bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Galectin-8 Immunohistochemical Profile in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Emerging Evidence for Its Prognostic Role
Authors: Rusu Andreea , Caruntu Irina-Draga , Lozneanu Ludmila , Ciobanu Delia Gabriela , Amalinei Cornelia , Giusca Simona-Eliza
Published: October 2023

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) represents the most frequent pancreatic malignancy, with stromal and epithelial heterogeneity reflected in outcome variability. Therefore, a molecular classification is promoted based on the validation of new diagnostic and prognostic markers. Galectin-8 (Gal8) has been pointed out as a prognostic factor for survival in several types of tumors. Due to limited existing data on PDAC, our study aimed to evaluate the Gal8 profile in PDAC alongside its prognostic status. A total of 87 cases of PDAC were immunohistochemically investigated, and Gal8 immunoexpression was qualitatively and semi-quantitatively assessed and correlated with classical clinicopathological parameters and survival. Gal8 immunoexpression was identified to be mostly nuclear and cytoplasmic, followed by exclusively cytoplasmic and exclusively nuclear. A statistical analysis between Gal8 profiles defined by negative, low, or high scores and clinicopathological characteristics showed significant differences in tumor size, pN stage, and lympho-vascular invasion. Although a Cox regression analysis did not support the prognostic status of Gal8, and we did not confirm its relationship with OS, our results show that exclusively nuclear labeling was associated with an increased mean OS compared with cytoplasmic and nuclear labeling (29.37 vs. 17.93 months). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report a detailed pattern of Gal8 immunostaining in PDAC and to correlate this pattern with clinicopathological characteristics and survival. Our results show that Gal8 immunoexpression is associated with a more aggressive phenotype, thus opening perspectives for larger studies to validate Gal8 as a prognostic factor.
Mutual Information and Correlations across Topological Phase Transitions in Topologically Ordered Graphene Zigzag Nanoribbons
Authors: Lee In-Hwan , Le Hoang-Anh , Yang S.-R. Eric
Published: October 2023

Graphene zigzag nanoribbons, initially in a topologically ordered state, undergo a topological phase transition into crossover phases distinguished by quasi-topological order. We computed mutual information for both the topologically ordered phase and its crossover phases, revealing the following results: (i) In the topologically ordered phase, A-chirality carbon lines strongly entangle with B-chirality carbon lines on the opposite side of the zigzag ribbon. This entanglement persists but weakens in crossover phases. (ii) The upper zigzag edge entangles with non-edge lines of different chirality on the opposite side of the ribbon. (iii) Entanglement increases as more carbon lines are grouped together, regardless of the lines’ chirality. No long-range entanglement was found in the symmetry-protected phase in the absence of disorder.
Circularly Polarized Multiple-Input Multiple-Output Dielectric Resonator Antenna for 5G Millimeter-Wave Application
Authors: Xu Ming , Zhang Jingwei
Published: October 2023

A circularly polarized (CP) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) is presented in this paper for 5G millimeter-wave (mm-wave) applications. This MIMO antenna consists of two high-order mode CP DRAs, which use the modified cross slots to generate the CP fields. Two complementary split ring resonators (CSRR) are used to isolate the surface current on the metal ground, which can increase the antenna isolation and optimize the axial ratio when each port is excited. The proposed MIMO antenna obtains a simulated impedance bandwidth from 25.41 to 31.18 GHz and an axial ratio (AR) bandwidth (AR < 3 dB) from 25.49 to 29.52 GHz for the 5th generation wireless communication applications. The measured results show that the antenna covers the overlapped bandwidth of 11% and isolation less than −25 dB over the frequency band range. The measured average (peak) gain is 5.84 (6.24) dBic at 26.5 GHz to 29.5 GHz for port 1 and 6.90 (7.27) dBic for port 2.
Phishing Email Detection Model Using Deep Learning
Authors: Atawneh Samer , Aljehani Hamzah
Published: October 2023

Email phishing is a widespread cyber threat that can result in the theft of sensitive information and financial loss. It uses malicious emails to trick recipients into providing sensitive information or transferring money, often by disguising themselves as legitimate organizations or individuals. As technology advances and attackers become more sophisticated, the problem of email phishing becomes increasingly challenging to detect and prevent. In this research paper, the use of deep learning techniques, including convolutional neural networks (CNNs), long short-term memory (LSTM) networks, recurrent neural networks (RNNs), and bidirectional encoder representations from transformers (BERT), are explored for detecting email phishing attacks. A dataset of phishing and benign emails was utilized, and a set of relevant features was extracted using natural language processing (NLP) techniques. The proposed deep learning model was trained and tested using the dataset, and it was found that it can achieve high accuracy in detecting email phishing compared to other state-of-the-art research, where the best performance was seen when using BERT and LSTM with an accuracy of 99.61%. The results demonstrate the potential of deep learning for improving email phishing detection and protecting against this pervasive threat.
Enhancing Fashion Classification with Vision Transformer (ViT) and Developing Recommendation Fashion Systems Using DINOVA2
Authors: Abd Alaziz Hadeer M. , Elmannai Hela , Saleh Hager , Hadjouni Myriam , Anter Ahmed M. , Koura Abdelrahim , Kayed Mohammed
Published: October 2023

As e-commerce platforms grow, consumers increasingly purchase clothes online; however, they often need clarification on clothing choices. Consumers and stores interact through the clothing recommendation system. A recommendation system can help customers to find clothing that they are interested in and can improve turnover. This work has two main goals: enhancing fashion classification and developing a fashion recommendation system. The main objective of fashion classification is to apply a Vision Transformer (ViT) to enhance performance. ViT is a set of transformer blocks; each transformer block consists of two layers: a multi-head self-attention layer and a multilayer perceptron (MLP) layer. The hyperparameters of ViT are configured based on the fashion images dataset. CNN models have different layers, including multi-convolutional layers, multi-max pooling layers, multi-dropout layers, multi-fully connected layers, and batch normalization layers. Furthermore, ViT is compared with different models, i.e., deep CNN models, VGG16, DenseNet-121, Mobilenet, and ResNet50, using different evaluation methods and two fashion image datasets. The ViT model performs the best on the Fashion-MNIST dataset (accuracy = 95.25, precision = 95.20, recall = 95.25, F1-score = 95.20). ViT records the highest performance compared to other models in the fashion product dataset (accuracy = 98.53, precision = 98.42, recall = 98.53, F1-score = 98.46). A recommendation fashion system is developed using Learning Robust Visual Features without Supervision (DINOv2) and a nearest neighbor search that is built in the FAISS library to obtain the top five similarity results for specific images.
Unidirectional Ring-Based WDM Fiber Network for Both Downlink and Uplink Signal Access
Authors: Yeh Chien-Hung , Lin Wen-Piao , Lai Yu-Ting , Chen Lan-Yin , Lin Chun-Yen , Cheng Kuan-Ming , Yang Teng-Yao , Chow Chi-Wai
Published: October 2023

In the paper, a dual-bidirectional ring-type wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) access network with downlink and uplink signal access simultaneously using a single fiber backbone in clockwise and counterclockwise directions, respectively. The proposed network architecture is simple and easy to implement via the designed remote node (RN) and optical line termination (OLT) modules, but it also can double the downlink traffic using the original WDM downlink wavelengths. The presented ring-type WDM network can also avoid the Rayleigh backscattering (RB) beat noise when the same wavelengths are applied as downlink and uplink channels concurrently. In the measurement, 50 km long-reach and 15 km short-reach fiber transmission lengths are achieved for the symmetrical 10 and 28 Gbit/s on-off keying (OOK) data access, respectively. In addition, based on the obtained power budgets of eight downlink WDM signals and network design at the forward error correction (FEC) threshold, 16 optical network units (ONUs) can be supported simultaneously.
Extended State Observer-Based Predictive Current Control for Dual Three-Phase PMSM with High Dynamic Performance
Authors: Liu Huanli , Luo Dayu , Lin Weiyang
Published: October 2023

Model predictive controllers are widely discussed in the field of dual three-phase permanent magnet synchronous motor control. However, conventional predictive current controllers usually suffer from parameter inaccuracies or model uncertainties, resulting in prediction errors and deterioration of control performance. Therefore, in this paper, an extended state observer-based (ESO) model predictive current controller is proposed to effectively improve the dynamic performance of the motor and its robustness to parameters or disturbances. Parameter inaccuracies or model uncertainties are considered to be lumped disturbances and expressed in the modified mathematical model of the motor. Then, with the designed observer estimating the external disturbances in real time, the prediction error is compensated and corrected periodically. Additionally, the parameter design method of the observer is presented to simplify the controller design. Finally, comparative experiments are implemented to sufficiently demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method for dynamic performance improvement as well as for parameter robustness. The results show that the proposed method takes only 17μs of computation time with a closed-loop bandwidth of 1839rad/s. In addition, the maximum d-axis following error of the proposed method is only 0.10A in the load dynamics experiments, which is a significant improvement compared to the 0.79A of the traditional proportional-integral controller.
Research on Reactive Power Optimization Based on Hybrid Osprey Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Zhang Yi , Liu Pengtao
Published: October 2023

This paper presents an improved osprey optimization algorithm (IOOA) to solve the problems of slow convergence and local optimality. First, the osprey population is initialized based on the Sobol sequence to increase the initial population’s diversity. Second, the step factor, based on Weibull distribution, is introduced in the osprey position updating process to balance the explorative and developmental ability of the algorithm. Lastly, a disturbance based on the Firefly Algorithm is introduced to adjust the position of the osprey to enhance its ability to jump out of the local optimal. By mixing three improvement strategies, the performance of the original algorithm has been comprehensively improved. We compared multiple algorithms on a suite of CEC2017 test functions and performed Wilcoxon statistical tests to verify the validity of the proposed IOOA method. The experimental results show that the proposed IOOA has a faster convergence speed, a more robust ability to jump out of the local optimal, and higher robustness. In addition, we also applied IOOA to the reactive power optimization problem of IEEE33 and IEEE69 node, and the active power network loss was reduced by 48.7% and 42.1%, after IOOA optimization, respectively, which verifies the feasibility and effectiveness of IOOA in solving practical problems.
Particulate Matter (PM2.5) and Mould Characteristics in Selected Classrooms Located in Waikato, New Zealand: Preliminary Results
Authors: Williams Kaia , Jones Rhys J. , Al-Rawi Mohammad
Published: October 2023

Small airborne particulate contaminants such as mould spores can harm human health by causing or exacerbating respiratory illnesses. Such particulates tend to be microscopic; however, in the case of moulds, contamination can be associated with visible colonial growth on surfaces and musty odours detectable by occupants of the room. Shared spaces, such as offices and classrooms, represent areas of higher risk due to the larger numbers of people being exposed to airborne particulates. To better appreciate the health risks associated with airborne particulates, it is therefore advantageous to assess the levels of breathable particulates in a room and compare them with the proportion of particulates represented by mould spores. An air image sensor machine was used to collect PM2.5 particulate levels for three urban-campus classrooms and three semi-urban-campus classrooms during different wintertime (August) days in New Zealand. For each room, a settle-plate method was also used to compare background mould levels at breathing height for seated occupants. Three of the classrooms had been recently built or renovated with an adequate ventilation system installed, while the remaining three classrooms were not upgraded and had no evidence of a ventilation system. The results indicated that the classrooms in the new building, located at the semi-urban campus, tended to have lower levels of particulate matter PM2.5 compared with the urban classrooms, which had not been upgraded. However, the semi-urban classrooms tended to have higher mould counts than the urban spaces. Moreover, the building envelope for both new and old classrooms tended to be porous, with indoor PM2.5 readings increasing in step with outdoor PM2.5 readings. This study will assist in identifying new approaches to reduce the risk of particulate-related respiratory issues associated with urban teaching spaces, particularly those buildings requiring more sustainable technologies to purify the air and improve the indoor air quality (IAQ).
HS-SPEM-GC-MS Analyses of Volatiles and Transcriptome Analysis of Camellia tetracocca in Response to Feeding by Empoasca onukii Matsuda
Authors: Zhang Ni , Wang Jinqiu , Pu Tianyi , Zhao Zhibing , Tan Weiwen , Yu Zhengwen , Song Yuehua
Published: October 2023

The tea leafhopper (Empoasca (Matsumurasca) onukii Matsuda, 1952) is the predominant pest infesting tea and causes significant losses in yield. Plants have evolved multiple defense responses to protect themselves from insect herbivores. Camellia tetracocca, a kind of ancient tea with local popularity, is unique to southwest China. This ancient tea is often attacked by the tea leafhopper. However, there are no relevant reports on changes in volatile components and defense signaling pathways after Camellia tetracocca has been attacked by E. onukii. To reveal changes in the responses of the volatile components of C. tetracocca to E. onukii, the headspace sampling technique and GC-MS were adopted to determine and analyze the volatiles. Furthermore, to unveil the defense mechanisms of C. tetracocca in response to E. onukii, transcriptome analysis was applied to damaged tea leaves and healthy leaves. The GC-MS analysis showed significant increases in the linalool and (E)-2-hexenal contents. The transcriptome analysis revealed a set of core pest-responsive genes (3074 upregulated and 5098 downregulated). Most of the enriched pest-responsive genes are mainly involved in plant hormone signal transduction photosynthesis, terpenoid backbone biosynthesis, alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, and the NF-κB signaling pathway. A conjoint analysis of the transcriptome and metabolome indicated that N2-acetylornithine, D-malic acid, theogallin, fucosyllactose, 5-caffeoylquinic acid, fumarprotocetraric acid, and arabinogalactose have a significant correlation with LOC114279735, LOC114317534, LOC114282078, LOC114317768, and LOC114263181. This study lays a foundation for further research on the breeding and cultivation of insect-resistant germplasm resources for C. tetracocca and on the promotion and development of the plant.
A Review on Potential Biofuel Yields from Cover Crops
Authors: Yang Liangcheng , Lamont Lucas D. , Liu Shan , Guo Chunchun , Stoner Shelby
Published: October 2023

Millions of hectares of cover crops are planted in the U.S. and European Union to manage soil erosion, soil fertility, water quality, weeds, and climate change. Although only a small percentage of cover crops are harvested, the growing cover crop planting area provides a new biomass source to the biofuel industry to produce bioenergy. Oilseed crops such as rapeseed, sunflower, and soybean are commodities and have been used to produce biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Other cover crops such as cereal rye, clover, and alfalfa, have been tested on small or pilot scales to produce cellulosic ethanol, biogas, syngas, bio-oil, and SAF. Given the various biofuel products and pathways, this review aimed to provide a comprehensive comparison of biofuel yield from different cover crops and an overview of the technologies that have been employed to improve biofuel yield. It was envisioned that gene-editing tools might be revolutionary to the biofuel industry, the work on cover crop supply chain will be critical for system scaleup, and high-tolerant technologies likely will be needed to handle the high compositional heterogeneity and variability of cover crop biomass for biofuel.
Surface Roughness in RANS Applied to Aircraft Ice Accretion Simulation: A Review
Authors: Ignatowicz Kevin , Morency François , Beaugendre Héloïse
Published: October 2023

Experimental and numerical fluid dynamics studies highlight a change of flow structure in the presence of surface roughness. The changes involve both wall heat transfer and skin friction, and are mainly restricted to the inner region of the boundary layer. Aircraft in-flight icing is a typical application where rough surfaces play an important role in the airflow structure and the subsequent ice growth. The objective of this work is to investigate how surface roughness is tackled in RANS with wall resolved boundary layers for aeronautics applications, with a focus on ice-induced roughness. The literature review shows that semi-empirical correlations were calibrated on experimental data to model flow changes in the presence of roughness. The correlations for RANS do not explicitly resolve the individual roughness. They principally involve turbulence model modifications to account for changes in the velocity and temperature profiles in the near-wall region. The equivalent sand grain roughness (ESGR) approach emerges as a popular metric to characterize roughness and is employed as a length scale for the RANS model. For in-flight icing, correlations were developed, accounting for both surface geometry and atmospheric conditions. Despite these research efforts, uncertainties are present in some specific conditions, where space and time roughness variations make the simulations difficult to calibrate. Research that addresses this gap could help improve ice accretion predictions.
The Rising Role of Omics and Meta-Omics in Table Olive Research
Authors: Tsoungos Anastasios , Pemaj Violeta , Slavko Aleksandra , Kapolos John , Papadelli Marina , Papadimitriou Konstantinos
Published: October 2023

Table olives are often the result of fermentation, a process where microorganisms transform raw materials into the final product. The microbial community can significantly impact the organoleptic characteristics and safety of table olives, and it is influenced by various factors, including the processing methods. Traditional culture-dependent techniques capture only a fraction of table olives’ intricate microbiota, prompting a shift toward culture-independent methods to address this knowledge gap. This review explores recent advances in table olive research through omics and meta-omics approaches. Genomic analysis of microorganisms isolated from table olives has revealed multiple genes linked to technological and probiotic attributes. An increasing number of studies concern metagenomics and metabolomics analyses of table olives. The former offers comprehensive insights into microbial diversity and function, while the latter identifies aroma and flavor determinants. Although proteomics and transcriptomics studies remain limited in the field, they have the potential to reveal deeper layers of table olives’ microbiome composition and functionality. Despite the challenges associated with implementing multi-omics approaches, such as the reliance on advanced bioinformatics tools and computational resources, they hold the promise of groundbreaking advances in table olive processing technology.
Sulforaphane Bioavailability in Healthy Subjects Fed a Single Serving of Fresh Broccoli Microgreens
Authors: Bouranis John A. , Wong Carmen P. , Beaver Laura M. , Uesugi Sandra L. , Papenhausen Ethan M. , Choi Jaewoo , Davis Edward W. , Da Silva Adilson Nunes , Kalengamaliro Newton , Chaudhary Rekha , Kharofa Jordan , Takiar Vinita , Herzog Thomas J. , Barrett William , Ho Emily
Published: October 2023

Cruciferous vegetable consumption is associated with numerous health benefits attributed to the phytochemical sulforaphane (SFN) that exerts antioxidant and chemopreventive properties, among other bioactive compounds. Broccoli sprouts, rich in SFN precursor glucoraphanin (GRN), have been investigated in numerous clinical trials. Broccoli microgreens are similarly rich in GRN but have remained largely unexplored. The goal of this study was to examine SFN bioavailability and the microbiome profile in subjects fed a single serving of fresh broccoli microgreens. Eleven subjects participated in a broccoli microgreens feeding study. Broccoli microgreens GRN and SFN contents and stability were measured. Urine and stool SFN metabolite profiles and microbiome composition were examined. Broccoli microgreens had similar GRN content to values previously reported for broccoli sprouts, which was stable over time. Urine SFN metabolite profiles in broccoli microgreens-fed subjects were similar to those reported previously in broccoli sprouts-fed subjects, including the detection of SFN-nitriles. We also reported the detection of SFN metabolites in stool samples for the first time. A single serving of broccoli microgreens did not significantly alter microbiome composition. We showed in this study that broccoli microgreens are a significant source of SFN. Our work provides the foundation for future studies to establish the health benefits of broccoli microgreens consumption.
Effects of Diets Combining Peanut Vine and Whole-Plant Corn Silage on Growth Performance, Meat Quality and Rumen Microbiota of Simmental Crossbred Cattle
Authors: Ma Jixiang , Liu Hua , Liu Mengqi , Xu Junying , Lu Jiading , Cao Shixi , Li Shouren , Ma Sen , Wang Zhichang , Zhu Xiaoyan , Li Defeng , Sun Hao , Shi Yinghua , Cui Yalei
Published: October 2023

Peanut vine is a typical peanut by-product and can be used as a quality roughage resource. Whole-plant corn silage is a commonly used roughage. However, few studies have investigated the effects of diets combining peanut vine and whole-plant corn silage on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, meat quality, rumen fermentation and microbiota of beef cattle. To investigate these effects, eighty Simmental crossbred cattle (body weight, 451.27 ± 10.38 kg) approximately 14 months old were randomly divided into four treatments for a 90-day feeding experiment. A one-way design method was used in this experiment. According to the roughage composition, the cattle were divided into a control treatment of 45% wheat straw and 55% whole-plant corn silage (WG), and three treatments of 25% peanut vine and 75% whole-plant corn silage (LPG), 45% peanut vine and 55% whole-plant corn silage (MPG), and 65% peanut vine and 35% whole-plant corn silage (HPG), and the concentrate was the same for all four treatment diets. The results showed that compared to the WG group, the MPG group experienced an increase in their average daily feed intake of 14%, an average daily gain of 32%, and an increase in SOD activity in the spleen of 33%; in the meat, dry matter content increased by 11%, crude protein by 9%, and ether extract content by 40%; in the rumen, the NH3-N content was reduced by 36%, the relative abundance of Firmicutes increased, and the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes decreased (p < 0.05). These results showed the composition of 45% peanut vine and 55% whole-plant corn silage in the roughage improved growth performance, antioxidant capacity, meat quality, rumen fermentation, and microbiota of beef cattle.
Design of Plant-Based Food: Influences of Macronutrients and Amino Acid Composition on the Techno-Functional Properties of Legume Proteins
Authors: Langendörfer Lena Johanna , Avdylaj Blerarta , Hensel Oliver , Diakité Mamadou
Published: October 2023

Imitating animal-based products using vegetable proteins is a technological challenge that can be mastered based on their techno-functional properties. These properties of legume proteins can be influenced by multiple factors, among which the macronutrients and amino acid contents play an important role. Therefore, the question arises as to what extent the techno-functional properties are related to these factors. The water- and oil-holding capacities and the emulsion and foaming properties of commercially available legume protein powders were analyzed. Correlations between macronutrient, amino acid content, steric structure, and techno-functional properties were conducted. However, the protein concentration is the focus of techno-functional properties, as well as the type of protein and the interaction with the non-protein ingredients. The type of protein is not always quantified by the quantity of amino acids or by their spatial arrangement. In this study, the effects of the three-dimensional structure were observed by the used purification method, which overshadow the influencing factors of the macronutrients and amino acid content. In summary, both the macronutrient and amino acid contents of legume proteins provide a rough indication but not a comprehensive statement about their techno-functional properties and classification in an adequate product context.
An Outlook on Hybrid Fractional Modeling of a Heat Controller with Multi-Valued Feedback Control
Authors: Al-Issa Shorouk M. , El-Sayed Ahmed M. A. , Hashem Hind H. G.
Published: October 2023

In this study, we extend the investigations of fractional-order models of thermostats and guarantee the solvability of hybrid Caputo fractional models for heat controllers, satisfying some nonlocal hybrid multi-valued conditions with multi-valued feedback control, which involves the Chandrasekhar kernel, by using hybrid Dhage’s fixed point theorem. A part of this study is dedicated to transforming this problem into an equivalent integral representation and then proving some existence results to achieve our aims. Furthermore, the continuous dependence of the unique solution on the control variable and on the set of selections will be discussed. Moreover, we provide an illustration to support our results.
Recent Progress on Genetically Modified Animal Models for Membrane Skeletal Proteins: The 4.1 and MPP Families
Authors: Terada Nobuo , Saitoh Yurika , Saito Masaki , Yamada Tomoki , Kamijo Akio , Yoshizawa Takahiro , Sakamoto Takeharu
Published: October 2023

The protein 4.1 and membrane palmitoylated protein (MPP) families were originally found as components in the erythrocyte membrane skeletal protein complex, which helps maintain the stability of erythrocyte membranes by linking intramembranous proteins and meshwork structures composed of actin and spectrin under the membranes. Recently, it has been recognized that cells and tissues ubiquitously use this membrane skeletal system. Various intramembranous proteins, including adhesion molecules, ion channels, and receptors, have been shown to interact with the 4.1 and MPP families, regulating cellular and tissue dynamics by binding to intracellular signal transduction proteins. In this review, we focus on our previous studies regarding genetically modified animal models, especially on 4.1G, MPP6, and MPP2, to describe their functional roles in the peripheral nervous system, the central nervous system, the testis, and bone formation. As the membrane skeletal proteins are located at sites that receive signals from outside the cell and transduce signals inside the cell, it is necessary to elucidate their molecular interrelationships, which may broaden the understanding of cell and tissue functions.
The Integrated Use of Heavy-Metal Pollution Indices and the Assessment of Metallic Health Risks in the Phreatic Groundwater Aquifer—The Case of the Oued Souf Valley in Algeria
Authors: Barkat Ayoub , Bouaicha Foued , Ziad Sabrina , Mester Tamás , Sajtos Zsófi , Balla Dániel , Makhloufi Islam , Szabó György
Published: October 2023

In this research, contamination levels and the spatial pattern identification, as well as human and environmental health risk assessments of the heavy metals in the phreatic groundwater aquifer of the Oued Souf Valley were investigated for the first time. The applied methodology comprised a combination of heavy-metal pollution indices, inverse distance weighting, and human health risk assessment through water ingestion on samples collected from (14) monitoring wells. The contamination trend in the phreatic aquifer showed Al > B > Sr > Mn > Fe > Pb > Ni > Cr > Ba > Cu > Zn. Similarly, the enrichment trend was Al > B > Sr > Mn > Ni > Pb > Cr > Ba > Cu > Zn. Ecologically, most of the analyzed metals reflected a low potential ecological risk, except for two wells, S13 and S14, which represented a considerable and high ecological risk in terms of Pb. According to the applied grouping method, the samples in the first group indicated a lower risk of contamination in terms of heavy metals due to their lower concentration compared to the second group. This makes the area containing the second group’s samples more vulnerable in terms of heavy metals, which could affect urban, preurban, and even agricultural areas. All of the samples (100%) indicated the possibility of potential health risks in the case of children. While six samples showed that the non-cancer toxicity risk is considered low, the rest of the samples had high Hazard Index (HI) values, indicating the possibility of health risks occurring in the case of adults. The constructed vertical drainage system is acting as a supporter and accelerator of the pollution levels in the shallow groundwater aquifer. This is due to its contribution to the penetration of different pollutants into this aquifer system, depending on the residence time of the water, which appears to be long within the drainage system.
TMT and PRM Based Quantitative Proteomics to Explore the Protective Role and Mechanism of Iristectorin B in Stroke
Authors: Zheng Meizhu , Zhou Mi , Lu Tingting , Lu Yao , Qin Peng , Liu Chunming
Published: October 2023

Stroke is a serious disease caused by the rupture or blockage of the cerebrovascular system. Its pathogenesis is complex and involves multiple mechanisms. Iristectorin B is a natural isoflavone that has certain anti stroke effects. In this study, an in vitro stroke injury model of glyoxylate deprivation was established using PC12 cells, which was used to evaluate the anti-stroke activity of Iristectorin B in ejecta stem. The results showed that Iristectorin B, a natural isoflavone derived from Dried Shoot, significantly reduced the damage to PC12 cells caused by oxygen glucose deprivation/reoxygenation, decreased apoptosis, enhanced cell survival and reduced Ca2+, LDH and ROS levels. The results showed that Iristectorin B had a significant protective effect on Na2S2O4-injured PC12 cells, and the mechanism may be related to the protective effect of neurons in the brain. After protein extraction and various analyses were performed, a series of cutting-edge technologies were organically combined to study the quantitative proteome of each group. Differential proteins were then analyzed. According to the protein screening principle, ferroptosis-related proteins were most closely associated with stroke. The differential proteins associated with ferroptosis screened were SLC3A2, TFR1 and HMOX1, with HMOX1 being the most significantly elevated and reduced via dosing. Iristectorin B may act as a protective agent against stroke by regulating ferroptosis, and SLC3A2, TFR1 and HMOX1 may serve as potential diagnostic biomarkers for stroke, providing additional evidence to support the importance of ferroptosis in stroke.
Fermentation of Murta (Ugni molinae) Juice: Effect on Antioxidant Activity and Control of Enzymes Associated with Glucose Assimilation
Authors: Escobar-Beiza Natalia , Pérez-Correa José R. , Franco Wendy
Published: October 2023

Berries are rich in bioactive compounds, including antioxidants and especially polyphenols, known inhibitors of starch metabolism enzymes. Lactic acid fermentation of fruits has received considerable attention due to its ability to enhance bioactivity. This study investigated the effect of fermentation with L. mesenteroides of juice from the Chilean berry murta on antioxidant activity, release of polyphenols, and inhibitory activity against α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. Three types of juices (natural fruit, freeze-dried, and commercial) were fermented. Total polyphenol content (Folin–Ciocalteu), antioxidant activity (DPPH and ORAC), and the ability to inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes were determined. Fermented murta juices exhibited increased antioxidant activity, as evidenced by higher levels of polyphenols released during fermentation. Inhibition of α-glucosidase was observed in the three fermented juices, although no inhibition of α-amylase was observed; the juice from freeze-dried murta stood out. These findings highlight the potential health benefits of fermented murta juice, particularly its antioxidant properties and the ability to modulate sugar assimilation by inhibiting α-glucosidase.
Comprehensive Functional Analysis of the bZIP Family in Bletilla striata Reveals That BsbZIP13 Could Respond to Multiple Abiotic Stresses
Authors: Zhou Ru , Zhao Guangming , Zheng Siting , Xie Siyuan , Lu Chan , Liu Shuai , Wang Zhezhi , Niu Junfeng
Published: October 2023

Basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors (TFs) are one of the largest families involved in plant physiological processes such as biotic and abiotic responses, growth, and development, etc. In this study, 66 members of the bZIP family were identified in Bletilla striata, which were divided into 10 groups based on their phylogenetic relationships with AtbZIPs. A structural analysis of BsbZIPs revealed significant intron–exon differences among BsbZIPs. A total of 63 bZIP genes were distributed across 16 chromosomes in B. striata. The tissue-specific and germination stage expression patterns of BsbZIPs were based on RNA-seq. Stress-responsive expression analysis revealed that partial BsbZIPs were highly expressed under low temperatures, wounding, oxidative stress, and GA treatments. Furthermore, subcellular localization studies indicated that BsbZIP13 was localized in the nucleus. Yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assays suggested that BsbZIP13 could interact with multiple BsSnRK2s. The results of this study provide insightful data regarding bZIP TF as one of the stress response regulators in B. striata, while providing a theoretical basis for transgenic and functional studies of the bZIP gene family in B. striata.
Chemodiversity and Bioactivity of the Essential Oils of Juniperus and Implication for Taxonomy
Authors: Hu Huizhong , Li Dengwu , Bai Ruxue , Zhang Weiping , Luo Hong , Yu Enping
Published: October 2023

The essential oils of Juniperus are highly beneficial medicinally. The present study aimed to assess the chemodiversity and bioactivity of Juniperus formosana, Juniperus przewalskii, Juniperus convallium, Juniperus tibetica, Juniperus komarovii, and Juniperus sabina essential oils from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The results revealed 92 components in six essential oils: α-pinene (2.71–17.31%), sabinene (4.91–19.83%), and sylvestrene (1.84–8.58%) were the main components. Twelve components were firstly reported in Juniperus oils, indicating that the geographical location and climatic conditions of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau produced the unique characteristics of Juniperus essential oils. The chemodiversity of Juniperus essential oils varied greatly, with J. sabina having the most recognized components (64) and the highest chemodiversity (Shannon–Wiener index of 3.07, Simpson’s diversity index of 0.91, and Pielou evenness of 0.74). According to the chemodiversity of essential oils, the six plants were decided into the α-pinene chemotype (J. formosana), hedycaryol chemotype (J. przewalskii, J. komarovii, J. convallium, J. tibetica), and sabinene chemotype (J. sabina). PCA, HCA and OPLS-DA showed that J. formosana and J. sabina were distantly related to other plants, which provides a chemical basis for the classification of Juniperus plants. Furthermore, bioactivity tests exhibited certain antioxidant and antibacterial effects in six Juniperus oils. And the bioactivities of J. convallium, J. tibetica, and J. komarovvii were measured for the first time, broadening the range of applications of Juniperus. Correlation analysis of components and bioactivities showed that δ-amorphene, β-udesmol, α-muurolol, and 2-nonanone performed well in the determination of antioxidant activity, and α-pinene, camphene, β-myrcene, as well as (E)-thujone, had strong inhibitory effects on pathogenic bacteria, providing a theoretical basis for further research on these components.
The Effect of Plasma-Treated Water on Microbial Growth and Biosynthesis of Gamma-Decalactones by Yarrowia lipolytica Yeast
Authors: Małajowicz Jolanta , Khachatryan Karen , Oszczęda Zdzisław , Karpiński Piotr , Fabiszewska Agata , Zieniuk Bartłomiej , Krysowaty Konrad
Published: October 2023

In recent years, the production of plasma-treated water (PTW) by low-temperature low-pressure glow plasma (LPGP) has been increasingly gaining in popularity. LPGP-treated water changes its physical and physiochemical properties compared to standard distilled water. In this study, a non-conventional lipolytic yeast species Yarrowia lipolytica was cultivated in culture media based on Nantes plasma water with heightened singlet oxygen content (Nantes PW) or in water treated with low-temperature, low-pressure glow plasma while in contact with air (PWTA) or nitrogen (PWTN). The research aimed to assess the influence of culture conditions on castor oil biotransformation to gamma-decalactone (GDL) and other secondary metabolites in media based on nanowater. The Nantes plasma water-based medium attained the highest concentration of gamma-decalactone (4.81 ± 0.51 g/L at 144 h of culture), maximum biomass concentration and biomass yield from the substrate. The amplified activity of lipases in the nanowater-based medium, in comparison to the control medium, is encouraging from the perspective of GDL biosynthesis, relying on the biotransformation of ricinoleic acid, which is the primary component of castor oil. Although lipid hydrolysis was enhanced, this step seemed not crucial for GDL concentration. Interestingly, the study validates the significance of oxygen in β-oxidation enzymes and its role in the bioconversion of ricinoleic acid to GDL and other lactones. Specifically, media with higher oxygen content (WPTA) and Nantes plasma water resulted in remarkably high concentrations of four lactones: gamma-decalactone, 3-hydroxy-gamma-decalactone, dec-2-en-4-olide and dec-3-en-4-olide.
The Pressurized Skin: A Review on the Pathological Effect of Mechanical Pressure on the Skin from the Cellular Perspective
Authors: Chien Wei-Chen , Tsai Tsen-Fang
Published: October 2023

Since human skin is the primary interface responding to external mechanical stimuli, extrinsic forces can disrupt its balanced microenvironment and lead to cutaneous lesions. We performed this review to delve into the pathological effects of mechanical pressure on skin from the cellular perspective. Fibroblasts of different subsets act as heterogeneous responders to mechanical load and express diverse functionalities. Keratinocytes relay mechanical signals through mechanosensitive receptors and the ensuing neurochemical cascades to work collaboratively with other cells and molecules in response to pressure. Mast cells release cytokines and neuropeptides, promoting inflammation and facilitating interaction with sensory neurons, while melanocytes can be regulated by pressure through cellular and molecular crosstalk. Adipocytes and stem cells sense pressure to fine-tune their regulations of mechanical homeostasis and cell differentiation. Applying mechanical pressure to the skin can induce various changes in its microenvironment that potentially lead to pathological alterations, such as ischemia, chronic inflammation, proliferation, regeneration, degeneration, necrosis, and impaired differentiation. The heterogeneity of each cellular lineage and subset from different individuals with various underlying skin conditions must be taken into consideration when discussing the pathological effects of pressure on the skin. Thus, elucidating the mechanotransduction and mechanoresponsive pathways from the cellular viewpoint is crucial in diagnosing and managing relevant dermatological disorders.
Investigating the Relationship of User Acceptance to the Characteristics and Performance of an Educational Software in Byzantine Music
Authors: Kokkinidis Konstantinos-Hercules , Patronas Georgios , Goudos Sotirios K. , Maikantis Theodoros , Nikolaidis Nikolaos
Published: October 2023

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of educational software characteristics on software performance through the mediating role of user acceptance. Our approach allows for a deeper understanding of the factors that contribute to the effectiveness of educational software by bridging the fields of educational technology, psychology, and human–computer interaction, offering a holistic perspective on software adoption and performance. This study is based on a sample collected from public and private education institutes in Northern Greece and on data obtained from 236 users. The statistical method employed is structural equation models (SEMs), via SPSS—AMOS estimation. The findings of this study suggest that user acceptance and performance appraisal are exceptionally interrelated in regard to educational applications. The study argues that user acceptance is positively related to the performance of educational software and constitutes the nested epicenter mediating construct in the educational software characteristics. Additional findings, such as computer-familiar users and users from the field of choral music, are positively related to the performance of the educational software. Our conclusions help in understanding the psychological and behavioral aspects of technology adoption in the educational setting. Findings are discussed in terms of their practical usefulness in education and further research.
A Novel Zero-Thermal-Quenching Red Phosphor with High Quantum Efficiency and Color Purity
Authors: Zhao Tianyang , Zhang Shiqi , Zhu Dachuan
Published: October 2023

In this paper, a series of K5La1-x(MoO4)4: xSm3+ and K5La0.86(MoO4)4: 0.07Sm3+, 0.07Ln3+ (Ln = Sc, Y or Gd) red phosphors were prepared by calcining the mixed raw powders at 600 °C. Meanwhile, the composition and fluorescence properties of the phosphors, especially for the thermal stability, were analyzed in detail. The results indicate that the K5La1-x(MoO4)4: xSm3+ phosphors can be effectively excited at 401 nm and emit red light with three main peaks at 561 nm, 600 nm and 646 nm, attributed to the 4G5/2→6Hj/2 (j = 5, 7 and 9) energy transitions of the Sm3+ ion respectively, among which the K5La0.93(MoO4)4: 0.07Sm3+ exhibits the highest intensity. The quenching mechanism is ascribed to the dipole-dipole interaction. Ln3+ co-doping does not change the shape and peaking position of the excitation and emission spectra of K5La0.93(MoO4)4: 0.07Sm3+, but further increases the emission intensity in different degrees. Particularly, K5La0.86(MoO4)4: 0.07Sm3+, 0.07Gd3+ demonstrates a high quantum efficiency of 74.63%, a low color temperature (1753 K), and a high color purity of up to 99.97%. It is worth noting that all the phosphors have a good thermal stability, even a zero quenching phenomenon occurs, attributed to the electron traps confirmed by the TL spectrum.
Gut Bacteria Promote Phosphine Susceptibility of Tribolium castaneum by Aggravating Oxidative Stress and Fitness Costs
Authors: Wang Zhengyan , Zhang Shan , Liu Zhiyuan , Chang Zhenzhen , Hu Haisheng
Published: October 2023

Knowledge about resistance mechanisms can provide ideas for pesticide resistance management. Although several studies have unveiled the positive or negative impacts of gut microbes on host pesticide resistance, minimal research is available regarding the association between gut microbes and host phosphine resistance. To explore the influence of gut bacteria on host phosphine susceptibility and its molecular basis, mortality, fitness, redox responses, and immune responses of adult Tribolium castaneum were determined when it was challenged by phosphine exposure and/or gut bacteria inoculation. Five cultivable gut bacteria were excised from a population of phosphine-resistant T. castaneum. Among them, only Enterococcus sp. inoculation significantly promoted host susceptibility to phosphine, while inoculation of any other gut bacteria had no significant effect on host phosphine susceptibility. Furthermore, when T. castaneum was exposed to phosphine, Enterococcus sp. inoculation decreased the female fecundity, promoted host oxidative stress, and suppressed the expression and activity of host superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase. In the absence of phosphine, Enterococcus sp. inoculation also elicited overactive immune responses in T. castaneum, including the immune deficiency and Toll signaling pathways and the dual oxidase–reactive oxygen species system. These results indicate that Enterococcus sp. likely promotes host phosphine susceptibility by aggravating oxidative stress and fitness costs.
Progress in Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy and Optimisation
Authors: Akhtar Zaki , Gallagher Mark M. , Kontogiannis Christos , Leung Lisa W. M. , Spartalis Michael , Jouhra Fadi , Sohal Manav , Shanmugam Nesan
Published: October 2023

Cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) has become the cornerstone of heart failure (HF) treatment. Despite the obvious benefit from this therapy, an estimated 30% of CRT patients do not respond (“non-responders”). The cause of “non-response” is multi-factorial and includes suboptimal device settings. To optimise CRT settings, echocardiography has been considered the gold standard but has limitations: it is user dependent and consumes time and resources. CRT proprietary algorithms have been developed to perform device optimisation efficiently and with limited resources. In this review, we discuss CRT optimisation including the various adopted proprietary algorithms and conduction system pacing.