bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of disaggregation and activation of sepiolite on interfacial interaction and mechanical properties of natural rubber/sepiolite composites prepared by latex compounding method
Authors: Hou Zhanfeng , Wang Zhibin , Chen Qi , Xin Zhenxiang 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe demand for environmentally friendly and non‐petroleum based natural rubber products is on the rise. Sepiolite, a one‐dimensional clay mineral, has been found to be a suitable reinforcement for natural rubber through latex compounding. However, the aggregation of fibers and minerals may impact the overall properties of natural rubber composites. To overcome this challenge, the study utilized ultrasonic disaggregation and oxalic acid activation to prepare stable sepiolite suspensions with varying specific surface areas and surface activities. These suspensions were then mixed with natural rubber latex to prepare NR/sepiolite composites. The results showed that the dispersibility and bonding ability of sepiolite with natural rubber were improved due to the increased specific surface area and surface activity, resulting in more bonding sites. The mechanical properties of the composites were also found to be improved, with a significant increase in tear strength (from 61.9 to 67.6 N·mm−1) and tensile strength (from 23.0 to 29.5 MPa). This research lays a strong foundation for the utilization of sepiolite in rubber materials.
State‐of‐the‐art review on developing lightweight fiber‐metal laminates based on synthetic/natural fibers
Authors: Ng Lin Feng , Yahya Mohd Yazid , Leong Hui Yi , Parameswaranpillai Jyotishkumar , Muthukumar Chandrasekar , Syed Hamzah Syed Mohd Saiful Azwan , Dhar Malingam Sivakumar 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe development of hybrid materials consisting of alternating layers of metal alloys and polymeric composites has revolutionized the engineering field. These metal‐composite laminates combine the merits of each individual component, forming advanced and promising structures which could be employed for structural applications. The low fatigue crack growth rate and high damage tolerance of these materials are particularly fascinating. When developing metal‐composite laminates with superb functional properties, the combination of several metal surface treatment techniques is a common practice to ensure optimum metal‐composite adhesion. Today, a new cutting‐edge manufacturing technique utilizing nano‐porous network film has been established to get rid of the massive infrastructure of conventional autoclave techniques and produce first‐rate materials. Even though various techniques can be adopted to manufacture metal‐composite laminates, the selection of the techniques is highly dependent on the nature of the polymer matrix. After the manufacture of the metal‐composite laminates, post‐stretching is considered a critical step to alleviate the unfavorable residual stress to ensure the optimum performance of these materials for long‐term service. When dealing with natural fibers, it is worth mentioning that the processing temperature should be limited to below 200°C regardless of manufacturing technique to avoid fiber degradation. Metal‐composite laminates consisting of synthetic/natural fibers are considered a viable option to offset the demerits of each kind of fibers. By incorporating fatigue‐resilient natural fibers in the laminates, it is expected that the overall fatigue resistance of the laminates can be apparently enhanced, which is in line with the initial goal of developing metal‐composite laminates.Highlights
Fiber bridging offers fiber‐metal laminates with superior fatigue properties.
Metal surface treatment is vital to ensure an optimum fiber‐bridging mechanism.
A novel out‐of‐autoclave method can produce first‐grade fiber‐metal laminates.
Post‐stretching is needed to lessen residual stress in fiber‐metal laminates.
Hybrid fiber‐metal laminates are feasible for structural applications.
One‐pot three‐step synthesis of PDMAEMA‐b‐PMMA‐b‐PNIPAM triblock block copolymer for preparing pH and thermal dual‐responsive PVDF blend membranes
Authors: Luo Xin , Wang Zhuqing , Yan Mengxia , Xin Jianhui , Yang Yongqi 
Published: August 2023

AbstractFunctional membranes based on stimuli‐responsive block copolymers have attracted significant attention in the field of membrane separations, which can adjust the pore sizes and the surface properties in response to environmental stimuli. However, it was inconvenient to synthesize stimuli‐responsive block copolymers due to the complexity and inefficiency of the synthesis process. In this work, pH‐ and thermal‐responsive triblock copolymers were synthesized by the one‐pot method to modify PVDF membranes. The modified membranes exhibit good hydrophilicity, and the contact angle of M2 decreased from 74° to 0° within 20 s. Surprisingly, the water flux of the blend membrane is approximately 24 times and 33 times higher than that of the pure membrane, respectively. Besides, the modified membranes also exhibit good pH and thermal response, and superior fouling‐tolerant performance. Overall, these multi‐responsive block copolymers synthesized by a simple one‐pot method have enormous potential for controlled size separation, flux regulation, and many other fields.
The effects of extracellular vesicles and their cargo on metabolism and its adaptation to physical exercise in insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes
Authors: Mastrototaro Lucia , Roden Michael 
Published: August 2023

AbstractLifestyle modification represents the first‐line strategy for the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which is frequently associated with obesity and characterized by defective pancreatic insulin secretion and/or insulin resistance. Exercise training is an essential component of lifestyle modification and has been shown to ameliorate insulin resistance by reducing body fat mass and by enhancing skeletal muscle mitochondrial biogenesis and insulin‐independent glucose uptake. Additionally, exercising stimulates the release of exerkines such as metabolites or cytokines, but also long non‐coding RNA, microRNAs, cell‐free DNA (cf‐DNA), and extracellular vesicles (EVs), which contribute to inter‐tissue communication. There is emerging evidence that EV number and content are altered in obesity and T2DM and may be involved in several metabolic processes, specifically either worsening or improving insulin resistance. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the metabolic effects of exercise training and on the potential role of humoral factors and EV as new biomarkers for early diagnosis and tailored treatment of T2DM.
A random forest model for predicting exosomal proteins using evolutionary information and motifs
Authors: Arora Akanksha , Patiyal Sumeet , Sharma Neelam , Devi Naorem Leimarembi , Kaur Dashleen , Raghava Gajendra P. S. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractNon‐invasive diagnostics and therapies are crucial to prevent patients from undergoing painful procedures. Exosomal proteins can serve as important biomarkers for such advancements. In this study, we attempted to build a model to predict exosomal proteins. All models are trained, tested, and evaluated on a non‐redundant dataset comprising 2831 exosomal and 2831 non‐exosomal proteins, where no two proteins have more than 40% similarity. Initially, the standard similarity‐based method Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) was used to predict exosomal proteins, which failed due to low‐level similarity in the dataset. To overcome this challenge, machine learning (ML) based models were developed using compositional and evolutionary features of proteins achieving an area under the receiver operating characteristics (AUROC) of 0.73. Our analysis also indicated that exosomal proteins have a variety of sequence‐based motifs which can be used to predict exosomal proteins. Hence, we developed a hybrid method combining motif‐based and ML‐based approaches for predicting exosomal proteins, achieving a maximum AUROC of 0.85 and MCC of 0.56 on an independent dataset. This hybrid model performs better than presently available methods when assessed on an independent dataset. A web server and a standalone software ExoProPred (https://webs.iiitd.edu.in/raghava/exopropred/) have been created to help scientists predict and discover exosomal proteins and find functional motifs present in them.
A practical guide to botulinum neurotoxin treatment of teres major muscle in shoulder spasticity: Intramuscular neural distribution of teres major muscle in cadaver model
Authors: Yi Kyu‐Ho , Lee Kang‐Woo , Hu Hye‐Won , Lee Ji‐Hyun , Lee Hyung‐Jin 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBackgroundBotulinum neurotoxin treatment typically focuses on the teres major muscle as a primary target for addressing shoulder spasticity. The muscle is located deep within a large muscle group and optimal injection locations have not been identified.ObjectiveTo identify the preferred location for administering botulinum toxin injections in the teres major muscle.MethodsTeres major specimens were removed from 18 cadaveric models and stained with Sihler's method to reveal the neural distribution within the muscle. The muscles were systematically divided into equal lengths from origin to insertion. The neural density in each section was evaluated to determine the location that would be likely to increase effectiveness of the injection.ResultsThe greatest density of intramuscular nerve endings was located in the middle 20% of the muscle. The tendinous portion was observed at the ends of the muscle.ConclusionsThe results suggest that botulinum neurotoxin should be delivered in the middle 20% of the teres major muscle.
Activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress by harmine suppresses the growth of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Fan Ronghui , Wang Senzhen , Wu Yalan , Feng Yongli , Gao Mengke , Cao Yue , Ma Xiaoxuan , Xie Songqiang , Wang Chaojie , Gao Lei , Wang Yanming , Dai Fujun 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe worldwide overall 5‐year survival rate of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients is less than 20%, and novel therapeutic strategies for these patients are urgently needed. Harmine is a natural β‐carboline alkaloid, which received great interest in cancer research because of its biological and anti‐tumor activities. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of harmine on ESCC and its mechanism. We investigated the effects of harmine on proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, and tumor growth in vivo. RNA sequencing (RNA‐seq), real‐time PCR, and western blotting were used to detect the mechanism. Harmine inhibited ESCC cell growth in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. Differentially expressed genes in harmine‐treated ESCC cells were mainly involved in protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Real‐time PCR and western blotting confirmed harmine‐induced cellular ER stress. CRISPR‐Cas9 knockout of C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) abolished harmine‐induced expression of death receptor 5 and apoptosis. Harmine also induced the expression of CHOP‐mediated sestrin‐2, which in turn contributes to autophagosome formation via suppressing the AMP‐activated protein kinase‐protein kinase B‐mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that harmine inhibits the growth of ESCC through its regulation of ER stress, suggesting that it is a promising candidate for ESCC treatment.
Apigenin inhibits macrophage pyroptosis through regulation of oxidative stress and the NF‐κB pathway and ameliorates atherosclerosis
Authors: Weng Xiuzhu , Luo Xing , Dai Xinyu , Lv Ying , Zhang Shan , Bai Xiaoxuan , Bao Xiaoyi , Wang Ying , Zhao Chen , Zeng Ming , Hu Sining , Li Ji , Jia Haibo , Yu Bo 
Published: August 2023

AbstractPyroptosis plays an important role in inflammatory diseases such as viral hepatitis and atherosclerosis. Apigenin exhibits various bioactivities, particularly anti‐inflammation, but its effect on pyroptosis remains unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of apigenin on pyroptosis and explore its potential against inflammatory diseases. THP‐1 macrophages treated by lipopolysaccharides/adenosine 5′‐triphosphate were used as the in vitro pyroptosis model. Western blot was used to detect the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome components and key regulators. Immunofluorescence was used to observe ROS production and intracellular location of p65. The potential of apigenin against inflammatory diseases was evaluated using atherosclerotic mice. Plaque progression was observed by pathological staining. Immunofluorescence was used to observe the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome components in plaques. The results showed that apigenin inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Apigenin reduced ROS overproduction and inhibited p65 nuclear translocation. Additionally, apigenin decreased the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome components in the plaque. Plaque progression was inhibited by apigenin. In conclusion, apigenin exhibited a preventive effect on macrophage pyroptosis by reducing oxidative stress and inhibiting the NF‐κB pathway. Apigenin may alleviate atherosclerosis at least partially by inhibiting macrophage pyroptosis. These findings suggest apigenin to be a promising therapeutic agent for inflammatory diseases.
Association between cannabis use and risk of diabetes mellitus type 2: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Mousavi Seyed Ehsan , Tondro Anamag Farhad , Sanaie Sarvin 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBackgroundCannabis consumption exerts multiple effects on metabolism via various pathways, including glucose regulation and insulin secretion. Studies concerning the association between cannabis use and diabetes mellitus type 2 are discrepant.ObjectiveThis study was conducted to evaluate the association between cannabis use and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Search MethodsWe searched PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Proquest, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library with no time, language or study types restriction until July 1, 2022, using various forms of “cannabis” and “diabetes mellitus” search terms.Selection CriteriaRandomized control trials, cohort, and case–control studies investigating the relationship between cannabis consumption and diabetes mellitus type 2 were included.Data Collection and AnalysisThe Newcastle–Ottawa scale was used to assess the quality of studies. We pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) using the random‐effects model, generic inverse variance method, DerSimonian and Laird approach.Main ResultsA meta‐analysis of seven studies, containing 11 surveys and 4 cohorts, revealed that the odds of developing T2DM in individuals exposed to cannabis was 0.48 times (95% CI: 0.39 to 0.59) lower than in those without cannabis exposure.ConclusionsA protective effect of cannabis consumption on the odds of diabetes mellitus type 2 development has been suggested. Yet given the considerable interstudy heterogeneity, the upward trend of cannabis consumption and cannabis legalization is recommended to conduct studies with higher levels of evidence.
Extremely late‐onset chronic graft‐versus‐host disease presenting with bronchiolitis obliterans and pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis
Authors: Akiyama Sae , Murayama Chisa , Aizawa Saori , Mizushima Arei , Maeda Yukiko , Taniguchi Natsuko , Nagai Katsura , Harada Toshiyuki 
Published: August 2023

AbstractA 35‐year‐old woman experienced left back pain after a 2‐h flight. She reported coughing and left back pain 1 day later when she presented to our hospital. Chest computed tomography showed pneumothorax of the left lung, bronchiectasis, thickening of the bronchial wall, nodules, and cavity lesions in both lungs. A pulmonary function test revealed obstructive ventilation disorder with normal lung diffusing capacity. She had a history of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) at 2 years and 3 months of age during the second disease remission of acute myeloid leukaemia. She was diagnosed with chronic graft‐versus‐host disease (cGVHD) presenting with bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) and pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (PPFE). To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of BO and PPFE diagnosed more than 30 years after HSCT.
Progress toward SDG‐2: Assessing food security in 93 countries with a multidimensional indicator system
Authors: Peng Bangrong , Shuai Chenyang , Yin Chaojing , Qi Haotian , Chen Xi 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe second goal of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (SDG‐2: zero hunger), which integrates food security, nutrition, and sustainable agriculture, is the common aim of human beings. Assessment of food security performance is the premise of understanding the global food security to tailor strategies toward SDG‐2. This study quantitatively assesses the food security of 93 countries using a multiple‐dimensional indicator system (MDIS) with five dimensions (i.e., availability, access, utilization, stability, and other) consisting of 34 indicators using the data for the years 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. The results show imbalance in global food security, which is generally high in Europe, Oceania, and North America, fair in East Asia and South America, and low in Africa and South Asia. In the dimensions, countries with low availability are mainly owing to the bad performances of indicators related to energy, protein, and meat supply; the low utilization is expressed in the number of obese adults, stunted children, prevalence of anemia of women, obese adults and overweight children; the low food access showed in the low GDP per capita and rail line density; and the low‐stability countries mainly have the high food import dependency and low political stability. Policy implications include promoting the adoption of agricultural technologies to boost food production, implementing inclusive finance among vulnerable groups to enhance health equality, developing national economy and transport systems to increase access to food, and encouraging local food reserves and calling for world peace to stable food supply. This study provides national governments and international organizations with a new MDIS, status quo, and possible solutions to eliminating hunger.
Preliminary investigation into the housing of dwarf hamsters
Authors: Hedley Joanna E. , Pettitt Adam , Abeyesinghe Siobhan M. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBackgroundAlthough pet hamsters are widely available, the literature on their husbandry and health is limited, and guidelines for the care of hamsters are variable. This study investigated housing in different dwarf hamster species, focusing on factors affecting co‐housing failure.MethodsAn online cross‐sectional survey shared on social media investigated potential factors influencing co‐housing failure of dwarf hamsters in captivity, such as sex, species and resources provided.ResultsThe majority of hamsters had not received veterinary care and were provided with fewer food and water sources than animal numbers, while 12% were kept in enclosures less than 75 cm in length. Co‐housing failure was more likely in dwarf hamsters older than 6 months (odds ratio 4.75, p = 0.005, 95% confidence interval = 1.607–14.13). There was no association found between sex or species and co‐housing failure.LimitationsThere was likely a degree of selection bias as the owners who completed the questionnaire may have had more knowledge of dwarf hamster husbandry than the general population of owners.ConclusionKey welfare concerns regarding dwarf hamster care in captivity were identified as inadequate enclosure sizes, a high prevalence of co‐housing failure arising from aggression, especially in hamsters more than 6 months old, and inadequate resource provision for many pair‐ or group‐housed animals. Further investigation of the welfare impacts of resource provision deficits is required.
Advances in macrocyclic chelators for positron emission tomography imaging
Authors: Li Mengting , Wang Sheng , Kong Qunshou , Cheng Xinyi , Yan Huanhuan , Xing Yao , Lan Xiaoli , Jiang Dawei 
Published: August 2023

AbstractIn recent years, radiometals have been successfully applied to medicine because of their breadth of decay properties and increased production and availability. Bifunctional chelators play a key role in radiometal‐based radiopharmaceuticals, affecting the labeling, targeting, and pharmacokinetics of bioconjugations and ensuring the stable complexation of the metal in vivo. The capacity of macrocycles to form complexes with extremely high thermodynamics, kinetics, and stability compared to acyclic chelators continues to pique the curiosity of pharmacists and biochemists among all prospective chelators utilized for the radiometal chelation. As new imaging modalities and therapeutic targets develop, the discovery of novel ligand structures with suitable chemical and biological features encourages the modification of chelators with charge and chemical properties. Herein, we present a comprehensive review of developments of macrocyclic chelators for PET radiopharmaceuticals, including innovative chelating agents with new structures and known chelating agent modifications, and their physical‐chemical properties, as well as their biological characteristics and applications in vivo.
Analyzing groundwater level trend by hybrid approach in 37 districts of Bihar State, India
Authors: Sinha Subha 
Published: August 2023

AbstractIn the eastern Indian state of Bihar, the majority of the people depends on groundwater for irrigation. Bihar is mainly an agricultural area; over time, groundwater levels have been dropping due to rising water demands from different industries. Therefore, analyzing groundwater levels and their trends is essential for ensuring the safe use of groundwater resources. This study determines the groundwater level trend by a novel hybrid approach of Mann‐Kendall–Sen's innovative trend analysis in 37 districts of Bihar State, India. In May 2019, August 2019, November 2019, and January 2020, the normalized test statistics (P) were determined using Mann‐Kendall‐trend analysis for 37 districts. According to the results, in May 2019, there was a decrease in the groundwater depth level observed in 28 districts, an increase in seven districts, and no noticeable trend in two districts. The trend of groundwater depth level decreased in 29 districts, increased in five districts, and had no trend in three districts in August 2019. In November 2019, the groundwater depth level showed a decreasing trend in 30 districts, an increasing trend in five districts, and no discernible trend in two districts. Similarly, in January 2020, the groundwater depth level decreased in 29 districts, with an increasing trend in five districts and no trend in three districts. The study's findings are significant for the sustainable management of groundwater resources in Bihar State, India.
Textverarbeitung
Authors: Schrills Tim 
Published: August 2023

ZusammenfassungDieses Kapitel adressiert KI-Systeme, die sich mit der Verarbeitung, dem Verständnis und der Veränderung von Text in seinen verschiedenen Formen beschäftigen. Ziel ist es, ein besseres Verständnis für diese Art Systeme zu ermöglichen, die Grundlage der eingesetzten Methoden darzulegen und so die Beurteilung der Leistungsfähigkeit textverarbeitender KI zu unterstützen. Dazu werden grundlegende Technologien und Konzepte vorgestellt, sowie ein Einblick in konkrete Anwendungsfälle wie bspw. Einfache Sprache gegeben.
KI & Recht
Authors: Dhungel Anna-Katharina 
Published: August 2023

ZusammenfassungIn diesem Kapitel werden die rechtlichen Rahmenbedingungen rund um den Einsatz von KI-Systemen aufgeführt. Zunächst werden erste Regulierungsansätze vorgestellt (12.2). Anschließend werden die grundsätzlichen Prinzipien der Datenschutz-Grundverordnung beschrieben (12.3). Mittels einer kleinen Übung wird das Bewusstsein zur Kategorisierung personenbezogener Daten geschärft (12.4). Es folgt eine Diskussion über die Vereinbarkeit von KI-Systemen und Datenschutz am Beispiel des Einsatzes von Chatbots (12.5). Schließlich wird der rechtlich anspruchsvolle Anwendungsfall des vollständig automatisierten Verwaltungsakts analysiert (12.7). Das angeeignete Wissen kann in der Übung reflektiert (12.7) und im eigenen Anwendungsfall eingesetzt werden (12.8).