bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Functionalized Polyethylene Glycol as a Catalyst for Esterification of Salicylic Acid
Authors: Farouq Rania , Selim Yehia
Published: January 2023

In this work, two catalysts based on polyethylene glycol (PEG) containing sulfonic acid group and the −COOH group of citric acid (CA) were synthesized. Characterization of the −SO3H functionalized PEG and citric acid functionalized PEG has been carried out using FT–IR. The acidity of PEG–SO3H and PEG–CA has been explored to investigate their catalytic efficiency towards eco-friendly production of methyl salicylate via esterification of salicylic acid using methanol as a reactant as well as solvent. Methanol to acid molar ratios of 4:1, 6:1, 8:1, and 10:1 was applied. The sulfonated PEG is found to be a very active solid acid catalyst giving high yields (82%) under the optimized reaction conditions (10:1 M ratio of methanol to acid; reaction temperature, 65 °C; reaction time, 150 min with catalyst loading of 1.5%. In comparison with the catalytic activity of H2SO4,PEG–SO3H, and PEG-CA; the PEG–SO3H surpassed the catalytic activity of both H2SO4and PEG–CA. The IEC of PEG–SO3H was 4 meq/g. And the maximum water uptake of PEG-SO3H was 8.25%.
Human-induced earthquakes: E-PIE—a generic tool for Evaluating Proposals of Induced Earthquakes
Authors: Foulger G. R. , Wilkinson M. W. , Wilson M. P. , Mhana N. , Tezel T. , Gluyas J. G.
Published: January 2023

The HiQuake database documents all cases of earthquake sequences proposed on scientific grounds to have been induced by anthropogenic industrial activity. Because these cases range from being highly plausible to unpersuasive, stakeholders have requested cases to be allocated plausibility grades. Since no questionnaire scheme existed that was sufficiently generalized to be applied to the diverse cases in HiQuake, we developed a new scheme for the task. Our scheme for Evaluating Proposals of Induced Earthquakes (E-PIE) comprises nine generalized questions with a simple weighting system to adjust for the variable diagnostic strength of different observations. Results are illustrated using a simple colored pie chart. We describe the E-PIE scheme and illustrate its application in detail using the example cases of the Groningen gas field in the Netherlands, the November 2017 M5.4 Pohang Enhanced Geothermal Systems-related earthquake sequence in South Korea, and the 2001 deep-penetrating bombing of Tora Bora, Afghanistan. To test the performance of E-PIE, five analysts independently applied it to a suite of 23 diverse cases from HiQuake. By far the most diagnostic questions are those concerning spatial and temporal correlations with industrial effects. Other data are diagnostically subsidiary. For individual cases, the agreement between analysts correlated positively with the strength of evidence for human induction. E-PIE results agree well with those from a specialist scheme tailored to fluid-injection cases. Its strong performance confirms its suitability to apply to the entire HiQuake database.
China’s Monetary Policy and the Loan Market: How Strong is the Credit Channel in China?
Authors: Breitenlechner Max , Nuutilainen Riikka
Published: January 2023

We study the macroeconomic relevance of credit supply effects in the transmission of Chinese monetary policy. Using combinations of zero and sign restrictions in a structural vector autoregressive framework, we simultaneously identify monetary policy shocks and supply dynamics in the loan market. Our results show that policy shocks which coincide with loan supply effects account for roughly 60% of the overall effects of policy induced output dynamics. Moreover, we find that it takes roughly one year that banks adjust their lending strategies and loan supply effects unfold completely. Overall, our results provide robust empirical evidence that the credit channel constitutes an important and economically relevant transmission channel for monetary policy in China.
Assessment of hepatic fat content and prediction of myocardial fibrosis in athletes by using proton density fat fraction sequence
Authors: Liu Tao , Dong Ping , Zhou Jin-Rong , Chen Jing , Luo Qian-Feng , Long Shuang , Li Jia-Li , Chen Dong , Li Yuan-Sheng
Published: January 2023

Purpose

To explore the characteristics of the hepatic fat content in athletes, and predict late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) based on magnetic resonance imaging-proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF).

Material and methods

From March 2020 to March 2021, 233 amateur athletes and 42 healthy sedentary controls were prospectively recruited. The liver fat content of four regions of interest (ROIs 1–4), the mean liver fat fraction (FF), cardiac function, and myocardium LGE were recorded, respectively. The values of ROIs 1–4 and FF were compared between athletes and controls. According to the liver fat content threshold for distinguishing athletes and controls, the cutoff total exercise time that induced a change in liver fat was obtained. The correlations among the liver fat content, cardiac function, and other parameters were analyzed. Moreover, the liver fat content was used to predict myocardium LGE by logistic regression.

Results

There were significant differences for the values of ROI 1, ROI 3, ROI 4, and FF between athletes and controls (allp< 0.05). The cutoff total exercise time for inducing a change in the liver fat content was 1680 h (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.593, specificity = 83.3,p< 0.05). Blood indexes, cardiac function, and basic clinical parameters were related to liver fat content (allp< 0.05). The prediction model for LGE had an AUC value of 0.829 for the receiver operator characteristic curve.

Conclusion

MRI-PDFF could assess liver fat content and predict cardiac fibrosis in athletes for risk stratification and follow-up.
Leaf thermal tolerance and sensitivity of temperate tree species are correlated with leaf physiological and functional drought resistance traits
Authors: Münchinger Ines Katharina , Hajek Peter , Akdogan Berivan , Caicoya Astor Toraño , Kunert Norbert
Published: January 2023

Climate change is causing more frequent and severe climatic events, such as extreme heat and co-occurring drought, potentially accelerating tree mortality. Which tree species will cope better with those extreme events is still being researched. This study focuses on heat as a physiological stress factor and interspecific variation of thermal tolerance and sensitivity traits in 15 temperate coniferous and broad-leaved tree species. We investigate (1) whether thermal tolerance and sensitivity traits correlate with a drought-related physiological trait, particularly the leaf turgor loss point (πtlp, wilting point), and (2) how thermal tolerance and sensitivity traits co-vary within different tree-functional types classified by morphological and physiological traits of the leaf, i.e., leaf mass per area (LMA) and percentage loss of area (PLA). The study was carried out in the Traunstein Forest Dynamics Plot of the ForestGEO network in Germany. The temperature response of the maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) on leaf discs was determined, from which various physiological leaf traits were estimated, one of which is the breaking point temperature (T5), the temperature at which Fv/Fm declines by 5%. Additionally, the temperature of 50% (T50) and 95% (T95) decline in Fv/Fm was evaluated. The decline width between T50 and T5 (DWT50−T5) was taken as an indicator of the species’ thermal sensitivity. The breaking point temperature ranged from 35.4 ± 3.0 to 47.9 ± 3.9 °C among the investigated tree species and T50 ranged between 46.1 ± 0.4 and 53.6 ± 0.7 °C. A large interspecific variation of thermal tolerance and sensitivity was found. European ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) was the most heat-sensitive species, while Wild cherry (Prunus avium L.) was the least heat-sensitive species. Species with a more negative πtlp tended to have a higher breaking point temperature than species with a less negative πtlp. A lower thermal sensitivity characterized species with a higher LMA, and high PLA was found in species with low thermal sensitivity. Accordingly, species with thicker and tougher leaves have lower thermal sensitivity which coincides with a lower wilting point. We conclude that species that develop drought-adapted foliage can cope better with heat stress. Further, they might be able to maintain transpirational cooling during combined heat and drought stress, which could lessen their mortality risk during climatic extremes.
A survey on observability of Boolean control networks
Authors: Zhang Kuize
Published: January 2023

Observability is a fundamental property of a partially observed dynamical system, which means whether one can use an input sequence and the corresponding output sequence to determine the initial state. Observability provides bases for many related problems, such as state estimation, identification, disturbance decoupling, controller synthesis, etc. Until now, fundamental improvement has been obtained in observability of Boolean control networks (BCNs) mainly based on two methods—Edward F. Moore’s partition and our observability graph (or their equivalent representations found later based on the semitensor product (STP) of matrices (where the STP was proposed by Daizhan Cheng)), including necessary and sufficient conditions for different types of observability, extensions to probabilistic Boolean networks (PBNs) and singular BCNs, even to nondeterministic finite-transition systems (NFTSs); and the development (with the help of the STP of matrices) in related topics, such as computation of smallest invariant dual subspaces of BNs containing a set of Boolean functions, multiple-experiment observability verification/decomposition in BCNs, disturbance decoupling in BCNs, etc. This paper provides a thorough survey for these topics. The contents of the paper are guided by the above two methods. First, we show that Moore’s partition-based method closely relates the following problems: computation of smallest invariant dual subspaces of BNs, multiple-experiment observability verification/decomposition in BCNs, and disturbance decoupling in BCNs. However, this method does not apply to other types of observability or nondeterministic systems. Second, we show that based on our observability graph, four different types of observability have been verified in BCNs, verification results have also been extended to PBNs, singular BCNs, and NFTSs. In addition, Moore’s partition also shows similarities between BCNs and linear time-invariant (LTI) control systems, e.g., smallest invariant dual subspaces of BNs containing a set of Boolean functions in BCNs vs unobservable subspaces of LTI control systems, the forms of quotient systems based on observability decomposition in both types of systems. However, there are essential differences between the two types of systems, e.g., “all plausible definitions of observability in LTI control systems turn out to be equivalent” (by Walter M. Wonham 1985), but there exist nonequivalent definitions of observability in BCNs; the quotient system based on observability decomposition always exists in an LTI control system, while a quotient system based on multiple-experiment observability decomposition does not always exist in a BCN.
Organizational and psychological measures for data center energy efficiency: barriers and mitigation strategies
Authors: Hanus Nichole , Newkirk Alex , Stratton Hannah
Published: January 2023

It was last estimated that in 2020, data centers comprised approximately 2% of total US electricity consumption, with an estimated annual growth rate of 4%. As our country increasingly relies on information technology (IT), our data centers (DCs) will need to increase their energy efficiency (EE) to stabilize their energy consumption. The task of studying EE in DCs is complicated by the interconnected nature of humans and mission-critical technical systems. Moreover, the literature tends to focus on technology solutions such as improvements to IT equipment, cooling infrastructure, and software, without addressing organizational and psychological drivers. Our research demystifies the complex interactions between humans and DCs, by asking What non-technical barriers impede EE investment decision-making and/or implementing energy management strategies? To begin to answer this question, we perform a literature review of 86 resources, ranging from peer-reviewed journal publications to handbooks. We also consider related fields such as organizational behavioral management and energy intensive buildings. We develop a public Zotero library, perform content coding, and complete a rudimentary network analysis. Our findings from the literature review suggest that (1) technological solutions are abundant in the literature but fall short of providing practical guidance on the pitfalls of implementation, (2) making energy efficiency a priority at the executive level of organizations will be largely ineffective if the IT and facilities staff are not directly incentivized to increase EE, and (3) there is minimal current understanding of how the individual psychologies of IT and facilities staff affect EE implementation in DCs. In the next phase of our research, we plan to interview data center operators/experts to ground-truth our literature findings and collaboratively design decarbonization policy solutions that target organizational structure, empower individual staff, and foster a supportive external market.
Analysis of Preventive Measures Against DDoS Attacks in Smart Grid
Authors: Gururaj H. L. , Swathi B. H. , Trupti R. , Darshan Urs R. , Rajendra A. B. , Paramesha K.
Published: January 2023

In recent times, the number of cyberattacks has escalated quickly and predominantly. There is no particular victim of this attack as it has outrageously tampered with all the domains in society. Cogitating this issue, the paper focuses on the cyberattacks on smart grids and endeavors some prevention techniques for the DDOS attacks. The researchers are amidst a paradigm shift, and the factors affecting this must be addressed and dealt with. It talks about a radical transformation of the medieval grids to smart grids and the technologies used and some of the possible solutions.
“Hey SyRI, tell me about algorithmic accountability”: Lessons from a landmark case
Authors: Wieringa Maranke
Published: January 2023

The promised merits of data-driven innovation in general and algorithmic systems in particular hardly need enumeration. However, as decision-making tasks are increasingly delegated to algorithmic systems, this raises questions about accountability. These pressing questions of algorithmic accountability, particularly with regard to data-driven innovation in the public sector, deserve ample scholarly attention. Therefore, this paper brings together perspectives from governance studies and critical algorithm studies to assess how algorithmic accountability succeeds or falls short in practice and analyses the Dutch System Risk Indication (SyRI) as an empirical case. Dissecting a concrete case teases out to which degree archetypical accountability practices and processes function in relation to algorithmic decision-making processes, and which new questions concerning algorithmic accountability emerge therein. The case is approached through the analysis of “scavenged” material. It was found that while these archetypical accountability processes and practices can be incredibly productive in dealing with algorithmic systems they are simultaneously at risk. The current accountability configurations hinge predominantly on the ex ante sensitivity and responsiveness of the political fora. When these prove insufficient, mitigation in medias res/ex post is very difficult for other actants. In part, this is not a new phenomenon, but it is amplified in relation to algorithmic systems. Different fora ask different kinds of medium-specific questions to the actor, from different perspectives with varying power relations. These algorithm-specific considerations relate to the decision-making around an algorithmic system, their functionality, and their deployment. Strengthening ex ante political accountability fora to these algorithm-specific considerations could help mitigate this.
Analyzing Social Media Messaging on Masks and Vaccines: A Case Study on Misinformation During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Trotochaud Marc , Smith Elizabeth , Hosangadi Divya , Sell Tara Kirk
Published: January 2023

Misinformation and disinformation during infectious disease outbreaks can hinder public health responses. This analysis examines comments about masks and COVID-19 vaccines on Twitter during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a content analysis of 6,600 randomly selected English-language tweets, examining tweets for health, political, of societal frames; inclusion of true information, false information, partially true/misleading information, and/or opinion; political components; risk frames; and use of specific types of rumor. We found false and partially false information in 22% of tweets in which we were able to assess veracity. Tweets with misinformation were more likely to mention vaccines, be political in nature, and promote risk elevating messages (p<0.5). We also found false information about vaccines as early as January 2020, nearly a year before COVID-19 vaccines became widely available. These findings highlight a need for new policies and strategies aimed to counter harmful and misleading messaging.
Panentheism as cosmopolitanism: Karl Christian Friedrich Krause's conception of a global human league
Authors: Göcke Benedikt Paul
Published: January 2023

Karl Christian Friedrich Krause (1781–1832) left for posterity an impressive and astonishingly contemporarycorpusof philosophical creativity. Not only does it cover numerous topics of theoretical and practical philosophy, from a panentheistic-cosmopolitan point of view, but, in terms of the history of philosophy, it may be seen as one of the first works from a European pen which also appreciates the Indian roots of European thinking in their systematic importance. It combines them with Platonic metaphysics and Kant's transcendental philosophy to form a system of philosophy that is truly intercultural. In what follows, Krause's fundamental argument for panentheism is presented before it is argued that Krause's panentheism entails a cosmopolitan theory of human society according to which it is a postulate of practical reason to realize a cosmopolitan global league of humanity.
When prayer goes wrong: A negative theology of prayer
Authors: Cocksworth Ashley
Published: January 2023

Prayer is often taken to be the solution to all manner of things. But what happens when prayer is not so much the solution to the injustices of the world as part of the problem? In this article, I present Karl Barth's idea of the ‘shadow-side’ of creation as a way of querying the prayer-as-the-solution-to-everything trope and encouraging more disciplined thinking about prayer – one that is self-critical, alert to and realistic about the dangers of prayer and yet not without hope in the promise of prayer's remaking. I call this way of thinking about prayer a ‘negative’ theology of prayer.
Who should work in Antarctica? An exploration of the individual, social and cultural aspects of expeditioner recruitment
Authors: Nash Meredith
Published: January 2023

Drawing on qualitative interview data, this article explores past and current Australian Antarctic Program expeditioners' perceptions of the personal qualities of expeditioners alongside their views of Antarctic station culture and expeditioner recruitment procedures. The findings reveal study participants shared similar views about expeditioner personal qualities. However, the findings also suggest that the current demographic similarity of expeditioners (e.g. the overrepresentation of white men) is perhaps much more important for assessing organizational fit than the Program might be selecting for. Participants described the ways in which interpersonal interactions and the social environment can deeply affect an expeditioner's experience of the station culture. Women in this study pointed to the connection between the overrepresentation of men in the expeditioner population and a potential male bias in station culture. These results extend the existing literature on person-culture fit in Antarctica. To conclude, I provide recommendations for diversifying the expeditioner applicant pool in Antarctica that can also be applied to the selection of other workforces in isolated, confined and extreme work environments, including space missions.
Sound‐Side Inundation and Seaward Erosion of a Barrier Island During Hurricane Landfall
Authors: Sherwood Christopher R. , Ritchie Andrew C. , Over Jin‐Si R. , Kranenburg Christine J. , Warrick Jonathan A. , Brown Jenna A. , Wright C. Wayne , Aretxabaleta Alfredo L. , Zeigler Sara L. , Wernette Phillipe A. , Buscombe Daniel D. , Hegermiller Christie A.
Published: January 2023

Barrier islands are especially vulnerable to hurricanes and other large storms, owing to their mobile composition, low elevations, and detachment from the mainland. Conceptual models of barrier‐island evolution emphasize ocean‐side processes that drive landward migration through overwash, inlet migration, and aeolian transport. In contrast, we found that the impact of Hurricane Dorian (2019) on North Core Banks, a 36‐km barrier island on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, was primarily driven by inundation of the island from Pamlico Sound, as evidenced by storm‐surge model results and observations of high‐water marks and wrack lines. Analysis of photogrammetry products from aerial imagery collected before and after the storm indicate the loss of about 18% of the subaerial volume of the island through the formation of over 80 erosional washout channels extending from the marsh and washover platform, through gaps in the foredunes, to the shoreline. The washout channels were largely co‐located with washover fans deposited by earlier events. Net seaward export of sediment resulted in the formation of deltaic bars offshore of the channels, which became part of the post‐storm berm recovery by onshore bar migration and partial filling of the washouts with washover deposits within 2 months. This event represents a volumetric setback in the overwash/rollover behavior required for barrier transgression, but the new ponds and lowland habitats may provide beneficial habit for endangered species and will likely persist for years.
Last Glacial Maximum Reconstructions of Rwenzori Mountain Glaciers
Authors: Doughty Alice M. , Kelly Meredith A. , Russell James M. , Jackson Margaret S. , Anderson Brian M. , Chipman Jonathan , Nakileza Bob R.
Published: January 2023

The magnitude of tropical cooling during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM; ∼19–26.5 ka) remains controversial, with sea‐surface temperatures cooling by several degrees less than most temperatures reconstructed at high elevations. To explain this discrepancy, past studies proposed a steeper (increased) lapse rate—the temperature decrease with elevation—during the LGM relative to today. For instance, LGM temperatures in East Africa reconstructed from branched GDGTs from multiple elevations support an ∼0.9°C/km increase in the lapse rate during the LGM relative to present day. Lapse rates are a critical part of the Earth's climate sensitivity and atmospheric energy transfer, and it is vital to know whether and by how much the tropical lapse rate steepened during the LGM. Here, we simulate LGM glacier extents in the Rwenzori Mountains of Uganda with and without a change in lapse rate using a range of temperature and precipitation estimates. We find that the lapse rate must have been steeper than present for glaciers to reach their LGM positions using available sea‐level temperature and precipitation estimates for East Africa.
PLK1 and AURKB phosphorylate survivin differentially to affect proliferation in racially distinct triple-negative breast cancer
Authors: Garlapati Chakravarthy , Joshi Shriya , Bhattarai Shristi , Krishnamurthy Jayashree , Turaga Ravi Chakra , Nguyen Thi , Li Xiaoxian , Aneja Ritu
Published: January 2023

Protein diversity due to alternative mRNA splicing or post-translational modifications (PTMs) plays a vital role in various cellular functions. The mitotic kinases polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) and Aurora B (AURKB) phosphorylate survivin, an inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) family member, thereby regulating cell proliferation. PLK1, AURKB, and survivin are overexpressed in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive breast cancer subtype. TNBC is associated with high proliferative capacity, high rates of distant metastasis, and treatment resistance. The proliferation-promoting protein survivin and its activating kinases, PLK1 and AURKB, are overexpressed in TNBC. In this study, we investigated the role of survivin phosphorylation in racial disparities in TNBC cell proliferation. Analysis of TCGA TNBC data revealed higher expression levels of PLK1 (P = 0.026) and AURKB (P = 0.045) in African Americans (AAs; n = 41) than in European Americans (EAs; n = 86). In contrast, no significant racial differences in survivin mRNA or protein levels were observed. AA TNBC cells exhibited higher p-survivin levels than EA TNBC cells. Survivin silencing using small interfering RNAs significantly attenuated cell proliferation and cell cycle progression in AA TNBC cells, but not in EA TNBC cells. In addition, PLK1 and AURKB inhibition with volasertib and barasertib significantly inhibited the growth of AA TNBC xenografts, but not of EA TNBC tumors. These data suggest that inhibition of PLK1 and AURKB suppresses cell proliferation and tumor growth, specifically in AA TNBC. These findings suggest that targeting survivin phosphorylation may be a viable therapeutic option for AA patients with TNBC.
New approaches to epidemic modeling on networks
Authors: Gómez Arturo , Oliveira Gonçalo
Published: January 2023

In this article, we develop two independent and new approaches to model epidemic spread in a network. Contrary to the most studied models, those developed here allow for contacts with different probabilities of transmitting the disease (transmissibilities). We then examine each of these models using some mean field type approximations. The first model looks at the late-stage effects of an epidemic outbreak and allows for the computation of the probability that a given vertex was infected. This computation is based on a mean field approximation and only depends on the number of contacts and their transmissibilities. This approach shares many similarities with percolation models in networks. The second model we develop is a dynamic model which we analyze using a mean field approximation which highly reduces the dimensionality of the system. In particular, the original system which individually analyses each vertex of the network is reduced to one with as many equations as different transmissibilities. Perhaps the greatest contribution of this article is the observation that, in both these models, the existence and size of an epidemic outbreak are linked to the properties of a matrix which we call the$${\mathcal {R}}$$R-matrix. This is a generalization of the basic reproduction number which more precisely characterizes the main routes of infection.
Grassland versus forest dwelling rodents as indicators of environmental contamination with the zoonotic nematode Toxocara spp.
Authors: Krupińska Martyna , Antolová Daniela , Tołkacz Katarzyna , Szczepaniak Klaudiusz , Strachecka Aneta , Goll Aleksander , Nowicka Joanna , Baranowicz Karolina , Bajer Anna , Behnke Jerzy M. , Grzybek Maciej
Published: January 2023

Small mammals are suspected of contributing to the dissemination ofToxocara canisand helping with the parasite survival during periods when there is a temporary absence of suitable definitive hosts. While the primary aim of the current study was the assessment of seroprevalence ofToxocaraspp. infections in wild rodents in Poland, we also explored the role of intrinsic (sex, age) and extrinsic factors (study site) influencing dynamics of this infection to ascertain whether grassland versus forest rodents play a greater role as indicators of environmental contamination withT. canis. We trapped 577 rodents belonging to four species (Myodes glareolus, Microtus arvalis, Microtus agrestis, Alexandromys oeconomus) in north-eastern Poland. Blood was collected during the parasitological examination, and serum was frozen at − 80 °C until further analyses. A bespoke enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect antibodies againstToxocaraspp.We foundToxocaraspp.antibodies in the sera of all four rodent species with an overall seroprevalence of 2.8% [1.9–4.1%]. There was a significant difference in seroprevalence between vole species, with the grassland species (M. arvalis, M. agrestisand A. oeconomus) showing a 16-fold higher seroprevalence (15.7% [8.7–25.9%]) than the forest-dwellingM. glareolus (0.98% [0.5–1.8%]). We hypothesise that the seroprevalence ofToxocaraspp. differs between forest and grassland rodents because of the higher contamination of grasslands by domestic dogs and wild canids. Our results underline the need for wide biomonitoring of both types of ecosystems to assess the role of rodents as indicators of environmental contamination with zoonotic pathogens.
Improved mineralization of dental enamel by electrokinetic delivery of F− and Ca2+ ions
Authors: Tay NamBeng , Gan HiongYap , de Sousa Frederico Barbosa , Shen Lu , Nóbrega Diego Figueiredo , Peng Chenhui , Kilpatrick-Liverman LaTonya , Wang Wei , Lavender Stacey , Pilch Shira , Han Jongyoon
Published: January 2023

This in vitro study evaluated the effects of the infiltration of F- and Ca2+ ions into human enamel by electrokinetic flow (EKF) on the enamel microhardness and F- content. Sound human enamel ground sections of unerupted third molars were infiltrated with de-ionized water by EKF and with F- ion by EKF respectively. All samples were submitted to two successive transverse acid-etch biopsies (etching times of 30 s and 20 min) to quantify F- ion infiltrated deep into enamel. Remarkably, sound enamel showed a large increase in microhardness (MH) after infiltration of NaF (p < 0.00001) and CaCl2 (p = 0.013) by EKF. Additionally, NaF-EKF increased the remineralization in the lesion body of artificial enamel caries lesions compared to controls (p < 0.01). With the enamel biopsy technique, at both etching times, more F- ions were found in the EKF-treated group than the control group (p << 0.05), and more fluoride was extracted from deeper biopsies in the NaF-EKF group. In conclusion, our results show that EKF treatment is superior in transporting Ca2+ and F− ions into sound enamel when compared to molecular diffusion, enhancing both the mineralization of sound enamel and the remineralization of artificial enamel caries.
A risk stratification and prognostic prediction model for lung adenocarcinoma based on aging-related lncRNA
Authors: Chen HuiWei , Peng Lihua , Zhou Dujuan , Tan NianXi , Qu GenYi
Published: January 2023

To create a risk model of aging-related long non-coding RNAs (arlncRNAs) and determine whether they might be useful as markers for risk stratification, prognosis prediction, and targeted therapy guidance for patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Data on aging genes and lncRNAs from LUAD patients were obtained from Human Aging Genomic Resources 3 and The Cancer Genome Atlas, and differential co-expression analysis of established differentially expressed arlncRNAs (DEarlncRNAs) was performed. They were then paired with a matrix of 0 or 1 by cyclic single pairing. The risk coefficient for each sample of LUAD individuals was obtained, and a risk model was constructed by performing univariate regression, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analysis, and univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Areas under the curve were calculated for the 1-, 3-, and 5-year receiver operating characteristic curves to determine Akaike information criterion-based cutoffs to identify high- and low-risk groups. The survival rate, correlation of clinical characteristics, malignant-infiltrating immune-cell expression, ICI-related gene expression, and chemotherapeutic drug sensitivity were contrasted with the high- and low-risk groups. We found that 99 DEarlncRNAs were upregulated and 12 were downregulated. Twenty pairs of DEarlncRNA pairs were used to create a prognostic model. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival curve areas of LUAD individuals were 0.805, 0.793, and 0.855, respectively. The cutoff value to classify patients into two groups was 0.992. The mortality rate was higher in the high-risk group. We affirmed that the LUAD outcome-related independent predictor was the risk score (p < 0.001). Validation of tumor-infiltrating immune cells and ICI-related gene expression differed substantially between the groups. The high-risk group was highly sensitive to docetaxel, erlotinib, gefitinib, and paclitaxel. Risk models constructed from arlncRNAs can be used for risk stratification in patients with LUAD and serve as prognostic markers to identify patients who might benefit from targeted and chemotherapeutic agents.
Microcantilever-based current balance for precise measurement of the photon force
Authors: Pruchnik Bartosz , Orłowska Karolina , Świadkowski Bartosz , Gacka Ewelina , Sierakowski Andrzej , Janus Paweł , Gotszalk Teodor
Published: January 2023

We present a method for the quantitative determination of the photon force (PF)—the force generated by the radiation pressure of photons reflected from the surface. We propose an experimental setup integrating innovative microelectromechanical system (MEMS) optimized for the detection of photon force (pfMEMS). An active microcantilever was used as the force detector, while the measurement was conducted in a closed-loop setup with electromagnetic force compensation. In opposition to our previous works, this measurement method provides quantitative not qualitative assessment of PF interaction. Final current-balance setup is suitable for light sources from tens of microwatts to few watts. In our article, we present the results of the performed experiments, in which we measured the PF interactions in the range up to 67.5 pN with resolution of 30 fN in the static measurement.
Influence of the use of remineralizing agents on the tensile bond strength of orthodontic brackets
Authors: Domantaitė Milda , Trakinienė Giedrė
Published: January 2023

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the use of remineralizing agents on the tensile bond strength. The study sample consisted of 80 recently extracted molars, which were randomly divided into four experimental groups (n = 20): groups FG1 and FG30, in which fluoride varnish was used, and groups RG1 and RG30, in which Recaldent tooth mousse was used. The mesiobuccal surfaces served as experimental, and distobuccal as control (n = 80). Brackets were bonded to both surfaces and were submitted to a tension test at different time intervals (T1 and T30). Tensile bond strength (TBS) and the amount of adhesive remnant (ARI) were assessed. A statistically significantly lower mean of TBS compared to the control group was found only in the FG1 group (p < 0.001), and no significant difference was found between the other groups. The FG1 group showed significantly higher ARI scores (p < 0.001) compared to the control group. No significant difference was found between the other groups. In conclusion, bonding brackets one day after applying fluoride varnish significantly reduced the TBS, but after 30 days it was set back to an optimal value. The use of Recaldent before orthodontic treatment had no adverse effect.
An optimal load indirect matching method without parameter identification and system efficiency optimization
Authors: Qiu Xueying , Sun Pan , Rong Enguo , Qiao Kangheng , Sun Jun , Wu Xusheng
Published: January 2023

In some wireless charging applications where the coil spacing varies in real time, such as UAV, electric boat and tram, etc., the traditional direct impedance matching method is difficult to identify the mutual inductance timely and accurately, thus affecting the efficiency optimization effect of the system. In this paper, an indirect impedance matching method without parameter identification is proposed, this method is based on the characteristic that the optimal voltage gain of the resonator is only related to its inherent parameters, and impedance matching can be achieved by controlling the voltage gain in real time. To further improve the efficiency of the system, a single-sided detuning design method is used to achieve soft switching of the inverter. Based on the optimal voltage gain expression derived by using both the indirect impedance matching method and the single-sided detuning design method, a compound control strategy for a series-series-compensated topology with dual-side power control is proposed to improve efficiency and stabilize the output voltage. A hardware prototype is built and a peak DC-to-DC efficiency with the optimal output resistanceRLat about 28.9 Ω is 91.58%. When the output resistanceRLis 100 Ω, the efficiency improved by 7% after using the proposed strategy.
Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging assessment of muscle composition in myotonic dystrophy mice
Authors: Bargiela Ariadna , Ten-Esteve Amadeo , Martí-Bonmatí Luis , Sevilla Teresa , Perez Alonso Manuel , Artero Ruben
Published: January 2023

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a severe autosomal dominant neuromuscular disease in which the musculoskeletal system contributes substantially to overall mortality and morbidity. DM1 stems from a noncoding CTG trinucleotide repeat expansion in the DMPK gene. The human skeletal actin long repeat (HSALR) mouse model reproduces several aspects of the disease, but the muscle-wasting phenotype of this model has never been characterized in vivo. Herein, we used quantitative MRI to measure the fat and muscle volumes in the leg compartment (LC) of mice. These acquired data were processed to extract relevant parameters such as fat fraction and fat infiltration (fat LC/LC) in HSALR and control (FBV) muscles. These results showed increased fat volume (fat LC) and fat infiltration within the muscle tissue of the leg compartment (muscle LC), in agreement with necropsies, in which fatty clumps were observed, and consistent with previous findings in DM1 patients. Model mice did not reproduce the characteristic impaired fat fraction, widespread fat replacement through the muscles, or reduced muscle volume reported in patients. Taken together, the observed abnormal replacement of skeletal muscle by fat in the HSALR mice indicates that these mice partially reproduced the muscle phenotype observed in humans.
Coronavirus covid-19 detection by means of explainable deep learning
Authors: Mercaldo Francesco , Belfiore Maria Paola , Reginelli Alfonso , Brunese Luca , Santone Antonella
Published: January 2023

The coronavirus is caused by the infection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus: it represents a complex and new condition, considering that until the end of December 2019 this virus was totally unknown to the international scientific community. The clinical management of patients with the coronavirus disease has undergone an evolution over the months, thanks to the increasing knowledge of the virus, symptoms and efficacy of the various therapies. Currently, however, there is no specific therapy forSARS-CoV-2 virus, know also as Coronavirus disease 19,and treatment is based on the symptoms of the patient taking into account the overall clinical picture. Furthermore, the test to identify whether a patient is affected by the virus is generally performed on sputum and the result is generally available within a few hours or days. Researches previously found that the biomedical imaging analysis is able to show signs of pneumonia. For this reason in this paper, with the aim of providing a fully automatic and faster diagnosis, we design and implement a method adopting deep learning for the novel coronavirus disease detection, starting from computed tomography medical images. The proposed approach is aimed to detect whether a computed tomography medical images is related to an healthy patient, to a patient with a pulmonary disease or to a patient affected with Coronavirus disease 19. In case the patient is marked by the proposed method as affected by the Coronavirus disease 19, the areas symptomatic of the Coronavirus disease 19 infection are automatically highlighted in the computed tomography medical images. We perform an experimental analysis to empirically demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, by considering medical images belonging from different institutions, with an average time for Coronavirus disease 19 detection of approximately 8.9 s and an accuracy equal to 0.95.
Prediction of gas production rate from shale gas reservoirs using a micro–macro analysis
Authors: Lin Dantong , Zhang Di , Zhang Xinghao , Goncalves da Silva Bruno M. , Hu Liming , Meegoda Jay N.
Published: January 2023

Shale gas has become one of the important contributors to the global energy supply. The declining pattern of the gas production rate with time from an unconventional gas reservoir is due to the depletion of shale gas stored in the nanovoids of the shale formation. However, there are only limited ways to predict the variation of the gas production rate with time from an unconventional gas reservoir. This is due to the multiple transport mechanisms of gas in nano-scale pores and changes in shale gas permeability with pressures in nano-scale pores, which is impacted by the pore structure of the shale. In this study, the permeability-pressure (K-p) relationship for different shales (Eagle Ford, Haynesville, Longmaxi and Opalinus) were determined using an equivalent anisotropic pore network model (PNM). This PNM has REV-scale shale gas flow in randomly generated nanovoids and their connection in the shale matrix, and the multiphase flow of shale gas including viscous flow, slip flow and Knudsen diffusion. These predictedK-pcorrelations were then used in a finite element model (FEM) to predict the variation of the gas production rate with time (flux-time curves) at the macroscale. The simulation results show that the flux-time curves can be simplified to two linear segments in logarithmic coordinates, which are influenced by the fracture length and initial gas pressure. The predicted results using the PNM-FEM were validated by comparing them with the reported field test data. The method described in this study can be used to upscale the gas transport process from micro- to macroscale, which can provide a predictive tool for the gas production in shales.
Implication of high variance in germplasm characteristics
Authors: Yu Ju-Kyung , Chang Sungyul , Han Gyung Deok , Kim Seong-Hoon , Ahn Jinhyun , Park Jieun , Kim Yoonha , Kim Jaeyoung , Chung Yong Suk
Published: January 2023

The beauty of conserving germplasm is the securement of genetic resources with numerous important traits, which could be utilized whenever they need to be incorporated into current cultivars. However, it would not be as useful as expected if the proper information was not given to breeders and researchers. In this study, we demonstrated that there is a large variation, both among and within germplasm, using a low-cost image-based phenotyping method; this could be valuable for improving gene banks’ screening systems and for crop breeding. Using the image analyses of 507 accessions of buckwheat, we identified a wide range of variations per trait between germplasm accessions and within an accession. Since this implies a similarity with other important agronomic traits, we suggest that the variance of the presented traits should be checked and provided for better germplasm enhancement.
Theoretical investigation on the elusive structure–activity relationship of bioinspired high-valence nickel–halogen complexes in oxidative fluorination reactions
Authors: Zhou Anran , Li Xiao-Xi , Sun Dongru , Cao Xuanyu , Wu Zhimin , Chen Huanhuan , Zhao Yufen , Nam Wonwoo , Wang Yong
Published: January 2023

The Lewis-acid-adduct AgF promotes both reactivity and selectivity in high-valence metal-halogen chemistry.
Nanostructured Co-doped BiVO4 for efficient and sustainable photoelectrochemical chlorine evolution from simulated sea-water
Authors: Chauhan Inderjeet , Patra Kshirodra Kumar , Bajpai Himanshu , Mhamane Nitin B. , Salgaonkar Kranti N. , Gopinath Chinnakonda S.
Published: January 2023

The co-production of hydrogen and chlorine from sea-water splitting could be a potential, sustainable and attractive route by any method.
Ligand influence in electrocatalytic properties of Cu(ii) triazole complexes for hydrogen peroxide detection in aqueous media
Authors: Cortés Paula , Castroagudín Mariña , Kesternich Víctor , Pérez-Fehrmann Marcia , Carmona Erico , Zaragoza Guillermo , Vizcarra Arnoldo , Hernández-Saravia Lucas Patricio , Nelson Ronald
Published: January 2023

In this work, electrocatalytic changes of Cu(ii) triazole complexes (Cu(L)2) resulting from inductive effects on the ligands were evaluated to fabricate a sensor for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) determination.
Multifunctional organometallic compounds for the treatment of Chagas disease: Re(i) tricarbonyl compounds with two different bioactive ligands
Authors: Soba Mariano , Scalese Gonzalo , Casuriaga Federico , Pérez Nicolás , Veiga Nicolás , Echeverría Gustavo A. , Piro Oscar E. , Faccio Ricardo , Pérez-Díaz Leticia , Gasser Gilles , Machado Ignacio , Gambino Dinorah
Published: January 2023

Multifunctional Re(i) tricarbonyls including phenanthroline derivatives and Clotrimazole showed high activity against Trypanosoma cruzi and inhibited parasite lanosterol 14-α-demethylase (CYP51).
Ruthenium-catalyzed reductive amination of ketones with nitroarenes and nitriles
Authors: Sun Rui , Ma Shuang-Shuang , Zhang Zi-Heng , Zhang Yan-Qiang , Xu Bao-Hua
Published: January 2023

The Ru(dppbsa)-catalyzed reductive amination of ketones with nitroarenes and nitriles using H2 as the hydrogen source is developed. This study provides a novel design platform for homogeneous catalysts in constructing motifs of secondary amines.
Flexible PTh/GQDs/TiO2 composite with superior visible-light photocatalytic properties for rapid degradation pollutants
Authors: Li Tong , Li Ru , Yang Lei , Wang Rongxu , Liu Rui , Chen Yelin , Yan Shiying , Ramakrishna Seeram , Long Yunze
Published: January 2023

Flexible fiber membranes for pollutant removal have received increasing attention due to their high adsorption performance and easy recycling characteristics.
Infrared He I 10830 Å, ultra-violet Ca II, and Mg II chromosphere emissions in the spectra of classical Cepheid X Cyg
Authors: Andrievsky S. M. , Kovtyukh V. V. , Korotin S. A.
Published: January 2023

Aims. In a previous publication, we reported the first detection of emission in the infrared (IR) triplet at 10 830 Å in the spectra of the classical Cepheid X Cyg. Emission is detectable at phases from approximately 0.25 to 0.90. We present and discuss further information on the chromosphere activity of this star, namely International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) archive data concerning the emission in the h and k Mg II doublet, and near-ultraviolet (NUV) spectra in the vicinity of the H and K Ca II doublet. We also present rough estimates of the chromosphere conditions and semi-empirical modelling of the observed emissions in He I triplet.

Methods. A study of the emissions in UV lines of Ca II and Mg II, and IR lines of He I suggests that the emissions observed at certain phases can be explained within the framework of the Gillet's phenomenological model of shock waves in pulsating atmospheres, which was developed from a study of the Hα behaviour in X Cyg spectra. We used the non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) approximation and a simple model of this star's chromosphere for the analysis of the chromosphere indicator profiles.

Results. We show that under certain assumptions about the properties of the chromosphere, it is possible to describe the presence or absence of emission in the IR lines of He I and Ca II, and UV lines of Ca II and Mg II.