bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characteristics of Microbial Abundance in Rhizosphere and Non-Rhizosphere Soils of Permafrost Peatland, Northeast China
Authors: Gong Chao , Ma Xiuyan , Song Yanyu , Zhang Dan , Zhu Mengyuan , Wang Xianwei , Gao Siqi , Gao Jinli , Song Changchun
Published: September 2023

The rhizosphere microenvironment is crucial to plant–soil physiological processes. The differences among microbial communities in the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere peatland topsoil (0–15 cm) and subsoil (15–30 cm) in five plant communities dominated by Carex schmidtii, Chamaedaphne calyculata, Ledum palustre, Betula fruticosa, and Vaccinium uliginosum, as well as non-rhizosphere soil in discontinuous and continuous permafrost regions, were studied. We found that the bacteria and nifH gene abundances in the C. calyculata rhizosphere soil in the discontinuous permafrost region were higher than those in continuous permafrost region, while the nirK and nifH gene abundances in the non-rhizosphere soil of the discontinuous permafrost region were lower than those in the continuous permafrost region. The ratio of bacteria to fungi decreased and that of nirK to nirS increased significantly from the discontinuous to the continuous permafrost region, indicating that permafrost degradation can change soil microbial community composition. Fungal abundance was higher in the rhizosphere than the non-rhizosphere soils, suggesting that plant roots provide a more suitable environment for fungi. Moreover, the abundances of the topsoil bacteria; the fungi; and the nirK, nirS, and nifH genes were higher than those in the subsoil because of the organic matter from plant litter as a source of nutrients. The microbial abundance in the subsoil was also more affected by nutrient availability. To sum up, the microbial abundance varied among the different types of rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils, and the carbon and nitrogen cycling processes mediated by soil microorganisms may be greatly altered due to permafrost degradation under climate warming.
Aboveground Biomass Mapping and Fire Potential Severity Assessment: A Case Study for Eucalypts and Shrubland Areas in the Central Inland Region of Portugal
Authors: Alegria Cristina
Published: September 2023

Shrubland and forestland covers are highly prone to fire. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) has been widely used for biomass quantitative assessment. The objectives of this study were as follows: (1) to compute the NDVI annual curve for two types of land cover eucalypts and shrubland areas; (2) to collect field data in these two types of land cover to estimate aboveground biomass (AGB); and (3) to produce AGB maps for eucalypts and shrubland areas by modelling AGB with NDVI, validate them with other data sources, and to compare fuel loads with fire severity levels. A study area in the central inland region of Portugal was considered. The wildfire on 4 August 2023 was considered for burn severity levels assessment using the Normalized Burn Index (NRB). The Sentinel-2 MSI imagery was used to compute the NDVI for the years of 2022 and 2023 and the NBR for the pre-fire and post-fire dates. The NDVI annual curve for 2022 showed a minimum observed between July and August, in accordance with the climatological data, and allowed differentiating eucalypts from shrubland areas. Spectral signatures also confirmed this differentiation. The fitted linear models for AGB prediction using the NDVI imagery showed good fitting performances (R2 of 0.76 and 0.77). The AGB maps provided a relevant decision support tool for forest management and for fire hazard and fire severity mitigation. Further research is needed using more robust datasets for an independent validation of the model.
Impact of Forest Parkification on Color Authenticity
Authors: Han Wenjing , Zhang Chang , Wang Cheng , Liu Songsong , Shen Decai , Zhou Haiqi , Han Dan
Published: September 2023

Preserving the authenticity of forest colors is essential to highlight regional characteristics and promote the sustainable development of forest landscapes. However, the factors and mechanisms influencing forest color remain unclear. We quantified 1422 forest color images from 43 parks across seven biogeographic regions in China to capture the forest color composition among regions. A generalized linear mixed-effects model was used to analyze the effects of meteorological and anthropogenic disturbance factors on forest color. Meteorological factors included accumulated sunshine hours, average temperature, accumulated precipitation, frost-free period, average wind speed, and average air quality index. Anthropogenic disturbance factors included park feature indicators (area, elevation, and perimeter-area ratio) and human activity indicators (distance to urban areas, building density, and road density). We calculated p-values and relative effect estimates to determine the sensitivity and degree of sensitivity of color to each factor. The results indicated the following: (1) forest color composition varied significantly among different regions in China with variations observed particularly in the proportions of primary (green), secondary (yellow and yellow-green), and accent colors (orange and blue-green); (2) forest colors were sensitive to all meteorological factors; (3) orange, yellow, purple, and red were all sensitive to anthropogenic disturbance factors; and (4) forest accent colors were more strongly influenced by anthropogenic disturbance factors, particularly park features. To protect the authenticity of forest colors, it is necessary to avoid excessive borrowing of forest color schemes from different regions, control park features, reduce building area within the park buffer zones, and optimize park tourism routes.
Differences in the Growth and the Ecophysiology of Newly Bred, Drought-Tolerant Black Locust Clones
Authors: Ábri Tamás , Borovics Attila , Csajbók József , Kovács Elza , Koltay András , Keserű Zsolt , Rédei Károly
Published: September 2023

In this study, the growth and physiological performance of four newly bred black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) clones (‘NK1’, ‘NK2’, ‘PL040’, ‘PL251’) together with one registered in Hungary (‘Üllői’) were monitored and compared in a field experiment located in the dry temperate climatic zone of Eastern Central Europe. Tree height and diameter at breast height were measured monthly during May–August 2022, an extremely dry period. Ecophysiological parameters such as leaf temperature, vapor pressure deficit, intercellular carbon dioxide level, transpiration and assimilation rates, and stomatal conductance to water and CO2 were measured in situ. There was a high clonal effect on survival rate and growth of the trees and on the physiological parameters. ‘NK1’ performed best regarding height (1.88 m), while ‘PL040’ (23.76 mm) had the highest diameter increment (n = 16–26). The highest carboxylation efficiency was found in ‘NK2’ (0.077 µmol m−2 s−1), while the lowest was in ‘NK1’ (0.035 µmol m−2 s−1), not showing a significant difference from the ‘Üllői’. Water-use efficiency values were found to be the highest in ‘NK2’ and ‘Üllői’ (4.92 and 4.78 kg m−3, respectively). Ci was found to be maximum in ‘NK1’ and ‘PL040’ (286.15 and 287.37 µmol mol−1, respectively), while it was minimum in ‘Üllői’ (248.30 µmol mol−1). Physiological parameters were found to be significantly different in the clones due to their genetic differences. A strong positive correlation was found between the transpiration and the assimilation rates (r = 0.843–0.994). Within the growing period, the loss of leaves due to abiotic stress was 0 for ‘NK1’ and negligible for the others. ‘NK2’ stood out among the other clones in most of the parameters tested (height, thickness, assimilation, WUE). In addition to its high photosynthetic intensity, its water-use efficiency was also high.
A Denoising Scheme for Scanned Wood Grain Images via Adaptive Color Substitution
Authors: Mao Jingjing , Wu Zhihui
Published: September 2023

Real-world image denoising is a challenging problem in low-level vision. In order to reduce the luminance noise on scanned wood grain images randomly generated by the Microtek Phantom 9900XL scanner, the images were classified and sorted according to the noise size. The proposed denoising scheme reduces noise by substituting dissimilar pixels within a certain window size. The No.1 to No. 6 wood images with noise size of approximately (or no greater than) 3 pixels × 3 pixels were processed using coarse denoising with a 7 × 7 window (α = 100, β = 30), fine denoising with a 5 × 5 window (α = 90, β = 40), and the Dust & Scratches filter at settings of 1 (pixels) and 35 (levels). The No.7 to No. 16 wood images with noise size of approximately (or no greater than) 1 pixel × 1 pixel were processed using fine denoising with a 5 × 5 window (α = 100, β = 30), and the Dust & Scratches filter at settings of 1 (pixel) and 35 (levels). The proposed Scheme I and II was then compared with Wiener filtering, Gaussian filtering, median filtering, and the Dust & Scratches filter under designated settings. The results of subjective and objective evaluations demonstrated that the proposed Scheme outperformed the above denoising methods on reducing the luminance noise. When using the median values of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) channels within a certain window to substitute the R, G, and B values of the luminance noise, the denoising ranges of α≥100 and β≤30 were suitable for the No.1 to No.16 wood images.
Speciation of Iron and Aluminum in Relation to Phosphorus Sorption and Supply Characteristics of Soil Aggregates in Subtropical Forests
Authors: Yi Chenxu , Zhu Jing , Chen Liuhuan , Huang Xiangtang , Wu Rong , Zhang Hongling , Dai Xuanyu , Liang Jianhong
Published: September 2023

Phosphorus (P) is one of the main limiting nutrients in subtropical forest soils. Both soil type and aggregate structure affect the P sorption capacity of soil; thus, determining soil P supply and leaching characteristics. However, the mechanism of their interactions on soil P sorption and leaching at an aggregate level remains unclear. We classified soil aggregates from red soils and limestone soils in a subtropical forest via wet-sieving and carried out P isothermal sorption experiments. The P sorption maximum (Qm), P sorption strength (KL, KF), P sorption index (PSI) and maximum buffer capacity (MBC) were obtained by fitting to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm equations. Moreover, different P fractions were determined to estimate the degree of P sorption saturation (DPS) of aggregates. The results showed that the Qm of the two soils were similar, but the sorption strength (KL, KF) and MBC of the limestone soil were higher than those of the red soil. Higher contents of free iron (Fe) oxide and amorphous aluminum (Al) oxide in the limestone soil may enhance the P sorption capacity and, thus, reduce P availability, resulting in a higher total P retention capacity than in the red soil. A higher content of complex Fe in red soil may reduce P sorption and, therefore, play a role in maintaining the supply capacity of soil-available P. The 0.25–0.5 mm aggregates of the two soils had the largest MBC among all aggregate sizes, and their P sorption and buffering capacity were stronger than other aggregates. The DPS of different aggregate sizes were all low, indicating that the soils of subtropical forests were in a state of P deficiency; thus, the risk of P leaching was low. The <0.1 mm aggregate in red soil had relatively high DPS and significantly lower PSI than the other aggregate sizes, indicating that it was more prone to P leaching. The results provide further insight into forest management to improve P availability and reduce P leaching in subtropical forest soils.
Wireless Energy Harvesting for Internet-of-Things Devices Using Directional Antennas
Authors: Chang Hsiao-Ching , Lin Hsing-Tsung , Wang Pi-Chung
Published: September 2023

With the rapid development of the Internet of Things, the number of wireless devices is increasing rapidly. Because of the limited battery capacity, these devices may suffer from the issue of power depletion. Radio frequency (RF) energy harvesting technology can wirelessly charge devices to prolong their lifespan. With the technology of beamforming, the beams generated by an antenna array can select the direction for wireless charging. Although a good charging-time schedule should be short, energy efficiency should also be considered. In this work, we propose two algorithms to optimize the time consumption for charging devices. We first present a greedy algorithm to minimize the total charging time. Then, a differential evolution (DE) algorithm is proposed to minimize the energy overflow and improve energy efficiency. The DE algorithm can also gradually increase fully charged devices. The experimental results show that both the proposed greedy and DE algorithms can find a schedule of a short charging time with the lowest energy overflow. The DE algorithm can further improve the performance of data transmission to promote the feasibility of potential wireless sensing and charging applications by reducing the number of fully charged devices at the same time.
Correction: Oks, E. A Possible Explanation of the Proton Radius Puzzle Based on the Second Flavor of Muonic Hydrogen Atoms. Foundations 2022, 2, 912–917
Authors: Oks Eugene
Published: September 2023

There was an error/misprint in the original publication [...]
Quasi-Cauchy Regression Modeling for Fractiles Based on Data Supported in the Unit Interval
Authors: de Oliveira José Sérgio Casé , Ospina Raydonal , Leiva Víctor , Figueroa-Zúñiga Jorge , Castro Cecilia
Published: September 2023

A fractile is a location on a probability density function with the associated surface being a proportion of such a density function. The present study introduces a novel methodological approach to modeling data within the continuous unit interval using fractile or quantile regression. This approach has a unique advantage as it allows for a direct interpretation of the response variable in relation to the explanatory variables. The new approach provides robustness against outliers and permits heteroscedasticity to be modeled, making it a tool for analyzing datasets with diverse characteristics. Importantly, our approach does not require assumptions about the distribution of the response variable, offering increased flexibility and applicability across a variety of scenarios. Furthermore, the approach addresses and mitigates criticisms and limitations inherent to existing methodologies, thereby giving an improved framework for data modeling in the unit interval. We validate the effectiveness of the introduced approach with two empirical applications, which highlight its practical utility and superior performance in real-world data settings.
Rheology of Gels and Yielding Liquids
Authors: Malkin Alexander Ya. , Derkach Svetlana R. , Kulichikhin Valery G.
Published: September 2023

In this review, today’s state of the art in the rheology of gels and transition through the yield stress of yielding liquids is discussed. Gels are understood as soft viscoelastic multicomponent solids that are in the incomplete phase separation state, which, under the action of external mechanical forces, do not transit into a fluid state but rupture like any solid material. Gels can “melt” (again, like any solids) due to a change in temperature or variation in the environment. In contrast to this type of rheology, yielding liquids (sometimes not rigorously referred to as “gels”, especially in relation to colloids) can exist in a solid-like (gel-like) state and become fluid above some defined stress and time conditions (yield stress). At low stresses, their behavior is quite similar to that of permanent solid gels, including the frequency-independent storage modulus. The gel-to-sol transition considered in colloid chemistry is treated as a case of yielding. However, in many cases, the yield stress cannot be assumed to be a physical parameter since the solid-to-liquid transition happens in time and is associated with thixotropic effects. In this review, special attention is paid to various time effects. It is also stressed that plasticity is not equivalent to flow since (irreversible) plastic deformations are determined by stress but do not continue over time. We also discuss some typical errors, difficulties, and wrong interpretations of experimental data in studies of yielding liquids.
Metabolomic Profiling of Female Mink Serum during Early to Mid-Pregnancy to Reveal Metabolite Changes
Authors: Luo Yuxin , Huang Yiqiu , Deng Liang , Li Zheng , Li Chunjin
Published: September 2023

Mink embryos enter a period of diapause after the embryo develops into the blastocyst, and its reactivation is mainly caused by an increase in polyamine. The specific process of embryo diapause regulation and reactivation remains largely unexamined. This study aimed to identify changes in metabolites in the early pregnancy of mink by comparing and analyzing in serum metabolites up to twenty-nine days after mating. Blood samples were taken on the first day of mating, once a week until the fifth week. Metabolomic profiles of the serum samples taken during this period were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Multivariate statistical analyses identified differential metabolite expression at different time points in both positive and negative ion modes. The levels of dopamine, tyramine, L-phenylalanine, L-tyrosine, tyrosine, L-kynurenine, L-lysine, L-arginine, D-ornithine, and leucine changed significantly. These metabolites may be associated with the process of embryo diapause and subsequent reactivation.
Embryo Rescue Breeding of New Cold-Resistant, Seedless Grapes
Authors: Chu Yannan , Li Min , Li Ruonan , Zhang Kangzhuang , Qiu Pengpeng , Yuan Xiaojian , Han Yulei , Liu Xinyu , Xu Yan , Liu Guotian
Published: September 2023

Seedlessness in grapes is much appreciated by consumers and especially in cultivars consumed either as table grapes or as raisins. In many parts of the world, low temperature is the main environmental stress limiting grape production. In this study, stenospermocarpic (seed abortion) cultivars were selected as the female parents while seeded cold-resistant cultivars were selected as the male parents to develop new cold-resistant seedless grapes using embryo rescue technology, which has previously been shown to be a highly efficient way of breeding seedless grapes. Here, we report optima in genotype, sampling time, and culture medium for the embryo rescue of 14 hybrid combinations. Our results indicate that the embryo development rate (39.9%) and the seedlings rate (21.5%) were highest among the 14 crosses when ‘Ruby Seedless’ was used as the female parent and ‘Beibinghong’ was used as the male parent. The best sampling times for ‘Yuehong Wuhe’, ‘Ruby Seedless’, and ‘Melissa seedless’ were 37, 55, and 52 days after flowering, respectively. Embryo rescue efficiency was highest when the sucrose concentration for seedlings was maintained at about 1.0%. Using molecular markers, we detected 91 hybrids with seedless traits and 18 hybrids with cold resistance traits.
Assessment of Gene Action and Identification of Heterotic Hybrids for Enhancing Yield in Field Pea
Authors: Yadav Indu , Sharma Vijay , Kumar Mukul , Yadav Lalu , Mishra Anuj , Singh Vivek , Singh Dhanda Parmdeep , Yadav Alpa , Yadav Manisha , Singh Shalesh , Kamaluddin  , Prajapati Pawan , Kaushik Prashant , Gangwar Vaishali
Published: September 2023

Eight field pea parental lines and their twenty-eight F1s resulting from diallel design (excluding reciprocal) were analyzed for their combining ability and heterosis for yield and associated traits. ANOVA revealed significant variation among parents and among hybrids for days to 50% flowering, plant height, total number of pods, effective pods, seeds per pod, 100-seed weight, biological yield and seed yield; pod length also revealed significant differences among hybrids, suggesting the occurrence of considerable variability for studied traits. Crosses P-1541-16 × P-92-97-11 and P-1541-16 × P-1297-97 displayed significant heterosis over better-parent and control varieties for seed yield and associated traits. Combining ability analysis showedthat SCAvariance was considerably higher than corresponding GCAvariance for all traits. Genotype Aman and P-1297-97 were identified as good general combiners for seed yield, while cross P-1541-16 × P-1297-97, Aman × EC-564817, P-1541-16 × P-92-97-11 and P-1297-97 × P-92-97-11 were identified as specific cross-combiners for most of the studied traits. Consequently, these crosses might be exploited in future breeding programs to find desired segregants. PCA explained 81.68% and 83.34% variability in parents and crosses, respectively, for yield component. Furthermore, trait association between GCA effects and SCA effects demonstrates that biological yield, total number of pods, and effective pods exhibit additive gene action, but 100-seed weight exhibits non-additive gene action.
Identification of Apple Varieties Resistant to Fire Blight (Erwinia amylovora) Using Molecular Markers
Authors: Kairova Gulshariya , Daulet Nurzhan , Solomadin Maxim , Sandybayev Nurlan , Orkara Shynggys , Beloussov Vyacheslav , Kerimbek Nazym , Gritsenko Dilyara , Sapakhova Zagipa
Published: September 2023

Fire blight of fruit crops is one of the most dangerous diseases for apple trees and other plants of the Rosaceae family, and in Kazakhstan, it is subject to quarantine. To study the spread of fire blight, a phytopathological evaluation of 59 apple varieties of domestic and foreign breeds was carried out in various regions of the south and southeast of Kazakhstan while also considering climatic conditions. The susceptibility of an apple tree to fire blight is influenced by the climatic conditions prevailing in a particular fruit region of Kazakhstan. Samples were collected from various varieties of apple trees with fire blight symptoms for molecular genetic analysis. The phytopathological evaluation and results of the PCR analysis made it possible to identify the causative agent of the disease and its spread to apple varieties in the main fruit regions of Kazakhstan. A molecular study of the resistance to the fire blight pathogen was carried out using the most effective molecular markers. A set of 10 (FBE-1_Y320; FBE-2_Y192; FBE-2_Y495; FBE-2_Y551; FB-MR5-K35; FB-MRS-R240; FB-MR5-R249; FB-MR5-rp16k15_M106; RLP1a; and RLP1b) SNPs was selected, including SNPs reported to be associated with three trait loci, as well as the two markers AE10-375 and GE-8019. Interestingly, the SNP analysis revealed that for all ten markers linked to fire blight resistance, the genotypes of all 59 apple cultivars were identical. No differences in the presence or absence of these markers were observed among the studied varieties. The 26 apple varieties of domestic and foreign breeds most resistant to fire blight were identified in the molecular analysis using the markers AE-375 and GE-8019. Among the studied 59 apple varieties, 23 varieties were identified using the AE-375 marker and 7 varieties with the GE-8019 marker. Samuret, Honeycrisp, Pinova, and Red Topaz were found to be resistant using markers AE-375 and GE-8019. The most promising apple varieties for further breeding for resistance to fire blight programs were selected.
Conspiracy Theories, Trust in Science, and Knowledge during the Third Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Cyprus
Authors: Mousoulidou Marilena , Siakalli Michailina , Christodoulou Andri , Argyrides Marios
Published: September 2023

Conspiracy theories flourish during periods of crisis. One way to counteract the believability of conspiracy theories is trust in science and knowledge about the “perceived threat”, such as the SARS-CoV-2 virus. A total of 363 adults from Cyprus were recruited via convenience and snowball sampling methods. The data were collected via an internet-based questionnaire that examined participants’ belief in 17 conspiracy theory statements, trust in science and scientists, knowledge about the symptoms and the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, phobic anxiety, hostility, somatization, and personality traits based on the Big Five. The results suggest (a) the overall belief in conspiracy theories in Cyprus is low, even though a notable percentage holds a neutral stance towards these theories; (b) trust in science and knowledge about the symptoms and the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is negatively related to conspiracy theories, indicating the importance of trusting science and having knowledge as a means to counteract conspiracy theories; (c) young adults, those residing in rural areas, and those with a low education level are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories; (d) there are no significant associations between conspiracy theories and the psychological dimensions of phobic anxiety, hostility, and somatization; (e) there is difficulty in identifying specific traits related to conspiracy ideation. Public health officials could benefit from the findings when communicating information during periods of crisis.
Transcriptomic Response of Differentiating Porcine Myotubes to Thermal Stress and Donor Piglet Age
Authors: Sarais Fabio , Metzger Katharina , Hadlich Frieder , Kalbe Claudia , Ponsuksili Siriluck
Published: September 2023

Climate change is a current concern that directly and indirectly affects agriculture, especially the livestock sector. Neonatal piglets have a limited thermoregulatory capacity and are particularly stressed by ambient temperatures outside their optimal physiological range, which has a major impact on their survival rate. In this study, we focused on the effects of thermal stress (35 °C, 39 °C, and 41 °C compared to 37 °C) on differentiating myotubes derived from the satellite cells of Musculus rhomboideus, isolated from two different developmental stages of thermolabile 5-day-old (p5) and thermostable 20-day-old piglets (p20). Analysis revealed statistically significant differential expression genes (DEGs) between the different cultivation temperatures, with a higher number of genes responding to cold treatment. These DEGs were involved in the macromolecule degradation and actin kinase cytoskeleton categories and were observed at lower temperatures (35 °C), whereas at higher temperatures (39 °C and 41 °C), the protein transport system, endoplasmic reticulum system, and ATP activity were more pronounced. Gene expression profiling of HSP and RBM gene families, which are commonly associated with cold and heat responses, exhibited a pattern dependent on temperature variability. Moreover, thermal stress exhibited an inhibitory effect on cell cycle, with a more pronounced downregulation during cold stress driven by ADGR genes. Additionally, our analysis revealed DEGs from donors with an undeveloped thermoregulation capacity (p5) and those with a fully developed thermoregulation capacity (p20) under various cultivation temperature. The highest number of DEGs and significant GO terms was observed under temperatures of 35 °C and 37 °C. In particular, under 35 °C, the DEGs were enriched in insulin, thyroid hormone, and calcium signaling pathways. This result suggests that the different thermoregulatory capacities of the donor piglets determined the ability of the primary muscle cell culture to differentiate into myotubes at different temperatures. This work sheds new light on the underlying molecular mechanisms that govern piglet differentiating myotube response to thermal stress and can be leveraged to develop effective thermal management strategies to enhance skeletal muscle growth.
Embedding and Backscattered Scanning Electron Microscopy (EM-BSEM) Is Preferential over Immunophenotyping in Relation to Bioprosthetic Heart Valves
Authors: Kostyunin Alexander , Glushkova Tatiana , Velikanova Elena , Mukhamadiyarov Rinat , Bogdanov Leo , Akentyeva Tatiana , Ovcharenko Evgeny , Evtushenko Alexey , Shishkova Daria , Markova Yulia , Kutikhin Anton
Published: September 2023

Hitherto, calcified aortic valves (AVs) and failing bioprosthetic heart valves (BHVs) have been investigated by similar approaches, mostly limited to various immunostaining techniques. Having employed multiple immunostaining combinations, we demonstrated that AVs retain a well-defined cellular hierarchy even at severe stenosis, whilst BHVs were notable for the stochastic degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and aggressive infiltration by ECM-digesting macrophages. Leukocytes (CD45+) comprised ≤10% cells in the AVs but were the predominant cell lineage in BHVs (≥80% cells). Albeit cells with uncertain immunophenotype were rarely encountered in the AVs (≤5% cells), they were commonly found in BHVs (≥80% cells). Whilst cell conversions in the AVs were limited to the endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (represented by CD31+α-SMA+ cells) and the formation of endothelial-like (CD31+CD68+) cells at the AV surface, BHVs harboured numerous macrophages with a transitional phenotype, mostly CD45+CD31+, CD45+α-SMA+, and CD68+α-SMA+. In contrast to immunostaining, which was unable to predict cell function in the BHVs, our whole-specimen, nondestructive electron microscopy approach (EM-BSEM) was able to distinguish between quiescent and matrix-degrading macrophages, foam cells, and multinucleated giant cells to conduct the ultrastructural analysis of organelles and the ECM, and to preserve tissue integrity. Hence, we suggest EM-BSEM as a technique of choice for studying the cellular landscape of BHVs.
Space-Flight- and Microgravity-Dependent Alteration of Mast Cell Population and Protease Expression in Digestive Organs of Mongolian Gerbils
Authors: Atiakshin Dmitrii , Kostin Andrey , Shishkina Viktoriya , Burtseva Alexandra , Buravleva Anastasia , Volodkin Artem , Elieh-Ali-Komi Daniel , Buchwalow Igor , Tiemann Markus
Published: September 2023

Mast cell (MC)-specific proteases are of particular interest for space biology and medicine due to their biological activity in regulating targets of a specific tissue microenvironment. MC tryptase and chymase obtain the ability to remodel connective tissue through direct and indirect mechanisms. Yet, MC-specific protease expression under space flight conditions has not been adequately investigated. Using immunohistochemical stainings, we analyzed in this study the protease profile of the jejunal, gastric, and hepatic MC populations in three groups of Mongolian gerbils—vivarium control, synchronous experiment, and 12-day orbital flight on the Foton-M3 spacecraft—and in two groups—vivarium control and anti-orthostatic suspension—included in the experiment simulating effects of weightlessness in the ground-based conditions. After a space flight, there was a decreased number of MCs in the studied organs combined with an increased proportion of chymase-positive MCs and MCs with a simultaneous content of tryptase and chymase; the secretion of specific proteases into the extracellular matrix increased. These changes in the expression of proteases were observed both in the mucosal and connective tissue MC subpopulations of the stomach and jejunum. Notably, the relative content of tryptase-positive MCs in the studied organs of the digestive system decreased. Space flight conditions simulated in the synchronous experiment caused no similar significant changes in the protease profile of MC populations. The space flight conditions resulted in an increased chymase expression combined with a decreased total number of protease-positive MCs, apparently due to participating in the processes of extracellular matrix remodeling and regulating the state of the cardiovascular system.
Development of Gelatin Methacryloyl/Sodium Alginate Interpenetrating Polymer Network Hydrogels for Bone Regeneration by Activating the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway via Lithium Release
Authors: Ma Chen , Kim Yu-Kyoung , Lee Min-Ho , Jang Yong-Seok
Published: September 2023

Hydrogels have gained significant attention as biomaterials due to their remarkable properties resembling those of the extracellular matrix (ECM). In the present investigation, we successfully synthesized interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogels using gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) and sodium alginate (SA), incorporating various concentrations of lithium chloride (LiCl; 0, 5, and 10 mM), aiming to develop a hydrogel scaffold for bone regeneration. Notably, the compressive modulus of the IPN hydrogels remained largely unaffected upon the inclusion of LiCl. However, the hydrogel with the high concentration of LiCl exhibited reduced fragmentation after compression testing. Intriguingly, we observed a significant improvement in cellular biocompatibility, primarily attributed to activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway induced by LiCl. Subsequently, we evaluated the efficacy of the newly developed IPN-Li hydrogels in a rat cranial defect model and found that they substantially enhanced bone regeneration. Nevertheless, it is important to note that the introduction of high concentrations of LiCl did not significantly promote osteogenesis. This outcome can be attributed to the excessive release of Li+ ions into the extracellular matrix, hindering the desired effect. Overall, the IPN-Li hydrogel developed in this study holds great promise as a biodegradable material for bone regeneration applications.
Genome-Wide Identification of the Soybean LysM-RLK Family Genes and Its Nitrogen Response
Authors: Yao Kaijie , Wang Yongliang , Li Xia , Ji Hongtao
Published: September 2023

Lysin-Motif receptor-like kinase (LysM-RLK) proteins are widely distributed in plants and serve a critical role in defending against pathogens and establishing symbiotic relationships. However, there is a lack of comprehensive identification and analysis of LysM-RLK family members in the soybean genome. In this study, we discovered and named 27 LysM-RLK genes in soybean. The majority of LysM-RLKs were highly conserved in Arabidopsis and soybean, while certain members of subclades III, VI, and VII are unique to soybean. The promoters of these LysM-RLKs contain specific cis-elements associated with plant development and responses to environmental factors. Notably, all LysM-RLK gene promoters feature nodule specificity elements, while 51.86% of them also possess NBS sites (NIN/NLP binding site). The expression profiles revealed that genes from subclade V in soybean roots were regulated by both rhizobia and nitrogen treatment. The expression levels of subclade V genes were then validated by real-time quantitative PCR, and it was observed that the level of GmLYK4a and GmLYK4c in roots was inhibited by rhizobia but induced via varying concentrations of nitrate. Consequently, our findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the soybean LysM-RLK gene family and emphasize the role of subclade V in coupling soybean symbiotic nitrogen fixation and nitrogen response.
Oxidation of Ceramic Materials Based on HfB2-SiC under the Influence of Supersonic CO2 Jets and Additional Laser Heating
Authors: Simonenko Elizaveta P. , Kolesnikov Anatoly F. , Chaplygin Aleksey V. , Kotov Mikhail A. , Yakimov Mikhail Yu. , Lukomskii Ilya V. , Galkin Semen S. , Shemyakin Andrey N. , Solovyov Nikolay G. , Lysenkov Anton S. , Nagornov Ilya A. , Mokrushin Artem S. , Simonenko Nikolay P. , Kuznetsov Nikolay T.
Published: September 2023

The features of oxidation of ultra-high-temperature ceramic material HfB2-30 vol.%SiC modified with 1 vol.% graphene as a result of supersonic flow of dissociated CO2 (generated with the use of high-frequency induction plasmatron), as well as under the influence of combined heating by high-speed CO2 jets and ytterbium laser radiation, were studied for the first time. It was found that the addition of laser radiation leads to local heating of the central region from ~1750 to ~2000–2200 °C; the observed temperature difference between the central region and the periphery of ~300–550 °C did not lead to cracking and destruction of the sample. Oxidized surfaces and cross sections of HfB2-SiC-CG ceramics with and without laser heating were investigated using X-ray phase analysis, Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy with local elemental analysis. During oxidation by supersonic flow of dissociated CO2, a multilayer near-surface region similar to that formed under the influence of high-speed dissociated air flows was formed. An increase in surface temperature with the addition of laser heating from 1750–1790 to 2000–2200 °C (short term, within 2 min) led to a two to threefold increase in the thickness of the degraded near-surface area of ceramics from 165 to 380 microns. The experimental results indicate promising applications of ceramic materials based on HfB2-SiC as part of high-speed flying vehicles in planetary atmospheres predominantly composed of CO2 (e.g., Venus and Mars).
Novel Correlation between TGF-β1/-β3 and Hormone Receptors in the Human Corneal Stroma
Authors: Choi Alexander J. , Hefley Brenna S. , Nicholas Sarah E. , Cunningham Rebecca L. , Karamichos Dimitrios
Published: September 2023

This study investigated the interplay between transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β1/T1 and TGF-β3/T3), and sex hormone receptors using our 3D in vitro cornea stroma model. Primary human corneal fibroblasts (HCFs) from healthy donors were plated in transwells at 106 cells/well and cultured for four weeks. HCFs were supplemented with stable vitamin C (VitC) and stimulated with T1 or T3. 3D construct proteins were analyzed for the androgen receptor (AR), progesterone receptor (PR), estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and beta (ERβ), luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR), follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR), gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRHR), KiSS1-derived peptide receptor (KiSS1R/GPR54), and follicle-stimulating hormone subunit beta (FSH-B). In female constructs, T1 significantly upregulated AR, PR, ERα, FSHR, GnRHR, and KiSS1R. In male constructs, T1 significantly downregulated FSHR and FSH-B and significantly upregulated ERα, ERβ, and GnRHR. T3 caused significant upregulation in expressions PR, ERα, ERβ, LHR, FSHR, and GNRHR in female constructs, and significant downregulation of AR, ERα, and FSHR in male constructs. Semi-quantitative Western blot findings present the interplay between sex hormone receptors and TGF-β isoforms in the corneal stroma, which is influenced by sex as a biological variable (SABV). Additional studies are warranted to fully delineate their interactions and signaling mechanisms.
Synthesis of α-Diimine Complex Enabling Rapidly Covalent Attachment to Silica Supports and Application of Homo-/Heterogeneous Catalysts in Ethylene Polymerization
Authors: Zhao Xiaobei , Hou Yanhui , Ye Linlin , Zong Kening , An Qingming , Liu Binyuan , Yang Min
Published: September 2023

For covalent attachment-supported α-diimine catalysts, on the basis of ensuring the thermal stability and activity of the catalysts, the important problem is that the active group on the catalyst can quickly react with the support, anchoring it firmly on the support, shortening the loading time, reducing the negative impact of the support on the active centers, and further improving the polymer morphology, which makes them suitable for use in industrial polymerization temperatures. Herein, we synthesized a α-diimine nickel(II) catalyst bearing four hydroxyl substituents. The hydroxyl substituents enable the catalyst to be immobilized firmly on silica support by covalent linkage in 5–10 min. Compared with the toluene solvent system, the homogeneous catalysts show high activity and thermal stability in hexane solvent at the same conditions. Compared with homogeneous catalysts, heterogeneous catalysis leads to improvements in catalyst lifetime, polymer morphology control, catalytic activity, and the molecular weight of polyethylene (up to 679 kg/mol). The silica-supported catalysts resulted in higher melting temperatures as well as lower branching densities in polyethylenes. Even at 70 °C, the polyethylene prepared by S-CatA-2 still exhibits dispersed particle morphology, and there is no phenomenon of reactor fouling, which is suitable for industrial polymerization processes.
Imprinted Long Non-Coding RNAs in Mammalian Development and Disease
Authors: Di Michele Flavio , Chillón Isabel , Feil Robert
Published: September 2023

Imprinted genes play diverse roles in mammalian development, homeostasis, and disease. Most imprinted chromosomal domains express one or more long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). Several of these lncRNAs are strictly nuclear and their mono-allelic expression controls in cis the expression of protein-coding genes, often developmentally regulated. Some imprinted lncRNAs act in trans as well, controlling target gene expression elsewhere in the genome. The regulation of imprinted gene expression—including that of imprinted lncRNAs—is susceptible to stochastic and environmentally triggered epigenetic changes in the early embryo. These aberrant changes persist during subsequent development and have long-term phenotypic consequences. This review focuses on the expression and the cis- and trans-regulatory roles of imprinted lncRNAs and describes human disease syndromes associated with their perturbed expression.
Effect of Tip Gap Size on the Performance of an Axial Compressor Stage with and without Active Flow Control
Authors: Rannou Clémence , Marty Julien , Tanguy Geoffrey , Dazin Antoine
Published: September 2023

The tip gap region of an axial compressor rotor is a source of complex flows, inducing losses and stability issues. Recent works have proven the ability of blowing high-speed jets in the tip region to improve the surge margin of an axial compressor stage with a narrow tip gap configuration. However, the tip gap size can evolve during the compressor lifetime, possibly affecting its performance and operability. The objective is to evaluate the performance of an active flow control system on a compressor with different tip gap sizes. The present work is based on the single-stage compressor CME2 located at the Laboratory of Fluid Mechanics of Lille and equipped with actuators blowing at the rotor tip leading edge. Configurations with two different values of the tip gap to chord ratio (0.6% and 2.4%) are experimentally tested. RANS simulations are also performed. The effect of tip gap sizes and tip blowing on the flow topology and compressor performance is evaluated (surge margin improvement of the order of 200% for the larger tip gap size).
Anonymization Procedures for Tabular Data: An Explanatory Technical and Legal Synthesis
Authors: Aufschläger Robert , Folz Jakob , März Elena , Guggumos Johann , Heigl Michael , Buchner Benedikt , Schramm Martin
Published: September 2023

In the European Union, Data Controllers and Data Processors, who work with personal data, have to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation and other applicable laws. This affects the storing and processing of personal data. But some data processing in data mining or statistical analyses does not require any personal reference to the data. Thus, personal context can be removed. For these use cases, to comply with applicable laws, any existing personal information has to be removed by applying the so-called anonymization. However, anonymization should maintain data utility. Therefore, the concept of anonymization is a double-edged sword with an intrinsic trade-off: privacy enforcement vs. utility preservation. The former might not be entirely guaranteed when anonymized data are published as Open Data. In theory and practice, there exist diverse approaches to conduct and score anonymization. This explanatory synthesis discusses the technical perspectives on the anonymization of tabular data with a special emphasis on the European Union’s legal base. The studied methods for conducting anonymization, and scoring the anonymization procedure and the resulting anonymity are explained in unifying terminology. The examined methods and scores cover both categorical and numerical data. The examined scores involve data utility, information preservation, and privacy models. In practice-relevant examples, methods and scores are experimentally tested on records from the UCI Machine Learning Repository’s “Census Income (Adult)” dataset.
Multiplicity Analysis of a Thermistor Problem—A Possible Explanation of Delamination Fracture
Authors: Krikkis Rizos N.
Published: September 2023

In the present study, a numerical bifurcation analysis of a PTC thermistor problem is carried out, considering a realistic heat dissipation mechanism due to conduction, nonlinear temperature-dependent natural convection, and radiation. The electric conductivity is modeled as a strongly nonlinear and smooth function of the temperature between two limiting values, based on measurements. The temperature field has been resolved for both cases were either the current or the voltage (nonlocal problem) is the controlling parameter. With the aid of an efficient continuation algorithm, multiple steady-state solutions that do not depend on the external circuit have been identified as a result of the inherent nonlinearities. The analysis reveals that the conduction–convection parameter and the type of the imposed boundary conditions have a profound effect on the solution structure and the temperature profiles. For the case of current control, depending on the boundary conditions, a complex and interesting multiplicity pattern appears either as a series of nested cusp points or as enclosed branches emanating from pitchfork bifurcation points. The stability analysis reveals that when the device edges are insulated, only the uniform solutions are stable, namely, one “cold” and one “hot”. A key feature of the “hot” state is that the corresponding temperature is proportional to the input power and its magnitude could be one or even two orders of magnitude higher than the “cold” one. Therefore, the change over from the “cold” to the “hot” state induces a thermal shock and could perhaps be the reason for the mechanical failure (delamination fracture) of PTC thermistors.
Understanding Epicardial Cell Heterogeneity during Cardiogenesis and Heart Regeneration
Authors: Sanchez-Fernandez Cristina , Rodriguez-Outeiriño Lara , Matias-Valiente Lidia , Ramírez de Acuña Felicitas , Franco Diego , Aránega Amelia Eva
Published: September 2023

The outermost layer of the heart, the epicardium, is an essential cell population that contributes, through epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), to the formation of different cell types and provides paracrine signals to the developing heart. Despite its quiescent state during adulthood, the adult epicardium reactivates and recapitulates many aspects of embryonic cardiogenesis in response to cardiac injury, thereby supporting cardiac tissue remodeling. Thus, the epicardium has been considered a crucial source of cell progenitors that offers an important contribution to cardiac development and injured hearts. Although several studies have provided evidence regarding cell fate determination in the epicardium, to date, it is unclear whether epicardium-derived cells (EPDCs) come from specific, and predetermined, epicardial cell subpopulations or if they are derived from a common progenitor. In recent years, different approaches have been used to study cell heterogeneity within the epicardial layer using different experimental models. However, the data generated are still insufficient with respect to revealing the complexity of this epithelial layer. In this review, we summarize the previous works documenting the cellular composition, molecular signatures, and diversity within the developing and adult epicardium.