bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genome-Wide Investigation and Functional Analysis Reveal That CsGeBP4 Is Required for Tea Plant Trichome Formation
Authors: Zhou Hao , Zhou Wei , Yao Xinzhuan , Zhao Qi , Lu Litang
Published: March 2023

Tea plant trichomes not only contribute to the unique flavor and high quality of tea products but also provide physical and biochemical defenses for tea plants. Transcription factors play crucial roles in regulating plant trichome formation. However, limited information about the regulatory mechanism of transcription factors underlying tea plant trichome formation is available. Here, the investigation of trichome phenotypes among 108 cultivars of Yunwu Tribute Tea, integrated with a transcriptomics analysis of both hairy and hairless cultivars, revealed the potential involvement of CsGeBPs in tea trichome formation. In total, six CsGeBPs were identified from the tea plant genome, and their phylogenetic relationships, as well as the structural features of the genes and proteins, were analyzed to further understand their biological functions. The expression analysis of CsGeBPs in different tissues and in response to environmental stresses indicated their potential roles in regulating tea plant development and defense. Moreover, the expression level of CsGeBP4 was closely associated with a high-density trichome phenotype. The silencing of CsGeBP4 via the newly developed virus-induced gene silencing strategy in tea plants inhibited trichome formation, indicating that CsGeBP4 was required for this process. Our results shed light on the molecular regulatory mechanisms of tea trichome formation and provide new candidate target genes for further research. This should lead to an improvement in tea flavor and quality and help in breeding stress-tolerant tea plant cultivars.
Bone Marrow Stem Cells Derived from Nerves Have Neurogenic Properties and Potential Utility for Regenerative Therapy
Authors: Ott Leah C. , Han Christopher Y. , Mueller Jessica L. , Rahman Ahmed A. , Hotta Ryo , Goldstein Allan M. , Stavely Rhian
Published: March 2023

Neurons and glia of the peripheral nervous system are derived from progenitor cell populations, originating from embryonic neural crest. The neural crest and vasculature are intimately associated during embryonic development and in the mature central nervous system, in which they form a neurovascular unit comprised of neurons, glia, pericytes, and vascular endothelial cells that play important roles in health and disease. Our group and others have previously reported that postnatal populations of stem cells originating from glia or Schwann cells possess neural stem cell qualities, including rapid proliferation and differentiation into mature glia and neurons. Bone marrow receives sensory and sympathetic innervation from the peripheral nervous system and is known to contain myelinating and unmyelinating Schwann cells. Herein, we describe a population of neural crest-derived Schwann cells residing in a neurovascular niche of bone marrow in association with nerve fibers. These Schwann cells can be isolated and expanded. They demonstrate plasticity in vitro, generating neural stem cells that exhibit neurogenic potential and form neural networks within the enteric nervous system in vivo following transplantation to the intestine. These cells represent a novel source of autologous neural stem cells for the treatment of neurointestinal disorders.
S100B Expression Plays a Crucial Role in Cytotoxicity, Reactive Oxygen Species Generation and Nitric Oxide Synthase Activation Induced by Amyloid β-Protein in an Astrocytoma Cell Line
Authors: Clementi Maria Elisabetta , Sampaolese Beatrice , Di Sante Gabriele , Ria Francesco , Di Liddo Rosa , Romano Spica Vincenzo , Michetti Fabrizio
Published: March 2023

S100B is an astrocytic cytokine that has been shown to be involved in several neurodegenerative diseases. We used an astrocytoma cell line (U373 MG) silenced for S100B, and stimulated it with amyloid beta-peptide (Aβ) as a known paradigm factor for astrocyte activation, and showed that the ability of the cell (including the gene machinery) to express S100B is a prerequisite for inducing reactive astrocytic features, such as ROS generation, NOS activation and cytotoxicity. Our results showed that control astrocytoma cell line exhibited overexpression of S100B after Aβ treatment, and subsequently cytotoxicity, increased ROS generation and NOS activation. In contrast, cells silenced with S100B were essentially protected, consistently reducing cell death, significantly decreasing oxygen radical generation and nitric oxide synthase activity. The conclusive aim of the present study was to show a causative linkage between the cell expression of S100B and induction of astrocyte activation processes, such as cytotoxicity, ROS and NOS activation.
Developing Anti-Babesia bovis Blood Stage Vaccines: A New Perspective Regarding Synthetic Vaccines
Authors: Cuy-Chaparro Laura , Reyes César , Díaz-Guiot Eliana Vanessa , Moreno-Pérez Darwin Andrés , Patarroyo Manuel Alfonso
Published: March 2023

Bovine babesiosis is caused by the Apicomplexa parasites from the genus Babesia. It is one of the most important tick-borne veterinary diseases worldwide; Babesia bovis being the species associated with the most severe clinical signs of the disease and causing the greatest economic losses. Many limitations related to chemoprophylaxis and the acaricides control of transmitting vectors have led to the adoption of live attenuated vaccine immunisation against B. bovis as an alternative control strategy. However, whilst this strategy has been effective, several drawbacks related to its production have prompted research into alternative methodologies for producing vaccines. Classical approaches for developing anti-B. bovis vaccines are thus discussed in this review and are compared to a recent functional approach to highlight the latter’s advantages when designing an effective synthetic vaccine targeting this parasite.
An Attention-Based Deep Convolutional Neural Network for Brain Tumor and Disorder Classification and Grading in Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Apostolopoulos Ioannis D. , Aznaouridis Sokratis , Tzani Mpesi
Published: March 2023

This study proposes the integration of attention modules, feature-fusion blocks, and baseline convolutional neural networks for developing a robust multi-path network that leverages its multiple feature-extraction blocks for non-hierarchical mining of important medical image-related features. The network is evaluated using 10-fold cross-validation on large-scale magnetic resonance imaging datasets involving brain tumor classification, brain disorder classification, and dementia grading tasks. The Attention Feature Fusion VGG19 (AFF-VGG19) network demonstrates superiority against state-of-the-art networks and attains an accuracy of 0.9353 in distinguishing between three brain tumor classes, an accuracy of 0.9565 in distinguishing between Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, and an accuracy of 0.9497 in grading cases of dementia.
Sex Pheromone Aerosol Emitters for Lobesia botrana Mating Disruption in Italian Vineyards
Authors: Benelli Giovanni , Ricciardi Renato , Cosci Francesca , Iodice Andrea , Ladurner Edith , Savino Francesco , Lucchi Andrea
Published: March 2023

Despite the great amount of information on the European Grapevine Moth (EGVM), Lobesia botrana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), and the effective strategies available for its management, this moth remains the main key pest damaging grapevines in the Mediterranean and Central Europe wine-growing areas. Synthesizing and manipulating its sex pheromone components fostered the development of new dispensers to boost the effectiveness and sustainability of mating disruption (MD) programs. Recent MD research has highlighted that the effectiveness of aerosol emitters is comparable to that of passive dispensers when applied in large, uniform sites such as Spanish vineyards. However, aerosol emitters that are equally effective in geographical areas characterized by small-sized vineyards, typical of many Italian regions, have not received enough research attention. To face this challenge, herein the experimental aerosol emitter (product code: Isonet® L MISTERX843) was tested at three different application rates (i.e., 2, 3 and 4 units/ha) in three study sites, two in Tuscany (Central Italy in 2017 and 2018) and one in Emilia-Romagna (Northern Italy in 2017), respectively, for a total of five trials. To assess the efficacy of this novel MD aerosol emitter, three different application densities were compared with an untreated control and two grower’s standards. The latter were represented by passive (Isonet® L TT) and active (Checkmate® Puffer® LB) release dispensers, already on the market for EGVM MD and applied at, respectively, 200–300 and 2.5–4 units/ha. MD carried out with Isonet® L MISTERX843 led to zero catches of males in the pheromone traps. They also allowed for a significant reduction in the number of infested flower clusters and bunches, as well as in the number of nests per flowers cluster/bunch, if compared to the untreated control. As a general trend, MD effectiveness was fully comparable, or even better, if compared to the grower’s standard. In conclusion, our research pointed out that the Isonet® L MISTERX843 can allow for effective EGVM management in small-sized Italian vineyards. Lastly, our economic evaluation showed that the MD whole cost per hectare using active or passive release devices was comparable.
Effect of Renal Denervation on the Plasma Adiponectin Concentration in Patients with Resistant Hypertension
Authors: Czerwieńska Beata , Lelek Michał , Gojowy Damian , Surma Stanisław , Mizia-Stec Katarzyna , Więcek Andrzej , Adamczak Marcin
Published: March 2023

(1) Introduction: Adiponectin is synthetized by white adipose tissue and has anti-diabetic, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-thrombotic, anti-inflammatory, and cardioprotective properties. In patients with arterial hypertension, plasma concentration of adiponectin is lower than in healthy subjects. Renal denervation, i.e., percutaneous ablation of fibers from the sympathetic nervous system located in the wall of the renal arteries by radio frequency waves, is a method of resistant arterial hypertension treatment. (2) The aim of this single center, interventional, clinical study was to assess the effect of renal denervation on the plasma adiponectin concentration in patients with resistant arterial hypertension. (3) Materials and methods: 28 patients (13 women, 15 men) aged 54.4 ± 9.2 years with resistant hypertension who underwent renal denervation using Simplicity catheters (Medtronic, Inc., Northridge, CA, USA) were enrolled in the study. Plasma adiponectin concentration was determined using the Human Adiponectin ELISA Kit (Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co, Tokyo, Japan) before the renal denervation and 6 and 12 months after this procedure. (4) Results: Blood pressure (BP) values before renal denervation and 6 and 12 months after this procedure were as follows: systolic BP 190.4 ± 24.5, 160.8 ± 14.5, 155.7 ± 17.9 mmHg (p < 0.001) and diastolic BP 111.7 ± 18.9, 88.9 ± 8.3, 91.2 + 10.2 mmHg (p < 0.001), respectively. Body mass index (BMI) before renal denervation, 6 and 12 months after this procedure were 31.5 ± 4.2, 30.5 ± 4.4, 30.2 ± 4.0 kg/m2, (p = 0.057), respectively. Plasma adiponectin concentration before the renal denervation and 6 and 12 months after this procedure were 4.79 (3.95; 9.49), 7.58 (5.04; 9.51), 6.62 (4.57; 11.65) [µg/mL] (p = 0.007), respectively. (5) Conclusions: Plasma adiponectin concentration increases significantly after successful renal denervation in patients with resistant hypertension. Higher plasma adiponectin concentration may participate—beyond blood pressure reduction—in the cardiovascular benefits related to successful renal denervation; however’ clinical consequences of these results need further investigations.
Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists as a Potential Novel Therapeutic Option for Osteosarcoma Patients
Authors: Robinson Prema , Rosso Marisa , Muñoz Miguel
Published: March 2023

Osteosarcoma is a bone tumor predominantly affecting children and adolescents with high malignant potential. It is a cause of serious public health challenges due to its high morbidity rates and metastatic potential. Metastasis in osteosarcoma may manifest either during treatment of the primary tumor, shortly after treatment, or a long time after the end of the treatment. So far, there are no therapeutics that can prevent or treat osteosarcoma metastasis. The peptide substance P (SP) and its high-affinity receptor, Neurokinin-1 (NK-1R), are known to positively correlate with osteosarcoma progression. Osteosarcoma cells overexpress NK-1R. SP is known to elicit the proliferation of osteosarcoma cells and induce angiogenesis and migration, leading to the invasion and metastasis of tumor cells. In contrast, NK-1R antagonists, such as aprepitant, inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells. Aprepitant is also known to inhibit the migration of osteosarcoma cells, as well as reduce the expression levels and activities of transcriptional regulators of metastasis-related genes such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). These preceding studies highlighted the antimetastatic role of aprepitant in osteosarcoma Moreover, combination therapy consisting of chemotherapy and NK-1R antagonist increases the chemosensitization of osteosarcoma cells. Interestingly, this combination therapy in vitro and in vivo decreases the severe side-effects of chemotherapy and produces neuroprotection, hepatoprotection, nephroprotection, and cardioprotection. In this review, we provide an update on existing data and suggest the need to repurpose aprepitant for use as an antitumor drug for treatment of osteosarcoma, and they suggest the need for phase I and II clinical trials for assessment of its safety/efficacy.
RETRACTED: Wang et al. Cardiovascular Disease and Exercise: From Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Applications. J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11, 7511
Authors: Wang Bo , Gan Lin , Deng Yuzhi , Zhu Shuoji , Li Ge , Nasser Moussa , Liu Nanbo , Zhu Ping
Published: March 2023

The Journal of Clinical Medicine retracts the article entitled “Cardiovascular Disease and Exercise: From Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Applications” [...]
Anti-Inflammatory Salidroside Delivery from Chitin Hydrogels for NIR-II Image-Guided Therapy of Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: He Shengnan , Xie Fang , Su Wuyue , Luo Haibin , Chen Deliang , Cai Jie , Hong Xuechuan
Published: March 2023

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common heterogeneous skin disease. Currently, effective primary prevention approaches that hamper the occurrence of mild to moderate AD have not been reported. In this work, the quaternized β-chitin dextran (QCOD) hydrogel was adopted as a topical carrier system for topical and transdermal delivery of salidroside for the first time. The cumulative release value of salidroside reached ~82% after 72 h at pH 7.4, while in vitro drug release experiments proved that QCOD@Sal (QCOD@Salidroside) has a good, sustained release effect, and the effect of QCOD@Sal on atopic dermatitis mice was further investigated. QCOD@Sal could promote skin repair or AD by modulating inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-6 without skin irritation. The present study also evaluated NIR-II image-guided therapy (NIR-II, 1000–1700 nm) of AD using QCOD@Sal. The treatment process of AD was monitored in real-time, and the extent of skin lesions and immune factors were correlated with the NIR-II fluorescence signals. These attractive results provide a new perspective for designing NIR-II probes for NIR-II imaging and image-guided therapy with QCOD@Sal.
Antimicrobial Effect of the Amniotic Membrane Isolated and Associated with Photodynamic Therapy
Authors: dos Santos Amanda Cerquearo Rodrigues , Teodoro Guilherme Rodrigues , Ferreira-Strixino Juliana , Sant’Anna Luciana Barros
Published: March 2023

Microbial control through alternative therapies, such as the amniotic membrane (AM) and antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT), has been gaining prominence with the advancement of bacterial resistance to conventional treatments. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of AM isolated and associated with aPDT using the PHTALOX® as a photosensitizer (PS) against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. The groups studied were: C+; L; AM; AM+L; AM+PHTX; and AM+aPDT. The irradiation parameters were 660 nm, 50 J.cm−2, and 30 mW.cm−2. Two independent microbiological experiments were carried out in triplicate, and the results were analyzed by CFU/mL counting and a metabolic activity test, both statistically analyzed (p < 0.05). The integrity of the AM was verified after the treatments by a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The groups AM, AM+PHTX, and, mainly, AM+aPDT showed a statistical difference when compared to C+ regarding the decrease in CFU/mL and metabolic activity. SEM analysis showed significant morphological alterations in the AM+PHTX and AM+aPDT groups. The treatments with AM isolated or associated with PHTALOX® were adequate. The association had potentiated the biofilm effect, and the morphological differences presented by AM after treatment did not hinder its antimicrobial effect, encouraging its use in biofilm formation locals.
Smart Schools and the Family-School Relationship: Teacher Profiles for the Promotion of Family Involvement
Authors: Galián Begoña , Hernández-Prados Mª Ángeles , Álvarez-Muñoz José Santiago
Published: March 2023

Smart schools prioritise work in the educational community, identifying the participation of families as an opportunity, rather than a form of intrusiveness. There are currently a multitude of ways of sharing education with families, ranging from communication to training, with teachers being the driving force in promoting the different roles that families can assume. In this respect, the aim of this cross-sectional, evaluative, non-experimental and quantitative study is to establish the family participation facilitation profiles of 542 teachers working in schools in a multicultural municipality in the autonomous community of the Region of Murcia, in south-eastern Spain. They completed a validated questionnaire with 91 items regarding the different dimensions of family participation, carrying out a cluster analysis to determine the teacher facilitation profiles. The results obtained from the application of the questionnaire show two statistically differentiated teaching profiles. The first of these, with a smaller number of teachers, with fewer years of experience and linked to the pre-primary and secondary stages in public schools, shows less participation in all the modalities considered. In contrast, the profile with the greatest commitment to promoting participation is characterised by having a greater number of teachers, predominantly from state-subsidised centres, that are experienced and linked to the primary stage. In relation to the previous literature, it was possible to confirm the presence of a differentiated profile, finding, on the one hand, teachers interested in the involvement of families and, on the other hand, teachers who do not identify the family–school relationship as a priority. This highlights the need to improve the prior and ongoing training of teachers to raise awareness and sensitise them to the inclusion of families in the educational community.
Image Dataset for Neural Network Performance Estimation with Application to Maritime Ports
Authors: Petković Miro , Vujović Igor , Lušić Zvonimir , Šoda Joško
Published: March 2023

Automated surveillance systems based on machine learning and computer vision constantly evolve to improve shipping and assist port authorities. The data obtained can be used for port and port property surveillance, traffic density analysis, maritime safety, pollution assessment, etc. However, due to the lack of datasets for video surveillance and ship classification in real maritime zones, there is a need for a reference dataset to compare the obtained results. This paper presents a new dataset for estimating detection and classification performance which provides versatile ship annotations and classifications for passenger ports with a large number of small- to medium-sized ships that were not monitored by the automatic identification system (AIS) and/or the vessel traffic system (VTS). The dataset is considered general for the Mediterranean region since many ports have a similar maritime traffic configuration as the Port of Split, Croatia. The dataset consists of 19,337 high-resolution images with 27,849 manually labeled ship instances classified into 12 categories. The vast majority of the images contain the port and starboard sides of the ships. In addition, the images were acquired in a real maritime zone at different times of the year, day, weather conditions, and sea state conditions.
Synchrony 2022: Catalyzing Research and Treatments to Benefit Individuals with Neurodevelopmental Disorders including Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Nanda Heer , Frye Richard E.
Published: March 2023

A unique translational medicine conference for research into treatments that can benefit individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD), including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), has been developed and hosted by The BRAIN Foundation (Pleasanton, CA, USA) since 2019 [...]
Prebiotic Synthesis of ATP: A Terrestrial Volcanism-Dependent Pathway
Authors: Chu Xin-Yi , Zhang Hong-Yu
Published: March 2023

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a multifunctional small molecule, necessary for all modern Earth life, which must be a component of the last universal common ancestor (LUCA). However, the relatively complex structure of ATP causes doubts about its accessibility on prebiotic Earth. In this paper, based on previous studies on the synthesis of ATP components, a plausible prebiotic pathway yielding this key molecule is constructed, which relies on terrestrial volcanism to provide the required materials and suitable conditions.
Relapse of Monoclonal Gammopathy of Renal Significance after mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination: A Case Report
Authors: Tsaftaridis Nikolaos , Potoupni Victoria , Koraka Lydia , Iatridi Fotini , Lioulios Georgios , Christodoulou Michalis , Moysidou Eleni , Stai Stamatia , Fylaktou Asimina , Papagianni Aikaterini , Stangou Maria
Published: March 2023

This case report represents the first suspected case of light chain deposition disease relapse associated with mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. The 75-year-old female patient of Greek ethnicity was admitted to the clinic for the investigation of worsening renal function detected on routine lab examinations, two weeks after she received the second dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (mRNA-1273). Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and anemia were the most notable findings. She had a history of LCDD, which had remained stable for four years. Serum protein immunofixation showed monoclonal kappa zones, and a bone marrow biopsy revealed 5% plasma cell infiltration. These, along with other investigations, established the diagnosis of LCDD recurrence. The patient was started on chemotherapy, which improved her immunological profile, but not her renal function. The patient has remained on hemodialysis since. The association between mRNA vaccinations and LCDD relapse may be grounds for investigations into the pathophysiology of MGRS, given the patient’s previous long-term remission. This case report is not intended to directly inform changes in clinical practice. We must stress the importance of following all standardized vaccination protocols, especially in immunocompromised patients.
Determination of Antioxidant, Anti-Alzheimer, Antidiabetic, Antiglaucoma and Antimicrobial Effects of Zivzik Pomegranate (Punica granatum)—A Chemical Profiling by LC-MS/MS
Authors: Karagecili Hasan , İzol Ebubekir , Kirecci Ekrem , Gulcin İlhami
Published: March 2023

Zivzik pomegranate (Punica granatum) has recently sparked considerable interest due to its nutritional and antioxidant properties. To evaluate the antioxidant capacities of P. granatum juice, ethanol (EEZP), and water (WEZP) extracts from peel and seed, the antioxidant methods of 2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid radical (ABTS•+) scavenging, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical (DPPH•) scavenging, Fe3+-2,4,6-tris(2-pyridyl)-S-triazine (TPTZ) reducing, Fe3+ reducing, and Cu2+ reducing methods were used. The antioxidant capacities of samples were compared with the most commonly used synthetic antioxidants, i.e., BHA, BHT, α-tocopherol, and Trolox. In terms of setting an example, the IC50 values of EEZP for ABTS•+ and DPPH• scavenging activities were found to be lower than standards, at 5.9 and 16.1 μg/mL, respectively. The phenolic and flavonoid contents in EEZP peel were 59.7 mg GAE/g and 88.0 mg QE/g, respectively. Inhibition of α-glycosidase, α-amylase, acetylcholinesterase, and human carbonic anhydrase II (hCA II) enzymes was also investigated. EEZP demonstrated IC50 values of 7.3 μg/mL against α-glycosidase, 317.7 μg/mL against α-amylase, 19.7 μg/mL against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and 106.3 μg/mL against CA II enzymes. A total of 53 phenolic compounds were scanned, and 30 compounds were determined using LC-MS/MS. E. coli and S. aureus bacteria were resistant to all four antibiotics used as standards in hospitals.
Multitarget Reactive Magnetron Sputtering towards the Production of Strontium Molybdate Thin Films
Authors: Andrulevičius Mindaugas , Artiukh Evgenii , Suchaneck Gunnar , Wang Sitao , Sobolev Nikolai A. , Gerlach Gerald , Tamulevičienė Asta , Abakevičienė Brigita , Tamulevičius Sigitas
Published: March 2023

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to study the direct synthesis of strontium and molybdenum oxide thin films deposited by multitarget reactive magnetron sputtering (MT-RMS). Sr and Mo targets with a purity of 99.9% and 99.5%, respectively, were co-sputtered in an argon–oxygen gas mixture. The chamber was provided with an oxygen background flow plus an additional controlled oxygen supply to each of the targets. We demonstrate that variation in the power applied to the Mo target during MT-RMS enables the production of strontium and molybdenum oxide films with variable concentrations of Mo atoms. Both molybdenum and strontium were found in the oxidized state, and no metallic peaks were detected. The deconvoluted high-resolution XPS spectra of molybdenum revealed the presence of several Mo 3d peaks, which indicates molybdenum bonds in a lower valence state. Contrary to the Mo spectra, the high-resolution strontium Sr 3d spectra for the same samples were very similar, and no additional peaks were detected.
Water-Immersion Stability of Self-Compacting Potassium Magnesium Phosphate Cement Paste
Authors: Hou Yuying , Li Lin , Li Tao , Wu Qianqian , Zhou Yali , Yang Jianming
Published: March 2023

For the repair of narrow cracks in concrete, the potassium magnesium phosphate cement (MKPC)-based material paste should have high fluidity and self-compacting ability, making it convenient for pouring and compacting. A self-compacting MKPC paste that meets the index requirements recommended by the European Federation of National Associations Representing for Concrete (EFNAFC) was prepared by increasing the water–cement ratio and adding water glass and fly ash (FA). Specimens of self-compacting MKPC paste were subjected to long-term water corrosion tests, which found that those high-fluidity MKPC paste specimens (reference sample M0) that were produced with only an increased water–cement ratio lost 15–30% of their strength. The residual ratio of folding to compression was 84.6%, and the volume expansion rate was 7.78 × 10−4 after immersion in water for 560 days. The strength residual rate of MKPC slurry (M1) modified by sodium silicate and fly ash is over 90% after 560 days of immersion in water, and the residual rate of flexural-compressive ratio is 101.3%, which meets the requirements of hydraulic cement-based materials. The volume expansion rate of M1 is 5.19 × 10−4, which is 67% of the reference sample M0 with the same water immersion age.
Study on the Origin and Evolution of Femtosecond Laser-Induced Surface Structures: LIPSS, Quasi-Periodic Grooves, and Aperiodic Micro-Ridges
Authors: Ali Asghar , Piatkowski Piotr , Alnaser Ali S.
Published: March 2023

We investigate the evolution mechanisms of the laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) and quasi-periodic grooves that are formed on the surface of monocrystalline silicon (mono-Si) when exposed to femtosecond laser radiation of different pulse duration, state of polarization, and fluence. The conditions required for producing LIPSS-free complex micro-ridge patterns are elaborated. The LIPSS evolution mechanism is explained in terms of scattering/interference-based phenomena. To establish the basis for our interpretation, single femtosecond pulses of different pulse durations are irradiated on mono-Si. The absence/appearance of LIPSS rudiments is explained in the context of spectral bandwidth and the associated effects on the intensity of the central wavelength. Shorter fs pulses of a wider bandwidth are employed to induce LIPSS-free micro-ridge patterns. It is demonstrated that the resultant micro-ridge patterns depend on the laser fluence distribution and can be manipulated through laser polarization. The curved morphology of LIPSS rudiments and the evolution mechanism of low- and high-spatial frequency LIPSS, i.e., LSFL and HSFL, are discussed. Finally, it is demonstrated that the consolidated quasi-periodic grooves result from HSFL welding together groups of LSFL. Although our findings are based on fs laser interaction with mono-Si, the results can also be applied to many other materials.
Crystallisation Degree Analysis during Cryopreservation of Biological Tissue Applying Interval Arithmetic
Authors: Piasecka-Belkhayat Alicja , Skorupa Anna
Published: March 2023

This paper presents the numerical modelling of heat transfer and changes proceeding in the homogeneous sample, caused by the crystallisation phenomenon during cryopreservation by vitrification. Heat transfer was simulated in a microfluidic system in which the working fluid flowed in micro-channels. The analysed process included single-phase flow during warming, and two-phase flow during cooling. In the model under consideration, interval parameters were assumed. The base of the mathematical model is given by the Fourier equation, with a heat source including the degree of ice crystallisation. The formulated problem has been solved using the interval version of the finite difference method, with the rules of the directed interval arithmetic. The fourth order Runge–Kutta algorithm has been applied to determine the degree of crystallisation. In the final part of this paper, examples of numerical computations are presented.
Optimization of the Electrochemical Method of Obtaining Graphene Nanoplatelets (GNPs)
Authors: Grabowska Adrianna , Kowalczyk Jerzy , Tomala Robert , Ptak Maciej , Małecka Małgorzata , Wędzyńska Anna , Stefanski Mariusz , Stręk Wiesław , Głuchowski Paweł
Published: March 2023

Graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) were prepared using the electrolytic exfoliation method on graphite foil in an ammonium sulfate solution. A series of experiments were conducted in order to optimize the production of the flakes by varying the pH of the solution, applied voltage and current, duration of electrolysis, temperature in the electrolytic system, and type and duration of the ultrasound interaction. The quality of the produced graphene nanoplatelets was analyzed using X-ray diffraction, Raman and IR spectroscopy, and TEM.
Influence of the Duty Cycle of Pulse Electrodeposition-Coated Ni-Al2O3 Nanocomposites on Surface Roughness Properties
Authors: John Aashish , Saeed Adil , Khan Zulfiqar Ahmad
Published: March 2023

In this study, the viability of duty cycle variation was explored as a potential method to improve the mechanical and surface roughness properties of Ni-Al2O3 nanocoatings through pulse electrodeposition. The areal and surface roughness properties of nanocomposite pulse electrodeposition-coated materials with varying duty cycles from 20% to 100% was studied with the analysis of bearing area curves and power spectral densities. Results demonstrate that with decrease in duty cycle, there was an enhancement in aerial roughness properties from 0.348 to 0.195 µm and surface roughness properties from 0.779 to 0.245 µm. The change in surface roughness was due to grain size variation, resulting from the varying time intervals during pulse coatings. This increase in grain size with the change in duty cycle was confirmed with the scanning electron microscope. In addition, an increase in grain size from 0.32 to 0.92 µm with an increase in duty cycle resulted in a decrease in nanohardness from 4.21 to 3.07 GPa. This work will provide a novel method for obtaining Ni-Al2O3 nanocomposite coatings with improved surface roughness and hardness properties for wider industrial applications.
Development of a Worker-Following Robot System: Worker Position Estimation and Motion Control under Measurement Uncertainty
Authors: Yoo Hyeongrok , Kim Dohyun , Sohn Jeonghyun , Lee Kyungchang , Kim Changwon
Published: March 2023

This study proposes a sensor data process and motion control method for a mobile platform essential for transporting finished products or subsidiary materials in a smart factory. We developed a system that recognizes a fiducial marker printed on the work clothes worn by a worker, estimates the worker’s location, and follows the worker using the estimated location. To overcome the limitations of simulation-based research, gait data on a two-dimensional plane were derived through a human gait model and an error model according to the distance between the image sensor and the reference marker. The derived gait data were defined as the localization result for the worker, and a Kalman filter was used to robustly address the uncertainty of the localization result. A virtual spring-damper system was applied to follow the Mecanum wheel-based mobile platform workers. The performance of the proposed algorithm was demonstrated through comparative simulations with existing methods.
Developing and Testing of the Principle Prototype for Efficient Micro-Damage Fine Stripping of Asphalt on the Surface of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement
Authors: Zhou Long , Wang Shanshan , Zhang Jizhe , Zou Bin , Wang Meng , Zhang Wenwu , Lv Xin , Meng De’an , Hu Xueliang , Yao Zhanyong , Li Lei
Published: March 2023

In the current recycling process of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), due to the serious damage of aggregate gradation and the large amount of aged asphalt still wrapped around the surface of the treated aggregate, the low recycling rate and poor performance of the recycled asphalt mixture are the major problems of RAP. In view of the shortcomings of RAP recycling technology, it is urgent to research new treatment methods and design specialized asphalt-stripping equipment to solve the existing problems. In this paper, based on theoretical analysis and EDEM discrete element simulation, a principle prototype for efficient micro-damage fine stripping of asphalt on the RAP surface is developed and tested. The results demonstrate that the principle prototype has a satisfactory asphalt-stripping effect and achieves fine stripping of aged asphalt on the surface of aggregate without large-scale crushing. This principle prototype has significant engineering application values, which provides design solutions and data support for further equipment development.
Identifying Influential Spreaders Using Local Information
Authors: Li Zhe , Huang Xinyu
Published: March 2023

The heterogeneous nature indicates that different nodes may play different roles in network structure and function. Identifying influential spreaders is crucial for understanding and controlling the spread processes of epidemic, information, innovations, and so on. So how to identify influential spreaders is an urgent and crucial issue of network science. In this paper, we propose a novel local-information-based method, which can obtain the degree information of nodes’ higher-order neighbors by only considering the directly connected neighbors. Specifically, only a few iterations are needed to be executed, the degree information of nodes’ higher-order neighbors can be obtained. In particular, our method has very low computational complexity, which is very close to the degree centrality, and our method is of great extensibility, with which more factors can be taken into account through proper modification. In comparison with the well-known state-of-the-art methods, experimental analyses of the Susceptible-Infected-Recovered (SIR) propagation dynamics on ten real-world networks evidence that our method generally performs very competitively.
ADI Method for Pseudoparabolic Equation with Nonlocal Boundary Conditions
Authors: Sapagovas Mifodijus , Štikonas Artūras , Štikonienė Olga
Published: March 2023

This paper deals with the numerical solution of nonlocal boundary-value problem for two-dimensional pseudoparabolic equation which arise in many physical phenomena. A three-layer alternating direction implicit method is investigated for the solution of this problem. This method generalizes Peaceman–Rachford’s ADI method for the 2D parabolic equation. The stability of the proposed method is proved in the special norm. We investigate algebraic eigenvalue problem with nonsymmetric matrices to prove this stability. Numerical results are presented.
An Alternative Model for Describing the Reliability Data: Applications, Assessment, and Goodness-of-Fit Validation Testing
Authors: Yousof Haitham M. , Goual Hafida , Emam Walid , Tashkandy Yusra , Alizadeh Morad , Ali M. Masoom , Ibrahim Mohamed
Published: March 2023

We provide a new extension of the exponential distribution with an emphasis on the practical elements of the model. Six different classical estimation methods were applied and compared. The main test was evaluated on complete data using four sets of data. Additionally, four applications and the derivation of the new Nikulin statistic test for the new probability model under the censored situation are described. Both tests were evaluated through simulation experiments on complete data and on artificial and censored data. In addition, a set of simulation experiments were presented, which were used and employed to evaluate the original statistical test and the new modified statistical test based on statistical controls in the evaluation processes.
Building Fixed Point-Free Maps with Memristor
Authors: Almatroud Othman Abdullah , Pham Viet-Thanh
Published: March 2023

A memristor is a two-terminal passive electronic device that exhibits memory of resistance. It is essentially a resistor with memory, hence the name “memristor”. The unique property of memristors makes them useful in a wide range of applications, such as memory storage, neuromorphic computing, reconfigurable logic circuits, and especially chaotic systems. Fixed point-free maps or maps without fixed points, which are different from normal maps due to the absence of fixed points, have been explored recently. This work proposes an approach to build fixed point-free maps by connecting a cosine term and a memristor. Four new fixed point-free maps displaying chaos are reported to illustrate this approach. The dynamics of the proposed maps are verified by iterative plots, bifurcation diagram, and Lyapunov exponents. Because such chaotic maps are highly sensitive to the initial conditions and parameter variations, they are suitable for developing novel lightweight random number generators.
Research on Multi-Decision Sinter Composition Optimization Based on OLS Algorithm
Authors: Feng Shilong , Wang Bin , Zhou Zixing , Xue Tao , Yang Aimin , Li Yifan
Published: March 2023

The adjustment of sintering raw materials has a decisive influence on the composition of blast furnace slag and the properties of sinter. In order to smelt high-quality molten iron in the blast furnace, the composition of the sinter must be properly adjusted so that the composition of the blast furnace slag and the metallurgical properties of the sinter are optimal for the quality of the iron and are conducive to the smooth operation of the blast furnace. In view of the huge difference in the quality and price of sintering raw materials, this paper proposes an automatic sintering ore blending model to quickly configure sintering raw materials according to the requirements of the production line. This method is based on the calculation process of blast furnace charge, combined with the constraints of process composition and cost performance, to establish a multi-decision sintering ore blending model based on the OLS(Ordinary least squares) algorithm to automatically screen from available raw materials and give the sinter that meets the requirements of the furnace. The plan finally makes TFe, CaO, MgO, SiO2, TiO2, Al2O3, P, Mn, Na2O, K2O, Zn, and other components meet the requirements of the production line, and meet the cost performance requirements of the enterprise for sinter. The model can complete the screening and proportioning of 43 kinds of raw materials within 10 s, and its performance can meet the requirements of the production of variable materials. Combined with an example, a comparative analysis experiment is carried out on the accuracy and practicability of the designed sintering and ore blending model. The experimental results show that the accuracy and efficiency of the method proposed in this paper are higher than those of the current ore blending scheme designed by enterprise engineers. This method can provide an effective reference for the stable operation of the sintering production line.
Investigation of Spherical Al2O3 Magnetic Abrasive Prepared by Novel Method for Finishing of the Inner Surface of Cobalt–Chromium Alloy Cardiovascular Stents Tube
Authors: Liu Guangxin , Zhao Yugang , Li Zhihao , Yu Hanlin , Cao Chen , Meng Jianbing , Zhang Haiyun , Zhao Chuang
Published: March 2023

In this investigation, spherical Al2O3 magnetic abrasive particles (MAPs) were used to polish the inner surface of ultra-fine long cobalt–chromium alloy cardiovascular stent tubes. The magnetic abrasives were prepared by combining plasma molten metal powder and hard abrasives, and the magnetic abrasives prepared by this new method are characterized by high sphericity, narrow particle size distribution range, long life, and good economic value. Firstly, the spherical Al2O3 magnetic abrasives were prepared by the new method; secondly, the polishing machine for the inner surface of the ultra-fine long cardiovascular stent tubes was developed; finally, the influence laws of spindle speed, magnetic pole speed, MAP filling quantities, the magnetic pole gap on the surface roughness (Ra), and the removal thickness (RT) of tubes were investigated. The results showed that the prepared Al2O3 magnetic abrasives were spherical in shape, and their superficial layer was tightly bound with Al2O3 hard abrasives with sharp cutting; the use of spherical Al2O3 magnetic abrasives could achieve the polishing of the inner surface of ultra-fine cobalt–chromium alloy cardiovascular bracket tubes, and after processing, the inner surface roughness (Ra) of the tubes decreased from 0.337 µm to 0.09 µm and had an RT of 5.106 µm.
Prioritization of Microorganisms Isolated from the Indian Ocean Sponge Scopalina hapalia Based on Metabolomic Diversity and Biological Activity for the Discovery of Natural Products
Authors: Le Loarer Alexandre , Marcellin-Gros Rémy , Dufossé Laurent , Bignon Jérôme , Frédérich Michel , Ledoux Allison , Queiroz Emerson Ferreira , Wolfender Jean-Luc , Gauvin-Bialecki Anne , Fouillaud Mireille
Published: March 2023

Despite considerable advances in medicine and technology, humanity still faces many deadly diseases such as cancer and malaria. In order to find appropriate treatments, the discovery of new bioactive substances is essential. Therefore, research is now turning to less frequently explored habitats with exceptional biodiversity such as the marine environment. Many studies have demonstrated the therapeutic potential of bioactive compounds from marine macro- and microorganisms. In this study, nine microbial strains isolated from an Indian Ocean sponge, Scopalina hapalia, were screened for their chemical potential. The isolates belong to different phyla, some of which are already known for their production of secondary metabolites, such as the actinobacteria. This article aims at describing the selection method used to identify the most promising microorganisms in the field of active metabolites production. The method is based on the combination of their biological and chemical screening, coupled with the use of bioinformatic tools. The dereplication of microbial extracts and the creation of a molecular network revealed the presence of known bioactive molecules such as staurosporin, erythromycin and chaetoglobosins. Molecular network exploration indicated the possible presence of novel compounds in clusters of interest. The biological activities targeted in the study were cytotoxicity against the HCT-116 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines and antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum 3D7. Chaetomium globosum SH-123 and Salinispora arenicola SH-78 strains actually showed remarkable cytotoxic and antiplasmodial activities, while Micromonospora fluostatini SH-82 demonstrated promising antiplasmodial effects. The ranking of the microorganisms as a result of the different screening steps allowed the selection of a promising strain, Micromonospora fluostatini SH-82, as a premium candidate for the discovery of new drugs.
Efficacy of Fungi in the Decolorization and Detoxification of Remazol Brilliant Blue Dye in Aquatic Environments
Authors: Nabeela Nabeela , Khan Sumera Afzal , Mehmood Saadat , Shabbir Sohaib Bin , Ali Sajid , Alrefaei Abdulwahed Fahad , Albeshr Mohammed Fahad , Hamayun Muhammad
Published: March 2023

Industrial effluents result in water pollution and affect the biological activity of aquatic and terrestrial life. In this study, efficient fungal strains were isolated from the aquatic environment and identified as Aspergillus fumigatus (SN8c) and Aspergillus terreus (SN40b). The isolates were selected based on their potential to efficiently decolorize and detoxify Remazol brilliant blue (RBB) dye, which is extensively used in different industries. Initially, a total of 70 different fungal isolates were screened. Among these, 19 isolates demonstrated dye decolorization capabilities, and SN8c and SN40b revealed the highest decolorization capabilities in liquid medium. The maximum estimated decolorization for SN8c was 91.3% and for SN40b, 84.5% at 40 mg/L of RBB dye in the presence of glucose (1 gm/L), after 5 days of incubation at different levels of pH, temperature, nutrient source, and concentration. RBB dye decolorization using SN8c and SN40b isolates was at a maximum of 99% at pH 3–5, whereas minimum decolorization was recorded as 71.29% and 73.4% SN8c, respectively, at pH 11. The maximum decolorization of the dye was 93% and 90.9% in a defined glucose concentration of 1 gm/L, and a 63.01% decrease was recorded in the decolorization activity at a low level of glucose concentration (0.2 gm/L). Finally, the decolorization and degradation were detected using UV spectrometry and HPLC. Toxicity tests of pure dye and treated dye samples were checked against the seed germination of different plants and the larvae mortality of Artemia salina. This study revealed that indigenous aquatic fungal flora can recover contaminated sites and support aquatic and terrestrial life.