bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Different Wastewater Irrigation on Soil Properties and Vegetable Productivity in the North China Plain
Authors: Du Zhenjie , Zhao Shuang , She Yingjun , Zhang Yan , Yuan Jingjing , Rahman Shafeeq Ur , Qi Xuebin , Xu Yue , Li Ping
Published: July 2022

The interest in reusing wastewater for irrigation is being popularized in most countries. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different wastewater and nitrogen fertilizer on soil fertility and plant quality, as well as to identify the optimal irrigation mode in the North China Plain. A total of nine treatments, including control (groundwater, no fertilizer), piggery wastewater, reclaimed water, and saline water, combined with nitrogen fertilizer (300 kg/ha and 200 kg/ha), were conducted in a greenhouse in 2019 (Xinxiang, Henan Province). Soil pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter, heavy metals contents, and cucumber yield and quality were analyzed. The results showed that: (1) compared with the underground water (control), soil pH value with a decrement of 0.21 units in piggery wastewater (PW), and 0.24 units in saline water treatments (SW). Soil electrical conductivity (EC) value significantly increased by 5.8~20.9% in PW and SW treatments, while there was no significant difference in EC in reclaimed water. The highest EC (770 µS/cm) was recorded in SW treatment. (2) No dramatic difference on the concentrations of soil lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in the PW, RW, and SW treatments, compared with the control, but soil organic matter, copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) concentrations in wastewater treatments were increased by 2.1~43.4%, 24.4~27.0%, and 14.9~21.9%, respectively. (3) There were no significant differences in cucumber yield and quality in RW treatment, while there was a slight decrease by 1.4% in yield in the SW treatment. The highest cucumber yield was observed in PWH treatment, with an increment of 17.5%. In addition, the contents of Vitamin C, soluble sugar, and protein were also improved by PW treatment. In this study, PW treatment showed the strongest ability to promote cucumber yield and quality, thus indicating that piggery wastewater irrigation with 300 kg/ha nitrogen would be the optimal practice in this region. Long-term study is necessary to monitor potential risk of heavy metals on the quality of soil and plant.
The Impact of the Digital Economy on Agricultural Green Development: Evidence from China
Authors: Jiang Qi , Li Jizhi , Si Hongyun , Su Yangyue
Published: July 2022

Whether the digital economy can effectively promote agricultural green development is crucial to the realization of agricultural rural modernization. This study empirically analyzes the impact of the digital economy on agricultural green development and the mechanism of action based on panel data of 30 Chinese provinces from 2011 to 2020. The results reveal that (1) the digital economy can significantly improve the green development level of China’s agriculture; the dividends in the eastern region and central region are significantly higher than that in the western region, and there is regional heterogeneity. (2) The role of the digital economy in promoting agricultural green development has a nonlinear characteristic of increasing “marginal effect.” (3) The digital economy has a significant spatial spillover effect, which can have a positive impact on agricultural green development in the surrounding areas. (4) The construction of “Broadband Countryside” can improve the development of the rural digital economy and indirectly promote agricultural green development. This study deepens our understanding of the internal effect and interval relationship of how the digital economy enables agricultural green development and provides the theoretical basis and practical suggestions for optimizing digital facility construction and high-quality agricultural development.
Drench Application of Soy Protein Hydrolysates Increases Tomato Plant Fitness, Fruit Yield, and Resistance to a Hemibiotrophic Pathogen
Authors: Barrada Adam , Delisle-Houde Maxime , Nguyen Thi Thuy An , Tweddell Russell J. , Dorais Martine
Published: July 2022

At a time when growers have to increase food production, while facing many environmental challenges, biostimulants and plant defence stimulators (PDS) may help reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and to promote agriculture that is more respectful of the environment. For organic farming, they may contribute to increasing plant resilience and crop productivity. Several studies have shown that plant-derived protein hydrolysates may increase nutrient use efficiency and promote plant resistance to abiotic or biotic stresses. We therefore hypothesized that soy protein hydrolysates increase tomato growth and productivity, while promoting plant disease resistance. Our results showed that one or two drench applications of soy protein hydrolysates (SPH13 and SPH18 at 10 g L−1) to the growing medium increased tomato (‘Micro Tom’) plant growth and fruit production, while one studied hydrolysate enriched in glycine (SPH18) increased the expression levels of PR1 and PR8, two defence-related genes. Although no significant effect was observed on Botrytis cinerea resistance of Micro Tom plants, SPHs significantly increased ‘M82’ plant resistance to foliar inoculation with Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000, which further confirmed the systemic activation of plant defence mechanisms by SPHs in tomatoes.
Causes of Raptor Admission to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in Abruzzo (Central Italy) from 2005–2016
Authors: Cococcetta Ciro , Coutant Thomas , Collarile Tommaso , Vetere Alessandro , Di Ianni Francesco , Huynh Minh
Published: July 2022

The purpose of this retrospective study was to describe the causes of morbidity and mortality in free-ranging raptors admitted to a wildlife rehabilitation center (WRC) in Abruzzo Italy from 2005 to 2016 and the associated risk factors. A total of 2496 free-ranging raptors were included in the study. We analyzed the raptors’ medical records, epidemiological information, bird characteristics, cause of admission, final diagnosis, and outcome. The prevalence rates of nocturnal and diurnal raptors were 49% and 51%, respectively. Nocturnal raptors showed trauma as the primary cause of admission (45.8%, 558/1219), followed by nestling (including birds on their first flight attempt or presumed abandoned by their parents) (39.2%, 478/1219), and starvation (5.6%, 68/1219). Diurnal raptors showed trauma (73.1%, 934/1277), starvation (12.1%, 155/1277), and nestling (5.8%, 74/1277) accordingly. A description of the dangers for wild birds of prey in the Abruzzo region was provided to assist in the planning of rescue and rehabilitation activities in the WRC. Finally, the cause of admission, GAP, and BCS can be used as prognostic factors during the bird entry process.
Towards the Identification of a Suitable Commercial Diet for Carpione (Salmo carpio, Linnaeus 1758): A Multidisciplinary Study on Fish Performances, Animal Welfare and Quality Traits
Authors: Randazzo Basilio , Zarantoniello Matteo , Secci Giulia , Faccenda Filippo , Fava Francesca , Marzorati Giulia , Belloni Alessia , Maradonna Francesca , Orazi Veronica , Cerri Roberto , Povinelli Michele , Parisi Giuliana , Giorgini Elisabetta , Olivotto Ike
Published: July 2022

Carpione (Salmo carpio, Linnaeus 1758) is an endangered precious endemism of Lake Garda (Northern Italy), the largest Italian lake. To date, several bottlenecks about its culture remain unsolved, including the identification of a proper growth-out diet. The aim of the present study was to test four different grossly isolipidic, isoproteic, and isoenergetic diets in which the main ingredients had a different origin. Specifically, a diet currently used by local farmers for carpione culture, largely based on marine ingredients, was used as control (CTRL), while the other three diets were formulated by partially replacing marine ingredients with plant ones (VEG) or with different percentages of processed animal proteins (PAP1 and PAP2). The feeding trial was run in triplicate, over a three-month period. No significant differences in growth performance among the experimental groups were observed. However, remarkable histological alterations and inflammatory markers upregulation were observed in VEG group, while PAP inclusion played a role in attenuating inflammation and improving nutrient uptake. Fillet analyses highlighted significant differences in marketable traits and flesh fatty acid composition among the experimental groups, including the reduction of polyunsaturated fatty acids related to PAPs inclusion. In conclusion, PAPs used in the present study promoted S. carpio gut health and absorption capacity, while further studies are required to maintain proper quality traits of the final product.
Plateau Adaptation Gene Analyses Reveal Transcriptomic, Proteomic, and Dual Omics Expression in the Lung Tissues of Tibetan and Yorkshire Pigs
Authors: Shang Peng , Zhang Bo , Li Pan , Ahmed Zulfiqar , Hu Xiaoxiang , Chamba Yangzom , Zhang Hao
Published: July 2022

Elevated environments such as plateaus are often classified as low oxygen environments. The hypoxic adaptation mechanisms utilized by organisms in these conditions are not well understood. To address this, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in hypoxia adaptation were assessed using two pig breeds (Tibetan pig [TP] and Yorkshire sow [YY]). Genes related to lung tissue responses to hypoxia were assessed using transcriptomic (using RNA-seq) and proteomic (using iTRAQ) analysis. A total of 1021 DEGs were screened out. In the iTRAQ omics data, a total of 22,100 peptides were obtained and 4518 proteins were found after filtering. A total of 271 differentially expressed proteins [DEPs] were screened using the conditions of p < 0.05; FC ≤ 0.833; and FC ≥ 1.2. A total of 14 DEGs at the mRNA and protein levels were identified and found to be associated with regulation of the inflammatory response; blood particles; and MAPK cascade response regulation. Among the DEGs, six were associated with hypoxia adaptation function (mitochondria and glycolysis) in pigs. The results of this study identify novel candidate genes involved in porcine hypoxia adaptation mechanisms.
Model Investigation of Natural Gas Engine Performance to Achieve Variable Heat/Electricity Ratios for a CCHP System by Varying Spark Ignition Timings
Authors: Wei Yanju , Du Ruiheng , Zhang Yajie , Jamil Huzaifa , Zhu Zengqiang , Liu Shenghua
Published: July 2022

For electric reliability and to save energy, the distributed power generation combining cooling and heating supply called a CCHP system for architectures has many potential advantages and is widely adopted to provide electric power and to satisfy local heating and cooling loads by waste heat recovery with low carbon intensity. However, the current CCHP system usually has a fixed ratio of the power and heat due to the features of its power unit, which leads to difficulties in the load management. In this paper, based on the operation of an internal combustion engine fueled with natural gas, a novel method is proposed and studied to achieve a controllable rate of heat/power to meet different load requirements of the electricity and heat (cooling or heating loads). By varying the ignition timing of the spark ignition engine, the combustion process within the cylinder can be adjusted to occur at different crank angles so that the engine crank shaft output power (related to the generated electricity) and the heat from the exhaust gas are changed accordingly. To study the effects of ignition timing on engine power and exhaust heat energy, a two-zone model was established with a predictive combustion model. The changes in the combustion process, output power, exhaust gas temperature, and heat energy were mostly our concern. The results show that the heat/electricity ratio can be adjusted from normally 1.0 to 1.6, and they can be controlled independently under partial load operating conditions. To solve the potential thermal failure of the turbine, the extraordinarily high exhaust temperature will be adjusted by compressed air.
Further Development of 3D Crack Growth Simulation Program to Include Contact Loading Situations
Authors: Joy Tintu David , Weiß Deborah , Schramm Britta , Kullmer Gunter
Published: July 2022

Crack growth in structures depends on the cyclic loads applied on it, such as mechanical, thermal and contact, as well as residual stresses, etc. To provide an accurate simulation of crack growth in structures, it is of high importance to integrate all kinds of loading situations in the simulations. Adapcrack3D is a simulation program that can accurately predict the propagation of cracks in real structures. However, until now, this three-dimensional program has only considered mechanical loads and static thermal loads. Therefore, the features of Adapcrack3D have been extended by including contact loading in crack growth simulations. The numerical simulation of crack propagation with Adapcrack3D is generally carried out using FE models of structures provided by the user. For simulating models with contact loading situations, Adapcrack3D has been updated to work with FE models containing multiple parts and necessary features such as coupling and surface interactions. Because Adapcrack3D uses the submodel technique for fracture mechanical evaluations, the architecture of the submodel is also modified to simulate models with contact definitions between the crack surfaces. This paper discusses the newly implemented attribute of the program with the help of illustrative examples. The results confirm that the contact simulation in Adapcrack3D is a major step in improving the functionality of the program.
Exploring the Potential Applications of Paecilomyceslilacinus 112
Authors: Constantin Mariana , Raut Iuliana , Gurban Ana-Maria , Doni Mihaela , Radu Nicoleta , Alexandrescu Elvira , Jecu Luiza
Published: July 2022

Microorganisms are widely used to obtain biostimulants that can facilitate the assimilation of nutrients, ensuring high crop yield and quality. A particular category of biostimulants are protein hydrolyzates (PH), obtained from microbial cultures grown on a nutrient medium. In the present study, Paecilomyces lilacinus 112, an endophytic fungus isolated from soil, was tested to determine its effect on the growth promotion of tomato seedlings in greenhouse conditions. Additionally, other beneficial features of the P.lilacinus isolate were evaluated via several tests: antagonism against plant pathogenic fungi, production of secondary useful metabolites, and solubilization of vital micronutrients. Out of the tested pathogens, P.lilacinus exhibited the highest antifungal activity against a Cladosporium isolate (inhibition of 66.3%), followed by Rhizoctonia. solani (52.53%), and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (50.23%). Paecilomyceslilacinus 112 was able to secrete hydrolytic enzymes and siderophores, and solubilize zinc and phosphorus. In the tomato treatment, the application of PH obtained from fungal cultivation on a feather medium led to the following increases in plant growth parameters: 3.54-fold in plant biomass; 3.26-fold in plant height, 1.28-fold in plant diameter; 1.5-fold in the number of branches/plant; and 1.43-fold in the number of leaves/plant, as compared to water treatment. The application of this isolate can be of benefit to bioeconomy because keratin wastes are valorized and returned, in agriculture, contributing to renewable natural resources.
Efficient Key Exchange Using Identity-Based Encryption in Multipath TCP Environment
Authors: Almuflih Ali Saeed , Popat Khushi , Kapdia Viral V. , Qureshi Mohamed Rafik Noor Mohamed , Almakayeel Naif , Mamlook Rabia Emhamed Al
Published: July 2022

Across the globe, wireless devices with Internet facilities such as smartphones and tablets have become essential assets for communication and entertainment alike for everyday life for millions of people, which increases the network traffic and the demand for low-latency communication networks. The fourth-generation (4G)/long-term evolution (LTE)/ fifth-generation (5G) communication technology offers higher bandwidth and low latency services, but resource utilization and resiliency cannot be achieved, as transmission control protocol (TCP) is the most common choice for most of the state-of-art applications for the transport layer. An extension of TCP—multipath TCP (MPTCP)—offers higher bandwidth, resiliency, and stable connectivity by offering bandwidth aggregation and smooth handover among multiple paths. However, MPTCP uses multiple disjointed paths for communication to offer multiple benefits. A breach in the security of one of the paths may have a negative effect on the overall performance, fault-tolerance, robustness, and quality of service (QoS). In this paper, the research focuses on how MPTCP options such as MP_CAPABLE, ADD_ADDR, etc., can be used to exploit the vulnerabilities to launch various attacks such as session hijacking, traffic diversion, etc., to compromise the availability, confidentiality, and integrity of the data and network. The probable security solutions for securing MPTCP connections are analyzed, and the secure key exchange model for MPTCP (SKEXMTCP) based on identity-based encryption (IBE) is proposed and implemented. The parameters exchanged during the initial handshake are encrypted using IBE to prevent off-path attacks by removing the requirement for key exchange before communication establishment by allowing the use of arbitrary strings as a public key for encryption. The experiments were performed with IBE and an elliptic curve cryptosystem (ECC), which show that IBE performs better, as it does not need to generate keys while applying encryption. The experimental evaluation of SKEXMTCP in terms of security and performance is carried out and compared with existing solutions.
Requirements Engineering for Internet of Things (loT) Software Systems Development: A Systematic Mapping Study
Authors: Aguilar-Calderón José-Alfonso , Tripp-Barba Carolina , Zaldívar-Colado Aníbal , Aguilar-Calderón Pedro-Alfonso
Published: July 2022

The Internet of Things (IoT) paradigm is growing, affecting human life and aiming to solve problems in the real world, i.e., in education, healthcare, smart homes, intelligent transportation, and other areas. However, it is a fact that the development of IoT systems is complicated compared to that of traditional software systems, especially in relation to requirements engineering (RE). The RE of IoT systems is not implemented frequently due to their broad aspects, such as the variety of user needs, making these systems difficult to construct. In this sense, the use of loT-based systems has not been well explored by the research community in order to provide well-planned proposals to improve the quality of their performance. In this work, we present a comprehensive and inclusive review of the RE of loT-based systems. To accomplish this, a systematic mapping study (SMS) is presented to evaluate the use of parameters based on the existing literature. SMS is a methodology used for research in the medical field and has recently been implemented in software engineering (SE) to sort and organize research publications to gain knowledge on progress and identify research gaps. In this article, we aim to classify the existing research publications in the current scientific literature regarding RE proposals for IoT software systems and review their implications for future research. This will make it possible to establish lines of research in order to improve the quality of the development of future IoT systems.
Spatio-Temporal Variation of Extreme Heat Events in Southeastern Europe
Authors: Malcheva Krastina , Bocheva Lilia , Chervenkov Hristo
Published: July 2022

Many studies in the last few years have been dedicated to the increasing temperatures and extreme heat in Europe since the second half of the 20th century because of their adverse effects on ecosystems resilience, human health, and quality of life. The present research aims to analyze the spatio-temporal variations of extreme heat events in Southeastern Europe using daily temperature data from 70 selected meteorological stations and applying methodology developed initially for the quantitative assessment of hot weather in Bulgaria. We demonstrate the suitability of indicators based on maximum temperature thresholds to assess the intensity (i.e., magnitude and duration) and the tendency of extreme heat events in the period 1961–2020 both by individual stations and the Köppen’s climate zones. The capability of the used intensity-duration hot spell model to evaluate the severity of extreme heat events has also been studied and compared with the Excess Heat Factor severity index on a yearly basis. The study provides strong evidence of the suitability of the applied combined approach in the investigation of the spatio-temporal evolution of the hot weather phenomena over the considered domain.
A Simple Parameterization to Enhance the Computational Time in the Three Layer Dry Deposition Model for Smooth Surfaces
Authors: Nofal Omar M. M. , Al-Jaghbeer Omar , Bakri Zaid , Hussein Tareq
Published: July 2022

Optimization of dry deposition velocity calculation has been of great interest. Every time, determining the value of the concentration boundary layer (CBL) thickness led to a waste of numerical calculation time, which appears as a huge time in large-scale climate models. The goal of this study is to optimize the numerical calculation time in the three-layer deposition model for smooth surfaces through the development of a MATLAB code that can parameterize the appropriate concentration boundary layer height (y+cbl) and internal integral calculation intervals for each particle diameter Dp (0.01–100 µm) and friction velocity u* (0.01–100 m/s). The particle concentration, as a solution to the particle flux equation, is obtained and modeled numerically by performing the left Riemann sum using MATLAB software. On the other hand, the number of subdivisions N of the Riemann sum was also parameterized for each Dp and u* in order to lessen the numerical calculation time. From a numerical point of view, the new parameterizations were tested by several computers; about 78% on the average of the computation time was saved when compared with the original algorithm. In other words, on average, about 1.2 s/calculation was gained, which is valuable in climate models simulations when millions of dry deposition calculations are needed.
Cross Sections for Electron Scattering from Atomic Tin
Authors: Umer Haadi , Bray Igor , Fursa Dmitry V.
Published: July 2022

The relativistic convergent close-coupling method is applied to calculate cross sections for electron scattering from atomic tin. We present integrated and momentum-transfer cross sections for elastic scattering from the ground and the first four excited states of tin for projectile energies ranging from 0.1 to 500 eV. Integrated and selected differential cross sections are presented for excitation to the 5p2, 5p6s, 5p5d and 5p6p manifolds from the ground state. The total ionisation cross sections are calculated from the ground and the first four excited states, accounting for the direct ionisation of the 5p valence shell and the closed 5s shell and the indirect contributions from the excitation–autoionisation. The presented results are compared with previous theoretical predictions and an experiment where available. For the total ionisation cross sections, we find good agreement with the experiment and other theories, while for excitation cross sections, the agreement is mixed.
Smart Approach for the Design of Highly Selective Aptamer-Based Biosensors
Authors: Douaki Ali , Garoli Denis , Inam A. K. M. Sarwar , Angeli Martina Aurora Costa , Cantarella Giuseppe , Rocchia Walter , Wang Jiahai , Petti Luisa , Lugli Paolo
Published: July 2022

Aptamers are chemically synthesized single-stranded DNA or RNA oligonucleotides widely used nowadays in sensors and nanoscale devices as highly sensitive biorecognition elements. With proper design, aptamers are able to bind to a specific target molecule with high selectivity. To date, the systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) process is employed to isolate aptamers. Nevertheless, this method requires complex and time-consuming procedures. In silico methods comprising machine learning models have been recently proposed to reduce the time and cost of aptamer design. In this work, we present a new in silico approach allowing the generation of highly sensitive and selective RNA aptamers towards a specific target, here represented by ammonium dissolved in water. By using machine learning and bioinformatics tools, a rational design of aptamers is demonstrated. This “smart” SELEX method is experimentally proved by choosing the best five aptamer candidates obtained from the design process and applying them as functional elements in an electrochemical sensor to detect, as the target molecule, ammonium at different concentrations. We observed that the use of five different aptamers leads to a significant difference in the sensor’s response. This can be explained by considering the aptamers’ conformational change due to their interaction with the target molecule. We studied these conformational changes using a molecular dynamics simulation and suggested a possible explanation of the experimental observations. Finally, electrochemical measurements exposing the same sensors to different molecules were used to confirm the high selectivity of the designed aptamers. The proposed in silico SELEX approach can potentially reduce the cost and the time needed to identify the aptamers and potentially be applied to any target molecule.
Predictors of Post-Stroke Depression: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Chaudhary Durgesh , Friedenberg Isabel , Sharma Vishakha , Sharma Pragyan , Abedi Vida , Zand Ramin , Li Jiang
Published: July 2022

Despite reports of a high incidence and various predictors of post-stroke depression (PSD), the underdiagnosis and undertreatment rates of PSD are still high. This study aimed to examine the incidence of depression in stroke patients and identify factors associated with PSD. This was a retrospective cohort study on ischemic stroke patients from the Geisinger Neuroscience Ischemic Stroke (GNSIS) registry. The following statistical analyses were performed to predict PSD in the studied population: a Kaplan–Meier estimator and a Cox proportional hazards model. A total of 5882 patients were included in the study. The median age at the time of an ischemic stroke was 72 years and 56% were males. A total of 294 patients were diagnosed with PSD within one year of a stroke. The cumulative incidence of depression was found to be 6.4% (95% CI 5.7–7.1%) at one year for the entire cohort. Women were found to have a higher risk of PSD than men (HR for women = 1.47, 95% CI 1.18–1.85, p = 0.001). A history of prior stroke (HR = 1.58, 95% CI 1.18–2.11, p = 0.002) and myocardial infarction (HR = 1.47, 95% CI 1.05–2.06, p = 0.025) were associated with PSD. Medicaid patients had a higher risk for PSD (HR = 2.16, 95% CI 1.5–3.12, p < 0.001) than those with commercial insurance or health maintenance organization plans. Our findings showed that women, patients with a history of prior stroke or myocardial infarction, and with Medicaid insurance were more likely to develop PSD. Through an observational study on the EHR data, we confirmed that chronic stress, including financial and health-related stress, irrespective of age, significantly increased the risk for PSD.
Coexistence of Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Immunoglobulin G and Neuronal or Glial Antibodies in the Central Nervous System: A Systematic Review
Authors: Zhao Cong , Liu Pei , Zhao Daidi , Ding Jiaqi , Zhang Guangyun , Li Hongzeng , Guo Jun
Published: July 2022

Background: Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein immunoglobulin G (MOG-IgG) has been considered a diagnostic marker for patients with demyelinating disease, termed “MOG-IgG associated disorder” (MOGAD). Recently, the coexistence of MOG-IgG and other neuronal or glial antibodies has attracted extensive attention from clinicians. In this article, we systematically review the characteristics of MOG-IgG-related antibody coexistence syndrome. Methods: Two authors independently searched PubMed for relevant studies published before October 2021. We also manually searched the references of each related article. The appropriateness of the included studies was assessed by reading the titles, abstracts, and full texts if necessary. Results: Thirty-five relevant publications that met our inclusion criteria were finally included, of which fourteen were retrospective studies and twenty-one were case reports. A total of 113 patients were reported to show the coexistence of MOG-IgG and neuronal or glial antibodies. Additionally, 68.14% of patients were double positive for MOG-IgG and N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor-IgG (NMDAR-IgG), followed by 23.01% of patients who were double positive for MOG-IgG and aquaporin4-IgG (AQP4-IgG). Encephalitis was the predominant phenotype when MOG-IgG coexisted with NMDAR-IgG, probably accompanied by imaging features of demyelination. Patients with dual positivity for MOG-IgG and AQP4-IgG experienced more severe disease and more frequent relapses. The coexistence of MOG-IgG and antibodies other than NMDAR-IgG and AQP4-IgG was extremely rare, and the clinical presentations were diverse and atypical. Except for patients who were double positive for MOG-IgG and AQP4-IgG, most patients with multiple antibodies had a good prognosis. Conclusions: MOG-IgG may coexist with neuronal or glial antibodies. Expanded screening for neuronal or glial antibodies should be performed in patients with atypical clinical and radiological features.
Characteristics Associated with Good Self-Perceived Mental Health among United States Adults with Arthritis
Authors: Awad Nouf Bin , Axon David R.
Published: July 2022

Mental health disorders are prevalent among United States (US) adults with arthritis. Yet, little is known about characteristics associated with mental health among US adults with arthritis. This retrospective cross-sectional study used 2019 Medical Expenditures Panel Survey data to assess the association between multiple personal characteristics and mental health status among US adults with arthritis. Hierarchical logistic regression models modeled associations between personal characteristics and mental health status. Model 1 included predisposing factors, model 2 included predisposing and enabling factors, while model 3 included predisposing, enabling, and need factors. The a priori alpha level was 0.05. Analyses accounted for the complex survey design and were weighted to produce national estimates. Among 28,512 individuals, 4984 met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 4181 had good mental health (85.5%, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 84.3%, 86.7%). The following characteristics were associated with good mental health status in the final adjusted model: age 18–64 vs. ≥65 (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.29, 95% CI = 0.12, 0.71), Midwest vs. West census region (AOR = 5.17, 95% CI = 1.63, 16.46), no degree vs. higher than high school education (AOR = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.12, 0.92), and high school diploma vs. higher than high school education (AOR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.18, 0.86). In conclusion, this study suggests such characteristics may be targeted to help improve mental health among this population. Additional efforts are needed to help satisfy the unmet need for mental healthcare among this population.
Development of a Scale for COVID-19 Stigma and Its Psychometric Properties: A Study among Pregnant Japanese Women
Authors: Kitamura Toshinori , Matsunaga Asami , Hada Ayako , Ohashi Yukiko , Takeda Satoru
Published: July 2022

Background: Stigma towards COVID-19 may negatively impact people who suffer from it and those supporting and treating them. Objective: To develop and validate a scale to assess 11-item COVID-19–related stigma. Methods: A total of 696 pregnant women at a gestational age of 12 to 15 weeks were surveyed using an online survey with a newly developed scale for COVID-19 stigma and other variables. The internal consistency of the scale was calculated using omega indices. We also examined the measurement invariance of the scale. Results: Exploratory factor analyses (EFAs) of the scale items were conducted using a halved sample (n = 350). Confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) among the other halved sample (n = 346) compared the single-, two-, three-, and four-factor structure models derived from the EFAs. The best model included the following three-factor structure (χ2/df = 2.718, CFI = 0.960, RMSEA = 0.071): Omnidirectional Avoidance, Attributional Avoidance, and Hostility. Its internal consistency was excellent (all omega indices > 0.70). The three-factor structure model showed configuration, measurement, and structural invariances between primiparas and multiparas, and between younger (less than 32 years) and older women (32 years or older). Fear of childbirth, mother–fetal bonding, obsessive compulsive symptoms, depression, adult attachment self-model, and borderline personality traits were not significantly correlated with the Omnidirectional Avoidance subscale but correlated with the Attributional Avoidance and Hostility subscales (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The findings suggested that our scale for COVID-19 stigma was robust in its factor structure, as well as in construct validity.
Research on Seismic Performance of Frame Structure with Beam Staircases
Authors: Wen Ming , Tian Hongxiang , Wang Weiwei , Chen Baokui , Fu Huayao
Published: July 2022

Beam staircases are widely used in frame structures. In structural design, stair flights are often ignored in the model establishment, and their loads are only added to the stair beams. However, under a seismic load, the flight of stairs will increase the staircase’s stiffness and affect the seismic response characteristics of the stairs and even of the structure. According to the engineering example, the finite element numerical models of the pure frame structure without staircases, the frame structure with fixed connection beam staircases, and the frame structure with sliding connection beam staircases were established. Modal analysis, response spectrum analysis, and elastic time-history analysis were carried out. By comparing the maximum story displacement, story displacement angle, natural period, story shear force, and the internal force of components of each model, the influences of beam staircases and their bearing connection mode on the seismic performance of the building were analyzed. In addition, by examining the frame model with sliding connection beam stairs, the influences of different staircase positions on the seismic performance of the building were studied. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of different design schemes were compared, and the effects of the modeling method, support type, and layout position of the beam staircases on the seismic performance of the frame structure were summarized. The conclusions are that the story drift angle of the sliding connection structure is larger than that of the fixed connection structure, and the internal force of the frame columns of the former is smaller than that of the latter. Moreover, the positions of the staircase will affect the horizontal displacement of the structure.
The Role of Life Cycle Structural Engineering in the Transition towards a Sustainable Building Renovation: Available Tools and Research Needs
Authors: Passoni Chiara , Caruso Martina , Marini Alessandra , Pinho Rui , Landolfo Raffaele
Published: July 2022

Given the current climate emergency and the ambitious targets of carbon emissions reduction, retrofitting strategies on existing buildings typically include reducing energy demand, decarbonising the power supply, and addressing embodied carbon stored in materials. This latter point redefines the role of engineers in the transitions towards a sustainable construction sector, being they responsible for designing low impact, sustainable and carbon neutral solutions. A Life Cycle Structural Engineering (LCSE) approach, inspired by the principles of Life Cycle Thinking (LCT), should thus be adopted for the sustainable renovation of existing buildings. Only recently have pioneering approaches been proposed, tackling multifaceted buildings’ needs, such as those related to energy consumption as well as seismic safety, but often disregarding LCT principles. This study presents a redefinition of the concept of LCSE for sustainable construction and a comprehensive review of available methods and tools to operationalise the LCSE approach in practice, focusing on the consideration of LCT principles in the retrofitting design process, integration of seismic loss estimation and environmental impact assessment, and implementation of integrated retrofitting strategies. The greatest ambition of this work is thus to boost a paradigm shift for building engineers towards an interdisciplinary perspective in building assessment and retrofitting.
Selection of Circular Proposals in Building Projects: An MCDM Model for Lifecycle Circularity Assessments Using AHP
Authors: Abadi Mohamed , Moore David
Published: July 2022

The circular economy (CE) in construction literature engages with individual CE concepts, mostly at the ‘macro’/‘meso’ levels, and lacks holistic frameworks of indicators for circularity assessments (CAs) to inform decision-making at the ‘micro’ (project) level. This article presents a model using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) for circular proposal selection in building projects based on a previously validated conceptual framework. The model involves twelve circularity indicators (CIs) classed under five themes relevant to building lifecycle stages. A questionnaire survey was used to establish the final weight vector of CIs. Participants acknowledged the immediate and prolonged effects of design on circularity and viewed waste as ‘design flaws’ but focused on aspirational design indicators relevant to achieving future circularity and missed opportunities for embedding circular materials in design. Moreover, UK participants showed distinctive behaviours towards CAs (proactive/reactive) based on work experience. ‘UK-Experts’ focused on ‘front-end’ design indicators, while ‘UK-Non-experts’ focused on ‘back-end’ waste management indicators. The findings indicate a partial transition to CE better described as a ‘recycle/reuse economy’. CAs and multiple-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques facilitate automated decision-making, which provides a new pathway to digital transformation within built environment. Future research will develop a decision-making tool and apply the proposed model in real-life projects.
Importance of Locations of Iron Ions to Elicit Cytotoxicity Induced by a Fenton-Type Reaction
Authors: Igarashi Kintaro , Shoji Yoshimi , Sekine-Suzuki Emiko , Ueno Megumi , Matsumoto Ken-ichiro , Nakanishi Ikuo , Fukui Koji
Published: July 2022

The impact of the site of the Fenton reaction, i.e., hydroxyl radical (•OH) generation, on cytotoxicity was investigated by estimating cell lethality in rat thymocytes. Cells were incubated with ferrous sulfate (FeSO4) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), or pre-incubated with FeSO4 and then H2O2 was added after medium was replaced to remove iron ions or after the medium was not replaced. Cell lethality in rat thymocytes was estimated by measuring cell sizes using flow cytometry. High extracellular concentrations of FeSO4 exerted protective effects against H2O2-induced cell death instead of enhancing cell lethality. The pre-incubation of cells with FeSO4 enhanced cell lethality induced by H2O2, whereas a pre-incubation with a high concentration of FeSO4 exerted protective effects. FeSO4 distributed extracellularly or on the surface of cells neutralized H2O2 outside cells. Cytotoxicity was only enhanced when the Fenton reaction, i.e., the generation of •OH, occurred inside cells. An assessment of plasmid DNA breakage showed that •OH induced by the Fenton reaction system did not break DNA. Therefore, the main target of intracellularly generated •OH does not appear to be DNA.
A Facile One-Pot Synthesis of New Poly Functionalized Pyrrolotriazoles via a Regioselective Multicomponent Cyclisation and Suzuki–Miyaura Coupling Reactions
Authors: Garnier Simon , Brugemann Kévin , Zak Agnieszka , Vercouillie Johnny , Potier-Cartereau Marie , Marchivie Mathieu , Routier Sylvain , Buron Frédéric
Published: July 2022

The first access to N-1, N-4 disubstituted pyrrolo[2,3-d][1,2,3]triazoles is reported. The series were generated using a “one-pot” MCR, leading to a single regioisomer of the attempted heteroaromatic skeleton in good yields. Next, the functionalization of C-5 and C-6 positions was investigated. (Het)aryl groups were introduced at the C-5 and C-6 positions of the pyrrolo[2,3-d][1,2,3]triazoles using regioselective electrophilic brominations followed by Suzuki–Miyaura cross coupling reactions. Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling conditions were optimized and a representative library of various boronic acids was employed to establish the scope and limitations of the method.
Hyperoxaluria Induces Endothelial Dysfunction in Preglomerular Arteries: Involvement of Oxidative Stress
Authors: Saenz-Medina Javier , Muñoz Mercedes , Rodriguez Claudia , Contreras Cristina , Sánchez Ana , Coronado María José , Ramil Elvira , Santos Martin , Carballido Joaquín , Prieto Dolores
Published: July 2022

Urolithiasis is a worldwide problem and a risk factor for kidney injury. Oxidative stress-associated renal endothelial dysfunction secondary to urolithiasis could be a key pathogenic factor, similar to obesity and diabetes-related nephropathy. The aim of the present study was to characterize urolithiasis-related endothelial dysfunction in a hyperoxaluria rat model of renal lithiasis. Experimental approach: Endothelial dysfunction was assessed in preglomerular arteries isolated from control rats and in which 0.75% ethylene glycol was administered in drinking water. Renal interlobar arteries were mounted in microvascular myographs for functional studies; superoxide generation was measured by chemiluminescence and mRNA and protein expression by RT-PCR and immunofluorescence, respectively. Selective inhibitors were used to study the influence of the different ROS sources, xanthine oxidase, COX-2, Nox1, Nox2 and Nox4. Inflammatory vascular response was also studied by measuring the RNAm expression of NF-κB, MCP-1 and TNFα by RT-PCR. Results: Endothelium-dependent vasodilator responses were impaired in the preglomerular arteries of the hyperoxaluric group along with higher superoxide generation in the renal cortex and vascular inflammation developed by MCP-1 and promoted by NF-κB. The xanthine oxidase inhibitor allopurinol restored the endothelial relaxations and returned superoxide generation to basal values. Nox1 and Nox2 mRNA were up-regulated in arteries from the hyperoxaluric group, and Nox1 and Nox2 selective inhibitors also restored the impaired vasodilator responses and normalized NADPH oxidase-dependent higher superoxide values of renal cortex from the hyperoxaluric group. Conclusions: The current data support that hyperoxaluria induces oxidative stress-mediated endothelial dysfunction and inflammatory response in renal preglomerular arteries which is promoted by the xanthine oxidase, Nox1 and Nox2 pathways.
Bone Disease in Multiple Myeloma: Biologic and Clinical Implications
Authors: Bernstein Zachary S. , Kim E. Bridget , Raje Noopur
Published: July 2022

Multiple Myeloma (MM) is a hematologic malignancy characterized by the proliferation of monoclonal plasma cells localized within the bone marrow. Bone disease with associated osteolytic lesions is a hallmark of MM and develops in the majority of MM patients. Approximately half of patients with bone disease will experience skeletal-related events (SREs), such as spinal cord compression and pathologic fractures, which increase the risk of mortality by 20–40%. At the cellular level, bone disease results from a tumor-cell-driven imbalance between osteoclast bone resorption and osteoblast bone formation, thereby creating a favorable cellular environment for bone resorption. The use of osteoclast inhibitory therapies with bisphosphonates, such as zoledronic acid and the RANKL inhibitor denosumab, have been shown to delay and lower the risk of SREs, as well as the need for surgery or radiation therapy to treat severe bone complications. This review outlines our current understanding of the molecular underpinnings of bone disease, available therapeutic options, and highlights recent advances in the management of MM-related bone disease.
Selective Internal Radiotherapy Changes the Immune Profiles of Extracellular Vesicles and Their Immune Origin in Patients with Inoperable Cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Haag Florian , Manikkam Anjana , Kraft Daniel , Bär Caroline , Wilke Vanessa , Nowak Aleksander J. , Bertrand Jessica , Omari Jazan , Pech Maciej , Gylstorff Severin , Relja Borna
Published: July 2022

The incidence of cholangiocellular carcinoma (CCA) is rising worldwide. As there are no specific early symptoms or specific markers of CCA, it is often diagnosed in later inoperable stages. Accumulating evidence underlines the importance of radiation therapy in the induction of antitumor immunity. The surface protein composition on extracellular vesicles (EVs) relates to originating cells and thus may play a role in vesicle function. We assessed immune profiles of EVs and their immune origin in patients with inoperable CCA prior and after selective internal radiotherapy (SIRT). A total of 47 CCA patients receiving SIRT and 12 healthy volunteers (HV) were included. Blood was withdrawn before therapy (pre T) and after T. EVs were purified from plasma by cluster of differentiation (CD)9-, CD63-, and CD81-immunobead isolation. To detect differently abundant surface markers, dynamic range and EVs input quality were assessed. A total of 37 EVs surface markers were measured by flow cytometry and correlated either with the administered activity dose (MBq) or with the interval until death (month). EVs phenotyping identified lymphocytes, B cells, NK cells, platelets, endothelial cells, leukocyte activation, B cell activation, T and B cell adhesion markers, stem/progenitor cells, and antigen-presenting cells (APC) as EVs-parenteral cells. CD4 and CD8 significantly declined, while other markers significantly increased in CCA patients pre T vs. HV. Platelets-deriving EVs significantly decreased, normalizing to levels of HV but still significantly increasing vs. HV post SIRT. B cells-deriving EVs significantly increased pre T vs. HV, positively correlating with administered activity dose. MHCII and CD40 EVs significantly increased pre SIRT and negatively correlated with administered activity dose, while EVs from antigen presenting cells and CD49e pre SIRT positively correlated with survival time after therapy. Increased levels of CD24 and CD44 in cancer pre T were significantly decreased post T. Among the heterogeneity of EVs that was demonstrated, in particular, B cells-deriving, MHCII, and CD40 positive or APC-deriving EVs need to be further studied for their diagnostic or prognostic relevance in clinical scenarios.