bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of Oxidative Stress on the Etiology and Pathophysiology of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Its Relation with the Enteric Nervous System
Authors: López-Pingarrón Laura , Almeida Henrique , Soria-Aznar Marisol , Reyes-Gonzales Marcos C. , Terrón María Pilar , García Joaquín J.
Published: April 2023

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting motor neurons in the spinal cord, cerebral cortex, and medulla oblongata. Most patients present a clinical phenotype of classic ALS—with predominant atrophy, muscle weakness, and fasciculations—and survival of 3 to 5 years following diagnosis. In the present review, we performed a literature search to provide an update on the etiology and pathophysiological mechanisms involved in ALS. There are two types of ALS: the familial form with genetic involvement, and the sporadic form with a multifactorial origin. ALS pathophysiology is characterized by involvement of multiple processes, including oxidative stress, glutamate excitotoxicity, and neuroinflammation. Moreover, it is proposed that conditioning risk factors affect ALS development, such as susceptibility to neurodegeneration in motor neurons, the intensity of performed physical activity, and intestinal dysbiosis with involvement of the enteric nervous system, which supports the existing theories of disease generation. To improve patients’ prognosis and survival, it is necessary to further deepen our understanding of the etiopathogenesis of ALS.
Recent Advances in Corrosion Assessment Models for Buried Transmission Pipelines
Authors: Zhu Xian-Kui
Published: April 2023

Most transmission pipelines are buried underground per regulations, and external corrosion is the leading cause of failures of buried pipelines. For assessing aged pipeline integrity, many corrosion assessment models have been developed over the past decades. This paper delivers a technical review of corrosion assessment models for determining the remaining strength of thin- and thick-walled pipelines containing corrosion defects. A review of burst prediction models for defect-free pipes is given first, including the strength- and flow-theory-based solutions, and then of those for corroded pipes. In terms of the reference stress, the corrosion models are categorized into four generations. The first three generations correspond to the flow stress, ultimate tensile stress (UTS), and a combined function of UTS and strain-hardening rate, while the fourth generation considers the wall-thickness effect. This review focuses on recent advances in corrosion assessment methods, including analytical models and machine learning models for thick-walled pipelines. Experimental data are used to evaluate these burst pressure prediction models for defect-free and corroded pipes for a wide range of pipeline steels from low to high grades (i.e., Grade B to X120). On this basis, the best corrosion models are recommended, and major technical challenges and gaps for further study are discussed.
Reinforcement and Antibacterial Properties of Hand Embroidery Threads Based on Green Nanocoatings
Authors: Alshehri Layla Abdulrahman , Attia Nour F.
Published: April 2023

This paper presents a novel design and synthesis strategy for smart antibacterial and reinforcement coatings for hand embroidery threads. For the first, time molokhia stem extract was prepared and utilized as a reducing and capping agent for the synthesis of a uniform narrow-sized dispersion of ZnONPs, with an average size of 10 nm. This was then wrapped with starch chains and coated on hand embroidery threads. The ZnONP size and dispersion were elucidated using microscopic techniques. The tensile strength and antibacterial properties for the developed cotton threads were studied. The new green nanocoatings enhance the tensile strength of hand embroidery threads by 7% and record potential antibacterial behavior. The developed threads inhibit the growth of bacteria and record a clear antibacterial inhibition zone of 8.5 mm compared to zero for the uncoated one. The dispersion and morphology of the nanocoating on the surface cotton threads were investigated using SEM-EDS. The current study affords a green and scalable approach for the new generation of safe and green hand embroidery products.
Comparison of the Mechanical Properties and Corrosion Resistance of the Cr-CrN, Ti-TiN, Zr-ZrN, and Mo-MoN Coatings
Authors: Tao He , Zhylinski Valery , Vereschaka Alexey , Chayeuski Vadzim , Yuanming Huo , Milovich Filipp , Sotova Catherine , Seleznev Anton , Salychits Olga
Published: April 2023

In this work, the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of Cr-CrN, Ti-TiN, Zr-ZrN, and Mo-MoN coatings deposited by the physical vapor deposition (PVD) method on Ti-6Al-4V alloy were compared. The phase composition of the coatings, their hardness and fracture resistance in scratch tests were determined, and their structural characteristics were also studied using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The diffraction spectra were made using an automatic X-ray diffractometer. The value of the adhesive component of the friction coefficient fadh of the pair “coated and uncoated Ti-6Al-4V alloy” was investigated in the temperature range of 20–900 °C. The lowest value of fadh was detected for the Zr-ZrN coating at temperatures below 400 °C, while for the Mo-MoN coating it was observed at temperatures above 700 °C. The polarization curves of the coated and uncoated samples were performed in a 3% aqueous NaCl solution. The level of corrosion of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy samples with Cr-CrN, Ti-TiN, Zr-ZrN, and Mo-MoN coatings was evaluated using the Tafel extrapolation method, the iteration method, and the polarization resistance method. The results obtained with these methods indicate that the Zr-ZrN coated sample has the best corrosion resistance in the 3 wt.% NaCl solution, with a corrosion current density of 0.123 μA/cm2.
Wood Cutting Board Finishes and Their Effect on Bacterial Growth
Authors: Vega Gutierrez Sarath M. , Vega Gutierrez Patricia T. , Waite-Cusic Joy , Robinson Seri C.
Published: April 2023

Although wooden cutting boards have been used for centuries, debate remains on how best to coat/seal the boards for microbial protection. A growing body of the literature points to the hygroscopicity of wood—its ability to draw water and bacteria from its surface, deep into the wood, where the bacteria are trapped and die—as the wood attempts to even out its moisture content. There is little research as to how coatings affect this mechanism. In this study, four wood species were coated with either a hardening or nonhardening oil and then, were inoculated with either Listeria or Salmonella, then ‘stamped’ onto sterile agar plates at given time intervals to check microbial growth. The coated woods had significantly more recoverable bacteria on their surface than did the uncoated samples. There was no significant difference in performance between the oils. Remaining bacterial loads did vary significantly by wood species, with European beech having significantly less surface bacteria when inoculated with Salmonella, and the oak species having significantly less surface bacteria with Listeria. Multiple factors appeared to affect the ability of wood to move bacteria from its surface, including porosity of the wood, type of bacteria applied, and time. These results run counter to popular understanding of wood cutting board maintenance and will hopefully impact the way households and professional kitchens use and care for their food-contact wood in the future.
Switchable Dual-Function Terahertz Metamaterial Device Based on Vanadium Dioxide
Authors: Xing Mingjia , Teng Yunjie
Published: April 2023

On the basis of the temperature-controlled phase change properties of vanadium dioxide (VO2), a dual-functional terahertz metamaterial device is proposed. The device can be switched between an absorber and a polarization converter. Simulation results demonstrate that the device acts as a terahertz wave absorber when the VO2 is in the metallic state, and the reflected extinction ratio is less than −15 dB in the frequency range between 1.07 and 1.19 THz. Moreover, the absorption performance is insensitive to polarization. When the VO2 is in the insulated state, the device behaves as a polarization converter, which can convert line-polarized light to cross-polarized light. The polarization conversion rate of the device is over 90% in the frequency range between 1.43 and 1.51 THz. The proposed dual-functional metamaterial device with tunable and diverse functions has broad and potentially useful uses in areas such as terahertz detection, modulation, and switching.
Novel Hybrid Organic–Inorganic Polymeric Coatings Containing Phosphonium or Acidic Groups for Improving Flame Retardancy of Wood
Authors: Koukoumtzis Vasilis , Lainioti Georgia C. , Voyiatzis George A. , Kallitsis Joannis K.
Published: April 2023

Flame-retardant polymeric coatings with high limiting oxygen index (LOI) were prepared by combining inorganic mineral huntite (H5) and polymeric additives synthesized in the present work into a polymeric formulation. In order to improve the dispersion of the Mg- (and Ca)-based H5 particles, additives containing phosphonium and acidic groups were employed to homogenize the inorganic fillers into the polymer matrix. Specific blend combinations of the commercial matrix Ecrovin® LV 340 eco with huntite and the additives poly(benzyltriphenylphosphonium-co-4-styrene sulfonic acid) P(SSH-co-SSBTPB60) and poly(hexadecyltributylphosphonium-co-4-styrene sulfonic acid) P(SSH-co-SSTBHDPB80), combining acidic and phosphonium groups, led to LOI values of 34.5% and 33.5%, respectively. The novel flame-retardant polymeric coatings inhibited the combustion of the coated wood substrates, which is attributed to the combination of acidic groups that promote the dispersion of inorganic filler in the polymer matrix and phosphonium groups that support the increase in LOI values.
Crystalline Structure, Morphology, and Adherence of Thick TiO2 Films Grown on 304 and 316L Stainless Steels by Atomic Layer Deposition
Authors: Marques Vagner Eduardo Caetano , Manfroi Lucas Augusto , Vieira Angela Aparecida , de Jesús Pereira André Luis , das Chagas Marques Francisco , Vieira Lúcia
Published: April 2023

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) thin films are widely used in transparent optoelectronic devices due to their excellent properties, as well as in photocatalysis, cosmetics, and many other biomedical applications. In this work, TiO2 thin films were deposited onto AISI 304 and AISI 316L stainless steel substrates by atomic layer deposition, followed by comparative evaluation of the mixture of anatase and rutile phase by X-ray diffraction, Raman maps, morphology by SEM-FEG-AFM, and adhesion of the films on the two substrates, aiming to evaluate the scratch resistance. Raman spectroscopy mapping and X-ray diffraction with Rietveld refinement showed that the films were composed of anatase and rutile phases, in different percentages. Scratch testing using a diamond tip on the TiO2 film was employed to evaluate the film adherence and to determine the friction coefficient, with the results showing satisfactory adherence of the films on both substrates.
Preliminary Design and Numerical Investigation of a Centrifugal Compressor for Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Operating in the Vicinity of Its Critical Thermodynamic State
Authors: Aretis Georgios R. K. , Gkountas Apostolos A. , Koubogiannis Dimitrios G. , Sarris Ioannis E.
Published: April 2023

Waste heat recovery is one of the main practices used to reduce the carbon footprint of the industrial sector regarding environmental concern. The supercritical carbon dioxide (s-CO2) cycle is one of the most attractive heat-to-power technologies; due to the abrupt variation in CO2 properties in the vicinity of its critical point, small compression work is required and finally a high cycle efficiency is achieved. In the literature, among the various proposed layouts, the recompression s-CO2 Brayton cycle is considered to be the most efficient one. The most critical component of such a cycle is definitely the main compressor, as the related usual design procedures have been developed in the past for ideal gas as a working fluid. This study presents a methodology for the preliminary design of a centrifugal compressor with a vaned diffuser, suitable for fulfilling the desired operating requirements of a particular supercritical CO2 recompression Brayton cycle. Furthermore, it demonstrates the numerical investigation of the three-dimensional (3D) flow phenomena occurring in it, focusing on the investigation of possible condensation. To this end, a one-dimensional flow model was developed to provide information regarding the geometry of the compressor and predict its prospective performance. Commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software was then employed to examine the three-dimensional flow. The effect of accuracy in the evaluation of real gas properties approaching the critical point was examined, showing that a look-up table with more points around the critical point can reduce the numerical relative error by up to 0.3% for the value of specific heat capacity. In addition, the possibility of condensation occurrence was investigated at the impeller’s inlet, where the flow is accelerated. The supersaturation pressure ratio was defined and implemented in order to identify regions where static pressure is lower than saturation pressure, possibly leading to local two-phase flow.
High-Affinity Neutralizing DNA Aptamers against SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Variants
Authors: Ayass Mohamad Ammar , Griko Natalya , Pashkov Victor , Tripathi Trivendra , Cao Wanying , Javan Nazanin , Dai Jun , Zhang Jin , Zhu Kevin , Abi-Mosleh Lina
Published: April 2023

The continuous emergence of new variants of concern for SARS-CoV-2 has created a challenge for existing therapies. To address this, we developed a series of single-stranded DNA aptamers that not only bind specifically to the trimer S protein of SARS-CoV-2 but also block the interaction between the trimer S protein and ACE2 receptors. The systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) was performed to select the aptamers for SARS-CoV-2 trimer S protein. ELISA-based assay and flow cytometry were performed to test the apatmers’ binding and inhibition of trimer S protein in vitro. Binding affinity was measured using surface plasmon resonance. Significance was determined in Prism 9.0 using the one-way ANOVA test (Dunnett’s multiple comparisons test) or two-way ANOVA test (Tukey’s multiple comparisons test) for comparisons. The p values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. After 12 rounds of SELEX, eight highly enriched aptamers were able to bind to the trimer S protein of the SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan original strain as well as the trimer S proteins of the Delta, Delta plus, Alpha, Lambda, Mu, and Omicron variants, with affinities in the nM range, while also inhibiting their interaction with ACE2 receptors in Vero E6 cells. Modifications to our best aptamer were made by adding forward and reverse primer sequences and truncation. The modified aptamers AYA2012004_L and AYA2012004_L-M1 showed up to 70% inhibition of the binding of virus-like particles (VLPs) expressing S protein to the ACE2 receptor expressed in HEK293T cells. Our findings imply that the selected aptamers can prevent SARS-CoV-2 from entering host cells and hence suppress the viral infection. In addition, the findings suggest that the selected aptamers might be an innovative therapy for the treatment of COVID-19.
Performance of the CURB65, NEWS2, qSOFA, SOFA, REDS, ISARIC 4C, PRIEST and the Novel COVID-19 Severity Scores, Used to Risk-Stratify Emergency Department Patients with COVID-19, on Mortality—An Observational Cohort Study
Authors: Sheerin Thomas , Dwivedi Prerak , Hussain Adil , Sivayoham Narani
Published: April 2023

Objective: To compare the performance of established scoring systems (CURB65, NEWS2, qSOFA, SOFA and REDS) to the newly developed scores (ISARIC 4C, PRIEST and novel COVID-19 severity scores) in mortality prediction for patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection in the emergency department (ED). Method: A retrospective observational cohort study of adult patients attending a teaching hospital ED who fulfilled the criteria for suspected sepsis and tested positive for COVID-19. The scores were calculated for each patient. The primary outcome measure was all-cause in-hospital mortality. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were generated for each score. The area under the ROC (AUROC) curves were compared to that of the ISARIC 4C score. The cut-off points were determined by the statistical software package. The test characteristics at the cut-off scores were noted. Results: Of the 504 patients studied, 153 (30.5%) died in hospital. The AUROC of the ISARIC 4C score was similar to all of the scores except for the NEWS2 score and qSOFA scores, which were significantly lower. The test characteristics of the different scores were similar. Conclusions: In this single-centre study, the newly developed COVID scores outperformed the NEWS2 and qSOFA scores but did not perform better than the other scores studied.
Preparation of a Graphene-Enhanced Hydroxyapatite Film on Dolomitic Marble by the Sol-Gel Method
Authors: Wang Feng , Li Di , Gu Yaoqi , Wei Shuya
Published: April 2023

The preparation of continuous hydroxyapatite film on stone is a promising method of protecting marble from erosion. However, many methods negatively affect the calcium in the substrate and forming of struvite on the dolomite surface, leading to a heterogeneous coating and low efficiency. In this study, a continuous hydroxyapatite coating on dolomitic marble was achieved from graphene enhanced Ca(OH)2 nanoparticles as the calcium precursor using the sol-gel method. The morphology and the structure of the film was evaluated by a field emission scanning electron microscope coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (FESEM-EDS), an optical microscope, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and analytical techniques. Moreover, the color and the contact angle measurements, as well as the simulated acid rain test and freeze–thaw treatment, were performed to assess the chromatic aberration, hydrophilicity, reliability, and durability of the coating. A suppositional combination model among hydroxyapatite, graphene quantum dots, and dolomite were suggested based on structural similarities between the support material and components of the functional coating. The integrality and efficiency of the hydroxyapatite film was improved by compositing with graphene quantum dots.
Effect of Substrate Temperature on Variations in the Structural and Optical Properties of Cu2O Thin Films Deposited via RF Magnetron Sputtering
Authors: Kim Jun-A , Park Jung-Hwan , Park Sang-Geon , Son Chang-Sik , Son Young-Guk , Hwang Dong-Hyun
Published: April 2023

In the present study, Cu2O films were deposited on a glass substrate via RF (radio frequency) magnetron sputtering under substrate temperature conditions that ranged from room temperature (RT, 25 °C) to 400 °C. The structural, compositional, and optical properties of the Cu2O films were analyzed in relation to the experimental variables by applying various measurement methods. The substrate temperature was a crucial factor in shaping the structural, compositional, and optical properties of the Cu2O films that were synthesized via RF-magnetron sputtering. Our findings revealed that the Cu2O films exhibited a cubic structure, which was confirmed by XRD analysis. Specifically, the (111) and (200) planes showed different trends with respect to the substrate temperature. The intensity of the (111) peak increased at 250 °C, and above 300 °C, the preferred orientation of the (111) plane was maintained. The grain size, which was determined via FE-SEM, displayed a positive correlation with the substrate temperature. Additionally, XPS analysis revealed that the binding energy (BE) of the Cu2O film sputtered at 400 °C was similar to that which was previously reported. Notably, the as-grown Cu2O film demonstrated the highest transmittance (15.9%) in the visible region, which decreased with increasing substrate temperature. Furthermore, the energy band gap (Eg) of the Cu2O films remained constant (2.51 eV) at low substrate temperatures (25 °C to 200 °C) but exhibited a slight increase at higher temperatures, reaching 2.57 eV at 400 °C.
Liquid Crystalline Mixtures with Induced Polymorphic Smectic Phases Targeted for Energy Investigations
Authors: Al-Zahrani Salma A. , Khan Mohd Taukeer , Jevtovic Violeta , Masood Najat , Jeilani Yassin Aweis , Ahmed Hoda A. , Alfaidi Fatimah M.
Published: April 2023

In this study, 4-Biphenyle-4′-alkyloxybenzenamines were synthesized as a homologous series of liquid crystals based on the biphenyl moiety. Their mesomorphic and optical properties were examined for both pure and mixed components. Elemental analysis, NMR, and FT-IR spectroscopy were used to determine the molecular structures of the developed materials. Using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), the mesophase transitions were studied, and polarized optical microscopy was used to identify the textures of the mesophases (POM). The obtained results showed that all compounds are dimorphic and only have smectic B (SmB) and smectic A (SmA) phases for all terminal side chains, which are enantiotropic. With variably proportionated terminal side chains and a focus on the mesomorphic temperature range, binary phase diagrams were constructed and an induced smectic C phase was achieved (SmC). It was found that terminal chain length affects both conformation and steric impact in the mixed states. The absorption and fluorescence emission spectra of pure as well as their binary mixtures liquid crystalline films were recorded to investigate the optical and photophysical properties. It was noted that, with the increase in alkyl chain length, the energy bandgap increases from 3.24 eV (for C6H13) to 3.37 eV (for C16H33) and charge carrier lifetime decreases, ascribing to the increase in stearic hindrance causing, consequently, the faster decay of charge carriers.
Tunable Phase Structure in Mn-Doped Lead-Free BaTiO3 Crystalline/Amorphous Energy Storage Thin Films
Authors: Geng Jianlu , Li Dongxu , Hao Hua , Guo Qinghu , Xu Huihuang , Cao Minghe , Yao Zhonghua , Liu Hanxing
Published: April 2023

For dielectric energy storage materials, high polarization and high breakdown strengths are a long-standing challenge. A modulating crystalline/amorphous phase structure strategy is proposed by Mn-doping and annealing temperature to enhance the energy storage performance of pure BaTiO3 (BT) films. In this study, lead-free Mn-doped BT films were prepared on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates via the sol-gel method, and the effects of the crystalline/amorphous phase ratio on polarization and electric properties were analyzed. A small amount of Mn-doping in BT could reduce the annealing temperature and enhance polarization with an Mn content of 8%. In addition, the energy storage properties of BT-8%Mn films achieve the best energy storage performance in terms of energy density and efficiency of 72.4 J/cm3 and 88.5% by changing the annealing temperature to 640 °C. BT-8%Mn energy storage films also possess good stability over a wide temperature range of 20 °C–200 °C, which demonstrates that crystalline/amorphous engineering is a simple and effective way to enhance energy storage applications of dielectric films.
Reactive Ceramic Membrane for Efficient Micropollutant Purification with High Flux by LED Visible-Light Photocatalysis: Device Level Attempts
Authors: Li Shuo , Zhang Xuan , Fang Rui , Cheng Zhiliang , Xu Qian , Ma Shu , Xiong Jie , Chen Peng , Feng Guangjie
Published: April 2023

Micropollutants (MPs) are widely occurring in surface water all over the world with extremely low concentrations, and their treatment requires high energy consumption and efficiency. In this study, a large-sized planar photocatalytic reactive ceramic membrane (PRCM) was prepared using the facile dip-coating method with nitrogen-doped TiO2 (N-TiO2-CM) for the purification of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) as a model MP. The N-TiO2 nanoparticles and the as-prepared N-TiO2-CM were characterized by SEM/EDS, TEM, XPS, UV–Vis DRS, and FT-IR. A fixed bed reactor integrated N-TiO2-CM, and visible LED light was fabricated for the new PRCM water treatment system for the removal of TC with a comprehensive consideration of the degradation rate and permeate flux. The SEM/EDS results indicated that the N-TiO2 was uniformly and tightly loaded onto the flat CM, and the pure water flux could reach over 2000 L/(m2 × h) under a trans-membrane pressure (TMP) of −92 kPa. The fixed bed PRCM water treatment system is extremely suited for MP purification, and the removal efficiency of TC was as high as 92% with 270 min even though its initial concentration was as low as 20 mg/L. The degradation rate and permeate flux of N-TiO2-CM was 2.57 and 2.30 times as high as that of the CM, indicating its good self-cleaning characteristics. The quenching experiments illustrated that the reactive radicals involved in the PRCM process, •OH and •O2−, were responsible for TC degradation. This research also provides a utilization proposal for a scale-up N-TiO2-CM system for water and wastewater treatment.
A Case of Cushing’s Syndrome from Well-Differentiated Neuroendocrine Tumors of the Small Bowel and Its Mesentery
Authors: Carlaw Kirsten Rose , Hameed Ahmer , Shakeshaft Anthony
Published: April 2023

Adrenocorticotropic (ACTH)-producing neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) are rarely found in the small bowel, and primary mesenteric NETs have only been reported in a few cases globally. We report the case of a 68-year-old female with ectopic Cushing’s syndrome due to excessive ACTH secretion from small bowel primary lesions and mesenteric metastasis. Initially, only the mesenteric mass was detected on imaging and endoscopy/colonoscopy, and it was only with surgical exploration that the small bowel lesions were found. This highlights the importance of high clinical suspicion and robust investigation when locating NETs. Surgical resection of the affected small bowel and mesentery was the definitive treatment for this patient. Initial hydrocortisone replacement therapy was needed, and subsequent biochemical tests and clinical reviews demonstrated no recurrence.
Ancient DNA Contradicts the Presence of Social Voles (Genus Microtus, Subgenus Sumeriomys) in the Late Pleistocene of Western Europe
Authors: Nadachowski Adam , Lemanik Anna , Fontana Laure , Popović Danijela , Golubiński Michał , Bujalska Barbara , Baca Mateusz
Published: April 2023

Taxonomic decisions made by palaeontologists are often based on a few morphological features preserved in the fossil material. This practice may sometimes lead to the description of new species based on single specimens, which are, in fact, extreme or aberrant morphological variants of known taxa. Ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis of the Late Pleistocene specimens from the archaeological site Petits Guinards (Creuzier-la-Vieux, Allier, France), described as a new vole Microtus (Sumeriomys) bifrons, did not confirm the species distinctness of the studied population. The genetically examined specimens belonged to Stenocranius anglicus and/or Microtus arvalis, the dominant species at the site. Our findings show that it is risky to describe new fossil taxa on the basis of phenotypic outliers or morphologically aberrant, rare specimens that do not fall within the previously known population variability. We also highlight the importance of ancient DNA in resolving taxonomic and nomenclature problems and classifying fossil mammals of the Late Pleistocene age.
Seasonal and Site-Specific Patterns of Airborne Fungal Diversity Revealed Using Passive Spore Traps and High-Throughput DNA Sequencing
Authors: Marčiulynas Adas , Lynikienė Jūratė , Marčiulynienė Diana , Gedminas Artūras , Menkis Audrius
Published: April 2023

The aim of the present work was to study seasonal and site-specific patterns of airborne fungal diversity, focusing on plant pathogens. The sampling of fungal spores was carried out for twelve months, i.e., between September 2017 and August 2018, using passive spore traps that were placed at three different sites in western (Lenkimai), central (Dubrava), and eastern (Labanoras) Lithuania. Samples were collected every 7–10 days, resulting in 146 samples altogether. Following DNA isolation, samples were individually amplified using ITS2 rRNA as a marker and subjected to high-throughput sequencing. Clustering and taxonomic classification of 283,006 high-quality reads showed the presence of 805 non-singleton fungal taxa. The detected fungi were 53.4% Ascomycota, 46.5% Basidiomycota, and 0.1% Mucoromycota. The most common fungal taxon at Labanoras and Lenkimai was Hannaella coprosmae (23.2% and 24.3% of all high-quality fungal sequences, respectively), while at Dubrava it was Cladosporium macrocarpum (16.0%). In different sites, plant pathogenic fungi constituted between 1.6% and 14.6% of all fungal taxa and among these the most common were Protomyces inouyei (4.6%) and Sydowia polyspora (1.9%). The results demonstrated that the diversity of airborne fungi was mainly determined by the surrounding vegetation and climatic factors, while the occurrence of pathogenic fungi was affected by the availability of their hosts.
Effects of Climate on Scorpion Diversity in Arid Ecosystems of the Sahara Desert of Algeria
Authors: Sadine Salah Eddine , Souilem Zineb , Belgaid Yacine , Chedad Abdelwahab , Djelloud-Souilem Zineb , Chebihi Bahri , Zouaimia Abdelheq , Bensakhri Zinette , Houhamdi Moussa , Zebsa Rabah
Published: April 2023

In desert ecosystems, arthropods such as scorpions are understudied, and sufficient information is still lacking regarding their biodiversity. Specimen collection was carried out over 24 months (2016–2017). This study assessed the phenology, abundance, richness and diversity of scorpion species in arid ecosystems of the Sahara desert of Algeria (Ghardaïa). It examined the potential influence of climate parameters (precipitation, temperature and wind) on activity density, diversity and the phenological distribution of the species among seasons. We identified eight Buthidae species: Androctonus aeneas, Androctonus amoreuxi, Androctonus australis, Buthacus samiae, Buthacus spinatus, Buthacus elmenia, Buthus saharicus and Lissothus chaambi. Androctonus amoreuxi and Androctonus australis were the most abundant and omnipresent species, comprising 54.41% and 33.82% of all species found, respectively. Shannon’s index and the evenness index demonstrated a very poor diversity of scorpions in this region and a poor balance between the number of sampled species. Seasonal variation and climate parameters, i.e., temperature and wind, influenced the number, distribution, and the diversity of scorpions. The number of species found in Ghardaïa Province represent more than 20% of the scorpion species reported in Algeria.
The First Report of Holothuria (Thymiosycia) impatiens (Forsskål, 1775), (Holothuroidea: Holothuriidae) from Tunisia (Mediterranean Sea): Taxonomic, Morphological, and Molecular Data Compilation
Authors: Kalthoumi Donia , Francisco Sara M. , Miladi Malek , Ruiz-Canales Antonio , Azzouna Atf , Robalo Joana I.
Published: April 2023

For the first time, specimens of Holothuria impatiens are reported from the Tunisian coast, supported by molecular (COI sequencing) and morphological (examination of ossicles) analyses. For comparative purposes, Holothuria impatiens samples were genetically analyzed with existing data from Spain, Italy, and the Red Sea. In addition to their external morphology, an external substance covering the individuals is described, besides the new ossicle structure described in the body wall of H. impatiens samples. The results of the morphometry of the specimens from the Tunisian coast revealed that, for two shapes of ossicles, the size of the individuals does not influence their structures. Low genetic diversity was observed in Tunisia, with two haplotypes; one of both haplotypes was reported for the first time exclusively in Tunisia. The phylogenetic tree showed that the haplotypes were shared across all locations, revealing that the Mediterranean and Red Sea individuals were clearly distinct. Further studies on the genetic diversity of H. impatiens are crucial for the evaluation of the singularity of Mediterranean populations.
Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of the Slender Racer (Orientocoluber spinalis) in South Korea
Authors: Jeong Hojun , Park Il-Kook , Kim Jongsun , Park Jaejin , Lee Sang-Cheol , Park Daesik
Published: April 2023

The slender racer, Orientocoluber spinalis, is a monotypic species found in northeast Asia. We collected 67 O. spinalis samples from the Republic of Korea (hereafter, South Korea) and 7 from China and Mongolia and investigated their genetic diversity and population structure. In South Korea, O. spinalis populations were mainly found on Oeyeondo, Uido, and Udo islands and Woraksan Mountain and showed low genetic diversity in the analysis of concatenated mitochondrial sequences of the cytochrome b (Cytb) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4 (ND4) genes. Orientocoluber spinalis populations in South Korea showed low differentiation and likely diverged recently. Orientocoluber spinalis may have colonized the Korean Peninsula from China and Mongolia, but this route is not confirmed due to the lack of samples from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and middle eastern China. Considering its extreme rarity, low population density, and low genetic diversity, O. spinalis should be designated an endangered species in South Korea, as it is in Russia, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan.
A New Rhynchosaur Taxon from the Popo Agie Formation, WY: Implications for a Northern Pangean Early-Late Triassic (Carnian) Fauna
Authors: Fitch Adam J. , Haas Merle , C’Hair Wayne , Ridgley Eugene , Ridgley Ben , Oldman Devin , Reynolds Crystal , Lovelace David M.
Published: April 2023

New discoveries in the lower Popo Agie Formation (lower carbonate unit) of central Wyoming necessitated a reevaluation of USNM 494329 from the same unit, the only known hyperodapedontine rhynchosaur in western North America. Well known from Gondwanan deposits, hyperodapedontines appear to be restricted to the Carnian age (Late Triassic), with the exception of Teyumbaita in the earliest Norian age (Late Triassic) of Brazil. Initially assigned to c.f. ‘Hyperodapedon’ sanjuanensis, our phylogenetic analyses reject this hypothesis, in support of a sister relationship between USNM 494329 (Beesiiwo cooowuse, gen. et. sp. nov.) and Oryctorhynchus bairdi forming an early-diverging clade that is only distantly related to ‘H.’ sanjuanensis. Five additional specimens recovered from the lower Popo Agie are described. Three are referred to B. cooowuse, and another two are placed closer to Hyperodapedon and the remainder of Hyperodapedontinae. Our analysis demonstrates potential temporal distinction between a grade of earliest-diverging hyperodapedontines (including all Wyoming taxa) and a exclusively Late Carnian, Southern Pangaean hyperodapedontine clade (including ‘H.’ sanjuanensis). We consider the lower Popo Agie Formation to represent the first nonmarine Late Triassic unit of Western North America that can be confidently restricted to the Carnian age.
Technical and 2E Analysis of Hybrid Energy Generating System with Hydrogen Production for SRM IST Delhi-NCR Campus
Authors: Sambhi Shilpa , Sharma Himanshu , Bhadoria Vikas , Kumar Pankaj , Fotis Georgios , Ekonomou Lambros
Published: April 2023

This work intends to perform technical and 2E (economic & environmental) analysis for the proposed hybrid energy generating system for a part load at SRM IST at the Delhi-NCR campus, India. The investigation has been done for electricity generation and hydrogen production through renewable energy sources, mainly solar energy. It is in line with the Indian Government’s initiatives. The proposed hybrid system has to meet the electric load demand of 400 kWh/day with a peak load of 74.27 kW and hydrogen load demand of 10 kg/day with a peak demand of 1.86 kg/h. The analysis has been performed for both on-grid and off-grid conditions. As a result, optimum results have been obtained off-grid condition, with $0.408 per kWh cost of energy, $16.6 per kg cost of hydrogen, low O&M cost ($21,955 per year), a high renewable fraction (99.8%), and low greenhouse emissions (247 kg/year). In addition, sensitivity analysis has been performed between—(1) the solar PV array size & the number of battery strings, with NPC, renewable fraction & CO2 emissions as sensitivity variables, and (2) reformer capacity & hydrogen tank capacity, with NPC as sensitivity variable.
Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma to Pancreas: Case Series and Review of the Literature
Authors: Balaban Daniel Vasile , Coman Laura , Marin Flavius Stefan , Balaban Marina , Tabacelia Daniela , Vasilescu Florina , Costache Raluca Simona , Jinga Mariana
Published: April 2023

Metastasis to the pancreas represents a small proportion of all pancreatic malignancies. Among primary tumors that metastasize to the pancreas, renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most common causes of metastatic pancreatic lesions. We herein report a case series of three patients with pancreatic metastasis from RCC. The first is a 54-year-old male with a history of left nephrectomy for RCC, in whom an isthmic pancreatic mass suggestive of a neuroendocrine lesion was found during oncological follow-up. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine needle biopsy (FNB) identified pancreatic metastasis of RCC and the patient was referred for surgery. The second case is a 61-year-old male, hypertensive, diabetic, with left nephrectomy for RCC six years previously, who complained of weight loss and was found with a hyperenhancing mass in the head of the pancreas and a lesion with a similar pattern in the gallbladder. EUS-FNB from the pancreas proved to be a metastatic pancreatic lesion. Cholecystectomy and treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors were recommended. The third case is a 68-year-old dialysis patient referred for evaluation of a pancreatic mass, also confirmed by EUS-FNB, who was started on sunitinib treatment. We report a literature summary on epidemiology and clinical features, diagnosis and differential diagnosis and treatment and outcomes in pancreatic metastasis of RCC.
Single Coronary Artery as a Rare Developmental Variant in Cardiac Computed Tomography Angiography
Authors: Gać Paweł , Trejtowicz-Sutor Agnieszka , Poręba Rafał
Published: April 2023

Cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is a non-invasive method for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease. In addition to the assessment of possible stenoses in the coronary arteries, this method also allows the assessment of other abnormalities of coronary and extracoronary heart structures. CCTA is the optimal method for assessing the relationship of coronary arteries to other anatomical structures; thus, it is used as a method of diagnosing developmental variants of coronary circulation. We present images of a single left coronary artery in a 384-slice CCTA in a 69-year-old Caucasian female patient with non-specific chest pain and low intermediate cardiovascular risk as an example of a rare developmental coronary variant. In conclusion, the importance of CCTA as a method of diagnosing developmental variations of the heart and vessels should be emphasized.
Breast Sarcomas—How Different Are They from Breast Carcinomas? Clinical, Pathological, Imaging and Treatment Insights
Authors: Radu Iulian , Scripcariu Viorel , Panuța Andrian , Rusu Alexandra , Afrăsânie Vlad-Adrian , Cojocaru Elena , Aniței Maria Gabriela , Alexa-Stratulat Teodora , Terinte Cristina , Șerban Cristinel Florin , Gafton Bogdan
Published: April 2023

Breast sarcoma (BS) is a very rare and poorly studied condition. This has led to a lack of studies with a high level of evidence and to low efficacy of current clinical management protocols. Here we present our experience in treating this disease in the form of a retrospective case series study including discussion of clinical, imaging, and pathological features and treatment. We also compare the main clinical and biological features of six cases of BS (phyllodes tumors were excluded) with a cohort of 184 patients with unilateral breast carcinoma (BC) from a previous study performed at our institution. Patients with BS were diagnosed at a younger age, presented no evidence of lymph node invasion or distant metastases, had no multiple or bilateral lesions, and underwent a shorter length of hospital stay versus the breast carcinoma group. Where recommended, adjuvant chemotherapy consisted of an anthracycline-containing regimen, and adjuvant external radiotherapy was delivered in doses of 50 Gy. The comparison data obtained from our BS cases and the ones with BC revealed differences in diagnosis and treatment. A correct pathological diagnosis of breast sarcoma is essential for the right therapeutic approach. We still have more to learn about this entity, but our case series could add value to existing knowledge in a meta-analysis study.
Specific Binding Ratio Estimation of [123I]-FP-CIT SPECT Using Frontal Projection Image and Machine Learning
Authors: Kita Akinobu , Okazawa Hidehiko , Sugimoto Katsuya , Kosaka Nobuyuki , Kidoya Eiji , Tsujikawa Tetsuya
Published: April 2023

This study aimed to develop a new convolutional neural network (CNN) method for estimating the specific binding ratio (SBR) from only frontal projection images in single-photon emission-computed tomography using [123I]ioflupane. We created five datasets to train two CNNs, LeNet and AlexNet: (1) 128FOV used a 0° projection image without preprocessing, (2) 40FOV used 0° projection images cropped to 40 × 40 pixels centered on the striatum, (3) 40FOV training data doubled by data augmentation (40FOV_DA, left-right reversal only), (4) 40FOVhalf, and (5) 40FOV_DAhalf, split into left and right (20 × 40) images of 40FOV and 40FOV_DA to separately evaluate the left and right SBR. The accuracy of the SBR estimation was assessed using the mean absolute error, root mean squared error, correlation coefficient, and slope. The 128FOV dataset had significantly larger absolute errors compared to all other datasets (p < 0. 05). The best correlation coefficient between the SBRs using SPECT images and those estimated from frontal projection images alone was 0.87. Clinical use of the new CNN method in this study was feasible for estimating the SBR with a small error rate using only the frontal projection images collected in a short time.
Improved Crop Biomass Algorithm with Piecewise Function (iCBA-PF) for Maize Using Multi-Source UAV Data
Authors: Meng Lin , Yin Dameng , Cheng Minghan , Liu Shuaibing , Bai Yi , Liu Yuan , Liu Yadong , Jia Xiao , Nan Fei , Song Yang , Liu Haiying , Jin Xiuliang
Published: April 2023

Maize is among the most important grain crops. Aboveground biomass (AGB) is a key agroecological indicator for crop yield prediction and growth status monitoring, etc. In this study, we propose two new methods, improved crop biomass algorithm (iCBA) and iCBA with piecewise function (iCBA-PF), to estimate maize AGB. Multispectral (MS) images, visible-band (RGB) images, and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data were collected using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Vegetation indices (VIs) and the VI-weighted canopy volume model (CVMVI) were calculated and used as input variables for AGB estimation. The two proposed methods and three benchmark methods were compared. Results demonstrated that: (1) The performance of MS and RGB data in AGB estimation was similar. (2) AGB was estimated with higher accuracy using CVMVI than using VI, probably because the temporal trends of CVMVI and AGB were similar in the maize growing season. (3) The best estimation method was the iCBA-PF (R2 = 0.90 ± 0.02, RMSE = 190.01 ± 21.55 g/m2), indicating that AGB before and after maize heading should be estimated with different methods. Our method and findings are possibly applicable to other crops with a heading stage.
Bibliometric Analysis of Granger Causality Studies
Authors: Lam Weng Siew , Lam Weng Hoe , Jaaman Saiful Hafizah , Lee Pei Fun
Published: April 2023

Granger causality provides a framework that uses predictability to identify causation between time series variables. This is important to policymakers for effective policy management and recommendations. Granger causality is recognized as the primary advance on the causation problem. The objective of this paper is to conduct a bibliometric analysis of Granger causality publications indexed in the Web of Science database. Harzing’s Publish or Perish and VOSviewer were used for performance analysis and science mapping. The first paper indexed was published in 1981 and there has been an upward trend in the annual publication of Granger causality studies which are shifting towards the areas of environmental science, energy, and economics. Most of the publications are articles and proceeding papers under the areas of business economics, environmental science ecology, and neurosciences/neurology. China has the highest number of publications while the United States has the highest number of citations. England has the highest citation impact. This paper also constructed country co-authorship, co-analysis of cited references, cited sources, and cited authors, keyword co-occurrence, and keyword overlay visualization maps.
Recent Progression and Opportunities of Polysaccharide Assisted Bio-Electrolyte Membranes for Rechargeable Charge Storage and Conversion Devices
Authors: Pandurangan Perumal
Published: April 2023

Polysaccharide-based natural polymer electrolyte membranes have had tremendous consideration for the various energy storage operations including wearable electronic and hybrid vehicle industries, due to their unique and predominant qualities. Furthermore, they have fascinating oxygen functionality results of a higher flexible nature and help to form easier coordination of metal ions thus improving the conducting profiles of polymer electrolytes. Mixed operations of the various alkali and alkaline metal–salt-incorporated biopolymer electrolytes based on different polysaccharide materials and their charge transportation mechanisms are detailly explained in the review. Furthermore, recent developments in polysaccharide electrolyte separators and their important electrochemical findings are discussed and highlighted. Notably, the characteristics and ion-conducting mechanisms of different biopolymer electrolytes are reviewed in depth here. Finally, the overall conclusion and mandatory conditions that are required to implement biopolymer electrolytes as a potential candidate for the next generation of clean/green flexible bio-energy devices with enhanced safety; several future perspectives are also discussed and suggested.