bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bacillus subtilis‐based microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) in polymer microfluidic chip
Authors: Liu Jingji , Gao Kexin , Zhang Yajun , Fan Yiqiang 
Published: August 2022

AbstractMicrobial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) is a tertiary oil recovery process that manipulates the microbial environment inside oil reservoirs to modify the physical/chemical properties of the reservoirs to enhance the oil recovery. Up to now, the detailed MEOR mechanism is still not entirely clear due to the multiple influence factors (e.g., pH, nutrients, temperature, porosity, and permeability) on microbial growth and reproduction, as well as the lack of understanding of microbial's influencing mechanism on the oil recovery process. In this study, a Bacillus subtilis‐based MEOR process was conducted in a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)‐based microfluidic device to mimic the MEOR process in the reservoir. The porous microstructure based on real sandstone slice images was fabricated with laser ablation on a PMMA substrate. Two different MEOR approaches were conducted in the PMMA‐based microfluidics devices: the direct injection of displacing reagent (biosurfactant produced by bacteria) into the microfluidic chip for the oil recovery (ex‐situ), and the incubation of bacteria solution inside the chip followed with brine flooding (in‐situ). The result indicates the ex‐situ MEOR process with B. subtilis can reach a recovery rate of 38.56%, while the in‐situ MEOR process with B. subtilis reached a recovery rate of 40.27%. The proposed study provides a new tool for understanding the MEOR process, with advantages in visibility and accurate fluid control during the MEOR process.
Direct conversion of poor‐quality residual oil to light gases in electricity‐driven thermal plasma reactor
Authors: Ali Mehran , Cheng Yi , Li Yue , An Hang , Jin Yong 
Published: August 2022

AbstractNowadays, the utilization of non‐conventional oil resources has become an increasingly attractive solution for producing valuable chemicals and materials due to the depletion of conventional oil resources. Plasma technology, powered by renewable energy sources, provides a potential way to convert low‐grade residual oil into lighter hydrocarbons in an environmentally friendly fashion. This study has developed a laboratory‐scale plasma pyrolysis system to investigate the impacts of residual oil characteristics and operating variables such as residual oil‐specific enthalpy, arc gas flow rate, arc gas composition, quenching, and plasma configuration. The results show that the higher specific enthalpy of the residual oil leads to higher yields of C1, C2, and H2, particularly C2H2. An increment in the arc gas flow rate improves the pyrolysis impact; however, an excessively high arc gas flow rate lowers the thermal plasma jet's temperature, causing a limited pyrolysis effect. In the composition of arc gas, the increasing concentration of H2 can enhance the specific enthalpy and improve carbon conversion from residual oil to gas products, both of which result in a higher yield of light gases. Furthermore, ethane gas has been used as a quenching medium after plasma pyrolysis. The results reveal that ethane can be cracked into ethylene and other products by taking full use of the heat energy of the gas. Meanwhile, the sharp decrease in the gas temperature inhibits the further pyrolysis of the main valuable products.
Recent Advances in Asymmetric Transformations of Unactivated Alkanes and Cycloalkanes through Direct C—H Functionalization
Authors: Cheng Shiyan , Li Qianyu , Cheng Xiuliang , Lin Yu‐Mei , Gong Lei 
Published: August 2022

Comprehensive SummaryThe direct conversion of unactivated alkanes and cycloalkanes into structurally diverse molecules through aliphatic C—H functionalization is a useful process, which has attracted intense interest from academia and industry. Methods to control chemo‐ and site‐selectivity, combined with asymmetric catalysis, provide appealing access to high value‐added enantiomer‐enriched compounds but are far less developed. This review focuses on recent progress in (i) asymmetric reactions of alkanes or cycloalkanes with prochiral substrates which generate a stereocenter adjacent to the cleaved C(sp3)–H bond, and (ii) C(sp3)–H enantiodiscriminatory reactions creating a new stereogenic center on the carbon of a cleaved C(sp3)–H bond. Elegant strategies are discussed, including (a) metal carbene‐induced C—H insertions by chiral rhodium catalysts, (b) metal‐oxo‐mediated C—H oxidation by biomimetic manganese catalysts, (c) enzyme catalysis by cytochromes P450 variants, and (d) dual catalysis by a photocatalyst and a chiral Lewis acid (CLA) or a chiral phosphoric acid (CPA). These catalytic systems can not only precisely recognize primary, secondary and tertiary C—H bonds at specific positions in alkanes and cycloalkanes, but also support a high level of stereoselectivity in the reactions. It is expected that the advances will stimulate further progress in asymmetric catalysis, synthetic methodology, pharmaceutical development and industrial processes.
The role of MiRNA‐433 in malignant tumors of digestive tract as tumor suppressor
Authors: Tang Jie , Chen Jiawei , Wang Yongqiang , Zhou Shaobo 
Published: August 2022

AbstractBackgroundMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of short non‐coding RNAs with a length of approximate 22 nuclei acids that can be expressed both as an oncogene and tumor suppressor gene in human cancers. MiRNAs can participate in the post‐ transcriptional regulation of gene expression, and regulate the several cancer‐related processes, including proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis, etc.Recent findingsExpression of miRNA‐433 has been reported to vary in different tumors and affected by various factors. We have summarized the different previous studies and found that miRNA‐433 can significantly inhibit the growth of the cancer cells not only in malignant tumors of the digestive tract, but also in lung cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, bladder cancer, renal carcinoma, glioma, retinoblastoma and osteosarcoma.ConclusionWhen the expression of miRNA‐433 was up‐regulated, the proliferation, metastasis and invasion abilities of the malignant tumor cells were significantly inhibited. At the same time, the potential mechanisms through which miRNA‐433 can suppress the growth and metastasis of the cancer cells were found to be basically the same, and involved modulation of the specific signaling pathways or target genes in the malignant tumors. Overall, it can be concluded that miRNA‐433 can serve as potential and valuable therapeutic target.
Resonances at Fundamental and Harmonic Frequencies for Selective Imaging of Sine‐Wave Illuminated Reversibly Photoactivatable Labels
Authors: Pellissier‐Tanon Agnès , Chouket Raja , Zhang Ruikang , Lahlou Aliénor , Espagne Agathe , Lemarchand Annie , Croquette Vincent , Jullien Ludovic , Le Saux Thomas 
Published: August 2022

AbstractWe introduce HIGHLIGHT as a simple and general strategy to selectively image a reversibly photoactivatable fluorescent label associated with a given kinetics. The label is submitted to sine‐wave illumination of large amplitude, which generates oscillations of its concentration and fluorescence at higher harmonic frequencies. For singularizing a label, HIGHLIGHT uses specific frequencies and mean light intensities associated with resonances of the amplitudes of concentration and fluorescence oscillations at harmonic frequencies. Several non‐redundant resonant observables are simultaneously retrieved from a single experiment with phase‐sensitive detection. HIGHLIGHT is used for selective imaging of four spectrally similar fluorescent proteins that had not been discriminated so far. Moreover, labels out of targeted locations can be discarded in an inhomogeneous spatial profile of illumination. HIGHLIGHT opens roads for simplified optical setups at reduced cost and easier maintenance.
In Vitro Transformation and Selection of Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum
Authors: Phan Amber , Romeis Emily , Tantalo Lauren , Giacani Lorenzo 
Published: August 2022

AbstractAlthough the isolation of Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum (T. pallidum) from a syphilis patient dates to 1912, for the duration of the 20th century, this pathogen has remained an exceedingly difficult organism to study due to the lack of a system to support its viability in vitro. This limitation, in turn, has precluded the application of genetic engineering techniques via transformation and subsequent selection of T. pallidum transformants. A recently described method for in vitro cultivation of T. pallidum, however, has made it possible for us to experiment with transformation and selection methods. Here we describe the approach that we adopted to successfully transform T. pallidum with foreign DNA and select the resulting recombinant strain using kanamycin. © 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.Basic Protocol 1: Transformation of T. pallidumSupport Protocol 1: Quantification of T. pallidum in suspensions using dark‐field microscopySupport Protocol 2: Counting cells using a hemacytometerBasic Protocol 2: Selection, initial passaging, and expansion of transformed culturesBasic Protocol 3: Isolation of a clonal strain through limiting dilution
Detection of Neutralizing Anti‐Type 1 Interferon Autoantibodies
Authors: Shaw Elana R. , Rosen Lindsey B. , Ding Li , Holland Steven M. , Su Helen C. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractAutoantibodies (autoAbs) that neutralize type 1 interferons (T1IFNs) are a major risk factor associated with developing critical COVID‐19 disease and are most commonly found in individuals over age 70 and in patients with genetic or acquired thymic defects. Swift identification of autoAb‐positive individuals may allow targeted interventions to prevent critical COVID‐19 disease. Herein, we provide a workflow and protocols aimed at rapidly identifying individuals who are autoAb positive from a large cohort. Basic Protocol 1 describes a multiplex particle‐based assay to screen large cohorts of individuals for binding levels of anti‐T1IFN autoAbs, and Basic Protocol 2 describes a functional assay to test if autoAbs in patient plasma can block T1IFN‐induced JAK/STAT signaling. © Published 2022. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.Basic Protocol 1: Multiplex particle‐based bead assay to screen for binding levels of anti‐type 1 interferon autoantibodiesAlternate Protocol: Multiplex particle‐based bead assay to screen for binding levels of anti‐type 1 interferon immunoglobulin subtypes and isotypesSupport Protocol: Coupling type 1 interferons (IFN‐α, IFN‐β, and IFN‐ω) to magnetic beadsBasic Protocol 2: pSTAT1 functional assay to test for neutralization activity of anti‐type 1 interferon autoantibodies
Sustainable service ecosystems from the transformative value perspective: A study in tourism destinations
Authors: Moliner‐Tena Miguel Ángel , Monferrer‐Tirado Diego , Estrada‐Guillén Marta , Vidal‐Meliá Lidia 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThe aim of this study is to examine the relationship between sustainability with customer satisfaction and service experience in service ecosystems, by analyzing the moderated role of business models. A model with four variables is proposed, whereby customer satisfaction is the dependent variable, perceived sustainability of the service ecosystem is the explanatory variable, service experience is the mediator variable, and business models is the moderator variable. The model is applied in a survey of tourists. The results enable comparison of the causal model: perceived sustainability influences customer satisfaction directly and indirectly through service experience; and business model can play a moderator role since significant differences are identified in one of the three types of tourism destinations.
Battery and supercapacitor assisted controller for stability enhancement of DC microgrid
Authors: Aswakumar Geetha Anu , Bernonse Vasantha Annie , Raveendran Pillai Hari Kumar , Somarajan Ushakumari 
Published: August 2022

AbstractDespite the widespread popularity of DC microgrid (DCMG), one of the key issues faced by it is the instability arising from supply‐demand imbalance, which is conventionally tackled via energy storage units such as batteries. But the life cycle of the battery, which may reduce when subjected to transients, can be prolonged by integrating fast acting supercapacitor (SC) with higher power density. Such a combination of energy storage units enables the DCMG to handle steady state and transient conditions effectively. However, the reduction in the operating voltage of SC may bring in ringing in the DC bus voltage, which will affect DCMG stability. Hence, this paper focuses on analysing the impact of SC voltage deviation on DCMG stability and to propose a controller design procedure with conventional PI controller and power management strategy to mitigate the aforementioned consequences. The simulation in MATLAB and real‐time validation in OP4510 real‐time simulator has been conducted. The results of both revealed that the proposed scheme has succeeded in eliminating ringing of DC bus voltage, irrespective of the SC operating voltage variations, thereby maintaining DCMG stability.
Spontaneous neuronal regeneration in the forebrain of the leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius) following neurochemical lesioning
Authors: Austin Laura E. , Graham Chloe , Vickaryous Matthew K. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractBackgroundNeurogenesis is the ability to generate new neurons from resident stem/progenitor populations. Although often understood as a homeostatic process, several species of teleost fish, salamanders, and lacertid lizards are also capable of reactive neurogenesis, spontaneously replacing lost or damaged neurons. Here, we demonstrate that reactive neurogenesis also occurs in a distantly related lizard species, Eublepharis macularius, the leopard gecko.ResultsTo initiate reactive neurogenesis, the antimetabolite 3‐acetylpyridine (3‐AP) was administered. Four days following 3‐AP administration there is a surge in neuronal cell death within a region of the forebrain known as the medial cortex (homolog of the mammalian hippocampal formation). Neuronal cell death is accompanied by a shift in resident microglial morphology and an increase neural stem/progenitor cell proliferation. By 30 days following 3‐AP administration, the medial cortex was entirely repopulated by NeuN+ neurons. At the same time, local microglia have reverted to a resting state and cell proliferation by neural stem/progenitors has returned to levels comparable with uninjured controls.ConclusionsTogether, these data provide compelling evidence of reactive neurogenesis in leopard geckos, and indicate that the ability of lizards to spontaneously replace lost or damaged forebrain neurons is more taxonomically widespread and evolutionarily conserved than previously considered.
How does variation in total and relative abundance contribute to gradients of species diversity?
Authors: Engel Thore , Blowes Shane A. , McGlinn Daniel J. , Gotelli Nicholas J. , McGill Brian J. , Chase Jonathan M. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractPatterns of biodiversity provide insights into the processes that shape biological communities around the world. Variation in species diversity along biogeographical or ecological gradients, such as latitude or precipitation, can be attributed to variation in different components of biodiversity: changes in the total abundance (i.e., more‐individual effects) and changes in the regional species abundance distribution (SAD). Rarefaction curves can provide a tool to partition these sources of variation on diversity, but first must be converted to a common unit of measurement. Here, we partition species diversity gradients into components of the SAD and abundance using the effective number of species (ENS) transformation of the individual‐based rarefaction curve. Because the ENS curve is unconstrained by sample size, it can act as a standardized unit of measurement when comparing effect sizes among different components of biodiversity change. We illustrate the utility of the approach using two data sets spanning latitudinal diversity gradients in trees and marine reef fish and find contrasting results. Whereas the diversity gradient of fish was mostly associated with variation in abundance (86%), the tree diversity gradient was mostly associated with variation in the SAD (59%). These results suggest that local fish diversity may be limited by energy through the more‐individuals effect, while species pool effects are the larger determinant of tree diversity. We suggest that the framework of the ENS‐curve has the potential to quantify the underlying factors influencing most aspects of diversity change.
Efficacy and safety of co‐crystal of tramadol‐celecoxib (CTC) in acute moderate‐to‐severe pain after abdominal hysterectomy: A randomized, double‐blind, phase 3 trial (STARDOM2)
Authors: Langford Richard , Morte Adelaida , Sust Mariano , Cebrecos Jesús , Vaqué Anna , Ortiz Esther , Fettiplace James , Adeyemi Shola , Raba Grzegorz , But‐Husaim Liudmila , Gascón Neus , Plata‐Salamán Carlos 
Published: August 2022

AbstractBackgroundSTARDOM2 is a randomized, double‐blind, phase 3 trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of co‐crystal of tramadol‐celecoxib (CTC)—a first‐in‐class analgesic co‐crystal comprising racemic tramadol hydrochloride and celecoxib in a supramolecular network that modifies their pharmacokinetic properties—for the management of acute postoperative pain (NCT03062644; EudraCT:2016–000593‐38).MethodsPatients with moderate‐to‐severe pain following abdominal hysterectomy were randomized 2:2:2:2:2:1 to oral CTC 100 mg (rac‐tramadol hydrochloride 44 mg/celecoxib 56 mg) twice daily (BID); CTC 150 mg (66/84 mg) BID; CTC 200 mg (88/112 mg) BID; immediate‐release tramadol 100 mg four times daily (QID); celecoxib 100 mg BID; or placebo, for 5 days. The primary endpoint was the sum of pain intensity differences over 0–4 h (SPID0–4). Key secondary endpoints were rescue medication use within 4 h, 50% response rate at 4 h, and safety/tolerability.ResultsOf 1355 patients enrolled, 1138 were randomized (full analysis set) and 1136 treated (safety analysis set). In the prespecified gatekeeping analysis of SPID0–4, CTC 200 mg was not superior to tramadol but showed non‐inferior efficacy (p < 0.001) that was sustained throughout the 120‐h period, despite a 5‐day cumulative tramadol administration of 880 mg with CTC 200 mg BID versus 2000 mg with tramadol 100 mg QID. Treatment‐emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and severe TEAEs were less common with CTC 200 mg versus tramadol. Treatment‐related TEAEs were 14.4% with CTC 200 mg and 23.6% with tramadol.ConclusionsAlthough the study did not meet its primary endpoint, CTC 200 mg showed a clinically relevant improvement in overall benefit/risk profile versus tramadol alone, with considerably lower cumulative opioid exposure.SignificanceIn the randomized, double‐blind, phase 3 STARDOM2 trial—in acute moderate‐to‐severe pain after abdominal hysterectomy—the novel co‐crystal of tramadol‐celecoxib (CTC) 200 mg BID was superior to placebo and non‐inferior to tramadol 100 mg QID. Although superiority to tramadol was not reached, CTC 200 mg BID exposed patients to lower cumulative opioid (tramadol) doses than tramadol (100 mg QID) alone, with fewer treatment‐emergent adverse events. CTC 200 mg thus has a clinically relevant improved benefit/risk profile compared with tramadol alone.
Robust forecasting in spatial autoregressive model with total variation regularization
Authors: Jiang He 
Published: August 2022

AbstractIn recent decades, feature selection has attracted great attention in data science due to curse of dimensionality, which arises in larger, complex, and heterogeneous data. However, existing researches of feature grouping on spatial autoregressive model are rare. To address this challenge, this paper investigates robust spatial autoregressive model with feature grouping and robust forecasting achieved automatically. The proposed novel methodology borrows strength from check loss function in quantile regression and total variation regularization. A simple‐to‐implement algorithm following double‐level alternative method of multipliers design is derived computationally. The empirical studies demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods via comparing with other competing forecasting techniques.
Use of technology by people with dementia and informal carers during COVID‐19: A cross‐country comparison
Authors: Chirico Ilaria , Giebel Clarissa , Lion Katarzyna , Mackowiak Maria , Chattat Rabih , Cations Monica , Gabbay Mark , Moyle Wendy , Pappadà Alessandro , Rymaszewska Joanna , Senczyszyn Adrianna , Szczesniak Dorota , Tetlow Hilary , Trypka Elzbieta , Valente Marco , Ottoboni Giovanni 
Published: August 2022

AbstractObjectivesConsidering the adverse outcomes of COVID‐19, it is essential to provide adequate support and care for people with dementia and informal carers. Technology can reduce the distress associated with social distancing rules and the decreased access to in‐person services. This study aimed to explore the use of technology and its perceived effects across different settings and countries.MethodsThe sample was composed of 127 informal carers and 15 people with dementia from the UK, Italy, Australia and Poland. Semi‐structured interviews explored participants' experiences of using technology and their perceived effects. Transcripts were analysed by researchers in each country using an inductive approach.ResultsThree overarching themes were developed: (1) Technology kept us alive during COVID‐19; (2) Remote care was anything but easy; (3) Perceived technology limitations. Many similarities emerged between countries supporting the role of technology for being socially engaged, having a routine, and staying active. However, the benefits of technology for health and psychosocial care were more limited. Across countries, barriers to the access and use of technology included lack of digital literacy, dementia severity, and lack of appropriate digital environments. Help and supervision from carers were also necessary and sometimes perceived as an additional burden.ConclusionsTechnology can effectively reduce the shrinking world that may be amplified by the pandemic, thus preserving people with dementia's social skills and maintaining family connections. However, for more extensive and well‐adapted use of technology in dementia care, actions should be taken to overcome the barriers to the access and use of technology by older and vulnerable people globally.