bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
HDAC Class I Inhibitor Domatinostat Preferentially Targets Glioma Stem Cells over Their Differentiated Progeny
Authors: Nakagawa-Saito Yurika , Saitoh Shinichi , Mitobe Yuta , Sugai Asuka , Togashi Keita , Suzuki Shuhei , Kitanaka Chifumi , Okada Masashi
Published: July 2022

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are in general characterized by higher resistance to cell death and cancer therapies than non-stem differentiated cancer cells. However, we and others have recently revealed using glioma stem cells (GSCs) as a model that, unexpectedly, CSCs have specific vulnerabilities that make them more sensitive to certain drugs compared with their differentiated counterparts. We aimed in this study to discover novel drugs targeting such Achilles’ heels of GSCs as anti-GSC drug candidates to be used for the treatment of glioblastoma, the most therapy-resistant form of brain tumors. Here we report that domatinostat (4SC-202), a class I HDAC inhibitor, is one such candidate. At concentrations where it showed no or minimal growth inhibitory effect on differentiated GSCs and normal cells, domatinostat effectively inhibited the growth of GSCs mainly by inducing apoptosis. Furthermore, GSCs that survived domatinostat treatment lost their self-renewal capacity. These results suggested that domatinostat is a unique drug that selectively eliminates GSCs not only physically by inducing cell death but also functionally by inhibiting their self-renewal. Our findings also imply that class I HDACs and/or LSD1, another target of domatinostat, may possibly have a specific role in the maintenance of GSCs and therefore could be an attractive target in the development of anti-GSC therapies.
miR-489 Confines Uncontrolled Estrogen Signaling through a Negative Feedback Mechanism and Regulates Tamoxifen Resistance in Breast Cancer
Authors: Soni Mithil , Saatci Ozge , Gupta Gourab , Patel Yogin , Keerthi Raja Manikanda Raja , Li Jie , Liu Xinfeng , Xu Peisheng , Wang Hongjun , Fan Daping , Sahin Ozgur , Chen Hexin
Published: July 2022

Approximately 75% of diagnosed breast cancer tumors are estrogen-receptor-positive tumors and are associated with a better prognosis due to response to hormonal therapies. However, around 40% of patients relapse after hormonal therapies. Genomic analysis of gene expression profiles in primary breast cancers and tamoxifen-resistant cell lines suggested the potential role of miR-489 in the regulation of estrogen signaling and development of tamoxifen resistance. Our in vitro analysis showed that loss of miR-489 expression promoted tamoxifen resistance, while overexpression of miR-489 in tamoxifen-resistant cells restored tamoxifen sensitivity. Mechanistically, we found that miR-489 is an estrogen-regulated miRNA that negatively regulates estrogen receptor signaling by using at least the following two mechanisms: (i) modulation of the ER phosphorylation status by inhibiting MAPK and AKT kinase activities; (ii) regulation of nuclear-to-cytosol translocation of estrogen receptor α (ERα) by decreasing p38 expression and consequently ER phosphorylation. In addition, miR-489 can break the positive feed-forward loop between the estrogen-Erα axis and p38 MAPK in breast cancer cells, which is necessary for its function as a transcription factor. Overall, our study unveiled the underlying molecular mechanism by which miR-489 regulates an estrogen signaling pathway through a negative feedback loop and uncovered its role in both the development of and overcoming of tamoxifen resistance in breast cancers.
Molecular Mechanisms of Drug Resistance in Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Mlynarczyk-Bonikowska Beata , Kowalewski Cezary , Krolak-Ulinska Aneta , Marusza Wojciech
Published: July 2022

This paper discusses the mechanisms of S. aureus drug resistance including: (1) introduction. (2) resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics, with particular emphasis on the mec genes found in the Staphylococcaceae family, the structure and occurrence of SCCmec cassettes, as well as differences in the presence of some virulence genes and its expression in major epidemiological types and clones of HA-MRSA, CA-MRSA, and LA-MRSA strains. Other mechanisms of resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics will also be discussed, such as mutations in the gdpP gene, BORSA or MODSA phenotypes, as well as resistance to ceftobiprole and ceftaroline. (3) Resistance to glycopeptides (VRSA, VISA, hVISA strains, vancomycin tolerance). (4) Resistance to oxazolidinones (mutational and enzymatic resistance to linezolid). (5) Resistance to MLS-B (macrolides, lincosamides, ketolides, and streptogramin B). (6) Aminoglycosides and spectinomicin, including resistance genes, their regulation and localization (plasmids, transposons, class I integrons, SCCmec), and types and spectrum of enzymes that inactivate aminoglycosides. (7). Fluoroquinolones (8) Tetracyclines, including the mechanisms of active protection of the drug target site and active efflux of the drug from the bacterial cell. (9) Mupirocin. (10) Fusidic acid. (11) Daptomycin. (12) Resistance to other antibiotics and chemioterapeutics (e.g., streptogramins A, quinupristin/dalfopristin, chloramphenicol, rifampicin, fosfomycin, trimethoprim) (13) Molecular epidemiology of MRSA.
Spontaneous and Ionizing Radiation-Induced Aggregation of Human Serum Albumin: Dityrosine as a Fluorescent Probe
Authors: Radomska Karolina , Wolszczak Marian
Published: July 2022

The use of spectroscopic techniques has shown that human serum albumin (HSA) undergoes reversible self-aggregation through protein–protein interactions. It ensures the subsequent overlapping of electron clouds along with the stiffening of the conformation of the interpenetrating network of amino acids of adjacent HSA molecules. The HSA oxidation process related to the transfer of one electron was investigated by pulse radiolysis and photochemical methods. It has been shown that the irradiation of HSA solutions under oxidative stress conditions results in the formation of stable protein aggregates. The HSA aggregates induced by ionizing radiation are characterized by specific fluorescence compared to the emission of non-irradiated solutions. We assume that HSA dimers are mainly responsible for the new emission. Dityrosine produced by the intermolecular recombination of protein tyrosine radicals as a result of radiolysis of an aqueous solution of the protein is the main cause of HSA aggregation by cross-linking. Analysis of the oxidation process of HSA confirmed that the reaction of mild oxidants (Br2•−, N3•, SO4•−) with albumin leads to the formation of covalent bonds between tyrosine residues. In the case of •OH radicals and partly, Cl2•−, species other than DT are formed. The light emission of this species is similar to the emission of self-associated HSA.
Early Life Nutrition and the Development of Offspring Metabolic Health
Authors: Hryciw Deanne H.
Published: July 2022

The developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) hypothesis describes the effects of parental perturbations around the periconception, pregnancy, and perinatal window that may lead to changes in offspring development and an increased risk of disease [...]
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Curved Lipid Membranes
Authors: Larsen Andreas Haahr
Published: July 2022

Eukaryotic cells contain membranes with various curvatures, from the near-plane plasma membrane to the highly curved membranes of organelles, vesicles, and membrane protrusions. These curvatures are generated and sustained by curvature-inducing proteins, peptides, and lipids, and describing these mechanisms is an important scientific challenge. In addition to that, some molecules can sense membrane curvature and thereby be trafficked to specific locations. The description of curvature sensing is another fundamental challenge. Curved lipid membranes and their interplay with membrane-associated proteins can be investigated with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Various methods for simulating curved membranes with MD are discussed here, including tools for setting up simulation of vesicles and methods for sustaining membrane curvature. The latter are divided into methods that exploit scaffolding virtual beads, methods that use curvature-inducing molecules, and methods applying virtual forces. The variety of simulation tools allow researcher to closely match the conditions of experimental studies of membrane curvatures.
Protocadherin Gamma C3 (PCDHGC3) Is Strongly Expressed in Glioblastoma and Its High Expression Is Associated with Longer Progression-Free Survival of Patients
Authors: Feldheim Jonas , Wend David , Lauer Mara J. , Monoranu Camelia M. , Glas Martin , Kleinschnitz Christoph , Ernestus Ralf-Ingo , Braunger Barbara M. , Meybohm Patrick , Hagemann Carsten , Burek Malgorzata
Published: July 2022

Protocadherins (PCDHs) belong to the cadherin superfamily and represent the largest subgroup of calcium-dependent adhesion molecules. In the genome, most PCDHs are arranged in three clusters, α, β, and γ on chromosome 5q31. PCDHs are highly expressed in the central nervous system (CNS). Several PCDHs have tumor suppressor functions, but their individual role in primary brain tumors has not yet been elucidated. Here, we examined the mRNA expression of PCDHGC3, a member of the PCDHγ cluster, in non-cancerous brain tissue and in gliomas of different World Health Organization (WHO) grades and correlated it with the clinical data of the patients. We generated a PCDHGC3 knockout U343 cell line and examined its growth rate and migration in a wound healing assay. We showed that PCDHGC3 mRNA and protein were significantly overexpressed in glioma tissue compared to a non-cancerous brain specimen. This could be confirmed in glioma cell lines. High PCDHGC3 mRNA expression correlated with longer progression-free survival (PFS) in glioma patients. PCDHGC3 knockout in U343 resulted in a slower growth rate but a significantly faster migration rate in the wound healing assay and decreased the expression of several genes involved in WNT signaling. PCDHGC3 expression should therefore be further investigated as a PFS-marker in gliomas. However, more studies are needed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the PCDHGC3 effects.
COVID-19 Host GenomeDB: A Comprehensive Database Related to COVID-19 Host Genetics
Authors: Banjan Bhavya , Albeshr Mohammed F. , Mahboob Shahid , Manzoor Irfan , Das Ranajit
Published: July 2022

The world is currently faced with a pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Several genome-wide and exome-wide studies (GWAS and EWAS) have been performed to identify the variability in the host genetic constitution that likely underlines the inter-individual variabilities in COVID-19 severity and clinical manifestation. Due to the magnitude of the articles available, creating a list of host-specific genetic variants and genes associated with COVID-19 can be both time-consuming and extremely challenging for COVID-19 researchers. To this end, the COVID-19 Host Genome database was built. This is currently the only dedicated, free-to-use database that deals solely with COVID-19 host-specific genetic variants and genes. HyperText Markup language (HTML), Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP), and My Structured Query Language (MySQL) server (version 5.7.38) were used to develop the website, storage, and extraction of the data. So far, 787 genetic variants from 63 previously published articles were collected. The tabular data are hyperlinked to the original articles and the users can download all data from the database. COVID-19 Host GenomeDB is being revised constantly every month, and can benefit the research community studying the genetic variants to improve COVID-19 treatment and prevention strategies.
Developing Lines of Queensland Fruit Flies with Different Levels of Response to a Kairomone Lure
Authors: Yazdani Maryam
Published: July 2022

The Queensland fruit fly (Q-fly), Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) is a serious horticultural pest in Australia because it is highly invasive and destructive. Among all pest management practices, sterile insect techniques (SIT) and male annihilation techniques (MAT) are important control options for many tephritid fruit fly pests, including Q-fly. However, simultaneous applications of MAT and SIT require the wild males to be responsive to a lure while the released sterile males remain largely unresponsive. In this study, a series of artificial selection experiments was conducted to develop lines of Q-fly with different levels of response to the male-specific lure Cue-lure® (CL). After only five cycles of artificial selections, lines of high responsiveness (HR) and low responsiveness (LR) males diverging significantly in their response to the lure were developed. In the field cage experiment, the number of trapped males in fruit fly traps was significantly lower in the LR line than both the HR line and the control which supports the laboratory results. However, when artificial selection was stopped at F5 and retested after two generations, the number of unresponsive males dropped drastically compared to the rate of response of wild flies. Because the selection can be conducted only on males, it would be difficult to eliminate the dominant responsive alleles in the system without continuous selection.
Methodology to Assess the Technoeconomic Impacts of the EU Fit for 55 Legislation Package in Relation to Shipping
Authors: Mallouppas George , Yfantis Elias A. , Ktoris Angelos , Ioannou Constantina
Published: July 2022

The recent inclusion of shipping in the Fit for 55 legislation package will have large knock-on effects on the industry and consequently on end consumers. The present paper presents an innovative top-down methodology, the MSF455 model, which estimates the new vessel Operational Expenditure (OPEX) as per the provisions of the Fit for 55 package and various scenarios based on carbon tax, penalty allowances, maritime fuel tax and effect. The methodology is presented and tested against six scenarios that are based on Det Norske Veritas’s (DNV) fuel maritime projections. The model illustrates that the distinction between intra-EU and extra-EU penalty allowance creates a large disparity and thus reduction in the competitiveness of goods (produced and transported).
Trichophyton indotineae—An Emerging Pathogen Causing Recalcitrant Dermatophytoses in India and Worldwide—A Multidimensional Perspective
Authors: Uhrlaß Silke , Verma Shyam B. , Gräser Yvonne , Rezaei-Matehkolaei Ali , Hatami Maryam , Schaller Martin , Nenoff Pietro
Published: July 2022

Trichophyton (T.) indotineae is a newly identified dermatophyte species that has been found in a near-epidemic form on the Indian subcontinent. There is evidence of its spread from the Indian subcontinent to a number of countries worldwide. The fungus is identical to genotype VIII within the T. mentagrophytes/T. interdigitale species complex, which was described in 2019 by sequencing the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA of the dermatophyte. More than 10 ITS genotypes of T. interdigitale and T. mentagrophytes can now be identified. T. indotineae causes inflammatory and itchy, often widespread, dermatophytosis affecting the groins, gluteal region, trunk, and face. Patients of all ages and genders are affected. The new species has largely displaced other previously prevalent dermatophytes on the Indian subcontinent. T. indotineae has become a problematic dermatophyte due to its predominantly in vitro genetic resistance to terbinafine owing to point mutations of the squalene epoxidase gene. It also displays in vivo resistance to terbinafine. The most efficacious drug currently available for this terbinafine-resistant dermatophytoses, based on sound evidence, is itraconazole.
Novel Treatment Approach for Aspergilloses by Targeting Germination
Authors: Verburg Kim , van Neer Jacq , Duca Margherita , de Cock Hans
Published: July 2022

Germination of conidia is an essential process within the Aspergillus life cycle and plays a major role during the infection of hosts. Conidia are able to avoid detection by the majority of leukocytes when dormant. Germination can cause severe health problems, specifically in immunocompromised people. Aspergillosis is most often caused by Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) and affects neutropenic patients, as well as people with cystic fibrosis (CF). These patients are often unable to effectively detect and clear the conidia or hyphae and can develop chronic non-invasive and/or invasive infections or allergic inflammatory responses. Current treatments with (tri)azoles can be very effective to combat a variety of fungal infections. However, resistance against current azoles has emerged and has been increasing since 1998. As a consequence, patients infected with resistant A. fumigatus have a reported mortality rate of 88% to 100%. Especially with the growing number of patients that harbor azole-resistant Aspergilli, novel antifungals could provide an alternative. Aspergilloses differ in defining characteristics, but germination of conidia is one of the few common denominators. By specifically targeting conidial germination with novel antifungals, early intervention might be possible. In this review, we propose several morphotypes to disrupt conidial germination, as well as potential targets. Hopefully, new antifungals against such targets could contribute to disturbing the ability of Aspergilli to germinate and grow, resulting in a decreased fungal burden on patients.
T-2 Toxin Induces Apoptotic Cell Death and Protective Autophagy in Mouse Microglia BV2 Cells
Authors: Sun Tun , Zhang Qinzhi , Li Meng , Tang Shusheng , Dai Chongshan
Published: July 2022

T-2 toxin exposure could cause neurotoxicity; however, the precise molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In the present study, we investigated T-2 toxin-induced cytotoxicity and underlying molecular mechanisms using a mouse microglia BV2 cell line. The results show that T-2 toxin treatment-induced cytotoxicity of BV2 cells was dose- and time-dependent. Compared to the control, T-2 toxin treatment at 1.25–5 ng/mL significantly increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and triggered oxidative stress. T-2 toxin treatment also caused mitochondrial dysfunction in BV2 cells, which was evidenced by decreased mitochondrial transmembrane potential, upregulated expression of Bax protein, and decreased expression of Bcl-2 protein. Meanwhile, T-2 toxin treatment upregulated the expression of cleaved-caspase-3, cleaved-PARP-1 proteins, and downregulated the expression of HO-1 and nuclear Nrf2 proteins, finally inducing cell apoptosis in BV2 cells. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) supplementation significantly attenuated T-2 toxin-induced cytotoxicity. Moreover, T-2 toxin treatment activated autophagy and upregulated autophagy flux, and the inhibition of autophagy significantly promoted T-2 toxin-induced cell apoptosis. Taken together, our results reveal that T-2 toxin-induced cytotoxicity in BV2 cells involves the production of ROS, the activation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, and the inhibition of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. Our study offers new insight into the underlying molecular mechanisms in T-2 toxin-mediated neurotoxicity.
Response of Fusarium pseudograminearum to Biocontrol Agent Bacillus velezensis YB-185 by Phenotypic and Transcriptome Analysis
Authors: Zhang Jie , Zhu Wenqian , Goodwin Paul H. , Lin Qitong , Xia Mingcong , Xu Wen , Sun Runhong , Liang Juan , Wu Chao , Li Honglian , Wang Qi , Yang Lirong
Published: July 2022

The use of biological control agents (BCAs) is a promising alternative control measure for Fusarium crown rot (FCR) of wheat caused by Fusarium pseudograminearum. A bacterial strain, YB-185, was isolated from the soil of wheat plants with FCR and identified as Bacillus velezensis. YB-185 exhibited strong inhibition of F. pseudograminearum mycelial growth and conidial germination in culture. Seed treatment with YB-185 in greenhouse and field resulted in reductions in disease by 66.1% and 57.6%, respectively, along with increased grain yield. Microscopy of infected root tissues confirmed that YB-185 reduced root invasion by F. pseudograminearum. RNA-seq of F. pseudograminearum during co-cultivation with B. velezensis YB-185 revealed 5086 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) compared to the control. Down-regulated DEGs included genes for glucan synthesis, fatty acid synthesis, mechanosensitive ion channels, superoxide dismutase, peroxiredoxin, thioredoxin, and plant-cell-wall-degrading enzymes, whereas up-regulated DEGs included genes for chitin synthesis, ergosterol synthesis, glutathione S-transferase, catalase, and ABC transporters. In addition, fungal cell apoptosis increased significantly, as indicated by TUNEL staining, and the scavenging rate of 2,2′-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt radical cation (ABTS·+) in the fungus significantly decreased. Thus, F. pseudograminearum may be trying to maintain normal cell functions by increasing cell wall and membrane synthesis, antioxidant and anti-stress responses, detoxification of bacterial antimicrobial compounds, and transportation of damaging compounds from its cells. However, cell death and free radical accumulation still occurred, indicating that the responses were insufficient to prevent cell damage. Bacillus velezensis YB-185 is a promising BCA against FCR that acts by directly damaging F. pseudograminearum, thus reducing its ability to colonize roots and produce symptoms.
It Reminds Me of My Happy Childhood: The Influence of a Brand Logo’s Holiday Atmosphere on Merchandise-Related Nostalgic Preference
Authors: Wang Tingyi , Chen Rong
Published: July 2022

The holiday atmosphere abounds in marketing campaigns. The present research examines how the holiday atmosphere of a brand logo influences consumers’ merchandise-related nostalgic preference. Across three studies, the authors find that when consumers are exposed to brand logos with a strong (vs. weak) holiday atmosphere, they prefer nostalgic products (Study 1). This effect occurs because consumers exposed to a strong (vs. weak) holiday atmosphere generate more childhood imagery, resulting in significantly more choices of nostalgic products (Study 2). Additionally, the paper finds that the effect of the holiday atmosphere of a brand logo on merchandise-related nostalgic preference—here, the preference for products of nostalgic brands—does not occur for non-traditional holidays (Study 3). These findings make important contributions to the literature on holiday marketing, logo design and nostalgic marketing.
1 × 4 Wavelength Demultiplexer C-Band Using Cascaded Multimode Interference on SiN Buried Waveguide Structure
Authors: Menahem Jonathan , Malka Dror
Published: July 2022

Back reflection losses are a key problem that limits the performances of optical communication systems that work on wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technology based on silicon (Si) Multimode Interference (MMI) waveguides. In order to overcome this problem, we propose a novel design for a 1 × 4 optical demultiplexer based on the MMI in silicon nitride (SiN) buried waveguide structure that operates at the C-band spectrum. The simulation results show that the proposed device can transmit four channels with a 10 nm spacing between them that work in the C-band with a low power loss range of 1.98–2.35 dB, large bandwidth of 7.68–8.08 nm, and good crosstalk of 20.9–23.6 dB. Thanks to the low refractive index of SiN, a very low back reflection of 40.57 dB is obtained without using a special angled MMI design, which is usually required, using Si MMI technology. Thus, this SiN demultiplexer MMI technology can be used in WDM technique for obtaining a high data bitrate alongside a low back reflection in optical communication systems.
Effect of Different Cleaning Methods on Shear Bond Strength of Resin Cement to Contaminated Zirconia
Authors: Hajjaj Maher Saeed , Alzahrani Saeed Jamaan
Published: July 2022

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different cleaning methods on the shear bond strength (SBS) of resin cement to contaminated zirconia specimens. Eighty rectangular-shaped specimens (2 × 5 × 10 mm) were fabricated from Zirconia blocks (IPS e.max ZirCAD) and randomly divided into 8 groups (n = 10). Group A (control) was not exposed to contaminants. The following tests specimens were contaminated with saliva and silicone indicating paste. Group B was coated with ceramic primer, then subjected to contamination. Groups C, D, E, F, G, and H were contaminated; cleaned with water rinse, Ivoclean, air particle abrasion, hydrofluoric acid, KATANATM Cleaner and ZirCleanTM, respectively, and then coated with ceramic primer and bonded to dual cure resin cement cylinders. All the specimens were subjected to artificial aging and surviving specimens were subjected to the SBS test. For statistical analysis, ANOVA and multiple comparison methods at the 0.05 significance level were used. There was no statistically significant difference among Ivoclean (21.48 ± 2.90 MPa), air particle abrasion (21.92 ± 2.85 MPa), and the control group (24.68 ± 5.46). The application of ceramic primer before contamination did not preserve the SBS of resin cement to zirconia. Cleaning the contaminated zirconia surface with hydrofluoric acid (15.03 ± 3.63) or KATANATM Cleaner (17.27 ± 7.63) did not restore SBS to the uncontaminated state, but it was significantly higher than simply rinsing with water (12.46 ± 5.17) or the use of ZirCleanTM (11.59 ± 5.53). The bond strength of resin cement to zirconia was influenced by cleaning methods.
Investigation into Thermomechanical Response of Polymer Composite Materials Produced through Additive Manufacturing Technologies
Authors: Maier Raluca , Istrate Anca Mihaela , Despa Alexandra , Mandoc Andrei Cristian , Bucaciuc Sebastian , Stoica Romică
Published: July 2022

This paper presents the static mechanical behavior and the dynamic thermomechanical properties of four market-available reinforced and non-reinforced thermoplastics and photopolymer materials used as precursors in different additive manufacturing technologies. This article proposes a characterization approach to further address development of aeronautic secondary structures via 3D-printed composite materials replacing conventional manufactured carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites. Different 3D printing materials, technologies, printing directions, and parameters were investigated. Experimental results showed that carbon-reinforced ONYX_R material exhibits a transition point at 114 °C, a 600 MPa tensile strength, and an average tensile strain of 2.5%, comparable with conventional CFRP composites manufactured via autoclave, making it a suitable candidate for replacing CFRP composites, in the aim of taking advantage of 3D printing technologies. ONYX material exhibits higher stiffness than Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene Copolymer (ABS), or conventional Nylon 6/6 polyamide, the flexural modulus being 2.5 GPa; nevertheless, the 27 °C determined transition temperature limits its stability at higher temperature. Daylight High Tensile (further called HTS) resin exhibits a tensile strength and strain increase when shifting the printing direction from transversal to longitudinal, while no effect was observed in HighTemp DL400 resin (further called HTP).
Horizontal Oxidation Diffusion Behavior of MEMS-Based Tungsten-Rhenium Thin Film Thermocouples
Authors: Ruan Yong , Xue Meixia , Teng Jiao , Wu Yu , Shi Meng
Published: July 2022

Tungsten-rhenium thin film thermocouples (TFTCs) are well suited for the surface temperature monitoring of hot components due to their small size, rapid response and low cost. In this study, a tungsten-rhenium TFTC with SiC protective film on all parts except the pads was fabricated by a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) process. During the low to medium temperature (−40 °C to 500 °C) repeatability test phase, the thermal voltage from the TFTC agreed well with that of the standard tungsten-rhenium thermocouple. However, during the high temperature test phase, the TFTC lost electronic response at around 620 °C. Failure analysis of the TFTC tested at 620 °C was performed by microscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM) and statistics. The results showed that the pads were oxidized without the protective layer, the number of oxidized protrusions distributed in this TFTC from the pad to the node decreases more and more slowly and the size of the oxidized protrusions also becomes smaller and smaller. This demonstrates the presence of horizontal oxidation diffusion in TFTCs, further illustrating the importance of pad protection and provides a direction for the subsequent structural optimization and the extension of the service life of TFTCs and other sensors.
Structure, Martensitic Transformation, and Damping Properties of Functionally Graded NiTi Shape Memory Alloys Fabricated by Laser Powder Bed Fusion
Authors: Jiang Hao , Xi Rui , Li Xiaoqiang , Kustov Sergey , Van Humbeeck Jan , Wang Xiebin
Published: July 2022

Besides the unique shape memory effect and superelasticity, NiTi alloys also show excellent damping properties. However, the high damping effect is highly temperature-dependent, and only exists during cooling or heating over the temperature range where martensitic transformation occurs. As a result, expanding the temperature range of martensite transformation is an effective approach to widen the working temperature window with high damping performance. In this work, layer-structured functionally graded NiTi alloys were produced by laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) alternating two or three sets of process parameters. The transformation behavior shows that austenite transforms gradually into martensite over a wide temperature range during cooling, and multiple transformation peaks are observed. A microstructure composed of alternating layers of B2/B19′ phases is obtained at room temperature. The functionally graded sample shows high damping performance over a wide temperature range of up to 70 K, which originates from the gradual formation of the martensite phase during cooling. This work proves the potential of L-PBF to create NiTi alloys with high damping properties over a wide temperature range for damping applications.
Selective Oxidation of Cellulose—A Multitask Platform with Significant Environmental Impact
Authors: Duceac Ioana A. , Tanasa Fulga , Coseri Sergiu
Published: July 2022

Raw cellulose, or even agro-industrial waste, have been extensively used for environmental applications, namely industrial water decontamination, due to their effectiveness, availability, and low production cost. This was a response to the increasing societal demand for fresh water, which made the purification of wastewater one of the major research issue for both academic and industrial R&D communities. Cellulose has undergone various derivatization reactions in order to change the cellulose surface charge density, a prerequisite condition to delaminate fibers down to nanometric fibrils through a low-energy process, and to obtain products with various structures and properties able to undergo further processing. Selective oxidation of cellulose, one of the most important methods of chemical modification, turned out to be a multitask platform to obtain new high-performance, versatile, cellulose-based materials, with many other applications aside from the environmental ones: in biomedical engineering and healthcare, energy storage, barrier and sensing applications, food packaging, etc. Various methods of selective oxidation have been studied, but among these, (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl)oxyl) (TEMPO)-mediated and periodate oxidation reactions have attracted more interest due to their enhanced regioselectivity, high yield and degree of substitution, mild conditions, and the possibility to further process the selectively oxidized cellulose into new materials with more complex formulations. This study systematically presents the main methods commonly used for the selective oxidation of cellulose and provides a survey of the most recent reports on the environmental applications of oxidized cellulose, such as the removal of heavy metals, dyes, and other organic pollutants from the wastewater.
Development and Validation of a Vibration-Based Virtual Sensor for Real-Time Monitoring NOx Emissions of a Diesel Engine
Authors: Iqbal Muhammad Yousaf , Wang Tie , Li Guoxing , Li Senxiang , Hu Guicheng , Yang Tiantian , Gu Fengshou , Al-Nehari Mohammed
Published: July 2022

With a strong legal basis and regulatory authority, cost-effective transient emission sensors that reflect real-driving emissions are key factors for accomplishing environmental requirements. It is difficult for the existing NOx emission monitoring techniques to achieve a balance between accuracy and timeliness. Fundamentally, in-cylinder combustion is the thermodynamic cause of NOx emissions and the main excitation source for engine vibration and noise emissions. A novel vibration-based virtual NOx sensor is developed based on these critical relationships for real-time NOx monitoring. First, the correlation between vibration and NOx emission was characterized in-depth. Then, a technique of constructing two-dimensional filters for vibration signals is proposed to extract combustion-related information. A principal component regression (PCR) model for NOx prediction was established based on the reconstructed in-cylinder pressure. Finally, the virtual NOx sensor is tested and validated on a single-cylinder diesel engine bench. The virtual NOx sensor is proven to meet the accuracy requirement of vehicle emission monitoring for both steady-state and transient conditions and has a better frequency response compared to the emission measurement system.
An Efficient Method for Breast Mass Classification Using Pre-Trained Deep Convolutional Networks
Authors: Al-Mansour Ebtihal , Hussain Muhammad , Aboalsamh Hatim A. , Fazal-e-Amin
Published: July 2022

Masses are the early indicators of breast cancer, and distinguishing between benign and malignant masses is a challenging problem. Many machine learning- and deep learning-based methods have been proposed to distinguish benign masses from malignant ones on mammograms. However, their performance is not satisfactory. Though deep learning has been shown to be effective in a variety of applications, it is challenging to apply it for mass classification since it requires a large dataset for training and the number of available annotated mammograms is limited. A common approach to overcome this issue is to employ a pre-trained model and fine-tune it on mammograms. Though this works well, it still involves fine-tuning a huge number of learnable parameters with a small number of annotated mammograms. To tackle the small set problem in the training or fine-tuning of CNN models, we introduce a new method, which uses a pre-trained CNN without any modifications as an end-to-end model for mass classification, without fine-tuning the learnable parameters. The training phase only identifies the neurons in the classification layer, which yield higher activation for each class, and later on uses the activation of these neurons to classify an unknown mass ROI. We evaluated the proposed approach using different CNN models on the public domain benchmark datasets, such as DDSM and INbreast. The results show that it outperforms the state-of-the-art deep learning-based methods.
Traffic Missing Data Imputation: A Selective Overview of Temporal Theories and Algorithms
Authors: Sun Tuo , Zhu Shihao , Hao Ruochen , Sun Bo , Xie Jiemin
Published: July 2022

A great challenge for intelligent transportation systems (ITS) is missing traffic data. Traffic data are input from various transportation applications. In the past few decades, several methods for traffic temporal data imputation have been proposed. A key issue is that temporal information collected by neighbor detectors can make traffic missing data imputation more accurate. This review analyzes traffic temporal data imputation methods. Research methods, missing patterns, assumptions, imputation styles, application conditions, limitations, and public datasets are reviewed. Then, five representative methods are tested under different missing patterns and missing ratios. California performance measurement system (PeMS) data including traffic volume and speed are selected to conduct the test. Probabilistic principal component analysis performs the best under the most conditions.
LLAKEP: A Low-Latency Authentication and Key Exchange Protocol for Energy Internet of Things in the Metaverse Era
Authors: Zhang Xin , Huang Xin , Yin Haotian , Huang Jiajia , Chai Sheng , Xing Bin , Wu Xiaohua , Zhao Liangbin
Published: July 2022

The authenticated key exchange (AKE) protocol can ensure secure communication between a client and a server in the electricity transaction of the Energy Internet of things (EIoT). Park proposed a two-factor authentication protocol 2PAKEP, whose computational burden of authentication is evenly shared by both sides. However, the computing capability of the client device is weaker than that of the server. Therefore, based on 2PAKEP, we propose an authentication protocol that transfers computational tasks from the client to the server. The client has fewer computing tasks in this protocol than the server, and the overall latency will be greatly reduced. Furthermore, the security of the proposed protocol is analyzed by using the ROR model and GNY logic. We verify the low-latency advantage of the proposed protocol through various comparative experiments and use it for EIoT electricity transaction systems in a Metaverse scenario.
Analysis of Structural Determinants of Peptide MS 9a-1 Essential for Potentiating of TRPA1 Channel
Authors: Logashina Yulia , Lubova Kseniya , Maleeva Ekaterina , Palikov Viktor , Palikova Yulia , Dyachenko Igor , Andreev Yaroslav
Published: July 2022

The TRPA1 channel is involved in a variety of physiological processes and its activation leads to pain perception and the development of inflammation. Peptide Ms 9a-1 from sea anemone Metridium senile is a positive modulator of TRPA1 and causes significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects by desensitization of TRPA1-expressing sensory neurons. For structural and functional analysis of Ms 9a-1, we produced four peptides—Ms 9a-1 without C-terminal domain (abbreviated as N-Ms), short C-terminal domain Ms 9a-1 alone (C-Ms), and two homologous peptides (Ms 9a-2 and Ms 9a-3). All tested peptides possessed a reduced potentiating effect on TRPA1 compared to Ms 9a-1 in vitro. None of the peptides reproduced analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of Ms 9a-1 in vivo. Peptides N-Ms and C-Ms were able to reduce pain induced by AITC (selective TRPA1 agonist) but did not decrease AITC-induced paw edema development. Fragments of Ms 9a-1 did not effectively reverse CFA-induced thermal hyperalgesia and paw edema. Ms 9a-2 and Ms 9a-3 possessed significant effects and anti-inflammatory properties in some doses, but their unexpected efficacy and bell-shape dose–responses support the hypothesis of other targets involved in their effects in vivo. Therefore, activity comparison of Ms 9a-1 fragments and homologues peptides revealed structural determinants important for TRPA1 modulation, as well as analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of Ms9a-1.
Extreme Interocular Asymmetry in an Atypical Case of a Hydroxychloroquine-Related Retinopathy
Authors: Hallali Gabriel , Seyed Zari , Maillard Anne-Véronique , Drine Karima , Lamour Laurence , Faure Céline , Audo Isabelle
Published: July 2022

Background and Objectives: Long-term hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) therapy can lead to retinal toxicity. Typically, it is characterized by a bull’s eye maculopathy. More recently, a “pericentral” form of HCQ retinopathy that predominantly affects patients of Asian descent has been described. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case where such an asymmetry between the right and the left eye in the toxicity profile is observed. Case presentation: The patient presented with a 12-year exposure to HCQ at a daily dose of 4.35 mg/kg. She presented an inferior pericentral-only phenotype of HCQ toxicity on the right eye and a perifoveal-only toxicity on the left eye. Modest progression of toxicity was observed on both eyes over the seven years of follow-up, despite drug discontinuation. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first time that two different phenotypes of HCQ-related retinopathy are found in the same patient, challenging our understanding of the pathophysiology of HCQ retinal toxicity.
New Sustainable Multilayered Membranes Based on ZrVTi for Hydrogen Purification
Authors: Fasolin Stefano , Barison Simona , Agresti Filippo , Battiston Simone , Fiameni Stefania , Isopi Jacopo , Armelao Lidia
Published: July 2022

Some metals belonging to groups IV and V show a high permeability to hydrogen and have been studied as possible alternatives to palladium in membranes for hydrogen purification/separation in order to increase their sustainability and decrease their costs. However, to date, very few alloys among those metals have been investigated, and no membrane studies based on 4–5 element alloys with low or zero Pd content and quasi-amorphous structure have been reported so far. In this work, new membranes based on ZrVTi- and ZrVTiPd alloys were tested for the first time for this application. The unprecedented deposition of micrometric-based multilayers was performed via high-power impulse magnetron sputtering onto porous alumina substrates. Dense Pd/ZrxVyTizPdw/Pd multilayers were obtained. The composition of the alloys, morphology and structure, hydrogen permeance, selectivity, and resistance to embrittlement were tested and analyzed depending on the deposition conditions, and the membrane with the enhanced performance was tuned. The environmental impact of these membranes was also investigated to ascertain the sustainability of these alloys relative to more common Pd77Ag23 and V93Pd7 thin-film membranes using a life cycle assessment analysis. The results showed that the partial substitution of Pd can efficiently lead to a decrease in the environmental impacts of the membranes.
Effects of CaO, Al2O3 and MgO on Kinetics of Lead-Rich Slag Reduction
Authors: Xie Sui , Liao Chunfa , Zhao Baojun
Published: July 2022

Lead-rich slag as a green feedstock can be used in a blast furnace or smelting reduction furnace to produce lead metal. It is desirable to understand the reduction mechanisms of lead-rich slag to optimize the reduction operations. The volume of CO/CO2 gases was continuously measured in the experiments to determine the reduction degree of lead-rich slag by carbon. The effects of CaO, Al2O3 and MgO on reaction kinetics of lead-rich slag with carbon were investigated in the temperature range 1073 to 1473 K. The activation energies of the reduction were determined experimentally in the chemically controlled and diffusion-controlled stages, and the reduction mechanism is analyzed using experimental results and thermodynamic calculations. It was found that the activation energies at the chemically controlled and diffusion-controlled stages decrease with increasing optical basicity. CaO and MgO have a similar behavior to accelerate the reduction of the lead-rich slag by carbon. In contrast, Al2O3 can increase the activation energies at both chemically controlled and diffusion-controlled stages resulting in a slow reaction.
Effects of Water Stress, Defoliation and Crop Thinning on Vitis vinifera L. cv. Solaris Must and Wine Part II: 1H NMR Metabolomics
Authors: Aru Violetta , Nittnaus Andreas Paul , Sørensen Klavs Martin , Toldam-Andersen Torben Bo , Engelsen Søren Balling
Published: July 2022

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) metabolomics was employed to investigate the impact of water deficit, defoliation, and crop thinning on the chemical composition of must and wines from the cool-climate white grape variety Solaris. The obtained results show that viticultural practices (defoliation and crop thinning) affected the amino acid and sugar content of Solaris must and thereby the quality of the final wine—mainly in terms of compounds normally related to fruity aroma (i.e., isopentanol), non-sugar sweetness (i.e., proline and glycerol), and alcohol content. The content of tyrosol, a natural phenolic antioxidant with a high bioavailability, was increased in the final wine by a combination of defoliation and crop thinning. The results of the metabolomics analysis performed on the must and wine samples from the water stress experiment showed that short-term water deficit significantly affected the concentration of several flavor-related compounds, including glutamate, butyrate and propanol, of the organic acids lactate and fumarate, and of the phenolic compounds caffeic acid and p-coumaric acid. ANOVA simultaneous component analysis showed that the effect of water deficit accounted for 11% (p < 0.001) and 8% (p < 0.001) of the variability in the metabolite concentrations in must and wines, respectively, while viticultural practices accounted for 38% (p < 0.001) and 30% (p < 0.001) of the metabolite variability in must and wines, respectively.
Beneficial Shifts in Gut Microbiota by Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus R0011 and Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 in Alcoholic Hepatitis
Authors: Gupta Haripriya , Kim Sung Hun , Kim Seul Ki , Han Sang Hak , Kwon Hak Cheol , Suk Ki Tae
Published: July 2022

Gut microbiota performs indispensable functions in the pathophysiology of alcoholic hepatitis (AH). We investigated the effects of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus R0011 and Lactobacillus helveticus for gut microbial restoration toward eubiosis in patients with AH. A multicenter, double-blind, and randomized trial was conducted. Probiotics (n = 44) and placebo (n = 45) groups received, during 7 days, L. rhamnosus R0011/L. helveticus R0052 at 120 mg/day and placebo. All patients were hospitalized to ensure abstinence. Liver function, lipopolysaccharide level, and stool analysis were evaluated in patients before and after 7 days of treatment. At baseline, the dominant bacteria were Gram-negative in both groups which decreased after the probiotics treatment and exhibited a significant reduction in lipopolysaccharide level (p < 0.001). The probiotics ameliorated the Child–Pugh scores (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the probiotics group showed a decline in the levels of alanine aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (p < 0.05). The probiotics changed the gut microbial composition at various taxonomical levels. The proportion of Bacteroidetes (147%) was increased after 7 days of probiotics supplementation while Proteobacteria (30%) and Fusobacteria (0%) were decreased. Administration of L. rhamnosus R0011 and L. helveticus R0052 conceivably associated with restoration of gut microbiome in AH patients and improved AH by modulating the gut–liver axis.