bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the Fischer‐Tropsch synthesis product selectivity over iron‐based silica‐supported catalyst under mild temperatures
Authors: Stanke Agija , Lazdovica Kristine , Laipniece Lauma 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe circular economy is considered a keystone of sustainable development, and its implementation requires analyzing both product and by‐products, as well as process waste. In this study Fischer‐Tropsch synthesis product selectivity over Fe/SiO2 catalyst was investigated in the reaction temperature range of 240 to 300°C. The composition of the gas, liquid hydrocarbon, and wax products is discussed alongside the aqueous phase, which is rarely addressed. It was found that 280°C is the optimal temperature for condensable hydrocarbon production over Fe/SiO2 catalyst. The increase in reaction temperature led to a decrease in the selectivity of 1‐olefins and alcohols in the liquid hydrocarbon phase and waxes, but at the same time contributed to an increase in the content of alcohols in the aqueous phase products.
Energy storage: Status and future perspective in Arab countries
Authors: Hasan Afif Akel , Hanieh Ahmed Abu , Juaidi Adel 
Published: December 2023

AbstractIn this paper, the present status of energy storage implementation and research in Arab countries (ACs) is investigated. The different technologies of energy storage are reviewed then projects and capacities of installed or planned energy storage systems in the ACs are summarized based on published literature. In ACs, the installed and planned capacity of pumped hydro storage is 4365 MW, while for battery storage it is 5597 MW. No compressed energy storage projects are installed or planned in the near future. Green hydrogen as a fuel is planned in Egypt, Algeria, and Morocco. Renewable energy as a main employer of energy storage is predicted for the next 30 years; similarly, energy storage capacity is forecasted for the next 30 years. To enhance energy storage implementation it is recommended to include energy storage in all new commercial renewable energy projects. In addition to creating a regulatory framework that encourages the development of energy storage schemes. To advance research in the energy storage, modeling and simulation of energy storage systems in residential, commercial, and industrial sectors are recommended. In addition, cold energy storage for cooling and air‐conditioning using phase change material to be investigated.
Effects of Age and Exposure Duration on the Sensitivity of Early Life Stage Fathead Minnow (Pimephales promelas) to Waterborne Propranolol Exposure
Authors: Biales Adam D. , Bencic David C. , Flick Robert W. , Toth Gregory P. 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Propranolol is a heavily prescribed, nonspecific beta-adrenoceptor (bAR) antagonist frequently found in wastewater effluents, prompting concern over its potential to adversely affect exposed organisms. In the present study, the transcriptional responses of 4, 5, and 6 days postfertilization (dpf) ±1 h fathead minnow, exposed for 6, 24, or 48 h to 0.66 or 3.3 mg/L (nominal) propranolol were characterized using RNA sequencing. The number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was used as an estimate of sensitivity. A trend toward increased sensitivity with age was observed; fish &gt;7 dpf at the end of exposure were particularly sensitive to propranolol. The DEGs largely overlapped among treatment groups, suggesting a highly consistent response that was independent of age. Cluster analysis was performed using normalized count data for unexposed and propranolol-exposed fish. Control fish clustered tightly by age, with fish ≥7 dpf clustering away from younger fish, reflecting developmental differences. When clustering was conducted using exposed fish, in cases where propranolol induced a minimal or no transcriptional response, the results mirrored those of the control fish and did not appreciably cluster by treatment. In treatment groups that displayed a more robust transcriptional response, the effects of propranolol were evident; however, fish &lt;7 dpf clustered away from older fish, despite having similar numbers of DEGs. Increased sensitivity at 7 dpf coincided with developmental milestones with the potential to alter propranolol pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics, such as the onset of exogenous feeding and gill functionality as well as increased systemic expression of bAR. These results may have broader implications because toxicity testing often utilizes fish &lt;4 dpf, prior to the onset of these potentially important developmental milestones, which may result in an underestimation of risk for some chemicals. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:807–820. Published 2023. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Assessing Contamination Profiles in Livers from Road-Killed Owls
Authors: Dulsat-Masvidal Maria , Lourenço Rui , Mateo Rafael , Lacorte Silvia 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Raptors are recognized as valuable sentinel species for monitoring environmental contaminants owing to their foraging behavior across terrestrial and aquatic food webs and their high trophic position. The present study monitored environmental contaminants in livers from road-killed owls to evaluate differences in the exposure patterns due to factors such as species, age, and sex of individuals. Carcasses of road-killed individuals of eagle owl (Bubo bubo), long-eared owl (Asio otus), little owl (Athene noctua), tawny owl (Strix aluco), and barn owl (Tyto alba) were collected in Alentejo (Portugal). Eighty-one organic contaminants were analyzed, including organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pharmaceuticals, in-use pesticides, and organophosphate esters (OPEs). Overall, 21 contaminants were detected. In all species ∑OCPs were prevalent at concentrations from 3.24 to 4480 ng/g wet weight, followed by perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), the only PFASs detected (from 2.88 to 848 ng/g wet wt) and ∑PCBs (1.98–2010 ng/g wet wt); ∑PAHs were ubiquitous but detected at the lowest concentrations (7.35–123 ng/g wet wt). Differences among species were observed according to principal component analysis. Eagle owl and long-eared owl presented the highest levels of ∑OCPs, ∑PCBs, and PFOS, consistent with its higher trophic position, while ∑PAHs prevailed in tawny owl, barn owl, and little owl, related to their frequent use of urban areas for nesting and roadsides for hunting. Adults presented higher concentrations of ∑OCPs and ∑PCBs than juveniles, while no differences were observed for PFOS and ∑PAHs. Pharmaceuticals, in-use pesticides, and OPEs were not detected. Overall, the present study shows specific contamination patterns in five species with similar diet but with differences in habitat preferences. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:821–832. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
Biodilution of Organic Species of Arsenic in Freshwater Food Webs
Authors: Lepage Adam T. , Lescord Gretchen L. , Lock Alan , Johnston Thomas A. , Gandhi Jay , Gunn John M. 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Arsenic can accumulate in freshwater biota, sometimes reaching potentially harmful levels. However, the toxicity of arsenic strongly depends on which arsenic species are present. Although organic species are considered less harmful than inorganic ones, they have not been extensively studied in freshwater environments, and drivers of variation in arsenic speciation among sites and taxa remain unclear. We assessed concentrations of two organic arsenic species, arsenobetaine (AsB) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), in fish and invertebrates from three lakes near Sudbury, Ontario, Canada—a region with widespread mining impacts. Both AsB and DMA were detected in most samples (n = 212), varying across a wide range of concentrations (&lt;0.001–30.144 and &lt;0.006–5.262 mg/kg dry wt, respectively). The lake with the most severe mining impacts typically had the highest concentrations (designated by square brackets []) of AsB and DMA. In contrast, the percentage of total arsenic made up by AsB (%AsB) and DMA (%DMA) did not vary significantly between lakes. Arsenic speciation in fish muscle varied with fish size, selenium concentrations, and trophic elevation (inferred from nitrogen stable isotope ratios δ15N), but relationships with dietary carbon source (inferred from carbon stable isotope ratios δ13C) were more varied. Within all three lake food webs, [AsB] and [DMA] typically underwent biodilution, decreasing with trophic elevation (i.e., δ15N). Although the aforementioned factors explained some variation in arsenic speciation, there remains considerable unexplained variation. Further studies on arsenic speciation in freshwater biota should target a wider diversity of taxa to better understand drivers of variation in arsenic speciation. In addition, research emphasizing the percentage of inorganic arsenic and other organic arsenic species is needed to improve environmental and human health risk assessments. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:833–846. © 2024 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
Examining China's rural fire protection within the rural revitalization strategy: An in‐depth policy research
Authors: Li Yang , Du Xiaorong 
Published: December 2023

AbstractCurrently, rural fire protection issues in China loom large, resulting in frequent fire incidents due to an inadequate rural fire infrastructure and insufficient firefighting resources. Consequently, prompt fire suppression becomes challenging, leading to significant casualties and economic losses. To address these challenges and align with the national rural revitalization strategy, our research team dedicated 5 years to meticulously scrutinizing fire incident data in China spanning from 2012 to 2022, alongside an extensive review of international documents. We conducted on‐site investigations in rural areas across 63 cities in 11 provinces, including Anhui and Jiangsu. By analyzing fire data and field investigation results, we identified the causes and percentages of 11 types of rural fires, as well as summarized five types of rural fire hazards and six types of rural fires. Drawing from insights gleaned from the experiences of countries such as the United States, Australia, Canada, and South America, we have formulated eight policy recommendations for rural fire protection, encompassing aspects like organization, responsibility, planning, construction, operation, and maintenance, as well as public awareness. Therefore, we anticipate that this study will catalyze enhancing rural fire protection efforts in China and other developing nations.
Beneficial effect of Lactobacillus fermentum GLF‐217 on hyperlipidemia in high‐fat diet golden hamsters by regulating gut microbiota
Authors: Wang Jun , Wang Ruimin , Li Ao , Liu Aijie , Luo Pengfei , Zhan Meng , Zhou Xiaoli , Chen Lihao , Zhang Jiachao , Cai Kun , Huo Dongxue 
Published: December 2023

AbstractTo investigate the hypolipidemic and modulation effects of probiotics, the golden hamster of hyperlipidemia model was established and intervened with Lactobacillus fermentum GLF‐217 (GLF‐217) and lovastatin (LOV) for 6 weeks. Body weight and serum biochemical indexes were measured, and liver, colonic contents, and feces were collected after autopsy for pathological and gut microbiota analysis. The results showed that the intervention of GLF‐217 and LOV could significantly reduce serum lipid levels and liver fat accumulation in golden hamsters on a high‐fat diet, more importantly, the LOV intervention could cause damage to the liver. The LOV intervention significantly reduced the contents of short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the colonic and downregulated the abundance of SCFAs‐producing bacteria, but GLF‐217 intake increased butyric acid, thus reducing blood lipids and protected the liver. This study elucidates the possible mechanism of the hypolipidemic effect of probiotics in terms of regulating gut microbiota.
The phenotype of delirium based on a close reading of diagnostic criteria
Authors: Oldham Mark A. , Weber Miriam T. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractObjectiveAlthough delirium is well known to acute care clinicians, the features required for its diagnosis and how to understand and operationalize them remain sticking points in the field. To clarify the delirium phenotype, we present a close reading of past and current sets of delirium diagnostic criteria.MethodsWe first differentiate the delirium syndrome (i.e., features evaluated at bedside) from additional criteria required for diagnosis. Next, we align related features across diagnostic systems and examine them in context to determine intent. Where criteria are ambiguous, we review common delirium instruments to illustrate how they have been interpreted.ResultsAn acute disturbance in attention is universally attested across diagnostic systems. A second core feature denotes confusion and has been included across systems as disturbance in awareness, impaired consciousness, and thought disorganization. This feature may be better understood as a disturbance in thought clarity and operationalized in terms of neuropsychological domains thereby clearly linking it to global neurocognitive disturbance. Altered level of activity describes a third core feature, including motor and sleep/wake cycle disturbances. Excluding stupor (wherein mental content cannot be assessed due to reduced arousal) from delirium, as in DSM‐5‐TR, is appropriate for a psychiatric diagnosis, but the brain injury exclusion in ICD‐11 is unjustified.ConclusionsThe delirium phenotype involves a disturbance in attention, qualitative thought clarity, and quantitative activity level, including in relation to expected sleep/wake cycles. Future diagnostic systems should include a severity threshold and specify that delirium diagnosis refers to a 24‐h period.
Quality of life and swallowing outcomes following major glossectomy: A prospective single‐center experience
Authors: Mitra Sandipta , Panda Smriti , Thakar Alok , Gautam Vimmi , Talukdar Kaustav M. , Mani Suresh , Singh Chirom Amit , Sikka Kapil , Kumar Rajeev , Das Sumit Kumar , Singh Anup 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundThere exists a lacuna in the structured reporting of swallowing dysfunction and quality of life (QoL) outcome following major glossectomy.MethodsProspective cohort study to assess the swallowing dysfunction and QoL following STG (subtotal glossectomy) or NTG (near total glossectomy) over a 6‐month period using FEES and PAS scale, MDADI, and FACT‐HN.ResultsTwenty‐four patients were available for analysis. The pre‐ and post‐adjuvant evaluation revealed a statistically significant improvement in the composite MDADI and FACT‐HN scores. Subscale analysis of FACT‐HN scores revealed maximum deficit in the head and neck cancer‐specific score domain followed by functional domain and social well‐being domain, with serial improvement noted in the post‐adjuvant setting.ConclusionThis study showed serial improvement in terms of swallowing dysfunction although social and functional well‐being domains related to QoL continued to reveal major deficits. Better outcomes were seen with preservation of bilateral base of tongue and mandible.
Performance during object retrieval tasks in young children with and without Down syndrome: A pilot study
Authors: Kaur Maninderjit , Needham Amy Work 
Published: December 2023

AbstractObject retrieval skills requiring means‐end exploration are an area of relative weakness in young children with Down syndrome (DS). The current pilot study examined the object retrieval skills of a small sample of young children with DS for tasks with varying level of complexity. Thirteen children with DS (31.55 ± 4.14 months) and 13 mental age‐matched typically developing (TD) children (17.31 ± 1.64 months) completed three tasks involving retrieving a toy from a transparent box (Task 1), an opaque box (Task 2) and a transparent box hidden inside an opaque box (Task 3). Both DS and TD group performed similarly for the simpler Task 1, but for Tasks 2 and 3, the DS group had a lower success rate, less frequent use of complex asymmetric hand actions and/or longer execution times compared to the TD group. Future studies should examine the developmental trends and specificity of means‐end exploratory behaviours in children with DS.
Medical grade 3D printable bioabsorbable PLDL/Mg and PLDL/Zn composites for biomedical applications
Authors: Thompson Cillian , Domínguez Guillermo , Bardisa Pilar , Liu Yuyao , Fernández‐Blázquez Juan Pedro , del Río José Sánchez , Echeverry‐Rendon Monica , González Carlos , Llorca Javier 
Published: December 2023

AbstractMedical grade PLDL, PLDL/Mg and PLDL/Zn filaments were manufactured by a dual extrusion method and used to prepare coupons and scaffolds with controlled porosity by fused filament fabrication. The mechanical properties, degradation mechanisms and biological performance were carefully analyzed. It was found that the presence of 4 vol.% of Mg and Zn particles did not substantially modify the mechanical properties but accelerated the degradation rate of PLDL. Moreover, the acidification of the pH due to degradation of the PLDL was reduced in the presence of metallic particles. Finally, cell adhesion and proliferation were excellent in the medical grade PLDL as well as in the polymer/metal composites. These results demonstrate the potential of bioabsorbable metal/polymer composites to tailor the mechanical properties, degradation rate and biocompatibility for specific clinical applications.
Transglutaminase enables highly hydrolytically and proteolytically stable crosslinking of collagen on titanium surfaces and promotes osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Palkowitz Alena L. , Rüger Sascha , Ziegler Maximilian , Buhl Eva Miriam , Fischer Horst 
Published: December 2023

AbstractCollagen with its bioactive ligand motives would be predestined as coating on bone implant surfaces like titanium hip stems to facilitate receptor‐mediated cell adhesion and thereby improve early osseointegration. Unfortunately, collagen as coating exhibits very low proteolytic resistance in vivo. To overcome this limitation, different crosslinking methods of collagen (transglutaminase, GTA, EDC/NHS, riboflavin, and lysyl oxidase) with silanized titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V) were investigated in terms of degradation resistance, hydrolysis stability, tensile strength, and metabolic cell activity. The in vitro osteogenic differentiation ability of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) induced by the surface modification was evaluated by immunofluorescence of early osteogenic markers, Alizarin red staining, and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. The expression of the adhesion‐related protein vinculin was analyzed on the different functionalized surfaces. The results revealed that the enzymatic crosslinker transglutaminase offered high degradation resistance, tensile strength, and hydrolysis stability compared to the other crosslinking reagents tested. Remarkably, the adhesion sequences within the collagen were accessible to the hMSCs despite the transglutaminase crosslinking procedure. In conclusion, the organochemical functionalization of Ti6Al4V surfaces with collagen using transglutaminase holds great potential to facilitate an enhanced interaction with attached bone cells and thereby could potentially improve and accelerate osseointegration of a titanium‐based bone implant in vivo.
Nasopharyngeal neutrophilic‐retention signatures could predict disease progression in early SARS‐CoV‐2 infection
Authors: Qi Furong , Cao Yingyin , Shen Yunyun , Wang Haiyan , Li Dapeng , Yang Qianting , Li Zhiyan , Zhang Zheng 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe nasopharynx is the initial site of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection, and neutrophils play a critical role in preventing viral transmission into the lower airways or lungs during the early phases of infection. However, neutrophil dynamics, functional signatures, and predictive roles in the nasopharynx of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) patients have not yet been elucidated. In this study, we carried out RNA sequencing of nasopharyngeal swabs from a cohort of COVID‐19 patients with mild, moderate, severe outcomes and healthy donors as controls. Over 32.7% of the differentially expressed genes associated with COVID‐19 severity were neutrophil‐related, including those involved in migration, neutrophil extracellular traps formation, and inflammasome activation. Multicohort single‐cell RNA sequencing analysis further confirmed these findings and identified a population of neutrophils expressing Vacuolar‐type ATPase (V‐ATPase) and the chemokine receptor CXCR4 in the nasopharynx. This population of neutrophils preferentially expressed pro‐inflammatory genes relevant to phagosomal maturation as well as local reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species production in the nasopharynx of patients with severe outcomes. A four‐gene panel defined as a neutrophil signature associated with COVID‐19 progression (NSAP) was identified as an early diagnostic predictor of severe COVID‐19, which potentially distinguished severe patients from mild cases with influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, dengue virus, or hepatitis B virus infection. NSAP is mainly expressed on CXCR4high neutrophils and exhibits a significant association with the cell fraction of this neutrophil population. This study highlights novel potential therapeutic targets or diagnostic tools for predicting patients at a higher risk of severe outcomes.
The 2023 Orthopedic Research Society's international consensus meeting on musculoskeletal infection: Summary from the in vitro section
Authors: Hickok Noreen J. , Li Bingyun , Oral Ebru , Zaat Sebastian A. J. , Armbruster David A. , Atkins Gerald J. , Chen Antonia F. , Coraça‐Huber Débora C. , Dai Tianhong , Greenfield Edward M. , Kasinath Rajendra , Libera Matthew , Marques Cláudia N. H. , Moriarty T. Fintan , Scott Phillips K. , Raghuraman Kapil , Ren Dacheng , Rimondini Lia , Saeed Kordo , Schaer Thomas P. , Schwarz Edward M. , Spiegel Christopher , Stoodley Paul , Truong Vi Khanh , Tsang Shao‐Ting Jerry , Wildemann Britt , Zelmer Anja R. , Zinkernagel Annelies S. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractAntimicrobial strategies for musculoskeletal infections are typically first developed with in vitro models. The In Vitro Section of the 2023 Orthopedic Research Society Musculoskeletal Infection international consensus meeting (ICM) probed our state of knowledge of in vitro systems with respect to bacteria and biofilm phenotype, standards, in vitro activity, and the ability to predict in vivo efficacy. A subset of ICM delegates performed systematic reviews on 15 questions and made recommendations and assessment of the level of evidence that were then voted on by 72 ICM delegates. Here, we report recommendations and rationale from the reviews and the results of the internet vote. Only two questions received a ≥90% consensus vote, emphasizing the disparate approaches and lack of established consensus for in vitro modeling and interpretation of results. Comments on knowledge gaps and the need for further research on these critical MSKI questions are included.