bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetic Diversity and Physicochemical Characteristics of Different Wheat Species (Triticum aestivum L., Triticum monococcum L., Triticum spelta L.) Cultivated in Romania
Authors: Golea Camelia Maria , Galan Paula-Maria , Leti Livia-Ioana , Codină Georgiana Gabriela
Published: April 2023

Thirty-one varieties of wheat cultivated in Romania were analyzed regarding the genetic diversity and physicochemical properties, including the following determinations: moisture, ash, protein, wet gluten, lipid, starch content, falling number and damaged starch, considering the particularity of each species, its biological status and origin. The physicochemical data showed that the wheat samples presented large variability. The physicochemical properties of wheat flour were assessed by multivariable data analysis, using principal component analysis (PCA). All wheat samples clustered together according to their physicochemical data showed an association between all wheat species. The protein and ash contents were more related to the ancient wheat species, while the amounts of starch and damaged starch were associated with the modern ones. Positive correlations were obtained between protein and wet gluten content and between lipid and ash content. ISSR markers were used to analyze and compare genetic diversity among selected wheat cultivars. The obtained data were analyzed using NTSYSpc software considering the coefficients of similarity (Jaccard) and dissimilarity (Neighbor joining). The Jaccard coefficients varied from 0.53 to 1, reflecting the high genetic diversity characteristic of all wheat varieties.
A Novel Hybrid Maximum Power Point Tracking Technique for PV System under Complex Partial Shading Conditions in Campus Microgrid
Authors: Li Yanbo , Li Linyi , Jiang Yechao , Gan Yinghao , Zhang Jianfeng , Yuan Shibo
Published: April 2023

Solar generation has become increasingly important in grid applications. In order to improve the energy efficiency of the photovoltaic array (PV), factors such as temperature, nonlinear characteristics, and partial shadow conditions (PSCs) of the PV must be fully considered. An excellent maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control strategy can effectively improve the energy utilization efficiency of photovoltaic cells and provide strong support for the construction of smart campuses in terms of environmental protection and energy saving. A traditional method such as Perturb & Observe (P&O) and incremental conductance (INC) will fall into the local maximum power point (LMPP). In the past decade, researchers have proposed many MPPT methods to solve the difficulties of the PV system. However, they have failed to fully consider dynamic changes in irradiance conditions. Changes in the irradiance of photovoltaic arrays can lead to an extension of the convergence time and an increase in the oscillation amplitude. Many current MPPT methods have shortcomings such as requiring a long convergence time, large oscillation amplitude, and being prone to falling into LMPP. In order to reduce the oscillation amplitude and improve the convergence speed, a novel Multi-strategy Improved Tuna Swarm Optimization hybrid INC (ITSO-INC) method is introduced in this article. This strategy involves improving the Tuna Swarm Optimization (TSO) through Levy Flight and a linear weight coefficient. In addition, the INC method is added in the later stage to improve the accuracy of MPPT tracking. The proposed algorithm can extract the global maximum power point under different partial shading. In order to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, the proposed method was compared with other metaheuristic algorithms such as Cuckoo Search (CS) and TSO. The proposed ITSO-INC technique was tested over four different patterns of partial shading conditions. Modulation was performed by tracking the sudden change in the shadow pattern of the MPP. These simulation results confirm that the proposed method has fast convergence, high accuracy, zero steady state oscillation, and a rapid response to dynamic change.
Assembly Error Modeling and Tolerance Dynamic Allocation of Large-Scale Space Deployable Mechanism toward Service Performance
Authors: Liu Xinyu , Zheng Lianyu , Wang Yiwei , Yang Weiwei , Wang Binbin , Liu Bo
Published: April 2023

As a satellite’s critical load-bearing structure, the large-scale space deployable mechanism (LSDM) is currently assembled using ground precision constraints, which ignores the difference between the ground and space environments. This has resulted in considerable service performance uncertainties in space. To improve satellite service performance, an assembly error model considering the space environment and a tolerance dynamic allocation method based on as-built data are proposed in this paper. Firstly, the factors influencing the service performance during ground assembly were analyzed. Secondly, an assembly error model was constructed, which considers the influence factors of the ground and space environment. Thirdly, on the basis of the assembly error model, the tolerance dynamic allocation method based on as-built data was proposed, which can effectively reduce the assembly difficulty and cost on the premise of ensuring service performance. Finally, the proposed method was validated in an assembly site, and the results show that the pointing accuracy, which is the core indicator of the satellite service performance, was improved from 0.068° to 0.045° and that the assembly cost was reduced by about 13.5%.
Intelligent Parking Control Method Based on Multi-Source Sensory Information Fusion and End-to-End Deep Learning
Authors: Ma Zhenpeng , Jiang Haobin , Ma Shidian , Li Yue
Published: April 2023

To address the challenges of inefficient intelligent parking performance and reduced efficiency in complex environments, this study presents an end-to-end intelligent parking control model based on a Convolutional Neural Network–Long Short-Term Memory (CNN-LSTM) architecture incorporating multi-source sensory information fusion to improve decision-making and adaptability. The model can produce real-time intelligent parking control decisions by extracting spatiotemporal features, including comprehensive 360-degree panoramic images and ultrasonic sensor distance measurements. To enhance the coverage of real-world environments in the dataset, a data collection platform was developed, leveraging the PreScan simulation platform in conjunction with actual parking environments. Consequently, a comprehensive parking environment dataset comprising various types was constructed. A deep learning model was devised to ameliorate horizontal and vertical control in intelligent parking systems, integrating Convolutional Neural Networks and Long Short-Term Memory in a parallel configuration. By meticulously accounting for parking environment characteristics, sliding window parameters were optimized, and transfer learning was employed for secondary model training to fortify the prediction accuracy. To ascertain the system’s robustness, simulation tests were performed. The ultimate results from the actual environment experiment revealed that the end-to-end intelligent parking model substantially surpassed the existing approaches, bolstering parking efficiency and effectiveness in complex contexts.
Work Function, Sputtering Yield and Microhardness of an Al-Mg Metal-Matrix Nanostructured Composite Obtained with High-Pressure Torsion
Authors: Khisamov Rinat Kh. , Shayakhmetov Ruslan U. , Yumaguzin Yulay M. , Kistanov Andrey A. , Korznikova Galiia F. , Korznikova Elena A. , Nazarov Konstantin S. , Khalikova Gulnara R. , Timiryaev Rasim R. , Mulyukov Radik R.
Published: April 2023

Severe plastic deformation has proven to be a promising method for the in situ manufacturing of metal-matrix composites with improved properties. Recent investigations have revealed a severe mixing of elements, as well as the formation of non-equilibrium intermetallic phases, which are known to affect physical and mechanical properties. In this work, a multilayered aluminum–magnesium (Al-Mg) nanostructured composite was fabricated using constrained high-pressure torsion (HPT) in a Bridgeman-anvil-type unit. A microstructure investigation and X-ray diffraction analysis allowed us to identify the presence of intermetallic Al3Mg2 and Al12Mg17 phases in the deformed nanostructured composite. The sputtering yield of the Al3Mg2 and Al12Mg17 phases was found to be 2.2 atom/ion and 1.9 at/ion, respectively, which is lower than that of Mg (2.6 at/ion). According to density functional theory (DFT)-based calculations, this is due to the higher surface-binding energy of the intermetallic phases (3.90–4.02 eV with the Al atom removed and 1.53–1.71 eV with the Mg atom removed) compared with pure Al (3.40–3.84 eV) and Mg (1.56–1.57 eV). In addition, DFT calculations were utilized to calculate the work functions (WFs) of pure Al and Mg and the intermetallic Al3Mg2 and Al12Mg17 phases. The WF of the obtained Al-Mg nanostructured composite was found to be 4 eV, which is between the WF value of Al (4.3 eV) and Mg (3.6 eV). The WF of the Al12Mg17 phase was found to be in a range of 3.63–3.75 eV. These results are in close agreement with the experimentally measured WF of the metal matrix composite (MMC). Therefore, an intermetallic alloy based on Al12Mg17 is proposed as a promising cathode material for various gas-discharge devices, while an intermetallic alloy based on Al3Mg2 is suggested as a promising optical- and acoustic-absorbing material.
Are Plants Used as a Combating Strategy against Tuberculosis in the Mpumalanga Province, South Africa?
Authors: Sagbo Idowu Jonas , Hussein Ahmed A.
Published: April 2023

The burden of tuberculosis (TB) disease is a global health challenge accounting for thousands of deaths. TB is unevenly distributed in South Africa, with some provinces having more than 70% of the TB burden. In Mpumalanga Province, TB is ranked as the sixth leading cause of death. Antituberculosis agents are usually costly, with numerous unwanted side effects. This has prompted the major use of herbs which have an imperative biological role against tuberculosis and are easily accessible. A comprehensive review of plants used as a combating strategy against tuberculosis in Mpumalanga Province was conducted. An in-depth literature search was performed using scientific databases, theses, dissertations and ethnobotanical books. Twenty-four (24) plant species were reported by the people of Mpumalanga for the treatment of tuberculosis. Fifteen (15) plant species have been investigated for antituberculosis activities, and seven antimycobacterial compounds were successfully isolated. This review validates the use of plants against tuberculosis in Mpumalanga Province and, thus, identified species that may be explored for further scientific studies.
A Review of Image Reconstruction Algorithms for Diffuse Optical Tomography
Authors: Okawa Shinpei , Hoshi Yoko
Published: April 2023

Diffuse optical tomography (DOT) is a biomedical imaging modality that can reconstruct hemoglobin concentration and associated oxygen saturation by using detected light passing through a biological medium. Various clinical applications of DOT such as the diagnosis of breast cancer and functional brain imaging are expected. However, it has been difficult to obtain high spatial resolution and quantification accuracy with DOT because of diffusive light propagation in biological tissues with strong scattering and absorption. In recent years, various image reconstruction algorithms have been proposed to overcome these technical problems. Moreover, with progress in related technologies, such as artificial intelligence and supercomputers, the circumstances surrounding DOT image reconstruction have changed. To support the applications of DOT image reconstruction in clinics and new entries of related technologies in DOT, we review the recent efforts in image reconstruction of DOT from the viewpoint of (i) the forward calculation process, including the radiative transfer equation and its approximations to simulate light propagation with high precision, and (ii) the optimization process, including the use of sparsity regularization and prior information to improve the spatial resolution and quantification.
Seismic Benefits from Coupling Frame Structures with a Hysteretic Mass Damper Inerter
Authors: Di Egidio Angelo , Contento Alessandro
Published: April 2023

The coupling of frame structures with external oscillating bodies, such as rigid walls, dynamic mass absorbers, elastoplastic dampers, or tuned mass dampers, can be effective in reducing the displacements of the structure and protecting it against seismic loads. This paper proposes connecting an external oscillating body to the first story of a frame structure and studying the effectiveness of the coupling by evaluating the reduction in the displacements of the frame structure. The inertial effects of the oscillating body are increased by introducing a virtual mass, provided by an inerter device. The oscillating body, characterized by physical and virtual masses, is connected to the frame structure through a hysteretic device. The study is performed on a dynamically equivalent three-degree-of-freedom (3-DOF) model, whose equations are written using a direct approach. To verify the effectiveness of the protection device, named hysteretic mass damper inerter (HMDI), in reducing the displacements of the frame structure, the displacement of the first story and the drifts of the upper stories are compared to those of the frame structure not connected to the external oscillating body. An initial spectral analysis, performed on the linearized mechanical system, clarifies the role of the parameters of the external device in the dynamic behavior of the coupled system. An additional seismic analysis is performed by using three single earthquake records first, and then a set of seven additional earthquake records selected to be compatible with the design spectrum of Los Angeles. Specific spectral gain maps are used to organize the results of an extensive parametric analysis. They show that the HMDI reduces both displacements and drifts of the structure in large ranges of the parameters that characterize the HMDI. It is found that the proposed protection method is particularly effective for low- and medium-rise frame structures.
An Efficient Lightweight Deep-Learning Approach for Guided Lamb Wave-Based Damage Detection in Composite Structures
Authors: Ma Jitong , Hu Mutian , Yang Zhengyan , Yang Hongjuan , Ma Shuyi , Xu Hao , Yang Lei , Wu Zhanjun
Published: April 2023

Woven fabric composite structures are applied in a wide range of industrial applications. Composite structures are vulnerable to damage from working in complex conditions and environments, which threatens the safety of the in-service structure. Damage detection based on Lamb waves is one of the most promising structural health monitoring (SHM) techniques for composite materials. In this paper, based on guided Lamb waves, a lightweight deep-learning approach is proposed for identifying damaged regions in woven fabric composite structures. The designed deep neural networks are built using group convolution and depthwise separated convolution, which can reduce the parameters considerably. The input of this model is a multi-channel matrix transformed by a one-dimensional guided wave signal. In addition, channel shuffling is introduced to increase the interaction between features, and a multi-head self-attention module is designed to increase the model’s global modeling capabilities. The relevant experimental results show that the proposed SHM approach can achieve a recognition accuracy of 100% after only eight epochs of training, and the proposed LCANet has only 4.10% of the parameters of contrastive SHM methods, which further validates the effectiveness and reliability of the proposed method.
Black Dancers and White Ballet: Case of Cuba
Authors: Nikiforova Larisa , Vasileva Anastasiia , de Miasnikov Mayumi Sakamoto
Published: April 2023

Throughout the XX century, the hard-fought battle of blacks and dark-skinned dancers to perform the classical repertoire on professional stages (including “white ballets”) was a part of the struggle for citizens’ equality. Cuba is a clear example of creating a national ballet school in a country where the fight for social equality was closely connected with overcoming racial segregation. But some researchers have noted that the majority of dancers in the Ballet Nacional de Cuba belong to the Caucasoid phenotype, which means they do not represent the Cuban nation which includes a large variety of phenotypes. We pose the question in what way is the history of Cuban ballet and the artistic experience of its founders connected with the struggle of blacks to have professional dancing careers, and is there actually racial discrimination in Cuban ballet? We demonstrate that the Alonso triumvirate was a good indicator of the problem: Alicia and Fernando as performers, and Alberto Alonso as a choreographer, participated in a cultural movement directed at the rebirth of Cuban identity, they performed African American dances, and they worked together with George Balanchine, who adapted black dance and invited black dancers into his company. However, due to various reasons and circumstances, Alicia Alonso, first for herself and then for the Nacional ballet school and theatre, took a different path, that of entering, on equal footing, the domain of classical ballet, of European art in its essence, in which the white aesthetic is inherent. We would like to demonstrate that the main explanation of the paradox of Cuban ballet became the aesthetic dictatorship of the classics, the dictatorship within “white ballet” which is accepted voluntarily. Classical ballet is an art of subordination to rules and images that are thought of as absolute pinnacles.
The Influence of Refined Urban Morphological Parameters on Dynamical and Thermal Fields in a Single-Layer Urban Canopy Model
Authors: Shen Chong , Liu Yiming , Dai Wei , Chen Xiaoyang , Fan Qi , Wang Xuemei , Chan Pakwai , Wang Chunlin , Pan Weijuan , Li Jieyi , Li Xiaohui , Wu Jie
Published: April 2023

In this study, localised and non-uniform urban morphology (UM) and urban fraction (UF) parameters are implemented in a single-layer urban canopy scheme in the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) mesoscale meteorological model. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the effect of the refined parameterisation scheme on the simulation of dynamic and thermal fields in the urban canopy of the Guangzhou metropolitan area. The results showed that, compared with the default urban canopy parameters of the WRF model, using the localised UM parameters resulted in the most significant improvement in the 10 m wind speed simulation. In urban districts, the mean bias between the observed and simulated 10 m wind speed was reduced significantly by 59% from 2.63 m/s to 1.09 m/s during the daytime. For the thermal environment simulation during the daytime, higher UF and UM values resulted in lower surface albedos and generated narrower street canyons compared with the default modelling setting, which caused more heat to be trapped in the urban canopy and ultimately led to an increase in the surface skin temperature (TSK) and a largely increased ground heat flux (GRD). As a result, at night, more heat was transferred from the ground to the surface, producing a higher TSK. The effect of the localised UF on the sensible heat flux (HFX) was closely related to the near-surface temperature gradient. The UM caused the HFX to increase during the daytime, which was related to the near-surface heat exchange coefficient in the lower model layers. As the high-resolution UM significantly altered the urban geometry, the dynamic environment simulation resulted in a large increase in friction velocity and a decrease in wind speed.
Study on the Impact of Typhoon Maria (2018) on Suspended Sediment in Hangzhou Bay, China
Authors: Ji Zhaokang , Guo Biyun , Mantravadi Venkata Subrahmanyam , Wang Jushang , Che Yingliang
Published: April 2023

Sediment transport in coastal waters has an important impact on the siltation of port channels and changes in the estuary ecological environment. The southeast coast of China is often hit by typhoons, which can affect the suspended sediment concentration (SSC) in coastal waters. In this study, we used Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI) data to analyze SSC variations in Hangzhou Bay during Typhoon Maria (2018), and the influencing factors were also analyzed. The results showed that: (1) During the typhoon’s transit, the SSC in Hangzhou Bay (HZB) increased by 200–800 mg/L, which was one-fold higher than the day before the typhoon. The variation of SSC on the south bank was noticeable, and the typhoon effect on SSC lasted for 2–3 days; (2) The wind speed and significant wave height (SWH) increased during the typhoon. In general, in the early stage of the typhoon, the SSC in HZB was affected by the wind, and in the interim and late period, SSC was influenced by the effect of wind and wave height; (3) Typhoon “Maria” accelerated the transport of sediment and land-based pollutants from land to sea; the effect of residual current and wind stress are the driving mechanisms for seaward sediment transport. However, mechanisms and driving factors of sediment transport in coast water are complex and diverse. The results of this study can help to understand the processes of riverbed erosion and deposition in Hangzhou Bay and adjacent waters. They are also significant for the study of nearshore hydrodynamic characteristics of typhoons and channel engineering.
Strong Nonideal Electric Fields and Energy Dissipation Observed by MMS within Field-Aligned Current Layers in the Plasma Sheet of the Earth’s Magnetotail
Authors: Leonenko Makar V. , Grigorenko Elena E. , Zelenyi Lev M.
Published: April 2023

We report the MMS observations of the intense spikes of field-aligned current (FAC) produced by magnetic reconnection at the plasma sheet (PS) field lines. The MMS was located tailward of a near-Earth X-line and the most intense spike of FAC with an electric current density of ∼70 nA/m2 was observed near the magnetic separatrix. The FAC structures located deeper in the PS were strongly filamented and consisted of several spikes with a thickness of ∼(1–2)ρe (ρe is the gyroradius of thermal electrons). We found that the FAC in these structures was carried by unmagnetized thermal and suprathermal electron populations (≥ 1 keV), which were ∼(20–80)% of the entire electron population. Strong nonideal electric fields up to ∼100 mV/m were detected in the FAC spike near the magnetic separatrix. The generation of these fields was mainly due to the anomalous resistivity, possibly caused by the electrostatic fluctuations. As a result, a significant energy dissipation of up to 1.3 nW/m3 occurred within the electron-scale FAC structure, which caused an increase in the electron temperature by a factor of two compared with that outside the FAC. Thus, MMS observations demonstrate that during the interval of the active X-line, the outer part of the PS consists of multiple electron-scale FAC layers/filaments in which a significant energy exchange between electrons and fields occurs. To investigate the stability of these filaments and estimate their lifetime, additional observations and theoretical studies are needed.
Glaciers Variation at ‘Shocking’ Pace in the Northeastern Margin of Tibetan Plateau from 1957 to 21st Century: A Case Study of Qiyi Glacier
Authors: Shi Peihong , Han Bangshuai , Duan Keqin , Cao Liguo , Chen Anan , Wu Yuwei
Published: April 2023

Accelerating glacier shrinkage is one of the most consequential of global warming. Yet, projections for the region remain ambiguous because of the tremendous spatial heterogeneity, especially in the Qilian Mountains, where glacier melt runoff is a vital water resource for the arid downstream area. To better understand glacier changes in this region, this study took regional representative Qiyi Glacier as an example and applied an enhanced distributed surface mass balance (SMB) model to glimpse the SMB variation and possible impacts on melt runoff under the RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios. Further, we combined a modified volume-scaling method to update the glacier geometry gradually to enhance long-term reliability. When forced with observed daily temperature and precipitation, the reconstructed glacier SMB, from 1957 through 2013, agrees well with the in situ observations. The result indicates an abrupt change for SMB from positive to negative in 1992 and subsequent mass accelerated loss after 2000. The increased summer air temperature and the pattern of large-scale atmospheric circulation shifts might both cause these changes. Using projected climate forcing from as many as 31 coupled GCMs from the CMIP 5 ensemble, the Qiyi Glacier is projected to undergo sustained SMB loss throughout the 21st century for both RCPs. By 2100, the Qiyi Glacier will lose ~25 m water equivalent (w.e.) for RCP 4.5 and ~37 m w.e. for RCP 8.5. Whereas the glacier area will shrink by 43% for RCP 4.5 and 54% for RCP 8.5 relative to 2013 glacier content, corresponding to the volume of the Qiyi Glacier will lose by 54% for RCP 4.5 and by 65% for RCP 8.5, accordingly. Simultaneously, the glacier terminus will experience extreme melts. The terminus elevation of the Qiyi Glacier will retreat from 4310 m a.s.l. in 2013 to 4810 m a.s.l. (RCP 4.5) and 4838 m a.s.l. (RCP 8.5) by the end of 2100, which will exceed the multi-year average ELA (4749 m) from 1957 to 2013. If the warming trends keep and glaciers melt like the Qiyi Glacier with this ‘shocking’ rate, it will raise the possibility of crippling, long-term water shortages for Hexi corridors.
Manganese, Fluorine, and Nitrogen Co-Doped Bronze Titanium Dioxide Nanotubes with Improved Lithium-Ion Storage Properties
Authors: Opra Denis P. , Sinebryukhov Sergey L. , Modin Evgeny B. , Sokolov Alexander A. , Podgorbunsky Anatoly B. , Ziatdinov Albert M. , Ustinov Alexander Y. , Mayorov Vitaly Y. , Gnedenkov Sergey V.
Published: April 2023

Because of the unique crystal framework, bronze TiO2 (or TiO2(B)) is considered the prospective choice for high-performance lithium-ion battery anodes. Nevertheless, TiO2(B) requires efficient modification, e.g., suitable doping with other elements, to improve the electronic properties and enhance the stability upon insertion/extraction of guest ions. However, due to the metastability of TiO2(B), doping is challenging. Herein, for the first time, TiO2(B) co-doped with Mn, F, and N were synthesized through a successive method based on a hydrothermal technique. The prepared doped TiO2(B) consists of ultrathin nanotubes (outer diameter of 10 nm, wall thickness of 2–3 nm) and exhibits a highly porous structure (pore volume of up to 1 cm3 g−1) with a large specific surface area near 200 m2 g−1. The incorporation of Mn, F, and N into TiO2(B) expands its crystal lattice and modifies its electronic structure. The band gap of TiO2(B) narrows from 3.14 to 2.18 eV upon Mn- and N-doping and electronic conductivity improves more than 40 times. Doping with fluorine improves the thermal stability of TiO2(B) and prevents its temperature-induced transformation into anatase. It was found that the diffusivity of Li is about two times faster in doped TiO2(B). These properties make Mn, F, and N co-doped TiO2(B) nanotubes promising for application as high-performance anodes in advanced lithium-ion batteries. In particular, it possesses a good reversible capacity (231.5 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at 70 mA g−1) and prominent rate capability (134 mAh g−1 at 1500 mA g−1) in the half-cell configuration. The (Mn, F, N)-doped TiO2(B) possesses a remarkable low-temperature Li storage performance, keeping 70% of capacity at −20 °C and demonstrating potentialities to be employed in full-cell configuration with LiMn2O4 cathode delivering a reversible capacity of 123 and 79 mAh g−1 at 35 and 1500 mA g−1, respectively, at a voltage of ~2.5 V. This research underlies that regulation of electronic and crystal structure is desired to uncover capabilities of nanoparticulate TiO2(B) for electrochemical energy storage and conversion.
Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Coilia nasus Revealed by 2b-RAD Sequencing
Authors: Zhang Shuangmeng , Xu Zisheng , Luo Lifei , Gu Shuxin , Hu Zhen , Wan Shiming , Gao Zexia
Published: April 2023

Coilia nasus is a threatened migratory species in the Yangtze River Basin. To reveal the genetic diversity of natural and farmed populations of C. nasus and the status of germplasm resources in the Yangtze River, the genetic diversity and structure of two wild populations (Yezhi Lake: YZ; Poyang Lake: PY) and two farmed populations (Zhenjiang: ZJ; Wuhan: WH) of C. nasus were analyzed using 44,718 SNPs obtained via 2b-RAD sequencing. The results indicate that both the wild and farmed populations had low genetic diversity, and germplasm resources have undergone varying degrees of degradation. Population genetic structure analyses indicated that the four populations may have come from two ancestral groups. Different amounts of gene flow were identified among WH, ZJ, and PY populations, but gene flow among YZ and other populations was low. It is speculated that the river–lake isolation of Yezhi Lake is the main cause of this phenomenon. In conclusion, this study revealed that genetic diversity reduction and germplasm resource degradation had occurred in both wild and farmed C. nasus, suggesting that conservation of its resources is of great urgency. This study provides a theoretical basis for the conservation and rational exploitation of germplasm resources for C. nasus.
Biotechnologically Engineered Plants
Authors: Narayanan Zareen , Glick Bernard R.
Published: April 2023

The development of recombinant DNA technology during the past thirty years has enabled scientists to isolate, characterize, and manipulate a myriad of different animal, bacterial, and plant genes. This has, in turn, led to the commercialization of hundreds of useful products that have significantly improved human health and well-being. Commercially, these products have been mostly produced in bacterial, fungal, or animal cells grown in culture. More recently, scientists have begun to develop a wide range of transgenic plants that produce numerous useful compounds. The perceived advantage of producing foreign compounds in plants is that compared to other methods of producing these compounds, plants seemingly provide a much less expensive means of production. A few plant-produced compounds are already commercially available; however, many more are in the production pipeline.
Structural Abnormalities in Brugada Syndrome and Non-Invasive Cardiac Imaging: A Systematic Review
Authors: De Raffele Martina , Di Domenico Assunta , Balla Cristina , Vitali Francesco , Boccadoro Alberto , Pavasini Rita , Micillo Marco , Cocco Marta , Campo Gianluca , Bertini Matteo , Tonet Elisabetta
Published: April 2023

The aim of this review is to identify possible structural abnormalities of BrS and their potential association with symptoms, risk stratification, and prognosis. (1) Background: BrS has always been considered a purely electrical disease and imaging techniques do not currently play a specific role in the diagnosis of this arrhythmic syndrome. Some authors have recently hypothesized the presence of structural and functional abnormalities. Therefore, several studies investigated the presence of pathological features in echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with BrS, but results were controversial. (2) Methods: We performed a systematic review of the literature on the spectrum of features detected by echocardiography and cardiac MRI. Articles were searched in Pubmed, Cochrane Library, and Biomed Central. Only papers published in English and in peer-reviewed journals up to November 2021 were selected. After an initial evaluation, 596 records were screened; the literature search identified 19 relevant articles. (3) Results: The imaging findings associated with BrS were as follows: right ventricular dilation, right ventricular wall motion abnormalities, delayed right ventricular contraction, speckle and feature tracking abnormalities, late gadolinium enhancement, and fat infiltration in the right ventricle. Furthermore, these features emerged more frequently in patients carrying the genetic mutation on the sodium voltage-gated channel α-subunit 5 (SCN5A) gene. (4) Conclusions: Specific imaging features detected by echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance are associated with BrS. However, this population appears to be heterogeneous and imaging anomalies emerged to be more frequent in patients carrying genetic mutations of SCN5A. Future studies with an evaluation of BrS patients are needed to identify the specific association linking the Brugada pattern, imaging abnormalities and their possible correlation with prognosis.
Secretome Screening of BRAFV600E-Mutated Colon Cancer Cells Resistant to Vemurafenib
Authors: Car Iris , Dittmann Antje , Klobučar Marko , Grbčić Petra , Kraljević Pavelić Sandra , Sedić Mirela
Published: April 2023

Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) carrying BRAFV600E mutation have worse response to chemotherapy and poor prognosis. The BRAFV600E inhibitor vemurafenib has shown modest efficacy as monotherapy in BRAF-mutated mCRC due to the development of resistance. The aim of this study was to conduct a comparative proteomics profiling of the secretome from vemurafenib-sensitive vs. -resistant colon cancer cells harboring BRAFV600E mutation in order to identify specific secretory features potentially associated with changes in the resistant cells’ phenotype. Towards this aim, we employed two complementary proteomics approaches including two-dimensional gel electrophoresis coupled with MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry and label-free quantitative LC-MS/MS analysis. Obtained results pointed to aberrant regulation of DNA replication and endoplasmic reticulum stress as the major secretome features associated with chemoresistant phenotype. Accordingly, two proteins implicated in these processes including RPA1 and HSPA5/GRP78 were discussed in more details in the context of biological networks and their importance as potential secretome targets for further functional and clinical evaluation. Expression patterns of RPA1 and HSPA5/GRP78 in tumor tissues from colon cancer patients were also found in additional in silico analyses to be associated with BRAFV600E mutation status, which opens the possibility to extrapolate our findings and their clinical implication to other solid tumors harboring BRAFV600E mutation, such as melanoma.
Beneficial Effect of Bee Venom and Its Major Components on Facial Nerve Injury Induced in Mice
Authors: Er-Rouassi Hafsa , Bakour Meryem , Touzani Soumaya , Vilas-Boas Miguel , Falcão Soraia , Vidal Catherine , Lyoussi Badiaa
Published: April 2023

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is a health problem that affects many people worldwide. This study is the first to evaluate the potential effect of bee venom (BV) and its major components in a model of PNI in the mouse. For that, the BV used in this study was analyzed using UHPLC. All animals underwent a distal section-suture of facial nerve branches, and they were randomly divided into five groups. Group 1: injured facial nerve branches without any treatment. Group 2: the facial nerve branches were injured, and the normal saline was injected similarly as in the BV-treated group. Group 3: injured facial nerve branches with local injections of BV solution. Group 4: injured facial nerve branches with local injections of a mixture of PLA2 and melittin. Group 5: injured facial nerve branches with local injection of betamethasone. The treatment was performed three times a week for 4 weeks. The animals were submitted to functional analysis (observation of whisker movement and quantification of nasal deviation). The vibrissae muscle re-innervation was evaluated by retrograde labeling of facial motoneurons in all experimental groups. UHPLC data showed 76.90 ± 0.13%, 11.73 ± 0.13%, and 2.01 ± 0.01%, respectively, for melittin, phospholipase A2, and apamin in the studied BV sample. The obtained results showed that BV treatment was more potent than the mixture of PLA2 and melittin or betamethasone in behavioral recovery. The whisker movement occurred faster in BV-treated mice than in the other groups, with a complete disappearance of nasal deviation two weeks after surgery. Morphologically, a normal fluorogold labeling of the facial motoneurons was restored 4 weeks after surgery in the BV-treated group, but no such restoration was ever observed in other groups. Our findings indicate the potential of the use of BV injections to enhance appropriate functional and neuronal outcomes after PNI.
Cu+/Ag+ Competition in Type I Copper Proteins (T1Cu)
Authors: Kircheva Nikoleta , Angelova Silvia , Dobrev Stefan , Petkova Vladislava , Nikolova Valya , Dudev Todor
Published: April 2023

Due to the similarity in the basic coordination behavior of their mono-charged cations, silver biochemistry is known to be linked to that of copper in biological systems. Still, Cu+/2+ is an essential micronutrient in many organisms, while no known biological process requires silver. In human cells, copper regulation and trafficking is strictly controlled by complex systems including many cytosolic copper chaperones, whereas some bacteria exploit the so-called “blue copper” proteins. Therefore, evaluating the controlling factors of the competition between these two metal cations is of enormous interest. By employing the tools of computational chemistry, we aim to delineate the extent to which Ag+ might be able to compete with the endogenous copper in its Type I (T1Cu) proteins, and where and if, alternatively, it is handled uniquely. The effect of the surrounding media (dielectric constant) and the type, number, and composition of amino acid residues are taken into account when modelling the reactions in the present study. The obtained results clearly indicate the susceptibility of the T1Cu proteins to a silver attack due to the favorable composition and geometry of the metal-binding centers, along with the similarity between the Ag+/Cu+-containing structures. Furthermore, by exploring intriguing questions of both metals’ coordination chemistry, an important background for understanding the metabolism and biotransformation of silver in organisms is provided.
From Interaction to Intervention: How Mesenchymal Stem Cells Affect and Target Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Wu Yong , Shum Hang Chee Erin , Wu Ke , Vadgama Jaydutt
Published: April 2023

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) lacks estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 expressions, making targeted therapies ineffective. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as a promising approach for TNBC treatment by modulating the tumor microenvironment (TME) and interacting with cancer cells. This review aims to comprehensively overview the role of MSCs in TNBC treatment, including their mechanisms of action and application strategies. We analyze the interactions between MSC and TNBC cells, including the impact of MSCs on TNBC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis, and drug resistance, along with the signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms involved. We also explore the impact of MSCs on other components of the TME, such as immune and stromal cells, and the underlying mechanisms. The review discusses the application strategies of MSCs in TNBC treatment, including their use as cell or drug carriers and the advantages and limitations of different types and sources of MSCs in terms of safety and efficacy. Finally, we discuss the challenges and prospects of MSCs in TNBC treatment and propose potential solutions or improvement methods. Overall, this review provides valuable insights into the potential of MSCs as a novel therapeutic approach for TNBC treatment.
Co-Expression of Chromatin Assembly Factor 1 Subunit A and Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen Is a Prognostic Biomarker of Esophageal Cancer
Authors: Wen Bing , Deng Dan-Xia , Liao Lian-Di , Zhang Zhi-Da , Zheng Ya-Qi , Dong Ke , Xu Li-Yan , Li En-Min
Published: April 2023

(1) Background: Esophageal cancer (EC) is an important global health challenge. Due to the lack of necessary biomarkers and therapeutic targets, the survival of EC patients is poor. The EC proteomic data of 124 patients recently published by our group provides a database for research in this field. (2) Methods: Bioinformatics analysis was used to identify DNA replication and repair-related proteins in EC. Proximity ligation assay, colony formation assay, DNA fiber assay, and flow cytometry were used to study the effects of related proteins on EC cells. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between gene expression and the survival time of EC patients. (3) Results: Chromatin assembly factor 1 subunit A (CHAF1A) was highly correlated with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression in EC. CHAF1A and PCNA colocalized in the nucleus of EC cells. Compared with the knockdown of CHAF1A or PCNA alone, the double knockdown of CHAF1A and PCNA could significantly inhibit EC cell proliferation. Mechanistically, CHAF1A and PCNA synergistically accelerated DNA replication and promoted S-phase progression. EC patients with high expression of both CHAF1A and PCNA had a worse survival rate. (4) Conclusion: we identify CHAF1A and PCNA as key cell cycle-related proteins leading to the malignant progression of EC, and these proteins could serve as important prognostic biomarkers and targets for EC.
Fecal and Urinary Adipokines as Disease Biomarkers
Authors: Tews Hauke C. , Elger Tanja , Grewal Thomas , Weidlich Simon , Vitali Francesco , Buechler Christa
Published: April 2023

The use of biomarkers is of great clinical value for the diagnosis and prognosis of disease and the assessment of treatment efficacy. In this context, adipokines secreted from adipose tissue are of interest, as their elevated circulating levels are associated with a range of metabolic dysfunctions, inflammation, renal and hepatic diseases and cancers. In addition to serum, adipokines can also be detected in the urine and feces, and current experimental evidence on the analysis of fecal and urinary adipokine levels points to their potential as disease biomarkers. This includes increased urinary adiponectin, lipocalin-2, leptin and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in renal diseases and an association of elevated urinary chemerin as well as urinary and fecal lipocalin-2 levels with active inflammatory bowel diseases. Urinary IL-6 levels are also upregulated in rheumatoid arthritis and may become an early marker for kidney transplant rejection, while fecal IL-6 levels are increased in decompensated liver cirrhosis and acute gastroenteritis. In addition, galectin-3 levels in urine and stool may emerge as a biomarker for several cancers. With the analysis of urine and feces from patients being cost-efficient and non-invasive, the identification and utilization of adipokine levels as urinary and fecal biomarkers could become a great advantage for disease diagnosis and predicting treatment outcomes. This review article highlights data on the abundance of selected adipokines in urine and feces, underscoring their potential to serve as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.
The Competition of Yin and Yang: Exploring the Role of Wild-Type and Mutant p53 in Tumor Progression
Authors: Cai Bi-He , Sung Yu-Te , Chen Chia-Chi , Shaw Jei-Fu , Hsin I-Lun
Published: April 2023

The protein p53 is a well-known tumor suppressor that plays a crucial role in preventing cancer development [...]
A Comprehensive Review on Electrochemical Nano Biosensors for Precise Detection of Blood-Based Oncomarkers in Breast Cancer
Authors: Sadeghi Mahdi , Sadeghi Somayeh , Naghib Seyed Morteza , Garshasbi Hamid Reza
Published: April 2023

Breast cancer (BC), one of the most common and life-threatening cancers, has the highest incidence rate among women. Early diagnosis of BC oncomarkers is considered the most effective strategy for detecting and treating BC. Finding the type and stage of BC in women as soon as possible is one of the greatest ways to stop its incidence and negative effects on medical treatment. The development of biosensors for early, sensitive, and selective detection of oncomarkers has recently attracted much attention. An electrochemical nano biosensor (EN) is a very suitable option for a powerful tool for cancer diagnosis. This comprehensive review provides information about the prevalence and pathobiology of BC, recent advances in clinically available BC oncomarkers, and the most common electrochemical nano biosensors for point-of-care (POC) detection of various BC oncomarkers using nanomaterial-based signal amplification techniques.
Hierarchical Structure of Gold and Carbon Electrode for Bilirubin Oxidase-Biocathode
Authors: Nakagawa Yuto , Tsujimura Seiya , Zelsmann Marc , Zebda Abdelkader
Published: April 2023

Biofuel cells (BFCs) with enzymatic electrocatalysts have attracted significant attention, especially as power sources for wearable and implantable devices; however, the applications of BFCs are limited owing to the limited O2 supply. This can be addressed by using air-diffusion-type bilirubin oxidase (BOD) cathodes, and thus the further development of the hierarchical structure of porous electrodes with highly effective specific surface areas is critical. In this study, a porous layer of gold is deposited over magnesium-oxide-templated carbon (MgOC) to form BOD-based biocathodes for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Porous gold structures are constructed via electrochemical deposition of gold via dynamic hydrogen bubble templating (DHBT). Hydrogen bubbles used as a template and controlled by the Coulomb number yield a porous gold structure during the electrochemical deposition process. The current density of the ORR catalyzed by BOD without a redox mediator on the gold-modified MgOC electrode was 1.3 times higher than that of the ORR on the MgOC electrode. Furthermore, the gold-deposited electrodes were modified with aromatic thiols containing negatively charged functional groups to improve the orientation of BOD on the electrode surface to facilitate efficient electron transfer at the heterogeneous surface, thereby achieving an ORR current of 12 mA cm−2 at pH 5 and 25 °C. These results suggest that DHBT is an efficient method for the fabrication of nanostructured electrodes that promote direct electron transfer with oxidoreductase enzymes.
Cobalt and Iron Phthalocyanine Derivatives: Effect of Substituents on the Structure of Thin Films and Their Sensor Response to Nitric Oxide
Authors: Klyamer Darya , Shao Wenping , Krasnov Pavel , Sukhikh Aleksandr , Dorovskikh Svetlana , Popovetskiy Pavel , Li Xianchun , Basova Tamara
Published: April 2023

In this work, we study the effect of substituents in cobalt(II) and iron(II) phthalocyanines (CoPcR4 and FePcR4 with R = H, F, Cl, tBu) on the structural features of their films, and their chemi-resistive sensor response to a low concentration of nitric oxide. For the correct interpretation of diffractograms of phthalocyanine films, structures of CoPcCl4 and FePcCl4 single crystals were determined for the first time. Films were tested as active layers for the determination of low concentrations of NO (10–1000 ppb). It was found that the best sensor response to NO was observed for the films of chlorinated derivatives MPcCl4 (M = Co, Fe), while the lowest response was in the case of MPc(tBu)4 films. FePcCl4 films exhibited the maximal response to NO, with a calculated limit of detection (LOD) of 3 ppb; the response and recovery times determined at 30 ppb of NO were 30 s and 80 s, respectively. The LOD of a CoPcCl4 film was 7 ppb. However, iron phthalocyanine films had low stability and their sensitivity to NO decreased rapidly over time, while the response of cobalt phthalocyanine films remained stable for at least several months. In order to explain the obtained regularities, quantum chemical calculations of the binding parameters between NO and phthalocyanine molecules were carried out. It was shown that the binding of NO to the side atoms of phthalocyanines occurred through van der Waals forces, and the values of the binding energies were in direct correlation with the values of the sensor response to NO.