bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Terbium Removal from Aqueous Solutions Using a In2O3 Nanoadsorbent and Arthrospira platensis Biomass
Authors: Al-Bagawi Amal H. , Yushin Nikita , Hosny Nasser Mohammed , Gomaa Islam , Ali Sabah , Boyd Warren Christopher , Kalil Haitham , Zinicovscaia Inga
Published: October 2023

Terbium is a rare-earth element with critical importance for industry. Two adsorbents of different origin, In2O3 nanoparticles and the biological sorbent Arthrospira platensis, were applied for terbium removal from aqueous solutions. Several analytical techniques, including X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy, were employed to characterize the adsorbents. The effect of time, pH, and terbium concentration on the adsorption efficiency was evaluated. For both adsorbents, adsorption efficiency was shown to be dependent on the time of interaction and the pH of the solution. Maximum removal of terbium by Arthrospira platensis was attained at pH 3.0 and by In2O3 at pH 4.0–7.0, both after 3 min of interaction. Several equilibrium (Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin) and kinetics (pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, and Elovich) models were applied to describe the adsorption. The maximum adsorption capacity was calculated from the Langmuir model as 212 mg/g for Arthrospira platensis and 94.7 mg/g for the In2O3 nanoadsorbent. The studied adsorbents can be regarded as potential candidates for terbium recovery from wastewater.
Social Disparities in Lifestyle and Body Weight Changes during COVID-19 Quarantine and Post-Quarantine Persistence of Changes among Lithuanian Adult Population
Authors: Petkevičienė Janina , Raskilienė Asta , Grincaitė Monika , Kriaučionienė Vilma
Published: October 2023

The role of social factors on changes in lifestyle habits during the COVID-19 quarantine and their maintenance post-quarantine is underexamined. This study aimed to assess sociodemographic differences in nutrition, physical activity and body weight changes during the quarantine and their persistence post quarantine. The study included a random sample of Lithuanian residents aged 20 to 64. The questionnaires were filled in during the face-to-face interview within households countrywide in 2023. In total, 1500 individuals (742 men and 758 women) participated in the survey. Up to 34.9% of the respondents reported changes in eating habits, mostly increased consumption, 29.5% indicated reduced physical activity, and 22.7% gained weight. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that highly educated individuals were more likely than poorly educated individuals to increase healthy and decrease unhealthy food consumption and increase physical activity during the quarantine. The city inhabitants reported unfavourable changes in nutrition habits more often than those living in villages did. The proportion of respondents who reported the maintenance of the quarantine changes in lifestyle depending on the habit varied from 23.2% to 71.4% in the post-quarantine period. Highly educated individuals were less likely to maintain the decreased consumption of fresh fruits and increased body weight than less-educated individuals were. Our study provides evidence that the targeted interventions are needed to help less-educated individuals and city residents develop and maintain healthy lifestyle habits, even in times of crisis.
The Novel Synbiotic, AG1®, Increases Short-Chained Fatty Acid Production in the Simulator of Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem (SHIME) Model®
Authors: Kirby Trevor O. , Townsend Jeremy R. , Sapp Philip A. , Govaert Marlies , Duysburgh Cindy , Marshall Tess M. , Marzorati Massimo , Esposito Ralph
Published: October 2023

Recently, there is growing usage of prebiotics and probiotics as dietary supplements due to their purported health benefits. AG1® (AG1) is a novel foundational nutrition supplement which contains vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, wholefood concentrates, adaptogens, and functional mushrooms. AG1 could be classified as a synbiotic because it contains traditional and non-traditional prebiotics (e.g., inulin and phytonutrients) as well as lactic-acid-producing probiotics. The purpose of this study was to employ the Simulator of Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem (SHIME®) model, which measures various aspects of gastrointestinal fermentation, to investigate the synbiotic effects of AG1. The SHIME experiment quantified gas production, changes in pH, and byproducts of carbohydrate and protein fermentation at baseline, 1, 24, and 48 h following the administration of AG1 or a blank control. The results indicated that AG1 significantly increased (p < 0.05; 41.9% increase) the production of total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) including acetate (p = 0.001; 49.0% increase) and propionate (p < 0.001; 70.8% increase). Regarding non-carbohydrate fermentation byproducts, AG1 produced a small but significant increase in ammonium production (p = 0.02; 5.1% increase) but did not promote significant branched-chain SCFA production. These data suggest fermentation occurred in a transplanted human colonic microbiota and these processes were enhanced by the AG1 nutritional supplement. Ultimately, AG1 showed preclinical evidence as a synbiotic given the significant increases in total SCFA production, acetate, propionate, and other metabolic byproducts of fermentation.
Trypanosoma cruzi STIB980: A TcI Strain for Drug Discovery and Reverse Genetics
Authors: Fesser Anna , Beilstein Sabina , Kaiser Marcel , Schmidt Remo S. , Mäser Pascal
Published: October 2023

Since the first published genome sequence of Trypanosoma cruzi in 2005, there have been tremendous technological advances in genomics, reverse genetics, and assay development for this elusive pathogen. However, there is still an unmet need for new and better drugs to treat Chagas disease. Here, we introduce a T. cruzi assay strain that is useful for drug research and basic studies of host–pathogen interactions. T. cruzi STIB980 is a strain of discrete typing unit TcI that grows well in culture as axenic epimastigotes or intracellular amastigotes. We evaluated the optimal parameters for genetic transfection and constructed derivatives of T. cruzi STIB980 that express reporter genes for fluorescence- or bioluminescence-based drug efficacy testing, as well as a Cas9-expressing line for CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing. The genome of T. cruzi STIB980 was sequenced by combining short-read Illumina with long-read Oxford Nanopore technologies. The latter served as the primary assembly and the former to correct mistakes. This resulted in a high-quality nuclear haplotype assembly of 28 Mb in 400 contigs, containing 10,043 open-reading frames with a median length of 1077 bp. We believe that T. cruzi STIB980 is a useful addition to the antichagasic toolbox and propose that it can serve as a DTU TcI reference strain for drug efficacy testing.
Current Overview of Metal Nanoparticles’ Synthesis, Characterization, and Biomedical Applications, with a Focus on Silver and Gold Nanoparticles
Authors: Burlec Ana Flavia , Corciova Andreia , Boev Monica , Batir-Marin Denisa , Mircea Cornelia , Cioanca Oana , Danila Gabriela , Danila Marius , Bucur Anca Florentina , Hancianu Monica
Published: October 2023

Metal nanoparticles (NPs) have garnered considerable attention, due to their unique physicochemical properties, that render them promising candidates for various applications in medicine and industry. This article offers a comprehensive overview of the most recent advancements in the manufacturing, characterization, and biomedical utilization of metal NPs, with a primary focus on silver and gold NPs. Their potential as effective anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial agents, drug delivery systems, and imaging agents in the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of disorders is reviewed. Moreover, their translation to therapeutic settings, and the issue of their inclusion in clinical trials, are assessed in light of over 30 clinical investigations that concentrate on administering either silver or gold NPs in conditions ranging from nosocomial infections to different types of cancers. This paper aims not only to examine the biocompatibility of nanomaterials but also to emphasize potential challenges that may limit their safe integration into healthcare practices. More than 100 nanomedicines are currently on the market, which justifies ongoing study into the use of nanomaterials in medicine. Overall, the present review aims to highlight the potential of silver and gold NPs as innovative and effective therapeutics in the field of biomedicine, citing some of their most relevant current applications.
Hydrogel-Based Therapeutics for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Treatment
Authors: Liu Jinlu , Wu Wenbi , Zhu Qing , Zhu Hong
Published: October 2023

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), one of the deadliest malignancies worldwide, is characteristic of the tumor microenvironments (TME) comprising numerous fibroblasts and immunosuppressive cells. Conventional therapies for PDAC are often restricted by limited drug delivery efficiency, immunosuppressive TME, and adverse effects. Thus, effective and safe therapeutics are urgently required for PDAC treatment. In recent years, hydrogels, with their excellent biocompatibility, high drug load capacity, and sustainable release profiles, have been developed as effective drug-delivery systems, offering potential therapeutic options for PDAC. This review summarizes the distinctive features of the immunosuppressive TME of PDAC and discusses the application of hydrogel-based therapies in PDAC, with a focus on how these hydrogels remodel the TME and deliver different types of cargoes in a controlled manner. Furthermore, we also discuss potential drug candidates and the challenges and prospects for hydrogel-based therapeutics for PDAC. By providing a comprehensive overview of hydrogel-based therapeutics for PDAC treatment, this review seeks to serve as a reference for researchers and clinicians involved in developing therapeutic strategies targeting the PDAC microenvironment.
Magnetic and Fluorescent Dual-Labeled Genetically Encoded Targeted Nanoparticles for Malignant Glioma Cell Tracking and Drug Delivery
Authors: Gabashvili Anna N. , Chmelyuk Nelly S. , Oda Vera V. , Leonova Maria K. , Sarkisova Viktoria A. , Lazareva Polina A. , Semkina Alevtina S. , Belyakov Nikolai A. , Nizamov Timur R. , Nikitin Petr I.
Published: October 2023

Human glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a primary malignant brain tumor, a radically incurable disease characterized by rapid growth resistance to classical therapies, with a median patient survival of about 15 months. For decades, a plethora of approaches have been developed to make GBM therapy more precise and improve the diagnosis of this pathology. Targeted delivery mediated by the use of various molecules (monoclonal antibodies, ligands to overexpressed tumor receptors) is one of the promising methods to achieve this goal. Here we present a novel genetically encoded nanoscale dual-labeled system based on Quasibacillus thermotolerans (Qt) encapsulins exploiting biologically inspired designs with iron-containing nanoparticles as a cargo, conjugated with human fluorescent labeled transferrin (Tf) acting as a vector. It is known that the expression of transferrin receptors (TfR) in glioma cells is significantly higher compared to non-tumor cells, which enables the targeting of the resulting nanocarrier. The selectivity of binding of the obtained nanosystem to glioma cells was studied by qualitative and quantitative assessment of the accumulation of intracellular iron, as well as by magnetic particle quantification method and laser scanning confocal microscopy. Used approaches unambiguously demonstrated that transferrin-conjugated encapsulins were captured by glioma cells much more efficiently than by benign cells. The resulting bioinspired nanoplatform can be supplemented with a chemotherapeutic drug or genotherapeutic agent and used for targeted delivery of a therapeutic agent to malignant glioma cells. Additionally, the observed cell-assisted biosynthesis of magnetic nanoparticles could be an attractive way to achieve a narrow size distribution of particles for various applications.
Dual-Targeted Therapy in HER2-Overexpressing Breast Cancer with Trastuzumab and Novel Cholesterol-Based Nioplexes Silencing Mcl-1
Authors: Pengnam Supusson , Opanasopit Praneet , Rojanarata Theerasak , Yingyongnarongkul Boon-ek , Thongbamrer Chopaka , Plianwong Samarwadee
Published: October 2023

The challenge in HER2-overexpressing breast cancer therapy lies in creating an effective target therapy to overcome treatment resistance. Monoclonal antibodies and target gene silencing by siRNA are two potential strategies that have been widely developed for treating HER2-positive breast cancer. The siRNA delivery system is a crucial factor that influences siRNA therapy’s success. In this study, lipid-based nanoparticles (cationic niosomes) composed of different cholesterol-based cationic lipids were formulated and characterized for delivering siRNA into HER2-overexpressing breast cancer cells. Niosomes containing a trimethylammonium headgroup showed the highest siRNA delivery efficiency with low toxicity. The myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1) siRNA nioplex treatment significantly decreased mRNA expression and breast cancer cell growth. Dual-targeted therapy, consisting of treatment with an Mcl-1 siRNA nioplex and trastuzumab (TZ) solution, noticeably promoted cell-growth inhibition and apoptosis. The synergistic effect of dual therapy was also demonstrated by computer modeling software (CompuSyn version 1.0). These findings suggest that the developed cationic niosomes were effective nanocarriers for siRNA delivery in breast cancer cells. Furthermore, the Mcl-1 nioplex/TZ dual treatment establishes a synergistic outcome that may have the potential to treat HER2-overexpressing breast cancer.
Accumulation of Nutrients and the Relation between Fruit, Grain, and Husk of Coffee Robusta Cultivated in Brazilian Amazon
Authors: Schmidt Raquel , da Silva Cleidson Alves , Silva Larícia Olária Emerick , Espindula Marcelo Curitiba , Rodrigues Weverton Pereira , Vieira Henrique Duarte , Tomaz Marcelo Antonio , Partelli Fábio Luiz
Published: October 2023

Coffee genotypes cultivated in the Amazonian region have been gaining increasing prominence in Brazilian plantations. This study aimed to quantify nutrient accumulation in the fruits, grains, and husks of Robusta coffee genotypes cultivated in the Brazilian Amazon and estimate genetic diversity. The experiment was conducted in Alta Floresta D’Oeste—Rondônia, Brazil. To assess nutrient accumulation, fresh fruits were collected. These were dried, processed, separated into grains and husks, and subjected to chemical analysis. Nutrient accumulation in fruits, grains, and husks, as well as the grain/husk ratio, underwent analysis of variance through the F-test (p < 0.01. For each evaluated trait, the experimental coefficient of 337 variation (CVe), genetic coefficient of variation (CVg), and genotypic determination coefficient (H2) were also estimated. Variability was observed among Robusta coffee genotypes, with VP06, AS4, and AS10 being the most dissimilar. LB080 had the lowest dry fruit weight and the lowest percentage of grains in relation to husks. ZD156 accumulated more K in the grains, while VP06 and AS10 were the genotypes that accumulated more nutrients in the husks. Nutrients N, K, Ca, and P are accumulated in larger quantities, necessitating the calibration of mineral fertilization dosages and distribution.
How Does Climate Change Affect Tomato and Okra Production? Evidence from Nigeria
Authors: Onyeneke Robert Ugochukwu , Agyarko Fred Fosu , Onyeneke Chinenye Judith , Osuji Emeka Emmanuel , Ibeneme Patience Afor , Esfahani Iman Janghorban
Published: October 2023

This study examined the impacts of climate change on okra and tomato yields. Fertilizer consumption and credit to the crop sector were considered as covariates in the analysis. Time-series data, spanning a period of 40 years, were obtained from various sources. An autoregressive distributed lag model was applied to analyze short- and long-term impacts of climate change and agricultural inputs on okra and tomato yields. Not all variables were stationary at levels (order zero), but they were all significant at first difference, indicating the presence of cointegration. The Bound’s test F-ratio was statistically significant and implied the presence of long- and short-term relationships among the variables studied. The mean temperatures had negative impacts on okra and tomato yields in both the short and long terms. Credit guaranteed to the crop sector had positive short- and long-term impacts on tomato yield; fertilizer consumption had a negative long-term impact on okra yield. Our study concludes that climate change, particularly rising temperature, impacts herbaceous fruit crop production in Nigeria. Therefore, we recommend that breeding and disseminating climate-smart tomato and okra varieties will help fruit crop farmers respond to rising temperatures.
Effect of Aprotic Solvents on the Microtensile Bond Strength of Composite Core and Fiber-Reinforced Composite Posts
Authors: Prawatvatchara Wisarut , Angkanawiriyarak Somphote , Klaisiri Awiruth , Sriamporn Tool , Thamrongananskul Niyom
Published: October 2023

This investigation evaluated the effects of aprotic solvents, i.e., tetrahydrofuran, pyridine, and morpholine, compared with hydrogen peroxide, on the surfaces of fiber-reinforced composite posts with a composite core based on the microtensile bond strength. In total, 150 FRC Postec Plus posts and 150 D.T. Light-Posts were randomly divided into three groups (non-thermocycling, 5000-cycle, and 10,000-cycle thermocycling groups). Each group was divided into five subgroups according to the post-surface treatment: C, non-treatment group; H2O2, immersed in 35% hydrogen peroxide; THF, immersed in tetrahydrofuran; PY, immersed in pyridine; and MP, immersed in morpholine. The treated specimens were placed in the bottom of a plastic cap and filled with a composite core material in preparation for the microtensile bond test. The data were evaluated using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s test (p < 0.05) as well as an independent t-test (p < 0.05). For the surface roughness, white light interferometry was used for measurement, and the mean surface roughness was analyzed via one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s test (p < 0.05). The results showed that, under non-thermocycling conditions, the PY subgroup with D.T. Light-Post had the highest microtensile bond strength, followed by THF, MP, H2O2, and the control groups. For FRC Postec Plus, the PY group had the highest microtensile bond strength, followed by MP, THF, H2O2, and the control groups. Although the thermocycling conditions decreased the microtensile bond strength in all groups, the PY subgroup still had the highest value. An independent t-test revealed that even under all non-thermocycling and 5000- and 10,000-cycle thermocycling conditions, D.T. Light-Post in the PY subgroup displayed significantly higher microtensile bond strengths than FRC Postec Plus in the PY subgroup. While the surface roughness of the fiber-reinforced composite posts showed that the posts treated with pyridine possessed the highest surface roughness for each material type, In conclusion, as an aprotic solvent, pyridine generates the highest microtensile bond strength between the interfaces of composite cores and fiber-reinforced composite posts.
Native Potato Starch and Tara Gum as Polymeric Matrices to Obtain Iron-Loaded Microcapsules from Ovine and Bovine Erythrocytes
Authors: Ligarda-Samanez Carlos A. , Moscoso-Moscoso Elibet , Choque-Quispe David , Ramos-Pacheco Betsy S. , Arévalo-Quijano José C. , Cruz Germán De la , Huamán-Carrión Mary L. , Quispe-Quezada Uriel R. , Gutiérrez-Gómez Edgar , Cabel-Moscoso Domingo J. , Muñoz-Melgarejo Mauricio , Calsina Ponce Wilber César
Published: October 2023

Iron deficiency leads to ferropenic anemia in humans. This study aimed to encapsulate iron-rich ovine and bovine erythrocytes using tara gum and native potato starch as matrices. Solutions containing 20% erythrocytes and different proportions of encapsulants (5, 10, and 20%) were used, followed by spray drying at 120 and 140 °C. Iron content in erythrocytes ranged between 2.24 and 2.52 mg of Fe/g; microcapsules ranged from 1.54 to 2.02 mg of Fe/g. Yields varied from 50.55 to 63.40%, and temperature and encapsulant proportion affected moisture and water activity. Various red hues, sizes, and shapes were observed in the microcapsules. SEM-EDS analysis revealed the surface presence of iron in microcapsules with openings on their exterior, along with a negative zeta potential. Thermal and infrared analyses confirmed core encapsulation within the matrices. Iron release varied between 92.30 and 93.13% at 120 min. Finally, the most effective treatments were those with higher encapsulant percentages and dried at elevated temperatures, which could enable their utilization in functional food fortification to combat anemia in developing countries.
Nanocomposites Based on Polyethylene and Nickel Ferrite: Preparation, Characterization, and Properties
Authors: Yurkov Gleb , Kozinkin Alexander , Kubrin Stanislav , Zhukov Alexander , Podsukhina Svetlana , Vlasenko Valeriy , Fionov Alexander , Kolesov Vladimir , Zvyagintsev Dmitry , Vyatkina Maria , Solodilov Vitaliy
Published: October 2023

Composite materials based on NiFe2O4 nanoparticles and polyethylene matrix have been synthesized by thermal decomposition to expand the application area of high-pressure polyethylene by filling it with nanoscale particles. The synthesized compositions were obtained in the form of a dark gray powder and compressed for further study According to TEM, the average particle size in composites was 2, 3, and 4 nm in samples with a filling of 10%, 20% and 30%. The concentration dependences of the specific electrical resistivity ρV, dielectric permittivity ε, saturation magnetization MS and the parameters of reflection and attenuation of microwave power of the obtained composites were investigated. The threshold for percolation in such materials is found to be within a concentration range of 20…30%. The electronic and atomic structure of composites was studied by methods of Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The closest atomic environment of nickel and iron in nanoparticles is close to that of crystalline NiFe2O4. The dependence of the nanoparticles size as well as the dependence of the number of tetrahedral or octahedral iron positions in nickel ferrite nanoparticles to their content in polyethylene matrix is established. It is shown that composite materials based on NiFe2O4 nanoparticles and polyethylene matrix can be used as components of electromagnetic compatibility systems.
Low-Temperature Vacuum Evaporation of Ammonia from Pig Slurry at Laboratory and Pilot-Plant Scale
Authors: Cerrillo Míriam , Moreno Miguel , Burgos Laura , Estéfano Roberto , Coll David , Soraluce Javier , Navarro Naeria , Arnau Pedro Antonio , Bonmatí August
Published: October 2023

Livestock manure has a high ammonium content that can limit its direct application on soil as a fertiliser in nitrate-vulnerable zones. Treatment technologies that are able to extract ammonium from livestock manure allow it to be concentrated in small volumes, making it cheaper and easier to transport and use as fertiliser in crop areas where there is a deficit of nitrogen. This study proposed using low-temperature vacuum evaporation to treat pig slurry in order to obtain marketable products that can be used as fertilisers and help close the nitrogen cycle. Two different configurations and scales were used. The first was a seven-litre laboratory-scale evaporator complemented with a condenser, a condensate trapper, an acid trap and a vacuum pump operated at −90 kPa vacuum pressure and at three different temperatures: 50.1 ± 0.2 °C, 46.0 ± 0.1 °C and 45.3 ± 1.3 °C. The second, Ammoneva, is an on-farm pilot-scale evaporator (6.4 m3), capable of working in four-hour batches of 1 t of liquid fraction of pig slurry with an operating temperature of 40–45 °C and −80 kPa vacuum pressure. The laboratory-scale evaporator, which features several novel improvements focused on increasing ammonia recovery, showed a higher nitrogen removal efficiency from the liquid fraction of pig slurry than the on-farm pilot plant, achieving 84% at 50.1 °C operation, and recovering most of it in ammonia solution (up to 77% of the initial nitrogen), with 7% of the ammonia not recovered. The Ammoneva pilot plant achieved a treated liquid fraction with 41% of initial nitrogen on average, recovering 15% in the ammonia solution in the acid trap; so, the NH3 gas absorption step needs to be further optimised. However, due to the simplicity of the Ammoneva pilot plant, which is easily placed inside a 20-foot container, and the complete automation of the process, it is suitable as an on-farm treatment for decentralised pig slurry management. The implementation of the novel design developed at laboratory-scale could help further increase recovery efficiencies at the pilot-plant scale.
Life Cycle Assessment of Bacterial, Algal, and Synthetic Approaches for Astaxanthin Production at a Laboratory Scale: Comparative Environmental Analysis and Sensitivity of Energy Sources
Authors: Aldaghi Seyed Ahmad , Ubais Risvan , Schmitt Ina , Wendisch Volker F. , Costamagna Mattia , Perucca Massimo
Published: October 2023

Astaxanthin, a highly valuable natural pigment with potent antioxidant properties, is widely used in various industries, including food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. The demand for astaxanthin has led to the development of multiple production methods, including algal, bacterial, and synthetic approaches. Understanding the environmental implications of these production processes is crucial for sustainable decision-making in the astaxanthin industry. This research paper presents a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) comparing the environmental impacts of algal, bacterial, and synthetic astaxanthin production methods. Moreover, a sensitivity analysis is conducted, focusing on the source of energy used during production, and the shift from conventional to renewable energy sources is explored. The environmental importance of natural astaxanthin production is highlighted, considering the potential benefits of reducing dependence on synthetic production methods that rely on non-renewable resources. The results of the LCA, for the production of 1 g astaxanthin, reveal the relative environmental performance of each production process, identifying hotspots and potential areas for improvement. On average, the environmental impacts indicate that chemical synthesis is the best solution for the production of the pigment, followed by the bacterial extraction process and lastly by algae extraction. Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis demonstrates the significant influence of energy sources on the overall environmental footprint. Shifting towards renewable energy sources presents an opportunity for mitigating environmental impacts and enhancing the sustainability of astaxanthin production.
An Overview on Production of Lignocellulose-Derived Platform Chemicals Such as 5-Hydroxymethyl Furfural, Furfural, Protocatechuic Acid
Authors: Upare Pravin P. , Clarence Rachel E. , Shin Hyungsub , Park Byung Gyu
Published: October 2023

Furan derivatives such as 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) and furfural (FA) and aromatic acids such as protocatechuic acid (PCA) represent the most essential classes of intermediates derived from lignocellulosic biomass. These bio-based compounds are potential feedstocks for producing bio-based chemicals and fuels. However, the derivatives of these bio-based compounds are useful in their antioxidative, antibacterial, and anti-aging activities. Protocatechuic acid (PCA, 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid), derived from lignin biomass, is also one of the essential bio-derived aromatic intermediates with an active acid and hydroxyl group, which can elevate it into an important class of potential platform chemicals for the production of value-added chemicals, such as HMF and furfuryl alcohol (FAL). The platform compounds are indeed the most used furan-based feedstocks since their chemical structure allows the preparation of various high-value-added chemicals. The related catalytic techniques are well known for the upgradation of biomass into these platform chemicals and their conversion into value-added chemicals. In this short review, we aim to briefly discuss biomass conversion into FA, HMF, and PCA and related heterogeneous catalytic processes. In addition, a few potential ongoing research trends are also proposed to provide some ideas for the further preparation of bio-based innovative derivatives in a much more green, simple, efficient, and economical way.
The Far Right Culture War on ESG
Authors: Crews Chris
Published: October 2023

This article examines connections between religious nationalism, extremist movements, and environmental politics, with a focus on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) frameworks and debates in the United States since 2020. It begins with a brief history of ESG, then examines responses from mainstream conservatives and far-right groups to the growth of ESG. It argues that the current backlash against the use of ESG is part of a larger conservative culture war against “woke” politics. The article offers a detailed look at the role of the conservative advocacy group Heritage Action and its “ESG Hurts” campaign, and shows how climate denial, conspiracy theories, and hostility to race and gender politics are interconnected parts of a growing ideological movement rooted in Christian Nationalism and climate denial.
Facial Nerve Palsy after Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block: A Rare Presentation of Ocular Complication and Literature Review
Authors: Chisci Glauco , Chisci Dafne , Chisci Enea , Chisci Viola , Chisci Elettra
Published: October 2023

Many ocular complications are described in the literature after dental injections. Facial nerve palsy is a rare complication. We report a case of a 60-year-old woman in the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I classification under orthodontic treatment with aligners that required an inferior alveolar block for endodontic treatment. Optocaine with epinephrine 1:200,000 and a disposable needle 25 G × 36 mm mounted on a dental syringe were used, and the effect of the anesthesia arose after 10 min. Facial nerve palsy on the side of the injection arose after 1 h and 40 min from the injection, and the patient was immediately visited by an ophthalmologist who reported the examination reported in the present case report. The authors report this unusual case with a subsequent onset and short duration of facial nerve palsy and discuss possible anesthetic solution pathways.
An Enhanced Target Detection Algorithm for Maritime Search and Rescue Based on Aerial Images
Authors: Zhang Yijian , Yin Yong , Shao Zeyuan
Published: October 2023

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), renowned for their rapid deployment, extensive data collection, and high spatial resolution, are crucial in locating distressed individuals during search and rescue (SAR) operations. Challenges in maritime search and rescue include missed detections due to issues including sunlight reflection. In this study, we proposed an enhanced ABT-YOLOv7 algorithm for underwater person detection. This algorithm integrates an asymptotic feature pyramid network (AFPN) to preserve the target feature information. The BiFormer module enhances the model’s perception of small-scale targets, whereas the task-specific context decoupling (TSCODE) mechanism effectively resolves conflicts between localization and classification. Using quantitative experiments on a curated dataset, our model outperformed methods such as YOLOv3, YOLOv4, YOLOv5, YOLOv8, Faster R-CNN, Cascade R-CNN, and FCOS. Compared with YOLOv7, our approach enhances the mean average precision (mAP) from 87.1% to 91.6%. Therefore, our approach reduces the sensitivity of the detection model to low-lighting conditions and sunlight reflection, thus demonstrating enhanced robustness. These innovations have driven advancements in UAV technology within the maritime search and rescue domains.
A Kriging Method for the Estimation of ALS Point-Cloud Accuracy without Ground Truth
Authors: Pashaei Zahra , Guilbert Éric , Badard Thierry
Published: October 2023

Airborne LiDAR scanning is a promising approach to providing high-resolution products that are appropriate for different applications, such as flood management. However, the vertical accuracy of airborne LiDAR point clouds is not constant and varies in space. Having a better knowledge of their accuracy will assist decision makers in more accurately estimating the damage caused by flood. Data producers often report the total estimation of errors by means of comparison with a ground truth. However, the reliability of such an approach depends on various factors including the sample size, accessibility to ground truth, distribution, and a large enough diversity of ground truth, which comes at a cost and is somewhat unfeasible in the larger scale. Therefore, the main objective of this article is to propose a method that could provide a local estimation of error without any third-party datasets. In this regard, we take advantage of geostatistical ordinary kriging as an alternative accuracy estimator. The challenge of considering constant variation across the space leads us to propose a non-stationary ordinary kriging model that results in the local estimation of elevation accuracy. The proposed method is compared with global ordinary kriging and a ground truth, and the results indicate that our method provides more reliable error values. These errors are lower in urban and semi-urban areas, especially in farmland and residential areas, but larger in forests, due to the lower density of points and the larger terrain variations.
Women and Leadership in Higher Education: A Systematic Review
Authors: Meza-Mejia Mónica del Carmen , Villarreal-García Mónica Adriana , Ortega-Barba Claudia Fabiola
Published: October 2023

The theoretical postulates of gender studies demonstrate that inequality, when it comes to women, is more of a sociocultural construct than the result of nature. Gender inequality is typical of higher education, where inclusion of women was a milestone and where the “female advantage” phenomenon refers to the rise of women at this level. Thus, this study aims to investigate the patterns of action that women take in academia when exercising leadership positions. It aims to understand the social behavior related to this phenomenon based on scientific research. The study followed a quantitative method, systematizing the process based on the PRISMA. 2020 guidelines to work with the bibliographic material identified in the Scopus database, and another qualitative method was used in conjunction for a resulting descriptive documentary analysis of the results obtained. This study concludes that women exercise leadership in higher education in teaching, research, and management roles with unequal participation in each of them.
Short-Term Effects of Lower-Extremity Heavy Resistance versus High-Impact Plyometric Training on Neuromuscular Functional Performance of Professional Soccer Players
Authors: Boraczyński Michał , Magalhães José , Nowakowski Jacek J. , Laskin James J.
Published: October 2023

Background: To compare the effects of short-term 8 week heavy-resistance or plyometric training protocols (HRT or PLY) incorporated into regular soccer practice on measures of neuromuscular functional performance in professional soccer players, a single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted. Methods: Forty-seven participants aged 22.3 ± 3.52 years were assigned to three groups: HRT (n = 15), PLY (n = 15), and control (CON; n = 17). The HRT group performed 3 sets and 10 repetitions twice a week using 80% of their baseline 1-RM (weeks 1–3), followed by 8 repetitions at 85% 1-RM (weeks 4–6), and 6 repetitions at 90% 1-RM (weeks 7–8) of 6 lower-body strength exercises with a 1 min rest period between sets. The PLY protocol involved a preparatory phase (weeks 1–2), followed by two 3-week progressive periods (weeks 3–5 and weeks 6–8). The plyometric sessions consisted of four jump exercises/drills with progressively increasing number of sets and total number of foot contacts. The rest intervals between repetitions and sets were 15 and 90 s, respectively. Outcome measures included tests assessing 10 and 30 m speed (t10m and t30m), one-repetition maximum half-back squat (1-RM squat), isokinetic peak torques for the quadriceps and hamstring muscles (Qcon and Hcon), countermovement jump (CMJ), and squat jump (SJ). Results: Two-way ANOVA detected main effects of time and group×time interactions for all examined variables, except t30m, 1-RM, and relative 1-RM. Post hoc analyses revealed significant increases in the HRT group (t10m: 6.3%, t30m: 7.1%; absolute 1-RM: 29.6%; relative 1-RM: 30.3%, Qcon: 24.5%; Hcon: 14.4%; CMJ: 5.9%; SJ: 7.2%, all p < 0.001) and the PLY group (t10m: 3.1%; t30m: 4.1%; absolute 1-RM:19.1%; relative 1-RM: 20.3%; Qcon: 12.6%; Hcon: 8.7%; CMJ: 3.3%; SJ: 3.5%, all p < 0.001). HRT was superior compared to PLY in relative 1-RM, Qcon and Hcon (all p < 0.001). In addition, we found knee muscular strength imbalance in 70.5% of participants from the total sample (H/Q ratio < 60%). The HRT and PLY protocols resulted in improved neuromuscular functional performance compared to the regular soccer regime. Conclusions: This study showed that during the pre-competitive season, additional HRT and PLY drills/exercises as a substitute for standard soccer training as part of a regular 90 min practice twice a week for 8 weeks, can produce acute physical performance-enhancing effects in professional soccer players.
Development of a Biodegradable Material with Oregano Stick as a Prototype of Substitute for Wooden Agglomerate Material
Authors: Guerrero-Martin Camilo Andrés , Silva-Marrufo Oscar , Ortega-Ramírez Angie Tatiana , Marín-Tinoco Rubén Iván , Salinas-Silva Raúl , Camacho-Galindo Stefanny
Published: October 2023

Oregano is a herb that is found in the wild in different parts of the world. The stick represents about 60% of the plant and is biodegradable, using lactic acid as a binding agent for the oregano stick. Waste oregano stick can be used to make biodegradable material which provides sustainable development in support and promotion of the circular economy by reducing pollution generated by chemical economy by reducing pollution generated by chemical products, agricultural waste, or products that accumulate in the environment spending years for its degradability. The originality of this project is present in the use of the oregano stick, a natural product which supplies the physicochemical characteristics of conventional raw materials used in the manufacture of wood. Oregano was collected and dried to separate the leaves from the stick. The stick was then ground, sieved at 0.118 mm and 0.025 mm, and then treated with one of two binders. For treatment 1, three samples were prepared with varying lactic acid concentrations and stick quantities with the addition of 0.3 mL of 2,2 azobisiso-butyronitrile (AIBN) 1% by weight. In treatment 2, three samples were prepared with varying polyvinyl acetate concentrations, diluted in acetone, stirred, poured into a mold, and placed in an oven at a temperature of 90 °C for 36 h. Bending and compression mechanical tests were performed on all samples; the data were analyzed by one-factor analysis of variance and Tukey test. The sample that performed the best had a value of 1.148 mm and 0.77333 kN in mechanical resistance and less elongation in compression. This sample also had a value of 0.8183 and a kN of 0.1559 with a lower mean, meaning higher resistance to bending. This sample also had the best results from the Modulus of Rupture (MOR) test with a value of 5.9958 MPas/m2.
Creating Shared Value in Banking by Offering Entrepreneurship Education to Female Entrepreneurs
Authors: Taskin Sharmin , Javed Amna , Kohda Youji
Published: October 2023

Apart from less entrepreneur-friendly banking services, a lack of entrepreneurial qualities in entrepreneurs makes entrepreneurship challenging. As a result, banking experiences difficulties in accessing entrepreneurs as customers. Creating shared value (CSV) is a model for business that overcomes these socioeconomic challenges by converting social issues into three pillars: reconceiving markets and products, redefining value chains, and developing local clusters. Banking has a conservative business model in which it is difficult to simultaneously achieve the above three pillars of CSV for the three dimensions of banking, i.e., client prosperity, regional economic growth, and solutions to financial problems. This study investigated the key to the simultaneous achievement of the three pillars of CSV by aligning social issues with the value chain. We conducted a qualitative case study of City Alo in Bangladesh, a female-centered banking segment of City Bank, that offers a university-collaborated entrepreneurship education course as well as small and medium enterprise banking products to female entrepreneurs. The findings indicate that in CSV of banking, entrepreneurs are the source of economic growth and entrepreneurship education promotes client prosperity. Therefore, entrepreneurs overcome entrepreneurship barriers to achieve success in their field and the bank becomes more active by accessing many entrepreneurs as customers.
A Review of Rubberised Asphalt for Flexible Pavement Applications: Production, Content, Performance, Motivations and Future Directions
Authors: Bilema Munder , Yuen Choon Wah , Alharthai Mohammad , Al-Saffar Zaid Hazim , Al-Sabaeei Abdulnaser , Yusoff Nur Izzi Md
Published: October 2023

The crumb rubber (CR) recycled from waste tyres could be a viable alternative in achieving green pavements that offer exciting new markets to global investors. Adding CR into flexible pavements enhances their performance and ensures environmental sustainability. This paper will discuss the production variables, CR sizes and contents, blending techniques, optimum bitumen contents, morphology, standard characteristics, rheological characteristics, mechanical performance, greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption and life cycle cost. This review study found that compared to traditional asphalt mixtures, the CR-modified asphalts had superior performance and longer service life. However, the dearth of information on several factors in CR asphalt production, including greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption and life cycle cost during recycling, causes many agencies in the global asphalt industry to continue employing costly, energy-consuming additives such as styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) instead of CR to enhance asphalt.
Carbon Capture and Storage: Application in the Oil and Gas Industry
Authors: Yasemi Sara , Khalili Yasin , Sanati Ali , Bagheri Mohammadreza
Published: October 2023

As a rapidly evolving technology, carbon capture and storage (CCS) can potentially lower the levels of greenhouse gas emissions from the oil and gas industry. This paper provides a comprehensive review of different aspects of CCS technology, including its key components, the methods and stages of carbon storage, implied environmental effects, and its pros and cons. This paper also investigates the utilization of CCS as an alternative method to water injection into oil reservoirs. It also probes the technical and operational challenges of implementing CCS technology in the oil and gas industry. Additionally, this paper examines the regulatory and policy issues associated with CCS, including incentives and frameworks for promoting the deployment of CCS technology. Finally, in this paper the potential benefits of CCS are discussed, including reducing the carbon footprint of the oil and gas industry, enhancing energy security, and supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy.
An Observation of a Very High Swelling of Bromovirus Members at Specific Ionic Strengths and pH
Authors: Segovia-González Xochitl Fabiola , Villagrana-Escareño Maria Veronica , Ríos-Ramírez Maricarmen , de la Cruz Vianey Santiago , Mejía-Hernández Jessica Nathaly , Cuellar-Camacho Jose Luis , Patrón-Soberano Araceli , Sportsman Richard , Ruiz-García Jaime
Published: October 2023

Cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV) and brome mosaic virus (BMV) are naked plant viruses with similar characteristics; both form a T = 3 icosahedral protein capsid and are members of the bromoviridae family. It is well known that these viruses completely disassemble and liberate their genome at a pH around 7.2 and 1 M ionic strength. However, the 1 M ionic strength condition is not present inside cells, so an important question is how these viruses deliver their genome inside cells for their viral replication. There are some studies reporting the swelling of the CCMV virus using different techniques. For example, it is reported that at a pH~7.2 and low ionic strength, the swelling observed is about 10% of the initial diameter of the virus. Furthermore, different regions within the cell are known to have different pH levels and ionic strengths. In this work, we performed several experiments at low ionic strengths of 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 and systematically increased the pH in 0.2 increments from 4.6 to 7.4. To determine the change in virus size at the different pHs and ionic strengths, we first used dynamic light scattering (DLS). Most of the experiments agree with a 10% capsid swelling under the conditions reported in previous works, but surprisingly, we found that at some particular conditions, the virus capsid swelling could be as big as 20 to 35% of the original size. These measurements were corroborated by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) around the conditions where the big swelling was determined by DLS. Therefore, this big swelling could be an easier mechanism that viruses use inside the cell to deliver their genome to the cell machinery for viral replication.
Nutritional Strategies to Promote Bovine Oocyte Quality for In Vitro Embryo Production: Do They Really Work?
Authors: Velazquez Miguel A.
Published: October 2023

The ability of bovine oocytes to reach the blastocyst stage (i.e., embryo with around 150 cells in cattle) in vitro can be affected by technical (e.g., culture medium used) and physiological factors in oocyte donors (e.g., age, breed). As such, the nutritional status of oocyte donors plays a significant role in the efficiency of in vitro embryo production (IVEP), and several nutritional strategies have been investigated in cattle subjected to ovum pick-up (OPU). However, there is no clear consensus on the reliability of nutritional schemes to improve IVEP in cattle. Available evidence suggests that a moderate body condition score (i.e., 3 in a 1–5 scale) in cattle is compatible with a metabolic microenvironment in ovarian follicles that will promote embryo formation in vitro. The usefulness of fatty acid and micronutrient supplementation to improve IVEP in cattle is debatable with the current information available. Overall, the supply of maintenance nutritional requirements according to developmental and productive stage seems to be enough to provide bovine oocyte donors with a good chance of producing embryos in vitro. Future nutrition research in cattle using OPU-IVEP models needs to consider animal well-being aspects (i.e., stress caused by handling and sampling), which could affect the results.