bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Choice of size-exclusion chromatography column affects recovery, purity, and miRNA cargo analysis of extracellular vesicles from human plasma
Authors: Bracht Jillian W.P. , Los Mandy , van der Pol Edwin , Verkuijlen Sandra A.W.M. , van Eijndhoven Monique A.J. , Pegtel D. Michiel , Nieuwland Rienk 
Published: September 2024

Aim: The miRNA cargo of plasma extracellular vesicles (EVs) is commonly studied for its biomarker potential. However, isolation of EVs from human plasma is challenging. Although size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) is commonly used to isolate plasma EVs, SEC does not completely separate EVs from other miRNA carriers such as cells, lipoproteins, and proteins. Recently, new SEC columns were introduced, but hitherto, no systematic study was performed to compare the recovery and purity of plasma EVs using both traditional and new columns. In this study, we investigated the recovery of EVs and separation efficacy from lipoproteins and proteins using different SEC columns, and how recovery and separation affect miRNA cargo analysis.
Methods: EVs were isolated from pooled (n = 5) platelet-depleted plasma using 10 different SEC columns. For each column, three EV-enriched fractions were pooled and concentrations of EVs, lipoproteins, proteins, and miRNAs were measured by flow cytometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Bradford assay, and qRT-PCR, respectively.
Results: Our results show that the resin pore size affects all measured parameters: a small pore size increases recovery of EVs and quantity of miRNA, but decreases the separation efficacy compared to a large pore size. Regression analysis showed that the investigated miRNAs are more strongly associated with EVs than with lipoproteins or proteins.
Conclusion: The choice of a SEC column markedly affects the recovery, separation efficacy, and miRNA cargo analysis of human plasma-derived EVs. We recommend either using SEC columns with a 70-nm pore size due to their superior EV purity or studying the effect of non-EV particles on the miRNAs of interest.
A Study of CO2 Storage in Bimodal Carbonate Aquifer Rocks: Challenges and Enhancement through Foaming
Authors: Adebayo Abdulrauf R. , Rezk Mohamed G. , AlYousef Zuhair , Badmus Suaibu O. , Babu Rahul S. 
Published: September 2024

SummaryIn carbonate rock reservoirs, the presence of dual-pore systems, characterized by two distinct pore size distributions, plays a crucial role in gas storage in saline aquifers. However, comprehensive research on the impact of bimodal porosity on CO2 storage in such reservoirs is lacking. This study explores CO2 storage efficiency in carbonate aquifer rocks with bimodal porosity. Petrographic examination, capillary pressure measurements, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) T2 profiling revealed two distinct and interconnected pore systems with equal effective porosity proportions. While both systems facilitated fluid flow, the micropores had a high capillary entry pressure (&gt;100 psi). Coreflood experiments showed gas displacement efficiencies below 50%, primarily in larger pores, with only 49–58% of these large pores (20–28% of total pores) storing injected gas through residual trapping after water imbibition. To address this challenge, CO2 was foamed using a foaming agent to enhance viscous forces and overcome capillary forces. This resulted in significant improvements, including a 31% increase in displacement efficiency and a 28% increase in residual gas. NMR analysis revealed effective redirection of CO2 into smaller pores when foam was applied. In another experiment on a sample with a different pore geometry, the use of nanoparticles to strengthen foam increased sweep efficiency by up to 117%, with a corresponding increase of up to 169% in residual trapping. While the use of foam entails additional operational expenses, we contend that the economic viability of foam technology for CO2 storage hinges on a rigorous cost-benefit analysis that weighs increased storage capacity/security against chemical costs. Such analysis should also consider the time, cost, and uncertainty associated with developing additional storage sites. Furthermore, improved site selection criteria in carbonate rocks are needed, including a predictive model for T2 cutoff to identify aquifers with excessive micropores and avoid them during site selection. While fractured porosity is not within the scope of this study, it is expected that foam can equally improve sweep and trapping efficiencies in naturally fractured carbonate rocks.
Resistance and tolerance to Exserohilum turcicum in landrace sweet corn varieties from a diversity microcenter in Southern Brazil
Authors: Gonzalez Jorge Andres Betancur , Felipini Ricardo Barbosa , Zeist Andre Ricardo , Ogliari Juliana Bernardi 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

The northern corn leaf blight (NCLB) is one of the most important diseases affecting corn leaves. Resistance and tolerance mechanisms play crucial roles in helping plants protect themselves from pathogen attacks. The landraces from the Far West of Santa Catarina (FWSC), along with recent studies, have shown significant genetic variability for various traits. However, the presence of qualitatively resistant genes has not been confirmed. To address this gap, two experiments were conducted in a randomized block design with four replications during the 2019/2020 season. One experiment involved inoculation with a concentration of 2x103 spores mL− 1, without chemical control, while the other was not inoculated, and NCLB was controlled with difenoconazole-based fungicide. Evaluation included lesion type, incubation period, latency period, severity measured by the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC), and corn ear productivity. The obtained data were subjected to analysis of variance, and Tukey's mean test was applied in individual variance analyses for the variables IP, LP, AACPD, and PROD. Joint analyses were performed only for variables common to both experiments (PROD and AACPD). Tolerance was evaluated by comparing productivity losses, considering severity increments, in the presence and absence of chemical control. Significant differences (p ≤ 0.001) were observed among genotypes for LP and PROD, specifically for the commercial variety BR401 and landrace 2029A in the experiment without chemical control. Joint analysis for experiment management and productivity revealed significant differences (p ≤ 0.005). The first record of this type of qualitative resistance gene in landraces in southern Brazil and the Cubano accession demonstrated the highest disease tolerance capacity, emphasizing its potential for germplasm conservation and utilization in breeding programs.
Impact of Vernalization and Heat Stress on Spring Wheat Growth, Gas Exchange and Yield Potential
Authors: Yıldırım Mehmet , Barutçular Celaleddin 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

For successful farming, it's important to know the positive and negative effects of exposing spring wheat to vernalization on plant growth, stress responses, and yield potential. The primary objectives of this research are to demonstrate how vernalization influences spring wheat development and to identify how vernalization interacts with heat stress tolerance. A growth chamber experiment was conducted to examine the grain yield, crop growth, and gas exchanges of spring wheat in response to vernalization, heat stress, and their interaction in order to assess the impact of these factors on wheat. Vernalization significantly decreased grain yield of spring wheat. Under non-vernalization conditions, heat stress after flowering produced a decrease in yield of approximately 80 percent. The average yields of wheat genotypes under heat stress conditions were 83% higher in vernalized plants than in non-vernalized plants. The grain yield of spring wheat genotypes was strongly related final spike weight and yield and grain filling rate all vernalizaition and heat stress combination conditions. In non-vernalization conditions, heat stress during grain filling reduced all gas exchange parameters, although the effect varies depending on the cultivar. Both under normal and heat-stressed conditions, vernalization led to a decrease in the rate of photosynthetic rate. According to the study's findings, it would be advisable to avoid early sowing because vernalization can reduce the yield potential of spring wheat. Vernalization seems to make plants more tolerant of high temperatures by reducing the weight of the plant's vegetative organs and increasing the weight of its generative organs.
Enhanced Hydrolysis of Lignocellulosic Waste Using Highly Efficient Ozone Pretreatment in a Venturi System: A Comparison of Free and Strainer Models
Authors: Halpern Barak , Pras Asaf , Halanur Manohara , Gerchman Yoram , Mamane Hadas 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

This study investigates eco-friendly ozone pretreatment processes for lignocellulosic waste, essential in bioethanol, biogas, and bioplastics production. Traditional methods are costly and polluting, limiting large-scale applications. We tested two pretreatment methods using cardboard as a model. The ozone was applied using hydrodynamic cavitation in a venturi system in two settings: the 'Strainer model', where cardboard is enclosed in a mesh strainer limiting ozone contact, and the 'Free model', where cardboard fibers circulate freely, maximizing ozone exposure. The 'Free model' showed a 100% ozone consumption rate, significantly higher than the 70% in the 'Strainer model', indicating better ozone reactivity. This model eliminates the need for ozone stripping in off-gas, offering safety and cost benefits.. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the 'Free model' reduced lignin and increased holocellulose in the biomass, and increasing the streaming (zeta) potential. This pretreatment also enhanced hydrolysis efficiency, yielding 71% sugars compared to 54% in the 'Strainer model', supported by x-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis. The increased surface area and direct ozone contact in the 'Free model' are key mechanisms driving these improvements.
Association between obstetric comorbidity index and Complications of vaginal delivery: a large cross-sectional study from China
Authors: Shen Xin , Mu Ge , Yang Liu , Li Hong , Su Yani 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background: The incidence of vaginal delivery complications（VDCs） has been increasing globally in recent years, posing a significant threat to the health of mother and offspring. The obstetric comorbidity index (OB-CMI) is a widely recognized tool that quantifies the burden of maternal comorbidities, predicting severe maternal morbidity or mortality during delivery and puerperium. Currently, it remains unclear whether there is an association between OB-CMI and VDCs.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and spectrum of VDCs, and to explore the association between OB-CMI and VDCs. Additionally, we aimed to evaluate the use of OB-CMI in reducing the incident of VDCs in obstetrics.
Methods: This population-based cross-sectional study used data from the Shaanxi Province inpatients sample spanning from 2019 to 2022. We extracted all vaginal delivery data, maternal age and 20 comorbid conditions were assessed and weighted. The outcomes were the occurrence of VDCs. Cases of OB-CMI and VDCs were identified using the 10th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) codes. The association between OB-CMI and VDCs was estimated using logistic regression models, with and without adjustment for age, level of medical institution, and route of admission.
Results: The overall prevalence of VDCs in Shaanxi province, China, from 2019 to 2022 was 11.86%. The top five complications of vaginal delivery were retained placenta and membranes without hemorrhage, other obstetric injuries, postpartum hemorrhage, other complications of labor and delivery not classifiable elsewhere, and perineal lacerations during childbirth, collectively accounting for 99.3% of vaginal delivery complications. For each one-point increase in OB-CMI, there was a 10% increase of VDC incidence after adjustment. Among the different categories of VDCs, OB-CMI was associated with other obstetric lacerations (P=0.002), postpartum hemorrhage (P<0.001), retained placenta and fetal Membranes (P<0.001), but not with perineal laceration (p=0.175).
Conclusions: The OB-CMI is associated with increased risk of VDCs. It may inform prenatal counseling of women in childbirth. OB-CMI score greater than 7 should be closely supervised vaginal delivery, Vaginal delivery is not recommended for OB-CMI score greater than 10.
Local Earthquake Response on the Submarine Communication Cable in The Northern South China Sea
Authors: Li Hao , Shen Xuzhang , Li Zhaohui , Chen Shaoyi 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

As a new seismological monitoring technology, distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) not only provides a high-precision seismic observation method, but also uses undersea communication fiber or dark fiber to reduce the layout cost, and supports long-term observation for several years, and the sensing resolution reaches the scale of meters. This technique provides a broad prospect for seismic observation in oceanic area which is difficult to be covered by traditional seismic observation instruments.
In this paper, we analyzed the DAS waveforms of 10 local-earthquake events waveforms recorded by offshore submarine communication cable in the northern South China Sea, and discussed the response ability of DAS system based on shallow sea communication cable to near-earthquake. It is found that the signals are affected by surface gravitational waves and micro seismic noise (Scholte Wave) generated by solid-liquid coupling motion. Then, waveform stacking, discrete wavelet transform, and empirical mode decomposition are used to denoise the signal in shallow sea area for extracting earthquake waveform. Submarine optical cable is the most widely distributed submarine signal monitoring system in the world. Long-term and cheap deep-sea seismic wave observation based on such the large-scale global ocean observation network can provide important data for the development of seismology.
Study on the Macro and Micro Characteristics of the Influence of Deviator Stress on True Triaxial Unloading Failure
Authors: Liu Yun , Lai Jie , Liu Yuan , Cong Yu 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

In order to investigate the influence of deviator stress on true triaxial compression with confining pressure and unloading tests, indoor experiments were conducted with six different stress combinations for unloading tests. Macroscopic characteristics of the true triaxial compression with confining pressure unloading test showed that during unloading, the ε1 curve dropped and then increased along the original loading curve, while the ε2 and ε3 curves dropped vertically during unloading and then continued to increase. When the minimum principal stress remained constant, with an increase in deviator stress, the peak stress and axial deformation also increased. During unloading failure, crack development mainly concentrated in the σ2 direction, while splitting and volume expansion were primarily concentrated in the σ3 direction. As deviator stress increased, the number of cracks increased, gradually forming a "V"-shaped failure pattern with more rock spalling on the surface. The energy characteristics of the unloading failure test showed that the elastic strain energy curve during unloading was similar to the axial stress-strain curve, with an increase in elastic strain energy related to axial stress changes. The dissipation energy rapidly increased in the post-peak stage, indicating sample failure, with a correlation between dissipation energy and sample failure. As deviator stress increased, the total energy and dissipation energy at complete sample failure increased, but the rate of increase in total energy and dissipation energy decreased as the σ3 value increased.
Flow Field-Based Enhanced Artificial Potential Field Method: Enhancing Cooperative Search and Obstacle Avoidance in Swarm Robotic
Authors: Xuan LiWei , Liu MingYong , He GuoYuan , Yan ZhiQiang 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

In the context of cooperative search and obstacle avoidance for a swarm of robots using heuristic optimization algorithms, the traditional artificial potential field method often leads to oscillating robot trajectories and excessive dispersion of the robot swarm. To address these issues, this study proposes an improved artificial potential field method based on a flow field as the obstacle avoidance approach for cooperative search in a swarm of robots. This method incorporates the robot's safety range and dynamically adjusts the repulsive potential field of obstacles to reduce the negative impact of inefficient obstacle avoidance on search efficiency. Additionally, an adaptive inertia weight adjustment method is designed for the robots, which considers the essence of robot updates and aims to smooth the robot's search trajectory and promote consensus building within the robot swarm. Finally, the proposed algorithm is validated through simulations and compared with relevant algorithms in different environments to demonstrate its effectiveness and efficiency.
Identification and prediction of biomarkers, immune infiltration features, molecular regulatory mechanisms, and potential therapeutic agents associated with cuproptosis in osteoarthritic cartilage
Authors: Li Xin , Da Zheng , Guo Rui , Guan Hao , Zhou Fucheng , Wang Ai 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent chronic degenerative joint disease among older adults. Given the incomplete comprehension of OA mechanisms and treatment approaches, there is an urgent need for novel insights into potential mechanisms and targeted treatment methods for this disease. Cuproptosis, a newly proposed copper-dependent mechanism, plays a crucial role in the development and progression of various diseases. However, its role in the development of OA remains inconclusive. This study aimed to ascertain the functional pathways, hub genes, and immune infiltration characteristics associated with cuproptosis in OA cartilage. In addition, this study investigated the regulatory mechanisms underlying hub genes and identified prospective therapeutic agents for OA.
Methods: Gene expression profiles were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Employing R software, we screened for cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) exhibiting differential expression between OA and normal cartilage, followed by sample classification based on their expression levels. Differentially expressed genes between cuproptosis subtypes were subjected to weighted gene co-expression network analysis to identify candidate hub genes associated with cuproptosis and OA. The identified genes were subsequently subjected to functional enrichment analysis. Employing the CytoHubba plugin in Cytoscape and a combination of LASSO with support vector machine methods, we further eliminated the hub genes. Afterward, hub gene validation, correlation analysis between hub genes and immune cells, hub gene co-expression analysis, and correlation analysis between hub genes and CRGs were conducted. Finally, networks of miRNA regulation, transcription factor regulation, and drug-gene interactions were constructed for the hub genes.
Results: A total of 104 candidate hub genes were identified, with functional enrichment analysis revealing their association with metabolism and inflammation. Subsequently, seven hub genes were further screened and validated, showing consistent expression in both the training and validation datasets. Immune cell infiltration analysis revealed associations between immune cells, OA, and cuproptosis. Potential regulatory mechanisms and factors underlying OA and cuproptosis were unveiled through hub gene co-expression and regulatory networks. Finally, we identified potential therapeutic drugs for OA through the DGIdb.
Conclusions: Through comprehensive bioinformatics analysis, we identified hub genes, immune infiltration characteristics, and functional pathways associated with cuproptosis in OA cartilage. Our in-depth exploration of regulatory mechanisms, interrelationships, and potential therapeutic drugs associated with the hub genes provides numerous potential research directions for investigating OA and cuproptosis.
A Dimensional Analysis for Cost Optimization and Cost-Effective Carbon Capture: A Comparative Study of Hybrid Post-Combustion Configurations in Natural Gas Power Plants
Authors: Obi Donald , Onyekuru Samuel , Orga Anslem 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) considered a the key strategy for reducing the emissions of anthropogenic carbon dioxide from power generation plants, can be achieved by three main technologies: oxy-fuel combustion, pre-combustion, and post-combustion capture.
Post-combustion carbon capture (PCC), where CO2 is removed after the fuel burning, is a crucial solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from natural gas power plants (NGPPs). However, high costs and energy penalties associated with PCC technologies hinder their widespread adoption.
Recent advancements in hybrid PCC configurations have shown promise in improving efficiency and reducing costs. In effect, six PCC hybrid configurations below were identified as feasible process routes:
· 2S-AB +AD: Two-stage Absorption + Adsorption hybrid
· 2S-AB +MB: Two-stage Absorption + Membrane hybrid
· 2S-AD +AB: Two-stage Adsorption + Absorption hybrid
· 2S-AD +MB: Two-stage Adsorption + Membrane hybrid
· 2S-MB +AB: Two-stage Membrane + Absorption hybrid
· 2S-MB +AD: Two-stage Membrane + Adsorption hybrid
Each hybrid has its own technical and economic challenges that need to be investigated in order to identify the best technique for carbon capture. In this paper, we performed Aspen Hysys design simulation of the six hybrids PCC configurations and also their economic evaluations using parameters like investment costs, operating costs, net present value, and rate of return, culminating in the use of three assessment parameters namely, levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), carbon emission intensity (CEI) and cost of carbon avoidance (COA), to evaluate the six hybrids PCC configurations and to determine the most viable option.
Overall, it was found by dimensional analysis that the post combustion carbon capture using 2S-MB +AB: Two-stage Membrane + Absorption hybrid is the most viable for capturing CO2 from power generation plants and is hereby recommended. However, the choice of materials (membranes and absorbents) needs to be evaluated so as determined the best optimal configuration for commercialization.