bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Аддитивное строительное производство: особенности применения технологии
Authors: АДАМЦЕВИЧ Алексей Олегович , ПУСТОВГАР Андрей Петрович , АДАМЦЕВИЧ Любовь Андреевна
Published: September 2023

Аддитивное строительное производство или строительная 3D-печать - перспективная технология возведения зданий и сооружений, которая при правильном применении сокращает сроки производства строительно-монтажных работ, снижает себестоимость и материалоемкость строительства, а также потребность в рабочей силе на строительной площадке. Распространенным типом использования аддитивных технологий является печать несъемной опалубки на основе мелкозернистых строительных смесей и минеральных вяжущих. Такая опалубка впоследствии заполняется тяжелой бетонной смесью (при устройстве несущих конструкций), либо теплоизолирующими бетонами, а также сыпучими материалами с низкой плотностью (в случае ограждающих конструкций). В статье исследуется международный опыт и особенности практического применения несъемной опалубки, выполненной по технологии аддитивного строительного производства, а также вопросы нормативно-технического обеспечения данного подхода при строительстве на территории РФ.
Термофлуктуационные закономерности разрушения и деформирования минераловатной плиты при силовом воздействии
Authors: ЯРЦЕВ Виктор Петрович , ДАНИЛОВ Владислав Михайлович
Published: September 2023

Представлены результаты экспериментального исследования термофлуктуационных зависимостей при изгибе, сжатии и пенетрации для минераловатных плит марки "Изоруф-Н" и "Изоруф-В", изготовленных предприятием ISOROC. Задача исследования заключалась в выявлении зависимости действия внешних факторов на свойства минераловатной плиты и учета полученных результатов при прогнозировании длительной прочности. Для получения достоверных данных применена термофлуктуационная концепция прочности, позволяющая учитывать одновременное действие температуры, времени и нагрузки, а также дополнительные внешние воздействия. Результаты исследования не противоречат известным постулатам термофлуктуационной концепции и доказывают, что возможно ее применение для рассмотрения длительной прочности минераловатной плиты. Испытания на сжатие и пенетрацию показали, что наиболее интенсивно процесс деформирования минераловатных плит происходит в течение первых двух минут. Термофлуктуационные константы, полученные для изгиба, позволяют прогнозировать границы работоспособности, в частности долговечность, длительную прочность и термостойкость при различных вариациях температуры и напряжения. Термофлуктуационные константы, рассчтанные для сжатия и пенетрации, дают возможность прогнозировать скорость деформирования также в значительном диапазоне, комбинируя температурные показатели и показатели напряжения.
Получение высокопрочного мелкозернистого бетона с помощью технологии 3D-печати
Authors: ЛАМ Танг Ван , ЧЫК Нгуен Чонг , БУЛГАКОВ Борис Игоревич , АЛЕКСАНДРОВА Ольга Владимировна
Published: September 2023

Во многих странах мира была разработана и исследована технология 3D-печати бетона, обладающего высокими эксплуатационными характеристиками. Цель изготовления высокопрочного печатного бетона - применение усовершенствованной технологии строительства без использования опалубки и принудительного уплотнения бетонной смеси. Представлены результаты экспериментальных исследований состава и свойств мелкозернистых 3D-бетонов из доступных во Вьетнаме сырьевых материалов (цемент, зола-уноса теплоэлектростанции, микрокремнезем, мелкий заполнитель, суперпластификатор и вода). Результаты экспериментальных исследований показали, что существует потенциал для производства 3D-печатного бетона хорошего качества. Была разработана мелкозернистая бетонная смесь, обладающая необходимыми характеристиками для ее использования в технологии 3D-печати и позволяющая получить бетон высокой прочности. Приведенные экспериментальные исследования вполне достоверны, так как в работе были использованы современные приборы и методы исследований. Полученные результаты имеют реальные перспективы для практического применения во Вьетнаме.
Химическая стойкость и долговечность поливинилхлоридной мембраны LOGICBASE V-ST
Authors: ШАЛИМОВ Владимир Николаевич , ЦЫБЕНКО Алексей Васильевич , ГОГЛЕВ Илья Николаевич , ЛОГИНОВА Светлана Андреевна
Published: September 2023

Рассмотрено применение полимерных гидроизоляционных поливинилхлоридных мембран LOGICBASET V-ST в двухслойных ремонтопригодных системах гидроизоляции при строительстве зданий и сооружений. Показаны их особенности, основные преимущества, такие как высокие показатели относительного удлинения и прочности при многоосном и одноосном растяжении, химическая и биологическая стойкость и другие, что позволяет применять мембрану в качестве вторичной защиты различных железобетонных конструкций. Проведены исследования и оценка химической стойкости мембран в соответствии с требованиями стандартов и нормативных документов по защите бетонных и железобетонных конструкций от коррозии. Рассмотрено влияние растворов агрессивных химических веществ на физико-механические свойства мембран. Испытательные образцы выдерживали в растворах агрессивных химических веществ, после чего проводился контроль изменения физико-механических характеристик материала (потеря массы, снижение/повышение показателей прочности при растяжении, относительное удлинение и т. д.). В результате выявлено, что максимальное снижение показателя относительного удлинения происходит при воздействии однопроцентного раствора гидроксида натрия в течение 120 сут, при этом прочность мембраны на продольное растяжение возрастает. В дальнейшем был произведен расчет по определению потенциального срока службы полимерной мембраны в условиях постоянного воздействия подземных вод, который составил не менее 100 лет.
Оценочный расчет применения мембранного биореактора на очистных сооружениях
Authors: МАКИША Николай Алексеевич
Published: September 2023

Рассмотрены вопросы реконструкции сооружений очистки городских сточных вод с учетом существующих особенностей в водокоммунальном хозяйстве России. На примере виртуальных очистных сооружений проведено сравнение результатов расчета технологических параметров сооружений биологической очистки сточных вод, выполненных по принятым в нашей стране методикам и в программном комплексе CapdetWorks. Сопоставление показало, что эти методы позволяют достичь близких результатов расчета аэротенков (и зон, когда разделение необходимо), однако наблюдаются значительные отличия при расчете необходимого количества воздуха. Для технологии университета Кейптауна рассмотрены два случая модернизации очистных сооружений в зависимости от способа разделения иловой смеси: со вторичными отстойниками и мембранным реактором. В первом случае требуются значительно больший объем аэротенка и соответственно дополнительные капитальные вложения. Во втором случае необходимы существенные вложения для приобретения мембран, а также увеличение эксплуатационных затрат на аэрацию иловой смеси в аэротенке и мембранном биореакторе.
The Curious Case of Children's Detective Fiction: Analysing the Adaptation of the Classic Detective Formula for a Child Audience
Authors: Veldhuizen Vera Nelleke
Published: September 2023

The popularity of the children's detective genre defies an apparent clash between the nature of the genre, specifically its reliance on readerly ability and capital crime, and children's literature's specific group of readers, and thus invites investigation. It is therefore peculiar that children's detective fiction has not enjoyed much scholarship, particularly in the English language. While the detective genre is usually discussed under the umbrella term of ‘crime literature’ when it enjoys an adult readership, in children's literature scholarship it is usually tucked into the categories of the ‘adventure’ or ‘mystery’ story. This article aims to address the relative lack of scholarship on children's detective fiction by analysing how the classic detective is adapted for child readers. 1
‘What's the story?’ Unravelling the Plot of Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep
Authors: Cook Trevor
Published: September 2023

Critics have long approached Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep as a poorly plotted tale that requires rescuing not only from the teller but also from the text and the author who created it, which for Pierre Bayard is the proper function of ‘detective criticism.’ His hermeneutics of suspicion privileges absences that justify critical intervention. For Bayard, the critic's solution to a mystery is always superior to anything a fictional detective might offer. However, in the case of The Big Sleep, critics would do better to proceed like actual detectives and attend to the evidence presented in a criminal investigation, which for Chandler is the proper definition of ‘detective criticism.’ His first book was meant to move readers away from the fantasy of romance, wherein the detective models the practice of criticism, toward the realism of the novel, wherein critics must adopt the methods of a detective to unravel the plot.
Ruling Separately but with the Same Mind: The Partition of Territory as Power-Sharing Projects between the Tenth and the Twelfth Century in Byzantium
Authors: Dias João Vicente de Medeiros Publio
Published: September 2023

This article is a study on projects of jurisdictional division of imperial territory from the tenth to the twelfth century. For that, modern concepts of “power-sharing” and “power settlement” will be adapted for the analysed context. Initially the history of territorial power-sharing in the Roman Empire will be summarised to underline the long tradition upon which the studied projects lay. Then the political strategies behind those projects are also analysed, as well as how sources present them.
Late Antique Intellectualism in Medieval Islam: The Shiraz Circle and the Revival of Ancient and Islamic Knowledge
Authors: Bdaiwi Ahab
Published: September 2023

This article seeks to offer a new reading of how we frame medieval Islamic intellectual traditions in relation to the question of Late Antiquity. It introduces a group of medieval Muslim thinkers, known as the Shiraz Circle, who remain largely unknown to modern scholarship. The main argument is that for these thinkers knowledge of the pre-Islamic past and their Islamic present was mediated by the same lens. The article also examines the main themes in the study of Late Antiquity, such as intellectualism, religion, and philosophy, and the relevance of such themes in medieval Islam.
‘The novel is going to rediscover itself’: Dorothy Richardson, The Freewoman, and Individual Expression
Authors: Haughton Thomas
Published: September 2023

This article examines Dorothy Richardson’s engagement with The Freewoman’s discussion of women’s individuality. Of Marsden’s three periodicals, The Freewoman, the New Freewoman, and The Egoist, it is her final periodical that is best associated with Richardson’s work. It was in The Egoist that May Sinclair published her influential review of Richardson, which referred to Richardson’s style as ‘stream of consciousness’. However, Richardson’s most engaged interaction with the Marsden periodicals was actually The Freewoman. Indeed, Richardson’s Pilgrimage series represents a literary example of the periodical’s call for a new type of literature that depicts the individual’s unfiltered and uncensored thoughts.
Outside Joke: Virginia Woolf’s Freshwater and Coterie Insularity
Authors: Taylor Michelle Alexis
Published: September 2023

This essay reads Virginia Woolf’s play Freshwater as a coterie parlour theatrical, focusing on both the 1923 draft and the 1935 playscript. Scholars of both Woolf’s writings and of Bloomsbury’s coterie culture have long read the play as a modernist’s satire of the aesthetics and politics of Victorian culture. My reading challenges such a straightforward understanding of Woolf’s satire, suggesting that the play’s mockery is in fact directed inward, at Bloomsbury and at the insularity of coterie culture itself. I argue that attending to both scripts as coterie texts – i.e., texts meant for restricted consumption and production, defined by both their limited circulation and their metacommunicative capacity – recuperates these critiques, which are specific not only to Woolf’s restricted audience, but to the players for whom her roles were designed. By looking at the evolution of the play between its first 1923 draft and its 1935 performance text, too, I trace a narrative of Woolf’s disappointed hopes, one that wraps up the ‘failure’ of modernism with the failure of coterie’s queer kinship to displace the classed, heteronormative Victorian family, as well as the failure of modernism’s other social experiments to effect broader social and cultural change.
Assessing the First World War’s Spiritual Impact on Scottish Presbyterianism in the Diaspora: The Case of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand
Authors: Holmes Martin George
Published: September 2023

This article assesses the First World War’s impact on Scottish Presbyterianism from a transnational perspective. Recent research on Presbyterianism in Scotland has highlighted that the horrors of the war provoked a rise in premillennial thinking and dented support for strict Calvinism. This article argues that the experience of the New Zealand Presbyterian Church, a heavily Scottish denomination situated on the other side of the world, was very similar but not identical. In doing so, this article provides a transnational perspective on Scottish Presbyterianism and this aspect of the First World War.
Eeyou Istchee Bodies of Water
Authors: Shields Rob , Guevara-Salamanca Juan David
Published: September 2023

In the Eastern James Bay Cree Nation, a region known as Eeyou Istchee, water (neebee/Nîpîy) is a multiplicity of things and qualities: it is quantified as potentials in the reservoirs of HydroQuébec’s hydroelectric power generating system; it is also a mobile element in the hydrological cycle, the platform for colonial mobilities and the past trapping economy; as well as an Eenouch (Cree) symbolic force and a liquid that saturates the James Bay landscape. This paper proposes a somatechnics of waterbodies. It considers a regional situation in which nature is both technological and biophysical. Waters appear as a hydrocommons that saturates the biophysics, culture, and economies of the Eenouch. Both humans and non-humans are amenable to a somatechnical lens: both are bodies of water. Our paper explores the potential for extending somatechnics beyond organic bodies and what this reveals about all bodies as a category in cross-cultural perspective – their abilities to enter into spatiotemporal relations of kinship, agency, recalcitrance, affect, virtuality, and materiality.
Bioinformatics Studies and Examining the Tissue Distribution of Glutathione Reductase and Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Genes to Investigate Gender Differences in Differences in Stress Tolerance in Zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Authors: UZUN Burcu Naz , BAYIR Mehtap
Published: September 2023

The study aimed to investigate the bioinformatics of zebrafish glutathione reductase (gsr) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (g6pd) genes, as well as their tissue-specific distribution. To achieve this, samples of various tissues were taken from female and male zebrafish and total RNA was extracted to obtain cDNA. qPCR was performed to determine the transcripts of gsr and g6pd genes. The structure of the genes, conserved gene maps, and phylogenetic tree were also designed. The results showed that the liver was the most dominant tissue for both gsr and g6pd genes in both female and male zebrafish. The expression of gsr gene was significantly higher in male zebrafish's liver, intestine, heart, eye, gills, and gonad tissues compared to female fish, while g6pd gene transcription was found to be significantly higher in the male liver, intestine, muscle, brain, eye, gill, kidney, stomach, and gonad tissues. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the bioinformatics of gsr and g6pd genes in zebrafish and their tissue-specific distribution, which could help in understanding their roles in various physiological and pathological processes in zebrafish and other related species.
Evaluating and optimizing hearing-aid self-fitting methods using population coverage
Authors: Vyas Dhruv , Jorgensen Erik , Wu Yu-Hsiang , Chipara Octav
Published: September 2023

Adults with mild-to-moderate hearing loss can use over-the-counter hearing aids to treat their hearing loss at a fraction of traditional hearing care costs. These products incorporate self-fitting methods that allow end-users to configure their hearing aids without the help of an audiologist. A self-fitting method helps users configure the gain-frequency responses that control the amplification for each frequency band of the incoming sound. This paper considers how to guide the design of self-fitting methods by evaluating certain aspects of their design using computational tools before performing user studies. Most existing fitting methods provide various user interfaces to allow users to select a configuration from a predetermined set of presets. Accordingly, it is essential for the presets to meet the hearing needs of a large fraction of users who suffer from varying degrees of hearing loss and have unique hearing preferences. To this end, we propose a novel metric for evaluating the effectiveness of preset-based approaches by computing their population coverage. The population coverage estimates the fraction of users for which a self-fitting method can find a configuration they prefer. A unique aspect of our approach is a probabilistic model that captures how a user's unique preferences differ from other users with similar hearing loss. Next, we propose methods for building preset-based and slider-based self-fitting methods that maximize the population coverage. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithms can effectively select a small number of presets that provide higher population coverage than clustering-based approaches. Moreover, we may use our algorithms to configure the number of increments of slider-based methods. We expect that the computational tools presented in this article will help reduce the cost of developing new self-fitting methods by allowing researchers to evaluate population coverage before performing user studies.
Curcumin-primed periodontal ligament stem cells-derived extracellular vesicles improve osteogenic ability through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway
Authors: Lan Qian , Cao Jiadong , Bi Xueting , Xiao Xin , Li Dongsheng , Ai Yilong
Published: September 2023

Introduction: Curcumin has broad application prospects in the prevention and treatment of periodontal diseases. Periodontal ligament stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (PDLSC-EV) can effectively promote periodontal tissue regeneration and possess good drug delivery capability. Superior pharmacological effects can be exerted using PDLSC-EV as a curcumin carrier.

Methods: In the present study, we constructed curcumin-primed PDLSCs-derived extracellular vesicles (Cur-PDLSC-EV) from cell culture supernatants of curcumin-pretreated PDLSCs by ultracentrifugation and investigated their effects on the proliferation, migration, and osteogenic ability of PDLSCs and the corresponding downstream molecular pathways.

Results: Both Cur-PDLSC-EV and PDLSC-EV promoted osteoblast proliferation and migration. Compared with PDLSC-EV, Cur-PDLSC-EV possessed a more potent pro-osteogenic ability. Moreover, the improved osteogenesis of Cur-PDLSC-EV was related to the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Conclusion: This study suggests that Cur-PDLSC-EV can promote osteogenic differentiation by activating Wnt/β-catenin, providing reference bases for the treatment of periodontal diseases.
Biomaterials-mediated CRISPR/Cas9 delivery: recent challenges and opportunities in gene therapy
Authors: Dubey Ankit Kumar , Mostafavi Ebrahim
Published: September 2023

The use of biomaterials in delivering CRISPR/Cas9 for gene therapy in infectious diseases holds tremendous potential. This innovative approach combines the advantages of CRISPR/Cas9 with the protective properties of biomaterials, enabling accurate and efficient gene editing while enhancing safety. Biomaterials play a vital role in shielding CRISPR/Cas9 components, such as lipid nanoparticles or viral vectors, from immunological processes and degradation, extending their effectiveness. By utilizing the flexibility of biomaterials, tailored systems can be designed to address specific genetic diseases, paving the way for personalized therapeutics. Furthermore, this delivery method offers promising avenues in combating viral illnesses by precisely modifying pathogen genomes, and reducing their pathogenicity. Biomaterials facilitate site-specific gene modifications, ensuring effective delivery to infected cells while minimizing off-target effects. However, challenges remain, including optimizing delivery efficiency, reducing off-target effects, ensuring long-term safety, and establishing scalable production techniques. Thorough research, pre-clinical investigations, and rigorous safety evaluations are imperative for successful translation from the laboratory to clinical applications. In this review, we discussed how CRISPR/Cas9 delivery using biomaterials revolutionizes gene therapy and infectious disease treatment, offering precise and safe editing capabilities with the potential to significantly improve human health and quality of life.
IgM antibody responses against Plasmodium antigens in neotropical primates in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest
Authors: Assis Gabriela Maíra Pereira de , Alvarenga Denise Anete Madureira de , Souza Luisa Braga e , Sánchez-Arcila Juan Camilo , Silva Eduardo Fernandes e , Pina-Costa Anielle de , Gonçalves Gustavo Henrique Pereira , Souza Júlio César de Junior , Nunes Ana Julia Dutra , Pissinatti Alcides , Moreira Silvia Bahadian , Torres Leticia de Menezes , Costa Helena Lott , Tinoco Herlandes da Penha , Pereira Valéria do Socorro , Soares Irene da Silva , Sousa Taís Nóbrega de , Ntumngia Francis Babila , Adams John H. , Kano Flora Satiko , Hirano Zelinda Maria Braga , Pratt-Riccio Lilian Rose , Daniel-Ribeiro Cláudio Tadeu , Ferreira Joseli Oliveira , Carvalho Luzia Helena , Alves de Brito Cristiana Ferreira
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Zoonotic transmission is a challenge for the control and elimination of malaria. It has been recorded in the Atlantic Forest, outside the Amazon which is the endemic region in Brazil. However, only very few studies have assessed the antibody response, especially of IgM antibodies, in Neotropical primates (NP). Therefore, in order to contribute to a better understanding of the immune response in different hosts and facilitate the identification of potential reservoirs, in this study, naturally acquired IgM antibody responses against Plasmodium antigens were evaluated, for the first time, in NP from the Atlantic Forest.

Methods

The study was carried out using 154 NP samples from three different areas of the Atlantic Forest. IgM antibodies against peptides of the circumsporozoite protein (CSP) from different Plasmodium species and different erythrocytic stage antigens were detected by ELISA.

Results

Fifty-nine percent of NP had IgM antibodies against at least one CSP peptide and 87% against at least one Plasmodium vivax erythrocytic stage antigen. Levels of antibodies against PvAMA-1 were the highest compared to the other antigens. All families of NP showed IgM antibodies against CSP peptides, and, most strikingly, against erythrocytic stage antigens. Generalized linear models demonstrated that IgM positivity against PvCSP and PvAMA-1 was associated with PCR-detectable blood-stage malaria infection and the host being free-living. Interestingly, animals with IgM against both PvCSP and PvAMA-1 were 4.7 times more likely to be PCR positive than animals that did not have IgM for these two antigens simultaneously.

Discussion

IgM antibodies against different Plasmodium spp. antigens are present in NP from the Atlantic Forest. High seroprevalence and antibody levels against blood-stage antigens were observed, which had a significant association with molecular evidence of infection. IgM antibodies against CSP and AMA-1 may be used as a potential marker for the identification of NP infected with Plasmodium, which are reservoirs of malaria in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest.
Technical issues and engagement processes: support for citizen and expert deliberation regarding the management of nuclear waste
Authors: Reedy Justin , Anderson Chris , Nowlin Matthew C.
Published: September 2023

Deliberative forums have been increasingly used to involve citizens in policymaking, but it is unclear whether people trust their fellow citizens to make decisions in highly technical areas like nuclear policy relative to more commonly used expert bodies. We examine public support for citizen and expert deliberation regarding the siting of nuclear waste facilities and note the role of values, views on deliberation, and civic experiences on support for each type of deliberation. We find that past civic experiences are associated with increased support for citizen decision-making. In addition, we find that underlying views on nuclear power may be more important in shaping support for a decision on nuclear waste facility siting than attitudes toward particular kinds of governance processes.
Efficacy and safety of left atrial appendage closure compared with oral anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and propensity-matched studies
Authors: Franchin Luca , Piroli Francesco , Demola Pierluigi , Mantovani Francesca , Iannaccone Mario , Manfredi Roberto , D’Ascenzo Fabrizio , Fortuni Federico , Ugo Fabrizio , Meucci Francesco , Navazio Alessandro , Boccuzzi Giacomo
Published: September 2023

Backgrounds

Two recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs), the PROTECT-AF and the PREVAIL, showed that in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients, left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) is comparable to oral anticoagulants (OAC) in the prevention of stroke and could also possibly reduce mortality. Nevertheless, this net clinical benefit was not confirmed in the most recent RCT comparing LAAC vs. OAC, the PRAGUE-17 trial.

Aim

aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of LAAC compared with OAC among available high-quality studies.

Methods

A systematic search of electronic databases (Medline, Scopus, Embase and the Cochrane Library) was performed to identify eligible RCTs and observational studies with propensity score matching (PSM) analysis. PRISMA guidelines were used for abstracting data and assessing data quality and validity. Outcomes of interest were the occurrence of cardiovascular death (CVD), all-cause death, all-type stroke, and major bleedings.

Results

A total of 3 RCTs and 7 PMS studies involving 25,700 patients were identified. 12,961 patients received LAAC while 12,739 received OAC therapy. After a median follow-up of 2.6 years (IQR 2–4.4), patients who received LAAC had lower risk of CVD (RR = 0.62; 95%CI, 0.51–0.74, I2 = 0%), all-cause death (RR = 0.67; 95% CI, 0.57–0.78, I2 68%) and major bleedings (RR = 0.68; 95%CI, 0.48–0.95 I2 = 87%) compared with patients on OAC. No difference was found between the two groups regarding strokes incidence (RR = 0.94; 95% CI, 0.77–1.15, I2 = 0%).

Conclusions

According to this meta-analysis, LAAC has comparable efficacy in the prevention of stroke compared with OAC and a reduced risk of major bleedings, all-cause death and CVD that may be even larger with longer follow-up.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=269768, identifier CRD42021269768.
Dynamic mathematical model as a tool for detecting and preventing school violence: a case report
Authors: Hernando Inmaculada , Sanz Roberto , Moreno-Latorre Esther
Published: September 2023

Currently, coexistence is an essential factor that influences educational quality. Issues relating to school violence affect a large number of students, affecting their personal, academic, and professional futures. For this reason, this study aimed to present a different study tool that would allow the optimization of the factors that influence classroom climate, establish mechanisms to detect and predict how the modification of these factors can positively or negatively affect it, and determine the most appropriate intervention before it occurs. Dynamic mathematical models are complex tools that allow us to study a given problem or reality in real-time and develop predictive instruments through the analysis of mathematical relationships, allowing us to adapt the answers in a customized manner. In this study, an example is provided in measuring classroom climate throughout an academic course in a simulated situation. It consists of a dynamic mathematical model developed with Stella 10.0 software using only some of the variables that affect classroom climate, which are distributed in two sections—a psychological one that includes Rabies Level and Isolation Level due to loss of self-esteem and a physical one that includes the number of aggressive students and the total number of physically assaulted students. Since the classroom climate is very complex, other variables or a greater number of them could have been used in this hypothetical case; however, the example explains how this kind of model works and shows the great utility that it can have in this type of study. Regarding the most significant benefits that this tool can offer, some stand out. On the one hand, we can adapt the instrument to the specific characteristics of a class group, introducing or eliminating the variables depending on their relevance to the problem at hand. On the other hand, this versatile tool not only adapts to the reality of the classroom but also to the specific moment in which the students are. The greatest limitation of a Dynamic Mathematical Model as a tool is the large quantity of information required to adjust the model to reality; the more information we have, the more adjusted the model can be. Furthermore, gathering the type of information needed to develop the model is complicated.
Examine the environmental inequity impact of urban heat mitigation on redlining legacy: case study of Charlotte’s retrofitting, 2001–2020
Authors: Li Xijing , Ma Xinlin , Lyu Fangzheng , Song Yan
Published: September 2023

Climate adaptation policies have received attention in major due to the dual challenges of external factors like global warming, and internal factors related to the transition from rapid urbanization to sustainable development. However, previous research on heat or climate mitigation has often focused on external factors, neglecting the internal factors throughout the process of urban development and planning history. Research has revealed that city center where urban heat island phenomena is prominent, are subjected to external factors of intense heat exposure, as well as deeply influenced by the internal factors “urban development legacy.” An increasing body of research note that the inequitable legacy from urban development could impact environmental equity outcomes of cities. Based on this, we argue that urban heat mitigation research should adopt the perspective of the urban development process. We then utilize the Heat Mitigation Framework to examine the tangible outcomes of environmental equity over an extended period of urban development. This study focuses on the Charlotte city center that have undergone multiple processes of redlining policies and rapid urbanization, using a research framework for environmental equity-oriented urban heat management to examine whether a series of heat mitigation policies have effectively reduced heat exposure and whether they have truly benefited heat-vulnerable groups. Based on 20 years of multi-source heat exposure and urban spatial data, this paper provides evidence of ongoing enhancements to the heat exposure environment in the Charlotte city center. However, despite these improvements, heat vulnerable group that are particularly susceptible to the negative effects of heat exposure did not experience commensurate benefits. The conclusion of this article validates the ongoing trends of global sustainable studies in nature-based solutions and social-ecological systems, highlighting the issue of environmental equity evaluation.
Piezoelectric-based bioactive zinc oxide-cellulose acetate electrospun mats for efficient wound healing: an in vitro insight
Authors: Ghosh Sumanta , Vaidya Sumedh , More Namdev , Velyutham Ravichandiran , Kapusetti Govinda
Published: September 2023

Being a complex physiological process involving the removal of damaged tissue debris and creating a new microenvironment for host tissue regeneration, wound healing is still a major challenge for healthcare professionals. Disruption of this process can lead to tissue inflammation, pathogenic infections, and scar formation. Current wound healing treatments primarily focus on passive tissue healing, lacking active engagement in the healing process. In recent years, a new class of functional biomaterials based on piezoelectric properties has emerged, which can actively participate in the wound healing process by harnessing mechanical forces generated from body movement. Herein, we have fabricated a bioactive Cellulose Acetate (CA) electrospun nanofibrous mat incorporating zinc oxide (ZnO) and investigated its efficiency for accelerated wound healing. We have characterized the physicochemical properties of the fabricated nanofibrous mats using various assays, including SEM, FTIR, TGA, mechanical testing, degradation analysis, porosity measurement, hemolysis assay, and piezoelectric d33 coefficient measurement. Through our investigation, we discovered the tunned piezoelectric coefficient of fabricated specimens due to incorporating ZnO into the CA fibers. In vitro studies also confirmed enhanced cell adhesion, proliferation, and migration, indicating faster wound healing potential. Overall, our findings support the efficacy of piezoelectric-based ZnO-incorporated bioactive CA nanofibrous mats for efficient wound healing.
Noninvasive assessment of metabolic turnover during inflammation by in vivo deuterium magnetic resonance spectroscopy
Authors: Flocke Vera , Temme Sebastian , Bouvain Pascal , Grandoch Maria , Flögel Ulrich
Published: September 2023

Background

Inflammation and metabolism exhibit a complex interplay, where inflammation influences metabolic pathways, and in turn, metabolism shapes the quality of immune responses. Here, glucose turnover is of special interest, as proinflammatory immune cells mainly utilize glycolysis to meet their energy needs. Noninvasive approaches to monitor both processes would help elucidate this interwoven relationship to identify new therapeutic targets and diagnostic opportunities.

Methods

For induction of defined inflammatory hotspots, LPS-doped Matrigel plugs were implanted into the neck of C57BL/6J mice. Subsequently, 1H/19F magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to track the recruitment of 19F-loaded immune cells to the inflammatory focus and deuterium (2H) magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was used to monitor the metabolic fate of [6,6-2H2]glucose within the affected tissue. Histology and flow cytometry were used to validate the in vivo data.

Results

After plug implantation and intravenous administration of the 19F-containing contrast agent, 1H/19F MRI confirmed the infiltration of 19F-labeled immune cells into LPS-doped plugs while no 19F signal was observed in PBS-containing control plugs. Identification of the inflammatory focus was followed by i.p. bolus injection of deuterated glucose and continuous 2H MRS. Inflammation-induced alterations in metabolic fluxes could be tracked with an excellent temporal resolution of 2 min up to approximately 60 min after injection and demonstrated a more anaerobic glucose utilization in the initial phase of immune cell recruitment.

Conclusion

1H/2H/19F MRI/MRS was successfully employed for noninvasive monitoring of metabolic alterations in an inflammatory environment, paving the way for simultaneous in vivo registration of immunometabolic data in basic research and patients.
Case Report: Invasive fungal infection after anti-CD19 CAR-T cell therapy. Implication for antifungal prophylaxis
Authors: Pennese Elsa , Salutari Prassede , Carriero Luigi , Restuccia Francesco , De Filippis Antonio Fabio , De Luca Giulia , Giancola Raffaella , Guardalupi Francesco , Corradi Giulia , Fabi Bianca , Baldoni Stefano , Di Ianni Mauro
Published: September 2023

CAR-T therapy has revolutionized the treatment of relapsed/refractory B-cell malignancies. Patients who are receiving such therapy are susceptible to an increased incidence of infections due to post-treatment immunosuppression. The need for antifungal prophylaxis during the period of neutropenia remains to be determined. The clinical outcome of a 55-year-old patient with relapsed/refractory DLBCL who received axicabtagene ciloleucel is described here. The patient developed CRS grade II and ICANS grade IV requiring tocilizumab, prolonged use of steroids and anakinra. An invasive pulmonary aspergillosis arose after 1 month from CAR-T reinfusion, resolved with tracheal sleeve pneumonectomy. The patient is now in Complete Remission. This case suggests that antifungal prophylaxis should be considered. We have now included micafungin as a standard prophylaxis in our institution.
Adenosine, lidocaine and Mg2+ update: teaching old drugs new tricks
Authors: Dobson Geoffrey P. , Morris Jodie L. , Letson Hayley L.
Published: September 2023

If a trauma (or infection) exceeds the body’s evolutionary design limits, a stress response is activated to quickly restore homeostasis. However, when the injury severity score is high, death is often imminent. The goal of this review is to provide an update on the effect of small-volume adenosine, lidocaine and Mg2+ (ALM) therapy on increasing survival and blunting secondary injury after non-compressible hemorrhagic shock and other trauma and infective/endotoxemic states. Two standout features of ALM therapy are: (1) resuscitation occurs at permissive hypotensive blood pressures (MAPs 50–60 mmHg), and (2) the drug confers neuroprotection at these low pressures. The therapy appears to reset the body’s baroreflex to produce a high-flow, hypotensive, vasodilatory state with maintained tissue O2 delivery. Whole body ALM protection appears to be afforded by NO synthesis-dependent pathways and shifting central nervous system (CNS) control from sympathetic to parasympathetic dominance, resulting in improved cardiovascular function, reduced immune activation and inflammation, correction of coagulopathy, restoration of endothelial glycocalyx, and reduced energy demand and mitochondrial oxidative stress. Recently, independent studies have shown ALM may also be useful for stroke, muscle trauma, and as an adjunct to Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta (REBOA). Ongoing studies have further shown ALM may have utility for burn polytrauma, damage control surgery and orthopedic surgery. Lastly, we discuss the clinical applications of ALM fluid therapy for prehospital and military far-forward use for non-compressible hemorrhage and traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Association between gut microbiota and endometriosis: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Ji Xuan , Yang Qi , Zhu Xiu-Lin , Xu Li , Guo Jie-Ying , Rong Yan , Cai Yun-Lang
Published: September 2023

Background

Recent studies have shown that an imbalance in gut microbiota (GM) may not always be associated with endometriosis (EMS). To investigate this further, we conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Methods

MR analysis was performed on genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics of GM and EMS. Specifically, the MiBioGen microbiota GWAS (N = 18,340) was used as exposure. The FinnGen study GWAS (8,288 EMS cases and 68,969 controls) was used as outcome. We primarily used the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method to analyze the correlation and conducted a sensitivity analysis to verify its reliability.

Results

(1) MR analysis: The results of the IVW method confirmed that a total of 8 GM taxa were related to the risk of EMS. Class-Melainabacteria (p = 0.036), family-Ruminococcaceae (p = 0.037), and genus-Eubacteriumruminantium (p = 0.015) had a protective effect on EMS, whereas order-Bacillales (p = 0.046), family-Prevotellaceae (p = 0.027), genus-Anaerotruncus (p = 0.025), genus-Olsenella (p = 0.036) and genus-RuminococcaceaeUCG002 (p = 0.035) could increase the risk of EMS. (2) Sensitivity analysis: Cochrane’s Q test (p > 0.05), MR-Egger intercept method (p > 0.05), and leave-one-out method confirmed the robustness of MR results.

Conclusion

This study performed a MR analysis on two large national databases and identified the association between 8 GM taxa and EMS. These taxa could potentially be utilized for indirectly diagnosing EMS and could lead to novel perspectives in research regarding the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of EMS.
Characterization of a novel cell wall hydrolase CwlE involved in Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis mother cell lysis
Authors: Huang Lixin , Han Guangjie , Crickmore Neil , Li Chuanming , Xia Yang , Song Fuping , Xu Jian
Published: September 2023

Cell wall hydrolases are ubiquitous among spore-form bacteria and essential for mother cell lysis. In this study, a novel cell wall hydrolase gene cwlE involved in mother cell lysis was characterized from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (Bti) strain Bt-59. cwlE was specifically expressed in Bti and located in the large plasmid carrying the insecticidal genes. The encoded CwlE protein consists of a MurNAc-LAA domain and two highly conserved catalytic residues (E26 and E151). The recombinant CwlE-His protein was able to digest the cell wall of Bti, indicating that CwlE is an N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase. Transcriptional analysis indicated that cwlE began to express at the early stage of stationary phase and was controlled by SigE. Single mutation of cwlE gene delayed Bti mother cell lysis, while double mutation of cwlE and sigK completely blocked Bti mother cell lysis. After exposure to UV light to deactivate the crystal proteins, the level of decrease of insecticidal activity against mosquito larvae of Bt-59 (ΔcwlE-sigK) was less than that observed for Bt-59. This study elucidates the mechanism of Bti mother cell lysis and provides an effective strategy for mosquito control using Bt products with increased persistence.
Deciphering Treg cell roles in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a comprehensive prognostic and immunotherapeutic analysis
Authors: Zhang Pengpeng , Dong Shiyang , Sun Wei , Zhong Wan , Xiong Jingwen , Gong Xiangjin , Li Jun , Lin Haoran , Zhuang Yu
Published: September 2023

Background: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a prevalent and aggressive form of cancer that poses significant challenges in terms of prognosis and treatment. Regulatory T cells (Treg cells) have gained attention due to their influential role in immune modulation within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Understanding the intricate interactions between Treg cells and the tumor microenvironment is essential for unraveling the mechanisms underlying ESCC progression and for developing effective prognostic models and immunotherapeutic strategies.

Methods: A combination of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and bulk RNA-seq analysis was utilized to explore the role of Treg cells within the TME of ESCC. The accuracy and applicability of the prognostic model were assessed through multi-dimensional evaluations, encompassing an examination of the model’s performance across various dimensions, such as the mutation landscape, clinical relevance, enrichment analysis, and potential implications for immunotherapy strategies.

Results: The pivotal role of the macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) signaling pathway within the ESCC TME was investigated, with a focus on its impact on Treg cells and other subpopulations. Through comprehensive integration of bulk sequencing data, a Treg-associated signature (TAS) was constructed, revealing that ESCC patients with elevated TAS (referred to as high-TAS individuals) experienced significantly improved prognoses. Heightened immune infiltration and increased expression of immune checkpoint markers were observed in high-TAS specimens. The model’s validity was established through the IMvigor210 dataset, demonstrating its robustness in predicting prognosis and responsiveness to immunotherapy. Heightened therapeutic benefits were observed in immune-based interventions for high-TAS ESCC patients. Noteworthy differences in pathway enrichment patterns emerged between high and low-TAS cohorts, highlighting potential avenues for therapeutic exploration. Furthermore, the clinical relevance of key model genes was substantiated by analyzing clinical samples from ten paired tumor and adjacent tissues, revealing differential expression levels.

Conclusion: The study established a TAS that enables accurate prediction of patient prognosis and responsiveness to immunotherapy. This achievement holds significant implications for the clinical management of ESCC, offering valuable insights for informed therapeutic interventions.
Multimodal MRI study of the relationship between plaque characteristics and hypoperfusion in patients with transient ischemic attack
Authors: Sui Ying , Sun Jiali , Chen Yue , Wang Wei
Published: September 2023

Objective

Transient ischemic attack is a significant risk factor for acute cerebral infarction. Previous studies have demonstrated that hypoperfusion in patients with transient ischemic attack was associated with the recurrence of transient ischemic attack, stroke, and persistent worsening of neurological symptoms. Moreover, transient ischemic attack patients classified as high-risk group according to the ABCD2 score have a higher incidence of stroke. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the plaque characteristics of transient ischemic attack patients with concomitant cerebral hypoperfusion using multimodal MRI, as well as hemodynamic changes in the high-risk group with transient ischemic attack patients.

Materials and methods

A total of 151 patients with transient ischemic attack were prospectively recruited for this study. All enrolled patients underwent multimodal MRI, including DWI, TOF-MRA, HR-VWI, and DSC-PWI. Finally, 56 patients met the inclusion criteria. Based on DSC-PWI images, patients were divided into two groups: hypoperfusion (n = 41) and non-hypoperfusion (n = 15). Clinical baseline characteristics and plaque characteristics were analyzed between the two groups. Furthermore, within the hypoperfusion group, patients were further classified into low-risk (n = 11) and high-risk (n = 30) subgroups based on the ABCD2 score. Hemodynamic differences between these subgroups were also analyzed.

Results

Compared with the non-hypoperfusion group, the hypoperfusion group had a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension (68.3% vs. 33.3%, p = 0.019) and hyperhomocysteinemia (65.9% vs. 33.3%, p = 0.029). Moreover, the hypoperfusion group exhibited more significant luminal stenosis degree [41.79 ±31.36 vs. 17.62±13.62, p = 0.006] and greater NWI (57.1%±20.47% vs. 40.21%± 21.56%, p = 0.009) compared to the non-hypoperfusion group. In addition, the high-risk group identified by the ABCD2 score had a higher rMTT [117.6(109.31–128.14) vs. 108.36(100.67–119.92), p = 0.037].

Conclusion

Transient ischemic attack patients with hypoperfusion exhibited a higher prevalence of hypertension and hyperhomocysteinemia, as well as higher luminal stenosis degree, and greater NWI. Furthermore, Transient ischemic attack patients in the high-risk group demonstrated higher MTT.