bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of the Abiotic-Stress-Responsive LACS Gene Family in Soybean (Glycine max)
Authors: Wang Jie , Li Xiaoxue , Zhao Xunchao , Na Chen , Liu Hongliang , Miao Huanran , Zhou Jinghang , Xiao Jialei , Zhao Xue , Han Yingpeng
Published: June 2022

Long-chain acyl-CoA synthases (LACSs) are a key factor in the formation of acyl-CoA after fatty acid hydrolysis and play an important role in plant stress resistance. This gene family has not been research in soybeans. In this study, the soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) whole genome was identified, the LACS family genes of soybean were screened, and the bioinformatics, tissue expression, abiotic stress, drought stress and co-expression of transcription factors of the gene family were analyzed to preliminarily clarify the function of the LACS family of soybean. A total of 17 LACS genes were screened from soybean genome sequencing data. A bioinformatics analysis of the GmLACS gene was carried out from the aspects of phylogeny, gene structure, conserved sequence and promoter homeopathic element. The transcription spectra of GmLACSs in different organs and abiotic stresses were used by qRT-PCR. The GmLACS genes, which co-expresses the significant response of the analysis of drought stress and transcription factors. The results showed that all soybean LACS have highly conserved AMP-binding domains, and all soybean LACS genes were divided into 6 subfamilies. Transcriptome analysis indicated that the gene-encoding expression profiles under alkali, low temperature, and drought stress. The expression of GmLACS9/15/17 were significantly upregulated under alkali, low temperature and drought stress. Co-expression analysis showed that there was a close correlation between transcription factors and genes that significantly responded to LACS under drought stress. These results provide a theoretical and empirical basis for clarifying the function of LACS family genes and abiotic stress response mechanism of soybean.
Improving the Estimation of Apple Leaf Photosynthetic Pigment Content Using Fractional Derivatives and Machine Learning
Authors: Cheng Jinpeng , Yang Guijun , Xu Weimeng , Feng Haikuan , Han Shaoyu , Liu Miao , Zhao Fa , Zhu Yaohui , Zhao Yu , Wu Baoguo , Yang Hao
Published: June 2022

As a key functional trait, leaf photosynthetic pigment content (LPPC) plays an important role in the health status monitoring and yield estimation of apples. Hyperspectral features including vegetation indices (VIs) and derivatives are widely used in retrieving vegetation biophysical parameters. The fractional derivative spectral method shows great potential in retrieving LPPC. However, the performance of fractional derivatives and machine learning (ML) for retrieving apple LPPC still needs to be explored. The objective of this study is to test the capacity of using fractional derivative and ML methods to retrieve apple LPPC. Here, the hyperspectral data in the 400–2500 nm domains was used to calculate the fractional derivative order of 0.2–2, and then the sensitive bands were screened through feature dimensionality reduction to train ML to build the LPPC estimation model. Additionally, VIs-based ML methods and empirical regression models were developed to compare with the fractional derivative methods. The results showed that fractional derivative-driven ML methods have higher accuracy than the ML methods driven by the original spectra or vegetation index. The results also showed that the ML methods perform better than empirical regression models. Specifically, the best estimates of chlorophyll content and carotenoid content were achieved using support vector regression (SVR) at the derivative order of 0.2 (R2 = 0.78) and 0.4 (R2 = 0.75), respectively. The fractional derivative maintained a good universality in retrieving the LPPC of multiple phenological periods. Therefore, this study highlights that the fractional derivative and ML improved the estimation of apple LPPC.
Power Up: Combining Behavior Monitoring Software with Business Intelligence Tools to Enhance Proactive Animal Welfare Reporting
Authors: Wark Jason David
Published: June 2022

Animal welfare is a dynamic process, and its evaluation must be similarly dynamic. The development of ongoing behavior monitoring programs in zoos and aquariums is a valuable tool for identifying meaningful changes in behavior and allows proactive animal management. However, analyzing observational behavior data in an ongoing manner introduces unique challenges compared with traditional hypothesis-driven studies of behavior over fixed time periods. Here, I introduce business intelligence software as a potential solution. Business intelligence software combines the ability to integrate multiple data streams with advanced analytics and robust data visualizations. As an example, I provide an overview of the Microsoft Power BI platform, a leading option in business intelligence software that is freely available. With Power BI, users can apply data cleaning and shaping in a stepwise fashion, then build dashboards using a library of visualizations through a drag-and-drop interface. I share two examples of data dashboards built with Power BI using data from the ZooMonitor behavior recording app: a quarterly behavior summary and an enrichment evaluation summary. I hope this introduction to business intelligence software and Microsoft Power BI empowers researchers and managers working in zoos and aquariums with new tools to enhance their evidence-based decision-making processes.
Probabilistic Machine Learning for the Authentication of the Protected Designation of Origin of Greek Bottarga from Messolongi: A Generic Methodology to Cope with Very Small Number of Samples
Authors: Tsirogiannis George , Thomatou Anna-Akrivi , Psarra Eleni , Mazarakioti Eleni C. , Katerinopoulou Katerina , Zotos Anastasios , Kontogeorgos Achilleas , Patakas Angelos , Ladavos Athanasios
Published: June 2022

Consumers are increasingly interested in the geographical origin of foodstuff, as an important characteristic of food authenticity and quality. To assure the authenticity of the geographical origin, various methods have been proposed. Stable isotope analysis is a method that has been extensively used for products like wine, oil, and meat by using large datasets and analysis. On the other hand, only few studies have been conducted for the discrimination of seafood origin and especially for mullet roes or bottarga products, and even fewer investigate a small number of samples and datasets. Stable isotopes of Carbon (C), Nitrogen (N), and Sulfur (S) analysis of bottarga samples from four different origins were carried out. The first results show that the stable isotopes ratios of C, N, and S could be used to discriminate the Greek PDO Bottarga (Messolongi) from other similar products by using a probabilistic machine learning methodology. That could use limited sample data to fit/estimate their parameters, while, at the same time, being capable of describing accurately the population and discriminate individual samples regarding their origin.
Hydro-Geochemical Applications and Multivariate Analysis to Assess the Water–Rock Interaction in Arid Environments
Authors: Mohamed Ahmed , Asmoay Ahmed , Alshehri Fahad , Abdelrady Ahmed , Othman Abdullah
Published: June 2022

Thirty groundwater samples were taken from Assiut’s northern outskirts. The physicochemical properties of these samples were investigated. For the evaluation of water–rock interaction, the saturation index (SI), chloro-alkaline indices (CAI1 and CAI2), Gibbs ratios for cations and anions (GC and GA), principal component analysis (PCA), and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) were used. (1) With the exception of five samples that were supersaturated, the rest of the groundwater samples were under-saturated with carbonate mineral dissolution (calcite, dolomite, and aragonite) and evaporite mineral dissolution (anhydrite, gypsum, halite, and sylvite). (2) The presence of ion exchange between alkali elements (Na+ + K+) and earth alkaline elements (Ca2+ + Mg2+) is explained by the positive values of the chloro-alkaline indices. (3) In four groundwater samples, negative chloro-alkaline indices suggest reverse ion exchange and an increasing alkali element content. (4) The Gibbs diagram demonstrates that, with the exception of four samples that reflect saline groundwater, the majority of the groundwater samples are freshwater recharging from the fresh surface water in the research area. (5) Groundwater types include Ca-HCO3 (11%), Mg-HCO3 (48%), Na-HCO3 (23%), Mg-Cl (13%), and Na-Cl (3%). (6) The alkali, earth alkaline elements, and sulphate are the key controls on groundwater salinity, according to PCA and HCA. (7) The somewhat saline groundwater in the research area’s western desert margins should not be used since it poses a health danger to people.
Distance Assessment by Object Detection—For Visually Impaired Assistive Mechatronic System
Authors: Dragne Ciprian , Todiriţe Isabela , Iliescu Mihaiela , Pandelea Marius
Published: June 2022

Techniques for the detection and recognition of objects have experienced continuous development over recent years, as their application and benefits are so very obvious. Whether they are involved in driving a car, environment surveillance and security, or assistive living for people with different disabilities, not to mention advanced robotic surgery, these techniques are almost indispensable. This article presents the research results of a distance assessment using object detection and recognition techniques. The first is a new technique based on low-cost photo cameras and special sign detection. The second is a classic approach based on a LIDAR sensor and an HQ photo camera. Its novelty, in this case, consists of the concept and prototype of the hardware subsystem for high-precision distance measurement, as well as fast and accurate object recognition. The experimentally obtained results are used for the motion control strategy (directional inverse kinematics) of the robotic arm (virtual prototype) component in special assistive devices designed for visually impaired persons. The advantages of the original technical solution, experimentally validated by a prototype system with modern equipment, are the precision and the short time required for the identification and recognition of objects at relatively short distances. The research results obtained, in both the real and virtual experiments, stand as a basis for the further development of the visually impaired mechatronic system prototype using additional ultrasonic sensors, stereoscopic or multiple cameras, and the implementation of machine-learning models for safety-critical tasks.
Big Data and AI for Process Innovation in the Industry 4.0 Era
Authors: Park Jaehun , Bae Hyerim
Published: June 2022

The fourth industrial revolution or what can be referred to as Industry 4 [...]
Experimental Study on the Effect of Pile-End Soil on the Pile Load Transfer Law
Authors: Zhang Hangyu , Ma Hailong
Published: June 2022

This paper compares and analyzes the difference in the skin friction between pile-end soilless compressive pile and conventional compressive pile at various stages during loading by the in situ test method. The influence of pile-end soil on the load transfer law of compressive piles in clay-dominated stratified foundations is further investigated. The results show that the overall load–displacement curves of the pile-end soilless compressive pile and the conventional compressive pile both present a slow decline followed by a steep drop. The length of the linear section on the load–displacement curve of the pile-end soilless compressive pile is less than that of the linear stage of the conventional compressive pile. Under the vertical load, the distribution laws and distribution forms of the skin friction ratio of the pile sections of the two piles are more consistent. The pile-end soil of the conventional compressive pile restricts the skin friction of the pile’s middle-lower and lower pile segments when compared to the pile-end soilless compressive pile. This restriction manifests itself as a reduction in pile skin friction, and the weakening effect decreases from bottom to top.
Concentrations of Beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) Peel and Flesh Extracts by Reverse Osmosis Membrane
Authors: Zin Moh Moh , Alsobh Areej , Nath Arijit , Csighy Attila , Bánvölgyi Szilvia
Published: June 2022

The objective of this investigation was to concentrate betalains, phenolics, and antioxidants from the extract of peel and flesh of beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.). Thin-film composite reverse osmosis (RO) membrane composed of the thick polyamide barrier layer, microporous polysulfone interlayer, and polyester support web was used in membrane module. In a later exercise, thermo-instability of betalain color compounds was investigated with different temperatures. After the filtration of the aqueous extract of flesh, betacyanins, betaxanthins, and total betalains were increased by 5.2, 6.1, and 5.5 times, respectively. Likewise, the mentioned bioactive compounds were increased by 3.7, 4.9, and 4.2 times after filtration of the aqueous extract of peel. The amounts of total betalains measured in the final flesh extract were two times lower (14.33 ± 0.15 mg·g−1 dm) compared to the peel concentrate (30.02 ± 0.28 mg·g−1 dm). The superior amount of phenolic was shown in the final flesh extract (34.47 ± 0.19 mg GAE·g−1 dm) compared to peel extract (12.74 ± 0.42 mg GAE·g−1 dm). The antioxidant activity in final beetroot peel extract and flesh extract were 24.65 ± 1.42 mg ASE·g−1 dm and 11.6 ± 0.1 mg ASE·g−1 dm, respectively. The recovery of thermo-sensitive bio-colorants was achieved by membrane filtration with the least thermal degradation.
Extraction of Joint Entity and Relationships with Soft Pruning and GlobalPointer
Authors: Liang Jianming , He Qing , Zhang Damin , Fan Shuangshuang
Published: June 2022

In recent years, scholars have paid increasing attention to the joint entity and relation extraction. However, the most difficult aspect of joint extraction is extracting overlapping triples. To address this problem, we propose a joint extraction model based on Soft Pruning and GlobalPointer, short for SGNet. In the first place, the BERT pretraining model is used to obtain the text word vector representation with contextual information, and then the local and non-local information of the word vector is obtained through graph operations. Specifically, to address the lack of information caused by the rule-based pruning strategies, we utilize the Gaussian Graph Generator and the attention-guiding layer to construct a fully connected graph. This process is called soft pruning for short. Then, to achieve node message passing and information integration, we employ GCNs and a thick connection layer. Next, we use the GlobalPointer decoder to convert triple extraction into quintuple extraction to tackle the problem of problematic overlapping triples extraction. The GlobalPointer decoder, unlike the typical feedforward neural network (FNN), can perform joint decoding. In the end, to evaluate the model performance, the experiment was carried out on two public datasets: the NYT and WebNLG. The experiments show that SGNet performs substantially better on overlapping extraction and achieves good results on two publicly available datasets.
Quantum Dot-Based White Organic Light-Emitting Diodes Excited by a Blue OLED
Authors: Patel Krishn Das , Juang Fuh-Shyang , Wang Hao-Xuan , Jian Chong-Zhe , Chen Jia-You
Published: June 2022

In this study, white organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) consisting of red quantum dots (RQD) and green quantum dots (GQD) were investigated. These are the most exciting new lighting technologies that have grown rapidly in recent years. The white OLED development processes used consisted of the following methods: (a) fabrication of a blue single-emitting layer OLED, (b) nanoimprinting into QD photoresists, and (c) green and red QD photoresists as color conversion layers (CCL) excited by blue OLEDs. To fabricate the blue OLED, the HATCN/TAPC pair was selected for the hole injection/transport layer on ITO and TPBi for the electron transport layer. For blue-emitting material, we used a novel polycyclic framework of thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) material, ν-DABNA, which does not utilize any heavy metals and has a sharp and narrow (FWHM 28 nm) electroluminescence spectrum. The device structure was ITO/HATCN (20 nm)/TAPC (30 nm)/MADN: ν-DABNA (40 nm)/TPBi (30 nm)/LiF (0.8 nm)/Al (150 nm) with an emitting area of 1 cm × 1 cm. The current density, luminance, and efficiency of blue OLEDs at 8 V are 87.68 mA/cm2, 963.9 cd/m2, and 1.10 cd/A, respectively. Next, the bottom emission side of the blue OLED was attached to nanoimprinted RQD and GQD photoresists, which were excited by the blue OLED in order to generate an orange and a green color, respectively, and combined with blue light to achieve a nearly white light. In this study, two different excitation architectures were tested: BOLED→GQD→RQD and BOLED→RQD→GQD. The EL spectra showed that the BOLED→GQD→RQD architecture had stronger green emissions than BOLED→RQD→GQD because the blue OLED excited the GQD PR first then RQD PR. Due to the energy gap architectures in BOLED-GQD-RQD, the green QD absorbed part of the blue light emitted from the BOLED, and the remaining blue light penetrated the GQD to reach the RQD. These excited spectra were very close to the white light, which resulted in three peaks emitting at 460, 530, and 620 nm. The original blue CIE coordinates were (0.15, 0.07). After the excitation combination, the CIE coordinates were (0.42, 0.33), which was close to the white light position.
A Comprehensive Review of Stingless Bee Products: Phytochemical Composition and Beneficial Properties of Honey, Propolis, and Pollen
Authors: Rozman Azri Shahir , Hashim Norhashila , Maringgal Bernard , Abdan Khalina
Published: June 2022

The stingless bee has been gaining more attention in recent years due to the uniqueness and benefits of its products. Similar to the common honeybee, stingless bees also produce honey, propolis, and pollen, which offer superior benefits for direct or indirect consumption. However, reports on the benefits of stingless bee products are scarce. This article summarises recent reports on stingless bee products. The function and application of the properties of the products such as phenolic compounds, antioxidant properties, and chemical content are elucidated. The antimicrobial properties and anticancer potential of the products are also highlighted. Future trends, potential, and uniqueness of stingless bee products are discussed. Stingless bee honey is highlighted as a superfood that exceptionally has the potential to be an active ingredient in treating cancer. Stingless bee propolis has been extensively studied for its rich beneficial chemical compounds that contribute to its antioxidant properties. Though studies on stingless bee pollen are scarce, it has been reported that it also has the potential of being a functional food.
Snow Representation over Siberia in Operational Seasonal Forecasting Systems
Authors: Risto Danny , Fröhlich Kristina , Ahrens Bodo
Published: June 2022

Seasonal forecasting systems still have difficulties predicting temperature over continental regions, while their performance is better over some maritime regions. On the other hand, the land surface is a substantial source of (sub-)seasonal predictability. A crucial land surface component in focus here is the snow cover, which stores water and modulates the surface radiation balance. This paper’s goal is to attribute snow cover seasonal forecasting biases and lack of skill to either initialization or parameterization errors. For this purpose, we compare the snow representation in five seasonal forecasting systems (from DWD, ECMWF, Météo-France, CMCC, and ECCC) and their performances in predicting snow and 2-m temperature over a Siberian region against ERA5 reanalysis and station data. Although all systems use similar atmospheric and land initialization approaches and data, their snow and temperature biases differ in sign and amplitude. Too-large initial snow biases persist over the forecast period, delaying and prolonging the melting phase. The simplest snow scheme (used in DWD’s system) shows too-early and fast melting in spring. However, systems including multi-layer snow schemes (Météo-France and CMCC) do not necessarily perform better. Both initialization and parameterization are causes of snow biases, but, depending on the system, one can be more dominant.
The Effects of Indoor Air Filter on Reductions in PM2.5 Associated Health Risks of Respiratory Function in Mouse
Authors: Yang Zheng , Liu Qingyang , Liu Yanju , Guo Qingyun , Shan Yunfang , Cheng Zhibin , Zhong Zhenyu
Published: June 2022

This study aimed to assess whether protective measures could reduce the health risks of air pollution in mice living in the chambers situated at a suburban site in Beijing. The living chambers of mice were divided into four groups: male mice with and without the high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter (male group A and group B), as well as female mice with and without the HEPA filter (female group A and group B). The experiment was carried out from 1 December 2017 to 31 May 2018. Parameters of respiratory function during periods of clean air and air pollution were determined for all groups to evaluate the role of the indoor air filter (i.e., HEPA) in protection against respiratory health risks in mice. Significant differences in minute volumes were observed in male and female groups with versus without the HEPA. Additionally, respiratory health parameters including respiratory rate, duration of breaking, expiratory time, and relaxation time exhibited differences in female groups with HEPA versus without HEPA. Levels of inflammatory factors in the lungs were measured for all groups after 6months of exposure. Greater mean levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were found in the male groups without HEPA than in those with HEPA. Higher average concentrations of IL-6, T-AOC, SOD, GSH-Px, LDH, TNF-α, and TGF-β1 were found in the female group without HEPA than those without HEPA. Our study has proved the effective protection provided by indoor air filters (i.e., HEPA filters) in reducing respiratory health risks associated with PM2.5.
Opportunity for Tropical Cyclone Lifecycle Predictions from Pre-Formation to Ending Stage: Eastern North Pacific 2021 Season
Authors: Elsberry Russell L. , Tsai Hsiao-Chung , Capalbo Corie , Chin Wei-Chia , Marchok Timothy P.
Published: June 2022

Building on previous studies of western North Pacific formation and intensity predictions along the ECMWF ensemble medium-range track forecasts, the first objective of this transition to the eastern North Pacific was to provide earlier forecasts of the Time-to-Formation (T2F) and Time-to-Hurricane (T2H) than are available from the National Hurricane Center Advisories. For the first six hurricanes of the 2021 season, the first detections in the ECMWF ensemble were 8 days to 12 days in advance of the T2F times and 9 days to 13 days in advance of the T2H times. The major advance in this study has been to document that the ECMWF ensemble is also capable of predicting Ending-T2H and Ending-T2F timings and positions along those 15-day ECMWF ensemble track forecasts. This study for the first time documents the opportunity for high wind warnings during the entire lifecycle of the 2021 season hurricanes even days in advance of formation. Validations of the pre-hurricane and Ending-hurricane tracks and timings are provided for the lifecycles of seven hurricanes and the “Almost-Hurricane Guillermo”. Because the technique has been accepted for operational testing at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, a companion article has been submitted that will describe the flowchart methodology for evaluating the twice-daily ECMWF ensemble forecasts to select the most likely pre-hurricane circulation as early as possible while non-selecting the likely false alarm circulations.
Evanescent Wave Optical-Fiber Aptasensor for Rapid Detection of Zearalenone in Corn with Unprecedented Sensitivity
Authors: Zhao Haixu , Ren Shang , Wei Zhenzhe , Lou Xinhui
Published: June 2022

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a common mycotoxin pollutant found in agricultural products. Aptamers are attractive recognition biomolecules for the development of mycotoxin biosensors. Even though numerous aptasensors have been reported for the detection of ZEN in recent years, many of them suffer from problems including low sensitivity, low specificity, tedious experimental steps, high-cost, and difficulty of automation. We report here the first evanescent wave optical-fiber aptasensor for the detection of ZEN with unprecedented sensitivity, high specificity, low cost, and easy of automation. In our aptasensor, a 40-nt ZEN-specific aptamer (8Z31) is covalently immobilized on the fiber. The 17-nt fluorophore Cy5.5-labeled complementary DNA strand and ZEN competitively bind with the aptamer immobilized on the fiber, enabling the signal-off fluorescent detection of ZEN. The coating of Tween 80 enhanced both the sensitivity and the reproducibility of the aptasensor. The sensor was able to detect ZEN spiked-in the corn flour extract with a semilog linear detection range of 10 pM-10 nM and a limit of detection (LOD, S/N = 3) of 18.4 ± 4.0 pM (equivalent to 29.3 ± 6.4 ng/kg). The LOD is more than 1000-fold lower than the maximum ZEN residue limits set by China (60 μg/kg) and EU (20 μg/kg). The sensor also has extremely high specificity and showed negligible cross-reactivity to other common mycotoxins. In addition, the sensor was able to be regenerated for 28 times, further decreasing its cost. Our sensor holds great potential for practical applications according to its multiple compelling features.
Prefab Hollow Glass Microsphere-Based Immunosensor with Liquid Crystal Sensitization for Acute Myocardial Infarction Biomarker Detection
Authors: Niu Panpan , Jiang Junfeng , Liu Kun , Wang Shuang , Xu Tianhua , Wang Ziyihui , Wang Tong , Zhang Xuezhi , Ding Zhenyang , Liu Yize , Liu Tiegen
Published: June 2022

Quantitative detection of cardiac troponin biomarkers in blood is an important method for clinical diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In this work, a whispering gallery mode (WGM) microcavity immunosensor based on a prefab hollow glass microsphere (HGMS) with liquid crystal (LC) sensitization was proposed and experimentally demonstrated for label-free cardiac troponin I-C (cTnI-C) complex detection. The proposed fiber-optic immunosensor has a simple structure; the tiny modified HGMS serves as the key sensing element and the microsample reservoir simultaneously. A sensitive LC layer with cTnI-C recognition ability was deposited on the inner wall of the HGMS microcavity. The arrangement of LC molecules is affected by the cTnI-C antigen—antibody binding in the HGMS, and the small change of the surface refractive index caused by the binding can be amplified owing to the birefringence property of LC. Using the annular waveguide of the HGMS, the WGMs were easily excited by the coupling scanning laser with a microfiber, and an all-fiber cTnI-C immunosensor can be achieved by measuring the resonant wavelength shift of the WGM spectrum. Moreover, the dynamic processes of the cTnI-C antigen—antibody binding and unbinding was revealed by monitoring the wavelength shift continuously. The proposed immunosensor with a spherical microcavity can be a cost-effective tool for AMI diagnosis.
Behavioral Symptomatology in the Premenstruum
Authors: Dang Nhan , Khalil Dina , Sun Jiehuan , Naveed Aamina , Soumare Fatimata , Nusslock Robin , Hamidovic Ajna
Published: June 2022

Objective: Sleep and eating behaviors are disturbed during the premenstrual phase of the menstrual cycle in a significant number of reproductive-age women. Despite their impact on the development and control of chronic health conditions, these behaviors are poorly understood. In the present study, we sought to identify affective and psychological factors which associate with premenstrual changes in sleeping and eating behaviors and assess how they impact functionality. Methods: Fifty-seven women provided daily ratings of premenstrual symptomatology and functionality across two-three menstrual cycles (156 cycles total). For each participant and symptom, we subtracted the mean day +5 to +10 (“post-menstruum”) ratings from mean day −6 to −1 (“pre-menstruum”) ratings and divided this value by participant- and symptom-specific variance. We completed the statistical analysis using multivariate linear regression. Results: Low interest was associated with a premenstrual increase in insomnia (p ≤ 0.05) and appetite/eating (p ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, insomnia was associated with occupational (p ≤ 0.001), recreational (p ≤ 0.001), and relational (p ≤ 0.01) impairment. Conclusions: Results of the present analysis highlight the importance of apathy (i.e., low interest) on the expression of behavioral symptomatology, as well as premenstrual insomnia on impairment. These findings can inform treatment approaches, thereby improving care for patients suffering from premenstrual symptomatology linked to chronic disease conditions.
Influence of Morphology Characteristics on Shear Mechanical Properties of Sawtooth Joints
Authors: Hu Huihua , Zhang Xing , Qin Jianxin , Lin Hang
Published: June 2022

The interface problem exists widely in building. Joints are interfaces of rock mass structures. To further study the influence of morphological characteristics on the shear mechanical properties of sawtooth joints, this paper prepared rock-like materials based on the similarity principle and carried out direct shear tests of sawtooth joints. The results showed that: (1) the peak shear displacement of joints first increases and then decreases with increasing normal stress, but the normal trend of stress during turning is different under different sawtooth angles. When the sawtooth angle of the joints is small, the decrease in shear stress between shear strength and residual shear strength is not obvious, and the rate of decrease is also small. (2) The shear strength of joints is positively correlated with normal stress. Using the Mohr–Coulomb criterion to analyze the shear strength of joints, it was found that the cohesion c and internal friction angle α of joints increased nonlinearly with increasing sawtooth angle, but their increasing trends were different. By introducing the function relation between cohesion, internal friction angle, and sawtooth angle into the classical shear strength equation, an empirical equation for the shear strength of joints was established in consideration of sawtooth angle. (3) There are two modes of shear failure for serrated joints: the “saw-toothed sliding gnawing failure mechanism” (SSG) and the “tensile fracture mechanism” (TFM). In the SSG, the shear failure mode of joints evolves in a slipping–gnawing–complete gnawing mechanism with increasing sawtooth angle and normal stress. The TFM mainly occurs at high sawtooth angles. This study provides a theoretical reference for the prediction and prevention of geological disasters.
Emergence of Resistance to MTI-101 Selects for a MET Genotype and Phenotype in EGFR Driven PC-9 and PTEN Deleted H446 Lung Cancer Cell Lines
Authors: Jones Clark , Dziadowicz Sebastian , Suite Samuel , Eby Ashley , Chen Wei-Chih , Hu Gangqing , Hazlehurst Lori A.
Published: June 2022

MTI-101 is a first-in-class cyclic peptide that kills cells via calcium overload in a caspase-independent manner. Understanding biomarkers of response is critical for positioning a novel therapeutic toward clinical development. Isogenic MTI-101-acquired drug-resistant lung cancer cell line systems (PC-9 and H446) coupled with differential RNA-SEQ analysis indicated that downregulated genes were enriched in the hallmark gene set for epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in both MTI-101-acquired resistant cell lines. The RNA-SEQ results were consistent with changes in the phenotype, including a decreased invasion in Matrigel and expression changes in EMT markers (E-cadherin, vimentin and Twist) at the protein level. Furthermore, in the EGFR-driven PC-9 cell line, selection for resistance towards MTI-101 resulted in collateral sensitivity toward EGFR inhibitors. MTI-101 treatment showed synergistic activity with the standard of care agents erlotinib, osimertinib and cisplatin when used in combination in PC-9 and H446 cells, respectively. Finally, in vivo data indicate that MTI-101 treatment selects for increased E-cadherin and decreased vimentin in H446, along with a decreased incident of bone metastasis in the PC-9 in vivo model. Together, these data indicate that chronic MTI-101 treatment can lead to a change in cell state that could potentially be leveraged therapeutically to reduce metastatic disease.
Second Generation Small Molecule Inhibitors of Gankyrin for the Treatment of Pediatric Liver Cancer
Authors: D’Souza Amber M. , Gnanamony Manu , Thomas Maria , Hanley Peter , Kanabar Dipti , de Alarcon Pedro , Muth Aaron , Timchenko Nikolai
Published: June 2022

Background: Gankyrin, a member of the 26S proteasome, is an overexpressed oncoprotein in hepatoblastoma (HBL) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Cjoc42 was the first small molecule inhibitor of Gankyrin developed; however, the IC50 values of >50 μM made them unattractive for clinical use. Second-generation inhibitors demonstrate a stronger affinity toward Gankyrin and increased cytotoxicity. The aim of this study was to characterize the in vitro effects of three cjoc42 derivatives. Methods: Experiments were performed on the HepG2 (HBL) and Hep3B (pediatric HCC) cell lines. We evaluated the expression of TSPs, cell cycle markers, and stem cell markers by Western blotting and/or real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR. We also performed apoptotic, synergy, and methylation assays. Results: The treatment with cjoc42 derivatives led to an increase in TSPs and a dose-dependent decrease in the stem cell phenotype in both cell lines. An increase in apoptosis was only seen with AFM-1 and -2 in Hep3B cells. Drug synergy was seen with doxorubicin, and antagonism was seen with cisplatin. In the presence of cjoc42 derivatives, the 20S subunit of the 26S proteasome was more available to transport doxorubicin to the nucleus, leading to synergy. Conclusion: Small-molecule inhibitors for Gankyrin are a promising therapeutic strategy, especially in combination with doxorubicin.
Sodium Percarbonate Activation by Plasma-Generated Ozone for Catalytic Degradation of Dye Wastewater: Role of Active Species and Degradation Process
Authors: Huang Jingwen , Puyang Chendong , Guo He
Published: June 2022

In this paper, sodium percarbonate (SPC) was activated by ozone (O3) from plasma for catalytic treatment of dye wastewater. Methyl blue (MB), a typical industrial dye, was selected as the target dye contaminant. Results showed that enhancing O3 dosage and reducing MB concentration were beneficial to MB degradation. Compared to acid condition, a higher removal efficiency of MB was obtained in alkaline condition. With an increase of SPC dosage, the removal efficiency of MB first was raised, and then it declined. Under the optimal dosage of 50 mg/L, the removal efficiency of MB reached 85.7% with 30 min treatment time. The energy efficiency was improved from 5.21 g/kWh to 5.71 g/kWh. A synergetic effect can be established between O3 and SPC. Radical capture experiments verified that ·OH, ·O2−, 1O2, and ·CO3− played important parts in MB degradation. With increasing reaction time, the amount of total organic carbon (TOC) declined and the amount of ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) increased. The addition of SPC enhanced the solution’s pH value and conductivity. The degradation pathway was proposed based on density functional theory (DFT) analysis and relevant literatures. The toxicity of MB was alleviated after O3/SPC treatment. The O3/SPC process was also suitable for the treatment of other dyes and actual wastewater.
Possible Underlying Mechanisms for the Renoprotective Effect of Retinoic Acid-Pretreated Wharton’s Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells against Renal Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury
Authors: Barakat Mai , Hussein Abdelaziz M. , Salama Mohamed F. , Awadalla Amira , Barakat Nashwa , Serria Mohamed , El-Shafey Mohamed , El-Sherbiny Mohamed , El Adl Mohamed A.
Published: June 2022

Objectives: The current work investigated the effect of Wharton jelly mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs) pretreated with all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) on renal ischemia in rats and the possible role of oxidative stress, apoptotic and Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathways, and inflammatory cytokines in their effects. Methods: The study included 90 male Sprague Dawley rats that were allocated to five groups (n = 18 rats): (I) Sham-operated group (right nephrectomy was performed); (II) Ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) group, a sham group with 45-min renal ischemia on the left kidney; (III) ATRA group, an ischemic group with an intravenous (i.v.) administration of ATRA 10 µM, 10 min post-surgery); (IV) WJ-MSCs group, an IRI group with an i.v. administration of 150 µL containing 7 × 106 WJ-MSCs, 10 min post-surgery; (V) WJ-MSCs + ATRA group, an IRI group with an i.v. administration of 150 µL of 7 × 106 WJ-MSCs pretreated with 10 µM ATRA. At the end of the experiments, serum creatinine, BUN micro-albuminuria (MAU), urinary protein, markers of redox state in the left kidney (MDA, CAT, SOD, and GSH), and the expression of Bax, IL-6, HIF-1α, Wnt7B, and β-catenin genes at the level of mRNA as well as for immunohistochemistry for NFkB and β-Catenin markers were analyzed. Results: The current study found that 45-min of renal ischemia resulted in significant impairment of kidney function (evidenced by the increase in serum creatinine, BUN, and urinary proteins) and deterioration of the kidney morphology, which was associated with a significant increase in redox state (evidenced by an increase in MDA and a decrease in GSH, SOD, and CAT), and a significant increase in inflammatory and apoptotic processes (evidenced by an increase in Bax and IL-6, NFkB, Wnt7B, β-catenin and HIF-1α) in kidney tissues (p < 0.05). On the other hand, treatment with ATRA, WJ-MSCs, or a combination of both, caused significant improvement in kidney function and morphology, which was associated with significant attenuation of oxidative stress, apoptotic markers, and inflammatory cytokines (IL6 and NFkB) with the upregulation of HIF-1α and β-catenin in kidney tissues (p < 0.05). Moreover, the renoprotective effect of WJ-MSCs pretreated with ATRA was more potent than WJ-MSCs alone. Conclusions: It is concluded that preconditioning of WJ-MSCs with ATRA may enhance their renoprotective effect. This effect could be due to the upregulation of the beta-catenin/Wnt pathway and attenuation of apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress.
Enhanced Cognition and Neurogenesis in miR-146b Deficient Mice
Authors: Chithanathan Keerthana , Somelar Kelli , Jürgenson Monika , Žarkovskaja Tamara , Periyasamy Kapilraj , Yan Ling , Magilnick Nathaniel , Boldin Mark P. , Rebane Ana , Tian Li , Zharkovsky Alexander
Published: June 2022

The miR-146 family consists of two microRNAs (miRNAs), miR-146a and miR-146b, which are both known to suppress a variety of immune responses. Here in this study, we show that miR-146b is abundantly expressed in neuronal cells, while miR-146a is mainly expressed in microglia and astroglia of adult mice. Accordingly, miR-146b deficient (Mir146b-/-) mice exhibited anxiety-like behaviors and enhanced cognition. Characterization of cellular composition of Mir146b-/- mice using flow cytometry revealed an increased number of neurons and a decreased abundancy of astroglia in the hippocampus and frontal cortex, whereas microglia abundancy remained unchanged. Immunohistochemistry showed a higher density of neurons in the frontal cortex of Mir146b-/- mice, enhanced hippocampal neurogenesis as evidenced by an increased proliferation, and survival of newly generated cells with enhanced maturation into neuronal phenotype. No microglial activation or signs of neuroinflammation were observed in Mir146b-/- mice. Further analysis demonstrated that miR-146b deficiency is associated with elevated expression of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (Gdnf) mRNA in the hippocampus, which might be at least in part responsible for the observed neuronal expansion and the behavioral phenotype. This hypothesis is partially supported by the positive correlation between performance of mice in the object recognition test and Gdnf mRNA expression in Mir146b-/- mice. Together, these results show the distinct function of miR-146b in controlling behaviors and provide new insights in understanding cell-specific function of miR-146b in the neuronal and astroglial organization of the mouse brain.
Protective Composite Coatings: Implementation, Structure, Properties
Authors: Krinitcyn Maksim
Published: June 2022

Coatings are being used in more and more areas of life today [...]
High-Temperature Interdiffusion of Tantalum and Niobium with SiC for Processing Hybrid Metal/CMC Components
Authors: Braun James , Sauder Cédric , Guéneau Christine , Hodaj Fiqiri , Balbaud-Célérier Fanny
Published: June 2022

To ensure the leak tightness of SiC/SiC composites cladding, niobium and tantalum have been retained as liner/coating materials for their high melting point, ductility and weldability; however, their chemical compatibility at high temperatures towards SiC remains to be assessed. In the literature, large discrepancies in the composition of the reaction zone and the kinetics were noticed between some metallic liners and SiC. In this work, diffusion couple experiments between Nb and Ta with SiC and SiC/SiC were conducted at high temperatures (1050–1500 °C) to determine the diffusion paths and the reaction kinetics in order to estimate the lifetime of such coatings in nominal conditions. A detailed analysis of the interaction area was conducted as a function of temperature by a combination of experimental characterizations and thermodynamic calculations. No significant difference in the sandwich cladding materials was observed. The interfacial reactivity was found to be strongly higher than expected from literature data. C and Si were evidenced as the main diffusing species in the Nb/SiC and Ta/SiC systems. From the reaction layer thickness extrapolation in gas-cooled fast reactor operating conditions, niobium but especially tantalum have been approved as liner material in hybrid CMC/metal cladding materials from a chemical compatibility point of view.
Facile Synthesis of Urchin-like Hollow Au Crystals for In Situ SERS Monitoring of Photocatalytic Reaction
Authors: Wu Yuanzhao , Chen Mingjie , Bai Haohao , Wang Binjie , Wang Jiye , Qin Yazhou , Yao Weixuan
Published: June 2022

Hollow urchin-like Au nanocrystals have been widely studied due to their excellent surface plasmon resonance properties and large specific surface area, but the controllable preparation of hollow urchin-like Au nanocrystals is still a challenge. In this article, we successfully prepared hollow urchin-like Au nanocrystals using HAuCl4·3H2O and AgNO3 as precursors and ascorbic acid as the reducing agent. No surface ligands or polymer stabilizers are required in the preparation process. HAuCl4·3H2O and AgNO3 will first form AgCl cubes, then the reducing agent, ascorbic acid, will reduce the Au3+ in the solution to Au0, and Au0 will be deposited on the pre-formed AgCl cubes to form AgCl@Au nanocrystals. We characterized the morphology of the prepared Au nanocrystals by scanning electron microscopy and found that by increasing the amount of HAuCl4·3H2O in the reaction, the surface morphology of the Au nanocrystals would change from a rough spherical shape to an urchin-like shape. By further increasing the amount of the precursor HAuCl4·3H2O, urchin-like Au will convert into flake-like morphology. The AgCl in the interior was removed with ammonia water, and finally, hollow urchin-like Au crystals were formed. In addition, we used R6G molecule to explore the surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) enhancement effect of prepared Au crystals. The results show that the minimum detectable concentration of R6G reaches 10−8 M. Moreover, we applied hollow urchin-like Au nanocrystals as catalysts and SERS enhancing materials to detect the photocatalytic reaction of 4-NTP. We used a 785 nm laser as both the SERS light source and the catalytic light source to monitor the photocatalytic effect of the laser on 4-NTP in situ by adjusting the laser power.
Range of Occurrence of Bisexual and Parthenogenetic Populations of Labidostomma luteum (Acari: Prostigmata) in Europe
Authors: Błoszyk Jerzy , Napierała Agnieszka , Adamski Zbigniew , Zacharyasiewicz Michał
Published: June 2022

The current article describes an interesting case of geographic parthenogenesis among European mites from the Labidostommidae family (Acari: Prostigmata). In earlier publications on Labidostomma luteum Kramer, 1879, the authors pointed out that most of the populations of this species in Europe consisted of parthenogenetic females. Until now, populations of both sexes were known only in southwestern France. In the north–west areas, the number of males in the populations has gradually decreased, and in the populations found west of Paris there are no males at all. During the research project carried out in 2018, Błoszyk found the presence of populations which consisted of both sexes of the species in question near the town of Bény (60 km NE of Lion). This is the easternmost site of L. luteum in France where males have been found. All other known sites located east and north of the Bény–Paris line have only parthenogenetic females. Thus, this line can be considered as the boundary of L. luteum populations reproducing sexually. However, establishing the exact course of this range requires further research.
Is Coloburiscidae (Ephemeroptera) Monophyletic? A Comparison of Datasets
Authors: Meecham Jarod , Ogden T. Heath
Published: June 2022

Coloburiscidae consists of three living genera with a Gondwanan distribution—Coloburiscoides from Australia, Coloburiscus from New Zealand, and Murphyella from Chile. Molecular-based phylogenetic analyses of Ephemeroptera (mayflies) have been somewhat successful in resolving many higher-level relationships in the order. Most of these analyses, however, have been ambiguous with respect to the family Coloburiscidae. This study presents the first phylogenetic analysis specific to Coloburiscidae using data generated from 448 phylogenomic sequences and data generated from the Sanger sequencing of five genes: 12S, 16S, 18S, 28S, and H3. Bayesian and likelihood analyses were conducted on each dataset and, ultimately, on a combined dataset of the two. Coloburiscidae was shown to be supported as monophyletic in each instance where the phylogenomic data were included. Coloburiscoides was shown as sister to Murphyella + Coloburiscus.