bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Coupling Coordination and Influencing Factors of Urbanization and Ecological Resilience in the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration, China
Authors: Chang Qiaoli , Sha Yuying , Chen Yi
Published: January 2024

Twenty-six cities in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration were taken as the research object, and this study comprehensively evaluated urbanization quality and ecological resilience from 2005 to 2020. On this basis, the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and main influencing factors of the coupling relationship between urbanization and ecological resilience were systematically explored using a coupling coordination model and panel Tobit regression model. The results can be summarized as follows: (1) from 2005 to 2020, the quality of urbanization in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration continued to grow, the level of ecological resilience grew slowly and fluctuated, and the development among municipalities tended to be balanced. (2) The overall coupling coordination degree of urbanization and ecological resilience showed a continuous increasing trend, and the coupling coordination type changed from basic coupling coordination to good coupling coordination. The number of cities with lagging urbanization quality decreased significantly; spatially, the gap in the coupling coordination degree between municipalities narrowed, and the cities with good coupling gradually clustered. (3) The results of the panel Tobit regression showed that the differences in the spatial evolution of coupling coordination mainly resulted from the interaction of drivers such as real utilized foreign capital, per capita GDP, carbon emission intensity, the proportion of science and technology expenditure to fiscal expenditure, the ratio of per capita disposable income of urban and rural residents, fixed asset investment in municipal utility construction, and the index of ecological land area ratio. In the future, the coupling coordination degree of urbanization and ecological resilience should be improved based on the type of coupling coordination according to local conditions, and the seven influencing factors should be carefully examined to accelerate the high-quality integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta.
Application of Biostimulant in Seeds and Soil on Three Chickpea Varieties: Impacts on Germination, Vegetative Development, and Bacterial Facilitation of Nitrogen and Phosphorus
Authors: Gómez Elisa , Alonso Alejandro , Sánchez Jorge , Muñoz Pedro , Marín José , Mostaza-Colado David , Mauri Pedro V.
Published: January 2024

Chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.) are a valuable legume crop due to their nutritional value. To maintain chickpea productivity and avoid the adverse effects of climate change on soil and plant processes, it is crucial to address demand. Achieving this necessitates implementing sustainable agricultural practices incorporating the use of biostimulants, adaptable crops for arid conditions, as well as pest and disease-resistant crops that are sustainable over time. Three varieties of chickpeas were analysed to determine the effect of two different biostimulant application methods on both germination and vegetative growth. Possible effects due to location were also examined by conducting tests at two different sites. Significant variations in biostimulant response were evident only during the germination period, but not during the vegetative development stage, where the observed statistical differences were influenced more by the location or variety of chickpeas employed. Furthermore, this study examined the effect of biostimulants on nutrient cycling within the soil–plant microbiota system. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria (NFB) are present in the soil of chickpea crops at an order of magnitude of 107 CFU/g DS. Additionally, an average concentration of 106 CFU/g DS of phosphorus-mobilising bacteria was observed. Applying biostimulants (BioE) to seeds resulted in a successful germination percentage (GP) for both Amelia (AM) and IMIDRA 10 (IM) varieties.
Study on Osseointegration Capability of β-Type Ti–Nb–Zr–Ta–Si Alloy for Orthopedic Implants
Authors: Sun Yu , Liu Qingping , Yu Zhenglei , Ren Luquan , Zhao Xin , Wang Jincheng
Published: January 2024

Osseointegration is the basic condition for orthopedic implants to maintain long-term stability. In order to achieve osseointegration, a low elastic modulus is the most important performance indicator. It is difficult for traditional titanium alloys to meet this requirement. A novel β-titanium alloy (Ti–35Nb–7Zr–5Ta)98Si2 was designed, which had excellent strength (a yield strength of 1296 MPa and a breaking strength 3263 MPa), an extremely low elastic modulus (37 GPa), and did not contain toxic elements. In previous in vitro studies, we confirmed the good biocompatibility of this alloy and similar bioactivity to Ti-6Al-4V, but no in vivo study was performed. In this study, Ti-6Al-4V and (Ti–35Nb–7Zr–5Ta)98Si2 were implanted into rabbit femurs. Imaging evaluation and histological morphology were performed, and the bonding strength and bone contact ratio of the two alloys were measured and compared. The results showed that both alloys remained in their original positions 3 months after implantation, and neither imaging nor histological observations found inflammatory reactions in the surrounding bone. The bone–implant contact ratio and bonding strength of (Ti–35Nb–7Zr–5Ta)98Si2 were significantly higher than those of Ti-6Al-4V. The results confirmed that (Ti–35Nb–7Zr–5Ta)98Si2 has a better osseointegration ability than Ti-6Al-4V and is a promising material for orthopedic implants.
The Use of Diatoms in the Synthesis of New 3D Micro-Nanostructured Composites (SiO2/CaCO3/Corg/NdVO4NPs and SiO2/CaO/Corg/NdVO4NPs) Exhibiting an Intense Anti-Stokes Photoluminescence
Authors: Brzozowska Weronika , Wojtczak Izabela , Sprynskyy Myroslav
Published: January 2024

New 3D micro-nanostructured composite materials have been synthesised. These materials comprise SiO2/CaCO3/Corg/NdVO4NPs and SiO2/CaO/Corg/NdVO4NPs, exhibiting strong upconversion luminescence. The synthesis was accomplished by metabolically doping diatom cells with neodymium and vanadium. Subsequently, the biomass of these doped diatoms was subjected to pyrolysis at 800 °C. The morphology, structure, and physicochemical properties of the doped diatom biomass as well as dried (SiO2/CaCO3/Corg/NdVO4NPs) and pyrolysed (SiO2/CaO/Corg/NdVO4NPs) samples were characterised using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis (TG), and fluorescence spectroscopy (FS). Studies have shown that the surface of diatom shells is covered with trigonal prismatic nanocrystallites (nanoparticles) of NdVO4 with dimensions of 30–40 nm, forming the crystallite clusters in the form of single-layer irregular flakes. The synthesised composites produced intense anti-Stokes fluorescent emission in the visible region under xenon lamp excitation in the near-infrared (λex = 800 nm) at room temperature in an ambient atmosphere. Such materials could be attractive for applications in solar spectrum conversion, optical sensing, biosensors, or photocatalysts.
Mapping Uncharted Lead-Free Halide Perovskites and Related Low-Dimensional Structures
Authors: Dávid Anna , Morát Julia , Chen Mengyun , Gao Feng , Fahlman Mats , Liu Xianjie
Published: January 2024

Research on perovskites has grown exponentially in the past decade due to the potential of methyl ammonium lead iodide in photovoltaics. Although these devices have achieved remarkable and competitive power conversion efficiency, concerns have been raised regarding the toxicity of lead and its impact on scaling up the technology. Eliminating lead while conserving the performance of photovoltaic devices is a great challenge. To achieve this goal, the research has been expanded to thousands of compounds with similar or loosely related crystal structures and compositions. Some materials are “re-discovered”, and some are yet unexplored, but predictions suggest that their potential applications may go beyond photovoltaics, for example, spintronics, photodetection, photocatalysis, and many other areas. This short review aims to present the classification, some current mapping strategies, and advances of lead-free halide double perovskites, their derivatives, lead-free perovskitoid, and low-dimensional related crystals.
Deposition of NiAl/Al3Ni2(CrB2) Coatings from Ni, Al and CrB2 Powders Using Mechanical Synthesis in Planetary Ball Mill
Authors: Szlezynger Maciej , Toboła Daniel , Morgiel Jerzy
Published: January 2024

Interest in composite thick coatings with an intermetallic matrix stimulates the development of new deposition techniques like the co-milling of pre-alloyed NiAl powder with platelet-shaped substrates. Obtained coatings were up to several micrometers thick as cold-welding of intermetallic particles was effective only at the start of this process, while later, chipping prevailed over added material. The present experiment covered the co-milling in the planetary ball mill of Ni and Al elemental powders (1:1 molar ratio) with AISI 304 steel platelets for 32 h at 300 rpm. Next, this process was repeated with an admixture of 15 wt.% of CrB2 powder. In both cases, their milling succeeded in producing up to a 200 μm coating after 4 h. The use of light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy (LM/SEM/TEM) helped to establish that the coatings had gradient microstructures with more refined crystallites of NiAl, Al3Ni2 and CrB2 closer to the surface. With the addition of a ceramic phase, the coatings presented higher hardness and lower friction during dry wear tests both at RT and at 500 °C.
A Novel Load Extrapolation Method for Multiple Non-Stationary Loads on the Drill Pipe of a Rotary Rig
Authors: Wang Haijin , Zhang Zonghai , Zhang Jiguang , Shen Yuying , Wang Jixin
Published: January 2024

The drill pipe of a rotary rig is subject to the dynamic influence of non-stationary loads, including rotation torque and applied force. In order to address the challenge of simultaneously extrapolating multiple non-stationary loads, a novel extrapolation framework is proposed. This framework utilizes rainflow counting to obtain mean and amplitude sequences of the loads. The extreme values of the amplitude sequence are fitted using the Generalized Pareto Distribution (GPD), while the median values are fitted using the Double Kernel Density Estimation (DKDE). By extrapolating the Inverse Cumulative Distribution Function (ICDF) based on the fitted distribution, a new amplitude sequence can be derived. The combination of this extrapolated amplitude sequence with the original mean sequence forms a new load spectrum. The results of applying the proposed extrapolation method to the drill pipe of a rotary rig demonstrate the ability of the method to yield conservative extrapolation results and accurately capture the variations in damage under the original working conditions.
The Impact of Light Conditions on Neural Affect Classification: A Deep Learning Approach
Authors: Zentner Sophie , Barradas Chacon Alberto , Wriessnegger Selina C.
Published: January 2024

Understanding and detecting human emotions is crucial for enhancing mental health, cognitive performance and human–computer interactions. This field in affective computing is relatively unexplored, and gaining knowledge about which external factors impact emotions could enhance communication between users and machines. Furthermore, it could also help us to manage affective disorders or understand affective physiological responses to human spatial and digital environments. The main objective of the current study was to investigate the influence of external stimulation, specifically the influence of different light conditions, on brain activity while observing affect-eliciting pictures and their classification. In this context, a multichannel electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded in 30 participants as they observed images from the Nencki Affective Picture System (NAPS) database in an art-gallery-style Virtual Reality (VR) environment. The elicited affect states were classified into three affect classes within the two-dimensional valence–arousal plane. Valence (positive/negative) and arousal (high/low) values were reported by participants on continuous scales. The experiment was conducted in two experimental conditions: a warm light condition and a cold light condition. Thus, three classification tasks arose with regard to the recorded brain data: classification of an affect state within a warm-light condition, classification of an affect state within a cold light condition, and warm light vs. cold light classification during observation of affect-eliciting images. For all classification tasks, Linear Discriminant Analysis, a Spatial Filter Model, a Convolutional Neural Network, the EEGNet, and the SincNet were compared. The EEGNet architecture performed best in all tasks. It could significantly classify three affect states with 43.12% accuracy under the influence of warm light. Under the influence of cold light, no model could achieve significant results. The classification between visual stimulus with warm light vs. cold light could be classified significantly with 76.65% accuracy from the EEGNet, well above any other machine learning or deep learning model. No significant differences could be detected between affect recognition in different light conditions, but the results point towards the advantage of gradient-based learning methods for data-driven experimental designs for the problem of affect decoding from EEG, providing modern tools for affective computing in digital spaces. Moreover, the ability to discern externally driven affective states through deep learning not only advances our understanding of the human mind but also opens avenues for developing innovative therapeutic interventions and improving human–computer interaction.
Sentiment Analysis Based on Heterogeneous Multi-Relation Signed Network
Authors: Zhao Qin , Yu Chenglei , Huang Jingyi , Lian Jie , An Dongdong
Published: January 2024

Existing sentiment prediction methods often only classify users’ emotions into a few categories and cannot predict the variation of emotions under different topics. Meanwhile, network embedding methods that consider structural information often assume that links represent positive relationships, ignoring the possibility of negative relationships. To address these challenges, we present an innovative approach in sentiment analysis, focusing on the construction of a denser heterogeneous signed information network from sparse heterogeneous data. We explore the extraction of latent relationships between similar node types, integrating emotional reversal and meta-path similarity for relationship prediction. Our approach uniquely handles user-entity and topic-entity relationships, offering a tailored methodology for diverse entity types within heterogeneous networks. We contribute to a deeper understanding of emotional expressions and interactions in social networks, enhancing sentiment analysis techniques. Experimental results on four publicly available datasets demonstrate the superiority of our proposed model over state-of-the-art approaches.
Comparison of the Effect of Landmark-Based Midline and Paramedian Approaches on Spinal Anesthesia-Related Complications in Adult Patients: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Kim Su Yeon , Na Hyo-Seok , Park Ji In , Lee Keum-O , Shin Hyun-Jung
Published: January 2024

Background and Objectives: Spinal anesthesia is widely used in various types of surgery. However, several complications can occur afterward. This study aimed to identify differences in the incidence of anesthesia-related complications according to the approach methods (midline versus paramedian) for landmark-based spinal anesthesia. Materials and Methods: We searched electronic databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, Scopus, and Web of Science, for eligible randomized controlled trials. The primary outcome was post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) incidence, and secondary outcomes were low back pain (LBP) incidence and success rate in the first trial of spinal anesthesia. We estimated the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) using a random-effects model. Results: In total, 2280 patients from 13 randomized controlled trials were included in the final analysis. The incidence rates of PDPH were 5.9% and 10.4% in the paramedian and midline approach groups, respectively. The pooled effect size revealed that the incidence of PDPH (OR: 0.43, 95% CI [0.22–0.83]; p = 0.01; I2 = 53%) and LBP (OR: 0.27, 95% CI [0.16–0.44]; p < 0.001; I2 = 16%) decreased, and the success rate in the first attempt was higher (OR: 2.30, 95% CI [1.36–3.87]; p = 0.002; I2 = 35%) with the paramedian than with the midline approach. Conclusions: Paramedian spinal anesthesia reduced PDPH and LBP and increased the success rate of the first attempt.
Cold Formability of Twin-Roll Cast, Rolled and Annealed Mg Strips
Authors: Ullmann Madlen , Kittner Kristina , Prahl Ulrich
Published: January 2024

This study investigates the cold formability of twin-roll cast and rolled magnesium strips, specifically focusing on AZ31 and ZAX210 alloys. The aim is to assess the suitability of these alloys for various forming processes. The mechanical properties and formability characteristics of the strips were thoroughly examined to provide insights into their potential applications in transportation industries such as automotive and aerospace. The AZ31 and ZAX210 alloys were subjected to twin-roll casting and rolling processes to produce thin strips. The resulting strips were then evaluated for their cold formability. The results indicate that both alloys exhibit favourable cold formability. The ZAX210 alloy, in particular, demonstrates medium strengths with an average tensile strength of approximately 240 MPa at room temperature. The 0.2% proof stress values range between 136 MPa and 159 MPa, depending on the sampling direction. The total elongation values vary from 28% in the transverse direction to 32% at a 45° angle, indicating excellent ductility. Comparing the two alloys, the AZ31 alloy shows higher strengths due to its higher aluminium content. However, it also exhibits a more pronounced directional dependence of mechanical properties due to the formation of a strong basal texture during hot rolling. The transverse direction experiences reduced total elongation compared to the rolling direction, achieving only about 50% of the total elongation. The average Erichsen Index recorded for AZ31 and ZAX210 strips were 4.9 mm and 7.1 mm, respectively. The ZAX210 strip displays superior formability, which can be attributed to the fine-grained microstructure and the texture softening resulting from the weakening of the basal texture intensity and the splitting of the basal pole towards the rolling direction. In conclusion, the investigated twin-roll cast, rolled and annealed AZ31 and ZAX210 magnesium strips exhibit promising cold formability characteristics. The findings of this study contribute to the understanding of their mechanical behaviour and can guide the selection and optimisation of these alloys for various forming applications.
The Impact of Different Intensities of Physical Activity on Serum Urate and Gout: A Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Yang Tangxun , Bi Shilin , Zhang Xing , Yin Mingyue , Feng Siyuan , Li Hansen
Published: January 2024

Physical activity is a potential protective factor against gout, but the role of exercise intensity in this context remains unclear. To overcome the limitations of observational studies in causal inference, this study employed a two-sample Mendelian randomization approach to explore the impact of different genetically proxied/predicted intensities of physical activity on serum urate concentration and the incidence of gout. Our data related to physical activity, serum urate, and gout were obtained from the UK Biobank, the Global Urate Genetics Consortium (GUGC), and the FinnGen dataset, respectively. Walking was included as representative of typical low-intensity physical activity in the analysis, and the other two types were moderate and vigorous physical activities. The estimation methods we used included the inverse-variance-weighted (IVW) method, MR-Egger regression, weighted-median method, simple-mode method, and weighted-mode method. Sensitivity analyses involved Rucker’s framework, Cochran’s Q test, funnel plots, MR-PRESSO outlier correction, and leave-one-out analysis. We found suggestive evidence from the inverse-variance-weighted method that moderate physical activity was a potential factor in reducing the incidence of gout (OR = 0.628, p = 0.034), and this association became more substantial in our subsequent sensitivity analysis (OR = 0.555, p = 0.006). However, we observed no distinctive effects of physical activity on serum urate concentration. In conclusion, our study supports some findings from observational studies and emphasizes the preventive role of moderate physical activity against gout. Given the limitations of the existing datasets, we call for future reexamination and expansion of our findings using new GWAS data.
Hardware Trojan Attacks on the Reconfigurable Interconnections of Field-Programmable Gate Array-Based Convolutional Neural Network Accelerators and a Physically Unclonable Function-Based Countermeasure Detection Technique
Authors: Hou Jia , Liu Zichu , Yang Zepeng , Yang Chen
Published: January 2024

Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have demonstrated significant superiority in modern artificial intelligence (AI) applications. To accelerate the inference process of CNNs, reconfigurable CNN accelerators that support diverse networks are widely employed for AI systems. Given the ubiquitous deployment of these AI systems, there is a growing concern regarding the security of CNN accelerators and the potential attacks they may face, including hardware Trojans. This paper proposes a hardware Trojan designed to attack a crucial component of FPGA-based CNN accelerators: the reconfigurable interconnection network. Specifically, the hardware Trojan alters the data paths during activation, resulting in incorrect connections in the arithmetic circuit and consequently causing erroneous convolutional computations. To address this issue, the paper introduces a novel detection technique based on physically unclonable functions (PUFs) to safeguard the reconfigurable interconnection network against hardware Trojan attacks. Experimental results demonstrate that by incorporating a mere 0.27% hardware overhead to the accelerator, the proposed hardware Trojan can degrade the inference accuracy of popular neural network architectures, including LeNet, AlexNet, and VGG, by a significant range of 8.93% to 86.20%. The implemented arbiter-PUF circuit on a Xilinx Zynq XC7Z100 platform successfully detects the presence and location of hardware Trojans in a reconfigurable interconnection network. This research highlights the vulnerability of reconfigurable CNN accelerators to hardware Trojan attacks and proposes a promising detection technique to mitigate potential security risks. The findings underscore the importance of addressing hardware security concerns in the design and deployment of AI systems utilizing FPGA-based CNN accelerators.
Compressive Behavior of Some Balls Manufactured by 3D Printing from Ceramic–Polymer Composite Materials
Authors: Hrițuc Adelina , Ermolai Vasile , Mihalache Andrei Marius , Andrușcă Liviu , Dodun Oana , Nagîț Gheorghe , Boca Marius Andrei , Slătineanu Laurențiu
Published: January 2024

It is known that ceramic–polymer composite materials can be used to manufacture spherical bodies in the category of balls. Since balls are frequently subjected to compression loads, the paper presents some research results on the compression behavior of balls made of ceramic composite materials with a polymer matrix. The mathematical model of the pressure variation inside the balls highlights the existence of maximum values in the areas of contact with other parts. Experimental research was carried out on balls with a diameter of 20 mm, manufactured by 3D printing from four ceramic–polymer composite materials with a polymer matrix: pottery clay, terracotta, concrete, and granite. The same ceramic–polymer composite material was used, but different dyes were added to it. A gravimetric analysis revealed similar behavior of the four materials upon controlled heating. Through the mathematical processing of the experimental results obtained by compression tests, empirical mathematical models of the power-type function type were determined. These models highlight the influence exerted by different factors on the force at which the initiation of cracks in the ball materials occurs. The decisive influence of the infill factor on the size of the force at which the cracking of the balls begins was found.
Comparative Evaluation of the Efficacy of Two Ectoparasiticides in Preventing the Acquisition of Borrelia burgdorferi by Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes ricinus: A Canine Ex Vivo Model
Authors: Tahir Djamel , Geolier Virginie , Dupuis Sophie , Lekouch Nouha , Ferquel Elisabeth , Choumet Valérie , Varloud Marie
Published: January 2024

In dogs, tick infestation can cause damage ranging from a simple skin irritation to severe diseases and/or paralysis leading to animal death. For example, Ixodes ricinus and I. scapularis are among the tick species incriminated the most in the transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi, the agent of human and canine Lyme borreliosis (LB). In this study, we aimed to compare the efficacy of two products designed for dogs—an oral systemic ectoparasiticide and a topical repellent ectoparasiticide—against the acquisition of B. burgdorferi by adult I. scapularis and I. ricinus using an ex vivo model. Thirty-two beagle dogs were included in a parallel-group-designed, randomized, single-center, negative-controlled efficacy study. The dogs were allocated to three groups based on gender and body weight: a fluralaner (F, Bravecto®) treatment group (n = 8), administered a single oral treatment on day 0 at the recommended dose; a dinotefuran–permethrin–pyriproxyfen (DPP, Vectra® 3D) treatment group (n = 8), topically treated on day 56 at the recommended dose; and an untreated control group (n = 16). Blood and hair were collected from each dog on days 58, 63, 70, 77, and 84. Hair was added to the silicone-based membrane separating two glass chambers forming the feeding unit (FU). Chamber 1 was filled with blood spiked with B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, strain B31 (105 cells/mL). Chamber 2, glued below chamber 1, was seeded with 20 adult I. scapularis or I. ricinus. The FUs (n = 240) were incubated at 37 °C with a humidity >90%. Tick survival, attachment, and feces presence were observed from 1 h up to 72 h after tick seeding. The uptake of B. burgdorferi was determined in ticks using nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR). The acaricidal efficacy of DPP-treated hair was 100% within 1 h of tick release on every study day for both I. ricinus and I. scapularis. The speed of kill associated with DPP was sufficiently fast to prevent tick attachment and engorgement, and, consequently, to prevent the acquisition of B. burgdorferi. In the F-treated group, the acaricidal efficacy observed at 12 h, throughout the study, was <20% and <28% for I. scapularis and I. ricinus, respectively. Furthermore, tick feces were observed in the FUs, and several female ticks (I. scapularis (n = 55) and I. ricinus (n = 94)) tested positive for B. burgdorferi. The results provide proof of concept for the use of an ex vivo model based on an artificial feeding system to compare two ectoparasiticides against the acquisition of B. burgdorferi by I. ricinus and I. scapularis. In addition, our results demonstrate the superiority of DPP compared to F in the speed of acaricidal activity against ticks, as well as in preventing the acquisition of B. burgdorferi.
Editorial for the Special Issue: Environment Microorganisms and Their Enzymes with Biotechnological Application
Authors: Seo Myung-Ji
Published: January 2024

The ubiquitous nature of microorganisms demonstrates their ability to survive and thrive in diverse ecological settings, and their presence in extreme environments that approach the known limits of adaptable living confers importance to their role in those ecosystems [...]
Metagenomic of Liver Tissue Identified at Least Two Genera of Totivirus-like Viruses in Molossus molossus Bats
Authors: Couto Roseane da Silva , Ramos Endrya do Socorro Foro , Abreu Wandercleyson Uchôa , Rodrigues Luis Reginaldo Ribeiro , Marinho Luis Fernando , Morais Vanessa dos Santos , Villanova Fabiola , Pandey Ramendra Pati , Deng Xutao , Delwart Eric , Costa Antonio Charlys da , Leal Elcio
Published: January 2024

The Totiviridae family of viruses has a unique genome consisting of double-stranded RNA with two open reading frames that encode the capsid protein (Cap) and the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRpol). Most virions in this family are isometric in shape, approximately 40 nm in diameter, and lack an envelope. There are five genera within this family, including Totivirus, Victorivirus, Giardiavirus, Leishmaniavirus, and Trichomonasvirus. While Totivirus and Victorivirus primarily infect fungi, Giardiavirus, Leishmaniavirus, and Trichomonasvirus infect diverse hosts, including protists, insects, and vertebrates. Recently, new totivirus-like species have been discovered in fish and plant hosts, and through metagenomic analysis, a novel totivirus-like virus (named Tianjin totivirus) has been isolated from bat guano. Interestingly, Tianjin totivirus causes cytopathic effects in insect cells but cannot grow in mammalian cells, suggesting that it infects insects consumed by insectivorous bats. In this study, we used next-generation sequencing and identified totivirus-like viruses in liver tissue from Molossus molossus bats in the Amazon region of Brazil. Comparative phylogenetic analysis based on the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase region revealed that the viruses identified in Molossus bats belong to two distinct phylogenetic clades, possibly comprising different genera within the Totiviridae family. Notably, the mean similarity between the Tianjin totivirus and the totiviruses identified in Molossus bats is less than 18%. These findings suggest that the diversity of totiviruses in bats is more extensive than previously recognized and highlight the potential for bats to serve as reservoirs for novel toti-like viruses.
A Novel Multi-Strain E3 Probiotic Formula Improved the Gastrointestinal Symptoms and Quality of Life in Chinese Psoriasis Patients
Authors: Siu Pui Ling Kella , Choy Chi Tung , Chan Helen Hoi Yin , Leung Ross Ka Kit , Chan Un Kei , Zhou Junwei , Wong Chi Ho , Lee Yuk Wai , Chan Ho Wang , Lo Claudia Jun Yi , Tsui Joseph Chi Ching , Loo Steven King Fan , Tsui Stephen Kwok Wing
Published: January 2024

Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disease affecting the skin and other systems. Gastrointestinal disease was found to be correlated with psoriasis in previous studies and it can significantly affect the quality of life of psoriasis patients. Despite the importance of the gut microbiome in gut and skin health having already been demonstrated in many research studies, the potential effect of probiotics on GI comorbidities in psoriasis patients is unclear. To investigate the effects of probiotics on functional GI comorbidities including irritable bowel syndrome, functional constipation, and functional diarrhea in psoriasis patients, we conducted a targeted 16S rRNA sequencing and comprehensive bioinformatic analysis among southern Chinese patients to compare the gut microbiome profiles of 45 psoriasis patients over an 8-week course of novel oral probiotics. All the participants were stratified into responders and non-responders according to their improvement in GI comorbidities, which were based on their Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS) scores after intervention. The Dermatological Life Quality Index (DLQI) score revealed a significant improvement in quality of life within the responder group (DLQI: mean 10.4 at week 0 vs. mean 15.9 at week 8, p = 0.0366). The proportion of psoriasis patients without GI comorbidity manifestation at week 8 was significantly higher than that at week 0 (week 0: Normal 53.33%, Constipation/Diarrhea 46.67%; week 8: Normal 75.56%, Constipation/Diarrhea 24.44%, p = 0.0467). In addition, a significant difference in the gut microbiome composition between the responders and non-responders was observed according to alpha and beta diversities. Differential abundance analysis revealed that the psoriasis patients exhibited (1) an elevated relative abundance of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Parabacteroides distasonis, and Ruminococcus bromii and (2) a reduced relative abundance of Oscillibacter, Bacteroides vulgatus, Escherichia sp., and Biophila wadsworthia after the 8-week intervention. The responders also exhibited a higher relative abundance of Fusicatenibacter saccharivorans when compared to the non-responders. In summary, our study discovers the potential clinical improvement effects of the novel probiotic formula in improving GI comorbidities and quality of life in psoriasis patients. We also revealed the different gut microbiome composition as well as the gut microbial signatures in the patients who responded to probiotics. These findings could provide insight into the use of probiotics in the management of psoriasis symptoms.
Bartonella- and Borrelia-Related Disease Presenting as a Neurological Condition Revealing the Need for Better Diagnostics
Authors: Ericson Marna E. , Mozayeni B. Robert , Radovsky Laurie , Bemis Lynne T.
Published: January 2024

The diagnostic tests available to identify vector-borne pathogens have major limitations. Clinicians must consider an assortment of often diverse symptoms to decide what pathogen or pathogens to suspect and test for. Even then, there are limitations to the currently available indirect detection methods, such as serology, or direct detection methods such as molecular tests with or without culture enrichment. Bartonella spp., which are considered stealth pathogens, are particularly difficult to detect and diagnose. We present a case report of a patient who experienced a spider bite followed by myalgia, lymphadenopathy, and trouble sleeping. She did not test positive for Bartonella spp. through clinically available testing. Her symptoms progressed and she was told she needed a double hip replacement. Prior to the surgery, her blood was submitted for novel molecular testing, where Bartonella spp. was confirmed, and a spirochete was also detected. Additional testing using novel methods over a period of five years found Bartonella henselae and Borrelia burgdorferi in her blood. This patient’s case is an example of why new diagnostic methods for vector-borne pathogens are urgently needed and why new knowledge of the variable manifestations of Bartonellosis need to be provided to the medical community to inform and heighten their index of suspicion.
Atomistic Computer Simulations of Uranyl Adsorption on Hydrated Illite and Smectite Surfaces
Authors: Krot Anna D. , Vlasova Irina E. , Tararushkin Evgeny V. , Kalinichev Andrey G.
Published: January 2024

A quantitative understanding of the molecular-scale mechanisms of radionuclide sorption on different clay minerals is crucial for the development and safe implementation of geological nuclear waste disposal technologies. We apply classical molecular dynamics (MD) computer simulations to study the adsorption of uranyl on the external basal surfaces of two typical clay models. In the illite model, negative charge is primarily localized in the tetrahedral sheets, while in the lower-charge smectite model, the isomorphic substitutions are introduced in the octahedral sheet. The comparison of atomic density distributions at the clay surfaces and adsorption-free energies profiles as a function of distance from these surfaces demonstrates that overall U behavior at the basal clay surface is quite similar for illite and smectite. Uranyl is sorbed as a mixture of outer-sphere aqua complexes [UO2(H2O)5]2+ and hydrolyzed aqua complexes [UO2(H2O)4–5OH]+ on both surfaces. The structural and compositional differences between the models do not greatly affect the uranyl’s nearest coordination environment and are mainly reflected in the specific localization and orientation of the uranyl ions at both surfaces and in the magnitude of the adsorption-free energies. The observed quantitative characteristics of uranyl interactions with illite and smectite surfaces will help to better understand U behavior during the sorption process on clay minerals for the entire range of mixed-layer illite–smectite structures. A comparison of two versions of the ClayFF force field in the simulations made it possible to more accurately and quantitatively evaluate some subtle features of the uranyl–clay interactions and to obtain a more precise composition of uranyl complex with the modified ClayFF force field (ClayFF-MOH).
Assessment of Nuclear Gem Quantity for Evaluating the Efficacy of Antisense Oligonucleotides in Spinal Muscular Atrophy Cells
Authors: Al-Hilal Haya , Maretina Marianna , Egorova Anna , Glotov Andrey , Kiselev Anton
Published: January 2024

Spinal muscular atrophy is a neuromuscular disorder caused by mutations in both copies of the survival motor neuron gene 1 (SMN1), which lead to reduction in the production of the SMN protein. Currently, there are several therapies that have been approved for SMA, with many more undergoing active research. While various biomarkers have been proposed for assessing the effectiveness of SMA treatment, a universally accepted one still has not been identified. This study aimed to describe a fast and reliable method using the number of gems in cell nuclei as a potential tool for assessment of splicing correction of oligonucleotide efficacy in SMA cells. To gain insight into whether the number of gems in cell nuclei varies based on their SMN genotype and whether the increase in gem number is associated with therapeutic response, we utilized fibroblast cell cultures obtained from a patient with SMA type II and from a healthy individual. We discovered a remarkable difference in the number of gems found in the nuclei of these cells, specifically when counting gems per 100 nuclei. The SMA fibroblasts treated with antisense oligonucleotide showed beneficial effects in correcting the abnormal splicing of SMN2 exon 7. It was observed that there was a significant increase in the number of gems in the treated cells compared to the intact SMA cells. The results obtained significantly correlate with an increase of full-length SMN transcript sharing. Based on our findings, we propose using the quantity of gems as a reliable biomarker for SMA drug development.
Effect of Zwitterionic Additives on Solvation and Transport of Sodium and Potassium Cations in (Ethylene Oxide)10: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study
Authors: Nguyen Manh Tien , Duan Yuhua , Shao Qing
Published: January 2024

Sodium- (Na+) and potassium- (K+) ion batteries are cost-effective alternatives to lithium-ion (Li+) batteries due to the abundant sodium and potassium resources. Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are essential for safer and more efficient Na+ and K+ batteries because they often exhibit low ionic conductivity at room temperature. While zwitterionic (ZW) materials enhance Li+ battery conductivity, their potential for Na+ and K+ transport in batteries remains unexplored. In this study, we investigated the effect of three ZW molecules (ChoPO4, i.e., 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine, ImSO3, i.e., sulfobetaine ethylimidazole, and ImCO2, i.e., carboxybetaine ethylimidazole) on the dissociation of Na+ and K+ coordination with ethylene oxide (EO) chains in EO-based electrolytes through molecular dynamics simulations. Our results showed that ChoPO4 possessed the highest cation–EO10 dissociation ability, while ImSO3 exhibited the lowest. Such dissociation ability correlated with the cation–ZW molecule coordination strength: ChoPO4 and ImSO3 showed the strongest and the weakest coordination with cations. However, the cation–ZW molecule coordination could slow the cationic diffusion. The competition of these effects resulted in accelerating or decelerating cationic diffusion. Our simulated results showed that ImCO2 enhanced Na+ diffusion by 20%, while ChoPO4 and ImSO3 led to a 10% reduction. For K+, ChoPO4 reduced its diffusion by 40%, while ImCO2 and ImSO3 caused a similar decrease of 15%. These findings suggest that the ZW structure and the cationic size play an important role in the ionic dissociation effect of ZW materials.
Production of Graphene Membranes from Rice Husk Biomass Waste for Improved Desalination
Authors: Seitzhanova Makpal , Azat Seitkhan , Yeleuov Mukhtar , Taurbekov Azamat , Mansurov Zulkhair , Doszhanov Erlan , Berndtsson Ronny
Published: January 2024

Inexpensive and efficient desalination is becoming increasingly important due to dwindling freshwater resources in view of climate change and population increase. Improving desalination techniques of brackish water using graphene-based materials has the possibility to revolutionize freshwater production and treatment. At the same time, graphene matter can be cheaply mass-produced from biowaste materials. In view of this, graphene material was obtained from a four-step production approach starting from rice husk (RH), including pre-carbonation, desilication, chemical activation, and exfoliation. The results showed that the produced samples contained a mixture of graphene layers and amorphous carbon. The activation ratio of 1:5 for carbonized RH and potassium hydroxide (KOH), respectively, provided higher graphene content than the 1:4 ratio of the same components, while the number of active layers remained unaffected. Further treatment with H2O2 did not affect the graphene content and exfoliation of the amorphous carbon. Preparation of the graphene material by the NIPS technique and vacuum filtration displayed different physicochemical characteristics of the obtained membranes. However, the membranes’ main desalination function might be related more to adsorption rather than size exclusion. In any case, the desalination properties of the different graphene material types were tested on 35 g/L saltwater samples containing NaCl, KCl, MgCl2, CaSO4, and MgSO4. The produced graphene materials efficiently reduced the salt content by up to 95%. Especially for the major constituent NaCl, the removal efficiency was high.
Identification and Characterization of Neuroprotective Properties of Thaumatin-like Protein 1a from Annurca Apple Flesh Polyphenol Extract
Authors: D’Errico Antonio , Nasso Rosarita , Di Maro Antimo , Landi Nicola , Chambery Angela , Russo Rosita , D’Angelo Stefania , Masullo Mariorosario , Arcone Rosaria
Published: January 2024

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) are multifactorial neurodegenerative disorders that are mostly treated with drugs inhibiting key enzymes of cholinergic and aminergic neurotransmission, such as acetyl and butyryl cholinesterase (AChE, BuChE) or monoamine oxidases (MAO)-A/B, and of Aβ 1–40 aggregation. Diet plant components with multitarget functions are promising compounds in the prevention of AD and PD. Our aim was to identify neuroprotective compounds from Annurca apple polyphenol extract (AFPE). Methods: AFPE was fractionated by gel filtration, and the eluted peaks were subjected to chemical analyses (i.e., RP-HPLC and mass spectrometry), determination of inhibitory enzyme activity and cell effects by MTT, and morphology assays. Results: In AFPE, we identified thaumatin-like protein 1a, belonging to the pathogenesis-related protein (PR) family. This protein showed the best inhibitory activity on AChE, MAO-A (IC50 = 5.53 µM and 1.71 µM, respectively), and Aβ1–40 fibril aggregation (IC50 = 9.16 µM), compared to AFPE and other polyphenol-containing fractions. Among the latter, Peak 4 reverted Aβ fibril formation (IC50 = 104.87 µM). Moreover, thaumatin-like protein 1a protected AGS and MKN-28 cells from serum-deprivation-induced stress conditions. Conclusions: We showed that AFPE exerted neuroprotective functions not only through its polyphenols but also through thaumatin-like protein 1a, which acted like a multitarget molecule.
The Role of Intestinal Microbiota and Diet as Modulating Factors in the Course of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases
Authors: Czarnik Witold , Fularski Piotr , Gajewska Agata , Jakubowska Paulina , Uszok Zofia , Młynarska Ewelina , Rysz Jacek , Franczyk Beata
Published: January 2024

Many researchers propose manipulating microbiota to prevent and treat related diseases. The brain–gut axis is an object that remains the target of modern research, and it is not without reason that many researchers enrich it with microbiota and diet in its name. Numerous connections and mutual correlations have become the basis for seeking answers to many questions related to pathology as well as human physiology. Disorders of this homeostasis as well as dysbiosis itself accompany neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Heavily dependent on external factors, modulation of the gut microbiome represents an opportunity to advance the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Probiotic interventions, synbiotic interventions, or fecal transplantation can undoubtedly support the biotherapeutic process. A special role is played by diet, which provides metabolites that directly affect the body and the microbiota. A holistic view of the human organism is therefore essential.
An Anti-Noise-Designed Residual Phase Unwrapping Neural Network for Digital Speckle Pattern Interferometry
Authors: Wang Biao , Cao Xiaoling , Lan Meiling , Wu Chang , Wang Yonghong
Published: January 2024

DSPI (Digital Speckle Pattern Interferometry) is a non-destructive optical measurement technique that obtains phase information of an object through phase unwrapping. Traditional phase unwrapping algorithms depend on the quality of the images, which demands preprocessing such as filtering and denoising. Moreover, the unwrapping time is highly influenced by the size of the images. In this study, we proposed a new deep learning-based phase unwrapping algorithm combining the residual network and U-Net network. Additionally, we incorporated an improved SSIM function as the loss function based on camera characteristics. The experimental results demonstrated that the proposed method achieved higher quality in highly noisy phase unwrapping maps compared to traditional algorithms, with SSIM values consistently above 0.98. In addition, we applied image stitching to the network to process maps of various sizes and the unwrapping time remained around 1 s even for larger images. In conclusion, our proposed network is able to achieve efficient and accurate phase unwrapping.