bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quality Evaluation of New Types of Layered Composites for Flooring Materials
Authors: Olenska Sylwia , Beer Piotr
Published: April 2024

The need, or even the obligation, to take care of the natural environment compels a search for new technological solutions, or for known solutions to be adapted to new applications. The maxim is ‘don’t harm, but improve the world for future generations’. In the wood industry in particular, given that it is based on a natural raw material, we must look for ecological solutions. Trees grow, but the demand for wood exceeds the volume of tree growth. In industrial manufacturing, one of the ways to make full use of wood is through chipless processing, which occurs during rotary cutting (peeling). In addition, wood is a natural material, each fragment of which has a range of properties. In addition, wood defects in quality manipulation generate a lot of waste. The aim of this study was to analyse the quality effect of the tested layered composites for flooring materials on production application. The practical purpose was to exchange actual sawing-based production for chipless production. The composite base layers were made of pine wood (Pinus L.) veneers with differing quality classes. The samples were subjected to three-point bending tests to calculate the moduli of elasticity and stiffness, which are the most important parameters. Because both analysed parameters describe product quality, the analyses were based on the creation of Shewhart control charts for each parameter. In theory, these control charts are tools for analysing whether the production process is stable and yields predictable results. To have full control over the process, five elements have to be applied: central line (target), two types of control lines (upper and lower) and two types of specification lines (upper and lower). New types of layered composites for flooring may be applied to production once verified using Shewhart control charts. It turns out that it is possible to produce the base layer of the flooring materials using the rotary cutting (peeling) method without having to analyse the quality of the raw material. This is a way to significantly increase the efficiency of production in every element of manufacturing.
Polyhydroxy-3-Butyrate (PHB)-Based Composite Materials Reinforced with Cellulosic Fibers, Obtained from Barley Waste Straw, to Produce Pieces for Agriculture Applications: Production, Characterization and Scale-Up Analysis
Authors: Oliver-Ortega Helena , Evon Philippe , Espinach Francesc Xavier , Raynaud Christine , Méndez José Alberto
Published: April 2024

Cellulosic fibers obtained from Barley straw were utilized to reinforce PHB. Four different processed fibers were employed as reinforcing material: sawdust (SW), defibered (DFBF), delignified (DBF), and bleached (BBF) fibers. The composite was processed from two different perspectives: a discontinuous (bach) and an intensification process (extrusion). Once processed and transformed into final shape specimens, the materials were characterized by mechanical testing (tensile mode), scanning electron microscopy, and theoretical simulations by finite elements analysis (FEA). In terms of mechanical properties, only the elastic moduli (Et) exhibited results ranging from 37% to 170%, depending on the reinforcement composition. Conversely, strengths at break, under both tensile and bending tests, tended to decrease, indicating poor affinity between the components. Due to the mechanical treatment applied on the fiber, DFBF emerged as the most promising filler, with mechanical properties closest to those of neat PHB. DFBF-based composites were subsequently produced through process intensification using a twin-screw extruder, and molded into flowerpots. Mechanical results showed almost identical properties between the discontinuous and intensification processes. The suitability of the material for agriculture flowerpots was demonstrated through finite analysis simulation (FEA), which revealed that the maximum von Mises stresses (5.38 × 105 N/m2) and deformations (0.048 mm) were well below the limits of the composite materials.
Study on the Freeze-Thaw Resistance of Concrete Pavements in Seasonally Frozen Regions
Authors: Zhao Ruize , Shi Chenglin , Zhang Ruixin , Wang Wensheng , Zhu Huirong , Luo Jing
Published: April 2024

In seasonally frozen regions, concrete pavement is exposed to cycles of freeze-thaw and erosion from de-icing salt, which can lead to unfavorable service conditions and vulnerability to damage. This paper examines the compressive strength, flexural-tensile strength, abrasion resistance, permeability, and spacing factor of concrete, taking into account the impact of various curing conditions, de-icing salt solutions, and mass fractions on the concrete’s freeze-thaw resistance. Two test methods, the single-face method and the fast-freezing method, were used to comparatively analyze the freeze-thaw resistance of concrete. The analysis was based on the surface scaling, water absorption rate, mass loss rate, relative dynamic elastic modulus, and relative durability index. The results indicate that the presence of salt solution significantly worsened the degree of concrete damage caused by freeze-thaw cycles. The use of freeze-thaw media, specifically sodium chloride (NaCl), calcium chloride (CaCl2), and potassium acetate (KAc) at mass fractions of 5%, 4.74%, and 5%, respectively, had the greatest impact on the surface scaling of concrete. However, their effect on the water absorption rate was inconsistent. When the freeze-thaw medium was water, the concrete’s relative dynamic elastic modulus and relative durability index were 9.6% and 75.3% higher, respectively, for concrete cured in 20 °C—95% RH conditions compared to those cured in 0 °C—50% RH conditions. We propose a comprehensive relative durability index (DFw) by combining the results of two methods of freeze-thaw tests. The DFw of concrete cured in 0 °C—50% RH conditions was 83.8% lower than that of concrete cured in 20 °C—95% RH conditions when exposed to a freeze-thaw medium of 5% mass fraction NaCl solution. To evaluate the salt freeze-thaw resistance of concrete pavement, it is recommended to use surface scaling and DFw together.
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Osteoarthritis in Korea: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Lee Do-Youn
Published: April 2024

Background and Objectives: The goal of this study is to determine the prevalence of knee osteoarthritis (OA) and risk factors for the disease in Korean adults over the age of 50, as well as to provide basic data for OA prevention through management. Materials and Methods: Based on 2010–2013 data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey, 7962 adults over the age of 50 who participated in radiological tests and health surveys for the diagnosis of osteoarthritis were chosen as participants. Results: The risk factors for OA occurrence were investigated using complex sample multiple logistic regression analysis. According to the findings, the prevalence of knee OA in Korea was 33.3% in this study, with the risk of OA being higher in women, the elderly, people with a lower education level, and people with obesity. Conclusions: To reduce the incidence of OA, interventions and lifestyle changes are needed to prevent the onset of disease in participants with risk factors for OA, such as older women, low education levels, and obesity.
Whole-Genome Sequencing and Phenotypic Analysis of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus Sequence Type 147 Isolated from China
Authors: Su Yan , Zhang Zehua , Wang Li , Zhang Baojiang , Su Lingling
Published: April 2024

Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (S. zooepidemicus) is one of the important zoonotic and opportunistic pathogens. In recent years, there has been growing evidence that supports the potential role of S. zooepidemicus in severe diseases in horses and other animals, including humans. Furthermore, the clinical isolation and drug resistance rates of S. zooepidemicus have been increasing yearly, leading to interest in its in-depth genomic analysis. In order to deepen the understanding of the S. zooepidemicus characteristics and genomic features, we investigated the genomic islands, mobile genetic elements, virulence and resistance genes, and phenotype of S. zooepidemicus strain ZHZ 211 (ST147), isolated from an equine farm in China. We obtained a 2.18 Mb, high-quality chromosome and found eight genomic islands. According to a comparative genomic investigation with other reference strains, ZHZ 211 has more virulence factors, like an iron uptake system, adherence, exoenzymes, and antiphagocytosis. More interestingly, ZHZ 211 has acquired a mobile genetic element (MGE), prophage Ph01, which was found to be in the chromosome of this strain and included two hyaluronidase (hyl) genes, important virulence factors of the strain. Moreover, two transposons and two virulence (virD4) genes were found to be located in the same genome island of ZHZ 211. In vitro phenotypic results showed that ZHZ 211 grows faster and is resistant to clarithromycin, enrofloxacin, and sulfonamides. The higher biofilm-forming capabilities of ZHZ 211 may provide a competitive advantage for survival in its niche. The results expand our understanding of the genomic, pathogenicity, and resistance characterization of Streptococcus zooepidemicus and facilitate further exploration of its molecular pathogenic mechanism.
Effect of Stool Sampling on a Routine Clinical Method for the Quantification of Six Short Chain Fatty Acids in Stool Using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Mahdi Tarek , Desmons Aurore , Krasniqi Pranvera , Lacorte Jean-Marc , Kapel Nathalie , Lamazière Antonin , Fourati Salma , Eguether Thibaut
Published: April 2024

Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are primarily produced in the caecum and proximal colon via the bacterial fermentation of undigested carbohydrates that have avoided digestion in the small intestine. Increasing evidence supports the critical role that SCFAs play in health and homeostasis. Microbial SCFAs, namely butyric acid, serve as a principal energy source for colonocytes, and their production is essential for gut integrity. A direct link between SCFAs and some human pathological conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, and cancer, has been proposed. The direct measurement of SCFAs in feces provides a non-invasive approach to demonstrating connections between SCFAs, microbiota, and metabolic diseases to estimate their potential applicability as meaningful biomarkers of intestinal health. This study aimed to adapt a robust analytical method (liquid–liquid extraction, followed by isobutyl chloroformate derivatization and GC–MS analysis), with comparable performances to methods from the literature, and to use this tool to tackle the question of pre-analytical conditions, namely stool processing. We focused on the methodology of managing stool samples before the analysis (fresh stool or dilution in either ethanol/methanol, lyophilized stool, or RNAlater®), as this is a significant issue to consider for standardizing results between clinical laboratories. The objective was to standardize methods for future applications as diagnostic tools. In this paper, we propose a validated GC–MS method for SCFA quantification in stool samples, including pre- and post-analytical comparison studies that could be easily used for clinical laboratory purposes. Our results show that using lyophilization as a stool-processing method would be the best method to achieve this goal.
A Multi-Faceted Approach to Determining the Provenance of the Lacustrine Rift Basin in the Initial Rifting Stage: A Case Study of the Paleocene Qintong Sag, Subei Basin, East China
Authors: Jiang Rui , Liu Zhen , Xia Shiqiang , Zhu Maolin , Tang Jianxin , Wu Gongyi , Wu Wei
Published: April 2024

Research on the provenance of sedimentary systems is key to better understanding the sedimentary framework and improving exploration-associated decision-making and deployment. With regard to the provenance of sedimentary systems, there is still poor understanding in the initial rifting stage due to imbalanced and insufficient exploration and a common lack of seismic data, which have seriously hindered oil exploration in the Qintong Sag, Subei Basin. This study aimed at investigating the provenance in the direction of the fault-terrace zone in the southeast part of the Qintong Sag and aimed to examine whether large-scale sedimentary systems are formed by these sediment sources. Integrated analysis of heavy minerals, sandstone petrologic maturity, drilling cutting dates, 3D seismic data, and well logs was employed to identify the provenance. This study is the first time that large-scale provenance from the direction of the fault-terrace zone has been discovered in the third member of the Paleocene Funing Formation (referred to as the third Mbr of the Funing Fm in this paper) in the Subei Basin, east China. The documentation shows that sediments from the northwest Wubao Low Uplift and the southeast Taizhou Uplift can be distinguished in the Qintong Sag, with the large-scale delta system in the central and eastern part of the Qintong Sag comprising sediments from the Taizhou Uplift, improving upon previous understanding of the sedimentary framework. The deposition formed by the Taizhou Uplift provenance system was characterized by gradual weakening of the hydrodynamic forces, a decreasing sediment supply, and shrinking of the retrogradational delta depositional systems with good reservoir qualities, which are characterized by high-quality source–reservoir–cap combinations and are likely to develop into a hydrocarbon-rich belt. The discovery of the Taizhou Uplift provenance proves that there may be major provenance and large-scale sedimentary systems from the fault-terrace zone of the rift basins in the initial rifting stage. The experience of rapid retrogradation showed that these large-scale delta systems are likely to only flourish in the initial rifting stage. This study is helpful for improving the understanding of sediment provenance and the sedimentary framework of lacustrine rift basins in the initial rifting stage.
EEG, Pupil Dilations, and Other Physiological Measures of Working Memory Load in the Sternberg Task
Authors: Ahmadi Mohammad , Michalka Samantha W. , Najafabadi Marzieh Ahmadi , Wünsche Burkhard C. , Billinghurst Mark
Published: April 2024

Recent evidence shows that physiological cues, such as pupil dilation (PD), heart rate (HR), skin conductivity (SC), and electroencephalography (EEG), can indicate cognitive load (CL) in users while performing tasks. This paper aims to investigate physiological (multimodal) measurement of CL in a Sternberg memory task as the difficulty level increases in both maintenance and probe phases. For this purpose, we designed a Sternberg memory test with four levels of difficulty determined by the number of letters in the words that need to be remembered. Our behavioral performance results show that the CL of the task is related to the number of letters in non-semantic words, which confirms that this task serves as an appropriate metric of CL (the task difficulty increases as the number of letters in words increases). We were interested in investigating the suitability of multimodal physiological measures as correlates of four CL levels for both the maintenance and probe phases in the Sternberg memory task. Our motivation was to: (1) design and create four levels of task difficulty with a gradual increase in CL rather than just high and low CL, (2) use the Sternberg test as our test bed, (3) explore both the maintenance and probe phases for measurement of CL, and (4) explore the correlation of physiological cues (PD, HR, SC, EEG) with CL in both phases. Testing with the system, we found that for both the maintenance and probe phases, there was a significant positive linear relationship between average baseline corrected PD and CL. We also observed that the average baseline corrected SC showed significant increases as the number of letters in the words increased for both the maintenance and probe phases. However, the HR analysis did not show any correlation with an increase in CL in either of the maintenance or probe phases. An additional analysis was conducted to investigate the correlation of these physiological signals for high (seven-letter words) versus low (four-letter words) CL loads. Our EEG analysis for the maintenance phase found significant positive linear relationships between the power spectral density (PSD) and CL for the upper alpha bands in the centrotemporal, frontal, and occipitoparietal regions of the brain and significant positive linear relationships between the PSD and CL for the lower alpha band in the frontal and occipitoparietal regions. However, our EEG analysis of the probe phase did not show any linear relationship between the PSD and CL in any region. These results suggest that PD, SC, and EEG could be used as suitable metrics for the measurement of cognitive load in Sternberg memory tasks. We discuss this, limitations of the study, and directions for future work.
Crop Rotation and Nitrogen Fertilizer on Nitrate Leaching: Insights from a Low Rainfall Study
Authors: Bruno Isabeli P. , Araújo Augusto G. , Merten Gustavo H. , Ladeira Audilei S. , Pinto Victor M.
Published: April 2024

The intensive use of agricultural fertilizers containing nitrogen (N) can increase the risk of nitrate (NO3−) leaching. However, little information exists regarding its interaction with other factors that influence NO3− leaching, such as no-tillage, which is associated with different crop rotation schemes. The objective of this study was to quantify the leachate NO3− concentration and load below the root zone in two different crop rotations under no-tillage, with and without mineral N fertilizer. The experiment was conducted in a no-tillage area in Brazil between 2018 and 2020. The factors were two crop rotations (diversified and simplified) and two N fertilization managements (with and without N fertilizer). The soil solution was collected with suction lysimeters (1 m depth), the NO3− concentration (mg L−1) was spectrophotometrically determined, and the NO3− load (kg ha−1) was calculated from the volume of water drained and the NO3− concentration. The results were categorized into 24 evaluation periods. NO3− leaching was extremely low due to low rainfall throughout the experiment, with no significant differences between the factors and treatments. In the presence of N fertilization, leaching was substantially greater when rainfall increased, and vice versa. No significant difference was observed between the crop rotation schemes, except for one period in which the simplified soybean rotation exhibited high leaching. The evaluated treatments showed less NO3− leaching during the four periods when grass species were cultivated, indicating the importance of grasses in rotation systems.
Sensory Symptoms without Structural Pathology in Patients with Gluten Sensitivity
Authors: Hadjivassiliou Marios , Trott Nick , Hoggard Nigel , Sanders David S.
Published: April 2024

We report on a group of patients with gluten sensitivity with and without coeliac disease presenting with unexplained sensory symptoms in the absence of structural pathology. Methods: The patients were selected from the gluten neurology clinic based at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK, on the basis of sensory symptoms but normal neuroaxis imaging and peripheral nerve evaluation. Results: A total of 30 patients were identified with a mean age at presentation of 47 years. The prevalence of enteropathy was 78%. The sensory disturbance was characterised by tingling at 50%, numbness at 27%, pain at 20%, burning at 13% and “buzzing” feeling at 7%. The distribution of the sensory symptoms included hands and feet in 27% of the patients, torso in 27%, legs only in 23%, face in 17% and arms only in 10%. For five patients, the sensory disturbance was migratory and affected different parts of the body at any given time. After the introduction of a gluten-free diet, 77% of patients noted significant improvement in their sensory symptoms. In one-third of the patients, there was a complete resolution of the sensory symptoms. Conclusion: Unexplained sensory symptoms can be seen in patients with gluten sensitivity and respond to strict adherence to a gluten-free diet.
Novel Fermentates Can Enhance Key Immune Responses Associated with Viral Immunity
Authors: Finnegan Dearbhla , Mechoud Monica A. , FitzGerald Jamie A. , Beresford Tom , Mathur Harsh , Cotter Paul D. , Loscher Christine
Published: April 2024

Fermented foods have long been known to have immunomodulatory capabilities, and fermentates derived from the lactic acid bacteria of dairy products can modulate the immune system. We have used skimmed milk powder to generate novel fermentates using Lb. helveticus strains SC234 and SC232 and we demonstrate here that these fermentates can enhance key immune mechanisms that are critical to the immune response to viruses. We show that our novel fermentates, SC234 and SC232, can positively impact on cytokine and chemokine secretion, nitric oxide (NO) production, cell surface marker expression, and phagocytosis in macrophage models. We demonstrate that the fermentates SC234 and SC232 increase the secretion of cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-27, and IL-10; promote an M1 pro-inflammatory phenotype for viral immunity via NO induction; decrease chemokine expression of Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein (MCP); increase cell surface marker expression; and enhance phagocytosis in comparison to their starting material. These data suggest that these novel fermentates have potential as novel functional food ingredients for the treatment, management, and control of viral infection.
Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection, Extrahepatic Disease and the Impact of New Direct-Acting Antivirals
Authors: Méndez-Sánchez Nahum , Coronel-Castillo Carlos E. , Ramírez-Mejía Mariana Michelle
Published: April 2024

Chronic hepatitis C virus infection is an important cause of liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and death. Furthermore, it is estimated that about 40–70% of patients develop non-hepatic alterations in the course of chronic infection. Such manifestations can be immune-related conditions, lymphoproliferative disorders and metabolic alterations with serious adverse events in the short and long term. The introduction of new Direct-Acting Antivirals has shown promising results, with current evidence indicating an improvement and remission of these conditions after a sustained virological response.
Simultaneous Detection of Porcine Respiratory Coronavirus, Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus, Swine Influenza Virus, and Pseudorabies Virus via Quadruplex One-Step RT-qPCR
Authors: Ma Yan , Shi Kaichuang , Chen Zhenhai , Shi Yuwen , Zhou Qingan , Mo Shenglan , Wei Haina , Hu Liping , Mo Meilan
Published: April 2024

Porcine respiratory coronavirus (PRCoV), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), swine influenza virus (SIV), and pseudorabies virus (PRV) are significant viruses causing respiratory diseases in pigs. Sick pigs exhibit similar clinical symptoms such as fever, cough, runny nose, and dyspnea, making it very difficult to accurately differentially diagnose these diseases on site. In this study, a quadruplex one-step reverse-transcription real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) for the detection of PRCoV, PRRSV, SIV, and PRV was established. The assay showed strong specificity, high sensitivity, and good repeatability. It could detect only PRCoV, PRRSV, SIV, and PRV, without cross-reactions with TGEV, PEDV, PRoV, ASFV, FMDV, PCV2, PDCoV, and CSFV. The limits of detection (LODs) for PRCoV, PRRSV, SIV, and PRV were 129.594, 133.205, 139.791, and 136.600 copies/reaction, respectively. The intra-assay and inter-assay coefficients of variation (CVs) ranged from 0.29% to 1.89%. The established quadruplex RT-qPCR was used to test 4909 clinical specimens, which were collected in Guangxi Province, China, from July 2022 to September 2023. PRCoV, PRRSV, SIV, and PRV showed positivity rates of 1.36%, 10.17%, 4.87%, and 0.84%, respectively. In addition, the previously reported RT-qPCR was also used to test these specimens, and the agreement between these methods was higher than 99.43%. The established quadruplex RT-qPCR can accurately detect these four porcine respiratory viruses simultaneously, providing an accurate and reliable detection technique for clinical diagnosis.
Potential Antitumor Activity of Combined Lycopene and Sorafenib against Solid Ehrlich Carcinoma via Targeting Autophagy and Apoptosis and Suppressing Proliferation
Authors: El-Masry Thanaa A. , El-Nagar Maysa M. F. , El Mahdy Nageh A. , Alherz Fatemah A. , Taher Reham , Osman Enass Y.
Published: April 2024

An FDA-approved kinase inhibitor called sorafenib (SOR) is used to treat primary kidney and liver cancer as well as to stop the spread of advanced breast cancer. Side effects from SOR, such as palmar–plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome, can negatively impact an individual’s quality of life. There are a lot of data supporting the importance of lycopene (LYC) in preventing cancer. The antitumor properties of the combination of sorafenib and lycopene were examined in this study. A viability test against MDA-MB-231 was used to assess the anticancer efficacy of sorafenib, lycopene, and their combination in vitro. Moreover, a cell cycle analysis and Annexin-V/PI double staining were performed by using flow cytometry. In addition, the protein level of JNK-1, ERK-1, Beclin-1, P38, and P53 of the MDA-MB-231 cell line was estimated using ELISA kits. In addition, mice with SEC were divided into four equal groups at random (n = 10) to investigate the possible processes underlying the in vivo antitumor effect. Group IV (SEC-SOR-LYC) received SOR (30 mg/kg/day, p.o.) and LYC (20 mg/kg/day, p.o.); Group I received the SEC control; Group II received SEC-SOR (30 mg/kg/day, p.o.); and Group III received SEC-LYC (20 mg/kg/day, p.o.). The findings demonstrated that the combination of sorafenib and lycopene was superior to sorafenib and lycopene alone in causing early cell cycle arrest, suppressing the viability of cancer cells, and increasing cell apoptosis and autophagy. Likewise, the combination of sorafenib and lycopene demonstrated inhibition of the levels of Bcl-2, Ki-67, VEGF, IL-1β, and TNF-α protein. Otherwise, the quantities of the proteins BAX, P53, and caspase 3 were amplified. Furthermore, the combined treatment led to a substantial increase in TNF-α, caspase 3, and VEGF gene expression compared to the equivalent dosages of monotherapy. The combination of sorafenib and lycopene enhanced apoptosis and reduced inflammation, as seen by the tumor’s decreased weight and volume, hence demonstrating its potential anticancer effect.
Comparison of Glioblastoma Cell Culture Platforms Based on Transcriptional Similarity with Paired Tissue
Authors: Park Junseong , Koh Ilkyoo , Cha Junghwa , Oh Yoojung , Shim Jin-Kyoung , Kim Hyejin , Moon Ju Hyung , Kim Eui Hyun , Chang Jong Hee , Kim Pilnam , Kang Seok-Gu
Published: April 2024

No standardized in vitro cell culture models for glioblastoma (GBM) have yet been established, excluding the traditional two-dimensional culture. GBM tumorspheres (TSs) have been highlighted as a good model platform for testing drug effects and characterizing specific features of GBM, but a detailed evaluation of their suitability and comparative performance is lacking. Here, we isolated GBM TSs and extracellular matrices (ECM) from tissues obtained from newly diagnosed IDH1 wild-type GBM patients and cultured GBM TSs on five different culture platforms: (1) ordinary TS culture liquid media (LM), (2) collagen-based three-dimensional (3D) matrix, (3) patient typical ECM-based 3D matrix, (4) patient tumor ECM-based 3D matrix, and (5) mouse brain. For evaluation, we obtained transcriptome data from all cultured GBM TSs using microarrays. The LM platform exhibited the most similar transcriptional program to paired tissues based on GBM genes, stemness- and invasiveness-related genes, transcription factor activity, and canonical signaling pathways. GBM TSs can be cultured via an easy-to-handle and cost- and time-efficient LM platform while preserving the transcriptional program of the originating tissues without supplementing the ECM or embedding it into the mouse brain. In addition to applications in basic cancer research, GBM TSs cultured in LM may also serve as patient avatars in drug screening and pre-clinical evaluation of targeted therapy and as standardized and clinically relevant models for precision medicine.
High Manganese Content of Lipid NanoMn (LNM) by Microfluidic Technology for Enhancing Anti-Tumor Immunity
Authors: Sun Jiawei , Gong Jingjing , Gong Lidong , Zhu Chuanda , Li-Yang Longhao , Wang Jingya , Yang Yuanyuan , Zhang Shiming , Liu Silu , Fu Ji-Jun , Xu Pengcheng
Published: April 2024

Immunotherapy is a clinically effective method for treating tumors. Manganese can activate the cGAS-STING signaling pathway and induce an anti-tumor immune response. However, its efficacy is hindered by non-specific distribution and low uptake rates. In this study, we employed microfluidic technology to design and develop an innovative preparation process, resulting in the creation of a novel manganese lipid nanoparticle (LNM). The lipid manganese nanoparticle produced in this process boasts a high manganese payload, excellent stability, the capacity for large-scale production, and high batch repeatability. LNM has effectively demonstrated the ability to activate the cGAS-STING signaling pathway, induce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and inhibit tumor development. Notably, LNM does not require combination chemotherapy drugs or other immune activators. Therefore, LNM presents a safe, straightforward, and efficient strategy for anti-tumor immune activation, with the potential for scalable production.
ABCG2 Transports the Flukicide Nitroxynil and Affects Its Biodistribution and Secretion into Milk
Authors: Álvarez-Fernández Laura , Blanco-Paniagua Esther , Merino Gracia
Published: April 2024

The ABCG2 transporter plays a key role in pharmacological and toxicological processes, affecting bioavailability, tissue accumulation and milk secretion of its substrates. This protein is expressed in several biological barriers acting as a protective mechanism against xenobiotic exposure by pumping out a broad range of compounds. However, its induced expression during lactation in alveolar cells of mammary gland represents a relevant route for active transport of unwanted chemicals into milk. This work aimed to characterize the involvement of ABCG2 in systemic exposure and milk secretion of the flukicide nitroxynil. Using MDCK–II cells overexpressing the transporter, we showed that nitroxynil is an in vitro substrate of different species variants of ABCG2. Moreover, using wild-type and Abcg2−/− mice, we showed that murine Abcg2 clearly affects plasma levels of nitroxynil. We also reported differences in nitroxynil accumulation in several tissues, with almost 2-fold higher concentration in kidney, small intestine and testis of Abcg2−/− mice. Finally, we proved that nitroxynil secretion into milk was also affected by Abcg2, with a 1.9-fold higher milk concentration in wild-type compared with Abcg2−/− mice. We conclude that ABCG2 significantly impacts nitroxynil biodistribution by regulating its passage across biological barriers.
Distribution and Mechanism of Japanese Brome (Bromus japonicus) Resistance to ALS-Inhibiting Herbicides in China
Authors: Bai Linzhi , Li Xiangju , Guo Xiaotong , Chen Jingchao , Yu Haiyan , Cui Hailan
Published: April 2024

Bromus japonicus is a common monocot weed that occurs in major winter wheat fields in the Huang–Huai–Hai region of China. Pyroxsulam is a highly efficient and safe acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicide that is widely used to control common weeds in wheat fields. However, B. japonicus populations in China have evolved resistance to pyroxsulam by different mutations in the ALS gene. To understand the resistance distribution, target-site resistance mechanisms, and cross-resistance patterns, 208 B. japonicus populations were collected from eight provinces. In the resistant population screening experiment, 59 populations from six provinces showed different resistance levels to pyroxsulam compared with the susceptible population, of which 17 B. japonicus populations with moderate or high levels of resistance to pyroxsulam were mainly from the Hebei (4), Shandong (4) and Shanxi (9) Provinces. Some resistant populations were selected to investigate the target site-resistance mechanism to the ALS-inhibiting herbicide pyroxsulam. Three pairs of primers were designed to amplify the ALS sequence, which was assembled into the complete ALS sequence with a length of 1932 bp. DNA sequencing of ALS revealed that four different ALS mutations (Pro-197-Ser, Pro-197-Thr, Pro-197-Phe and Asp-376-Glu) were found in 17 moderately or highly resistant populations. Subsequently, five resistant populations, QM21-41 with Pro-197-Ser, QM20-8 with Pro-197-Thr and Pro-197-Phe, and QM21-72, QM21-76 and QM21-79 with Asp-376-Glu mutations in ALS genes, were selected to characterize their cross-resistance patterns to ALS inhibitors. The QM21-41, QM20-8, QM21-72, QM21-76 and QM21-79 populations showed broad-spectrum cross-resistance to pyroxsulam, mesosulfuron–methyl and flucarbazone–sodium. This study is the first to report evolving cross-resistance to ALS-inhibiting herbicides due to Pro-197-Phe mutations in B. japonicus.
Exploring the Effects of Nano-CaCO3 on the Core–Shell Structure and Properties of HDPE/POE/Nano-CaCO3 Ternary Nanocomposites
Authors: Liu Wei , Wang Lumin , Zhang Xun , Huang Hongliang , Liu Yongli , Min Minghua
Published: April 2024

To address the dilemma of the stiffness and toughness properties of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) composites, titanate coupling agent-treated CaCO3 nanoparticles (nano-CaCO3) and ethylene–octene copolymer (POE) were utilized to blend with HDPE to prepare ternary nanocomposites via a two-sequence-step process. Meanwhile, a one-step process was also studied as a control. The obtained ternary nanocomposites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Advanced Rheometrics Expansion System (ARES), Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA), wide-angle X-ray diffraction analysis (WXRD), and mechanical test. The SEM results showed one or two CaCO3 nanoparticles were well-encapsulated by POE and were uniformly dispersed into the HDPE matrix to form a core–shell structure of 100–200 nm in size by the two-step process, while CaCO3 nanoparticles were aggregated in the HDPE matrix by the one-step method. The result of the XRD showed that the nano-CaCO3 particle played a role in promoting crystallization in HDPE nanocomposites. Mechanical tests showed that the synergistic effect of both the POE elastomer and CaCO3 nanoparticles should account for the balanced performance of the ternary composites. In comparison with neat HDPE, the notched impact toughness of the ternary nanocomposites of HDPE/POE/nano-CaCO3 was significantly increased. In addition, the core–shell structure absorbed the fracture impact energy and prevent further propagation of micro-cracks, thus obtaining a higher notched Izod impact strength.
Fault Diagnosis of Power Transformer in One-Key Sequential Control System of Intelligent Substation Based on a Transformer Neural Network Model
Authors: Wang Cheng , Fu Zhixin , Zhang Zheng , Wang Weiping , Chen Huatai , Xu Da
Published: April 2024

With the introduction of numerous technologies and equipment, the volume of data in smart substations has undergone exponential growth. In order to enhance the intelligent management level of substations and promote their efficient and sustainable development, the one-key sequential control system of smart substations is being renovated. In this study, firstly, the intelligent substation is defined and compared with the traditional substation. The one-key sequential control system is introduced, and the main issues existing in the system are analyzed. Secondly, experiments are conducted on the winding temperature, insulation oil temperature, and ambient temperature of power transformers in the primary equipment. Combining data fusion technology and transformer neural network models, a Power Transformer-Transformer Neural Network (PT-TNNet) model based on data fusion is proposed. Subsequently, comparative experiments are conducted with multiple algorithms to validate the high accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score of the PT-TNNet model for equipment state monitoring and fault diagnosis. Finally, using the efficient PT-TNNet, Random Forest, and Extra Trees models, the cross-validation of the accuracy of winding temperature and insulation oil temperature of transformers is performed, confirming the superiority of the PT-TNNet model based on transformer neural networks for power transformer state monitoring and fault diagnosis, its feasibility for application in one-key sequential control systems, and the optimization of one-key sequential control system performance.
Permeability Effect and Nonlinear Coupling Characteristics of Rock–Soil Interaction with Water
Authors: Liang Ning , Wang Ziyun
Published: April 2024

The seepage effect of rock and soil in the process of encountering water follows a nonlinear coupling law between water and rock. According to the permeability of rock and soil during softening with water, changes in particles in rock and soil are related to permeability mechanisms. Based on the assumption of connection between particles in rock and soil, changes in particles before and after water infiltration, the mechanism of water–rock interaction, and the damage to rock and soil are analyzed herein. Combined with fractal theory and percolation theory, the random failure characteristics and nonlinear behavior of water in rock and soil are studied. At the same time, with the help of Fluent 17.0 software, the seepage process of rock samples in water is numerically simulated and analyzed. Taking the permeability coefficient of rock samples, the mass flow rate of water, and the internal pore water pressure of rock samples as tracking objects, it is found that there are obvious nonlinear characteristics in the process of water–rock interaction. The seepage–stress coupling between water and rock forms negative resistance to water seepage. The water infiltration is a slow and then accelerated process and tends to be stable. Research has shown that the coupling effect of seepage between water and rock increases the damage inside the rock and soil, and its permeability fluctuates randomly at different time steps. This feature is a common manifestation of fractal properties and percolation within rock and soil particles. At the same time, there is a non-equilibrium variation law of pore water pressure inside the rock and soil. This leads to a continuous strengthening of the seepage effect, reaching a stable state. The results of this study are crucial. It not only reveals the mechanism of interaction between water and rock but also correlates the degree of internal damage in rock and soil based on the seepage characteristics between water and rock. The conclusions can provide some reference value for relevant construction methods in the analysis of the formation of water flow characteristics, the prevention of rock slope seepage disasters, and the control of water inrush in tunnel excavation.
Proteomics—The State of the Field: The Definition and Analysis of Proteomes Should Be Based in Reality, Not Convenience
Authors: Coorssen Jens R. , Padula Matthew P.
Published: April 2024

With growing recognition and acknowledgement of the genuine complexity of proteomes, we are finally entering the post-proteogenomic era. Routine assessment of proteomes as inferred correlates of gene sequences (i.e., canonical ‘proteins’) cannot provide the necessary critical analysis of systems-level biology that is needed to understand underlying molecular mechanisms and pathways or identify the most selective biomarkers and therapeutic targets. These critical requirements demand the analysis of proteomes at the level of proteoforms/protein species, the actual active molecular players. Currently, only highly refined integrated or integrative top-down proteomics (iTDP) enables the analytical depth necessary to provide routine, comprehensive, and quantitative proteome assessments across the widest range of proteoforms inherent to native systems. Here we provide a broad perspective of the field, taking in historical and current realities, to establish a more balanced understanding of where the field has come from (in particular during the ten years since Proteomes was launched), current issues, and how things likely need to proceed if necessary deep proteome analyses are to succeed. We base this in our firm belief that the best proteomic analyses reflect, as closely as possible, the native sample at the moment of sampling. We also seek to emphasise that this and future analytical approaches are likely best based on the broad recognition and exploitation of the complementarity of currently successful approaches. This also emphasises the need to continuously evaluate and further optimize established approaches, to avoid complacency in thinking and expectations but also to promote the critical and careful development and introduction of new approaches, most notably those that address proteoforms. Above all, we wish to emphasise that a rigorous focus on analytical quality must override current thinking that largely values analytical speed; the latter would certainly be nice, if only proteoforms could thus be effectively, routinely, and quantitatively assessed. Alas, proteomes are composed of proteoforms, not molecular species that can be amplified or that directly mirror genes (i.e., ‘canonical’). The problem is hard, and we must accept and address it as such, but the payoff in playing this longer game of rigorous deep proteome analyses is the promise of far more selective biomarkers, drug targets, and truly personalised or even individualised medicine.
Properties of Cirrus Cloud Observed over Koror, Palau (7.3°N, 134.5°E), in Tropical Western Pacific Region
Authors: Sun Xiaoyu , Ritter Christoph , Müller Katrin , Palm Mathias , Ji Denghui , Ruhe Wilfried , Beninga Ingo , Patris Sharon , Notholt Justus
Published: April 2024

This study presented an analysis of the geometric and optical properties of cirrus clouds with data produced by Compact Cloud-Aerosol Lidar (ComCAL) over Koror, Palau (7.3°N, 134.5°E), in the Tropical Western Pacific region. The lidar measurement dataset covers April 2018 to May 2019 and includes data collected during March, July and August 2022. The results show that cirrus clouds occur approximately 47.9% of the lidar sampling time, predominantly between altitudes of 15 and 18 km. Seasonal variations in cirrus top height closely align with those of the cold point tropopause. Most cirrus clouds exhibit low cloud optical depth (COD < 0.1), with an annual mean depolarization ratio of 31 ± 19%. Convective-forming cirrus clouds during the summer monsoon season exhibit a larger size by notably lower values in terms of color ratio. Extremely thin cirrus clouds (COD < 0.005) constituting 1.6% of total cirrus occurrences are frequently observed at 1–2 km above the cold point, particularly during winter and summer, suggesting significant stratosphere–troposphere exchange. The coldest and highest tropopause over Palau is persistent during winter, and related to the pathway of tropospheric air entering the stratosphere through the cold trap. In summer, the extremely thin cirrus above the cold point is likely correlated with equatorial Kelvin waves induced by western Pacific monsoon convection.
Bridging Domains and Resolutions: Deep Learning-Based Land Cover Mapping without Matched Labels
Authors: Cao Shuyi , Tang Yubin , Yan Enping , Jiang Jiawei , Mo Dengkui
Published: April 2024

High-resolution land cover mapping is crucial in various disciplines but is often hindered by the lack of accurately matched labels. Our study introduces an innovative deep learning methodology for effective land cover mapping, independent of matched labels. The approach comprises three main components: (1) An advanced fully convolutional neural network, augmented with super-resolution features, to refine labels; (2) The application of an instance-batch normalization network (IBN), leveraging these enhanced labels from the source domain, to generate 2-m resolution land cover maps for test sites in the target domain; (3) Noise assessment tests to evaluate the impact of varying noise levels on the model’s mapping accuracy using external labels. The model achieved an overall accuracy of 83.40% in the target domain using endogenous super-resolution labels. In contrast, employing exogenous, high-precision labels from the National Land Cover Database in the source domain led to a notable accuracy increase of 2.55%, reaching 85.48%. This improvement highlights the model’s enhanced generalizability and performance during domain shifts, attributed significantly to the IBN layer. Our findings reveal that, despite the absence of native high-precision labels, the utilization of high-quality external labels can substantially benefit the development of precise land cover mapping, underscoring their potential in scenarios with unmatched labels.
GLUENet: An Efficient Network for Remote Sensing Image Dehazing with Gated Linear Units and Efficient Channel Attention
Authors: Fang Jiahao , Wang Xing , Li Yujie , Zhang Xuefeng , Zhang Bingxian , Gade Martin
Published: April 2024

Dehazing individual remote sensing (RS) images is an effective approach to enhance the quality of hazy remote sensing imagery. However, current dehazing methods exhibit substantial systemic and computational complexity. Such complexity not only hampers the straightforward analysis and comparison of these methods but also undermines their practical effectiveness on actual data, attributed to the overtraining and overfitting of model parameters. To mitigate these issues, we introduce a novel dehazing network for non-uniformly hazy RS images: GLUENet, designed for both lightweightness and computational efficiency. Our approach commences with the implementation of the classical U-Net, integrated with both local and global residuals, establishing a robust base for the extraction of multi-scale information. Subsequently, we construct basic convolutional blocks using gated linear units and efficient channel attention, incorporating depth-separable convolutional layers to efficiently aggregate spatial information and transform features. Additionally, we introduce a fusion block based on efficient channel attention, facilitating the fusion of information from different stages in both encoding and decoding to enhance the recovery of texture details. GLUENet’s efficacy was evaluated using both synthetic and real remote sensing dehazing datasets, providing a comprehensive assessment of its performance. The experimental results demonstrate that GLUENet’s performance is on par with state-of-the-art (SOTA) methods and surpasses the SOTA methods on our proposed real remote sensing dataset. Our method on the real remote sensing dehazing dataset has an improvement of 0.31 dB for the PSNR metric and 0.13 for the SSIM metric, and the number of parameters and computations of the model are much lower than the optimal method.