bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unveiling Drimenol: A Phytochemical with Multifaceted Bioactivities
Authors: Yang Zhongming , Chan Kim Wei , Abu Bakar Md Zuki , Deng Xi
Published: September 2024

Drimenol, a phytochemical with a distinct odor is found in edible aromatic plants, such as Polygonum minus (known as kesum in Malaysia) and Drimys winteri. Recently, drimenol has received increasing attention owing to its diverse biological activities. This review offers the first extensive overview of drimenol, covering its sources, bioactivities, and derivatives. Notably, drimenol possesses a wide spectrum of biological activities, including antifungal, antibacterial, anti-insect, antiparasitic, cytotoxic, anticancer, and antioxidant effects. Moreover, some mechanisms of its activities, such as its antifungal effects against human mycoses and anticancer activities, have been investigated. However, there are still several crucial issues in the research on drimenol, such as the lack of experimental understanding of its pharmacokinetics, bioavailability, and toxicity. By synthesizing current research findings, this review aims to present a holistic understanding of drimenol, paving the way for future studies and its potential utilization in diverse fields.
Genome-Wide Characterization of Alfin-like Genes in Brassica napus and Functional Analyses of BnaAL02 and BnaAL28 in Response to Nitrogen and Phosphorus Deficiency
Authors: Wu Zexuan , Liu Shiying , Zhang Xinyun , Qian Xingzhi , Chen Zhuo , Zhao Huiyan , Wan Huafang , Yin Nengwen , Li Jiana , Qu Cunmin , Du Hai
Published: September 2024

Alfin-like proteins (ALs) form a plant-specific transcription factor (TF) gene family involved in the regulation of plant growth and development, and abiotic stress response. In this study, 30 ALs were identified in Brassica napus ecotype ‘Zhongshuang 11’ genome (BnaALs), and unevenly distributed on 15 chromosomes. Structural characteristic analysis showed that all of the BnaALs contained two highly conserved domains: the N terminal DUF3594 domain and the C-terminal PHD-finger domain. The BnaALs were classified into four groups (Group I-IV), supported by conserved intron–exon and protein motif structures in each group. The allopolyploid event between B. oleracea and B. rapa ancestors and the small-scale duplication events in B. napus both contributed to the large BnaALs expansion. The promoter regions of BnaALs contained multiple abiotic stress cis-elements. The BnaALs in I-IV groups were mainly expressed in cotyledon, petal, root, silique, and seed tissues, and the duplicated gene pairs shared highly similar expression patterns. RNA-seq and RT-qPCR analysis showed that BnaALs were obviously induced by low nitrogen (LN) and low phosphorus (LP) treatments in roots. Overexpressing BnaAL02 and BnaAL28 in Arabidopsis demonstrated their functions in response to LN and LP stresses. BnaAL28 enhanced primary roots’ (PRs) length and lateral roots’ (LRs) number under LP and LN conditions, where BnaAL02 can inhibit LR numbers under the two conditions. They can promote root hair (RH) elongation under LP conditions; however, they suppressed RH elongation under LN conditions. Our result provides new insight into the functional dissection of this family in response to nutrient stresses in plants.
Overexpression of OsRbohH Enhances Heat and Drought Tolerance through ROS Homeostasis and ABA Mediated Pathways in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Authors: Chen Yating , Zhang Rui , Wang Rujie , Li Jiangdi , Wu Bin , Zhang Haiwen , Xiao Guiqing
Published: September 2024

Respiratory burst oxidase homologs (Rbohs) are the primary producers of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which have been demonstrated to play critical roles in plant responses to abiotic stress. Here, we explored the function of OsRbohH in heat and drought stress tolerance by generating overexpression lines (OsRbohH-OE). OsRbohH was highly induced by various abiotic stress and hormone treatments. Compared to wild-type (WT) controls, OsRbohH-OE plants exhibited enhanced tolerance to heat and drought, as determined by survival rate analyses and total chlorophyll content. Histochemical staining revealed that OsRbohH-OE accumulated less ROS. This is consistent with the observed increase in catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) activities, as well as a reduced electrolyte leakage rate and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Moreover, OsRbohH-OE exhibited enhanced sensitivity to exogenous abscisic acid (ABA), accompanied by altered expression levels of ABA synthesis and catabolic genes. Further analysis indicated that transgenic lines had lower transcripts of ABA signaling-related genes (OsDREB2A, OsLEA3, OsbZIP66, and OsbZIP72) under heat but higher levels under drought than WT. In conclusion, these results suggest that OsRbohH is a positive regulator of heat and drought tolerance in rice, which is probably performed through OsRbohH-mediated ROS homeostasis and ABA signaling.
Synergizing Phenomenological and AI-Based Models with Industrial Data to Develop Soft Sensors for a Sour Water Treatment Unit
Authors: Queiroz Danielle Gradin , Rodrigues Francisco Davi Belo , Nogueira Júlia do Nascimento Pereira , Melo Príamo Albuquerque , de Souza Maurício B.
Published: September 2024

Sour waters are one of the main aqueous byproducts generated during petroleum refining and require processing in sour water treatment units (SWTUs) to remove contaminants such as H2S and NH3 in compliance with environmental legislations. Therefore, monitoring the composition of SWTU effluxents, including acid gas, ammoniacal gas, and treated water, is essential. This study aims to present an AI (artificial intelligence) hybrid-based methodology to develop soft sensors capable of real-time prediction of H2S and NH3 mass fractions in the effluents of SWTUs and validate them using real data from industrial units. Initially, a new database based on the dynamic simulation of a two-stripping-column SWTU phenomenological model, developed in Aspen Plus Dynamics® V10, was generated, aiming at non-faulty runs, unlike our previous work. Ensemble methods (decision trees), such as gradient boosting and random forest, and support vector machines were compared for soft sensor creation using these simulated data. The best outcome was the development of six soft sensors based on random forest with R2 greater than 0.87, MAE less than 0.12, MSE less than 0.17, and RMSE less than 0.41. Variable importance analysis revealed that the temperature of the second stage of Column 1 significantly influences the thermodynamic equilibrium of H2S and NH3 separation from sour waters, being critical for five of the six soft sensors. After this initial stage using data from the phenomenological model, data from an industrial-scale SWTU were used to develop real soft sensors. The results proved the effectiveness of the conjugated use of a physical model and industrial data approach in the development of soft sensors for two-column SWTUs.
Measuring Domain Shift in Vibration Signals to Improve Cross-Domain Diagnosis of Piston Aero Engine Faults
Authors: Shen Pengfei , Bi Fengrong , Bi Xiaoyang , Lu Yunyi
Published: September 2024

Transfer learning is an effective approach to address the decline in generalizability of intelligent fault diagnosis methods. However, there has been a persistent lack of comprehensive and effective metrics for assessing the transferability of cross-domain data, making it challenging to answer the fundamental question in transfer learning: “When to transfer”. This study proposes a novel hybrid transferability metric (HTM) based on weighted correlation-diversity shift. The metric introduces a correlation shift measurement based on sparse principal component analysis, effectively quantifying distribution differences in domain-invariant features based on the sparse representation theory. It also designs a diversity shift measurement based on label space differences, addressing the previously overlooked impact of label variation on transferability. The proposed transferability metric is validated on four types of cross-domain diagnosis tasks involving piston aero engines. The results show that in diagnostic scenarios involving both supervised transfer learning and extreme class imbalance problems, HTM accurately predicted the transferability of the target tasks, which aligned with the actual diagnostic accuracy trends. It provides a feasible method for predicting and evaluating the applicability of transfer learning methods in real-world scenarios.
Analysis of the Availability Curve of the 15 kW Wind–Solar Hybrid Microplant Associated with the Demand of the Power-to-Gas (PtG) Pilot Plant Located at University of La Guajira
Authors: Noriega de la Cruz Leonel Alfredo , Serrano-Florez Dario , Bastidas-Barranco Marlon
Published: September 2024

This article presents a detailed analysis of the energy availability of a 15 kW hybrid wind–solar photovoltaic microplant, designed to supply the electricity demand of the power-to-gas (PtG) pilot plant located at the University of La Guajira, Colombia. The study addresses the lack of specific data on the energy availability curve, which is essential for quantifying the production percentages of green hydrogen from wind and solar photovoltaic sources. To this end, continuous data were collected over a seven-month period, recording the daily power output from both sources. Additionally, the energy requirements of the PtG pilot plant, which relies on the microplant for its electrical supply, were determined. The results indicated that during certain periods, such as specific days in November 2022 and February and March 2023, it was necessary to rely on the conventional electrical grid for backup. Moreover, it was observed that solar photovoltaic energy contributed the most electricity to the system for green hydrogen production. In the study area, although green hydrogen production is predominantly supported by the solar photovoltaic source, it is crucial to have the backup of an additional source, such as wind, due to the intermittent nature of the climatic conditions affecting these technologies.
Quaternary Treatment of Urban Wastewater for Its Reuse
Authors: Jurík Jakub , Jankovičová Barbora , Zakhar Ronald , Šoltýsová Nikola , Derco Ján
Published: September 2024

In today’s ongoing rapid urban expansion, deforestation and climate changes can be observed mainly as unbalanced rain occurrence during the year, long seasons without any rain at all and unordinary high temperatures. These adverse changes affect underground water levels and the availability of surface water. In addition, quite a significant proportion of drinking water is used mainly for non-drinking purposes. With several EU countries increasingly suffering from droughts, reusing quaternary treated urban wastewater can help address water scarcity. At the European level, Regulation 2020/741 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 May 2020 on minimum requirements for water reuse was adopted. This regulation foresees the use of recycled wastewater mainly for agricultural irrigation. This article provides an overview of various processes, such as filtration, coagulation, adsorption, ozonation, advanced oxidation processes and disinfection, for quaternary treatment of urban wastewater in order to remove micropollutants and achieve the requirements for wastewater reuse. According to the literature, the most effective method with acceptable financial costs is a combination of coagulation, membrane filtration (UF or NF) and UV disinfection. These processes are relatively well known and commercially available. This article also helps researchers to identify key themes and concepts, evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of previous studies and determine areas where further research is needed.
Mathematical Model of the Electronic Cam in Terms of Application in a Dosing Machine
Authors: Wójkowski Karol , Talaśka Krzysztof , Wilczyński Dominik
Published: September 2024

The article analyses the use of servomotors in the control systems of industrial equipment, focusing on the alternative offered by position and speed synchronization in relation to classical mechanical mechanisms. A complete methodology is presented to determine the dynamic parameters of the adopted kinematic system using electronic motion profiles. The results obtained constitute a mathematical model of the execution chain and an analysis of the basic quantities for linear motion, supported by actual measurements of the drive parameters. The merit of the article is to show that the servomotors can significantly simplify the design of the device, make it more flexible in adaptation to different assortments, and allow integration with systems predicting the technical condition of the device. The analysis of the results revealed significant differences in the constant rotational speed of the servomotor, which do not align with previous findings. The results suggest that changing the angular working range of the assembly to the range (205°;270°) could significantly affect the generated linear acceleration, reducing the risk of stalling. The calculations and graphs conducted allowed for the accurate representation of the actual mechanical system, considering its dynamic characteristics. The key conclusion is that precise mathematical modelling is essential to ensure the stability and durability of engineering components.
Integrating Religion and Education through Institutional Missions: A Comparative Study of Yonsei and Dongguk Universities as Religiously Affiliated Institutions in South Korea
Authors: Gu Jahyun , Kim Juhwan
Published: September 2024

This study examines the relationship between religion and education in South Korea by investigating how religiously affiliated private educational institutions integrate their institutional missions into educational frameworks. Building upon our previous analysis of Dongguk University as a Buddhist-affiliated institution, we focus on Yonsei University, an institution affiliated with Protestant Christian denominations. By analyzing Yonsei University and comparing it to Dongguk University, we illustrate the distinctive approaches these institutions use to manifest their institutional missions. Here, the distinct religious natures in these institutions serve as a critical lens, spotlighting the vital roles of institutional missions in shaping educational goals, aspirations, and curricula. Our in-depth analysis elicits one critical point: it is imperative to recognize that the very essence of how Yonsei and Dongguk Universities articulate their institutional missions is predicated fundamentally on their general education curricula. With this point, this study illuminates the characteristics of religiously affiliated private educational institutions that underscore the crucial functions of institutional missions. These characteristics elucidate both the distinctive aspects of religiously affiliated institutions and the multifaceted functions of institutional missions within broader educational contexts, thereby offering critical insights into the crucial roles of religion and their future implications for education in South Korea.
Instantaneous Material Classification Using a Polarization-Diverse RMCW LIDAR
Authors: Pulikkaseril Cibby , Ross Duncan , Tofini Alexander , Lize Yannick K. , Collarte Federico
Published: September 2024

Light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensors using a polarization-diverse receiver are able to capture polarimetric information about the target under measurement. We demonstrate this capability using a silicon photonic receiver architecture that enables this on a shot-by-shot basis, enabling polarization analysis nearly instantaneously in the point cloud, and then use this data to train a material classification neural network. Using this classifier, we show an accuracy of 85.4% for classifying plastic, wood, concrete, and coated aluminum.
Assessing Racial and Class Bias in Child Welfare: Development and Piloting of the Race and Class Bias in Child Welfare Scale
Authors: Faulkner Monica , LaBrenz Catherine A. , Wasim Anna , Marra Laura
Published: September 2024

Research has highlighted racial and socioeconomic disparities for families in child welfare, with calls to address inequities through trainings and structural change. However, few measures have been developed to assess the recognition of racial and class biases among child welfare practitioners, one key step in addressing implicit biases and reducing racial disparities. While the Families First Prevention Services Act has prioritized evidence-based practices, it is crucial to ensure that practitioners are culturally responsive. This study developed and piloted the Race and Class Bias in Child Welfare Scale to measure the awareness of implicit and structural biases among child welfare practitioners. The development and validation of the Race and Class Bias in Child Welfare Scale included three parts: (1) scale development; (2) scale piloting using exploratory factor analysis; and (3) scale validation using confirmatory factor analysis. Two main factors were identified that explained 68.05% of the total variance; eight of the nine items loaded onto the two factors. Items on the first factor reflected implicit bias recognition, and items on the second factor reflected structural bias. Preliminary findings suggest that a two-factor scale presents good internal reliability and validity. As the Family First Preservation Services Act continues to prioritize evidence-based practices, it is important to consider the cultural sensitivity and responsiveness of providers administering them.
Menstrual Dysfunction in Adolescent Female Athletes
Authors: Calcaterra Valeria , Vandoni Matteo , Bianchi Alice , Pirazzi Agnese , Tiranini Lara , Baldassarre Paola , Diotti Marianna , Cavallo Caterina , Nappi Rossella Elena , Zuccotti Gianvincenzo
Published: September 2024

Despite the benefits of exercise on mental and physical health, excessive training loads can lead to health problems in the long term, including a wide spectrum of menstrual dysfunction (MD). This narrative review aims to analyze the relationship between physical exercise and MD in adolescent female athletes to support regular menstrual health monitoring and promote educational programs on reproductive risks. When dealing with MD in young athletes, several factors entangled with maturation of the hypothalamus–pituitary–ovarian axis should be considered. Firstly, some disciplines seem to have a higher prevalence of MD due to the high loads of training regimes and the early introduction of athletes to a competitive career. Moreover, low energy intake and a low body mass index appear to exacerbate existing MD. Lastly, disordered eating behaviors and psychological stress can contribute to MD in female athletes. The type of sport, influencing the intensity and duration of exercise, as well as individual psycho-physiological and environmental factors, may influence the role of physical activity in the manifestation of MD. Early recognition and management of MD, along with collaboration between sports organizations and health professionals, are crucial to minimize risks, ensure proper nutrition, and balance training with recovery. Keeping an open discussion on the topic may prospectively improve awareness, early diagnosis, and treatment strategies, as well as reduce injury risk and enhance sports performance.
Nonlinear and Threshold Effects of the Built Environment on Dockless Bike-Sharing
Authors: Chen Ming , Wang Ting , Liu Zongshi , Li Ye , Tu Meiting
Published: September 2024

Dockless bike-sharing mobility brings considerable benefits to building low-carbon transportation. However, the operators often rush to seize the market and regulate the services without a good knowledge of this new mobility option, which results in unreasonable layout and management of shared bicycles. Therefore, it is meaningful to explore the relationship between the built environment and bike-sharing ridership. This study proposes a novel framework integrated with the extreme gradient boosting tree model to evaluate the impacts and threshold effects of the built environment on the origin–destination bike-sharing ridership. The results show that most built environment features have strong nonlinear effects on the bike-sharing ridership. The bus density, the industrial ratio, the local population density, and the subway density are the key explanatory variables impacting the bike-sharing ridership. The threshold effects of the built environment are explored based on partial dependence plots, which could improve the bike-sharing system and provide policy implications for green travel and sustainable transportation.
Determinants of Hotel Business Success in Rural Areas of the Western Balkan Countries
Authors: Pimić Miroslav , Simonović Zoran D. , Radivojević Nikola , Nicolae Iuliana , Ćurčić Nikola V.
Published: September 2024

This paper examines the impact of ten microeconomic factors on hotel business success. This research encompassed a sample of 115 small, family-operated hotels situated in rural regions of the Western Balkan countries (WBC). This research was based on the assumption that factors such as the size of the hotel, age, solvency, liquidity, labour productivity, capital productivity, CSR, and reduction of CO2 emissions exhibit a positive influence on business success, whereas leverage, indebtedness, and energy consumption have a negative effect on the business success of hotels. The findings revealed that business success from the previous period, size, liquidity, and CSR exhibit a positive influence on business success, whereas leverage, capital productivity, and indebtedness demonstrate a negative effect. Conversely, the age of the hotel and labour productivity were not found to significantly influence business success, as did energy consumption. In the context of sustainable development, a positive CSR impact means that tourists value this behaviour of the hotel, while a lack of a statistically significant impact of energy consumption implies either that hotels do not implement efficient measures of energy efficiency or that energy efficiency may not be a crucial factor in attracting guests or influencing their loyalty. The findings also show that labour productivity expressed conventionally does not have a statistically significant impact on hotel business success. However, when expressed in a way that respects the concept of sustainable development and CSR, workforce productivity is a significant factor in hotel business success. Due to the problem of multicollinearity, the influence of CO2 emissions was not examined. The findings suggest the following two groups of key measures: 1. Policymakers must work on ensuring more favourable conditions under which hotels can borrow, as well as on ensuring adequate infrastructure; 2. They must work on improving the strategy for maintaining liquidity to avoid the high costs of short-term loans and increasing size in order to further utilise economies of scale. These two microeconomic factors have the greatest impact on the business success of hotels.
Tensions between Materiality Assessments and Stakeholder Engagements in Thai Corporate Sustainability Leaders
Authors: Tan Farrell , Dipendra K. C.
Published: September 2024

This study examines how leading Thai companies implement materiality assessments and stakeholder engagements in their sustainability reporting. While the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework emphasizes these processes as being central to effective reporting, research on their concurrent implementation remains limited. Through a content analysis of GRI-aligned sustainability reports from top Thai firms, this study found that companies appear comprehensive in identifying material topics and stakeholders initially. However, a deeper analysis revealed primarily information-gathering approaches with stakeholders and limited disclosure of stakeholder impacts. Materiality assessments lacked clear information on how material issues affect both the organization and stakeholders. The findings indicate that materiality assessments are more rigorous than stakeholder engagement efforts in practice. This suggests that even when using stakeholder-focused standards like the GRI, actual stakeholder engagement may be superficial. Such superficial implementation of reporting standards potentially limits the ability of these standards to generate stakeholder engagement, which is an important pre-requisite for organizational transformation and accountability. This study contributes to understanding the practical application of these key reporting processes in an emerging market context. It highlights areas for improvement in corporate reporting practice and proposes directions for future research on enhancing the effectiveness of sustainability reporting.
Sustainability of Food Heritage in Birthday Rituals
Authors: Choi Bae-Young , Yang Su Jin
Published: September 2024

For the last decade, cultural heritage has been recognized as the fourth most important field of sustainability, but insufficient empirical research has focused on social participants’ intent to inherit intangible cultural capital. Based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB), this study investigated the influence of cultural significance and successors’ perceptions of traditional foods served during landmark birthday rituals in South Korea. The results show that, while historical stability and instrumental healing are important cultural values for South Koreans, perceived behavioral control, subjective norms, and a perceived female role affect the intention to preserve traditional food heritage for landmark birthdays. In addition, we examined the differences between genders and age groups in terms of the influence of perceived behavioral control and the perception of the female role and found that both impacts increased in the older group. The contributions to the field are discussed in terms of cultural sustainability and TPB, along with the managerial implications for policymakers.
Correction: Dhiman et al. Mycorrhiza: An Ecofriendly Bio-Tool for Better Survival of Plants in Nature. Sustainability 2022, 14, 10220
Authors: Dhiman Mamta , Sharma Lakshika , Kaushik Prashant , Singh Abhijeet , Sharma Madan Mohan
Published: September 2024

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Community Implementation of the ASEAN Community-Based Tourism (CBT) Standard: An Executive Stakeholder Study on Lao PDR
Authors: Kim Suyoun , Yoon Yeong Hye , Kim Jin-young , Lee Seul Ki
Published: September 2024

The ASEAN Community-based Tourism (CBT) Standard was adopted by 10 ASEAN member states in 2016 in order to collectively promote the ASEAN region as a competitive and sustainable community-based tourism destination and to enhance sustainable tourism provision through ASEAN criteria. Among the ten ASEAN member states, Lao PDR (Laos) has a unique CBT development experience through collaboration with various international development agencies that started in 1999. Such a history brought about issues when the ASEAN CBT Standard was implemented at the provincial and district levels in Laos, including the concerns of related communities on the ASEAN CBT Standard not being easily applicable considering the state of tourism development. While the adoption and application of the regional standard called the ASEAN CBT Standard is a significant collective enforcement involving the tourism industries in ASEAN, there has been a lack of studies regarding the dynamics of the implementation of regional tourism standards at the national level. In order to fill this research gap, this study utilized in-depth interviews with seven executives with significant experiences from the government, international development agency, international organization, and private sectors. Interviewees give a diversity of perspectives on the enabling factors and challenges in implementing the ASEAN CBT Standard at the national level (focusing on Laos), which showed the complexity of CBT dynamics and necessity of good governance. The results also revealed how regional standards can be further recognized, promoted, sustainable to the key stakeholders of the Laos tourism industry, better accepted and utilized by end users, and possibly better customized according to the local circumstances for sustainable tourism development. The findings of this study evidence that collaboration among key stakeholders and the expected roles of these stakeholders are critical when implementing the ASEAN CBT Standard.
Analysis of Failure Mechanism of Medium-Steep Bedding Rock Slopes under Seismic Action
Authors: Zheng Xiuhong , Zhao Qihua , Peng Sheqin , Wu Longke , Dou Yanghao , Chen Kuangyu
Published: September 2024

Medium-steep bedding rock slopes (MBRSs) are generally considered relatively stable, because the dip angle of the rock layers (45–55°) is larger than the slope angle (40–45°). However, the stability of MBRSs was significantly impacted during the 1933 Diexi earthquake, leading to slope instability. Field investigations revealed that no continuous sliding surface was recognized in the failure slopes. Instead, the source areas of landslides present a “reverse steps” feature, where the step surfaces are perpendicular to the bedding surface, and their normal directions point towards the crest of the slopes. These orientations of “reverse steps” differ significantly from those of steps formed under static conditions, which makes it difficult to explain the phenomenon using traditional failure mechanism of the slope. Therefore, a large-scale shaking table test was conducted to replicate the deformation and failure processes of MBRSs under seismic action. The test revealed the elevation amplification effect, where the amplification factors of the acceleration increased with increasing elevation. As the amplitude of the input seismic wave increased, the acceleration amplification factor initially rose and subsequently decreased with the increase in the shear strain of the rock mass. The dynamic response of the slope under Z-direction seismic waves is stronger than that under X-direction seismic waves. The deformation and failure were mainly concentrated in the upper part of the slope, which was in good agreement with the field observations. Based on these findings, the deformation and failure mechanism of MBRSs was analyzed by considering both the spatial relationship between the seismogenic fault and the slope, and the propagation characteristics of seismic waves along the slope. The seismic failure mode of MBRSs in the study area was characterized as flexural–tensile failure. This work can provide a reference for post-earthquake disaster investigation, as well as disaster prevention and mitigation, in seismically active regions.
Use of Antioxidants to Reduce Chromium (VI) Formation during the Leather Tanning Process
Authors: Salmi Omar , Molinelli Alessandro , Gelosa Simone , Sacchetti Alessandro , Rossi Filippo , Masi Maurizio
Published: September 2024

For a long time, the leather industry has considered the chromium tanning process to be the easiest and fastest way to treat raw hides and transform them into valuable products. In the last few decades, increasing attention has been paid to the potential oxidation of the trivalent chromium in tanned leather. This happens for many reasons, such as the quality of the tanning agent or the adoption of good manufacturing practices. Anyway, the main problem, which is difficult to solve, is the sensibility of the free residual chromium tanned leather, which is high enough for possible harmful activity. Given this scenario, this work proposes a solution to decrease hexavalent chromium formation by using antioxidants during the leather tanning process. In this regard, a screening work was started, to find the worst-case scenario for trivalent chromium oxidation. To do this, commercial tanning products were employed, especially fatliquoring agents, which, in some cases, are the main source that could easily react with ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) to drive chromium oxidation. After the determination of conditions, different groups of common antioxidants were tested to analyse the antioxidation performances and their possible use in the chromium-based tanning process. The results underline the efficient action of the antioxidants studied, paving the way for some interesting perspectives to limit the drawbacks of chromium tanned leather.
Criteria of Oscillation for Second-Order Mixed Nonlinearities in Dynamic Equations
Authors: Hassan Taher S. , Iambor Loredana Florentina , Mureşan Sorin , Alenzi Khalid , Odinaev Ismoil , Rashedi Khudhayr A.
Published: September 2024

This paper investigates second-order functional dynamic equations with mixed nonlinearities on an arbitrary unbounded above-time scale, T. We will use a unified time scale approach and the well-known Riccati technique to derive oscillation criteria of the Nehari-type for second-order dynamic equations. The findings demonstrate a significant improvement in the literature on dynamic equations. The symmetry is beneficial and influential in defining the right style of study for the qualitative behavior of solutions to dynamic equations. We include an example to demonstrate the significance of our results.
Environmental Impact of Waste Treatment and Synchronous Hydrogen Production: Based on Life Cycle Assessment Method
Authors: Luo Yiting , Su Rongkui
Published: September 2024

Based on the life cycle assessment methodology, this study systematically analyzes the energy utilization of environmental waste through photocatalytic treatment and simultaneous hydrogen production. Using 10,000 tons of organic wastewater as the functional unit, the study evaluates the material consumption, energy utilization, and environmental impact potential of the photocatalytic waste synchronous hydrogen production system (specifically, the synchronous hydrogen production process of 4-NP wastewater with CDs/CdS/CNU). The findings indicate that potential environmental impacts from the photochemical treatment of environmental waste and synchronous hydrogen production primarily manifest in freshwater ecological toxicity, marine ecological toxicity, terrestrial ecological toxicity, and non-carcinogenic toxicity to humans. These ecological impacts stem from the catalyst’s adsorption and metal leaching during the photo-degradation and hydrogen production processes of environmental waste. By implementing reasonable modifications and morphological refinements to the catalyst, these effects can be mitigated while achieving enhanced efficiency in environmental waste processing and simultaneous hydrogen production. The research outcomes provide valuable insights for advancing sustainable development in green technology for environmental waste treatment and energy utilization.
Readability of Online Patient Education Materials Related to Liver Transplantation in the United States
Authors: Poudel Ayusha , Adhikari Anurag , Poudel Sajana , Poudel Aayush
Published: September 2024

Background: Healthcare outcomes are influenced by both the effectiveness of healthcare delivery and the health literacy of patients. Patient education materials (PEMs) play a crucial role in disseminating health information to the patients. PEMs need to be at the level of grade six for optimal comprehension across diverse populations. However, that has not been the case in prior studies in healthcare-related fields. We aimed to evaluate the readability status of online PEMs of active adult and pediatric liver transplant institutions. Methods: We used standardized tools to calculate indices, namely Flesch Reading Ease (FRE), Flesch–Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL), Gunning–Fog Score (GFS), Coleman–Liau Index (CLI), and Simple Measure of Gobbledygook for readability assessment. These indices use various measures, like average sentence length, average syllable per word, polysyllable count, and/or average number of letters per 100 words, to determine grade level. Results: The mean reading level of the PEMs was grade 10.73 ± 3.07, corresponding to grade 7 to 14. One-way ANOVA showed no statistically significant difference between these indices (p-value < 0.05). Conclusions: The readability of liver transplant centers’ PEMs exceeded the recommended level, hindering their generalizability to the broader population. This highlights the importance of optimizing the readability of PEMs to improve outcomes for equitable healthcare services.
Assessing the Impact of Primary-Series Infection and Booster Vaccination on Protection against Omicron in Hong Kong: A Population-Based Observational Study
Authors: Jiang Jialiang , Lau Eric Ho Yin , Zhou Ziyi , Yin Guosheng , Lin Yun , Cowling Benjamin John , Lam Kwok Fai
Published: September 2024

This study aimed to assess the real-world effectiveness of vaccines and hybrid immunity in preventing infections during the Omicron prevalent period in Hong Kong. This study analyzed vaccination records and COVID-19 confirmed case records from 1 January 2022 to 28 January 2023 and included a total of 7,165,862 individuals with vaccination or infection records. This study found that an additional vaccine dose offered increased protection against Omicron BA.1/2 and BA.4 infections for individuals without prior infections in general. Hybrid immunity, acquired through vaccination and natural infection, was found to be significantly stronger than that provided by vaccines alone. The Comirnaty Original/Omicron BA.4/5 bivalent vaccine, introduced in December 2022, was associated with a lower risk of BA.4 infection when administered as a booster dose after three doses of CoronaVac. However, individuals with four doses of the CoronaVac vaccine did not exhibit a significantly lower risk of infection compared to those with three doses during the BA.4 dominant period. This study highlights the importance of promoting booster shot uptake and encouraging vaccination among those who have recovered from COVID-19 infections. The potential immune imprinting effect associated with the Comirnaty and CoronaVac vaccine underscores the need for continued surveillance and research to optimize vaccination strategies for emerging variants.
Asian Flush Gene Variant Enhances Cellular Immunogenicity of COVID-19 Vaccine: Prospective Observation in the Japanese General Population
Authors: Bogahawaththa Sudarma , Hara Megumi , Furukawa Takuma , Iwasaka Chiharu , Sawada Takeshi , Yamada Goki , Tokiya Mikiko , Kitagawa Kyoko , Miyake Yasunobu , Kido Mizuho Aoki , Hirota Yoshio , Matsumoto Akiko
Published: September 2024

We previously reported a reduced humoral immune response to the COVID-19 vaccines. Subsequently, we observed a lower susceptibility to COVID-19 in individuals carrying the ALDH2 rs671 variant through a web-based retrospective survey. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that rs671 variant was beneficial for cellular immunity against COVID-19. Using the IFN-γ enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay, we assessed cellular immunity before and after COVID-19 vaccination in two subcohorts of a previously reported cohort. Subcohort 1 (26 participants) had six repeated observations at baseline after one to three doses, whereas subcohort 2 (19 participants) had two observations before and after the third dose. ELISPOT counts at six months after the second dose increased from baseline in carriers of the rs671 variant but not in non-carriers. A positive effect of rs671 on ELISPOT counts was estimated using a mixed model (183 observations from 45 participants), including the random effect of subcohort, repeated measures, and fixed effects of vaccine type, age, sex, height, lifestyle, steroid use, and allergic disease. There was no association between ELISPOT counts and specific IgG levels, suggesting a limitation in estimating protective potential by humoral response. Our sequential observational studies suggest a beneficial effect of the rs671 variant in SARS-CoV-2 infection via enhanced cellular immune response, providing a potential basis for optimizing preventive measures and drug development.
Phase I Clinical Study of the Subunit Betulin-Adjuvanted Tetravalent Candidate Influenza Vaccine TetraFluBet
Authors: Krasilnikov Igor , Tcymbarevich Irina , Krasheninnikova Anna , Sukhova Maria , Ivanov Aleksandr , Stukova Marina , Romanovskaya-Romanko Ekaterina , Zubkova Tatiana , Mironov Aleksandr , Lioznov Dmitriy
Published: September 2024

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of TetraFluBet, an inactivated subunit influenza vaccine that contains a corpuscular immuno-adjuvant derived from natural betulin. Methods: We conducted a prospective, randomized, open-labeled, single-center, phase I trial. The study was conducted in two stages: 5 volunteers in stage I and 25 volunteers in stage II. Eligible participants received one single dose (20 μg/0.5 mL) of TetraFluBet intramuscularly. Participants were followed for adverse events and reactogenicity. Seroconversion rate, seroprotection level, geometric mean titers (GMTs) of virus-neutralizing antibodies, IFN-γ induction and cell-mediated immunity were assessed. Results: A total of 30 participants were enrolled. No vaccine-related serious adverse events were observed. The proportions of study participants with 4-fold seroconversions assessed by the HI assay (with 95% CIs) were 80.0% (62.7; 90.5), 70.0% (52.1; 83.3), 63.3% (45.5; 78.1) and 73.3% (55.6; 85.8) for influenza virus subtypes A (H1N1), A (H3N2), B1 and B2, respectively. Seroprotection levels (with 95% CIs) were 83.3% (66.4; 92.7), 83.3% (66.4; 92.7), 73.3% (55.6; 85.8) and 66.7% (48.8; 80.8), respectively. The fold increases in the GMTs of virus-neutralizing antibodies for subtype H1N1 was 6.50, for subtype H3N2 was 3.03, for subtype B1 was 3.56 and for subtype B2 was 6.07. The population of cytotoxic T-cells increased significantly in the post-vaccination period, indicating a strong CD3+CD8+ response. Conclusions: TetraFluBet tetravalent inactivated subunit vaccine with adjuvant demonstrated pronounced immunogenic properties, leading to the formation of both specific humoral and cellular immunity at a 20 μg dose.
The Sorption of Antidepressant Pharmaceuticals on Virgin and Aged Microplastics Is Lower than Bioconcentration in Protozoa
Authors: Nałęcz-Jawecki Grzegorz , Giebułtowicz Joanna , Chojnacka Justyna , Pajchel Łukasz , Drobniewska Agata
Published: September 2024

The simultaneous occurrence of various pollutants in the aquatic environment raises questions about their mutual interactions. There is a gap in research on the sorption of polar substances on microplastics. This study aimed to assess the adsorption of the antidepressants sertraline, fluoxetine and duloxetine on microplastic polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate and polyvinyl chloride, each in two versions: virgin and aged. To assess the affinity of the tested drugs for plastic and planktonic organisms, the experiment was conducted in microplastic suspensions and in a mixture of microplastics with the protozoan Spirostomum ambiguum. The Fourier transform infrared technique assessed the identity of microplastics and changes during ageing. No significant differences were found between the sorption of the tested drugs on virgin and aged microplastics. The sorption of sertraline onto microplastics was 1.5–3 times lower in the presence of the protozoa than in samples with microplastics alone. Moreover, its concentration in the protozoan cells was 10–30 times higher than in the microplastics. Considering that the amount of plankton in freshwaters is much greater than that of microplastics, it should be concluded that microplastics have a negligible share in the transport of antidepressants in surface waters.
Институты развития, их эффективность и перстпективы
Authors:   Финансовый университет при Правительстве Российской Федерации, Побываев Сергей
Published: September 2024

Дается определение института развития применительно к отечественным реалиям, а также представляет краткий обзор мирового опыта функционирования институтов развития. Автор указывает, что до недавнего времени российские институты развития демонстрировали невысокую степень эффективности, что обусловило необходимость преобразований в рассматриваемой сфере. Однако реформы не в полной мере решили поставленные задачи, поскольку резко поменялась внешнеполитическая обстановка. Делается вывод, что в основе низкой эффективности лежит недостаточное внимание к соотношению понятий «институт» и «институция». Предлагается перечень мероприятий, имеющих ключевое значение в деле улучшения положения в области институтов развития.
A Qualitative Study on Counterfeit Consumption in Kuwait
Authors: Aldousari Abdullah A.
Published: September 2024

Purpose: This study explores the phenomenon of counterfeit luxury goods consumption in Kuwait, influenced by high disposable incomes, social status importance, and Islamic norms. The research aims to understand the socio-psychological motivations behind purchasing counterfeit luxury products.Study design/methodology/approach: Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and netnography. Semi-structured interviews provided in-depth exploration of participants' experiences, while netnography captured real-time online interactions and discussions.Sample and data: The study involved semi-structured interviews with 21 participants familiar with counterfeit luxury brands, predominantly under 30 years old. Additionally, 372 comments were collected from Instagram for the netnographic analysis to understand consumer behaviors and attitudes.Results: The study reveals that socio-psychological factors significantly impact counterfeit product consumption. Social conformity and public image influence counterfeit luxury consumption in Kuwait. Fashion consciousness and financial considerations, prioritizing visual appeal and cost savings over authenticity, are also highlighted. The hedonic experience associated with buying and using counterfeit products emerged as a significant motivator.Originality/value: This research provides a nuanced understanding of counterfeit consumption within a unique cultural and religious context, contributing to the limited literature on the subject in the Middle East. It offers insights for policymakers and brand managers to develop strategies addressing this issue.Research limitations/implications: The qualitative nature and convenience sampling limit the generalizability of the findings. Future research could expand to include different socio-economic backgrounds for a more comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon.
Social Media and Vaccine Intention: The Case of Kuwait
Authors: Al-Hasan Abrar R.
Published: September 2024

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored our heavy reliance on social media platforms for primary information. Misinformation related to the pandemic has significantly affected behaviors related to vaccine hesitancy and overall business confidence. This study uses the extended Information Motivation Behavior (IMB) model to examine the impact of pandemic-era social media usage on vaccine hesitancy and trust in e-commerce.Study design/methodology/approach: Structural equation modeling is used to assess the extended IMB model. Sample and data: Online survey data from a diverse cross-section of the Kuwaiti population during the pandemic's peak. Results: Findings highlight the substantial influence of factors such as knowledge, motivation, observational learning-driven motivation, behavioral skills, social media usage, engagement, and consumption on vaccine willingness. This, in turn, significantly impacts trust in e-commerce. Notably, social media use, consumption, and engagement have adverse effects on health behavior, with observational learning-driven motivation being the most influential.Originality/value: This study is one of the few empirical studies that examine and test the impact of e-commerce on the Kuwaiti population during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of this study display the shift in consumer behavior during the pandemic.Research limitations/implications: The study emphasizes the importance of accurate vaccine information dissemination on social media to counter misinformation, ultimately fostering an informed society and contributing to e-commerce growth.