bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Site-Specific Covalent Immobilization of Methylobacterium extorquens Non-Blue Laccse Melac13220 on Fe3O4 Nanoparticles by Aldehyde Tag
Authors: Ainiwaer Abidan , Li Ao , Zhao Xingwang , Xu Yujiao , Han Siping , Gao Renjun
Published: November 2022

In the present study, the non-blue laccase Melac13220 from Methylobacterium extorquens was immobilized using three methods to overcome problems related to the stability and reusability of the free enzyme: entrapment of the enzyme with sodium alginate, crosslinking of the enzyme with glutaraldehyde and chitosan-, and site-specific covalent immobilization of the enzyme on Fe3O4 nanoparticles by an aldehyde tag. The site-specific covalent immobilization method showed the highest immobilization efficiency and vitality recovery. The optimum temperature of Melac13220 was increased from 65 °C to 80 °C. Immobilized Melac13220 showed significant tolerance to some organic solvents and maintained approximately 80% activity after 10 cycles of use. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) indicated that the melting temperature of the enzyme was increased (from 57 °C to 79 °C). Immobilization of Melac13220 also led to improvement in dye decolorization such that Congo Red was completely decolorized within 10 h. The immobilized enzyme can be easily prepared without purification, demonstrating the advantages of using the aldehyde tag strategy and providing a reference for the practical application of different immobilized laccase methods in the industrial field.
Structural, Optical and Photocatalytic Properties of Mn Doped ZnO Nanoparticles Used as Photocatalysts for Azo-Dye Degradation under Visible Light
Authors: Aadnan Imane , Zegaoui Omar , El Mragui Abderrahim , Daou Ikram , Moussout Hamou , Esteves da Silva Joaquim C. G.
Published: November 2022

Doping ZnO with appropriate foreign metal and/or non-metal ions is one of the most promising ways to improve both the extension of ZnO photosensitization to the visible region and the separation of charge carriers. Herein, Mn-doped ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized using a precipitation method. The effect of the Mn amount on the physico-chemical properties of these nanomaterials was investigated using X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The photocatalytic properties of the synthesized nanomaterials were assessed through methyl orange (MO) under visible light. The obtained results showed that the structural and optical properties of the synthesized Mn-ZnO nanomaterials depended greatly on the Mn amount. It was found that the substitution of Zn2+ by Mn2+/Mn3+ within the lattice of ZnO occurred. The photocatalytic experiments revealed that the sample containing 10 wt% exhibited the best MO conversion. For this sample, the discoloration reached 96%, while the chemical oxygen demand reached 1% after 820 min of visible illumination. The enhanced photocatalytic activity was attributed to the efficient separation of charge carriers. The active species quenching experiments showed that the holes are the main active species in MO degradation under visible light in the presence of 10%Mn-ZnO.
Pt2 Dimer Anchored Vertically in Defective BN Monolayer as an Efficient Catalyst for N2 Reduction: A DFT Study
Authors: Yu Linke , Li Fengyu
Published: November 2022

The electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) using clean energy is considered a promising alternative to the conventional Haber–Bosch process; however, developing a highly active electrocatalyst is still a great challenge. In this study, ten metal dimers anchored in a defective boron nitride (BN) monolayer as double-atom catalysts (DACs) with reverse sandwich structures were screened for their stability and catalytic activity towards NRR by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Among them, three DACs (Rh2⊥vb-BN, Pt2⊥vb-BN and Rh2⊥vn-BN) were confirmed to be stable and have high promise as NRR electrocatalysts, and Pt2⊥vb-BN particularly distinguishes itself due to its very low limiting potential (−0.06 V). In addition, the electrocatalytic performance of all three DACs prevailed over that of their single-atom catalyst counterparts. We believe that the unique conformation of the reverse sandwich structure has impressive potential for the development of DACs, and we hope that our study provides a new design strategy for DACs for NRR and beyond.
A Pyrrolidine Functionalized Poly[(ethylene glycol) Methacrylate] Resin as a Heterogeneous Catalyst for Aqueous Aldol Reactions
Authors: Biesemans Bert , Aljammal Noor , Radhakrishnan Sambhu , Breynaert Eric , Stevens Christian V. , Lauwaert Jeroen , Thybaut Joris W.
Published: November 2022

The development of a performant aminated catalyst for aldol condensations requires the combined tuning of the active site, support and solvent system. For this purpose, a pyrrolidine group was immobilized on a swellable polymer resin. Favorable interactions between the support and water (in its role as solvent) resulted in a turnover frequency (TOF) amounting to 3.0 ± 1.5 × 10−3 s−1, despite potential inhibition of the active sites by formation of iminium species. The affinity of the solvent for the poly[(ethylene glycol) methacrylate] support resulted in efficient swelling of the catalytic material, which was shown to be key to the observed catalytic performance.
Bta-miR-199a-3p Inhibits LPS-Induced Inflammation in Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cells via the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB Signaling Pathway
Authors: Li Yuhang , Ren Qianqian , Wang Xingping , Luoreng Zhuoma , Wei Dawei
Published: November 2022

Mastitis is characterized by inflammatory damage to mammary gland tissue, which could decline milk production and quality and significantly affect the economic benefits of ranching. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), such as miR-199a-3p, are novel therapeutic targets in inflammation, and their regulation is an effective strategy for inflammation control. Despite its importance in humans and animals, the molecular mechanism of bovine miR-199a-3p (bta-miR-199a-3p) in dairy cow mastitis and bovine mammary epithelial cell (bMEC) inflammation is unclear. In our study, a bovine mammary epithelial cell line (MAC-T) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used as an inflammatory cell model to investigate the molecular mechanism of bta-miR-199a-3p in the MAC-T inflammatory response. bta-miR-199a-3p was up-regulated in the LPS-induced MAC-T cells, while CD2-associated protein (CD2AP) was revealed as its target gene in a double luciferase reporter gene experiment. In addition, the overexpression of bta-miR-199a-3p negatively regulated the expression of CD2AP and the activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. These subsequently inhibited the secretion of related inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) and the expression of apoptotic genes (CASP3 and CASP9), thereby alleviating the LPS-challenged inflammatory response in the MAC-T cells. Silencing of bta-miR-199a-3p, however, reversed the above effects. Thus, bta-miR-199a-3p inhibits LPS-induced inflammation in bMECs by directly targeting CD2AP and regulating the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway. This study reveals the potential regulatory mechanism of bta-miR-199a-3p in bMEC inflammatory immune response and may serve as a useful target for the treatment of mastitis.
Arginine Reduces Glycation in γ2 Subunit of AMPK and Pathologies in Alzheimer’s Disease Model Mice
Authors: Zhu Rui , Lei Ying , Shi Fangxiao , Tian Qing , Zhou Xinwen
Published: November 2022

The metabolism disorders are a common convergence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The characteristics of AD are senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) composed by deposits of amyloid−β (Aβ) and phosphorylated tau, respectively. Advanced glycation end−products (AGEs) are a stable modification of proteins by non−enzymatic reactions, which could result in the protein dysfunction. AGEs are associated with some disease developments, such as diabetes mellitus and AD, but the effects of the glycated γ2 subunit of AMPK on its activity and the roles in AD onset are unknown. Methods: We studied the effect of glycated γ2 subunit of AMPK on its activity in N2a cells. In 3 × Tg mice, we administrated L−arginine once every two days for 45 days and evaluated the glycation level of γ2 subunit and function of AMPK and alternation of pathologies. Results: The glycation level of γ2 subunit was significantly elevated in 3 × Tg mice as compared with control mice, meanwhile, the level of pT172−AMPK was obviously lower in 3 × Tg mice than that in control mice. Moreover, we found that arginine protects the γ2 subunit of AMPK from glycation, preserves AMPK function, and improves pathologies and cognitive deficits in 3 × Tg mice. Conclusions: Arginine treatment decreases glycated γ2 subunit of AMPK and increases p−AMPK levels in 3 × Tg mice, suggesting that reduced glycation of the γ2 subunit could ameliorate AMPK function and become a new target for AD therapy in the future.
Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in Asthma: Friends or Foes?
Authors: Poto Remo , Shamji Mohamed , Marone Gianni , Durham Stephen R. , Scadding Guy W. , Varricchi Gilda
Published: November 2022

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by variable airflow limitation and airway hyperresponsiveness. A plethora of immune and structural cells are involved in asthma pathogenesis. The roles of neutrophils and their mediators in different asthma phenotypes are largely unknown. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are net-like structures composed of DNA scaffolds, histones and granular proteins released by activated neutrophils. NETs were originally described as a process to entrap and kill a variety of microorganisms. NET formation can be achieved through a cell-death process, termed NETosis, or in association with the release of DNA from viable neutrophils. NETs can also promote the resolution of inflammation by degrading cytokines and chemokines. NETs have been implicated in the pathogenesis of various non-infectious conditions, including autoimmunity, cancer and even allergic disorders. Putative surrogate NET biomarkers (e.g., double-strand DNA (dsDNA), myeloperoxidase-DNA (MPO-DNA), and citrullinated histone H3 (CitH3)) have been found in different sites/fluids of patients with asthma. Targeting NETs has been proposed as a therapeutic strategy in several diseases. However, different NETs and NET components may have alternate, even opposite, consequences on inflammation. Here we review recent findings emphasizing the pathogenic and therapeutic potential of NETs in asthma.
Premature Macrophage Activation by Stored Red Blood Cell Transfusion Halts Liver Regeneration Post-Partial Hepatectomy in Rats
Authors: Abudi Nathalie , Duev Omri , Asraf Tal , Blank Simcha , Matot Idit , Abramovitch Rinat
Published: November 2022

Liver resection is a common treatment for various conditions and often requires blood transfusions to compensate for operative blood loss. As partial hepatectomy (PHx) is frequently performed in patients with a pre-damaged liver, avoiding further injury is of paramount clinical importance. Our aim was to study the impact of red blood cell (RBC) resuscitation on liver regeneration. We assessed the impact of RBC storage time on liver regeneration following 50% PHx in rats and explored possible contributing molecular mechanisms using immunohistochemistry, RNA-Seq, and macrophage depletion. The liver was successfully regenerated after PHx when rats were transfused with fresh RBCs (F-RBCs). However, in rats resuscitated with stored RBCs (S-RBCs), the regeneration process was disrupted, as detected by delayed hepatocyte proliferation and lack of hypertrophy. The delayed regeneration was associated with elevated numbers of hemorrhage-activated liver macrophages (Mhem) secreting HO-1. Depletion of macrophages prior to PHx and transfusion improved the regeneration process. Gene expression profiling revealed alterations in numerous genes belonging to critical pathways, including cell cycle and DNA replication, and genes associated with immune cell activation, such as chemokine signaling and platelet activation and adhesion. Our results implicate activated macrophages in delayed liver regeneration following S-RBC transfusion via HO-1 and PAI-1 overexpression.
The Protective Effects of Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Noise-Induced Hearing Loss of Rats
Authors: Kim So Young , Lee Jeoung Eun , Kang Sung Hun , Lee So Min , Jeon Jiwon , Lee Dong Ryul
Published: November 2022

A few prior animal studies have suggested the transplantation or protective effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in noise-induced hearing loss. This study intended to evaluate the fates of administered MSCs in the inner ears and the otoprotective effects of MSCs in the noise-induced hearing loss of rats. Human embryonic stem cell-derived MSCs (ES-MSCs) were systematically administered via the tail vein in adult rats. Eight-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated to the control (n = 8), ES-MSC (n = 4), noise (n = 8), and ES-MSC+noise (n = 10) groups. In ES-MSC and ES-MSC+noise rats, 5 × 105 ES-MSCs were injected via the tail vein. In noise and ES-MSC+noise rats, broadband noise with 115 dB SPL was exposed for 3 h daily for 5 days. The hearing levels were measured using auditory brainstem response (ABR) at 4, 8, 16, and 32 kHz. Cochlear histology was examined using H&E staining and cochlear whole mount immunofluorescence. The presence of human DNA was examined using Sry PCR, and the presence of human cytoplasmic protein was examined using STEM121 immunofluorescence staining. The protein expression levels of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), poly (ADP-ribose) (PAR), PAR polymerase (PARP), caspase 3, and cleaved caspase 3 were estimated. The ES-MSC rats did not show changes in ABR thresholds following the administration of ES-MSCs. The ES-MSC+ noise rats demonstrated lower ABR thresholds at 4, 8, and 16 kHz than the noise rats. Cochlear spiral ganglial cells and outer hair cells were more preserved in the ES-MSC+ noise rats than in the noise rats. The Sry PCR bands were highly detected in lung tissue and less in cochlear tissue of ES-MSC+noise rats. Only a few STEM121-positivities were observed in the spiral ganglial cell area of ES-MSC and ES-MSC+noise rats. The protein levels of AIF, PAR, PARP, caspase 3, and cleaved caspase 3 were lower in the ES-MSC+noise rats than in the noise rats. The systemic injection of ES-MSCs preserved hearing levels and attenuated parthanatos and apoptosis in rats with noise-induced hearing loss. In addition, a tiny number of transplanted ES-MSCs were observed in the spiral ganglial areas.
Statins Induce Locomotion and Muscular Phenotypes in Drosophila melanogaster That Are Reminiscent of Human Myopathy: Evidence for the Role of the Chloride Channel Inhibition in the Muscular Phenotypes
Authors: Al-Sabri Mohamed H. , Behare Neha , Alsehli Ahmed M. , Berkins Samuel , Arora Aadeya , Antoniou Eirini , Moysiadou Eleni I. , Anantha-Krishnan Sowmya , Cosmen Patricia D. , Vikner Johanna , Moulin Thiago C. , Ammar Nourhene , Boukhatmi Hadi , Clemensson Laura E. , Rask-Andersen Mathias , Mwinyi Jessica , Williams Michael J. , Fredriksson Robert , Schiöth Helgi B.
Published: November 2022

The underlying mechanisms for statin-induced myopathy (SIM) are still equivocal. In this study, we employ Drosophila melanogaster to dissect possible underlying mechanisms for SIM. We observe that chronic fluvastatin treatment causes reduced general locomotion activity and climbing ability. In addition, transmission microscopy of dissected skeletal muscles of fluvastatin-treated flies reveals strong myofibrillar damage, including increased sarcomere lengths and Z-line streaming, which are reminiscent of myopathy, along with fragmented mitochondria of larger sizes, most of which are round-like shapes. Furthermore, chronic fluvastatin treatment is associated with impaired lipid metabolism and insulin signalling. Mechanistically, knockdown of the statin-target Hmgcr in the skeletal muscles recapitulates fluvastatin-induced mitochondrial phenotypes and lowered general locomotion activity; however, it was not sufficient to alter sarcomere length or elicit myofibrillar damage compared to controls or fluvastatin treatment. Moreover, we found that fluvastatin treatment was associated with reduced expression of the skeletal muscle chloride channel, ClC-a (Drosophila homolog of CLCN1), while selective knockdown of skeletal muscle ClC-a also recapitulated fluvastatin-induced myofibril damage and increased sarcomere lengths. Surprisingly, exercising fluvastatin-treated flies restored ClC-a expression and normalized sarcomere lengths, suggesting that fluvastatin-induced myofibrillar phenotypes could be linked to lowered ClC-a expression. Taken together, these results may indicate the potential role of ClC-a inhibition in statin-associated muscular phenotypes. This study underlines the importance of Drosophila melanogaster as a powerful model system for elucidating the locomotion and muscular phenotypes, promoting a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying SIM.
Total Ion Chromatogram and Total Ion Mass Spectrum as Alternative Tools for Detection and Discrimination (A Review)
Authors: Barea-Sepúlveda Marta , Duarte Hugo , Aliaño-González María José , Romano Anabela , Medronho Bruno
Published: November 2022

Gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry (MS) are widely used techniques in the analysis of complex mixtures due to their various advantages, such as high selectivity, reproducibility, precision, and sensitivity. However, the data processing is often complex and time-consuming and requires a great deal of experience, which might be a serious drawback in certain areas, such as quality control, or regarding research in the field of medicine or forensic sciences, where time plays a crucial role. For these reasons, some authors have proposed the use of alternative data processing approaches, such as the total ion chromatogram or total mass spectrum, allowing these techniques to be treated as sensors where each retention time or ratio m/z acts as a sensor collecting total intensities. In this way, the main advantages associated with both techniques are maintained, but the outcomes from the analysis can be reached in a faster, simpler, and an almost automated way. In this review, the main features of the GC- and MS-based analysis methodologies and the ways in which to apply them are highlighted. Moreover, their implementation in different fields, such as agri-food, forensics, environmental sciences, or medicine is discussed, highlighting important advantages as well as limitations.
Do Antiepileptic Drugs Change the Levels of Arginine Derivatives in Epileptic Children Treated with Polytherapy? The Results of a Case–Control Study
Authors: Sarecka-Hujar Beata , Szołtysek-Bołdys Izabela , Kopyta Ilona
Published: November 2022

Previously, a relation between therapy with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and the levels of biochemical parameters was observed in adult patients suffering from epilepsy. Among these biochemical factors, arginine derivatives are often analyzed, i.e., asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), and homoarginine (hArg) as they may be linked with increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Since the levels of arginine derivatives may increase during therapy, and the treatment of epilepsy often lasts many years, patients may experience CVD faster. The aim of the present study was to analyze the levels of arginine derivatives in children with epilepsy who were treated with multiple AEDs to answer the question whether pediatric patients may be at increased risk of CVD in the future. We prospectively analyzed 21 children suffering from epilepsy who took ≥2 AEDs for at least 6 months and 22 children without epilepsy (reference group). The levels of the arginine derivatives, e.g., ADMA, SDMA, and hArg, were determined in the blood serum using the HPLC method. No differences in both the mean levels of ADMA and SDMA, as well as in the mean values of the arginine derivative ratios, were observed between the groups. The tendency toward a lower level of hArg was found in epileptic patients more than in the reference group (p = 0.091). Epileptic children receiving three or more AEDs had significantly lower concentrations of hArg and values of the hArg/ADMA ratio than the reference group (p = 0.023 and p = 0.006, respectively). In turn, the mean hArg/ADMA ratio was lower in children receiving three or more AEDs compared to children receiving two AEDs (p = 0.002). There was also a positive correlation between the hArg and ADMA concentrations in children with epilepsy taking two AEDs; the higher the level of hArg, the greater the level of ADMA on average (r = 0.650, p = 0.022). Taking three or more AEDs by epileptic children resulted in lower levels of both hArg and the value of the hArg/ADMA ratio.
Large-Scale Effects of Aridity on Leaf Nitrogen and Phosphorus Concentrations of Terrestrial Plants
Authors: Xie De-Juan , Wang Chun-Jing , Wan Ji-Zhong
Published: November 2022

The leaf nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations of terrestrial plants make large contributions to ecosystem function and dynamics. The relationship between aridity and leaf N and P has been established through experimental studies. However, few studies have focused on the large-scale effects of aridity on the leaf N and P of terrestrial plants. In this paper, we used linear regression models to test the effects of aridity on terrestrial plant leaf N and P and the N:P ratio based on global datasets. We found that aridity had significant effects on the leaf N and P and the N:P ratio of terrestrial plants. The strongest relationships were between fern leaf P, the fern N:P ratio, tree leaf P, the tree N:P ratio, vine leaf N, and the tree N:P ratio. Aridity could be used to predict the P and N:P ratio of terrestrial plants, particularly those of ferns and trees, on large scales in arid environments. Our study contributes to maintaining ecosystem functioning and services in arid environments under climate change.
Exploring Gender and Climate Change Nexus, and Empowering Women in the South Western Coastal Region of Bangladesh for Adaptation and Mitigation
Authors: Md Ashrafuzzaman , Gomes Carla , Dias João Miguel , Cerdà Artemi
Published: November 2022

This study has been conducted to identify vulnerabilities and effects of climate change on women in 12 unions in Shyamnagar upazila in the Satkhira district in the Southwestern Coastal Region of Bangladesh (SWCRB). Climate vulnerability and gender inequality may increase due to climate change. Women may, thus, face specific conditions of vulnerability in society and daily livelihood. This paper focuses on investigating factors that influence women’s vulnerability from climate change, their adaptations, and the importance of women empowerment to reduce their inequality in SWCRB. This study also emphasizes gender inequality caused by climate change, and looks at accommodations for women to reduce hostile influences of climate change. From the 9 unions in SWCRB, a total of 320 household respondents were randomly selected to complete a questionnaire. The results of the statistical analysis showed that most of the survey’s perimeter has significant. Interviews, case studies, focus group discussions, workshops, and key informant interviews were also conducted from 12 unions, and it was found that climate change impacts men and women differently, with women being more vulnerable than men. Through case study this paper investigated the main factors influencing the vulnerability of women. In terms of empowerment women may also be well positioned to lead adaptation efforts alongside men, as this analysis represent that gender inequalities are leading by social norms. Women being more vulnerable both in short-term i.e., major natural disasters, cyclones, flood, and long-term i.e., sea level rise, salinity intrusion in water and soil, land erosion, droughts, climatic events, as they enhance gender inequalities. Further, gender inequality is seen in illiteracy, food shortages and poor health conditions, traditional norms, religious taboos, and patriarchy. Moreover, gender-based economic opportunities, women’s mobility, and income are changing, while household authority relations and gender-based socio-economic, cultural, and institutional constraints remain. This study examines the increased vulnerability of women in SWCRB to climate change, which can be mitigated through women empowerment; female involvement with environmentally friendly stoves, rural electrification and renewable energy development, microfinancing, and nakshikantha. (Nakshikantha is a special type of sewing art that is made by creating designs with different types of colored threads on plain stitches). Lastly, women may also lead adaptation efforts alongside men, make decisions, and promote their participation.
Visual Inspection of the Heavy-Duty Paint Systems Used in Steel Bridges for Assessing the Level of Fire Damage
Authors: Kim In-Tae , Cha Ki-Hyuk , Jeong Young-Soo , Shin An-Seob
Published: November 2022

After a fire on a steel bridge, a visual inspection is necessary to rapidly determine the need for an emergency response to ensure the structural safety of the bridge and decide whether to re-open the bridge to traffic. In this study, the visual inspection methods of assessing the coated surface were reviewed, as they are crucial for the rapid estimation of the steel temperature reached during the fire, which, in turn, is required for the safety assessment of steel bridges after a fire. An electric furnace heating test was conducted on the steel specimens coated with four types of heavy-duty paint systems for steel bridges, viz., urethane, siloxane, ceramic, and fluorocarbon. The heating temperatures and durations used in the test were 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 400, 500, and 600 °C at 30 and 60 min. Based on the heating temperature and duration, the paint-film surface conditions (discoloration, blistering, cracking, and delamination) were visually inspected for a qualitative analysis, and factors such as color difference, gloss retention, and pull-off adhesion were quantitatively analyzed. The visual inspection methods used to estimate the temperature of the paint film were reviewed. In addition, considering the reduction in the tension strength of the steel material and the coating durability performance according to the fire temperature, the determinants of the traffic stop–reopening timeline and the repair and reuse of the painting system based on the visual field inspection after a fire were suggested.
Fabrication of Superhydrophobic Composite Membranes with Honeycomb Porous Structure for Oil/Water Separation
Authors: Zhang Chunling , Yang Yichen , Luo Shuai , Cheng Chunzu , Wang Shuli , Liu Bo
Published: November 2022

Due to the low separation efficiency and poor separation stability, traditional polymer filtration membranes are prone to be polluted and difficult to reuse in harsh environments. Herein, we reported a nanofibrous membrane with a honeycomb–like pore structure, which was prepared by electrospinning and electrospraying. During the electrospraying process, the addition of polydimethylsiloxane and fumed SiO2 formed pores by electrostatic repulsion between ions, thereby increasing the membrane flux, subsequently reducing the surface energy, and increasing the surface roughness. The results show that when the content of SiO2 reaches 1.5 wt%, an ultra–high hydrophobic angle (162.1° ± 0.7°) was reached. After 10 cycles of oil–water separation tests of the composite membrane, the oil–water separation flux and separation efficiency was still as high as 5400 L m−2 h−1 and 99.4%, and the membrane maintained excellent self–cleaning ability.
Investigations on Additively Manufactured Stainless Bearings
Authors: Coors Timm , Faqiri Mohamad Yusuf , Saure Felix , Kahra Christoph , Büdenbender Christoph , Peddinghaus Julius , Prasanthan Vannila , Pape Florian , Hassel Thomas , Herbst Sebastian , Nürnberger Florian , Wester Hendrik , Uhe Johanna , Breidenstein Bernd , Denkena Berend , Behrens Bernd-Arno , Poll Gerhard , Maier Hans Jürgen
Published: November 2022

Additive manufacturing with multi-material design offers great possibilities for lightweight and function-integrated components. A process chain was developed in which hybrid steel–steel-components with high fatigue strength were produced. For this, a material combination of stainless powder material Rockit® (0.52 wt.% C, 0.9% Si, 14% Cr, 0.4% Mo, 1.8% Ni, 1.2% V, bal. Fe) cladded onto ASTM A572 mild steel by plasma arc powder deposition welding was investigated. Extensive material characterization has shown that defect-free claddings can be produced by carefully adjusting the welding process. With a tailored heat treatment strategy and machining of the semi-finished products, bearing washers for a thrust cylindrical roller bearing were produced. These washers showed a longer fatigue life than previously produced bearing washers with AISI 52100 bearing steel as cladding. It was also remarkable that the service life with the Rockit® cladding material was longer than that of conventional monolithic AISI 52100 washers. This was reached through a favourable microstructure with finely distributed vanadium and chromium carbides in a martensitic matrix as well as the presence of compressive residual stresses, which are largely retained even after testing. The potential for further enhancement of the cladding performance through Tailored Forming was investigated in compression and forging tests and was found to be limited due to low forming capacity of the material.
Edible Coating Based on Carnauba Wax Nanoemulsion and Cymbopogon martinii Essential Oil on Papaya Postharvest Preservation
Authors: Oliveira Filho Josemar Gonçalves de , Silva Guilherme da Cruz , Oldoni Fernanda Campos Alencar , Miranda Marcela , Florencio Camila , Oliveira Raissa Moret Duarte de , Gomes Mariana de Paula , Ferreira Marcos David
Published: November 2022

Papaya is a fruit of great importance worldwide. However, significant losses during postharvest have been reported, which can be minimized by applying lipid nanoemulsions as edible coatings associated with natural antimicrobial compounds. These coatings provide a barrier to gases and water vapor, in addition to improving mechanical properties, thereby delaying natural senescence and minimizing deterioration by phytopathogens during storage. The aim of this study was to investigate the preservation potential of papaya fruits treated with an edible coating based on an association between carnauba wax nanoemulsion (CWN) and Cymbopogon martinii essential oil (CEO). Coatings formulated with CWN and/or CEO were applied to papaya fruits, and resulted in late ripening during the 12-day storage period, without negatively affecting postharvest fruit quality parameters. The coatings reduced weight loss and maintained firmness, in addition to delaying changes in fruit color during storage. Coatings formulated with CWN + CEO were the most efficient formulations in reducing the incidence and severity of fruit rots during storage. CWN coatings incorporating CEO present additional functionalities in maintaining postharvest quality parameters of papaya fruits.
From Mean Time to Failure to Mean Time to Attack/Compromise: Incorporating Reliability into Cybersecurity
Authors: Maglaras Leandros
Published: November 2022

Around the world, numerous companies strive to successfully facilitate digital transformation [...]
Synthesis of Yttria Stabilized Bismuth Oxide by DC Reactive Magnetron Sputtering (RMS) for SOFC Electrolyte
Authors: Ye Xiaolei , Yang Li , Luo Huan , Bertrand Pierre , Billard Alain , Briois Pascal
Published: November 2022

In this work, the compound of Bi1.5Y0.5O3 was deposited from two metallic targets, respectively, Bi and Y; for a power fixed on the target of Y, the power on the target of Bi was adjusted in order to obtain the desired composition. The effects of atomic ratio of Bi to Y and annealing temperature on the film morphology and crystal structure were investigated. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed different crystal structure as a function of the Y content in the film after annealing at 500 °C for 2 h. The Bi1.5Y0.5O3 was obtained with the atomic ratio of Bi to Y adjusted to 3.1. An impurity phase (Bi1.55Y0.45O3, Rhombohedral) appears in the cubic Bi1.5Y0.5O3 after annealing at 600 °C. The field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) result showed that the Bi1.5Y0.5O3 film after annealing at 800 °C for 2 h is denser than the as-deposited film, despite the presence of some holes. The ionic transport properties of Bi1.5Y0.5O3 film was measured by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and the conductance activation energy was obtained on this basis. The synthesized Bi1.5Y0.5O3 film with higher ionic conductivity (0.13 S/cm at 650 °C) is suitable for SOFC electrolyte.
#COVID19 and #Breastcancer: A Qualitative Analysis of Tweets
Authors: Naganathan Gayathri , Bilgen Idil , Cleland Jordan , Reel Emma , Cil Tulin
Published: November 2022

Rapid and efficient communication regarding quickly evolving medical information was paramount for healthcare providers and patients throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the last several years, social media platforms such as Twitter have emerged as important tools for health promotion, virtual learning among healthcare providers, and patient support. We conducted a qualitative thematic content analysis on tweets using the hashtags #BreastSurgery, #BreastCancer, #BreastOncology, #Pandemic, and #COVID19. Advocacy organizations were the most frequent authors of tweets captured in this dataset, and most tweets came from the United States of America (64%). Seventy-three codes were generated from the data, and, through iterative, inductive analysis, three major themes were developed: patient hesitancy and vulnerability, increased efforts in knowledge sharing, and evolving best practices. We found that Twitter was an effective way to share evolving best practices, education, and collective experiences among key stakeholders. As Twitter is increasingly used as a tool for health promotion and knowledge translation, a better understanding of how key stakeholders engage with healthcare-related topics on the platform can help optimize the use of this powerful tool.
Role of an Automated Deep Learning Algorithm for Reliable Screening of Abnormality in Chest Radiographs: A Prospective Multicenter Quality Improvement Study
Authors: Govindarajan Arunkumar , Govindarajan Aarthi , Tanamala Swetha , Chattoraj Subhankar , Reddy Bhargava , Agrawal Rohitashva , Iyer Divya , Srivastava Anumeha , Kumar Pradeep , Putha Preetham
Published: November 2022

In medical practice, chest X-rays are the most ubiquitous diagnostic imaging tests. However, the current workload in extensive health care facilities and lack of well-trained radiologists is a significant challenge in the patient care pathway. Therefore, an accurate, reliable, and fast computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system capable of detecting abnormalities in chest X-rays is crucial in improving the radiological workflow. In this prospective multicenter quality-improvement study, we have evaluated whether artificial intelligence (AI) can be used as a chest X-ray screening tool in real clinical settings. Methods: A team of radiologists used the AI-based chest X-ray screening tool (qXR) as a part of their daily reporting routine to report consecutive chest X-rays for this prospective multicentre study. This study took place in a large radiology network in India between June 2021 and March 2022. Results: A total of 65,604 chest X-rays were processed during the study period. The overall performance of AI achieved in detecting normal and abnormal chest X-rays was good. The high negatively predicted value (NPV) of 98.9% was achieved. The AI performance in terms of area under the curve (AUC), NPV for the corresponding subabnormalities obtained were blunted CP angle (0.97, 99.5%), hilar dysmorphism (0.86, 99.9%), cardiomegaly (0.96, 99.7%), reticulonodular pattern (0.91, 99.9%), rib fracture (0.98, 99.9%), scoliosis (0.98, 99.9%), atelectasis (0.96, 99.9%), calcification (0.96, 99.7%), consolidation (0.95, 99.6%), emphysema (0.96, 99.9%), fibrosis (0.95, 99.7%), nodule (0.91, 99.8%), opacity (0.92, 99.2%), pleural effusion (0.97, 99.7%), and pneumothorax (0.99, 99.9%). Additionally, the turnaround time (TAT) decreased by about 40.63% from pre-qXR period to post-qXR period. Conclusions: The AI-based chest X-ray solution (qXR) screened chest X-rays and assisted in ruling out normal patients with high confidence, thus allowing the radiologists to focus more on assessing pathology on abnormal chest X-rays and treatment pathways.
Generating High-Resolution CT Slices from Two Image Series Using Deep-Learning-Based Resolution Enhancement Methods
Authors: Chao Heng-Sheng , Wu Yu-Hong , Siana Linda , Chen Yuh-Min
Published: November 2022

Medical image super-resolution (SR) has mainly been developed for a single image in the literature. However, there is a growing demand for high-resolution, thin-slice medical images. We hypothesized that fusing the two planes of a computed tomography (CT) study and applying the SR model to the third plane could yield high-quality thin-slice SR images. From the same CT study, we collected axial planes of 1 mm and 5 mm in thickness and coronal planes of 5 mm in thickness. Four SR algorithms were then used for SR reconstruction. Quantitative measurements were performed for image quality testing. We also tested the effects of different regions of interest (ROIs). Based on quantitative comparisons, the image quality obtained when the SR models were applied to the sagittal plane was better than that when applying the models to the other planes. The results were statistically significant according to the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The overall effect of the enhanced deep residual network (EDSR) model was superior to those of the other three resolution-enhancement methods. A maximal ROI containing minimal blank areas was the most appropriate for quantitative measurements. Fusing two series of thick-slice CT images and applying SR models to the third plane can yield high-resolution thin-slice CT images. EDSR provides superior SR performance across all ROI conditions.
The Impact of Demographic, Clinical Characteristics and the Various COVID-19 Variant Types on All-Cause Mortality: A Case-Series Retrospective Study
Authors: Khamis Faryal , Al Awaidy Salah , Ba’Omar Muna , Osman Wessam , Chhetri Shabnam , Ambusaid Zaiyana , Al Fahdi Zakariya , Al Lawati Jaber , Al Sulaimi Khalsa , Al Bulushi Salma Ali , Al Bahrani Maher , Al-Zakwani Ibrahim
Published: November 2022

(1) Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has rapidly evolved into a pandemic affecting virtually every country in the world. We evaluated the demographic, clinical, laboratory, and all-cause mortality of moderate and severe COVID-19 patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital in Oman during the different COVID-19 waves and variant types. (2) Methods: A case-series retrospective study was carried out between 12 March 2020 and 30 June 2022. All adults over the age of 18 with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 were enrolled. Analyses were performed using univariate and multivariate statistics. (3) Results: A total of 1462 confirmed cases enrolled with the mean age of the cohort was 55 ± 17 years with significant differences among the groups (p = 0.006). A total of 63% and 80% of the patients were males and citizens of Oman, respectively. Patients infected with the Alpha COVID-19 variant type were more likely to have acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (p < 0.001), stay longer in the hospital (p < 0.001), and get admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) (p < 0.001). At the same time, those who had the Omicron COVID-19 type were more likely to have renal impairment (p < 0.001) and less likely to be associated with non-invasive ventilation (NIV) (p = 0.001) compared with other COVID-19 variant types. The Delta (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 1.8; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.22–2.66; p = 0.003) and Omicron (aOR, 1.88; 95% CI: 1.09–3.22; p = 0.022) COVID-19 variant types were associated with higher all-cause mortality when compared to the initial COVID-19 variant. Old age (aOR, 1.05; 95% CI: 1.04–1.06; p < 0.001), the presence of respiratory disease (aOR, 1.58; 95% CI: 1.02–2.44; p = 0.04), ICU admission (aOR, 3.41; 95% CI: 2.16–5.39; p < 0.001), lower eGFR (aOR, 1.61; 95% CI: 1.17–2.23; p = 0.004), and ARDS (aOR, 5.75; 95% CI: 3.69–8.98; p < 0.001) were also associated with higher mortality while NIV requirements were associated with lower odds of dying (aOR, 0.65; 95% CI: 0.46–0.91; p = 0.012). (4) Conclusions: Alpha and Delta variants were associated with a longer hospital stay, need for intensive care, mechanical ventilation, and increased mortality. Old age, cardiac renal dysfunction were commonly associated with Omicron variants. Large-scale national studies to further assess the risk factors for mortality related to COVID-19 waves are warranted.
DA-LSTM-VAE: Dual-Stage Attention-Based LSTM-VAE for KPI Anomaly Detection
Authors: Zhao Yun , Zhang Xiuguo , Shang Zijing , Cao Zhiying
Published: November 2022

To ensure the normal operation of the system, the enterprise’s operations engineer will monitor the system through the KPI (key performance indicator). For example, web page visits, server memory utilization, etc. KPI anomaly detection is a core technology, which is of great significance for rapid fault detection and repair. This paper proposes a novel dual-stage attention-based LSTM-VAE (DA-LSTM-VAE) model for KPI anomaly detection. Firstly, in order to capture time correlation in KPI data, long–short-term memory (LSTM) units are used to replace traditional neurons in the variational autoencoder (VAE). Then, in order to improve the effect of KPI anomaly detection, an attention mechanism is introduced into the input stage of the encoder and decoder, respectively. During the input stage of the encoder, a time attention mechanism is adopted to assign different weights to different time points, which can adaptively select important input sequences to avoid the influence of noise in the data. During the input stage of the decoder, a feature attention mechanism is adopted to adaptively select important latent variable representations, which can capture the long-term dependence of time series better. In addition, this paper proposes an adaptive threshold method based on anomaly scores measured by reconstruction probability, which can minimize false positives and false negatives and avoid adjustment of the threshold manually. Experimental results in a public dataset show that the proposed method in this paper outperforms other baseline methods.
Quantum Algorithm for Variant Maximum Satisfiability
Authors: Alasow Abdirahman , Jin Peter , Perkowski Marek
Published: November 2022

In this paper, we proposed a novel quantum algorithm for the maximum satisfiability problem. Satisfiability (SAT) is to find the set of assignment values of input variables for the given Boolean function that evaluates this function as TRUE or prove that such satisfying values do not exist. For a POS SAT problem, we proposed a novel quantum algorithm for the maximum satisfiability (MAX-SAT), which returns the maximum number of OR terms that are satisfied for the SAT-unsatisfiable function, providing us with information on how far the given Boolean function is from the SAT satisfaction. We used Grover’s algorithm with a new block called quantum counter in the oracle circuit. The proposed circuit can be adapted for various forms of satisfiability expressions and several satisfiability-like problems. Using the quantum counter and mirrors for SAT terms reduces the need for ancilla qubits and realizes a large Toffoli gate that is then not needed. Our circuit reduces the number of ancilla qubits for the terms T of the Boolean function from T of ancilla qubits to ≈log2T+1. We analyzed and compared the quantum cost of the traditional oracle design with our design which gives a low quantum cost.
Visibility Graph Analysis of Reservoir-Triggered Seismicity: The Case of Song Tranh 2 Hydropower, Vietnam
Authors: Telesca Luciano , Thai Anh Tuan , Lovallo Michele , Cao Dinh Trong
Published: November 2022

In this study, the visibility graph analysis of seismicity triggered by Song Tranh 2 hydropower (Vietnam) is performed. The relationship between the seismic (the Gutenberg–Richter b-value) and topological (the k–M slope) parameters of seismicity is analysed. Our findings indicate that the relationship between the Gutenberg–Richter b-value and the k–M slope of the investigated seismicity is in agreement with that characterising the tectonic seismicity. The results obtained from analysing the reservoir-triggered seismicity of Song Tranh 2 area could contribute to better characterisation of the relationship between the seismological and topological parameters of seismicity, strengthening the universal character of the relationship between the b-value and the k–M slope.
Computational Thinking and Coding for Young Children: A Hybrid Approach to Link Unplugged and Plugged Activities
Authors: Akiba Daisuke
Published: November 2022

In our increasingly technology-dependent society, the importance of promoting digital literacy (e.g., computational thinking, coding, and programming) has become a critical focus in the field of childhood education. While young children these days are routinely and extensively exposed to digital devices and tools, the efficacy of the methods for fostering digital skills in the early childhood classroom has not always been closely considered. This is particularly true in settings where early childhood educators are not digital experts. Currently, most of the efforts in standard early childhood settings, taught by teachers who are not digital experts, appear to revolve around “unplugged” activities that do not directly involve digital tools or devices, and it is not entirely clear how well these “unplugged” lessons promote the corresponding skills in “plugged” settings, such as coding and programming. This article discusses how, through further research, we may be able to devise an effective method for seamlessly building digital literacy among young children, transcending the “unplugged vs. plugged” barriers effortlessly.
The FMI 3.0 Standard Interface for Clocked and Scheduled Simulations
Authors: Hansen Simon Thrane , Gomes Cláudio Ângelo Gonçalves , Najafi Masoud , Sommer Torsten , Blesken Matthias , Zacharias Irina , Kotte Oliver , Mai Pierre R. , Schuch Klaus , Wernersson Karl , Bertsch Christian , Blochwitz Torsten , Junghanns Andreas
Published: November 2022

This paper presents an overview and formalization of the Functional Mock-up Interface (FMI) 3.0. The formalization captures the new FMI 3.0 standard and is intended to be used as an introduction for conceptualizing the use of clocks in the FMI standard to support the simulation of event-based cyber-physical systems. The FMI 3.0 standard supports two kinds of clock-based simulations: Synchronous Clocked Simulation to ensure predictable systems scheduling with multiple simultaneous events and scheduled execution to facilitate real-time simulations comprising multiple black-box models by allowing fine-grained control over the computation time of submodels. The formalization is a basis for developing tools for orchestrating, verifying and validating the composition of multiple FMUs. The formalization is provided as an accessible VDM-SL specification.