bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transcriptional Profiling and Deriving a Seven-Gene Signature That Discriminates Active and Latent Tuberculosis: An Integrative Bioinformatics Approach
Authors: Natarajan Sudhakar , Ranganathan Mohan , Hanna Luke Elizabeth , Tripathy Srikanth
Published: March 2022

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb.). Our integrative analysis aims to identify the transcriptional profiling and gene expression signature that distinguish individuals with active TB (ATB) disease, and those with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). In the present study, we reanalyzed a microarray dataset (GSE37250) from GEO database and explored the data for differential gene expression analysis between those with ATB and LTBI derived from Malawi and South African cohorts. We used BRB array tool to distinguish DEGs (differentially expressed genes) between ATB and LTBI. Pathway enrichment analysis of DEGs was performed using DAVID bioinformatics tool. The protein–protein interaction (PPI) network of most upregulated genes was constructed using STRING analysis. We have identified 375 upregulated genes and 152 downregulated genes differentially expressed between ATB and LTBI samples commonly shared among Malawi and South African cohorts. The constructed PPI network was significantly enriched with 76 nodes connected to 151 edges. The enriched GO term/pathways were mainly related to expression of IFN stimulated genes, interleukin-1 production, and NOD-like receptor signaling pathway. Downregulated genes were significantly enriched in the Wnt signaling, B cell development, and B cell receptor signaling pathways. The short-listed DEGs were validated in a microarray data from an independent cohort (GSE19491). ROC curve analysis was done to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the gene signature in discrimination of active and latent tuberculosis. Thus, we have derived a seven-gene signature, which included five upregulated genes FCGR1B, ANKRD22, CARD17, IFITM3, TNFAIP6 and two downregulated genes FCGBP and KLF12, as a biomarker for discrimination of active and latent tuberculosis. The identified genes have a sensitivity of 80–100% and specificity of 80–95%. Area under the curve (AUC) value of the genes ranged from 0.84 to 1. This seven-gene signature has a high diagnostic accuracy in discrimination of active and latent tuberculosis.
Delineating the Molecular and Phenotypic Spectrum of the CNGA3-Related Cone Photoreceptor Disorder in Pakistani Families
Authors: Yousaf Sairah , Tariq Nabeela , Sajid Zureesha , Sheikh Shakeel A. , Kausar Tasleem , Waryah Yar M. , Shaikh Rehan S. , Waryah Ali M. , Sethna Saumil , Riazuddin Saima , Ahmed Zubair M.
Published: March 2022

Cone photoreceptor dysfunction represents a clinically heterogenous group of disorders characterized by nystagmus, photophobia, reduced central or color vision, and macular dystrophy. Here, we described the molecular findings and clinical manifestations of achromatopsia, a partial or total absence of color vision, co-segregating with three known missense variants of CNGA3 in three large consanguineous Pakistani families. Fundus examination and optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging revealed myopia, thin retina, retinal pigment epithelial cells loss at fovea/perifovea, and macular atrophy. Combination of Sanger and whole exome sequencing revealed three known homozygous missense variants (c.827A>G, p.(Asn276Ser); c.847C>T, p.(Arg283Trp); c.1279C>T, p.(Arg427Cys)) in CNGA3, the α-subunit of the cyclic nucleotide-gated cation channel in cone photoreceptor cells. All three variants are predicted to replace evolutionary conserved amino acids, and to be pathogenic by specific in silico programs, consistent with the observed altered membrane targeting of CNGA3 in heterologous cells. Insights from our study will facilitate counseling regarding the molecular and phenotypic landscape of CNGA3-related cone dystrophies.
Institutional Place Identity and Life Adaptation among Elderly People in Taiwan
Authors: Chuang Ning-Chun , Kuo Pei-Chun , Chiu Yi-Wen
Published: March 2022

Background: Many elderly people in Taiwan move to institutional care due to disability or insufficient family resources. This study aimed to understand the place identity and life adaptation of institutional residents and their influencing factors, and to explore the correlation between these two. Methods: This study adopted a cross-sectional survey method. A total of 120 cases were collected with structured questionnaires, and SPSS 22.0 software package was used for statistical analysis. Results: The place identity was the highest in the sense of belonging, while the sense of participation was the worst; adaptation to life was the best in terms of care management, and the worst in terms of adaptation to life and assistive devices. The length of stay in the institution, daily activities, and the number of chronic diseases were significantly different from place identity, and the number of chronic diseases was significantly different from life adaptation. Conclusions: The results of this study can be used as a reference for institutions to improve the quality of care. It is suggested that institutions can organize more activities to promote interaction and participation among residents, to strengthen their local identity and life adaptation.
The Diagnostic Relevance and Interfaces Covered by Mach Band Effect in Dentistry: An Analysis of the Literature
Authors: Yeung Andy Wai Kan
Published: March 2022

This work surveyed how the Mach band effect was mentioned in the dental literature and provided a qualitative assessment of diagnostic relevance and interfaces covered. PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were queried in mid-Jan 2022. The search string was (“mach band effect” OR “mach effect”) AND (dental OR oral OR tooth OR teeth OR maxillofacial OR orofacial). All publications returned by the searches were screened. Exclusion criteria included irrelevance (e.g., dealing with “Mach effect” that was non-radiographic or non-dental) and not written in English. Reference lists of returned publications were manually searched to identify potentially missed papers. For each included publication, the following parameters were recorded: any presentation of radiographic images showing a Mach band effect, direct investigation of the effect, relevance to which structural interfaces, diagnostic relevance, and in which parts of the publication Mach band effect was mentioned. Seventy-seven publications were included and analyzed. The majority of the publications mentioned the Mach band effect in the Discussion section about its diagnostic relevance to caries detection at the enamel-dentinal junction and the interface between restorative material and tooth structure. Eight of them presented radiographic images showing a Mach band effect. Three of them investigated the Mach band effect. Dental publications seldom covered the Mach band effect. When they covered it, most of them only mentioned it in the Discussion section without actually investigating it.
Epithelioid Hemangioma of the Nose: A Challenging Diagnosis
Authors: Schonauer Fabrizio , Cavaliere Annachiara , Pezone Giuseppe , Calogero Armando , Sagnelli Caterina , Sica Antonello , D’Andrea Luca , Baldo Antonello
Published: March 2022

Epithelioid hemangioma is a rare reactive vasoproliferative disease presenting with painless vascular nodules in the dermal and subcutaneous tissues of the head and neck. Clinical diagnosis can be difficult as, in most cases, the only symptom is a progressively tender swelling next to a vessel course. Thus far, few cases of epithelioid hemangioma localized to the nose have been described in the literature. Herein, we present a case of a 47-year-old woman with just such a lesion of the nose, focusing on its diagnosis and treatment.
Postharvest Conservation of ‘BRS Nubia’ Hybrid Table Grape Subjected to Field Ultra-Fast SO2-Generating Pads before Packaging
Authors: Dantas Beatriz Costa , Higuchi Maíra Tiaki , de Aguiar Aline Cristina , Bosso Bruna Evelise , Roberto Sergio Ruffo
Published: March 2022

The gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea is the main concern for the postharvest conservation of table grapes worldwide, and the use of sulfur dioxide (SO2) is the most common practice for its control. The aim of this work was to assess the postharvest conservation of the hybrid table grape ‘BRS Nubia’ by using a new technology known as a field ultra-fast SO2-generating pad before packaging the grapes. The fruits were harvested in the 2021 season from a commercial vineyard located at Marialva, Parana, Brazil. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, with 4 treatments and 4 replications, and each plot consisted of 10 bunches. The treatments included: (a) control; (b) field ultra-fast SO2-generating pad (FUFR) during the 4 h before packaging; (c) dual-release SO2-generating pad (DR) during cold storage; and (d) FUFR pad during the 4 h before packaging in combination with the DR pad during cold storage. The bunches were packaged in 0.5 kg plastic clamshells and placed in carton boxes with a capacity of 10 units each. The treatments were evaluated after 30 and 45 days in cold storage (1 ± 1 °C) by means of the incidence of gray mold, shattered berries, stem browning, bunch mass loss and bleaching. After 45 days, the boxes were removed from cold storage and kept without the pads and liners for 3 days at room temperature (22 ± 1 °C), and the incidence of gray mold, shattered berries and stem browning were assessed. The use of the FUFR pad before packaging and the DR pad during cold storage, combined or not, were efficient at controlling gray mold, keeping the incidence of the disease very low. Both pads were also efficient at preventing the mass loss of grapes, but the percentage of shattered berries was lower when the FUFR pad was used. This allowed grapes to arrive already sanitized to the packing house, and no additional SO2-generating pads were needed, representing savings in economic terms for packaging operations. The stem browning, the chemical properties, and the color attributes of berries were not influenced by any treatment.
Metagenomic Assessment Unravels Fungal Microbiota Associated to Grapevine Trunk Diseases
Authors: Patanita Mariana , Albuquerque André , Campos Maria Doroteia , Materatski Patrick , Varanda Carla M. R. , Ribeiro Joana A. , Félix Maria do Rosário
Published: March 2022

Grapevine trunk diseases (GTDs) are among the most important problems that affect the longevity and productivity of vineyards in all the major growing regions of the world. They are slow-progression diseases caused by several wood-inhabiting fungi with similar life cycles and epidemiology. The simultaneous presence of multiple trunk pathogens in a single plant together with the inconsistent GTDs symptoms expression, their isolation in asymptomatic plants, and the absence of effective treatments make these diseases extremely complex to identify and eradicate. Aiming to gain a better knowledge of GTDs and search sustainable alternatives to limit their development, the present work studied the fungal community structure associated with GTDs symptomatic and asymptomatic grapevines, following a metagenomic approach. Two important cultivars from the Alentejo region with different levels of susceptibility to GTDs were selected, namely, ‘Alicante Bouschet’ and ‘Trincadeira’. Deep sequencing of fungal-directed ITS1 amplicon led to the detection of 258 taxa, including 10 fungi previously described as responsible for GTDs. Symptomatic plants exhibited a lower abundance of GTDs-associated fungi, although with significantly higher diversity of those pathogens. Our results demonstrated that trunk diseases symptoms are intensified by a set of multiple GTDs-associated fungi on the same plant. The composition of fungal endophytic communities was significantly different according to the symptomatology and it was not affected by the cultivar. This study opens new perspectives in the study of GTDs-associated fungi and their relation to the symptomatology in grapevines.
Anticheat System Based on Reinforcement Learning Agents in Unity
Authors: Lukas Mihael , Tomicic Igor , Bernik Andrija
Published: March 2022

Game cheating is a common occurrence that may degrade the experience of “honest” players. It can be hindered by using appropriate anticheat systems, which are being considered as a subset of security-related issues. In this paper, we implement and test an anticheat system whose main goal is to help differentiate human players from AI players. For this purpose, we first developed a multiplayer game inside game engine Unity that would serve as a framework for training the reinforcement learning agent. This agent would thus learn to differentiate human players from bots within the game. We implemented the Machine Learning Agents Toolkit library, which uses the proximal policy optimization algorithm. AI players are implemented using state machines, and perform certain actions depending on which condition is satisfied. Two experiments were carried out for testing the agent and showed promising results for identifying artificial players.
Poly(ethyl methacrylate) Composite Coatings Containing Halogen-Free Inorganic Additives with Flame-Retardant Properties
Authors: Liu Xinqian , Veldhuis Stephen , Mathews Ritch , Zhitomirsky Igor
Published: March 2022

This investigation is motivated by the need for the development of polymer coatings containing inorganic flame-retardant materials (FRMs) and the replacement of toxic halogenated FRMs. A green strategy is reported for the fabrication of poly(ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA)-FRM composite coatings using a dip-coating method. The use of water-isopropanol co-solvent allows the replacement of regular toxic solvents for PEMA. The abilities to form concentrated solutions of high-molecular-mass PEMA and to disperse FRM particles in such solutions are the main factors in the fabrication of coatings using a dip-coating technique. Huntite, halloysite, and hydrotalcite are used as advanced FRMs for the fabrication of PEMA-FRM coatings. FTIR, XRD, SEM, and TGA data are used for the analysis of the microstructure and composition of PEMA-FRM coatings. PEMA and PEMA-FRM coatings provide corrosion protection of stainless steel. The ability to form laminates with different layers using a dip-coating method facilitates the fabrication of composite coatings with enhanced properties.
Power in the Context of SCM and Supply Chain Digitalization: An Overview from a Literature Review
Authors: Brinker Janosch , Haasis Hans-Dietrich
Published: March 2022

Background: Within highly complex supply chain networks, driven by the trend of digitalization, supply chain relationship management becomes one of the central enablers in increasing supply chain performance. While the influences of globalization and digitalization on the supply chains are increasing, the power allocation within several markets is centralized to a small number of companies. The objective of this paper is to investigate the research gap concerning the impact of power asymmetries on the supply chain, in addition to the trend of digitalization. Methods: A literature review on power, in the research area of supply chain management and logistics, is used to synthesize the current state of the art in this research field and to provide a comprehensive definition of the concept of power. Conclusions: While this paper provides an overview of the impact of power allocations, according to supply chain digitalization and in the present research of supply chain management, it also develops a definition of Power in Supply Chain Management in general. Linked to this definition, this research elaborates on the research gap between power allocations and the digitalization of the supply chain.
Fault Detection and Diagnosis with Imbalanced and Noisy Data: A Hybrid Framework for Rotating Machinery
Authors: Jalayer Masoud , Kaboli Amin , Orsenigo Carlotta , Vercellis Carlo
Published: March 2022

Fault diagnosis plays an essential role in reducing the maintenance costs of rotating machinery manufacturing systems. In many real applications of fault detection and diagnosis, data tend to be imbalanced, meaning that the number of samples for some fault classes is much less than the normal data samples. At the same time, in an industrial condition, accelerometers encounter high levels of disruptive signals and the collected samples turn out to be heavily noisy. As a consequence, many traditional Fault Detection and Diagnosis (FDD) frameworks get poor classification performances when dealing with real-world circumstances. Three main solutions have been proposed in the literature to cope with this problem: (1) the implementation of generative algorithms to increase the amount of under-represented input samples, (2) the employment of a classifier being powerful to learn from imbalanced and noisy data, (3) the development of an efficient data preprocessing including feature extraction and data augmentation. This paper proposes a hybrid framework which uses the three aforementioned components to achieve an effective signal based FDD system for imbalanced conditions. Specifically, it first extracts the fault features, using Fourier and wavelet transforms to make full use of the signals. Then, it employs Wasserstein Generative Adversarial with Gradient Penalty Networks (WGAN-GP) to generate synthetic samples to populate the rare fault class and enrich the training set. Moreover, to achieve a higher performance a novel combination of Convolutional Long Short-term Memory (CLSTM) and Weighted Extreme Learning Machine (WELM) is also proposed. To verify the effectiveness of the developed framework, different bearing datasets settings on different imbalance severities and noise degrees were used. The comparative results demonstrate that in different scenarios GAN-CLSTM-ELM significantly outperforms the other state-of-the-art FDD frameworks.
A Novel Principal Component Analysis-Informer Model for Fault Prediction of Nuclear Valves
Authors: An Zhao , Cheng Lan , Guo Yuanjun , Ren Mifeng , Feng Wei , Sun Bo , Ling Jun , Chen Huanlin , Chen Weihua , Luo Yalin , Yang Zhile
Published: March 2022

In this paper, a deep learning fault detection and prediction framework combining principal component analysis (PCA) and Informer is proposed to solve the problem of online monitoring of nuclear power valves which is hard to implement. More specifically, PCA plays the role of dimensionality reduction and fault feature extraction. It maps data with multi-dimensional space to low-dimensional space and extracts the main features. At the same time, the T-square and Q statistic thresholds are also provided to realize abnormal status monitoring. Meanwhile, Informer is a long-term series prediction method. It encrypts and decrypts data through the encoder and decoder to train a prediction model. Through the training of fault data, fault prediction can be realized. Experiments based on the sound waves collected from real valves can be continued, which also illustrates the effectiveness of the PCA–Informer model for fault diagnosis and fault prediction of nuclear power valves. Therefore, the online monitoring and maintenance of nuclear valves and other important equipment, without shutting down the nuclear station, can be achieved.
Comparative Assessment between Five Control Techniques to Optimize the Maximum Power Point Tracking Procedure for PV Systems
Authors: Troudi Fathi , Jouini Houda , Mami Abdelkader , Ben Khedher Nidhal , Aich Walid , Boudjemline Attia , Boujelbene Mohamed
Published: March 2022

Solar photovoltaic (PV) energy production is important in reducing global energy crises since it is transportable, scalable, and highly customizable dependent on the needs of the industry or end-user. In addition, compared to other renewable resources, photovoltaic systems can produce electricity without moving parts and have a long lifespan. Nevertheless, solar photovoltaic (PV) systems provide intermittent output electricity with a nonlinear output voltage. Due to this intermittent availability, PV installations are facing significant challenges. As a result, in PV power systems, a Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT), a power extraction mechanism, is required to assure maximum power delivery at any given moment. The main objective of this work is to study the MPPT method of extracting the maximum power from photovoltaic modules under different solar irradiation and temperatures. Several MPPT methods have been developed for photovoltaic systems to achieve MPP, depending on weather conditions and applications, ranging from simple to more complex methods. Among these methods, five techniques have been presented and compared that are P&O perturbation and observation method, INC incremental conductance method, the ANN neural network method, the open circuit voltage based neural network method FVCO, and the neural network method at the base of FCC (short circuit current).
Nonlinear Static Stability of Imperfect Bio-Inspired Helicoidal Composite Beams
Authors: Mohamed Nazira , Mohamed Salwa A. , Eltaher Mohamed A.
Published: March 2022

The objective of this manuscript is to develop, for the first time, a mathematical model for the prediction of buckling, postbuckling, and nonlinear bending of imperfect bio-inspired helicoidal composite beams with nonlinear rotation angle. The equilibrium nonlinear integrodifferential equations of imperfect (curved) helicoidal composite beams are derived from the Euler–Bernoulli kinematic assumption. The differential integral quadrature method (DIQM) and Newton-iterative method are employed to evaluate the response of imperfect helicoidal composite beams. Following the validation of the proposed model, numerical studies are performed to quantify the effect of rotation angle, imperfection amplitude, and foundation stiffness on postbuckling and bending behaviors of helicoidal composite beams. The perfect beam buckles through a pitchfork bifurcation. However, the imperfect beam snaps through the buckling type. The critical buckling load increases with the increasing value of elastic foundation constants. However, the nonlinear foundation constant has no effect in the case of perfect beams. The present model can be exploited in the analysis of bio-inspired structure, which has a failure similar to a metal and low interlaminar shear stress, and is used extensively in numerous engineering applications.
A Solution of a Boundary Value Problem with Mixed Conditions for a Four-Dimensional Degenerate Elliptic Equation
Authors: Baishemirov Zharasbek , Berdyshev Abdumauvlen , Ryskan Ainur
Published: March 2022

The solvability issues of counterpart Holmgren’s boundary value problem with mixed conditions for a degenerate four-dimensional second-order Gellerstedt equation Hu≡ymzktluxx+xnzktluyy+xnymtluzz+xnymzkutt=0, m,n,k,l≡const>0, are studied in the finite domain R4+, where the values of normal derivatives are set on the piecewise smooth part of the boundary and the values of the desired function are set on the remaining part of the boundary. The main results of the work are the proof of the uniqueness of the considered problem solution by using an energy integral’s method and the construction of the solution of counterpart Holmgren’s boundary value problem in explicit form by means of Green’s function method, containing the hypergeometric Lauricella’s function FA4. Using the corresponding fundamental solution for the considered generalized Gellerstedt equation of elliptic type, we construct Green’s function. In addition, formulas of differentiation, some adjacent relations, decomposition formulas, and various properties of Lauricella’s hypergeometric functions were used to establish the main results for the aforementioned problem.
On Numerical Analysis of Bio-Ethanol Production Model with the Effect of Recycling and Death Rates under Fractal Fractional Operators with Three Different Kernels
Authors: Alqahtani Rubayyi T. , Ahmad Shabir , Akgül Ali
Published: March 2022

The main metabolism of yeasts produces bioethanol. Bioethanol, which is produced from biomass and bioenergy crops, has been promoted as one of the most viable alternatives to fossil fuels. The following reaction represents all of the knowledge we have regarding intracellular reactions and their regulatory mechanisms: biomass+substrates→ethanol+biomass(morecells). Atangana has suggested new operators based on a combination of fractional and fractal calculus. Fractal-fractional operators (FFOs) have frequently been utilized to investigate the dynamics of a physical problem. In this paper, FFOs are used to investigate a nonlinear mathematical model for ethanol production with three different kernels. Famous fixed point results are employed to show the existence and uniqueness of the solution of the FFO ethanol model under the Mittag–Leffler kernel. The concept of non-linear analysis is utilized to demonstrate the model’s Ulam–Hyres stability. The Adams—Bashforth numerical technique, which is based on the Lagrangian interpolation method, is utilized to find the solution of the model under fractal-fractional operators with three different kernels. The numerical results are simulated with MATLAB-17 for several sets of fractional orders and fractal dimensions to show the relationship between components of ethanol production under new operators in various senses.
Roughness Scaling Extraction Accelerated by Dichotomy-Binary Strategy and Its Application to Milling Vibration Signal
Authors: Feng Feng , Yuan Meng , Xia Yousheng , Xu Haoming , Feng Pingfa , Li Xinghui
Published: March 2022

Fractal algorithms for signal analysis are developed from geometric fractals and can be used to describe various complex signals in nature. A roughness scaling extraction algorithm with first-order flattening (RSE-f1) was shown in our previous studies to have a high accuracy, strong noise resistance, and a unique capacity to recognize the complexity of non-fractals that are common in signals. In this study, its disadvantage of a long calculation duration was addressed by using a dichotomy-binary strategy. The accelerated RSE-f1 algorithm (A-RSE-f1) retains the three above-mentioned advantages of the original algorithm according to theoretical analysis and artificial signal testing, while its calculation speed is significantly accelerated by 13 fold, which also makes it faster than the typical Higuchi algorithm. Afterwards, the vibration signals of the milling process are analyzed using the A-RSE-f1 algorithm, demonstrating the ability to distinguish different machining statuses (idle, stable, and chatter) effectively. The results of this study demonstrate that the RSE algorithm has been improved to meet the requirements of practical engineering with both a fast speed and a high performance.
Comparison of Pretreatment Methods for Salinity Gradient Power Generation Using Reverse Electrodialysis (RED) Systems
Authors: Ju Jaehyun , Choi Yongjun , Lee Sangho , Park Chan-gyu , Hwang Taemun , Jung Namjo
Published: March 2022

With the increasing concern about climate change and the energy crisis, the use of reverse electrodialysis (RED) to utilize salinity gradient power (SGP) has drawn attention as one of the promising renewable energy sources. However, one of the critical issues in RED processes is membrane fouling and channel blockage, which lead to a decrease in the power density. Thus, this study aims to improve our understanding of SGP generation by using RED by investigating the effect of pretreatment on the RED performance. Experiments were conducted by using a laboratory-scale experimental setup for RED. The low-salinity and high-salinity feed solutions were brackish water reverse osmosis (BWRO) brine from a wastewater reclamation plant, and a NaCl solution simulating seawater desalination brine. Several pretreatments were applied to the RED process, such as cartridge filter (CF), microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF), activated filter media (AFM), and granular activated carbon (GAC). The results indicate that the open-circuit voltage (OCV) and the power density were similar, except for in the NF pretreatment, which removed the dissolved ions to increase the net SGP. However, the pressure in the RED stack was significantly affected by the pretreatment types. The excitation–emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy and the parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) quantified the organic compounds that are related to the stack pressure. These results suggest that the removal of both colloidal and organic matters by pretreatments is crucial for improving the RED performance by reducing the pressure that is increased in the RED stack.
Lithium Harvesting from the Most Abundant Primary and Secondary Sources: A Comparative Study on Conventional and Membrane Technologies
Authors: Butt Fraz Saeed , Lewis Allana , Chen Ting , Mazlan Nurul A. , Wei Xiuming , Hayer Jasmeen , Chen Siyu , Han Jilong , Yang Yaohao , Yang Shuiqing , Huang Yi
Published: March 2022

The exponential rise in lithium demand over the last decade, as one of the largest sources for energy storage in terms of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), has posed a great threat to the existing lithium supply and demand balance. The current methodologies available for lithium extraction, separation and recovery, both from primary (brines/seawater) and secondary (LIBs) sources, suffer not only at the hands of excessive use of chemicals but complicated, time-consuming and environmentally detrimental design procedures. Researchers across the world are working to review and update the available technologies for lithium harvesting in terms of their economic and feasibility analysis. Following its excessive consumption of sustainable energy resources, its demand has risen sharply and therefore requires urgent attention. In this paper, different available methodologies for lithium extraction and recycling from the most abundant primary and secondary lithium resources have been reviewed and compared. This review also includes the prospects of using membrane technology as a promising replacement for conventional methods.
Plasma Metabolic and Lipidomic Fingerprinting of Individuals with Increased Intestinal Permeability
Authors: Shah Rohan M. , Jadhav Snehal R. , Phan Laura , Tremellen Kelton , Tran Cuong D. , Beale David J.
Published: March 2022

The dual-sugar intestinal permeability test is a commonly used test to assess changes in gut barrier function. However, it does not identify functional changes and the exact mechanism of damage caused by the increased intestinal permeability. This study aims to explore the application of untargeted metabolomics and lipidomics to identify markers of increased intestinal permeability. Fifty fasting male participants (18–50 years) attended a single visit to conduct the following procedures: assessment of anthropometric measures, assessment of gastrointestinal symptoms, intestinal permeability test, and assessment of blood samples 90 min post-administration of the intestinal permeability test. Rhamnose and lactulose were analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Untargeted polar metabolites and lipidomics were assessed by liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QToF MS). There was an elevated lactulose/rhamnose ratio in 27 subjects, indicating increased permeability compared to the remaining 23 control subjects. There were no significant differences between groups in characteristics such as age, body mass index (BMI), weight, height, and waist conference. Fourteen metabolites from the targeted metabolomics data were identified as statistically significant in the plasma samples from intestinal permeability subjects. The untargeted metabolomics and lipidomics analyses yielded fifteen and fifty-one statistically significant features, respectively. Individuals with slightly elevated intestinal permeability had altered energy, nucleotide, and amino acid metabolism, in addition to increased glutamine levels. Whether these biomarkers may be used to predict the early onset of leaky gut warrants further investigation.
Pipeline Vibration Control Using Magnetorheological Damping Clamps under Fuzzy–PID Control Algorithm
Authors: Gong Fei , Nie Songlin , Ji Hui , Hong Ruidong , Yin Fanglong , Yan Xiaopeng
Published: March 2022

Aiming at the problem of low-frequency vibration of the hydraulic pipeline, a new type of semi-active damping magnetorheological (MR) damping clamp structure is designed. The structure size and material of the MR damping clamp were determined. The control model of the vibration damping system was established, and the control method combining fuzzy control and Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) control was used to carry out the numerical simulation, which proved that the fuzzy–PID control algorithm is effective and stable. The results show that the MR damping clamp proposed in this paper can effectively suppress the axial displacement and acceleration of the hydraulic pipeline in the excitation frequency range of 1 Hz~10 Hz. This research provides a new technical approach for low-frequency vibration control of hydraulic pipelines.
Analysis of the Reformulated Source to Drain Tunneling Probability for Improving the Accuracy of a Multisubband Ensemble Monte Carlo Simulator
Authors: Padilla Jose Luis , Medina-Bailon Cristina , Palomares Antonio , Donetti Luca , Navarro Carlos , Sampedro Carlos , Gamiz Francisco
Published: March 2022

As an attempt to improve the description of the tunneling current that arises in ultrascaled nanoelectronic devices when charge carriers succeed in traversing the potential barrier between source and drain, an alternative and more accurate non-local formulation of the tunneling probability was suggested. This improvement of the probability computation might result of particular interest in the context of Monte Carlo simulations where the utilization of the conventional Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin (WKB) approximation tends to overestimate the number of particles experiencing this type of direct tunneling. However, in light of the reformulated expression for the tunneling probability, it becomes of paramount importance to assess the type of potentials for which it behaves adequately. We demonstrate that, for ensuring boundedness, the top of the potential barrier cannot feature a plateau, but rather has to behave quadratically as one approaches its maximum. Moreover, we show that monotonicity of the reformulated tunneling probability is not guaranteed by boundedness and requires an additional constraint regarding the derivative of the prefactor that modifies the traditional WKB tunneling probability.
In Situ Sensor for the Detection of Oil Spill in Seawater Using Microwave Techniques
Authors: Dala Aliyu , Arslan Tughrul
Published: March 2022

Nearly 30% of oil drilled globally is done offshore. Oil spillage offshore has far-reaching consequences on the environment, aquatic lives, and livelihoods as it was evident in the Deepwater Horizon and Bonga oil spills. A novel microwave in situ oil spill sensor was developed in this work. The device is comprised of two polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-encapsulated ultra-wideband underwater microwave trefoil antennas enclosed in a Faraday cage with one serving as the receiving antenna and the other as the transmitting antenna. Heavy aromatic-naphthenic Azeri crude oil was used as an inclusion in the seawater host medium. Substantial changes in the measured reflection (S11) and transmission (S21) coefficients were observed as the medium was adulterated with crude oil starting from 200 MHz to around 2500 MHz. The changes in the dielectric properties of the media resulted in changes in both the S11 and S21 signifying and detecting an occurrence of the oil spillage. Thus, by employing radio frequencies, oil spillage was detected using the in situ monitoring device in seawater.
Regulation of Leaderless mRNA Translation in Bacteria
Authors: Leiva Lorenzo Eugenio , Katz Assaf
Published: March 2022

In bacteria, the translation of genetic information can begin through at least three different mechanisms: canonical or Shine-Dalgarno-led initiation, readthrough or 70S scanning initiation, or leaderless initiation. Here, we discuss the main features and regulation of the last, which is characterized mainly by the ability of 70S ribosomal particles to bind to AUG located at or near the 5′ end of mRNAs to initiate translation. These leaderless mRNAs (lmRNAs) are rare in enterobacteria, such as Escherichia coli, but are common in other bacteria, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Deinococcus deserti, where they may represent more than 20% and even up to 60% of the genes. Given that lmRNAs are devoid of a 5′ untranslated region and the Shine-Dalgarno sequence located within it, the mechanism of translation regulation must depend on molecular strategies that are different from what has been observed in the Shine-Dalgarno-led translation. Diverse regulatory mechanisms have been proposed, including the processing of ribosomal RNA and changes in the abundance of translation factors, but all of them produce global changes in the initiation of lmRNA translation. Thus, further research will be required to understand how the initiation of the translation of particular lmRNA genes is regulated.
Lactobacillus salivarius CML352 Isolated from Chinese Local Breed Chicken Modulates the Gut Microbiota and Improves Intestinal Health and Egg Quality in Late-Phase Laying Hens
Authors: Xu Chang , Wei Fuxiao , Yang Xinyue , Feng Yuqing , Liu Dan , Hu Yongfei
Published: March 2022

Lactobacillus strains with fine probiotic properties are continuously needed in the laying hen industry to improve the animals’ gut health and production performance. In this study, we isolated 57 Lactobacillus strains from the gut microbiota of 17 different chicken breeds in China. We characterized the probiotic features of these isolates, and evaluated the effects of a selected strain, Lactobacillus salivarius CML352, on the production performance and gut health of the late-phase laying hens. The results showed that the isolates varied much in probiotic properties, among which L. salivarius CML352 displayed high acid and bile salt tolerance, high hydrophobicity, auto-aggregation, and antibacterial activities. Whole genome sequencing analysis showed that CML352 was closely related to a strain isolated from human fecal samples, but had different functional potentials. Dietary supplementary of L. salivarius CML352 significantly reduced the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio, increased the expression of Muc-2, and decreased the expression of MyD88, IFN-γ, and TLR-4. Furthermore, strain CML352 reduced the birds’ abdominal fat deposition, and improved egg quality. Taken together, this study indicated that the newly isolated L. salivarius strain might be a worthy probiotic with positive impacts on the intestinal health and production performance of late-phase laying hens.
Metabolic Engineering of Corynebacterium glutamicum for Sustainable Production of the Aromatic Dicarboxylic Acid Dipicolinic Acid
Authors: Schwardmann Lynn S. , Dransfeld Aron K. , Schäffer Thomas , Wendisch Volker F.
Published: March 2022

Dipicolinic acid (DPA) is an aromatic dicarboxylic acid that mediates heat-stability and is easily biodegradable and non-toxic. Currently, the production of DPA is fossil-based, but bioproduction of DPA may help to replace fossil-based plastics as it can be used for the production of polyesters or polyamides. Moreover, it serves as a stabilizer for peroxides or organic materials. The antioxidative, antimicrobial and antifungal effects of DPA make it interesting for pharmaceutical applications. In nature, DPA is essential for sporulation of Bacillus and Clostridium species, and its biosynthesis shares the first three reactions with the L-lysine pathway. Corynebacterium glutamicum is a major host for the fermentative production of amino acids, including the million-ton per year production of L-lysine. This study revealed that DPA reduced the growth rate of C. glutamicum to half-maximal at about 1.6 g·L−1. The first de novo production of DPA by C. glutamicum was established by overexpression of dipicolinate synthase genes from Paenibacillus sonchi genomovar riograndensis SBR5 in a C. glutamicum L-lysine producer strain. Upon systems metabolic engineering, DPA production to 2.5 g·L−1 in shake-flask and 1.5 g·L−1 in fed-batch bioreactor cultivations was shown. Moreover, DPA production from the alternative carbon substrates arabinose, xylose, glycerol, and starch was established. Finally, expression of the codon-harmonized phosphite dehydrogenase gene from P. stutzeri enabled phosphite-dependent non-sterile DPA production.
Effect of Combination Antibiotic Empirical Therapy on Mortality in Neutropenic Cancer Patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa Pneumonia
Authors: Albasanz-Puig Adaia , Durà-Miralles Xavier , Laporte-Amargós Júlia , Mussetti Alberto , Ruiz-Camps Isabel , Puerta-Alcalde Pedro , Abdala Edson , Oltolini Chiara , Akova Murat , Montejo José Miguel , Mikulska Malgorzata , Martín-Dávila Pilar , Herrera Fabián , Gasch Oriol , Drgona Lubos , Morales Hugo Manuel Paz , Brunel Anne-Sophie , García Estefanía , Isler Burcu , Kern Winfried V. , Retamar-Gentil Pilar , Aguado José María , Montero Milagros , Kanj Souha S. , Sipahi Oguz R. , Calik Sebnem , Márquez-Gómez Ignacio , Marin Jorge I. , Gomes Marisa Z. R. , Hemmati Philipp , Araos Rafael , Peghin Maddalena , del Pozo José Luis , Yáñez Lucrecia , Tilley Robert , Manzur Adriana , Novo Andres , Pallarès Natàlia , Bergas Alba , Carratalà Jordi , Gudiol Carlota ,   on behalf of the IRONIC Study Group
Published: March 2022

To assess the effect of combination antibiotic empirical therapy on 30-day case-fatality rate in neutropenic cancer patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) bacteremic pneumonia. This was a multinational, retrospective cohort study of neutropenic onco-hematological patients with PA bloodstream infection (BSI) (2006–2018). The effect of appropriate empirical combination therapy, appropriate monotherapy and inappropriate empirical antibiotic therapy [IEAT] on 30-day case-fatality was assessed only in patients with PA bacteremic pneumonia. Among 1017 PA BSI episodes, pneumonia was the source of BSI in 294 (28.9%). Among those, 52 (17.7%) were caused by a multidrug-resistant (MDR) strain and 68 (23.1%) received IEAT, mainly when the infection was caused by an MDR strain [38/52 (73.1%) vs. 30/242 (12.4%); p < 0.001]. The 30-day case-fatality rate was higher in patients with PA bacteremic pneumonia than in those with PA BSI from other sources (55.1% vs. 31.4%; p < 0.001). IEAT was associated with increased 30-day case-fatality (aHR 1.44 [95%CI 1.01–2.03]; p = 0.042), whereas the use of appropriate combination empirical treatment was independently associated with improved survival (aHR 0.46 [95%CI 0.27–0.78]; p = 0.004). Appropriate empirical monotherapy was not associated with improved overall survival (aHR 1.25 [95%CI 0.76–2.05]; p = 0.39). Combination antibiotic empirical therapy should be administered promptly in febrile neutropenic patients with suspected pneumonia as the source of infection.
Quantification of Microplastics by Pyrolysis Coupled with Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry in Sediments: Challenges and Implications
Authors: Bouzid Nadia , Anquetil Christelle , Dris Rachid , Gasperi Johnny , Tassin Bruno , Derenne Sylvie
Published: March 2022

Pyrolysis-GC/MS is increasingly used to quantify microplastics (MP) in environmental samples. In general, prior to analysis, purification steps are carried out to reduce the environmental matrix in sediment samples. The conventionally used protocol of density separation followed by digestion of organic matter does not allow for complete isolation of MP from the associated organic and mineral matter. Among the pyrolysis products used as indicator compounds for plastic polymers, some may originate from other substances present in the environmental samples. In this paper, the indicator compounds are reviewed for the most common polymers: PE, PP, PS, PET and PVC and selected taking into account potential interactions with substances present in environmental matrices. Even after a purification step, a residual mineral fraction remains in a sediment sample, including matrix effects. This effect may be positive or negative, depending on the investigated polymer and is thus important to consider when using Pyr-GC/MS for the quantification of MP in sediment samples. It also shows that no external calibration can be used to reliably quantify MP in such samples and that the use of internal standards is compulsory.
Experimental Modeling of Diamond Resorption during Mantle Metasomatism
Authors: Khokhryakov Alexander F. , Kruk Alexey N. , Sokol Alexander G. , Nechaev Denis V.
Published: March 2022

The morphology of resorbed diamond crystals is a valuable source of information on the composition and ascent rate of kimberlite magmas, as well as on possible redox conditions in protolith. Previously, diamond resorption was thoroughly investigated at P–T–fO2 parameters of the kimberlite magma ascent. In this study, we investigated diamond resorption using unaltered group I kimberlite and model carbonatite at P–T–fO2 parameters that are typical of the peridotite source of kimberlite magmas in the subcontinental lithospheric mantle. An analysis of previous studies made it possible to determine the rate of diamond octahedron transformation into a spherical tetrahexahedron depending on the composition of the carbonate–silicate melt. It was shown that the rate of diamond resorption at 6.3 GPa increases in all the investigated systems as fO2 and temperature rise. There is a steady decrease in the diamond resorption rate as pressure increases from 1 GPa to 6.3 GPa. The morphology comparison of the experimentally produced samples with natural diamonds is indicative of the significant contribution of metasomatic alteration of protolith by the oxidized agent and at the initial stages of kimberlite magma ascent to the resorption of natural diamonds.
The Energy Dissipation Mechanism and Damage Constitutive Model of Roof–CPB–Floor (RCF) Layered Composite Materials
Authors: Wang Jie , Zhang Chi , Fu Jianxin , Song Weidong , Zhang Yongfang
Published: March 2022

The stability of composite material that is composed of roof rock, cemented paste backfill (CPB), and floor rock has an important impact on safe mining within metal mines. In order to explore the mechanical properties, acoustic emission (AE), energy dissipation, and damage evolution of roof–CPB–floor (RCF) layered composite materials, uniaxial compression (loading rate 0.02 mm/min) AE tests on RCF materials with different CPB height ratios were performed. The test results show that: (1) the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and elastic modulus (ER) of the RCF material were lower than those of the roof or floor rock and higher than that of the CPB. With the increase in the CPB’s height ratio from 0.2 to 0.7, the UCS and the ER decreased from 18.42 MPa to 10.08 MPa and 3.15 GPa to 1.79 GPa, respectively, and the peak strain first decreased from 0.695 to 0.510 and then increased from 0.510 to 0.595. The UCS increased as a polynomial function with the increase in the ER. (2) The AE ring count first increased slowly, then increased rapidly, and finally maintained a high-speed increase. The AE cumulative ring count at the peak point decreased with the increase in the CPB height ratio. The energy dissipation showed that the elastic energy UE accumulated slowly at first, then the dissipated energy UD increased, and finally the UE decreased and the UD increased almost linearly. The UT, UE, UD, UE–UT ratio and UD–UT ratio showed a decreasing trend, and the UE–UD ratio showed an increasing trend at the peak point with the increase in the CPB height ratio. (3) Two damage constitutive models were established based on the AE ring count and energy principle. The damage evolution process of RCF materials can be divided into three stages: the slow damage accumulation stage, stable damage growth stage, and rapid damage accumulation stage.