bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neutrophil Extracellular Traps and Cancer: Trapping Our Attention with Their Involvement in Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Castaño María , Tomás-Pérez Sarai , González-Cantó Eva , Aghababyan Cristina , Mascarós-Martínez Andrea , Santonja Nuria , Herreros-Pomares Alejandro , Oto Julia , Medina Pilar , Götte Martin , Mc Cormack Bárbara Andrea , Marí-Alexandre Josep , Gilabert-Estellés Juan
Published: March 2023

Neutrophils, the most abundant circulating leukocytes, play a well-known role in defense against pathogens through phagocytosis and degranulation. However, a new mechanism involving the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) composed of DNA, histones, calprotectin, myeloperoxidase, and elastase, among others, has been described. The so-called NETosis process can occur through three different mechanisms: suicidal, vital, and mitochondrial NETosis. Apart from their role in immune defense, neutrophils and NETs have been involved in physiopathological conditions, highlighting immunothrombosis and cancer. Notably, neutrophils can either promote or inhibit tumor growth in the tumor microenvironment depending on cytokine signaling and epigenetic modifications. Several neutrophils’ pro-tumor strategies involving NETs have been documented, including pre-metastatic niche formation, increased survival, inhibition of the immune response, and resistance to oncologic therapies. In this review, we focus on ovarian cancer (OC), which remains the second most incidental but the most lethal gynecologic malignancy, partly due to the presence of metastasis, often omental, at diagnosis and the resistance to treatment. We deepen the state-of-the-art on the participation of NETs in OC metastasis establishment and progression and their involvement in resistance to chemo-, immuno-, and radiotherapies. Finally, we review the current literature on NETs in OC as diagnostic and/or prognostic markers, and their contribution to disease progression at early and advanced stages. The panoramic view provided in this article might pave the way for enhanced diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to improve the prognosis of cancer patients and, specifically, OC patients.
Lymphocyte-to-C-Reactive Protein (LCR) Ratio Is Not Accurate to Predict Severity and Mortality in Patients with COVID-19 Admitted to the ED
Authors: Abensur Vuillaume Laure , Lefebvre François , Benhamed Axel , Schnee Amandine , Hoffmann Mathieu , Godoy Falcao Fernanda , Haber Nathan , Sabah Jonathan , Lavoignet Charles-Eric , Le Borgne Pierrick
Published: March 2023

Health care systems worldwide have been battling the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lymphocytes and CRP have been reported as markers of interest. We chose to investigate the prognostic value of the LCR ratio as a marker of severity and mortality in COVID-19 infection. Between 1 March and 30 April 2020, we conducted a multicenter, retrospective cohort study of patients with moderate and severe coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), all of whom were hospitalized after being admitted to the Emergency Department (ED). We conducted our study in six major hospitals of northeast France, one of the outbreak’s epicenters in Europe. A total of 1035 patients with COVID-19 were included in our study. Around three-quarters of them (76.2%) presented a moderate form of the disease, while the remaining quarter (23.8%) presented a severe form requiring admission to the ICU. At ED admission, the median LCR was significantly lower in the group presenting severe disease compared to that with moderate disease (versus 6.24 (3.24–12) versus 12.63 ((6.05–31.67)), p < 0.001). However, LCR was neither associated with disease severity (OR: 0.99, CI 95% (0.99–1)), p = 0.476) nor mortality (OR: 0.99, CI 95% (0.99–1)). In the ED, LCR, although modest, with a threshold of 12.63, was a predictive marker for severe forms of COVID-19.
Mitochondrial Methionyl-tRNA Formyltransferase Deficiency Alleviates Metaflammation by Modulating Mitochondrial Activity in Mice
Authors: Sun Xiaoxiao , Liu Suyuan , Cai Jiangxue , Yang Miaoxin , Li Chenxuan , Tan Meiling , He Bin
Published: March 2023

Various studies have revealed the association of metabolic diseases with inflammation. Mitochondria are key organelles involved in metabolic regulation and important drivers of inflammation. However, it is uncertain whether the inhibition of mitochondrial protein translation results in the development of metabolic diseases, such that the metabolic benefits related to the inhibition of mitochondrial activity remain unclear. Mitochondrial methionyl-tRNA formyltransferase (Mtfmt) functions in the early stages of mitochondrial translation. In this study, we reveal that feeding with a high-fat diet led to the upregulation of Mtfmt in the livers of mice and that a negative correlation existed between hepatic Mtfmt gene expression and fasting blood glucose levels. A knockout mouse model of Mtfmt was generated to explore its possible role in metabolic diseases and its underlying molecular mechanisms. Homozygous knockout mice experienced embryonic lethality, but heterozygous knockout mice showed a global reduction in Mtfmt expression and activity. Moreover, heterozygous mice showed increased glucose tolerance and reduced inflammation, which effects were induced by the high-fat diet. The cellular assays showed that Mtfmt deficiency reduced mitochondrial activity and the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and blunted nuclear factor-κB activation, which, in turn, downregulated inflammation in macrophages. The results of this study indicate that targeting Mtfmt-mediated mitochondrial protein translation to regulate inflammation might provide a potential therapeutic strategy for metabolic diseases.
Influence of Scaffold Microarchitecture on Angiogenesis and Regulation of Cell Differentiation during the Early Phase of Bone Healing: A Transcriptomics and Histological Analysis
Authors: Guerrero Julien , Maevskaia Ekaterina , Ghayor Chafik , Bhattacharya Indranil , Weber Franz E.
Published: March 2023

The early phase of bone healing is a complex and poorly understood process. With additive manufacturing, we can generate a specific and customizable library of bone substitutes to explore this phase. In this study, we produced tricalcium phosphate-based scaffolds with microarchitectures composed of filaments of 0.50 mm in diameter, named Fil050G, and 1.25 mm named Fil125G, respectively. The implants were removed after only 10 days in vivo followed by RNA sequencing (RNAseq) and histological analysis. RNAseq results revealed upregulation of adaptive immune response, regulation of cell adhesion, and cell migration-related genes in both of our two constructs. However, significant overexpression of genes linked to angiogenesis, regulation of cell differentiation, ossification, and bone development was observed solely in Fil050G scaffolds. Moreover, quantitative immunohistochemistry of structures positive for laminin revealed a significantly higher number of blood vessels in Fil050G samples. Furthermore, µCT detected a higher amount of mineralized tissue in Fil050G samples suggesting a superior osteoconductive potential. Hence, different filament diameters and distances in bone substitutes significantly influence angiogenesis and regulation of cell differentiation involved in the early phase of bone regeneration, which precedes osteoconductivity and bony bridging seen in later phases and as consequence, impacts the overall clinical outcome.
Composition of Particulate Matter and Bacterial Community in Gut Contents and Surrounding Sediments of Three Sipunculan Species (Siphonosoma australe, Phascolosoma arcuatum, and Sipunculus nudus)
Authors: Liu Chunsheng , Liu Chuang , Gao Fei , Wang Aimin , Wang Haiqing , Yang Yumei , He Linwen
Published: March 2023

Siphonosoma australe, Phascolosoma arcuatum, and Sipunculus nudus are three important sipunculan species in tropical intertidal zones. In this study, the particle size, organic matter content, and bacterial community composition in the gut contents of three different sipunculans and their surrounding sediments were analyzed. The grain size fractions of sipunculans’ guts were significantly different from those of their surrounding sediments; particle size fractions < 500 μm were favored by the sipunculans. As for the total organic matter (TOM), higher contents of organic matter were observed in the guts than in the surrounding sediments in all three sipunculan species. The bacterial community composition of all the samples was investigated by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, in which a total of 8974 OTUs were obtained from 24 samples based on a 97% threshold. The predominant phylum identified from the gut contents of three sipunculans was Planctomycetota, while the predominant phylum in their surrounding sediments was Proteobacteria. At the genus level, the most abundant genus was Sulfurovum (average 4.36%) in the surrounding sediments, while the most abundant genus was Gplla (average 12.76%) in the gut contents. The UPGMA tree showed that the samples from the guts of three different sipunculans and their surrounding sediments were clustered separately into two groups, which showed that these three sipunculans had a different bacterial community composition with their surrounding sediments. The grain size and total organic matter (TOM) had the greatest impacts on the bacterial community composition at both the phylum and genus levels. In conclusion, the differences in particle size fractions, organic matter content, and bacterial community composition between the gut contents and surrounding sediments in these three sipunculan species might be caused by their selective ingestion.
Fundamental Research Challenges for Distributed Computing Continuum Systems
Authors: Casamayor Pujol Victor , Morichetta Andrea , Murturi Ilir , Kumar Donta Praveen , Dustdar Schahram
Published: March 2023

This article discusses four fundamental topics for future Distributed Computing Continuum Systems: their representation, model, lifelong learning, and business model. Further, it presents techniques and concepts that can be useful to define these four topics specifically for Distributed Computing Continuum Systems. Finally, this article presents a broad view of the synergies among the presented technique that can enable the development of future Distributed Computing Continuum Systems.
A New 1D Ni (II) Coordination Polymer of s-Triazine Type Ligand and Thiocyanate as Linker via Unexpected Hydrolysis of 2,4-Bis(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-6-methoxy-1,3,5-triazine
Authors: Dahlous Kholood A. , Soliman Saied M. , Haukka Matti , El-Faham Ayman , Massoud Raghdaa A.
Published: March 2023

A new 1D Ni(II) coordination polymer was synthesized by the reaction of NiSO4·6H2O with 2,4-bis(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-6-methoxy-1,3,5-triazine (BPT) and SCN− as a linker in an acidic medium by heating under reflux conditions. Unusually, the BPT ligand underwent acid-mediated hydrolysis by losing one of the pyrazolyl arms afforded the polymeric [Ni(MPT)(H2O)(SCN)2]n complex (MPT: 4-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-6-methoxy-1,3,5-triazin-2-ol. The Ni(II) center is coordinated with one MPT as a bidentate NN-chelate, one water molecule, and two thiocyanate groups in cis positions to one another. One of the thiocyanate groups acts as a bridging ligand between metal centers, leading to a one-dimensional polymeric structure that extends along the c-direction. The other thiocyanate group is terminally N-coordinated. The [Ni(MPT)(H2O)(SCN)2]n complex has been screened in vitro against two pathogenic fungal strains: A. fumigatus, C. albican, and four pathogenic bacterial strains: S. aureus, B. subtilis as gram-positive bacteria, E. coli, P. vulgaris as gram-negative bacteria. The results showed that the complex has the potential to be used as both an antibacterial and an antifungal agent. Also, the [Ni(MPT)(H2O)(SCN)2]n complex showed cytotoxic activities against hepatocellular (HepG-2) and lung (A-549) cell lines, with IC50 values of 132.67 ± 5.14 and 146.97 ± 7.34 μM, respectively.
Targeted Therapy for Orofacial Pain: A Novel Perspective for Precision Medicine
Authors: Raman Swarnalakshmi , Ikutame Daisuke , Okura Kazuo , Matsuka Yoshizo
Published: March 2023

Orofacial pain (OFP) is a dental specialty that includes the diagnosis, management and treatment of disorders of the jaw, mouth, face, head and neck. Evidence-based understanding is critical in effectively treating OFPs as the pathophysiology of these conditions is multifactorial. Since OFP impacts the quality of life of the affected individuals, treating patients successfully is of the utmost significance. Despite the therapeutic choices available, treating OFP is still quite challenging, owing to inter-patient variations. The emerging trends in precision medicine could probably lead us to a paradigm shift in effectively managing the untreatable long-standing pain conditions. Precision medicine is designed based on the patient’s genetic profile to meet their needs. Several significant relationships have been discovered based on the genetics and genomics of pain in the past, and some of the notable targets are discussed in this review. The scope of this review is to discuss preclinical and clinical trials that include approaches used in targeted therapy for orofacial pain. Future developments in pain medicine should benefit from current trends in research into novel therapeutic approaches.
The Effect of CDS Trading on Product Market Competition: Evidence from 10-K Filings
Authors: Hu Changjie , Liu Ming , Jiang Weiyu
Published: March 2023

This paper examines how the initiation of credit default swap (CDS) trading affects the product market competition faced by the referenced firms in the US. The trading of CDS provides an avenue for creditors to hedge default risks, thereby weakening the incentives to monitor the borrowers. Our paper shows that the trading of CDS increases firm-level product market competition because a reduced creditor monitoring effect can lead to growing shareholder demand for information disclosure, revealing strategic information that may undermine the product market competency of the firm when disclosed. While prior literature shows that CDS-traded firms increase both the likelihood and frequency of earnings forecasts as a direct response to shareholder demand, we observe that firms made their mandatory disclosure (i.e., Form 10-K) less readable as a potential way to reduce strategic disclosure. We also find that the presence of institutional investors generally reduces a firm’s competition, but this positive effect is overturned in the presence of CDS trading.
Manganese(II) Bromide Coordination toward the Target Product and By-Product of the Condensation Reaction between 2-Picolylamine and Acenaphthenequinone
Authors: Khrizanforova Vera V. , Fayzullin Robert R. , Budnikova Yulia H.
Published: March 2023

A heteroleptic binuclear manganese complex was obtained and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Manganese ions coordinate with the target product and by-product of the condensation reaction between 2-picolylamine and acenaphthenequinone are characterized by different geometries in the resulting complex.
Review of the Developments and Difficulties in Inorganic Solid-State Electrolytes
Authors: Liu Junlong , Wang Tao , Yu Jinjian , Li Shuyang , Ma Hong , Liu Xiaolong
Published: March 2023

All-solid-state lithium-ion batteries (ASSLIBs), with their exceptional attributes, have captured the attention of researchers. They offer a viable solution to the inherent flaws of traditional lithium-ion batteries. The crux of an ASSLB lies in its solid-state electrolyte (SSE) which shows higher stability and safety compared to liquid electrolyte. Additionally, it holds the promise of being compatible with Li metal anode, thereby realizing higher capacity. Inorganic SSEs have undergone tremendous developments in the last few decades; however, their practical applications still face difficulties such as the electrode–electrolyte interface, air stability, and so on. The structural composition of inorganic electrolytes is inherently linked to the advantages and difficulties they present. This article provides a comprehensive explanation of the development, structure, and Li-ion transport mechanism of representative inorganic SSEs. Moreover, corresponding difficulties such as interface issues and air stability as well as possible solutions are also discussed.
Impact Deposition Behavior of Al/B4C Cold-Sprayed Composite Coatings: Understanding the Role of Porosity on Particle Retention
Authors: Manafi Farid Hannaneh , McDonald André , Hogan James David
Published: March 2023

This study explores the role of porosity in the impact deposition of a ceramic-reinforced metal-matrix (i.e., Al/B4C) composite coating fabricated via cold spraying. The Johnson–Holmquist–Beissel constitutive law and the modified Gurson–Tvergaard–Needleman model were used to describe the high strain-rate behavior of the boron carbide and the aluminum metal matrix during impact deposition, respectively. Within a finite element model framework, the Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian technique is implemented to explore the roles of reinforcement particle size and velocity, and pore size and depth in particle retention by examining the post-impact crater morphology, penetration depth, and localized plastic deformation of the aluminum substrate. Results reveal that some degree of matrix porosity may improve particle retention. In particular, porosity near the surface facilitates particle retention at lower impact velocities, while kinetic energy dominates particle retention at higher deposition velocities. Altogether, these results provide insights into the effect of deposition variables (i.e., particle size, impact velocity, pore size, and pore depth) on particle retention that improves coating quality.
Investigations of Abrasive Wear Behaviour of Hybrid High-Boron Multi-Component Alloys: Effect of Boron and Carbon Contents by the Factorial Design Method
Authors: Chabak Yuliia , Petryshynets Ivan , Efremenko Vasily , Golinskyi Michail , Shimizu Kazumichi , Zurnadzhy Vadym , Sili Ivan , Halfa Hossam , Efremenko Bohdan , Puchy Viktor
Published: March 2023

This paper is devoted to the evaluation of the “three-body-abrasion” wear behaviour of (wt.%) 5W–5Mo–5V–10Cr-2.5Ti-Fe (balance) multi-component (C + B)-added alloys in the as-cast condition. The carbon (0.3 wt.%, 0.7 wt.%, 1.1 wt.%) and boron (1.5 wt.%, 2.5 wt.%, 3.5 wt.%) contents were selected using a full factorial (32) design method. The alloys had a near-eutectic (at 1.5 wt.% B) or hyper-eutectic (at 2.5–3.5 wt.% B) structure. The structural micro-constituents were (in different combinations): (a) (W, Mo, and V)-rich borocarbide M2(B,C)5 as the coarse primary prismatoids or as the fibres of a “Chinese-script” eutectic, (b) Ti-rich carboboride M(C,B) with a dispersed equiaxed shape, (c) Cr-rich carboboride M7(C,B)3 as the plates of a “rosette”-like eutectic, and (d) Fe-rich boroncementite (M3(C,B)) as the plates of “coarse-net” and ledeburite eutectics. The metallic matrix was ferrite (at 0.3–1.1 wt.% C and 1.5 wt.% B) and “ferrite + pearlite” or martensite (at 0.7–1.1 wt.% C and 2.5–3.5 wt.% B). The bulk hardness varied from 29 HRC (0.3 wt.% C–1.5 wt.% B) to 53.5 HRC (1.1 wt.% C–3.5 wt.% B). The wear test results were mathematically processed and the regression equation of the wear rate as a function of the carbon and boron contents was derived and analysed. At any carbon content, the lowest wear rate was attributed to the alloy with 1.5 wt.% B. Adding 2.5 wt.% B led to an increase in the wear rate because of the appearance of coarse primary borocarbides (M2(B,C)5), which were prone to chipping and spalling-off under abrasion. At a higher boron content (3.5 wt.%), the wear rate decreased due to the increase in the volume fraction of the eutectic carboborides. The optimal chemical composition was found to be 1.1 wt.% C–1.5 wt.% B with a near-eutectic structure with about 35 vol.% of hard inclusions (M2(B,C)5, M(C,B), M3(C,B), and M7(C,B)3) in total. The effect of carbon and boron on the abrasive behaviour of the multi-component cast alloys with respect to the alloys’ structure is discussed, and the mechanism of wear for these alloys is proposed.
The Influence of Concrete Sludge from Residual Concrete on Fresh and Hardened Cement Paste Properties
Authors: Pocius Edvinas , Nagrockienė Džigita , Pundienė Ina
Published: March 2023

In the concrete manufacturing industry, a large amount of waste is generated. Such waste can be utilised in the production of more sustainable products with a low carbon footprint. In this study, concrete sludge, a difficult-to-utilise waste that is obtained from residual concrete by washing a concrete truck, was investigated. During washing, aggregates from the concrete mixture are separated, and the remaining insoluble fine particles combine with water to form concrete sludge. Dried and wet concrete sludge were used in the tests. Samples with different compositions were produced with dried and wet concrete sludge, cement, superplasticiser, and tap water. Seven cement pastes with different compositions were made by partially replacing cement with dried concrete sludge (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30%). In compositions with wet concrete sludge, cement was replaced by the same amounts as in the case of dried concrete sludge. The slump, setting time, and their changes with different amounts of concrete sludge were determined for fresh cement pastes. It was found that with different forms of concrete sludge, the technological properties of the mixtures change, and the setting time decreases. The density and compressive and flexural strength results were confirmed by SEM and XRD tests. The research results show that dry concrete sludge causes the deterioration of the mechanical properties of cement stone, while wet concrete sludge improves the mechanical properties of cement stone. However, it was found that replacing 5% cement with dry concrete sludge does not significantly affect the properties of hardened cement stone. In mixes with wet concrete sludge, the recommended amount of replaced cement is 10%, because the technological properties of the mixture are strongly influenced by larger amounts.
Kinematic Calibration of a Space Manipulator Based on Visual Measurement System with Extended Kalman Filter
Authors: Wang Zhengpu , Cao Baoshi , Xie Zongwu , Ma Boyu , Sun Kui , Liu Yang
Published: March 2023

The calibration of kinematic parameters has been widely used to improve the pose (position and orientation) accuracy of the robot arm. Intelligent measuring equipment with high accuracy is usually provided for the industrial manipulator. Unfortunately, large noise exists in the vision measurement system, which is provided for space manipulators. To overcome the adverse effect of measuring noise and improve the optimality of calibrating time, a calibration method based on extended Kalman filter (EKF) for space manipulators is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the identification model based on the Denavit–Hartenberg (D-H) modeling method is established. Then, the camera which is rigidly attached to the end-effector takes pictures of a calibration board that is settled around the manipulator. The actual pose of the end-effector is calculated based on the pictures of the calibration board. Subsequently, different data between the actual pose and theoretical pose as input, whilst error parameters are estimated by EKF and compensated in the kinematic algorithm. The simulation result shows that the pose accuracy has been improved by approximately 90 percent. Compared with the calibration method of the least squares estimate (LSE), EKF is beneficial to further optimize the calibrating time with a faster computation speed and ensure the stability of the calibration.
2D and 3D Wires Formability for Car Seats: A Novel Full-Automatic Equipment Concept towards High Productivity and Flexibility
Authors: Gaspar Manuel , Silva Francisco J. G. , Pinto Arnaldo G. , Campilho Raul D. S. G.
Published: March 2023

The automotive industry demands high quality at very low prices. To this end, it is necessary to constantly innovate, making processes increasingly competitive, while continuing to ensure high levels of quality. Model diversification has forced the automotive industry to make its manufacturing processes more flexible, without losing competitiveness. This has been the case for car seats, where the quantities to be produced per batch are significantly lowering due to the diversity of existing models. The objective of this work was to increase the production rate of bent wires used in car seat cushions and increase the flexibility of changing wire types in production. After benchmarking the existing solutions so far, it was verified that none are capable of complying with the required production rate, while also offering the desired flexibility. Thus, it is necessary to start with a new concept of conformation of the wires used in these seat cushions. The new concept developed and integrated some of the previously known solutions, developing other systems capable of providing the desired response in terms of productivity and flexibility. To this end, new mechanical solutions and automated systems were developed, which, together with other existing ones, made it possible to design equipment that complies with all the necessary requirements. The developed concept is innovative and can be employed to other types of products in which it can be applied. The new concept developed yields a production rate of 950 parts/hour (initial goal: 800 parts/hour), features a setup time of around 30 min, ensuring the desired flexibility, and the tool costs about 90% less than traditional tools. The payback period is around 5 months, given that the equipment cost was EUR 122.000 in terms of construction and assembly, and generated a gain of EUR 280.000 in the first year of service.
Verification of a Newly Developed Mobile Robot’s Actuator Parameters
Authors: Semjon Ján , Jánoš Rudolf , Sukop Marek , Tuleja Peter , Marcinko Peter , Nowakowski Marek
Published: March 2023

This paper addresses the issue of the verification and comparison of the selected properties of a newly developed electric actuator. This actuator is intended to act as the drive of a walking robot designed for robotic football. Its envisioned placement is inside the robot’s knee joint and in its upper part. An integral part of the actuator is a harmonic precision gearbox and an absolute rotation sensor. The prototype of the newly developed actuator consists of both aluminum and 3D-printed parts. The selected parameters were verified according to the selected characteristics of ISO standard 9283, namely a one-directional pose accuracy and repeatable pose accuracy. The obtained data were compared with those of the standard actuator used thus far in constructing robots for robotic football. The implemented verification is based on the need to improve the performance parameters of the actuator while ensuring the sufficient accuracy of stopping the actuator in the required position. This is ensured by the use of a more accurate harmonic reducer and rotation sensor compared to the standard actuator.
Research on Identification and Detection of Aluminum Plate Thickness Step Change Based on Electromagnetic Acoustic Resonance
Authors: Cai Zhichao , Sun Yihu , Lu Zhengshi , Zhao Qixiang
Published: March 2023

The conventional ultrasonic thickness measurement method is ineffective in detecting the measured specimen with a step change in thickness as it is easy to cause multimode acoustic mixing in the ultrasonic detection process. To solve this problem, this paper presented an electromagnetic acoustic resonance (EMAR) moving scan identification method based on a frequency–frequency energy density precipitation (FFEDP) algorithm, which uses a standing wave resonance mode to accurately extract step thickness information and employs the algorithm to separate step thickness information. According to the simulation results, the ratio of the highest energy density of the spectrum signal on both sides of the step area to the total energy density had an opposite linear change rule with the equidistant movement of the transducer coil. The thickness step area can be identified by analyzing the crossover point of the contrast value change. The experimental results showed that the proposed method can accurately extract the thickness information under millimeter-level stepping distance for sector-notched specimens with step surfaces of different thicknesses, and at the same time realize the effective identification of the step surface.
Investigation of the Prospects for the Use of Iron-Containing Nanocomposites Doped with Rare Earth Elements as Catalysts for the Purification of Aqueous Media
Authors: Kadyrzhanov Kayrat K. , Kozlovskiy Artem L. , Egizbek Kamila B. , Kubekova Sholpan N. , Kenzhina Inesh E. , Zdorovets Maxim V.
Published: March 2023

The great interest in nanostructured magnetic composites is due to their great prospects for use as a basis for the development of catalysts for the adsorption of manganese in wastewater. Interest in magnetic nanocomposites in this direction is primarily due to the possibility of extracting them from water media using ordinary magnets, which allows them to be used again. Additionally, it is worthwhile to note interest in research related to increasing the efficiency of adsorption, as well as an increase in the number of repeated cycles of operation. In this regard, the main goal of this study is to study the prospects for applying the method of mechanochemical synthesis for the creation of iron-containing nanocomposites doped by rare-earth elements Gd, Ce, Y, and Nd in order to obtain optimal catalysts for cleaning water media. During the studies, structural properties and phase composition of synthesized nanocomposites were established, as well as ultra-thin parameters of the magnetic field. It has been established that the kinetic curves of the adsorption process can be described by a pseudo-first-order model, and the process of manganese adsorption itself is associated with the cationic interaction of manganese ions with the surface of nanocomposites. The kinetic curves of degradation were determined, as well as the influence of the number of cyclic tests on the adsorption of manganese for synthesized nanocomposites, depending on the type of dopant and phase composition, respectively. Iron-containing nanocomposites doped with gadolinium and neodymium have been found to have the highest adsorption efficiency and corrosion resistance. Particular attention is paid to the study of the stability of storage of nanocomposites for a long time, as well as the preservation of their adsorbent properties in the purification of aqueous media. It has been determined that the modification of nanostructures with the help of rare earth compounds leads to an increase in resistance to degradation, as well as to the preservation of the efficiency of adsorption for 5–7 cycles in comparison with Fe2O3 nanoparticles, for which low resistance to degradation was observed.
Path-Based Visibility Graph Kernel and Application for the Borsa Istanbul Stock Network
Authors: Akgüller Ömer , Balcı Mehmet Ali , Batrancea Larissa M. , Gaban Lucian
Published: March 2023

Using networks to analyze time series has become increasingly popular in recent years. Univariate and multivariate time series can be mapped to networks in order to examine both local and global behaviors. Visibility graph-based time series analysis is proposed herein; in this approach, individual time series are mapped to visibility graphs that characterize relevant states. Companies listed on the emerging market index Borsa Istanbul 100 (BIST 100) had their market visibility graphs collected. To further account for the local extreme values of the underlying time series, we constructed a novel kernel function of the visibility graphs. Via the provided novel measure, sector-level and sector-to-sector analyses are conducted using the kernel function associated with this metric. To examine sectoral trends, the COVID-19 crisis period was included in the study’s data set. The findings indicate that an effective strategy for analyzing financial time series has been devised.
On Hybrid Numbers with Gaussian Leonardo Coefficients
Authors: Kara Nagihan , Yilmaz Fatih
Published: March 2023

We consider the Gaussian Leonardo numbers and investigate some of their amazing characteristic properties, including their generating function, the associated Binet formula and Cassini identity, and their matrix representation. Then, we define the hybrid Gaussian Leonardo numbers and obtain some of their particular properties. Furthermore, we define nn Hessenberg matrices whose permanents yield the Leonardo and Gaussian Leonardo sequences.
UNILIPID, a Methodology for Energetically Accurate Prediction of Protein Insertion into Implicit Membranes of Arbitrary Shape
Authors: Lanrezac André , Baaden Marc
Published: March 2023

The insertion of proteins into membranes is crucial for understanding their function in many biological processes. In this work, we present UNILIPID, a universal implicit lipid-protein description as a methodology for dealing with implicit membranes. UNILIPID is independent of the scale of representation and can be applied at the level of all atoms, coarse-grained particles down to the level of a single bead per amino acid. We provide example implementations for these scales and demonstrate the versatility of our approach by accurately reflecting the free energy of transfer for each amino acid. In addition to single membranes, we describe the analytical implementation of double membranes and show that UNILIPID is well suited for modeling at multiple scales. We generalize to membranes of arbitrary shape. With UNILIPID, we provide a methodological framework for a simple and general parameterization tuned to reproduce a selected reference hydrophobicity scale. The software we provide along with the methodological description is optimized for specific user features such as real-time response, live visual analysis, and virtual reality experiences.
Structural and Functional Characterization of the Newly Designed Antimicrobial Peptide Crabrolin21
Authors: Cantini Francesca , Giannì Paola , Bobone Sara , Troiano Cassandra , van Ingen Hugo , Massoud Renato , Perini Nicoletta , Migliore Luciana , Savarin Philippe , Sanders Charles , Stella Lorenzo , Sette Marco
Published: March 2023

(1) Background: antimicrobial resistance is becoming a dramatic problem for public health, and the design of new antimicrobial agents is an active research area. (2) Methods: based on our previous work, we designed an improved version of the crabrolin peptide and characterized its functional and structural properties with a wide range of techniques. (3) Results: the newly designed peptide, crabrolin21, is much more active than the previous ones and shows specific selectivity towards bacterial cells. (4) Conclusions: crabrolin21 shows interesting properties and deserves further studies.
Interpolation and Extrapolation Performance Measurement of Analytical and ANN-Based Flow Laws for Hot Deformation Behavior of Medium Carbon Steel
Authors: Tize Mha Pierre , Dhondapure Prashant , Jahazi Mohammad , Tongne Amèvi , Pantalé Olivier
Published: March 2023

In the present work, a critical analysis of the most-commonly used analytical models and recently introduced ANN-based models was performed to evaluate their predictive accuracy within and outside the experimental interval used to generate them. The high-temperature deformation behavior of a medium carbon steel was studied over a wide range of strains, strain rates, and temperatures using hot compression tests on a Gleeble-3800. The experimental flow curves were modeled using the Johnson–Cook, Modified-Zerilli–Armstrong, Hansel–Spittel, Arrhenius, and PTM models, as well as an ANN model. The mean absolute relative error and root-mean-squared error values were used to quantify the predictive accuracy of the models analyzed. The results indicated that the Johnson–Cook and Modified-Zerilli–Armstrong models had a significant error, while the Hansel–Spittel, PTM, and Arrhenius models were able to predict the behavior of this alloy. The ANN model showed excellent agreement between the predicted and experimental flow curves, with an error of less than 0.62%. To validate the performance, the ability to interpolate and extrapolate the experimental data was also tested. The Hansel–Spittel, PTM, and Arrhenius models showed good interpolation and extrapolation capabilities. However, the ANN model was the most-powerful of all the models.
Application of Micro-Arc Discharges during Anodization of Tantalum for Synthesis of Photocatalytic Active Ta2O5 Coatings
Authors: Stojadinović Stevan , Radić Nenad , Vasilić Rastko
Published: March 2023

Ta2O5 coatings were created using micro-arc discharges (MDs) during anodization on a tantalum substrate in a sodium phosphate electrolyte (10 g/L Na3PO4·10H2O). During the process, the size of MDs increases while the number of MDs decreases. The elements and their ionization states present in MDs were identified using optical emission spectroscopy. The hydrogen Balmer line Hβ shape analysis revealed the presence of two types of MDs, with estimated electron number densities of around 1.1 × 1021 m−3 and 7.3 × 1021 m−3. The effect of MDs duration on surface morphology, phase and chemical composition, optical absorption, and photoluminescent, properties of Ta2O5 coatings, as well as their applications in photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange, were investigated. The created coatings were crystalline and were primarily composed of Ta2O5 orthorhombic phase. Since Ta2O5 coatings feature strong absorption in the ultraviolet light region below 320 nm, their photocatalytic activity is very high and increases with the time of the MDs process. This was associated with an increase of oxygen vacancy defects in coatings formed during the MDs, which was confirmed by photoluminescent measurements. The photocatalytic activity after 8 h of irradiation was around 69%, 74%, 80%, and 88% for Ta2O5 coatings created after 3 min, 5 min, 10 min, and 15 min, respectively.
16S-rRNA-Based Metagenomic Profiling of the Bacterial Communities in Traditional Bulgarian Sourdoughs
Authors: Baev Vesselin , Apostolova Elena , Gotcheva Velitchka , Koprinarova Miglena , Papageorgiou Maria , Rocha João Miguel , Yahubyan Galina , Angelov Angel
Published: March 2023

Sourdoughs (SDs) are spontaneously formed microbial ecosystems composed of various species of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and acid-tolerant yeasts in food matrices of cereal flours mixed with water. To date, more than 90 LAB species have been isolated, significantly impacting the organoleptic characteristics, shelf life, and health properties of bakery products. To learn more about the unique bacterial communities involved in creating regional Bulgarian sourdoughs, we examined the metacommunities of five sourdoughs produced by spontaneous fermentation and maintained by backslopping in bakeries from three geographic locations. The 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing showed that the former genus Lactobacillus was predominant in the studied sourdoughs (51.0–78.9%). Weissella (0.9–42.8%), Herbaspirillum (1.6–3.8%), Serratia (0.1–11.7%), Pediococcus (0.2–7.5%), Bacteroides (0.1–1.3%), and Sphingomonas (0.1–0.5%) were also found in all 5 samples. Genera Leuconostoc, Enterococcus, Bacillus, and Asaia were sample-specific. It is interesting to note that the genus Weissella was more abundant in wholegrain samples. The greatest diversity at the species level was found in the former genus Lactobacillus, presented in the sourdough samples with 13 species. The UPGMA cluster analysis clearly demonstrated similarity in species’ relative abundance between samples from the same location. In addition, we can conclude that the presence of two main clusters—one including samples from mountainous places (the cities of Smolyan and Bansko) and the other including samples from the city of Ruse (the banks of the Danube River)—may indicate the impact of climate and geographic location (e.g., terrain, elevation, land use, and nearby water bodies and their streams) on the abundance of microbiome taxa. As the bacterial population is crucial for bread standardization, we expect the local bakery sector to be interested in the relationship between process variables and their effect on bacterial dynamics described in this research study.
A Special Issue on Marek’s Disease Virus—The Editors’ View
Authors: Kaufer Benedikt B. , Parcells Mark S. , Bertzbach Luca D.
Published: March 2023

Marek’s disease virus (MDV), an Alphaherpesvirus belonging to the genus Mardivirus, causes T cell lymphomas in chickens and remains one of the greatest threats to poultry production worldwide [...]
Rapid Reverse Purification DNA Extraction Approaches to Identify Microbial Pathogens in Wastewater
Authors: Schurig Sarah , Kobialka Rea , Wende Andy , Ashfaq Khan Md Anik , Lübcke Phillip , Eger Elias , Schaufler Katharina , Daugschies Arwid , Truyen Uwe , Abd El Wahed Ahmed
Published: March 2023

Wastewater monitoring became a promising solution in the early detection of outbreaks. Despite the achievements in the identification of pathogens in wastewater using real-time PCR, there is still a lack of reliable rapid nucleic acid extraction protocols. Therefore, in this study, samples were subjected to alkali, proteinase K and/or bead-beating followed by reverse purification magnetic beads-based separation. Wastewater samples spiked with S. aureus, E. coli and C. parvum were used as examples for Gram-positive and -negative bacteria and protozoa, respectively. All results were compared with a spin column technology as a reference method. Proteinase K with bead beating (vortexing with 0.1 mm glass beads for three minutes) was particularly successful for bacterial DNA extraction (three- to five-fold increase). The most useful extraction protocol for protozoa was pre-treatment with proteinase K (eight-fold increase). The selected methods were sensitive as far as detecting one bacterial cell per reaction for S. aureus, ten bacterial cells for E. coli and two oocysts for C. parvum. The extraction reagents are cold chain independent and no centrifuge or other large laboratory equipment is required to perform DNA extraction. A controlled validation trial is needed to test the effectiveness at field levels.
Extraction of Iron and Alumina from Red Mud with a Non-Harmful Magnetization Sintering Process
Authors: Chen Rui , Shi Lin , Huang Haoyong , Yuan Jie
Published: March 2023

Red mud, which could cause numerous problems to the environment, is a hazardous waste generated from the alumina smelting industry. In general, the storage and harmless utilization of red mud are hard to implement due to its fine particle size and high alkalinity. This study put forward a novel process to separate iron (MgFe2O4) and alumina (Al2O3) in red mud by a magnetization sintering method. The magnesium oxide was added to transform the nonmagnetic Fe2O3 into magnetic MgFe2O4 to achieve physical separation of iron-bearing minerals, and the alumina-bearing minerals were converted into dissoluble NaAlO2 minerals in a one-step reaction. The atmospheric pressure leaching process was adopted in this study for alumina resource recovery. To achieve clean alumina production, the silicate in the leaching solution was removed by adding the slightly soluble CaSO4, and the entire process becomes clean and harmless. The feasibility of the process was verified by thermodynamic analysis, and a series of experiments were performed to detect the optimum MgO/(Fe2O3 + MgO) ratio and the calcining and leaching conditions. The morphological and mineralogical characteristics of modified red mud, leaching red mud, and magnetic separation product were studied by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). It was observed that under the optimal conditions with MgO/(Fe2O3 + MgO) of 14.89% to recover iron and aluminum, the corresponding recovery rates were 67.54% and 73.01% respectively, and the iron grade was 30.46%. The EDS results showed that the obtained Mg/Fe ratio of the magnetic separation product was 0.4677–0.528, which is slightly different from that of the standard MgFe2O4 at 0.5. This new method can promote the development of comprehensive utilization of red mud and iron production.
Application of Biomass Corrosion Inhibitors in Metal Corrosion Control: A Review
Authors: Wang Qihui , Wang Ruozhou , Zhang Qi , Zhao Chongkang , Zhou Xing , Zheng Huahao , Zhang Rui , Sun Yi , Yan Zhitao
Published: March 2023

Corrosion is the process of damaging materials, and corrosion of metallic materials frequently results in serious consequences. The addition of corrosion inhibitors is the most effective means of preventing metal corrosion. Until now, researchers have made unremitting efforts in the research of high-efficiency green corrosion inhibitors, and research on biomass corrosion inhibitors in a class of environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitors is currently quite promising. This work presents the classification of green biomass corrosion inhibitors in detail, including plant-based corrosion inhibitors, amino acid corrosion inhibitors, and biosurfactant corrosion inhibitors, based on the advantages of easy preparation, environmental friendliness, high corrosion inhibition efficiency, and a wide application range of biomass corrosion inhibitors. This work also introduces the preparation methods of biomass corrosion inhibitors, including hydrolysis, enzymatic digestion, the heating reflux method, and microwave extraction. In addition, the corrosion inhibition mechanisms of green biomass corrosion inhibitors, including physical adsorption, chemisorption, and film-forming adsorption, and evaluation methods of biomass corrosion inhibitors are also explicitly described. This study provides valuable insights into the development of green corrosion inhibitors.
Evaluation of the Antihypertensive Activity of Eggplant Acetylcholine and γ-Aminobutyric Acid in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
Authors: Wang Wenhao , Yamaguchi Shohei , Koyama Masahiro , Nakamura Kozo
Published: March 2023

Daily consumption of eggplant powder containing 2.3 mg acetylcholine (ACh) is known to alleviate hypertension and improve mental status. However, eggplant powder used in clinical trials also contains the antihypertensive compound γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Although our previous study indicated that the main antihypertensive compound in eggplant is ACh, given that GABA amounts in eggplant do not reach the effective dosage, the effects of GABA on the antihypertensive effect of eggplant remain unclear. It is necessary to establish whether there is a synergistic effect between GABA and ACh and whether GABA in eggplant exerts antihypertensive effects. Consequently, here we sought to evaluate the effects of GABA on the antihypertensive effects of eggplant. We used a probability sum (q) test to investigate the combined effects of ACh and GABA and prepared eggplant powder with very low ACh content for oral administration in animals. ACh and GABA exhibited additive effects but the GABA content in eggplants was not sufficient to promote a hypotensive effect. In conclusion, ACh is the main component associated with the antihypertensive effects of eggplant but GABA within eggplants has a minimal effect in this regard. Thus, compared with GABA, ACh could be a more effective functional food constituent for lowering blood pressure.