bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimating Riparian Water Movement in an Incipient Karst Landscape—Minnesota, USA
Authors: Aggarwal Shubham , Kuehner Kevin J. , Magner Joe
Published: February 2024

Understanding rain, ground, and surface water interactions in riparian zones is essential for hydrologic and environmental management. The novelty of this study lies in its revelation of isotopic shifts and consequent evaluation of hydrologic pathways and processes within the forested riparian zones of three distinct streams, valleys, and riparian systems in a carbonate-sandstone incipient karst landscape. We collected water samples from three southeastern Minnesota catchments: Trout Brook, Crystal Creek, and Bridge Creek. A Picarro L2130i was used to measure δ18O for oxygen, and δD for deuterium in units of ‰ (per mil). We estimated the global meteoric line for the study sites, built upon aquifer age dating, and explored aquifer transit time for the study sites using a simple seasonal amplitude model. The results showed small amplitudes for 2020 and 2021, suggesting that bedrock aquifer water was the primary source water with a mean core transit time greater than 10 years. All three catchments were different but had similar bedrock valley types and riparian sediment. The primary driving factor was the seasonal precipitation input mixing with existing water. In a normal to wetter year, the isotopic data showed larger amplitude shifts between seasons with trendlines that adjusted depending on the temperature of the new water additions. The proposed approach is valuable in revealing complex hydrologic processes and pathways and can contribute extensively to the planning and management of karst riparian systems.
The Prevalence of Titanium Dioxide Particles in Synovial Fluid Samples Drops after European Union Ban
Authors: Niessink Tom , Janssen Matthijs , Jansen Tim L. , Otto Cees
Published: February 2024

Due to health concerns, the European Union has banned the use of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in consumables in February 2022, with a 6-month transitional period ending in August 2022. We studied the prevalence of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in synovial fluid samples during and after the transitional period. A total of 302 samples were collected as a consecutive series between 1 April 2022 and 15 June 2023 from patients visiting the department of rheumatology at VieCuri Medical Centre in Venlo, The Netherlands. The samples were primarily collected for diagnostic purposes and only clinical waste material was used for this study. From each sample, up to 40 μl of fluid was analysed with Raman spectroscopy for the presence of titanium dioxide particles. The trend in prevalence was calculated with a 3-month wide moving average. A total of 13 out of 302 samples (4.3%) contained titanium dioxide (TiO2). The prevalence of TiO2 decreased between the transitional period and the period after the ban (p = 0.0154, with a relative risk ratio of 4.9 (95% CI 1.35–17.74). There was no significant difference in patient characteristics between the TiO2 positive and the TiO2 negative group. These results are hinting towards a possible relationship between the EU-ban and the identified decrease in prevalence.
Reducing Anxiety and Enhancing Mindfulness in College Students during COVID-19 through WeActive and WeMindful Interventions
Authors: Harrison Logan T. , Marenus Michele W. , Chen Weiyun
Published: February 2024

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the immediate and short-term, sustained effects of two virtual interventions, WeActive, an aerobic and resistance training program, and WeMindful, a mindful exercise, in reducing anxiety and improving mindfulness among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Participants were 60 students from a large Midwestern university who were randomly assigned to either the WeActive group (n = 36) or the WeMindful group (n = 24). The WeActive group participated in two virtual 30 min aerobic and resistance training sessions per week (WeActive) and the WeMindful group participated in two virtual 30 min mindful exercise sessions per week for eight weeks. All participants completed the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale and the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire through Qualtrics at three time points: one week prior to (pre-test), one week after (post-test), and six weeks after (follow-up) the intervention. Results: A repeated-measures ANOVA revealed a significant main effect of time on anxiety (F = 7.51, η2 = 0.036, p = 0.001) in both groups. WeActive significantly decreased anxiety scores between the pre-test and follow-up (t = 2.7, p = 0.027) and post-test and follow-up (t = 3.1, p = 0.007), and WeMindful significantly decreased anxiety scores between the post-test and follow-up (t = 0.641, p = 0.028). For mindfulness, there was a significant main effect of time in both groups (F = 3.91, η2 = 0.009, p = 0.025), where only WeMindful significantly increased mindfulness from the pre-test to follow-up (t = −2.7, p = 0.025). Conclusions: Anxiety decreased significantly in both the WeActive and WeMindful groups and mindfulness increased significantly in the WeMindful group. Furthermore, the decrease in anxiety was sustained in a short-term period following the end of the intervention.
Epigenetic Modifications and Breeding Applications in Horticultural Plants
Authors: Shi Meiyan , Wei Ziwei , Zhang Pingxian , Guan Changfei , Chachar Sadaruddin , Zhang Jinzhi
Published: February 2024

Epigenetics is an expansive and rapidly evolving field, fundamentally concerned with heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations to the underlying DNA sequence [...]
Evaluation of Social-Cognitive Determinants of Patients’ Hand Hygiene Decisions and the Role of Mental Health in a Cross-Sectional and a Longitudinal Study of German Patients
Authors: Keller Franziska Maria , Dahmen Alina , Kötting Lukas , Derksen Christina , Lippke Sonia
Published: February 2024

Patients’ effective hand hygiene helps to reduce healthcare-associated infections and prevents the spread of nosocomial infections and communicable diseases, such as COVID-19. Accordingly, this study aimed to describe effective hand hygiene decisions based on the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) and whether this pattern is invariant for mental health. Data were collected cross-sectionally from patients who had previously been admitted to a hospital (Nstudy 1 = 279; study 1) and longitudinally from psychosomatic rehabilitation patients (Nstudy 1 = 1073; study 2). The fit of the HAPA framework and changes in hand hygiene decisions regarding compliance, social-cognitive variables of the HAPA, and mental health status were examined. The results revealed that the trimmed HAPA framework fitted the data well (χ2 = 27.1, df = 12, p < 0.01, CMIN/df = 2.26, CFI = 0.97, RMSEA = 0.08). According to multi-group structural equation modeling, the HAPA model with hand hygiene behavior was found to be invariant regarding mental health. To conclude, the trimmed HAPA framework was revealed to be a generic framework for explaining social-cognitive processes relating to hand hygiene decisions. Therefore, helping individuals to perform hand hygiene recommendations requires intention formation and bridging the intention–behavior gap. This can be undertaken by promoting planning and self-efficacy. All processes appear generic to participants with and without mental health challenges.
Nature and Mental Health in Urban Texas: A NatureScore-Based Study
Authors: Makram Omar M. , Pan Alan , Maddock Jay E. , Kash Bita A.
Published: February 2024

In this cross-sectional study, we examined the impact of access to nature on mental health utilization in urban neighborhoods using Texas outpatient encounters data merged with NatureScoreTM (0–100; low to high nature levels) and US census data (household income, education, employment, poverty, and insurance coverage) at the zipcode level. Our sample size included 61 million outpatient encounters across 1169 zipcodes, with 63% women and 30% elderly. A total of 369,344 mental health encounters were identified, with anxiety/stress and depression encounters representing 68.3% and 23.6%, respectively. We found that neighborhoods with a NatureScore of 60+ had lower overall mental health utilization than those below 40 (RR 0.51, 95%CI 0.38–0.69). This relationship persisted for depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety/stress and in neighborhoods with a NatureScore above 80 (p < 0.001). Compared to neighborhoods with a NatureScore below 40, those above 80 had significantly lower depression (aRR 0.68, 95%CI 0.49–0.95) and bipolar (aRR 0.59, 95%CI 0.36–0.99) health encounters after adjusting for demographic and socioeconomic factors. This novel approach, utilizing NatureScore as a proxy for urban greenness, demonstrates the correlation between a higher NatureScore and reduced mental health utilization. Our findings highlight the importance of integrating nature into our healthcare strategies to promote well-being and mental health.
Y-Box-Binding Proteins Have a Dual Impact on Cellular Translation
Authors: Eliseeva Irina A. , Buyan Andrey I. , Smolin Egor A. , Kaliadzenka Karina S. , Popov Sergey , Kulakovskiy Ivan V. , Lyabin Dmitry N.
Published: February 2024

Y-box-binding proteins (YB proteins) are multifunctional DNA- and RNA-binding proteins that play an important role in the regulation of gene expression. The high homology of their cold shock domains and the similarity between their long, unstructured C-terminal domains suggest that Y-box-binding proteins may have similar functions in a cell. Here, we consider the functional interchangeability of the somatic YB proteins YB-1 and YB-3. RNA-seq and Ribo-seq are used to track changes in the mRNA abundance or mRNA translation in HEK293T cells solely expressing YB-1, YB-3, or neither of them. We show that YB proteins have a dual effect on translation. Although the expression of YB proteins stimulates global translation, YB-1 and YB-3 inhibit the translation of their direct CLIP-identified mRNA targets. The impact of YB-1 and YB-3 on the translation of their mRNA targets is similar, which suggests that they can substitute each other in inhibiting the translation of their mRNA targets in HEK293T cells.
Structural Analysis of Breast-Milk αS1-Casein: An α-Helical Conformation Is Required for TLR4-Stimulation
Authors: Saenger Thorsten , Schulte Marten , Vordenbäumen Stefan , Herrmann Fabian , Bertelsbeck Juliana , Meier Kathrin , Bleck Ellen , Schneider Matthias , Jose Joachim
Published: February 2024

Breast-milk αS1-casein is a Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) agonist, whereas phosphorylated αS1-casein does not bind TLR4. The objective of this study was to analyse the structural requirements for these effects. In silico analysis of αS1-casein indicated high α-helical content with coiled-coil characteristics. This was confirmed by CD-spectroscopy, showing the α-helical conformation to be stable between pH 2 and 7.4. After in vitro phosphorylation, the α-helical content was significantly reduced, similar to what it was after incubation at 80 °C. This conformation showed no in vitro induction of IL-8 secretion via TLR4. A synthetic peptide corresponding to V77-E92 of αS1-casein induced an IL-8 secretion of 0.95 ng/mL via TLR4. Our results indicate that αS1-casein appears in two distinct conformations, an α-helical TLR4-agonistic and a less α-helical TLR4 non-agonistic conformation induced by phosphorylation. This is to indicate that the immunomodulatory role of αS1-casein, as described before, could be regulated by conformational changes induced by phosphorylation.
Chemogenetics Modulation of Electroacupuncture Analgesia in Mice Spared Nerve Injury-Induced Neuropathic Pain through TRPV1 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Hsiao I-Han , Yen Chia-Ming , Hsu Hsin-Cheng , Liao Hsien-Yin , Lin Yi-Wen
Published: February 2024

Neuropathic pain, which is initiated by a malfunction of the somatosensory cortex system, elicits inflammation and simultaneously activates glial cells that initiate neuroinflammation. Electroacupuncture (EA) has been shown to have therapeutic effects for neuropathic pain, although with uncertain mechanisms. We suggest that EA can reliably cure neuropathic disease through anti-inflammation and transient receptor potential V1 (TRPV1) signaling pathways from the peripheral to the central nervous system. To explore this, we used EA to treat the mice spared nerve injury (SNI) model and explore the underlying molecular mechanisms through novel chemogenetics techniques. Both mechanical and thermal pain were found in SNI mice at four weeks (mechanical: 3.23 ± 0.29 g; thermal: 4.9 ± 0.14 s). Mechanical hyperalgesia was partially attenuated by 2 Hz EA (mechanical: 4.05 ± 0.19 g), and thermal hyperalgesia was fully reduced (thermal: 6.22 ± 0.26 s) but not with sham EA (mechanical: 3.13 ± 0.23 g; thermal: 4.58 ± 0.37 s), suggesting EA’s specificity. In addition, animals with Trpv1 deletion showed partial mechanical hyperalgesia and no significant induction of thermal hyperalgesia in neuropathic pain mice (mechanical: 4.43 ± 0.26 g; thermal: 6.24 ± 0.09 s). Moreover, we found increased levels of inflammatory factors such as interleukin-1 beta (IL1-β), IL-3, IL-6, IL-12, IL-17, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interferon gamma after SNI modeling, which decreased in the EA and Trpv1−/− groups rather than the sham group. Western blot and immunofluorescence analysis showed similar tendencies in the dorsal root ganglion, spinal cord dorsal horn, somatosensory cortex (SSC), and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). In addition, a novel chemogenetics method was used to precisely inhibit SSC to ACC activity, which showed an analgesic effect through the TRPV1 pathway. In summary, our findings indicate a novel mechanism underlying neuropathic pain as a beneficial target for neuropathic pain.
Transcriptome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of bHLH Family Genes in Iris domestica under Drought and Cu Stress
Authors: Ai Qiang , Han Mei , Liu Cuijing , Yang Limin
Published: February 2024

The role of bHLH transcription factors in plant response to abiotic stress and regulation of flavonoid metabolism is well documented. However, to date, the bHLH transcription factor family in Iris domestica remains unreported, impeding further research on flavonoid metabolism in this plant. To address this knowledge gap, we employed bioinformatics to identify 39 IdbHLH genes and characterised their phylogenetic relationships and gene expression patterns under both drought and copper stress conditions. Our evolutionary tree analysis classified the 39 IdbHLHs into 17 subfamilies. Expression pattern analysis revealed that different IdbHLH transcription factors had distinct expression trends in various organs, suggesting that they might be involved in diverse biological processes. We found that IdbHLH36 was highly expressed in all organs (Transcripts Per Million (TPM) > 10), while only 12 IdbHLH genes in the rhizome and four in the root were significantly upregulated under drought stress. Of these, four genes (IdbHLH05, -37, -38, -39) were co-upregulated in both the rhizome and root, indicating their potential role in drought resistance. With regards to copper stress, we found that only 12 genes were upregulated. Further co-expression analysis revealed that most bHLH genes were significantly correlated with key enzyme genes involved in isoflavone biosynthesis. Thereinto, IdbHLH06 showed a significant positive correlation with IdC4H1 and Id4CL1 (p < 0.05). Furthermore, a transient expression assay confirmed that the IdbHLH06 protein was localised in the nucleus. Our findings provide new insights into the molecular basis and regulatory mechanisms of bHLH transcription factors in isoflavone biosynthesis in I. domestica.
The Potential of PIP3 in Enhancing Wound Healing
Authors: Blitsman Yossi , Hollander Etili , Benafsha Chen , Yegodayev Ksenia M. , Hadad Uzi , Goldbart Riki , Traitel Tamar , Rudich Assaf , Elkabets Moshe , Kost Joseph
Published: February 2024

Given the role of phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP3) in modulating cellular processes such as proliferation, survival, and migration, we hypothesized its potential as a novel therapeutic agent for wound closure enhancement. In this study, PIP3 was examined in its free form or as a complex with cationic starch (Q-starch) as a carrier. The intracellular bioactivity and localization of free PIP3 and the Q-starch/PIP3 complexes were examined. Our results present the capability of Q-starch to form complexes with PIP3, facilitate its cellular membrane internalization, and activate intracellular paths leading to enhanced wound healing. Both free PIP3 and Q-starch/PIP3 complexes enhanced monolayer gap closure in scratch assays and induced amplified collagen production within HaCAT and BJ fibroblast cells. Western blot presented enhanced AKT activation by free or complexed PIP3 in BJ fibroblasts in which endogenous PIP3 production was pharmacologically inhibited. Furthermore, both free PIP3 and Q-starch/PIP3 complexes expedited wound closure in mice, after single or daily dermal injections into the wound margins. Free PIP3 and the Q-starch/PIP3 complexes inherently activated the AKT signaling pathway, which is responsible for crucial wound healing processes such as migration; this was also observed in wound assays in mice. PIP3 was identified as a promising molecule for enhancing wound healing, and its ability to circumvent PI3K inhibition suggests possible implications for chronic wound healing.
Vaping-Dependent Pulmonary Inflammation Is Ca2+ Mediated and Potentially Sex Specific
Authors: Shipman Jeffrey G. , Onyenwoke Rob U. , Sivaraman Vijay
Published: February 2024

Here we use the SCIREQ InExpose system to simulate a biologically relevant vaping model in mice to investigate the role of calcium signaling in vape-dependent pulmonary disease as well as to investigate if there is a gender-based difference of disease. Male and female mice were vaped with JUUL Menthol (3% nicotine) using the SCIREQ InExpose system for 2 weeks. Additionally, 2-APB, a known calcium signaling inhibitor, was administered as a prophylactic for lung disease and damage caused by vaping. After 2 weeks, mice were exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to mimic a bacterial infection. Post-infection (24 h), mice were sacrificed, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lungs were taken. Vaping primed the lungs for worsened disease burden after microbial challenge (LPS) for both males and females, though females presented increased neutrophilia and inflammatory cytokines post-vape compared to males, which was assessed by flow cytometry, and cytokine and histopathological analysis. This increased inflammatory burden was controlled by calcium signaling inhibition, suggesting that calcium dysregulation may play a role in lung injury caused by vaping in a gender-dependent manner.
Regulation of Follicular Development in Chickens: WIF1 Modulates Granulosa Cell Proliferation and Progesterone Synthesis via Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway
Authors: Nie Ruixue , Zhang Wenhui , Tian Haoyu , Li Junying , Ling Yao , Zhang Bo , Zhang Hao , Wu Changxin
Published: February 2024

Proliferation, apoptosis, and steroid hormone secretion by granulosa cells (GCs) and theca cells (TCs) are essential for maintaining the fate of chicken follicles. Our previous study showed that the Wnt inhibitor factor 1 (WIF1) plays a role in follicle selection. However, the significance of WIF1 in GC- and TC-associated follicular development was not explicitly investigated. This study found that WIF1 expression was strongly downregulated during follicle selection (p < 0.05) and was significantly higher in GCs than in TCs (p < 0.05). WIF1 inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis in GCs. Additionally, it promotes progesterone secretion in prehierarchal GCs (pre-GCs, 1.16 ± 0.05 ng/mg vs. 1.58 ng/mg ± 0.12, p < 0.05) and hierarchal GCs (hie-GCs, 395.00 ng/mg ± 34.73 vs. 527.77 ng/mg ± 27.19, p < 0.05) with the participation of the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). WIF1 affected canonical Wnt pathways and phosphorylated β-catenin expression in GCs. Furthermore, 604 upregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 360 downregulated DEGs in WIF1-overexpressed GCs were found through RNA-seq analysis (criteria: |log2⁡(FoldChange)| > 1 and p_adj < 0.05). Cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction and the steroid hormone biosynthesis pathway were identified. In addition, the transcript of estrogen receptor 2 (ESR2) increased significantly (log2⁡(FoldChange) = 1.27, p_adj < 0.05). Furthermore, we found that WIF1 regulated progesterone synthesis by upregulating ESR2 expression in GCs. Additionally, WIF1 suppressed proliferation and promoted apoptosis in TCs. Taken together, these results reveal that WIF1 stimulates follicle development by promoting GC differentiation and progesterone synthesis, which provides an insight into the molecular mechanism of follicle selection and egg-laying performance in poultry.
Virtual Screening of Peptide Libraries: The Search for Peptide-Based Therapeutics Using Computational Tools
Authors: Vincenzi Marian , Mercurio Flavia Anna , Leone Marilisa
Published: February 2024

Over the last few decades, we have witnessed growing interest from both academic and industrial laboratories in peptides as possible therapeutics. Bioactive peptides have a high potential to treat various diseases with specificity and biological safety. Compared to small molecules, peptides represent better candidates as inhibitors (or general modulators) of key protein–protein interactions. In fact, undruggable proteins containing large and smooth surfaces can be more easily targeted with the conformational plasticity of peptides. The discovery of bioactive peptides, working against disease-relevant protein targets, generally requires the high-throughput screening of large libraries, and in silico approaches are highly exploited for their low-cost incidence and efficiency. The present review reports on the potential challenges linked to the employment of peptides as therapeutics and describes computational approaches, mainly structure-based virtual screening (SBVS), to support the identification of novel peptides for therapeutic implementations. Cutting-edge SBVS strategies are reviewed along with examples of applications focused on diverse classes of bioactive peptides (i.e., anticancer, antimicrobial/antiviral peptides, peptides blocking amyloid fiber formation).
Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Mechanism of Exogenous Selenium in Alleviating Cadmium Stress in Purple Flowering Stalks (Brassica campestris var. purpuraria)
Authors: Huang Zhi , Meng Shiling , Huang Juan , Zhou Wende , Song Xiaoli , Hao Peiyao , Tang Peigen , Cao Yihan , Zhang Fen , Li Huanxiu , Tang Yi , Sun Bo
Published: February 2024

In China, cadmium (Cd) stress has a significant role in limiting the development and productivity of purple flowering stalks (Brassica campestris var. purpuraria). Exogenous selenium supplementation has been demonstrated in earlier research to mitigate the effects of Cd stress in a range of plant species; nevertheless, the physiological and molecular processes by which exogenous selenium increases vegetable shoots’ resistance to Cd stress remain unclear. Purple flowering stalks (Brassica campestris var. purpuraria) were chosen as the study subject to examine the effects of treatment with sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) on the physiology and transcriptome alterations of cadmium stress. Purple flowering stalk leaves treated with exogenous selenium had higher glutathione content, photosynthetic capacity, and antioxidant enzyme activities compared to the leaves treated with Cd stress alone. Conversely, the contents of proline, soluble proteins, soluble sugars, malondialdehyde, and intercellular CO2 concentration tended to decrease. Transcriptome analysis revealed that 2643 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were implicated in the response of exogenous selenium treatment to Cd stress. The metabolic pathways associated with flavonoid production, carotenoid synthesis, glutathione metabolism, and glucosinolate biosynthesis were among those enriched in these differentially expressed genes. Furthermore, we discovered DEGs connected to the production route of glucosinolates. This work sheds fresh light on how purple flowering stalks’ tolerance to cadmium stress is improved by exogenous selenium.
The Survival and Physiological Response of Calliptamus abbreviatus Ikonn (Orthoptera: Acrididae) to Flavonoids Rutin and Quercetin
Authors: Huang Xunbing , Zheng Li , Wang Yueyue
Published: February 2024

Insect-resistant substances from plants are important natural resources that human beings can potentially develop and use to control pests. In this study, we explored the adverse effects of rutin and quercetin on grasshopper (Calliptamus abbreviatus), as well as the insect’s physiological response to these substances in laboratory and field experiments. These two plant compounds exhibited toxic effects on C. abbreviatus, with quercetin showing a stronger toxicity, indicated by a lower survival, slower development, and higher induced gene expression and activities of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase, cytochrome P450s, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and catalase, compared to rutin. These compounds, especially quercetin, have the potential to be developed as biopesticides to control grasshoppers.
Toxicity and Behavior-Altering Effects of Three Nanomaterials on Red Imported Fire Ants and Their Effectiveness in Combination with Indoxacarb
Authors: Ma Zewen , Fu Jiantao , Zhang Yunfei , Wang Lanying , Luo Yanping
Published: February 2024

The red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren) is one of the 100 worst invasive alien species in the world. At present, the control of red imported fire ants is still mainly based on chemical control, and the most commonly used is indoxacarb bait. In this study, the contact and feeding toxicity of 16 kinds of nanomaterials to workers, larvae, and reproductive ants were evaluated after 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h. The results showed that the mortality of diatomite, Silica (raspberry-shaped), and multi-walled carbon nanotubes among workers reached 98.67%, 97.33%, and 68%, respectively, after contact treatment of 72 h. The mortality of both larval and reproductive ants was less than 20% after 72 h of treatment. All mortality rates in the fed treatment group were below 20% after 72 h. Subsequently, we evaluated the digging, corpse-removal, and foraging behaviors of workers after feeding with diatomite, Silica (raspberry-shaped), and multi-walled carbon nanotubes for 24 h, which yielded inhibitory effects on the behavior of red imported fire ants. The most effective was diatomite, which dramatically decreased the number of workers that dug, extended the time needed for worker ant corpse removal and foraging activities, decreased the number of workers that foraged, and decreased the weight of the food carried by the workers. In addition, we also evaluated the contact and feeding toxicity of these three nanomaterials in combination with indoxacarb on red imported fire ants. According to contact toxicity, after 12 h of contact treatment, the death rate among the red imported fire ants exposed to the three materials combined with indoxacarb reached more than 97%. After 72 h of exposure treatment, the mortality rate of larvae was more than 73% when the nanomaterial content was above 1% and 83% when the diatomite content was 0.5%, which was significantly higher than the 50% recorded in the indoxacarb control group. After 72 h of feeding treatment, the mortality of diatomite, Silica (raspberry-shaped), and multi-walled carbon nanotubes combined with indoxacarb reached 92%, 87%, and 98%, respectively. The death rates of the three kinds of composite ants reached 97%, 67%, and 87%, respectively. The three kinds of composite food had significant inhibitory effects on the behavior of workers, and the trend was largely consistent with the effect of nanomaterials alone. This study provides technical support for the application of nanomaterials in red imported fire ant control.
Potential Global Distribution of Paracoccus marginatus, under Climate Change Conditions, Using MaxEnt
Authors: Zhao Qing , Li Huiping , Chen Chao , Fan Shiyu , Wei Jiufeng , Cai Bo , Zhang Hufang
Published: February 2024

The papaya mealybug, Paracoccus marginatus, is an invasive pest species found all over the world. It is native to Mexico and Central America, but is now present in more than 50 countries and regions, seriously threatening the economic viability of the agricultural and forestry industry. In the current study, the global potential distribution of P. marginatus was predicted under current and future climatic conditions using MaxEnt. The results of the model assessment indicated that the area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic ( ROC-AUC) was 0.949, while the TSS value was 0.820. The results also showed that the three variables with the greatest impact on the model were min temperature of coldest month (bio6), precipitation of wettest month (bio13), and precipitation of coldest quarter (bio19), with corresponding contributions of 46.8%, 31.1%, and 13.1%, respectively. The results indicated that the highly suitable areas were mainly located in tropical and subtropical regions, including South America, southern North America, Central America, Central Africa, Australia, the Indian subcontinent, and Southeast Asia. Under four climate scenarios in the 2050s and 2070s, the area of suitability will change very little. Moreover, the results showed that the area of suitable areas in 2070s increased under all four climate scenarios compared to the current climate. In contrast, the area of suitable habitat increases from the current to the 2050s under the SSP370 and SSP585 climate scenarios. The current study could provide a reference framework for the future control and management of papaya mealybug and other invasive species.
Dual Antiplatelet Therapy for the Acute Management and Long-term Secondary Prevention of Ischemic Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack, An Updated Review
Authors: Chan Bernard P. L. , Wong Lily Y. H. , Tan Benjamin Y. Q. , Yeo Leonard L. L. , Venketasubramanian Narayanaswamy
Published: February 2024

To improve the efficacy over antiplatelet monotherapy, dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) has been increasingly adopted in the management of non-cardioembolic stroke. For minor ischemic stroke and high-risk transient ischemic attack, the aspirin–clopidogrel combination is now recommended for acute short-term treatment, whereas aspirin–ticagrelor combination may be considered in selected patients, especially those with resistance to clopidogrel. For long-term stroke prevention, aspirin–dipyridamole combination has been used as an alternative to antiplatelet monotherapy, and aspirin or clopidogrel combined with cilostazole may be prescribed for added protection in high-risk patients. In this paper, we review the development of DAPT from a historical perspective and describe the findings from major clinical trials published up until the end of 2023. Using the 2021 American Heart Association guideline for secondary stroke prevention as a basis for our recommendations, we further discuss areas of controversy and more recent developments to provide an updated review for clinicians to consider in their daily practice.
Processing and Analysis of Hybrid Fiber-Reinforced Polyamide Composite Structures Made by Fused Granular Fabrication and Automated Tape Laying
Authors: Hirsch Patrick , Scholz Simon , Borowitza Benjamin , Vyhnal Moritz , Schlimper Ralf , Zscheyge Matthias , Kotera Ondrej , Stipkova Michaela , Scholz Sebastian
Published: February 2024

Fused granular fabrication (FGF) is a large format additive manufacturing (LFAM) technology and focuses on cost-effective granulate-based manufacturing by eliminating the need for semifinished filaments. This allows a faster production time and a broader range of usable materials for tailored composites. In this study, the mechanical and morphological properties of FGF test structures made of polyamid 6 reinforced with 40% of short carbon fibers were investigated. For this purpose, FGF test structures with three different parameter settings were produced. The FGF printed structures show generally significant anisotropic mechanical characteristics, caused by the layer-by-layer building process. To enhance the mechanical properties and reduce the anisotropic behavior of FGF structures, continuous unidirectional fiber-reinforced tapes (UD tapes), employing automated tape laying (ATL), were subsequently applied. Thus, a significant improvement in the flexural stiffness and strength of the manufactured FGF structures was observed by hybridization with 60% glass fiber-reinforced polyamide 6 UD tapes. Since the effectiveness of UD-tape reinforcement depends mainly on the quality of the bond between the UD tape and the FGF structure, the surface quality of the FGF structure, the interface morphology, and the tape-laying process parameters were investigated.
Creation of an Aluminum Alloy Template with a Surface Structure by Micro-Milling for Subsequent Replication of the Microstructure to Achieve Hydrophobicity
Authors: Knap Artur , Dvořáčková Štěpánka , Váňa Martin
Published: February 2024

This research paper focuses on the fabrication of a microstructure based on a natural structure pattern of hydrophobic properties using micro-milling technology, followed by an investigation of the dimensional accuracy, roughness, and replication of the fabricated microstructure. Design, modeling (CAD system), fabrication, and replication are the steps of this process. Knowledge of biomimetics was used to select the microstructure. The main research aim of the experiments is to verify and extend the applicability of conventional CNC manufacturing technologies to obtain a functional surface structure. The micro-milling was carried out on a conventional DMG MORI CNC machine, a CMX 600 V three-axis horizontal milling center, using an external high-frequency electric spindle clamped to the machine. The machined material was aluminum alloy EN AW 7075. The tool was a 0.1 mm diameter double-edged ball mill made of sintered carbide and coated with TiSiN. The cutting conditions were determined according to the tool manufacturer’s recommendations. To compare the achieved accuracies, the same microstructure was fabricated using PLA technology. For subsequent replication of the sample, the negative of the selected microstructure was created and machined. Subsequently, a positive microstructure was created using the silicone impression material by the replication process. This paper and the experiments performed extend the technical knowledge in the field of manufacturing surface functional structures and confirm the possibility of manufacturing the designed structures using chip and laser machining technology, with achieved discontinuities in the range of 3 to 50 μm. They also highlight the issues of replication of such structures with respect to critical manufacturing locations (geometrical parameters of the structures affecting the functional properties of the structure, venting, replica defects, etc.).
Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of the Medium-Chain Dehydrogenase/Reductase Superfamily of Trichosporon asahii and Its Involvement in the Regulation of Fluconazole Resistance
Authors: Ma Xiaoping , Liu Zhen , Zeng Xiangwen , Li Zhiguo , Luo Rongyan , Liu Ruiguo , Wang Chengdong , Gu Yu
Published: February 2024

The medium-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (MDR) superfamily contains many members that are widely present in organisms and play important roles in growth, metabolism, and stress resistance but have not been studied in Trichosporon asahii. In this study, bioinformatics and RNA sequencing methods were used to analyze the MDR superfamily of T. asahii and its regulatory effect on fluconazole resistance. A phylogenetic tree was constructed using Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, and T. asahii, and 73 MDRs were identified, all of which contained NADPH-binding motifs. T. asahii contained 20 MDRs that were unevenly distributed across six chromosomes. T. asahii MDRs (TaMDRs) had similar 3D structures but varied greatly in their genetic evolution at different phylum levels. RNA-seq and gene expression analyses revealed that the fluconazole-resistant T. asahii strain upregulates xylitol dehydrogenase, and downregulated alcohol dehydrogenase and sorbitol dehydrogenase concluded that the fluconazole-resistant T. asahii strain was less selective toward carbon sources and had higher adaptability to the environment. Overall, our study contributes to our understanding of TaMDRs, providing a basis for further analysis of the genes associated with drug resistance in T. asahii.
The Age of the Expert—COVID-19, Expertise, and Conflicts of Interest in Austrian Media Reporting
Authors: Scherling Johannes , Foltz Anouschka
Published: February 2024

Background: Experts are a favorite source of information in the news media as they have the ability to provide balanced and authoritative comments on important issues. However, two factors cast doubt on the extent to which such experts can actually provide balanced information: conflicts of interest and areas of expertise. In this paper, we analyze the use of expert voices during the COVID pandemic in two Austrian broadsheet papers. Methods: We examine the use of reporting verbs employed to indicate the journalists’ stance towards the expert comments as well as the relationship of those comments to the experts’ fields of expertise and to any potential conflicts of interest. Results: Our analysis shows that the media uncritically reported experts that had considerable conflicts of interest, while others were permitted to comment on topics far outside their particular fields. Conclusions: In the absence of journalistic scrutiny, distance, and context, both of these practices are likely to have led audiences to take the experts’ comments at face value and therefore to have embraced unbalanced information that amplified official narratives, to the exclusion of alternative voices.
Graduation Resources in News Discourse: Calls for the British Museum to Return Chinese Cultural Artefacts
Authors: Wan Yau Ni
Published: February 2024

Using a discourse approach, this study examines online news and opinion pieces about calls for the British Museum to return Chinese artefacts. We examine the interpersonal meanings conveyed by the linguistic choices made in these texts. This study uses the appraisal system in the systemic functional linguistic (SFL) framework to examine how news discourse addresses the issue and constructs interpersonal meanings. Graduation resources, as a subcategory of appraisal system, can underpin the degree of meanings and perspectives, allowing writers to adjust the gradability of attitudinal meanings conveyed to readers. This research first examines how the writer’s voice is embedded in graduation resources, and later, how these graduation resources are used in online news articles calling for the return of the artefacts. This study also examines how online newspapers covered a short film by vloggers called “Escape from the British Museum”, which sparked massive social media reactions, offering new perspectives on how social media and traditional news organisations interact to construct meanings through language. The results show that quantification and fulfilment (completion) resources are the two most common subcategories of graduation resources. The findings shed light on the language strategies used in news and social media discourse, as well as the interpersonal meanings behind such requests for cultural heritage repatriation.
Efficacy of High-Dose Diosmin Therapy in Chronic Venous Disease Treated with Endovenous Ablation: A Quality-of-Life Analysis
Authors: Rinaldi Antonia , Zeno Rita , Peluso Antonio , del Guercio Luca , Sodo Maurizio , Turchino Davide , Iandoli Ruggero , Costa Davide , Serra Raffaele , Bracale Umberto Marcello
Published: February 2024

Background. Vasoactive drugs are considered an important therapeutic tool in managing phlebolymphologic disease. The current study was performed to evaluate the results of a high-dose diosmin-based combination (Venoplant 2g) in symptomatic patients with chronic venous disease (CVD), treated with endovascular venous surgery, regarding the efficacy of this treatment and the clinical signs and patients’ compliance. Methods: We identified, between April 2022 and March 2023, 50 patients with symptomatic CVD who underwent endovenous ablation and additionally were administered high-dose micronized diosmin. Parameters analyzed in the pre- and post-operative period were the venous clinical severity score (VCSS), the calf circumference, and a VEINES-QOL/Sym questionnaire. Treatment efficacy was assessed in post-operative follow-ups at 1 month and 2 months. Results: Quality-of-life analysis showed a significant improvement between t1 and t2 in both tests administered (VEINES-QOL/Sym: 55.2 ± 2.9, 39.2 ± 12.3, p: 0.001) (VCSS: 6.6 ± 1, 5.1 ± 0.7, p: 0.001). At the secondary endpoint, the results maintained the same improvement trend. Calf circumference was significantly reduced between t1 and t3 (41.7 ± 5.1, 38.3 ± 3.4, p: 0.001). Conclusion: High-dose diosmin, combined with sweet clover 320 mg, Centella asiatica 40 mg, and Vitamin C 200 mg, in patients treated with endovenous ablation, can be significantly effective in terms of clinical results in treating superficial venous disease. A patient’s calf circumference was also found to have decreased considerably during follow-up. No adverse effects have been recorded to date.
Small Paracentral Acute Middle Maculopathy Lesions as Biomarker of Vascular Morbidity: Natural Course
Authors: Maltsev Dmitrii S. , Kulikov Alexei N. , Burnasheva Maria A. , Kalinicheva Yana A. , Vasiliev Alexander S.
Published: February 2024

Background: To evaluate the incidence rate of small paracentral acute middle maculopathy (PAMM) lesions in healthy fellow eyes of patients with retinal vein occlusions (RVO). Methods: Patients with unilateral branch RVO or central RVO who were followed up for at least one year were included. Fellow healthy eyes were examined with 6 mm optical coherence tomography angiography scans at baseline and at the end of the follow-up. Small resolved PAMM lesions were displayed using structural en face projections of the slab between two segmentation lines of the outer plexiform layer with 0 µm and −9 µm offset. New lesions were identified by overlaying baseline and final structural en face projections. Results: A total of 41 eyes of 41 patients (12 females and 29 males, mean age 63.5 ± 10.1 years) were included. The mean follow-up was 23.6 ± 11.4 months. Among all RVO patients, small resolved PAMM lesions in healthy fellow eyes were found in 39 patients (95.1%). In the whole cohort, the median number of PAMM lesions was 5.5 (95% CI 3.0 to 8.0) (mean 6.5 ± 5.7) at baseline, which increased statistically significantly to 5.5 (95% CI 3.8 to 8.2) (mean 6.7 ± 5.7) at the end of the follow-up period (p = 0.03). Eight (19.5%) patients demonstrated new lesions, with a median number of new lesions of 1 (ranged 1 to 2). Conclusions: Small PAMM lesions seem to be a slowly progressing retinal vascular biomarker.
Optimal Design of Lower Limb Rehabilitation System Based on Parallel and Serial Mechanisms
Authors: Malyshev Dmitry , Perevuznik Victoria , Ceccarelli Marco
Published: February 2024

This paper presents the structure and model of a hybrid modular structure of a robotic system for lower limb rehabilitation. It is made of two modules identical in structure, including an active 3-PRRR manipulator for moving the patient’s foot and a passive orthosis based on the RRR mechanism for supporting the lower limb. A mathematical model has been developed to describe the positions for the links of the active and passive mechanisms of two modules, as a function of the angles in the joints of the passive orthosis, considering constraints for attaching the active manipulators to the moving platform and their configurations. A method has been formulated for a parametric synthesis of the hybrid robotic system proposed with modular structure, taking into account the generated levels of parametric constraints depending on the ergonomic and manufacturability features. The proposed design is based on a criterion in the form of a convolution, including two components, one of which is based on minimizing unattainable points of the trajectory, considering the characteristics of anthropometric data, and the other is based on the compactness of the design. The results of the mathematical modeling are discussed as well as the analysis results towards a prototype validation.
Queuing Model with Customer Class Movement across Server Groups for Analyzing Virtual Machine Migration in Cloud Computing
Authors: Kushchazli Anna , Safargalieva Anastasia , Kochetkova Irina , Gorshenin Andrey
Published: February 2024

The advancement of cloud computing technologies has positioned virtual machine (VM) migration as a critical area of research, essential for optimizing resource management, bolstering fault tolerance, and ensuring uninterrupted service delivery. This paper offers an exhaustive analysis of VM migration processes within cloud infrastructures, examining various migration types, server load assessment methods, VM selection strategies, ideal migration timing, and target server determination criteria. We introduce a queuing theory-based model to scrutinize VM migration dynamics between servers in a cloud environment. By reinterpreting resource-centric migration mechanisms into a task-processing paradigm, we accommodate the stochastic nature of resource demands, characterized by random task arrivals and variable processing times. The model is specifically tailored to scenarios with two servers and three VMs. Through numerical examples, we elucidate several performance metrics: task blocking probability, average tasks processed by VMs, and average tasks managed by servers. Additionally, we examine the influence of task arrival rates and average task duration on these performance measures.
Leader-Following Consensus of Discrete-Time Nonlinear Multi-Agent Systems with Asymmetric Saturation Impulsive Control
Authors: Yuan Qiao , Chen Guorong , Tian Yuan , Yuan Yu , Zhang Qian , Wang Xiaonan , Liu Jingcheng
Published: February 2024

Impulsive control is an effective approach for coordinating multi-agent systems in practical environments due to its high robustness and low cost. However, impulsive control exhibits characteristics such as high amplitude and rapid variation, potentially presenting threats to the equipment. Additionally, multi-agent systems are constrained by input saturation due to limitations in physical controller structures and information-processing capabilities. These saturation constraints may be asymmetrical. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the saturation constraint when implementing impulsive control, as it can also mitigate the threats posed by the impulse to agents. This paper investigates the leader-following consensus for a class of discrete-time nonlinear multi-agent systems, proposing an asymmetric saturation impulsive control protocol to reduce the energy consumption and damage to the equipment. Regarding the handle of asymmetric saturation, an approach is proposed that eliminates the need for transformation from the asymmetric case to the symmetric case, which retains the saturation function and directly introduces the sector condition to deal with saturation nonlinearity. Furthermore, based on Lyapunov stability theory and matrix theory, sufficient conditions for leader-following consensus in discrete-time nonlinear multi-agent systems under asymmetric saturation impulsive control are established, and the admissible region of the system is estimated. Finally, numerical simulations are provided to verify the validity of the theoretical results.