bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DNA-amphiphilic nanostructures: synthesis, characterization and applications
Authors: Jain Nishkarsh , Singh Ankur , Bhatia Dhiraj
Published: November 2024

DNA's extraordinary potential reaches far beyond its role as a carrier of genetic information.
Regio- and stereoselective azidation of activated N-allenamides: an entry to α, β, γ and δ-amido-azides
Authors: Schutz Dorian , Hourtoule Maxime , Miesch Laurence
Published: November 2024

A totally controlled regiodivergent azidation of activated N-allenamides is described, offering a broad range of diverse functionalized amido-azide derivatives.
Clues from an ionic cocrystal structure: from catalysis to mechanochemistry
Authors: Sar Bandana , Ahsan Mollah Rohan , Mukherjee Arijit
Published: November 2024

A crystal structure is no longer conceived as a static entity; rather, it often mirrors crystallization pathways, linking crystal structures with a solution scenario.
Pd/NHC sequentially catalyzed atroposelective synthesis of planar-chiral macrocycles
Authors: Yang Gongming , Liu Shangde , Ji Shujie , Wu Xingsen , Wang Jian
Published: November 2024

The unprecedented non-enzymatically atroposelective synthesis of planar-chiral macrocycles via a Pd/NHC sequential catalytic intermolecular macrocyclization is reported.
A critical review of a hidden epidemic: examining the occupational and environmental risk factors of chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu)
Authors: Bradley Madeleine , Land Danielle , Thompson Darrin A. , Cwiertny David M.
Published: November 2024

A form of chronic kidney disease has been described in people without any known risk factors. These cases are referred to as chronic kidney disease of an unknown etiology (CKDu).
Multiplexing projects: supervising undergraduate research projects with larger cohorts
Authors: Nisbet R. Ellen R. , Scott David J. , Campeotto Ivan
Published: November 2024

Almost all undergraduate students in the UK complete a final year research project or dissertation. In the molecular biosciences field, these projects are often based in individual research laboratory. However, with increasing student numbers, falling staff/student ratios and decreased funding for consumables, these projects are becoming unstainable. At the University of Nottingham, we have developed a new model for cohort-based projects. These projects allow students to be taught key skills as a group, and then to apply their knowledge to individual projects. By streamlining communications, we are able to involve multiple members of staff and cover for staff absences. Feedback from these new-style projects has been extremely positive, and student engagement is high. Here, we share our experience of running multiplexed projects and discuss the adaptations we have made to enhance the student and staff experience.
Causal effects of gut microbiota on gout and hyperuricemia: insights from genome-wide Mendelian randomization, RNA-sequencing, 16S rRNA sequencing, and metabolomes
Authors: Liu Xia , Feng Zhe , Zhang Fenglian , Wang Bo , Wei Zhijuan , Liao Nanqing , Zhang Min , Liang Jian , Wang Lisheng
Published: November 2024

Background: This study investigated the causal relationship between gut microbiota (GM), serum metabolome, and host transcriptome in the development of gout and hyperuricemia (HUA) using genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data and HUA mouse model experiments.

Methods: Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis of GWAS summary statistics was performed using an inverse variance weighted (IVW) approach to determine or predict the causal role of the GM on gout. The HUA mouse model was used to characterize changes in the gut microbiome, host metabolome, and host kidney transcriptome by integrating cecal 16S rRNA sequencing, untargeted serum metabolomics, and host mRNA sequencing.

Results: Our analysis demonstrated causal effects of seven GM taxa on gout, including genera of Ruminococcus, Odoribacter, and Bacteroides. Thirty eight immune cell traits were associated with gout. Dysbiosis of Dubosiella, Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, Alloprevotella, and Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group genera were associated with changes in the serum metabolites and kidney transcriptome of the HUA model mice. The changes in the gut microbiome of the HUA model mice correlated significantly with alterations in the levels of serum metabolites such as taurodeoxycholic acid, phenylacetylglycine, vanylglycol, methyl hexadecanoic acid, carnosol, 6-aminopenicillanic acid, sphinganine, p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, pyridoxamine, and de-o-methylsterigmatocystin, and expression of kidney genes such as CNDP2, SELENOP, TTR, CAR3, SLC12A3, SCD1, PIGR, CD74, MFSD4B5, and NAPSA.

Conclusion: Our study demonstrated a causal relationship between GM, immune cells, and gout. HUA development involved alterations in the vitamin B6 metabolism because of GM dysbiosis that resulted in altered pyridoxamine and pyridoxal levels, dysregulated sphingolipid metabolism, and excessive inflammation.
Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment: A Survey of Speech-Language Pathologists' Knowledge, Training, and Attitudes
Authors: Geels Patricia L. , Flynn Karen , Fogarty Kieran J. , Lyerla Rob
Published: November 2024

Purpose:

This study examined speech-language pathologists' (SLPs') professional knowledge, training experiences, and attitudes in assessing and treating individuals with cancer-related cognitive impairments (CRCIs). Understanding these concepts is necessary for evaluating SLPs' role in supporting individuals with CRCIs.

Method:

A web-based survey was completed by 147 SLPs over a 2-month period. The survey explored their professional knowledge, training, and attitudes regarding CRCI assessment and intervention.

Results:

Three quarters of participants reported some experience with individuals with CRCIs. Most participants reported that providing care for individuals with CRCIs was within the SLP scope of practice (97%) and an ethical responsibility (93%). Approximately 65% of participants completed some form of training for providing services for this population; 98% would pursue diagnostic training in the future, and 66% would pursue intervention training in the future. Regarding attitudes, 80% of participants shared that they were comfortable with the idea of providing cognitive-communication services to individuals with CRCIs, and almost all (97%) felt that cognitive-communication services were a medical necessity for this population. Additional analyses were conducted to assess the effect of years of experience on various aspects of professional knowledge and attitudes.

Conclusions:

SLPs were trained to assess and treat the cognitive-communication domains impacted by CRCIs. Recommendations for meeting this need are also discussed. Further research regarding the role of SLPs in the assessment and treatment of CRCIs is warranted.
Outstanding Discoveries in Paleomammalogy in the Last One and a Half Decade
Authors: Zhang Yingqi , Mao Fangyuan
Published: November 2024

Since the last comprehensive review of the then state-of-the-art progress in paleomammalogy in 2010, there has been substantial further advances in understanding the middle ear development and phylogeny of Mesozoic mammals, evolution of early primates, and so on. The post-dentary bone morphologies of two Jurassic mammaliaforms, Dianoconodon youngi and Feredocodon chowi, demonstrate the detachment mechanism of post-dentary bones from the dentary and the eventual breakdown of the Meckel’s cartilage during the evolution of mammaliaforms. The middle ear of the Early Cretaceous Liaoconodon hui defines the transitional mammalian middle ear. The Creataceous stem therian Origolestes lii displays the decoupling of hearing and chewing apparatuses and functions. In addition, the discovery of Ambolestes zhoui, an Early Cretaceous eutherian, demonstrates that Sinodelphys, the oldest purported marsupial, is actually a eutherian. The early Eocene haplorrhine primate, Archicebus achilles, resurrects the possibility that Asia was an important stage for early primate evolution. Not only has knowledge concerning these topics been further deepened, but new knowledge has also been acquired concerning Late Cenozoic herbivores and primates in paleomammalogy on the basis of these new discoveries.
Tracing the Origin and Migration of Humans— Significant Progress in Paleoanthropological and Paleolithic Fields Made by IVPP
Authors: Ping Wanjing , Fu Qiaomei , Yang Ziyi , Zhang Xiaoling , Xing Song
Published: November 2024

Over the past 15 years, the Paleoanthropological and Paleolithic team from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP), Chinese Academy of Sciences, has made significant progress in understanding modern human origins and evolution through extensive fieldwork, fossil and artifact discoveries, and cutting-edge ancient molecular analysis. The new fossil findings from Hualongdong, Xuchang, the first report on Harbin, and the reevaluations of previously found fossils like Xujiayao revealed high population diversity in East Asia during the late Middle Pleistocene, implying multiple evolutionary lineages linked to modern humans, Neanderthals, or Denisovans. Different species names were proposed for these unique fossils. Discoveries from Zhiren Cave and Fuyan Cave refreshed our knowledge of modern human emergence in China, sparking debates between the “Recent African Origin” and “Multiregional Evolution” hypothesis. Additionally, new archaeological evidence from Nwya Devu and Xiamabei highlighted human adaptations to extreme climates and technological innovations. Genomic studies further revealed complex patterns of modern human dispersal, admixture, and adaptation in China, especially in the past 40,000 years. The first mitochondrial DNA of Denisovan outside Denisova Cave was successfully extracted from the sediments on the Plateau, suggesting the long-term occupation of this population in this area.
Acoustic feature extraction of radiation pressure signal induced by bubble oscillation under dual-frequency acoustic excitation based on CEEMDAN and bubble entropy
Authors: Zheng Xianghao , Zhang Yuning , Li Yiming
Published: November 2024

Acoustic feature extraction of radiation pressure signals (RPSs) induced by bubble oscillations is a crucial task in the characterization of the properties of underwater objects. In this article, to improve the extraction accuracy, the complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise (CEEMDAN) and bubble entropy (BE) algorithms are combined to extract the effective acoustic components of the RPS. For verification, the proposed extraction scheme is applied to a typical simulated RPS under dual-frequency acoustic excitation. Compared with other extraction methods, CEEMDAN can extract richer acoustic feature information from the RPS, including accurate values for the amplitude and period of oscillation. Furthermore, when the components of the simulated RPS become more complex, the CEEMDAN–BE scheme gives better evaluation results than other schemes in terms of three evaluation indices. Under complex conditions, the signal extraction performances of singular value decomposition and ensemble empirical mode decomposition decrease greatly, but CEEMDAN retains its high signal extraction efficiency, which further confirms the effectiveness of the proposed signal extraction scheme.
Incandescent metasurfaces: A tutorial
Authors: Greffet Jean-Jacques , Vest Benjamin , Bouchon Patrick , Zhao Bo
Published: November 2024

Incandescence has long been the most popular source of light, despite a number of limitations in terms of efficiency, polarization, and coherence. In the last twenty years, it has been shown that most of these limitations can be overcome by taking advantage of the advances in nanophotonics. In this paper, we provide a tutorial presentation of the field with emphasis on the fundamental principles used to control the properties of thermal radiation in the far field. We introduce several figures of merit and list some directions for future work.
Electric and magnetic resonances inducing triple-stopband terahertz metamaterial filter
Authors: Zhang Xuelian , Lin Cheng , Wang Jian , Yan Xueyang , Liu Chunyan , Song Hao
Published: November 2024

A polarization insensitive triple-stopband terahertz metamaterial filter is proposed. This filter consists of a flexible polyimide substrate and periodically arranged copper structures on its top. The shape of the metal unit is a “田” inside a square ring. The simulation results show that the resonant frequencies of the filter are 0.107, 0.23, and 0.271 THz; the stopband depths are −35.56 dB, −42.7 dB, and −37.485 dB; the 3 dB bandwidths are 34, 53, and 32 GHz; and the relative bandwidths are 31.78%, 23%, and 11.8%, respectively. Effective parameter analysis demonstrates that the first resonance originates from the negative effective permittivity and positive effective permeability, but the reason for the latter two resonances is opposite to the first. The surface current distributions indicate that the first resonance is electric type, while the latter two resonances are the lower and higher orders magnetic resonances, respectively. Then, we verify the triple-stopband characteristic of the filter based on the equivalent circuit. Finally, the analysis reveals that the performance of the filter is independent of the incident polarization angle. This filter has the characteristics of multi-frequency, broadband, deep stopband, polarization insensitivity, and simple structure, which can be used in terahertz communication, detection, and other fields.
Periodic skyrmionic textures via conformal cartographic projections
Authors: Marco David , Herrera Isael , Brasselet Sophie , Alonso Miguel A.
Published: November 2024

We find periodic skyrmionic textures via conformal cartographic projections that map either an entire spherical parameter space or a hemisphere onto every regular polygon that provides regular tessellations of the plane. These textures minimize the energy inherent to the mapping and preserve the sign of the Skyrme density throughout the entire space. We show that 2D spinor fields (e.g., 2D polarization) that present periodic textures preserving the sign of the Skyrme density unavoidably exhibit zeros. We implement these textures in the polarization state of a laser beam.
Dynamics of fluid–structure interaction in paintbrush
Authors: Moon Seokmin , Ha Jonghyun
Published: November 2024

Fluid–structure interactions are fundamental in both natural phenomena and industrial applications, particularly in dip-coating processes where withdrawal velocity and drainage dynamics are crucial. Understanding these interactions is essential for optimizing various processes, from enhancing the efficiency of industrial coatings to developing advanced materials with tailored properties. Here, we examine the capillary-induced dynamics of fiber bundles using paintbrush-like structures. We submerge fiber bundles in water and withdraw them at various velocities, observing that water trapped within the bundles leads to capillary-driven fiber assembly. Our experiments show that the bundle diameter after emergence increases with higher withdrawal speed due to viscous effects. We develop a theoretical model that accurately predicts the dynamics of fiber assembly driven by capillary and viscous flows. The mathematical model agrees well with our experimental results, demonstrating the complex interplay between capillary forces and fiber packing. We anticipate that our findings improve the understanding of fluid-structure interactions in fibrous media, providing physical insights that can be applied to more complex systems such as nanopattern collapse and nano/micro-manufacturing.
Advanced biomaterials for diabetes healthcare and complication therapy: A review
Authors: Wang Guoliang , Liao Weifang , Han Feng , Shi Yuying , Hu Zhijian
Published: November 2024

With the rapid increase in the number of patients with diabetes, exploring more effective and convenient methods to lower blood sugar levels is becoming increasingly important. Biomaterials are a potential solution in this field, owing to their unique customizability and biocompatibility. These materials can be used in smart drug delivery systems to achieve precise control of insulin release, or as islet cell encapsulation materials to achieve effective transplantation of islet cells. Among these, new responsive biomaterials can automatically adjust the release of insulin according to real-time changes in blood sugar levels, thereby enabling personalized and automated treatment. In addition, biomaterials are used to develop noninvasive blood glucose monitoring technologies to further simplify diabetes management. Although these applications are still in the research or early pilot stage, their potential to improve diabetes treatment and the quality of life of patients is already evident. In this Review, we discuss the current progress, limitations, and potential of biomaterials for the treatment of diabetes and its complications.
Heat transfer analysis of reactive boundary layer flow over a wedge in a nanofluid using Buongiorno’s model
Authors: Jan Saeed Ullah , Ali Aatif , Sharaf Mohamed , Asamoah Joshua Kiddy K.
Published: November 2024

The reactive two-dimensional steady laminar boundary layer flow over a wedge is examined in this work, with an emphasis on the mass and heat transfer of nanofluids. This study investigates the effects of three different chemical reactions—Arrhenius, bimolecular, and sensitized reactions—using Buongiorno’s model. Through similarity transformations, the system of partial differential equations (PDEs) is converted into ordinary differential equations, which are then solved by combining the shooting method with the Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg numerical technique. The findings show that the skin friction coefficient is greatly increased by raising the pressure gradient and stretching/contracting wedge parameters. On the other hand, as the thermophoresis parameter, Brownian motion parameter, activation energy, and Lewis number increase, the Nusselt number decreases, signifying a decrease in the efficiency of heat transfer. A higher Sherwood number, on the other hand, indicates increased mass transfer and is brought about by increases in the Lewis number, thermophoresis parameter, activation energy, and Falkner–Skan power-law parameter. These findings provide important information for maximizing heat and mass transfer in nanofluid systems. Key values for the skin friction coefficient, local Nusselt number, and the Sherwood number are given in tabular form, and the results are graphically represented.
Small RNA OxyS induces resistance to aminoglycosides during oxidative stress by controlling Fe–S cluster biogenesis in
Escherichia coli
Authors: Baussier Corentin , Oriol Charlotte , Durand Sylvain , Py Béatrice , Mandin Pierre
Published: November 2024

Fe–S clusters are essential cofactors involved in many reactions across all domains of life. Their biogenesis in
Escherichia coli
and other enterobacteria involves two machineries: Isc and Suf. Under conditions where cells operate with the Suf system, such as during oxidative stress or iron limitation, the entry of aminoglycosides is reduced, leading to resistance to these antibiotics. The transition between Isc and Suf machineries is controlled by the transcriptional regulator IscR. Here, we found that two small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs), FnrS and OxyS, control
iscR
expression by base pairing to the 5′-UTR of the
iscR
mRNA. These sRNAs act in opposite ways and in opposite conditions: FnrS, expressed in anaerobiosis, represses the expression of
iscR
while OxyS, expressed during oxidative stress, activates it. Using an
E. coli
strain experiencing protracted oxidative stress, we further demonstrate that
iscR
expression is rapidly and significantly enhanced in the presence of OxyS. Consequently, we further show that OxyS induces resistance to aminoglycosides during oxidative stress through regulation of Fe–S cluster biogenesis, revealing a major role for this sRNA.
Mapping the future of oxidative RNA damage in neurodegeneration: Rethinking the status quo with new tools
Authors: Wheeler Hailey B. , Madrigal Assael A. , Chaim Isaac A.
Published: November 2024

Over two decades ago, increased levels of RNA oxidation were reported in postmortem patients with ALS, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other neurodegenerative diseases. Interestingly, not all cell types and transcripts were equally oxidized. Furthermore, it was shown that RNA oxidation is an early phenomenon, altogether indicating that oxidative RNA damage could be a driver, and not a consequence, of disease. Despite all these exciting observations, the field appears to have stagnated since then. We argue that this is a consequence of the shortcomings of technologies to model these diseases, limiting our understanding of which transcripts are being oxidized, which RNA-binding proteins are interacting with these RNAs, what their implications are in RNA processing, and as a result, what their potential role is in disease onset and progression. Here, we discuss the limits of previous technologies and propose ways by which advancements in iPSC-derived disease modeling, proteomics, and sequencing technologies can be combined and leveraged to answer new and decades-old questions.
Apurinic/Apyrimidinic Endodeoxyribonuclease 1 modulates RNA G-quadruplex folding of miR-92b and controls its expression in cancer cells
Authors: Bellina Alessia , Malfatti Matilde Clarissa , Salgado Gilmar , Fleming Aaron M. , Antoniali Giulia , Othman Zahraa , Gualandi Nicolò , La Manna Sara , Marasco Daniela , Dassi Erik , Burrows Cynthia J. , Tell Gianluca
Published: November 2024

In the last decade, several novel functions of the mammalian Apurinic/Apyrimidinic Endodeoxyribonuclease 1 (APE1) have been discovered, going far beyond its canonical function as DNA repair enzyme and unveiling its potential roles in cancer development. Indeed, it was shown to be involved in DNA G-quadruplex biology and RNA metabolism, most importantly in the miRNA maturation pathway and the decay of oxidized or abasic miRNAs during oxidative stress conditions. In recent years, several noncanonical pathways of miRNA biogenesis have emerged, with a specific focus on guanosine-rich precursors that can form RNA G-quadruplex (rG4) structures. Here, we show that several miRNA precursors, dysregulated upon APE1 depletion, contain an rG4 motif and that their corresponding target genes are up-regulated after APE1 depletion. We also demonstrate, both by in vitro assays and by using different cancer cell lines, that APE1 can modulate the folding of an rG4 structure contained in pre-miR-92b, with a mechanism strictly dependent on lysine residues present in its N-terminal disordered region. Furthermore, APE1 cellular depletion alters the maturation process of miR-92b, mainly affecting the shuttling between the nucleus and cytosol. Bioinformatic analysis of APE1-regulated rG4-containing miRNAs supports the relevance of our findings in cancer biology. Specifically, these miRNAs exhibit high prognostic significance in lung, cervical, and liver tumors, as suggested by their involvement in several cancer-related pathways.
Weather deviations linked to undocumented migration and return between Mexico and the United States
Authors: Zhu Julia Li , Chau Nancy , Rodewald Amanda D. , Garip Filiz
Published: November 2024

As the world’s climate continues to change, human populations are exposed to increasingly severe and extreme weather conditions that can promote migration. Here, we examine how extreme weather influences the likelihood of undocumented migration and return between Mexico and the United States. We used data from 48,313 individuals observed between 1992 and 2018 in 84 Mexican agricultural communities. While controlling for regional and temporal confounding factors, we related individual decisions to migrate to the United States without documents and subsequently return to Mexico with lagged weather deviations from the historical norm during the corn-growing season (May to August). Undocumented migration was most likely from areas experiencing extreme drought, and migrants were less likely to return to their communities of origin when extreme weather persisted. These findings establish the role of weather shocks in undocumented Mexican migration to, and eventual settlement in, the United States. The findings also suggest that extreme weather conditions, which are likely to increase with climate change, promote clandestine mobility across borders and, thus, expose migrants to risks associated with crossing dangerous terrain and relying upon smugglers.
A conserved juxtamembrane motif in plant NFR5 receptors is essential for root nodule symbiosis
Authors: Hansen Simon Boje , Luu Thi Bich , Gysel Kira , Lironi Damiano , Krönauer Christina , Rübsam Henriette , Jensen Ingeborg Bitsch , Tsitsikli Magdalini , Birkefeldt Thea Gramkov , Trgovcevic Alen , Stougaard Jens , Radutoiu Simona , Andersen Kasper Røjkjær
Published: November 2024

Establishment of root nodule symbiosis is initiated by the perception of bacterial Nod factor ligands by the plant LysM receptor kinases NFR1 and NFR5. Receptor signaling initiating the symbiotic pathway depends on the kinase activity of NFR1, while the signaling mechanism of the catalytically inactive NFR5 pseudokinase is unknown. Here, we present the crystal structure of the signaling-competentLotus japonicusNFR5 intracellular domain, comprising the juxtamembrane region and pseudokinase domain. The juxtamembrane region is structurally well defined and forms two α-helices, αA and αA′, which contain an exposed hydrophobic motif. We demonstrate that this “juxtamembrane motif” promotes NFR5–NFR5 and NFR1–NFR5 interactions and is essential for symbiotic signaling. Conservation analysis reveals that the juxtamembrane motif is present throughout NFR5-type receptors and is required for symbiosis signaling from barley RLK10, suggesting a conserved and broader function for this motif in plant–microbe symbioses.
Opportunities for carbon sequestration from removing or intensifying pasture-based beef production
Authors: Hayek Matthew N. , Piipponen Johannes , Kummu Matti , Resare Sahlin Kajsa , McClelland Shelby C. , Carlson Kimberly
Published: November 2024

Pastures, on which ruminant livestock graze, occupy one third of the earth’s surface. Removing livestock from pastures can support climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration in regrowing vegetation and recovering soils, particularly in potentially forested areas. However, this would also decrease food and fiber production, generating a tradeoff with pasture productivity and the ruminant meat production pastures support. We evaluate the magnitude and distribution of this tradeoff globally, called the “carbon opportunity intensity” of pastures, at a 5-arcminute resolution. We find that removing beef–producing cattle from high–carbon intensity pastures could sequester 34 (22 to 43) GtC i.e. 125 (80 to 158) GtCO
2
into ecosystems, which is an amount greater than global fossil CO
2
emissions from 2021–2023. This would lead to only a minor loss of 13 (9 to 18)% of the global total beef production on pastures, predominantly within high- and upper-middle-income countries. If areas with low–carbon intensity pastures and less efficient beef production simultaneously intensified their beef production to 47% of OECD levels, this could fully counterbalance the global loss of beef production. The carbon opportunity intensity can inform policy approaches to restore ecosystems while minimizing food losses. Future work should aim to provide higher-resolution estimates for use at local and farm scales, and to incorporate a wider set of environmental indicators of outcomes beyond carbon.
Combatting melioidosis with chemical synthetic lethality
Authors: Zhang Yifan , McWhorter Kirklin L. , Rosen Paul C. , Klaus Jennifer R. , Gallant Étienne , Amaya Lopez Cindy Y. , Jhunjhunwala Riddhi , Chandler Josephine R. , Davis Katherine M. , Seyedsayamdost Mohammad R.
Published: November 2024

Burkholderia thailandensis
has emerged as a nonpathogenic surrogate for
Burkholderia pseudomallei
, the causative agent of melioidosis, and an important Gram-negative model bacterium for studying the biosynthesis and regulation of secondary metabolism. We recently reported that subinhibitory concentrations of trimethoprim induce vast changes in both the primary and secondary metabolome of
B. thailandensis
. In the current work, we show that the folate biosynthetic enzyme FolE2 is permissive under standard growth conditions but essential for
B. thailandensis
in the presence of subinhibitory doses of trimethoprim. Reasoning that FolE2 may serve as an attractive drug target, we screened for and identified ten inhibitors, including dehydrocostus lactone (DHL), parthenolide, and β-lapachone, all of which are innocuous individually but form a chemical-synthetic lethal combination with subinhibitory doses of trimethoprim. We show that DHL is a mechanism-based inhibitor of FolE2 and capture the structure of the covalently inhibited enzyme using X-ray crystallography. In vitro, the combination of subinhibitory trimethoprim and DHL is more potent than Bactrim, the current standard of care against melioidosis. Moreover, unlike Bactrim, this combination does not affect the growth of most commensal and beneficial gut bacteria tested, thereby providing a degree of specificity against
B. pseudomallei
. Our work provides a path for identifying antimicrobial drug targets and for utilizing binary combinations of molecules that form a toxic cocktail based on metabolic idiosyncrasies of specific pathogens.
Identification and characterization of the lipoprotein
N
-acyltransferase in
Bacteroides
Authors: Armbruster Krista M. , Jiang Jiawen , Sartorio Mariana G. , Scott Nichollas E. , Peterson Jenna M. , Sexton Jonathan Z. , Feldman Mario F. , Koropatkin Nicole M.
Published: November 2024

Members of the Bacteroidota compose a large portion of the human gut microbiota, contributing to overall gut health via the degradation of various polysaccharides. This process is facilitated by lipoproteins, globular proteins anchored to the cell surface by a lipidated N-terminal cysteine. Despite their importance, lipoprotein synthesis by these bacteria is understudied. In
Escherichia coli
, the α-amino-linked lipid of lipoproteins is added by the
l
ipoprotein

N

-acyl
t
ransferase Lnt. Herein, we have identified a protein distinct from Lnt responsible for the same process in
Bacteroides
, named
l
ipoprotein

N

-acyltransferase in

B
acteroides

(Lnb). Deletion of Lnb yields cells that synthesize diacylated lipoproteins, with impacts on cell viability and morphology, growth on polysaccharides, and protein composition of membranes and outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). Our results not only challenge the accepted paradigms of lipoprotein biosynthesis in gram-negative bacteria but also suggest the existence of a new family of lipoprotein
N
-acyltransferases.
Zinc oxide nanoparticles cooperate with the phyllosphere to promote grain yield and nutritional quality of rice under heatwave stress
Authors: Guo Shuqing , Hu Xiangang , Wang Zixuan , Yu Fubo , Hou Xuan , Xing Baoshan
Published: November 2024

To address rising global food demand, the development of sustainable technologies to increase productivity is urgently needed. This study revealed that foliar application of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs; 30 to 80 nm, 0.67 mg/d per plant, 6 d) to rice leaves under heatwave (HW) stress increased the grain yield and nutritional quality. Compared with the HW control, the HWs+ZnO group presented increases in the grain yield, grain protein content, and amino acid content of 22.1%, 11.8%, and 77.5%, respectively. Nanoscale ZnO aggregated on the leaf surface and interacted with leaf surface molecules. Compared with that at ambient temperature, HW treatment increased the dissolution of ZnO NPs on the leaf surface by 25.9% and facilitated their translocation to mesophyll cells. The Zn in the leaves existed as both ionic Zn and particulate ZnO. Compared with the HW control, foliar application of ZnO NPs under HW conditions increased leaf nutrient levels (Zn, Mn, Cu, Fe, and Mg) by 15.8 to 416.9%, the chlorophyll content by 22.2 to 24.8%, Rubisco enzyme activity by 21.2%, and antioxidant activity by 26.7 to 31.2%. Transcriptomic analyses revealed that ZnO NPs reversed HW-induced transcriptomic dysregulation, thereby enhancing leaf photosynthesis by 74.4%. Additionally, ZnO NPs increased the diversity, stability, and enrichment of beneficial microbial taxa and protected the phyllosphere microbial community from HW damage. This work elucidates how NPs interact with the phyllosphere, highlighting the potential of NPs to promote sustainable agriculture, especially under extreme climate events (e.g., HWs).
DMFR-YOLO: an infrared small hotspot detection algorithm based on double multi-scale feature fusion
Authors: Bai Xiaojing , Wang Ruixin , Pi Yuxiao , Zhang Wenbiao
Published: November 2024

Hotspot automatic detection is an effective strategy to realize intelligent maintenance of photovoltaic (PV) modules. However, it is challenging to detect small hotspots accurately using deep learning-based object detection methods due to the weak information and small area of the target. This study presents a double multi-scale feature reconstruction (DMFR)-YOLO to detect small hotspots in PV modules. In the proposed DMFR-YOLO, the backbone of YOLOv8n is improved by eliminating redundant deep layers and introducing a shallow detection head to enhance its perception and recognition ability for small objects. Moreover, a weighted multi-layer feature reconstruction (MLFR) module is introduced to fuse the features of different depths and a multi-receptive field feature reconstruction (MRFR) module is designed to fuse the information of different receptive fields. Finally, ablation and comparison experiments are conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed method. The model with both MLFR and MRFR can achieve a recall rate of 88.6%, with a mean average precision (mAP@0.5) of 93.3%. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed DMFR-YOLO is able to achieve small hotspot detection in IR images with high accuracy.
Simulating the Peculiar Periphery of the Cygnus Loop
Authors: Shen Jun-Yu , Bao Bi-Wen , Zhang Li
Published: November 2024

The middle-aged Galactic supernova remnant (SNR)- the Cygnus Loop (CL)- displays a peculiar morphology in X-rays, featuring a blowout in the southern region. The underlying process accounting for the formation of the peculiar periphery remains a mystery. To this end, we conduct hydrodynamical simulations to investigate the SNR evolution coupled with a tailored stellar-wind model: a bipolar stellar wind emanating from a runaway red supergiant progenitor, excavating a wind-blown cavity elongated along the −z-direction. Our simulation results reveal that the forward shock of the consequent SNR sweeps up the modified ambient media, shaping the overall morphology with a blowout comparable to that of CL. Besides, a series of simulation runs are performed to assess the impacts of different model parameters and the projection effect (observational angle θ
obs) on the final SNR profile. Three physical quantities are extracted from simulation results to characterize the simulated SNR and make a direct comparison with the X-ray observations of CL. We find that the final SNR morphology is sensitive to both stellar-wind properties and θ
obs. A Cygnus-Loop-like SNR could be reproduced under appropriate parameter combinations at θ
obs = 0°. While for θ
obs ≲ 30°, the projected morphology akin to CL could be also generated under specific conditions.
Nanogold supported ceria modified mesoporous silica for the conversion of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol
Authors: Chandralayam Soumini , Sankaran Sugunan
Published: November 2024

Synthesis of 4-Aminophenol (4-AP) is of much interested area as it serves as a crucial intermediary in the production of antipyretic medications, analgesics, dye stuffs, corrosion inhibitor, photographic developer, etc. Gold nanoparticles with an average particle size below 5 nm were effectively dispersed over ceria loaded SBA-15. The nanogold supported systems were found to be highly effective in the conversion of 4-Nitrophenol to 4-Aminophenol at room temperature (304 K) obeying pseudo first order kinetics. The highly effective catalyst with 3 weight % Au incorporation over 20 weight % Ce loaded SBA-15 (3Au/20Ce/SBA) showed a maximum conversion with a rate constant value of 4.63×10−3 s−1.
Emerging Frontiers in CEA: An IoT-Based System Architecture for Smart, Sustainable, and High-Yielding Controlled Environment Agriculture
Authors: Srimal M D W , Aboobucker M S M , Sha H H , Anjum R , Ahmed M R , Raja Rani T
Published: November 2024

Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) cultivates fruits, vegetables, herbs, and other plants in fully or semi-controlled environments. It enables precise manipulation of critical plant growth factors such as temperature, humidity, light intensity, CO2, and nutrients, fostering optimal production. While CEA offers unparalleled yield potential, it has challenges like operational complexities and energy consumption concerns. We propose an IoT (Internet of Things) based system architecture for sensing and controlling CEA systems to address these challenges. The proposed system is designed for a hydroponic-based CEA system. In the system, four IoT devices are used to connect sensors. Each device utilizes various sensors to collect real-time data on key growth factors. IoT devices publish data as Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) telemetry messages, accepted by various subscribers for processing and actions. A Microsoft Azure Edge device has been deployed as the data processing and analysis hub. It processes the MQTT messages using software modules packaged as Dockerized containers, extracts relevant information, sends required control signals to actuators and forwards selected results to the Microsoft Azure cloud for further processing and notifications. Four IoT devices are available in the system to control the growth factors at optimal levels. Various actuators are connected to these devices, such as heaters, coolers, humidifiers, dehumidifiers etc.. The dashboard of the system has been built using Node-RED, and it displays the status of the sensors and actuators and can switch between manual mode and AI-controlled auto mode. The system has been tested continuously for twelve hours and the test results indicate that the system can manage and control modern CEA systems.
Mediating role of human behavior in societal influences on environmental sustainability
Authors: Gulvady Samskrati , Sequiera Priya
Published: November 2024

This research investigates the role of human behavior, particularly the Omani youth, in the context of societal influences on environmental sustainability. The research is based on the positivist paradigm using quantitative approach through the questionnaire survey strategy. A sample size of 216 Omani UG students (43 – Male, 173-Female), based on convenience sampling were chosen for the survey using non-experimental hypothesis testing research. Cultural values & norms, educational systems, and economic policies & practices constituted the dimensions of societal influences with the mediation of -environmental awareness & knowledge and environmental values & ethics as the behavioral dimensions on the environmental sustainability. Eight hypotheses were tested among which five were supported. Based on the study outcomes, suggestions have been drawn to the concerned ministry so that interventions may be administered to promote pro-environmental behavior among the students. These suggestions include possible interventions in renewable energy initiatives, waste management strategies, afforestation and green spaces, water conservation programs, environmental education and awareness, eco-friendly transportation, green building standards, international collaboration, and biodiversity conservation. The findings of this research would be of interest to both the academics and the practitioners in environmental sustainability.
Design and Fabrication of a Wind and Hydropower Turbines
Authors: Al-Hinai K. S.
Published: November 2024

Nowadays, there is an increase in the use of fossil fuels in energy production and the increase in the pollutants of its combustion. Governments have reinforced over the past few years to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels and reduce the pollution emitted by traditional methods of producing energy. By using hydropower and wind, energy can move away from the use of fossil fuels and negative effects. Therefore, hydropower and wind energy have been created that depend on renewable and environmentally safe energy. This work focused on building a device that integrates hydropower and wind energy together. This project focused on designing the combined between the hydropower and wind. Therefore, a model of a wind and hydropower turbine has been designed and fabricated. The idea of the paper is to develop a combined system between the wind and hydropower to generate the electricity. The system consists of a wind turbine and hydropower turbine. The wind one is on the top facing the winds directions and the hydropower part is inside the water to convert the water velocity to electricity. The wind turbine and hydropower turbine were connected. The idea behind that to ensure the wind turbine will not be stopped in working while there is no wind.
Experimental Research on the effect of Structural glass fibre in the Tensile Strength Ratio and Retained Stability of VG40 Bituminous mix
Authors: Aishwarya R , Hemamathi A , Sukumar Binu , Yashwantha Kumar M , Vijay Bhagavathi P , Arulshankar B
Published: November 2024

The tensile characteristics of bituminous mix are a major concern for pavement engineers due to the cracking issues. The cracking infuses moisture into the pavement layers which affects the stability of the pavement. The measures to reduce the fatigue tensile cracks have to be taken in the design stage rather than the maintenance stage. The tensile properties and the stability are evaluated using the indirect tensile strength and retained stability tests. While fibers improve the tensile properties of pavement, the S-glass fiber possessing superior mechanical strength has been found to have less scope in past studies. Thus, the current study primarily focuses on examining how Structural Glass fiber reinforced in VG-40 bituminous concrete mix improves the tensile and moisture susceptibility characteristics. The Marshall technique of bituminous mix design was used to establish the ideal bitumen content for casting the bituminous concrete specimens. At the ideal bitumen content, the attributes of bituminous mixes were established. Tensile strength ratio (TSR), Indirect Tensile Strength (ITS), and Retained Stability of modified bituminous concrete mix were assessed. It is observed that the bituminous mix prepared by adding the S-Glass fibre of 8mm length by 3% weight of aggregates exhibited higher ITS, TSR, and Retained stability. The bituminous mix with glass fiber incorporated had higher retained stability (95.36%) than the conventional mix (91.17%). The results of the Indirect Tensile Strength Test revealed that the mix with glass fiber added had a higher Tensile Strength Ratio (92%) compared to the mix with conventional fiber (87%). A noteworthy outcome that creates opportunities for more study in this field is the rise of 5% TSR and 4.66% maintained the stability of the glass fiber-modified bituminous mix.
The effect of Dolomite powder and Fly ash on durability properties of self-compacting concrete
Authors: Vaishnava Kumar R. , Prabaghar A.
Published: November 2024

This study aims to assess the effectiveness of dolomite mineral admixture in the production of self-compacting concrete (SCC). The characteristics of concrete at 7 and 28 days of hardening were evaluated. SCC mixtures with different amounts of dolomite powder and fly ash (FA) at a constant composition were made. It has been noted that the flow ability of SCC mixes gets better with increasing percentages of dolomite. In addition to its mechanical characteristics, the durability of mixes containing SCC has been studied, including water absorption, sorptivity, and permeability to chloride ions and acid attack. After 28 days, a strength of 61 MPa was achieved with a 20% DP replacement level mixture, which is 31.38% higher than the control SCC mix. Along with the compressive strength of SCC, parameters affecting the durability of SCC such as Rapid chloride penetration test (RCPT), Sorptivity, water absorption and hydrochloric acid attack were also studied at 28 days. The utmost resistance to permeability of chloride ions was attained.
Three-dimensional discontinuum modeling and rigid block stability analysis of a group of three caverns for hydroproject in northeast India
Authors: Sabri Md Shayan , Jaiswal Amit , Verma Amit Kumar , Prajapati Sandeep Kumar , Singh T N
Published: November 2024

This paper presents various methods for calculating the factor of safety (FOS) and utilizes the Isoblock method to analyze the stability of underground powerhouse caverns located in the North-East state of India. A three-dimensional discontinuum analysis simulates the stability of the downstream sidewall, upstream sidewall, and crown of the caverns. The results indicate that the powerhouse cavern contains approximately 2.36% unstable blocks, while the Main Inlet Valve (MIV) and Transformer Caverns exhibit 0.14% and 0.84% unstable blocks, respectively. A comprehensive parametric analysis investigates the impact of joint stiffness, joint friction angle, in situ stress, cover depth, and the orientation of the cavern’s longer axis on stability. The findings reveal that the cavern’s stability is significantly influenced by variations in lateral stress ratio and the direction of in situ principal stress. Stability is optimized at stress ratios between 1.2 and 1.8, with maximum instability observed in the powerhouse cavern, correlating with its larger size. Notably, the stability of the crown is greater than that of the sidewalls, particularly when the cavern orientation is aligned between N68°E and N78°E. The study underscores the importance of these factors in the design and stability assessment of underground structures, providing valuable insights to enhance their safety and reliability. This analysis highlights the necessity for considering joint stiffness and in situ stress orientations in future designs to mitigate risks associated with instability.