bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wetland Removal Mechanisms for Emerging Contaminants
Authors: Overton Olivia Celeste , Olson Leif Hans , Majumder Sreemala Das , Shwiyyat Hani , Foltz Mary Elizabeth , Nairn Robert William
Published: February 2023

In recent decades, previously unobserved trace compounds have become more widely detected in wastewater treatment effluents and freshwater ecosystems. Emanating from various sources and presenting potential human health and ecological risks at much lesser concentrations than traditional contaminants, detection of “emerging contaminants” has increased with improvements in analytical techniques. The behavior of emerging contaminants in wetlands is a topic of increasing interest, as natural wetlands are known to transform and sequester pollutants and constructed or treatment wetlands are widely utilized to address elevated concentrations of constituents of concern. Both natural and constructed wetlands are complex biogeochemical systems with interrelated abiotic and biotic mechanisms leading to the removal of emerging contaminants. A literature review was performed to assess the current state of knowledge of various wetland mechanisms involved in removing these contaminants from surface waters and effluents. The primary mechanisms discussed in the literature are sorption, photodegradation, microbial biodegradation and phytoremediation. The most influential mechanisms are dependent on the properties of the contaminants and wetland systems studied. Common trends exist for different constructed wetland designs to leverage various mechanisms based on hydrology, substrate and vegetation plantings. Much remains to be understood about the various processes occurring in wetlands as they relate to emerging contaminant removal. Improving the understanding of the potential role of wetland mechanisms can help manage this environmental challenge more effectively.
Monitoring Roadbed Stability in Permafrost Area of Qinghai–Tibet Railway by MT-InSAR Technology
Authors: Liu Hui , Huang Songbo , Xie Chou , Tian Bangsen , Chen Mi , Chang Zhanqiang
Published: February 2023

Permafrost areas pose a threat to the safe operation of linear projects such as the Qinghai–Tibet railway due to the repeated alternating effects of frost heaving and thawing settlement of frozen soil in permafrost area. Time series InSAR technology can effectively obtain ground deformation information with an accuracy of up to millimeters. Therefore, it is of great significance to use time series InSAR technology to monitor the deformation of the permafrost section of the Qinghai–Tibet railway. This study uses multi-time InSAR (MT-InSAR) technology to monitor the deformation of the whole section of the Qinghai–Tibet railway, detect the uneven settlement of the railway roadbed in space, and detect the seasonal changes in the roadbed in the time domain. At the same time, the local deformation sections over the years are compared and discussed. The time series deformation monitoring results of the permafrost section Sentinel-1 data in 2020 show that the length of the railway roadbed from Tanggula station to Za’gya Zangbo station (TZ) section is approximately 620 m, the deformation of the east and west sides is uneven, and the average annual deformation difference is 60.68 mm/a. The impact of frozen soil in WangKun station to Budongquan station (WB) section on railway roadbed shows the distribution characteristics of high in the middle and low at both ends, and the maximum annual average settlement can reach −158.46 mm/a. This study shows that the deformation of permafrost varies with different ground layers. The impact of human activities on frozen soil deformation is less than that of topography and hydrothermal conditions. At the same time, the study determined that compared with other sections, the roadbed deformation of TZ and WB sections is more obvious.
Correction: Kusiima et al. Interconnectedness of Ecosystem Services Potential with Land Use/Land Cover Change Dynamics in Western Uganda. Land 2022, 11, 2056
Authors: Kusiima Samuel Kaheesi , Egeru Anthony , Namaalwa Justine , Byakagaba Patrick , Mfitumukiza David , Mukwaya Paul , Mensah Sylvanus , Asiimwe Robert
Published: February 2023

There was an error in the original publication [...]
Urban Heat Island Mitigation and Urban Green Spaces: Testing a Model in the City of Padova (Italy)
Authors: Semenzato Paolo , Bortolini Lucia
Published: February 2023

The urban heat island (UHI) is a critical issue in most urbanised areas. Spatial variation of urban air temperature and humidity influences human thermal comfort, the settling rate of atmospheric pollutants, and the energy demand for cooling. UHIs can be particularly harmful to human health and there are numerous studies that link mortality and morbidity with extreme thermal events, that can be worsened by UHIs. The temperature difference between city centres and the surrounding countryside, which is accentuated in the summer months and at night, is the result not only of a greater production of anthropogenic heat but is mainly due to the properties of urban surfaces. The use of vegetation, and in particular urban tree planting, is one of possible strategies to contrast the heat island effects. In order to analyse the mitigation effects produced by green spaces in the city of Padova, a municipality in the northeast of Italy, simulations of the air temperature variations and their spatial distribution were carried out using the i-Tree Cool Air model. High-resolution RGBir aerial photos were processed to produce a tree canopy and a permeability map and the model was applied on a 10 m × 10 m grid over the entire city, producing a raster map of the aboveground air temperatures. A particularly hot July day with recorded air temperatures of 35 °C at 3 p.m. and 28 °C at 10 p.m. at a reference weather station was chosen for the test. In the daytime, the results show temperature differences up to almost 10 °C between urban open spaces with impervious cover (squares, streets) and green areas under tree canopy. At night, the simulated air temperatures are only slightly cooler in areas with tree cover than those recorded at the reference station, while urban areas with sealed surfaces maintain air temperatures 4.4 °C higher. The study was aimed at testing the applicability of the model as a tool for predicting air temperatures in relation to land use and canopy cover. The results show that the model can potentially be used to compare different urban forest and urban greening planning scenarios, however, further research is necessary to assess the reliability of the temperature predictions.
Is Obliterated Land Still Land? Tenure Security and Climate Change in Indonesia
Authors: Pinuji Sukmo , de Vries Walter Timo , Rineksi Trisnanti Widi , Wahyuni Wahyuni
Published: February 2023

Both human activities and climate change have changed landscapes significantly, especially in coastal areas. Sea level rise and land subsidence foster tidal floods and permanent inundations, thus changing and limiting land use. Though many countries, including Indonesia, are aware of these phenomena, the legal status of this permanently inundated land remains unclear. Indonesia refers to this land legally as obliterated land. This qualification makes former landowners uncertain, as it does not recognize their previous land rights, and creates disputes during land acquisition. In view of policy pressures to develop large-scale projects, the government often fails to include obliterated land legally during land acquisition processes for these projects. This causes unfair and disputed compensation for those former landowners. Current scientific discourses do not yet address this legal quandary. This study therefore has the following three aims: (1) to describe the legal, institutional and procedural contradictions related to obliterated land; (2) to assess the validity of right of the owners whose land parcels are permanently inundated; and (3) to formulate a responsible and tenure responsive policy to deal with obliterated land. We investigate these questions for the construction of a toll road and sea embankment in Kecamatan Sayung, Kabupaten Demak involving obliterated land. We reviewed policies, regulations and documentations related to coastal land and disaster management, and the implementation of land acquisition. We used geospatial data to visualize the ways in which and locations where landscapes, land parcels and land right changed. We determined that legal uncertainty leads to policy inconsistencies in handling obliterated land, specifically during land acquisition. Additionally, former landowners suffer from the legal gaps to establish clarity of land tenure, which prevents them from receiving any compensation. We suggest a law revision that considers the social–historical aspects of land tenure when defining obliterated land. The law should also provide for a fairer and more just compensation for former landowners during land acquisition processes.
Analysis and Comparison of the Industrial Economic Resilience in the Taihu Lake Basin under the 2008 Financial Crisis and the 2018 Sino-US Trade War
Authors: Wang Yiwen , Xu Jiangang , Liu Di , Zhou Yuye
Published: February 2023

Since China acceded to the WTO, the industrial economy of urban areas has experienced a prosperous phase. However, disturbed by the global financial crisis and reverse globalization since 2008, the past crude development path has been unsustainable. Therefore, it is urgent and necessary to improve industrial resilience to avoid falling into a declining trap. This study integrates multi-source spatiotemporal information such as enterprise big data and panel data using the methods of GIS spatial analysis, complex network analysis, and multi-indicator comprehensive evaluation to evaluate the industrial economic resilience of Taihu Lake Basin (TLB). Resistance indicators such as resistance sensitivity, industrial land area, and regional economic connections are used to evaluate the resistance ability of the industrial economy in the TLB during the 2008 financial crisis and the 2018 Sino-US trade conflict. Resistance sensitivity and independent innovation ability are introduced to assess the recovery ability after two rounds of shocks, and comprehensive economic resilience is evaluated based on the entropy weighting method. The results show that in the face of the two economic shocks, the industrial economy in the TLB is increasingly vulnerable to external economic shocks and has a significantly stronger ability to adapt to economic shocks. Under successive shocks, the industrial economy of the TLB continues to transition to a new path of innovation, which contributes to higher value-added and more efficient use of industrial land. Shanghai and Suzhou, which not only have shown strong economic resilience of their own but are also centers of independent innovation in the TLB, badly need to further reduce their reliance on low-end manufacturing in the future. Among the other cities, Huzhou and Zhenjiang show the highest level of resilience, while Changzhou, Wuxi, and Jiaxing are at the middle level, and Hangzhou is evaluated as the city with the lowest industrial economic resilience. Changzhou and Wuxi need to further increase the technical complexity of their industrial products, while Jiaxing, Huzhou, and Zhenjiang are supposed to strengthen their economic connections with Shanghai, Suzhou, and Hangzhou to expand the industrial scale further. Although Hangzhou shows the lowest comprehensive resilience, it still has a catalytic role to play in the development of industrial land and the upgrading and transformation of manufacturing in Jiaxing and Huzhou.
Epstein–Barr Virus and the Pathogenesis of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
Authors: Ross Aisling , Leahy Ciara , Neylon Fiona , Steigerova Jana , Flodr Patrik , Navratilova Martina , Urbankova Helena , Vrzalikova Katerina , Mundo Lucia , Lazzi Stefano , Leoncini Lorenzo , Pugh Matthew , Murray Paul
Published: February 2023

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), defined as a group I carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO), is present in the tumour cells of patients with different forms of B-cell lymphoma, including Burkitt lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders, and, most recently, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Understanding how EBV contributes to the development of these different types of B-cell lymphoma has not only provided fundamental insights into the underlying mechanisms of viral oncogenesis, but has also highlighted potential new therapeutic opportunities. In this review, we describe the effects of EBV infection in normal B-cells and we address the germinal centre model of infection and how this can lead to lymphoma in some instances. We then explore the recent reclassification of EBV+ DLBCL as an established entity in the WHO fifth edition and ICC 2022 classifications, emphasising the unique nature of this entity. To that end, we also explore the unique genetic background of this entity and briefly discuss the potential role of the tumour microenvironment in lymphomagenesis and disease progression. Despite the recent progress in elucidating the mechanisms of this malignancy, much work remains to be done to improve patient stratification, treatment strategies, and outcomes.
Clinical Manifestation, Transmission, Pathogenesis, and Diagnosis of Monkeypox Virus: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Anwar Faheem , Haider Fatima , Khan Sarmir , Ahmad Ibrar , Ahmed Naveed , Imran Muhammad , Rashid Summya , Ren Zhi-Guang , Khattak Saadullah , Ji Xin-Ying
Published: February 2023

Monkeypox virus is a double-stranded DNA virus species that causes disease in humans and mammals. It is a zoonotic virus belongs the genus Orthopoxviral, the family of Poxviridae, associated with the smallpox virus in many aspects. The first human case of monkeypox was reported throughout the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970. In April 2022, several cases were recorded in widespread regions of Africa, the Northern and western hemispheres. The current review spotlights taxonomic classification, clinical presentations during infection, and the pathogenicity of the monkeypox virus in humans. Furthermore, the current review also highlights different diagnostics used for virus detection.
Intestinal Microbiota Differences in Litopenaeus vannamei Shrimp between Greenhouse and Aquaponic Rearing
Authors: Dou Yabin , Wen Mengying , Shen Hui , Zhang Sheng , Jiang Ge , Qiao Yi , Cheng Jie , Cao Xiaohui , Wan Xihe , Sun Xiaoman
Published: February 2023

The sustainability of shrimp aquaculture can be achieved through the development of greenhouse and aquaponic rearing modes, which are classified as heterotrophic and autotrophic bacterial aquaculture systems. However, there have been few investigations into the discrepancies between the intestinal and water microbiota of these two rearing methods. In this study, we collected shrimp samples from greenhouse-rearing (WG) and aquaponic-rearing (YG) ponds, and water samples (WE, YE), and investigated the intestinal and water microbiota between the two rearing modes. The results, through alpha and beta diversity analyses, reveal that there was basically no significant difference between shrimp intestine WG and YG (p > 0.05) or between rearing water WE and YE (p > 0.05). At the phylum and genus levels, the common bacteria between WE and WG differed significantly from those of YE and YG. The analysis of the top six phyla shows that Proteobacteria and Patescibacteria were significantly more abundant in the WG group than those in the YG group (p < 0.05). Conversely, Actinobacteriota, Firmicutes, and Verrucomicrobiota were significantly more abundant in the YG group than those in the WG group (p < 0.05). Venn analysis between WE and WG shows that Amaricoccus, Micrococcales, Flavobacteriaceae, and Paracoccus were the dominant bacteria genera, while Acinetobacter, Demequina, and Rheinheimera were the dominant bacteria genera between YE and YG. Pathways such as the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, microbial metabolism in different environments, and carbon metabolism were significantly more upregulated in WG than those in YG (p < 0.05). In addition, pathways such as sulfate, chloroplast, phototrophy, and the nitrogen metabolism were significantly different between the WE and YE samples. These findings suggest that the greenhouse mode, a typical heterotrophic bacterial model, contains bacterial flora consisting of Amaricoccus, Micrococcales, Flavobacteriaceae, and other bacteria, which is indicative of the biological sludge process. Conversely, the aquaponic mode, an autotrophic bacterial model, was characterized by Acinetobacter, Demequina, Rheinheimera, and other bacteria, signifying the autotrophic biological process. This research provides an extensive understanding of heterotrophic and autotrophic bacterial aquaculture systems.
An Insight into Wheat Germ Oil Nutrition, Identification of Its Bioactive Constituents and Computer-Aided Multidimensional Data Analysis of Its Potential Anti-Inflammatory Effect via Molecular Connections
Authors: Zargar Seema , Wani Tanveer A. , Rizwan Ahamad Syed
Published: February 2023

Wheat germ oil (WGO) is the richest source of unexplored antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. In this study, we identified the constituents of WGO by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The physicochemical and pharmacokinetic behaviors were evaluated for the top 12 constituents with the common target FABP4. Three fatty acids with significant anti-inflammatory activity were evaluated for their interaction with FABP4 by molecular docking. The molecular mechanisms involved in anti-inflammatory responses were analyzed by various in-silico analytical tools and multidimensional data analysis. WGO showed anti-inflammatory activities via FABP4 interacting physically with target genes (77.84%) and by co-expressing with 8.01% genes. Primary targets for inflammatory pathways were PPARα, PPARγ, LPL, LEP, and ADIPOQ, as depicted by gene network enrichment analysis. The key pathways implicated were the metabolism of lipids, PPAR signaling, cellular response to alcohol, oxygen and nitrogen pathway, inflammatory response pathway, and regulation of the inflammatory pathway. The common transcription factors implicated were HNF1, AP2α, CEBP, FOX, STATS, MYC, Zic, etc. In this study, we found that WGO possesses anti-inflammatory potential via FABP4 binding to PPARα, PPARγ, LPL, LEP, and ADIPOQ gene expression by regulatory transcription factors HNF, AP2α, and CEPB.
Microwave-Assisted Hydrodistillation of Essential Oil from Plectranthus amboinicus: Evaluation of Its Antifungal Effect and Chemical Composition
Authors: Antonio-Gutiérrez Oscar , Alvízar-Martínez José Antonio , Solano Rodolfo , Vásquez-López Alfonso , Hernández-Valladolid Sandra Luz , Lustre-Sánchez Hermes , Flores-Moctezuma Hilda Elizabet , de Jesús de Luna-Santillana Erick , Lagunez-Rivera Luicita
Published: February 2023

Fusarium wilt, a vascular syndrome in a wide range of plants, is caused by the pathogen Fusarium Oxysporum. The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the antifungal effect of four essential oils (EOs) (Plectranthus amboinicus, Syzygium aromaticum, Lippia alba, and Rosmarinus officinalis), which were obtained by using microwave-assisted hydrodistillation (MAH), against F. oxysporum. The yield obtained from P. amboinicus with the use of MAH was 0.2%, which was higher than that of a conventional extraction; its extraction time was also shorter. For concentrations of 100 and 300 μL/L, P. amboinicus caused an inhibition rate of 27.2 and 55.7%, respectively, while S. aromaticum caused an inhibition rate of 23.1 and 87.3%, respectively. It was observed that increasing the concentration also increased the % inhibition rate. The extracts of L. alba and R. officinalis caused an inhibition rate of 14.5 and 14.7% at 500 µL/L, respectively, at 10 days of incubation, while at this concentration, P. amboinicus and S. aromaticum achieved 100%. The major chemical compounds of P. amboinicus were carvacrol (41.20%), o-cymene (11.61%), caryophyllene (11.45%), α-bergamotene (7.71%), and caryophyllene oxide (4.62%), and these monoterpene hydrocarbons were responsible for the biological activity. The essential oil of P. amboinicus in appropriate concentrations is a potent antifungal agent that could be used for the control of F. oxysporum.
Iron Fertilization Can Enhance the Mass Production of Copepod, Pseudodiaptomus annandalei, for Fish Aquaculture
Authors: Hong Guo-Kai , Kuo Jimmy , Tew Kwee Siong
Published: February 2023

Copepods are proven nutritious food sources for the mariculture/larviculture industry, however, unreliable methods for mass production of copepods are a major bottleneck. In this study, we modified a previously reported inorganic fertilization method (N: 700 μg L−1 and P: 100 μg L−1) by the addition of iron (Fe: 10 μg L−1, using FeSO4·7H2O) (+Fe treatment) and compared its suitability for copepod culture (Pseudodiaptomus annandalei) to the original method (control). The experiment was conducted outdoors in 1000 L tanks for 15 days. The addition of iron prolonged the growth phase of the phytoplankton and resulted in the production of significantly more small phytoplankton (0.45–20 μm, average 2.01 ± 0.52 vs. 9.03 ± 4.17 µg L−1 in control and +Fe, respectively) and adult copepods (control: 195 ± 35, +Fe: 431 ± 109 ind L−1), whereas copepodid-stage was similar between treatments (control: 511 ± 107 vs. +Fe: 502 ± 68 ind L−1). Although adding iron increased the cost of production by 23% compared to the control, the estimated net profit was 97% greater. We concluded that inorganic fertilization, with the addition of iron (Fe: 10 μg L−1), could be an effective method for the mass production of copepods for larviculture.
A Narrative Review of Point of Care Ultrasound Assessment of the Optic Nerve in Emergency Medicine
Authors: Lau Torey , Ahn Justin S. , Manji Rahim , Kim Daniel J.
Published: February 2023

Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) of the optic nerve is easy to learn and has great diagnostic potential. Within emergency medicine, research has primarily focused on its use for the assessment of increased intracranial pressure, but many other applications exist, though the literature is heterogeneous and largely observational. This narrative review describes the principles of POCUS of the optic nerve including anatomy and scanning technique, as well as a summary of its best studied clinical applications of relevance in emergency medicine: increased intracranial pressure, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, optic neuritis, acute mountain sickness, and pediatric intracranial pressure assessment. In many of these applications, sonographic optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) has moderately high sensitivity and specificity, but the supporting studies are heterogeneous. Further studies should focus on standardization of the measurement of ONSD, establishment of consistent diagnostic thresholds for elevated intracranial pressure, and automation of ONSD measurement.
Responses to Drought Stress in Poplar: What Do We Know and What Can We Learn?
Authors: Rosso Laura , Cantamessa Simone , Bergante Sara , Biselli Chiara , Fricano Agostino , Chiarabaglio Pier Mario , Gennaro Massimo , Nervo Giuseppe , Secchi Francesca , Carra Andrea
Published: February 2023

Poplar (Populus spp.) is a high-value crop for wood and biomass production and a model organism for tree physiology and genomics. The early release, in 2006, of the complete genome sequence of P. trichocarpa was followed by a wealth of studies that significantly enriched our knowledge of complex pathways inherent to woody plants, such as lignin biosynthesis and secondary cell wall deposition. Recently, in the attempt to cope with the challenges posed by ongoing climate change, fundamental studies and breeding programs with poplar have gradually shifted their focus to address the responses to abiotic stresses, particularly drought. Taking advantage from a set of modern genomic and phenotyping tools, these studies are now shedding light on important processes, including embolism formation (the entry and expansion of air bubbles in the xylem) and repair, the impact of drought stress on biomass yield and quality, and the long-term effects of drought events. In this review, we summarize the status of the research on the molecular bases of the responses to drought in poplar. We highlight how this knowledge can be exploited to select more tolerant genotypes and how it can be translated to other tree species to improve our understanding of forest dynamics under rapidly changing environmental conditions.
Changes in Components of Metabolic Syndrome after Antiviral Eradication in Hepatitis C Virus Infection
Authors: Trifan Anca , Cuciureanu Tudor , Nastasa Robert , Stratina Ermina , Zenovia Sebastian , Muzica Cristina Maria , Huiban Laura , Singeap Ana-Maria , Chiriac Stefan , Sfarti Catalin , Cojocariu Camelia , Girleanu Irina , Minea Horia , Stafie Remus , Rotaru Adrian , Stanciu Carol
Published: February 2023

Chronic hepatitis C infection is a systemic disease that affects over 71 million patients all over the world and it is to be considered nowadays as a new cardiometabolic risk factor. This study aimed to evaluate the weight and metabolic changes after viral eradication in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We conducted a prospective study between October 2017 to December 2021, in a tertiary care center, in which we included 132 patients with HCV or cirrhosis. All patients received treatment with direct antivirals (DAAs) and achieved sustained viral response at 12 weeks (SVR12). During the study, clinical laboratory data and Fibroscan examinations were recorded in all patients. The study group was evaluated at the initiation of antiviral treatment, at SVR12, and within an average follow-up period of 6 months to 12 months after the previous evaluation. Evaluation at SVR12 and the data recorded in the post-SVR surveillance period show a further increase in BMI compared with baseline measurements with a statistically significant difference (27.11 ± 3.22 vs. 27.415 ± 3.03 vs. 28.04 ± 1.11 kg/m2, p = 0.012). The same observation was noticed for waist circumference (WC) at post-SVR evaluation (87.6 ± 13.1 vs. 88.4 ± 13.6 cm, p = 0.031). Moreover, the study population registered an increase in the average total cholesterol (TC) values at post-SVR evaluation (177.01 ± 42.2 mg/dL, p = 0.014) compared to baseline. In addition, the serum level of triglycerides had been modified after viral clearance, with a minimal decrease in the mean values of triglycerides (TGD) at SVR-12 assessment (133.48 ± 41.8 mg/dL, p = 0.78), followed by a significant increase to the mean value of 145.4 ± 47.2 mg/dL (p = 0.026) in the third evaluation. Our study highlights that HCV eradication does not improve the lipid profile in the short term, and these patients still have an additional cardiovascular risk factor due to high levels of TC, TGD, and weight gain.
Lithium: A Promising Anticancer Agent
Authors: Villegas-Vázquez Edgar Yebrán , Quintas-Granados Laura Itzel , Cortés Hernán , González-Del Carmen Manuel , Leyva-Gómez Gerardo , Rodríguez-Morales Miguel , Bustamante-Montes Lilia Patricia , Silva-Adaya Daniela , Pérez-Plasencia Carlos , Jacobo-Herrera Nadia , Reyes-Hernández Octavio Daniel , Figueroa-González Gabriela
Published: February 2023

Lithium is a therapeutic cation used to treat bipolar disorders but also has some important features as an anti-cancer agent. In this review, we provide a general overview of lithium, from its transport into cells, to its innovative administration forms, and based on genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic data. Lithium formulations such as lithium acetoacetate (LiAcAc), lithium chloride (LiCl), lithium citrate (Li3C6H5O7), and lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) induce apoptosis, autophagy, and inhibition of tumor growth and also participate in the regulation of tumor proliferation, tumor invasion, and metastasis and cell cycle arrest. Moreover, lithium is synergistic with standard cancer therapies, enhancing their anti-tumor effects. In addition, lithium has a neuroprotective role in cancer patients, by improving their quality of life. Interestingly, nano-sized lithium enhances its anti-tumor activities and protects vital organs from the damage caused by lipid peroxidation during tumor development. However, these potential therapeutic activities of lithium depend on various factors, such as the nature and aggressiveness of the tumor, the type of lithium salt, and its form of administration and dosage. Since lithium has been used to treat bipolar disorder, the current study provides an overview of its role in medicine and how this has changed. This review also highlights the importance of this repurposed drug, which appears to have therapeutic cancer potential, and underlines its molecular mechanisms.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and Particulate Matter Exposure: A Systematic Review
Authors: Podury Sanjiti , Kwon Sophia , Javed Urooj , Farooqi Muhammad S. , Li Yiwei , Liu Mengling , Grunig Gabriele , Nolan Anna
Published: February 2023

Background: Particulate matter (PM) exposure is responsible for seven million deaths annually and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of respiratory infections such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Understanding modifiable risk factors of high mortality, resource burdensome C19 and exposure risks such as PM is key to mitigating their devastating effects. This systematic review focuses on the literature available, identifying the spatial and temporal variation in the role of quantified PM exposure in SARS disease outcome and planning our future experimental studies. Methods: The systematic review utilized keywords adhered to the PRISMA guidelines. We included original human research studies in English. Results: Initial search yielded N = 906, application of eligibility criteria yielded N = 46. Upon analysis of risk of bias N = 41 demonstrated high risk. Studies found a positive association between elevated PM2.5, PM10 and SARS-related outcomes. A geographic and temporal variation in both PM and C19’s role was observed. Conclusion: C19 is a high mortality and resource intensive disease which devastated the globe. PM exposure is also a global health crisis. Our systematic review focuses on the intersection of this impactful disease-exposure dyad and understanding the role of PM is important in the development of interventions to prevent future spread of viral infections.
Pan-Genomics of Escherichia albertii for Antibiotic Resistance Profiling in Different Genome Fractions and Natural Product Mediated Intervention: In Silico Approach
Authors: Jalal Khurshid , Khan Kanwal , Hayat Ajmal , Alnasser Sulaiman Mohammed , Meshal Alotaibi , Basharat Zarrin
Published: February 2023

Escherichia albertii is an emerging, enteric pathogen of significance. It was first isolated in 2003 from a pediatric diarrheal sample from Bangladesh. In this study, a comprehensive in silico strategy was followed to first list out antibiotic-resistant genes from core, accessory and unique genome fractions of 95 available genomes of E. albertii. Then, 56 drug targets were identified from the core essential genome. Finally, ZipA, an essential cell division protein that stabilizes the FtsZ protofilaments by cross-linking them and serves as a cytoplasmic membrane anchor for the Z ring, was selected for further downstream processing. It was computationally modeled using a threading approach, followed by virtual screening of two phytochemical libraries, Ayurvedic (n = 2103 compounds) and Traditional Chinese Medicine (n = 36,043 compounds). ADMET profiling, followed by PBPK modeling in the central body compartment, in a population of 250 non-diseased, 250 cirrhotic and 250 renally impaired people was attempted. ZINC85624912 from Chinese medicinal library showed the highest bioavailability and plasma retention. This is the first attempt to simulate the fate of natural products in the body through PBPK. Dynamics simulation of 20 ns for the top three compounds from both libraries was also performed to validate the stability of the compounds. The obtained information from the current study could aid wet-lab scientists to work on the scaffold of screened drug-like compounds from natural resources and could be useful in our quest for therapy against antibiotic-resistant E. albertii.
Taxonomic Positions and Secondary Metabolite-Biosynthetic Gene Clusters of Akazaoxime- and Levantilide-Producers
Authors: Komaki Hisayuki , Tamura Tomohiko , Igarashi Yasuhiro
Published: February 2023

Micromonospora sp. AKA109 is a producer of akazaoxime and A-76356, whereas Micromonospora sp. AKA38 is that of levantilide C. We aimed to clarify their taxonomic positions and identify biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) of these compounds. In 16S rRNA gene and DNA gyrase subunit B gene (gyrB) sequence analyses, strains AKA109 and AKA38 were the most closely related to Micromonospora humidisoli MMS20-R2-29T and Micromonospora schwarzwaldensis HKI0641T, respectively. Although Micromonospora sp. AKA109 was identified as M. humidisoli by the gyrB sequence similarity and DNA–DNA relatedness based on whole genome sequences, Micromonospora sp. AKA38 was classified to a new genomospecies. M. humidisoli AKA109 harbored six type-I polyketide synthase (PKS), one type-II PKS, one type-III PKS, three non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) and three hybrid PKS/NRPS gene clusters, among which the BGC of akazaoxime and A-76356 was identified. These gene clusters are conserved in M. humidisoli MMS20-R2-29T. Micromonospora sp. AKA38 harbored two type-I PKS, one of which was responsible for levantilide C, one type-II PKS, one type-III PKS, two NRPS and five hybrid PKS/NRPS gene clusters. We predicted products derived from these gene clusters through bioinformatic analyses. Consequently, these two strains are revealed to be promising sources for diverse non-ribosomal peptide and polyketide compounds.
Geometric Morphometric Analysis of Mandibular Symphysis Growth between 12 and 15 Years of Age in Class II Malocclusion Subjects
Authors: Ruiz Ferdinando , Venezia Pietro , Ronsivalle Vincenzo , Lacagnina Calogero , Conforte Cristina , Isola Gaetano , Leonardi Rosalia , Lo Giudice Antonino
Published: February 2023

The aim of the present paper was to evaluate the morphology changes of the mandibular symphysis (MS) in a longitudinal retrospective cohort of class II untreated subjects. The study sample included 120 subjects followed during normal growth and examined at the age of 12 (T0) and 15 (T1) years. MS was traced using two landmarks and ten sliding semi-landmarks. The acquired morphological data were processed via Procrustes superimposition that allowed to study variation and covariation in MS’form according to specific variables such as age, gender, and skeletal pattern. The first two principal components (PCs) described more than 90 % of the total morphological variation. Both types of form changes of the symphysis could be associated with the different skeletal vertical growth patterns. Age and sex did not interfere with the form of chin symphysis. Moreover, there was no significant covariation between initial MS morphology and form modifications. Clinicians should not expect to be faced with spontaneous changes of the form of the symphysis during the orthodontic treatment of adolescents.
2-(1H-Imidazol-2-yl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-perimidine
Authors: Petkova Zhanina , Rusew Rusi , Bakalova Snezhana , Shivachev Boris , Kurteva Vanya
Published: February 2023

The novel compound 2-(1H-imidazol-2-yl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-perimidine was obtained in very good yield via a known eco-friendly protocol. The product was isolated in pure form as a solvate by simple filtration from the crude mixture. Its structure was assigned by 1D and 2D NMR experiments and was confirmed by high resolution MS and single crystal XRD. The temperature of methanol release was determined by DSC and the energy of the process theoretically estimated.
Analysis of Excitation Energy Transfer in LaPO4 Nanophosphors Co-Doped with Eu3+/Nd3+ and Eu3+/Nd3+/Yb3+ Ions
Authors: Sadowska Karolina , Ragiń Tomasz , Kochanowicz Marcin , Miluski Piotr , Dorosz Jan , Leśniak Magdalena , Dorosz Dominik , Kuwik Marta , Pisarska Joanna , Pisarski Wojciech , Rećko Katarzyna , Żmojda Jacek
Published: February 2023

Nanophosphors are widely used, especially in biological applications in the first and second biological windows. Currently, nanophosphors doped with lanthanide ions (Ln3+) are attracting much attention. However, doping the matrix with lanthanide ions is associated with a narrow luminescence bandwidth. This paper describes the structural and luminescence properties of co-doped LaPO4 nanophosphors, fabricated by the co-precipitation method. X-ray structural analysis, scanning electron microscope measurements with EDS analysis, and luminescence measurements (excitation 395 nm) of LaPO4:Eu3+/Nd3+ and LaPO4:Eu3+/Nd3+/Yb3+ nanophosphors were made and energy transfer between rare-earth ions was investigated. Tests performed confirmed the crystal structure of the produced phosphors and deposition of rare-earth ions in the structure of LaPO4 nanocrystals. In the range of the first biological window (650–950 nm), strong luminescence bands at the wavelengths of 687 nm and 698 nm (5D0 → 7F4:Eu3+) and 867 nm, 873 nm, 889 nm, 896 nm, and 907 nm (4F3/2 → 4I9/2:Nd3+) were observed. At 980 nm, 991 nm, 1033 nm (2F5/2 → 2F7/2:Yb3+) and 1048 nm, 1060 nm, 1073 nm, and 1080 nm (4F3/2 → 4I9/2:Nd3+), strong bands of luminescence were visible in the 950 nm–1100 nm range, demonstrating that energy transfer took place.
Influence of Filler Material on the Microstructural and Mechanical Properties of 430 Ferritic Stainless Steel Weld Joints
Authors: Shanmugasundar G. , Bansod Ankur , Schindlerova Vladimira , Čep Robert
Published: February 2023

Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding is a commonly used welding technique for ferritic stainless steel, due to its ability to produce high-quality, clean, and precise welds. This welding method provides excellent control over the heat input, making it suitable for thin-walled, high-alloy materials such as ferritic stainless steel. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of using two different filler materials, 310 (austenitic) and 410 (ferritic), on the microstructural and mechanical properties of Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) weld butt joints of 430 ferritic stainless steel (FSS). The results showed that the choice of filler material significantly impacted the dilution percentage, the chromium-nickel equivalent ratio, microstructure, microhardness, and tensile characteristics of the welded joint. The use of 310 filler resulted in a columnar microstructure, whereas the use of 410 filler resulted in a ferritic (acicular ferrite) microstructure with the presence of martensite and austenite. The sample welded with 410 filler demonstrated superior mechanical properties compared to the sample welded with 310 filler. These findings emphasize the importance of selecting the appropriate filler material in order to achieve the desired microstructural and mechanical properties in 430 FSS welded joints.
Prediction of Fatigue Crack Initiation of 7075 Aluminum Alloy by Crystal Plasticity Simulation
Authors: Shiraiwa Takayuki , Briffod Fabien , Enoki Manabu
Published: February 2023

The 7075 aluminum alloy is a promising material for the aerospace industry due to its combination of light weight and high strength. This study proposed a method for predicting fatigue crack initiation of the 7075 aluminum alloy by crystal plasticity finite element analysis considering microstructures. In order to accurately predict the total fatigue life, it is necessary to calculate the number of cycles for fatigue crack initiation, small crack growth, and long crack growth. The long crack growth life can be estimated by the Paris law, but fatigue crack initiation and small crack growth are sensitive to the microstructures and have been difficult to predict. In this work, the microstructure of 7075 aluminum alloy was reconstructed based on experimental observations in the literature and crystal plasticity simulations were performed to calculate the elasto-plastic deformation behavior in the reconstructed polycrystalline model under cyclic deformation. The calculated local plastic strain was introduced into the crack initiation criterion (Tanaka and Mura, 1981) to predict fatigue crack initiation life. The predicted crack initiation life and crack morphology were in good agreement with the experimental results, indicating that the proposed method is effective in predicting fatigue crack initiation in aluminum alloys. From the obtained results, future issues regarding the prediction of fatigue crack initiation were discussed.
The Impact of Electron Phonon Scattering, Finite Size and Lateral Electric Field on Transport Properties of Topological Insulators: A First Principles Quantum Transport Study
Authors: Akhoundi Elaheh , Houssa Michel , Afzalian Aryan
Published: February 2023

We study, using non-equilibrium Green’s function simulations combined with first-principles density functional theory, the edge-state transport in two-dimensional topological insulators. We explore the impact of electron–phonon coupling on carrier transport through the protected states of two widely known topological insulators with different bulk gaps, namely stanene and bismuthene. We observe that the transport in a topological insulator with a small bulk gap (such as stanene) can be heavily affected by electron–phonon scattering, as the bulk states broaden into the bulk gap. In bismuthene with a larger bulk gap, however, a significantly higher immunity to electron–phonon scattering is observed. To mitigate the negative effects of a small bulk gap, finite-size effects are studied in stanene ribbons. The bulk gap increases in ultra-narrow stanene ribbons, but the transport results revealed no improvement in the dissipative case, as the states in the enlarged bulk gaps aren’t sufficiently localized. To investigate an application, we also used topological insulator ribbons as a material for field-effect transistors with side gates imposing a lateral electric field. Our results demonstrate that the lateral electric field could offer another avenue to manipulate the edge states and even open a gap in stanene ribbons, leading to an ION/IOFF of 28 in the ballistic case. These results shed light on the opportunities and challenges in the design of topological insulator field-effect transistors.
Functionalization of the Implant Surface Made of NiTi Shape Memory Alloy
Authors: Dudek Karolina , Goryczka Tomasz , Dulski Mateusz , Psiuk Bronisław , Szurko Agnieszka , Lekston Zdzisław
Published: February 2023

To functionalize and improve the biocompatibility of the surface of a medical implant made of NiTi shape memory alloy and used in practice, a clamp, multifunctional layers composed of amorphous TiO2 interlayer, and a hydroxyapatite coating were produced. Electrophoresis, as an efficient method of surface modification, resulted in the formation of a uniform coating under a voltage of 60 V and deposition time of 30 s over the entire volume of the implant. The applied heat treatment (800 °C/2 h) let toa dense, crack-free, well-adhered HAp coating with a thickness of ca. 1.5 μm. and a high crack resistance to deformation associated with the induction of the shape memory effect in the in the deformation range similar to the real implant work after implantation. Moreover, the obtained coating featured a hydrophilic (CA = 59.4 ± 0.3°) and high biocompatibility.
Laser Welding Penetration Monitoring Based on Time-Frequency Characterization of Acoustic Emission and CNN-LSTM Hybrid Network
Authors: Luo Zhongyi , Wu Di , Zhang Peilei , Ye Xin , Shi Haichuan , Cai Xiaoyu , Tian Yingtao
Published: February 2023

In-process penetration monitoring of the pulsed laser welding process remains a great challenge for achieving uniform and reproducible products due to the highly complex nature of the keyhole dynamics within the intense laser-metal interactions. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the feasibility of acoustic emission (AE) measurement for penetration monitoring based on acoustic wave characteristics and deep learning. Firstly, a series of laser welding experiments on aluminum alloys were conducted using high-speed photography and AE techniques. This allowed us to in-situ visualize the complete keyhole dynamics and elucidate the generation mechanism of acoustic waves originating from pressure fluctuations at the keyhole wall. Then, an adaptive time-frequency technique namely VMD (Variational Mode Decomposition) was proposed to characterize the acoustic energy distribution among the nine subsignals with low-frequency and high-frequency components under different welding penetrations. Lastly, a novel hybrid model combing CNN (Convolutional Neural Network) and LSTM (Long Short Term Memory) was designed to deeply mine the spatial and temporal acoustic features from the extracted frequency components. Extensive experiments demonstrate that our proposed approach yields a remarkable classification performance with a test accuracy of 99.8% and a standard deviation of 0.21, which obtains a high recognition rate. This work is a new paradigm in the digitization and intelligence of the laser welding process and contributes to an alternative way of developing an efficient end-to-end penetration monitoring system.
Formation of TiB2–MgAl2O4 Composites by SHS Metallurgy
Authors: Yeh Chun-Liang , Zheng Fu-You
Published: February 2023

TiB2–MgAl2O4 composites were fabricated by combustion synthesis involving metallothermic reduction reactions. Thermite reagents contained Al and Mg as dual reductants and TiO2 or B2O3 as the oxidant. The reactant mixtures also comprised elemental Ti and boron, as well as a small amount of Al2O3 or MgO to serve as the combustion moderator. Four reaction systems were conducted and all of them were exothermic enough to proceed in the mode of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS). The reaction based on B2O3/Al/Mg thermite and diluted with MgO was the most exothermic, while that containing TiO2/Al/Mg thermite and Al2O3 as the diluent was the least. Depending on different thermites and diluents, the combustion front temperatures in a range from 1320 to 1720 °C, and combustion wave velocity from 3.9 to 5.7 mm/s were measured. The XRD spectra confirmed in situ formation of TiB2 and MgAl2O4. It is believed that MgAl2O4 was synthesized through a combination reaction between Al2O3 and MgO, both of which can be totally or partially produced from the metallothermic reduction of B2O3 or TiO2. The microstructure of the TiB2–MgAl2O4 composite exhibited fine TiB2 crystals surrounded by large densified MgAl2O4 grains. This study demonstrated an energy-saving and efficient route for fabricating MgAl2O4-containing composites.