bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Circulating microRNAs Showed Specific Responses according to Metabolic Syndrome Components and Sex of Adults from a Population-Based Study
Authors: Brandão-Lima Paula N. , de Carvalho Gabrielli B. , Payolla Tanyara B. , Sarti Flávia M. , Fisberg Regina M. , Malcomson Fiona C. , Mathers John C. , Rogero Marcelo M.
Published: December 2022

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate several metabolic pathways and are potential biomarkers for early risk prediction of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Our aim was to evaluate the levels of 21 miRNAs in plasma according to MetS components and sex in adults. We employed a cross-sectional study of 192 adults aged 20 to 59 years old from the 2015 Health Survey of São Paulo with Focus in Nutrition. Data showed reduced levels of miR-16 and miR-363 in women with MetS; however, men with one or more risk factors showed higher levels of miR-let-7c and miR-30a. Individuals with raised waist circumference showed higher levels of miR-let-7c, miR-122, miR-30a, miR-146a, miR-15a, miR-30d and miR-222. Individuals with raised blood pressure had higher miR-30a, miR-122 and miR-30a levels. Plasma levels of four miRNAs (miR-16, miR-363, miR-375 and miR-486) were lower in individuals with low HDL-cholesterol concentrations. In addition, plasma levels of five miRNAs (miR-122, miR-139, miR-let-7c, miR-126 and miR-30a) were increased in individuals with high fasting plasma glucose and/or insulin resistance. Our results suggest that the pattern of miRNA levels in plasma may be a useful early biomarker of cardiometabolic components of MetS and highlight the sex differences in the plasma levels of miRNAs in individuals with MetS.
Hydration of Camphene over PW-SBA-15-SO3H
Authors: Castanheiro José
Published: December 2022

The hydration of camphene was carried out over SBA-15 with sulfonic acid groups and tungstophosphoric acid at 50 °C. The main product of camphene hydration was isoborneol, with camphene hydrate and borneol as byproducts. The catalytic activity increased with the amount of tungstophosforic acid (PW) immobilized on the silica support until a maximum, which was obtained with the PW4-SBA-15-SO3H material (16.4 wt.%). When the amount of PW immobilized on SBA-15 increased (PW5-SBA-15-SO3H, 21.2 wt.%), the catalytic activity decreased. The catalytic activity of PW4-SBA-15-SO3H increased with the water content of the solvent, until a maximum was reached with 50% water. With higher water concentrations, a decrease in the catalytic activity was observed. The selectivity to isoborneol was 90% at 99% camphene conversion in the presence of the PW4-SBA-15-SO3H catalyst. The catalytic stability of the PW4-SBA-15-SO3H material during camphene hydration was studied by performing consecutive batch runs with the same catalyst sample. After the third run, a trend towards stabilized catalytic activity was observed. A kinetic model is also proposed.
Quality by Design Approach in Liposomal Formulations: Robust Product Development
Authors: Alshaer Walhan , Nsairat Hamdi , Lafi Zainab , Hourani Omar M. , Al-Kadash Abdulfattah , Esawi Ezaldeen , Alkilany Alaaldin M.
Published: December 2022

Nanomedicine is an emerging field with continuous growth and differentiation. Liposomal formulations are a major platform in nanomedicine, with more than fifteen FDA-approved liposomal products in the market. However, as is the case for other types of nanoparticle-based delivery systems, liposomal formulations and manufacturing is intrinsically complex and associated with a set of dependent and independent variables, rendering experiential optimization a tedious process in general. Quality by design (QbD) is a powerful approach that can be applied in such complex systems to facilitate product development and ensure reproducible manufacturing processes, which are an essential pre-requisite for efficient and safe therapeutics. Input variables (related to materials, processes and experiment design) and the quality attributes for the final liposomal product should follow a systematic and planned experimental design to identify critical variables and optimal formulations/processes, where these elements are subjected to risk assessment. This review discusses the current practices that employ QbD in developing liposomal-based nano-pharmaceuticals.
Nanocarriers in Veterinary Medicine: A Challenge for Improving Osteosarcoma Conventional Treatments
Authors: Sapino Simona , Chindamo Giulia , Chirio Daniela , Morel Silvia , Peira Elena , Vercelli Cristina , Gallarate Marina
Published: December 2022

In recent years, several nanocarrier-based drug delivery systems, such as polymeric nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles, metallic nanoparticles, liposomes, and others, have been explored to target and treat a wide variety of diseases. Their employment has brought many benefits, not only to human medicine but also to veterinary medicine, albeit at a slower rate. Soon, the use of nanocarriers could revolutionize the animal health sector, and many veterinary therapies will be more effective as a result. The purpose of this review is to offer an overview of the main applications of nanocarriers in the veterinary field, from supplements for animal health and reproduction to nanovaccines and nanotherapies. Among the major pathologies that can affect animals, special attention is given to canine osteosarcoma (OSA): a comparison with human OSA is provided and the main treatment options are reviewed emphasizing the benefits that nanocarriers could bring in the treatment of this widespread disease.
Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus Probio-M9-Driven Mouse Mammary Tumor-Inhibitory Effect Is Accompanied by Modulation of Host Gut Microbiota, Immunity, and Serum Metabolome
Authors: Zhang Weiqin , Zhang Yong , Li Yalin , Ma Da , Zhang Heping , Kwok Lai-Yu
Published: December 2022

Gut microbiome may influence tumor growth and cancer treatment efficacy, so it is a potential target for tumor prevention/treatment. This pilot study investigated the preventive and therapeutic effects of a probiotic strain, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus Probio-M9 (Probio-M9), against murine mammary cancer. Thirty-six female mice were randomly divided into three groups (n = 12 per group): control (without tumor transplantation), model (tumor transplantation; no probiotic administration), and probiotic (30-day oral gavage of probiotic, started seven days before tumor transplantation). Changes in tumor size were recorded, and blood, tumor tissue, and stool samples were collected at the end of the trial for analyses. Comparing with the model group, the probiotic group had a significantly smaller tumor volume (p < 0.05), a higher fecal microbiota Shannon diversity index, with significant modifications in the gut microbiota structure (p < 0.05), characterized by more Alistipes sp._2, Porphyromonadaceae bacterium_7, and Bacteroidales bacterium 55_9 (p < 0.05). Additionally, Probio-M9 administration elevated the serum IFN-γ, IL-9, IL-13, and IL-27 levels and several metabolites (e.g., pyridoxal, nicotinic acid, 3-hydroxybutyric acid, glutamine; p < 0.05), while reducing IL-5 (p < 0.05). These changes might be associated with the protective effect of Probio-M9 against mammary tumor growth. Thus, probiotic administration could harness host gut microbiome in anti-cancer responses.
Phytochemistry and Anticancer Effects of Mangrove (Rhizophora mucronata Lam.) Leaves and Stems Extract against Different Cancer Cell Lines
Authors: Youssef Ahmed M. M. , Maaty Doaa A. M. , Al-Saraireh Yousef M.
Published: December 2022

The biologically active components of the methanol extracts of R. mucronata were identified using GC/MS. The anticancer effects of each methanol extract from the leaves and stem were evaluated against cancer and non-cancer cell lines. The MTT assay was used in order to evaluate cell viability, and the IC50 and the selectivity indices were calculated in relation to a positive control (doxorubicin). The results showed that 11 and 8 different chemical compounds were found in the methanol extracts from the leaves and stems of R. mucronata, respectively. The active constituents of R. mucronata leaves and stems had anticancer effects against colon cancer (CaCo-2), with IC50 levels of 127 ± 4 μg/mL and 107 ± 6 μg/mL, respectively, and on breast cancer (MCF-7), with IC50 levels of 158 ± 10 μg/mL and 138 ± 4 μg/mL, respectively. These were both greater than their effects on prostate cancer (PC-3), for which they showed IC50 levels of 480 ± 14 μg/mL and 294 ± 3 μg/mL, respectively. However, the anticancer effect of the stems on lung cancer (A549) (IC50 = 155 ± 10 μg/mL) was greater than that of the leaves (IC50 = 376 ± 9 μg/mL) in comparison with doxorubicin. Neither the stems nor the leaves of R. mucronata showed any cytotoxicity against normal cells (WI-38), with the IC50 being 932 ± 30 μg/mL for the leaves and 629 ± 3 μg/mL for the stems.
Therapeutic Potential of Controlled Delivery Systems in Asthma: Preclinical Development of Flavonoid-Based Treatments
Authors: Borghi Sergio M. , Zaninelli Tiago H. , Carra Jéssica B. , Heintz Olivia K. , Baracat Marcela M. , Georgetti Sandra R. , Vicentini Fabiana T. M. C. , Verri Waldiceu A. , Casagrande Rubia
Published: December 2022

Asthma is a chronic disease with increasing prevalence and incidence, manifested by allergic inflammatory reactions, and is life-threatening for patients with severe disease. Repetitive challenges with the allergens and limitation of treatment efficacy greatly dampens successful management of asthma. The adverse events related to several drugs currently used, such as corticosteroids and β-agonists, and the low rigorous adherence to preconized protocols likely compromises a more assertive therapy. Flavonoids represent a class of natural compounds with extraordinary antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, with their potential benefits already demonstrated for several diseases, including asthma. Advanced technology has been used in the pharmaceutical field to improve the efficacy and safety of drugs. Notably, there is also an increasing interest for the application of these techniques using natural products as active molecules. Flavones, flavonols, flavanones, and chalcones are examples of flavonoid compounds that were tested in controlled delivery systems for asthma treatment, and which achieved better treatment results in comparison to their free forms. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the development of novel controlled delivery systems to enhance the therapeutic potential of flavonoids as active molecules for asthma treatment.
Inhalable Polymeric Nanoparticles for Pulmonary Delivery of Antimicrobial Peptide SET-M33: Antibacterial Activity and Toxicity In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Cresti Laura , Conte Gemma , Cappello Giovanni , Brunetti Jlenia , Falciani Chiara , Bracci Luisa , Quaglia Fabiana , Ungaro Francesca , d’Angelo Ivana , Pini Alessandro
Published: December 2022

Development of inhalable formulations for delivering peptides to the conductive airways and shielding their interactions with airway barriers, thus enhancing peptide/bacteria interactions, is an important part of peptide-based drug development for lung applications. Here, we report the construction of a biocompatible nanosystem where the antimicrobial peptide SET-M33 is encapsulated within polymeric nanoparticles of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) conjugated with polyethylene glycol (PEG). This system was conceived for better delivery of the peptide to the lungs by aerosol. The encapsulated peptide showed prolonged antibacterial activity, due to its controlled release, and much lower toxicity than the free molecule. The peptide-based nanosystem killed Pseudomonas aeruginosa in planktonic and sessile forms in a dose-dependent manner, remaining active up to 72 h after application. The encapsulated peptide showed no cytotoxicity when incubated with human bronchial epithelial cells from healthy individuals and from cystic fibrosis patients, unlike the free peptide, which showed an EC50 of about 22 µM. In vivo acute toxicity studies in experimental animals showed that the peptide nanosystem did not cause any appreciable side effects, and confirmed its ability to mitigate the toxic and lethal effects of free SET-M33.
Solid Particle Erosion of Filled and Unfilled Epoxy Resin at Room and Elevated Temperatures
Authors: Mishnev Maxim , Korolev Alexander , Ulrikh Dmitrii , Gorechneva Anna , Sadretdinov Denis , Grinkevich Danila
Published: December 2022

Solid particle erosion at room and elevated temperatures of filled and unfilled hot-cured epoxy resin using an anhydride hardener were experimentally tested using an accelerated method on a special bench. Micro-sized dispersed industrial wastes were used as fillers: fly ash from a power plant and spent filling material from a copper mining and processing plant. The results showed that the wear of unfilled epoxy resin significantly decreases with increasing temperature, while the dependence on the temperature of the wear intensity at an impingement angle of 45° is linear and inversely proportional, and at an angle of 90°, non-linear. The decrease in wear intensity is probably due to an increase in the fracture limit because of heating. Solid particle erosion of the filled epoxy compounds is considerably higher than that of unfilled compounds at impingement angles of 45° and 90°. Filled compounds showed ambiguous dependences of the intensity of wear on temperature (especially at an impingement angle of 45°), probably as the dependence is defined by the filler share and the structural features of the samples caused by the distribution of filler particles. The intensity of the wear of the compounds at impingement angles of 45° and 90° has a direct and strong correlation with the density and the modulus of elasticity, and a weak correlation with the bending strength of the materials. The data set for determining the correlation between the mechanical properties and the wear included compound filling characteristics and temperature.
Numerical Conversion Method for the Dynamic Storage Modulus and Relaxation Modulus of Hydroxy-Terminated Polybutadiene (HTPB) Propellants
Authors: Ji Yongchao , Cao Liang , Li Zhuo , Chen Guoqing , Cao Peng , Liu Tong
Published: December 2022

As a typical viscoelastic material, solid propellants have a large difference in mechanical properties under static and dynamic loading. This variability is manifested in the difference in values of the relaxation modulus and dynamic modulus, which serve as the entry point for studying the dynamic and static mechanical properties of propellants. The relaxation modulus and dynamic modulus have a clear integral relationship in theory, but their consistency in engineering practice has never been verified. In this paper, by introducing the “catch-up factor λ” and “waiting factor γ”, a method for the inter-conversion of the dynamic storage modulus and relaxation modulus of HTPB propellant is established, and the consistency between them is verified. The results show that the time region of the calculated conversion values of the relaxation modulus obtained by this method covers 10−8–104 s, spanning twelve orders of magnitude. Compared to that of the relaxation modulus (10−4–104 s, spanning eight orders of magnitude), an expansion of four orders of magnitude is achieved. This enhances the expression ability of the relaxation modulus on the mechanical properties of the propellant. Furthermore, when the conversion method is applied to the dynamic–static modulus conversion of the other two HTPB propellants, the results show that the correlation coefficient between the calculated and measured conversion values is R2 > 0.933. This proves the applicability of this method to the dynamic–static modulus conversion of other types of HTPB propellants. It was also found that λ and γ have the same universal optimal value for different HTPB propellants. As a bridge for static and dynamic modulus conversion, this method greatly expands the expression ability of the relaxation modulus and dynamic storage modulus on the mechanical properties of the HTPB propellant, which is of great significance in the research into the mechanical properties of the propellant.
Regional Satellite Algorithms to Estimate Chlorophyll-a and Total Suspended Matter Concentrations in Vembanad Lake
Authors: Theenathayalan Varunan , Sathyendranath Shubha , Kulk Gemma , Menon Nandini , George Grinson , Abdulaziz Anas , Selmes Nick , Brewin Robert , Rajendran Anju , Xavier Sara , Platt Trevor
Published: December 2022

A growing coastal population is leading to increased anthropogenic pollution that greatly affects coastal and inland water bodies, especially in the tropics. The Sustainable Development Goal-14, ‘Life below water’ emphasises the importance of conservation and sustainable use of the ocean and its resources. Pollution management practices often include monitoring of water quality using in situ observations of chlorophyll-a (chl-a) and total suspended matter (TSM). Satellite technology, including the MultiSpectral Instrument (MSI) sensor onboard Sentinel-2, enables the continuous monitoring of these variables in inland waters at high spatial and temporal resolutions. To improve the monitoring of water quality in the tropical Vembanad-Kol-Wetland (VKW) system, situated on the southwest coast of India, we present two regionally tuned satellite algorithms developed to estimate chl-a and TSM concentrations. The new algorithms estimate the chl-a and TSM concentrations from the simulated reflectance values as a function of the inherent optical properties using a forward modelling approach. The model was parameterised using the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) bio-Optical Marine Algorithm Dataset (NOMAD) and in situ measurements collected in the VKW system. To assess model performance, results were compared with in situ measurements of chl-a and TSM and other existing satellite-based models of chl-a and TSM. For satellite application, two different atmospheric correction methods (ACOLITE and POLYMER) were tested and satellite matchups were used to validate the new chl-a and TSM algorithms following standard validation procedures. The results demonstrated that the new algorithms were in good agreement with in situ observations and outperform existing chl-a and TSM algorithms. The new regional satellite algorithms can be used to monitor water quality within the VKW system to support the sustainable management under natural (cyclones, floods, rainfall, and tsunami) and anthropogenic pressures (industrial effluents, agricultural practices, recreational activities, construction, and demolishing concrete structures) and help achieve Sustainable Development Goal 14.
A Real-Time Tracking Algorithm for Multi-Target UAV Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Hong Tao , Liang Hongming , Yang Qiye , Fang Linquan , Kadoch Michel , Cheriet Mohamed
Published: December 2022

UAV technology is a basic technology aiming to help realize smart living and the construction of smart cities. Its vigorous development in recent years has also increased the presence of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in people’s lives, and it has been increasingly used in logistics, transportation, photography and other fields. However, the rise in the number of drones has also put pressure on city regulation. Using traditional methods to monitor small objects flying slowly at low altitudes would be costly and ineffective. This study proposed a real-time UAV tracking scheme that uses the 5G network to transmit UAV monitoring images to the cloud and adopted a machine learning algorithm to detect and track multiple targets. Aiming at the difficulties in UAV detection and tracking, we optimized the network structure of the target detector yolo4 (You Only Look Once V4) and improved the target tracker DeepSORT, adopting the detection-tracking mode. In order to verify the reliability of the algorithm, we built a data set containing 3200 pictures of four UAVs in different environments, conducted training and testing on the model, and achieved 94.35% tracking accuracy and 69FPS detection speed under the GPU environment. The model was then deployed on ZCU104 to prove the feasibility of the scheme.
Situation-Aware IoT Data Generation towards Performance Evaluation of IoT Middleware Platforms
Authors: Mondal Shalmoly , Jayaraman Prem Prakash , Delir Haghighi Pari , Hassani Alireza , Georgakopoulos Dimitrios
Published: December 2022

With the increasing growth of IoT applications in various sectors (e.g., manufacturing, healthcare, etc.), we are witnessing a rising demand of IoT middleware platform that host such IoT applications. Hence, there arises a need for new methods to assess the performance of IoT middleware platforms hosting IoT applications. While there are well established methods for performance analysis and testing of databases, and some for the Big data domain, such methods are still lacking support for IoT due to the complexity, heterogeneity of IoT application and their data. To overcome these limitations, in this paper, we present a novel situation-aware IoT data generation framework, namely, SA-IoTDG. Given a majority of IoT applications are event or situation driven, we leverage a situation-based approach in SA-IoTDG for generating situation-specific data relevant to the requirements of the IoT applications. SA-IoTDG includes a situation description system, a SySML model to capture IoT application requirements and a novel Markov chain-based approach that supports transition of IoT data generation based on the corresponding situations. The proposed framework will be beneficial for both researchers and IoT application developers to generate IoT data for their application and enable them to perform initial testing before the actual deployment. We demonstrate the proposed framework using a real-world example from IoT traffic monitoring. We conduct experimental evaluations to validate the ability of SA-IoTDG to generate IoT data similar to real-world data as well as enable conducting performance evaluations of IoT applications deployed on different IoT middleware platforms using the generated data. Experimental results present some promising outcomes that validate the efficacy of SA-IoTDG. Learning and lessons learnt from the results of experiments conclude the paper.
Screening of Discrete Wavelet Transform Parameters for the Denoising of Rolling Bearing Signals in Presence of Localised Defects
Authors: Brusa Eugenio , Delprete Cristiana , Gargiuli Simone , Giorio Lorenzo
Published: December 2022

Maintenance scheduling is a fundamental element in industry, where excessive downtime can lead to considerable economic losses. Active monitoring systems of various components are ever more used, and rolling bearings can be identified as one of the primary causes of failure on production lines. Vibration signals extracted from bearings are affected by noise, which can make their nature unclear and the extraction and classification of features difficult. In recent years, the use of the discrete wavelet transform for denoising has been increasing, but studies in the literature that optimise all the parameters used in this process are lacking. In the current article, the authors present an algorithm to optimise the parameters required for denoising based on the discrete wavelet transform and thresholding. One-hundred sixty different configurations of the mother wavelet, threshold evaluation method, and threshold function are compared on the Case Western Reserve University database to obtain the best combination for bearing damage identification with an iterative method and are evaluated with tradeoff and kurtosis. The analysis results show that the best combination of parameters for denoising is dmey, rigrSURE, and the hard threshold. The signals were then distributed in a 2D plane for classification through an algorithm based on principal component analysis, which uses a preselection of features extracted in the time domain.
STIMGRASP: A Home-Based Functional Electrical Stimulator for Grasp Restoration in Daily Activities
Authors: Barelli Renato G. , Avelino Valter F. , Castro Maria Claudia F.
Published: December 2022

Thousands of people currently suffer from motor limitations caused by SCI and strokes, which impose personal and social challenges. These individuals may have a satisfactory recovery by applying functional electrical stimulation that enables the artificial restoration of grasping after a muscular conditioning period. This paper presents the STIMGRASP, a home-based functional electrical stimulator to be used as an assistive technology for users with tetraplegia or hemiplegia. The STIMGRASP is a microcontrolled stimulator with eight multiplexed and independent symmetric biphasic constant current output channels with USB and Bluetooth communication. The system generates pulses with frequency, width, and maximum amplitude set at 20 Hz, 300 µs/phase, and 40 mA (load of 1 kΩ), respectively. It is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery of 3100 mAh, allowing more than 10 h of continuous use. The development of this system focused on portability, usability, and wearability, resulting in portable hardware with user-friendly mobile app control and an orthosis with electrodes, allowing the user to carry out muscle activation sequences for four grasp modes to use for achieving daily activities.
A Three-Dimensional Structured Light Vision System by Using a Combination of Single-Line and Three-Line Lasers
Authors: Sun Qiucheng , Ren Zeming , Zhu Jinlong , Dai Weiyu , Wang Mingze , Sun Mingyu
Published: December 2022

A multi-line structured light measurement method that combines a single-line and a three-line laser, in which precision sliding rails and displacement measurement equipment are not required, is proposed in this paper. During the measurement, the single-line structured light projects onto the surface of an object and the three-line structured light remains fixed. The single-line laser is moved and intersects with the three-line laser to form three intersection points. The single-line light plane can be solved using the camera coordinates of three intersection points, thus completing the real-time calibration of the scanned light plane. The single-line laser can be scanned at any angle to determine the overall complete three-dimensional (3D) shape of the object during the process. Experimental results show that this method overcomes the difficulty of obtaining information about certain angles and locations and can effectively recover the 3D shape of the object. The measurement system’s repetition error is under 0.16 mm, which is sufficient to measure the 3D shapes of complicated workpieces.
Correction: Lopez-Vazquez et al. Video Image Enhancement and Machine Learning Pipeline for Underwater Animal Detection and Classification at Cabled Observatories. Sensors 2020, 20, 726
Authors: Lopez-Vazquez Vanesa , Lopez-Guede Jose Manuel , Marini Simone , Fanelli Emanuela , Johnsen Espen , Aguzzi Jacopo
Published: December 2022

The authors wish to correct the following error in the original paper [...]
Digital Twin for a Collaborative Painting Robot
Authors: Chancharoen Ratchatin , Chaiprabha Kantawatchr , Wuttisittikulkij Lunchakorn , Asdornwised Widhyakorn , Saadi Muhammad , Phanomchoeng Gridsada
Published: December 2022

A collaborative painting robot that can be used as an alternative to workers has been developed using a digital twin framework and its performance was demonstrated experimentally. The digital twin of the automatic painting robot simulates the entire process and estimates the paint result before the real execution. An operator can view the simulated process and result with an option to either confirm or cancel the task. If the task is accepted, the digital twin generates all the parameters, including the end effector trajectory of the robot, the material flow to the collaborative robot, and a spray mechanism. This ability means that the painting process can be practiced in a virtual environment to decrease set costs, waste, and time, all of which are highly demanded in single-item production. In this study, the screen was fixtureless and, thus, a camera was used to capture it in a physical environment, which was further analyzed to determine its pose. The digital twin then builds the screen in real-time in a virtual environment. The communication between the physical and digital twins is bidirectional in this scenario. An operator can design a painting pattern, such as a basic shape and/or letter, along with its size and paint location, in the resulting procedure. The digital twin then generates the simulation and expected painting result using the physical twin’s screen pose. The painting results show that the root mean square error (RMSE) of the painting is less than 1.5 mm and the standard deviation of RMSE is less than 0.85 mm. Additionally, the initial benefits of the technique include lower setup costs, waste, and time, as well as an easy-to-use operating procedure. More benefits are expected from the digital twin framework, such as the ability of the digital twin to (1) find a solution when a fault arises, (2) refine the control or optimize the operation, and (3) plan using historic data.
Risk of Salinization in the Agricultural Soils of Semi-Arid Regions: A Case Study from Moldavian Plain (NE Romania)
Authors: Stan Cristina Oana , Pîrnău Radu Gabriel , Roșca Bogdan , Sirbu-Radasanu Doina Smaranda
Published: December 2022

In the present study, the salinization trends of different soil types from a small hydrographic basin situated in NE Romania (Roșior basin) are investigated. The climatic conditions are favorable for long dry summers and intensive evaporation. The soils are developed on immature evolved clay sediments, as revealed by geochemical analysis. The salinity varies among soil types, attaining maximum values for Solonetz with total dissolved salts (TDS) between 1165.75 to 1881.25 mg/L. The aqueous solutions are represented by natural water and soil solution. The hydrogeochemical facies of the natural waters change from HCO3−—Mg2+ in the upper basin to SO42−—Na+ in the middle or lower basin. The soil solution is moderately or strongly salinized and shows anionic variations from HCO3− to SO42− in the studied profiles, whereas Na+ is always the main cation. The concentrations of Na+ and SO42− evolve simultaneously. Raman spectroscopic exploration of the white efflorescences, which occur on topsoil, reveals the presence of thenardite as the dominant phase. The composition of soil solution results from both the ionic exchange and evaporation processes. The nature of soil solution mineralization and summer temperatures are two main factors that interact and promote the thenardite precipitation. The soil salinization induces negative effects on crop nutrition, impacting further the crop yields. The results of this study can be extrapolated to larger areas formed on Sarmatian sedimentary deposits affected by salinization processes.
Research on China’s Tourism Public Services Development from the Perspective of Spatial–Temporal Interactions and Based on Resilience Theory
Authors: Yang Shuo , Guo Wei
Published: December 2022

In this paper, resilience theory is applied to construct an evaluation index system of tourism public services. The entropy weight method, Kernel density and Moran index were used to measure China’s tourism public services development level from 2010 to 2020 and to analyze its spatial–temporal evolution. The results showed that the overall development level of China’s tourism public services had a gentle upward trend; however, the development trend of each subsystem was not completely consistent with the overall development. From the spatial grade distribution, the characteristics of China’s tourism public services presented a clearly higher intensity in the middle region while the values for the two-sided ones were much lower. From the spatial pattern, the weakening trend appeared from the southeast to northwest. The high level and the above trend of concentrated contiguous distribution regions were formed in the eastern region in China, and the distribution regions were transformed into an optimized one in the southwest region in China. From the spatial agglomeration, the characteristics showed that the distribution in the east region was superior to that in the west region, and that in north region was superior to that in the south region. The overall tourism public services development level of each subsystem was improved while there were obstacles in its balanced development. The tourism entertainment services, tourism human resources and tourism safety services were the obstacle factors to the tourism public services development.
Relationship between IT Self-Efficacy and Personal Knowledge and Information Management for Sustainable Lifelong Learning and Organizational Performance: A Systematic Review from 2000 to 2022
Authors: Shahzad Khurram , Javed Yasir , Khan Shakeel Ahmad , Iqbal Abid , Hussain Imran , Jaweed M. Vaseem
Published: December 2022

This study aims to identify the relationship between IT self-efficacy and personal knowledge and information management (PKIM) practices. It also intends to investigate trending tools and approaches being applied for PKIM for sustainable lifelong learning and organizational performance. It also reveals challenges for the development of an effective PKIM system. To meet the study’s objectives, a systematic literature review was carried out. Fifty research papers published in peer-reviewed journals were included to conduct a comprehensive systematic review. The findings of the study revealed that a significant positive relationship exists between IT self-efficacy and personal knowledge and information management for sustainable lifelong learning and innovative organizational performance. Social media tools, the adoption of emerging technologies, and artificial intelligence were trending techniques for the successful implementation of PKIM practices in academia and the field. This research has significant theoretical, practical, social, academic, and managerial implications.
Economic Indicators for Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment: Going beyond Life Cycle Costing
Authors: Arulnathan Vivek , Heidari Mohammad Davoud , Doyon Maurice , Li Eric P. H. , Pelletier Nathan
Published: December 2022

Life Cycle Costing (LCC) is universally accepted as the method of choice for economic assessment in Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) but the singular focus on costs is ineffective in representing the multiple facets of economic sustainability. This review intends to identify other economic indicators to potentially complement the use of LCC in LCSA. Papers for the review were identified in the Web of Science Core Collection database for the years 2010–2021. The shortlisted indicators were analyzed using 18 criteria. The 21 indicators analyzed performed well with respect to the review criteria for indicator methodology and use but most are unsuitable for direct integration into the LCC/LCSA framework due to the inability to aggregate across life cycles and a lack of correspondingly granular data. The indicators were grouped into six economic impact categories—profitability, productivity, innovation, stability, customers, and autonomy—each of which represents a significant aspect of economic sustainability. On this basis, a conceptual framework is proposed that could maintain the utility of LCC while integrating additional indicators to enable more holistic economic assessments in LCSA. Considering additional economic indicators in LCSA ensures that the positive aspects of LCC are preserved while also improving economic assessment in LCSA.
How Dynamic Managerial Capabilities, Entrepreneurial Orientation, and Operational Capabilities Impact Microenterprises’ Global Performance
Authors: Alves André de Abreu Saraiva Monteiro , Carvalho Fernando Manuel Pereira de Oliveira
Published: December 2022

Microenterprises’ internal capability landscape and how it relates to the firms’ global performance (GP) is sparsely studied and understood. Discrete relationships between a capability and GP may have some empirical evidence, but how microenterprises’ capabilities quantitatively relate to each other and together to GP still had no answer. Our model investigates the impact of dynamic managerial capabilities (DMCs) and entrepreneurial orientation (EO) on operational capabilities (OCs), and of those on GP, moderated by competitive intensity (CI). The data were acquired in a survey by questionnaire to 402 Portuguese microenterprises and treated using covariance-based structural equation modeling. We confirm that DMCs and EO have a positive, statistically significant, and substantive impact on OCs, explaining over half its variance, where any relation to GP is fully mediated by OCs. Furthermore, we found that OCs hold a positive, statistically significant, and substantive impact on GP, explaining nearly a quarter of its variance. CI as a moderator, with a marginal effects analysis, shows limited significance in a short range of values and never any substantive significance. Our results highlight that, for a healthy microenterprise business ecosystem, a great deal of attention and capacitation must be given to microenterprises’ managers, specifically their DMCs, EO, and, eventually, OCs.
Biodesalination Research Trends: A Bibliometric Analysis and Recent Developments
Authors: Ahmed Mahmoud E. , Zafar Abdul Mannan , Hamouda Mohamed A. , Aly Hassan Ashraf , Arimbrathodi Shirin
Published: December 2022

Due to rising population and industrialization, two-thirds of the world’s population may suffer water scarcity by 2025. Biodesalination is a promising sustainable practice targeting salt removal from seawater by micro-organisms, using lower energy consumption and resulting in less environmental impact. This study examined the evolution of biodesalination from 2007 to 2022 by applying bibliometric analysis. A scoping review was also conducted through content analysis of biodesalination publications. Using the Scopus database, the research trends, major contributors in the field, and recent advancements were identified. The study investigated a total of 80 peer-reviewed journal articles in the field of biodesalination. Results of the bibliometric analysis revealed that publications peaked in 2022 and citations in 2021, with values of 14 and 473, respectively. Results also revealed that the research trend in biodesalination is leaning towards the use of microbial desalination cells. Furthermore, advancements in the field focused on enhancing the nutrient medium to yield better growth rates for algae and cyanobacteria and improve desalination efficiencies to up to 40%. Other modifications focused on introducing microbial strains with increased salinity tolerance. Finally, an outline of future research potential was presented, focusing on nutrient medium modifications, specifically the substitution of chloride and sodium salts in the medium with nitrate and potassium minerals.
Using Detailing Concept to Assess Railway Functional Safety
Authors: Bondarenko Iryna , Campisi Tiziana , Tesoriere Giovanni , Neduzha Larysa
Published: December 2022

The ability to assess the risks of the functional safety of railway tracks allows harmonizing characteristics of track elements under certain operating conditions under certain maintenance for the efficient use of the track structure throughout its life cycle. The concept of detailing conditions of the interaction of the rolling stock and railway track was used for the productive solution of tasks of infrastructure functional safety assessment. The paper formed an approach to the analytical solution of determination problems of deformability parameters over time using the elastic waves theory. The formation method of interconnections between the technical and economic aspects of the operation of railway infrastructure was proposed. The criteria of deformability work and intensity of use were utilized for the effective use of the track structure through its life cycle. The results of calculations are presented to assess changes in the deformability behaviour of the track elements and structure when the force and speed parameters of the operating conditions change, as well as the algorithm of the method for estimating the operation deformability of the railway track. Thus, the proposed approach can be adapted to optimize objects by railway functional safety assessment at the stage of object operation simulation.
Reducing the Negative Effects of Abusive Supervision: A Step towards Organizational Sustainability
Authors: Du Xinqi , Chowdhury Md Sohel , Kang Dae-seok
Published: December 2022

This study aims to examine how to reduce the influence of abusive supervision on subordinates’ work alienation and psychological well-being (PWB). Integrating the perspectives of career development and resource conservation, subjective job mobility and regulatory focus were combined into two-dimensional structures to assess their moderating effects on the relationships. The study draws on a survey sample of 487 employees from the manufacturing and service industries in China. The key findings show that abusive supervision has a direct and indirect influence on PWB through work alienation. Regarding the moderating effects, only perceived interorganizational job mobility mitigates the positive effect of abusive supervision on work alienation. Interestingly, the three-way interactions that involve perceived intraorganizational job mobility–prevention focus or perceived interorganizational job mobility–promotion focus mitigate the negative effects of work alienation on PWB. From these findings, we discussed the implications of a step towards organizational sustainability.
Evaluation of Photogrammetry Tools following Progress Detection of Rebar towards Sustainable Construction Processes
Authors: Qureshi Abdul Hannan , Alaloul Wesam Salah , Hussain Syed Jawad , Murtiyoso Arnadi , Saad Syed , Alzubi Khalid Mhmoud , Ammad Syed , Baarimah Abdullah O.
Published: December 2022

In the attainment of digitization and sustainable solutions under Industry 4.0, effective and economical technology like photogrammetry is gaining popularity in every field among professionals and researchers alike. In the market, various photogrammetry tools are available. These tools employ different techniques and it is hard to identify the best among them. This study is an attempt to develop a methodology for the assessment of photogrammetry tools. Overall, 37 photogrammetry tools were found via literature review and open sources, out of which 12 tools were shortlisted. The evaluation process consisted of three steps, i.e., metadata and visual inspection, comparison with the ground truth model, and comparison with the averaged-merged point cloud model. In addition, a validation test was also performed on the final sorted photogrammetry tools. This study followed a sustainable construction progress monitoring theme for rebar and covered the maximum number of photogrammetry tools for comparison by considering the most authentic evaluation and validation techniques, which make it exclusive.
Cationic PLGA Nanoparticle Formulations as Biocompatible Immunoadjuvant for Serum Production and Immune Response against Bothrops jararaca Venom
Authors: Santos-Silva Emanuell dos , Torres-Rêgo Manoela , Gláucia-Silva Fiamma , Feitosa Renata Carvalho , Lacerda Ariane Ferreira , Rocha Hugo Alexandre de Oliveira , Fernandes-Pedrosa Matheus de Freitas , Silva-Júnior Arnóbio Antônio da
Published: December 2022

Snakebite envenoming represents a worldwide public health issue. Suitable technologies have been investigated for encapsulated recombinant or native proteins capable of inducing an effective and long-lasting adaptive immune response. Nanoparticles are colloidal dispersions that have been used as drug delivery systems for bioactive biological compounds. Venom-loaded nanoparticles modulate the protein release and activate the immune response to produce specific antibodies. In this study, biocompatible cationic nanoparticles with Bothrops jararaca venom were prepared to be used as a novel immunoadjuvant that shows a similar or improved immune response in antibody production when compared to a conventional immunoadjuvant (aluminum hydroxide). We prepared stable, small-sized and spherical particles with high Bothrops jararaca venom protein association efficiency. The high protein loading efficiency, electrophoresis, and zeta potential results demonstrated that Bothrops jararaca venom is adsorbed on the particle surface, which remained as a stable colloidal dispersion over 6 weeks. The slow protein release occurred and followed parabolic diffusion release kinetics. The in vivo studies demonstrated that venom-loaded nanoparticles were able to produce an immune response similar to that of aluminum hydroxide. The cationic nanoparticles (CNp) as carriers of bioactive molecules, were successfully developed and demonstrated to be a promising immunoadjuvant.
Botulism in Spain: Epidemiology and Outcomes of Antitoxin Treatment, 1997–2019
Authors: Peñuelas Marina , Guerrero-Vadillo María , Valdezate Sylvia , Zamora María , Leon-Gomez Inmaculada , Flores-Cuéllar Ángeles , Carrasco Gema , Díaz-García Oliva , Varela Carmen
Published: December 2022

Background: Botulism is a low incidence but potentially fatal infectious disease caused by neurotoxins produced mainly by Clostridium botulinum. There are different routes of acquisition, food-borne and infant/intestinal being the most frequent presentation, and antitoxin is the treatment of choice in all cases. In Spain, botulism is under surveillance, and case reporting is mandatory. Methods: This retrospective study attempts to provide a more complete picture of the epidemiology of botulism in Spain from 1997 to 2019 and an assessment of the treatment, including the relationship between a delay in antitoxin administration and the length of hospitalization using the Cox proportional hazards test and Kruskal–Wallis test, and an approach to the frequency of adverse events, issues for which no previous national data have been published. Results: Eight of the 44 outbreaks were associated with contaminated commercial foods involving ≤7 cases/outbreak; preserved vegetables were the main source of infection, followed by fish products; early antitoxin administration significantly reduces the hospital stay, and adverse reactions to the antitoxin affect around 3% of treated cases.
Insights from the Infection Cycle of VSV-ΔG-Spike Virus
Authors: Milrot Elad , Lazar Shlomi , Schuster Ofir , Makdasi Efi , Shmaya Shlomo , Yahalom-Ronen Yfat , Tamir Hadas , Laskar Orly
Published: December 2022

Fundamental key processes in viral infection cycles generally occur in distinct cellular sites where both viral and host factors accumulate and interact. These sites are usually termed viral replication organelles, or viral factories (VF). The generation of VF is accompanied by the synthesis of viral proteins and genomes and involves the reorganization of cellular structure. Recently, rVSV-ΔG-spike (VSV-S), a recombinant VSV expressing the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, was developed as a vaccine candidate against SARS-CoV-2. By combining transmission electron microscopy (TEM) tomography studies and immuno-labeling techniques, we investigated the infection cycle of VSV-S in Vero E6 cells. RT-real-time-PCR results show that viral RNA synthesis occurs 3–4 h post infection (PI), and accumulates as the infection proceeds. By 10–24 h PI, TEM electron tomography results show that VSV-S generates VF in multi-lamellar bodies located in the cytoplasm. The VF consists of virus particles with various morphologies. We demonstrate that VSV-S infection is associated with accumulation of cytoplasmatic viral proteins co-localized with dsRNA (marker for RNA replication) but not with ER membranes. Newly formed virus particles released from the multi-lamellar bodies containing VF, concentrate in a vacuole membrane, and the infection ends with the budding of particles after the fusion of the vacuole membrane with the plasma membrane. In summary, the current study describes detailed 3D imaging of key processes during the VSV-S infection cycle.