bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Fenton-assisted decolorization strategy for the cotton fabrics dyed with Reactive Blue KN-G
Authors: Wu Hao , Zhou Chang-E , Kan Chi-wai , Feng Jiahe , Li Rong , Li Zhiguang , Zhang Qing , Li Huixia 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Decolorization is a vital step in the recycling and reuse of colored waste textiles. However, conventional textile decolorization methods often pose serious environmental and water resource pollutions. This paper presents a Fenton-assisted decolorization approach to strip the reactive dyes from cotton fabrics. In this research, reactive-dyed cotton fabrics were initially pre-treated with thiourea dioxide (TDO) and ferrous ions (Fe2+), followed by an oxidative decolorization treatment with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). During these decolorization processes, dye molecules were gradually degraded through a series of reduction and oxidation reactions. The effects of process parameters on decolorization efficiency and the mechanical properties of cotton fabrics were investigated and optimized, including the dosage of decolorization agents, solution pH, decolorization duration and temperature. The results show that the proposed decolorization method efficiently removed reactive dyes from cotton fabrics quickly at a low temperature, achieving a decolorization rate higher than 90% with only about a 10% loss in the tensile strength. In addition, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FT-IR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were utilized to investigate changes in the chemical composition, crystal structure, thermal stability performance, and surface microstructure of cotton fibers after decolorization as well as the possible decolorization mechanism.
Engineering and Optimization of Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles: A Multimodal Approach to Glucocorticoid-Based Rheumatoid Arthritis Management
Authors: Dwivedi Shradha Devi , Singh Deependra , Singh Manju Rawat 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Introduction:
The primary purpose of the present work was to formulate folic acid (FA) conjugated biogenic sliver nanoconstructs (AgNPs) loaded with dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DSP) for the management of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). DSP is the potent glucocorticoids (GCs) which reduce the inflammatory cytokines but its application is restricted due its unfavorable pharmacokinetics and significant adverse effects.
Method:
Biogenic AgNPs were prepared from Piper nigrum (Pn@AgNPs) with chitosan as a stabilizing agent and loaded with DSP (DSP-Pn@AgNPs). DSP-Pn@AgNPs was optimized using response surface methodology, which was further modified with FA (FA-DSP-Pn@AgNPs).
Results:
The conjugation of FA with DSP-Pn@AgNPs was verified by 1H-NMR. FTIR and EDX analyses identified certain functional groups and quantified the presence of silver ions in the nanoconstructs, respectively. The XRD pattern of FA-DSP-Pn@AgNPs revealed its crystalline structure, whereas spherical shape has been confirmed via images of SEM and TEM. The in vitro release of DSP from FA-DSP-Pn@AgNPs showed 94% release at pH 6.5 within 48 h, through Korsmeyer-Peppas kinetic model. FA-DSP-Pn@AgNPs show antioxidant capacity by inhabiting DPPH, H2O2, OH, and NO radicals, along with anti-inflammatory properties such as anti-proteinase, lipoxygenase, collagenase, and elastase. The study also found no significant cytotoxic effect on non-LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages, confirming systemic drug toxicity reduction. On the other hand, it significantly reduces LPS-stimulated cell line implies a probable anti-inflammatory action in RA.
Conclusion:
Thus, this study presents a synergistic action to guide the rational design of multifunctional anti-RA nanoconstructs, which show promise for clinical use.
The role of the social network in the study of adherence to diabetic retinopathy screening programs
Authors: Pereira Andreia Penso , Afonso Ana , Laureano Raul M. S. , Neto Fernando Buarque Lima 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Diabetic retinopathy screenings are a vital strategy to avoid the severe consequences of this disease. However, their success depends on the adherence of the target population. The present work aims to analyse the influence of the diabetics’ social network (contacts between diabetics) on their screening behaviour. The used data set comprises information of 75.921 diabetics, distributed by 20 Primary Health Centre Groups of the Portuguese North Region. Diabetics of the same Group were organized in an N-by-N matrix, resulting in 20 social networks. Network metrics were calculated and its relationship with the adherence to screening was analysed using two perspectives: correlation between global network metrics and adherence rate; cluster analyses based on node level metrics. The results obtained show that: (1) Less connected networks, strongly divided into communities and with a great number of connected components, present the highest adherence rates. (2) The node level metrics allow the identification of groups where the problem of non-adherence is especially high. (3) The non-adherence phenomenon is especially evident in a small group of highly connected individuals. We believe that these results are of utmost relevance as a starting point for future research and as support to the planning of interventions related to diabetic retinopathy screening adherence.
Relief and elevation set limits on mountain size
Authors: Draebing Daniel , Mayer Till , McColl Samuel , Schlecker Martin , Jacobs Benjamin 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

The complex interplay between rock strength and topo-climatic stress hampers a simple understanding of mountain shape, erosion rates, and the ability to forecast climate change impacts to topography and landslide hazard. Regional and catchment-averaged erosion studies often blur these complexities, which are best revealed with studies that directly measure erosion, strength, and stress at the source. Here, we present direct measurements from two catchments in the Northern Calcareous Alps. The data suggest that topographic relief and rock mass strength, in combination with elevation and aspect, can explain the pattern of rockwall erosion in deglaciated and permafrost-free alpine terrain. Regardless of their elevation, taller rockwalls experience faster erosion and appear to have lower rock mass strength than shorter rockwalls. Superimposed on this, elevation regulates climatic stresses, which leads to more intense frost weathering at summits, explaining the increase in erosion with elevation and the maintenance of sharp topography. Combined, these factors keep mountain peaks in check and help explain the variability in rockwall erosion and associated hazard across the European Alps. Our findings update the understanding of existing relief-limiting hypotheses, and reveal their own limits applicability.
Impacts of fireworks and firecrackers on urban air quality during the Chinese Spring Festivals of 2022-2024 in Shandong Province, China
Authors: Xie Jun , Wang Guixia , Bi Yalian , Ding Chun , Qiao Jing , Wang Lumin , Wang Changwei , Qiu Xiaoguo 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Based on monitoring data of urban air quality and meteorological conditions during the Spring Festival period (SFP) in 2022, 2023 and 2024, this paper used various analysis methods such as CO ratio method, PM2.5 component analysis, and PMF source apportionment to deeply study the impact of fireworks and firecrackers (F&F) discharge on air quality in Shandong Province. The results showed that: (1) the average daily PM2.5 concentration in Shandong Province during the Spring Festival in 2024 was 164µg/m3, which was significantly higher than that in 2022 (71µg/m3) and 2023 (77µg/m3) due to the influence of the concentrated discharge of F&F (FCDP) and adverse meteorological conditions. During the FCDP in 2024, the provincial average hourly peak concentration of PM2.5 is 423µg/m3, which is 2.2 times and 12.1 times of those in the same period of the lunar calendar in 2022 and 2023. (2) On the Spring Festival's Eve (SFE) and the day of Spring Festival (DSF) of 2024, the concentration range of contribution of F&F to PM2.5 in 16 cities was 0-109µg/m3 and 34–209µg/m3, which accounted for 0–54% and 27–60%, respectively. F&F had a significant impact on the number of days with heavy and severe air pollution in cities. (3) During the FCDP in 2024, NO3− and NH4+ in PM2.5 decreased by 21.5% and 10.7% respectively in 14 cities, while the proportion of characteristic components of F&F, such as K+, Cl−, SO42− and Mg2+, increased by 17.2%, 7.7%, 5.9% and 1.7%, respectively. The mass concentration and increasing range of SO42−, Cl− and K+ in Weifang, Zibo, Linyi and Liaocheng were impacted by F&F more significantly. (4) The results of PMF source apportionment of Linyi City showed that the main sources of PM2.5 during the benchmark period (BP) were secondary sources (34.6%) and motor vehicle sources (21.2%), but were F&F discharge (59.3%) during the FCDP .
Elevated Serum level of soluble Programmed Death-1 and C-Reactive Protein as biomarkers of Immune Dysregulation in Preeclampsia: Implications for Early Detection
Authors: Wondmagegn Tadelo , Sisay Biruk , Abere Aberham , Worede Abebaw , Tegegegne Yalewayker , Fetene Getnet , Alemu Bewuketu Belete , Lemma Mulualem 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Background
Preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy related hypertensive condition with potentially life-threatening complications for the mother and fetus. its immunopathogenesis involves complex immune responses characterized by systemic inflammation and immune dysregulation. Soluble Programmed Death-1 (sPD-1) is an immune checkpoint has been implicated in immune exhaustion, and C-reactive protein (CRP) is an inflammatory marker associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Monitoring the levels of serum sPD-1 and CRP in preeclamptic pregnancies may be used as biomarkers for disease severity, immune dysregulation, and early detection of preeclampsia.
Objective
This study aimed to determine the levels of sPD-1 and CRP in preeclamptic patients, explore their association with proteinuria, and determine their potential as diagnostic markers for preeclampsia and disease severity.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Gondar specialized hospital. 79 pregnant women were included; of these, 39 had preeclampsia and 40 were age matched normotensive controls. Levels of CRP and sPD-1 were measured using enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA)and Quick read go CRP analyzer, and proteinuria was categorized using urine dipstick tests into three levels (+ 1, + 2, +3). Statistical analysis was performed to examine the median difference in sPD-1 and CRP level between preeclamptic women and normotensive controls, as well as across different proteinuria levels of preeclamptic women
Results
Preeclamptic women have higher median sPD-1 (5616 pg/L, IQR: 4592–7422 vs 4347 pg/L, IQR: 3885–4939) and CRP levels (4.5 mg/L, IQR: 3.8–5.3) than normotensive controls (4347 pg/L, IQR: 3885–4939 and 2.6 mg/L, IQR: 2.2–3.0 respectively). But there was no significant difference in sPD-1 and CRP levels across different categories of proteinuria levels in preeclamptic women.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Preeclamptic women have higher median sPD-1 and CRP levels than normotensive control, indicating a potential link between these biomarkers and the pathology of preeclampsia. However, sPD-1 and CRP levels does not differ across different proteinuria categories in preeclamptic women.
Reliability of fire danger forecasts for Czech agricultural and forestry landscapes
Authors: Kudláčková Lucie , Linda Rostislav , Balek Jan , Štěpánek Petr , Zahradníček Pavel , Poděbradská Markéta , Možný Martin , Hlavsová Monika , Žalud Zdeněk , Trnka Miroslav 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Background: The increasing threat of fire caused by ongoing climate change requires accurate and timely prediction for the effective management of extreme fire situations. The limited research on the connection between fire danger metrics and the occurrence of wildfires in the forested and agricultural landscapes of the Czech Republic underscores the need to better understand how to properly quantify fire danger in the context of Central Europe. This study focused on assessing the accuracy of fire danger prediction with respect to the number of wildfires in different geographic regions of the Czech Republic and provided new insights into central European fire ecology.
Results: We found that the fire season in the Czech Republic has two peaks, in spring and summer, with regional differences in the total number of wildfires. Analyses of fire danger via the Canadian Fire Weather Index (FWI) and Australian Forest Fire Danger Index (FFDI) for the years 2018–2022 revealed that the IFS numerical weather prediction model is the most suitable for conditions in the Czech Republic. A linear regression model showed a high predictive capability for the total number of wildfires in the Czech Republic, with an observed R-squared value of 0.81 and a mean absolute error (MAE) of 5.19 wildfires with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 4.94–5.44. Additionally, the second model, which utilized a linear model with random effects to account for regional variability, had an R-squared value of 0.34 and an MAE of 1 wildfire (95% CI ±3), indicating that the inclusion of regional correction coefficients (random effects) enhanced the prediction accuracy.
Conclusions: This study provides key insights into fire danger prediction in relation to the number of wildfires. With this model, it is possible to predict how many wildfires may occur at specific values of the FWI and FFDI in individual regions (NUTS 3) of the Czech Republic. This information can be used for more effective readiness planning for human resources and fire equipment while also contributing to the enhancement of general knowledge in the field of fire science in the context of central Europe.
Dulaglutide ameliorates chronic stress-induced cognitive impairment via regulating gut microbiota and serum metabolites in mice
Authors: Zhang Shipan , Jin man , Huang Boya , Hou Zhaowei , Fei Di , Zhang Xueru , Gao Chenyang , Lv Peiyuan , Shi Haishui , Wang Tianjun 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Chronic stress may lead to cognitive impairment. Prolonged use of dulaglutide could potentially alleviate cognitive impairment in individuals with type 2 diabetes, although its role in cognitive impairment induced by chronic stress remains elusive. This study aimed to explore the effect of dulaglutide on cognitive impairment caused by chronic stress and the underlying mechanisms. Forty-five mice were randomly divided into the following 3 groups (n = 15 per group): the CON group (the normal control group), the CMS-V group (mice treated with chronic mild stress and vehicle) and the CMS-D group (mice treated with chronic mild stress and 0.6 mg/kg dulaglutide). We found chronic mild stress resulted in cognitive impairment and anxiety-like behaviors in mice. Three weeks of dulaglutide treatment significantly alleviated cognitive impairment but had no effect on anxiety-like behaviors. Dulaglutide treatment induced alterations in gut microbiome homeostasis, particularly affecting the levels of f_Bacteroidaceae, f_Caulobacteraceae and f_ Helicobacteraceae. Meanwhile, dulaglutide had an effect on metabolic changes, especially in glycerophospholipids. Further analysis showed a correlation between gut microbiota and metabolite alterations following dulaglutide treatment. These results suggest that dulaglutide may potentially reverse cognitive impairment induced by chronic stress, possibly through its influence on the gut microbiota and metabolomic pathways.
Quantitative methodology for poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) microplastic detection in soil and compost
Authors: Hernandez-Charpak Yvan D. , Kansara Harshal J. , Lodge Jeffrey S. , Eddingsaas Nathan C. , Lewis Christopher L. , Trabold Thomas A , Diaz Carlos A 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

With the increasing use of biodegradable plastics in agriculture and food packaging, it has become increasingly important to assess the effects of their fragmentation and mineralization in the environment (i.e. soil, compost). PBAT is a biodegradable polyester widely used in biodegradable mulch films that are intended to fragment and mineralize in soil. To study these effects, novel methodologies are needed to quantify PBAT microplastics in these diverse environments. This work seeks to answer whether Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) can be used as a tool to assess PBAT microplastics in soil. A method was developed that allows PBAT soil extraction by ultrasonication and GCMS quantification after a fatty acid methyl ester derivatization. To validate the method, an industrial compost degradation experiment was carried out to evidence the weight loss of PBAT film and quantify the micro- and nano-plastic generated from them. The presented method improved the existing resolution by, at least, one order of magnitude compared to reported methods. In conclusion, a novel, simple, affordable, and reproducible methodology for PBAT microplastics detection was developed improving the limits of detection and quantification. The method was tested on an industrial compost experiment, demonstrating the ability to trace the totality of the plastic over time, evidencing that PBAT is consumed in the industrial compost environment.
Childhood Antecedents of Current Place Satisfaction in Adults: A Cross-National Analysis of 22 Countries
Authors: Counted Victor , Weziak-Bialowolska Dorota , Cowden Richard G. , Johnson Byron R. , VanderWeele Tyler J. 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

We examine how childhood predictors, including retrospectively reported familial relationships, socioeconomic status, health, and religious activities, potentially influence satisfaction with the area or city where one lives (i.e., place satisfaction) in adulthood across 22 countries, using data from the Global Flourishing Study (N = 202,898). The random effects meta-analysis reveals significant associations between childhood factors and adult place satisfaction. Strong relationships with parents during childhood were associated with a slight decrease in the likelihood of place satisfaction, while parental divorce and being raised by a single, never-married parent slightly increased satisfaction. Financial comfort during childhood was linked to a decreased likelihood of place satisfaction, whereas those who experienced severe financial hardship were more likely to be satisfied with their living environment as adults. Negative childhood experiences, such as abuse and feeling like an outsider, were paradoxically associated with an increased likelihood of place satisfaction, potentially indicating that place serves as a compensatory attachment in the face of disrupted interpersonal bonds. Excellent childhood health was linked to a decreased likelihood of place satisfaction, while fair health was associated with a slight increase. Regular religious service attendance during childhood generally predicted a slight decrease in likelihood of place satisfaction, possibly due to the prioritization of spiritual fulfilment over physical comfort. These associations exhibited considerable cross-national variation in effect sizes; for instance, the impact of growing up in financial comfort decreased the likelihood of place satisfaction by 3% in the United States, while in the Philippines, financial difficulty was associated with a 13% increased likelihood of place satisfaction. Sensitivity analyses using E-values indicated some robustness to potential unmeasured confounding, lending additional credibility to the observed relationships. These findings highlight the importance of creating urban environments that are not only responsive to the diverse backgrounds and experiences of residents, but also recognize the nuanced ways in which some positive childhood experience may paradoxically decrease place satisfaction possibly due to discrepancies between expectation and experienced reality in adulthood.
Pan-caspase inhibitors induce secretion of HIV-1 latency reversal agent lymphotoxin-alpha from cytokine-primed NK cells
Authors: Domselaar Robert van , Hajikhezri Zamaneh , Zygouras Ioannis , Sönnerborg Anders 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

The persistence of HIV-1 latency reservoirs in CD4+ T cells is a significant obstacle for curing HIV-1. Shock-and-kill strategies, which aim to reactivate latent HIV-1 followed by cytotoxic clearance, have shown limited success in vivo due to insufficient efficacy of latency reversal agents (LRAs) and off-target effects. Natural killer (NK) cells, with their ability to mediate cytotoxicity independent of antigen specificity, offer a promising avenue for enhancing the shock-and-kill approach. Previously, we observed that pan-caspase inhibitors induce NK cells to secrete an LRA in vitro. Here, we aimed to identify this LRA using a targeted proteomic approach. We identified lymphotoxin-α (LTα) as the key LRA secreted by NK cells following pan-caspase inhibitor treatment. LTα was shown to significantly induce HIV-1 LTR promoter activity, a hallmark of viral reactivation. Neutralization of LTα effectively abolished the observed LRA activity, confirming its central role. Moreover, cytokine-primed but not resting human primary NK cells exhibited LRA activity that could be neutralized with LTα neutralizing antibodies. Finally, pan-caspase inhibitor treatment did not decrease the ability of the cytokine-primed NK cells to kill target cells. These findings demonstrate that cytokine-primed NK cells, through LTα secretion, can effectively reactivate latent HIV-1 following pan-caspase inhibitor treatment, without compromising NK cell cytotoxicity. This highlights a potential enhancement strategy utilizing NK cells for shock-and-kill approaches in HIV-1 cure research.
NTPGR: A Lightweight and Efficient Gesture Recognizer for Traffic Police Commands Using Spatiotemporal Feature Fusion
Authors: Xiao Jun , Li Honghan , Zhao Ji 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

In response to the demand for efficient and accurate recognition of traffic police gestures by driverless vehicles, this paperintroduces a novel traffic police gesture recognition framework (Novel Traffic Police Gesture Recognizer, NTPGR). Initially,keypoints related to traffic police gestures are extracted using the Efficient Progressive Feature Fusion Network (EPFFNet),followed by feature modeling and fusion to enable the recognition network to better learn the temporal characteristics ofgestures. Additionally, a convolution network branch and a hybrid attention branch are incorporated to further extract skeletoninformation from the traffic police gesture data, assign different temporal weights to key frames, and enhance the focuson important channels. Finally, in conjunction with Long Short Term Memory (LSTM), a multi-branch gesture recognitionnetwork, termed the Multi-Sequence Gesture Recognition Network (MSNet), is proposed to facilitate the integration of threebranches of gesture features, thereby enhancing the targeted extraction of temporal characteristics in traffic police gestures.Experimental results indicate that NTPGR achieves 97.56% accuracy with an average response time of 0.76 seconds. It notonly recognizes traffic police gestures in real-time with high efficiency but also demonstrates strong robustness in recognizinggestures in complex environments and dynamic scenarios.