bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metabolome and Transcriptome Profiling Reveals the Function of MdSYP121 in the Apple Response to Botryosphaeria dothidea
Authors: Zhang Jiahu , Wang Sen , Wang Haibo , He Ping , Chang Yuansheng , Zheng Wenyan , Tang Xiao , Li Linguang , Wang Chen , He Xiaowen
Published: November 2023

The vesicular transport system is important for substance transport in plants. In recent years, the regulatory relationship between the vesicular transport system and plant disease resistance has received widespread attention; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. MdSYP121 is a key protein in the vesicular transport system. The overexpression of MdSYP121 decreased the B. dothidea resistance of apple, while silencing MdSYP121 resulted in the opposite phenotype. A metabolome and transcriptome dataset analysis showed that MdSYP121 regulated apple disease resistance by significantly affecting sugar metabolism. HPLC results showed that the levels of many soluble sugars were significantly higher in the MdSYP121-OE calli. Furthermore, the expression levels of genes related to sugar transport were significantly higher in the MdSYP121-OE calli after B. dothidea inoculation. In addition, the relationships between the MdSYP121 expression level, the soluble sugar content, and apple resistance to B. dothidea were verified in an F1 population derived from a cross between ‘Golden Delicious’ and ‘Fuji Nagafu No. 2’. In conclusion, these results suggested that MdSYP121 negatively regulated apple resistance to B. dothidea by influencing the soluble sugar content. These technologies and methods allow us to investigate the molecular mechanism of the vesicular transport system regulating apple resistance to B. dothidea.
Compensatory Processes in Striatal Neurons Expressing the Tyrosine Hydroxylase Gene in Transgenic Mice in a Model of Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Troshev Dmitry , Bannikova Alyona , Blokhin Victor , Pavlova Ekaterina , Kolacheva Anna , Ugrumov Michael
Published: November 2023

The mammalian striatum is known to contain non-dopaminergic neurons that express dopamine (DA)-synthesizing enzymes and produce DA, responsible for the regulation of motor function. This study assessed the expression of DA-synthesizing enzymes in striatal neurons and their role in DA synthesis in transgenic mice expressing the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene under the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene promoter in a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) model of Parkinson’s disease (PD). We showed that, in Parkinsonian animals, the number of neurons expressing the TH gene increased by 1.9 times compared with the control (0.9% NaCl), which indicates a compensatory response to the DAergic denervation of the striatum. This assumption is supported by a 2.5-fold increase in the expression of genes for TH and transcription factor Nurr1 and a 1.45-fold increase in the expression of the large amino acid transporter 1 gene. It is noteworthy that, in Parkinsonian mice, in contrast to the controls, DA-synthesizing enzymes were found not only in nerve fibers but also in neuronal cell bodies. Indeed, TH or TH and aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) were detected in GFP-positive neurons, and AADC was detected in GFP-negative neurons. These neurons were shown to synthesize DA, and this synthesis is compensatorily increased in Parkinsonian mice. The above data open the prospect of improving the treatment of PD by maintaining DA homeostasis in the striatum.
Non–Coding RNA Performs Its Biological Function by Interacting with Macromolecules
Authors: Li Yao
Published: November 2023

One of the most significant discoveries resulting from the sequencing of the human genome is the realization that a large portion (over 85%) of the genome is transcribed into RNA, yet less than 2% of it encodes protein-coding genes [...]
Essential Role of Granulosa Cell Glucose and Lipid Metabolism on Oocytes and the Potential Metabolic Imbalance in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Authors: Zhang Chen-Hua , Liu Xiang-Yi , Wang Jing
Published: November 2023

Granulosa cells are crucial for the establishment and maintenance of bidirectional communication among oocytes. Various intercellular material exchange modes, including paracrine and gap junction, are used between them to achieve the efficient delivery of granulosa cell structural components, energy substrates, and signaling molecules to oocytes. Glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism are two basic energy metabolism pathways in granulosa cells; these are involved in the normal development of oocytes. Pyruvate, produced by granulosa cell glycolysis, is an important energy substrate for oocyte development. Granulosa cells regulate changes in intrafollicular hormone levels through the processing of steroid hormones to control the development process of oocytes. This article reviews the material exchange between oocytes and granulosa cells and expounds the significance of granulosa cells in the development of oocytes through both glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism. In addition, we discuss the effects of glucose and lipid metabolism on oocytes under pathological conditions and explore its relationship to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). A series of changes were found in the endogenous molecules and ncRNAs that are related to glucose and lipid metabolism in granulosa cells under PCOS conditions. These findings provide a new therapeutic target for patients with PCOS; additionally, there is potential for improving the fertility of patients with PCOS and the clinical outcomes of assisted reproduction.
Non-Invasive Assessment of Skin Surface Proteins of Psoriasis Vulgaris Patients in Response to Biological Therapy
Authors: Orro Kadri , Salk Kristiina , Merkulova Anna , Abram Kristi , Karelson Maire , Traks Tanel , Neuman Toomas , Spee Pieter , Kingo Külli
Published: November 2023

Measurements of skin surface biomarkers have enormous value for the detailed assessment of skin conditions, both for clinical application and in skin care. The main goals of the current study were to assess whether expression patterns of skin surface hBD-1, hBD-2, IL-1α, CXCL-1, and CXCL-8, examples of proteins known to be involved in psoriasis pathology, are associated with disease severity and whether expression patterns of these proteins on the skin surface can be used to measure pharmacodynamic effects of biological therapy. In this observational study using transdermal analysis patch (TAP), levels of skin surface IL-1α, hBD-1, hBD-2, CXCL-1/2, and CXCL-8 of psoriasis vulgaris (PV) patients over biological therapy were assessed. The Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) and local score for erythema, induration, and desquamation were determined from the exact same skin area as FibroTx TAP measurements. Thirty-seven adult PV patients were included, of which twenty-three were subjected to anti-TNF-α, seven to anti-IL-17A, and seven to anti-IL12/IL-23 therapy. Significantly higher levels of hBD-1, hBD-2, CXCL-1/2, and CXCL-8 were detected on lesional skin compared to the non-lesional skin of the PV patients. In contrast, lower levels of IL-1α were found in lesional skin compared to non-lesional skin. In addition, we observed that the biomarker expression levels correlate with disease severity. Further, we confirmed that changes in the expression levels of skin surface biomarkers during biological therapy correlate with treatment response. Biomarker expression patterns in response to treatment differed somewhat between treatment subtypes. We observed that, in the case of anti-TNF-α therapy, an increase after a steady decrease in the expression levels of CXCL-1/2 and CXCL-8 occurred before the change in clinical scores. Moreover, response kinetics of skin surface proteins differs between the applied therapies—hBD2 expression responds quickly to anti-IL-17A therapy, CXCL-1/2 to anti-IL-12/23, and levels of CXCL-8 are rapidly down-regulated by IL-17A and IL-12/23 therapy. Our findings confirm that the skin surface hBD-2, IL-1α, CXCL-1/2, and CXCL-8 are markers for the psoriasis severity. Further, data obtained during this study give the basis for the conclusion that skin surface proteins CXCL-1/2 and CXCL-8 may have value as therapeutic biomarkers, thus confirming that measuring the ‘molecular root’ of inflammation appears to have value in scoring disease severity on its own.
Adenosinergic System and BDNF Signaling Changes as a Cross-Sectional Feature of RTT: Characterization of Mecp2 Heterozygous Mouse Females
Authors: Miranda-Lourenço Catarina , Rosa Jéssica , Rei Nádia , Belo Rita F. , Lopes Ana Luísa , Silva Diogo , Vieira Cátia , Magalhães-Cardoso Teresa , Viais Ricardo , Correia-de-Sá Paulo , Sebastião Ana M. , Diógenes Maria J.
Published: November 2023

Rett Syndrome is an X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder (RTT; OMIM#312750) associated to MECP2 mutations. MeCP2 dysfunction is seen as one cause for the deficiencies found in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling, since BDNF is one of the genes under MeCP2 jurisdiction. BDNF signaling is also dependent on the proper function of the adenosinergic system. Indeed, both BDNF signaling and the adenosinergic system are altered in Mecp2-null mice (Mecp2−/y), a representative model of severe manifestation of RTT. Considering that symptoms severity largely differs among RTT patients, we set out to investigate the BDNF and ADO signaling modifications in Mecp2 heterozygous female mice (Mecp2+/−) presenting a less severe phenotype. Symptomatic Mecp2+/− mice have lower BDNF levels in the cortex and hippocampus. This is accompanied by a loss of BDNF-induced facilitation of hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP), which could be restored upon selective activation of adenosine A2A receptors (A2AR). While no differences were observed in the amount of adenosine in the cortex and hippocampus of Mecp2+/− mice compared with healthy littermates, the density of the A1R and A2AR subtype receptors was, respectively, upregulated and downregulated in the hippocampus. Data suggest that significant changes in BDNF and adenosine signaling pathways are present in an RTT model with a milder disease phenotype: Mecp2+/− female animals. These features strengthen the theory that boosting adenosinergic activity may be a valid therapeutic strategy for RTT patients, regardless of their genetic penetrance.
Albumin of People with Diabetes Mellitus Is More Reduced at Low HbA1c
Authors: Paar Margret , Cvirn Gerhard , Hoerl Gerd , Reibnegger Gilbert , Sourij Harald , Sourij Caren , Kojzar Harald , Oettl Karl
Published: November 2023

Oxidative stress is involved in the development, progression, and complications of diabetes mellitus (DM). Oxidative modification of human serum albumin’s cysteine-34 is a marker for oxidative stress-related pathological conditions. We aimed to evaluate the redox state of albumin in patients with DM to investigate possible correlations with age, diabetes duration, and disease control status. Plasma aliquots were collected from 52 participants (26 type 1 and 26 type 2 DM). Patients were divided into two groups according to their glycated hemoglobin levels less than or equal to and greater than 58 mmol/L. Albumin redox state was assessed with high-performance liquid chromatography by fractionating it into human mercaptalbumin (HMA) and human nonmercaptalbumin 1 and 2 (HNA1 and HNA2). Albumin redox fractions were differently related to the age of study participants. In age-matched T1DM and T2DM groups, the albumin redox state was essentially the same. Irreversibly oxidized HNA2 was positively correlated with diabetes duration, especially in the T1DM group. HNA was increased in people with an increased HbA1c (>58 mmol/mol). Our results support the hypothesis that oxidative stress plays a crucial role in DM pathogenesis and emphasize the importance of diabetes control on systemic oxidative burden.
Maternal Pre-Existing Diabetes: A Non-Inherited Risk Factor for Congenital Cardiopathies
Authors: Ibrahim Stéphanie , Gaborit Bénédicte , Lenoir Marien , Collod-Beroud Gwenaelle , Stefanovic Sonia
Published: November 2023

Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are the most common form of birth defects in humans. They occur in 9 out of 1000 live births and are defined as structural abnormalities of the heart. Understanding CHDs is difficult due to the heterogeneity of the disease and its multifactorial etiology. Advances in genomic sequencing have made it possible to identify the genetic factors involved in CHDs. However, genetic origins have only been found in a minority of CHD cases, suggesting the contribution of non-inherited (environmental) risk factors to the etiology of CHDs. Maternal pregestational diabetes is associated with a three- to five-fold increased risk of congenital cardiopathies, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are incompletely understood. According to current hypotheses, hyperglycemia is the main teratogenic agent in diabetic pregnancies. It is thought to induce cell damage, directly through genetic and epigenetic dysregulations and/or indirectly through production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The purpose of this review is to summarize key findings on the molecular mechanisms altered in cardiac development during exposure to hyperglycemic conditions in utero. It also presents the various in vivo and in vitro techniques used to experimentally model pregestational diabetes. Finally, new approaches are suggested to broaden our understanding of the subject and develop new prevention strategies.
Potential Implications of miRNAs in the Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Therapeutics of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Wang Long , Shui Xindong , Diao Yuelin , Chen Duoting , Zhou Ying , Lee Tae Ho
Published: November 2023

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a complex multifactorial disorder that poses a substantial burden on patients, caregivers, and society. Considering the increased aging population and life expectancy, the incidence of AD will continue to rise in the following decades. However, the molecular pathogenesis of AD remains controversial, superior blood-based biomarker candidates for early diagnosis are still lacking, and effective therapeutics to halt or slow disease progression are urgently needed. As powerful genetic regulators, microRNAs (miRNAs) are receiving increasing attention due to their implications in the initiation, development, and theranostics of various diseases, including AD. In this review, we summarize miRNAs that directly target microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT), amyloid precursor protein (APP), and β-site APP-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) transcripts and regulate the alternative splicing of tau and APP. We also discuss related kinases, such as glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β, cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5), and death-associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1), as well as apolipoprotein E, that are directly targeted by miRNAs to control tau phosphorylation and amyloidogenic APP processing leading to Aβ pathologies. Moreover, there is evidence of miRNA-mediated modulation of inflammation. Furthermore, circulating miRNAs in the serum or plasma of AD patients as noninvasive biomarkers with diagnostic potential are reviewed. In addition, miRNA-based therapeutics optimized with nanocarriers or exosomes as potential options for AD treatment are discussed.
Endocrinopathies in Hemoglobinopathies: What Is the Role of Iron?
Authors: Evangelidis Paschalis , Venou Theodora-Maria , Fani Barmpageorgopoulou , Vlachaki Efthymia , Gavriilaki Eleni
Published: November 2023

Hemoglobinopathies, including β-thalassemia and sickle cell disease (SCD), are common genetic blood disorders. Endocrine disorders are frequent manifestations of organ damage observed mainly in patients with β-thalassemia and rarely in SCD. Iron overload, oxidative stress-induced cellular damage, chronic anemia, and HCV infection contribute to the development of endocrinopathies in β-thalassemia. The above factors, combined with vaso-occlusive events and microcirculation defects, are crucial for endocrine dysfunction in SCD patients. These endocrinopathies include diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, parathyroid dysfunction, gonadal and growth failure, osteoporosis, and adrenal insufficiency, affecting the quality of life of these patients. Thus, we aim to provide current knowledge and data about the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of endocrine disorders in β-thalassemia and SCD. We conducted a comprehensive review of the literature and examined the available data, mostly using the PubMed and Medline search engines for original articles. In the era of precision medicine, more studies investigating the potential role of genetic modifiers in the development of endocrinopathies in hemoglobinopathies are essential.
Dynamic Dimerization of Chemokine Receptors and Potential Inhibitory Role of Their Truncated Isoforms Revealed through Combinatorial Prediction
Authors: Li Mengke , Qing Rui , Tao Fei , Xu Ping , Zhang Shuguang
Published: November 2023

Chemokine receptors play crucial roles in fundamental biological processes. Their malfunction may result in many diseases, including cancer, autoimmune diseases, and HIV. The oligomerization of chemokine receptors holds significant functional implications that directly affect their signaling patterns and pharmacological responses. However, the oligomerization patterns of many chemokine receptors remain poorly understood. Furthermore, several chemokine receptors have highly truncated isoforms whose functional role is not yet clear. Here, we computationally show homo- and heterodimerization patterns of four human chemokine receptors, namely CXCR2, CXCR7, CCR2, and CCR7, along with their interaction patterns with their respective truncated isoforms. By combining the neural network-based AlphaFold2 and physics-based protein–protein docking tool ClusPro, we predicted 15 groups of complex structures and assessed the binding affinities in the context of atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. Our results are in agreement with previous experimental observations and support the dynamic and diverse nature of chemokine receptor dimerization, suggesting possible patterns of higher-order oligomerization. Additionally, we uncover the strong potential of truncated isoforms to block homo- and heterodimerization of chemokine receptors, also in a dynamic manner. Our study provides insights into the dimerization patterns of chemokine receptors and the functional significance of their truncated isoforms.
Fluid-Based Protein Biomarkers in Traumatic Brain Injury: The View from the Bedside
Authors: Agoston Denes V. , Helmy Adel
Published: November 2023

There has been an explosion of research into biofluid (blood, cerebrospinal fluid, CSF)-based protein biomarkers in traumatic brain injury (TBI) over the past decade. The availability of very large datasets, such as CENTRE-TBI and TRACK-TBI, allows for correlation of blood- and CSF-based molecular (protein), radiological (structural) and clinical (physiological) marker data to adverse clinical outcomes. The quality of a given biomarker has often been framed in relation to the predictive power on the outcome quantified from the area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve. However, this does not in itself provide clinical utility but reflects a statistical association in any given population between one or more variables and clinical outcome. It is not currently established how to incorporate and integrate biofluid-based biomarker data into patient management because there is no standardized role for such data in clinical decision making. We review the current status of biomarker research and discuss how we can integrate existing markers into current clinical practice and what additional biomarkers do we need to improve diagnoses and to guide therapy and to assess treatment efficacy. Furthermore, we argue for employing machine learning (ML) capabilities to integrate the protein biomarker data with other established, routinely used clinical diagnostic tools, to provide the clinician with actionable information to guide medical intervention.
Study on the Alleviating Effect and Potential Mechanism of Ethanolic Extract of Limonium aureum (L.) Hill. on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammatory Responses in Macrophages
Authors: Yang Zhen , Man Jingyuan , Liu Yu , Zhang Hongjuan , Wu Di , Shao Dan , Hao Baocheng , Wang Shengyi
Published: November 2023

Inflammation is the host response of immune cells during infection and traumatic tissue injury. An uncontrolled inflammatory response leads to inflammatory cascade, which in turn triggers a variety of diseases threatening human and animal health. The use of existing inflammatory therapeutic drugs is constrained by their high cost and susceptibility to systemic side effects, and therefore new therapeutic candidates for inflammatory diseases need to be urgently developed. Natural products are characterized by wide sources and rich pharmacological activities, which are valuable resources for the development of new drugs. This study aimed to uncover the alleviating effect and potential mechanism of natural product Limonium aureum (LAH) on LPS-induced inflammatory responses in macrophages. The experimental results showed that the optimized conditions for LAH ultrasound-assisted extraction via response surface methodology were an ethanol concentration of 72%, a material-to-solvent ratio of 1:37 g/mL, an extraction temperature of 73 °C, and an extraction power of 70 W, and the average extraction rate of LAH total flavonoids was 0.3776%. Then, data of 1666 components in LAH ethanol extracts were obtained through quasi-targeted metabolomics analysis. The ELISA showed that LAH significantly inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines while promoting the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Finally, combined with the results of network pharmacology analysis and protein expression validation of hub genes, it was speculated that LAH may alleviate LPS-induced inflammatory responses of macrophages through the AKT1/RELA/PTGS2 signaling pathway and the MAPK3/JUN signaling pathway. This study preliminarily revealed the anti-inflammatory activity of LAH and the molecular mechanism of its anti-inflammatory action, and provided a theoretical basis for the development of LAH as a new natural anti-inflammatory drug.
Fluoroscopy Time as a New Predictor of Short-Term Outcomes after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement
Authors: Cafaro Alessandro , Spione Francesco , Burattini Osvaldo , De Feo Daniele , Xhelo Alessandro , Palmitessa Chiara , D’Alessandro Maurizio , Amendola Vincenzo Pio , Rimmaudo Flavio , Guaricci Andrea Igoren , Bortone Alessandro Santo , Pestrichella Vincenzo , Contegiacomo Gaetano , Tesorio Tullio , Colonna Giuseppe , Iacovelli Fortunato
Published: November 2023

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an almost totally cine-fluoroscopic guided procedure. The amount of radiation used during the procedure is strictly related to the fluoroscopy time (FT), that has already been demonstrated to be associated with outcomes and complexity of coronary procedures. The aim of our study is to demonstrate the relationship between FT and the short-term outcomes after TAVR defined by to the Valve Academic Research Consortium (VARC)-2 and -3 consensus documents. Methods: After splitting 1797 consecutive patients into tertiles of FT, the composite endpoint early safety (ES) was adjudicated according to VARC-2 and VARC-3 definitions, whereas the composite endpoints device success (DS) and technical success (TS) according to VARC-3 criteria. Results: The absence of all these outcomes (VARC-2 ES amd VARC-3 TS, DS, and ES) was significantly associated with longer FT: this association was independent from both intraprocedural complications and other intraprocedural factors linked to longer FT, and still persisted after propensity score matching analysis. Notwithstanding, after receiver operating characteristic analysis, FT had adequate diagnostic accuracy in identifying the absence of only VARC-3 TS and VARC-2 ES. Conclusion: Longer FT is related with periprocedural and short-term outcomes after the procedure, especially in those that are more challenging. A FT duration of more than 30 min has an adequate accuracy in identifying VARC-3 technical failure (TS and DS) and absence of VARC-2 ES, selecting patients who are likely to take advantage from more careful in-hospital follow-up.
Hollow MIL-125 Nanoparticles Loading Doxorubicin Prodrug and 3-Methyladenine for Reversal of Tumor Multidrug Resistance
Authors: Guo Qingfeng , Li Jie , Mao Jing , Chen Weijun , Yang Meiyang , Yang Yang , Hua Yuming , Qiu Lipeng
Published: November 2023

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a key factor in chemotherapy failure and tumor recurrence. The inhibition of drug efflux and autophagy play important roles in MDR therapy. Herein, a multifunctional delivery system (HA-MIL-125@DVMA) was prepared for synergistically reverse tumor MDR. Tumor-targeted hollow MIL-125-Ti nanoparticles were used to load the doxorubicin–vitamin E succinate (DV) prodrug and 3-methyladenine (3-MA) to enhance reverse MDR effects. The pH-sensitive DV can kill tumor cells and inhibit P-gp-mediated drug efflux, and 3-MA can inhibit autophagy. HA-MIL-125@DVMA had uniformly distributed particle size and high drug-load content. The nanoparticles could effectively release the drugs into tumor microenvironment due to the rapid hydrazone bond-breaking under low pH conditions, resulting in a high cumulative release rate. In in vitro cellular experiments, the accumulation of HA-MIL-125@DVMA and HA-MIL-125@DV in MCF-7/ADR cells was significantly higher than that in the control groups. Moreover, the nanoparticles significantly inhibited drug efflux in the cells, ensuring the accumulation of the drugs in cell cytoplasm and causing drug-resistant cells’ death. Importantly, HA-MIL-125@DVMA effectively inhibited tumor growth without changes in body weight in tumor-bearing mice. In summary, the combination of the acid-sensitive prodrug DV and autophagy inhibitor 3-MA in a HA-MIL-125 nanocarrier can enhance the antitumor effect and reverse tumor MDR.
Capitalism, Ecosocialism and Reparative Readers in Ursula Le Guin’s The Word for World Is Forest
Authors: Roy Sneharika
Published: November 2023

Ursula Le Guin’s The Word for World is Forest emerged as a reaction to the Vietnam War, which ravaged human and nonhuman lifeworlds. Le Guin offers two competing discursive systems through which to interpret human and nonhuman alterity—Terran industrial capitalism, grounded in physical and symbolic violence, and Athshean ecosocialism, rooted in an ethics of non-violence and forest-centred nominalism. Le Guin appears to suggest that both “readings” of Athshea are locked in an intractable, adversarial logic, typical of the “paranoid” reading practices that Eve Sedgwick would theorise twenty-five years later. In its sensitivity to the spectrum of negative affect covering anticipatory anxiety about forestalling pain, symmetrical suspicion, and fear of humiliation, the novella offers an uncanny prefiguration of paranoid practices. Le Guin suggests that the way out of the paranoid clash of civilisations can be found in two “reparative” reading stances—Selver’s reinterpretation and rearrangement of components of the oppressor’s culture into new, unexpected wholes (hermeneutic reassemblage) and the alien observers’ valorisation of disinterested curiosity over action as a categorical imperative (cerebral equivocity). Le Guin thus seems to offer a reparative poetics avant la lettre.
High-Temperature Flow Behavior and Energy Consumption of Supercritical CO2 Sealing Film Influenced by Different Surface Grooves
Authors: Yang Jing , Wang Shuaiyu , Bai Shaoxian
Published: November 2023

The Brayton cycle system, as a closed cycle working under high-temperature, high-pressure and high-speed conditions, presents significant prospects in many fields. However, the flow behavior and energy efficiency of supercritical CO2 is severely influenced by the structures of face seals and the sealing temperature, especially when the sealing gas experiment is the supercritical transformation process. Therefore, a numerical model was established to investigate the high-temperature flow behavior and energy consumption of face seals with different surface grooves. The effects of the operation parameters and groove structure on the temperature distribution and sealing performance are further studied. The obtained results show that the supercritical effect of the gas film has a more obvious influence on the flow velocity uθ than ur. Moreover, it can be found that the temperature distribution, heat dissipation and leakage rate of the gas face seals present a dramatic change when the working condition exceeds the supercritical point. For the spiral groove, the change rate of heat dissipation becomes larger, from 3.6% to 8.1%, with the increase in sealing pressure from 15 to 50 MPa, when the temperature grows from 300 to 320 K. Meanwhile, the open force maintains a stable state with the increasing temperature and pressure even at the supercritical point. The proposed model could provide a theoretical basis for seal design with different grooves on the supercritical change range in the future.
Salt Spray Resistance of Roller-Compacted Concrete with Surface Coatings
Authors: Zhang Huigui , Zhang Wuman , Meng Yanfei
Published: November 2023

In order to evaluate the feasibility of surface coatings in improving the performance of RCC under salt spray conditions, sodium silicate (SS), isooctyl triethoxy silane (IOTS), and polyurea (PUA) were used as surface coatings to prepare four types of roller-compacted concrete (RCC): reference RCC, RCC-SS, RCC-IOTS, and RCC-PUA. A 5% sodium sulfate solution was used to simulate a corrosive marine environment with high temperatures, high humidity, and high concentrations of salt spray. This study focuses on investigating various properties, including water absorption, abrasion loss, compressive strength, dynamic elastic modulus, and impact resistance. Compared to the reference RCC, the 24 h water absorption of RCC-SS, RCC-IOTS, and RCC-PUA without salt spray exposure decreased by 22.8%, 77.2%, and 89.8%, respectively. After 300 cycles of salt spray, the abrasion loss of RCC-SS, RCC-IOTS, and RCC-PUA reduced by 0.3%, 4.4%, and 34.3%, respectively. Additionally, their compressive strengths increased by 3.8%, 0.89%, and 0.22%, and the total absorbed energy at fracture increased by 64.8%, 53.2%, and 50.1%, respectively. The results of the study may provide a reference for the selection of coating materials under conditions similar to those in this study.
Analysis of Resistance to Wind Suction of Flat Roof Coverings Glued with Polyurethane Adhesives
Authors: Francke Barbara , Szulc Jarosław , Sieczkowski Jan , Piekarczuk Artur , Dobrev Joanna Witkowska , Schabowicz Krzysztof
Published: November 2023

The article analyses the impact of wind suction on roof coverings glued with polyurethane adhesives to flat roofs, i.e., roofs with an up to 20% slope. The impact of the cyclical wind was simulated in fatigue tests, gradually increasing the test pressure in repeated sequences until the first delamination occurred. The tests were carried out for eight test sets, with concrete and trapezoidal sheets used as a construction substrate, on whose surface thermal insulation layers were glued with polyurethane adhesive; the thermal insulation layers were EPS (expanded polystyrene) and PIR (polymer mainly of polyisocyanurate groups), respectively, followed by flexible sheets, i.e., a laminated PVC membrane (polyvinylchloride) and an EPDM (terpolymer of ethylene, propylene and a diene with a residual unsaturated portion of diene in the side chain)-type rubber-based membrane. The test results were compared with the functional requirements determined with computational simulation methods for the maximum wind load values on the example of wind loads for Poland. The tests confirmed that some polyurethane adhesives could ensure the operation of flexible sheets used as flat roof coverings that are failure-free from the point of view of resistance to wind suction.
Effects of Machining Parameters and Tool Reconditioning on Cutting Force, Tool Wear, Surface Roughness and Burr Formation in Nickel-Based Alloy Milling
Authors: Kónya Gábor , Kovács Zsolt F.
Published: November 2023

Nickel-based superalloys are among the most difficult materials to machine because they have high thermal strength, they are prone to hardening, carbides severely abrade the tool, and they have very poor thermal conductivity. Slot milling is a specific issue as it is characterized by rapid tool wear and frequent tool breakages. This is why reconditioned tools are frequently employed in industrial environments, as they can considerably decrease the expenses associated with tools. The chosen machining strategy also plays a crucial role in the tool’s lifespan and the quality of the machined surface, making it essential to select the appropriate strategy. Hence, the authors have opted for two conventional trochoidal strategies, namely the circular and swinging toolpath, along with a contemporary toolpath known as the Autodesk Inventor HSM Adaptive strategy. The authors investigated the effects of technological parameters and toolpaths on cutting forces, tool wear, surface roughness and burr formation on machined edges. The results show that lower cutting parameters and adaptive strategies lead to the smallest tool loads, tool wear, the best quality of surface roughness and burr formation on machined edges.
A Numerical Study of the Dynamic Crack Behavior of Brittle Material Induced by Blast Waves
Authors: Yu Haijun , Zou Ming , Sun Jinshan , Wang Yuntao , Wang Meng
Published: November 2023

Blast stress waves profoundly impact engineering structures, exciting and affecting the rupture process in brittle construction materials. A novel numerical model was introduced to investigate the initiation and propagation of cracks subjected to blast stress waves within the borehole-crack configuration. Twelve models were established with different crack lengths to simulate sandstone samples. The influence of crack length on crack initiation and propagation was investigated using those models. The linear equation of state was used to express the relationship between the pressure and density of the material. The major principal stress failure criterion was used to evaluate the failure of elements. A triangular pressure curve was adopted to produce the blast stress wave. The results indicated that the pre-crack length critically influenced the crack initiation and propagation mechanism by analyzing the stress history at the crack tip, crack propagation velocity, and distance. The inducement of a P-wave and S-wave is paramount in models with a short pre-crack. For long pre-crack models, Rayleigh waves significantly contribute to crack propagation.
Chikungunya Virus, Metabolism, and Circadian Rhythmicity Interplay in Phagocytic Cells
Authors: Alvarez-García Linamary , Sánchez-García F. Javier , Vázquez-Pichardo Mauricio , Moreno-Altamirano M. Maximina
Published: November 2023

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes, causing the chikungunya fever disease, associated with inflammation and severe articular incapacitating pain. There has been a worldwide reemergence of chikungunya and the number of cases increased to 271,006 in 2022 in the Americas alone. The replication of CHIKV takes place in several cell types, including phagocytic cells. Monocytes and macrophages are susceptible to infection by CHIKV; at the same time, they provide protection as components of the innate immune system. However, in host–pathogen interactions, CHIKV might have the ability to alter the function of immune cells, partly by rewiring the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Some viral evasion mechanisms depend on the metabolic reprogramming of immune cells, and the cell metabolism is intertwined with circadian rhythmicity; thus, a circadian immunovirometabolism axis may influence viral pathogenicity. Therefore, analyzing the interplay between viral infection, circadian rhythmicity, and cellular metabolic reprogramming in human macrophages could shed some light on the new field of immunovirometabolism and eventually contribute to the development of novel drugs and therapeutic approaches based on circadian rhythmicity and metabolic reprogramming.
Modeling Red Blood Cell Metabolism in the Omics Era
Authors: Key Alicia , Haiman Zachary , Palsson Bernhard O. , D’Alessandro Angelo
Published: November 2023

Red blood cells (RBCs) are abundant (more than 80% of the total cells in the human body), yet relatively simple, as they lack nuclei and organelles, including mitochondria. Since the earliest days of biochemistry, the accessibility of blood and RBCs made them an ideal matrix for the characterization of metabolism. Because of this, investigations into RBC metabolism are of extreme relevance for research and diagnostic purposes in scientific and clinical endeavors. The relative simplicity of RBCs has made them an eligible model for the development of reconstruction maps of eukaryotic cell metabolism since the early days of systems biology. Computational models hold the potential to deepen knowledge of RBC metabolism, but also and foremost to predict in silico RBC metabolic behaviors in response to environmental stimuli. Here, we review now classic concepts on RBC metabolism, prior work in systems biology of unicellular organisms, and how this work paved the way for the development of reconstruction models of RBC metabolism. Translationally, we discuss how the fields of metabolomics and systems biology have generated evidence to advance our understanding of the RBC storage lesion, a process of decline in storage quality that impacts over a hundred million blood units transfused every year.
Elicitor-Driven Defense Mechanisms: Shielding Cotton Plants against the Onslaught of Cotton Leaf Curl Multan Virus (CLCuMuV) Disease
Authors: Khan Muhammad Fahad , Umar Ummad Ud Din , Alrefaei Abdulwahed Fahad , Rao Muhammad Junaid
Published: November 2023

Salicylic acid (SA), benzothiadiazole (BTH), and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) are potential elicitors found in plants, playing a crucial role against various biotic and abiotic stresses. The systemic acquired resistance (SAR) mechanism was evaluated in cotton plants for the suppression of Cotton leaf curl Multan Virus (CLCuMuV) by the exogenous application of different elicitors. Seven different treatments of SA, MeJA, and BTH were applied exogenously at different concentrations and combinations. In response to elicitors treatment, enzymatic activities such as SOD, POD, CAT, PPO, PAL, β–1,3 glucanse, and chitinase as biochemical markers for resistance were determined from virus-inoculated and uninoculated cotton plants of susceptible and tolerant varieties, respectively. CLCuMuV was inoculated on cotton plants by whitefly (Bemesia tabaci biotype Asia II-1) and detected by PCR using specific primers for the coat protein region and the Cotton leaf curl betasatellite (CLCuMuBV)-associated component of CLCuMuV. The development of disease symptoms was observed and recorded on treated and control plants. The results revealed that BTH applied at a concentration of 1.1 mM appeared to be the most effective treatment for suppressing CLCuMuV disease in both varieties. The enzymatic activities in both varieties were not significantly different, and the disease was almost equally suppressed in BTH-treated cotton plants following virus inoculation. The beta satellite and coat protein regions of CLCuMuV were not detected by PCR in the cotton plants treated with BTH at either concentration. Among all elicitors, 1.1 mM BTH was proven to be the best option for inducing resistance after the onset of CLCuMuV infection and hence it could be part of the integrated disease management program against Cotton leaf curl virus.
Perovskite Light-Emitting Devices Based on Solid-State Diffusion In Situ Dynamic Thermal Crystallization
Authors: Chen Chen , Zhu Yanni , Dou Kainan , Liu Chuang , Yu Chao , Ji Sihang , Wang Jin
Published: November 2023

Due to the excellent photonic and electrical properties of metal halide perovskite materials, perovskite light-emitting devices have the potential to replace OLED devices as the next-generation of commercial light-emitting devices. In this article, we controlled the surface morphology of PbBr2 using an in situ dynamic thermal crystallization process, which increased the specific surface area of the films and promoted the solid-state diffusion rate. The CsPbBr3 PeLEDs prepared using this method achieved a maximum current efficiency of 7.1 cd/A at the voltage of 5 V, which was 200% higher than devices prepared using traditional spin-coating processes. These results proved that the in situ thermal dynamic crystallization process effectively improved the film quality of perovskite materials.
Enhancing the Yield of a Lab-on-a-Disk-Based Single-Image Parasite Quantification Device
Authors: Misko Vyacheslav R. , Makasali Ramadhani Juma , Briet Matthieu , Legein Filip , Levecke Bruno , De Malsche Wim
Published: November 2023

The recently proposed single-image parasite quantification (SIMPAQ) platform based on a Lab-on-a-Disc (LOD) device was previously successfully tested in field conditions, demonstrating its efficiency in soil-transmitted helminth (STH) egg detection and analysis on the level delivered by the current state-of-the-art methods. Furthermore, the SIMPAQ provides relatively quick diagnostics and requires small amounts of sample and materials. On the other hand, in a recent related study, it was revealed that the performance of the SIMPAQ method can be limited due to the action of the tangential Euler and Coriolis forces, and the interaction of the moving eggs with the walls of the LOD chamber. Here, we propose a new improved design that allows us to overcome these limitations and enhance the yield of the SIMPAQ LOD device, as demonstrated in experiments with a synthetic particle model system and real parasite eggs. Despite the simplicity, the proposed design modification is demonstrated to allow a substantial improvement in the yield of the SIMPAQ device, i.e., above 90% of parasite eggs and 98% of synthetic model particles were transported to the field of view. The new design proposed here will be further examined in the new generation of SIMPAQ devices within ongoing research on STH egg detection in field conditions.
Modeling a Fluid-Coupled Single Piezoelectric Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer Using the Finite Difference Method
Authors: Goepfert Valentin , Boulmé Audren , Levassort Franck , Merrien Tony , Rouffaud Rémi , Certon Dominique
Published: November 2023

A complete model was developed to simulate the behavior of a circular clamped axisymmetric fluid-coupled Piezoelectric Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer (PMUT). Combining Finite Difference and Boundary Element Matrix (FD-BEM), this model is based on the discretization of the partial differential equation used to translate the mechanical behavior of a PMUT. In the model, both the axial and the transverse displacements are preserved in the equation of motion and used to properly define the neutral line position. To introduce fluid coupling, a Green’s function dedicated to axisymmetric circular radiating sources is employed. The resolution of the behavioral equations is used to establish the equivalent electroacoustic circuit of a PMUT that preserves the average particular velocity, the mechanical power, and the acoustic power. Particular consideration is given to verifying the validity of certain assumptions that are usually made across various steps of previously reported analytical models. In this framework, the advantages of the membrane discretization performed in the FD-BEM model are highlighted through accurate simulations of the first vibration mode and especially the cutoff frequency that many other models do not predict. This high cutoff frequency corresponds to cases where the spatial average velocity of the plate is null and is of great importance for PMUT design because it defines the upper limit above which the device is considered to be mechanically blocked. These modeling results are compared with electrical and dynamic membrane displacement measurements of AlN-based (500 nm thick) PMUTs in air and fluid. The first resonance frequency confrontation showed a maximum relative error of 1.13% between the FD model and Finite Element Method (FEM). Moreover, the model perfectly predicts displacement amplitudes when PMUT vibrates in a fluid, with less than 5% relative error. Displacement amplitudes of 16 nm and 20 nm were measured for PMUT with 340 µm and 275 µm diameters, respectively. This complete PMUT model using the FD-BEM approach is shown to be very efficient in terms of computation time and accuracy.
A Robust Memristor-Enhanced Polynomial Hyper-Chaotic Map and Its Multi-Channel Image Encryption Application
Authors: Qian Kun , Xiao Yang , Wei Yinjie , Liu Di , Wang Quanwen , Feng Wei
Published: November 2023

Nowadays, the utilization of memristors to enhance the dynamical properties of chaotic systems has become a popular research topic. In this paper, we present the design of a novel 2D memristor-enhanced polynomial hyper-chaotic map (2D-MPHM) by utilizing the cross-coupling of two TiO2 memristors. The dynamical properties of the 2D-MPHM were investigated using Lyapunov exponents, bifurcation diagrams, and trajectory diagrams. Additionally, Kolmogorov entropy and sample entropy were also employed to evaluate the complexity of the 2D-MPHM. Numerical analysis has demonstrated the superiority of the 2D-MPHM. Subsequently, the proposed 2D-MPHM was applied to a multi-channel image encryption algorithm (MIEA-MPHM) whose excellent security was demonstrated by key space, key sensitivity, plaintext sensitivity, information entropy, pixel distribution, correlation analysis, and robustness analysis. Finally, the encryption efficiency of the MIEA-MPHM was evaluated via numerous encryption efficiency tests. These tests demonstrate that the MIEA-MPHM not only possesses excellent security but also offers significant efficiency advantages, boasting an average encryption rate of up to 87.2798 Mbps.
On-Demand Dynamic Terahertz Polarization Manipulation Based on Pneumatically Actuated Metamaterial
Authors: Zou Yongchao , Wang Yan , Zeng Yangjian , Xu Pan , Hu Zhengliang , Yu Hongbin
Published: November 2023

In this paper, a new tuning strategy is proposed by incorporating a pneumatically actuated metamaterial to achieve on-demand polarization manipulation at THz frequencies. Through controlling the actuation pressure, the device function can be flexibly switched among three types of polarization conversion capabilities within the same operation frequency band, from 1.3 THz to 1.5 THz, in which the mutual conversion between linear polarization and circular polarization, such as a quarter-wave plate, and handedness inversion between circular polarizations as a helicity inverter as well as a helicity keeper, have been successfully achieved between the incidence and reflection. Moreover, the intrinsic tuning mechanism for the polarization manipulation is also discussed.