bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integrated Analysis of the 3D Geostress and 1D Geomechanics of an Exploration Well in a New Gas Field
Authors: Wang Linsheng , Shen Xinpu , Wu Baocheng , Shen Tian , Shi Jiangang
Published: January 2023

The aim of this study was to propose the workflow for integrated analysis of the 3D geostress and 1D geomechanics of an exploration in a new gas field. This integrated analysis will allow for problems associated with the inaccuracy of 1D geomechanical analysis to be overcome in a region with obvious anticline/syncline structures. The 1D geomechanical analysis of the well in the exploration of a new gas field mainly included the prediction of pore pressure and calculation of the mud weight window for safe drilling. In general, this integrated workflow included both a method for pore pressure prediction and a method for the calculation of the mud weight window, with the numerical solution of 3D geostress plus the interval velocity of formations. The procedure for the calculation of the 3D geostress of a target block was also introduced. Numerical solution of the 3D geostress of the target gas field, as well as solutions of 1D geomechanical analysis, have demonstrated the efficiency and practical use of the proposed theory in the successful drilling of the LT-1 well in the Junggar Basin, Xinjiang, China. For this LT-1 well in the target TS block, there was no logging data to refer to when predicting the pore pressure of undrilled formations. Only 3D geostress could be used to calculate the mud weight window. Influences of anticline structures were considered in the calculation of 3D geostress. Since the accuracy of the numerical solution of 3D geostress is higher than the accuracy of the 1D geostress solution for a single well analysis, the results of pore pressure and the mud weight window are more accurate than those obtained with conventional 1D geostress analysis. Details of the finite element modeling of the 3D geostress field of the TS block is presented along with the solution of the 3D geostress field. With the data of the interval velocity of formations and 3D geostress solution of the TS block, pore pressure prediction was carried out for the 7000 m-deep pilot LT-1 well. Finally, calculations were performed for the values of the mud weight window of the LT-1 well.
ARX-GARCH Probabilistic Price Forecasts for Diversification of Trade in Electricity Markets—Variance Stabilizing Transformation and Financial Risk-Minimizing Portfolio Allocation
Authors: Janczura Joanna , Puć Andrzej
Published: January 2023

In this paper, we propose dynamic, short-term, financial risk management strategies for small electricity producers and buyers that trade in the wholesale electricity markets. Since electricity is mostly nonstorable, financial risk coming from extremely volatile electricity prices cannot be reduced by using standard finance-based approaches. Instead, a short-term operational planing and a proper trade diversification might be used. In this paper, we analyze the price risk in terms of the Markowitz mean–variance portfolio theory. Hence, it is crucial to forecast properly the variance of electricity prices. To this end, we jointly model day-ahead and intraday or balancing prices from Germany and Poland using ARX-GARCH type models. We show that using heteroscedastic volatility significantly improves probabilistic price forecasts according to the pinball score, especially if variance stabilizing transformation is applied prior to a model estimation. The price forecasts are then used for construction of dynamic diversification strategies that are based on volatility-type risk measures. We consider different objectives as well as a buyer’s and a seller’s perspective. The proposed strategies are applied for the diversification of trade among different markets in Germany and Poland. We show that the objective of the strategy can be achieved using the proposed approach, but the risk minimization is usually related to lower profits. We find that risk minimization is especially important for a seller in both markets, while for a buyer a profit maximization objective leads to a more optimal risk–return trade-off.
Study of Short Circuit and Inrush Current Impact on the Current-Limiting Reactor Operation in an Industrial Grid
Authors: Varetsky Yuriy , Gajdzica Michal
Published: January 2023

Current-limiting reactors are widely used in industrial electrical grids to reduce the current amplitude in the equipment and stabilize the voltage on the busbar during short circuits. Their application is distinguished by high technical and economic efficiency. However, mechanical damage to the reactors has been observed within extensive industrial grids with many induction motors and internal synchronous generators. The article analyses a case study of the reactor damage in the true industrial grid during a short circuit. An analysis of the damaged reactor’s previous operation had shown that there was a weakening of the fastenings in the reactor design, caused by the repeated starting currents of the grid motors and generators. A study of grid transients during short circuits was carried out by Matlab/Simulink software. The simulation results showed that the reactor could be damaged by a critical peak current in an unfavourable combination of the grid configuration and the short circuit location. The results of the study prove that, for industrial networks containing powerful induction motors and internal synchronous generators, the standardized procedure for selecting current-limiting reactors should additionally consider such factors as the localization in the grid, the effect of equipment-starting currents and possible grid configurations.
Underground Gravity Energy Storage: A Solution for Long-Term Energy Storage
Authors: Hunt Julian , Zakeri Behnam , Jurasz Jakub , Tong Wenxuan , Dąbek Paweł , Brandão Roberto , Patro Epari , Đurin Bojan , Filho Walter , Wada Yoshihide , Ruijven Bas , Riahi Keywan
Published: January 2023

Low-carbon energy transitions taking place worldwide are primarily driven by the integration of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. These variable renewable energy (VRE) sources require energy storage options to match energy demand reliably at different time scales. This article suggests using a gravitational-based energy storage method by making use of decommissioned underground mines as storage reservoirs, using a vertical shaft and electric motor/generators for lifting and dumping large volumes of sand. The proposed technology, called Underground Gravity Energy Storage (UGES), can discharge electricity by lowering large volumes of sand into an underground mine through the mine shaft. When there is excess electrical energy in the grid, UGES can store electricity by elevating sand from the mine and depositing it in upper storage sites on top of the mine. Unlike battery energy storage, the energy storage medium of UGES is sand, which means the self-discharge rate of the system is zero, enabling ultra-long energy storage times. Furthermore, the use of sand as storage media alleviates any risk for contaminating underground water resources as opposed to an underground pumped hydro storage alternative. UGES offers weekly to pluriannual energy storage cycles with energy storage investment costs of about 1 to 10 USD/kWh. The technology is estimated to have a global energy storage potential of 7 to 70 TWh and can support sustainable development, mainly by providing seasonal energy storage services.
Comparative Study of AVR Control Systems Considering a Novel Optimized PID-Based Model Reference Fractional Adaptive Controller
Authors: Omar Othman A. M. , Marei Mostafa I. , Attia Mahmoud A.
Published: January 2023

Voltage regulation is a crucial task for electrical grids in the presence of high penetration levels of renewable energies. The regulation of generator excitation improves the stability of the power system. An essential tool for controlling the excitation of generators is the automatic voltage regulator (AVR). It is advised to use a controller to increase the reliability of an AVR. A survey about different types of controllers is proposed in this paper. Then, a novel optimized PID-Based model reference fractional adaptive controller is proposed, with detailed mathematical modeling. The novel controller was compared to the controllers in the survey. The novel proposed controller proved its superiority over the other controllers through its fast response and low rising and settling times. Moreover, the proposed controller smoothly and instantaneously tracked dynamic reference changes.
Characterization and Dynamic Adjustment of the Flow Field during the Late Stage of Waterflooding in Strongly Heterogeneous Reservoirs
Authors: Wang Daigang , Liu Fangzhou , Li Guoyong , He Shumei , Song Kaoping , Zhang Jing
Published: January 2023

The flow field is the fluid dynamic flow path in strongly heterogeneous reservoirs, and its evolution significantly affects the distribution of remaining oil, showing a disordered and highly dispersed mode caused by long-time water injection. By combining traditional flow-field evaluation with flow diagnostics, this paper proposes a methodology to quantitatively characterize and adjust the flow field in real time during the late stage of waterflooding in strongly heterogeneous reservoirs. In the study, the fluid velocity, abundance of predominant remaining oil, and Lorenz coefficient are preferred as the characteristic parameters to evaluate the effect of reservoir and flow heterogeneity on the flow field. Taking the minimization of the Lorentz coefficient as the objective function, the optimal injection and production parameters are obtained by dynamic adjusting the flow field. The results show that as water injection continues, the shape and variation of the flow field are jointly influenced by the reservoir rhythm, vertical permeability contrast, and lateral permeability distribution. The larger the permeability contrast, the greater the influence of the lateral permeability distribution. When the permeability contrast is large, the Lorenz coefficient strongly depends on the lateral permeability distribution. Finally, this method is applied to an actual heterogeneous reservoir, and a better effect of oil increase and water reduction is achieved.
Modeling the Effect of Stand Characteristics on Oak Volume Increment in Poland Using Generalized Additive Models
Authors: Viet Hoang Duong Xo , Tymińska-Czabańska Luiza , Socha Jarosław
Published: January 2023

Volume increment is one of the main concerns in forestry practice. The aim of our study was to examine the impact of factors influencing the periodic annual increment of oak. To meet our objective, we used measurement data from the national forest inventory in Poland from 2005 to 2019 for oak-dominated stands. Our study used data of 1464 sample plots with dominant oak species (Quercus sessilis Ehrh. ex Schur and Quercus robur L.) measured within the national forest inventory in Poland. We developed models explaining the dependence of the periodic annual volume increment on stand characteristics using the generalized additive model. The generalized additive model allows us to analyze each variable’s effect on the dependent variable, with all other variables fixed. We documented the effect of age, height, basal area, and relative spacing index (RSI) on the periodic annual volume increment (PAIv) of oaks in Poland. The PAIv of oaks decreased gradually as the tree aged. The dependence of the PAIv on stand density was shown through its relationship with the basal area and RSI. The developed model explained about 64.6% of the periodic annual volume increment variance.
Resin-Tapping Production in Pinus pinaster Ait. Stands in Galicia (NW Spain): Effects of Location, Number of Faces, Wound Width and Production Year
Authors: García-Méijome Alberto , Rozados Lorenzo María José , Fernández Blanco Edgar , Martínez Chamorro Enrique , Gómez-García Esteban
Published: January 2023

Resin or gum is secreted by conifers, mainly members of the genus Pinus, in response to physical and/or chemical stimulation, which can be induced by tapping live trees, i.e., by making repeated wounds in the trees. Resin production could potentially complement timber production (the main economic activity) in pine stands in Galicia (NW Spain). In addition, the particular characteristics of Galician woodlands (smallholdings, sloping land, presence of shrubs, high density of trees) imply different yields and costs than in pine stands dedicated to resin production in other parts of Spain. Therefore, a specific regional management model that is different from the traditional model established for other resin producing areas in the Iberian Peninsula is required. In this study, resin tapping was applied in each of the three years before the trees were felled, in two different locations, with one or two faces tapped and wounds of two different widths (12 and 16 cm) made across the face(s). Tapping two faces yielded more resin than tapping a single face, thus confirming the study hypothesis. When only one face was tapped, the plot location acquired greater importance, with production being higher in the location characterised by a higher mean annual temperature. Increasing the width of the wound did not always increase the amount of resin obtained per tree, which depended on the number of faces open: when two faces were tapped, increasing the width of the wound increased resin production in both locations in each of the three years of the trial. The weather conditions in each year masked the effect of the tapping season, and production did not follow any particular trend over time. The importance of the local weather conditions in the study areas and the environmental conditions in each year are discussed. The study findings are important for decision-making regarding the treatment and selection of areas for resin extraction.
Stable Isotopes Reveal the Effect of Canopy and Litter Layer Interception on Water Recharge in a Subtropical Manmade Forest of Southwest China
Authors: Xia Chengcheng , Liu Guodong , Luo Jian
Published: January 2023

In areas completely covered by vegetation, the rainwater that passes through the canopy layer and litter layer is the source supplying surface runoff and seeping into the soil layer. To reveal the influence mechanisms of the canopy and litter layer on water supply in forest areas, this study conducted event-scale water sampling and hydrogen and oxygen isotopic comparison for the rainfall, canopy throughfall and litter layer throughfall in a manmade forest. The results show that canopy interception will lead to a more concentrated distribution and lower isotopic variability. The d-excess and the intercept and slope of the δD-δ18O regression line of the canopy throughfall are slightly higher than those of rainfall, reflecting that the evaporation fractionation caused by canopy interception is weak, and the selection process may play a leading role. Compared with the canopy throughfall, the distribution of the δ18O, δD and d-excess in the litter layer throughfall is more dispersed, and the slope and intercept of the δD-δ18O regression line are higher, indicating the strong influence of non-equilibrium fractionation on the water input caused by litter layer interception. The isotopic differences between the litter layer throughfall and canopy throughfall indicate that the water components of small-scale precipitation events (precipitation amount lower than 5 mm) and the early stage of large-scale precipitation events (precipitation amount higher than 25 mm) may be dissipated by litter layer interception, while that of the latter stage of large-size events is slightly affected. The findings of this study will be helpful to deeply understand the mechanisms of the water cycle in the forest ecosystem under the background of climate change and provide insights for the sustainable utilization of water resources.
Effects of Pectinase Pre-Treatment on the Physicochemical Properties, Bioactive Compounds, and Volatile Components of Juices from Different Cultivars of Guava
Authors: Chen Xiaowei , Xu Yujuan , Wu Jijun , Yu Yuanshan , Zou Bo , Li Lu
Published: January 2023

In this study, the physicochemical properties, antioxidant capacity, and volatile compounds of the juices of different guava cultivars before and after pectinase treatment were evaluated. The results showed that the guava juice of the small fragrant (SF) cultivar exhibited the highest ascorbic acid concentration (1761.09 mg/L), and the highest contents of total phenolics (329.52 mg GAE/L) and total flavonoids (411.13 mg RE/L) were both found in the juice of the watermelon red (WR) cultivar. After pectinase treatment, the juice yield and the titratable acid, sugar components, total phenolics and total flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity levels of the guava juices were all higher than those of the non-pectinase group. However, lower sensory evaluation scores were obtained in the pectinase-treated guava juices. Aldehydes and terpenoids were the main flavor components in the guava juices, which were responsible for the aroma of the juice, while their relative contents were different in the four cultivar guava juices. Furthermore, pectinase treatment could change the amounts and relative contents of volatile compounds in the guava juice. During the pectinase treatment process, the relative contents of the main aroma constituents in the guava juices were significantly decreased. The findings of this research provide valuable information for the processing of guava juice.
Bioactive Compounds from Fruits as Preservatives
Authors: Munekata Paulo E. S. , Pateiro Mirian , Domínguez Rubén , Nieto Gema , Kumar Manoj , Dhama Kuldeep , Lorenzo José M.
Published: January 2023

The use of additives with preservative effects is a common practice in the food industry. Although their use is regulated, natural alternatives have gained more attention among researchers and professionals in the food industry in order to supply processed foods with a clean label. Fruits are essential components in a healthy diet and have also been associated with improved health status and a lower risk of developing diseases. This review aims to provide an overview of the main bioactive compounds (polyphenols, betalain, and terpenes) naturally found in fruits, their antioxidant and antimicrobial activity in vitro, and their preservative effect in different foods. Many extracts obtained from the skin (apple, grape, jabuticaba, orange, and pomegranate, for instance), pulp (such as red pitaya), and seeds (guarana, grape, and jabuticaba) of fruits are of great value due to the presence of multiple compounds (punicalagin, catechin, gallic acid, limonene, β-pinene, or γ-terpinene, for instance). In terms of antioxidant activity, some fruits that stand out are date, jabuticaba, grape, and olive, which interact with different radicals and show different mechanisms of action in vitro. Antimicrobial activity is observed for natural extracts and essential oils (especially from citrus fruits) that limit the growth of many microorganisms (Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Penicillium digitatum, and Pseodomonas aeruginosa, for instance). Studies in foods have revealed that the use of extracts or essential oils as free or encapsulated forms or incorporated into films and coatings can inhibit microbial growth, slow oxidative reactions, reduce the accumulation of degradative products, and also preserve sensory attributes, especially with films and coatings. Future studies could focus on the advances of extracts and essential oils to align their use with the development of healthier foods (especially for meat products) and explore the inhibition of spoilage microorganisms in dairy products, for instance.
Spun-Up Rotation-Powered Magnetized White Dwarfs in Close Binaries as Possible Gamma-ray Sources: Signatures of Pulsed Modulation from AE Aquarii and AR Scorpii in Fermi-LAT Data
Authors: Meintjes Pieter J. , Madzime Spencer T. , Kaplan Quinton , van Heerden Hendrik J.
Published: January 2023

In this paper, the possibility of periodic pulsar-like gamma-ray emission from the white dwarfs in AE Aquarii and AR Scorpii is investigated. We show that the white dwarf magnetospheres in AE Aquarii and AR Scorpii can possibly induce potentials to accelerate charged particles to energies in excess of one tera electronvolt (TeV) with associated gamma-ray emission through processes such as curvature radiation, inverse Compton, and hadronic processes such as neutral pion decay. We report here pulsed gamma-ray signatures at or close to the spin period of white dwarfs in both AE Aquarii and AR Scorpii in the Fermi-LAT dataset. This may indicate that both these white dwarfs possibly contain a particle accelerator that can produce relativistic electrons and ions and associated high energy radiation. The possibility of pair production is also investigated, which could provide a source for relativistic e± pairs in the magnetosphere. This could possibly be a driver for other forms of lepton-induced multi-wavelength pulsar-like emission from these two systems as well, for example, to explain the recently detected pulsed radio emission from AE Aquarii and R Scorpii in MeerKAT observations at the spin period of the white dwarf. The possibility of future detection of AE Aquarii and AR Scorpii with the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is also discussed. The future Vera Rubin Observatory will make a revolutionary contribution to time-domain astrophysics, which may lead to the discovery of thousands of new transient sources, possibly also many more close binaries with highly spun-up magnetized white dwarfs such as AE Aquarii and AR Scorpii for future investigation.
Differential Gene Expression of Innate Immune Response Genes Consequent to Solenopsis invicta Virus-3 Infection
Authors: Holmes V. , Johnston J.
Published: January 2023

The red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta Buren (fire ant hereafter) is a global pest that inflicts billions of dollars in damages to the United States economy and poses a major threat on a global scale. Concerns with the broad-spectrum application of insecticides have facilitated the hunt for natural enemy-mediated controls. One of these, the virus Solenopsis invicta virus-3 (SINV-3 hereafter) is exceptionally virulent in laboratory settings. However, despite high mortality rates in the laboratory and documented widespread SINV-3 prevalence in the southern United States, the fire ant remains a major pest. To explore this paradox, we document the immune response elicited by the fire ant when infected with SINV-3. We sequence the fire ant transcriptome prior to and following infection with SINV-3, and identify and discuss in detail genes in immune response pathways differentially expressed following infection with SINV-3. This information provides insights into genes and pathways involved in the SINV-3 infection response in the fire ant and offers avenues to pursue, to suppress key immune response genes and force the fire ant to succumb to SINV-3 infection in the field.
Small Body, Large Chromosomes: Centric Fusions Shaped the Karyotype of the Amazonian Miniature Fish Nannostomus anduzei (Characiformes, Lebiasinidae)
Authors: de Moraes Renata Luiza Rosa , Sassi Francisco de Menezes Cavalcante , Marinho Manoela Maria Ferreira , Ráb Petr , Porto Jorge Ivan Rebelo , Feldberg Eliana , Cioffi Marcelo de Bello
Published: January 2023

Miniature refers to species with extraordinarily small adult body size when adult and can be found within all major metazoan groups. It is considered that miniature species have experienced severe alteration of numerous morphological traits during evolution. For a variety of reasons, including severe labor concerns during collecting, chromosomal acquisition, and taxonomic issues, miniature fishes are neglected and understudied. Since some available studies indicate possible relationship between diploid chromosome number (2n) and body size in fishes, we aimed to study one of the smallest Neotropical fish Nannostomus anduzei (Teleostei, Characiformes, Lebiasinidae), using both conventional (Giemsa staining, C-banding) and molecular cytogenetic methods (FISH mapping of rDNAs, microsatellites, and telomeric sequences). Our research revealed that N. anduzei possesses one of the lowest diploid chromosome numbers (2n = 22) among teleost fishes, and its karyotype is entirely composed of large metacentric chromosomes. All chromosomes, except for pair number 11, showed an 18S rDNA signal in the pericentromeric region. 5S rDNA signals were detected in the pericentromeric regions of chromosome pair number 1 and 6, displaying synteny to 18S rDNA signals. Interstitial telomeric sites (ITS) were identified in the centromeric region of pairs 6 and 8, indicating that centric fusions played a significant role in karyotype evolution of studied species. Our study provides further evidence supporting the trend of diploid chromosome number reduction along with miniaturization of adult body size in fishes.
Hydrological Responses to Land Use/Land Cover Changes in Koga Watershed, Upper Blue Nile, Ethiopia
Authors: Ayele Habitamu Alesew , Aga Alemu O. , Belayneh Liuelsegad , Wanjala Tilahun Wankie
Published: January 2023

Information on land use and land cover modification and their related problems for the streamflow and sediment yield are crucial for spatial planners and stakeholders to devise suitable catchment resources management plans and strategies. This research sought to assess the changes in land use and land cover (LULC) effects on the streamflow and sediment yield of the Koga watershed. Landsat-5 TM, Landsat-7 ETM+, and Landsat-8 OLI data were used to create the land use and land cover maps. The LULC type identification analysis was performed by using ERDAS Imagine 2015. After the supervised classification, the land use and land cover maps for three distinct years (1991, 2008, and 2018) were generated, and the accuracy of the maps was reviewed. The LULC change analysis results were pointed out, as there was an appreciable LULC change in the study watershed. Agricultural land increased by 14.21% over the research period, whereas grassland decreased by 22.91%. The other LULC classes (built-up area, forest area, water body, and wetland) increased by 0.39%, 6.36%, 4.30%, and 0.46%, respectively. Contrarily, bushland decreased by 2.80%. Human activities were decisive in the significant land use alterations within the catchment. The flow rate of the river basin increased over the rainy season in the years 1991–2008 and declined in the drier months. The watershed’s sediment yield increased from 1991 to 2008 as a result of the extension of its agricultural area. Thus, the findings of this investigation demonstrated that the flow and sediment yield characteristics are changed because of the modifications within the LULC in the catchment. Some downstream and upstream parts of the area are exposed to comparatively high erosion, and the maximum amount of sediment is generated during the rainy season.
Not Every Circle Is a Crater: Kettle Hole Size Distributions and Their Implications in Planetary Surface Age Dating
Authors: Day Mackenzie , Bretzfelder Jordan M. , Le Duyen
Published: January 2023

Circular landscape features, including kettle lakes, sinkholes, pingos, calderas, and craters, develop from a variety of different geomorphic processes on Earth. On many rocky extraterrestrial surfaces, including Mars, the most common circular landscape features are craters, and the density of these craters is commonly used to estimate the age of the surface. On planetary bodies where fluvial, volcanic, and glacial geomorphic processes are not present, alternative interpretations of circular features can safely be ignored. However, Mars once hosted an Earth-like climate and many elements of the Martian landscape that are visible today were formed by ancient fluvial, glacial, or volcanic processes. In this work, we focus on the potential presence of postglacial kettle hole depressions on Mars. We explore the size and density distribution of kettle lakes in three analog postglacial landscapes on Earth and discuss the implications for planetary surface age dating if kettles and craters are present together in the landscape on Mars.
Post-Postmodernism, the “Affective Turn”, and Inauthenticity
Authors: Kowalik George
Published: January 2023

This article considers Rachel Greenwald Smith’s concept of the “Affective Turn” in contemporary fiction by looking at a constellation of novels published near the turn of the twenty-first century: David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest (1996), Jonathan Franzen’s The Corrections (2001), Percival Everett’s Erasure (2001), and Zadie Smith’s White Teeth (2000). As Rachel Greenwald Smith claims, this “Turn” offers a “corrective or counter to postmodernist suspicion towards subjective emotion” and has foundations of sincerity and authenticity, which align it with the premise of post-postmodernism. These novels, I argue, collectively engage with the affective turn’s inherent post-postmodern potential, as their authors respond to, challenge, and react against postmodern irony and the license of inauthenticity that comes with this.
Quality Perceptions, Expectations, and Individual Characteristics among Adult Patients Visiting Primary Healthcare Centers in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Alanazi Eidah , Alanazi Hamdah , Alanazi Maha , Alsadoun Ahmed , Asiri Saeed , Bahari Ghareeb
Published: January 2023

Quality is a main concern of primary healthcare centers, and pursuing quality can lead to service improvement as well as affordable healthcare. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to describe patients’ healthcare quality perceptions and expectations and determine the relationships between them and associated factors. The study was conducted on a convenience sample of 470 patients visiting primary healthcare centers. Data were collected between April and July 2022 using an anonymous questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted. Most participants reported high levels of quality perceptions and expectations. Bivariate analyses showed a significant correlation between quality perceptions and expectations. Both being single and having a higher level of education were statistically different in terms of quality perception and expectations, respectively. Further, being single, highly educated, and employed had significant differences in terms of expectations. In regression, primary education and expectations influenced quality perceptions. Marital status, profession, and perception were the only variables that significantly influenced participants’ expectations. Patients’ healthcare quality perceptions and expectations are important for ensuring the efficiency of healthcare services. Primary healthcare centers are the key avenue for disease prevention and early detection. The optimization of primary healthcare centers’ quality and addressing its potential issues should be performed through interdisciplinary teamwork.
Engaging Physicians and Systems to Improve Hepatitis C Virus Testing in Baby Boomers
Authors: Vadaparampil Susan T. , Fuzzell Lindsay N. , Rathwell Julie , Reich Richard R. , Roetzheim Richard , Giuliano Anna R.
Published: January 2023

Approximately three million people in the United States have been exposed to the hepatitis C virus (HCV), with two-thirds of these having chronic HCV infection. Baby boomers (those born 1945–1965) have nearly five times the prevalence of HCV infection compared with other age groups. Despite clinical practice guidelines that recommend HCV testing in baby boomers, the testing rates remain low. We developed and tested a multilevel intervention to increase orders for HCV testing that included integrated clinical decision support within the electronic health record (EHR) and a physician education session to improve HCV physician knowledge in one Florida academic health system. In the year prior to the intervention, test order rates for encounters with baby boomers was 11.9%. During the intervention period (August 2019–July 2020) for providers that viewed a best practice alert (BPA), the ordering increased to 59.2% in Family Medicine and 64.6% in Internal Medicine. The brief physician education intervention improved total HCV knowledge and increased self-efficacy in knowledge of HCV risk factors. These findings suggest that interventions at the system and physician levels hold promise for increasing HCV testing rates. Future studies are needed to evaluate this intervention in additional clinical settings and to test the benefit of adding additional intervention components that are directed at patients.
Impact of Land-Use Change on Ecosystem Services in the Wuling Mountains from a Transport Development Perspective
Authors: Chen Yu , Liu Yilian , Yang Shengfu , Liu Chengwu
Published: January 2023

Transportation significantly affects regional land-use changes and ecosystem service functions. Exploring the correlations among transport development, spatial pattern of land-use changes, and ecosystem service changes are important for mitigating the deterioration of regional ecosystems due to human activities. In this study, 2000–2020 was selected as the study period to explore the effects of land-use changes on the ecosystem service value (ESV) in the Wuling Mountains. The results showed that: (1) the Wuling Mountains have experienced four stages of transport development and (2) transportation development has contributed to land-use change. The spatial pattern associated with construction land growth has evolved due to transport development. Garden land has gradually spread into the entire region with transport development. Policies from different periods have had more of an effect on ecological land and cropland. (3) During the study period, the ESV first increased and then declined. The periphery of the transportation axis formed a concentration zone of ESV cold spots. In contrast, ESV hot spots were more concentrated in areas along the Yangtze River. The results of this study provide guidance for land-use policy and spatial planning under the concept of green development.
Specific Binding of the α-Component of the Lantibiotic Lichenicidin to the Peptidoglycan Precursor Lipid II Predetermines Its Antimicrobial Activity
Authors: Panina Irina S. , Balandin Sergey V. , Tsarev Andrey V. , Chugunov Anton O. , Tagaev Andrey A. , Finkina Ekaterina I. , Antoshina Daria V. , Sheremeteva Elvira V. , Paramonov Alexander S. , Rickmeyer Jasmin , Bierbaum Gabriele , Efremov Roman G. , Shenkarev Zakhar O. , Ovchinnikova Tatiana V.
Published: January 2023

To date, a number of lantibiotics have been shown to use lipid II—a highly conserved peptidoglycan precursor in the cytoplasmic membrane of bacteria—as their molecular target. The α-component (Lchα) of the two-component lantibiotic lichenicidin, previously isolated from the Bacillus licheniformis VK21 strain, seems to contain two putative lipid II binding sites in its N-terminal and C-terminal domains. Using NMR spectroscopy in DPC micelles, we obtained convincing evidence that the C-terminal mersacidin-like site is involved in the interaction with lipid II. These data were confirmed by the MD simulations. The contact area of lipid II includes pyrophosphate and disaccharide residues along with the first isoprene units of bactoprenol. MD also showed the potential for the formation of a stable N-terminal nisin-like complex; however, the conditions necessary for its implementation in vitro remain unknown. Overall, our results clarify the picture of two component lantibiotics mechanism of antimicrobial action.
Emerging Perspectives on the Antiparasitic Mebendazole as a Repurposed Drug for the Treatment of Brain Cancers
Authors: Meco Daniela , Attinà Giorgio , Mastrangelo Stefano , Navarra Pierluigi , Ruggiero Antonio
Published: January 2023

Repurposing approved non-antitumor drugs is a promising and affordable strategy in drug discovery to identify new therapeutic uses different from the original medical indication that may help increase the number of possible, effective anticancer drugs. The use of drugs in ways other than their original FDA-approved indications could offer novel avenues such as bypassing the chemoresistance and recurrence seen with conventional therapy and treatment; moreover, it can offer a safe and economic strategy for combination therapy. Recent works have demonstrated the anticancer properties of the FDA-approved drug Mebendazole. This synthetic benzimidazole proved effective against a broad spectrum of intestinal Helminthiasis. Mebendazole can penetrate the blood–brain barrier and has been shown to inhibit the malignant progression of glioma by targeting signaling pathways related to cell proliferation, apoptosis, or invasion/migration, or by increasing the sensitivity of glioma cells to conventional chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Moreover, several preclinical models and ongoing clinical trials explore the efficacy of Mebendazole in multiple cancers, including acute myeloid leukemia, brain cancer, oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, breast cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, lung carcinoma, adrenocortical carcinoma, prostate cancer, and head and neck cancer. The present review summarizes central literature regarding the anticancer effects of MBZ in cancer cell lines, animal tumor models, and clinical trials to suggest possible strategies for safe and economical combinations of anticancer therapies in brain cancer. Mebendazole might be an excellent candidate for the treatment of brain tumors because of its efficacy both when used as monotherapy and in combination as an enhancement to standard chemotherapeutics and radiotherapy, due to its effectiveness on tumor angiogenesis inhibition, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis induction, and targeting of critical pathways involved in cancer such as Hedgehog signaling. Therefore, attention to MBZ repurposing has recently increased because of its potential therapeutic versatility and significant clinical implications, such as reducing medical care costs and optimizing existing therapies. Using new treatments is essential, particularly when current therapeutics for patients with brain cancer fail.
Mechanistic Insights, Treatment Paradigms, and Clinical Progress in Neurological Disorders: Current and Future Prospects
Authors: Alkahtani Saad , AL-Johani Norah S. , Alarifi Saud
Published: January 2023

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are a major cause of disability and are related to brain development. The neurological signs of brain lesions can vary from mild clinical shortfalls to more delicate and severe neurological/behavioral symptoms and learning disabilities, which are progressive. In this paper, we have tried to summarize a collective view of various NDs and their possible therapeutic outcomes. These diseases often occur as a consequence of the misfolding of proteins post-translation, as well as the dysfunctional trafficking of proteins. In the treatment of neurological disorders, a challenging hurdle to cross regarding drug delivery is the blood–brain barrier (BBB). The BBB plays a unique role in maintaining the homeostasis of the central nervous system (CNS) by exchanging components between the circulations and shielding the brain from neurotoxic pathogens and detrimental compounds. Here, we outline the current knowledge about BBB deterioration in the evolving brain, its origin, and therapeutic interventions. Additionally, we summarize the physiological scenarios of the BBB and its role in various cerebrovascular diseases. Overall, this information provides a detailed account of BBB functioning and the development of relevant treatments for neurological disorders. This paper will definitely help readers working in the field of neurological scientific communities.
C1QBP Mediates Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation and Growth via Multiple Potential Signalling Pathways
Authors: Scully Olivia J. , Shyamasundar Sukanya , Matsumoto Ken , Dheen S. Thameem , Yip George W. , Bay Boon Huat
Published: January 2023

Breast carcinoma is the most prevalent cancer in women globally, with complex genetic and molecular mechanisms that underlie its development and progression. Several challenges such as metastasis and drug resistance limit the prognosis of breast cancer, and hence a constant search for better treatment regimes, including novel molecular therapeutic targets is necessary. Complement component 1, q subcomponent binding protein (C1QBP), a promising molecular target, has been implicated in breast carcinogenesis. In this study, the role of C1QBP in breast cancer progression, in particular cancer cell growth, was determined in triple negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Depletion of C1QBP decreased cell proliferation, whereas the opposite effect was observed when C1QBP was overexpressed in MDA-MB-231 cells. Furthermore, gene expression profiling and pathway analysis in C1QBP depleted cells revealed that C1QBP regulates several signaling pathways crucial for cell growth and survival. Taken together, these findings provide a deeper comprehension of the role of C1QBP in triple negative breast cancer, and could possibly pave the way for future advancement of C1QBP-targeted breast cancer therapy.
Regulation of Oocyte Apoptosis: A View from Gene Knockout Mice
Authors: Kaur Sandeep , Kurokawa Manabu
Published: January 2023

Apoptosis is a form of programmed cell death that plays a critical role in cellular homeostasis and development, including in the ovarian reserve. In humans, hundreds of thousands of oocytes are produced in the fetal ovary. However, the majority die by apoptosis before birth. After puberty, primordial follicles develop into mature follicles. While only a large dominant follicle is selected to ovulate, smaller ones undergo apoptosis. Despite numerous studies, the mechanism of oocyte death at the molecular level remains elusive. Over the last two and a half decades, many knockout mouse models disrupting key genes in the apoptosis pathway have been generated. In this review, we highlight some of the phenotypes and discuss distinct and overlapping roles of the apoptosis regulators in oocyte death and survival. We also review how the transcription factor p63 and its family members may trigger oocyte apoptosis in response to DNA damage.
Anti-IL17A Halts the Onset of Diabetic Retinopathy in Type I and II Diabetic Mice
Authors: Zhou Amy Y. , Taylor Brooklyn E. , Barber Katherine G. , Lee Chieh A. , Taylor Zakary R. R. , Howell Scott J. , Taylor Patricia R.
Published: January 2023

There are ~463 million diabetics worldwide, and more than half have diabetic retinopathy. Yet, treatments are still lacking for non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. We and others previously provided evidence that Interleukin-17A (IL-17A) plays a pivotal role in non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. However, all murine studies used Type I diabetes models. Hence, it was the aim of this study to determine if IL-17A induces non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy in Type II diabetic mice, as identified for Type I diabetes. While examining the efficacy of anti-IL-17A as a potential therapeutic in a short-term Type I and a long-term Type II diabetes model; using different routes of administration of anti-IL-17A treatments. Retinal inflammation was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) after Type I-diabetic mice received 1 intravitreal injection, and Type II-diabetic mice received seven intraperitoneal injections of anti-IL-17A. Further, vascular tight junction protein Zonula Occludens-1 (ZO-1) was significantly decreased in both Type I and II diabetic mice, which was significantly increased when mice received anti-IL-17A injections (p < 0.05). Similarly, tight junction protein Occludin degradation was halted in Type II diabetic mice that received anti-IL-17A treatments. Finally, retinal capillary degeneration was halted 6 months after diabetes was confirmed in Type II-diabetic mice that received weekly intraperitoneal injections of anti-IL-17A. These findings provide evidence that IL-17A plays a pivotal role in non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy in Type II diabetic mice, and suggests that anti-IL-17A could be a good therapeutic candidate for non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
Ca2+-Activated K+ Channels and the Regulation of the Uteroplacental Circulation
Authors: Hu Xiang-Qun , Zhang Lubo
Published: January 2023

Adequate uteroplacental blood supply is essential for the development and growth of the placenta and fetus during pregnancy. Aberrant uteroplacental perfusion is associated with pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction (FGR), and gestational diabetes. The regulation of uteroplacental blood flow is thus vital to the well-being of the mother and fetus. Ca2+-activated K+ (KCa) channels of small, intermediate, and large conductance participate in setting and regulating the resting membrane potential of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and endothelial cells (ECs) and play a critical role in controlling vascular tone and blood pressure. KCa channels are important mediators of estrogen/pregnancy-induced adaptive changes in the uteroplacental circulation. Activation of the channels hyperpolarizes uteroplacental VSMCs/ECs, leading to attenuated vascular tone, blunted vasopressor responses, and increased uteroplacental blood flow. However, the regulation of uteroplacental vascular function by KCa channels is compromised in pregnancy complications. This review intends to provide a comprehensive overview of roles of KCa channels in the regulation of the uteroplacental circulation under physiological and pathophysiological conditions.
Functional Characterization of a Spectrum of Novel Romano-Ward Syndrome KCNQ1 Variants
Authors: Rinné Susanne , Oertli Annemarie , Nagel Claudia , Tomsits Philipp , Jenewein Tina , Kääb Stefan , Kauferstein Silke , Loewe Axel , Beckmann Britt Maria , Decher Niels
Published: January 2023

The KCNQ1 gene encodes the α-subunit of the cardiac voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channel KCNQ1, also denoted as Kv7.1 or KvLQT1. The channel assembles with the ß-subunit KCNE1, also known as minK, to generate the slowly activating cardiac delayed rectifier current IKs, a key regulator of the heart rate dependent adaptation of the cardiac action potential duration (APD). Loss-of-function variants in KCNQ1 cause the congenital Long QT1 (LQT1) syndrome, characterized by delayed cardiac repolarization and a QT interval prolongation in the surface electrocardiogram (ECG). Autosomal dominant loss-of-function variants in KCNQ1 result in the LQT syndrome called Romano-Ward syndrome (RWS), while autosomal recessive variants affecting function, lead to Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome (JLNS), associated with deafness. The aim of this study was the characterization of novel KCNQ1 variants identified in patients with RWS to widen the spectrum of known LQT1 variants, and improve the interpretation of the clinical relevance of variants in the KCNQ1 gene. We functionally characterized nine human KCNQ1 variants using the voltage-clamp technique in Xenopus laevis oocytes, from which we report seven novel variants. The functional data was taken as input to model surface ECGs, to subsequently compare the functional changes with the clinically observed QTc times, allowing a further interpretation of the severity of the different LQTS variants. We found that the electrophysiological properties of the variants correlate with the severity of the clinically diagnosed phenotype in most cases, however, not in all. Electrophysiological studies combined with in silico modelling approaches are valuable components for the interpretation of the pathogenicity of KCNQ1 variants, but assessing the clinical severity demands the consideration of other factors that are included, for example in the Schwartz score.