bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lyn Kinase Structure, Regulation, and Involvement in Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Mini Review
Authors: Weerawarna Pathum M. , Richardson Timothy I.
Published: January 2023

LYN proto-oncogene, Src family tyrosine kinase (Lyn) is a tyrosine kinase that belongs to the Src family (SFK). It is expressed as two isoforms in humans, LynA and LynB. Like other SFKs, Lyn consists of five protein domains, an N-terminal SH4 domain followed by a unique domain, the SH3 and SH2 domains, and a catalytic SH1 domain. The autophosphorylation of Tyr397 activates the protein, while the phosphorylation of the C-terminal inhibitory Tyr508 by C-terminal Src kinase (Csk) or Csk homologous kinase (Chk) inhibits the catalytic activity. The interaction of the SH2 domain with the phosphorylated Tyr508 stabilizes a compact, self-inhibited state. The interaction of the SH3 domain with a linker between the SH2 and catalytic domains further stabilizes this inactive conformation. The two critical structural features of the catalytic domain are a conserved DFG moiety and the αC helix, which can adopt in or out conformations. In the active state, both the DFG moiety and αC helix adopt in conformations, while in the inactive state, they adopt out conformations. Lyn has well-established functions in various hematopoietic cell types and more recent studies have revealed its roles in non-hematopoietic cells. At the molecular level, these functions are mainly exerted by phosphorylating specific tyrosine residues in immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs (ITIMs) and immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activator motifs (ITAMs) associated with cell surface receptors. The phosphorylation of ITAMs by Lyn can initiate either activating or inhibitory (ITAMi) cell signaling depending on the receptor, targeting mode (crosslinking or monovalent targeting), and the cellular context. The phosphorylation of ITIMs by Lyn initiates inhibitory cell signaling via the recruitment of phosphatases to the ITIM-bearing receptor. The role of Lyn in cancer and autoimmune diseases has been extensively discussed in the literature. The involvement of Lyn in neurodegenerative diseases has been described more recently and, as such, it is now an emerging target for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Resilience Measurements and Dynamics of Resource-Based Cities in Heilongjiang Province, China
Authors: Lu Ming , Tan Zhuolin , Yuan Chao , Dong Yu , Dong Wei
Published: January 2023

In the process of sustainable transformation, resource-based cities (RBCs) in Heilongjiang are in a dilemma. Resilience is a key capability to help RBCs deepen sustainable development, adapt to shocks, and exit the transformation dilemma. This study aims to clarify the resilience measurements and dynamics of RBCs and propose targeted resilience enhancement strategies. First, we construct a resilience indicator system based on the urban complex adaptive system (CAS) and use principal component analysis (PCA) to specify indicator weights to obtain the resilience values of RBCs in Heilongjiang Province during 2010–2019, then use cluster analysis to classify five resilience grades. Second, we identify and analyze the resilience dynamics of RBCs in Heilongjiang Province from 2010–2019 based on the adaptive cycle framework. The results indicate that the overall resilience dynamics of RBCs have exhibited an upward trend over the past decade, but there are clear variations in the level of resilience values and dynamics between the different types of RBCs. The petroleum-based city has the highest level of resilience, is less affected by shocks, and recovers quickly. Forest-based cities have a medium level of resilience and are able to recover from shocks, but they fail to improve and remain at a medium level for a long time. Coal-based cities have a low level of resilience and find it difficult to recover from shocks, but this has improved since 2017. Finally, we propose targeted resilience enhancement strategies for RBCs of different types and resilience levels in Heilongjiang Province to provide RBCs with directional guidance for overcoming the development dilemma through resilience measures.
Embracing the Non-Wood Forest Products Potential for Bioeconomy—Analysis of Innovation Cases across Europe
Authors: Weiss Gerhard , Ludvig Alice , Živojinović Ivana
Published: January 2023

This article focuses on the potential role of non-wood forest products (NWFPs) which are so far largely neglected within forest-related bioeconomy research and policy. From an innovation system perspective, we look at the barriers for NWFPs development and propose how they can be supported. We analyse 20 innovation cases in Europe, based on the analysis of documents and semi-structured interviews with experts involved in the cases. Results show that there is no “one” innovation system supporting NWFPs, but support is given rather erratically through certain programmes from various sectoral or regional innovation systems (forestry, agriculture, nature conservation or rural or regional development). There is a pronounced neglection of the institutional system towards NWFPs, resulting in a lack of statistics, research, education and training programmes and focused support structures. However, our results show rich potential of NWFPs in the forest bioeconomy for private forest owners and producers. These activities can range from a collection of NWFPs for subsistence to collectively organized production relevant to rural areas. Most of these are product innovations, some are service or social innovations, while some combine different innovation types. From some successful examples we derive suggestions for how to improve innovation support structures.
Combining Spatiotemporally Global and Local Interpolations Improves Modeling of Annual Land Surface Temperature Cycles
Authors: Chen Yangyi , Zhan Wenfeng , Liu Zihan , Dong Pan , Fu Huyan , Miao Shiqi , Ji Yingying , Jiang Lu , Jiang Sida
Published: January 2023

Annual temperature cycle (ATC) models are widely used to characterize temporally continuous land surface temperature (LST) dynamics within an annual cycle. However, the existing ATC models ignore the spatiotemporally local correlations among adjacent LST pixels and are inadequate for capturing the complex relationships between LSTs and LST-related descriptors. To address these issues, we propose an improved ATC model (termed the ATC_GL), which combines both the spatiotemporally global and local interpolations. Using the random forest (RF) algorithm, the ATC_GL model quantifies the complex relationships between LSTs and LST-related descriptors such as the surface air temperature, normalized difference vegetation index, and digital elevation model. The performances of the ATC_GL and several extensively used LST reconstruction methods were compared under both clear-sky and overcast conditions. In the scenario with randomly missing LSTs, the accuracy of the ATC_GL was 2.3 K and 3.1 K higher than that of the ATCE (the enhanced ATC model) and the ATCO (the original ATC model), respectively. In the scenario with LST gaps of various sizes, the ATC_GL maintained the highest accuracy and was less sensitive to gap size when compared with the ATCH (the hybrid ATC model), Kriging interpolation, RSDAST (Remotely Sensed Daily Land Surface Temperature), and HIT (Hybrid Interpolation Technique). In the scenario of overcast conditions, the accuracy of the ATC_GL was 1.0 K higher than that of other LST reconstruction methods. The ATC_GL enriches the ATC model family and provides enhanced performance for generating spatiotemporally seamless LST products with high accuracy.
The Role of Adiponectin during Pregnancy and Gestational Diabetes
Authors: Moyce Gruber Brittany L. , Dolinsky Vernon W.
Published: January 2023

Pregnancy involves a range of metabolic adaptations to supply adequate energy for fetal growth and development. Gestational diabetes (GDM) is defined as hyperglycemia with first onset during pregnancy. GDM is a recognized risk factor for both pregnancy complications and long-term maternal and offspring risk of cardiometabolic disease development. While pregnancy changes maternal metabolism, GDM can be viewed as a maladaptation by maternal systems to pregnancy, which may include mechanisms such as insufficient insulin secretion, dysregulated hepatic glucose output, mitochondrial dysfunction and lipotoxicity. Adiponectin is an adipose-tissue-derived adipokine that circulates in the body and regulates a diverse range of physiologic mechanisms including energy metabolism and insulin sensitivity. In pregnant women, circulating adiponectin levels decrease correspondingly with insulin sensitivity, and adiponectin levels are low in GDM. In this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge about metabolic adaptations to pregnancy and the role of adiponectin in these processes, with a focus on GDM. Recent studies from rodent model systems have clarified that adiponectin deficiency during pregnancy contributes to GDM development. The upregulation of adiponectin alleviates hyperglycemia in pregnant mice, although much remains to be understood for adiponectin to be utilized clinically for GDM.
Advances in Liposome-Encapsulated Phthalocyanines for Photodynamic Therapy
Authors: Rak Jakub , Kabesova Martina , Benes Jiri , Pouckova Pavla , Vetvicka David
Published: January 2023

This updated review aims to describe the current status in the development of liposome-based systems for the targeted delivery of phthalocyanines for photodynamic therapy (PDT). Although a number of other drug delivery systems (DDS) can be found in the literature and have been studied for phthalocyanines or similar photosensitizers (PSs), liposomes are by far the closest to clinical practice. PDT itself finds application not only in the selective destruction of tumour tissues or the treatment of microbial infections, but above all in aesthetic medicine. From the point of view of administration, some PSs can advantageously be delivered through the skin, but for phthalocyanines, systemic administration is more suitable. However, systemic administration places higher demands on advanced DDS, active tissue targeting and reduction of side effects. This review focuses on the already described liposomal DDS for phthalocyanines, but also describes examples of DDS used for structurally related PSs, which can be assumed to be applicable to phthalocyanines as well.
Functional Analysis of Bna-miR399c-PHO2 Regulatory Module Involved in Phosphorus Stress in Brassica napus
Authors: Du Kun , Yang Yang , Li Jinping , Wang Ming , Jiang Jinjin , Wu Jian , Fang Yujie , Xiang Yang , Wang Youping
Published: January 2023

Phosphorus stress is one of the important factors restricting plant growth and development, and the microRNA (miRNA) family is involved in the regulation of the response to plant nutrient stress by repressing the expression of target genes at the post-transcriptional or translational level. miR399 is involved in the transportation of phosphate in multiple plants by improving tolerance to low Pi conditions. However, the effect of miR399 on the response of low Pi stress in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is unclear. The present study showed a significant increase in taproot length and lateral root number of plants overexpressing Bna-miR399c, while the biomass and Pi accumulation in shoots and roots increased, and the anthocyanin content decreased and chlorophyll content improved under low Pi stress. The results illustrate that Bna-miR399c could enhance the uptake and transportation of Pi in soil, thus making B. napus more tolerant to low Pi stress. Furthermore, we confirmed that BnPHO2 is one of the targets of Bna-miR399c, and the rejection of Pi in rapeseed seedlings increased due to the overexpression of BnPHO2. Hence, we suggest that miR399c-PHO2 module can effectively regulate the homeostasis of Pi in B. napus. Our study can also provide the theoretical basis for germplasm innovation and the design of intelligent crops with low nutrient input and high yield to achieve the dual objectives of income and yield increase and environmental protection in B. napus.
Addition of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Enhances Terpene Synthase Expression in Salvia rosmarinus Cultivars
Authors: Leggatt Emily , Griffiths Alistair , Budge Simon , Stead Anthony D. , Gange Alan C. , Devlin Paul F.
Published: January 2023

Culinary herbs are commercially cultivated for their wide range of volatile compounds that give characteristic aromas and tastes. Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus Spenn.) is an excellent model for assessment of methods improvement of volatile production as cultivars offer a wide variety of aromatic profiles due to the large family of terpene synthase genes. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) associations have been shown to improve essential oil production in aromatic plants and offer one approach to enhance aroma in commercial herb production. Changes in the expression of seven different terpene synthases were compared in six rosemary cultivars in response to addition of AMF to a peat substrate. Addition of AMF profoundly influenced terpene synthase expression in all cultivars and did so without impacting the optimised plant size and uniformity achieved in these conditions. In addition, two methods for AMF application, developed with the horticultural industry in mind, were tested in this study. Uniform incorporation of AMF mixed into the growing substrate prior to planting of a root plug produced the most consistent root colonisation. Overall, our findings demonstrate the potential for the use of AMF in the improvement of aroma in culinary herbs within a commercial setting but show that outcomes are likely to greatly vary depending on variety.
The Therapeutic Wound Healing Bioactivities of Various Medicinal Plants
Authors: Albahri Ghosoon , Badran Adnan , Hijazi Akram , Daou Anis , Baydoun Elias , Nasser Mohamad , Merah Othmane
Published: January 2023

The skin serves as the body’s first line of defense, guarding against mechanical, chemical, and thermal damage to the interior organs. It includes a highly developed immune response that serves as a barrier against pathogenic infections. Wound healing is a dynamic process underpinned by numerous cellular activities, including homeostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling, that require proper harmonious integration to effectively repair the damaged tissue. Following cutaneous damage, microorganisms can quickly enter the tissues beneath the skin, which can result in chronic wounds and fatal infections. Natural phytomedicines that possess considerable pharmacological properties have been widely and effectively employed forwound treatment and infection prevention. Since ancient times, phytotherapy has been able to efficiently treat cutaneous wounds, reduce the onset of infections, and minimize the usage of antibiotics that cause critical antibiotic resistance. There are a remarkable number of wound-healing botanicals that have been widely used in the Northern Hemisphere, including Achiella millefolium, Aloe vera, Althaea officinalis, Calendula officinalis, Matricaria chamomilla, Curcuma longa, Eucalyptus, Jojoba, plantain, pine, green tea, pomegranate, and Inula. This review addresses the most often used medicinal plants from the Northern Hemisphere that facilitate the treatment of wounds, and also suggests viable natural alternatives that can be used in the field of wound care.
The Influence of Rehydration on the Properties of Portland Cement-Based Materials with Low Water/Binder Ratios: A Review of Existing Research
Authors: Li Liangshun , Wang Yue , An Mingzhe , Yu Peiyao , Hou Xu
Published: January 2023

Cement-based materials with a low water/binder ratio contain a high number of unhydrated cement particles, which implies that a rehydration reaction occurs when they encounter water again. This study aimed to explore how rehydration influences the macroscopic and microscopic properties of cement-based materials. The key study findings included that rehydration could still occur in cement-based materials after one year of hydration, and that the capacity for rehydration-induced repair or damage to cement-based materials depended on whether their internal pores could accommodate rehydration products. During rehydration, the compressive strength and porosity of the specimens were found to first increase and then decrease. The capillary water absorption coefficient decreased continuously over a rehydration period of 120 days. As the water/binder ratio rose, the rehydration rate first increased and then decreased. First, the influence of temperature on the rehydration rate was more noticeable when the water/binder ratio was below 0.3; second, whereas adding large amounts of fly ash and silica fume did not prove to be conducive to repairing and enhancing cement-based materials undergoing rehydration, adding slag and small quantities of silica fume, or alternatively compounding small amounts of silica fume and fly ash could improve the repair and enhancement effects of rehydration.
An Adaptive Control Method for the Distribution Valve of a Digital Pump
Authors: Yue Daling , Zuo Xiukun , Liu Zengguang , Liu Yinshui , Wei Liejiang , Zhao Yuyang
Published: January 2023

Perfect flow distribution is extremely important and essential for digital pumps. However, the fluctuation of motor speed and the change of valve dynamic characteristics cause the flow distribution flaw, which generates the backflow of the oil in the piston chamber and the decrease in pump volumetric efficiency. Based on the three-dimensional and mathematical modeling of the digital pump, the perfect distribution state of the digital pump is analyzed. Then, the adverse effects of the variations in motor speed and valve dynamic characteristics on the flow distribution of the digital pump were simulated and investigated by the software AMESim. To overcome the aforementioned problems, we proposed an adaptive control method for the flow distribution valve of a digital pump, which was realized by adopting the axis rotation angle and the pressure difference between the inlet and outlet of the flow distribution valve. The results show that the control signal of the flow distribution valve can be regulated automatically along with the motor speed and the valve dynamic characteristics, achieving the ideal flow distribution of the digital pump designed in this paper. The study can be used as a reference for the optimal design and prototype manufacturing of the digital pump.
Expert System Based on Autoencoders for Detection of Broken Rotor Bars in Induction Motors Employing Start-Up and Steady-State Regimes
Authors: Valtierra-Rodriguez Martin , Rivera-Guillen Jesus Rooney , De Santiago-Perez J. Jesus , Perez-Soto Gerardo Israel , Amezquita-Sanchez Juan Pablo
Published: January 2023

Induction motors are indispensable, robust, and reliable machines for industry; however, as with any machine, they are susceptible to diverse faults. Among the faults that a motor can suffer, broken rotor bars (BRBs) have become one of the most studied ones because the motor under this fault condition can continue operating with apparent normality, yet the fault severity can quickly increase and, consequently, generate the whole collapse of the motor, raising repair costs and the risk to people or other machines around it. This work proposes an expert system to detect BRB early, i.e., half-BRB, 1-BRB, and 2-BRB, from the current signal analysis by considering the following two operating regimes: start-up transient and steady-state. The method can diagnose the BRB condition by using either one regime or both regimes, where the objective is to somehow increase the reliability of the result. Regarding the proposed expert system, it consists of the application of two autoencoders, i.e., one per regime, to diagnose the BRB condition. To automatically separate the regimes of analysis and obtain the envelope of the current signal, the Hilbert transform is applied. Then, the particle swarm optimization method is implemented to compute the separation point of both regimes in the current signal. Once the signal is separated, the two autoencoders and a simple set of if-else rules are employed to automatically determine the BRB condition. The proposed expert system proved to be an effective tool, with 100% accuracy in diagnosing all BRB conditions.
Simulations of Temperature-Dependent Magnetization in FexGd100−x (20 ≤ x ≤ 80) Alloys
Authors: Pastukh Oleksandr , Kuźma Dominika , Pastukh Svitlana
Published: January 2023

Theoretical calculations of the temperature-dependent magnetization in FeGd alloys were done with the use of Heisenberg-type atomistic spin Hamiltonian and Monte Carlo algorithms. The random allocation of atoms in the desired crystal structure was used for simulations of magnetically amorphous alloys. Performed calculations for the two different crystal structures have shown an important role of coordination number on the observed critical temperature and compensation point. Moreover, the value of the exchange interaction between Fe and Gd sublattices plays a key role in the simulations—an increase in the Fe–Gd exchange constant provides an increase in critical temperature for each concentration of elements, which explains the higher temperature stabilization of Gd moments. It was shown that obtained temperature-dependent magnetization behavior is consistent with experimental observations, which confirms the applicability of the atomic model used to study FeGd or other magnetic alloy structures.
Hopf Bifurcation in a Predator–Prey Model with Memory Effect in Predator and Anti-Predator Behaviour in Prey
Authors: Zhang Wenqi , Jin Dan , Yang Ruizhi
Published: January 2023

In this paper, a diffusive predator–prey model with a memory effect in predator and anti-predator behaviour in prey is studied. The stability of the coexisting equilibrium and the existence of Hopf bifurcation are analysed by analysing the distribution of characteristic roots. The property of Hopf bifurcation is investigated by the theory of the centre manifold and normal form method. Through the numerical simulations, it is observed that the anti-predator behaviour parameter η, the memory-based diffusion coefficient parameter d, and memory delay τ can affect the stability of the coexisting equilibrium under some parameters and cause the spatially inhomogeneous oscillation of prey and predator’s densities.
Optimum Solutions of Systems of Differential Equations via Best Proximity Points in b-Metric Spaces
Authors: Ali Basit , Khan Arshad Ali , De la Sen Manuel
Published: January 2023

This paper deals with the existence of an optimum solution of a system of ordinary differential equations via the best proximity points. In order to obtain the optimum solution, we have developed the best proximity point results for generalized multivalued contractions of b-metric spaces. Examples are given to illustrate the main results and to show that the new results are the proper generalization of some existing results in the literature.
Learning Heterogeneous Graph Embedding with Metapath-Based Aggregation for Link Prediction
Authors: Zhang Chengdong , Li Keke , Wang Shaoqing , Zhou Bin , Wang Lei , Sun Fuzhen
Published: January 2023

Along with the growth of graph neural networks (GNNs), many researchers have adopted metapath-based GNNs to handle complex heterogeneous graph embedding. The conventional definition of a metapath only distinguishes whether there is a connection between nodes in the network schema, where the type of edge is ignored. This leads to inaccurate node representation and subsequently results in suboptimal prediction performance. In heterogeneous graphs, a node can be connected by multiple types of edges. In fact, each type of edge represents one kind of scene. The intuition is that if the embedding of nodes is trained under different scenes, the complete representation of nodes can be obtained by organically combining them. In this paper, we propose a novel definition of a metapath whereby the edge type, i.e., the relation between nodes, is integrated into it. A heterogeneous graph can be considered as the compound of multiple relation subgraphs from the view of a novel metapath. In different subgraphs, the embeddings of a node are separately trained by encoding and aggregating the neighbors of the intrapaths, which are the instance levels of a novel metapath. Then, the final embedding of the node is obtained by the use of the attention mechanism which aggregates nodes from the interpaths, which is the semantic level of the novel metapaths. Link prediction is a downstream task by which to evaluate the effectiveness of the learned embeddings. We conduct extensive experiments on three real-world heterogeneous graph datasets for link prediction. The empirical results show that the proposed model outperforms the state-of-the-art baselines; in particular, when comparing it to the best baseline, the F1 metric is increased by 10.35% over an Alibaba dataset.
Analysis of the Performance of Chamfered Finite-Length Journal Bearings under Dynamic Loads
Authors: Jamali Hazim U. , Sultan Hakim S. , Abdullah Oday I. , Al-Tamimi Adnan Naji Jameel , Albdeiri Mahmood Shaker , Ruggiero Alessandro , AL-Dujaili Zahraa A.
Published: January 2023

Misalignment is one of the most common challenges that the normal operation of journal bearings faces. This type of problem may be the result of a wide range of reasons, such as bearing wear, shaft deformation, and errors related to the manufacturing and installation process. The main undesirable consequences of the misalignment, such as pressure rise and lubricant film reduction, are concentrated on the bearing edges. Therefore, chamfering the bearing edges reduces such misalignment-related drawbacks. This work presents a novel numerical solution to the problem of finite-length journal bearing considering edge chamfering. This solution involves the determination of the levels of lubricant layer thickness and pressure distribution in addition to the journal trajectory under impact load with the related stability limits. The finite difference method is used in this solution, and the equations of motion are also solved numerically using the Runge–Kutta method. The Results of this novel analysis show that chamfering the bearing edges increases the film thickness and reduces pressure spikes associated with the system operation under the case of 3D misalignment. Furthermore, the chamfered bearing shows a wide stability range under impact loads, where the normal bearing is unstable as the critical speed increases by 26.98%, which has positive consequences on the journal’s trajectory.
Evaluating the Performance of Synthetic Double Sampling np Chart Based on Expected Median Run Length
Authors: Tuh Moi Hua , Kon Cynthia Mui Lian , Chua Hong Siang , Lau Man Fai , Chang Yee Hui Robin
Published: January 2023

To keep an eye on the status of high-quality processes for fraction nonconforming, the synthetic double sampling (SDS) np chart is a helpful tool. The SDS np chart is a hybrid between the double sampling (DS) np chart and the conforming run length (CRL) chart. The performance of a control chart is typically judged solely using the average run length (ARL). However, as the shape of the run length (RL) distribution varies with the magnitude of the shift in the process fraction nonconforming, the ARL no longer provides clear interpretation of a chart’s performance. Subsequently, enhanced DS np charts that use median run length (MRL) and expected median run length (EMRL) measures, including SDS np with MRL have recently been proposed for addressing this setback. To broaden the functionality of SDS np, in this work, the unexplored use of EMRL as alternative performance measure is developed by means of Markov chain model. Additionally, in both the zero-state (ZS) and steady-state (SS) modes, the novel optimal designs algorithms are described for computing the optimal charting parameters of the SDS np chart, for both MRL1 and EMRL1 minimizations, without any unfavourable feature of bilateral sensitivity. Both the MRL and EMRL performances of SDS np, synthetic np, and DS np charts are compared. Optimal designs charting parameters and sensitivity analyses are provided to aid the practical application of SDS np chart.
E/e’ Ratio Predicts the Atrial Pacing-Induced Left Atrial Pressure Response in Patients with Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Roh Seung-Young , Lee Dae-In , Lee Kwang-No , Ahn Jinhee , Baek Yong-Soo , Kim Dong-Hyeok , Shim Jaemin , Choi Jong-Il , Kim Young-Hoon
Published: January 2023

Background and Objectives: Left atrial hypertension is one of the pathophysiologies of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. We hypothesized that left atrial pressure response (LAPR) to incremental pacing is higher in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and can predict left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. Materials and Methods: Patients requiring left atrial access as a part of a therapeutic procedure for AF (n = 204, AF group) or supraventricular tachycardia (n = 34, control group) were analyzed (male n = 183, 54 ± 12 years old). LAPR was measured during incremental pacing. Results: Baseline left atrial pressure and LAPR at all pacing rates were not different between the AF and control groups. They were higher in patients with a high E/e’ (≥ 8) than in those with a low E/e’ (<8). LAPR at a pacing interval of 400 ms and E/e’ were positively correlated (r = 0.373, p < 0.001). Body mass index and a high E/e’ were independent predictors of pacing-induced left atrial hypertension. Conclusions: LAPR to incremental pacing was constant regardless of AF. The non-invasive echocardiographic marker E/e’ reflected pacing-induced left atrial hypertension.
Phosphatidylcholine Liposomes Reprogram Macrophages toward an Inflammatory Phenotype
Authors: Cauvi David M. , Hawisher Dennis , Derunes Julia , De Maio Antonio
Published: January 2023

Phospholipids are the major components of cellular membranes and cell-derived vesicles such as exosomes. They are also key components of artificial lipid nanoparticles, allowing the encapsulation and transport of various biological or chemical cargos. Both artificial and natural vesicles could be captured by cells delivering important information that could modulate cellular functions. However, the potential contribution of phospholipids within vesicles altering cellular physiology has been largely underestimated. Here, we showed that macrophages exposed to liposomes made exclusively with palmitoyl oleoyl phosphatidylcholine (POPC) in vivo resulted in a dramatic alteration of the transcriptome profile. Differential gene expression analysis indicated that the exposure to POPC liposomes resulted in a change in the expression of 1598 genes. Moreover, 146 genes were upregulated, and 69 genes were downregulated by incubation with POPC liposomes in contrast to palmitoyl oleoyl phosphatidylserine (POPS) exposure. Signaling pathway impact analysis revealed that 24 signaling pathways were significantly modulated after exposure to POPC liposomes, including the activation of the NF-κB pathway. Indeed, the expression of several cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10) and chemokines (Cxcl1 and Cxcl2) were increased. These observations were validated by the exposure of macrophages to POPC liposomes in culture conditions. In addition, the proteomic analysis of peritoneal cells exposed to POPC liposomes performed by mass spectrometry revealed that the expression of 107 proteins was downregulated after POPC exposure, whereas the expression of 12 proteins was significantly upregulated by this treatment, including seven proteins involved in the neutrophil degranulation pathway. This observation was confirmed by flow cytometry analysis showing the rapid recruitment of neutrophils into the peritoneal cavity after POPC exposure. Overall, these findings demonstrate that the presence of phospholipids within artificial and natural vesicles could be responsible for changes in the function of target cells.
Graphene Nanocomposite Membranes: Fabrication and Water Treatment Applications
Authors: Memisoglu Gorkem , Murugesan Raghavan Chinnambedu , Zubia Joseba , Rozhin Aleksey G.
Published: January 2023

Graphene, a two-dimensional hexagonal honeycomb carbon structure, is widely used in membrane technologies thanks to its unique optical, electrical, mechanical, thermal, chemical and photoelectric properties. The light weight, mechanical strength, anti-bacterial effect, and pollution-adsorption properties of graphene membranes are valuable in water treatment studies. Incorporation of nanoparticles like carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and metal oxide into the graphene filtering nanocomposite membrane structure can provide an improved photocatalysis process in a water treatment system. With the rapid development of graphene nanocomposites and graphene nanocomposite membrane-based acoustically supported filtering systems, including CNTs and visible-light active metal oxide photocatalyst, it is necessary to develop the researches of sustainable and environmentally friendly applications that can lead to new and groundbreaking water treatment systems. In this review, characteristic properties of graphene and graphene nanocomposites are examined, various methods for the synthesis and dispersion processes of graphene, CNTs, metal oxide and polymer nanocomposites and membrane fabrication and characterization techniques are discussed in details with using literature reports and our laboratory experimental results. Recent membrane developments in water treatment applications and graphene-based membranes are reviewed, and the current challenges and future prospects of membrane technology are discussed.
Low Fouling Nanostructured Cellulose Membranes for Ultrafiltration in Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Joshi Ritika , Sebat Nilay , Chi Kai , Khan Madani , Johnson Ken I. , Alhamzani Abdulrahman G. , Habib M. A. , Lindstrom Tom , Hsiao Benjamin S.
Published: January 2023

Ultrafiltration (UF) is a common technique used in wastewater treatments. However, the issue of membrane fouling in UF can greatly hinder the effectiveness of the treatments. This study demonstrated a low-fouling composite cellulose membrane system based on microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) and silica nanoparticle additives. The incorporation of ‘non-spherical’ silica nanoparticles was found to exhibit better structural integration in the membrane (i.e., minimal aggregation of silica nanoparticles in the membrane scaffold) as compared to spherical silica. The resulting composite membranes were tested for UF using local wastewater, where the best-performing membrane exhibited higher permeation flux than commercial polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) and polyether sulfone (PES) membranes while maintaining a high separation efficiency (~99.6%) and good flux recovery ratio (>90%). The analysis of the fouling behavior using different models suggested that the processes of cake layer formation and pore-constriction were probably two dominant fouling mechanisms, likely due to the presence of humic substances in wastewater. The demonstrated cellulose composite membrane system showed low-fouling and high restoration capability by a simple hydraulic cleaning method due to the super hydrophilic nature of the cellulose scaffold containing silica nanoparticles.
Parameters Optimization and Repeatability Study on Low-Weldable Nickel-Based Superalloy René 80 Processed via Laser Powder–Bed Fusion (L-PBF)
Authors: Martelli Pietro Antonio , Sivo Antonio , Calignano Flaviana , Bassini Emilio , Biamino Sara , Ugues Daniele
Published: January 2023

This work aims to investigate the processability of René 80 via laser powder–bed fusion (L-PBF). René 80 is a poorly weldable Ni-superalloy, currently processed via investment casting to fabricate turbine blades working at an operating temperature of about 850 °C. The L-PBF parameters optimization aims to increase part integrity and enhance processing repeatability. This part was tackled by creating a complete design of experiments (DOE) in which laser power, scan speed and hatching distance were varied accordingly. Optimizing the abovementioned parameters minimized the crack density and pore area fraction. Hence, five parameter sets leading to a crack density lower than 100 µm/mm2 and a pore fraction between 0.045% and 0.085% were selected. Furthermore, the intra-print repeatability was studied by producing three specimens’ repetitions for each optimal set of parameters in the same build. The porosity value obtained was constant among repetitions, and the crack density (around 75 µm/mm2) had a slight standard deviation. The third step of the research assessed the inter-prints repeatability by producing a replica of the five selected parameter sets in a different build and by comparing the results with those studied previously. According to this latter study, the porosity fraction (ca. 0.06%) was constant in intra- and inter-print conditions. Conversely, crack density was lower than 100 µm/mm2 only in three sets of parameters, regardless of the intra- or inter-build cross-check. Finally, the best parameter set was chosen, emphasizing the average flaw fraction (least possible value) and repeatability. Once the optimal densification of the samples was achieved, the alloy’s microstructural features were also investigated.
Numerical Simulation of Motion and Distribution of Powder Particles Injected from a Nozzles-Twisted Oxygen Lance in BOF Steelmaking
Authors: Li Lin , Yu Shan , Sun Ye , Liu Yan , Chen Ren , Hu Peiwen
Published: January 2023

The pulverized lime/limestone injection by top oxygen blowing lance during the basic oxygen furnace (BOF) process has gained much interest in recent years due to its advantages in helping slag formation and consequently in promoting refining reactions such as dephosphorization. In this pneumatic process, understanding the motion behavior and distribution of the powder particles in the furnace is of importance for regulating and designing this refining system reliably and efficiently. In this study, limestone powder top blowing through a novel nozzles-twisted oxygen lance during a BOF process is proposed and the process is simulated by establishing a multi-fluid flow model. The coupled fluid flow of gaseous oxygen and liquid steel is predicted by the volume of fluid (VOF) method, and the motion of the limestone particles is tracked by the discrete phase model (DPM). The results show that the powder injection has little effect on cavity depth of the oxygen-powder mixture jets of the nozzles-twisted lance, but decreases cavity width. During the blowing process, most of the powder particles gather around hot spots while the rest are taken out of the furnace by the reflecting oxygen stream or penetrate into the molten bath. The generated swirling flow of the nozzles-twisted oxygen lance enables a decrease in the amount of the powder particles carried by the reflecting stream and going into the molten bath, through changing the motion paths of the powder particles. As a result, the concentration distribution of the powder particles in the molten bath varies. It could be suggested that for the limestone powder injection the preferred nozzle twist angle of the oxygen lance is 10° due to the favorable conditions for dephosphorization.
Optimization of Response Surface Methodology for Pulsed Laser Welding of 316L Stainless Steel to Polylactic Acid
Authors: Wu Jiakai , Gao Perry P. , Gao Xiangdong
Published: January 2023

A laser welding technology for the dissimilar materials 316L stainless steel (316L ss) and polylactic acid (PLA) was investigated to analyze the process parameters, which have a large influence on the joint quality. Orthogonal tests, single-factor tests, response surface method (RSM), and Box–Behnken design (BBD) were utilized to optimize the experimental design. A metallographic microscopy analysis was conducted to classify the joint morphology into two categories: effective and ineffective. The effective area ratio was established as an effective judgment method for the joint mechanical properties. Mathematical relations between the process parameters and the mechanical properties of the joints were investigated and the process parameters were optimized and validated. The test values were in excellent agreement with the actual values, thus demonstrating the reliability of the proposed model.
Simulation of Fluid Flow and Inclusion Removal in Five-Flow T-Type Tundishes with Porous Baffle Walls
Authors: Zhao Shuo , Zhu Shibin , Ge Yangyang , Wang Jianfeng , Xu Dong , Li Zushu , Chen Chao
Published: January 2023

To solve the instability of liquid steel in the continuous casting process and the inconsistent flaw detection of heavy rail steel, steel flow control was studied numerically in a tundish with a porous baffle wall by using the fluid dynamics software Fluent. The opening plan of the baffle wall was improved through orthogonal optimization of the design of the holes in the porous baffle wall. The test condition was set to a left inclination angle of α1 = 22°, a right inclination angle of α2 = 48°, an upward elevation angle of β = 30°, and an aperture of d = 70 mm. The simulation results of the optimization scheme showed that the uniformity of the flow and temperature fields had been significantly improved, and the flow in each strand became consistent. The maximum temperature difference was 21 K in the tundish, and the maximum temperature difference of three outlets was only 1.7 K. Dead zone volume was reduced by 10.0% compared to the original tundish, and plug flow volume was increased by 14.2%. Comparing the removal efficiency of Al2O3 inclusions of different size, the results showed that the removal efficiency of 10 μm and 30 μm smaller inclusions was above 87%. The removal rate of ≥50 μm larger inclusions also remained about 95%.
Effect of Cow-Calf Supplementation on Gene Expression, Processes, and Pathways Related to Adipogenesis and Lipogenesis in Longissimus thoracis Muscle of F1 Angus × Nellore Cattle at Weaning
Authors: Ramírez-Zamudio Germán Darío , Ganga Maria Júlia Generoso , Pereira Guilherme Luis , Nociti Ricardo Perecin , Chiaratti Marcos Roberto , Cooke Reinaldo Fernandes , Chardulo Luis Artur Loyola , Baldassini Welder Angelo , Machado-Neto Otávio Rodrigues , Curi Rogério Abdallah
Published: January 2023

The aim of this study was to identify differentially expressed genes, biological processes, and metabolic pathways related to adipogenesis and lipogenesis in calves receiving different diets during the cow-calf phase. Forty-eight uncastrated F1 Angus × Nellore males were randomly assigned to two treatments from thirty days of age to weaning: no creep feeding (G1) or creep feeding (G2). The creep feed offered contained ground corn (44.8%), soybean meal (40.4%), and mineral core (14.8%), with 22% crude protein and 65% total digestible nutrients in dry matter. After weaning, the animals were feedlot finished for 180 days and fed a single diet containing 12.6% forage and 87.4% corn-based concentrate. Longissimus thoracis muscle samples were collected by biopsy at weaning for transcriptome analysis and at slaughter for the measurement of intramuscular fat content (IMF) and marbling score (MS). Animals of G2 had 17.2% and 14.0% higher IMF and MS, respectively (p < 0.05). We identified 947 differentially expressed genes (log2 fold change 0.5, FDR 5%); of these, 504 were upregulated and 443 were downregulated in G2. Part of the genes upregulated in G2 were related to PPAR signaling (PPARA, SLC27A1, FABP3, and DBI), unsaturated fatty acid synthesis (FADS1, FADS2, SCD, and SCD5), and fatty acid metabolism (FASN, FADS1, FADS2, SCD, and SCD5). Regarding biological processes, the genes upregulated in G2 were related to cholesterol biosynthesis (EBP, CYP51A1, DHCR24, and LSS), unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis (FADS2, SCD, SCD5, and FADS1), and insulin sensitivity (INSIG1 and LPIN2). Cow-calf supplementation G2 positively affected energy metabolism and lipid biosynthesis, and thus favored the deposition of marbling fat during the postweaning period, which was shown here in an unprecedented way, by analyzing the transcriptome, genes, pathways, and enriched processes due to the use of creep feeding.
H+-Translocating Membrane-Bound Pyrophosphatase from Rhodospirillum rubrum Fuels Escherichia coli Cells via an Alternative Pathway for Energy Generation
Authors: Malykh Evgeniya A. , Golubeva Liubov I. , Kovaleva Ekaterina S. , Shupletsov Mikhail S. , Rodina Elena V. , Mashko Sergey V. , Stoynova Nataliya V.
Published: January 2023

Inorganic pyrophosphatases (PPases) catalyze an essential reaction, namely, the hydrolysis of PPi, which is formed in large quantities as a side product of numerous cellular reactions. In the majority of living species, PPi hydrolysis is carried out by soluble cytoplasmic PPase (S-PPases) with the released energy dissipated in the form of heat. In Rhodospirillum rubrum, part of this energy can be conserved by proton-pumping pyrophosphatase (H+-PPaseRru) in the form of a proton electrochemical gradient for further ATP synthesis. Here, the codon-harmonized gene hppaRru encoding H+-PPaseRru was expressed in the Escherichia coli chromosome. We demonstrate, for the first time, that H+-PPaseRru complements the essential native S-PPase in E. coli cells. 13C-MFA confirmed that replacing native PPase to H+-PPaseRru leads to the re-distribution of carbon fluxes; a statistically significant 36% decrease in tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle fluxes was found compared with wild-type E. coli MG1655. Such a flux re-distribution can indicate the presence of an additional method for energy generation (e.g., ATP), which can be useful for the microbiological production of a number of compounds, the biosynthesis of which requires the consumption of ATP.
Provenance Difference Analysis of the Eastern and Western Taiyuan Formation in the Northern Margin of the Ordos Basin and Its Tectonic Significance
Authors: Mi Wentian , Luo Yuhang , Xin Jie , Tai Baoqiang , Ye Xiangfei , Miao Ke , Shang Fuhua , Zhang Peng
Published: January 2023

The Taiyuan Formation, located on the northern margin of the Ordos Basin, has an important role in reconstructing tectonic paleogeography and evolutionary process due to its preservation of information about the tectonic evolution of the basin throughout the Late Paleozoic. The provenance, paleogeography, and tectonic activity traits of the Taiyuan Formation were examined using the sedimentary petrology and zircon chronology methods. The Alxa block is consistent with the dating results of the Taiyuan Formation in Shabatai, and the Daqing Shan is consistent with the results of the Taiyuan Formation in Xiachengwan and Adaohai. It is inferred that the provenance of the Taiyuan Formation in the western part of the northern margin of the basin is from the Alxa block, and the provenance in the eastern part is from the Daqing Shan when combined with the study of sandstone detrital components, and paleocurrent. In the late Paleozoic, the Siberian plate collided with the North China Craton, and the Taiyuan Formation was deposited in the northern margin of the Ordos Basin. However, on account of the different ages and types of basement rocks and the central paleo-uplift which has not completely disappeared, the Taiyuan Formation has obvious east-west zonation.