bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comprehensive Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analysis of the Regulatory Network of Volatile Terpenoid Formation during the Growth and Development of Pears (Pyrus spp. ‘Panguxiang’)
Authors: Li Huiyun , Quan Jine , Rana Sohel , Yao Shunyang , Wang Yanmei , Li Zhi , Cai Qifei , Ma Chaowang , Geng Xiaodong , Liu Zhen
Published: April 2023

Volatiles are essential substances that determine distinct fruit flavors and user preferences. However, the metabolic dynamic and molecular modulation models that regulate the overall flavor generation during fruit growth and ripening are still largely unclear for most fruit species. To comprehensively analyze the molecular mechanism and regulation mechanism of aroma accumulation and aroma component formation in Pyrus spp. ‘Panguxiang’ (‘Panguxiang’pear), this study compared pear phenotype, sugars, organic acid content, and the expression of related genes and metabolites amid pear growth and development in Pyrus spp. ‘Panguxiang’. A total of 417 VOCs (4 amines, 19 aromatics, 29 aldehydes, 31 alcohols, 38 ketones, 64 heterocyclic compounds, 89 terpenoids, 94 esters, and 49 others) were found. The potential gene expression patterns were explored by combining transcriptomics and metabolomics, and VOC-associated metabolism and transcriptome data from all samples were integrated during the growth and development period. On this basis, we constructed a colorful model depicting changes in the VOCs and genes throughout pear growth and development. Our findings reveal that terpenoid biosynthesis pathways are the main aroma production pathways during pear growth and development. In addition to providing novel insights into the metabolic control of fruit flavor during growth and development, this study also provides a new theoretical basis for studying aroma metabolites in pears.
Adhesion Molecules in Lung Inflammation from Repeated Glyphosate Exposures
Authors: Pandher Upkardeep , Kirychuk Shelley , Schneberger David , Thompson Brooke , Aulakh Gurpreet , Sethi R. S. , Singh Baljit
Published: April 2023

Glyphosate is an active ingredient in herbicides. Exposure to glyphosate-based herbicides has been associated with respiratory dysfunctions in agricultural workers. The ability of inhaled glyphosate to induce lung inflammation is not well understood. Further, the role of adhesion molecules in glyphosate-induced lung inflammation has not been studied. We evaluated lung inflammatory responses from single and repeated glyphosate exposures. Male C57BL/6 mice were intranasally exposed to glyphosate (1 μg/40 μL) for 1 day or once daily for 5 days or 10 days. Lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were collected and analyzed. Repeated exposure to glyphosate for 5 days and 10 days resulted in an increase in neutrophils in BAL fluid and higher eosinophil peroxidase levels in lungs, with leukocyte infiltration further confirmed through lung histology. Repetitive exposure to glyphosate increased IL-33 and Th2 cytokines IL-5 and IL-13. A single glyphosate treatment revealed expression for ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and vWF adhesion molecules in the perivascular region of lung sections; with repeated treatment (5 and 10 days), adhesion molecule expression was found in the perivascular, peribronchiolar, and alveolar regions of the lungs. Repetitive exposure to glyphosate induced cellular inflammation in which adhesion molecules may be important to the lung inflammatory process.
Musculoskeletal Fitness for Identifying Low Physical Function in Older Women
Authors: Abreu Frederico , Zymbal Vera , Baptista Fátima
Published: April 2023

Aims: This cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the relevance of musculoskeletal fitness for identifying low physical functioning in community-dwelling older women. Methods: Sixty-six older women (73.62 ± 8.23 yrs old) performed a musculoskeletal fitness assessment of the upper and lower limbs. A handheld dynamometer was used to evaluate upper-limb muscle strength through a handgrip (HG) test. Lower-limb power and force were assessed from a two-leg countermovement vertical jump (VJ) on a ground reaction force platform. Physical functioning was assessed subjectively using the Composite Physical Function (CPF) questionnaire and objectively by daily step count measured by accelerometry and gait speed/agility assessed by the 8-Foot Up-and-Go (TUG) test. Logistic regressions and ROC curves were carried out to define odds ratios and ideal cutoff values for discriminatory variables. Results: VJ power showed the ability to identify low physical functioning when evaluated through the CPF (14 W/kg, 1011 W), gait speed/agility (15 W/kg, 800 W), or daily accumulated steps (17 W/kg). Considering that VJ power was normalized for body mass, the increase of 1 W/kg corresponds to a decrease of 21%, 19%, or 16% in the chance of low physical functioning when expressed by these variables, respectively. HG strength and VJ force did not show a capacity to identify low physical functioning. Conclusions: The results suggest that VJ power is the only marker of low physical functioning when considering the three benchmarks: perception of physical ability, capacity for mobility, and daily mobility.
Do Bloggers Have Better Mental Health? The Social, Cognitive, and Psychological Benefits of Blogging in Emerging Adulthood
Authors: Tekniker Imge , Cheung Rebecca Y. M.
Published: April 2023

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the longitudinal processes by which blogging-related disclosure is linked to mental health. It was hypothesized that blogging had both social and cognitive benefits, including greater perceived social support and fewer memory slips, which were then associated with better mental health. Methods: A total of 194 emerging adults were recruited three times at approximately three months apart. Participants filled out a self-report about their blogging activities and perceived benefits, social support, memory, and mental health at each time point. Results: Path analysis indicated that perceived blogging-related benefits, needs, and traits mediated the relation between frequency of blogging and social support and memory slips, respectively. Moreover, social support marginally predicted greater mental health, whereas memory slips predicted poorer mental health, after controlling for baseline mental health, age, and gender. Conclusions: This study established the longitudinal associations between blogging and its benefits that may be vital for emerging adults’ mental health.
Attachment, Feeding Practices, Family Routines and Childhood Obesity: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: Clément Sarah , Tereno Susana
Published: April 2023

Childhood obesity is considered a major public health problem. To help prevention and intervention programs targeting families with obese children, this paper is aimed at synthesizing multifactorial and transactional data resulting from studies and reviews assessing relational factors between the child and his or her parents and the child’s obesity risk, including the child’s and CG’s attachment quality, parental feeding practices, and family routines. It is also aimed at assessing the mediation of these links by specific self-regulatory capacities across different developmental periods (0–2, 2–8, and 8–18 years old). The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were applied in the review methodology. Ten papers were analyzed, including seven empirical studies and three reviews proposing etiological models of childhood obesity. The quality of empirical studies was assessed, and a synthetical model of the results was proposed. This literature review showed that the caregiver’s (CG) and the child’s attachment quality, along with controlling or permissive feeding practices, and few family routines are mostly mediated by appetite dysregulation and emotional regulation strategies with the development of child obesity. New research topics are proposed to understand other facets of childhood obesity, as well as how to better prevent and treat it.
Mental Health, Quality of Life, and Stigmatization in Danish Patients with Liver Disease
Authors: Østberg Nadja , Jacobsen Birgitte Gade , Lauridsen Mette Munk , Ladegaard Grønkjær Lea
Published: April 2023

The mental health of patients with liver diseases is often overlooked when assessing their overall health and planning care and treatment. The aim of this study was to assess anxiety, depression, hopelessness, quality of life, and the perception of stigmatization in a large cohort of patients with chronic liver disease of different aetiology and severity, as well as to identify predictors associated with mental health disorders. A total of 340 patients completed a survey assessing mental health using the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Beck Hopelessness Scale, and the Major Depression Inventory. Quality of life was measured with the Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire and the European Quality-of-Life visual analogue scale. To assess stigmatization, validated questions from the Danish Nationwide Survey of Patient Experiences were used. Predictors associated with anxiety, hopelessness, and depression were analysed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Overall, 15% of the patients had moderate or severe anxiety, 3% had moderate or pronounced hopelessness, and 8% had moderate or severe depression. The prevalence of all three was highest in patients with cirrhosis and was associated with a low quality of life. More patients with cirrhosis had perceived stigmatization compared to patients with liver disease without cirrhosis, which affected their self-perception, and more than one-third of the patients refrained from telling others about their liver disease. The results emphasize the need for increased focus on mental health problems and awareness on preventing the discrimination of patients with liver disease.
Amesia hispanica sp. nov., Producer of the Antifungal Class of Antibiotics Dactylfungins
Authors: Charria-Girón Esteban , Stchigel Alberto Miguel , Čmoková Adéla , Kolařík Miroslav , Surup Frank , Marin-Felix Yasmina
Published: April 2023

During a study of the diversity of soilborne fungi from Spain, a strain belonging to the family Chaetomiaceae (Sordariales) was isolated. The multigene phylogenetic inference using five DNA loci showed that this strain represents an undescribed species of the genus Amesia, herein introduced as A. hispanica sp. nov. Investigation of its secondary metabolome led to the isolation of two new derivatives (2 and 3) of the known antifungal antibiotic dactylfungin A (1), together with the known compound cochliodinol (4). The planar structures of 1–4 were determined by ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection and ion mobility tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-DAD-IM-MS/MS) and extensive 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy after isolation by HPLC. All isolated secondary metabolites were tested for their antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities. Dactylfungin A (1) showed selective and strong antifungal activity against some of the tested human pathogens (Aspergillus fumigatus and Cryptococcus neoformans). The additional hydroxyl group in 2 resulted in the loss of activity against C. neoformans but still retained the inhibition of As. fumigatus in a lower concentration than that of the respective control, without showing any cytotoxic effects. In contrast, 25″-dehydroxy-dactylfungin A (3) exhibited improved activity against yeasts (Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Rhodotorula glutinis) than 1 and 2, but resulted in the appearance of slight cytotoxicity. The present study exemplifies how even in a well-studied taxonomic group such as the Chaetomiaceae, the investigation of novel taxa still brings chemistry novelty, as demonstrated in this first report of this antibiotic class for chaetomiaceous and sordarialean taxa.
Association Study of BDNF, SLC6A4, and FTO Genetic Variants with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Bednarova Aneta , Habalova Viera , Krivosova Michaela , Marcatili Matteo , Tkac Ivan
Published: April 2023

Schizophrenia spectrum disorders (patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizotypal, and delusional disorders: F20-F29 according to International Classification of Diseases 10th revision (ICD-10)) are considered highly heritable heterogeneous psychiatric conditions. Their pathophysiology is multifactorial with involved dysregulated serotonergic neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity. The present study aimed to evaluate the association of SLC6A4 (5-HTTLPR), FTO (rs9939609), and BDNF (rs6265, rs962369) polymorphisms with schizophrenia spectrum disorders in Slovak patients. We analyzed the genotypes of 150 patients with schizophrenia, schizotypal, and delusional disorders and compared them with genotypes from 178 healthy volunteers. We have found a marginally protective effect of LS + SS genotypes of 5-HTTLPR variant of the serotonin transporter SLC6A4 gene against the development of schizophrenia spectrum disorders, but the result failed to remain significant after Bonferroni correction. Similarly, we have not proven any significant association between other selected genetic variants and schizophrenia and related disorders. Studies including a higher number of subjects are warranted to reliably confirm the presence or absence of the studied associations.
The Associations of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms of the COL3A1, COL6A5, and COL8A1 Genes with Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: Szalus Krzysztof , Zysk Weronika , Gleń Jolanta , Zabłotna Monika , Nowicki Roman J. , Trzeciak Magdalena
Published: April 2023

The pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis (AD) is complex, multifactorial, and not fully understood. Genes encoding collagens, the most abundant proteins in the extracellular matrix (ECM), may play a potential role in the pathogenesis of AD. Our study aimed to estimate the associations between Col3A1/rs1800255, Col6A5 /29rs12488457, and Col8A1/rs13081855 polymorphisms and the occurrence, course, and features of AD in the Polish population. Blood samples were collected from 157 patients with AD and 111 healthy volunteers. The genotype distribution of the investigated collagens genes did not differ significantly between the AD and control subjects (p > 0.05). The AA genotype of Col3A1/rs1800255 was significantly associated with the occurrence of mild SCORAD (OR = 0.16; 95% Cl: 0.03–0.78; p = 0.02) and mild pruritus (OR = 18.5; 95% Cl: 3.48–98.40; p = 0.0006), while the GG genotype was significantly associated with severe SCORAD (OR = 6.6; 95% Cl: 1.23–32.35; p = 0.03). Regarding Col6A5/29rs12488457 polymorphism, the average SCORAD score was significantly lower in the group of patients with genotype AA than in patients with the AC genotype (39.8 vs. 53.4; p = 0.04). Nevertheless, both average SCORAD scores were high, and represent the moderate and severe grades of the diseases, respectively. The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of COL3A1/ rs1800255 and Col6A5/29rs12488457 seem to be associated with AD courses and symptoms, suggesting new disease biomarkers. The modulation of collagens, the major component of the ECM, may serve as a therapeutic target of AD in the future.
Residents’ Quality of Life in Smart Cities: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Chang Songling , Smith Melanie Kay
Published: April 2023

Despite its popularity in urban studies, the smart city (SC) concept has not focused sufficient attention on citizens’ quality of life (QoL) until relatively recently. The aim of this study is, therefore, to examine the concept of QoL in SCs using a systematic review of 38 recent articles from 2020–2022. This includes definitions and concepts, indicators and domains that are used to measure QoL, and the typical research methods that are used to collect data. The review analyses some of the main themes that emerge from the field of SCQoL which include smart urban governance, sustainability, smart living, participation, and social inclusion. The findings from this SC and QoL research can help city planners to prioritize which domains are the most important or meaningful for citizens and which services to invest in. It has been suggested that smart living is the most important domain of a SC. However, various studies have found that citizens experience SC initiatives holistically and that QoL is quite dependent on context in terms of priorities. Therefore, citizen participation strategies should be tailored and adapted to each respective context. SC governance also needs to be more long-term and strategic with real evidence that citizens are involved in decision making and problem solving and are not just passive recipients.
Identification of Hub Genes and Biological Mechanisms Associated with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Zhu Jingjin , Min Ningning , Gong Wenye , Chen Yizhu , Li Xiru
Published: April 2023

The relationship between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has been widely recognized, but the underlying mechanisms are still unknown. The objective of this study was to identify the hub genes associated with NAFLD and TNBC, and to explore the potential co-pathogenesis and prognostic linkage of these two diseases. We used GEO, TCGA, STRING, ssGSEA, and Rstudio to investigate the common differentially expressed genes (DEGs), conduct functional and signaling pathway enrichment analyses, and determine prognostic value between TNBC and NAFLD. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses of the common DEGs showed that they were enriched in leukocyte aggregation, migration and adhesion, apoptosis regulation, and the PPAR signaling pathway. Fourteen candidate hub genes most likely to mediate NAFLD and TNBC occurrence were identified and validation results in a new cohort showed that ITGB2, RAC2, ITGAM, and CYBA were upregulated in both diseases. A univariate Cox analysis suggested that high expression levels of ITGB2, RAC2, ITGAM, and CXCL10 were associated with a good prognosis in TNBC. Immune infiltration analysis of TNBC samples showed that NCF2, ICAM1, and CXCL10 were significantly associated with activated CD8 T cells and activated CD4 T cells. NCF2, CXCL10, and CYBB were correlated with regulatory T cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells. This study demonstrated that the redox reactions regulated by the NADPH oxidase (NOX) subunit genes and the transport and activation of immune cells regulated by integrins may play a central role in the co-occurrence trend of NAFLD and TNBC. Additionally, ITGB2, RAC2, and ITGAM were upregulated in both diseases and were prognostic protective factors of TNBC; they may be potential therapeutic targets for treatment of TNBC patients with NAFLD, but further experimental studies are still needed.
Melanin Stacking Differences in Pigmented and Non-Pigmented Melanomas: Quantitative Differentiation between Pigmented and Non-Pigmented Melanomas Based on Light-Scattering Properties
Authors: Silver Frederick H. , Deshmukh Tanmay , Nadiminti Hari , Tan Isabella
Published: April 2023

Cutaneous melanoma is a cancer with metastatic potential characterized by varying amounts of pigment-producing melanocytes, and it is one of the most aggressive and fatal forms of skin malignancy, with several hundreds of thousands of cases each year. Early detection and therapy can lead to decreased morbidity and decreased cost of therapy. In the clinic, this often translates to annual skin screenings, especially for high-risk patients, and generous use of the ABCDE (asymmetry, border irregularity, color, diameter, evolving) criteria. We have used a new technique termed vibrational optical coherence tomography (VOCT) to non-invasively differentiate between pigmented and non-pigmented melanomas in a pilot study. The VOCT results reported in this study indicate that both pigmented and non-pigmented melanomas have similar characteristics, including new 80, 130, and 250 Hz peaks. Pigmented melanomas have larger 80 Hz peaks and smaller 250 Hz peaks than non-pigmented cancers. The 80 and 250 Hz peaks can be used to quantitative characterize differences between different melanomas. In addition, infrared light penetration depths indicated that melanin in pigmented melanomas has higher packing densities than in non-pigmented lesions. Using machine learning techniques, the sensitivity and specificity of differentiating skin cancers from normal skin are shown to range from about 78% to over 90% in this pilot study. It is proposed that using AI on both lesion histopathology and mechanovibrational peak heights may provide even higher specificity and sensitivity for differentiating the metastatic potential of different melanocytic lesions.
Study on the Damage Model of Non-Persistent Jointed Rock Mass under the Coupling of Freeze–Thaw and Shear
Authors: Lei Daxing , Hu Haixiang , Chen Yifan , Lin Hang , Zhang Chaomei , Wang Guangli , Lu Zhigang , Zhang Yaoping
Published: April 2023

Considering that a jointed rock mass in a cold area is often affected by periodic freeze–thaw cycles and shear failure, definitions for the mesoscopic and macroscopic damage to a jointed rock mass under the coupling of freeze–thaw and shear are proposed, and the damage mechanism is verified according to experimental results. The results show that: (1) the jointed rock specimens increase macro-joints and meso-defects, the mechanical properties deteriorate significantly under freeze–thaw cycles, and the damage degree becomes more and more significant with the increases in freeze–thaw cycles and joint persistency. (2) When the number of freeze–thaw cycles is constant, the total damage variable value gradually increases with the increase in joint persistency. The damage variable difference in specimens with different persistency is distinct, which is gradually reduced in the later cycles, indicating a weakening influence of persistency on the total damage variable. (3) The shear resistance of non-persistent jointed rock mass in a cold area is determined by the coupling effect of meso-damage and frost heaving macro-damage. The coupling damage variable can accurately describe the damage variation law of jointed rock mass under freeze–thaw cycles and shear load.
Influence of Surface Structure on Ball Properties during a Professional Water Polo Game
Authors: Gabor Jadwiga , Mikrut Grzegorz , Flak Tomasz , Cebo Patryk , Roczniok Robert , Swinarew Beata , Langer Ewa , Popczyk Magdalena , Stanula Arkadiusz , Stach Sebastian , Swinarew Andrzej S.
Published: April 2023

The use of modern materials in sports, in terms of chemical composition and surface texture, entails both progress in results and an increasing discrepancy in the technical parameters of the equipment used. This paper aims to demonstrate the differences between balls admitted to a league and world championships in composition, surface texture, and the influence of these parameters on the water polo game. This research compared two new balls produced by top companies producing sports accessories (Kap 7 and Mikasa). To obtain the goal, the measurement of the contact angle, analysis of the material using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and optical microscopic evaluation were used. The analysis of the surface free energy shows significant differences (Kap 7 32.16 mJ/m2, Mikasa 36.48 mJ/m2). In the case of both balls, anisotropies of the structure of the furrows were observed, however, the Mikasa ball is slightly more homogeneous than the Kap 7 ball. The obtained results from the analysis of the contact angle, as well as the composition and real feedback from the players, indicated the need to standardize the material aspect of the regulations so that the sports results are repeatable every time.
Influence of Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Dissimilar Rotary Friction Welded Inconel to Stainless Steel Joints
Authors: Beeravolu Akhil Reddy , Babu Nagumothu Kishore , Talari Mahesh Kumar , Rehman Ateekh Ur , Srirangam Prakash
Published: April 2023

The present study aims to evaluate the microstructure, grain size, and mechanical properties of the dissimilar AISI 316L/Inconel 718 (IN 718) rotary friction welded joints under both the as-welded and post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) conditions. Because of reduced flow strength at elevated temperatures, the AISI 316L and IN 718 dissimilar weldments exhibited more flash formation on the AISI 316L side. At higher rotating speeds during friction welding, an intermixing zone was created at the weld joint interface due to the material softening and squeezing. The dissimilar welds exhibited distinctive regions, including the fully deformed zone (FDZ), heat-affected zone (HAZ), thermo-mechanically affected zone (TMAZ), and the base metal (BM), located on either side of the weld interface. The dissimilar friction welds, AISI 316L/IN 718 ST and AISI 316L/IN 718 STA, exhibited yield strength (YS) of 634 ± 9 MPa and 602 ± 3 MPa, ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 728 ± 7 MPa and 697± 2 MPa, and % elongation (% El) of 14 ± 1.5 and 17 ± 0.9, respectively. Among the welded samples, PWHT samples exhibited high strength (YS = 730 ± 2 MPa, UTS = 828 ± 5 MPa, % El = 9 ± 1.2), and this may be attributed to the formation of precipitates. Dissimilar PWHT friction weld samples resulted in the highest hardness among all the conditions in the FDZ due to the formation of precipitates. On the AISI 316L side, prolonged exposure to high temperatures during PWHT resulted in grain growth and decreased hardness. During the tensile test at ambient temperature, both the as-welded and PWHT friction weld joints failed in the HAZ regions of the AISI 316L side.
Molecular Understanding of the Interfacial Interaction and Corrosion Resistance between Epoxy Adhesive and Metallic Oxides on Galvanized Steel
Authors: Li Shuangshuang , Zhao Yanliang , Wan Hailang , Lin Jianping , Min Junying
Published: April 2023

The epoxy adhesive-galvanized steel adhesive structure has been widely used in various industrial fields, but achieving high bonding strength and corrosion resistance is a challenge. This study examined the impact of surface oxides on the interfacial bonding performance of two types of galvanized steel with Zn–Al or Zn–Al–Mg coatings. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis showed that the Zn–Al coating was covered by ZnO and Al2O3, while MgO was additionally found on the Zn–Al–Mg coating. Both coatings exhibited excellent adhesion in dry environments, but after 21 days of water soaking, the Zn–Al–Mg joint demonstrated better corrosion resistance than the Zn–Al joint. Numerical simulations revealed that metallic oxides of ZnO, Al2O3, and MgO had different adsorption preferences for the main components of the adhesive. The adhesion stress at the coating–adhesive interface was mainly due to hydrogen bonds and ionic interactions, and the theoretical adhesion stress of MgO adhesive system was higher than that of ZnO and Al2O3. The corrosion resistance of the Zn–Al–Mg adhesive interface was mainly due to the stronger corrosion resistance of the coating itself, and the lower water-related hydrogen bond content at the MgO adhesive interface. Understanding these bonding mechanisms can lead to the development of improved adhesive-galvanized steel structures with enhanced corrosion resistance.
A Simple Semi-Analytical Method for Solving Axisymmetric Contact Problems Involving Bonded and Unbonded Layers of Arbitrary Thickness
Authors: Forsbach Fabian
Published: April 2023

In the present work, a recently extended version of the method of dimensionality reduction (MDR) for layered elastic media is applied for the first time using a semi-analytical approach. It is based on a priori knowledge of the cylindrical flat punch solution which is determined numerically using the boundary element method (BEM). We consider arbitrary indenters of revolution producing a circular area of contact with bonded and unbonded layers of arbitrary thickness. The proposed method reduces the contact solution to the numerically efficient evaluation of simple one-dimensional integrals. We further show that the solution of JKR-adhesive contacts with layers and contacts with linear-viscoelastic layers is straightforward using the well-known MDR formalisms. A specific focus has been devoted to study the thickness effect in different application examples. Comparisons with the literature and finite element simulations show very good agreement with the proposed method.
A Cross-Modal Feature Fusion Model Based on ConvNeXt for RGB-D Semantic Segmentation
Authors: Tang Xiaojiang , Li Baoxia , Guo Junwei , Chen Wenzhuo , Zhang Dan , Huang Feng
Published: April 2023

Semantic segmentation, as the pixel level classification with dividing an image into multiple blocks based on the similarities and differences of categories (i.e., assigning each pixel in the image to a class label), is an important task in computer vision. Combining RGB and Depth information can improve the performance of semantic segmentation. However, there is still a problem of the way to deeply integrate RGB and Depth. In this paper, we propose a cross-modal feature fusion RGB-D semantic segmentation model based on ConvNeXt, which uses ConvNeXt as the skeleton network and embeds a cross-modal feature fusion module (CMFFM). The CMFFM designs feature channel-wise and spectral-wise fusion, which can realize the deeply feature fusion of RGB and Depth. The in-depth multi-modal feature fusion in multiple stages improves the performance of the model. Experiments are performed on the public dataset of SUN-RGBD, showing the best segmentation by our proposed model ConvNeXt-CMFFM with the highest mIoU score of 53.5% among the nine comparative models. The outstanding performance of ConvNeXt-CMFFM is also achieved on our self-built dataset of RICE-RGBD with the highest mIoU score and pixel accuracy among the three comparative datasets. The ablation experiment on our rice dataset shows that compared with ConvNeXt (without CMFFM), the mIoU score of ConvNext-CMFFM is increased from 71.5% to 74.8% and its pixel accuracy is increased from 86.2% to 88.3%, indicating the effectiveness of the added feature fusion module in improving segmentation performance. This study shows the feasibility of the practical application of the proposed model in agriculture.
A Large Scale Analysis for Testing a Mathematical Model for the Study of Vascular Pathologies
Authors: Travaglini Arianna , Vinti Gianluca , Scalera Giovanni Battista , Scialpi Michele
Published: April 2023

In this paper, we carry out a study developed on 13,677 images from 15 patients affected by moderate/severe atheromatous disease of the abdominal aortic tract. A procedure to extract the pervious lumen of the aorta artery from basal CT images is exploited and tested on a large scale. In particular, the above method takes advantage of the reconstruction and enhancing properties of the sampling Kantorovich algorithm which allows the information content of images to be increased. The processed image is compared, slice by slice, by superposition, with the corresponding contrast medium reference image. Numerical indices of errors were computed and analyzed in order to test the validity of the proposed method. The results achieved confirm, both from the numerical and clinical point of view, the good performance and accuracy of the proposed method, opening the possibility to perform an assisted diagnosis avoiding the injection of the contrast medium.
Deep Learning Nonhomogeneous Elliptic Interface Problems by Soft Constraint Physics-Informed Neural Networks
Authors: Cao Fujun , Guo Xiaobin , Gao Fei , Yuan Dongfang
Published: April 2023

It is a great challenge to solve nonhomogeneous elliptic interface problems, because the interface divides the computational domain into two disjoint parts, and the solution may change dramatically across the interface. A soft constraint physics-informed neural network with dual neural networks is proposed, which is composed of two separate neural networks for each subdomain, which are coupled by the connecting conditions on the interface. It is beneficial to capture the singularity of the solution across the interface. We formulate the PDEs, boundary conditions, and jump conditions on the interface into the loss function by means of the physics-informed neural network (PINN), and the different terms in the loss function are balanced by optimized penalty weights. To enhance computing efficiency for increasingly difficult issues, adaptive activation functions and the adaptive sampled method are used, which may be improved to produce the optimal network performance, as the topology of the loss function involved in the optimization process changes dynamically. Lastly, we present many numerical experiments, in both 2D and 3D, to demonstrate the proposed method’s flexibility, efficacy, and accuracy in tackling nonhomogeneous interface issues.
Predicting Water Flux in Forward Osmosis with Unknown Feed Solution Composition: An Empirical Approach Based on Thermodynamical Properties
Authors: Greisner Bastian , Mauer Dieter , Rögener Frank , Lerch André
Published: April 2023

This study investigated the predictability of forward osmosis (FO) performance with an unknown feed solution composition, which is important in industrial applications where process solutions are concentrated but their composition is unknown. A fit function of the unknown solution’s osmotic pressure was created, correlating it with the recovery rate, limited by solubility. The osmotic concentration was derived and used in the subsequent simulation of the permeate flux in the considered FO membrane. For comparison, magnesium chloride and magnesium sulfate solutions were used since these show a particularly strong deviation from the ideal osmotic pressure according to Van’t Hoff and are, thus, characterized by an osmotic coefficient unequal to 1. The simulation is based on the solution–diffusion model with consideration of external and internal concentration polarization phenomena. Here, a membrane module was subdivided into 25 segments of equal membrane area, and the module performance was solved by a numerical differential. Experiments in a laboratory scale for validation confirmed that the simulation gave satisfactory results. The recovery rate in the experimental run could be described for both solutions with a relative error of less than 5%, while the calculated water flux as a mathematical derivative of the recovery rate showed a bigger deviation.
Regulation of Surfactant Protein Gene Expression by Aspergillus fumigatus in NCl-H441 Cells
Authors: Schiefermeier-Mach Natalia , Heinrich Lea , Lechner Lukas , Perkhofer Susanne
Published: April 2023

Aspergillus fumigatus is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that causes serious lung diseases in immunocompromised patients. The lung surfactant produced by alveolar type II and Clara cells in the lungs is an important line of defense against A. fumigatus. The surfactant consists of phospholipids and surfactant proteins (SP-A, SP-B, SP-C and SP-D). The binding to SP-A and SP-D proteins leads to the agglutination and neutralization of lung pathogens as well as the modulation of immune responses. SP-B and SP-C proteins are essential for surfactant metabolism and can modulate the local immune response; however, the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. We investigated changes in the SP gene expression in human lung NCI-H441 cells infected with conidia or treated with culture filtrates obtained from A. fumigatus. To further identify fungal cell wall components that may affect the expression of SP genes, we examined the effect of different A. fumigatus mutant strains, including dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN)-melanin-deficient ΔpksP, galactomannan (GM)-deficient Δugm1 and galactosaminogalactan (GAG)-deficient Δgt4bc strains. Our results show that the tested strains alter the mRNA expression of SP, with the most prominent and consistent downregulation of the lung-specific SP-C. Our findings also suggest that secondary metabolites rather than the membrane composition of conidia/hyphae inhibit SP-C mRNA expression in NCI-H441 cells.
Linking Copper-Associated Signal Transduction Systems with Their Environment in Marine Bacteria
Authors: Gautam Pratima , Erill Ivan , Cusick Kathleen D.
Published: April 2023

Copper is an essential trace element for living cells. However, copper can be potentially toxic for bacterial cells when it is present in excess amounts due to its redox potential. Due to its biocidal properties, copper is prevalent in marine systems due to its use in antifouling paints and as an algaecide. Thus, marine bacteria must possess means of sensing and responding to both high copper levels and those in which it is present at only typical trace metal levels. Bacteria harbor diverse regulatory mechanisms that respond to intracellular and extracellular copper and maintain copper homeostasis in cells. This review presents an overview of the copper-associated signal transduction systems in marine bacteria, including the copper efflux systems, detoxification, and chaperone mechanisms. We performed a comparative genomics study of the copper-regulatory signal transduction system on marine bacteria to examine the influence of the environment on the presence, abundance, and diversity of copper-associated signal transduction systems across representative phyla. Comparative analyses were performed among species isolated from sources, including seawater, sediment, biofilm, and marine pathogens. Overall, we observed many putative homologs of copper-associated signal transduction systems from various copper systems across marine bacteria. While the distribution of the regulatory components is mainly influenced by phylogeny, our analyses identified several intriguing trends: (1) Bacteria isolated from sediment and biofilm displayed an increased number of homolog hits to copper-associated signal transduction systems than those from seawater. (2) A large variability exists for hits to the putative alternate σ factor CorE hits across marine bacteria. (3) Species isolated from seawater and marine pathogens harbored fewer CorE homologs than those isolated from the sediment and biofilm.
Permian Cyanobacterial Blooms Resulted in Enrichment of Organic Matter in the Lucaogou Formation in the Junggar Basin, NW China
Authors: Wang Wenhui , Cui Haisu , Tan Jingqiang , Liu Jin , Song Xueqi , Wang Jian , Chen Lichang
Published: April 2023

The Permian Lucaogou Formation in the Junggar Basin, NW China is the target layer for shale oil exploration, but its hydrocarbon precursors have remained the focus of debate. In this study, we investigated the Lucaogou source rocks throughout Well J10025 by conducting detailed petrological, paleontological, and geochemical analyses for the purpose of revealing the occurrence of cyanobacterial blooms as specific hydrocarbon events in the upper Lucaogou Formation. The morphological characteristics of the microfossils and the geochemical signatures of the microfossil-bearing layers support a biological affinity with Microcystis, a kind of cyanobacteria. Microcystis observed as colonial forms embedded in the upper Lucaogou Formation are of great abundance, indicating the presence of cyanobacterial blooms. They were further evidenced by cyanobacteria-derived biomarkers including low terrestrial/aquatic ratio, high 2α-methylhopane index values, and high abundance of 7- and 8-monomethyl heptadecanes. The blooms occurred in a semiarid and brackish paleoenvironment with anoxic to suboxic water conditions and intermittent volcanic eruptions. Permian Microcystis blooms contributed to the enrichment of organic matter in the upper Lucaogou Formation in two main ways: by directly promoting the accumulation of algal biomass and by creating an oxygen-depleted environment for better preservation of organic matter. This study adds a new record to the geological occurrences of cyanobacterial blooms in the Permian, and provides unique insight into the hydrocarbon generation of Jimsar shale oil in the Junggar Basin.
Effect of Hydrogen Peroxide on the Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Lightweight Geopolymer Mortar Panels
Authors: Alves Cleidson , Pelisser Fernando , Labrincha João , Novais Rui
Published: April 2023

Lightweight geopolymers have been researched and used in specific applications due to their differentiated properties and, particularly, due to the lower environmental impacts in their manufacture, mainly associated with the use of raw materials with a low environmental impact and the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. In this study, light geopolymers, using metakaolin, sodium silicate, sodium hydroxide, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), were evaluated. The effects of H2O2 concentration were evaluated up to a concentration of 1% in pastes and mortars. The properties of thermal conductivity, density, compressive strength, and modulus of elasticity were determined. The simulation of the thermal transmittance of cladding panels applied to a facade was also performed. Mortars with a H2O2 concentration of 0.2% obtained a compressive strength of 18 MPa and thermal conductivity of 0.55 W/mK, which was 60% less than the thermal conductivity obtained for the reference composition. The simulation of a panel for use on a facade showed that the thermal resistance increased from 0.27 (m2.K/W) to 0.42 (m2.K/W), indicating the efficiency of the geopolymer for use as a thermal control material.
Magma Source and Petrogenesis of the Early Cretaceous Granites in The Liaodong Peninsula: Evidence from In Situ Apatite Sr-Nd and Zircon Hf-O Isotopes
Authors: Linghu Miaomiao , Li Zimu , Sun Jinfeng , Zhang Jiheng
Published: April 2023

Apatite Sr-Nd and zircon Hf-O isotopes are broadly used to trace magma sources and constrain magma evolution processes, further improving our understanding of the origin of granitoids. We present zircon U-Pb ages, whole-rock major and trace elements, and whole-rock Sr-Nd-Hf, zircon Hf-O, and apatite Sr-Nd isotopic data for the coarse-grained quartz monzonite, biotite monzogranite, and granite porphyry in the Yushulinzi pluton in the Liaodong Peninsula, the eastern North China Craton, to establish their magma sources and petrogenesis. The coarse-grained quartz monzonite, biotite monzogranite, and granite porphyry were formed contemporaneously, with zircon U-Pb ages of 123–119 Ma. They share enriched whole-rock Sr-Nd-Hf and zircon Hf isotopic compositions, and the coarse-grained quartz monzonite has crust-like δ18O values (5.7–6.7‰). The coarse-grained quartz monzonite and biotite monzogranite have variable apatite (87Sr/86Sr)i ratios and negative apatite εNd(t) values. These isotopic characteristics indicate that the different rock types in the Yushulinzi pluton were derived from the partial melting of ancient crustal material in the North China Craton. Their geochemical and petrographic characteristics indicate that the crystal-melt segregation model can be employed to elucidate the genetic links among different rock types, with the coarse-grained quartz monzonite representing crystal accumulation and the biotite monzogranite and granite porphyry representing interstitial melts extracted from a crystal-rich magma chamber. Furthermore, the variable apatite Sr isotopic compositions and subtle differences in the peak zircon εHf(t) values of the studied rock samples confirm the possibility of a contribution from shallow crustal components and materials with high εHf(t) values during magma evolution, which is not readily revealed by their whole-rock Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic compositions. These results demonstrate that in situ apatite Sr-Nd and zircon Hf-O isotopic analyses have the potential to provide distinctive insights into the magma sources and evolution of magmatic systems.
Study on the Preparation and Performance of Silicone-Modified Phenolic Resin Binder for Rail Grinding Wheels
Authors: Liu Pengzhan , Yuan Tianshun , Peng Jin , Zou Wenjun , Xiao Furen
Published: April 2023

A scheme for manufacturing heavy-duty rail grinding wheels with silicone-modified phenolic resin (SMPR) as a binder in the field of rail grinding is presented to improve the performance of grinding wheels. To optimize the heat resistance and mechanical performance of rail grinding wheels, an SMPR for industrial production of rail grinding wheels was prepared in a two-step reaction using methyl-trimethoxy-silane (MTMS) as the organosilicon modifier by guiding the occurrence of the transesterification and addition polymerization reactions. The effect of MTMS concentration on the performance of silicone-modified phenolic resin for application in rail grinding wheels was investigated. The molecular structure, thermal stability, bending strength, and impact strength values of the SMPR were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and mechanical property testing, and the effect of MTMS content on the resin properties was investigated. The results indicated that MTMS successfully improved the performance of the phenolic resin. The thermogravimetric weight loss temperature of the SMPR modified by MTMS with 40% phenol mass at 30% weight loss is 66% higher than that of common phenolic resin (UMPR), exhibiting the best thermal stability; in addition, its bending strength and impact strength were enhanced by approximately 14% and 6%, respectively, compared with those of common UMPR. This study utilized an innovative Bronsted acid as a catalyst and simplified several intermediate reactions in the conventional silicone-modified phenolic resin technology. This new investigation of the synthesis process decreases the manufacturing cost of the SMPR, liberates it from the restrictions of grinding applications, and enables the SMPR to maximize its performance in the rail grinding industry. This study serves as a reference for future work on resin binders for grinding wheels and the development of rail grinding wheel manufacturing technology.
Anti-BVDV Activity of Traditional Chinese Medicine Monomers Targeting NS5B (RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase) In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Chen Nannan , Jiang Dongjun , Shao Baihui , Bai Tongtong , Chen Jinwei , Liu Yu , Zhang Zecai , Zhou Yulong , Wang Xue , Zhu Zhanbo
Published: April 2023

Natural products have emerged as “rising stars” for treating viral diseases and useful chemical scaffolds for developing effective therapeutic agents. The nonstructural protein NS5B (RNA-dependent RNA polymerase) of NADL strain BVDV was used as the action target based on a molecular docking technique to screen herbal monomers for anti-BVDV viral activity. The in vivo and in vitro anti-BVDV virus activity studies screened the Chinese herbal monomers with significant anti-BVDV virus effects, and their antiviral mechanisms were initially explored. The molecular docking screening showed that daidzein, curcumin, artemisinine, and apigenin could interact with BVDV-NADL-NS5B with the best binding energy fraction. In vitro and in vivo tests demonstrated that none of the four herbal monomers significantly affected MDBK cell activity. Daidzein and apigenin affected BVDV virus replication mainly in the attachment and internalization phases, artemisinine mainly in the replication phase, and curcumin was active in the attachment, internalization, replication, and release phases. In vivo tests demonstrated that daidzein was the most effective in preventing and protecting BALB/C mice from BVDV infection, and artemisinine was the most effective in treating BVDV infection. This study lays the foundation for developing targeted Chinese pharmaceutical formulations against the BVDV virus.