bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Physiological Factors Limiting Leaf Net Photosynthetic Rate in C3 Crops like Rice and Approaches for Improving It
Authors: Ye Miao , Wu Meng , Zhang Yu , Wang Zeyu , Zhang Hao , Zhang Zujian
Published: August 2022

Improving leaf photosynthetic capacity is one of the most promising approaches to further boost crop yield. Clarifying factors limiting leaf photosynthetic capacity, especially in C3 crops, is meaningful for designing strategies to improve it. Leaf net photosynthetic rate (A) is one of the parameters describing leaf photosynthetic capacity. In the present study, physiological factors limiting A in C3 crops such as rice were discussed and different approaches for A improvement were summarized to provide theoretical guidance for increasing leaf photosynthetic capacity. A will be limited by both CO2 availability and light intensity over periods from a few hours to several days, and by one of them over shorter intervals. Under current ambient atmospheric conditions, A of C3 crops is mainly limited by Rubisco activity and the CO2 concentration in chloroplasts. Leaf nitrogen content affects A by regulating Rubisco content and leaf anatomy; leaf morphological and anatomical traits limit A by impacting stomatal and mesophyll CO2 diffusion. Further improvements of A in C3 crops can be achieved by designing or introducing high-activity Rubisco; adjusting leaf nitrogen allocation to optimize leaf anatomy and leaf chemical composition; modifying leaf morphology and anatomy for greater CO2 diffusion; improving the activity of proteins and enzymes associated with sugar transportation and utilization; introducing C4 photosynthetic mechanisms and combining high photosynthetic traits by conventional breeding.
In Vitro Screening and Field Performance of EMS-Treated Eggplants for the Selection of Shoot and Fruit Borer-Resistant Plants
Authors: Islam Md Ashraful , Bin Mohi Uddin Md Muntasir , Rasul Md Golam , Haque Swapon Md Ahsanul , Ahmed Minhaz , Hasan Mehfuz
Published: August 2022

The shoot and fruit borer has asserted itself as a severe pest of eggplant. In vitro mutagenesis is an excellent method for producing mutants resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses. This study aimed to create eggplant mutants that were resistant to shoot and fruit borer infestation. In the Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium, two genotypes, including a landrace, were treated with varying amounts of EMS. Among the treatments, MS medium supplemented with 2% EMS demonstrated the most favorable effect. Explant performance dropped by up to 1.5% with an increase in EMS in the medium. The 2% EMS dose was appropriate for in vitro mutant eggplant development, but the higher dose was extremely damaging. EMS made several mutants sterile. Three landrace mutants were insect-resistant. Total phenols, leaf chlorophylls A and B, antioxidants, and solasodine were abundant in these genotypes. Correlation studies found a link between affected fruits and shoots and total phenols, antioxidants, and solasodine. Solasodine was shown to be related to chlorophylls A and B. The eggplant shoot and fruit borer infestation rate can be reduced by increasing these specific biochemical properties.
Effects of Reducing Nitrogen Application Rate under Different Irrigation Methods on Grain Yield, Water and Nitrogen Utilization in Winter Wheat
Authors: Li Jinpeng , Wang Zhimin , Song Youhong , Li Jincai , Zhang Yinghua
Published: August 2022

We conducted a two-year field experiment on winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) from 2016–2018 to compare the effects of reducing nitrogen application rate in spring under three irrigation methods on grain yield (GY), water and nitrogen use efficiency in the North China Plain (NCP). Across the two years, GY of conventional irrigation (CI), micro-sprinkling irrigation (SI) and drip irrigation (DI) decreased by 6.35%, 9.84% and 6.83%, respectively, in the reduced nitrogen application rate (N45) than the recommended nitrogen application rate (N90). However, micro-irrigation (SI and DI) significantly increased GY relative to CI under the same nitrogen application rate, and no significant difference was observed in GY between SI and DI under N45, while SI obtained the highest GY under N90. The difference among different treatments in GY was mainly due to the variation in grain weight. The seasonal evapotranspiration (ET) in N45 was decreased more significantly than N90, and there was no significantly difference in ET among different irrigation methods under N45, but micro-irrigation significantly decreased the ET relative to CI under N90. Micro-irrigation significantly improved water use efficiency (WUE) compared to CI at the same nitrogen application rate. Under N45, compared with CI, WUE in SI and DI increased by 9.09% and 4.70%, respectively; however, the WUE increased by 15.9% and 7.23%, respectively, under N90. Reducing nitrogen application rate did not have a significant impact on WUE under CI, but it did have a substantial negative impact on SI and DI. Nitrogen accumulation in wheat plants at maturity (NAM) in N45 deceased significantly compared with N90 under the same irrigation method. Compared with CI under the same nitrogen application rate, micro-irrigation treatments significantly increased NAM, while SI was the largest. In comparison to N90, under three irrigation methods, N45 significantly increased nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency (NfUE). The highest NfUE was attained in SI, followed by DI, while CI was the lowest. Moreover, N45 significantly decreased soil NO3−-N accumulation (SNC) in three irrigation methods, and micro-irrigation significantly decreased the SNC in deep soil layers compared with CI when nitrogen is applied at the same level. Overall, micro-irrigation with a reduced nitrogen application rate in spring can achieve a relatively higher production of winter wheat while increasing the use efficiency of water and nitrogen and reducing soil NO3−-N leaching into deep soil layers in the NCP.
Development and Characterization of Azithromycin-Loaded Microemulsions: A Promising Tool for the Treatment of Bacterial Skin Infections
Authors: Abruzzo Angela , Parolin Carola , Rossi Martina , Vitali Beatrice , Cappadone Concettina , Bigucci Federica
Published: August 2022

In recent years, the treatment of bacterial skin infections has been considered a major healthcare issue due to the growing emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus. The incorporation of antibiotics in appropriate nanosystems could represent a promising strategy, able to overcome several drawbacks of the topical treatment of infections, including poor drug retention within the skin. The present work aims to develop microemulsions containing azithromycin (AZT), a broad-spectrum macrolide antibiotic. Firstly, AZT solubility in various oils, surfactants and co-surfactants was assessed to select the main components. Subsequently, microemulsions composed of vitamin E acetate, Labrasol® and Transcutol® P were prepared and characterized for their pH, viscosity, droplet size, zeta potential and ability to release the drug and to promote its retention inside porcine skin. Antimicrobial activity against S. aureus methicillin-resistant strains (MRSA) and the biocompatibility of microemulsions were evaluated. Microemulsions showed an acceptable pH and were characterized by different droplet sizes and viscosities depending on their composition. Interestingly, they provided a prolonged release of AZT and promoted its accumulation inside the skin. Finally, microemulsions retained AZT efficacy on MRSA and were not cytotoxic. Hence, the developed AZT-loaded microemulsions could be considered as useful nanocarriers for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant infections of the skin.
Pseudomonas fluorescens Cells’ Recovery after Exposure to BAC and DBNPA Biocides
Authors: Barros Ana C. , Melo Luis F. , Pereira Ana
Published: August 2022

A proper assessment of the effects of biocides on bacterial cells is key to the prevention of antimicrobial resistance and the implementation of suitable biocidal programmes. It is particularly relevant regarding the ability of dead-labelled cells to recover their functional processes once the biocide is removed. In the present work, we studied how Pseudomonas fluorescens cells previously exposed to different concentrations of BAC (benzalkonium chloride) and DBNPA (2,2-Dibromo-3-nitrilopropionamide) behave upon the restoration of optimum growth conditions. The following indicators were evaluated: culturability, membrane integrity, metabolic activity (resazurin), cellular energy (ATP), and cell structure and morphology (transmission electron microscopy (TEM)). The results demonstrated that cells previously labelled as ‘dead’ recovered to a greater extent in all indicators. Only cells previously exposed to BAC at 160 mg/L (concentration above the MBC) showed significant reductions on all the evaluated indicators. However, the obtained values were much higher than the ‘death’ thresholds found for the autoclaved cells. This suggests that cells exposed to this concentration take more time to rebuild their functional processes. The recovery of DBNPA-treated cells did not seem to be related to the biocide concentration. Finally, a reflection on what kind of cells were able to recover (remaining cells below the detection limit and/or dormant cells) is also presented.
Fingolimod Promotes Antibacterial Effect of Doripenem against Carbapenem-Resistant Escherichia coli
Authors: Jin Hye-Won , Kim Hye-Rim , Eom Yong-Bin
Published: August 2022

The aim of this study was to determine whether fingolimod could synergize the antibacterial activity of doripenem against carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli (CREC) and its potential as an antibiotic adjuvant for doripenem. The E. coli used in this study had the blaKPC gene and became resistant to many classes of antibiotics, particularly carbapenems. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of fingolimod and doripenem were determined. To investigate the synergistic action between fingolimod and doripenem, synergy checkerboard, growth curve, and time-kill analyses were performed. A motility test was also performed using a semi-solid medium to determine whether fingolimod could inhibit the motility of E. coli, one of its virulence mechanisms. The expression levels of carbapenemase-, motility-, and efflux pump-related genes suppressed by fingolimod were analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Our study demonstrated that the combination of fingolimod and doripenem inhibited carbapenemase, biological activity and other CREC virulence factors. This study findings suggest the potential of fingolimod as an adjuvant to prevent antibiotic resistance in CREC.
Genomic Analysis of Acinetobacter baumannii Isolates Carrying OXA-23 and OXA-58 Genes from Animals Reveals ST1 and ST25 as Major Clonal Lineages
Authors: Jacobmeyer Lisa , Semmler Torsten , Stamm Ivonne , Ewers Christa
Published: August 2022

Acinetobacter baumannii is increasingly being recognized as a relevant pathogen for animals with a putative zoonotic impact. This study aimed at identifying and characterizing carbapenemase-producing A. baumannii from animals. Among 503 A. baumannii, mainly isolated from dogs/cats (75.7%) between 2013 and 2018, 42 isolates from 22 veterinary clinics (VCs) harboured blaOXA-58 (n = 29) or blaOXA-23 (n = 13). The blaOXA-58 gene was located on plasmids (11.4–21.1 kb) within different genetic surroundings (patterns A–D). BlaOXA-23 was embedded in Tn2006 on the chromosome (n = 4; pattern a) or Tn2008 on plasmids (n = 9; 41.2–71.3 kb; patterns b–e). The predominant IC1-ST1P-OXA-58 (66.7%; 96.4% cgMLST complex type (CT)-1808) was disseminated among 11 VCs in Germany. Resistance islands AbaR3-like (n = 15) and AbaR10 (n = 1) have emerged among ST1-isolates since 2016. IC7-ST25P-OXA-23 isolates (21.4%) occurred in seven VCs in Germany, France and Italy and differed in their resistance gene patterns from those of OXA-58 isolates. They were separated into six CTs, basically according to their regional origin. Other STs observed were ST10, ST578 and ST602. In conclusion, OXA-23 and OXA-58 were linked with ST1 and ST25, two globally distributed lineages in humans. The suggested transmission of certain lineages within and among VCs together with the acquisition of AbaR islands hints at a successful dissemination of multidrug-resistant strains in the VC environment.
Oxidative Stress as a Potential Mechanism Underlying Membrane Hyperexcitability in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Pardillo-Díaz Ricardo , Pérez-García Patricia , Castro Carmen , Nunez-Abades Pedro , Carrascal Livia
Published: August 2022

Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by gradually progressive, selective loss of anatomically or physiologically related neuronal systems that produce brain damage from which there is no recovery. Despite the differences in clinical manifestations and neuronal vulnerability, the pathological processes appear to be similar, suggesting common neurodegenerative pathways. It is well known that oxidative stress and the production of reactive oxygen radicals plays a key role in neuronal cell damage. It has been proposed that this stress, among other mechanisms, could contribute to neuronal degeneration and might be one of the factors triggering the development of these pathologies. Another common feature in most neurodegenerative diseases is neuron hyperexcitability, an aberrant electrical activity. This review, focusing mainly on primary motor cortex pyramidal neurons, critically evaluates the idea that oxidative stress and inflammation may be involved in neurodegeneration via their capacity to increase membrane excitability.
Lactic Acid Bacteria as Biocontrol Agents against Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Pathogens
Authors: Steglińska Aleksandra , Kołtuniak Artur , Motyl Ilona , Berłowska Joanna , Czyżowska Agata , Cieciura-Włoch Weronika , Okrasa Małgorzata , Kręgiel Dorota , Gutarowska Beata
Published: August 2022

Biological control offers an alternative to chemical pesticides, which are inconsistent with the global trend of “going green”. Biological control includes various approaches, from natural predators to biologically produced molecules. This article focuses on the selection of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as biological control agents against potato pathogens. The scope included evaluating the antimicrobial activity of 100 LAB strains against ten phytopatogens (Pectobacterium carotovorum, Streptomyces scabiei, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium sambucinum, Alternaria solani, Alternaria, tenuissima, Alternaria alternata, Phoma exigua, Rhizoctonia solani, Colletotrichum coccodes) by cross-streak plate method. HPLC determined the metabolic profiles for the most active LAB strains, and lactic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid and ethanol were found in the largest quantities. The strain Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KB2 LAB 03 was finally selected and cultured on supplemented acid whey. After the selection in laboratory tests, the strain KB2 LAB 03 was assessed in situ on seed potatoes against phytopathogens. The test showed a 40–90% reduction of eight potato pathogens infestation; only F. sambucinum and F. oxysporum were not inhibited at all. L. plantarum KB2 LAB 03 was proposed as the potential biocontrol agent for the potato protection against phytopathogens.
Design of a Wide-Beamwidth Pixelated Dielectric Resonator Antenna Using a Modified Stepped-Impedance Filter to Suppress Harmonics
Authors: Lee Dong Geun , Jeong Taeyong , Hwang Keum Cheol
Published: August 2022

This study designed a wide-beamwidth pixelated dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) combined with a low-pass filter (LPF) to suppress harmonics. The DRA was designed to create a wide-beam pattern with a pixelated structure. The pixelated DRA was optimized by a genetic-learning particle swarm optimization algorithm. To prevent significant higher-mode radiation and harmonics from occurring in the DRA, an LPF was included in its feeding line. The filter had a seventh-order Chebyshev design, and a hybrid step-impedance filter was proposed by modifying the step-impedance filter for use in narrow spaces behind the ground.
Two-Stage and Two-Channel Attention Single Image Deraining Network for Promoting Ship Detection in Visual Perception System
Authors: Liu Ting , Zhou Baijun , Luo Peiqi , Zhang Yuxin , Niu Longhui , Wang Guofeng
Published: August 2022

Image deraining ensures the visual quality of images to prompt ship detection for visual perception systems of unmanned surface vessels. However, due to the insufficiency of captured rain streaks features and global information, current image deraining methods often face the issues of rain streaks remaining and image blurring. Consider that the visual perception system captures the same useful information during rainy and hazy days, and only the way in which the image degrades is different. In addition, rainy days are usually accompanied by hazy days at the same time. In this paper, a two-stage and two-channel attention single image deraining network is proposed. Firstly, the subpixel convolution up-sampling module is introduced to increase the range of captured features and improve the image clarity. Secondly, the attention mechanism is integrated with the pyramid multi-scale pooling layer, so that the network can accumulate context information in a local to global way to avoid the loss of global information. In addition, a new composite loss function is designed, in which a regular term loss is introduced to maintain the smoothness and a perceptual loss function is employed to overcome the problem of large differences in the output of the loss function due to outliers. Extensive experimental results on both synthetic and real-world datasets demonstrate the superiority of our model in both quantitative assessments and visual quality by comparing with other state-of-the-art methods. Furthermore, the proposed deraining network is incorporated into the visual perception system and the detection accuracy of ships on rainy seas can be effectively improved.
Design and Development of Bladeless Vibration-Based Piezoelectric Energy–Harvesting Wind Turbine
Authors: Younis Adel , Dong Zuomin , ElBadawy Mohamed , AlAnazi Abeer , Salem Hayder , AlAwadhi Abdullah
Published: August 2022

To meet the growing energy demand and increasing environmental concerns, clean and renewable fluid energy, such as wind and ocean energy, has received considerable attention. This study proposes a bladeless wind energy–harvesting device based vortex-induced vibrations (VIV). The proposed design is mainly composed of a base, a hollow mast, and an elastic rod. The proposed design takes advantage of vortices generated when the airflow interacts with the mast, and the flow splits and then separates and generates vortices that eventually make the elastic rod oscillate, and out of these oscillations, energy can be harvested. Different airflow disruption geometries are studied and tested numerically and experimentally to identify the most effective shape and orientation for converting wind energy to electric energy. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling and simulations were performed on the elastic mast, a VIV device’s core wind energy–collecting component, to guide the device’s design. These simulations examined the mast-produced lift coefficient, velocity, pressure, and vorticity contours of different mast geometries. The mast’s vibration energy under different wind intensities was also experimentally tested using a scaled model in the wind tunnel. The level of converted electric power was measured and monitored using piezoelectric sensors mounted at different locations on the mast. The experimental study identified the ideal orientation angle of the mast and the best location for the piezoelectric sensors for harnessing more energy. The experiments confirmed the CFD simulation results that a complex cylinder design produces more power. The combined numerical and experimental studies led to an environmentally friendly, new VIV design with much improved power generation capabilities.
Autonomous Driving Control Based on the Perception of a Lidar Sensor and Odometer
Authors: Tsai Jichiang , Chang Che-Cheng , Ou Yu-Cheng , Sieh Bing-Herng , Ooi Yee-Ming
Published: August 2022

Recently, many artificial intelligence applications in smart cars have been utilized in real life. Making an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) capable of moving autonomously has become a critical topic. Hence, in this work, a novel method for a UGV to realize path planning and obstacle avoidance is presented using a deep deterministic policy gradient approach (DDPG). More specifically, the lidar sensor mounted on the vehicle is utilized to measure the distance between the vehicle and the surrounding obstacles, and the odometer measures the mileage of the vehicle for the purpose of estimating the current location. Then, the above sensed data are treated as the training data for the DDPG training procedure, and several experiments are performed in different settings utilizing the robot operating system (ROS) and the Gazebo simulator with a real robot module, TurtleBot3, to present a comprehensive discussion. The simulation results show that using the presented design and reward architecture, the DDPG method is better than the classic deep Q-network (DQN) method, e.g., taking fewer steps to reach the goal, less training time to find the smallest number of steps for reaching the goal, and so on.
Antiproliferative Activity of Aminobenzylnaphthols Deriving from the Betti Reaction
Authors: Mallamaci Rosanna , Capozzi Maria Annunziata M. , Cardellicchio Cosimo
Published: August 2022

Two aminobenzylnaphthols, which are representative items of the family of compounds synthesized with the Betti reaction, were investigated as antiproliferative agents against adenocarcinoma human colorectal (Caco-2) and human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cell lines, using cisplatin as a positive control. A better antiproliferative activity was recorded after 24 h of incubation for the first tested molecule, whereas the other one was more effective after 72 h of incubation. These results support the hypothesis that both of the tested aminobenzylnaphthols could potentially be endowed with a biological activity.
A Real-Time Map Restoration Algorithm Based on ORB-SLAM3
Authors: Hu Weiwei , Lin Qinglei , Shao Lihuan , Lin Jiaxu , Zhang Keke , Qin Huibin
Published: August 2022

In the monocular visual-inertia mode of ORB-SLAM3, the insufficient excitation obtained by the inertial measurement unit (IMU) will lead to a long system initialization time. Hence, the trajectory can be easily lost and the map creation will not be completed. To solve this problem, a fast map restoration method is proposed in this paper, which adresses the problem of insufficient excitation of IMU. Firstly, the frames before system initialization are quickly tracked using bag-of-words and maximum likelyhood perspective-n-point (MLPNP). Then, the grayscale histogram is used to accelerate the loop closure detection to reduce the time consumption caused by the map restoration. After experimental verification on public datasets, the proposed algorithm can establish a complete map and ensure real-time performance. Compared with the traditional ORB-SLAM3, the accuracy improved by about 47.51% and time efficiency improved by about 55.96%.
Overall Readiness of Logistics 4.0: A Comparative Study of Automotive, Manufacturing, and Electronics Industries in the West Bohemian Region (Czech Republic)
Authors: Zoubek Michal , Simon Michal , Poor Peter
Published: August 2022

Industry 4.0 brings technologies of automation, the use of collaborative robots, and modern advanced warehousing interconnected with digitization of all steps of the production process, not excluding logistics. Internal logistics vary in different product types. Due to the specification of the Industry 4.0. concept, irregularities can be improved into fully autonomous processes. This trend also raises SMEs’ flexibility in terms of business processes and production organization. The transformation to Industry 4.0 is different from many perspectives (technological, organizational, financial). Therefore, companies need to know their processes’ state and determine their readiness for automation and digitization. After this, a consecutive strategy needs to be adjusted. This article presents the evaluation results of a comparison within individual business sectors (automotive, engineering, and electrical engineering fields). Several scientific methods were used for the successful realization of the objectives of the work (basic logical methods and empirical methods). The proposed methodology was verified in the form of an experiment in selected industrial enterprises. Internal logistics processes were observed inside real enterprises as a form of suitable preliminary research. Further potential cooperation between the companies and a team of experts specializing in Industry 4.0 is planned.
After the Wave, the Flood? Finding a New Autonomy and Relation to Work
Authors: van Baarle Kristof
Published: August 2022

How do changes in the perception of the arts stemming from activism, government policies, precarity and the ongoing crises unfolding in the world affect the autonomy of the artist? In this article, I analyse three cases of young and emerging theatre makers in Flanders and Brussels that each deal with the economic, social precarity of the arts, as well as the general precarious state of the world. Camping Sunset, Ne Mosquito Pas, and Anna Franziska Jäger and Nathan Ooms each explore new ways of maintaining autonomy, be it by collective collaboration, creating a network and an aesthetics of failures and cynicism or a performance of overpositivity and a revaluation of the comic. My claim is that these artists find autonomy in the ‘making’ of a work itself, placing poetics back at heart of artistic work instead of performance. I argue that their poetics can be described as a poetics of inoperativity (Agamben), which places resistance and criticality on the level of making theatre and performance itself instead of making large societal claims.
Relativistic Two-Photon Matrix Elements for Attosecond Delays
Authors: Vinbladh Jimmy , Dahlström Jan Marcus , Lindroth Eva
Published: August 2022

The theory of one-photon ionization and two-photon above-threshold ionization is formulated for applications to heavy atoms in attosecond science by using Dirac–Fock formalism. A direct comparison of Wigner–Smith–Eisenbud delays for photoionization is made with delays from the Reconstruction of Attosecond Beating By Interference of Two-photon Transitions (RABBIT) method. Photoionization by an attosecond pulse train, consisting of monochromatic fields in the extreme ultraviolet range, is computed with many-body effects at the level of the relativistic random phase approximation (RRPA). Subsequent absorption and emission processes of infrared laser photons in RABBIT are evaluated by using static ionic potentials as well as asymptotic properties of relativistic Coulomb functions. As expected, light elements, such as argon, show negligible relativistic effects, whereas heavier elements, such a krypton and xenon, exhibit delays that depend on the fine-structure of the ionic target. The relativistic effects are notably close to ionization thresholds and Cooper minima with differences in fine-structure delays predicted to be as large as tens of attoseconds. The separability of relativistic RABBIT delays into a Wigner–Smith–Eisenbud delay and a universal continuum–continuum delay is studied with reasonable separability found for photoelectrons emitted along the laser polarization axis in agreement with prior non-relativistic results.
CoVM2: Molecular Biological Data Integration of SARS-CoV-2 Proteins in a Macro-to-Micro Method
Authors: Chen Hongjun , Hu Xiaotian , Hu Yanshi , Zhou Jiawen , Chen Ming
Published: August 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a major public health event since 2020. Multiple variant strains of SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, were detected based on the mutation sites in their sequences. These sequence mutations may lead to changes in the protein structures and affect the binding states of SARS-CoV-2 and human proteins. Experimental research on SARS-CoV-2 has accumulated a large amount of structural data and protein-protein interactions (PPIs), but the studies on the SARS-CoV-2–human PPI networks lack integration of physical associations with possible protein docking information. In addition, the docking structures of variant viral proteins with human receptor proteins are still insufficient. This study constructed SARS-CoV-2–human protein–protein interaction network with data integration methods. Crystal structures were collected to map the interaction pairs. The pairs of direct interactions and physical associations were selected and analyzed for variant docking calculations. The study examined the structures of spike (S) glycoprotein of variants Delta B.1.617.2, Omicron BA.1, and Omicron BA.2. The calculated docking structures of S proteins and potential human receptors were obtained. The study integrated binary protein interactions with 3D docking structures to fulfill an extended view of SARS-CoV-2 proteins from a macro- to micro-scale.
High Levels of Progesterone Receptor B in MCF-7 Cells Enable Radical Anti-Tumoral and Anti-Estrogenic Effect of Progestin
Authors: Bajalovic Natasa , Or Yu Zuan , Woo Amanda R. E. , Lee Shi Hao , Lin Valerie C. L.
Published: August 2022

The widely reported conflicting effects of progestin on breast cancer suggest that the progesterone receptor (PR) has dual functions depending on the cellular context. Cell models that enable PR to fully express anti-tumoral properties are valuable for the understanding of molecular determinant(s) of the anti-tumoral property. This study evaluated whether the expression of high levels of PR in MCF-7 cells enabled a strong anti-tumoral response to progestin. MCF-7 cells were engineered to overexpress PRB by stable transfection. A single dose of Promegestone (R5020) induced an irreversible cell growth arrest and senescence-associated secretory phenotype in MCF-7 cells with PRB overexpression (MCF-7PRB cells) but had no effect on MCF-7 cells with PRA overexpression. The growth-arresting effect was associated with downregulations of cyclin A2 and B1, CDK2, and CDK4 despite an initial upregulation of cyclin A2 and B1. R5020 also induced an evident activation of Nuclear Factor κB (NF-κB) and upregulation of interleukins IL-1α, IL-1β, and IL-8. Although R5020 caused a significant increase of CD24+CD44+ cell population, R5020-treated MCF-7PRB cells were unable to form tumorspheres and underwent massive apoptosis, which is paradoxically associated with marked downregulations of the pro-apoptotic proteins BID, BAX, PARP, and Caspases 7 and 8, as well as diminution of anti-apoptotic protein BCL-2. Importantly, R5020-activated PRB abolished the effect of estrogen. This intense anti-estrogenic effect was mediated by marked downregulation of ERα and pioneer factor FOXA1, leading to diminished chromatin-associated ERα and FOXA1 and estrogen-induced target gene expression. In conclusion, high levels of agonist-activated PRB in breast cancer cells can be strongly anti-tumoral and anti-estrogenic despite the initial unproductive cell cycle acceleration. Repression of ERα and FOXA1 expression is a major mechanism for the strong anti-estrogenic effect.
Oxygen Vacancy Injection on (111) CeO2 Nanocrystal Facets for Efficient H2O2 Detection
Authors: Li Tong , Wang Qi , Wang Zhou
Published: August 2022

Facet and defect engineering have achieved great success in improving the catalytic performance of CeO2, but the inconsistent reports on the synergistic effect of facet and oxygen vacancy and the lack of investigation on the heavily doped oxygen vacancy keeps it an attractive subject. Inspired by this, CeO2 nanocrystals with selectively exposed crystalline facets (octahedron, cube, sphere, rod) and abundant oxygen vacancies have been synthesized to investigate the synergistic effect of facet and heavily doped oxygen vacancy. The contrasting electrochemical behavior displayed by diverse reduced CeO2 nanocrystals verifies that oxygen vacancy acts distinctly on different facets. The thermodynamically most stable CeO2 octahedron enclosed by heavily doped (111) facets surprisingly exhibited the optimum non-enzymatic H2O2 sensing performance, with a high sensitivity (128.83 µA mM−1 cm−2), a broad linear range (20 µM~13.61 mM), and a low detection limit (1.63 µM). Meanwhile, the sensor presented satisfying selectivity, repeatability, stability, as well as its feasibility in medical disinfectants. Furthermore, the synergistic effect of facet and oxygen vacancy was clarified by the inclined distribution states of oxygen vacancy and the electronic transmission property. This work enlightens prospective research on the synergistic effect of alternative crystal surface engineering strategies.
Reinforced Concrete Columns with Local Prestressing Rebars: A Calculation Theory and an Experimental Study
Authors: Chepurnenko Anton , Lipovich Andrei , Beskopylny Alexey N. , Meskhi Besarion
Published: August 2022

Local prestressing of reinforcement can be effective for slender reinforced concrete columns with large longitudinal force eccentricities. This article deals with columns with prestressed reinforcement on the side opposite to the eccentricity of the longitudinal force. Prestressing is created with the help of turnbuckles. The aim of the work is to develop a model for determining the stress–strain state of columns with local prestress and its experimental verification. The article presents the derivation of a resolving equation for the increment of deflection, which considers the non-linearity of the concrete and reinforcement work, the presence of creep and shrinkage of concrete. The solution of the resulting equation was performed numerically by the finite difference method in a MATLAB environment. Experimental studies were carried out according to the hinged support scheme for eight eccentrically compressed samples, four of which had been prestressed. Experiments and numerical modeling of columns with local prestressing showed a significant increase in crack resistance (by 1.3–2.5 times) and bearing capacity (by 12.5–30%) compared to similar structures without prestressing.
Heterogeneous Activation of Peroxymonosulfate by a Spinel CoAl2O4 Catalyst for the Degradation of Organic Pollutants
Authors: Guo Sheng , Zhang Lijuan , Chen Meng , Ahmad Fawad , Fida Hussain , Zhang Huali
Published: August 2022

Bimetallic catalysts have significantly contributed to the chemical community, especially in environmental science. In this work, a CoAl2O4 spinel bimetal oxide was synthesized by a facile co-precipitation method and used for the degradation of organic pollutants through peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation. Compared with Co3O4, the as-prepared CoAl2O4 possesses a higher specific surface area and a larger pore volume, which contributes to its becoming increasingly conducive to the degradation of organic pollutants. Under optimal conditions (calcination temperature: 500 °C, catalyst: 0.1 g/L, and PMS: 0.1 g/L), the as-prepared CoAl2O4 catalyst could degrade over 99% of rhodamine B (RhB) at a degradation rate of 0.048 min−1, which is 2.18 times faster than Co3O4 (0.022 min−1). The presence of Cl− could enhance RhB degradation in the CoAl2O4/PMS system, while HCO3− and CO32− inhibit RhB degradation. Furthermore, the considerable reusability and universality of CoAl2O4 were testified. Through quenching tests, 1O2 and SO4•− were identified as the primary reactive species in RhB degradation. The toxicity evaluation verified that the degraded solution exhibited lower biological toxicity than the initial RhB solution. This study provides new prospects in the design of cost-effective and stable cobalt-based catalysts and promotes the application of PMS-based advanced oxidation processes for refractory wastewater treatment.
Electrospun Hollow Carbon Nanofibers Decorated with CuCo2O4 Nanowires for Oxygen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Ding Xinyao , Liu Jiaxu , Cang Ruibai , Chang Xin , Zhang Mingyi
Published: August 2022

In recent years, spinel-type structural cobalt salts (NiCo2O4, CuCo2O4, etc.) have been widely used electrocatalysis because of their superior properties such as large crustal reserves, low cost, environmental friendliness, high electrochemical activity, abundant oxidation valence, and stable chemical properties. In this paper, hollow carbon nanofibers loaded CuCo2O4 nanowires (CuCo2O4@CNFs) were prepared by electrospinning technique and solvothermal method. The CuCo2O4@CNFs exhibit enhances electrocatalytic activity for oxygen evolution reaction (OER), requiring an overpotential of 273 mV in a 1.0 M KOH solution to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm−2. In addition, the overpotential remained almost constant after 3000 cycles of voltammetry measurements. The enhanced electrocatalytic activity may be attributed to the unique one-dimensional hollow nanostructure of CNFs and high dispersion of CuCo2O4 nanowires, which enhanced the charge transfer and improved the diffusion of the electrolyte ions at the surface.
MicroRNA-Mediated Silencing Pathways in the Nervous System and Neurological Diseases
Authors: Barbato Christian
Published: August 2022

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that play a prominent role in post-transcriptional gene regulation mechanisms in the brain tuning synaptic plasticity, memory formation, and cognitive functions in physiological and pathological conditions [...]
Genetically Engineered Pigs as Efficient Salivary Gland Bioreactors for Production of Therapeutically Valuable Human Nerve Growth Factor
Authors: Zeng Fang , Liao Sha , Kuang Zhe , Zhu Qingchun , Wei Hengxi , Shi Junsong , Zheng Enqin , Xu Zheng , Huang Sixiu , Hong Linjun , Gu Ting , Yang Jie , Yang Huaqiang , Cai Gengyuan , Moisyadi Stefan , Urschitz Johann , Li Zicong , Wu Zhenfang
Published: August 2022

Farm animal salivary glands hold great potential as efficient bioreactors for production of human therapeutic proteins. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is naturally expressed in animal salivary glands and has been approved for human clinical treatment. This study aims to employ transgenic (TG) pig salivary gland as bioreactors for efficient synthesis of human NGF (hNGF). hNGF-TG pigs were generated by cloning in combination with piggyBac transposon-mediated gene transfer. These hNGF-TG pigs specifically expressed hNGF protein in their salivary glands and secreted it at high levels into saliva. Surgical and nonsurgical approaches were developed to efficiently collect saliva from hNGF-TG pigs. hNGF protein was successfully purified from collected saliva and was verified to be biologically active. In an additional step, the double-transgenic pigs, where the endogenous porcine NGF (pNGF) gene was replaced by another copy of hNGF transgene, were created by cloning combined with CRISPR/Cas9-mediated homologous recombination. These double-transgenic pigs expressed hNGF but not pNGF, thus avoiding possible “contamination” of hNGF with pNGF protein during purification. In conclusion, TG pig salivary glands can be used as robust bioreactors for a large-scale synthesis of functional hNGF or other valuable proteins. This new animal pharming method will benefit both human health and biomedicine.
Recent Advances in Molecular Fluorescent Probes for CYP450 Sensing and Imaging
Authors: Li Haiyan , Sheng Yang , Li Wei , Yuan Lin
Published: August 2022

Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) is a major drug-metabolizing enzyme system mainly distributed in liver microsomes and involved in the metabolism of many endogenous substances (such as fatty acids and arachidonic acids), and exogenous compounds (such as drugs, toxicants, carcinogens, and procarcinogens). Due to the similarity in structures and catalytic functions between CYP450 isoforms, the lack of effective selective detection tools greatly limits the understanding and the research of their respective physiological roles in living organisms. Until now, several small-molecular fluorescent probes have been employed for selective detection and monitoring of CYP450s (Cytochrome P450 enzymes) in vitro or in vivo owing to the tailored properties, biodegradability, and high temporal and spatial resolution imaging in situ. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in fluorescent probes for CYP450s (including CYP1, CYP2, and CYP3 families), and we discuss and focus on their identification mechanisms, general probe design strategies, and bioimaging applications. We also highlight the potential challenges and prospects of designing new generations of fluorescent probes in CYP450 studies, which will further enhance the diversity, practicality, and clinical feasibility of research into CYP450.
Room-Temperature ppb-Level H2S Gas Sensors Based on Ag Nanowire/Hollow PPy Nanotube Nanocomposites
Authors: Su Pi-Guey , Chai Xing-Chen
Published: August 2022

H2S gas sensors were fabricated using Ag nanowire/hollow polypyrrole nanotube nanocomposite (Ag NW/hollow PPy NT) film for sensing ppb-level H2S gas at room temperature. The morphology, phase composition and crystalline structure of Ag NW/hollow PPy NT nanocomposites were analyzed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). TEM and SEM images revealed that Ag NWs were well dispersed in the hollow PPy NT matrix. IR results showed no interaction between Ag NWs and hollow PPy NTs in the Ag NW/hollow PPy NT nanocomposites. The effect of the amount of added Ag NWs on the response of the Ag NW/hollow PPy NT nanocomposites to the ppb-level H2S gas was investigated. Comparative gas-sensing results revealed that the introduction of Ag NWs onto hollow PPy NTs was effective in promoting the sensor response to H2S gas. More importantly, the Ag NW/hollow PPy NT nanocomposite had a strong response to ppb-level H2S gas at room temperature.
Detection of Polynitro Compounds at Low Concentrations by SERS Using Ni@Au Nanotubes
Authors: Shumskaya Alena , Kozhina Elizaveta , Bedin Sergey , Andreev Stepan , Kulesh Ekaterina , Rogachev Alexander , Yarmolenko Maxim , Korolkov Ilya , Kozlovskiy Artem , Zdorovets Maksim , Belyaev Viktor , Rodionova Valeriya , Panina Larissa
Published: August 2022

The identification of high-energy compounds in trace concentrations not only in the laboratory, but also in field conditions is of particular interest. The process should be clear, easy, and well-recognizable. We formed SERS-active substrates by using elongated nickel nanotubes synthesized by electrochemical deposition in the pores of ion-track membranes and coated them with gold for further application in the detection of low concentrations of analytes. The substrates were characterized using various techniques to determine the morphology of the nanotubes and modifying gold layer. The possibility of obtaining two types of gold-layer morphology was shown: in the form of a smooth film up to 20–50 nm thick and a coating with nanoneedles up to 250 nm long. The electric fields around the nanotubes were simulated at a laser wavelength of 532 nm to demonstrate the influence of the gold-layer morphology on the field distribution. The “needle” morphology was chosen to form the most effective SERS-active substrates for detection of low concentrations of aromatic polynitro compounds. The spectral peaks were identified by comparing the model and experimental Raman spectra at concentrations down to 10−5 M. Within this limit, all peaks (“fingerprints” of the substance) were clearly distinguishable.
Can Breastfeeding Protect from Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)? A Preliminary Study
Authors: Rodríguez-Fanjul Xavier , Verd Sergio , Brio Sonia
Published: August 2022

Background: Breastfeeding prevents Kawasaki disease (KD), as well as several autoimmune disorders. Since there is an overlap between the Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome in children following SARS-CoV-2 infection (MIS-C) and KD, this case series aims to analyze the association between breastfeeding and MIS-C. Methods: A series of 16 cases of children with MIS-C admitted to three pediatric facilities between January 2021 and May 2022 were conducted. Breastfeeding rate was estimated through the Brief Breastfeeding and Milk Expression Recall Survey. Results: Out of 16 children, 9 (56%) had been breastfed at birth. Discussion: Our breastfeeding rate is below the median Spanish rate for initial breastfeeding. These findings do not clearly support the hypothesis that breastfeeding might prevent MIS-C. Conclusion: Contrary to the role of breastfeeding in KD prevention, our case series cannot answer with certainty the question about whether or not breastfeeding does protect children against MIS-C. These findings require confirmation in larger studies.
Chemical Reactivity in Microheterogeneous Media
Authors: Mejuto Juan C. , Cid-Samamed Antonio
Published: August 2022

Since the second half of the last century, the science of colloids has undergone a true revolution, from being little more than a collection of qualitative observations of the macroscopic behavior of some complex systems to becoming a discipline with substantial theoretical foundations [...]
Dental Implant Failure Risk in Post Oncological Patients, a Retrospective Study and Sapienza Head and Neck Unit Decisional Protocol- 7 Years of Follow-Up
Authors: Brauner Edoardo , Valentini Valentino , Romeo Umberto , Cantore Marco , Laudoni Federico , Rajabtork Zadeh Oriana , Formisano Valeria , Cassoni Andrea , Della Monaca Marco , Battisti Andrea , Mezi Silvia , Cirillo Alessio , De Felice Francesca , Botticelli Andrea , Tombolini Vincenzo , De Vincentiis Marco , Colizza Andrea , Tenore Gianluca , Polimeni Antonella , Di Carlo Stefano
Published: August 2022

(1) Background: Patients with head and neck cancer are treated by ablative surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of these. The side effects of cancer therapies can compromise conventional prosthesis rehabilitation; therefore, dental implants can result in a more effective solution. The aim of the study is to explain how to rehabilitate a patient that underwent head and neck cancer therapy. (2) Methods: This retrospective study conducted from 2015 to 2021 included 223 postoncological patients, aged between 32 and 80 years old. Eighteen patients did not proceed with any treatment, and two died. Therefore, 203 patients have been analyzed and rehabilitated following our decisional protocol, with a mean period of follow-up of 4 years. The implant placement was considered successful when a mean bone loss of 1.6 mm for the first year and a mean of 0.13 mm in subsequent years occurred (3) Results: A total of 161 patients were rehabilitated with a conventional prosthesis, 42 patients (F:M ratio 19:23) with an implant-supported prosthesis and a total of 200 implants were placed; 9 implants were lost (4.5% of 200 implants). Conclusions: The results confirmed that by following our protocol it is possible to obtain an acceptable rate of implant survival, considering the delicacy and complexity of post-oncological patients.