bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Epigenetic alterations of miR-155 and global DNA methylation as potential mediators of ochratoxin A cytotoxicity and carcinogenicity in human lung fibroblasts
Authors: Kharboush Taghrid G. , Ahmed Inas A. , Farag Amina A. , Kharboush Tayseir , Sayed Alaa El-Din H. , Abdel-Kareim Amal M. , Al mohaini Mohammed , Attia Hend , Eid Refaat A. , Zaki Mohamed Samir A. , Al-Tabbakh Al-Shaimaa M. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractOchratoxin A (OTA) is a well-known mycotoxin that adversely affects different human cells. Inhalational exposure to OTA and subsequent pulmonary diseases have been previously reported, yet its potential carcinogenicity and underlying molecular mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate the OTA-induced cytotoxicity and the epigenetic changes underlying its potential carcinogenicity in fetal lung fibroblast (WI-38) cells. OTA cytotoxicity was assessed by MTT assay; RT-qPCR was used to determine the expression of BAX, BCL-2, TP53, and miR-155, while ELISA was used for measuring 5-methyl cytosine percentage to assess global DNA methylation in OTA-treated versus control cells. WI-38 cells demonstrated sensitivity to OTA with IC50 at 22.38 μM. Though BAX and Bcl-2 were downregulated, with low BAX/BCL-2 ratio, and TP53 was upregulated, their fold changes showed decline trend with increasing OTA concentration. A significant dose-dependent miR-155 upregulation was observed, with dynamic time-related decline. Using subtoxic OTA concentrations, a significant global DNA hypermethylation with significant dose-dependent and dynamic alterations was identified. Global DNA hypermethylation and miR-155 upregulation are epigenetic mechanisms that mediate OTA toxicity on WI-38 cells. BAX downregulation, reduced BAX/BCL-2 ratio together with miR-155 upregulation indicated either the inhibition of TP53-dependent apoptosis or a tissue specific response to OTA exposure. The aforementioned OTA-induced variations present a new molecular evidence of OTA cytotoxicity and possible carcinogenicity in lung fibroblast cells.
Graphical Abstract
Long-term exposure to ambient air pollutants and increased risk of end-stage renal disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease: a retrospective cohort study in Beijing, China
Authors: Shang Zhi , Gao Yue-Ming , Deng Zhen-Ling , Wang Yue 
Published: December 2023

AbstractLimited data have examined the association between air pollution and the risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). We aimed to investigate whether long-term exposure to air pollutants is related to the development of ESRD among patients with T2DM and CKD. A total of 1,738 patients with T2DM and CKD hospitalized in Peking University Third Hospital from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2021 were enrolled in this study. The outcome was defined as the occurrence of ESRD. Data on six air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, CO, NO2, SO2, and O3) from 35 monitoring stations were obtained from the Beijing Municipal Ecological and Environmental Monitoring Center. Long-term exposure to air pollutants during the follow-up period was measured using the ordinary Kriging method. During a mean follow-up of 41 months, 98 patients developed ESRD. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that an increase of 10 μg/m3 in PM2.5 (odds ratio [OR] 1.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03–1.36) and PM10 (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.02–1.30) concentration were positively associated with ESRD. An increase of 1 mg/m3 in CO (2.80, 1.05–7.48) and an increase of 1 μg/m3 in SO2 (1.06, 1.00–1.13) concentration were also positively associated with ESRD. Apart from O3 and NO2, all the above air pollutants have additional predictive value for ESRD in patients with T2DM and CKD. The results of Bayesian kernel machine regression and the weighted quantile sum regression all showed that PM2.5 was the most important air pollutant. Backward stepwise logistic regression showed that PM2.5 was the only pollutant remaining in the prediction model. In patients with T2DM and CKD, long-term exposure to ambient PM2.5, PM10, CO, and SO2 was positively associated with the development of ESRD.
Mercury and selenium in three fish species from a dam 20 months after a mine-tailing spill in the SE Gulf of California ecoregion, Mexico
Authors: Páez-Osuna Federico , Bergés-Tiznado Magdalena E. , Valencia-Castañeda Gladys , Fregoso-López Marcela G. , León-Cañedo Jesús A. , Fierro-Sañudo Juan F. , Ramírez-Rochín Javier 
Published: December 2023

AbstractDuring January 2013, a mining spill occurred in the Santa Maria mining region, releasing around 300,000 m3 of tailings on Los Remedios river, which was transported through the San Lorenzo river and finally to El Comedero (EC) dam. Twenty months later, we examined the concentrations of Hg and Se in the muscle, liver, gills, and guts of three fish species (Cyprinus carpio, Oreochromis aureus, Micropterus salmoides) captured in the EC dam to assess the performance of the cleaning operations. A high Se concentration in the liver of all species (carp, 1.2 ± 0.4; tilapia, 3.9 ± 2.1; bass, 3.5 ± 1.1 µg g−1 ww) was consistently observed, while this behavior was only found in the blue tilapia for Hg (0.15 ± 0.11 µg g−1 ww). Tilapia (benthic-detritivorous) exhibited the highest Se concentrations compared to the carp (omnivore) and the largemouth bass (piscivore). In contrast, the largemouth bass had the highest Hg levels in the muscle compared with the other fishes. Such differences could be related to the different metabolism and feeding habits among species. Compared to a tilapia study carried out three months after the mine spill during a mortality event, a decrease was evident in the liver for Se and Hg by 7.2 and 4.7 times, respectively. This reveals that cleaning operations were more efficient for Se and less for Hg, and that a prolonged period was required for the partial recovery of the element levels in fish from sites impacted by mining. Considering the Mexican consumption scenarios for each fish species, it could be concluded that there will be no non-cancer risk by exposure to Hg or Se.
Automatic non-destructive UAV-based structural health monitoring of steel container cranes
Authors: De Arriba López Vanessa , Maboudi Mehdi , Achanccaray Pedro , Gerke Markus 
Published: December 2023

AbstractContainer cranes are of key importance for maritime cargo transportation. The uninterrupted and all-day operation of these container cranes, which directly affects the efficiency of the port, necessitates the continuous inspection of these massive hoisting steel structures. Due to the large size of cranes, the current manual inspections performed by expert climbers are costly, risky, and time-consuming. This motivates further investigations on automated non-destructive approaches for the remote inspection of fatigue-prone parts of cranes. In this paper, we investigate the effectiveness of color space-based and deep learning-based approaches for separating the foreground crane parts from the whole image. Subsequently, three different ML-based algorithms (k-Nearest Neighbors, Random Forest, and Naive Bayes) are employed to detect the rust and repainting areas from detected foreground parts of the crane body. Qualitative and quantitative comparisons of the results of these approaches were conducted. While quantitative evaluation of pixel-based analysis reveals the superiority of the k-Nearest Neighbors algorithm in our experiments, the potential of Random Forest and Naive Bayes for region-based analysis of the defect is highlighted.
Food and Environmental Virology: Use of Passive Sampling to Characterize the Presence of SARS-CoV-2 and Other Viruses in Wastewater
Authors: Geissler Michael , Mayer Robin , Helm Björn , Dumke Roger 
Published: December 2023

AbstractFecal shedding of SARS-CoV-2 leads to a renaissance of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) as additional tool to follow epidemiological trends in the catchment of treatment plants. As alternative to the most commonly used composite samples in surveillance programs, passive sampling is increasingly studied. However, the many sorbent materials in different reports hamper the comparison of results and a standardization of the approach is necessary. Here, we compared different cost-effective sorption materials (cheesecloths, gauze swabs, electronegative filters, glass wool, and tampons) in torpedo-style housings with composite samples. Despite a remarkable variability of the concentration of SARS-CoV-2-specific gene copies, analysis of parallel-deposited passive samplers in the sewer demonstrated highest rate of positive samples and highest number of copies by using cheesecloths. Using this sorption material, monitoring of wastewater of three small catchments in the City of Dresden resulted in a rate of positive samples of 50% in comparison with composite samples (98%). During the investigation period, incidence of reported cases of SARS-CoV-2 in the catchments ranged between 16 and 170 per 100,000 persons and showed no correlation with the measured concentrations of E gene in wastewater. In contrast, constantly higher numbers of gene copies in passive vs. composite samples were found for human adenovirus and crAssphage indicating strong differences of efficacy of methods concerning the species investigated. Influenza virus A and B were sporadically detected allowing no comparison of results. The study contributes to the further understanding of possibilities and limits of passive sampling approaches in WBE.
Bioremediation of iron from polluted water using marine algae
Authors: Masoud M. S. , Amin S. M. , Abdel-Kareem M. S. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractEl-Mex Bay receives huge of toxicants and pollutants that resulted from various anthropogenic activities and different heavy metals. These pollutants adversely affect human's health and the aquatic ecosystem. In this study, iron is selected rather than other heavy metals for bioremediation as it constitutes a large part of the Bay. This work aims to the assessment of the efficiency of six marine algal species as bio-sorbents for iron, which constitutes a large part of El-Umum drain wastewater at El-Mex Bay locality. These species are Ulva linza, Ulva fasciata (Chlorophyceae), Padina pavonia, Saragassum hornschuchii (Phaeophyceae), and Pterocladia capillacea, Corallina officinalis (Rhodophyceae). Algal nanoparticles and finely powdered algae were evaluated for adsorbing iron in aqueous solutions as a function of contact time, biomass weight, different wastewater concentrations, and pH. Analyzing function groups of the biomass was also assessed. Compared to ordinary ground algal biomass, nanoparticles of dry algal biomass (ground by ball mill) is considered an efficient economic adsorbent for iron removal that occurs at high concentration levels, either dissolved or particulate. Comparing the maximum removal efficiency, it was recorded values of 95.6, 98.8, and 97.6% for Ulva linza, Sargassum hornschuchii, and Corallina officinalis, respectively, using 0.1 g nano-biomass at pH 9.4, these values were 79.60, 96.33, and 83.41%, for the same algal species using 0.5 g ground powder biomass at the same pH.
Variation of Stiffness at the Tip of Piles Subjected to Load-Unload Cycles: Numerical Modeling
Authors: Gil-Hernandez Jackson Andres , Gonzalez-Peña Goretty A. , Olarte-Peña María L. , Zapata-Medina David Guillermo 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThis study evaluated how the stiffness at the tip of the piles varies when the elements are subjected to load-unload cycles. In this study, a finite element model (FEM) was calibrated with the measurements of stress and deformation recorded in a load test on a 16-inch diameter and 28-inch high pile; the calibrated model was subjected to different confinement values and load-unload cycles to evaluate the incidence of these parameters in the variation of the stiffness at the pile tip. The results showed that the soil’s stiffness at the pile tip decreases as the displacement of the pile increases. It was found that when confinement values are greater than 30 PSI, the increase in the displacements in the pile has a greater incidence in the loss of rigidity; on the other hand, as the magnitudes of the load-unload cycles increase, the stiffness of the soil under the pile tip is decreased until reaching a residual stiffness.
An approach of the internal friction-dependent temperature changes for conventional and pure biogenic lubricating greases
Authors: Ahme Leif , Kuhn Erik , Delgado Miguel Ángel 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThis work investigated the temperature changes inside the bulk of lubricating greases under controlled high-shear stress conditions (250–500 s−1). For this purpose, a newly developed temperature-measuring cell called Calidus was successfully tested. The temperature changes (ΔT) have been related to the greases’ components (thickener, base oil-type, and composition) and the structural degradation of the lubricating greases. Furthermore, a theoretical approach was proposed for calculating the internal temperature change of lubricating greases during shear stress. All greases showed an internal temperature profile characterised by a sudden rise in ΔT within the first 4 h from starting the test and subsequent ΔT decay until it reaches the steady state value. Furthermore, it was found that greases C1 and C5, formulated with lithium and calcium soap, respectively, with different soap content (16.1 wt% and 9.7 wt%, respectively), but the same base castor oil, showed the highest value of the maximum ΔT, c.a. 3.2 K, and the most drastic drop of ΔT. These greases showed both the highest specific densities and heat capacities. In addition, they showed the lowest ratio of expended energies (Rtee), which means more structural degradation in the stressed grease. On the contrary, the grease C3, with 13 wt% of Li-soap but the lowest base oil’s viscosity, showed the lowest maximum ΔT and the temperature profile was characterised by a moderate variation of ΔT along the test. The biogenic grease B3 developed a low-temperature change in the group of pure bio-genic greases close to grease C3.
Impact of COVID-19 on patient experience of kidney care: a rapid review
Authors: Mackintosh Lucy , Ormandy Paula , Busby Amanda , Hawkins Janine , Klare Ranjit , Silver Christina , Da Silva-Gane Maria , Santhakumaran Shalini , Bristow Paul , Sharma Shivani , Wellsted David , Chilcot Joseph , Sridharan Sivakumar , Steenkamp Retha , Harris Tess , Muirhead Susan , Lush Vicky , Afuwape Sarah , Farrington Ken 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Introduction
In March 2020, a pandemic state was declared due to SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19). Patients with kidney disease, especially those on replacement therapies, proved more susceptible to severe infection. This rapid literature review aims to help understand how the pandemic impacted patient experience of kidney care.

Methods
It was conducted in accordance with Cochrane Rapid Review interim guidance. Search terms, ‘coronavirus’, ‘kidney care’, and ‘patient-reported experience’ and terms with similar semantic meaning, identified 1,117 articles in Medline, Scopus, and Worldwide Science. Seventeen were included in the narrative synthesis.

Results
The findings were summarised into three themes: remote consultation and telemedicine (n = 9); psychosocial impact (n = 2); and patient satisfaction and patient-reported experience (n = 6). Patients were mostly satisfied with remote consultations, describing them as convenient and allowing avoidance of hospital visits. Anxieties included missing potentially important clinical findings due to lack of physical examination, poor digital literacy, and technical difficulties. Psychosocial impact differed between treatment modalities—transplant recipients expressing feelings of instability and dread of having to return to dialysis, and generally, were less satisfied, citing reduced ability to work and difficulty accessing medications. Those on home dialysis treatments tended to feel safer. Findings focused on aspects of patient experience of kidney care during the pandemic rather than a holistic view.

Conclusions
There was little direct evaluation of modality differences and limited consideration of health inequalities in care experiences. A fuller understanding of these issues would guide policy agendas to support patient experience during future public health crises.

Graphical abstract
Proof of Aerobically Autoxidized Self-Charge Concept Based on Single Catechol-Enriched Carbon Cathode Material
Authors: Wang Junyan , Guo Wanchun , Tian Kesong , Li Xinta , Wang Xinyu , Li Panhua , Zhang Yu , Zhang Bosen , Zhang Biao , Liu Shuhu , Li Xueai , Xu Zhaopeng , Xu Junjie , Wang Haiyan , Hou Yanglong 
Published: December 2023

Highlights

An air-breathing chemical self-charge concept of oxygen-enriched carbon cathode.

The oxygen-enriched carbon material with abundant catechol groups.

Rapid air-oxidation chemical self-charge of catechol groups.

Abstract
The self-charging concept has drawn considerable attention due to its excellent ability to achieve environmental energy harvesting, conversion and storage without an external power supply. However, most self-charging designs assembled by multiple energy harvesting, conversion and storage materials increase the energy transfer loss; the environmental energy supply is generally limited by climate and meteorological conditions, hindering the potential application of these self-powered devices to be available at all times. Based on aerobic autoxidation of catechol, which is similar to the electrochemical oxidation of the catechol groups on the carbon materials under an electrical charge, we proposed an air-breathing chemical self-charge concept based on the aerobic autoxidation of catechol groups on oxygen-enriched carbon materials to ortho-quinone groups. Energy harvesting, conversion and storage functions could be integrated on a single carbon material to avoid the energy transfer loss among the different materials. Moreover, the assembled Cu/oxygen-enriched carbon battery confirmed the feasibility of the air-oxidation self-charging/electrical discharging mechanism for potential applications. This air-breathing chemical self-charge concept could facilitate the exploration of high-efficiency sustainable air self-charging devices.
An Embodied View on Collaboration in Early Childhood Education: Combining Microanalysis and Introspective Analysis of Experiences to Understand Meaning-Making Between Children With and Without Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Ferreira Juliene Madureira 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThis paper has a twofold aim. The first is to report a qualitative study exploring the construction of collaborative interactions between typically developing children and children with intellectual disabilities in early childhood education, shifting from a cognitivist toward an embodied account of social cognition. The study combined microanalysis of embodied engagements and a phenomenological method of systematic introspective analysis of experience (PRISMA) to investigate the emergence and maintenance of collaborative interactions. The second aim is to showcase the complementarity of the methods and their potential use as a tool for understanding intersubjectivity in children’s social interactions. Participants were twenty-four children aged 3–4: six with intellectual disabilities and eighteen typically developing children. Data consisted of eighteen video recordings of collaborative interactions in a semi-natural context in daycare centres. The results show how typically developing children start the interaction and lead it toward task completion through a scaffolding process of non-verbal regulations facilitated by abbreviations of communication and a combination of sequential actions. This process created bodily invitations for the peer’s engagement, notably stronger amongst preferable peers, corroborating previous research on the relevance of such relationships in this age group. The introspective analysis provided insights into how the desire to work together surpasses the need to complete the task—collaboration can emerge outside the pre-determined task and relies on joint actions rather than understanding tasks’ goals. Peer relations built during the interactions guided children’s behaviours and changed their engagement in the task. This result brings a new perspective to pedagogical planning in early childhood education, indicating the need for teachers to understand children’s intersubjective processes as well as elaborate on task instructions and organisation of space and materials. Results also suggest that previous individual embodied experiences can influence such collaborative efforts, which, although may be expected intuitively, is an underexplored perspective in education sciences. This insight underscores the importance of considering students’ backgrounds and relationships when designing pedagogical approaches. Understanding how prior experiences and peer dynamics affect collaboration can inform more effective teaching strategies in inclusive early childhood education and guide professional training in the field. The findings are critically discussed concerning the implications for professional education and training in inclusive early childhood education.
Evaluation of ammonia-gasoline co-combustion in a modern spark ignition research engine
Authors: Ambalakatte A. , Geng S. , Cairns A. , Harrington A. , Hall J. , Bassett M. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractAmmonia (NH3) is emerging as a potential favoured fuel for longer range decarbonised heavy transport, particularly in the marine sector, predominantly due to highly favourable characteristics as an effective hydrogen carrier. This is despite generally unfavourable combustion and toxicity attributes, restricting end use to applications where robust health and safety protocols can always be upheld. In the currently reported work, a spark ignited thermodynamic single cylinder research engine equipped with gasoline direct injection was upgraded to include gaseous ammonia port injection fuelling, with the aim of understanding maximum viable ammonia substitution ratios across the speed-load operating map. The work was conducted at varied effective compression ratios under overall stoichiometric conditions, with the spark timing re-optimised for maximum brake torque at all stable logged sites. The experiments included industry standard measurements of combustion, performance, and engine-out emissions (including NH3 “slip”). With a geometric compression ratio of 11.2:1, it was found possible to run the engine on pure ammonia at low engine speeds (1000-1800 rpm) and loads of 12 bar net IMEP. When progressively dropping down below this load limit an increasing amount of gasoline co-firing was required to avoid engine misfire. When operating at 1800 rpm and 12 bar net IMEP, all emissions of carbon (CO2, CO, unburned hydrocarbons) and NOx decreased considerably when switching to higher NH3 substitution ratios, with NOx reduced by ~ 45% at 1800 rpm/12 bar when switching from pure gasoline to pure NH3 (associated with longer and cooler combustion). By further increasing the geometric compression ratio to 12.4 and reducing the intake camshaft duration for maximum effective compression ratio, it was possible to operate the engine on pure ammonia at much lower loads in a fully warmed up state (e.g., linear low load limit line from 1000 rpm/6 bar net IMEP to 1800 rpm/9 bar net IMEP). Under all conditions, the indicated thermal efficiency of the engine was either equivalent to or slightly higher than that obtained using gasoline-only due to the favourable anti-knock rating of NH3. Ongoing work is concerned with detailed breakdown of individual NOx species together with measuring the impact of hydrogen enrichment across the operating map.