bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of W Content on Microstructure and Properties of Laser Cladding CoCrFeNi HEA Coating
Authors: Luo Fangyan , Yang Tuchuan , Zhao Yang , Xiong Zhengye , Huang Jiang
Published: July 2023

The 316L SS surfaces were prepared with CoCrFeNi HEA/W-composite coatings using the laser cladding technique with various mass fractions of W. The mass fractions of W were 10, 20, 30, and 40%. The microstructure of the HEA/W-composite coatings was investigated using a variety of characterization methods. According to the results, the samples were in the BBC phase. In the SEM images, a solid–liquid bonding layer was observed, which indicates the samples had good metallurgical bonding. The W particles prevented the orderly growth of the HEA grains, and a significant refinement of the grains around the W particles occurred. The lattice constants measured by XRD mapping indicate that adding W particles to CoCrFeNi HEA leads to lattice distortion. The hardness of the HEA/W coatings was substantially higher than the substrate and the pure CoCrFeNi coating by hardness measurements and was greatest at a W content of 40%. The hardness of the HEA/W coatings was significantly increased compared to the substrate and the pure CoCrFeNi coating by hardness measurements and was greatest at a W content of 40%. The HEA/W coating was tested for electrochemical corrosion, and a 10% mass fraction of W achieved the highest level of corrosion resistance.
Development of Thermoelectric Half-Heusler Alloys over the Past 25 Years
Authors: Rogl Gerda , Rogl Peter Franz
Published: July 2023

Half-Heusler alloys are among the most promising thermoelectric materials. In the present review, thermoelectric properties (at 300 K and 800 K) of more than 1100 compositions from more than 220 publications between 1998 and 2023 were collected and evaluated. The dependence of the peak figure of merit, ZTmax, of p- and n-type half-Heusler alloys on the publishing year and the peak temperature is displayed in several figures. Furthermore, plots of ZT vs. the electrical resistivity, the Seebeck coefficient and the thermal conductivity at 300 K and 800 K are shown and discussed. Especially thermal conductivity vs. power factor leads to a good overview of ZT. For both p- and n-type individually separated into systems, ZTs and peak ZTs in dependence on the composition are displayed and discussed. This overview can help to find the ideal half-Heusler alloy for practical use.
A Wavelet-Decomposed WD-ARMA-GARCH-EVT Model Approach to Comparing the Riskiness of the BitCoin and South African Rand Exchange Rates
Authors: Ndlovu Thabani , Chikobvu Delson
Published: July 2023

In this paper, a hybrid of a Wavelet Decomposition–Generalised Auto-Regressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity–Extreme Value Theory (WD-ARMA-GARCH-EVT) model is applied to estimate the Value at Risk (VaR) of BitCoin (BTC/USD) and the South African Rand (ZAR/USD). The aim is to measure and compare the riskiness of the two currencies. New and improved estimation techniques for VaR have been suggested in the last decade in the aftermath of the global financial crisis of 2008. This paper aims to provide an improved alternative to the already existing statistical tools in estimating a currency VaR empirically. Maximal Overlap Discrete Wavelet Transform (MODWT) and two mother wavelet filters on the returns series are considered in this paper, viz., the Haar and Daubechies (d4). The findings show that BitCoin/USD is riskier than ZAR/USD since it has a higher VaR per unit invested in each currency. At the 99% significance level, BitCoin/USD has average values of VaR of 2.71% and 4.98% for the WD-ARMA-GARCH-GPD and WD-ARMA-GARCH-GEVD models, respectively; and this is slightly higher than the respective 2.69% and 3.59% for the ZAR/USD. The average BitCoin/USD returns of 0.001990 are higher than ZAR/USD returns of −0.000125. These findings are consistent with the mean-variance portfolio theory, which suggests a higher yield for riskier assets. Based on the p-values of the Kupiec likelihood ratio test, the hybrid model adequacy is largely accepted, as p-values are greater than 0.05, except for the WD-ARMA-GARCH-GEVD models at a 99% significance level for both currencies. The findings are helpful to financial risk practitioners and forex traders in formulating their diversification and hedging strategies and ascertaining the risk-adjusted capital requirement to be set aside as a cushion in the event of the occurrence of an actual loss.
A Deep Learning Framework for the Characterization of Thyroid Nodules from Ultrasound Images Using Improved Inception Network and Multi-Level Transfer Learning
Authors: Ajilisa O. A. , Jagathy Raj V. P. , Sabu M. K.
Published: July 2023

In the past few years, deep learning has gained increasingly widespread attention and has been applied to diagnosing benign and malignant thyroid nodules. It is difficult to acquire sufficient medical images, resulting in insufficient data, which hinders the development of an efficient deep-learning model. In this paper, we developed a deep-learning-based characterization framework to differentiate malignant and benign nodules from the thyroid ultrasound images. This approach improves the recognition accuracy of the inception network by combining squeeze and excitation networks with the inception modules. We have also integrated the concept of multi-level transfer learning using breast ultrasound images as a bridge dataset. This transfer learning approach addresses the issues regarding domain differences between natural images and ultrasound images during transfer learning. This paper aimed to investigate how the entire framework could help radiologists improve diagnostic performance and avoid unnecessary fine-needle aspiration. The proposed approach based on multi-level transfer learning and improved inception blocks achieved higher precision (0.9057 for the benign class and 0.9667 for the malignant class), recall (0.9796 for the benign class and 0.8529 for malignant), and F1-score (0.9412 for benign class and 0.9062 for malignant class). It also obtained an AUC value of 0.9537, which is higher than that of the single-level transfer learning method. The experimental results show that this model can achieve satisfactory classification accuracy comparable to experienced radiologists. Using this model, we can save time and effort as well as deliver potential clinical application value.
A Switched Capacitor Inverter Structure with Hybrid Modulation Method Lowering Switching Loss
Authors: Zhao Yanjun , Ge Wentao , Liang Xiaobing , Yang Yue , Tang Jingxing , Liu Junfeng
Published: July 2023

The high-frequency modulation method (HFM) for a switched capacitor (SC) inverter often leads to high switching loss since it increases switching frequency. In order to reduce the switching frequency and switching loss in the HFM for SC inverter, this paper proposes a novel hybrid modulation strategy as well as a corresponding demo switched capacitor topology. The hybrid strategy limits the number of high-frequency switches, thus reducing the switching loss significantly. Meanwhile, the demo topology maintains the merits of current switched capacitor inverter such as low switch count, quadruple voltage-boosting ability and self-balancing capacity. The principle of the hybrid modulation method and the circuit configuration of the inverter are analyzed in detail. And comparisons are introduced to demonstrate the advantages of the proposed modulation method and topology. Finally, experimental results have proved the feasibility of the proposed inverter.
Using the Magnetic Anisotropy Method to Determine Hydrogenated Sections of a Steel Pipeline
Authors: Bolobov Victor I. , Latipov Il’nur U. , Zhukov Valentin S. , Popov Gregory G.
Published: July 2023

The paper deals with a non-destructive method of detecting hydrogenated sections of pipelines, which is based on variations of the level of mechanical stresses generated in the surface layers of the steel pipe material during its hydrogenation. The use of a magnetoanisotropic method based on the phenomenon of metal magnetoelastic anisotropy development, which consists in the variation of the magnetic properties of ferromagnetic materials in direction and magnitude under the influence of mechanical stresses, is proposed as a way to register that variation. Based on the results of tensile testing of carbon steel plates with measurement of the difference in principal mechanical stresses (DPMS) occurring in metal, as well as experiments on electrolytic hydrogenation of specimens with measurement of the DPMS signal, it was confirmed that when steel structures are saturated with hydrogen, tensile stresses are generated in the surface layers, the magnitude of which increases as the concentration of hydrogen increases in the metal. In this case, it is assumed that the indicated dependence between the hydrogen concentration in the metal and the stresses arising as a result of hydrogenation is linear. For the example of lamellar specimens made of pipe low-carbon steel, the possibility of using the magnetoanisotropic method for registering sections of underground pipelines with a high content of hydrogen is substantiated, which can become the basis for a method of diagnosing sections of pipelines with broken insulation for the possibility of their further operation. The scientific novelty of this article is the establishment of a relationship between the hydrogen content in the metal, the stresses that arise in this case, and the change in the magnetic properties of ferromagnetic materials, characterized by the magnitude of the DPMS signal. This study contributes to the understanding of the process of hydrogenation of metals, and may be useful in detecting and preventing damage to gas and oil pipelines caused by hydrogen embrittlement as a cause of stress corrosion.
An Overview of the Differential Carbonate Reservoir Characteristic and Exploitation Challenge in the Tarim Basin (NW China)
Authors: Chen Lixin , Jiang Zhenxue , Sun Chong , Ma Bingshan , Su Zhou , Wan Xiaoguo , Han Jianfa , Wu Guanghui
Published: July 2023

The largest marine carbonate oilfield and gas condensate field in China have been found in the Ordovician limestones in the central Tarim Basin. They are defined as large “layered” reef-shoal and karstic reservoirs. However, low and/or unstable oil/gas production has been a big challenge for effective exploitation in ultra-deep (>6000 m) reservoirs for more than 20 years. Together with the static and dynamic reservoir data, we have a review of the unconventional characteristics of the oil/gas fields in that: (1) the large area tight matrix reservoir (porosity less than 5%, permeability less than 0.2 mD) superimposed with localized fracture-cave reservoir (porosity > 5%, permeability > 2 mD); (2) complicated fluid distribution and unstable production without uniform oil/gas/water interface in an oil/gas field; (3) about 30% wells in fractured reservoirs support more than 80% production; (4) high production decline rate is over 20% per year with low recovery ratio. These data suggest that the “sweet spot” of the fractured reservoir rather than the matrix reservoir is the major drilling target for ultra-deep reservoir development. In the ultra-deep pre-Mesozoic reservoirs, further advances in horizontal drilling and large multiple fracturing techniques are needed for the economic exploitation of the matrix reservoirs, and seismic quantitative descriptions and horizontal drilling techniques across the fault zones are needed for oil/gas efficient development from the deeply fractured reservoirs.
The Influence of Cabernet Sauvignon Ripeness, Healthy State and Maceration Time on Wine and Fermented Pomace Phenolic Profile
Authors: Lisov Nikolina , Čakar Uroš , Milenković Danijela , Čebela Maria , Vuković Gorica , Despotović Saša , Petrović Aleksandar
Published: July 2023

The phenolic composition and antioxidant activity of wine and fermented pomace (FP) from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes harvested at three ripening stages were evaluated using LC-MS/MS and spectrophotometric analyses. An investigation of grey mold’s (Botrytis cinerea) influence on wine phenolic content modulation was conducted as well. Finally, the influence of the plant’s ripening stage on the dynamics of the phenolic compounds extracted from wine and FP obtained from fully ripe grapes was evaluated. In this study, the content of catechin, epicatechin, quercetin, and p-coumaric, gallic, and syringic acids was analyzed. Wine and FP were obtained after extended maceration during the spontaneous and inoculated fermentation of fully ripe grapes. When comparing the wine and FP obtained from véraison, fully ripe, and overripe grapes, catechin was the most abundant in wine (40.13 ± 3.25 mg/L) and quercetin in FP (10.96 ± 0.14 mg/kg). A decrease in analyzed phenolic compounds was noticed in wine produced from grapes affected by Botrytis cinerea, and the highest depletion was found for quercetin. The use of a winemaking technique that involved differing maceration periods and inoculation using yeasts as well as spontaneous fermentation significantly modulated the phenolic content of derived wines and FP. The dynamics of the phenolic compounds extracted into wine, evaluated using a principal component analysis (PCA), highlighted contents of catechin and epicatechin. After a decrease in maceration, the PCA revealed a notable content of gallic and syringic acids, as well as quercetin, in samples of FP. This study offers a perspective for future research and the development of functional food with a high content of phenolic compounds originating from red grape products, such as wine and fermented pomace.
Whitening Activity of Acteoside from Stachys sieboldii Fermented with Hericium erinaceus Mycelia on Melanocytes
Authors: Im Seung-Bin , Mun Seul-Ki , Ha Neul-I , Jang Ho-Yeol , Kang Kyung-Yun , Park Kyung-Wuk , Seo Kyoung-Sun , Kim Kyung-Je , Yee Sung-Tae
Published: July 2023

Skin whitening has recently renewed attention on Chinese herbal medicines with whitening activity for esthetic applications. Stachys sieboldii has been used as herbal medicine since ancient times and has the potential for development as a cosmetic material because of its astringent effect. In this study, with an aim to develop new functional materials with whitening effects, S. sieboldii water extracts were fermented with different mushroom mycelia. Fermented with Hericium erinaceus mycelia showed the strongest tyrosinase inhibition effect and the lowest melanin content. Thus, H. erinaceus mycelia, the most potent inhibitor of melanogenesis, was used for large-scale fermentation and fractionated. The ethyl acetate fraction, which had the strongest whitening activity, was separated and purified using HPLC. Finally, the single compound was isolated and identified as acteoside, which has promising whitening activity. Acteoside inhibited melanin synthesis and intracellular tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent manner. The effects of acteoside on the expression of TYR, TRP-1, TRP-2, and MITF were analyzed using Western blot analysis, which showed that acteoside reduced the protein in a dose-dependent manner. Our findings reveal the potential applicability of S. sieboldii extract fermented with H. erinaceus mycelia and its useful component, which is an acteosid, for skin lightening and the treatment of pigmentation.
Genome-Wide RADseq Reveals Genetic Differentiation of Wild and Cultured Populations of Large Yellow Croaker
Authors: Zhang Kaifen , Zhou Yongdong , Song Weihua , Jiang Lihua , Yan Xiaojun
Published: July 2023

Larimichthys crocea (also known as the large yellow croaker) is one of the most economically important marine fishes in China, and research on the ecology and genetics of this species is of immense significance. In this study, we performed restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq) of 54 individuals collected from four sites in China to analyze the genetic structure and diversity of large yellow croaker at the genome level. It revealed that the large yellow croaker populations in the Ningde and Zhoushan coastal waters can be clearly distinguished. Different genetic diversity indices were used to analyze the genetic diversity of the large yellow croaker, which showed that there was a differentiation trend between the wild and farmed populations in Ningde. Moreover, we identified genetically differentiated genomic regions between the populations. GO gene enrichment analysis identified genes that are related to fatty acid metabolism and growth. These findings enhance our understanding of genetic differentiation and adaptation to different living environments, providing a theoretical basis for the preservation and restoration of the genetic resources of the large yellow croaker.
Association of the ACTN3 Gene’s Single-Nucleotide Variant Rs1815739 (R577X) with Sports Qualification and Competitive Distance in Caucasian Athletes of the Southern Urals
Authors: Balberova Olga V. , Shnayder Natalia A. , Bykov Evgeny V. , Zakaryukin Yuri E. , Petrova Marina M. , Soloveva Irina A. , Narodova Ekaterina A. , Chumakova Galina A. , Al-Zamil Mustafa , Asadullin Azat R. , Vaiman Elena E. , Trefilova Vera V. , Nasyrova Regina F.
Published: July 2023

An elite athlete’s status is associated with a multifactorial phenotype depending on many environmental and genetic factors. Of course, the peculiarities of the structure and function of skeletal muscles are among the most important characteristics in the context of athletic performance. Purpose: To study the associations of SNV rs1815739 (C577T or R577X) allelic variants and genotypes of the ACTN3 gene with qualification and competitive distance in Caucasian athletes of the Southern Urals. Methods: A total of 126 people of European origin who lived in the Southern Urals region took part in this study. The first group included 76 cyclical sports athletes (speed skating, running disciplines in track-and-field): SD (short distances) subgroup—40 sprinters (mean 22.1 ± 2.4 y.o.); LD (long distances) subgroup—36 stayer athletes (mean 22.6 ± 2.7 y.o.). The control group consisted of 50 healthy nonathletes (mean 21.4 ± 2.7 y.o.). We used the Step One Real-Time PCR System (Applied Biosystems, USA) device for real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: The frequency of the major allele R was significantly higher in the SD subgroup compared to the control subgroup (80% vs. 64%; p-value = 0.04). However, we did not find any significant differences in the frequency of the R allele between the athletes of the SD subgroup and the LD subgroup (80% vs. 59.7%, respectively; p-value > 0.05). The frequency of the X allele was lower in the SD subgroup compared to the LD subgroup (20% vs. 40.3%; p-value = 0.03). The frequency of homozygous genotype RR was higher in the SD subgroup compared to the control group (60.0% vs. 34%; p-value = 0.04). The R allele was associated with competitive distance in the SD group athletes compared to those of the control group (OR = 2.45 (95% CI: 1.02–5.87)). The X allele was associated with competitive distance in the LD subgroup compared to the SD subgroup (OR = 2.7 (95% CI: 1.09–6.68)). Conclusions: Multiplicative and additive inheritance models demonstrated that high athletic performance for sprinters was associated with the homozygous dominant genotype 577RR in cyclical sports athletes of Caucasian origin in the Southern Urals.
Advancements and Applications of Raman Spectroscopy in Rapid Quality and Safety Detection of Fruits and Vegetables
Authors: Xu Sai , Huang Xiongmei , Lu Huazhong
Published: July 2023

With the improvement in living standards, consumers have become more aware of healthy diets and pay more attention to the quality and safety of fruits and vegetables. Therefore, it is essential to strengthen the research on rapid detection of the quality and safety of fruits and vegetables. This study mainly outlines five Raman spectroscopy techniques. It introduces their principles and advantages and the current research progress of their application in fruit and vegetable quality and safety detection. Based on the characteristic Raman spectroscopy analysis of different fruits and vegetables, researchers found that Raman spectroscopy techniques can quickly and accurately detect classification identification, ripeness, freshness, disease infestation, and surface pesticide residues of fruits and vegetables. In addition, Raman spectroscopy techniques can also detect the content and distribution of material components of fruits and vegetables. This paper also discusses Raman spectroscopy’s current technology and application difficulties in fruit and vegetable quality and safety testing. It looks forward to its future development trend, expecting to promote the broad application of Raman spectroscopy in fruit and vegetable quality and safety testing.
Integrative Metabolome and Transcriptome Analyses Reveal the Molecular Mechanism of Yellow-Red Bicolor Formation in Kalanchoe blossfeldiana Petals
Authors: Feng Guizhi , Wang Jiaying , Pan Zimeng , Deng Chengyan
Published: July 2023

The winter pot kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana) is an ornamental plant with succulent leaves and clustered flowers in Crassulaceae, widely used as a potted flower or garden decoration. In nature, the bicolor petal is an interesting phenomenon, and breeders have succeeded in cultivating the winter pot kalanchoe with bicolored petals. However, its potential molecular mechanism of pigmentation is poorly understood. This study collected a yellow-red colored winter pot kalanchoe to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying its bicolor formation using the integrative analyses of metabolome and transcriptome. The metabolome results showed that both flavonoid and carotenoid co-existed in the winter pot kalanchoe petals, whereas only anthocyanin accumulation showed significant differences—about nineteen times higher in the red region than that in the yellow region. The differentially expressed genes were significantly enriched in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway, and the expression level of biosynthetic genes, including KbCHS, KbCHI, KbF3H, KbDFR, KbANS and KbGTs, were significantly upregulated in the red region. Moreover, transcription factors potentially regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis were predicted, and KbMYB2 and KbbHLH1 might play important roles in positively regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis in the red region. The findings reported here provide new insights into the understanding of petal bicolor formation mechanisms and will assist cultivar innovation in winter pot kalanchoe.
Exploring Transcriptional Regulation of Hyperaccumulation in Sedum plumbizincicola through Integrated Transcriptome Analysis and CRISPR/Cas9 Technology
Authors: Zhang Yixin , Mo Yanlan , Han Liyuan , Sun Zhenyuan , Xu Wenzhong
Published: July 2023

The cadmium hyperaccumulator Sedum plumbizincicola has remarkable abilities for cadmium (Cd) transport, accumulation and detoxification, but the transcriptional regulation mechanisms responsible for its Cd hyperaccumulation remain unknown. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a comparative transcriptome study between S. plumbizincicola and the non-hyperaccumulating ecotype (NHE) of Sedum alfredii with or without Cd treatment. Our results revealed many differentially expressed genes involved in heavy metal transport and detoxification that were abundantly expressed in S. plumbizincicola. Additionally, we identified a large number of differentially expressed transcription factor genes, highlighting the complexity of transcriptional regulatory networks. We further screened four transcription factor genes that were highly expressed in the roots of S. plumbizincicola as candidate genes for creating CRISPR/Cas9 knockout mutations. Among these, the SpARR11 and SpMYB84 mutant lines exhibited decreased Cd accumulation in their aboveground parts, suggesting that these two transcription factors may play a role in the regulation of the Cd hyperaccumulation in S. plumbizincicola. Although further research will be required to determine the precise targeted genes of these transcription factors, combined transcriptome analysis and CRISPR/Cas9 technology provides unprecedented opportunities for identifying transcription factors related to Cd hyperaccumulation and contributes to the understanding of the transcriptional regulation mechanism of hyperaccumulation in S. plumbizincicola.
The Contribution of Vascular Proteoglycans to Atherothrombosis: Clinical Implications
Authors: Drysdale Amelia , Unsworth Amanda J. , White Stephen J. , Jones Sarah
Published: July 2023

The vascular extracellular matrix (ECM) produced by endothelial and smooth muscle cells is composed of collagens and glycoproteins and plays an integral role in regulating the structure and function of the vascular wall. Alteration in the expression of these proteins is associated with endothelial dysfunction and has been implicated in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. The ECM composition of atherosclerotic plaques varies depending on plaque phenotype and vulnerability, with distinct differences observed between ruptured and erodes plaques. Moreover, the thrombi on the exposed ECM are diverse in structure and composition, suggesting that the best antithrombotic approach may differ depending on plaque phenotype. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the role of proteoglycans in atherogenesis and thrombosis. It discusses the differential expression of the proteoglycans in different plaque phenotypes and the potential impact on platelet function and thrombosis. Finally, the review highlights the importance of this concept in developing a targeted approach to antithrombotic treatments to improve clinical outcomes in cardiovascular disease.
Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor (LDLR) Is Involved in Internalization of Lentiviral Particles Pseudotyped with SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein in Ocular Cells
Authors: Uppal Sheetal , Postnikova Olga , Villasmil Rafael , Rogozin Igor B. , Bocharov Alexander V. , Eggerman Thomas L. , Poliakov Eugenia , Redmond T. Michael
Published: July 2023

Here, we present evidence that caveolae-mediated endocytosis using LDLR is the pathway for SARS-CoV-2 virus internalization in the ocular cell line ARPE-19. Firstly, we found that, while Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is expressed in these cells, blocking ACE2 by antibody treatment did not prevent infection by SARS-CoV-2 spike pseudovirions, nor did antibody blockade of extracellular vimentin and other cholesterol-rich lipid raft proteins. Next, we implicated the role of cholesterol homeostasis in infection by showing that incubating cells with different cyclodextrins and oxysterol 25-hydroxycholesterol (25-HC) inhibits pseudovirion infection of ARPE-19. However, the effect of 25-HC is likely not via cholesterol biosynthesis, as incubation with lovastatin did not appreciably affect infection. Additionally, is it not likely to be an agonistic effect of 25-HC on LXR receptors, as the LXR agonist GW3965 had no significant effect on infection of ARPE-19 cells at up to 5 μM GW3965. We probed the role of endocytic pathways but determined that clathrin-dependent and flotillin-dependent rafts were not involved. Furthermore, 20 µM chlorpromazine, an inhibitor of clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME), also had little effect. In contrast, anti-dynamin I/II antibodies blocked the entry of SARS-CoV-2 spike pseudovirions, as did dynasore, a noncompetitive inhibitor of dynamin GTPase activity. Additionally, anti-caveolin-1 antibodies significantly blocked spike pseudotyped lentiviral infection of ARPE-19. However, nystatin, a classic inhibitor of caveolae-dependent endocytosis, did not affect infection while indomethacin inhibited only at 10 µM at the 48 h time point. Finally, we found that anti-LDLR antibodies block pseudovirion infection to a similar degree as anti-caveolin-1 and anti-dynamin I/II antibodies, while transfection with LDLR-specific siRNA led to a decrease in spike pseudotyped lentiviral infection, compared to scrambled control siRNAs. Thus, we conclude that SARS-CoV-2 spike pseudovirion infection in ARPE-19 cells is a dynamin-dependent process that is primarily mediated by LDLR.
SKAP1 Is a Novel Biomarker and Therapeutic Target for Gastric Cancer: Evidence from Expression, Functional, and Bioinformatic Analyses
Authors: Zhu Lingqin , Yu Qiongfang , Li Yuanheng , Zhang Meng , Peng Zhiwei , Wang Song , Quan Ziyi , Gao Dian
Published: July 2023

Gastric cancer (GC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Due to the lack of early symptoms, GC is often diagnosed at an advanced stage when treatment options are limited. There is an urgent need to identify biomarkers for early detection, prognosis evaluation, and targeted treatment of GC. Studies have shown that Src kinase-associated phosphoprotein 1 (SKAP1) promotes cell proliferation and invasion and is associated with poor prognosis in colorectal cancer, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, and breast cancer. However, the role and mechanism of SKAP1 in GC are unclear. Here, analyses of multiple databases and experiments revealed that SKAP1 expression was higher in GC than in adjacent normal tissues. The Cancer Genome Atlas data showed that high SKAP1 expression was associated with poor GC prognosis. SKAP1 expression was higher in GC than in normal gastric epithelial cells. SKAP1 silencing reduced the proliferation, migration and invasion of the GC cell lines MKN45 and HGC27. Rescue experiments suggest that SKAP1 may promote GC progression by activating JAK1/PI3K/AKT signaling and regulating GC cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and other functions. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that SKAP1 was associated with immune cell infiltration and checkpoint expression in GC. High SKAP1 expression was associated with poorer immunotherapy outcomes, suggesting its potential as a predictive biomarker of GC immunotherapy efficacy. In summary, SKAP1 is overexpressed in GC, where it promotes cell proliferation, invasion and migration and is associated with poor prognosis and poor immunotherapy outcomes. SKAP1 may represent a biomarker and therapeutic target in GC and regulates cellular functions through JAK1/PI3K/AKT signaling.
Nanocellulose Sponges Containing Antibacterial Basil Extract
Authors: Oprică Gabriela Mădălina , Panaitescu Denis Mihaela , Usurelu Catalina Diana , Vlăsceanu George Mihai , Stanescu Paul Octavian , Lixandru Brandusa Elena , Vasile Valentin , Gabor Augusta Raluca , Nicolae Cristian-Andi , Ghiurea Marius , Frone Adriana Nicoleta
Published: July 2023

Nanocellulose (NC) is a valuable material in tissue engineering, wound dressing, and drug delivery, but its lack of antimicrobial activity is a major drawback for these applications. In this work, basil ethanolic extract (BE) and basil seed mucilage (BSM) were used to endow nanocellulose with antibacterial activity. NC/BE and NC/BE/BSM sponges were obtained from nanocellulose suspensions and different amounts of BE and BSM after freeze-drying. Regardless of the BE or BSM content, the sponges started to decompose at a lower temperature due to the presence of highly volatile active compounds in BE. A SEM investigation revealed an opened-cell structure and nanofibrillar morphology for all the sponges, while highly impregnated nanofibers were observed by SEM in NC/BE sponges with higher amounts of BE. A quantitative evaluation of the porous morphology by microcomputer tomography showed that the open porosity of the sponges varied between 70% and 82%, being lower in the sponges with higher BE/BSM content due to the impregnation of cellulose nanofibers with BE/BSM, which led to smaller pores. The addition of BE increased the specific compression strength of the NC/BE sponges, with a higher amount of BE having a stronger effect. A slight inhibition of S. aureus growth was observed in the NC/BE sponges with a higher amount of BE, and no effect was observed in the unmodified NC. In addition, the NC/BE sponge with the highest amount of BE and the best antibacterial effect in the series showed no cytotoxic effect and did not interfere with the normal development of the L929 cell line, similar to the unmodified NC. This work uses a simple, straightforward method to obtain highly porous nanocellulose structures containing antibacterial basil extract for use in biomedical applications.
The N-Terminal Region of the BcWCL1 Photoreceptor Is Necessary for Self-Dimerization and Transcriptional Activation upon Light Stimulation in Yeast
Authors: Guerrero Matías , Ruiz Carlos , Romero Andrés , Robeson Luka , Ruiz Diego , Salinas Francisco
Published: July 2023

The BcWCL1 protein is a blue-light photoreceptor from the fungus Botrytis cinerea. This protein has a central role in B. cinerea circadian regulation and is an ortholog to WC-1 from Neurospora crassa. The BcWCL1 and WC-1 proteins have similar protein domains, including a LOV (Light Oxygen Voltage) domain for light sensing, two PAS (Per Arnt Sim) domains for protein–protein interaction, and a DNA binding domain from the GATA family. Recently, the blue-light response of BcWCL1 was demonstrated in a version without PAS domains (BcWCL1PAS∆). Here, we demonstrated that BcWCL1PAS∆ is capable of self-dimerization through its N-terminal region upon blue-light stimulation. Interestingly, we observed that BcWCL1PAS∆ enables transcriptional activation as a single component in yeast. By using chimeric transcription factors and the luciferase reporter gene, we assessed the transcriptional activity of different fragments of the N-terminal and C-terminal regions of BcWCL1PAS∆, identifying a functional transcriptional activation domain (AD) in the N-terminal region that belongs to the 9aaTAD family. Finally, we determined that the transcriptional activation levels of BcWCL1PAS∆ AD are comparable to those obtained with commonly used ADs in eukaryotic cells (Gal4 and p65). In conclusion, the BcWCL1PAS∆ protein self-dimerized and activated transcription in a blue-light-dependent fashion, opening future applications of this photoreceptor in yeast optogenetics.
Elucidating the Racemization Mechanism of Aliphatic and Aromatic Amino Acids by In Silico Tools
Authors: Andino Mateo S. , Mora José R. , Paz José L. , Márquez Edgar A. , Perez-Castillo Yunierkis , Agüero-Chapin Guillermin
Published: July 2023

The racemization of biomolecules in the active site can reduce the biological activity of drugs, and the mechanism involved in this process is still not fully comprehended. The present study investigates the impact of aromaticity on racemization using advanced theoretical techniques based on density functional theory. Calculations were performed at the ωb97xd/6-311++g(d,p) level of theory. A compelling explanation for the observed aromatic stabilization via resonance is put forward, involving a carbanion intermediate. The analysis, employing Hammett’s parameters, convincingly supports the presence of a negative charge within the transition state of aromatic compounds. Moreover, the combined utilization of natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis and intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC) calculations confirms the pronounced stabilization of electron distribution within the carbanion intermediate. To enhance our understanding of the racemization process, a thorough examination of the evolution of NBO charges and Wiberg bond indices (WBIs) at all points along the IRC profile is performed. This approach offers valuable insights into the synchronicity parameters governing the racemization reactions.
Identifying Clinical Criteria for an Expanded Targeted Approach to Screening for Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection—A Retrospective Study
Authors: Akiva Maya Heled , Hyde-De Sousa Hannah , Lamarre Valerie , Boucoiran Isabelle , Gantt Soren , Renaud Christian , Kakkar Fatima
Published: July 2023

Targeted screening for congenital CMV infection (cCMV), which entails CMV testing of infants who fail newborn hearing screening (NBHS), has become common practice. However, this strategy misses nearly all infected infants with normal hearing at birth who are nonetheless at high risk of subsequent hearing loss and would benefit from timely cCMV diagnosis. The objective of this study was to identify expanded criteria predictive of cCMV to increase the scope and utility of targeted newborn CMV screening. In this retrospective study, 465 newborns were tested for cCMV at a single tertiary care center with a targeted screening program between 2014 and 2018. Twenty-two infants were diagnosed with cCMV, representing 0.2% of the 12,189 births over this period and 4.7% of the infants tested. The highest prevalence of cCMV infection was among infants tested because of primary maternal CMV infection (8/42, 19%), followed by failed initial NBHS (10/88, 11.4%), maternal HIV infection (3/137, 2.2%), and clinical suspicion alone (5/232, 2.2%). The symptoms with the highest prevalence of infection among all infants tested included an enlarged liver and/or spleen (33.3%) (3/9), followed by petechiae (33.3%), microcephaly (9.4%), direct hyperbilirubinemia (7.7%), thrombocytopenia (6%), and growth impairment (4.3%). In addition to CMV screening of newborns who fail the NBHS, these data suggest that certain clinical signs of cCMV—in particular: thrombocytopenia, growth impairment, and HIV exposure in pregnancy—should be additional criteria for expanded targeted newborn CMV screening, where universal screening is not yet the standard of care.
Effects of Physical Activity in the High School Curriculum on Cardiovascular Health, Cognitive and Physical Performance
Authors: Jagomast Tobias , Mohr Theresa , Axt Paul Niklas , Mortensen Kai , Brinkmann Folke , Weckmann Markus , Ring Gordon , Reppel Michael , Drömann Daniel , Franzen Klaas F.
Published: July 2023

Cardiovascular health at a young age has implications for preventing cardiovascular disease, and it is associated with improved physical and cognitive performance during the aging process. Sports are well known to prevent cardiovascular disease; however, school-based interventions have mostly been neglected. This cross-sectional study aimed to compare groups of high school students, stratified by the amount of physical activity in their high school curriculum and downtime. Comparisons concerning physical and cognitive performance and arterial stiffness were made. A total of 63 senior-year students were investigated. Arterial stiffness was assessed using the oscillometric technique with ArteriographTM detection. Three-kilometer and pendulum runs were conducted as typical training loads. Cognitive performance was evaluated via the visual and verbal memory and number connection tests. Regarding cognitive skills, extracurricular physical activity improved the number connection test in male participants (p = 0.004). For physical performance, female students with a sports-focused curriculum were faster in the 3 km run (p < 0.001). Concerning arterial stiffness, the measurements yielded a lower mean arterial pressure (p = 0.015) and aortic pulse wave velocity (p = 0.04) in male students with a sports-focused curriculum. In summary, extracurricular physical activity and enrollment in a sports-focused curriculum may be associated with lower cardiovascular risk due to lower arterial stiffness and better physical and cognitive abilities.
Delayed Metacomprehension Judgments Do Not Directly Improve Learning from Texts
Authors: Hausman Hannah , Kubik Veit
Published: July 2023

Making judgments of learning (JOLs) after studying can directly improve learning. This JOL reactivity has been shown for simple materials but has scarcely been investigated with educationally relevant materials such as expository texts. The few existing studies have not yet reported any consistent gains in text comprehension due to providing JOLs. In the present study, we hypothesized that increasing the chances of covert retrieval attempts when making JOLs after each of five to-be-studied text passages would produce comprehension benefits at 1 week compared to restudy. In a between-subjects design, we manipulated both whether participants (N = 210) were instructed to covertly retrieve the texts, and whether they made delayed target-absent JOLs. The results indicated that delayed, target-absent JOLs did not improve text comprehension after 1 week, regardless of whether prior instructions to engage in covert retrieval were provided. Based on the two-stage model of JOLs, we reasoned that participants’ retrieval attempts during metacomprehension judgments were either insufficient (i.e., due to a quick familiarity assessment) or were ineffective (e.g., due to low retrieval success).
Tacrolimus (FK506) Exhibits Fungicidal Effects against Candida parapsilosis Sensu Stricto via Inducing Apoptosis
Authors: Cho Otomi , Takada Shintaro , Odaka Takahiro , Futamura Satoshi , Kurakado Sanae , Sugita Takashi
Published: July 2023

Tacrolimus (FK506), an immunosuppressant and calcineurin inhibitor, has fungicidal effects. However, its fungicidal effect is thought to be limited to basidiomycetes, such as Cryptococcus and Malassezia, and not to ascomycetes. FK506 had no fungicidal effect on Candida albicans, C. auris, C. glabrata, C. guilliermondii, C. kefyr, C. krusei, and C. tropicalis (>8 µg/mL); however, C. parapsilosis was susceptible to it at low concentrations of 0.125–0.5 µg/mL. C. metapsilosis and C. orthopsils, previously classified as C. parapsilosis, are molecularly and phylogenetically closely related to C. parapsilosis, but neither species was sensitive to FK506. FK506 increased the mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production and cytoplasmic and mitochondrial calcium concentration and activated metacaspases, nuclear condensation, and DNA fragmentation, suggesting that it induced mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in C. parapsilosis. Elucidating why FK506 exhibits fungicidal activity only against C. parapsilosis will provide new information for developing novel antifungal drugs.
Fungal Ligninolytic Enzymes and Their Application in Biomass Lignin Pretreatment
Authors: Civzele Anna , Stipniece-Jekimova Alise Anna , Mezule Linda
Published: July 2023

Lignocellulosic biomass is a significant source of sustainable fuel and high-value chemical production. However, due to the complex cross-linked three-dimensional network structure, lignin is highly rigid to degradation. In natural environments, the degradation is performed by wood-rotting fungi. The process is slow, and thus, the use of lignin degradation by fungi has not been regarded as a feasible technology in the industrial lignocellulose treatment. Fungi produce a wide variety of ligninolytic enzymes that can be directly introduced in industrial processing of lignocellulose. Within this study, screening of ligninolytic enzyme production using decolorization of ABTS and Azure B dyes was performed for 10 fungal strains with potentially high enzyme production abilities. In addition to standard screening methods, media containing lignin and hay biomass as carbon sources were used to determine the change in enzyme production depending on the substrate. All selected fungi demonstrated the ability to adapt to a carbon source limitation; however, four strains indicated the ability to secrete ligninolytic enzymes in all experimental conditions—Irpex lacteus, Pleurotus dryinus, Bjerkandera adusta, and Trametes versicolor—respectively displayed a 100%, 82.7%, 82.7%, and 55% oxidation of ABTS on lignin-containing media and 100%, 87.9%, 78%, and 70% oxidation of ABTS on hay-containing media after 168 h of incubation. As a result, the most potent strains of fungi were selected to produce lignocellulose-degrading enzymes and to demonstrate their potential application in biological lignocellulose pretreatment.
Validation of Gait Measurements on Short-Distance Walkways Using Azure Kinect DK in Patients Receiving Chronic Hemodialysis
Authors: Tsai Zhi-Ren , Kuo Chin-Chi , Wang Cheng-Jui , Tsai Jeffrey J. P. , Chou Hsin-Hsu
Published: July 2023

Muscle dysfunction, skeletal muscle fibrosis, and disability are associated with weakness in patients with end-stage renal disease. The main purpose of this study was to validate the effectiveness of a proposed system for gait monitoring on short-distance 1.5 m walkways in a dialysis center. Gaits with reduced speed and stride length, long sit-to-stand time (SST), two forward angles, and two unbalanced gait regions are defined in the proposed Kinect v3 gait measurement and analysis system (K3S) and have been considered clinical features in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) associated with poor dialysis outcomes. The stride and pace calibrations of the Kinect v3 system are based on the Zeno Walkway. Its single rating intraclass correlation (ICC) for the stride is 0.990, and its single rating ICC for the pace is 0.920. The SST calibration of Kinect v3 is based on a pressure insole; its single rating ICC for the SST is 0.871. A total of 75 patients on chronic dialysis underwent gait measurement and analysis during walking and weighing actions. After dialysis, patients demonstrated a smaller stride (p < 0.001) and longer SST (p < 0.001). The results demonstrate that patients’ physical fitness was greatly reduced after dialysis. This study ensures patients’ adequate physical gait strength to cope with the dialysis-associated physical exhaustion risk by tracing gait outliers. As decreased stride and pace are associated with an increased risk of falls, further studies are warranted to evaluate the clinical benefits of monitoring gait with the proposed reliable and valid system in order to reduce fall risk in hemodialysis patients.
Pharmacogenomics and the Management of Mood Disorders—A Review
Authors: Kleine Schaars Kristian , van Westrhenen Roos
Published: July 2023

Due to the chronic relapsing nature of mental disorders and increased life expectancy, the societal burden of these non-communicable diseases will increase even further. Treatments for mental disorders, such as depression, are available, but their effect is limited due to patients’ (genetic) heterogeneity, low treatment compliance and frequent side effects. In general, only one-third of the patients respond to treatment. Today, medication selection in psychiatry relies on a trial-and-error approach based mainly on physicians’ experience. Pharmacogenetic (PGx) testing can help in this process by determining the person-specific genetic factors that may predict clinical response and side effects associated with genetic variants that impact drug-metabolizing enzymes, drug transporters or drug targets. PGxis a discipline that investigates genetic factors that affect the absorption, metabolism, and transport of drugs, thereby affecting therapy outcome. These genetic factors can, among other things, lead to differences in the activity of enzymes that metabolize drugs. Studies in depressed patients show that genotyping of drug-metabolizing enzymes can increase the effectiveness of treatment, which could benefit millions of patients worldwide. This review highlights these studies, gives recommendations and provides future perspectives on how to proceed with PGx testing. Finally, it is recommended to consider genotyping for CYP2D6 and CYP2C19, when there is an indication (side effects or inefficacy).