bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Insights on Wet and Dry Workflows for Human Gut Metaproteomics
Authors: Marzano Valeria , Levi Mortera Stefano , Putignani Lorenza
Published: December 2024

The human gut microbiota (GM) is a community of microorganisms that resides in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Recognized as a critical element of human health, the functions of the GM extend beyond GI well‐being to influence overall systemic health and susceptibility to disease. Among the other omic sciences, metaproteomics highlights additional facets that make it a highly valuable discipline in the study of GM. Indeed, it allows the protein inventory of complex microbial communities. Proteins with associated taxonomic membership and function are identified and quantified from their constituent peptides by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry analyses and by querying specific databases (DBs). The aim of this review was to compile comprehensive information on metaproteomic studies of the human GM, with a focus on the bacterial component, to assist newcomers in understanding the methods and types of research conducted in this field. The review outlines key steps in a metaproteomic‐based study, such as protein extraction, DB selection, and bioinformatic workflow. The importance of standardization is emphasized. In addition, a list of previously published studies is provided as hints for researchers interested in investigating the role of GM in health and disease states.
As‐Needed Inhaled Corticosteroid‐Formoterol in a Single Inhaler Compared to Inhaled Corticosteroid‐Albuterol in Separate Inhalers as Reliever Therapy in Mild Pediatric Asthma: A Cost‐Utility Analysis
Authors: Rodríguez‐Martínez Carlos E. , Sossa‐Briceño Monica P. , Buendia Jefferson Antonio
Published: December 2024

Objectives

Since 2019 as‐needed low‐dose ICS‐formoterol in a single inhaler has been recommended for treatment of mild asthma in children aged more than 12 years. Alternatively, the use of ICS‐albuterol has been proposed in countries where ICS‐formoterol is not available or affordable. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cost‐utility of as‐needed ICS‐albuterol in separate inhalers compared to ICS‐formoterol in a single inhaler as reliever therapy in pediatric patients with mild asthma living in Colombia.

Methods

A Markov‐type model was developed to estimate the costs and health outcomes of a simulated cohort of pediatric patients with mild asthma treated for 12 months. The effectiveness data and transition probabilities were obtained from relevant randomized clinical trials (RCTs). Cost data were obtained from official databases provided by the Colombian Ministry of Health. The main outcome was the variable “quality‐adjusted life‐years” (QALYs).

Results

The base‐case analysis showed that compared with the use of as‐needed ICS‐albuterol in separate inhalers, the use of ICS‐formoterol in a single in pediatric patients with mild asthma was associated with lower costs (US$475.51 vs. 735.33 average cost per patient) and the greatest gain in QALYs (0.9367 vs. 0.9352 QALYs on average per patient), thus leading to dominance.

Conclusions

Compared with the use of as‐needed ICS‐albuterol in separate inhalers, the use of ICS‐formoterol in a single inhaler as reliever therapy is cost‐effective in patients aged 12 years or more with mild asthma, because it showed a greater gain in QALYs at lower total treatment costs.
An Efficient Approach to the Design and Construction of Novel Energetic Materials: Co‐Crystallization and Chemical Reaction of Insensitive Explosive ICM‐102 in Acidic Solutions
Authors: Wang Fei , Zhao Yunshu , Zhou Xu , Sun Shanhu , Li Siyao , Su Li , Zhang Xiaoyan , Liu Yonggang , Suo Zhirong , Xu Jinjiang , Sun Jie
Published: December 2024

The cocrystal represents a practical method for developing new energetic materials. However, insensitive explosives (LLM‐105, TATB, ICM‐102) encounter challenges in forming cocrystal explosives with other molecules due to the dense hydrogen bond interactions in insensitive explosives. To facilitate the formation of cocrystal explosives based on insensitive explosives, the electron distribution of typical insensitive explosives was analyzed by surface electrostatic potential (ESP), revealing that the ICM‐102 molecule exhibits strong proton affinity. Through the cultivation of a single crystal found that ICM‐102 undergoes self‐assembly and chemical reactions in acid, resulting in the efficient construction of two energetic cocrystals and two energetic salts. First, ICM‐102 undergoes supramolecular self‐assembly with HCOOH (MA) and CH3COOH (HAc) to generate the energetic cocrystals HG‐1 and HG‐2. Notably, HG‐1 is a ternary cocrystal. Second, ICM‐102 participates in hydrolysis and salt formation reactions in HF and HCl to form energetic salts Salt‐1 and Salt‐2. This study efficiently obtained the cocrystal explosives based on ICM‐102, providing a solid theoretical foundation for the construction of cocrystal explosives based on insensitive explosives.
Catocene and Butacene Permanence as Ferrocenic Liquid Burning Rate Catalyst for Solid Composite Propellants and Comparison With Recent Developments
Authors: Amado Javier Quagliano , Dutra Rita C. L. , Dutra Jorge C. N. , Ross Pablo
Published: December 2024

A short review about ferrocene‐based burning rate catalysts (FBRC) for solid composite propellants is presented. Historically, transition metal oxides (TMO) have been utilized as burning rate catalysts (BRC) since the start of solid rocket propellant development. However, these compounds have a marked tendency to migrate through the propellant grain and crystallize at boundary surfaces. Consequently, FBRC emerged as an alternative to TMO. After reviewing recent advances in the field, we suggest that the continued use of Catocene [2,2′‐bis(ethylferrocenyl)propane] and Butacene as liquid BRC of choice is based on a trade‐off between high burning rates, limited migration from propellant, simpler synthetic pathways, and lower costs of production in comparison with later developments in the area of FBRC. Then, this work aims to contribute to the state of the art of FBRC research, highlighting the importance of Catocene and Butacene, in comparison with the most recent developments in the field of FBRC, particularly regarding their role in decreasing the decomposition temperature of ammonium perchlorate and/or increasing the burning rate.
Thermal Research on the Decomposition Behaviors and Interactional Mechanism of NC–NG With DNTF
Authors: Huang Meng , Zhou Jing , Wang Xiaofeng , Zhang Junlin , Zheng Wei , Pan Qing
Published: December 2024

The thermal decomposition analysis of nitrocellulose–nitroglycerine (NC–NG), 3,4‐dinitrofurazanfuroxan (DNTF), and their mixed system with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis‐DSC–mass spectroscopy–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (TG–DSC–MS–FTIR) coupling technique, and in situ FTIR experiments under different experimental conditions was carried out for the investigation of interaction mechanism between NC–NG and DNTF. The results demonstrated that the NC–NG mixture significantly decreased the decomposition peak temperature of DNTF, and the activation energy of final mixed system (156.32 kJ mol−1) was lower than both NC–NG (163.82 kJ mol−1) and DNTF (177.03 kJ mol−1). On the basis of the gas fragmental products and condensed phase changes, NC–NG triggered the thermally decomposition process, resulting intensive amount of nitrogen oxides which further caused the breakage of nitro groups in DNTF.
A crucial active site network of titratable residues guides catalysis and NAD+ binding in human succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase
Authors: Cesaro Samuele , Orlando Marco , Bettin Ilaria , Longo Carmen , Spagnoli Giulia , de Laureto Patrizia Polverino , Molla Gianluca , Bertoldi Mariarita
Published: December 2024

Human succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase is a mitochondrial enzyme fundamental in the neurotransmitter γ‐aminobutyric acid catabolism. It catalyzes the NAD+‐dependent oxidative degradation of its derivative, succinic semialdehyde, to succinic acid. Mutations in its gene lead to an inherited neurometabolic rare disease, succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency, characterized by mental and developmental delay. Due to the poor characterization of this enzyme, we carried out evolutionary and kinetic investigations to contribute to its functional behavior, a prerequisite to interpreting pathogenic variants. An in silico analysis shows that succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenases belong to two families, one human‐like and the other of bacterial origin, differing in the oligomeric state and in a network of active site residues. This information is coupled to the biophysical–biochemical characterization of the human recombinant enzyme uncovering that (i) catalysis proceeds by an ordered bi–bi mechanism with NAD+ binding before the aldehyde that exerts a partial non‐competitive inhibition; (ii) a stabilizing complex between the catalytic Cys340 and NAD+ is observed and interpreted as a protective mechanism; and (iii) a concerted non‐covalent network assists the action of the catalytic residues Cys340 and Glu306. Through mutational analyses of Lys214, Glu306, Cys340, and Glu515 associated with pH studies, we showed that NAD+ binding is controlled by the dyad Lys214‐Glu515. Moreover, catalysis is assured by proton transfer exerted by the same dyad networked with the catalytic Glu306, involved in catalytic Cys340 deprotonation/reprotonation. The identification of this weak bond network essential for cofactor binding and catalysis represents a first step to tackling the molecular basis for its deficiency.
Role of Mutual Information Profile Shifts in Assessing the Pathogenicity of Mutations on Protein Functions: The Case of Pyrin Variants Associated With Familial Mediterranean Fever
Authors: Hacisuleyman Aysima , Gul Ahmet , Erman Burak
Published: December 2024

This study presents a novel method to assess the pathogenicity of pyrin protein mutations by using mutual information (MI) as a measure to quantify the correlation between residue motions or fluctuations and associated changes affecting the phenotype. The concept of MI profile shift is presented to quantify changes in MI upon mutation, revealing insights into residue–residue interactions at critical positions. We apply this method to the pyrin protein variants, which are associated with an autosomal recessively inherited disease called familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) since the available tools do not help predict the pathogenicity of the most penetrant variants. We demonstrate the utility of MI profile shifts in assessing the effects of mutations on protein stability, function, and disease phenotype. The importance of MI shifts, particularly the negative shifts observed in the pyrin example, as indicators of severe functional effects is emphasized. Additionally, the exploration of potential compensatory mechanisms suggested by positive MI shifts, which are otherwise random and inconsequential, is highlighted. The study also discusses challenges in relating MI profile changes to disease severity and advocates for comprehensive analysis considering genetic, environmental, and stochastic factors. Overall, this study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of FMF and offers a framework for identifying potential therapeutic targets based on MI profile changes induced by mutations.
Alanine to glycine substitution in the PyR2 confers sodium channel resistance to Type I pyrethroids
Authors: Chen Mengli , Wang Likui , Zhou Xiangyi , Chen Guoxing , Xu Zhanyi , Yan Ru , Qian Jiali , Zhu Guonian , Wu Shaoying , Wu Huiming
Published: December 2024

BACKGROUND

Aedes aegypti is a primary urban vector of dengue, yellow fever, Zika and chikungunya worldwide. Pyrethroid insecticides are the most effective insecticides for controlling Ae. aegypti. However, pyrethroid resistance has developed due to the long‐term overuse of the insecticides, and many knockdown resistance (kdr) mutations have been identified in the resistant populations. A1007G, an alanine to glycine substitution, was found in resistant Ae. aegypti from Vietnam and Malaysia, which has always co‐existed with F1534C and V1016G. However, the role of A1007G in pyrethroid resistance and the linkage of A1007G and F1534C or V1016G remain unknown.

RESULTS

In this study, we examined the effects of mutations on the sodium channel gating properties and pyrethroid sensitivity in Xenopus oocytes. We found mutations A1007G, A1007G + F1534C and A1007G + V1016G + F1534C shifted the voltage dependence of activation in the depolarizing direction. Mutations A1007G + F1534C and A1007G + V1016G + F1534C shifted the voltage dependence of inactivation in the depolarizing direction. Both mutations A1007G and F1534C reduced the channel sensitivity to two Type I pyrethroids, permethrin and bifenthrin, and synergistic effects were observed between mutations A1007G and F1534C. However, none of the mutations, A1007G, F1534C and A1007G + F1534C affected the channel sensitivity to two Type II pyrethroids, deltamethrin and cypermethrin. Furthermore, triple mutations A1007G + V1016G + F1534C significantly reduced the channel sensitivity to both Type I and Type II pyrethroids.

CONCLUSION

We identified A1007G had a distinct effect on sodium channel sensitivity to Type I, but not to Type II pyrethroids, also A1007G exhibited synergistic effects with F1534C to Type I pyrethroids, which will provide a fundamental insight into the distinct molecular interactions between insect sodium channel and Type I or Type II pyrethroids. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Development of AlGaN‐Based Deep‐Ultraviolet Avalanche Photodetectors—Toward Their Intrinsic Characteristics
Authors: Jeong Hoon , Cho Minkyu , Xu Zhiyu , Mehnke Frank , Shen Shyh‐Chiang , Detchprohm Theeradetch , Dupuis Russell D. , Otte Adam Nepomuk
Published: December 2024

Al0.6Ga0.4N deep‐UV p–i–n avalanche photodiodes (APDs) are demonstrated grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) on a (0001) c‐plane aluminum nitride (AlN) bulk substrate and fabricated both with and without an ion implantation process for mesa‐edge electric‐field termination. Three design considerations are taken into account: the optical absorption of the AlN bulk substrate, the photosensitivity of the APD, and the breakdown electric field. The MOCVD growth conditions of the AlGaN APD layers are optimized. Then, a detailed description of the seven device fabrication steps of the APDs is provided, which includes nitrogen ion implantation. The APDs fabricated by the ion implant process exhibit a dark‐current density under low reverse bias ≈1 × 10−9 A cm−2. This is one order of magnitude lower than the APD fabricated without ion implantation from the same wafer. The breakdown voltage of the APD is ≈−140 V. The calculated optical gain of the ion‐implanted APD beyond avalanche breakdown is ≈5.2 × 105 (current limited) and the device has an average zero‐bias photoresponse of ≈68 mA W−1 at a wavelength of 250 nm.
Understanding the Variations of Optical Bandgap in AZO Nanostructured Thin Films: Analysis of Possible Influences
Authors: Daza Luis Germán , Colina‐Ruiz Roberto Alexander , Castro‐Rodríguez Román , Méndez‐Gamboa José Ángel , Medina‐Esquivel Rubén Arturo , Pérez‐Quintana Ignacio Vicente , Mora‐Ramos M. E.
Published: December 2024

Aluminum doped zinc oxide (AZO) thin films with varying thicknesses are fabricated using radio frequency (RF) sputtering combined with substrate rotation. The films display distinct nanocolumnar structures characterized by a hexagonal ZnO phase and a noticeable shift of the primary diffraction peak to lower 2θ angles. Lattice parameters a and c are used to evaluate residual stress and structural relaxation, both of which vary with increasing film thickness. Despite these structural changes, the films consistently maintain an average optical transmittance close to 85% in the range of 400–900 nm. The absorption edge and bandgap energy shift toward lower photon energies, decreasing from 3.51 to 3.38 eV as the thickness increases. The interplay between residual stress, structural relaxation, and bandgap energy is analyzed, offering insights into the complex dynamics influencing AZO thin‐film fabrication and the potential effects of quantum confinement. Lastly, the findings are compared with recent studies on ZnO thin films.
Bloch Sphere Representation and Logic Gate Analysis for a Heavy Hole Confined in Semiconductor Two‐Dimensional Quantum Well Systems
Authors: Tojo Tatsuki , Takeda Kyozaburo
Published: December 2024

The topological features of a heavy‐mass hole (HH) confined in a 2D Si quantum well system via Bloch sphere (BS) representation and logic gate analysis are studied. Strong anisotropy‐and‐nonparabolicity in the semiconductor valence band causes the re‐degeneracy between HHs having opposite spins. The newly yielded degenerate states function as topological singularities. By employing the semiclassical equation of cyclotron motion, the time‐evolved (TE) Schrödinger equation as a rate equation is rewritten, and then the numerically solved TE wave function on the BS by determining the zenith and azimuthal angles is represented. The two‐state rotating‐wave (TSRW) approximation introduced reveals that the slope of against quantum state (time) evolution includes the information of the non‐Abelian Berry connection. The TSRW further demonstrates that the slope of contains the information of the Abelian connection. The TE operator is expressed by the three rotation logic gates around the x‐axis by an angle , which is sandwiched by the two rotations and around the BS pole axis (z). The TSRW approach enables us to decompose into two partial rotations around the z‐axis, with Abelian and non‐Abelian Berry connections.
Parameter Estimate and Adaptive Control of DARMA Systems With Uniform Quantized Output Data
Authors: Jing Lida
Published: December 2024

This paper is concerned with parameter estimate and adaptive control problems of deterministic autoregressive moving average (DARMA) systems on the basis of quantized data of system output signals which are generated by a kind of uniform quantizer. By designing system input signals, the extended least‐squares (ELS) algorithm with uniform output observations is proved to yield bounded estimation errors under some mild assumptions. Moreover, the adaptive tracking controller under inaccuracy observations is also designed. To analyse the properties of tracking error, we use the expanded form of the ELS and research the boundedness of quantization noise. In addition, we give the expression of tracking error and show how it depends on the size of quantization step when the quantization step satisfies some conditions. A numerical example is supplied to demonstrate the theoretical results.
A High‐Order Fully Actuated System Approach for Prescribed Performance Tracking Control of Quadrotor Unmanned Aerial Vehicle With Time‐Varying Uncertain Aerodynamic Parameters and Disturbances
Authors: Chen Yang , Zhang Dandan , Zhang Zhikai , Zhang Heng
Published: December 2024

In this paper, a high‐order, fully actuated (HOFA) system approach‐based adaptive control design, with guaranteed transient and steady‐state tracking performances, is proposed for trajectory tracking of a lightweight, low‐cost quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle (QUAV). Unlike most existing results on adaptive control for QUAVs, we consider the aerodynamic parameters and disturbance terms of the QUAV model as time‐varying uncertainties. These uncertainties are only assumed to be bounded, with no additional restrictions imposed on their bounds and derivatives, making our approach more suitable for QUAVs in dynamic harsh environments. Moreover, in contrast to the existing first‐order state‐space model‐based methods such as typical adaptive backstepping designs, the proposed HOFA system‐based approach does not require multiple design steps and can achieve arbitrarily assignable eigenstructure like a stabilized linear system, which makes the control design very simple and easy to implement for practical applications. In addition, by introducing the prescribed performance control technique and incorporating a novel appointed‐time performance function, it is shown that all tracking errors can be steered into their predesignated precision regions within their respective pre‐appointed settling times. Finally, the effectiveness and advantages of the proposed method are validated through simulation.
Design and Synthesis of New Quinoxaline‐Oxazole‐Morpholino Conjugates; Evaluation of Anticancer Activity and In Silico Molecular Docking and ADMET Studies
Authors: Bonakolluru Yellaiah , Marupati Siddhartha , Kandala Satyanarayana , Dasari Gouthami , Manchal Ravinder , Bandari Srinivas
Published: December 2024

In this paper, we report the synthesis of targeted quinoxaline‐oxazole‐morpholino conjugates (5a–n) in a conventional three‐step procedure from 3‐chloroquinoxalin‐2(1H)‐one. The anticancer activity was assessed against two human cancer cell lines, including MCF‐7 (breast) and HepG2 (liver), using the MTT assay method. In this study, Erlotinib was used as the standard drug. The anticancer activity results show that the compounds 5g  (MCF‐7 = 1.20 ± 0.10 and HepG2 = 1.04 ± 0.05 µM), 5f (MCF‐7 = 1.29 ± 0.10 and HepG2 = 1.10 ± 0.06 µM), and 5e (MCF‐7 = 1.72 ± 0.10 and HepG2 = 1.45 ± 0.12 µM) exhibited more potent anticancer activity as compared to the standard drug Erlotinib. In a cell survivability test (MCF‐10A), all the three potent compounds (5g, 5f, and 5e) were evaluated against the normal breast cell line, although neither of them displayed any significant cytotoxicity with IC50 values greater than 88 .02 µM. In addition to this, molecular docking studies of compounds 5g, 5f, and 5e demonstrated that these compounds had more EGFR‐binding interactions. The potent compounds were further screened for their in vitro tyrosine kinase EGFR inhibitory activity using Erlotinib as the reference drug. The two compounds, 5g and 5f, display the highest tyrosine kinase EGFR inhibitory potency than the reference Erlotinib. The active compounds 5g, 5f, and 5e were subjected to in silico pharmacokinetic assessment by SWISS, ADME, and pkCSM. The three compounds, 5g, 5f, and 5e, followed Lipinski, Veber, Egan, and Muegge rules without any deviation.
Study on the Influence of Coupling Polycondensation of Coal Liquefaction Residue and Biomass to Produce Carbon Materials
Authors: Luo Huafeng , Gao Long , Qin Zhizhen , Wei Zheng
Published: December 2024

The coal liquefaction residue has been extensively used in the synthesis of various carbon materials. They still exist low density and strength. To improve these properties, a method of preparing high density and strength carbon materials by coupling coal liquefaction residue with biomass is proposed. Three kinds of biomass are added to the coal liquefaction residue, to attain the purpose of preparing carbon materials. The results show that different biomasses have a greater impact on the pyrolysis of coal liquefaction residue, and there is a synergistic effect between both. The maximum pyrolysis rate shifts to the low temperature segment. The different biomass can promote the increase of coal liquefaction residue polymerization yield, and the maximum growth rate is 7.52% compared with single pyrolysis. The density of carbides made from diverse biomass and coal liquefaction residues have increased significantly, the structure is denser, the whole is “rock”, and the maximum density is 1.98 g/cm3, which has reached the industrial metallurgical coke standard. The microcrystalline structure of carbides is arranged regularly and tends to graphitization. The different biomass can narrow the sulfur content of polymers and carbides, and the minimum sulfur content is 1.33%.
Carboxymethyl Chitosan‐based Biodegradable Films Preparation and Prospects for Food Preservation
Authors: Pk. Md. Elius Hosen , Islam Md. Monarul , Akter Rabeya , Nesa Fajilatun , Rahman Mohammad Mahbubur , Paul Trisha , Mustafi Sonjida , Karim Md. Rezaul , Rahman Shofiur , Alodhayb Abdullah N. , Vasquez‐Guardado Erick S. , Albrithen Hamad
Published: December 2024

In this study, carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS)‐based biodegradable films were prepared by blending with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in water and characterized for their potential application as innovative food packaging materials. Blends of CMCS and PVA polymer solutions were cast and dried at 50 °C for 48 hours to obtain a flexible and transparent film. The films were prepared at different composition and were characterized using various techniques including Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), tensile strength (TS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Thermogravimetric analysis (TG). The FTIR analysis confirmed the successful incorporation of carboxymethyl groups into the chitosan molecules, indicating the modification of chitosan. XRD pattern indicates an amorphous phase of the CMCS films. SEM images of the film surfaces show a uniform structure containing no cracks or holes revealing that both PVA and CMCS had good compatibility and unique film‐forming ability. The CMCS/PVA films demonstrated superior performance compared to conventional synthetic packaging materials, with a low water vapor transmission rate (53.46 g/m2/h), good tensile strength (10.8 MPa), and elongation at break (20.36%). Practical application tests showed that coating green chilies with CMCS/PVA films reduced water loss by 20% compared to uncoated chilies, effectively enhancing their shelf life.
The Effect of the Heating Process on the Warm Deformation Behavior and Microstructure of Medium Mn Steel
Authors: Li Zhenjiang , Zhang Ruyi , Luo Chao , Du Shiwen , Qi Huiping , Yang Wen
Published: December 2024

This study investigates the effects of heating processes on the microstructure and deformation behavior of medium Mn steel during warm deformation. The samples treated by austenitization maintain an austenitic microstructure during deformation, which transforms into martensite upon cooling to room temperature. In contrast, the room‐temperature microstructure of samples deformed by direct heating to the deformation temperature is dependent on the deformation temperature: deformation above Ac3 results in a martensitic microstructure; deformation within the intercritical range (Ac1–Ac3) produces a mixture of ferrite, martensite, and austenite; and deformation below Ac1 yields a microstructure of ferrite and carbides at room temperature. When the microstructure only contains austenite during deformation, medium Mn steel exhibits excellent work‐hardening capability, characterized by a gradual increase in work hardening with strain until a dynamic balance between hardening and softening. Conversely, when ferrite is present in the microstructure during deformation, the flow behavior is dominated by ferrite, resulting in poor work‐hardening capability, with peak stress reached at low strain, followed by dynamic softening. Microstructure and stress–strain curve analyses reveal that, below 640 °C, ferrite exhibits higher strength than austenite. At 640 °C, the strengths of ferrite and austenite are approximately equal; above this temperature, austenite surpasses ferrite in strength.
The Sub‐Acute Potential Risk of Oxamyl in Male Albino Rats
Authors: Salama Maher S. , Osman Khaled A. , Elbanna Rania
Published: December 2024

The current study aimed to investigate the sub‐acute effects of oxamyl on male Albino rats following oral administration of either 0.031 or 0.31 mg/kg/day for 14 consecutive days. The findings demonstrated that oxamyl produced a significant impact on most of the examined blood profile and biomarkers, along with a significant progressive and discernible alterations in the histology of organs. According to the results obtained, the potential mechanisms by which oxamyl causes its toxic effects on rats are identified as the inflammation indices, the inhibition of transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, and antioxidant enzymes, as well as the production of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs) in organs following oxamyl treatment based on histopathological examinations. Due to the substantial genetic similarities between rats and humans, it is therefore anticipated that oxamyl will have comparable detrimental effects on humans.
Zebrafish and Drosophila as Model Systems for Studying the Impact of Microplastics and Nanoplastics ‐ A Systematic Review
Authors: Sankar Sudharsan , Chandrasekaran Natarajan , Meivelu Moovendhan  , Parvathi Venkatachalam Deepa
Published: December 2024

Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) are byproducts of plastics created to benefit humanity, but improper disposal and inadequate recycling have turned them into a global menace that we can no longer conceal. As they interact with all living organisms, including humans, their mechanism of interaction and their perilous impact must be meticulously investigated. To uncover the secrets of MNPs, there must be model systems that exist to interlink the two major scenarios: they must represent the environmental impact and be relevant to humans. Therefore, zebrafish and Drosophila are perfect to describe these two cases, as they are well studied and relatable to humans. In this review, 39% zebrafish studies reported higher mortality and hatching rates at greater MNP concentrations, severe oxidative stress as seen by raised malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and reduced superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. About 50% of studies showed severe neurotoxic behavior with drop of locomotor activity, suggesting neurotoxicity. MNPs have a significant impact on fertility rate of Drosophila. More than half of the studies revealed genotoxicity in Drosophila as observed by wing spot assays and modified genomic expressions associated with stress and detoxification processes. These findings emphasize the potential of MNPs to bioaccumulate, impair physiological systems, and cause oxidative and neurobehavioral damage. This study underscores the importance for thorough risk evaluations of MNPs and their environmental and health consequences.
Portulaca oleracea Extract Ameliorates Testosterone Propionate‐Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Male Sprague‐Dawley Rats
Authors: Lim Young‐Ju , Kim Hye Rim , Lee Seul Bi , Kim Sang Back , Kim Dong‐Hee , So Jae‐Hyun , Kang Kyung‐Ku , Sung Soo‐Eun , Choi Joo‐Hee , Sung Minkyoung , Lee Yeon‐Ji , Park Wook‐Tae , Lee Gun Woo , Kim Seul‐Ki , Seo Min‐Soo
Published: December 2024

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a distressing health problem that can cause serious complications in aging men. Androgens are implicated in the causation of BPH. Portulaca oleracea (PO) is a natural product with diverse pharmacological effects. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of PO in a rat model of testosterone propionate (TP)‐induced BPH and explore the underlying mechanisms. Thirty‐five Sprague‐Dawley (SD) rats were divided into the following equal groups (n = 7): normal control (NC) group, TP (3 mg/kg) group, finasteride (10 mg/kg) group, 25 and 50 mg/kg PO groups.

At the end of the experiment, the body weights (BWs) of the rats were measured before they were euthanized to the establishment obtain serum and prostate weight (PW). TP‐induced levels of androgen‐related proteins in the prostate were also investigated. In the TP group, prostate size, BW, serum DHT level, prostate epithelial cell thickness and androgen‐related protein level were higher than those in the NC group (p < 0.001). PO reversed TP‐induced BPH in a dose‐dependent manner (p < 0.01) and its effect was similar to that of finasteride. A similar effect of PO on the androgen‐related protein level was also observed. We successfully established a TP‐induced BPH rat model. This is the first study to demonstrate that inhibition of androgen‐related proteins using PO can alleviate BPH.
Risk of venous thromboembolic complications in pregnant trauma patients: A matched cohort study
Authors: Huang Wei , Cho Edward , Lewis Meghan , Siletz Anaar , Jin Feifei , Demetriades Demetrios
Published: December 2024

Background

Trauma and pregnancy are both risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE). We hypothesized that pregnant blunt trauma patients would have a higher incidence of VTE complications compared with matched nonpregnant females.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using National Trauma Data Bank data from 2017 to 2022. Female patients with blunt mechanism, age between 15 and 50 years old, were eligible for inclusion. Patients who presented as transfers, hospitalized for less than 72 h, discharged against medical advice, injury severity score <9, or abbreviated injury scale = 6 of any region were excluded. Pregnant patients were matched 1:2 with nonpregnant female patients by age, injury characteristics, comorbidities, and type and timing of chemical VTE prophylaxis. The primary outcomes were the incidences of VTE, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and pulmonary embolism (PE). Secondary outcomes included other complications and length of stay.

Results

We included 735 pregnant and 1470 matched nonpregnant controls. The median time to initiate chemical VTE prophylaxis was 33 h in pregnant and 34 h in nonpregnant patients (p = 0.42). The incidence of VTE in pregnant blunt trauma patients was 27 (3.7%) versus 45 (3.1%) in matched controls (p = 0.446). There were no significant differences in DVT, PE, or any other complication or mortality or in ICU or hospital length of stay. Unplanned admissions to the ICU were significantly more frequent in pregnant patients (3.8% vs. 2.2% and p = 0.026).

Conclusion

The incidence of VTE complications was similar in pregnant and matched nonpregnant female blunt trauma patients in this retrospective cohort study, supporting the safety of current VTE prophylaxis practices in pregnant patients.
Case Study 3: A Recent Riddle: The Story of the Two Fisherboys
Authors: Tummers Anna , Wallert Arie , De Keyser Nouchka
Published: December 2024

The painting Two Fisherboys has long caused confusion among experts: Is it an original Frans Hals? Or rather a forgery? A close comparison of the painting with both a forgery by Han van Meegeren and Frans Hals’s Fisherboy solved the conundrum while providing valuable insights into the merits and drawback of modern analytical techniques.
Connoisseurship and Smart Tools
Authors: G. Erdmann Robert , Tummers Anna , Grison Marie-Noëlle
Published: December 2024

As the Frans Hals & Co case study (see Chap. 6) comprises six huge paintings and the new techniques used to study these yield enormous amounts of data, it soon became clear that data science and computer tools would make a substantial difference in facilitating and enhancing the analysis. It was the reason to start the Seed Money Project 21st Century Connoisseurship: Smart Tools for the Analysis of Seventeenth-Century Paintings (2018–2022), funded by the Netherlands Institute for Conservation, Art and Science (NICAS). Building on very high resolution photographs and advanced technical analyses, online computer tools are causing a turning point in the early twenty-first century. For the first time in history, it has become easier to study paintings online than offline. This chapter focuses on the different computer tools that have been developed and adjusted to the study the large amount of data generated in the context of the Frans Hals or not Frans Hals project and discusses their respective applications.
Assessing and Contextualizing Site-Specific Landslide Risk in the Philippines
Authors: Cordero Cathleen Joyce , Gesmundo Kenneth , Daag Arturo
Published: December 2024

As an attempt to understand and reflect on the unique circumstances of communities in assessing landslide risk, the Dynaslope Project, under the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS), conducts community landslide risk assessment (CLRA). It is a participatory process of assessing landslide hazards, exposure, vulnerabilities, and capacities of at-risk communities. CLRA includes hazard assessment, participatory community workshops, focus group discussions, and surveys. Risk components are assessed, and results are integrated through a semi-quantitative method that utilizes a scoring system with equivalent categorical labels, i.e., low, moderate, and high, to classify each risk component and the overall landslide risk. It was first conducted in four project sites. Priorities of the communities are taken into account in the assessment by letting them identify and validate the elements-at-risk, vulnerability, and capacity indicators, and the corresponding weights used in the scoring system. The results are presented in household-level risk maps and landslide risk assessment reports. Participatory identification of risk indicators helps in drawing out different community contexts which is useful in developing site-specific risk management strategies and actions.
The 6th World Landslide Forum (WLF6), Florence, 2023
Authors: Tofani Veronica , Sassa Kyoji , Canuti Paolo , Bandecchi Anna Elisa , Gargini Elisa , Casagli Nicola
Published: December 2024

The 6th World Landslide Forum “Landslides Science for sustainable development” (WLF6; https://wlf6.org) was held in Florence from November 14 to 17, 2023. The Forum was focused on Landslide Science for Sustainable Development, as a contribution to the Kyoto 2020 Commitment for global promotion of understanding and reducing landslide disaster risk (KLC2020). The Forum addressed key aspects related to landslide analysis, landslide monitoring and early warning, landslide modeling, landslide hazard and risk assessment, mitigation techniques, landslide triggering mechanism and climate change. The WLF6 was attended by more than 1200 participants from 61 countries. 853 abstracts were accepted, including 643 oral presentations and 210 e-posters. The 6th World Landslide Forum was awarded the Medal of the President of the Italian Republic, which is awarded for events of great scientific and cultural importance. Furthermore, the Forum was a sustainable event in line with the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Time and Site Prediction of a Potential Large-Scale Landslides and the AR (Augmented Reality) Presentation for Early Warning
Authors: Araki Koichi , Takimoto Keisuke , Yamazaki Yoichi , Loi Doan Huy , Konagai Kazuo , Sassa Kyoji
Published: December 2024

To protect oneself from large-scale landslides, it is crucial to promote evacuation actions by notifying the predicted occurrence time and location of the landslide. This paper reports on an early warning information delivery system called AR presentation for early warning, targeting large-scale landslides induced by heavy rain. The AR presentation for early warning previously registers the landslide occurrence time and the landslide runout extent obtained from simulations. It then determines whether a landslide will occur based on predicted rainfall and displays the predicted landslide occurrence time and landslide runout extent on web browsers using Augmented Reality technology. Using the large-scale landslide in Aranayaka as a case study, it was confirmed through AR presentation for early warning that this landslide occurred 12 h after the predicted start time.
An Approach to Rockfall Hazard Scenarios Based on Earthquake Ground Motion
Authors: Peresan Antonella , Alvioli Massimiliano , Zuccolo Elisa , Vaccari Franco , Badreldin Hazem
Published: December 2024

After an earthquake event, major ground effects include landslides. In Italy, the most common type of earthquake-induced landslides are rockfalls. The assessment of the extent and magnitude of an earthquake-induced landslide event may be of importance for both preparedness and response operations. An earlier work devised a modeling chain including an empirical ground shaking scenario and a three-dimensional model for rockfalls, which can be calibrated and possibly applied in real time after an earthquake event. In this study, we explore the combined use of two physics-based methods for both earthquake and rockfall modeling and their possible contribution towards a better understanding of the triggering mechanisms and characterization of seismically induced rockfalls. Specifically, by modeling a set of ground shaking scenarios, which account for increasingly complex details (including multiple seismic events, as well as point and extended sources) and the related rockfall scenarios, we aim to capture the main spatial patterns of observed rockfalls. Application of the proposed modeling chain suggests an advantage of using multiple sources over a single source, and point sources with respect to approximate extended representations when constrained by limited available data. This follows from the comparison of rockfall trajectory simulations for the Friuli 1976 event in Northern Italy with observed rockfalls induced by the seismic sequence. The obtained results evidence the opportunity of including topographic effects in the ground shaking simulations and highlights the possibility of further investigating the cumulative effect of complex seismic sequences and their influence on modulating landslide susceptibility.
Subsystem QPLEX Calculus
Authors: Dieker Antonius B. , Hackman Steven T.
Published: December 2024

This chapter develops a decomposition technique that can be used to circumvent the curse of dimensionality for counters. It can be viewed as a step towards more general techniques to be presented in subsequent chapters in Part II. The basic idea underlying the decomposition technique applies to QPLEX maps using either simple or advanced transition dynamics. To ease notational burdens, we work with QPLEX maps defined by simple transition dynamics.
Optimality of QPLEX Iterates
Authors: Dieker Antonius B. , Hackman Steven T.
Published: December 2024

This chapter rigorously defines and establishes properties of the compression, multinomial lift, kernel, and QPLEX maps, as well as two new maps, the label conditional independence and multinomial projection maps. We use these properties to establish what we call period-by-period optimality of the QPLEX iterates.
Advanced Transition Dynamics
Authors: Dieker Antonius B. , Hackman Steven T.
Published: December 2024

This chapter extends the QPLEX calculus to a larger universe of abstract models by using model primitives different from those used for simple transition dynamics. We say that such models have advanced transition dynamics. The model primitives extend those for simple transition dynamics in three key ways: general completion categories, flexible routing, and general entity types.
Introduction: Poetic Promises—Austin Meets Nietzsche
Authors: Mills Philip
Published: December 2024

What can poetry bring to the philosophy of language? Little, if we believe John L. Austin’s exclusion of poetry and other so-called parasitic utterances from his consideration in How to Do Things with Words. And he is not the only one to operate such an exclusion as most contemporary (analytic) philosophers of language seem to leave poetic utterances aside (or reduce them to metaphors or fictional utterances). Contra Austin, I believe that Ordinary Language Philosophy (OLP), represented by Ludwig Wittgenstein and Stanley Cavell in addition to Austin and others, has the potential to become a poetic philosophy of language. Poets and literary theorists have been quick to receive and adapt Austin’s speech-act theory to the study of literature and, through this adaptation, have contaminated his theory with the poetic and the literary. What can OLP bring to the study of poetry? And what does OLP look like through the lens of poetry? These questions will guide my reflections throughout this book.
Austin’s Parasites and the Resistance of Poetry
Authors: Mills Philip
Published: December 2024

The performative dimension of language anticipated by Nietzsche and theorised by Austin reveals that our uses of language have effects in the world and that mastering a language is a way of controlling these effects to a certain extent. In Wittgenstein’s words: ‘To understand a language means to have mastered a technique’ (PI 199). Mastering a language is not just a matter of grammar and vocabulary but a pragmatic understanding of how to do things with words. This is Austin’s discovery: when we use language, we are not only describing the world but we are doing something to it. And when we do something, we usually do it with a certain intention that is either located in the action itself or a means to do something else (two of the aspects of Elizabeth Anscombe’s analysis of intention). I will come back to intentionality in Chap. 3 as it is crucial to understand Austin’s distinction between illocutionary and perlocutionary forces. Both forces however show that our uses of language are doing, or failing to do, what we had intended, with varying degrees of intentionality and control.
Metabolomic profile and its association with the diagnosis of prostate cancer: a systematic review
Authors: Salinas Pita Angela Patricia , Mosquera Escudero Mildrey , Jiménez-Charris Eliecer , García-Perdomo Herney Andrés
Published: December 2024

Objective

To determine the association of a metabolomic profile with the diagnosis of localized prostate cancer.

Methods

We conducted a search strategy in MEDLINE (OVID), EMBASE, LILACS, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) from 2008 to the present. We included Clinical trials and analytical and descriptive observational studies that reported metabolite results and metabolite profiles in serum, tissue, urine, and seminal fluid. All studies used metabolomic techniques such as MS and MRI to identify patients with localized prostate cancer compared with patients without cancer. We used QUADAS 2 to assess the risk of bias.

Results

We found 1248 studies with the search strategy. Finally, 14 case–control studies were included. Serum was the primary sample to identify the metabolites. Low concern was found regarding applying the index test and the reference standard in assessing the risk of bias. The metabolites of interest associated with establishing a metabolomic profile in the diagnosis of localized prostate cancer were amino acids, lipids, androgens, estrogens, nucleotides, and histidine metabolism.

Conclusion

Disturbances in the metabolism of fatty acids, amino acids, nucleotides, and steroid hormones were identified, suggesting the presence of localized prostate cancer. Importantly, serum samples showed an increase in amino acid levels. Glutamate and aspartic acid stand out among the amino acids that register high levels. In addition, glycine and serine were consistently decreased metabolites in the three kinds of biological samples analyzed.