bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetic and Environmental Factors Influencing the Production of Select Fungal Colorants: Challenges and Opportunities in Industrial Applications
Authors: Lin Lan , Zhang Tong , Xu Jianping
Published: May 2023

Natural colorants, mostly of plant and fungal origins, offer advantages over chemically synthetic colorants in terms of alleviating environmental pollution and promoting human health. The market value of natural colorants has been increasing significantly across the globe. Due to the ease of artificially culturing most fungi in the laboratory and in industrial settings, fungi have emerged as the organisms of choice for producing many natural colorants. Indeed, there is a wide variety of colorful fungi and a diversity in the structure and bioactivity of fungal colorants. Such broad diversities have spurred significant research efforts in fungi to search for natural alternatives to synthetic colorants. Here, we review recent research on the genetic and environmental factors influencing the production of three major types of natural fungal colorants: carotenoids, melanins, and polyketide-derived colorants. We highlight how molecular genetic studies and environmental condition manipulations are helping to overcome some of the challenges associated with value-added and large-scale productions of these colorants. We finish by discussing potential future trends, including synthetic biology approaches, in the commercial production of fungal colorants.
Diagnosis of Soybean Diseases Caused by Fungal and Oomycete Pathogens: Existing Methods and New Developments
Authors: Hosseini Behnoush , Voegele Ralf Thomas , Link Tobias Immanuel
Published: May 2023

Soybean (Glycine max) acreage is increasing dramatically, together with the use of soybean as a source of vegetable protein and oil. However, soybean production is affected by several diseases, especially diseases caused by fungal seed-borne pathogens. As infected seeds often appear symptomless, diagnosis by applying accurate detection techniques is essential to prevent propagation of pathogens. Seed incubation on culture media is the traditional method to detect such pathogens. This method is simple, but fungi have to develop axenically and expert mycologists are required for species identification. Even experts may not be able to provide reliable type level identification because of close similarities between species. Other pathogens are soil-borne. Here, traditional methods for detection and identification pose even greater problems. Recently, molecular methods, based on analyzing DNA, have been developed for sensitive and specific identification. Here, we provide an overview of available molecular assays to identify species of the genera Diaporthe, Sclerotinia, Colletotrichum, Fusarium, Cercospora, Septoria, Macrophomina, Phialophora, Rhizoctonia, Phakopsora, Phytophthora, and Pythium, causing soybean diseases. We also describe the basic steps in establishing PCR-based detection methods, and we discuss potentials and challenges in using such assays.
Influence of Mycorrhiza on C:N:P Stoichiometry in Senesced Leaves
Authors: Wu Shan-Wei , Shi Zhao-Yong , Huang Ming , Yang Shuang , Yang Wen-Ya , Li You-Jun
Published: May 2023

Senesced leaves play a vital role in nutrient cycles in the terrestrial ecosystem. The carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) stoichiometries in senesced leaves have been reported, which are influenced by biotic and abiotic factors, such as climate variables and plant functional groups. It is well known that mycorrhizal types are one of the most important functional characteristics of plants that affect leaf C:N:P stoichiometry. While green leaves’ traits have been widely reported based on the different mycorrhiza types, the senesced leaves’ C:N:P stoichiometries among mycorrhizal types are rarely investigated. Here, the patterns in senesced leaves’ C:N:P stoichiometry among plants associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM), ectomycorrhizal (ECM), or AM + ECM fungi were explored. Overall, the senesced leaves’ C, with 446.8 mg/g in AM plants, was significantly lower than that in AM + ECM and ECM species, being 493.1 and 501.4 mg/g, respectively, which was mainly caused by boreal biomes. The 8.9 mg/g senesced leaves’ N in ECM plants was significantly lower than in AM (10.4 mg/g) or AM + ECM taxa (10.9 mg/g). Meanwhile, the senesced leaves’ P presented no difference in plant associations with AM, AM + ECM and ECM. The senesced leaves’ C and N presented contrary trends with the changes in mean annual temperature (MAT) and mean annual precipitation (MAP) in ECM or AM + ECM plants. The differences in senesced leaves’ C and N may be more easily influenced by the plant mycorrhizal types, but not P and stoichiometric ratios of C, N and P. Our results suggest that senesced leaves’ C:N:P stoichiometries depend on mycorrhizal types, which supports the hypothesis that mycorrhizal type is linked to the evolution of carbon–nutrient cycle interactions in the ecosystem.
Metajournalistic Discourse on Participatory Journalism: Examining a Decade of Coverage in Trade Magazines
Authors: Engelke Katherine M.
Published: May 2023

Audience participation is a contested issue in newsrooms and can challenge journalistic authority. By conducting a mixed-method analysis of a decade (2009–2018) of metajournalistic discourse (N = 135) on participatory journalism in two leading trade magazines in the US and Germany (Columbia Journalism Review and Journalist), this study aims to contribute to the field’s understanding of how and in which contexts audience participation is covered in public discourse and of reasons for positive and negative public evaluations of participatory journalism. The results show that while metajournalistic discourse covered participatory journalism in all stages of the news production process, notable differences in the coverage emerged depending on the specific context factors of participation dealt with. It is therefore depicted as a pervasive and multi-faceted phenomenon. 93 articles featured an evaluation: 53% depicted participatory journalism positively, 16% negatively and 31% left a mixed impression. Several themes emerged in the reasons for these evaluations, some of which are exact opposites, indicating that the presented evaluation depends on the specific circumstances of audience participation, namely the contexts of participatory journalism, the degree of involvement and character of audience participation and the resources available to the journalists.
Mechanisms of Allergen Immunotherapy and Potential Biomarkers for Clinical Evaluation
Authors: Sahiner Umit M. , Giovannini Mattia , Escribese Maria M. , Paoletti Giovanni , Heffler Enrico , Alvaro Lozano Montserrat , Barber Domingo , Canonica Giorgio Walter , Pfaar Oliver
Published: May 2023

Allergen-immunotherapy (AIT) is an efficacious and disease-modifying treatment option for IgE-mediated diseases. Among these allergic rhinitis, insect venom allergy, food allergy, and allergic asthma are the most common candidates for AIT. AIT gives rise to clinical immunotolerance which may last for years after the treatment cessation. Mechanisms of AIT include suppression of allergic inflammation in target tissues and stimulation of the production of blocking antibodies, especially IgG4 and IgA. These mechanisms are followed by a reduction of underlying allergen-specific Th2 cell-driven responses to the allergens. Tolerance induction takes place through the desensitization of effector cells and stimulation of regulatory T cells that show their effects by mechanisms involving cell-cell cross-talk, but also other mechanisms, e.g., by the production of immunomodulatory cytokines such as, e.g., IL-10 and TGF-beta. From a personalized medical perspective, there is a need for clinical biomarkers of value in selecting responders and optimizing patient care during AIT. Also, a deeper understanding of underlying mechanistic processes will improve AIT’s future outcomes. In this paper, the current knowledge of mechanisms in AIT is reviewed with a special focus on biomarkers of this therapy.
Coupling and Coordination Relationship between Urbanization Quality and Ecosystem Services in the Upper Yellow River: A Case Study of the Lanzhou–Xining Urban Agglomeration, China
Authors: Zhao Wusheng , Shi Peiji , Wan Ya , Yao Yan
Published: May 2023

The study of the man–land relationship in the urbanization process is the current frontier and focus of international research. How to balance urban development and ecosystem conservation in the Upper Yellow River is a key issue for sustainable development in China. In this study, we evaluated the Lanzhou–Xining urban agglomeration (LXUA) by constructing a multi-dimensional assessment system for urbanization quality and ecosystem services. The efficacy function model, entropy weight method, and Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model were used to quantitatively assess the subsystems’ state of development. Then, the coupling model (CD) and the coordination degree (CCD) model were used to explore the coupling coordination relationship and spatial-temporal change characteristics of the composite system. The findings indicate that: (1) In 2020, the quality of urbanization in the LXUA showed the pattern of “double core”. The development of urban centers in each city is insufficient, and the proportion of counties with a low level is too high. (2) Integrated ecosystem services showed an increasing distribution pattern from the northeast to the southwest. Water provision services, soil conservation services and carbon fixation services all showed growth trends. (3) Each county’s composite system was in the run-in stage or highly coupled stage. The subsystems were closely related to each other. (4) The CCD was decreased by 6% between two decades. The number of counties on the verge of disorder was the highest. About 80% of the counties were relatively lagging behind in ecosystem services.
Social Perception of the Ecosystem Services of Prunus serotina subsp. capuli in the Andes of Ecuador
Authors: Carrasco Baquero Juan Carlos , Lema Palaquibay Luis Felipe , Chávez Velásquez Carlos Renato , Caballero-Serrano Verónica , Itle Rachel , Chavez Dario J.
Published: May 2023

Ecosystem services (ES) refer to the benefits that people obtain from the ecosystem. In this sense, Prunus serotina is associated with the provision of ES; however, these services have been scarcely studied. The objective of this research was to determine the knowledge and perceptions of individuals in rural areas regarding the importance of ES, as well as the factors that influence them. Surveys were applied in three study areas (Chimborazo, Tungurahua, and Cotopaxi) of the central Andes of Ecuador that detailed the sociodemographic and perception characteristics of ES based on the predefined ES of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA). In the assessment, the interview data were analyzed to obtain the relationships between the variables using Spearman’s correlation in the R-studio software. The results showed that individuals’ level of education, age, and gender play an important role in variations in peoples’ knowledge of ES. A total of 21 ES were identified; the most representative services, according to their ecosystem category, were support (shelter for birds and insects and soil formation), provisioning (food, insecticide, wood, and firewood), regulation (improvement in the quality of air and climate regulation), and culture (scenic beauty and the maintenance of traditions). This analysis of the social perception of ES works as a strategy for the maintenance of Prunus serotina in the orchards and plots of families in the central Andes of Ecuador. The identification of ES through the social perception of their existence facilitates an understanding of the importance of ES in rural localities, which lays the foundation for strategies to be developed in the future for their conservation.
Cerebral Projection of Mirrored Touch via sLORETA Imaging
Authors: Dubová Dita , Dvořáčková Dominika , Pavlů Dagmar , Pánek David
Published: May 2023

Touch is one of the primary communication tools. Interestingly, the sensation of touch can also be experienced when observed in another person. Due to the system of mirror neurons, it is, in fact, being mapped on the somatosensory cortex of the observer. This phenomenon can be triggered not only by observing touch in another individual, but also by a mirror reflection of the contralateral limb. Our study aims to evaluate and localize changes in the intracerebral source activity via sLORETA imaging during the haptic stimulation of hands, while modifying this contact by a mirror illusion. A total of 10 healthy volunteers aged 23–42 years attended the experiment. The electrical brain activity was detected via scalp EEG. First, we registered the brain activity during resting state with open and with closed eyes, each for 5 min. Afterwards, the subjects were seated at a table with a mirror reflecting their left hand and occluding their right hand. The EEG was then recorded in 2 min sequencies during four modifications of the experiment (haptic contact on both hands, stimulation of the left hand only, right hand only and without any tactile stimuli). We randomized the order of the modifications for each participant. The obtained EEG data were converted into the sLORETA program and evaluated statistically at the significance level of p ≤ 0.05. The subjective experience of all the participants was registered using a survey. A statistically significant difference in source brain activity occurred during all four modifications of our experiment in the beta-2, beta-3 and delta frequency bands, resulting in the activation of 10 different Brodmann areas varying by modification. The results suggest that the summation of stimuli secured by interpersonal haptic contact modified by mirror illusion can activate the brain areas integrating motor, sensory and cognitive functions and further areas related to communication and understanding processes, including the mirror neuron system. We believe these findings may have potential for therapy.
Higher Availability of Long-Chain Monounsaturated Fatty Acids in Preterm than in Full-Term Human Milk
Authors: Marosvölgyi Tamás , Dergez Timea , Szentpéteri József L. , Szabó Éva , Decsi Tamás
Published: May 2023

While the role of n-3 and n-6 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) in the maturation of the infantile nervous system is extensively studied and relatively well-characterized, data on the potential developmental importance of the n-9 long-chain monounsaturated fatty acid (LCMUFA), nervonic acid (NA, C24:1n-9) are scarce and ambiguous. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to reanalyze our available data on the contribution of NA and its LCMUFA precursors, gondoic acid (C20:1n-9) and erucic acid (EA, C22:1n-9) to the fatty acid composition of human milk (HM) during the first month of lactation in mothers of both preterm (PT) and full-term (FT) infants. HM samples were obtained daily during the first week of lactation, and then on the 14th, 21st, and 28th days. Values of the LCMUFAs, C20:1n-9, EA, and NA were significantly higher in colostrum than in transient and mature HM. Consequently, there were highly significant inverse associations between LCMUFA values and the duration of lactation. Moreover, C20:1n-9, EA, and NA values were monotonously, considerably, and at many timepoints significantly higher in PT than in FT HM samples. By the 28th day of lactation, summarized LCMUFA values in PT HM samples declined to the level measured in FT HM samples on the first day of lactation; however, EA and NA values were still significantly higher in PT than in FT HM on the 28th day. Significantly higher availability of LCMUFAs in PT than in FT HM underpins the potential biological role of this hitherto somewhat neglected group of fatty acids.
An Efficient Metaheuristic Algorithm for Job Shop Scheduling in a Dynamic Environment
Authors: Zhang Hankun , Buchmeister Borut , Li Xueyan , Ojstersek Robert
Published: May 2023

This paper proposes an Improved Multi-phase Particle Swarm Optimization (IMPPSO) to solve a Dynamic Job Shop Scheduling Problem (DJSSP) known as an non-deterministic polynomial-time hard (NP-hard) problem. A cellular neighbor network, a velocity reinitialization strategy, a randomly select sub-dimension strategy, and a constraint handling function are introduced in the IMPPSO. The IMPPSO is used to solve the Kundakcı and Kulak problem set and is compared with the original Multi-phase Particle Swarm Optimization (MPPSO) and Heuristic Kalman Algorithm (HKA). The results show that the IMPPSO has better global exploration capability and convergence. The IMPPSO has improved fitness for most of the benchmark instances of the Kundakcı and Kulak problem set, with an average improvement rate of 5.16% compared to the Genetic Algorithm-Mixed (GAM) and of 0.74% compared to HKA. The performance of the IMPPSO for solving real-world problems is verified by a case study. The high level of operational efficiency is also evaluated and demonstrated by proposing a simulation model capable of using the decision-making algorithm in a real-world environment.
CTOA: Toward a Chaotic-Based Tumbleweed Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Wu Tsu-Yang , Shao Ankang , Pan Jeng-Shyang
Published: May 2023

Metaheuristic algorithms are an important area of research in artificial intelligence. The tumbleweed optimization algorithm (TOA) is the newest metaheuristic optimization algorithm that mimics the growth and reproduction of tumbleweeds. In practice, chaotic maps have proven to be an improved method of optimization algorithms, allowing the algorithm to jump out of the local optimum, maintain population diversity, and improve global search ability. This paper presents a chaotic-based tumbleweed optimization algorithm (CTOA) that incorporates chaotic maps into the optimization process of the TOA. By using 12 common chaotic maps, the proposed CTOA aims to improve population diversity and global exploration and to prevent the algorithm from falling into local optima. The performance of CTOA is tested using 28 benchmark functions from CEC2013, and the results show that the circle map is the most effective in improving the accuracy and convergence speed of CTOA, especially in 50D.
Periodic Behaviour of an Epidemic in a Seasonal Environment with Vaccination
Authors: El Hajji Miled , Alshaikh Dalal M. , Almuallem Nada A.
Published: May 2023

Infectious diseases include all diseases caused by the transmission of a pathogenic agent such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, prions, and fungi. They, therefore, cover a wide spectrum of benign pathologies such as colds or angina but also very serious ones such as AIDS, hepatitis, malaria, or tuberculosis. Many epidemic diseases exhibit seasonal peak periods. Studying the population behaviours due to seasonal environment becomes a necessity for predicting the risk of disease transmission and trying to control it. In this work, we considered a five-dimensional system for a fatal disease in a seasonal environment. We studied, in the first step, the autonomous system by investigating the global stability of the steady states. In a second step, we established the existence, uniqueness, positivity, and boundedness of a periodic orbit. We showed that the global dynamics are determined using the basic reproduction number denoted by R0 and calculated using the spectral radius of an integral operator. The global stability of the disease-free periodic solution was satisfied if R0<1, and we show also the persistence of the disease once R0>1. Finally, we displayed some numerical investigations supporting the theoretical findings, where the trajectories converge to a limit cycle if R0>1.
The Use of Human Amniotic Membrane (hAM) as a Treatment Strategy of Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (MRONJ): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Literature
Authors: Sacco Roberto , Akintola Oladapo , Sacco Nicola , Acocella Alessandro , Calasans-Maia Monica Diuana , Maranzano Massimo , Olate Sergio
Published: May 2023

Background and objectives: Although it is very uncommon, medication-induced osteonecrosis of the jaw (also known as MRONJ) can have serious consequences. Traditionally, this adverse event has been recognised in patients who were treated with bisphosphonate (BP) drugs. Nevertheless, in recent years, it has been established that individuals having treatment with various types of medications, such as a receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Β ligand inhibitor (denosumab) and antiangiogenic agents, have had the same issue. The purpose of this research is to determine if the application of human amniotic membrane (hAM) may be used as a therapy for MRONJ. Material and Methods: A multi-source database (MEDLINE, EMBASE, AMED, and CENTRAL) systematic search was performed. The major objective of this study is to obtain an understanding of the efficacy of hAM when it is employed as a treatment modality for MRONJ. The protocol of this review was registered in the INPLASY register under the number NPLASY202330010. Results: The authors were able to include a total of five studies for the quality analysis, whereas for the quantity evaluation, only four studies were eligible. A total of 91 patients were considered for the investigation. After treatment with human amniotic membrane (hAM), a recurrence of osteonecrosis was observed in n = 6 cases (8.8%). The combined efficacy of surgical therapy and the use of hAM resulted in an overall success rate of 91.2%. Intraoperative complications were only documented in one article, and they were mostly caused by the positioning of the hAM, which led to wound breakdown at the surgical site. Conclusions: Based on the small amount of data and low-quality research included in this study, using human amniotic membranes to treat MRONJ might represent a feasible option. Nevertheless, further studies with a wider patient population are required to understand the long-term impacts.
Longitudinal Assessment of Multimorbidity Medication Patterns among Smokers in the COPDGene Cohort
Authors: Li Yisha , Schmiege Sarah J. , Anderson Heather , Richmond Nicole E. , Young Kendra A. , Hokanson John E. , Rennard Stephen I. , Crume Tessa L. , Austin Erin , Pratte Katherine A. , Conway Rebecca , Kinney Gregory L.
Published: May 2023

Background and objectives: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is usually comorbid with other chronic diseases. We aimed to assess the multimorbidity medication patterns and explore if the patterns are similar for phase 1 (P1) and 5-year follow-up phase 2 (P2) in the COPDGene cohort. Materials and Methods: A total of 5564 out of 10,198 smokers from the COPDGene cohort who completed 2 visits, P1 and P2 visits, with complete medication use history were included in the study. We conducted latent class analysis (LCA) among the 27 categories of chronic disease medications, excluding COPD treatments and cancer medications at P1 and P2 separately. The best number of LCA classes was determined through both statistical fit and interpretation of the patterns. Results: We found four classes of medication patterns at both phases. LCA showed that both phases shared similar characteristics in their medication patterns: LC0: low medication; LC1: hypertension (HTN) or cardiovascular disease (CVD)+high cholesterol (Hychol) medication predominant; LC2: HTN/CVD+type 2 diabetes (T2D) +Hychol medication predominant; LC3: Hychol medication predominant. Conclusions: We found similar multimorbidity medication patterns among smokers at P1 and P2 in the COPDGene cohort, which provides an understanding of how multimorbidity medication clustered and how different chronic diseases combine in smokers.
Study on Friction Characteristics of AA7075 Aluminum Alloy under Pulse Current-Assisted Hot Stamping
Authors: Xia Jiansheng , Liu Rongtao , Zhao Jun , Guan Yingping , Dou Shasha
Published: May 2023

Friction during contact between metals can be very complex in pulse current-assisted forming. Based on stamping process characteristics, a reciprocating friction tester was designed to study the friction characteristics between AA7075 aluminum alloy and P20 steel under different current densities. Origin software was used to process the experimental data, and a current friction coefficient model was established for the pulse current densities. The results show that the friction coefficient of the aluminum alloy sheet decreased with the increase in the pulse current density (2–10 A/mm2). After that, the friction mechanism was determined by observing microscopic morphology and SEM: some oxide cracked on the friction surface when the current was large. Finally, finite element simulations with Abaqus software and a cylindrical case validated the constant and current friction coefficient models. The thickness distribution patterns of the fixed friction coefficient and the current coefficient model were compared with an actual cylindrical drawing part. The results indicate that the new current friction model had a better fit than the fixed one. The simulation results are consistent with the actual verification results. The maximum thinning was at the corner of the stamping die, which improved the simulation accuracy by 7.31%. This indicates the effectiveness of the pulse current friction model.
Bovine Udder Health: From Standard Diagnostic Methods to New Approaches—A Practical Investigation of Various Udder Health Parameters in Combination with 16S rRNA Sequencing
Authors: Rötzer Verena , Wenderlein Jasmin , Wiesinger Anna , Versen Felix , Rauch Elke , Straubinger Reinhard K. , Zeiler Eva
Published: May 2023

Bovine udder health is an important factor for animal wellbeing and the dairy farm economy. Thus, researchers aim to understand factors causing mastitis. The gold standard for diagnosing mastitis in cows is the conventional culturing of milk samples. However, during the last few years, the use of molecular methods has increased. These methods, especially sequencing, provide a deeper insight into the diversity of the bacterial community. Yet, inconsistent results regarding the mammary microbiome have been published. This study aimed to evaluate the udder health of eight dairy cows at seven days postpartum with the standard methods in veterinary practice. Additionally, swabs from the teat canal and milk samples were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The sensitive low-biomass milk samples displayed only a few contaminations even though they were sampled in a field environment. In healthy udders, no bacterial communities were detected by the bacterial culture nor the 16S rRNA gene amplicons. The results from the standard examination of the cows, the cell count, and the bacteriological examination were comparable with the results from 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing when cows displayed subclinical or latent mastitis. Besides the pathogen detected in bacterial culturing, a second bacterial strain with low but significant abundance was detected by sequencing, which might aid in the understanding of mastitis incidence. In general, molecular biological approaches might lead to promising insights into pathological events in the udder and might help to understand the pathomechanism and infection source via epidemiological analyses.
Klebsiella aerogenes Adhesion Behaviour during Biofilm Formation on Monazite
Authors: Van Alin Arya , Corbett Melissa K. , Fathollahzadeh Homayoun , Tjiam M. Christian , Putnis Andrew , Eksteen Jacques , Kaksonen Anna H. , Watkin Elizabeth
Published: May 2023

The adsorption behaviour of micro-organisms during the initial attachment stage of biofilm formation affects subsequent stages. The available area for attachment and the chemophysical properties of a surface affect microbial attachment performance. This study focused on the initial attachment behaviour of Klebsiella aerogenes on monazite by measuring the ratio of planktonic against sessile subpopulations (P:S ratio), and the potential role of extracellular DNA (eDNA). eDNA production, effects of physicochemical properties of the surface, particle size, total available area for attachment, and the initial inoculation size on the attachment behaviour were tested. K. aerogenes attached to monazite immediately after exposure to the ore; however, the P:S ratio significantly (p = 0.05) changed in response to the particle size, available area, and inoculation size. Attachment occurred preferentially on larger-sized (~50 µm) particles, and either decreasing the inoculation size or increasing the available area further promoted attachment. Nevertheless, a portion of the inoculated cells always remained in a planktonic state. K. aerogenes produced lower eDNA in response to the changed surface chemical properties when monazite was replaced by xenotime. Using pure eDNA to cover the monazite surface significantly (p ≤ 0.05) hindered bacterial attachment due to the repulsive interaction between the eDNA layer and bacteria.
Tree Rings Record of Long-Term Atmospheric Hg Pollution in the Monte Amiata Mining District (Central Italy): Lessons from the Past for a Better Future
Authors: Fornasaro Silvia , Ciani Francesco , Nannoni Alessia , Morelli Guia , Rimondi Valentina , Lattanzi Pierfranco , Cocozza Claudia , Fioravanti Marco , Costagliola Pilario
Published: May 2023

Trees may represent useful long-term monitors of historical trends of atmospheric pollution due to the trace elements stored along the tree rings caused by modifications in the environment during a tree’s life. Chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) tree trunk sections were used to document the yearly evolution of atmospheric Hg in the world-class mining district of Monte Amiata (MAMD; Central Italy) and were exploited until 1982. An additional source of Hg emissions in the area have been the active geothermal power plants. A marked decrease (from >200 µg/kg to <100 µg/kg) in Hg contents in heartwood tree rings is recorded, likely because of mine closure; the average contents (tens of µg/kg) in recent years remain higher than in a reference area ~150 km away from the district (average 4.6 µg/kg). Chestnut barks, recording present-day Hg pollution, systematically show higher Hg concentrations than sapwood (up to 394 µg/kg in the mining area). This study shows that tree rings may be a good record of the atmospheric Hg changes in areas affected by mining activity and geothermal plants and can be used as a low-cost biomonitoring method for impact minimization and optimal resource and land management.
Unravelling Novel Phytochemicals and Anticholinesterase Activity in Irish Cladonia portentosa
Authors: Nagar Shipra , Pigott Maria , Kukula-Koch Wirginia , Sheridan Helen
Published: May 2023

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors remain the mainstay of symptomatic treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. The natural world is rich in acetylcholinesterase inhibitory molecules, and research efforts to identify novel leads is ongoing. Cladonia portentosa, commonly known as reindeer lichen, is an abundant lichen species found in Irish Boglands. The methanol extract of Irish C. portentosa was identified as an acetylcholinesterase inhibitory lead using qualitative TLC-bioautography in a screening program. To identify the active components, the extract was deconvoluted using a successive extraction process with hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol to isolate the active fraction. The hexane extract demonstrated the highest inhibitory activity and was selected for further phytochemical investigations. Olivetolic acid, 4-O-methylolivetolcarboxylic acid, perlatolic acid and usnic acid were isolated and characterized using ESI-MS and two-dimensional NMR techniques. LC-MS analysis also determined the presence of the additional usnic acid derivatives, placodiolic and pseudoplacodiolic acids. Assays of the isolated components confirmed that the observed anticholinesterase activity of C. portentosa can be attributed to usnic acid (25% inhibition at 125 µM) and perlatolic acid (20% inhibition at 250 µM), which were both reported inhibitors. This is the first report of isolation of olivetolic and 4-O-methylolivetolcarboxylic acids and the identification of placodiolic and pseudoplacodiolic acids from C. portentosa.
One-Step Synthesis of Ag2O/Fe3O4 Magnetic Photocatalyst for Efficient Organic Pollutant Removal via Wide-Spectral-Response Photocatalysis–Fenton Coupling
Authors: Shan Chuanfu , Su Ziqian , Liu Ziyi , Xu Ruizheng , Wen Jianfeng , Hu Guanghui , Tang Tao , Fang Zhijie , Jiang Li , Li Ming
Published: May 2023

Photocatalysis holds great promise for addressing water pollution caused by organic dyes, and the development of Ag2O/Fe3O4 aims to overcome the challenges of slow degradation efficiency and difficult recovery of photocatalysts. In this study, we present a novel, environmentally friendly Ag2O/Fe3O4 magnetic nanocomposite synthesized via a simple coprecipitation method, which not only constructs a type II heterojunction but also successfully couples photocatalysis and Fenton reaction, enhancing the broad-spectrum response and efficiency. The Ag2O/Fe3O4 (10%) nanocomposite demonstrates exceptional degradation performance toward organic dyes, achieving 99.5% degradation of 10 mg/L methyl orange (MO) within 15 min under visible light irradiation and proving its wide applicability by efficiently degrading various dyes while maintaining high stability over multiple testing cycles. Magnetic testing further highlighted the ease of Ag2O/Fe3O4 (10%) recovery using magnetic force. This innovative approach offers a promising strategy for constructing high-performance photocatalytic systems for addressing water pollution caused by organic dyes.
High Hydrostatic Pressure in the Modulation of Enzymatic and Organocatalysis and Life under Pressure: A Review
Authors: Scepankova Hana , Galante Diogo , Espinoza-Suaréz Edelman , Pinto Carlos A. , Estevinho Letícia M. , Saraiva Jorge
Published: May 2023

The interest in high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) is mostly focused on the inactivation of deleterious enzymes, considering the quality-related issues associated with enzymes in foods. However, more recently, HHP has been increasingly studied for several biotechnological applications, including the possibility of carrying out enzyme-catalyzed reactions under high pressure. This review aims to comprehensively present and discuss the effects of HHP on the kinetic catalytic action of enzymes and the equilibrium of the reaction when enzymatic reactions take place under pressure. Each enzyme can respond differently to high pressure, mainly depending on the pressure range and temperature applied. In some cases, the enzymatic reaction remains significantly active at high pressure and temperature, while at ambient pressure it is already inactivated or possesses minor activity. Furthermore, the effect of temperature and pressure on the enzymatic activity indicated a faster decrease in activity when elevated pressure is applied. For most cases, the product concentration at equilibrium under pressure increased; however, in some cases, hydrolysis was preferred over synthesis when pressure increased. The compiled evidence of the effect of high pressure on enzymatic activity indicates that pressure is an effective reaction parameter and that its application for enzyme catalysis is promising.
Correction: Mansoor et al. Effect of Currently Available Nanoparticle Synthesis Routes on Their Biocompatibility with Fibroblast Cell Lines. Molecules 2022, 27, 6972
Authors: Mansoor Afsheen , Khurshid Zohaib , Mansoor Emaan , Khan Muhammad Talal , Ratnayake Jithendra , Jamal Asif
Published: May 2023

The authors wish to make the following correction to this paper [...]
Sharing the Sidewalk: Observing Delivery Robot Interactions with Pedestrians during a Pilot in Pittsburgh, PA
Authors: Weinberg David , Dwyer Healy , Fox Sarah E. , Martelaro Nikolas
Published: May 2023

Sidewalk delivery robots are being deployed as a form of last-mile delivery. While many such robots have been deployed on college campuses, fewer have been piloted on public sidewalks. Furthermore, there have been few observational studies of robots and their interactions with pedestrians. To better understand how sidewalk robots might integrate into public spaces, the City of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania conducted a pilot of sidewalk delivery robots to understand possible uses and the challenges that could arise in interacting with people in the city. Our team conducted ethnographic observations and intercept interviews to understand how residents perceived of and interacted with sidewalk delivery robots over the course of the public pilot. We found that people with limited knowledge about the robots crafted stories about their purpose and function. We observed the robots causing distractions and obstructions with different sidewalk users (including children and dogs), witnessed people helping immobilized robots, and learned about potential accessibility issues that the robots may pose. Based on our findings, we contribute a set of recommendations for future pilots, as well as questions to guide future design for robots in public spaces.
Gamma Radiation Synthesis of Ag/P25 Nanocomposites for Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Contaminant
Authors: Zeng Zihua , Li Shuangxiao , Que Xueyan , Peng Jing , Li Jiuqiang , Zhai Maolin
Published: May 2023

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has garnered significant attention among various photocatalysts, whereas its photocatalytic activity is limited by its wide bandgap and inefficient charge separation, making the exploration of new strategies to improve its photocatalytic performance increasingly important. Here, we report the synthesis of Ag/P25 nanocomposites through a one-step gamma-ray radiation method using AgNO3 and commercial TiO2 (Degussa P25). The resulting products were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis diffused reflectance spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The effect of free radical scavengers, feed ratios of Ag/P25, and dose rates on the photocatalytic activity of the Ag/P25 nanocomposites were systematically investigated using rhodamine B under Xenon light irradiation. The results showed that the Ag/P25 photocatalyst synthesized with a feed ratio of 2.5 wt% and isopropyl alcohol as the free radical scavenger at a dose rate of 130 Gy/min exhibited outstanding photocatalytic activity, with a reaction rate constant of 0.0674 min−1, much higher than that of P25. Additionally, we found that the particle size of Ag could be effectively controlled by changing the dose rate, and the Ag/P25 nanocomposites doped with smaller size of Ag nanoparticles performed higher photocatalytic activities. The synthesis strategy presented in this study offers new insight into the future development of highly efficient photocatalysts using radiation techniques.
Measurement of the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya Interaction in Mn4N Films That Host Skyrmions
Authors: Zhou Wei , Ma Chung Ting , Poon S. Joseph
Published: May 2023

Mn4N thin film is one of the potential magnetic mediums for spintronic devices due to its ferrimagnetism with low magnetization, large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA), thermal stability, and large domain wall velocity. Recent experiments confirmed the existence of tunable magnetic skyrmions in MgO/Mn4N/CuxPt1−x(x = 0, 0.5, 0.9, 0.95), and density functional theory (DFT) calculation provided a large theoretical value of the interfacial Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction (iDMI) of Mn4N/Pt, which is consistent with the predicted chemical trend of the DMI in transition metal/Pt films. So far, the measured DMI has not been reported in Mn4N, which is needed in order to support the predicted large DMI value. This paper reports the average DMI of MgO/Mn4N(17 nm)/CuxPt1−x(3 nm) extracted from the anomalous Hall effect with various tilted angles, which is based on magnetic droplet theory with DMI effects. The DMI decreases from 0.267 mJ/m2 to 0.011 mJ/m2 with non-linear tendencies as Cu concentration in the CuxPt1−x capping layer increases from 0 to 1, demonstrating the control of the DMI through the CuxPt1−x capping layer. Furthermore, a solid solution model is developed based on an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) compositional depth profile to analyze the possible effects on the DMI from the mixing layers at the surface of Mn4N. After taking into account the mixing layers, the large DMI in Mn4N film with Pt capping is consistent with the predicted DMI.
Obesity and Residents’ Perceptions of Their Neighborhood’s Urban Amenities and Ambient Environment
Authors: Mohamed Rayman , Arnetz Bengt
Published: May 2023

There is a lack of research on how perceptions about urban spaces are associated with obesity. We surveyed 347 residents in a rapidly changing area of Detroit, Michigan about their perceptions of urban amenities and the ambient environment. We use principal component analysis to reduce the urban amenity and ambient environment variables to a manageable number. We use a spatial error model to account for spatial autocorrelation. We find that more urban amenities are associated with decreased obesity. A one-percent increase in residents’ perceptions of the availability of urban amenities is associated with a 0.13 percent decrease in obesity. Adverse ambient environments are associated with increased obesity. A one-percent increase in residents’ perceptions of adverse ambient environment quality is associated with a 0.12-percent increase in obesity. Addressing residents’ perceptions about urban spaces can provide planners with an additional tool to tackle obesity.
Current Research on Infectious Diseases of Domestic Animals from a One Health Perspective
Authors: Zecconi Alfonso
Published: May 2023

One Health is a well-known strategy for promoting and developing interdisciplinary collaboration across all aspects of health in human, animal, and environmental domains [...]
Prolegomena to the Study of Love
Authors: Soble Alan
Published: May 2023

Consider this propositional function which includes the dyadic predicate “loves”: “X does not love Y unless Y loves X” (or “if Y does not love X”). This function may be treated in four ways. (1) If universally quantified, it states a (purported) conceptual truth about “love” or the nature or essence of love. Love is necessarily reciprocal. (2) If universally quantified, it may alternatively be a nomological generalization stating an empirical or factual truth about human nature, i.e., about a pattern of reciprocity that occurs among people who are independently identified as lovers. (3) If instantiated with constants, it is an empirical proposition about the attitudes or behaviors of particular individuals (a, b, c). Finally, (4) the function may be treated axiologically; it expresses a normative judgment about what love ought to be or what lovers ought to feel or do. Other propositional functions may be constructed for the constancy, exclusivity, and benevolence of love. This essay investigates the implications of these understandings of the function and how they are logically related to each other.
Tilt Measurement at the Quantum Cramer–Rao Bound Using a Higher-Order Hermite–Gaussian Mode
Authors: Li Zhi , Wang Yijian , Sun Hengxin , Liu Kui , Gao Jiangrui
Published: May 2023

The quantum Cramer–Rao bound (QCRB) provides an ultimate precision limit in parameter estimation. The sensitivity of spatial measurements can be improved by using the higher-order Hermite–Gaussian mode. However, to date, the QCRB-saturating tilt measurement has not been realized. Here, we experimentally demonstrate tilt measurements using a higher-order HG40 mode as the probe beam. Using the balanced homodyne detection with an optimal local beam, which involves the superposition of high-order HG30 and HG50 modes, we demonstrate the precision of the tilt measurement approaching the QCRB. The signal-to-noise ratio of the tilt measurement is enhanced by 9.2 dB compared with the traditional method using HG00 as the probe beam. This scheme is more practical and robust to losses, which has potential applications in areas such as laser interferometer gravitational-wave observatories and high-sensitivity atomic force microscopes.
Diabetes-Related Mechanisms of Action Involved in the Therapeutic Effect of Croton Species: A Systematic Review
Authors: Espinoza-Hernández Fernanda Artemisa , Moreno-Vargas Angelina Daniela , Andrade-Cetto Adolfo
Published: May 2023

Over the years, ethnopharmacological and phytochemical investigations have been conducted to understand the potential effects of the Croton genus on several diseases. It has been revealed that these terpenoid-rich species traditionally used to treat gastrointestinal diseases, heal wounds, and relieve pain have a wide range of therapeutic effects; however, those used to treat diabetes, as well as their action mechanisms, have not been reviewed so far. Therefore, the main objective of this review was to compile all Croton species that have shown pharmacological effects against diabetes and describe their action mechanisms. Through a search of the literature, 17 species with hypoglycemic, antihyperglycemic, antilipidemic, antihypertensive, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects were found. Among the mechanisms by which they exerted these effects were the inhibition of α-glucosidases, the promotion of insulin secretion, and the increase in glucose uptake. Interestingly, it was found that some of them may have antihyperglycemic properties, although there were no ethnopharmacological reports that support their traditional use. Moreover, others only presented studies on their hypoglycemic effect in fasting, so further works are encouraged to describe the mechanisms involved in lowering fasting blood glucose levels, such as hepatic glucose production, especially for C. cajucara, C. cuneatus, C. gratissimus var. gratissimus, C. guatemalensis, and C. membranaceus. It is expected that this review contributes to the plant science knowledge of the genus, and it can be used in future references on the identification and development of new molecules/phytomedicines that help in the treatment of diabetes.