bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aqueous Chemical Synthesis of Nanosized ZnGa2O4 Using Mild Reaction Conditions: Effect of pH on the Structural, Morphological, Textural, Electronic, and Photocatalytic Properties
Authors: Téllez-Flores Dalia , Sánchez-Cantú Manuel , Ruiz-Peralta María de Lourdes , López-Salinas Esteban , Pérez-Centeno Armando , Tzompantzi Francisco , Escobedo-Morales Alejandro
Published: June 2023

The effect of pH on the structural, textural, morphological, and electronic properties of ZnGa2O4 nanoparticles obtained by coprecipitation using mild reaction conditions (25 °C; 30 min) was studied. The pH ranges in which coprecipitation reactions occurred and the chemical species associated with the reaction mechanism were identified. It was determined that the samples synthesized at pH values between 6 and 10 consisted of Zn-Ga oxide blends, with spinel ZnGa2O4 being the majority phase. Conversely, the material prepared at pH 12 was constituted by Zn-Ga layered double hydroxide phase along with wurtzite ZnO traces. The synthesis pH determined the reaction product yield, which decreased from 51 to 21% when the reaction medium turned from softly acidic (pH 6) to strongly alkaline conditions (pH 12). The bandgap energies of the synthesized materials were estimated to be in the range of 4.71–4.90 eV. A coprecipitation-dissolution-crystallization mechanism was proposed from the precipitation curve, with specific mononuclear and polynuclear species being involved in the formation of the different precipitates. Phenol was employed as a probe molecule to evaluate the photocatalytic performance of the synthesized samples. Among the samples, the one prepared at pH 6 showed the largest photodegradation efficiency (~98%), which was superior to commercial TiO2-Degussa P25 (~88%) under the same process conditions, which can be attributed to both its high specific surface area (140 m2 g−1) and the formation of a Zn2xGa2−2xO3+x/ZnGa2O4 heterojunction.
A Decade of Therapeutic Challenges in Synchronous Gynecological Cancers from the Bucharest Oncological Institute
Authors: Simion Laurentiu , Chitoran Elena , Cirimbei Ciprian , Stefan Daniela-Cristina , Neicu Ariana , Tanase Bogdan , Ionescu Sinziana Octavia , Luca Dan Cristian , Gales Laurentia , Gheorghe Adelina Silvana , Stanculeanu Dana Lucia , Rotaru Vlad
Published: June 2023

The aim of our study is to present the particularities of a specific subset of gynecological cancer patients in Romania. We present a review of synchronous gynecological neoplasia (SGN) treated in the Bucharest Oncological Institute’s surgery departments over a decade. Between 2012 and 2022, 7419 female patients with genital malignancies were treated. We identified 36 patients with invasive synchronous primary gynecological cancers (0.5%) and 12 cases with one primary gynecological and another primary invasive pelvic cancer (rectal/bladder). All recurrent, metastatic, or metachronous tumors detected were excluded. Demographic data, personal history, presenting symptoms, pathologic findings, staging, treatment, and evolution for each case were recorded. Usually, the most common SGN association is between ovarian and endometrial cancer of endometrioid differentiation (low-grade malignancies with very good prognosis). However, we noticed that, given the particularities of the Romanian medical system, the most frequent association is between cervical and endometrial, followed by cervical and ovarian cancers. Moreover, the cancer stage at diagnosis is more advanced. In countries with low HPV vaccination rate and low adherence to screening programs, SGNs can present as extremely advanced cases and require extensive surgery (such as pelvic exenterations) to achieve radicality. This multimodal treatment in advanced cases with high tumor burden determines a reduction in survival, time until progression, and quality of life.
Schwannoma: A Rare Case of Submucosal Gastric Tumor
Authors: Fugărețu Cosmina , Mișarca Cătalin , Petcu Lucian , Șoană Raluca , Cîrnațiu Andrada , Surlin Marin Valeriu , Patrascu Stefan , Ramboiu Sandu
Published: June 2023

Schwannoma is a tumor that originates from the Schwann cells that surround a neuron’s axon. This tumor is very rare in the gastrointestinal tract and develops submucosally from intestinal nerve plexuses. The most common location for gastrointestinal schwannomas is the stomach, where they account for only 0.2% of gastric tumors. We present the case of a 56-year-old asymptomatic patient who was diagnosed, following a routine ultrasound examination, with an abdominal tumor. An abdominal MRI confirmed the gastric origin of the tumor. Although a subsequent upper-digestive endoscopic ultrasound was performed, a definitive diagnosis could not be established. Thus, a laparoscopic wedge resection of the stomach was performed. The immunohistochemical examination of the tumor established the diagnosis of benign schwannoma. Despite the availability of advanced endoscopy and imaging techniques, the diagnosis of gastric schwannoma is very rarely preoperative. The immunohistochemical identification of S-100 on the surgical specimen confirmed the diagnosis.
Neural Network-Based Prediction for Secret Key Rate of Underwater Continuous-Variable Quantum Key Distribution through a Seawater Channel
Authors: Mao Yun , Zhu Yiwu , Hu Hui , Luo Gaofeng , Wang Jinguang , Wang Yijun , Guo Ying
Published: June 2023

Continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CVQKD) plays an important role in quantum communications, because of its compatible setup for optical implementation with low cost. For this paper, we considered a neural network approach to predicting the secret key rate of CVQKD with discrete modulation (DM) through an underwater channel. A long-short-term-memory-(LSTM)-based neural network (NN) model was employed, in order to demonstrate performance improvement when taking into account the secret key rate. The numerical simulations showed that the lower bound of the secret key rate could be achieved for a finite-size analysis, where the LSTM-based neural network (NN) was much better than that of the backward-propagation-(BP)-based neural network (NN). This approach helped to realize the fast derivation of the secret key rate of CVQKD through an underwater channel, indicating that it can be used for improving performance in practical quantum communications.
Energy-Efficient Raptor-like LDPC Coding Scheme Design and Implementation for IoT Communication Systems
Authors: Hyla Jakub , Sułek Wojciech
Published: June 2023

The large number of inexpensive and energy-efficient terminals in IoT systems is one of the emerging elements of the recent landscape of information and communication technologies. IoT nodes are usually embedded systems with limited processing power devices and strict requirements on energy consumption. In this paper, we consider the design and implementation of a part of the IoT communication uplink stack, namely the error correction coding scheme, for energy-efficient operation. We examine how an efficient rate-adaptive coding scheme, namely the Raptor-like (RL) quasi-cyclic (QC) subclass of low-density parity check (LDPC) codes, can be applied. We present an encoding algorithm designed for an embedded CPU; a respective QC-RL-LDPC decoding scheme, based on typical LDPC iterative decoding; and a combined design procedure for construction of the QC-RL-LDPC parity check matrices. Next, we conduct experiments to explore the time intervals for implemented encoding and the goodput of the coding system with incremental redundancy. We provide the statistical results by combining the measured energy consumption of the encoder and the simulated radio transmitter energy consumption. We demonstrate the comparison of normalized energy consumption statistics with the fixed-rate LDPC coding case. As conclusion, we note that under an unknown channel corruption level, the short block QC-RL-LDPC code implemented in the CPU can achieve higher energy efficiency per information bit compared to a fixed-rate LDPC code. Future work will include an extension of the work to nonbinary QC-RL-LDPC coding design.
Agent-Based Investigation of Charger Queues and Utilization of Public Chargers for Electric Long-Haul Trucks
Authors: Karlsson Johannes , Grauers Anders
Published: June 2023

This paper investigates the charging needs and charger utilisation of a system of battery electric trucks and their public fast chargers, along the highway between the Swedish cities of Helsingborg and Stockholm, in a possible future scenario in which all trucks are battery electric. The system is investigated via an agent-based model which simulates a typical day with current levels of truck traffic on the road. The traffic flow is based on hourly truck flow data during a day and the annual flow of trucks. The findings indicate major potential for a well-functioning system of public chargers for trucks, with high utilisation, few queuing problems at charging stations, cheap public fast charging and a robust response to queues caused by peaks or increases in the traffic flow. The number of 900 kW chargers along the road needed to achieve this has been estimated at 140, and the utilisation factor for the chargers is predicted to be 30%.
Two-Phase Flow Visualization and Heat Transfer Characteristics Analysis in Ultra-Long Gravity Heat Pipe
Authors: Li Feng , Chen Juanwen , Cen Jiwen , Huang Wenbo , Li Zhibin , Ma Qingshan , Jiang Fangming
Published: June 2023

The ultra-long gravity heat pipe has a long heat transfer distance and narrow working fluid flow channel within its tube. Due to these unique design features, the vapor–liquid counter-flow and heat transfer characteristics of these heat pipes are more complex than those found in conventional-size heat pipes. This paper innovatively proposes the design of a segmented visualization window structure of an ultra-long gravity heat pipe, which successfully overcomes the challenge of visualizing the internal flow during operations. A visualization experimental platform, measuring 40 m in height with an inner diameter of 7 mm and the aspect ratio up to 5714, was built to investigate the evolving characteristics of two-phase flows with an increasing heat input and the impact of the phase change flow characteristics on the thermal performance of ultra-long gravity heat pipes. The results obtained can provide guidance for the development of the internal structure of ultra-long gravity heat pipes that are being applied in exploiting geothermal energy. The results show that, at low heat input (200 W, 250 W), there are separate flow paths between the condensate return and the steam, but the high hydrostatic pressure due to the height of the liquid injection results in the presence of an unsaturated working fluid with a higher temperature in the liquid pool area, which has a lower evaporation rate, limiting the heat transfer through the heat pipe. It is found that if increasing the heat input up to 300 W, the evaporative phase change in the heating section becomes intense and stable. At the same time, despite the intermittent formation of liquid columns in the adiabatic section due to the vapor–liquid rolls, which increases the resistance to the vapor–liquid counter-flow, the liquid columns are blocked for a short period of time, and the path of steam rises and the condensate return is smooth, which does not seriously affect the steam condensation and liquid return evaporation. At this point, the overall temperature of the heat pipe is evenly distributed along the tube and the heat transfer performance is optimal. When the heat input further increases (350 W, 400 W), a large amount of condensate is trapped in the upper part of the adiabatic section and the condensing section by long liquid plugs for a long time. At this point, the condensate flow back to the heating section is significantly reduced, and the steam is seriously prevented from entering the condensation section, resulting in a significant increase in the temperature gradient between the lower part of the evaporating section and the upper part of the adiabatic section and deterioration of the heat transfer performance.
Petroleum System Modeling of a Fold and Thrust Belt: A Case Study from the Bannu Basin, Pakistan
Authors: Mir Afzal , Khan Muhammad Rustam , Wahid Ali , Iqbal Muhammad Atif , Rezaee Reza , Ali Syed Haroon , Erdal Yucel Deniz
Published: June 2023

This study focused on analyzing the petroleum system of the Bannu Basin, which is the foreland basin of the Himalayan fold and thrust belts in Pakistan. The objectives of this study were achieved by dividing the study area into three zones, namely, the Southwestern zone, Southeastern zone, and Northeastern zone. The regional 2D seismic lines and well log data, including the bore hole temperature (BHT) and petrophysical and geochemical data, were integrated. The seismic interpretations and geohistory plots indicate higher levels of sedimentation and abrupt sedimentation from the Miocene until the Recent era due to the initiation of Himalayan orogeny. The thermal modeling indicates that potential source rocks are present in the basin, whereas the local faults in the Southwestern and Southeastern zones act as potential traps for the preservation of hydrocarbons. It is assumed that the Tredian Formation and Lumshiwal Formation are the potential reservoir rocks in the Southwestern zone, whereas the Warcha Formation and Tredian Formation are the economic reservoirs in the Southeastern zone. However, in the Northeastern zone, no major accumulation is present. The significant sedimentation of post-Miocene formations was the major event for the generation of hydrocarbons and a critical moment for the accumulation of hydrocarbons in the study area.
Considering Soil Biota and Symbioses in Forest Management and Ecosystem Restoration
Authors: Bock Beatrice , Markovchick Lisa
Published: June 2023

At the 16th Biennial Conference of Science & Management on the Colorado Plateau & Southwest Region on 12–15 September 2022, the authors hosted a symposium on the topic of “Considering host-microbial interactions in ecosystem restoration”. The goal of this symposium was to showcase studies that demonstrate how soil biota and symbioses can be used to promote forest restoration. Two key principles emerging from the symposium and research on this topic include the following: (1) diverse, native mixes of appropriate soil biota can meaningfully shift forests and plantings towards more successful and ecologically appropriate conditions; (2) context is important to consider in determining the appropriateness of plant and microbial pairings, including the similarity of source material and work sites across a variety of factors. To summarize the literature and discussion on this topic, we offer a graphical depiction of several of the factors to consider.
Empirical Comparison of Supervised Learning Methods for Assessing the Stability of Slopes Adjacent to Military Operation Roads
Authors: Kwon SeMyung , Pan Leilei , Kim Yongrae , Lee Sang In , Kweon Hyeongkeun , Lee Kyeongcheol , Yeom Kyujin , Seo Jung Il
Published: June 2023

The Civilian Access Control Zone (CACZ), south of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating North and South Korea, has functioned as a unique bio-reserve owing to restrictions on human use. However, it is now increasingly threatened by damaged land and slope failures. In this study, a machine-learning-based method was used to assess slope stability by introducing the random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), and logistic regression (LR) approaches. These classification models were trained and evaluated on 393 slope stability cases from 2009 to 2019 to assess slope stability in the northern area of the Civilian Control Line, South Korea. For comparison, the performance of these classification models was measured by considering the accuracy, Cohen’s kappa, F1-score, recall rate, precision, and area under the ROC curve (AUC). Furthermore, 14 influencing factors (slope, vegetation, structure conditions, etc.) were considered to explore feature importance. The evaluation and comparison of the results showed that the performance of all classifier models was satisfactory for assessing the stability of the slope, the ability of LR was validated (accuracy = 0.847; AUC = 0.838), and XGBoost proved to be the most efficient method for predicting slope stability (accuracy = 0.903; AUC = 0.900). Among the 14 influencing factors, the external condition was the most important. The proposed supervised learning method offers a promising method for assessing slope status, may be beneficial for government agencies in early-stage risk mitigation, and provides a database for efficient restoration management.
Losing a Close Friend or Family Member Due to COVID-19 and Mental Health among LGBTQ Youth
Authors: DeChants Jonah P. , Price Myeshia N. , Nath Ronita , Davis Carrie K.
Published: June 2023

This study examines the association between having lost a close friend or family member to COVID-19 and mental health outcomes among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ) youth. Data come from 33,993 respondents in the United States, ages 13 to 24, who completed an online survey of LGBTQ youth mental health. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the adjusted odds of recent anxiety, depression, considering, or attempting suicide in the past year based on whether or not the youth reported having lost a close friend or family member to COVID-19. Among the full sample, experiences of COVID-19 loss were associated with recent anxiety (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.20–1.40), recent depression (aOR = 1.23, 95% CI [1.15, 1.32]), seriously considering suicide in the past year (aOR = 1.22, 95% CI (1.14, 1.30)), and attempting suicide in the past year (aOR = 1.55, 95% CI (1.41, 1.69)). These findings highlight the urgent need for investment in low-barrier, affirming mental health services for LGBTQ youth who have experienced COVID-19 loss to support their grief, overall mental health, and healthy development.
Long-Term Pioglitazone Treatment Has No Significant Impact on Microglial Activation and Tau Pathology in P301S Mice
Authors: Kunze Lea Helena , Ruch François , Biechele Gloria , Eckenweber Florian , Wind-Mark Karin , Dinkel Lina , Feyen Paul , Bartenstein Peter , Ziegler Sibylle , Paeger Lars , Tahirovic Sabina , Herms Jochen , Brendel Matthias
Published: June 2023

Neuroinflammation is one disease hallmark on the road to neurodegeneration in primary tauopathies. Thus, immunomodulation might be a suitable treatment strategy to delay or even prevent the occurrence of symptoms and thus relieve the burden for patients and caregivers. In recent years, the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) has received increasing attention as it is immediately involved in the regulation of the immune system and can be targeted by the anti-diabetic drug pioglitazone. Previous studies have shown significant immunomodulation in amyloid-β (Aβ) mouse models by pioglitazone. In this study, we performed long-term treatment over six months in P301S mice as a tauopathy model with either pioglitazone or placebo. We performed serial 18 kDa translocator protein positron-emission-tomography (TSPO-PET) imaging and terminal immunohistochemistry to assess microglial activation during treatment. Tau pathology was quantified via immunohistochemistry at the end of the study. Long-term pioglitazone treatment had no significant effect on TSPO-PET, immunohistochemistry read-outs of microglial activation, or tau pathology levels in P301S mice. Thus, we conclude that pioglitazone modifies the time course of Aβ-dependent microglial activation, but does not significantly modulate microglial activation in response to tau pathology.
Golgi Reassembly Stacking Protein 2 Modulates Myometrial Contractility during Labor by Affecting ATP Production
Authors: Yang Fan , Chen Lina , Wen Bolun , Wang Xiaodi , Wang Lele , Ji Kaiyuan , Liu Huishu
Published: June 2023

The mechanism of maintaining myometrial contractions during labor remains unclear. Autophagy has been reported to be activated in laboring myometrium, along with the high expression of Golgi reassembly stacking protein 2 (GORASP2), a protein capable of regulating autophagy activation. This study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of GORASP2 in uterine contractions during labor. Western blot confirmed the increased expression of GORASP2 in laboring myometrium. Furthermore, the knockdown of GORASP2 in primary human myometrial smooth muscle cells (hMSMCs) using siRNA resulted in reduced cell contractility. This phenomenon was independent of the contraction-associated protein and autophagy. Differential mRNAs were analyzed using RNA sequencing. Subsequently, KEGG pathway analysis identified that GORASP2 knockdown suppressed several energy metabolism pathways. Furthermore, reduced ATP levels and aerobic respiration impairment were observed in measuring the oxygen consumption rate (OCR). These findings suggest that GORASP2 is up-regulated in the myometrium during labor and modulates myometrial contractility mainly by maintaining ATP production.
Molecular BCR::ABL1 Quantification and ABL1 Mutation Detection as Essential Tools for the Clinical Management of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients: Results from a Brazilian Single-Center Study
Authors: Marin Anelis Maria , Wosniaki Denise Kusma , Sanchuki Heloisa Bruna Soligo , Munhoz Eduardo Cilião , Nardin Jeanine Marie , Soares Gabriela Silva , Espinace Dhienifer Caroline , de Holanda Farias João Samuel , Veroneze Bruna , Becker Luiz Felipe , Costa Guilherme Lima , Beltrame Olair Carlos , de Oliveira Jaqueline Carvalho , Cambri Geison , Zanette Dalila Luciola , Aoki Mateus Nóbrega
Published: June 2023

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a well-characterized oncological disease in which virtually all patients possess a translocation (9;22) that generates the tyrosine kinase BCR::ABL1 protein. This translocation represents one of the milestones in molecular oncology in terms of both diagnostic and prognostic evaluations. The molecular detection of the BCR::ABL1 transcription is a required factor for CML diagnosis, and its molecular quantification is essential for assessing treatment options and clinical approaches. In the CML molecular context, point mutations on the ABL1 gene are also a challenge for clinical guidelines because several mutations are responsible for tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance, indicating that a change may be necessary in the treatment protocol. So far, the European LeukemiaNet and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) have presented international guidelines on CML molecular approaches, especially those related to BCR::ABL1 expression. In this study, we show almost three years’ worth of data regarding the clinical treatment of CML patients at the Erasto Gaertner Hospital, Curitiba, Brazil. These data primarily comprise 155 patients and 532 clinical samples. BCR::ABL1 quantification by a duplex-one-step RT-qPCR and ABL1 mutations detection were conducted. Furthermore, digital PCR for both BCR::ABL1 expression and ABL1 mutations were conducted in a sub-cohort. This manuscript describes and discusses the clinical importance and relevance of molecular biology testing in Brazilian CML patients, demonstrating its cost-effectiveness.
Induction Mechanism of Ferroptosis, Necroptosis, and Pyroptosis: A Novel Therapeutic Target in Nervous System Diseases
Authors: Tang Lu , Liu Sitong , Li Shiwei , Chen Ye , Xie Bingqing , Zhou Jun
Published: June 2023

In recent years, three emerging cell deaths, ferroptosis, necroptosis and pyroptosis, have gradually attracted everyone’s attention, and they also play an important role in the occurrence and development of various diseases. Ferroptosis is an idiographic iron-dependent form regulated cell death with the hallmark of accumulation of the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Necroptosis is a form of regulated necrotic cell death mediated by the receptor-interacting protein kinase 1(RIPK1) and receptor-interacting protein kinase 3RIPK3. Pyroptosis, also known as cell inflammatory necrosis, is a programmed cell necrosis mediated by Gasdermin D (GSDMD). It is manifested by the continuous swelling of the cells until the cell membrane ruptures, resulting in the release of the cell contents and the activation of a strong inflammatory response. Neurological disorders remain a clinical challenge and patients do not respond well to conventional treatments. Nerve cell death can aggravate the occurrence and development of neurological diseases. This article reviews the specific mechanisms of these three types of cell death and their relationship with neurological diseases and the evidence for the role of the three types of cell death in neurological diseases; understanding these pathways and their mechanisms is helpful for the treatment of neurological diseases.
Investigation of Serum Endocan Levels and Age in Critical Inflammatory Conditions
Authors: Keskinidou Chrysi , Vassiliou Alice G. , Jahaj Edison , Mastora Zafeiria , Athanasiou Nikolaos , Roumpaki Anastasia , Tsipilis Stamatios , Dimopoulou Ioanna , Orfanos Stylianos E. , Kotanidou Anastasia
Published: June 2023

Aging negatively affects the endothelium. Endocan (ESM-1), an endothelium-derived soluble proteoglycan, participates in fundamental biological processes of endothelial cells. We aimed to examine the role of endothelial dysfunction and age in poor outcomes in critical illness. ESM-1 levels were measured in the sera of mechanically ventilated critically ill patients, including COVID-19, non-septic, and septic patients. The 3 patient cohorts were divided based on age (≥65 and <65). Critically ill COVID-19 patients had statistically higher ESM-1 levels compared to critically ill septic and non-septic patients. Only in critically ill septic patients were ESM-1 levels higher in older compared to younger patients. Finally, the age-subgrouped patients were further subdivided based on intensive care unit (ICU) outcome. ESM-1 levels were similar in COVID-19 survivors and non-survivors, irrespective of age. Interestingly, only for the younger critically ill septic patients, non-survivors had higher ESM-1 levels compared to survivors. In the non-septic survivors and non-survivors, ESM-1 levels remained unaltered in the younger patients and tended to be higher in the elderly. Even though endocan has been recognized as an important prognostic biomarker in critically ill patients with sepsis, in our patient cohort, increased age, as well as the extent of endothelial dysfunction, seemed to affect its prognostic ability.
Histone H3 and H4 Modifications Point to Transcriptional Suppression as a Component of Winter Freeze Tolerance in the Gall Fly Eurosta solidaginis
Authors: Bloskie Tighe , Storey Kenneth B.
Published: June 2023

The goldenrod gall fly (Eurosta solidaginis) is a well-studied model of insect freeze tolerance. In situations of prolonged winter subzero temperatures, larvae of E. solidaginis accept ice penetration throughout extracellular spaces while protecting the intracellular environment by producing extreme amounts of glycerol and sorbitol as cryoprotectants. Hypometabolism (diapause) is implemented, and energy use is reprioritized to essential pathways. Gene transcription is one energy-expensive process likely suppressed over the winter, in part, due to epigenetic controls. The present study profiled the prevalence of 24 histone H3/H4 modifications of E. solidaginis larvae after 3-week acclimations to decreasing environmental temperatures (5 °C, −5 °C and −15 °C). Using immunoblotting, the data show freeze-mediated reductions (p < 0.05) in seven permissive histone modifications (H3K27me1, H4K20me1, H3K9ac, H3K14ac, H3K27ac, H4K8ac, H3R26me2a). Along with the maintenance of various repressive marks, the data are indicative of a suppressed transcriptional state at subzero temperatures. Elevated nuclear levels of histone H4, but not histone H3, were also observed in response to both cold and freeze acclimation. Together, the present study provides evidence for epigenetic-mediated transcriptional suppression in support of the winter diapause state and freeze tolerance of E. solidaginis.
Identifying the Molecular Drivers of Pathogenic Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Missense Mutations in Cancer and Non-Cancer Diseases
Authors: Jessen-Howard Dana , Pan Qisheng , Ascher David B.
Published: June 2023

Human aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs) comprising 19 isoenzymes play a vital role on both endogenous and exogenous aldehyde metabolism. This NAD(P)-dependent catalytic process relies on the intact structural and functional activity of the cofactor binding, substrate interaction, and the oligomerization of ALDHs. Disruptions on the activity of ALDHs, however, could result in the accumulation of cytotoxic aldehydes, which have been linked with a wide range of diseases, including both cancers as well as neurological and developmental disorders. In our previous works, we have successfully characterised the structure–function relationships of the missense variants of other proteins. We, therefore, applied a similar analysis pipeline to identify potential molecular drivers of pathogenic ALDH missense mutations. Variants data were first carefully curated and labelled as cancer-risk, non-cancer diseases, and benign. We then leveraged various computational biophysical methods to describe the changes caused by missense mutations, informing a bias of detrimental mutations with destabilising effects. Cooperating with these insights, several machine learning approaches were further utilised to investigate the combination of features, revealing the necessity of the conservation of ALDHs. Our work aims to provide important biological perspectives on pathogenic consequences of missense mutations of ALDHs, which could be invaluable resources in the development of cancer treatment.
Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cell-Based Therapies in Systemic Rheumatic Disease: From Challenges to New Approaches for Overcoming Restrictions
Authors: Lee Bong-Woo , Kwok Seung-Ki
Published: June 2023

Systemic rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and systemic sclerosis, are chronic autoimmune diseases affecting multiple organs and tissues. Despite recent advances in treatment, patients still experience significant morbidity and disability. Mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSC)-based therapy is promising for treating systemic rheumatic diseases due to the regenerative and immunomodulatory properties of MSCs. However, several challenges need to be overcome to use MSCs in clinical practice effectively. These challenges include MSC sourcing, characterization, standardization, safety, and efficacy issues. In this review, we provide an overview of the current state of MSC-based therapies in systemic rheumatic diseases, highlighting the challenges and limitations associated with their use. We also discuss emerging strategies and novel approaches that can help overcome the limitations. Finally, we provide insights into the future directions of MSC-based therapies for systemic rheumatic diseases and their potential clinical applications.
Auction-Based Learning for Question Answering over Knowledge Graphs
Authors: Agrawal Garima , Bertsekas Dimitri , Liu Huan
Published: June 2023

Knowledge graphs are graph-based data models which can represent real-time data that is constantly growing with the addition of new information. The question-answering systems over knowledge graphs (KGQA) retrieve answers to a natural language question from the knowledge graph. Most existing KGQA systems use static knowledge bases for offline training. After deployment, they fail to learn from unseen new entities added to the graph. There is a need for dynamic algorithms which can adapt to the evolving graphs and give interpretable results. In this research work, we propose using new auction algorithms for question answering over knowledge graphs. These algorithms can adapt to changing environments in real-time, making them suitable for offline and online training. An auction algorithm computes paths connecting an origin node to one or more destination nodes in a directed graph and uses node prices to guide the search for the path. The prices are initially assigned arbitrarily and updated dynamically based on defined rules. The algorithm navigates the graph from the high-price to the low-price nodes. When new nodes and edges are dynamically added or removed in an evolving knowledge graph, the algorithm can adapt by reusing the prices of existing nodes and assigning arbitrary prices to the new nodes. For subsequent related searches, the “learned” prices provide the means to “transfer knowledge” and act as a “guide”: to steer it toward the lower-priced nodes. Our approach reduces the search computational effort by 60% in our experiments, thus making the algorithm computationally efficient. The resulting path given by the algorithm can be mapped to the attributes of entities and relations in knowledge graphs to provide an explainable answer to the query. We discuss some applications for which our method can be used.
A Comparative Analysis of RNAi Trigger Uptake and Distribution in Mosquito Vectors of Disease
Authors: Airs Paul M. , Kudrna Katherine E. , Lubinski Bailey , Phanse Yashdeep , Bartholomay Lyric C.
Published: June 2023

In mosquitoes, the utilization of RNAi for functional genetics is widespread, usually mediated through introduced double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) with sequence identity to a gene of interest. However, RNAi in mosquitoes is often hampered by inconsistencies in target gene knockdown between experimental setups. While the core RNAi pathway is known to function in most mosquito strains, the uptake and biodistribution of dsRNAs across different mosquito species and life stages have yet to be extensively explored as a source of variation in RNAi experiments. To better understand mosquito-RNAi dynamics, the biodistribution of a dsRNA to a heterologous gene, LacZ (iLacZ), was tracked following various routes of exposure in the larval and adult stages of Aedes aegypti, Anopheles gambiae, and Culex pipiens. iLacZ was largely limited to the gut lumen when exposed per os, or to the cuticle when topically applied, but spread through the hemocoel when injected. Uptake of dsRNA was noted in a subset of cells including: hemocytes, pericardial cells of the dorsal vessel, ovarian follicles, and ganglia of the ventral nerve cord. These cell types are all known to undergo phagocytosis, pinocytosis, or both, and as such may actively take up RNAi triggers. In Ae. aegypti, iLacZ was detected for up to one week post exposure by Northern blotting, but uptake and degradation drastically differed across tissues. The results presented here reveal that the uptake of RNAi triggers is distinct and specific to the cell type in vivo.
Novel Concepts for Graphene-Based Nanomaterials Synthesis for Phenol Removal from Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME)
Authors: Obayomi Kehinde Shola , Lau Sie Yon , Danquah Michael K. , Zhang Jianhua , Chiong Tung , Takeo Masahiro , Jeevanandam Jaison
Published: June 2023

In recent years, the global population has increased significantly, resulting in elevated levels of pollution in waterways. Organic pollutants are a major source of water pollution in various parts of the world, with phenolic compounds being the most common hazardous pollutant. These compounds are released from industrial effluents, such as palm oil milling effluent (POME), and cause several environmental issues. Adsorption is known to be an efficient method for mitigating water contaminants, with the ability to eliminate phenolic contaminants even at low concentrations. Carbon-based materials have been reported to be effective composite adsorbents for phenol removal due to their excellent surface features and impressive sorption capability. However, the development of novel sorbents with higher specific sorption capabilities and faster contaminant removal rates is necessary. Graphene possesses exceptionally attractive chemical, thermal, mechanical, and optical properties, including higher chemical stability, thermal conductivity, current density, optical transmittance, and surface area. The unique features of graphene and its derivatives have gained significant attention in the application of sorbents for water decontamination. Recently, the emergence of graphene-based adsorbents with large surface areas and active surfaces has been proposed as a potential alternative to conventional sorbents. The aim of this article is to discuss novel synthesis approaches for producing graphene-based nanomaterials for the adsorptive uptake of organic pollutants from water, with a special focus on phenols associated with POME. Furthermore, this article explores adsorptive properties, experimental parameters for nanomaterial synthesis, isotherms and kinetic models, mechanisms of nanomaterial formation, and the ability of graphene-based materials as adsorbents of specific contaminants.
Excellent Magnetocaloric Performance of the Fe87Ce13−xBx (x = 5, 6, 7) Metallic Glasses and Their Composite
Authors: Zheng Shu-Hui , Wang Qiang , Zhu Li-Ze , Wang Peng-Jie , Ding Ding , Tang Ben-Zhen , Yu Peng , Yao Jin-Lei , Xia Lei
Published: June 2023

The novel Fe87Ce13−xBx (x = 5, 6, 7) metallic glass (MG) ribbons were fabricated in this work. The compositional dependence of glass forming ability (GFA), magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of these ternary MGs, and the mechanism involved was investigated. The GFA and Curie temperature (Tc) of the MG ribbons were found to improve with the boron content, and the peak value of magnetic entropy change (−ΔSmpeak) reaches a maximum of 3.88 J/(kg × K) under 5 T when x = 6. Based on the three results, we designed an amorphous composite that exhibits a table-shape magnetic entropy change (−ΔSm) profile with a rather high average −ΔSm (−ΔSmaverage~3.29 J/(kg × K) under 5 T) from 282.5 K to 320 K, which makes it a potential candidate for the highly efficient refrigerant in a domestic magnetic refrigeration appliance.
Lightweight SCC Development in a Low-Carbon Cementitious System for Structural Applications
Authors: Fares Galal , El-Sayed Ahmed K. , Alhozaimy Abdulrahman M. , Al-Negheimish Abdulaziz I. , Albidah Abdulrahman S.
Published: June 2023

The utilization of manufactured lightweight aggregates adds another dimension to the cost of the preparation of self-compacting concrete (SCC). The common practice of adding absorption water to the lightweight aggregates before concreting leads to inaccurate calculations of the water-to-cement ratio. Moreover, the absorption of water weakens this interfacial bond between aggregates and the cementitious matrix. A particular type of black volcanic rock with a vesicular texture known as scoria rocks (SR) is utilized. With an adapted sequence of additions, the occurrence of water absorption can be minimized to overcome the issue of calculating the true water content. In this study, the approach of preparing the cementitious paste first with adjusted rheology followed by the addition of fine and coarse SR aggregates enabled us to circumvent the need for adding absorption water to the aggregates. This step has improved the overall strength due to the enhanced bond between the aggregate and the cementitious matrix, rendering a lightweight SCC mix with a target compressive strength of 40 MPa at 28 days, which makes it appropriate for structural applications. Different mixes were prepared and optimized for the best cementitious system that achieved the goal of this study. The optimized quaternary cementitious system included silica fume, class F fly ash, and limestone dust as essential ingredients for low-carbon footprint concrete. The rheological properties and parameters of the optimized mix were tested, evaluated, and compared to a control mix prepared using normal-weight aggregates. The results showed that the optimized quaternary mix satisfied both fresh and hardened properties. Slump flow, T50, J-ring flow, and average V-funnel flow time were in the ranges of 790–800 mm, 3.78–5.67 s, 750–780 mm, and 9.17 s, respectively. Moreover, the equilibrium density was in the range of 1770–1800 kg/m3. After 28 days an average compressive strength of 42.7 MPa, a corresponding flexural load of over 2000 N, and a modulus of rupture of 6.2 MPa were obtained. The conclusion is then drawn that altering the sequence of mixing ingredients becomes a mandatory process with scoria aggregates to obtain high-quality lightweight concrete for structural applications. This process leads to a significant improvement in the precise control of the fresh and hardened properties, which was unachievable with the normal practice used with lightweight concrete.
Biowaxes from Palm Oil as Promising Candidates for Cosmetic Matrices and Pharmaceuticals for Human Use
Authors: Chaparro Laura María , Neira Laura Fernanda , Molina Daniel , Rivera-Barrera Diego , Castañeda Maribel , López-Giraldo Luis Javier , Escobar Patricia
Published: June 2023

The production of waxes from vegetable oils, such as palm oil, for use as a base material in products for human applications is an alternative to those derived from petroleum and animals. Seven palm oil–derived waxes, called biowaxes (BW1–BW7) in this work, were obtained by catalytic hydrotreating of refined and bleached African palm oil and refined palm kernel oil. They were characterized by three properties: compositional, physicochemical (melting point, penetration value, and pH), and biological (sterility, cytotoxicity, phototoxicity, antioxidant, and irritant). Their morphologies and chemical structures were studied by SEM, FTIR, UV–Vis, and 1H NMR. The BWs presented structures and compositions similar to natural biowaxes (beeswax and carnauba). They had a high concentration of waxy esters (17%–36%) with long alkyl chains (C, 19–26) per carbonyl group, which are related to high melting points (<20–47.9 °C) and low penetration values (2.1–3.8 mm). They also proved to be sterile materials with no cytotoxic, phototoxic, antioxidant, or irritant activity. The biowaxes studied could be used in cosmetic and pharmacological products for human use.
Cyanobacteria: A Promising Source of Antifungal Metabolites
Authors: do Amaral Samuel , Xavier Luciana , Vasconcelos Vítor , Santos Agenor
Published: June 2023

Cyanobacteria are a rich source of secondary metabolites, and they have received a great deal of attention due to their applicability in different industrial sectors. Some of these substances are known for their notorious ability to inhibit fungal growth. Such metabolites are very chemically and biologically diverse. They can belong to different chemical classes, including peptides, fatty acids, alkaloids, polyketides, and macrolides. Moreover, they can also target different cell components. Filamentous cyanobacteria have been the main source of these compounds. This review aims to identify the key features of these antifungal agents, as well as the sources from which they are obtained, their major targets, and the environmental factors involved when they are being produced. For the preparation of this work, a total of 642 documents dating from 1980 to 2022 were consulted, including patents, original research, review articles, and theses.
Interaction of Quercetin, Cyanidin, and Their O-Glucosides with Planar Lipid Models: Implications for Their Biological Effects
Authors: Meleleo Daniela , Avato Pinarosa , Conforti Filomena , Argentieri Maria Pia , Messina Giovanni , Cibelli Giuseppe , Mallamaci Rosanna
Published: June 2023

Flavonoids are specialized metabolites produced by plants, as free aglycones or as glycosylated derivatives, which are particularly endowed with a variety of beneficial health properties. The antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, antifungal, antiviral, anti-Alzheimer’s, anti-obesity, antidiabetic, and antihypertensive effects of flavonoids are now known. These bioactive phytochemicals have been shown to act on different molecular targets in cells including the plasma membrane. Due to their polyhydroxylated structure, lipophilicity, and planar conformation, they can either bind at the bilayer interface or interact with the hydrophobic fatty acid tails of the membrane. The interaction of quercetin, cyanidin, and their O-glucosides with planar lipid membranes (PLMs) similar in composition to those of the intestine was monitored using an electrophysiological approach. The obtained results show that the tested flavonoids interact with PLM and form conductive units. The modality of interaction with the lipids of the bilayer and the alteration of the biophysical parameters of PLMs induced by the tested substances provided information on their location in the membrane, helping to elucidate the mechanism of action which underlies some pharmacological properties of flavonoids. To our knowledge, the interaction of quercetin, cyanidin, and their O-glucosides with PLM surrogates of the intestinal membrane has never been previously monitored.
Long-Term Stable Complementary Electrochromic Device Based on WO3 Working Electrode and NiO-Pt Counter Electrode
Authors: Ke Yajie , Wang Zitao , Xie Haiyi , Khalifa Mahmoud A. , Zheng Jianming , Xu Chunye
Published: June 2023

Complementary electrochromic devices (ECDs) composed of WO3 and NiO electrodes have wide applications in smart windows. However, they have poor cycling stability due to ion-trapping and charge mismatch between electrodes, which limits their practical application. In this work, we introduce a partially covered counter electrode (CE) composed of NiO and Pt to achieve good stability and overcome the charge mismatch based on our structure of electrochromic electrode/Redox/catalytic counter electrode (ECM/Redox/CCE). The device is assembled using a NiO-Pt counter electrode with WO3 as the working electrode, and PC/LiClO4 containing a tetramethylthiourea/tetramethylformaminium disulfide (TMTU/TMFDS2+) redox couple as the electrolyte. The partially covered NiO-Pt CE-based ECD exhibits excellent EC performance, including a large optical modulation of 68.2% at 603 nm, rapid switching times of 5.3 s (coloring) and 12.8 s (bleaching), and a high coloration efficiency of 89.6 cm2·C−1. In addition, the ECD achieves a good stability of 10,000 cycles, which is promising for practical application. These findings suggest that the structure of ECC/Redox/CCE could overcome the charge mismatch problem. Moreover, Pt could enhance the Redox couple’s electrochemical activity for achieving high stability. This research provides a promising approach for the design of long-term stable complementary electrochromic devices.
Microstructure and First Hydrogenation Properties of Ti30V60Mn(10−x)Crx (x = 0, 3.3, 6.6, 10) + 4 wt.% Zr
Authors: Kefi Chourouk , Huot Jacques
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we studied the effect of the Cr/Mn ratio on the microstructure, crystal structure and hydrogen absorption properties of the quaternary alloys of compositions Ti30V60Mn(10−x)Crx (x = 0, 3.3, 6.6 and 10) + 4 wt.% Zr. The addition of Hf instead of Zr was also investigated. We found that all alloys are single-phase BCC (Body Centred Cubic) but with regions of high concentration of Zr (or Hf). The first hydrogenation at room temperature under 2 MPa of hydrogen happens quickly without any incubation time. The Ti30V60Mn3.3Cr6.6 + 4 wt.% Zr alloy showed the fastest kinetics and highest hydrogen absorption (3.8 wt.%). For this composition, replacing Zr with Hf made the first hydrogenation slower and reduced the capacity to 3.4 wt.%. No activation was observed for the same alloy without additives. As the alloy without additives did not absorb hydrogen at all, it means that the presence of these high concentrations of Zr (or Hf) is essential for quick first hydrogenation.