bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Emirati Vernacular: Tracing the UAE’s Art History through Architecture as a Reflection of Society
Authors: Grinstead Eve
Published: June 2023

While past studies have considered the relationship between art and architecture, art and society, or society and architecture, few consider all three, let alone when discussing these subjects in the United Arab Emirates. This article presents the evolution of the art scene in that country’s three largest emirates, from its foundation as a federation through today, as a reflection of local societal truths. Since its early days, each concerned emirate—Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah, has developed an art scene unique from the others, and each one has been housed in different kinds of mostly vernacular—though sometimes academic—architecture. Through data collection of the various types of architecture employed in each emirate, this article explores possible reasons why each state has its own art scene, and what can explain this phenomenon. Abu Dhabi, the wealthy capital, has “starchitect” designed institutions; the more avant-garde Dubai employs recycled industrial hangars (or structures made to look as such); while the more traditional Sharjah repurposes historical structures for artistic use. Over time, each emirate begins to borrow different architectural tendencies hitherto mostly seen in the other states, demonstrative of the constant competition the three emirates have with each other. Beyond the local implications, these structures provide a rich discussion on what is considered vernacular in a modern context, as well as where the definition of one stops and the other begins.
Air Pressure Perturbations in Karst Caves and Waters after the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai Volcano Eruption on 15 January 2022
Authors: Šebela Stanka , Novak Uroš , Kogovšek Blaž
Published: June 2023

Microclimatic monitoring (air T, air pressure, CO2, ventilation, humidity, methane, and radon) in selected show caves in Slovenia has been a continuous process for more than 10 years, a process that aims to supervise the use of the caves for tourism in the sense of sustainable environmental management. After the cataclysmic eruption of the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai (HTHH) volcano on 15 January 2022, global propagation of ionospheric disturbances was reported worldwide as barometric pressure changes and seismic noise events. Weather stations in Slovenia reported 2–4 hPa changes in atmospheric pressure 16 h after the eruption at 20:30 CET (19:30 UTC). Changes in atmospheric pressure were also detected at 15 air monitoring sites in 3 different caves (20–120 m below the surface), at 8 water monitoring sites in 4 different caves (1–10 m below the water surface), and on the surface (4 air and 2 water monitoring sites), where we identified a small but significant increase in atmospheric pressure of <1 hPa, with the highest signal at 21:00 CET (20:00 UTC). At some cave monitoring locations, air T fell during this global event induced by a far-field volcanic eruption. Cave CO2, methane, and radon measurements did not show significant changes related to the eruption. This is the first evidence of atmospheric pressure changes due to the HTHH volcano eruption in karst caves and waters.
Quantitative Mechanisms of the Responses of Abrupt Seasonal Temperature Changes and Warming Hiatuses in China to Their Influencing Factors
Authors: Huang Xing , Ma Long , Liu Tingxi , Sun Bolin , Chen Yang , Qiao Zixu
Published: June 2023

Abrupt temperature changes and warming hiatuses have a great impact on socioeconomic systems; however, their mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, the quantitative mechanisms of the responses of abrupt seasonal temperature changes and warming hiatuses in China to their influencing factors were analysed using the monthly mean temperature (Tav), mean minimum temperature (Tnav), and mean maximum temperature (Txav) from 622 meteorological stations in China covering 1951–2018, the CMIP6 model data, and data at large spatial scales, including Atlantic multidecadal oscillation (AMO) data. The results showed that the contributions of the influencing factors to the abrupt changes in Tav, Tnav, and Txav showed large spatial variability and peaked in the spring and summer and bottomed out in the autumn. The Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO) greatly impacted the abrupt temperature changes in Northeast China and North China at a contribution rate of approximately 12%, strongly influenced the abrupt temperature changes south of the Yangtze River, and markedly influenced the abrupt temperature changes in Northwest China. The AMO had a large impact on temperature in most regions of China in all seasons except for the summer. The MEI mainly affected the abrupt seasonal temperature changes in the region between 25° N and 35° N. The Arctic oscillation (AO) substantially impacted the warming hiatuses in Northeast China in the winter at a contribution rate of approximately 12%. These influencing factors contributed less to warming hiatuses than to abrupt temperature changes. Among the regional influencing factors, AP and WS greatly impacted warming hiatuses, more so than abrupt temperature changes, while relative humidity (RH) and solar radiation (SR) contributed little to warming hiatuses.
Solutions of (2+1)-D & (3+1)-D Burgers Equations by New Laplace Variational Iteration Technique
Authors: Singh Gurpreet , Singh Inderdeep , AlDerea Afrah M. , Alanzi Agaeb Mahal , Khalifa Hamiden Abd El-Wahed
Published: June 2023

The new Laplace variational iterative method is used in this research for solving the (2+1)-D and (3+1)-D Burgers equations. This technique relies on the modified variational iteration method and the Laplace transform. To apply this approach, the differential problem is first transformed into an algebraic form using the Laplace transform, and then the algebraic equations are iteratively solved using the modified variational iterative approach. By utilizing this technique, the Burgers equations can be solved both numerically and analytically. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of the new Laplace variational iterative approach through three specific examples.
Solvability of a Boundary Value Problem Involving Fractional Difference Equations
Authors: Lv Zhiwei , Wu Chun , O’Regan Donal , Xu Jiafa
Published: June 2023

In this current work, we apply the topological degree and fixed point theorems to investigate the existence, uniqueness, and multiplicity of solutions for a boundary value problem associated with a fractional-order difference equation. Moreover, we provide some appropriate examples to verify our main conclusions.
Higher-Order Blended Compact Difference Scheme on Nonuniform Grids for the 3D Steady Convection-Diffusion Equation
Authors: Ma Tingfu , Lan Bin , Ge Yongbin , Wu Lili
Published: June 2023

This paper proposes a higher-order blended compact difference (BCD) scheme on nonuniform grids for solving the three-dimensional (3D) convection–diffusion equation with variable coefficients. The BCD scheme has fifth- to sixth-order accuracy and considers the first and second derivatives of the unknown function as unknowns as well. Unlike other schemes that require grid transformation, the BCD scheme does not require any grid transformation and is simple and flexible in grid subdivisions. Concurrently, the corresponding high-order boundary schemes of the first and second derivatives have also been constructed. We tested the BCD scheme on three problems that involve convection-dominated and boundary-layer features. The numerical results show that the BCD scheme has good adaptability and high resolution on nonuniform grids. It outperforms the BCD scheme on uniform grids and the high-order compact scheme on nonuniform grids in the literature in terms of accuracy and resolution.
Industrial Insights on Digital Twins in Manufacturing: Application Landscape, Current Practices, and Future Needs
Authors: D’Amico Rosario Davide , Addepalli Sri , Erkoyuncu John Ahmet
Published: June 2023

The digital twin (DT) research field is experiencing rapid expansion; yet, the research on industrial practices in this area remains poorly understood. This paper aims to address this knowledge gap by sharing feedback and future requirements from the manufacturing industry. The methodology employed in this study involves an examination of a survey that received 99 responses and interviews with 14 experts from 10 prominent UK organisations, most of which are involved in the defence industry in the UK. The survey and interviews explored topics such as DT design, return on investment, drivers, inhibitors, and future directions for DT development in manufacturing. This study’s findings indicate that DTs should possess characteristics such as adaptability, scalability, interoperability, and the ability to support assets throughout their entire life cycle. On average, completed DT projects reach the breakeven point in less than two years. The primary motivators behind DT development were identified to be autonomy, customer satisfaction, safety, awareness, optimisation, and sustainability. Meanwhile, the main obstacles include a lack of expertise, funding, and interoperability. This study concludes that the federation of twins and a paradigm shift in industrial thinking are essential components for the future of DT development.
Orthotopic Ferret Tracheal Transplantation Using a Recellularized Bioengineered Graft Produces Functional Epithelia
Authors: Pai Albert C. , Swatek Anthony M. , Lynch Thomas J. , Ahlers Bethany A. , Ievlev Vitaly , Engelhardt John F. , Parekh Kalpaj R.
Published: June 2023

Tracheal grafts may be necessary to bridge long-segment defects after curative resection for airway obstructions. Bioengineered grafts have emerged as an appealing option, given the possibilities of altering the histologic and cellular profile of the conduit. We previously designed a bioreactor capable of luminally decellularizing and recellularizing a ferret trachea with surface airway epithelia (SAE) basal cells (BCs), and we sought to assess the fate of these grafts when transplanted in an orthotopic fashion. As adjuncts to the procedure, we investigated the use of a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-laden hydrogel and of immunosuppression (IS) in graft revascularization and viability. IS was shown to limit early graft revascularization, but this effect could be counteracted with VEGF supplementation. Submucosal gland (SMG) loss was shown to be inevitable regardless of the revascularization strategy. Lastly, the bioengineered tracheas survived one month after transplant with differentiation of our implanted BCs that then transitioned into a recipient-derived functional epithelium. The work presented in this manuscript has important implications for future cellular and regenerative therapies.
A Novel Percutaneous Technique for Aorto-Iliac Thrombectomy without the Risk of Embolization
Authors: D’Amico Rosalinda , Wolff Thomas , Richarz Sabine , Gurke Lorenz , Isaak Andrej , Mujagic Edin
Published: June 2023

Classic surgical thrombectomy of the aorta and iliac arteries through an incision in the groin vessels harbors the risk of embolization to the viscero-renal as well as hypogastric arteries, while percutaneous endovascular thrombectomy techniques can lead to peripheral embolization to the lower limbs. Therefore, we describe a novel, percutaneous technique that tackles the above issues. Furthermore, we also present our initial experience using the technique. The principle of the technique is to percutaneously place large-bore sheaths in the iliac arteries that deliberately occlude the latter to protect the lower limbs from embolization. Through one of these sheaths, over wire Fogarty® catheters can be placed and inflated in the ostia of the coeliac trunk, superior mesenteric artery, renal arteries, and hypogastric arteries as needed. A large thrombectomy balloon catheter is then used to bring any aorto-iliac thrombus into the sheaths, whereafter the thrombus is removed from the sheaths by simply deflating their valves. Additional endovascular procedures of the aorto-iliac branches can be performed as needed. We report nine procedures in 8 patients (4 males and 4 females) with a median age of 63 (53–68.5). Additional endovascular procedures were performed in 6 (66.7%) procedures. All but one procedure were technically successful, and all patients had palpable foot pulses on completion of the procedures, while no patient had clinical signs of peripheral embolization. This technique is a very valid addition to the vascular surgeon’s armamentarium when treating aorto-iliac thrombotic events because it is minimally invasive while still protecting against embolization and offering the flexibility to perform a wide range of additional endovascular procedures where needed.
Coat Color in Local Goats: Influence on Environmental Adaptation and Productivity, and Use as a Selection Criterion
Authors: Arenas-Báez Pablo , Torres-Hernández Glafiro , Castillo-Hernández Gabriela , Hernández-Rodríguez Martha , Sánchez-Gutiérrez Ricardo Alonso , Vargas-López Samuel , González-Maldonado Juan , Domínguez-Martínez Pablo Alfredo , Granados-Rivera Lorenzo Danilo , Maldonado-Jáquez Jorge Alonso
Published: June 2023

This paper aims to review, systematically synthesize, and analyze fragmented information about the importance of coat color in local goats and its relationship with productivity and other important traits. Topics on current research on color expression are addressed, the relationship that has as a mechanism of environmental adaptation, its relationship with the production of meat, milk, and derivates, and the economic value of this characteristic. The use of this attribute as a tool to establish selection criteria in breeding programs based on results reported in the scientific literature is significant, particularly for low-income production systems, where the implementation of classic genetic improvement schemes is limited due to the lack of productive information, which is distinctive of extensive marginal or low scaled production systems around the world.
Animal Models of IgE Anaphylaxis
Authors: Gouel-Chéron Aurélie , Dejoux Alice , Lamanna Emma , Bruhns Pierre
Published: June 2023

Allergies and atopy have emerged as significant public health concerns, with a progressively increasing incidence over the last two decades. Anaphylaxis is the most severe form of allergic reactions, characterized by a rapid onset and potentially fatal outcome, even in healthy individuals. Due to the unpredictable nature and potential lethality of anaphylaxis and the wide range of allergens involved, clinical studies in human patients have proven to be challenging. Diagnosis is further complicated by the lack of reliable laboratory biomarkers to confirm clinical suspicion. Thus, animal models have been developed to replicate human anaphylaxis and explore its pathophysiology. Whereas results obtained from animal models may not always be directly translatable to humans, they serve as a foundation for understanding the underlying mechanisms. Animal models are an essential tool for investigating new biomarkers that could be incorporated into the allergy workup for patients, as well as for the development of novel treatments. Two primary pathways have been described in animals and humans: classic, predominantly involving IgE and histamine, and alternative, reliant on IgG and the platelet-activating factor. This review will focus essentially on the former and aims to describe the most utilized IgE-mediated anaphylaxis animal models, including their respective advantages and limitations.
ABC Transporter C1 Prevents Dimethyl Fumarate from Targeting Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Möhle Luisa , Stefan Katja , Bascuñana Pablo , Brackhan Mirjam , Brüning Thomas , Eiriz Ivan , El Menuawy Ahmed El Menuawy , van Genderen Sylvie , Santos-García Irene , Górska Anna Maria , Villa María , Wu Jingyun , Stefan Sven Marcel , Pahnke Jens
Published: June 2023

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the leading cause of dementia, is a growing health issue with very limited treatment options. To meet the need for novel therapeutics, existing drugs with additional preferred pharmacological profiles could be recruited. This strategy is known as ‘drug repurposing’. Here, we describe dimethyl fumarate (DMF), a drug approved to treat multiple sclerosis (MS), to be tested as a candidate for other brain diseases. We used an APP-transgenic model (APPtg) of senile β-amyloidosis mice to further investigate the potential of DMF as a novel AD therapeutic. We treated male and female APPtg mice through drinking water at late stages of β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition. We found that DMF treatment did not result in modulating effects on Aβ deposition at this stage. Interestingly, we found that glutathione-modified DMF interacts with the ATP-binding cassette transporter ABCC1, an important gatekeeper at the blood–brain and blood–plexus barriers and a key player for Aβ export from the brain. Our findings suggest that ABCC1 prevents the effects of DMF, which makes DMF unsuitable as a novel therapeutic drug against AD. The discovered effects of ABCC1 also have implications for DMF treatment of multiple sclerosis.
Cumulative Negative Impacts of Invasive Alien Species on Marine Ecosystems of the Aegean Sea
Authors: Tsirintanis Konstantinos , Sini Maria , Ragkousis Michail , Zenetos Argyro , Katsanevakis Stelios
Published: June 2023

Biological invasions are a human-induced environmental disturbance that can cause major changes in ecosystem structure and functioning. Located in the northeastern Mediterranean basin, the Aegean Sea is a hotspot of biological invasions. Although the presence of alien species in the Aegean has been studied and monitored, no assessment has been conducted on their cumulative impacts on native biodiversity. To address this gap, we applied the CIMPAL index, a framework developed for mapping the cumulative impacts of invasive species, to identify the most affected areas and habitat types and determine the most invasive species in the region. Coastal areas showed stronger impacts than the open sea. The highest CIMPAL scores were four times more frequent in the South than in the North Aegean. Shallow (0–60 m) hard substrates were the most heavily impacted habitat type, followed by shallow soft substrates and seagrass meadows. We identified Caulerpa cylindracea, Lophocladia lallemandii, Siganus luridus, Siganus rivulatus, and Womersleyella setacea as the most impactful species across their range of occurrence in the Aegean but rankings varied depending on the habitat type and impact indicator applied. Our assessment can support marine managers in prioritizing decisions and actions to control biological invasions and mitigate their impacts.
Identifying the Common Cell-Free DNA Biomarkers across Seven Major Cancer Types
Authors: Luo Mingyu , Liu Yining , Zhao Min
Published: June 2023

Blood-based detection of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is a non-invasive and easily accessible method for early cancer detection. Despite the extensive utility of cfDNA, there are still many challenges to developing clinical biomarkers. For example, cfDNA with genetic alterations often composes a small portion of the DNA circulating in plasma, which can be confounded by cfDNA contributed by normal cells. Therefore, filtering out the potential false-positive cfDNA mutations from healthy populations will be important for cancer-based biomarkers. Additionally, many low-frequency genetic alterations are easily overlooked in a small number of cfDNA-based cancer tests. We hypothesize that the combination of diverse types of cancer studies on cfDNA will provide us with a new perspective on the identification of low-frequency genetic variants across cancer types for promoting early diagnosis. By building a standardized computational pipeline for 1358 cfDNA samples across seven cancer types, we prioritized 129 shard genetic variants in the major cancer types. Further functional analysis of the 129 variants found that they are mainly enriched in ribosome pathways such as cotranslational protein targeting the membrane, some of which are tumour suppressors, oncogenes, and genes related to cancer initiation. In summary, our integrative analysis revealed the important roles of ribosome proteins as common biomarkers in early cancer diagnosis.
Microalgae to Bioenergy: Optimization of Aurantiochytrium sp. Saccharification
Authors: Oliveira Joana , Pardilhó Sara , Dias Joana M. , Pires José C. M.
Published: June 2023

Microalgae are a promising feedstock for bioethanol production, essentially due to their high growth rates and absence of lignin. Hydrolysis—where the monosaccharides are released for further fermentation—is considered a critical step, and its optimization is advised for each raw material. The present study focuses on the thermal acid hydrolysis (with sulfuric acid) of Aurantiochytrium sp. through a response surface methodology (RSM), studying the effect of acid concentration, hydrolysis time and biomass/acid ratio on both sugar concentration of the hydrolysate and biomass conversion yield. Preliminary studies allowed to establish the range of the variables to be optimized. The obtained models predicted a maximum sugar concentration (18.05 g/L; R2 = 0.990) after 90 min of hydrolysis, using 15% (w/v) biomass/acid ratio and sulfuric acid at 3.5% (v/v), whereas the maximum conversion yield (12.86 g/100 g; R2 = 0.876) was obtained using 9.3% (w/v) biomass/acid ratio, maintaining the other parameters. Model outputs indicate that the biomass/acid ratio and time are the most influential parameters on the sugar concentration and yield models, respectively. The study allowed to obtain a predictive model that is very well adjusted to the experimental data to find the best saccharification conditions for the Aurantiochytrium sp. microalgae.
Improving the Stability and Effectiveness of Immunotropic Squalene Nanoemulsion by Adding Turpentine Oil
Authors: Krasnova Olga A. , Minaychev Vladislav V. , Akatov Vladimir S. , Fadeev Roman S. , Senotov Anatoly S. , Kobyakova Margarita I. , Lomovskaya Yana V. , Lomovskiy Alexey I. , Zvyagina Alyona I. , Krasnov Kirill S. , Shatalin Yuriy V. , Penkov Nikita V. , Zhalimov Vitaly K. , Molchanov Maxim V. , Palikova Yuliya A. , Murashev Arkady N. , Maevsky Eugeny I. , Fadeeva Irina S.
Published: June 2023

Turpentine oil, owing to the presence of 7–50 terpenes, has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antibacterial, anticoagulant, antioxidant, and antitumor properties, which are important for medical emulsion preparation. The addition of turpentine oil to squalene emulsions can increase their effectiveness, thereby reducing the concentration of expensive and possibly deficient squalene, and increasing its stability and shelf life. In this study, squalene emulsions were obtained by adding various concentrations of turpentine oil via high-pressure homogenization, and the safety and effectiveness of the obtained emulsions were studied in vitro and in vivo. All emulsions showed high safety profiles, regardless of the concentration of turpentine oil used. However, these emulsions exhibited dose-dependent effects in terms of both efficiency and storage stability, and the squalene emulsion with 1.0% turpentine oil had the most pronounced adjuvant and cytokine-stimulating activity as well as the most pronounced stability indicators when stored at room temperature. Thus, it can be concluded that the squalene emulsion with 1% turpentine oil is a stable, monomodal, and reliably safe ultradispersed emulsion and may have pleiotropic effects with pronounced immunopotentiating properties.
Infection Meets Inflammation: N6-Methyladenosine, an Internal Messenger RNA Modification as a Tool for Pharmacological Regulation of Host–Pathogen Interactions
Authors: Leseva Milena N. , Buttari Brigitta , Saso Luciano , Dimitrova Petya A.
Published: June 2023

The significance of internal mRNA modifications for the modulation of transcript stability, for regulation of nuclear export and translation efficiency, and their role in suppressing innate immunity is well documented. Over the years, the molecular complexes involved in the dynamic regulation of the most prevalent modifications have been characterized—we have a growing understanding of how each modification is set and erased, where it is placed, and in response to what cues. Remarkably, internal mRNA modifications, such as methylation, are emerging as an additional layer of regulation of immune cell homeostasis, differentiation, and function. A fascinating recent development is the investigation into the internal modifications of host/pathogen RNA, specifically N6-methyladenosine (m6A), its abundance and distribution during infection, and its role in disease pathogenesis and in shaping host immune responses. Low molecular weight compounds that target RNA-modifying enzymes have shown promising results in vitro and in animal models of different cancers and are expanding the tool-box in immuno-oncology. Excitingly, such modulators of host mRNA methyltransferase or demethylase activity hold profound implications for the development of new broad-spectrum therapeutic agents for infectious diseases as well. This review describes the newly uncovered role of internal mRNA modification in infection and in shaping the function of the immune system in response to invading pathogens. We will also discuss its potential as a therapeutic target and identify pitfalls that need to be overcome if it is to be effectively leveraged against infectious agents.
Effect of Dietary Supplements Which Upregulate Nitric Oxide on Walking and Quality of Life in Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wong Shannon A. , Drovandi Aaron , Jones Rhondda , Golledge Jonathan
Published: June 2023

This systematic review pooled evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on the effectiveness of dietary upregulators of nitric oxide (NO) in improving the walking and quality of life of patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). RCTs examining the effect of dietary upregulators of NO in patients with PAD were included. The primary outcome was the maximum walking distance. Secondary outcomes were the initial claudication distance, the six-minute walking distance, quality of life, the ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI), adverse events and risk of mortality, revascularisation or amputation. Meta-analyses were performed using random effects models. The risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane’s ROB-2 tool. Leave-one-out and subgroup analyses were conducted to assess the effect of individual studies, the risk of bias and intervention type on pooled estimates. Thirty-four RCTs involving 3472 participants were included. Seven trials tested NO donors, nineteen tested antioxidants, three tested NO synthase inducers and five tested enhancers of NO availability. Overall, the dietary supplements significantly improved the initial claudication (SMD 0.34; 95%CI 0.04, 0.64; p = 0.03) but not maximum walking (SMD 0.13; 95%CI −0.17, 0.43; p = 0.39) distances. Antioxidant supplements significantly increased both the maximum walking (SMD 0.36; 95%CI 0.14, 0.59; p = 0.001) and initial claudication (SMD 0.58; 95%CI 0.26, 0.90; p < 0.001) distances. The dietary interventions did not improve the physical function domain of the Short Form-36 (SMD −0.16; 95%CI −0.32, 0.00; p = 0.38), ABI or risk of adverse events, mortality, revascularisation or amputation. Dietary NO upregulators, especially antioxidants, appear to improve the initial claudication distance in patients with PAD. Larger high-quality RCTs are needed to fully examine the benefits and risks of these treatments. PROSPERO Registration: CRD42022256653.
Ex Vivo and In Silico Approaches of Tracheal Relaxation through Calcium Channel Blockade of 6-Aminoflavone and Its Toxicological Studies in Murine Models
Authors: Flores-Flores Angélica , Estrada-Soto Samuel , Millán-Pacheco César , Bazán-Perkins Blanca , Hernández-Pando Rogelio , Ibarra-Barajas Maximiliano , Villalobos-Molina Rafael
Published: June 2023

Asthma is a condition in which a person’s airways become inflamed, narrowed, and produce greater amounts of mucus than normal. It can cause shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing, or wheezing. In some cases, symptoms may be exacerbated. Thus, the current study was designed to determine the mechanism of action of 6-aminoflavone (6-NH2F) in ex vivo experiments, as well as to determine its toxicity in acute and sub-chronic murine models. Tissues were pre-incubated with 6-NH2F, and concentration–response curves to carbachol-induced contraction were constructed. Therefore, tracheal rings pre-treated with glibenclamide, 2-aminopyridine, or isoproterenol were contracted with carbachol (1 µM), then 6-NH2F relaxation curves were obtained. In other sets of experiments, to explore the calcium channel role in the 6-NH2F relaxant action, tissues were contracted with KCl (80 mM), and 6-NH2F was cumulatively added to induce relaxation. On the other hand, tissues were pre-incubated with the test sample, and after that, CaCl2 concentration–response curves were developed. In this context, 6-NH2F induced significant relaxation in ex vivo assays, and the effect showed a non-competitive antagonism pattern. In addition, 6-NH2F significantly relaxed the contraction induced by KCl and CaCl2, suggesting a potential calcium channel blockade, which was corroborated by in silico molecular docking that was used to approximate the mode of interaction with the L-type Ca2+ channel, where 6-NH2F showed lower affinity energy when compared with nifedipine. Finally, toxicological studies revealed that 6-NH2F possesses pharmacological safety, since it did not produce any toxic effect in both acute and sub-acute murine models. In conclusion, 6-aminoflavone exerted significant relaxation through calcium channel blockade, and the compound seems to be safe.
The Effects of Immunosuppressive Drugs on the Characteristics and Functional Properties of Bone Marrow-Derived Stem Cells Isolated from Patients with Diabetes Mellitus and Peripheral Arterial Disease
Authors: Husakova Jitka , Echalar Barbora , Kossl Jan , Palacka Katerina , Fejfarova Vladimira , Dubsky Michal
Published: June 2023

Background: Diabetic patients (DPs) with foot ulcers can receive autologous cell therapy (ACT) as a last therapeutic option. Even DPs who have undergone organ transplantation and are using immunosuppressive (IS) drugs can be treated by ACT. The aim of our study was to analyze the effects of IS drugs on the characteristics of bone marrow-derived stem cells (BM-MSCs). Methods: The cells were isolated from the bone marrow of DPs, cultivated for 14–18 days, and phenotypically characterized using flow cytometry. These precursor cells were cultured in the presence of various IS drugs. The impact of IS drugs on metabolic activity was measured using a WST-1 assay, and the expression of genes for immunoregulatory molecules was detected through RT-PCR. Cell death was analyzed through the use of flow cytometry, and the production of cytokines was determined by ELISA. Results: The mononuclear fraction of cultured cells contained mesenchymal stem cells (CD45−CD73+CD90+CD105+), myeloid angiogenic cells (CD45+CD146−), and endothelial colony-forming cells (CD45−CD146+). IS drugs inhibited metabolic activity, the expression of genes for immunoregulatory molecules, the production of cytokines, and the viability of the cells. Conclusions: The results indicate that IS drugs in a dose-dependent manner had a negative impact on the properties of BM-MSCs used to treat ischemic diabetic foot ulcers, and that these drugs could affect the therapeutic potential of BM-MSCs.
Recent Advances in the DNA-Mediated Multi-Mode Analytical Methods for Biological Samples
Authors: Huang Lu , Zhang Zhuomin
Published: June 2023

DNA-mediated nanotechnology has become a research hot spot in recent decades and is widely used in the field of biosensing analysis due to its distinctive properties of precise programmability, easy synthesis and high stability. Multi-mode analytical methods can provide sensitive, accurate and complementary analytical information by merging two or more detection techniques with higher analytical throughput and efficiency. Currently, the development of DNA-mediated multi-mode analytical methods by integrating DNA-mediated nanotechnology with multi-mode analytical methods has been proved to be an effective assay for greatly enhancing the selectivity, sensitivity and accuracy, as well as detection throughput, for complex biological analysis. In this paper, the recent progress in the preparation of typical DNA-mediated multi-mode probes is reviewed from the aspect of deoxyribozyme, aptamer, templated-DNA and G-quadruplex-mediated strategies. Then, the advances in DNA-mediated multi-mode analytical methods for biological samples are summarized in detail. Moreover, the corresponding current applications for biomarker analysis, bioimaging analysis and biological monitoring are introduced. Finally, a proper summary is given and future prospective trends are discussed, hopefully providing useful information to the readers in this research field.
Modality-Specific Perceptual Learning of Vocoded Auditory versus Lipread Speech: Different Effects of Prior Information
Authors: Bernstein Lynne E. , Auer Edward T. , Eberhardt Silvio P.
Published: June 2023

Traditionally, speech perception training paradigms have not adequately taken into account the possibility that there may be modality-specific requirements for perceptual learning with auditory-only (AO) versus visual-only (VO) speech stimuli. The study reported here investigated the hypothesis that there are modality-specific differences in how prior information is used by normal-hearing participants during vocoded versus VO speech training. Two different experiments, one with vocoded AO speech (Experiment 1) and one with VO, lipread, speech (Experiment 2), investigated the effects of giving different types of prior information to trainees on each trial during training. The training was for four ~20 min sessions, during which participants learned to label novel visual images using novel spoken words. Participants were assigned to different types of prior information during training: Word Group trainees saw a printed version of each training word (e.g., “tethon”), and Consonant Group trainees saw only its consonants (e.g., “t_th_n”). Additional groups received no prior information (i.e., Experiment 1, AO Group; Experiment 2, VO Group) or a spoken version of the stimulus in a different modality from the training stimuli (Experiment 1, Lipread Group; Experiment 2, Vocoder Group). That is, in each experiment, there was a group that received prior information in the modality of the training stimuli from the other experiment. In both experiments, the Word Groups had difficulty retaining the novel words they attempted to learn during training. However, when the training stimuli were vocoded, the Word Group improved their phoneme identification. When the training stimuli were visual speech, the Consonant Group improved their phoneme identification and their open-set sentence lipreading. The results are considered in light of theoretical accounts of perceptual learning in relationship to perceptual modality.
From Citizenship Pressure to Pro-Group Unethical Behavior: The Dual-Stage Moderating Role of Self-Serving Political Will
Authors: Zhang Hantai , Hu Minqiao , Liu Xin , Yu Xuan , Xie Jinyu
Published: June 2023

Drawing upon social cognitive theory, our study proposes a dual-stage moderated mediation model that utilizes moral disengagement as the mediator and self-serving political will as the moderator to investigate whether, how, and when team-oriented citizenship pressure leads to pro-group unethical behavior. Data were collected through questionnaires from 527 Chinese employees in various industries. Amos and Process macro were used to test the model’s fit and hypotheses, respectively. The results showed that citizenship pressure has a positive effect on pro-group unethical behavior through moral disengagement. Moreover, self-serving political will is a positive moderator in both the first and second stages, as well as in the mediation effect. This study extends the related research field by linking citizenship pressure and political will with moral disengagement and pro-social unethical behavior, responding to some academic calls. When faced with team-oriented citizenship pressure, team members with high self-serving political will may become a sharp edge that stabs at other competing teams. Managers at the team and organizational levels can intervene in different ways depending on their constructive or destructive management goals.
Assessment of Barriers to Robotics Process Automation (RPA) Implementation in Safety Management of Tall Buildings
Authors: Waqar Ahsan , Othman Idris , Falqi Ibrahim Idris , Almujibah Hamad R. , Alshehri Abdullah Mohammed , Alsulamy Saleh Hamed , Benjeddou Omrane
Published: June 2023

Construction is dangerous, making safety management essential. Robotics process automation (RPA) can improve construction project risk management. RPA is hindered by several factors. This study examined the primary technical, economic, legal, privacy, and resource obstacles to RPA adoption for tall building safety management. The pilot survey comprised 161 Malaysian tall building specialists, while the full questionnaire poll included 231 experts. EFA and SEM analyzed the data. Technology, economics, legislation, privacy, and resources prevented RPA from managing tall building safety. Theoretical and empirical breakthroughs in construction safety management and RPA deployment prompted this inquiry. This study illuminates the main obstacles to employing RPA for tall building safety management. The results show where to spend time and money to eliminate the obstacles. The study’s management implications may benefit construction safety managers, project managers, and company owners. The findings may help the building industry plan RPA safety management in tall projects and overcome hurdles. This study contributes to construction safety management and RPA deployment theory by identifying and analyzing the main barriers to using RPA for safety management in high-rise buildings. This research can help solve the problems preventing RPA from being used in construction project safety management.
A Holistic Framework for Assessing the Quality of Building Construction in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alfalah Ghasan , Alasaibia Amer , Alshamrani Othman , Al-Sakkaf Abobakr
Published: June 2023

In order to make sure that structures adhere to the necessary norms and laws, it is essential to evaluate the quality of building construction. According to several frameworks, the quality of a building’s construction can be assessed in a number of different circumstances. In order to provide building projects with excellent quality and competitive pricing, hard work is required. To raise the standard of building construction, a model was created. The goal of this project is to provide a model for raising building construction quality. This study used the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) technique, which includes the determination of consistency ratios, pairwise comparisons, normalization, and a comparison matrix. The difficulty of implementing quality was determined for each task using the AHP technique. This was multiplied by the quality factor to obtain the final quality level. The model was tested in three different situations, and it was discovered that quality application is challenging across all building operations. Using a quality evaluation technique, this study assessed the building construction quality in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, a pairwise comparison, normalization, and a comparison matrix were used to calculate the consistency ratio. The ultimate quality level was determined by multiplying the difficulty level for each activity, as determined using the AHP approach, by the quality factor. This study will therefore be helpful to those involved in Saudi Arabian building, including architects, engineers, quality experts, and others. Additionally, the tool aids in the decision making process for enhancing construction quality.
Influence of Natural Fiber Derived from Agricultural Waste on Durability and Micro-Morphological Analysis of High-Strength Concrete
Authors: Rajkohila A. , Prakash Chandar S. , Ravichandran P. T.
Published: June 2023

This research focuses on the investigation of durability behavior and microstructural analysis for M70 grade of high-strength concrete (HSC) with the influence of alccofine, banana fiber (BF), and coir fiber (CF). In this investigation, cement was partly supplanted by 15% of alccofine content in weight. Two types of natural fibers, banana and coir fibers, were selected and added in concrete at 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2% by volume. Durability characteristics, such as long-term compressive performance, rapid chloride penetration, sorptivity, water absorption, volume of permeable voids, and acid attack resistance are investigated elaborately and correlate with conventional HSC. Results showed that the incorporation of banana and coir fibers with alccofine in HSC exhibited good durability performance as correlated with conventional HSC. At 180 days of curing, incorporating 1% of banana fiber increased the durability performance compared to reference HSC. Nonetheless, the high-fiber percentage of HSC has a slight reduction in durability characteristics. Among the two types of fibers, the banana fiber showed the most significant improvement in the durability properties of HSC. The influence of natural fiber on the microstructural characteristics of HSC was evaluated using scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) to substantiate the experimental findings. In contrast, using additional supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) in HSC fabrication significantly reduces cement usage and carbon emissions.
Evaluation of the Success of Industry 4.0 Digitalization Practices for Sustainable Construction Management: Chinese Construction Industry
Authors: Sajjad Muhammad , Hu Anfeng , Waqar Ahsan , Falqi Ibrahim Idris , Alsulamy Saleh Hamed , Bageis Abdulrahman S. , Alshehri Abdullah Mohammed
Published: June 2023

The potential of Industry 4.0 digitization practices to improve sustainability and enhance overall project performance has garnered significant attention in the construction industry. Nonetheless, there is a necessity for empirical investigations that delve into the particular factors and constructs that contribute to this achievement. This research aims to address the existing gap in the literature by examining the favorable consequences of Industry 4.0 digitalization techniques in the context of sustainable construction management. The research utilized a mixed-methods methodology, integrating exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM), to examine survey data obtained from the construction sector in China. The survey questionnaire comprised constructs that pertained to sustainability, technology, design, functional aspects, resource management, and managerial efficiency. The concept of sustainability has been identified as the most significant factor in shaping sustainable construction practices. The findings presented herein contribute to the theoretical comprehension of the determinants that impact the execution of Industry 4.0 digitalization methodologies within the construction sector. The interrelated constructs that have been identified provide valuable insights for practitioners and policymakers seeking to utilize Industry 4.0 practices to achieve sustainability, enhance technology adoption, optimize design processes, streamline functional aspects, improve resource utilization, and increase managerial efficiency. Implementing these strategies can enhance project success and ensure long-term sustainability in the construction industry. This research adds to the expanding pool of information regarding the factors that lead to success in Industry 4.0 digitization practices within sustainable construction management.
Construction of Building Energy Consumption Prediction Model Based on Multi-Optimization Model
Authors: Wang Hongyan , Wen Wen , Zhang Zihong , Gao Ning
Published: June 2023

This study explores the utilization of the Relevance Vector Machine (RVM) model, optimized using the Sparrow Search Algorithm (SSA), Simulate Anneal Arithmetic (SAA), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), and Bayesian Optimization Algorithm (BOP), to construct an energy dissipation model for public buildings in Wuhan City. Energy consumption data and influential factors were collected from 100 public buildings, yielding 15 input variables, including building area, personnel density, and supply air temperature. Energy dissipation served as the output scalar indicator. Through correlation analysis between input and output variables, it was found that building area, personnel density, and supply air temperature significantly impact energy dissipation in public buildings. Principal component analysis (PCA) was employed for data dimensionality reduction, selecting seven main influential factors along with energy dissipation values as the dataset for the predictive model. The BOP-RVM model showed superior performance in terms of R2 (0.9523), r (0.9761), and low RMSE (5.3894) and SI (0.056). These findings hold substantial practical value for accurately predicting building energy consumption and formulating effective energy management strategies.
Study of Improved Grey BP (Back Propagation) Neural Network Combination Model for Predicting Deformation in Foundation Pits
Authors: Ouyang Xu , Nie Jianwei , Xiao Xian
Published: June 2023

Deep excavation engineering is a comprehensive discipline that involves multiple fields such as engineering geology, hydrogeology, and foundation engineering. With the improvement of the utilization rate of underground space, the demand for the construction of large-scale underground structural engineering is growing, making the excavation of underground soil become increasingly frequent, which also brings about the safety problems of deep foundation pit engineering and the surrounding environment. Prediction of foundation pit deformation is an important research direction with diverse historical developments, but it is also facing a series of difficulties and challenges. In order to solve these problems, this article proposes an improvement plan, establishes a prediction model based on the combination model of grey BP (back propagation) neural network, and verifies its effectiveness through experiments. The results show that the average error of the new model’s prediction of horizontal deformation is about 0.31, which is about 32% lower than the traditional model’s prediction error. The difference between the vertical deformation prediction and actual monitoring results is also controlled. The vertical deformation predicted by wavelet transform is 7% to 9% larger than the actual monitoring results, meeting the prediction requirements. Finally, this article explores the research on the prediction of foundation pit deformation in deep excavation engineering, An improved grey BP neural network combination model was proposed and its effectiveness was verified through experiments. This article has important reference value for the study of deformation prediction in deep excavation engineering.