bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metabolite Profiling, Biological and Molecular Analyses Validate the Nutraceutical Potential of Green Seaweed Acrosiphonia orientalis for Human Health
Authors: Tanna Bhakti , Yadav Sonam , Patel Manish Kumar , Mishra Avinash
Published: April 2024

Seaweeds have proven to be nutrient-dense and are rich in antioxidants, like phenolics, flavonoids, and other essential metabolites that help to provide their medicinal benefits. Non-targeted metabolite profiling of the tropical green seaweed Acrosiphonia orientalis showed the presence of numerous groups of contents, including sugars, essential amino acids, and fatty acids. Targeted metabolite profiling using HPLC identified 17 amino acids. The extract exhibited a very low half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) dosage for HeLa and Huh-7 cell lines, indicating a high likelihood of anticancer properties. A significant positive correlation was found between biological activities, such as antioxidation, scavenging, and reducing power with the phenolic and flavonoid contents. The extract revealed augmentation of proliferation in selected cervical cells, as it upregulated p53 1.3-fold, and downregulated important cancerous genes such as Cas-3 and DNMT 12- and 8-fold, respectively. An approximate 55-fold downregulation was observed in selected hepatic cell lines. Microarray analysis of hepatic cells indicated 0.27% and 0.07% upregulation of coding and non-coding genes, respectively, and 0.41% and 0.13% downregulation of coding and non-coding genes, respectively. As a consequence, it can be said that A. orientalis has possible medicinal use, such as anticancer activity, and therefore may be an intriguing food component that has potential as a regular dietary supplement.
An Exploratory Study of Issues in Training Facilitators for Online Training in Advance Care Planning: Mixed Methods Research
Authors: Goto Yuko , Miura Hisayuki
Published: April 2024

Advance care planning (ACP) has attracted increasing research attention in recent years. In Japan, extensive training has been conducted to improve communication through workshops, such as role-playing. In training, including trainee-centered work, the facilitator who assists trainee learning plays an important role. However, only a few studies have focused on the training of facilitators. Therefore, we exploratorily analyzed by the mixed method the differences in the approaches of experienced and inexperienced facilitators during workshops and conducted a study that could contribute to facilitator training in the future. We recorded the comments and attitudes of 12 facilitators who participated in ACP training conducted in 2022. Based on analysis of the obtained data, a distinct difference was confirmed in the progression of trainee-based learning, encouragement to deepen learning among trainees, and trainees’ responses to questions. Thus, this study indicated the importance of having the opportunity for fellow facilitators to learn through facilitation with experienced facilitators and involvement in issue awareness.
Development and Validation of a Capillary Zone Electrophoresis–Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method for Simultaneous Quantification of Eight β-Lactam Antibiotics and Two β-Lactamase Inhibitors in Plasma Samples
Authors: Cizmarova Ivana , Mikus Peter , Svidrnoch Martin , Piestansky Juraj
Published: April 2024

Monitoring plasma concentrations of β-lactam antibiotics is crucial, particularly in critically ill patients, where variations in concentrations can lead to treatment failure or adverse events. Standardized antimicrobial regimens may not be effective for all patients, especially in special groups with altered physiological parameters. Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) studies highlight the time-dependent antibacterial activity of these antibiotics, emphasizing the need for personalized dosing. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is essential, requiring rapid and accurate analytical methods for precise determination of drugs in biological material (typically plasma or serum). This study presents a novel capillary zone electrophoresis–tandem mass spectrometry (CZE-MS/MS) method designed for the simultaneous quantification of five penicillin antibiotics, two cephalosporins, one carbapenem, and two β-lactamase inhibitors in a single run. The method involves a simple sample pretreatment—precipitation with organic solvent—and has a run time of 20 min. Optimization of CZE separation conditions revealed that 20 mM ammonium hydrogen carbonate (NH4HCO3) serves as the optimal background electrolyte (BGE). Positive electrospray ionization (ESI) mode, with isopropyl alcohol (IP)/10 mM ammonium formate water solution (50/50, v/v) as the sheath liquid, was identified as the optimal condition for MS detection. Method validation according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guideline for development of bioanalytical methods demonstrated satisfactory selectivity, linearity, recovery, robustness, and stability. The method’s practicality was evaluated using the Blue Applicability Grade Index (BAGI), yielding a score of 77.5. Moreover, the greenness of the proposed method was evaluated by two commonly used metric tools—Analytical GREEnness (AGREE) and Green Analytical Procedure Index (GAPI). The developed CZE-MS/MS method offers a practical and reliable approach for quantifying a broad spectrum of β-lactam antibiotics in plasma. Its ability to simultaneously quantify multiple analytes in a single run, coupled with a straightforward sample pretreatment, positions it as a valuable and prospective tool for TDM in critically ill patients.
Darunavir Nanoformulation Suppresses HIV Pathogenesis in Macrophages and Improves Drug Delivery to the Brain in Mice
Authors: Zhou Lina , Godse Sandip , Sinha Namita , Kodidela Sunitha , Singh Udai , Kumar Santosh
Published: April 2024

Although antiretroviral therapy (ART) can suppress peripheral HIV, patients still suffer from neuroHIV due to insufficient levels of ART drugs in the brain. Hence, this study focuses on developing a poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticle-based ART drug delivery system for darunavir (DRV) using an intranasal route that can overcome the limitation of drug metabolic stability and blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability. The physicochemical properties of PLGA-DRV were characterized. The results indicated that PLGA-DRV formulation inhibits HIV replication in U1 macrophages directly and in the presence of the BBB without inducing cytotoxicity. However, the PLGA-DRV did not inhibit HIV replication more than DRV alone. Notably, the total antioxidant capacity remained unchanged upon treatment with both DRV or PLGA-DRV in U1 cells. Compared to DRV alone, PLGA-DRV further decreased reactive oxygen species, suggesting a decrease in oxidative stress by the formulation. Oxidative stress is generally increased by HIV infection, leading to increased inflammation. Although the PLGA-DRV formulation did not further reduce the inflammatory response, the formulation did not provoke an inflammatory response in HIV-infected U1 macrophages. As expected, in vitro experiments showed higher DRV permeability by PLGA-DRV than DRV alone to U1 macrophages. Importantly, in vivo experiments, especially using intranasal administration of PLGA-DRV in wild-type mice, demonstrated a significant increase in the brain-to-plasma ratio of DRV compared to the free DRV. Overall, findings from this study attest to the potential of the PLGA-DRV nanoformulation in reducing HIV pathogenesis in macrophages and enhancing drug delivery to the brain, offering a promising avenue for treating HIV-related neurological disorders.
Host–Guest Complexation of Itraconazole with Cyclodextrins for Bioavailability Enhancement
Authors: Şuta Lenuţa-Maria , Ridichie Amalia , Ledeţi Adriana , Temereancă Claudia , Ledeţi Ionuţ , Muntean Delia , Rădulescu Matilda , Văruţ Renata-Maria , Watz Claudia , Crăineanu Florentin , Ivan Denisa , Vlase Gabriela , Stelea Lavinia
Published: April 2024

Itraconazole is an antifungal agent included in the triazole pharmacological classification that belongs to the BCS class II, characterized by a low solubility in an aqueous medium (of 1 ng/mL, at neutral pH), which is frequently translated in a low oral bioavailability but with a high permeability. In this sense, it is necessary to find solutions to increase/improve the solubility of itraconazole in the aqueous environment. The main purpose of this study is the preparation and analysis of five different guest–host inclusion complexes containing intraconazole. Initially, a blind docking process was carried out to determine the interactions between itraconazole and the selected cyclodextrins. The second step of the study was to find out if the active pharmaceutical ingredient was entrapped in the cavity of the cyclodextrin, by using spectroscopic and thermal techniques. Also, the antifungal activity of the inclusion complexes was studied to examine if the entrapment of itraconazole influences the therapeutic effect. The results showed that the active substance was entrapped in the cavity of the cyclodextrins, with a molar ratio of 1:3 (itraconazole–cyclodextrin), and that the therapeutic effect was not influenced by the entrapment.
Tribological Performance and Enhancing Mechanism of 3D Printed PEEK Coated with In Situ ZIF-8 Nanomaterial
Authors: Wang Xinchao , Hu Jiale , Liu Jiajia , Liang Yixin , Wu Lan , Geng Tie , Liu Shihua , Guo Yonggang
Published: April 2024

Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) is esteemed as a high-performance engineering polymer renowned for its exceptional mechanical properties and thermal stability. Nonetheless, the majority of polymer-based lubricating materials fail to meet the contemporary industrial demands for motion components regarding high speed, heavy loading, temperature resistance, and precise control. Utilizing 3D printing technology to design and fabricate intricately structured components, developing high-performance polymer self-lubricating materials becomes imperative to fulfill the stringent operational requirements of motion mechanisms. This study introduces a novel approach employing 3D printing technology to produce PEEK with varying filling densities and conducting in situ synthesis of zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8) nanomaterials on its surface to enhance PEEK’s frictional performance. The research discusses the synthetic methodology, characterization techniques, and tribological performance evaluation of in situ synthesized ZIF-8 nanomaterials on PEEK surfaces. The findings demonstrate a significant enhancement in frictional performance of the composite material under low-load conditions, achieving a minimum wear rate of 4.68 × 10−6 mm3/N·m compared to the non-grafted PEEK material’s wear rate of 1.091 × 10−5 mm3/N·m, an approximately 1.3 times improvement. Detailed characterization and analysis of the worn surface of the steel ring unveil the lubrication mechanism of the ZIF-8 nanoparticles, thereby presenting new prospects for the diversified applications of PEEK.
Hydrophilic Modification of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Capillary Membranes with Chemical Resistance by Constructing Three-Dimensional Hydrophilic Networks
Authors: Hou Mingpeng , Li Qiuying , Che Yanchao
Published: April 2024

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) capillary membranes, known for the great chemical resistance and thermal stability, are commonly used in membrane separation technologies. However, the strong hydrophobic property of PTFE limits its application in water filtration. This study introduces a method whereby acrylamide (AM), N, N-methylene bisacrylamide (MBA), and vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES) undergo free radical copolymerization, followed by the hydrolysis-condensation of silane bonds, resulting in the formation of hydrophilic three-dimensional networks physically intertwined with the PTFE capillary membranes. The modified PTFE capillary membranes prepared through this method exhibit excellent hydrophilic properties, whose water contact angles are decreased by 24.3–61.2%, and increasing pure water flux from 0 to 1732.7–2666.0 L/m2·h. The enhancement in hydrophilicity of the modified PTFE capillary membranes is attributed to the introduction of hydrophilic groups such as amide bonds and siloxane bonds, along with an increase in surface roughness. Moreover, the modified PTFE capillary membranes exhibit chemical resistance, maintaining the hydrophilicity even after immersion in strong acidic (3 wt% HCl), alkaline (3 wt% NaOH), and oxidative (3 wt% NaClO) solutions for 2 weeks. In conclusion, this promising method yields modified PTFE capillary membranes with great hydrophilicity and chemical resistance, presenting substantial potential for applications in the field of water filtration.
Unveiling the Nanoconfinement Effect on Crystallization of Semicrystalline Polymers Using Coarse-Grained Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Yang Ji , Chen Yitong , Yang Zhangke , Dai Linjiale , Choi Hongseok , Meng Zhaoxu
Published: April 2024

Semicrystalline polymers under nanoconfinement show distinct structural and thermomechanical properties compared to their bulk counterparts. Despite extensive research on semicrystalline polymers under nanoconfinement, the nanoconfinement effect on the local crystallization process and the unique structural evolution of such polymers have not been fully understood. In this study, we unveil such effects by using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to study the crystallization process of a model semicrystalline polymer—polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)—under different levels of nanoconfinement induced by nanoparticles that are represented implicitly. We quantify in detail the evolution of the degree of crystallinity (XC) of PVA and examine distinct crystalline regions from simulation results. The results show that nanoconfinement can promote the crystallization process, especially at the early stage, and the interfaces between nanoparticles and polymer can function as crystallite nucleation sites. In general, the final XC of PVA increases with the levels of nanoconfinement. Further, nanoconfined cases show region-dependent XC with higher and earlier increase of XC in regions closer to the interfaces. By tracking region-dependent XC evolution, our results indicate that nanoconfinement can lead to a heterogenous crystallization process with a second-stage crystallite nucleation in regions further away from the interfaces. In addition, our results show that even under very high cooling rates, the nanoconfinement still promotes the crystallization of PVA. This study provides important insights into the underlying mechanisms for the intricate interplay between nanoconfinement and the crystallization behaviors of semicrystalline polymer, with the potential to guide the design and characterization of semicrystalline polymer-based nanocomposites.
Nature’s Apostle: The Dove as Communicator in the Hebrew Bible, from Ararat to Nineveh
Authors: Blondheim Menahem , Rosenberg Hananel
Published: April 2024

The dove, the most frequently mentioned bird in the Hebrew Bible, appears in diverse contexts, spanning its appearance as an element in the narrative (as in the case of Noah’s ark), and as an allegory and metaphor (as in the cryptic “sword of the dove”—twice in Jeremiah—and “the city of the dove”—Zephaniah). The dove even appears as the proper name of a prophet (or possibly of two, both named Jonah, son of Amittai). This article applies a communication perspective to better interpret some of these texts. We argue that the dove’s communicative attributes, to include unique acoustics, remarkable power of flight, but primarily the trait of returning home—the basis for the use of doves as carrier pigeons—may either explain or deepen the interpretation of many of the references to the pigeon in the Bible. In this vein, a major focus of the article is on using the dove’s homing ability as a key for reinterpreting the Book of Jonah. We conclude by suggesting that the dove’s trait of returning and, hence, its use as envoy made it a useful symbol of the deity’s presence in the world. In the Jewish reading, it became an emblem of one of the main political and eschatological themes of the Bible: the return home from exile, beginning with the exodus and return of Jacob’s sons to Canaan and ending with the Eschaton.
The First Latin Translation of Li 礼 from the Analects of Confucius: Roman Virtues or Religious Acts?
Authors: Ferrero Michele
Published: April 2024

This article centers around the early translation of the term Li 礼 in the Analects of Confucius (论语). This Latin translation shows that the interpretation of the Confucian term Li 礼 mostly did not include any religious meaning. This article also centers on the personal formation of the Jesuits of that time. Taking Michele Ruggieri as reference, this article details how studies based on the Latin Classics (especially Cicero) provided them with a reference to interpret this term as unrelated to religious worship. When the Jesuits arrived in China, at the end of the Ming dynasty, strong emphasis was given to the proper etiquette towards state officials. This in turn derived from the situation in the imperial court. In this historical environment, the Confucian rites (Li 礼) were interpreted as “good manners”. This article also presents briefly the question of whether for Christians, Li 礼 as a proper social behavior inspired by a particular cultural tradition has any connection with or can be a problem for the rituals of the Christian tradition instituted by Jesus as vehicles of divine grace.
Canopy-Level Spectral Variation and Classification of Diverse Crop Species with Fine Spatial Resolution Imaging Spectroscopy
Authors: Dai Jie , König Marcel , Jamalinia Elahe , Hondula Kelly L. , Vaughn Nicholas R. , Heckler Joseph , Asner Gregory P.
Published: April 2024

With the increasing availability and volume of remote sensing data, imaging spectroscopy is an expanding tool for agricultural studies. One of the fundamental applications in agricultural research is crop mapping and classification. Previous studies have mostly focused at local to regional scales, and classifications were usually performed for a limited number of crop types. Leveraging fine spatial resolution (60 cm) imaging spectroscopy data collected by the Global Airborne Observatory (GAO), we investigated canopy-level spectral variations in 16 crop species from different agricultural regions in the U.S. Inter-specific differences were quantified through principal component analysis (PCA) of crop spectra and their Euclidean distances in the PC space. We also classified the crop species using support vector machines (SVM), demonstrating high classification accuracy with a test kappa of 0.97. A separate test with an independent dataset also returned high accuracy (kappa = 0.95). Classification using full reflectance spectral data (320 bands) and selected optimal wavebands from the literature resulted in similar classification accuracies. We demonstrated that classification involving diverse crop species is achievable, and we encourage further testing based on moderate spatial resolution imaging spectrometer data.
Composite ADRC Speed Control Method Based on LTDRO Feedforward Compensation
Authors: Jin Rencheng , Wang Junwei , Ou Yangyi , Li Jianzhang
Published: April 2024

The performance of the extended state observer (ESO) in an Active Disturbance Rejection Control (ADRC) is limited by the operational load in stepper motor control, which has high real-time requirements and may cause delays. Additionally, the complexity of parameter tuning, especially in high-order systems, further limits the ESO’s performance. This paper proposes a composite ADRC (LTDRO-ADRC) based on a load torque dimensionality reduction observer (LTDRO). Firstly, the LTDRO is designed to estimate abrupt load disturbances that are difficult to compensate for using the ESO. Secondly, the transfer function under the double-closed loop is deduced. Additionally, the LTDRO uses a magnetic encoder to gather the system state and calculate the load torque. It then outputs a compensating current feedforward to the current loop input. This method reduces the delay and complexity of the ESO, improving the response speed of the ADRC speed ring and the overall response of the system to load changes. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate that it significantly enhances dynamic control performance and steady-state errors. LTDRO-ADRC can stabilize the speed again within 49 ms and 17 ms, respectively, in the face of sudden load increase and sudden load removal. At the same time, in terms of steady-state error, compared with ADRC and CADRC, they have increased by 94% and 88%, respectively. In terms of zero-speed starting motors, the response speed is increased by 58% compared to a traditional ADRC.
Effect of Three-Dimensional-Printed Thermoplastics Used in Sensor Housings on Common Atmospheric Trace Gasses
Authors: Mangin Tristalee , Blanchard Evan K. , Kelly Kerry E.
Published: April 2024

Low-cost air quality sensors (LCSs) are becoming more ubiquitous as individuals and communities seek to reduce their exposure to poor air quality. Compact, efficient, and aesthetically designed sensor housings that do not interfere with the target air quality measurements are a necessary component of a low-cost sensing system. The selection of appropriate housing material can be an important factor in air quality applications employing LCSs. Three-dimensional printing, specifically fused deposition modeling (FDM), is a standard for prototyping and small-scale custom plastics production because of its low cost and ability for rapid iteration. However, little information exists about whether FDM-printed thermoplastics affect measurements of trace atmospheric gasses. This study investigates how five different FDM-printed thermoplastics (ABS, PETG, PLA, PC, and PVDF) affect the concentration of five common atmospheric trace gasses (CO, CO2, NO, NO2, and VOCs). The laboratory results show that the thermoplastics, except for PVDF, exhibit VOC off-gassing. The results also indicate no to limited interaction between all of the thermoplastics and CO and CO2 and a small interaction between all of the thermoplastics and NO and NO2.
Digital Twin Meets Knowledge Graph for Intelligent Manufacturing Processes
Authors: Stavropoulou Georgia , Tsitseklis Konstantinos , Mavraidi Lydia , Chang Kuo-I , Zafeiropoulos Anastasios , Karyotis Vasileios , Papavassiliou Symeon
Published: April 2024

In the highly competitive field of material manufacturing, stakeholders strive for the increased quality of the end products, reduced cost of operation, and the timely completion of their business processes. Digital twin (DT) technologies are considered major enablers that can be deployed to assist the development and effective provision of manufacturing processes. Additionally, knowledge graphs (KG) have emerged as efficient tools in the industrial domain and are able to efficiently represent data from various disciplines in a structured manner while also supporting advanced analytics. This paper proposes a solution that integrates a KG and DTs. Through this synergy, we aimed to develop highly autonomous and flexible DTs that utilize the semantic knowledge stored in the KG to better support advanced functionalities. The developed KG stores information about materials and their properties and details about the processes in which they are involved, following a flexible schema that is not domain specific. The DT comprises smaller Virtual Objects (VOs), each one acting as an abstraction of a single step of the Industrial Business Process (IBP), providing the necessary functionalities that simulate the corresponding real-world process. By executing appropriate queries to the KG, the DT can orchestrate the operation of the VOs and their physical counterparts and configure their parameters accordingly, in this way increasing its self-awareness. In this article, the architecture of such a solution is presented and its application in a real laser glass bending process is showcased.
Emotion Classification Based on Pulsatile Images Extracted from Short Facial Videos via Deep Learning
Authors: Talala Shlomi , Shvimmer Shaul , Simhon Rotem , Gilead Michael , Yitzhaky Yitzhak
Published: April 2024

Most human emotion recognition methods largely depend on classifying stereotypical facial expressions that represent emotions. However, such facial expressions do not necessarily correspond to actual emotional states and may correspond to communicative intentions. In other cases, emotions are hidden, cannot be expressed, or may have lower arousal manifested by less pronounced facial expressions, as may occur during passive video viewing. This study improves an emotion classification approach developed in a previous study, which classifies emotions remotely without relying on stereotypical facial expressions or contact-based methods, using short facial video data. In this approach, we desire to remotely sense transdermal cardiovascular spatiotemporal facial patterns associated with different emotional states and analyze this data via machine learning. In this paper, we propose several improvements, which include a better remote heart rate estimation via a preliminary skin segmentation, improvement of the heartbeat peaks and troughs detection process, and obtaining a better emotion classification accuracy by employing an appropriate deep learning classifier using an RGB camera input only with data. We used the dataset obtained in the previous study, which contains facial videos of 110 participants who passively viewed 150 short videos that elicited the following five emotion types: amusement, disgust, fear, sexual arousal, and no emotion, while three cameras with different wavelength sensitivities (visible spectrum, near-infrared, and longwave infrared) recorded them simultaneously. From the short facial videos, we extracted unique high-resolution spatiotemporal, physiologically affected features and examined them as input features with different deep-learning approaches. An EfficientNet-B0 model type was able to classify participants’ emotional states with an overall average accuracy of 47.36% using a single input spatiotemporal feature map obtained from a regular RGB camera.
How Lazy Are Pet Cats Really? Using Machine Learning and Accelerometry to Get a Glimpse into the Behaviour of Privately Owned Cats in Different Households
Authors: Smit Michelle , Corner-Thomas Rene A. , Draganova Ina , Andrews Christopher J. , Thomas David G.
Published: April 2024

Surprisingly little is known about how the home environment influences the behaviour of pet cats. This study aimed to determine how factors in the home environment (e.g., with or without outdoor access, urban vs. rural, presence of a child) and the season influences the daily behaviour of cats. Using accelerometer data and a validated machine learning model, behaviours including being active, eating, grooming, littering, lying, scratching, sitting, and standing were quantified for 28 pet cats. Generalized estimating equation models were used to determine the effects of different environmental conditions. Increasing cat age was negatively correlated with time spent active (p < 0.05). Cats with outdoor access (n = 18) were less active in winter than in summer (p < 0.05), but no differences were observed between seasons for indoor-only (n = 10) cats. Cats living in rural areas (n = 7) spent more time eating than cats in urban areas (n = 21; p < 0.05). Cats living in single-cat households (n = 12) spent more time lying but less time sitting than cats living in multi-cat households (n = 16; p < 0.05). Cats in households with at least one child (n = 20) spent more time standing in winter (p < 0.05), and more time lying but less time sitting in summer compared to cats in households with no children (n = 8; p < 0.05). This study clearly shows that the home environment has a major impact on cat behaviour.
Enhancing Surgical Tool Performance with Alumina-Based Coatings: An Engineering Analysis
Authors: Fragassa Cristiano , Pappalettera Giovanni , Moramarco Vincenzo , Pavlovic Ana , Arru Marco
Published: April 2024

The present study investigates the utilization of ceramic coatings and insulation elements in the context of Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma (CAPP) surgery tools, highlighting how precise engineering modifications can influence surgical precision. The adoption of cold plasma in surgery can be reinforced by material advancements withstanding several specific challenges, including electrical and thermal protection. We explore the potential of alumina (Al2O3), renowned for its high dielectric strength and resistance, as a promising material solution for insulating electrodes. We evaluated the thermal performance of surgical tools concerning different insulation thicknesses. Our findings suggest that Al2O3–based coatings, with their superior characteristics, significantly enhance the usability of cold plasma technology, thus fostering its application in minimally invasive surgery. We examine the implications of these findings for the design of next-generation surgical instruments and propose avenues for future research. This work contributes to the field of biomedical engineering by showcasing the pivotal role of material science in advancing surgical technologies.
Evaluation of Powder- and Extrusion-Based Metal Additive Manufacturing Processes for the Sustainable Fabrication of Spare Parts in Electromobility
Authors: Mahr Alexander , Schütt Thomas , Rosnitschek Tobias , Tremmel Stephan , Döpper Frank
Published: April 2024

Electromobility promises to efficiently mitigate consequences of increasing traffic volume and its accompanied greenhouse gas emissions. On an individual level, electrified bikes allow emission free electrified mobility at moderate costs, and consequently their stock has increased significantly in recent years. This simultaneously increases the demand for spare parts, which are often manufacturer- or application-specific, and due to many variants, challenging to provide for the market. This article evaluates powder-based and extrusion-based metal additive manufacturing of a typical electrified bike component. The overarching objective is to establish a sustainable spare parts supply in the field of electromobility by manufacturing spare parts in a resource-efficient and decentralized manner. This approach aims to eliminate the need for physical storage space and long transport routes for the provision of spare parts, while significantly increasing the service life of e-bikes. The investigation demonstrates how these parts can be additively manufactured function equivalent and with sufficient mechanical properties, also taking economical aspects into account. Furthermore, the needed resources and related environmental consequences for metal-based additive manufacturing spare-part production are compared for both process routes. The results show that both routes are capable of producing spare-parts at comparatively the same mechanical performance, with the mechanical performance of the initial part clearly surpassed. Furthermore, it can be observed that both routes exhibit comparable resource costs, with the powder bed fusion of metals using laser beams showing significantly lower energy and gas costs by more than ten times, but higher material costs that are approximately twice as high as those of atomic diffusion additive manufacturing. Therefore, additive manufacturing offers a promising opportunity to rapidly produce parts in small quantities which are resource efficient.
Effects of Air Pollution on Morphological, Biochemical, DNA, and Tolerance Ability of Roadside Plant Species
Authors: Mehmood Zahid , Yang Hsi-Hsien , Awan Muhammad , Ahmed Usman , Hasnain Ali , Luqman Muhammad , Muhammad Sohaib , Sardar Andleeb , Chan Tsai-Yu , Sharjeel Aleeha
Published: April 2024

Air pollution is a severe problem in the modern world. Urbanization, industrialization, and traffic emit air pollutants such as carbon monoxide (CO), nitrous oxides (NOx), hydrocarbons (HCs), and particulate matter into the environment. Plants can absorb air pollutants through stomata. They adversely affect the various metabolic and physiological processes of plant species. This review describes the impact of air pollution on plant health, morphologically, physiologically, and genetically, and the tolerance ability of plants located along roadside areas. Many morphological effects, like chlorosis, necrosis, leaf area, stomatal clogging, plant productivity, leaf falling, and reduction in flower yield, are observed due to the influence of air pollution. Air pollutants also damage the DNA and affect the biochemicals of the plants, as well as pH, relative water content (RWC), simple sugar, ascorbic acid (AA), total chlorophyll content (TCH), proline, and polyamines. Some plants located under pollution stress can mitigate air pollution. Plants with higher APTI values are more tolerant of air pollution, while those with the lowest APTI values can be used as an indicator of the rate of air pollution. There is much morphological, biochemical, and DNA damage noted in this review. Different strategies can be used to diagnose the effects of air pollution in the future and develop green belts to mitigate air pollution in pollution-stressed areas.
Sustainability of the Technology for Obtaining Thermoplastic Building Materials from Non-Recyclable Mixed Plastic–Paper Packaging Waste
Authors: Ciobanu Romeo C. , Schreiner Cristina , Caramitu Alina R. , Aradoaei Sebastian , Aradoaei Mihaela
Published: April 2024

This paper describes the process used to produce thermoplastic building materials from non-recyclable mixed plastic–paper packaging waste. A first step was dedicated to an innovative and sustainable sterilization technology for non-recyclable waste, based on exposure to microwave radiation in closed air-circulation ovens. Further, composites with different cellulose contents and with two polymer matrices, respectively, were obtained using an injection process, and the samples were subjected to mechanical and physical tests. Due to their superior features, the products based on mixed polypropylene–paper packaging waste may successfully replace the classic polyvinylchloride-based wood–plastic composites. The environmental impact of mixed plastic–paper packaging waste was analyzed, and the sustainability of the thermoplastic technology was demonstrated from an economic and environmental point of view.
Optimising Building Energy and Comfort Predictions with Intelligent Computational Model
Authors: Alghamdi Salah , Tang Waiching , Kanjanabootra Sittimont , Alterman Dariusz
Published: April 2024

Building performance prediction is a significant area of research, due to its potential to enhance the efficiency of building energy management systems. Its importance is particularly evident when such predictions are validated against field data. This paper presents an intelligent computational model combining Monte Carlo analysis, Energy Plus, and an artificial neural network (ANN) to refine energy consumption and thermal comfort predictions. This model addresses various combinations of architectural building design parameters and their distributions, effectively managing the complex non-linear relationships between the response variables and predictors. The model’s strength is demonstrated through its alignment with R2 values exceeding 0.97 for both thermal discomfort hours and energy consumption during the training and testing phases. Validation with field investigation data further confirms its accuracy, demonstrating average relative errors below 2.0% for total energy consumption and below 1.0% for average thermal discomfort hours. In particular, an average underestimation of −12.5% in performance discrepancies is observed when comparing the building energy simulation model with field data, while the intelligent computational model presented a smaller overestimation error (of +8.65%) when validated against the field data. This discrepancy highlights the model’s potential and reliability for the simulation of real-world building performance metrics, marking it as a valuable tool for practitioners and researchers in the field of building sustainability.
The Interrelationship between Pro-Environmental Attitudes and Subjective Well-Being: The Case of Central and Eastern European Countries
Authors: Vaznonis Bernardas , Staugaitis Algirdas Justinas , Vaznonienė Gintarė
Published: April 2024

Scientists and policy makers more often point out that pro-environmental attitudes and behaviour are related to subjective well-being, but there is a lack of deep scientific insights, as well as possible measure analysis, which would promote pro-environmental behaviour but, at the same time, lead to higher subjective well-being. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between pro-environmental attitudes, concerns about climate change, and subjective well-being in Central and Eastern European countries. This study employs descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis to identify subjective well-being predictors in the case of Central and Eastern European countries. This study uses data from European Social Survey (ESS) rounds 4–10, and includes questions on pro-environmental attitudes, climate change cognition, orientation towards materialistic values, and households’ total net income. The conducted research revealed that pro-environmental attitudes were related to higher levels of subjective well-being in different ESS rounds in many Central and Eastern European countries. In addition, there is some evidence that the relationship between pro-environmental attitudes and subjective well-being is weaker among individuals who are more oriented towards materialistic values. According to the results of this study, policy makers should develop policies that not only address environmental problems but also contribute to subjective well-being.
The Fox Trapezoidal Conjecture for Alternating Knots
Authors: Chbili Nafaa
Published: April 2024

A long-standing conjecture due to R. Fox states that the coefficients of the Alexander polynomial of an alternating knot exhibit a trapezoidal pattern. In other words, these coefficients increase, stabilize, then decrease in a symmetric way. A stronger version of this conjecture states that these coefficients form a log-concave sequence. This conjecture has been recently highlighted by J. Huh as one of the most interesting problems on log-concavity of sequences. In this expository paper, we shall review the various versions of the conjecture, highlight settled cases and outline some future directions.
Analytical Methods for Anatoxin-a Determination: A Review
Authors: Plata-Calzado Cristina , Prieto Ana I. , Cameán Ana M. , Jos Angeles
Published: April 2024

Anatoxin-a (ATX-a) is a potent neurotoxin produced by several species of cyanobacteria whose exposure can have direct consequences, including neurological disorders and death. The increasing prevalence of harmful cyanobacterial blooms makes the detection and reliable assessment of ATX-a levels essential to prevent the risk associated with public health. Therefore, the aim of this review is to compile the analytical methods developed to date for the detection and quantification of ATX-a levels alone and in mixtures with other cyanotoxins and their suitability. A classification of the analytical methods available is fundamental to make an appropriate choice according to the type of sample, the equipment available, and the required sensitivity and specificity for each specific purpose. The most widely used detection technique for the quantification of this toxin is liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The analytical methods reviewed herein focus mainly on water and cyanobacterial samples, so the need for validated analytical methods in more complex matrices (vegetables and fish) for the determination of ATX-a to assess dietary exposure to this toxin is evidenced. There is currently a trend towards the validation of multitoxin methods as opposed to single-ATX-a determination methods, which corresponds to the real situation of cyanotoxins’ confluence in nature.
Correction: Hough et al. Fungal Viruses Unveiled: A Comprehensive Review of Mycoviruses. Viruses 2023, 15, 1202
Authors: Hough Bianca , Steenkamp Emma , Wingfield Brenda , Read David
Published: April 2024

In the original publication [...]
Research Progress on Migratory Water Birds: Indicators of Heavy Metal Pollution in Inland Wetland Resources of Punjab, Pakistan
Authors: Shaffique Shifa , Kang Sang-Mo , Ashraf Muhammad Ahsan , Umar Ali , Khan Muhammad Saleem , Wajid Muhammad , Al-Ghamdi Abdullah Ahmed , Lee In-Jung
Published: April 2024

The heavy metal burden on natural freshwater ecosystems is uninterruptedly increasing, which could affect their biodiversity, particularly regarding avian species. Three river barrages were selected for the sampling of water birds from autumn 2021 to spring 2022. Seven heavy metals—nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and manganese (Mn)—were estimated in the hearts and livers of Fulica atra (Common Coot), Anas strepera (Gad-wall), and Anas crecca (Eurasian Teal) (Linnaeus, 1758) by atomic absorption spectrometry. The mean concentrations of metals were found to be significantly (p < 0.05) different among the sam-pling sites, species, and tissues. In the livers of F. atra and A. strepera, respectively, the highest mean concentration among the metals belonged to Zn (521 µg/g), and the lowest belonged to Cd (0.17 µg/g). The concentrations of Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, and Co were highest in A. strepera heart samples. However, the concentrations of Zn, Pb, Cd, and Mn were found to be highest in the livers of F. atra. A comparison between both tissues indicated that the concentration of Ni is significantly (p < 0.05) higher (except for F. atra from Trimmu barrage) in the livers of water birds and that the concentration of Cd is significantly higher in the hearts of water birds. The mean metal concentrations were higher than the background limits reported in various studies, suggesting that the wintering water birds of Pakistan are under a significant load of heavy metal pollution. Histopathological analysis suggested that the observed heavy metals altered the normal histologies of hearts and livers of Fulica atra (Common Coot), Anas strepera (Gadwall), and Anas crecca (Eurasian Teal) sampled from three wetlands of Punjab Pakistan.
Construção de guia educativo para promoção da saúde mental em Agentes Comunitários de Saúde
Authors: Lima Silva Daniela , Santos Maria Elenilda do Milagre Alves dos , Pedrosa Pantoja Jorgeane , Homobono Machado Angélica , Menezes Lima João Paulo , Araújo Cardoso Dias Biatriz , Dias George Alberto da Silva
Published: April 2024

Introdução. O ACS desempenha um papel importante na APS, atuando como membro da Equipe da ESF. Ao compartilhar o mesmo contexto social e cultural da população atendida pela unidade de saúde da família, devido à sua residência no mesmo território de atuação, o ACS enfrenta uma tensão cotidiana que pode impactar negativamente sua saúde mental. Objetivo. Construir uma tecnologia educacional voltada para a saúde mental dos agentes comunitários de saúde vinculadas a uma Estratégia de Saúde da Família de Belém do Pará. Método. Estudo exploratório-metodológico, que foi realizado com os ACS de uma ESF, selecionados por meio da amostragem não probabilística por conveniência. O estudo foi realizado em três fases: exploração da realidade, onde foi realizada uma entrevista com os ACS utilizando o Questionário de Saúde Geral (QSG-12) para avaliar a saúde mental dos ACS; Revisão da literatura, com a leitura crítica do material selecionado e construção da tecnologia, de acordo com as análises das respostas da exploração da realidade. Optou-se por utilizar o software Excel® 2010 para inserção dos dados e elaboração das tabelas, além do BioEstat 5.0 para a realização da análise estatística descritiva, e o GraphPad Prism 5.0 para a criação do gráfico. Resultados. Foram obtidas informações de 17 ACS, que indicam sentir-se emocionalmente cansados no trabalho e demonstram engajamento em práticas saudáveis, além da elaboração de um guia educativo destinado a promover a conscientização sobre saúde mental. Conclusão. O guia capacita esses profissionais com ferramentas tangíveis para cultivar hábitos saudáveis e enfrentar os desafios inerentes à profissão.
Endometrioid Over Kanseri ile Berrak Hücreli Over Kanseri Olan Olguların Prognozlarının Karşılaştırılması
Authors: Yılmaz Sümeyye
Published: April 2024

Amaç: Endometriozis ilişkili kanserler olarak adlandırılan endometrioid over kanseri (EnOK) ve berrak hücreli over kanseri (BHOK) olgularının özellikleri, klinik yaklaşımları ve sağ kalımlarının incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır.
Materyal ve Metod: Ankara Dr. Zekai Tahir Burak Kadın Sağlığı Eğitim Araştırma Hastanesi Jinekolojik Onkoloji Kliniği’nde opere edilmiş endometrioid over kanseri (n=46) ve berrak hücreli over kanseri tanısı alan (n=32) olguların verileri retrospektif olarak hasta dosyalarından tarandı. Demografik, klinikopatolojik ve sağ kalım verileri toplanarak iki grup arasında prognoz karşılaştırıldı.
Bulgular: BHOK grubunda 5 yıllık hastalıksız sağ kalımın EnOK grubuna göre istatistiksel olarak anlamlı düzeyde azaldığı bulundu (p=0.027). Erken evrede (evre 1-2) tanı alan olgularda 5 yıllık hastalıksız sağ kalım ve genel sağ kalımın benzer olduğu görüldü. İleri evrede (evre 3-4) tanı alan BHOK olgularında ise 5 yıllık genel sağ kalımın istatistiksel olarak anlamlı düzeyde azaldığı bulundu (p=0.043). EnOK ve BHOK olgularında benzer oranda endometriozis olduğu görüldü. Endometriozis olan EnOK olgularında 5 yıllık genel sağ kalım ve hastalıksız sağ kalımın daha iyi olduğu, endometriozis olan ve olmayan BHOK olgularında ise 5 yıllık genel sağ kalım ve hastalıksız sağ kalımın farklı olmadığı bulundu.
Sonuç: Endometriozis ilişkili endometrioid over kanserinin prognozu daha iyidir. Erken evrede berrak hücreli over kanseri ve endometrioid over kanserinin prognozlarının benzer olduğu, ileri evrede berrak hücreli over kanserinin prognozunun endometrioid over kanserine göre daha kötü olduğu ve evreden bağımsız berrak hücreli over kanserinin 5 yıllık hastalıksız sağ kalımın endometrioid over kanserinden daha kötü olduğu gözükmektedir.
Dirofilariose em cães
Authors: Silva Larissa de Oliveira , Chucri Thaís Martins , Barbosa André Luiz Silva
Published: April 2024

Dirofilariose é uma enfermidade transmitida por dípteros, mosquitos vetores (como Aedes spp, Anopheles spp e Culex spp). A transmissão ocorre quando um mosquito ingere microfilárias de um animal infectado. As microfilárias se desenvolvem no mosquito e são transmitidas para o hospedeiro canino durante a picada. Os sinais clínicos são tosse, dificuldade respiratória, letargia, diminuição do apetite, perda de peso e insuficiência cardíaca. Os métodos de diagnóstico incluem testes de sangue para detectar detectar a presença de microfilárias ou antígenos do verme e exames de imagem como ecocardiograma e radiografia torácica. O controle de vetores e uso de vermífugos são úteis para evitar a infecção por Dirofilaria immitis. A prevalência varia de acordo com características ambientais e população canina. Regiões com maior presença de mosquitos vetores têm maior risco de infecção.