bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Physical Obstruction of Nasal Cavities With Subsequent Asphyxia, Causes Lethality of Rats in an Acute Inhalation Study With Hydrophobic HMDZ Surface-Treated Synthetic Amorphous Silica (SAS)
Authors: Krueger Nils , Weber Klaus , Warfving Nils , Vitali Alex , Nolde Jürgen , Schuster Tobias B. , Bruer Gustav Gerd , Creutzenberg Otto , Wessely Benno , Stintz Michael , Moise Valerie , Kellert Marco
Published: June 2022

The aim of the present study was to understand the mechanism of lethality associated with high dose inhalation of a low-density hydrophobic surface-treated SAS observed in some acute inhalation studies. It was demonstrated that physical obstruction of the upper respiratory tract (nasal cavities) caused the effects observed. Hydrophobic surface-treated SAS was inhaled (flow-past, nose-only) by six Wistar rats (three males and three females) in an acute toxicity study at a concentration of ~500 mg/m3for an intended 4-hr exposure. Under the conditions of the test set-up, the concentration applied was found to be the highest that can be delivered to the test animal port without significant alteration of the aerosol size distribution over time. None of the test- material-exposed animals survived the planned observation time of 4 h; three animals died between 234h after starting exposure and cessation of exposure at 314h, two died after transfer to their cages and the remaining animal was sacrificed due to its poor condition and welfare considerations. Histology accomplished by energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis demonstrated that test material particles agglomerated and formed a gel-like substrate that ultimately blocked the upper respiratory airways, which proved fatal for the rat as an obligatory nose breather. This observation is in line with the findings reported by Hofmann et al. showing a correlation between lethality and hydrophobicity determined by contact angle measurement. The aerosol characterizations associated with this study are provided in detail by Wessely et al.
Impact of the Gap Between Social Workers' Work Interaction Frequency With Governments and Clients on Their Burnout in China: Mediating Effects of Role Conflict and Moderating Effects of Non-front-line Work
Authors: Wang Jie , Tan Zimin , Li Jiajun , Wu Qiang
Published: June 2022

Background

Since the 2000s, local governments have contracted out more and more social services to social work organizations in China. Social workers are thus experiencing the inconsistency between local governments' and clients' demands and the deviation from the professional duty of helping clients, which may result in conflicting and unclear roles in their jobs and further lead to burnout. Based on the Role Stress-burnout Model and the previous theoretical and field-work investigations, this study examined the effects of the government-client work interaction frequency gap on social workers' burnout as well as the mediating effects of role ambiguity and conflict and the moderating effects of the non-front-line work.

Methods

A cross-sectional study of 2,643 front-line social workers and 2,599 supervisors or managers from 56 major cities all over China was conducted. Work burnout was measured by the 22-item three-dimension Maslach's Burnout Inventory Scale. Rizzo et al.'s 14-item scale measured role conflict and ambiguity. The government-client working interaction frequency gap was measured by the difference between the five-point level of work interaction frequency with governments minus the one with clients. Structural equation modeling was adopted to test the mediation and moderation models.

Results

Results showed that for the front-line social workers, besides directly reducing personal accomplishment, the government-client work interaction frequency gap could indirectly neutralize its alleviating effects on emotional exhaustion (Mediating effect ratio = −63.64 %), make its total effects on depersonalization significant (37.03%), and reduce personal accomplishment further (23.08%) through increasing social workers' feeling of role conflict. However, the above mediating effects of role conflict were not significant for social workers with extra management or supervision workload, revealing the moderating effects of non-front-line work.

Conclusions

This study revealed that front-line social workers in China who had more work interaction with governments and less with clients could have higher role conflict, increasing their burnout further. Therefore, social work educational programs should include adequate mental adjustment courses and practical emplacement to prepare students for the potential role conflict. Furthermore, higher-level governments should issue relevant regulations to form a collaborative rather than an employment relationship between local governments and social worker organizations.
Mapping Knowledge Landscapes and Emerging Trends of the Links Between Bone Metabolism and Diabetes Mellitus: A Bibliometric Analysis From 2000 to 2021
Authors: Cheng Kunming , Guo Qiang , Yang Weiguang , Wang Yulin , Sun Zaijie , Wu Haiyang
Published: June 2022

Background

Diabetes mellitus (DM) have become seriously threatens to human health and life quality worldwide. As a systemic metabolic disease, multiple studies have revealed that DM is related to metabolic bone diseases and always induces higher risk of fracture. In view of this, the links between bone metabolism (BM) and DM (BMDM) have gained much attention and numerous related papers have been published. Nevertheless, no prior studies have yet been performed to analyze the field of BMDM research through bibliometric approach. To fill this knowledge gap, we performed a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the global scientific publications in this field.

Methods

Articles and reviews regarding BMDM published between 2000 and 2021 were obtained from the Web of Science after manually screening. VOSviewer 1.6.16, CiteSpace V 5.8.R3, Bibliometrix, and two online analysis platforms were used to conduct the bibliometric and visualization analyses.

Results

A total of 2,525 documents including 2,255 articles and 270 reviews were retrieved. Our analysis demonstrated a steady increasing trend in the number of publications over the past 22 years (R2 = 0.989). The United States has occupied the leading position with the largest outputs and highest H-index. University of California San Francisco contributed the most publications, and Schwartz AV was the most influential author. Collaboration among institutions from different countries was relatively few. The journals that published the most BMDM-related papers were Bone and Osteoporosis International. Osteoporosis and related fractures are the main bone metabolic diseases of greatest concern in this field. According to co-cited references result, “high glucose environment,” “glycation end-product” and “sodium-glucose co-transporter” have been recognized as the current research focus in this domain. The keywords co-occurrence analysis indicated that “diabetic osteoporosis,” “osteoarthritis,” “fracture risk,” “meta-analysis,” “osteogenic differentiation,” “bone regeneration,” “osteogenesis,” and “trabecular bone score” might remain the research hotspots and frontiers in the near future.

Conclusion

As a cross-discipline research field, the links between bone metabolism and diabetes mellitus are attracting increased attention. Osteoporosis and related fractures are the main bone metabolic diseases of greatest concern in this field. These insights may be helpful for clinicians to recognize diabetic osteopenia and provide more attention and support to such patients.
Understanding Reciprocity Among University Students in Low-Resource Settings: Validation and Measurement Using a Mixed-Methods Approach
Authors: AbuAlSamen Mahmoud M. , El-Elimat Tamam
Published: June 2022

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate reciprocity among university students in low-resource settings using a convergent mixed-methods approach in Jordan. The study operationalized the effort-reward imbalance (ERI) model which is a sociological framework used to predict occupational-related health outcomes. The basic theory of ERI model assumes that an imbalance of effort and reward predicts adverse health outcomes.

Methods

The research involved two studies, Study I (n = 833) to quantitatively measure ERI and Study II to collect qualitative data (n = 44) on the drivers of ERI among university students. In Study I, a modified Arabic version of the ERI questionnaire was used. The study measured ERI and investigated the reliability and validity of the Arabic version of the ERI model questionnaire. In Study II, data were collected from focus groups and personal interviews and thematic analysis was used.

Results

The results suggested that ERI was associated with poor academic performance (OR=2.31, 95% CI 1.60–3.32), absenteeism (OR=1.66, 95% CI 1.21–2.27), low exercise level (OR=2.02, 95% CI 1.49–2.74) and poor self-reported health (OR=1.12, 95% CI 1.08–1.30). Three major themes emerged, namely high academic load, financial pressures and negative influence on the students' performance, wellbeing and health to explain effort-reward imbalance.

Conclusions

Results suggest that ERI among university students is multi-faceted and is not bound only to academic-related demands and that the extrinsic factors such as the economic context of Jordan is among drivers of ERI.
Metabolism and Biodegradation of β-Glucan in vivo
Authors: Zheng Ziming , Tang Wenqi , Lu Weipeng , Mu Xu , Liu Yuxuan , Pan Xianglin , Wang Kaiping , Zhang Yu
Published: June 2022

The β-Glucans widely exist in plants and edible fungi, and their diverse bioactivities and good physicochemical properties have been widely reported. In addition, β-glucan intravenous injections (such as lentinan and schizophyllan) have been clinically used as immunomodulators and antitumor polysaccharides. However, the pharmacokinetic studies of β-glucans only stay on the level of plasma concentration and biodistribution in vivo, and little is known about their metabolism and degradation in vivo, which severely limits the further application of β-glucans in the field of medicine and biomaterials. The aim of this paper is to explore the metabolism and degradation process of lentinan (as a representative of β-glucans) in vivo by labeling it with water-soluble fluorescein 5-([4, 6-Dichlorotriazin-2-yl]amino)fluorescein (DTAF). Fluorescently labeled lentinan (FLNT) was intravenously administered to rats at a single dose of 8 mg/kg. The degradation of LNT in blood, liver, kidney, and urine was evaluated by the gel permeation chromatography. Our results showed that although LNT could be degraded in blood, liver, kidney, and urine, there were still some prototypes until excreted in urine due to the incomplete degradation of LNT in each step. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to comprehensively study LNT metabolic degradation in rats. These results provide an important reference for further exploration and application of LNT and other β-glucans.
Environmental Assessment of Underdrain Designs for Granular Media Filters in Drip Irrigation Systems
Authors: Pujol Joan , Espinach Francesc X. , Duran-Ros Miquel , Arbat Gerard , Pujol Toni , Ramírez de Cartagena Francisco , Puig-Bargués Jaume
Published: June 2022

Irrigation is very important for global food production and, therefore, it is key to moving towards increasingly sustainable irrigation systems. However, the adoption of more efficient water-use techniques, such as drip irrigation, increases energy consumption. A large part of the efficiency of drip irrigation systems depends on the equipment used, such as filters. The environmental impact of three media filters (a prototype with a porous media underdrain and two commercial filters, with inserted domes and collector arms underdrains, respectively) with different bed heights, filtration rates, and medium materials was studied using the life cycle analysis (LCA). Under the operating conditions that minimize the impact, the inserted domes design has the lowest overall impact, achieving reductions of up to 432% and 18% in some impacts regarding the porous media and the collector arm, respectively. A porous media filter has a better energy performance, but its prototype status hinders it in the raw material, building, and end-of-life phases. Conversely, the arm collector has the worst environmental performance. This work shows that filter designs should prioritize solutions that allow for minimizing the energy consumption during their operation to increase its sustainability.
Precision Feeding in Ecological Pig-Raising Systems with Maize Silage
Authors: Lyu Yun , Li Jing , Hou Ruixing , Zhang Yitao , Hang Sheng , Zhu Wanxue , Zhu He , Ouyang Zhu
Published: June 2022

Ecological pig-raising systems (EPRSs) differ from conventional breeding systems, focusing more on environmental consequences, human health, and food safety during production processes. Thus productions from EPRSs have undergone significant development in China. Thus far, adding plant fiber sources (e.g., sweet potato leaves, maize or wheat straw, potato, alfalfa, and vinasse) to feed has become a common practice to reduce the cost during the fattening period. Under such a context, it is necessary to choose the precision EPRS diet components and fattening period with low environmental consequences and high economic benefits. This study set up a database via pig growth models to predict environmental and economic performance based on two trials with 0%, 10%, 40%, 60%, and 80% maize silage (dry weight) added to the feed. A continuous curve about plant fiber concentration was built through the generated database. Our results showed that, with increased plant fiber concentration, the environmental performance of the EPRSs exhibited an “increase-decrease-increase” trend, and the economic performance firstly increased and then decreased. The best maize silage added percentages of emergy yield ratio (EYR), environmental loading ratio (ELR), unit emergy value (UEV), and emergy sustainability index (ESI), and the economic profits were 19.0%, 34.3%, 24.6%, 19.9%, and 18.0%, respectively. Besides, the 19.9% sun-dried maize silage added to the feed with a 360-day raising period had the best balance for environmental impact and economic performance. At the balance point, the performances of EYR, ELR, UEV, ESI, and the economic profit were only 0.04%, 3.0%, 0.8%, 0.0%, and 0.1%, respectively, lower than their maximum values. Therefore, we recommended the feed added 20% sun-dried maize silage is suitable for practical pig raising systems.
Companion Animals’ Roles for AIDS Survivors, Mostly Aging Males, during HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 Pandemics
Authors: Hart Lynette A. , Thigpen Abigail P. , Fine Aubrey H. , Gorczyca Ken , Willits Neil , Bernaldo Raquel , Malzyner Stefanie , Guillén Jesús H. , D’Amato Katherine
Published: June 2022

Long-term HIV/AIDS survivors responded online concerning their experiences during the AIDS and COVID pandemics. Recruited from web-based organizations for AIDS survivors, 147 answered questions on: frequency of experiencing stigma, isolation, aloneness, or grief/sadness; pet ownership; and sources of human support during each pandemic. Conditional inference trees were run to identify relevant demographic factors. Post-hoc comparisons were conducted to compare dog owners and cat owners. AIDS survivors reported more frequent feelings of stigma, aloneness, and sadness/grief during the AIDS pandemic than during COVID. Cat owners’ sadness/grief during AIDS was greater than non-owners. During COVID, older respondents unexpectedly were less often sad/grieving than younger ones; dog owners less often felt alone and isolated than non-dog owners. Support during the AIDS pandemic retrospectively was rated better for older respondents; young gays’ support was greater than young straights. During COVID, support was better for men than women. Contrastingly, women with pets felt less support than those without; men with dogs felt more support than those without. Cat owners more often felt isolated and unsupported during COVID than dog owners. Few dog or cat owners received support from family members in either pandemic; during AIDS, family support was better for owners of dogs than cats.
A Multifactorial Regulation of Glutathione Metabolism behind Salt Tolerance in Rice
Authors: Cimini Sara , Locato Vittoria , Giacinti Valentina , Molinari Michela , De Gara Laura
Published: June 2022

Knowledge of the stress-induced metabolic alterations in tolerant and sensitive plants is pivotal for identifying interesting traits that improve plant resilience toward unfavorable environmental conditions. This represents a hot topic area of plant science, particularly for crops, due to its implication in food security. Two rice varieties showing dissimilar resistance to salt, Baldo and Vialone Nano, have been studied to investigate the mechanisms underpinning tolerance toward salinity, and these studies have focused on the root system. A detailed analysis of the salt stress-dependent modulation of the redox network is here presented. The different phenotype observed after salt exposure in the two rice varieties is coherent with a differential regulation of cell-cycle progression and cell-death patterns observed at root level. Baldo, the tolerant variety, already showed a highly responsive antioxidative capacity in control conditions. Consistently, stressed Baldo plants showed a different pattern of H2O2 accumulation compared to Vialone Nano. Moreover, glutathione metabolism was finely modulated at transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and post-translational levels in Baldo. These results contribute to highlight the role of ROS and antioxidative pathways as a part of a complex redox network activated in rice toward salt stress.
Factor Design for the Oxide Etching Process to Reduce Edge Particle Contamination in Capacitively Coupled Plasma Etching Equipment
Authors: Ku Ching-Ming , Cheng Stone
Published: June 2022

During the oxide layer etching process, particles in capacitively coupled plasma etching equipment adhere to the wafer edge and cause defects that reduce the yield from semiconductor wafers. To reduce edge particle contamination in plasma etching equipment, we propose changes in the voltage and temperature of the electrostatic chuck, plasma discharge sequence, gas flow, and pressure parameters during the etching process. The proposed edge particle reduction method was developed by analyzing particle maps after wafer etching. Edge particle adherence in plasma etching equipment can be reduced by decreasing the voltage and temperature changes of the electrostatic chuck and generating a plasma sheath with a continuous discharge sequence of radio-frequency plasma. The gas pressure and flow rate also affect the number of wafer edge particles. Experimental results were used to optimize the equipment parameters to reduce edge particle contamination and improve edge wafer defects after dry etching.
A Reinforcement Learning Based Data Caching in Wireless Networks
Authors: Sheraz Muhammad , Shafique Shahryar , Imran Sohail , Asif Muhammad , Ullah Rizwan , Ibrar Muhammad , Khan Jahanzeb , Wuttisittikulkij Lunchakorn
Published: June 2022

Data caching has emerged as a promising technique to handle growing data traffic and backhaul congestion of wireless networks. However, there is a concern regarding how and where to place contents to optimize data access by the users. Data caching can be exploited close to users by deploying cache entities at Small Base Stations (SBSs). In this approach, SBSs cache contents through the core network during off-peak traffic hours. Then, SBSs provide cached contents to content-demanding users during peak traffic hours with low latency. In this paper, we exploit the potential of data caching at the SBS level to minimize data access delay. We propose an intelligence-based data caching mechanism inspired by an artificial intelligence approach known as Reinforcement Learning (RL). Our proposed RL-based data caching mechanism is adaptive to dynamic learning and tracks network states to capture users’ diverse and varying data demands. Our proposed approach optimizes data caching at the SBS level by observing users’ data demands and locations to efficiently utilize the limited cache resources of SBS. Extensive simulations are performed to evaluate the performance of proposed caching mechanism based on various factors such as caching capacity, data library size, etc. The obtained results demonstrate that our proposed caching mechanism achieves 4% performance gain in terms of delay vs. contents, 3.5% performance gain in terms of delay vs. users, 2.6% performance gain in terms of delay vs. cache capacity, 18% performance gain in terms of percentage traffic offloading vs. popularity skewness (γ), and 6% performance gain in terms of backhaul saving vs. cache capacity.
Case-Based Reasoning System for Aeroengine Fault Diagnosis Enhanced with Attitudinal Choquet Integral
Authors: Chen Mengqi , Xia Jingyang , Huang Ruoyun , Fang Weiguo
Published: June 2022

As the core process of case-based reasoning (CBR), case retrieval is the foundation for CBR success, and the quality of case retrieval depends on the case similarity measure. We improved the CBR system for aeroengine fault diagnosis by embedding the attitudinal Choquet integral (ACI) and 2-order additive measure to consider attribute interactions and decision makers’ attitudes. The enhanced case retrieval method can not only integrate the local similarity, attribute importance, and interaction between attributes, but also incorporate the attitude of the decision maker, thus producing more comprehensive and reasonable global similarity and high-quality recommendations. An experimental study of aeroengine fault diagnosis and comparisons with other similarity aggregation methods were performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Batch and Column Adsorption of Phosphorus by Modified Montmorillonite
Authors: He Zhonghao , Chen Jiajun , Lu Jianzun , Jiang Sabrina Yanan , Su Lingcheng , Lee Chiu Hong , Ruan Huada Daniel
Published: June 2022

Phosphorus pollutants are a crucial component of water eutrophication. In this study, montmorillonite modified by Keggin Al13 and hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium (Al13-O-MMt) was used as an adsorbent to remove phosphorus from solutions and thus simulate the practice of a field trial, such as in wastewater. The ammonium molybdate spectrophotometric method was used to determine the concentrations of phosphorus in samples. In the batch experiment, phosphorus was adsorbed by original montmorillonite (MMt) and Al13-O-MMt at various pH values (6–9) to identify the effect of pH during the adsorption process. The batch adsorption results demonstrate that Al13-O-MMt can adsorb up to 93% of phosphorus at pH = 8. Six graduated amounts (0.01–0.25 g) of montmorillonite were tested at three different temperatures to determine the most suitable temperature and the minimum dosage of Al13-O-MMt needed for the adsorption of 200 mg/L phosphorus in a 30 mL solution, which was 0.1 g at 25 °C. Therefore, the adsorption capacity of Al13-O-MMt was found to be 60 mg/g. Subsequently, a column experiment was conducted. The results showed that the optimized dosage of Al13-O-MMt was 6.667 g for phosphorus adsorption with a concentration of 200 mg/L in 2000 mL solution, and the breakthrough time was 4794.67 min.
Influence of Foundation Deformation and Vehicle Parameters on the Vertical Safety of High-Speed Trains
Authors: Guo Wuji , Zeng Zhiping , Liu Fushan , Wang Weidong
Published: June 2022

This paper analyzes the influence of foundation deformation and the variation coefficient of vehicle parameters on the reliability of a vehicle vertical safety. Based on the theory of stochastic analysis of nonlinear vehicle–track coupled systems, combining the generalized probability density evolution theory, this paper takes the reduction rate of wheel load as the measurement index, considering the combined effects of stochasticity of track irregularity, stochasticity of vehicle parameters and foundation deformation, and studies the reliability of vehicle vertical safety under different working conditions. The results showed that (1) compared with the up-arch deformation, the settlement deformation has a greater impact on the operation safety; (2) with the increase of the variation coefficient of the vehicle parameters, the reliability of the vehicle vertical safety gradually decreases, so it should be combined with vehicle maintenance when setting the settlement limits; (3) when the vehicle operation speed is lower than 375 km/h, the stochasticity of the vehicle parameters has a more significant impact on the vehicle vertical safety, while when the speed is higher than 375 km/h, the foundation deformation amplitude has a more significant influence; (4) when the running speed is higher than 350 km/h, there may be a better set of vehicle parameters to ensure driving safety. It can be seen that in the determination of the high-speed railway foundation deformation limit value, the influence of deformation direction, vehicle parameters stochasticity, and operation speed should be considered.
Seismic Rehabilitation of Abandoned RC Industrial Buildings: The Case Study of a Former Tobacco Factory in the District of Avellino (Italy)
Authors: Formisano Antonio , Messineo Ylenia
Published: June 2022

In Italy, the interest in the industrial areas dates back to 1970, when industry began to be considered as identity and memory of the population, until 1990, when industrial constructions became cultural and historical goods. This interest was also justified by the necessity to recover these often-abandoned sites through structural and seismic interventions. For this purpose, the cataloguing of the different industrial buildings in Italy was made by the Italian Consortium ReLUIS “Network of Seismic Engineering University Laboratories”, through the “Cartis Long Spans” form, to obtain indications on the seismic vulnerability of this built heritage. In the current paper, the seismic analysis and the combined seismic–energy retrofit of a former reinforced concrete tobacco factory in Cervinara, within the district of Avellino (Italy), were carried out. This work proposes a seismic retrofit intervention of the examined structure, erected at the end of the 1960s, based on the use of steel exoskeletons. The proposed intervention can be seen as a novel strategy for requalification of industrial buildings, as well as for regeneration and restoration of the value of industrial areas. It was shown that these devices allow a considerable increase of the seismic safety indices, which attain values significantly greater than 1, to reach the building retrofitting. Subsequently, a photovoltaic plant using high-efficiency panels is proposed to provide the entire hub’s energy requirement. It was found that the annual production/square meterage of the building is between 20% and 60% lower than that of school and office buildings. As a whole, the analysis results demonstrated that exoskeletons are an effective intervention to improve the seismic features of the studied industrial building without neglecting architectural quality, sustainability, and environmental issues.
Multi-UAV Cooperative Anti-Submarine Search Based on a Rule-Driven MAC Scheme
Authors: Yue Wei , Tang Wenbin , Wang Liyuan
Published: June 2022

In order to enhance the anti-submarine capability of multi-unmanned aerial vehicles (multi-UAVs) in the unknown sea environment and improve the search efficiency, in this paper, we propose a rule-inspired-multi-ant colony (RI-MAC)-based UAV cooperative search algorithm. First, a special sea area anti-submarine search model is established, including an association rule-driven target probability map (TPM) model, a UAV kinematics model, and a sensor model. The novel model has the characteristics of rule linkage, which effectively improves the accuracy of target detection probability in unknown environments. Secondly, according to the established search model, a multi-objective utility function based on association rules is derived. In order to solve the problem of multi-objective optimization, an RI-MAC algorithm based on association rules is proposed, and a pheromone update method using threat avoidance is designed to optimize the search path of multi-UAVs. Finally, a simulation experiment is conducted to verify the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed search algorithm.
A Switch-Reduced Multicell-to-Multicell Battery Equalizer Based on Full-Bridge Bipolar-Resonant LC Converter
Authors: Xu Peng , Kang Longyun , Xie Di , Luo Xuan , Lin Hongye
Published: June 2022

Many battery equalizers have been proposed to achieve voltage consistency between series connected battery cells. Among them, the multicell-to-multicell (MC2MC) equalizers, which can directly transfer energy from consecutive more-charged cells to less-charged cells, can enable fast balancing and a high efficiency. However, due to the limitations of the equalizers, it is not possible to achieve fast equalization and reduce the size of the circuit at the same time. Therefore, a MC2MC equalizer based on a full-bridge bipolar-resonant LC Converter (FBBRLCC) is proposed in this paper, which not only implements MC2MC equalization, but also greatly reduces the circuit size by reducing the number of switches by nearly half. A mathematical model and simulation comparison with conventional equalizers are used to illustrate the high-speed equalization performance of the proposed equalizer and excellent balancing efficiency. An experimental prototype for eight cells is built to verify the performance of the proposed FBBRLCC equalizer and the balancing efficiencies in different operating modes are from 85.19% to 88.77% with the average power from 1.888 W to 14.227 W.
Identification of the Potential Molecular Mechanisms Linking RUNX1 Activity with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, by Means of Systems Biology
Authors: Bertran Laia , Eigbefoh-Addeh Ailende , Portillo-Carrasquer Marta , Barrientos-Riosalido Andrea , Binetti Jessica , Aguilar Carmen , Ugarte Chicote Javier , Bartra Helena , Artigas Laura , Coma Mireia , Richart Cristóbal , Auguet Teresa
Published: June 2022

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent chronic hepatic disease; nevertheless, no definitive diagnostic method exists yet, apart from invasive liver biopsy, and nor is there a specific approved treatment. Runt-related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1) plays a major role in angiogenesis and inflammation; however, its link with NAFLD is unclear as controversial results have been reported. Thus, the objective of this work was to determine the proteins involved in the molecular mechanisms between RUNX1 and NAFLD, by means of systems biology. First, a mathematical model that simulates NAFLD pathophysiology was generated by analyzing Anaxomics databases and reviewing available scientific literature. Artificial neural networks established NAFLD pathophysiological processes functionally related to RUNX1: hepatic insulin resistance, lipotoxicity, and hepatic injury-liver fibrosis. Our study indicated that RUNX1 might have a high relationship with hepatic injury-liver fibrosis, and a medium relationship with lipotoxicity and insulin resistance motives. Additionally, we found five RUNX1-regulated proteins with a direct involvement in NAFLD motives, which were NFκB1, NFκB2, TNF, ADIPOQ, and IL-6. In conclusion, we suggested a relationship between RUNX1 and NAFLD since RUNX1 seems to regulate NAFLD molecular pathways, posing it as a potential therapeutic target of NAFLD, although more studies in this field are needed.
Pathological Response and Immune Biomarker Assessment in Non-Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma Receiving Neoadjuvant Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
Authors: Rojas Frank , Parra Edwin Roger , Wistuba Ignacio Ivan , Haymaker Cara , Solis Soto Luisa Maren
Published: June 2022

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer incidence and mortality worldwide. Adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy have been used in the perioperative setting of non-small-cell carcinoma (NSCLC); however, the five-year survival rate only improves by about 5%. Neoadjuvant treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has become significant due to improved survival in advanced NSCLC patients treated with immunotherapy agents. The assessment of pathology response has been proposed as a surrogate indicator of the benefits of neaodjuvant therapy. An outline of recommendations has been published by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) for the evaluation of pathologic response (PR). However, recent studies indicate that evaluations of immune-related changes are distinct in surgical resected samples from patients treated with immunotherapy. Several clinical trials of neoadjuvant immunotherapy in resectable NSCLC have included the study of biomarkers that can predict the response of therapy and monitor the response to treatment. In this review, we provide relevant information on the current recommendations of the assessment of pathological responses in surgical resected NSCLC tumors treated with neoadjuvant immunotherapy, and we describe current and potential biomarkers to predict the benefits of neoadjuvant immunotherapy in patients with resectable NSCLC.
Interconnected Adaptive Responses: A Way Out for Cancer Cells to Avoid Cellular Demise
Authors: D’Orazi Gabriella , Cirone Mara
Published: June 2022

Different from normal cells, cancer cells must hyperactivate a variety of integrated responses in order to survive their basal stress or its exacerbation caused by exposure to anti-cancer agents. As cancer cells become particularly dependent on these adaptive responses, namely UPR, DDR autophagy, anti-oxidant and heat shock responses, this turns out to be an Achille’s heel, which allows them to be selectively killed while sparing normal unstressed cells. Better knowledge of the cross-talk between these adaptive processes and their impact on the immune system is needed to design more effective anti-cancer therapies, as reviewed in this paper.
Numerical Assessment of Flow Pulsation Effects on Reactant Conversion in Automotive Monolithic Reactors
Authors: Chanda Nagarajan Pratheeba , Ström Henrik , Sjöblom Jonas
Published: June 2022

Highly transient engine-out emissions imply significant challenges for the optimization and control of automotive aftertreatment systems, motivating studies of the effects of flow pulsations on the system behavior. In this work, an axisymmetric aftertreatment system with a first-order reaction in the monolith section is chosen to demonstrate the role of pulsations on the time-averaged conversion at the exit. Reactive computational fluid dynamics simulations under transient conditions are performed by applying the SST k-ω turbulence model along with a reactant species balance equation and a porous medium description of the catalyst. Four different types of temporal velocity variations (constant, step-like, sawtooth and sinusoidal) are applied at the inlet. Additionally, the corresponding fluctuations driven by a prescribed inlet pressure are also investigated. It was found that the fluctuations in the incoming flow affect the transient response of the monolith, the time-averaged conversion, the evolution of the flow uniformity index and the dispersion downstream of the catalyst. It is also shown that the retention time distribution is modulated by the pulsations and that the mixed-cup conversion span is different for geometrically identical systems having the same velocity span if the fluctuation characteristics are different. In conclusion, simulations of phenomena that depend on time-resolved boundary conditions from experiments require proper characterization of fluctuations present in the real-world systems; otherwise, the method of recreating the signal at the boundary may influence the obtained results.
GLIS1-3: Links to Primary Cilium, Reprogramming, Stem Cell Renewal, and Disease
Authors: Jetten Anton M. , Scoville David W. , Kang Hong Soon
Published: June 2022

The GLI-Similar 1-3 (GLIS1-3) genes, in addition to encoding GLIS1-3 Krüppel-like zinc finger transcription factors, also generate circular GLIS (circGLIS) RNAs. GLIS1-3 regulate gene transcription by binding to GLIS binding sites in target genes, whereas circGLIS RNAs largely act as miRNA sponges. GLIS1-3 play a critical role in the regulation of many biological processes and have been implicated in various pathologies. GLIS protein activities appear to be regulated by primary cilium-dependent and -independent signaling pathways that via post-translational modifications may cause changes in the subcellular localization, proteolytic processing, and protein interactions. These modifications can affect the transcriptional activity of GLIS proteins and, consequently, the biological functions they regulate as well as their roles in disease. Recent studies have implicated GLIS1-3 proteins and circGLIS RNAs in the regulation of stemness, self-renewal, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), cell reprogramming, lineage determination, and differentiation. These biological processes are interconnected and play a critical role in embryonic development, tissue homeostasis, and cell plasticity. Dysregulation of these processes are part of many pathologies. This review provides an update on our current knowledge of the roles GLIS proteins and circGLIS RNAs in the control of these biological processes in relation to their regulation of normal physiological functions and disease.
Preparation of Au@ZnO Nanofilms by Combining Magnetron Sputtering and Post-Annealing for Selective Detection of Isopropanol
Authors: Wang Guodong , Wu Pengju , Guo Lanlan , Wang Wei , Liu Wenqiang , Wang Yuanyuan , Chen Tingyu , Wang Haohan , Xu Yonghao , Yang Yingli
Published: June 2022

We demonstrate the highly sensitive and fast response/recovery gas sensors for detecting isopropanol (IPA), in which the Au-nanoparticles-modified ZnO (Au@ZnO) nanofilms act as the active layers. The data confirm that both the response and the response/recovery speed for the detection of IPA are significantly improved by adding Au nanoparticles on the surface of ZnO nanofilms. The gas sensor with an Optimum Au@ZnO nanofilm exhibits the highest responses of 160 and 7 to the 100 and 1 ppm IPA at 300 °C, which indicates high sensitivity and a very low detecting limit. The sensor also exhibits a very short response/recovery time of 4/15 s on the optimized Au@ZnO nanofilm, which is much shorter than that of the sensor with a pure ZnO nanofilm. The mechanisms of the performance improvement in the sensors are discussed in detail. Both the electronic sensitization and the chemical sensitization of the ZnO nanofilms are improved by the modified Au nanoparticles, which not only regulate the thickness of the depletion layer but also increase the amount of adsorbed oxygen species on the surfaces. This work proposes a strategy to develop a highly sensitive gas sensor for real-time monitoring of IPA.
Sustainable Use of Cruciferous Wastes in Nanotechnological Applications
Authors: Ungureanu Camelia , Fierascu Irina , Fierascu Radu Claudiu
Published: June 2022

Over the last few years, new nanoparticle preparation methods have emerged by replacing the usual reagents with plant extracts obtained in different conditions. An example of a natural plant extract is those of cruciferous vegetables, to obtain the new bio-nano-coatings. Given the composition of cruciferous extracts and large amounts of wastes produced all over the world, they can be successful substitutes to replace conventional coatings and extend the possibility of “smart coatings“. The present review aims to be a critical discussion regarding the application of cruciferous waste in nanotechnological applications. This review paper can be a starting report for different researchers who intend to use this sustainable approach “from green to nanotechnology” to transpose manufacturing from laboratory to industry. Applying this approach to obtain nanostructures with plant waste highlights the importance of minimizing and re-utilizing residues from primary and secondary processing via chemical and social intervention, in order to contribute to the sustainability needs of the planet and its inhabitants.
Variation in Plant Diversity along a Watershed in the Semi-Arid Lands of North Africa
Authors: Souahi Hana , Gacem Rania , Chenchouni Haroun
Published: June 2022

Plants are a vital part of the world’s biological diversity and have great economic and cultural importance. Plant biodiversity balances ecosystems, protects watersheds, mitigates erosion, affects climate, and provides shelter for many animal species. This study aimed to determine plant diversity in relation to the soil properties of semi-arid rangelands along a gradient at the watershed scale in the Oued Chabro, Algeria. Plants and soil were sampled at 27 points distributed in three sampling sites (upstream, midstream, and downstream). The floristic data was analyzed using species richness estimators, life forms, spatial occurrence, and multiple factor analysis. Moreover, the effects of soil properties on the taxonomic structure of plant communities in the sampling sites were analyzed using Pearson correlations. The characterized flora included 42 plant species classified into 18 families, and Asteraceae (38.1%), Poaceae (14.3%), Brassicaceae (7.1%), Amaranthaceae (4.8%), and Chenopodiaceae (4.8%) were the most representative in terms of species. The species Atractylis delicatula was dominant (relative abundance = 81.5%). The upstream site was characterized by a high vegetation cover, high species abundances, and richness in plant families and genera. Significant correlations were observed in this area between the number of genera, number of families, number of species, family richness, Pielou evenness index, and Simpson’s concentration index. The upstream site was characterized by chamaephytes and phanerophytes; 16 species were exclusively present in this section. Two species were found in the midstream site and one (Scolymus hispanicus) was found in downstream site. The upstream site was positively correlated with plant litter, the midstream with barren soil, and the downstream study area was negatively correlated with coarse-grained materials and vegetation cover. This study demonstrated that differences in life forms, richness, and diversity exist among the three sampling sites due to the soil differences and the positions along the watershed.
Incorporating Cooperative Project-Based Learning in the Teaching of English as a Foreign Language: Teachers’ Perspectives
Authors: Zaafour Abderrazak , Salaberri-Ramiro María Sagrario
Published: June 2022

Cooperative Project-Based Learning (CPBL) is an instructional approach that enhances students’ motivation to learn cooperatively by investigating a range of tasks related to an authentic project. This study explores the impact of teachers’ age on CPBL implementation when teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and identifies teachers’ perceptions, views, and attitudes regarding this methodology. This research is exploratory in scope, quantitative in design, and correlational-factorial in nature. The quantitative method applied provides the means to determine the correlation between variables and how the implementation of CPBL is determined. To fulfil the aims of this research, questionnaires were distributed to a sample of 84 EFL teachers from primary and secondary schools. The factorial analysis revealed that the age of teachers had a significant impact on CPBL implementation (p < 0.001). Accordingly, younger age groups of 21–30 and 31–40 showed a greater predisposition for the implementation of CPBL than the 41–50 range. Additionally, the results revealed that 36.9% of teachers implement the methodology. Moreover, 79.76% of all responses indicated positive attitudes towards this approach. The findings point to important implications for course designers and for teachers.
Target Assignment Algorithm for Joint Air Defense Operation Based on Spatial Crowdsourcing Mode
Authors: He Sheng , Yue Shaohua , Wang Gang , Wang Siyuan , Liu Jiayi , Liu Wei , Guo Xiangke
Published: June 2022

Spatial crowdsourcing is a mode that uses distributed artificial computing power to solve specific function sets through Internet outsourcing. It has broad application value in the networked command and control of current joint air defense operations. In this paper, we introduce the spatial crowdsourcing theory into the field of target allocation for joint air defense operations and establish a weapon-target assignment model based on spatial crowdsourcing mode, which is more appropriate to the real situation and highlights the system cooperation capability of joint air defense operations. To solve the model, we propose a heuristic variable weight nonlinear learning factor particle swarm optimization (VWNF-PSO). This algorithm can significantly improve the efficiency and adaptability to weapon-target assignment problems under large-scale extreme conditions. Finally, we establish two kinds of joint air defense operation scenarios to verify the proposed model, then compare the proposed algorithm with variable weight PSO (VWPSO) and adaptive learning factor PSO (AFPSO), to validate the effectiveness and efficiency of the VWNF-PSO algorithm proposed in this paper.
The Mechanical Properties of Wood-Based Grid Sandwich Structures
Authors: Yang Dongxia , Fan Changsheng
Published: June 2022

In order to reduce the weight of the panels used in buildings and minimize the use of wood, it is of great practical significance to study the mechanical properties of wood-based sandwich structures for adaptation to modern wood-structured buildings. In this paper, a wood-based pyramid structure specimen with large interconnection space was designed and prepared first. Based on the results of the flat compression, in order to strengthen the core layer of the sandwich structure, an interlocking grid structure can be used. The mechanical properties of two kinds of structure specimens, including bearing capacity, compressive strength, specific strength, load–mass ratio, safety factor distribution, and specific energy absorption, were studied by means of experimental test, theoretical analysis, and finite element analysis. It was concluded that the apparent density of the two structures was lower than that of the materials of which they were composed. However, the overall flat compressive strength of the two structures was higher than that of their constituent materials, which were high-strength materials in the field of natural materials. The mechanical properties of the interlocking grid structures were better than those of the pyramid structures. Based on the criterion of cell structure stability, it can be concluded that the wood-based pyramid structure was a flexural-dominant structure, and the interlocking grid structure was a tensile-dominant structure. The results show that the core layer design plays an important role in the mechanical properties and failure modes of wood-based sandwich structures.
Oleogels and Organogels: A Promising Tool for New Functionalities
Authors: Cerqueira Miguel A. , Valoppi Fabio , Pal Kunal
Published: June 2022

Growing awareness concerning human health and sustainability has been continually driving the need to change consumers’ habits and develop new bio-based and environmentally friendly materials that could be used in new product formulations [...]