bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing Candida auris Surveillance in High-Risk Settings by Implementing a High-Throughput Molecular Assay on the Hologic Fusion Open Access Platform
Authors: Cerqueira Filipe M. , Bertsch Jennifer , DeMaet Mary Ann , York Teresa , McDougal April , Patel Janak A. , Ren Ping
Published: April 2024

Candida auris, a resilient pathogenic yeast with frequent multidrug resistance, presents a persistent challenge in healthcare settings. The timely identification of C. auris is crucial for infection control and prevention, especially in facilities facing unique hurdles, such as our institution, which serves four major hospitals and approximately 80% of the Texas inmate population. Understaffing, communal living, and financial constraints exacerbate infection control issues. To address common staff shortages, streamline testing services, and enhance testing efficiency, there was a pressing need for rapid and high-throughput detection of C. auris. This study presents the validation and utility of an assay implemented on the Hologic Fusion Open Access platform using samples collected from high-risk patients’ axilla and groin areas, as well as environmental swab samples from patient rooms. Our assay complemented efforts to control C. auris outbreaks within our healthcare system, providing valuable insights into its presence within surveillance samples. This assay demonstrated the value of high-throughput molecular detection platforms in challenging healthcare environments by aiding infection preventionists in containing the spread of C. auris and preventing nosocomial infections. Our research contributes essential data on the suitability and performance of the Hologic Fusion Open Access platform for C. auris detection. These findings hold significant implications for enhancing surveillance and control measures in high-risk settings, making a significant impact on the field of infection control and prevention.
Survey of Danish Head and Neck Cancer Patients’ Positions on Personalized Medicine, Gene Tests, and Personalized Follow-Up
Authors: Danstrup Christian Sander , Andersen Maria , Lundbye-Christensen Søren , Sommer Mia , Lyhne Nina Munk
Published: April 2024

The field of personalized medicine (PM) has grown rapidly because of the “omics revolution”, but PM may be difficult for patients to comprehend. This study sought to explore head and neck cancer (HNC) patients’ positions and knowledge of PM, gene tests, and follow-up and to compare HNC patients’ positions to a sample from a national Danish questionnaire. To do this, patients with prior HNC were invited to participate in a questionnaire. Initial interviews revealed a heterogenic understanding of PM between patients. A total of 226 patients were included in the survey and 177 patients with complete data were included for analysis. Most patients were more positive than negative towards gene tests and gene research (83% and 93%, respectively), but 72% had little or no knowledge of the subject. Almost all patients, 98%, were satisfied with their follow-up. Significantly more patients with HNC were positive towards gene research compared to a sample from a national Danish questionnaire (p < 0.001). Patients with HNC were positive towards gene tests and PM, but patients may not understand or comprehend the information given, and it is important to inform and educate patients and health professionals to establish common ground in PM.
Asymmetric Effects of Uncertainty and Commodity Markets on Sustainable Stock in Seven Emerging Markets
Authors: Nittayakamolphun Pitipat , Bejrananda Thanchanok , Pholkerd Panjamapon
Published: April 2024

The increase in global economic policy uncertainty (EPU), volatility or stock market uncertainty (VIX), and geopolitical risk (GPR) has affected gold prices (GD), crude oil prices (WTI), and stock markets, which present challenges for investors. Sustainable stock investments in emerging markets may minimize and diversify investor risk. We applied the non-linear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) model to examine the effects of EPU, VIX, GPR, GD, and WTI on sustainable stocks in seven emerging markets (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brazil, South Africa, Taiwan, and South Korea) from January 2012 to June 2023. EPU, VIX, GPR, GD, and WTI showed non-linear cointegration with sustainable stocks in seven emerging markets and possessed different asymmetric effects in the short and long run. Change in EPU increases the return of Thailand’s sustainable stock in the long run. The long-run GPR only affects the return of Indonesian sustainable stock. All sustainable stocks are negatively affected by the VIX and positively affected by GD in the short and long run. Additionally, long-run WTI negatively affects the return of Indonesia’s sustainable stocks. Our findings contribute to rational investment decisions on sustainable stocks, including gold and crude oil prices, to hedge the asymmetric effect of uncertainty.
The Impact of Urbanization on Environmental Quality in Ecologically Fragile Areas: Evidence from Hengduan Mountain, Southwest China
Authors: Wang Jue , Wang Rui
Published: April 2024

The impact of urbanization on the environmental quality of ecologically fragile areas has long been ambiguous. With a focus on the human–environment interaction in 95 counties of Hengduan Mountain, an ecologically fragile region in southwestern China, in this study, we clarify the impact and mechanism of urbanization on environmental quality through the environmental regulation effect, using econometric models and county-level panel data from 2010 to 2019. The results of this study show that: (1) urbanization and environmental regulation have increased over this 10-year period within the study area and regional differences in environmental quality have decreased; (2) urbanization significantly contributes to environmental quality, with heterogenous effects on different environmental elements—increasing the proportion of wetlands and green areas per capita but suppressing vegetation coverage and production efficiency; and (3) environmental regulation is an important mechanism for urbanization to improve environmental quality; however, there are negative externalities on neighboring areas. The results of this study show that urbanization and environmental quality are not always mutually exclusive, thus providing a reference for the development of pro-environmental urbanization to improve sustainable development in ecologically fragile areas.
A Coupled InVEST-PLUS Model for the Spatiotemporal Evolution of Ecosystem Carbon Storage and Multi-Scenario Prediction Analysis
Authors: Zhang Yan , Liao Xiaoyong , Sun Dongqi
Published: April 2024

In investigating the spatiotemporal patterns and spatial attributes of carbon storage across terrestrial ecosystems, there is a significant focus on improving regional carbon sequestration capabilities. Such endeavors are crucial for balancing land development with ecological preservation and promoting sustainable, low-carbon urban growth. This study employs the integrated InVEST-PLUS model to assess and predict changes in ecosystem carbon storage under various land use scenarios within the Chengdu urban cluster, a vital region in Central and Western China, by 2050. The results indicate the following. (1) A linkage between land use dynamics and ecosystem carbon storage changes: over two decades, a 7.5% decrease in arable land was observed alongside a 12.3% increase in urban areas, leading to an 8.2% net reduction in ecosystem carbon storage, equating to a loss of 1.6 million tons of carbon. (2) Carbon storage variations under four scenarios—natural development (NDS), urban development (UDS), farmland protection (FPS), and ecological protection (EPS)—highlight the impact of differing developmental and conservation policies on Chengdu’s carbon reserves. Projections until 2050 suggest a further 5% reduction in carbon storage under NDS without intervention, while EPS could potentially decrease carbon storage loss by 3%, emphasizing the importance of strategic land use planning and policy. This research provides a solid theoretical foundation for exploring the relationship between land use and carbon storage dynamics further. In summary, the findings highlight the necessity of incorporating ecological considerations into urban planning strategies. The InVEST-PLUS model not only sheds light on current challenges but also presents a method for forecasting and mitigating urbanization effects on ecosystem services, thus supporting sustainable development goals.
Capillary-Electrophoresis-Based Species Barcoding of Big Cats: CR-mtDNA-Length Polymorphism
Authors: Vankova Lenka , Vanek Daniel
Published: April 2024

This study aimed to provide an overview of the methodological approach used for the species determination of big cats. The molecular system described herein employs mitochondrial DNA control region (CR-mtDNA)-length polymorphism in combination with highly sensitive and precise capillary electrophoresis. We demonstrated that the described CR-mtDNA barcoding system can be utilized for species determination where the presence of biological material from big cats is expected or used as a confirmatory test alongside Sanger or massive parallel sequencing (MPS). We have also addressed the fact that species barcoding, when based on the analysis of mtDNA targets, can be biased by nuclear inserts of the mitochondrial genome (NUMTs). The CR-mtDNA barcoding system is suitable even for problematic and challenging samples, such as hair. CR-mtDNA-length polymorphisms can also distinguish hybrids from pure breeds.
Are Gender Differences Important for Autoimmune Liver Diseases?
Authors: Floreani Annarosa , Gabbia Daniela , De Martin Sara
Published: April 2024

Gender Medicine has had an enormous expansion over the last ten years. Autoimmune liver diseases include several conditions, i.e., autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), and conditions involving the liver or biliary tree overlapping with AIH, as well as IgG4-related disease. However, little is known about the impact of sex in the pathogenesis and natural history of these conditions. The purpose of this review is to provide an update of the gender disparities among the autoimmune liver diseases by reviewing the data published from 1999 to 2023. The epidemiology of these diseases has been changing over the last years, due to the amelioration of knowledge in their diagnosis, pathogenesis, and treatment. The clinical data collected so far support the existence of sex differences in the natural history of autoimmune liver diseases. Notably, their history could be longer than that which is now known, with problems being initiated even at a pediatric age. Moreover, gender disparity has been observed during the onset of complications related to end-stage liver disease, including cancer incidence. However, there is still an important debate among researchers about the impact of sex and the pathogenesis of these conditions. With this review, we would like to emphasize the urgency of basic science and clinical research to increase our understanding of the sex differences in autoimmune liver diseases.
Improving Support Vector Regression for Predicting Mechanical Properties in Low-Alloy Steel and Comparative Analysis
Authors: Che Zhongyuan , Peng Chong
Published: April 2024

Low-alloy steel is widely employed in the aviation industry for its exceptional mechanical properties. These materials are frequently used in critical structural components such as aircraft landing gear and engine mounts, where a high strength-to-weight ratio is crucial for optimal performance. However, the mechanical properties of low-alloy steel are influenced by various components and their compositions, making identification and prediction challenging. Accurately predicting these mechanical properties can significantly reduce the development time of new alloy steel, lower production costs, and offer valuable insights for design analysis. support vector regression (SVR) is known for its superior learning and generalization capabilities. However, optimizing SVR performance can be challenging due to the significant impact of the penalty factor and kernel parameters. To address this issue, a hybrid method called SMA-SVR is proposed, which combines the Slime Mould Algorithm (SMA) with SVR. This hybrid approach aims to efficiently and accurately predict two crucial mechanical parameters of low-alloy steel: tensile strength and 0.2% proof stress. Detailed descriptions of the modeling processes and principles that are involved in the hybrid method are provided. Furthermore, three other popular hybrid models for comparison are introduced. To evaluate the performance of these models, four statistical measures are utilized: Mean Absolute Error, Root Mean Square Error, R-Squared, and computational time. Using data from the NIMS database and from material tests conducted on a universal testing machine, experiments were carried out to compare the performance of these models. The results indicate that SMA-SVR outperforms the other methods in terms of accuracy and computational efficiency.
Automatic Evaluation Method for Functional Movement Screening Based on a Dual-Stream Network and Feature Fusion
Authors: Lin Xiuchun , Chen Renguang , Feng Chen , Chen Zhide , Yang Xu , Cui Hui
Published: April 2024

Functional Movement Screening (FMS) is a movement pattern quality assessment system used to assess basic movement capabilities such as flexibility, stability, and pliability. Movement impairments and abnormal postures can be identified through peculiar movements and postures of the body. The reliability, validity, and accuracy of functional movement screening are difficult to test due to the subjective nature of the assessment. In this sense, this paper presents an automatic evaluation method for functional movement screening based on a dual-stream network and feature fusion. First, the RAFT algorithm is used to estimate the optical flow of a video, generating a set of optical flow images to represent the motion between consecutive frames. By inputting optical flow images and original video frames separately into the I3D model, it can better capture spatiotemporal features compared to the single-stream method. Meanwhile, this paper introduces a simple but effective attention fusion method that combines features extracted from optical flow with the original frames, enabling the network to focus on the most relevant parts of the input data, thereby improving prediction accuracy. The prediction of the four categories of FMS results was performed. It produced better correlation results compared to other more complex fusion protocols, with an accuracy improvement of 3% over the best-performing fusion method. Tests on public datasets showed that the evaluation metrics of the method proposed in this paper were the most advanced, with an accuracy improvement of approximately 4% compared to the currently superior methods. The use of deep learning methods makes it more objective and reliable to identify human movement impairments and abnormal postures.
Aurantoside L, a New Tetramic Acid Glycoside with Anti-Leishmanial Activity Isolated from the Marine Sponge Siliquariaspongia japonica
Authors: Oyadomari Yasumoto , Goto Yasuyuki , Suganuma Keisuke , Kawazu Shin-ichiro , Becking Leontine E. , Fusetani Nobuhiro , Nakao Yoichi
Published: April 2024

A new tetramic acid glycoside, aurantoside L (1), was isolated from the sponge Siliquariaspongia japonica collected at Tsushima Is., Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. The structure of aurantoside L (1) composed of a tetramic acid bearing a chlorinated polyene system and a trisaccharide part was elucidated using spectral analysis. Aurantoside L (1) showed anti-parasitic activity against L. amazonensis with an IC50 value of 0.74 µM.
Breast Cancer in Patients with Previous Endometriosis Showed Low Aggressive Subtype
Authors: Vanni Gianluca , Selntigia Aikaterini , Marsella Valentina Enrica , Russo Consuelo , Pellicciaro Marco , Materazzo Marco , Rizzo Giuseppe , Buonomo Oreste Claudio , Exacoustos Caterina
Published: April 2024

Background and Objectives: The association between endometriosis and breast cancer still remains controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the different subtypes of breast cancer, immunohistochemical markers, hormone receptors, and ki67 proliferation indexes in patients with and without endometriosis and/or adenomyosis. Materials and Methods: All patients with endometriosis and breast cancer were enrolled. Women with endometriosis and breast cancer (Group BC+EN+) were compared to patients with breast cancer without endometriosis (group BC+EN−) and those with endometriosis without breast cancer (group BC-EN+). General population characteristics and histological and immunohistochemical subtypes of breast cancer were compared between groups. Results: Our study included 41 cases affected by both endometriosis and/or adenomyosis and breast cancer (Group BC+EN+) that were matched (1:2) with 82 patients affected only by breast cancer (group BC+EN−) and 82 patients affected only by endometriosis and/or adenomyosis (group BC-EN+). Group BC+EN+ presented a higher percentage of ER receptor expression (83% vs. 70%, p = 0.02), as well as lower values of Ki 67% (15% vs. 24%, p < 0.0001) and HER2+ (9.8% vs. 28%, p = 0.022). These findings were more evident when comparing patients with premenopausal status, while in postmenopausal patients, this difference was no longer significant. Regarding endometriosis, no statistical differences were observed in type or specific localization of the disease among the groups with and without breast cancer. Conclusions: Patients with endometriosis presented lower aggressive breast cancer rates with higher values of ER% and lower values of Ki 67 and HER2neu+. The type and severity of endometriotic diseases seemed not to influence breast cancer occurrence.
High-Entropy Alloy Al0.2Co1.5CrFeNi1.5Ti0.5 Prepared from High-Entropy Oxide (Al0.2Co1.5CrFeNi1.5Ti0.5)3O4 by a Deoxidation Process via a CaH2-Assisted Molten Salt Method
Authors: Kobayashi Yasukazu , Yokoyama Shota , Shoji Ryo
Published: April 2024

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) have attracted a great deal of research interest these days because of their attractive properties. Low-temperature chemical synthesis methods are being developed to obtain nanoscale HEAs with low energy consumption. In this study, we prepared HEA Al0.2Co1.5CrFeNi1.5Ti0.5 nanoparticles from high-entropy oxide (HEO) (Al0.2Co1.5CrFeNi1.5Ti0.5)3O4 by a deoxidation process via a CaH2-assisted molten salt method at 600 °C. X-ray diffraction measurements demonstrated that the oxide precursor and the reduced product have single-phases of spinel structure and face-centered cubic structures, indicating the formation of HEO and HEA, respectively. The HEA nanoparticles exhibited superior catalytic performance in the liquid-phase hydrogenation of p-nitrophenol at room temperature with little leaching of the component elements. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX) exhibited a good distribution of constituent elements over the HEA nanoparticles in a micro-sized range. However, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with EDX revealed a slight deviation of elemental distributions of Al and Ti from those of Co, Cr, Fe, and Ni in a nano-sized range, probably due to the incomplete reduction of aluminum and titanium oxides. The elemental homogeneity in the HEA nanoparticles could be improved by taking advantage of the HEO precursor with homogeneous elemental distributions, but the experimental results suggested the importance of the total reduction of oxide precursors to prepare homogeneous HEAs from HEOs.
Tribological Study of Fe–Cr Alloys for Mechanical Refinement in a Corn Stover Biomass Environment
Authors: Brooks Nicholas , Brewer Luke , Beheshti Ali , Davami Keivan
Published: April 2024

The tribological behavior of three Fe–Cr alloys with Cr contents ranging from ~12 to 16 wt.% as well as low-alloy high-carbon 52100 steel were investigated using pin-on-disk wear testing. Wear tests were performed in both open atmospheric (dry) and biomass environments (wet). Delamination and abrasion were observed to be the dominant wear regimes following dry wear tests. For wet testing, adhesion and pitting corrosion were determined to be the primary wear mechanisms in the Fe–Cr alloys while adhesion and delamination/cracking were identified as the primary wear mechanisms in the 52100 steel. The 440C stainless steel and 52100 steel specimens exhibited the lowest wear volume following dry (7.58 ± 0.52 mm3 and 0.78 ± 0.05 mm3, respectively) and wet wear testing (0.11 ± 0.06 mm3 and 0.12 ± 0.09 mm3, respectively); however, these specimens exhibited the most significant corrosion damage. The 410 stainless steel specimen exhibited the best resistance to corrosion after wear testing in the deacetylated and disc-refined corn stover slurry and had measured wear volumes after dry and wet wear testing of 6.84 ± 0.88 mm3 and 0.33 ± 0.12 mm3, respectively. The worst wear resistance was observed by the 420 stainless steel specimen after both dry and wet wear testing.
The Effect of a Coating Sprayed Using Supersonic Flame Coating Technology on the Mechanical Properties and Interface Structure of a Thick Steel/Aluminum Composite Plate during Hot Rolling
Authors: Yan Meng , Wang Meng-Ye , Cui Zi-Yi , Xu Jiu-Ba , Huang Hua-Gui
Published: April 2024

Given the characteristics of a thick steel/aluminum composite plate, such as its large thickness and the significant differences between its components, it is difficult to prepare using direct rolling. Instead, a thick steel/coating/aluminum composite plate may be successfully prepared by combining supersonic flame coating technology with a hot rolling composite process. In this study, the interface shear strength test, SEM, EDS, and other detection methods were applied to investigate the effects of the reduction rate and coating thickness on the interface structure and mechanical properties. The results show that under the condition of single-pass direct rolling, the micro-interface of steel/aluminum is improved with an increase in the reduction rate, but the bonding strength of the interface remains poor. After adding the coating, the thickness of the diffusion layer and the shear strength increase significantly. When the coating thickness is reduced to 0.1 mm, the deformation coordination and shear strength of the composite plate are further enhanced under the combined action of mechanical interlocking and metallurgical bonding. The tensile shear fracture is mainly located at the steel/coating interface. The interfacial shear strength reaches 66 MPa, which exceeds the requirements of the US military standard MIL-J-24445A (SH) for steel/aluminum shear strength. The research results thus support the use of this new method for the simple and efficient production of thick steel/aluminum composite plates.
Hydrogen-Induced Microstructure Changes in Zr/Nb Nanoscale Multilayer Structures
Authors: Laptev Roman , Stepanova Ekaterina , Lomygin Anton , Krotkevich Dmitriy , Sidorin Alexey , Orlov Oleg
Published: April 2024

Zr/Nb nanoscale multilayer coatings (NMCs) were studied after hydrogenation in a gaseous environment at 400 °C. The hydrogen distribution and content were determined by pressure and hydrogenation time. Increasing the pressure from 0.2 to 2 MPa resulted in different hydrogen distribution within the Zr/Nb NMCs, while the concentration remained constant at 0.0150 ± 0.0015 wt. %. The hydrogen concentration increased from 0.0165 ± 0.001 to 0.0370 ± 0.0015 wt. % when the hydrogenation time was extended from 1 to 7 h. The δ-ZrH hydride phase was formed in the Zr layers with Zr crystals reorienting towards the [100] direction. The Nb(110) diffraction reflex shifted towards smaller angles and the interplanar distance in the niobium layers increased, indicating significant lateral compressive stresses. Despite an increase in pressure, the nanohardness and Young’s modulus of the Zr/Nb NMCs remained stable. Increasing the hydrogen concentration to 0.0370 ± 0.0015 wt. % resulted in a 40% increase in nanohardness. At this concentration, the relative values of the Doppler broadening variable energy positron annihilation spectroscopy (S/S0) increased above the initial level, indicating an increase in excess free volume due to hydrogen-induced defects and changes. However, the predominant positron capture center remained intact. The Zr/Nb NMCs with hydrogen content ranging from 0.0150 ± 0.0015 to 0.0180 ± 0.001 wt. % exhibited a decrease in the free volume probed by positrons, as demonstrated by the Doppler broadening variable energy positron annihilation spectroscopy. This was evidenced by opposite changes in S and W (S↓W↑). The microstructural changes are attributed to defect annihilation during hydrogen accumulation near interfaces with the formation of hydrogen–vacancy clusters and hydrides.
Optimizing Tensile Properties and Hardness of Inconel 718 by Cold Rolling
Authors: Tucho Wakshum , Sletsjøe Anders , Sayyar Navid , Hansen Vidar
Published: April 2024

The as-received commercial Inconel 718 material was solid solution heat treated (ST), cold-rolled (CR), and precipitation-hardened (PH) to investigate the effects of deformation on the tensile properties, hardness, and texture. Three sets of specimens (0%, 20%, and 50% CR) were ST at 1100 °C/1 h, CR, and aged (720 °C/8 h + 650 °C/8 h) for the analysis. The ultimate tensile strength (UTS), 0.2% yield strength (YS), and elongation of 50% deformed condition were 1645 MPa, 1512 MPa, and 3.8%, respectively. The 20% deformation resulted in a balanced UTS (1348 MPa), YS (1202 MPa), and elongation (11%). The contribution of precipitation hardening to the strength decreased, while the contribution of CR increased with an increasing percentage of deformation. As the level of deformation increased, the size and quantity of γ″ decreased proportionally. The CR specimens produced a high density of nano/micro twins with twin planes oriented perpendicular to the RD-ND surface. The gradient of crystal orientation and internal features of large austenitic grains were generated by their preferred rotation. The cross-slip of screw dislocations induced a complete β-fiber consisting of {110}<112>, {112}<111>, and {123}<634>, with doubled intensity at the higher deformation. Additionally, the specimens were highly susceptible to the twinning-induced orientation emerged by a predominant <110>//ND. In the as-deformed condition, an incomplete but intense α-fiber, clustered between {110}<001> and {110}<112>, was characterized. Apart from achieving the highest strength, the current work demonstrates the effects of CR on the material strength without the complex influences of δ precipitates.
Evaluation of Energy Utilization Efficiency and Optimal Energy Matching Model of EAF Steelmaking Based on Association Rule Mining
Authors: Yang Lingzhi , Li Zhihui , Hu Hang , Zou Yuchi , Feng Zeng , Chen Weizhen , Chen Feng , Wang Shuai , Guo Yufeng
Published: April 2024

In the iron and steel industry, evaluating the energy utilization efficiency (EUE) and determining the optimal energy matching mode play an important role in addressing increasing energy depletion and environmental problems. Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steelmaking is a typical short crude steel production route, which is characterized by an energy-intensive fast smelting rhythm and diversified raw charge structure. In this paper, the energy model of the EAF steelmaking process is established to conduct an energy analysis and EUE evaluation. An association rule mining (ARM) strategy for guiding the EAF production process based on data cleaning, feature selection, and an association rule (AR) algorithm was proposed, and the effectiveness of this strategy was verified. The unsupervised algorithm Auto-Encoder (AE) was adopted to detect and eliminate abnormal data, complete data cleaning, and ensure data quality and accuracy. The AE model performs best when the number of nodes in the hidden layer is 18. The feature selection determines 10 factors such as the hot metal (HM) ratio and HM temperature as important data features to simplify the model structure. According to different ratios and temperatures of the HM, combined with k-means clustering and an AR algorithm, the optimal operation process for the EUE in the EAF steelmaking under different smelting modes is proposed. The results indicated that under the conditions of a low HM ratio and low HM temperature, the EUE is best when the power consumption in the second stage ranges between 4853 kWh and 7520 kWh, the oxygen consumption in the second stage ranges between 1816 m3 and 1961 m3, and the natural gas consumption ranges between 156 m3 and 196 m3. Conversely, under the conditions of a high HM ratio and high HM temperature, the EUE tends to decrease, and the EUE is best when the furnace wall oxygen consumption ranges between 4732 m3 and 5670 m3, and the oxygen consumption in the second stage ranges between 1561 m3 and 1871 m3. By comparison, under different smelting modes, the smelting scheme obtained by the ARM has an obvious effect on the improvement of the EUE. With a high EUE, the improvement of the A2B1 smelting mode is the most obvious, from 24.7% to 53%. This study is expected to provide technical ideas for energy conservation and emission reduction in the EAF steelmaking process in the future.
Cathepsin S Is More Abundant in Serum of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis-Infected Dairy Cows
Authors: Duda Heidi C. , von Toerne Christine , Korbonits Lucia , Didier Andrea , Scholz Armin M. , Märtlbauer Erwin , Hauck Stefanie M. , Deeg Cornelia A.
Published: April 2024

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is the causative agent of bovine paratuberculosis, a chronic granulomatous enteritis leading to economic losses and posing a risk to human health due to its zoonotic potential. The pathogen cannot reliably be detected by standard methods, and immunological procedures during the infection are not well understood. Therefore, the aim of our study was to explore host–pathogen interactions in MAP-infected dairy cows and to improve diagnostic tests. Serum proteomics analysis using quantitative label-free LC-MS/MS revealed 60 differentially abundant proteins in MAP-infected dairy cows compared to healthy controls from the same infected herd and 90 differentially abundant proteins in comparison to another control group from an uninfected herd. Pathway enrichment analysis provided new insights into the immune response to MAP and susceptibility to the infection. Furthermore, we found a higher abundance of Cathepsin S (CTSS) in the serum of MAP-infected dairy cows, which is involved in multiple enriched pathways associated with the immune system. Confirmed with Western blotting, we identified CTSS as a potential biomarker for bovine paratuberculosis. This study enabled a better understanding of procedures in the host–pathogen response to MAP and improved detection of paratuberculosis-diseased cattle.
Lithium Niobate Electro-Optic Modulation Device without an Overlay Layer Based on Bound States in the Continuum
Authors: Chen Guangyuan , Xue Ning , Qi Zhimei , Ma Weichao , Li Wangzhe , Jin Zhenhu , Chen Jiamin
Published: April 2024

Electro-optic modulation devices are essential components in the field of integrated optical chips. High-speed, low-loss electro-optic modulation devices represent a key focus for future developments in integrated optical chip technology, and they have seen significant advancements in both commercial and laboratory settings in recent years. Current electro-optic modulation devices typically employ architectures based on thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN), traveling-wave electrodes, and impedance-matching layers, which still suffer from transmission losses and overall design limitations. In this paper, we demonstrate a lithium niobate electro-optic modulation device based on bound states in the continuum, featuring a non-overlay structure. This device exhibits a transmission loss of approximately 1.3 dB/cm, a modulation bandwidth of up to 9.2 GHz, and a minimum half-wave voltage of only 3.3 V.
Molecular Role of HIV-1 Human Receptors (CCL5–CCR5 Axis) in neuroAIDS: A Systematic Review
Authors: Silva Marcos Jessé Abrahão , Marinho Rebecca Lobato , Rodrigues Yan Corrêa , Brasil Thiago Pinto , Dos Santos Pabllo Antonny Silva , Silva Caroliny Soares , Sardinha Daniele Melo , Lima Karla Valéria Batista , Lima Luana Nepomuceno Gondim Costa
Published: April 2024

Chronic HIV-1 infection can cause neurological illness, also known as HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). The elevated level of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, such as C-C Chemokine Ligand 5 (CCL5/RANTES), is one of the ways of causing HIV-1-mediated neuroinflammation. C-C Chemokine Receptor 5 (CCR5) is the main coreceptor for viral entry into host cells and for mediating induction of CCL5/RANTES. CCR5 and CCL5 are part of a correlated axis of immune pathways used for effective protection against the HIV-1 virus. The purpose of this paper was to review the literary knowledge about the immunopathological relationship between this immune complex and neuroAIDS. A systematic review of the literature was conducted based on the selection and search of articles, available in English, Spanish, or Portuguese in the time frame of 1990–2022, of primary and secondary types in the PUBMED, Science Direct, SciELO, and LILACS databases through descriptors (MeSH) together with “AND”: “CCR5”; “CCL5”; “neurological manifestations”; or “HIV”. The methodological quality of the articles was assessed using the JBI Checklists and the PRISMA 2020 writing guidelines were followed. A total of 36 articles were included in the final composition of the review. The main cells of the CNS affected by neuroAIDS are: neurons; microglia; astrocytes; and oligodendrocytes. Molecular devices and their associations with cellular injuries have been described from the entry of the virus into the host’s CNS cell to the generation of mental disorders. Furthermore, divergent results were found about the levels of CCL5/RANTES secretion and the generation of immunopathogenesis, while all condensed research for CCR5 indicated that elevation of this receptor causes more neurodegenerative manifestations. Therefore, new therapeutic and interventional strategies can be conditioned on the immunological direction proposed in this review for the disease.
The Combination of Biochar and Bacillus subtilis Biological Agent Reduced the Relative Abundance of Pathogenic Bacteria in the Rhizosphere Soil of Panax notoginseng
Authors: Zhou Yingjie , Liu Yanwei , Li Siwen , Yang Qiliang
Published: April 2024

In the continuous cropping of Panax notoginseng, the pathogenic fungi in the rhizosphere soil increased and infected the roots of Panax notoginseng, resulting in a decrease in yield. This is an urgent problem that needs to be solved in order to effectively overcome the obstacles associated with the continuous cropping of Panax notoginseng. Previous studies have shown that Bacillus subtilis inhibits pathogenic fungi in the rhizosphere of Panax notoginseng, but the inhibitory effect was not stable. Therefore, we hope to introduce biochar to help Bacillus subtilis colonize in soil. In the experiment, fields planted with Panax notoginseng for 5 years were renovated, and biochar was mixed in at the same time. The applied amount of biochar was set to four levels (B0, 10 kg·hm−2; B1, 80 kg·hm−2; B2, 110 kg·hm−2; B3, 140 kg·hm−2), and Bacillus subtilis biological agent was set to three levels (C1, 10 kg·hm−2; C2, 15 kg·hm−2; C3, 25 kg·hm−2). The full combination experiment and a blank control group (CK) were used. The experimental results show that the overall Ascomycota decreased by 0.86%~65.68% at the phylum level. Basidiomycota increased by −73.81%~138.47%, and Mortierellomycota increased by −51.27%~403.20%. At the genus level, Mortierella increased by −10.29%~855.44%, Fusarium decreased by 35.02%~86.79%, and Ilyonectria increased by −93.60%~680.62%. Fusarium mainly causes acute bacterial wilt root rot, while Ilyonectria mainly causes yellow rot. Under different treatments, the Shannon index increased by −6.77%~62.18%, the Chao1 index increased by −12.07%~95.77%, the Simpson index increased by −7.31%~14.98%, and the ACE index increased by −11.75%~96.12%. The good_coverage indices were all above 0.99. The results of a random forest analysis indicated that Ilyonectria, Pyrenochaeta, and Xenopolyscytalum were the top three most important species in the soil, with MeanDecreaseGini values of 2.70, 2.50, and 2.45, respectively. Fusarium, the primary pathogen of Panax notoginseng, ranked fifth, and its MeanDecreaseGini value was 2.28. The experimental results showed that the B2C2 treatment had the best inhibitory effect on Fusarium, and the relative abundance of Fusarium in Panax notoginseng rhizosphere soil decreased by 86.79% under B2C2 treatment; the B1C2 treatment had the best inhibitory effect on Ilyonectria, and the relative abundance of Ilyonectria in the Panax notoginseng rhizosphere soil decreased by 93.60% under B1C2 treatment. Therefore, if we want to improve the soil with acute Ralstonia solanacearum root rot, we should use the B2C2 treatment to improve the soil environment; if we want to improve the soil with yellow rot disease, we should use the B1C2 treatment to improve the soil environment.
Non-Microbiological Mycobacterial Detection Techniques for Quality Control of Biological Products: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Marius Marine , Fernandez Clothilde
Published: April 2024

Mycobacteria can be one of the main contaminants of biological products, and their presence can have serious consequences on patients’ health. For this reason, the European Pharmacopoeia mandates the specific testing of biological products for mycobacteria, a critical regulatory requirement aimed at ensuring the safety of these products before they are released to the market. The current pharmacopeial reference, i.e., microbial culture method, cannot ensure an exhaustive detection of mycobacteria due to their growth characteristics. Additionally, the method is time consuming and requires a continuous supply of culture media, posing logistical challenges. Thus, to overcome these issues, pharmaceutical industries need to consider alternative non-microbiological techniques to detect these fastidious, slow-growing contaminating agents. This review provides an overview of alternative methods, which could be applied within a quality control environment for biological products and underlines their advantages and limitations. Nucleic acid amplification techniques or direct measurement of mycobacteria stand out as the most suitable alternatives for mycobacterial testing in biological products.
Analysis and Functional Prediction of Core Bacteria in the Arabidopsis Rhizosphere Microbiome under Drought Stress
Authors: Zhang Jianfeng , Zhang Hengfei , Luo Shouyang , Ye Libo , Wang Changji , Wang Xiaonan , Tian Chunjie , Sun Yu
Published: April 2024

The effects of global warming, population growth, and economic development are increasing the frequency of extreme weather events, such as drought. Among abiotic stresses, drought has the greatest impact on soil biological activity and crop yields. The rhizosphere microbiota, which represents a second gene pool for plants, may help alleviate the effects of drought on crops. In order to investigate the structure and diversity of the bacterial communities on drought stress, this study analyzed the differences in the bacterial communities by high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatical analyses in the rhizosphere of Arabidopsis thaliana under normal and drought conditions. Based on analysis of α and β diversity, the results showed that drought stress had no significant effect on species diversity between groups, but affected species composition. Difference analysis of the treatments showed that the bacteria with positive responses to drought stress were Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia (BCP) and Streptomyces. Drought stress reduced the complexity of the rhizosphere bacterial co-occurrence network. Streptomyces was at the core of the network in both the control and drought treatments, whereas the enrichment of BCP under drought conditions was likely due to a decrease in competitors. Functional prediction showed that the core bacteria metabolized a wide range of carbohydrates, such as pentose, glycans, and aromatic compounds. Our results provide a scientific and theoretical basis for the use of rhizosphere microbial communities to alleviate plant drought stress and the further exploration of rhizosphere microbial interactions under drought stress.
Mineralogy and a New Fertility Index of Alunite in the Fanshan Lithocap, Luzong Basin, Anhui Province, China
Authors: Li Xuanxuan , Xiao Qingling , Lin Xin , Li Shuangfei , Tang Mingying
Published: April 2024

Alunite is used as a representative mineral for indicating deposits in lithocaps, and lithocaps are generally related to the porphyry–(high-sulfidation) epithermal mineralization system. The study of alunite is of theoretical and exploration significance for prospecting potential underlying porphyry and epithermal deposits. Studies on alunite geochemistry have made breakthroughs, but there is little research on alunite mineralogy, for example, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, differential thermal analysis (DTA), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). This study mainly focuses on alunite micromorphological characteristics, weight loss changes with temperature, and ionic group structure, aiming to identify the relationship between these features and indications for prospecting. The Fanshan lithocap is located in the northwest part of the Luzong basin, Anhui province of China, and it can potentially be used for exploring porphyry and epithermal deposits. Fanshan alunite is formed in two stages with three types of alunite. IA alunite is formed in the early hydrothermal stage and replaces felsic minerals in the Zhuanqiao Formation, IB alunite is formed in the later hydrothermal stage and fills in open spaces with bladed particles, and II alunite is the product of pyrite oxidation and reaction with other minerals in the supergene stage. Alunite electron microprobe data and energy-dispersive spectroscopy data further confirm temperature decreases with hydrothermal evolution, and the presence of a high-sulfidation epithermal system in the Luzong basin. Aside from the forming environment, SWIR, and geochemistry of alunite, there are other indication indexes; for example, the larger peak values at 3480 cm−1 and smaller peak values at 1080 cm−1 in FT-IR spectra and the deeper exothermic valleys at 750 °C and steeper weight loss slopes in the DTA curve suggest a favorable formation environment for alunite and provide valuable indications for deposit exploration and assessments of mineralization potential.
Doping Ferrocene-Based Conjugated Microporous Polymers with 7,7,8,8-Tetracyanoquinodimethane for Efficient Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction
Authors: Wang Shenglin , Yan Qianqian , Hu Hui , Su Xiaofang , Xu Huanjun , Wang Jianyi , Gao Yanan
Published: April 2024

The design and synthesis of organic photocatalysts remain a great challenge due to their strict structural constraints. However, this could be mitigated by achieving structural flexibility by constructing permanent porosity into the materials. Conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) are an emerging class of porous materials with an amorphous, three-dimensional network structure, which makes it possible to integrate the elaborate functional groups to enhance photocatalytic performance. Here, we report the synthesis of a novel CMP, named TAPFc-TFPPy-CMP, constructed by 1,1′3,3′-tetra(4-aminophenyl)ferrocene (TAPFc) and 1,3,6,8-tetrakis(4-formylphenyl)pyrene (TFPPy) monomers. The integration of the p-type dopant 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) into the TAPFc-TFPPy-CMP improved the light adsorption performance, leading to a decrease in the optical bandgap from 2.00 to 1.43 eV. The doped CMP (TCNQ@TAPFc-TFPPy-CMP) exhibited promising catalytic activity in photocatalytic CO2 reduction under visible light, yielding 546.8 μmol g−1 h−1 of CO with a selectivity of 96% and 5.2 μmol g−1 h−1 of CH4. This represented an 80% increase in the CO yield compared to the maternal TAPFc-TFPPy-CMP. The steady-state photoluminescence (PL) and fluorescence lifetime (FL) measurements reveal faster carrier separation and transport after the doping. This study provides guidance for the development of organic photocatalysts for the utilization of renewable energy.
Interzeolite Transformation from FAU-to-EDI Type of Zeolite
Authors: Ferdov Stanislav
Published: April 2024

This study reports for the first time the transformation of the pre-made FAU type of zeolite to the EDI type of zeolite. The concentration of the KOH solution controls this interzeolite transformation, which unusually occurs at both room temperature and under hydrothermal conditions. The transformation involves the amorphization and partial dissolution of the parent FAU phase, followed by the crystallization of EDI zeolite. At room temperature, the transformation (11–35 days) provides access to well-shaped nano-sized crystals and hollow hierarchical particles while the hydrothermal synthesis results in faster crystallization (6–27 h). These findings reveal an example of an interzeolite transformation to a potassium zeolite that lacks common composite building units with the parent zeolite phase. Finally, this work also demonstrates the first room-temperature synthesis of EDI zeolite from a gel precursor.
Exploring Enhanced Hydrolytic Dehydrogenation of Ammonia Borane with Porous Graphene-Supported Platinum Catalysts
Authors: Xu Zhenbo , Sun Xiaolei , Chen Yao
Published: April 2024

Graphene is a good support for immobilizing catalysts, due to its large theoretical specific surface area and high electric conductivity. Solid chemical converted graphene, in a form with multiple layers, decreases the practical specific surface area. Building pores in graphene can increase specific surface area and provide anchor sites for catalysts. In this study, we have prepared porous graphene (PG) via the process of equilibrium precipitation followed by carbothermal reduction of ZnO. During the equilibrium precipitation process, hydrolyzed N,N-dimethylformamide sluggishly generates hydroxyl groups which transform Zn2+ into amorphous ZnO nanodots anchored on reduced graphene oxide. After carbothermal reduction of zinc oxide, micropores are formed in PG. When the Zn2+ feeding amount is 0.12 mmol, the average size of the Pt nanoparticles on PG in the catalyst is 7.25 nm. The resulting Pt/PG exhibited the highest turnover frequency of 511.6 min−1 for ammonia borane hydrolysis, which is 2.43 times that for Pt on graphene without the addition of Zn2+. Therefore, PG treated via equilibrium precipitation and subsequent carbothermal reduction can serve as an effective support for the catalytic hydrolysis of ammonia borane.