bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transcriptome Analysis of Goat Mammary Gland Tissue Reveals the Adaptive Strategies and Molecular Mechanisms of Lactation and Involution
Authors: Xuan Rong , Wang Jianmin , Zhao Xiaodong , Li Qing , Wang Yanyan , Du Shanfeng , Duan Qingling , Guo Yanfei , Ji Zhibin , Chao Tianle
Published: November 2022

To understand how genes precisely regulate lactation physiological activity and the molecular genetic mechanisms underlying mammary gland involution, this study investigated the transcriptome characteristics of goat mammary gland tissues at the late gestation (LG), early lactation (EL), peak lactation (PL), late lactation (LL), dry period (DP), and involution (IN) stages. A total of 13,083 differentially expressed transcripts were identified by mutual comparison of mammary gland tissues at six developmental stages. Genes related to cell growth, apoptosis, immunity, nutrient transport, synthesis, and metabolism make adaptive transcriptional changes to meet the needs of mammary lactation. Notably, platelet derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFRB) was screened as a hub gene of the mammary gland developmental network, which is highly expressed during the DP and IN. Overexpression of PDGFRB in vitro could slow down the G1/S phase arrest of goat mammary epithelial cell cycle and promote cell proliferation by regulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. In addition, PDGFRB overexpression can also affect the expression of genes related to apoptosis, matrix metalloproteinase family, and vascular development, which is beneficial to the remodeling of mammary gland tissue during involution. These findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms involved in lactation and mammary gland involution.
Inflammation and Infection in Pain and the Role of GPR37
Authors: Zhang Qin , Bang Sangsu , Chandra Sharat , Ji Ru-Rong
Published: November 2022

Inflammation is known to cause pain, and pain is of one of the cardinal signs of inflammation. Mounting evidence suggests that acute inflammation also resolves pain through specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) and macrophage signaling. GPR37 is expressed by neurons and oligodendrocytes in the brain and has been implicated in multiple disorders, such as demyelination, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and cancer. Recent studies have demonstrated that GPR37 is expressed by macrophages and confers protection against infection by bacteria and parasites. Furthermore, GPR37 promotes the resolution of inflammatory pain and infection-induced pain, as the duration of pain after tissue injury and infection is prolonged in mice lacking Gpr37. Mechanistically, activation of GPR37 enhances macrophage phagocytosis, and Gpr37-deficient macrophages exhibit dysregulations of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, switching from M2- to M1-like phenotypes. We also discuss novel ligands of GPR37, including neuroprotectin D1 (NPD1), a SPM derived from docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and bone-derived hormone osteocalcin (OCN), which can suppress oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelination. NPD1 stimulates macrophage phagocytosis via GPR37 and exhibits potent analgesic actions in various animal models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain. Targeting GPR37 may lead to novel therapeutics for treating inflammation, infection, pain, and neurological diseases.
TGF-β/Smad Signalling Activation by HTRA1 Regulates the Function of Human Lens Epithelial Cells and Its Mechanism in Posterior Subcapsular Congenital Cataract
Authors: Lin Xiaolei , Yang Tianke , Liu Xin , Fan Fan , Zhou Xiyue , Li Hongzhe , Luo Yi
Published: November 2022

Congenital cataract is the leading cause of blindness among children worldwide. Patients with posterior subcapsular congenital cataract (PSC) in the central visual axis can result in worsening vision and stimulus deprivation amblyopia. However, the pathogenesis of PSC remains unclear. This study aims to explore the functional regulation and mechanism of HTRA1 in human lens epithelial cells (HLECs). HTRA1 was significantly downregulated in the lens capsules of children with PSC compared to normal controls. HTRA1 is a suppression factor of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signalling pathway, which plays a key role in cataract formation. The results showed that the TGF-β/Smad signalling pathway was activated in the lens tissue of PSC. The effect of HTRA1 on cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis was measured in HLECs. In primary HLECs, the downregulation of HTRA1 can promote the proliferation and migration of HLECs by activating the TGF-β/Smad signalling pathway and can significantly upregulate the TGF-β/Smad downstream target genes FN1 and α-SMA. HTRA1 was also knocked out in the eyes of C57BL/6J mice via adeno-associated virus-mediated RNA interference. The results showed that HTRA1 knockout can significantly upregulate p-Smad2/3 and activate the TGF-β/Smad signalling pathway, resulting in abnormal proliferation and irregular arrangement of lens epithelial cells and leading to the occurrence of subcapsular cataract. To conclude, HTRA1 was significantly downregulated in children with PSC, and the downregulation of HTRA1 enhanced the proliferation and migration of HLECs by activating the TGF-β/Smad signalling pathway, which led to the occurrence of PSC.
A Multi-Scale Study on Deformation and Failure Process of Metallic Structures in Extreme Environment
Authors: Li Zhi-Hui , Lu Chenchen , Shi Aiqiang , Zhao Sihan , Ou Bingxian , Wei Ning
Published: November 2022

It is a macro-micro model study for defect initiation, growth and crack propagation of metallic truss structure under high engine temperature and pressure conditions during the reentry atmosphere. Till now, the multi-scale simulation methods for these processes are still unclear. We explore the deformation and failure processes from macroscale to nanoscale using the Gas-Kinetic Unified Algorithm (GKUA) and all-atomic, molecular dynamic (MD) simulation method. The behaviors of the dislocations, defect evolution and crack propagation until failure for Aluminum-Magnesium (Al-Mg) alloy are considered with the different temperature background and strain fields. The results of distributions of temperature and strain field in the aerodynamic environment obtained by molecular dynamics simulations are in good agreement with those obtained from the macroscopic Boltzmann method. Compared to the tensile loading, the alloy structure is more sensitive to compression loading. The polycrystalline Al-Mg alloy has higher yield strength with a larger grain size. It is due to the translation of plastic deformation mode from grain boundary (GB) sliding to dislocation slip and the accumulation of dislocation line. Our findings have paved a new way to analyze and predict the metallic structural failure by micro-scale analysis under the aerodynamic thermal extreme environment of the reentry spacecraft on service expiration.
A Bionic Testbed for Cardiac Ablation Tools
Authors: Lin Wei-Han , Zhu Zhijie , Ravikumar Vasanth , Sharma Vinod , Tolkacheva Elena G. , McAlpine Michael C. , Ogle Brenda M.
Published: November 2022

Bionic-engineered tissues have been proposed for testing the performance of cardiovascular medical devices and predicting clinical outcomes ex vivo. Progress has been made in the development of compliant electronics that are capable of monitoring treatment parameters and being coupled to engineered tissues; however, the scale of most engineered tissues is too small to accommodate the size of clinical-grade medical devices. Here, we show substantial progress toward bionic tissues for evaluating cardiac ablation tools by generating a centimeter-scale human cardiac disk and coupling it to a hydrogel-based soft-pressure sensor. The cardiac tissue with contiguous electromechanical function was made possible by our recently established method to 3D bioprint human pluripotent stem cells in an extracellular matrix-based bioink that allows for in situ cell expansion prior to cardiac differentiation. The pressure sensor described here utilized electrical impedance tomography to enable the real-time spatiotemporal mapping of pressure distribution. A cryoablation tip catheter was applied to the composite bionic tissues with varied pressure. We found a close correlation between the cell response to ablation and the applied pressure. Under some conditions, cardiomyocytes could survive in the ablated region with more rounded morphology compared to the unablated controls, and connectivity was disrupted. This is the first known functional characterization of living human cardiomyocytes following an ablation procedure that suggests several mechanisms by which arrhythmia might redevelop following an ablation. Thus, bionic-engineered testbeds of this type can be indicators of tissue health and function and provide unique insight into human cell responses to ablative interventions.
BDNF as a Mediator of Antidepressant Response: Recent Advances and Lifestyle Interactions
Authors: Cubillos Susana , Engmann Olivia , Brancato Anna
Published: November 2022

Conventional antidepressants are widely employed in several psychiatric and neurologic disorders, yet the mechanisms underlying their delayed and partial therapeutic effects are only gradually being understood. This narrative review provides an up-to-date overview of the interplay between antidepressant treatment and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) signaling. In addition, the impact of nutritional, environmental and physiological factors on BDNF and the antidepressant response is outlined. This review underlines the necessity to include information on lifestyle choices in testing and developing antidepressant treatments in the future.
Differential Immunomodulatory Effects of Head and Neck Cancer-Derived Exosomes on B Cells in the Presence of ATP
Authors: Coray Mali , Göldi Veronika , Schmid Lukas , Benecke Laura , Figueiró Fabrício , Muller Laurent
Published: November 2022

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is an aggressive malignancy. Tumor-derived exosomes (TEX) have immunoregulatory properties. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and its immunosuppressive precursor adenosine (ADO) have been found in cancerous tissue. We investigated the effect of TEX on B cells in the presence of ATP. TEX were isolated from human HNSCC cell line (PCI-13) cultures and co-cultured with peripheral blood B cells of healthy donors, with or without TEX in different concentrations and with or without a low (20 µM) or high (2000 µM) ATP dose. We were able to demonstrate that TEX inhibit B-cell proliferation. The addition of TEX to either ATP concentration showed a decreasing trend in CD39 expression on B cells in a dose-dependent manner. High ATP levels (2000 µM) increased apoptosis and necrosis, and analysis of apoptosis-associated proteins revealed dose-dependent effects of ATP, which were modified by TEX. Altogether, TEX exhibited dual immunomodulatory effects on B cells. TEX were immunosuppressive by inhibiting B-cell proliferation; they were immunostimulatory by downregulating CD39 expression. Furthermore, TEX were able to modulate the expression of pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins. In conclusion, our data indicate that TEX play an important, but complex, role in the tumor microenvironment.
Molecular Characterization of a B Cell Adaptor for Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase Homolog in Lamprey (Lampetra japonica) and Its Function in the Immune Response
Authors: Chai Mengqi , Liu Xiujia , Wei Lin , Li Jun , Gou Meng , Zhu Ting , Han Yinglun , Liu Xin
Published: November 2022

Human B cell adaptor for phosphoinositide 3-kinase (BCAP) is identified as an adaptor protein expressed in B cells and plays a critical immunomodulatory role in B cell receptor signaling and humoral immune response. In the current study, a homolog of BCAP (Lja-BCAP) was identified in Lampetra japonica. The open reading frame of Lja-BCAP contains 2181bp nucleotides and encodes a protein of 726 amino acids. After being stimulated by mixed bacteria, the mRNA and protein expression levels of Lja-BCAP and the activation levels of tyrosine kinases increased significantly in peripheral blood lymphocytes, gills and supraneural myeloid bodies, respectively. However, after the knockdown of Lja-BCAP by RNAi in vivo, the activation of tyrosine kinases was inhibited in the above tissues, which indicated that Lja-BCAP participated in the anti-bacterial immune response of lampreys. After lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation, the expression of Lja-BCAP in peripheral blood lymphocytes, gills and supraneural myeloid bodies were significantly up-regulated 2.5, 2.2, and 11.1 times (p < 0.05) compared to the control group, respectively; while after phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation, the up-regulation of Lja-BCAP was only detected in peripheral blood lymphocytes. The above results show that Lja-BCAP mainly participates in the LPS-mediated immune response of lampreys.
Anopheles gambiae Trehalase Inhibitors for Malaria Vector Control: A Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamics Study
Authors: Adedeji Eunice O. , Oduselu Gbolahan O. , Ogunlana Olubanke O. , Fatumo Segun , Koenig Rainer , Adebiyi Ezekiel
Published: November 2022

Trehalase inhibitors are considered safe alternatives for insecticides and fungicides. However, there are no studies testing these compounds on Anopheles gambiae, a major vector of human malaria. This study predicted the three-dimensional structure of Anopheles gambiae trehalase (AgTre) and identified potential inhibitors using molecular docking and molecular dynamics methods. Robetta server, C-I-TASSER, and I-TASSER were used to predict the protein structure, while the structural assessment was carried out using SWISS-MODEL, ERRAT, and VERIFY3D. Molecular docking and screening of 3022 compounds was carried out using AutoDock Vina in PyRx, and MD simulation was carried out using NAMD. The Robetta model outperformed all other models and was used for docking and simulation studies. After a post-screening analysis and ADMET studies, uniflorine, 67837201, 10406567, and Compound 2 were considered the best hits with binding energies of −6.9, −8.9, −9, and −8.4 kcal/mol, respectively, better than validamycin A standard (−5.4 kcal/mol). These four compounds were predicted to have no eco-toxicity, Brenk, or PAINS alerts. Similarly, they were predicted to be non-mutagenic, carcinogenic, or hepatoxic. 67837201, 10406567, and Compound 2 showed excellent stability during simulation. The study highlights uniflorine, 67837201, 10406567, and Compound 2 as good inhibitors of AgTre and possible compounds for malaria vector control.
Finding New Insights in Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy and the Pathophysiology behind Left Ventricular Dyssynchrony
Authors: Duchenne Jürgen
Published: November 2022

Over the past two decades, cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) became an established treatment option for patients with symptomatic heart failure [...]
A Comparison of Wear Patterns on Retrieved and Simulator-Tested Total Knee Replacements
Authors: Dammer Rebecca H. , Zietz Carmen , Bader Rainer
Published: November 2022

Aseptic implant loosening is the most common reason for revision surgery after total knee replacement. This is associated with adverse biological reactions to wear debris from the articulating implant components. To predict the amount of wear debris generated in situ, standard wear testing of total knee replacement (TKR) is carried out before its clinical use. However, wear data reported on retrievals of total knee replacement (TKR) revealed significant discrepancies compared with standard wear simulator studies. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare the wear patterns on identical posterior-cruciate-retaining TKR designs by analyzing retrieved and experimentally tested implants. The identification and classification of wear patterns were performed using 21 retrieved ultra-high-molecular-weight-polyethylene (UHMW-PE) inserts and four sets of inserts of identical design and material tested in a knee wear simulator. These four sets had undergone different worst-case conditions and a standard test in a wear simulator according to ISO 14243-1. Macroscopic and microscopic examinations of the polyethylene inserts were performed, including the determination of seven modes of wear that correspond to specific wear patterns, the calculation of wear areas, and the classification of the damage over the whole articulating area. Retrieved and standard wear simulator-tested UHMW-PE inserts showed significant differences in wear area and patterns. The total wear areas and the damage score were significantly larger on the retrievals (52.3% versus 23.9%, 32.7 versus 22.7). Furthermore, the range of wear patterns found on the retrievals was not reproducible in the simulator-tested inserts. However, good correspondence was found with the simulator-tested polyethylene inserts under worst-case conditions (third body wear), i.e., deep wear areas could be replicated according to the in vivo situation compared with other wear test scenarios. Based on the findings presented here, standard simulator testing can be used to directly compare different TKR designs but is limited in the prediction of their in situ wear. Preclinical wear testing may be adjusted by worst-case conditions to improve the prediction of in situ performance of total knee implants in the future.
Combination of Radiomics Features and Functional Radiosensitivity Enhances Prediction of Acute Pulmonary Toxicity in a Prospective Validation Cohort of Patients with a Locally Advanced Lung Cancer Treated with VMAT-Radiotherapy
Authors: Bourbonne Vincent , Lucia François , Jaouen Vincent , Pradier Olivier , Visvikis Dimitris , Schick Ulrike
Published: November 2022

Introduction: The standard of care for people with locally advanced lung cancer (LALC) who cannot be operated on is (chemo)-radiation. Despite the application of dose constraints, acute pulmonary toxicity (APT) still often occurs. Prediction of APT is of paramount importance for the development of innovative therapeutic combinations. The two models were previously individually created. With success, the Rad-model incorporated six radiomics functions. After additional validation in prospective cohorts, a Pmap-model was created by identifying a specific region of the right posterior lung and incorporating several clinical and dosimetric parameters. To create and test a novel model to forecast the risk of APT in two cohorts receiving volumetric arctherapy radiotherapy (VMAT), we aimed to include all the variables in this study. Methods: In the training cohort, we retrospectively included all patients treated by VMAT for LALC at one institution between 2015 and 2018. APT was assessed according to the CTCAE v4.0 scale. Usual clinical and dosimetric features, as well as the mean dose to the pre-defined Pmap zone (DMeanPmap), were processed using a neural network approach and subsequently validated on an observational prospective cohort. The model was evaluated using the area under the curve (AUC) and balanced accuracy (Bacc). Results: 165 and 42 patients were enrolled in the training and test cohorts, with APT rates of 22.4 and 19.1%, respectively. The AUCs for the Rad and Pmap models in the validation cohort were 0.83 and 0.81, respectively, whereas the AUC for the combined model (Comb-model) was 0.90. The Bacc for the Rad, Pmap, and Comb models in the validation cohort were respectively 78.7, 82.4, and 89.7%. Conclusion: The accuracy of prediction models were increased by combining radiomics, DMeanPmap, and common clinical and dosimetric features. The use of this model may improve the evaluation of APT risk and provide access to novel therapeutic alternatives, such as dose escalation or creative therapy combinations.
Postoperative Inpatient Rehabilitation Does Not Increase Knee Function after Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: Rak Dominik , Nedopil Alexander J. , Sayre Eric C. , Masri Bassam A. , Rudert Maximilian
Published: November 2022

Inpatient rehabilitation (IR) is a common postoperative protocol after total knee replacement (TKA). Because IR is expensive and should therefore be justified, this study determined the difference in knee function one year after TKA in patients treated with IR or outpatient rehabilitation, fast-track rehabilitation (FTR) in particular, which also entails a reduced hospital length of stay. A total of 205 patients were included in this multi-center prospective cohort study. Of the patients, 104 had primary TKA at a German university hospital and received IR, while 101 had primary TKA at a Canadian university hospital and received FTR. Patients receiving IR or FTR were matched by pre-operative demographics and knee function. Oxford Knee Score (OKS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), and EuroQol visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) determined knee function one year after surgery. Patients receiving IR had a 2.8-point lower improvement in OKS (p = 0.001), a 6.7-point lower improvement in WOMAC (p = 0.063), and a 12.3-point higher improvement in EQ-VAS (p = 0.281) than patients receiving FTR. IR does not provide long-term benefits to patient recovery after primary uncomplicated TKA under the current rehabilitation regime.
A Machine Learning Model for Detection of Coronary Artery Disease Using Noninvasive Clinical Parameters
Authors: Sayadi Mohammadjavad , Varadarajan Vijayakumar , Sadoughi Farahnaz , Chopannejad Sara , Langarizadeh Mostafa
Published: November 2022

Background and Objective: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the most prevalent causes of death worldwide. The early diagnosis and timely medical care of cardiovascular patients can greatly prevent death and reduce the cost of treatments associated with CAD. In this study, we attempt to prepare a new model for early CAD diagnosis. The proposed model can diagnose CAD based on clinical data and without the use of an invasive procedure. Methods: In this paper, machine-learning (ML) techniques were used for the early detection of CAD, which were applied to a CAD dataset known as Z-Alizadeh Sani. Since this dataset has 54 features, the Pearson correlation feature selection method was conducted to identify the most effective features. Then, six machine learning techniques including decision tree, deep learning, logistic regression, random forest, support vector machine (SVM), and Xgboost were employed based on a semi-random-partitioning framework. Result: Applying Pearson feature selection to the dataset demonstrated that only eight features were the most effective for CAD diagnosis. The results of running the six machine-learning models on the selected features showed that logistic regression and SVM had the same performance with 95.45% accuracy, 95.91% sensitivity, 91.66% specificity, and a 96.90% F1 score. In addition, the ROC curve indicates a similar result regarding the AUC (0.98). Conclusions: Prediction is an important component of medical decision support systems. The results of the present study showed that feature selection has a high impact on machine-learning performance and, regardless of the evaluation metrics of the machine-learning models, determining the effective features is very important. However, SVM and Logistic Regression were designated as the best models according to our selected features.
Modeling of Probeless Friction Stir Spot Welding of AA2024/AISI304 Steel Lap Joint
Authors: Rashkovets Mariia , Contuzzi Nicola , Casalino Giuseppe
Published: November 2022

In the present study, AA2024 aluminum alloy and AISI304 stainless steel were welded in a lap joint configuration by Probeless Friction Stir Spot Welding (P-FSSW) with a flat surface tool. A full factorial DOE plan was performed. The effect of the tool force (4900, 7350 N) and rotational speed (500, 1000, 1500, 2000 RPM) was analyzed regarding the microstructure and microhardness study. A two-dimensional arbitrary Eulerian–Lagrangian FEM model was used to clarify the temperature distribution and material flow within the welds. The experimental results for the weld microstructures were used to validate the temperature field of the numerical model. The results showed that the tool rotation speed had an extensive influence on the heat generation, whereas the load force mainly acted on the material flow.
Discrimination of Copper Molten Marks through a Fire Reproduction Experiment Using Microstructure Features
Authors: Park Jinyoung , Kang Joo-Hee , Park Jiwon , Ko Young Ho , Bang Sun Bae
Published: November 2022

The copper molten marks at a fire site provide important clues for determining the causes of fire. Four factors have been presented to quantitatively discriminate copper molten marks, namely the fraction of (001) component perpendicular to the demarcation line, the grain aspect ratio, the fraction of Σ3 boundaries, and the fraction of maximum grain size. However, only laboratory-level results of these parameters have been presented, and their applicability in actual fires is yet to be verified. In this study, a fire reproduction experimental system was configured to generate molten marks similar to those in actual fire sites. The molten marks were measured by electron backscatter diffraction and applied to the four discriminant factors. The results obtained similar characteristics to those of the laboratory unit, confirming the applicability of the four discriminant factors. Discriminant equations and processes that can distinguish the primary and secondary arc beads were derived using the molten marks generated in the laboratory and reproduction experiments. Furthermore, a probabilistic discrimination method and classification model developed by machine learning were proposed. Therefore, the use of the discriminants in actual fires can improve the reliability of the statistics and prevent the recurrence of similar fires.
Chitosan/POSS Hybrid Hydrogels for Bone Tissue Engineering
Authors: Celesti Consuelo , Iannazzo Daniela , Espro Claudia , Visco Annamaria , Legnani Laura , Veltri Lucia , Visalli Giuseppa , Di Pietro Angela , Bottino Paola , Chiacchio Maria Assunta
Published: November 2022

Hybrid hydrogels composed of chitosan (CS) have shown great potential in bone tissue engineering and regeneration. The introduction of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) in the biopolymeric matrix has been demonstrated to improve the rheological and biological properties of the hybrid composites. In this work, we have integrated the favourable features of chitosan (CS) and POSS nanoparticles to design new nanocomposites for bone tissue regeneration, focusing our attention on the effect of POSS concentration within the CS matrix (0.5, 1, and 1.5 equivalents in weight of POSS with respect to CS) on the chemical, physical, rheological, and in vitro biological properties of the final composites. The drug release ability of the synthesized hydrogel scaffolds were also investigated using, as the model drug, ketoprofen, that was included in the scaffold during the gelling procedure, showing a more controlled release for the hybrids with respect to CS (86–91% of drug released after two weeks). The results of the in vitro biological tests performed on human fetal osteoblastic cells (hFOB 1.19) culture demonstrated the great biocompatibility of the hybrid materials. The hybrids, at the different POSS concentrations, showed values of cell mortality superimposable with control cells (11.1 vs. 9.8%), thus revealing the CS/POSS hydrogels as possible candidates for bone tissue engineering applications.
Experimental Study and Finite Element Analysis on the Flexural Behavior of Steel Fiber Reinforced Recycled Aggregate Concrete Beams
Authors: Guan Qiaoyan , Yang Mengyu , Shi Ke , Zhang Tao
Published: November 2022

This paper reports on the flexural behavior of nine steel fiber reinforced-recycled aggregate concrete (SFRAC) beams through combined experimental and finite element analysis. The test parameters in this study include the steel fiber volume fraction, recycled aggregate replacement ratio, and concrete strength. The failure modes, crack development, load-deflection curves, and flexural bearing capacity of SFRAC beams are investigated in detail. The test results indicated that cracks and concrete crushing are formed in the compression zone of all specimens. The flexural bearing capacity of SFRAC beams increases with the increase of steel fiber volume fraction and concrete strength and the decrease of recycled aggregate replacement ratio. In addition, the results are compared with those of the finite element analysis. Based on the uniaxial compressive constitutive model of SFRAC, a new model for calculating the flexural bearing capacity of SFRAC beams is proposed. The prediction and test results are compared to evaluate the accuracy of the developed formula. The studies may provide a considerable reference for designing this type of structure in engineering practice.
Mathematical Model of the Pulse Generation of Decontaminating Aerosols
Authors: Kudryashova Olga , Sokolov Sergei , Zhukov Ilya , Vorozhtsov Alexander
Published: November 2022

A mathematical model of the pulse generation of decontaminating aerosols utilizing the energy of high-energy materials (HEM) is proposed with account for the physical and chemical properties of the atomized substance, HEM characteristics, and gas generator parameters. Such a model is needed to counter the environmental hazards, process emissions, and terrorist attacks with hazardous and dangerous aerosols. Another aspect of the problem is the danger of biological aerosols carrying viral or microbial particles that are spread naturally or induced using biological weapons. In many cases, the mission is not only to neutralize aerosol particles in indoor air and on surfaces but also to do it quickly. In this regard, an attractive option is the pulse method for generating special aerosols aimed at quickly, within a few seconds, creating a cloud of particles that will interact with hazardous aerosol particles and decontaminate them. HEM energy is proposed to be used for the pulse generation of such aerosols. It is important not only to atomize the decontaminating aerosol quickly and evenly in space but also to preserve the useful physical and chemical properties of the particles. To test the regimes and methods of pulse generation, an adequate mathematical model of the process is required, which is proposed in this manuscript.
Weathering of a Nonwoven Polypropylene Geotextile: Field vs. Laboratory Exposure
Authors: Carneiro José Ricardo , Lopes Maria de Lurdes
Published: November 2022

Like other plastic materials, geosynthetics can undergo changes in their properties due to weathering. These changes must be known and, if necessary, duly accounted for in the design phase. This work evaluates the resistance of a nonwoven polypropylene geotextile to weathering, both in the field (under natural degradation conditions) and in the laboratory (under accelerated degradation conditions). The damage experienced by the geotextile in the field weathering tests was evaluated by monitoring changes in its physical (mass per unit area and thickness), mechanical (tensile, tearing and puncture behaviour) and hydraulic (water permeability normal to the plane) properties. Microscopic damage was assessed by scanning electron microscopy. In the laboratory weathering tests, only the tensile behaviour of the geotextile was monitored. The results showed that all geotextile properties were affected by weathering. The mechanical strength of the geotextile decreased in the field weathering tests. Microscopic transverse cracks were found in the weathered polypropylene fibres, which may explain the reduction in mechanical strength. The accumulation of dirt on the nonwoven structure altered the physical and hydraulic properties of the geotextile. Comparing the field and laboratory weathering tests, the reduction in tensile strength found after 24 months outdoors (roughly 30%) was very similar to that observed after 4000 h in the laboratory. This relationship may not be valid for other geotextiles or other exposure locations.
On-the-Fly Short-Pulse R2R Laser Patterning Processes for the Manufacturing of Fully Printed Semitransparent Organic Photovoltaics
Authors: Kapnopoulos Christos , Zachariadis Alexandros , Mekeridis Evangelos , Kassavetis Spyros , Gravalidis Christoforos , Laskarakis Argiris , Logothetidis Stergios
Published: November 2022

Ultrafast laser patterning is an essential technology for the low-cost and large area production of flexible Organic Electronic (OE) devices, such as Organic Photovoltaics (OPVs). In order to unleash the potential of ultrafast laser processing to perform the selective and high precision removal of complex multilayers from printed OPV stacks without affecting the underlying nanolayers, it is necessary to optimize its parameters for each nanolayer combination. In this work, we developed an efficient on-the-fly picosecond (ps) laser scribing process (P1, P2 and P3) using single wavelength and single step/pass for the precise and reliable in-line patterning of Roll-to-Roll (R2R) slot-die-coated nanolayers. We have investigated the effect of the key process parameters (pulse energy and overlap) on the patterning quality to obtain high selectivity on the ablation of each individual nanolayer. Finally, we present the implementation of the ultrafast laser patterning process in the manufacturing of fully R2R printed flexible semitransparent OPV modules with a 3.4% power conversion efficiency and 91% Geometric Fill Factor (GFF).
Phase Transitions and Electric Properties of PbBr2 under High Pressure: A First-Principles Study
Authors: Yang Lihua , Zhang Yukai , Chen Yanli , Zhong Xin , Wang Dandan , Fan Lin , Lang Jihui , Qu Xin , Yang Jinghai
Published: November 2022

PbBr2 has recently attracted considerable attention as a precursor for lead halide perovskite-based devices because of its attractive properties. It is known that pressure can modify the chemical and physical properties of materials by altering the distance between atoms in the lattice. Here, a global structure-searching scheme was used to explore the high-pressure structures of PbBr2, whose structures and properties at high pressure are still far from clear. Three new phases of PbBr2 were predicted in the pressure range of 0–200 GPa, and the pressure-driven phase transition sequence of orthorhombic Pnma (0–52 GPa) → tetragonal I4/mmm (52–80 GPa) → orthorhombic Cmca (80–153.5 GPa) → orthorhombic Immm (153.5–200 GPa) is proposed. Electronic calculations indicate a semiconductor-to-metallic transition of PbBr2 in the Cmca phase at ~120 GPa. Our present results could be helpful in improving the understanding of fundamental physical properties and provide insights to modulate the structural and related photoelectric properties of PbBr2.
Chestnut Shell-Activated Carbon Mixed with Pyrolytic Snail Shells for Methylene Blue Adsorption
Authors: An Jiahao , Nhung Nguyen Thi Hong , Ding Yaxuan , Chen Hao , He Chunlin , Wang Xinpeng , Fujita Toyohisa
Published: November 2022

Activated carbon has been used to treat organic dyes in water systems; however, the adsorption capacity of the samples studied was limited by the specific surface area and influenced by the pH of the aqueous solution. In this study, a hybrid adsorbent consisting of a mixture (MCS) of activated chestnut shell biochar (CN) and pyrolyzed snail shell material (SS) was developed to solve this problem, with the waste snail shell samples being processed by pyrolysis and the chestnut shell samples chemically pretreated and then pyrolyzed. The BET and SEM results revealed that the SS had a mesoporous fluffy structure with a higher specific surface (1705 m2/g) and an average pore diameter of about 4.07 nm, providing a large number of sites for adsorption. In addition, XPS and FTIR results showed that the main component of SS was calcium oxide, and it also contained a certain amount of calcium carbonate, which not only provided an alkaline environment for the adsorption of biochar but also degradation and photocatalytic capabilities. The results showed that the MCS3-1 sample, obtained when CN and SS were mixed in the ratio of 3:1, had good capacity for adsorption for methylene blue (MB), with 1145 mg/g at an initial concentration of 1300 mg/L (92% removal rate). The adsorption behaviors were fitted with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Freundlich isotherm model, which indicated that the adsorption was multilayer chemisorption with a saturated adsorption capacity of 1635 mg/g. The photocatalytic capacity from the SS composition was about 89 mg/g, and the sorption of MB dye onto the sorbent reached equilibrium after 300 min. The results suggested that MCS3-1 has enormous potential for removing MB from wastewater.
Evaluation and Improvement of Greenness for Milling AL6061 Alloy through Life Cycle Assessment and Grey Relational Analysis
Authors: Xing Zhipeng , Dai Haicong , Zhang Jiong , Li Yufeng
Published: November 2022

Modern manufacturing industries thrive on greenness, which means ensuring acceptable environmental impacts and required surface quality of the products during the manufacturing process. However, there is a conflict between surface quality and environmental performances in the milling process. The current research only considers energy consumption rather than total environmental impacts. In this respect, this research focuses on the multiobjective optimization of machining parameters for balancing the surface quality (i.e., surface roughness, Ra) and total environmental impact (TEI), which includes raw materials usage, energy consumption, and output pollutant emission during the milling of AL6061 alloy. First, life cycle assessment (LCA) of the milling process is used for evaluating the TEI. Then, multiobjective optimization is conducted using Grey Relational Analysis. The results indicated that the improvement of Ra and TEI can be achieved with higher cutting speed, higher depth, and wet conditions in milling. The optimization work showed that cutting speed of 165 m/min, feed rate of 0.28 mm/rev, depth of cut of 2 mm, and width of cut of 3 mm are the optimal combination among existing experiments. Compared to single objective optimization results, multiple responses (Ra and TEI) can be improved simultaneously.
Impact-Resistant Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate)/Poly(ε-Caprolactone)-Based Materials, through Reactive Melt Processing, for Compression-Molding and 3D-Printing Applications
Authors: Laoutid Fouad , Lenoir Hadrien , Molins Santaeularia Adriana , Toncheva Antoniya , Schouw Tim , Dubois Philippe
Published: November 2022

Biobased and biocompatible polymers, such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), are of great interest for a large range of applications in the spirit of green chemistry and upcoming reuse and recycling strategies. Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), as a promising biocompatible polymer belonging to PHAs, is subject to increased research concern regarding the high degree of crystallinity and brittle behavior of the resulting materials. Therefore, the improvement of PHB’s physico-mechanical properties aims to decrease the Young’s modulus values and to increase the ductility of samples. Here, we proposed an ambitious approach to develop melt-processed materials, while combining PHB characteristics with the ductile properties of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL). In order to compatibilize the poorly miscible PHB/PCL blends, dicumyl peroxide (DCP) was used as a free-radical promotor of polyester interchain reactions via the reaction extrusion process. The resulting PHB/PCL-DCP materials revealed a slight increase in the elongation at break, and significant improvement in the impact resistance (7.2 kJ.m−2) as compared to PHB. Additional decrease in the Young’s modulus values was achieved by incorporating low molecular polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a plasticizer, leading to an important improvement in the impact resistance (15 kJ.m−2). Successful 3D printing using fused deposition melting (FDM) of the resulting PHB/PCL-based blends for the design of a prosthetic finger demonstrated the great potential of the proposed approach for the development of next-generation biomaterials.
A Novel Synthesized 1D Nanobelt-like Cobalt Phosphate Electrode Material for Excellent Supercapacitor Applications
Authors: Shinde S. K. , Jalak Monali B. , Karade Swapnil S. , Majumder Sutripto , Tamboli Mohaseen S. , Truong Nguyen Tam Nguyen , Maile Nagesh C. , Kim Dae-Young , Jagadale Ajay D. , Yadav H. M.
Published: November 2022

In the present report, we synthesized highly porous 1D nanobelt-like cobalt phosphate (Co2P2O7) materials using a hydrothermal method for supercapacitor (SC) applications. The physicochemical and electrochemical properties of the synthesized 1D nanobelt-like Co2P2O7 were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron (XPS) spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The surface morphology results indicated that the deposition temperatures affected the growth of the 1D nanobelts. The SEM revealed a significant change in morphological results of Co2P2O7 material prepared at 150 °C deposition temperature. The 1D Co2P2O7 nanobelt-like nanostructures provided higher electrochemical properties, because the resulting empty space promotes faster ion transfer and improves cycling stability. Moreover, the electrochemical performance indicates that the 1D nanobelt-like Co2P2O7 electrode deposited at 150 °C deposition temperature shows the maximum specific capacitance (Cs). The Co2P2O7 electrode prepared at a deposition temperature 150 °C provided maximum Cs of 1766 F g−1 at a lower scan rate of 5 mV s−1 in a 1 M KOH electrolyte. In addition, an asymmetric hybrid Co2P2O7//AC supercapacitor device exhibited the highest Cs of 266 F g−1, with an excellent energy density of 83.16 Wh kg−1, and a power density of 9.35 kW kg−1. Additionally, cycling stability results indicate that the 1D nanobelt-like Co2P2O7 material is a better option for the electrochemical energy storage application.
Near-Infrared Artificial Optical Synapse Based on the P(VDF-TrFE)-Coated InAs Nanowire Field-Effect Transistor
Authors: Shen Rui , Jiang Yifan , Li Zhiwei , Tian Jiamin , Li Shuo , Li Tong , Chen Qing
Published: November 2022

Optical synapse is the basic component for optical neuromorphic computing and is attracting great attention, mainly due to its great potential in many fields, such as image recognition, artificial intelligence and artificial visual perception systems. However, optical synapse with infrared (IR) response has rarely been reported. InAs nanowires (NWs) have a direct narrow bandgap and a large surface to volume ratio, making them a promising material for IR detection. Here, we demonstrate a near-infrared (NIR) (750 to 1550 nm) optical synapse for the first time based on a poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE))-coated InAs NW field-effect transistor (FET). The responsivity of the P(VDF-TrFE)-coated InAs NW FET reaches 839.3 A/W under 750 nm laser illumination, demonstrating the advantage of P(VDF-TrFE) coverage. The P(VDF-TrFE)-coated InAs NW device exhibits optical synaptic behaviors in response to NIR light pulses, including excitatory postsynaptic current (EPSC), paired-pulse facilitation (PPF) and a transformation from short-term plasticity (STP) to long-term plasticity (LTP). The working mechanism is attributed to the polarization effect in the ferroelectric P(VDF-TrFE) layer, which dominates the trapping and de-trapping characteristics of photogenerated holes. These findings have significant implications for the development of artificial neural networks.
Properties and Applications of Geopolymer Composites: A Review Study of Mechanical and Microstructural Properties
Authors: Saeed Ahmed , Najm Hadee Mohammed , Hassan Amer , Sabri Mohanad Muayad Sabri , Qaidi Shaker , Mashaan Nuha S. , Ansari Khalid
Published: November 2022

Portland cement (PC) is considered the most energy-intensive building material and contributes to around 10% of global warming. It exacerbates global warming and climate change, which have a harmful environmental impact. Efforts are being made to produce sustainable and green concrete as an alternative to PC concrete. As a result, developing a more sustainable strategy and eco-friendly materials to replace ordinary concrete has become critical. Many studies on geopolymer concrete, which has equal or even superior durability and strength compared to traditional concrete, have been conducted for this purpose by many researchers. Geopolymer concrete (GPC) has been developed as a possible new construction material for replacing conventional concrete, offering a clean technological choice for long-term growth. Over the last few decades, geopolymer concrete has been investigated as a feasible green construction material that can reduce CO2 emissions because it uses industrial wastes as raw materials. GPC has proven effective for structural applications due to its workability and analogical strength compared to standard cement concrete. This review article discusses the engineering properties and microstructure of GPC and shows its merits in construction applications with some guidelines and suggestions recommended for both the academic community and the industrial sector. This literature review also demonstrates that the mechanical properties of GPC are comparable and even sometimes better than those of PC concrete. Moreover, the microstructure of GPC is significantly different from that of PC concrete microstructure and can be affected by many factors.
Computational and Experimental Investigation of the Selective Adsorption of Indium/Iron Ions by the Epigallocatechin Gallate Monomer
Authors: Liu Zhigao , Wang Zhongmin , Gan Weijiang , Liu Songlin , Zhang Jianglin , Ran Zhaojin , Wu Chenxi , Hu Chaohao , Wang Dianhui , Chen Tao , Li Guiyin
Published: November 2022

Selective recovery of indium has been widely studied to improve the resource efficiency of critical metals. However, the interaction and selective adsorption mechanism of indium/iron ions with tannin-based adsorbents is still unclear and hinders further optimization of their selective adsorption performance. In this study, the epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) monomer, which is the key functional unit of persimmon tannin, was chosen to explore the ability and mechanism of selective separation/extraction of indium from indium–iron mixture solutions. The density functional theory calculation results indicated that the deprotonated EGCG was easier to combine with indium/iron cations than those of un-deprotonated EGCG. Moreover, the interaction of the EGCG–Fe(III) complex was dominated by chelation and electrostatic interaction, while that of the EGCG–In(III) complex was controlled by electrostatic interactions and aromatic ring stacking effects. Furthermore, the calculation of binding energy verified that EGCG exhibited a stronger affinity for Fe(III) than that for In(III) and preferentially adsorbed iron ions in acidic or neutral solutions. Further experimental results were consistent with the theoretical study, which showed that the Freundlich equilibrium isotherm fit the In(III) and Fe(III) adsorption behavior very well, and the Fe(III) adsorption processes followed a pseudo-second-order model. Thermodynamics data revealed that the adsorption of In(III) and Fe(III) onto EGCG was feasible, spontaneous, and endothermic. The adsorption rate of the EGCG monomer for Fe(III) in neutral solution (1:1 mixed solution, pH = 3.0) was 45.7%, 4.3 times that of In(III) (10.7%). This study provides an in-depth understanding of the relationship between the structure of EGCG and the selective adsorption capacity at the molecular level and provides theoretical guidance for further optimization of the selective adsorption performance of structurally similar tannin-based adsorbents.