bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Natural Products from Chilean and Antarctic Marine Fungi and Their Biomedical Relevance
Authors: Arrieche Dioni , Cabrera-Pardo Jaime R. , San-Martin Aurelio , Carrasco Héctor , Taborga Lautaro
Published: January 2023

Fungi are a prolific source of bioactive molecules. During the past few decades, many bioactive natural products have been isolated from marine fungi. Chile is a country with 6435 Km of coastline along the Pacific Ocean and houses a unique fungal biodiversity. This review summarizes the field of fungal natural products isolated from Antarctic and Chilean marine environments and their biological activities.
A Novel, Highly Potent NADPH-Dependent Cytochrome P450 Reductase from Waste Liza klunzingeri Liver
Authors: Bahramian Nasab Soudeh , Homaei Ahmad , Fernandez-Lafuente Roberto , Del Arco Jon , Fernández-Lucas Jesús
Published: January 2023

The use of marine enzymes as catalysts for biotechnological applications is a topical subject. Marine enzymes usually display better operational properties than their animal, plant or bacterial counterparts, enlarging the range of possible biotechnological applications. Due to the fact that cytochrome P450 enzymes can degrade many different toxic environmental compounds, these enzymes have emerged as valuable tools in bioremediation processes. The present work describes the isolation, purification and biochemical characterization of a liver NADPH-dependent cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR) from the marine fish Liza klunzingeri (LkCPR). Experimental results revealed that LkCPR is a monomer of approximately 75 kDa that is active in a wide range of pH values (6–9) and temperatures (40–60 °C), showing the highest catalytic activity at pH 8 and 50 °C. The activation energy of the enzyme reaction was 16.3 kcal mol−1 K−1. The KM values for cytochrome C and NADPH were 8.83 μM and 7.26 μM, and the kcat values were 206.79 s−1 and 202.93 s−1, respectively. LkCPR displayed a specific activity versus cytochrome C of 402.07 µmol min−1 mg1, the highest activity value described for a CPR up to date (3.2–4.7 times higher than the most active reported CPRs) and showed the highest thermostability described for a CPR. Taking into account all these remarkable catalytic features, LkCPR offers great potential to be used as a suitable biocatalyst.
A Combination of Ilizarov Frame, Externalized Locking Plate and Tibia Bridging for an Adult with Large Tibial Defect and Severe Varus Deformity Due to Chronic Osteomyelitis in Childhood: A Case Report
Authors: Hong Pan , Ding Yuhong , Xu Ruijing , Rai Saroj , Liu Ruikang , Li Jin
Published: January 2023

Background: Various techniques have been reported to treat large, segmental tibial defects, such as autogenous bone graft, vascularized free fibula transfer and bone transport. We present a case of a 24-year-old male with a 17-year history of chronic osteomyelitis with obvious lower limb length discrepancy and severe varus deformity of the tibia secondary to osteomyelitis in childhood. Aim: The aim of this work is to provide an alternative choice for treating patients in developing countries with severe lower limb deformity caused by chronic osteomyelitis. Case Presentations: Without surgical intervention for a prolonged period of time, the patient was admitted in our institute for corrective surgery. Corrective surgery consisted of three stages: lengthening with Ilizarov frame, removal of Ilizarov frame and fixation with externalized locking plate, and removal of externalized locking plate. Tibia bridging was achieved at the distal and proximal junction. The range of motion (ROM) of the knee joint was nearly normal, but the stiffness of the ankle joint was noticeable. The remaining leg discrepancy of 0.1 cm required no application of a shoe lift. Moreover, the patient could engage in daily activities without noted limping. Conclusions: Distraction–compression osteogenesis using the Ilizarov apparatus is a powerful tool to lengthen the shortened long bone and adjust the deformity of the lower limbs. Externalized locking plates provide an alternative to the traditional bulky external fixator, as its low profile makes it more acceptable to patients without compromising axial and torsional stiffness. In all, a combination of Ilizarov frame, externalized locking plate and tibia bridging is an alternative for patients in similar conditions.
Effect of Immature Rubus occidentalis on Postoperative Pain in a Rat Model
Authors: Choi Geun Joo , Kang Hyun , Lee Oh Haeng , Kwon Ji Wung
Published: January 2023

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to identify the analgesic properties of immature Rubus occidentalis extract (iROE) using a postoperative-pain rat model. We also aimed to compare the analgesic effects of iROE to those of mature R. occidentalis extract (mROE) and examine the proinflammatory cytokine response and associated underlying mechanisms. Materials and Methods: In adult male Sprague Dawley rats, acute postoperative pain was induced through plantar hind-paw incisions. After the plantar incisions were made, the rats were intraperitoneally administered with normal saline or various doses of iROE and mROE to investigate and compare the analgesic effects of iROE and mROE. The mechanisms underlying iROE-induced analgesia were investigated via post-incisional administration of yohimbine, dexmedetomidine, prazosin, naloxone, atropine, or mecamylamine, followed by iROE. Mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) evaluations with von Frey filaments were carried out at different time points. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin (IL)–1β, and IL-6 were measured to assess inflammatory responses. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and linear mixed-effects model (LMEM) analysis were used to analyze the analgesic effect data. Results: The MWTs demonstrated significant increases in iROE in a dose-dependent manner up to 2 h after the plantar incisions were made. An LMEM analysis demonstrated that iROE yielded a significantly greater analgesic effect than mROE, but there was no significant difference between the two according to MANOVA. Dexmedetomidine enhanced the MWT-confirmed iROE response, while yohimbine and naloxone diminished it. Administration of iROE significantly attenuated the post-incisional increases in serum IL-1β and IL-6 levels. Conclusions: The iROE demonstrated analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects in a rat model of incisional pain, which were more pronounced than those associated with mROE. The analgesic activity of iROE may be associated with α2-adrenergic and opioid receptors.
Microstructural Heterogeneity and Mechanical Properties of a Welded Joint of an Austenitic Stainless Steel
Authors: Muñoz Jairo Alberto , Dolgach Egor , Tartalini Vanina , Risso Pablo , Avalos Martina , Bolmaro Raúl , Cabrera José María
Published: January 2023

This research presents the microstructural and mechanical evolution throughout the welded seam of an austenitic stainless steel (ASS) tube. It was found that the main hardness decrement occurred in the fusion zone (FZ), followed by the heat-affected zone (HAZ) and the base material (BM). Optical microscopy indicated a dendritic structure in FZ and heterogeneous austenitic grain size from the HAZ towards the BM, ranging from 100 µm to 10 µm. The welding process generated an intense texture around the FZ and the HAZ, while the BM still showed an extrusion-like texture. In terms of mechanical behavior, the largest austenite grain size in the FZ led to the lowest strength and ductility of all zones due to the earliest strain localization manifested by heterogeneous strain distribution. However, the strain localization in all zones appeared after 0.4 true strain, indicating an overall good ductility of the seam. These high values were related to two microstructure characteristics: (1) the 10% δ-ferrite after solidification in the FZ favored by the Creq/Nieq=1.67 relationship that delayed the crack propagation along the austenite grains and (2) the heterogeneous microstructure made up of soft austenite and hard martensite in the HAZ and BM producing multiple strain concentrations. Kernel Average Misorientation (KAM) maps obtained by Electron Back-Scattering Diffraction (EBSD) allowed observing higher internal misorientations in the FZ than in the HAZ due to interconnected walls between the δ-ferrite grains. However, the largest KAM values were observed in the BM between γ-austenite and the deformation-induced α’-martensite phases. X-ray diffraction revealed that the residual stresses in the cross-section of the welded seam were compression-type and then switched to tension-type in the outer surface.
Microstructure, Phase Transformations, and Mechanical Properties of Shape Memory Fe-Mn-V-C Austenitic Steels
Authors: Sagaradze Victor , Afanasiev Sergey , Kataeva Natalya , Ustyugov Yurii
Published: January 2023

The structure and mechanical properties of new dispersion-hardened Mn-(Cr)-Si-V-C steels with a shape memory effect (SME), which undergo strengthening due to the precipitation of VC carbides in a steel matrix, were analyzed. The stabilizing and the destabilizing carbide aging at different temperatures allows one to control and thus adjust the desired strength characteristics (σ0,2 = 250–880 MPa) and amount of reversible deformation (up to 2.7%). The recovery of the shape of the samples was carried out as a result of both the γ-ε transition in the course of heating after preliminary deformation in the initial austenitic state (i.e., due to the transformation of the γ to the ε phase) and the shear re-twinning of martensite in the martensitic ε phase (i.e., due to the occurrence of transformation of the ε to the twinned εtw phase).
Joining of Aluminum Alloy AA7075 and Titanium Alloy Ti-6Al-4V through a Friction Stir Welding-Based Process
Authors: Dias Francisco , Cipriano Gonçalo , Correia Arménio N. , Braga Daniel F. O. , Moreira Pedro , Infante Virgínia
Published: January 2023

Combining dissimilar parts has become imperative for developing the structures based on lightweight materials, such as metal alloys, polymers or polymer matrix composites, and this has become one of the solutions to reverse the current trend of CO2 emissions in the transport sector. However, given the usual property disparities, joining dissimilar materials in multi-material and multi-purpose structures raises new engineering challenges. Advanced joining processes, such as friction stir welding (FSW), have emerged and have been applied across several sectors as a promising alternative to conventional joining processes, such as mechanical fastening or adhesive bonding. In the present work, and in order to avoid the development of intermetallic compounds (IMCs), a different approach from the conventional technique of friction stir welding was applied to the production of dissimilar overlapping joints. These dissimilar joints were fabricated using a high strength aluminum alloy (AA7075-T651) and a titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V), both materials widely used in automotive, aeronautics and space industries. To perform a systematic investigation, the Taguchi method was used to determine the process parameter combinations to enable the fabrication of this type of dissimilar joints. The joints were subjected to quasi-static tensile shear tests to assess their mechanical performance and were compared to conventionally riveted joints in different configurations, namely, single and double connection points. The joints produced by the FSW based method showed higher mechanical performance. To assess the local properties, some of the fractured regions of the joints were subjected to hardness assessments, revealing no significant change in the hardness in the tested areas. Finally, a statistical study was performed to analyze the main effects and interactions of the process parameters, to identify their influences on the mechanical performance of the joints.
Effect of Ce Content on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Al-Cu-Li Alloy
Authors: Ding Xianxian , Lu Yalin , Wang Jian , Li Xingcheng , Zhou Dongshuai
Published: January 2023

In this work, the effects of Ce content (0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3 wt%) on the microstructures and mechanical properties of Al-Cu-Li alloys were investigated. The results show that the grains of Al-Cu-Li alloy are refined by adding Ce element. When Ce content is less than 0.1%, the ultimate strength of the alloy increases with the increase of Ce content. However, the ultimate strength of the alloy decreases when Ce content is above 0.1%. For Al-Cu-Li alloy with different Ce content, the aging precipitation of T1 and θ′ phases play the main strengthening role. When Ce content increases from 0.1 to 0.3%, dynamic recrystallization is promoted during hot deformation. The recrystallization of the alloys is inhibited after T6 treatment with the increase of Ce content, which can be attributed to existence of the Al8Cu4Ce phases on the grain boundary. This work provides an economical and convenient method for improving the properties of Al-Cu-Li alloys by Ce addition.
Investigation on Multiphase Erosion–Corrosion of Elbow in LPG Desulfurization Unit
Authors: Li Yan , Zhang Jianwen , Su Guoqing , Sandy Abdul , Xin Yanan
Published: January 2023

Severe leakages of the elbow occur in the regeneration tower return pipeline of the LPG desulfurization unit, leading to the unplanned shutdown of the unit frequently over the period of four months. It is forced to apply additional steel plates to prevent the leakage. Elusively, it is found that the first wall contact with the fluid is fully eroded away in the vicinity of the bend, however, the walls of additional steel plates are intact. The clarification of this problem is required to ensure safe production. This strange phenomenon can be investigated by failure analysis and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation. The failure analysis showed that the gas–liquid two-phase erosion–corrosion was the main cause of elbow leakage. The simulation shows that droplet erosion plays a dominant role in the erosion–corrosion process, and the elbow will leak in 4.3 months, which matches the actual situation very well. Furthermore, multiphase erosion–corrosion behavior was thoroughly investigated to expose the feature of the mentioned strange phenomenon. It was shown that when the corrosion holes are formed, the gas forms a fluid vortex in the holes. The vortex acts as flexible substrates, which plays a buffer layer to the droplet erosion, thus protecting the additional steel plate. The formation of the holes provides an effective way for elbow failure prevention.
Study on the Preparation and Corrosion Resistance Properties of Superhydrophobic Coatings on Galvanized Steel
Authors: Chen Wenjuan , Shi Haoran , Liu Weiwen , Zhao Anran , Pan Gang , Huang Anding , Yu Yinglu , Ma Luqi
Published: January 2023

The method of atmospheric corrosion protection of metals has always been a research hot spot at home and abroad. In this paper, superhydrophobic coating is prepared on the surface of galvanized steel by chemical etching using 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane (PFDTES), graphene oxide (GO), anhydrous ethanol and water-based varnish as the main raw materials. The constitution of the superhydrophobic coating surface and the corrosion resistance of the steel are studied by electrochemical testing, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Meanwhile, COMSOL software is used for the simulation of experiment. The results show that the surface of the superhydrophobic coating is composed of micro–nano sized papillary bulges, which play an important role in the improvement of metal corrosion resistance. The superhydrophobic coating effectively improves the alternating current impedance of the electrode and reduces the corrosion rate of the substrate. In addition, the results calculated by COMSOL software consist of the experimental results.
Prediction of Mechanical Properties and Optimization of Friction Stir Welded 2195 Aluminum Alloy Based on BP Neural Network
Authors: Yu Fanqi , Zhao Yunqiang , Lin Zhicheng , Miao Yugang , Zhao Fei , Xie Yingchun
Published: January 2023

Friction stir welding (FSW) is regarded as an important joining process for the next generation of aerospace aluminum alloys. However, the performance of the FSW process often suffers from low precision and a long test cycle. In order to overcome these problems, a machine learning model based on a backpropagation neural network (BPNN) was developed to optimize the FSW of 2195 aluminum alloys. A four-dimensional mapping relationship between welding parameters and mechanical properties of joints was established through the analysis and mining of FSW data. The intelligent optimization of the welding process and the prediction of joint properties were realized. The weld formation characteristics at different welding parameters were analyzed to reveal the metallurgical mechanism behind the mapping relationship of the process-property obtained by the BPNN model. The results showed that the prediction accuracy of the method proposed could reach 92%. The welding parameters optimized by the BPNN model were 1810 rpm, 105 mm/min, and 3 kN for the rotational speed, welding speed, and welding pressure, respectively. Under these conditions, the tensile strength of the joint was found to be 415 MPa, which deviated from the experimental value by 3.71%.
Accurate Detection of Cd2+ and Pb2+ Concentrations in Soils by Stripping Voltammetry Peak Areas under the Mutual Interference of Multiple Heavy Metals
Authors: Ye Wenshuai , Liu Ning , Zhao Guo , Liu Gang
Published: January 2023

The accurate detection of Cd2+ and Pb2+ in soils by square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) faces great challenges because the interaction between multiple heavy metal ions (HMIs) interferes seriously with their SWASV signals. To detect Cd2+ and Pb2+ by SWASV with high accuracy, an overlooked but informative signal, i.e., stripping current peak area, was employed and combined with chemometric methods to suppress the above mutual interference. An easy-to-prepare electrode, i.e., in-site electroplating bismuth film modified glassy carbon electrode, was used to sense the multiple HMIs. Two machine learning algorithms, including SVR and PLSR, were used to establish the detection models of Cd2+ and Pb2+. In addition, this study developed a homemade algorithm to automatically acquire the stripping peak heights and stripping peak areas of Zn2+, Cd2+, Pb2+, Bi3+, and Cu2+, which acted as the inputs of machine learning models. Then, the detection performance of various SVR and PLSR models were compared based on the R2 and RMSE values of the validation dataset. Results showed that the SVR detection models established by the algorithmically acquired peak areas presented the best stability and accuracy for detecting both Cd2+ and Pb2+ concentrations under the existence of Zn2+ and Cu2+. The R2 and RMSE values of the SVR models built using the peak heights of HMIs acquired by electrochemical workstation control software (Imanu-SVR) were 0.7650 and 5.3916 μg/L for Cd2+, and 0.8791 and 20.0015 μg/L for Pb2+, respectively; the R2 and RMSE values of the SVR models built using the peak area automatically acquired by the developed algorithm (Aalgo-SVR) were 0.9204 and 2.9906 μg/L for Cd2+, and 0.9756 and 13.1574 μg/L for Pb2+, respectively. More importantly, the detection results of the proposed method in real soil extracts for Cd2+ and Pb2+ concentrations were close to those of ICP-MS, verifying its practicability. This study provides a new solution for the accurate detection of targeted heavy metals under the co-existence of multiple HMIs by the SWASV method.
Toward Material Property Extraction from Dynamic Spherical Indentation Experiments on Hardening Polycrystalline Metals
Authors: Clayton John D. , Casem Daniel T. , Lloyd Jeffrey T. , Retzlaff Emily H.
Published: January 2023

Static indentation and dynamic indentation are reviewed, with a focus on extraction of material properties of isotropic strain-hardening polycrystalline metals that may be rate- and temperature-sensitive. Static indentation is reviewed first, followed by dynamic indentation, since the former is regarded as a specialization of the latter with inertia, rate dependence, and adiabatic heating excluded. Extending concepts from the literature review, a treatment of dynamic indentation using dimensional analysis is forwarded, and a general framework for extraction of material property information (i.e., constitutive model parameters) from instrumented dynamic spherical indentation experiments is set forth. In an example application of the methodology, experimental data obtained from instrumented spherical indentation in a miniature Kolsky bar apparatus are evaluated via dimensional analysis. The substrate material is aluminum alloy Al 6061-T6. Several definitions of indentation strain proposed for static indentation are assessed for dynamic indentation, as are indentation strain rates. While the fidelity of the experimental method and inertial effects could inhibit extraction of elastic properties, extraction of certain plastic constitutive properties may be feasible. Current data are insufficient to enable determination of a complete and unique set of all physical properties. Motivated by the present review and analysis, new experiments and simulations are proposed that would identify influences of material properties, facilitating their extraction from data.
The Macroscopic Phenomena in Plasticity
Authors: Zuev Lev , Barannikova Svetlana
Published: January 2023

In this paper, the fundamental principles of plastic flow localization are briefly outlined. During the development of plastic flow, there is a changeover in the localization patterns conforming to the corresponding stage of work hardening based on the autowave nature of plastic flow localization. In particular, the evolution of plastic flow from yield point to fracture involves the following four stages of autowave generation: switching autowave → phase autowave → stationary dissipative structure → collapse of autowave. The most intriguing localization pattern is attributed to a phase autowave, which forms at the stage of linear work hardening. The characteristics of the phase autowave (propagation velocity, dispersion, and grain size dependence of the wavelength) have been determined experimentally. Moreover, an elastic-plastic strain invariant is introduced to describe the elastic and plastic properties of the deforming medium, as well as to establish the above characteristics of autowaves. A hypothetic quasi-particle, corresponding to the autowave of localized plasticity, is considered and its potential properties are estimated to interpret the localization process characteristics.
Network Pharmacology and Experimental Verification to Unveil the Mechanism of N-Methyl-D-Aspartic Acid Rescue Humantenirine-Induced Excitotoxicity
Authors: Qi Xue-Jia , Huang Chong-Yin , Zuo Meng-Ting , Gong Meng-Die , Huang Si-Juan , Tang Mo-Huan , Liu Zhao-Ying
Published: January 2023

Gelsemium is a medicinal plant that has been used to treat various diseases, but it is also well-known for its high toxicity. Complex alkaloids are considered the main poisonous components in Gelsemium. However, the toxic mechanism of Gelsemium remains ambiguous. In this work, network pharmacology and experimental verification were combined to systematically explore the specific mechanism of Gelsemium toxicity. The alkaloid compounds and candidate targets of Gelsemium, as well as related targets of excitotoxicity, were collected from public databases. The crucial targets were determined by constructing a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network. Subsequently, Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were used to explore the bioprocesses and signaling pathways involved in the excitotoxicity corresponding to alkaloids in Gelsemium. Then, the binding affinity between the main poisonous alkaloids and key targets was verified by molecular docking. Finally, animal experiments were conducted to further evaluate the potential mechanisms of Gelsemium toxicity. A total of 85 alkaloids in Gelsemium associated with 214 excitotoxicity-related targets were predicted by network pharmacology. Functional analysis showed that the toxicity of Gelsemium was mainly related to the protein phosphorylation reaction and plasma membrane function. There were also 164 pathways involved in the toxic mechanism, such as the calcium signaling pathway and MAPK signaling pathway. Molecular docking showed that alkaloids have high affinity with core targets, including MAPK3, SRC, MAPK1, NMDAR2B and NMDAR2A. In addition, the difference of binding affinity may be the basis of toxicity differences among different alkaloids. Humantenirine showed significant sex differences, and the LD50 values of female and male mice were 0.071 mg·kg−1 and 0.149 mg·kg−1, respectively. Furthermore, we found that N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA), a specific NMDA receptor agonist, could significantly increase the survival rate of acute humantenirine-poisoned mice. The results also show that humantenirine could upregulate the phosphorylation level of MAPK3/1 and decrease ATP content and mitochondrial membrane potential in hippocampal tissue, while NMDA could rescue humantenirine-induced excitotoxicity by restoring the function of mitochondria. This study revealed the toxic components and potential toxic mechanism of Gelsemium. These findings provide a theoretical basis for further study of the toxic mechanism of Gelsemium and potential therapeutic strategies for Gelsemium poisoning.
Serum Metabolome Adaptations Following 12 Weeks of High-Intensity Interval Training or Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training in Obese Older Adults
Authors: Youssef Layale , Bourgin Mélanie , Durand Sylvère , Aprahamian Fanny , Lefevre Deborah , Maiuri Maria Chiara , Marcangeli Vincent , Dulac Maude , Hajj-Boutros Guy , Buckinx Fanny , Peyrusqué Eva , Gaudreau Pierrette , Morais José A. , Gouspillou Gilles , Kroemer Guido , Aubertin-Leheudre Mylène , Noirez Philippe
Published: January 2023

Physical activity can be effective in preventing some of the adverse effects of aging on health. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) are beneficial interventions for the quality of life of obese older individuals. The understanding of all possible metabolic mechanisms underlying these beneficial changes has not yet been established. The aim of this study was to analyze changes in the serum metabolome after 12 weeks of HIIT and MICT in obese older adults. Thirty-eight participants performed either HIIT (n = 26) or MICT (n = 12) three times per week for 12 weeks. Serum metabolites as well as clinical and biological parameters were assessed before and after the 12-week intervention. Among the 364 metabolites and ratio of metabolites identified, 51 metabolites changed significantly following the 12-week intervention. Out of them, 21 significantly changed following HIIT intervention and 18 significantly changed following MICT. Associations with clinical and biological adaptations revealed that changes in acyl-alkyl-phosphatidylcholine (PCae) (22:1) correlated positively with changes in handgrip strength in the HIIT group (r = 0.52, p < 0.01). A negative correlation was also observed between 2-oxoglutaric acid and HOMA-IR (r = −0.44, p < 0.01) when considering both groups together (HIIT and MICT). This metabolite also correlated positively with quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index (QUICKI) in both groups together (r = 0.46, p < 0.01) and the HIIT group (r = 0.51, p < 0.01). Additionally, in the MICT group, fumaric acid was positively correlated with triglyceride levels (r = 0.73, p < 0.01) and acetylcarnitine correlated positively with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (r = 0.81, p < 0.01). These four metabolites might represent potential metabolites of interest concerning muscle strength, glycemic parameters, as well as lipid profile parameters, and hence, for a potential healthy aging. Future studies are needed to confirm the association between these metabolites and a healthy aging.
Biochemical Activation and Regulatory Functions of Trans-Regulatory KLF14 and Its Association with Genetic Polymorphisms
Authors: Akash Muhammad Sajid Hamid , Rasheed Sumbal , Rehman Kanwal , Ibrahim Muhammad , Imran Muhammad , Assiri Mohammed A.
Published: January 2023

Krüpple-Like family of transcription factor-14 (KLF14) is a master trans-regulatory gene that has multiple biological regulatory functions and is involved in many pathological mechanisms. It controls the expressions of several other genes which are involved in multiple regulatory functions. KLF14 plays a significant role in lipid metabolism, glucose regulation and insulin sensitivity. Cell apoptosis, proliferation, and differentiation are regulated by the KLF14 gene, and up-regulation of KLF14 prevents cancer progression. KLF14 has been used as an epigenetic biomarker for the estimation of chronological age due to the presence of different age-related CpG sites on genes that become methylated with age. Different genome-wide association studies have identified several KLF14 variants in adipose tissues. These single nucleotide polymorphisms in KLF14 have been associated with dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and glucose intolerance. Moreover, the prevalence of genetic polymorphism is different in different populations due to ethnic differences and epigenetic modifications. In addition, environmental and physiological factors such as diet, age, gender, and obesity are also responsible for genetic mutations in KLF14.
Characterization and Discrimination of Ophiopogonis Radix with Different Levels of Sulfur Fumigation Based on UPLC-QTOF-MS Combined Molecular Networking with Multivariate Statistical Analysis
Authors: Lv Yanhui , Xu Xike , Wei Yanping , Shen Yunheng , Chen Wei , Wei Xintong , Wang Jie , Xin Jiayun , He Jixiang , Zu Xianpeng
Published: January 2023

Ophiopogonis Radix, also known as “Maidong” (MD) in China, is frequently sulfur-fumigated (SF) in the pretreatment process of MD to improve the appearance and facilitate preservation. However, the process leads to changes in chemical composition, so it is essential to develop an approach to identify the chemical characteristics between nonfumigated and sulfur-fumigated products. This paper provided a practical method based on UPLC-QTOF-MS combined Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking (GNPS) with multivariate statistical analysis for the characterization and discrimination of MD with different levels of sulfur fumigation, high concentration sulfur fumigation (HS), low concentration sulfur fumigation (LS) and without sulfur fumigation (WS). First, a number of 98 compounds were identified in those MD samples. Additionally, the results of Principal component analysis (PCA) and Orthogonal partial least-squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) demonstrated that there were significant chemical differences in the chemical composition of MD with different degrees of SF. Finally, fourteen and sixteen chemical markers were identified upon the comparison between HS and WS, LS and WS, respectively. Overall, these results can be able to discriminate MD with different levels of SF as well as establish a solid foundation for further quality control and pharmacological research.
Basic Guide to Multilayer Microfluidic Fabrication with Polyimide Tape and Diode Laser
Authors: Thaweeskulchai Thana , Schulte Albert
Published: January 2023

For normal operations, microfluidic devices typically require an external source of pressure to deliver fluid flow through the microchannel. This requirement limits their use for benchtop research activities in a controlled static environment. To exploit the full potential of the miniaturization and portability of microfluidic platforms, passively driven capillary microfluidic devices have been developed to completely remove the need for an external pressure source. Capillary microfluidics can be designed to perform complex tasks by designing individual components of the device. These components, such as the stop valve and trigger valve, operate through changes in microchannel dimensions and aspect ratios. A direct, maskless fabrication protocol that allows the precise fabrication of microchannels and other microfluidic components is introduced here. A diode laser and polyimide tape on a PMMA substrate are the only components needed to start fabrication. By varying the laser power used and the number of laser repetitions, various depths and widths of the microchannel can be quickly created to meet specific needs. As an example of a functional unit, a trigger valve was fabricated and tested, as proof of the validity of the fabrication protocol.
Single-Shot Multi-Frequency 3D Shape Measurement for Discontinuous Surface Object Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Xu Min , Zhang Yu , Wan Yingying , Luo Lin , Peng Jianping
Published: January 2023

It is challenging to stably and rapidly achieve accurate absolute phase retrieval for isolated objects with a single-shot pattern in fringe projection profilometry (FPP). In this context, a single-shot multi-frequency absolute phase retrieval (SAPR-DL) method based on deep learning is proposed, which only needs to capture one fringe image to obtain the full-field precise absolute phase. Specifically, a low-frequency deformed fringe image is loaded into the trained one-to-two deep learning framework (DLFT) to predict unit-frequency and high-frequency deformed fringe images. Then, three fringe images with different frequencies are loaded into the trained deep learning phase retrieval framework (DLPR) to calculate the corresponding absolute phase. The experimental results prove that the proposed SAPR-DL method can obtain the three-dimensional (3D) shape measurement of multiple complex objects by collecting a single-shot fringe image, showing great prospects in advancing scientific and engineering applications.
Evaluation of Thin Wall Milling Ability Using Disc Cutters
Authors: Hrițuc Adelina , Mihalache Andrei Marius , Dodun Oana , Slătineanu Laurențiu , Nagîț Gheorghe
Published: January 2023

In some cases, industrial practice requires the production of walls or parts with a thickness of less than one millimeter from a metal workpiece. Such parts or walls can be made by milling using disc cutters. This machining method can lead to the generation of residual stresses that determine the appearance of a form deviation characterized by bending the part or the thin wall. To evaluate the suitability of a metallic material for the manufacturing of thin walls by milling with disc cutters, different factors capable of exerting influence on the deviation generated by the residual deformation of the walls were taken into account. A test sample and an experimental research program were designed for the purpose of obtaining an empirical mathematical model. The empirical mathematical model highlights the magnitude of the influence exerted by different input factors on the disc cutter milling process regarding the size of the deviation from the form, and the correct position of the wall or thin part, in the case of a test sample workpiece made of an aluminum alloy. Input factors considered were cutting speed, feed rate, cutter thickness, wall or part thickness, thin wall length, and height. To rank the input factors whose increase leads to an increase in shape deviation, the values of the exponents attached to the factors in question in the empirical mathematical model of the power-type function were taken into account. It was found that the values of the exponents are in the order 0.782 > 0.319 > 0.169 for wall height, feed rate, and wall width, respectively. It was thus established that the strongest influence on the residual deformation of the thin wall is exerted by its height.
Metamaterials and Their Application in the Performance Enhancement of Reconfigurable Antennas: A Review
Authors: Hussain Musa , Awan Wahaj , Alzaidi Mohammed , Hussain Niamat , Ali Esraa , Falcone Francisco
Published: January 2023

Metamaterials exhibit properties in terms of subwavelength operation or phase manipulation, among others, that can be used in a variety of applications in 5G communication systems. The future and current 5G devices demand high efficiency, high data rate, computational capabilities, cost-effectiveness, compact size, and low power consumption. This variation and advancement are possible when the antenna design is revised to operate over wideband, high gain, and multiband and has characteristics of compact size, reconfiguration, absorption, and simple ease of fabrication. The materials loaded with antennas or, in the same cases, without antennas, offer the aforementioned characteristics to bring advancement in order to facilitate users. A number of works on designing metasurfaces capable of improving bandwidth, gain efficiency, and reducing the size and cost of antennas are available in the literature for this purpose. Not only are these applications possible, but the intelligent metasurfaces are also designed to obtain reconfiguration in terms of frequency and polarization. The number of absorbers loaded with metamaterials is also designed to improve the absorption percentage used for radar applications. Thus, in this paper, the general overview of different types of metamaterials and their role in performance enhancement and application in 5G and 6G communication systems is discussed.
Dietary Supplementation with Botanical Blends Modified Intestinal Microbiota and Metabolomics of Weaned Pigs Experimentally Infected with Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli
Authors: Jinno Cynthia , Kim Kwangwook , Wong Braden , Wall Emma , Sripathy Ravichandran , Liu Yanhong
Published: January 2023

The objective of this study was to investigate supplementation of botanical blends (BB) comprised of 0.3% capsicum oleoresin and 12% garlic oil on gut microbiota and metabolomic profiles in serum and ileal mucosa of Escherichia coli infected pigs. Sixty weaned pigs were assigned to one of five treatments: negative control (CON−), positive control (CON+), dietary supplementation of 100 ppm BB1, 50 or 100 ppm BB2. All pigs, except CON−, were orally inoculated with 1010 CFU F18 ETEC/3-mL dose for 3 consecutive days after 7 d adaption. Feces, ileal digesta and cecal content were collected for 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Serum and ileal mucosa underwent primary metabolomics analysis. Supplementing 100 ppm BB1 increased (p < 0.05) relative abundances of Enterobacteriaceae and Escherichia–Shigella in ileum, and the relative abundances of Bacteroidota and Prevotellaceae in cecum than CON+ on d 5 post-inoculation (PI). Supplementing 100 ppm BB2 upregulated serum pinitol on d 4 PI and serum cholesterol and aminomalonic acids on d 21 PI, while supplementing 50 ppm BB2 reduced asparagine in ileal mucosa on d 5 PI than CON+. Supplementation with botanical blends modulated ileal and cecal microbiota and serum metabolomics profiles in weaned pigs under Escherichia coli challenge.
Identifying New Clusterons: Application of TBEV Analyzer 3.0
Authors: Forghani Majid , Kovalev Sergey , Khachay Michael , Ramsay Edward , Bolkov Mikhail , Vasev Pavel
Published: January 2023

Early knowledge about novel emerging viruses and rapid determination of their characteristics are crucial for public health. In this context, development of theoretical approaches to model viral evolution are important. The clusteron approach is a recent bioinformatics tool which analyzes genetic patterns of a specific E protein fragment and provides a hierarchical network structure of the viral population at three levels: subtype, lineage, and clusteron. A clusteron is a group of strains with identical amino acid (E protein fragment) signatures; members are phylogenetically closely related and feature a particular territorial distribution. This paper announces TBEV Analyzer 3.0, an analytical platform for rapidly characterizing tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) strains based on the clusteron approach, workflow optimizations, and simplified parameter settings. Compared with earlier versions of TBEV Analyzer, we provide theoretical and practical enhancements to the platform. Regarding the theoretical aspect, the model of the clusteron structure, which is the core of platform analysis, has been updated by analyzing all suitable TBEV strains available in GenBank, while the practical enhancements aim at improving the platform’s functionality. Here, in addition to expanding the strain sets of prior clusterons, we introduce eleven novel clusterons through our experimental results, predominantly of the European subtype. The obtained results suggest effective application of the proposed platform as an analytical and exploratory tool in TBEV surveillance.
Effect of Optimal Alcohol-Based Hand Rub among Nurse Students Compared with Everyday Practice among Random Adults; Can Water-Based Hand Rub Combined with a Hand Dryer Machine Be an Alternative to Remove E. coli Contamination from Hands?
Authors: Breidablik Hans Johan , Johannessen Lene , Andersen John Roger , Søreide Hilde , Kleiven Ole T.
Published: January 2023

Efficient hand hygiene is essential for preventing the transmission of microorganisms. Alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) is a recommended method. We compared health personnel (skilled nurse students) with random adults to study the effect of an ABHR procedure. A water-based hand rub (WBHR) procedure, using running tap water and a hand-drying machine, was also investigated. The study included 27 nurse students and 26 random adults. Hands were contaminated with Escherichia coli, and concentrations of colony forming units (CFU/mL) were determined before and after ABHR or WBHR. Concentrations after ABHR were 1537 CFU/mL (nurse students) and 13,508 CFU/mL (random adults) (p < 0.001). One-third of participants reported skin irritation from daily ABHR. Concentrations after WBHR were 41 CFU/mL (nurse students) and 115 CFU/mL (random adults) (p < 0.011). The majority of participants (88.5%) preferred the WBHR method. Results from 50 air samples from filtered air from the hand dryer outlet showed no CFU in 47 samples. A significant difference between the two groups was shown for the ABHR method, indicating that training skills are important for efficient hand hygiene. Surprisingly, the WBHR method seemed to have a significant effect in largely removing transient bacteria from hands.
Changes in Soil Phosphorus Availability and Microbial Community Structures in Rhizospheres of Oilseed Rapes Induced by Intercropping with White Lupins
Authors: Chen Siyu , Yang Da , Wei Yufei , He Lizhen , Li Zujian , Yang Shangdong
Published: January 2023

Oilseed rape is sensitive to soil phosphorus deficiencies. In contrast, white lupin is widely used as a model plant because it has efficient phosphorus utilization. Therefore, soil fertility and microbial composition in the rhizospheres of oilseed rapes and root exudate metabolites were compared under monocropping and intercropping systems. The main purpose was to explore whether the phosphorus absorption of rapeseed can be promoted by intercropping with white lupine. In comparison with oilseed rape monoculture (RR), the results showed that the contents of soil-available phosphorus, microbial biomass and phosphorus in the rhizospheres of oilseed rapes in the intercropping system (RL) were all higher than those of RR. Meanwhile, in comparison with RR, not only phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria, such as Streptomyces, Actinomadura and Bacillus, but also phosphorus-solubilizing fungi, such as Chaetomium, Aspergillus, Penicillium, were enriched in the rhizospheres of the oilseed rape under the RL system. Moreover, more abundant soil bacterial functions, organic acids and metabolites were also detected in root exudates of the oilseed rapes under the RL system. All of the above results suggest that soil phosphorus availability in the rhizospheres of oilseed rape could be improved by intercropping with white lupin. Additionally, soil phosphorus-solubilizing microorganisms, that are enriched in the rhizospheres of oilseed rapes under RL systems, have an important function in the improvement of phosphorus absorption of rapeseed by intercropping with white lupin.
Screening Enzymes That Can Depolymerize Commercial Biodegradable Polymers: Heterologous Expression of Fusarium solani Cutinase in Escherichia coli
Authors: Santos-Beneit Fernando , Chen Le Min , Bordel Sergio , Frutos de la Flor Raquel , García-Depraect Octavio , Lebrero Raquel , Rodriguez-Vega Sara , Muñoz Raúl , Börner Rosa Aragão , Börner Tim
Published: January 2023

In recent years, a number of microbial enzymes capable of degrading plastics have been identified. Biocatalytic depolymerization mediated by enzymes has emerged as a potentially more efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to the currently employed methods for plastic treatment and recycling. However, the functional and systematic study of depolymerase enzymes with respect to the degradation of a series of plastic polymers in a single work has not been widely addressed at present. In this study, the ability of a set of enzymes (esterase, arylesterase and cutinase) to degrade commercial biodegradable polymers (PBS, PBAT, PHB, PHBH, PHBV, PCL, PLA and PLA/PCL) and the effect of pre-treatment methods on their degradation rate was assessed. The degradation products were identified and quantified by HPLC and LC-HRMS analysis. Out of the three enzymes, Fusarium solani cutinase (FsCut) showed the highest activity on grinded PBAT, PBS and PCL after 7 days of incubation. FsCut was engineered and heterologous expressed in Escherichia coli, which conferred the bacterium the capability of degrading solid discs of PBAT and to grow in PBS as the sole carbon source of the medium.
Isolation and Identification of Aeromonas veronii in Sheep with Fatal Infection in China: A Case Report
Authors: Miao Yongqiang , Zhao Xueliang , Adam Fathalrhman Eisa Addoma , Xie Qingfang , Feng Hang , Ding Jingru , Bai Xindong , Wang Juan , Yang Zengqi
Published: January 2023

According to the findings of a sheep breeding farm in Shaanxi, China, 2.53% (15/594) of sheep exhibited respiratory (clinical) symptoms such as dyspnoea, nasal discharge, wet cough, fever, and progressive emaciation. Although multi-drug treatment strategies (including ampicillin, tylosin, florfenicol, and ceftiofur) have been attempted to improve clinical outcomes, they have only been met with limited success, with a mortality rate of 40%. Ultimately, Aeromonas veronii (A. veronii) was identified as the causative pathogen for respiratory disease. The rates of symptomatic and asymptomatic sheep positive to A. veronii were 64.28% (95% CI 52.25–76.31%) and 8.02% (95% CI 6.96–9.08%), respectively. Pathogenicity tests demonstrated that the A. veronii is pathogenic to sheep and mice. The results of the antibiotic susceptibility tests revealed that the strain was sensitive to cefotaxime, gentamicin, and enrofloxacin and resistant to ampicillin, ceftiofur, amoxicillin, kanamycin, neomycin, streptomycin, tetracycline, florfenicol, and tylosin. We suggest that the combination of cefotaxime and gentamicin is an effective treatment based on the results of an antimicrobial susceptibility test, which exhibited good therapeutic efficacy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report in which pathogenic A. veronii has been documented as the cause of death in sheep in China. We concluded that pathogenic A. veronii poses a potential risk to the industry of sheep husbandry. This study’s findings can help guide prevention and treatment plans for A. veronii infection in sheep.