bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Advantages of diapause in Anastatus japonicus Ashmead mass production on eggs of the Chinese oak silkworm, Antheraea pernyi
Authors: Zhao Can , Xia Yue , Xiao Jun‐Jian , Liu Zi‐Xin , Bao‐Xin Zhang , Li Dun‐Song 
Published: September 2023

AbstractBACKGROUNDAnastatus japonicus Ashmead, a biological control agent utilized in China to control fruit bugs and forest caterpillars, is efficiently raised on large Chinese oak silkworm (Antheraea pernyi) eggs. Here, we investigated the biological parameters of non‐diapaused and diapaused Anastatus japonicus after long‐term storage within eggs of the host, Antheraea pernyi, under laboratory conditions.RESULTSDiapaused mature larvae of Anastatus japonicus were more cold‐tolerant than non‐diapaused mature larvae, as reflected by a lower supercoiling point, lower freezing point, and higher survival rate at cold temperatures. Diapause induction enhanced the lifespan, fecundity and oviposition period of Anastatus japonicus than non‐diapaused Anastatus japonicus when refrigerated for 6 months. However, after 12 months of refrigeration, the fecundity and oviposition period of Anastatus japonicus were significantly reduced with and without diapause. No difference in the progeny sex ratio of Anastatus japonicus was observed between diapause‐induction treatment and those of non‐diapaused. With the extension of refrigeration period from 6 months to 12 months, the lifespan, fecundity and oviposition period of Anastatus japonicus which were treated with diapause induction showed a sharp decrease. No significantly difference in the lifespan, fecundity and oviposition period of Anastatus japonicus was observed between diapause‐induction treatment and those of non‐diapaused when refrigerated for 12 months.CONCLUSIONThese results suggest that the induction of diapause is an applicable technique to achieve mass production of Anastatus japonicus in long‐term storage using eggs of the factitious host Antheraea pernyi, without compromising the quality of the parasitoid. The refrigeration period of diapaused Anastatus japonicus should not exceed 6 months. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Enhancing ROS‐Inducing Nanozyme through Intraparticle Electron Transport
Authors: Yi Zhongchao , Yang Xiaoyue , Liang Ying , Chapelin Fanny , Tong Sheng 
Published: September 2023

AbstractIron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) have garnered significant attention as a promising platform for reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐dependent disease treatment, owing to their remarkable biocompatibility and Fenton catalytic activity. However, the low catalytic activity of IONPs is a major hurdle in their clinical translation. To overcome this challenge, IONPs of different compositions are examined for their Fenton reaction under pharmacologically relevant conditions. The results show that wüstite (FeO) nanoparticles exhibit higher catalytic activity than magnetite (Fe3O4) or maghemite (γ‐Fe2O3) of matched size and coating, despite having a similar surface oxidation state. Further analyses suggest that the high catalytic activity of wüstite nanoparticles can be attributed to the presence of internal low‐valence iron (Fe0 and Fe2+), which accelerates the recycling of surface Fe3+ to Fe2+ through intraparticle electron transport. Additionally, ultrasmall wüstite nanoparticles are generated by tuning the thermodecomposition‐based nanocrystal synthesis, resulting in a Fenton reaction rate 5.3 times higher than that of ferumoxytol, an FDA‐approved IONP. Compared with ferumoxytol, wüstite nanoparticles substantially increase the level of intracellular ROS in mouse mammary carcinoma cells. This study presents a novel mechanism and pivotal improvement for the development of highly efficient ROS‐inducing nanozymes, thereby expanding the horizons for their therapeutic applications.
Formulation and characterization of environmentally benign chicken feather-based wood preservatives
Authors: Xia Yan , Mohamed Abdulahi , Zhou Yonghui , Zhang Chen , Deng Shuduan , Luo Bei , Wen Jialong , Fan Mizi 
Published: September 2023

AbstractThis paper develops chicken feather protein-based wood preservatives (CFP-WP). The treatability, leachability and chemical structure of the CFP-WP were analyzed. The crystallinity, thermal properties, micromorphology and decay resistance against fungi of the treated wood samples were investigated to examine their efficacy. The production cost of CFP-WP was also assessed. The results showed that CFP-WP (Cu, B and small molecular amino acids) was able to penetrate into wood cell walls and the active ingredients of preservatives interacted with wood constituents were well fixed onto wood blocks, evidenced by SEM–EDS observation, NMR, FTIR, XRD and TGA/DTG analysis. The morphology analysis elucidated that CFP-WP effectively protected wood against decay fungi. Decay experiments verified that the new preservative prolonged the wood service life, reducing the mass loss up to 10.88% from 51.02% compared to the untreated wood. Further, the production cost of CFP-WP (approx. 130–140 €/tonne) is nearly 30% lower than the commercial price of conventional market preservatives, such as ACQ (approx. 210 €/tonne). The excellent functionalities of this CFP-WP eco-friendly formulation present a great potential to be used as an environmentally benign wood preservative.
The GlyT1-inhibitor Org 24598 facilitates the alcohol deprivation abolishing and dopamine elevating effects of bupropion + varenicline in rats
Authors: Olsson Yasmin , Lidö Helga , Ademar Karin , Cadeddu Davide , Ericson Mia , Söderpalm Bo 
Published: September 2023

AbstractAlcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a relapsing brain disorder that involves perturbations of brain dopamine (DA) systems, and combined treatment with varenicline + bupropion produces additive effects on accumbal DA output and abolishes the alcohol deprivation effect (ADE) in rats. Also, direct and indirect glycine receptor (GlyR) agonists raise basal DA, attenuate alcohol-induced DA release in the nucleus Accumbens (nAc) and reduce alcohol consumption in rats. This study in rats examines whether the GlyT1-inhibitor Org 24598, an indirect GlyR agonist, enhances the ADE-reducing and DA elevating action of the combined administration of varenicline + bupropion in lower doses than previously applied. Effects on voluntary alcohol consumption, the ADE and extracellular levels of glycine and DA in nAc were examined following treatment with Org 24598 6 and 9 mg/kg i.p., bupropion 3.75 mg/kg i.p. and varenicline 1.5 mg/kg s.c., in monotherapy or combined, using a two-bottle, free-choice alcohol consumption paradigm with an ADE paradigm, and in vivo microdialysis in male Wistar rats. Notably, all treatment regimens appeared to abolish the ADE but only the effect produced by the triple combination (Org24598 + varenicline + bupropion) was significant compared to vehicle. Hence, addition of Org 24598 may enhance the ADE-reducing action of varenicline + bupropion and appears to allow for a dose reduction of bupropion. Treatment with Org 24598 raised accumbal glycine levels but did not significantly alter DA output in monotherapy. Varenicline + bupropion produced a substantial elevation in accumbal DA output that was slightly enhanced following addition of Org 24598. Conceivably, the blockade of the ADE is achieved by the triple combination enhancing accumbal DA transmission in complementary ways, thereby alleviating a hypothesized hypodopaminergia and negative reinforcement to drink. Ultimately, combining an indirect or direct GlyR agonist with varenicline + bupropion may constitute a new pharmacological treatment principle for AUD, although further refinement in dosing and evaluation of other glycinergic compounds are warranted.
Incorporation of copper in LaCoO3: modulating thermoelectric power factor for low- and mid-temperature thermoelectric applications
Authors: U Deepika Shanubhogue , Rao Ashok , Mukherjee Bodhoday , Okram Gunadhor Singh , Davis Nithya , Ashok Anuradha M. , Poornesh P. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractIn the present work, LaCoO3/ x wt% Cu (x = 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) samples were prepared using solid-state reaction method followed by conventional sintering. We have performed electrical and thermoelectric (TE) measurements on these samples both at low (100–310 K) as well as in mid (310–790 K) temperature range. X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies showed that the pristine LaCoO3 sample crystallized in a distorted rhombohedral structure with the space group $$R\stackrel{-}{3}c$$

R

3
-

c

. Interestingly, the addition of Cu resulted in two distinct phases viz. rhombohedral LaCoO3 and monoclinic CuO. Throughout the entire temperature range, the electrical resistivity of the samples decreased with temperature, which depicts the semiconducting behavior of the prepared samples. Furthermore, there is a crossover from negative to positive Seebeck coefficient for the pristine sample at 275 K, but all the copper-incorporated samples exhibited a positive Seebeck coefficient indicating holes as the majority charge carriers. It is found that, the sample with x = 10% exhibited the maximum power factor of about 99 µW/m K2 at 400 K, which is significantly higher than the pristine sample at the same temperature.
Are transport networks in low-income countries prepared for climate change? Barriers to preparing for climate change in Africa and South Asia
Authors: Greenham Sarah , Workman Robin , McPherson Kevin , Ferranti Emma , Fisher Rachel , Mills Stephen , Street Roger , Dora John , Quinn Andrew , Roberts Clive 
Published: September 2023

AbstractClimate change, through extreme weather events and slow onset climatic changes, disrupts the operation of transport networks, and those in low-income countries (LICs) across Africa and South Asia are particularly vulnerable to climate change. This paper explores the barriers that LICs face across Africa and South Asia regarding preparedness of transport infrastructure to climate change, with the intent of addressing the knowledge gaps and consequential needs of LICs to support the delivery of more climate-resilient transport. Literature on climate change adaptation and transport resilience among LICs is reviewed to identify the broad challenges and barriers regarding climate change adaptation. Semi-structured interviews with 13 transport stakeholders across Africa and South Asia were also conducted to understand the challenges specific to the transport sector in the regions. Several barriers were identified, including a lack of data and knowledge on climate change impacts, design and prioritisation of remedial actions, budgeting and planning for climate change, and identifying and engaging with stakeholders. Findings from this paper and the wider research project it comprises inform policy guidance that calls for greater national and international coordination to develop practical, relevant and usable data, tools, advice and support for some of the most at-risk transport networks to climate change in the world.
A design approach for building a digital platform to augment human abilities based on a more-than-human perspective
Authors: Kimura Risa , Nakajima Tatsuo 
Published: September 2023

AbstractTo acquire information from the real world and respond appropriately to life's circumstances, vision is indispensable for humans. However, due to its ubiquitous nature, we often perceive the world unconsciously, thereby overlooking the opportunity to contemplate the significance of sight. Seeing goes beyond being a mere method of gathering information; it is an act of uncovering new perspectives and engaging in profound exploration. Theories on creative problem-solving strongly advocate for the advantages of adopting multiple viewpoints. By generating a multitude of alternatives through information gleaned from diverse perspectives, we enhance our ability to expand the range of choices available to us, thus facilitating more effective problem-solving. In this paper, we present Posthuman CollectiveEyes, a digital platform that enriches the human act of visual perception by integrating diverse viewpoints such as collective human, augmented human, and nonhuman viewpoints, and constructs posthuman viewpoints from the diverse viewpoints. In the design of Posthuman CollectiveEyes, we adopt the more-than-human perspective, widely employed in the social sciences to analyze the impact of technology on human actions and decision-making in organizations and societies. This perspective enables us to uncover knowledge that conventional human-centered approaches cannot capture, as the objective of Posthuman CollectiveEyes is to expand human cognitive capabilities through enhanced visual perception. The novel contribution of our approach lies in demonstrating that the design of innovative digital platforms aimed at enhancing human abilities necessitates a fresh design approach that incorporates the more-than-human perspective.
Corrosion Behaviour of Fe-Based and Ni-Based Alloys in Wet CO2 Gas with and without Chloride Deposits at 750 °C
Authors: Cai Yuchen , Zhang Zhe , Zhang Jianqiang , Gleeson Brian , Young David J. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractCorrosion behaviours of Fe–25Cr, Fe–25Cr–2Mn–1Si, Fe–25Cr–20Ni, 310SS, Ni–25Cr, and Ni–25Cr–2Mn–1Si (all in wt%) with and without NaCl–KCl deposits in Ar–60%CO2–20%H2O gas at 750 °C were studied. Without salt deposits, Fe–25Cr performed protectively, while Fe–25Cr–20Ni and Ni–25Cr underwent breakaway oxidation with multilayered scales formed. Adding alloy elements Si + Mn increased the corrosion resistance of all alloys by forming additional Mn-rich oxides and silica. Surface deposits of NaCl–KCl accelerated corrosion, forming porous Fe-rich oxide nodules for Fe–25Cr and thick, porous scales and internal oxidation zones for all other alloys. The protective effect of Si + Mn alloying disappeared in the presence of chlorides. Limited intergranular carbides were observed for all alloys in the gas-only condition. The extent of carburisation increased with the presence of chloride deposits for all Fe-based alloys, but remained unchanged for Ni-based alloys. Corrosion of these alloys at 750 °C is compared with that at 650 °C. The effect of chlorides in volatilising metals at 750 °C is discussed.
An analysis of conceptual ambiguities in the debate on the format of concepts
Authors: Raia Renato 
Published: September 2023

AbstractThere is a debate in philosophy and cognitive science over whether concepts – the building blocks of thought—are couched in a perceptual modality or are amodally represented. The empirical evidence so far collected seems not to have adjudicated this question yet, as reinterpretation of the same set of evidence by both supporters of modalism and amodalism have been provided. I offer a critique of such reinterpretations, arguing that they ultimately derive from theoretical problems in the definition of a modal representation. In particular, I will review three criteria which have been offered to distinguish amodal concepts from modal ones: the isomorphism criterion, the neural location criterion, and the input specificity criterion. I will explain how these criteria often lack theoretical clarity, making it possible in most cases to propose a parsimonious explanation of the same set of data from both an amodalist and a modalist perspective. As a result, it becomes impossible to empirically discriminate between the two interpretations. My conclusion is that the main problem with the discussed criteria is that they frame the question on the format of concept as an either/or debate, by overlooking more interesting empirical questions.
“Nimble Sociality and Belonging”: an Ethnography of Migrants’ Responses to Bans on Associational Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Bhanye Johannes 
Published: September 2023

AbstractWithin the past few years, pandemics like HIV/AIDS, influenza, and SARS-CoV-2 have become common worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic, which broke out recently, profoundly impacted the world. As part of containing this pandemic, lockdowns which put a moratorium on human mobility and associational life became a dominant measure. Yet these mobilities and associational life are the lifeblood of migrants and diaspora belonging. This paper examines the impacts of bans on associational life on migrants and, further, what migrants did to continue living in the absence of these associations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper is based on a case study of Lydiate informal settlement in Zimbabwe, where Malawian migrants have established an ethnic enclave to shield themselves from the precarity and injustices of foreign lands. Through convivial and digital ethnographic fieldwork, the paper revealed that bans on associational life disrupted community engagements and binding religious associational life, increased targeted violence and “othering,” and perpetuated stigma and discrimination and loss of ties with family and fictive kin. However, migrants restructured their associational life by adopting agile and new forms of belonging to get by, including relocating religious shrines to more secretive places or conducting religious ceremonies in the dark, drinking beer within the perimeter of the settlement, using of WhatsApp and instant messaging and WhatsApp groups for important community updates, and collective resistance. I termed these strategies “nimble forms of sociality and belonging,” meaning there are lithe mechanisms that migrants employ to further their sociality even when they are restricted.
Quaternary Ammonium Salts of Cationic Lipopeptides with Lysine Residues — Synthesis, Antimicrobial, Hemolytic and Cytotoxic Activities
Authors: Sikora Karol , Jędrzejczak Jakub , Bauer Marta , Neubauer Damian , Jaśkiewicz Maciej , Szaryńska Magdalena 
Published: September 2023

AbstractUltrashort cationic lipopeptides (USCLs) and quaternary ammonium salts constitute two groups of cationic surfactants with high antimicrobial activity. This study aimed to investigate the influence of quaternization of the amino group of the lysine side chain in USCLs on their antimicrobial, hemolytic and cytotoxic activities. To do this, two series of lipopeptides were synthesized, USLCs and their quaternized analogues containing trimethylated lysine residues — qUSCLs (quaternized ultrashort cationic lipopeptides). Quaternization was performed on a resin during a standard solid-phase peptide synthesis with CH3I as the methylating agent. According to our knowledge, this is the first study presenting on-resin peptide quaternization. The lipopeptides were tested for their antibacterial and antifungal activities against the ESKAPE group (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella aerogenes) bacteria and Candida glabrata yeast-like fungus. Most of the compounds proved to be active antimicrobial agents with enhanced activity against Gram-positive strains and fungi and a lower against Gram-negative species. In addition, the antimicrobial activity of lipopeptides was increasing with an increase in hydrophobicity but qUSCLs exhibited usually a poorer antimicrobial activity than their parent molecules. Furthermore, the toxicity against red blood cells and human keratinocytes was assessed. It’s worth emphasizing that qUSCLs were less toxic than the parent molecules of comparative hydrophobicity. The results of the study proved that qUSCLs can offer a higher selectivity to pathogens over human cells than that of USCLs. Last but not least, quaternization of the peptides could increase their solubility and therefore their bioavailability and utility.
Communication between plant roots and the soil microbiome; involvement in plant growth and development
Authors: Molefe Rebaona R. , Amoo Adenike E. , Babalola Olubukola O. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractRoot-associated microbial communities have strong influences on the health and development of plants. Through the secretion of root exudates, the soil microbiome is impacted by plants, thereby steering plant-soil reactions. Considering the importance of root exudates in the establishment of symbiotic associations in the rhizosphere, it is quite clear that understanding the interaction between plant roots and the soil microbiome may prove beneficial. Here, we review the interaction between plant root exudates and microbial communities in the soil. The influence of these bioactive molecules on the structure and function of soil microbes is also considered. We additionally, deliberate on how plants determine the soil microbiome and how they extract nutrients from endophytes for the augmentation of their growth and development. A good perspective of the communication between plant roots and the soil microbiome could lead to increased crop production, thereby limiting the need for synthetic fertilizers.
Hybrid quantum ResNet for car classification and its hyperparameter optimization
Authors: Sagingalieva Asel , Kordzanganeh Mo , Kurkin Andrii , Melnikov Artem , Kuhmistrov Daniil , Perelshtein Michael , Melnikov Alexey , Skolik Andrea , Dollen David Von 
Published: September 2023

AbstractImage recognition is one of the primary applications of machine learning algorithms. Nevertheless, machine learning models used in modern image recognition systems consist of millions of parameters that usually require significant computational time to be adjusted. Moreover, adjustment of model hyperparameters leads to additional overhead. Because of this, new developments in machine learning models and hyperparameter optimization techniques are required. This paper presents a quantum-inspired hyperparameter optimization technique and a hybrid quantum-classical machine learning model for supervised learning. We benchmark our hyperparameter optimization method over standard black-box objective functions and observe performance improvements in the form of reduced expected run times and fitness in response to the growth in the size of the search space. We test our approaches in a car image classification task and demonstrate a full-scale implementation of the hybrid quantum ResNet model with the tensor train hyperparameter optimization. Our tests show a qualitative and quantitative advantage over the corresponding standard classical tabular grid search approach used with a deep neural network ResNet34. A classification accuracy of 0.97 was obtained by the hybrid model after 18 iterations, whereas the classical model achieved an accuracy of 0.92 after 75 iterations.