bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Extracellular Matrix Disorganization and Sarcolemmal Alterations in COL6-Related Myopathy Patients with New Variants of COL6 Genes
Authors: Zanotti Simona , Magri Francesca , Salani Sabrina , Napoli Laura , Ripolone Michela , Ronchi Dario , Fortunato Francesco , Ciscato Patrizia , Velardo Daniele , D’Angelo Maria Grazia , Gualandi Francesca , Nigro Vincenzo , Sciacco Monica , Corti Stefania , Comi Giacomo Pietro , Piga Daniela
Published: March 2023

Collagen VI is a heterotrimeric protein expressed in several tissues and involved in the maintenance of cell integrity. It localizes at the cell surface, creating a microfilamentous network that links the cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix. The heterotrimer consists of three chains encoded by COL6A1, COL6A2 and COL6A3 genes. Recessive and dominant molecular defects cause two main disorders, the severe Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy and the relatively mild and slowly progressive Bethlem myopathy. We analyzed the clinical aspects, pathological features and mutational spectrum of 15 COL6-mutated patients belonging to our cohort of muscular dystrophy probands. Patients presented a heterogeneous phenotype ranging from severe forms to mild adult-onset presentations. Molecular analysis by NGS detected 14 different pathogenic variants, three of them so far unreported. Two changes, localized in the triple-helical domain of COL6A1, were associated with a more severe phenotype. Histological, immunological and ultrastructural techniques were employed for the validation of the genetic variants; they documented the high variability in COL6 distribution and the extracellular matrix disorganization, highlighting the clinical heterogeneity of our cohort. The combined use of these different technologies is pivotal in the diagnosis of COL6 patients.
Metabolic Study of Cucumber Seeds and Seedlings in the Light of the New, Controversial Trend of Preventive Use of Systemic Fungicides
Authors: Kafka Anna , Wieczorek Dorota , Żyszka-Haberecht Beata , Lipok Jacek
Published: March 2023

Cucumber is one of the most commonly produced vegetable crops. The greatest economic losses in the yields of these crops have resulted from fungal infections—powdery mildew and downy mildew. The action of fungicides not only affects the fungi, but can also lead to metabolic disorders in plants. However, some fungicides have been reported to have positive physiological effects. Our research focused on the action of two commercially available fungicides, Scorpion 325 SC and Magnicur Finito 687,5 SC, on plant metabolism. Two approaches were used to check the effect of the fungicides at the early stage of plant development when metabolic changes occur most dynamically: spraying on the leaves of cucumber seedlings and presowing seed treatment. The application of the fungicide formulation as a presowing seed treatment caused perturbations in the phytase activity, leading to disorders in the energetic status of the germinating seeds. In addition, the tested preparations changed the morphology of the germinating seeds, limiting the growth of the stem. Furthermore, the application of the tested fungicides on seedlings also showed a disruption in the energetic status and in the antioxidative system. Therefore, the use of pesticides as agents causes a “green effect” and requires a much deeper understanding of plant metabolism.
Radiation Risks and Interventional Cardiology: The Value of Radiation Reduction Exposure
Authors: Andreassi Maria Grazia
Published: March 2023

Fluoroscopically guided cardiac procedures are an essential component of care in the practice of cardiology, and are, in most cases, lifesaving [...]
Convolutional Neural Networks to Classify Alzheimer’s Disease Severity Based on SPECT Images: A Comparative Study
Authors: Lien Wei-Chih , Yeh Chung-Hsing , Chang Chun-Yang , Chang Chien-Hsiang , Wang Wei-Ming , Chen Chien-Hsu , Lin Yang-Cheng
Published: March 2023

Image recognition and neuroimaging are increasingly being used to understand the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, image data from single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) are limited. Medical image analysis requires large, labeled training datasets. Therefore, studies have focused on overcoming this problem. In this study, the detection performance of five convolutional neural network (CNN) models (MobileNet V2 and NASNetMobile (lightweight models); VGG16, Inception V3, and ResNet (heavier weight models)) on medical images was compared to establish a classification model for epidemiological research. Brain scan image data were collected from 99 subjects, and 4711 images were used. Demographic data were compared using the chi-squared test and one-way analysis of variance with Bonferroni’s post hoc test. Accuracy and loss functions were used to evaluate the performance of CNN models. The cognitive abilities screening instrument and mini mental state exam scores of subjects with a clinical dementia rating (CDR) of 2 were considerably lower than those of subjects with a CDR of 1 or 0.5. This study analyzed the classification performance of various CNN models for medical images and proved the effectiveness of transfer learning in identifying the mild cognitive impairment, mild AD, and moderate AD scoring based on SPECT images.
Are There Ethnic Differences in Hand Eczema? A Review
Authors: Chai Eleanor Shu Xian , Tey Hong Liang , Lim Ziying Vanessa
Published: March 2023

Hand eczema is a common disease with economic and social ramifications. This study undertakes a review of certain existing literature to provide insight into contributory factors which may result in the varying prevalence and severity of hand eczema among different ethnic groups, particularly to identify modifiable risk factors, as well as to ascertain knowledge gaps for future research direction. The existing literature suggests that factors including (a) genes, (b) differing skin physiology, (c) cultural practices, (d) dietary habits and associated food preparation, (e) climate, (f) predominant occupations, (g) socioeconomic factors, and (h) dissimilar laws and regulations may account for the disparity in the risk of hand eczema among different ethnicities. Given that endogenous factors cannot be avoided, but certain exogenous aspects can be modified, especially as the environment plays an important role in hand eczema flares, it is helpful from a practical perspective to focus on addressing the modifiable risk factors. These factors pertain to unique cultural practices, customs, and food preparation methods. Healthcare professionals should be well-acquainted with such factors to tailor the treatment approach for patients of different ethnicities accordingly because, with globalization, physicians face increasingly diverse patient populations such that cultural customs no longer remain limited to particular geographic regions.
Evaluation of Change in Radiographic Fractal Dimension around Dental Implants Placed with Low-Speed Drilling and Standard Drilling Protocols
Authors: Soler-Alcaraz Sofía , Guerrero-Sánchez Yolanda , Pérez-Sayáns Mario , Bernabeu-Mira Juan Carlos , Peñarrocha-Oltra David , Camacho-Alonso Fabio
Published: March 2023

Osseointegration is a process that depends on a multitude of factors, including the type of drilling, whether biological or conventional. Objective: Establish box-counting dimension values for radiological images in patients with implants placed with both drilling methods. Material and method: The sample included 129 implants corresponding to 50 patients. A double-blind study of data collection was carried out with the subsequent analysis of the fractal dimension as a comparative value of the state of the trabecular architecture. Results: We found no significant differences (p ≥ 0.05) between the two study groups comparing both drilling techniques. The values for the conventional drilling technique are 0.24 ± 0.07 and for biological drilling: 0.19 ± 0.11 with a p-value of 0.767. Conclusions: The drilling technique does not influence the success of the procedure and the osseointegration process.
Melanin Induction Restores the Pathogenicity of Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici in Wheat Plants
Authors: Aranda Camila , Méndez Isabel , Barra Patricio Javier , Hernández-Montiel Luis , Fallard Ana , Tortella Gonzalo , Briones Evelyn , Durán Paola
Published: March 2023

One of the most challenging aspects of long-term research based on microorganisms is the maintenance of isolates under ex situ conditions, particularly the conservation of phytopathological characteristics. Our research group has worked for more than 10 years with Gaumannomyces graminis var. tritici (Ggt), the main biotic factor affecting wheat. In this sense we preserved the microorganisms in oil overlaid. However, several strains preserved for a long time lost their pathogenicity. These strains show white and non-infective mycelia. In this sense, we hypothesized that this is attributable to low melanin content. Melanin is a natural pigment mainly involved in UV protection, desiccation, salinity, oxidation, and fungal pathogenicity. Therefore, understanding the melanin role on Ggt pathogenicity is fundamental to developing melanin activation strategies under laboratory studies. In this study, we induce melanin activation by UV-A light chamber, 320 to 400 nm (T1) and temperature changes of 30 °C, 15 °C, and 20 °C (T2). Fungal pathogenicity was evaluated by determination of blackening roots and Ggt was quantified by real-time PCR in inoculated wheat plants. Results revealed that Ggt grown under UV-A (T1) conditions showed around 40% higher melanin level with a concomitant effect on root infection (98% of blackened roots) and 4-fold more Ggt genome copy number compared with the control (non-infective mycelia) being T1, a more inductor factor compared with T2. These findings would support the role of melanin in pathogenicity in darkly pigmented fungi such as Ggt and could serve as a basis for activating pathogenicity under laboratory conditions.
Impact of Sex and Exercise on Femoral Artery Function: More Favorable Adaptation in Male Rats
Authors: Vezér Márton , Jósvai Attila , Bányai Bálint , Ács Nándor , Keszthelyi Márton , Soltész-Katona Eszter , Szekeres Mária , Oláh Attila , Radovits Tamás , Merkely Béla , Horváth Eszter M. , Nádasy György L. , Török Marianna , Várbíró Szabolcs
Published: March 2023

Blood flow increases in arteries of the skeletal muscles involved in active work. Our aim was to investigate the gender differences as a result of adaptation to sport in the femoral arteries. Vascular reactivity and histology of animals were compared following a 12-week swimming training. Animals were divided into sedentary male (MS), trained male (MTr), sedentary female (FS), and trained female (FTr) groups. Isolated femoral artery rings were examined by wire myography. Contraction induced by phenylephrine (Phe) did not differ between the four groups. The contractile ability in the presence of indomethacin (INDO) was decreased in both sedentary groups. However, we found a specific cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) role only in FS rats. After exercise training, we observed increased vasoconstriction in both sexes, when nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) was present. The COX-dependent vasoconstriction effect disappeared in MTr animals, and the COX-2-dependent vasoconstriction effect disappeared in FTr ones. Relaxation was reduced significantly, when L-NAME was present in MTr animals compared to in FTr rats. The training was associated with greater endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) protein expression in males, but not in females. The present study proves that there are gender differences regarding adaptation mechanisms of musculocutaneous arteries to sports training. In males, relaxation reserve capacity was markedly elevated compared to in females.
Running-In Effects of Lubricated Polyether Ether Ketone on Steel for Different Spreading and Sorption Tendencies
Authors: Koplin Christof , Schlüter Bernadette , Jaeger Raimund
Published: March 2023

Polyether ether ketone is a highly resilient thermoplastic that can withstand as an unfilled or filled polymer tribological high loads in high-temperature applications, as it has a high glass and melting temperature. Currently, it attracts interest as a lubricated material for drive systems to minimize noise, as a lightweight solution improving the CO2 balance, or in combination with novel lubricants. We have produced friction and wear maps with pin-on-disk tests on steel axial bearing rings and investigated the interaction and running-in behavior with different lubricants, such as different polyalkylene glycols, polyalphaolefin, and various esters. In general, the behavior of polyether ether ketone is hardly influenced by the frictional heat when loaded at room temperature. It shows a lubricant-specific polymer transfer and surface softening. This running-in impact is enhanced if a loading strategy with initial high friction power is applied. The beneficial transfer forms on the track in mixed lubrication on the rough counterpart until an increasing adhesive contact limits this effect. The appearance of a minimal wear coefficient was found below the glass temperature with lubricants strongly sorbing in polyether ether ketones, such as polar polyalkylenglycol or trimellitic acid ester-based lubricants. Using the interfacial energy of the system to derive an energy term describing the tendency to form a stable transfer, systematic trends in the tribological behavior of polyether ether ketone and polyketone could be identified that can be projected on other systems.
Analysis of Circulation Characteristics and Heat Balance of High-Speed Rolling Bearing under Oil-Air Lubrication
Authors: Ma Xiqiang , Zhang Mian , Yang Fang , Xue Yujun , Gu Ruijie , Guo Nan
Published: March 2023

Aiming to solve the problem of oil-air lubrication failure caused by the high working temperature of high-speed rolling bearings, this study proposes a method, based on the theory of gas-solid two-phase flow and bearing tribology, of predicting the dynamic temperature rise of nonlinear high-speed rolling bearings under oil-air lubrication conditions. The accuracy of the fluid–structure coupling model is verified by comparing the temperature rise test results of angular contact ball bearing at different speeds. The characteristics of oil-air lubrication circulation and the relationship between the lubrication parameters and the heat balance of the high-speed rolling bearings have been studied. The results show that the gas supply pressure of the system has a significant influence on the continuity and fluctuation of the oil film in the oil pipe nozzle. The initial rise in temperature of the inner and outer rings of the bearing and the fluid domain has a speed threshold value, and the temperature increases linearly with the bearing speed. With the increase in the oil supply and lube oil viscosity of the system, the temperature rise of the outer ring of the bearing increases first, then decreases, and finally increases again. There is an optimal oil supply 5.5 mL and optimize viscosity 68 cSt for the bearing in the work condition.
Editorial: Social Manufacturing on Industrial Internet
Authors: Jiang Pingyu , Xiong Gang , Nyberg Timo R. , Shen Zhen , Yang Maolin , Xiong Guangyu
Published: March 2023

The fast development of the industrial internet is boosting the evolution of the manufacturing industry to a new stage of socialization, servitization, universal interaction and connection, and platformization [...]
Innovative AVR-LFC Design for a Multi-Area Power System Using Hybrid Fractional-Order PI and PIDD2 Controllers Based on Dandelion Optimizer
Authors: Alharbi Mohammed , Ragab Muhammad , AboRas Kareem M. , Kotb Hossam , Dashtdar Masoud , Shouran Mokhtar , Elgamli Elmazeg
Published: March 2023

In this article, the problem of voltage and frequency stability in a hybrid multi-area power system including renewable energy sources (RES) and electric vehicles has been investigated. Fractional order systems have been used to design innovative controllers for both load frequency control (LFC) and automatic voltage regulator (AVR) based on the combination of fractional order proportional-integral and proportional-integral-derivative plus double derivative (FOPI–PIDD2). Here, the dandelion optimizer (DO) algorithm is used to optimize the proposed FOPI–PIDD2 controller to stabilize the voltage and frequency of the system. Finally, the results of simulations performed on MATLAB/Simulink show fast, stable, and robust performance based on sensitivity analysis, as well as the superiority of the proposed optimal control strategy in damping frequency fluctuations and active power, exchanged between areas when faced with step changes in load, the changes in the generation rate of units, and the uncertainties caused by the wide changes of dynamic values.
Oscillatory Properties of Fourth-Order Advanced Differential Equations
Authors: Almutairi Alanoud , Ali Ali Hasan , Bazighifan Omar , Iambor Loredana Florentina
Published: March 2023

This paper presents a study on the oscillatory behavior of solutions to fourth-order advanced differential equations involving p-Laplacian-like operator. We obtain oscillation criteria using techniques from first and second-order delay differential equations. The results of this work contribute to a deeper understanding of fourth-order differential equations and their connections to various branches of mathematics and practical sciences. The findings emphasize the importance of continued research in this area.
Elliptical Capital Asset Pricing Models: Formulation, Diagnostics, Case Study with Chilean Data, and Economic Rationale
Authors: Leal Danilo , Jiménez Rodrigo , Riquelme Marco , Leiva Víctor
Published: March 2023

The capital asset pricing model (CAPM) is often based on the Gaussianity or normality assumption. However, such an assumption is frequently violated in practical situations. In this paper, we introduce the symmetric CAPM considering distributions with lighter or heavier tails than the normal distribution. These distributions are symmetric and belong to the family of elliptical distributions. We pay special attention to the family members related to the normal, power-exponential, and Student-t cases, with the power-exponential distribution being particularly considered, as it has not been explored widely. Based on these cases, the expectation-maximization algorithm can be used to facilitate the estimation of model parameters utilizing the maximum likelihood method. In addition, we derive the leverage and local influence methods to carry out diagnostics in the symmetric CAPM. We conduct a detailed case study to apply the obtained results estimating the systematic risk of the financial assets of a Chilean company with real data. We employ the Akaike information criterion to conclude that the studied models provide better results than the CAPM under Gaussianity.
Integrity on m-Polar Fuzzy Graphs and Its Application
Authors: Muhiuddin Ghulam , Mahapatra Tanmoy , Pal Madhumangal , Alshahrani Ohoud , Mahboob Ahsan
Published: March 2023

Integrity for crisp graph theory is a well-defined topic. However, the integrity concept for fuzzy graphs has only recently been defined and extensively researched. However, in m-polar fuzzy graphs (mPFG), each node as well as edges has m components. So, defining integrity in the mPF environment needs a new concept. As in the m-polar fuzzy environment, each node and edge has m components, so we have more flexibility to address the uncertainty rather than fuzzy as well as other uncertain environments. In this article, we developed a brand-new idea known as node integrity on mPFG and went in-depth on a few of their related properties. We have thoroughly covered some of their related properties as well as a brand-new idea called dominating integrity on mPFG. Different types of integrity on mPFG such as node integrity, dominating integrity, and edge integrity are discussed thoroughly along with some of its interesting facts have been introduced. Under isomorphism, their properties have also been studied. We also discussed the interrelation between them. A new type of mPFG called efficient mPFG which is directly related to dominating integrity concept has also been introduced. Several facts about efficient mPFG have also been studied here along with details descriptions. Finally, a real-world mobile network application that is directly related to the integrity of the mPFG concept has been discussed.
New Insights into the Fouling of a Membrane during the Ultrafiltration of Complex Organic–Inorganic Feed Water
Authors: Prorok Vedrana , Movrin Dejan , Lukić Nataša , Popović Svetlana
Published: March 2023

This paper presents an analysis of the fouling of a ceramic membrane by a mixture containing high concentrations of humic acid and colloidal silica during cross-flow ultrafiltration under various operating conditions. Two types of feed water were tested: feed water containing humic acid and feed water containing a mixture of humic acid and colloidal silica. The colloidal silica exacerbated the fouling, yielding lower fluxes (109–394 L m−2 h−1) compared to the humic acid feed water (205–850 L m−2 h−1), while the retentions were higher except for the highest cross-flow rate. For the humic acid feed water, the irreversible resistance prevails under the cross-flow rate of 5 L min−1. During the filtration of an organic–inorganic mixture, the reversible resistance due to the formation of a colloidal cake layer prevails under all operating conditions with an exception. The exception is the filtration of the organic–inorganic mixture of a 50 mg L−1 humic acid concentration which resulted in a lower flux than the one of a 150 mg L−1 humic acid concentration under 150 kPa and a cross-flow rate of 5 L min−1. Here, the irreversible fouling is unexpectedly overcome. This is unusual and occurs due to the low agglomeration at low concentrations of humic acid under a high cross-flow rate. Under lower transmembrane pressure and a moderate cross-flow rate, fouling can be mitigated, and relatively high fluxes are yielded with high retentions even in the presence of nanoparticles. In this way, colloidal silica influences the minimization of membrane fouling by organic humic acid contributing to the control of in-pore organic fouling.
High-Entropy Alloy Coatings Deposited by Thermal Spraying: A Review of Strengthening Mechanisms, Performance Assessments and Perspectives on Future Applications
Authors: Bhaskaran Nair Rakesh , Supekar Raunak , Morteza Javid Seyyed , Wang Wandong , Zou Yu , McDonald André , Mostaghimi Javad , Stoyanov Pantcho
Published: March 2023

Thermal spray deposition techniques have been well-established, owing to their flexibility in addressing degradation due to wear and corrosion issues faced due to extreme environmental conditions. With the adoption of these techniques, a broad spectrum of industries is experiencing continuous improvement in resolving these issues. To increase industrial-level implementation, state-of-the-art advanced materials are required. High-entropy alloys (HEAs) have recently gained considerable attention within the scientific community as advanced materials, mainly due to their exceptional properties and desirable microstructural features. Unlike traditional material systems, high-entropy alloys are composed of multi-component elements (at least five elements) with equimolar or nearly equimolar concentrations. This allows for a stable microstructure that is associated with high configurational entropy. This review article provides a critical assessment of different strengthening mechanisms observed in various high-entropy alloys developed by means of deposition techniques. The wear, corrosion, and oxidation responses of these alloys are reviewed in detail and correlated to microstructural and mechanical properties and behavior. In addition, the review focused on material design principles for developing next-generation HEAs that can significantly benefit the aerospace, marine, oil and gas, nuclear sector, etc. Despite having shown exceptional mechanical properties, the article describes the need to further evaluate the tribological behavior of these HEAs in order to show proof-of-concept perspectives for several industrial applications in extreme environments.
Combined Effect of Substrate Temperature and Sputtering Power on Phase Evolution and Mechanical Properties of Ta Hard Coatings
Authors: Liu Cuicui , Peng Jian , Xu Zhigang , Shen Qiang , Wang Chuanbin
Published: March 2023

Ta hard coatings were prepared on PCrNi1MoA steel substrates by direct current magnetron sputtering, and their growth and phase evolution could be controlled by adjusting the substrate temperature (Tsub) and sputtering power (Pspu) at various conditions (Tsub = 200–400 °C, Pspu = 100–175 W). The combined effect of Tsub and Pspu on the crystalline phase, surface morphology, and mechanical properties of the coatings was investigated. It was found that higher Pspu was required in order to obtain α-Ta coatings when the coatings are deposited at lower Tsub, and vice versa, because the deposition energy (controlled by Tsub and Pspu simultaneously) within a certain range was necessary. At the optimum Tsub with the corresponding Pspu of 200 °C-175 W, 300 °C-150 W, and 400 °C-100 W, respectively, the single-phased and homogeneous α-Ta coatings were obtained. Moreover, the α-Ta coating deposited at Tsub-Pspu of 400 °C-100 W showed a denser surface and a finer grain, and as a result exhibited higher hardness (9 GPa), better toughness, and larger adhesion (18.46 N).
Yeast: Translation Regulation and Localized Translation
Authors: Shiber Ayala , Arava Yoav S.
Published: March 2023

Translation regulation and localized translation are essential for protein synthesis, controlling all aspects of cellular function in health and disease [...]
Special Issue “Gut Microbioma Structure and Functions in Human Health and Disease 2.0”: Editorial
Authors: Di Pierro Francesco
Published: March 2023

Recent technical advances in the analysis of human colonic bacterial consortia have led to a considerable explosion of research on the gut microbiota [...]
Bacterial Bloodstream Infections after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Etiology, Risk Factors and Outcome in a Single-Center Study
Authors: Gill Jessica , Busca Alessandro , Cinatti Natascia , Passera Roberto , Dellacasa Chiara Maria , Giaccone Luisa , Dogliotti Irene , Manetta Sara , Corcione Silvia , De Rosa Francesco Giuseppe
Published: March 2023

Background—Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT) recipients are subject to major risks for bacterial bloodstream infections (BSIs), including emergent multidrug-resistant (MDR) organisms, which still represent the main cause of morbidity and mortality in transplanted patients. Methods: We performed an observational, retrospective, single-center study on patients undergoing allo-HSCT between 2004 and 2020 at the Stem Cell Transplant Unit in Turin to assess the incidence, etiology, and outcomes of BSIs and to explore any risk factors for bacteriaemia. Results: We observed a total of 178 bacterial BSIs in our cohort of 563 patients, resulting in a cumulative incidence of 19.4%, 23.8%, and 28.7% at 30, 100, and 365 days, respectively. Among isolated bacteria, 50.6% were Gram positive (GPB), 41.6% were Gram negative (GNB), and 7.9% were polymicrobial infections. Moreover, BSI occurrence significantly influenced 1-year overall survival. High and very high Disease Risk Index (DRI), an haploidentical donor, and antibacterial prophylaxis were found as results as independent risk factors for bacterial BSI occurrence in multivariate analysis. Conclusions: In our experience, GNB have overwhelmed GPB, and fluoroquinolone prophylaxis has contributed to the emergence of MDR pathogens. Local resistance patterns and patients’ characteristics should therefore be considered for better management of bacteremia in patients receiving an allogeneic HSCT.
Diversity of Bacteria with Quorum Sensing and Quenching Activities from Hydrothermal Vents in the Okinawa Trough
Authors: Yin Fu , Gao Di , Yue Li , Zhang Yunhui , Liu Jiwen , Zhang Xiao-Hua , Yu Min
Published: March 2023

Quorum sensing (QS) is a chemical communication system by which bacteria coordinate gene expression and social behaviors. Quorum quenching (QQ) refers to processes of inhibiting the QS pathway. Deep-sea hydrothermal vents are extreme marine environments, where abundant and diverse microbial communities live. However, the nature of chemical communication in bacteria inhabiting the hydrothermal vent is poorly understood. In this study, the QS and QQ activities with N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) as the autoinducer were detected in bacteria isolated from hydrothermal vents in the Okinawa Trough. A total of 18 and 108 isolates possessed AHL-producing and AHL-degrading abilities, respectively. Bacteria mainly affiliated with Rhodobacterales, Hyphomicrobiales, Enterobacterales and Sphingomonadales showed QS activities; QQ was mainly associated with Bacillales, Rhodospirillales and Sphingomonadales. The results showed that the bacterial QS and QQ processes are prevalent in hydrothermal environments in the Okinawa Trough. Furthermore, QS significantly affected the activities of extracellular enzymes represented by β-glucosidase, aminopeptidase and phosphatase in the four isolates with higher QS activities. Our results increase the current knowledge of the diversity of QS and QQ bacteria in extreme marine environments and shed light on the interspecific relationships to better investigate their dynamics and ecological roles in biogeochemical cycling.
Study on the Properties of Vanadium Pellets Extracted from Vanadium Titanium Magnetite Concentrate by Calcium Roasting and Acid Leaching
Authors: Li Yang , Peng Zhonghui , Wang Zhixiang , Zhu Yongze , Xie Keqiang
Published: March 2023

In this study, a clean pellet production method of calcium roasting and sulfuric acid leaching of vanadium from vanadium and titanium magnetite concentrates is proposed, which can effectively separate vanadium and iron, and the pellets after acid leaching and vanadium extraction can be used as raw material for iron making after secondary roasting. During the experiment, only 2% Ca(OH)2 was added as the calcifier to make pellets, and vanadium was extracted by acid leaching after calcination. Under the optimum conditions, the vanadium leaching rate was 74.51%, and the iron leaching rate was only 1.05%. After secondary roasting, the compressive strength of the pellets was 2358 N, and the qualification rate was 97%. Additionally, after acid leaching and vanadium extraction, the impurities in the pellet were partially removed, and the iron content of the pellet increased by 6.6%, which is more conducive to subsequent ironmaking. The roasting and acid leaching experiments show that based on the production of iron smelting pellets, the use of pellets can better extract vanadium from the titanium magnetite concentrate, while avoiding the problems of excessive additives to reduce the iron grade of pellets. Or the pursuit of high vanadium extraction rate pellets, which can be seriously damaged and difficult to use later. This process can perform a comprehensive utilization of vanadium titanium magnetite, and has certain guiding significance for industrial production.
Eco-Friendly Preparation of Carbon-Bonded Carbon Fiber Based on Glucose-Polyacrylamide Hydrogel Derived Carbon as Binder
Authors: Zeng Chen , Gu Yanju , Xie You , Hu Weiqin , Huang Min , Liao Gen , Yang Jianxiao , Fan Zheqiong , Tan Ruixuan
Published: March 2023

Lightweight, high-temperature-resistant carbon-bonded carbon fiber (CBCF) composites with excellent thermal insulation properties are desirable materials for thermal protection systems in military and aerospace applications. Here, glucose was introduced into the polyacrylamide hydrogel to form the glucose-polyacrylamide (Glu-PAM) hydrogel. The CBCF composites were prepared using the Glu-PAM hydrogel as a brand-new binder, and the synergistic effect between glucose and acrylamide was investigated. The results showed the Glu-PAM hydrogel could limit the foaming of glucose and enhance the carbon yield of glucose. Meanwhile, the dopamine-modified chopped carbon fiber could be uniformly mixed by high-speed shearing to form a slurry with the Glu-PAM hydrogel. Finally, the slurry was successfully extruded and molded to prepare CBCF composites with a density of 0.158~0.390 g cm−3 and excellent thermal insulation performance and good mechanical properties. The compressive strength of CBCF composites with a density of 0.158 g cm−3 in the Z direction is 0.18 MPa, and the thermal conductivity in the Z direction at 25 °C and 1200 °C is 0.10 W m−1 k−1 and 0.20 W m−1 k−1, respectively. This study provided an efficient, environment-friendly, and cost-effective strategy for the preparation of CBCF composites.
Antimicrobial Potential of Betulinic Acid and Investigation of the Mechanism of Action against Nuclear and Metabolic Enzymes with Molecular Modeling
Authors: Rodrigues Gabriela Cristina Soares , dos Santos Maia Mayara , de Souza Thalisson Amorim , de Oliveira Lima Edeltrudes , dos Santos Luiz Eduardo Carneiro Gomes , Silva Shellygton Lima , da Silva Marcelo Sobral , Filho José Maria Barbosa , da Silva Rodrigues Junior Valnês , Scotti Luciana , Scotti Marcus Tullius
Published: March 2023

Natural products have important pharmacological activities. This study sought to investigate the activity of the compound betulinic acid (BA) against different strains of bacteria and fungi. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined and then the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC). After performing the in vitro tests, molecular modeling studies were carried out to investigate the mechanism of action of BA against the selected microorganisms. The results showed that BA inhibited the growth of microbial species. Among the 12 species (Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Candida albicans, C. tropicalis, C. glabrata, Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium citrinum, Trichophyton rubrum, and Microsporum canis) investigated, 9 (75%) inhibited growth at a concentration of 561 µM and 1 at a concentration of 100 µM. In general, the MBC and MFC of the products were between 561 and 1122 μM. In silico studies showed that BA presented a mechanism of action against DNA gyrase and beta-lactamase targets for most of the bacteria investigated, while for fungi the mechanism of action was against sterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51) targets and dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). We suggest that BA has antimicrobial activity against several species.
Impact of Infection with Flavobacterium psychrophilum and Antimicrobial Treatment on the Intestinal Microbiota of Rainbow Trout
Authors: Huyben David , Jarau Maureen , MacInnes Janet , Stevenson Roselynn , Lumsden John
Published: March 2023

The diversity and composition of intestinal microbiota in rainbow trout have been studied using next-generation sequencing (NGS), although few studies have examined the effects of antimicrobials. We evaluated the effect of antibiotics florfenicol and erythromycin and infection with or without Flavobacterium psychrophilum on the intestinal microbiota in rainbow trout juveniles (30–40 g) using NGS. Prophylactic oral antibiotic treatments were administered for 10 days before groups of fish were injected intraperitoneally with virulent F. psychrophilum. Intestinal content (allochthonous bacteria) was collected at day −11, 0, 12, and 24 p.i., and the v3–v4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced using Illumina MiSeq. Before prophylactic treatment, Tenericutes and Proteobacteria were the most abundant phyla identified and Mycoplasma was the most abundant genus. Fish infected with F. psychrophilum had decreased alpha diversity and a high abundance of Mycoplasma. Fish administered florfenicol had increased alpha diversity compared to the control at day 24 p.i., although both florfenicol and erythromycin-treated fish had a higher abundance of potential pathogens, specifically Aeromonas, Pseudomonas, and Acinetobacter. Mycoplasma disappeared after treatment but appeared again after day 24. This study demonstrates that prophylactic oral treatment with antibiotics florfenicol and erythromycin as well as F. psychrophilum infection changed the composition of intestinal microbiota in rainbow trout juveniles that did not recover by day 24 p.i. and further long-term effects on the host need to be investigated.
Improving the Resistance of AO-OFDM Signal to Fiber Four-Wave Mixing Effect Based on Insertion Guard Interval
Authors: Lv Kai , Liu Hao , Zhang Anxu , Feng Lipeng , Sheng Xia , Liu Yuyang , Li Junjie , Huo Xiaoli
Published: March 2023

In this paper, a method to suppress the impact of the nonlinear effects on an all optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (AO-OFDM) system is proposed. By inserting a guard interval (GI), the duty cycle of the optical signal in each symbol period of each subcarrier is decreased, thus generating a ‘zeroed’ temporal. By giving different time delays to the sub-carriers, these ‘zeroed’ temporals and optical signals of the adjacent sub-carriers are interleaved, which reduces the coincidence of the optical signals between the sub-carriers and eliminates the products of the four-wave mixing (FWM) effect to suppress the influence of the nonlinear effect on the system. The simulation results show that for an AO-OFDM system with 32 subcarriers, inserting GI and introducing different delays for each subcarrier can improve the transmission distance by 30 km or enhance the spectral efficiency by 16.7%, considering the 7% hard decision forward error correction (HD-FEC) threshold. Moreover, even when the number of subcarriers is up to 256 and the power of each subcarrier is as high as 0 dBm, our proposed signal optimization scheme can still guarantee that the BER can satisfy the 7% HD-FEC threshold.
Alleviation of Hg-, Cr-, Cu-, and Zn-Induced Heavy Metals Stress by Exogenous Sodium Nitroprusside in Rice Plants
Authors: Niyoifasha Chrizostom Julius , Borena Birhanu Miressa , Ukob Irasapa Tanimu , Minh Phan Ngoc , Al Azzawi Tiba Nazar Ibrahim , Imran Muhammad , Ali Sajid , Inthavong Anousone , Mun Bong-Gyu , Lee In-Jung , Khan Murtaza , Yun Byung-Wook
Published: March 2023

The cultivation of rice is widespread worldwide, but its growth and productivity are hampered by heavy metals stress. However, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a nitric oxide donor, has been found to be effective for imparting heavy metals stress tolerance to plants. Therefore, the current study evaluated the role of exogenously applied SNP in improving plant growth and development under Hg, Cr, Cu, and Zn stress. For this purpose, heavy metals stress was induced via the application of 1 mM mercury (Hg), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn). To reverse the toxic effects of heavy metals stress, 0.1 mM SNP was administrated via the root zone. The results revealed that the said heavy metals significantly reduced the chlorophyll contents (SPAD), chlorophyll a and b, and protein contents. However, SNP treatment significantly reduced the toxic effects of the said heavy metals on chlorophyll (SPAD), chlorophyll a and b, and protein contents. In addition, the results also revealed that heavy metals significantly increased the production of superoxide anion (SOA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde (MDA), and electrolyte leakage (EL). However, SNP administration significantly reduced the production of SOA, H2O2, MDA, and EL in response to the said heavy metals. Furthermore, to cope with the said heavy metals stress, SNP administration significantly enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and polyphenol peroxidase (PPO). Furthermore, in response to the said heavy metals, SNP application also upregulated the transcript accumulation of OsPCS1, OsPCS2, OsMTP1, OsMTP5, OsMT-I-1a, and OsMT-I-1b. Therefore, SNP can be used as a regulator to improve the heavy metals tolerance of rice in heavy-metals-affected areas.
Probiotics, Proline and Calcium Induced Protective Responses of Triticum aestivum under Drought Stress
Authors: Mockevičiūtė Rima , Jurkonienė Sigita , Šveikauskas Vaidevutis , Zareyan Mariam , Jankovska-Bortkevič Elžbieta , Jankauskienė Jurga , Kozeko Liudmyla , Gavelienė Virgilija
Published: March 2023

In order to increase plants tolerance to drought, the idea of treating them with stress-protecting compounds exogenously is being considered. In this study, we aimed to evaluate and compare the impact of exogenous calcium, proline, and plant probiotics on the response of winter wheat to drought stress. The research was carried out under controlled conditions, simulating a prolonged drought from 6 to 18 days. Seedlings were treated with ProbioHumus 2 µL g−1 for seed priming, 1 mL 100 mL−1 for seedling spraying, and proline 1 mM according to the scheme. 70 g m−2 CaCO3 was added to the soil. All tested compounds improved the prolonged drought tolerance of winter wheat. ProbioHumus, ProbioHumus + Ca had the greatest effect on maintaining the relative leaf water content (RWC) and in maintaining growth parameters close to those of irrigated plants. They delayed and reduced the stimulation of ethylene emission in drought-stressed leaves. Seedlings treated with ProbioHumus and ProbioHumus + Ca had a significantly lower degree of membrane damage induced by ROS. Molecular studies of drought-responsive genes revealed substantially lower expression of Ca and Probiotics + Ca treated plants vs. drought control. The results of this study showed that the use of probiotics in combination with Ca can activate defense reactions that can compensate for the adverse effects of drought stress.
Genome-Wide Identification of 2-Oxoglutarate and Fe (II)-Dependent Dioxygenase (2ODD-C) Family Genes and Expression Profiles under Different Abiotic Stresses in Camellia sinensis (L.)
Authors: Han Jingxue , Wang Xiaojing , Niu Suzhen
Published: March 2023

The 2-oxoglutarate and Fe (II)-dependent dioxygenase (2ODD-C) family of 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases potentially participates in the biosynthesis of various metabolites under various abiotic stresses. However, there is scarce information on the expression profiles and roles of 2ODD-C genes in Camellia sinensis. We identified 153 Cs2ODD-C genes from C. sinensis, and they were distributed unevenly on 15 chromosomes. According to the phylogenetic tree topology, these genes were divided into 21 groups distinguished by conserved motifs and an intron/exon structure. Gene-duplication analyses revealed that 75 Cs2ODD-C genes were expanded and retained after WGD/segmental and tandem duplications. The expression profiles of Cs2ODD-C genes were explored under methyl jasmonate (MeJA), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and salt (NaCl) stress treatments. The expression analysis showed that 14, 13, and 49 Cs2ODD-C genes displayed the same expression pattern under MeJA and PEG treatments, MeJA and NaCl treatments, and PEG and NaCl treatments, respectively. A further analysis showed that two genes, Cs2ODD-C36 and Cs2ODD-C21, were significantly upregulated and downregulated after MeJA, PEG, and NaCl treatments, indicating that these two genes played positive and negative roles in enhancing the multi-stress tolerance. These results provide candidate genes for the use of genetic engineering technology to modify plants by enhancing multi-stress tolerance to promote phytoremediation efficiency.
Effects of Slow-Release Fertilizer on Lotus Rhizome Yield and Starch Quality under Different Fertilization Periods
Authors: Zhu Yamei , Deng Kangming , Wu Peng , Feng Kai , Zhao Shuping , Li Liangjun
Published: March 2023

Slow-release fertilizer is an environmentally friendly fertilizer that is widely used in crop cultivation instead of traditional nitrogen fertilizer. However, the optimal application time of slow-release fertilizer and its effect on starch accumulation and rhizome quality of lotus remains unclear. In this study, two slow-release fertilizer applications (sulfur-coated compound fertilizer, SCU, and resin-coated urea, RCU) were fertilized under three fertilization periods (the erect leaf stage, SCU1 and RCU1; the erect leaf completely covering the water stage, SCU2 and RCU2; and the swelling stage of lotus rhizomes, SCU3 and RCU3) to study the effects of different application periods. Compared with CK (0 kg∙ha−1 nitrogen fertilizer), leaf relative chlorophyll content (SPAD) and net photosynthetic rate (Pn) remained at higher levels under SCU1 and RCU1. Further studies showed that SCU1 and RCU1 increased yield, amylose content, amylopectin and total starch, and the number of starch particles in lotus, and also significantly reduced peak viscosity, final viscosity and setback viscosity of lotus rhizome starch. To account for these changes, we measured the activity of key enzymes in starch synthesis and the relative expression levels of related genes. Through analysis, we found that these parameters increased significantly under SCU and RCU treatment, especially under SCU1 and RCU1 treatment. The results of this study showed that the one-time application at the erect leaf stage (SCU1 and RCU1) could improve the physicochemical properties of starch by regulating the key enzymes and related genes of starch synthesis, thus improving the nutritional quality of lotus rhizome. These results provide a technical choice for the one-time application of slow-release fertilizer in lotus rhizome production and cultivation.
Niche Filling Dynamics of Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) during Global Invasion
Authors: Song Xing-Jiang , Liu Gang , Qian Zeng-Qiang , Zhu Zhi-Hong
Published: March 2023

Determining whether the climatic ecological niche of an invasive alien plant is similar to that of the niche occupied by its native population (ecological niche conservatism) is essential for predicting the plant invasion process. Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) usually poses serious threats to human health, agriculture, and ecosystems within its newly occupied range. We calculated the overlap, stability, unfilling, and expansion of ragweed’s climatic ecological niche using principal component analysis and performed ecological niche hypothesis testing. The current and potential distribution of A. artemisiifolia was mapped by ecological niche models to identify areas in China with the highest potential risk of A. artemisiifolia invasion. The high ecological niche stability indicates that A. artemisiifolia is ecologically conservative during the invasion. Ecological niche expansion (expansion = 0.407) occurred only in South America. In addition, the difference between the climatic and native niches of the invasive populations is mainly the result of unpopulated niches. The ecological niche model suggests that southwest China, which has not been invaded by A. artemisiifolia, faces an elevated risk of invasion. Although A. artemisiifolia occupies a climatic niche distinct from native populations, the climatic niche of the invasive population is only a subset of the native niche. The difference in climatic conditions is the main factor leading to the ecological niche expansion of A. artemisiifolia during the invasion. Additionally, human activities play a substantial role in the expansion of A. artemisiifolia. Alterations in the A. artemisiifolia niche would help explain why this species is so invasive in China.