bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
COVID-19 Infection Induce miR-371a-3p Upregulation Resulting in Influence on Male Fertility
Authors: Goebel Heike , Koeditz Barbara , Huerta Manuel , Kameri Ersen , Nestler Tim , Kamphausen Thomas , Friemann Johannes , Hamdorf Matthias , Ohrmann Timo , Koehler Philipp , Cornely Oliver A. , Montesinos-Rongen Manuel , Nicol David , Schorle Hubert , Boor Peter , Quaas Alexander , Pallasch Christian , Heidenreich Axel , von Brandenstein Melanie
Published: April 2022

In December 2019, the first case of COVID-19 was reported and since then several groups have already published that the virus can be present in the testis. To study the influence of SARS-CoV-2 which cause a dysregulation of the androgen receptor (AR) level, thereby leading to fertility problems and inducing germ cell testicular changes in patients after the infection. Formalin-Fixed-Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) testicular samples from patients who died with or as a result of COVID-19 (n = 32) with controls (n = 6), inflammatory changes (n = 9), seminoma with/without metastasis (n = 11) compared with healthy biopsy samples (n = 3) were analyzed and compared via qRT-PCR for the expression of miR-371a-3p. An immunohistochemical analysis (IHC) and ELISA were performed in order to highlight the miR-371a-3p targeting the AR. Serum samples of patients with mild or severe COVID-19 symptoms (n = 34) were analyzed for miR-371a-3p expression. In 70% of the analyzed postmortem testicular tissue samples, a significant upregulation of the miR-371a-3p was detected, and 75% of the samples showed a reduced spermatogenesis. In serum samples, the upregulation of the miR-371a-3p was also detectable. The upregulation of the miR-371a-3p is responsible for the downregulation of the AR in SARS-CoV-2-positive patients, resulting in decreased spermatogenesis. Since the dysregulation of the AR is associated with infertility, further studies have to confirm if the identified dysregulation is regressive after a declining infection.
Data on Gastrointestinal and Claw Disorders as Possible Predictive Factors in Beef Cattle and Veal Calves’ Health and Welfare
Authors: Magrin Luisa , Contiero Barbara , Cozzi Giulio , Gottardo Flaviana
Published: April 2022

Today, consumers have a growing concern about the welfare of beef cattle, and specific schemes have been proposed to assess their wellbeing during the fattening. On-farm assessments can be integrated and partially replaced by animal-based measures recorded postmortem at the abattoir. Postmortem organ inspection data are of value, as several lesions can be reflective of subclinical diseases not easily detected in the live animal. The present data collection aimed to evaluate the slaughterhouse prevalence and location of hoof, gastric, hepatic, and liver lesions in beef cattle and veal calves and retrospectively associated this information with the animals’ housing and feeding management systems. Individual data on gastrointestinal and claw disorders of beef cattle (bulls and heifers) and veal calves were collected through a postmortem inspection by trained veterinarians directly at the slaughter line. Around 15 animals/batch, belonging to 97 batches of young bulls, 56 batches of beef heifers, and 41 batches of veal calves were inspected in three slaughterhouses located in Northern Italy during 30 sampling days, and information on the animals’ rearing systems were gathered a posteriori from farmer interviews. The implementation of this recording system should promote a continuous improvement of beef cattle management from a health and welfare perspective.
Superheating Control of ORC Systems via Minimum (h,φ)-Entropy Control
Authors: Zhang Jianhua , Pu Jinzhu , Lin Mingming , Ma Qianxiong
Published: April 2022

The Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) is one kind of appropriate energy recovery techniques for low grade heat sources. Since the mass flow rate and the inlet temperature of heat sources usually experience non-Gaussian fluctuations, a conventional linear quadratic performance criterion cannot characterize the system uncertainties adequately. This paper proposes a new model free control strategy which applies the (h,φ)-entropy criterion to decrease the randomness of controlled ORC systems. In order to calculate the (h,φ)-entropy, the kernel density estimation (KDE) algorithm is used to estimate the probability density function (PDF) of the tracking error. By minimizing the performance criterion mainly consisting of (h,φ)-entropy, a new control algorithm for ORC systems is obtained. The stability of the proposed control system is analyzed. The simulation results show that the ORC system under the proposed control method has smaller standard deviation (STD) and mean squared error (MSE), and reveals less randomness than those of the traditional PID control algorithm.
Method of Reduction in Energy Consumption by the Drive Systems of a Mobile Device with a Controlled Gear Ratio
Authors: Bagiński Karol , Credo Wojciech , Wierciak Jakub , Łuczak Sergiusz
Published: April 2022

The degree of autonomy of a battery-powered mobile device depends, among others, on the efficient use of energy by the powered devices. Using an example of electric drive systems of an orthotic robot, the authors present a method of reducing the energy demand of these systems by using a gear with a controlled ratio. The gear ratios are selected on the basis of special graphs illustrating the instantaneous energy consumption during drive operations. The simulation studies proved a possibility of achieving energy savings during the implementation of the robotic functions of the robot as high as 50%. The article presents the course and results of the research as well as the concept of their use while designing electric drive systems for mobile devices.
Synthesis of Chitosan Derivatives and Their Inhibition Effects on Methane Hydrates
Authors: Zhang Yue , Li Zhi , Yang Xiaodeng , Li Tianduo
Published: April 2022

In recent years, the study of natural polymer products such as methane hydrate inhibitors has attracted more and more attention in the scientific research field. In order to achieve environmentally friendly and economical methane hydrate inhibitors with high activity, four chitosan derivatives were successfully synthesized and their methane hydrate inhibition effects were compared with chitosan (CS) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS). Under the conditions of 6 MPa, 1 °C and 400 rpm, the induction time of methane hydrate was prolonged by 7.3 times with the addition of 0.1 wt% CS. It was found that chitosan with high hydrophobicity could effectively prevent methane gas from entering the water solution and reduce the driving force of methane hydrates, resulting in the extension of hydrate induction time. The hydrate inhibition effect of CMCS could be improved by the introduction of hydroxypropyl-3-trimethylamine and N-2-hydroxypropyl-3-isooctyl ether groups based on the enhancement of the molecular hydrophobicity. At the same time, the introduction of the trimethyl quaternary ammonium group increased the ion content in the aqueous solution, which further inhibited the nucleation and growth of methane hydrates. This work is supposed to serve as an inspiration for the further research and development of green kinetic hydrate inhibitors with high-efficiency.
Impact of Educational Attainment on Renewable Energy Use: Evidence from Emerging Market Economies
Authors: Sart Gamze , Bayar Yilmaz , Sezgin Funda Hatice , Danilina Marina
Published: April 2022

Renewable energy has become a crucial factor for circular economies, sustainable development, and the environment given the limited non-renewable energy reserves and global environmental degradation mainly resulting from non-renewable energy use. This study explores the effect of educational attainment and economic growth on renewable energy use in a sample of selected emerging markets over the 2000–2018 period through causality and cointegration analyses. Causality analysis points out a significant unidirectional causality from indicators of educational attainment and economic growth to renewable energy use. In other words, educational attainment indicators and economic growth are significant determinants of renewable energy in the short run. Furthermore, the cointegration analysis ascertains a positive influence of indicators of educational attainment and economic growth on renewable energy use in the long run. The findings of both analyses indicate that educational attainment and economic growth have a significant impact on renewable energy use in the short and long term. Therefore, the policies fostering educational attainment can be used as instruments to increase the share of renewable energy use in total energy consumption.
Smart Energy Management System: Design of a Smart Grid Test Bench for Educational Purposes
Authors: Laayati Oussama , El Hadraoui Hicham , Guennoui Nasr , Bouzi Mostafa , Chebak Ahmed
Published: April 2022

The presented article aims to design an educational test bench setup for smart grids and renewable energies with multiple features and techniques used in a microgrid. The test bench is designed for students, laboratory engineers, and researchers, which enables electrical microgrid system studies and testing of new, advanced control algorithms to optimize the energy efficiency. The idea behind this work is to design hybrid energy sources, such as wind power, solar photovoltaic power, hydroelectric power, hydrogen energy, and different types of energy storage systems such as batteries, pumped storage, and flywheel, integrating different electrical loads. The user can visualize the state of the components of each emulated scenario through an open-source software that interacts and communicates using OPC Unified Architecture protocol. The researchers can test and validate new solutions to manage the energy behavior in the grid using machine learning and optimization algorithms integrated in the software in form of blocks that can be modified and improved, and then simulate the results. A model-based system of engineering is provided, which describes the different requirements and case studies of the designed test bench, respecting the open-source software and the frugal innovation features in which there is use of low-cost hardware and open-source software. The users obtain the opportunity to add new sources and new loads, change software platforms, and communicate with other simulators and equipment. The students can understand the different features of smart grids, such as defect classification, energy forecasting, energy optimization, and basics of production, transmission, and consumption.
Cumulative Emissions of CO2 for Electric and Combustion Cars: A Case Study on Specific Models
Authors: Neugebauer Maciej , Żebrowski Adam , Esmer Ogulcan
Published: April 2022

This work includes calculations of the cumulative CO2 emissions of two comparable cars—the VW Golf VII—one with a combustion engine and the other with an electric motor. Calculation of CO2 emissions was performed, taking into account the stages of production, utilization and use of the above-mentioned vehicles. For the use phase, it was assumed that the total mileage of the car will be 150,000 km over 10 years. For the electric vehicle, calculations were made assuming five different sources of electricity (from coal only, from natural gas only, from PV and wind turbines, an average mix of European power sources and an average mix of Polish power sources; W1–W5 designations, respectively). For individual sources of electricity, cumulative CO2 emissions were taken into account, that is, resulting both from the production of electricity and the use of the resources (for example, technical service per 1 kWh of electricity produced). The obtained results of the analysis show that for the adopted assumptions regarding operation, for variants W2–W5, the use of an electric car results in lower cumulative CO2 emission than a the use of a combustion car. For a combustion car, the value was 37,000 kg-CO2, and for an electric car, depending on the variant, the value was 43, 31, 16, 23 and 34 thousand kg-CO2 for variants W1 to W5, respectively. Based on the emissions results obtained for individual stages of the use of selected vehicles, a comparative analysis of cumulative CO2 emissions was performed. The purpose of this analysis was to determine whether the replacement of an existing combustion car (that has already been manufactured; therefore, this part of the analysis does not include CO2 emissions in the production stage) with a new electric car, which has to be manufactured, therefore associated with additional CO2 emissions, would reduce cumulative CO2 emissions. Considering three adopted average annual car mileages (3000, 7500 and 15,000 km) and the previously described power options (W1–W5), we sought an answer as to whether the use of a new electric car would be burdened with lower cumulative CO2 emissions. In this case we assumed an analysis time of 15 years. For the worst variant from the point of view of CO2 emissions (W1, electricity from coal power sources only), further use of a combustion car is associated with lower cumulative CO2 emissions than the purchase of a new electric car over the entire analyzed period of 15 years. In turn, for the most advantageous variant (W3, electricity from PV or wind power sources) with an annual mileage of 3000 km, the purchase of a new electric car results in higher cumulative CO2 emissions throughout the analyzed period, whereas for an annual milage of 7500 or 15,000 km, replacing the car with an electric car “pays back” in terms of cumulative CO2 emissions after 8.5 or 4 years, respectively.
Sustainable Utilization of Fishery Waste in Bangladesh—A Qualitative Study for a Circular Bioeconomy Initiative
Authors: Mozumder Mohammad , Uddin Mohammad , Schneider Petra , Raiyan MD , Trisha Most. , Tahsin Tabassum , Newase Subeda
Published: April 2022

Living marine resources are limited; therefore, utilizing them sustainably is essential. Not all resources obtained from the sea are used adequately, causing discards, on-board waste, and by-products and waste on land. Recognition of the limited marine resources and increasing environmental pollution has emphasized the need for better utilization of by-products. Waste may include particles of flesh, skin, bones, entrails, shells or liquid stick water. Unfortunately, no fishery waste and by-product management initiatives or projects exist in Bangladesh; by-products are generally thrown into dustbins, ponds, rivers, and the sea. Bangladesh’s fish-processing waste and fishery by-products could be exported, providing a source of foreign currency earnings. Primary and secondary data were collected through documentary analysis, a literature review, and in-depth interviews (n = 129) with fishers and other relevant stakeholders regarding the challenges of Bangladesh’s sustainable fishery by-products and fish-processing waste. The data were analyzed thematically, guided by the most meaningful stories, and show that fish waste, or fishery by-products, should not be considered less valuable than the fish itself but is a precious and profitable resource capable of bringing health, social, economic, and environmental benefits. Our results reveal that fishery waste can expand local communities’, especially fishers’ and other workers’, potential for jobs or alternative income-generating tasks during fishing ban seasons. Finally, suggestions for managing fishery waste and fishery by-products are made to ensure improved and sustainable utilization via a circular bioeconomy.
On the Existence and Stability of a Neutral Stochastic Fractional Differential System
Authors: Ahmad Manzoor , Zada Akbar , Ghaderi Mehran , George Reny , Rezapour Shahram
Published: April 2022

The main purpose of this paper is to investigate the existence and Ulam-Hyers stability (U-Hs) of solutions of a nonlinear neutral stochastic fractional differential system. We prove the existence and uniqueness of solutions to the proposed system by using fixed point theorems and the Banach contraction principle. Also, by using fundamental schemes of fractional calculus, we study the (U-Hs) to the solutions of our suggested system. Besides, we study an example, best describing our main result.
Macro- and Micromechanical Assessment of the Influence of Non-Plastic Fines and Stress Anisotropy on the Dynamic Shear Modulus of Binary Mixtures
Authors: Goudarzy Meisam , Sarkar Debdeep
Published: April 2022

Resonant column tests were carried out on Hostun sand mixed with 5%, 10% and 20% non-plastic fines (defined as grains smaller than 0.075 mm) in order to quantify the combined influence of the void ratio (e), anisotropic stress state (defined as σv′/σh′) and fines content (fc) on the maximum small-strain shear modulus Gmax. A significant reduction in the Gmax with increasing fc was observed. Using the empirical model forwarded by Roesler, the influence of e and σv′/σh′ on Gmax was captured, although the model was unable to capture the influence of varying fines content using a single equation. From the micro-CT images, a qualitative observation of the initial skeletal structure of the ‘fines-in-sand’ grains was performed and the equivalent granular void ratio e* was determined. The e was henceforth replaced by e* in Roesler’s equation in order to capture the variation in fc. The new modification was quantified in terms of the mean square error R2. Furthermore, the Gmax of Hostun sand–fine mixtures was predicted with good accuracy by replacing e with e*. Additionally, a micromechanical interpretation based on the experimental observation was developed.
Efficacy Comparison Study of Human Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) between Heberprot-P® and Easyef® in Adult Zebrafish and Embryo under Presence or Absence Combination of Diabetic Condition and Hyperlipidemia to Mimic Elderly Patients
Authors: Cho Kyung-Hyun , Kim Ju-Hyun , Nam Hyo-Seon , Kang Dae-Jin
Published: April 2022

Recombinant human epidermal growth factor (EGF) has been used to treat adult diabetic foot ulcers and pediatric burns by facilitating wound healing and epithelization, especially for elderly patients. Several formulation types of EGF from different expression hosts are clinically available, such as intralesional injection and topical application. On the other hand, no study has compared the in vivo efficacy of EGF products directly in terms of tissue regeneration and wound healing activity. The present study compared two commercial products, Heberprot-P75® and Easyef®, in terms of their tissue regeneration activity in adult zebrafish and the developmental speed of zebrafish embryos. Fluorescence spectroscopy showed that the two EGF products had different Trp fluorescence emission spectra: Easyef® showed a wavelength of maximum fluorescence (WMF) of 337 nm with weak fluorescence intensity (FI), while Heberprot-P75® showed WMF of 349 nm with a 4.1 times stronger FI than that of Easyef®. The WMF of Heberprot-P75® was quenched by adding singlet oxygen in ozonated oil, while the WMF of Easyef® was not quenched. Treatment with Heberprot-P75® induced greater embryo development speed with a higher survival rate after exposure to EGF in water and microinjection into embryos. Under normal diet (ND) consumption, Heberprot-P75® showed a 1.4 times higher tail fin regeneration activity than Easyef® during seven days from the intraperitoneal injection (10 μL, 50 μg/mL) after amputating the tail fin. Under ND consumption and diabetic condition caused by streptozotocin (STZ) treatment, Heberprot-P75® showed 2.1 times higher tail fin regeneration activity than Easyef® from the same injection and amputation protocol. Under a high-cholesterol diet (HCD) alone, Heberprot-P75® showed 1.2 times higher tail fin regeneration activity than the Easyef® group and PBS group from the same injection and amputation. Under diabetic conditions (STZ-injected) and HCD consumption, the Heberprot-P75® group showed 1.7 and 1.5 times higher tail fin regeneration activity than the Easyef® group and PBS group, respectively, with a distinct and clean regeneration pattern. In contrast, the Easyef® group and PBS group showed ambiguous regeneration patterns with a severe fissure of the tail fin, which is a typical symptom of a diabetic foot. In conclusion, Heberprot-P75® and Easyef® have different Trp fluorescence properties in terms of the WMF and fluorescence quenching. Treatment of Heberprot-P75® induced a greater developmental speed of zebrafish embryos in both water exposure and microinjection. Heberprot-P75® induced significantly higher wound healing and tissue regeneration activity than Easyef® and PBS in the presence or absence of diabetic conditions and cholesterol supplementation.
Health and Mindfulness during the Syndemic of SARS-CoV-2: An Ethnographic Study
Authors: Martínez Guirao Javier Eloy , Antón Hurtado Fina , Sánchez Vera Fulgencio , Tellez Infantes Anastasia
Published: April 2022

SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) has caused physical and mental health problems for a large part of the population. In this context, the practice of mindfulness has become relevant due to its usefulness in channeling and mitigating these problems. The objective of this article is to know the implications of the practice of mindfulness in physical and mental health in this syndemic period throh the perception of its practitioners. To achieve this purpose, we conducted an ethnographic study with fieldwork in three mindfulness training and practice groups. The techniques used were participant observation, open interview and survey. Participant observation was carried out from October 2019 to November 2021. A total of 22 open interviews were conducted. In addition, 44 surveys were carried out on a total population of 54. From the first sessions, 45.5% stated that they had felt beneficial effects on their health, and 100% perceived benefits in different aspects of their mental and physical health. The techniques perceived as most effective were those that focused on the body and emotions. The usefulness of mindfulness in managing the problems derived from the syndemic was unquestionable for 95.4%. In addition, a strong correlation is observed between the time spent practicing mindfulness and the reduction in the impact of the syndemic on the health of the practitioners.
An Improved Groundwater Model Framework for Aquifer Structures of the Quaternary-Formed Sediment Body in the Southernmost Parts of the Mekong Delta, Vietnam
Authors: Hoan Tran Viet , Richter Karl-Gerd , Börsig Nicolas , Bauer Jonas , Ha Nguyen Thi , Norra Stefan
Published: April 2022

The Ca Mau peninsula (CMP) is a key economic region in southern Vietnam. In recent decades, the high demand for water has increased the exploitation of groundwater, thus lowering the groundwater level and leading to risks of degradation, depletion, and land subsidence, as well as salinity intrusion in the groundwater of the whole Mekong Delta region. By using a finite element groundwater model with boundary expansion to the sea, we updated the latest data on hydrogeological profiles, groundwater levels, and exploitation. The basic model setup covers seven aquifers and seven aquitards. It is determined that the inflow along the coastline to the mainland is 39% of the total inflow. The exploitation of the study area in 2019 was 567,364 m3/day. The most exploited aquifers are the upper-middle Pleistocene (qp2–3) and the middle Pliocene (n22), accounting for 63.7% and 24.6%, respectively; the least exploited aquifers are the upper Pleistocene and the upper Miocene, accounting for 0.35% and 0.02%, respectively. In the deeper aquifers, qp2–3 and n22, the change in storage is negative due to the high exploitation rate, leading to a decline in the reserves of these aquifers. These groundwater model results are the calculations of groundwater reserves from the coast to the mainland in the entire system of aquifers in the CMP. This makes groundwater decision managers, stakeholders, and others more efficient in sustainable water resources planning in the CMP and Mekong Delta (MKD).
Understanding Consumer Online Impulse Buying in Live Streaming E-Commerce: A Stimulus-Organism-Response Framework
Authors: Li Mingwei , Wang Qingjin , Cao Ying
Published: April 2022

With the proliferation of live streaming, there is evidence that online impulse buying is becoming an emerging phenomenon. Although many studies have investigated impulse buying in the context of offline shopping and business-to-consumer e-commerce, online impulse buying in live streaming has attracted little attention. In this study, we aim to explore the effect of social presence in live streaming on customer impulse buying based on the stimulus–organism–response framework. The research model presented here identifies pleasure and arousal as the mediation of impulse buying in live streaming. We use the AMOST and IBM SPSS PROCESS software to estimate our model based on data at the minute level from 189 customers, who watched live streaming in the past three months. The results suggest that the social presence of the broadcaster and the social presence of the live streamer positively affect impulse buying directly and indirectly via pleasure and arousal, promoting consumer online impulse buying in live streaming, but the social presence of the viewers has no significant effect on pleasure and arousal. For practice, our results can help policymakers and operators of the live streaming platform alleviate impulse buying in the digital world.
A Comparison of Meeting Physical Activity and Screen Time Recommendations between Canadian Youth Living in Rural and Urban Communities: A Nationally Representative Cross-Sectional Analysis
Authors: Manyanga Taru , Pelletier Chelsea , Prince Stephanie A. , Lee Eun-Young , Sluggett Larine , Lang Justin J.
Published: April 2022

Meeting the physical activity (PA) and recreational screen time recommendations for children and young people is associated with several health benefits. The purpose of this study was to compare the odds of meeting PA and recreational screen time recommendations between the Canadian youth living in urban versus rural communities. We analyzed nationally representative cross-sectional data collected as part of the 2017–2018 cycles of the Canadian Community Health Survey among young people aged 12–17 years. PA and screen time were self-reported. Sex-specific multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds of meeting individual and combined PA and recreational screen time recommendations by rural and urban status after adjusting for individual, socioeconomic, and seasonal covariates. The odds of meeting the PA recommendation were not statistically significantly different among males (OR = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.86–1.18) or females (OR 1.05, 95% CI: 0.99–1.11) living in urban versus rural communities. The odds of meeting the recreational screen time recommendations were statistically significantly lower among male (OR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.65–0.77) and female (OR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.59–0.86) youth living in urban compared to those in rural communities. The odds of meeting the combined PA and screen time recommendations were statistically significantly lower among urban males (OR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.71–0.81) but not females (OR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.58–1.15) than those from rural communities. These findings suggest that residential context (i.e., urban versus rural) may have a differential impact on meeting the combined PA and screen time recommendations among the male and female Canadian youth. Future research should investigate these differences using device-based measures.
Association between Sense of Belonging and Loneliness among the Migrant Elderly Following Children in Jinan, Shandong Province, China: The Moderating Effect of Migration Pattern
Authors: Liu Guangwen , Li Shixue , Kong Fanlei
Published: April 2022

Background: Driven by accelerating population aging and migration, the number of older migrants has increased rapidly in China. Those who moved to cities to look after grandchildren were referred to as the migrant elderly following children (MEFC). This study aims to examine the relationship between sense of belonging and loneliness and explore the moderating effect of migration pattern among the MEFC in China. Methods: The study included 656 MEFC aged 60 years and above. Loneliness was evaluated by the eight-item University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale (ULS-8). Sense of belonging and migration pattern were measured using a self-designed questionnaire. Hierarchical multiple regression was conducted to test the proposed association and moderating effect. A margins plot was introduced to illustrate this effect. Results: The average ULS-8 score was 12.82 ± 4.05, revealing a low level of loneliness. A weak sense of belonging was related with a higher level of loneliness (β = 0.096, p = 0.014). Migration pattern was found to exacerbate this association (β = 0.138, p = 0.026), especially for the elderly who migrated across provinces. Conclusions: Sense of belonging was correlated with loneliness, and the moderating role of migration pattern was established. Both policymakers and the adult children of inter-provincial migrant elderly should focus on this special subgroup.
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Academic Stress and Perceived Classroom Climate in Spanish University Students
Authors: Ruiz-Robledillo Nicolás , Vela-Bermejo Juan , Clement-Carbonell Violeta , Ferrer-Cascales Rosario , Alcocer-Bruno Cristian , Albaladejo-Blázquez Natalia
Published: April 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused several changes in society, especially in the educational context, where several learning methodologies and social interactions have been modified significantly. This fact could have had a negative impact on academic stress levels of students and the classroom climate, especially in the university context. The main aim of the present study was to identify changes in academic stress and the perceived classroom climate caused by COVID-19 in a sample of Spanish university students. Academic stress was evaluated trough the Stressor Academic Scale (SAS) and perceived classroom climate employing the Perceived Classroom Responsibility Climate (PCRC) questionnaire. A longitudinal study was conducted. 135 students (97 females and 38 males) from the Gastronomy (n = 31) and Criminology (n = 104) degrees were evaluated before and after the COVID-19 lockdown in Spain. Academic stress levels and perceived classroom climate were analyzed before (Time 1) and after (Time 2) the lockdown declaration. An increase in academic stress was found, especially in the categories regarding Teachers’ Methodological Deficiencies, Academic Over-Burden and Beliefs About Performances. Females and final year students suffered higher levels of academic stress. No differences were found between Time 1 and 2 in perceived classroom climate. The obtained results point out a significant increase of academic stress in university students due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain. The implemented educational changes and the uncertainty that resulted from the pandemic could have a significant negative impact on mental health in this population, resulting in higher levels of academic stress, especially in females and final year students. Future studies should analyze the strategies that students are employing to cope with these educational challenges and intervention strategies to promote them in the context of higher education.
Depression, Anxiety and Stress in Health Professionals in the COVID-19 Context
Authors: Garcia Gracielle Pereira Aires , Fracarolli Isabela Fernanda Larios , dos Santos Heloisa Ehmke Cardoso , de Oliveira Samuel Andrade , Martins Bianca Gonzalez , Santin Junior Lacir José , Marziale Maria Helena Palucci , Rocha Fernanda Ludmilla Rossi
Published: April 2022

To assess the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress symptoms in health professionals in the COVID-19 pandemic context. Method: Cross-sectional study with non-probabilistic (snow-ball) sampling method. The assessment was performed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and the prevalence of symptoms severity was calculated by point and 95% confidence interval. The analysis of the psychometric properties of DASS-21 was performed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and the following goodness of fit indices: χ2/df (chi-square ratio by degrees of freedom), Tucker–Lewis index (TLI), comparative fit index (CFI) and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) with a 90% confidence interval. Results: The study participants were 529 health professionals (82.4% women and 66.7% nursing professionals). CFA of the DASS-21 structural model presented adequate fit for the sample (χ2/df = 3.530; CFI = 0.979; TLI = 0.976; RMSEA = 0.069). Regarding prevalence, moderate to extremely severe symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress were found in 48.6%, 55.0% and 47.9% of the participants, respectively. Conclusion: The use of DASS-21 confirmed the validity and reliability of the data. The prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress symptoms in the participants indicated a high risk of mental illness in health professionals in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Interaction between Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP) of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF-α) Gene and Plasma Arsenic and the Effect on Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR)
Authors: Fang Yi-Jen , Lin Kuan-Lin , Lee Jyuhn-Hsiarn , Luo Kuei-Hau , Chen Tzu-Hua , Yang Chen-Cheng , Chuang Hung-Yi
Published: April 2022

When poisons enter the human body, tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) will increase and cause damage to tissues through oxidative stress or inflammatory reaction. In previous studies, arsenic (As) has known to cause many health problems. Some studies have shown that As exposure is negatively correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), or with the prevalence of proteinuria. At present, there are few studies focusing on the effects of As exposure and TNF-α single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) to eGFR; thus, this study was intended to explore the interactions between TNF-α SNPs and plasma As and their effects on eGFR. A cohort of 500 adults, aged 30 to 70 years, was randomly selected from Taiwan Biobank (TWB). We used the gene chip to screen out seven SNPs of the TNF-α gene and used the results, combined with questionnaires, biochemical tests, and stored plasma samples from the TWB, for the analysis of As by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). After adjustments for BMI, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, kidney stones, and smoking habits, multiple regression statistics were performed to explore the interaction between SNPs and plasma As with eGFR. In this sample of the general population, plasma As had a significant association with the decline of eGFR (β (SE) = −7.92 (1.70), p < 0.0001). TNF-α gene SNP rs1800629 had the property of regulating TNF-α, which interacts with plasma As; individuals with the AG type had a significantly lower eGFR than those with the GG type, by 9.59 mL/min/1.73 m2 (p < 0.05), which, regarding the dominant model, could infer that the A allele is a risk allele. SNP rs769177 had no interaction with plasma As; however, participants with the TT or TC type had significantly higher eGFR levels than the CC carriers, by 4.02 mL/min/1.73 m2 (p < 0.05). While rs769176 interacted with plasma As, if a person with the TC type had a higher plasma As concentration, that would sustain higher eGFR. This study found that certain SNPs of the TNF-α gene would be robust to the decline of eGFR caused by As exposure. Still, we need further research to confirm the protective regulation mechanism of these SNPs.
The Porcine Odorant-Binding Protein as a Probe for an Impedenziometric-Based Detection of Benzene in the Environment
Authors: Capo Alessandro , Cozzolino Serena , Cavallari Adolfo , Bruno Ugo , Calabrese Alessia , Pennacchio Angela , Camarca Alessandra , Staiano Maria , D’Auria Sabato , Varriale Antonio
Published: April 2022

Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are a group of small and soluble proteins present in both vertebrates and insects. They have a high level of structural stability and bind to a large spectrum of odorant molecules. In the environmental field, benzene is the most dangerous compound among the class of pollutants named BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene). It has several effects on human health and, consequently, it appears to be important to monitor its presence in the environment. Commonly, its detection requires the use of very sophisticated and time-consuming analytical techniques (GC-MS, etc.) as well as the presence of specialized personnel. Here, we present the application of an odorant-binding protein (pOBP) isolated from pigs as a molecular recognition element (MRE) for a low-energy impedenziometric biosensor for outdoor and real-time benzene detection. The obtained results show that the biosensor can detect the presence of 64 pM (5 µg/m3) benzene, the limit value of exposure for human health set by the European Directive 2008/50/EC.
Molecular Aspects of Renal Immunology: Current Status and Future Perspectives
Authors: Eleftheriadis Theodoros , Crespo Marta
Published: April 2022

Kidney transplantation is the most promising treatment available for patients with end-stage kidney disease [...]
Identifying Genetic Biomarkers Predicting Response to Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Injections in Diabetic Macular Edema
Authors: Gurung Rajya L. , FitzGerald Liesel M. , Liu Ebony , McComish Bennet J. , Kaidonis Georgia , Ridge Bronwyn , Hewitt Alex W. , Vote Brendan J. , Verma Nitin , Craig Jamie E. , Burdon Kathryn P.
Published: April 2022

Intraocular anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapies are the front-line treatment for diabetic macular edema (DME); however, treatment response varies widely. This study aimed to identify genetic determinants associated with anti-VEGF treatment response in DME. We performed a genome-wide association study on 220 Australian patients with DME treated with anti-VEGF therapy, genotyped on the Illumina Global Screening Array, and imputed to the Haplotype Reference Consortium panel. The primary outcome measures were changes in central macular thickness (CMT in microns) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA in ETDRS letters) after 12 months. Association between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes and DME outcomes were evaluated by linear regression, adjusting for the first three principal components, age, baseline CMT/BCVA, duration of diabetic retinopathy, and HbA1c. Two loci reached genome-wide significance (p < 5 × 10−8) for association with increased CMT: a single SNP on chromosome 6 near CASC15 (rs78466540, p = 1.16 × 10−9) and a locus on chromosome 12 near RP11-116D17.1 (top SNP rs11614480, p = 2.69 × 10−8). Four loci were significantly associated with reduction in BCVA: two loci on chromosome 11, downstream of NTM (top SNP rs148980760, p = 5.30 × 10−9) and intronic in RP11-744N12.3 (top SNP rs57801753, p = 1.71 × 10−8); one near PGAM1P1 on chromosome 5 (rs187876551, p = 1.52 × 10−8); and one near TBC1D32 on chromosome 6 (rs118074968, p = 4.94 × 10−8). In silico investigations of each locus identified multiple expression quantitative trait loci and potentially relevant candidate genes warranting further analysis. Thus, we identified multiple genetic loci predicting treatment outcomes for anti-VEGF therapies in DME. This work may potentially lead to managing DME using personalized treatment approaches.
Geographical Variability in CYP1B1 Mutations in Primary Congenital Glaucoma
Authors: Shah Manali , Bouhenni Rachida , Benmerzouga Imaan
Published: April 2022

Primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) is a rare type of glaucoma that is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. PCG can lead to blindness if not detected early in children aged 3 or younger. PCG varies in presentation among various populations, where disease presentation and disease severity vary by mutation. The most common gene implicated in PCG is cytochrome p450 1B1 (CYP1B1). Here, we sought to review the literature for mutations in CYP1B1 and their presentation among different populations. Areas of interest include recent findings on disease presentation and potential implications on our understanding of PCG pathophysiology.
Two Modulators of Skeletal Development: BMPs and Proteoglycans
Authors: Koosha Elham , Eames B. Frank
Published: April 2022

During embryogenesis, skeletal development is tightly regulated by locally secreted growth factors that interact with proteoglycans (PGs) in the extracellular matrix (ECM). Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are multifunctional growth factors that play critical roles in cartilage maturation and bone formation. BMP signals are transduced from plasma membrane receptors to the nucleus through both canonical Smad and noncanonical p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. BMP signalling is modulated by a variety of endogenous and exogenous molecular mechanisms at different spatiotemporal levels and in both positive and negative manners. As an endogenous example, BMPs undergo extracellular regulation by PGs, which generally regulate the efficiency of ligand-receptor binding. BMP signalling can also be exogenously perturbed by a group of small molecule antagonists, such as dorsomorphin and its derivatives, that selectively bind to and inhibit the intracellular kinase domain of BMP type I receptors. In this review, we present a current understanding of BMPs and PGs functions in cartilage maturation and osteoblast differentiation, highlighting BMP–PG interactions. We also discuss the identification of highly selective small-molecule BMP receptor type I inhibitors. This review aims to shed light on the importance of BMP signalling and PGs in cartilage maturation and bone formation.
Quantitative Analysis of the Interaction between Wind Turbines and Topography Change in Intertidal Wind Farms by Remote Sensing
Authors: Zhang Huiming , Zhang Dong , Zhou Yong , Cutler Mark E. J. , Cui Dandan , Zhang Zhuo
Published: April 2022

Offshore wind farms have developed rapidly in Jiangsu Province, China, over the last decade. The existence of offshore wind turbines will inevitably impact hydrological and sedimentary environments. In this paper, a digital elevation model (DEM) of the intertidal sandbank in southern Jiangsu Province from 2018 to 2020 was constructed based on the improved remote sensing waterline method. On this basis, the stability of the sandbank was analysed, and combined with the hypothetical sandbank surface discrimination method (HSSDM), the erosional/depositional influences of wind turbine construction on topography were quantitatively analysed. The results show that due to the frequent oscillations of the tidal channels, only 35.03% of the study area has a stable topography, and more than 90% of the wind turbines in all years have a balanced impact on the intensity of topographic change, and all see a small reduction in their impact in the following year. The remaining wind turbines with erosional/depositional impacts are mainly located in areas with unstable topography, but the overall impact of all wind turbines is balanced in 2018–2020. The impact of wind turbines on topography is both erosional and depositional, but the overall intensity of the impact is not significant. This study demonstrates the quantitative effects of wind turbine construction on topography and provides some help for wind turbine construction site selection and monitoring after turbine completion.
Analysis of the Characteristics of Pore Pressure Coefficient for Two Different Hydrate-Bearing Sediments under Triaxial Shear
Authors: Wei Ruchun , Jia Chao , Liu Lele , Wu Nengyou
Published: April 2022

It is important to determine the volumetric change properties of hydrate reservoirs in the process of exploitation. The Skempton pore pressure coefficient A can characterize the process of volume change of hydrate-bearing sediments under undrained conditions during shearing. However, the interrelationship between A value responses and deformation behaviors remain elusive. In this study, effects of hydrate saturation and effective confining pressure on the characteristics of pore pressure coefficient A are explored systematically based on published triaxial undrained compression test data of hydrate-bearing sand and clay-silt sediments. Results show that there is a higher value of the coefficient A with increasing hydrate saturation at small strain stage during shearing. This effect becomes more obvious when the effective confining pressure increases for hydrate-bearing sand sediments rather than hydrate-bearing clayey-silt sediments. An increasing hydrate saturation leads to a reduction in A values at failure. Although A values at failure of sand sediments increase with increasing effective confining pressure, there are no same monotonic effects on clayey-silt specimens. A values of hydrate-bearing sand sediments firstly go beyond 1/3 and then become lower than 1/3 at failure even lower than 0, while that of hydrate-bearing clayey-silt sediments is always larger than 1/3 when the effective confining pressure is high (e.g., >1 MPa). However, when the effective confining pressure is small (e.g., 100 kPa), that behaves similar to hydrate-bearing sand sediments but always bigger than 0. How the A value changes with hydrate saturation and effective confining pressure is inherently controlled by the alternation of effective mean stress.
Combining the Finite Element Analysis and Kriging Model for Study on Laser Surface Hardening Parameters of Pitch Bearing Raceway
Authors: Zhang Hongwei , Zhu Meng , Ji Siqi , Dou Yantao
Published: April 2022

Laser surface hardening is used to improve the fatigue performance of the large diameter pitch bearing. Determination of the process parameters by a trial and error method, depending on the experience of the technician, by changing the parameters repeatedly for each laser surface hardening process is time-consuming and costly. In this paper, a method of analyzing the maximum temperature and depth of a hardened layer during the laser surface hardening process for a pitch bearing raceway of a wind turbine is proposed, which combines finite element simulation and the Kriging model. A three-dimensional finite element model of a pitch bearing ring was established using ABAQUS. The temperature field analysis was performed. The effects of process parameters including laser power, scanning speed, and laser spot radius on the depth of the hardening layer were investigated. Then, taking into account the interactional effects of different process parameters, Kriging models were constructed to reflect the relationship between input process parameters and output responses. The results show that the Kriging approximation model has a small relative error compared with the simulated results and can be used to predict the hardened layer depth.
Preparation of CSHW with Flue Gas Desulfurization Gypsum
Authors: Chen Xuemei , Gao Jianming , Wu Ye , Wu Qihong , Luo Li
Published: April 2022

Calcium sulfate hemihydrate whiskers (CSHW), a multi-functional and high value-added building material, were prepared with flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum by hydrothermal method, which could be a reasonable disposal of FGD gypsum. In order to obtain CSHW of a high aspect ratio, a series of manufacturing parameters such as reaction temperature, stirring speed, material–water ratio, and reaction time were investigated. The effect of stabilizing treatment and glycerol concentration on CSHW morphology were also studied by environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and statistical analysis. The results showed that the optimum preparing conditions of reaction temperature, stirring speed, water–material ratio, and reaction time were 160 °C, 200~300 rpm, 11:1 and 1 h, respectively. Furthermore, stabilizing treatment with octodecyl betaine was necessary for the preparation of CSHW. The final prepared whiskers had smooth surface, uniform morphology, a diameter of 260 nm, and a corresponding aspect ratio of 208.2. Moreover, the addition of glycerol reduced the activity of water, contributing to a lower reaction temperature and much smaller diameter.