bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Carbon Farming: a Systematic Literature Review on Sustainable Practices
Authors: Vistarte Lelde , Kubule Anna , Pubule Jelena
Published: May 2024

The European Union (EU) aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030. As the goal for 2030 is already set and now it is challenging to reach a 55% reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the goals will become more challenging as the EU plans to reach climate neutrality by 2050. As the EU’s Climate goals become more ambitious the countries have to adapt and find more potential ways to decrease GHG emissions in all sectors. One of the biggest contributors to GHG in the EU is the agricultural sector. One of the potential ways to reduce GHG emissions in the agricultural sector is carbon farming. Carbon farming is a sustainable agricultural approach designed to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and mitigate climate change. By employing regenerative practices, carbon farming enhances soil health, promotes biodiversity, and reduces GHG emissions. Carbon farming emerges as a key player in the global effort to combat climate change. The integration of carbon farming practices into agriculture not only can ensure sustainable food production but also underscore the critical role agriculture can play in sequestering carbon and building resilience against the challenges posed by a changing climate. Even though carbon farming has the potential to decrease GHG emissions from the agricultural sector and sequester carbon, there are still knowledge gaps on how to assess carbon farming practices and their potential carbon sequestration, as well as which practices the farmers could use to gain the best possible outcome based on the carbon practice feasibility and sustainability. The study aims to develop a systematic literature review that assesses the main carbon farming practices and their potential to help reach climate goals and contribute to climate change mitigation.
Vulnerability of the Infrastructure: Risk Management and Implementation of the Information Systems
Authors: Miške Michal , Kollár Boris , Dvořák Zdeněk , Ristvej Jozef
Published: May 2024

This article focuses on a comprehensive view of the connection between infrastructure, risks, and Geographic Information System (GIS). In the context of the current era, where critical infrastructure faces various threats and risks, it is essential to explore new methods and technologies that enable better identification, assessment, and management of these challenges. The first part of the article analyzes the current state of critical infrastructure and its connection to risks. Understanding how various threats, from natural disasters to cyber-attacks, affect infrastructure elements is crucial for effective protection and resilience. The second part examines the benefits and uses of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the context of risk assessment and management of critical infrastructure. GIS provides tools for collecting, analyzing, and visualizing spatial data, improving the ability to identify key risk areas and their interconnections. The results of this paper demonstrate how effectively linking these elements can enhance the resilience of critical infrastructure to various hazards.Overall, this article provides an overview of current trends in connecting infrastructure, risks, and Information Systems, emphasizing the importance of this comprehensive approach to ensuring the security and sustainability of critical infrastructure.
Justification of the Use of Container Technology in Dumping
Authors: Altynbayeva Gulnara , Kuzmin Sergey
Published: May 2024

The increase in the depth of the quarry is associated with an increase in the work of quarry transport in limited areas, requires a constant increase in the number of transport units, which increases the environmental burden on the environment. The rock mass extracted from the quarry is stored in external dumps, which occupy large areas and significantly worsen the ecology of the region. The operation of mining equipment on dumps with existing technologies causes a number of problems, the main of which is the movement of equipment near the prism of a possible rock collapse. It is proposed to use container technology for transporting the laying rocks in the dump, where the main element of the technology is a mobile lifting machine, which eliminates the need to build roads or railways on board and on the surface of the dump. Self-unloading of container equipment allows you to pour the rock mass directly to the place of laying on the dump. Containers with rock are installed in front of the front of the dump, and the lifting machine is placed on a special platform of the dump. The rock mass is delivered from the faces by dump trucks of any load capacity and unloaded into the hopper of a plate feeder, which fills the containers as they are fed by a quarry lifting machine. the rock is laid in horizontal layers within the step of moving the lifting machine. The weighted average height of the rock rise is equal to half the height of the dump tier. With the new technology, the entire amount of work will be performed by one lifting machine. Increasing the height of the dump to 80 meters with a new method of dumping, reduce the area occupied by dumps by 175 thousand m2 per year. The use of container technology in the formation of the dump allows, when unloading rock from containers into the dump, to reduce energy consumption during the formation of the dump, and increase the economically advantageous height of the dump. This reduces the area occupied by dumps and reduces the harmful effects of mining on the environment. The article discusses the technology of dumping during the formation of dumps using bulldozers in the conditions of Northern Kazakhstan. Traditional technology involves the involvement of a complex of equipment consisting of 8 dump trucks and 1 bulldozer. According to the new technology, the same amount of work can be done thanks to 1 lifting machine. Based on the calculations carried out, it was found that the intensity of dust emissions from internal sources decreases by 1,576 tons per year. A decrease in dust emissions is also observed with an increase in the height of the dump due to a decrease in area, while the difference was 75.57 tons per year. The total decrease from container technology is 1,651.57 tons per year.
Stepless Transmission Optimization for Green Micromobility
Authors: Martinovs Andris , Pacejs Antons , Martinovs Jr. Andris , Teirumnieka Ērika , Timmerberg Josef , Āboliņš Dāvis , Koļčs Guntis , Zaicevs Edgars
Published: May 2024

Small, electrified vehicles are becoming possible for urban environmental mobility due to their environmental performance, including zero-emission driving. Vehicles of this type use electric motors as sources of mechanical energy. Today, two types of transmission are most used in electrical micromobility vehicles (skateboards, scooters, tricycles, quadricycles, mopeds, motorcycles, go-karts, etc.): chain transmission and belt transmission. This transmission types provides a constant gear ratio that can only compromise between the maximum speed and the starting torque values, thus reducing the usage efficiency of the engine. This reduces vehicle manufacturers’ choice of less powerful drive and control elements, as well as balancing performance and efficiency at low and high speeds as well as on terrain.A novel design of a continuously variable transmission (CVT) for an electric go-kart is presented in this paper. The CVT consists of an inertial driving pulley mounted on an electric motor shaft, a timing V-belt, a gear wheel on the drive axle and 2 pressure rolls, which are moved by a servo motor for tensioning the V-belt. Gear ratio of a transmission can change seamlessly in the range of 1.5 - 2.2. The CVT has been tested under real conditions. The top speed of the electric go-kart with the given CVT and motor power 24.7 kW is 133km/h; time to accelerate to the top speed is 25 s. Total efficiency of the transmission (motor shaft, CVT, drive axle and wheels) is 65-72 % now, but there exist a lot of possibilities to improve it in the future. The conditions under which the novel CVT has an advantage over belt and chain transmissions with constant gear ratios have been studied. The developed mathematical model, the method for determination its constants, the algorithm for numerical calculations and the optimization criterion makes it possible to determine the optimal gear ratio for a vehicle with various CVT (not only belt) at any point in time in different racing modes. The model has been proved experimentally during acceleration and deceleration tests of the go-kart; it describes precisely the motion of the go-kart within the speed measurement error.The developed solution is applicable in urban micromobility. An optimized and stable transmission system focused on energy efficiency, resource saving, using less powerful drive and zero-emission.
Analyzing VNO Airport Traffic Data of 2023: Specific Aircraft Noise Measurement and Mitigation Recommendations
Authors: Zavadskas Simonas , Grubliauskas Raimondas
Published: May 2024

The expansion of airport operations worldwide yields numerous advantages, yet it also brings about certain adverse consequences, notably noise pollution. In addressing noise pollution, airports deploy a range of noise control strategies, which can be broadly classified into four categories: passive noise mitigation methods, active noise mitigation strategies, regulatory measures, and technological innovations. The paper investigates the feasibility of Balanced Approach (BA) implementation at Vilnius International Airport (VNO according to IATA). In this study, an in depth analysis was conducted on the data pertaining to the frequency of movements, the distinct types, models and age of aircraft that utilized VNO facilities during the calendar year of 2023. Following the analysis conducted throughout 2023, a total of 38 699 aircraft movements were recorded, from which predominant aircraft types were identified: Boeing B737 (A1), Airbus A320 (A2), Airbus A220 (A3), Bombardier CRJ/Challenger (A4), Embraer (A5) and ATR 72-500 (A6). Average age of aircraft most frequently arriving and departing at VNO is 14.35 years. The sound measurements for A1, A3 and A6 were done with Bruel&Kjaer 2270 Investigator sound analyzer. Data then was post processed by BZ-5503 Measurement Partner Suite and measured data Leq, LMAX, different noise levels were compared. Measurements show that permitted noise levels are exceeded, especially by older age aircraft. Reducing air fleet age would be most efficient noise mitigation measure according to BA.
Integration of Acoustic Metamaterials Made of Plastic to Improve Building Acoustics
Authors: Naimušin Andrej , Januševičius Tomas
Published: May 2024

According to the Waste Management Policy of the European Union, the recycling and reuse of various wastes is considered the most environmentally friendly and advanced waste disposal technology that has the least impact on the environment. By applying the principles of the Circular Economy, plastic waste will extend its life cycle and will be used as secondary materials to create metamaterial structures with improved sound absorption and insulation properties. Acoustic metamaterial resonators, created from plastic, were measured in an impedance tube according to standards ISO 10534-2 for their sound absorbing and ASTM E2611 for their insulating properties. Two types of plastic, PLA and recycled PET-G, were used in acoustic metamaterial 3D printing process. Sound absorption of both PLA and PET-G metamaterials were peaking at 1600 Hz with 0,93 and 0,89 sound absorption coefficient, respectfully. For sound insulation, combined resonator systems were used to control symmetrical wall sound resonance. The aim of this study was to determine plastic potential for use in acoustic structures. The results showed that combined constructions with plastic metamaterials can be integrated into building structures and used as an alternative for improving building acoustics, reducing indoor noise and reverberation time.
Investigation on PFAS Sources and Removal in a Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant
Authors: Mezzanotte Valeria , Brivio Sforza Emilio
Published: May 2024

PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) is a complex family of manmade highly fluorinated aliphatic organic chemicals including thousands of chemical structures identified. PFASs were first synthesized in the 1940s and their physical and chemical properties such as oil and water repellency, temperature resistance, and friction reduction were then used in a wide range of products and industrial applications. Awareness about the possible health and environmental risks related to exposure to these substances has only risen in recent years and is resulting in the inclusion of such compounds in the Proposal for the recast of the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning urban wastewater treatment.A research was carried out at a municipal wastewater treatment plant (MWWTP) in Northern Italy to define the inflowing load of PFAS, the main load sources and the removal efficiency of the treatment processes.First, the contribution of the water supplied to the local population was excluded by means of specific chemical analyses. Then, the 100 industrial settlements served by the MWWTP were examined for the raw materials used, the final products and the productive cycle and 8 of them were selected as potential sources. A sampling campaign was carried out and the specific PFAS load was calculated. The total PFAS load entering the MWWTP was calculated from the analytical results and the flow. The percent contribution of each of the selected settlements to the total PFAS load was then calculated. 40% derives from a textile dyeing industry and 32% from a waste platform receiving also landfill leachates. 89% of the total PFAS load comes from the sum of such contributions and two other activities: the processing of slaughterhouse wastes and the production of chemicals for agriculture.Specific investigations lead to attribute an important role also to fire drills and fire extinguishing, using Aqueous Film Forming Foams (AFFF) containing PFAS. So, domestic contribution can be held as negligible.The removal in the WWTP was null and, in some cases, negative. As also reported in the literature some precursors can be transformed in PFAS during the biological process and some sludge accumulated compounds can be released.
Analysis and Assessment of H2S Sorption Capacity of the Selected Biofiltration Materials
Authors: Mohammadi Kamyab , Vaiskunaite Rasa , Zagorskis Alvydas
Published: May 2024

Hydrogen sulfide known as one of the highly toxic chemical compounds existed in the raw biogas and needs to be eliminated before implementation at any industrial sector. Biofilter (a typical bioreactor) is a tool used to separate sulfide/sulfate from hydrogen by biofiltration method, which is known as the green technology. Packing material is the main component inside a laboratory-scale biofilter to undertake the desulfurization process of H2S. This study is dedicated to evaluating number of selected recyclable/waste organic, inorganic, and synthetic packing material’s rate of impact on amplifying purification progress of hydrogen sulfide from biogas, known as biofilters “removal efficiency (RE)”. Variable effective factors such as environmental and equipment conditions, consumed time (day), and inlet H2S concentration will be controlled throughout the measurements for all chosen packing materials. In the end, the best performed environment-friendly biofiltration material in terms of sorption capacity of H2S from the biogas will be announced.
Development of Sustainable 3D Printable Ternary Composite
Authors: Sapata Alise , Sinka Maris , Sahmenko Genadijs , Bumanis Girts , Puzule Liga , Slosbergs Peteris , Bajare Diana
Published: May 2024

3D printing technology has the potential to reduce construction waste through its controlled manufacturing process and optimized material consumption, making it a promising sustainable construction approach with reduced environmental impact. However, current 3D printed structures often have a high carbon footprint due to the large amounts of fine-grained primary materials used in mortar composites. Most efforts to develop 3D printed structures are associated with concrete and Portland cement-based materials.This research presents an innovative approach for the reuse of gypsum to develop a material suitable for 3D printing, with the goal to industrialize the usage of waste gypsum in civil engineering. The objective of this study is to develop a sustainable gypsum-cement-pozzolanic (GCP) ternary binder composite, incorporating recycled industrial waste gypsum materials such as construction demolition waste gypsum (CDG), along with Portland cement and secondary pozzolanic materials. The GCP ternary composite combines the desired properties of gypsum, such as fast setting time, with those of Portland cement, which offers high final strength. The addition of a pozzolanic component is essential to ensure the chemical stability of this ternary system.As part of this study, ternary composites were designed and tested for their mechanical properties, durability, and suitability for 3D printing. Development and optimization of the ternary composite was carried out as a loop of procedures (Fig.1).  Through these optimization procedures, a range of mixtures with necessary properties for 3D printing was found. To ensure sustainability and to assess the environmental impact of the mixtures, life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed.The LCA of GCP composites showed at least 1.5 times lower embodied energy and carbon dioxide emissions compared to Portland cement-based mortars. This is without considering avoided emissions from the end-of-life stage of gypsum waste, as well as higher technical properties that make GCP composites superior to regular cement composites. Considering these factors, GCP composites exhibit even lower emissions and are considered a viable alternative to Portland cement-based mortars.
Optimisation of the Production of Bio-Based Basic Chemicals from Biogenic Secondary Waste Through Dispersion
Authors: Vogt Kyra Atessa , Steinberg Iris
Published: May 2024

Biogenic waste from waste treatment plants, also known as secondary waste, can be used to produce bio-based carboxylic acids. Conventionally, these are produced by chemically synthesis of petroleum-based raw materials or synthesis of natural oils (e.g. coconut or palm kernel oil). Using organic residues and waste materials in a cascade to produce bio-based products can contribute to the circular bioeconomy. In the biological treatment process for production of bio-based carboxylic acids, microorganisms that are already present in the secondary waste use ethanol to convert short-chain carboxylic acids (with one to three carbon atoms) into medium-chain carboxylic acids (with four to ten carbon atoms). During the treatment process, medium-chain carboxylic acids are separated from the secondary waste by using in-situ extraction (liquid-liquid extraction). In previous studies, bioreactors without a dispersing function were used on a laboratory scale. In order to optimise the production and extraction of the formed medium-chain carboxylic acids, the bioreactors should be upgraded with a device for dispersing the extraction solvent in the secondary waste. Dispersing can increase the surface area between the extraction solvent and the secondary waste and therefore also the ability to extract the medium-chain carboxylic acids. To evaluate the effects of dispersing on the production of bio-based carboxylic acids, the production and extraction rates of static bioreactors without dispersing are compared with those of dynamic bioreactors with dispersing on a laboratory scale. Leachate from a composting plant was used as secondary waste. According to the results of the current study, it can be confirmed that dispersion has a positive effect on the biological treatment process. In addition to the increased degradation of the nutrient ethanol, the production of medium-chain carboxylic acids in the secondary waste as well as the extracted medium-chain carboxylic acids could be increased by dispersing.
Biodegradable Waste Management in Georgia: Problems of the Composting System Introduction
Authors: Tskhakaia Ketevan
Published: May 2024

Biodegradable waste management and, in particular, the introduction and implementation of composting systems are among the major problems for Georgia. An increase in the volume of municipal waste has been recorded in the country; therefore, the volume of generated biodegradable waste is also increasing. In accordance with the National Waste Management Strategy 2016-2030 of Georgia, the municipal waste generated in 2021 amounted to 1,104,952 tons. It is worth noting that the largest part of municipal waste is organic waste - 54.7%, while plastic waste is 13.8%, paper and cardboard - 10.6%, textiles - 4.1%, and other wastes. According to various studies, by 2030, waste generation is expected to increase from 0.6% to 1.2% annually, which should be the cause of significant challenges for national and local authorities, especially local municipalities, whose duties include municipal waste collection and transportation as well as the implementation of separate waste collection systems. Biodegradable waste management, including various composting systems, is of particular importance.The study shows that composting, as one of the best approaches for recycling biodegradable waste, is still not properly developed in Georgia. It is possible to name only a few successful experiences. Noteworthy among them is the Kutaisi Composting Center, which was established within the framework of the EU JOP “Black Sea Basin” in Kutaisi, Georgia. The Composting Center is designed for windrow composting of green waste (tree branches, leaves, grass). Its productivity is 2000 tons of compost annually. This Composting Center is one of the first in Georgia. It can bring very tangible benefits. In particular, the amount of municipal waste going to landfill sites was reduced by approximately 10%; the expenditures of the municipalities connected to the maintenance of green facilities (received compost is used) and so on have been reduced.Among the biodegradable waste composting approaches, it is recommended to use systems such as:Centralized composting,Community composting,Home (individual) composting.A centralized composting method can be used in municipalities where a large amount of biodegradable waste is generated. It is especially favorable in regions where the agricultural sector is developed and large amounts of green waste are generated. The Kutaisi Composting Center is a good example of the centralized composting system. As experience shows, such large-scale composting is particularly effective for green waste composting.It is promising for Georgia to introduce community composting approaches that offer an optimal scheme for communities to get the maximum benefits of their potential.Composting is an approach used in the field of biodegradable waste management that has the greatest potential in Georgia and can make a significant contribution to both economic development and the protection of the social and natural environment.
Recycling Possibilities of Wood-Cement Particle Board Manufacturing Waste
Authors: Puzule Liga , Argalis Pauls P. , Bumanis Girts , Sinka Maris , Bajare Diana
Published: May 2024

Wood-cement particle boards are gaining popularity within construction materials as they combine natural fiber architectural value with Portland cement durability. The production of the material is associated with processing the produced fiberboards, which includes cutting, grinding, and polishing. The remaining wood-cement dust residues are classified as production waste, which is now deposited in the dump and gives extra expenditure for the enterprise. The utilization of wood-cement dust would also benefit the circular economy and reduce the environmental impact of the production process. Two scenarios are analyzed in this research, and the life cycle assessment (LCA) tool with SimaPro software is compared. The first scenario is associated with the partial replacement of Portland cement with wood-cement dust powder. The second scenario offers re-activation of the wood-cement dust at 450 °C to obtain binder properties. Both materials' mechanical strength is comparable, reaching 10 MPa after 28d curing. To maintain target strength, 70 % of Portland cement can be replaced. To produce 1 t of binder by heating at 450 °C, 1.2 t of wood-cement dust is needed as natural moisture evaporates, and wood dust particles go through pyrolysis, giving extra heat and CO2 emissions as well. LCA results indicate the 70% replacement of Portland cement reduces CO2 emissions from 597 kg of CO2/ton of CEM II/A-LL 42,5 to 179 kg of CO2/ton, while the second scenario is associated with high energy consumption during burning of the binder and increased CO2 value due to fossil fuel consumption and CO2 release from burning organic compounds in the material.
Advancing Sustainable Acoustic Solution: Exploring the Sound Absorption Characteristics of Biodegradable Agricultural Wastes, Coconut Fiber, Groundnut Shell, and Sugarcane Fiber
Authors: Gboe Nuushuun Archie , Grubliauskas Raimondas
Published: May 2024

Among the world's greatest threats is noise pollution particularly in megacities that affect the quality of life. This problem can cause negative effects on human health, disturbing emotion as well as human behavior. Natural fiber sound insulation materials have been demonstrated to be a potential substitute for the synthetic products currently employed in the sound insulation industry. Coconut fiber and sugarcane fiber happen to be biodegradable, earth-friendly, and present lower risks to the environment and human health. The research examines the sound absorption characteristics of natural biodegradable waste fibers (coconut fiber & sugarcane fiber) to evaluate their suitability as sound absorbers. The paper seeks to discover the internal workings of the sound absorption mechanisms of these materials and also to help design environmentally friendly acoustic solutions.
Brine Valorisation Using Mechanical Vapor Compression Desalination: Approaches to Consider.
Authors: Calleja Cayon Pablo , Pakere Ieva , Vera García Francisco
Published: May 2024

Water scarcity is one of the biggest challenges we are facing due to climate change: lack of rainfall and polluted water sources are an increasing reality worldwide. Sustainable Development Goals reinforce the urgency of dealing with this issue, targeting scientific community’s efforts towards solutions for this trending topic, where desalination of seawater is one of the main proposals. However, concerns regarding to the environmental effects of residual brines, generated in the desalination process, are emerging on the spots where this technology has been applied.To contribute to the implementation of desalination technologies, the valorisation of these residual brines brings the opportunity not only to reduce the volume of wastewater generated, but increasing its final concentrations and producing more freshwater from a residue. Nevertheless, it comes with the cost of higher energy demands than in the previous stage: the higher the concentration of the fluid, the higher its energy consumption. We can approach this challenge from two different perspectives, focusing on the final amount of concentrated residue or focusing on the energy demand of the installation.While focusing on reducing the volume of residue to its minimum expression is the most attractive option for concentrating the dissolved salts, it comes with the cost of excessive energy demands. On the other hand, focusing on reducing the power consumption of the installation allows the usage of variable renewables, in a more efficient way, allowing the carbon neutrality of emissions during its operation but obtaining a lower concentrated residue. By using a computational model of the installation, we can replicate its operation and compare results from both perspectives.In this paper we will use two scenarios with fixed conditions for a basic mechanical vapor compression (MVC) desalination plant modelled in TRNSYS, where we can observe the correlations between the final volume of residual brine and the energy consumption required for achieving those results. One of the scenarios will show the biggest final concentration, while the other one will consider the minimum operating conditions for the desalination plant. Apart from those results, there will be an analysis of environmental and economic advantages that can be achieved by the implementation of this technology, as well as an early approach towards the technical aspects involving the development of the model used for these calculations.
What Have we Learnt so Far About The Extended Producer Responsibility – Results of Bibliographic Review
Authors: Jansone-Vevere Dace , Blumberga Dagnija , Gusca Julija
Published: May 2024

Nowadays, the environmental impact of the manufacturing sector, particularly in terms of waste management, is receiving increased attention. In this context, extended producer responsibility (EPR) has become an essential environmental policy instrument for all European Union (EU) Member States. This policy principle has also garnered interest from other countries around the world, which recognize its importance. The EU has acknowledged the effectiveness of this instrument and seeks to enhance the sustainability and waste management practices within its manufacturing sector. The operational principles of EPR are regulated at the EU level collectively, while also allowing for individual definition by each Member State. It's important to note that these principles encompass measures primarily aimed at promoting waste prevention, reuse, recycling and other forms of recovery.The aim of this paper is to provide an in-depth insight into the operational principles of the EPR in the EU Member States, its application to different product groups and identify the existing challenges related to assessing the effectiveness of the EPR system via bibliographic review of scientific papers published in “Web of Science” indexed journals.
Female chamber vocal cycle of the 1960s–1970s and the “new folk wave”. Part 1. In search of intonational authenticity
Authors: Shkirtil' Lyudmila Vyacheslavovna , Serov Yuri Eduardovich
Published: May 2024

The subject of the study is the chamber and vocal work of Soviet composers of the 1960s–1970s, the works of the undisputed leaders of the young post-war generation of musicians from the “sixties”. The author of the article studies the neo-folklore searches and experiments of R. Shchedrin, B. Tishchenko, S. Slonimsky, V. Gavrilin, E. Denisov, which became the most important component of the significant artistic movement “new folklore wave”. During these years, there was a peculiar accumulation of outstanding sample compositions, striking in their originality and brightness, new recording techniques, and the authors’ extremely conscientious attitude towards original materials collected in conservatory folklore expeditions. At the turn of the 1960s, the chamber-vocal cycle took leading roles in the work of many Soviet composers and Russian music in general. Vocal compositions, with their inherent versatility, capable of flexible modifications, turned out to be a fertile area for the creative efforts of musicians of different generations. The article uses the following scientific research methods: comparative analytical, structural and functional, as well as cultural method. The author of the article uses literary-textual and musical-textual methods for research, and also relies on the fundamental provisions of general historical methodology, in particular, sociocultural, historical-chronological, and biographical. The main conclusion of the study is the idea that the chamber-vocal works of the “new folklore wave” have a “female face”, since most of them were written for performance by female voices. Folk melody and rhythm, a lively intonation environment, the direct emotionality of folklore became not only a kind of “counterweight” to sophisticated avant-garde techniques in the music of the second half of the twentieth century, but the most important component of the composer’s language and even thinking, and sometimes the main support of creative expression. The author for the first time deeply and fully explores the “female” vocal cycle of the 1960s–1970s, those works that are associated with the unique and powerful artistic movement “new folk wave,” a phenomenon that was at the forefront of the radical renewal of Russian music in the second half of the twentieth century.
Cryo-EM structures of Kv1.2 potassium channels, conducting and non-conducting
Authors: Wu Yangyu , Yan Yangyang , Yang Youshan , Bian Shumin , Rivetta Alberto , Allen Ken , Sigworth Fred J.
Published: May 2024

We present near-atomic-resolution cryo-EM structures of the mammalian voltage-gated potassium channel Kv1.2 in open, C-type inactivated, toxin-blocked and sodium-bound states at 3.2 Å, 2.5 Å, 3.2 Å, and 2.9Å. These structures, all obtained at nominally zero membrane potential in detergent micelles, reveal distinct ion-occupancy patterns in the selectivity filter. The first two structures are very similar to those reported in the related Shaker channel and the much-studied Kv1.2-2.1 chimeric channel. On the other hand, two new structures show unexpected patterns of ion occupancy. First, the toxin α- Dendrotoxin, like Charybdotoxin, is seen to attach to the negatively-charged channel outer mouth, and a lysine residue penetrates into the selectivity filter, with the terminal amine coordinated by carbonyls, partially disrupting the outermost ion-binding site. In the remainder of the filter two densities of bound ions are observed, rather than three as observed with other toxin-blocked Kv channels. Second, a structure of Kv1.2 in Na
+
solution does not show collapse or destabilization of the selectivity filter, but instead shows an intact selectivity filter with ion density in each binding site. We also attempted to image the C-type inactivated Kv1.2 W366F channel in Na
+
solution, but the protein conformation was seen to be highly variable and only a low-resolution structure could be obtained. These findings present new insights into the stability of the selectivity filter and the mechanism of toxin block of this intensively studied, voltage-gated potassium channel.
The antigenic landscape of human influenza N2 neuraminidases from 2009 until 2017
Authors: Catani João Paulo Portela , Smet Anouk , Ysenbaert Tine , Vuylsteke Marnik , Bottu Guy , Mathys Janick , Botzki Alexander , Cortes-Garcia Guadalupe , Strugnell Tod , Gomila Raul , Hamberger John , Catalan John , Ustyugova Irina V , Farrell Timothy , Stegalkina Svetlana , Ray Satyajit , LaRue Lauren , Saelens Xavier , Vogel Thorsten U
Published: May 2024

Human H3N2 influenza viruses are subject to rapid antigenic evolution which translates into frequent updates of the composition of seasonal influenza vaccines. Despite these updates, the effectiveness of influenza vaccines against H3N2-associated disease is suboptimal. Seasonal influenza vaccines primarily induce hemagglutinin-specific antibody responses. However, antibodies directed against influenza neuraminidase (NA) also contribute to protection. Here, we analysed the antigenic diversity of a panel of N2 NAs derived from human H3N2 viruses that circulated between 2009 and 2017. The antigenic breadth of these NAs was determined based on the NA inhibition (NAI) of a broad panel of ferret and mouse immune sera that were raised by infection and recombinant N2 NA immunisation. This assessment allowed us to distinguish at least four antigenic groups in the N2 NAs derived from human H3N2 viruses that circulated between 2009 and 2017. Computational analysis further revealed that the amino acid residues in N2 NA that have a major impact on susceptibility to NAI by immune sera are in proximity of the catalytic site. Finally, a machine learning method was developed that allowed to accurately predict the impact of mutations that are present in our N2 NA panel on NAI. These findings have important implications for the renewed interest to develop improved influenza vaccines based on the inclusion of a protective NA antigen formulation.
Dengue Viremia Kinetics and Effects on Platelet Count and Clinical Outcomes: An Analysis of 2340 Patients from Vietnam
Authors: Vuong Nguyen Lam , Ha Quyen Nguyen Than , Hanh Tien Nguyen Thi , Hue Kien Duong Thi , Le Duyen Huynh Thi , Lam Phung Khanh , Hoai Tam Dong Thi , Ngoc Tran Van , Jaenisch Thomas , Simmons Cameron P. , Yacoub Sophie , Wills Bridget A. , Geskus Ronald B.
Published: May 2024

Viremia is a critical factor in understanding the pathogenesis of dengue infection, but limited data exist on viremia kinetics. This study aimed to investigate the kinetics of viremia and its effects on subsequent platelet count, severe dengue, and plasma leakage.We pooled data from three studies conducted in Vietnam between 2000 and 2016, involving 2340 dengue patients with daily viremia measurements and platelet counts after symptom onset. Viremia kinetics were assessed using a random effects model that accounted for left-censored data. The effects of viremia on subsequent platelet count and clinical outcomes were examined using a landmark approach with a random effects model and logistic regression model with generalized estimating equations, respectively. The rate of viremia decline was derived from the model of viremia kinetics. Its effect on the clinical outcomes was assessed by logistic regression models.Viremia levels rapidly decreased following symptom onset, with variations observed depending on the infecting serotype. DENV-1 exhibited the highest mean viremia levels during the first 5-6 days, while DENV-4 demonstrated the shortest clearance time. Higher viremia levels were associated with decreased subsequent platelet counts from day 6 onwards. Elevated viremia levels on each illness day increased the risk of developing severe dengue and plasma leakage. However, the effect size decreased with later illness days. A more rapid decline in viremia is associated with a reduced risk of the clinical outcomes.This study provides comprehensive insights into viremia kinetics and its effect on subsequent platelet count and clinical outcomes in dengue patients. Our findings underscore the importance of measuring viremia levels during the early febrile phase for dengue studies and support the use of viremia kinetics as outcome for phase-2 dengue therapeutic trials.
PPI-hotspotID: A Method for Detecting Protein-Protein Interaction Hot Spots from the Free Protein Structure
Authors: Chen Yao Chi , Sargsyan Karen , Wright Jon D. , Chen Yu-Hsien , Huang Yi-Shuian , Lim Carmay
Published: May 2024

Experimental detection of residues critical for protein-protein interactions (PPI) is a timeconsuming, costly, and labor-intensive process. Hence, high-throughput PPI-hot spot prediction methods have been developed, but they have been validated using relatively small datasets, which may compromise their predictive reliability. Here, we introduce PPI-hotspot
ID
, a novel method for identifying PPI-hot spots using the free protein structure, and validated it on the largest collection of experimentally confirmed PPI-hot spots to date. We show that PPI-hotspot
ID
outperformed FTMap and SPOTONE, the only available webservers for predicting PPI hotspots given free protein structures and sequences, respectively. When combined with the AlphaFold-Multimer-predicted interface residues, PPI-Hotspot
ID
, yielded better performance than either method alone. Furthermore, we experimentally verified the PPI-hot spots of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 predicted by PPI-hotspot
ID
. Notably, PPI-hotspot
ID
unveils PPI-hot spots that are not obvious from complex structures, which only reveal interface residues, thus overlooking PPI-hot spots in
indirect
contact with binding partners. Thus, PPI-hotspot
ID
serves as a valuable tool for understanding the mechanisms of PPIs and facilitating the design of novel drugs targeting these interactions. A freely accessible web server is available at https://ppihotspotid.limlab.dnsalias.org/ and the source code for PPI-hotspot
ID
at https://github.com/wrigjz/ppihotspotid/.
2-oxoglutarate triggers assembly of active dodecameric Methanosarcina mazei glutamine synthetase
Authors: Herdering Eva , Reif-Trauttmansdorff Tristan , Kumar Anuj , Habenicht Tim , Hochberg Georg , Bohn Stefan , Schuller Jan , Schmitz Ruth A.
Published: May 2024

Glutamine synthetases (GS) are central enzymes essential for the nitrogen metabolism across all domains of life. Consequently, they have been extensively studied for more than half a century. Based on the ATP dependent ammonium assimilation generating glutamine, GS expression and activity are strictly regulated in all organisms. In the methanogenic archaeon
Methanosarcina mazei
, it has been shown that the metabolite 2-oxoglutarate (2-OG) directly induces the GS activity. Besides, modulation of the activity by interaction with small proteins (GlnK
1
and sP26) has been reported. Here, we show that the strong activation of
M. mazei
GS (GlnA
1
) by 2-OG is based on the 2-OG dependent dodecamer assembly of GlnA
1
by using mass photometry (MP) and single particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) analysis of purified strep-tagged GlnA
1
. The dodecamer assembly from monomers/dimers occurred without any detectable intermediate oligomeric state and was not affected in the presence of GlnK
1
. The 2.39 Å cryo-EM structure of the dodecameric complex in the presence of 12.5 mM 2-OG demonstrated that 2-OG is binding between two monomers. Thereby, 2-OG appears to induce the dodecameric assembly in a cooperative way. Furthermore, the active site is primed by an allosteric interaction cascade caused by 2-OG-binding towards an adaption of the transition state catalytic conformation. In the presence of additional glutamine, strong feedback inhibition of GS activity was observed. Since glutamine dependent disassembly of the dodecamer was excluded by MP, feedback inhibition most likely relies on an allosteric binding of glutamine to the catalytic site. Based on our findings, we propose that under nitrogen limitation the induction of
M. mazei
GS into a catalytically active dodecamer is not affected by GlnK
1
and crucially depends on the presence of 2-OG.
Target-specific requirements for RNA interference can arise through restricted RNA amplification despite the lack of specialized pathways
Authors: Knudsen-Palmer Daphne R , Raman Pravrutha , Ettefa Farida , De Ravin Laura , Jose Antony M
Published: May 2024

Since double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is effective for silencing a wide variety of genes, all genes are typically considered equivalent targets for such RNA interference (RNAi). Yet, loss of some regulators of RNAi in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans can selectively impair the silencing of some genes. Here, we show that such selective requirements can be explained by an intersecting network of regulators acting on genes with differences in their RNA metabolism. In this network, the Maelstrom domain-containing protein RDE-10, the intrinsically disordered protein MUT-16, and the Argonaute protein NRDE-3 work together so that any two are required for silencing one somatic gene, but each is singly required for silencing another somatic gene, where only the requirement for NRDE-3 can be overcome by enhanced dsRNA processing. Quantitative models and their exploratory simulations led us to find that (1) changing cis-regulatory elements of the target gene can reduce the dependence on NRDE-3, (2) animals can recover from silencing in non-dividing cells, and (3) cleavage and tailing of mRNAs with UG dinucleotides, which makes them templates for amplifying small RNAs, are enriched within ‘pUG zones’ matching the dsRNA. Similar crosstalk between pathways and restricted amplification could result in apparently selective silencing by endogenous RNAs.
An efficient computational framework for gastrointestinal disorder prediction using attention-based transfer learning
Authors: Zhou Jiajie , Song Wei , Liu Yeliu , Yuan Xiaoming
Published: May 2024

Diagnosing gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, which affect parts of the digestive system such as the stomach and intestines, can be difficult even for experienced gastroenterologists due to the variety of ways these conditions present. Early diagnosis is critical for successful treatment, but the review process is time-consuming and labor-intensive. Computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) methods provide a solution by automating diagnosis, saving time, reducing workload, and lowering the likelihood of missing critical signs. In recent years, machine learning and deep learning approaches have been used to develop many CAD systems to address this issue. However, existing systems need to be improved for better safety and reliability on larger datasets before they can be used in medical diagnostics. In our study, we developed an effective CAD system for classifying eight types of GI images by combining transfer learning with an attention mechanism. Our experimental results show that ConvNeXt is an effective pre-trained network for feature extraction, and ConvNeXt+Attention (our proposed method) is a robust CAD system that outperforms other cutting-edge approaches. Our proposed method had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.9997 and an area under the precision-recall curve of 0.9973, indicating excellent performance. The conclusion regarding the effectiveness of the system was also supported by the values of other evaluation metrics.
Genome-wide identification and characterization of SPXdomain-containing genes family in eggplant
Authors: Zhuomeng Li , Ji Tuo , Chen Qi , Xu Chenxiao , Liu Yuqing , Yang Xiaodong , Li Jing , Yang Fengjuan
Published: May 2024

Phosphorus is one of the lowest elements absorbed and utilized by plants in the soil. SPX domain-containing genes family play an important role in plant response to phosphate deficiency signaling pathway, and related to seed development, disease resistance, absorption and transport of other nutrients. However, there are no reports on the mechanism of SPX domain-containing genes in response to phosphorus deficiency in eggplant. In this study, the whole genome identification and functional analysis of SPX domain-containing genes family in eggplant were carried out. Sixteen eggplant SPX domain-containing genes were identified and divided into four categories. Subcellular localization showed that these proteins were located in different cell compartments, including nucleus and membrane system. The expression patterns of these genes in different tissues as well as under phosphate deficiency with auxin were explored. The results showed that SmSPX1, SmSPX5 and SmSPX12 were highest expressed in roots. SmSPX1, SmSPX4, SmSPX5 and SmSPX14 were significantly induced by phosphate deficiency and may be the key candidate genes in response to phosphate starvation in eggplant. Among them, SmSPX1 and SmSPX5 can be induced by auxin under phosphate deficiency. In conclusion, our study preliminary identified the SPX domain genes in eggplant, and the relationship between SPX domain-containing genes and auxin was first analyzed in response to phosphate deficiency, which will provide theoretical basis for improving the absorption of phosphorus in eggplants through molecular breeding technology.