bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of corrosion on API 5L X52 pipeline steel in acid media by Tradescantia spathacea
Authors: Rodríguez-Torres Adriana , Valladares-Cisneros María Guadalupe , Chávez-Díaz German , Martínez-Calzada Víctor , Saldaña-Heredia Alonso
Published: March 2024

The concentration effect of Tradescantia spathacea (T. spathacea) as corrosion inhibitor of API 5L X52 steel in 0.5 M of H2SO4 was studied here through electrochemical and gravimetric techniques. To achieve it, samples of the material were prepared to be submitted to each of the tests. Results from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) showed that there was an optimum concentration of the inhibitor in which is reached the maximum inhibition efficiency, displaying the best inhibition characteristics for this system with a maximum inhibition of 89% by using 400 ppm. However, the efficiency decreased until 40% when the temperature was increased to 60°C. Potentiodynamic polarization curves (PDP) revealed that some of the present compounds of T. spathacea may affect anodic and cathodic process, so it can be classified as a mix-type corrosion inhibitor for API 5L X52 in sulfuric acid. Also, this compound followed an adsorption mechanism; this can be described through a Frumkin isotherm with an adsorption standard free energy difference (ΔG°) of −56.59 kJmol−1. Metal surface was studied through scanning electron microscope, results revealed that by adding inhibitor, the metal surface is protected; also, they evidenced low damages compared with the surface with no inhibitor. Finally, Tradescantia spathacea inhibited the corrosion process with 82% efficiency.
Upper limb movement quality measures: comparing IMUs and optical motion capture in stroke patients performing a drinking task
Authors: Unger T. , de Sousa Ribeiro R. , Mokni M. , Weikert T. , Pohl J. , Schwarz A. , Held J.P.O. , Sauerzopf L. , Kühnis B. , Gavagnin E. , Luft A.R. , Gassert R. , Lambercy O. , Awai Easthope C. , Schönhammer J.G.
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Clinical assessment of upper limb sensorimotor function post-stroke is often constrained by low sensitivity and limited information on movement quality. To address this gap, recent studies proposed a standardized instrumented drinking task, as a representative daily activity combining different components of functional arm use. Although kinematic movement quality measures for this task are well-established, and optical motion capture (OMC) has proven effective in their measurement, its clinical application remains limited. Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) emerge as a promising low-cost and user-friendly alternative, yet their validity and clinical relevance compared to the gold standard OMC need investigation.

Method

In this study, we conducted a measurement system comparison between IMUs and OMC, analyzing 15 established movement quality measures in 15 mild and moderate stroke patients performing the drinking task, using five IMUs placed on each wrist, upper arm, and trunk.

Results

Our findings revealed strong agreement between the systems, with 12 out of 15 measures demonstrating clinical applicability, evidenced by Limits of Agreement (LoA) below the Minimum Clinically Important Differences (MCID) for each measure.

Discussion

These results are promising, suggesting the clinical applicability of IMUs in quantifying movement quality for mildly and moderately impaired stroke patients performing the drinking task.
Electrophysiological properties and structural prediction of the SARS-CoV-2 viroprotein E
Authors: Cubisino Salvatore Antonio Maria , Milenkovic Stefan , Conti-Nibali Stefano , Musso Nicolò , Bonacci Paolo , De Pinto Vito , Ceccarelli Matteo , Reina Simona
Published: March 2024

COVID-19, the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus SARS- CoV-2, has caused millions of sick people and thousands of deaths all over the world. The viral positive-sense single-stranded RNA encodes 31 proteins among which the spike (S) is undoubtedly the best known. Recently, protein E has been reputed as a potential pharmacological target as well. It is essential for the assembly and release of the virions in the cell. Literature describes protein E as a voltage-dependent channel with preference towards monovalent cations whose intracellular expression, though, alters Ca2+ homeostasis and promotes the activation of the proinflammatory cascades. Due to the extremely high sequence identity of SARS-CoV-2 protein E (E-2) with the previously characterized E-1 (i.e., protein E from SARS-CoV) many data obtained for E-1 were simply adapted to the other. Recent solid state NMR structure revealed that the transmembrane domain (TMD) of E-2 self-assembles into a homo-pentamer, albeit the oligomeric status has not been validated with the full-length protein. Prompted by the lack of a common agreement on the proper structural and functional features of E-2, we investigated the specific mechanism/s of pore-gating and the detailed molecular structure of the most cryptic protein of SARS-CoV-2 by means of MD simulations of the E-2 structure and by expressing, refolding and analyzing the electrophysiological activity of the transmembrane moiety of the protein E-2, in its full length. Our results show a clear agreement between experimental and predictive studies and foresee a mechanism of activity based on Ca2+ affinity.
Case report: detection of multiple sporadic gastrointestinal stromal tumors by dual-time 18 F-FDG PET/CT
Authors: Li Chuan , Li Wenxin , Shang Maocai , Wang Pan , Hu Xianwen
Published: March 2024

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumors affecting the gastrointestinal tract. Typically, GISTs are solitary; however, in rare cases, they may be multiple and appear in one or more organs. Multiple GISTs can appear in familial GISTs, children, or certain tumor syndromes such as neurofibromatosis type 1, Carney syndrome, and Carney-Stratakis syndrome. However, the diagnosis of primary multiple sporadic GISTs is often more difficult than that of these diseases. Herein, we report a case of multiple primary sporadic GISTs in a 64-year-old man, affecting the abdominal cavity and retroperitoneum, as identified through dual-time point positron emission tomography (PET) with 18F-labeled fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (18F-FDG) and computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT). Notably, the dual-time-point PET/CT revealed the migration of masses near the lower abdomen into the abdominal cavity. Furthermore, a significant increase in radioactive uptake of the mass 3 h after 18F-FDG injection compared with that 1 h after injection may be an important cue for its diagnosis.
Barriers to cervical cancer prevention in a safety net clinic: gaps in HPV vaccine provider recommendation and series completion among Ob/Gyn patients
Authors: Finch Lindsey A. , Levy Morgan S. , Thiele Amanda , Jeudin Patricia , Huang Marilyn
Published: March 2024

Objective

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate patients’ knowledge regarding HPV vaccination and vaccine uptake in a diverse patient population. The secondary objective was to evaluate factors influencing the decision to vaccinate, potential barriers to vaccination, and to assess whether HPV vaccines were offered to or discussed with eligible patients in a safety net Obstetrics and Gynecology (Ob/Gyn) clinic.

Methods

A 28-item survey was developed using Likert scale survey questions to assess patient agreement with statements regarding HPV and the vaccine. The surveys were administered to patients in the Ob/Gyn outpatient clinics from May 2021 through September 2022. Additionally, pharmacy data were reviewed and chart review was performed as a quality improvement initiative to assess the impact of expanded HPV vaccine eligibility to patients with private insurance on vaccine uptake. Descriptive statistics were performed.

Results

304 patients completed surveys from May 2021 through September 2022. The median age of respondents was 32 (range 18-80). 16 (5%) were Non-Hispanic White, 124 (41%) were Hispanic White, 58 (19%) were Non-Hispanic Black, 6 (2%) were Hispanic Black, 29 (9.5%) were Haitian, 44 (14%) were Hispanic Other, 7 (2%) were Non-Hispanic Other, 20 (6.6%) did not respond. 45 (14%) patients were uninsured. Many patients (62%) reported that a physician had never discussed HPV vaccination with them. Seventy nine percent of patients reported they had never received the HPV vaccine, and 69% of patients reported that lack of a medical provider recommendation was a major barrier. Among patients to whom HPV vaccination had been recommended, 57% reported that the vaccine was not available the same day in clinic.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrated that many patients never had a provider discuss HPV vaccination with them and never received the HPV vaccine. Additionally, amongst those who did initiate HPV vaccination, completion of the series remains a key barrier. Ensuring that providers discuss HPV vaccination and that patients receive HPV vaccines, along with expanding access to and convenience of HPV vaccination are critical aspects of preventing cervical cancer.
Melatonin imparts tolerance to combined drought and high-temperature stresses in tomato through osmotic adjustment and ABA accumulation
Authors: Mumithrakamatchi Annadurai K. , Alagarswamy Senthil , Anitha Kuppusamy , Djanaguiraman Maduraimuthu , Kalarani M. Karuppasami , Swarnapriya Ramakrishnan , Marimuthu Subramanian , Vellaikumar Sampathrajan , Kanagarajan Selvaraju
Published: March 2024

In recent years, environmental stresses viz., drought and high-temperature negatively impacts the tomato growth, yield and quality. The effects of combined drought and high-temperature (HT) stresses during the flowering stage were investigated. The main objective was to assess the effects of foliar spray of melatonin under both individual and combined drought and HT stresses at the flowering stage. Drought stress was imposed by withholding irrigation, whereas HT stress was imposed by exposing the plants to an ambient temperature (AT)+5°C temperature. The drought+HT stress was imposed by exposing the plants to drought first, followed by exposure to AT+5°C temperature. The duration of individual and combined drought or HT stress was 10 days. The results showed that drought+HT stress had a significant negative effect compared with individual drought or HT stress alone. However, spraying 100 µM melatonin on the plants challenged with individual or combined drought and HT stress showed a significant increase in total chlorophyll content [drought: 16%, HT: 14%, and drought+HT: 11%], Fv/Fm [drought: 16%, HT: 15%, and drought+HT: 13%], relative water content [drought: 10%, HT: 2%, and drought+HT: 8%], and proline [drought: 26%, HT: 17%, and drought+HT: 14%] compared with their respective stress control. Additionally, melatonin positively influenced the stomatal and trichome characteristics compared with stress control plants. Also, the osmotic adjustment was found to be significantly increased in the melatonin-sprayed plants, which, in turn, resulted in an increased number of fruits, fruit set percentage, and fruit yield. Moreover, melatonin spray also enhanced the quality of fruits through increased lycopene content, carotenoid content, titratable acidity, and ascorbic acid content, compared with the stress control. Overall, this study highlights the usefulness of melatonin in effectively mitigating the negative effects of drought, HT, and drought+HT stress, thus leading to an increased drought and HT stress tolerance in tomato.
The effect of self-efficacy and self-set grade goals on academic outcomes
Authors: Saks Katrin
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Numerous motivational research have clearly demonstrated the critical role of self-processes in goal setting, self-regulated learning, and learning outcomes. However, studies have emerged that present conflicting findings regarding the relationship between goal setting and self-efficacy and how it affects academic performance. Based on the theories of goal setting and self-efficacy, the purpose of this paper is to assess the predictive power of self-efficacy and the mediating effect of self-set grade goals on learning outcomes.

Methods

As part of the online course, an exploratory study was conducted with a sample of 160 university teacher training students. Data on self-efficacy were collected with the MSLQ and analyzed with confirmatory factor analysis. Correlation analysis explored the relationships between motivational factors, grade goals, and learning outcomes. To test the models, structural equation analysis was conducted to predict the effect of self-efficacy on self-set grade goals and learning outcomes.

Results

The results showed the predictive effect of self-efficacy on expected and minimum grade goals and the mediating effect of expected grade goal on learning outcomes.

Discussion

The study highlights the influence of motivational factors on goal setting in the context of online learning and provides insight into the predictive effect of self-efficacy on learning outcomes.
The impact of boarding school on student development in primary and secondary schools: a meta-analysis
Authors: Zhong Zhiyong , Feng Yang , Xu Yongqi
Published: March 2024

As a long-established model of schooling, the boarding system is commonly practiced in countries around the world. Numerous scholars have conducted a great deal of research on the relationship between the boarding school and student development, but the results of the research are quite divergent. In order to clarify the real effects of boarding school on students’ development, this study used meta-analysis to quantify 49 (91 effect sizes) experimental or quasi-experimental studies on related topics at home and abroad. The results find that: (1) Overall, boarding school has no significant predictive effect on student development, with a combined effect size of 0.002 (p > 0.05); (2) Specifically, boarding school has a significant positive predictive effect on students’ cognitive development (g = 0.248, p < 0.001), a significant negative predictive effect on students’ affective and attitudinal development (g = −0.159, p < 0.05), and no significant predictive effect on students’ behavioral development (g = −0.115, p > 0.05) and physical development (g = −0.038, p > 0.05); (3) The relationship between the two is moderated by the school stage and the type of boarding school, but not by the instruments; (4) Compared with primary school students, senior high school students and urban boarding students, the negative predictive effect of boarding system on junior middle school students and rural boarding students is more significant. In addition, there are some limitations in the study, such as the limited number of moderator variables included, the results of the study are easily affected by the quality of the included literature, and the dimensionality of the core variable “student development” is not comprehensive enough. In the future, further validation should be conducted through in-depth longitudinal or experimental studies.
Exploring the interactive effect of dysfunctional sleep beliefs and mental health on sleep in university students
Authors: Karsan Sameena , Kuhn Tara , Ogrodnik Michelle , Middleton Laura E. , Heisz Jennifer J.
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Poor mental health is a known risk factor for poor sleep among university students; however, less is known about the role of dysfunctional sleep beliefs and its relation to mental health and sleep. Additionally, students who identify as people of color (POC) may experience unique stressors related to discrimination and inequalities which can contribute to mental health issues and in turn, influence their sleep. The present study evaluated the impact of dysfunctional sleep beliefs and poor mental health on a student's susceptibility to worse sleep and examined differences among POC.

Methods

Post-secondary students completed a survey including the Insomnia Severity Index and the Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep Scale. Participants also completed questionnaires measuring symptoms of depression, anxiety, and perceived stress.

Results

One thousand five hundred and sixty-two students were included in the analyses, 58% of which were POC. POC students had more dysfunctional sleep beliefs (p < 0.01) and worse insomnia severity (p < 0.01) compared to white students. Overall, greater dysfunctional sleep beliefs were significantly associated with worse symptoms of depression (b = 1.521), anxiety (b = 1.170), stress (b = 1.370), and poor sleep (b =1.963; ps < 0.001). Dysfunctional sleep beliefs also moderated the relation between poor mental health and sleep, specifically depression (p = 0.035) and anxiety (p = 0.007), by exacerbating sleep outcomes.

Discussion

The results suggest that dysfunctional sleep beliefs may play a role in perpetuating poor mental health and sleep. Interventions to improve students' sleep and wellbeing focused on reframing dysfunctional sleep beliefs should be examined.
Dis/re-orienting design through norm-critical gender lenses: an educational case in Turkey
Authors: Yetiş Erman Örsan , Bakırlıoğlu Yekta
Published: March 2024

Design, as a practice of developing solutions beyond products, and increasingly services and policies, inevitably poses an impact on gender (in)equality which remains largely unrecognized by design practitioners. This paper advocates the urgent need for adopting gender lenses in design education for sustainable cultural transformation through proper recognition of the complexity of any societal and cultural issue, power relations and inequalities, and introduces an initial attempt through a graduate-level educational design project. Throughout the project, students critically reflected on existing orientations in designing to develop norm-critical gender lenses, contained the resultant disorientation emerging from the contrast between their critical approaches and local contexts, and explored novel directions as reorientation to address four different societal and cultural issues and develop 11 design outcomes aiming at gender equality, social justice-oriented empowerment, and cultural transformation. The authors analyzed the design processes and outcomes to reveal opportunities and challenges for developing and deploying norm-critical gender lenses in tackling complex, intersecting socio-cultural and political issues, under three themes: gender stereotypes, norms, expectations, and roles; intersectional power relations and inequalities embedded in the social structure; and social justice-oriented empowerment beyond the market-oriented individualistic neoliberal order. A shift in the perceptions of the role of designers, from creator/problem-solver to facilitator/participant, and design outcomes, from absolute solutions to intermediaries of sociological and political imaginations, is found crucial in this endeavor, which requires safe spaces for future designers to reflect on existing orientations, contain disorientation with negative capability, and explore novel ways through reorientation.
Digitalization of toxicology: improving preclinical to clinical translation
Authors: Berridge Brian R. , Baran Szczepan W. , Kumar Vivek , Bratcher-Petersen Natalie , Ellis Michael , Liu Chang-Ning , Robertson Timothy L.
Published: March 2024

Though the portfolio of medicines that are extending and improving the lives of patients continues to grow, drug discovery and development remains a challenging business on its best day. Safety liabilities are a significant contributor to development attrition where the costliest liabilities to both drug developers and patients emerge in late development or post-marketing. Animal studies are an important and influential contributor to the current drug discovery and development paradigm intending to provide evidence that a novel drug candidate can be used safely and effectively in human volunteers and patients. However, translational gaps—such as toxicity in patients not predicted by animal studies—have prompted efforts to improve their effectiveness, especially in safety assessment. More holistic monitoring and “digitalization” of animal studies has the potential to enrich study outcomes leading to datasets that are more computationally accessible, translationally relevant, replicable, and technically efficient. Continuous monitoring of animal behavior and physiology enables longitudinal assessment of drug effects, detection of effects during the animal’s sleep and wake cycles and the opportunity to detect health or welfare events earlier. Automated measures can also mitigate human biases and reduce subjectivity. Reinventing a conservative, standardized, and traditional paradigm like drug safety assessment requires the collaboration and contributions of a broad and multi-disciplinary stakeholder group. In this perspective, we review the current state of the field and discuss opportunities to improve current approaches by more fully leveraging the power of sensor technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), and animal behavior in a home cage environment.
Persistent transgene expression in peripheral tissues one year post intravenous and intramuscular administration of AAV vectors containing the alphaherpesvirus latency-associated promoter 2
Authors: Maturana Carola J. , Engel Esteban A.
Published: March 2024

Significant progress has been made in enhancing recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) for clinical investigation. Despite its versatility as a gene delivery platform, the inherent packaging constraint of 4.7 kb imposes restrictions on the range of diseases it can address. In this context, we present findings of an exceptionally compact and long-term promoter that facilitates the expression of larger genes compared to conventional promoters. This compact promoter originated from the genome of the alphaherpesvirus pseudorabies virus, latency-associated promoter 2 (LAP2, 404 bp). Promoter driving an mCherry reporter was packaged into single strand (ss) AAV8 and AAV9 vectors and injected into adult C57BL/6 mice at a dose of 5 x 1011 vg/mouse by single intravenous or intramuscular administration. An ssAAV8 and ssAAV9 vector with elongation factor-1α promoter (EF1α, 1264 bp) was injected side-by-side for comparison. After 400 days, we sacrificed the mice and examined mCherry expression in liver, kidney, heart, lung, spleen, pancreas, skeletal muscle, and brain. We found that LAP2 exhibited robust transgene expression across a wide range of cells and tissues comparable to the larger EF1α, which is currently recognized as a rather potent and ubiquitous promoter. The AAV8-LAP2 and AAV9-LAP2 constructs displayed strong transduction and transcription in liver, kidney, and skeletal muscle on both route of administration. However, no expression was detected in the heart, lung, spleen, pancreas, and brain. The outcomes of our investigation propose the viability of LAP2 for gene therapy applications demanding the expression of large or multiple therapeutic genes following a single viral-vector administration.
Nonlinear Growth Dynamics of Neuronal Cells Cultured on Directional Surfaces
Authors: Staii Cristian
Published: March 2024

During the development of the nervous system, neuronal cells extend axons and dendrites that form complex neuronal networks, which are essential for transmitting and processing information. Understanding the physical processes that underlie the formation of neuronal networks is essential for gaining a deeper insight into higher-order brain functions such as sensory processing, learning, and memory. In the process of creating networks, axons travel towards other recipient neurons, directed by a combination of internal and external cues that include genetic instructions, biochemical signals, as well as external mechanical and geometrical stimuli. Although there have been significant recent advances, the basic principles governing axonal growth, collective dynamics, and the development of neuronal networks remain poorly understood. In this paper, we present a detailed analysis of nonlinear dynamics for axonal growth on surfaces with periodic geometrical patterns. We show that axonal growth on these surfaces is described by nonlinear Langevin equations with speed-dependent deterministic terms and gaussian stochastic noise. This theoretical model yields a comprehensive description of axonal growth at both intermediate and long time scales (tens of hours after cell plating), and predicts key dynamical parameters, such as speed and angular correlation functions, axonal mean squared lengths, and diffusion (cell motility) coefficients. We use this model to perform simulations of axonal trajectories on the growth surfaces, in turn demonstrating very good agreement between simulated growth and the experimental results. These results provide important insights into the current understanding of the dynamical behavior of neurons, the self-wiring of the nervous system, as well as for designing innovative biomimetic neural network models.
Spatiotemporal Correlation Analysis for Predicting Current Transformer Errors in Smart Grids
Authors: Zhong Yao , Li Tengbin , Przystupa Krzysztof , Lin Cong , Yang Guangrun , Yang Sen , Kochan Orest , Sikora Jarosław
Published: March 2024

The online calibration method for current transformers is an important research direction in the field of smart grids. This article constructs a transformer error prediction model based on spatiotemporal integration. This model draws inspiration from the structure of forgetting gates in gated loop units and combines it with a graph convolutional network (GCN) that is good at capturing the spatial relationships within the graph attention network to construct an adaptive GCN. The spatial module formed by this adaptive GCN is used to model the spatial relationships in the circuit network, and the attention mechanism and gated time convolutional network are combined to form a time module to learn the temporal relationships in the circuit network. The layer that combines the time and space modules is used, which consists of a gating mechanism for spatiotemporal fusion, and a transformer error prediction model based on a spatiotemporal correlation analysis is constructed. Finally, it is verified on a real power grid operation dataset, and compared with the existing prediction methods to analyze its performance.
FEM Simulation of Fault Reactivation Induced with Hydraulic Fracturing in the Shangluo Region of Sichuan Province
Authors: He Yujie , Li Yanyan
Published: March 2024

Hydraulic fracturing operations possess the capacity to induce the reactivation of faults, increasing the risk of fault slip and seismic activity. In this study, a coupled poroelastic model is established to characterize the distribution and movement of fluids within rock formations in the Shangluo region of Sichuan province, China. The effect of hydraulic fracturing projects on the variations of pore pressure and Coulomb effective stress within a high-permeability fault is analyzed. The potential fault-slip mechanism is investigated. The results show that the fault plays different roles for fluid movement, including the barrier, fluid transport channel, and diversion channel, which is related to injection–production schemes. In addition, fluid injection leads to a high probability of fault reactivation. We find that increasing the injection time and fluid injection rate can result in larger slip distances. The injection production scenarios influence the fault-slip mechanism, resulting in a normal fault or reverse fault. However, the arrangement of production wells around the injection can effectively reduce the risk of fault reactivation.
Fatigue Life Estimation of Critical Components in a Motor-Energized Spring Operating Mechanism Based on Theory of Reliability
Authors: Ma Hongming , Qian Guochao , Zhang Jie , Chen Jiali , Zhou Fusheng , Qiu Pengfeng , Zhang Aohua , Wang Ting , Yao Xiaofei , Liu Zhiyuan
Published: March 2024

High-voltage switchgear is a key control and protection unit in power systems. The reliable operation of the operating mechanism is essential for the reliable opening and closing of the switchgear. This is a vital guarantee for the safety and stability of the power systems. The spring operating mechanism is a commonly used actuator for circuit breakers at 12–252 kV. However, a reliability estimation method that is convenient, practical and accurate is still lacking. The aim of this paper is to explore a reliability estimation method based on a stress–strength interference reliability theory and a fatigue life theory. The changing rules of the reliability of the main axis, and the closing pawl and opening pawl in the spring operating mechanism during operations, are achieved. The accuracy of the calculated reliability based on theories of stress–strength interference and fatigue life is verified by adopting a test data statistical reliability model based on Weibull distribution. The results show that the reliability estimation method based on stress–strength interference and fatigue life theories has a high degree of confidence. The maximum tolerance is 0.024. The study would help in providing a useful reference for the optimization and durability estimation of a spring operating mechanism and its key components in high-voltage circuit breakers.
Comprehensive Structural Reliability Assessment When Choosing Switchgear Circuits for 35–220 kV Step-Up Substations
Authors: Varganova Aleksandra V. , Irikhov Aleksandr S. , Utesheva Anastasia A. , Khramshin Vadim R. , Maklakov Aleksandr S. , Radionov Andrey A.
Published: March 2024

The basic requirements for the design of a switchgear for main 35–220 kV step-down substations are reliability and efficiency. Switchgear circuits are chosen depending on the number of supply and transit lines and transformers, the substation’s place in the power supply system, and the area that can be allocated under the substation construction. The substation switchgear’s reliability depends on the circuit type and the equipment to be installed. When designing, as a rule, standard substation switchgear circuit solutions are chosen with often unreasonably overstated reliability indicators and, as a consequence, capital costs. This paper explores the issues of automated choice of the best option for the 35–220 kV substation switchgear circuit, considering its structural reliability and additional costs for the area allocated under the electrical unit. A distinctive feature of the work is a comprehensive accounting of the reliability indicators of the substation and the influence of the layout of switchgear circuits as a whole on the performance indicators of future electrical installations. The developed technique is used at the pre-design stages and allows for reducing further capital, maintenance, and repair costs for electrical units by up to 14.5%. The developed approach is implemented in the original TER CAD software product.
Analysis for the Implementation of Distributed Renewable Energy Generation Systems for Areas of High Vulnerability Due to Hillside Movements: Case Study of Marianza-Cuenca, Ecuador
Authors: Córdova-González Federico , García Meléndez Eduardo , Ferrer Juliá Montserrat , Icaza Daniel
Published: March 2024

This research presents a renewable energy system that takes advantage of the energy potential available in the territory. This study emerges as a relevant option to provide solutions to geological risk areas where there are buildings that, due to emergency situations at certain times of the year during deep winter, are a target of danger and where its inhabitants would find it difficult to abandon their properties. The record of mass movements covering the city of Cuenca-Ecuador and part of the province has shown that the main triggering factor of this type of movement comprises the geological characteristics of tertiary formations characterized by lithological components that become unstable in the presence of water and due to their slopes being pronounced. Hybrid systems are effective solutions in distributed electricity generation, especially when it comes to helping people and their buildings in times of great need and the required electricity generation is basic. A hybrid photovoltaic, wind and hydrokinetic system has been designed that supplies electrical energy to a specific area on the opposite geographical side that is completely safe. The renewable energy system is connected to the public electricity grid available on site; however, in the event of an emergency the grid is disconnected for safety and only the hybrid system will work with the support of a battery backup system. In this study, the Homer Pro simulation tool was used and its results indicate that renewable systems that include PV, HKT and WT elements are economically viable, with a COE of USD 0.89/kWh.
Microbiological Analysis of Manufacturing Processes and Microbial Hazard Assessment of Quality and Safety of Commercial Salted Shrimp (Saeu-jeot)
Authors: Jeong Jiyoun , Lee Heeyoung , Yu Hwan Hee , Kim Jong-Chan , Park Sunhyun , Shim You-Shin
Published: March 2024

The objective of this study was to evaluate the microbiological properties of commercially available traditional Korean salted shrimp (Saeu-jeot) and to analyze the effects of saltwater immersion and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation on the reduction of Staphylococcus aureus in Saeu-jeot. A microbiological analysis was conducted across 56 commercially available Saeu-jeot samples from the Korean, Chinese, and Vietnamese markets. The microbiological analysis revealed no presence of Escherichia coli, coliforms, or Vibrio parahaemolyticus in any commercial samples. The total viable count and S. aureus were 3.8 ± 0.4 and 0.6 ± 0.3 log CFU/g, respectively. An investigation of the procedures conducted on Saeu-jeot samples at various production stages by Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP)-certified companies demonstrated the substantial relevance of the raw material (tiny shrimp) on S. aureus counts. In order to reduce S. aureus in Saeu-jeot, saltwater immersion and UV irradiation treatments were applied, which reduced the S. aureus counts by 1.4 log CFU/g and 0.3 log CFU/g, respectively, and S. aureus’s efficacy was limited to the food’s surface. These results suggest that a co-treatment of saltwater immersion and UV irradiation could be effective in reducing S. aureus. The maintenance of hygienic handling and cleanliness are essential in the modern manufacturing processes of Saeu-jeot.
Vocalization Pattern and Echolocation Signal Characteristics of Yangtze Finless Porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) in Captivity
Authors: Chen Jia , Liang Haiying , Lin Danqing , Zhang Jialu , Li Dong , Ye Kun , Lu Wenfei , Liu Kai
Published: March 2024

The Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis, YFP) possesses the ability to detect distance through echolocation signals, and its sonar signal signature is adjusted to detect different targets. In order to understand the vocal characteristics of YFPs in different behavioral states and their differential performance, we recorded the vocal activities of YFPs in captivity during free-swimming, feeding, and nighttime resting and quantified their signal characteristic parameters for statistical analysis and comparison. The results showed that the number of vocalizations of the YFPs in the daytime free-swimming state was lower than that in the feeding and nighttime resting states, and the echolocation signals emitted in these three states showed significant differences in the −10 dB duration, −3 dB bandwidth, −10 dB bandwidth, and root-mean-square (RMS) bandwidth. Analysis of the resolution of the echolocation signals of the YFPs using the ambiguity function indicated that their distance resolution could reach the millimeter level. These results indicate that the echolocation signal characteristics of YFPs present diurnal differences and that they can be adjusted with changes in their detection targets. The results of this study can provide certain scientific references and foundations for the studies of tooth whale behavioral acoustics, and provide relevant scientific guidance for the conservation and management of YFPs.
A Snapshot of Ongoing Transculturalism in Britain: Refugee NGO Website Personal Narratives and Global Border Crossing—A Case Study
Authors: De Gregorio-Godeo Eduardo
Published: March 2024

With a focus on refugees’ written personal narratives on refugee NGO websites, this paper examines ongoing transculturalism in Britain and its interplay with globalization and current international migration. Conceiving such personal narratives as cultural texts pertaining to refugee narratives as a broad genre that encompasses different storytelling modalities, those personal stories on refugee NGO websites are explored from a cultural studies perspective. CDA is employed as a methodology for this cultural studies-oriented piece. A qualitatively oriented case study is accordingly presented based on the detailed examination of an example of such written narratives on the website of one such refugee NGO in the UK so as to instantiate and contribute to disentangling the articulation of this characteristic form of ongoing transculturalism. Special emphasis is laid on the discursive construction of refugees’ transcultural identities in such narratives through their participation in those global border-crossing processes characteristic of the contemporary landscape.
Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Improve the Development of Chrysanthemum × morifolium (Ramat.) Hemsl. ‘Jinba’ Inflorescences
Authors: Li Yanbing , Lu Yushan , Fu Jiaojiao , Chen Benxue , Fu Li , Huang Xiaorong , Wei Zunzheng , Zheng Yuhong , Zeng Zhen
Published: March 2024

The application of cut flower preservation technology can significantly enhance both the ornamental and economic value of fresh-cut flowers. Research on vase solutions has become a concentrated area in current studies on cut flower preservation. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), as a type of carbon nanomaterial with bactericidal and membrane-penetrating properties, can be used as a component in vase solutions. This supplementation of energy substances aims to improve antioxidant enzyme activity, thereby enhancing the postharvest quality of cut chrysanthemums. In this study, deionized water and a standard preservative solution were employed as control groups to compare the effects of MWCNTs applied at different concentrations, combined with common preservatives such as sugar and 8-hydroxyquinoline, on the postharvest flowering and preservation of Chrysanthemum × morifolium ‘Jinba’. By observing the distribution of MWCNTs in the tissues surrounding the cut and changes in water content, carbon sources, osmoregulatory substance levels, and the expression of relevant key genes, a formulation with excellent postharvest treatment effects was identified. Preliminary investigations into its action and mechanism were also conducted. The results indicated that the combined treatment with 5 mg L−1 MWCNTs, 30 g L−1 sucrose, and 0.2 g L−1 8-hydroxyquinoline effectively promoted water and sugar uptake in chrysanthemum flowers, accelerating bud opening, maintaining larger inflorescence diameter, and extending the vase life. Ultimately, this enhanced the ornamental value of cut chrysanthemums. These research findings provide theoretical and experimental foundations for the application of multi-walled carbon nanotubes as auxiliary additives to improve the ornamental quality of cut flowers.
Unveiling Drivers of Retinal Degeneration in RCS Rats: Functional, Morphological, and Molecular Insights
Authors: Ahluwalia Kabir , Du Zhaodong , Martinez-Camarillo Juan Carlos , Naik Aditya , Thomas Biju B. , Pollalis Dimitrios , Lee Sun Young , Dave Priyal , Zhou Eugene , Li Zeyang , Chester Catherine , Humayun Mark S. , Louie Stan G.
Published: March 2024

Retinal degenerative diseases, including age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa, significantly contribute to adult blindness. The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rat is a well-established disease model for studying these dystrophies; however, molecular investigations remain limited. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of retinal degeneration in RCS rats, including an immunodeficient RCS (iRCS) sub-strain, using ocular coherence tomography, electroretinography, histology, and molecular dissection using transcriptomics and immunofluorescence. No significant differences in retinal degeneration progression were observed between the iRCS and immunocompetent RCS rats, suggesting a minimal role of adaptive immune responses in disease. Transcriptomic alterations were primarily in inflammatory signaling pathways, characterized by the strong upregulation of Tnfa, an inflammatory signaling molecule, and Nox1, a contributor to reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Additionally, a notable decrease in Alox15 expression was observed, pointing to a possible reduction in anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving lipid mediators. These findings were corroborated by immunostaining, which demonstrated increased photoreceptor lipid peroxidation (4HNE) and photoreceptor citrullination (CitH3) during retinal degeneration. Our work enhances the understanding of molecular changes associated with retinal degeneration in RCS rats and offers potential therapeutic targets within inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways for confirmatory research and development.
Conserved Functions of Orthohepadnavirus X Proteins to Inhibit Type-I Interferon Signaling
Authors: Choonnasard Amonrat , Shofa Maya , Okabayashi Tamaki , Saito Akatsuki
Published: March 2024

Orthohepadnavirus causes chronic hepatitis in a broad range of mammals, including primates, cats, woodchucks, and bats. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) X protein inhibits type-I interferon (IFN) signaling, thereby promoting HBV escape from the human innate immune system and establishing persistent infection. However, whether X proteins of Orthohepadnavirus viruses in other species display a similar inhibitory activity remains unknown. Here, we investigated the anti-IFN activity of 17 Orthohepadnavirus X proteins derived from various hosts. We observed conserved activity of Orthohepadnavirus X proteins in inhibiting TIR-domain-containing adaptor protein inducing IFN-β (TRIF)-mediated IFN-β signaling pathway through TRIF degradation. X proteins from domestic cat hepadnavirus (DCH), a novel member of Orthohepadnavirus, inhibited mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein (MAVS)-mediated IFNβ signaling pathway comparable with HBV X. These results indicate that inhibition of IFN signaling is conserved in Orthohepadnavirus X proteins.
Mechanisms of PM10 Disruption of the Nrf2 Pathway in Cornea
Authors: Somayajulu Mallika , Muhammed Farooq S. , Wright Robert , McClellan Sharon A. , Hazlett Linda D.
Published: March 2024

We have previously shown that PM10 exposure causes oxidative stress and reduces Nrf2 protein levels, and SKQ1 pre-treatment protects against this damage in human corneal epithelial cells (HCE-2). The current study focuses on uncovering the mechanisms underlying acute PM10 toxicity and SKQ1-mediated protection. HCE-2 were pre-treated with SKQ1 and then exposed to 100 μg/mL PM10. Cell viability, oxidative stress markers, programmed cell death, DNA damage, senescence markers, and pro-inflammatory cytokines were analyzed. Nrf2 cellular location and its transcriptional activity were determined. Effects of the Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 were similarly evaluated. Data showed that PM10 decreased cell viability, Nrf2 transcriptional activity, and mRNA levels of antioxidant enzymes, but increased p-PI3K, p-NFκB, COX-2, and iNOS proteins levels. Additionally, PM10 exposure significantly increased DNA damage, phosphor-p53, p16 and p21 protein levels, and β-galactosidase (β-gal) staining, which confirmed the senescence. SKQ1 pre-treatment reversed these effects. ML385 lowered the Nrf2 protein levels and mRNA levels of its downstream targets. ML385 also abrogated the protective effects of SKQ1 against PM10 toxicity by preventing the restoration of cell viability and reduced oxidative stress. In conclusion, PM10 induces inflammation, reduces Nrf2 transcriptional activity, and causes DNA damage, leading to a senescence-like phenotype, which is prevented by SKQ1.
Looking for Resistance to Soft Rot Disease of Potatoes Facing Environmental Hypoxia
Authors: Maciag Tomasz , Kozieł Edmund , Otulak-Kozieł Katarzyna , Jafra Sylwia , Czajkowski Robert
Published: March 2024

Plants are exposed to various stressors, including pathogens, requiring specific environmental conditions to provoke/induce plant disease. This phenomenon is called the “disease triangle” and is directly connected with a particular plant–pathogen interaction. Only a virulent pathogen interacting with a susceptible plant cultivar will lead to disease under specific environmental conditions. This may seem difficult to accomplish, but soft rot Pectobacteriaceae (SRPs) is a group virulent of pathogenic bacteria with a broad host range. Additionally, waterlogging (and, resulting from it, hypoxia), which is becoming a frequent problem in farming, is a favoring condition for this group of pathogens. Waterlogging by itself is an important source of abiotic stress for plants due to lowered gas exchange. Therefore, plants have evolved an ethylene-based system for hypoxia sensing. Plant response is coordinated by hormonal changes which induce metabolic and physiological adjustment to the environmental conditions. Wetland species such as rice (Oryza sativa L.), and bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara L.) have developed adaptations enabling them to withstand prolonged periods of decreased oxygen availability. On the other hand, potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), although able to sense and response to hypoxia, is sensitive to this environmental stress. This situation is exploited by SRPs which in response to hypoxia induce the production of virulence factors with the use of cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP). Potato tubers in turn reduce their defenses to preserve energy to prevent the negative effects of reactive oxygen species and acidification, making them prone to soft rot disease. To reduce the losses caused by the soft rot disease we need sensitive and reliable methods for the detection of the pathogens, to isolate infected plant material. However, due to the high prevalence of SRPs in the environment, we also need to create new potato varieties more resistant to the disease. To reach that goal, we can look to wild potatoes and other Solanum species for mechanisms of resistance to waterlogging. Potato resistance can also be aided by beneficial microorganisms which can induce the plant’s natural defenses to bacterial infections but also waterlogging. However, most of the known plant-beneficial microorganisms suffer from hypoxia and can be outcompeted by plant pathogens. Therefore, it is important to look for microorganisms that can withstand hypoxia or alleviate its effects on the plant, e.g., by improving soil structure. Therefore, this review aims to present crucial elements of potato response to hypoxia and SRP infection and future outlooks for the prevention of soft rot disease considering the influence of environmental conditions.