bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integrative Multiomics Approach to Skin: The Sinergy between Individualised Medicine and Futuristic Precision Skin Care?
Authors: Dessì Angelica , Pintus Roberta , Fanos Vassilios , Bosco Alice
Published: March 2024

The skin is a complex ecosystem colonized by millions of microorganisms, the skin microbiota, which are crucial in regulating not only the physiological functions of the skin but also the metabolic changes underlying the onset of skin diseases. The high microbial colonization together with a low diversity at the phylum level and a high diversity at the species level of the skin is very similar to that of the gastrointestinal tract. Moreover, there is an important communication pathway along the gut–brain–skin axis, especially associated with the modulation of neurotransmitters by the microbiota. Therefore, it is evident that the high complexity of the skin system, due not only to the genetics of the host but also to the interaction of the host with resident microbes and between microbe and microbe, requires a multi-omics approach to be deeply understood. Therefore, an integrated analysis, with high-throughput technologies, of the consequences of microbial interaction with the host through the study of gene expression (genomics and metagenomics), transcription (transcriptomics and meta-transcriptomics), and protein production (proteomics and meta-proteomics) and metabolite formation (metabolomics and lipidomics) would be useful. Although to date very few studies have integrated skin metabolomics data with at least one other ‘omics’ technology, in the future, this approach will be able to provide simple and fast tests that can be routinely applied in both clinical and cosmetic settings for the identification of numerous skin diseases and conditions. It will also be possible to create large archives of multi-omics data that can predict individual responses to pharmacological treatments and the efficacy of different cosmetic products on individual subjects by means of specific allotypes, with a view to increasingly tailor-made medicine. In this review, after analyzing the complexity of the skin ecosystem, we have highlighted the usefulness of this emerging integrated omics approach for the analysis of skin problems, starting with one of the latest ‘omics’ sciences, metabolomics, which can photograph the expression of the genome during its interaction with the environment.
Unravel the Supremacy of Klebsiella variicola over Native Microbial Strains for Aroma-Enhancing Compound Production in Reconstituted Tobacco Concentrate through Metagenomic Analysis
Authors: Huang Shen , Zhu Li , Wang Ke , Zhang Xinlong , Mao Duobin , Rasool Aamir
Published: March 2024

Sensory attributes strongly influence consumers’ preferences for products. The inoculation of the Klebsiella variicola H8 strain in a reconstituted tobacco leaf concentrate (RTLC) solution increased neutral aroma-enhancing compound (NAEC) production by 45%, decreased the nicotine level by 25%, decreased the water-soluble total sugar content by ~36%, and improved the sensory quality by 5.71%. The production of NAECs such as dihydrokiwi lactone (DHKL: 192.86%), 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1,1,6-trimethylnaphthalene (THTMN: 177.77%), 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol (DTBP: 25%), 4-oxoisofolkone (OIFK: 116.66%,) 1,9-heptadecadiene-4,6-diyn-3-ol (HDD: 116.67%), β-damastrone (BDS: 116.67), and megastigmatrienone A (MSTA: 116.67%) was increased. A metagenomics analysis of the microbial community in the fermented RTLC (FRTLC) was performed to elucidate the mechanism by which NAECs were produced. As a result, 24 groups of functional genes were identified, and among them, five families of carbohydrate-active enzymes, (i) glycoside hydrolase (GH), (ii) glycosyltransferase (GT), (iii) polysaccharide lyase (PL), (iv) carbohydrate esterase (CE), and (v) auxiliary active enzyme (AA), were found to be positively correlated with the production of NAECs. However, among the GHs, the GHs annotated from the H8 strain chromosome displayed the highest relative abundance and a positive correlation with the production of NAECs. Specifically, the GH13-14, GH13-20, GH13-38, GH13-25, GH13-10, GH42, and GH28 genes of the H8 strain were relatively more abundant and were key contributors to the production of NAECs. The correlation analyses revealed that the H8 strain plays a leading role among all the microorganisms in FRTLC in the production of NAECs. Our findings support the application of Klebsiella variicola in NAEC production and a reduction in nicotine content in tobacco products.
A Multilayered GaAs IPD Resonator with Five Airbridges for Sensor System Application
Authors: Zhang Xiao-Yu , Wang Zhi-Ji , Chen Jian , Kim Eun-Seong , Kim Nam-Young , Lee Jong-Chul
Published: March 2024

This work proposes a microwave resonator built from gallium arsenide using integrated passive device (IPD) technology. It consists of a three-layered interlaced spiral structure with airbridges and inner interdigital structures. For integrated systems, IPD technology demonstrated outstanding performance, robustness, and a tiny size at a low cost. The airbridges were made more compact, with overall dimensions of 1590 × 800 µm2 (0.038 × 0.019 λg2). The designed microwave resonator operated at 1.99 GHz with a return loss of 39 dB, an insertion loss of 0.07 dB, and a quality factor of 1.15. Additionally, an experiment was conducted on the properties of the airbridge and how they affected resistance, inductance, and S-parameters in the construction of the resonator. To investigate the impact of airbridges on the structure, E- and H-field distributions of the resonator were simulated. Furthermore, its use in sensing applications was explored. Various concentrations of glucose solutions were used in the experiment. The proposed device featured a minimum detectable concentration of 0.2 mg/mL; high sensitivity, namely, 14.58 MHz/mg·mL−1, with a linear response; and a short response time. Thus, this work proposes a structure that exhibits potential in integrated systems and real-time sensing systems with high sensitivity.
Assessment of the Nonlinear Electrophoretic Migration of Nanoparticles and Bacteriophages
Authors: Lomeli-Martin Adrian , Azad Zakia , Thomas Julie A. , Lapizco-Encinas Blanca H.
Published: March 2024

Bacteriophage therapy presents a promising avenue for combating antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. Yet, challenges exist, particularly, the lack of a straightforward purification pipeline suitable for widespread application to many phage types, as some phages are known to undergo significant titer loss when purified via current techniques. Electrokinetic methods offer a potential solution to this hurdle, with nonlinear electrophoresis emerging as a particularly appealing approach due to its ability to discern both the size and shape of the target phage particles. Presented herein is the electrokinetic characterization of the mobility of nonlinear electrophoresis for two phages (SPN3US and ϕKZ) and three types of polystyrene nanoparticles. The latter served as controls and were selected based on their sizes and surface charge magnitude. Particle tracking velocimetry experiments were conducted to characterize the mobility of all five particles included in this study. The results indicated that the selected nanoparticles effectively replicate the migration behavior of the two phages under electric fields. Further, it was found that there is a significant difference in the nonlinear electrophoretic response of phages and that of host cells, as first characterized in a previous report, illustrating that electrokinetic-based separations are feasible. The findings from this work are the first characterization of the behavior of phages under nonlinear electrophoresis effects and illustrate the potential for the development of electrokinetic-based phage purification techniques that could aid the advancement of bacteriophage therapy.
Virulence and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli from River Water and Farm Animal Feces near an Agricultural Region in Northwestern Mexico
Authors: Amézquita-López Bianca A. , Soto-Beltrán Marcela , Lee Bertram G. , Bon-Haro Edgar F. , Lugo-Melchor Ofelia Y. , Quiñones Beatriz
Published: March 2024

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are zoonotic enteric pathogens linked to human gastroenteritis worldwide. To aid the development of pathogen control efforts, the present study characterized the genotypic diversity and pathogenic potential of STEC recovered from sources near agricultural fields in Northwest Mexico. Samples were collected from irrigation river water and domestic animal feces in farms proximal to agricultural fields and were subjected to enrichment followed by immunomagnetic separation and plating on selective media for the recovery of the STEC isolates. Comparative genomic analyses indicated that the recovered STEC with the clinically relevant serotypes O157:H7, O8:H19, and O113:H21 had virulence genes repertoires associated with host cell adherence, iron uptake and effector protein secretion. Subsequent phenotypic characterization revealed multidrug resistance against aminoglycoside, carbapenem, cephalosporin, fluoroquinolone, penicillin, phenicol, and tetracycline, highlighting the need for improved surveillance on the use of antimicrobials. The present study indicated for the first time that river water in the agricultural Culiacan Valley in Mexico is a relevant key route of transmission for STEC O157 and non-O157 with a virulence potential. In addition, feces from domestic farm animals near surface waterways can act as potential point sources of contamination and transport of diverse STEC with clinically relevant genotypes.
Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Aeromonas salmonicida-Infecting Studiervirinae Bacteriophage, JELG-KS1
Authors: Svanberga Karina , Avsejenko Jelena , Jansons Juris , Fridmanis Davids , Kazaka Tatjana , Berzins Aivars , Dislers Andris , Kazaks Andris , Zrelovs Nikita
Published: March 2024

Representatives of the bacterial genus Aeromonas are some of the most notorious aquaculture pathogens associated with a range of diseases in different fish species. As the world forges toward the post-antibiotic era, alternative options for combating bacterial pathogens are needed. One such alternative option is phage biocontrol. In this study, a novel podophage—JELG-KS1—infecting Aeromonas salmonicida was retrieved from wastewater along with its host strain. The genome of the JELG-KS1 phage is a 40,505 bp dsDNA molecule with a GC% of 53.42% and 185 bp direct terminal repeats and encodes 53 predicted proteins. Genomic analysis indicates that JELG-KS1 might represent a novel genus within the subfamily Studiervirinae. Podophage JELG-KS1 is a strictly lytic phage without any identifiable virulence or AMR genes that quickly adsorbs onto the surface of host cells to initiate a 48 min long infectious cycle, resulting in the release of 71 ± 12 JELG-KS1 progeny virions per infected cell. JELG-KS1 effectively lyses its host population in vitro, even at very low multiplicities of infection. However, when challenged against a panel of Aeromonas spp. strains associated with diseases in aquaculture, JELG-KS1 shows host-specificity that is confined only to its isolation strain, immediately compromising its potential for Aeromonas spp. biocontrol in aquaculture.
Acanthamoeba Sequence Types and Allelic Variations in Isolates from Clinical and Different Environmental Sources in Italy
Authors: Berrilli Federica , Montalbano Di Filippo Margherita , Guadano-Procesi Isabel , Ciavurro Marta , Di Cave David
Published: March 2024

The genus Acanthamoeba comprises free-living amoebae distributed in a wide variety of environments. These amoebae are clinically significant, causing opportunistic infections in humans and other animals. Despite this, limited data on Acanthamoeba sequence types and alleles are available in Italy. In the present study, we analyzed all Acanthamoeba sequences deposited from Italy with new positive Acanthamoeba clinical samples from symptomatic AK cases, to provide an overview of the genetic variants’ spatial patterns from different sources within the Italian context. A total of 137 Acanthamoeba sequences were obtained. Six sequence types were identified: T2/6, T3, T4, T11, T13, and T15. Only T4 and T15 were found in both sources. The Acanthamoeba T4 sequence type was found to be the most prevalent in all regions, accounting for 73% (100/137) of the Italian samples analyzed. The T4 sequence type demonstrated significant allelic diversity, with 30 distinct alleles from clinical and/or environmental samples. These outcomes enabled a better understanding of the distribution of Acanthamoeba isolates throughout Italy, reaffirming its well-recognized ubiquity. Acanthamoeba isolates analysis from keratitis, together with the environmental strains monitoring, might provide important information on different genotypes spreading. This might be useful to define the transmission pathways of human keratitis across different epidemiological scales.
Triassic Thermal Pulse of TARIM Mantle Plume: Evidence from Geochronology, Geochemistry, and Nd Isotopes of the Mafic Dikes from the Halaqi Area, Xinjiang, China
Authors: Sun Jungang , Liang Ting , Liu Xiaohuang , Zhang Xiong , Liu Bei , Quan Guorong
Published: March 2024

Owing to the paucity of research on synchronous mafic rocks in the Tarim Basin, the late Paleozoic–early Mesozoic tectonic development of this region is not well defined. The Halaqi region is situated on Tarim’s northwest edge, and numerous mafic dikes can be found cross-cutting the Permian strata. The whole-rock geochemistry, zircon U–Pb age, and Sr–Nd isotopic signature of these mafic rocks have never been reported before, and this contribution can offer geochronological and petrogenetic investigations that provide fresh insight into the geodynamic development of the area. Major oxide contents in the Halaqi mafic rocks vary, including SiO2 (45.74–50.31 wt.%), Al2O3 (13.28–14.8 wt.%), FeOT (16.48–19.19 wt.%), MgO (7.58–10.32 wt.%), CaO (7.19–12.39 wt.%), Na2O (2.97–4.50 wt.%), K2O (0.24–0.63 wt.%), TiO2 (1.11–1.29 wt.%), MnO (0.14–0.16 wt.%), and P2O5 (0.13–0.17 wt.%). The mafic rocks are enriched in high-field-strength elements (e.g., Zr and Hf) and large-ion lithophile elements (e.g., Sr, Th, and U) but depleted in Nb, Ta, and P. The total REEs in the rocks are lower (ΣREE = 72.80–86.85 ppm), and HREEs are somewhat depleted in comparison to LREEs, with positive Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 1.05–1.17) but weak negative Ce anomalies (Ce/Ce* = 0.91–0.93). Zircon U–Pb ages of 201–247 Ma were obtained from a total of 18 magmatic zircon grains found in the mafic rocks that were studied. These results point to a middle-to-late Triassic emplacement. The mafic dikes exhibit somewhat enriched Nd isotopic compositions (εNd(t) = –1.6~–0.2) and an older Nd model age (TDM = 1.24–1.37 Ga). The Halaqi middle–late Triassic mafic dikes are thought to have originated from the same tectonic background as the Permian Tarim Large Igneous Province, along with similar geochemical and isotopic compositions. This suggests that they are all products of the interaction between asthenospheric and lithospheric mantles in an intraplate extensional environment. Research indicates that the Triassic mafic magmatism in northwest Tarim could be the product of the continuous thermal pulse of the Tarim mantle plume and be a part of the Tarim LIP.
Relationships between Habitual Polyphenol Consumption and Gut Microbiota in the INCLD Health Cohort
Authors: Vita Alexandra Adorno , Roberts Kristen M. , Gundersen Anders , Farris Yuliya , Zwickey Heather , Bradley Ryan , Weir Tiffany L.
Published: March 2024

While polyphenol consumption is often associated with an increased abundance of beneficial microbes and decreased opportunistic pathogens, these relationships are not completely described for polyphenols consumed via habitual diet, including culinary herb and spice consumption. This analysis of the International Cohort on Lifestyle Determinants of Health (INCLD Health) cohort uses a dietary questionnaire and 16s microbiome data to examine relationships between habitual polyphenol consumption and gut microbiota in healthy adults (n = 96). In this exploratory analysis, microbial taxa, but not diversity measures, differed by levels of dietary polyphenol consumption. Taxa identified as exploratory biomarkers of daily polyphenol consumption (mg/day) included Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, Enterococcus, Eubacterium ventriosum group, Ruminococcus torques group, and Sutterella. Taxa identified as exploratory biomarkers of the frequency of polyphenol-weighted herb and spice use included Lachnospiraceae UCG-001, Lachnospiraceae UCG-004, Methanobrevibacter, Lachnoclostridium, and Lachnotalea. Several of the differentiating taxa carry out activities important for human health, although out of these taxa, those with previously described pro-inflammatory qualities in certain contexts displayed inverse relationships with polyphenol consumption. Our results suggest that higher quantities of habitual polyphenol consumption may support an intestinal environment where opportunistic and pro-inflammatory bacteria are represented in a lower relative abundance compared to those with less potentially virulent qualities.
Knowledge Level of ICU Nurses Regarding Nutritional Assessment of Critically Ill Patients: A Systematic Review
Authors: Doménech Briz Vicente , Gea-Caballero Vicente , Chover-Sierra Elena , Czapla Michal , Fehler Piotr , Rodríguez-Calvo Antonio , Ballestar-Tarín María Luisa , Marín-Maicas Patricia , Cabellos-García Ana Cristina , Pardo-Bosch Marta , Juárez-Vela Raúl , Martínez-Sabater Antonio
Published: March 2024

Background: Nutritional assessment on admission of critical patients is of vital importance to determine critical patients in whom there is a risk of malnutrition. Currently, it has been detected in most of the patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) that 60% of the daily calories are not achieved. Nurses play an essential role in the comprehensive assessment of the patient, including the nutritional area; however, significant deficits have been detected in some knowledge regarding Enteral Nutrition (EN). Objective: We aim to determine the level of knowledge of nurses in the nutritional assessment of critically ill patients. Methodology: A systematic review of the scientific literature was conducted using the PRISMA statement. Between January 2017 and February 2023, articles were rescued from the electronic databases “Pubmed”, “Scopus” and “The Cochrane Library”, which analyzed the level of knowledge of ICU nurses regarding nutritional assessment. Results: Most of the results found showed that nurses had deficient levels of knowledge in relation to nutritional assessment and practices. Interventions related to nutritional assessment were scarce, in contrast to those associated with the management of Nasogastric Tube (NGT) or patient positioning. Conclusions: The level of knowledge described was low or inadequate in relation to the care associated with the nutritional assessment of critically ill patients. The use of scales to assess the risk of malnutrition was not reported. This study was prospectively registered at PROSPERO on 25/10/2023 (insert date) with registration number CRD: 42023426924.
An Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometric Method for the Simultaneous Determination of Eighteen Marker Compounds in the Traditional Herbal Formula Bopyeo-Tang
Authors: Seo Chang-Seob
Published: March 2024

Bopyeo-tang (BPT), comprising six medicinal plants, has been used for the treatment of respiratory diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In this study, we developed and validated a quantitative method for the quality assessment of BPT using ultra-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS). Eighteen marker compounds were separated on an Acquity UPLC BEH C18 reversed-phase column (2.1 mm × 100 mm, 1.7 μm) via gradient elution with a 0.1% aqueous formic acid–acetonitrile mobile phase. The multiple-reaction monitoring mode was used to improve analysis speed and accuracy. The coefficients of determination, limits of detection, and limits of quantitation of the 18 marker compounds were 0.9991–0.9996, 0.36–24.45 μg/L, and 1.07–73.35 μg/L, respectively. The recovery was 85.19–110.25%, and the relative standard deviation of precision was ≤9.01%. When applied to a typical BPT sample, the method revealed a range of concentrations from below the quantitative limit (one compound only) to a maximum of 3.20 mg/freeze-dried g. This method will be used for quality control of BPT preparations.
Continuous Microfluidic Antisolvent Crystallization as a Bottom-Up Solution for the Development of Long-Acting Injectable Formulations
Authors: Nandi Snehashis , Verstrepen Laura , Hugo Silva Mariana , Padrela Luis , Tajber Lidia , Collas Alain
Published: March 2024

A bottom-up approach was investigated to produce long-acting injectable (LAI) suspension-based formulations to overcome specific limitations of top-down manufacturing methods by tailoring drug characteristics while making the methods more sustainable and cost-efficient. A Secoya microfluidic crystallization technology-based continuous liquid antisolvent crystallization (SCT-CLASC) process was optimized and afterward compared to an earlier developed microchannel reactor-based continuous liquid antisolvent crystallization (MCR-CLASC) setup, using itraconazole (ITZ) as the model drug. After operating parameter optimization and downstream processing (i.e., concentrating the suspensions), stable microsuspensions were generated with a final solid loading of 300 mg ITZ/g suspension. The optimized post-precipitation feed suspension consisted of 40 mg ITZ/g suspension with a drug-to-excipient ratio of 53:1. Compared to the MCR-CLASC setup, where the post-precipitation feed suspensions contained 10 mg ITZ/g suspension and had a drug-to-excipient ratio of 2:1, a higher drug concentration and lower excipient use were successfully achieved to produce LAI microsuspensions using the SCT-CLASC setup. To ensure stability during drug crystallization and storage, the suspensions’ quality was monitored for particle size distribution (PSD), solid-state form, and particle morphology. The PSD of the ITZ crystals in suspension was maintained within the target range of 1–10 µm, while the crystals displayed an elongated plate-shaped morphology and the solid state was confirmed to be form I, which is the most thermodynamically stable form of ITZ. In conclusion, this work lays the foundation for the SCT-CLASC process as an energy-efficient, robust, and reproducible bottom-up approach for the manufacture of LAI microsuspensions using ITZ at an industrial scale.
pH-Triggered Controlled Release of Chlorhexidine Using Chitosan-Coated Titanium Silica Composite for Dental Infection Prevention
Authors: Srivastava Mrinal Gaurav , Kamarudin Nur Hidayatul Nazirah , Aktan Merve Kübra , Zheng Kai , Zayed Naiera , Yongabi Derick , Wagner Patrick , Teughels Wim , Boccaccini Aldo R. , Braem Annabel
Published: March 2024

Peri-implantitis is a growing pathological concern for dental implants which aggravates the occurrence of revision surgeries. This increases the burden on both hospitals and the patients themselves. Research is now focused on the development of materials and accompanying implants designed to resist biofilm formation. To enhance this endeavor, a smart method of biofilm inhibition coupled with limiting toxicity to the host cells is crucial. Therefore, this research aims to establish a proof-of-concept for the pH-triggered release of chlorhexidine (CHX), an antiseptic commonly used in mouth rinses, from a titanium (Ti) substrate to inhibit biofilm formation on its surface. To this end, a macroporous Ti matrix is filled with mesoporous silica (together referred to as Ti/SiO2), which acts as a diffusion barrier for CHX from the CHX feed side to the release side. To limit release to acidic conditions, the release side of Ti/SiO2 is coated with crosslinked chitosan (CS), a pH-responsive and antimicrobial natural polymer. Scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed successful CS film formation and crosslinking on the Ti/SiO2 disks. The presence of the CS coating reduced CHX release by 33% as compared to non-coated Ti/SiO2 disks, thus reducing the antiseptic exposure to the environment in normal conditions. Simultaneous differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analyzer (SDT) results highlighted the thermal stability of the crosslinked CS films. Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) indicated a clear pH response for crosslinked CS coatings in an acidic medium. This pH response also influenced CHX release through a Ti/SiO2/CS disk where the CHX release was higher than the average trend in the neutral medium. Finally, the antimicrobial study revealed a significant reduction in biofilm formation for the CS-coated samples compared to the control sample using viability quantitative polymerase chain reaction (v-qPCR) measurements, which were also corroborated using SEM imaging. Overall, this study investigates the smart triggered release of pharmaceutical agents aimed at inhibiting biofilm formation, with potential applicability to implant-like structures.
Scattering over Varying Amplification Grating
Authors: Granot Er’el
Published: March 2024

The scattering pattern from a narrow absorbing/amplifying grating is investigated. A simple model of a narrow amplifying grating is solved exactly numerically and approximately analytically for the regime where the beam’s wavelength is much shorter than the grating’s wavelength. The main result is that the incident angle divides the scattering pattern into two regimes: below and above the incident angles. The former regime has a weak dependence on the incident angle but has a strong dependence on the scattering one. In this regime, a new grating formula is derived. The opposite occurs in the latter regime, which is very sensitive to the incident angle but has only weak dependence on the scattering angle. Consequently, at certain incident angles, all of the scattering is concentrated in the first regime, i.e., all scattering angles are lower than the incident angle.
An Optically Augmented Visual Aid for Individuals with Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Solouma Nahed H. , Negm Noura , Ahmad Hafsah , Gamal Yusuf
Published: March 2024

Normal vision is a precious gift to mankind. Any vision defect or degradation is actually an intimidating problem for individuals and societies. Therefore, researchers are continually working to find effective solutions for vision disorders. In some retinal diseases such as Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), visual aids are required to improve vision ability and/or stop the progress of the disease. Recently, augmented vision techniques have been used to provide aid to people suffering from retinal impairment. However, in such techniques, the images of real scenes are electronically deformed to compensate for vision impairment. Therefore, the natural scene is displayed as an electronic image on glasses. Intuitively, it is annoying to the patient to see electronic rather than natural scenes. Moreover, these visual aids are bulky and produce electric fields that might be harmful with continuous use. In this work, a novel optical solution to provide a visual aid to patients with central vision loss has been proposed. The proposed optical solution deforms the wavefront of the scene to entirely fall on the healthy parts of the retina. This, in turn, conveys all scene information to the brain to be perceived by the patient. As it provides optical processing, the proposed solution overcomes all drawbacks of the electronic solutions. To prove the validity of the proposed solution, three lenses were designed, fabricated, and tested to visualize simple shapes, reading, and obtaining aid during walking and driving. Obtaining the expected results from these tests, they were tried by three volunteers to clinically prove the validity and feasibility of the proposed optical aid. The feedback from the three patients was promising since all of them could recognize some of the details they used to miss with at least one of the lenses.
Plant Essential Oils: Dual Action of Toxicity and Egg-Laying Inhibition on Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae), Unveiling Their Potential as Botanical Pesticides
Authors: Zhu Yijing , Wu Taoqi , Hu Qianyu , He Wenze , Zheng Yushi , Xie Yongjian , Rao Qiong , Liu Xunyue
Published: March 2024

Tetranychus urticae, a prominent pest mite in strawberry and vegetable cultivation in China, has developed escalating resistance due to extensive chemical pesticide application. Consequently, there is an urgent need to identify safe and efficacious methods to reduce resistance development. In this study, 38 commercially available plant essential oils (EOs) were screened for their acaricidal potential and ability to inhibit oviposition. The findings revealed that 13 EOs exhibited notable acaricidal activity, with lemon EO demonstrating the highest toxicity, followed by sage, patchouli, frankincense, lemongrass, palmarosa, and oregano EOs. In addition, 18 EOs displayed significant inhibitory effects on oviposition, with lemon EO exhibiting the highest inhibition rate (99.15%) and inhibition index (0.98). Subsequently, sage, frankincense, clove, lemongrass, oregano, patchouli, myrrh, black pepper, palmarosa, and geranium EOs also showed inhibition rates exceeding 50%. Despite black pepper, clove, myrrh, and oregano EOs demonstrating relatively low toxicity against T. urticae, they exhibited heightened efficacy in inhibiting oviposition and suppressing population expansion. This study conducted a comparative assessment of the acaricidal and oviposition inhibition activities of EOs and their principal constituents, thus providing a theoretical basis for the development of botanical acaricides against T. urticae.
Overcoming Dormancy in Prunus Species under Conditions of Insufficient Winter Chilling in Israel
Authors: Erez Amnon
Published: March 2024

The phenomenon of dormancy and the evolutionary causes for its development are presented together with the effects of the climatic factors: temperature and light. Shade and darkness have been found to enhance bud breaking in peach. The effects of various temperatures on chilling accumulation, chilling negation and chilling enhancement are described. The way these are computed in the face of global warming is explained, using the dynamic model. When natural chilling is less than that required, there are ways of compensation, up to a certain level. Various horticultural, physical and chemical means to achieve this are described, including bending branches, reducing vegetative vigor, shading the orchard, sprinkling to reduce daytime temperature and the application of various chemicals to break dormancy. When winter chilling is markedly reduced and temperatures increase considerably, the use of dormancy avoidance is suggested in frost-free places. This technique can induce a new growing cycle by avoiding dormancy altogether. However, the best approach is to breed high-quality cultivars requiring much less chilling. Another aspect discussed in this work, independent of the chilling requirement, is the negative effect of heat spells in winter and spring on the abnormal development of flower buds, leading to a low level of the stone fruit set and a reduced yield.
Growth and Physiological Characteristics of Strawberry Plants Cultivated under Greenhouse-Integrated Semi-Transparent Photovoltaics
Authors: Petrakis Theodoros , Ioannou Paraskevi , Kitsiou Foteini , Kavga Angeliki , Grammatikopoulos George , Karamanos Nikos
Published: March 2024

The integration of semi-transparent photovoltaics into the roof of greenhouses is an emerging technique used in recent years, due to the simultaneous energy and food production from the same piece of land. Although shading in many cases is a solution to maintain the desired microclimate, in the case of photovoltaic installations, the permanent shading of the crop is a challenge, due to the importance of light to the growth, morphogenesis, and other critical physiological processes. In this study, the effect of shade from semi-transparent photovoltaics on a strawberry crop (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) was examined, in terms of growth and quality (phenolic and flavonoid concentration of fruits). According to the results, in non-shaded plants, there was a trend of larger plants, but without a significant change in leaf number, while the total number of flowers was slightly higher at the end of the cultivation period. Moreover, it was found that the percentage change between the number of ripe fruits was smaller than that of the corresponding change in fruit weight, implying the increased size of the fruits in non-shaded plants. Finally, regarding the antioxidant capacity, it was clearly demonstrated that shading increased the total phenolic content, as well as the free-radical-scavenging activity of the harvested fruits. Although the shading from the semi-transparent photovoltaics did not assist the production of large fruits, it did not affect their number and increased some of their quality characteristics. In addition, the advantageous impact of the semi-transparent photovoltaics in the energy part must not be neglected.
In Situ Accumulation of CaOx Crystals in C. quitensis Leaves and Its Relationship with Anatomy and Gas Exchange
Authors: Gómez-Espinoza Olman , Fuentes Francisca I. , Ramírez Constanza F. , Bravo León A. , Sáez Patricia L.
Published: March 2024

The accumulation of crystal calcium oxalate (CaOx) in plants is linked to a type of stress-induced photosynthesis termed ‘alarm photosynthesis’, serving as a carbon reservoir when carbon dioxide (CO2) exchange is constrained. Colobanthus quitensis is an extremophyte found from southern Mexico to Antarctica, which thrives in high-altitude Andean regions. Growing under common garden conditions, C. quitensis from different latitudinal provenances display significant variations in CaOx crystal accumulation. This raises the following questions: are these differences maintained under natural conditions? And is the CaOx accumulation related to mesophyll conductance (gm) and net photosynthesis (AN) performed in situ? It is hypothesized that in provenances with lower gm, C. quitensis will exhibit an increase in the use of CaOx crystals, resulting in reduced crystal leaf abundance. Plants from Central Chile (33°), Patagonia (51°), and Antarctica (62°) were measured in situ and sampled to determine gas exchange and CaOx crystal accumulation, respectively. Both AN and gm decrease towards higher latitudes, correlating with increases in leaf mass area and leaf density. The crystal accumulation decreases at higher latitudes, correlating positively with AN and gm. Thus, in provenances where environmental conditions induce more xeric traits, the CO2 availability for photosynthesis decreases, making the activation of alarm photosynthesis feasible as an internal source of CO2.
New Epigenetic Modifier Inhibitors Enhance Microspore Embryogenesis in Bread Wheat
Authors: Valero-Rubira Isabel , Vallés María Pilar , Echávarri Begoña , Fustero Patricia , Costar María Asunción , Castillo Ana María
Published: March 2024

The use of doubled haploid (DH) technology enables the development of new varieties of plants in less time than traditional breeding methods. In microspore embryogenesis (ME), stress treatment triggers microspores towards an embryogenic pathway, resulting in the production of DH plants. Epigenetic modifiers have been successfully used to increase ME efficiency in a number of crops. In wheat, only the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA) has been shown to be effective. In this study, inhibitors of epigenetic modifiers acting on histone methylation (chaetocin and CARM1 inhibitor) and histone phosphorylation (aurora kinase inhibitor II (AUKI-II) and hesperadin) were screened to determine their potential in ME induction in high- and mid-low-responding cultivars. The use of chaetocin and AUKI-II resulted in a higher percentage of embryogenic structures than controls in both cultivars, but only AUKI-II was superior to TSA. In order to evaluate the potential of AUKI-II in terms of increasing the number of green DH plants, short and long application strategies were tested during the mannitol stress treatment. The application of 0.8 µM AUKI-II during a long stress treatment resulted in a higher percentage of chromosome doubling compared to control DMSO in both cultivars. This concentration produced 33% more green DH plants than the control in the mid-low-responding cultivar, but did not affect the final ME efficiency in a high-responding cultivar. This study has identified new epigenetic modifiers whose use could be promising for increasing the efficiency of other systems that require cellular reprogramming.
Mechanical Testing of Selective-Laser-Sintered Polyamide PA2200 Details: Analysis of Tensile Properties via Finite Element Method and Machine Learning Approaches
Authors: Malashin Ivan , Martysyuk Dmitriy , Tynchenko Vadim , Nelyub Vladimir , Borodulin Aleksei , Galinovsky Andrey
Published: March 2024

This study delves into the mechanical characteristics of polyamide PA2200 components crafted using selective laser sintering (SLS) technology. Our primary objective is to analyze the tensile behavior of the components printed at various orientations, showing its response to diverse loading conditions. Finite element method (FEM) modeling was employed to analyze the tensile behavior of these details. The time determined for breaking the detail is 9 s. In addition we forecast key properties, such as tensile behavior and strength, using machine learning (ML) techniques, and the best models are for predicting relative elongation are KNeighborsRegressor and SVR.
Specific FRET Probes Sensitive to Chitosan-Based Polymeric Micelles Formation, Drug-Loading, and Fine Structural Features
Authors: Zlotnikov Igor D. , Savchenko Ivan V. , Kudryashova Elena V.
Published: March 2024

Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) probes are a promising tool for studying numerous biochemical processes. In this paper, we show the application of the FRET phenomenon to observe the micelle formation from surfactants, micelles self-assembling from chitosan grafted with fatty acid (oleic—OA, or lipoic—LA), cross-linking of SH groups in the micelle’s core, and inclusion and release of the model drug cargo from the micelles. Using the carbodiimide approach, amphiphilic chitosan-based polymers with (1) SH groups, (2) crosslinked with S-S between polymer chains, and (3) without SH and S-S groups were synthesized, followed by characterization by FTIR and NMR spectroscopy. Two pairs of fluorophores were investigated: 4-methylumbelliferon-trimethylammoniocinnamate—rhodamine (MUTMAC–R6G) and fluorescein isothiocyanate—rhodamine (FITC–R6G). While FITC–R6G has been described before as an FRET-producing pair, for MUTMAC–R6G, this has not been described. R6G, in addition to being an acceptor fluorophore, also serves as a model cytostatic drug in drug-release experiments. As one could expect, in aqueous solution, FRET effect was poor, but when exposed to the micelles, both MUTMAC–R6G and FITC–R6G yielded a pronounced FRET effect. Most likely, the formation of micelles is accompanied by the forced convergence of fluorophores in the hydrophobic micelle core by a donor-to-acceptor distance (r) significantly closer than in the aqueous buffer solution, which was reflected in the increase in the FRET efficiency (E). Therefore, r(E) could be used as analytical signal of the micelle formation, including critical micelle concentration (CMC) and critical pre-micelle concentration (CPMC), yielding values in good agreement with the literature for similar systems. We found that the r-function provides analytically valuable information about the nature and mechanism of micelle formation. S-S crosslinking between polymer chains makes the micelle more compact and stable in the normal physiological conditions, but loosens in the glutathione-rich tumor microenvironment, which is considered as an efficient approach in targeted drug delivery. Indeed, we found that R6G, as a model cytostatic agent, is released from micelles with initial rate of 5%/h in a normal tissue microenvironment, but in a tumor microenvironment model (10 mM glutathione), the release of R6G from S-S stitched polymeric micelles increased up to 24%/h. Drug-loading capacity differed substantially: from 75–80% for nonstitched polymeric micelles to ~90% for S-S stitched micelles. Therefore, appropriate FRET probes can provide comprehensive information about the micellar system, thus helping to fine-tune the drug delivery system.
Nafion: A Flexible Template for Selective Structuring
Authors: Bunkin Nikolai F. , Bolotskova Polina N. , Gudkov Sergey V. , Khuong Minh T. , Kozlov Valeriy A. , Timchenko Svetlana L. , Voronov Valeriy V. , Novakovskaya Yulia V.
Published: March 2024

The peculiarities of crystal growth on a Nafion polymeric substrate from supersaturated aqueous solutions of initial substances were studied. The solutions were prepared based on deionized natural water and deuterium-depleted water. As was found earlier, in natural water (deuterium content 157 ± 1 ppm) polymer fibers are capable of unwinding towards the bulk of the liquid, while in deuterium-depleted water (deuterium content ≤ 3 ppm) there is no such effect. Since the distance between the unwound fibers falls in a nanometer range (which is close to the size of the unit cell of the crystal lattice), and these fibers are directed normally to the polymeric substrate, the unwinding can affect crystal growth on the polymer substrate. As was obtained in experiments with X-ray diffractometry, the unwound polymer fibers predetermine syngony of crystals, for which the unit cell is either a rectangular parallelepiped (monoclinic system) or an oblique parallelepiped (triclinic system). A quantitative theoretical model that describes the local interaction of the polymer substrate with the crystalline complexes is presented. Within this model, the polymer substrate can be considered as a flexible matrix for growing crystals.
Low-Density and High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced PP/POE Composite Foam via Irradiation Crosslinking
Authors: Li Hongfu , Wang Tianyu , Cui Changwei , Mu Yuxi , Niu Kangmin
Published: March 2024

This study addresses the challenge of achieving foam with a high expansion ratio and poor mechanical properties, caused by the low melt viscosity of semi-crystalline polypropylene (PP). We systematically employ a modification approach involving blending PP with polyolefin elastomers (POE), irradiation crosslinking, and fiber reinforcement to prepare fiber-reinforced crosslinked PP/POE composite foam. Through optimization and characterization of material composition and processing conditions, the obtained fiber-reinforced crosslinked PP/POE composite foam exhibits both low density and high performance. Specifically, at a crosslinking degree of 12%, the expansion ratio reaches 16 times its original value, and a foam density of 0.057 g/cm3 is reduced by 36% compared to the non-crosslinked PP/POE system with a density of 0.089 g/cm3. The density of the short-carbon-fiber-reinforced crosslinked sCF/PP/POE composite foam is comparable to that of the crosslinked PP/POE system, but the tensile strength reaches 0.69 MPa, representing a 200% increase over the crosslinked PP/POE system and a 41% increase over the non-crosslinked PP/POE system. Simultaneously, it exhibits excellent impact strength, tear resistance, and low heat shrinkage. Irradiation crosslinking is beneficial for enhancing the melt strength and resistance to high temperature thermal shrinkage of PP/POE foam, while fiber reinforcement contributes significantly to improving mechanical properties. These achieve a good complementary effect in low-density and high-performance PP foam modification.
Prediction of Fatigue Life of Polyetherimide/Carbon Fiber Particulate Composites at Various Maximum Stresses and Filler Contents
Authors: Bogdanov Alexey A. , Panin Sergey V.
Published: March 2024

The objective of this research was to predict the fatigue behavior of polyetherimide-based composites loaded with short carbon fibers 200 μm long under cyclic loads. The weight fraction of the filler was 10, 20, and 30 wt.%, while the maximum stress in a cycle was 55, 65, and 75 MPa. A modified fatigue model based on the obtained experimental results and Basquin equation was developed. The novelty of the results is related to developing a model on the structure–property relationship, which accounts for both the maximum stress in a cycle and the carbon fiber content in the composites. In addition, an “algorithm” for designing such composites according to the fatigue life criterion was proposed. The approach to determine relationships between the composition, structure, and properties of PCMs described in this study can be applied to further expand the model and to improve its versatility in the use of other thermoplastic matrices and fillers. The results of this study can be applied for the design of composites for structural applications with designated fatigue properties.
Optimization of Installation Position for Complex Space Curve Weldments in Robotic Friction Stir Welding Based on Dynamic Dual Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Zong Guanchen , Kang Cunfeng , Chen Shujun , Jiang Xiaoqing
Published: March 2024

Robotic friction stir welding (RFSW), with its wide application range, ample working space, and task flexibility, has emerged as a vital development in friction stir welding (FSW) technology. However, the low stiffness of serial industrial robots can lead to end-effector deviations and vibrations during FSW tasks, adversely affecting the weld quality. This paper proposes a dynamic dual particle swarm optimization (DDPSO) algorithm through a new comprehensive stability index that considers both the stiffness and vibration stability of the robot to optimize the installation position of complex space curve weldments, thereby enhancing the robot’s stability during the FSW process. The algorithm employs two independent particle swarms for exploration and exploitation tasks and dynamically adjusts task allocation and particle numbers based on current results to fully utilize computational resources and enhance search efficiency. Compared to the standard particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm, the DDPSO approach demonstrated superior search capabilities and stability of optimization results. The maximum fitness value improved by 4.2%, the average value increased by 12.74%, and the concentration level of optimization results rose by 72.91% on average. The new optimization method pioneers fresh perspectives for optimizing the stability of RFSW, providing significant grounds for the process optimization and offline programming of complex spatial curve weldments.