bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An effective antimicrobial strategy of colistin combined with the Chinese herbal medicine shikonin against colistin-resistant
Escherichia coli
Authors: Liu Yan , Wang Yue , Kong Jingchun , Jiang Xianguo , Han Yijia , Feng Luozhu , Sun Yao , Chen Lijiang , Zhou Tieli
Published: October 2023

The treatment of bacterial infections has become more challenging due to the increasing prevalence of colistin-resistant (Col-R) pathogens. Shikonin is a Chinese herbal medicine that has been proven to have antibacterial properties. In recent years, many studies have shown that the combination of traditional antibiotics and non-antibacterial drugs can effectively treat infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria. This study evaluated the potential of shikonin in combination with colistin to inhibit colistin-resistant
Escherichia coli
(Col-R
E. coli
)
,
and explored potential interaction. In checkerboard analysis, shikonin could significantly reduce the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of colistin by two to eight times, enhancing the susceptibility of Col-R
E. coli
to colistin. Shikonin also increased the bactericidal effect of colistin against Col-R
E. coli
in 24 h time-kill assays, resulting in a >3 log-fold decrease in colony-forming units.
In vivo
tests showed that the combination of colistin and shikonin could significantly improve the survival rate of
Galleria mellonella
. In addition, confocal laser scanning microscopy and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction showed that colistin/shikonin could inhibit the formation of biofilms, and shikonin could down-regulate the transcription level of biofilm-regulated genes (
csgA
,
csgD
,
flhC
,
flhD
,
fliC
,
fliM
,
lsrK
, and
lsrR
). The synergistic mechanism of colistin and shikonin was further revealed by detecting membrane integrity, reactive oxygen species production, and
mcr-1
gene expression. Our findings indicate that the colistin/shikonin combination may be a promising alternative approach to treat Col-R
E. coli
infections.

IMPORTANCE

Infections caused by multidrug-resistant
Escherichia coli
(MDR
E. coli
) have become a major global healthcare problem due to the lack of effective antibiotics today. The emergence of colistin-resistant
E. coli
strains makes the situation even worse. Therefore, new antimicrobial strategies are urgently needed to combat colistin-resistant
E. coli
. Combining traditional antibiotics with non-antibacterial drugs has proved to be an effective approach of combating MDR bacteria. This study investigated the combination of colistin and shikonin, a Chinese herbal medicine, against colistin-resistant
E. coli
. This combination showed good synergistic antibacterial both
in vivo
and
in vitro
experiments. Under the background of daily increasing colistin resistance in
E. coli
, this research points to an effective antimicrobial strategy of using colistin and shikonin in combination against colistin-resistant
E. coli
.
Molecular and evolutionary basis of O-antigenic polysaccharide-driven phage sensitivity in environmental pseudomonads
Authors: Vacheron Jordan , Heiman Clara M. , Garneau Julian R. , Kupferschmied Peter , de Jonge Ronnie , Garrido-Sanz Daniel , Keel Christoph
Published: October 2023

Pseudomonas protegens
CHA0, a bacterial strain able to suppress plant pathogens as well as efficiently kill lepidopteran pest insects, has been studied as a biocontrol agent to prevent ensuing agricultural damage. However, the success of this method is dependent on efficient plant colonization by the bacterial inoculant, while it faces competition from the resident microbiota as well as predators such as bacteriophages. One of these naturally occurring phages, ΦGP100, was found to drastically reduce the abundance of CHA0 once inoculated into plant microcosms, resulting in the loss of plant protection effect against a phytopathogen. Here, we investigated the molecular determinants implicated in the interaction between CHA0 and the phage ΦGP100 using a high-density transposon-sequencing approach. We show that lipopolysaccharide cell surface decorations, specifically the longer OBC3-type O-antigenic polysaccharide (O-PS, O-antigen) of the two dominant O-PS of CHA0, are essential for the attachment and infection of ΦGP100. Moreover, when exploring the distribution of the OBC3 cluster in bacterial genomes, we identified several parts of this gene cluster that are conserved in phylogenetically distant bacteria. Through heterologous complementation, we integrated an OBC3-type gene copy from a phylogenetically distant bacterium and were able to restore the phage sensitivity of a CHA0 mutant which lacked the ability to form long O-PS. Finally, we evidence that the OBC3 gene cluster of CHA0 displays a high genomic plasticity and likely underwent several horizontal acquisitions and genomic rearrangements. Collectively, this study underlines the complexity of phage-bacteria interactions and the multifunctional aspect of bacterial cell surface decorations.

IMPORTANCE

The application of plant-beneficial microorganisms to protect crop plants is a promising alternative to the usage of chemicals. However, biocontrol research often faces difficulties in implementing this approach due to the inconsistency of the bacterial inoculant to establish itself within the root microbiome. Beneficial bacterial inoculants can be decimated by the presence of their natural predators, notably bacteriophages (also called phages). Thus, it is important to gain knowledge regarding the mechanisms behind phage-bacteria interactions to overcome this challenge. Here, we evidence that the major long O-antigenic polysaccharide (O-PS, O-antigen) of the widely used model plant-beneficial bacterium
Pseudomonas protegens
CHA0 is the receptor of its natural predator, the phage ΦGP100. We examined the distribution of the gene cluster directing the synthesis of this O-PS and identified signatures of horizontal gene acquisitions. Altogether, our study highlights the importance of bacterial cell surface structure variation in the complex interplay between phages and their
Pseudomonas
hosts.
Dinucleotide biases in RNA viruses that infect vertebrates or invertebrates
Authors: Forni Diego , Pozzoli Uberto , Cagliani Rachele , Clerici Mario , Sironi Manuela
Published: October 2023

CpG and UpA dinucleotides are under-represented in vertebrate genomes, whereas most invertebrates only show a bias against UpA. RNA viruses are thought to have evolved genomes that resemble the dinucleotide composition of their hosts, possibly to avoid restriction by the zinc-finger antiviral protein (ZAP). By performing a comprehensive analysis of RNA viruses, we show that, whereas UpA dinucleotides are similarly under-represented irrespective of viral genome composition or host, important differences are observed for CpG. The tendency for vertebrate-infecting viruses to have stronger CpG bias than invertebrate-infecting viruses is not universal. Rather, it is mainly driven by single-stranded (ss) RNA(+) viruses. Conversely, ssRNA(−) viruses have a dinucleotide composition that is unrelated to the host clade. Also, these viruses, especially those in the order
Bunyavirales
, are extremely CpG-depleted. By focusing on specific viral families, we also show that, even for vertebrate ssRNA(+) viruses, ZAP is unlikely to be a driver of CpG depletion. Consistently, CpG dinucleotides tend to be preferentially depleted in A/U-rich contexts in both vertebrate- and invertebrate-infecting viruses. Finally, within the same viral genomes, individual viral open reading frames (ORFs) can display different CpG content. Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 revealed a remarkable depletion of CpG dinucleotides in ORF1ab and S, but not in N and M. Thus, these results do not support the view that an adaptive shift for CpG depletion in the SARS-CoV-2 lineage occurred as an innate immunity evasion strategy. Our data provide a better understanding of viral evolution and inform approaches based on the modulation of CpG to generate attenuated viruses.

IMPORTANCE

Akin to a molecular signature, dinucleotide composition can be exploited by the zinc-finger antiviral protein (ZAP) to restrict CpG-rich (and UpA-rich) RNA viruses. ZAP evolved in tetrapods, and it is not encoded by invertebrates and fish. Because a systematic analysis is missing, we analyzed the genomes of RNA viruses that infect vertebrates or invertebrates. We show that vertebrate single-stranded (ss) RNA(+) viruses and, to a lesser extent, double-stranded RNA viruses tend to have stronger CpG bias than invertebrate viruses. Conversely, ssRNA(−) viruses have similar dinucleotide composition whether they infect vertebrates or invertebrates. Analysis of ssRNA(+) viruses that infect mammals, reptiles, and fish indicated that ZAP is unlikely to be a major driver of CpG depletion. We also show that, compared to other coronaviruses, the genome of SARS-CoV-2 is not homogeneously CpG-depleted. Our study provides new insights into virus evolution and strategies for recoding RNA virus genomes.
Tolfenpyrad displays
Francisella
-targeted antibiotic activity that requires an oxidative stress response regulator for sensitivity
Authors: Clarke Ashley , Llabona Isabelle M. , Khalid Nimra , Hulvey Danielle , Irvin Alexis , Adams Nicole , Heine Henry S. , Eshraghi Aria
Published: October 2023

Francisella tularensis
is a highly infectious Gram-negative bacterial pathogen capable of animal-to-human transmission. Due to its remarkable pathogenicity and potential for widespread public health impact,
F. tularensis
is classified as a high-priority pathogen by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The historical development of
Francisella
as a bioweapon, coupled with the ease of engineering antibiotic-resistant strains, has spurred interest in the discovery of novel antibiotics. A library of drug-like compounds was screened for their ability to inhibit the growth of
Francisella novicida
, a biosafety level-2 surrogate for
F. tularensis
. Tolfenpyrad, a pesticide without previously identified antibacterial activity, was among the most potent inhibitors. Tolfenpyrad appears to uniquely target
Francisella
, as related species were sensitive, whereas bacteria in other genera were resistant. To identify
Francisella
pathways conferring sensitivity to tolfenpyrad, whole-genome sequencing of tolfenpyrad-resistant isolates was performed. Point mutations in two genes conferred resistance to osrR, a transcriptional regulator, and nuoM, a subunit of the electron transport chain. OsrR point mutants displayed attenuated growth in interferon gamma (IFN-γ)-stimulated macrophages but not in untreated macrophages, indicating that OsrR plays a role in resistance to IFN-γ-stimulated clearance of intracellular bacteria. OsrR point mutants are hypersensitive to reactive oxygen species, suggesting a mechanism by which they are rapidly cleared from IFN-γ-treated macrophages. This work identifies a novel
Francisella
-specific antibiotic activity and the metabolic pathways targeted. Moreover, we provide amino acid-level details of a
Francisella
protein that governs sensitivity to free radicals.

IMPORTANCE

Francisella
species are highly pathogenic bacteria that pose a threat to global health security. These bacteria can be made resistant to antibiotics through facile methods, and we lack a safe and protective vaccine. Given their history of development as bioweapons, new treatment options must be developed to bolster public health preparedness. Here, we report that tolfenpyrad, a pesticide that is currently in use worldwide, effectively inhibits the growth of
Francisella
. This drug has an extensive history of use and a plethora of safety and toxicity data, making it a good candidate for development as an antibiotic. We identified mutations in
Francisella novicida
that confer resistance to tolfenpyrad and characterized a transcriptional regulator that is required for sensitivity to both tolfenpyrad and reactive oxygen species.
A second main theorem of finite ramified coverings
Authors: Le Giang
Published: October 2023

In this paper, we study a second main theorem for holomorphic curves from finite ramified coverings of the complex line to complex projective varieties intersecting hypersurfaces in subgeneral position.
Pairwise helicity in higher dimensions
Authors: Fan Yale
Published: October 2023

Studies of scattering amplitudes for electric and magnetic charges have identified previously overlooked multiparticle representations of the Poincaré group in four dimensions. Such representations associate nontrivial quantum numbers (known as pairwise helicities) with asymptotically separated pairs of particles, and thus cannot be described as tensor products of one-particle states. We extend this construction to sources and spacetimes of higher dimension. We first establish the dynamical origin of pairwise helicity in [Formula: see text]-form electrodynamics coupled to mutually nonlocal branes. We then interpret this pairwise helicity as a quantum number under an SO(2) pairwise little group associated with pairs of distinct branes. We further characterize the “higher” little groups that could in principle be used to induce multiparticle or multi-brane representations of the Lorentz group.
Hybrid Deep Learning Model Based on Sparse Recurrent Architecture
Authors: Wu Yutao , Liu Min
Published: October 2023

Deep neural network has made surprising achievements in natural language processing, image pattern classification recognition, and other domains in the last few years. It is still tough to apply to hardware-constrained or mobile equipment because of the huge number of parameters, high storage as well as computing costs. In this paper, a new sparse iteration neural network architecture is proposed. First, the pruning method is used to compress the model size and make the network sparse. Then the architecture is iterated on the sparse network model, and the network performance is improved without adding additional parameters. Finally, the hybrid deep learning model was carried out on CV tasks and NLP tasks on ANN, CNN, and Transformer. Compared with the sparse network architecture, we finally found that the accuracy of the MINST, CIFAR10, PASCAL VOC 2012, and SQuAD datasets is improved by 0.47%, 0.64%, 3.75%, and 15.06%, respectively.
A Fast Scenario Transfer Approach for Portrait Styles Through Collaborative Awareness of Convolutional Neural Network and Generative Adversarial Learning
Authors: Wang Yajie , Liang Shaolin
Published: October 2023

The fast scenario transfer for portrait styles has been a universal concern in the area of image processing. Conventionally, it was realized mostly by manual manipulation based on expertise experience, which costs a large amount of human labor. To fit the growing business volume in the era of Internet 4.0, it is supposed to investigate reliable autonomous workflow that generates portrait-style results via intelligent algorithms. Therefore, this paper proposes a fast scenario transfer method for portrait styles through collaborative awareness of convolutional neural network (CNN) and generative learning (GAL). On the one hand, a CNN structure is designed to make feature extraction towards the initial images, which can be used for following image generation. On the other hand, the GAL is utilized to generate new images with post-transferred scenario styles, so that the expected scenario style transfer results can be output by generating new images through long-term iterations. Especially, the loss function is designed by simultaneously considering local and global characteristics. Finally, the analysis and experimental results show that the correction process can be completed by injecting the extracted input face features into the feature maps of corresponding sizes in the generation process using a pre-trained feature extractor. Thus, the face conversion efficiency can be improved.
An Adversarial Machine Learning-Based Fast Detection Method for Denial of Service-Oriented Cyber Attacks in Internet of Vehicles
Authors: Wang Mingxu , Xu Mingchen
Published: October 2023

Denial of Service (DoS)-Oriented cyber attack has been a major threat for physical security in many kinds of network media, including the Internet of Vehicles (IoV). This paper focuses on the scenario of IoV, and proposes a machine learning-based fast detection method for adversarial neural network-based fast detection method for DoS-oriented cyber attacks. First, by analyzing the implementation principles and attack characteristics of three attack types, three aspects of statistical features are extracted: maximum matching packet growth rate, source address entropy value, and flow table similarity. Then, they are used as the input features to establish an adversarial machine learning-based DoS cyber attack detection method. On this basis, the field features of six stream rules are extracted, and two DoS cyber attack detection methods via machine learning are formulated. The proposals are able to detect the low-rate DoS-based cyber attacks against the data layer. The experimental results show that the proposed DoS attack detection method based on machine learning can effectively detect three DoS attacks under IoV, and these two algorithms have higher detection rates when compared with other algorithms.
Research on Maximum Temperature Prediction Based on ARIMA–LSTM—XGBoost Weighted Combination Model
Authors: Liu Jun , Yan Jiayuan
Published: October 2023

Accurately predicting the maximum temperature is essential for studying human comfort, ecological environment development and social progress. However, traditional prediction methods are inefficient and inaccurate when dealing with large volumes of meteorological data. To tackle these challenges, this paper introduces an integrated approach, the ARIMA–LSTM–XGBoost model, which combines the strengths of autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA), long short-term memory network (LSTM) and eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) to predict the maximum temperature. The proposed model enhances the prediction accuracy and convergence rate through techniques like MAPE reciprocal weight (MAPE-RW) and Schedule Sampling. Additionally, the model selects the best performing model using the early stopping method. This paper compares and analyzes the prediction results of the ARIMA, LSTM, XGBoost and ARIMA–LSTM–XGBoost models. The experimental results indicate that the ARIMA–LSTM–XGBoost model proposed in this paper achieves superior prediction accuracy, performance, and confidence. The ARIMA–LSTM–XGBoost model shows a Root-Mean-Squared Error (RMSE) of 1.381, significantly outperforming the ARIMA model (3.828), LSTM model (3.360) and XGBoost model (1.422). The coefficient of determination ([Formula: see text] is 0.977, surpassing the values of 0.905 for the ARIMA model, 0.922 for the LSTM model and 0.910 for the XGBoost model. The ARIMA–LSTM–XGBoost model also exhibits a higher confidence level compared to the individual models.
RESEARCH ON FEATURE EXTRACTION ALGORITHM OF OIL PAINTING ARTISTIC STYLE BASED ON EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION
Authors: HUANG XIANHUI , XIAO BANRUO , ZHONG XINGYU , WANG YI
Published: October 2023

We present a novel approach to extracting artistic style features from oil paintings, addressing the limitations of existing one-way matrices. Our proposed algorithm focuses on capturing emotional expression in oil painting styles. To ensure relevance to real-world needs and standards, we establish a multi-objective framework with a set of indicators and parameters for fundamental oil painting artistic style extraction. This expansion of the feature extraction calculation range involves the creation of a multi-objective calculation matrix and the development of a pyramid sequence and extraction algorithm for conveying emotional expression. By leveraging local constraints specific to oil paintings, our method effectively extracts artistic style features. The results of our tests, which involved five oil paintings, demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach. By applying the Artistic Style Feature Extraction (ASFE) algorithm based on emotional expression, we successfully control the differences in oil painting texture depth within a range of 0.65. This indicates a high level of authenticity and accuracy in our algorithm, superior calculation performance, and practical utility for various applications.
Large deviation limits of invariant measures
Authors: puhalskii Anatolii A.
Published: October 2023

This paper is concerned with the general theme of relating the Large Deviation Principle (LDP) for the invariant measures of stochastic processes to the associated trajectorial LDP. It is shown that if the trajectorial deviation function has certain structure and if the invariant measures are exponentially tight, then the LDP for the invariant measures is implied by the trajectorial LDP, no other properties of the stochastic processes in question being material. As an application, we obtain an LDP for the stationary distributions of jump diffusions. Methods of large deviation convergence and idempotent probability play an integral part.
Some decompositions of matrices over local rings
Authors: Bien M. H. , Nhan P. T. , Nhat N. H. T.
Published: October 2023

Let [Formula: see text] be a local ring with maximal ideal [Formula: see text], let [Formula: see text] be a natural number greater than [Formula: see text] and let [Formula: see text] be a matrix in the general linear group [Formula: see text] of degree [Formula: see text] over [Formula: see text]. We firstly show that if the matrix [Formula: see text] is nonscalar in [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are invertible elements in [Formula: see text], then there exists an invertible element [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text] is similar to the product [Formula: see text] in which [Formula: see text] is a lower uni-triangular matrix and [Formula: see text] is an upper triangular matrix whose diagonal entries are [Formula: see text]. We then present some applications of this factorization to find decompositions of matrices in [Formula: see text] into product of commutators and involutions.
The universal envelope of a polarized anti-Jordan triple system of block matrices
Authors: Elgendy Hader A.
Published: October 2023

We investigate the universal associative envelope [Formula: see text] of the simple polarized anti-Jordan triple system [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] block matrices: [Formula: see text] with the triple product [Formula: see text] over an algebraically closed field [Formula: see text] of characteristic 0. We prove that [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is the ordinary associative algebra of all [Formula: see text] matrices over [Formula: see text]. From this result we classify up to equivalence all finite-dimensional irreducible representations of the anti-Jordan triple system [Formula: see text]. We conclude the paper with an open problem for further research.
On the eternal non-Markovianity of non-unital quantum channels
Authors: Utagi Shrikant , Banerjee Subhashish , Srikanth R.
Published: October 2023

The eternally non-Markovian (ENM) Pauli channel is an example of a unital channel characterized by a negative decay rate for all time [Formula: see text]. Here, we consider the problem of constructing an analogous non-unital channel, and show in particular that a [Formula: see text]-dimensional generalized amplitude damping (GAD) channel cannot be ENM when the non-Markovianity originates solely from the non-unital part of the channel. We study specific ramifications of this result for qubit GAD. Specifically, we construct a quasi-ENM qubit GAD channel, characterized by a time [Formula: see text], such that the channel is non-Markovian (NM) only and for all time [Formula: see text]. We further point out that our negative result for the qudit GAD channel, namely, the impossibility of the eternal NM property, does not hold for a general qubit or higher-dimensional non-unital channel.
An Explicit Modeling for the Pseudoelastic Response of Porous SMA Thick-Walled Cylinders under Internal and External Pressure
Authors: Enteshari Nahid , Tajalli Seyed Ahmad
Published: October 2023

Shape-memory alloy (SMA) structures, either dense or porous, are widely used because of their functional characteristics arising from shape-memory effect and pseudoelasticity. Hence, the precise modeling of these materials is essential due to design issues. In this study, the solution algorithm based on an explicit phenomenological constitutive model is investigated to analyze pressurized cylinders. The proposed method is extracted following return mapping scheme to find the evolution of phase transformation in these structures. The formulation is validated by comparing uniaxial tension–compression curves during loading, unloading and thermal actuation against published literature. By the aid of this model, assuming elastic and phase transformation strains, a comprehensive study is presented to inspect stress, strain and displacement fields along the thickness of internally and externally pressurized thick-walled cylinders. To this end, the governing nonlinear equation in elastic–inelastic zones is discretized by the efficient method of generalized differential quadrature (GDQ) and the resultant relations are solved numerically. The influences of internal and external pressure on stress distribution along the cylinder wall during loading–unloading for different temperatures including phase transformation and saturation states are discussed. Also, the closed-form solution for critical pressure at the onset of the phase transformation is studied.
Ranking Z-Numbers Based on Radii of Gyration of Fuzzy Data
Authors: Hadi Momenseraee H. , Afshar Kermani M. , Allahviranloo T. , Ahmady N.
Published: October 2023

This paper describes a new method for ranking of z-numbers according to the radii of gyration in the circulating dynamics of objects. We improve the center of mass technique that was used for ranking of fuzzy data, and by using moments of inertia or second moments, we present the new method for ranking z-numbers by the Radii of Gyration (ROG). In this paper, seven principles are stated to make any ranking method of z-numbers well defined. Eventually, three different types of examples are given, first comparing two z-numbers with each other and also a comparison of the proposed approach with the existing methods is conducted.
Effect size of carbon micro-nanoparticles on cyclic stability and thermal performance of Na2SO4⋅10H2O–Na2HPO4⋅12H2O phase change materials
Authors: Sun Zengbao , Liu Xin , Tie Shengnian , Wang Changan
Published: October 2023

In this paper, carbon particles with micro- and nano-particle size were synthesized through a hydrothermal reaction of glucose, namely C-1(123.1 nm), C-2(229.2 nm), C-3(335.1 nm), C-4(456.2 nm) and C-5(534.0 nm) with distinct sizes. We utilized five size carbon particles as individual fillers into the EHS matrix materials to prepare composite eutectic phase change materials (C/EHS PCMs) by melt blending technique. The impact of carbon particle size on the dispersion stability and thermal properties of Na2SO4⋅10H2O–Na2HPO4⋅12H2O (EHS) phase change materials was investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis were done to analyze the diameters of carbon particles. The cryogenic-scanning electron microscopy (Cryo-SEM) analysis indicated that the carbon particles resulted in modification in the morphology of the EHS. The results of in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR) analysis showed only simple physical mixing between carbon particles and EHS. It is shown that adding 0.2 wt.% C-2 can decrease the supercooling degree of EHS to 1.5[Formula: see text]C. The cyclic stability of C/EHS varies significantly depending on the size of carbon particles. The thermal conductivity of EHS increased by 42.1%, 39.9%, 14.4%, 19.5%, and 18.8% with the addition of C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, and C-5, respectively, at a mass fraction of 0.2%. The results of differential scanning calorimetry reveal that the incorporation of C-1, C-2, C-3, and C-4 into EHS leads to an enhancement of latent heat. The latent heat capacity of EHS with 0.2 wt.% C-2 is 243.4 J⋅g[Formula: see text], and after undergoing 500 cycles of solid-liquid phase transition, the latent heat remained above 200 J⋅g[Formula: see text]. Through the comprehensive analysis, the C-2/EHS composite phase change material holds significant potential for advancing building insulation and solar energy storage technologies.
An efficient CoSe2-Co3O4-Ag hybrid catalyst for electrocatalytic oxygen evolution
Authors: Liang Qichen , Du Nana , Xu Huajie
Published: October 2023

The development of cheap, high activity and stability catalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is of great significance because of its important role in energy storage technology. Herein, flower-like CoSe2-Co3O4-Ag with enhanced electrochemical performance was synthesized by simple methods. The CoSe2-Co3O4-Ag exhibits lower overpotential and higher current density, with an overpotential of 324 mV at the current density of 10 mA⋅cm[Formula: see text] and a Tafel slope of 65.69 mA⋅dec[Formula: see text]. From the ECSA normalized LSV curves, higher electrocatalytic activity for OER is mainly due to the increase of ESCA and conductivity, minor due to adjusting the electronic configuration. These strategies to improve electrochemical active area and conductivity have valuable reference for designing cheap, high activity and stability catalysts.
Exploiting the Electrical Nature of Biofilms for Long-Term Monitoring of Quiescent Aquatic Environments via Open-Circuit Microbial Potentiometric Sensors: Evidence of Long-Distance Electrical Signaling
Authors: Burge Scott R. , Hristovski Kiril D. , Burge Russell G. , Pejov Ljupco , Boscovic Dragan , Taylor Evan , Hoffman David A.
Published: October 2023

This study was based on the hypothesis that spatial–temporal characterization of contaminant-affected redox gradients in a quiescent system could be measured by microbial potentiometric sensor (MPS) arrays incorporated in large, natural biofilm networks. Two experimental chambers, each containing at least 48 equidistantly located MPS electrodes, were fabricated to examine reproducibility of the patterns. The MPS electrodes were exposed to biofilm growth conditions by introducing high dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dechlorinated tap water at the bottom of the experimental chamber; and the spatial–temporal changes in the MPS array signals were recorded, which showed that signal trends were correlated to the induced changes in DOC. The results indicated that MPS arrays measured the spatial–temporal changes in the aqueous solution caused by an influx of carbon rich water, which could not be detected by conventional oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) electrodes. Interestingly, the experiments conducted over long time periods revealed unusual behaviors like electrical signaling and possible potentiometrically driven communication within the biofilm. These observed behaviors suggest that biofilms may create a large network through which communication signals can be generated and propagated by inducing changes in electric potentials similar to a sophisticated electronic device.
Pulsed Hot Dense Oxygen Plasma Irradiation of Platinum for Improved Spin Hall Effect
Authors: Kumar Sachin , Manna Sourabh , Mohan John Rex , Shashank Utkarsh , Vimal Vas Joseph , Mishra Mayank , Gupta Surbhi , Asada Hironori , Fukuma Yasuhiro , Singh Rawat Rajdeep , Medwal Rohit
Published: October 2023

The impurity incorporation in host high spin-orbit coupling materials like platinum (Pt) has shown improved charge-to-spin conversion efficiency by modifying the up-spin and down-spin electrons trajectories via bending or skewing them in opposite directions. This enables efficient generation, manipulation, and transport of spin currents. In this study, we irradiated the Pt thin films with pulsed hot dense oxygen plasma in non-focus mode operation and analyzed the spin Hall angle of the oxygen plasma irradiated Pt films using spin torque ferromagnetic resonance (ST-FMR). Our results demonstrate a 2.4 times enhancement in the spin Hall angle after transient oxygen plasma treatment of Pt as compared to pristine Pt. This improvement might be because of the introduction of disorder and defects in the Pt lattice due to transient oxygen plasma processing, which enhanced the spin-orbit coupling and leads to more efficient charge-to-spin conversion without breaking the spin-orbit torque symmetries. Our findings offer a new method of dense plasma focus device-based modification of material for the development of advanced spintronic devices based on Pt and other heavy metals.
Inter-Beat Interval Estimation with Tiramisu Model: A Novel Approach with Reduced Error
Authors: Arefeen Asiful , Akbari Ali , Mirzadeh Seyed Iman , Jafari Roozbeh , Shirazi Behrooz A. , Ghasemzadeh Hassan
Published: October 2023

Inter-beat interval (IBI) measurement enables estimation of heart-tare variability (HRV) which, in turn, can provide early indication of potential cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, extracting IBIs from noisy signals is challenging since the morphology of the signal gets distorted in the presence of noise. Electrocardiogram (ECG) of a person in heavy motion is highly corrupted with noise, known as motion-artifact, and IBI extracted from it is inaccurate. As a part of remote health monitoring and wearable system development, denoising ECG signals and estimating IBIs correctly from them have become an emerging topic among signal-processing researchers. Apart from conventional methods, deep-learning techniques have been successfully used in signal denoising recently, and diagnosis process has become easier, leading to accuracy levels that were previously unachievable. We propose a deep-learning approach leveraging tiramisu autoencoder model to suppress motion-artifact noise and make the R-peaks of the ECG signal prominent even in the presence of high-intensity motion. After denoising, IBIs are estimated more accurately expediting diagnosis tasks. Results illustrate that our method enables IBI estimation from noisy ECG signals with SNR up to -30 dB with average root mean square error (RMSE) of 13 milliseconds for estimated IBIs. At this noise level, our error percentage remains below 8% and outperforms other state-of-the-art techniques.
High-Efficiency Degradation of Formaldehyde and Bioelectricity Generation by Microbial Fuel Cell
Authors: Gao Zhiguo , Xue Ping , Wang Haibo , Wu Yancong , Shi Keren
Published: October 2023

Formaldehyde is a common organic pollutant in water with teratogenic and carcinogenic effects. This study reports that 200 mg l−1 formaldehyde in water can be effectively degraded with generating electricity by using microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology. A novel composite anode M-Co3O4-PEDOT-GF was prepared by modifying Co3O4 nanoparticles (M-Co3O4) derived from ZIF-67 and poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) on the surface of Graphite felt (GF). The results showed that the MFC loading M-Co3O4-PEDOT-GF anode exhibited excellent electricity generation performance and formaldehyde degradation. The maximum voltage of the MFC was 549 mV, 46.0% increase than that of GF anode (376 mV), and higher than N-Co3O4-PEDOT-GF anode (488 mV) modified with commercial Co3O4 (N-Co3O4). The maximum power density of the MFC loading composite anode was 4177 mW m−2, while that of MFC loading bare GF anode was 1562 mW m−2. The dominant microorganisms were Pseudomonadales and Rhizobiales at the order level. The removal efficiency of formaldehyde by MFC loading M-Co3O4-PEDOT-GF anode was 89.2% in 152 h. The high efficiency of formaldehyde degradation was still maintained after 10 cycles. The results could be attributed to the composite anode with loose porous three-dimensional structure and good biological compatibility of PEDOT.
Endothelial Kir2 channel dysfunction in aged cerebral parenchymal arterioles
Authors: Polk Felipe D. , Hakim Md A. , Silva Josiane F. , Behringer Erik J. , Pires Paulo W.
Published: October 2023

Advanced age in mice (>2 yr, similar to a 70- to 80-yr-old human) impairs P2Y and Kir2 channel-induced dilation. Reductions in endothelial Kir2 activity were associated with lower vasodilatory response to purinergic receptor activation and increased resting myogenic tone of cerebral arterioles. Paradoxically, vasodilation following Kir2 activation was larger in aged cerebral arterioles, and unaffected by endothelium removal, suggesting a possible compensation by smooth muscle Kir2 channels. However, this compensation was not sufficient to restore purinergic dilation.
Relationships between circulating irisin levels, cardiorespiratory fitness, and cardiometabolic risk: a cross-sectional study in Japanese adults
Authors: Inoue Kenichiro , Fujie Shumpei , Kurose Satoshi , Miyauchi Takumi , Sanada Kiyoshi , Kimura Yutaka , Iemitsu Motoyuki
Published: October 2023

Circulating irisin levels gradually increased, and cardiometabolic risks gradually decreased with increasing cardiorespiratory fitness levels. The fitness levels required to increase irisin levels were moderate for young adults and lower than moderate for middle-aged and older adults. Moreover, circulating irisin levels are correlated with a reduction in cardiometabolic risk and an increase in cardiorespiratory fitness. These data suggest that circulating irisin levels are involved in the association between cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiometabolic risk.
Flavonoids from Lophatherum gracile Brongn. Ameliorate Liver Damages in High-Fat Diet and Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mice by Regulating PI3K/AKT and NF-Kappa B Pathways
Authors: Zheng Jian-Hua , Lin Song-Xia , Li Xiao-Yi , Shen Chun-Yan , Zheng Shao-Wei , Chen Wen-Bin
Published: October 2023

Inflammation and metabolic disorders are crucial factors that induce type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Lophatherum gracile Brongn. (L. gracile) has been popularly consumed as folk medicine and dietary supplement for the treatment of fever and inflammatory-associated diseases. Flavonoids are the major constituents of L. gracile with various pharmacological effects. However, the protective effects of flavonoids from leaves of L. gracile against T2DM, as well as the potential mechanisms, were not yet elucidated. In the present study, the total flavonoid content of L. gracile (LGBF) with higher flavonoid content and pancreas lipase inhibitory activity was extracted and screened from the leaves of L. gracile. Twelve flavonoid compounds were identified in LGBF by liquid LC-MS analysis. Network pharmacology identified seven potential flavonoid compounds and 10 core targets associated with T2DM. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis indicated that PI3K/AKT and inflammation-related pathways might occupy core status. Molecular docking results showed that the active constituents of LGBF had a good binding activity with key targets. Furthermore, high-fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice were developed and treated with LGBF for experimental validation. The data showed that LGBF intervention potently improved the lipid profiles and insulin sensitivity of HFD and STZ-induced mice. Hepatic inflammation and lipid accumulation were also partially reversed by LGBF intervention. Further assays confirmed that LGBF administration significantly increased PI3K and AKT phosphorylation, while reducing IL-1β expression and NF-κB P65 phosphorylation in the liver of mice. In conclusion, LGBF administration could relieve liver damage in diabetic mice via regulating PI3K/AKT and NF-κB pathways.
Local Search-Based Metaheuristic Methods for the Solid Waste Collection Problem
Authors: Algethami Haneen
Published: October 2023

The solid waste collection problem refers to truck route optimisation to collect waste from containers across various locations. Recent concerns exist over the impact of solid waste management on the environment. Hence, it is necessary to find feasible routes while minimising operational costs and fuel consumption. In this paper, in order to reduce fuel consumption, the number of trucks used is considered in the objective function along with the waste load and the travelling time. With the current computational capabilities, finding an optimal solution is challenging. Thus, this study aims to investigate the effect of well-known metaheuristic methods on this problem’s objective function and computational times. The routing solver in the Google OR-tools solver is utilised with three well-known metaheuristic methods for neighbourhood exploration: a guided local search (GLS), a tabu search (TS), and simulated annealing (SA), with two initialisation strategies, Clarke and Wright’s algorithm and the nearest neighbour algorithm. Results showed that optimal solutions are found in faster computational times than using only an IP solver, especially for large instances. Local search methods, notably GLS, have significantly improved the route construction process. The nearest neighbour algorithm has often outperformed the Clarke and Wright's methods. The findings here can be applied to improve operations in Saudi Arabia’s waste management sector.
Antibiofilm and Anti-Quorum Sensing Potential of Safely-Synthesized Hydrated Zirconium Oxide-Coated Alginate Beads against Some Pathogenic Bacteria
Authors: Tamfu Alfred Ngenge , Dogaç Yasemin Ispirli , Ceylan Ozgur , Dediu Andreea Botezatu , Bozkurt Selahattin , Dinica Rodica Mihaela
Published: October 2023

Water is essential to life, but access to uncontaminated water remains a global challenge. Metal oxides possess particular characteristics required for removing heavy metals, inorganic and organic pollutants from wastewater as well as inhibiting microorganisms. Zirconium oxide and alginate which are nontoxic materials were used to synthesize hydrated zirconium oxide-alginate coated materials, ZAB-1 (1.5% alginate) and ZAB-2 (2.0% alginate). FT-IR was used to characterize the functional groups while surface morphology was characterized using SEM. XRD was used to characterize the material structure of the resulting composite. Against Chromobacterium violaceum CV12472, minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were 0.625 mg/mL for ZAB-1 and ZAB-2 while against C. violaceum CV026, the MIC values were 0.625 mg/mL and 1.25 mg/mL for ZAB-1 and ZAB-2, respectively. At MIC and sub-MIC concentrations, the synthesized beads inhibited the production of violacein in C. violaceum CV12472 and C. violaceum CV026, indicating that they can reduce QS-mediated virulence factors in bacteria. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Candida albicans, and Candida tropicalis, and MIC values ranged from 1.25 mg/mL to 10 mg/mL. Biofilm inhibition percentages were relatively high against S. aureus, E. coli, and C. albicans. It is observed that the increase in the alginate amount from 1.5% to 2.0% improves the antimicrobial, anti-QS, and antibiofilm effects. The alginate makes the zirconium oxide particles biocompatible and easily recoverable from water after treatment. ZAB-1 and ZAB-2 materials can therefore be sustainable materials for water treatment since it can inhibit pathogenic bacteria in water and equally satisfy environmental friendliness. The synthesized particles reduced the chances for antimicrobial resistance since they disrupted QS in bacteria and eliminated biofilms, thereby preventing biofouling of microbial communities in water. Future prospects of this study involve biofiltration, that is, the use of the synthesized composite in the development of a safe and compatible biofilter for water purification.
Table S2 from Defactinib, Pembrolizumab, and Gemcitabine in Patients with Advanced Treatment Refractory Pancreatic Cancer: A Phase I Dose Escalation and Expansion Study
Authors: Wang-Gillam Andrea , Lim Kian-Huat , McWilliams Robert , Suresh Rama , Lockhart Albert C. , Brown Amberly , Breden Marcus , Belle Jad I. , Herndon John , Bogner Savannah J. , Pedersen Katrina , Tan Benjamin , Boice Nicholas , Acharya Abhi , Abdiannia Mina , Gao Feng , Yoon Harry H. , Zhu Mojun , Trikalinos Nikolaos A. , Ratner Lee , Aranha Olivia , Hawkins William G. , Herzog Brett H. , DeNardo David G.
Published: October 2023

Supplemental Table 2
Patient demographics
Table S1 from Defactinib, Pembrolizumab, and Gemcitabine in Patients with Advanced Treatment Refractory Pancreatic Cancer: A Phase I Dose Escalation and Expansion Study
Authors: Wang-Gillam Andrea , Lim Kian-Huat , McWilliams Robert , Suresh Rama , Lockhart Albert C. , Brown Amberly , Breden Marcus , Belle Jad I. , Herndon John , Bogner Savannah J. , Pedersen Katrina , Tan Benjamin , Boice Nicholas , Acharya Abhi , Abdiannia Mina , Gao Feng , Yoon Harry H. , Zhu Mojun , Trikalinos Nikolaos A. , Ratner Lee , Aranha Olivia , Hawkins William G. , Herzog Brett H. , DeNardo David G.
Published: October 2023

Supplemental Table 1
Patient demographics
Figure S2 from Characteristics and Spatially Defined Immune (micro)landscapes of Early-stage PD-L1–positive Triple-negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Carter Jodi M. , Polley Mei-Yin C. , Leon-Ferre Roberto A. , Sinnwell Jason , Thompson Kevin J. , Wang Xue , Ma Yaohua , Zahrieh David , Kachergus Jennifer M. , Solanki Malvika , Boughey Judy C. , Liu Minetta C. , Ingle James N. , Kalari Krishna R. , Couch Fergus J. , Thompson E. Aubrey , Goetz Matthew P.
Published: October 2023

Supplementary Figure S2. Kaplan Meier survival analysis evaluating association of PD-L1+ (SP142 assay
with {greater than or equal to}1% IC+, in red) to PD-L1- tumors (SP142 assay <1% IC+ in black) with recurrence-free survival (RFS)
(A) or overall survival (B) in the entire TNBC cohort.
Data S2 from Characteristics and Spatially Defined Immune (micro)landscapes of Early-stage PD-L1–positive Triple-negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Carter Jodi M. , Polley Mei-Yin C. , Leon-Ferre Roberto A. , Sinnwell Jason , Thompson Kevin J. , Wang Xue , Ma Yaohua , Zahrieh David , Kachergus Jennifer M. , Solanki Malvika , Boughey Judy C. , Liu Minetta C. , Ingle James N. , Kalari Krishna R. , Couch Fergus J. , Thompson E. Aubrey , Goetz Matthew P.
Published: October 2023

GeoMX digital spatial profiling expanded protocol methods
Antitumor Immune Responses in B2M-Deficient Cancers
Authors: Torrejon Davis Y. , Galvez Mildred , Abril-Rodriguez Gabriel , Campbell Katie M. , Medina Egmidio , Vega-Crespo Agustin , Kalbasi Anusha , Comin-Anduix Begoña , Ribas Antoni
Published: October 2023

β2-microglobulin (B2M) is a critical component of the MHC class I molecule and is required to present tumor antigens to T cells. Its loss results in acquired resistance to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies. However, there have been well-documented cases of B2M-inactivated tumors responding to ICB, justifying investigation of how an antitumor immune response can be generated to tumors without surface MHC class I. We knocked out B2M in three murine models with varying baseline MHC class I expression and sensitivity to anti-programmed death receptor (PD-1) therapy and analyzed the immune responses. MC38 and YUMMER2.1 without B2M responded to anti–PD-1 alone or with an IL2 agonist, and this was mediated by CD4+ T cells and natural killer (NK) cells. The more aggressive B16 without B2M expression only partially responded to the IL2 agonist, and this was dependent on NK cells. When analyzing nearly 300 pretreatment biopsies from patients with melanoma receiving PD-1 blockade–based therapies, we found infrequent B2M mutations or homozygous loss but more frequent LOH or copy-number gains. B2M LOH was enriched in biopsies from patients without response to therapy, and these biopsies were more frequently infiltrated by activated NK cells. We conclude that in the absence of B2M, activation of CD4+ T cells and NK cells can mediate responses to murine models of PD-1 blockade therapy. In addition, in human melanoma, the intratumoral presence of activated NK cells upon partial B2M loss likely selects against tumor escape through low surface MHC class I expression.