bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Relation of Serum Vitamin C Concentrations with Alzheimer’s Disease Mortality in a National Cohort of Community-Dwelling Elderly Adults
Authors: Appiah Duke , Ingabire-Gasana Elyvine , Appiah Linda , Yang Jeanne
Published: May 2024

The relation of vitamin C with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is equivocal. The aim of this study was to assess the relation of serum vitamin C levels with AD-related mortality, and to evaluate the threshold beyond which the potential benefits of higher serum concentrations of vitamin C for AD mortality ceases. The cohort consisted of 4504 adults aged ≥60 years enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey who had serum measures of vitamin C and no cognitive impairment at baseline (1988–1994) and were followed-up for mortality until 2019. Vitamin C was assayed from fasting blood samples using isocratic high-performance liquid chromatography. At baseline, the mean age of participants was 70 years, with 42.7% being men. At the end of follow-up (median: 15 years), the AD mortality rate was 2.4 per 1000 person-years. In the Cox regression models, compared to participants in the lowest tertile of serum vitamin C (<0.56 mg/dL), those in the highest tertile (>0.98 mg/dL) had a lower risk of AD mortality (hazard ratio: 0.44, 95% confidence intervals: 0.25–0.77) after adjusting for sociodemographic factors, behavior/lifestyle factors, prevalent health conditions, and dietary vitamin C intake. In dose–response analysis using restricted cubic splines, vitamin C concentrations beyond 2.3 mg/dL were associated with the elevated risk of AD-related mortality. The findings from this national sample of community-dwelling elderly adults suggest that higher levels of serum vitamin C are associated with slower AD disease progression, although levels beyond the normal reference values were associated with a higher risk of AD mortality.
Anthocyanins and Type 2 Diabetes: An Update of Human Study and Clinical Trial
Authors: Kozłowska Aleksandra , Nitsch-Osuch Aneta
Published: May 2024

Anthocyanins are phenolic compounds occurring in fruits and vegetables. Evidence from pre-clinical studies indicates their role in glucose level regulation, gut microbiota improvement, and inflammation reduction under diabetic conditions. Therefore, incorporating these research advancements into clinical practice would significantly improve the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes. This narrative review provides a concise overview of 18 findings from recent clinical research published over the last 5 years that investigate the therapeutic effects of dietary anthocyanins on diabetes. Anthocyanin supplementation has been shown to have a regulatory effect on fasting blood glucose levels, glycated hemoglobin, and other diabetes-related indicators. Furthermore, increased anthocyanin dosages had more favorable implications for diabetes treatment. This review provides evidence that an anthocyanin-rich diet can improve diabetes outcomes, especially in at-risk groups. Future research should focus on optimal intervention duration, consider multiple clinical biomarkers, and analyze anthocyanin effects among well-controlled versus poorly controlled groups of patients with diabetes.
Jasmonate ZIM Domain Protein (JAZ) Gene SLJAZ15 Increases Resistance to Orobanche aegyptiaca in Tomato
Authors: Chen Siyu , Zhang Lu , Ma Qianqian , Chen Meixiu , Cao Xiaolei , Zhao Sifeng , Zhang Xuekun
Published: May 2024

Orobanche aegyptiaca Pers. is a holoparasitic plant that severely reduces tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) production in China. However, there is a lack of effective control methods and few known sources of genetic resistance. In this study, we focused on key genes in the JAZ family, comparing the JAZ family in Arabidopsis thaliana (L. Heynh.) to the tomato genome. After identifying the JAZ family members in S. lycopersicum, we performed chromosomal localization and linear analysis with phylogenetic relationship analysis of the JAZ family. We also analyzed the gene structure of the JAZ gene family members in tomato and the homology of the JAZ genes among the different species to study their relatedness. The key genes for O. aegyptiaca resistance were identified using VIGS (virus-induced gene silencing), and the parasitization rate of silenced tomato plants against O. aegyptiaca increased by 47.23–91.13%. The genes were localized in the nucleus by subcellular localization. Heterologous overexpression in A. thaliana showed that the key gene had a strong effect on the parasitization process of O. aegyptiaca, and the overexpression of the key gene reduced the parasitization rate of O. aegyptiaca 1.69-fold. Finally, it was found that the SLJAZ15 gene can positively regulate the hormone content in tomato plants and affect plant growth and development, further elucidating the function of this gene.
Characterisation and Expression Analysis of LdSERK1, a Somatic Embryogenesis Gene in Lilium davidii var. unicolor
Authors: Wang Shaojuan , Yi Xiaoyan , Zhang Lijuan , Ali Muhammad Moaaz , Ke Mingli , Lu Yuxian , Zheng Yiping , Cai Xuanmei , Fang Shaozhong , Wu Jian , Lin Zhimin , Chen Faxing
Published: May 2024

The Lanzhou lily (Lilium davidii var. unicolor) is a variant of the Sichuan lily of the lily family and is a unique Chinese ‘medicinal and food’ sweet lily. Somatic cell embryogenesis of Lilium has played an important role in providing technical support for germplasm conservation, bulb propagation and improvement of genetic traits. Somatic embryogenesis receptor-like kinases (SERKs) are widely distributed in plants and have been shown to play multiple roles in plant life, including growth and development, somatic embryogenesis and hormone induction. Integrating the results of KEGG enrichment, GO annotation and gene expression analysis, a lily LdSERK1 gene was cloned. The full-length open reading frame of LdSERK1 was 1875 bp, encoding 624 amino acids. The results of the phylogenetic tree analysis showed that LdSERK1 was highly similar to rice, maize and other plant SERKs. The results of the subcellular localisation in the onion epidermis suggested that the LdSERK1 protein was localised at the cell membrane. Secondly, we established the virus-induced gene-silencing (VIGS) system in lily scales, and the results of LdSERK1 silencing by Tobacco rattle virus (TRV) showed that, with the down-regulation of LdSERK1 expression, the occurrence of somatic embryogenesis and callus tissue induction in scales was significantly reduced. Finally, molecular assays from overexpression of the LdSERK1 gene in Arabidopsis showed that LdSERK1 expression was significantly enhanced in the three transgenic lines compared to the wild type, and that the probability of inducing callus tissue in seed was significantly higher than that of the wild type at a concentration of 2 mg/L 2,4-D, which was manifested by an increase in the granularity of the callus tissue.
Genome-Wide Identification Analysis of GST Gene Family in Wild Blueberry Vaccinium duclouxii and Their Impact on Anthocyanin Accumulation
Authors: Lv Wei , Zhu Liyong , Tan Lifa , Gu Lei , Wang Hongcheng , Du Xuye , Zhu Bin , Zeng Tuo , Wang Caiyun
Published: May 2024

Vaccinium duclouxii, a wild blueberry species native to the mountainous regions of southwestern China, is notable for its exceptionally high anthocyanin content, surpassing that of many cultivated varieties and offering significant research potential. Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are versatile enzymes crucial for anthocyanin transport in plants. Yet, the GST gene family had not been previously identified in V. duclouxii. This study utilized a genome-wide approach to identify and characterize the GST gene family in V. duclouxii, revealing 88 GST genes grouped into seven distinct subfamilies. This number is significantly higher than that found in closely related species, with these genes distributed across 12 chromosomes and exhibiting gene clustering. A total of 46 members are classified as tandem duplicates. The gene structure of VdGST is relatively conserved among related species, showing closer phylogenetic relations to V. bracteatum and evidence of purifying selection. Transcriptomic analysis and qRT-PCR indicated that VdGSTU22 and VdGSTU38 were highly expressed in flowers, VdGSTU29 in leaves, and VdGSTF11 showed significant expression in ripe and fully mature fruits, paralleling trends seen with anthocyanin accumulation. Subcellular localization identified VdGSTF11 primarily in the plasma membrane, suggesting a potential role in anthocyanin accumulation in V. duclouxii fruits. This study provides a foundational basis for further molecular-level functional analysis of the transport and accumulation of anthocyanins in V. duclouxii, enhancing our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying anthocyanin metabolism in this valuable species.
Current Concerns about Microplastics and Nanoplastics: A Brief Overview
Authors: Morreale Marco , La Mantia Francesco Paolo
Published: May 2024

The widespread and increasing use of plastic-based goods in the present-day world has been raising many concerns about the formation of microplastics, their release, their impacts on the environment and, ultimately, on living organisms. These concerns are even greater regarding nanoplastics, i.e., nanosized microplastics, which may have even greater impacts. In this brief review, although without any claim or intention to exhaustively cover all the aspects of such a complex and many-sided issue, the very topical problem of the formation of microplastics, and the even more worrisome nanoplastics, from polymer-based products was considered. The approach is focused on a terse, straightforward, and easily accessible analysis oriented to the main technological engineering aspects regarding the sources of microplastics and nanoplastics released into the environment, their nature, some of the consequences arising from the release, the different polymers involved, their technological form (i.e., products or processes, with particular attention towards unintentional release), the formation mechanisms, and some possible mitigation pathways.
Industrial Two-Phase Olive Pomace Slurry-Derived Hydrochar Fuel for Energy Applications
Authors: Karim Adnan Asad , Martínez-Cartas Mᵃ Lourdes , Cuevas-Aranda Manuel
Published: May 2024

The present study aims to resolve the existing research gaps on olive pomace (OP) hydrochars application as a fuel by evaluating its molecular structures (FTIR and solid NMR analysis), identifying influential characteristics (Pearson correlation analysis), process optimization (response surface methodology), slagging–fouling risks (empirical indices), and combustion performance (TG-DSC analysis). The response surfaces plot for hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of OP slurry performed in a pressure reactor under varied temperatures (180–250 °C) and residence times (2–30 min) revealed 250 °C for 30 min to be optimal conditions for producing hydrochar fuel with a higher heating value (32.20 MJ·Kg−1) and energy densification ratio (1.40). However, in terms of process efficiency and cost-effectiveness, the optimal HTC conditions for producing the hydrochar with the highest energy yield of 87.9% were 202.7 °C and 2.0 min. The molecular structure of hydrochar was mainly comprised of aromatic rings with methyl groups, alpha-C atoms of esters, and ether bond linkages of lignin fractions. The slagging and fouling risks of hydrochars were comparatively lower than those of raw OP, as indicated by low slagging and fouling indices. The Pearson correlation analysis emphasized that the enrichment of acid-insoluble lignin and extractive contents, carbon densification, and reduced ash content were the main pivotal factors for hydrochar to exhibit better biofuel characteristics for energy applications.
Bacteriostatic Activity of Janthinobacterium lividum and Purified Violacein Fraction against Clavibacter michiganensis
Authors: Lyakhovchenko Nikita S. , Efimova Viktoria A. , Seliverstov Evgeniy S. , Anis’kov Alexander A. , Solyanikova Inna P.
Published: May 2024

Clavibacter michiganensis causes plant diseases and is included in the list of microorganisms subject to export control. Janthinobacterium lividum is capable of synthesizing a pigment with antagonistic potential. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the activity of J. lividum VKM B-3705D and the pigment fraction against C. michiganensis VKM Ac-1402. The results of spectrophotometric and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis showed that the pigment synthesized by the J. lividum VKM B-3705D corresponds to violacein. The J. lividum strain demonstrated potential bacteriostatic activity against C. michiganensis VKM Ac-1402 when both strains were co-cultured. Compared to the control (DMSO), the violacein solution suppressed the specific growth of Clavibacter by 57.7%. The mechanism of suppression of the growth of Clavibacter is discussed. One of the ways to suppress the growth of C. michiganensis may be the inhibition of key enzymes. Violacein inhibited the activity of adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase, EC 3.6.1.3) compared to the control (DMSO) by 23.2%. Thus, the current study of the bacteriostatic effect may be a decisive step towards the development of a plant protection product.
Religious Dimensions of Confucius’ Teachings on Ren and Li in the Analects
Authors: Lee Jongtae
Published: May 2024

This essay examines whether Confucius aligns more with humanism or religious thought, asserting that his philosophy defies simple classification. It highlights his use of religious motifs, especially the concept of li 禮, which he broadened beyond mere rituals to include societal behaviors, infusing them with a sacred essence. Additionally, this essay delves into Confucius’s notion of de 德, perceived as having an almost magical influence without coercion, closely tied to his ideas on li and governance. This reflects a belief in a universal moral order, challenging the view of Confucius as purely a humanist. The text also explores his nuanced understanding of tian 天, a central yet complex aspect of his philosophy, suggesting a spiritual dimension. Ultimately, this essay advocates for recognizing Confucius not only as a moral guide but as a thinker embodying significant religious or spiritual insights.
The Atmospheric Heating Mechanism over the Tharsis Bulge of Mars and the Impact of Global Dust Storms
Authors: Zhang Jie , Sheng Zheng , He Mingyuan
Published: May 2024

Mars atmospheric dynamics are crucial for understanding its climate and weather patterns, especially over plateaus. Previous studies have explored localized atmospheric heating mechanisms over Mars plateaus only to a little extent. The local atmospheric heating dynamics over the Tharsis plateau, especially during global dust storms (GDSs), have not been quantitatively analyzed before. Based on reanalysis datasets, our analysis reveals that the central highlands of Tharsis experience ~130 K diurnal temperature fluctuations, driven by intense daytime convective activity. Surface temperature and near-surface air temperatures show fluctuations approximately 25 K and 20 K higher than those at similar latitudes, respectively. We quantify a super-adiabatic lapse rate around noon that suggests strong atmospheric instability, previously unquantified in this region. By dusk, the atmosphere stabilizes, presenting a homogenized condition. At aphelion, sensible heating and adiabatic terms control the atmospheric heating, while, at perihelion, radiative and sensible heating predominate. Notably, the onset of GDS significantly alters this dynamic, reducing the ground–air temperature gap from 17 K to 5 K and enhancing diabatic heating (adiabatic cooling) in the mid-to-lower (mid-to-upper) troposphere, with increases in radiative components up to 60 W/m2.
Monitoring Dissolved Oxygen Concentrations in the Coastal Waters of Zhejiang Using Landsat-8/9 Imagery
Authors: Dong Lehua , Wang Difeng , Song Lili , Gong Fang , Chen Siyang , Huang Jingjing , He Xianqiang
Published: May 2024

The Zhejiang coastal waters (ZCW), which exhibit various turbidity levels, including low, medium, and high turbidity levels, are vital for regional ecological balance and sustainable marine resource utilization. Dissolved oxygen (DO) significantly affects marine organism survival and ecosystem health, yet there is limited research on remote sensing monitoring of DO in the ZCW, and the underlying mechanisms are unclear. This study addresses this gap by utilizing high-resolution Landsat 8/9 imagery and sea surface temperature (SST) data to develop a multiple linear regression (MLR) model for DO estimation. Compared to previous studies that utilize remote sensing band reflectance data as inputs, the results show that the red and blue bands are more suitable for establishing DO inversion models for such water bodies. The model was applied to analyze variations in the DO concentrations in the ZCW from 2013 to 2023, with a focus on Hangzhou Bay (HZB), Xiangshan Bay (XSB), Sanmen Bay (SMB), and Yueqing Bay (YQB). The temporal and spatial distributions of DO concentrations and their relationships with environmental factors, such as chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentrations, total suspended matter (TSM) concentrations, and thermal effluents, are analyzed. The results reveal significant seasonal fluctuations in DO concentrations, which peak in winter (e.g., 9.02 mg/L in HZB) and decrease in summer (e.g., 6.83 mg/L in HZB). Changes in the aquatic environment, particularly in the thermal effluents from the Sanmen Nuclear Power Plant (SNPP), significantly decrease coastal dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations near drainage outlets. Chl-a and TSM directly or indirectly affect DO concentrations, with notable correlations observed in XSB. This study offers a novel approach for monitoring and managing water quality in the ZCW, facilitating the early detection of potential hypoxia issues in critical zones, such as nuclear power plant heat discharge outlets.
Analyzing Spatiotemporal Variations and Driving Factors of Grassland in the Arid Region of Northwest China Surrounding the Tianshan Mountains
Authors: Fang Yutong , Zhao Xiang , Liu Naijing , Zhang Wenjie , Shi Wenxi
Published: May 2024

The Tianshan Mountains, the largest arid mountain range in Central Asia, feature diverse terrains and significant landscape heterogeneity. The grasslands within the Xinjiang Tianshan region are particularly sensitive to climate change and human activities. However, until recently, the patterns and mechanisms underlying grassland changes in this region have been unclear. In this study, we analyzed spatial and temporal changes in grassland fractional vegetation cover (FVC) from 2001 to 2020, analyzed spatial and temporal changes in grassland, and predicted future trends using Global Land Surface Satellite (GLASS) FVC data, trend analysis, and the Hurst index method. We also explored the driving mechanisms behind these changes through the structural equation model (SEM). The results showed that from 2001 to 2020, the grassland FVC in the Tianshan region of Xinjiang was higher in the central and western regions and lower in the northern and southern regions, showing an overall fluctuating growth trend, with a change in the growth rate of 0. 0017/a (p < 0.05), and that this change was spatially heterogeneous, with the sum of significant improvement (20.6%) and slight improvement (29.9%) being much larger than the sum of significant degradation (0.6%) and slight degradation (9.5%). However, the Hurst index (H = 0.47) suggests that this trend may not continue, and there is a risk of degradation. Our study uncovers the complex interactions between the Tianshan barrier effect and grassland ecosystems, highlighting regional differences in driving mechanisms. Although the impacts of climatic conditions in grasslands vary over time in different regions, the topography and its resulting hydrothermal conditions are still dominant, and the extent of the impact is susceptible to fluctuations of varying degrees due to extreme climatic events. Additionally, the number of livestock changes significantly affects the grasslands on the southern slopes of the Tianshan Mountains, while the effects of nighttime light are minimal. By focusing on the topographical barrier effect, this study enhances our understanding of grassland vegetation dynamics in the Tianshan Mountains of Xinjiang, contributing to improved ecosystem management strategies under climate change.
GNSS-Based Narrow-Angle UV Camera Targeting: Case Study of a Low-Cost MAD Robot
Authors: Gyrichidi Ntmitrii , Romanov Alexey M. , Trofimov Oleg V. , Eroshenko Stanislav A. , Matrenin Pavel V. , Khalyasmaa Alexandra I.
Published: May 2024

One of the key challenges in Multi-Spectral Automatic Diagnostic (MAD) robot design is the precise targeting of narrow-angle cameras on a specific part of the equipment. The paper shows that a low-cost MAD robot, whose navigation system is based on open-source ArduRover firmware and a pair of low-cost Ublox F9P GNSS receivers, can inspect the 8 × 4 degree ultraviolet camera bounding the targeting error within 0.5 degrees. To achieve this result, we propose a new targeting procedure that can be implemented without any modifications in ArduRover firmware and outperforms more expensive solutions based on LiDAR SLAM and UWB. This paper will be interesting to the developers of robotic systems for power equipment inspection because it proposes a simple and effective solution for MAD robots’ camera targeting and provides the first quantitative analysis of the GNSS reception conditions during power equipment inspection. This analysis is based on the experimental results collected during the inspection of the overhead power transmission lines and equipment inspections on the open switchgear of different power plants. Moreover, it includes not only satellite, dilution of precision, and positioning/heading estimation accuracy but also the direct measurements of angular errors that could be achieved on operating power plants using GNSS-only camera targeting.
A Deep Learning Method for Bearing Cross-Domain Fault Diagnostics Based on the Standard Envelope Spectrum
Authors: Zhai Lubin , Wang Xiufeng , Si Zeyiwen , Wang Zedong
Published: May 2024

Intelligent fault diagnostics based on deep learning provides a favorable guarantee for the reliable operation of equipment, but a trained deep learning model generally has low prediction accuracy in cross-domain diagnostics. To solve this problem, a deep learning fault diagnosis method based on the reconstructed envelope spectrum is proposed to improve the ability of rolling bearing cross-domain fault diagnostics in this paper. First, based on the envelope spectrum morphology of rolling bearing failures, a standard envelope spectrum is constructed that reveals the unique characteristics of different bearing health states and eliminates the differences between domains due to different bearing speeds and bearing models. Then, a fault diagnosis model was constructed using a convolutional neural network to learn features and complete fault classification. Finally, using two publicly available bearing data sets and one bearing data set obtained by self-experimentation, the proposed method is applied to the data of the fault diagnostics of rolling bearings under different rotational speeds and different bearing types. The experimental results show that, compared with some popular feature extraction methods, the proposed method can achieve high diagnostic accuracy with data at different rotational speeds and different bearing types, and it is an effective method for solving the problem with cross-domain fault diagnostics for rolling bearings.
The Prevalence of Benzodiazepine Use among Italian Drivers in 15,988 Cases of Driving License Regranting from 2015 to 2023: Risks and Implications for Driving Fitness
Authors: Stefani Lucrezia , Mineo Federico , Romani Leonardo , Vernich Francesca , Russo Carmelo , Marsella Luigi Tonino , Tittarelli Roberta
Published: May 2024

The use of benzodiazepines is strongly associated with an increased risk of traffic accidents due to their side effects of sedation and drowsiness, which can significantly impair driving performance. The main aim of our study was to investigate the trend of benzodiazepine use over nine years (2015–2023) in a population of 15,988 subjects who had their license suspended for driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs. Among the 15,988 users accessed to our laboratory, 924 tested positive for at least one benzodiazepine. An increase in the number of positive-testing users was observed in the period 2015–2018, followed by a slight decrease in 2019. Overall, the trend of benzodiazepine use was stable over the next four years (2020–2023), with the highest incidence in 2022. The most common benzodiazepines, and/or metabolites, found in urine samples were α-OH-alprazolam (28.66%; n = 366) and oxazepam (27.25%; n = 348). Several cases of mixed positivity were observed in the study population. The main substances taken with benzodiazepines were cocaine and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol. Our findings suggest that people taking benzodiazepines should be monitored, as these have a relevant impact on driving ability in addition to significant interindividual differences in the behavioral effects of benzodiazepines on driving performance.
Catholic Parishes and Immigrants in Italy: Insights from the Congregations Study in Three Italian Cities
Authors: Guglielmi Marco , Breskaya Olga , Sbalchiero Stefano
Published: May 2024

As shown by sociological studies, the Catholic Church in Italy is very active in conducting advocacy and providing political representation to immigrants. It is also highly effective in carrying out services for immigrants, as well as fairly receptive to sharing places of worship with them. However, these sociological observations have been mainly conducted at the national level rather than by exploring the life of parishes through an empirical lens. This article aims, by applying the congregations study methodology, to fill this gap by detecting faith communities as the basic social units of religious life at the city/country level. In doing that, we discuss quantitative data collected in 377 Catholic parishes in the cities of Bologna, Milan, and Brescia. The findings suggest that Catholic parishes: (i) illustrate a low proportion of immigrants in their communities; (ii) show high activity in providing services for immigrants; (iii) are not politically engaged in advocacy for foreign persons at the local level; and (iv) similarly position themselves as politically conservative and liberal while expressing commitments to immigrants. This study confirms the sociological argument regarding the solidarity approach of the Catholic Church in Italy toward immigrants, while highlighting some ambivalent aspects related to cultural diversity and grass-roots political engagement within parishes’ life.
Livability vs. Affordability; Disability and Housing in the United States
Authors: Anderson Raeda K. , Pasciuti Daniel S. , Sellers Chloe M.
Published: May 2024

This paper demonstrates the macro dynamics of housing and disability by comparing pressures on a broad range of issues related to housing and disability across states. Despite the growing population of adults with disabilities in the United States, research on the national-level relationship between housing and disability has been largely absent and little attention has been paid to accessibility, housing affordability, or the prevalence of involuntary movement and relocation for adults with disabilities. Using national data from the 2020 American Community Survey (ACS), we examine the multi-dimensional nature of housing, through cost burdens, upkeep, and maintenance, renting vs. ownership, and types of housing prevalent in the United States, and argue that this creates a paradox of livability vs. affordability for adults with disabilities. These state-level trends in the cost and livability of housing environments by state show that housing conditions and housing costs are inversely associated for adults with disabilities. These macro-level conditionalities are not uniform but vary by housing type and location across the country, creating specific paradoxes in each state. We assert that housing itself is one of the key mechanisms that can support or hinder the long-term well-being of persons with disabilities living in the community, through the presence or absence of both physical space and facilities in the home. Ultimately, housing conditions and affordability need to be considered primary factors in the study and support of persons with disabilities and these considerations must be tailored to state and local housing dynamics to meet persons with disabilities where they live.
Practical Use of Materials of Natural Origin as Loose-Fill Insulations in Open-Diffusion Constructions—Observation and Numerical Simulation
Authors: Kosiński Piotr , Patyna Krystian
Published: May 2024

The increasing requirements concerning the consideration of the environmental impact of building materials, along with the simultaneous preservation and enhancement of building thermal parameters, have led to a surge in interest in insulations based on organic or recycled materials. Despite the growing interest in these materials, there remains a scarcity of scientific studies regarding their hygrothermal properties. Within the scope of the research described in the text, the insulation properties of loose-fill materials (hemp shives, cellulose fibers, loose wood wool, and mineral wool as a reference) in wooden frame walls were analyzed. The authors simulated walls with the same U value filled with these materials using Delphin 6.1 software. The simulation time was 3 years, considering the appropriate climatic conditions of Olsztyn and different microclimatic conditions inside the rooms. Insulations made of natural organic can absorb and reveal moisture to the internal environment, while mineral wool transports the moisture to the outside, which may cause condensation problems. Insulations made of hemp shives or wood wool do not increase the level of accumulated moisture over time, which results in thermal stability. In contrast, cellulose and mineral wool store more moisture, which in wet conditions increases the heat flux by 6.9% and 5.2%, respectively.
Promoting Sustainable Development of Organizations: Performance Pressure, Workplace Fun, and Employee Ambidextrous Innovation
Authors: Fan Chuanhao , Zheng Shiying , Chen Long
Published: May 2024

In the context of an economic downturn, organizations need to continuously improve their performance requirements for employees, and in the macro environment of intensified competition, organizations need to continuously motivate employees to innovate in order to seize development opportunities. Flexibly adjusting to the internal pressure of an organization while ensuring organizational vitality can promote employee adaptive growth and achieve sustainable development in the organization. However, the impact of performance pressure on employee ambidextrous innovation is currently unknown. Based on this, this article explores the positive effects of performance pressure in influencing employee ambidextrous innovation through job involvement from the perspective of Affective Events Theory and uses workplace fun as a moderating variable in order to analyze the internal logic of long-term motivation for employee ambidextrous innovation in organizations. This article conducted a survey and analysis of 362 in-service employees in enterprises and institutions and found the following: (1) performance pressure has a significant positive impact on employee ambidextrous innovation; (2) job involvement plays a partial mediating role between performance pressure and exploratory innovation; (3) workplace fun has a moderating effect on the relationship between job involvement and exploitative innovation, and the higher the level of workplace fun, the stronger the positive impact of job involvement on exploitative innovation.
RETRACTED: Skelton et al. Contribution of Host Immune Responses against Influenza D Virus Infection toward Secondary Bacterial Infection in a Mouse Model. Viruses 2019, 11, 994
Authors: Skelton Raegan M. , Shepardson Kelly M. , Hatton Alexis , Wilson Patrick T. , Sreenivasan Chithra , Yu Jieshi , Wang Dan , Huber Victor C. , Rynda-Apple Agnieszka
Published: May 2024

The Viruses Editorial Office retracts the article, “Contribution of Host Immune Responses Against Influenza D Virus Infection Toward Secondary Bacterial Infection in a Mouse Model” [...]
The Impact of COVID-19 during Pregnancy on Maternal Hemodynamic Function, Angiogenic Markers and Neonatal Outcome
Authors: Schirwani-Hartl Nawa , Tschanun Lena , Palmrich Pilar , Haberl Christina , Perkmann-Nagele Nicole , Kiss Herbert , Berger Angelika , Binder Julia
Published: May 2024

Infections with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) in pregnancy are associated with the development of preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction (FGR). Recently, preeclampsia was linked to impaired maternal hemodynamic function. This retrospective study evaluated singleton pregnancies with COVID-19 during pregnancy and healthy pregnant controls matched for gestational age from November 2020 to March 2022. Non-invasive assessment of maternal hemodynamics by continuous wave Doppler ultrasound measurements (USCOM-1A® Monitor) and oscillometric arterial stiffness (Arteriograph) was performed. Overall, 69 pregnant women were included—23 women after COVID-19 during pregnancy and 46 healthy controls. While two women (8.7%) were admitted to the hospital due to COVID-19-related symptoms, none required intensive care unit admission or non-invasive/invasive ventilation. There were no statistically significant differences in the majority of hemodynamic parameters between the two cohorts. The prevalence of FGR was significantly higher in the COVID-19 during pregnancy group (9.5% vs. healthy controls: 0.0%; p = 0.036), especially in nulliparous women. No difference in angiogenic markers and neonatal outcomes were observed between pregnant women after COVID-19 and healthy controls. In conclusion, no significant differences in hemodynamic parameters or neonatal outcome were observed in women with COVID-19 during pregnancy. However, an increased prevalence of FGR could be described.
Elements and Processes Required for the Development of a Spring-Breakup Ice-Jam Flood Forecasting System (Churchill River, Atlantic Canada)
Authors: Lindenschmidt Karl-Erich , Briggs Robert , Khan Amir Ali , Puestow Thomas
Published: May 2024

Spring-breakup ice-jam floods are a major hazard for many rivers in cold regions. They can cause severe damage to infrastructure, property, and ecosystems along riverbanks. To reduce the risk and impact of these events, it is essential to develop reliable and timely forecasting systems that can provide early warning and guidance for mitigation actions. In this paper, we highlight the elements and processes required for the successful development of a spring-breakup ice-jam flood forecasting system, using the lower Churchill River in Labrador, Canada as a case study. We review the existing forecasting methodologies and systems for spring-breakup ice-jam floods and discuss their strengths and limitations. We then describe the case study of the lower Churchill River, where a large ice-jam flood occurred in May 2017, triggering an independent review and a series of recommendations for improving the flood preparedness and response. We present the main components and features of the forecasting system that was developed for the lower Churchill River, based on the recommendations from the independent review. We also discuss the improvements that were made to the forecasting system, such as parallelization, adaptation, and determination of ice-jam prone areas. Finally, we provide some conclusions and recommendations for future research and development of spring-breakup ice-jam flood forecasting systems, focusing on the requirements for a technical framework that incorporates community engagement and special considerations for regulated rivers.
Aplicaciones del radón como trazador en la industria petrolera
Authors: Angulo Saldiña Beatriz Celeste , Hernández Annette Juan Carlos , Núñez Othón Aristeo
Published: May 2024

El radón es un elemento radiactivo, gaseoso, más denso que el aire, inodoro e insípido. Al ser producto del decaimiento radiactivo del uranio 238, debido a su asociación con la materia orgánica, está presente en forma natural en sistemas petrolíferos. De ahí que nos hayamos planteado como objetivo profundizar sobre la aplicabilidad del radón en las etapas de exploración y producción de la industria. El estudio constituye una investigación básica, en la que se realizó una revisión de literatura, para lo que empleó una investigación es cualitativa y se utilizó el método descriptivo-explicativo. La metodología empleada con enfoque inductivo que se nutrió principalmente de fuentes provenientes de plataformas académicas reconocidas, Science Direct, EBSCO, Cambridge CSA, One Petro, GeoScience Wolrd, entre otras y operadores boleanos: AND, OR y NOT. La revisión en bases de datos científicas, presenta las generalidades químicas y geoquímicas del 222Rn y muestra su utilidad como herramienta exploratoria de hidrocarburos desde superficie y como trazador de partición para la estimación de la saturación residual de crudos en producción, así como en caracterización de yacimientos y como soporte para la evaluación del progreso de proyectos de recuperación mejorada de hidrocarburos empleando vapor. Entre las ventajas en el empleo del radón resalta su presencia natural en el yacimiento, lo que evita el impacto ambiental, así como la sencillez y bajo costo de su determinación, potenciándolo como trazador natural en exploración y producción.
Sistema autónomo ahuyentador de aves utilizando aprendizaje por transferencia
Authors: Quelca Cadena Raquel
Published: May 2024

La producción de mandarina criolla mejorada constituye una fuente económica significativa para numerosos colonizadores en la Colonia Unión Camacho, ubicada en el departamento de La Paz, Bolivia. No obstante, este proceso se ve frecuentemente perturbado por la presencia del ave oropéndola crestada (Psarocolius decumanus). Por lo que el objetivo de la actual investigación desarrollar un sistema autónomo de ahuyentamiento de aves basado en la técnica de aprendizaje por transferencia de Machine Learning (ML). La metodología aplicada en el desarrollo de este sistema fue la Extreme Programming (XP). El sistema ahuyentador se sometió a un proceso de entrenamiento y posterior evaluación utilizando conjuntos de datos de entrenamiento y prueba. Los resultados obtenidos demostraron una satisfactoria capacidad de clasificación de los sonidos emitidos por el ave oropéndola crestada, lo que refleja la alta confiabilidad del sistema propuesto. Por lo que, destaca la capacidad para aprovechar las tecnologías de vanguardia, en particular la Inteligencia Artificial, y aplicarlas al sector agrícola. De esta manera, se contribuye al desarrollo económico y educativo de la comunidad.
Monsieur Mosse
Authors: Paasonen Susanna , Pajala Mari
Published: May 2024

Raimo Jääskeläinen, better known as Monsieur Mosse (1932–1992), was a hairdresser, makeup artist, gossip columnist, convicted blackmailer, and Finland’s first out gay male celebrity. The topic of endless articles, befriending and falling out with beauty queens and fashion models, publishing a tell-all memoir elaborating on his taste for luxury, working for straight porn magazines and briefly editing one, Mosse was both the subject and object of popular media and, in his flamboyance, a key domestic celebrity figure of the 1970s and 1980s. Meanwhile, his relationship with the gay rights movement was frictional at best in that his brand was considered “dishonorable” vis-à-vis liberatory politics. Building on media historical inquiry and taking cue from Huw Lemmey and Ben Miller’s (2022) popular argument for studying “bad gays” – historical figures not fitting aspirational and inspirational narratives of queer activism and agency – this article examines Mosse’s trajectory as a celebrity, focusing especially on his 1980s collaborations with the sex press. We argue that Mosse’s particular brand of shameless extravagance and candid gossiping knowingly operationalized “badness” as a vehicle of distinction and visibility in a largely homophobic national context.
Exploring "Queer Relations"
Authors: Eldén Sara
Published: May 2024

Wahlström Henriksson, Helena & Klara Goedecke, eds. 2022. Close Relations: Family, Kinship, and Beyond. Singapore: Springer. (220 pages)
Carbon and Nitrogen Deposits of Macroalgal Origin on a Tropical Seagrass Meadow
Authors: Rozaimi Mohammad , Zainee Nur Farah Ain , Raynusha Chandran , Arina Natasha , Hidayah Nur , Hengjie Tan , Tangang Fredolin
Published: May 2024

How would the biodiversity of macroalgae modify carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stocks within a blue carbon habitat? We addressed this knowledge gap by quantifying biomass stocks of macroalgal origins across the seascape of a seagrass meadow. Such information is warranted due to the paucity of data on macroalgal deposits that function as allochthonous inputs into an ecosystem’s pool of organic matter. Macroalgae were collected from the Merambong seagrass shoal (Johor, Malaysia) in December 2020 to February 2021. C and N analyses were performed on organic matter, and biomass measurements were upscaled to represent seascape estimates. Stocks of macroalgal origin across the meadow were estimated at 10.71 ± 1.3 Mg C and 0.75 ± 0.11 Mg N. The biodiversity of macroalgae was heterogeneous, which was similarly reflected in taxa-specific variability of up to 44.7% C and 4.9% N. The highest cumulative stocks were contributed by members of Ulvaceae for C and N. Corallinaceae and Lithophyllaceae contributed the highest organic C among the calcifying species. The morphology and habit of the 35 macroalgal species found in the meadow provided indicators of their autochthonous versus allochthonous nature based on benthic or drifting tendencies. Predictors of C and N stocks factored by biodiversity indices were not evident, although Evenness index partially explained it at the spatial level. The spatial model was still able to pinpoint clusters of C and N hotspots across the meadow, allowing management measures for the protection of C reserves while mitigating release of excess N.
Climate Variability Impacts on the Fishery Ecosystem Structure in the Humboldt Current System
Authors: Feng Zhiping , Chen Xinjun , Yu Wei
Published: May 2024

The Humboldt current system (HCS) sustains the highest global fishing catch for individual species. It is susceptible to interannual and decadal climate variability, which cause species-, community-, and ecosystem-level changes. Therefore, systematically exploring changes in the fishery ecosystem structure driven by climate variability is beneficial for fishery management in the region. In this study, a combination of large-scale climate, regional environmental, and functional groups catch data was used to detect regime shifts in the fishery ecosystem structure within the HCS and to investigate the possible impact mechanisms of climate variability. The results indicated that obvious decadal changes in the fishery ecosystem structure within the HCS align with inferred regime shifts in the early to mid-1970s, mid-1980s, and late 1990s. These shifts corresponded well to climate and regional environment regime shifts during these periods. Among the climate and environmental variables studied, the first and third principal components of climate index and the first principal component of regional environmental variables showed higher ecological importance for fishery ecosystem structure variations within the HCS. This suggest that fluctuations in the Aleutian Low and El Niño–Southern Oscillation significantly affected the regional environment, characterized by heat and wind speed, and consequently induced alterations in the fishery ecosystem structure. This study contributes to holistic understanding of climate-driven changes in the fishery ecosystem structure within the HCS, providing a robust foundation for ecosystem-based fisheries management.
Integrated Distributed Sensing and Quantum Communication Networks
Authors: Xu Yuehan , Wang Tao , Huang Peng , Zeng Guihua
Published: May 2024

The integration of sensing and communication can achieve ubiquitous sensing while enabling ubiquitous communication. Within the gradually improving global communication, the integrated sensing and communication system based on optical fibers can accomplish various functionalities, such as urban structure imaging, seismic wave detection, and pipeline safety monitoring. With the development of quantum communication, quantum networks based on optical fiber are gradually being established. In this paper, we propose an integrated sensing and quantum network (ISAQN) scheme, which can achieve secure key distribution among multiple nodes and distributed sensing under the standard quantum limit. The continuous variables quantum key distribution protocol and the round-trip multiband structure are adopted to achieve the multinode secure key distribution. Meanwhile, the spectrum phase monitoring protocol is proposed to realize distributed sensing. It determines which node is vibrating by monitoring the frequency spectrum and restores the vibration waveform by monitoring the phase change. The scheme is experimentally demonstrated by simulating the vibration in a star structure network. Experimental results indicate that this multiuser quantum network can achieve a secret key rate of approximately 0.7 Mbits/s for each user under 10-km standard fiber transmission, and its network capacity is 8. In terms of distributed sensing, it can achieve a vibration response bandwidth ranging from 1 Hz to 2 kHz, a strain resolution of 0.50

n
ε
/

Hz

, and a spatial resolution of 0.20 m under shot-noise-limited detection. The proposed ISAQN scheme enables simultaneous quantum communication and distributed sensing in a multipoint network, laying a foundation for future large-scale quantum networks and high-precision sensing networks.
Die Bedeutung des HR-Risikomanagements
Authors: Bentum Elisabeth van , Erben Roland F. , Kittel Fabian
Published: May 2024

Mithilfe einer Monte-Carlo-Simulation wurden die Kosten ermittelt, die in Pflegeunternehmen aufgrund von Engpassrisiken entstehen. Schon im Rahmen des relativ einfach gehaltenen Modells wurde deutlich, dass die finanziellen Auswirkungen eines Engpassrisikos für Unternehmen signifikante Größenordnungen annehmen. Als zentraler Kostentreiber wurde die Dauer der Vakanz identifiziert. Die ermittelten Vakanzkosten können als Grundlage für Entscheidungen sowie der Bewertung von Maßnahmen zur Reduzierung von Engpassrisiken dienen. Mithilfe solcher Risikosimulationen sind Unternehmen also in der Lage, kennzahlengestützte Entscheidungen zu treffen und proaktiv auf potenzielle Risiken zu reagieren.