bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Electrochemically Prepared Mixed Phase of Cobalt Hydroxide/Oxyhydroxide as a Cathode for Aqueous Zinc Ion Batteries
Authors: Li Fuwei , Zhu Yunbo , Ueno Hiroshi , Deng Ting
Published: October 2023

Cobalt hydroxide is a widely studied electrode material for supercapacitor and alkaline zinc ion batteries. The large interlayer spacing of Co(OH)2 is also attractive to store Zn ions. However, Co(OH)2 is quite unstable in the acidic ZnSO4 electrolyte due to its amphoteric nature. Herein, we synthesized a mixed phase of Co(OH)2/CoOOH via a two-step electrochemical preparation. As the cathode material for an aqueous zinc ion battery (AZIB), Co(OH)2/CoOOH delivered a maximum capacity of 164 mAh g−1 at 0.05 A g−1 and a high energy density of 275 Wh kg−1. Benefiting from the low charge-transfer resistance, a capacity of 87 mAh g−1 was maintained at 1.6 A g−1, showing a good rate performance of the mixed phase. Various spectroscopy analyses and simulations based on the density functional theory (DFT) suggested a higher thermal stability of the mixed phase than pure Co(OH)2, due to its less local structural disorder. The reduced Co-Co and Co-O shells increased the mechanical strength of the mixed phase to accommodate Zn2+ ions and endure the electrostatic repulsion, resulting in an enhanced cycling stability. The mixed phased also delivered a good stability at the current density of 0.05 A g−1. After 200 cycles, a capacity retention of 78% was retained, with high Coulombic efficiencies. These results provide a new route to synthesize high-performance LDH for aqueous zinc ion batteries.
Investigating the Influence of High-Speed Gantry Rotation in Cardiac CT on Motion Artifacts in Aortic Stenosis Patients Not Premedicated with β-Blockers: The FAST-CCT Randomized Trial Protocol
Authors: Fahrni Guillaume , Gullo Giuseppe , Touray Aisha , Fournier Stéphane , Jouannic Anne-Marie , Lu Henri , Racine Damien , Muller Olivier , Pozzessere Chiara , Qanadli Salah D. , Rotzinger David C.
Published: October 2023

Background: Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) is increasingly used as a non-invasive tool to assess coronary artery disease (CAD). However, CCTA is subject to motion artifacts, potentially limiting its clinical utility. Despite faster (0.35 and 0.28 s/rot) gantry rotation times, low (60–65 bpm) heartbeat is recommended, and the use of β-blockers is often needed. Technological advancements have resulted in the development of faster rotation speeds (0.23 s/rot). However, their added value in patients not premedicated with β-blockers remains unclear. This prospective single-center, two-arm, randomized, controlled trial aims to assess the influence of fast rotation on coronary motion artifacts, diagnostic accuracy of CCTA for CAD, and patient safety. Methods: We will randomize a total of 142 patients aged ≥ 50 scheduled for an aortic stenosis work-up to receive CCTA with either a fast (0.23) or standard (0.28 s/rot) gantry speed. Primary outcome: rate of CCTAs with coronary motion artifacts hindering interpretation. Secondary outcomes: assessable coronary segments rate, diagnostic accuracy against invasive coronary angiography (ICA), motion artifact magnitude per segment, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and patient ionizing radiation dose. The local ethics committee has approved the protocol. Potential significance: FAST-CCT may improve motion artifact reduction and diagnosis quality, thus eliminating the need for rate control and β-blocker administration. Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT05709652.
Transferability of the Structure–Property Relationships from Laser-Pretreated Metal–Polymer Joints to Aluminum–CFRP Hybrid Joints
Authors: Freund Jonathan , Lützenkirchen Isabel , Löbbecke Miriam , Delp Alexander , Walther Frank , Wu Shuang , Tröster Thomas , Haubrich Jan
Published: October 2023

The transferability of structure–property relationships for laser-pretreated metal adhesive joints to laser-pretreated metal–carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) bonds was investigated. Single-lap shear tests were performed on hybrid AW 6082-T6–CFRP specimens pretreated with the same pulsed laser surface parameter sets on the metal surface as previously tested, AW 6082-T6–E320 metal adhesive joints. The fracture surfaces were characterized to determine the type of failure and elucidate differences and commonalities in the link between surface structures and single-lap shear strengths. Digital image analyses of the hybrid specimens’ fractured surfaces were used to quantify remaining CFRP fragments on the metallic joint side. The results indicate that high surface enlargements and the presence of undercut structures lead to single-lap shear strengths exceeding 40 MPa and 35 MPa for unaged and aged hybrid specimens, respectively. Whereas for the metal–polymer joints, the trend from high strength to weakly bonded specimens is largely continuous with the degree of surface structuring, hybrid metal–CFRP joints exhibit a drastic drop in joint performance after aging if the laser-generated surface structures are less pronounced with low surface enlargements and crater depths. Surface features and hydrothermal aging determine whether the specimens fail cohesively or adhesively.
A Spatially Guided Machine-Learning Method to Classify and Quantify Glomerular Patterns of Injury in Histology Images
Authors: Besusparis Justinas , Morkunas Mindaugas , Laurinavicius Arvydas
Published: October 2023

Introduction The diagnosis of glomerular diseases is primarily based on visual assessment of histologic patterns. Semi-quantitative scoring of active and chronic lesions is often required to assess individual characteristics of the disease. Reproducibility of the visual scoring systems remains debatable, while digital and machine-learning technologies present opportunities to detect, classify and quantify glomerular lesions, also considering their inter- and intraglomerular heterogeneity. Materials and methods: We performed a cross-validated comparison of three modifications of a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based approach for recognition and intraglomerular quantification of nine main glomerular patterns of injury. Reference values provided by two nephropathologists were used for validation. For each glomerular image, visual attention heatmaps were generated with a probability of class attribution for further intraglomerular quantification. The quality of classifier-produced heatmaps was evaluated by intersection over union metrics (IoU) between predicted and ground truth localization heatmaps. Results: A proposed spatially guided modification of the CNN classifier achieved the highest glomerular pattern classification accuracies, with area under curve (AUC) values up to 0.981. With regards to heatmap overlap area and intraglomerular pattern quantification, the spatially guided classifier achieved a significantly higher generalized mean IoU value compared to single-multiclass and multiple-binary classifiers. Conclusions: We propose a spatially guided CNN classifier that in our experiments reveals the potential to achieve high accuracy for the localization of intraglomerular patterns.
The Pattern of Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Prospective Head-to-Head Comparison of [18F]FDG-PET/CT and CE-CT
Authors: Gram-Nielsen Rosa , Christensen Ivar Yannick , Naghavi-Behzad Mohammad , Dahlsgaard-Wallenius Sara Elisabeth , Jakobsen Nick Møldrup , Gerke Oke , Jensen Jeanette Dupont , Ewertz Marianne , Hildebrandt Malene Grubbe , Vogsen Marianne
Published: October 2023

The study aimed to compare the metastatic pattern of breast cancer and the intermodality proportion of agreement between [18F]FDG-PET/CT and CE-CT. Women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) were enrolled prospectively and underwent a combined [18F]FDG-PET/CT and CE-CT scan to diagnose MBC. Experienced nuclear medicine and radiology physicians evaluated the scans blinded to the opposite scan results. Descriptive statistics were applied, and the intermodality proportion of agreement was used to compare [18F]FDG-PET/CT and CE-CT. In total, 76 women with verified MBC were enrolled in the study. The reported number of site-specific metastases for [18F]FDG-PET/CT vs. CE-CT was 53 (69.7%) vs. 44 (57.9%) for bone lesions, 31 (40.8%) vs. 43 (56.6%) for lung lesions, and 16 (21.1%) vs. 23 (30.3%) for liver lesions, respectively. The proportion of agreement between imaging modalities was 76.3% (95% CI 65.2–85.3) for bone lesions; 82.9% (95% CI 72.5–90.6) for liver lesions; 57.9% (95% CI 46.0–69.1) for lung lesions; and 59.2% (95% CI 47.3–70.4) for lymph nodes. In conclusion, bone and distant lymph node metastases were reported more often by [18F]FDG-PET/CT than CE-CT, while liver and lung metastases were reported more often by CE-CT than [18F]FDG-PET/CT. Agreement between scans was highest for bone and liver lesions and lowest for lymph node metastases.
Eoscyphella luciurceolata gen. and sp. nov. (Agaricomycetes) Shed Light on Cyphellopsidaceae with a New Lineage of Bioluminescent Fungi
Authors: Silva-Filho Alexandre , Mombert Andgelo , Nascimento Cristiano , Nóbrega Bianca , Soares Douglas , Martins Ana , Domingos Adão , Santos Isaias , Della-Torre Olavo , Perry Brian , Desjardin Dennis , Stevani Cassius , Menolli Nelson
Published: October 2023

During nocturnal field expeditions in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest, an unexpected bioluminescent fungus with reduced form was found. Based on morphological data, the taxon was first identified as belonging to the cyphelloid genus Maireina, but in our phylogenetic analyses, Maireina was recovered and confirmed as a paraphyletic group related to genera Merismodes and Cyphellopsis. Maireina filipendula, Ma. monacha, and Ma. subsphaerospora are herein transferred to Merismodes. Based upon morphological and molecular characters, the bioluminescent cyphelloid taxon is described as the new genus Eoscyphella, characterized by a vasiform to urceolate basidiomata, subglobose to broadly ellipsoid basidiospores, being pigmented, weakly to densely encrusted external hyphae, regularly bi-spored basidia, unclamped hyphae, and an absence of both conspicuous long external hairs and hymenial cystidia. Phylogenetic analyses based on ITS rDNA and LSU rDNA support the proposal of the new genus and confirm its position in Cyphellopsidaceae. Eoscyphella luciurceolata represents a new lineage of bioluminescent basidiomycetes with reduced forms.
Biological Synthesis of Copper Nanoparticles Using Edible Plant Allium monanthum: Characterization of Antibacterial, Antioxidant, and Anti-Inflammatory Properties Using In Silico Molecular Docking Analysis
Authors: Han Hyo Shim , Jung Jeong Sung , Jeong Young-Il , Choi Ki Choon
Published: October 2023

This study prepared copper nanoparticles using an edible leaf extract from A. monanthum (AM-CuNPs) via eco-friendly green synthesis techniques. The size, shape, crystalline nature and functional groups of the synthesized AM-CuNP particles were analyzed by a UV-VIS spectrophotometer and SEM, EDX, TEM, XRD and FT-IR instrumentation. The synthesized AM-CuNPs had spherical shapes with sizes in the range of 30–80 nm and were crystalline in nature. In addition, the AM-CuNPs were synthesized using various bioactive sources, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, alkaloids and sugars that were present in an aqueous broth of A. monanthum. Furthermore, the AM-CuNPs possessed good antibacterial properties against selected major disease-causing pathogenic bacteria, such as E. coli, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. The antioxidant activity of AM-CuNPs exhibited potent free radical scavenging activities in DPPH, ABTS and H2O2 radical assays. In addition, in silico analysis of the AM-CuNPs was performed, including ADME prediction, and molecular simulation docking on the secondary metabolites identified in the edible plant extract was used to evaluate their anti-inflammatory applications. In particular, the molecular docking scores showed that alliin, apigenin, isorhamnetin, luteolin and myricetin have sufficient binding energy and top values as inhibitors of the protein target involved in the inflammation signaling cascade.
Modeling the Contact Force in Constrained Human–Robot Collisions
Authors: Herbster Sebastian , Behrens Roland , Elkmann Norbert
Published: October 2023

Collaborative robots (cobots) become more and more important in industrial manufacturing as flexible companions, working side by side with humans without safety fences. A key challenge of such workplaces is to guarantee the safety of the human co-workers. The safeguarding Power and Force Limiting, as specified by ISO 10218-2 and ISO/TS 15066, has the objective to protect humans against robot collisions by preventing the robot from exceeding biomechanical limits. Unintended contact such as collisions can occur under unconstrained spatial conditions (a human body part can move freely) or constrained spatial conditions (a human body part is pinched). In particular, collisions under constrained conditions involve a high risk of injury and thus require the robot to stop immediately after detecting the collision. The robot’s speed has a significant influence on its stopping behavior, though, and thus on the maximum collision forces that the robot can exert on the human body. Consequently, a safe velocity is required that avoids the robot from exerting forces and pressures beyond the biomechanical limits. Today, such velocities can only be ascertained in costly robot experiments. In this article, we describe a model that enables us to determine the contact forces of a cobot as they occur in constrained collisions. Through simulations, it becomes possible to iteratively determine the maximum safe velocity for a specific contact hazard that occurs under constrained spatial conditions. Experimental tests with different cobots confirm the results of our model, albeit not for all robots. Despite the mixed test results, we strongly believe that our model can significantly improve the reliability of assumptions made today during the planning of cobots.
ENRN: A System for Evaluating Network Resilience against Natural Disasters
Authors: Alenazi Mohammed J. F.
Published: October 2023

The frequency and severity of natural disasters is surging, posing an urgent need for robust communication network infrastructure that is capable of withstanding these events. In this paper, we present a groundbreaking graph-theoretic system designed to evaluate and enhance network resilience in the face of natural disasters. Our solution harnesses the power of topological robustness metrics, integrating real-time weather data, geographic information, detailed network topology data, advanced resilience algorithms, and continuous network monitoring. The proposed scheme considers four major real-world U.S.-based network providers and evaluates their physical topologies against two major hurricanes. Our novel framework quantifies the important characteristics of network infrastructure; for instance, AT&T is identified to have fared better against Hurricane Ivan (57.98 points) than Hurricane Katrina (39.17 points). We not only provide current insights into network infrastructure resilience, but also uncover valuable findings that shed light on the performance of backbone U.S. networks during hurricanes. Furthermore, our findings provide actionable insights to enrich the overall survivability and functionality of communication networks, mitigating the adverse impacts of natural disasters on communication systems and critical services in terms of improving network resiliency via adding additional nodes and link or rewiring.
Numerical Computation of Distributions in Finite-State Inhomogeneous Continuous Time Markov Chains, Based on Ergodicity Bounds and Piecewise Constant Approximation
Authors: Satin Yacov , Razumchik Rostislav , Usov Ilya , Zeifman Alexander
Published: October 2023

In this paper it is shown, that if a possibly inhomogeneous Markov chain with continuous time and finite state space is weakly ergodic and all the entries of its intensity matrix are locally integrable, then, using available results from the perturbation theory, its time-dependent probability characteristics can be approximately obtained from another Markov chain, having piecewise constant intensities and the same state space. The approximation error (the taxicab distance between the state probability distributions) is provided. It is shown how the Cauchy operator and the state probability distribution for an arbitrary initial condition can be calculated. The findings are illustrated with the numerical examples.
The Closed-Form Solution of an Extraction Model and Optimal Stopping Problems with Regime Switching
Authors: Zhang Yong-Chao , Zhang Na , Zhou Qinglong
Published: October 2023

We aim to obtain by viscosity solution method the closed-form solution of a model concerning natural resource extraction in which a firm draws a schedule of when to stop the extraction. In this model, a regime-switching stochastic process is introduced to simulate the price of some natural resource. To solve the model, we first develop a theory, as a part of the results in the paper, that also applies to other optimal stopping problems containing regime-switching ingredients. Then using the theory, we solve the model completely and rigorously. A numerical example is given to display the results of the model.
New Fusarin Derivatives from the Marine Algicolous Fungus Penicillium steckii SCSIO41040
Authors: Song Yingying , She Jianglian , Chen Weihao , Wang Jiamin , Tan Yanhui , Pang Xiaoyan , Zhou Xuefeng , Wang Junfeng , Liu Yonghong
Published: October 2023

Five new fusarin derivatives, steckfusarins A–E (1–5), and two known natural products (6, 7), were isolated and identified from the marine algicolous fungus Penicillium steckii SCSIO 41040. The new compounds, including absolute configurations, were determined by spectroscopic analyses and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD). All new compounds were evaluated for their antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cholesterol-lowering, acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) enzyme and 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase (PFKFB3) and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitory activities. The biological evaluation results revealed that compound 1 exhibited radical scavenging activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazylhydrate (DPPH), with an IC50 value of 74.5 µg/mL. In addition, compound 1 also showed weak anti-inflammatory activity at a concentration of 20 µM.
The Protective Potential of Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Fuss. on Paracetamol-Induced Hepatio-Renal Toxicity and Antiproteinuric Effect: A Biochemical, Hematological, and Histopathological Study
Authors: Nouioura Ghizlane , Kettani Tayeb , Tourabi Meryem , Elousrouti Layla Tahiri , Al kamaly Omkulthom , Alshawwa Samar Zuhair , Shahat Abdelaaty A. , Alhalmi Abdulsalam , Lyoussi Badiaa , Derwich Elhoussine
Published: October 2023

Background and Objectives: Paracetamol overdose is a significant global issue due to its widespread use, which can lead to a lack of awareness regarding its potential side effects. Paracetamol can harm the liver, possibly resulting in liver failure. Conversely, this study employed extracts from Petroselinum crispum (PC), known for its rich content of bioactive compounds, with demonstrated antioxidant properties shown in previous research as well as protective effects against various diseases. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the potential protective effects of Petroselinum crispum on altered hematological and biochemical parameters in the blood of rats exposed to paracetamol. Materials and Methods: The study involved twenty Wistar rats divided into four groups. Different groups of male rats were administered PC extract at 200 mg/kg body weight daily for 15 days, along with a standard reference dose of paracetamol at 200 mg/kg. The study assessed hepatoprotection capacity by analyzing liver enzymes such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), bilirubin, albumin, and lipid profiles. Renal safety was evaluated through creatinine, urea, uric acid, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and total protein. Additionally, histopathological examinations of the liver and kidneys were conducted. Results: Following Paracetamol overdose, there were reductions in hemoglobin levels, serum total protein, albumin, and uric acid. Paracetamol overdose also elevated levels of several blood biomarkers, including creatinine, urea, nitrogen, ALT, AST, triglycerides, LDH activity, white blood cell count, and platelet count compared to the control group. However, using an ethanolic extract of Petroselinum crispum significantly mitigated the severity of these alterations and the extent of the effect correlated with the dose administered. Parsley extract helped prevent proteinuria and low hemoglobin, which are common side effects of Paracetamol. Conclusions: Therefore, parsley may hold promise in managing liver and kidney conditions—particularly in addressing proteinuria. Ultimately, these results may have implications for human health by potentially mitigating paracetamol-induced renal, hepatic, and hematological toxicity.
Selecting the Appropriate Radiation Therapy Technique for Extensive Brain Metastases from Tens to Hundreds: Should the Latest Technique Always Be the Best Option?
Authors: Lee Seok Ho
Published: October 2023

Brain metastases (BMs) are one of the most common metastatic lesions in adult cancer patients and the most common intracranial neoplasms in adult patients. Especially for multiple BMs, historically, whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) has been performed as the mainstay of therapy, which improves neurological symptoms and median survival. However, WBRT could negatively impact the patient’s quality of life due to late complications. Owing to these complications, attempts have been made to use the latest radiotherapy (LRT) such as stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) to treat BMs. However, for the extensive BMs (ranging from tens to hundreds), there are currently no prospective studies comparing WBRT with LRT such as IMRT or SRS. For extensive brain metastases, LRT cannot be the best option. Instead, upfront WBRT should be considered given its advantages and disadvantages, rather than LRT. We hope that faster and more reliable LRT for extensive BMs will be applicable for clinical practice without any clinical concerns in the near future.
Detection of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase (ESBL) E. coli at Different Processing Stages in Three Broiler Abattoirs
Authors: Langkabel Nina , Burgard Janine , Freter Sabrina , Fries Reinhard , Meemken Diana , Ellerbroek Lüppo
Published: October 2023

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) identified extended-spectrum β-lactamase/AmpC β-lactamase (ESBL/AmpC)-producing E. coli as one of the main priority hazards for poultry. Different studies detected ESBL-producing E. coli at broiler fattening farms and in abattoirs, concluding that poultry meat is a potential source of human infection. Broiler breast skin samples taken in three abattoirs with different scalding techniques were examined for ESBL-producing Escherichia (E.) coli and their phylogenetic groups. A total of 307 ESBL-producing E. coli isolates were found, and the abattoir with conventional immersion scalding with thermal treatment of the water had the lowest incidence. Phylogroups D/E and B1 were mostly detected, while phylogroups C, D, and E were not detected. Phylogroup B2 was detected in low proportions. The phylogroups B2 and D are important as they have been associated with urinary tract infections in humans, but were only detected in low proportions at different processing stages in this study. Since the risk for the consumer of being infected via chicken meat with ESBL-producing E. coli and E. coli of highly pathogenic phylogroups cannot be excluded, good kitchen hygiene is of great importance.
Fabrication of Antibacterial and Antioxidant ZnO-Impregnated Amine-Functionalized Chitosan Bio-Nanocomposite Membrane for Advanced Biomedical Applications
Authors: Ali Ali M. , Hamed Abdelrahman M. , Taher Mahmoud A. , Abdallah Mohamed H. , Abdel-Motaleb Mohamed , Ziora Zyta M. , Omer Ahmed M.
Published: October 2023

Developing a variety of safe and effective functioning wound dressings is a never-ending objective. Due to their exceptional antibacterial activity, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and healing-promoting properties, functionalized chitosan nanocomposites have attracted considerable attention in wound dressing applications. Herein, a novel bio-nanocomposite membrane with a variety of bio-characteristics was created through the incorporation of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) into amine-functionalized chitosan membrane (Am-CS). The developed ZnO@Am-CS bio-nanocomposite membrane was characterized by various analysis tools. Compared to pristine Am-CS, the developed ZnO@Am-CS membrane revealed higher water uptake and adequate mechanical properties. Moreover, increasing the ZnONP content from 0.025 to 0.1% had a positive impact on antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. A maximum inhibition of 89.4% was recorded against Escherichia coli, with a maximum inhibition zone of 38 ± 0.17 mm, and was achieved by the ZnO (0.1%)@Am-CS membrane compared to 72.5% and 28 ± 0.23 mm achieved by the native Am-CS membrane. Furthermore, the bio-nanocomposite membrane demonstrated acceptable antioxidant activity, with a maximum radical scavenging value of 46%. In addition, the bio-nanocomposite membrane showed better biocompatibility and reliable biodegradability, while the cytotoxicity assessment emphasized its safety towards normal cells, with the cell viability reaching 95.7%, suggesting its potential use for advanced wound dressing applications.
Multi-Omics Elucidates Difference in Accumulation of Bioactive Constituents in Licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) under Drought Stress
Authors: Wang Chengcheng , Wu Dawei , Jiang Liying , Liu Xunhong , Xie Tiantian
Published: October 2023

Licorice is a frequently applied herb with potential edible and medicinal value based on various flavonoids and triterpenes. However, studies on detailed flavonoid and triterpene metabolism and the molecular basis of their biosynthesis in licorice are very limited, especially under drought conditions. In the present study, we carried out transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome experiments. To ultimately combine three omics for analysis, we performed a bioinformatics comparison, integrating transcriptome data and proteome data through a Cloud platform, along with a simplified biosynthesis of primary flavonoids and triterpenoids in the KEGG pathway based on metabolomic results. The biosynthesis pathways of triterpenes and flavonoids are enriched at both gene and protein levels. Key flavonoid-related genes (PAL, 4CL, CHS, CHI, CYP93C, HIDH, HI4OMT, and CYP81E1_7) and representative proteins (HIDH, CYP81E1_7, CYP93C, and VR) were obtained, which all showed high levels after drought treatment. Notably, one R2R3-MYB transcription factor (Glyur000237s00014382.1), a critical regulator of flavonoid biosynthesis, achieved a significant upregulated expression as well. In the biosynthesis of glycyrrhizin, both gene and protein levels of bAS and CYP88D6 have been found with upregulated expression under drought conditions. Most of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and proteins (DEPs) showed similar expression patterns and positively related to metabolic profiles of flavonoid and saponin. We believe that suitable drought stress may contribute to the accumulation of bioactive constituents in licorice, and our research provides an insight into the genetic study and quality breeding in this plant.
Preparation of Carbon-Based Solid Acid Catalyst from High-Sulfur Petroleum Coke with Nitric Acid and Ball Milling, and a Computational Evaluation of Inherent Sulfur Conversion Pathways
Authors: Huang Qing , Cabral Natalia M. , Tong Xing , Schafranski Annelisa S. , Kennepohl Pierre , Hill Josephine M.
Published: October 2023

A series of petroleum coke (petcoke)-derived solid acid catalysts were prepared via nitric acid treatment with or without ball milling pretreatment. The inherent sulfur in petcoke was converted to sulfonic groups, which were active sites for the esterification of octanoic acid and methanol at 60 °C, with ester yields of 14–43%. More specifically, samples without ball milling treated at 120 °C for 3 h had a total acidity of 4.67 mmol/g, which was 1.6 times that of the samples treated at 80 °C, despite their −SO3H acidities being similar (~0.08 mmol/g). The samples treated for 24 h had higher −SO3H (0.10 mmol/g) and total acidity (5.25 mmol/g) but not increased catalytic activity. Ball milling increased the defects and exposed aromatic hydrogen groups on petcoke, which facilitated further acid oxidation (0.12 mmol −SO3H/g for both materials and total acidity of 5.18 mmol/g and 5.01 mmol/g for BP-N-3/120 and BP-N-8/90, respectively) and an increased ester yield. DFT calculations were used to analyze the pathways of sulfonic acid group formation, and the reaction pathway with NO2• was the most thermodynamically and kinetically favourable. The activities of the prepared catalysts were related to the number of −SO3H acid sites, the total acidity, and the oxygen content, with the latter two factors having a negative impact.
Efficient Mineralization of Fluoroelastomers Using Superheated Water in the Presence of Potassium Hydroxide
Authors: Hamaura Jin , Hori Hisao , Fujishima Ayane , Mukae Hirofumi
Published: October 2023

The mineralization of fluoroelastomers (FKMs) in superheated water in the presence of potassium hydroxide (KOH) was investigated with the aim of developing a methodology for recycling the fluorine element. Two FKMs—an “uncrosslinked FKM”, representing a poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (poly(VDF-co-HFP)) copolymer with a VDF/HFP molar ratio of 78/22 and a “crosslinked FKM” consisting of this copolymer (cured by peroxide) and carbon black—were treated. The fluorine content of these FKMs was efficiently transformed into F− ions in the reaction solution using low KOH concentrations (0.10–0.50 M) at 200–250 °C. When the uncrosslinked or crosslinked FKMs reacted with aqueous KOH (0.20 M) at a rather low temperature (200 °C) for 18 h, the fluorine content of these FKMs was completely mineralized (both F− yields were 100%). Although the crosslinked FKM contained carbon black, the fluorine mineralization of the FKM was not inhibited. The addition of Ca(OH)2 to the reaction solutions after the superheated water treatment at 250 °C for 6 h with aqueous KOH (0.50 M) led to the production of pure CaF2, identified using X-ray spectroscopy, with 100% and 93% yields for the uncrosslinked and crosslinked FKMs, respectively.
Critical Influence of Water on the Polymorphism of 1,3-Dimethylurea and Other Heterogeneous Equilibria
Authors: Baaklini Grace , Schindler Manon , Yuan Lina , Jores Clément De Saint , Sanselme Morgane , Couvrat Nicolas , Clevers Simon , Négrier Philippe , Mondieig Denise , Dupray Valérie , Cartigny Yohann , Gbabode Gabin , Coquerel Gerard
Published: October 2023

It is shown that the presence of hundreds of ppm of water in 1,3-dimethylurea (DMU) powder led to the large depression of the transition temperature between the two enantiotropically related polymorphic forms of DMU (Form II → Form I) from 58 °C to 25 °C, thus explaining the reported discrepancies on this temperature of transition. Importantly, this case study shows that thermodynamics (through the construction of the DMU–water temperature-composition phase diagram) rather than kinetics is responsible for this significant temperature drop. Furthermore, this work also highlights the existence of a monohydrate of DMU that has never been reported before with a non-congruent fusion at 8 °C. Interestingly, its crystal structure, determined from X-ray powder diffraction data at sub-ambient temperature, consists of a DMU–water hydrogen bonded network totally excluding homo-molecular hydrogen bonds (whereas present in forms I and II of DMU).
Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide Converts M2 into M1 Subtype Macrophage Polarization via the STAT6/PPAR-r and JAGGED1/NOTCH1 Signaling Pathways to Inhibit Gastric Cancer
Authors: Zhao Yi , Lu Xuefeng , Huang Hongxia , Yao Yao , Liu Hongning , Sun Youzhi
Published: October 2023

Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide (DOP) has shown various biological activities. However, the ability of DOP to participate in immune regulation during anti-gastric cancer treatment has remained unclear. In this study, the in vitro results showed that DOP has the potential to polarize THP-1 macrophages from the M2 to the M1 phenotype, downregulate the STAT6/PPAR-r signaling pathway and the protein expression of their down-targeted ARG1 and TGM2, and further decrease the main protein and mRNA expression in the JAGGED1/NOTCH1 signaling pathway. DOP suppressed the migration of gastric cancer cells by decreasing the protein expression of N-cadherin and Vimentin and increasing E-cadherin. In addition, CM-DOP promoted the apoptosis of gastric cancer cells by upregulating Caspase-3 and increasing the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2. In vivo, DOP effectively inhibited the growth of tumors and the expression of Ki-67. In summary, these findings demonstrated that DOP converted the polarization of M2 subtype macrophages into M1 subtypes via the STAT6/PPAR-r and JAGGED1/NOTCH1 signaling pathways in order to reduce apoptosis and prevent migration, thus indicating the potential of DOP as an adjuvant tumor therapy in preclinical and clinical trials.
Metaverse and Extended Realities in Immersive Journalism: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Sanchez-Acedo Alberto , Carbonell-Alcocer Alejandro , Gertrudix Manuel , Rubio-Tamayo Jose Luis
Published: October 2023

Immersive journalism is a new form of media communication that uses extended reality systems to produce its content. Despite the possibilities it offers, its use is still limited in the media due to the lack of systematised and scientific knowledge regarding its application. This is a problem because it is a very powerful technology that changes the way audiences receive information and can be used both for new forms of storytelling that generate greater user engagement and for very sophisticated disinformation, which is why it is really important to study it. This study analyses articles published in the last 5 years that cover the use of extended technologies and the metaverse applied to immersive journalism. A systematic literature review applying PRISMA was carried out to identify literature within Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar (n = 61). Quantitative and qualitative analyses were conducted on the data collection techniques, the type of the data and the analysis techniques used. The results show a low level of methodological maturity, with research that is fundamentally descriptive and not very formalised, which limits the scope of its results and, therefore, the transfer of knowledge for its application in the configuration of new immersive journalistic products. The metaverse and extended technologies are considered independently and with distinct applications. It is concluded that research in this area is still in an initial exploratory and generalist stage that offers results that are not yet applicable to the promotion of this type of media format.
Engineering Cell-Derived Nanovesicles for Targeted Immunomodulation
Authors: Sayyed Adil Ali , Gondaliya Piyush , Yan Irene K. , Carrington James , Driscoll Julia , Moirangthem Anuradha , Patel Tushar
Published: October 2023

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) show promise for targeted drug delivery but face production challenges with low yields. Cell-derived nanovesicles (CDNVs) made by reconstituting cell membranes could serve as EV substitutes. In this study, CDNVs were generated from mesenchymal stem cells by extrusion. Their proteomic composition, in vitro and in vivo toxicity, and capacity for loading RNA or proteins were assessed. Compared with EVs, CDNVs were produced at higher yields, were comprised of a broader range of proteins, and showed no detrimental effects on cell proliferation, DNA damage, or nitric oxide production in vitro or on developmental toxicity in vivo. CDNVs could be efficiently loaded with RNA and engineered to modify surface proteins. The feasibility of generating immunomodulatory CDNVs was demonstrated by preparing CDNVs with enhanced surface expression of PD1, which could bind to PD-L1 expressing tumor cells, enhance NK and T cell degranulation, and increase immune-mediated tumor cell death. These findings demonstrate the adaptability and therapeutic promise of CDNVs as promising substitutes for natural EVs that can be engineered to enhance immunomodulation.
Multispectral SNSPD Using a Modified Distributed Bragg Reflector, Gold Mirror, and Multilayer-Nanowire Structures
Authors: Wu Ping-Han , Wu Hsin-Yeh , Paganis Stathes
Published: October 2023

A multispectral superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (SNSPD) that is sensitive to different incident photon wavelength bands, is proposed. The SNSPD consists of a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR), a gold mirror, and two regions employing four NbN nanowire meander layers. Using the DBR, both as a filter and a reflector, creates two distinct detection bands. The first detection band has a peak absorptance of 0.792 at a wavelength of 1164 nm, while the second band has a total absorptance of >0.70 in the wavelength range 1440 to 2000 nm. The design of the proposed SNSPD can be tuned to provide sensitivity to different wavelength bands. While conventional SNSPDs do not typically provide photon wavelength sensitivity, the band-selection design proposed in this work opens up its potential applications for future quantum communication technology.
Special Issue on Fiber Laser and Their Applications
Authors: Yang Song , Zhang Ling , Zhu Zhiwei , Li Li
Published: October 2023

Fiber lasers have achieved significant advancements owing to their compactness, perfect beam quality, good environmental adaptability, and so on [...]
Supercritical-CO2-Assisted Electrospray for the Production of the PLA-Antibiotic-Sustained Drug-Delivery System
Authors: Guastaferro Mariangela , Baldino Lucia , Cardea Stefano , Reverchon Ernesto
Published: October 2023

Supercritical CO2 (SC-CO2)-assisted electrospray has been successfully performed to obtain a sustained release of ceftriaxone sodium (CFX) from polylactic acid (PLA) nanoparticles. PLA nanoparticles ranged from 270 ± 70 to 310 ± 80 nm, when produced at 140 bar. CFX release in a phosphate-buffered solution ranged from about 5 min, when the pure antibiotic was tested, to a maximum of 1200 min when 140 bar and 4 wt% of PLA + CFX nanoparticles was used: operating at these process conditions, an increase of 240 times of the release time was observed and no interactions were produced between PLA and the antibiotic. The release curves were explained hypothesizing a two-step mass transfer mechanism consisting of polymer swelling and PLA ester bond cleavage.
Controllable Unsupervised Snow Synthesis by Latent Style Space Manipulation
Authors: Yang Hanting , Carballo Alexander , Zhang Yuxiao , Takeda Kazuya
Published: October 2023

In the field of intelligent vehicle technology, there is a high dependence on images captured under challenging conditions to develop robust perception algorithms. However, acquiring these images can be both time-consuming and dangerous. To address this issue, unpaired image-to-image translation models offer a solution by synthesizing samples of the desired domain, thus eliminating the reliance on ground truth supervision. However, the current methods predominantly focus on single projections rather than multiple solutions, not to mention controlling the direction of generation, which creates a scope for enhancement. In this study, we propose a generative adversarial network (GAN)–based model, which incorporates both a style encoder and a content encoder, specifically designed to extract relevant information from an image. Further, we employ a decoder to reconstruct an image using these encoded features, while ensuring that the generated output remains within a permissible range by applying a self-regression module to constrain the style latent space. By modifying the hyperparameters, we can generate controllable outputs with specific style codes. We evaluate the performance of our model by generating snow scenes on the Cityscapes and the EuroCity Persons datasets. The results reveal the effectiveness of our proposed methodology, thereby reinforcing the benefits of our approach in the ongoing evolution of intelligent vehicle technology.
Analysis of Changes in the Opening Pressure of Marine Engine Injectors Based on Vibration Parameters Recorded at a Constant Torque Load
Authors: Kluczyk Marcin , Grządziela Andrzej , Polak Adam , Pająk Michał , Gajda Miłosz
Published: October 2023

This article deals with the problems related to the difficulties in the vibration diagnostics of modern marine engines. The focus was on the injection system, with a particular emphasis on injectors. An unusual approach to the implementation of research enabling the smooth regulation of the opening pressure of the mechanical injector during engine operation at a constant load was presented. This approach obtained repeatability of conditions for subsequent measurements, which is very difficult to achieve when using the classic approach that forces the injector to be disassembled after each test.
Laser Velocimetry for the In Situ Sensing of Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Flow Velocity
Authors: Sun Jingjing , Zhang Lei , Tu Guojie , Zhen Shenglai , Cao Zhigang , Zhang Guosheng , Yu Benli
Published: October 2023

Laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV) based on a differential laser Doppler system has been widely used in fluid mechanics to measure particle velocity. However, the two outgoing lights must intersect strictly at the measurement position. In cross-interface applications, due to interface effects, two beams of light become easily disjointed. To address the issue, we present a laser velocimeter in a coaxial arrangement consisting of the following components: a single-frequency laser (wavelength λ = 532 nm) and a Twyman–Green interferometer. In contrast to previous LDV systems, a laser velocimeter based on the Twyman–Green interferometer has the advantage of realizing cross-interface measurement. At the same time, the sensitive direction of the instrument can be changed according to the direction of the measured speed. We have developed a 4000 m level laser hydrothermal flow velocity measurement prototype suitable for deep-sea in situ measurement. The system underwent a withstand voltage test at the Qingdao Deep Sea Base, and the signal obtained was normal under a high pressure of 40 MPa. The velocity contrast measurement was carried out at the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research. The maximum relative error of the measurement was 8.82% when compared with the acoustic Doppler velocimeter at the low-speed range of 0.1–1 m/s. The maximum relative error of the measurement was 1.98% when compared with the nozzle standard velocity system at the high-speed range of 1–7 m/s. Finally, the prototype system was successfully evaluated in the shallow sea in Lingshui, Hainan, with it demonstrating great potential for the in situ measurement of fluid velocity at marine hydrothermal vents.
A Hand-Held Device Presenting Haptic Directional Cues for the Visually Impaired
Authors: Dong Shuhao , Gallagher Justin , Jackson Andrew , Levesley Martin
Published: October 2023

Haptic information is essential in everyday activities, especially for visually impaired people in terms of real-world navigation. Since human haptic sensory processing is nonlinear, asymmetric vibrations have been widely studied to create a pulling sensation for the delivery of directional haptic cues. However, the design of an input control signal that generates asymmetric vibrations has not yet been parameterised. In particular, it is unclear how to quantify the asymmetry of the output vibrations to create a better pulling sensation. To better understand the design of an input control signal that generates haptic directional cues, we evaluated the effect of the pulling sensations corresponding to the three adjustable parameters (i.e., delay time, ramp-down step length, and cut-off voltage) in a commonly applied step-ramp input signal. The results of a displacement measurement and a psychophysical experiment demonstrate that when the quantified asymmetry ratio is in a range of 0.3430–0.3508 with an optimised cut-off voltage for our hand-held device, the haptic directional cues are better perceived by participants. Additionally, the results also showed a superior performance in haptic delivery by shear forces than normal forces.
Deep Ontology Alignment Using a Natural Language Processing Approach for Automatic M2M Translation in IIoT
Authors: Javed Saleha , Usman Muhammad , Sandin Fredrik , Liwicki Marcus , Mokayed Hamam
Published: October 2023

The technical capabilities of modern Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0 are vast and growing exponentially daily. The present-day Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) combines manifold underlying technologies that require real-time interconnection and communication among heterogeneous devices. Smart cities are established with sophisticated designs and control of seamless machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, to optimize resources, costs, performance, and energy distributions. All the sensory devices within a building interact to maintain a sustainable climate for residents and intuitively optimize the energy distribution to optimize energy production. However, this encompasses quite a few challenges for devices that lack a compatible and interoperable design. The conventional solutions are restricted to limited domains or rely on engineers designing and deploying translators for each pair of ontologies. This is a costly process in terms of engineering effort and computational resources. An issue persists that a new device with a different ontology must be integrated into an existing IoT network. We propose a self-learning model that can determine the taxonomy of devices given their ontological meta-data and structural information. The model finds matches between two distinct ontologies using a natural language processing (NLP) approach to learn linguistic contexts. Then, by visualizing the ontological network as a knowledge graph, it is possible to learn the structure of the meta-data and understand the device’s message formulation. Finally, the model can align entities of ontological graphs that are similar in context and structure.Furthermore, the model performs dynamic M2M translation without requiring extra engineering or hardware resources.
An Enhanced Lightweight Security Gateway Protocol for the Edge Layer
Authors: Reza Md Masum , Gutierrez Jairo
Published: October 2023

With the rapid expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT), the necessity for lightweight communication is also increasing due to the constrained capabilities of IoT devices. This paper presents the design of a novel lightweight protocol called the Enhanced Lightweight Security Gateway Protocol (ELSGP) based on a distributed computation model of the IoT layer. This model introduces a new type of node called a sub-server to assist edge layer servers and IoT devices with computational tasks and act as a primary gateway for dependent IoT nodes. This paper then introduces six features of ELSGP with developed algorithms that include access token distribution and validation, authentication and dynamic interoperability, attribute-based access control, traffic filtering, secure tunneling, and dynamic load distribution and balancing. Considering the variability of system requirements, ELSGP also outlines how to adopt a system-defined policy framework. For fault resiliency, this paper also presents fault mitigation mechanisms, especially Trust and Priority Impact Relation for Byzantine, Cascading, and Transient faults. A simulation study was carried out to validate the protocol’s performance. Based on the findings from the performance evaluation, further analysis of the protocol and future research directions are outlined.