bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of rainfall, atmospheric pressure, and temperature on seismic velocity variations at different depths in Volcán de Colima, Mexico using Noise Interferometry
Authors: Ibarra-Morales Juan , De Plaen Raphael , Márquez-Ramírez Víctor Hugo , Dávila-Madrid Ramón Zúñiga , Vargas-Bracamontes Dulce , Arámbula-Mendoza Raúl
Published: February 2024

Earth’s crust is subject to changes triggered by various processes occurring both over (i.e. weather variations), and under (i.e. magmatic, tectonic) the surface simultaneously. Seismic noise interferometry technique allows us to monitor these physical changes by retrieving the relative seismic velocity changes (dv/v). However, detailed analysis is usually needed to differentiate which processes contribute to the final variation of dv/v to produce an accurate monitoring of the upper crust. In this work, we analyzed the daily dv/v in the volume surrounding Colima Volcano calculated using the single-station cross-component (SC) method on seismic records from 2013-2017. We focused on two frequency bands (0.1-1, 1-2 Hz) to retrieve velocity changes at different depths (4 and 1 km, respectively) and compare their differences. Both dv/v signals showed co-seismic velocity drops and annual variations.
Using wavelet transform coherence, we found that three environmental parameters—rainfall, temperature, and atmospheric pressure—might influence the temporal variation of dv/v.
To correct the dv/v time series, we fitted two models based on: 1) rainfall-induced pore pressure coupled with barometric variations and 2) thermoelastic strains.
By comparing the calculated and corrected dv/v signals, we observed that atmospheric pressure-induced velocity variations are neglectable. Rainfall-induced pore pressure can cause velocity drops, especially on the 1-2 Hz signal. Thermoelastic strains seem to cause variations up to +/-0.5% on both band frequencies. These observations support previous hypotheses about rain causing dv/v changes in the top hundreds of meters of the crust, while thermoelastic strains can propagate and induce dv/v variations at greater depths.
Genome-wide characterisation of HD-Zip transcription factors and functional analysis of PbHB24 during stone cell formation in Chinese white pear (Pyrus bretschneideri)
Authors: Wang Qi , Wang Yueyang , Zhang Fanhang , Han Chengyang , Wang Yanling , Ren Mei , Qi Kaijie , Xie Zhihua , Zhang Shaoling , Tao Shutian , Shiratake Katsuhiro
Published: February 2024

Background
The homodomain-leucine zipper (HD-Zip) is a conserved transcription factor unique to plants that regulate multiple developmental processes including lignificaion. Stone cell content is a key determinant negatively affecting pear fruit quality, which causes a grainy texture of fruit flesh, because of the lignified cell walls.
Results
In this study, a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of PbHB gene family in the pear genome was performed. Genome-wide identification of the PbHB gene family revealed 67 genes encoding PbHB proteins, which could be divided into four subgroups (I, II, III, and IV). Similar intron/exon structural patterns were observed within the same subgroups, strongly supporting their close evolutionary relationships. The functions of each subgroup of the PbHB family were predicted through comparative analysis with the HB genes in Arabidopsis and other plants. Cis-element analysis indicated that PbHB genes might be involved in plant hormone signalling and external environmental responses, such as light, stress, and temperature. Furthermore, RNA-sequencing data and quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) verification revealed the regulatory roles of PbHB genes in pear stone cell formation. Further, co-expression network analysis revealed that the eight PbHB genes could be classified into different clusters of co-expression with lignin-related genes. Besides, the biological function of PbHB24 in promoting stone cell formation has been demonstrated by overexpression in fruitlets.
Conclusions
This study provided the comprehensive analysis of PbHBs and highlighted the importance of PbHB24 during stone cell development in pear fruits.
Investigating published research towards a fossil-energy-free agriculture transformation
Authors: Balafoutis Athanasios T. , Borzecka Magdalena , Rozakis Stelios , Troullaki Katerina , Vandorou Foteini , Wydra Malgorzata
Published: February 2024

The defossilisation of the agricultural sector is driven by intense worldwide academic research on non-fossil and energy-efficient agriculture, and the acknowledgment of the need for sustainable farming practices. For this purpose, not only technical transformations but also socio-technical system changes towards sustainability need to take place in a co-evolutionary manner. This paper investigates structural and qualitative characteristics of the knowledge produced by research on fossil-energy-free agriculture. We provide evidence on the worldwide research directions, as well as investigate whether academic research and publicly funded research projects foster knowledge creation for the desired transformation. Social network analysis and dictionary-based content analysis are used to relate transformational capacity to project profiles in the European Union to evaluate past funding schemes and to improve the shape of future research programs.
Severe pneumonia caused by Tropheryma whipplei combined with herpes simplex virus type 1 infection in an elderly: a case report of immunocompetent patient
Authors: Chen Jiaxing , Niu Hongbo , Liu Yupeng
Published: February 2024

Background
Whipple's disease is a rare infectious disease with multi system damage caused by Tropheryma whipplei infection. Classic Whipple's disease often is presents with polyarthritis, digestive system symptoms, and weight loss. The atypical symptoms caused by Tropheryma whipplei infection, harsh in vitro culture conditions, and easily is to be complicated with other pathogenic bacteria infection, which have brought great difficulties and challenges to clinical diagnosis. Herpes simplex virus type 1 infection is common in immunocompromised patients or ventilator-associated pneumonia, but herpes simplex virus type 1 pneumonia is very rare in immunocompetent patients. Without timely diagnosis and treatment, the impact on patients is usually fatal.
Case presentation
The patient reported in this paper is an 87-year-old female with normal immune function, who suffered from severe pneumonia caused by Tropheryma whipplei and herpes simplex virus type 1 infection. After the diagnosis was confirmed by metagenomic next-generation sequencing, we started treatment with TMP-SMX and acyclovir, and her symptoms improved rapidly and she was successfully discharged from the hospital.
Conclusions
As far as we know, pneumonia caused by Tropheryma whipplei and herpes simplex virus type 1 is very rare, and early diagnosis and treatment are crucial, because it can improve the prognosis of patients.
Simulation Based Design Tool for Radial Impellers of Centrifugal Pumps
Authors: Hassan Ahmed Farid Saad Ayad , Saleh Sherif , Hashish Anwer
Published: February 2024

Centrifugal water pumps account for more than 20% of energy use all over the world. Even a little increase in centrifugal pump operating efficiency may result in billions of dollars in savings each year and help reduce carbon dioxide emissions. This study creates a design tool that integrates one-dimensional equations and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to design a centrifugal pump impeller. This examines different combinations of design factors by utilizing both the powerful numerical tools that allow the modeling of numerous scenarios and the large amount of empirical equations and coefficients that represent the significant knowledge accumulated in this field. The design tool runs through a series of equations to select the beginning candidates for the different impeller design variables. After that, a design space is established by generating upper and lower bounds for each design variable. The CFD tool executes numerous scenarios inside the design space in order to find the best candidates with the maximum operating efficiency and meet the design objectives. A low specific speed centrifugal pump with a semi-open impeller is used as a case study. The design tool is successful in designing it, fulfilling the design requirement, and increasing operational efficiency when compared to a simple single-arc comparable impeller.
Imunomodulator Properties of White Turmeric (Curcuma Mangga Val.) in Vivo
Authors: Pujimulyani Dwiyati , Yulianto Wisnu Adi , Indarto Tri , Windrayahya Sulkhan
Published: February 2024

White turmeric contains bioactive compounds that have potential as immunomodulators. This research aims to assess the antioxidant properties and quantify the total phenolic content of white turmeric in vitro and test immunomodulatory properties in vivo. The study utilized a Completely Randomized Block Design (CRBD) with 2 treatment factors, namely the variation in parts of white turmeric rhizomes (main and tiller) and the variation in blanching time using the steam blanching method (0; 2.5; 5; 7.5; and 10 min). The analyses carried out were antioxidant activity of DPPH method (2,2 diphenyl-1-pickrylhidrazyl), and total phenolic content of white turmeric. Selected white turmeric powder based on in vitro test was analysed for immunomodulator (SOD (Superoxide Dismutase), IL-1 (Interleukin-1), IL-6 (Interleukin-6), IL-8 (Interleukin-8), IgE (Immunoglobulin E), IgG (Immunoglobulin G), dan IgM (Immunoglobulin M)). Selected white turmeric is the main rhizome with 5 min steam blanching. The analysis showed antioxidant activity of 81.46% RSA and total phenolic content of 6.08 mg EAG/g db. The results of in vivo studies showed that rats given white turmeric had an SOD value of 72.92% significantly better than rats given Na-CMC (Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose) and not significantly different from commercial supplements (stimuno). The IL-1 value of 0.40 pg/ml and IL-8 value of 48.53 pg/ml of rats given white kunir were significantly better than rats given Na-CMC and stimuno. The antibody values of IgE 74.02 ng/ml, IgG 18.20 ng/ml and IgM 2.97 ng/ml of rats treated with white turmeric were significantly better than those treated with Na-CMC and stimuno. The antibody values indicates that white turmeric has immunomodulatory effects.
Ameliorate Cardiovascular Condition through Positive Psychology and Lifestyle Intervention in China: Study Protocol of the ACCOMPLI-CH Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Liu Xiaomei , Zhai Boyu , Zhu Xinyi , Zheng Zhiwei , Yu Jing , Wang Baoxi , Zeng Hui , Jiang Lijuan , Li Chunbo , Liu Deping , Zhang Tiemei , Yao Yao , Yin Xiangjun , Li Juan
Published: February 2024

Background
Cardiovascular health is influenced by various factors including not only physiological and behavioral ones, but also psychological well-being. However, when developing comprehensive preventive approaches, psychological intervention tends to receive less attention, despite its possible multiple mechanisms on cardiovascular health. Incorporating both healthy behavior and psychological well-being promotion would be a more efficacious preventive approach. This study aims to investigate the effects of a community-based multicomponent intervention combining positive psychological intervention and lifestyle intervention on improving cardiovascular health among older adults with risk factors of cardiovascular diseases.
Methods
This study is a multicenter, community-based, randomized controlled trial with 18 months of intervention and follow-up for community-dwelling older adults aged 60 to 80 years old with risk factors of cardiovascular health. Intervention activities last six months and are comprised of in-person group training sessions of 60–80 minutes led by trained group instructors and weekly self-monitoring homework. Eligible participants are randomly assigned to a multicomponent intervention “Harmony” group (24 sessions of positive psychology and lifestyle intervention delivered weekly), an active control “Lifestyle” group (eight sessions of lifestyle intervention delivered every 3–4 weeks), or a waitlist control group (no intervention activities). Positive psychological training sessions are designed using well-known techniques derived from positive psychology theories with adaptations to Chinese culture, and lifestyle training sessions are developed according to national guidelines. Primary outcome includes the change of a composite score of systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein levels, as well as psychological well-being measured by Positive Affect and Negative Affect Scale, Meaning in Life Questionnaire, and Satisfaction with Life Scale. Secondary assessments include other measures for physical and biological indicators, psychological well-being, health behaviors, social connection factors, as well as overall cognitive functions.
Discussion
Our results will contribute to providing causal evidence on how psychological well-being combined with health behavior change can be beneficial for cardiovascular health. Given the trial is conducted at the community level, the implementation will provide great potential to benefit a wide range of populations in terms of disease prevention and eventually healthy longevity promotion.
Trial registration:
ChiCTR, ChiCTR2200062929, registered August 24, 2022.
An exploration of vascular cell development in mouse embryoid bodies under hypoxia through single cell RNA-seq
Authors: Acosta-Iborra Bárbara , Puente-Santamaría Laura , Berrouayel Yosra , Peso Luis del , Jiménez Benilde
Published: February 2024

Background: Differentiation of mouse stem cells (mESC) to embryonic bodies (EBs) is a widely used approach to model early stages of development. In this study, we employed single-cell transcriptomics to examine the effect of hypoxia on the differentiation of different cell populations in EBs.
Results: We differentiated EBs for 8 or 10 days, with two time frames of hypoxic or normoxic exposure: a short window of 16h for the 8-day samples, and a 48h window for the 10-day samples, totaling four experimental conditions. The EBs were composed mainly of broad mesodermal progenitors, a limited number of endodermal precursors, and smaller groups of cells that were more advanced in their differentiation pathways. These developed groups included hemoendothelial progenitors, endothelium, cardiomyocytes, and monocyte and erythrocyte precursors. Both O2 and time of differentiation significantly influenced the distribution of cell types across conditions. Our findings revealed that hypoxia induces a pervasive cell cycle arrest signature across all identified cell populations within the EB. Despite the cell cycle arrest, vascular smooth muscle (vSMCs), endothelial, and cardiac cell populations exhibit expansion under hypoxic conditions, while normoxia favours an increase in the monocyte population. Differential proliferation of hemoendothelial progenitors does not appear to be the primary driver of endothelial cells expansion in hypoxia, as their distribution remained similar across treatments and depleted over time. We observed delays in the terminal differentiation pathway of vSMCs precursors in hypoxic conditions, which may contribute to their expansion and migration by switching to a synthetic phenotype. Additionally, oxygen concentration influenced the developmental path of hemangioblasts towards either an endothelial, or myeloid lineage. In the EBs, this was coupled with a shift in presomitic mesoderm differentiation towards endotome or musculoskeletal precursors, which may provide an additional source of progenitors with endothelial potential during oxygen deprivation.
Conclusion: Our study provides novel insights into the cellular responses to hypoxia in the context of early embryonic development, thus unveiling potential mechanisms underlying blood vessel growth.
Confined biofabrication in inflatable bioreactor: toward the sterile production of implantable tissues and organs
Authors: DUFOUR Alexandre , Essayan Lucie , THOMANN Céline , PETIOT Emma , GAY Isabelle , BARBAROUX Magali , MARQUETTE Christophe
Published: February 2024

The future of organ and tissue biofabrication strongly relies on 3D bioprinting technologies. However, maintaining sterility remains a critical issue regardless of the technology used. This challenge becomes even more pronounced when the volume of bioprinted objects approaches organ dimensions. Here, we introduce a novel device called the Flexible Unique Generator Unit (FUGU), which is a unique combination of flexible silicone membranes and solid components made of 3D printed medical-grade polycarbonate. The FUGU is designed to support micro-extrusion needle insertion and removal, internal volume adjustment, and fluid management. The FUGU was tested in various environments, ranging from custom-built basic cartesian to sophisticated 6-axis robotic arm bioprinters, demonstrating its compatibility, flexibility, and universality across different bioprinting platforms. Sterility assays conducted under various infection scenarios highlight the FUGU’s ability to physically protect the internal volume against contaminations, thereby ensuring the integrity of the bioprinted constructs. The FUGU also enabled bioprinting and cultivation of a 14.5 cm³ human colorectal cancer tissue model within a completely confined and sterile environment, while allowing for the exchange of gases with the external environment. This FUGU system represents a significant advancement in 3D bioprinting and biofabrication, paving the path toward the sterile production of implantable tissues and organs.
Comparative metabolomic analysis of the phloem sap of nine citrus relatives with different degrees of susceptibility to Huanglongbing disease.
Authors: HERRANZ MARIA C. , NAVARRO JOSE ANTONIO , LOCASCIO ANTONELLA , PEÑA LEANDRO , MANZANARES PALOMA , MARCOS JOSE F. , PALLAS VICENTE
Published: February 2024

Citrus Huanglongbing (HLB) disease, also known as “citrus greening”, is currently considered the most devastating citrus disease due to its rapid spread, and high severity. Presently, research efforts are focused on searching for either curative treatments or resistant cultivars to combat HLB-associated bacterium ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (CLas). Metabolomics can help to unravel the mechanisms supporting the potential tolerance/resistance of citrus relatives. Herein, we carried out a metabolomic analysis to determine whether the level of resistance of nine citrus-related genotypes is influenced by their pre-existing metabolic background before infection. For this purpose, the healthy phloem of nine Citrinae genotypes previously categorized according to their different responses to HLB was analyzed. A total of 53 different metabolites were targeted, including amino acids, organic and inorganic acids, and sugars. Interestingly, we observed that resistant and partially resistant genotypes exhibited higher accumulations of organic acids such as quinic acid and citric acid. In contrast, the amount of total sugars showed a clear upward trend in the susceptible genotypes. Notably, within this last group of metabolites, sugar acids displayed a trend toward an average percentage increase in both partially resistant and resistant accessions, being more evident in the resistant group. Changes potentially associated with the level of resistance were observed in certain amino acids within the aspartate and glutamate families. However, only lysine levels were significantly higher in the susceptible samples. The evaluation of five genes associated with lysine catabolism by RT-qPCR revealed differences in transcript abundance between resistant and susceptible samples. These findings open a new avenue of opportunity for identifying metabolites and/or substances that could aid in developing resistance strategies to this devastating disease.
Effect of Particle Shape on the Discharge from a Mono-layer Hopper
Authors: Hanif Muhammad Ahmed , Maza Diego , Meer Devaraj van der
Published: February 2024

In this work, we performed experiments with spheres, rice-shaped particles with different aspect ratios, and macaroni-shaped particles in a quasi two-dimensional hopper, where the thickness was adjusted to the minor dimensions of the particles such that a mono-layered system is created. We quantitatively investigate the vertical velocity and solid fraction profiles at the orifice and determine how these are influenced by the slope of the hopper. Interestingly, where the hopper angle hardly influences the velocity profile for rice-shaped particles, the magnitude of the velocity profile increases for spherical particles and decreases for macaroni particles with the steepness of the hopper. The spheres have flat solid fraction profiles for all hopper angles, but a transition from flat to dome-shaped profiles is observed with decreasing hopper steepness for all non-spherical particles. The discharge rate determined by integrating the product of the velocity and solid fraction profiles has good agreement with the experimentally measured discharge rate for all particle shapes.
Selective anti-tumor activity of Glutathione-responsive abasic site trapping agent in Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Chai Jinyan , Su Mengxue , Zhang Ruiguo , Jia Yuanyuan , Zheng Wei , Tan Jian , Jia Qiang , Sun Huabing , Meng Zhaowei
Published: February 2024

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is a rare but highly aggressive thyroid cancer with poor prognosis. Killing cancer cells by inducing DNA damage or blockage of DNA repair is a promising strategy for chemotherapy. It is reported that aldehyde-reactive alkoxyamines could capture the AP sites, one of the most common DNA lesions, and inhibit apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1(APE1)-mediated base excision repair (BER), leading to cell death. Whether this strategy can be employed for ATC treatment is rarely investigated. The aim of this study was to exploit the elevated glutathione (GSH) levels in the tumor micro-environment (TME), and explore the GSH-responsive AP sites capture reagent (AP probe-net), which can be selectively activated by GSH, releasing reactive alkoxyamines to trap AP sites and block the APE1-mediated BER for targeted anti-tumor against ATC. In vitro experiments, including MTT andγ-H2AX assays, demonstrated their selective cytotoxicity. Flow cytometry analysis suggested that AP probe-net arrested the cell cycle in the G2/M phase and induced apoptosis of cells. Western blotting (WB) results showed that the expression of apoptotic protein increased with increasing the concentration of AP probe-net. Further in vivo experiments revealed that the AP probe-net had a good therapeutic effect on subcutaneous tumors of the ATC cells. In conclusion, taking advantage of the elevated GSH in TME, our study affords a new strategy for targeted chemotherapy of ATC with high selectivity and bio-safety.
Multi-Frequency Graph Neural Rough Differential Equations for Traffic Forecasting
Authors: Wang Zengqiang , Zang Di
Published: February 2024

The burgeoning field of neural differential equations (NDEs) underscores a quest for models that not only boast interpretability and robustness but also function within a more generalized framework. Although the fusion of Neural Controlled Differential Equations (NCDEs) with Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) has marked significant strides in traffic forecasting, the prolonged integrative process requisite for long-term forecasts remains a detriment to model efficacy. Furthermore, while NCDEs exhibit prowess in extracting temporal trends within traffic fluctuations, the potential of spatial trend correlations has not been adequately investigated. To bridge this gap, we introduce the Multi-Frequency Graph Neural Rough Differential Equation (MFG-NRDE), an NDE-based model tailored for traffic forecasting. Our model is underpinned by the frequency principle in neural networks and leverages both wavelet and signature transforms. This dual approach not only truncates the integral length but also captures a more nuanced representation of high- and low-frequency temporal features. Complementing this temporal focus, we integrate a novel methodology for dynamically computing spatial correlations, harnessing the inherent trend characteristics of traffic variations to enhance spatial dimension analysis. Empirical validation across four real-world traffic flow datasets demonstrates the superior performance of our MFG-NRDE model, positioning it favorably against contemporary state-of-the-art baselines. This underscores the efficacy of our model in managing the intricate dynamics of traffic data forecasting, paving the way for more sophisticated and accurate predictive models in this domain.
Simulation Study on the Response of Yield and Water Use Efficiency in Spring Wheat to Water Stress at Different Growth Stages Using the APSIM Model
Authors: Wang Jun
Published: February 2024

Water scarcity is the major limiting factor to crop production in the hilly and gully Loess Plateau of central Gansu. A better understanding of the response of crops to the intensity and timing of water stress at different growth stages is helpful for optimizing agricultural production management systems under water-limited conditions. Based on the field experiment at Anding District, Dingxi City, the suitability of the Agricultural Production System Simulator (APSIM) model for simulating spring wheat yield, yield composition, and changes in soil water content under water stress, quantifying the effects of intensity and timing of water stress on yield, water consumption, and water use efficiency (WUE) in spring wheat, and identifying the most sensitive stage of spring wheat to water stress was verified. The results showed that the root mean square error values of the grain numbers, 1000-grain weight, yield, and soil water content of the APSIM model were less than 252.31 number/m2, 1.55 g, 170.26 kg/ha, and 1.73%, respectively. The normalized root mean square error values were less than 6.49, 5.92, 6.03, and 13.78%, respectively. The model effectiveness index values were higher than 0.64, 0.51, 0.52, and 0.50, respectively. The APSIM model had good adaptability to water stress in the study area. Further, the jointing stage was the most sensitive growth period for the water deficit of spring wheat in the study area, and this growth period had the greatest impact on spring wheat yield due to drought. The yield showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing as irrigation increased. When the irrigation amount reached 300 mm, it reached a maximum value of 4866.19 kg/ha. Notably, WUE achieved a maximum value of 12.32 kg/ha with water stress at the tillering stage, followed by the emergence, jointing, heading, flowering, and grain filling stages. WUE showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing as irrigation increased. When the irrigation amount reached 300 mm, it reached a maximum value of 15.03 kg/ha. Finally, the variations in yield and WUE with changed water consumption were not synchronous. WUE was at a maximum when irrigation was reduced in regions with severe water shortages, and the yield achieved a maximum with increasing irrigation in regions with relatively abundant water resources. In general, the jointing and grain filling stages were critical times for field irrigation management for spring wheat. Reasonable field irrigation management should be applied at these two growth stages to guarantee a higher yield and WUE of spring wheat in the hilly and gully Loess Plateau of central Gansu.
Determination of Anthracnose (Colletotrichum fructicola) Resistance Mechanism Using Transcriptome Analysis of Resistant and Susceptible Pear (Pyrus pyrifolia)
Authors: Tang Xiaomei , Lu Fen , Xiao Ziwen , Wang Yue , Hu Guoqing , Cai Kexin , Yin Ruichang , Song Wei , Xie Luoluo , Guo Guoling , Wang Wenming , Liu Lun , Liu Li , Ye Zhenfeng , Heng Wei , Guo Xianping , Wang Dongsheng , Jia Bing
Published: February 2024

Background
Anthracnose, mainly caused by Colletotrichum fructicola, leads to severe losses in pear production. However, there is limited information available regarding the molecular response to anthracnose in pears.
Results
In this study, the anthracnose-resistant variety ‘Seli’ and susceptible pear cultivar ‘Cuiguan’ were subjected to transcriptome analysis following C. fructicola inoculation at 6 and 24 h using RNA sequencing. A total of 3186 differentially expressed genes were detected in ‘Seli’ and ‘Cuiguan’ using Illumina sequencing technology. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses indicated that the transcriptional response of pears to C. fructicola infection included responses to reactive oxygen species, phytohormone signaling, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and secondary metabolite biosynthetic processes. Moreover, the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway and flavonoid biosynthesis were involved in the defense of ‘Seli’. Furthermore, the gene coexpression network data showed that genes related to plant–pathogen interactions were associated with C. fructicola resistance in ‘Seli’ at an early stage.
Conclusion
Our results showed that the activation of specific genes in MAPK and calcium signaling pathways was highly related to C. fructicola resistance in ‘Seli’ and providing several potential candidate genes for breeding anthracnose-resistant pear varieties.
Obtaining of combined titanium-steel structures by electron beam freeform fabrication using niobium and copper interlayers
Authors: Terentyev Egor V. , Kozyrev Khariton M. , Borodavkina Ksenia T. , Shishkin Dmitriy V. , Sliva Andrey P. , Goncharov Aleksey L. , Gudenko Aleksandr V. , Zhgut Daria A.
Published: February 2024

The work is devoted to the study of bimetallic structures "titanium-steel" by electron beam freeform fabrication with the use of niobium and copper interlayers. A metallographic study of the deposited interlayers is carried out. The hardness distribution over the samples is shown. Technological issues according to deposition of niobium on titanium and steel on copper are pointed out. Tensile testing results reveal that the obtained structures have an ultimate tensile strength of 150–228 MPa and the fracture is located at the niobium-copper alloy side or at the niobium interlayer. The need to reduce the titanium content in niobium due to the occurrence of intergranular penetration of copper is demonstrated.
The species richness of the Salix viminalis rhizosphere at the Stebnyk tailings storages is dependent on supplementation from the Salicornia europaea rhizosphere
Authors: Fetsiukh Anastasiia , Pall Taavi , Timmusk Salme
Published: February 2024

Manipulating the rhizosphere microbiome to enhance plant stress tolerance is an environmentally friendly technology and a renewable resource to restore degraded environments. Here we considered the Salicornia europaearhizosphere community, and the ability of the phytoremediation plant Salix viminalis to recruit its beneficial microbiome to mediate the pollution stress at the Stebnyk mine tailings storage. The tailings contain large amounts of brine salts and heavy metals that contaminate the ground water and surrounding areas, changing soil biogeochemistry and causing increased erosion.
The species richness of the endophytic bacterial community of S. viminalis roots was assessed based on observed OTUs, Shannon- InvSimpson, and evenness index. Our results show that biodiversity was decreased across the contamination zones and that S. europaea supplementation significantly increased the species richness. Our results also indicate that the number of dominating OTUs was not changed across zones in both S. europaea-treated and untreated bacterial populations, and that the decrease in richness was mainly caused by the low abundance of OTUs.
The importance of engineering microbial communities that support the genetic diversity of degraded environments and the challenges with high throughput metabarcoding databases are discussed.
A Lower Bound Estimate of the Bearing Capacity of Foundations on Inherently Anisotropic Sands: Verification with 100 Case Studies
Authors: Shokoohi Mohammad Ali , Veiskarami Mehdi , Jahanandish Mojtaba
Published: February 2024

Bearing capacity of transversely isotropic soils have been studied by implementing the microstructure tensor in the previous works. This paper is a counterpart of the previous theoretical one which mainly focused on the verification and physical interpretation of the results. While the previous work mainly explained the theoretical framework with some numerical verifications, this paper contains a verification made by applying the results to a number of collected database of footing load tests both in the field and in the lab. The main idea is that the natural sedimentation process makes most soils some degree of anisotropy. This anisotropy is often neglected while geotechnical studies are conducted and when the bearing capacity is calculated. In this study, a comparison with theory and experimental results tries to explore the true degree of anisotropy in natural granular soil deposits, at least for practical purposes. Results indicate that if the anisotropy is ignored, the theoretical estimate of the bearing capacity is nearly 20% to 30% higher than the actual values measured in practice. Of course the nature of the test and the interpretation of the test data are influential on this general conclusion.
Intracerebroventricular PROK2 infusion could increase the secretion of male reproductive hormones by stimulating the HPG axis
Authors: Yılmaz Nesibe , Yıldız Azibe
Published: February 2024

Intracerebroventricular PROK2 infusion could increase the secretion of male reproductive hormones by stimulating the HPG axis Background: Prokineticin 2 (PROK2), an important neuropeptide that plays a key role in the neuronal migration of GnRH in the hypothalamus, is known to have regulatory effects on the gonads. In the present study, the impact of intracerebroventricular (icv) PROK2 infusion on hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis (HPG) hormones, testicular tissues, and sperm concentration was investigated. Methods and results: Rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, sham, PROK2 1.5 and PROK2 4.5. Rats in the PROK2 1.5 and PROK2 4.5 groups were administered 1.5 nmol and 4.5 nmol PROK2 for 7 days (1 µl/hour), respectively. Rat blood serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone hormone levels were determined with the ELISA method in the blood samples after 7 days of infusion. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) mRNA expression was determined with the RT-PCR in hypothalamus tissues. analyze Sperm concentration was determined, and testicular tissue was examined histologically with the hematoxylin-eosin staining method. It was observed that GnRH mRNA expression increased in both PROK2 infusion groups. Serum FSH, LH and testosterone hormone levels also increased in these groups. Although sperm concentration increased in PROK2 infusion groups when compared to the control and sham, the differences were not statistically significant. Testicular tissue seminiferous epithelial thickness was higher in the PROK2 groups when compared to the control and sham groups. Conclusion: The present study findings demonstrated that icv PROK2 infusion induced the HPG axis. It could be suggested that PROK2 could be a potential agent in the treatment of male infertility induced by endocrinological defects.
Enhanced Structural and Electrochemical properties of Vanadium doped NiCo2O4 nanoparticles synthesized by microwave hydrothermal method
Authors: Koneti Bangari Babu , Chidurala Shilpa Chakra , Katlakunta Sadhana , Kumar Rakesh , Butreddy Ravinder Reddy
Published: February 2024

Nickel cobaltite has been developed as an energy storage material for electrochemical supercapacitors as a solution to the present energy crisis in the world. The transition metal-doped nickel cobaltite exhibits good electrochemical properties. The vanadium-doped nickel cobaltite nanoparticles were synthesised by using an efficient microwave hydrothermal calcinated at 950°C for 4 hours. The structural analysis confirms that the prepared samples were found to be cubic spinel, with an average grain size of 108 nm. The electrochemical analysis of the samples examined by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge test, and electrochemical impedance spectrum confirms the sample V0.3Ni0.7Co2O4 exhibits a high specific capacitance (Cs) of 412.5 F g− 1, an energy density (Ed) of 12.12 Wh kg− 1, and a power density (Pd) of 243.05 W kg− 1 at a current density of 1 A g− 1 which can be used as a better performance electrode for supercapacitor applications.
Role Of Early Clinical Exposure in First Year Medical Education When Combined with Conventional Didactic Teaching.
Authors: Behera Swikruti , Sahoo Ayaskant
Published: February 2024

Introduction:
As per the Competency Based medical education, “early clinical exposure” (ECE) is included to increase the understanding and concept building in the first phase of Medical Education. ECE does not replace the basic sciences and conventional teaching but enriches and contextualizes that learning.
Aims:
To assess the importance of early Clinical Exposure in the first MBBS medical training when done along with he didactic lectures.
Methodology:
Didactic lecture on a topic in Electrocardiogram (ECG) was taken followed by Early Clinical Exposure (ECE) for the same topic was conducted in the hospital setting on real patients was conducted. Institutional Ethical Committee approval was taken, and students were included in study after duly signing the consent letter.
Results:
The students returned a filled questionnaire after didactic lecture and the same students after an added session of Early Clinical Exposure. The students here acted as their own control. Paired t test and Wilcoxin test were done, which found the results to be highly significant (p<0.001).
Conclusion:
ECE was perceived as very satisfactory by the students, and it helped in improvement of building concept, clarity in the usefulness of classroom and theoretical teaching. In the long run this will also spike their interest in the subject. Early clinical exposure might prove to be instrumental in bridging the gap between the theory and practice from the beginning of the medical education, if executed properly.
Beyond SECI: Advancing Knowledge Transformation through Digital Innovation in MBA Education
Authors: Żatuchin Dmitrij
Published: February 2024

The modern educational landscape is transforming, driven by the rapid advancements in technology and the evolving needs of learners. As educators strive to create more impactful and relevant learning experiences, there is a growing emphasis on understanding the dynamics of knowledge transformation. Central to this discourse is the SECI model, proposed by Ikujiro Nonaka and Hirotaka Takeuchi, which delineates the process of knowledge creation and transfer through four modes: Socialization, Externalization, Combination, and Internalization. Complementing this model is the concept of 'ba' - a shared space for knowledge creation. This research aims to explore the potential of integrating the SECI model and the concept of multi-layer 'ba'-s in course design to enhance the learning experience and better prepare students for professional challenges. As the result of research, the Cadence of Course Design Model including the SECI model is proposed, the survey is performed, and the findings based on statistical analysis are presented.
The interplay between root exudates and Cross-kingdom synthetic microbiota enhances the resistance of Vicia faba to Fusarium wilt disease
Authors: Zhang Chaowen , Li Mengyuan , Wang Hongji , Pan Ke , Wang Ruiqi , He Xinyan , Hu Cong , Fan Xuanbo , Gong Yatong , Liu Zimei , Li Xianyao , Zhao Jianjun , Han Yuzhu
Published: February 2024

Soil-borne Fusarium wilt imposes substantial economic losses on agriculture, with Vicia faba exhibiting pronounced susceptibility to Fusarium disease. However, the mechanisms underlying V. faba's resistance to Fusarium and the intricate interplay between crucial rhizosphere microbes and root exudates during pathogen attack remain inadequately understood. This study investigates the interaction between faba bean plants and the soil microbiome to elucidate the mechanisms underlying plant Fusarium wilt. Through comprehensive analysis of 16S ribosomal RNA gene and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing data obtained from the faba bean rhizosphere soil, this research successfully identified key microbial groups that are enriched in the disease-suppressing rhizosphere, namely Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Trichoderma. The strains displayed significant inhibitory effects on Fusarium oxysporum, notably. A synthetic community was constructed using these strains, which exhibited a remarkable capacity to suppress Fusarium wilt in faba bean seedlings, achieving an impressive inhibition rate of up to 71.76%. Non-targeted metabolomics analysis was employed to uncover the metabolic pathways through which this Synthetic community aids plants in resisting pathogens. Additionally, metagenomic analysis revealed an increased abundance of Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARGs) in the rhizosphere soil of diseased plants, while the soil associated with healthy plants exhibited enhanced activity in nitrogen fixation, nucleotide metabolism, and carbohydrate metabolism pathways. Soil metabolites and root exudates were analyzed, and a Random Forest model was employed to investigate the impact of exogenous metabolites on Fusarium wilt occurrence. Significantly, compounds such as 10 µM Betaine, Proline, and Racemosin demonstrated remarkable efficacy in reducing the incidence of Fusarium wilt. Furthermore, transcriptomic and non-targeted metabolomics analyses were conducted in this study, revealing substantial enrichment in pathways including jasmonic acid metabolism, alanine metabolism, aspartate metabolism, glutamate metabolism, and unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis in diseased V. faba. This study not only advances our understanding of plant Fusarium wilt and their impact mechanisms but also provides valuable insights for enhancing soil health and crop disease resistance.
The Theoretical Foundations of Voluntary Tax Compliance: Ordinary Logit Regression Model Application
Authors: Mebratu Agumas Alamirew
Published: February 2024

Tax non-compliance is a persistent problem that is becoming increasingly common worldwide. The main objective of the study is to examine the factors that influence voluntary tax compliance among large taxpayers in Ethiopia, based on the theoretical foundation of tax compliance. This study used an ordinary logit regression model, a closed-ended questionnaire with 1,550 large taxpayers, and quantitative data research analysis methods. Regression analysis shows that tax compliance behavior is positively and significantly influenced by government trust, taxpayers' tax knowledge, tax system fairness, and rewards. However, the level of tax compliance is negatively and significantly affected by compliance costs. To improve the level of voluntary tax compliance, the government and tax authorities need to be more open and responsible. They must also increase tax awareness among taxpayers through websites, seminars and media. Ultimately, they must reduce compliance costs and deliver both tangible and intangible benefits to honest taxpayers.
Mapping of a stripe rust resistance gene YrYN1813 in wheat
Authors: Tang Jianwei , Gao Yan , Li Yujia , Hao Xiaopeng , Gao Mingshuang , Xu Hao , Liang Zhiheng , Li Qiaoyun , Dong Chunhao , Yuan Yuhao , Cheng Yukun , Ren Yi , Geng Hongwei , Yin Guihong
Published: February 2024

Wheat stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis Westend. f. sp. tritici (Pst), is a global threat to wheat production. Pst race CYR34 is now widely virulent and prevalent in China following its identification in 2009. Here, we report the mapping and candidate gene analysis of a stripe rust resistance gene in a Chinese winter wheat breeding line YN1813. Ten F1, 719 F2 plants, and 306 F7:8 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from cross YN1813/Chinese Spring were inoculated with Pst race CYR34 at the seedling stage in a greenhouse. Monogenic segregation for seedling stripe rust response was observed among the RILs and F2 population, and the resistance locus was designated YrYN1813. RILs were genotyped by the wheat 55K SNP array. By linkage analysis, YrYN1813 was mapped to a 0.34 cM, 2.4 Mb physical interval (717.9–720.3 Mb) spanned by AX-111630305 and AX-109458466. Following, YrYN1813 was narrowed to an approximately 254 kb (717.890–718.144 Mb) physical interval between the marker AX-111630305 and AX-108820558 by haplotype analysis, including three putative disease resistance genes based on IWGSC RefSeq v1.0. Through gene expression level analysis and sequence alignments of resistant and susceptible parents, we predicted TraesCS7B01G460500 to be a candidate gene for map-based cloning of YrYN1813. Stripe rust response data and molecular marker analysis revealed that YrYN1813 was differed from the other Yr genes on chromosome arm 7BL. YrYN1813-linked marker AQP_ AX-108877192 was polymorphic among 81.7% of 720 wheat lines and can be used for marker-assisted selection for improved stripe rust resistance in wheat.
Preparing N-defect modified g-C3N4 for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue by constructing a urea-ammonium acetate system
Authors: Yan Jia , Hu Cheng , Zhang Lianhong
Published: February 2024

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) faces limitations in its photocatalytic applications due to its inherently wide bandgap (2.7 eV), low utilization of visible light, and a high rate of recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Defect engineering can effectively enhance the ability of g-C3N4 photocatalysts to address environmental pollution. In this paper, g-C3N4 materials with N defects (AA-CN15) were successfully prepared by using urea as a hydrogen bond donor and ammonium acetate as a hydrogen bond acceptor. The catalyst exhibits a wider range of visible light absorption, a lower rate of photogenerated electron-hole recombination, and a larger specific surface area, thanks to the formation of N defects in the N1 (C = N-C) vacancy. The formation of N defects reduces the band gap width of AA-CN15 from 2.85 eV to 1.90 eV compared to U-CN. The degradation rate of AA-CN15 in a 30 mg/L MB solution under visible light irradiation can reach 91.4% within 100 minutes, which is 7.2 times higher than that of U-CN. This study addresses the limitations and drawbacks of traditional defect introduction methods, offering a novel approach for the synthesis of N-defect g-C3N4 materials.
Synthesis, characterization and photovoltaic properties of polyplatinaynes with side chain functionalization by different electron-accepting group
Authors: Wang Qiwei , Jiang Lu , Li Junlong , Sun Zelin , Wong Wai-Yeung
Published: February 2024

Four new solution-processable platinum-containing polyynes functionalized with triphenylamine backbone and different acceptor fragment in the side chain were synthesized and characterized by spectrosocopic, thermal and optical methods. The main- and side-chains show different absorption features in the solar spectrum, resulting in broad absorption coverage of the whole visible region. By changing the acceptor group in the side chain, the photophysical properties including energy levels, absorption wavelength and bandgap of the polymers were finely tuned. As the strength of electron acceptor is increased, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of organic polymer solar cells fabricated with these polymers as electron donor and (6,6)-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) as electron acceptor was increased. PCE of 1.35% can be obtained from solar cell based on the polyplatinayne with the dicyanovinyl side group under illumination of an AM 1.5 solar cell simulator in a 1:4 (polymer:PCBM) blend ratio.