bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of the Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriocheir sinensis) from Six Different Lakes Using Microsatellites
Authors: Su Shengyan , Nsekanabo Jean Damascene , Munganga Brian Pelekelo , He Xinjin , Li Jianlin , Yu Fan , Wang Meiyao , Tang Yongkai
Published: April 2023

The Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) is among the most important species in China and other countries, and it contributes significantly to aquaculture and meeting protein demands for the fast-growing human population. To ensure their sustainable exploitation, management, and use in aquaculture, it is imperative to know their genetic diversity. Thus, we studied the genetic diversity of six populations of Chinese mitten crabs from six different lakes in the Yangtze River’s drainage system. A total of 180 Chinese mittens crabs were collected from six lakes in China, with 30 being collected from each lake. Then, DNA was extracted using TaKaRa Dalian, genotyping was performed by the Gene Marker software for statistical analysis and the genetic parameters such as observed number of alleles (Na)were studied. A total of 87 alleles were observed in 180 individuals of six wild Eriocheir sinensis populations. The Fis results showed that six sites had negative values, and crab20 had the largest value. The results of Fit showed that the single locus had a negative value. All the Fst values among the populations were lower than 0.50, while an AMOVA analysis showed that 0.36% of the genetic variation came from among the six populations and 94.08% of the genetic variation was between individuals in a population. The six Chinese mitten crab populations showed higher genetic variability among individuals of the same population with very low genetic variability between the populations. Therefore, this illustrates that the crabs from the six lakes have similar genetic diversity and minor genetic differences among them.
Characterization of Functional Microorganisms in Representative Traditional Fermented Dongcai from Different Regions of China
Authors: Jiang Yanbing , Fu Hao , Li Meng , Wang Changtao
Published: April 2023

Dongcai is loved for its delicious flavor and nutritional value. The microorganisms in Dongcai play a vital role in their flavor, quality, and safety, and the microbial communities of Dongcai vary greatly from region to region. However, it remains unknown what the predominant microorganisms are in different traditional Dongcai and how they affect its flavor. The objective of this study is to explore the microbial diversity of traditional fermented Dongcai in three representative Chinese regions (Tianjin, Sichuan, and Guangzhou) and further assess their microbial functions. The microbial diversity of fermented Dongcai in Guangdong has the lowest diversity compared to fermented Dongcai in Sichuan, which has the highest. The distribution of the main genera of fermented Dongcai varies from region to region, but Carnimonas, Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas, Sphingomonas, Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia, and Rhodococcus are the dominant genera in common. In addition, halophilic bacteria (HAB, i.e., Halomonas Bacillus, Virgibacillus, etc.) and lactic acid bacteria (LAB, i.e., Weissella and Lactobacillus) are also highly abundant. Of these, Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia, Rhodococcus, Sphingomonas, Ralstonia, and Chromohalobacter are dominant in the Sichuan samples. In the Tianjin samples, Lactobacillus, Weissella, Virgibacillus, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, and Pseudomonas are the most abundant. Predictions of microbial metabolic function reveal that carbohydrates, amino acids, polyketides, lipids, and other secondary metabolites are abundantly available for biosynthesis. In addition, the different flavors of the three types of Dongcai may be due to the fact that the abundance of HAB and LAB shows a significant positive correlation with the amounts of important metabolites (e.g., salt, acid, amino nitrogen, and sugar). These results contribute to our understanding of the link between the distinctive flavors of different types of Dongcai and the microorganisms they contain and will also provide a reference for the relationship between microbial communities and flavor substances in semi-fermented pickles.
A Complementary Remote-Sensing Method to Find Persons Missing in Water: Two Case Studies
Authors: Barone Pier Matteo , Di Maggio Rosa Maria , Mesturini Silvia
Published: April 2023

This short communication discusses how a specific geoarchaeological remote-sensing (RS) method, such as analyzing satellite images through NDWI (Normalized Difference Water Index), can be used to aid in searching and locating persons missing in watercourses. Thanks to its high capacity to analyze changes in the surface water area, this index can remotely detect the presence of anomalies related to disappearances in water bodies and provide valuable information that can reduce the use of human resources and help pinpoint likely areas of search. Two real-life cases of missing persons in rivers in which the NDWI index was used are presented, and the results obtained are discussed, emphasizing the importance of NDWI analysis as a complementary method to different approaches, especially non-invasive and remote-sensed ones, when positively searching for missing persons.
Microgrid Frequency Regulation Based on a Fractional Order Cascade Controller
Authors: Oshnoei Soroush , Fathollahi Arman , Oshnoei Arman , Khooban Mohammad Hassan
Published: April 2023

Nowadays, the participation of renewable energy sources (RESs) and the integration of these sources with traditional power plants in microgrids (MGs) for providing demand-side power has rapidly grown. Although the presence of RESs in MGs reduces environmental problems, their high participation significantly affects the system’s whole inertia and dynamic stability. This paper focuses on an islanded MG frequency regulation under the high participation of RESs. In this regard, a novel fractional order cascade controller (FOCC) is proposed as the secondary frequency controller. In the proposed FOCC controller structure, a fractional order proportional-integral controller is cascaded with a fractional order tilt-derivative controller. The proposed FOCC controller has a greater degree of freedom and adaptability than integer order controllers and improves the control system’s efficiency. The adjustable coefficients of the proposed controller are tuned via the kidney-inspired algorithm. An energy storage system equipped with virtual inertia is also employed to improve the system inertia. The proposed FOCC controller efficiency is compared with proportional-integral-derivative (PID), tilt-integral-derivative (TID), and fractional order proportional-integral-derivative (FOPID) controllers under different disturbances and operating conditions. The results demonstrate that the presented controller provides better frequency responses compared to the other controllers. Moreover, the sensitivity analysis is performed to show the proposed controller robustness versus the parameters’ changes in the system.
Application of the Pathway-Type Transform to a New Form of a Fractional Kinetic Equation Involving the Generalized Incomplete Wright Hypergeometric Functions
Authors: Alqarni Mohammed Z. , Bakhet Ahmed , Abdalla Mohamed
Published: April 2023

We present in this paper a generalization of the fractional kinetic equation using the generalized incomplete Wright hypergeometric function. The pathway-type transform technique is then used to investigate the solutions to a fractional kinetic equation with specific fractional transforms. Furthermore, exceptional cases of our outcomes are discussed and graphically illustrated using MATLAB software. This work provides a thorough overview for further investigation into these topics in order to gain a better understanding of their implications and applications.
The Glutathione Peroxidase Gene Family in Nitraria sibirica: Genome-Wide Identification, Classification, and Gene Expression Analysis under Stress Conditions
Authors: Lian Ziming , Zhang Jingbo , Hao Zhaodong , Zhu Liming , Liu Yuxin , Fang Hao , Lu Ye , Li Xinle , Shi Jisen , Chen Jinhui , Cheng Tielong
Published: April 2023

Plant glutathione peroxidases (GPXs) are the main enzymes in the antioxidant defense system that sustain H2O2 homeostasis and normalize plant reaction to abiotic stress conditions. However, the genome-wide identification of the GPX gene family and its responses to environmental stresses, especially salt stress, in Nitraria sibirica, which is a shrub that can survive in saline environments, has not yet been reported. Here, we first report the genome-wide analysis of the GPX gene family in N. sibirica, leading to a total of seven NsGPX genes that are distributed on six of the twelve chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that NsGPX genes were grouped into four major groups (Group I-IV). Three types of cis-acting elements were identified in the NsGPX promoters, mainly related to hormones and stress response. The quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis indicated that NsGPX1 and NsGPX3 were significantly up-regulated in stem and leaf, while NsGPX7 transcriptionally in root in response to salt stress. The current study identified a total seven NsGPX genes in N. sibirica via genome-wide analysis, and discovered that NsGPXs may play an important role in response to salt stress. Taken together, our findings provide a basis for further functional studies of NsGPX genes, especially in regarding to the resistance to salt stress of this halophyte plant N. sibirica, eventually aid in the discovery of new methods to restore overtly saline soil.
Investigation of Microscale Periodic Ni-Mg-Ni-Mg Film Structures as Metal-Hydride Hydrogen Accumulators
Authors: Ivanov Alexander G. , Karpov Dmitri A. , Chebukov Evgeniy S. , Yurchenkov Michael I.
Published: April 2023

Here, the authors report the results of their study on the key characteristics of microscale periodic Ni-Mg-Ni-Mg film structures as metal-hydride hydrogen accumulators, namely, the microstructure, phase state, operation temperatures and rate of the sorption/desorption processes, complete and reversible mass content of hydrogen, and enthalpy of metal hydrides’ phase-formation. The study has shown that hydride-formation films can be saturated with up to 7.0–7.5 wt.% of hydrogen at pressures up to 30 atm and temperatures of 200–250 °C, with a reversible amount of stored hydrogen up to 3.4 wt.% during its desorption at a pressure of 1 atm and temperatures of 250–300 °C with the phase-formation enthalpy in the range of 19.8–46.7 kJ/mol H2 depending on the nickel content (the thickness of the nickel layer). Structural and constructive schemes are proposed for film metal-hydride hydrogen accumulators for various applications of the hydrogen power industry.
Digital Audio Tampering Detection Based on Deep Temporal–Spatial Features of Electrical Network Frequency
Authors: Zeng Chunyan , Kong Shuai , Wang Zhifeng , Li Kun , Zhao Yuhao
Published: April 2023

In recent years, digital audio tampering detection methods by extracting audio electrical network frequency (ENF) features have been widely applied. However, most digital audio tampering detection methods based on ENF have the problems of focusing on spatial features only, without effective representation of temporal features, and do not fully exploit the effective information in the shallow ENF features, which leads to low accuracy of audio tamper detection. Therefore, this paper proposes a new method for digital audio tampering detection based on the deep temporal–spatial feature of ENF. To extract the temporal and spatial features of the ENF, firstly, a highly accurate ENF phase sequence is extracted using the first-order Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT), and secondly, different frame processing methods are used to extract the ENF shallow temporal and spatial features for the temporal and spatial information contained in the ENF phase. To fully exploit the effective information in the shallow ENF features, we construct a parallel RDTCN-CNN network model to extract the deep temporal and spatial information by using the processing ability of Residual Dense Temporal Convolutional Network (RDTCN) and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) for temporal and spatial information, and use the branch attention mechanism to adaptively assign weights to the deep temporal and spatial features to obtain the temporal–spatial feature with greater representational capacity, and finally, adjudicate whether the audio is tampered with by the MLP network. The experimental results show that the method in this paper outperforms the four baseline methods in terms of accuracy and F1-score.
Impact of Pretreatment Systemic Inflammatory Markers on Treatment Persistence with Biologics and Conventional Systemic Therapy: A Retrospective Study of Patients with Psoriasis Vulgaris and Psoriatic Arthritis
Authors: Sugimoto Eiki , Matsuda Hiroki , Shibata Sayaka , Mizuno Yuka , Koyama Asumi , Li Lixin , Taira Haruka , Ito Yukiko , Awaji Kentaro , Yamashita Takashi , Sato Shinichi
Published: April 2023

Systemic inflammation plays a central role in the pathophysiology of psoriasis. This study examined accessible systemic inflammatory markers in patients with psoriasis vulgaris and psoriatic arthritis. We aimed to evaluate their association with psoriasis severity, the presence of arthritis, and drug continuation rates. The findings revealed that neutrophil, monocyte, and platelet count, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, monocyte/lymphocyte ratio, systemic inflammation response index, systemic immune/inflammation index (SII), and CRP were positively correlated with Psoriasis Area and Severity Index scores. Patients presenting with higher platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) or CRP values were more likely to be diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis than with psoriasis vulgaris in the multivariate regression analysis. Importantly, patients with higher pretreatment neutrophil or platelet count, PLR, and SII were associated with lower treatment continuation rates of conventional systemic agents. Higher pretreatment scores of systemic inflammatory markers did not affect treatment retention rates of biologics. These findings suggest that several accessible systemic inflammatory markers may effectively assess underlying systemic inflammation and may provide an indication for a therapeutic approach in patients with psoriasis vulgaris and psoriatic arthritis.
The Impact of Weight Loss Prior to Hospital Readmission
Authors: Fusco Kellie , Sharma Yogesh , Hakendorf Paul , Thompson Campbell
Published: April 2023

Hospital readmissions place a burden on hospitals. Reducing the readmission number and duration will help reduce the burden. Weight loss might affect readmission risk, especially the risk of an early (<30 days) readmission. This study sought to identify the predictors and the impact of weight loss prior to a delayed readmission (>30 days). Body mass index (BMI) was measured during the index admission and first readmission. Patients, after their readmission, were assessed retrospectively to identify the characteristics of those who had lost >5% weight prior to that readmission. Length of stay (LOS), time spent in the intensive care unit (ICU) and the one-year mortality of those patients who lost weight were compared to the outcomes of those who remained weight-stable using multilevel mixed-effects regression adjusting for BMI, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), ICU hours and relative stay index (RSI). Those who were at risk of weight loss prior to readmission were identifiable based upon their age, BMI, CCI and LOS. Of 1297 patients, 671 (51.7%) remained weight-stable and 386 (29.7%) lost weight between admissions. During their readmission, those who had lost weight had a significantly higher LOS (IRR 1.17; 95% CI 1.12, 1.22: p < 0.001), RSI (IRR 2.37; 95% CI 2.27, 2.47: p < 0.001) and an increased ICU LOS (IRR 2.80; 95% CI 2.65, 2.96: p < 0.001). This study indicates that weight loss prior to a delayed readmission is predictable and leads to worse outcomes during that readmission.
Biomarkers for Prostate Cancer Bone Metastasis Detection and Prediction
Authors: Ying Mingshuai , Mao Jianshui , Sheng Lingchao , Wu Hongwei , Bai Guangchao , Zhong Zhuolin , Pan Zhijun
Published: April 2023

Prostate cancer (PCa) causes deaths worldwide, ranking second after lung cancer. Bone metastasis (BM) frequently results from advanced PCa, affecting approximately 90% of patients, and it also often results in severe skeletal-related events. Traditional diagnostic methods for bone metastases, such as tissue biopsies and imaging, have substantial drawbacks. This article summarizes the significance of biomarkers in PCa accompanied with BM, including (1) bone formation markers like osteopontin (OPN), pro-collagen type I C-terminal pro-peptide (PICP), osteoprotegerin (OPG), pro-collagen type I N-terminal pro-peptide (PINP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and osteocalcin (OC); (2) bone resorption markers, including C-telopeptide of type I collagen (CTx), N-telopeptide of type I collagen (NTx), bone sialoprotein (BSP), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP), deoxypyridinoline (D-PYD), pyridoxine (PYD), and C-terminal pyridinoline cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP); (3) prostate-specific antigen (PSA); (4) neuroendocrine markers, such as chromogranin A (CgA), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and pro-gastrin releasing peptide (ProGRP); (5) liquid biopsy markers, such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs), microRNA (miRNA), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), and cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and exosomes. In summary, some of these markers are already in widespread clinical use, while others still require further laboratory or clinical studies to validate their value for clinical application.
Hiccups, Hypersalivation, Hallucinations in Parkinson’s Disease: New Insights, Mechanisms, Pathophysiology, and Management
Authors: Metta Vinod , Chung-Faye Guy , TS Benamer Hani , Mrudula Rukmini , Goyal Vinay , Falup-Pecurariu Cristian , Muralidharan Neha , Deepak Desh , Abdulraheem Mohammed , Borgohain Rupam , Chaudhuri Kallol Ray
Published: April 2023

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic, progressive neurological disorder and the second most common neurodegenerative condition. We report three common but overlooked symptoms in PD—hiccups, hypersalivation, and hallucinations—in terms of their prevalence, pathophysiology, and up-to-date evidence-based treatment strategies. Whilst all these three symptoms do occur in many other neurological and non-neurological conditions, early recognition and treatment are paramount. Whilst hiccups affect 3% of healthy people, their rate of occurrence is higher (20%) in patients with PD. Hypersalivation (Sialorrhea) is another common neurological manifestation of many neurological and other neurodegenerative conditions such as motor neuron disease (MND), with a median prevalence rate of 56% (range: 32–74%). A 42% prevalence of sialorrhea is also reported in sub-optimally treated patients with PD. Hallucinations, especially visual hallucinations, are commonly reported, with a prevalence of 32–63% in PD, and a 55–78% prevalence is noted in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), followed by tactile hallucinations, which are indicated by a sensation of crawling bugs or imaginary creatures across the skin surface. Whilst mainstay and primary management strategies for all these three symptoms are carried out through history taking, it is also essential to identify and treat possible potential triggers such as infection, minimise or avoid causative (such as drug-induced) factors, and especially carry out patient education before considering more definitive treatment strategies, such as botulinum toxin therapies for hypersalivation, to improve the quality of life of patients. This original review paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the disease mechanisms, pathophysiology, and management of hiccups, hypersalivation, and hallucinations in Parkinson’s disease.
Response of Bare Soil Respiration to Air and Soil Temperature Variations According to Different Models: A Case Study of an Urban Grassland
Authors: Dyukarev Egor A. , Kurakov Sergey A.
Published: April 2023

Soil respiration is an important component of the global carbon cycle and is highly responsive to disturbances in the environment. Human impacts on the terrestrial ecosystem lead to changes in the environmental conditions, and following this, changes in soil respiration. Predicting soil respiration and its changes under future climatic and land-use conditions requires a clear understanding of the processes involved. The observation of CO2 fluxes was conducted at an urban grassland, where plants were removed and respiration from bare soil was measured. Nine soil respiration models were applied to describe the temperature dependence of heterotrophic soil respiration. Modified models were suggested, including a linear relationship of the temperature sensitivity and base respiration coefficients with soil temperature at various depths. We demonstrate that modification improves the simulated soil respiration. The exponential and logistic models with linear dependences on the model parameters from the soil temperatures were the best models describing soil respiration fluxes. Variability of the apparent temperature sensitivity coefficient (Q10) was demonstrated, depending on the model used. The Q10 value can be extremely high and does not reflect the actual relationships between soil respiration and temperature. Our findings have important implications for better understanding and accurately assessing the carbon cycling characteristics of terrestrial ecosystems in response to climate change in a temporal perspective.
Modeling of Gully Erosion in Ethiopia as Influenced by Changes in Rainfall and Land Use Management Practices
Authors: Setargie Tadesual Asamin , Tsunekawa Atsushi , Haregeweyn Nigussie , Tsubo Mitsuru , Rossi Mauro , Ardizzone Francesca , Vanmaercke Matthias , De Geeter Sofie , Fenta Ayele Almaw , Ebabu Kindiye , Yibeltal Mesenbet , Berihun Mulatu Liyew , Sultan Dagnenet , Nzioki Benedict , Meshesha Taye Minichil
Published: April 2023

Gully erosion is one of the most extreme land degradation processes that exhibit spatial and temporal variation depending on topography, soil, climate, and land use and management characteristics. This study investigated the impact of changes in rainfall, land use/land cover (LULC), and land use management (LUM) practices on gully erosion in two midland watersheds (treated Kecha and untreated Laguna) in the Upper Blue Nile basin of Ethiopia by using the LANDPLANER model in combination with intensive field measurements and remote sensing products. We simulated gully erosion under past (in 2005), present (in 2021), and three potential future curve number conditions, each time under four rainfall scenarios (10, 30, 60, and 100 mm) using the dynamic erosion index (e), static topographic (esp), and erosion channel (esp_channel) thresholds. Density plot analyses showed that gullies frequently occur in low-lying gentle slope areas with relatively higher curve number values. The best predictions of gullies identified through true positive rates (TPR) and true negative rates (TNR) were achieved considering the static esp_channel > 1 for Kecha (TPR = 0.667 and TNR = 0.544) and the dynamic e > 0.1 for 60 mm of rainfall in Laguna (TPR = 0.769 and TNR = 0.516). Despite the 10 mm rainfall having negligible erosion-triggering potential in both watersheds, the 60 and 100 mm rainfall scenarios were 4–5 and 10–17 times, respectively, higher than the 30 mm rainfall scenario. While the LULC change in the untreated Laguna watershed increased the impact of rainfall on gully initiation by only 0–2% between 2005 and 2021, the combination of LULC and LUM significantly reduced the impact of rainfall in the treated Kecha watershed by 64–79%. Similarly, the gully initiation area in Kecha was reduced by 28% (from 33% in 2005 to 5% in 2021) due to changes in LULC and LUM practices, whereas Laguna showed little increment by only 1% (from 42% in 2005 to 43% in 2021) due to LULC change. In addition, the future predicted alternative land use planning options showed that gully initiation areas in Laguna could be reduced by 1% with only LULC conversion; 39% when only LUM practices were implemented; and 37% when both were combined. These results indicate that LUM practices outweigh the impact of LULC on gully erosion in the studied paired watersheds. Overall, LANDPLANER successfully simulated the spatio-temporal variation of gully erosion with scenario-based analyses and hence can be used to predict gullies in the study area and other data-scarce regions with similar agro-ecological settings.
Simultaneous Inguinal Hernia Repair with Monofilament Polypropylene Mesh during Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy: Results from a Single Institute Series
Authors: Chiacchio Giuseppe , Beltrami Mattia , Cicconofri Andrea , Nedbal Carlotta , Pitoni Lucia , Fuligni Demetra , Maggi Martina , Milanese Giulio , Galosi Andrea Benedetto , Castellani Daniele , Giulioni Carlo
Published: April 2023

Background and Objectives: Inguinal hernia (IH) is a usual finding in men with prostate cancer (PCa) due to their similar risk factors, such as age, gender, and smoking. This study aims to present a single institution’s experience with simultaneous IH repair (IHR) and robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 452 patients who underwent RARP between January 2018 and December 2020. A total of 73 patients had a concomitant IHR with a monofilament polypropylene mesh. Patients with bowel in the hernia sac or recurrent hernia were excluded. Results: The median age and the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score were 67 years (inter-quartile range (IQR) 56–77) and 2 (IQR 1–3), respectively. The median prostate volume and preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) were 38 mL (IQR 25.0–75.2) and 7.8 ng/mL (IQR 2.6–23.0), respectively. The surgery was successfully performed in all cases. The median overall and IHR operative time were 190.0 (IQR 140.0–230.0) and 32.5 (IQR 14.0–40.0) minutes, respectively. The median estimated blood loss and length of hospital stay were 100 mL (IQR 10–170) and 3 days (IQR 2–4), respectively. Only five (6.8%) minor complications occurred after surgery. At the 24-month follow-up, no cases of mesh infection, seroma formation, or groin pain were recorded. Conclusions: This study confirmed the safety and efficacy of performing simultaneous RARP and IHR.
Recent Progress on Passive, Thermally Localized Solar-Driven Multistage Water Evaporation
Authors: Kim Hyeon Tae , Afsari Morteza , Tan Noel Peter B. , Shon Ho Kyong , Tijing Leonard D.
Published: April 2023

Thermally localized solar-driven water evaporation (SWE) in recent years has increasingly been developed due to the potential of cost-efficient freshwater production from small-scale portable devices. In particular, the multistage SWE has attracted much attention as the systems possess mostly a simple foundational structure and high solar-to-thermal conversion output rates, enough to produce freshwater from 1.5 L m−2h−1 (LMH) to 6 LMH. In this study, the currently designed multistage SWE devices were reviewed and examined based on their unique characteristics as well as their performances in freshwater production. The main distinguishing factors in these systems were the condenser staging design and the spectrally selective absorbers either in a form of high solar absorbing material, photovoltaic (PV) cells for water and electricity co-production, and coupling of absorber and solar concentrator. Other elements of the devices involved differences such as the direction of water flow, the number of layers constructed, and the materials used for each layer of the system. The key factors to consider for these systems include the heat and mass transport in the device, solar-to-vapor conversion efficiency, gain output ratio (representing how many times the latent heat has been reused), water production rate/number of stages, and kWh/number of stages. It was evident that most of the studied devices involved slightly different mechanisms and material compositions to draw out higher efficiency rates from the current limitations. The reviewed designs showed the ability to be adopted into small-scale solar desalination allowing for accessibility of sufficient freshwater in needing regions.
Effect of Ca and Sb on the Corrosion Resistance of E690 Steel in Marine Atmosphere Environment
Authors: Jiang Jianbo , Li Nannan , Li Qinglin , Jiang Zaihao , Wang Bingqin , He Yinyin , Liu Fangfang , Liu Chao
Published: April 2023

This study investigates the impact of Ca and Sb elements on the corrosion resistance of E690 steel in a simulated marine environment. Electrochemical testing and dry/wet cyclic corrosion testing were conducted on prepared E690 steel specimens. The eroded specimens’ microstructure was observed under a scanning electron microscope, and the inclusion morphology was analyzed using an energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS). The simulating liquid was designed to emulate the severe marine atmospheric environment in Xisha. Results showed that the addition of Ca and Sb elements effectively enhances the corrosion resistance of E690 steel in the simulated marine environment. The corrosion rates of E690 steel specimens with Ca and Sb additions were lower than those without, and the corrosion morphology was more uniform. These findings suggest that the addition of Ca and Sb elements can improve the corrosion resistance of E690 steel in simulated marine environments and have potential for use in marine engineering applications.
Electrochemical Corrosion Behavior of Passivated Precipitation Hardening Stainless Steels for Aerospace Applications
Authors: Villegas-Tovar José , Gaona-Tiburcio Citlalli , Lara-Banda María , Maldonado-Bandala Erick , Baltazar-Zamora Miguel Angel , Cabral-Miramontes Jose , Nieves-Mendoza Demetrio , Olguin-Coca Javier , Estupiñan-Lopez Francisco , Almeraya-Calderón Facundo
Published: April 2023

Precipitation-hardening (PH) stainless steels (SS) are widely used in various aerospace applications. These steels exhibit good mechanical and corrosion resistance. The electrochemical behavior of 15-5PH, 17-4PH, Custom450 and AM 350 stainless steels passivated with citric and nitric acid baths for 60 and 90 min at 25 and 49 °C were evaluated in 5 wt.% sodium chloride (NaCl) and 1 wt.% sulfuric acid (H2SO4) solutions. The electrochemical behavior was studied with potentiodynamic polarization curves (PPC) according to the ASTM G5-13 standard. The results indicated that there are two characteristic mechanisms that are present in the potentiodynamic polarization curves. When the PHSS is immersed in an H2SO4 solution, there is a secondary passivation, and in the NaCl solution, there is a pseudo-passivation (not stable passivation film). The current densities in the NaCl solution were between 10−4 and 10−5 mA/cm2, while those of H2SO4 were recorded around 10−2 and 10−3 mA/cm2. Citric acid does work as a passivating solution, and in some cases, the corrosion resistance of the stainless steel was comparable to that of nitric acid.
Correlation of Neogene Oil and Paleogene Source Rocks in the Middle Huanghekou Sag, Bohai Bay Basin
Authors: Hu Rui , Lan Xiaodong , Liu Hao
Published: April 2023

Several billion-ton Neogene oil fields have been successfully discovered in the middle Huanghekou sag over the past few years. However, the source of the crude oil needs to be clarified, and the relevant oil-source correlation was less carried out. Six source rocks of the third member of the Paleocene Shahejie Formation (Es3) from five wells and sixteen Neogene crude oil samples from nine wells in the middle Huanghekou sag were investigated for the oil-source correlation with the biomarkers and carbon and hydrogen isotopes of saturated hydrocarbon monomers. The distribution characteristics of n-alkanes, C19/C23 ratio of tricyclic terpanes, long-chain tricyclic terpene ratios (ETR), C24 tetracyclic terpane to C26 tricyclic terpene, and distribution characteristics of conventional steranes suggest that the Es3 parent material is of a mixed-source input from terrestrial higher plants and aquatic phytoplankton. The gammacerane to C30 hopane ratio is low, ranging from 0.094 to 0.134, with a mean value of 0.118; the Pr/Ph ratio is less than 1.5. The Neogene oils show the characteristics of a saturated hydrocarbon biomarker similar to Es3. The carbon and hydrogen isotopes of saturated hydrocarbon monomers also corroborate the oil-source correlation from the depositional environment and parent material source, which characterize the low salinity of the water during the Es3 sedimentary period, which was a brackish or a freshwater delta deposition under weak oxidation–weak reduction conditions. The parity dominance of CPI and OEP values (both greater than 1), higher ratios of Ts/Tm (1.174 to 1.383, mean 1.278) and the C29Ts/C29 norhopane, high values of diahopane and diasterane contents (C30diaH/C30H, C27diaS/C27S), and hopane and sterane isomerization parameters (%22S, %20S, %ββ) confirm that the Es3 source rock samples are mature enough to provide crude oil for the middle Huanghekou sag. The biomarker characteristics of regional Neogene crude oil are significantly different from those of Es4 source rocks in the surrounding depressions (sags), indicating the Es4 strata’s absence in the middle Huanghekou sag. Suitable traps need to be discovered around the hydrocarbon-generating center of the Es3 source rock for oil and gas exploration in the future.
The Buzz on Insecticides: A Review of Uses, Molecular Structures, Targets, Adverse Effects, and Alternatives
Authors: Araújo Maria F. , Castanheira Elisabete M. S. , Sousa Sérgio F.
Published: April 2023

Insecticides play a critical role in controlling the spread of insect-borne diseases and preserving crop health. These chemical substances are specifically formulated to kill or manage insect populations. Over the years, various types of insecticides have been developed, including organophosphates, carbamates, pyrethroids, and neonicotinoids, each with unique modes of action, physiological targets, and efficacy. Despite the advantages that insecticides offer, it is imperative to recognize the potential consequences on non-target species, the environment, and human health. It is therefore crucial to follow recommended label instructions and employ integrated pest management practices for the judicious use of insecticides. This review article provides an in-depth examination of the various types of insecticides, including their modes of action, physiological targets, environmental and human health impacts, and alternatives. The aim is to furnish a comprehensive overview of insecticides and to emphasize the significance of responsible and sustainable utilization.
Trametes hirsuta as an Attractive Biocatalyst for the Preparative Scale Biotransformation of Isosafrole into Piperonal
Authors: Hernik Dawid , Szczepańska Ewa , Brenna Elisabetta , Patejuk Katarzyna , Olejniczak Teresa , Strzała Tomasz , Boratyński Filip
Published: April 2023

Piperonal is a compound of key industrial importance due to its attractive olfactory and biological properties. It has been shown that among the fifty-six various fungal strains tested, the ability to cleave the toxic isosafrole into piperonal through alkene cleavage is mainly found in strains of the genus Trametes. Further studies involving strains isolated directly from different environments (decaying wood, fungal fruiting bodies, and healthy plant tissues) allowed the selection of two Trametes strains, T. hirsuta Th2_2 and T. hirsuta d28, as the most effective biocatalysts for the oxidation of isosafrole. The preparative scale of biotransformation with these strains provided 124 mg (conv. 82%, isolated yield 62%) and 101 mg (conv. 69%, isolated yield 50.5%) of piperonal, respectively. Due to the toxic impact of isosafrole on cells, preparative scale processes with Trametes strains have not yet been successfully performed and described in the literature.
Passivation Effect of the Chlorinated Paraffin Added in the Cutting Fluid on the Surface Corrosion Resistance of the Stainless Steel
Authors: Yan Lan , Yao Xingguo , Zhang Tian , Jiang Feng , Shui Yan , Xie Hong , Xiang Zhiyang , Li Yousheng , Lin Liangliang
Published: April 2023

Cutting fluids are the most effective method to lower the cutting temperature and decrease the cutting tool wear. At the same time, the cutting fluids influence the corrosion resistance property of the machined surface. In this study, chlorinated paraffin (CP), which is a common additive in the cutting fluid, was selected as the research objective to study its corrosion resistance property. The passivation effect of CP with different concentrations on the machined surface of stainless steel was studied. Electrochemical measurements and surface morphology investigation were used to characterize the passivation effect of CP with different concentrations. The test results showed that the corrosion resistance of stainless steel in the cutting fluid was enhanced with the increase in CP additive. This reason is that the charge transfer resistance increases and the corrosion current density decreases with the increase in CP additive. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results show that the proportion of metal oxides on the processed surface of the stainless steel sample was increased from 20.4% to 22.0%, 32.9%, 26.6%, and 31.1% after adding 1 mL, 2 mL, 4 mL and 6 mL CP in the cutting fluid with a total volume of 500 mL, respectively. The oxidation reaction between CP and the stainless steel sample resulted in an increase in metal oxides proportion, which prevented the stainless steel sample from corrosion in cutting fluid.
A Turn-On Quinazolinone-Based Fluorescence Probe for Selective Detection of Carbon Monoxide
Authors: Tange Akari , Kishikawa Naoya , Sakamoto Yusuke , El-Maghrabey Mahmoud , Wada Mitsuhiro , Kuroda Naotaka
Published: April 2023

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a toxic, hazardous gas that has a colorless and odorless nature. On the other hand, CO possesses some physiological roles as a signaling molecule that regulates neurotransmitters in addition to its hazardous effects. Because of the dual nature of CO, there is a need to develop a sensitive, selective, and rapid method for its detection. Herein, we designed and synthesized a turn-on fluorescence probe, 2-(2′-nitrophenyl)-4(3H)-quinazolinone (NPQ), for the detection of CO. NPQ provided a turn-on fluorescence response to CO and the fluorescence intensity at 500 nm was increased with increasing the concentration of CO. This fluorescence enhancement could be attributed to the conversion of the nitro group of NPQ to an amino group by the reducing ability of CO. The fluorescence assay for CO using NPQ as a reagent was confirmed to have a good linear relationship in the range of 1.0 to 50 µM with an excellent correlation coefficient (r) of 0.997 and good sensitivity down to a limit of detection at 0.73 µM (20 ppb) defined as mean blank+3SD. Finally, we successfully applied NPQ to the preparation of a test paper that can detect CO generated from charcoal combustion.
Outlook on Chronic Venous Disease Treatment: Phytochemical Screening, In Vitro Antioxidant Activity and In Silico Studies for Three Vegetal Extracts
Authors: Ungureanu Andreea Roxana , Chițescu Carmen Lidia , Luță Emanuela Alice , Moroșan Alina , Mihaiescu Dan Eduard , Mihai Dragoș Paul , Costea Liliana , Ozon Emma Adriana , Fița Ancuța Cătălina , Balaci Teodora Dalila , Boscencu Rica , Gîrd Cerasela Elena
Published: April 2023

Chronic venous disease is one of the most common vascular diseases; the signs and symptoms are varied and are often neglected in the early stages. Vascular damage is based on proinflammatory, prothrombotic, prooxidant activity and increased expression of several matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The aim of this research is preparation and preliminary characterization of three vegetal extracts (Sophorae flos-SE, Ginkgo bilobae folium-GE and Calendulae flos-CE). The obtained dry extracts were subjected to phytochemical screening (FT-ICR-MS, UHPLC-HRMS/MS) and quantitative analysis (UHPLC-HRMS/MS, spectrophotometric methods). Antioxidant activity was evaluated using three methods: FRAP, DPPH and ABTS. More than 30 compounds were found in each extract. The amount of flavones follows the succession: SE > GE > CE; the amount of phenolcarboxylic acids follows: SE > CE > GE; and the amount of polyphenols follows: SE > GE > CE. Results for FRAP method varied as follows: SE > CE > GE; results for the DPPH method followed: SE > GE > CE; and results for ABTS followed: SE > GE > CE. Strong and very strong correlations (appreciated by Pearson coefficient) have been observed between antioxidant activity and the chemical content of extracts. Molecular docking studies revealed the potential of several identified phytochemicals to inhibit the activity of four MMP isoforms. In conclusion, these three extracts have potential in the treatment of chronic venous disease, based on their phytochemical composition.
Potential Effects of Geraniol on Cancer and Inflammation-Related Diseases: A Review of the Recent Research Findings
Authors: Ben Ammar Rebai
Published: April 2023

Geraniol (GNL), a natural monoterpene, is found in many essential oils of fruits, vegetables, and herbs, including lavender, citronella, lemongrass, and other medicinal and aromatic plants. GNL is commonly used by the cosmetic and food industries and has shown a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and neuroprotective activities. It represents a potential anti-inflammatory agent and a promising cancer chemopreventive agent, as it has been found to be effective against a broad range of cancers, including colon, prostate, breast, lung, skin, kidney, liver, and pancreatic cancer. Moreover, GNL scavenges free radicals and preserves the activity of antioxidant enzymes. In addition, GNL induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, modulates multiple molecular targets, including p53 and STAT3, activates caspases, and modulates inflammation via transcriptional regulation. In the present study, different modes of action are described for GNL’s activity against cancer and inflammatory diseases. This compound protects various antioxidant enzymes, such as catalase, glutathione-S-transferase, and glutathione peroxidase. Experiments using allergic encephalomyelitis, diabetes, asthma, and carcinogenesis models showed that GNL treatment had beneficial effects with low toxicity. GNL has been shown to be effective in animal models and tumor cell lines, but there have not been any clinical studies carried out for it. The aim of the present review is to provide updated data on the potential effects of GNL on cancer and inflammation, and to enhance our understanding of molecular targets, involved pathways, and the possible use of GNL for clinical studies and therapeutic purposes in the treatment of cancer and inflammation-related diseases.
Boosting Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Formic Acid on Ir(IV)-Doped PdAg Alloy Nanodendrites with Sub-5 nm Branches
Authors: Zhang Gongguo , Wang Yingying , Ma Yanyun , Zhang Haifeng , Zheng Yiqun
Published: April 2023

The formic acid oxidation reaction (FAOR) represents an important class of small organic molecule oxidation and is central to the practical application of fuel cells. In this study, we report the fabrication of Ir(IV)-doped PdAg alloy nanodendrites with sub-5 nm branches via stepwise synthesis in which the precursors of Pd and Ag were co-reduced, followed by the addition of IrCl3 to conduct an in situ galvanic replacement reaction. When serving as the electrocatalyst for the FAOR in an acidic medium, Ir(IV) doping unambiguously enhanced the activity of PdAg alloy nanodendrites and improved the reaction kinetics and long-term stability. In particular, the carbon-supported PdAgIr nanodendrites exhibited a prominent mass activity with a value of 1.09 A mgPd−1, which is almost 2.0 times and 2.7 times that of their PdAg and Pd counterparts, and far superior to that of commercial Pt/C. As confirmed by the means of the DFT simulations, this improved electrocatalytic performance stems from the reduced overall barrier in the oxidation of formic acid into CO2 during the FAOR and successful d-band tuning, together with the stabilization of Pd atoms. The current study opens a new avenue for engineering Pd-based trimetallic nanocrystals with versatile control over the morphology and composition, shedding light on the design of advanced fuel cell electrocatalysts.
Ruthenium-Catalyzed Oxidative Synthesis of N-(2-triazine)indoles by C-H Activation
Authors: Zeng Ming , Chen Jiaqi , Li Fengye , Li Haojie , Zhao Lan , Jiang Dengzhao , Dai Jun , Liu Wenbo
Published: April 2023

1,3,5 triazines, especially indole functionalized triazine derivatives, exhibit excellent activities, such as anti-tumor, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities. Traditional methods for the synthesis of N-(2-triazine) indoles suffer from unstable materials and tedious operations. Transition-metal-catalyzed C-C/C-N coupling provides a powerful protocol for the synthesis of indoles by the C-H activation strategy. Here, we report the efficient ruthenium-catalyzed oxidative synthesis of N-(2-triazine) indoles by C-H activation from alkynes and various substituted triazine derivatives in a moderate to good yield, and all of the N-(2-triazine) indoles were characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and HRMS. This protocol can apply to the gram-scale synthesis of the N-(2-triazine) indole in a moderate yield. Moreover, the reaction is proposed to be performed via a six-membered ruthenacycle (II) intermediate, which suggests that the triazine ring could offer chelation assistance for the formation of N-(2-triazine) indoles.
Pulsatilla Saponins Inhibit Experimental Lung Metastasis of Melanoma via Targeting STAT6-Mediated M2 Macrophages Polarization
Authors: Yang Xin , Wu Miaolin , Yan Xin , Zhang Cheng , Luo Yingying , Yu Jun
Published: April 2023

Pulsatilla saponins (PS) extracts from Pulsatilla chinensis (Bge.) Regel, are a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine. In the previous study, we found Pulsatilla saponins displayed anti-tumor activity without side effects such as bone marrow suppression. However, the mechanism of the anti-tumor effect was not illustrated well. Since M2-like tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) that required activation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) for polarization are the important immune cells in the tumor microenvironment and play a key role in tumor progress and metastasis, this study aimed to confirm whether Pulsatilla saponins could inhibit the development and metastasis of tumors by inhibiting the polarization of M2 macrophages. We investigated the relevance of M2 macrophage polarization and the anti-tumor effects of Pulsatilla saponins in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, Pulsatilla saponins could decrease the mRNA level of M2 marker genes Arg1, Fizz1, Ym1, and CD206, and the down-regulation effect of phosphorylated STAT6 induced by IL-4; moreover, the conditioned medium (CM) from bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) treated with Pulsatilla saponins could inhibit the proliferation and migration of B16-F0 cells. In vivo, Pulsatilla saponins could reduce the number of lung metastasis loci, down-regulate the expression of M2 marker genes, and suppress the expression of phosphorylated STAT6 in tumor tissues. Furthermore, we used AS1517499 (AS), a STAT6 inhibitor, to verify the role of PS on M2 macrophage polarization both in vitro and in vivo. We found that Pulsatilla saponins failed to further inhibit STAT6 activation; the mRNA level of Arg1, Fizz1, Ym1, and CD206; and the proliferation and migration of B16-F0 cells after AS1517499 intervention in vitro. Similar results were obtained in vivo. These results illustrated that Pulsatilla saponins could effectively suppress tumor progress by inhibiting the polarization of M2 macrophages via the STAT6 signaling pathway; this revealed a novel mechanism for its anti-tumor activity.