bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microbiome of High-Rank Coal Reservoirs in the High-Production Areas of the Southern Qinshui Basin
Authors: Shi Wei , Tang Shuheng , Zhang Songhang
Published: February 2023

To study the distribution features of microorganisms in distinct hydrological areas of the southern Qinshui Basin, C-N-S microorganisms were studied using 16S RNA sequencing, metagenome sequencing and geochemical technologies, showing the high sensitivity of microorganisms to the hydrodynamic dynamics of coal. The hydrodynamic intensity of the #3 coal gradually decreased from the runoff areas to the stagnant areas. The stagnant zones have higher reservoir pressure, methane content, δ13CDIC and TDS and lower SO42−, Fe3+ and NO3− concentrations than the runoff areas. C-N-S-cycling microorganisms, including those engaged in methanogenesis, nitrate respiration, fermentation, nitrate reduction, dark oxidation of sulfur compounds, sulfate respiration, iron respiration, chlorate reduction, aromatic compound degradation, denitrification, ammonification and nitrogen fixation, were more abundant in the stagnant areas. The relative abundance of C-N-S functional genes, including genes related to C metabolism (e.g., mcr, mer, mtr, fwd and mtd), N metabolism (e.g., nifDKH, nirK, narGHI, nosZ, amoB, norC and napAB) and sulfur metabolism (e.g., dsrAB and PAPSS), increased in the stagnant zones, indicating that there was active microbiological C-N-S cycling in the stagnant areas. The degradation and fermentation of terrestrial plant organic carbon and coal seam organic matter could provide substrates for methanogens, while nitrogen fixation and nitrification can provide nitrogen for methanogens, which are all favorable factors for stronger methanogenesis in stagnant areas. The coal in the study area is currently in the secondary biogenic gas generation stage because of the rising of the strata, which recharges atmospheric precipitation. The random forest model shows that the abundance of C-N-S microorganisms and genes could be used to distinguish different hydrological zones in coal reservoirs. Since stagnant zones are usually high-gas-bearing zones and high-production areas of CBM exploration, these microbiological indicators can be used as effective parameters to identify high-production-potential zones. In addition, nitrate respiration and sulfate respiration microorganisms consumed NO3− and SO42−, causing a decrease in the content of these two ions in the stagnant areas.
Effect of Chitosan and Alginate-Based Edible Membranes with Oregano Essential Oil and Olive Oil in the Microbiological, Physicochemical and Organoleptic Characteristics of Mutton
Authors: Tsitsos Anestis , Economou Vangelis , Chouliara Eirini , Koutouzidou Georgia , Arsenos Georgios , Ambrosiadis Ioannis
Published: February 2023

Edible chitosan or alginate coatings and their combinations with oregano essential oil or olive oil, have been examined for their effect on the microbiological, physicochemical and organoleptic characteristics of mutton. The results indicated that these edible coatings can contribute to maintaining good quality characteristics and extending mutton shelf-life. The total mesophilic counts in mutton ranged from 3.48 to 8.00 log10 CFU/g, the total psychrophilic counts from 4.00 to 9.50 log10 CFU/g, the B. thermosphacta counts from 2.30 to 7.77 log10 CFU/g and the lactic acid bacteria counts from 2.00 to 5.85 log10 CFU/g. Chitosan coatings significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the total mesophilic, the total psychrophilic (1–2 log10 cfu/g), the B. thermosphacta and the lactic acid bacteria counts in mutton. Alginate exhibited a lower L* value and a higher a* value and chroma compared with the control and chitosan lots. No significant differences were observed in the chemical composition of meat pieces among the experimental groups. Oregano oil positively affected the sensory attributes of meat. The most favourable combination, based on the microbiological counts, the organoleptic characteristics and the shelf-life extension of mutton, was that of chitosan with oregano essential oil.
mTOR Signaling Disruption and Its Association with the Development of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Thomas Shilu Deepa , Jha Niraj Kumar , Ojha Shreesh , Sadek Bassem
Published: February 2023

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in social interaction and communication along with repetitive stereotypic behaviors. Currently, there are no specific biomarkers for diagnostic screening or treatments available for autistic patients. Numerous genetic disorders are associated with high prevalence of ASD, including tuberous sclerosis complex, phosphatase and tensin homolog, and fragile X syndrome. Preclinical investigations in animal models of these diseases have revealed irregularities in the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway as well as ASD-related behavioral defects. Reversal of the downstream molecular irregularities, associated with mTOR hyperactivation, improved the behavioral deficits observed in the preclinical investigations. Plant bioactive molecules have shown beneficial pre-clinical evidence in ASD treatment by modulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. In this review, we summarize the involvement of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway as well as the genetic alterations of the pathway components and its critical impact on the development of the autism spectrum disorder. Mutations in negative regulators of mTORC1, such as TSC1, TSC2, and PTEN, result in ASD-like phenotypes through the disruption of the mTORC1-mediated signaling. We further discuss the various naturally occurring phytoconstituents that have been identified to be bioactive and modulate the pathway to prevent its disruption and contribute to beneficial therapeutic effects in ASD.
Ultrarapid Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Fluorescent Silver Coordination Polymer Nanoparticles and Its Application in Detecting Alkaline Phosphatase Activity
Authors: Pei Kanglin , Li Di , Qi Wenjing , Wu Di
Published: February 2023

Fluorescent silver coordination polymer nanoparticles (Ag-TPA CPNs) were synthesized using a combination of terephthalic acid (TPA) and silver nitrate via an ultrarapid microwave-assisted strategy within 15 min. The Ag-TPA CPNs displayed a high fluorescent quantum yield (QY = 20.19%) and large Stokes shift (~200 nm), with two emission peaks at 490 nm and 520 nm under an excitation wavelength of 320 nm. A fluorescent “turn-off” method using fluorescent Ag-TPA CPNs was applied to detect the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity on the basis of the ALP-catalyzed hydrolysis of ascorbic acid 2-phosphate (AA2P) to ascorbic acid (AA), and the AA product triggered the reduction of Ag+ ions into silver nanoparticles. The fluorescent lifetime of Ag-TPA CPNs decreased from 3.93 ms to 3.80 ms after the addition of ALP, which suggests that this fluorescent “turn-off” detection of ALP activity is a dynamic quenching process. The fluorescent intensity had a linear relationship with the concentration of ALP in the range of 0.2–12 mU/mL (r = 0.991) and with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.07 mU/mL. It showed high selectivity in ALP detection towards metal ions and amino acids, as well as other enzymes such as horseradish peroxidase, glucose oxidase, tyrosinase, trypsin, lysozyme, and superoxides. When it was applied for the fluorescent “turn-off” detection of ALP activity in serum samples, mean recovery levels ranging from 99.5% to 101.2% were obtained, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) lower than 4% accuracy. Therefore, it is an efficient and accurate tool for analyzing ALP levels in biosamples.
Antibacterial Activity and Mechanism of Madecassic Acid against Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Wei Chunling , Cui Peiwu , Liu Xiangqian
Published: February 2023

Antibacterial resistance has become one of the most serious problems threating global health. To overcome this urgent problem, many scientists have paid great attention to developing new antibacterial drugs from natural products. Hence, for exploring new antibacterial drugs from Chinese medicine, a series of experiments were carried out for verifying and elucidating the antibacterial activity and mechanisms of madecassic acid (MA), which is an active triterpenoid compound isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine, Centella asiatica. The antibacterial activity was investigated through measuring the diameter of the inhibition zone, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), the growth curve, and the effect on the bacterial biofilm, respectively. Meanwhile, the antibacterial mechanism was also discussed from the aspects of cell wall integrity variation, cell membrane permeability, and the activities of related enzymes in the respiratory metabolic pathway before and after the intervention by MA. The results showed that MA had an inhibitory effect on eight kinds of pathogenic bacteria, and the MIC values for Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus megaterium were 31.25, 62.5, 250, 125, 62.5, and 62.5 µg/mL, respectively. For instance, 31.25 µg/mL MA could inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus within 28 h. The antibacterial mechanism experiments confirmed that MA could destroy the integrity of the cell membrane and cell wall of Staphylococcus aureus, causing the leakage of macromolecular substances, inhibiting the synthesis of soluble proteins, reducing the activities of succinate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase, and interacting with DNA, leading to the relaxation and ring opening of supercoiled DNA. Besides, the activities of DNA topoisomerase I and II were both inhibited by MA, which led to the cell growth of Staphylococcus aureus being repressed. This study provides a theoretical basis and reference for the application of MA in the control and inhibition of food-borne Staphylococcus aureus.
Rhombohedral Boron Monosulfide as a p-Type Semiconductor
Authors: Watanabe Norinobu , Miyazaki Keisuke , Toyoda Masayuki , Takeyasu Kotaro , Tsujii Naohito , Kusaka Haruki , Yamamoto Akiyasu , Saito Susumu , Miyakawa Masashi , Taniguchi Takashi , Aizawa Takashi , Mori Takao , Miyauchi Masahiro , Kondo Takahiro
Published: February 2023

Two-dimensional materials have wide ranging applications in electronic devices and catalysts owing to their unique properties. Boron-based compounds, which exhibit a polymorphic nature, are an attractive choice for developing boron-based two-dimensional materials. Among them, rhombohedral boron monosulfide (r-BS) has recently attracted considerable attention owing to its unique layered structure similar to that of transition metal dichalcogenides and a layer-dependent bandgap. However, experimental evidence that clarifies the charge carrier type in the r-BS semiconductor is lacking. In this study, we synthesized r-BS and evaluated its performance as a semiconductor by measuring the Seebeck coefficient and photo-electrochemical responses. The properties unique to p-type semiconductors were observed in both measurements, indicating that the synthesized r-BS is a p-type semiconductor. Moreover, a distinct Fano resonance was observed in Fourier transform infrared absorption spectroscopy, which was ascribed to the Fano resonance between the E(2) (TO) phonon mode and electrons in the band structures of r-BS, indicating that the p-type carrier was intrinsically doped in the synthesized r-BS. These results demonstrate the potential future application prospects of r-BS.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Biological Evaluation of 2-(N-((2′-(2H-tetrazole-5-yl)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4yl)-methyl)-pentanamido)-3-methyl Butanoic Acid Derivatives
Authors: Masood Anum , Khan Mohsin Abbas , Ahmad Irshad , Breena  , Raza Asim , Ullah Farhat , Ali Shah Syed Adnan
Published: February 2023

This study aimed to evaluate 2-(N-((2′-(2H-tetrazole-5-yl)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4yl)-methyl)-pentanamido)-3-methyl butanoic acid-based ester derivatives as a new class of angiotensin-II receptor antagonists. For this purpose, a series of compounds were synthesized using a variety of phenols. Their chemical characterization was established by FTIR, 1HNMR, and 13CNMR techniques. The biological activities including antioxidant potentials using the DPPH assay, the antihypertensive assay, the urease enzyme inhibition assay, and the antibacterial assay using agar well diffusion methods were performed. All the new compounds showed significant free radical scavenging potentials more than the parent drug while retaining antihypertensive potentials along with urease inhibition properties. However, the AV2 test compound was found to be the most potent against hypertension. Most of the synthesized analogs showed urease inhibitory actions. Molecular docking studies were performed for all the active analogs to decode the binding detail of the ligands with receptors of the enzyme’s active site.
Colorimetric Assaying of Exosomal Metabolic Biomarkers
Authors: Yan Evelias , Goyal Garima , Yildiz Umit Hakan , Boehm Bernhard O. , Palaniappan Alagappan
Published: February 2023

Exosomes released into the extracellular matrix have been reported to contain metabolic biomarkers of various diseases. These intraluminal vesicles are typically found in blood, urine, saliva, breast milk, cerebrospinal fluid, semen, amniotic fluid, and ascites. Analysis of exosomal content with specific profiles of DNA, microRNA, proteins, and lipids can mirror their cellular origin and physiological state. Therefore, exosomal cargos may reflect the physiological processes at cellular level and can potentially be used as biomarkers. Herein, we report an optical detection method for assaying exosomal biomarkers that supersedes the state-of-the-art time consuming and laborious assays such as ELISA and NTA. The proposed assay monitors the changes in optical properties of poly(3-(4-methyl-3′-thienyloxy) propyltriethylammonium bromide) upon interacting with aptamers/peptide nucleic acids in the presence or absence of target biomarkers. As a proof of concept, this study demonstrates facile assaying of microRNA, DNA, and advanced glycation end products in exosomes isolated from human plasma with detection levels of ~1.2, 0.04, and 0.35 fM/exosome, respectively. Thus, the obtained results illustrate that the proposed methodology is applicable for rapid and facile detection of generic exosomal biomarkers for facilitating diseases diagnosis.
Rye Dietary Fiber Components upon the Influence of Fermentation Inoculated with Probiotic Microorganisms
Authors: Koj Kamila , Pejcz Ewa
Published: February 2023

Rye flour is used as the main ingredient of sourdough bread, which has technological and gastronomic benefits and increased nutritional value. The transformations observed during fermentation and baking may enable the conversion or degradation of rye dietary fiber carbohydrates built mainly of arabinoxylans, fructans, and β-glucans. This study aimed to determine the dynamics of the changes in the contents of complex carbohydrates in sourdoughs inoculated with potential probiotic microorganisms as well as the polysaccharide composition of the resulting bread. Sourdoughs were inoculated with the potential probiotic microorganisms Saccharomyces boulardii, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, and Bacillus coagulans, and spontaneous fermentation was performed as a control. Samples of the sourdoughs after 24 and 48 h of fermentation and of bread obtained with these sourdoughs were analyzed for the content of individual dietary fiber components. The present study demonstrated that the treatments applied contributed to an increased total content of arabinoxylans in the breads, and the inoculation of the sourdoughs with the potential probiotic strains improved their solubility in water. The use of the S.boulardii strain may seem prospective as it allowed for the greatest reduction in fructans in the rye bread. Rye sourdough bread is an attractive source of dietary fiber and can be modified for different nutritional needs.
Synthesis, Antifungal Activity, 3D-QSAR and Controlled Release on Hydrotalcite Study of Longifolene-Derived Diphenyl Ether Carboxylic Acid Compounds
Authors: Wu Xiaocui , Lin Guishan , Duan Wengui , Li Baoyu , Cui Yucheng , Cen Bo , Lei Fuhou
Published: February 2023

Twenty-two novel longifolene-derived diphenyl ether-carboxylic acid compounds 7a–7v were synthesized from renewable biomass resources longifolene, and their structures were confirmed by FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and HRMS. The preliminary evaluation of in vitro antifungal activity displayed that compound 7b presented inhibition rates of 85.9%, 82.7%, 82.7%, and 81.4% against Alternaria solani, Cercospora arachidicola, Rhizoctonia solani, and Physalospora piricola, respectively, and compound 7l possessed inhibition rates of 80.7%, 80.4%, and 80.3% against R. solani, C. arachidicola, P. piricola, respectively, exhibiting excellent and broad-spectrum antifungal activities. Besides, compounds 7f and 7a showed significant antifungal activities with inhibition rates of 81.2% and 80.7% against A.solani, respectively. Meanwhile, a reasonable and effective 3D-QSAR mode (r2 = 0.996, q2 = 0.572) has been established by the CoMFA method. Furthermore, the drug-loading complexes 7b/MgAl-LDH were prepared and characterized. Their pH-responsive controlled-release behavior was investigated as well. As a result, complex 7b/MgAl-LDH-2 exhibited excellent controlled-releasing performance in the water/ethanol (10:1, v:v) and under a pH of 5.7.
Production and Characterization of New Biosurfactants/Bioemulsifiers from Pantoea alhagi and Their Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and Anti-Biofilm Potentiality Evaluations
Authors: Essghaier Badiaa , Mallat Nesrine , Khwaldia Khaoula , Mottola Filomena , Rocco Lucia , Hannachi Hédia
Published: February 2023

The present work aimed to develop rapid approach monitoring using a simple selective method based on a positive hemolysis test, oil spreading activity and emulsification index determinations. It is the first to describe production of biosurfactants (BS) by the endophytic Pantoea alhagi species. Results indicated that the new BS evidenced an E24 emulsification index of 82%. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) results mentioned that the described BS belong to the glycolipid family. Fatty acid profiles showed the predominance of methyl 2-hyroxydodecanoate in the cell membrane (67.00%) and methyl 14-methylhexadecanoate (12.05%). The major fatty acid in the BS was oleic acid (76.26%), followed by methyl 12-methyltetradecanoate (10.93%). Markedly, the BS produced by the Pantoea alhagi species exhibited antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activities against tested human pathogens. With superior antibacterial activity against Escherchia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, a high antifungal effect was given against Fusarium sp. with a diameter of zone of inhibition of 29.5 mm, 36 mm and 31 mm, obtained by BS dissolved in methanol extract. The DPPH assay indicated that the BS (2 mg/mL) showed a higher antioxidant activity (78.07 inhibition percentage). The new BS exhibited specific characteristics, encouraging their use in various industrial applications.
Block Copolymer-Assisted Synthesis of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Effective Removal of Congo Red
Authors: Bhattarai Mohan K. , Ashie Moses D. , Dugu Sita , Subedi Kiran , Bastakoti Bishnu P. , Morell Gerardo , Katiyar Ram S.
Published: February 2023

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) were synthesized via a block copolymer-assisted hydrothermal method and the phase purity and the crystal structure were investigated by X-ray diffraction. The Rietveld analysis of X-ray diffractometer spectra shows the hexagonal phase symmetry of α-Fe2O3. Further, the vibrational study suggests Raman active modes: 2A1g + 5Eg associated with α-Fe2O3, which corroborates the Rietveld analysis and orbital analysis of 2PFe. The superparamagnetic behavior is confirmed by magnetic measurements performed by the physical properties measurement system. The systematic study of the Congo red (CR) interaction with IONPs using a UV-visible spectrophotometer and a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry system equipped with a triple quadrupole mass analyzer and an electrospray ionization interface shows effective adsorption. In visible light, the Fe2O3 nanoparticles get easily excited and generate electrons and holes. The photogenerated electrons reduce the Fe3+ ions to Fe2+ ions. The Fe2+/H2O2 oxidizes CR by the Fenton mechanism. The strong adsorption ability of prepared nanoparticles towards dyes attributes the potential candidates for wastewater treatment and other catalytic applications.
Effect of Seed Priming with Chitosan Hydrolysate on Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) Growth Parameters
Authors: Lyalina Tatiana , Shagdarova Balzhima , Zhuikova Yuliya , Il’ina Alla , Lunkov Alexey , Varlamov Valery
Published: February 2023

Seed priming increases germination, yield, and resistance to abiotic factors and phytopathogens. Chitosan is considered an ecofriendly growth stimulant and crop protection agent. Chitosan hydrolysate (CH) is an unfractionated product of hydrolysis of high-molecular-weight crab shell chitosan with a molecular weight of 1040 kDa and a degree of deacetylation of 85% with nitric acid. The average molecular weight of the main fraction in CH was 39 kDa. Lettuce seeds were soaked in 0.01–1 mg/mL CH for 6 h before sowing. The effects of CH on seed germination, plant morphology, and biochemical indicators at different growth stages were evaluated. Under the 0.1 mg/mL CH treatment, earlier seed germination was detected compared to the control. Increased root branching was observed, along with 100% and 67% increases in fresh weight (FW) at the 24th and 38th days after sowing (DAS), respectively. An increase in the shoot FW was found in CH-treated plants (33% and 4% at the 24th and 38th DAS, respectively). Significant increases in chlorophyll and carotenoid content compared to the control were observed at the 10th DAS. There were no significant differences in the activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, polyphenol oxidase, β-1,3-glucanase, and chitinase at the 24th and 38th DAS. Seed priming with CH could increase the yield and uniformity of plants within the group. This effect is important for commercial vegetable production.
Mechanisms for Catalytic CO Oxidation on SiAun (n = 1–5) Cluster
Authors: Zhang Yang , Ren Dasen
Published: February 2023

Significant progress has been made in understanding the reactivity and catalytic activity of gas-phase and loaded gold clusters for CO oxidation. However, little research has focused on mixed silicon/gold clusters (SiAun) for CO oxidation. In the present work, we performed density function theory (DFT) calculations for a SiAun (n = 1–5) cluster at the CAM-B3LYP/aug-cc-pVDZ-PP level and investigated the effects on the reactivity and catalytic activity of the SiAun cluster for CO oxidation. The calculated results show that the effect is very low for the activation barriers for the formation of OOCO intermediates on SiAu clusters, SiAu3 clusters, and SiAu5 clusters in the catalytic oxidation of CO and the activation energy barriers for the formation of OCO intermediates on OSiAu3, OSiAu4, and OSiAu5. Our calculations show that, compared with the conventional small Au cluster, the incorporation of Si enhances the catalytic performance towards CO oxidation.
Synthetic Cinnamides and Cinnamates: Antimicrobial Activity, Mechanism of Action, and In Silico Study
Authors: de Morais Mayara Castro , de Oliveira Lima Edeltrudes , Perez-Castillo Yunierkis , de Sousa Damião Pergentino
Published: February 2023

The severity of infectious diseases associated with the resistance of microorganisms to drugs highlights the importance of investigating bioactive compounds with antimicrobial potential. Therefore, nineteen synthetic cinnamides and cinnamates having a cinnamoyl nucleus were prepared and submitted for the evaluation of antimicrobial activity against pathogenic fungi and bacteria in this study. To determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the compounds, possible mechanisms of antifungal action, and synergistic effects, microdilution testing in broth was used. The structures of the synthesized products were characterized with FTIR spectroscopy, 1 H-NMR, 13 C-NMR, and HRMS. Derivative 6 presented the best antifungal profile, suggesting that the presence of the butyl substituent potentiates its biological response (MIC = 626.62 μM), followed by compound 4 (672.83 μM) and compound 3 (726.36 μM). All three compounds were fungicidal, with MFC/MIC ≤ 4. For mechanism of action, compounds 4 and 6 directly interacted with the ergosterol present in the fungal plasmatic membrane and with the cell wall. Compound 18 presented the best antibacterial profile (MIC = 458.15 μM), followed by compound 9 (550.96 μM) and compound 6 (626.62 μM), which suggested that the presence of an isopropyl group is important for antibacterial activity. The compounds were bactericidal, with MBC/MIC ≤ 4. Association tests were performed using the Checkerboard method to evaluate potential synergistic effects with nystatin (fungi) and amoxicillin (bacteria). Derivatives 6 and 18 presented additive effects. Molecular docking simulations suggested that the most likely targets of compound 6 in C. albicans were caHOS2 and caRPD3, while the most likely target of compound 18 in S. aureus was saFABH. Our results suggest that these compounds could be used as prototypes to obtain new antimicrobial drugs.
Generalized Poincaré Beams in Tight Focus
Authors: Kotlyar Victor V. , Kovalev Alexey A. , Telegin Alexey M.
Published: February 2023

We study the tight focus of generalized (hybrid) Poincaré beams. A conventional Poincaré beam is a coaxial superposition of two optical vortices, one with left circular polarization and a topological charge (TC) of m, while the other has a right circular polarization and a TC of −m. The generalized Poincaré beams are also composed of two optical vortices, but their TCs are different, for instance, p and q. Here, we theoretically investigate the generalized Poincaré beams with the TCs p = m + 1 and q = −m in tight focus. In this case, both transverse components of the strength vector of the initial electric field have a topological charge of 1/2, and the beam itself is a cylindrical vector beam of fractional order m + 1/2. Analytical expressions are derived for the components of the strength vectors of the electric and magnetic field at the focus as well as for the intensity distribution, the longitudinal component of the spin angular momentum (SAM), and for the components of the Poynting vector (energy flow density). We show that the intensity at the focus has 2m − 1 local maxima residing evenly in a certain circle radius with the center on the optical axis. We also demonstrate that the radial spin and orbital Hall effects occur at the focus, i.e., the longitudinal SAM component has different signs in the circles of different radii, and the azimuthal component of the transverse Poynting vector also has different signs.
Cooling and Water Production in a Hybrid Desiccant M-Cycle Evaporative Cooling System with HDH Desalination: A Comparison of Operational Modes
Authors: Lai Lanbo , Wang Xiaolin , Kefayati Gholamreza , Hu Eric
Published: February 2023

In this paper, the cooling and freshwater generation performance of a novel hybrid configuration of a solid desiccant-based M-cycle cooling system (SDM) combined with a humidification–dehumidification (HDH) desalination unit is analysed and compared in three operational modes: ventilation, recirculation, and half recirculation. The HDH unit in this system recycles the moist waste air sourced from the M-cycle cooler and rotary desiccant wheel of the SDM system to enhance water production. A mathematical model was established and solved using TRNSYS and EES software. The results of this study indicate that the recirculation mode exhibited superior cooling performance compared to the other two modes, producing up to 7.91 kW of cooling load and maintaining a supply air temperature below 20.85 °C and humidity of 12.72 g/kg under various ambient conditions. All the operational modes showed similar water production rates of around 52.74 kg/h, 52.43 kg/h, and 52.14 kg/h for the recirculation, half-recirculation and ventilation modes, respectively, across a range of operating temperatures. The recirculation mode also exhibited a higher COP compared to the other modes, as the environmental temperature and relative humidity were above 35 °C and 50%. However, it should be noted that the implementation of the recirculation mode resulted in a higher water consumption rate, with a maximum value of 5.52 kg/h when the inlet air reached 45 °C, which partially offset the benefits of this mode.
A Novel Real-Time Edge-Guided LiDAR Semantic Segmentation Network for Unstructured Environments
Authors: Yin Xiaoqing , Li Xu , Ni Peizhou , Xu Qimin , Kong Dong
Published: February 2023

LiDAR-based semantic segmentation, particularly for unstructured environments, plays a crucial role in environment perception and driving decisions for unmanned ground vehicles. Unfortunately, chaotic unstructured environments, especially the high-proportion drivable areas and large-area static obstacles therein, inevitably suffer from the problem of blurred class edges. Existing published works are prone to inaccurate edge segmentation and have difficulties dealing with the above challenge. To this end, this paper proposes a real-time edge-guided LiDAR semantic segmentation network for unstructured environments. First, the main branch is a lightweight architecture that extracts multi-level point cloud semantic features; Second, the edge segmentation module is designed to extract high-resolution edge features using cascaded edge attention blocks, and the accuracy of extracted edge features and the consistency between predicted edge and semantic segmentation results are ensured by additional supervision; Third, the edge guided fusion module fuses edge features and main branch features in a multi-scale manner and recalibrates the channel feature using channel attention, realizing the edge guidance to semantic segmentation and further improving the segmentation accuracy and adaptability of the model. Experimental results on the SemanticKITTI dataset, the Rellis-3D dataset, and on our test dataset demonstrate the effectiveness and real-time performance of the proposed network in different unstructured environments. Especially, the network has state-of-the-art performance in segmentation of drivable areas and large-area static obstacles in unstructured environments.
Advances in Improving Energy Efficiency of Fiber–Wireless Access Networks: A Comprehensive Overview
Authors: Lorincz Josip , Klarin Zvonimir , Begusic Dinko
Published: February 2023

Due to the growing impact of the information and communications technology (ICT) sector on electricity usage and greenhouse gas emissions, telecommunication networks require new solutions which will enable the improvement of the energy efficiency of networks. Access networks, which are responsible for the last mile of connectivity and also for one of the largest shares in network energy consumption, are viable candidates for the implementation of new protocols, models and methods which will contribute to the reduction of the energy consumption of such networks. Among the different types of access networks, hybrid fiber–wireless (FiWi) networks are a type of network that combines the capacity and reliability of optical networks with the flexibility and availability of wireless networks, and as such, FiWi networks have begun to be extensively used in modern access networks. However, due to the advent of high-bandwidth applications and Internet of Things networks, the increased energy consumption of FiWi networks has become one of the most concerning challenges required to be addressed. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the progress in approaches for improving the energy efficiency (EE) of different types of FiWi networks, which include the radio-and-fiber (R&F) networks, the radio-over-fiber networks (RoF), the FiWi networks based on multi-access edge computing (MEC) and the software-defined network (SDN)-based FiWi networks. It also discusses future directions for improving the EE in the FiWi networks.
Smart Graphene-Based Electrochemical Nanobiosensor for Clinical Diagnosis: Review
Authors: Irkham Irkham , Ibrahim Abdullahi Umar , Pwavodi Pwadubashiyi Coston , Al-Turjman Fadi , Hartati Yeni Wahyuni
Published: February 2023

The technological improvement in the field of physics, chemistry, electronics, nanotechnology, biology, and molecular biology has contributed to the development of various electrochemical biosensors with a broad range of applications in healthcare settings, food control and monitoring, and environmental monitoring. In the past, conventional biosensors that have employed bioreceptors, such as enzymes, antibodies, Nucleic Acid (NA), etc., and used different transduction methods such as optical, thermal, electrochemical, electrical and magnetic detection, have been developed. Yet, with all the progresses made so far, these biosensors are clouded with many challenges, such as interference with undesirable compound, low sensitivity, specificity, selectivity, and longer processing time. In order to address these challenges, there is high need for developing novel, fast, highly sensitive biosensors with high accuracy and specificity. Scientists explore these gaps by incorporating nanoparticles (NPs) and nanocomposites (NCs) to enhance the desired properties. Graphene nanostructures have emerged as one of the ideal materials for biosensing technology due to their excellent dispersity, ease of functionalization, physiochemical properties, optical properties, good electrical conductivity, etc. The Integration of the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) in the development of biosensors has the potential to improve diagnosis and treatment of diseases through early diagnosis and on time monitoring. The outcome of this comprehensive review will be useful to understand the significant role of graphene-based electrochemical biosensor integrated with Artificial Intelligence AI and IoMT for clinical diagnostics. The review is further extended to cover open research issues and future aspects of biosensing technology for diagnosis and management of clinical diseases and performance evaluation based on Linear Range (LR) and Limit of Detection (LOD) within the ranges of Micromolar µM (10−6), Nanomolar nM (10−9), Picomolar pM (10−12), femtomolar fM (10−15), and attomolar aM (10−18).
Assessment of Different Feature Extraction Methods for Discriminating Expressed Emotions during Music Performance towards BCMI Application
Authors: Ghodousi Mahrad , Pousson Jachin Edward , Bernhofs Valdis , Griškova-Bulanova Inga
Published: February 2023

A Brain-Computer Music Interface (BCMI) system may be designed to harness electroencephalography (EEG) signals for control over musical outputs in the context of emotionally expressive performance. To develop a real-time BCMI system, accurate and computationally efficient emotional biomarkers should first be identified. In the current study, we evaluated the ability of various features to discriminate between emotions expressed during music performance with the aim of developing a BCMI system. EEG data was recorded while subjects performed simple piano music with contrasting emotional cues and rated their success in communicating the intended emotion. Power spectra and connectivity features (Magnitude Square Coherence (MSC) and Granger Causality (GC)) were extracted from the signals. Two different approaches of feature selection were used to assess the contribution of neutral baselines in detection accuracies; 1- utilizing the baselines to normalize the features, 2- not taking them into account (non-normalized features). Finally, the Support Vector Machine (SVM) has been used to evaluate and compare the capability of various features for emotion detection. Best detection accuracies were obtained from the non-normalized MSC-based features equal to 85.57 ± 2.34, 84.93 ± 1.67, and 87.16 ± 0.55 for arousal, valence, and emotional conditions respectively, while the power-based features had the lowest accuracies. Both connectivity features show acceptable accuracy while requiring short processing time and thus are potential candidates for the development of a real-time BCMI system.
Green Automated Solid Phase Extraction to Measure Levofloxacin in Human Serum via Liquid Chromatography with Fluorescence Detection for Pharmacokinetic Study
Authors: Ebrahim Hager , Sonbol Heba , Malak Monika , Ali Ahmed , Aboulella Yasmine , Hadad Ghada , Zarad Walaa , Emara Samy , Bazan Lamyaa
Published: February 2023

A simple, selective, rapid, sensitive and less costly green automated solid phase extraction bio-analytical high-performance liquid chromatographic-based technique with fluorescence detection (Aut-SPE-BA-HPLC-FL) for the quantification of levofloxacin in human serum samples has been developed and validated. The serum samples were loaded into the chromatographic system without prior treatment and then injected into short (20 mm × 4.6 mm, 20 µm) protein-coated (PC) µBondapak CN (µBCN) silica pre-column (PC-µBCN-pre-column). Levofloxacin was retained and pre-concentrated on the head of the PC-µBCN-pre-column, while proteins and other polar components were eliminated using phosphate buffer saline (PBS), pH 7.4, as the first mobile phase in the extraction step. Levofloxacin is then transferred to the analytical column; ZORBAX Eclipse XDB-C18 (150 mm × 46 mm, 5 µm), through the aid of a column-switching valve technique, on-throughs the elution mode using the second mobile phase containing a methanol and phosphate buffer (0.05 M, pH 5) in a ratio of 70:30 (v/v). Levofloxacin signals were detected using a fluorescence detector operated at excitation/emission wavelengths of 295/500 nm. The proposed Aut-SPE-BA-HPLC-FL methodology showed linearity over a levofloxacin concentration range of 10–10,000 ng/mL (r2 = 0.9992), with good recoveries ranging from 87.12 to 97.55%. Because of the validation qualities in terms of linearity, recovery, precision, accuracy, selectivity and robustness, the Aut-SPE-BA-HPLC-FL method has been used in some clinical trials for therapeutic drug monitoring and the pharmacokinetic study of levofloxacin in human serum.
Incorporating Covariates into Measures of Surrogate Paradox Risk
Authors: Shafie Khorassani Fatema , Taylor Jeremy M. G. , Kaciroti Niko , Elliott Michael R.
Published: February 2023

Clinical trials often collect intermediate or surrogate endpoints other than their true endpoint of interest. It is important that the treatment effect on the surrogate endpoint accurately predicts the treatment effect on the true endpoint. There are settings in which the proposed surrogate endpoint is positively correlated with the true endpoint, but the treatment has opposite effects on the surrogate and true endpoints, a phenomenon labeled “surrogate paradox”. Covariate information may be useful in predicting an individual’s risk of surrogate paradox. In this work, we propose methods for incorporating covariates into measures of assessing the risk of surrogate paradox using the meta-analytic causal association framework. The measures calculate the probability that a treatment will have opposite effects on the surrogate and true endpoints and determine the size of a positive treatment effect on the surrogate endpoint that would reduce the risk of a negative treatment effect on the true endpoint as a function of covariates, allowing the effects of covariates on the surrogate and true endpoint to vary across trials.
Finance Must Be Defended: Cybernetics, Neoliberalism and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)
Authors: Morgan William R.
Published: February 2023

In the last decade, interest in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) surged dramatically. This article contends that corporate perspectives on ESG—as managing risk and/or returning expected value—are insufficient to account for developments presently unfolding in the ESG finance space. There, novel derivative tools are being developed and deployed, promising to flip the sustainability market on its head. Unlike other sustainability metrics or strategies, ESG derivatives do not attempt to price a given firm’s risk profile in light of the environment, but rather seek to price the risk profile of environmental catastrophe itself. What this translocation of risk prophesies is the direct application of financial engineering to the climate. In this article, re-visiting the late work of Friedrich Hayek and tracing his legacy in Michel Foucault’s lectures on neoliberalism frames my argument that the modern financial system from which these derivatives spring is best understood as a cybernetic one. Cybernetic systems are ones that endeavor to negate entropy and maintain organization by means of information feedback loop-based learning; in finance, this takes the form of Hayekian price discovery. With ESG derivatives, the system of cybernetic finance is presently setting to work converting climate uncertainty into pricing efficiency. Because derivatives such as these represent the polity’s most advanced media for the meaningful sensation of threats, what emerges about the environment from the trade of these products will soon be fed backwards as a powerful set of inputs to governance, shaping how the climate is brought into representation and what responses to its associated crises are possible.
Trauma to the Eye: Diffusion Restriction on MRI as a Surrogate Marker for Blindness
Authors: Stahl Andreas , Hosten Norbert
Published: February 2023

Traumatic optic nerve injury may lead to almost instantaneous blindness. We describe a case of sight loss after a perforating injury to the eye. The case is unusual in that the patient remained conscious and the trauma to the eye was isolated. A full ophthalmological examination was therefore possible within hours as well as early magnetic resonance imaging of the facial skull. High-quality T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and diffusion-weighted imaging could be acquired. The latter included apparent diffusion coefficient maps. There was a loss of the subarachnoid space of the optic nerve, fluid in the retrobulbar fat of the affected eye, and signal changes in the optic nerve. Previous work has been contradictory on the signal of the optic nerve on apparent diffusion coefficient maps in sight loss, with an increase seen by one group and a decrease seen by another. Signal loss on the apparent diffusion coefficient map was seen in the case described here. Signal loss on apparent diffusion coefficient maps may thus be used as a surrogate marker of sight loss in patients who are unconscious or otherwise unable to cooperate in ophthalmological exams.
Complex Mixtures: Array PBPK Modeling of Jet Fuel Components
Authors: Sterner Teresa R. , Covington Tammie R. , Mattie David R.
Published: February 2023

An array physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model represents a streamlined method to simultaneously quantify dosimetry of multiple compounds. To predict internal dosimetry of jet fuel components simultaneously, an array PBPK model was coded to simulate inhalation exposures to one or more selected compounds: toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, n-nonane, n-decane, and naphthalene. The model structure accounts for metabolism of compounds in the lung and liver, as well as kinetics of each compound in multiple tissues, including the cochlea and brain regions associated with auditory signaling (brainstem and temporal lobe). The model can accommodate either diffusion-limited or flow-limited kinetics (or a combination), allowing the same structure to be utilized for compounds with different characteristics. The resulting model satisfactorily simulated blood concentration and tissue dosimetry data from multiple published single chemical rat studies. The model was then utilized to predict tissue kinetics for the jet fuel hearing loss study (JTEH A, 25:1-14). The model was also used to predict rat kinetic comparisons between hypothetical exposures to JP-8 or a Virent Synthesized Aromatic Kerosene (SAK):JP-8 50:50 blend at the occupational exposure limit (200 mg/m3). The array model has proven useful for comparing potential tissue burdens resulting from complex mixture exposures.
Latent Tuberculosis Treatment among Hard-to-Reach Ethiopian Immigrants: Nurse-Managed Directly Observed versus Self-Administered Isoniazid Therapy
Authors: Bishara Hashem , Green Manfred , Saffouri Amer , Weiler-Ravell Daniel
Published: February 2023

Background: The treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among high-risk populations is an essential component of Tuberculosis (TB) elimination. However, non-compliance with LTBI treatment remains a major obstacle hindering TB elimination efforts. We have previously reported high treatment compliance with nurse-managed, twice-weekly, directly observed Isoniazid treatment (DOT) for LTBI among hard-to-reach Ethiopian immigrants (EI’s). Objectives: to compare rate of completion of treatment, cost, and major adverse drug events with daily self-administered Isoniazid treatment (SAT) to nurse-managed Isoniazid DOT among hard-to-reach EIs. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study and compared self-administered LTBI treatment outcomes among EIs housed in reception centers during 2008–2012 to EIs treated with DOT. Results: Overall, 455 EIs were included (231 DOT, 224 SAT) in the study. We found no significant difference in treatment completion rates between the two groups (93.0% DOT vs. 87.9% SAT, p = 0.08). However, cases of grade III, drug-induced hepatitis were significantly fewer and treatment costs were significantly lower with the nurse–managed DOT compared with SAT (0% vs. 2.2%, p = 0.028, 363 vs. 521 United States Dollars, p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: Nurse-managed, twice-weekly DOT among hard-to-reach EIs housed in reception centers had less severe drug-related adverse events and reduced treatment cost compared with daily isoniazid SAT, yet we found no significant difference in treatment completion between the two strategies in this population.
Renal Biopsy Diagnosis of Acute Tubular Injury after Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccination: A Case Report
Authors: Soma Yu , Kitaji Daiyu , Hoshino Kaoru , Sunohara Sumire , Iwano Takehisa , Kawano Naomi
Published: February 2023

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a severe respiratory infection that can be fatal in unvaccinated individuals; however, acute kidney injury (AKI) is a rare adverse reaction to COVID-19 vaccination. AKI resulting from multiple conditions can have severe consequences, including end-stage renal failure, if not treated with immunosuppressive agents. However, acute tubular injury (ATI) as the sole cause of AKI has not been previously reported. Herein, we discuss an obese 54-year-old man with type 2 diabetes who received four COVID-19 vaccines; three from Pfizer and one from Moderna. Diabetic retinopathy, urinary protein, and occult blood were absent with no other underlying diseases. There was no history of COVID-19 infection. He was referred to our hospital 5 days after receiving the fourth Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine dose with stage 3 AKI. Urinary findings revealed new proteinuria and glomerular occult blood. Physical examination and infection testing were unremarkable. Steroids were introduced on admission for rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. A renal biopsy performed on Day 2 revealed only ATI. Therefore, steroids were discontinued on Day 5, after which renal function recovered spontaneously, and urinalysis abnormalities disappeared. Renal function remained normal during follow-up. We report a case of AKI with severe renal dysfunction after COVID-19 vaccination, wherein renal biopsy effectively determined the disease status (ATI), which did not require immunosuppressive treatment.