bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Triple-Layer Membrane with Hybrid Evaporation and Radiation for Building Cooling
Authors: Mao Mingran , Feng Chunzao , Pei Junxian , Liu Huidong , Jiang Haifeng
Published: March 2023

Passive cooling for thermal comfort improvement has received extensive attention for its low energy consumption. However, most of the existing passive cooling technologies require a complex system design and supporting equipment, since they cool the ambient air. Herein, we propose a hybrid evaporative and radiative cooling membrane with a hygroscopic hydrogel sandwiched by two layers of a porous polyethylene aerogel (PEA). The hydrogel implements evaporative cooling. Combining the high solar reflection of PEA and the high infrared emissivity of hydrogel, this hybrid membrane also possesses radiative cooling. In addition, the high infrared transmittance and low thermal conductivity of PEA allow direct heat transfer between the hydrogel and human body, instead of the ambient air. Through comparative experiments and theoretical calculations, it is indicated that the net cooling power delivered by the hybrid membrane to the human body is up to 78.45 W m−2, which is much higher than that of conventional radiative cooling materials. Outdoor demonstration shows that emission below the hybrid membrane can achieve an average sub-ambient temperature drop of 6 °C, with a maximum of 14 °C, showing great potential for passive building cooling and human personal cooling.
Influence of Molasses on the Explosion and Decomposition Properties of the Coal Dust Deposited in Underground Mines
Authors: Liu Jianguo , Lin Minglei , Jin Longzhe , Li Gang , Ou Shengnan , Wang Yapeng , Wang Tianyang , Jueraiti Mulati , Tian Yunqi , Wang Jiahui
Published: March 2023

Coal dust endangers the health and safety of workers in underground coal mines. Therefore, developing coal dust suppressants with dust prevention and explosion-proof properties is critical. The influence of molasses on the explosion and decomposition of the coal dust deposited in underground mines was investigated using 20 L explosion experiments and thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA). Findings reveal that, first, molasses can weakly promote the explosion of coal dust at low coal dust concentrations (<400 g/m3) but has no significant effect on the explosion at high coal dust concentrations (≥400 g/m3). Second, the decomposition process of the coal dust mixed with molasses has three stages: the moisture evaporation stage (0–150 °C), the molasses decomposition stage (150–300 °C), and the coal dust decomposition stage (300–500 °C). Molasses oxidation consumes oxygen and releases heat; at low coal dust concentrations, the released heat can promote coal dust decomposition to produce combustible gas, enhancing the coal dust explosion; at high coal dust concentrations, under the co-influence of the heat generation and oxygen consumption, molasses has no effect on the coal dust explosion. This is the mechanism of which molasses influences coal dust explosions.
Electrochemical Insight into the Use of Microbial Fuel Cells for Bioelectricity Generation and Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Tabish Asif Nadeem , Farhat Iqra , Irshad Muneeb , Hussain Muhammad Asif , Usman Muhammad , Chaudhary Tariq Nawaz , Fouad Yasser , Raza Sohaib , Ashraf Waqar Muhammad , Krzywanski Jaroslaw
Published: March 2023

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology is anticipated to be a practical alternative to the activated sludge technique for treating domestic and industrial effluents. The relevant literature mainly focuses on developing the systems and materials for maximum power output, whereas understanding the fundamental electrochemical characteristics is inadequate. This experimental study uses a double-chamber MFC having graphite electrodes and an anion-exchange membrane to investigate the electrochemical process limitations and the potential of bioelectricity generation and dairy effluent treatment. The results revealed an 81% reduction in the chemical oxygen demand (COD) in 10 days of cell operation, with an initial COD loading of 4520 mg/L. The third day recorded the highest open circuit voltage of 396 mV, and the maximum power density of 36.39 mW/m2 was achieved at a current density of 0.30 A/m2. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis disclosed that the activation polarization of the aerated cathode was the primary factor causing the cell’s resistance, followed by the ohmic and anodic activation overpotentials.
Evaluating the Chances of Implementing the “Fit for 55” Green Transition Package in the V4 Countries
Authors: Brożyna Jacek , Strielkowski Wadim , Zpěvák Aleš
Published: March 2023

The European Union (EU) is a global leader in renewable energy, and it is working to maintain this position through setting high standards for itself as well as for its member states in this field. Among the goals set for 2030 in Directive (EU) 2018/2001 and changes published on 14 July 2021 is a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (compared to 20% in 2020). The targets for individual countries vary and depend on the current level of development of renewable energy. This article focuses on evaluation of these targets in the Visegrad Group (V4) countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia). These are post-Communist countries that have undergone systemic transformations but still face challenges related to sustainable development in renewable energy. This article analyzes the 2030 goals and the prospects of their implementation. Evaluated criteria include greenhouse gas emissions, the share of renewable energy in energy consumption, energy consumption, energy efficiency, and energy intensity. The analyses in this article are based on a literature review, the current energy situation in each country, European climate and energy targets, comparative analyses, and our own forecasts. Our results show that V4 countries would need to revise their policies and funds allocated for green transformation, which, in turn, might change their projections of the EU climate package targets for 2030. These findings might be useful for the EU stakeholders and policymakers responsible for climate policies and implementing renewable energy targets.
Dynamic State Evaluation Method of Power Transformer Based on Mahalanobis–Taguchi System and Health Index
Authors: Luo Yunhe , Zou Xiaosong , Xiong Wei , Yuan Xufeng , Xu Kui , Xin Yu , Zhang Ruoyu
Published: March 2023

Health status assessment is the key link of transformer-condition-based maintenance. The health status assessment method of power transformers mostly adopts the method based on the health index, which has the problems of multiple parameters of each component and strong subjectivity in the selection of weight value, which is easily causes misjudgment. However, the existing online monitoring system for dissolved gas in transformer oil (DGA) can judge the normal or abnormal state of the transformer according to the gas concentration in a monitoring cycle. Still, there are problems, such as fuzzy evaluation results and inaccurate judgment. This paper proposes a dynamic state evaluation method for power transformers based on the Mahalanobis–Taguchi system. First, the oil chromatography online monitoring time series is used to screen key features using the Mahalanobis–Taguchi system to reduce the problem of excessive parameters of each component. Then, a Mahalanobis distance (MD) calculation is introduced to avoid subjectivity in weight selection. The health index (HI) model of a single transformer is built using the MD calculated from all DGA data of a single transformer. Box–Cox transformation and 3 σ criteria determine the alert value and threshold value of all transformer His. Finally, taking two transformers as examples, we verify that the proposed method can reflect the dynamic changes of transformer operation status and give early warning on time, avoiding the subjectivity of parameter and weight selection in the health index, which easily causes misjudgment and other problems and can provide a decision-making basis for transformer condition-based maintenance strategies.
An Intelligent System for Trading Signal of Cryptocurrency Based on Market Tweets Sentiments
Authors: Leung Man-Fai , Chan Lewis , Hung Wai-Chak , Tsoi Siu-Fung , Lam Chun-Hin , Cheng Yiu-Hang
Published: March 2023

The purpose of this study is to examine the efficacy of an online stock trading platform in enhancing the financial literacy of those with limited financial knowledge. To this end, an intelligent system is proposed which utilizes social media sentiment analysis, price tracker systems, and machine learning techniques to generate cryptocurrency trading signals. The system includes a live price visualization component for displaying cryptocurrency price data and a prediction function that provides both short-term and long-term trading signals based on the sentiment score of the previous day’s cryptocurrency tweets. Additionally, a method for refining the sentiment model result is outlined. The results illustrate that it is feasible to incorporate the Tweets sentiment of cryptocurrencies into the system for generating reliable trading signals.
Peanut Allergenicity: An Insight into Its Mitigation Using Thermomechanical Processing
Authors: Haidar Elissa , Lakkis Jack , Karam Marc , Koubaa Mohamed , Louka Nicolas , Debs Espérance
Published: March 2023

Peanuts are the seeds of a legume crop grown for nuts and oil production. Peanut allergy has gained significant attention as a public health issue due to its increasing prevalence, high rate of sensitization, severity of the corresponding allergic symptoms, cross-reactivity with other food allergens, and lifelong persistence. Given the importance of peanuts in several sectors, and taking into consideration the criticality of their high allergic potential, strategies aiming at mitigating their allergenicity are urgently needed. In this regard, most of the processing methods used to treat peanuts are categorized as either thermal or thermomechanical techniques. The purpose of this review is to provide the reader with an updated outlook of the peanut’s allergens, their mechanisms of action, the processing methods as applied to whole peanuts, as well as a critical insight on their impact on the allergenicity. The methods discussed include boiling, roasting/baking, microwaving, ultrasonication, frying, and high-pressure steaming/autoclaving. Their effectiveness in alleviating the allergenicity, and their capacity in preserving the structural integrity of the treated peanuts, were thoroughly explored. Research data on this matter may open further perspectives for future relevant investigation ultimately aiming at producing hypoallergenic peanuts.
Co-Extraction of Flaxseed Protein and Polysaccharide with a High Emulsifying and Foaming Property: Enrichment through the Sequence Extraction Approach
Authors: Li Kang-Yu , Ye Jie-Ting , Yang Jing , Shao Jia-Qi , Jin Wei-Ping , Zheng Chang , Wan Chu-Yun , Peng Deng-Feng , Deng Qian-Chun
Published: March 2023

A new focus with respect to the extraction of plant protein is that ingredient enrichment should target functionality instead of pursuing purity. Herein, the sequence aqueous extraction method was used to co-enrich five protein-polysaccharide natural fractions from flaxseed meal, and their composition, structure, and functional properties were investigated. The total recovery rate of flaxseed protein obtained by the sequence extraction approach was more than 80%, which was far higher than the existing reports. The defatted flaxseed meal was soaked by deionized water to obtain fraction 1 (supernatant), and the residue was further treated to get fraction 2 (supernatant) and 3 (precipitate) through weak alkali solubilization. Part of the fraction 2 was taken out, followed by adjusting its pH to 4.2. After centrifuging, the albumin-rich supernatant and precipitate with protein content of 73.05% were gained and labeled as fraction 4 and fraction 5. The solubility of fraction 2 and 4 exceeded 90%, and the foaming ability and stability of fraction 5 were 12.76 times and 9.89 times higher than commercial flaxseed protein, respectively. The emulsifying properties of fractions 1, 2, and 5 were all greater than that of commercial sodium caseinate, implying that these fractions could be utilized as high-efficiency emulsifiers. Cryo-SEM results showed that polysaccharides in fractions were beneficial to the formation of network structure and induced the formation of tighter and smoother interfacial layers, which could prevent emulsion flocculation, disproportionation, and coalescence. This study provides a reference to promote the high-value utilization of flaxseed meals.
Food-Evoked Emotions and Optimal Portion Sizes of Meat and Vegetables for Men and Women across Five Familiar Dutch Meals: An Online Study
Authors: Salazar Cobo Maria Isabel , Jager Gerry , de Graaf Cees , Zandstra Elizabeth H.
Published: March 2023

Portion size manipulation is well known to be effective in increasing vegetable intake in adults, whereas less is known about the effects of portion size manipulation on reducing meat intake. This online study investigated the effects of recommended and regularly consumed portion sizes of vegetables and meat in five familiar Dutch meals. Participants evaluated 60 food pictures of five meals and used a 100 mm VAS to measure expected liking, satiety, food-evoked emotions, and the perceived normal portion size. The results show that both regular and recommended portions scored above 55 on the 100 mm VAS on expected liking and satiety. Similarly, both portion sizes scored high (55–70 on the 100 mm VAS) in positive emotions (i.e., happy, relaxed, and satisfied). Regarding the perceived amount of meat, men consistently preferred larger portions of meat than women. However, the optimal portion sizes of vegetables were similar for men and women. Furthermore, the recommended portion sizes led to positive food-evoked emotions, implying that the effective implementation of portion size strategies for increasing vegetable and limiting meat intake requires a careful, holistic approach focusing on the sensory characteristics of food products as well as the emotions evoked by the total food experience.
Functional Ingredients in Minor Grain Crops
Authors: Yang Xiushi , Teng Cong , Zou Liang , Ren Guixing
Published: March 2023

Minor grain crops are generally recognized as less-produced cereal or pseudo-cereal grain crops, excluding the four major grain crops of wheat, rice, corn, and soybean [...]
Amine Infused Fly Ash Grafted Acrylic Acid/Acrylamide Hydrogel for Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Adsorption and Its Kinetic Analysis
Authors: Ghani Siti Musliha Mat , Rabat Nurul Ekmi , Abdul Rahim Abdul Rahman , Johari Khairiraihanna , Siyal Ahmer Ali , Kumeresen Rowin
Published: March 2023

In most carbon dioxide (CO2) capture processes, chemical absorption using an amine solvent is widely used technology; however, the solvent is prone to solvent degradation and solvent loss which leads to the formation of corrosion. This paper investigates the adsorption performance of amine-infused hydrogels (AIFHs) to increase carbon dioxide (CO2) capture by leveraging the potency of amine absorption and adsorption properties of class F fly ash (FA). The solution polymerization method was used to synthesize the FA-grafted acrylic acid/acrylamide hydrogel (FA-AAc/AAm), which was then immersed in monoethanolamine (MEA) to form amine infused hydrogels (AIHs). The prepared FA-AAc/AAm showed dense matrices morphology with no obvious pore at the dry state but capable of capturing up to 0.71 mol/g CO2 at 0.5 wt% FA content, 2 bar pressure, 30 °C reaction temperature, 60 L/min flow rate, and 30 wt% MEA contents. Cumulative adsorption capacity was calculated and Pseudo-first order kinetic model was used to investigate the CO2 adsorption kinetic at different parameters. Remarkably, this FA-AAc/AAm hydrogel is also capable of absorbing liquid activator that was 1000% more than its original weight. FA-AAc/AAm can be used as an alternative AIHs that employ FA waste to capture CO2 and minimize the GHG impact on the environment.
Research Progress in Enzymatically Cross-Linked Hydrogels as Injectable Systems for Bioprinting and Tissue Engineering
Authors: Naranjo-Alcazar Raquel , Bendix Sophie , Groth Thomas , Gallego Ferrer Gloria
Published: March 2023

Hydrogels have been developed for different biomedical applications such as in vitro culture platforms, drug delivery, bioprinting and tissue engineering. Enzymatic cross-linking has many advantages for its ability to form gels in situ while being injected into tissue, which facilitates minimally invasive surgery and adaptation to the shape of the defect. It is a highly biocompatible form of cross-linking, which permits the harmless encapsulation of cytokines and cells in contrast to chemically or photochemically induced cross-linking processes. The enzymatic cross-linking of synthetic and biogenic polymers also opens up their application as bioinks for engineering tissue and tumor models. This review first provides a general overview of the different cross-linking mechanisms, followed by a detailed survey of the enzymatic cross-linking mechanism applied to both natural and synthetic hydrogels. A detailed analysis of their specifications for bioprinting and tissue engineering applications is also included.
Formation of Alginate/Chitosan Interpenetrated Networks Revealed by EPR Spectroscopy
Authors: Joly Jean-Patrick , Aricov Ludmila , Balan George-Alin , Popescu Elena Irina , Mocanu Sorin , Leonties Anca Ruxandra , Matei Iulia , Marque Sylvain R. A. , Ionita Gabriela
Published: March 2023

This study analyzes the physico-chemical properties of interpenetrated polymer networks (IPNs) and semi-IPN resulting from cross-linking chitosan with glutaraldehyde and alginate with Ca2+ cations, as a function of the order in which the cross-linking agents are added to the polymer mixture. Three physico-chemical methods were used to assess the differences between systems: rheology, IR spectroscopy, and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. While rheology and IR spectroscopy are commonly used to characterize gel materials, EPR spectroscopy is rarely used, but has the advantage of providing local information about the dynamics of a system. The rheological parameters, which describe the global behavior of the samples, show that semi-IPN systems have a weaker gel behavior and the order of introducing the cross-linker in the polymer systems plays a role. The IR spectra of samples resulting by adding only Ca2+ or Ca2+ as the first cross-linker are similar to that of the alginate gel, while the spectra of samples in which glutaraldehyde is firstly added resemble the chitosan gel spectrum. Using spin-labeled alginate and spin-labeled chitosan, we monitored the changes occurring in the dynamic of the spin labels due to the formation of IPN and semi-IPN. The results show that the order of adding the cross-linking agents influences the dynamic of the IPN network, and that the formation of the alginate network determines the characteristics of the entire IPN system. The EPR data were correlated with the rheological parameters and IR spectra of the analyzed samples.
Live Birth of a Healthy Child in a Couple with Identical mtDNA Carrying a Pathogenic c.471_477delTTTAAAAinsG Variant in the MOCS2 Gene
Authors: Tofilo Maria , Voronova Natalia , Nigmatullina Leila , Kuznetsova Elena , Timonina Valeria , Efimenko Bogdan , Turgunkhujaev Oybek , Avdeichik Svetlana , Ansar Muhammad , Popadin Konstantin , Kirillova Anastasia , Mazunin Ilya
Published: March 2023

Molybdenum cofactor deficiency type B (MOCODB; #252160) is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder that has only been described in 37 affected patients. In this report, we describe the presence of an in-frame homozygous variant (c.471_477delTTTAAAAinsG) in the MOCS2 gene in an affected child, diagnosed with Ohtahara syndrome according to the clinical manifestations. The analysis of the three-dimensional structure of the protein and the amino acid substitutions suggested the pathogenicity of this mutation. To prevent transmitting this mutation to the next generation, we used preimplantation genetic testing for the monogenic disorders (PGT-M) protocol to select MOCS2 gene mutant-free embryos for transfer in an in vitro fertilization (IVF) program. As a result, a healthy child was born. Interestingly, both parents of the proband shared an identical mitochondrial (mt) DNA control region, assuming their close relationship and thus suggesting that both copies of the nuclear rare variant c.471_477delTTTAAAAinsG may have been transmitted from the same female ancestor. Our estimation of the a priori probability of meeting individuals with the same mtDNA haplotype confirms the assumption of a possible distant maternal relationship among the proband’s direct relatives.
Should Prenatal Chromosomal Microarray Analysis Be Offered for Pulmonary Atresia? A Single-Center Retrospective Study in China
Authors: Wang You , Ma Chunling , Fu Fang , Zhou Hang , Cheng Ken , Huang Ruibin , Li Ru , Li Dongzhi , Liao Can
Published: March 2023

(1) Objective: To evaluate the application of chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) in fetuses with pulmonary atresia (PA) and to explore the risk factors for predicting chromosomal imbalances and adverse perinatal outcomes. (2) Methods: This study investigated 428 cases of PA singleton pregnancies that were tested using CMA and quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR) as first-line genetic testing. The PA cases were divided into two groups: an isolated group and a non-isolated group. (3) Results: CMA revealed clinically relevant copy number variations (CNVs) in 9/139 (6.47%) PA fetuses, i.e., pathogenic copy number variations (pCNVs) in 8/139 (5.76%) fetuses and likely pathogenic CNVs in 1/139 (0.72%) fetuses. Stratified analysis showed that the incidence of clinically significant variants was higher in non-isolated PA fetuses than in isolated PA fetuses (12.50%, 6/48 vs. 3.30%, 3/91, p = 0.036). Regression analysis showed that a combination of other structural abnormalities at diagnosis of PA represented the principal risk factor for chromosomal imbalances (OR = 2.672). A combination of other structural abnormalities and a high maternal age increased the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in PA cases, including intrauterine fetal death (IUFD), termination of pregnancy (TOP), and preterm delivery. (4) Conclusions: The value of CMA for locating imbalanced genetic variations in fetuses with PA was highlighted by this study, particularly when combined with additional structural abnormalities.
Expanding the Chromosomal Evolution Understanding of Lygaeioid True Bugs (Lygaeoidea, Pentatomomorpha, Heteroptera) by Classical and Molecular Cytogenetic Analysis
Authors: Golub Natalia V. , Maryańska-Nadachowska Anna , Anokhin Boris A. , Kuznetsova Valentina G.
Published: March 2023

The Lygaeoidea comprise about 4660 species in 790 genera and 16 families. Using standard chromosome staining and FISH with 18S rDNA and telomeric (TTAGG)n probes, we studied male karyotypes and meiosis in 10 species of Lygaeoidea belonging to eight genera of the families Blissidae, Cymidae, Heterogastridae, Lygaeidae, and Rhyparochromidae. Chromosome numbers were shown to range from 12 to 28, with 2n = 14 being predominant. All species have an XY system and all but one have a pair of m-chromosomes. The exception is Spilostethus saxatilis (Lygaeidae: Lygaeinae); in another species of Lygaeinae, Thunbergia floridulus, m-chromosomes were present, which represents the first finding for this subfamily. All species have an inverted sequence of sex chromosome divisions (“post-reduction”). The 18S rDNA loci were observed on one or both sex chromosomes in Kleidocerys resedae and Th. floridulus, respectively (Lygaeidae), while on an autosomal bivalent in all other species. The rDNA loci tended to be close to the end of the chromosome. Using (TTAGG)n—FISH, we were able to show for the first time that the Lygaeoidea lack the canonical “insect” telomere motif (TTAGG)n. We speculate that this ancestral motif is absent from the entire infraorder Pentatomomorpha being replaced by some other telomere repeat motif sequences.
Design and Outcomes of a Novel Multidisciplinary Ophthalmic Genetics Clinic
Authors: Parekh Bela , Beil Adelyn , Blevins Bridget , Jacobson Adam , Williams Pamela , Innis Jeffrey W. , Barone Pritchard Amanda , Prasov Lev
Published: March 2023

The Multidisciplinary Ophthalmic Genetics Clinic (MOGC) at the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center aims to provide medical and ophthalmic genetics care to patients with inherited ocular conditions. We have developed a clinical and referral workflow where each patient undergoes coordinated evaluation by our multidisciplinary team followed by discussions on diagnosis, prognosis, and genetic testing. Testing approaches are specific to each patient and can be targeted (single-gene, gene panel), broad (chromosomal microarray, whole-exome sequencing), or a combination. We hypothesize that this clinic model improves patient outcomes and quality of care. A retrospective chart review of patients in the MOGC from July 2020 to October 2022 revealed that the most common referral diagnoses were congenital cataracts, optic neuropathy, and microphthalmia, with 52% syndromic cases. Within this patient cohort, we saw a 76% uptake for genetic testing, among which 33% received a diagnostic test result. Our results support a tailored approach to genetic testing for specific conditions. Through case examples, we highlight the power and impact of our clinic. By integrating ophthalmic care with medical genetics and counseling, the MOGC has not only helped solve individual patient diagnostic challenges but has aided the greater population in novel genetic discoveries and research towards targeted therapeutics.
Internal Transcribed Spacer and 16S Amplicon Sequencing Identifies Microbial Species Associated with Asbestos in New Zealand
Authors: Doyle Erin , Blanchon Dan , Wells Sarah , de Lange Peter , Lockhart Pete , Waipara Nick , Manefield Michael , Wallis Shannon , Berry Terri-Ann
Published: March 2023

Inhalation of asbestos fibres can cause lung inflammation and the later development of asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma, and the use of asbestos is banned in many countries. In most countries, large amounts of asbestos exists within building stock, buried in landfills, and in contaminated soil. Mechanical, thermal, and chemical treatment options do exist, but these are expensive, and they are not effective for contaminated soil, where only small numbers of asbestos fibres may be present in a large volume of soil. Research has been underway for the last 20 years into the potential use of microbial action to remove iron and other metal cations from the surface of asbestos fibres to reduce their toxicity. To access sufficient iron for metabolism, many bacteria and fungi produce organic acids, or iron-chelating siderophores, and in a growing number of experiments these have been found to degrade asbestos fibres in vitro. This paper uses the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and 16S amplicon sequencing to investigate the fungal and bacterial diversity found on naturally-occurring asbestos minerals, asbestos-containing building materials, and asbestos-contaminated soils with a view to later selectively culturing promising species, screening them for siderophore production, and testing them with asbestos fibres in vitro. After filtering, 895 ITS and 1265 16S amplicon sequencing variants (ASVs) were detected across the 38 samples, corresponding to a range of fungal, bacteria, cyanobacterial, and lichenized fungal species. Samples from Auckland (North Island, New Zealand) asbestos cement, Auckland asbestos-contaminated soils, and raw asbestos rocks from Kahurangi National Park (South Island, New Zealand) were comprised of very different microbial communities. Five of the fungal species detected in this study are known to produce siderophores.
Precarity and Class Consciousness in Contemporary Swedish Working-Class Literature
Authors: Nilsson Magnus
Published: March 2023

This article analyses aesthetical–political strategies for the promotion of class consciousness among workers in a few examples of contemporary Swedish working-class literature from different genres that describe and criticize precarious working conditions. Special attention is given to how these texts engage in dialogue with the notion of the precariat and to the authors’ use of decidedly literary forms. One important result is that Swedish working-class writers highlight the heterogeneity among those working under precarious conditions while also arguing that they share certain economic conditions, both amongst each other and with members of other groups (especially the traditional working class). Furthermore, it is argued that the use of literary forms (as opposed to, e.g., reportage or documentary) reflects the absence in the precariat of class consciousness, and the authors’ belief that literature can contribute to the creation of such a consciousness.
Painted Wood Climate Risk Analysis by the HERIe Model of Building Protection and Conservation Heating Scenarios in Norwegian Medieval Stone Churches
Authors: Grøntoft Terje , Stoveland Lena P.
Published: March 2023

HERIe was used to model the effect of changes to indoor climate on the risk of humidity-induced mechanical damage (cracking and plastic deformation) to wooden panels painted with stiff gesso in two Norwegian medieval stone churches: Kinn (mean relative humidity (RH, %) = 79%) on the humid west coast, and Ringsaker (mean RH = 49%) in the drier eastern part of the country. The risk involved in moving cultural heritage objects (paint on wood) between the churches and a conservation studio with more “ideal”, stable conditions was also modeled. A hypothetical reduction in RH to ~65% and, proportionally, of the climate fluctuations in Kinn, and an increase in the RH in Ringsaker to a more stable value of ~63% via conservation heating, were found to improve (Kinn) and uphold (Ringsaker) the conformity to relevant standards and significantly reduce the risk of damage, except in the scenario of moving objects from Ringsaker to a conservation studio, when the risk would increase. The use of conservation heating could save ~50% of the heating cost. The estimated risk reductions may be less relevant for objects kept in situ, where cracks in the original paint and gesso have developed historically. They may be more relevant when moving original objects away from their proofed climate into a conservation studio for treatment.
Environmental Decay of Ignimbrite Patrimonial Monuments in the Dry, Urban, and Non-Industrial Atmosphere of Morelia (México)
Authors: Ruiz-Ruiz Rosalia , Alonso-Guzman Elia Mercedes , Martinez-Molina Wilfrido , Chavez-Garcia Hugo Luis , Arreola-Sanchez Mauricio , Borrego-Perez Jorge Alberto , Navarrete-Seras Marco Antonio , Velazquez-Perez Judith Alejandra , Morales-Rosales Luis Alberto
Published: March 2023

Damage to the rocks of historic built heritage needs to be addressed to facilitate their conservation and restoration; the most serious damage is caused by environmental conditions and human activities. Buildings constructed with ignimbrite blocks bonded with lime mortar in Morelia, México, a UNESCO World Heritage site, were studied. The damage mainly occurs in the facades, on the surfaces of the rocks and in the mortar of the union exposed to climatic factors such as sun, rain, wind, and temperature changes, due to the actions of humans and vehicles emitting polluting gases; and due to pigeon excrement. This has caused the formation of patinas and flora, reduced the mechanical strength and exfoliation, decreased the density and cohesion in the mortar with rocks, and led to friction damage caused by people. In the facades of five buildings, the mechanical resistance and microstructural characteristics were indirectly determined by XRD, XRF, and SEM. The results were related to the climate, humans, and vehicular pollutant emissions. The damage was due to the environment, the influencing geographic orientation, and prevailing winds, rising capillary water on the facades, pigeon droppings, vehicular pollutant gases, and humans. Potential banks of healthy quarries were analyzed for use in the conservation and restoration of damaged monuments.
Fruit Quality of Satsuma Mandarins from Neretva Valley and Their Flavonoid and Carotenoid Content
Authors: Maslov Bandić Luna , Vlahoviček-Kahlina Kristina , Sigurnjak Bureš Marija , Sopko Stracenski Katarina , Jalšenjak Nenad , Fruk Goran , Antolković Ana Marija , Jurić Slaven
Published: March 2023

Mandarins are the second most farmed citrus. Consumers demand a mandarin fruit that is both tasty and excellent in quality. The fruit quality, flavonoid profile, antioxidant capacity and total carotenoid content of five varieties (‘Zorica’, ‘Chahara’, ‘Kawano Wase’, ‘Owari’ and ‘Saigon’) of Satsuma mandarins grown in Neretva valley (Croatia) were determined. In this research, the distribution of bioactive compounds was different for mandarin juice, dry pulp residue and dry peels. Dry peels showed higher levels of polyphenolic compounds and antioxidant activity. Total carotenoids were found to be in a greater concentration in dry pulp residue than in the dry peel. The highest levels of total carotenoids (543 μg β-carotene/g) were found in the dry pulp residue of ‘Owari’ and ‘Saigon’, while the lowest levels were in ‘Chahara’ (227.87 μg β-carotene/g). In dry mandarin peels, the highest levels of total carotenoids were in ‘Kawano Wase’ (227.58 μg β-carotene/g), and the lowest levels were in ‘Chahara’ (52.24 μg β-carotene/g). The most abundant component of polymethoxyflavones (PMFs) in mandarin dry peel was nobiletin, ranging from 0.204 mg/g (‘Chahara’) to 0.608 mg/g (‘Saigon’), followed by tangeretin, ranging from 0.133 mg/g (‘Chahara’) to 0.251 mg/g (‘Saigon’), and sinesestin (‘Zorica’), ranging from 0.091 mg/g to 0.353 mg/g (‘Saigon’).
Radon at Kilbourne Hole Maar and Magnetic and Gravimetric Correlations
Authors: Luna-Lucero Michel E. , Sajo-Bohus Laszlo , Lopez Jorge A.
Published: March 2023

Soil radon gas concentrations ranging from the detection limit up to 15 kBq/m3 were measured for the first time at the Kilbourne Hole maar in two selected regions: the first region was located on the western volcanic field, and the second was located inside the crater, near the southern border. Radioactive anomalies were found in association with the pyroclastic deposit, and the corresponding heat map provided information on the radon diffusion direction by the CRn gradient. It was observed for the first time that the anomalies found at the southern border are associated with a known geological fault, in opposition to what was found on the western border. The results provided by a radon activity concentration gradient of above (8 kBq/m3)/15 m suggest the existence of a fault that has not been detected yet. The observation that high levels near a dormant fault are related to tectonically enhanced radon was confirmed. The activity concentrations of Rn-gas were contrasted to existing gravimetric and magnetic data to provide measuring information on radon emanation, suggesting the existence of a high, naturally occurring radioactivity in the soil in the first place or an increased porosity of the locally defined lithology. The results indicated a higher correlation of 85% with magnetic anomalies. This is in opposition to the gravimetric data, which was only 30%. This study is a contribution to the characterization maar of volcanic geology by the soil radon activity index, which was designated as “low” in this case.
One Health for Headaches: A Clinical Scientist Residence Project
Authors: Martelletti Paolo
Published: March 2023

Headaches are non-communicable diseases and have a well-perceived stigma and the greatest personal, biopsychosocial, and occupational burden. The focus of biomedical research has brought attention to certain aspects, such as occupational, educational, and health organization impacts, favoring aspects of therapeutic innovation. These aspects are viable in countries with a high gross domestic product but are less so in countries with a low or average level of development, where dedicated health infrastructures, advanced drugs, and even disease awareness and basic education are lacking. Here, we propose the idea of a One Health project that includes headaches, where the patient is not seen as a single unit but as a high user of public health facilities, a low-efficiency worker, and a citizen with a clear social stigma. This hypothesis of the development of a self-assessment tool is based on seven domains, whose results will be offered for validation and evaluation to stakeholders, scientific societies, research groups, and key opinion leaders, in order to provide a framework of the specific needs per area of intervention (awareness, research, and education, etc.), per geographical area.
“I’m Hooked on e-cycling, I Can Finally Be Active Again”: Perceptions of e-cycling as a Physical Activity Intervention during Breast Cancer Treatment
Authors: Way Kirsty Mollie , Bourne Jessica Elizabeth , Armstrong Miranda Elaine Glynis
Published: March 2023

Electrically-assisted bicycles (e-bikes) are a means through which to increase individual physical activity (PA) and overcome some commonly reported barriers to engaging in conventional cycling. Fatigue is a common side effect to breast cancer treatment, and the rate of PA engagement drops significantly following a breast cancer diagnosis. The aim of this qualitative study was to examine perceptions of e-cycling as a means of increasing PA in this population. Twenty-four participants (mean age = 57.88 (standard deviation 10.8), 100% female) who have had a breast cancer diagnosis, completed two semi-structured interviews via Zoom. One interview was conducted prior to an e-bike taster session and a second, after the session. Taster sessions were conducted by certified cycling instructors in the community. Interviews were conducted between December 2021 and May 2022. Data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically using NVivo 12 software. An inductive and deductive approach to analysis was adopted. Five themes were generated: (1) Perceived role of e-bikes during treatment, (2) The relationship between e-bikes and fatigue, (3) Cancer-specific considerations, (4) Is e-cycling ‘enough’?, and (5) Optimizing the intervention. Negative perceptions of e-bikes noted before the taster session were altered following riding an e-bike. The multiple levels of assistance made cycling manageable and less impacted by fatigue, thereby enabling individuals to re-establish previous cycling habits. E-cycling may be a suitable option to increase PA behavior amongst individuals being treated for breast cancer, with the potential to overcome many of the barriers of conventional cycling. Enabling this population to trial an e-bike elicits positive physical and psychological responses that may help to promote future engagement.
Evaluating Processing Speed and Reaction Time Outcome Measures in Children and Adolescents with Down Syndrome
Authors: Schworer Emily K. , Altaye Mekibib , Fidler Deborah J. , Beebe Dean W. , Wiley Susan , Hoffman Emily K. , Esbensen Anna J.
Published: March 2023

Reliable and valid cognitive outcome measures, including examiner-administered and computer-facilitated assessments of processing speed and reaction time, are necessary for future clinical trials that include individuals with Down syndrome (DS). The current study evaluated the score distributions and psychometric properties of four examiner-administered and three computerized processing speed and reaction time measures. Participants included 97 individuals with DS, aged 6 to 17 (M = 12.6, SD = 3.3). Two examiner-administered measures (Differential Ability Scales-II Rapid Naming and Cat/dog Stroop Congruent) met most predetermined psychometric criteria. Other assessments demonstrated good test-retest reliability and had negligible practice effects but lacked adequate feasibility. Recommendations for using processing speed and reaction time assessments in research and suggestions for modifications of measures are discussed.
Policy Changes in China’s Family Planning: Perspectives of Advocacy Coalitions
Authors: Li Zhichao , Tan Xihan , Liu Bojia
Published: March 2023

Studies on policy change focus on governmental decision-making from a technical rationality perspective, ignoring the fact that policy change is a complicated social construction process involving multiple actors. This study used the modified advocacy coalition framework to explain changes in China’s family planning policy and discourse network analysis to show the debate on the birth control policy among multiple actors (central government, local governments, experts, media, and the public). It found that the dominant coalition and the minority coalition can learn and adjust deep core beliefs from each other; the sharing and flow of actors’ policy beliefs drive change in the network structure; and actors’ obvious preferential attachment when the promulgation of the central document, are all helpful in policy change. This study can explain macro-policy changes from a micro-perspective to reveal the process and mechanism of policy changes in China’s authoritarian regime.
Risk and Resilient Functioning of Families of Children with Cancer during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Gilbert Renee , Bates Carolyn R. , Khetawat Devanshi , Dreyer Gillette Meredith L. , Moore Rachel
Published: March 2023

Previous literature highlights the impact of COVID-19 on family functioning. Less is known about the impact of the pandemic on families of pediatric cancer patients. In order to determine universal and unique risk and resilience factors of these families during the pandemic, a qualitative analysis was conducted on families currently receiving cancer treatment at a Midwestern hospital. Results of the data analysis depict ways in which these families have been impacted by and have adapted to COVID-19. These findings suggest that families of pediatric cancer patients have unique experiences in the context of COVID-19, in addition to universal experiences outlined in previous literature.
Transcriptome Analysis of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Cells Inducibly Expressing MyD88 L265P Mutation Identifies Upregulated CD44, LGALS3, NFKBIZ, and BATF as Downstream Targets of Oncogenic NF-κB Signaling
Authors: Turi Marcello , Anilkumar Sithara Anjana , Hofmanová Lucie , Žihala David , Radhakrishnan Dhwani , Vdovin Alexander , Knápková Sofija , Ševčíková Tereza , Chyra Zuzana , Jelínek Tomáš , Šimíček Michal , Gullà Annamaria , Anderson Kenneth Carl , Hájek Roman , Hrdinka Matouš
Published: March 2023

During innate immune responses, myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88) functions as a critical signaling adaptor protein integrating stimuli from toll-like receptors (TLR) and the interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R) family and translates them into specific cellular outcomes. In B cells, somatic mutations in MyD88 trigger oncogenic NF-κB signaling independent of receptor stimulation, which leads to the development of B-cell malignancies. However, the exact molecular mechanisms and downstream signaling targets remain unresolved. We established an inducible system to introduce MyD88 to lymphoma cell lines and performed transcriptomic analysis (RNA-seq) to identify genes differentially expressed by MyD88 bearing the L265P oncogenic mutation. We show that MyD88L265P activates NF-κB signaling and upregulates genes that might contribute to lymphomagenesis, including CD44, LGALS3 (coding Galectin-3), NFKBIZ (coding IkBƺ), and BATF. Moreover, we demonstrate that CD44 can serve as a marker of the activated B-cell (ABC) subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and that CD44 expression is correlated with overall survival in DLBCL patients. Our results shed new light on the downstream outcomes of MyD88L265P oncogenic signaling that might be involved in cellular transformation and provide novel therapeutical targets.
Correction: La Sala et al. New Fast Acting Glucagon for Recovery from Hypoglycemia, a Life-Threatening Situation: Nasal Powder and Injected Stable Solutions. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22, 10643
Authors: La Sala Lucia , Pontiroli Antonio E.
Published: March 2023

The authors would like to make corrections to the reference citations in the original article [...]
Comprehensive Analysis of bHLH Transcription Factors in Ipomoea aquatica and Its Response to Anthocyanin Biosynthesis
Authors: Liu Zheng , Fu Xiaoai , Xu Hao , Zhang Yuxin , Shi Zhidi , Zhou Guangzhen , Bao Wenlong
Published: March 2023

The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins compose one of the largest transcription factor (TF) families in plants, which play a vital role in regulating plant biological processes including growth and development, stress response, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. Ipomoea aquatica is one of the most important nutrient-rich vegetables. Compared to the common green-stemmed I. aquatica, purple-stemmed I. aquatica has extremely high contents of anthocyanins. However, the information on bHLH genes in I. aquatica and their role in regulating anthocyanin accumulation is still unclear. In this study, we confirmed a total of 157 bHLH genes in the I. aquatica genome, which were classified into 23 subgroups according to their phylogenetic relationship with the bHLH of Arabidopsis thaliana (AtbHLH). Of these, 129 IabHLH genes were unevenly distributed across 15 chromosomes, while 28 IabHLH genes were spread on the scaffolds. Subcellular localization prediction revealed that most IabHLH proteins were localized in the nucleus, while some were in the chloroplast, extracellular space, and endomembrane system. Sequence analysis revealed conserved motif distribution and similar patterns of gene structure within IabHLH genes of the same subfamily. Analysis of gene duplication events indicated that DSD and WGD played a vital role in the IabHLH gene family expansion. Transcriptome analysis showed that the expression levels of 13 IabHLH genes were significantly different between the two varieties. Of these, the IabHLH027 had the highest expression fold change, and its expression level was dramatically higher in purple-stemmed I. aquatica than that in green-stemmed I. aquatica. All upregulated DEGs in purple-stemmed I. aquatica exhibited the same expression trends in both qRT-PCR and RNA-seq. Three downregulated genes including IabHLH142, IabHLH057, and IabHLH043 determined by RNA-seq had opposite expression trends of those detected by qRT-PCR. Analysis of the cis-acting elements in the promoter region of 13 differentially expressed genes indicated that light-responsive elements were the most, followed by phytohormone-responsive elements and stress-responsive elements, while plant growth and development-responsive elements were the least. Taken together, this work provides valuable clues for further exploring IabHLH function and facilitating the breeding of anthocyanin-rich functional varieties of I. aquatica.