bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research on Air Supply Volume and Temperature Control of Subway Trains Based on Passenger Capacity
Authors: Liu Zhiyuan , Long Yuan , Yang Tianzhi , Zhu Yingmou , Liu Minghao , Li Peng , Li Huimei
Published: January 2023

There is currently no way for subway air-conditioning systems to adjust to changes in passenger capacity in terms of air-supply volume and air-supply temperature. In this paper, a study of the setting of the air-supply volume and controlling the temperature in subway trains was conducted. Based on the fact that the air-supply volume in a subway train needs to meet the requirements of cooling load and humidity load, as well as fresh-air volume, the minimum critical air-supply volume curve was determined on the basis of theoretical calculations under different passenger capacities. Under different passenger capacity and air-supply-volume conditions, the PMV (predicted mean vote) distribution of the subway train was simulated and calculated, and the results indicated that increasing the air-supply volume would not be sufficient to achieve PMV = 0. Therefore, in accordance with the theoretical formulation of the PMV, multiple linear regression was used to fit the temperature-control curve for various passenger capacities. A simulation calculation of the subway train was used to assess the uniformity of the flow field and the temperature field within the subway train in accordance with EN14750. It is evident from the results that under the control curve of the air-supply volume and temperature under different passenger capacities, the uniformity of the flow field and the temperature field can meet the standard requirements. By using the air-supply volume and temperature-control curve proposed in this paper, it is possible to adjust the air-supply volume in real-time, control the temperature of the air-conditioning system of the subway train, improve the passenger comfort of the train, and reduce the energy consumption of the air-conditioning system.
Health Impact Related to Ambient Particulate Matter Exposure as a Spatial Health Risk Map Case Study in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Authors: Jarernwong Kannika , Gheewala Shabbir H. , Sampattagul Sate
Published: January 2023

Chiang Mai has been one of the most polluted cities globally, exceeding the PM2.5 quality standards for decades and facing hazardous air pollution on an annual basis. As ambient PM2.5 strongly affects human health, this study aims to investigate the hotspots of PM2.5 and health impact areas due to exposure to PM2.5 by illustrating a spatial distribution via a Chiang Mai health risk map. The association between PM2.5 concentration and human health impact were assessed using Pearson’s correlation, focused on the peak period from January to April 2021 in Chiang Mai. The primary data on PM2.5 concentration were collected using low-cost sensors. The health impact is based on the number of hospital admissions in all incidences of diseases due to PM2.5 exposure following the ICD-10. The results showed that the highest polluted and health-risk areas were located in the center of Chiang Mai, especially in the Mueang district. PM2.5 concentration was highly correlated with the incidence of dermatitis (R = 0.84), conjunctivitis (R = 0.81), stroke (R = 0.74), and lung cancer (R = 0.73). Thus, the increased PM2.5 concentration resulted in heightened hospital admissions. The results provide insightful information for policymakers and local public health organizations regarding priority areas in resource management.
Observed Atmospheric Features for the 2022 Hunga Tonga Volcanic Eruption from Joint Polar Satellite System Science Data Products
Authors: Zhou Lihang , Yan Banghua , Sun Ninghai , Huang Jingfeng , Liu Quanhua , Grassotti Christopher , Lee Yong-Keun , Straka William , Niu Jianguo , Huff Amy , Kalluri Satya , Goldberg Mitch
Published: January 2023

The Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) mission has provided over ten years of high-quality data products for environment forecasting and monitoring through the current Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) and NOAA-20 satellites. Particularly, the sensor data record (SDR) and the derived environmental data record (EDR) products from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS), the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS), and the Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS) offer an unprecedented opportunity to observe severe weather and environmental events over the Earth. This paper presents the observations about atmospheric features of the Hunga Tonga Volcanic eruption of January 2022, e.g., the gravity wave, volcanic cloud, and aerosol (sulfate) plume phenomena, by using the ATMS, CrIS, OMPS, and VIIRS SDR and EDR products. Powerful gravity waves ringing through the atmosphere after the eruption of the Hunga Tonga volcano are discovered at two CrIS upper sounding channels (670 cm−1 and 2320 cm−1) in the deviations of the observed brightness temperature (O) from the simulated baseline brightness temperature (B) using the Community Radiative Transfer Model (CRTM), i.e., O—B. A similar pattern is also observed in the ATMS global maps at channel 15, whose peak weighting function is around 40 km, showing the atmospheric disturbance caused by the eruption that reached 40 km above the surface. The Tonga volcanic cloud (plume) was also captured by the OMPS SO2 EDR product. The gravity wave features were also captured in the native resolution image of the S-NPP VIIRS I-5 band nighttime observations. In addition, the VIIRS Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) captured and tracked the volcanic aerosol (sulfate) plume successfully. These discoveries demonstrate the scientific potential of the JPSS SDR and EDR products in monitoring and tracking the eruption of the Hunga Tonga volcano and its severe environmental impacts. This paper presents the atmospheric features of the Hunga Tonga volcano eruption that is uniquely captured by all four advanced sensors onboard JPSS satellites, with different spectral coverages and spatial resolutions.
Resonant Scattering by Excited Gaseous Components as an Indicator of Ionization Processes in the Atmosphere
Authors: Bychkov Vasily
Published: January 2023

The results of lidar sensing of the atmosphere at altitudes in the range of 25–600 km from the Kamchatka Lidar Station (53° N, 158° E) obtained in 2008–2022 are presented. The results of an analysis of the data of two-frequency lidar sensing of the thermosphere are given. The increased scattering at wavelengths of 532 and 561 nm is due to resonant scattering by excited atomic nitrogen and oxygen ions. Manifestations of resonant scattering in the middle atmosphere are also discussed. It is demonstrated that these ions are excited during the process of the ionization of the main atmospheric species by the precipitation of energetic electrons. The findings show that, during lidar soundings of the middle atmosphere, the ionization process can form imaginary aerosol formations. The spectrum of precipitating electrons can be estimated from the shape and position of the maximum of the lidar signal profile. It is shown that the process of the excitation of ions in the ground state does not play any significant role in the formation of the backscattered lidar signal. The signal does not carry information about the content and height profile of ions at the ground state. The appearance of resonant scattering in the atmosphere indicates the presence of the ionization sources.
Comparative Analysis of Emission Characteristics of In-Use China II–V Gasoline, Hybrid, Diesel-Fueled Vehicles
Authors: Zhang Ye , Song Yating , Feng Tianshi , Chen Yanyan
Published: January 2023

Increasingly stringent regulations regarding vehicle emissions have contributed to the diversification of vehicle technologies, resulting in the increasing complexity of typical vehicles that make up a fleet. In order to investigate the real gas emissions of different typical vehicles, tests were conducted using a portable emission measurement system (PEMS) in Beijing and emission studies were conducted on eight light-duty passenger vehicles (LDPVs, including light-duty gasoline passenger vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles), eight heavy-duty passenger vehicles (HDPVs), and four light-duty trucks (LDTs). The results show that the emissions of relevant pollutants from LDPV meet the emission standard limits. The emission factors of CO2, CO, NOX, and HC of China IV and China V hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) are much smaller than the emission standard limits and the emission factors of other vehicles, which have better emission reduction effects. Among LDPV, heavy-duty passenger vehicles (HDPVs), and LDT, the emissions of HDPV and LDT are extremely high. Emission characteristics vary on different types of roads, with the highest emission factors generally occurring on secondary roads. The micro-trip method was used to explore the influence of speed on emission factors. HEV are less sensitive to speed changes and can still maintain a low emission level at low speeds. The average speed and emission factors of HDPV in micro-trip has a strong correlation.
Atmospheric Response to EEP during Geomagnetic Disturbances
Authors: Grankin Dmitry , Mironova Irina , Bazilevskaya Galina , Rozanov Eugene , Egorova Tatiana
Published: January 2023

Energetic electron precipitation (EEP) is associated with solar activity and space weather and plays an important role in the Earth’s polar atmosphere. Energetic electrons from the radiation belt precipitate into the atmosphere during geomagnetic disturbances and cause additional ionization rates in the polar middle atmosphere. These induced atmospheric ionization rates lead to the formation of radicals in ion-molecular reactions at the heights of the mesosphere and upper stratosphere with the formation of reactive compounds of odd nitrogen NOy and odd hydrogen HOx groups. These compounds are involved in catalytic reactions that destroy the ozone. In this paper, we present the calculation of atmospheric ionization rates during geomagnetic disturbances using reconstructed spectra of electron precipitation from balloon observations; estimation of ozone destruction during precipitation events using one-dimensional photochemical radiation-convective models, taking into account both parameterization and ion chemistry; as well as provide an estimation of electron density during these periods.
On the Uniqueness of Lattice Characterization of Groups
Authors: Jovanović Jelena , Šešelja Branimir , Tepavčević Andreja
Published: January 2023

We analyze the problem of the uniqueness of characterization of groups by their weak congruence lattices. We discuss the possibility that the same algebraic lattice L acts as a weak congruence lattice of a group in more than one way, so that the corresponding diagonals are represented by different elements of L. If this is impossible, that is, if L can be interpreted as a weak congruence lattice of a group in a single way, we say that L is a sharp lattice. We prove that groups in many classes have a sharp weak congruence lattice. In particular, we analyze connections among isomorphisms of subgroup lattices of groups and isomorphisms of their weak congruence lattices. Summing up, we prove that there is a one-to-one correspondence between many known classes of groups and lattice-theoretic properties associated with each of these classes. Finally, an open problem is formulated related to the uniqueness of the element corresponding to the diagonal in the lattice of weak congruences of a group.
Developing an Intelligent Cellular Structure Design for a UAV Wireless Communication Topology
Authors: Alkhalifah Eman S. , Almalki Faris A.
Published: January 2023

In the current digital era, where Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Artificial intelligence (AI), and Internet of Everything (IoE) can be well integrated, more global connectivity and automated solutions can be witnessed. This paper aims to develop an intelligent cellular structure design for a UAV wireless communication topology using an AI framework. The proposed AI framework includes Self Organizing Maps (SOMs) and an NN fitting tool that can be simulated using the Graphical User Interface (GUI) toolbox in MATLAB. The proposed framework is validated in a proof-of-concept scenario, where various parameters of link budget and cellular structure design have been tuned to achieve an efficient and optimized automatic design. The obtained results show high levels of adaptable wireless communication predictions without human intervention, which is a noticeable shift from existing work in the literature.
Some Properties for Subordinations of Analytic Functions
Authors: Güney Hatun Özlem , Breaz Daniel , Owa Shigeyoshi
Published: January 2023

Let the class of functions of f(z) of the form f(z)=z+∑k=2∞akzk, which are denoted by A and called analytic functions in the open-unit disk. There are many interesting properties of the functions f(z) in the class A concerning the subordinations. Applying the three lemmas for f(z)∈A provided by Miller and Mocanu and by Nunokawa, we consider many interesting properties of f(z)∈A with subordinations. Furthermore, we provide simple examples for our results. We think it is very important to consider examples of the results.
Uncertain Programming Model for the Cross-Border Multimodal Container Transport System Based on Inland Ports
Authors: Ma Junchi , Wang Xifu , Yang Kai , Jiang Lijun
Published: January 2023

The importance of inland ports in promoting current cross-border trade is increasingly recognized. In this work, we aim to design the entire network for the cross-border multimodal container transport system based on inland ports. Unlike previous studies, we consider strong uncertainty in cross-border transportation demand to be caused by a variety of realistic factors such as the global economic situation, trade policies among countries, and global epidemics, etc. To handle the demand uncertainty, we develop an uncertain programming model for the considered cross-border multimodal container transportation network design problem to minimize the expectation of the total costs, including carbon emissions, by imposing two types of chance constraints for capacity limitations. Under mild assumptions, we further convert the proposed uncertain model into its equivalent deterministic one, which can be solved by off-the-shelf solvers such as CPLEX, Gurobi, and Lingo. Finally, we illustrate the applicability of the proposed model by taking the Huaihai Economic Zone-Europe multimodal container transport system as a real-world case study. The computational results provide valuable suggestions and policy guidance regarding four issues: the inland port locations, the transportation route choices, the strategies for reducing the total cost, and the schemes for improving network performance against uncertain demand.
Study of the Hypergeometric Equation via Data Driven Koopman-EDMD Theory
Authors: Melas Evangelos , Poulios Costas , Camouzis Elias , Leventides John , Poulios Nick
Published: January 2023

We consider a data-driven method, which combines Koopman operator theory with Extended Dynamic Mode Decomposition. We apply this method to the hypergeometric equation which is the Fuchsian equation with three regular singular points. The space of solutions at any of its singular points is a two-dimensional linear vector space on the field of reals when the independent variable is restricted to take values in the real axis and the unknown function is restricted to be a real-valued function of a real variable. A basis of the linear vector space of solutions is spanned by the hypergeometric function and its products with appropriate powers of the independent variable or the logarithmic function depending on the roots of the indicial equation of the hypergeometric equation. With our work, we obtain a new representation of the fundamental solutions of the hypergeometric equation and relate them to the spectral analysis of the finite approximation of the Koopman operator associated with the hypergeometric equation. We expect that the usefulness of our results will come more to the fore when we extend our study into the complex domain.
Certain Curvature Conditions on Kenmotsu Manifolds and 🟉-η-Ricci Solitons
Authors: Yoldaş Halil İbrahim , Haseeb Abdul , Mofarreh Fatemah
Published: January 2023

The present paper deals with the investigations of a Kenmotsu manifold satisfying certain curvature conditions endowed with 🟉-η-Ricci solitons. First we find some necessary conditions for such a manifold to be φ-Einstein. Then, we study the notion of 🟉-η-Ricci soliton on this manifold and prove some significant results related to this notion. Finally, we construct a nontrivial example of three-dimensional Kenmotsu manifolds to verify some of our results.
Levinson’s Functional in Time Scale Settings
Authors: Barić Josipa
Published: January 2023

We introduce the Levinson functional on time scales using integral inequality of Levinson’s type in the terms of Δ-integral for convex (concave) functions on time scale sets and investigate its properties such as superadditivity and monotonicity. The obtained properties are used to derive the bounds of the given Levinson’s functional and those results provide a refinement and the converse of the known Levinson’s inequality on time scales. Further, we define new types of functionals using weighted generalized and power means on time scales, and prove their properties which can be employed in future works to obtain refinements and converses of known integral inequalities on time scales.
Molybdenum Vanadium Oxides as Intercalation Hosts for Chloroaluminate Anions
Authors: Bhimani Kevin , Lakhnot Aniruddha Singh , Sharma Shyam , Sharma Mukul , Panchal Reena A. , Mahajani Varad , Koratkar Nikhil
Published: January 2023

Driven by the cost and scarcity of Lithium resources, it is imperative to explore alternative battery chemistries such as those based on Aluminum (Al). One of the key challenges associated with the development of Al-ion batteries is the limited choice of cathode materials. In this work, we explore an open-tunnel framework-based oxide (Mo3VOx) as a cathode in an Al-ion battery. The orthorhombic phase of molybdenum vanadium oxide (o-MVO) has been tested previously in Al-ion batteries but has shown poor coulombic efficiency and rapid capacity fade. Our results for o-MVO are consistent with the literature. However, when we explored the trigonal polymorph of MVO (t-MVO), we observe stable cycling performance with much improved coulombic efficiency. At a charge–discharge rate of ~0.4C, a specific capacity of ~190 mAh g−1 was obtained, and at a higher rate of 1C, a specific capacity of ~116 mAh g−1 was achieved. We show that differences in synthesis conditions of t-MVO and o-MVO result in significantly higher residual moisture in o-MVO, which can explain its poor reversibility and coulombic efficiency due to undesirable water interactions with the ionic liquid electrolyte. We also highlight the working mechanism of MVO || AlCl3–[BMIm]Cl || Al to be different than reported previously.
Online State of Health Estimation of Lithium-Ion Batteries Based on Charging Process and Long Short-Term Memory Recurrent Neural Network
Authors: Liu Kang , Kang Longyun , Xie Di
Published: January 2023

Accurate state of health (SOH) estimation is critical to the operation, maintenance, and replacement of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), which have penetrated almost every aspect of our life. This paper introduces a new approach to accurately estimate the SOH for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries based on the corresponding charging process and long short-term memory recurrent neural network (LSTM-RNN). In order to learn the mapping function without employing battery models and filtering techniques, the LSTM-RNN is initially fed into the health indicators (HIs) extracted from the charging process and trained to encode the dependencies of the related data sequence. Subsequently, the trained LSTM-RNN can properly estimate online SOHs of LIBs using extracted HIs. We experiment on two public datasets for model construction, validation, and comparison. Conclusively, the trained LSTM-RNN achieves an overall root mean square error (RMSE) lower than 1% on the cases with the same discharging current rate and an RMSE of 1.1198% above 80% SOH on another testing case that underwent a different discharging current rate.
Smart Work Injury Management (SWIM) System: A Machine Learning Approach for the Prediction of Sick Leave and Rehabilitation Plan
Authors: Ng Peter H. F. , Chen Peter Q. , Sin Zackary P. T. , Lai Sun H. S. , Cheng Andy S. K.
Published: January 2023

As occupational rehabilitation services are part of the public medical and health services in Hong Kong, work-injured workers are treated along with other patients and are not considered a high priority for occupational rehabilitation services. The idea of a work trial arrangement in the private market occurred to meet the need for a more coordinated occupational rehabilitation practice. However, there is no clear service standard in private occupational rehabilitation services nor concrete suggestions on how to offer rehabilitation plans to injured workers. Electronic Health Records (EHRs) data can provide a foundation for developing a model to improve this situation. This project aims at using a machine-learning-based approach to enhance the traditional prediction of disability duration and rehabilitation plans for work-related injury and illness. To help patients and therapists to understand the machine learning result, we also developed an interactive dashboard to visualize machine learning results. The outcome is promising. Using the variational autoencoder, our system performed better in predicting disability duration. We have around 30% improvement compared with the human prediction error. We also proposed further development to construct a better system to manage the work injury case.
Biomechanics of Hollow Organs: Experimental Testing and Computational Modeling
Authors: Fontanella Chiara Giulia , Carniel Emanuele Luigi
Published: January 2023

Hollow organs are visceral organs that are hollow tubes or pouches (such as the intestine or the stomach, respectively) or that include a cavity (such as the heart) and which subserve a vital function [...]
Chronic Corticosterone Exposure Suppresses Copper Transport through GR-Mediated Intestinal CTR1 Pathway in Mice
Authors: Guo Shihui , Chen Zijin , Dong Yingying , Ni Yingdong , Zhao Ruqian , Ma Wenqiang
Published: January 2023

Numerous studies have discovered that chronic stress induces metabolic disorders by affecting iron and zinc metabolism, but the relationship between chronic stress and copper metabolism remains unclear. Here, we explore the influence of chronic corticosterone (CORT) exposure on copper metabolism and its regulatory mechanism in mice. Mice were treated with 100 μg/mL CORT in drinking water for a 4-week trial. We found that CORT treatment resulted in a significant decrease in plasma copper level, plasma ceruloplasmin activity, plasma and liver Cu/Zn-SOD activity, hepatic copper content, and liver metallothionein content in mice. CORT treatment led to the reduction in duodenal expression of copper transporter 1 (CTR1), duodenal cytochrome b (DCYTB), and ATPase copper-transporting alpha (ATP7A) at the mRNA and protein level in mice. CORT treatment activated nuclear glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and down-regulated CRT1 expression in Caco-2 cells, whereas these phenotypes were reversible by an antagonist of GR, RU486. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis revealed that GR bound to the Ctr1 promoter in Caco-2 cells. Transient transfection assays in Caco-2 cells demonstrated that the Ctr1 promoter was responsive to the CORT-activated glucocorticoid receptor, whereas mutation/deletion of the glucocorticoid receptor element (GRE) markedly impaired activation of the Ctr1 promoter. In addition, CORT-induced downregulation of Ctr1 promoter activity was markedly attenuated in Caco-2 cells when RU486 was added. These findings present a novel molecular target for CORT that down-regulates intestinal CTR1 expression via GR-mediated trans-repression in mice.
Tenascin C in Lung Diseases
Authors: Donovan Chantal , Bai Xu , Chan Yik Lung , Feng Min , Ho Kin-Fai , Guo Hai , Chen Hui , Oliver Brian G.
Published: January 2023

Tenascin C (TNC) is a multifunctional large extracellular matrix protein involved in numerous cellular processes in embryonic development and can be increased in disease, or under conditions of trauma or cell stress in adults. However, the role of TNC in lung diseases remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the expression of TNC during development, in offspring following maternal particulate matter (PM) exposure, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. TNC expression is increased during lung development in biopsy cells, endothelial cells, mesenchymal cells, and epithelial cells. Maternal PM exposure increased TNC and collagen deposition, which was not affected by the removal of PM exposure after pregnancy. TNC expression was also increased in basal epithelial cells and fibroblasts in patients with asthma and AT2 and endothelial cells in patients with COPD. Furthermore, there was an increase in the expression of TNC in stage II compared to stage IA lung cancer; however, overall survival analysis showed no correlation between levels of TNC and survival. In conclusion, TNC is increased during lung development, in offspring following maternal PM exposure, and in asthma, COPD, and lung cancer tissues. Therefore, targeting TNC may provide a novel therapeutic target for lung diseases.
Cryopreservation of Malus and Pyrus Wild Species in the ‘Fruit Genebank’ in Dresden-Pillnitz, Germany
Authors: Höfer Monika , Flachowsky Henryk
Published: January 2023

A unique and valuable diversity of the Malus and Pyrus wild species germplasm is maintained ex situ in field collections in the ‘Fruit Genebank’ in Dresden-Pillnitz, Germany. (1) Background: The establishment of a duplicate collection is necessary to preserve this material safely from abiotic and biotic stress factors. (2) Methods: Two different techniques, cryopreservation using dormant buds and PVS2 vitrification using in vitro shoot tips, were applied and compared. (3) Results: In Malus altogether 180 accessions belonging to 32 species were processed with an average recovery rate of 39% within ten years using the dormant bud method. Accessions, 116 in number, achieved the criterion of 40% recovery which was 64.44% of all accessions tested. In the case of Pyrus germplasm a total of 35 accessions of 21 species and both techniques for cryopreservation were tested. In the results of these experiments the PVS2 method led to better results compared to the dormant bud method. (4) Conclusions: In Malus the dormant bud technique will be the method of choice for the future to build up the duplicate collection. Further experiments using both techniques are planned in the future to make a final decision for Pyrus.
Identification and Functional Analyses of Host Proteins Interacting with the P3a Protein of Brassica Yellows Virus
Authors: Liu Si-Yuan , Zuo Deng-Pan , Zhang Zong-Ying , Wang Ying , Han Cheng-Gui
Published: January 2023

Viruses are obligate parasites that only undergo genomic replication in their host organisms. ORF3a, a newly identified non-AUG-initiated ORF encoded by members of the genus Polerovirus, is required for long-distance movement in plants. However, its interactions with host proteins still remain unclear. Here, we used Brassica yellows virus (BrYV)-P3a as bait to screen a plant split-ubiquitin-based membrane yeast two-hybrid (MYTH) cDNA library to explain the functional role of P3a in viral infections. In total, 138 genes with annotations were obtained. Bioinformatics analyses revealed that the genes from carbon fixation in photosynthetic, photosynthesis pathways, and MAPK signaling were affected. Furthermore, Arabidopsis thaliana purine permease 14 (AtPUP14), glucosinolate transporter 1 (AtGTR1), and nitrate transporter 1.7 (AtNRT1.7) were verified to interact with P3a in vivo. P3a and these three interacting proteins mainly co-localized in the cytoplasm. Expression levels of AtPUP14, AtGTR1, and AtNRT1.7 were significantly reduced in response to BrYV during the late stages of viral infection. In addition, we characterized the roles of AtPUP14, AtGTR1, and AtNRT1.7 in BrYV infection in A. thaliana using T-DNA insertion mutants, and the pup14, gtr1, and nrt1.7 mutants influenced BrYV infection to different degrees.
Advances in Plant–Pathogen Interaction: New Challenges for Sustainable Disease Management
Authors: Campos Maria Doroteia , Félix Maria do Rosário
Published: January 2023

Plant pathogens cause huge losses and have been an important constraint to a worldwide increase in crop production and productivity [...]
Short-Term Head-Out Whole-Body Cold-Water Immersion Facilitates Positive Affect and Increases Interaction between Large-Scale Brain Networks
Authors: Yankouskaya Ala , Williamson Ruth , Stacey Cameron , Totman John James , Massey Heather
Published: January 2023

An emerging body of evidence indicates that short-term immersion in cold water facilitates positive affect and reduces negative affect. However, the neural mechanisms underlying these effects remain largely unknown. For the first time, we employed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to identify topological clusters of networks coupled with behavioural changes in positive and negative affect after a 5 min cold-water immersion. Perceived changes in positive affect were associated with feeling more active, alert, attentive, proud, and inspired, whilst changes in negative affect reflected reductions in distress and nervousness. The increase in positive affect was supported by a unique component of interacting networks, including the medial prefrontal node of the default mode network, a posterior parietal node of the frontoparietal network, and anterior cingulate and rostral prefrontal parts of the salience network and visual lateral network. This component emerged as a result of a focal effect confined to few connections. Changes in negative affect were associated with a distributed component of interacting networks at a reduced threshold. Affective changes after cold-water immersion occurred independently, supporting the bivalence model of affective processing. Interactions between large-scale networks linked to positive affect indicated the integrative effects of cold-water immersion on brain functioning.
Effects of a High-Fat Diet on Intestinal and Gonadal Metabolism in Female and Male Sea Cucumber Apostichopus japonicus
Authors: Zhang Shuangyan , Ru Xiaoshang , Zhang Libin , Gonçalves David , Yang Hongsheng , Xu Jialei
Published: January 2023

Parental nutrient reserves are directly related to reproductive performance in sea cucumbers. This study focused on the lipid requirements of male and female sea cucumbers Apostichopus japonicus during the reproductive stage and analyzed their physiological responses to a high-fat diet (HFD). The intestinal lipid metabolites and microbiome profile changed significantly in animals fed with the HFD, as given by an upregulation of metabolites related to lipid metabolism and an increase in the predominance of Proteobacteria in the microbiome, respectively. The metabolic responses of male and female sea cucumbers to the HFD differed, which in turn could have triggered sex-related differences in the intestinal microbiome. These results suggest that the lipid content in diets can be differentially adjusted for male and female sea cucumbers to improve nutrition and promote reproduction. This data contributes to a better understanding of the reproductive biology and sex differences of sea cucumbers.
Risk Assessment and Cholangiocarcinoma: Diagnostic Management and Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Granata Vincenza , Fusco Roberta , De Muzio Federica , Cutolo Carmen , Grassi Francesca , Brunese Maria Chiara , Simonetti Igino , Catalano Orlando , Gabelloni Michela , Pradella Silvia , Danti Ginevra , Flammia Federica , Borgheresi Alessandra , Agostini Andrea , Bruno Federico , Palumbo Pierpaolo , Ottaiano Alessandro , Izzo Francesco , Giovagnoni Andrea , Barile Antonio , Gandolfo Nicoletta , Miele Vittorio
Published: January 2023

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is the second most common primary liver tumor, with a median survival of only 13 months. Surgical resection remains the only curative therapy; however, at first detection, only one-third of patients are at an early enough stage for this approach to be effective, thus rendering early diagnosis as an efficient approach to improving survival. Therefore, the identification of higher-risk patients, whose risk is correlated with genetic and pre-cancerous conditions, and the employment of non-invasive-screening modalities would be appropriate. For several at-risk patients, such as those suffering from primary sclerosing cholangitis or fibropolycystic liver disease, the use of periodic (6–12 months) imaging of the liver by ultrasound (US), magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)/cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), or computed tomography (CT) in association with serum CA19-9 measurement has been proposed. For liver cirrhosis patients, it has been proposed that at-risk iCCA patients are monitored in a similar fashion to at-risk HCC patients. The possibility of using Artificial Intelligence models to evaluate higher-risk patients could favor the diagnosis of these entities, although more data are needed to support the practical utility of these applications in the field of screening. For these reasons, it would be appropriate to develop screening programs in the research protocols setting. In fact, the success of these programs reauires patient compliance and multidisciplinary cooperation.
Characterization of Enrichment Cultures of Anammox, Nitrifying and Denitrifying Bacteria Obtained from a Cold, Heavily Nitrogen-Polluted Aquifer
Authors: Botchkova Ekaterina , Vishnyakova Anastasia , Popova Nadezhda , Sukhacheva Marina , Kolganova Tatyana , Litti Yuriy , Safonov Alexey
Published: January 2023

Anammox bacteria related to Candidatus Scalindua were recently discovered in a cold (7.5 °C) aquifer near sludge repositories containing solid wastes of uranium and processed polymetallic concentrate. Groundwater has a very high level of nitrate and ammonia pollution (up to 10 and 0.5 g/L, respectively) and a very low content of organic carbon (2.5 mg/L). To assess the potential for bioremediation of polluted groundwater in situ, enrichment cultures of anammox, nitrifying, and denitrifying bacteria were obtained and analyzed. Fed-batch enrichment of anammox bacteria was not successful. Stable removal of ammonium and nitrite (up to 100%) was achieved in a continuous-flow reactor packed with a nonwoven fabric at 15 °C, and enrichment in anammox bacteria was confirmed by FISH and qPCR assays. The relatively low total N removal efficiency (up to 55%) was due to nonstoichiometric nitrate buildup. This phenomenon can be explained by a shift in the metabolism of anammox bacteria towards the production of more nitrates and less N2 at low temperatures compared to the canonical stoichiometry. In addition, the too high an estimate of specific anammox activity suggests that N cycle microbial groups other than anammox bacteria may have contributed significantly to N removal. Stable nitrite production was observed in the denitrifying enrichment culture, while no “conventional” nitrifiers were found in the corresponding enrichment cultures. Xanthomonadaceae was a common taxon for all microbial communities, indicating its exclusive role in this ecosystem. This study opens up new knowledge about the metabolic capabilities of N cycle bacteria and potential approaches for sustainable bioremediation of heavily N-polluted cold ecosystems.
Development of a Fermented Beverage with Chlorella vulgaris Powder on Soybean-Based Fermented Beverage
Authors: Csatlos Norbert-Istvan , Simon Elemer , Teleky Bernadette-Emőke , Szabo Katalin , Diaconeasa Zorița Maria , Vodnar Dan-Cristian , Ciont (Nagy) Călina , Pop Oana-Lelia
Published: January 2023

The area of functional beverages made from plant-based or non-dairy milk is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world. The microalgae Chlorella vulgaris is a source of functional ingredients, with a large spectrum of healthy compounds, such as canthaxanthins, astaxanthins, peptides, and oleic acid. The study aimed to investigate the suitability of C. vulgaris biomass as a substrate for Lactobacillus fermentum and Lactobacillus rhamnosus development and fermentation in vegetal soy beverages and to evaluate the fermented product in terms of bacterial viability, antioxidant capacity, and in vitro bio-accessibility. During fermentation, a bacterial concentration of 8.74 log10 CFU/mL was found in the soy beverage with C. vulgaris and L. rhamnosus, and 8.71 log10 CFU/mL in beverage with C. vulgaris and L. fermentum. Polyphenol content and dietary antioxidant capacity significantly improved after fermentation soy drinks. On the other hand, through the digestibility of the beverages, the bacterial viability significantly decreased. To comprehend the components responsible for the efficient delivery of bacteria across the gastrointestinal tract, further investigation is required on probiotic encapsulation methods.
Molecular Dynamics-Based Comparative Analysis of Chondroitin and Dermatan Sulfates
Authors: Pągielska Marta , Samsonov Sergey A.
Published: January 2023

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are a class of linear anionic periodic polysaccharides containing disaccharide repetitive units. These molecules interact with a variety of proteins in the extracellular matrix and so participate in biochemically crucial processes such as cell signalling affecting tissue regeneration as well as the onset of cancer, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s diseases. Due to their flexibility, periodicity and chemical heterogeneity, often termed “sulfation code”, GAGs are challenging molecules both for experiments and computation. One of the key questions in the GAG research is the specificity of their intermolecular interactions. In this study, we make a step forward to deciphering the “sulfation code” of chondroitin sulfates-4,6 (CS4, CS6, where the numbers correspond to the position of sulfation in NAcGal residue) and dermatan sulfate (DS), which is different from CSs by the presence of IdoA acid instead of GlcA. We rigorously investigate two sets of these GAGs in dimeric, tetrameric and hexameric forms with molecular dynamics-based descriptors. Our data clearly suggest that CS4, CS6 and DS are substantially different in terms of their structural, conformational and dynamic properties, which contributes to the understanding of how these molecules can be different when they bind proteins, which could have practical implications for the GAG-based drug design strategies in the regenerative medicine.
Identification of Inhibitors of Tubulin Polymerization Using a CRISPR-Edited Cell Line with Endogenous Fluorescent Tagging of β-Tubulin and Histone H1
Authors: Khachatryan Harutyun , Olszowy Bartlomiej , Barrero Carlos A. , Gordon John , Perez-Leal Oscar
Published: January 2023

Tubulin is a protein that plays a critical role in maintaining cellular structure and facilitating cell division. Inhibiting tubulin polymerization has been shown to be an effective strategy for inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells. In the past, identifying compounds that could inhibit tubulin polymerization has required the use of in vitro assays utilizing purified tubulin or immunofluorescence of fixed cells. This study presents a novel approach for identifying tubulin polymerization inhibitors using a CRISPR-edited cell line that expresses fluorescently tagged β-tubulin and a nuclear protein, enabling the visualization of tubulin polymerization dynamics via high-content imaging analysis (HCI). The cells were treated with known tubulin polymerization inhibitors, colchicine, and vincristine, and the resulting phenotypic changes indicative of tubulin polymerization inhibition were confirmed using HCI. Furthermore, a library of 429 kinase inhibitors was screened, resulting in the identification of three compounds (ON-01910, HMN-214, and KX2-391) that inhibit tubulin polymerization. Live cell tracking analysis confirmed that compound treatment leads to rapid tubulin depolymerization. These findings suggest that CRISPR-edited cells with fluorescently tagged endogenous β-tubulin can be utilized to screen large compound libraries containing diverse chemical families for the identification of novel tubulin polymerization inhibitors.
Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Quinazolinamine Derivatives as Breast Cancer Resistance Protein and P-Glycoprotein Inhibitors with Improved Metabolic Stability
Authors: Cai Chao-Yun , Teng Qiu-Xu , Murakami Megumi , Ambudkar Suresh V. , Chen Zhe-Sheng , Korlipara Vijaya L.
Published: January 2023

A series of twenty-two quinazolinamine derivatives showing potent inhibitory activities on breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) and p-glycoprotein (P-gp) were synthesized. A cyclopropyl-containing quinazolinamine 22 was identified as a dual BCRP and P-gp inhibitor, while azide-containing quinazolinamine 33 showed BCRP inhibitory activity. These lead compounds were further investigated in a battery of mechanistic experiments. Compound 22 changed the localization of BCRP and P-gp in cells, thus inhibiting the efflux of anticancer drugs by the two ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters. In addition, both 22 and 33 significantly stimulated the ATP hydrolysis of the BCRP transporter, indicating that they can be competitive substrates of the BCRP transporter, and thereby increase the accumulation of mitoxantrone in BCRP-overexpressing H460/MX20 cells. Azide derivative 33, exhibited a greater inhibitory effect on BCRP after UV activation and can serve as a valuable probe for investigating the interactions of quinazolinamine derivatives with BCRP. Notably, the dual BCRP and P-gp inhibitors 4–5, 22–24, 27, and BCRP inhibitor 33 showed improved metabolic stability compared to Ko143.
Nuclear PTEN’s Functions in Suppressing Tumorigenesis: Implications for Rare Cancers
Authors: Langdon Casey G.
Published: January 2023

Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) encodes a tumor-suppressive phosphatase with both lipid and protein phosphatase activity. The tumor-suppressive functions of PTEN are lost through a variety of mechanisms across a wide spectrum of human malignancies, including several rare cancers that affect pediatric and adult populations. Originally discovered and characterized as a negative regulator of the cytoplasmic, pro-oncogenic phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) pathway, PTEN is also localized to the nucleus where it can exert tumor-suppressive functions in a PI3K pathway-independent manner. Cancers can usurp the tumor-suppressive functions of PTEN to promote oncogenesis by disrupting homeostatic subcellular PTEN localization. The objective of this review is to describe the changes seen in PTEN subcellular localization during tumorigenesis, how PTEN enters the nucleus, and the spectrum of impacts and consequences arising from disrupted PTEN nuclear localization on tumor promotion. This review will highlight the immediate need in understanding not only the cytoplasmic but also the nuclear functions of PTEN to gain more complete insights into how important PTEN is in preventing human cancers.
Effects of Static Magnetic Field (SMF) Exposure on Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) Risk Indicators
Authors: Istiqomah Rahma Nur , Yunaini Luluk , Umiatin Umiatin , Sari Puji
Published: January 2023

Dyslipidemia is a condition of abnormalities in blood lipids, such as increased LDL and decreased HDL. Exposure to intracellular static magnetic fields (SMFs) can affect membranes to modulate the number of Ca2+ ions, which can affect cell biological effects. Increasing the number of Ca2+ ions will affect the expression of genes that help reduce LDL levels as an indicator of CHD. This study aims to see whether the influence of SMFs can affect calcium levels, lipid profiles, SREBP-2 protein excretion, and LDLR gene expression, which affects the process of breaking down cholesterol. We used obese C57BL/6J male mice divided into standard and HFD feed groups. The HFD feed group was split into Obes0, Obes2, Obes7, Obes14, and Obes21 groups based on the day of exposure. The exposure was carried out with an intensity of Bmax = 2 mT for 1 h daily. After exposure to SMFs, there were changes in blood cholesterol and LDL levels, which tended to decrease in the Obes2 and Obes7 groups and increase in the Obes14 and Obes21 groups. In addition, the exposed group tended to have an increase in the expression of the LDLR gene, SREBP-2 protein, and calcium ion compared to the control. Although it managed to increase after exposure on days 14 and 21, there was a decrease in the expression of the LDLR gene and SREBP-2 protein; hence, the effect of SMF exposure can reduce the risk of CHD. However, research still needs to be done regarding the effective duration of exposure.
Statin Use Ameliorates Survival in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma—Data from a Population-Based Cohort Study Applying Propensity Score Matching
Authors: Spoerl Steffen , Gerken Michael , Fischer René , Spoerl Silvia , Kirschneck Christian , Wolf Stefanie , Taxis Juergen , Ludwig Nils , Biermann Niklas , Reichert Torsten E. , Spanier Gerrit
Published: January 2023

The anti-cancer properties of statins have attracted much attention recently, but little is known about the prognostic role of statins in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). In a retrospective approach, we analyzed a population-based cohort of 602 OSCC patients with primary curative tumor resection to negative margins and concomitant neck dissection between 2005–2017. Long-term medication with statins was correlated with overall survival (OAS) as well as recurrence-free survival (RFS) using uni- and multivariable Cox regression. Additionally, propensity score matching was applied to adjust for confounders. Statin use was present in 96 patients (15.9%) at a median age of 65.7 years. Statin treatment correlated with ameliorated survival in multivariable Cox regression in the complete cohort (OAS: HR 0.664; 95% CI 0.467–0.945, p = 0.023; RFS: HR 0.662; 95% CI 0.476–0.920, p = 0.014) as well as matched-pair cohort of OSCC patients (OAS: HR 0.691; 95% CI 0.479–0.997, p = 0.048; RFS: HR 0.694; 95% CI 0.493–0.976, p = 0.036) when compared to patients not taking statins at time of diagnosis. These findings were even more pronounced by sub-group analysis in the matched-pair cohort (age < 70 years). These data indicate that statin use might ameliorate the oncological outcome in primarily resected OSCC patients, but prospective clinical trials are highly recommended.
Mechanisms, Effects, and Management of Neurological Complications of Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (NC-PASC)
Authors: Ong Ian Z. , Kolson Dennis L. , Schindler Matthew K.
Published: January 2023

With a growing number of patients entering the recovery phase following infection with SARS-CoV-2, understanding the long-term neurological consequences of the disease is important to their care. The neurological complications of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (NC-PASC) represent a myriad of symptoms including headaches, brain fog, numbness/tingling, and other neurological symptoms that many people report long after their acute infection has resolved. Emerging reports are being published concerning COVID-19 and its chronic effects, yet limited knowledge of disease mechanisms has challenged therapeutic efforts. To address these issues, we review broadly the literature spanning 2020–2022 concerning the proposed mechanisms underlying NC-PASC, outline the long-term neurological sequelae associated with COVID-19, and discuss potential clinical interventions.