bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detecting Damage Evolution of Masonry Structures through Computer-Vision-Based Monitoring Methods
Authors: Sangirardi Marialuigia , Altomare Vittorio , De Santis Stefano , de Felice Gianmarco
Published: June 2022

Detecting the onset of structural damage and its progressive evolution is crucial for the assessment and maintenance of the built environment. This paper describes the application of a computer-vision-based methodology for structural health monitoring to a shake table investigation. Three rubble stone masonry walls, one unreinforced and two reinforced, were tested under natural earthquake base inputs, progressively scaled up to collapse. White noise signals were also applied for dynamic identification purposes. Throughout the experiments, videos were recorded, under both white noise excitation and environmental vibrations, with the table at rest. The videos were preprocessed with motion magnification algorithms and analyzed through a principal component analysis. The natural frequencies of the walls were detected and their progressive decay was associated with damage accumulation. Results agreed with those obtained from another measurement system available in the laboratory and were consistent with the crack pattern development surveyed during the tests. The proposed approach proved useful to derive information on the progressive deterioration of the structural properties, showing the feasibility of this methodology for real field applications.
Emissions of Euro 6 Mono- and Bi-Fuel Gas Vehicles
Authors: Giechaskiel Barouch , Lähde Tero , Clairotte Michaël , Suarez-Bertoa Ricardo , Valverde Victor , Melas Anastasios D. , Selleri Tommaso , Bonnel Pierre
Published: June 2022

Compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are included in the group of promoted transport fuel alternatives in Europe. Most studies on emissions factors are based on old technology CNG and LPG fueled vehicles. Furthermore, there are not many data at low ambient temperatures, on-road driving, or unregulated pollutants, such as ammonia (NH3). In this study we measured the emissions of one Euro 6b CNG light commercial vehicle, one Euro 6b and one Euro 6d-Temp bi-fuel LPG passenger car, one Euro 6d-Temp bi-fuel CNG passenger car, and four Euro 6d-Temp CNG passenger cars. Tests included on-road testing and worldwide harmonized light vehicles test cycles (WLTC) in the laboratory with cold and hot engine, at 23 °C and −7 °C. The results showed 10–23% CO2 savings in gas modality compared to gasoline, lower CO and particle number emissions, and relatively similar total and non-methane hydrocarbons and NOx emissions. The ammonia emissions were high for all vehicles and fuels; higher than gasoline and diesel vehicles. The results also showed that, following the introduction of the real-driving emissions regulation, even though not applicable to the examined vehicles, Euro 6d-Temp vehicles had lower emissions compared to the Euro 6b vehicles.
The Fatal Circle of NETs and NET-Associated DAMPs Contributing to Organ Dysfunction
Authors: Block Helena , Rossaint Jan , Zarbock Alexander
Published: June 2022

The innate immune system is the first line of defense against invading pathogens or sterile injuries. Pattern recognition receptors (PRR) sense molecules released from inflamed or damaged cells, or foreign molecules resulting from invading pathogens. PRRs can in turn induce inflammatory responses, comprising the generation of cytokines or chemokines, which further induce immune cell recruitment. Neutrophils represent an essential factor in the early immune response and fulfill numerous tasks to fight infection or heal injuries. The release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) is part of it and was originally attributed to the capture and elimination of pathogens. In the last decade studies revealed a detrimental role of NETs during several diseases, often correlated with an exaggerated immune response. Overwhelming inflammation in single organs can induce remote organ damage, thereby further perpetuating release of inflammatory molecules. Here, we review recent findings regarding damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) which are able to induce NET formation, as well as NET components known to act as DAMPs, generating a putative fatal circle of inflammation contributing to organ damage and sequentially occurring remote organ injury.
Autocrine Activity of Extracellular Vesicles Induced by Icariin and Its Effectiveness in Glucocorticoid-Induced Injury of Bone Microvascular Endothelial Cells
Authors: Zhang Qingyu , Li Tengqi , Li Zirong , Lu Jike , Wu Xinjie , Gao Fuqiang , Sun Wei
Published: June 2022

Glucocorticoids could induce injury and apoptosis of bone microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) in the femoral head, which is associated with the development of osteonecrosis and osteoporosis. Icariin is a prenylated flavonol glycoside isolated from Epimedium brevicornum, serving as the main active pharmaceutical constituent to treat bone loss. Currently, the impact of the autocrine activity of extracellular vesicles (EVs) induced by icariin on the glucocorticoid-induced injury of BMECs is still to be confirmed. In this study, EVs were isolated from BMECs treated with and without icariin by super-speed centrifugation. Although icariin treatment would not significantly change the size and total protein content of BMECs-derived EVs, expression of EVs-carried vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) was enhanced and numerous miRNAs involved in cell proliferation and apoptosis were upregulated (e.g., hsa-miR-1469 and hsa-miR-133a-5p) or downregulated (e.g., hsa-miR-10b-5p) (p < 0.05). A total of 29 differentially expressed inflammatory factors were detected between the EVs secreted by BMECs from the Icariin-treated group and the Model group. The EVs secreted by BMECs could improve cell viability, decrease cell apoptosis, and promote cell migration and angiogenesis under the intervention of glucocorticoids. Meanwhile, icariin intervention could reinforce these protective effects of BMECs-derived EVs. To sum up, the present study indicates that icariin acts as a promising candidate for treating glucocorticoid-induced injury of BMECs and bone diseases, partially through the autocrine activity of EVs. In vivo or animal studies are still required to better understand the function of BMECs-derived EVs.
New Insights into Neuroinflammation Involved in Pathogenic Mechanism of Alzheimer’s Disease and Its Potential for Therapeutic Intervention
Authors: Li Tiantian , Lu Li , Pember Eloise , Li Xinuo , Zhang Bocheng , Zhu Zheying
Published: June 2022

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, affecting more than 50 million people worldwide with an estimated increase to 139 million people by 2050. The exact pathogenic mechanisms of AD remain elusive, resulting in the fact that the current therapeutics solely focus on symptomatic management instead of preventative or curative strategies. The two most widely accepted pathogenic mechanisms of AD include the amyloid and tau hypotheses. However, it is evident that these hypotheses cannot fully explain neuronal degeneration shown in AD. Substantial evidence is growing for the vital role of neuroinflammation in AD pathology. The neuroinflammatory hypothesis provides a new, exciting lead in uncovering the underlying mechanisms contributing to AD. This review aims to highlight new insights into the role of neuroinflammation in the pathogenesis of AD, mainly including the involvement of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain, leucine-rich repeat-containing protein 3 (NLRP3)/caspase-1 axis, triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) and cGAS-STING as key influencers in augmenting AD development. The inflammasomes related to the pathways of NF-κB, NLRP3, TREM2, and cGAS-STING as biomarkers of the neuroinflammation associated with AD, as well as an overview of novel AD treatments based on these biomarkers as potential drug targets reported in the literature or under clinical trials, are explored.
Cost-Effective Nanoporous Gold Obtained by Dealloying Metastable Precursor, Au33Fe67, Reveals Excellent Methanol Electro-Oxidation Performance
Authors: Raj Deepti , Scaglione Federico , Fiore Gianluca , Rizzi Paola
Published: June 2022

In this study, we report nanoporous gold (NPG) as an economic, efficient, and stable alternative electrocatalyst for methanol electro-oxidation. The said sample was successfully prepared from an Fe-rich metastable Au33Fe67 supersaturated solid solution acting as the precursor, which was formed into ribbons by the phenomenon of rapid solidification using melt-spinning technique. The as-quenched ribbon was then chemically dealloyed in 1 M HCl at 70 °C for different durations of time. A homogeneous, free-standing, and mechanically stable NPG sample was obtained with tunable ligament shape and size. The morphology and composition were characterized by using SEM with EDS, while the structure by XRD. The sample was examined as an electrocatalyst for methanol electro-oxidation profiting off its large surface area; cyclic voltammetry (CV) was the technique employed for electrochemical studies. In a basic solution of methanol and KOH, the sample displays a low peak potential of 0.47 V vs. Ag/AgCl for methanol electro-oxidation with a high peak current density of 0.43 mA/cm2. In addition, it demonstrates outstanding stability and high poisoning tolerance. It is noteworthy that the fabrication process of the NPG sample from start to end was intentionally opted to be sustainable, cost-effective, rapid, and feasible. The usage of critical raw materials was avoided. As a whole, the properties and results put forth by the NPG sample make it an inexpensive, sustainable, and excellent alternative as an electrocatalyst for methanol electro-oxidation.
Lightweight Design of Shock-Absorbing and Load-Bearing Components Based on 3D Printing Technology
Authors: Zhang Guoqing , Feng Rongrui , Li Junxin , Zhou Yongsheng , Zhou Xiaoyu , Wang Anmin
Published: June 2022

Nowadays, the redesign of new shock-absorbing load-bearing parts has gradually gained more and more focus due to the pressure of energy, environmental protection, and people’s pursuit of high-performance (light weight, excellent shock absorption, etc.) travel tools, and the development of 3D printing technology provides the possibility to design such high-performance parts. Therefore, firstly, the strength analysis of the parts is carried out by adopting Altar Inspire software, then topology optimization design is conducted in Inspire software and, finally, direct manufacturing is carried out using Aurora 3D printers. The results show that the maximum Mises equivalent stress of the shock-absorbing load-bearing components after lightweight design is not more than the material’s yield stress of 45 MPa and the safety factor (1.5) is greater than the minimum allowable safety factor (1.2); under such kind of premise, the quality is lightened by 63.82%. Moreover, since the structure of the parts becomes a bracket structure after the lightweight design, the shock absorption performance will be greatly improved. The 3D-printed parts have a series of advantages, namely bright surface, low roughness, no obvious warpage and other defects, and good molding effect, which lays solid the foundation for the mass production of high-performance shock-absorbing load-bearing parts.
High-Efficiency of PVD Coating Process by Applying an Additional Rotation
Authors: Mrkvica Ivan , Szotkowski Tomas , Slaninkova Aneta , Jurga Tibor
Published: June 2022

This article analyzes PVD coatings (physical vapor deposition—the coating material is vaporized and deposited by sputtering or arc evaporation, and PVD coatings are applied at lower substrate temperatures and thus can be applied to a wider range of substrates) applied to samples which are located in a fixture. This fixture enables additional rotation of the sample via the coating process. The fixture allows an increase of coated tools in one batch, and therefore an increase of the current capacity of the coating machine. The introductory section of the article describes the process of product design, including its modifications. The experimental section is focused on the functionality checking of the proposed design. The coating process was carried out on a machine named INNOVA. To guarantee the correct coating application during the process, it is necessary to research the coating thickness and the chemical composition of the samples and compare these results with the results of samples which were coated without using a designed fixture. Round bars with a diameter of 10 mm were chosen as test samples. On these samples, a FUTURA monolayer was applied on a TiAlN base. Chemical composition and coating thickness were evaluated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Using a fixture with a fourth rotation, the same chemical composition and coating thickness were achieved as those samples which were coated in a process without the use of a fourth rotation. Therefore, it was possible to confirm a capacity increase of the coating machine.
FPGA-Based Antipodal Chaotic Shift Keying Communication System
Authors: Capligins Filips , Litvinenko Anna , Kolosovs Deniss , Terauds Maris , Zeltins Maris , Pikulins Dmitrijs
Published: June 2022

The current work presents a novel digital chaotic communication system with antipodal chaotic shift keying modulation, implemented in a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). Such systems provide high security on the physical communication level and can be used in wireless sensor network systems. A modified Chua circuit chaos generator and error linear feedback chaotic synchronization are implemented in FPGA and used to develop a chaotic communication system with digital transmitter and receiver an analog in-between signal transmission. Additionally, a validated mathematical model of the communication system prototype is created in the Simulink environment, which is used to compare the performance of the prototype and its nodes with the simulation and simplify its development. The performance is evaluated using simulation with the additive white Gaussian noise channel and analyzing the bit error ratio.
A Novel Bus Arrival Time Prediction Method Based on Spatio-Temporal Flow Centrality Analysis and Deep Learning
Authors: Lee Chanjae , Yoon Young
Published: June 2022

This paper presents a method for predicting bus stop arrival times based on a unique approach that extracts the spatio-temporal dynamics of bus flows. Using a new technique called Bus Flow Centrality Analysis (BFC), we obtain the low-dimensional embedding of short-term bus flow patterns in the form of IID (Individual In Degree) and IOD (Individual Out Degree) and TOD (Total Out Degree) at every station in the bus network. The embedding using BFC analysis well captures the characteristics of every individual flow and aggregate pattern. The latent vector returned by the BFC analysis is combined with other essential information such as bus speed, travel time, wait time, dispatch intervals, the distance between stations, seasonality, holiday status, and climate information. We employed a family of recurrent neural networks such as LSTM, GRU, and ALSTM to model how these features change over time and to predict the time the bus takes to reach the next stop in subsequent time windows. We experimented with our solution using logs of bus operations in the Seoul Metropolitan area offered by the Bus Management System (BMS) and the Bus Information System (BIS) of Korea. We predicted arrival times for more than 100 bus routes with a MAPE of 1.19%. This margin of error is 74% lower than the latest work based on ALSTM. We also learned that LSTM performs better than GRU with a 40.5% lower MAPE. This result is even remarkable considering the irregularity in the bus flow patterns and the fact that we did not rely on real-time GPS information. Moreover, our approach scales at a city-wide level by analyzing more than 100 bus routes, while previous studies showed limited experiments on much fewer bus routes.
Left Atrial Appendage Amputation for Atrial Fibrillation during Aortic Valve Replacement
Authors: Kalisnik Jurij M. , Santarpino Giuseppe , Balbierer Andrea I. , Zibert Janez , Vogt Ferdinand A. , Fittkau Matthias , Fischlein Theodor
Published: June 2022

Background. Occluding the left atrial appendage (LAA) during cardiac surgery reduces the risk of ischemic stroke; nonetheless, it is currently only softly recommended with “may be considered” by the current guidelines. We aimed to assess thromboembolic risk after LAA amputation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and aortic stenosis undergoing biological aortic valve replacement (AVR) as primary cardiac surgery. Methods. Two cohorts were generated retrospectively: patients with AF undergoing AVR alone or combined with revascularization either with LAA amputation or without. Data were collected from the hospital-specific data system. Follow-up was completed by telephone interview or in person. Thirty-day and follow-up results were compared in patients with vs. without LAA amputation. Results. One hundred and fifty-seven patients were investigated retrospectively, and seventy-four pairs were matched with regard to baseline characteristics. Patients with LAA amputation exhibited a lower incidence of cumulative and late ischemic stroke (6.4% vs. 25%, p = 0.028 and 3.2% vs. 20%, p = 0.008, respectively; hazard ratio 0.30; 95% confidence interval 0.11; 0.84; p = 0.021) during follow-up of 48 months vs. patients without intervention during follow-up of 45 months, p = 0.494. No significant differences were observed in postoperative stroke, 2 (2.7%) vs. 3 (4.1%), p = 1.000, re-exploration for bleeding 3 (4.1%) vs. 6 (8.1), p = 0.494 or late pericardial effusion 2 (2.7%) vs. 3 (4.1%), p = 1.000, in-hospital 2 (2.7%) vs. 4 (5.4%), p = 0.681 and all-cause mortality 15 (23.8%) vs. 9 (15%), p = 0.315 in patients with vs. without LAA amputation, respectively. Conclusions. A combination of leading aortic stenosis and AF in patients undergoing isolated or combined biological AVR represents a subpopulation with excessive thromboembolic risk. Concomitant LAA amputation during cardiac surgery reduces the risk of ischemic stroke without posing an additional periprocedural risk for the patient. Therefore, the minimal invasive approach at the expense of omitting LAA amputation should be discouraged to maximize the clinical benefits of AVR in this setting.
Challenges in Burn Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Scoping Review
Authors: Kohlhauser Michael , Luze Hanna , Nischwitz Sebastian Philipp , Kamolz Lars-Peter
Published: June 2022

Objective: The aim of this review is to map and summarize the experiences of various burn centers worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to enable future strategies with regard to the most effective measures in burn care during pandemics and to detect possible gaps in knowledge. Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had a major impact on economies, social interactions, and health systems worldwide. Burn units all over the world face a new challenge in maintaining the care of acute burn wounds and follow-up treatments while dealing with constantly changing regulations. Infrastructural changes, the establishment of efficient triage systems, protective measures, personnel resources, in addition to the maintenance of efficient patient care and the guarantee of supply chains, are challenging tasks to be addressed. This review provides an overview of recent developments regarding different strategies and methods used by burn units worldwide to safely overcome the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Methods: A scoping review of the literature was conducted using the electronic databases PubMed and Google Scholar. Publications were screened for the following key terms: burns, burn injuries, thermal injuries, burn center, burn unit, burn ward, in combination with COVID-19, COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2, Corona, and Coronavirus. Articles dealing with the management of burn units during the pandemic were further analyzed and included. Results: Of the 136 publications, 10 were considered relevant to the key question and were included in the present review. Results were divided into six major topics, such as infrastructural and personnel management, triaging, severe burns and emergencies, elective surgeries, patient and visitor management, and outpatient management. Conclusion: Only a few studies about managing burn units during the COVID-19 pandemic have been published. Personnel resources and equipment needed to be redistributed to cope with country-specific challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic and to maintain adequate burn care. Since all of these articles refer to the period of the initial outbreak, a lack of clinical studies exists regarding the prevention measures taken by burn units during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, we identified gaps in knowledge about the impact of implemented measures on burn patient outcomes in the published literature. Further studies are mandatory in order to provide generally applicable guidelines regarding COVID-19 prevention measures at a burn unit.
How to Prevent Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections: A Reappraisal of Vico’s Theory—Is History Repeating Itself?
Authors: Musco Stefania , Giammò Alessandro , Savoca Francesco , Gemma Luca , Geretto Paolo , Soligo Marco , Sacco Emilio , Del Popolo Giulio , Li Marzi Vincenzo
Published: June 2022

New, contextualized modern solutions must be found to solve the dilemma of catheter-associated urinary infection (CAUTI) in long-term care settings. In this paper, we describe the etiology, risk factors, and complications of CAUTI, explore different preventive strategies proposed in literature from the past to the present, and offer new insights on therapeutic opportunities. A care bundle to prevent CAUTI mainly consists of multiple interventions to improve clinical indications, identifying a timeline for catheter removal, or whether any alternatives may be offered in elderly and frail patients suffering from chronic urinary retention and/or untreatable urinary incontinence. Among the various approaches used to prevent CAUTI, specific urinary catheter coatings according to their antifouling and/or biocidal properties have been widely investigated. Nonetheless, an ideal catheter offering holistic antimicrobial effectiveness is still far from being available. After pioneering research in favor of bladder irrigations or endovesical instillations was initially published more than 50 years ago, only recently has it been made clear that evidence supporting their use to treat symptomatic CAUTI and prevent complications is needed.
Neuropsychological Alterations in Patients with Congenital Hypothyroidism Treated with Levothyroxine: Linked Factors and Thyroid Hormone Hyposensitivity
Authors: Razón-Hernández Karla Cristina , Osnaya-Brizuela Norma , Valenzuela-Peraza Armando , Ontiveros-Mendoza Esperanza , Rodríguez-Serrano Luis Miguel , Pacheco-Rosado Jorge , Barragán-Mejía Gerardo , Sánchez-Huerta Karla
Published: June 2022

Eighty-five percent of the studies of patients with congenital hypothyroidism (CH) treated with Levothyroxine (L-T4) report neuropsychological sequelae throughout life. In neonates and infants, there is a deficit in sensorimotor skills (impaired balance). In preschool and elementary school children and adolescents, there are alterations in intellectual quotient (low scores), language (delayed phonological acquisition), memory (visual, verbal, visuospatial, visuoconstructive, autobiographical, and semantic), sensorimotor skills (impaired fine and gross motor control), and visuoconstructive–visuospatial domain (low scores in spatial location, block design, and object assembly). These neuropsychological domains are also affected in young adults, except for language (adequate verbal fluency) and visuoconstructive–visuospatial domain (no data). The onset and severity of neuropsychological sequelae in patients with treated CH depend on several factors: extrinsic, related to L-T4 treatment and social aspects, and intrinsic, such as severity and etiology of CH, as well as structural and physiological changes in the brain. In this review, we hypothesized that thyroid hormone hyposensitivity (THH) could also contribute to neuropsychological alterations by reducing the effectiveness of L-T4 treatment in the brain. Thus, further research could approach the THH hypothesis at basic and clinical levels to implement new endocrinological and neuropsychological therapies for CH patients.
Acetabular Revision Surgery with Tantalum Trabecular Metal Acetabular Cup for Failed Acetabular Cage Reconstruction with Bone Allografts: A Retrospective Study with Mid- to Long-Term Follow-Up
Authors: Hsu Chen-Heng , Hu Chih-Chien , Chang Chih-Hsiang , Chang Yu-Han , Shih Hsin-Nung , Chen Chun-Chieh
Published: June 2022

Background: Acetabular cage reconstruction with bone allografts is among the successful strategies to deal with massive acetabular bone loss. However, the nonbiological fixation nature of cages can compromise long-term success. Tantalum trabecular metal acetabular cups (TM cups) have been used in acetabular revision surgery because of their increased initial stability and good bone ingrowth features. This study was performed to determine whether the bone stock of the acetabulum is enough to support a hemispheric TM cup after failed cage reconstruction with bone allografts. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients who received acetabular revision surgery with TM cups after failed cage reconstruction with bone allografts from 2006 to 2017. There were 12 patients (5 males and 7 females) included in this study, with a mean age of 61.5 years (38 to 81) at the time of re-revision surgery. The mean follow-up after re-revision surgery was 8.6 years (2.6 to 13.3). The endpoint was defined as the aseptic loosening of the TM cup and reoperation for any causes. The change in bone stock of the acetabulum between index revision and re-revision was assessed according to the Gross classification for acetabular bone loss. Results: One patient died after eight years of follow-up of a cause not related to hip surgery. Two patients received two-stage revision arthroplasty due to PJI after 3.2 and 9.4 years of follow-up, respectively. The bone stock of the acetabulum was significantly improved between index revision and re-revision surgery (p < 0.0001). The Kaplan–Meier survivorship was 100% with aseptic loosening as the endpoint and 90% and 75% at five- and ten-year follow-up, respectively, with reoperation for any reason as the endpoint. Even cage reconstruction with bone allografts will fail eventually, and the bone stock of the acetabulum will improve after union and incorporation between host bone and allografts. The restored bone stocks will facilitate further revision surgery with hemispheric TM cups. The biological fixation between host bone and tantalum trabecular metal can provide longstanding stability of the TM cup. Conclusions: The results of our study offer a viable option for patients with failed cage reconstruction with bone allografts.
Immuno-Pathogenesis of Chronic Inflammatory Skin Diseases: Novel Molecular Targets and Biomarkers
Authors: Raimondo Annunziata , Lembo Serena
Published: June 2022

Chronic inflammation has a crucial pathogenetic role in many diseases, including cutaneous chronic inflammatory disorders, such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, and chronic urticaria [...]
Review of Fatigue Assessment Approaches for Welded Marine Joints and Structures
Authors: Corigliano Pasqualino , Crupi Vincenzo
Published: June 2022

Welded joints are widely used in many sectors and represent the main joining technique also in the marine industry. The welded joints are sites of high stress concentrations and are subject to severe conditions for the marine environment. The design of marine welded joints has to consider the effects from wave loads, ship motions and loading/unloading operations and corrosion effects. The aim of this scientific work is to discuss about the state of the art of the standards and the approaches for predicting the fatigue life of welded joints used for the marine industry. Several approaches are examined in order to provide an overview and highlight the advantages and limitations of each method. Furthermore, recent advances in welding of dissimilar metals and autonomous welding are considered.
Lipidomic Profiling Identifies a Novel Lipid Signature Associated with Ethnicity-Specific Disparity of Bladder Cancer
Authors: Kami Reddy Karthik Reddy , Piyarathna Danthasinghe Waduge Badrajee , Kamal Abu Hena Mostafa , Putluri Vasanta , Ravi Shiva Shankar , Bollag Roni J. , Terris Martha K. , Lotan Yair , Putluri Nagireddy
Published: June 2022

Bladder Cancer (BLCA) is the ninth most frequently diagnosed cancer globally and the sixth most common cancer in the US. African Americans (AA) exhibit half the BLCA incidence compared to European Americans (EA), but they have a 70% higher risk of cancer-related death; unfortunately, this disparity in BLCA mortality remains poorly understood. In this study, we have used an ethnicity-balanced cohort for unbiased lipidomics profiling to study the changes in the lipid fingerprint for AA and EA BLCA tissues collected from similar geographical regions to determine a signature of ethnic-specific alterations. We identified 86 lipids significantly altered between self-reported AA and EA BLCA patients from Augusta University (AU) cohort. The majority of altered lipids belong to phosphatidylcholines (PCs), phosphatidylethanolamines (PEs), ly sophosphatidylcholines (lysoPCs), phosphatidylserines (PSs), and diglycerides (DGs). Interestingly, levels of four lysoPCs (lyso PCs 20:3, lyso PCs 22:1, lyso PCs 22:2, and lyso PCs 26:1) were elevated while, in contrast, the majority of the PCs were reduced in AA BLCA. Significant alterations in long-chain monounsaturated (MonoUN) and polyunsaturated (PolyUN) lipids were also observed between AA and EA BLCA tumor tissues. These first-in-field results implicate ethnic-specific lipid alterations in BLCA.
Assessment of Easily Accessible Spectroscopic Techniques Coupled with Multivariate Analysis for the Qualitative Characterization and Differentiation of Earth Pigments of Various Provenance
Authors: Cortea Ioana Maria , Ghervase Luminița , Rădvan Roxana , Serițan George
Published: June 2022

Natural minerals and earths with coloring properties have been widely used as artistic pigments since prehistoric times. Despite being extensively studied, the complex chemistry of earth pigments is still unsatisfactory described with respect to their mineralogical and structural variability and origin. In this study, a large group of earth pigments from various geographical locations was investigated using easily accessible spectroscopic techniques and multivariate analysis with the aim to identify distinctive mineralogical and chemical characteristics of natural pigment sources. Portable X-ray fluorescence (p-XRF), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and fiberoptic Raman spectroscopy were used for the elemental, molecular and structural characterization of the investigated pigments. Diagnostic spectral features and chemical patterns (fingerprints) were identified and discussed with respect to their geological sources. Due to the occurrence of similar accompanying minerals, it was observed that the differentiation of red and yellow ochers is more challenging compared to green, brown and black pigments. However, for some of the investigated pigments, the presence of certain accessory minerals and/or of certain chemical patterns can have diagnostic value. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the FTIR and XRF data matrices showed promising results in terms of geological attribution, highlighting a promising tool for provenance research. The results of the study demonstrate the potential benefits of this rapid and nondestructive approach for the characterization and differentiation of earth pigments with similar hues coming from different geological sources.
Ti3C2Tx MXene Quantum Dots with Surface-Terminated Groups (-F, -OH, =O, -Cl) for Ultrafast Photonics
Authors: Liu Jianfeng , Chen Shanshan , He Junshan , Huang Runming , Tao Lili , Zhao Yu , Yang Yibin
Published: June 2022

Transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) have attracted significant attention in photoelectric applications due to their highly tunable electronic and optical properties influenced by a flexible compositional or surface functional group regulation. Ti3C2Tx MXenes (-F, -OH, =O terminated) used in previous ultrafast photonic studies are usually synthesized via a generic hydrofluoric acid (HF) etching strategy, which may cause numerous defects and thus impedes the optoelectronic properties of Ti3C2Tx. In this contribution, inspired by a much higher conductivity and carrier mobility of Ti3C2Tx (-F, -OH, =O, -Cl terminated) prepared from a minimally intensive layer delamination method (MILD) etching strategy, we further optimized it with a liquid-phase exfoliation (LPE) method to synthesize pure Ti3C2Tx quantum dots (QDs) for ultrafast photonic. Compared to the other QDs saturable absorber (SA) devices performed at 1550 nm, our SA device exhibited a relatively low saturation intensity (1.983 GW/cm−2) and high modulation depth (11.6%), allowing for a more easily mode-locked pulse generation. A distinguished ultrashort pulse duration of 466 fs centered at the wavelength of 1566.57 nm with a fundamental frequency of 22.78 MHz was obtained in the communication band. Considering the SA based on such a Ti3C2Tx QDs tapered fiber is the first exploration of Er3+-doped fiber laser (EDFL), this work will open up a new avenue for applications in ultrafast photonics.
Magnetic Nanoclusters Increase the Sensitivity of Lateral Flow Immunoassays for Protein Detection: Application to Pneumolysin as a Biomarker for Streptococcus pneumoniae
Authors: Salvador María , Marqués-Fernández José Luis , Bunge Alexander , Martínez-García José Carlos , Turcu Rodica , Peddis Davide , García-Suárez María del Mar , Cima-Cabal María Dolores , Rivas Montserrat
Published: June 2022

Lateral flow immunoassays for detecting biomarkers in body fluids are simple, quick, inexpensive point-of-care tests widely used in disease surveillance, such as during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Improvements in sensitivity would increase their utility in healthcare, food safety, and environmental control. Recently, biofunctional magnetic nanoclusters have been used to selectively label target proteins, which allows their detection and quantification with a magneto-inductive sensor. This type of detector is easily integrated with the lateral flow immunoassay format. Pneumolysin is a cholesterol-dependent cytolysin and one of the most important protein virulence factors of pneumonia produced by Streptococcus pneumoniae. It is recognized as an important biomarker for diagnosis in urine samples. Pneumonia is the infectious disease that causes the most deaths globally, especially among children under five years and adults over 65 years, most of them in low- and middle-income countries. There especially, a rapid diagnostic urine test for pneumococcal pneumonia with high sensitivity and specificity would be helpful in primary care. In this work, a lateral flow immunoassay with magnetic nanoclusters conjugated to anti-pneumolysin antibodies was combined with two strategies to increase the technique’s performance. First, magnetic concentration of the protein before the immunoassay was followed by quantification by means of a mobile telephone camera, and the inductive sensor resulted in detection limits as low as 0.57 ng (telephone camera) and 0.24 ng (inductive sensor) of pneumolysin per milliliter. Second, magnetic relocation of the particles within the test strip after the immunoassay was completed increased the detected signal by 20%. Such results obtained with portable devices are promising when compared to non-portable conventional pneumolysin detection techniques such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The combination and optimization of these approaches would have excellent application in point-of-care biodetection to reduce antibiotic misuse, hospitalizations, and deaths from community-acquired pneumonia.
Effect of the Interface on the Compressibility of Substances with Spherical Nano-Inhomogeneities on the Example of Al/C60
Authors: Reshetniak Viktor , Reshetniak Olga , Aborkin Artemiy , Nederkin Vladimir , Filippov Anatoliy
Published: June 2022

The paper examines the compressibility of media with nano-inhomogeneities using the example of an aluminum melt and C60 fullerenes immersed in it. The results of molecular dynamics simulations indicate a significant effect of the interface on the effective compressibility of a heterogeneous medium. It is found that the application of the rule of mixture for the Al/C60 system results in an incorrect qualitative picture of the dependence of compressibility on the concentration of fullerenes. To explain this effect, an analytical model is proposed that takes into account the reduction in distances between atoms of different components during compression. The model makes it possible to estimate the effective mechanical characteristics of a liquid with nano-inhomogeneities within the framework of the mechanical approach, and correctly predicts the nature of the change in the dependence of compressibility on concentration.
Ag Atom Anchored on Defective Hexagonal Boron Nitride Nanosheets As Single Atom Adsorbents for Enhanced Adsorptive Desulfurization via S-Ag Bonds
Authors: Liu Hui , Yin Jie , Zhang Jinrui , Ran Hongshun , Lv Naixia , Jiang Wei , Li Hongping , Zhu Wenshuai , Li Huaming
Published: June 2022

Single atom adsorbents (SAAs) are a novel class of materials that have great potential in various fields, especially in the field of adsorptive desulfurization. However, it is still challenging to gain a fundamental understanding of the complicated behaviors on SAAs for adsorbing thiophenic compounds, such as 1-Benzothiophene (BT), Dibenzothiophene (DBT), and 4,6-Dimethyldibenzothiophene (4,6-DMDBT). Herein, we investigated the mechanisms of adsorptive desulfurization over a single Ag atom supported on defective hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets via density functional theory calculations. The Ag atom can be anchored onto three typical sites on the pristine h-BN, including the monoatomic defect vacancy (B-vacancy and N-vacancy) and the boron-nitrogen diatomic defect vacancy (B-N-divacancy). These three Ag-doped hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets all exhibit enhanced adsorption capacity for thiophenic compounds primarily by the S-Ag bond with π-π interaction maintaining. Furthermore, from the perspective of interaction energy, all three SAAs show a high selectivity to 4,6-DMDBT with the strong interaction energy (−33.9 kcal mol−1, −29.1 kcal mol−1, and −39.2 kcal mol−1, respectively). Notably, a little charge transfer demonstrated that the dominant driving force of such S-Ag bond is electrostatic interaction rather than coordination effect. These findings may shed light on the principles for modeling and designing high-performance and selective SAAs for adsorptive desulfurization.
Role of a Putative Alkylhydroperoxidase Rv2159c in the Oxidative Stress Response and Virulence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Bhargavi Gunapati , Singh Amit Kumar , Deenadayalan Anbarasu , Ponnuraja Chinnaiyan , Patil Shripad A. , Palaniyandi Kannan
Published: June 2022

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes tuberculosis, is one of the leading infectious agents worldwide with a high rate of mortality. Following aerosol inhalation, M. tuberculosis primarily infects the alveolar macrophages, which results in a host immune response that gradually activates various antimicrobial mechanisms, including the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), within the phagocytes to neutralize the bacteria. OxyR is the master regulator of oxidative stress response in several bacterial species. However, due to the absence of a functional oxyR locus in M. tuberculosis, the peroxidase stress is controlled by alkylhydroperoxidases. M. tuberculosis expresses alkylhydroperoxide reductase to counteract the toxic effects of ROS. In the current study, we report the functional characterization of an orthologue of alkylhydroperoxidase family member, Rv2159c, a conserved protein with putative peroxidase activity, during stress response and virulence of M. tuberculosis. We generated a gene knockout mutant of M. tuberculosis Rv2159c (MtbΔ2159) by specialized transduction. The MtbΔ2159 was sensitive to oxidative stress and exposure to toxic transition metals. In a human monocyte (THP-1) cell infection model, MtbΔ2159 showed reduced uptake and intracellular survival and increased expression of pro-inflammatory molecules, including IL-1β, IP-10, and MIP-1α, compared to the wild type M. tuberculosis and Rv2159c-complemented MtbΔ2159 strains. Similarly, in a guinea pig model of pulmonary infection, MtbΔ2159 displayed growth attenuation in the lungs, compared to the wild type M. tuberculosis and Rv2159c-complemented MtbΔ2159 strains. Our study suggests that Rv2159c has a significant role in maintaining the cellular homeostasis during stress and virulence of M. tuberculosis.
Physiology and Gene Expression Analysis of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in Salt Stress
Authors: Li Qing , Qin Yuzhi , Hu Xinxi , Jin Liping , Li Guangcun , Gong Zhenping , Xiong Xingyao , Wang Wanxing
Published: June 2022

The production of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) faces a severe challenge due to the salinization of arable land worldwide. The cultivation of salt-tolerant potatoes is of great significance to ensure food security. In this study, two cultivars of ‘Longshu 5’ and ‘Qingshu 9’ were compared for physiological responses to salt stress, and then the salt tolerance of the two cultivars were assessed via principal component analysis. Furthermore, the Na+, K+, and Ca2+ flux of the cultivars under salt stress was recorded. Finally, the expression levels of ion transport-related genes and transcription factors in salt-tolerant cultivars were explored under NaCl stress. The results showed that the seven physiological indicators of salt tolerance were differed between the cultivars. Interestingly, soluble protein and sugar were early responsive to salt stress than proline in the salt-tolerance cultivar. Peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activity were significantly different in ‘Longshu 5’ under NaCl stress and without being significantly different in ‘Qingshu9’. In addition, the salt tolerance of ‘Longshu 5’ was more tolerant than ‘Qingshu 9’ based on principal component evaluation. Meanwhile, the strong efflux of Na+, the stability of K+, and the high absorption of Ca2+ in ‘Longshu 5’ indicated salt adaption mechanisms in the salt-tolerant potato. In addition, we found that ion transport-related genes and transcription factors, such as StSOS1, StNHX4, StAKT1, StNAC24, and StCYP707A, played a role in the salt tolerance of ‘Longshu 5’. In conclusion, the salt-tolerant potato can regulate physiological substances to adapt to salt stress, and ion transport related genes and transcription factors play a role in improving salt tolerance.
Environmentally Friendly Wheat Farming: Biological and Economic Efficiency of Three Treatments to Control Fungal Diseases in Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under Field Conditions
Authors: Rebouh Nazih Y. , Aliat Toufik , Polityko Petr M. , Kherchouche Dalila , Boulelouah Nadia , Temirbekova Sulukhan K. , Afanasyeva Yuliya V. , Kucher Dmitry E. , Plushikov Vadim G. , Parakhina Elena A. , Latati Mourad , Gadzhikurbanov Anvar S.
Published: June 2022

The control of wheat diseases using bioagents is not well studied under field conditions. The present study was aimed at investigating, during four consecutive growing seasons (2017–2020), the efficacy of two integrated crop protection (ICP) systems to control the common wheat diseases for enhancing the productivity and profitability of winter wheat crops and ensuring nutritional and food security. Two environmental-friendly treatments were tested, biological (T1), which contained bioagents and fertilizers, and combined (T2), which included fertilizers and bioagents coupled with lower doses of fungicides. The chemical treatment (T3) was used for comparison with (T1) and (T2). Furthermore, two Russian winter wheat varieties (Nemchinovskaya 17 (V1) and Moscovskaya 40 (V2)) were studied. A randomized complete block design was used with four replicates. Diseases infestation rates for snow mold (SM), root rot (RR), powdery mildew (PM), and Fusarium (Fus), yield performances, and grain quality (measured through protein content) were determined according to the tested treatments, and the economic efficiency was calculated for each treatment. The combined treatment (T2) was the most effective against fungal diseases with 1.8% (SM), 1.2% (RR), 0.9% (PM), and 0.9% (Fus). The highest grain yield (6.8 t·ha−1), protein content (15.2%), and 1000-grain weight (43.7%) were observed for winter wheat variety Moscovskaya 40 with the combined treatment (T2). The highest number of productive stems (N.P.S) (556 stems/m2) was attained for combined treatment (T2), followed by biological treatment (T1) (552 stems/m2) with the variety Nemchinovskaya 17. The profitability (cost–benefit ratio) of the combined treatment (T2) was 2.38 with the Moscovskaya 40 variety (V2), while 2.03 was recorded for the biological treatment. Applying environmentally friendly combined and biological treatments resulted in high wheat yield and net income, as well as healthy products.
Transcriptomic Characterization of Miscanthus sacchariflorus × M. lutarioriparius and Its Implications for Energy Crop Development in the Semiarid Mine Area
Authors: Feng Hui , Lin Cong , Liu Wei , Xiao Liang , Zhao Xuhong , Kang Lifang , Liu Xia , Sang Tao , Yi Zili , Yan Juan , Huang Hongmei
Published: June 2022

Miscanthus interspecific hybrids have been proved to have better adaptability in marginal lands than their parents. Miscanthus sacchariflorus and Miscanthus lutarioriparius were used as the parents to develop hybrids. We performed the transcriptome for 110 F1 hybrids of Miscanthus sacchariflorus × Miscanthus lutarioriparius and their parents that had been established on the Loess Plateau mine area, to estimate the population’s genetic expression variation, and illuminate the adaptive mechanism of the F1 population. The result speculated that the F1 population has mainly inherited the stress response metabolic pathway of its female parent (M. sacchariflorus), which may be responsible for its higher environmental adaptability and biomass yield compared with male parents. Based on PopART, we assembled a leaf reference transcriptome for M. sacchariflorus (LRTMS) and obtained 8116 high-quality transcripts. When we analyze the differential expression of genes between F1 population and parent, 39 and 56 differentially expressed genes were screened out in the female parent and male parent, respectively. The enrichment analysis showed that pathways of carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites and circadian rhythm-plant played a key role in resisting the harsh environment. The carbohydrate metabolism and lipid metabolism were also significantly enriched, and the synthesis of these substances facilitated the yield. The results provided an insight into breeding Miscanthus hybrids more suited to the harsh environment of the Loess Plateau.
https://panor.ru/magazines/tovaroved-prodovolstvennykh-tovarov/numbers/5375.html
Authors:   ll-Russian Research Institute of the Confectionery Industry — Branch of the V.M. Gorbatov Federal Research Center for Food Systems of the RAS, Beletskiy S.L.
Published: June 2022

The article gives a brief scientific basis for the possibility of using microfocus radiography in the confectionery industry and presents a diagram of the optical sorting machine.