bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Association between Parkinson’s Disease and Congestive Heart Failure in Korea: A Nationwide Longitudinal Cohort Study
Authors: Kim Jimin , Kim Hakyung , Kim Sol Bi , Kim Woo Yup , Sheen Seung Hun , Han Inbo , Hong Je Beom , Sohn Seil
Published: September 2023

The purpose of this nationwide longitudinal follow-up study is to investigate the relationship between Parkinson’s disease (PD) and congestive heart failure (CHF) patients in Korea. Patient data were collected using the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) Health Screening (HEALS) cohort. The International Classification of Diseases 10-CM code G-20 distinguished 6475 PD patients who were enrolled in the PD group. After removing 1039 patients who were not hospitalized or attended an outpatient clinic less than twice, the total number of participants was reduced to 5436 individuals. Then, 177 patients diagnosed before 1 January 2004 were removed for relevancy, leaving us with 5259 PD patients. After case–control matching was completed using 1:5 age- and gender-coordinated matching, 26,295 people were chosen as part of the control group. The Cox proportional hazards regression analysis and the Kaplan–Meier technique were used to assess the risk of CHF in patients with Parkinson’s disease. After controlling for age and gender, the hazard ratio of CHF in the PD group was 5.607 (95% confidence interval (CI), 4.496–6.993). After that, the hazard ratio of CHF in the PD group was modified against for comorbid medical disorders, resulting in a value of 5.696 (95% CI, 4.566–7.107). In subgroup analysis, CHF incidence rates were significantly increased in the PD group compared to the control group (males and females; aged ≥ 65 and <65; the non-diabetes and diabetes, hypertension and non-hypertension, and dyslipidemia and non-dyslipidemia subgroups). This nationwide longitudinal study shows a higher incidence rate of CHF in PD patients.
Managing Financial Performance toward Achievements in Sustainability Prospects: Comparative Analysis of the e-Commerce and Hospitality Industries
Authors: Velickovic Gabrijela , Stanojevic Jelena , Veselinovic Milan
Published: September 2023

The recent pandemic has been identified as a driver of one of the most severe socio-economic crises over the last few decades. While some sectors have experienced an expansion, others have struggled with a changed business environment. The aim of this research is to simultaneously examine the financial performance and sustainability of the e-commerce and hospitality industries, applying asset and debt ratio analysis to the top five companies in the world from each sector in the time period from 2017 to 2022. The results indicate that the assessed companies demonstrated the ability to successfully manage some of their assets. The debt ratio analysis implies that the assessed companies in the hotel industry have reshaped their capital structure, increasing their reliance on debt in 2020 and 2021 to finance their assets. On the contrary, the selected e-commerce companies were found on average to rely less on debt to finance assets. In accordance with expectations, the differences across the examined sectors and companies that have been observed are mostly in regard to the lower scale of utilization of fixed assets to generate turnover, and in terms of the increased share of debts used to finance assets in the hotel industry, which was among the first and hardest hit by the pandemic. Consequently, the study allows policy makers to identify distinctive strategies for each area of economic activity.
Study on the Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Land Use Changes in the Metropolitan Fringe Area: The Case of Shenzhen Metropolitan Area in China
Authors: Deng Shuhan , Huang Yihui , Chen Hongsheng
Published: September 2023

With the development of the regional economy, the metropolitan area has gradually shifted from the rapid development stage of concentrating on the central city to the stage of coordinated and integrated regional development. This trend has brought new development opportunities to the metropolitan fringe area; however, due to the differences in resource endowment and the complex relationship between different levels of government, the metropolitan fringe area inevitably has contradictions and imbalances in economic and social development. There has been extensive research on land use and urban governance in the metropolitan area, but less attention has been paid to the metropolitan fringe area, and it is difficult to quantitatively characterize the complex interactions between various forces in this area. This paper summarizes the spatial pattern and spatiotemporal characteristics of construction land use in the fringe area of Shenzhen metropolitan area based on the 30 m resolution land cover dataset from 2000 to 2020, and analyzes the driving factors affecting the changes of construction land use through logistic regression. The results show that the overall land use in the study area is shifting from cropland and forest land to urban and rural construction land. With different stages of development, the rate of land change varies greatly from one period to another. Three factors, population density, lighting index and distance to highway, have a significant correlation with the changes in built-up land across the region, while the boundary effects of administrative boundaries show some variation in the impact of urban land expansion at different economic levels. Finally, we put forward that reducing the negative impact of administrative divisions on the integration of resources in different cities is important for realizing the synergistic development of the Shenzhen metropolitan area.
Coexistence and Succession of Spontaneous and Planted Vegetation on Extensive Mediterranean Green Roofs: Impacts on Soil, Seed Banks, and Mesofauna
Authors: Vidaller Christel , Jouet Anaïs , Van Mechelen Carmen , De Almeida Tania , Cortet Jérôme , Rivière Lucie , Mahy Grégory , Hermy Martin , Dutoit Thierry
Published: September 2023

Extensive green roofs are well known to improve the urban environment, but in the Mediterranean regions, dry climatic conditions pose the problem of their sustainability when no irrigation is applied. After planting or sowing in 2012, 18 local Mediterranean plant species on different types of exposure and substrate in a non-irrigated extensive green roof in Avignon (South-Eastern France), the physico-chemical characteristics of the soil, winter and spring soil seed banks, soil mesofauna and initially sown, planted, or spontaneous vegetation expressed on the surface were studied from 2013 to 2020. In 2020, significant differences related to the exposure conditions (shade/sun) and, to a lesser extent, to the depth of substrate used (5 cm/5 cm or 10 cm with a water retention layer) were found. The deeper plots in the shade have significantly higher soil fertility, cover, and vegetation height. However, the plots in the sun have higher moss cover, planted or sowed vegetation abundance, and springtail abundance. By 2020, more than half of the initially sown species had disappeared, except for several planted perennials and short-cycle annual species. On the other hand, a significant increase in the species richness of spontaneously established species was measured over time. In the absence of a permanent and transient seed bank for the sowed and spontaneous species, the plant community is then mostly dependent on species flows via the local surrounding seed rain. Planting perennial species (Sedum spp., Iris lutescens), followed by spontaneous colonization of species present in the vicinity of the roof would then represent a more efficient strategy for the persistence of extensive non-irrigated green roofs in Mediterranean environments than sowing a species-rich local Mediterranean seed mixture dominated by annual species.
Sediment Grain-Size Composition in the Permafrost Region of the Greater Khingan Range and Its Significance as a Material Source
Authors: Liu Lixin , Zang Shuying , Wu Xiaodong , Liu Rui , Li Tianrui , Zhu Jiaju , Sun Li , Wu Shaoqiang , Dong Xingfeng , Zhang Zihao
Published: September 2023

Sediment grain-size distribution (GSD) provides rich information about sedimentary sources and can potentially do the same with regard to environmental and climatic changes. However, neither traditional descriptive statistics nor curving-fitting methods can fully address its complexity. We selected the Greater Khingan Range in northeastern China as the study area and used parameterized end-member analysis (EMA) of the GSD of four drilling cores to extract different end-member (EM) components. The results show that EM1 (mode particle size (Mo): 1.26–1.66 μm) originates from weathering and pedogenesis. The EMs with Mo values of 4.37–5.01 μm represent components transported by the upper westerly wind. EMs with Mo values of 7.58 μm and 11.48 μm represent wet dust deposition and dry dust deposition. The wind transport of particles in winter consists of low-level near-source transport and local-source transport (possibly from the flood plain of the Amur River). Due to the limitations of the EM model, the two sources have one or two EM components: AEM3 + AEM4, BEM3 + BEM4, CEM4, and DEM4. DEM5 is the only large particle-size component and may represent coarse-grained detritus generated via rock weathering. The components related to the winter monsoon and the 14C dating data suggest a weak-strong-weak-strong trend of the winter monsoon since the Marine Isotope Stage 3a (MIS 3a). Our results suggest that the strengthening of the winter monsoons in the previous few thousand years has caused the transportation of coarser grain sizes and further exacerbated permafrost degradation, providing a scientific reference for understanding climate change and the formation and evolution of permafrost in the Greater Khingan Mountains since the MIS 3a.
Progression of Rare Inherited Retinal Dystrophies May Be Monitored by Adaptive Optics Imaging
Authors: Samelska Katarzyna , Szaflik Jacek Paweł , Śmigielska Barbara , Zaleska-Żmijewska Anna
Published: September 2023

Inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs) are bilateral genetic conditions of the retina, leading to irreversible vision loss. This study included 55 eyes afflicted with IRDs affecting the macula. The diseases examined encompassed Stargardt disease (STGD), cone dystrophy (CD), and cone–rod dystrophy (CRD) using adaptive optics (Rtx1™; Imagine Eyes, Orsay, France). Adaptive optics facilitate high-quality visualisation of retinal microstructures, including cones. Cone parameters, such as cone density (DM), cone spacing (SM), and regularity (REG), were analysed. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was assessed as well. Examinations were performed twice over a 6-year observation period. A significant change was observed in DM (1282.73/mm2 vs. 10,073.42/mm2, p< 0.001) and SM (9.83 μm vs. 12.16 μm, p< 0.001) during the follow-up. BCVA deterioration was also significant (0.16 vs. 0.12, p = 0.001), albeit uncorrelated with the change in cone parameters. No significant difference in REG was detected between the initial examination and the follow-up (p = 0.089).
Finite Element Analysis of the Influence of the Assembly Parameters on the Fretting Phenomena at the Bearing/Big End Interface in High-Performance Connecting Rods
Authors: Renso Fabio , Barbieri Saverio Giulio , Mangeruga Valerio , Giacopini Matteo
Published: September 2023

Fretting fatigue is a well-known and dangerous damage mode that occurs on the mating surfaces of mechanical components, mainly promoted by a combination of stress distribution, contact pressure distribution, and relative sliding (micro)motion between the surfaces. However, predicting this mechanism is challenging, necessitating specific studies for each assembly due to variable influences. This article presents a methodology for evaluating fretting fatigue damage at the contact between a titanium connecting rod big end and the bearing, adopting the Ruiz parameter as a quantifying damage index. For this purpose, a thermal-structural finite element model is prepared. In particular, the machining and assembly of the split conrod big end are simulated, considering thermal effects. A full engine cycle is first simulated, and results are used for identifying critical instants to be considered for accurate yet computationally efficient calculations. The dependence of fretting fatigue on three factors is studied: bearing crush, bolts tightening torque, and friction coefficient between the big end and the bearing. In summary, the damage increases with a higher crush and friction, while tightening torque has marginal effects. Following a 20% increase in crush height, a corresponding 10% rise in the Ruiz parameter is observed. Conversely, reducing the crush height by 20% leads to an approximately 8% decrease in the Ruiz parameter. When the influence of the bolt preload is taken into account, only a marginal 1% increase of the Ruiz parameter is recorded despite a 30% rise in preload. Evaluating the impact of the friction coefficient on the Ruiz parameter reveals an almost linear relationship. These findings suggest that adjusting the screw preload can enhance the hydrodynamic behavior of the bearing without exacerbating fretting. Furthermore, exploiting the linear correlation between Ruiz and the friction coefficient allows for the generalization of results obtained with specific coefficient values. This methodology can, therefore, serve as a valuable reference for adjusting different variables during the initial design phases of a four-stroke internal combustion engine’s dismountable connecting rod.
Optimization of the Tribological Performance and Service Life of Calcium Sulfonate Complex—Polyurea Grease Based on Unreplicated Saturated Factorial Design
Authors: Zhang Hong , Mo Yimin , Liu Qingchun , Wang Jun , Li Qian
Published: September 2023

In order to further extend the service life of calcium sulfonate complex–polyurea grease (CSCPG) while ensuring its tribological performance, this article starts with the production of raw materials and the preparation process of the grease and explores the factors that significantly affect the tribological performance and service life of CSCPG based on unreplicated saturated factorial design (USFD). The Kriging prediction model is used along with the optimization objectives of friction coefficient and service life, and nondominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) was used for a multi-objective optimization solution. The tribological and service life tests were conducted before and after optimization. The results show that the viscosity of the base oil and the content of the nano-solid friction reducers have a significant impact on the tribological properties of CSCPG. The content of polyurea thickeners and antioxidants, as well as the thickening reaction temperature, have a significant impact on the service life of CSCPG. When the friction coefficient and service life are optimized as objectives and are compared to the initial group, the friction coefficient of CSCPG could be reduced by 5.3%, and the service life could be extended by 3.8%. The Kriging prediction model based on USFD has high accuracy and can be used to guide the preparation and performance optimization of CSCPG.
Synthesis of N1-(3,5-Bis(trifluoromethyl)benzyl)benzene-1,2-diamine and N,N-Bis(2-nitrophenyl)-3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)aniline
Authors: Ciber Luka , Brodnik Helena , Požgan Franc , Svete Jurij , Štefane Bogdan , Grošelj Uroš
Published: September 2023

A monosubstituted benzene-1,2-diamine building block, N1-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzyl)benzene-1,2-diamine, was prepared in two steps from commercially available 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzylamine and 1-fluoro-2-nitrobenzene, while the use of 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)aniline as the starting amine gave a triarylamine, N,N-bis(2-nitrophenyl)-3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)aniline. The structures of the newly synthesized compounds were fully characterized.
Privacy-Preserving Distributed Learning via Newton Algorithm
Authors: Cao Zilong , Guo Xiao , Zhang Hai
Published: September 2023

Federated learning (FL) is a prominent distributed learning framework. The main barriers of FL include communication cost and privacy breaches. In this work, we propose a novel privacy-preserving second-order-based FL method, called GDP-LocalNewton. To improve the communication efficiency, we use Newton’s method to iterate and allow local computations before aggregation. To ensure strong privacy guarantee, we make use of the notion of differential privacy (DP) to add Gaussian noise in each iteration. Using advanced tools of Gaussian differential privacy (GDP), we prove that the proposed algorithm satisfies the strong notion of GDP. We also establish the convergence of our algorithm. It turns out that the convergence error comes from the local computation and Gaussian noise for DP. We conduct experiments to show the merits of the proposed algorithm.
A Comparison of the Tortuosity Phenomenon in Retinal Arteries and Veins Using Digital Image Processing and Statistical Methods
Authors: Badawi Sufian A. , Takruri Maen , Guessoum Djamel , Elbadawi Isam , Albadawi Ameera , Nileshwar Ajay , Mosalam Emad
Published: September 2023

The tortuosity of retinal blood vessels is an important phenomenon, and it can act as a biomarker in the diagnosis of several eye diseases. The study of abnormalities in the tortuosity of retinal arteries and veins provides ophthalmologists with important information for disease diagnosis. Our study aims to compare the tortuosity relation between retinal arteries and veins by quantifying the vessels’ tortuosity in the retina using 14 tortuosity measures applied to the AV-classification retinal dataset. Two feature sets are created, one for arteries and the other for veins. The comparison between the tortuosity of arteries and veins is based on a two-sample T-test statistical method, a regression analysis between the quantified tortuosity features, principal component analysis at the dataset level, and the introduction of the arteriovenous length ratios concept to compare the variations in these new ratios to see the tortuosity behavior in each image. The methods’ results have shown that the tortuosity of retinal arteries and veins is similar. The result of the two-sample T-test supports the research hypothesis, as the P-value obtained was greater than 0.05. Furthermore, the regression analysis between arteries and veins features showed a high correlation (r2 = 89.39% and 89.11%) for arteries and veins, respectively. The study concludes that the retinal vessel type has no statistical significance in the tortuosity calculation results.
Blockwise Joint Detection of Physical Cell Identity and Carrier Frequency Offset for Narrowband IoT Applications
Authors: You Young-Hwan , Jung Yong-An , Lee Sung-Hun , Hwang Intae
Published: September 2023

This paper presents a novel formulation for detecting the secondary synchronization signal in a narrowband Internet of Things communication system. The proposed approach is supported by a noncoherent algorithm that eliminates the need for channel information. A robust joint synchronization scheme is developed by decoupling the estimations of the physical cell identity and the carrier frequency offset. We derive the detection probability of the proposed physical cell identity detector and the mean squared error of the carrier frequency offset estimator, demonstrating their accuracy through simulation results. The performance of the proposed detection scheme is compared with that of existing detection schemes in terms of both estimation accuracy and computational complexity. Experimental results confirm that the proposed synchronization method exhibits superior performance while maintaining relatively lower complexity compared with benchmark methods.
Treatment of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria after Kidney Transplantation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Rao Zhengsheng , Wang Zhiling , Tang Ming , Shen Linguo , Zhang Keqin
Published: September 2023

Background and Objectives: Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) is prevalent in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) and is hypothesized to heighten the risk of subsequent urinary tract infections (UTIs). Whether antibiotic treatment of ASB in KTRs is beneficial has not been elucidated. Materials and Methods: We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis of all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs that examined the merits of managing asymptomatic bacteriuria in KTRs. The primary outcomes were rates of symptomatic urinary tract infections (UTIs) and antimicrobial resistance. Results: Five studies encompassing 566 patients were included. No significant difference in symptomatic UTI rates was found between antibiotics and no treatment groups (relative risk (RR) 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.78–1.41), with moderate heterogeneity (I2 = 36%). Antibiotic treatment was found to present an uncertain risk for the development of drug-resistant strains (RR = 1.51, 95% CI = 0.95–2.40, I2 = 0%). In all trials, no significant difference between study arms was demonstrated regarding patient and graft outcomes, such as graft function, graft loss, hospitalization due to UTI, all-cause mortality, or acute rejection. Conclusions: The practice of screening and treating kidney transplant patients for asymptomatic bacteriuria does not curtail the incidence of future symptomatic UTIs, increase antimicrobial resistance, or affect graft outcomes. Whether early treatment of ASB after kidney transplantation (<2 months) is beneficial requires more RCTs.
Treatment of Metaphyseal Defects in Plated Proximal Humerus Fractures with a New Augmentation Technique—A Biomechanical Cadaveric Study
Authors: Zhelev Daniel , Hristov Stoyan , Zderic Ivan , Ivanov Stoyan , Visscher Luke , Baltov Asen , Ribagin Simeon , Stoffel Karl , Kralinger Franz , Winkler Jörg , Richards R. Geoff , Varga Peter , Gueorguiev Boyko
Published: September 2023

Background and Objectives: Unstable proximal humerus fractures (PHFs) with metaphyseal defects—weakening the osteosynthesis construct—are challenging to treat. A new augmentation technique of plated complex PHFs with metaphyseal defects was recently introduced in the clinical practice. This biomechanical study aimed to analyze the stability of plated unstable PHFs augmented via implementation of this technique versus no augmentation. Materials and Methods: Three-part AO/OTA 11-B1.1 unstable PHFs with metaphyseal defects were created in sixteen paired human cadaveric humeri (average donor age 76 years, range 66–92 years), pairwise assigned to two groups for locked plate fixation with identical implant configuration. In one of the groups, six-milliliter polymethylmethacrylate bone cement with medium viscosity (seven minutes after mixing) was placed manually through the lateral window in the defect of the humerus head after its anatomical reduction to the shaft and prior to the anatomical reduction of the greater tuberosity fragment. All specimens were tested biomechanically in a 25° adduction, applying progressively increasing cyclic loading at 2 Hz until failure. Interfragmentary movements were monitored by motion tracking and X-ray imaging. Results: Initial stiffness was not significantly different between the groups, p = 0.467. Varus deformation of the humerus head fragment, fracture displacement at the medial humerus head aspect, and proximal screw migration and cut-out were significantly smaller in the augmented group after 2000, 4000, 6000, 8000 and 10,000 cycles, p ≤ 0.019. Cycles to 5° varus deformation of the humerus head fragment—set as a clinically relevant failure criterion—and failure load were significantly higher in the augmented group, p = 0.018. Conclusions: From a biomechanical standpoint, augmentation with polymethylmethacrylate bone cement placed in the metaphyseal humerus head defect of plated unstable PHFs considerably enhances fixation stability and can reduce the risk of postoperative complications.
Microwave All-Dielectric Metamaterial Design of FeSiAl/MWCNT Composite for Low-Frequency Broadband-Absorbing Properties
Authors: Wang Xiaokun , Guo Mengchao , Dai Yuyao , Liang Leilei , Tang Dongming , Zhang Baoshan , Yang Yi
Published: September 2023

FeSiAl flakes were fabricated by vibrating ball milling the FeSiAl ribbons. And the microwave absorption properties of FeSiAl flakes were improved by doping the multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with different mass concentrations. The results show that the FeSiAl/MWCNT composites exhibit significantly improved microwave absorption performance with advantages of strong and broadband absorption in the L-band and S-band. In particular, the reflection loss (RL) of the FeSiAl/MWCNT2 composite reaches −7.4 dB at 1.0 GHz, whereupon, through the electromagnetic simulation software CST Microwave Studio, FeSiAl/MWCNT2 all-dielectric metamaterial absorbers (ADMMAs) were macroscopically designed, achieving an ultra-wideband absorption (RL ≤ −10 dB) of 14.4 GHz (3.6~18.0 GHz). It is recognized that the standing wavelength resonance and diffraction effect are responsible for absorbing electromagnetic waves, and the broadband absorption is improved via dielectric dispersion; their synergistic effect makes the ADMMAs exhibit good microwave absorption performance. This work provides a useful method for designing microwave absorption materials with broadband absorption.
Whole-Genome Sequencing and Biotechnological Potential Assessment of Two Bacterial Strains Isolated from Poultry Farms in Belgorod, Russia
Authors: Senchenkov Vladislav Yu. , Lyakhovchenko Nikita S. , Nikishin Ilya A. , Myagkov Dmitry A. , Chepurina Anna A. , Polivtseva Valentina N. , Abashina Tatiana N. , Delegan Yanina A. , Nikulicheva Tatiana B. , Nikulin Ivan S. , Bogun Alexander G. , Solomentsev Viktor I. , Solyanikova Inna P.
Published: September 2023

Bacteria, designated as A1.1 and A1.2, were isolated from poultry waste based on the ability to form ammonia on LB nutrient medium. Whole genome sequencing identified the studied strains as Peribacillus frigoritolerans VKM B-3700D (A1.1) and Bacillus subtilis VKM B-3701D (A1.2) with genome sizes of 5462638 and 4158287 bp, respectively. In the genome of B. subtilis VKM B-3701D, gene clusters of secondary metabolites of bacillin, subtilisin, bacilisin, surfactin, bacilliacin, fengycin, sactipeptide, and ratipeptide (spore killing factor) with potential antimicrobial activity were identified. Clusters of coronimine and peninodin production genes were found in P. frigoritolerans VKM B-3700D. Information on coronimine in bacteria is extremely limited. The study of the individual properties of the strains showed that the cultures are capable of biosynthesis of a number of enzymes, including amylases. The B. subtilis VKM V-3701D inhibited the growth of bacterial test cultures and reduced the growth rate of the mold fungus Aspergillus unguis VKM F-1754 by 70% relative to the control. The antimicrobial activity of P. frigoritolerans VKM V-3700D was insignificant. At the same time, a mixture of cultures P. frigoritolerans VKM B-3700D/B. subtilis VKM B-3701D reduced the growth rate of A. unguis VKM F-1754 by 24.5%. It has been shown that strain A1.1 is able to use nitrogen compounds for assimilation processes. It can be assumed that P. frigoritolerans VKM V-3700D belongs to the group of nitrifying or denitrifying microorganisms, which may be important in developing methods for reducing nitrogen load and eutrophication.
Macromonas nakdongensis sp. nov., Isolated from Freshwater and Characterization of Bacteriophage BK-30P—The First Phage That Infects Genus Macromonas
Authors: Baek Kiwoon , Choi Ahyoung
Published: September 2023

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, non-pigmented, rod-shaped bacterium was isolated from a freshwater sample of Nakdong River in South Korea and designated as strain BK-30T. An analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain BK-30T revealed its closest phylogenetic neighbors were members of the genus Macromonas. Specifically, the strain formed a robust clade with Macromonas bipunctata DSM 12705T, sharing 98.4% similarity in their 16S rRNA gene sequences. The average nucleotide identity value between strain BK-30T and M. bipunctata DSM 12705T was 79.8%, and the genome-to-genome distance averaged 21.3%, indicating the representation of a novel genomic species. Strain BK-30T exhibited optimum growth at 30 °C and pH 7.0, in the absence of NaCl. The major respiratory isoprenoid quinone identified was ubiquinone-8 (Q-8). The principal fatty acids detected were C16:1 ω7c and/or C16:1 ω6c (49.6%), C16:0 (27.5%), and C18:1 ω7c and/or C18:1 ω6c (9.2%). The DNA G+C content of the strain was determined to be 67.3 mol%. Based on these data, we propose a novel species within the genus Macromonas, named Macromonas nakdongensis sp. nov., to accommodate the bacterial isolate. Strain BK-30T is designated as the type strain (=KCTC 52161T = JCM 31376T = FBCC-B1). Additionally, we present the isolation and complete genome sequence of a lytic phage infecting strain BK-30T, named BK-30P. This bacteriophage is the first reported to infect Macromonas, leading us to propose the name “Macromonasphage”.
Influence of Backbone Ladderization and Side Chain Variation on the Orientation of Diketopyrrolopyrrole-Based Donor-Acceptor Copolymers
Authors: Bölke Sven , Früh Andreas , Trilling Florian , Forster Michael , Scherf Ullrich , Chassé Thomas , Peisert Heiko
Published: September 2023

Ladder polymers with poly(diketopyrrolopyrrole) (DPP) moieties have recently attracted enormous interest for a large variety of opto-electronic applications. Since the rigidity of the backbone increases with ladderization, a strong influence on the self-organization of thin films is expected. We study the molecular orientation of DPP-based ladder polymers in about 50 nm thin films using polarization modulation-infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS). Exemplarily, for one polymer, the orientation in thicker films is qualitatively investigated by infrared spectroscopy in transmission. Further, this method allows us to rule out the effects of a possible azimuthal ordering, which would affect the analysis of the orientation by PM-IRRAS. For all polymers, the long axis of the polymer backbone is preferentially oriented parallel to the substrate surface, pointing to a high degree of ordering. It is suggested that the choice of the side chains might be a promising way to tune for face-on and edge-on orientations. The exemplarily performed investigation of interface properties on substrates with different work functions suggests that the choice of the side chains has a minor effect on the interfacial electronic interface structure.
A Strategy to Valorize a By-Product of Pine Wood (Pinus pinaster) for Copper Removal from Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Mongioví Chiara , Jaillet Maélys , Lacalamita Dario , Morin-Crini Nadia , Lecourt Michael , Tapin-Lingua Sandra , Crini Grégorio
Published: September 2023

This study describes the valorization of a pine wood by-product (Pinus pinaster) in the form of individualized fibers to a complex copper or more broadly metals present in an aqueous solution using a batch process. The adsorption results show that pine fibres activated by sodium carbonate are effective in recovering copper ions from monocontaminated or polycontaminated solutions of varying concentrations in a few minutes. One gram of material captures 2.5 mg of copper present in 100 mL of solution at pH 5 in less than 10 min. The results are perfectly reproducible and independent of pH between 3 and 5. The presence of the Na+ cation at concentrations of 0.1 M has no impact on material performance, unlike that of Ca2+ ions, which competes with Cu2+ ions for active sites. The adsorption process can be considered as rapid, as most of the copper is adsorbed within the first 10 min of exposure. Investigation of modeling possibilities shows some limitations. Indeed, the Weber and Morris and Elovich models show poor possibilities to describe all the kinetic data for copper adsorption on fibres. This may prove that the mechanism is far more complex than simple physisorption, chemisorption and/or diffusion. Complexation by wood fibers can be extended to solutions containing several types of metals. The results of this study show that the field of selective metal recovery could be a new way of valorizing by-products from the wood industry.
Enhancing Structural and Thermal Properties of Poly(lactic acid) Using Graphene Oxide Filler and Anionic Surfactant Treatment
Authors: Laraba Selsabil Rokia , Ullah Najeeb , Bouamer Amirouche , Ullah Asmat , Aziz Tariq , Luo Wei , Djerir Wahiba , Zahra Qurat ul Ain , Rezzoug Amine , Wei Jie , Li Yulin
Published: September 2023

Graphene has attracted extensive attention in various fields due to its intriguing properties. In this work, nanocomposite films based on poly(lactic acid) (PLA and PLLA) polymers filled with graphene oxide (GO) were developed. The impact of treating GO with the anionic surfactant dioctyl sulfosuccinate sodium salt (AOT) on the properties of the resulting nanocomposites was investigated. To determine the morphological, optical, and structural properties of the obtained materials, physicochemical analyses were performed, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Additionally, the thermal properties and wettability of neat polymers and nanocomposites were thoroughly investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and contact angle analysis. It was observed that GO was well dispersed throughout the PLA and PLLA matrix, leading to stronger interface bonding. The results demonstrate that the untreated and treated GO improved the crystallinity and thermal stability properties of the PLA and PLLA. However, the AOT-treated GO has significantly higher performance compared to the untreated GO in terms of crystallinity, melting temperature (increased by ~15 °C), and wettability (the contact angle decreased by ~30°). These findings reveal the high performance of the developed novel composite, which could be applied in tissue engineering as a scaffold.
The Protective Effects of Water-Soluble Alginic Acid on the N-Terminal of Thymopentin
Authors: Ji Haiyu , Fan Yuting , Gao Xiaoji , Gong Youshun , Dai Keyao , Wang Zhenhua , Xu Bo , Yu Juan
Published: September 2023

Thymopentin (TP5) has exhibited strong antitumor and immunomodulatory effects in vivo. However, the polypeptide is rapidly degraded by protease and aminopeptidase within a minute at the N-terminal of TP5, resulting in severe limitations for further practical applications. In this study, the protective effects of water-soluble alginic acid (WSAA) on the N-terminal of TP5 were investigated by establishing an H22 tumor-bearing mice model and determining thymus, spleen, and liver indices, immune cells activities, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-4 levels, and cell cycle distributions. The results demonstrated that WSAA+TP5 groups exhibited the obvious advantages of the individual treatments and showed superior antitumor effects on H22 tumor-bearing mice by effectively protecting the immune organs, activating CD4+ T cells and CD19+ B cells, and promoting immune-related cytokines secretions, finally resulting in the high apoptotic rates of H22 cells through arresting them in S phase. These data suggest that WSAA could effectively protect the N-terminal of TP5, thereby improving its antitumor and immunoregulatory activities, which indicates that WSAA has the potential to be applied in patients bearing cancer or immune deficiency diseases as a novel immunologic adjuvant.
Polyoxometalate-Modified Amphiphilic Polystyrene-block-poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) Membranes for Heterogeneous Glucose to Formic Acid Methyl Ester Oxidation
Authors: Utievskyi Yurii , Neumann Christof , Sindlinger Julia , Schutjajew Konstantin , Oschatz Martin , Turchanin Andrey , Ueberschaar Nico , Schacher Felix H.
Published: September 2023

Herein, we present a new heterogeneous catalyst active toward glucose to formic acid methyl ester oxidation. The catalyst was fabricated via electrostatic immobilization of the inorganic polyoxometalate HPA-5 catalyst H8[PMo7V5O40] onto the pore surface of amphiphilic block copolymer membranes prepared via non-solvent-induced phase separation (NIPS). The catalyst immobilization was achieved via wet impregnation due to strong coulombic interactions between protonated tertiary amino groups of the polar poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) block and the anionic catalyst. Overall, three sets of five consecutive catalytic cycles were performed in an autoclave under 90 °С and 11.5 bar air pressure in methanol, and the corresponding yields of formic acid methyl ester were quantified via head-space gas chromatography. The obtained results demonstrate that the membrane maintains its catalytic activity over multiple cycles, resulting in high to moderate yields in comparison to a homogeneous catalytic system. Nevertheless, presumably due to leaching, the catalytic activity declines over five catalytic cycles. The morphological and chemical changes of the membrane during the prolonged catalysis under harsh conditions were examined in detail using different analytic tools, and it seems that the underlying block copolymer is not affected by the catalytic process.
Engineering Self-Assembled Nanomedicines Composed of Clinically Approved Medicines for Enhanced Tumor Nanotherapy
Authors: Jiang Quzi , Yu Luodan , Chen Yu
Published: September 2023

The traditional nanocarriers are typically constructed to deliver anticancer agents for improving drug bioavailability and enhancing chemotherapeutic efficacy, but this strategy suffers from the critical issue of nanocarrier biosafety that hinders further clinical translation. In this work, a unique nanomedicine (PTX@ICG) has been rationally constructed by combining two clinically approved agents, i.e., paclitaxel (PTX) and indocyanine green (ICG), by a facile ultrasound-assisted self-assembly methodology. The formation of the nanostructure can effectively increase the enrichment of PTX and ICG molecules in the tumor site, and improve the utilization factor of hydrophobic PTX. Moreover, since the molecule interaction in PTX@ICG is mainly Van der Waals forces, the self-assembled structure can be spontaneously dissociated under laser irradiation and release PTX in situ to achieve safe tumor-targeted chemotherapy. Simultaneously, the released ICG can act as photothermic agents for photothermal therapy (PTT), thus combining chemotherapy and PTT to obtain an enhanced tumor nanotherapy via facile self-assembly. The synergistic chemo/photothermal tumor nanotherapy achieved the efficient tumor cell-killing effect and tumor-ablation ability, as systematically demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo. This work provides a distinct paradigm of the self-assembled nanomedicine design for effectively improving the drug bioavailability to achieve high antitumor efficacy.
Design of a Metasurface with Long Depth of Focus Using Superoscillation
Authors: Zhao Tianyu , Lv Xiao , Wang Yue , Wu Yihui
Published: September 2023

Longitudinal optical field modulation is very important for applications such as optical imaging, spectroscopy, and optical manipulation. It can achieve high-resolution imaging or manipulation of the target object, but it is also limited by its depth of focus. The depth of focus determines whether the target object can be clearly imaged or manipulated at different distances, so extending the depth of focus can improve the adaptability and flexibility of the system. However, how to extend the depth of focus is still a significant challenge. In this paper, we use a super-oscillation phase modulation optimization method to design a polarization-independent metalens with extended focal depth, taking the axial focal depth length as the optimization objective. The optimized metalens has a focal depth of 13.07 μm (about 22.3 λ), and in the whole focal depth range, the transverse full width at half maximum values are close to the Rayleigh diffraction limit, and the focusing efficiency is above 10%. The results of this paper provide a new idea for the design of a metalens with a long focal depth and may have application value in imaging, lithography, and detection.
The Potentiating Effect of Graphene Oxide on the Arylhydrocarbon Receptor (AhR)–Cytochrome P4501A (Cyp1A) System Activated by Benzo(k)fluoranthene (BkF) in Rainbow Trout Cell Line
Authors: Valdehita Ana , Fernández-Cruz María Luisa , Navas José M.
Published: September 2023

The increasing use of graphene oxide (GO) will result in its release into the environment; therefore, it is essential to determine its final fate and possible metabolism by organisms. The objective of this study was to assess the possible role of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-dependent cytochrome P4501A (Cyp1A) detoxification activities on the catabolism of GO. Our hypothesis is that GO cannot initially interact with the AhR, but that after an initial degradation caused by other mechanisms, small fractions of GO could activate the AhR, inducing Cyp1A. The environmental pollutant benzo(k)fluoranthene (BkF) was used for the initial activation of the AhR in the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) cell line RTL-W1. Pre-, co-, and post-exposure experiments with GO were performed and Cyp1A induction was monitored. The strong stimulation of Cyp1A observed in cells after exposure to GO, when BkF levels were not detected in the system, suggests a direct action of GO. The role of the AhR was confirmed by a blockage of the observed effects in co-treatment experiments with αNF (an AhR antagonist). These results suggest a possible role for the AhR and Cyp1A system in the cellular metabolism of GO and that GO could modulate the toxicity of environmental pollutants.
Liquid Shear Exfoliation of MoS2: Preparation, Characterization, and NO2-Sensing Properties
Authors: Ni Pingping , Dieng Mbaye , Vanel Jean-Charles , Florea Ileana , Bouanis Fatima Zahra , Yassar Abderrahim
Published: September 2023

2D materials possess great potential to serve as gas-sensing materials due to their large, specific surface areas and strong surface activities. Among this family, transition metal chalcogenide materials exhibit different properties and are promising candidates for a wide range of applications, including sensors, photodetectors, energy conversion, and energy storage. Herein, a high-shear mixing method has been used to produce multilayered MoS2 nanosheet dispersions. MoS2 thin films were manufactured by vacuum-assisted filtration. The structural morphology of MoS2 was studied using ς-potential, UV–visible, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman spectroscopy (RS). The spectroscopic and microscopic analyses confirm the formation of a high-crystalline MoS2 thin film with good inter-sheet connectivity and relative thickness uniformity. The thickness of the MoS2 layer is measured to be approximately 250 nm, with a nanosheet size of 120 nm ± 40 nm and a number of layers between 6 and 9 layers. Moreover, the electrical characteristics clearly showed that the MoS2 thin film exhibits good conductivity and a linear I–V curve response, indicating good ohmic contact between the MoS2 film and the electrodes. As an example of applicability, we fabricated chemiresistive sensor devices with a MoS2 film as a sensing layer. The performance of the MoS2-chemiresistive sensor for NO2 was assessed by being exposed to different concentrations of NO2 (1 ppm to 10 ppm). This sensor shows a sensibility to low concentrations of 1 ppm, with a response time of 114 s and a recovery time of 420 s. The effect of thin-film thickness and operating temperatures on sensor response was studied. The results show that thinner film exhibits a higher response to NO2; the response decreases as the working temperature increases.
A Design Method of Diffraction Structure Based on Metasurface for High-Resolution Spectroscopy
Authors: Hu Jingaowa , Wang Lingjie , Zhao Shangnan , Ye Haokun
Published: September 2023

In this paper, a design method of diffraction structure based on metasurface is proposed for light splitting and focusing simultaneously. In the method, firstly, the light field calculation model of the proposed structure is established based on Fresnel diffraction and the transmittance function is calculated. Then, the model structural parameter selection mechanism is determined, and the spectrum resolution equation of the structure is derived. Simulation results indicate that the proposed method can offer a broader working bandwidth and enhanced higher resolution compared to off-axis meta-lens. Moreover, this proposed method can be deployed in high-resolution, wide-band ultra-compact spectrometer systems potentially.
The Impact of Prenatal Vitamin D on Enamel Defects and Tooth Erosion: A Systematic Review
Authors: Tapalaga Gianina , Bumbu Bogdan Andrei , Reddy Sandhya Rani , Vutukuru Sai Diksha , Nalla Akhila , Bratosin Felix , Fericean Roxana Manuela , Dumitru Catalin , Crisan Doru Ciprian , Nicolae Nicoleta , Luca Magda Mihaela
Published: September 2023

Prenatal Vitamin D has been suggested to be critical for dental health in children, affecting outcomes including the prevalence of enamel defects and tooth erosion. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the potential impact of prenatal Vitamin D levels on these dental health outcomes. A total of seven studies, involving 6978 participants, were included after a comprehensive search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus from 2013 to June 2023. The average age of mothers varied across studies, with Vitamin D levels or supplementation practices displaying significant variation among the study populations. The age of children at examination ranged from 3.6 to 6.6 years. The analysis demonstrated a diverse association between Vitamin D levels and dental outcomes, with enamel defects reported in 21.1% to 64% of the children and opacities ranging from 36% to 79.5% across studies. Maternal Vitamin D insufficiency was identified as a significant risk factor for enamel defects in one study (OR: 3.55), whereas high prenatal Vitamin D levels indicated a protective effect against Hypomineralized Second Primary Molars (OR: 0.84) and Molar Incisor Hypomineralization (OR: 0.95) in another. Conversely, low Vitamin D levels increased the risk of enamel hypoplasia (OR: 1.29) and dental decay. The maternal and child demographics varied greatly across the studies, and the assessment and prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency were heterogenous. This review illuminates the potential influence of prenatal Vitamin D on dental health in children, underscoring the importance of adequate Vitamin D levels during pregnancy. However, more robust research is required to establish the optimal Vitamin D intake during pregnancy to ensure healthy dental outcomes in children.