bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association between polymorphisms in NOBOX and litter size traits in Xiangsu pigs
Authors: Huang Jiajin , Ruan Yong , Xiao Meimei , Dai Lingang , Jiang Chuanmei , Li Jifeng , Xu Jiali , Chen Xiang , Xu Houqiang
Published: March 2024

The newborn ovary homeobox gene (NOBOX) regulates ovarian and early oocyte development, and thus plays an essential role in reproduction. In this study, the mRNA expression level and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of NOBOX in various tissues of Xiangsu pigs were studied to explore the relationship between its polymorphism and litter size traits. Also, bioinformatics was used to evaluate the effects of missense substitutions on protein structure and function. The results revealed that NOBOX is preferentially expressed in the ovary. Six mutations were detected in the NOBOX sequence, including g.1624 T>C, g.1858 G>A, g.2770 G>A, g.2821 A>G, g.5659 A>G, and g.6025 T>A, of which g.1858 G>A was a missense mutation. However, only g.1858 G>A, g.5659 A>G, and g.6025 T>A were significantly associated with litter size traits (p < 0.05). Further prediction of the effect of the missense mutation g.1858 G>A on protein function revealed that p.V82M is a non-conservative mutation that significantly reduces protein stability and thus alters protein function. Overall, these findings suggest that NOBOX polymorphism is closely related to the litter size of Xiangsu pigs, which may provide new insights into pig breeding.
Do Forgiveness Campaign Activities Improve Forgiveness, Mental Health, and Flourishing?
Authors: Ortega Bechara Andrea , Chen Zhuo Job , Cowden Richard G. , Worthington Everett L. , Toussaint Loren , Rodriguez Nicole , Guzman Murillo Hernan , Ho Man Yee , Mathur Maya B. , VanderWeele Tyler J.
Published: March 2024

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of a forgiveness public health intervention at promoting forgiveness, mental health, and flourishing.

Methods: Colombian students (N = 2,878) at a private, nonreligious university were exposed to a 4-week forgiveness community campaign and were assessed pre- and post-campaign.

Results: Forgiveness, mental health, and flourishing outcomes showed improvements after the campaign. On average, participants reported engaging in 7.18 (SD = 3.99) of the 16 types of campaign activities. The number of types of campaign activities that participants engaged in evidenced a positive linear association with forgiveness, although some activities were more popular than others and some activities were more strongly associated with increased forgiveness. For depression, anxiety, and flourishing, engaging in more activities was generally associated with greater improvements, but the patterns were less consistent relative to forgiveness.

Conclusion: This forgiveness public health intervention effectively promoted forgiveness, mental health, and flourishing. Effective campaigns in diverse communities involve promoting mental and physical health through forgiveness. However, recent conflict may hinder acceptance, necessitating political capital for leadership advocating forgiveness initiatives.
A Road Map to the Structural Optimization of a Type-C Composite UAV
Authors: Rekatsinas Christoforos S. , Dimitriou Dimitris K. , Chrysochoidis Nikolaos A.
Published: March 2024

The present paper investigates the design process and the dimensioning of a tailless type-C composite sandwich unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The objective is to investigate an innovative aircraft configuration which exceeds the standard approach of ribs and spars and replaces them with a sandwich structure for future unmanned aerial systems. The necessity of carbon fiber-reinforced materials arose due to the weight constraint of a Class C UAV, i.e., the whole vehicle must be under 25 kg, which limits the mass of the structure to 9 kg. The structural design of composite structures differs from the one of traditional isotropic structures. The number of holes should be limited, as drilling down the composite aerostructure would conclude to the generation of delaminations. In addition, the joints between sections with different thicknesses could lead to stress concentrations and disbands. Therefore, the present report is crucial for the continuance of the present project as it has contributed both to the structural design and assessment of the UAV. This work focusses on the computation of loads, the process of structural sizing through a multi-disciplinary optimization approach, and the simulation-based structural proof. Particular attention is paid to the specifically developed semi-analytical method for predicting the aero-elastic load. Based on the detailed finite element model of the global structure, the applicability of the minimum number of bolts as a major structural joining variant is proven. The design process from single components to the assembly of the overall aircraft results in the realization of the demonstrator structure.
Research on the Zooming Method for Determining the Flow, Heat Transfer, and Infrared Radiation of an Air-Breathing Hypersonic Vehicle Powered by a Scramjet
Authors: Wei Xin , Shi Xiaojuan , Ji Honghu , Hu Jinlong
Published: March 2024

In order to study the infrared radiation characteristics of an air-breathing hypersonic vehicle powered by a scramjet, it is necessary to solve the internal and external flow field of the air-breathing hypersonic vehicle. Owing to the complexity and difficulty of solving the three-dimensional flow and heat-transfer process in a scramjet combustor, a quasi-one-dimensional calculation method was established. Utilizing zooming technology, a combination of quasi-one-dimensional simulation within the combustion chamber and three-dimensional numerical simulation elsewhere on the vehicle was employed to obtain the flow field. The accuracy of the zooming method in determining flow, heat transfer, and infrared radiation was verified through comparison with experimental data. The results show that under the flight condition of Ma = 6, the gas temperature and wall heat flux in the scramjet combustor first increased and then decreased along the flow direction. The Mach number of the plume was smaller than that of the free flow, while the velocity of the plume was slightly larger. In the wavelength range of 3–5 μm, as the azimuth angle increased, the integrated radiation intensity of the air-breathing hypersonic vehicle demonstrated a characteristic pear-shaped distribution.
Numerical Evaluation of Aircraft Aerodynamic Static and Dynamic Stability Derivatives by a Mid-Fidelity Approach
Authors: Granata Daniele , Savino Alberto , Zanotti Alex
Published: March 2024

The present study aimed to investigate the capability of mid-fidelity aerodynamic solvers in performing a preliminary evaluation of the static and dynamic stability derivatives of aircraft configurations in their design phase. In this work, the mid-fidelity aerodynamic solver DUST, which is based on the novel vortex particle method (VPM), was used to perform simulations of the static and dynamic motion conditions of the Stability And Control CONfiguration (SACCON): an unmanned combat aerial vehicle geometry developed by NATO’s Research and Technology Organisation (RTO), which is used as a benchmark test case in the literature for the evaluation of aircraft stability derivatives. Two different methods were exploited to extract the dynamic stability derivative values from the aerodynamic coefficient time histories that were calculated with DUST. The results for the mid-fidelity approach were in good agreement with the obtained experimental data, as well as with the results obtained using more demanding high-fidelity CFD simulations. This demonstrates its suitability when implemented in DUST for predicting the static and dynamic behavior of airloads in different conditions, as well as in reliably predicting the values of stability derivatives, with the advantage of requiring limited computational effort with respect to classical high-fidelity numerical approaches and the use of wind tunnel tests.
Applications of Intravital Imaging in Cancer Immunotherapy
Authors: Deng Deqiang , Hao Tianli , Lu Lisen , Yang Muyang , Zeng Zhen , Lovell Jonathan F. , Liu Yushuai , Jin Honglin
Published: March 2024

Currently, immunotherapy is one of the most effective treatment strategies for cancer. However, the efficacy of any specific anti-tumor immunotherapy can vary based on the dynamic characteristics of immune cells, such as their rate of migration and cell-to-cell interactions. Therefore, understanding the dynamics among cells involved in the immune response can inform the optimization and improvement of existing immunotherapy strategies. In vivo imaging technologies use optical microscopy techniques to visualize the movement and behavior of cells in vivo, including cells involved in the immune response, thereby showing great potential for application in the field of cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we briefly introduce the technical aspects required for in vivo imaging, such as fluorescent protein labeling, the construction of transgenic mice, and various window chamber models. Then, we discuss the elucidation of new phenomena and mechanisms relating to tumor immunotherapy that has been made possible by the application of in vivo imaging technology. Specifically, in vivo imaging has supported the characterization of the movement of T cells during immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy and the kinetic analysis of dendritic cell migration in tumor vaccine therapy. Finally, we provide a perspective on the challenges and future research directions for the use of in vivo imaging technology in cancer immunotherapy.
Brain Tumor Detection and Categorization with Segmentation of Improved Unsupervised Clustering Approach and Machine Learning Classifier
Authors: Bhimavarapu Usharani , Chintalapudi Nalini , Battineni Gopi
Published: March 2024

There is no doubt that brain tumors are one of the leading causes of death in the world. A biopsy is considered the most important procedure in cancer diagnosis, but it comes with drawbacks, including low sensitivity, risks during biopsy treatment, and a lengthy wait for results. Early identification provides patients with a better prognosis and reduces treatment costs. The conventional methods of identifying brain tumors are based on medical professional skills, so there is a possibility of human error. The labor-intensive nature of traditional approaches makes healthcare resources expensive. A variety of imaging methods are available to detect brain tumors, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT). Medical imaging research is being advanced by computer-aided diagnostic processes that enable visualization. Using clustering, automatic tumor segmentation leads to accurate tumor detection that reduces risk and helps with effective treatment. This study proposed a better Fuzzy C-Means segmentation algorithm for MRI images. To reduce complexity, the most relevant shape, texture, and color features are selected. The improved Extreme Learning machine classifies the tumors with 98.56% accuracy, 99.14% precision, and 99.25% recall. The proposed classifier consistently demonstrates higher accuracy across all tumor classes compared to existing models. Specifically, the proposed model exhibits accuracy improvements ranging from 1.21% to 6.23% when compared to other models. This consistent enhancement in accuracy emphasizes the robust performance of the proposed classifier, suggesting its potential for more accurate and reliable brain tumor classification. The improved algorithm achieved accuracy, precision, and recall rates of 98.47%, 98.59%, and 98.74% on the Fig share dataset and 99.42%, 99.75%, and 99.28% on the Kaggle dataset, respectively, which surpasses competing algorithms, particularly in detecting glioma grades. The proposed algorithm shows an improvement in accuracy, of approximately 5.39%, in the Fig share dataset and of 6.22% in the Kaggle dataset when compared to existing models. Despite challenges, including artifacts and computational complexity, the study’s commitment to refining the technique and addressing limitations positions the improved FCM model as a noteworthy advancement in the realm of precise and efficient brain tumor identification.
Creation of a Simulated Sequence of Dynamic Susceptibility Contrast—Magnetic Resonance Imaging Brain Scans as a Tool to Verify the Quality of Methods for Diagnosing Diseases Affecting Brain Tissue Perfusion
Authors: Lipiński Seweryn
Published: March 2024

DSC-MRI examination is one of the best methods of diagnosis for brain diseases. For this purpose, the so-called perfusion parameters are defined, of which the most used are CBF, CBV, and MTT. There are many approaches to determining these parameters, but regardless of the approach, there is a problem with the quality assessment of methods. To solve this problem, this article proposes virtual DSC-MRI brain examination, which consists of two steps. The first step is to create curves that are typical for DSC-MRI studies and characteristic of different brain regions, i.e., the gray and white matter, and blood vessels. Using perfusion descriptors, the curves are classified into three sets, which give us the model curves for each of the three regions. The curves corresponding to the perfusion of different regions of the brain in a suitable arrangement (consistent with human anatomy) form a model of the DSC-MRI examination. In the created model, one knows in advance the values of the complex perfusion parameters, as well as basic perfusion descriptors. The shown model study can be disturbed in a controlled manner—not only by adding noise, but also by determining the location of disturbances that are characteristic of specific brain diseases.
A Dataset of Benthic Species from Mesophotic Bioconstructions on the Apulian Coast (Southeastern Italy, Mediterranean Sea)
Authors: Mercurio Maria , Giménez Guadalupe , Bavestrello Giorgio , Cardone Frine , Corriero Giuseppe , Giampaoletti Jacopo , Gravina Maria Flavia , Pierri Cataldo , Longo Caterina , Giangrande Adriana , Nonnis Marzano Carlotta
Published: March 2024

Marine bioconstructions are complex habitats that represent a hotspot of biodiversity. Among Mediterranean bioconstructions, those thriving on mesophotic bottoms on southeastern Italian coasts are of particular interest due to their horizontal and vertical extension. In general, the communities that develop in the Mediterranean twilight zone encompassed within the first 30 m of depth are better known, while relatively few data are available on those at greater depths. By further investigating the diversity and structure of mesophotic bioconstructions in the southern Adriatic, we can improve our understanding of Mediterranean biodiversity while developing effective conservation strategies to preserve these habitats of particular interest. The dataset reported here comprises records of benthic marine taxa from algae and invertebrate mesophotic bioconstructions investigated at six sites along the southern Adriatic coast of Italy, at depths between approximately 25 and 65 m. The dataset contains a total of 1718 records, covering 11 phyla and 648 benthic taxa, of which 580 were recognized at the species level. These data could provide a reference point for further investigations with descriptive or management purposes, including the possible assessment of mesophotic bioconstructions as refuges for shallow-water species.
Metabolomic Profiling Reveals the Quality Variations in Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (Citrus reticulata Blanco cv. Chachiensis) with Different Storage Ages in Response to “Candidatus Liberibacter Asiaticus” Infection
Authors: Liang Jiayin , Xi Yuqing , Li Jiaming , Xu Shugui , Zheng Yongqin , Xu Meirong , Zheng Zheng , Deng Xiaoling
Published: March 2024

Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, especially the pericarp of Citrus reticulata Blanco cv. Chachiensis (PCRC), is an important edible and medicinal ingredient for health and pharmacological properties. Citrus Huanglongbing, a devastating disease that currently threatens the citrus industry worldwide, is caused by a phloem-limited alpha-proteobacterium, “Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus” (CLas). The industry of cultivar Chachiensis has been suffering from HLB. Although HLB affected the quality of citrus fruit, whether the quality of PCRC was affected by HLB remains unclear. In this study, we compared the metabolite profiles between HLB-affected and healthy PCRC from three sources: fresh, 6-month-old, and 9-year-old PCRC, through the untargeted LC–MS method. Compared to healthy controls, various types of bioactive compounds, mainly flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, coumarins, polysaccharides, and phenolic acids, accumulated in HLB-affected PCRC, especially in the HLB-affected 9-year PCRC. In particular, isorhamnetin, isoliquiritigenin, luteolin 7-O-beta-D-glucoside, limonin, geniposide, pyrimidodiazepine, scoparone, chitobiose, m-coumaric acid, malonate, and pantothenic acid, which contributed to the pharmacological activity and health care effects of PCRC, were highly accumulated in HLB-affected 9-year-old PCRC compared to the healthy control. Multibioassay analyses revealed that HLB-affected 9-year-old PCRC had a higher content of total flavonoids and total polyphenols and exhibited similar antioxidant capacity as compared to healthy controls. The results of this study provided detailed information on the quality of HLB-affected PCRC.
The Shelf Life of Milk—A Novel Concept for the Identification of Marker Peptides Using Multivariate Analysis
Authors: Class Lisa-Carina , Kuhnen Gesine , Hanisch Kim Lara , Badekow Svenja , Rohn Sascha , Kuballa Jürgen
Published: March 2024

The quality of food is influenced by several factors during production and storage. When using marker compounds, different steps in the production chain, as well as during storage, can be monitored. This might enable an optimum prediction of food’s shelf life and avoid food waste. Especially, proteoforms and peptides thereof can serve as indicators for exogenous influences. The development of a proteomics-based workflow for detecting and identifying differences in the proteome is complex and time-consuming. The aim of the study was to develop a fast and universal workflow with ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk as a proteinaceous model food with expectable changes in protein/peptide composition. To find an optimum shelf life without sticking to a theoretically fixed best-before date, new evaluation and analytical methods are needed. Consequently, a modeling approach was used to monitor the shelf life of the milk after it was treated thermally and stored. The different peptide profiles determined with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) showed a significant difference depending on the preparation method of the samples. Potential marker peptides were determined using orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analysis (OPLSDA) and principal component analysis (PCA) following a typical proteomics protocol with tryptic hydrolysis. An additional Python-based algorithm enabled the identification of eight potential tryptic marker peptides (with mass spectrometric structural indications m/z 885.4843, m/z 639.3500, m/z 635.8622, m/z 634.3570, m/z 412.7191, m/z 623.2967, m/z 880.4767, and m/z 692.4041), indicating the effect of the heat treatment. The developed workflow is flexible and can be easily adapted to different research questions in the field of peptide analysis. In particular, the process of feature identification can be carried out with significantly less effort than with conventional methods.
Pre-Treatment, Extraction Solvent, and Color Stability of Anthocyanins from Purple Sweetpotato
Authors: Chen Zhuo , Wang Jian , Lu Yang , Wu Qiang , Liu Yi , Liu Yonghua , Kumar Sunjeet , Zhu Guopeng , Zhu Zhixin
Published: March 2024

Purple sweetpotato anthocyanins (PSPA) exhibit significant potential as food colorants with associated health benefits. However, challenges related to browning and instability have hindered the application of PSPA. In this study, various pre-treatments and solvents for PSPA extraction were evaluated based on color, anthocyanin yields, antioxidant capabilities, and brown index. Browning markedly influenced the color and reduced the antioxidant capacity. Optimal results were obtained with the pre-treatment of “steaming of unpeeled whole sweetpotato” and the solvent “1% citric acid-ddH2O”. Furthermore, the color stability of purified PSPA solutions was evaluated under pH levels from 1 to 13 at 25 °C and 65 °C. The PSPA solutions showed a color spectrum from magenta, blue/green, and then to yellow across the pH range. The blue/green hues at pH 10–12 rapidly degraded, while the magenta hue at lower pH showed higher color stability. Elevated temperatures significantly accelerated the PSPA degradation. However, PSPA solutions at pH 1–2 exhibited remarkable color stability, with no spectral decay at either 65 °C for 12 h or 25 °C for 32 days. These results provide valid guidance for the extraction, preservation, and application of PSPA in the food industry.
Hydrogels in Cutaneous Wound Healing: Insights into Characterization, Properties, Formulation and Therapeutic Potential
Authors: Ribeiro Mariana , Simões Marco , Vitorino Carla , Mascarenhas-Melo Filipa
Published: March 2024

Hydrogels are polymeric materials that possess a set of characteristics meeting various requirements of an ideal wound dressing, making them promising for wound care. These features include, among others, the ability to absorb and retain large amounts of water and the capacity to closely mimic native structures, such as the extracellular matrix, facilitating various cellular processes like proliferation and differentiation. The polymers used in hydrogel formulations exhibit a broad spectrum of properties, allowing them to be classified into two main categories: natural polymers like collagen and chitosan, and synthetic polymers such as polyurethane and polyethylene glycol. This review offers a comprehensive overview and critical analysis of the key polymers that can constitute hydrogels, beginning with a brief contextualization of the polymers. It delves into their function, origin, and chemical structure, highlighting key sources of extraction and obtaining. Additionally, this review encompasses the main intrinsic properties of these polymers and their roles in the wound healing process, accompanied, whenever available, by explanations of the underlying mechanisms of action. It also addresses limitations and describes some studies on the effectiveness of isolated polymers in promoting skin regeneration and wound healing. Subsequently, we briefly discuss some application strategies of hydrogels derived from their intrinsic potential to promote the wound healing process. This can be achieved due to their role in the stimulation of angiogenesis, for example, or through the incorporation of substances like growth factors or drugs, such as antimicrobials, imparting new properties to the hydrogels. In addition to substance incorporation, the potential of hydrogels is also related to their ability to serve as a three-dimensional matrix for cell culture, whether it involves loading cells into the hydrogel or recruiting cells to the wound site, where they proliferate on the scaffold to form new tissue. The latter strategy presupposes the incorporation of biosensors into the hydrogel for real-time monitoring of wound conditions, such as temperature and pH. Future prospects are then ultimately addressed. As far as we are aware, this manuscript represents the first comprehensive approach that brings together and critically analyzes fundamental aspects of both natural and synthetic polymers constituting hydrogels in the context of cutaneous wound healing. It will serve as a foundational point for future studies, aiming to contribute to the development of an effective and environmentally friendly dressing for wounds.
Methyl Jasmonate Improves Antioxidants, Protecting Photosynthetic Apparatus in Blueberry Plants under Water Deficit
Authors: Ulloa-Inostroza Elizabeth María , Córdova Carolin , Campos Marco , Reyes-Díaz Marjorie
Published: March 2024

The plant water status is crucial for growth and production, but the current climate change scenario makes it challenging to match the water plant demand. Blueberries are an economically important crop and play an acknowledged role in human health due to their antioxidant compounds. This research aimed to determine whether the exogenous application of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) improves the antioxidant defense mechanisms for protecting the photosynthetic performance in the blueberry plant cultivar ‘Brigitta’ under the stress condition of a water deficit (WD). A greenhouse experiment was carried out under a 16-h light period, at 20 °C, and 60–80% relative humidity for two weeks before the application of MeJA to the blueberry plants (Vaccinium corymbosum, cultivar ‘Brigitta’). The following treatments were maintained for 7-days: (i) 80% field capacity (NoWD), (ii) 80% field capacity plus MeJA application (NoWD + MeJA), (iii) 20% field capacity (WD), and (iv) 20% field capacity plus MeJA application (WD + MeJA). The MeJA was sprayed as an aqueous solution of 10 µM MeJA over the plant’s foliar system. At the end of the assay, the blueberry leaves were analyzed for their relative water content, specific leaf area, lipid peroxidation, total antioxidant activity, total phenols, total anthocyanins, anthocyanidin compounds, and photosynthetic performance. The ‘Brigitta’ cultivar showed a significant decrease in the oxidative stress at leaf levels, with an increase in antioxidant activity, phenolic compounds, total anthocyanins, delphinidin, petunidin, antheraxanthin, zeaxanthin, and an improvement in photosynthetic performance parameters. The ‘Brigitta’ blueberry cultivar was shown to be susceptible to WD, which mainly decreased photosynthesis. However, the application of MeJA to the leaves induced metabolic changes through an increase of the antioxidant strategy within the plant to counteract the negative effects of WD and protect the photosynthetic apparatus, which allowed the ‘Brigitta’ cultivar to withstand the period of a WD.
Chloroplast Genome-Wide Analysis Reveals New Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism Resources for the ARMS-qPCR Identification of Dendrobium brymerianum
Authors: Kamal Afifa , Yang Jiapeng , Wang Mengting , Hou Zhenyu , Li Chao , Niu Zhitao , Xue Qingyun , Ding Xiaoyu
Published: March 2024

Dendrobium brymerianum Rchb. f. is a species of orchid with pharmacological interest for its potential to inhibit the growth of human lung cancer cells. The identification of the Dendrobium species is a notable problem due to morphological similarities and the limitations of universal DNA barcodes. To overcome these difficulties, this study employed complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequences as useful resources for the identification of D. brymerianum. Based on Illumina sequencing, the complete cp genomes of five D. brymerianum individuals were assembled. These genomes were in the quadripartite structure, diverse in length between 151,832 and 152,189 bp, and comprised 126 genes. Moreover, significant differences were found in the Small Single-Copy (SSC) and Large Single-Copy (LSC) regions in comparison to the Inverted Repeat (IR) regions. This study recognized hotspot regions and simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci, providing valuable insights into genetic markers. The phylogenetic relationship of Dendrobium species was discovered, highlighting the need for more precise differentiation practices. To address this, ARMS-specific primers, mainly AAob1/AAob2, confirmed strong specificity, permitting the accurate identification of D. brymerianum from other species through ARMS-qPCR. Overall, this study of D. brymerianum chloroplast genomes has generated valuable data about sequence variations, phylogenetics, and mutation dynamics. These perceptions will be valuable in future research on population genetics, taxonomy, and species identification within the Dendrobium genus.
Neural Radiance Field-Inspired Depth Map Refinement for Accurate Multi-View Stereo
Authors: Ito Shintaro , Miura Kanta , Ito Koichi , Aoki Takafumi
Published: March 2024

In this paper, we propose a method to refine the depth maps obtained by Multi-View Stereo (MVS) through iterative optimization of the Neural Radiance Field (NeRF). MVS accurately estimates the depths on object surfaces, and NeRF accurately estimates the depths at object boundaries. The key ideas of the proposed method are to combine MVS and NeRF to utilize the advantages of both in depth map estimation and to use NeRF for depth map refinement. We also introduce a Huber loss into the NeRF optimization to improve the accuracy of the depth map refinement, where the Huber loss reduces the estimation error in the radiance fields by placing constraints on errors larger than a threshold. Through a set of experiments using the Redwood-3dscan dataset and the DTU dataset, which are public datasets consisting of multi-view images, we demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method compared to conventional methods: COLMAP, NeRF, and DS-NeRF.
Magnetorheological Polishing Based on Honing Vertical Mechanism for Inner Surface of Titanium Alloy Pipes
Authors: Song Wanli , Yang Zhen , Meng Dezhi , Wang Na , Choi Seung-Bok
Published: March 2024

Recently, high internal surfaces for titanium alloy pipes have been required due to the increment of various applications such as aerospace components. In this work, vertical magnetorheological polishing (VMRP) is carried out to achieve high polishing performance on the internal surface of the titanium alloy pipe. A series of comparative experiments were conducted to investigate the polishing mechanism of magnetorheological polishing (MRP) fluid and enhance the polishing performance. It is shown from the experimental results that the VMRP method under the opposite polarity arrangement improves the surface roughness from 47.85% to 83.34% by reducing unwanted vibration and noise during operation. This provides nanoscale surface polishing quality, while such a precision cannot be achieved from the previous horizontal MR polishing apparatus method. It is found that under a 2700 cycle polishing time, a polishing process combining a rough and fine polishing approach with a combination of different particle diameters results in an axial surface roughness of 0.05 μm and circumferential surface roughness of 0.038 μm, respectively. It is also identified that the axial surface roughness of 0.04 μm–0.041 μm is achieved through the combination of high- and low-speed polishing process after 1602 cycles.
Imperative Formal Knowledge Representation for Control Engineering: Examples from Lyapunov Theory
Authors: Knoll Carsten , Fiedler Julius , Ecklebe Stefan
Published: March 2024

In this paper, we introduce a novel method to formally represent elements of control engineering knowledge in a suitable data structure. To this end, we first briefly review existing representation methods (RDF, OWL, Wikidata, ORKG). Based on this, we introduce our own approach: The Python-based imperative representation of knowledge (PyIRK) and its application to formulate the Ontology of Control Systems Engineering (OCSE). One of its main features is the possibility to represent the actual content of definitions and theorems as nodes and edges of a knowledge graph, which is demonstrated by selected theorems from Lyapunov’s theory. While the approach is still experimental, the current result already allows the application of methods of automated quality assurance and a SPARQL-based semantic search mechanism. The feature set of the framework is demonstrated by various examples. The paper concludes with a discussion of the limitations and directions for further development.
Wolbachia and Asaia Distribution among Different Mosquito Vectors Is Affected by Tissue Localization and Host Species
Authors: Ilbeigi Khamseh Nejad Mahdokht , Cappelli Alessia , Damiani Claudia , Falcinelli Monica , Catapano Paolo Luigi , Nanfack-Minkeu Ferdinand , Mayi Marie Paul Audrey , Currà Chiara , Ricci Irene , Favia Guido
Published: March 2024

Microbial communities play an important role in the fitness of mosquito hosts. However, the factors shaping microbial communities in wild populations, with regard to interactions among microbial species, are still largely unknown. Previous research has demonstrated that two of the most studied mosquito symbionts, the bacteria Wolbachia and Asaia, seem to compete or not compete, depending on the genetic background of the reference mosquito host. The large diversity of Wolbachia–Asaia strain combinations that infect natural populations of mosquitoes may offer a relevant opportunity to select suitable phenotypes for the suppression of pathogen transmission and for the manipulation of host reproduction. We surveyed Wolbachia and Asaia in 44 mosquito populations belonging to 11 different species of the genera Anopheles, Aedes, and Culex using qualitative PCR. Through quantitative PCR, the amounts of both bacteria were assessed in different mosquito organs, and through metagenomics, we determined the microbiota compositions in some selected mosquito populations. We show that variation in microbial community structure is likely associated with the species/strain of mosquito, its geographical position, and tissue localization. Together, our results shed light on the interactions among different bacterial species in the microbial communities of mosquito vectors, and this can aid the development and/or improvement of methods for symbiotic control of insect vectors.
Assessment and Optimization of the Insecticidal Properties of γ-Al2O3 Nanoparticles Derived from Mentha pulegium By-Products to Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Carob Beetle)
Authors: Mohamed Abdoul-Latif Fatouma , Ainane Ayoub , Eddabbeh Fatima-Ezzahra , Oumaskour Khadija , Mohamed Jalludin , Abu Arra Ahmad , Ainane Tarik
Published: March 2024

This study concentrates on assessing the insecticidal attributes of the γ-Al2O3 nanoparticles derived from the remnants of Mentha pulegium, which include essential oil, ethanolic extract, and plant waste. The synthesis of the γ-Al2O3 nanoparticles was executed using a direct sol-gel procedure, affirming the crystal structure according to extensive physicochemical analyses such as UV-Vis, XRD, FTIR, and SEM. Evaluation of the insecticidal activity in vitro was conducted against Xylosandrus crassiusculus, a pest that infests carob wood, utilizing strains from diverse forests in the Khenifra region, situated in the Moroccan Middle Atlas. The lethal doses 50 ranged from 40 mg/g to 68 mg/g, indicating moderate effectiveness compared to the commercial insecticide Permethrin. Optimization of the conditions for the efficiency of the γ-Al2O3 nanoparticles was determined using experimental plans, revealing that time, humidity, and temperature were influential factors in the lethal dose 50 of these nanomaterials. Moreover, this study encompasses the establishment of correlations using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Ascending Hierarchical Classification (AHC) among various geographic, biological, and physical data, amalgamating geographic altitude and γ-Al2O3 nanoparticle insecticide parameters, as well as the attributes of the mechanical tests conducted on the carob wood affected by insects. The correlations highlight the close connections between the effectiveness of the insecticide, mountain altitude, and the mechanical parameters that were examined. Ultimately, these nanoparticles demonstrate promising potential as alternative insecticides, thus opening up encouraging prospects for safeguarding against carob wood pests.
Improvement in Dibenzofuran-Based Hole Transport Materials for Flexible Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Lin Yuanqiong , Zhang Xiao , Lu Jinchuan , Lin Xiaohan , Lu Yinghua , Li Xin , Tu Song
Published: March 2024

The π-conjugated system and the steric configuration of hole transport materials (HTMs) could greatly affect their various properties and the corresponding perovskite solar cells’ efficiencies. Here, a molecular engineering strategy of incorporating different amounts of p-methoxyaniline-substituted dibenzofurans as π bridge into HTMs was proposed to develop oligomer HTMs, named mDBF, bDBF, and tDBF. Upon extending the π-conjugation of HTMs, their HOMO energy levels were slightly deepened, significantly increasing the thermal stability and hole mobility. The incorporation of p-methoxyaniline bridges built one or two additional triphenylamine propeller structures, resulting in a denser film. Here, the tDBF-based n-i-p flexible perovskite solar cells createdchampion efficiency, giving a power conversion efficiency of 19.46%. And the simple synthesis and purification process of tDBF contributed to its low manufacturing cost in the laboratory. This work provided a reference for the development of low-cost and efficient HTMs.
Effects of Four Highland Barley Proteins on the Pasting Properties and Short-Term Retrogradation of Highland Barley Starch
Authors: Lin Ran , Nie Mengzi , Li Jiaxin , Wang Aixia , Gong Xue , Wang Fengzhong , Wang Lili , Liu Liya , Dang Bin , Yang Xijuan , Lian Xijun , Tong Li-Tao
Published: March 2024

This study evaluated the effects of four highland barley proteins (HBPs), namely, albumin, globulin, gliadin and glutenin, on the short-term retrogradation of highland barley starch (HBS). The findings reveal that HBPs could reduce the viscosity, storage modulus and hardness of HBS, with albumin and globulin showing more prominent effects. Furthermore, with the addition of HBPs, the loss tangent (tan δ) of HBS loss increased from 0.07 to 0.10, and the enthalpy of gelatinization decreased from 8.33 to 7.23. The degree of retrogradation (DR%) of HBS was 5.57%, and the DR% decreased by 26.65%, 38.78%, 11.67% and 20.29% with the addition of albumin, globulin, gliadin and glutenin, respectively. Moreover, the relative crystallinity (RC) and the double helix structures were inhibited with the HBPs’ incorporation. Meanwhile, the HBPs also could inhibit water migration and improve the structure of HBS gels. In summary, HBPs could inhibit the retrogradation behavior of HBS, which provides new theoretical insights for the production studies of highland barley foods.
Nitroxide-Mediated Controlled Radical Copolymerization of α-Trifluoromethylstyrenes with Styrenes
Authors: Kanbara Tadashi , Ito Yuriko , Yamaguchi Airi , Yajima Tomoko
Published: March 2024

Fluorinated polymers are important materials in everyday life; however, most monomers of widely used fluoropolymers are gaseous, and their polymerization is difficult in an ordinary laboratory. Therefore, partially fluorinated polymers have recently been reported. As an easy-to-handle fluorine-containing monomer, α-trifluoromethylstyrene (TFMST) can be used to produce partially fluorinated polymers with trifluoromethyl groups in the main chain; however, TFMST does not homopolymerize, and there are limited reports on its copolymerization with styrene (ST). In this study, we applied the controlled radical polymerization method, which is effective for the polymerization of ST, to the copolymerization of TFMST and ST. We also showed that nitroxide-mediated polymerization is effective. The content ratio of TFMST in the TFMST–ST copolymer can be controlled between 10% and 40% by changing its monomer ratio. Additionally, the polymerization of TFMST and ST with substituents was performed to increase structural variations. The thermal stability as well as water and oil repellency of the synthesized polymers with different composition ratios and substituents were also evaluated.
Modified NiFe2O4-Supported Graphene Oxide for Effective Urea Electrochemical Oxidation and Water Splitting Applications
Authors: Alamro Fowzia S. , Medany Shymaa S. , Al-Kadhi Nada S. , Ahmed Hoda A. , Hefnawy Mahmoud A.
Published: March 2024

The production of green hydrogen using water electrolysis is widely regarded as one of the most promising technologies. On the other hand, the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is thermodynamically unfavorable and needs significant overpotential to proceed at a sufficient rate. Here, we outline important structural and chemical factors that affect how well a representative nickel ferrite-modified graphene oxide electrocatalyst performs in efficient water splitting applications. The activities of the modified pristine and graphene oxide-supported nickel ferrite were thoroughly characterized in terms of their structural, morphological, and electrochemical properties. This research shows that the NiFe2O4@GO electrode has an impact on both the urea oxidation reaction (UOR) and water splitting applications. NiFe2O4@GO was observed to have a current density of 26.6 mA cm−2 in 1.0 M urea and 1.0 M KOH at a scan rate of 20 mV s−1. The Tafel slope provided for UOR was 39 mV dec−1, whereas the GC/NiFe2O4@GO electrode reached a current of 10 mA cm−2 at potentials of +1.5 and −0.21 V (vs. RHE) for the OER and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), respectively. Furthermore, charge transfer resistances were estimated for OER and HER as 133 and 347 Ω cm2, respectively.
Green Method for the Preparation of Durable Superhydrophobic Antimicrobial Polyester Fabrics with Micro-Pleated Structures
Authors: Zhao Ying , Chen Kaihong , Zhu Jiehui , Chen Huajie , Xia Yong , Xu Minglin , Xu Liyun , Yao Lirong
Published: March 2024

To produce functional protective textiles with minimal environmental footprints, we developed durable superhydrophobic antimicrobial textiles. These textiles are characterized by a micro-pleated structure on polyester fiber surfaces, achieved through a novel plasma impregnation crosslinking process. This process involved the use of water as the dispersion medium, water-soluble nanosilver monomers for antimicrobial efficacy, fluorine-free polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) for hydrophobicity, and polyester (PET) fabric as the base material. The altered surface properties of these fabrics were extensively analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and water contact angle (WCA) measurements. The antimicrobial performance of the strains was evaluated using Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. After treatment, the fabrics exhibited enhanced hydrophobic and antimicrobial properties, which was attributed to the presence of a micro-pleated structure and nanosilver. The modified textiles demonstrated a static WCA of approximately 154° and an impressive 99.99% inhibition rate against both test microbes. Notably, the WCA remained above 140° even after 500 washing cycles or 3000 friction cycles.
Stereoselective [4+3]-Cycloaddition of 2-Amino-β-nitrostyrenes with Azaoxyallyl Cations to Access Functionalized 1,4-Benzodiazepin-3-ones
Authors: Kim Yoseop , Kim Sung-Gon
Published: March 2024

The 1,4-benzodiazepine structural framework is a fascinating element commonly found in biologically active and pharmaceutically relevant compounds. A highly efficient method for synthesizing 1,4-benzodiazepin-3-ones is described, involving a [4+3]-cycloaddition reaction between 2-amino-β-nitrostyrenes and α-bromohydroxamate, with Cs2CO3 used as a base. This process yielded the desired 1,4-benzodiazepines in good yields. Furthermore, an organocatalytic asymmetric [4+3]-cycloaddition was successfully accomplished using a bifunctional squaramide-based catalyst. This approach enabled the enantioselective synthesis of chiral 1,4-benzodiazepines with commendable yields and moderate enantioselectivities, reaching up to 80% yield and 72% ee.
Exploring the neuroprotective effects of black garlic ethanol extract on acrylamide-induced brain damage through apoptotic and neurodegenerative pathways
Authors: Gezer Arzu , Karadağ Sarı Ebru , Gelen Volkan , Eliş Yıldız Sevda , Özkaraca Mustafa , Bedir Gürsel , Çalık Fatma , Eliş İsa
Published: March 2024

This research focused on exploring the therapeutic impact of black garlic ethanol extract (BGE) on the brain tissue of rats exposed to acrylamide (ACR). Twenty-four female rats were divided into four groups. Rats in the control group were given 1 ml of saline by oral gavage for 14 days. The BG group received 5 mg/200 g of BGE extract on a daily basis. The ACR group was administered 40 mg/kg of ACR daily. Rats in the BGE+ACR group received both 5 mg/200 g of BG extract and 40 mg/kg of ACR daily. Brain tissue samples were collected at the study's conclusion for histopathological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical analyses. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to examine the general structure of the brain tissue. Erk1/2, p-ERK1/2, and c-fos were analyzed immunohistochemically; Bcl-2, Caspase-3, ATF6, CREB, and NfkB-p65 protein levels were analyzed by Western blotting; and MDA, SOD, CAT, GSH, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 activities and levels were analyzed using ELISA kits. It was determined that ACR application raised the levels of Erk1/2, p-ERK1/2, c-Fos, NfkB-p65, caspase-3, MDA, IL-6, IL-1-β, and TNF-α, and BGE supplementation decreased this increase. ACR exposure caused a decrease in Bcl-2, ATF6, CREB, CAT, GSH, and SOD expressions, and BGE supplementation prevented or increased this decrease. Based on the findings obtained, it can be said that the ethanol extract of black garlic has antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects, prevents cell damage, and has positive effects on apoptosis in rat brain tissue.
Autoeficacia académica y autorregulación emocional en la educación superior
Authors: Huamaní De la Cruz Rosa Elena , Palacios Garay Jessica Paola , Quintana Otero Ramiro Norberto
Published: March 2024

La autoeficacia académica y la autorregulación emocional son variables del aprendizaje para el éxito académico de los estudiantes universitarios. El objetivo de la investigación fue establecer la relación entre la autoeficacia académica y la autorregulación emocional en los estudiantes universitarios. En este estudio, se utilizó una metodología cuantitativa con un diseño no experimental transversal, la técnica fue la encuesta y se empleó el cuestionario de autoeficacia académica (IEAA) y el cuestionario (ERQP) para la autorregulación emocional y la muestra estuvo constituida por 80 estudiantes de la carrera de Educación. Los resultados mostraron que existe una relación directa y significativa entre la autoeficacia académica y la autorregulación emocional, con una Rho de Spearman de 0.780. Concluyó que a mayor autoeficacia académica posibilita el logro de los objetivos académicos y la autorregulación emocional logra la reevaluación cognitiva, la supresión expresiva.
Особливості становлення імпровізаційного театру у сполучених штатах Америки
Authors: Фадель Альмуваїл
Published: March 2024

Стаття демонструє у дуже репрезентативному, вузькому й ретельно обраному обсязі, як театральна сцена США поєднувала різні форми та функції імпровізації і через ці експерименти створювала зовсім нові, характерні для американського театру стилі та форми. З цієї суміші, завдяки різноманітним пошукам і колективним ідеям, народився імпровізаційний театр – окреме, складне художнє явище, що покладається виключно на імпровізацію не лише як метод, але й також як завершений результат
Milestone
Authors: Varinlioğlu Ender
Published: March 2024

La découverte d’un milliaire dans un chantier de construction à Usak apporte une nouvelle information concernant la localisation de la cité de Temenouthyrai.
Le muse nell’ecl. 10 di Virgilio
Authors: Gagliardi Paola
Published: March 2024

Dans l’ecl. 10 de Virgile, les Muses jouent un rôle très important. Par leur absence déclarée aux vers 9-12 et dans l’invocation des vers 70-72, elles révèlent les limites de la poésie à l’égard de la consolation de la souffrance et annoncent l’abandon de la production bucolique de la part de Virgile.