bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Parametric Optimization of Linear Ball Bearing with Four-Point Connection in Steer-by-Wire Steering Column by Means of Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Załęski Arkadiusz , Szczepanik Mirosław
Published: September 2024

This paper presents the process of the optimization of linear ball bearings with four-point connection using a genetic algorithm and the finite element method. Currently, modern steering systems without an intermediate shaft—steer-by-wire systems—are being developed. The focus of this paper was on the optimization of linear ball bearings with four-point connection, embedded between the outer and inner columns tube in terms of the number of balls in the bearing and the clearance between balls. The aim of the research was to maximize the first two natural frequencies in the steering system, which is crucial for improving the stability and efficiency of the system. Various factors influencing natural vibration such as bearing geometry, raceway and ball materials, and operating conditions (preload) were taken into account in the research. Preload is a major factor affecting not only linear motion but also natural frequency. In order to speed up the calculations, the author’s simplified model of a linear bearing with the use of a system of springs was proposed. The nonlinear properties of the spring were determined on the basis of Hertz’s theory. A genetic optimization process resulted in a linear bearing structure that meets the natural frequency criteria. In addition, the full reference model was numerically compared with the simplified one, which showed convergent results of natural frequencies.
Heat Generation during Dental Implant Bed Preparation Using Surgical Guides with and without Internal Irrigation Channels Evaluated on Standardized Models of the Alveolar Bone
Authors: Tuce Robert-Angelo , Neagu Monica , Pupăzan Vasile , Neagu Adrian , Arjoca Stelian
Published: September 2024

Dental implant bed preparation involves surgical drilling. Heat generated in this process can cause a temperature elevation beyond the bone damage limit (10 °C), affecting the osseointegration of the implant. Surgical templates ensure accurate implant placement, but they limit the access of the irrigation fluid. This study evaluated the hypothesis that surgical guides with internal cooling prevent bone heating more effectively than classical guides. To eliminate biological variability, this study was conducted on artificial bone pieces that mimic the bone density of the human mandible. We created a surgical template that incorporated four pairs of guides—one classical (CLA) and one with internal cooling (INT) in each pair. For each specimen, we randomly selected the type of surgical guide to start with and performed four osteotomies with a 2.7 mm-diameter drill; then, we widened each hole with a 3.3 mm drill and finalized it with a 3.7 mm drill. The temperature was recorded by thermocouples placed at 0.8 mm from the prospective edge of the final osteotomy. In 168 measurements (12 osteotomies on 14 specimens) conducted for each type of surgical guide, the mean temperature rise was 7.2 ± 4.9 °C (mean ± standard deviation) for CLA and 5.0 ± 3.8 °C for INT. The mean differences between temperature elevations were 1.5 °C, 2.1 °C, and 3.0 °C for the first, second, and third drill, and they were statistically significant: the p-values of Student’s t-test were 0.004, 0.01, and 0.001, respectively. Although the mean temperatures remained safe, temperature rises exceeded 10 °C in 23.8% (9.5%) of the osteotomies performed in the presence of CLA (INT). Taken together, our results suggest that surgical guides with internal cooling ensure a significant drop in the temperature rise caused by implant site drilling.
The Effects of L-Citrulline and Malic Acid on Substrate Utilisation and Lactate Elimination
Authors: Baráth Alexander , Annár Dorina , Györe István , Szmodis Márta
Published: September 2024

Endurance athletes often aim to improve their aerobic metabolism. The aim of this pilot study was to examine if malic acid and L-citrulline supplementation can improve aerobic metabolism and lactate elimination. Nine young (23.9 ± 1.9 years) recreational male athletes participated in this study. Following a standardised breakfast and a body composition analysis (InBody720), 6000 mg of citrulline and 3000 mg of malic acid or a placebo of 300 mL of water were consumed on three separate days in a cross-over design using a double-blind method. Sixty minutes after the supplementation, participants completed a ramp bicycle spiroergometer protocol (35 W/3 min) until reaching a respiratory exchange ratio (RER) of 1.1, followed by a 9 min active recovery. Cadence, heart rate (HR), rate of perceived exertion (RPE), respiratory parameters and lactate levels were registered. The RPExHR value was calculated to accurately characterise exhaustion. During the exercise protocol, citrulline supplementation induced significantly lower RER values at 70-105-140 W compared to malic acid and the placebo, respectively. There was no difference in lactate levels neither during rest nor at RER 1.1. RPExHR rate values were significantly lower after malic acid supplementation compared to placebo at 175 and 210 W. Power at RER 1.1 was higher after malic acid (+4 W) and citrulline (+5 W) supplementation. Although the supplementation failed to decrease lactate levels, lower RER and RPE values may indicate a performance-enhancing benefit.
The Spread of Invasive and Poisonous Plants: A Lesson from Alkaloids
Authors: D’Alessandro Rosa , Celano Rita , Piccinelli Anna Lisa , D’Amelia Vincenzo , Docimo Teresa
Published: September 2024

Invasive plant species pose a significant threat to global biodiversity and ecosystems. Climate changes favor the spread of non-native plants, whether voluntary or accidentally introduced into a new environment, as these plants possess a greater ability to adapt to changing environments. The spreading of these alien species has a negative impact also on agro-ecosystems, on agricultural yields, and on the nutritional quality of food crops. The high metabolic plasticity of these plants helps them to adapt to new ecosystems, enabling them to succeed in competing with crops. In particular, many alien plants are producers of alkaloids. These molecules represent the main chemical defense to biotic stressors and also the major risk for human health. In this review, we focused on invasive plants producing tropane alkaloids (TAs) and pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). We explored the potential role of these molecules in the fitness of invasive plants in the context of climate change and reviewed the knowledge regarding their biosynthesis steps and examined the mechanism of toxicity when accidentally ingested. Finally, we summarized the most efficient analytical and molecular methods to detect either alkaloid contamination or the presence of invasive plant contaminants, which are the source of these molecules, in food crops. Possible solutions and precautions to ensure food safety have been also proposed.
The Impact of a Congested Competition Schedule on Load, Recovery, and Well-Being in Under-16 Female Soccer Players: A Comparison between Starters and Non-Starters during a Development Tournament
Authors: González-García Jaime , Romero-Moraleda Blanca
Published: September 2024

Monitoring training load, recovery, and wellness in maturation ages is even more relevant than in adulthood, especially during congested schedules. The objective of this study was to quantify and describe the differences in external and internal load, recovery, and perceived wellness in elite under-16 female players during a period of three competitions in seven days based on their participation during matches. An observational design was used to quantify the external load (total distance, high-speed distance, and PlayerLoad) and internal load (differential sRPE), as well as the recovery and wellness of 18 international under-16 players during a development tournament. The external load pattern of the starting players was undulating, with matches showing the highest internal load values compared to training sessions and non-starters. Non-starter players (whether training or matches) showed similar external load and differential sRPE values throughout the tournament (p > 0.05). Starting players experienced higher internal load than non-starters during matches (p < 0.037), without differences between training sessions (p > 0.05). No changes were seen in wellness or recovery (all p-values > 0.05), except for non-starters in Session 3 compared to Session 7 (p = 0.024). Starting players had more weekly total minutes (p = 0.018), differential sRPE (breath: p = 0.002; leg: p = 0.002; cognitive: p = 0.003), total distance (p = 0.003), and PlayerLoad (p = 0.008) than non-starters. Our results indicate differing load patterns between starters and non-starters, which do not affect wellness and recovery differently. Starters accumulate more weekly total load. Coaches can use these findings to guide decisions and load compensations in high competition contexts for young female soccer players.
Ergonomic Assessment of Key Biomechanical Factors in Patient Lifting: Results from a Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Senvaitis Karolis , Adomavičienė Aušra , Tomaševič Alina , Kernagytė Radvilė , Petrauskaitė Ada , Daunoravičienė Kristina
Published: September 2024

This study includes an ergonomic evaluation of patient lifting motion performed by healthcare specialists. This analysis focuses on the neck, shoulder, and elbow, as these are statistically significant areas with insufficient research data. Data collection was conducted using the Movella Xsens system as a standard 17 IMU (inertia measurement unit) marker set. A total of 44 test subjects participated, resulting in 396 measurements. A mathematical model was presented, including the main expressions and a three-dimensional moment arm of the shoulder calculation determining both the moment and accumulated moment. The patient load profile was measured in the experiment and parametrically integrated into the mathematical model. Ergonomic limits were calculated and presented, showing that during the lifting motion, the neck exceeds its ergonomic limit by 66%, the shoulders by 49%, and the elbow by 76%. The accumulated moment can vary by up to 23% depending on different evaluated techniques or data cross-sections. The model was verified by comparing it with data from other experiments, and recommendations were presented based on the findings, along with suggestions for future research development in the area.
Synergism Interactions of Plant-Based Proteins: Their Effect on Emulsifying Properties in Oil/Water-Type Model Emulsions
Authors: Lima Raquel Reis , Vieira Maria Eduarda Martins , Campos Nathalia da Silva , Perrone Ítalo Tuler , Stephani Rodrigo , Casanova Federico , de Carvalho Antônio Fernandes
Published: September 2024

This study investigated the synergistic effects of three protein concentrates from legumes (pea, lentil, and lima bean) as emulsifiers and stabilizers of oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions using a simplex-centroid mixture design. The aim was to check whether proteins combined in different proportions have better emulsifying properties than isolated proteins. During this study, each protein concentrate was characterized by different evaluated parameters: emulsifying activity, emulsion stability, accelerated stability test, thermal coagulation time, stability to coalescence, and others. After statistical analysis mixture optimization, it was found that the best formulation for stabilizing O/W emulsion under the tested conditions (2% total protein; 3% sunflower oil) was the protein blend containing 21.21% pea, 32.78% lentil, and 46.01% fava bean. This blend exhibited better emulsification properties compared to the individual proteins.
Advances in Protective Clothing Research Meeting the Challenges in the Changing World
Authors: Kuklane Kalev , Dąbrowska Anna
Published: September 2024

The world keeps changing, and the changes are becoming quicker with technological development [...]
Sources, Distribution, and Health Implications of Heavy Metals in Street Dust across Industrial, Capital City, and Peri-Urban Areas of Bangladesh
Authors: Rana Md. Sohel , Wang Qingyue , Wang Weiqian , Enyoh Christian Ebere , Islam Md. Rezwanul , Isobe Yugo , Kabir Md Humayun
Published: September 2024

Heavy metals in road dusts can directly pose significant health risks through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact. This study investigated the pollution, distribution, and health effect of heavy metals in street dust from industrial, capital city, and peri-urban areas of Bangladesh. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) examined eight hazardous heavy metals such as Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni, Mn, Cr, Cd, and Co. Results revealed that industrial areas showed the highest metal concentrations, following the order Mn > Zn > Cr > Pb > Ni > Co > Cd, with an average level of 444.35, 299.25, 238.31, 54.22, 52.78, 45.66, and 2.73 mg/kg, respectively, for fine particles (≤20 μm). Conversely, multivariate statistical analyses were conducted to assess pollution levels and sources. Anthropogenic activities like traffic emissions, construction, and industrial processing were the main pollution sources. A pollution load index revealed that industrial areas had significantly higher pollution (PLI of 2.45), while the capital city and peri-urban areas experienced moderate pollution (PLI of 1.54 and 1.59). Hazard index values were below the safety level of 1, but health risk evaluations revealed increased non-carcinogenic risks for children, especially from Cr, Ni, Cd, and Pb where Cr poses the highest cancer risk via inhalation, with values reaching 1.13 × 10−4–5.96 × 10−4 falling within the threshold level (10−4 to 10−6). These results underline the need for continuous environmental monitoring and pollution control in order to lower health hazards.
Comparing Large-Eddy Simulation and Gaussian Plume Model to Sensor Measurements of an Urban Smoke Plume
Authors: Clements Dominic , Coburn Matthew , Cox Simon J. , Bulot Florentin M. J. , Xie Zheng-Tong , Vanderwel Christina
Published: September 2024

The fast prediction of the extent and impact of accidental air pollution releases is important to enable a quick and informed response, especially in cities. Despite this importance, only a small number of case studies are available studying the dispersion of air pollutants from fires in a short distance (O(1 km)) in urban areas. While monitoring pollution levels in Southampton, UK, using low-cost sensors, a fire broke out from an outbuilding containing roughly 3000 reels of highly flammable cine nitrate film and movie equipment, which resulted in high values of PM2.5 being measured by the sensors approximately 1500 m downstream of the fire site. This provided a unique opportunity to evaluate urban air pollution dispersion models using observed data for PM2.5 and the meteorological conditions. Two numerical approaches were used to simulate the plume from the transient fire: a high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics model with large-eddy simulation (LES) embedded in the open-source package OpenFOAM, and a lower-fidelity Gaussian plume model implemented in a commercial software package: the Atmospheric Dispersion Modeling System (ADMS). Both numerical models were able to quantitatively reproduce consistent spatial and temporal profiles of the PM2.5 concentration at approximately 1500 m downstream of the fire site. Considering the unavoidable large uncertainties, a comparison between the sensor measurements and the numerical predictions was carried out, leading to an approximate estimation of the emission rate, temperature, and the start and duration of the fire. The estimation of the fire start time was consistent with the local authority report. The LES data showed that the fire lasted for at least 80 min at an emission rate of 50 g/s of PM2.5. The emission was significantly greater than a ‘normal’ house fire reported in the literature, suggesting the crucial importance of the emission estimation and monitoring of PM2.5 concentration in such incidents. Finally, we discuss the advantages and limitations of the two numerical approaches, aiming to suggest the selection of fast-response numerical models at various compromised levels of accuracy, efficiency and cost.
Remote Sensing Monitoring and Multidimensional Impact Factor Analysis of Urban Heat Island Effect in Zhengzhou City
Authors: Zhang Xiangjun , Li Guoqing , Yu Haikun , Gao Guangxu , Lou Zhengfang
Published: September 2024

In the 21st century, the rapid urbanization process has led to increasingly severe urban heat island effects and other urban thermal environment issues, posing significant challenges to urban planning and environmental management. This study focuses on Zhengzhou, China, utilizing Landsat remote sensing imagery data from five key years between 2000 and 2020. By applying atmospheric correction methods, we accurately retrieved the land surface temperature (LST). The study employed a gravity center migration model to track the spatial changes of heat island patches and used the geographical detector method to quantitatively analyze the combined impact of surface characteristics, meteorological conditions, and socio-economic factors on the urban heat island effect. Results show that the LST in Zhengzhou exhibits a fluctuating growth trend, closely related to the expansion of built-up areas and urban planning. High-temperature zones are mainly concentrated in built-up areas, while low-temperature zones are primarily found in areas covered by water bodies and vegetation. Notably, the Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) are the two most significant factors influencing the spatial distribution of land surface temperature, with explanatory power reaching 42.7% and 41.3%, respectively. As urban development enters a stable stage, government environmental management measures have played a positive role in mitigating the urban heat island effect. This study not only provides a scientific basis for understanding the spatiotemporal changes in land surface temperature in Zhengzhou but also offers new technical support for urban planning and management, helping to alleviate the urban heat island effect and improve the living environment quality for urban residents.
Spatiotemporal Variation in Absorption Aerosol Optical Depth over China
Authors: Mao Mao , Jiang Huan , Zhang Xiaolin
Published: September 2024

Absorbing aerosols can absorb solar radiation, affect the atmospheric radiation balance, and further have a profound influence on the global and regional climates. The absorption aerosol optical depth (AAOD) as well as the absorption Angstrom exponent (AAE) across China over 2005–2018 were systematically studied through the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) dataset. The monthly AAOD samples from the OMI generally showed a good correlation (~0.55) compared to the monthly data from AERONET at four typical sites (North: Xianghe, East: Taihu, South: Hongkong Polytechnic Univ; Northwest: Sacol) across China. The ensemble annual average of the OMI AAOD at 388 and 500 nm is 0.046 and 0.022, with minor changes during 2005–2015, and a relatively fast increase after that. The winter and spring seasons depict the maximum mean AAODs, followed by autumn, whereas summer shows minimum levels. On the contrary, the high AAE values appear in summer and low values in winter. The order of the annual average AAOD500 from 2005 to 2018 is the Tarim Basin (TB, 0.041) > the Yellow River Basin (YRB, 0.023) > Beijing and Tianjin (BT, 0.026) > the Sichuan Basin (SB, 0.023) > Nanjing and Shanghai (NS, 0.021) > the Pearl River Delta (PRD, 0.017), whereas the AAE388–500 exhibits the opposite trend except for the TB (3.058). From 2005 to 2018, the AAOD rises by nearly 1.5–2.0 fold in the six typical regions, implying a severe situation of dust and/or BC aerosol pollution in the last several years. The monthly mean AAOD388 over the TB, the SB, the YRB, BT, the PRD, and NS is estimated to be smallest at 0.072, 0.024, 0.026, and 0.027 in July, 0.024 in June, and 0.025 in September, respectively, whilst largest in January for NS, the YRB and BT, April for the TB, February for the SB, and March for the PRD with 0.055, 0.077 and 0.067, 0.123, and 0.073 and 0.075, respectively. The monthly averaged AAOD500 in each region is consistently about half of the AAOD388. The highest AAE appears in June while the lowest values are in December and January, and the daily AAE values in episode days slightly decrease as compared to non-episode days. Our study indicates that northwestern China plays an important role in the overall AAOD as a result of dust aerosols stemming from desert areas. Moreover, the meteorological conditions in winter and early spring are associated with more energy consumption conducive to the accumulation of high black carbon (BC) aerosol pollution, causing high alert levels of AAOD from November to the following March.
Advancing 3D Spheroid Research through 3D Scaffolds Made by Two-Photon Polymerization
Authors: Vitkūnaitė Eglė , Žymantaitė Eglė , Mlynska Agata , Andrijec Dovilė , Limanovskaja Karolina , Kaszynski Grzegorz , Matulis Daumantas , Šakalys Vidmantas , Jonušauskas Linas
Published: September 2024

Three-dimensional cancer cell cultures have been a valuable research model for developing new drug targets in the preclinical stage. However, there are still limitations to these in vitro models. Scaffold-based systems offer a promising approach to overcoming these challenges in cancer research. In this study, we show that two-photon polymerization (TPP)-assisted printing of scaffolds enhances 3D tumor cell culture formation without additional modifications. TPP is a perfect fit for this task, as it is an advanced 3D-printing technique combining a μm-level resolution with complete freedom in the design of the final structure. Additionally, it can use a wide array of materials, including biocompatible ones. We exploit these capabilities to fabricate scaffolds from two different biocompatible materials—PEGDA and OrmoClear. Cubic spheroid scaffolds with a more complex architecture were produced and tested. The biological evaluation showed that the human ovarian cancer cell lines SKOV3 and A2780 formed 3D cultures on printed scaffolds without a preference for the material. The gene expression evaluation showed that the A2780 cell line exhibited substantial changes in CDH1, CDH2, TWIST, COL1A1, and SMAD3 gene expression, while the SKOV3 cell line had slight changes in said gene expression. Our findings show how the scaffold architecture design impacts tumor cell culture 3D spheroid formation, especially for the A2780 cancer cell line.
The Recent Progress of Tricyclic Aromadendrene-Type Sesquiterpenoids: Biological Activities and Biosynthesis
Authors: Yan Xiaoguang , Lin Jiaqi , Liu Ziming , David Sichone Daniel , Liang Dongmei , Nie Shengxin , Ge Mingyue , Xue Zhaohui , Li Weiguo , Qiao Jianjun
Published: September 2024

The tricyclic-aromadendrene-type sesquiterpenes are widely distributed and exhibit a range of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, antibacterial, insecticidal and cytotoxic properties. Several key sesquiterpene synthases (STSs) of this type have been identified, of which, viridiflorol synthase has been engineered for efficiently biosynthesizing viridiflorol in an Escherichia coli strain. This paper comprehensively summarizes the distribution and biological activity of aromadendrene-type sesquiterpenes in plant essential oils and microorganisms. The progress in aromadendrene-type sesquiterpene biosynthesis research, including the modifications of key STSs and the optimization of synthetic pathways, is reviewed. Finally, the prospects and associated challenges for the application and biosynthesis of these natural products are also discussed.
Current Treatment Methods for Charcot–Marie–Tooth Diseases
Authors: Dong Hongxian , Qin Boquan , Zhang Hui , Lei Lei , Wu Shizhou
Published: September 2024

Charcot–Marie–Tooth (CMT) disease, the most common inherited neuromuscular disorder, exhibits a wide phenotypic range, genetic heterogeneity, and a variable disease course. The diverse molecular genetic mechanisms of CMT were discovered over the past three decades with the development of molecular biology and gene sequencing technologies. These methods have brought new options for CMT reclassification and led to an exciting era of treatment target discovery for this incurable disease. Currently, there are no approved disease management methods that can fully cure patients with CMT, and rehabilitation, orthotics, and surgery are the only available treatments to ameliorate symptoms. Considerable research attention has been given to disease-modifying therapies, including gene silencing, gene addition, and gene editing, but most treatments that reach clinical trials are drug treatments, while currently, only gene therapies for CMT2S have reached the clinical trial stage. In this review, we highlight the pathogenic mechanisms and therapeutic investigations of different subtypes of CMT, and promising therapeutic approaches are also discussed.
VDAC1-Based Peptides as Potential Modulators of VDAC1 Interactions with Its Partners and as a Therapeutic for Cancer, NASH, and Diabetes
Authors: Shteinfer-Kuzmine Anna , Santhanam Manikandan , Shoshan-Barmatz Varda
Published: September 2024

This review presents current knowledge related to the voltage-dependent anion channel-1 (VDAC1) as a multi-functional mitochondrial protein that acts in regulating both cell life and death. The location of VDAC1 at the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) allows control of metabolic cross-talk between the mitochondria and the rest of the cell, and also enables its interaction with proteins that are involved in metabolic, cell death, and survival pathways. VDAC1′s interactions with over 150 proteins can mediate and regulate the integration of mitochondrial functions with cellular activities. To target these protein–protein interactions, VDAC1-derived peptides have been developed. This review focuses specifically on cell-penetrating VDAC1-based peptides that were developed and used as a “decoy” to compete with VDAC1 for its VDAC1-interacting proteins. These peptides interfere with VDAC1 interactions, for example, with metabolism-associated proteins such as hexokinase (HK), or with anti-apoptotic proteins such as Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. These and other VDAC1-interacting proteins are highly expressed in many cancers. The VDAC1-based peptides in cells in culture selectively affect cancerous, but not non-cancerous cells, inducing cell death in a variety of cancers, regardless of the cancer origin or genetics. They inhibit cell energy production, eliminate cancer stem cells, and act very rapidly and at low micro-molar concentrations. The activity of these peptides has been validated in several mouse cancer models of glioblastoma, lung, and breast cancers. Their anti-cancer activity involves a multi-pronged attack targeting the hallmarks of cancer. They were also found to be effective in treating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and diabetes mellitus. Thus, VDAC1-based peptides, by targeting VDAC1-interacting proteins, offer an affordable and innovative new conceptual therapeutic paradigm that can potentially overcome heterogeneity, chemoresistance, and invasive metastatic formation.
Multi-Omics Exploration of the Mechanism of Curcumol to Reduce Invasion and Metastasis of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma by Inhibiting NCL/EBNA1-Mediated UBE2C Upregulation
Authors: Liu Haiping , Wang Juan , Wang Lin , Tang Wei , Hou Xinyue , Zhu Yi , Chen Xu
Published: September 2024

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is closely linked to Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection. Curcumae Rhizoma, a traditional Chinese herb, has shown antitumor effects, primarily through its component curcumol (Cur), which has been shown to reduce NPC cell invasion and migration by targeting nucleolin (NCL) and Epstein–Barr Virus Nuclear Antigen 1 (EBNA1). We constructed an EBV-positive NPC cell model using C666-1 cells and performed transcriptomics studies after treatment with curcumol, which revealed a significant enrichment of ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, the PI3K-AKT and mTOR signaling pathways, cell cycle and apoptosis involved in tumor invasion and migration. To investigate the importance of NCL and EBNA1 in curcumol-resistant EBV-positive NPC, we performed a multi-omics study using short hairpin NCL (shNCL) and shEBNA1 EBV-positive NPC cells, and the proteomics results showed enrichment in complement and coagulation cascades and ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis signaling pathways. Here, we focused on ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2C (UBE2C), which plays an important role in the ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis signaling pathway. In addition, metabolomics revealed that UBE2C is highly associated with 4-Aminobutanoic acid (GABA). In vitro studies further validated the function of the key targets, suggesting that UBE2C plays an important role in NCL and EBNA1-mediated curcumol resistance to nasopharyngeal carcinoma invasion and metastasis.
Fatty Acid Bioconversion and Scaling-Up Effects of Swine Manure Treatment with Black Soldier Fly Larvae
Authors: Shen Wenyue , Ma Xiangwei , Liu Hang , Jia Chuheng , Xue Ranxia , Ouyang Han , Li Yuxin , Sun Shibo , Dong Xiaoying , Ji Fengyun , Xu Jianqiang , Xu Weiping
Published: September 2024

Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) treatment offers a promising avenue for manure valorization. However, there is a lack of larval density studies and ton-scale exploration in swine manure bioconversion. This study delves into the efficiency of larval fatty acid (FA) bioconversion, examining the impact of larval density on a kilogram scale and extending the analysis to a ton scale. Across a range of 50 to 600 larvae/kg, the larval FA content decreased from 15.3% to 7.85%. The peak larval FA yield, at 3.04% (based on manure dry matter), occurred at a density of 200 larvae/kg. Both low (50 larvae/kg) and high (600 larvae/kg) densities adversely affected BSFL bioconversion performance. Dominant larval FAs included C12:0 (39.7%), C16:1 (24.2%), C18:1 (17.5%), and C16:0 (8.3%). The scaling-up process maintained a consistent larval FA content and composition but resulted in decreased larvae FA yield due to increased larval mortality. Ultimately, each ton of swine manure yielded 12.4 kg of fresh larvae or 0.71 kg of larval FA components, corresponding to a 1.14% larval FA yield. This study underscores the feasibility of upscaling swine manure treatment using BSFL for FA bioconversion and emphasizes the necessity for large-scale studies to enhance larval survivorship and bioconversion efficiency.
Mortality-Associated Factors in a Traumatic Brain Injury Population in Mexico
Authors: Martínez-Herrera Erick , Galindo-Oseguera Evelyn , Castillo-Cruz Juan , Fuentes-Venado Claudia Erika , Gasca-López Gilberto Adrián , Calzada-Mendoza Claudia C. , Ocharan-Hernández Esther , Zúñiga-Cruz Carlos Alberto , Farfán-García Eunice D. , Arellano-Ramírez Alfredo , Pinto-Almazán Rodolfo
Published: September 2024

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability, with a rising incidence in recent years. Factors such as age, sex, hypotension, low score on the Glasgow Coma Scale, use of invasive mechanical ventilation and vasopressors, etc., have been associated with mortality caused by TBI. The aim of this study was to identify the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics that influence the mortality or survival of patients with TBI in a tertiary care hospital in Mexico. Methods: A sample of 94 patients aged 18 years or older, from both sexes, with an admitting diagnosis of mild-to-severe head trauma, with initial prehospital treatment, was taken. Data were extracted from the Single Registry of Patients with TBI at the Ixtapaluca Regional High Specialty Hospital (HRAEI). Normality tests were used to decide on the corresponding statistical analysis. Results: No factors associated with mortality were found; however, survival analysis showed that the presence of seizures, aggregate limb trauma, and subjects with diabetes mellitus, heart disease or patients with four concomitant comorbidities had 100% mortality. In addition, having seizures in the prehospital setting increased the risk of mortality four times. Although they did not have a direct association with mortality, they significantly decreased survival. A larger sample size is probably required to obtain an association with mortality. Conclusions: These results reflect the severity of the clinical situation in this population and, although no risk factors were identified, they enlighten us about the conditions presented by patients who died.
Iron Trace Elements Concentration in PM10 and Alzheimer’s Disease in Lima, Peru: Ecological Study
Authors: Fano-Sizgorich Diego , Vásquez-Velásquez Cinthya , Ordoñez-Aquino Carol , Sánchez-Ccoyllo Odón , Tapia Vilma , Gonzales Gustavo F.
Published: September 2024

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has been linked to air pollution, especially particulate matter (PM). PM comprises various elements, including iron-rich particles that may reach the brain through inhalation. Lima, Peru is one of the most polluted cities in Latin America, with a high rate of AD. The study aims to evaluate the association between iron (Fe) trace elements in PM10 and AD cases in Lima, Peru. This retrospective ecological study used monthly Fe concentration data from the Peruvian Ministry of Health. AD cases (ICD-10-G30) and dementia in AD cases (DAD, ICD-10-F00) were obtained from the Peruvian CDC. Fe trace element data were available for six districts in Lima for the years 2017–2019 and 2022. Cases were standardized based on ≥60-year-old populations of each district. Hierarchical mixed-effects models of Gaussian and negative binomial families were constructed to evaluate both outcomes jointly (AD + DAD) and separately (AD, and DAD). A sensitivity analysis was conducted by excluding data from Lima’s downtown district. In the complete model, log-Fe concentration was associated with a higher rate of AD + DAD and DAD, and with a higher IRR for the three outcomes. After controlling for other metals, a higher DAD rate was observed (β-coeff = 6.76, 95%CI 0.07; 13.46, p = 0.048), and a higher IRR for AD + DAD (1.55, 95%CI 1.09; 2.20, p = 0.014) and DAD (1.83, 95%CI 1.21; 2.78, p = 0.004). The association was not significant in the sensitivity analysis. In conclusion, exposure to Fe through PM10 inhalation may be associated with the presence of AD in Lima.
Clinical and Immunological Factors Associated with the Progression of Lupus Nephritis in a Population from the Colombian Caribbean
Authors: Vélez-Verbel María , Aroca-Martínez Gustavo , Vélez-Verbel David , Domínguez-Vargas Alex , Vallejo-Patiño Manuela , Sarmiento-Gutierrez Joanny , Gomez-Escorcia Lorena , Musso Carlos G. , González-Torres Henry J.
Published: September 2024

Lupus nephritis represents a significant immune-mediated glomerulonephritis, constituting the most important organ involvement induced by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), with variable epidemiology and clinical presentation among populations. Objective: to identify clinical and immunological factors associated with the progression of lupus nephritis in a population from the Colombian Caribbean. Methods: we evaluated 401 patients diagnosed with SLE and lupus nephritis, treated at a reference center in the Colombian Caribbean, gathering data recorded in medical records. Results: A proportion of 87% were female, with a median age of 42 years. Most patients presented with proliferative classes (90%), with class IV being the most common (70%). A proportion of 52% of patients did not respond to treatment, which is described as the lack of complete or partial response, while 28% had a complete response. A significant decrease in hemoglobin, glomerular filtration rate, and proteinuria was identified by the third follow-up (p < 0.001), along with an increase in creatinine, urea, and hematuria (p < 0.001). Patients with initial proteinuria > 2 g/day were found to be 27 times more likely to be non-responders (p < 0.001). Mortality was associated with the presence of serum creatinine >1.5 mg/dL (p = 0.01) (OR: 1.61 CI 95% 0.75–3.75) and thrombocytopenia (p = 0.01) (OR: 0.36; CI 95% 0.12–0.81). Conclusions: identifying factors of progression, non-response, and mortality provides an opportunity for more targeted and personalized intervention, thereby improving care and outcomes for patients with lupus nephritis.
Succinate Dehydrogenase and Human Disease: Novel Insights into a Well-Known Enzyme
Authors: Esteban-Amo María J. , Jiménez-Cuadrado Patricia , Serrano-Lorenzo Pablo , de la Fuente Miguel Á. , Simarro María
Published: September 2024

Succinate dehydrogenase (also known as complex II) plays a dual role in respiration by catalyzing the oxidation of succinate to fumarate in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and transferring electrons from succinate to ubiquinone in the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC). Owing to the privileged position of SDH/CII, its dysfunction leads to TCA cycle arrest and altered respiration. This review aims to elucidate the widely documented profound metabolic effects of SDH/CII deficiency, along with the newly unveiled survival mechanisms in SDH/CII-deficient cells. Such an understanding reveals exploitable vulnerabilities for strategic targeting, which is crucial for the development of novel and more precise therapies for primary mitochondrial diseases, as well as for familial and sporadic cancers associated with SDH/CII mutations.
Dynamic Effects Analysis in Fractional Memristor-Based Rulkov Neuron Model
Authors: Ghasemi Mahdieh , Raeissi Zeinab Malek , Foroutannia Ali , Mohammadian Masoud , Shakeriaski Farshad
Published: September 2024

Mathematical models such as Fitzhugh–Nagoma and Hodgkin–Huxley models have been used to understand complex nervous systems. Still, due to their complexity, these models have made it challenging to analyze neural function. The discrete Rulkov model allows the analysis of neural function to facilitate the investigation of neuronal dynamics or others. This paper introduces a fractional memristor Rulkov neuron model and analyzes its dynamic effects, investigating how to improve neuron models by combining discrete memristors and fractional derivatives. These improvements include the more accurate generation of heritable properties compared to full-order models, the treatment of dynamic firing activity at multiple time scales for a single neuron, and the better performance of firing frequency responses in fractional designs compared to integer models. Initially, we combined a Rulkov neuron model with a memristor and evaluated all system parameters using bifurcation diagrams and the 0–1 chaos test. Subsequently, we applied a discrete fractional-order approach to the Rulkov memristor map. We investigated the impact of all parameters and the fractional order on the model and observed that the system exhibited various behaviors, including tonic firing, periodic firing, and chaotic firing. We also found that the more I tend towards the correct order, the more chaotic modes in the range of parameters. Following this, we coupled the proposed model with a similar one and assessed how the fractional order influences synchronization. Our results demonstrated that the fractional order significantly improves synchronization. The results of this research emphasize that the combination of memristor and discrete neurons provides an effective tool for modeling and estimating biophysical effects in neurons and artificial neural networks.
2PP-Hydrogel Covered Electrodes to Compensate for Media Effects in the Determination of Biomass in a Capillary Wave Micro Bioreactor
Authors: Meinen Sven , Brinkmann Steffen , Viebrock Kevin , Elbardisy Bassant , Menzel Henning , Krull Rainer , Dietzel Andreas
Published: September 2024

Microbioreactors increase information output in biopharmaceutical screening applications because they can be operated in parallel without consuming large quantities of the pharmaceutical formulations being tested. A capillary wave microbioreactor (cwMBR) has recently been reported, allowing cost-efficient parallelization in an array that can be activated for mixing as a whole. Although impedance spectroscopy can directly distinguish between dead and viable cells, the monitoring of cells in suspension within bioreactors is challenging because the signal is influenced by the potentially varying properties of the culture medium. In order to address this challenge, an impedance sensor consisting of two sets of microelectrodes in a cwMBR is presented. Only one set of electrodes was covered by a two-photon cross-linked hydrogel to become insensitive to the influence of cells while remaining sensitive to the culture medium. With this impedance sensor, the biomass of Saccharomyces cerevisiae could be measured in a range from 1 to 20 g L−1. In addition, the sensor can compensate for a change in the conductivity of the suspension of 5 to 15 mS cm−1. Moreover, the two-photon cross-linking of hydroxyethyl starch methacrylate hydrogel, which has been studied in detail, recommends itself for even much broader sensing applications in miniaturized bioreactors and biosensors.
Tailoring Semantic Interventions for Older Adults: Task-Focused and Person-Centered Approaches
Authors: Folia Vasiliki , Silva Susana
Published: September 2024

In this narrative review, we explore the latest evidence on semantic interventions for older adults, including both prevention and rehabilitation/remediation efforts, discussing them particularly in the context of dementia. Cognitive interventions vary in their level of structure, encompassing standardized (task-focused tasks) and unstandardized tasks (person-centered tasks). These interventions also differ in their target: rehabilitation or prevention. Addressing semantic knowledge/semantic memory/semantics is important, primarily because its efficiency impacts other cognitive domains. Semantic tasks are commonly included in preventive and rehabilitation programs, typically as standardized tasks with pre-defined semantic referents. On the other hand, person-centered approaches introduce personally relevant semantics, allowing patients to share thoughts and experiences with expressive language. Although these approaches offer benefits beyond cognitive improvement, their lack of structure may pose challenges. Our question club (CQ) program blends structured activities with personally relevant semantics, aiming to harness the advantages of both methods. Additionally, in this narrative review, we discuss future challenges and directions in the field of semantic interventions.
What Affects the Value of Our Time? The Case of Buying a Present vs. Buying for Ourselves and the Impact of Decision-Making Styles
Authors: Reich Nir , Azar Ofer H.
Published: September 2024

We study how the buying purpose affects the trade-off between time and money. We consider the case of buying something for ourselves versus buying a gift and the decision whether to spend time traveling to a cheaper store to save money. We hypothesized that when purchasing a gift, people make less effort to save money, and therefore will be less willing to spend time traveling to a cheaper store when they buy a gift. In experiments with several scenarios, we fail to find support for this hypothesis. We also explore the impact of telling subjects that the purchase is made abroad. This is hypothesized to increase the valuation of the buyer’s time. We also hypothesize that the interaction of being abroad and buying a gift will be negative. The data support both hypotheses. Subjects answered 15 questions about their decision-making style (rational, intuitive, and spontaneous). Subjects with more rational decision-making exhibit lower time value, which is likely to be closer to the real one. Subjects with more rational decision-making also show more strongly that time abroad is more valuable. These results suggest that questions about decision-making style are correlated with decision-making in scenarios of realistic purchase decisions.
A Prospective Examination of Mental Health Trajectories of Disaster-Exposed Young Adults in the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Janson Melissa , Felix Erika D. , Jaramillo Natalia , Sharkey Jill D. , Barnett Miya
Published: September 2024

This longitudinal study examines young adult mental health (MH) trajectories after exposure to natural disasters (i.e., hurricanes, wildfires, mudslides) across four waves, two pre- and two during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants (n = 205) answered questions about anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSSs) across Waves (Ws) s 1–4 and pre-pandemic factors (prior trauma history, disaster exposure, life stressors since disaster) at Wave (W) 1. Hierarchical linear modeling was conducted to examine MH trajectories and associations with pre-pandemic factors. Only the PTSS trajectory significantly differed across all Ws, with the largest increase between Ws 2 and 3 (pre- and during-pandemic time points). Prior trauma history and life stressors since the disaster were significantly associated with all MH trajectory intercepts but not growth rates.
Grief Intervention in Suicide Loss Survivors through Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: A Systematic Review
Authors: Romero-Moreno José Carlos , Cantero-García María , Huertes-del Arco Ana , Izquierdo-Sotorrío Eva , Rueda-Extremera María , González-Moreno Jesús
Published: September 2024

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, affecting numerous individuals close to the person who died by suicide, including family members, friends, and colleagues. Those affected by the suicide of someone are referred to as “suicide survivors”, and the psychological consequences they face are particularly severe. One of these consequences is grief, which is more complicated in survivors of suicide compared with those grieving deaths from other causes, mainly because of the stigma that continues to surround them. Therefore, psychotherapeutic intervention for suicide loss survivors is crucial. This study examines the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral programs for addressing grief and other related variables in suicide loss survivors. The search was conducted in databases including Psycinfo, Academic Search Premier, Medline, APA PsycArticles, E-Journals, Scopus, and PubMed. Five randomized controlled trials were selected, one of which focused exclusively on minors. The results reveal that cognitive-behavioral therapy is effective, although the methodological quality of these studies is not adequate, and the representativeness of the samples is very low. More RCTs are needed on the application of cognitive-behavioral programs to treat grief in suicide loss survivors.
Viscosity of Asphalt Binder through Equilibrium and Non-Equilibrium Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Hu Xiancheng , Huang Xiaohan , Zhou Yuanbin , Zhang Jiandong , Lu Hongquan
Published: September 2024

Viscosity is a curial indicator for evaluating asphalt performance, representing its ability to resist deformation under external forces. The Green–Kubo integral in equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations and the Muller-Plathe algorithm in reverse non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations were used to calculate the asphalt viscosity. Meanwhile, the key parameters of both methods were rationalized. The results show that in equilibrium calculations, using a 1/t weighting for the viscosity integral curve results in a well-fitted curve that closely matches the original data. The isotropy of the asphalt model improves for atomic counts exceeding 260,000, rendering viscosity calculations more reasonable. When the viscosity did not converge, it increased linearly with the number of atoms. In non-equilibrium calculations, the number of region divisions had almost no effect on the viscosity value. A momentum exchange period of 20 timesteps exhibits a favorable linear trend in velocity gradients, and an ideal momentum exchange period was found to be between 10 and 20 timesteps. As the model size increased, the linear relationship with the shear rate became more pronounced, and the isotropy of the asphalt system improved. Using an orthogonal simulation box with a side length of 75 Å effectively meets the computational requirements.