bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pragmatic Validation of Numerical Models Used for the Assessment of Radioactive Waste Repositories: A Perspective
Authors: Finsterle Stefan , Lanyon Bill
Published: May 2022

The safety case for a radioactive waste repository relies heavily on results obtained by numerical models that assess the long-term performance of the engineered and natural barrier systems. Given that important engineering and public policy decisions are based on these models, it is essential that we critically evaluate their abilities and limitations, and thus justify the level of confidence we have in the inferences drawn from the modeling. In this article, we discuss some of the issues surrounding the modeler’s attempts to test, corroborate, confirm, and verify numerical models—a process sometimes referred to as model validation. This wide-ranging topic is approached by first examining its deep roots in the philosophy of science and hypothesis testing. However, the application of these principles to radioactive waste isolation calls for a more pragmatic approach, which has the narrower goal of corroborating site-specific models and their usefulness for a specific purpose. We focus on the practical aspects of validating hydrogeological models that are used to understand the evolution of the repository system. We will make the case that the responsible use of numerical models requires a sufficient understanding of the quality and robustness of the simulation results, with direct implications for how these results need to be interpreted, and how they can (or cannot) be used in support of important policy decisions.
Optimizing Allocation of Distributed Electric Heating for Large-Scale Access Distribution Considering the Influence of Power Quality
Authors: Li Wei , Li Mengjun , Zhang Ning , Zhou Xuesong , Zhou Jiegui , Song Guanyu
Published: May 2022

In this paper, a dual-layer grid comprehensive resource optimizing allocation model is proposed, which considers power quality controlling and load optimization scheduling under large-scale application of distributed electric heating. The upper-layer planning aims to minimize the active power loss of the distribution network, the minimum voltage deviation, and the minimum investment cost of the power quality control device. The capacity configuration of the management device and the number and location of the commutation switch configuration were determined. The lower layer is load optimization scheduling, with the minimum number of action switches and the minimum three-phase imbalance as the planning goals, and the decision variable is the state of the commutation switch. By co-simulation through Matlab and OpenDSS, the improved particle swarm algorithm and genetic algorithm are used for multi-objective optimization and the solution. In this way, the capacity configuration of reactive power compensation and active filter, as well as the installation position and switch state of the commutation switch are optimized and managed. Finally, taking the rural low-voltage distribution network in the Tongzhou District as an example, simulations considering the variation in the distributed electric heating penetration rate in the range of 20–80% are carried out. The calculation example results show that the proposed algorithm is effective, can effectively improve the power factor, reduces the harmonic content of the distribution network and the three-phase unbalance, and significantly improves the distribution network voltage.
The 3E Optimal Location Assessment of Flat-Plate Solar Collectors for Domestic Applications in Iran
Authors: Jafari Sina , Sohani Ali , Hoseinzadeh Siamak , Pourfayaz Fathollah
Published: May 2022

The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was utilized to determine the optimal location on which to install flat-plate solar thermal collectors for residential buildings in a number of cities in Iran under diverse climatic conditions. The payback period of investment (IPBP) was chosen as one of the decision criteria, while payback periods of energy and greenhouse gas emissions (EPBP and GGEPBP), being two recently introduced concepts, were also taken into account to provide a broader insight from the energy, economic, and environmental (3E) benefits of the system. The novelty of this work is proposing a method to find places with the greatest potential to install flat-plate solar collectors. It was performed using AHP as a systematic decision-making tool, and based on energy, environmental, and economic criteria, which are the key aspects of an energy system. Codes developed in the MATLAB software were employed to determine the values for different investigated cities. According to the results, Yazd, located in the center of the country, was found to be the best place to install the system. This city enjoys EPBP, IPBP, and GGEPBP scores of 2.47, 3.37, and 0.71 years, respectively. The collector area for this city was also found to be 109.8 m2. Yazd gained a score of 26.5 out of 100. With scores of 24.4, 18.6, 15.9, and 14.6 out of 100, Tehran, Bandar Abbas, Rasht, and Tabriz were found to be the second, third, fourth, and fifth priorities for utilizing the system, respectively.
Screening of Key Indices and the Gene Transcriptional Regulation Analysis Related to Salt Tolerance in Salix matsudana Seedlings
Authors: Pang Yuanxiang , Guo Longmei , Wang Tiantian , Liu Wei , Mao Peili , Cao Xiaonan , Geng Ying , Cao Banghua
Published: May 2022

Pot experiments were performed to comparatively study the differences in 16 salt tolerance indices between the seedlings of six Salix matsudana clones under the stress of various concentrations of NaCl (0, 0.1%, 0.3%, 0.5%, and 0.7%), including the salt injury index, shoot fresh weight, root fresh weight, leaf water content, relative conductivity, malondialdehyde content, and antioxidant enzyme activity. The salt-tolerant clones and key indices of salt tolerance were selected. Transcriptome sequencing analysis was performed on the selected salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive clones under salt stress, and the links between the physiological indices of salt tolerance and gene expression were analyzed. Results: (1) Superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), chlorophyll, and net photosynthetic rate were closely related to the salt tolerance of Salix matsudana at the seedling stage. The regression equation was constructed as follows: salt tolerance index (y) = 0.224x10 + 0.216x11 + 0.127x12 + 0.191x7 − 0.187 (x10 = chlorophyll, x11 = SOD, x12 = POD, x7 = net photosynthetic rate). (2) The number of differentially expressed genes between the seedlings of salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive clones varied with the time of exposure (0 h, 4 h, 12 h, and 24 h) to 200 mmol·L−1 NaCl stress. The most differentially expressed genes in Sm172 were detected upon 24 h vs. 4 h of salt treatment, while the most in Sm6 were in the 24 h vs. 0 h comparison. Gene Ontology analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis showed that several differentially expressed genes were involved in carotenoid biosynthesis and plant mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways. The nine highly expressed transcription factor genes (Sm172-f2p30-2392, Sm172-f2p28-2386, Sm6-f8p60-2372, Sm6-f2p39-2263, Sm6-f16p60-2374, Sm6-f3p60-931, Sm6-f2p60-1067, Sm172-f3p54-1980, and Sm172-f3p54-1980) were closely correlated with the four key indices of salt tolerance. These genes could become genetic resources for salt tolerance breeding of Salix matsudana.
Capturing Genetic Diversity and Selection Signatures of the Endangered Kosovar Balusha Sheep Breed
Authors: Adeniyi Olusegun O. , Simon Rebecca , Bytyqi Hysen , Kugler Waltraud , Mehmeti Hajrip , Berisha Kaltrina , Simčič Mojca , Magdy Mohamed , Lühken Gesine
Published: May 2022

There is a growing concern about the loss of animal genetic resources. The aim of this study was to analyze the genetic diversity and potential peculiarity of the endangered Kosovar sheep breed Balusha. For this purpose, a dataset consisting of medium-density SNP chip genotypes (39,879 SNPs) from 45 Balusha sheep was generated and compared with SNP chip genotypes from 29 individuals of a second Kosovar breed, Bardhoka. Publicly available SNP genotypes from 39 individuals of the relatively closely located sheep breeds Istrian Pramenka and Ruda were additionally included in the analyses. Analysis of heterozygosity, allelic richness and effective population size was used to assess the genetic diversity. Inbreeding was evaluated using two different methods (FIS, FROH). The standardized FST (di) and cross-population extended haplotype homozygosity (XPEHH) methods were used to detect signatures of selection. We observed the lowest heterozygosity (HO = 0.351) and effective population size (Ne5 = 25, Ne50 = 228) for the Balusha breed. The mean allelic richness levels (1.780–1.876) across all analyzed breeds were similar and also comparable with those in worldwide breeds. FROH estimates (0.023–0.077) were highest for the Balusha population, although evidence of decreased inbreeding was observed in FIS results for the Balusha breed. Two Gene Ontology (GO) TERMs were strongly enriched for Balusha, and involved genes belonging to the melanogenesis and T cell receptor signaling pathways, respectively. This could result from selection for the special coat color pattern of Balusha (black head) and resistance to certain infectious diseases. The analyzed diversity parameters highlight the urgency to preserve the local Kosovar Balusha sheep as it is clearly distinguished from other sheep of Southeastern Europe, has the lowest diversity level and may harbor valuable genetic variants, e.g., for resistance to infectious diseases.
Genetic Variants Associated with Neuropeptide Y Autoantibody Levels in Newly Diagnosed Individuals with Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Mansachs Sara Juul , Villumsen Sofie Olund , Johannesen Jesper , Lind Alexander , Kaur Simranjeet , Pociot Flemming
Published: May 2022

(1) Autoantibodies to the leucine variant of neuropeptide Y (NPY-LA) have been found in individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D). We investigated the association between the levels of NPY-LA and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) to better understand the genetic regulatory mechanisms of autoimmunity in T1D and the functional impacts of increased NPY-LA levels. (2) NPY-LA measurements from serum and SNP genotyping were done on 560 newly diagnosed individuals with T1D. SNP imputation with the 1000 Genomes reference panel was followed by an association analysis between the SNPs and measured NPY-LA levels. Additionally, functional enrichment and pathway analyses were done. (3) Three loci (DGKH, DCAF5, and LINC02261) were associated with NPY-LA levels (p-value < 1.5 × 10−6), which indicates an association with neurologic and vascular disorders. SNPs associated with variations in expression levels were found in six genes (including DCAF5). The pathway analysis showed that NPY-LA was associated with changes in gene transcription, protein modification, immunological functions, and the MAPK pathway. (4) Conclusively, we found NPY-LA to be significantly associated with three loci (DGKH, DCAF5, and LINC02261), and based on our findings we hypothesize that the presence of NPY-LA is associated with the regulation of the immune system and possibly neurologic and vascular disorders.
Transmission Distortion of MCT1 rs1049434 among Polish Elite Athletes
Authors: Dzitkowska-Zabielska Magdalena , Bojarczuk Aleksandra , Borczyk Małgorzata , Piechota Marcin , Korostyński Michał , Adamczyk Jakub Grzegorz , Trybek Grzegorz , Massidda Myosotis , Cięszczyk Paweł
Published: May 2022

Background: To date, nearly 300 genetic markers were linked to endurance and power/strength traits. The current study aimed to compare genotype distributions and allele frequencies of the common polymorphisms: MCT1 rs1049434, NRF2 rs12594956, MYBPC3 rs1052373 and HFE rs1799945 in Polish elite athletes versus nonathletes. Methods: The study involved 101 male elite Polish athletes and 41 healthy individuals from the Polish population as a control group. SNP data were extracted from whole-genome sequencing (WGS) performed using the following parameters: paired reads of 150 bps, at least 90 Gb of data per sample with 300 M reads and 30× mean coverage. Results: All the analyzed polymorphisms conformed to Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) in athletes and the control group, except the MCT1 rs1049434, where allele T was over-represented in the elite trainers’ group. No significant between-group differences were found for analyzed polymorphisms. Conclusions: The MCT1 rs1049434 transmission distortion might be characteristic of Polish athletes and the effect of strict inclusion criteria. This result and the lack of statistically significant changes in the frequency of other polymorphisms between the groups might result from the small group size.
GEOENT: A Toolbox for Calculating Directional Geological Entropy
Authors: Pedretti Daniele , Bianchi Marco
Published: May 2022

Geological entropy is based on Shannon information entropy and measures order in the structure of a spatial random variable. Metrics have been defined to quantify geological entropy in multidimensional (2D and 3D) heterogeneous systems, for instance, porous and fractured geological media. This study introduces GEOENT, a toolbox that can efficiently be used to calculate geological entropy metrics for any kind of input-gridded field. Additionally, the definition of geological entropy metrics is updated to consider anisotropy in the structure of the heterogeneous system. Directional entrograms provide more accurate descriptions of spatial order over different Cartesian directions. This study presents the development of the geological entropy metrics, a description of the toolbox, and examples of its applications in different datasets, including 2D and 3D gridded fields, representing a variety of heterogeneous environments at different scales, from pore-scale microtomography (μCT) images to aquifer analogues.
Progress in Tsunami Science: Toward an Improved Integration of Hydrodynamical Modeling and Geomorphic Field Evidence
Authors: Scheffers Anja , Erdmann Wibke
Published: May 2022

Risks posed by sea-level rise and cyclones are becoming more prevalent along the world’s coastlines. In recent years, tsunamis have had devastating impacts on communities in different ocean basins. Although storms and tsunamis can be clearly distinguished when they occur in the present, this does not apply to the past, from which only their traces in the form of sedimentary or geomorphologic features provide clues about their occurrence. Following a short review of research on tsunamis from the last decades, this study uses the example of coastal boulder deposits to highlight where knowledge gaps exist. This report focuses on the spatial distribution of sediment patterns and how these may provide clues to the transport processes. However, the history of these deposits and related sea-level records during the same time span must also be recorded and contextualized. Theoretical modeling results without including these parameters will remain fuzzy, if not inaccurate. This contribution points to the need for consideration of both data and nature’s reality (which are complementary and interdependent) in this field.
Effect of Number of Household Members on Falls among Disabled Older People
Authors: Kim Juyeong , Lee Ye Seol , Kim Tae Hyun
Published: May 2022

Objectives: To investigate the effect of the number of cohabitating household members on falls among an disabled aging Korean population. Methods: We used data from the first to the fourth waves of the Korea Longitudinal Study of Aging. Using the first wave at baseline, data included 1414 individuals aged 45 years and older who needed assistance for performance of activities of daily living (ADL) or instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). We classified falls as overall falls, falls requiring medical treatment, and hip fractures caused by falls. The number of cohabitating family members was classified as none (living alone), one, two, or more. A generalized estimating equation with logit link was used to examine the association between the number of cohabitating household members with overall falls and injuries caused by falls. Results: Compared to living with two or more household members, living alone was associated with higher odds of overall falls, falls needing medical treatment, and hip fractures caused by falls (odds ratio (OR) 2.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.36–3.34; OR 2.13, 95% CI 1.28–3.53; OR 1.93, 95% CI 1.01–3.69, respectively). These associations were particularly strong in individuals with cognitive decline. Conclusions Living alone is associated with higher odds of overall falls, falls needing medical treatment, and hip fractures caused by falls, particularly for those with cognitive decline. Conclusions: Intervention programs to prevent falls in disabled, aging adults, especially those living alone and those with declined cognitive function, need to provide home care services and promote the use of safety equipment.
Discovering Thematically Coherent Biomedical Documents Using Contextualized Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers-Based Clustering
Authors: Davagdorj Khishigsuren , Wang Ling , Li Meijing , Pham Van-Huy , Ryu Keun Ho , Theera-Umpon Nipon
Published: May 2022

The increasing expansion of biomedical documents has increased the number of natural language textual resources related to the current applications. Meanwhile, there has been a great interest in extracting useful information from meaningful coherent groupings of textual content documents in the last decade. However, it is challenging to discover informative representations and define relevant articles from the rapidly growing biomedical literature due to the unsupervised nature of document clustering. Moreover, empirical investigations demonstrated that traditional text clustering methods produce unsatisfactory results in terms of non-contextualized vector space representations because that neglect the semantic relationship between biomedical texts. Recently, pre-trained language models have emerged as successful in a wide range of natural language processing applications. In this paper, we propose the Gaussian Mixture Model-based efficient clustering framework that incorporates substantially pre-trained (Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers for Biomedical Text Mining) BioBERT domain-specific language representations to enhance the clustering accuracy. Our proposed framework consists of main three phases. First, classic text pre-processing techniques are used biomedical document data, which crawled from the PubMed repository. Second, representative vectors are extracted from a pre-trained BioBERT language model for biomedical text mining. Third, we employ the Gaussian Mixture Model as a clustering algorithm, which allows us to assign labels for each biomedical document. In order to prove the efficiency of our proposed model, we conducted a comprehensive experimental analysis utilizing several clustering algorithms while combining diverse embedding techniques. Consequently, the experimental results show that the proposed model outperforms the benchmark models by reaching performance measures of Fowlkes mallows score, silhouette coefficient, adjusted rand index, Davies-Bouldin score of 0.7817, 0.3765, 0.4478, 1.6849, respectively. We expect the outcomes of this study will assist domain specialists in comprehending thematically cohesive documents in the healthcare field.
Desistance from Crime among Chinese Delinquents: The Integrated Effects of Family Bonding, Prosocial Models, and Religious Bonding
Authors: Au Grace W. Y. , Wong Dennis S. W.
Published: May 2022

Desistance from crime is a popular topic in global criminological research; however, few studies have focused on desistance among delinquent youth, particularly in non-Western societies. This study extends the current knowledge by examining pathways of youth desistance in Hong Kong. Thirty delinquent youth and six parent–child dyads were interviewed, and the study found that filial piety significantly impacts the process of youth desistance. Three main forms of social capital were closely associated with youth desistance: the revival of reciprocal family bonding, the presence of a prosocial role model, and religious bonding. An interactive model was constructed to illustrate the seven stages of desistance and highlight the key elements for successful desistance among youth delinquents in Hong Kong.
Children and Urban Green Infrastructure in the Digital Age: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Yin Shengchen , Kasraian Dena , van Wesemael Pieter
Published: May 2022

In the digital age, time spent outdoor in green areas is significantly decreasing for children living in cities. With the advent of digital technology, a series of digital tools are gradually integrated into children’s lives and act as a double-edged sword: on the one hand, an increasing number of children tend to stay at home and play digital games instead of interacting with nature; on the other hand, new digital technology is increasingly being used to engage children with outdoor activities. A host of studies have investigated children’s behaviour in the natural environment. However, a systematic literature review of children’s interaction with the urban green infrastructure (UGI) and the respective role of digital environment, based on a theoretical framework that explicitly takes the multi-level determinants and individual-level mechanism of behaviour change into account does not exist yet. This work provides a conceptual framework that covers various determinants, such as motivation, capability, and opportunity related factors of children’s behaviour in terms of their UGI interaction at the city and neighbourhood levels, while taking into account the individual-level mechanism of behavioural change and the role of the digital environment. The framework is used to systematically review recent international empirical evidence on the determinants of children–UGI interaction. The results are useful for laying the theoretical foundation for future empirical research on children–UGI interaction, specifically in the presence of digital interventions. They also provide urban/digital intervention designers and policymakers with theory-based design and policy guidelines for the creation of child-friendly UGI.
A Combined Model of SARIMA and Prophet Models in Forecasting AIDS Incidence in Henan Province, China
Authors: Luo Zixiao , Jia Xiaocan , Bao Junzhe , Song Zhijuan , Zhu Huili , Liu Mengying , Yang Yongli , Shi Xuezhong
Published: May 2022

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a serious public health problem. This study aims to establish a combined model of seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) and Prophet models based on an L1-norm to predict the incidence of AIDS in Henan province, China. The monthly incidences of AIDS in Henan province from 2012 to 2020 were obtained from the Health Commission of Henan Province. A SARIMA model, a Prophet model, and two combined models were adopted to fit the monthly incidence of AIDS using the data from January 2012 to December 2019. The data from January 2020 to December 2020 was used to verify. The mean square error (MSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) were used to compare the prediction effect among the models. The results showed that the monthly incidence fluctuated from 0.05 to 0.50 per 100,000 individuals, and the monthly incidence of AIDS had a certain periodicity in Henan province. In addition, the prediction effect of the Prophet model was better than SARIMA model, the combined model was better than the single models, and the combined model based on the L1-norm had the best effect values (MSE = 0.0056, MAE = 0.0553, MAPE = 43.5337). This indicated that, compared with the L2-norm, the L1-norm improved the prediction accuracy of the combined model. The combined model of SARIMA and Prophet based on the L1-norm is a suitable method to predict the incidence of AIDS in Henan. Our findings can provide theoretical evidence for the government to formulate policies regarding AIDS prevention.
Comparative Study on the Joint Biomechanics of Different Skill Level Practitioners in Chen-Style Tai Chi Punching
Authors: Hua Hongguang , Zhu Dong , Wang Yifan
Published: May 2022

Purpose: “Yan Shou Hong Cui” is a representative punch in Chen-style Tai Chi. The training is an important factor in affecting the effect of Tai Chi practice. Joint angles are the most intuitive way to evaluate motion. The purpose of this study is to compare the movements of Tai Chi masters and beginners’ movements through the analysis of joint angle and punching effect, and explore the influence of training years on the power generation of Tai Chi punches. Methods: There were 14 Chinese Chen-style Tai Chi subjects recruited for this study. They were divided into the master group (n = 7, age of 38.14 ± 10.42 years, height of 1.68 ± 0.06 m, weight of 71.33 ± 8.61 kg) and the beginner group (n = 7, age of 38.00 ± 11.94 years, height of 1.69 ± 0.07 m, weight of 70.14 ± 9.79 kg). The typical movement from Chen-style Tai Chi is called Yan Shou Hong Cui. All subjects were asked to perform the action three times, and the way of force was applied each time. The kinematic and kinetic characteristics of Tai Chi were analyzed by the VICON 3D motion analysis system (100 Hz) with 16 MX13 cameras, and the punch efficiency was measured by the Chinese Kung Fu Dummy (80,000 Hz). Results: The experimental results show that the shoulder, elbow, and hand movements of the master group are more precise and the force strength is more vigorous (master group: the peak angular velocity of the shoulder joint was −324.12 ± 50.88°/s, the angular velocity of the elbow joint was −112.83 ± 56.98°/s, and the hand angular velocity was −121.69 ± 49.55°/s; beginner group: shoulder angle velocity was −281.17 ± 30.56°/s, the elbow angle speed was −263.64 ± 68.63°/s, and the hand angle speed was −36.80 ± 12.53°/s). The rotation angle and rotation speed of the hip joint in the master group were significantly higher than those in the beginner group (as for the hip rotation angle, the master group was 64°, which was significantly higher than the beginner group’s 44°, and there was a significant difference (p = 0.019 < 0.05)). In terms of rotation speed, the peak value of the master group was 370.3 ± 94.8°/s, which was significantly faster than that of the beginner group at 210.4 ± 56.1°/s, and there was a very significant difference (p = 0.003 < 0.01). The master group’s punch effect acceleration (496.39 ± 256.52 m/s2) was significantly higher than that of the beginner group (396.90 ± 116.79 m/s2). Conclusion: People who practice Tai Chi for a long time differ from the beginners in terms of joint flexibility, punching posture, and the effect of application.
Social Isolation and Loneliness among Near-Centenarians and Centenarians: Results from the Fordham Centenarian Study
Authors: Zaccaria Daniele , Cavalli Stefano , Masotti Barbara , Gomes Da Rocha Carla , von Gunten Armin , Jopp Daniela S.
Published: May 2022

Social isolation and loneliness have been recognized as problems older people face due to their adverse effects on health and mortality, but very few researchers have analyzed their co-occurrence, which might be particularly prevalent and critical among the very old. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of combinations of social isolation and loneliness among near-centenarians and centenarians. We used data collected from 94 individuals aged 95–107 from the Fordham Centenarian Study. We built a four-group typology and explored associations with individual characteristics in various domains (demographic, socioeconomics, social, health, care, and psychological) with multinomial logistic regression models. Considering their combinations, the most prevalent groups were “isolated and lonely” and “neither isolated nor lonely” (29.8% and 28.7%, respectively). The “lonely but not isolated” (20.2%) and “isolated but not lonely” (21.3%) groups were also notably large. The likelihood of belonging to each group varied according to various individual characteristics, such as education, health, and personality. Social isolation and loneliness are distinct phenomena among centenarians. The consideration of their varied combination can help better assess life conditions at very old ages. Taking into account the differences between groups can facilitate the design of tailored interventions to improve the lives of near-centenarians and centenarians.
Becoming Urban Citizens: A Three-Phase Perspective on the Social Integration of Rural–Urban Migrants in China
Authors: Sun Xia , Chen Juan , Xie Shenghua
Published: May 2022

This article attempts to provide an integrated conceptual framework for understanding how rural–urban migrants in China integrate into urban society. We propose a three-phase conceptual framework in which the social integration of rural–urban migrants is categorized into circular migration, urban settlement, and urban integration. We argue that the three phases differ with respect to the aims of migration, the identity of migrants, the key dimensions of social integration, the role of government, and the hukou policy. While the transition from circular migration to urban settlement is an outcome of economic development and change in demographic structure, as reflected by the economic conditions of rural–urban migrants, welfare expansion also plays a critical role during this process. We further hypothesize that the transition from urban settlement to urban integration will be a result of the social interaction between rural–urban migrants and local urbanites, within which social capital and cultural factors are vital. Since most rural–urban migrants are currently at the phase of urban settlement, we suggest that the Chinese government should enlarge welfare provisions to support their settlement in cities. This study contributes to improving the understanding of how to facilitate social integration of internal migrants in developing countries.
Development of Ammonia Emission Factor for Industrial Waste Incineration Facilities Considering Incinerator Type
Authors: Roh Joonyoung , Kang Seongmin , Gong Buju , Lee Kyungwon , Jeon Eui-chan
Published: May 2022

In this study, the emission factor and concentration of ammonia from industrial waste incineration facilities were analyzed through actual measurements. The ammonia emission factor was calculated and the difference in ammonia emission factor for each type of incineration was confirmed through the Mann–Whitney U test. As a result of analyzing 279 samples, the NH3 emission factor of the SNCR facility of stoker types was 0.012 kgNH3/ton, and the NH3 emission factor of the SNCR facility of the rotary kiln methods was 0.014 kgNH3/ton. Additionally, the NH3 emission factor of this study was higher than the NH3 emission factor (0.003 kgNH3/ton) suggested by Kang’s study (0.009 kgNH3/ton) and EMEP/EEA (2006). There is a need to develop an NH3 emission factor that takes into account the characteristics of Korea, since it is largely different from the NH3 emission factor of EMEP/EEA. As a result of statistical analysis of the stoker type and the rotary kiln method, the null hypothesis that there is no difference between each type was adopted (p-value > 0.05), indicating that there was no statistical difference in the ammonia emission factors of the stoker type and the rotary kiln type.
Perfusion in Organ-on-Chip Models and Its Applicability to the Replication of Spermatogenesis In Vitro
Authors: Shuchat Sholom , Yossifon Gilad , Huleihel Mahmoud
Published: May 2022

Organ/organoid-on-a-chip (OoC) technologies aim to replicate aspects of the in vivo environment in vitro, at the scale of microns. Mimicking the spatial in vivo structure is important and can provide a deeper understanding of the cell–cell interactions and the mechanisms that lead to normal/abnormal function of a given organ. It is also important for disease models and drug/toxin testing. Incorporating active fluid flow in chip models enables many more possibilities. Active flow can provide physical cues, improve intercellular communication, and allow for the dynamic control of the environment, by enabling the efficient introduction of biological factors, drugs, or toxins. All of this is in addition to the fundamental role of flow in supplying nutrition and removing waste metabolites. This review presents an overview of the different types of fluid flow and how they are incorporated in various OoC models. The review then describes various methods and techniques of incorporating perfusion networks into OoC models, including self-assembly, bioprinting techniques, and utilizing sacrificial gels. The second part of the review focuses on the replication of spermatogenesis in vitro; the complex process whereby spermatogonial stem cells differentiate into mature sperm. A general overview is given of the various approaches that have been used. The few studies that incorporated microfluidics or vasculature are also described. Finally, a future perspective is given on elements from perfusion-based models that are currently used in models of other organs and can be applied to the field of in vitro spermatogenesis. For example, adopting tubular blood vessel models to mimic the morphology of the seminiferous tubules and incorporating vasculature in testis-on-a-chip models. Improving these models would improve our understanding of the process of spermatogenesis. It may also potentially provide novel therapeutic strategies for pre-pubertal cancer patients who need aggressive chemotherapy that can render them sterile, as well asfor a subset of non-obstructive azoospermic patients with maturation arrest, whose testes do not produce sperm but still contain some of the progenitor cells.
Cellulose-Based Nanomaterials Advance Biomedicine: A Review
Authors: Abdelhamid Hani Nasser , Mathew Aji P.
Published: May 2022

There are various biomaterials, but none fulfills all requirements. Cellulose biopolymers have advanced biomedicine to satisfy high market demand and circumvent many ecological concerns. This review aims to present an overview of cellulose knowledge and technical biomedical applications such as antibacterial agents, antifouling, wound healing, drug delivery, tissue engineering, and bone regeneration. It includes an extensive bibliography of recent research findings from fundamental and applied investigations. Cellulose-based materials are tailorable to obtain suitable chemical, mechanical, and physical properties required for biomedical applications. The chemical structure of cellulose allows modifications and simple conjugation with several materials, including nanoparticles, without tedious efforts. They render the applications cheap, biocompatible, biodegradable, and easy to shape and process.
Starch-Coated Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Affinity Purification of Recombinant Proteins
Authors: Krasitskaya Vasilisa V. , Kudryavtsev Alexander N. , Yaroslavtsev Roman N. , Velikanov Dmitry A. , Bayukov Oleg A. , Gerasimova Yulia V. , Stolyar Sergey V. , Frank Ludmila A.
Published: May 2022

Starch-coated magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles have been synthesized by a simple, fast, and cost-effective co-precipitation method with cornstarch as a stabilizing agent. The structural and magnetic characteristics of the synthesized material have been studied by transmission electron microscopy, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry. The nature of bonds between ferrihydrite nanoparticles and a starch shell has been examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The data on the magnetic response of the prepared composite particles have been obtained by magnetic measurements. The determined magnetic characteristics make the synthesized material a good candidate for use in magnetic separation. Starch-coated magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles have been tested as an affinity sorbent for one-step purification of several recombinant proteins (cardiac troponin I, survivin, and melanoma inhibitory activity protein) bearing the maltose-binding protein as an auxiliary fragment. It has been shown that, due to the highly specific binding of this fragment to the starch shell, the target fusion protein is selectively immobilized on magnetic nanoparticles and eluted with the maltose solution. The excellent efficiency of column-free purification, high binding capacity of the sorbent (100–500 µg of a recombinant protein per milligram of starch-coated magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles), and reusability of the obtained material have been demonstrated.
Role of Mitochondrial Dynamics in Cocaine’s Neurotoxicity
Authors: Wen Shuheng , Aki Toshihiko , Funakoshi Takeshi , Unuma Kana , Uemura Koichi
Published: May 2022

The dynamic balance of mitochondrial fission and fusion maintains mitochondrial homeostasis and optimal function. It is indispensable for cells such as neurons, which rely on the finely tuned mitochondria to carry out their normal physiological activities. The potent psychostimulant cocaine impairs mitochondria as one way it exerts its neurotoxicity, wherein the disturbances in mitochondrial dynamics have been suggested to play an essential role. In this review, we summarize the neurotoxicity of cocaine and the role of mitochondrial dynamics in cellular physiology. Subsequently, we introduce current findings that link disturbed neuronal mitochondrial dynamics with cocaine exposure. Finally, the possible role and potential therapeutic value of mitochondrial dynamics in cocaine neurotoxicity are discussed.
Reversal of Right Ventricular Hypertrophy and Dysfunction by Prostacyclin in a Rat Model of Severe Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Vanderpool Rebecca R. , Gorelova Anastasia , Ma Yiran , Alhamaydeh Mohammad , Baust Jeffrey , Shiva Sruti , Tofovic Stevan P. , Hu Jian , Nouraie Seyed Mehdi , Gladwin Mark T. , Sharifi-Sanjani Maryam , Al Ghouleh Imad
Published: May 2022

Prostacyclin analogs are among the most effective and widely used therapies for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, it is unknown whether they also confer protection through right ventricle (RV) myocardio-specific mechanisms. Moreover, the use of prostacyclin analogs in severe models of PAH has not been adequately tested. To further identify underlying responses to prostacyclin, a prostacyclin analogue, treprostinil, was used in a preclinical rat Sugen-chronic hypoxia (SuCH) model of severe PAH that closely resembles the human disease. Male Sprague–Dawley rats were implanted with osmotic pumps containing vehicle or treprostinil, injected concurrently with a bolus of Sugen (SU5416) and exposed to 3-week hypoxia followed by 3-week normoxia. RV function was assessed using pressure–volume loops and hypertrophy by weight assessed. To identify altered mechanisms within the RV, tissue samples were used to perform a custom RNA array analysis, histological staining, and protein and transcript level confirmatory analyses. Treprostinil significantly reduced SuCH-associated RV hypertrophy and decreased the rise in RV systolic pressure, mean pulmonary arterial (mPAP), and right atrial (RAP) pressure. Prostacyclin treatment was associated with improvements in RV stroke work, maximum rate of ventricular pressure change (max dP/dt) and the contractile index, and almost a complete reversal of SuCH-associated increase in RV end-systolic elastance, suggesting the involvement of load-independent improvements in intrinsic RV systolic contractility by prostacyclin treatment. An analysis of the RV tissues showed no changes in cardiac mitochondrial respiration and ATP generation. However, custom RNA array analysis revealed amelioration of SuCH-associated increases in newly identified TBX20 as well as the fibrotic markers collagen1α1 and collagen 3α1 upon treprostinil treatment. Taken together, our data support decreased afterload and load-independent improvements in RV function following prostacyclin administration in severe PAH, and these changes appear to associate with improvements in RV fibrotic responses.
Repeated and Interrupted Resistance Exercise Induces the Desensitization and Re-Sensitization of mTOR-Related Signaling in Human Skeletal Muscle Fibers
Authors: Jacko Daniel , Schaaf Kirill , Masur Lukas , Windoffer Hannes , Aussieker Thorben , Schiffer Thorsten , Zacher Jonas , Bloch Wilhelm , Gehlert Sebastian
Published: May 2022

The acute resistance exercise (RE)-induced phosphorylation of mTOR-related signaling proteins in skeletal muscle can be blunted after repeated RE. The time frame in which the phosphorylation (p) of mTORS2448, p70S6kT421/S424, and rpS6S235/236 will be reduced during an RE training period in humans and whether progressive (PR) loading can counteract such a decline has not been described. (1) To enclose the time frame in which pmTORS2448, prpS6S235/236, and pp70S6kT421/S424 are acutely reduced after RE occurs during repeated RE. (2) To test whether PR will prevent that reduction compared to constant loading (CO) and (3) whether 10 days without RE may re-increase blunted signaling. Fourteen healthy males (24 ± 2.8 yrs.; 1.83 ± 0.1 cm; 79.3 ± 8.5 kg) were subjected to RE with either PR (n = 8) or CO (n = 6) loading. Subjects performed RE thrice per week, conducting three sets with 10–12 repetitions on a leg press and leg extension machine. Muscle biopsies were collected at rest (T0), 45 min after the first (T1), seventh (T7), 13th (T13), and 14th (X-T14) RE session. No differences were found between PR and CO for any parameter. Thus, the groups were combined, and the results show the merged values. prpS6S235/236 and pp70s6kT421/S424 were increased at T1, but were already reduced at T7 and up to T13 compared to T1. Ten days without RE re-increased prpS6S235/236 and pp70S6kT421/S424 at X-T14 to a level comparable to that of T1. pmTORS2448 was increased from T1 to X-T14 and did not decline over the training period. Single-fiber immunohistochemistry revealed a reduction in prpS6S235/236 in type I fibers from T1 to T13 and a re-increase at X-T14, which was more augmented in type II fibers at T13 (p < 0.05). The entity of myofibers revealed a high heterogeneity in the level of prpS6S235/236, possibly reflecting individual contraction-induced stress during RE. The type I and II myofiber diameter increased from T0 and T1 to T13 and X-T14 (p < 0.05) prpS6S235/236 and pp70s6kT421/S424 reflect RE-induced states of desensitization and re-sensitization in dependency on frequent loading by RE, but also by its cessation.
A Critical Overview of Targeted Therapies for Vestibular Schwannoma
Authors: Tamura Ryota , Toda Masahiro
Published: May 2022

Vestibular schwannoma (VS) is a benign tumor that originates from Schwann cells in the vestibular component. Surgical treatment for VS has gradually declined over the past few decades, especially for small tumors. Gamma knife radiosurgery has become an accepted treatment for VS, with a high rate of tumor control. For neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2)-associated VS resistant to radiotherapy, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A/VEGF receptor (VEGFR)-targeted therapy (e.g., bevacizumab) may become the first-line therapy. Recently, a clinical trial using a VEGFR1/2 peptide vaccine was also conducted in patients with progressive NF2-associated schwannomas, which was the first immunotherapeutic approach for NF2 patients. Targeted therapies for the gene product of SH3PXD2A-HTRA1 fusion may be effective for sporadic VS. Several protein kinase inhibitors could be supportive to prevent tumor progression because merlin inhibits signaling by tyrosine receptor kinases and the activation of downstream pathways, including the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK and PI3K/Akt/mTORC1 pathways. Tumor-microenvironment-targeted therapy may be supportive for the mainstays of management. The tumor-associated macrophage is the major component of immunosuppressive cells in schwannomas. Here, we present a critical overview of targeted therapies for VS. Multimodal therapy is required to manage patients with refractory VS.
Clinical Phenotypes of Atrial Fibrillation and Mortality Risk—A Cluster Analysis from the Nationwide Italian START Registry
Authors: Pastori Daniele , Antonucci Emilia , Milanese Alberto , Menichelli Danilo , Palareti Gualtiero , Farcomeni Alessio , Pignatelli Pasquale ,   the START2 Register Investigators
Published: May 2022

Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) still experience a high mortality rate despite optimal antithrombotic treatment. We aimed to identify clinical phenotypes of patients to stratify mortality risk in AF. Cluster analysis was performed on 5171 AF patients from the nationwide START registry. The risk of all-cause mortality in each cluster was analyzed. We identified four clusters. Cluster 1 was composed of the youngest patients, with low comorbidities; Cluster 2 of patients with low cardiovascular risk factors and high prevalence of cancer; Cluster 3 of men with diabetes and coronary disease and peripheral artery disease; Cluster 4 included the oldest patients, mainly women, with previous cerebrovascular events. During 9857 person-years of observation, 386 deaths (3.92%/year) occurred. Mortality rates increased across clusters: 0.42%/year (cluster 1, reference group), 2.12%/year (cluster 2, adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 3.306, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.204–9.077, p = 0.020), 4.41%/year (cluster 3, aHR 6.702, 95%CI 2.433–18.461, p < 0.001), and 8.71%/year (cluster 4, aHR 8.927, 95%CI 3.238–24.605, p < 0.001). We identified four clusters of AF patients with progressive mortality risk. The use of clinical phenotypes may help identify patients at a higher risk of mortality.
Association of Body Mass Index with Hearing Loss in Korean Adult Population
Authors: Koo Jong-Seop , Kim So Young
Published: May 2022

This study aimed to explore the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and hearing loss. We analyzed data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service Health Screening Cohort 2009–2019 (291,471 patients with hearing loss and 6,088,979 control participants). Both patient groups were subsequently divided into four groups according to BMI: <18.5 (underweight), 18.5–24.9 (normal), 25–29.9 (obese I), and ≥30 (obese II). To evaluate the relationship between BMI and hearing loss, multivariate logistic regression analysis was used, adjusting for age, sex, smoking, alcohol consumption, blood pressure, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, proteinuria, serum creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and fasting glucose levels. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) of the underweight group for hearing loss was 1.21 (95% CI = 1.19–1.24) compared to the normal BMI group, whereas the adjusted ORs of obese I and obese II groups for hearing loss were 0.95 and 0.87, respectively. Being underweight was generally associated with an increased prevalence of hearing loss in the Korean adult population.