bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Modelling the rheology of living cell cytoplasm: poroviscoelasticity and fluid-to-solid transition
Authors: Thekkethil Namshad , Köry Jakub , Guo Ming , Stewart Peter S. , Hill Nicholas A. , Luo Xiaoyu 
Published: July 2024

AbstractEukaryotic cell rheology has important consequences for vital processes such as adhesion, migration, and differentiation. Experiments indicate that cell cytoplasm can exhibit both elastic and viscous characteristics in different regimes, while the transport of fluid (cytosol) through the cross-linked filamentous scaffold (cytoskeleton) is reminiscent of mass transfer by diffusion through a porous medium. To gain insights into this complex rheological behaviour, we construct a computational model for the cell cytoplasm as a poroviscoelastic material formulated on the principles of nonlinear continuum mechanics, where we model the cytoplasm as a porous viscoelastic scaffold with an embedded viscous fluid flowing between the pores to model the cytosol. Baseline simulations (neglecting the viscosity of the cytosol) indicate that the system exhibits seven different regimes across the parameter space spanned by the viscoelastic relaxation timescale of the cytoskeleton and the poroelastic diffusion timescale; these regimes agree qualitatively with experimental measurements. Furthermore, the theoretical model also allows us to elucidate the additional role of pore fluid viscosity, which enters the system as a distinct viscous timescale. We show that increasing this viscous timescale hinders the passage of the pore fluid (reducing the poroelastic diffusion) and makes the cytoplasm rheology increasingly incompressible, shifting the phase boundaries between the regimes.
The role of anti-citrullinated protein antibody in pathogenesis of RA
Authors: Ma Hang , Liang Xu , Li Shan-Shan , Li Wei , Li Tian-Fang 
Published: July 2024

AbstractRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common autoimmune rheumatic disease that causes chronic synovitis, bone erosion, and joint destruction. The autoantigens in RA include a wide array of posttranslational modified proteins, such as citrullinated proteins catalyzed by peptidyl arginine deiminase4a. Pathogenic anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs) directed against a variety of citrullinated epitopes are abundant both in plasma and synovial fluid of RA patients. ACPAs play an important role in the onset and progression of RA. Intensive and extensive studies are being conducted to unveil the mechanisms of RA pathogenesis and evaluate the efficacy of some investigative drugs. In this review, we focus on the formation and pathogenic function of ACPAs.
Invasion in cold: weather effects on winter activity of an alien mesopredator at its northern range
Authors: Selonen Vesa , Toivonen Pyry , Tuomikoski Elina 
Published: July 2024

AbstractWhether an invasive species thrives in cold ecosystems depends on its response to winter weather. A potential threat to these ecosystems in Europe is the invasive raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides). The survival of this mesopredator is supported in cold weather, because it can periodically use winter sleep, but its winter activity levels compared to native mesopredators remain unclear. We investigated the winter behaviour of raccoon dogs in Finland, near the edge of their invasion front, and compared their activity to native red foxes and badgers. Using wildlife cameras, we found that raccoon dogs do reduce activity during the coldest months, but camera observations did not strongly correlate with temperature perhaps due to feeding at camera sites. That is, artificial food sources may have increased raccoon dogs’ winter activity. Nevertheless, they responded more clearly to temperature drops than red foxes, but were more active than badgers that were mostly dormant and thus absent from our data. GPS-tracked raccoon dogs remained at some level active through winter, even near subarctic regions, but the cold and snowy weather clearly decreased activity and individuals stayed close to their nests during the coldest periods. Overall, these findings suggest that raccoon dogs can maintain some winter activity even in extremely cold environments, and they readily exploit human-provided resources. This potential ability to thrive in cold regions highlights the invasive potential of raccoon dogs. As winters become milder due to climate change, their numbers could increase significantly within cold-adapted ecosystems, impacting native species and posing conservation challenges.
Consumption Feedback and Water Saving: A Field Intervention Evaluation in the Metropolitan Area of Milan
Authors: Clò Stefano , Reggiani Tommaso , Ruberto Sabrina 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThis paper investigates whether informative feedback on consumption can nudge water saving. We launched a five-month online information campaign which involved around 1,000 households located in the province of Milan (Italy) with a smart meter. A group of households received monthly reports via email on their per capita daily average water consumption, including a social comparison component. The Intention to Treat (ITT) analysis shows that, compared to a benchmark group, the units exposed to the intervention reduced their per capita water consumption by around 6% (25.8 liters per day or 6.8 gallons). Being able to observe the email opening rate, we find that the ITT effect is mainly driven by complying units. Through an Instrumental Variable approach, we estimated a Local Average Treatment Effect equal to 54.9 liters per day of water saving. A further Regression Discontinuity Design analysis shows that different feedback on consumption class size differentially affected water saving at the margin. We also found that the additional water saving increased with the number of monthly reports, though it did not persist two months after the campaign expired.
Seasonal and trend variation of methane concentration over two provinces of South Africa using Sentinel-5p data
Authors: Sibiya Swelihle Sinothile , Mhangara Paidamwoyo , Shikwambana Lerato 
Published: July 2024

AbstractSouth Africa faces the urgency to comprehensively understand and manage its methane (CH4) emissions. The primary aim of this study is to compare CH4 concentrations between Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga regions dominated by cattle farming and coal mining industries, respectively. CH4 concentration trends were analyzed for the period 2019 to 2023 using satellite data. Trend analysis revealed significant increasing trends in CH4 concentrations in both provinces, supported by Mann–Kendall tests that rejected the null hypothesis of no trend (Eastern Cape: p-value = 8.9018e−08 and Mpumalanga: p-value = 2.4650e−10). The Eastern Cape, a leading cattle farming province, exhibited cyclical patterns and increasing CH4 concentrations, while Mpumalanga, a major coal mining province, displayed similar increasing trends with sharper concentration points. The results show seasonal variations in CH4 concentrations in the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga provinces. High CH4 concentrations are observed in the northwestern region during the December-January–February (DJF) season, while lower concentrations are observed in the March–April-May (MAM) and June-July–August (JJA) seasons in the Eastern Cape province. In the Mpumalanga province, there is a dominance of high CH4 concentrations in southwestern regions and moderately low concentrations in the northeastern regions, observed consistently across all seasons. The study also showed an increasing CH4 concentration trend from 2019 to 2023 for both provinces. The study highlights the urgent need to address CH4 emissions from both cattle farming and coal mining activities to mitigate environmental impacts and promote sustainable development. Utilizing geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing technologies, policymakers and stakeholders can identify and address the sources of CH4 emissions more effectively, thereby contributing to environmental conservation and sustainable resource management.
The Role of Urban Green Spaces on Life Satisfaction and Migration Willingness in Tirana, Albania
Authors: Kruja Samel , Braçe Olta , Kokthi Elena , Cumbrera Marco Garrido 
Published: July 2024

AbstractIn the framework of place attachment we explore how green spaces contribute to life satisfaction in a context of high emigration rates. We propose that green spaces affect life satisfaction of the population through the mediation of physical health and mental health, and this relationship is moderated by migration willingness. We conducted our study in March–April 2021 in the city of Tirana, Albania. Using physical and mental health indicators, our results demonstrate that urban green spaces directly and indirectly affect life satisfaction. The mediators with the highest impact on life satisfaction are psychological distress and well-being. Green space exposure plays a role in influencing health outcomes, but the relationship is not moderated by migration willingness, and it shows a higher impact on participants with better mental health. Designing more and improved urban green spaces is a pathway to positively affect the health and well-being of urban populations.
Anti-IL-17 Inhibits PINK1/Parkin Autophagy and M1 Macrophage Polarization in Rheumatic Heart Disease
Authors: Bai Ling , Li Yuan , Lu Chuanghong , Yang Yiping , Zhang Jie , Lu Zirong , Huang Keke , Xian Shenglin , Yang Xi , Na Na , Huang Feng , Zeng Zhiyu 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is an important and preventable cause of cardiovascular death and disability, but the lack of clarity about its exact mechanisms makes it more difficult to find alternative methods or prevention and treatment. We previously demonstrated that increased IL-17 expression plays a crucial role in the development of RHD-related valvular inflammatory injury. Macrophage autophagy/polarization may be a pro-survival strategy in the initiation and resolution of the inflammatory process. This study investigated the mechanism by which IL-17 regulates autophagy/polarization activation in macrophages. A RHD rat model was generated, and the effects of anti-IL-17 and 3-methyladenine (3-MA) were analyzed. The molecular mechanisms underlying IL-17-induced macrophage autophagy/polarization were investigated via in vitro experiments. In our established RHD rat model, the activation of the macrophage PINK1/Parkin autophagic pathway in valve tissue was accompanied by M1 macrophage infiltration, and anti-IL-17 treatment inhibited autophagy and reversed macrophage inflammatory infiltration, thereby attenuating endothelial–mesenchymal transition (EndMT) in the valve tissue. The efficacy of 3-MA treatment was similar to that of anti-IL-17 treatment. Furthermore, in THP-1 cells, the pharmacological promotion of autophagy by IL-17 induced M1-type polarization, whereas the inhibition of autophagy by 3-MA reversed this process. Mechanistically, silencing PINK1 in THP-1 blocked autophagic flux. Moreover, IL-17-induced M1-polarized macrophages promoted EndMT in HUVECs. This study revealed that IL-17 plays an important role in EndMT in RHD via the PINK1/Parkin autophagic pathway and macrophage polarization, providing a potential therapeutic target.
Digital Sustainability for Energy-Efficient Behaviours: A User Representation and Touchpoint Model
Authors: McCarthy Stephen , Ertiö Titiana , Fitzgerald Ciara , Kahma Nina 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
In response to climate change, nations have been tasked with reducing energy consumption and lessening their carbon footprint through targeted actions. While digital technologies can support this goal, our understanding of energy practices in a private household context remains nascent. This challenge is amplified by the ‘invisible’ nature of users’ interaction with energy systems and the impact of unconscious habits. Our objective is to explore how touchpoints embedded in digital sustainability platforms shape energy-efficiency behaviours among users. Building on data from semi-structured interviews and a two-hour co-creation workshop with 25 energy experts in the ECO2 project, we first identify three user representations of relevance to such platforms: energy-unaware, living in denial, and energy-aware and active. Our findings suggest that ‘static’ user representations (based on user demographics and average consumption) are giving way to socio-cognitive representations that follow users’ journeys in energy efficiency. We then develop a set of design principles to promote sustainable energy behaviours through digital sustainability platforms across user-owned, social/external, brand-owned, and partner-owned touchpoints. An analysis of user feedback from the ECO2 project shows support for our design principles across users’ journeys. Of 62 respondents covering all three representations, 76% of them intended to “implement changes in terms of energy consumption and energy efficiency”.
Thermal behavior and determination of physicochemical properties of novel candidates for antipsychotic drugs
Authors: Stępnicki Piotr , Gwarda Radosław Ł. , Bartyzel Agata , Karcz Tadeusz , Szczepańska Katarzyna , Wróbel Tomasz M. , Kaczor Agnieszka A. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractTreatment of schizophrenia with currently available drugs is often ineffective or results in several adverse reactions. In previous studies focusing on the search for new antipsychotic drugs, we designed and obtained a series of dopamine D2 and serotonin 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptor ligands that were pharmacologically evaluated and showed promising antipsychotic activity. Evaluation of ADMET parameters is an important issue in drug development and should be performed at its early stage to avoid developing molecules with poor pharmacokinetics, that are unlikely to enter the market. For this reason, in this work we focused on the assessment of physicochemical parameters of selected compounds from the series we obtained to assess their drug-like potential. The results of thermal analysis showed that most of the tested compounds are thermally stable above 200 °C, with one compound stable up to 190 °C. Permeability through biological membranes assessed in the parallel artificial membrane permeability assay indicated that all tested compounds effectively migrate through biological membranes by means of passive diffusion. The solubility of the tested compounds was determined in PBS, reflecting physiological pH, and 0.01 M HCl, indicating their low to moderate solubility in PBS, which was significantly improved in acidic environment. The lipophilicity of the studied compounds expressed as LogD falls within the range of 1.84–2.80, what suggest that they would show good oral absorption and the ability to cross lipid barriers. The studies were supplemented with in silico prediction of ADMET parameters, which also indicate the probable high drug-likeness of the tested compounds.
Structural response of half-scale pumice concrete masonry building: shake table/ambient vibration tests and FE analysis
Authors: Kaya Ali , Roudane Boudjamaa , Adanur Süleyman , Sunca Fezayil , Genç Ali Fuat , Gunaydin Murat , Altunişik Ahmet Can 
Published: July 2024

AbstractSeismic performance evaluation of masonry structures is of paramount importance for ensuring the safety and resilience of buildings in earthquake-prone regions. There are limited number of studies on pumice elements in the literature. In addition, there are almost no studies investigating the earthquake behavior of pumice masonry building as a whole structure. In this context, a comprehensive understanding of their seismic response and dynamic characteristics has been lacking. To address this knowledge gap, a shake-table experimental campaign was undertaken, wherein half-scale pumice masonry building was exposed to simulated seismic forces. To enhance the experimental findings, numerical simulations were performed to confirm and expand our comprehension of how the pumice masonry structure responds to dynamic forces. Integrating both experimental and numerical outcomes provides a holistic understanding of how pumice masonry buildings behave during seismic events. At the end of the experimental study, the frequency values of the pumice model were observed to decrease up to 23.5% in the modes compared to the undamaged state. In the numerical model, this value decreases up to 19.85%. For the undamaged and damaged model, the first three experimental mode shapes were similar to the numerical mode shapes. Both experimental and numerical results show that the expected damages occur in the same regions. These results show that nonlinear FE models can be helpful in determining potential damage model locations. The findings have implications for the seismic design and retrofitting of similar traditional masonry buildings, facilitating the development of resilient and sustainable engineering solutions in seismic-prone regions.
Plasmonic enhanced gas sensing using polarization-insensitive 3D hybrid nanostructures
Authors: Al-Shalaby Noha A. , Malhat Hend A. , Zainud-Deen Saber H. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThis paper investigates a hybrid coupled plasmonic gas sensor with stacked gold-SiO2 layers for air-quality monitoring. The gas absorption characteristics of hybrid-stacked layers sensors are studied and compared with single-layer sensors. Gases with different refractive indexes changing from 1 to 1.4 are studied. The total absorption radar cross section (ACS) has increased from 1.681 × 105 nm2 for single-layer sensors to 5.021 × 105 nm2 for hybrid stacked layers sensors. A graphene monolayer is used to enhance the total gas absorption. It acts as an insulator to the dipole sensor. The lumped-element equivalent circuit is developed using a particle swarm optimization technique (PSO). The sensitivity is 788 nm/RIU for the single-layer sensor and 910 nm/RIU for the hybrid-stacked layers sensor with a graphene monolayer placed as a cover for the plasmonic dipole. A polarization-insensitive sensor concerning the direction of the electric field (single layer/hybrid-stacked layers) is constructed from 45° quad-rotated dipole arms of sensors. The total ACS is enhanced to 2.31 × 105 nm2 for the polarization-insensitive single-layer sensor and 6.76 × 105 nm2 for the polarization-insensitive hybrid-stacked layers sensor. Planar arrays of 3 × 3, 4 × 4, and 5 × 5 elements of the last sensor are investigated for absorption and sensitivity enhancement. Ethanol, acetone, nitrogen dioxide, and toluene gases are tested with a total ACS peak value of 8.7 × 106 nm2. The sensitivity is 895.5 nm/RIU for 4 × 4 array elements.
Reconfigurable plasma OAM vortex wave generated by reflective metasurfaces
Authors: Badawy Mona M. , Zainud-Deen Anas S. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractIn this paper, a planar OAM reconfigurable plasma reflective metasurface with size 30 × 30 cm2 is designed. It consists of the reconfigurable plasma metasurface reflector and a feed horn antenna. The phase distribution of the plasma reflective metasurface combines the OAM phase distribution and the beam focusing required phase distribution. The required phase shifting range is 360° which obtained by adjusting the plasma frequency with changing the applied DC biasing voltage for the argon gas. The advantages of the design are high gain 22.4 dBi, narrow divergence angle 5°, high purity, good stability, planar structure, and easy fabrication. Beam scanning using the reflective metasurface for l = 1 at (θ = φ = 0°), (θ = 10°, φ = 0°), (θ = 20°, φ = 0°) and (θ = 30°, φ = 0°) is demonstrated.
Instructor presence in instructional videos in higher education: three field experiments in university courses
Authors: Heidig Steffi , Beege Maik , Rey Günter Daniel , Schneider Sascha 
Published: July 2024

AbstractIn formal educational settings, such as online university lectures, instructional videos often consist of PowerPoint slides accompanied by a video or audio explanation from the instructor. It has been assumed that the social cues provided by the instructor’s video may facilitate affective processes and affect learning outcomes. Research on instructor presence in instructional videos has focused primarily on laboratory and online studies that are not embedded in the courses in which learners are enrolled. Therefore, we present three field studies examining instructor presence in instructional videos embedded in higher education courses to strengthen external validity (exam-relevant topic, > 30 min long, personally known instructor). The results of these studies show positive effects of a visible instructor compared to no visible instructor on some affective measures: social presence in Study 1 (n = 18, d = .85) and well-being in Study 3 (n = 38, d = 1.01), but not on others (well-being in Studies 1 & 2 (n = 53); motivation in Studies 1–3, social presence in Studies 2 & 3). They also show no effects on extraneous processing or learning outcomes (Studies 1–3). Thus, no general effect of instructor presence can be shown for instructional videos embedded in university courses in higher education, but there are also no detrimental effects. This leads to implications for future research, teaching, and design practice.
Biochemical properties of polyphenol oxidase purified from Sarali plum (Prunus domestica)
Authors: Kaya Elif Duygu 
Published: July 2024

AbstractEnzymatic browning, catalysed by the enzyme polyphenol oxidase in fruit and vegetables, limits the efficient use of natural resources and promote food waste. Plums are a popular fruit with consumers around the world and are considered an important raw material in the food industry. Plums are very susceptible to enzymatic browning due to their high phenolic compound content and climacteric nature. The aim of this study is to purify the polyphenol oxidase enzyme from Sarali plum (Prunus domestica) and to determine its biochemical properties, kinetic parameters, pH and thermal stability and inhibition. In this study, polyphenol oxidase enzyme was purified 22.54-fold by affinity chromatography using Sepharose-4B-l-Tyr-p-amino benzoic acid affinity gel. The purity and molecular mass of the enzyme were determined by SDS-PAGE and non-denaturing PAGE (native PAGE). The molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be 72.44 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The enzyme was confirmed as PPO by native PAGE as a single band. Kinetic characterization studies were conducted for both catechol and 4-methyl catechol substrates. The optimal pH and temperature for both substrates were found to be 7.0 and 20 °C, respectively. The thermal stability of PPO was investigated, and it retained about 90% of its activity for 90 min at 4 °C. The determination of KM and Vmax was carried out using the Lineweaver–Burk plot. The substrate specificity (Vmax/KM) values for catechol and 4-methyl catechol were determined as 790.91 ± 37.34 and 492.06 ± 13.75 respectively. The enzyme exhibited the best activity towards catechol substrate. IC50, Ki constant and inhibition types were determined for various anti-browning agents on PPO enzyme. Ascorbic acid, l-cysteine, citric acid, salicylic acid and tartaric acid effectively inhibited PPO activity.