bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Notch2 Blockade Mitigates Methotrexate Chemotherapy-Induced Bone Loss and Marrow Adiposity
Authors: Peymanfar Yaser , Su Yu-Wen , Xian Cory J.
Published: May 2022

Childhood cancer methotrexate (MTX) chemotherapy often causes bone growth impairments, bone loss, and increased risks of fractures during or after treatment, for which the pathobiology is unclear and there is a lack of specific treatment. Our time course analyses of long bones from rats receiving intensive MTX treatment (mimicking a clinical protocol) found decreased trabecular bone volume, increased osteoclast formation and activity, increased adipogenesis in the expense of osteogenesis from the bone marrow stromal cells at days 6 and 9 following the first of five daily MTX doses. For exploring potential mechanisms, PCR array expression of 91 key factors regulating bone homeostasis was screened with the bone samples, which revealed MTX treatment-induced upregulation of Notch receptor NOTCH2, activation of which is known to be critical in skeletal development and bone homeostasis. Consistently, increased Notch2 activation in bones of MTX-treated rats was confirmed, accompanied by increased expression of Notch2 intracellular domain protein and Notch target genes HEY1, HES1 and HEYL. To confirm the roles of Notch2 signalling, a neutralising anti-Notch2 antibody or a control IgG was administered to rats during MTX treatment. Microcomputed tomography analyses demonstrated that trabecular bone volume was preserved by MTX+anti-Notch2 antibody treatment. Anti-Notch2 antibody treatment ameliorated MTX treatment-induced increases in osteoclast density and NFATc1 and RANKL expression, and attenuated MTX-induced bone marrow adiposity via regulating Wnt/β-catenin signalling and PPARγ expression. Thus, Notch2 signalling plays an important role in mediating MTX treatment-induced bone loss and bone marrow adiposity, and targeting Notch2 could be a potential therapeutic option.
Emotion Recognition in Human–Robot Interaction Using the NAO Robot
Authors: Valagkouti Iro Athina , Troussas Christos , Krouska Akrivi , Feidakis Michalis , Sgouropoulou Cleo
Published: May 2022

Affective computing can be implemented across many fields in order to provide a unique experience by tailoring services and products according to each person’s needs and interests. More specifically, digital learning and robotics in education can benefit from affective computing with a redesign of the curriculum’s contents based on students’ emotions during teaching. This key feature is observed during traditional learning methods, and robot tutors are adapting to it gradually. Following this trend, this work focused on creating a game that aims to raise environmental awareness by using the social robot NAO as a conversation agent. This quiz-like game supports emotion recognition with DeepFace, allowing users to review their answers if a negative emotion is detected. A version of this game was tested during real-life circumstances and produced favorable results, both for emotion analysis and overall user enjoyment.
Highly Efficient Contact Doping for High-Performance Organic UV-Sensitive Phototransistors
Authors: Li Bin , Zhang Yihan , Liu Yang , Ren Yiwen , Zhu Xiaoting , Sun Lingjie , Zhang Xiaotao , Yang Fangxu , Li Rongjin , Hu Wenping
Published: May 2022

Organic ultraviolet (UV) phototransistors are promising for diverse applications. However, wide-bandgap organic semiconductors (OSCs) with intense UV absorption tend to exhibit large contact resistance (Rc) because of an energy-level mismatch with metal electrodes. Herein, we discovered that the molecular dopant of 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (F4TCNQ) was more efficient than the transition metal oxide dopant of MoO3 in doping a wide-bandgap OSC, although the former showed smaller electron affinity (EA). By efficient contact doping, a low Rc of 889 Ω·cm and a high mobility of 13.89 cm2V−1s−1 were achieved. As a result, UV-sensitive phototransistors showed high photosensitivity and responsivity.
The Genetics of Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia in Puerto Rico
Authors: De Jesús-Rojas Wilfredo , Muñiz-Hernández José , Alvarado-Huerta Francisco , Meléndez-Montañez Jesús M. , Santos-López Arnaldo J. , Mosquera Ricardo A.
Published: May 2022

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) has been linked to more than 50 genes that cause a spectrum of clinical symptoms, including newborn respiratory distress, sinopulmonary infections, and laterality abnormalities. Although the RSPH4A (c.921+3_6delAAGT) pathogenic variant has been related to Hispanic groups with Puerto Rican ancestry, it is uncertain how frequently other PCD-implicated genes are present on the island. A retrospective chart review of n = 127 genetic reports from Puerto Rican subjects who underwent genetic screening for PCD variants was conducted from 2018 to 2022. Of 127 subjects, 29.1% subjects presented PCD pathogenic variants, and 13.4% were homozygous for the RSPH4A (c.921+3_6delAAGT) founder mutation. The most common pathogenic variants were in RSPH4A and ZMYND10 genes. A description of the frequency and geographic distribution of implicated PCD pathogenic variants in Puerto Rico is presented. Our findings reconfirm that the presence of PCD in Puerto Rico is predominantly due to a founder pathogenic variant in the RSPH4A (c.921+3_6delAAGT) splice site. Understanding the frequency of PCD genetic variants in Puerto Rico is essential to map a future genotype-phenotype PCD spectrum in Puerto Rican Hispanics with a heterogeneous ancestry.
Optimization of False Target Jamming against UAV Detection
Authors: Su Zheng-Lian , Jiang Xun-Lin , Li Ning , Ling Hai-Feng , Zheng Yu-Jun
Published: May 2022

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been widely used for target detection in modern battlefields. From the viewpoint of the opponents, false target jamming is an effective approach to decrease the UAV detection ability or probability, but currently there are few research efforts devoted to this adversarial problem. This paper formulates an optimization problem of false target jamming based on a counterpart problem of UAV detection, where each false target jamming solution is evaluated according to its adversarial effects on a set of possible UAV detection solutions. To efficiently solve the problem, we propose an evolutionary framework, which is implemented with four popular evolutionary algorithms by designing/adapting their evolutionary operators for false target jamming solutions. Experimental results on 12 test instances with different search regions and numbers of UAVs and false targets demonstrate that the proposed approach can significantly reduce the UAV detection probability, and the water wave optimization (WWO) metaheuristic exhibits the best overall performance among the four evolutionary algorithms. To our knowledge, this is the first study on the optimization of false target jamming against UAV detection, and the proposed framework can be extended to more countermeasures against UAV operations.
Investigation of the Bearing Characteristics of Bolts on a Coal–Rock Combined Anchor Body under Different Pull-Out Rates
Authors: Zhang Pandong , Gao Lin , Zhan Xinyu , Liu Pengze , Kang Xiangtao , Ma Zhenqian , Wang Yongyin , Liu Ping , Han Sen
Published: May 2022

In order to reveal the influence of the pull-out rate on the load-bearing properties of the coal–rock combined anchor body, the mechanical properties and failure characteristics of a coal–rock combined anchor body under different pull-out rates (10, 20, 30, 40, 50 mm/min) were studied using the pull-out test and theoretical analysis. The results show that the bearing capacity of the bolt on the coal–rock combined anchor body improves under a dynamic load, but the load-bearing properties of the coal–rock combined anchor body are different from those of the full rock (coal) anchor body. With the increase in the pull-out rate, the maximum pull-out load of the bolt on the coal–rock combined anchor body increases first, then decreases, and finally tends to be stable. Under the condition of a low drawing rate, the bearing capacity of the coal–rock combined anchor system can be greatly improved, but when the pull-out rate exceeds 20 mm/min, the bearing capacity of the anchor system is reduced. The debonding process of the anchoring section of the coal–rock combined anchor body gradually expands from the beginning section of the anchor to the bottom of the borehole. The coal–rock combined anchor body undergoes time differential development of cracks, and the failure of the coal and rock mass occurs at different times. Its failure process can be divided into three stages: (1) the coal anchor and rock anchor act together; (2) the rock anchor acts alone; and (3) the coal anchor and rock anchor have residual action.
Ozone Catalytic Oxidation for Gaseous Dimethyl Sulfide Removal by Using Vacuum-Ultra-Violet Lamp and Impregnated Activated Carbon
Authors: Mizuno Yoshinori , Yahaya Ahmad Guji , Kristof Jaroslav , Blajan Marius Gabriel , Murakami Eizo , Shimizu Kazuo
Published: May 2022

Gaseous sulfur compounds are emitted from many facilities, such as wastewater facilities or biomass power plants, due to the decay of organic compounds. Gaseous dimethyl sulfide removal by ozone catalytic oxidation was investigated in this study. A Vacuum-Ultra-Violet (VUV) xenon excimer lamp of 172 nm was used for ozone generation without NOx generation, and activated carbon impregnated with iodic acid and H2SO4 was utilized as a catalyst. Performance assessment of dimethyl sulfide removal ability was carried out by a dynamic adsorption experiment. Empty-Bed-Contact-Time (EBCT), superficial velocity, concentration of dimethyl sulfide, temperature and humidity were set at 0.48 s, 0.15 m/s, 3.0 ppm, 25 °C and 45%, respectively. Without ozone addition, the adsorption capacity of impregnated activated carbon was 0.01 kg/kg. When ozone of 7.5 ppm was added, the adsorption capacity of impregnated activated carbon was increased to 0.15 kg/kg. Methane sulfonic acid, a reaction product of dimethyl sulfide and ozone, was detected from the activated carbon. The results suggest that the VUV and activated carbon impregnated with iodic acid and H2SO4 are workable for ozone catalytic oxidation for gas treatments.
Technology Originality and Convergence Analysis in the Wind Power Field Using Patents
Authors: Joo Kyungwon , Lee Mina , Lee Gooyong
Published: May 2022

Currently, the world is moving rapidly toward carbon neutrality, and renewable energy technology is very important in carbon neutrality. Among various renewable energy technologies, wind power is attracting much attention due to its sustainability, resource abundance, and high applicability. This study analyzed wind power patents from 2010 to 2021 to derive current global originality and convergence information. For IP5 countries, the growth stages of technology and the patent convergence networks were inferred by time series analysis and an association rule mining algorithm, respectively. The results showed that, during the analysis period, about 5000 patents were applied on annual average, and it was analyzed that China held the most patents at 48%, followed by the US, Europe, Korea, and Japan. According to the technology convergence network of patent codes from all the IP5 countries, patents related to ‘wind turbines with rotation axes in the wind direction’ occupied a very central position, and ‘power conversion electric or electronic aspects’ and ‘integration of patents related to renewable energy sources in buildings with wind power’ were found to show high connection strength. By country, it was analyzed that the US and China showed high patent competitiveness onshore and possessed many ‘independent power conversion cluster’ technologies. The research hypothesis was that technology development trends can be analyzed and the characteristics of each country can be understood through patent analysis in the wind power field. This hypothesis was analyzed through various patent analysis techniques, and this paper has novelty in that it presents the global megatrend in the wind power field through patent analysis and quantitatively presents the current status of technology development in five major countries.
Completed Review of Various Solar Power Forecasting Techniques Considering Different Viewpoints
Authors: Wu Yuan-Kang , Huang Cheng-Liang , Phan Quoc-Thang , Li Yuan-Yao
Published: May 2022

Solar power has rapidly become an increasingly important energy source in many countries over recent years; however, the intermittent nature of photovoltaic (PV) power generation has a significant impact on existing power systems. To reduce this uncertainty and maintain system security, precise solar power forecasting methods are required. This study summarizes and compares various PV power forecasting approaches, including time-series statistical methods, physical methods, ensemble methods, and machine and deep learning methods, the last of which there is a particular focus. In addition, various optimization algorithms for model parameters are summarized, the crucial factors that influence PV power forecasts are investigated, and input selection for PV power generation forecasting models are discussed. Probabilistic forecasting is expected to play a key role in the PV power forecasting required to meet the challenges faced by modern grid systems, and so this study provides a comparative analysis of existing deterministic and probabilistic forecasting models. Additionally, the importance of data processing techniques that enhance forecasting performance are highlighted. In comparison with the extant literature, this paper addresses more of the issues concerning the application of deep and machine learning to PV power forecasting. Based on the survey results, a complete and comprehensive solar power forecasting process must include data processing and feature extraction capabilities, a powerful deep learning structure for training, and a method to evaluate the uncertainty in its predictions.
Impact of Reservoir Heterogeneity on Diluted Geothermal Brine Reinjection
Authors: Cobos Jacquelin E. , Søgaard Erik G.
Published: May 2022

Many geothermal plants have been shut down due to reinjection problems with the heat-depleted brine. In Denmark, only one out of three plants that extract heat from a geothermal fluid distributed to the district heating system is still working. In general, the large salinity of heat-depleted geothermal brines can be used to produce electricity with the help of turbines and generators through an osmotic power unit known as a SaltPower plant. Harnessing more energy out of the reinjection of geothermal brines is feasible without compromising the overall reservoir assurance when the iron is kept under control. This study is an attempt to determine the feasibility of the reinjection of a diluted geothermal brine with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) into homogeneous and heterogeneous sandstone rocks. The results from the coreflooding experiments show an improvement in the rock properties both in porosity and permeability for homogeneous and heterogeneous rocks. EDTA not only avoids the precipitation of Fe(III) oxides inside the porous media but can also be used for scale removal and matrix acidizing in geothermal reservoirs.
Transcriptomic Analysis of the Spleen of Different Chicken Breeds Revealed the Differential Resistance of Salmonella Typhimurium
Authors: Elsharkawy Mohamed Shafey , Wang Hailong , Ding Jiqiang , Madkour Mahmoud , Wang Qiao , Zhang Qi , Zhang Na , Li Qinghe , Zhao Guiping , Wen Jie
Published: May 2022

Salmonella Typhimurium (ST) is a foodborne pathogen that adversely affects the health of both animals and humans. Since poultry is a common source and carrier of the disease, controlling ST infection in chickens will have a protective impact on human health. In the current study, Beijing-You (BY) and Cobb chicks (5-day-old specific-pathogen-free) were orally challenged by 2.4 × 1012 CFU ST, spleen transcriptome was conducted 1 day post-infection (DPI) to identify gene markers and pathways related to the immune system. A total of 775 significant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in comparisons between BY and Cobb were identified, including 498 upregulated and 277 downregulated genes (fold change ≥2.0, p < 0.05). Several immune response pathways against Salmonella were enriched, including natural killer-cell-mediated-cytotoxicity, cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction, antigen processing and presentation, phagosomes, and intestinal immune network for IgA production, for both BY and Cobb chickens. The BY chicks showed a robust response for clearance of bacterial load, immune response, and robust activation of phagosomes, resulting in ST resistance. These results confirmed that BY breed more resistance to ST challenge and will provide a better understanding of BY and Cobb chickens’ susceptibility and resistance to ST infection at the early stages of host immune response, which could expand the known intricacies of molecular mechanisms in chicken immunological responses against ST. Pathways induced by Salmonella infection may provide a novel approach to developing preventive and curative strategies for ST, and increase inherent resistance in animals through genetic selection.
Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of RR-Type MYB-Related Transcription Factors in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)
Authors: Sun Jiaying , Guo Changkui
Published: May 2022

Evidence have indicated that RR-type MYB-related transcription factors (TFs) are functionally diverse in regulating floral development, fruit development, leaf senescence, ABA response, and drought and salt responses. Several RR-type MYB-related TFs in Arabidopsis, Antirrhinum and rice are identified and characterized. However, the complete RR-type MYB-related family in tomato has not been studied to date. Here, a genome-wide identification of tomato RR-type MYB-related TFs (SlMYBR) was performed by bioinformatics analysis, and their expression patterns were analyzed. A total of thirteen SlMYBR genes, which were mainly distributed in the head or tail of the chromosome, were identified from tomato and were divided into three groups. Group II was all MYBR genes from eudicots without genes from monocots. For Group I and Group III, the phylogenetic tree was in accord with the evolutionary relationship of these species. SlMYBR proteins were unstable proteins and located in the nucleus. The promoters of SlMYBR contained multiple important cis-acting elements related to abiotic stress or hormone responses. SlMYBR genes had various temporal and spatial expression patterns. Experiments of spraying exogenous hormone demonstrated that the expression of most genes containing hormone response elements was changed, indicating that the expression patterns were associated with the amount of cis-acting elements. The comprehensive investigation of tomato SlMYBR genes in the present study helps to clearly understand the evolution of RR-type MYB-related TFs and provides a useful reference for the further functional study of SlMYBR genes in tomato.
Strategy to Promote the Biodegradation of Phenanthrene in Contaminated Soil by a Novel Bacterial Consortium in Slurry Bioreactors
Authors: Jiang Xuyang , Mao Zhen , Zhong Licun , Yu Jinbiao , Tang Yan
Published: May 2022

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are typical high-risk, persistent organic pollutants. Biological slurry reactors are widely used for enhanced bioremediation. In this experiment, a highly efficient phenanthrene-degrading bacteria group was obtained through screening and domestication, and the community was named MZJ_21. After the addition of MZJ_21 to the aerobic slurry bioreactor, with the optimum conditions of the temperature, stirring speed, and aeration rate of 30 °C, 120 rpm, and 1 L/min, respectively, the phenanthrene degradation ratio reached 95.41% within 48 h. The exploration of the degradation of phenanthrene by MZJ_21 indicated that most MZJ_21 communities adsorbed on the soil particle, mainly because MZI_21 could secrete extracellular polymers, which could stably adhere MZJ_21 on the solid phase. At the same time, the distribution ratio of phenanthrene in the solid phase is increased, so that the efficient phenanthrene degradation reaction takes place in the solid phase.
Understanding the Online Environment for the Delivery of Food, Alcohol and Tobacco: An Exploratory Analysis of ‘Dark Kitchens’ and Rapid Grocery Delivery Services
Authors: Rinaldi Chiara , D’Aguilar Marlene , Egan Matt
Published: May 2022

Online spaces are increasingly important in the sale of food, alcohol and tobacco. This analysis focuses on two developments in online food delivery: delivery-only ‘dark kitchens’ and rapid grocery delivery services (RGDS), with the aim to understand and assess the availability of health harming and health promoting products through these services. Data was collected for one metropolitan local authority in London, UK, using publicly available online sources. Being explorative in nature, the analysis includes descriptive statistics and qualitative assessment. Three dark kitchens (renting kitchens to 116 food businesses), three grocery delivery apps, and 76 grocery businesses available through online delivery platforms were identified. Most businesses renting dark kitchen space were ‘virtual restaurants’ (52%) selling fast food (47%) or dessert (21%) through online delivery platforms. RGDS sold a variety of items, with a focus on pre-packaged foods high in fat, salt and sugar, alcoholic beverages and tobacco. These items were also most likely to be promoted through offers and promotional language. Fruits and vegetables were less commonly available and mainly on grocery delivery apps. Online delivery services increase the temporal and geographic availability and promotion of many unhealthy products. Research expanding on the geographic area of interest is needed.
An Analysis of the Colony Structure of Prokaryotes in the Jialing River Waters in Chongqing
Authors: Zhang Maolan , Zeng Guoming , Liang Dong , Xu Yiran , Li Yan , Huang Xin , Ma Yonggang , Wang Fei , Liao Chenhui , Tang Cheng , Li Hong , Pan Yunzhu , Sun Da
Published: May 2022

At present, research on the influence of human activities (especially urbanization) on the microbial diversity, structural composition, and spatial distribution of rivers is limited. In this paper, to explore the prokaryotic community structure and the relationship between the community and environmental factors in the Jialing River Basin of Chongqing, so as to provide a basis for monitoring microorganisms in the watershed. The V3–V4 region of the 16 S rRNA gene was analyzed by high-throughput sequencing and the microbial community of the waters of the Jialing River was analyzed for the diversity and composition of the prokaryotic community as well as the species difference of four samples and correlations with environmental factors. The main results of this study were as follows: (1) The diversity index showed that there were significant differences in the biodiversity among the four regions. At the genus level, Limnohabitans, unclassified_f_Comamonadaceae, and Hgcl_clade were the main dominant flora with a high abundance and evenness. (2) A Kruskal–Wallis H test was used to analyze the differences of species composition among the communities and the following conclusions were drawn: each group contained a relatively high abundance of Limnohabitans; the Shapingba District had a higher abundance of Limnohabitans, the Hechuan District had a wide range of unclassified_f_Comamonadaceae, and the Beibei District had a higher Hgcl_clade. (3) Through the determination of the physical and chemical indicators of the water—namely, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, chemical oxygen demand, chlorophyll A, and an analysis by an RDA diagram, the results demonstrated that the distribution of microbial colonies was significantly affected by the environmental factors of the water. Chemical oxygen demand and ammonia nitrogen had a significant influence on the distribution of the colonies. Different biological colonies were also affected by different environmental factors.
Determinants of Student Loyalty in Higher Education: A Structural Equation Approach for the Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Romania
Authors: Todea Steluta , Davidescu Adriana AnaMaria , Pop Nicolae Al. , Stamule Tanase
Published: May 2022

In today’s world, the higher education system represents a means of developing the national and global economy by providing individual and collective benefits. Student loyalty is a critical measure in the success of higher education institutions that aim at retaining students until graduation and then attracting them back. As they fuel the knowledge economy, universities create a more educated labor market, providing employment and higher salaries. Having this major significance, it is vital to study the key determinants that persuade stakeholders to form long-term relationships with universities, revealing high loyalty. Aiming to stay competitive and survive the drastic, ongoing changes, successful universities thrive on building loyalty among all stakeholder groups, especially students. Despite the importance of the higher education institutions (HEIs), little research has been conducted on student loyalty. Therefore, the main objectives of this study are to empirically examine the key factors influencing student loyalty by testing two models, namely perceived quality, brand associations, satisfaction, trust, and commitment, and to test the relationships among them. To analyze the data, a confirmatory factor analysis was applied where it explored the associations between items and constructs and, then, utilized a structural equation model (SEM) to investigate the relationships existing between constructs with the application of the STATA program. A structured questionnaire comprising of 66 questions was developed, using a five Likert scale. A total of 682 students from the Bucharest University of Economic Studies filled in the questionnaire. In both cases, the findings reveal that commitment has the most significant direct impact on loyalty. The other factors have an indirect effect, satisfaction having the most significant total effect, followed by trust and commitment. Therefore, universities must focus on improving service quality to develop positive brand associations, student satisfaction, trust, and commitment in developing student loyalty.
Strategies for the Psychological Support of the Healthcare Workforce during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The ERNST Study
Authors: López-Pineda Adriana , Carrillo Irene , Mula Aurora , Guerra-Paiva Sofia , Strametz Reinhard , Tella Susanna , Vanhaecht Kris , Panella Massimiliano , Knezevic Bojana , Ungureanu Marius-Ionut , Srulovici Einav , Buttigieg Sandra C. , Skoumalová Ivana , Sousa Paulo , Mira Jose ,   on behalf of the ERNST Consortium Collaborators
Published: May 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic led to the implementation of interventions to provide emotional and psychological support to healthcare workers in many countries. This ecological study aims to describe the strategies implemented in different countries to support healthcare professionals during the outbreak. Data were collected through an online survey about the measures to address the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of healthcare workers. Healthcare professionals, researchers, and academics were invited to respond to the survey. Fifty-six professionals from 35 countries contributed data to this study. Ten countries (28.6%) reported that they did not launch any national interventions. Both developed and developing countries launched similar initiatives. There was no relationship between the existence of any type of initiative in a country with the incidence, lethality, and mortality rates of the country due to COVID-19, and per capita income in 2020. The 24 h hotline for psychological support was the most frequent intervention. Tools for self-rescue by using apps or websites were extensively used, too. Other common interventions were the development of action protocols, availability of regular and updated information, implantation of distance learning systems, early detection of infection programs for professionals, economic reinforcements, hiring of staff reinforcement, and modification of leave and vacation dates.
Investigation of Long-Term Roving Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Activities Using Time-Series Sentinel-1 and Global Surface Water Datasets
Authors: Kimijima Satomi , Sakakibara Masayuki , Nagai Masahiko
Published: May 2022

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is a significant source of gold production globally despite the sector being informal and illegal. The rapid increase in the number of roving mining camps has negatively impacted the surrounding environment; however, the formation and transformation of roving mining camps have not been well studied. This study investigated the long-term trends and significant hotspots of roving camp-type ASGM (R-C-ASGM) in Katingain Regency, Central Kalimantan Province, Indonesia, from 1988 to 2020 using remotely sensed data, including Sentinel-1 time-series, global surface water (GSW), and world landcover datasets. Results show that several active R-C-ASGM sites existed in the Galangan and Kalanaman areas in 2017/2018. According to the GSW dataset, the Galangan area was estimated to be formed earlier, whereas the Kalanaman areas were recently formed and were associated with the Kalanaman river expansion. Notably, the center of Galangan was still a significant R-C-ASGM hotspot. The findings of this study broaden our understanding of R-C-ASGM transformation and identify significant R-C-ASGM hotspots over a long period. This study contributes to the development of timely and appropriate interventions for strengthening environmental governance.
Syntheses of Polypeptides and Their Biomedical Application for Anti-Tumor Drug Delivery
Authors: Feng Huayang , Fabrizi Jonas , Li Jingguo , Mayer Christian
Published: May 2022

Polypeptides have attracted considerable attention in recent decades due to their inherent biodegradability and biocompatibility. This mini-review focuses on various ways to synthesize polypeptides, as well as on their biomedical applications as anti-tumor drug carriers over the past five years. Various approaches to preparing polypeptides are summarized, including solid phase peptide synthesis, recombinant DNA techniques, and the polymerization of activated amino acid monomers. More details on the polymerization of specifically activated amino acid monomers, such as amino acid N-carboxyanhydrides (NCAs), amino acid N-thiocarboxyanhydrides (NTAs), and N-phenoxycarbonyl amino acids (NPCs), are introduced. Some stimuli-responsive polypeptide-based drug delivery systems that can undergo different transitions, including stability, surface, and size transition, to realize a better anti-tumor effect, are elaborated upon. Finally, the challenges and opportunities in this field are briefly discussed.
Transcriptome Profiling Provides New Insights into the Molecular Mechanism Underlying the Sensitivity of Cotton Varieties to Mepiquat Chloride
Authors: Wang Zhijun , Li Yanjun , Zhu Qianhao , Tian Liwen , Liu Feng , Zhang Xinyu , Sun Jie
Published: May 2022

Mepiquat chloride (MC) is a plant growth regulator widely used in cotton production to control vegetative overgrowth of cotton plants to achieve ideal plant architecture required for high yielding. Cotton varieties respond differently to MC application, but there is little information about the molecular mechanisms underlying the varietal difference. In this study, comparative transcriptome analysis was conducted by using two Upland cotton varieties with different sensitivity (XLZ74, insensitive; SD1068, sensitive) to MC treatment, aiming to understand the molecular mechanisms responsible for varietal difference of MC sensitivity. RNA-seq data were generated from the two varieties treated with MC or water at three time points, 1, 3 and 6 days post-spray (dps). Genes differentially expressed between the MC and mock treatments of XLZ74 (6252) and SD1068 (6163) were subjected to Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses to compare the enriched GO terms and KEGG pathways between the two varieties. Signal transduction of phytohormones, biosynthesis of gibberellins (GAs) and brassinosteroids (BRs) and profiles of transcription factors (TFs) seemed to be differentially affected by MC in the two varieties. The transcriptomic results were further consolidated with the content changes of phytohormones in young stem. Several GA catabolic genes, GA2ox, were highly induced by MC in both varieties especially in SD1068, consistent with a more significant decrease in GA4 in SD1068. Several AUX/IAA and SAUR genes and CKX genes were induced by MC in both varieties, but with a more profound effect observed in SD1068 that showed a significant reduction in indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and a significant increase in cytokinin (CTK) at 6 days post-spray (dps). BR biosynthesis-related genes were downregulated in SD1068, but not in XLZ74. Additionally, more downregulated TFs were observed in MC-treated SD1068 than in MC-treated XLZ74, and the two varieties had very different profiles of genes involved in starch and sucrose metabolism, with those of SD1068 and XLZ74 being downregulated and upregulated by MC treatment, respectively. Together, these results indicate that although the same or similar biological pathways are affected by MC treatment in cotton varieties showing different MC sensitivity, the extent of effect is variable, leading to their different phenotypic outcomes. How the quantitative effect of MC on the biological processes associated with growth retardation is regulated is still an open question.
First Characterization of Human Dermal Fibroblasts Showing a Decreased Xylosyltransferase-I Expression Induced by the CRISPR/Cas9 System
Authors: Fischer Bastian , Schmidt Vanessa , Ly Thanh-Diep , Kleine Anika , Knabbe Cornelius , Faust-Hinse Isabel
Published: May 2022

Background: Xylosyltransferases-I and II (XT-I and XT-II) catalyze the initial and rate limiting step of the proteoglycan (PG) biosynthesis and therefore have an import impact on the homeostasis of the extracellular matrix (ECM). The reason for the occurrence of two XT-isoforms in all higher organisms remains unknown and targeted genome-editing strategies could shed light on this issue. Methods: XT-I deficient neonatal normal human dermal fibroblasts were generated by using the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated proteins (Cas) 9 system. We analyzed if a reduced XT-I activity leads to abnormalities regarding ECM-composition, myofibroblast differentiation, cellular senescence and skeletal and cartilage tissue homeostasis. Results: We successfully introduced compound heterozygous deletions within exon 9 of the XYLT1 gene. Beside XYLT1, we detected altered gene-expression levels of further, inter alia ECM-related, genes. Our data further reveal a dramatically reduced XT-I protein activity. Abnormal myofibroblast-differentiation was demonstrated by elevated alpha-smooth muscle actin expression on both, mRNA- and protein level. In addition, wound-healing capability was slightly delayed. Furthermore, we observed an increased cellular-senescence of knockout cells and an altered expression of target genes knowing to be involved in skeletonization. Conclusion: Our data show the tremendous relevance of the XT-I isoform concerning myofibroblast-differentiation and ECM-homeostasis as well as the pathophysiology of skeletal disorders.
Novel Inhibitor for Downstream Targeting of Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling to Suppress Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition and Cell Migration
Authors: Toma Tsugumasa , Tateishi Hiroshi , Kawakami Kensaku , Ali Taha F. S. , Kamo Masahiro , Monde Kazuaki , Nakashima Yuta , Fujita Mikako , Otsuka Masami
Published: May 2022

Cancer metastasis accounts for most of the mortality associated with solid tumors. However, antimetastatic drugs are not available on the market. One of the important biological events leading to metastasis is the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by cytokines, namely transforming growth-factor-β (TGF-β). Although several classes of inhibitors targeting TGF-β and its receptor have been developed, they have shown profound clinical side effects. We focused on our synthetic compound, HPH-15, which has shown anti-fibrotic activity via the blockade of the TGF-β Smad-dependent signaling. In this study, 10 μM of HPH-15 was found to exhibit anti-cell migration and anti-EMT activities in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Although higher concentrations are required, the anti-EMT activity of HPH-15 has also been observed in 3D-cultured NSCLC cells. A mechanistic study showed that HPH-15 inhibits downstream TGF-β signaling. This downstream inhibition blocks the expression of cytokines such as TGF-β, leading to the next cycle of Smad-dependent and -independent signaling. HPH-15 has AMPK-activation activity, but a relationship between AMPK activation and anti-EMT/cell migration was not observed. Taken together, HPH-15 may lead to the development of antimetastatic drugs with a new mechanism of action.
Novel Ultrasound Anatomical Measurement of the Deep Transverse Metatarsal Ligament: An Intra-Rater Reliability and Inter-Rater Concordance Study
Authors: del Mar Ruiz-Herrera María , Marcos-Tejedor Félix , Aldana-Caballero Alberto , Calvo-Lobo César , Rodriguez-Sanz David , Moroni Simone , Konschake Marko , Mohedano-Moriano Alicia , Aceituno-Gómez Javier , Criado-Álvarez Juan
Published: May 2022

Insufficient space below the Deep Transverse Metatarsal Ligament (DTML) could be an etiological factor for Morton’s Neuroma (MN). To date, there is a lack of studies measuring the space below the DTML. For this reason, this study assesses the intra- and inter-rater concordance and reproducibility of measurements of the space below the DTML between the third and the fourth metatarsal heads (M3 and M4) using ultrasound imaging to assess and verify the reliability and reproducibility of measurements of the space under the DTML. Forty feet from twenty patients were examined using ultrasound by three trained evaluators at two different times. The two measurements taken on each foot were: base (b)—distance between M3 and M4, and height (h)—distance between the DTML and the plantar skin surface. This was a quantitative, observational, analytical study. The concordance rate between observers for measurements of height and base were 98.5% and 99.5%, respectively. The mean area obtained of the space was 54.6 mm2 and 57.2 mm2 for both the left and right foot (p > 0.05). Reproducibility over time calculated in pre- and post-measurements showed an intraclass correlation coefficient of 1.00 (95%CI: 0.99–1.00), which leads us to conclude that the measurements are perfectly reproducible. Both measurements (height and base) of the space under the DTML, performed by ultrasound, are reliable and reproducible.
GMFCS Level-Specific Differences in Kinematics and Joint Moments of the Involved Side in Unilateral Cerebral Palsy
Authors: Tsitlakidis Stefanos , Beckmann Nicholas A. , Wolf Sebastian I. , Hagmann Sébastien , Renkawitz Tobias , Götze Marco
Published: May 2022

A variety of gait pathologies is seen in cerebral palsy. Movement patterns between different levels of functional impairment may differ. The objective of this work was the evaluation of Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level-specific movement disorders. A total of 89 individuals with unilateral cerebral palsy and no history of prior treatment were included and classified according to their functional impairment. GMFCS level-specific differences, kinematics and joint moments, exclusively of the involved side, were analyzed for all planes for all lower limb joints, including pelvic and trunk movements. GMFCS level I and level II individuals most relevantly showed equinus/reduced dorsiflexion moments, knee flexion/reduced knee extension moments, reduced hip extension moments with pronounced flexion, internal hip rotation and reduced hip abduction. Anterior pelvic tilt, obliquity and retraction were found. Individuals with GMFCS level II were characterized by an additional pronounced reduction in all extensor moments, pronounced rotational malalignment and reduced hip abduction. The most striking characteristics of GMFCS level II were excessive anterior pelvic/trunk tilt and excessive trunk obliquity. Pronounced reduction in extensor moments and excessive trunk lean are distinguishing features of GMFCS level II. These patients would benefit particularly from surgical treatment restoring pelvic symmetry and improving hip abductor leverage. Future studies exploring GMFCS level-specific compensation of the sound limb and GMFCS level-specific malalignment are of interest.
Incidence, Treatment and Clinical Impact of Iron Deficiency in Chronic Heart Failure: A Longitudinal Analysis
Authors: Miñana Gema , Lorenzo Miguel , Ramirez de Arellano Antonio , Wächter Sandra , de la Espriella Rafael , Sastre Clara , Mollar Anna , Núñez Eduardo , Bodí Vicent , Sanchis Juan , Bayés-Genís Antoni , Núñez Julio
Published: May 2022

In patients with heart failure (HF), iron deficiency (ID) is a well-recognized therapeutic target; information about its incidence, patterns of iron repletion, and clinical impact is scarce. This single-centre longitudinal cohort study assessed the rates of ID testing and diagnosis in patients with stable HF, patterns of treatment with intravenous iron, and clinical impact of intravenous iron on HF rehospitalization risk. We included 711 consecutive outpatients (4400 visits) with stable chronic HF from 2014 to 2019 (median [interquartile range] visits per patient: 2 [2–7]. ID was defined as serum ferritin <100 µg/L, or 100–299 µg/L with transferrin saturation (TSAT) < 20%. During a median follow-up of 2.20 (1.11–3.78) years, ferritin and TSAT were measured at 2230 (50.7%) and 2183 visits (49.6%), respectively. ID was found at 846 (37.9%) visits, with ferritin and TSAT available (2230/4400), and intravenous iron was administered at 321/4400 (7.3%) visits; 233 (32.8%) patients received intravenous iron during follow-up. After multivariate analyses, iron repletion at any time during follow-up was associated with a lower risk of recurrent HF hospitalization (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.50, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.28–0.88; p = 0.016). Thus, ID was a frequent finding in patients with HF, and its repletion reduced the risk of recurrent HF hospitalizations.
Numerical Simulation of Cavitation Flow in a Low Specific-Speed Centrifugal Pump with Different Diameters of Balance Holes
Authors: Cao Weidong , Yang Xinyu , Jia Zhixiang
Published: May 2022

In order to study the influence of a balance hole’s diameter on the cavitation performance of low specific-speed centrifugal pumps, a centrifugal pump with a specific speed of 0.301 was selected as the research object. The pump’s cavitation performance, distribution of cavitation vapor in the impeller, and axial force on the impeller were studied with the change in diameters of balance holes. The results show that with the increase in the diameter of balance holes, the cavitation number σ3% of the low specific-speed centrifugal pump became small, the pressure in the mechanical seal cavity dropped gradually, and the flow velocity in balance holes was reduced. As cavitation occurred in the impeller, the diameter of balance holes not only affected the absolute value of the axial force but also affected the direction of the axial force.
Early Succession Patterns of Benthic Assemblages on Artificial Reefs in the Oligotrophic Eastern Mediterranean Basin
Authors: Rallis Ioannis , Chatzigeorgiou Giorgos , Florido Marta , Sedano Francisco , Procopiou Avgi , Chertz-Bynichaki Melina , Vernadou Emmanouela , Plaiti Wanda , Koulouri Panayota , Dounas Costas , Gerovasileiou Vasilis , Dailianis Thanos
Published: May 2022

The colonization of artificial structures by benthic organisms in the marine realm is known to be affected by the general trophic patterns of the biogeographical zone and the prevailing environmental traits at the local scale. The present work aims to present quantitative data on the early settlement progress of macrofaunal benthic assemblages developing on artificial reefs (ARs) deployed at the Underwater Biotechnological Park of Crete (UBPC) in the oligotrophic Eastern Mediterranean. Visual census and subsequent image analysis combined with scraped quadrats were used to describe the establishment of the communities and their development over three consecutive campaigns, spanning 5 years post-deployment. Macroalgae consistently dominated in terms of coverage, while sessile invertebrates displayed different patterns over the years. Polychaeta and Bryozoa were gradually replaced by Cnidaria, while Porifera and Mollusca displayed an increasing trend over the years. Motile benthos was mainly represented by Mollusca, while the abundance of Polychaeta increased in contrast to that of Crustacea. For both sessile and motile assemblages, significant differences were observed among the years. The results of this study indicate that ecological succession is still ongoing, and further improvement in the monitoring methodology can assist towards a more accurate assessment of the community composition in complex AR structures.
Promising Strategies for the Reduction of Pollutant Emissions from Working Vessels in Offshore Wind Farms: The Example of Taiwan
Authors: Yang Hsuan , Lin Cherng-Yuan
Published: May 2022

There are excellent offshore wind resources in the ocean off the west coast of Taiwan, and renewable offshore wind power has been actively developed in recent years. This study intends to establish a cost-effectiveness assessment model to compare the pollutant emissions and cost benefits of traditional fossil fuel and fuel cells used as the propulsion force of working vessels in Taiwan’s offshore wind farms. According to MARPOL, vessels should use very-low-sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO) with sulfur content of less than 0.5 wt. %. Therefore, this study proposes two strategies: changing marine power from VLSFO to ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) and a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The emission reduction and cost benefit were analyzed in comparison with the original condition when VLSFO was used. The results show that compared with the total cost of VLSFO, the total costs of Strategy ULSD and Strategy PEMFC increase by 7.5% and 51.2%, respectively, over five years. Strategy PEMFC brings environmentally friendly benefits primarily by reducing SOx, NOx, HC, PM, and CO2 emissions by 100%, 97.4%, 91.8%, 81%, and 81.6%, respectively, as compared with VLSFO. The cost–benefit ratio (CBR) of Strategy ULSD was higher than that of Strategy PEMFC in the first three years after improvements were made, and then the trend reversed. Strategy PEMFC is suitable as an alternative marine power source for the medium- and long-term (more than three years), while Strategy ULSD is suitable as a short-term investment for less than three years.
Interaction of Co3O4 Nanocube with Graphene and Reduced Graphene Oxide: Adhesion and Quantum Capacitance
Authors: Shunaev Vladislav , Glukhova Olga
Published: May 2022

The composites on the base of Co3O4 and graphene are in demand in the field of portable, flexible energy storage devices due to their small size, lightweight, big specific capacitance, good cycle stability and appropriate capacitance retention. The synthesis of this material always starts from the treatment of graphene oxide, so as a result, experimenters receive Co3O4 nanocubes incorporated into reduced graphene oxide indicates the presence of different oxygen-containing groups in the compound. This fact may limit the advantages of the considered material. Our theoretical quantum chemical calculations show that the process of Co3O4 incorporation between reduced graphene oxide layers is more energetically favorable in comparison to pure graphene. However, the win in the quantum capacitance in the case of pure graphene is in the range of 300–500 F/g in dependence on the applied voltage. The obtained result may indicate the need for modification of the current methods of graphene/Co3O4 synthesis to improve its application in supercapacitors and lithium-ion batteries.