bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antimicrobial Resistance Elements in Coastal Water of Llanquihue Lake, Chile
Authors: Campanini-Salinas Javier , Opitz-Ríos Catherine , Sagredo-Mella John A. , Contreras-Sanchez Danilo , Giménez Matías , Páez Paula , Tarifa María Clara , Rubio Nataly D. , Medina Daniel A.
Published: July 2024

Antimicrobial resistance has been stated to be a global health problem. In Chile, the use of antibiotics should be declared by medical prescription, but it is unknown what happens to the drugs once the treatment ends. Among the possibilities for their disposal are the trash or the drain; regardless of which scenario arises, antibiotics could accumulate in the environment, stimulating the emergence of antimicrobial resistance mechanisms and their transfer between microorganisms. Unfortunately, sometimes wastewater ends up in bodies of water, due to the dragging of elements by rain, or by the presence of illegal water discharges. In this work, shotgun metagenomics was used to elucidate the functional and microbial composition of biohazard elements in the bay of Puerto Varas City, Chile. As expected, a high diversity of microorganisms was found, including bacterial elements described as human or animal pathogens. Also, a diverse repertory of antimicrobial resistant genes (ARGs) was detected, which confers mainly resistance to macrolides, beta-lactams, and tetracyclines, consistent with the families of antibiotics most used in Chile. Similar ARGs were identified in DNA mobile elements. In addition, we tested the antimicrobial susceptibility in 14 bacterial strains isolated from Llanquihue Lake. This is the first report of the presence of genomic elements that could constitute a health problem, considering the importance of the interconnection between environmental, animal, and human health, a concept known as One Health.
Integrated Metabolomics and Metagenomics Unveiled Biomarkers of Antioxidant Potential in Fermented Brewer’s Grains
Authors: Qamar Hammad , Li Yuanfei , He Rong , Waqas Muhammad , Song Min , Deng Dun , Cui Yiyan , Yang Pan , Liu Zhichang , Qammar Bilal , Asnan Muhammad , Xie Xiangxue , Yu Miao , Ma Xianyong
Published: July 2024

About one-third of the global food supply is wasted. Brewers’ spent grain (BSG), being produced in enormous amounts by the brewery industry, possesses an eminence nutritional profile, yet its recycling is often neglected for multiple reasons. We employed integrated metagenomics and metabolomics techniques to assess the effects of enzyme treatments and Lactobacillus fermentation on the antioxidant capacity of BSG. The biotreated BSG revealed improved antioxidant capability, as evidenced by significantly increased (p < 0.05) radical scavenging activity and flavonoid and polyphenol content. Untargeted metabolomics revealed that Lactobacillus fermentation led to the prominent synthesis (p < 0.05) of 15 novel antioxidant peptides, as well as significantly higher (p < 0.05) enrichment of isoflavonoid and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways. The correlation analysis demonstrated that Lactiplantibacillus plantarum exhibited strong correlation (p < 0.05) with aucubin and carbohydrate-active enzymes, namely, glycoside hydrolases 25, glycosyl transferases 5, and carbohydrate esterases 9. The fermented BSG has potential applications in the food industry as a culture medium, a functional food component for human consumption, and a bioactive feed ingredient for animals.
Recent Advances in Astaxanthin as an Antioxidant in Food Applications
Authors: Dang Yimeng , Li Zhixi , Yu Fanqianhui
Published: July 2024

In recent years, astaxanthin as a natural substance has received widespread attention for its potential to replace traditional synthetic antioxidants and because its antioxidant activity exceeds that of similar substances. Based on this, this review introduces the specific forms of astaxanthin currently used as an antioxidant in foods, both in its naturally occurring forms and in artificially added forms involving technologies such as emulsion, microcapsule, film, nano liposome and nano particle, aiming to improve its stability, dispersion and bioavailability in complex food systems. In addition, research progress on the application of astaxanthin in various food products, such as whole grains, seafood and poultry products, is summarized. In view of the characteristics of astaxanthin, such as insolubility in water and sensitivity to light, heat, oxygen and humidity, the main research trends of astaxanthin-loaded systems with high encapsulation efficiency, good stability, good taste masking effect and cost-effectiveness are also pointed out. Finally, the possible sensory effects of adding astaxanthin to food aresummarized, providing theoretical support for the development of astaxanthin-related food.
The Impairment of Endothelial Autophagy Accelerates Renal Senescence by Ferroptosis and NLRP3 Inflammasome Signaling Pathways with the Disruption of Endothelial Barrier
Authors: Kim Jin Won , Nam Sun Ah , Koh Eun-Sil , Kim Hyung Wook , Kim Sua , Woo Jin Ju , Kim Yong Kyun
Published: July 2024

Autophagy is a cellular process that degrades damaged cytoplasmic components and regulates cell death. The homeostasis of endothelial cells (ECs) is crucial for the preservation of glomerular structure and function in aging. Here, we investigated the precise mechanisms of endothelial autophagy in renal aging. The genetic deletion of Atg7 in the ECs of Atg7flox/flox;Tie2-Cre mice accelerated aging-related glomerulopathy and tubulointerstitial fibrosis. The EC-specific Atg7 deletion in aging mice induced the detachment of EC with the disruption of glomerular basement membrane (GBM) assembly and increased podocyte loss resulting in microalbuminuria. A Transwell co-culture system of ECs and kidney organoids showed that the iron and oxidative stress induce the disruption of the endothelial barrier and increase vascular permeability, which was accelerated by the inhibition of autophagy. This resulted in the leakage of iron through the endothelial barrier into kidney organoids and increased oxidative stress, which led to ferroptotic cell death. The ferritin accumulation was increased in the kidneys of the EC-specific Atg7-deficient aging mice and upregulated the NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway. The pharmacologic inhibition of ferroptosis with liproxstatin-1 recovered the disrupted endothelial barrier and reversed the decreased expression of GPX4, as well as NLRP3 and IL-1β, in endothelial autophagy-deficient aged mice, which attenuated aging-related renal injury including the apoptosis of renal cells, abnormal structures of GBM, and tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Our data showed that endothelial autophagy is essential for the maintenance of the endothelial barrier during renal aging and the impairment of endothelial autophagy accelerates renal senescence by ferroptosis and NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathways. These processes may be attractive therapeutic targets to reduce cellular injury from renal aging.
Role of Myeloperoxidase, Oxidative Stress, and Inflammation in Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Authors: Wu Tzong-Jin , Jing Xigang , Teng Michelle , Pritchard Kirkwood A. , Day Billy W. , Naylor Stephen , Teng Ru-Jeng
Published: July 2024

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a lung complication of premature births. The leading causes of BPD are oxidative stress (OS) from oxygen treatment, infection or inflammation, and mechanical ventilation. OS activates alveolar myeloid cells with subsequent myeloperoxidase (MPO)-mediated OS. Premature human neonates lack sufficient antioxidative capacity and are susceptible to OS. Unopposed OS elicits inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and cellular senescence, culminating in a BPD phenotype. Poor nutrition, patent ductus arteriosus, and infection further aggravate OS. BPD survivors frequently suffer from reactive airway disease, neurodevelopmental deficits, and inadequate exercise performance and are prone to developing early-onset chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Rats and mice are commonly used to study BPD, as they are born at the saccular stage, comparable to human neonates at 22–36 weeks of gestation. The alveolar stage in rats and mice starts at the postnatal age of 5 days. Because of their well-established antioxidative capacities, a higher oxygen concentration (hyperoxia, HOX) is required to elicit OS lung damage in rats and mice. Neutrophil infiltration and ER stress occur shortly after HOX, while cellular senescence is seen later. Studies have shown that MPO plays a critical role in the process. A novel tripeptide, N-acetyl-lysyltyrosylcysteine amide (KYC), a reversible MPO inhibitor, attenuates BPD effectively. In contrast, the irreversible MPO inhibitor—AZD4831—failed to provide similar efficacy. Interestingly, KYC cannot offer its effectiveness without the existence of MPO. We review the mechanisms by which this anti-MPO agent attenuates BPD.
Robust Estimation Method against Poisoning Attacks for Key-Value Data with Local Differential Privacy
Authors: Horigome Hikaru , Kikuchi Hiroaki , Fujita Masahiro , Yu Chia-Mu
Published: July 2024

Local differential privacy (LDP) protects user information from potential threats by randomizing data on individual devices before transmission to untrusted collectors. This method enables collectors to derive user statistics by analyzing randomized data, thereby presenting a promising avenue for privacy-preserving data collection. In the context of key–value data, in which discrete and continuous values coexist, PrivKV has been introduced as an LDP protocol to ensure secure collection. However, this framework is susceptible to poisoning attacks. To address this vulnerability, we propose an expectation maximization (EM)-based algorithm combined with a cryptographic protocol to facilitate secure random sampling. Our LDP protocol, known as emPrivKV, exhibits two key advantages: it improves the accuracy of statistical information estimation from randomized data, and enhances resilience against the manipulation of statistics, that is, poisoning attacks. These attacks involve malicious users manipulating the analysis results without detection. This study presents the empirical results of applying the emPrivKV protocol to both synthetic and open datasets, highlighting a notable improvement in the precision of statistical value estimation and robustness against poisoning attacks. As a result, emPrivKV improved the frequency and the mean gains by 17.1% and 25.9%, respectively, compared to PrivKV, with the number of fake users being 0.1 of the genuine users. Our findings contribute to the ongoing discourse on refining LDP protocols for key–value data in scenarios involving privacy-sensitive information.
Estimating Urban Traffic Safety and Analyzing Spatial Patterns through the Integration of City-Wide Near-Miss Data: A New York City Case Study
Authors: Xu Chuan , Gao Jingqin , Zuo Fan , Ozbay Kaan
Published: July 2024

City-wide near-miss data can be beneficial for traffic safety estimation. In this study, we evaluate urban traffic safety and examine spatial patterns by incorporating city-wide near-miss data (59,277 near-misses). Our methodology employs a grid-based method, the Empirical Bayes (EB) approach, and spatial analysis tools including global Moran’s I and local Moran’s I. The study findings reveal that near-misses have the strongest correlation with observed crash frequency among all the variables studied. Interestingly, the ratio of near-misses to crashes is roughly estimated to be 1957:1, providing a potentially useful benchmark for urban areas. For other variables, an increased number of intersections and bus stops, along with a greater road length, contribute to a higher crash frequency. Conversely, residential and open-space land use rates show a negative correlation with crash frequency. Through spatial analysis, potential risk hotspots including roads linking bridges and tunnels, and avenues bustling with pedestrian activity, are highlighted. The study also identified negative local spatial correlations in crash frequencies, suggesting significant safety risk variations within relatively short distances. By mapping the differences between observed and predicted crash frequencies, we identified specific grid areas with unexpectedly high or low crash frequencies. These findings highlight the crucial role of near-miss data in urban traffic safety policy and planning, particularly relevant with the imminent rise of autonomous and connected vehicles. By integrating near-miss data into safety estimations, we can develop a more comprehensive understanding of traffic safety and, thus, more effectively address urban traffic risks.
Research on the Reasonable Width of Coal Pillar Driving along Goaf under Thick Hard Roof
Authors: Gu Wei , Xu Dalong , Han Zhenfei , Zhang Hao
Published: July 2024

There are fewer studies on the width of coal pillar retaining under a thick, hard roof. This paper takes the thick limestone roof in the 10110 working face of Jinniu Coal Mine as the background, taking the reasonable coal pillar width and its stability control technology as research objectives. Taking the theoretical analysis and calculation, numerical simulation to study the stress distribution along goaf under different parameters of the roof cutting, the stress distribution of the roadway, and displacement of the surrounding rock under different coal pillar widths, finally examined through on-site industrial experiments. The results show that (1) the vertical stress along goaf shows a gradual decrease with the increase of the roof cutting height and angle; after considering the cost and the difficulty, the optimal height and angle are chosen to be 21 m and 15°; (2) the vertical peak stress of coal pillar decreases with the increase of the width, coal pillar is gradually transformed from the crushed state to the elastic state, the displacement of the roadway also decreases with the increase of the width of the pillar, and the width of the coal pillar is chosen to be 8.0 m after comprehensive analysis; (3) during the roadway excavation and working face mining, the deformation of the surrounding rock is in a reasonable range, and the anchors and bolts are in a good state of stress, which indicates that retaining 8 m coal pillar is a success. This paper also provides theoretical references and implications for coal pillar retaining in similar geological mining conditions.
AnimalEnvNet: A Deep Reinforcement Learning Method for Constructing Animal Agents Using Multimodal Data Fusion
Authors: Chen Zhao , Wang Dianchang , Zhao Feixiang , Dai Lingnan , Zhao Xinrong , Jiang Xian , Zhang Huaiqing
Published: July 2024

Simulating animal movement has long been a central focus of study in the area of wildlife behaviour studies. Conventional modelling methods have difficulties in accurately representing changes over time and space in the data, and they generally do not effectively use telemetry data. Thus, this paper introduces a new and innovative deep reinforcement learning technique known as AnimalEnvNet. This approach combines historical trajectory data and remote sensing images to create an animal agent using deep reinforcement learning techniques. It overcomes the constraints of conventional modelling approaches. We selected pandas as the subject of our research and carried out research using GPS trajectory data, Google Earth images, and Sentinel-2A remote sensing images. The experimental findings indicate that AnimalEnvNet reaches convergence during supervised learning training, attaining a minimal mean absolute error (MAE) of 28.4 m in single-step prediction when compared to actual trajectories. During reinforcement learning training, the agent has the capability to replicate animal locomotion for a maximum of 12 iterations, while maintaining an error margin of 1000 m. This offers a novel approach and viewpoint for mimicking animal behaviour.
Utilizing Selected Machine Learning Methods for Conicity Prediction in the Process of Producing Radial Tires for Passenger Cars
Authors: Majewski Wojciech , Dostatni Ewa , Diakun Jacek , Mikołajewski Dariusz , Rojek Izabela
Published: July 2024

This article presents the current state and development directions of the tire industry. One of the main requirements that a tire must meet before it can leave the factory is achieving values of quantities describing uniformity at a defined level. Of particular importance areconicity and the components of the tire with the greatest impact on its value. This research is based on the possibility of using an ANN to meet contemporary challenges faced by tire manufacturers. In order to achieve a satisfactory level of prediction, we compared the use of a multi-layer perceptron and decision trees XGBoost, LightGbmRegression, and FastTreeRegression. Based on data analysis and similar examples from the literature, metrics were selected to evaluate the models’ ability to solve regression problems in relation to the described problem. We selected the best possible solution, standing at the top of the features covered by the criterion analysis. The proposed solutions can be the basis for acquiring new knowledge and contributions in the field of the computational analysis of industrial data in tire production. These solutions are characterized by the required accuracy and efficiency for online work, and they also contribute to the creation of the best fit elements of complex systems (including computational models). The results of this study will contribute to reducing the volume of waste in the tire industry by eliminating defective tire parts in the early stages of the production process.
Application of Gabor, Log-Gabor, and Adaptive Gabor Filters in Determining the Cut-Off Wavelength Shift of TFBG Sensors
Authors: Cięszczyk Sławomir
Published: July 2024

Tilted fibre Bragg gratings are optical fibre structures used as sensors of various physical quantities. Their unique measurement capabilities result from the high complexity of the optical spectrum consisting of several dozen cladding mode resonances. TFBG spectra demodulation methods generate signal features that highlight changes in the spectrum due to changes in the interacting quantities. Such methods should enable the distinction between two slightly different values of the measured quantity. The paper presents an effective method of processing the TFBG spectrum for use in measuring the refractive index of liquids. The use of Gabor and log-Gabor filters and their adaptive version eliminates the problem of discontinuity in determining the SRI value related to the existence of the cladding mode comb. The Gabor filters used make visible the shifting and fading of spectral features related to the decrease in the intensity of leaking modes. Subsequent modifications of the proposed algorithm led to an increase in the quality factor of the processed spectrum.
Analyzing the Impact of Volatile Electricity Prices on Solar Energy Capture Rates in Central Europe: A Comparative Study
Authors: Pavlík Marek , Bereš Matej , Kurimský František
Published: July 2024

Electricity prices have been exceptionally volatile in recent years. In 2022, we witnessed a sharp increase in electricity prices in many countries. Several factors contributed to this, including reduced electricity production by hydropower plants due to climatic conditions and geopolitical situations around the world, amongst other factors. The research presented in this paper aims to analyze electricity price data and determine the parameters CPS (Capacity Payment Scheme) and CRS (Capacity Remuneration Scheme). These parameters are calculated from hourly data on a monthly basis from 2018 to the present. Determining these parameters provides a clearer understanding of the efficiency of utilizing photovoltaic power plants. However, the results indicate that identical CRS values can signify different situations in the electricity market. Given the current support for projects utilizing photovoltaic energy, the research findings may offer insights into the future direction of photovoltaic energy utilization. If CRS and CPS show positive trends (e.g., increasing values), this may suggest that current political measures (subsidies, supports, etc.) are effective. Policymakers could then strengthen or expand these measures. The research outcomes could shape the geopolitical situation in individual states. The research results show how differences in electricity prices in 2022 compared to pre-2022 affected CSP and CRS parameters. The findings also indicate that electricity prices vary across different countries, which naturally impacts the calculation of CPS and CRS. In 2024, a significant decline in CRS was observed across all analyzed countries, which may indicate issues with integrating solar energy into the market, market saturation, or changes in market dynamics.
A Reliable Publish–Subscribe Mechanism for Internet of Things-Enabled Smart Greenhouses
Authors: Motamedi Behnaz , Villányi Balázs
Published: July 2024

Messaging protocols for the Internet of Things (IoT) play a crucial role in facilitating efficient product creation and waste reduction, and in enhancing agricultural process efficiency within the realm of smart greenhouses. Publish–subscribe (pub-sub) systems improve communication between IoT devices and cloud platforms. Nevertheless, IoT technology is required to effectively handle a considerable volume of subscriptions or topic adjustments from several clients concurrently. In addition, subscription throughput is an essential factor of the pub-sub mechanism, as it directly influences the speed at which messages may be sent to subscribers. The primary focus of this paper pertains to a performance assessment of the proposed message categorization architecture for the Message Queue Telemetry Transport (MQTT) broker. This architecture aims to establish a standardized approach to pub-sub topics and generate new topics with various performance characteristics. We also standardize the form of MQTT protocol broker topic categorization and payload based on greenhouse specifications. The establishment of topic classification enhances the operational effectiveness of the broker, reduces data volume, and concurrently augments the number of messages and events transmitted from the greenhouse environment to the central server on a per-second basis. Our proposed architecture is validated across multiple MQTT brokers, including Mosquitto, ActiveMQ, Bevywise, and EMQ X, showing enhanced flexibility, extensibility, and simplicity while maintaining full compatibility with greenhouse environments. Key findings demonstrate significant improvements in performance metrics. The message processing time for the proposed Active MQ broker was increased approximately five-fold across all QoS levels compared to the original. Subscription throughput for the Bevywise MQTT Route 2.0 broker at QoS0 reached 1453.053, compared to 290.610 for the original broker. The number of messages in the Active MQ broker at QoS0 surged from 394.79 to 1973.95. These improvements demonstrate the architecture’s potential for broader IoT applications in pub-sub systems.
Evaluation of the Effects of Locally Applied Resveratrol and Cigarette Smoking on Bone Healing
Authors: İskender Muhsin Fırat , Çına Müge , Çamlı Şevket Tolga , Çiriş İbrahim Metin , Yüceer Ramazan Oğuz
Published: July 2024

Background: Bone healing is a complex process controlled by various mechanisms. It is known that cigarette smoking (CS) negatively affects bone healing by disrupting many of these mechanisms. In an effort to find ways to eliminate these negative effects caused by CS, studies have been conducted on various vitamins, antioxidants, and medications. Since high doses and repeated injections are required to increase the therapeutic effect of conventional drug applications, controlled drug delivery systems have been developed to avoid such problems. This study aimed to investigate the effects of resveratrol (RES), which has been made into a controlled drug delivery system, on bone healing in rats that were experimentally exposed to cigarette smoke to create a chronic smoking model. Methods: After establishing a chronic CS model by exposing the subjects to cigarette smoke of six cigarettes/day for four weeks, monocortical critical size defects of 3 mm (SD ± 0.02 mm) in diameter were created in the femur using a trephine bur. During the operation, the defects in RES groups were filled locally with a gel-formed solution of RES (50 µM) and Pluronic F-127 (14 µL). CS exposure was continued during the bone healing period after surgery. All groups were sacrificed one month after the operation, and femur samples were taken. Results: The obtained samples were examined by histomorphometric and immunohistochemical techniques; osteoblast count, new bone area, macroscopic filling score, vascularization, and proliferation were evaluated. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that CS negatively affects bone healing and that local application of RES reduces this effect.
Anti-Obesity and Antidiabetic Effects of Fig (Ficus carica L.) Fermented Extract Using Lactobacillus plantarum BT-LP-01
Authors: Choi Hwal , Choi Jihye , Jang Yuseong , Lee Young-Min , Kang Myoung-Hak , Kwon Hyuck-Se , Kim Sokho , Kwon Jungkee
Published: July 2024

This study aimed to assess the effect of fermented fig (Ficus carica L., FF) on obesity and diabetes in a mouse model. FF was cultured with the lactic acid bacterium Lactobacillus plantarum BT-LP-01 and isolated from fig peels. The antioxidant results demonstrated that FF exhibited DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities. In addition, FF showed high levels of total polyphenol and total flavonoids. Body and organ weight and dietary intake were significantly decreased in the FF groups compared to the HFD group. The FF group showed improved recovery in lipid metabolism and liver function compared to the HFD group. In addition, the FF group showed a significant decrease in serum C-P and insulin concentrations compared to the HFD group. FF-administered mice showed a dose-dependent recovery of fasting blood glucose and IPGTT and AUC levels compared to the HFD group. Furthermore, FF groups showed a decreased expression in FAS, C/EBPα, and FABP4, as well as significantly increased expression in ACC in the liver. This study demonstrates that FF is effective in reducing and inhibiting adipogenesis as well as lowering body weight, the blood glucose level, and lipid-related factors. These research findings demonstrate that FF is effective in treating obesity and diabetes.
Air Monitoring in Operating Rooms: Results from a Comprehensive Study in the Campania Region
Authors: Montuori Paolo , Russo Immacolata , De Rosa Elvira , Di Duca Fabiana , De Simone Bruna , Triassi Maria
Published: July 2024

Ensuring air quality in operating rooms is crucial for the health and safety of healthcare professionals and patients. This study, focused on 141 operating theatres in the Campania Region from 2015 to 2022, highlights the importance of air monitoring in operating rooms. Microclimatic parameters, air exchanges, thermal comfort indices, air pressure differences, and anesthetic gas concentrations were measured using standardized procedures. Results indicate that 19% of microclimatic checks exceeded acceptable limits, with significant non-compliance in air velocity (0.01–0.04 m/s, mean 0.03 m/s) and air changes (1–14 h−1, mean 6 h−1). Additionally, levels of anesthetic gases such as nitrous oxide (54.7–197.31 ppm, mean 142.92 ppm) and sevoflurane (2.05–19.45 ppm, mean 5.90 ppm) frequently exceeded recommended exposure limits, raising health concerns. These findings underscore the importance of rigorously adhering to environmental standards and continuously monitoring for optimal conditions in operating rooms. The study also stresses the necessity of ongoing education and training for healthcare personnel on preventive measures to reduce risks. In conclusion, maintaining optimal environmental conditions not only safeguards the comfort and safety of healthcare professionals and patients, but also improves team productivity and clinical outcomes. The study advocates for regularly updating national guidelines and rigorously enforcing safety protocols in healthcare facilities.
Characteristics of Atmospheric Diabatic Heating of the Southwest China Vortex That Induces Extreme Rainstorms in Sichuan
Authors: Zhou Chunhua , Li Yueqing
Published: July 2024

In this study, we aimed to demonstrate the importance of diabatic heating in extreme rainstorm weather events induced by the Southwest China vortex (SWCV) in different precipitation regions with a similar circulation background. The results showed that atmospheric diabatic heating had indicative significance for the intensity evolution of the SWCV and the precipitation area. Changes in the diabatic heating intensity preceded the intensity evolution of the SWCV, and the diabatic heating region was consistent with the heavy precipitation region. The variation in diabatic heating was mainly due to the positive contribution of its vertical transport term. The two types of spatially non-uniform heating effects were similar; however, the western type was located southeast of the SWCV, with an asymmetric distribution on the southeastern and northwestern sides. The eastern type was located in the northeast of the SWCV, with an asymmetric distribution on the northeastern and southwestern sides. The vertically non-uniform heating effect played a decisive role in the distribution and evolution of the spatially non-uniform heating terms. The vertically non-uniform heating effect affected the intensity evolution of the SWCV. In contrast, the horizontally non-uniform heating effect, in opposition to the vertically non-uniform heating effect, had a slightly weaker intensity than the vertically non-uniform heating effect. For the SWCV system, which induces extreme rainstorms, the magnitude of the horizontally non-uniform heating effect could reach that of vertically non-uniform heating; thus, the possible impact of horizontally non-uniform heating should be considered.
Frequency of Italian Record-Breaking Floods over the Last Century (1911–2020)
Authors: Castellarin Attilio , Magnini Andrea , Kyaw Kay Khaing , Ciavaglia Filippo , Bertola Miriam , Blöschl Gunter , Volpi Elena , Claps Pierluigi , Viglione Alberto , Marinelli Alberto , Vogel Richard M.
Published: July 2024

This study provides an in-depth analysis of the frequency of extreme streamflow in Italy, adopting the innovative perspective of the theory of records, and focusing on record-breaking floods. (i.e., annual maximum series, AMS) observed in Italy between 1911 and 2020. Our research employs an extensive dataset of 522 annual maximum series (AMS) of streamflow observed across Italy between 1911 and 2020. We consider three time intervals (1911–2020, 1911–1970, and 1971–2020), and we define pooling-groups of AMSs based on (a) hydrological (e.g., catchment size, mean annual precipitation, etc.) and (b) spatial proximities of the gauged sites. First, within each group and for each time period, we compute the regional average number of record-breaking events (NRbins). Second, with a series of resampling experiments that preserve the spatial correlation among the AMSs, we test the hypothesis that NRbins result from a group of stationary sequences. Our results show spatially coherent patterns of an increasing number of record-breaking floods in central and in northeastern Italy over the last 50 years. In the same time interval, significant deviations in the regional number of record-breaking events from what would be expected for stationary flood sequences seem to be more common in drier climates or at higher altitudes, while the catchment size does not seem to be a meaningful descriptor.
1500-Year Sedimentary Records of the East Asian Summer Monsoon and Yellow Sea Warm Current from the Muddy Area of the North Yellow Sea, China
Authors: Lyu Wenzhe , Chen Guangquan , Wang Yancheng , Cui Zhen , Su Qiao , Fu Tengfei , Xu Xingyong
Published: July 2024

Advances in reconstructing the East Asian monsoon have provided important insights into the natural climate variability in Asia during the pre-instrumental period. However, there are still unresolved paleoclimate issues that necessitate the use of geological proxy data to further our understanding of past climate changes. This study focused on core B13, located in the muddy area of the North Yellow Sea (NYS), to investigate the evolutionary history over the past 1500 years and reconstruct the records of the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) and Yellow Sea warm current (YSWC). The mean grain size of sediment ranged from 4.2 Φ to 5.6 Φ, with the sorting coefficient ranging from 1.9 to 2.2, indicating poor sorting. The C–M pattern showed a limited range of values, with the M values being between 33 and 83 μm and the C values being between 165 and 287 μm, suggesting uniform-suspension transport. The L* index ranged from 40.41 to 44.12, while the a* and b* indexes ranged from 0.55 to 1.78 and 2.86 to 5.94, respectively. A stable and relatively strong sedimentary environment is indicated through a comprehensive analysis of the C–M plot, triangular plot, the relationship between the mean grain size and sorting, and the changes in grain-size and color parameters. The sedimentary evolution in the muddy area of the NYS over the past 1500 years can be categorized into three distinct stages. In this study, proxies for the EASM and YSWC were extracted using the VPCA method from the sediment grain size and diffuse spectral reflectance (DSR) data, respectively. The reliability of these proxies has been confirmed through comparison with other validated proxies. The results indicated that the strength of the EASM and YSWC also exhibited three stages, corresponding to the Dark Ages Cold Period (DACP), Medieval Warm Period (MWP), and Little Ice Age (LIA), respectively. On a centennial scale, the correlation between the EASM and YSWC was predominantly negative. This research validates the reliability of the VPCA method for paleoclimate reconstruction, contributes important climate records in a special muddy area, and provides a new perspective on how to eliminate temporal errors in verifying the correlation between the two climate systems.
The Role and Therapeutic Potential of Pyroptosis in Colorectal Cancer: A Review
Authors: Fang Qing , Xu Yunhua , Tan Xiangwen , Wu Xiaofeng , Li Shuxiang , Yuan Jinyi , Chen Xiguang , Huang Qiulin , Fu Kai , Xiao Shuai
Published: July 2024

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. The unlimited proliferation of tumor cells is one of the key features resulting in the malignant development and progression of CRC. Consequently, understanding the potential proliferation and growth molecular mechanisms and developing effective therapeutic strategies have become key in CRC treatment. Pyroptosis is an emerging type of regulated cell death (RCD) that has a significant role in cells proliferation and growth. For the last few years, numerous studies have indicated a close correlation between pyroptosis and the occurrence, progression, and treatment of many malignancies, including CRC. The development of effective therapeutic strategies to inhibit tumor growth and proliferation has become a key area in CRC treatment. Thus, this review mainly summarized the different pyroptosis pathways and mechanisms, the anti-tumor (tumor suppressor) and protective roles of pyroptosis in CRC, and the clinical and prognostic value of pyroptosis in CRC, which may contribute to exploring new therapeutic strategies for CRC.
Therapeutics Targeting Skeletal Muscle in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Authors: Gao Jinghui , Sterling Elijah , Hankin Rachel , Sikal Aria , Yao Yao
Published: July 2024

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a complex neuromuscular disease characterized by progressive motor neuron degeneration, neuromuscular junction dismantling, and muscle wasting. The pathological and therapeutic studies of ALS have long been neurocentric. However, recent insights have highlighted the significance of peripheral tissue, particularly skeletal muscle, in disease pathology and treatment. This is evidenced by restricted ALS-like muscle atrophy, which can retrogradely induce neuromuscular junction and motor neuron degeneration. Moreover, therapeutics targeting skeletal muscles can effectively decelerate disease progression by modulating muscle satellite cells for muscle repair, suppressing inflammation, and promoting the recovery or regeneration of the neuromuscular junction. This review summarizes and discusses therapeutic strategies targeting skeletal muscles for ALS treatment. It aims to provide a comprehensive reference for the development of novel therapeutics targeting skeletal muscles, potentially ameliorating the progression of ALS.
Monitoring Circulating Myeloid Cells in Peritonitis with an In Vivo Imaging Flow Cytometer
Authors: Pulikkot Sunitha , Paul Souvik , Hall Alexxus , Gardner Brianna , Liu Wei , Hu Liang , Vella Anthony T. , Chen Yunfeng , Fan Zhichao
Published: July 2024

Peritonitis is a common and life-threatening inflammatory disease. Myeloid cells are elevated in the peripheral blood and contribute to peritonitis, but their circulating dynamics are not clear. In vivo flow cytometry (IVFC) is a noninvasive technique for monitoring the dynamics of circulating cells in live animals. It has been extensively used to detect circulating tumor cells, but rarely for monitoring immune cells. Here, we describe a method adapting an intravital microscope for IVFC so that we can monitor LysM-EGFP-labeled circulating myeloid cells in a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α-induced peritonitis mouse model. Using this IVFC method, we quantified the blood flow velocity and cell concentration in circulation. We observed a significant increase in LysM-EGFP+ cells in circulation after TNFα intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection, which reached a plateau in ~20 min. Conventional cytometry analysis showed that most LysM-EGFP+ cells were neutrophils. Increasing blood neutrophils were accompanied by neutrophil recruitment to the peritoneal cavity and neutrophil emigration from the bone marrow. We then monitored neutrophil CD64 expression in vivo and found a significant increase in TNFα-induced peritonitis. We also found that CD18 blockade doubled the circulating neutrophil number in TNFα-induced peritonitis, suggesting that CD18 is critical for neutrophil recruitment in peritonitis. Overall, we demonstrate that IVFC techniques are useful for studying the circulating dynamics of immune cells during inflammatory diseases.
Pulsed Dipolar EPR for Self-Limited Complexes of Oligonucleotides Studies
Authors: Chubarov Alexey S. , Endeward Burkhard , Kanarskaya Maria A. , Polienko Yuliya F. , Prisner Thomas F. , Lomzov Alexander A.
Published: July 2024

Pulsed electron–electron double resonance (PELDOR) spectroscopy is a powerful method for determining nucleic acid (NA) structure and conformational dynamics. PELDOR with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations opens up unique possibilities for defining the conformational ensembles of flexible, three-dimensional, self-assembled complexes of NA. Understanding the diversity and structure of these complexes is vital for uncovering matrix and regulative biological processes in the human body and artificially influencing them for therapeutic purposes. To explore the reliability of PELDOR and MD simulations, we site-specifically attached nitroxide spin labels to oligonucleotides, which form self-assembled complexes between NA chains and exhibit significant conformational flexibility. The DNA complexes assembled from a pair of oligonucleotides with different linker sizes showed excellent agreement between the distance distributions obtained from PELDOR and calculated from MD simulations, both for the mean inter-spin distance and the distance distribution width. These results prove that PELDOR with MD simulations has significant potential for studying the structure and dynamics of conformational flexible complexes of NA.
FGF1 Suppresses Allosteric Activation of β3 Integrins by FGF2: A Potential Mechanism of Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Thrombotic Action of FGF1
Authors: Takada Yoko K. , Wu Xuesong , Wei David , Hwang Samuel , Takada Yoshikazu
Published: July 2024

Several inflammatory cytokines bind to the allosteric site (site 2) and allosterically activate integrins. Site 2 is also a binding site for 25-hydroxycholesterol, an inflammatory lipid mediator, and is involved in inflammatory signaling (e.g., TNF and IL-6 secretion) in addition to integrin activation. FGF2 is pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic, and FGF1, homologous to FGF2, has anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic actions, but the mechanism of these actions is unknown. We hypothesized that FGF2 and FGF1 bind to site 2 of integrins and regulate inflammatory signaling. Here, we describe that FGF2 is bound to site 2 and allosterically activated β3 integrins, suggesting that the pro-inflammatory action of FGF2 is mediated by binding to site 2. In contrast, FGF1 bound to site 2 but did not activate these integrins and instead suppressed integrin activation induced by FGF2, indicating that FGF1 acts as an antagonist of site 2 and that the anti-inflammatory action of FGF1 is mediated by blocking site 2. A non-mitogenic FGF1 mutant (R50E), which is defective in binding to site 1 of αvβ3, suppressed β3 integrin activation by FGF2 as effectively as WT FGF1.
The Aggregation of α-Synuclein in the Dorsomedial Striatum Significantly Impairs Cognitive Flexibility in Parkinson’s Disease Mice
Authors: Chen Jing , Liu Yifang , Su Mingyu , Sun Yaoyu , Liu Chenkai , Sun Sihan , Wang Ting , Tang Chuanxi
Published: July 2024

This study focused on α-synuclein (α-syn) aggregation in the dorsomedial striatum (DMS) so as to investigate its role in the cognitive flexibility of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Here, we investigated the cognitive flexibility by assessing reversal learning abilities in MPTP-induced subacute PD model mice and in C57BL/6J mice with α-syn aggregation in the DMS induced by adenovirus (AAV-SNCA) injection, followed by an analysis of the target protein’s expression and distribution. PD mice exhibited impairments in reversal learning, positively correlated with the expression of phosphorylated α-syn in the DMS. Furthermore, the mice in the AAV-SNCA group exhibited reversal learning deficits and a reduction in acetylcholine levels, accompanied by protein alterations within the DMS. Notably, the administration of a muscarinic receptor 1 (M1R) agonist was able to alleviate the aforementioned phenomenon. These findings suggest that the impaired cognitive flexibility in PD may be attributed to the diminished activation of acetylcholine to M1R caused by α-syn aggregation.
Video Gaming in Older People: What Are the Implications for Cognitive Functions?
Authors: Dell’Osso Liliana , Nardi Benedetta , Massoni Leonardo , Battaglini Simone , De Felice Chiara , Bonelli Chiara , Pini Stefano , Cremone Ivan Mirko , Carpita Barbara
Published: July 2024

Mild cognitive impairment impacts a sizable segment of the older population, and often evolves into dementia within a few years. At this stage, subjects may benefit from non-pharmacological therapies that can delay or stop the progression of the mild cognitive impairment into dementia and are crucial for improvement in the subject’s quality of life, while also being easily accessible and safe for use. Many research studies have shown that a variety of exercises, including cognitive training, have the potential to enhance or optimize cognitive function and general well-being. Recently, many authors have suggested video games as a promising approach for cognitive training and neurorehabilitation in older people, thanks to their increasing motivation and training effects through immersion in stimulating environments. Under this premise, our narrative review’s objective is to discuss and summarize the body of existing material on the role of video games in improving cognitive performance, daily life activities, and depression symptoms in older individuals with different levels of cognitive decline. From the papers reviewed, it emerged that older subjects trained with video games showed a significant improvement in cognitive functions, sleep quality, and psychiatric symptoms, positioning video games as an intriguing and useful tool.
Classification of Higher-Order Thinking Skills of the Teachers Based on Institution, Seniority, and Branch with Discriminant Analysis
Authors: Ulu-Kalin Özlem , Kumandaş-Öztürk Hatice
Published: July 2024

The present study aimed to determine the variations between higher-order thinking skills (critical, creative, and empathetic thinking) of the teachers based on institution, branch, and professional seniority. The study data were collected from 345 teachers with the Critical Thinking Tendency Scale, Marmara Creative Thinking Aptitudes Scale, and Basic Empathy Scale, and confirmatory factor analysis was conducted on the data. The data were analyzed with discriminant analysis. The study findings demonstrated that there were significant differences between the critical, creative, and empathetic thinking skills of the teachers based on the institution of employment, their seniority, and their branch. The analysis of the discriminant functions revealed that the most discriminatory variables were empathy based on the institution and creative thinking based on seniority and branch. It was determined that the teachers employed in pre- and primary schools with less than 15 years of seniority scored higher in critical thinking skills, and teachers who were employed in middle schools with 16 years or more seniority scored higher in creative thinking skills. Foreign language teachers scored higher in both thinking skills. Finally, the mean empathy skill scores of the teachers employed in pre- and primary schools with 15 years or less seniority in the common branch were higher.
State-of-the-Art Review: Effects of Using Cool Building Cladding Materials on Roofs
Authors: Aggarwal Chetan , Molleti Sudhakar
Published: July 2024

Cool roofs are roofing systems designed to reflect significant solar radiation, reducing heat absorption and subsequent cooling energy demands in buildings. This paper provides a comprehensive review of cool roof technologies, covering performance standards, material options, energy-saving potential, and hygrothermal considerations. The review examines provisions in current codes and standards, which specify minimum requirements for solar reflectance, thermal emittance, and solar reflectance index (SRI) values. These criteria often vary based on factors like roof slope, climate zone, and building type. Different cool roof materials are explored, including reflective paints and coatings that can be applied to existing roofs as cost-effective solutions. Several studies have demonstrated the energy performance benefits of cool roofs, showing significant reductions in cooling loads, indoor air temperatures, peak cooling demand, and overall cooling energy consumption compared to traditional roofs. However, hygrothermal performance must be evaluated, especially in cold climates, to optimize insulation levels and avoid moisture accumulation risks, as reduced heat absorption can alter moisture migration patterns within the building envelope. While cool roofs provide substantial energy savings in hot climates, further research is needed to validate modeling approaches against real-world studies, investigate the impact of seasonality and green spaces on cool roof efficacy and urban heat island mitigation, and explore energy-saving potential, moisture control, and condensation risks in cold and humid environments.