bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cytochrome P450 BsCYP99A44 and BsCYP704A177 Confer Metabolic Resistance to ALS Herbicides in Beckmannia syzigachne
Authors: Bai Shuang , Yin Mengjie , Lyu Qinghao , Jiang Bo , Li Lingxu
Published: October 2022

Beckmannia syzigachne is a noxious grassy weed that infests wheat fields in China. Previously, we identified that mesosulfuron-methyl resistance in a B. syzigachne population (R, SD04) was conferred by non-target resistance, such as cytochrome P450 mixed-function oxidases (P450s)-based metabolism. RNA sequencing and real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) were used to discover potential P450s-resistant-related genes. Five cytochrome P450s (CYP704A177, CYP96B84, CYP71D7, CYP93A1, and CYP99A44) were found to be highly expressed in R plants. In this study, CYP99A44 and CYP704A177 were cloned from B. syzigachne and transferred into Arabidopsis thaliana to test the sensitivity of Arabidopsis with and without P450s genes to mesosulfuron-methyl and other acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides. Transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing CYP99A44 became resistant to the sulfonylurea herbicide mesosulfuron-methyl, but showed no resistance to pyroxsulam, imazethapyr, flucarbazone, and bispyribac-sodium. Notably, those overexpressing CYP704A177 showed resistance to pyroxsulam and bispyribac-sodium, but not to mesosulfuron-methyl, imazethapyr, and flucarbazone. These results indicated that B. syzigachne and transgenic Arabidopsis displayed different cross-resistance patterns to ALS-inhibiting herbicides. Subcellular localization revealed that CYP99A44 and CYP704A177 protein were located in the endoplasmic reticulum. Furthermore, these results clearly indicated that CYP99A44-mediated mesosulfuron-methyl resistance in B. syzigachne and CYP704A177 may be involved in B. syzigachne cross-resistance to pyroxsulam and bispyribac-sodium.
Sensitive Determination of Trace 4-Nitrophenol in Ambient Environment Using a Glassy Carbon Electrode Modified with Formamide-Converted Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Materials
Authors: Wang Bing , He Quanguo , Li Guangli , Long Yaohang , Zhang Gongyou , Liu Hongmei , Liu Jun
Published: October 2022

Sensing trace amounts of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) as a harmful substance to organisms even in small quantities is of great importance. The present study includes a sensitive and selective electrochemical sensor for detecting 4-NP in natural water samples using formamide-converted nitrogen-carbon materials (shortened to f-NC) as a new material for electrode modification. The structure and morphology of the f-NC were set apart by SEM, TEM, XRD, XPS, FTIR, Raman, and the electrochemical performance of the f-NC were set apart by CV, EIS and CC. We studied the electrochemical behaviour of 4-NP on the glassy carbon electrode modified with f-NC before and after pyrolysis treatment (denoted as f-NC1/GCE and f-NC2/GCE). In 0.2 M of H2SO4 solution, the f-NC2/GCE has an apparent electrocatalytic activity to reduce 4-NP. Under the optimal conditions, the reduction peak current of 4-NP varies linearly, with its concentration in the range of 0.2 to 100 mM, and the detection limit obtained as 0.02 mM (S/N = 3). In addition, the electrochemical sensor has high selectivity, and the stability is quite good. The preparation and application of the sensor to detect 4-NP in water samples produced satisfactory results, which provides a new method for the simple, sensitive and quantitative detection of 4-NP.
Peroxisome Proliferator FpPEX11 Is Involved in the Development and Pathogenicity in Fusarium pseudograminearum
Authors: Wang Mingyu , Xu Hao , Liu Chunjie , Tao Yilin , Wang Xiaofeng , Liang Yuancun , Zhang Li , Yu Jinfeng
Published: October 2022

Fusarium crown rot (FCR) of wheat, an important soil-borne disease, presents a worsening trend year by year, posing a significant threat to wheat production. Fusarium pseudograminearum cv. b was reported to be the dominant pathogen of FCR in China. Peroxisomes are single-membrane organelles in eukaryotes that are involved in many important biochemical metabolic processes, including fatty acid β-oxidation. PEX11 is important proteins in peroxisome proliferation, while less is known in the fungus F. pseudograminearum. The functions of FpPEX11a, FpPEX11b, and FpPEX11c in F. pseudograminearum were studied using reverse genetics, and the results showed that FpPEX11a and FpPEX11b are involved in the regulation of vegetative growth and asexual reproduction. After deleting FpPEX11a and FpPEX11b, cell wall integrity was impaired, cellular metabolism processes including active oxygen metabolism and fatty acid β-oxidation were significantly blocked, and the production ability of deoxynivalenol (DON) decreased. In addition, the deletion of genes of FpPEX11a and FpPEX11b revealed a strongly decreased expression level of peroxisome-proliferation-associated genes and DON-synthesis-related genes. However, deletion of FpPEX11c did not significantly affect these metabolic processes. Deletion of the three protein-coding genes resulted in reduced pathogenicity of F. pseudograminearum. In summary, FpPEX11a and FpPEX11b play crucial roles in the growth and development, asexual reproduction, pathogenicity, active oxygen accumulation, and fatty acid utilization in F. pseudograminearum.
Conflict between Science and Superstition in Medical Practices
Authors: Uwayezu Donat , Ntigura Eustache , Gatarayiha Agnes , Erem Anna Sarah , Haque Mainul , Majumder Md Anwarul Azim , Razzaque Mohammed S.
Published: October 2022

Superstition is a belief that is not based on scientific knowledge. Traditional healers usually use superstition in their practices to manage human health problems and diseases; such practices create a conflict with the medical profession and its evidence-based practices. Medical professionals confirm that this kind of practice is unsafe as it is performed by untrained people (e.g., traditional healers) utilizing unsterilized instruments within unhygienic environments. Most of the cases eventually develop a variety of complications, which are sometimes fatal. Female genital mutilation, uvulectomy, oral mutilation (tooth bud extraction to cure “Ibyinyo”), and eyebrow incisions are examples of the many different types of superstitious practices which occur commonly in other parts of the world. We describe how these traditional practices of superstition have been and continue to be performed in various parts of the world, their complications on oral and general health, and how such practices hinder modern medical practices and highlight huge inequalities and disparities in healthcare-seeking behavior among different social groups. This paper aims to increase health literacy and awareness of these superstition-driven traditional and potentially harmful practices by promoting the importance of evidence-based medical practices.
Outcomes of Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair in Degenerative vs. Functional Mitral Regurgitation
Authors: Kheifets Mark , Angelini Filippo , D’Ascenzo Fabrizio , Pidello Stefano , Engelstein Haya , Bocchino Pier , Boretto Paolo , Frea Simone , Levi Amos , Vaknin-Assa Hana , Vaturi Mordehay , Shapira Yaron , Kornowski Ran , Perl Leor
Published: October 2022

Current guidelines support the use of transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) for patients with both primary and secondary mitral regurgitation. We aimed to compare the prognoses of TEER in degenerative mitral regurgitation (DMR) vs. functional mitral regurgitation (FMR). A total of 208 consecutive patients who underwent TEER over a ten-year period were analyzed. Primary endpoints included rates of all-cause death and major adverse cardiac events (MACE: composite of all-cause death, hospitalizations for heart failure, mitral valve surgery, or TEER re-intervention). A total of 148 (71%) patients were identified with FMR, while 60 (29%) were identified with DMR. Patients in the FMR group were younger (77.2 ± 8.4 vs. 80.2 ± 7.2, p = 0.02), suffered more frequently from coronary artery disease (54.1% vs. 10.0%, p = 0.02), and atrial fibrillation/flutter (70.9% vs. 38.3%, p = 0.02). Rates of 1-year death (21.6% vs. 10.0%, p = 0.03) and MACE (41.2% vs. 21.7%, p = 0.02) were higher for the FMR group, as compared to the DMR group. After correcting for variables, FMR independently predicted rates of MACE (HR-1.78, 95% CI 1.23–2.48, p = 0.04) and had a non-significant effect on one-year mortality (HR-1.67, 95%CI 0.98–3.74, p = 0.07). In our experience, worse overall 1-year composite MACE outcomes were observed after TEER in patients with FMR as compared to patients with DMR.
Clinical Differences and Outcomes of COVID-19 Associated Pulmonary Thromboembolism in Comparison with Non-COVID-19 Pulmonary Thromboembolism
Authors: de Cossio Santiago , Paredes-Ruiz Diana , Gómez-Cuervo Covadonga , González-Olmedo Jesús , Lalueza Antonio , Revilla Yolanda , Lumbreras Carlos , Díaz-Pedroche Carmen
Published: October 2022

(1) Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has been reported to increase the risk of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). The aim of this study is to elucidate whether Coronavirus disease COVID-19-associated PTE has a different clinical expression than non-COVID-19 PTE due to a different pathophysiology. (2) Methods: retrospective study of PTE episodes conducted at our hospital between January 2019 and December 2020, comparing the group of COVID-19-associated PTE patients with a control group of non-COVID-19 PTE patients. (3) Results: A total of 229 patients with PTE were registered, 79 of whom had COVID-19. Cancer (15.2% vs. 39.3%; p < 0.001), previous surgery (0% vs. 8%; p = 0.01), previous VTE (2.5% vs. 15.3%; p = 0.003), signs and/or symptoms of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) (7.6% vs. 22.7%; p = 0.004) and syncope (1.3% vs. 8.1%; p = 0.035) were less frequent in the COVID-19 group. Central thrombosis was more frequent in the control group (35.3% vs. 13.9%; p = 0.001). No VTE recurrent episodes were observed in the COVID-19 group, whereas four (2.7%) episodes were recorded for the control group. One-month bleeding rate was higher in the COVID-19 group (10.1% vs. 1.3%; p = 0.004). (4) Conclusion: COVID-19-associated PTE has clinical characteristics that differ from those of PTE without COVID-19, including inferior severity and a lower rate of VTE recurrence. Physicians should be aware of the high risk of bleeding in the first month of COVID-19-associated PTE.
Incorporation of Suppression of Tumorigenicity 2 into Random Survival Forests for Enhancing Prediction of Short-Term Prognosis in Community-ACQUIRED Pneumonia
Authors: Zhang Teng , Zeng Yifeng , Lin Runpei , Xue Mingshan , Liu Mingtao , Li Yusi , Zhen Yingjie , Li Ning , Cao Wenhan , Wu Sixiao , Zhu Huiqing , Zhao Qi , Sun Baoqing
Published: October 2022

(1) Background: Biomarker and model development can help physicians adjust the management of patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) by screening for inpatients with a low probability of cure early in their admission; (2) Methods: We conducted a 30-day cohort study of newly admitted adult CAP patients over 20 years of age. Prognosis models to predict the short-term prognosis were developed using random survival forest (RSF) method; (3) Results: A total of 247 adult CAP patients were studied and 208 (84.21%) of them reached clinical stability within 30 days. The soluble form of suppression of tumorigenicity-2 (sST2) was an independent predictor of clinical stability and the addition of sST2 to the prognosis model could improve the performance of the prognosis model. The C-index of the RSF model for predicting clinical stability was 0.8342 (95% CI, 0.8086–0.8598), which is higher than 0.7181 (95% CI, 0.6933–0.7429) of CURB 65 score, 0.8025 (95% CI, 0.7776–8274) of PSI score, and 0.8214 (95% CI, 0.8080–0.8348) of cox regression. In addition, the RSF model was associated with adverse clinical events during hospitalization, ICU admissions, and short-term mortality; (4) Conclusions: The RSF model by incorporating sST2 was more accurate than traditional methods in assessing the short-term prognosis of CAP patients.
Laboratory Measurements of Surface Wave Propagation through Ice Floes in Salt Water
Authors: Orzech Mark , Yu Jie , Wang David , Landry Blake , Zuniga-Zamalloa Carlo , Braithwaite Edward , Trubac Kathryn , Gray Callum
Published: October 2022

Surface waves traversing polar marginal ice zones (MIZs) generate a boundary layer immediately below the ice, similar in some respects to the wave boundary layer created at the seabed in shallow water. The wave–ice boundary layer has not yet been thoroughly measured, but it can significantly affect wave attenuation rates. In December 2021, we conducted a laboratory experiment designed to measure such a boundary layer and the associated attenuation, in which monochromatic waves propagated through broken surface ice in a salt water tank. A particle imaging velocimetry (PIV) instrument array was submerged in the tank and used to visualize the fluid motion under the moving ice. The surface was tracked at multiple locations with acoustic sensors and cameras mounted over the tank. A total of 64 trials were completed, each producing 3–6 s of highly resolved velocity time series and 30–40 s of surface elevation data. Preliminary analysis of the data has provided strong evidence of a boundary layer at the water–ice interface. The wave attenuation rates compare well with existing datasets. The vertical profiles of RMS velocities and wave-induced Reynolds stress have trends similar to the theoretical predictions, while the quantitative discrepancies in terms of numerical values are discussed. This is the first of two such experiments; the second is tentatively scheduled for early 2023.
Threat Utility of the Seaport Risk Factors: Use of Rough Set-Based Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Do Bagus Muhammad Reza , Hanaoka Shinya
Published: October 2022

The threat due to risk factors disrupts supply chain continuity. To ensure supply chain continuity, it is important to understand the interdependency between seaport risk factors and the threat of supply chain disruption, from an economic and risk management perspective. This study understands the threat utility of port-centric supply chain risk disruption (PSCRD). It proposes a rough set-based genetic algorithm model and adopts the hybrid-conjoint analysis concept to generate the threat utility function. It is the sum of the level of disruption by the conditional seaport risk factors influencing the satisfaction of seaport-fulcrum supply chain continuity. It selects Indonesia to illustrate PSCRD empirically. Based on 153 samples of experts’ evaluation, the rough set model highlights 24 conditional seaport risks as central tendency risk factors and classifies them into ten-dimensional threat factors. The results show that the seaport service process threat is the primary source of PSCRD in Indonesia; it reduces utility satisfaction to 32.2%, in the 100% utility estimation. This is followed by the relationship and planning process threats with 28% and 26.6% utilities, respectively. This study presents a framework to analyze PSCRD in relation to utility satisfaction and demonstrates the need for an integrated plan to enhance SSC resilience.
Newspaper Coverage of Government Contracting in the United States: Fueling a Narrative of Distrust and Incompetence
Authors: Alibašić Haris , Atkinson Christopher L.
Published: October 2022

The individual interpretations of purchasing policies weaken fair government purchasing practices. However, this does not fully account for the nature of the media’s coverage of government contracting, taken as a whole. The authors seek to understand better framing in newspaper stories on government procurement, with the government as a force that creates opportunity and fraud. The paper focuses on an area of cognitive uncertainty in understanding portrayals of public procurement in newspaper articles as positive or negative, and, assuming a lack of balance, what interest or group do articles favor in their portrayal of this public function? Sentiment analysis of a corpus of newspaper articles focusing on government contracting was conducted. This analysis suggests that the negative perception of government contracting is reinforced and exacerbated by sensationalized media coverage, a negative impact on the policymaking process and public discourse, and public trust in government results.
The Cardiac Power Index during Abdominal Open Aortic Surgery: Intraoperative Insights into the Cardiac Performance—A Retrospective Observational Analysis
Authors: Nisi Fulvio , Giustiniano Enrico , Meco Massimo , Pugliese Luca , Calabrò Lorenzo , Spano Sofia , Ripani Umberto , Cecconi Maurizio
Published: October 2022

Background: The Cardiac Power Index (CPI) measures the rate of energy output generated by the heart and correlates this with in-hospital mortality due to cardiogenic shock. In open aortic surgery, both aortic clamping and unclamping expose the heart to abrupt variations of the left ventricle afterload, preload, and contractility, with possible hemodynamic impairment. We investigated how aortic-cross clamping (Ao-XC) and unclamping (Ao-UC) procedures affect the CPI during open aortic surgery. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed our surgical database of 67 patients submitted to open surgical aortic repair at Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan. Patients were monitored by an EV1000-FloTrac SystemTM (Edwards Lifescience, Irvine, CA, USA) beyond the standard intra-operative hemodynamic monitoring. The primary outcome was the variation of basal CPI after aortic clamping and unclamping. Secondary outcomes were variations of the cardiac index (CI), mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate, and lactate during aortic clamping and after unclamping. The CPI was computed as: (CI × MAP)/451. Results: The CPI changed significantly after aortic unclamping. CPI: basal = 0.39 ± 0.1 W/m2, after Ao-XC = 0.39 ± 0.1 W/m2, and after Ao-UC = 0.44 ± 0.2 W/m2, p < 0.05. The CI changed during both cross-clamping and unclamping (p < 0.0001), whilst the MAP and heart rate did not during any phase of the surgery. Five subjects (8.3%) needed inotropic support after cross-clamping. Their basal CPI was lower than the general population: 0.31 ± 0.11 W/m2 vs. 0.39 ± 0.1 W/m2. Conclusions: The CPI describes the adaptation of the cardiac function to the changes in preload, contractility, and afterload occurring during aortic cross-clamping and unclamping. It may be used to explore the cardiac performance in real-time and predict cardiac impairment in the intraoperative period in a minimally invasive way, similar to ventriculo-arterial coupling parameters.
Differences in Visual Attraction between Historical Garden and Urban Park Walking Scenes
Authors: Li Chang , Huang Xiaohui
Published: October 2022

Previous studies on visual perception and landscape element preference have mainly focused on urban green spaces such as parks and forests; the visual attraction potential of historical gardens has been less explored. Based on the analysis framework of the visual landscape experience, this study employed normalized eye-tracking data and preference questionnaires to compare the difference in visual attraction of typical walking scenes between historical gardens and urban parks. The results showed that in terms of landscape elements, the variation fluctuation of the fixation time on various landscape elements by participants viewing historical garden walking scenes (HGWSs) was less than for urban park walking scenes (UPWSs). Additionally, the visual perception scores of the former (i.e., fascinating, coherent, complex, and mysterious) were higher than the latter. In terms of the visual attention area, the visual exploration of HGWSs around the scene (i.e., top, bottom, left, and right) was longer than for UPWSs, while the latter’s central fixation time was longer than that of the former. The visual attraction of HGWSs was related to the foreground and middle ground, while that of UPWSs was related to the middle ground and background. Additionally, for policy makers and managers of urban green spaces, the recommendation of the present study was to consider and evaluate the differences between HGWSs and UPWSs in terms of visual attraction before policy establishment.
Evolutionary Game Analysis for Grassland Degradation Management, Considering the Livelihood Differentiation of Herders
Authors: Sun Yong , Du Hongyan , Liu Baoyin , Kanchanaroek Yingluck , Zhang Junfeng , Zhang Pei
Published: October 2022

Grassland degradation has become one of the most important ecological and environmental problems in the world, affecting the ecological balance of grassland and the welfare of residents. To reveal the impact mechanism of herders’ livelihood constraints on grassland degradation, and to explore the comprehensive management methods to ensure herders’ livelihoods and grassland ecological restoration, this paper constructed an evolutionary game model considering local governments and herders. It is found that the ideal stable equilibrium game can be achieved when certain conditions are met, that is, when the local governments actively regulate and herders moderate grazing, the grassland degradation caused by overgrazing can be reduced. The livelihood differentiation of herders significantly affects the stable equilibrium state of the evolutionary game. The local government’s regulation is the key to promoting moderate grazing of herders. The effect of incentive measures on the moderate grazing of herders is limited, while punishment measures can significantly restrict the excessive grazing behavior of herders. Policy support for household livelihood differentiation can effectively motivate herders to moderate grazing and achieve their survival and development needs to a greater extent through a non-grazing livelihood. The research results help decision-makers to formulate policies to combat grassland degradation, and promote the improvement of herders’ lives.
Human Retrotransposons and Effective Computational Detection Methods for Next-Generation Sequencing Data
Authors: Lee Haeun , Min Jun Won , Mun Seyoung , Han Kyudong
Published: October 2022

Transposable elements (TEs) are classified into two classes according to their mobilization mechanism. Compared to DNA transposons that move by the “cut and paste” mechanism, retrotransposons mobilize via the “copy and paste” method. They have been an essential research topic because some of the active elements, such as Long interspersed element 1 (LINE-1), Alu, and SVA elements, have contributed to the genetic diversity of primates beyond humans. In addition, they can cause genetic disorders by altering gene expression and generating structural variations (SVs). The development and rapid technological advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS) have led to new perspectives on detecting retrotransposon-mediated SVs, especially insertions. Moreover, various computational methods have been developed based on NGS data to precisely detect the insertions and deletions in the human genome. Therefore, this review discusses details about the recently studied and utilized NGS technologies and the effective computational approaches for discovering retrotransposons through it. The final part covers a diverse range of computational methods for detecting retrotransposon insertions with human NGS data. This review will give researchers insights into understanding the TEs and how to investigate them and find connections with research interests.
Monkeypox: An Emerging Global Public Health Emergency
Authors: Jeyaraman Madhan , Selvaraj Preethi , Halesh Manjunatha Budihal , Jeyaraman Naveen , Nallakumarasamy Arulkumar , Gupta Manu , Maffulli Nicola , Gupta Ashim
Published: October 2022

The virus causing monkeypox, a rare zoonotic viral disease, belongs to the Poxviridae family and the Orthopoxvirus genus. On 23 July 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the monkeypox outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). From May to July 2022, a multi-country outbreak of monkeypox was reported in both endemic and non-endemic regions. Major goals of managing monkeypox are to identify the suspected cases, detect generic orthopoxvirus DNA at a state or commercial laboratory, and establish the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention real-time polymerase chain reaction testing. Currently, there are no approved treatments for monkeypox virus infection. However, a variety of antiviral medications originally designed for the treatment of smallpox and other viral infections could be considered. Pre-exposure prophylaxis for laboratory and health care employees and post-exposure prophylaxis for individuals with high-risk or intermediate-risk exposures are to be considered. The CDC Emergency Operations Center is available for advice on the appropriate use of medical countermeasures, and can help in obtaining antiviral drugs and vaccines from the National Strategic Stockpile. This review gives an overview of the global scenario, clinical presentation, and management of monkeypox in the light of a global public health emergency.
Fly Ash-Based Geopolymer Composites: A Review of the Compressive Strength and Microstructure Analysis
Authors: Qaidi Shaker , Najm Hadee Mohammed , Abed Suhad M. , Ahmed Hemn U. , Al Dughaishi Husam , Al Lawati Jawad , Sabri Mohanad Muayad , Alkhatib Fadi , Milad Abdalrhman
Published: October 2022

Geopolymer (GP) concrete is a novel construction material that can be used in place of traditional Portland cement (PC) concrete to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and effectively manage industrial waste. Fly ash (FA) has long been utilized as a key constituent in GPs, and GP technology provides an environmentally benign alternative to FA utilization. As a result, a thorough examination of GP concrete manufactured using FA as a precursor (FA-GP concrete) and employed as a replacement for conventional concrete has become crucial. According to the findings of current investigations, FA-GP concrete has equal or superior mechanical and physical characteristics compared to PC concrete. This article reviews the clean production, mix design, compressive strength (CS), and microstructure (Ms) analyses of the FA-GP concrete to collect and publish the most recent information and data on FA-GP concrete. In addition, this paper shall attempt to develop a comprehensive database based on the previous research study that expounds on the impact of substantial aspects such as physio-chemical characteristics of precursors, mixes, curing, additives, and chemical activation on the CS of FA-GP concrete. The purpose of this work is to give viewers a greater knowledge of the consequences and uses of using FA as a precursor to making effective GP concrete.
Mater-Bi/Brewers’ Spent Grain Biocomposites—Novel Approach to Plant-Based Waste Filler Treatment by Highly Efficient Thermomechanical and Chemical Methods
Authors: Hejna Aleksander , Barczewski Mateusz , Kosmela Paulina , Mysiukiewicz Olga , Sulima Paweł , Przyborowski Jerzy Andrzej , Kowalkowska-Zedler Daria
Published: October 2022

Thermoplastic starch (TPS) is a homogenous material prepared from native starch and water or other plasticizers subjected to mixing at a temperature exceeding starch gelatinization temperature. It shows major drawbacks like high moisture sensitivity, poor mechanical properties, and thermal stability. To overcome these drawbacks without significant cost increase, TPS could be blended with bio-based or biodegradable polymers and filled with plant-based fillers, beneficially waste-based, like brewers’ spent grain (BSG), the main brewing by-product. Filler modifications are often required to enhance the compatibility of such composites. Herein, we investigated the impact of BSG thermomechanical and chemical treatments on the structure, physical, thermal, and rheological performance of Mater-Bi-based composites. Thermomechanical modifications enhanced matrix thermal stability under oxidative conditions delaying degradation onset by 33 °C. Moreover, BSG enhanced the crystallization of the polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) fraction of Mater-Bi, potentially improving mechanical properties and shortening processing time. BSG chemical treatment with isophorone diisocyanate improved the processing properties of the composites, expressed by a 33% rise in melt flow index. Depending on the waste filler’s selected treatment, processing, and rheological performance, thermal stability or interfacial adhesion of composites could be enhanced. Moreover, the appearance of the final materials could be adjusted by filler selection.
Working from Home and the Division of Childcare and Housework among Dual-Earner Parents during the Pandemic in the UK
Authors: Chung Heejung , Seo Hyojin , Birkett Holly , Forbes Sarah
Published: October 2022

This paper examines whether the expansion of working from home led to a more equal division of domestic work during the pandemic. We use unique data of dual-earner heterosexual couples gathered during the first lockdown in the UK when workers were required to work from home by law. Results reveal that mothers were likely to be carrying out a larger share of domestic work both before and during the lockdown. When fathers worked from home, compared to those going into work, a more equitable division was found for cleaning and routine childcare. Furthermore, homeworking fathers were up to 3.5 times more likely to report that they increased the time they spent on childcare during the lockdown compared to before. However, we also found evidence of homeworking mothers having increased their time spent on domestic work, and doing a larger share of routine childcare, compared to mothers going into work. Overall, the study shows that when working from home is normalised through law and practice, it may better enable men to engage more in domestic work, which can in turn better support women’s labour market participation. However, without significant changes to our work cultures and gender norms, homeworking still has the potential to enable or maintain a traditional division of labour, further exacerbating gender inequality patterns both at home and in the labour market.
Targeting Both Autophagy and Immunotherapy in Breast Cancer Treatment
Authors: Giannopoulos Spyridon , Bozkus Cansu Cimen , Zografos Eleni , Athanasiou Aikaterini , Bongiovanni Ann Marie , Doulaveris Georgios , Bakoyiannis Chris N. , Theodoropoulos Georgios E. , Zografos Georgios C. , Witkin Steven S. , Orfanelli Theofano
Published: October 2022

As clinical efforts towards breast-conserving therapy and prolonging survival of those with metastatic breast cancer increase, innovative approaches with the use of biologics are on the rise. Two areas of current focus are cancer immunotherapy and autophagy, both of which have been well-studied independently but have recently been shown to have intertwining roles in cancer. An increased understanding of their interactions could provide new insights that result in novel diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic strategies. In this breast cancer-focused review, we explore the interactions between autophagy and two clinically relevant immune checkpoint pathways; the programmed cell death-1 receptor with its ligand (PD-L1)/PD-1 and the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4)/CD80 and CD86 (B7-1 and B7-2). Furthermore, we discuss emerging preclinical and clinical data supporting targeting both immunotherapy and autophagy pathway manipulation as a promising approach in the treatment of breast cancer.
Structure Design and Working Characteristics Analysis of Direct-Drive Giant Magnetostrictive Injector
Authors: Zhou Zhaoqi , He Zhongbo , Xue Guangming , Zhou Jingtao , Rong Ce , Liu Guoping
Published: October 2022

At present, the research of electronically controlled injectors is mostly limited to the non-direct drive structure. Although the research on the direct drive structure is involved, it mostly stays in the conceptual machine or simulation stage. In this paper, based on the direct-drive structure, the giant magnetostrictive material is used as the energy conversion material, the prototype of the direct-drive giant magnetostrictive fuel injector is designed and manufactured, and the experimental test system and AMESim simulation model are built. By means of experiment and simulation, the injection characteristics of Giant magnetostrictive injector (GMI) are tested. It is found that the minimum single injection quantity of GMI is 5.9 mm3 under the condition of 30 MPa rail pressure, which shows high injection accuracy. The experimental results are in good agreement with the simulation results under different driving pulse widths and voltages. When the driving pulse width is not less than 650 µs, the relative errors are all less than 5%, which verifies the effectiveness of the simulation model. The injection performance of GMI is analyzed. The results show that this injector has a stable injection performance, fast response speed (the shortest injection pulse width is about 200 µs), and the injection process can be completed five times in 5 ms.
3D Scaffolds Fabrication via Bicomponent Microgels Assembly: Process Optimization and In Vitro Characterization
Authors: Cruz-Maya Iriczalli , Guarino Vincenzo
Published: October 2022

In the last decade, different technological approaches have been proposed for the fabrication of 3D models suitable to evaluate in vitro cell response. Among them, electro fluid dynamic atomization (EFDA) belonging to the family of electro-assisted technologies allows for the dropping of polysaccharides and/or proteins solutions to produce micro-scaled hydrogels or microgels with the peculiar features of hydrogel-like materials (i.e., biocompatibility, wettability, swelling). In this work, a method to fabricate 3D scaffolds by the assembly of bicomponent microgels made of sodium alginate and gelatin was proposed. As first step, optical and scanning electron microscopy with the support of image analysis enabled to explore the basic properties of single blocks in terms of correlation between particle morphology and process parameters (i.e., voltage, flow rate, electrode gap, and needle diameter). Chemical analysis via ninhydrin essays and FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of gelatin, mostly retained by physical interactions into the alginate network mediated by electrostatic forces. In vitro tests confirmed the effect of biochemical signals exerted by the protein on the biological response of hMSCs cultured onto the microgels surface. Hence, it is concluded that alginate/gelatin microgels assemblies can efficiently work as 3D scaffolds able to support in vitro cells functions, thus providing a friendly microenvironment to investigate in vitro cell interactions.
Simulation and Printing of Microdroplets Using Straight Electrode-Based Electrohydrodynamic Jet for Flexible Substrate
Authors: Wang Dazhi , Abbas Zeshan , Lu Liangkun , Liu Chang , Zhang Jie , Pu Changchang , Li Yikang , Yin Penghe , Zhang Xi , Liang Junsheng
Published: October 2022

Electrohydrodynamic jet (e-jet) printing is a modern and decent fabrication method widely used to print high-resolution versatile microstructures with features down to 10 μm. It is currently difficult to break nanoscale resolution (<100 nm) due to limitations of fluid properties, voltage variations, and needle shapes. This paper presents developments in drop-on-demand e-jet printing based on a phase-field method using a novel combined needle and straight electrode to print on a flexible PET substrate. Initially, the simulation was performed to form a stable cone jet by coupling an innovative straight electrode parallel to a combined needle that directs the generation of droplets at optimized parameters, such as f = 8.6 × 10−10 m3s−1, Vn = 9.0 kV, and Vs = 4.5 kV. Subsequently, printing experiments were performed using optimized processing parameters and all similar simulation conditions. Microdroplets smaller than 13 μm were directly printed on PET substrate. The model is considered unique and powerful for printing versatile microstructures on polymeric substrates. The presented method is useful for MEMS technology to fabricate various devices, such as accelerometers, smartphones, gyroscopes, sensors, and actuators.
Mineralization of MVT Pb-Zn Deposits in the Process of Hydrocarbon Accumulation and Destruction in the Strong Structural Deformation Area of Eastern Sichuan, South China
Authors: He Zhiliang , Gao Jian , Li Shuangjian , He Sheng
Published: October 2022

The Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) Pb-Zn deposits and hydrocarbon reservoirs coexist around the margin of the eastern Sichuan basin. This study examined the fluid inclusions, Sr isotope and systematic Rb-Sr, Sm-Nd geochronology for the distinct ore and gangue minerals of four orebodies from two MVT Pb-Zn deposits in the margin of the eastern Sichuan basin, combined with the existing research foundation of oil and gas accumulation and evolution, which was designed to understand the internal relationship between oil and gas accumulation and the involvement of organic matter in metal mineralization. High-density methane, moderate temperature, and salinity inclusions were discovered in the studied MVT Pb-Zn deposits, combined with relatively higher 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.71088~0.714749), indicating that the ore-forming fluids were derived largely from the hydrocarbon associated basinal brines. Rb-Sr isochron of paragenetic sphalerites and pyrites and Sm-Nd isochron of paragenetic fluorites and calcite from the studied MVT Pb-Zn deposits define isochron ages of 144.5 Ma~138.5 Ma, and 147.6 Ma, respectively, indicating that the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous Yanshanian orogeny was an important metallogenic event in the margin of the eastern Sichuan basin. The close temporal and spatial relationship between the MVT mineralization and hydrocarbon accumulation and destruction in the strong structural deformation area of the margin of the eastern Sichuan basin allows us to propose a possible model in which the Yanshanian compressional tectonics drove a large-scale flow of metal- and sulfate- bearing basinal fluids passed under or through methane-bearing carbonate reservoirs, resulting in the MVT mineralization and hydrocarbon accumulation and destruction.
Wellbeing at Work—Emotional Impact on Workers Using a Worker Guidance System Designed for Positive User Experience
Authors: Laib Magdalena , Haspel Christina , Stockinger Christopher , Polanski-Schräder Lucas , Dücker Philipp , Voll Kristian , Schiffrer Patrizia , Burmester Michael
Published: October 2022

Wellbeing at work can be achieved through different strategies; designing for a positive user experience (UX) is one way. However, the relationship between wellbeing and professionally used technology is rather unexplored, especially in work areas that are far from desktop work such as worker guidance systems (WGSs) used in assembly processes. In this paper, we first described a qualitative evaluation (using the valence method) of a prototype WGS designed for a positive UX. The evaluation showed that it elicited far more positive than negative feelings. Based on the results, we improved and redesigned the prototype. We then implemented it in a realistic setting and quantitatively compared it with an established WGS. It was shown that the prototype elicited more positive feelings than the established system, whereas there were no differences in the number of negative markers. Thus, one can assume that the improvement of UX in the redesigned system was due to the positive UX design concepts. However, there were no significant differences in the mood questionnaires. The paper showed that positive experiences at work can be achieved when the design of professional technology is focused on a positive UX. Long-term studies should further investigate whether these experiences lead to a generally elevated mood.
Nanomaterials in Drug Delivery Applications
Authors: Moreira André Ferreira
Published: October 2022

The “magic bullet” concept paved the way for nanomaterials’ development and innovation [...]
Application of SERS in the Detection of Fungi, Bacteria and Viruses
Authors: Xia Jiarui , Li Wenwen , Sun Mengtao , Wang Huiting
Published: October 2022

In this review, we report the recent advances of SERS in fungi, bacteria, and viruses. Firstly, we briefly introduce the advantage of SERS over fluorescence on virus identification and detection. Secondly, we review the feasibility analysis of Raman/SERS spectrum analysis, identification, and fungal detection on SERS substrates of various nanostructures with a signal amplification mechanism. Thirdly, we focus on SERS spectra for nucleic acid, pathogens for the detection of viruses and bacteria, and furthermore introduce SERS-based microdevices, including SERS-based microfluidic devices, and three-dimensional nanostructured plasmonic substrates.
Impact of Sizes of Servings, Glasses and Bottles on Alcohol Consumption: A Narrative Review
Authors: Mantzari Eleni , Marteau Theresa M
Published: October 2022

This review summarises the evidence on the impact of serving and container size on how much people drink, interventions that have the potential to reduce alcohol consumption across populations, thereby improving health. A rapid search identified 10 published reports of 15 studies and 1 review. Four studies focused on serving size, eight studies and the review on glass size, two studies on bottle size and one on both glass and bottle size. Twelve studies and the review focused on wine, one study on beer and two on both. All were conducted in England, by just two research groups. Removing the largest serving size of wine decreased wine sales by 7.6% (95% CI −12.3%, −2.9%) in a study in 21 licenced premises, reflecting findings from two prior studies in semi-naturalistic settings. Adding a serving size for beer that was a size smaller than the largest was assessed in one study in 13 licenced premises, with no evident effect. Reducing the size of wine glasses in restaurants decreased wine sales by 7.3% (95% CI −13.5%, −1.5%) in a mega-analysis of eight datasets from studies in five licensed premises. Using smaller wine glasses at home may also reduce consumption, but the evidence from just one study is less certain. No studies have assessed the impact of glass size for drinking beer. The effect of bottles smaller than the standard 750 mL on wine consumed at home was assessed in two studies: 500 mL bottles reduced consumption by 4.5% (95% CI −7.9%, −1.0%) in one study, but in another, using 375 mL bottles there was no evident effect. No studies assessed the impact of bottle or other container size for drinking beer. Reducing the size of servings, glasses and bottles could reduce wine consumption across populations. The impact of similar interventions for reducing consumption of other alcoholic drinks awaits evaluation. Further studies are also warranted to assess the generalisability of existing evidence.
Natural Products for Liver Cancer Treatment: From Traditional Medicine to Modern Drug Discovery
Authors: Kim Da Bin , Lee Do Kyeong , Cheon Chunhoo , Ribeiro Rosy Iara Maciel A. , Kim Bonglee
Published: October 2022

Primary liver cancer was the seventh most diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death with about 906,000 cases and 830,000 deaths, respectively, in 2020. Conventional treatment for liver cancer, such as transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) or sorafenib, has limitations in that there is the recurrence of cancer, drug inefficacy, and adverse effects. Traditional medicine and natural products of several regions including Korea, China, Europe, North America, India, and the Middle East have attracted a lot of attention since they have been reported to have anticancer effects with low adverse effects. In this review, several in vivo studies on the effects of natural compounds on liver cancer and clinical trials approving their therapeutic benefits were selected and discussed. As a result of the analysis of these studies, the effects of natural compounds were classified into a few mechanisms: apoptosis, anti-metastasis, and antiangiogenesis. In addition, medications including natural products in clinical trials were observed to exhibit improvements in various liver cancer symptoms and patients’ survival rates. This study presents findings suggestive of the anticancer potential of natural products and their properties in relieving related symptoms.
Effects of Dietary Supplementation with Carrot-Derived Rhamnogalacturonan-I (cRG-I) on Accelerated Protective Immune Responses and Quality of Life in Healthy Volunteers Challenged with Rhinovirus in a Randomized Trial
Authors: McKay Sue , Teitsma-Jansen Annemarie , Floris Esther , Dekker Tamara , Smids Barbara , Khurshid Ridha , Calame Wim , Kardinaal Alwine , Lutter René , Albers Ruud
Published: October 2022

An adequate and balanced supply of nutrients is essential for maintaining health, and an optimal immune response is fast, contained and properly controlled, curbing infections quickly while minimizing damage. Several micronutrients contribute to normal immune function and certain dietary fibers, for example pectic polysaccharides, can play an important role in educating and regulating immune cell responses. The aim of this paper is to elaborate on our initial findings that dietary supplementation with carrot-derived rhamnogalacturonan-I (cRG-I) accelerates and augments local innate immune and anti-viral interferon response to a rhinovirus-16 (RV16) infection and reduces the severity and duration of symptoms in humans. Dietary intake of cRG-I also enhanced immune responses to this respiratory viral infection as measured by ex vivo stimulation of whole blood with the Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) ligand polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid and NK cell function. Consumption of cRG-I also reduced the negative effects of this common cold infection on quality of life as assessed by individual symptom scores. RG-I from carrot is a safe, sustainable, and economically viable solution that could easily be integrated into food products and dietary supplements aiming to support immune fitness and wellbeing.
The Effects of a Multi-Component School-Based Nutrition Education Intervention on Children’s Determinants of Fruit and Vegetable Intake
Authors: Hahnraths Marla T. H. , Jansen Jorieke P. M. , Winkens Bjorn , van Schayck Onno C. P.
Published: October 2022

Evidence suggests that multi-component school-based health-promoting interventions have great potential to improve children’s fruit and vegetable intake. However, interventions that combine classroom-based curricula with experiential learning strategies (e.g., cooking) are relatively seldom described. This study investigates the short-term and longer-term effects of a multi-component school-based nutrition education intervention combining classroom-based and experiential learning strategies on children’s determinants of their fruit and vegetable intake (knowledge, taste preferences, attitudes, and intention). Using a comparative quasi-experimental study design, data were collected, via child-reported questionnaires, at the baseline, directly after the intervention, and three months after the intervention from 4 control and 15 intervention classes from Dutch primary schools. A total of 192 children in grades three and four (aged 8–10 years) constituted the participants. After correction for the baseline, sex, age, and the fruit or vegetable product assessed in the questionnaire; the intervention group showed a significant increase in knowledge (p = 0.001; standardized effect size (ES = 0.60), taste preference (p = 0.002; ES = 0.52), attitude towards the assessed fruit or vegetable product (p = 0.004; ES = 0.48), and general attitude towards healthy products (p = 0.01; ES = 0.39) over the short term, when compared to the control group. The effects of the intervention did not continue to be significant over the longer term. The findings implicate short-term intervention success, although more research and intervention adaptations are recommended to increase the impact of such programs, especially over the long term.