bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Sustainable Polygeneration System for a Residential Building
Authors: Uche Javier , Zabalza Ignacio , Gesteira Luis G. , Martínez-Gracia Amaya , Usón Sergio
Published: December 2022

In line with the decarbonization of the domestic sector to meet the 2050 climate neutrality targets, this paper describes the energy, economic, and environmental analysis of a set of different novel configurations of polygeneration installations to provide electricity, air conditioning, domestic hot water, and desalinated water for a building of 80 dwellings. All arrangements were designed to cover 100% of the five demands required in the building with renewable energy only, from photovoltaic (PV) and photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) panels and biomass backup boilers (BB). Electricity can be sold to or purchased from the grid without electrical storage with batteries. Additional electricity generation with thermoelectric generators (TEG) coupled to the PVTs, and the BB was explicitly analyzed. The choice of electrically or thermally activated technologies (heat pump, HP/single-effect absorption chiller, SEAC for cooling and multi-effect distillation, MED/reverse osmosis, RO for desalination) created four configurations from the basic structure based on solar and biomass sources. Thus, the paper has studied four designs in detail and applied them to three case studies corresponding to different locations in Spain. They were modeled with TRNSYS and included specific models for desalination technologies. Both structures provide important energy and CO2 savings concerning the conventional supply of the building demands. The novel life-cycle analysis approach further increases the lifetime CO2 savings for all configurations as well. The electric option (the combination of HP and RO for cooling and desalting) was, by far, the most attractive solution in terms of liability and lower investment required in the three case studies.
Multi-Scale Dynamic Analysis of the Russian–Ukrainian Conflict from the Perspective of Night-Time Lights
Authors: Li Le-Lin , Liang Peng , Jiang San , Chen Ze-Qiang
Published: December 2022

Under the influence of various forces, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is violent and changeable. The obtaining of battlefield data by conventional means is difficult but necessary in order to ensure security, reliability, and comprehensiveness. The use of remote sensing technology can make up for the deficiencies of conventional methods. By using night-time light data, the total number of night-time lights in the built-up areas of Ukrainian cities within 36 days of the outbreak of the Russian–Ukrainian conflict is compiled in this paper. Furthermore, the dynamic changes in night-time light at the national, regional, and urban scales are analyzed by using the night-time light ratio index and the dynamic degree model combined with the time-series night-time light data. The results show that (1) after the outbreak of the war, more than 60% of the night-time lights in Ukrainian cities were lost. In terms of the night-time light recovery speed, the night-time lights in the pro-Russian areas recovered significantly faster, followed by Russian-controlled areas, and the recovery speed in areas of conflict was the lowest. (2) Decision-making by belligerents affects non-combatant activities and thus corresponds to light at night. The loss of night-time light will be reduced if military operations are reduced and mitigated if humanitarian operations are increased. (3) The changes in night-time light reflect the changes in the conflict situation well. When the conflict between Russia and Ukraine intensifies, the overall change of night-time light shows a downward trend. In this context, night-time light data can be used as an effective source to deduce and predict battlefield situations.
Identifying Key Environmental Indicators in the Assessment of the Proof-of-Concept in Pigment Production from the Marine Cyanobacterium Cyanobium sp.
Authors: Pagels Fernando , Arias Ana , Guedes A. Catarina , Vicente António A. , Vasconcelos Vitor , Moreira Maria Teresa
Published: December 2022

Cyanobacteria have long attracted market interest as a source of natural compounds such as pigments with proven bioactivity (carotenoid and phycobiliproteins). The cultivation and extraction processes for such compounds have been developed at different levels, from laboratory trials to photobioreactors on a demonstration scale. Based on this experience, it is possible to propose how the different stages of the process can be improved based on environmental performance indicators. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology allows to identify the hotspots that represent the greatest environmental impacts and to propose strategies to focus on those stages that can be improved. The general environmental indicators have been identified and the results showed that cyanobacteria cultivation has the greatest influence on environmental impact for all scales considered (from 20 L to 100 m3), which is attributed to the energy requirements. The main changes proposed to reduce the impact should focus on the stages of reactor cleaning, culture medium sterilisation and biomass drying. The implementation of these improvement alternatives can reduce the impact of the production and extraction processes by 85%. This work demonstrates how technological development must go hand in hand with impact assessment to make the best decisions in the overall process.
CSRLoan: Cold Start Loan Recommendation with Semantic-Enhanced Neural Matrix Factorization
Authors: Zhuang Kai , Wu Sen , Liu Shuaiqi
Published: December 2022

Recommending loan products to applicants would benefit many financial businesses and individuals. Nevertheless, many loan products suffer from the cold start problem; i.e., there are no available historical data for training the recommendation model. Considering the delayed feedback and the complex semantic properties of loans, methods for general cold start recommendation cannot be directly used. Moreover, existing loan recommendation methods ignore the default risk, which should be evaluated along with the approval rate. To solve these challenges, we propose CSRLoan for cold start loan recommendation. CSRLoan employs pretraining techniques to learn the embeddings of statements, which captures the intrinsic semantic information of different loans. For recommendation, we design a dual neural matrix factorization (NMF) model, which can not only capture the semantic information of both loan products and applicants but also generate the recommendation results and default risk at the same time. Extensive experiments have been conducted on real-world datasets to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed CSRLoan.
Multivariate ERP Analysis of Neural Activations Underlying Processing of Aesthetically Manipulated Self-Face
Authors: Doi Hirokazu
Published: December 2022

Representation of self-face is vulnerable to cognitive bias, and consequently, people often possess a distorted image of self-face. The present study sought to investigate the neural mechanism underlying distortion of self-face representation by measuring event-related potentials (ERPs) elicited by actual, aesthetically enhanced, and degraded images of self-face. In addition to conventional analysis of ERP amplitude and global field power, multivariate analysis based on machine learning of single trial data were integrated into the ERP analysis. The multivariate analysis revealed differential pattern of scalp ERPs at a long latency range to self and other familiar faces when they were original or aesthetically degraded. The analyses of ERP amplitude and global field power failed to find any effects of experimental manipulation during long-latency range. The present results indicate the susceptibility of neural correlates of self-face representation to aesthetical manipulation and the usefulness of the machine learning approach in clarifying the neural mechanism underlying self-face processing.
A Block-Based Interactive Programming Environment for Large-Scale Machine Learning Education
Authors: Park Youngki , Shin Youhyun
Published: December 2022

The existing block-based machine learning educational environments have a drawback in that they do not support model training based on large-scale data. This makes it difficult for young students to learn the importance of large amounts of data when creating machine learning models. In this paper, we present a novel programming environment in which students can easily train machine learning models based on large-scale data using a block-based programming language. We redefine the interfaces of existing machine learning blocks and also develop an effective model training algorithm suitable for block-based programming languages to enable “instant training” and “large-scale training”. As example educational applications based on this environment, we presented what is termed a “Question-Answering Chatbot” program trained on 11,822 text data instances with 7784 classes as well as a “Celebrity Look-Alike” program trained on 4431 image data instances with 7 classes. The experimental results show that teachers and pre-service teachers give high scores on all four evaluation measures for this environment.
Research on Non-Circular Raceway of Single-Row Four-Point Contact Ball Bearing Based on Life Optimization
Authors: Zhao Yanjie , Chen Guanci , Zhang Wenbin , Ding Yinke
Published: December 2022

The traditional slewing bearing with circular raceway has the problem of stress concentration under the large overturning moment. In this paper, a new non-circular raceway of a slewing ball bearing was presented to conquer this problem. To obtain the new non-circular raceway, first, the static equilibrium equations of the slewing ball bearing was established by the vector method, which is a constraint condition for life optimization; secondly, the life optimization function was established to calculate the contact load distribution in the bearing when the bearing life is at its maximum; finally, through the contact deformation with the contact load, the non-circular inner raceway corresponding to the maximum bearing life was obtained, and the non-circular shape corresponding to the raceway under axial load and overturning moment was studied. The results show that the non-circular raceway devised by this method can evenly reduce the contact force of the raceway and effectively improve the bearing capacity. Moreover, the position where the non-circular raceway deformation occurs is the position where the contact force is different before and after optimization. Therefore, the overturning moment has an effect on the shape of the raceway, whereas the axial load only affects the amplitude of the deformation, and has no obvious effect on the shape of the raceway.
Numerical Simulations of Sudden Oil Spills in Typical Cross-Border Rivers in the Yangtze River Delta Region
Authors: He Fei , Lai Qiuying , Ma Jie , Wei Geng , Li Weixin
Published: December 2022

The Taipu River is an important cross-border river in the Yangtze River Delta region and a direct channel connecting Taihu Lake and Huangpu River. Along the main stream of the Taipu River are many sources of water, such as the Wujiang, Dingzha, and Liantang Rivers. Many boats traverse these rivers transporting a wide variety of goods, including large quantities of oil, chemicals, and other dangerous goods. In the event of accidents on these vessels, spilled cargo will directly threaten the drinking water safety of people in the region. Aiming at simulating and assessing the environmental risks of sudden oil spills in rivers in the Yangtze River Delta region, this paper established a two-dimensional oil spill model of the typical transboundary Taipu River based on the MIKE21 water environment numerical simulation software developed by the Danish Institute of Water Conservancy. The established model will improve emergency response and treatment plans as well as our understanding of river oil spill progressions.
Anaerobic Digestion of Synthetic Municipal Wastewater (MWW) in a Periodic Anaerobic Baffled Reactor (PABR): Assessment of COD Removal and Biogas Production
Authors: Zarkaliou Achilleas , Kougias Christos , Mokou Anna , Papadopoulou Konstantina , Lyberatos Gerasimos
Published: December 2022

The benchmark approach for municipal wastewater treatment is based on biological oxidation. Due to high energy consumption, alternative treatment schemes are proposed, among which anaerobic digestion is the most promising. In this work, the direct anaerobic digestion of municipal wastewater in a high-rate system is examined. The reactor utilized for the study is the periodic anaerobic baffled reactor (PABR). Two distinct experimental cycles were conducted, during which the operational parameters of the PABR were consecutively modified: in the first cycle, six phases were conducted where the hydraulic retention time (HRT) varied from 10 to 1 days, the period T between 2.5 days and 0.25, while the OLR remained constant at values near 1.0 gsCOD/L/d. During the second cycle, four distinct phases were conducted with no switching imposed. The HRT varied from 4 to 1 d. The last experimental phase of both cycles was the most significant, due to feedstock resemblance to raw wastewater. The biogas and the biomethane production rates reached 66.8 L/d and 41.1 L/d, respectively, while the COD reduction rate reached 73.7%. Conclusively, the PABR is a high-rate AD system, capable of treating MWW under extreme operational conditions.
Analysis of a Cardiac-Necrosis-Biomarker Release in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction via Nonlinear Mixed-Effects Models
Authors: Procopio Anna , De Rosa Salvatore , Montefusco Francesco , Canino Giovanni , Merola Alessio , Sabatino Jolanda , Critelli Claudia , Indolfi Ciro , Amato Francesco , Cosentino Carlo
Published: December 2022

The release of the cardiac troponin T (cTnT) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has been analyzed through a methodology based on nonlinear mixed-effects (NME) models. The aim of this work concerns the investigation of any possible relationship between clinical covariates and the dynamics of the release of cTnT to derive more detailed and useful clinical information for the correct treatment of these patients. An ad-hoc mechanistic model describing the biomarker release process after AMI has been devised, assessed, and exploited to evaluate the impact of the available clinical covariates on the cTnT release dynamic. The following approach was tested on a preliminary dataset composed of a small number of potential clinical covariates: employing an unsupervised approach, and despite the limited sample size, dyslipidemia, a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease, was found to be a statistically significant covariate. By increasing the number of covariates considered in the model, and patient cohort, we envisage that this approach may provide an effective means to automatically classify AMI patients and to investigate the role of interactions between clinical covariates and cTnT release.
Intelligent Control of Mushroom Growing Conditions Using an Electronic System for Monitoring and Maintaining Environmental Parameters
Authors: Kavaliauskas Žydrūnas , Šajev Igor , Gecevičius Giedrius , Čapas Vytautas
Published: December 2022

In order to make plant cultivation as economical and efficient as possible, and to reduce the amount of human errors and labour costs, autonomous systems for growing plants and, in this case, also mushrooms, are increasingly being implemented. In this work, a prototype of an electronic/automatic system was designed and manufactured for the monitoring and control of the parameters of mushroom growing conditions. Appropriate sensors were used to monitor the application parameters such as CO2 level, temperature and humidity, and the data were sent to the main logic controller using an RS 485 interface-based local data transmission network. Both the main controller and the individual parts of the system were made on the basis of PIC18F25K83 microcontrollers, using the C programming language to create the program code. In order to achieve optimal system operation, a software algorithm was created to ensure fast system operation. During the production, the PCBs of the system were optimized to achieve the smallest possible dimensions and optimal construction and the arrangement of the active electronic elements. For the convenience of the user, a system application was created so that it is possible to monitor information from the environmental sensors and the process of parameter control. This work aimed to show that such autonomous systems based on environmental sensor monitoring are universal and can be applied to a large number of plant species. In addition, the capabilities of the plant cultivation system can be expanded if needed by additionally connecting relevant environmental sensors and environmental parameter regulation units.
Analysis of the Concentration of Emissions from the Spanish Fleet of Tugboats
Authors: Ortega-Piris Andrés , Diaz-Ruiz-Navamuel Emma , Martinez Alvaro Herrero , Gutierrez Miguel A. , Lopez-Diaz Alfonso-Isidro
Published: December 2022

At present, the sensitivity of society towards emissions in commercial maritime ports is increasing, which is reflected in the large number of studies on the control of emissions in them, perhaps because the most important commercial ports are located in cities with high population density. The objective of this work was to determine the greenhouse gas emissions caused by the activity of the Spanish tugboat fleet, studying the tugboat fleet of the eleven autonomous coastal Spanish communities from 2004 to 2017 and their impact on the carbon footprint of the country’s shipping sector. To do this, the methodology used by the International Maritime Organization for merchant ships to estimate the emissions of a tugboat fleet is formalized, and Gini concentration index methodology was applied to the concentration of emissions from this fleet. This has made it possible to obtain results on the distribution of the concentration of emissions from Spanish ports by region, age, and size, as well as to establish the profile of the tugboat port that pollutes the most and its carbon footprint. One of the results is that in the period analyzed, the concentration of emissions from the Spanish tugboat fleet increased if we looked at its distribution by region, and decreased if we look at its distribution by age and size. This is because tugboat activity was very different by region; however, their characteristics related to age and size evolved in a more homogeneous way.
Numerical Simulation of a CAM-Measured Spectra Influenced by Coarse Aerosol
Authors: Dougniaux Grégoire , Soerjady William , Ankrah Kelvin , Mauclère Diane
Published: December 2022

In nuclear facilities, the mandatory atmosphere surveillance is operated by Continuous Air Monitors. This standalone instrument is designed to measure the airborne aerosol activity concentration and to trig an alarm signal when a predetermined activity concentration is exceeded. However, a rapid resuspension event of coarse aerosol leads to a measurement error: the airborne aerosol activity concentration is over-evaluated. Prior results have shown that the coarse aerosol deposit disturbs the background evaluation for the radioactivity measurement. The interactions between radioactive aerosols (with radon daughters) and coarse non-radioactive aerosols have to be investigated by running together aerosol models and nuclear simulations. Therefore, this paper investigates different ways to represent an aerosol deposit in numerical simulations. We developed two numerical aerosol deposit models that we integrated into Geant4, a tool for the simulation of the passage of radiations through matter, and then compared these to experimental results. The simplest model was discarded, and by using the second model, we managed to correctly frame our simulation results as an experimental measurement: an aerosol has been correctly considered in a nuclear simulation. By combining theory, simulations, and experimentations on both aerosol science and nuclear physics, this research will be able to improve the comprehension of monitors’ behaviour in delicate situations and, more broadly, the filtration of aerosols using radioactivity.
High Indoor Radon Case Study: Influence of Meteorological Parameters and Indication of Radon Prone Area
Authors: Spasić Dušica , Gulan Ljiljana
Published: December 2022

Indoor radon and meteorological parameters (temperature, humidity, pressure, precipitation, indoor dew point, wind direction, wind speed and heat index) were simultaneously monitored in an old residential house in a radon suspected area. Measurements were performed during the period from winter to summer (13 February 2021–15 August 2021). Indoor radon concentrations were measured with detectors, Airthings Corentium Home (alpha spectrometry method), and meteorological parameters were continuously monitored by the meteorological station WTH600–E (wireless weather station). The influence of geological characteristics in the study area was analyzed, as well as some observed variations and correlations with indoor/outdoor meteorological parameters. The results indicated that indoor radon levels are higher in the spring/summer season than in the winter season. Diurnal radon concentrations varied during measuring period from 303–1708 Bq/m3 (average 949 Bq/m3) and 427–1852 Bq/m3 (average 1116 Bq/m3) for the living room and bedroom, respectively. Indoor radon concentrations correlated with: outdoor/indoor temperature, indoor humidity (r = 0.45, r = 0.40, r = 0.32, r = 0.56, respectively); indoor dew point (r = 0.53); outdoor barometric pressure (r = −0.26); there were no clear correlation with precipitation and outdoor humidity. The health risk due to long-term, high radon exposure was assessed through the calculated inhalation dose.
Influence of ENSO on Droughts and Vegetation in a High Mountain Equatorial Climate Basin
Authors: Pacheco Jheimy , Solera Abel , Avilés Alex , Tonón María Dolores
Published: December 2022

Several studies have assessed droughts and vegetation considering climatic factors, particularly El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) at different latitudes. However, there are knowledge gaps in the tropical Andes, a region with high spatiotemporal climatic variability. This research analyzed the relationships between droughts, vegetation, and ENSO from 2001–2015. Meteorological drought was analyzed using the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) for 1, 3 and 6 months. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was used to evaluate vegetation, and ENSO indexes were used as climate drivers. The Wavelet coherence method was used to establish time-frequency relationships. This approach was applied in the Machángara river sub-basin in the Southern Ecuadorian Andes. The results showed significant negative correlations during 2009–2013 between the SPEI and NDVI, with the SPEI6 lagging by nine months and a return period of 1.5 years. ENSO–SPEI presented the highest negative correlations during 2009–2014 and a return period of three years, with ENSO leading the relationship for around fourteen months. ENSO-NDVI showed the highest positive correlations during 2004–2008 and a return period of one year, with the ENSO indexes continually delayed by approximately one month. These results could be a benchmark for developing advanced studies for climate hazards.
Development of a CNN+LSTM Hybrid Neural Network for Daily PM2.5 Prediction
Authors: Kim Hyun S. , Han Kyung M. , Yu Jinhyeok , Kim Jeeho , Kim Kiyeon , Kim Hyomin
Published: December 2022

A CNN+LSTM (Convolutional Neural Network + Long Short-Term Memory) based deep hybrid neural network was established for the citywide daily PM2.5 prediction in South Korea. The structural hyperparameters of the CNN+LSTM model were determined through comprehensive sensitivity tests. The input features were obtained from the ground observations and GFS forecast. The performance of CNN+LSTM was evaluated by comparison with PM2.5 observations and with the 3-D CTM (three-dimensional chemistry transport model)-predicted PM2.5. The newly developed hybrid model estimated more accurate ambient levels of PM2.5 compared to the 3-D CTM. For example, the error and bias of the CNN+LSTM prediction were 1.51 and 6.46 times smaller than those by 3D-CTM simulation. In addition, based on IOA (Index of Agreement), the accuracy of CNN+LSTM prediction was 1.10–1.18 times higher than the 3-D CTM-based prediction. The importance of input features was indirectly investigated by sequential perturbing input variables. The most important meteorological and atmospheric environmental features were geopotential height and previous day PM2.5. The obstacles of the current CNN+LSTM-based PM2.5 prediction were also discussed. The promising result of this study indicates that DNN-based models can be utilized as an effective tool for air quality prediction.
The Synchronization of a Class of Time-Delayed Chaotic Systems Using Sliding Mode Control Based on a Fractional-Order Nonlinear PID Sliding Surface and Its Application in Secure Communication
Authors: Rasouli Mohammad , Zare Assef , Hallaji Majid , Alizadehsani Roohallah
Published: December 2022

A novel approach for the synchronization of a class of chaotic systems with uncertainty, unknown time delays, and external disturbances is presented. The control method given here is expressed by combining sliding mode control approaches with adaptive rules. A sliding surface of fractional order has been developed to construct the control strategy of the abovementioned sliding mode by employing the structure of nonlinear fractional PID (NLPID) controllers. The suggested control mechanism using Lyapunov’s theorem developed robust adaptive rules in such a way that the estimation error of the system’s unknown parameters and time delays tends to be zero. Furthermore, the proposed robust control approach’s stability has been demonstrated using Lyapunov stability criteria and Lipschitz conditions. Then, in order to assess the performance of the proposed mechanism, the presented control approach was used to simulate the synchronization of two chaotic jerk systems with uncertainty, unknown time delays, and external distortion. The results of the simulation confirm the robust and desirable synchronization performance. Finally, a secure communications mechanism based on the proposed technique is shown as a practical implementation of the introduced control strategy, in which the message signal is disguised in the transmitter with high security and well recovered in the receiver with high quality, according to the mean squared error (MES) criteria.
Parametric Evaluation of Thermal Behavior for Different Li-Ion Battery Chemistries
Authors: Buidin Thomas Imre Cyrille , Mariasiu Florin
Published: December 2022

The prediction of thermal behavior is essential for an efficient initial design of thermal management systems which equip energy sources based on electrochemical cells. In this study, the surface temperature of various cylindrical types of Li-ion batteries is monitored at multiple points during discharge. Three different battery chemistries and two sizes (18650 and 21700) are considered in this study, allowing the comparison of the influence these parameters have on the temperature rise considering different discharge rates (1C, 2C and 3C). Based on repeated experimental measurements, a simple equation that describes the thermal behavior of batteries is proposed and further used to create 3D thermal maps for each analyzed battery (generally error is below 1 °C but never exceeds 3 °C). The practical utility of such an equation is that it can drastically reduce the time spent with experimental measurements required to characterize the thermal behavior of cylindrical Li-ion batteries, necessary for the initial design process of energy sources’ thermal management system.
Effect of High-Pressure and Thermal Pasteurization on Microbial and Physico-Chemical Properties of Opuntia ficus-indica Juices
Authors: Ferreira Ricardo M. , Amaral Renata A. , Silva Artur M. S. , Cardoso Susana M. , Saraiva Jorge A.
Published: December 2022

Opuntia fruits are recognized for their richness in nutrients and in bioactive compounds, being also highly appreciated by consumers as a juice. Nevertheless, without further processing, prickly pear juices have a short shelf-life, hampering their commercial use. In this work, thermal (TP) and high-pressure (HPP) pasteurization were applied to juices from Opuntia ficus-indica cultivars ‘Rossa’, ‘Gialla’, and ‘Bianca’ to understand the impact of those methods on the microbial safety, physico-chemical properties, and the nutritional content of the samples, over storage at 4 °C. In general, thermal pasteurization at 71.1 °C for 30 s increased the shelf-life by 22 days, and high-pressure pasteurization at 500 MPa for 10 min increased the shelf-life by 52 days with regard to microbial growth as well as maintenance of physical-chemical characteristics. The application of these two pasteurization methods delayed changes in the physico-chemical characteristics of the juices, with a more pronounced effect on the titratable acidity, °Brix and browning. For the same periods of time, the application of pasteurization methods decreased the variation in these quality parameters by around 75%. Similarly, these methods were shown to have the same effect on the polyphenolic concentration as well as the antioxidant activity of the juices. In particular, HPP was more efficient in preventing a decrease in °Brix and increase in titratable acidity, which normally negatively affect the flavor of the juices.
Design and Fabrication of Artificial Stem Cell Niches
Authors: Fernandes Tiago G.
Published: December 2022

The term “cellular microenvironment” is a generic expression used to describe the complex collection of stimuli that contribute to cell and tissue functions [...]
Platelet-Rich Plasma Gel Matrix (PRP-GM): Description of a New Technique
Authors: Godoi Thales Thiago Ferreira , Rodrigues Bruno Lima , Huber Stephany Cares , Santana Maria Helena Andrade , da Fonseca Lucas Furtado , Santos Gabriel Silva , Azzini Gabriel Ohana Marques , Mosaner Tomas , Paulus-Romero Chris , Lana José Fábio Santos Duarte
Published: December 2022

Several musculoskeletal conditions are triggered by inflammatory processes that occur along with imbalances between anabolic and catabolic events. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous product derived from peripheral blood with inherent immunomodulatory and anabolic properties. The clinical efficacy of PRP has been evaluated in several musculoskeletal conditions, including osteoarthritis, tendinopathy, and osteonecrosis. When used in combination with hyaluronic acid (HA), a common treatment alternative, the regenerative properties of PRP are significantly enhanced and may provide additional benefits in terms of clinical outcomes. Recently, a new PRP-derived product has been reported in the literature and is being referred to as “plasma gel”. Plasma gels are obtained by polymerizing plasmatic proteins, which form solid thermal aggregates cross-linked with fibrin networks. Plasma gels are considered to be a rich source of growth factors and provide chemotactic, migratory, and proliferative properties. Additionally, clot formation and the associated fibrinolytic reactions play an additional role in tissue repair. There are only a few scientific articles focusing on plasma gels. Historically, they have been utilized in the fields of aesthetics and dentistry. Given that the combination of three products (PRP, HA, and plasma gel) could enhance tissue repair and wound healing, in this technical note, we propose a novel regenerative approach, named “PRP–HA cellular gel matrix” (PRP-GM), in which leukocyte-rich PRP (LR-PRP) is mixed with a plasma gel (obtained by heating the plasma up) and HA in one syringe using a three-way stopcock. The final product contains a fibrin–albumin network entangled with HA’s polymers, in which the cells and biomolecules derived from PRP are attached and released gradually as fibrinolytic reactions and hyaluronic acid degradation occur. The presence of leukocytes, especially monocytes and macrophages, promotes tissue regeneration, as type 2 macrophages (M2) possess an anti-inflammatory feature. In addition, HA promotes the viscosuplementation of the joint and induces an anti-inflammatory response, resulting in pain relief. This unique combination of biological molecules may contribute to the optimization of regenerative protocols suitable for the treatment of degenerative musculoskeletal diseases.
Plasticity in Chemical Host Plant Recognition in Herbivorous Insects and Its Implication for Pest Control
Authors: Anton Sylvia , Cortesero Anne-Marie
Published: December 2022

Chemical communication is very important in herbivorous insects, with many species being important agricultural pests. They often use olfactory cues to find their host plants at a distance and evaluate their suitability upon contact with non-volatile cues. Responses to such cues are modulated through interactions between various stimuli of biotic and abiotic origin. In addition, the response to the same stimulus can vary as a function of, for example, previous experience, age, mating state, sex, and morph. Here we summarize recent advances in the understanding of plant localization and recognition in herbivorous insects with a focus on the interplay between long- and short-range signals in a complex environment. We then describe recent findings illustrating different types of plasticity in insect plant choice behavior and the underlying neuronal mechanisms at different levels of the chemosensory pathway. In the context of strong efforts to replace synthetic insecticides with alternative pest control methods, understanding combined effects between long- and close-range chemical cues in herbivore–plant interactions and their complex environment in host choice are crucial to develop effective plant protection methods. Furthermore, plasticity of behavioral and neuronal responses to chemical cues needs to be taken into account to develop effective sustainable pest insect control through behavioral manipulation.
Cultivars Resistance Assay for Maize Late Wilt Disease
Authors: Degani Ofir , Yifa Ran , Gordani Asaf , Becher Paz , Chen Assaf
Published: December 2022

Magnaporthiopsis maydis late wilt disease (LWD) in corn is considered to be the most severe in Israel and Egypt and poses a significant threat in other countries. Research efforts extending over a period of five decades led to the development of chemical, biological, agrotechnical, physical (solar disinfection) and other means for controlling late wilt disease. Today, some applications can reduce damage even in severe cases. However, cultivating disease-resistant maize varieties is the primary means for reducing the disease’s impact. The current work uses a rapid (six days) laboratory seedling pathogenicity test and a full-season open encloser semi-field conditioned pots assay (101 days) to classify maize varieties according to their LWD resistance. To better evaluate differences between the cultivars, a real-time based molecular assay was applied to track the pathogen’s presence in the plants’ tissues, and visible light aerial imaging was used in parallel. The findings show that in cases of extreme sensitivity or tolerance (for example, in the highly susceptible Megaton cultivar (cv.) or the resistant Hatai cv.), a similarity in the results exists between the different methods. Thus, a reliable estimate of the varieties’ sensitivity can be obtained in a seed assay without the need for a test carried out throughout an entire growing season. At the same time, in most situations of partial or reduced LWD sensitivity/resistance, there is no match between the various tests, and only the entire growing season can provide the most reliable results. Tracking the amount of M. maydis DNA in the plants’ bodies is a precise, sensitive scientific tool of great importance for studying the development of the disease and the factors affecting it. Yet, no complete overlap exists between the fungal DNA amount and symptom severity. Such a correlation exists in high sensitivity or resistance cases but not in intermediate situations. Still, the valuation of the pathogen’s establishment in asymptomatic corn hybrids can indicate the degree of LWD immunity and the chance of susceptibility development.
IL-1 Superfamily Member (IL-1A, IL-1B and IL-18) Genetic Variants Influence Susceptibility and Clinical Course of Mediterranean Spotter Fever
Authors: Scola Letizia , Pilato Giovanni , Giarratana Rosa Maria , Sanfilippo Giuseppa Luisa , Lio Domenico , Colomba Claudia , Giammanco Giovanni Maurizio
Published: December 2022

Mediterranean Spotted Fever (MSF) is one of the most common spotted fever Rickettsioses. Most cases of MSF follow a benign course, with a minority of cases being fatal. The severity of the infection depends on bacterial virulence, dose and host factors such as effective immune response and genetic background. Herein, we reported data on typing by competitive allele-specific PCR of functionally relevant polymorphisms of genes coding for MyD88 adapter-like (Mal/TIRAP) protein (rs8177374), interleukin(IL)-1 cluster (IL-1A rs1800587, IL-1B rs16944 and rs1143634) and IL-18 (rs187238), which might be crucial for an efficient immune response. The results enlighten the role that IL-1 gene cluster variants might play in susceptibility against Rickettsia conorii infection. In particular, the IL-1A rs1800587TT genotype was significantly increased in patients alone and combined in a haplotype composed by minor alleles rs1800587T, rs16944A and rs1143634A. This result was confirmed using the decision tree heuristic approach. Using this methodology, IL-1A rs1800587TT genotype was the better discrimination key among MSF patients and controls. In addition, the IL-1 gene cluster SNP genotypes containing minor alleles and IL-18 rs187238G positive genotypes were found as associated with risk of severe complications such as sepsis, septic shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome and coma. In conclusion, these data suggest that the evaluation of IL-1A, IL-1B and IL-18 gene SNPs can add useful information on the clinical course of patients affected by Mediterranean Spotted Fever, even if further confirmatory studies will be necessary.
Genetic Ablation of Ankrd1 Mitigates Cardiac Damage during Experimental Autoimmune Myocarditis in Mice
Authors: Rinkūnaitė Ieva , Šimoliūnas Egidijus , Alksnė Milda , Bartkutė Gabrielė , Labeit Siegfried , Bukelskienė Virginija , Bogomolovas Julius
Published: December 2022

Myocarditis (MC) is an inflammatory disease of the myocardium that can cause sudden death in the acute phase, and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) with chronic heart failure as its major long-term outcome. However, the molecular mechanisms beyond the acute MC phase remain poorly understood. The ankyrin repeat domain 1 (ANKRD1) is a functionally pleiotropic stress/stretch-inducible protein, which can modulate cardiac stress response during various forms of pathological stimuli; however, its involvement in post-MC cardiac remodeling leading to DCM is not known. To address this, we induced experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) in ANKRD1-deficient mice, and evaluated post-MC consequences at the DCM stage mice hearts. We demonstrated that ANKRD1 does not significantly modulate heart failure; nevertheless, the genetic ablation of Ankrd1 blunted the cardiac damage/remodeling and preserved heart function during post-MC DCM.
Phenylbenzohydrazides Obtained from Isatoic Anhydride Present Anti-Inflammatory Activity In Vivo and In Vitro
Authors: Paiva João Pedro Barros , Cordeiro Millena Santos , França Patricia Ribeiro Carvalho , Branco Luiz Octavio Pereira , Santos Isabela Souza , Reis Nanashara Figueiredo , Pimentel Patrick Pedro , Giorno Thais Biondino Sardella , Lima Evanoel Crizanto , Fernandes Patricia Dias
Published: December 2022

Background: Despite the existence of a wide variety of anti-inflammatory drugs, the vast majority are classified as steroidal or non-steroidal. Both classes present a variety of side effects that limit usage. Thus, the search for new molecules with anti-inflammatory potential is still important. Methods: Five phenylbenzohydrazides were synthetized and evaluated in pre-clinical models of acute inflammation in vivo and in vitro. Results: The new substances (INL-06, -07, -10, and -11), as well as AISCT, significantly reduced cell migration induced by carrageenan. It was also observed that all INLs inhibited protein extravasation as well as cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α) and nitric oxide (NO) production. The INL-11 was demonstrated to be the most potent, since the inhibition observed in several parameters was significant even when compared with dexamethasone. In vitro INLs also reduced cytokines and NO production and inducible nitric oxide (iNOS) enzyme activity. The INL-11 was the most effective in reducing cell migration in vitro. Conclusions: Our data suggest that these substances are suitable for further development into a new series of compounds that could lead to new hits and future drug prototypes for anti-inflammatory conditions.
Novel Selective and Low-Toxic Inhibitor of LmCPB2.8ΔCTE (CPB) One Important Cysteine Protease for Leishmania Virulence
Authors: Moreira Vitor Partite , da Silva Mela Michele Ferreira , Anjos Luana Ribeiro dos , Saraiva Leonardo Figueiredo , Arenas Velásquez Angela M. , Kalaba Predrag , Fabisiková Anna , Clementino Leandro da Costa , Aufy Mohammed , Studenik Christian , Gajic Natalie , Prado-Roller Alexander , Magalhães Alvicler , Zehl Martin , Figueiredo Ingrid Delbone , Baviera Amanda Martins , Cilli Eduardo Maffud , Graminha Marcia A. S. , Lubec Gert , Gonzalez Eduardo R. Perez
Published: December 2022

Leishmaniasis is a highly prevalent, yet neglected disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. In the search for newer, safer, and more effective antileishmanial compounds, we herein present a study of the mode of action in addition to a detailed structural and biological characterization of LQOF-G6 [N-benzoyl-N′-benzyl-N″-(4-tertbutylphenyl)guanidine]. X-ray crystallography and extensive NMR experiments revealed that LQOF-G6 nearly exclusively adopts the Z conformation stabilized by an intramolecular hydrogen bond. The investigated guanidine showed selective inhibitory activity on Leishmania major cysteine protease LmCPB2.8ΔCTE (CPB) with ~73% inhibition and an IC50-CPB of 6.0 µM. This compound did not show any activity against the mammalian homologues cathepsin L and B. LQOF-G6 has been found to be nontoxic toward both organs and several cell lines, and no signs of hepatotoxicity or nephrotoxicity were observed from the analysis of biochemical clinical plasma markers in the treated mice. Docking simulations and experimental NMR measurements showed a clear contribution of the conformational parameters to the strength of the binding in the active site of the enzyme, and thus fit the differences in the inhibition values of LQOF-G6 compared to the other guanidines. Furthermore, the resulting data render LQOF-G6 suitable for further development as an antileishmanial drug.
Ten Years of KPC-Kp Bloodstream Infections Experience: Impact of Early Appropriate Empirical Therapy on Mortality
Authors: Corcione Silvia , De Benedetto Ilaria , Shbaklo Nour , Ranzani Fabio , Mornese Pinna Simone , Castiglione Anna , Scabini Silvia , Bianco Gabriele , Cavallo Rossana , Mirabella Stefano , Romagnoli Renato , De Rosa Francesco Giuseppe
Published: December 2022

Background. In K. pneumoniae KPC (KPC-Kp) bloodstream infections (BSI), INCREMENT CPE score >7, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) ≥3 and septic shock are recognized predictors of mortality, with a possible beneficial effect of combination therapy in seriously ill patients. Materials and Methods. We conducted a ten-year retrospective study including all KPC-Kp BSI in patients ≥18 years of age with the aim to evaluate the characteristics and impact of appropriate empirical therapy, either monotherapy or combination therapy, and targeted therapy on mortality. Appropriate therapy was defined as at least one active antimicrobial agent with in vitro activity against KPC-kp demonstrated by susceptibility testing, administered within 48 h from blood culture collection. Results. The median age of the 435 analyzed patients was 66.09 years (IQR 54.87–73.98). The median CCI was 4. KPC-Kp colonization was present in 324 patients (74.48%). The probable origin of the KPC-Kp BSI was not identified in 136 patients (31.26%), whereas in 120 (27.59%) patients, it was CVC-related, and in 118 (27.13%), it was respiratory. Source control was achieved in 87 patients (72.5%) with CVC-related KPC-Kp BSI. The twenty-eight-day survival was 70.45% for empirical monotherapy, 63.88% for empirical combination therapy and 57.05% for targeted therapy (p = 0.0399). A probable source of KPC-Kp BSI other than urinary, CVC or abdominal [aHR 1.64 (IC 1.15–2.34) p = 0.006] and deferred targeted therapy [HR 1.67 (IC 1.12–2.51), p= 0.013] emerged as predictors of mortality, whereas source control [HR 0.62 (IC 0.44–0.86), p = 0.005] and ceftazidime/avibactam administration in empirical therapy [aHR 0.37 (IC 0.20–0.68) p = 0.002] appeared as protective factors. Discussion. These data underline the importance of source control together with timing appropriateness in the early start of empirical therapy over the choice of monotherapy or combination therapy and the use of ceftazidime/avibactam against KPC-Kp BSI.
A Cyclopentanone Compound Attenuates the Over-Accumulation of Extracellular Matrix and Fibrosis in Diabetic Nephropathy via Downregulating the TGF-β/p38MAPK Axis
Authors: Tang Chunyin , Wang Meng , Liu Jieting , Zhang Chunlei , Li Luxin , Wu Yan , Chu Yanhui , Wu Dan , Liu Haifeng , Yuan Xiaohuan
Published: December 2022

Excessive accumulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is a crucial pathological process in chronic kidney diseases, such as diabetic nephropathy, etc. The underlying mechanisms of how to decrease ECM deposition to improve diabetic nephropathy remain elusive. The present study investigated whether cyclopentanone compound H8 alleviated ECM over-deposition and fibrosis to prevent and treat diabetic nephropathy. HK-2 cell viability after treatment with H8 was measured by an MTT assay. ECM alterations and renal fibrosis were identified in vitro and in vivo. A pharmacological antagonist was used to detect associations between H8 and the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) signaling pathway. H8 binding was identified through computer simulation methods. Studies conducted on high glucose and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1)-stimulated HK-2 cells revealed that the p38MAPK inhibitor SB 202190 and H8 had similar pharmacological effects. In addition, excessive ECM accumulation and fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy were remarkably improved after H8 administration in vivo and in vitro. Finally, the two molecular docking models further proved that H8 is a specific p38MAPK inhibitor that forms a hydrogen bond with the LYS-53 residue of p38MAPK. The cyclopentanone compound H8 alleviated the over-deposition of ECM and the development of fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy by suppressing the TGF-β/p38MAPK axis.