bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Polymyxin B Conjugates with Bio-Inspired Synthetic Polymers of Different Nature
Authors: Dvoretckaia Anna , Egorova Tatiana , Dzhuzha Apollinariia , Levit Mariia , Sivtsov Eugene , Demyanova Elena , Korzhikova-Vlakh Evgenia
Published: January 2023

The emergence and growth of bacterial resistance to antibiotics poses an enormous threat to humanity in the future. In this regard, the discovery of new antibiotics and the improvement of existing ones is a priority task. In this study, we proposed the synthesis of new polymeric conjugates of polymyxin B, which is a clinically approved but limited-use peptide antibiotic. In particular, three carboxylate-bearing polymers and one synthetic glycopolymer were selected for conjugation with polymyxin B (PMX B), namely, poly(α,L-glutamic acid) (PGlu), copolymer of L-glutamic acid and L-phenylalanine (P(Glu-co-Phe)), copolymer of N-vinyl succinamic acid and N-vinylsuccinimide (P(VSAA-co-VSI)), and poly(2-deoxy-2-methacrylamido-D-glucose) (PMAG). Unlike PGlu and PMAG, P(Glu-co-Phe) and P(VSAA-co-VSI) are amphiphilic and form nanoparticles in aqueous media. A number of conjugates with different polymyxin B loading were synthesized and characterized. In addition, the complex conjugates of PGLu or PMAG with polymyxin B and deferoxamine (siderophore) were obtained. A release of PMX B from Schiff base and amide-linked polymer conjugates was studied in model buffer media with pH 7.4 and 5.8. In both cases, a more pronounced release was observed under slightly acidic conditions. The cytotoxicity of free polymers and PMX B as well as their conjugates was examined in human embryonic kidney cells (HEK 293T cell line). All conjugates demonstrated reduced cytotoxicity compared to the free antibiotic. Finally, the antimicrobial efficacy of the conjugates against Pseudomonas aeruginosa was determined and compared. The lowest values of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were observed for polymyxin B and polymyxin B/deferoxamine conjugated with PMAG. Among the polymers tested, PMAG appears to be the most promising carrier for delivery of PMX B in conjugated form due to the good preservation of the antimicrobial properties of PMX B and the ability of controlled drug release.
Heat Shock Transcription Factor GhHSFB2a Is Crucial for Cotton Resistance to Verticillium dahliae
Authors: Liu Lu , Wang Qi , Zhu Linfeng , Guo Huiming , Cheng Hongmei , Su Xiaofeng
Published: January 2023

Heat shock transcription factors (HSFs) play a critical regulatory role in many plant disease resistance pathways. However, the molecular mechanisms of cotton HSFs involved in resistance to the soil-borne fungus Verticillium dahliae are limited. In our previous study, we identified numerous differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the transcriptome and metabolome of V. dahliae-inoculated Arabidopsis thaliana. In this study, we identified and functionally characterized GhHSFB2a, which is a DEG belonging to HSFs and related to cotton immunity to V. dahliae. Subsequently, the phylogenetic tree of the type two of the HSFB subfamily in different species was divided into two subgroups: A. thaliana and strawberry, which have the closest evolutionary relationship to cotton. We performed promoter cis-element analysis and showed that the defense-reaction-associated cis-acting element-FC-rich motif may be involved in the plant response to V. dahliae in cotton. The expression pattern analysis of GhHSFB2a displayed that it is transcriptional in roots, stems, and leaves and significantly higher at 12 h post-inoculation (hpi). Subcellular localization of GhHSFB2a was observed, and the results showed localization to the nucleus. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) analysis exhibited that GhHSFB2a silencing increased the disease index and fungal biomass and attenuated resistance against V. dahliae. Transcriptome sequencing of wild-type and GhHSFB2a-silenced plants, followed by Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, protein–protein interaction, and validation of marker genes revealed that ABA, ethylene, linoleic acid, and phenylpropanoid pathways are involved in GhHSFB2a-mediated plant disease resistance. Ectopic overexpression of the GhHSFB2a gene in Arabidopsis showed a significant increase in the disease resistance. Cumulatively, our results suggest that GhHSFB2a is required for the cotton immune response against V. dahliae-mediated ABA, ethylene, linoleic acid, and phenylpropanoid pathways, indicating its potential role in the molecular design breeding of plants.
Effects of Nutritionally Induced Obesity on Metabolic Pathways of Zebrafish
Authors: Li Xixi , Ge Guodong , Song Guili , Li Qing , Cui Zongbin
Published: January 2023

Human obesity has become a global epidemic that can lead to many metabolic diseases, including insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension and nonalcoholic fatty liver. The development of obesity is closely associated with excess food intake and energy imbalance, family history, lifestyle, psychology and other factors, but molecular mechanisms underlying the induction and development of obesity remain to be intensively studied under a variety of internal and external pathogenesis conditions. In this study, we generated two obesity models of zebrafish that were treated with a high-fat diet (HFD) or an overfeeding diet (DIO). Both HFD and DIO zebrafish exhibited higher levels of lipid accumulation, fat distribution, microvascular steatosis and ectopic accumulation of lipid droplets in liver and muscle than normal diet (NOD) fish. The comparison of transcriptome sequencing data for the livers of HFD, DIO and NOD groups identified common and specific genes and signaling pathways that are potentially associated with zebrafish obesity induced by HFD and/or DIO. These findings provide clues for further understanding the mechanisms of obesity development and preventing nutritionally induced obesity through targeting the common signaling pathways and biological processes.
Autoantibodies in Atrial Fibrillation—State of the Art
Authors: Zygadło Joanna , Procyk Grzegorz , Balsam Paweł , Lodziński Piotr , Grabowski Marcin , Gąsecka Aleksandra
Published: January 2023

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia. To date, a lot of research has been conducted to investigate the underlying mechanisms of this disease at both molecular and cellular levels. There is increasing evidence suggesting that autoimmunity is an important factor in the initiation and perpetuation of AF. Autoantibodies are thought to play a pivotal role in the regulation of heart rhythm and the conduction system and, therefore, are associated with AF development. In this review, we have summarized current knowledge concerning the role of autoantibodies in AF development as well as their prognostic and predictive value in this disease. The establishment of the autoantibody profile of separate AF patient groups may appear to be crucial in terms of developing novel treatment approaches for those patients; however, the exact role of various autoantibodies in AF is still a matter of ongoing debate.
Effects of Green Tea Polyphenol Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate on Markers of Inflammation and Fibrosis in a Rat Model of Pulmonary Silicosis
Authors: Adamcakova Jana , Balentova Sona , Barosova Romana , Hanusrichterova Juliana , Mikolka Pavol , Prso Kristian , Mokry Juraj , Tatarkova Zuzana , Kalenska Dagmar , Mokra Daniela
Published: January 2023

Inhalation of silica particles causes inflammatory changes leading to fibrotizing silicosis. Considering a lack of effective therapy, and a growing information on the wide actions of green tea polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the aim of this study was to evaluate the early effects of EGCG on markers of inflammation and lung fibrosis in silicotic rats. The silicosis model was induced by a single transoral intratracheal instillation of silica (50 mg/mL/animal), while controls received an equivalent volume of saline. The treatment with intraperitoneal EGCG (20 mg/kg, or saline in controls) was initiated the next day after silica instillation and was given twice a week. Animals were euthanized 14 or 28 days after the treatment onset, and the total and differential counts of leukocytes in the blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), wet/dry lung weight ratio, and markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, and fibrosis in the lung were determined. The presence of collagen and smooth muscle mass in the walls of bronchioles and lung vessels was investigated immunohistochemically. Early treatment with EGCG showed some potential to alleviate inflammation, and a trend to decrease oxidative stress-induced changes, including apoptosis, and a prevention of fibrotic changes in the bronchioles and pulmonary vessels. However, further investigations should be undertaken to elucidate the effects of EGCG in the lung silicosis model in more detail. In addition, because of insufficient data from EGCG delivery in silicosis, the positive and eventual adverse effects of this herbal compound should be carefully studied before any preventive use or therapy with EGCG may be recommended.
Curcumin Ameliorates Particulate Matter-Induced Pulmonary Injury through Bimodal Regulation of Macrophage Inflammation via NF-κB and Nrf2
Authors: Lee Min Kook , Kim Hyo Dam , Lee Suk Hee , Lee Jin Hyup
Published: January 2023

The direct effects of particulate matter (PM) on lung injury and its specific molecular mechanisms are unclear. However, experimental evidence has shown that oxidative stress-mediated inflammation in macrophages is the main pathological outcome of PM exposure. Curcumin has been reported to protect organs against the disturbance of homeostasis caused by various toxic agents through anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects. However, the protective action of curcumin against PM-induced pulmonary inflammation and the underlying mechanism have not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we established a PM-induced pulmonary inflammation mouse model using the intratracheal instillation method to investigate the protective ability of curcumin against PM-induced pulmonary inflammation. Compared to the mice treated with PM only, the curcumin-treated mice showed alleviated alveolar damage, decreased immune cell infiltration, and reduced proinflammatory cytokine production in both lung tissue and BALF. To evaluate the underlying mechanism, the mouse macrophage cell line RAW264.7 was used. Pretreatment with curcumin prevented the production of PM-induced proinflammatory cytokines by deactivating NF-κB through the suppression of MAPK signaling pathways. Furthermore, curcumin appears to attenuate PM-induced oxidative stress through the activation of Nrf2 and downstream antioxidant signaling. Our findings demonstrate that curcumin protects against PM-induced lung injury by suppressing oxidative stress and inflammatory activation in macrophages.
Combination Treatment of a Phytochemical and a Histone Demethylase Inhibitor—A Novel Approach towards Targeting TGFβ-Induced EMT, Invasion, and Migration in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Dalpatraj Nidhi , Naik Ankit , Thakur Noopur
Published: January 2023

Minimizing side effects, overcoming cancer drug resistance, and preventing metastasis of cancer cells are of growing interest in current cancer therapeutics. Phytochemicals are being researched in depth as they are protective to normal cells and have fewer side effects. Hesperetin is a citrus bioflavonoid known to inhibit TGFβ-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), migration, and invasion of prostate cancer cells. Targeting epigenetic modifications that cause cancer is another class of upcoming therapeutics, as these changes are reversible. Global H3K27me3 levels have been found to be reduced in invasive prostate adenocarcinomas. Combining a demethylase inhibitor and a known anti-cancer phytochemical is a unique approach to targeting cancer to attain the aforementioned objectives. In the current study, we used an H3K27 demethylase (JMJD3/KDM6B) inhibitor to study its effects on TGFβ-induced EMT in prostate cancer cells. We then gave a combined hesperetin and GSK-J4 treatment to the PC-3 and LNCaP cells. There was a dose-dependent increase in cytotoxicity and inhibition of TGFβ-induced migration and invasion of prostate cancer cells after GSK-J4 treatment. GSK-J4 not only induced trimethylation of H3K27 but also induced the trimethylation of H3K4. Surprisingly, there was a reduction in the H3K9me3 levels. GSK-J4 alone and a combination of hesperetin and GSK-J4 treatment effectively inhibit the important hallmarks of cancer, such as cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, by altering the epigenetic landscape of cancer cells.
Mammalian Glycosylation Patterns Protect Citrullinated Chemokine MCP-1/CCL2 from Partial Degradation
Authors: Korchynskyi Olexandr , Yoshida Ken , Korchynska Nataliia , Czarnik-Kwaśniak Justyna , Tak Paul P. , Pruijn Ger J. M. , Isozaki Takeo , Ruth Jeffrey H. , Campbell Phillip L. , Amin M. Asif , Koch Alisa E.
Published: January 2023

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1/CCL2) is a potent chemotactic agent for monocytes, primarily produced by macrophages and endothelial cells. Significantly elevated levels of MCP-1/CCL2 were found in synovial fluids of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), compared to osteoarthritis or other arthritis patients. Several studies suggested an important role for MCP-1 in the massive inflammation at the damaged joint, in part due to its chemotactic and angiogenic effects. It is a known fact that the post-translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins have a significant impact on their properties. In mammals, arginine residues within proteins can be converted into citrulline by peptidylarginine deiminase (PAD) enzymes. Anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA), recognizing these PTMs, have become a hallmark for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other autoimmune diseases and are important in diagnostics and prognosis. In previous studies, we found that citrullination converts the neutrophil attracting chemokine neutrophil-activating peptide 78 (ENA-78) into a potent macrophage chemoattractant. Here we report that both commercially available and recombinant bacterially produced MCP-1/CCL2 are rapidly (partially) degraded upon in vitro citrullination. However, properly glycosylated MCP-1/CCL2 produced by mammalian cells is protected against degradation during efficient citrullination. Site-directed mutagenesis of the potential glycosylation site at the asparagine-14 residue within human MCP-1 revealed lower expression levels in mammalian expression systems. The glycosylation-mediated recombinant chemokine stabilization allows the production of citrullinated MCP-1/CCL2, which can be effectively used to calibrate crucial assays, such as modified ELISAs.
Dietary-Induced Bacterial Metabolites Reduce Inflammation and Inflammation-Associated Cancer via Vitamin D Pathway
Authors: O’Mahony Caitlin , Clooney Adam , Clarke Siobhan F. , Aguilera Mònica , Gavin Aisling , Simnica Donjete , Ahern Mary , Fanning Aine , Stanley Maurice , Rubio Raul Cabrera , Patterson Elaine , Marques Tatiana , Wall Rebecca , Houston Aileen , Mahmoud Amr , Bennett Michael W. , Stanton Catherine , Claesson Marcus J. , Cotter Paul D. , Shanahan Fergus , Joyce Susan A. , Melgar Silvia
Published: January 2023

Environmental factors, including westernised diets and alterations to the gut microbiota, are considered risk factors for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The mechanisms underpinning diet-microbiota-host interactions are poorly understood in IBD. We present evidence that feeding a lard-based high-fat (HF) diet can protect mice from developing DSS-induced acute and chronic colitis and colitis-associated cancer (CAC) by significantly reducing tumour burden/incidence, immune cell infiltration, cytokine profile, and cell proliferation. We show that HF protection was associated with increased gut microbial diversity and a significant reduction in Proteobacteria and an increase in Firmicutes and Clostridium cluster XIVa abundance. Microbial functionality was modulated in terms of signalling fatty acids and bile acids (BA). Faecal secondary BAs were significantly induced to include moieties that can activate the vitamin D receptor (VDR), a nuclear receptor richly represented in the intestine and colon. Indeed, colonic VDR downstream target genes were upregulated in HF-fed mice and in combinatorial lipid-BAs-treated intestinal HT29 epithelial cells. Collectively, our data indicate that HF diet protects against colitis and CAC risk through gut microbiota and BA metabolites modulating vitamin D targeting pathways. Our data highlights the complex relationship between dietary fat-induced alterations of microbiota-host interactions in IBD/CAC pathophysiology.
Docosahexaenoic Acid-Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carriers for the Treatment of Peri-Implantitis in Rats
Authors: Li Zhen , Yin Zhaoyi , Li Baosheng , He Jie , Liu Yanqun , Zhang Ni , Li Xiaoyu , Cai Qing , Meng Weiyan
Published: January 2023

Being the most common cause of implant failure, peri-implantitis is defined as a pathological condition associated with the occurrence of peri-implant plaque, characterized by peri-implant mucosal inflammation and progressive loss of the supporting bone tissue attributed to the persistence of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which is a type of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, is generally used for the treatment of many inflammatory diseases. However, a suitable form for dosing and its therapeutic effect on peri-implantitis remain unclear. In this study, a novel nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) loaded with squalene and DHA was fabricated (DHA-loaded NLC). The encapsulation efficiency and drug loading efficiency values of the DHA-loaded NLC were 78.13% ± 1.85% and 28.09% ± 0.48%, respectively. The release of DHA was gradual and steady until 144 h. In addition, the free-radical-scavenging rate of DHA-loaded NLC (0.57 ± 0.03) was much higher than that of sole DHA (0.17 ± 0.003). By inhibiting nuclear factor-κB p65 nuclear translocation, DHA-loaded NLC prevented the activation of nuclear factor-κB downstream inflammatory pathways and exerted anti-inflammatory effects on macrophages. Moreover, DHA-loaded NLC showed better effects on preventing alveolar bone resorption of rat peri-implantitis model than sole DHA. Hence, DHA-loaded NLC enhanced the anti-inflammatory bioavailability of DHA, offering a novel approach for the treatment of peri-implantitis.
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of International Journal of Neonatal Screening in 2022
Authors:   International Journal of Neonatal Screening Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Inter-Brain Hemodynamic Coherence Applied to Interoceptive Attentiveness in Hyperscanning: Why Social Framing Matters
Authors: Balconi Michela , Angioletti Laura
Published: January 2023

Grossberg’s classification of adaptive resonance mechanisms includes the cognitive-emotional resonances that support conscious feelings and recognition of them. In this regard, a relevant question concerns the processing of signals deriving from the internal body and their contribution to interpersonal synchronization. This study aims to assess hemodynamic inter-subject coherence in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) through functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) hyperscan recording during dyadic synchronization tasks proposed with or without a social frame and performed in two distinct interoceptive conditions: focus and no focus on the breathing condition. Individuals’ hemodynamic data (oxygenated and de-oxygenated hemoglobin (O2Hb and HHb, respectively)) were recorded through fNIRS hyperscanning, and coherence analysis was performed. The findings showed a significantly higher O2Hb coherence in the left PFC when the dyads performed the synchronization tasks with a social frame compared with no social frame in the focus condition. Overall, the evidence suggests that the interoceptive focus and the presence of a social frame favor the manifestation of a left PFC interpersonal tuning during synchronization tasks.
A Distributed Traffic Replay Framework for Network Emulation
Authors: Huang Xiao , Wang Xiaofeng , Liu Yuan , Xue Qingsong
Published: January 2023

Traffic replay can effectively improve the fidelity of network emulation and can support emerging network verification and network security evaluation. A distributed traffic replay framework for network emulation, named DTRF, is designed for large-scale and high-fidelity network traffic emulation on the cloud platform. A fast traffic replay strategy bypassing the kernel is proposed to improve the traffic replay performance in the single node by alleviating the problem of high overhead from the kernel protocol stack. To conveniently expand the emulation scale, an extendable method of workflow orchestration that can realize the flexible control and configuration of the execution process of emulation tasks is proposed. The experimental results show that, compared with that of the traditional method, the throughput of traffic replay is increased by 3.71 times on average, the number of concurrent streams is increased by 4.18 times on average, and the timestamp error of the replayed packets is reduced by 97.8% on average. The DTRF can expand the emulation scenario to a massive heterogeneous network.
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Infrastructures in 2022
Authors:   Infrastructures Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Efficacy and Residual Toxicity of Insecticides on Plutella xylostella and Their Selectivity to the Predator Solenopsis saevissima
Authors: do Carmo Daiane G. , Costa Thiago L. , Santana Júnior Paulo A. , Santana Weyder C. , Marsaro Júnior Alberto L. , Pereira Poliana S. , Santos Abraão A. , Picanço Marcelo C.
Published: January 2023

We evaluated the efficacy and residual toxicity of nine commercial insecticides on Plutella xylostella and their selectivity to the predator ant Solenopsis saevissima under laboratory and field conditions. First, to test the insecticides’ effectiveness and selectivity, we conducted concentration-response bioassays on both species and the mortalities were recorded 48 h after exposure. Next, rapeseed plants were sprayed following label rate recommendations in the field. Finally, insecticide-treated leaves were removed from the field up to 20 days after application and both organisms were exposed to them as in the first experiment. Our concentration-response bioassay indicated that seven insecticides caused mortality ≥80% of P. xylostella: bifenthrin, chlorfenapyr, chlorantraniliprole, cyantraniliprole, indoxacarb, spinetoram, and spinosad. However, only chlorantraniliprole and cyantraniliprole caused mortality ≤30% of S. saevissima. The residual bioassay indicated that four insecticides had a long-lasting effect, causing mortality of 100% to P. xylostella 20 days after application: chlorantraniliprole, cyantraniliprole, spinetoram, and spinosad. For S. saevissima, bifenthrin caused mortality of 100% during the evaluated period. Additionally, mortality rates below 30% occurred four days after the application of spinetoram and spinosad. Thus, chlorantraniliprole and cyantraniliprole are safe options for P. xylostella management since their efficacy favor S. saevissima.
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Instruments in 2022
Authors:   Instruments Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Inventions in 2022
Authors:   Inventions Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Calcineurin-Inhibitor-Induced Hypomagnesemia in Kidney Transplant Patients: A Monocentric Comparative Study between Sucrosomial Magnesium and Magnesium Pidolate Supplementation
Authors: Stefanelli Lucia Federica , Alessi Marianna , Bertoldi Giovanni , Rossato Valentina , Di Vico Valentina , Nalesso Federico , Calò Lorenzo A.
Published: January 2023

Magnesium (Mg) contributes to DNA stability, protein synthesis and cardiac excitability, while Mg deficiency leads to increased cardiovascular mortality, diabetes, hyperparathyroidism and risk of fractures. In kidney transplant patients, calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) downregulating Mg channel TRPM6 in the distal collecting tubule induce early hypomagnesemia (HypoMg), which is associated with a faster decline in allograft function. A new formulation, sucrosomial Mg (SucrMg), for oral supplements encapsulates Mg oxide in a phospholipid membrane covered by a sucrester matrix, enhancing gastric and intestinal Mg absorption. This study has evaluated Mg bioavailability, effectiveness and tolerance of SucrMg compared to the conventional preparation of Mg pidolate (PidMg). The association of blood Mg with risk of post-transplant dysglycemia and hyperparathyroidism has also been investigated. Forty hypomagnesemic adult single, double or combined kidney–pancreas or kidney–liver transplant recipients within 2 years from transplantation were recruited. In total, 16 patients received PidMg and 27 received SucrMg. Blood Mg was measured at baseline (T0), after 15 days (T1) and after 6 months (T2) of treatment. PTH, fasting glucose and calcium were measured at baseline and after 6 months of treatment. The tolerance was evaluated at the ambulatory visits. SucrMg compared to PidMg was more efficient at increasing Mg bioavailability at T1: p < 0.0001 vs. p = 0.72 ns, respectively, with a ∆% increase of 12.4% vs. 5.4%, p = 0.04. Both preparations increased blood Mg at T2, p < 0.0001 and p = 0.002, respectively. SucrMg was better tolerated. No difference was observed for fasting plasma glucose, PTH and calcium. On one hand, our study is the first among transplant patients to evaluate the efficacy of SucrMg in the correction of HypoMg, which might justify the limited number of patients enrolled and the short observation time; on the other hand, our results could serve as a useful working hypothesis for further studies with a larger number of transplant patients and an extended study duration to confirm the benefits observed with SucrMg.
Industrial Development Status and Prospects of the Marine Fuel Cell: A Review
Authors: Wang Xiaoyu , Zhu Jianzhong , Han Minfang
Published: January 2023

In the context of the increasingly strict pollutant emission regulations and carbon emission reduction targets proposed by the International Maritime Organization, the shipping industry is seeking new types of marine power plants with the advantages of high efficiency and low emissions. Among the possible alternatives, the fuel cell is considered to be the most practical technology, as it provides an efficient means to generate electricity with low pollutant emissions and carbon emissions. Very few comprehensive reviews focus on the maritime applications of the fuel cell. Thus, news reports and literature on the maritime applications of the fuel cell in the past sixty years were collected, and the industrial development status and prospects of the marine fuel cell were summarized as follows. Some countries in Europe, North America and Asia have invested heavily in researching and developing the marine fuel cell, and a series of research projects have achieved concrete results, such as the industrialized marine fuel cell system or practical demonstration applications. At present, the worldwide research of the marine fuel cell focuses more on the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). However, the power demand of the marine fuel cell in the future will show steady growth, and thus the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), with the advantages of higher power and fuel diversity, will be the mainstream in the next research stage. Although some challenges exist, the SOFC can certainly lead the upgrading and updating of the marine power system with the cooperative efforts of the whole world.
New Microsatellite Markers for the Model Coral Species Stylophora pistillata from Eilat, the Red Sea
Authors: Douek Jacob , Rachmilovitz Elad Nehoray , Rinkevich Baruch
Published: January 2023

Nineteen microsatellite loci, obtained by the whole genome sequencing approach, were developed and validated for the ‘smooth cauliflower’ coral Stylophora pistillata, a widespread Indo Pacific branching coral species. A sample size of 40 colonies collected at five reef sites along the northern Gulf of Eilat, the Red Sea, were genotyped, revealing loci reproducibly and suitable outcomes for wide applications, including population genetic studies. The 19 new microsatellite loci in this sample were composed of 4–20 alleles/locus, of which 10 microsatellites are highly polymorphic (≥10 alleles/locus). The observed and expected heterozygosity ranged between 0.289 and 0.957 (mean 0.597) and 0.101 and 0.911 (mean 0.726), respectively, and the Fixation Index (F), which also indicates the inbreeding coefficient, ranges between −0.174 and 0.569 (mean 0.207). The polymorphic information content (PIC) ranges between 0.100 and 0.904 (mean 0.699). This new set of microsatellite loci will be employed for population genetics studies as for identifying the distribution of various genotypes within S. pistillata chimeras.
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Journal of Respiration in 2022
Authors:   JoR Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Does Corporate Social Responsibility Affect the Timeliness of Audited Financial Information? Evidence from “100 Best Corporate Citizens”
Authors: Lamptey Ebenezer K. , Park Jin Dong , Bonaparte Isaac
Published: January 2023

Companies are under immense pressure to integrate activities that will improve society and the environment with their business objectives. Such integration is likely to introduce complexity into the firms’ activities and impact the timeliness of the financial statements. Audit report lag is significant to investors as it directly impacts investor decision-making and investment fortunes. This study examines the association between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and audit report lag. We measure CSR activities using a composite variable representing a firm’s inclusion on or exclusion from the annual list of “100 Best Corporate Citizens.” In the robust regression analyses with a sample of 3661 firm-year observations from 2011 to 2016, we found a positive and significant association between CSR activities and audit report lag after controlling for extraneous variables potentially influencing audit report lag. Furthermore, the additional results with the six CSR components in the list confirm our finding that, except for governance, all the other components, such as environment, climate change, human rights, employee relations, and philanthropy, have a positive and significant association with audit report lag. Our findings suggest that CSR activities introduce audit complexities and risks that compel auditors to assess a high risk of material misstatements, translating into more audit effort and longer times to complete audits.
Editorial of the MDPI JSAN Special Issue on Wireless Technologies Applied to Connected and Automated Vehicles
Authors: Bazzi Alessandro
Published: January 2023

Connectivity and automation are two aspects that, together, will revolutionize the transport system [...]
Practical Challenges of Attack Detection in Microgrids Using Machine Learning
Authors: Ramotsoela Daniel T. , Hancke Gerhard P. , Abu-Mahfouz Adnan M.
Published: January 2023

The move towards renewable energy and technological advancements in the generation, distribution and transmission of electricity have increased the popularity of microgrids. The popularity of these decentralised applications has coincided with advancements in the field of telecommunications allowing for the efficient implementation of these applications. This convenience has, however, also coincided with an increase in the attack surface of these systems, resulting in an increase in the number of cyber-attacks against them. Preventative network security mechanisms alone are not enough to protect these systems as a critical design feature is system resilience, so intrusion detection and prevention system are required. The practical consideration for the implementation of the proposed schemes in practice is, however, neglected in the literature. This paper attempts to address this by generalising these considerations and using the lessons learned from water distribution systems as a case study. It was found that the considerations are similar irrespective of the application environment even though context-specific information is a requirement for effective deployment.
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens in 2022
Authors:   Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Land in 2022
Authors:   Land Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Resveratrol, Epigallocatechin Gallate and Curcumin for Cancer Therapy: Challenges from Their Pro-Apoptotic Properties
Authors: Chimento Adele , D’Amico Maria , De Luca Arianna , Conforti Francesca Luisa , Pezzi Vincenzo , De Amicis Francesca
Published: January 2023

Plant-derived bioactive compounds are gaining wide attention for their multiple health-promoting activities and in particular for their anti-cancer properties. Several studies have highlighted how they can prevent cancer initiation and progression, improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy, and, in some cases, limit some of the side effects of chemotherapy agents. In this paper, we provide an update of the literature on the anti-cancer effects of three extensively studied plant-derived compounds, namely resveratrol, epigallocatechin gallate, and curcumin, with a special focus on the anti-cancer molecular mechanisms inducing apoptosis in the major types of cancers globally.
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Lubricants in 2022
Authors:   Lubricants Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Thermoelectric Properties of Nickel and Selenium Co-Doped Tetrahedrite
Authors: Moço Duarte , Malta José F. , Santos Luís F. , Lopes Elsa B. , Gonçalves António P.
Published: January 2023

As the search continues for novel, cheaper, more sustainable, and environmentally friendly thermoelectric materials in order to expand the range of applications of thermoelectric devices, the tetrahedrite mineral (Cu12Sb4S13) stands out as a potential candidate due to its high abundance, low toxicity, and good thermoelectric performance. Unfortunately, as most current thermoelectric materials achieve zTs above 1.0, ternary tetrahedrite is not a suitable alternative. Still, improvement of its thermoelectric performance has been achieved to zTs ≈ 1 via isovalent doping and composition tuning, but most studies were limited to a single doping element. This project explores the effects of simultaneous doping with nickel and selenium in the thermoelectric properties of tetrahedrite. Simulated properties for different stoichiometric contents of these dopants, as well as the measured thermoelectric properties of the correspondent materials, are reported. One of the samples, Cu11.5Ni0.5Sb4S12.5Se0.5, stands out with a high power factor = 1279.99 µW/m·K2 at 300 K. After estimating the thermal conductivity, a zT = 0.325 at 300 K was obtained for this composition, which is the highest for tetrahedrites for this temperature. However, analysis of the weighted mobility shows the presence of detrimental factors, such as grain boundaries, disorder, or ionized impurity scattering, pointing to the possibility of further improvements.
Influence of Air Humidity Level on the Structure and Mechanical Properties of Thermoplastic Starch-Montmorillonite Nanocomposite during Storage
Authors: Šmídová Natália , Peidayesh Hamed , Baran Anton , Fričová Oľga , Kovaľaková Mária , Králiková Ružena , Chodák Ivan
Published: January 2023

Thermoplastic starch (TPS) consisting of corn starch and glycerol as a plasticizer, and TPS-montmorillonite (MMT) nanocomposite were stored at room temperature in the air with relative humidities (RH) of 11, 55 and 85% for seven weeks. Mechanical testing and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) were performed to detect changes in their mechanical properties. Solid-state NMR spectroscopy monitoring the changes in molecular mobility in the samples provided an insight into relations between mechanical properties and local structure. The results of mechanical testing indicated that the addition of MMT results in the increase in the tensile strength and Young’s modulus while elongation at break decreased, indicating the reinforcing effect of MMT. DMTA experiments revealed a decrease in glass transition temperature of starch-rich phase below room temperature for samples stored at higher RH (55 and 85%). This indicates that absorbed water molecules had additional plasticizing effect on starch resulting in higher mobility of starch chain segments. Recrystallization in these samples was deduced from the shape of cross-polarization magic-angle spinning 13C NMR spectra. The shape of broad-line 1H NMR spectra reflected changes in molecular mobility in the studied samples during seven weeks of storage and revealed that a high amount of water molecules impacts the starch intermolecular hydrogen bond density.
Multi-Parametric Exploration of a Selection of Piezoceramic Materials for Bone Graft Substitute Applications
Authors: Nedelcu Liviu , Ferreira José M. F. , Popa Adrian-Claudiu , Amarande Luminița , Nan Bo , Bălescu Liliana-Marinela , Geambașu Cezar Dragoș , Cioangher Marius-Cristian , Leonat Lucia , Grigoroscuță Mihai , Cristea Daniel , Stroescu Hermine , Ciocoiu Robert Cătălin , Stan George E.
Published: January 2023

This work was devoted to the first multi-parametric unitary comparative analysis of a selection of sintered piezoceramic materials synthesised by solid-state reactions, aiming to delineate the most promising biocompatible piezoelectric material, to be further implemented into macro-porous ceramic scaffolds fabricated by 3D printing technologies. The piezoceramics under scrutiny were: KNbO3, LiNbO3, LiTaO3, BaTiO3, Zr-doped BaTiO3, and the (Ba0.85Ca0.15)(Ti0.9Zr0.1)O3 solid solution (BCTZ). The XRD analysis revealed the high crystallinity of all sintered ceramics, while the best densification was achieved for the BaTiO3-based materials via conventional sintering. Conjunctively, BCTZ yielded the best combination of functional properties—piezoelectric response (in terms of longitudinal piezoelectric constant and planar electromechanical coupling factor) and mechanical and in vitro osteoblast cell compatibility. The selected piezoceramic was further used as a base material for the robocasting fabrication of 3D macro-porous scaffolds (porosity of ~50%), which yielded a promising compressive strength of ~20 MPa (higher than that of trabecular bone), excellent cell colonization capability, and noteworthy cytocompatibility in osteoblast cell cultures, analogous to the biological control. Thereby, good prospects for the possible development of a new generation of synthetic bone graft substitutes endowed with the piezoelectric effect as a stimulus for the enhancement of osteogenic capacity were settled.
Effects of Cu/Er on Tensile Properties of Cast Al-Si Alloy at Low Temperature
Authors: Zhang Huidi , Chen Bin , Hao Jianfei , Wu Huishu , Chen Ming , Li Weirong , Li Runxia , Wang Biao
Published: January 2023

The current protocol presents the effects of the addition of Cu, rare earth Er, and Cu-Er composite elements on the microstructure of the Al-10Si-0.3Mg alloy. The variations in their low-temperature tensile properties were also investigated. The addition of rare earth Er elements, Cu elements, and Cu-Er composite elements increased the strength of all three groups of alloys when stretched at low temperatures (−60 °C). Further, the elongation of the alloy increased with the addition of Er, while the elongation of the other two groups decreased. The low-temperature (−60 °C) tensile strength of the alloy with the same composition was higher than that at room temperature (20 °C), but the elongation decreased. Notably, by adding rare earth Er to the Al-10Si-0.3Mg alloy, the three-dimensional morphology was changed from coarse dendritic to fine fibrous, the secondary dendritic arm spacing (SDAS) of the alloy was reduced, and the grains were refined. The Al2Cu phase, Al-Si-Cu-Mg quaternary phase, and Cu-rich phase appeared in the alloy with the addition of Cu elements, but the Si phase morphology and α-Al dendrites were not significantly improved. Interestingly, the Si phase morphology of the alloy was improved by adding Cu-Er composite elements, and SDAS was reduced. Still, the Al2Cu phase, Al-Si-Cu-Mg quaternary phase, and Cu-rich phase were not much improved.
Filtering Efficiency of Sustainable Textile Materials Applied in Personal Protective Face Mask Production during Pandemic
Authors: Géczy Attila , Havellant Gergő , Bátorfi Réka , Skwarek Agata , Dušek Karel , Bušek David , Illés Balázs
Published: January 2023

The COVID-19 outbreak increased demand for personal protective respirator masks. Textile masks based on cloth materials appeared to be a sustainable, comfortable, and cost-effective alternative available in global communities. In this study, we used laser-based particle counting for mask material qualification to determine the concentration filtering efficiency in general, everyday community use. The efficiencies of eleven different commercially available textile materials were measured in single-, double-, and triple-layer configurations according to their grammage, mesh (XY), and inter-yarn gap. It was found that in the single-layer configurations, most materials were well below the acceptable standards, with a wide variation in filtering efficiency, which ranged from 5% to ~50%. However, when testing the fabrics in two or three layers, the efficiency increased significantly, exceeding or approaching the standard for medical masks. Three layers of natural silk was able to produce a level of filtration efficiency of 84.68%. Two-layered natural silk achieved 70.98%, cotton twill achieved 75.6%, and satin-weave viscose achieved 69.77%. Further options can also be considered in cases where lower filtration is acceptable It was statistically shown that applying a second layer was more significant in terms of overall filtering than increasing the layer count to three. However, layer stacking limited the breathability. The paper presents measurement-based qualitative and quantitative recommendations for future textile applications in face mask manufacturing.
Microstructural Design and Processing Control of Advanced Ceramics
Authors: Chen Yu , Wang Qingyuan
Published: January 2023

Advanced ceramics are referred to in various parts of the world as technical ceramics, high-tech ceramics, and high-performance ceramics [...]
Coloration Modeling and Processing of Commodity Plastic Buttons in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide
Authors: Kobayashi Kota , Bai Tierong , Tamura Kazuhiro , Tada Kaoru , Yan Jun , Zheng Laijiu
Published: January 2023

We examined the color processing of the commodity plastic buttons made of acrylic, polyester, nylon, and casein with scCO2. The buttons’ dyeing color depth (K/S) was measured over a wide range of scCO2 and correlated accurately with the response surface method. Moreover, we measured the solubility of C.I. Disperse Red 22 in scCO2 to formulate a dye-sorption model for the K/S value in the color processing of the plastic buttons. Finally, the dye-sorption model for the K/S value combining the dye solubility in scCO2 with the dye diffusion inside the buttons successfully represented the color processing of the buttons.
Influence of Surface Treatment and Accelerated Ageing on Biaxial Flexural Strength and Hardness of Zirconia
Authors: Rohr Nadja , Schönenberger Angela Jacqueline , Fischer Jens
Published: January 2023

The aim was to investigate how the surface treatment and the process of accelerated ageing of zirconia for dental implants affect the biaxial flexural strength and hardness. Zirconia discs with a diameter of 12.6 mm were subjected to either one of the following treatments: polishing (Zp); polishing and heat treatment at 1250 °C for 1 h (Zpt); machining (Zm); machining and heat treatment (Zmt); or sandblasting, acid-etching, and heat treatment (Z14) (n = 45 per group). Biaxial flexural strength and Martens hardness (HM) were measured without further treatment and after accelerated ageing for 5 h or 5 × 5 h according to ISO 13356 (n = 15 per group). Two-way ANOVA was applied to test the effect of surface treatment and ageing (α = 0.05). The reliability of the specimens was described with Weibull two-parameter distribution of biaxial flexural strength data. Overall, the surface treatment (p < 0.001) and ageing (p = 0.012) revealed a significant effect on biaxial flexural strength values, while HM was only affected by the surface treatment (p < 0.001) but not ageing (p = 0.160). Surface treatment significantly affected HM (p < 0.001) but not ageing (p = 0.160). The applied surface treatments affected the biaxial flexural strength and HM of zirconia. For accelerated ageing, a duration of both 5 h and 5 × 5 h is recommended to evaluate the effect of surface treatments. Zm was the most reliable surface as it was least affected by ageing and provided low standard deviations of biaxial flexural strength values.
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Machine Learning and Knowledge Extraction in 2022
Authors:   Machine Learning and Knowledge Extraction Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Linear Diophantine Fuzzy Subspaces of a Vector Space
Authors: Al-Tahan Madeleine , Hoskova-Mayerova Sarka , Al-Kaseasbeh Saba , Tahhan Suha Ali
Published: January 2023

The notion of a linear diophantine fuzzy set as a generalization of a fuzzy set is a mathematical approach that deals with vagueness in decision-making problems. The use of reference parameters associated with validity and non-validity functions in linear diophantine fuzzy sets makes it more applicable to model vagueness in many real-life problems. On the other hand, subspaces of vector spaces are of great importance in many fields of science. The aim of this paper is to combine the two notions. In this regard, we consider the linear diophantine fuzzification of a vector space by introducing and studying the linear diophantine fuzzy subspaces of a vector space. First, we studied the behaviors of linear diophantine fuzzy subspaces of a vector space under a linear diophantine fuzzy set. Second, and by means of the level sets, we found a relationship between the linear diophantine fuzzy subspaces of a vector space and the subspaces of a vector space. Finally, we discuss the linear diophantine fuzzy subspaces of a quotient vector space.
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Membranes in 2022
Authors:   Membranes Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Merits in 2022
Authors:   Merits Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]