bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the camel milk amelioration, the oxidative stress, fertility and mutagenicity of male albino rats exposed to lead acetate, fipronil, and their mixture
Authors: Abdel‐Mobdy Yasmin E. , Abdel‐Mobdy Ahmed E. , AL‐Farga Ammar , Aqlan Faisal 
Published: February 2024

AbstractLead is considered a common old chronic toxicant around the world due to expanded environmental pollution, it is likely an inevitable contaminant in food, dairy products, air etc. Also, fipronil is a wide‐ranging effective N‐phenyl pyrazole insecticide which used commonly in agriculture and public health insect control, but until now no adequate data are available on the oxidative stress, cytotoxicity, and mutagenic influence of fipronil and lead or their mixture subchronic exposure. Both xenobiotics (lead and fipronil) exert a harmful impact on reproduction, prompting the exploration of various foods for functional protection. The present study investigated the effects of camel milk treatments on reproductive problems caused by lead acetate with or without mixing with fipronil in male albino rats. Liver oxidative stress, testicular relative weight, sperm analysis, investigation of chromosomal aberration, and histopathological examination of testis were performed. The results showed that the oxidative stress was elevated in rats treated with fipronil, lead acetate, and their mixture, which were reduced through camel milk treatments. Sperm counts were decreased significantly in lead and/or fipronil exposure but significantly elevated with camel milk intoxicated treated. Sperm morphological abnormalities and chromosomal aberrations in intoxicated groups were reduced significantly in camel milk‐treated animals relative to untreated intoxicated groups. Testicular histopathological results showed moderate common degeneration of seminiferous tubules in lead and/or fipronil‐intoxicated rats which were ameliorated by camel milk treatments. Generally, it can be concluded that lead and fipronil together in a mixture resulted in or induced severe reproductive problems and oxidative stress over lead or fipronil alone. Camel milk treatment significantly decreased the harmful oxidative stress in reproductive as well as the mutagenicity disorder associated with lead and fipronil exposure in male albino rats.
Multiscale effects and drivers of landscape heterogeneity for water‐related ecosystem services in urban agglomerations
Authors: Huang Lie , Chen Xiaohong , Ye Changxin , Yuan Ze , He Kunlong 
Published: February 2024

AbstractUnderstanding the multiscale impacts and drivers of urban agglomeration landscape patterns for ecosystem services (ESs), especially water‐related ecosystem services (WESs), is essential for the development of regional ecological management. However, the multiscale impacts and driving mechanisms of urban agglomeration landscape patterns for ESs have not been adequately explained. In this study, multivariate data were employed, and the InVEST model, trend test method, coupled GeoDetector and geographically and temporally weighted regression (GTWR) method were utilized to comprehensively explore the spatial and temporal changes in landscape patterns and WESs in the Pearl River Delta urban agglomeration (PRDUA) at various grid and administrative scales from 1990 to 2020 and to determine the driving mechanisms affecting WESs. The results indicated that the variation characteristics of landscape patterns and WESs in the PRDUA were consistent, forming a binary spatial structure of core and peripheral areas in an inverted “U” shape around the estuary of the Pearl River. The relationship between landscape patterns and WESs weakened with the increase of scale, and the correlation coefficient decreased by approximately 0.10 from 5 km to 10 km grid scale. Additionally, precipitation (PRE) was the main factor controlling WESs changes in the PRDUA, explaining more than 50% of the changes in WESs, and the regression coefficients ranged from 0.0825 to 0.1584. Changes in WESs were the result of the combined effects of natural factors, including PRE, landscape pattern, elevation, slope, and socioeconomic factors, such as population and gross domestic product (GDP). Overall, these findings could contribute to optimizing regional landscape patterns and fostering sustainable development of the ecological environment in urban agglomerations.
Understanding hydrological processes of glacierized catchments in the western Himalayas by a multi‐year tracer‐based hydrograph separation analysis
Authors: Dar Tanveer , Rai Nachiketa , Kumar Sudhir , Bhat Mohd Aadil 
Published: February 2024

AbstractSnow and glacier melt are significant contributors to streamflow in Himalayan catchments, and their increasing contributions serve as key indicators of climate change. Consequently, the quantification of these streamflow components holds significant importance for effective water resource management. In this study, we utilized the spatio‐temporal variability of isotopic signatures in stream water, rainfall, winter fresh snow, snowpack, glaciers, springs, and wells, in conjunction with hydrometeorological observations and Snow Cover Area (SCA) data, to identify water sources and develop a conceptual understanding of streamflow dynamics in three catchments (Lidder, Sindh, and Vishow) within the western Himalayas. The following results were obtained: (a) endmember contributions to the streamflow exhibit significant spatial and seasonal variability across the three catchments during 2018–2020; (b) snowmelt dominates streamflow, with average contributions across the entire catchment varying: 59% ± 9%, 55% ± 4%, 56% ± 6%, and 55% ± 9% in Lidder, 43% ± 6%, 38% ± 6%, 32% ± 4%, and 33% ± 5% in Sindh and 45% ± 8%, 40% ± 6%, 39% ± 6%, and 32% ± 5% in Vishow during spring, summer, autumn, and winter seasons, respectively; (c) glacier melt contributions can reach ~30% to streamflow near the source regions during peak summer; (d) The primary uncertainties in streamflow components are attributed to the spatiotemporal variability of tracer signatures of winter fresh snow/snowpack (±1.9% to ±20%); (e)regarding future streamflow components, if the glacier contribution were to disappear completely, the annual average streamflow in Lidder and Sindh could decrease up to ~20%. The depletion of the cryosphere in the region has led to a rapid increase in runoff (1980–1900), but it has also resulted in a significant streamflow reduction due to glacier mass loss and changes in peak streamflow over the past three decades (1990–2020). The findings highlight the significance of environmental isotope analysis, which provides insights into water resources and offers a critical indication of the streamflow response to glacier loss under a changing climate.
Revegetation impacts on runoff generation processes in a typical loess catchment
Authors: Pan Hailong , Ran Qihua , Ye Sheng 
Published: February 2024

AbstractSince 1999, large‐scale ecosystem restoration has been implemented in the Loess Plateau, effectively increasing regional vegetation coverage. Vegetation restoration has significantly elevated the saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) of the near‐surface soil layers and increased the vertical heterogeneity of the Ks profile. Many studies have examined the change of runoff due to revegetation, yet the impacts of Ks profile on the soil moisture distribution and runoff generation processes were less explored. In this study, numerical simulations were conducted to investigate how changes in the Ks profile caused by vegetation restoration influenced the hydrological responses at event scale. The numerical simulation results show that the increase of surface Ks caused by vegetation restoration can effectively reduce runoff at event scale. Moreover, the enhancement of vertical heterogeneity of Ks profiles can significantly change the vertical profile of soil water content, prompting more water to percolate into the deep soil layer. When rainfall exceeds a threshold, the accumulation of soil water above the relatively less permeable layer can cause short‐term saturation in shallow soil layers, resulting in a transient perched water table. As a result, after the vegetation restoration in the Loess Plateau, though Horton overland flow is still the main runoff generation mechanism, there is a possibility of the emergence of Dunne overland flow under the high vegetation coverage (e.g., NDVI larger than 0.5). This emergence of new runoff generation mechanism, saturation excess runoff, in the Loess Plateau due to the vegetation restoration could provide scientific guidance for water and sediment movement, soil and water conservation practices, and desertification control in the Loess Plateau.
Identification of genetic features that are associated with amplitude of low‐frequency fluctuation changes in schizophrenia using omics analysis
Authors: Luo Wei , Du Ruolan , Li Ying , Zhang Hua , Li Weixin , Luo Xiaoqi , Chen Yunying , Yuan Xinying , Deng Jin 
Published: February 2024

AbstractGenetic risk for schizophrenia is thought to trigger variation in clinical features of schizophrenia, but biological processes associated with neuronal activity in brain regions remain elusive. In this study, gene expression features were mapped to various sub‐regions of the brain by integrating low‐frequency amplitude features and gene expression data from the schizophrenia brain and using gene co‐expression network analysis of the Allen Transcriptome Atlas of the human brain from six donors to identify genetic features of brain regions and important associations with neuronal features. The results indicate that changes in the dynamic amplitude of low‐frequency fluctuation (dALFF) are mainly associated with transcriptome signature factors such as cortical layer synthesis, immune response, and expanded membrane transport. Further modular disease enrichment analysis revealed that the same set of signature genes associated with dALFF levels was enriched for multiple neurological biological processes. Finally, genetic profiling of individual modules identified multiple core genes closely related to schizophrenia, also potentially associated with neuronal activity. Thus, this paper explores genetic features of brain regions in the schizophrenia closely related to low‐frequency amplitude ratio levels based on imaging genetics, which suggests structural endophenotypes associated with schizophrenia.
Laser‐assisted topical delivery of vismodegib reduces hedgehog gene expression in human basal cell carcinomas in vivo
Authors: Olesen Uffe H. , Pedersen Kristian Kåber , Togsverd‐Bo Katrine , Biskup Edyta , Nielsen Anni Linnet , Jackerott Malene , Clergeaud Gael , Andresen Thomas L. , Haedersdal Merete 
Published: February 2024

AbstractBackgroundSystemically delivered hedgehog inhibitors including vismodegib and sonidegib are widely used to treat basal cell carcinomas (BCCs). Ablative fractional laser (AFL)‐assisted topical delivery of vismodegib has been demonstrated in preclinical studies. The aim of this explorative clinical study was to evaluate intratumoral vismodegib concentrations and effect on hedgehog pathway gene expression following AFL‐assisted topical vismodegib delivery to BCCs.MethodsIn an open‐label clinical trial, 16 nodular BCCs (in n = 9 patients) received one application of CO2‐AFL (40 mJ/microbeam, 10% density) followed by topical vismodegib emulsion. After 3–4 days, vismodegib concentrations in tumor biopsies (n = 15) and plasma were analyzed and compared with samples from patients receiving oral treatment (n = 3). GLI1, GLI2, PTCH1, and PTCH2 expression was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (n = 7) and GLI1 additionally by in situ hybridization (n = 3).ResultsFollowing AFL‐assisted topical administration, vismodegib was detected in 14/15 BCCs and reached a median concentration of 6.2 µmol/L, which compared to concentrations in BCC tissue from patients receiving oral vismodegib (9.5 µmol/L, n = 3, p = 0.8588). Topical vismodegib reduced intratumoral GLI1 expression by 51%, GLI2 by 55%, PTCH1 and PTCH2 each by 73% (p ≤ 0.0304) regardless of vismodegib concentrations (p ≥ 0.3164). In situ hybridization demonstrated that GLI1 expression was restricted to tumor tissue and downregulated in response to vismodegib exposure.ConclusionA single AFL‐assisted topical application of vismodegib resulted in clinically relevant intratumoral drug concentrations and significant reductions in hedgehog pathway gene expressions.
Manufacturer's channel strategy in live streaming E‐commerce supply chain
Authors: Ma Rong , Yang Tianjian 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThis study investigates the manufacturer's live streaming sales strategy. Considering the vertical differences in products, we build a live streaming sales model for an e‐commerce supply chain. We examined different live streaming channel strategies for the manufacturer, with the base strategy being no live streaming sales and the manufacturer only reselling a high‐quality product on the e‐commerce platform. The manufacturer's strategies for choosing live streaming include selling a high‐ or low‐quality product on independent and e‐commerce platform channels. We solve the solutions under different scenarios, comparing the equilibrium solutions and discussing the impact of live streaming under different channel models. We find that live streaming channel encroachment by the manufacturer can achieve a win–win situation for both the manufacturer and e‐commerce platform, and the encroachment of a low‐quality product can achieve a larger win–win situation. In the independent live streaming channel, the manufacturer chooses to sell a high‐quality product under the quality and cost advantages. In the e‐commerce platform's live streaming channel, the presence of commissions further influences the manufacturer's strategy. In the extended model, we analyze the spillover effect of live streaming sales. A multi‐agent‐based simulation model is developed to validate the conclusions of the main model.
Lithography‐free fabrication of a local contact interlayer for Si‐based tandem solar cells
Authors: Lee Youngseok , Kim Chan Ul , Woo Yeeun , Kim Won‐Mok , Jeong Jeung‐hyun , Kim Dong‐hwan , Lee Doh‐Kwon , Choi Kyoung Jin , Kim Inho 
Published: February 2024

AbstractCurrently, the Si solar cell market share is dominated by PERC solar cells. Although the efficiency of PERC solar cells has been steadily increasing, it is expected to reach the practical efficiency limit in the near future. The thin film/PERC Si tandem cell technique can be one of the solutions to overcome the single‐cell efficiency limit. In this study, we developed a novel interlayer fabrication technology for the diffused junction Si solar cells of the PERC and Al BSF cell architectures. We combined laser contact opening (LCO) and laser‐induced forward transfer (LIFT) processes to fabricate local contact opening with low contact resistance while maintaining the high passivation performance of the Si bottom cell. The dielectric‐passivated emitter of the Si solar cell was ablated locally by the LCO process, and subsequently, the Ti nanoparticles were transferred selectively by the LIFT process to the opened emitter region followed by transparent conducting oxide deposition. Laser process parameters were carefully optimized to fabricate low‐loss interlayers. We applied the developed interlayer fabrication technology to the Si bottom cells of Al BSF and PERC cells. Finally, we demonstrated successfully the perovskite/PERC Si tandem cell with an interlayer developed in this study. The developed interlayer fabrication technology does not include a photolithography step and vacuum deposition processes for buffer metals; thus, we expect it may be more compatible with the mass production of thin film/diffused junction Si tandem solar cells.
D‐pinitol alleviates diabetic cardiomyopathy by inhibiting the optineurin‐mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress and glycophagy signaling pathway
Authors: Li Xiaoli , Yu Xin , Yu Fei , Fu Chunli , Zhao Wenqian , Liu Xiaosong , Dai Chaochao , Gao Haiqing , Cheng Mei , Li Baoying 
Published: February 2024

AbstractDiabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is an important complication resulting in heart failure and death of diabetic patients. However, there is no effective drug for treatments. This study investigated the effect of D‐pinitol (DP) on cardiac injury using diabetic mice and glycosylation injury of cardiomyocytes and its molecular mechanisms. We established the streptozotocin‐induced SAMR1 and SAMP8 mice and DP (150 mg/kg/day) intragastrically and advanced glycation end‐products (AGEs)‐induced H9C2 cells. H9C2 cells were transfected with optineurin (OPTN) siRNA and overexpression plasmids. The metabolic disorder indices, cardiac dysfunction, histopathology, immunofluorescence, western blot, and immunoprecipitation were investigated. Our results showed that DP reduced the blood glucose and AGEs, and increased the expression of heart OPTN in diabetic mice and H9C2 cells, thereby inhibiting the endoplasmic reticulum stress (GRP78, CHOP) and glycophagy (STBD1, GABARAPL1), and alleviating the myocardial apoptosis and fibrosis of DCM. The expression of filamin A as an interaction protein of OPTN downregulated by AGEs decreased OPTN abundance. Moreover, OPTN siRNA increased the expression of GRP78, CHOP, STBD1, and GABARAPL1 and inhibited the expression of GAA via GSK3β phosphorylation and FoxO1. DP may be helpful to treat the onset of DCM. Targeting OPTN with DP could be translated into clinical application in the fighting against DCM.
Techno-economics of Open Battery Systems
Authors: Minke Christine 
Published: February 2024

AbstractIn the design of open battery systems, especially flow batteries (FBs), power (P) and energy (E) may be scaled independently. Thus, the battery design is characterized by the E/P ratio. The resulting wide variety of battery systems requires a close linkage of technical and economic aspects in cost assessment. This subchapter provides an assessment framework for techno-economics of open battery systems designed as FBs.
Social Life Cycle Assessment of Batteries
Authors: Cellura Maurizio , De Luca Anna Irene , Iofrida Nathalie , Mistretta Marina 
Published: February 2024

AbstractAs the demand for batteries is continuously increasing, understanding their social implications becomes increasingly important.This chapter points out the relevance of the social life cycle assessment (SLCA) to evaluate the effects on social issues of battery throughout its entire life cycle, from raw material extraction to disposal.In the first two paragraphs, the authors describe the main SLCA methodological tools and highlight that further efforts should be made on standardisation possibilities and the alignment to other life cycle methodologies, and testing of methods is necessary to overcome present obstacles and increase the applicability and interpretability results.In the third paragraph, a literature review is carried out to highlight the main critical hotspots in s-LCA studies. There are many studies on the environmental impacts of battery production in the literature, but the social aspects have not been adequately explored or they are limited to social acceptance. Moreover, indicators related to social aspects are not standardised, due to the obstacles to collect data from the specific production sector for all life cycle phases. Identifying the social impacts of battery supply chain must necessarily include all life cycle phases, such as the extraction and processing of raw materials, the production of intermediates, the production of battery cells, the assembly of the battery pack as final product and the disposal or recycling. Further, the literature review highlights the necessity of more research to clearly define the possible social impacts of batteries, especially objective analyses that can clearly quantify the impacts deriving from the life cycle phases and that allow comparisons among different scenarios, which can be highly variegated.
Multicriteria Decision Analysis for Sustainability Assessment for Emerging Batteries
Authors: Estrada Laura Mesa , Haase Martina , Baumann Manuel , Müller Tim 
Published: February 2024

AbstractMulticriteria decision-making theory has been widely used for sustainability assessment in the context of energy management. Although it is not a simple task, requirements are available in the literature to guide analysts performing this type of assessments. When it comes to emerging technologies, specific conditions such unknown impacts, lack of data, high uncertainty, etc., can increase the complexity of the task. Here we present an overview of the concepts of MCDA sustainability assessment, examples of existing studies in the field of energy storage, and a use case for the sustainability assessment of early-stage cathode materials for sodium ion batteries using PROMETHEE II. The results in this type of assessment serve as an indicative for further research and development of specific technologies/materials. Factors such as the availability of data and dynamic social contexts (e.g., political priorities) make sustainability assessments an iterative process. Systematic approaches and specialized MCDA software are necessary to support this task.
Raw Materials and Recycling of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Davies Shannon Helen , Christensen Paul , Holberg Thomas , Avelar Joao , Heidrich Oliver 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe growth in the electric vehicle (EV) and the associated lithium-ion battery (LIB) market globally has been both exponential and inevitable. This is mainly due to the drive toward sustainability through the electrification of transport. This chapter briefly reviews and analyzes the value chain of LIBs, as well as the supply risks of the raw material provisions. It illustrates some of the global environmental and economic impacts of using materials such as cobalt, lithium, and nickel, in both their original and secondary usage and final disposal. To assist in the understanding of the supply and safety risks associated with the materials used in LIBs, this chapter explains in detail the various active cathode chemistries of the numerous LIBs currently available, including the specific battery contents, how the batteries are grouped into families, and the supply risks associated with the materials used. A detailed description of the three existing recycling processes and material yields from each recycling process is given. This is followed by a discussion on the challenges and opportunities that come with each of these recycling processes. There is an overview of battery recycling regulation in the three major markets, China, the EU, and the USA; and how they impact one another. Finally, we highlight the safety issues associated with the transportation, processing, and recycling of LIBs with a focus on the primary risks of LIB fires and how to prevent them. This chapter concludes by summarizing the key findings of this work.
Theoretische Perspektiven auf das Akteurshandeln in der Weiterbildungsplanung und -entwicklung
Authors: Tokarski Bianca Maria 
Published: February 2024

ZusammenfassungDer Schwerpunkt der nachfolgenden Ausführungen liegt auf den institutionell vermittelten Anforderungen an die handelnden Akteur:innen im Kontext der Weiterbildungsplanung und -entwicklung an Hochschulen. Als institutionelle Anforderungen werden zum einen die internen Ansprüche der Wissenschaftsinstitution, zum anderen die unmittelbar auf die Hochschulen einwirkenden Einflüsse des Weiterbildungsmarktes einbezogen.