bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Systematic Overview of Newly Available Technologies in the Green Maritime Sector
Authors: Vidović Tino , Šimunović Jakov , Radica Gojmir , Penga Željko
Published: January 2023

The application of newly available technologies in the green maritime sector is difficult due to conflicting requirements and the inter-relation of different ecological, technological and economical parameters. The governments incentivize radical reductions in harmful emissions as an overall priority. If the politics do not change, the continuous implementation of stricter government regulations for reducing emissions will eventually result in the mandatory use of, what we currently consider, alternative fuels. Immediate application of radically different strategies would significantly increase the economic costs of maritime transport, thus jeopardizing its greatest benefit: the transport of massive quantities of freight at the lowest cost. Increased maritime transport costs would immediately disrupt the global economy, as seen recently during the COVID-19 pandemic. For this reason, the industry has shifted towards a gradual decrease in emissions through the implementation of “better” transitional solutions until alternative fuels eventually become low-cost fuels. Since this topic is very broad and interdisciplinary, our systematic overview gives insight into the state-of-the-art available technologies in green maritime transport with a focus on the following subjects: (i) alternative fuels; (ii) hybrid propulsion systems and hydrogen technologies; (iii) the benefits of digitalization in the maritime sector aimed at increasing vessel efficiency; (iv) hull drag reduction technologies; and (v) carbon capture technologies. This paper outlines the challenges, advantages and disadvantages of their implementation. The results of this analysis elucidate the current technologies’ readiness levels and their expected development over the coming years.
Sustainable Biofuels from First Three Alcohol Families: A Critical Review
Authors: Abdullah Muhamad , Yusop Ahmad , Mamat Rizalman , Hamidi Mohd , Sudhakar Kumarasamy , Yusaf Talal
Published: January 2023

With its unique qualities, such as infinite supply, high octane number, and capacity to cut greenhouse gas emissions, alcohol is a viable alternative fuel for SI engines. This review article aims to reveal to readers the effects of alcohol on the performance, combustion behavior, and emission characteristics of SI engines by collecting the outcomes from previous research. This article looks at methanol, ethanol, and butanol fuel qualities. The performance of SI engines with butanol, ethanol, and methanol combined with gasoline is investigated in terms of brake torque, brake power, fuel consumption, thermal efficiency, volumetric efficiency, mean effective pressure, and coefficient of variation under various conditions. Second, in-cylinder pressure, mass fraction burnt, ignition delay, pressure increases, and heat release rates are also used to evaluate the combustion characteristic. Finally, the article discusses pollutant emissions such as CO, CO2, NOx, UHC, and exhaust gas temperature. Methanol, ethanol, and butanol mixed with gasoline increased fuel consumption and lowered spark-ignition engines’ thermal efficiency. When alcohol was combined with gasoline, most research found that CO, NOx, and UHC emissions were reduced due to improved combustion.
Experimental Investigation of a Concentrating Bifacial Photovoltaic/Thermal Heat Pump System with a Triangular Trough
Authors: Dolgun Gülşah Karaca , Güler Onur Vahip , Georgiev Aleksandar G. , Keçebaş Ali
Published: January 2023

The heat absorbed by the heat transfer fluid for cooling a concentrated photovoltaic thermal (CPVT) solar collector can be used for purposes such as residential heating and cooking. Because of the combined production of heat and power, these systems are proposed for individual or commercial use in rural areas. In this study, a hybrid system was proposed to increase the electrical efficiency of the system. Experiments were conducted in winter conditions. Two operational modes were compared, namely a CPVT system with HP (HP-CPVT) and without HP (CPVT). The evaporator of the heat pump was settled inside the triangular trough receiver. The effects of cooling the PV system with a heat pump in the bifacial CPVT system on the electrical and thermal energy efficiencies were investigated. The electricity and thermal energy efficiencies of the CPVT system were calculated as 12.54% and 38.37% in the HP-CPVT system, respectively, and 10.05% and 81.97% in the CPVT system, respectively. The electrical exergy efficiencies of the CPVT system with and without HP were 14.65% and 10.73%, respectively. The thermal exergy efficiencies of the CPVT system with and without HP were 82.47% and 85.63%, respectively. The thermal heat obtained from the HP-CPVT system can be used for heating needs. Thus, the bifacial HP-CPVT system was an example of the micro-CHP system.
Numerical Calculation Scheme of Neutronics-Thermal-Mechanical Coupling in Solid State Reactor Core Based on Galerkin Finite Element Method
Authors: Yuan Baoxin , Zheng Jie , Wang Jian , Zeng Herong , Yang Wankui , Huang Huan , Zhang Songbao
Published: January 2023

It is of practical significance to study the multi-physical processes of solid state nuclear systems for device design, safety analysis, and operation guidance. This system generally includes three multi-physical processes: neutronics, heat transfer, and thermoelasticity. In order to analyze the multi-physical field behavior of solid state nuclear system, it is necessary to analyze the laws of neutron flux, temperature, stress, and other physical fields in the system. Aiming at this scientific goal, this paper has carried out three aspects of work: (1) Based on Galerkin’s finite element theory, the governing equations of neutronics, heat transfer, and thermoelasticity have been established; (2) a neutronics-thermal-mechanical multi-physical finite element analysis code was developed and verified based on benchmark examples and third-party software for multi-physical processes; (3) for a solid state nuclear system with a typical heat pipe cooled reactor configuration, based on the analysis code developed in this work, the neutronics-thermal-mechanical coupling analysis was carried out, and the physical field laws such as neutron flux, temperature, stress, etc., of the device under the steady-state operating conditions were obtained; and (4) finally, the calculation results are discussed and analyzed, and the focus and direction of the next work are clarified.
Digital Twin for Experimental Data Fusion Applied to a Semi-Industrial Furnace Fed with H2-Rich Fuel Mixtures
Authors: Procacci Alberto , Cafiero Marianna , Sharma Saurabh , Kamal Muhammad Mustafa , Coussement Axel , Parente Alessandro
Published: January 2023

The objective of this work is to build a Digital Twin of a semi-industrial furnace using Gaussian Process Regression coupled with dimensionality reduction via Proper Orthogonal Decomposition. The Digital Twin is capable of integrating different sources of information, such as temperature, chemiluminescence intensity and species concentration at the outlet. The parameters selected to build the design space are the equivalence ratio and the benzene concentration in the fuel stream. The fuel consists of a H2/CH4/CO blend, doped with a progressive addition of C6H6. It is an H2-rich fuel mixture, representing a surrogate of a more complex Coke Oven Gas industrial mixture. The experimental measurements include the flame temperature distribution, measured on a 6×8 grid using an air-cooled suction pyrometer, spatially resolved chemiluminescence measurements of OH* and CH*, and the species concentration (i.e., NO, NO2, CO, H2O, CO2, O2) measured in the exhaust gases. The GPR-based Digital Twin approach has already been successfully applied on numerical datasets coming from CFD simulations. In this work, we demonstrate that the same approach can be applied on heterogeneous datasets, obtained from experimental measurements.
Growth Models for Even-Aged Stands of Hesperocyparis macrocarpa and Hesperocyparis lusitanica
Authors: Kimberley Mark Owen , Watt Michael Stuart
Published: January 2023

The cypress species Hesperocyparis lusitanica (Mill.) Bartel and H. macrocarpa (Hartw.) Bartel (formerly known as Cupressus lusitanica and C. macrocarpa) are widely grown in New Zealand where they are noted for their high-value timber. Preliminary cypress growth models were developed in New Zealand in 2004 based on limited growth data. Here, we describe new stand-level growth models developed for these two species using measurements from 521 permanent sample plots. Each model consists of several component sub-models including a height/age model, a diameter/age model, a mortality function and a stand-level volume function, with different parameter estimates used for each species. The mean top height is predicted from age and site index using common-asymptote Richards models. Modified common-asymptote Korf functions are used to predict the mean diameter as a function of age, stand density and a diameter index. The volume-based 300 Index, defined as the mean annual volume increment at age 30 years for a reference regime of 300 stems ha−1, can be calculated directly from the site index and diameter index using the volume function. These models will be of considerable value to forest managers for regime evaluation and yield prediction. By more robustly describing site productivity using the 300 Index, the models provide an improved framework for understanding and quantifying site productivity.
Fire Impacts and Dynamics of Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest of East Java, Indonesia
Authors: Sutomo  , van Etten Eddie J. B.
Published: January 2023

(1) Background: Seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTFs) are globally important ecosystems which receive less research attention compared to tropical rainforests but are equally under serious threat. The objectives of this paper are to characterize the vegetation structure, diversity and composition of SDTF of Baluran National Park, East Java, Indonesia, and to assess the impact of burning this SDTF and its post-fire recovery. (2) Methods: In the field, we measured floristic composition and dominance at sites with different fire histories in both SDTF and adjacent savannas of Baluran. Remote sensing image analysis was also employed using the MODIS burn area product and various thematic maps. (3) Results: SDTF at Baluran has moderately high tree cover, is less diverse in species than rainforest, and has a prominent vegetative response to fire, especially in the tree layer. The immediate post-fire period in SDTF featured lower densities of tree seedlings and saplings, more grasses and herbs, and lower species richness than older unburned forest. Species composition varied with fire age and vegetation type, with relatively rapid recovery with time since fire evident, although there was some convergence of long-unburned savanna and SDTF sites in terms of floristics. (4) Conclusions: The SDTF of Baluran recovers after fire principally via resprouting but also via seedling regeneration, with structural attributes returning more quickly (<10 years) than floristic composition (>10 years). We did not find consistent evidence of ecosystem transitions between SDTF and savanna despite a small number of long-unburned savanna sites having floristic similarities to dry forest (particularly in terms of characteristic tree species), and we identify the need for more study to determine the degree and mechanisms of forest–savanna transitions in the region, with a future research agenda outlined. Relatively large areas of savanna–dry forest transitions demonstrated from remote sensing analyses were primarily attributed to spread of Acacia nilotica (an alien invasive small tree or shrub) into long-unburned savanna, and its decline in areas where the species is being successfully controlled via burning and cutting. Knowledge of such ecological shifting is important for the ecosystem management, especially in terms of their usage by large mammals.
CFD Study of Thermal Stratification in a Scaled-Down, Toroidal Suppression Pool of Fukushima Daiichi Type BWR
Authors: Kota Sampath Bharadwaj , Ali Seik Mansoor , Jayanti Sreenivas
Published: January 2023

During the 2011 nuclear catastrophe at Fukushima Daiichi, Unit 3 had a sharper increase in containment pressure than Unit 2, with thermal stratification of the suppression pool cited as one of the contributing factors. In the present work, the buoyancy-induced circulation consequent to steam condensation in a large, toroidal pool of water is studied using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations with a view to understanding the role of important design parameters of the suppression pool system. The tunnelling phenomenon observed in the development of the thermal stratification process is delineated in terms of the establishment of a thermocline. The effects of the number of steam injection points and the cross-section of the pool on thermal stratification characteristics have been investigated through a number of case studies. In all the cases, the surface temperature, which is responsible for over-pressurization of the containment, is found to be significantly higher than the bulk pool temperature. Multiple injection points with the same overall steam flow rate are found to lead to higher surface temperatures due to a shortened circulation path. For the same volume of pool water, the simulations show that a deeper and narrower pool gives rise to significantly higher temperatures than a wider and shallower pool. This is attributed to the relatively deeper penetration of the buoyancy-induced circulation into the pool.
Scientific Insights and Technological Advances in Gluten-Free Product Development
Authors: Papageorgiou Maria , Varzakas Theodoros
Published: January 2023

This Special Issue addresses new scientific insights and technological advances in the area of gluten-free product development with the aim of controlling gluten intolerance and autoimmune diseases [...]
Integrative Analysis of Proteomics and Transcriptomics of Longissimus dorsi with Different Feeding Systems in Yaks
Authors: Ma Xiaoming , Guo Xian , La Yongfu , Wu Xiaoyun , Chu Min , Bao Pengjia , Yan Ping , Liang Chunnian
Published: January 2023

Yaks (Bos grunniens) are a critical livestock breed in the plateau region, and changing the feeding system of yaks can significantly improve their growth performance. The effects of different feeding regimes on the growth performance and meat quality of yaks were comprehensively compared here. The transcriptome and proteome of the Longissimus dorsi muscle were determined using RNA-seq and Tandem Mass Tag (TMT) techniques. Indoor feeding significantly improved the growth performance (such as the average daily gain and carcass weight) and meat quality characteristics compared with traditional grazing feeding. In the grazing (Group G) vs. in-house fed group (Group HF) comparison, 40 differentially expressed genes/differentially abundant proteins exhibited the same mRNA and protein expression trends. These genes were associated with collagen binding, the lipoxygenase pathway, and the arachidonic acid metabolic process. Parallel reaction monitoring verified whether the TMT results were reliable. Moreover, some pathways, such as the AMPK signaling pathway, FoxO signaling pathway, PPAR signaling pathway, and fatty acid metabolism, were significantly enriched. These results expand our knowledge about meat quality in yaks and provide practical information and more evidence for further insight into the biological mechanisms underlying meat quality traits.
AFB1 and OTA Promote Immune Toxicity in Human LymphoBlastic T Cells at Transcriptomic Level
Authors: Frangiamone Massimo , Lozano Manuel , Cimbalo Alessandra , Font Guillermina , Manyes Lara
Published: January 2023

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) are typical contaminants of food and feed, which have serious implications for human and animal health, even at low concentrations. Therefore, a transcriptomic study was carried out to analyze gene expression changes triggered by low doses of AFB1 and OTA (100 nM; 7 days), individually and combined, in human lymphoblastic T cells. RNA-sequencing analysis showed that AFB1-exposure resulted in 99 differential gene expressions (DEGs), while 77 DEGs were obtained in OTA-exposure and 3236 DEGs in the combined one. Overall, 16% of human genome expression was altered. Gene ontology analysis revealed, for all studied conditions, biological processes and molecular functions typically associated with the immune system. PathVisio analysis pointed to ataxia telangiectasia mutated signaling as the most significantly altered pathway in AFB1-exposure, glycolysis in OTA-exposure, and ferroptosis in the mixed condition (Z-score > 1.96; adjusted p-value ≤ 0.05). Thus, the results demonstrated the potential DNA damage caused by AFB1, the possible metabolic reprogramming promoted by OTA, and the plausible cell death with oxidative stress prompted by the mixed exposure. They may be considered viable mechanisms of action to promote immune toxicity in vitro.
The Molecular Mechanism of Yam Polysaccharide Protected H2O2-Induced Oxidative Damage in IEC-6 Cells
Authors: Shen Mingyue , Cai Ruixin , Li Zhedong , Chen Xiaodie , Xie Jianhua
Published: January 2023

Oxidative stress is involved in maintaining homeostasis of the body, and an in-depth study of its mechanism of action is beneficial for the prevention of chronic illnesses. This study aimed to investigate the protective mechanism of yam polysaccharide (CYP) against H2O2-induced oxidative damage by an RNA-seq technique. The expression of genes and the function of the genome in the process of oxidative damage by H2O2 in IEC-6 cells were explored through transcriptomic analysis. The results illustrated that H2O2 damaged cells by promoting cell differentiation and affecting tight junction proteins, and CYP could achieve cell protection via restraining the activation of the MAPK signaling pathway. RNA-seq analysis revealed that H2O2 may damage cells by promoting the IL-17 signaling pathway and the MAPK signaling pathway and so forth. The Western blot showed that the pretreatment of CYP could restrain the activation of the MAPK signaling pathway. In summary, this study demonstrates that the efficacy of CYP in modulating the MAPK signaling pathway against excessive oxidative stress, with a corresponding preventive role against injury to the intestinal barrier. It provides a new perspective for the understanding of the preventive role of CYP on intestinal damage. These findings suggest that CYP could be used as oxidation protectant and may have potential application prospects in the food and pharmaceutical industries.
Effect of Community Nutrition Rehabilitation Using a Multi-Ingredient Flour on the Weight Growth of Moderately Acute Malnourished Children in Benin
Authors: Lalèyè Flora T. F. , Fanou-Fogny Nadia , Chadare Flora J. , Madodé Yann E. , Kayodé Polycarpe A. P. , Hounhouigan Djidjoho J.
Published: January 2023

Childhood malnutrition remains a public health problem in Benin. This study aimed to assess the nutritional potential of complementary food resources to accelerate the weight growth of moderately malnourished children hosted in learning and nutritional rehabilitation centers (LNRs) in eight municipalities in Benin. A multi-ingredient infant flour (i.e., FARIFORTI), composed of 35% corn flour (Zea mays), 15% malted sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), 30% soybean (Glycine max), 10% shelled and roasted peanuts (Arachis hypogeaea), 7% baobab pulp (Adansonia digitata), and 2% dried fried fish (Stolothrissa tanganyicae), was tested with 289 moderately malnourished children aged 6 to 59 months, selected in LNR sessions. Children were given the FARIFORTI flour porridge over 12 days (based on LNR protocol) in addition to other dishes based on local food resources. The weight and height of the children were measured at entry and at the end of the LNR sessions. The sensory evaluation indicated that the FARIFORTI flour was well-accepted by mothers (97%) and children (98%). The FARIFORTI porridge provided significantly higher intakes of carbohydrates and iron in children with weight gain compared to children without weight gain.
Forecasting the Monkeypox Outbreak Using ARIMA, Prophet, NeuralProphet, and LSTM Models in the United States
Authors: Long Bowen , Tan Fangya , Newman Mark
Published: January 2023

Since May 2022, over 64,000 Monkeypox cases have been confirmed globally up until September 2022. The United States leads the world in cases, with over 25,000 cases nationally. This recent escalation of the Monkeypox outbreak has become a severe and urgent worldwide public health concern. We aimed to develop an efficient forecasting tool that allows health experts to implement effective prevention policies for Monkeypox and shed light on the case development of diseases that share similar characteristics to Monkeypox. This research utilized five machine learning models, namely, ARIMA, LSTM, Prophet, NeuralProphet, and a stacking model, on the Monkeypox datasets from the CDC official website to forecast the next 7-day trend of Monkeypox cases in the United States. The result showed that NeuralProphet achieved the most optimal performance with a RMSE of 49.27 and R2 of 0.76. Further, the final trained NeuralProphet was employed to forecast seven days of out-of-sample cases. On the basis of cases, our model demonstrated 95% accuracy.
Techno-Economic Analysis of Large Scale Production of Poly(oxymethylene) Dimethyl Ether Fuels from Methanol in Water-Tolerant Processes
Authors: Tönges Yannic , Dieterich Vincent , Fendt Sebastian , Spliethoff Hartmut , Burger Jakob
Published: January 2023

Poly(oxymethylene) dimethyl ether (OME) are a much-discussed and promising synthetic and renewable fuel for reducing soot and, if produced as e-fuel, CO2 emissions. OME production is generally based on the platform chemical methanol as an intermediate. Thus, the OME production cost is strongly dependent on the methanol cost. This work investigates OME production from methanol. Seven routes for providing methanolic formaldehyde solutions are conceptually designed for the first time and simulated in a process simulator. They are coupled with a state-of-the-art OME synthesis to evaluate the economics of the overall production chain from methanol to OME. For a plant size of 100 kt/a, the average levelized product cost of OME is 79.08 EUR/t plus 1.31 times the cost of methanol in EUR/t.
Novel Ground-Up 3D Multicellular Simulators for Synthetic Biology CAD Integrating Stochastic Gillespie Simulations Benchmarked with Topologically Variable SBML Models
Authors: Matzko Richard Oliver , Mierla Laurentiu , Konur Savas
Published: January 2023

The elevation of Synthetic Biology from single cells to multicellular simulations would be a significant scale-up. The spatiotemporal behavior of cellular populations has the potential to be prototyped in silico for computer assisted design through ergonomic interfaces. Such a platform would have great practical potential across medicine, industry, research, education and accessible archiving in bioinformatics. Existing Synthetic Biology CAD systems are considered limited regarding population level behavior, and this work explored the in silico challenges posed from biological and computational perspectives. Retaining the connection to Synthetic Biology CAD, an extension of the Infobiotics Workbench Suite was considered, with potential for the integration of genetic regulatory models and/or chemical reaction networks through Next Generation Stochastic Simulator (NGSS) Gillespie algorithms. These were executed using SBML models generated by in-house SBML-Constructor over numerous topologies and benchmarked in association with multicellular simulation layers. Regarding multicellularity, two ground-up multicellular solutions were developed, including the use of Unreal Engine 4 contrasted with CPU multithreading and Blender visualization, resulting in a comparison of real-time versus batch-processed simulations. In conclusion, high-performance computing and client–server architectures could be considered for future works, along with the inclusion of numerous biologically and physically informed features, whilst still pursuing ergonomic solutions.
Prediction Model for the Evolution of the Deterioration of Bricks in Heritage Buildings in Venice Caused by Climate Change
Authors: Hernández-Montes Enrique , Hdz-Gil Luisa , Coletti Chiara , Dilaria Simone , Germinario Luigi , Mazzoli Claudio
Published: January 2023

This work presents a methodology for obtaining a quantitative expression of the superficial deterioration of bricks affected by climatic conditions. The method combines in situ measurements with laboratory data. Input data on material recession were obtained from photogrammetric observations, the material properties were derived from laboratory tests or the relevant literature, and climate data were provided from regional environmental monitoring service. The climatic parameters considered in this study are: relative humidity, number of freeze-thaw cycles (i.e., mean number of days per year with temperatures below zero), and peak sun hours per day. The methodology proposed estimates the deterioration rate of brick façades under variable climate conditions over time. As a conclusion of this research, a new tool for the structural evaluation of brick walls is presented.
Genome-Wide Identification and Analysis of NF-Y Gene Family Reveal Its Potential Roles in Stress-Resistance in Chrysanthemum
Authors: Hu Rongqian , Yin Mengru , Song Aiping , Guan Zhiyong , Fang Weimin , Chen Fadi , Jiang Jiafu
Published: January 2023

Nuclear factor Y (NF-Y) is a class of transcription factors (TFs) with various biological functions that exist in almost all eukaryotes. In plants, heterotrimers composed of different NF-Y subunits are numerous and have different functions that can participate in the regulation of plant growth at various stages. However, NF-Y genes have not been systematically analyzed in chrysanthemum, only involving several NF-Y members. In this study, forty-six NF-Y members were identified from the diploid species Chrysanthemum seticuspe, including eight NF-YA members, twenty-one NF-YB members, and seventeen NF-YC members. These NF-Y genes were analyzed for their physicochemical characteristics, multiple alignments, conserved motifs, gene structure, promoter elements, and chromosomal location. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that only two gene pairs in C. seticuspe underwent gene duplication events. The Ka/Ks ratios were both less than one, indicating that the two pairs underwent purifying selection. Promoter element analysis showed that multiple abiotic stress and hormone response elements were present in the CsNF-Y genes, suggesting that these genes play an important role in the response to stress, growth, and development in plants. Further validation of candidate genes in response to drought regulation using RT-qPCR demonstrated that CsNF-Y genes in C. seticuspe play an important role in drought regulation.
Static and Dynamic Impacts of Internet Use on Self-Rated Health among Adults in China: A Hybrid Model Analysis Based on National Panel Survey Data
Authors: Zhou Mo , Igarashi Isao , Kawabuchi Koichi
Published: January 2023

The widespread use of the Internet has a substantial impact on people’s livelihoods, including health-related factors. Whether this impact is beneficial or harmful to people’s health remains unclear. Some cross-sectional studies found static differences in the health status between Internet users and nonusers, whereas panel data studies found dynamic changes in an individuals’ health over time, making the issue, including its causality, controversial. Therefore, we aimed to clarify the association between the use of the Internet and people’s health from both static and dynamic aspects. Data were obtained for 46,460 adults from the China Family Panel Studies in 2014, 2016, and 2018. The analysis applied a logistic regression hybrid model with self-rated health as the dependent variable and Internet use as the main independent variable. In the hybrid model, time-varying independent variables were decomposed into between-individual (static) differences and within-individual (dynamic) changes over time. The results indicated that the between-individual coefficient of Internet use was significantly positive, but the within-individual coefficient was not, i.e., Internet users felt healthier than nonusers from the static aspect but starting to use the Internet did not increase the self-rated health from the dynamic aspect. These findings suggest that attention is needed in order to not confuse the static differences with dynamic change regarding the causality between Internet use and self-rated health.
Slow Sand Filters for the 21st Century: A Review
Authors: Maiyo John K. , Dasika Sruthi , Jafvert Chad T.
Published: January 2023

Safe drinking water remains a major global challenge, especially in rural areas where, according to UNICEF, 80% of those without access to improved water systems reside. While water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)-related diseases and deaths are common outcomes of unsafe water, there is also an economic burden associated with unsafe water. These burdens are most prominent in rural areas in less-developed nations. Slow sand filters (SSFs), or biological sand filters (BSFs), are ideal water treatment solutions for these low-resource regions. SSFs are the oldest municipal drinking water treatment systems and improve water quality by removing suspended particles, dissolved organic chemicals, and other contaminants, effectively reducing turbidity and associated taste and odor problems. The removal of turbidity and dissolved organic compounds from the water enables the use of low-cost disinfection methods, such as chlorination. While the working principles of slow sand filtration have remained the same for over two centuries, the design, sizes, and application of slow sand filters have been customized over the years. This paper reviews these adaptations and recent reports on performance regarding contaminant removal. We specifically address the removal of turbidity and microbial contaminants, which are of great concern to rural populations in developing countries.
Relationship between Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase-Activating Protein Gene and Peripheral Arterial Disease in Elderly Patients Undergoing General Surgery: A Retrospective Observational Study
Authors: Jin Sejong , Choi Eun-Ji , Choi Yoon Ji , Min Won Kee , Park Ju Yeon , Yoon Seung Zhoo
Published: January 2023

Patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) are at a higher risk of developing postoperative complications. Arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein (ALOX5AP) plays an important role in atherosclerosis pathogenesis. In this study, the relationship between PAD and several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of ALOX5AP (rs17216473, rs10507391, rs4769874, rs9551963, rs17222814, and rs7222842) was investigated in elderly patients undergoing general surgery. The medical records of 129 patients aged > 55 years who underwent elective general surgery between May 2018 and August 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. The A/A in rs17216473, A/A in rs10507391, G/G in rs4769874, and A/A in rs9551963 were calculated as 0 points and the rest as 1 point to define the genetic risk score. The prevalence of PAD tended to increase with higher genetic risk scores (patients had less ALOX5AP gene polymorphism of A/A in rs17216473, A/A in rs10507391, G/G in rs4769874, or A/A in rs9551963) (p = 0.005). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the genetic risk score (p = 0.009) and age (p = 0.007) were positively correlated with the prevalence of PAD. Genetic polymorphisms of ALOX5AP and age were associated with the prevalence of PAD in this study.
Effects of Physical Activity on Inhibitory Function in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wang Meng , Yang Xinyue , Yu Jing , Zhu Jian , Kim Hyun-Duck , Cruz Angelita
Published: January 2023

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to systematically evaluate the effect of physical activity (PA) on inhibitory function in children with ADHD. Experimental studies on the effect of PA on the inhibitory function of children with ADHD were retrieved. The data were obtained from PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, EBSCO (MEDLINE, APA Psyclnfo, ERIC), Embase, Scopus, and ProQuest. The search period was from the date of inception of the respective databases to 4 May 2022, and Reviewer Manager software (version 5.3) was used for analysis. Eleven articles and 713 samples were included in the meta-analysis. Results revealed that PA can significantly improve the inhibitory function of children with ADHD (SMD = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.45–1.10, p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that the effectiveness of PA as an intervention in improving the inhibitory function of children with ADHD was moderated by the frequency, intensity, duration, type, and length of intervention. Based on the findings, PA can effectively improve interference suppression inhibitory function in children with ADHD. Longitudinal open-skill exercise for 60 min or more, two times/week has the best effect on improving inhibitory function in children with ADHD.
Validation of the Alcohol-Related Sexual Consequences Scale in Swedish University Students
Authors: Andersson Claes
Published: January 2023

Background: Alcohol-related sexual consequences are common in college students. A newly developed 41-item Alcohol-Related Sexual Consequences Scale has recently been evaluated in at-risk young adults in the U.S. The current study aims to validate the Scale in Swedish college students. Methods: The occurrence of alcohol-related sexual consequences was assessed by birth gender, relationship status, gender identity/sexual orientation, and age. Negative binomial regression was used to assess convergent and divergent validity. Results: On average, 5.4 (SD 5.1) alcohol-related sexual consequences were experienced past three months. Greater scores were reported in singles, LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning), and younger students. All sex-related covariates showed robust associations with alcohol-related sexual consequences while most alcohol-related covariates were not associated (e.g., convergent validity). All alcohol-related covariates showed robust associations with alcohol consequences while most sex-related covariates were not associated (e.g., divergent validity). In the full model predicting alcohol-related sexual consequences, being a woman, single, and younger were identified as independent predictors. Conclusions: This newly developed scale assessing alcohol-related sexual consequences could be used in both epidemiological studies and intervention studies targeting at-risk students.
Extracellular Vesicles-Based Cell-Cell Communication in Melanoma: New Perspectives in Diagnostics and Therapy
Authors: Kluszczynska Katarzyna , Czyz Malgorzata
Published: January 2023

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a heterogeneous group of cell-secreted particles that carry cargo of functional biomolecules crucial for cell-to-cell communication with both physiological and pathophysiological consequences. In this review, we focus on evidence demonstrating that the EV-mediated crosstalk between melanoma cells within tumor, between melanoma cells and immune and stromal cells, promotes immune evasion and influences all steps of melanoma development from local progression, pre-metastatic niche formation, to metastatic colonization of distant organs. We also discuss the role of EVs in the development of resistance to immunotherapy and therapy with BRAFV600/MEK inhibitors, and shortly summarize the recent advances on the potential applications of EVs in melanoma diagnostics and therapy.
Identification of the Actin-Binding Region and Binding to Host Plant Apple Actin of Immunodominant Transmembrane Protein of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma mali’
Authors: Boonrod Kajohn , Kuaguim Linda , Braun Mario , Müller-Renno Christine , Ziegler Christiane , Krczal Gabi
Published: January 2023

‘Candidatus Phytoplasma mali’ (‘Ca. P. mali’) has only one major membrane protein, the immunodominant membrane protein (Imp), which is regarded as being close to the ancestor of all phytoplasma immunodominant membrane proteins. Imp binds to actin and possibly facilitates its movement in the plant or insect host cells. However, protein sequences of Imp are quite diverse among phytoplasma species, thus resulting in difficulties in identifying conserved domains across species. In this work, we compare Imp protein sequences of ‘Ca. P. mali’ strain PM19 (Imp-PM19) with Imp of different strains of ‘Ca. P. mali’ and identify its actin-binding domain. Moreover, we show that Imp binds to the actin of apple (Malus x domestica), which is the host plant of ‘Ca. P. mali’. Using molecular and scanning force spectroscopy analysis, we find that the actin-binding domain of Imp-PM19 contains a highly positively charged amino acid cluster. Our result could allow investigating a possible correlation between Imp variants and the infectivity of the corresponding ‘Ca. P. mali’ isolates.
Monitoring the Conformational Changes of the Aβ(25−35) Peptide in SDS Micelles: A Matter of Time
Authors: Santoro Angelo , Buonocore Michela , Grimaldi Manuela , Napolitano Enza , D’Ursi Anna Maria
Published: January 2023

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the formation of amyloid plaques constituted prevalently by amyloid peptides. Due to the well-known challenges related to the study in solution of these peptides, several membrane-mimicking systems such as micelle constituted by detergent—i.e., DPC and SDS—have been deeply investigated. Additionally, the strategy of studying short fragments instead of the full-length peptide turned out to be advantageous in exploring the structural properties of the different moieties in Aβ in order to reproduce its pathologic effects. Several studies reveal that among Aβ fragments, Aβ(25−35) is the shortest fragment able to reproduce the aggregation process. To enrich the structural data currently available, in the present work we decided to evaluate the conformational changes adopted by Aβ(25−35) in SDS combining CD and NMR spectroscopies at different times. From the solved structures, it emerges that Aβ(25−35) passes from an unordered conformation at the time of the constitution of the system to a more ordered and energetically favorable secondary structure at day 7, which is kept for 2 weeks. These preliminary data suggest that a relatively long time affects the kinetic in the aggregation process of Aβ(25−35) in a micellar system, favoring the stabilization and the formation of a soluble helix conformation.
Influence of Lanthanum Precursor on the Activity of Nickel Catalysts in the Mixed-Methane Reforming Process
Authors: Zakrzewski Mateusz , Shtyka Oleksandr , Rogowski Jacek , Ciesielski Radoslaw , Kedziora Adam , Maniecki Tomasz
Published: January 2023

This work investigated the influence of the catalytic support precursor on the activity of nickel catalysts 20%Ni/5%La2O3–95%Al2O3 in the mixed methane reforming process. The activity tests were carried out at a temperature of 750 °C. The research showed that the catalyst prepared from the precursor containing chloride exhibited very low conversions of methane and carbon dioxide. The poisoned catalyst system before and after the calcination process was subjected to Temperature Programmed Surface Reaction tests to determine whether the thermal treatment causes a decrease in the amount of chlorine in the system. To determine the decomposition temperature of the LaCl3 precursor and the nickel chloride NiCl2 compound, the samples were analyzed by Thermogravimetry. Finally, the catalytic samples were tested by Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry analysis to confirm the presence of nickel–chlorine bonds on the surface of the catalytic system.
Effect of Dietary Geranylgeraniol and Green Tea Polyphenols on Glucose Homeostasis, Bone Turnover Biomarkers, and Bone Microstructure in Obese Mice
Authors: Shen Chwan-Li , Dufour Jannette M. , Miranda Jonathan M. , Kaur Gurvinder , Chung Eunhee , Ramalingam Latha , Moustaid-Moussa Naima , Cao Jay J.
Published: January 2023

Previously, we demonstrated that the administration of either geranylgeraniol (GGOH) or green tea polyphenols (GTP) improved bone health. This study examined the combined effects of GGOH and GTP on glucose homeostasis in addition to bone remodeling in obese mice. We hypothesized that GGOH and GTP would have an additive or synergistic effect on improving glucose homeostasis and bone remodeling possibly in part via suppression of proinflammatory cytokines. Forty-eight male C57BL/6J mice were assigned to a high-fat diet (control), HFD + 400 mg GGOH/kg diet (GG), HFD + 0.5% GTP water (TP), or HFD + GGOH + GTP (GGTP) diet for 14 weeks. Results demonstrated that GTP supplementation improved glucose tolerance in obese mice. Neither GGOH nor GTP affected pancreas insulin or bone formation procollagen type I intact N-terminal, bone volume at the lumbar vertebrae, or bone parameters at the trabecular bone and cortical bone of the femur. There was an interactive effect for serum bone resorption collagen type 1 cross-linked C-telopeptide concentrations, resulting in no-GGOH and no-GTP groups having the highest values. GGOH increased trabecular number and decreased trabecular separation at the lumbar vertebrae. GTP increased trabecular thickness at lumbar vertebrae. The GG group produced the greatest connectivity density and the lowest structure model index. Only GTP, not GGOH, decreased adipokines concentrations (resistin, leptin, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and interleukin-6). In an obese male mouse model, individual GGOH and GTP supplementation improved glucose homeostasis, serum CTX, and trabecular microstructure of LV-4. However, the combined GGOH and GTP supplementation compromises such osteoprotective effects on serum CTX and trabecular bone of obese mice.
In Silico Drug Repurposing in Multiple Sclerosis Using scRNA-Seq Data
Authors: Shevtsov Andrey , Raevskiy Mikhail , Stupnikov Alexey , Medvedeva Yulia
Published: January 2023

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system still lacking a cure. Treatment typically focuses on slowing the progression and managing MS symptoms. Single-cell transcriptomics allows the investigation of the immune system—the key player in MS onset and development—in great detail increasing our understanding of MS mechanisms and stimulating the discovery of the targets for potential therapies. Still, de novo drug development takes decades; however, this can be reduced by drug repositioning. A promising approach is to select potential drugs based on activated or inhibited genes and pathways. In this study, we explored the public single-cell RNA data from an experiment with six patients on single-cell RNA peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and cerebrospinal fluid cells (CSF) of patients with MS and idiopathic intracranial hypertension. We demonstrate that AIM2 inflammasome, SMAD2/3 signaling, and complement activation pathways are activated in MS in different CSF and PBMC immune cells. Using genes from top-activated pathways, we detected several promising small molecules to reverse MS immune cells’ transcriptomic signatures, including AG14361, FGIN-1-27, CA-074, ARP 101, Flunisolide, and JAK3 Inhibitor VI. Among these molecules, we also detected an FDA-approved MS drug Mitoxantrone, supporting the reliability of our approach.
Evolutionary Analysis of StSnRK2 Family Genes and Their Overexpression in Transgenic Tobacco Improve Drought Tolerance
Authors: Yao Panfeng , Sun Lei , Dekomah Simon , Bi Zhenzhen , Sun Chao , Mao Juan , Zhang Chunli , Qin Tianyuan , Wang Yihao , Liu Yuhui , Liu Zhen , Ali Kazim , Bai Jiangping
Published: January 2023

Sucrose non-ferment 1-related protein kinase 2 (SnRK2) is a highly conserved protein kinase in plants that plays an important role in regulating plant response to drought stress. Although it has been reported in some plants, the evolutionary relationship of potato SnRK2s and their function in drought resistance have not been systematically analyzed. In this study, molecular characteristic analysis showed that 8 StSnRK2s were distributed on six chromosomes, coding proteins were divided into three subgroups, and StSnRK2s clustered in the same subgroup had similar conserved motifs and domains. In addition, StSnRK2 has a wide range of replication events in some species, making it closer to dicots in the process of evolution. In addition, the average nonsynonymous substitution rate/synonymous substitution rate (Ka/Ks) value of SnRK2s in monocots was higher than that of dicots. The codon usage index showed that SnRK2s prefer to use cytosine 3 (C3s), guanine 3 (G3s) and GC content (GC3s) in monocots, whereas thymine 3 (T3s) and adenine 3 (A3s) are preferred in dicots. Furthermore, stress response analysis showed that the expression of StSnRK2s under different degrees of drought stress significantly correlated with one or more stress-related physiological indices, such as proline and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity, ion leakage (IL) etc. The drought resistance of StSnRK2 transgenic plants was determined to occur in the order of StSnRK2.1/2.8 > StSnRK2.2/2.5 > StSnRK2.4/2.6 > StSnRK2.3 > StSnRK2.7, was attributed to not only lower IL but also higher proline, soluble sugar contents and stress-related genes in transgenic plants compared to wild type (WT). In conclusion, this study provides useful insights into the evolution and function of StSnRK2s and lays a foundation for further study on the molecular mechanism of StSnRK2s regulating potato drought resistance.