bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Proteomics- and Metabolomics-Based Analysis of Metabolic Changes in a Swine Model of Pulmonary Hypertension
Authors: Sen Payel , Shashikadze Bachuki , Flenkenthaler Florian , Van de Kamp Esther , Tian Siyu , Meng Chen , Gigl Michael , Fröhlich Thomas , Merkus Daphne
Published: March 2023

Pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) causes a rare type of pulmonary hypertension (PH) by impacting the flow and pressure within the pulmonary vasculature, resulting in endothelial dysfunction and metabolic changes. A prudent line of treatment in this type of PH would be targeted therapy to relieve the pressure and reverse the flow-related changes. We used a swine model in order to mimic PH after PVS using pulmonary vein banding (PVB) of the lower lobes for 12 weeks to mimic the hemodynamic profile associated with PH and investigated the molecular alterations that provide an impetus for the development of PH. Our current study aimed to employ unbiased proteomic and metabolomic analyses on both the upper and lower lobes of the swine lung to identify regions with metabolic alterations. We detected changes in the upper lobes for the PVB animals mainly pertaining to fatty acid metabolism, reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and small, albeit, significant changes in the lower lobes for purine metabolism.
Transcriptomics Insights into Phosphorus Stress Response of Myriophyllum aquaticum
Authors: Jiang Cancan , Xu Shengjun , Wang Rui , Sun Qian , Zuo Jialiang , Zhuang Xuliang
Published: March 2023

Through excellent absorption and transformation, the macrophyte Myriophyllum (M.) aquaticum can considerably remove phosphorus from wastewater. The results of changes in growth rate, chlorophyll content, and roots number and length showed that M. aquaticum could cope better with high phosphorus stress compared with low phosphorus stress. Transcriptome and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) analyses revealed that, when exposed to phosphorus stresses at various concentrations, the roots were more active than the leaves, with more DEGs regulated. M. aquaticum also showed different gene expression and pathway regulatory patterns when exposed to low phosphorus and high phosphorus stresses. M. aquaticum’s capacity to cope with phosphorus stress was maybe due to its improved ability to regulate metabolic pathways such as photosynthesis, oxidative stress reduction, phosphorus metabolism, signal transduction, secondary metabolites biosynthesis, and energy metabolism. In general, M. aquaticum has a complex and interconnected regulatory network that deals efficiently with phosphorus stress to varying degrees. This is the first time that the mechanisms of M. aquaticum in sustaining phosphorus stress have been fully examined at the transcriptome level using high-throughput sequencing analysis, which may indicate the direction of follow-up research and have some guiding value for its future applications.
Sestrin2 as a Protective Shield against Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Zahid Muhammad Ammar , Abdelsalam Shahenda Salaheldin , Raïq Hicham , Parray Aijaz , Korashy Hesham Mohamed , Zeidan Asad , Elrayess Mohamed A. , Agouni Abdelali
Published: March 2023

A timely and adequate response to stress is inherently present in each cell and is important for maintaining the proper functioning of the cell in changing intracellular and extracellular environments. Disruptions in the functioning or coordination of defense mechanisms against cellular stress can reduce the tolerance of cells to stress and lead to the development of various pathologies. Aging also reduces the effectiveness of these defense mechanisms and results in the accumulation of cellular lesions leading to senescence or death of the cells. Endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes are particularly exposed to changing environments. Pathologies related to metabolism and dynamics of caloric intake, hemodynamics, and oxygenation, such as diabetes, hypertension, and atherosclerosis, can overwhelm endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes with cellular stress to produce cardiovascular disease. The ability to cope with stress depends on the expression of endogenous stress-inducible molecules. Sestrin2 (SESN2) is an evolutionary conserved stress-inducible cytoprotective protein whose expression is increased in response to and defend against different types of cellular stress. SESN2 fights back the stress by increasing the supply of antioxidants, temporarily holding the stressful anabolic reactions, and increasing autophagy while maintaining the growth factor and insulin signaling. If the stress and the damage are beyond repair, SESN2 can serve as a safety valve to signal apoptosis. The expression of SESN2 decreases with age and its levels are associated with cardiovascular disease and many age-related pathologies. Maintaining sufficient levels or activity of SESN2 can in principle prevent the cardiovascular system from aging and disease.
Conserved microRNAs and Flipons Shape Gene Expression during Development by Altering Promoter Conformations
Authors: Herbert Alan , Pavlov Fedor , Konovalov Dmitrii , Poptsova Maria
Published: March 2023

The classical view of gene regulation draws from prokaryotic models, where responses to environmental changes involve operons regulated by sequence-specific protein interactions with DNA, although it is now known that operons are also modulated by small RNAs. In eukaryotes, pathways based on microRNAs (miR) regulate the readout of genomic information from transcripts, while alternative nucleic acid structures encoded by flipons influence the readout of genetic programs from DNA. Here, we provide evidence that miR- and flipon-based mechanisms are deeply connected. We analyze the connection between flipon conformation and the 211 highly conserved human miR that are shared with other placental and other bilateral species. The direct interaction between conserved miR (c-miR) and flipons is supported by sequence alignments and the engagement of argonaute proteins by experimentally validated flipons as well as their enrichment in promoters of coding transcripts important in multicellular development, cell surface glycosylation and glutamatergic synapse specification with significant enrichments at false discovery rates as low as 10−116. We also identify a second subset of c-miR that targets flipons essential for retrotransposon replication, exploiting that vulnerability to limit their spread. We propose that miR can act in a combinatorial manner to regulate the readout of genetic information by specifying when and where flipons form non-B DNA (NoB) conformations, providing the interactions of the conserved hsa-miR-324-3p with RELA and the conserved hsa-miR-744 with ARHGAP5 genes as examples.
Proenkephalin as a Novel Prognostic Marker in Heart Failure Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Siranart Noppachai , Laohasurayotin Khamik , Phanthong Tanattida , Sowalertrat Walit , Ariyachaipanich Aekarach , Chokesuwattanaskul Ronpichai
Published: March 2023

Over the last several years, the use of biomarkers in the diagnosis of patients with heart failure (HF) has skyrocketed. Natriuretic peptides are currently the most widely used biomarker in the diagnosis and prognosis of individuals with HF. Proenkephalin (PENK) activates delta-opioid receptors in cardiac tissue, resulting in a decreased myocardial contractility and heart rate. However, the goal of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the association between the PENK level at the time of admission and prognosis in patients with HF, such as all-cause mortality, rehospitalization, and decreasing renal function. High PENK levels have been associated with a worsened prognosis in patients with HF.
Citral Modulates MMP-2 and MMP-9 Activities on Healing of Gastric Ulcers Associated with High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity
Authors: Ohara Rie , Dario Felipe Lima , Emílio-Silva Maycon Tavares , Assunção Renata , Rodrigues Vinícius Peixoto , Bueno Gabriela , Raimundo Priscila Romano , da Rocha Lúcia Regina Machado , Hiruma-Lima Clelia Akiko
Published: March 2023

Obesity causes low-grade inflammation that results in the development of comorbidities. In people with obesity, exacerbation of gastric lesion severity and delayed healing may aggravate gastric mucosal lesions. Accordingly, we aimed to evaluate the citral effects on gastric lesion healing in eutrophic and obese animals. C57Bl/6 male mice were divided into two groups: animals fed a standard diet (SD) or high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks. Gastric ulcers were induced using acetic acid (80%) in both groups. Citral (25, 100, or 300 mg/kg) was administered orally for 3 or 10 days. A vehicle-treated negative control (1% Tween 80, 10 mL/kg) and lansoprazole-treated (30 mg/kg) were also established. Lesions were macroscopically examined by quantifying regenerated tissue and ulcer areas. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and -9) were analyzed by zymography. The ulcer base area between the two examined periods was significantly reduced in HFD 100 and 300 mg/kg citral-treated animals. In the 100 mg/kg citral-treated group, healing progression was accompanied by reduced MMP-9 activity. Accordingly, HFD could alter MMP-9 activity, delaying the initial healing phase. Although macroscopic changes were undetectable, 10-day treatment with 100 mg/kg citral exhibited improved scar tissue progression in obese animals, with reduced MMP-9 activity and modulation of MMP-2 activation.
Status Quo and Future Perspectives of Molecular and Genomic Studies on the Genus Biomphalaria—The Intermediate Snail Host of Schistosoma mansoni
Authors: Au Ming Fung Franco , Williams Gray A. , Hui Jerome H. L.
Published: March 2023

Schistosomiasis, or also generally known as bilharzia or snail fever, is a parasitic disease that is caused by trematode flatworms of the genus Schistosoma. It is considered by the World Health Organisation as the second most prevalent parasitic disease after malaria and affects more than 230 million people in over 70 countries. People are infected via a variety of activities ranging from agricultural, domestic, occupational to recreational activities, where the freshwater snails Biomphalaria release Schistosoma cercariae larvae that penetrate the skin of humans when exposed in water. Understanding the biology of the intermediate host snail Biomphalaria is thus important to reveal the potential spread of schistosomiasis. In this article, we present an overview of the latest molecular studies focused on the snail Biomphalaria, including its ecology, evolution, and immune response; and propose using genomics as a foundation to further understand and control this disease vector and thus the transmission of schistosomiasis.
In Search of the Holy Grail: Stem Cell Therapy as a Novel Treatment of Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Domaszk Olaf , Skwarek Aleksandra , Wojciechowska Małgorzata
Published: March 2023

Heart failure, a leading cause of hospitalizations and deaths, is a major clinical problem. In recent years, the increasing incidence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has been observed. Despite extensive research, there is no efficient treatment for HFpEF available. However, a growing body of evidence suggests stem cell transplantation, due to its immunomodulatory effect, may decrease fibrosis and improve microcirculation and therefore, could be the first etiology-based therapy of the disease. In this review, we explain the complex pathogenesis of HFpEF, delineate the beneficial effects of stem cells in cardiovascular therapy, and summarize the current knowledge concerning cell therapy in diastolic dysfunction. Furthermore, we identify outstanding knowledge gaps that may indicate directions for future clinical studies.
Middle Segment-Preserving Pancreatectomy to Avoid Pancreatic Insufficiency: Individual Patient Data Analysis of All Published Cases from 2003–2021
Authors: Pausch Thomas , Liu Xinchun , Dincher Josefine , Contin Pietro , Cui Jiaqu , Wei Jishu , Heger Ulrike , Lang Matthias , Tanaka Masayuki , Heap Stephen , Kaiser Jörg , Klotz Rosa , Probst Pascal , Miao Yi , Hackert Thilo
Published: March 2023

Middle segment-preserving pancreatectomy (MPP) can treat multilocular diseases in the pancreatic head and tail while avoiding impairments caused by total pancreatectomy (TP). We conducted a systematic literature review of MPP cases and collected individual patient data (IPD). MPP patients (N = 29) were analyzed and compared to a group of TP patients (N = 14) in terms of clinical baseline characteristics, intraoperative course, and postoperative outcomes. We also conducted a limited survival analysis following MPP. Pancreatic functionality was better preserved following MPP than TP, as new-onset diabetes and exocrine insufficiency each occurred in 29% of MPP patients compared to near-ubiquitous prevalence among TP patients. Nevertheless, POPF Grade B occurred in 54% of MPP patients, a complication avoidable with TP. Longer pancreatic remnants were a prognostic indicator for shorter and less eventful hospital stays with fewer complications, whereas complications of endocrine functionality were associated with older patients. Long-term survival prospects after MPP appeared strong (median up to 110 months), but survival was lower in cases with recurring malignancies and metastases (median < 40 months). This study demonstrates MPP is a feasible treatment alternative to TP for selected cases because it can avoid pancreoprivic impairments, but at the risk of perioperative morbidity.
Identification of a Novel Cuproptosis-Related Gene Signature and Integrative Analyses in Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Huang Jiapeng , Shi Jinyuan , Wu Pu , Sun Wei , Zhang Dalin , Wang Zhihong , Ji Xiaoyu , Lv Chengzhou , Zhang Ting , Zhang Ping , Zhang Hao
Published: March 2023

Cuproptosis is a novel programmed cell death that depends on copper. The role and potential mechanism of cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) in thyroid cancer (THCA) are still unclear. In our study, we randomly divided THCA patients from the TCGA database into a training set and a testing set. A cuproptosis-related signature consisting of six genes (SLC31A1, LIAS, DLD, MTF1, CDKN2A, and GCSH) was constructed using the training set to predict the prognosis of THCA and was verified with the testing set. All patients were classified into low- and high-risk groups according to risk score. Patients in the high-risk group had a poorer overall survival (OS) than those in the low-risk group. The area under the curve (AUC) values for 5 years, 8 years, and 10 years were 0.845, 0.885, and 0.898, respectively. The tumor immune cell infiltration and immune status were significantly higher in the low-risk group, which indicated a better response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). The expression of six cuproptosis-related genes in our prognostic signature were verified by qRT-PCR in our THCA tissues, and the results were consistent with TCGA database. In summary, our cuproptosis-related risk signature has a good predictive ability regarding the prognosis of THCA patients. Targeting cuproptosis may be a better alternative for THCA patients.
An Improved Tuna-YOLO Model Based on YOLO v3 for Real-Time Tuna Detection Considering Lightweight Deployment
Authors: Liu Yuqing , Chu Huiyong , Song Liming , Zhang Zhonglin , Wei Xing , Chen Ming , Shen Jieran
Published: March 2023

A real-time tuna detection network on mobile devices is a common tool for accurate tuna catch statistics. However, most object detection models have multiple parameters, and normal mobile devices have difficulties in satisfying real-time detection. Based on YOLOv3, this paper proposes a Tuna-YOLO, which is a lightweight object detection network for mobile devices. Firstly, following a comparison of the performance of various lightweight backbone networks, the MobileNet v3 was used as a backbone structure to reduce the number of parameters and calculations. Secondly, the SENET module was replaced with a CBAM attention module to further improve the feature extraction ability of tuna. Then, the knowledge distillation was used to make the Tuna-YOLO detect more accurate. We created a small dataset by deframing electronic surveillance video of fishing boats and labeled the data. After data annotation on the dataset, the K-means algorithm was used to get nine better anchor boxes on the basis of label information, which was used to improve the detection precision. In addition, we compared the detection performance of the Tuna-YOLO and three versions of YOLO v5-6.1 s/m/l after image enhancement. The results show that the Tuna-YOLO reduces the parameters of YOLOv3 from 234.74 MB to 88.45 MB, increases detection precision from 93.33% to 95.83%, and increases the calculation speed from 10.12 fps to 15.23 fps. The performance of the Tuna-YOLO is better than three versions of YOLO v5-6.1 s/m/l. Tuna-YOLO provides a basis for subsequent deployment of algorithms to mobile devices and real-time catch statistics.
Three-Dimensional Plotted Calcium Phosphate Scaffolds for Bone Defect Augmentation—A New Method for Regeneration
Authors: Schulz Matthias C. , Holtzhausen Stefan , Nies Berthold , Heinemann Sascha , Muallah David , Kroschwald Lysann , Paetzold-Byhain Kristin , Lauer Günter , Sembdner Philipp
Published: March 2023

For sinus grafting, different methods and materials are available. One possible shortcoming of particulate bone grafts is either overfilling or augmenting the planned implant area insufficiently. To overcome this risk and to determine the implant position prior augmentation, we present an approach using three-dimensional printed scaffolds. A patient with a remaining anterior dentition and bilateral severely atrophied posterior maxilla was seeking oral rehabilitation. The cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) showed residual bone heights between one and two millimeters. Following the three-dimensional reconstruction of the CBCT data, the positions of the implants were determined in areas 16 and 26. Three-dimensional scaffolds adapted to the topography of the sinus were virtually designed and printed using a calcium phosphate cement paste. Bilateral sinus floor augmentation applying the printed scaffolds with an interconnecting porosity followed. After nine months, a satisfying integration of the scaffolds was obvious. At the re-entry, vital bone with sufficient blood supply was found. One implant could be placed in positions 16 and 26, respectively. After five months, the implants could be uncovered and were provided with a temporary denture. The application of three-dimensionally printed scaffolds from calcium phosphate cement paste seems to be a promising technique to graft the severely atrophied posterior maxilla for the placement of dental implants.
Telemedicine: A Survey of Telecommunication Technologies, Developments, and Challenges
Authors: Alenoghena Caroline Omoanatse , Ohize Henry Ohiani , Adejo Achonu Oluwole , Onumanyi Adeiza James , Ohihoin Emmanuel Esebanme , Balarabe Aliyu Idris , Okoh Supreme Ayewoh , Kolo Ezra , Alenoghena Benjamin
Published: March 2023

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has increased research outputs in telemedicine over the last couple of years. One solution to the COVID-19 pandemic as revealed in literature is to leverage telemedicine for accessing health care remotely. In this survey paper, we review several articles on eHealth and Telemedicine with emphasis on the articles’ focus area, including wireless technologies and architectures in eHealth, communications protocols, Quality of Service, and Experience Standards, among other considerations. In addition, we provide an overview of telemedicine for new readers. This survey reviews several telecommunications technologies currently being proposed along with their standards and challenges. In general, an encompassing survey on the developments in telemedicine technology, standards, and protocols is presented while acquainting researchers with several open issues. Special mention of the state-of-the-art specialist application areas are presented. We conclude the survey paper by presenting important research challenges and potential future directions as they pertain to telemedicine technology.
Where the Second World War in Europe Broke Out: The Landscape History of Westerplatte, Gdańsk/Danzig
Authors: Samól Wojciech , Kowalski Szymon , Woźniakowski Arkadiusz , Samól Piotr
Published: March 2023

The article describes the landscape history of the Westerplatte Peninsula in Gdańsk (Poland) from the 17th to the 20th century presented as a complex process of the landscape’s environmental, urban and military transformations. Westerplatte is known as the symbolic place where the Second World War in Europe broke out, and for this reason the current discourse is mainly concentrated on that period. Nonetheless, the history of Westerplatte includes many other important events involving Polish, German, Russian and even French politics over the last three centuries. Thanks to its location at the entrance of one of the main harbours on the Baltic Sea, it is cartographically the best-documented part of the Vistula river estuary. A comprehensive archival survey conducted in the Polish and German archives and cartographical analysis of over 200 selected historical maps allowed the authors to reconstruct its spatial history over three centuries. This case study of Westerplatte can be regarded as an example of the research modus operandi of a historical landscape which has been transformed multiple times. It might form the basis for establishing a new policy for its preservation, allowing a balance to be kept between fluctuations of the current historical politics and more universal requirements for the protection of tangible and intangible heritage. The article also stresses the importance of a holistic and interdisciplinary approach in the analysis of a historical landscape and the necessity of proper selection and critical verification of sources.
Proposing a Governance Model for Environmental Crises
Authors: Karasmanaki Evangelia , Mallinis Giorgos , Mitsopoulos Ioannis , Karteris Apostolos , Chrysafis Irene , Bakaloudis Dimitrios , Kokkoris Ioannis P. , Maris Fotis , Arianoutsou Margarita , Goldammer Johann G. , Rego Francisco , Vallejo V. Ramon , Tsantopoulos Georgios
Published: March 2023

During August 2021, a wildfire outbreak in Evia, Greece’s second largest island, resulted in a major environmental and economic crisis. Apart from biodiversity and habitat loss, the disaster triggered a financial crisis because it wiped out wood-productive forests and outdoor areas that attract visitors. This crisis highlighted the need for a new governance model in order to respond to environmental crises more effectively. The aim of this study was to investigate the acceptance and attitudes of relevant stakeholders towards establishing a Hub—a proposed governance model responsible for monitoring and restoring the natural capital and biodiversity after environmental crises. Results based on quantitative data collected via questionnaires showed that most respondents were positive to the Hub and perceived that its main functions should be to recommend measures after environmental crises and to facilitate cooperation among involved stakeholders. Moreover, results pointed to preferred funding sources, stakeholder groups that should participate in the Hub and key performance indicators (KPIs) for monitoring Hub’s performance. The applied methodology could guide the establishment of governance models both in the study area and other countries facing environmental crises.
Proprietary Varieties’ Influence on Economics and Competitiveness in Land Use within the Hop Industry
Authors: MacKinnon Douglas , Pavlovič Martin
Published: March 2023

To evaluate changes to hop industry concentration and competitiveness the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) was used. The ownership of hop proprietary varieties, their acreage and production were compared with public varieties. Market share for each proprietary hop variety acreage and production was calculated between 2000 and 2020. The quantity of land under centralized control in the U.S. hop industry due to increased proprietary variety acreage between 2000 and 2020 was quantified. Assuming tacit collusion between the participants in the oligopoly, the HHI enabled us to quantify the portion of land under oligopoly control. The HHI analysis of hop acreage and hop production demonstrated that market concentration rose rapidly between the years 2010 (0.0376 and 0.0729) and 2020 (0.4927 and 0.5394). This resulted in decreasing business competitiveness within the market during this period caused primarily by rapid consolidation of ownership during increased proprietary variety acreage and production increases. Calculations revealed that in 2016 a tipping point had been reached concerning market concentration, which resulted in higher sustained season average prices of hops—a key raw material in brewing.
Smart Land Governance: Towards a Conceptual Framework
Authors: Azadi Hossein , Robinson Guy , Barati Ali Akbar , Goli Imaneh , Moghaddam Saghi Movahhed , Siamian Narges , Värnik Rando , Tan Rong , Janečková Kristina
Published: March 2023

Global environmental governance (GEG) is one of the world’s major attempts to address climate change issues through mitigation and adaptation strategies. Despite a significant improvement in GEG’s structural, human, and financial capital, the global commons are decaying at an unprecedented pace. Among the global commons, land has the largest share in GEG. Land use change, which is rooted in increasing populations and urbanization, has a significant role in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As a response, land governance and, consequently, good land governance, have arisen as normative concepts emerging from a series of success factors (notably economic development, environmental conservation, and social justice) to achieve greater sustainability. However, global land governance has shown little success in helping GEG due to the lack of intellectual and flexible thinking over governing the land sector. Consequently, reforming land governance “in a smart way” is one of the most critical actions that could contribute to achieving GEG goals. Hence, we propose a smart land governance (SLG) system that will be well addressed, understood, and modeled in a systemic and dynamic way. A smart system may be smart enough to adapt to different contexts and intellectual responses in a timely fashion. Accordingly, SLG is able to promote shared growth and solve many land sector problems by considering all principles of good land governance. Therefore, in order to enhance adaptive land governance systems, efficient land administration and management are required. This study’s outcomes will raise the comprehension of the problems of land management, providing an excellent framework to help land planners and policy-makers, as well as the development of strategic principles with respect to the principal multidimensional components of SLG.
Does Environmental Decentralization Affect the Supply of Urban Construction Land? Evidence from China
Authors: Han Lida , Wu Xi , Tang Peng
Published: March 2023

Against the background of Chinese decentralization, the preferences and choices of local governments significantly affect the scale and structure of urban construction land supply. Due to the shortage of financial funds and the political performance pursuit of local governments, environmental decentralization gives local governments greater autonomy in environmental management, and increases the possibility for local governments relying on land transfer income to make up for the financial gap and provide public goods and services. This paper analyses the impact of environmental decentralization on the construction land supply scale of local government based on the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2003 to 2015. The results indicate that: (1) environmental decentralization has a positive effect on the increase in urban construction land supply scale; (2) environmental decentralization affects urban construction land supply by strengthening land financial dependence and distorting land resources misallocation; (3) there are regional disparities in the effect of environmental decentralization on urban construction land supply. The impact is greater in regions with high financial pressure, high economic growth pressure, and low environmental protection pressure. In summary, some policy suggestions are put forward to reasonably supply urban construction land against the background of Chinese decentralization.
Study of Novel Oil-Immersed Torque Motor for Two-Dimensional Valve
Authors: You Yiming , Zhao Jiantao , Song Zhankai , Ruan Jian , Li Sheng
Published: March 2023

The electro-mechanical converters of valves are mostly dry type, which cannot work for a long time under high currents due to heat dissipation. This paper presents a novel oil-immersed torque motor (OTM) that can carry out the 2D motion. The OTM has a separate wet working chamber and heat dissipation structure, and the coil is external to prevent oil contamination from causing short circuits. The equations of motion were established based on the equivalent magnetic circuit (EMC) method and its own characteristics, and the effect of oil damping in the working chamber on the dynamic characteristics of the novel OTM was studied. After analyzing its working principle and dynamic and static characteristics by finite element and numerical analysis software, a prototype was designed and machined, which could be operated in dry and immersed mode by adding parts. In addition, a dynamic and static test bench and a temperature rise test bench were established, and comparison experiments with a conventional dry-type torque motor (CDTM) were conducted. Experimental results showed that the prototype had a good thermal resolution in immersed mode, and when the coil was fully loaded (2.4 A), it still worked in the safe temperature range. The prototype had good current-torque characteristics and hysteresis linearity at a coil magnetomotive force (MMF) of 0–450 A. The output torque could reach 0.7 Nm when MMF exceeds 1000 A. The prototype had an approximately 4% faster step response in immersed mode and about 17.8% wider bandwidth than in dry mode, while the torque motor system was more stable due to the increased damping ratio. The measured open-loop dynamic and static characteristics met the requirements of the electro-mechanical converter of 2D servo valves.
Online Estimation of Three-Directional Tire Forces Based on a Self-Organizing Neural Network
Authors: Wang Guiyang , Li Shaohua , Feng Guizhen
Published: March 2023

The road friction coefficient and the forces between the tire and the road have a significant impact on the stability and precise control of the vehicle. For four-wheel independent drive electric vehicles, an adaptive tire force calculation method based on the improved Levenberg–Marquarelt multi-module and self-organizing feedforward neural networks (LM-MMSOFNN) was proposed to estimate the three-directional tire forces of four wheels. The input data was provided by common sensors amounted on the autonomous vehicle, including the inertial measurement unit (IMU) and the wheel speed/rotation angle sensors (WSS, WAS). The road type was recognized through the road friction coefficient based on the vehicle dynamics model and Dugoff tire model, and then the tire force was calculated by the neural network. The computational complexity and storage space of the system were also reduced by the improved LM learning algorithm and self-organizing neurons. The estimation accuracy was further improved by using the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) and Moving Average (MA). The performance of the proposed LM-MMSOFNN was verified through simulations and experiments. The results confirmed that the proposed method was capable of extracting important information from the sensors to estimate three-directional tire forces and accurately adapt to different road surfaces.
Interacting with Futuristic Topological Quantum Materials: A Potential Candidate for Spintronics Devices
Authors: Kumar Prashant , Kumar Ravi , Kumar Sanjeev , Khanna Manoj Kumar , Kumar Ravinder , Kumar Vinod , Gupta Akanksha
Published: March 2023

Spintronics, also known as magneto-electronics or spin transport electronics, uses the magnetic moment of the electron due to intrinsic spin along with its electric charge. In the present review, the topological insulators (2D, 3D, and hydride) were discussed including the conducting edge of 2D topological insulators (TIs). Preparation methods of TIs along with fundamental properties, such as low power dissipation and spin polarized electrons, have been explored. Magnetic TIs have been extensively discussed and explained. Weyl phases, topological superconductors, and TIs are covered in this review. We have focused on creating novel spintronic gadgets based on TIs which have metallic topological exterior facades that are topologically defended and have an insulating bulk. In this review, topological phases are discussed as a potential candidate for novel quantum phenomena and new technological advances for fault-tolerant quantum computation in spintronics, low-power electronics, and as a host for Majorana fermions are elucidated. Room temperature stable magnetic skyrmions and anti-skyrmions in spintronics for next-generation memory/storage devices have been reported.
A Kalman-Based Compensation Strategy for Platoons Subject to Data Loss: Numerical and Empirical Study
Authors: Villenas Felipe I. , Vargas Francisco J. , Peters Andrés A.
Published: March 2023

This article considers a homogeneous platoon with vehicles that communicate through channels prone to data loss. The vehicles use a predecessor-following topology, where each vehicle sends relevant data to the next, and data loss is modeled through a Bernoulli process. To address the lossy communication, we propose a strategy to estimate the missing data based on the Kalman filter with intermittent observations combined with a linear extrapolation stage. This strategy enables the followers to better deal with data dropouts. We compare this approach to one purely based on the linear extrapolation of previous data. The performance of both strategies is analyzed through Monte Carlo simulations and experiments in an ad hoc testbed, considering various data loss and transmission loss probabilities depending on the inter-vehicle distance. The results show that for the considered cases, the proposed strategy outperforms the linear extrapolation approach in terms of tracking and estimation error variances. Our results also show that the proposed strategy can achieve string stability for the mean and variance for both the tracking and estimation errors in scenarios where the basic extrapolation strategy cannot.
Conservation of Genomic Information in Multiple Displacement Amplified Low-Quantity Metagenomic Material from Marine Invertebrates
Authors: Elvheim Andrea Iselin , Li Chun , Landfald Bjarne
Published: March 2023

Marine invertebrate microbiomes have been a rich source of bioactive compounds and interesting genomic features. In cases where the achievable amounts of metagenomic DNA are too low for direct sequencing, multiple displacement amplification (MDA) can be used for whole genome amplification. However, MDA has known limitations which can affect the quality of the resulting genomes and metagenomes. In this study, we evaluated the conservation of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) and enzymes in MDA products from low numbers of prokaryotic cells (estimated 2–850). Marine invertebrate microbiomes collected from Arctic and sub-Arctic areas served as source material. The cells were separated from the host tissue, lysed, and directly subjected to MDA. The MDA products were sequenced by Illumina sequencing. Corresponding numbers of bacteria from a set of three reference strains were treated the same way. The study demonstrated that useful information on taxonomic, BGC, and enzyme diversities was obtainable from such marginal quantities of metagenomic material. Although high levels of assembly fragmentation resulted in most BGCs being incomplete, we conclude that this genome mining approach has the potential to reveal interesting BGCs and genes from hard-to-reach biological sources.
Radiographic Evaluation of the Gap between Cemented Post and Remaining Gutta-Percha in Endodontically Treated Teeth Performed by Undergraduate Students: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Naim Hina , Ahmad Manawar , Ageeli Abrar A. , Abuarab Raghad K. , Sayed Mohammed E. , Dewan Harisha , Chohan Hitesh , Alshehri Abdullah Hasan , Wadei Mohammed Hussain Dafer Al , Alqahtani Saeed M. , Feroz Shaikh Mohammad Abdul , Porwal Amit , Alshahrani Ahid Amer
Published: March 2023

The coronal seal in root canal-treated teeth may be compromised depending on the accuracy of post space preparation and post cementation along with remaining gutta-percha. Root canal treatment can be compromised by endotoxins released by the coronal bacteria as a result of microleakage. The study was conducted by undergraduate students to measure the gap between the cemented post and residual gutta-percha. In total, 217 endodontically treated teeth were evaluated with intraoral peri-apical radiographs. Based on the intraoral periapical radiographic examination in the CS-R4 program, Group I had no gap, Group II had a gap of >0 to 2 mm, and Group III had a gap of more than 2 mm between the end of the cemented post and the remaining gutta-percha. In total, 40% (n = 87) of the teeth had no gap, 59% (127) had a gap of >0 to 2 mm, and 1% (n = 3) had a gap of more than 2 mm between the cemented post end and remaining gutta. Chi square test revealed a significant difference in the gap between the post and remaining gutta-percha between males and females students (p < 0.001). In terms of the gap between the cemented post end and the residual gutta-percha, the root canal treated teeth with post and core by undergraduates were clinically acceptable.
Bioactive Metabolite Survey of Actinobacteria Showing Plant Growth Promoting Traits to Develop Novel Biofertilizers
Authors: Faddetta Teresa , Polito Giulia , Abbate Loredana , Alibrandi Pasquale , Zerbo Marcello , Caldiero Ciro , Reina Chiara , Puccio Guglielmo , Vaccaro Edoardo , Abenavoli Maria Rosa , Cavalieri Vincenzo , Mercati Francesco , Palumbo Piccionello Antonio , Gallo Giuseppe
Published: March 2023

The use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has caused harmful impacts on the environment with the increase in economic burden. Biofertilizers are biological products containing living microorganisms capable of improving plant growth through eco-friendly mechanisms. In this work, three actinobacterial strains Streptomyces violaceoruber, Streptomyces coelicolor, and Kocuria rhizophila were characterized for multiple plant growth promoting (PGP) traits such as indole acetic acid production, phosphate solubilization, N2-fixation, and drought and salt tolerance. Then, these strains were investigated for their secreted and cellular metabolome, revealing a rich arsenal of bioactive molecules, including antibiotics and siderophores, with S. violaceoruber being the most prolific strain. Furthermore, the in vivo assays, performed on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), resulted in an improved germination index and the growth of seedlings from seeds treated with PGP actinobacteria, with a particular focus on S. violaceoruber cultures. In particular, this last strain, producing volatile organic compounds having antimicrobial activity, was able to modulate volatilome and exert control on the global DNA methylation of tomato seedlings. Thus, these results, confirming the efficacy of the selected actinobacteria strains in promoting plant growth and development by producing volatile and non-volatile bioactive molecules, can promote eco-friendly alternatives in sustainable agriculture.
Experimentally Induced Dieback Conditions Limit Phragmites australis Growth
Authors: Bickford Wesley A. , Snow Danielle S. , Smith McKenzie K. H. , Kingsley Kathryn L. , White James F. , Kowalski Kurt P.
Published: March 2023

Phragmites australis is a cosmopolitan grass species common in wetland ecosystems across the world. In much of North America, the non-native subspecies of Phragmites threatens wetland biodiversity, hinders recreation, and is a persistent problem for natural resource managers. In other parts of the world, populations are in decline, as Reed Die-Back Syndrome (RDBS) plagues some Phragmites stands in its native range. RDBS is defined by a clumped growth form, stunted root and shoot growth, premature senescence, and shoot death. RDBS has been associated with a build-up of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and altered bacterial and oomycete communities in soils, but the exact causes are unknown. To control invasive Phragmites populations, we sought to develop treatments that mimic the conditions of RDBS. We applied various SCFA treatments at various concentrations to mesocosm soils growing either Phragmites or native wetland plants. We found that the high-concentration SCFA treatments applied weekly induced strong significant declines in above- and belowground biomass of Phragmites. Declines were significant but slightly weaker in native species. In addition, soil bacterial abundance increased, diversity decreased, and bacterial community composition significantly differed following treatments, such that treated pots maintained a higher relative abundance of Pseudomonadaceae and fewer Acidobacteriaceae than untreated pots. Our results suggest that application of SCFAs to Phragmites can lead to stunted plants and altered soil bacterial communities similar to populations affected by RDBS. However, the lack of species-specificity and intensive application rate may not make this treatment ideal as a widespread management tool.
Contrasting Patterns of Asaia Association with Pyrethroid Resistance Escalation between the Malaria Vectors Anopheles funestus and Anopheles gambiae
Authors: Djondji Kamga Fleuriane Metissa , Mugenzi Leon M. J. , Tchouakui Magellan , Sandeu Maurice Marcel , Maffo Claudine Grace Tatsinkou , Nyegue Maximilienne Ascension , Wondji Charles S.
Published: March 2023

Microbiome composition has been associated with insecticide resistance in malaria vectors. However, the contribution of major symbionts to the increasingly reported resistance escalation remains unclear. This study explores the possible association of a specific endosymbiont, Asaia spp., with elevated levels of pyrethroid resistance driven by cytochrome P450s enzymes and voltage-gated sodium channel mutations in Anopheles funestus and Anopheles gambiae. Molecular assays were used to detect the symbiont and resistance markers (CYP6P9a/b, 6.5 kb, L1014F, and N1575Y). Overall, genotyping of key mutations revealed an association with the resistance phenotype. The prevalence of Asaia spp. in the FUMOZ_X_FANG strain was associated with the resistance phenotype at a 5X dose of deltamethrin (OR = 25.7; p = 0.002). Mosquitoes with the resistant allele for the markers tested were significantly more infected with Asaia compared to those possessing the susceptible allele. Furthermore, the abundance correlated with the resistance phenotype at 1X concentration of deltamethrin (p = 0.02, Mann-Whitney test). However, for the MANGOUM_X_KISUMU strain, findings rather revealed an association between Asaia load and the susceptible phenotype (p = 0.04, Mann-Whitney test), demonstrating a negative link between the symbiont and permethrin resistance. These bacteria should be further investigated to establish its interactions with other resistance mechanisms and cross-resistance with other insecticide classes.
Synergistic Antibacterial Proficiency of Green Bioformulated Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles with Potential Fosfomycin Synergism against Nosocomial Bacterial Pathogens
Authors: Almaary Khalid S. , Yassin Mohamed Taha , Elgorban Abdallah M. , Al-Otibi Fatimah O. , Al-Askar Abdulaziz A. , Maniah Khalid
Published: March 2023

The drug resistance of bacterial pathogens causes considerable morbidity and death globally, hence there is a crucial necessity for the development of effective antibacterial medicines to address the antibacterial resistance issue. The bioprepared zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) were prepared utilizing the flower extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa and then characterized using different physicochemical techniques. The antibacterial effectiveness of the bioprepared ZnO-NPs and their synergism with fosfomycin were evaluated using disk diffusion assay against the concerned pathogens. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigation of the bioprepared ZnO-NPs showed that their average particle size was 18.93 ± 2.65 nm. Escherichia coli expressed the highest sensitivity to the bioinspired ZnO-NPs with a suppressive zone of 22.54 ± 1.26 nm at a concentration of 50 µg/disk, whereas the maximum synergistic effect of the bioinspired ZnO-NPs with fosfomycin was noticed against Klebsiella pneumoniae strain with synergism ratio of 100.29%. In conclusion, the bioinspired ZnO-NPs demonstrated significant antibacterial and synergistic efficacy with fosfomycin against the concerned nosocomial bacterial pathogens, highlighting the potential of using the ZnO NPs-fosfomycin combination for effective control of nosocomial infections in intensive care units (ICUs) and health care settings. Furthermore, the biogenic ZnO-NPs’ potential antibacterial action against food pathogens such as Salmonella typhimurium and E. coli indicates their potential usage in food packaging applications.
Bacterial Communities in Lanna Fermented Soybeans from Three Different Ethnolinguistic Groups in Northern Thailand
Authors: Yongsawas Rujipas , In-on Ammarin , Inta Angkana , Kampuansai Jatupol , Pandith Hataichanok , Suwannarach Nakarin , Lumyong Saisamorn , Chitov Thararat , Disayathanoowat Terd
Published: March 2023

Northern Thailand, the main part of the Lanna region, is home to a diverse range of ethnic groups, each with their own food and cultural heritage. The bacterial compositions in fermented soybean (FSB) products indigenous to three Lanna ethnolinguistic groups, including Karen, Lawa, and Shan, were investigated in this study. Bacterial DNA was extracted from the FSB samples and subjected to 16S rRNA gene sequencing using the Illumina sequencing platform. Metagenomic data showed that the predominant bacteria in all FSBs were members of the genus Bacillus (49.5–86.8%), and the Lawa FSB had the greatest bacterial diversity. The presence of genera Ignatzschineria, Yaniella, Atopostipes in the Karen and Lawa FSBs and Proteus in the Shan FSB might be indicators of food hygiene problems during processing. The network analysis predicted antagonistic effects of Bacillus against some indicator and pathogenic bacteria. The functional prediction revealed some potential functional properties of these FSBs. The presence of Bacillus in all FSBs and Vagococcus in the Shan FSB suggests that these FSBs could potentially be good sources of beneficial bacteria, and they should be conserved and promoted for health and food security reasons. However, food processing hygiene measures should be introduced and monitored to warrant their properties as health foods.