bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Origanum dubium Boiss. (Cypriot oregano) Use for the Preservation of Fresh Spearmint Quality and Safety
Authors: Xylia Panayiota , Chrysargyris Antonios , Tzortzakis Nikolaos
Published: June 2024

Very little is known about the preservation and storage of fresh medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) and/or herbs. As with many leafy vegetables, i.e., lettuce, fresh spearmint is a very perishable product throughout the production line and requires special handling/processing. The current study aimed to examine the antibacterial activity of selected MAPs (Origanum dubium, Salvia fruticosa and Sideritis cypria) grown in Cyprus towards foodborne pathogens. Then, the most effective MAPs’ essential oil (EO) and hydrosol (at different doses; combination of concentration and time of dipping submerge) were tested to preserve fresh spearmint quality and safety. The results showed that O. dubium EO and hydrosol presented great in vitro antibacterial activity against four foodborne pathogens and those products were further selected for application on fresh spearmint. During sensory evaluation, it was observed that higher O. dubium EO concentrations and longer time of application resulted into a less marketable product (less acceptable with less spearmint-like aroma), while hydrosol resulted in a more marketable product even at high doses. In general, EO and hydrosol applications increased spearmint’s antioxidants (including polyphenols, flavonoids, and ascorbic acid), resulting in a product of increased nutritional value. The bacterial populations of Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes inoculated on fresh spearmint were decreased with the EO and hydrosol application doses applied, and their effects were evident even after six days of storage at 4 °C. From the findings of this study, it can be concluded that O. dubium EO and hydrosol could be a potential sanitation method for fresh spearmint preservation.
The Evolution of Lesions on Follow-Up Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Proximal Metacarpal Region in Non-Racing Sport Horses That Returned to Work (2015–2023)
Authors: van Veggel Elisabeth C. S. , Vanderperren Katrien , Selberg Kurt T. , Bergman Hendrik-Jan , Hoogelander Brenda
Published: June 2024

Background: This study evaluates the change in an MRI of the proximal metacarpal region in a group of sport horses that returned to work. This retrospective analysis evaluated 18 limbs represented by 17 horses. Results: The hyperintense signal within the dorsal collagenous part of the proximal suspensory ligament (PSL) on T1W/T2*W GRE sequences decreased or stayed the same in the majority of cases. The hyperintense STIR signal within the dorsal collagenous part of the PSL resolved in the majority of the patients, and the third metacarpal bone (McIII) hyperintense STIR signal resolved in all patients. The dorsal margin irregularity of the PSL stayed the same, and McIII sclerosis and resorption of the palmar margin of McIII stayed the same in the majority of cases. McIII hyperintense STIR signal resolution carries a broad time range, with a mean of 94 days and a range of 47–202 days. Conclusions: Complete normalization of the dorsal collagenous part of the PSL does not appear necessary for a return to soundness, but a resolution of the McIII hyperintense STIR signal is expected for horses returning to soundness. A rescan period of 120 days for the proximal metacarpal region is suggested. In addition, there was no significant change in the size of the PSL between the initial and final MRI.
Can a Sacrococcygeal Epidural of 0.25% Bupivacaine Prevent the Activation of the Sympathetic Nervous System during Feline Ovariectomy?
Authors: Martins João , Eliseu António , Campos Sónia , Ribeiro Lénio , Otero Pablo , Cabral Patrícia , Colaço Bruno , dos-Santos José Diogo
Published: June 2024

The ovariectomy (OVE) procedure can trigger somatosensory and visceral peritoneal nociception. Sacrococcygeal epidural (ScE) anesthesia may complement or replace systemic analgesia used for feline OVE, reducing opioid consumption and their related undesirable adverse effects and consequently reducing or completely blocking the sympathetic nervous system activation during this procedure. The present study aimed to evaluate the activation of the sympathetic nervous system resulting from adding an ScE injection of bupivacaine 0.25% (0.3 mL kg−1) in feline OVE and identify whether this translates to hemodynamic variables stability. A Parasympathetic Tone Activity (PTA) monitor was applied given that it performs analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) detecting changes in sympathetic and parasympathetic tone, making it a good tool for detecting activation of the sympathetic nervous system during the study. Two groups of animals were evaluated in five perioperative times, namely, the control group (CG) (n = 18) with systemic analgesia alone and the sacrococcygeal epidural group (ScEG) (n = 20) with 0.25% bupivacaine combined with systemic analgesia. Thirty-eight female cats were selected. All animals assigned to CG and ScEG were premedicated with dexmedetomidine (20 μg kg−1 IM) and methadone (0.2 mg kg−1 IM). General anesthesia was induced with propofol IV ad effectum and maintained with isoflurane in 100% oxygen. Heart rate, non-invasive systolic and median blood pressure, respiratory rate, and instantaneous parasympathetic tone activity were recorded. Compared to systemic analgesia alone (CG), sacrococcygeal epidural (ScEG) reduced the rise of common hemodynamic variables but did not prevent sympathetic nervous system activation.
Supporting Measures to Improve Biosecurity within Italian Poultry Production
Authors: Tilli Giuditta , Laconi Andrea , Galuppo Francesco , Grilli Guido , Żbikowski Artur , Amalraj Arthi , Piccirillo Alessandra
Published: June 2024

This paper describes the selection and validation of supporting measures (SMs) aimed at enhancing biosecurity compliance within Italian poultry farms. A tailored methodology, based on a stakeholders’ survey involving farmers and advisors, included a virtual farm tour, group discussion, and farmer coaching. Virtual farm tours and group discussions were delivered during two meetings targeting meat and egg production stakeholders, separately. Coaching was validated in 26 pilot farms (PFs) by assessing farmers’ attitudes towards change (i.e., ADKAR®) and farms’ biosecurity score (i.e., Biocheck.UgentTM) before and after a minimum six-month period. A total of 20 out of 26 farmers agreed to implement at least one action plan (AP). Full implementation of the agreed APs was observed in ten farms, while others only partially implemented (n = 7) or did not implement (n = 3) the improvement. Most APs focused on enhancing house hygiene locks (n = 7), followed by bacterial auto-control after cleaning and disinfection (n = 4). Scoring tools indicated minimal or no variations in farmers’ attitudes towards change and farm biosecurity. Virtual farm tours and group discussions were found to be effective in fostering interaction and facilitating the exchange of experiences and knowledge among farmers and stakeholders of poultry production. Coaching indicated that farmers might prefer implementing minor changes possibly influenced by time and cost constraints associated with structural interventions. These limitations could have also impacted the scores of the farmer/farm. The findings of this study provide a foundation for further application of SMs to improve biosecurity in Italian poultry farms.
A Review of the Conservation Status of Shorebirds in Mongolia
Authors: Gombobaatar Sundev , Ususkhjargal Dorj , Yosef Reuven
Published: June 2024

We present the first comprehensive review of 62 migratory shorebird species in Mongolia, covering their ecological status, IUCN assessments at regional or national levels, population trends, threats, and conservation measures. Mongolia hosts a total of 62 shorebird species from twenty-two genera and seven families, with six species classified as globally threatened: the Critically Endangered Sociable Lapwing, the Endangered Siberian Sandplover, the Far Eastern Curlew, the Great Knot, and the Vulnerable Sharp-Tailed Sandpiper. Both national and global IUCN Red List assessments highlight Mongolia’s significance as a breeding and passage migrating site for globally threatened and Near-Threatened shorebirds. Species richness is higher in northern regions compared to the south, with the highest diversity found in areas with complex aquatic ecosystems. Global population trends indicate a decline in 61% of species, with 18% remaining stable, 16% of unknown status, and 5% increasing. At the national level, most species are stable (61%), 34% status is unknown, and 5% are decreasing. Anthropogenic-induced threats, including habitat loss and degradation, pollution, disturbance, and harvesting, pose significant risks to 69% of species, while natural disasters affect 11%. Additionally, 8% of species are impacted by accidental mortality and intrinsic factors, and 5% by changes in native species. Despite these threats, no specific conservation action plans exist for shorebirds in Mongolia. However, general conservation measures are in place, such as environmental and fauna protection laws, regulations on foreign trade in endangered species, and the establishment of protected areas under governmental resolutions. Mongolia also participates in international conventions like the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Ramsar, and Migratory Species (CMS), and has developed national red lists, red books, and publications such as “A Summary Conservation Action Plan for Mongolian Birds”, “Important Bird Areas” to support conservation efforts.
Enhanced Anti-Bacterial Activity of Arachidonic Acid against the Cariogenic Bacterium Streptococcus mutans in Combination with Triclosan and Fluoride
Authors: Melkam Avraham , Sionov Ronit Vogt , Shalish Miriam , Steinberg Doron
Published: June 2024

Dental caries is a global health problem that requires better prevention measures. One of the goals is to reduce the prevalence of the cariogenic Gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus mutans. We have recently shown that naturally occurring arachidonic acid (AA) has both anti-bacterial and anti-biofilm activities against this bacterium. An important question is how these activities are affected by other anti-bacterial compounds commonly used in mouthwashes. Here, we studied the combined treatment of AA with chlorhexidine (CHX), cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), triclosan, and fluoride. Checkerboard microtiter assays were performed to determine the effects on bacterial growth and viability. Biofilms were quantified using the MTT metabolic assay, crystal violet (CV) staining, and live/dead staining with SYTO 9/propidium iodide (PI) visualized by spinning disk confocal microscopy (SDCM). The bacterial morphology and the topography of the biofilms were visualized by high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR-SEM). The effect of selected drug combinations on cell viability and membrane potential was investigated by flow cytometry using SYTO 9/PI staining and the potentiometric dye DiOC2(3), respectively. We found that CHX and CPC had an antagonistic effect on AA at certain concentrations, while an additive effect was observed with triclosan and fluoride. This prompted us to investigate the triple treatment of AA, triclosan, and fluoride, which was more effective than either compound alone or the double treatment. We observed an increase in the percentage of PI-positive bacteria, indicating increased bacterial cell death. Only AA caused significant membrane hyperpolarization, which was not significantly enhanced by either triclosan or fluoride. In conclusion, our data suggest that AA can be used together with triclosan and fluoride to improve the efficacy of oral health care.
Isobolographic Analysis of the Cytoprotective Effect of Dapsone and Cannabidiol Alone or Combination upon Oxygen–Glucose Deprivation/Reoxygenation Model in SH-SY5Y Cells
Authors: Islas-Cortez Marcela , Ríos Camilo , Manzanares Jorge , Díaz-Ruiz Araceli , Pérez-Pastén-Borja Ricardo
Published: June 2024

Oxidative stress and apoptosis cell death are critical secondary damage mechanisms that lead to losing neighboring healthy tissue after cerebral ischemia. This study aims to characterize the type of interaction between dapsone (DDS) and cannabidiol (CBD) and its cytoprotective effect in an in vitro model of oxygen and glucose deprivation for 6 h followed by 24 h of reoxygenation (OGD/R), using the SH-SY5Y cell line. For the combined concentrations, an isobolographic study was designed to determine the optimal concentration–response combinations. Cell viability was evaluated by measuring the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and 3-[4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl]-2, 5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays. Also, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were analyzed as oxidative stress markers. Finally, caspase-3 activity was evaluated as a marker cell death by apoptosis. The results showed a decrease in cell viability, an increase in oxidant stress, and the activity of caspase-3 by the effect of OGD/R. Meanwhile, both DDS and CBD demonstrated antioxidant, antiapoptotic, and cytoprotective effects in a concentration–response manner. The isobolographic study indicated that the concentration of 2.5 µM of DDS plus 0.05 µM of CBD presented a synergistic effect so that in treatment, cell death due to OGD/R decreased. The findings indicate that DDS–CBD combined treatment may be a helpful therapy in cerebral ischemia with reperfusion.
A Conceptual Model for Depicting the Relationships between Toluene Degradation and Fe(III) Reduction with Different Fe(III) Phases as Terminal Electron Acceptors
Authors: Di He , Zhang Min , Ning Zhuo , He Ze , Liu Changli , Song Jiajia
Published: June 2024

Iron reduction is one of the most crucial biogeochemical processes in groundwater for organic contaminants biodegradation, especially in the iron-rich aquifers. Previous research has posited that the reduction of iron and the biodegradation of organic substances occur synchronously, with their processes adhering to specific quantitative relationships. However, discrepancies between the observed values of iron reduction and organic compound degradation during the reaction and their theoretical counterparts have been noted. To find out the relationship between organic substance biodegradation and iron reduction, this study conducted batch experiments utilizing toluene as a typical organic compound and electron donor, with various iron minerals serving as electron acceptors. Results indicate that toluene degradation follows first-order kinetic equations with different degradation rate constants under different iron minerals, but the generation of the iron reduction product Fe(II) was not uniform. Based on these dynamic relationships, a conceptual model was developed, which categorizes the reactions into two phases: the transformation of toluene to an intermediate-state dominated phase and the mineralization of the intermediate-state dominated phase. This model revealed the relationships between toluene oxidation and Fe(II) formation in the toluene biodegradation through iron reduction. The coupling mechanism of toluene degradation and iron reduction was revealed, which is expected to improve our ability to accurately assess the attenuation of organic contaminants in groundwater.
Eco-Friendly Preservation of Pharaonic Wooden Artifacts using Natural Green Products
Authors: Geweely Neveen S. , Abu Taleb Amira M. , Grenni Paola , Caneva Giulia , Atwa Dina M. , Plaisier Jasper R. , Ibrahim Shimaa
Published: June 2024

The biodeterioration of wooden cultural heritage is a severe problem worldwide and fungi are the main deteriorating agents. The identification of effective natural products, safer for humans and the environment, is a current challenge. Ten deteriorated archaeological objects (a wooden statue of a seated man, an anthropoid wooden coffin with a cartonnage mummy of Nespathettawi, and a wooden box of Padimen’s son), stored at the Egyptian museum in Cairo, were considered here. The wood species of the three most deteriorated objects were previously identified as Acacia nilotica, Ficus sycomorus, and Tamarix gennessarensis. Twenty-six fungal species were isolated and identified from the wooden objects and the four most frequent species belonged to the genus Aspergillus. Fourteen fungal species among those isolated showed the greatest biodeterioration activity on the experimental wood blocks of the archaeological objects. The antifungal activities of several eco-friendly plant essential oils (from cinnamon, eucalyptus, frankincense, geranium, lavender, lemongrass, menthe, rosemary, tea tree, and thyme) and plant extracts (from basil, eucalyptus, henna, melia, and teak) were tested against the fungal species with the greatest biodeterioration activity. The essential oils (Eos) were more effective than the plant extracts. Thyme EO, followed by geranium and cinnamon ones, was the most active (minimum inhibitory concentrations: 0.25–1 µL/mL). These EO; also showed inhibitory effects on the enzymatic activities (cellulase, amylase, and protease) of the four most dominant fungal species. Thymol and p-cymene were the two main components of thyme oil, while geraniol and beta-citronellol were those of geranium oil; eugenol and caryophyllene were those of the cinnamon EO. Thyme oil applied to the most deteriorated experimental aged A. nilotica wooden cubes inoculated with the four highly frequent fungal species was effective in wood preservation. Moreover, no significant interference was observed in the wood before and after thyme treatment. Thyme oil seems to be a promising eco-friendly antifungal agent for the preservation of archaeological wooden artefacts.
Quantitative Analysis of Spatiotemporal Patterns and Factor Contributions of Surface Ozone in the North China Plain
Authors: Li Yi , Liu Mengjiao , Lv Lingyue , Liang Jinhui , Ma Mingliang , Liu Mengnan , Fu Pingjie
Published: June 2024

Over the past decade, surface ozone has emerged as a significant air pollutant in China, especially in the North China Plain (NCP). For effective ozone management in the NCP, it is crucial to accurately estimate the surface ozone levels and identify the primary influencing factors for ozone pollution in this region. This study utilized ozone precursors such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOX), meteorological data, land cover, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), terrain, and population data to build an extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost)-based ozone estimation model in the NCP during 2019 to 2021. Four ozone estimation models were developed using different NO2 and formaldehyde (HCHO) datasets from the Sentinel-5 TROPOMI observations and Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) reanalysis data. Site-based validation results of these four models showed high accuracy with R2 values above 0.86. Among these four models, two models with higher accuracy and higher spatial coverage ratio were selected, and their results were averaged to produce the final ozone estimation products. The results indicated that VOCs and NOX were the two main pollutants causing ozone pollution in the NCP, and their relative contributions accounted for more than 23.34% and 10.23%, respectively, while HCHO also played a significant role, contributing over 5.64%. Additionally, meteorological factors also had a notable impact, contributing 28.63% to ozone pollution, with each individual factor contributing more than 2.38%. The spatial distribution of ozone pollution identified the Hebei–Shandong–Henan junction as a pollution hotspot, with the peak occurring in summer, particularly in June. Therefore, for this hotspot region in the NCP, promoting the reduction in VOCs and NOx can play an important role in the mitigation of O3 pollution and the improvement in air quality in this region.
Physical Simulation-Based Calibration for Quantitative Real-Time PCR
Authors: Zhu Tianyu , Liu Xin , Xiao Xinqing
Published: June 2024

The fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) instrument has been widely used in molecular biology applications, where the reliability of the qPCR performance directly affects the accuracy of its detection results. In this paper, an integrated, physics-based calibration device was developed to improve the accuracy and reliability of qPCR, realizing the calibration of qPCR instruments’ standard curve through physical simulations. With this calibration device, the collected temperature was used as the control signal to alter the fluorescence output, which allowed different probes to simulate the Ct values corresponding to samples with varying initial concentrations. The temperature and optical performance of this calibration device were tested, followed by a comparative analysis comparing the on-machine test results with standard substances to assess the linearity and uniformity of the Ct values of the measured qPCR instrument. It has been proven that this physical calibration device can effectively replace the biochemical standard substance to carry out comprehensive calibration of the temperature and optical parameters of the qPCR instrument and provide a more reliable method for the periodic calibration and quality control of the qPCR instrument. This contributes to the accuracy and reliability of fluorescence qPCR instruments in the field of molecular biology.
Mathematical Evaluation of Direct and Inverse Problem Applied in Breakthrough Models of Metal Adsorption
Authors: Soeiro Wilhamis Fonseca , Moura Carlos Henrique Rodrigues , Dias Camila Santana , Rodrigues Emerson Cardoso , Da Costa Deibson Silva , Viegas Bruno Marques , Estumano Diego Cardoso
Published: June 2024

The treatment of industrial effluents has great environmental and human health importance. The purification of water from polluting components, such as metals and organic compounds, can be considered one of the main applications in this field, with adsorption being one of the main treatment methods. Therefore, with the objective of describing the dynamics of the process in an adsorption column and estimating the parameters involved, in this work, an algorithm for the Method of Lines (MOL) was used in order to numerically solve the model formed by the mass balance in liquid phase, the linear driving force equation (LDF), and the Langmuir isotherm for equilibrium. In addition, a sensitivity analysis of the phenomenon was carried out in relation to the parameters and a subsequent estimation of these was made through the Monte Carlo technique via the Markov chain (MCMC). The validation algorithm was created using data from actual breakthrough curves found in the literature. The experimental data were obtained from the literature for the adsorption of Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni), Zinc (Zn), and Chrome (Cr) ions. Among all the estimates, the one that had the lowest adjustment to the data was that related to zinc metal, which had an R2 equal to 0.8984. For the other metals, the correlation coefficient had a value closer to unity. This demonstrates that, in general, the estimates were good enough to represent the dynamics of adsorption.
Nuclear Medicine Radiological Hot Laboratory Simulation: A Mixed-Method Intervention Study on Immersive Virtual Reality for Sustainable Education
Authors: Marshall Suphalak Khamruang , Sirieak Nantakorn , Karnkorn Pornchanok , Keawtong Virunyupa , Hayeeabdunromae Awatif , Noomad Nadia , Durawee Wanita , Cheewakul Jongwat
Published: June 2024

The traditional training methods in radiological hot laboratories involve significant challenges, including the risk of radiation exposure and the development of radiophobia among learners. Virtual reality (VR) presents an innovative educational solution by simulating realistic hot lab environments and procedures without associated risks. This mixed-method study investigates the efficacy of VR in enhancing cognitive retention and practical skills and reducing radiophobia among students. All participants (video and VR cohorts) were given a pre-test, same-day training post-test, after 1 month, and after 3 months. In the 3-month test, 13% of the control group scored > 80%, and 87% of the VR group scored > 80% (6.69-fold more significant). VR simulated the real-world hot lab more accurately than training videos, resulting in increased confidence and safety. Resulting in the control group (video training), radiophobia decreased by 1.52-fold; in contrast, the VR training group reduced by 2.42-fold. These reductions indicate that VR training was significantly more effective in reducing radiophobia than traditional video training. VR enhanced knowledge retention, reduced radiophobia, increased safety confidence, and reduced fear about pursuing a career in nuclear medicine. Overall, VR created a safer working environment, and RT students responded more positively than the instruction videos. Consequently, a mixed-method study revealed key codes of engagement, easy understanding, memory, safety, confidence, learning experiences, implementation in the curriculum, and getting ready for clinical practice.
Variation in Soil CO2 Fluxes across Land Cover Mosaic in Typical Tundra of the Taimyr Peninsula, Siberia
Authors: Panov Alexey , Prokushkin Anatoly , Korets Mikhail , Putilin Ilya , Zrazhevskaya Galina , Kolosov Roman , Bondar Mikhail
Published: June 2024

Increased warming in the Arctic is of great concern. This is particularly due to permafrost degradation, which is expected to accelerate microbial breakdown of soil organic carbon, with its further release into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide (CO2). The fine-scale variability of CO2 fluxes across highly mosaic Arctic tundra landscapes can provide us with insights into the diverse responses of individual plant communities to environmental change. In the paper, we contribute to filling existing gaps by investigating the variability of CO2 flux rates within different landscape units for dominant vegetation communities and plant species across typical tundra of the southern part of the Taimyr Peninsula, Siberia. In general, the variability of soil CO2 flux illustrates a four-fold increase from non-vascular vegetation, mainly lichens and mosses (1.05 ± 0.36 µmol m−2 s−1), towards vascular plants (3.59 ± 0.51 µmol m−2 s−1). Barren ground (“frost boils”) shows the lowest value of 0.79 ± 0.21 µmol m−2 s−1, while considering the Arctic “browning” phenomenon, a further substantial increase of CO2 flux can be expected with shrub expansion. Given the high correlation with top soil temperature, well-drained and relatively dry habitats such as barren ground and non-vascular vegetation are expected to be the most sensitive to the observed and projected temperature growth in the Arctic. For mixed vegetation and vascular species that favor wetter conditions, soil moisture appears to play a greater role. Based on the modeled seasonal pattern of soil CO2 flux and precipitation records, and applying the rainfall simulations in situ we outlined the role of precipitation across enhanced CO2 emissions (i.e., the “Birch” effect). We found that a pulse-like growth of soil CO2 fluxes, observed within the first few minutes after rainfall on vegetated plots, reaches 0.99 ± 0.48 µmol m−2 s−1 per each 1 mm of precipitation, while barren ground shows 55–70% inhibition of CO2 emission during the first several hours. An average additive effect of precipitation on soil CO2 flux may achieve 7–12% over the entire growing season, while the projected increased precipitation regime in the Arctic may strengthen the total CO2 release from the soil surface to the atmosphere during the growing season.
Exploring Spatial–Temporal Patterns of Air Pollution Concentration and Their Relationship with Land Use
Authors: Gianquintieri Lorenzo , Mahakalkar Amruta Umakant , Caiani Enrico Gianluca
Published: June 2024

Understanding the spatial–temporal patterns of air pollution is crucial for mitigation strategies, a task fostered nowadays by the generation of continuous concentration maps by remote sensing technologies. We applied spatial modelling to analyze such spatial–temporal patterns in Lombardy, Italy, one of the most polluted regions in Europe. We conducted monthly spatial autocorrelation (global and local) of the daily average concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, O3, NO2, SO2, and CO from 2016 to 2020, using 10 × 10 km satellite data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), aggregated on districts of approximately 100,000 population. Land-use classes were computed on identified clusters, and the significance of the differences was evaluated through the Wilcoxon rank-sum test with Bonferroni correction. The global Moran’s I autocorrelation was overall high (>0.6), indicating a strong clustering. The local autocorrelation revealed high–high clusters of PM2.5 and PM10 in the central urbanized zones in winter (January–December), and in the agrarian southern districts in summer and autumn (May–October). The temporal decomposition showed that values of PMs are particularly high in winter. Low–low clusters emerged in the northern districts for all the pollutants except O3. Seasonal peaks for O3 occurred in the summer months, with high–high clusters mostly in the hilly and mildly urban districts in the northwest. These findings elaborate the spatial patterns of air pollution concentration, providing insights for effective land-use-based pollution management strategies.
Auscultation-Based Pulmonary Disease Detection through Parallel Transformation and Deep Learning
Authors: Khan Rehan , Khan Shafi Ullah , Saeed Umer , Koo In-Soo
Published: June 2024

Respiratory diseases are among the leading causes of death, with many individuals in a population frequently affected by various types of pulmonary disorders. Early diagnosis and patient monitoring (traditionally involving lung auscultation) are essential for the effective management of respiratory diseases. However, the interpretation of lung sounds is a subjective and labor-intensive process that demands considerable medical expertise, and there is a good chance of misclassification. To address this problem, we propose a hybrid deep learning technique that incorporates signal processing techniques. Parallel transformation is applied to adventitious respiratory sounds, transforming lung sound signals into two distinct time-frequency scalograms: the continuous wavelet transform and the mel spectrogram. Furthermore, parallel convolutional autoencoders are employed to extract features from scalograms, and the resulting latent space features are fused into a hybrid feature pool. Finally, leveraging a long short-term memory model, a feature from the latent space is used as input for classifying various types of respiratory diseases. Our work is evaluated using the ICBHI-2017 lung sound dataset. The experimental findings indicate that our proposed method achieves promising predictive performance, with average values for accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and F1-score of 94.16%, 89.56%, 99.10%, and 89.56%, respectively, for eight-class respiratory diseases; 79.61%, 78.55%, 92.49%, and 78.67%, respectively, for four-class diseases; and 85.61%, 83.44%, 83.44%, and 84.21%, respectively, for binary-class (normal vs. abnormal) lung sounds.
Human Menstrual Blood-Derived Stem Cells Protect against Tacrolimus-Induced Islet Dysfunction via Cystathionine β-Synthase Mediated IL-6/STAT3 Inactivation
Authors: Fu Jiamin , Zhang Qi , Zhang Ning , Zhou Sining , Fang Yangxin , Li Yifei , Yuan Li , Chen Lijun , Xiang Charlie
Published: June 2024

Diabetes imposes a huge burden worldwide. Islet transplantation is an alternative therapy for diabetes. However, tacrolimus, a kind of immunosuppressant after organ transplantation, is closely related to post-transplant diabetes mellitus. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have attracted interest for their potential to alleviate diabetes. In vivo experiments revealed that human menstrual blood-derived stem cells (MenSCs) treatment improved tacrolimus-induced blood glucose, body weight, and glucose tolerance disorders in mice. RNA sequencing was used to analyze the potential therapeutic targets of MenSCs. In this study, we illustrated that cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) contributed to tacrolimus -induced islet dysfunction. Using β-cell lines (MIN6, β-TC-6), we demonstrated that MenSCs ameliorated tacrolimus-induced islet dysfunction in vitro. Moreover, MenSC reduced the tacrolimus-induced elevation of CBS levels and significantly enhanced the viability, anti-apoptotic ability, glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), and glycolytic flux of β-cells. We further revealed that MenSCs exerted their therapeutic effects by inhibiting CBS expression to activate the IL6/JAK2/STAT3 pathway. In conclusion, we showed that MenSCs may be a potential strategy to improve tacrolimus-induced islet dysfunction.
The Impact of Cytokines on Coagulation Profile in COVID-19 Patients: Controlled for Socio-Demographic, Clinical, and Laboratory Parameters
Authors: Milentijević Milica , Katanić Nataša , Joksimović Bojan , Pavlović Aleksandar , Filimonović Jelena , Anđelković Milena , Bojović Ksenija , Elek Zlatan , Ristić Siniša , Vasiljević Miloš , Stevanović Jasmina , Radomirović Danica , Elez-Burnjaković Nikolina , Lalović Nenad , Kulić Milan , Kulić Jovan , Milić Marija
Published: June 2024

Background: Severe coagulation abnormalities are common in patients with COVID-19 infection. We aimed to investigate the relationship between pro-inflammatory cytokines and coagulation parameters concerning socio-demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics. Methods: Our study included patients hospitalized during the second wave of COVID-19 in the Republic of Serbia. We collected socio-demographic, clinical, and blood-sample data for all patients. Cytokine levels were measured using flow cytometry. Results: We analyzed data from 113 COVID-19 patients with an average age of 58.15 years, of whom 79 (69.9%) were male. Longer duration of COVID-19 symptoms before hospitalization (B = 69.672; p = 0.002) and use of meropenem (B = 1237.220; p = 0.014) were predictive of higher D-dimer values. Among cytokines, higher IL-5 values significantly predicted higher INR values (B = 0.152; p = 0.040) and longer prothrombin times (B = 0.412; p = 0.043), and higher IL-6 (B = 0.137; p = 0.003) predicted longer prothrombin times. Lower IL-17F concentrations at admission (B = 0.024; p = 0.050) were predictive of higher INR values, and lower IFN-γ values (B = −0.306; p = 0.017) were predictive of higher aPTT values. Conclusions: Our findings indicate a significant correlation between pro-inflammatory cytokines and coagulation-related parameters. Factors such as the patient’s level of education, gender, oxygen-therapy use, symptom duration before hospitalization, meropenem use, and serum concentrations of IL-5, IL-6, IL-17F, and IFN-γ were associated with worse coagulation-related parameters.
The Applicability of Nanostructured Materials in Regenerating Soft and Bone Tissue in the Oral Cavity—A Review
Authors: Muresan Giorgiana Corina , Boca Sanda , Lucaciu Ondine , Hedesiu Mihaela
Published: June 2024

Background and Objectives: Two of the most exciting new technologies are biotechnology and nanotechnology. The science of nanostructures, or nanotechnology, is concerned with the development, testing, and use of structures and molecules with nanoscale dimensions ranging from 1 to 100 nm. The development of materials and tools with high specificity that interact directly at the subcellular level is what makes nanotechnology valuable in the medical sciences. At the cellular or tissue level, this might be converted into focused clinical applications with the greatest possible therapeutic benefits and the fewest possible side effects. The purpose of the present study was to review the literature and explore the applicability of the nanostructured materials in the process of the regeneration of the soft and hard tissues of the oral cavity. Materials and Methods: An electronic search of articles was conducted in several databases, such as PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science, to conduct this study, and the 183 articles that were discovered were chosen and examined, and only 22 articles met the inclusion criteria in this review. Results: The findings of this study demonstrate that using nanoparticles can improve the mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and osteoinductivity of biomaterials. Conclusions: Most recently, breakthroughs in tissue engineering and nanotechnology have led to significant advancements in the design and production of bone graft substitutes and hold tremendous promise for the treatment of bone abnormalities. The creation of intelligent nanostructured materials is essential for various applications and therapies, as it allows for the precise and long-term delivery of medication, which yields better results.
Research Progress on the Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Drug Therapy of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Yang Yixuan , Qiu Lina
Published: June 2024

As the population ages worldwide, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most prevalent kind of neurodegenerative disorder among older people, has become a significant factor affecting quality of life, public health, and economies. However, the exact pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s remains elusive, and existing highly recognized pathogenesis includes the amyloid cascade hypothesis, Tau neurofibrillary tangles hypothesis, and neuroinflammation hypothesis. The major diagnoses of Alzheimer’s disease include neuroimaging positron emission computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and cerebrospinal fluid molecular diagnosis. The therapy of Alzheimer’s disease primarily relies on drugs, and the approved drugs on the market include acetylcholinesterase drugs, glutamate receptor antagonists, and amyloid-β monoclonal antibodies. Still, the existing drugs can only alleviate the symptoms of the disease and cannot completely reverse it. This review aims to summarize existing research results on Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis, diagnosis, and drug therapy, with the objective of facilitating future research in this area.
Endocannabinoid System Changes throughout Life: Implications and Therapeutic Potential for Autism, ADHD, and Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Dallabrida Kamila Gabrieli , de Oliveira Bender Joyce Maria , Chade Ellen Schavarski , Rodrigues Nathalia , Sampaio Tuane Bazanella
Published: June 2024

The endocannabinoid system has been linked to various physiological and pathological processes, because it plays a neuromodulator role in the central nervous system. In this sense, cannabinoids have been used off-label for neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHA), as well as in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a more prevalent neurodegenerative disease. Thus, this study aims, through a comprehensive literature review, to arrive at a better understanding of the impact of cannabinoids in the therapeutic treatment of patients with ASD, ADHD, and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Overall, cannabis products rich in CBD displayed a higher therapeutic potential for ASD children, while cannabis products rich in THC have been tested more for AD therapy. For ADHD, the clinical studies are incipient and inconclusive, but promising. In general, the main limitations of the clinical studies are the lack of standardization of the cannabis-based products consumed by the participants, a lack of scientific rigor, and the small number of participants.
Clear Yet Crossed: Athletes’ Retrospective Reports of Coach Violence
Authors: Zach Sima , Guy Shlomit , Ben-Yechezkel Rinat , Grosman-Rimon Liza
Published: June 2024

Aims: This study aimed at examining coach-athlete violence based on the retrospective reports of adults who had been athletes as children and adolescents; predict variables that contribute to the existence of such violence; describe difficulties that the participants encountered as young athletes following such violence; and reveal the outcomes of such violence on their emotions and behaviors, in the past and present. Methodology: The applied mixed methods comprised quantitative self-reporting questionnaires and qualitative interviews. The former included 440 participants (mean age 27.6) who had trained for at least one year in a sports union youth department; the latter included 14 participants (aged 23–37). These competitive athletes came from eight branches of sports. The interviews were analyzed based on the Narrative Approach. Results: According to the quantitative study, all participants had experienced coach violence at least once during their career, mainly psychological violence and neglect, followed by physical violence. Sexual violence was least reported. The age of their retirement from sports and the number of coaches that they had had were significant predictors of violence. Thematic analysis of the qualitative interviews resulted in six types of coach-athlete violence: (1) psychological violence; (2) verbal violence; (3) starvation and food fattening; (4) non-proportional punishing; (5) physical violence; and (6) sexual violence. Conclusions: It is vital that coach-athlete violence is addressed in public discourse, that the topic of young athletes’ safety is introduced into coaching education, and that a position holder is nominated to be in charge of such safety in all sports organizations.
Assessment of Elaboration and Performance of Rice Husk-Based Thermal Insulation Material for Building Applications
Authors: Rodríguez Neira Karin , Cárdenas-Ramírez Juan Pablo , Rojas-Herrera Carlos Javier , Haurie Laia , Lacasta Ana María , Torres Ramo Joaquín , Sánchez-Ostiz Ana
Published: June 2024

Developing environmentally friendly building materials with low environmental impacts is receiving more attention nowadays to face the global challenges of climate change; building insulation materials made from agricultural waste can be used for their low environmental impact and to generate responsible supplies that utilize natural resources adequately. The study aims to assess a panel made from rice husk using the pulping method. An experimental design established the proportion of rice husk, the percentage of additive (NaOH concentration), boiling time and blending time. Taguchi’s method was applied to investigate the effect on density and thermal conductivity; the final panel with optimum conditions was morphologically analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM); the thermal behavior was studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA); fire reaction and smoldering behavior were analyzed; and characterization in water absorption and acoustic absorption performances were established. The results show thermal conductivity values between 0.037 and 0.042 W/mK, a smoldering velocity of 3.40 mm/min, and a good acoustic absorption coefficient in octave frequency bands between 125 Hz and 4 kHz greater than 0.7. These characteristics are competitive with other insulating bio-based materials available on the market. This study employed chemicals utilized by other biomaterials for the pulping process and in flame retardants. However, it is important to investigate natural treatments or those with a diminished environmental impact.
Cost-Effective Control of Hybrid Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) System Coupled with District Heating
Authors: Xue Tianchen , Jokisalo Juha , Kosonen Risto
Published: June 2024

Hybrid ground source heat pump systems (GSHP) offer energy flexibility in operation. For hybrid GSHP systems coupled with district heating, limited studies investigated control strategies for reducing system energy costs from the perspective of building owners. This study proposed a cost-effective control strategy for a hybrid GSHP system integrated with district heating, investigating how power limits of district heating/GSHP, COP value for control (COPctrl), and control time horizon impact the system annual energy cost, CO2 emissions, and long-term borehole heat exchanger system performance. The simulations were performed using the dynamic building simulation tool IDA ICE 4.8. The results indicate that to realize both the energy cost savings and the long-term operation safety, it is essential to limit the heating power of district heating/GSHP and select an appropriate COPctrl. The control time horizon insignificantly affected the annual energy cost and long-term borehole heat exchanger system performance. The recommended COPctrl was 3.6, which is near the GSHP seasonal performance factor. Eventually, the cost-effective control reduced the system’s annual energy cost by 2.2% compared to the GSHP-prioritized control. However, the proposed control increased the CO2 emissions of the hybrid GSHP system due to the higher CO2 emissions from district heating.
Optimization of Shear Resistance in Precast Concrete Sandwich Wall Panels Using an S-Type Shear Connector
Authors: Tawil Herman , Tan Chee Ghuan , Ramli Sulong Nor Hafizah , Nazri Fadzli Mohamed , Shamsudin Mohd Fazaulnizam , Muhamad Bunnori Norazura
Published: June 2024

Precast concrete sandwich wall panels (PCSPs) are popular for building exteriors due to their high thermal efficiency, composite performance, and low manufacturing and maintenance costs. Researchers have investigated the possibility of reducing the panel thickness while maintaining the cladding components’ thermal efficiency and strength to further improve efficiency and to reduce material consumption. However, limited research has been conducted on the shear bonding of steel plates, which is critical to ensuring durability and energy efficiency. This study investigated the shear behaviour of PCSPs with an S-type shear connector (SSC) through nine push-off tests and non-linear finite element modelling using Abaqus. Parametric studies were carried out to investigate the influence of the geometric properties of the SSC, the yield strength of the steel and the insulation thickness. The results suggest that the maximum secant stiffness for SSCs was achieved at a width of 101.4 mm and a thickness of 2 mm. Therefore, it is recommended that the width of the SSCs be limited to this value or less. Furthermore, the study found that increasing the yield strength of the steel beyond a thickness of 2 mm and a width of 101.4 mm did not improve the results and had a negative impact on the secant stiffness of the SSCs.
Cracking Methods for Testing of Self-Healing Concrete: An Experimental Approach
Authors: Medeiros João Miguel Peres , Di Sarno Luigi
Published: June 2024

With the advent of new sustainable construction materials, self-healing concrete has been used and tested in the last decade, raising the question of the efficacy of said mechanisms to prevent water permeation after crack formation. Thus, new novel mechanical methodologies have been introduced to induce controlled cracks in concrete specimens to improve the standardisation and effectiveness of permeability tests. This research explores those new mechanical techniques to create consistent and reproducible crack patterns, crucial for assessing the efficacy of self-healing mechanisms in concrete. This study systematically evaluates how different crack configurations influence the self-healing ability of the material. Findings from this research are expected to aid in refining testing protocols and to contribute significantly to the field of material science within civil engineering by demonstrating the potential of self-healing concrete to revolutionise building practices.