bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification and Biosynthesis of DHN-melanin Related Pigments in the Pathogenic Fungi Monilinia laxa, M. fructicola, and M. fructigena
Authors: Verde-Yáñez Lucía , Vall-llaura Núria , Usall Josep , Teixidó Neus , Torreblanca-Bravo Èlia , Torres Rosario
Published: January 2023

Monilinia is the causal agent of brown rot in stone fruit. The three main species that cause this disease are Monilinia laxa, M. fructicola, and M. fructigena, and their infection capacity is influenced by environmental factors (i.e., light, temperature, and humidity). To tolerate stressful environmental conditions, fungi can produce secondary metabolites. Particularly, melanin-like pigments can contribute to survival in unfavorable conditions. In many fungi, this pigment is due to the accumulation of 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene melanin (DHN). In this study, we have identified for the first time the genes involved in the DHN pathway in the three main Monilinia spp. and we have proved their capacity to synthetize melanin-like pigments, both in synthetic medium and in nectarines at three stages of brown rot development. The expression of all the biosynthetic and regulatory genes of the DHN-melanin pathway has also been determined under both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Finally, we have analyzed the role of three genes involved in fungi survival and detoxification, and we have proved that there exists a close relationship between the synthesis of these pigments and the activation of the SSP1 gene. Overall, these results deeply describe the importance of DHN-melanin in the three main species of Monilinia: M. laxa, M. fructicola, and M. fructigena.
Fungal-Bacterial Interactions in the Human Gut of Healthy Individuals
Authors: Maas Evy , Penders John , Venema Koen
Published: January 2023

Most studies of the microbiota in the human gut focus on the bacterial part, but increasing information shows that intestinal fungi are also important for maintaining health. This can be either by directly influencing the host or by indirectly influencing the gut bacteria that link to host health. Studies of fungal communities in large cohorts are scarce; therefore, this study aims at obtaining more insight into the mycobiome of healthy individuals and how this mycobiome interacts with the bacterial component of the microbiome. For this purpose, ITS2 and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing was performed on fecal samples from 163 individuals which were available from two separate studies to analyze the fungal and bacterial microbiome, respectively, as well as the cross-kingdom interactions. The results showed a much lower fungal, as compared to bacterial, diversity. Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were the dominant fungal phyla across all the samples, but levels varied enormously between individuals. The ten most abundant fungal genera were Saccharomyces, Candida, Dipodascus, Aureobasidium, Penicillium, Hanseniaspora, Agaricus, Debaryomyces, Aspergillus, and Pichia, and here also extensive inter-individual variation was observed. Correlations were made between bacteria and fungi, and only positive correlations were observed. One of the correlations was between Malassezia restricta and the genus Bacteroides, which have both been previously described as alleviated in IBD. Most of the other correlations found were with fungi that are not known as gut colonizers but originate from food and the environment. To further investigate the importance of the observed correlations found, more research is needed to discriminate between gut colonizers and transient species.
Cochlear Implantation: The Volumetric Measurement of Vestibular Aqueduct and Gusher Prediction
Authors: Alahmadi Asma , Abdelsamad Yassin , Almuhawas Fida , Hamed Nezar , Salamah Marzouqi , Alsanosi Abdulrahman
Published: January 2023

This study aimed to validate the role of 3D segmentation in measuring the volume of the vestibular aqueduct (VAD), and the inner ear, and to study the correlation between VAD volume and VAD linear measurements at the midpoint and operculum. The correlation with other cochlear metrics was also studied. We retrospectively recruited 21 children (42 ears) diagnosed with Mondini dysplasia (MD) plus enlarged vestibular aqueduct (EVA) from 2009 to 2021 and who underwent cochlear implantation (CI). Patients’ sociodemographic data were collected, and linear cochlear metrics were measured using Otoplan. Vestibular aqueduct width and vestibular aqueduct and inner ear volumes were measured by two independent neuro-otologists using 3D segmentation software (version 4.11.20210226) and high-resolution CT. We also conducted a regression analysis to determine the association between these variables and CT VAD and inner ear volumes. Among the 33 cochlear implanted ears, 13 ears had a gusher (39.4%). Regarding CT inner ear volume, we found that gender, age, A-value, and VAD at the operculum were statistically significant (p-Value = 0.003, <0.001, 0.031, and 0.027, respectively) by regression analysis. Moreover, we found that Age, H value, VAD at the midpoint, and VAD at the operculum were significant predictors of CT VAD volume (p-Value < 0.04). Finally, gender (OR: 0.092; 95%CI: 0.009–0.982; p-Value = 0.048) and VAD at the midpoint (OR: 0.106; 95%CI: 0.015–0.735; p-Value = 0.023) were significant predictors of gusher risk. Patients’ gusher risk was significantly differentiated by gender and VAD width at the midpoint.
Species-Level Characterization of the Microbiome in Breast Tissues with Different Malignancy and Hormone-Receptor Statuses Using Nanopore Sequencing
Authors: Luo Lan , Fu Aisi , Shi Manman , Hu Jiawei , Kong Deguang , Liu Tiangang , Yuan Jingping , Sun Shengrong , Chen Chuang
Published: January 2023

Unambiguous evidence indicates that microbes are closely linked to various human diseases, including cancer. Most prior work investigating the microbiome of breast tissue describes an association between compositional differences of microbial species in benign and malignant tissues, but few studies have examined the relative abundance of microbial communities within human breast tissue at the species level. In this work, a total of 44 breast tissue samples including benign and malignant tissues with adjacent normal breast tissue pairs were collected, and Oxford Nanopore long-read sequencing was employed to assess breast tissue microbial signatures. Nearly 900 bacterial species were detected from the four dominant phyla: Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes. The bacteria with the highest abundance in all breast tissues was Ralstonia pickettii, and its relative abundance increased with decreasing malignancy. We further examined the breast-tissue microbiome composition with different hormone-receptor statuses, and the relative abundance of the genus Pseudomonas increased most significantly in breast tissues. Our study provides a rationale for exploring microbiomes associated with breast carcinogenesis and cancer development. Further large-cohort investigation of the breast microbiome is necessary to characterize a microbial risk signature and develop potential microbial-based prevention therapies.
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Knowledge in 2022
Authors:   Knowledge Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Dynamic Evolution and Collaborative Development Model of Urban Agglomeration in Hexi Corridor from the Perspective of Economic Flow
Authors: Xie Xiaoyi , Shi Peiji
Published: January 2023

Under the green goals of the carbon peak and carbon neutrality, understanding how to develop the economy with high quality is an important issue facing regional development. Based on the years 2000, 2010, and 2020, this paper studies the industrial function connection path and economic network characteristics of the Hexi Corridor through an urban flow model, dominant flow analysis, modified gravity model, and social network analysis method, and puts forward an economic synergistic development model. It is of great significance to strengthen the urban connection in the Hexi Corridor and give full play to the overall competitive advantage. The results are as follows. (1) The overall function of the urban agglomeration is weak, the outward function of manufacturing is outstanding, the complementary network is highly complicated and evolving, and the environment and public service and tourism industry have apparent advantages. (2) The backbone correlation axes of the “three industries” show the characteristics of a closed triangular connection, dual-core linkage development, and multi-center multi-axis interaction. (3) The economic network has a greater agglomeration effect than diffusion effect, with prominent grouping characteristics, forming a network structure of “one man, three vices, and many nodes” and a significant spatial proximity effect. (4) Based on geographical proximity, the “one axis, four circles, multiple points, and multiple channels” synergistic development model, which breaks administrative barriers, becomes the endogenous driving force for the evolution of the economic network.
Old-Growth Forests in Urban Nature Reserves: Balancing Risks for Visitors and Biodiversity Protection in Warsaw, Poland
Authors: Długoński Andrzej , Wellmann Thilo , Haase Dagmar
Published: January 2023

Urban nature reserves in Poland are precious relics of ancient nature with preserved biodiversity. They consist of valuable trees several 100 years old, are biodiverse, and are valuable recreational spaces right in and around cities. It is therefore critical to manage tradeoffs between visitor safety due to, e.g., falling dead branches and the need for old-grown trees for biodiversity conservation. This study aimed to determine whether airborne laser scanning data (LiDAR) can confirm that trees exhibiting the worst crown defoliation are the first to be damaged in storms. Our results show that during Storm Eunice in 2022, the detected defoliated trees, in fact, were damaged the most. Despite such evidence available to the city, no targeted changes to the management of the reserves were taken after the storm. One of the forests was completely closed to visitors; in the other forest, areas with damaged trees were fenced off, and then, the remaining branches and fallen trees were removed to make the forest available for recreation. Using available evidence such as LiDAR data, we propose more targeted and nuanced forms of managing biodiversity conservation in conjunction with visitor safety. This includes the establishment of priority areas, visitor information, and visitor management. This way, airborne laser scanning and Geographic Information Systems can be used to balance management needs accounting for both biodiverse old-grown forest structures while at the same time providing added safety for visitors.
An Approach for Prioritizing Natural Infrastructure Practices to Mitigate Flood and Nitrate Risks in the Mississippi-Atchafalaya River Basin
Authors: Schilling Keith E. , Mount Jerry , Suttles Kelly M. , McLellan Eileen L. , Gassman Phillip W. , White Michael J. , Arnold Jeffrey G.
Published: January 2023

Risks from flooding and poor water quality are evident at a range of spatial scales and climate change will exacerbate these risks in the future. Natural infrastructure (NI), consisting of structural or perennial vegetation, measures that provide multiple ecosystem benefits have the potential to reduce flood and water quality risks. In this study, we intersected watershed-scale risks to flooding and nitrate export in the Mississippi-Atchafalaya River Basin (MARB) of the central U.S. with potential locations of seven NI practices (row crop conversion, water, and sediment control basins, depressional wetlands, nitrate-removal wetlands, riparian buffers, and floodplain levees and row crop change) to prioritize where NI can be most effective for combined risk reduction at watershed scales. Spatial data from a variety of publicly-available databases were analyzed at a 10 m grid cell to locate NI practices using a geographic information system (GIS). NI practices were presented at the regional basin scale and local Iowa-Cedar watershed in eastern Iowa to show individual practice locations. A prioritization scheme was developed to show the optimal watersheds for deploying NI practices to minimize flooding and water quality risks in the MARB. Among the 84 HUC4 basins in the MARB, 28 are located in the Upper Mississippi and Ohio Rivers basins. The Wabash and Iowa-Cedar basins (HUCs 0512 and 0708, respectively) within these basins were found to rank among the uppermost quintile for nearly all practices evaluated, indicating widespread opportunities for NI implementation. Study results are a launching point from which to improve the connections between watershed scale risks and the potential use of NI practices to reduce these risks.
Different Environments and Physical Activity before and during the COVID-19 Lockdown: Data from Slovenia
Authors: Žlender Vita , Gemin Stefano
Published: January 2023

The relationship between physical activity and green spaces has been widely researched, but less so when comparing physical activity in different environments. This study investigates the variations in physical activity across six environments (nature, park, urban, home, sportsground and indoor venue) and how it was influenced by lockdown governed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected from 1161 participants using an online survey conducted in spring 2021 in Slovenia. The results show that 95.5% of respondents are somewhat physically active, mostly in nature and at home. Respondents found natural shade, trees, secure access to and secure use of green spaces most important, recreational routes most encouraging, and bad smells and crowdedness most discouraging for outdoor physical activity. During the lockdown, 80% of people maintained or increased their physical activity. Regression analysis showed significant differences in preference for green space characteristics and levels of physical activity in different environments. Several sociodemographic and living environment characteristics also appeared significant. Our research findings underline the importance of considering a variety of environments when exploring preferences for physical activity. They also provide scientific evidence and justification for recommendations in planning and policy-making to encourage outdoor physical activity.
A New Approach to Monitor Soil Microbial Driven C/N Ratio in Temperate Evergreen Coniferous Forests Managed via Sentinel-2 Spectral Imagery
Authors: Reyna Lizardo , Lasota Jarosław , Reyna-Bowen Lizardo , Vera-Montenegro Lenin , Vega-Ponce Emil Cristhian , Izaguirre-Mayoral Maria Luisa , Błońska Ewa
Published: January 2023

Forests are key ecosystems for climate change mitigation, playing a pivotal role in C and N land sequestering and storage. However, the sustainable management of forests is challenging for foresters who need continuous and reliable information on the status of soil conditions. Yet, the monitoring of soils in temperate evergreen forests, via satellite data, is jeopardized by the year round prevailing heavily dense canopy. In this study, the Sentinel-2 spectral imagery derived normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), proved to be a reliable tool to determine the C/N ratio in two managed pine-dominated forests, in southern Poland. Results showed a strong negative correlation between NDVI values and the on-site C/N ratios measured at the upper soil horizons in 100 and 99 randomly distributed sampling points across the Kup (r2 = −0.8019) and Koniecpol (r2 = −0.7281) forests. This indicates the feasibility of using the NDVI to predict the microbial driven soil C/N ratio in evergreen forests, and to foresee alterations in the vegetation patterns elicited by microbial hindering soil abiotic or biotic factors. Spatial/temporal variations in C/N ratio also provide information on C and N soil dynamics and land ecosystem function in a changing climate.
How Can Tufa Deposits Contribute to the Geotourism Offer? The Outcomes from the First UNESCO Global Geopark in Serbia
Authors: Petrović Marko D. , Lukić Dobrila , Radovanović Milan M. , Blešić Ivana , Gajić Tamara , Demirović Bajrami Dunja , Syromiatnikova Julia A. , Miljković Đurđa , Kovačić Sanja , Kostić Marija
Published: January 2023

The study focuses on the present state and the assessments of geotourism development of the two most representative tufa deposits in the Djerdap National Park—the first UNESCO Global Geopark in Serbia. The findings were designated through implementing the freshly upgraded methodology—M-GAM-1-2 based on an early modified geosites assessment model (M-GAM). To overcome the limitations of the previous model, the authors implemented additional enhancements and involved members of the local community (residents and authorities) in the study to comprehensively evaluate the observed sites. The outcomes revealed that the attitudes of all stakeholders should be taken into consideration in order to develop geotourism properly, additionally attract visitors, and preserve tufa deposits for future generations of locals and visitors. Moreover, geotourism at the observed sites can be one of the vital activities of the population, as well as a type of compensation for various limitations in the development, which are imposed by the regimes of natural and cultural heritage protection within the recently established UNESCO Global Geopark.
Emerging Role of Plant-Based Dietary Components in Post-Translational Modifications Associated with Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Rodríguez-García Carmen , Gutiérrez-Santiago Francisco
Published: January 2023

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Its main modifiable risk factors are diet, alcohol consumption, and smoking. Thus, the right approach through lifestyle changes may lead to its prevention. In fact, some natural dietary components have exhibited chemopreventive activity through modulation of cellular processes involved in CRC development. Although cancer is a multi-factorial process, the study of post-translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins associated with CRC has recently gained interest, as inappropriate modification is closely related to the activation of cell signalling pathways involved in carcinogenesis. Therefore, this review aimed to collect the main PTMs associated with CRC, analyse the relationship between different proteins that are susceptible to inappropriate PTMs, and review the available scientific literature on the role of plant-based dietary compounds in modulating CRC-associated PTMs. In summary, this review suggested that some plant-based dietary components such as phenols, flavonoids, lignans, terpenoids, and alkaloids may be able to correct the inappropriate PTMs associated with CRC and promote apoptosis in tumour cells.
Current Infections of the Orofacial Region: Treatment, Diagnosis, and Epidemiology
Authors: Tahmasebi Elahe , Keshvad Ali , Alam Mostafa , Abbasi Kamyar , Rahimi Saeide , Nouri Farzad , Yazdanian Mohsen , Tebyaniyan Hamid , Heboyan Artak , Fernandes Gustavo Vicentis Oliveira
Published: January 2023

Undoubtedly, diagnosing and managing infections is one of the most challenging issues for orofacial clinicians. As a result of the diversity of symptoms, complicated behavior, and sometimes confusing nature of these conditions, it has become increasingly difficult to diagnose and treat them. It also highlights the need to gain a deeper insight into the orofacial microbiome as we try to improve our understanding of it. In addition to changes in patients’ lifestyles, such as changes in diet, smoking habits, sexual practices, immunosuppressive conditions, and occupational exposures, there have been changes in patients’ lifestyles that complicate the issue. Recent years have seen the development of new infection treatments due to the increased knowledge about the biology and physiology of infections. This review aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the types of infections in the mouth, including the types that viruses, fungi, or bacteria may cause. It is important to note that we searched the published literature in the Scopus, Medline, Google Scholar, and Cochran databases from 2010 to 2021 using the following keywords: “Orofacial/Oral Infections,” “Viral/Fungal/Bacterial Infections”, “Oral Microbiota” And “Oral Microflora” without limiting our search to languages and study designs. According to the evidence, the most common infections in the clinic include herpes simplex virus, human papillomavirus, Candida albicans, Aspergillus, Actinomycosis, and Streptococcus mutans. The purpose of this study is to review the new findings on characteristics, epidemiology, risk factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and new treatment for these types of infectious diseases.
Human Hepatocyte Nuclear Factors (HNF1 and LXRb) Regulate CYP7A1 in HIV-Infected Black South African Women with Gallstone Disease: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Kinoo Suman Mewa , Naidoo Pragalathan , Singh Bhugwan , Chuturgoon Anil , Nagiah Savania
Published: January 2023

Female sex, high estrogen levels, aging, obesity, and dyslipidemia are some of the risk factors associated with gallstone formation. HIV-infected patients on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) are more prone to hypercholesterolemia. Bile acid synthesis is initiated by cholesterol 7-alpha hydroxylase (CYP7A1) and regulated by hepatocyte nuclear factors (HNF1α, HNF4α, and LXRb). The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of HNF1α, HNF4α, LXRb, and miRNAs (HNF4α specific: miR-194-5p and miR-122*_1) that regulate CYP7A1 transcription in HIV-infected Black South African women on cART and presenting with gallstones relative to HIV-negative patients with gallstone disease. Females (n = 96) presenting with gallstone disease were stratified based on HIV status. The gene expression of CYP7A1, HNF1α, HNF4α, LXRb, miR-194-5p, and miR-122*_1 was determined using RT-qPCR. Messenger RNA and miRNA levels were reported as fold change expressed as 2−ΔΔCt (RQ min; RQ max). Fold changes >2 and <0.5 were considered significant. HIV-infected females were older in age (p = 0.0267) and displayed higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) (p = 0.0419), CYP7A1 [2.078-fold (RQ min: 1.278; RQ max: 3.381)], LXRb [2.595-fold (RQ min: 2.001; RQ max: 3.000)], and HNF1α [3.428 (RQ min: 1.806; RQ max: 6.507] levels. HNF4α [0.642-fold (RQ min: 0.266; RQ max: 1.55)], miR-194-5p [0.527-fold (RQ min: 0.37; RQ max: 0.752)], and miR-122*_1 [0.595-fold (RQ min: 0.332; RQ max: 1.066)] levels were lower in HIV-infected females. In conclusion, HIV-infected women with gallstone disease displayed higher LDL-c levels and increased bile acid synthesis, which was evidenced by the elevated expression of CYP7A1, HNF1α, and LXRb. This could have been further influenced by cART and aging.
Enrichment of Dairy-Type Lamb Diet with Microencapsulated Omega-3 Fish Oil: Effects on Growth, Carcass Quality and Meat Fatty Acids
Authors: De Marzo Davide , Bozzo Giancarlo , Ceci Edmondo , Losacco Caterina , Dimuccio Michela , Khan Rifat , Laudadio Vito , Tufarelli Vincenzo
Published: January 2023

The hypothesis that adding omega-3 oil to feedlot pellets will improve the meat’s favourable n-3 PUFA composition was tested in this experiment. Therefore, we evaluated the productive traits and modification of the composition of n-3 PUFA of Longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle in growing lambs supplemented with microencapsulated omega-3 oil (MEOIL) in pelleted total mixed rations (TMR). Thirty six one month old Valle del Belice male lambs (14.04 ± 0.1 kg) were randomly distributed to one of the three dietary treatments (n = 12 lambs each) and provided the supplemented diets up to 14 weeks of age: 1. control (CON) pelleted TMR without omega-3 oil supplementation; 2. omega-3 oil fortified pelleted TMR at 1% (MEOIL1) supplementation; and 3- Omega-3 oil fortified pelleted TMR at 3% (MEOIL3) supplementation. Supplementing MEOIL at both levels in diet positively impacted (p < 0.05) body weight (BW) and feed efficiency. At the end of feeding period, most carcass quality traits did not vary significantly (p > 0.05) among groups, with the exception of carcass dressing and loin yield at both levels of MEOIL. The color and physical traits of LL muscle were affected by MEOIL supplementation (p < 0.05), with no significant change in chemical characteristics. Fatty acids composition of meat in term of linolenic, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were significantly (p < 0.05) influenced by both levels of MEOIL. It was concluded that the tested microencapsulated omega-3 oil preparation may be included at 1% in lamb diet for increasing unsaturated fatty acids in meat without any detrimental effects on lamb productivity.
The Role of V-Set Ig Domain-Containing 4 in Chronic Kidney Disease Models
Authors: Han Sang Youb , Ghee Jung Yeon , Cha Jin Joo , Kang Young Sun , Kim Han Seong , Hur Dae Young , Cha Dae Ryong
Published: January 2023

V-set Ig domain-containing 4 (VSIG4) regulates an inflammatory response and is involved in various diseases. However, the role of VSIG4 in kidney diseases is still unclear. Here, we investigated VSIG4 expression in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO), doxorubicin-induced kidney injury mouse, and doxorubicin-induced podocyte injury models. The levels of urinary VSIG4 protein significantly increased in the UUO mice compared with that in the control. The expression of VSIG4 mRNA and protein in the UUO mice was significantly upregulated compared with that in the control. In the doxorubicin-induced kidney injury model, the levels of urinary albumin and VSIG4 for 24 h were significantly higher than those in the control mice. Notably, a significant correlation was observed between urinary levels of VSIG4 and albumin (r = 0.912, p < 0.001). Intrarenal VSIG4 mRNA and protein expression were also significantly higher in the doxorubicin-induced mice than in the control. In cultured podocytes, VSIG4 mRNA and protein expressions were significantly higher in the doxorubicin-treated groups (1.0 and 3.0 μg/mL) than in the controls at 12 and 24 h. In conclusion, VSIG4 expression was upregulated in the UUO and doxorubicin-induced kidney injury models. VSIG4 may be involved in pathogenesis and disease progression in chronic kidney disease models.
Self-Reported Asthma Is Associated with Reduced Sperm Count—A Cross-Sectional Study of More than 6000 Young Men from the General Population
Authors: Pedersen Marc K. , Bräuner Elvira V. , Hansen Ann H. , Hansen Laura S. , Jensen Tina K. , Jørgensen Niels , Priskorn Lærke
Published: January 2023

Asthma is driven by an inflammatory response that may impact testicular function. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the association between self-reported asthma and testicular function (semen parameters, reproductive hormone levels), and determined whether potential further inflammation due to self-reported allergy modified this association. A total of 6177 men from the general population completed a questionnaire including information on doctor-diagnosed asthma or allergy, had a physical examination, delivered a semen sample, and had a blood sample drawn. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed. A total of 656 (10.6%) men reported having ever been diagnosed with asthma. Generally, self-reported asthma was consistently associated with a poorer testicular function; however, few estimates were statistically significant. Specifically, self-reported asthma was associated with statistically significant lower total sperm count [median: 133 vs. 145 million; adjusted β (95% CI): −0.18 (−0.33 to −0.04) million on cubic-root-transformed scale] and borderline statistically significant lower sperm concentration compared with no self-reported asthma. The association between asthma and total sperm count was of similar magnitude among men with and without allergy. In conclusion, men with self-reported asthma had poorer testicular function than men without asthma. However, the cross-sectional design of the study limits ascertainment of causality.
Vascular and Neuronal Network Formation Regulated by Growth Factors and Guidance Cues
Authors: Wakayama Yuki , Yamagishi Satoru
Published: January 2023

Blood vessels and nerves are distributed throughout the body and show a high degree of anatomical parallelism and functional crosstalk. These networks transport oxygen, nutrients, and information to maintain homeostasis. Thus, disruption of network formation can cause diseases. Nervous system development requires the navigation of the axons of neurons to their correct destination. Blood vessel formation occurs via vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. Vasculogenesis is the process of de novo blood vessel formation, and angiogenesis is the process whereby endothelial cells sprout from pre-existing vessels. Both developmental processes require guidance molecules to establish precise branching patterns of these systems in the vertebrate body. These network formations are regulated by growth factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor; and guidance cues, such as ephrin, netrin, semaphorin, and slit. Neuronal and vascular structures extend lamellipodia and filopodia, which sense guidance cues that are mediated by the Rho family and actin cytosol rearrangement, to migrate to the goal during development. Furthermore, endothelial cells regulate neuronal development and vice versa. In this review, we describe the guidance molecules that regulate neuronal and vascular network formation.
Sugarcane Wax Metabolites and Their Toxicity to Silkworms
Authors: Ma Li , Duan Mingzheng , He Ziwei , Zhang Yu , Chen Yiting , Li Bo , Rao Muhammad Junaid , Hu Lihua , Wang Lingqiang
Published: January 2023

Sugarcane wax has the potential to be utilized as a novel natural insecticide, which could help to reduce the large yield losses caused by agricultural pests. By employing the gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) approach, we conducted a study to analyze the composition of epicuticular wax from the rind of the sugarcane variety YT71210. A total of 157 metabolites, categorized into 15 classes, were identified, with naphthalene, a metabolite with insect-resistant properties, being the most prevalent. The feeding trial experiment suggested that sugarcane wax is toxic to silkworms by impacting the internal organs. Intestinal microbial diversity analysis suggested that the abundance of Enterococcus genus was significantly increased in both ordure and gut of silkworm after wax treatment. The results indicated that the feeding of wax has an adverse effect on the gut microbial composition of silkworms. Our findings lay a foundation for the efficacy of sugarcane waxes as a valuable natural insecticide and for the prediction of promising sugarcane varieties with insect resistance.
Prediction of Friction Power via Machine Learning of Acoustic Emissions from a Ring-on-Disc Rotary Tribometer
Authors: Strablegg Christopher , Summer Florian , Renhart Philipp , Grün Florian
Published: January 2023

Acoustic emissions from tribological contacts have become an interesting field of science in recent years. This study focuses on predicting the friction power of a given system (lubricated ring-on-disc geometry), independently of the used sliding material and lubricant, from the acoustic emissions emitted from the system. The low-frequency (1 Hz), continuously measured RMS value of the acoustic data is combined with short-duration and high-frequency (850 kHz) signal data in form of the power spectra and hit rate with three prominence levels. The classification system then predicts the friction power of the test system continuously over the whole test time. Prediction is achieved by four different machine learning methods (tree-type, support vector machine, K-nearest-neighbor, neural network) trained with data from 54 ring-on-disc tests with high variation in material and oil combinations. The method allows for the quantifiable and step-free prediction of absolute values of friction power with accuracy of 97.6% on unseen data, with a weighted K-nearest-neighbor classifier, at any point in time during an experiment. The system reacts well to rapid changes in friction conditions due to changes in load and temperature. The study shows the high information degree of acoustic emissions, concerning the actual friction mechanisms occurring and the quantitative, and not only qualitative, information that one can gain about a tribological system by analyzing them.
Experimental and Numerical Study of the Influence of Pre-Existing Impact Damage on the Low-Velocity Impact Response of CFRP Panels
Authors: Rezasefat Mohammad , Beligni Alessio , Sbarufatti Claudio , Amico Sandro Campos , Manes Andrea
Published: January 2023

This paper presents an experimental and numerical investigation on the influence of pre-existing impact damage on the low-velocity impact response of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP). A continuum damage mechanics-based material model was developed by defining a user-defined material model in Abaqus/Explicit. The model employed the action plane strength of Puck for the damage initiation criterion together with a strain-based progressive damage model. Initial finite element simulations at the single-element level demonstrated the validity and capability of the damage model. More complex models were used to simulate tensile specimens, coupon specimens, and skin panels subjected to low-velocity impacts, being validated against experimental data at each stage. The effect of non-central impact location showed higher impact peak forces and bigger damage areas for impacts closer to panel boundaries. The presence of pre-existing damage close to the impact region leading to interfering delamination areas produced severe changes in the mechanical response, lowering the impact resistance on the panel for the second impact, while for non-interfering impacts, the results of the second impact were similar to the impact of a pristine specimen.
Up-Converting K2Gd(PO4)(WO4):20%Yb3+,Ho3+ Phosphors for Temperature Sensing
Authors: Grigorjevaite Julija , Katelnikovas Arturas
Published: January 2023

Inorganic luminescent materials that can be excited with NIR radiation and emit in the visible spectrum have recently gained much scientific interest. Such materials can be utilized as anti-counterfeiting pigments, luminescent thermometers, bio-imaging agents, etc. In this work, we report the synthesis and optical properties of K2Gd(PO4)(WO4):Ho3+ and K2Gd(PO4)(WO4):20%Yb3+,Ho3+ powders. The single-phase samples were prepared by the solid-state reaction method, and the Ho3+ concentration was changed from 0.5% to 10% with respect to Gd3+. It is interesting to note that under 450 nm excitation, no concentration quenching was observed in K2Gd(PO4)(WO4):Ho3+ (at least up to 10% Ho3+) samples. However, adding 20% Yb3+ has caused a gradual decrease in Ho3+ emission intensity with an increase in its concentration. It turned out that this phenomenon is caused by the increasing probability of Ho3+ → Yb3+ energy transfer when Ho3+ content increases. K2Gd(PO4)(WO4):20%Yb3+,0.5%Ho3+ sample showed exceptionally high up-conversion (UC) emission stability in the 77–500 K range. The UC emission intensity reached a maximum at ca. 350 K, and the intensity at 500 K was around four times stronger than the intensity at 77 K. Moreover, the red/green emission ratio gradually increased with increasing temperature, which could be used for temperature sensing purposes.
Cold-Sprayed Composite Metal-Fluoropolymer Coatings for Alloy Protection against Corrosion and Wear
Authors: Gnedenkov Andrey S. , Nomerovskii Alexey D. , Tsvetnikov Aleksander K. , Sinebryukhov Sergey L. , Gnedenkov Sergey V.
Published: January 2023

Results of studying the properties of composite fluoropolymer-containing coatings formed by the cold spray (CS) method on the surface of constructional steel are presented. Different ways of protective coating formation are proposed. The composition of coatings was studied using SEM/EDX analysis. The incorporation of super-dispersed polytetrafluoroethylene (SPTFE) into the coating increases the corrosion resistance of the copper-zinc-based cold-sprayed coating. Analysis of the electrochemical properties obtained using EIS (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) and PDP (potentiodynamic polarization) indicates that samples treated with SPTFE on a base copper-zinc coating showed lower corrosion current density and higher impedance modulus (jc = 8.5 × 10−7 A cm−2, |Z|f=0.1 Hz = 5.3 × 104 Ω∙cm2) than the specimen with cold-sprayed SPTFE (jc = 6.1 × 10−6 A cm−2, |Z|f=0.1 Hz = 8.1 × 103 Ω∙cm2). The best anticorrosion properties were revealed for the sample with a cold-sprayed base Cu-Zn layer annealed at 500 °C for 1 h, followed by SPTFE friction treatment and re-annealed at 350 °C for 1 h. The corrosion current density jc of such a coating is 25 times lower than that for the base Cu-Zn coating. The antifriction properties and hydrophobicity of the formed layers are described. Obtained results indicate that cold-sprayed polymer-containing coatings effectively improve the corrosion and wear resistivity of the treated material.
Effect of Ni Substitution on Thermoelectric Properties of Bulk β-Fe1−xNixSi2 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.03)
Authors: Sam Sopheap , Odagawa Soma , Nakatsugawa Hiroshi , Okamoto Yoichi
Published: January 2023

A thermoelectric generator, as a solid-state device, is considered a potential candidate for recovering waste heat directly as electrical energy without any moving parts. However, thermoelectric materials limit the application of thermoelectric devices due to their high costs. Therefore, in this work, we attempt to improve the thermoelectric properties of a low-cost material, iron silicide, by optimizing the Ni doping level. The influence of Ni substitution on the structure and electrical and thermoelectric characteristics of bulk β-FexNi1−xSi2 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.03) prepared by the conventional arc-melting method is investigated. The thermoelectric properties are reported over the temperature range of 80–800 K. At high temperatures, the Seebeck coefficients of Ni-substituted materials are higher and more uniform than that of the pristine material as a result of the reduced bipolar effect. The electrical resistivity decreases with increasing x owing to the increases in metallic ε-phase and carrier density. The ε-phase increases with Ni substitution, and solid solution limits of Ni in β-FeSi2 can be lower than 1%. The highest power factor of 200 μWm−1K−2 at 600 K is obtained for x = 0.001, resulting in the enhanced ZT value of 0.019 at 600 K.
Martensite Start Temperature Prediction through a Deep Learning Strategy Using Both Microstructure Images and Composition Data
Authors: Yang Zenan , Li Yong , Wei Xiaolu , Wang Xu , Wang Chenchong
Published: January 2023

In recent decades, various previous research has established empirical formulae or thermodynamic models for martensite start temperature (Ms) prediction. However, most of this research has mainly considered the effect of composition and ignored complex microstructural factors, such as morphology, that significantly affect Ms. The main limitation is that most microstructures cannot be digitized into numerical data. In order to solve this problem, a convolutional neural network model that can use both composition information and microstructure images as input was established for Ms prediction in a medium-Mn steel system in this research. Firstly, the database was established through experimenting. Then, the model was built and trained with the database. Finally, the performance of the model was systematically evaluated based on comparison with other, traditional AI models. It was proven that the new model provided in this research is more rational and accurate because it considers both composition and microstructural factors. In addition, because of the use of microstructure images for data augmentation, the deep learning had a low risk of overfitting. When the deep-learning strategy is used to deal with data that contains both numerical and image data types, obtaining the value matrix that contains interaction information of both numerical and image data through data preprocessing is probably a better approach than direct linking of the numerical data vector to the fully connected layer.
Insight into the Behavior of Mortars Containing Glass Powder: An Artificial Neural Network Analysis Approach to Classify the Hydration Modes
Authors: Boukhelf Fouad , Targino Daniel Lira Lopes , Benzaama Mohammed Hichem , Lima Babadopulos Lucas Feitosa de Albuquerque , El Mendili Yassine
Published: January 2023

In this paper, an artificial neural network (ANN) model is proposed to predict the hydration process of a new alternative binder. This model overcomes the lack of input parameters of physical models, providing a realistic explanation with few inputs and fast calculations. Indeed, four mortars are studied based on ordinary Portland cement (CEM I), cement with limited environmental impact (CEM III), and glass powder (GP) as the cement substitution. These mortars are named CEM I + GP and CEM III + GP. The properties of the mortars are characterized, and their life cycle assessment (LCA) is established. Indeed, a decrease in porosity is observed at 90 days by 4.6%, 2.5%, 12.4%, and 7.9% compared to those of 3 days for CEMI, CEMIII, CEMI + GP, and CEMIII + GP, respectively. In addition, the use of GP allows for reducing the mechanical strength in the short term. At 90 days, CEMI + GP and CEMIII + GP present a decrease of about 28% and 57% in compressive strength compared to CEMI and CEMIII, respectively. Nevertheless, strength does not cease increasing with the curing time, due to the continuous pozzolanic reactions between Ca(OH)2 and silica contained in GP and slag present in CEMIII as demonstrated by the thermo-gravimetrical (TG) analysis. To summarize, CEMIII mortar provides similar performance compared to mortar with CEMI + GP in the long term. This can later be used in the construction sector and particularly in prefabricated structural elements. Moreover, the ANN model used to predict the heat of hydration provides a similar result compared to the experiment, with a resulting R² of 0.997, 0.968, 0.968, and 0.921 for CEMI, CEMIII, CEMI + GP, and CEMIII + GP, respectively, and allows for identifying the different hydration modes of the investigated mortars. The proposed ANN model will allow cement manufacturers to quickly identify the different hydration modes of new binders by using only the heat of hydration test as an input parameter.
Effect of Slot Jet Flow on Non-Axisymmetric Endwall Cooling Performance of High-Load Turbines
Authors: Du Kun , Jia Yihao , Song Hui , Chen Lei , Zhang Qian , Cui Tingting , Liu Cunliang
Published: January 2023

As vane inlet temperatures and turbine loadings are increasing, the aerodynamic and thermal management for the endwalls of gas turbines have received increased attention. Non-axisymmetric endwalls are becoming popular due to their proficient capabilities to modify the secondary flow fields and to change the film cooling performance on the endwalls. In this study, by considering the interaction between mainstream and purge flow based on non-axisymmetric endwall contouring, the numerical research model used in the present research was established. Based on the validated numerical method, the influence of the non-axisymmetric endwall contouring on the film-cooling effectiveness and aerodynamic characteristics was studied. Furthermore, the effect of different inclination angles on the film-cooling performance of the contoured endwalls was also investigated. The results indicate that for the high-load turbine vane used in this research, various types of non-axisymmetric endwall contouring can alter the aero-dynamic characteristics and cooling performance simultaneously. By inhibiting the secondary flows, non-axisymmetric endwall contouring can reduce the total cascade pressure loss coefficient by 0.305%. In addition, non-axisymmetric endwall contouring can significantly enhance the effective coverage area of purge flow up to 28.29%, and the endwall near the suction side can achieve better cooling performance. Finally, non-axisymmetric endwall contouring can improve the protective effect of large-angle purge flow.
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Magnetochemistry in 2022
Authors:   Magnetochemistry Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Single-Molecule Magnets Based on Heteroleptic Terbium(III) Trisphthalocyaninate in Solvent-Free and Solvent-Containing Forms
Authors: Faraonov Maxim A. , Martynov Alexander G. , Polovkova Marina A. , Khasanov Salavat S. , Gorbunova Yulia G. , Tsivadze Aslan Yu. , Otsuka Akihiro , Yamochi Hideki , Kitagawa Hiroshi , Konarev Dmitri V.
Published: January 2023

Binuclear heteroleptic triple-decker terbium(III) phthalocyaninate (Pc)Tb[(15C5)4Pc]Tb(Pc), where Pc2− is phthalocyaninate dianion and 15C5 is a 15-crown-5 moiety, has been synthesized as a solvent-free powder (1) and a well-defined crystal solvate with o-dichlorobenzene (Pc)Tb[(15C5)4Pc]Tb(Pc)⋅6C6H4Cl2 (2). In the crystal structure of 2, the Tb-N(Pc) distances to the nitrogen atoms in the outer and inner decks are 2.350–2.367(4) and 2.583–2.598(4) Å, respectively, and the Tb–Tb distance is 3.4667(3) Å. The twist angle between the outer and the inner decks is 42.6°. The magnetic properties were studied for both 1 and 2. The χMT magnitude of 23.3 emu⋅K/mol at 300 K indicates a contribution of two TbIII centers with the 7F6 ground state. The χMT product increases with decreasing temperature to reach 38.5 emu⋅K/mol at 2 K. This is indicative of ferromagnetic coupling between TbIII spins in accordance with previous data for triple-decker lanthanide phthalocyaninates of a dipolar nature. Both forms show a single-molecule magnet (SMM) behavior manifesting the in-phase (χ′) and out-of-phase (χ″) AC susceptibility signals in an oscillating field of 3 Oe with estimated effective spin-reversal energy barriers (Ueff) of 222(9) and 93(7) cm−1 for 1 and 2, respectively. The compounds show narrow hysteresis loops in the −1 – +1 kOe range, and the splitting between the zero-field-cooling and field-cooling curves is observed below 6 K. Thus, in spite of similar static magnetic characteristics, each form of the Tb(III) complex shows a different dynamic SMM behavior.
Power System Transient Stability Assessment Based on Machine Learning Algorithms and Grid Topology
Authors: Senyuk Mihail , Safaraliev Murodbek , Kamalov Firuz , Sulieman Hana
Published: January 2023

This work employs machine learning methods to develop and test a technique for dynamic stability analysis of the mathematical model of a power system. A distinctive feature of the proposed method is the absence of a priori parameters of the power system model. Thus, the adaptability of the dynamic stability assessment is achieved. The selected research topic relates to the issue of changing the structure and parameters of modern power systems. The key features of modern power systems include the following: decreased total inertia caused by integration of renewable sources energy, stricter requirements for emergency control accuracy, highly digitized operation and control of power systems, and high volumes of data that describe power system operation. Arranging emergency control in these new conditions is one of the prominent problems in modern power systems. In this study, the emergency control algorithms based on ensemble machine learning algorithms (XGBoost and Random Forest) were developed for a low-inertia power system. Transient stability of a power system was analyzed as the base function. Features of transmission line maintenance were used to increase accuracy of estimation. Algorithms were tested using the test power system IEEE39. In the case of the test sample, accuracy of instability classification for XGBoost was 91.5%, while that for Random Forest was 81.6%. The accuracy of algorithms increased by 10.9% and 1.5%, respectively, when the topology of the power system was taken into account.