bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mammary gland, skin and soft tissue tumors in pet cats: findings of the feline tumors collected from 2002 to 2022
Authors: Giugliano Roberta , Dell'Anno Filippo , De Paolis Livia , Crescio Maria Ines , Ciccotelli Valentina , Vivaldi Barbara , Razzuoli Elisabetta
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Cancer is a leading cause of death in cats, and the rate of such disease has been increasing recently. Nonetheless, feline oncology represents an important area of study not only for the health and wellbeing of cats but also for human health since various types of cancer in cats share similarities to those found in humans. Therefore, epidemiological studies on feline oncology may suggest environmental and genetic factors contributing to cancer in cats, which can eventually be translated to improve human cancer care.

Method

To provide an initial understanding of the epidemiology of feline neoplasms, a descriptive study was undertaken using a dataset documenting cases of feline cancer gathered from the Liguria region (northwest Italy) spanning from 2002 to 2022. The database includes tumor location, morphological codes of the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, 3rd Edition (ICD-O-3), feline's breed, sex, neuter status, date of birth, date of diagnosis, national territorial unit code of the town of the owner's residence, and an alphanumeric string uniquely identifying the owner's surname.

Results and discussion

The dataset involves a population of 4,399 cats, including 3,195 females (1,425 neutered) and 1,204 males (750 neutered). Our results indicate that mammary gland tumors are the most represented tumors in the female population, while soft tissue and skin cancers appear to have a higher abundance in the male population during the periods investigated (2002–2022). Moreover, Poisson regression analysis showed that not neutered female cats have a significantly increased risk of developing mammary gland tumors compared to the neutered female population [proportional morbidity ratio (PMR) neutered vs. not neutered = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.47–0.72]; meanwhile, for both sexes, for soft tissue and skin tumors, being neutered appears to be a risk factor (PMR neutered vs. not neutered = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.86–2.73; PMR neutered vs. not neutered = 1.16, 95% CI: 0.89–1.51). Finally, the evaluation of the Ligurian municipalities pollution, based on wild boars data (i.e., biomonitors), which coexisted with cats, was correlated to cancer development for all the tumors investigated (in polluted areas, estimated PMRs ranged from 42.61 to 80.13, 95% CI: 29.94–105.11). Overall, the data presented here suggest the use of the feline population as a possible animal model for human health, i.e., sentinel.
New insights in the diagnosis and treatment of equine piroplasmosis: pitfalls, idiosyncrasies, and myths
Authors: Mendoza Francisco J. , Pérez-Écija Alejandro , Kappmeyer Lowell S. , Suarez Carlos E. , Bastos Reginaldo G.
Published: August 2024

Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is a global tick-borne disease of equids caused by the intraerythrocytic apicomplexan parasites Theileria equi and Babesia caballi, and the more recently discovered Theileria haneyi. These parasites can be transmitted by several tick species, including Dermacentor, Hyalomma, and Rhipicephalus, but iatrogenic and vertical transmission are also common. Clinical signs of EP include poor performance, fever, icterus, abortions, among others, and peracute or acute forms of infection are associated with high mortality in non-endemic areas. EP is a reportable disease and represents an important barrier for the international trade of horses and other equids, causing disruption of international equine sports. Tick control measures, serological and molecular diagnostic methods, and parasiticidal drugs are currently used against EP, while vaccines remain unavailable. Since most acaricides used in equids are non-environmentally friendly and linked to drug resistances, this is considered as an unsustainable approach. Imidocarb dipropionate (ID) and buparvaquone (BPQ) are currently the main drugs used to control the disease. However, while ID has several side and toxic effects and recurrent failures of treatment have been reported, BPQ is less effective in the clearance of T. equi infection and not available in some countries. Thus, novel alternative and effective therapeutics are needed. While current trade regulations require testing equids for EP before exportation, the lack of standardized PCR tests and limitations of the currently recommended serological assays entail a risk of inaccurate diagnosis. Hereby, we propose a combination of standardized PCR-based techniques and improved serological tests to diminish the risks of exporting EP-infected animals making equid international trade safer. In addition, this review discusses, based on scientific evidence, several idiosyncrasies, pitfalls and myths associated with EP, and identifies weaknesses of current methods of control and gaps of research, as initial steps toward developing novel strategies leading to control this disease.
The Impact of Early Brain-Dead Donor Detection in the Emergency Department on the Organ Donation Process in Iran
Authors: Hasanzade Arman , Nejatollahi Seyed Mohammad Reza , Mokhber Dezfouli Mojtaba , Hazrati Mahdieh , Sheikholeslami Soheil , Imani Masoud , Mohseni Bardia , Ghorbani Fariba
Published: August 2024

We aimed to assess the impact of hospital characteristics on the outcomes of detected possible brain-dead donors, in our organ procurement network in Iran. Data was collected through twice-daily calls with 57 hospitals’ intensive care units and emergency departments over 1 year. The donation team got involved when there was suspicion of brain death before the hospital officially declared it. The data was categorized by hospital size, presence of neurosurgery/trauma departments, ownership, and referral site. Out of 813 possible donors, 315 were declared brain dead, and 203 were eligible for donation. After conducting family interviews (consent rate: 62.2%), 102 eligible donors became actual donors (conversion rate: 50.2%). While hospital ownership and the presence of trauma/neurosurgery care did not affect donation, early referral from the emergency department had a positive effect. Therefore, we strongly recommend prioritizing possible donor identification in emergency rooms and involving the organ donation team as early as possible. The use of twice-daily calls for donor identification likely contributed to the consistency in donation rates across hospitals, as this approach involves the donation team earlier and mitigates the impact of hospital characteristics. Early detection of possible donors from the emergency department is crucial in improving donation rates.
Modeling and Control of a Road Wheel Actuation Module in Steer-by-Wire System
Authors: Chung Insu , Choi Jungdai , Nam Kanghyun
Published: August 2024

Since the steer-by-wire system removes the mechanical connection and uses electrical signals to drive the system, it has the disadvantage of being less stable in the failure of parts or systems. Therefore, in this paper, we present a methodology for developing a digital model of the road wheel actuator of the steer-by-wire system. First, the detailed dynamics of the road wheel actuator are analyzed and simplified, and the friction model is estimated and compensated to obtain the equilibrium inertia and damping coefficient of the motor and the road wheel actuator. And to verify the accuracy of the digital model developed based on these parameters, the outputs are compared by giving the same inputs under open-loop control. Furthermore, to solve the problem caused by nonlinear disturbance and model uncertainty, a disturbance observer-based position controller is proposed. The validity of the proposed controller and the validity of the digital model development methodology are confirmed by the results of the position control experiment.
Optimization of Plasma-Propelled Drone Performance Parameters
Authors: Xia Zewei , Ying Yulong , Li Heli , Lin Tong , Yao Yuxuan , Qi Naiming , Huo Mingying
Published: August 2024

Recently, the world’s first plasma-propelled drone was successfully flown, demonstrating that plasma propulsion technology is suitable for drone flight. The research on plasma propulsion drones has sparked a surge of interest. This study utilized a proxy model and the NSGA-II multi-objective genetic algorithm to optimize the geometric parameters based on staggered thrusters that affect the performance of electroaerodynamics (EAD) thrusters used for solid-state plasma aircraft. This can help address key issues, such as the thrust density and the thrust-to-power ratio of solid-state plasma aircraft, promoting the widespread application of plasma propulsion drones. An appropriate sample set was established using Latin hypercube sampling, and the thrust and current data were collected using a customized experimental setup. The proxy model employed a genetically optimized Bayesian regularization backpropagation neural network, which was trained to predict the effects of variations in the geometric parameters of the electrode assembly on the performance parameters of the plasma aircraft. Based on this information, the maximum achievable value for a given performance parameter and its corresponding geometric parameters were determined, showing a significant increase compared to the sample data. Finally, the optimal parameter combination was determined by using the NSGA-II multi-objective genetic algorithm and the Analytic Hierarchy Process. These findings can serve as a basis for future researchers in the design of EAD thrusters, helping them produce plasma propulsion drones that better meet specific requirements.
Productivity and Vigor Dynamics in a Comparative Trial of Hedgerow Olive Cultivars
Authors: Pérez-Rodríguez Juan Manuel , De la Rosa Raúl , León Lorenzo , Lara Encarnación , Prieto Henar
Published: August 2024

The hedgerow growing system is prevalent in new olive orchards worldwide due to its fully mechanized harvesting. Several works have been published to compare cultivars planted in this system, focusing on productivity and oil composition. However, little research has been conducted on the long-term evaluation of cultivars’ growth habits when trained in hedgerow systems and on how it affects their interannual productivity. In this work, we report the canopy growth habit, productivity, and their correlation for the ‘Arbequina’, ‘Arbosana’, ‘Koroneiki’, ‘Lecciana’, ‘Oliana’, and ‘Sikitita’ cultivars grown in a hedgerow system in Extremadura, central-western Spain, for 9 years. ‘Koroneiki’, ‘Arbequina’, and ‘Lecciana’ were the cultivars with the highest canopy growth, both in young and adult trees, and the ones with the highest pruning needs from 5 to 10 years after planting. The yield behavior in each of the years evaluated was stable in all cultivars except ‘Lecciana’. This alternate bearing was associated with the distribution of total yearly produced biomass between fruits and vegetative growth. ‘Oliana’, ‘Arbosana’, and ‘Sikitita’ were the cultivars with the highest proportion of fruit of the total biomass, and ‘Lecciana’ showed the lowest. This study indicates that cultivars with higher fruit proportions of total biomass might have better suitability for long-term growing in hedgerow formation, fewer pruning needs, and more stable productivity across the years. In this sense, in the climatic conditions considered here, ‘Arbosana’, ‘Sikitita’, and ‘Oliana’ could be the most suitable cultivars for this growing system.
Optimizing Orchard Planting Efficiency with a GIS-Integrated Autonomous Soil-Drilling Robot
Authors: Eceoğlu Osman , Ünal İlker
Published: August 2024

A typical orchard’s mechanical operation consists of three or four stages: lining and digging for plantation, moving the seedling from nurseries to the farm, moving the seedling to the planting hole, and planting the seedling in the hole. However, the digging of the planting hole is the most time-consuming operation. In fruit orchards, the use of robots is increasingly becoming more prevalent to increase operational efficiency. They offer practical and effective services to both industry and people, whether they are assigned to plant trees, reduce the use of chemical fertilizers, or carry heavy loads to relieve staff. Robots can operate for extended periods of time and can be highly adept at repetitive tasks like planting many trees. The present study aims to identify the locations for planting trees in orchards using geographic information systems (GISs), to develop an autonomous drilling machine and use the developed robot to open planting holes. There is no comparable study on autonomous hole planting in the literature in this regard. The agricultural mobile robot is a four=wheeled nonholonomic robot with differential steering and forwarding capability to stable target positions. The designed mobile robot can be used in fully autonomous, partially autonomous, or fully manual modes. The drilling system, which is a y-axis shifter driven by a DC motor with a reducer includes an auger with a 2.1 HP gasoline engine. SOLIDWORKS 2020 software was used for designing and drawing the mobile robot and drilling system. The Microsoft Visual Basic.NET programming language was used to create the robot navigation system and drilling mechanism software. The cross-track error (XTE), which determines the distances between the actual and desired holes positions, was utilized to analyze the steering accuracy of the mobile robot to the drilling spots. Consequently, the average of the arithmetic means was determined to be 4.35 cm, and the standard deviation was 1.73 cm. This figure indicates that the suggested system is effective for drilling plant holes in orchards.
Knockdown of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone II Receptor Impairs Ovulation Rate, Corpus Luteum Development, and Progesterone Production in Gilts
Authors: Desaulniers Amy T. , Cederberg Rebecca A. , Lents Clay A. , White Brett R.
Published: August 2024

Reproduction is classically controlled by gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH-I) and its receptor (GnRHR-I) within the brain. In pigs, a second form (GnRH-II) and its specific receptor (GnRHR-II) are also produced, with greater abundance in peripheral vs. central reproductive tissues. The binding of GnRH-II to GnRHR-II has been implicated in the autocrine/paracrine regulation of gonadal steroidogenesis rather than gonadotropin secretion. Blood samples were collected from transgenic gilts, with the ubiquitous knockdown of GnRHR-II (GnRHR-II KD; n = 8) and littermate controls (n = 7) at the onset of estrus (follicular) and 10 days later (luteal); serum concentrations of 16 steroid hormones were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Upon euthanasia, ovarian weight (OWT), ovulation rate (OR), and the weight of each excised Corpus luteum (CLWT) were recorded; HPLC-MS/MS was performed on CL homogenates. During the luteal phase, serum progesterone concentration was reduced by 18% in GnRHR-II KD versus control gilts (p = 0.0329). Age and weight at puberty, estrous cycle length, and OWT were similar between lines (p > 0.05). Interestingly, OR was reduced (p = 0.0123), and total CLWT tended to be reduced (p = 0.0958) in GnRHR-II KD compared with control females. Luteal cells in CL sections from GnRHR-II KD gilts were hypotrophic (p < 0.0001). Therefore, GnRH-II and its receptor may help regulate OR, CL development, and progesterone production in gilts.
Mechanistic Insights into the Biological Effects and Antioxidant Activity of Walnut (Juglans regia L.) Ellagitannins: A Systematic Review
Authors: Mateș Letiția , Banc Roxana , Zaharie Flaviu Andrei , Rusu Marius Emil , Popa Daniela-Saveta
Published: August 2024

Walnuts (Juglans regia L.) are an important source of ellagitannins. They have been linked to positive effects on many pathologies, including cardiovascular disorders, neurodegenerative syndromes, and cancer. The limited bioavailability of ellagitannins prevents them from reaching significant circulatory levels, despite their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and chemopreventive properties. Urolithins are ellagitannin gut microbiota-derived metabolites. They have better intestinal absorption and may be responsible for the biological activities of ellagitannins. Recent evidence showed that walnut ellagitannins and their metabolites, urolithins, could have positive outcomes for human health. This study aims to synthesize the current literature on the antioxidant activity and mechanistic pathways involved in the therapeutic potential of walnut ellagitannins and their metabolites. In the eligible selected studies (n = 31), glansreginin A, pedunculagin, and casuarictin were the most prevalent ellagitannins in walnuts. A total of 15 urolithins, their glucuronides, and sulfate metabolites have been identified in urine, blood, feces, breast milk, and prostate tissue in analyzed samples. Urolithins A and B were associated with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, anticarcinogenic, and anti-aging activities, both in preclinical and clinical studies. Despite the promising results, further well-designed studies are necessary to fully elucidate the mechanisms and confirm the therapeutic potential of these compounds in human health.
Lung EC-SOD Overexpression Prevents Hypoxia-Induced Platelet Activation and Lung Platelet Accumulation
Authors: Colon Hidalgo Daniel , Jordan Mariah , Posey Janelle N. , Burciaga Samuel D. , Nguyen Thi-Tina N. , Sul Christina , Lewis Caitlin V. , Delaney Cassidy , Nozik Eva S.
Published: August 2024

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a progressive disease marked by pulmonary vascular remodeling and right ventricular failure. Inflammation and oxidative stress are critical in PH pathogenesis, with early pulmonary vascular inflammation preceding vascular remodeling. Extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD), a key vascular antioxidant enzyme, mitigates oxidative stress and protects against inflammation and fibrosis in diverse lung and vascular disease models. This study utilizes a murine hypobaric hypoxia model to investigate the role of lung EC-SOD on hypoxia-induced platelet activation and platelet lung accumulation, a critical factor in PH-related inflammation. We found that lung EC-SOD overexpression blocked hypoxia-induced platelet activation and platelet accumulation in the lung. Though lung EC-SOD overexpression increased lung EC-SOD content, it did not impact plasma extracellular SOD activity. However, ex vivo, exogenous extracellular SOD treatment specifically blunted convulxin-induced platelet activation but did not blunt platelet activation with thrombin or ADP. Our data identify platelets as a novel target of EC-SOD in response to hypoxia, providing a foundation to advance the understanding of dysregulated redox signaling and platelet activation in PH and other chronic hypoxic lung diseases.
Heavy Metal Exposure-Mediated Dysregulation of Sphingolipid Metabolism
Authors: Ahmad Shaheer , Single Sierra , Liu Yuelong , Hough Kenneth P. , Wang Yong , Thannickal Victor J. , Athar Mohammad , Goliwas Kayla F. , Deshane Jessy S.
Published: August 2024

Exposure to heavy metals (HMs) is often associated with inflammation and cell death, exacerbating respiratory diseases including asthma. Most inhaled particulate HM exposures result in the deposition of HM-bound fine particulate matter, PM2.5, in pulmonary cell populations. While localized high concentrations of HMs may be a causative factor, existing studies have mostly evaluated the effects of systemic or low-dose chronic HM exposures. This report investigates the impact of local high concentrations of specific HMs (NaAsO2, MnCl2, and CdCl2) on sphingolipid homeostasis and oxidative stress, as both play a role in mediating responses to HM exposure and have been implicated in asthma. Utilizing an in vitro model system and three-dimensional ex vivo human tissue models, we evaluated the expression of enzymatic regulators of the salvage, recycling, and de novo synthesis pathways of sphingolipid metabolism, and observed differential modulation in these enzymes between HM exposures. Sphingolipidomic analyses of specific HM-exposed cells showed increased levels of anti-apoptotic sphingolipids and reduced pro-apoptotic sphingolipids, suggesting activation of the salvage and de novo synthesis pathways. Differential sphingolipid regulation was observed within HM-exposed lung tissues, with CdCl2 exposure and NaAsO2 exposure activating the salvage and de novo synthesis pathway, respectively. Additionally, using spatial transcriptomics and quantitative real-time PCR, we identified HM exposure-induced transcriptomic signatures of oxidative stress in epithelial cells and human lung tissues.
The Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Bee Pollen from Acorn (Quercus acutissima Carr.) and Darae (Actinidia arguta)
Authors: Kwak Jeong-Eun , Lee Joo-Yeon , Baek Ji-Yoon , Kim Sun Wook , Ahn Mok-Ryeon
Published: August 2024

Aging is a complex biological process characterized by a progressive decline in physical function and an increased risk of age-related chronic diseases. Additionally, oxidative stress is known to cause severe tissue damage and inflammation. Pollens from acorn and darae are extensively produced in Korea. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of these components under the conditions of inflammation and oxidative stress remain largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effect of bee pollen components on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages. This study demonstrates that acorn and darae significantly inhibit the LPS-induced production of inflammatory mediators, such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), in RAW 264.7 cells. Specifically, bee pollen from acorn reduces NO production by 69.23 ± 0.04% and PGE2 production by 44.16 ± 0.08%, while bee pollen from darae decreases NO production by 78.21 ± 0.06% and PGE2 production by 66.23 ± 0.1%. Furthermore, bee pollen from acorn and darae reduced active oxygen species (ROS) production by 47.01 ± 0.5% and 60 ± 0.9%, respectively. It increased the nuclear potential of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Moreover, treatment with acorn and darae abolished the nuclear potential of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and reduced the expression of extracellular signal-associated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Specifically, acorn decreased NF-κB nuclear potential by 90.01 ± 0.3%, ERK phosphorylation by 76.19 ± 1.1%, and JNK phosphorylation by 57.14 ± 1.2%. Similarly, darae reduced NF-κB nuclear potential by 92.21 ± 0.5%, ERK phosphorylation by 61.11 ± 0.8%, and JNK phosphorylation by 59.72 ± 1.12%. These results suggest that acorn and darae could be potential antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents.
Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis, Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Epigenetic Alterations in Metabolic Diseases
Authors: Mostafavi Abdolmaleky Hamid , Zhou Jin-Rong
Published: August 2024

Gut dysbiosis, resulting from an imbalance in the gut microbiome, can induce excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to inflammation, DNA damage, activation of the immune system, and epigenetic alterations of critical genes involved in the metabolic pathways. Gut dysbiosis-induced inflammation can also disrupt the gut barrier integrity and increase intestinal permeability, which allows gut-derived toxic products to enter the liver and systemic circulation, further triggering oxidative stress, inflammation, and epigenetic alterations associated with metabolic diseases. However, specific gut-derived metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), lactate, and vitamins, can modulate oxidative stress and the immune system through epigenetic mechanisms, thereby improving metabolic function. Gut microbiota and diet-induced metabolic diseases, such as obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension, can transfer to the next generation, involving epigenetic mechanisms. In this review, we will introduce the key epigenetic alterations that, along with gut dysbiosis and ROS, are engaged in developing metabolic diseases. Finally, we will discuss potential therapeutic interventions such as dietary modifications, prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation, which may reduce oxidative stress and inflammation associated with metabolic syndrome by altering gut microbiota and epigenetic alterations. In summary, this review highlights the crucial role of gut microbiota dysbiosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation in the pathogenesis of metabolic diseases, with a particular focus on epigenetic alterations (including histone modifications, DNA methylomics, and RNA interference) and potential interventions that may prevent or improve metabolic diseases.
Exploration of the Synergistic Regulation Mechanism in Cerebral Ganglion and Heart of Eriocheir sinensis on Energy Metabolism and Antioxidant Homeostasis Maintenance under Alkalinity Stress
Authors: Wang Meiyao , Zhou Jun , Xu Gangchun , Tang Yongkai
Published: August 2024

(1) The development and utilization of the vast saline–alkali land worldwide is an important way to solve the worsening food crisis. Eriocheir sinensis, due to its strong osmotic regulation capability and its characteristics of being suitable for culturing in alkaline water, has become a potential aquaculture species in saline–alkali water. The brain and heart are the key tissues for signal transduction and energy supply under environmental stress. (2) This study is the first to explore the synergistic regulatory molecular mechanism by integrated analysis on cerebral ganglion proteomics and heart metabolomics of Eriocheir sinensis under alkalinity stress. (3) The results indicate that the cerebral ganglion and heart of E. sinensis were closely related in response to acute alkalinity stress. The differential regulatory pathways mainly involved regulation of energy metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and homeostasis maintenance. Importantly, alkalinity stress induced the regulation of antioxidants and further adjusted longevity and rhythm in the cerebral ganglion and heart, reflecting that the cerebral ganglion and heart may be the key tissues for the survival of Eriocheir sinensis under an alkalinity environment. (4) This study provides a theoretical reference for research on the regulation mechanism of E. sinensis under alkalinity condition and contributes to the development of aquaculture in saline–alkali water.
Physical Properties of Cellulose Derivative-Based Edible Films Elaborated with Liposomes Encapsulating Grape Seed Tannins
Authors: Vidal Constanza , Lopez-Polo Johana , Osorio Fernando A.
Published: August 2024

Combined use of edible films (EF) with nanoencapsulation systems could be an effective alternative for improving the films’ physical properties and maintaining bioactive compounds’ stability. This research work focuses on the combined use of EF of cellulose-derived biopolymers enriched with liposomes that encapsulate grape seed tannins and on the subsequent evaluation of the physical properties and wettability. Tannin-containing liposomal suspensions (TLS) showed 570.8 ± 6.0 nm particle size and 99% encapsulation efficiency. In vitro studies showed that the release of tannins from liposomes was slower than that of free tannins, reaching a maximum release of catechin of 0.13 ± 0.01%, epicatechin of 0.57 ± 0.01%, and gallic acid of 3.90 ± 0.001% over a 144 h period. Adding liposomes to biopolymer matrices resulted in significant decrease (p < 0.05) of density, surface tension, tensile strength, elongation percentage, and elastic modulus in comparison to the control, obtaining films with greater flexibility and lower breaking strength. Incorporating TLS into EF formulations resulted in partially wetting the hydrophobic surface, reducing adhesion and cohesion compared to EF without liposomes. Results indicate that the presence of liposomes improves films’ physical and wettability properties, causing them to extend and not contract when applied to hydrophobic food surfaces.
Direct Molecular Action of Taurine on Hepatic Gene Expression Associated with the Amelioration of Hypercholesterolemia in Rats
Authors: Song Qi , Kobayashi Satoru , Kataoka Yutaro , Oda Hiroaki
Published: August 2024

Taurine can ameliorate hypercholesterolemia by facilitating cholesterol efflux and increasing cytochrome P450 7A1 (CYP7A1) without clear underlying molecular mechanisms. This study aims to elucidate the molecular action of taurine in diet-induced hypercholesterolemia. Male Wistar rats were fed a high cholesterol diet containing 5% taurine for 14 days. Three-dimensional primary hepatocytes from rats were exposed to 10 mM taurine for 24 h. Transcriptome analyses of both the liver and hepatocytes were performed using DNA microarray. Taurine significantly decreased serum cholesterol levels and increased hepatic CYP7A1 mRNA levels and transcription rates in rats. Taurine altered the expression of seventy-seven genes in the liver, involving lipid, drug, amino acid metabolism, and gluconeogenesis pathways. The small heterodimer partner (SHP), a transcription factor regulated by taurine, was suppressed. “Network analysis” revealed a negative correlation between the SHP and induction of CYP7A1 and cytochrome P450 8B1 (CYP8B1). However, CYP7A1 and CYP8B1 levels were not altered by taurine in 3D-primary hepatocytes. Venn diagram analyses of the transcriptomes in both hepatocytes and the liver indicated a consistent upregulation of organic anion transporting polypeptide 2 (OATP2) and betaine homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT). Taurine ameliorated hypercholesterolemia in rats fed a high cholesterol diet by directly enhancing the hepatic expression of BHMT and OATP2, which modulated the SHP and induced CYP7A1 and CYP8B1, thereby promoting cholesterol catabolism and lowering blood cholesterol levels.
Proposal of Innovative Methods for Computer Vision Techniques in Maritime Sector
Authors: Jiang Bo , Wu Xuan , Tian Xuecheng , Jin Yong , Wang Shuaian
Published: August 2024

Computer vision (CV) techniques have been widely studied and applied in the shipping industry and maritime research. The existing literature has primarily focused on enhancing image recognition accuracy and precision for water surface targets by refining CV models themselves. This paper introduces innovative methods to further improve the accuracy of detection and recognition using CV models, including using ensemble learning and integrating shipping domain knowledge. Additionally, we present a novel application of CV techniques in the maritime domain, expanding the research perspective beyond the traditional focus on the accurate detection and recognition of water surface targets. Specifically, a novel solution integrating a CV model and the transfer learning method is proposed in this paper to address the challenge of relatively low-speed and high-charge internet services on ocean-going vessels, aiming to improve the online video viewing experience while conserving network resources. This paper is of importance for advancing further research and application of CV techniques in the shipping industry.
Measurement Method of Whole Mechanical Automatic Vertical Drilling Tools
Authors: Wang Yuxuan , Ma Chaoqun , Zhang Kai , Liu Baolin
Published: August 2024

The inaccurate positioning of a plat valve is a crucial factor affecting the efficiency and safety of drilling operations. Because of the complicated structure of vertical drilling, it is difficult to obtain the actual position of a plat valve during the working process. This work effectively addresses the challenge of accurately measuring the deflection angle of a plat valve in mechanical automatic vertical drilling. Initially, a comprehensive mathematical model was proposed for determining the angle range of the plat valve, which was founded on the thrust generated by vertical drilling. Furthermore, this work proposed a precise measurement methodology for acquiring the crucial parameters of the MVDT. The actual deviation angle range for the N-MVDT and O-MVDT vertical drilling was calculated using data obtained from measurements of the tools. At the same time, the influence of TID on the performance of the MVDT was determined. Then, a simulation was carried out to compare the calculation results. From this, it was determined that the deflection angle range of the O-MVDT at a higher rotational speed was [86°, 58°], and the deflection angle range of the N-MVDT was [−14°, 14°]. By comparing the two methods, the error in the angle range was derived. The error of the N-MVDT was less than 16.67%, and the error of O-MVDT was less than 9.43%, proving that the measurement method and the mathematical model can accurately estimate the deflection angle range of a plat valve for mechanical automatic vertical drilling. The experimental and mathematical model results consistently showed that the deflection angle φ of the N-MVDT was significantly smaller than that of the O-MVDT, so the TID significantly improved the stability of the MVDT.
Analysis of Surface Temperature Modified by Atypical Mobility in Mexican Coastal Cities with Warm Climates
Authors: Grajeda-Rosado Ruth M. , Alonso-Guzmán Elia M. , Ponce de la Cruz-Herrera Roberto I. , Ortigoza-Capetillo Gerardo M. , Martínez-Molina Wilfrido , Mondragón-Olán Max , Hermida-Saba Guillermo
Published: August 2024

This study takes a unique approach, using satellite remote sensing to analyze the land surface temperature (LST) in seven coastal cities located at latitudes between 18° and 22° and longitudes between 106° and 91°. The methodology consists of obtaining the LST on two selected days, one in July 2019 and one in July 2020, to determine how the temperature was modified by the atypical mobility caused by Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and social distancing. Using these data, we determine the representative surface temperature that tended to rise (RHST) and the representative surface temperature that tended to decrease (RLST), depending on the affected area. This approach allows us to comprehensively compare how mobility modified the four variables studied: territorial extension, population, types of soil (paving), and vegetation. We concluded that, among the factors analyzed, the types of paving and vegetation were those that generated a more significant decrease in temperature; the variables of territorial extension and the number of inhabitants had a smaller impact. This study paves the way for a discussion of the significant influence of mobility on the behavior of the LST.
Evaluation of LoRa Network Performance for Water Quality Monitoring Systems
Authors: Syed Taha Syarifah Nabilah , Abu Talip Mohamad Sofian , Mohamad Mahazani , Azizul Hasan Zati Hakim , Tengku Mohmed Noor Izam Tengku Faiz
Published: August 2024

Conserving water resources from scarcity and pollution is the basis of water resource management and water quality monitoring programs. However, due to industrialization and population growth in Malaysia, which have resulted in poor water quality in many areas, this program needs to be improved. A smart water quality monitoring system based on the internet of things (IoT) paradigm was designed to analyze water conditions in real time and enable effective water management. Long-range (LoRa) application of the low-power, wide-area networking concept has become a phenomenon in IoT smart monitoring applications. This study proposes the implementation of a LoRa network in a water quality monitoring system-based IoT approach. The LoRa nodes were embedded with measuring sensors pH, turbidity, temperature, total dissolved solids, and dissolved oxygen, in the designated water stations. They operate at a transmission power of 14 dB and a bandwidth of 125 kHz. The network properties were tested with two different antenna gains of 2.1 dBi and 3 dBi, with three different spread factors of 7, 9, and 12. The water stations were located on the Sungai Pantai and Sungai Anak Air Batu rivers on the Universiti Malaya campus, Malaysia. Following a dashboard display and K-means analysis of the water quality data received by the LoRa gateway, it was determined that both rivers are Class II B rivers. The results from the evaluation of LoRa performance on the received strength signal indicator, signal noise ratio, loss packet, and path loss at best were −83 dBm, 7 dB, <0%, and 64.41 dB, respectively, with a minimum received sensitivity of −129.1 dBm. LoRa has demonstrated its efficiency in an urban environment for smart river monitoring purposes.
The Detection and Calculation of Design-Weighting on Indoor Environmental Elements—Illustrated by Real Interior Design Projects
Authors: Kuo Chyi-Gang , Wu Chien-Hung
Published: August 2024

In interior design projects, homeowners’ expectations and thoughts in mind are sometimes ambiguous and hard to pinpoint. This lack of clarity can lead to disagreements between owners and designers, making it difficult for designers to receive due remuneration. At the same time, the design project always has a restricted budget. Suppose the funds could be prioritized based on owners’ preferred weight of the indoor elements, with a larger portion of the budget allocated to the most crucial elements. In that case, it can significantly enhance the owner’s satisfaction. To address these challenges, this research introduces a novel analytical and computational approach that leverages the Positive And Negative Affects Schedule (PANAS) and Heart Rate Variability (HRV) to assess homeowners’ sentiments toward various indoor elements. This method aims to determine indoor elements’ design-weighting, design sequence, and distribution of project budgets, enabling designers to understand better and meet homeowners’ genuine needs and expectations in interior design projects. The efficacy of this approach was evaluated through the analysis of three real-life residential interior design projects. Data from the PANAS emotion scale and heart rate variability (HRV) measurements of the homeowners were collected before and after project completion. The findings revealed high satisfaction among homeowners following project execution. By adjusting indoor elements, owners’ negative emotions decreased significantly, positive emotions surged, and there was an improvement in the activity of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves, leading to enhanced physical and mental well-being. Furthermore, in-depth interviews with homeowners corroborated the effectiveness of the analytical calculation method in identifying latent negative indoor elements of concern to homeowners, thereby validating the practical utility of this approach in real-world design scenarios.
Study of an Impedance Function for Mixed Traffic Flows Considering the Travel Time–Cost Characteristics of Long-Distance Electric Vehicle Trips
Authors: Wang Ning , Gu Jian , Jing Wei , Huang Fu-An , Zhu Hang
Published: August 2024

To quantify the travel time and cost characteristics of mixed traffic involving electric vehicles (EVs) and fuel-powered vehicles on roads, in this paper, we comprehensively consider three factors affecting road impedance: queue length, waiting time, and service rate. Initially, a time characteristic function and a cost characteristic function for mixed traffic impedance are constructed. From the perspective of travel time, we consider the impact of EV penetration on the actual road capacity and introduce a capacity coefficient to modify the BPR (Bureau of Public Roads) road impedance function. Given that different types of vehicles might need to wait at charging stations, we employ queuing theory to calculate the queuing time at these stations and construct an impedance model that considers travel time. From the perspective of travel costs, we account for the energy consumption costs and road usage fees for different types of vehicles. The energy consumption cost for travel mileage is obtained by multiplying the unit mileage energy consumption cost of mixed traffic by the travel mileage. For road usage fees, we adopt the conventional method of multiplying the per-kilometer rate for each vehicle type by the travel mileage, thus constructing an impedance model that incorporates travel costs. Finally, in the numerical analysis section, based on the vehicle travel mileage, we categorize travel into short-, medium-, and long-distance trips for analysis. With the constructed mixed traffic impedance model, we conduct a detailed analysis of the travel time and cost characteristics of mixed traffic over different travel distances. We explore the specific impacts of the electric vehicle penetration rate, traffic flow volume, and travel mileage on road impedance. The results indicate that as the penetration rate of electric vehicles increases, the total energy consumption of the transportation system significantly decreases. Moreover, at high electric vehicle penetration rates, although an increase in traffic flow leads to higher traffic impedance and longer travel times, the overall travel costs are reduced. This demonstrates that increasing the penetration rate of electric vehicles positively contributes to reducing the energy consumption and costs of transportation systems.
Comparison of Tutorial Methods in Virtual Reality Games for a Better User Experience
Authors: Lee Yuryeon , Kim Guyeop , Lee Kang Hoon , Park Jaehyun , Kim Hyun K.
Published: August 2024

The commercialisation of virtual reality (VR) headsets has made them more affordable and popular in gaming and entertainment. The natural interaction between the VR environment and users can maximise immersion and is crucial to VR gaming. Despite their growing popularity, educational VR games prioritise learning over immersion and require users to learn to interact with and play games using tutorials. Herein, we developed a game named Numverse with an accompanying tutorial. After selecting the tutorial content, we programmed the user interface and proposed a delivery method for the tutorial. We evaluated the user experience based on the effects of the presence or absence of the tutorial and its mode of delivery. The tutorials were of three types: no tutorial, instruction-screen tutorial, and context-sensitive tutorial, with the latter being the most preferred. The evaluation results show that presence, ability to learn controls, intrinsic motivation, and learning effectiveness are higher for the instruction-screen and context-sensitive tutorials than for no tutorial. On average, users experienced more motion sickness in the no-tutorial case, with a significant difference in nausea items. This study asserts the importance of tutorials in VR games, and its findings could improve user experience in future VR games.
Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Oxheart Tomato Pomace (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) Using Different Solvents: Characterization of Extracts
Authors: Flaiș Dumitrița , Oroian Mircea
Published: August 2024

The aim of this study was to investigate an ultrasound-assisted method for the extraction of bioactive compounds from tomato pomace. This method was based on a simple ultrasound treatment using different solvents (e.g., acetone, ethanol, ethyl acetate) as extraction media. Three different variables were chosen to determine their influence on extraction efficiency, such as solvent/liquid ratio (0.1:25 g/mL, 0.2:25 g/mL, 0.3:25 g/mL), temperature (30 °C, 40 °C, 50 °C), and time (2 h, 6 h, 10 h); the variables were selected through Box–Behnken design experiments. These parameters were optimized to achieve the highest yield, and the results showed that acetone was the best extraction solvent for lycopene (3.36 mg/100 g), total phenolic content (TPC) (31.15 QUE mg/L), and total flavone content (TFC) (66.80 GAE mg/L), while DPPH activity (82.94%) was the highest when ethanol was used as the solvent. Regarding the solvent/liquid ratio, the best results were obtained at a ratio of 0.1:25. Temperature influenced the extraction, with the best results observed at 50 °C for lycopene, DPPH, and polyphenols, while the flavonoids were better extracted at 30 °C. Time played an important role as well, with the best extractions observed at 10 h. The results indicated that ultrasound-assisted extraction was suitable for extracting bioactive compounds from tomato pomace.
A Review on Electric Vehicles for Holistic Robust Integration in Cities: History, Legislation, Meta-Analysis of Technology and Grid Impact
Authors: Alonso-Cepeda Antonio , Villena-Ruiz Raquel , Honrubia-Escribano Andrés , Gómez-Lázaro Emilio
Published: August 2024

Electric vehicle technology is transitioning from mobility based on fossil fuel combustion to one based on vehicle electrification, in which the primary energy is increasingly renewable, and the generation of pollutants and CO2 emissions is being reduced. This paper provides a tour of the key aspects of these systems, reviewing their most important historical, legislative, and grid impact topics. For this purpose, a literature review of publications up to 2022 is conducted. The last decade is the subject of a deeper analysis, shedding light on the essential characteristics of this technology and fundamentally focusing on its integration into electrical distribution networks. This work is carried out based on a review of a selection of articles written by authors worldwide who have researched these topics. We ordered and analyzed the temporal evolution of the defined categories, obtaining their research line direction. A meta-analysis of grid impact was also carried out, prompting clear conclusions about the state of the art and potential future works.
GC×GC-TOFMS Analysis of Fecal Metabolome Stabilized Using an At-Home Stool Collection Device
Authors: Giebelhaus Ryland T. , Nguyen Gwen , Schmidt Sheri A. , Wang Seoin , Mesfin Ewenet Y. , Nam Seo Lin , de la Mata A. Paulina , Harynuk James J.
Published: August 2024

Stool is a mixture of excrement, microbiota, enzymes, undigested material, and small molecules. Fecal metabolomics has gained interest recently, owing to advances in metabolomics and growing research into both the host’s physiology and the gut microbiome. One challenge with fecal metabolomics is preserving the sample integrity from collection until analysis, as the microbiota and enzymes continue to alter the metabolome following defecation. Currently, flash-freezing or lyophilization are utilized to minimize post-collection metabolome changes; however, this requires complex equipment and immediate processing, precluding the possibility for at-home sampling. Commercial devices containing stabilizing solvents have been developed to facilitate at-home collection, ambient transport, and sample storage. Here, we explore the efficacy of a commercially available stool collection device with a stabilization reagent tailored to fecal metabolomics. Stool samples from six donors were either processed shortly post-collection or stored at room temperature for seven days in the tube, with and without the stabilization reagent. Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC-TOFMS)-based untargeted metabolomics was utilized for analyzing extracted metabolites. Chemometric analysis was used to evaluate the performance of the device. We found that the device with the stabilization reagent minimized changes in the metabolite profile relative to unstabilized stool left at room temperature for one week.