bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Benefits through Space Heating and Thermal Storage with Demand Response Control for a District-Heated Office Building
Authors: Ju Yuchen , Hiltunen Pauli , Jokisalo Juha , Kosonen Risto , Syri Sanna
Published: October 2023

Demand response techniques can be effective at reducing heating costs for building owners. However, few studies have considered the dynamic marginal costs for district heating production and taken advantage of them for building-level demand response. In this study, a district heating network in the Finnish city of Espoo was modeled to define dynamic district heat prices. The benefits of two demand response control approaches for a Finnish office building, the demand response control of space heating and a thermal energy storage tank, were evaluated by comparing them to each other and utilizing them together. A 5 m3 storage tank was installed in a substation of a conventional high-temperature district heating network. A new demand response control strategy was designed to make the most of the storage tank capacity, considering dynamic district heat prices and the maximum allowed return water temperature. The results indicate that the demand response control of space heating and the storage tank cut district heat energy costs by 9.6% and 3.4%, respectively. When employing the two approaches simultaneously, 12.8% savings of district heat energy costs were attained. Additionally, thermal energy storage provides more potential for peak power limiting. The maximum heating power decreases by 43% and the power fee reduces by 41.2%. Therefore, the total cost, including the district heat energy cost and the power fee, can be cut up to 22.4% without compromising thermal comfort and heat supply temperatures to ventilation systems.
A Data Processing Methodology to Analyze Construction and Demolition Dynamics in the European Metropolis of Lille, France
Authors: Simba Cédric Mpié , Lemelin Emmanuel , Masson Eric , Senouci Ahmed , Maherzi Walid
Published: October 2023

In the absence of industry data, organisms, and researchers leverage free and available data, specifically building and demolition permits. Geospatial processing is essential to integrate information from various files into a single GIS layer containing all relevant attributes for analysis. This article proposes a Geographic Information System (GIS) processing model aimed at monitoring construction and demolition dynamics in the European metropolis of Lille to quantify the urban production of mineral waste from buildings. Author methodology is based on that that the deposit potential can be analyzed using the observation of the spatiotemporal dynamics of building and demolition permits. The results demonstrate that combining construction and demolition (C&D) permits with other GIS layers allows us to produce data to quantify demolition surfaces per year in a given French area. The applicability of this methodology extends to all French regions, providing insights into the impact of crises on deconstruction activities and C&D waste generation. The study focuses on C&D French public data bases (French government and European Metropolis of Lille) attributed to the region (area) of the European Metropolis of Lille (MEL) between 2013 and 2022. Some data for 2022 were incomplete due to ongoing treatment, emphasizing the importance of understanding the dynamics of demolition rates or surfaces to identify data gaps or errors. Historical trajectories of C&D permits were quantified and analyzed, revealing over 21,000 permits granted from 2013 to 2022, categorized by site type (new construction, rehabilitations, prior declarations, and demolitions). Construction sites during this period covered approximately 3,345,948 m2, constituting 20% of the MEL’s building stock, while demolition sites amounted to 1,977,911 m2, equivalent to 5% of the total area of buildings in the metropolis. Employing GIS allowed for a spatial analysis, visualizing data by municipality, urban fabric, and year. The analysis highlighted territories with high and low potential for demolition and construction, as well as the most impacted urban fabrics and dynamic periods. The article discusses potential crisis impacts (e.g., COVID-19 or economic downturns) and the implications of incomplete data. Finally, the study demonstrates how these findings can be utilized to quantify C&D waste, leveraging GIS and the production rate calculation method (GRC).
Decoding the Impact of Tumor Microenvironment in Osteosarcoma Progression and Metastasis
Authors: Nirala Bikesh K. , Yamamichi Taku , Petrescu D. Isabel , Shafin Tasnuva N. , Yustein Jason T.
Published: October 2023

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a heterogeneous, highly metastatic bone malignancy in children and adolescents. Despite advancements in multimodal treatment strategies, the prognosis for patients with metastatic or recurrent disease has not improved significantly in the last four decades. OS is a highly heterogeneous tumor; its genetic background and the mechanism of oncogenesis are not well defined. Unfortunately, no effective molecular targeted therapy is currently available for this disease. Understanding osteosarcoma’s tumor microenvironment (TME) has recently gained much interest among scientists hoping to provide valuable insights into tumor heterogeneity, progression, metastasis, and the identification of novel therapeutic avenues. Here, we review the current understanding of the TME of OS, including different cellular and noncellular components, their crosstalk with OS tumor cells, and their involvement in tumor progression and metastasis. We also highlight past/current clinical trials targeting the TME of OS for effective therapies and potential future therapeutic strategies with negligible adverse effects.
Influence of the Anesthetic Technique on Circulating Extracellular Vesicles in Bladder Cancer Patients Undergoing Radical Cystectomy: A Prospective, Randomized Trial
Authors: Gluth Luisa , Ochsenfarth Crista , Pham Phuong Nam Viet , Wischermann Jan M. , Komanek Thomas , Roghmann Florian , Frey Ulrich H.
Published: October 2023

Anesthetics have been shown to alter tumor progression and seem to influence surgical cancer outcome. Circulating extracellular vesicles as mediators of intercellular communication are involved in cancer progression and may be influenced by anesthetics. In this prospective, randomized study, effects of anesthetics on extracellular vesicles and associated micro-RNAs in bladder cancer patients undergoing radical cystectomy were tested. Extracellular vesicles from 51 patients at four perioperative time points receiving Propofol or Sevoflurane were extracted with polymer-based methods and quantified with a nanoparticle-tracking analysis. Vesicle-associated micro-RNAs were analyzed with a real-time polymerase chain reaction using array cards and single assays for tumor-associated miR-21-5p, miR-15a-5p, miR-17-5p and miR-451a. Plasma extracellular vesicle concentration (suture: fold change (fc) in Propofol at 4.1 ± 3.9 vs. Sevoflurane at 0.8 ± 0.5; p = 0.003) and associated miRNAs increased significantly (+30% post induction, +9% 30 Min surgery) in the Propofol group. Tumor-associated miRNAs increased during surgery in both groups (fc in miR-21-5p: 24.3 ± 10.2, p = 0.029; fc in miR-15a-5p: 9.7 ± 3.8, p = 0.027; fc in miR-17-5p: 5.4 ± 1.7, p = 0.014), whereas antitumor miR-451a increased in the Propofol group only (fc: 2.5 ± 0.6 vs. 1.0 ± 0.2; p = 0.022). Anesthetics influence extracellular vesicles and associated micro-RNAs of bladder cancer patients during surgery. Increased expression of antitumor micro-RNA may be an explanatory approach for decreased tumor cell viability after Propofol.
Mutant p53 Gain-of-Function Induces Migration and Invasion through Overexpression of miR-182-5p in Cancer Cells
Authors: Madrigal Tzitzijanik , Ortega-Bernal Daniel , Herrera Luis A. , González-De la Rosa Claudia Haydée , Domínguez-Gómez Guadalupe , Aréchaga-Ocampo Elena , Díaz-Chávez José
Published: October 2023

The master-key TP53 gene is a tumor suppressor that is mutated in more than 50% of human cancers. Some p53 mutants lose their tumor suppressor activity and acquire new oncogenic functions, known as a gain of function (GOF). Recent studies have shown that p53 mutants can exert oncogenic effects through specific miRNAs. We identified the differentially expressed miRNA profiles of the three most frequent p53 mutants (p53R273C, p53R248Q, and p53R175H) after their transfection into the Saos-2 cell line (null p53) as compared with p53WT transfected cells. The associations between these miRNAs and the signaling pathways in which they might participate were identified with miRPath Software V3.0. QRT-PCR was employed to validate the miRNA profiles. We observed that p53 mutants have an overall negative effect on miRNA expression. In the global expression profile of the human miRNome regulated by the p53R273C mutant, 72 miRNAs were underexpressed and 35 overexpressed; in the p53R175H miRNAs profile, our results showed the downregulation of 93 and upregulation of 10 miRNAs; and in the miRNAs expression profile regulated by the p53R248Q mutant, we found 167 decreased and 6 increased miRNAs compared with p53WT. However, we found overexpression of some miRNAs, like miR-182-5p, in association with processes such as cell migration and invasion. In addition, we explored whether the induction of cell migration and invasion by the p53R48Q mutant was dependent on miR-182-5p because we found overexpression of miR-182-5p, which is associated with processes such as cell migration and invasion. Inhibition of mutant p53R248Q and miR-182-5p increased FOXF2-MTSS1 levels and decreased cell migration and invasion. In summary, our results suggest that p53 mutants increase the expression of miR-182-5p, and this miRNA is necessary for the p53R248Q mutant to induce cell migration and invasion in a cancer cell model.
Tumor Angiocrine Signaling: Novel Targeting Opportunity in Cancer
Authors: Oria Victor Oginga , Erler Janine Terra
Published: October 2023

The vascular endothelium supplies nutrients and oxygen to different body organs and supports the progression of diseases such as cancer through angiogenesis. Pathological angiogenesis remains a challenge as most patients develop resistance to the approved anti-angiogenic therapies. Therefore, a better understanding of endothelium signaling will support the development of more effective treatments. Over the past two decades, the emerging consensus suggests that the role of endothelial cells in tumor development has gone beyond angiogenesis. Instead, endothelial cells are now considered active participants in the tumor microenvironment, secreting angiocrine factors such as cytokines, growth factors, and chemokines, which instruct their proximate microenvironments. The function of angiocrine signaling is being uncovered in different fields, such as tissue homeostasis, early development, organogenesis, organ regeneration post-injury, and tumorigenesis. In this review, we elucidate the intricate role of angiocrine signaling in cancer progression, including distant metastasis, tumor dormancy, pre-metastatic niche formation, immune evasion, and therapy resistance.
What Components of Working Memory Are Impaired in Children with Reading and/or Mathematics Difficulties?
Authors: Chen Rui , Georgiou George K. , Peng Peng , Li Yuanyuan , Li Beilei , Wang Jiali , Tao Sha
Published: October 2023

Both reading difficulties (RD) and mathematics difficulties (MD) are common neurodevelopmental disorders. The co-occurrence of RD and MD, known as comorbid RDMD, is estimated to range between 21% and 45% of children with learning disabilities. Deficits in working memory have been reported in both RD and MD groups, as well as among comorbid RDMD. However, previous comorbidity studies have only examined the role of some components of working memory, and they do not strictly match their groups on relevant reading and mathematics tasks. Thus, the purpose of this study is to examine the nature of working memory deficits in comorbid RDMD after matching groups based on reading and mathematics tasks. We assessed four groups of children (RD [n = 21, Mage = 10.96 years], MD [n = 24, Mage = 11.04 years], comorbid RDMD [n = 26, Mage = 10.90 years], and chronological-age controls [n = 27, Mage = 10.96 years]) on measures of the phonological loop (word span and digit span forward tasks), central executive (complex word and digit span), and updating tasks (word and digit 2-back). The results of ANCOVA (covarying for gender and non-verbal IQ) showed first that the RD and RDMD groups performed significantly worse than the MD and control groups in both measures of the phonological loop. For the central executive and updating tasks, we found an effect based on stimulus type. For word-related tasks, the RD and comorbid RDMD groups performed worse than the MD and control groups, and for number-related tasks, the MD and comorbid RDMD groups performed worse than the RD and control groups. Taken together, our findings provide support for the correlated liability model of comorbidity, which indicates that working memory deficits experienced by the RDMD group are an additive combination of deficits observed in the RD and MD groups, suggesting that working memory tasks used to examine underlying deficits in reading and/or mathematics difficulties may dictate whether or not significant group differences are found.
Hyperthermia Enhances Adeno-Associated Virus Vector Transduction Efficiency in Melanoma Cells
Authors: Bieńkowska-Tokarczyk Alicja , Stelmaszczyk-Emmel Anna , Demkow Urszula , Małecki Maciej
Published: October 2023

Gene therapy perfectly fits in the current needs of medicine for patients with melanoma. One of the major challenges of gene therapy is to increase gene transfer. The role of hyperthermia in the improvement of AAV (adeno-associated virus) transduction efficiency has been indicated. The aim of the present study was to assess the transduction efficacy of melanoma cell lines (A375, G-361, and SK-MEL-1) with the use of the rAAV/DJ mosaic vector under hyperthermia conditions. The analysis of changes in the transduction efficacy and expression of HSPs (heat shock proteins) and receptors for AAV was performed. The transduction was performed at 37 °C and at 43 °C (1 h). Hyperthermia enhanced gene transfer in all the tested cell lines. The most efficient transducing cell line under hyperthermia was A375 (increase by 17%). G361 and SK-MEL-1 cells showed an increase of 7%. The changes in the expression of the AAV receptors and HSPs after hyperthermia were observed. A key role in the improvement of gene transfer may be played by AAVR, HSPB1, HSP6, DNAJC4, HSPD1, HSPA8, HSPA9, HSP90AB1, and AHSA1. This study showed the possibility of the use of hyperthermia as a factor enabling the stimulation of cell transduction with rAAV vectors, thereby providing tools for the improvement in the efficacy of gene therapy based on rAAV.
Homogenous Climatic Regions for Targeting Green Water Management Technologies in the Abbay Basin, Ethiopia
Authors: Tibebe Degefie , Degefu Mekonnen Adnew , Bewket Woldeamlak , Teferi Ermias , O’Donnell Greg , Walsh Claire
Published: October 2023

Spatiotemporal climate variability is a leading environmental constraint to the rain-fed agricultural productivity and food security of communities in the Abbay basin and elsewhere in Ethiopia. The previous one-size-fits-all approach to soil and water management technology targeting did not effectively address climate-induced risks to rain-fed agriculture. This study, therefore, delineates homogenous climatic regions and identifies climate-induced risks to rain-fed agriculture that are important to guide decisions and the selection of site-specific technologies for green water management in the Abbay basin. The k-means spatial clustering method was employed to identify homogenous climatic regions in the study area, while the Elbow method was used to determine an optimal number of climate clusters. The k-means clustering used the Enhancing National Climate Services (ENACTS) daily rainfall, minimum and maximum temperatures, and other derived climate variables that include daily rainfall amount, length of growing period (LGP), rainfall onset and cessation dates, rainfall intensity, temperature, potential evapotranspiration (PET), soil moisture, and AsterDEM to define climate regions. Accordingly, 12 climate clusters or regions were identified and mapped for the basin. Clustering a given geographic region into homogenous climate classes is useful to accurately identify and target locally relevant green water management technologies to effectively address local-scale climate-induced risks. This study also provided a methodological framework that can be used in the other river basins of Ethiopia and, indeed, elsewhere.
Clinical Research in Prehospital Care: Current and Future Challenges
Authors: Cimino Jonathan , Braun Claude
Published: October 2023

Prehospital care plays a critical role in improving patient outcomes, particularly in cases of time-sensitive emergencies such as trauma, cardiac failure, stroke, bleeding, breathing difficulties, systemic infections, etc. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in clinical research in prehospital care, and several challenges and opportunities have emerged. There is an urgent need to adapt clinical research methodology to a context of prehospital care. At the same time, there are many barriers in prehospital research due to the complex context, posing unique challenges for research, development, and evaluation. Among these, this review allows the highlighting of limited resources and infrastructure, ethical and regulatory considerations, time constraints, privacy, safety concerns, data collection and analysis, selection of a homogeneous study group, etc. The analysis of the literature also highlights solutions such as strong collaboration between emergency medical services (EMS) and hospital care, use of (mobile) health technologies and artificial intelligence, use of standardized protocols and guidelines, etc. Overall, the purpose of this narrative review is to examine the current state of clinical research in prehospital care and identify gaps in knowledge, including the challenges and opportunities for future research.
Hybrid Polymer–Inorganic Coatings Enriched with Carbon Nanotubes on Ti-6Al-4V Alloy for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Träger Dominika , Słota Dagmara , Niziołek Karina , Florkiewicz Wioletta , Sobczak-Kupiec Agnieszka
Published: October 2023

Bone tissue degeneration, caused by disease as well as trauma, is a problem affecting many social groups in the 21st century. It involves pain and reduced patient comfort. Developments in materials engineering allow for the design of novel, innovative materials that can be used in therapies to promote bone regeneration. This work presents the preparation of a ceramic–polymer coating modified with carbon nanotubes on a titanium alloy for biomedical applications. The ceramic part is hydroxyapatite synthesized by the wet precipitation method using orthophosphate and calcium hydroxide. The polymer of choice was polyethylene glycol. A UV light synthesis method was successfully applied to obtain coatings characterized by continuity and full crosslinking. Extensive physicochemical analysis and incubation studies were carried out. Interactions between coatings and fluids mimicking artificial biological environments were analyzed for 9 days, i.e., in fluids such as SBF solution, artificial saliva, and distilled water. During the in vitro incubation, changes in pH values were measured by potentiometric tests, and ionic conductivity was measured by analyzing conductometry. After incubation, the surface morphology was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) together with energy-dispersive (EDS) microanalysis, which made it possible to determine the presence of individual elements on the surface, as well as to observe the appearance of new apatite layers. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometry was also performed before and at the end of the incubation period. On the basis of the presented studies, it was concluded that coatings that contain nanotubes are bioactive and do not negatively affect the properties of the coatings. Bioactivity was confirmed microscopically by observing new apatite layers after incubation in SBF, which were identified as phosphorus and calcium deposits. Degradation of the polymer phase was observed in the artificial saliva. These materials require further study, including safety analysis, but they demonstrate potential for further work.
Designing Gallium-Containing Hydroxyapatite Coatings on Low Modulus Beta Ti-45Nb Alloy
Authors: Vishnu Jithin , Voss Andrea , Hoffmann Volker , Alberta Ludovico Andrea , Akman Adnan , Shankar Balakrishnan , Gebert Annett , Calin Mariana
Published: October 2023

Low-modulus β-type Ti-45Nb alloy is a promising implant material due to its good mechanical biocompatibility, non-toxicity, and outstanding corrosion resistance. Its excellent chemical stability brings new challenges to chemical surface modification treatments, which are indispensable for both osteogenesis and antibacterial performance. Coatings containing metal ions as anti-microbial agents can be an effective way to reduce implant-associated infections caused by bacterial biofilm. Gallium ion (Ga3+) has the potential to reduce bacterial viability and biofilm formation on implant surfaces. In this study, a novel two-step process has been proposed for Ga3+ incorporation in hydroxyapatite (HAP) to develop bioactive and antibacterial surfaces on Ti-45Nb alloy. For the generation of bioactive surface states, HAP electrodeposition was conducted, followed by wet chemical immersion treatments in gallium nitrate (1 mM). Different buffers such as phosphate, sodium bicarbonate, ammonium acetate, and citrate were added to the solution to maintain a pH value in the range of 6.5–6.9. Coating morphology and HAP phases were retained after treatment with gallium nitrate, and Ga3+ ion presence on the surface up to 1 wt.% was confirmed. Combining Ga and HAP shows great promise to enable the local delivery of Ga3+ ions and consequent antibacterial protection during bone regeneration, without using growth factors or antibiotics.
Comparison of Enamel Surface Integrity after De-Bracketing as Affected by Seven Different Orthodontic Residual Cement Removal Systems
Authors: Almudhi Abdullazez , Aldeeri Arwa , Aloraini Abdullah Abdulrahman A. , Alomar Ahmed Ibrahim M. , Alqudairi Meshari Saad M. , Alzahrani Osama Abdullah A. , Eldwakhly Elzahraa , AlMugairin Sarah
Published: October 2023

This study used seven different adhesive removal systems to evaluate and compare enamel surface integrity, heat generation, and time consumed during residual cement removal after de-bracketing. The sample size was 140 human premolars. Teeth were cleaned, mounted, and prepared for orthodontic bracket bonding. Brackets were then debonded using bracket-removing pliers. Teeth were randomly assigned to seven groups based on the residual cement removal system: Group 1: Stainbuster bur, Group 2: Renew diamond bur #129, Group 3: Renew carbide bur, Group 4: OneGloss Complete system, Group 5: Sof-Lex system, Group 6: Enhance Finishing and PoGo Polishing complete kit, and Group 7: Renew friction grip points. The enamel surface was evaluated for roughness before bracketing and after residual cement removal using surface profilometry. The time taken for cement removal was recorded using a digital timer, and heat generation was measured using a laser thermometer before and after cement removal. One-way ANOVA compared the pre- and post-values for enamel surface roughness, temperature, and time consumed. When comparing the difference between the post- and pre-finishing roughness using one-way ANOVA, the Renew diamond bur produced the roughest enamel surface post-removal with a mean of 4.716 μm, while the Sof-Lex recorded the lowest at 0.760 μm. The highest mean temperature was recorded with the Stainbuster bur at 5.545 °C, and the lowest temperature was recorded with the Enhance bur at 2.260 °C. The time for cement removal was the shortest with the Enhance bur at 12.2 s, whereas the time was the longest with the Renew diamond bur at 30.4 s. In conclusion, all the residual cement removal systems used in this clinically simulated study were not able to restore the original enamel surface smoothness. However, the 3M Sof-Lex produced the lowest enamel roughness but with more time consumption and heat generation. When selecting the best residual cement removal system to be used, clinicians should weigh the merits and demerits of each system based on the clinical judgement of the operator.
Efficacy and Complications Associated with Acellular Dermal Substitute Use in the Treatment of Acute Burns: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Press Isobel , Moiemen Naiem , Ahmed Zubair
Published: October 2023

Over several decades, skin substitutes have become an essential tool in acute burn surgery, particularly in major burns, where scarce donor tissues can limit the availability of autografts. This systematic review aimed to assess the efficacy, complication rates, and long-term outcomes of acellular dermal substitutes in acute burns and compare these to conventional skin grafting methods of coverage. A search of PubMed, Web of Science, and CENTRAL for appropriate randomized controlled trials (RCTs), non-randomized trials, and observational studies was conducted. Following screening, nine RCTs and seven observational studies fulfilled our inclusion and exclusion criteria. Our primary outcomes, which were graft take and incidence of infection, found no significant difference between the substitute and control procedures in a meta-analysis (p = 0.37 and p = 0.87, respectively). For our secondary outcomes, the studies were analyzed via narrative synthesis, which reported variable rates of graft loss and duration of acute hospital stay, from which definitive conclusions could not be drawn due to the heterogeneity in reporting. Despite a high risk of bias in the included studies, the evidence reviewed suggests that the treatment of an acute burn with a substitute may improve scar quality when compared to conventional grafting. This review therefore suggests that acellular dermal substitutes offer a viable method for staging the closure of deep partial- and full-thickness acute burns, although more robust RCTs with less heterogeneity are needed to support these conclusions.
The Impact of Tourism on Energy Consumption: A Sectoral Analysis for the Most Visited Countries in the World
Authors: Pablo-Romero María P. , Sánchez-Braza Antonio , García-Soto Miguel A.
Published: October 2023

Tourist activity has strategic importance in the global economy. Nevertheless, the tourism activities are linked to increased emissions, due to the sector’s energy intensity, especially in the transport and commercial sectors. The aim of this study is to analyze the relationship between final energy consumption in the whole economy, the transport, commercial and public services sectors, and the tourist activity in the 15 countries with the highest number of international tourist arrivals in the world, in 2000–2019 period. The Energy–Environment Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis extended with tourism has been tested. Obtained results show non-linear relationships between energy consumption and production levels. There is evidence in favor of the energy EKC hypothesis, and in favor of an inverted N-shaped relationship for transport and commercial and public services sectors. The results also show a positive, increasing relationship between energy consumption and tourist arrivals for the whole economy. However, there is some evidence of the tourism energy EKC hypothesis when considering the transport, commercial and public services sectors. Therefore, economies of scale are observed in these sectors. Accordingly, it is highly advisable to increase the economies of scale, coupled with a greater awareness on the use of renewable energy. Negative relationships are found between energy consumption and tourism receipts. Therefore, it is advisable to establish policies that encourage high quality tourism to control the economy’s energy consumption.
Tourism, Economic Growth, and Environmental Pollution in APEC Economies, 1995–2020: An Econometric Analysis of the Kuznets Hypothesis
Authors: Navarro-Chávez César Lenin , Ayvar-Campos Francisco Javier , Camacho-Cortez Celeste
Published: October 2023

Tourism plays an important role in fostering economic growth within the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum member countries. Nevertheless, the development of this sector has resulted in significant depletion of natural resources and pollution. This research aims to determine the relationship between tourism, economic growth, and environmental pollution in both developing and developed APEC economies from 1995 to 2020. By adopting the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) framework, two dynamic panel data models are estimated employing Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS), and causal relationships are established using the Dumitrescu–Hurlin test. The results indicate that tourism and economic growth have had a positive influence on the rise of environmental pollution in both groups of economies during the specified period. This research offers new insights by analyzing twelve developing and nine developed APEC economies over a span of 25 years, estimating two DOLS models, conducting Dumitrescu–Hurlin causality tests, and presenting evidence of EKC for both types of economies. Consequently, the implementation of policies that foster the preservation of natural areas, the utilization of renewable energies, and the promotion of sustainable tourism practices is recommended.
A Low-Cost High-Throughput C-Band Communication System for CubeSats
Authors: Krenz Rafał , Sroka Paweł , Sybis Michał , Zainutdinov Ilia , Wesołowski Krzysztof
Published: October 2023

This paper presents the physical layer of a proprietary broadband communication system for CubeSats. The system operates in the C band (5.8 GHz), delivering at least 10 Mbps of the net user throughput. Operation at low elevation angles (and therefore low SNRs) and high Doppler shifts is made possible thanks to a sophisticated synchronization subsystem. The system can be adapted to propagation conditions experienced during a given visibility window by changing the signal bandwidth and coding rate. It is implemented using Software Defined Radio (SDR) technology. The system will be used in two missions that are scheduled for 2023 and 2024 and are planned in cooperation with the National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” and SatRev S.A.
Speech Emotion Recognition Using Convolutional Neural Networks with Attention Mechanism
Authors: Mountzouris Konstantinos , Perikos Isidoros , Hatzilygeroudis Ioannis
Published: October 2023

Speech emotion recognition (SER) is an interesting and difficult problem to handle. In this paper, we deal with it through the implementation of deep learning networks. We have designed and implemented six different deep learning networks, a deep belief network (DBN), a simple deep neural network (SDNN), an LSTM network (LSTM), an LSTM network with the addition of an attention mechanism (LSTM-ATN), a convolutional neural network (CNN), and a convolutional neural network with the addition of an attention mechanism (CNN-ATN), having in mind, apart from solving the SER problem, to test the impact of the attention mechanism on the results. Dropout and batch normalization techniques are also used to improve the generalization ability (prevention of overfitting) of the models as well as to speed up the training process. The Surrey Audio–Visual Expressed Emotion (SAVEE) database and the Ryerson Audio–Visual Database (RAVDESS) were used for the training and evaluation of our models. The results showed that the networks with the addition of the attention mechanism did better than the others. Furthermore, they showed that the CNN-ATN was the best among the tested networks, achieving an accuracy of 74% for the SAVEE database and 77% for the RAVDESS, and exceeding existing state-of-the-art systems for the same datasets.
Applying the Geometric Features of Cumulative Sums to the Development of Event Detection
Authors: Tsai Men-Shen , Lin Yen-Kuang
Published: October 2023

As a result of the severe energy shortage and the greenhouse effect, experts worldwide have been devoted to solving energy management problems. Smart grid construction is an essential technology for mastering energy allocation. Smart grids enable end users to adjust their energy consumption via incentive measures, reduce the frequency of power supply instability, and improve energy efficiency. Non-intrusive load monitoring (NILM) is a vital technology for smart grid construction. One of the fundamental steps of NILM is event detection. Proper event detection can increase the accuracy of load identification. Among traditional methods, especially the event detection method developed with the CUSUM method, although the accuracy is reasonable, the precision, recall, and f1 score are not relatively better. Thus, there is an opportunity to improve the performance of CUSUM. Additionally, many studies focus on the step-like event, but the long-transient event is often overlooked in event detection. Therefore, in this study, it was observed that when the transient current deviates from the steady-state current, the transient current can be regarded as a key indicator for event detection. With this observation, a method is proposed to convert the root mean square (RMS) current into a cumulative sum (CUSUM) diagram method and identify turning points representing events from the CUSUM geometry. Once the slope of the turning point has been determined, event detection is achieved. Compared with traditional methods, the proposed method is easy to implement, its recognition rate can reach around 98%, and the window length is reduced from 5 s to 3 s.
Storage of Compressed Natural Gases
Authors: Zakirova Gulnur , Krapivsky Evgeny , Berezovskaya Anastasia , Borisov Artem
Published: October 2023

The article analyzes the modern theory and practice of transportation and storage of compressed natural gas. The expediency of the inclusion of a floating storage berth for the loading of gas carriers and container ships into the infrastructure of marine transportation of compressed natural gas is considered. Requirements for storage berth are formulated. It is shown that without using a marine mooring storage facility, the loading time of a gas carrier will considerably increase, and the economic efficiency of compressed gas transportation will lower due to the considerable time of loading and unloading of a gas carrier. The construction of a storage berth is proposed, and calculations of storage parameters and calculation of its buoyancy are made. The possibility of using the REFPROP vs. 9.1 software package to automate the selection of the composition of a multicomponent hydrocarbon mixture for further use at the selected range of temperatures and pressures is substantiated. The use of the system is considered in the example of phase equilibrium of a multicomponent hydrocarbon mixture.
Mitogenomic Analysis of Pterioidea (Bivalvia: Pteriomorphia): Insights into the Evolution of the Gene Rearrangements
Authors: Zhang Yu , Qi Lu , Li Fengping , Yang Yi , Gu Zhifeng , Liu Chunsheng , Li Qi , Wang Aimin
Published: October 2023

The complete mitogenomes of Pinctada albina and Pinctada margaritifera were sequenced in this study, with sizes of 23,841 bp and 15,556 bp, respectively. The mitochondrial genome analysis of eight Pterioidea species indicated the existence of gene rearrangements within the superfamily. The ATP8 gene was not detected in the two new mitogenomes, and rrnS was found to be duplicated in P. albina’s mitogenome. The reconstructed phylogeny based on mitogenomes strongly supported the monophyly of Pterioidea and provided robust statistical evidence of the phylogenetic relationships within Pteriomorphia. The analysis of the mitochondrial gene order revealed that of P. margaritifera to be the same as the ancestral order of Pterioidea. The gene orders of the Pterioidea species were mapped to the phylogenetic tree, and the gene rearrangement events were inferred. These results provide important insights that will support future research, such as studies extending the evolutionary patterns of the gene order from P. margaritifera to other species and determining the evolutionary status of Pterioidea within the infraclass Pteriomorphia.
Habitat Use of Two Coral-Associated Cryptobenthic Gobiid Fishes (Family: Gobiidae) in the Southern Caribbean
Authors: Ziebell Ann-Christin , Vogel Maite L. , Ratajczak Niklas Kjell , Hoeksema Bert W.
Published: October 2023

Cryptobenthic fishes make up more than half of coral reef fish fauna and contribute greatly to coral reef trophodynamics and diversity. Because of their small size, they are easily overlooked and understudied. Some of them use corals as their habitat, but this association is not well understood. In the Caribbean, two common cryptobenthic gobies, Elacatinus evelynae and Coryphopterus lipernes, are usually observed residing on corals. In order to compare their habitat use, we investigated their distributions on a range of scleractinian host-coral species at three different depths (5, 10, and 15 m) at Curaçao, southern Caribbean. The numbers of both species were relatively low at 5 m. Furthermore, we investigated the relationship between fish size and depth and found that adult E. evelynae individuals were most common at 5 m depth and juveniles at 15 m depth. Novel host corals were found for both fish species. Taking host size into account, the gobies were most abundant on large coral colonies of two host species: E. evelynae on both Colpophyllia natans and Montastraea cavernosa, and C. lipernes only on C. natans. In summary, depth, host species, and host-colony size were found to be environmental factors that may determine the occurrence of both fish species.
Green Extraction of Antioxidant Fractions from Humulus lupulus Varieties and Microparticle Production via Spray-Drying
Authors: Ferreira-Anta Tania , Torres María Dolores , Vilarino Jose Manuel , Dominguez Herminia , Flórez-Fernández Noelia
Published: October 2023

The formulation of polymeric microparticles to encapsulate bioactive compounds from two hop varieties (Nugget and Perle) using sequential green extraction processes was performed. The technologies used were ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and pressurized hot water (PHW) extraction. Liquid phases were analyzed for total phenolic content (~2%), antioxidant activity (IC50, DPPH: 3.68 (Nugget); 4.46 (Perle) g/L, TEAC (~4–5%), FRAP (~2–3%), and reducing power (~4%)), protein content (~1%), oligosaccharide content (~45%), and for structural features. The fractions obtained from UAE were selected to continue with the drying process, achieving the maximum yield at 120 °C (Perle) and 130 °C (Nugget) (~77%). Based on these results, the formulation of polymeric microparticles using mannitol as the carrier was performed with these fractions. The production yield (~65%), particle size distribution (Perle: 250–750 µm and Nugget: ~100 µm), and rheological features (30–70 mPa s at 0.1 s−1) were the parameters evaluated. The UAE extracts from hop samples processed using a sustainable aqueous treatment allowed the formulation of microparticles with a suitable yield, and morphological and viscosity properties adequate for potential food and non-food applications.
Incidences for Fractures 2017–2021: What Do We Learn from the COVID-19 Pandemic?
Authors: Niemöller Ulrich , Tanislav Christian , Kostev Karel
Published: October 2023

Purpose/Introduction: In the present study, we aimed to assess the long-term incidence of fractures and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The current cohort study included patients who had received an initial fracture diagnosis of any type documented anonymously in the Disease Analyzer database (IQVIA) between 2017 and 2021 by physicians in 941 general practices in Germany. We investigated the development of fracture incidence over this period. Results: A total of 196,211 patients had a fracture diagnosis between 2017 and 2021. The number of patients with fracture diagnosis was highest in 2019 (n = 50,084) and lowest in 2020 (n = 46,227). The mean age of patients increased from 60.8 years in 2017 to 63.3 years in 2021. Between 58% and 60% of patients were female. From 2017 to 2019, the number of fractures documented in the younger age categories remained constant. Between 2019 and 2020, an incidence decrease was documented in the younger age groups (age group 16–40 years: −17.17%; age group 41–60 years: −18.71%; age group 61–80 years: −6.43%). By contrast, a slight increase of 3.03% was identified in the age group >80 years of age. No relevant changes in fracture incidences were noted between 2020 and 2021. Incidence rates decreased for both sexes from 2019 to 2020 (female patients: −6.27%; male patients: −10.18%). In the youngest age group (16–40 years), the decrease observed in 2020 was due to lower incidences for fractures of the upper and lower extremities (−11.9%; −12.5%) and ribs (−50.0%). In the age group ≥80 years, fracture incidences increased for the upper extremity (+2.8%), lower extremity (+8.3%), and femur (+8.3%). Conclusions: The circumstances of the pandemic reduced the incidence of fractures in younger people, probably due to reduced recreational activities, while fracture incidence increased in older people, presumably as a result of lack of support.
RETRACTED: Zhang, E. Hepatic PLIN5 Deficiency Impairs Lipogenesis through Mitochondrial Dysfunction. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23, 15598
Authors: Zhang Enxiang
Published: October 2023

The International Journal of Molecular Sciences retracts the article entitled “Hepatic PLIN5 Deficiency Impairs Lipogenesis through Mitochondrial Dysfunction” [...]
Identification of Molecular Subtypes and Prognostic Characteristics of Adrenocortical Carcinoma Based on Unsupervised Clustering
Authors: Zhang Yuan , Zhang Cong , Li Kangjie , Deng Jielian , Liu Hui , Lai Guichuan , Xie Biao , Zhong Xiaoni
Published: October 2023

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare endocrine malignancy with a poor prognosis. Increasing evidence highlights the significant role of immune-related genes (IRGs) in ACC progression and immunotherapy, but the research is still limited. Based on the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, immune-related molecular subtypes were identified by unsupervised consensus clustering. Univariate Cox analysis and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression were employed to further establish immune-related gene signatures (IRGS). An evaluation of immune cell infiltration, biological function, tumor mutation burden (TMB), predicted immunotherapy response, and drug sensitivity in ACC patients was conducted to elucidate the applicative efficacy of IRGS in precision therapy. ACC patients were divided into two molecular subtypes through consistent clustering. Furthermore, the 3-gene signature (including PRKCA, LTBP1, and BIRC5) based on two molecular subtypes demonstrated consistent prognostic efficacy across the TCGA and GEO datasets and emerged as an independent prognostic factor. The low-risk group exhibited heightened immune cell infiltration, TMB, and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), associated with a favorable prognosis. Pathways associated with drug metabolism, hormone regulation, and metabolism were activated in the low-risk group. In conclusion, our findings suggest IRGS can be used as an independent prognostic biomarker, providing a foundation for shaping future ACC immunotherapy strategies.
Mitochondrial Dysfunction in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Oral Inflammatory Diseases
Authors: Dong Zhili , Wu Liping , Hong Hong
Published: October 2023

Oral inflammatory diseases (OIDs) include many common diseases such as periodontitis and pulpitis. The causes of OIDs consist microorganism, trauma, occlusal factors, autoimmune dis-eases and radiation therapy. When treated unproperly, such diseases not only affect oral health but also pose threat to people’s overall health condition. Therefore, identifying OIDs at an early stage and exploring new therapeutic strategies are important tasks for oral-related research. Mitochondria are crucial organelles for many cellular activities and disruptions of mitochondrial function not only affect cellular metabolism but also indirectly influence people’s health and life span. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in many common polygenic diseases, including cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Recently, increasing evidence suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction plays a critical role in the development and progression of OIDs and its associated systemic diseases. In this review, we elucidated the critical insights into mitochondrial dysfunction and its involvement in the inflammatory responses in OIDs. We also summarized recent research progresses on the treatment of OIDs targeting mitochondrial dysfunction and discussed the underlying mechanisms.
Molecular Marker-Assisted Mapping, Candidate Gene Identification, and Breeding in Melon (Cucumis melo L.): A Review
Authors: Shahwar Durre , Khan Zeba , Park Younghoon
Published: October 2023

Melon (Cucumis melo L.) is an important crop that is cultivated worldwide for its fleshy fruit. Understanding the genetic basis of a plant’s qualitative and quantitative traits is essential for developing consumer-favored varieties. This review presents genetic and molecular advances related to qualitative and quantitative phenotypic traits and biochemical compounds in melons. This information guides trait incorporation and the production of novel varieties with desirable horticultural and economic characteristics and yield performance. This review summarizes the quantitative trait loci, candidate genes, and development of molecular markers related to plant architecture, branching patterns, floral attributes (sex expression and male sterility), fruit attributes (shape, rind and flesh color, yield, biochemical compounds, sugar content, and netting), and seed attributes (seed coat color and size). The findings discussed in this review will enhance demand-driven breeding to produce cultivars that benefit consumers and melon breeders.
The Combination of Antibiotic and Non-Antibiotic Compounds Improves Antibiotic Efficacy against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria
Authors: Xiao Gang , Li Jiyun , Sun Zhiliang
Published: October 2023

Bacterial antibiotic resistance, especially the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains, urgently requires the development of effective treatment strategies. It is always of interest to delve into the mechanisms of resistance to current antibiotics and target them to promote the efficacy of existing antibiotics. In recent years, non-antibiotic compounds have played an important auxiliary role in improving the efficacy of antibiotics and promoting the treatment of drug-resistant bacteria. The combination of non-antibiotic compounds with antibiotics is considered a promising strategy against MDR bacteria. In this review, we first briefly summarize the main resistance mechanisms of current antibiotics. In addition, we propose several strategies to enhance antibiotic action based on resistance mechanisms. Then, the research progress of non-antibiotic compounds that can promote antibiotic-resistant bacteria through different mechanisms in recent years is also summarized. Finally, the development prospects and challenges of these non-antibiotic compounds in combination with antibiotics are discussed.