia group, whereas cirulline, proline, serine, and glutamic acid concentrations were higher. According to the multi-analysis, glutamine, serine, lysine, threonine, and proline were the potential markers that could have indicated possible sarcopenia.
Conclusions
The findings characterize the significantly altered plasma amino acid metabolisms in the elderly with possible sarcopenia, which aids to screening people who are at a high risk of developing condition, allowing for the design of new preventive measures and therapeutic options.
Anti-Microbial and Phytochemical Screening of Commiphora africana, Cucumis pustulatus and Vernonia schimperi from Eritrea
Authors: Fissehatsion Samuel , Girmai Berhane , Berhane Bereket , Berhane Samuel
Published: November 2022

Background
Traditional medicines have been widely used in treating many microbial, inflammatory and other types of diseases states in Eritrea, where complimentary remedies are required to the modern health care system.
Methodology
The current research project focusses on three Eritrean medicinal plants; Commiphora africana, Cucumis pustulatus and Vernonia schimperi, which are traditionally used in management of different diseases. The hidden potential of the three plants for their anti-microbial activity was assessed with the employment of zone of inhibition. The plants were extracted by cold extraction using three solvents arranged in their increasing polarity starting with Petroleum ether, methanol and distilled water. The in vitro anti-microbial activity was performed by agar well diffusion method.
Result
Percentage yield was calculated for each plant extract. The cold methanol extracts of these plants exhibited the maximum yield while the minimum yield was obtained with petroleum ether. The gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus was the most susceptible, while the gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli was moderately susceptible. Desirable result has shown against Candida albicans with the methanol extracts of both Commiphora africana and Cucumis pustulatus. The most active antibacterial activity was obtained from the plant Commiphora africana. As a standard anti-biotic, Ciprofloxacin and Fluconazole were taken as positive control for the bacterial and fungal medias respectively and distilled water as a negative control.
Conclusion
Commiphora africana and Cucumis pustulatus have shown the highest activities. Based on the outcomes these plants have compelling anti-fungal and anti-bacterial property. However further in-vivo studies, advanced phytochemical screenings, toxicity tests are recommended.
Public Preferences for Policy Measures to Protect the Public against Infectious Diseases: A Conjoint Analysis
Authors: Igarashi Ataru , Nakano Yosuke , Yoneyama-Hirozane Mariko
Published: November 2022

Background
The extent to which the public can tolerate the economic impact (i.e., impact on private income) of public health policies implemented to prevent pandemic situations like COVID-19 is an ongoing issue. This study aimed to examine the trade-off between personal income and infection control in Japan’s pandemic policy decisions.
Methods
A conjoint analysis was conducted with a public panel via an internet survey agency. Infected patients, deaths, and income change were chosen as analysis attributes. Each respondent chose their responses from four hypothetical scenarios using an online panel. A panel logit-model was applied to assess the public preference for an increase/decrease in income and the number of infectants/deaths.
Results
From 2,155 complete responses, 8,620 results were extracted and analyzed. Most of the respondents affirmed the tendency to accept a decrease in income to control infection. According to the simplest model, the coefficient for income increase was 0.544 (for JPY 1 million, 95%CI: 0.460–0.627) and that for the multiplier for infected individuals was − 0.346 (natural log scale, 95%CI: -0.391 – -0.301). A comparison of the magnitudes of the two attributes revealed that the public was 4.81 times (95%CI: 3.24 to 8.01) more likely to accept an increase in infections/deaths in exchange for an increase of JPY 1 million in their annual income. Those with an extreme fear toward the pandemic were more likely to avoid an increase in infectants, for which coefficient was − 0.444 (95%CI: -0.510 - -0.378)
Conclusions
This study revealed the Japanese public’s preferences for measures to prevent infections vis-à-vis changes in income. The research used a discrete choice experiment to examine the infectious disease pandemic policy in Japan combining strategies for protection measures supporting lowering the number of infected people and deaths as well as economic (unemployment) outcomes. The present findings can guide the vaccine policy and pandemic preparedness for prevention.
Ceratonia siliqua pods (Carob) methanol extract alleviates doxorubicin – induced nephrotoxicity via antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic pathways
Authors: Atta Attia H. , Atta Shimaa A. , Khattab Marwa , El-Aziz Tamer H. Abd , Mouneir Samar M. , Ibrahim Marwa , Nasr Soad M. , Ramadan Shimaa
Published: November 2022

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an effective antitumor therapy but its use is limited by its deleterious toxic effects including nephrotoxicity and cardiotoxicity. The aim of this work was to assess the potential protective effect of Ceratonia siliqua methanol extract (CME) on DOX-induced nephrotoxicity in 5 groups of rats. Rats in groups 1and 2 were given normal saline while groups 3–5 were given Vitamin C (reference antioxidant, 250mg/kg), CME (500mg/kg) and CME (1000 mg/kg) for 5 days. On the 5th day, 1 hour after the last treatment dose, rats of groups 2–5 were given DOX in a dose of 15 mg/kg IP. DOX increased serum creatinine, urea, sodium and potassium and decreased GSH concentration, GST, CAT, SOD and MPO activities but increased MDA. It increased the inflammatory mediators (COX-2, IL-6, TNF-α, and NF-κβ) but decreased the anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) and the Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). DOX has up-regulated COX-2, Caspase-3, Caspase-9, Bax and NF- κβ transcripts and down-regulated the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 as assessed by immunohistochemistry and gene expression analysis. CME significantly improved the levels of kidney function parameters and restored the levels of the oxidative stress markers. It also decreased the level of COX-2, IL-6, TNF-α, and NF-κβ and stimulated the production of IL-10 and TGF-β. CME down-regulated the expression levels of the Bax, Cox-2 and caspases and up-regulated the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2. Microscopically, CME alleviated the DOX-induced renal damage in dose dependent manner. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of 26 compounds among which 4 major compounds (over 5%) in the CME. Acute toxicity test revealed that CME is not toxic up to 5 g/kg orally into rats. In conclusion, CME could effectively alleviate the deleterious effects of DOX on the kidney. The safety of carob extract encourages its use in the preparation of valuable therapeutic agents.
Refrigerant Management by Using Iot Technology With the Co-benefit in Energy Saving at Malaysia Food and Cold Chain Sector
Authors: Nazif Nurul Nazleatul Najiha Mohd , Taib Shazwin Mat , Md Mohd Fadhil , Rusli Nurfarhain Mohammed , Saman Norasikin , Nogoshi Sakiko , Sakaguchi Kozo
Published: November 2022

Fluorocarbon gas consumption can contribute in direct and indirect impact to the environment such as ozone depletion and global warming due to fluorocarbon gas leakage and increase in electricity consumption, respectively. This study is focused on early detection of fluorocarbon gas leakage on refrigeration unit to determine scenario of fluorocarbon gas leakage management and estimate reduction potential of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and the co-benefits in energy saving. In this study, the Internet of Things (IoT) that utilized ultrasonic sensor detection system to detect early fluorocarbon gas leakage was installed at the chiller unit at two selected facilities, A and B. After installation, the data was monitored, and any gas leakage detected was countermeasure. Results from the data monitoring, reduction potential of GHG emission and energy saving co-benefits calculated by using formula adopted from the Japan Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association, (JRAIA). The monitoring results found that different response rate towards leakage detection between two facilities A and B (chiller 1 and chiller 2) contributes to 33.9%, 60.6% and 21.3% of fluorocarbon leakage. Installation of IoT based refrigerant leakage device proved that early detection and on time countermeasures successfully reduce 30 t-CO2e/yrs (facility A) and 460 t-CO2e/yrs (facility B). Thus, proper fluorocarbon gas management is important to reduce environmental impact of the fluorocarbon gases.
An Assessment of the In Situ Test Technologies for Estimating the Resilient Modulus of Subgrades
Authors: Anusudha Visvanathan , T. Arjun Siva Rathan R. , Velayudhan Sunitha , Mathew Samson
Published: November 2022

Resilient modulus of the subgrade is the most critical parameter in the structural design of a flexible pavement. To estimate the resilient modulus, repeated cyclic loading tests are usually employed. Due to the difficulties associated with cyclic load testing, approximate methods are often employed to determine the resilient modulus. In the current study, this factor is evaluated using empirical relationships with elastic modulus by conducting experimental study. A full scale evaluation of the subgrade performance was carried out in a test pit facility using few common in situ test technologies such as Soil Stiffness Gauge (SSG), Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) and Light Weight Falling Deflectometer (LWFD). Correlations have been developed for the estimation of resilient modulus from the elastic moduli measured from SSG, DCP and LWFD. The equations take into account the plasticity index, moisture content and dry density, so that the equation parameters represent the effect of soil type. The equations give consistency between the estimated resilient modulus and elastic modulus. These equations could serve as means to estimate the resilient modulus of the subgrade material in case of absence of the actual resilient modulus testing facility.
Integrative Analysis of Necroptosis-Related Signature for Predicting the Prognosis of Osteosarcoma
Authors: Zhou Weijun , Zhou Wenyun , Bi Yonghao , Zhou Zibin , Liu Yiping , Ye Jiajie , Lin Zihong , Xie Gang , Yuan Guixin , Lian Zhen , Yao Guanfeng
Published: November 2022

Background
Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common and malignant bone tumor among children and adolescents worldwide. Over decades, clinical treatment for osteosarcoma has proven to be intractable. Novel approaches, such as immunotherapy, face immune escape. Thus, exploring potential therapeutic targets for osteosarcoma is an urgent need.
Method
Gene expression data and clinical information were downloaded from Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments (TARGET), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and Univariate Cox regression analysis was used to identify prognostic necroptosis-related genes (NRGs). A non-negative matrix factorization algorithm (NMF) was used to cluster patients into various molecular subgroups with NRGs. We dealt with multi-collinearity with the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO). Multivariate Cox regression was used to construct the prediction model that divided OS patients into two risk groups. The model's validity was assessed by time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Different expression genes (DEGs) between these two groups were conducted for functional analysis, including gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), and Gene Set Variation Analysis (GSVA). Eight algorithms were carried out to evaluate the tumor microenvironment. These marker genes on the single-cell transcriptome were further labeled to explore whether their expression was cell-specific.
Results
Based on the model constructed by 5 NRGs (TLR4, STAT5A, IFNGR1, PYGM, CHMP4C), the patients were divided into two risk groups. Patients in the high-risk group suffered a poorer prognosis than those in the low-risk group. The nomogram was constructed and integrated with clinical features and gene signatures, demonstrating better predictive ability in training and testing cohorts. Immune cell infiltrations were highly associated with the risk score generated by Multivariate Cox. All 5 NRGs can be successfully marked on the feature plot of single-cell RNA-Seq, and two NRGs were associated with cell-specific genes of osteosarcoma pluripotency with statistical significance.
Conclusion
This study can provide a reference for diagnosing molecular subtyping and treating patients with OS.
N6-methyladenosine regulatory genes in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris): genome-wide investigation, evolution, structure, characterization, and expression patterns during viral infection
Authors: Niu Jingya , Tang Muning , Wu Wenyan , Huo Sifan , Wang Xinhua , Liang Xingrui , Huang Xinqi , Wang Guyue , Jing Chenchen , Feng Xue
Published: November 2022

Background: N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant modification of the mRNA, which plays multiple roles in the regulation of biological process. The m6A regulatory genes have been studied in various plant species. However, comprehensive analysis of m6A-related genes in the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) are still unperformed.
Results: In our study, a total of 31 m6A regulatory genes were identified from common bean genome and grouped into three categories including writers, erasers and readers. The expansion of the m6A families in common bean was mostly fueled by segmental duplication or whole genome duplication events. Then, we performed a comprehensive analysis of chromosomal distribution, collinearity relationship, evolutionary selection, gene structure, conserved domain, conserved motif, cis-acting elements, protein-protein interaction with several bioinformatic tools. Moreover, the transcriptomic data exposed that m6A related genes were differentially expressed on the primary true leaf and systemic leaf of susceptible and resistant bean varieties. Our RT-qPCR tests revealed that the expression of all m6A related genes varied through time upon viral infection.
Conclusion；In this study, a thorough and systematic genome-wide analysis was performed for m6A regulatory genes of common bean. Our results will provide evidence for discovery of the functions of the m6A components and their family proteins, facilitating further study of the m6A-mediated mechanism in common beans during viral infection.
Presence and toxicity of drugs used to treat SARS-CoV-2 in Llobregat River, Catalonia, Spain.
Authors: Dominguez-García Pol , Rodríguez Reinerio Rolando , Barata Carlos , Canela Cristian Gómez
Published: November 2022

COVID-19 disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus was declared global pandemic in March 2020 causing millions of deaths. An evident tendency of global pharmaceutical consumption due to COVID-19 pandemic should be seen worldwide and this increase might suppose an environmental threat. Pharmaceuticals administrated at home or in pharmacies are excreted by faces and urine after consumption and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are not capable to remove all pharmaceuticals residues that eventually will end up in the aquatic media (rivers and sea). For this reason, analytical techniques such as liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) have become prominent to identify and quantify pharmaceuticals residues in aquatic matrices. In view of the scarce data on the occurrence of pharmaceuticals used as COVID-19 treatment, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the presence of these class of pharmaceuticals in river water which were dexamethasone, prednisone, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, remdesivir, ritonavir, lopinavir, acetaminophen, hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine and cloperastine, their toxicity in the aquatic environment using D. magna and to perform an exhaustive risk assessment in seven points of the Llobregat river basin.
Based on Random Forest and Information Enthalpy Evaluation System Smart Tour Guide Route Planning Design
Authors: Lu Jinzhong , Hu Anhua
Published: November 2022

Today, people are more focused on personal experience and individual needs when travelling, such as expecting a low cost, convenient and comfortable travel experience during their trip, as well as having different visiting needs such as historical and cultural, natural landscapes. This paper proposes a method for recommending tourist routes based on Random Forest and information enthalpy evaluation system. Taking Hohhot city as an example, data on the location, ticket price, rating and playing time of attractions in the area are obtained, and a comprehensive evaluation model considering the importance of influencing factors is constructed from three factors: attractions, traffic and tourists using Random Forest, and the weights of the comprehensive evaluation model are estimated using the information entropy assignment method to screen out high-quality tourist attractions. Finally, based on the different needs of different groups of tourists, an attraction selection model with the number of attractions and the overall rating of attractions as the objective function is established and solved according to the geometric weighting method. Compared with the traditional travel route recommendation method, the proposed method takes into account the user's needs and allows for as many high quality attractions to be visited with limited time and expenditure.
Paroxetine attenuates osteoarthritis progression by regulating chondrocyte pyroptosis and inhibiting osteoclast formation
Authors: Zheng Xiaohang , Qiu Jianxin , Jiang Ting , Gong Yuhang , Zhang Weikang , Li Ze , Hong Zhenghua , Hong Huaxing
Published: November 2022

Background
Osteoarthritis (OA), a common chronic joint disease, is characterized by cartilage degeneration and subchondral bone reconstruction. Nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling pathway-activated inflammation and NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3)-induced pyroptosis play essential roles in the development of OA. In this study, we examine whether paroxetine, a well-known selective reuptake inhibitor of 5-hydroxytryptamine, can inhibit pyroptosis and reduce osteoclast formation, thereby delaying the destruction of knee joints.
Methods
We assayed the cytotoxic effects of paroxetine by the CCK8 assay. High-density cultures, in conjunction with quantitative polymerase chain reactions and western blots, were used to observe the effects of paroxetine on extracellular matrix synthesis and catabolism. NF-κB and pyroptosis-related signaling pathway proteins were examined by western blots and immunofluorescence assays. Furthermore, the effects of paroxetine on receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Β ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast formation were also investigated. To investigate the protective effects of paroxetine on articular chondrocytes, a mouse model of OA in which the medial meniscus was destabilized, was established.
Results
Paroxetine delayed the catabolism of extracellular matrix components and promoted the anabolism of extracellular matrix components by chondrocytes. Paroxetine inhibited the interleukin 1 beta-induced activation of NF-κB and pyroptosis. In addition, it decreased the expression of osteoclast marker genes and reduced the formation of osteoclasts. Compared to control animals, mice treated with paroxetine showed slower disease progression.
Conclusion
Paroxetine can inhibit pyroptosis and reduce osteoclast formation, suggesting that it may have therapeutic effects in patients with OA.
Estimating soil properties distribution at a restored wetland using electromagnetic imaging and limited soil core samples
Authors: Emmanuel Efemena D. , Lenhart Christian F. , Weintraub Michael N. , Doro Kennedy O.
Published: November 2022

Electromagnetic imaging (EMI) provides an efficient approach for characterizing variations in soil physicochemical properties at a high spatial resolution. While EMI has been widely used to estimate variations in soil properties in agricultural, geotechnical, and contaminated sites, limited applications have been reported for wetlands. This study assesses the use of EMI for estimating soil property distributions at a restored wetland in northwestern Ohio, USA. We acquired spatial distribution of soil apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) and apparent magnetic susceptibility (MSa) via EMI over a 162,000 m2 restored wetland using an EM-38-MK2 instrument towed behind a utility terrain vehicle equipped with a differential ground positioning system. We collected twenty-two undisturbed soil samples and analyzed them in the laboratory for soil moisture (SMC), organic matter (SOM), porosity, bulk density, and texture. A least squares linear regression model was used to compare the correlation between each soil property with measured ECa and MSa while ECa was used to predict the distribution of SMC and SOM using the statistical model validated using the leave-one-out technique. We observed strong correlations between soil texture, SMC, and SOM, and ECa with SOM showing a slightly dominant control. This study shows that ECa can predict the distribution of SMC and SOM in wetland soils to an accuracy of ~ 67–70% for these datasets. The spatial ECa patterns matched the USDA soil map for the site. This study validates the potential of extending EMI for characterizing wetland soil properties, improving sampling plans, and extrapolating soil property estimates to unsampled regions.
Microscopic investigation into higher efficiency and stability of inverted organic solar cells compared to conventional cells
Authors: Marumoto Kazuhiro , Kamiya Shinpei , Yamaguchi Seira , Watanabe Takahiro , Saito Masahiko , Osaka Itaru
Published: November 2022

The performance of organic solar cells has remarkably improved recently, where the cell structures are important for achieving high efficiency and stability. The formation and accumulation of long-lived charges in the cells are critical for the efficiency and stability of the cells; however, their relations with the cell structures have not yet been clarified from a microscopic viewpoint. Here, we report the microscopic investigation into higher efficiency and stability of inverted organic solar cells compared to those of conventional cells, even though the same photoactive layers are utilized. We have directly observed the formation and accumulation of long-lived charges in these cells with electron spin resonance (ESR) at a molecular level. We have found the reduced effects of formation and accumulation of long-lived charges in the inverted cells for the efficiency and stability compared to the case of the conventional cells. These findings provide striking advance in fundamental understanding, which are useful for further clarifying the operation mechanism of organic solar cells as well as further improving their efficiency and stability.
Multifocal micronodular pneumocyte hyperplasia mimicking lung cancer
Authors: Deng Sihan , Cai Yi , Tang Yongjun , Shi Wei
Published: November 2022

Background
Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a disease characterized by systemic hamartomas(1). Multifocal micronodular pneumocyte hyperplasia is a pulmonary manifestation of tuberous sclerosis complex presenting as diffuse multiple small nodules(2). Sclerotic bone lesions are commonly observed in TSC and present as multiple osteosclerotic bone lesions(3). The coexistence of these two benign lesions is easy to misdiagnose as malignant tumors.
Case presentation
A patient presented with multiple pulmonary ground-glass nodules and osteosclerotic bone lesions found in CT. 18F-FDG PET/CT showed metastatic carcinoma or diffuse lung cancer with multiple bone metastases. She was diagnosed with diffuse lung cancer with multiple bone metastases at first but ultimately confirmed as TSC by genetic sequencing.
Conclusions
Although 18F-FDG PET/CT is playing an increasingly important role in tumor diagnosis, we still need to take the results dialectically. Doctors from multiple disciplines need to be sensitive to the nonspecific findings of TSC found on imaging, skin manifestations are the most intuitive diagnostic clues to the disease.