bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of Strict Lockdown on Vitamin D Deficiency in Pregnant Women: A Word of Caution
Authors: Agüero-Domenech Nuria , Bernabeu Eduardo , García-Valentín Antonio , Sarrión Ana , Jover Silvia , Baranda Javier , Cortés-Castell Ernesto , Gil-Guillén Vicente , García-Teruel María J.
Published: April 2023

The main source of vitamin D results from skin sunlight exposure. Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is linked to several adverse events during pregnancy. While performing a cross-sectional study with 886 pregnant women in Elda (Spain) from September 2019 to July 2020 to determine the association of VDD with gestational diabetes mellitus in relation to body mass index, a strict lockdown (SL) due to the COVID-19 pandemic was declared from 15 March 2020 to 15 May 2020. To determine if VDD prevalence in the local population of pregnant women was influenced by SL, a retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the prevalence odds ratio (POR) for the association of VDD and SL. A crude logistic regression model was calculated, and then further adjusted by the biweekly measured vitamin D-specific UVB dose in our geographical area. The POR during SL was 4.0 (95%CI = 2.7–5.7), with a VDD prevalence of 77.8% in the quarantine period. Our results revealed that VDD prevalence in pregnant women was influenced by SL. This valuable information could guide us in future if public officials order the population to stay indoors for any given reason.
Design and Implementation of a Time-Restricted Eating Intervention in a Randomized, Controlled Eating Study
Authors: White Karen , Wu Beiwen , Pilla Scott J. , Charleston Jeanne , Maw May Thu Thu , Appel Lawrence J. , Clark Jeanne M. , Maruthur Nisa M.
Published: April 2023

The efficacy of time-restricted eating for weight loss has not been established, as prior studies were limited by a lack of controlled isocaloric designs. This study describes the design and implementation of interventions in a controlled eating study evaluating time-restricted eating. We designed a randomized, controlled, parallel-arm eating study comparing time-restricted eating (TRE) to a usual eating pattern (UEP) for the primary outcome of weight change. Participants were aged 21–69 years with prediabetes and obesity. TRE consumed 80% of calories by 1300 h (military time), and UEP consumed ≥ 50% of calories after 1700 h (military time). Both arms consumed identical macro- and micro-nutrients based on a healthy, palatable diet. We calculated individual calorie requirements, which were maintained throughout the intervention. The desired distribution of calories across eating windows in both arms was achieved, as were the weekly averages for macronutrients and micronutrients. We actively monitored participants and adapted diets to facilitate adherence. We provide the first report, to our knowledge, on the design and implementation of eating study interventions that isolated the effect of meal timing on weight while maintaining constant caloric intake and identical diets during the study period.
A High Protein Diet Is Associated with Improved Glycemic Control Following Exercise among Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Muntis Franklin R. , Smith-Ryan Abbie E. , Crandell Jamie , Evenson Kelly R. , Maahs David M. , Seid Michael , Shaikh Saame R. , Mayer-Davis Elizabeth J.
Published: April 2023

Nutritional strategies are needed to aid people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in managing glycemia following exercise. Secondary analyses were conducted from a randomized trial of an adaptive behavioral intervention to assess the relationship between post-exercise and daily protein (g/kg) intake on glycemia following moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among adolescents with T1D. Adolescents (n = 112) with T1D, 14.5 (13.8, 15.7) years of age, and 36.6% overweight or obese, provided measures of glycemia using continuous glucose monitoring (percent time above range [TAR, >180 mg/dL], time-in-range [TIR, 70–180 mg/dL], time-below-range [TBR, <70 mg/dL]), self-reported physical activity (previous day physical activity recalls), and 24 h dietary recall data at baseline and 6 months post-intervention. Mixed effects regression models adjusted for design (randomization assignment, study site), demographic, clinical, anthropometric, dietary, physical activity, and timing covariates estimated the association between post-exercise and daily protein intake on TAR, TIR, and TBR from the cessation of MVPA bouts until the following morning. Daily protein intakes of ≥1.2 g/kg/day were associated with 6.9% (p = 0.03) greater TIR and −8.0% (p = 0.02) less TAR following exercise, however, no association was observed between post-exercise protein intake and post-exercise glycemia. Following current sports nutrition guidelines for daily protein intake may promote improved glycemia following exercise among adolescents with T1D.
Emotional Eating as a Mediator in the Relationship between Dietary Restraint and Body Weight
Authors: Wang Yaqi , Ho Mandy , Chau Pui-Hing , Schembre Susan M. , Fong Daniel Yee Tak
Published: April 2023

This study aimed to assess the relationships between routine and compensatory restraints and body mass index (BMI), as well as to explore the mediating role of emotional and external eating in the relationships between routine and compensatory restraints and BMI. Chinese adults aged ≥18 years with different weight statuses were invited to fill out an online questionnaire. Routine and compensatory restraints and emotional and external eating were assessed using the validated 13-item Chinese version of the Weight-Related Eating Questionnaire. Mediation analyses tested the mediation effects of emotional and external eating on the relationship between routine and compensatory restraints and BMI. In total, 949 participants (26.4% male) responded to the survey (mean age = 33 years, standard deviation (SD) = 14, mean BMI = 22.0 kg/m2, SD = 3.8). The mean routine restraint score was higher in the overweight/obese group (mean ± SD = 2.13 ± 0.76, p < 0.001) than in the normal weight (2.08 ± 0.89) and underweight (1.72 ± 0.94) groups. However, the normal weight group scored higher in compensatory restraint (2.88 ± 1.03, p = 0.021) than the overweight/obese (2.75 ± 0.93) and underweight (2.62 ± 1.04) groups. Routine restraint was related to higher BMI both directly (β = 0.07, p = 0.02) and indirectly through emotional eating (β = 0.04, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.03, 0.07). Compensatory restraint was only indirectly related to higher BMI through emotional eating (β = 0.04, 95% CI = 0.03, 0.07).
Mind the Gap: Tools for the Diagnosis and Assessment of Orthorexia Nervosa Based on the Recent Consensus Definition. Reply to Meule, A. Comment on “Sifakaki et al. Orthorexia Nervosa Practices in Rheumatoid Arthritis: The DORA Study. Nutrients 2023, 15, 713”
Authors: Grammatikopoulou Maria G. , Gkiouras Konstantinos , Marakis Georgios , Sifakaki Maria , Petropoulou Anastasia , Donini Lorenzo M. , Lindqvist Helen M. , Bogdanos Dimitrios P.
Published: April 2023

In a recent manuscript, our team published the results of an original pilot cross-sectional study assessing orthorexia nervosa (ON) tendencies among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) [...]
Combination of Two Photosensitisers in Anticancer, Antimicrobial and Upconversion Photodynamic Therapy
Authors: Mušković Martina , Pokrajac Rafaela , Malatesti Nela
Published: April 2023

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a special form of phototherapy in which oxygen is needed, in addition to light and a drug called a photosensitiser (PS), to create cytotoxic species that can destroy cancer cells and various pathogens. PDT is often used in combination with other antitumor and antimicrobial therapies to sensitise cells to other agents, minimise the risk of resistance and improve overall outcomes. Furthermore, the aim of combining two photosensitising agents in PDT is to overcome the shortcomings of the monotherapeutic approach and the limitations of individual agents, as well as to achieve synergistic or additive effects, which allows the administration of PSs in lower concentrations, consequently reducing dark toxicity and preventing skin photosensitivity. The most common strategies in anticancer PDT use two PSs to combine the targeting of different organelles and cell-death mechanisms and, in addition to cancer cells, simultaneously target tumour vasculature and induce immune responses. The use of PDT with upconversion nanoparticles is a promising approach to the treatment of deep tissues and the goal of using two PSs is to improve drug loading and singlet oxygen production. In antimicrobial PDT, two PSs are often combined to generate various reactive oxygen species through both Type I and Type II processes.
Brain Kynurenine Pathway Metabolite Levels May Reflect Extent of Neuroinflammation in ALS, FTD and Early Onset AD
Authors: Heylen Annelies , Vermeiren Yannick , Kema Ido P. , van Faassen Martijn , van der Ley Claude , Van Dam Debby , De Deyn Peter P.
Published: April 2023

Objectives: Despite distinct clinical profiles, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) patients share a remarkable portion of pathological features, with a substantial percentage of patients displaying a mixed disease phenotype. Kynurenine metabolism seems to play a role in dementia-associated neuroinflammation and has been linked to both diseases. We aimed to explore dissimilarities in kynurenine pathway metabolites in these early onset neurodegenerative disorders in a brain-region-specific manner. Methods: Using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), kynurenine metabolite levels were determined in the brain samples of 98 healthy control subjects (n = 20) and patients with early onset Alzheimer’s disease (EOAD) (n = 23), ALS (n = 20), FTD (n = 24) or a mixed FTD–ALS (n = 11) disease profile. Results: Overall, the kynurenine pathway metabolite levels were significantly lower in patients with ALS compared to FTD, EOAD and control subjects in the frontal cortex, substantia nigra, hippocampus and neostriatum. Anthranilic acid levels and kynurenine-to-tryptophan ratios were consistently lower in all investigated brain regions in ALS compared to the other diagnostic groups. Conclusions: These results suggest that the contribution of kynurenine metabolism in neuroinflammation is lower in ALS than in FTD or EOAD and may also be traced back to differences in the age of onset between these disorders. Further research is necessary to confirm the potential of the kynurenine system as a therapeutic target in these early onset neurodegenerative disorders.
Patient-Centric Design of Topical Dermatological Medicines
Authors: Oliveira Rita , Almeida Isabel F.
Published: April 2023

Topical treatments are essential approaches to skin diseases but are associated with poor adherence. Topical vehicles have the primary purpose of ensuring drug effectiveness (by modulating drug stability and delivery, as well as skin properties) but have a marked impact on treatment outcomes as they influence patient satisfaction and, consequently, adherence to topical treatments. There is also a wide variety of vehicles available for topical formulations, which can complicate the decisions of clinicians regarding the most appropriate treatments for specific skin disorders. One of the possible strategies to improve topical-treatment adherence is the implementation of patient-centric drug-product design. In this process, the patient’s needs (e.g., those related to motor impairment), the needs associated with the disease (according to the skin lesions’ characteristics), and the patient’s preferences are taken into consideration and translated into a target product profile (TPP). Herein, an overview of topical vehicles and their properties is presented, along with a discussion of the patient-centric design of topical dermatological medicines and the proposal of TPPs for some of the most common skin diseases.
Oleoylethanolamide Protects against Acute Ischemic Stroke by Promoting PPARα-Mediated Microglia/Macrophage M2 Polarization
Authors: Li Ying , Zhang Yanan , Wang Qing , Wu Chuang , Du Guicheng , Yang Lichao
Published: April 2023

Oleoylethanolamide (OEA) has been demonstrated to be a feasible protectant in ischemic stroke. However, the mechanism for OEA-afforded neuroprotection remains elusive. The present study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of OEA on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα)-mediated microglia M2 polarization after cerebral ischemia. Transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) was induced for 1 h in wild-type (WT) or PPARα-knock-out (KO) mice. Mouse small glioma cells (BV2) microglia and primary microglia cultures were used to evaluate the direct effect of OEA on microglia. A coculture system was used to further elucidate the effect of OEA on microglial polarization and ischemic neurons’ fate. OEA promoted the microglia switch from an inflammatory M1 phenotype to the protective M2 phenotype and enhanced the binding of PPARα with the arginase1 (Arg1) and Ym1 promoter in WT mice but not in KO mice after MCAO. Notably, the increased M2 microglia caused by OEA treatment were strongly linked to neuron survival after ischemic stroke. In vitro studies confirmed that OEA shifted BV2 microglia from (lipopolysaccharide) LPS-induced M1-like to M2-like phenotype through PPARα. Additionally, the activation of PPARα in primary microglia by OEA led to an M2 protective phenotype that enhanced neuronal survival against oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) in the coculture systems. Our findings demonstrate the novel effects of OEA in enhancing microglia M2 polarization to protect neighboring neurons by activating the PPARα signal, which is a new mechanism of OEA against cerebral ischemic injury. Therefore, OEA might be a promising therapeutic drug for stroke and targeting PPARα-mediated M2 microglia may represent a new strategy to treat ischemic stroke.
Multitargeted Virtual Screening and Molecular Simulation of Natural Product-like Compounds against GSK3β, NMDA-Receptor, and BACE-1 for the Management of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Iqbal Danish , Rehman Md Tabish , Alajmi Mohamed F. , Alsaweed Mohammed , Jamal Qazi Mohammad Sajid , Alasiry Sharifa M. , Albaker Awatif B. , Hamed Munerah , Kamal Mehnaz , Albadrani Hind Muteb
Published: April 2023

The complexity of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and several side effects of currently available medication inclined us to search for a novel natural cure by targeting multiple key regulatory proteins. We initially virtually screened the natural product-like compounds against GSK3β, NMDA receptor, and BACE-1 and thereafter validated the best hit through molecular dynamics simulation (MDS). The results demonstrated that out of 2029 compounds, only 51 compounds exhibited better binding interactions than native ligands, with all three protein targets (NMDA, GSK3β, and BACE) considered multitarget inhibitors. Among them, F1094-0201 is the most potent inhibitor against multiple targets with binding energy −11.7, −10.6, and −12 kcal/mol, respectively. ADME-T analysis results showed that F1094-0201 was found to be suitable for CNS drug-likeness in addition to their other drug-likeness properties. The MDS results of RMSD, RMSF, Rg, SASA, SSE and residue interactions indicated the formation of a strong and stable association in the complex of ligands (F1094-0201) and proteins. These findings confirm the F1094-0201’s ability to remain inside target proteins’ binding pockets while forming a stable complex of protein-ligand. The free energies (MM/GBSA) of BACE-F1094-0201, GSK3β-F1094-0201, and NMDA-F1094-0201 complex formation were −73.78 ± 4.31 kcal mol−1, −72.77 ± 3.43 kcal mol−1, and −52.51 ± 2.85 kcal mol−1, respectively. Amongst the target proteins, F1094-0201 have a more stable association with BACE, followed by NMDA and GSK3β. These attributes of F1094-0201 indicate it as a possible option for the management of pathophysiological pathways associated with AD.
Pharmacokinetic Profile Evaluation of Novel Combretastatin Derivative, LASSBio-1920, as a Promising Colorectal Anticancer Agent
Authors: Guimarães Celina de Jesus , Carneiro Teiliane Rodrigues , Frederico Marisa Jadna Silva , de Carvalho Guilherme G. C. , Little Matthew , Freire Valder N. , França Victor L. B. , do Amaral Daniel Nascimento , Guedes Jéssica de Siqueira , Barreiro Eliezer J. , Lima Lídia Moreira , Barros-Nepomuceno Francisco W. A. , Pessoa Claudia
Published: April 2023

LASSBio-1920 was synthesized due to the poor solubility of its natural precursor, combretastatin A4 (CA4). The cytotoxic potential of the compound against human colorectal cancer cells (HCT-116) and non-small cell lung cancer cells (PC-9) was evaluated, yielding IC50 values of 0.06 and 0.07 μM, respectively. Its mechanism of action was analyzed by microscopy and flow cytometry, where LASSBio-1920 was found to induce apoptosis. Molecular docking simulations and the enzymatic inhibition study with wild-type (wt) EGFR indicated enzyme-substrate interactions similar to other tyrosine kinase inhibitors. We suggest that LASSBio-1920 is metabolized by O-demethylation and NADPH generation. LASSBio-1920 demonstrated excellent absorption in the gastrointestinal tract and high central nervous system (CNS) permeability. The pharmacokinetic parameters obtained by predictions indicated that the compound presents zero-order kinetics and, in a human module simulation, accumulates in the liver, heart, gut, and spleen. The pharmacokinetic parameters obtained will serve as the basis to initiate in vivo studies regarding LASSBio-1920’s antitumor potential.
Synthesis and Biological Properties of EGFR-Targeted Photosensitizer Based on Cationic Porphyrin
Authors: Bortnevskaya Yulia S. , Shiryaev Nikita A. , Zakharov Nikita S. , Kitoroage Oleg O. , Gradova Margarita A. , Karpechenko Natalia Yu. , Novikov Alexander S. , Nikolskaya Elena D. , Mollaeva Mariia R. , Yabbarov Nikita G. , Bragina Natal’ya A. , Zhdanova Kseniya A.
Published: April 2023

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) in oncology is characterized by low invasiveness, minimal side effects, and little tissue scarring. Increasing the selectivity of PDT agents toward a cellular target is a new approach intended to improve this method. This study is devoted to the design and synthesis of a new conjugate based on meso-arylporphyrin with a low-molecular-weight tyrosine kinase inhibitor, Erlotinib. A nano-formulation based on Pluronic F127 micelles was obtained and characterized. The photophysical and photochemical properties and biological activity of the studied compounds and their nano-formulation were studied. A significant, 20–40-fold difference between the dark and photoinduced activity was achieved for the conjugate nanomicelles. After irradiation, the studied conjugate nanomicelles were 1.8 times more toxic toward the EGFR-overexpressing cell line MDA-MB-231 compared to the conditionally normal NKE cells. The IC50 was 0.073 ± 0.014 μM for the MDA-MB-231 cell line and 0.13 ± 0.018 μM for NKE cells after irradiation for the target conjugate nanomicelles.
A Comprehensive Analysis of 21 Actionable Pharmacogenes in the Spanish Population: From Genetic Characterisation to Clinical Impact
Authors: Nunez-Torres Rocio , Pita Guillermo , Peña-Chilet María , López-López Daniel , Zamora Jorge , Roldán Gema , Herráez Belén , Álvarez Nuria , Alonso María Rosario , Dopazo Joaquín , Gonzalez-Neira Anna
Published: April 2023

The implementation of pharmacogenetics (PGx) is a main milestones of precision medicine nowadays in order to achieve safer and more effective therapies. Nevertheless, the implementation of PGx diagnostics is extremely slow and unequal worldwide, in part due to a lack of ethnic PGx information. We analysed genetic data from 3006 Spanish individuals obtained by different high-throughput (HT) techniques. Allele frequencies were determined in our population for the main 21 actionable PGx genes associated with therapeutical changes. We found that 98% of the Spanish population harbours at least one allele associated with a therapeutical change and, thus, there would be a need for a therapeutical change in a mean of 3.31 of the 64 associated drugs. We also identified 326 putative deleterious variants that were not previously related with PGx in 18 out of the 21 main PGx genes evaluated and a total of 7122 putative deleterious variants for the 1045 PGx genes described. Additionally, we performed a comparison of the main HT diagnostic techniques, revealing that after whole genome sequencing, genotyping with the PGx HT array is the most suitable solution for PGx diagnostics. Finally, all this information was integrated in the Collaborative Spanish Variant Server to be available to and updated by the scientific community.
Multicomponent Lipid Nanoparticles for RNA Transfection
Authors: Gretskaya Nataliya , Akimov Mikhail , Andreev Dmitry , Zalygin Anton , Belitskaya Ekaterina , Zinchenko Galina , Fomina-Ageeva Elena , Mikhalyov Ilya , Vodovozova Elena , Bezuglov Vladimir
Published: April 2023

Despite the wide variety of available cationic lipid platforms for the delivery of nucleic acids into cells, the optimization of their composition has not lost its relevance. The purpose of this work was to develop multi-component cationic lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) with or without a hydrophobic core from natural lipids in order to evaluate the efficiency of LNPs with the widely used cationic lipoid DOTAP (1,2-dioleoyloxy-3-[trimethylammonium]-propane) and the previously unstudied oleoylcholine (Ol-Ch), as well as the ability of LNPs containing GM3 gangliosides to transfect cells with mRNA and siRNA. LNPs containing cationic lipids, phospholipids and cholesterol, and surfactants were prepared according to a three-stage procedure. The average size of the resulting LNPs was 176 nm (PDI 0.18). LNPs with DOTAP mesylate were more effective than those with Ol-Ch. Core LNPs demonstrated low transfection activity compared with bilayer LNPs. The type of phospholipid in LNPs was significant for the transfection of MDA-MB-231 and SW 620 cancer cells but not HEK 293T cells. LNPs with GM3 gangliosides were the most efficient for the delivery of mRNA to MDA-MB-231 cells and siRNA to SW620 cells. Thus, we developed a new lipid platform for the efficient delivery of RNA of various sizes to mammalian cells.
The Science of Selecting Excipients for Dermal Self-Emulsifying Drug Delivery Systems
Authors: van Staden Daniélle , Haynes Richard K. , Viljoen Joe M.
Published: April 2023

Self-emulsification is considered a formulation technique that has proven capacity to improve oral drug delivery of poorly soluble drugs by advancing both solubility and bioavailability. The capacity of these formulations to produce emulsions after moderate agitation and dilution by means of water phase addition provides a simplified method to improve delivery of lipophilic drugs, where prolonged drug dissolution in the aqueous environment of the gastro-intestinal (GI) tract is known as the rate-limiting step rendering decreased drug absorption. Additionally, spontaneous emulsification has been reported as an innovative topical drug delivery system that enables successful crossing of mucus membranes as well as skin. The ease of formulation generated by the spontaneous emulsification technique itself is intriguing due to the simplified production procedure and unlimited upscaling possibilities. However, spontaneous emulsification depends solely on selecting excipients that complement each other in order to create a vehicle aimed at optimizing drug delivery. If excipients are not compatible or unable to spontaneously transpire into emulsions once exposed to mild agitation, no self-emulsification will be achieved. Therefore, the generalized view of excipients as inert bystanders facilitating delivery of an active compound cannot be accepted when selecting excipients needed to produce self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDSs). Hence, this review describes the excipients needed to generate dermal SEDDSs as well as self-double-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SDEDDSs); how to consider combinations that complement the incorporated drug(s); and an overview of using natural excipients as thickening agents and skin penetration enhancers.
Two-Photon Absorption in Ca3(VO4)2 and Ca2.7Sr0.3(VO4)2 Crystals
Authors: Kinyaevskiy Igor O. , Kovalev Valery I. , Semin Nikita S. , Danilov Pavel A. , Kudryashov Sergey I. , Koribut Andrey V. , Dunaeva Elizaveta E.
Published: April 2023

Two-photon absorption has been systematically studied in Ca3(VO4)2 and Ca2.7Sr0.3(VO4)2 crystals, both of which are prospective nonlinear optical and laser host materials. A strong dependence of the two-photon absorption coefficients on the orientation of the laser beam polarization with respect to the optical c-axis of the crystals is revealed. The measured coefficients for perpendicular and parallel orientations were 50 ± 10 cm/TW and 19 ± 4 cm/TW in Ca3(VO4)2, and 18 ± 3 cm/TW and 10 ± 2 cm/TW in Ca2.7Sr0.3(VO4)2, respectively. Thus, to minimize optical losses caused by two-photon absorption, an orientation of Ca2.7Sr0.3(VO4)2 crystals with the laser beam polarization parallel to the crystal optical c-axis is preferred.
A Multi-Wavelength Raman Study of Some Oligothiophenes and Polythiophene
Authors: Parker Stewart F. , Trevelyan Jessica E. , Smith Timothy , Williams Kenneth P. J.
Published: April 2023

We have measured the Raman spectra of some oligothiophenes (bithiophene, terthiophene, quarterthiophene, sexithiophene and octithiophene) and polythiophene with wavelengths from 325–1064 nm (3.815–1.165 eV). All of the materials give good quality spectra with 1064 nm excitation, although there is weak background fluorescence for some of them. The UV lines of 405 and 324 nm generally provide good-quality spectra, albeit with significant fluorescence for bithiophene and quarterthiophene. Surprisingly, there is little difference between the relative intensities (i.e., the ratio of a band’s intensity as compared to the strongest band) of the spectra with the different excitation wavelengths. However, close inspection of the 2000–3200 cm−1 region of octithiophene and polythiophene with 325 and 405 nm excitation shows several modes in this region that can be assigned to combinations and overtones involving the ~1440 cm−1 C–C ring stretch that do not appear with 1064 nm excitation. The presence of overtones and combinations with anomalously large intensities is a hallmark of resonance Raman spectroscopy.
The Scattering and Neutrino Detector at the Large Hadron Collider in CERN
Authors: Polukhina Natalia , Konovalova Nina , Shchedrina Tatiana
Published: April 2023

SND@LHC (Scattering Neutrino Detector at the Large Hadron Collider) is a compact and stand-alone experiment to perform measurements with neutrinos produced in the LHC in a hitherto unexplored pseudorapidity region of 7.2 < η < 8.6. The experiment is located in the Tl18 (Target line 18) LHC tunnel, 480 m downstream of the ATLAS detector interaction point. The SND@LHC detector is composed of a hybrid system based on an 800 kg target mass of tungsten plates, interleaved with emulsion and electronic trackers, followed downstream by a muon system. This configuration allows us to distinguish all three neutrino flavors, opening a unique opportunity to probe the physics of heavy flavor production in the LHC in a region that is not accessible to the ATLAS, CMS, LHCb and FASER experiments. The detector concept is also well suited to searching for feebly interacting particles via signatures of scattering in the detector target. The first phase of the experiment has been carried out during the ongoing LHC Run 3, and the first data of the LHC Run3 commissioning period are being processed and analyzed.
Unlocking the Secret to Higher Crop Yield: The Potential for Histone Modifications
Authors: Fang Weiwei , Fasano Carlo , Perrella Giorgio
Published: April 2023

Histone modifications are epigenetic mechanisms, termed relative to genetics, and they refer to the induction of heritable changes without altering the DNA sequence. It is widely known that DNA sequences precisely modulate plant phenotypes to adapt them to the changing environment; however, epigenetic mechanisms also greatly contribute to plant growth and development by altering chromatin status. An increasing number of recent studies have elucidated epigenetic regulations on improving plant growth and adaptation, thus making contributions to the final yield. In this review, we summarize the recent advances of epigenetic regulatory mechanisms underlying crop flowering efficiency, fruit quality, and adaptation to environmental stimuli, especially to abiotic stress, to ensure crop improvement. In particular, we highlight the major discoveries in rice and tomato, which are two of the most globally consumed crops. We also describe and discuss the applications of epigenetic approaches in crop breeding programs.
Exploiting Polyhydroxyalkanoates for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Kalia Vipin Chandra , Patel Sanjay K. S. , Lee Jung-Kul
Published: April 2023

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are biodegradable plastic. Numerous bacteria produce PHAs under environmental stress conditions, such as excess carbon-rich organic matter and limitations of other nutritional elements such as potassium, magnesium, oxygen, phosphorus, and nitrogen. In addition to having physicochemical properties similar to fossil-fuel-based plastics, PHAs have unique features that make them ideal for medical devices, such as easy sterilization without damaging the material itself and easy dissolution following use. PHAs can replace traditional plastic materials used in the biomedical sector. PHAs can be used in a variety of biomedical applications, including medical devices, implants, drug delivery devices, wound dressings, artificial ligaments and tendons, and bone grafts. Unlike plastics, PHAs are not manufactured from petroleum products or fossil fuels and are, therefore, environment-friendly. In this review, a recent overview of applications of PHAs with special emphasis on biomedical sectors, including drug delivery, wound healing, tissue engineering, and biocontrols, are discussed.
Numerical Modeling of the Mixing of Highly Viscous Polymer Suspensions in Partially Filled Sigma Blade Mixers
Authors: Larsen Michael Roland , Ottsen Tobias , Holmen Olofsson Erik Tomas , Spangenberg Jon
Published: April 2023

This paper presents a non-isothermal, non-Newtonian Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model for the mixing of a highly viscous polymer suspension in a partially filled sigma blade mixer. The model accounts for viscous heating and the free surface of the suspension. The rheological model is found by calibration with experimental temperature measurements. Subsequently, the model is exploited to study the effect of applying heat both before and during mixing on the suspension’s mixing quality. Two mixing indexes are used to evaluate the mixing condition, namely, the Ica Manas-Zlaczower dispersive index and Kramer’s distributive index. Some fluctuations are observed in the predictions of the dispersive mixing index, which could be associated with the free surface of the suspension, thus indicating that this index might not be ideal for partially filled mixers. The Kramer index results are stable and indicate that the particles in the suspension can be well distributed. Interestingly, the results highlight that the speed at which the suspension becomes well distributed is almost independent of applying heat both before and during the process.
Electrical Properties and Lifetime Prediction of an Epoxy Composite Insulation Material after Hygrothermal Aging
Authors: Yang Yan , Ma Jielin , Yap Malvern , Wang Qi , Chern Wen Kwang , Foo Yi Shyh Eddy , Chen Zhong
Published: April 2023

In this study, we conducted the hygrothermal aging of an epoxy composite insulation material at 95% relative humidity (RH) and temperatures of 95 °C, 85 °C, and 75 °C. We measured electrical properties, including volume resistivity, electrical permittivity, dielectric loss, and breakdown strength. It was found to be impossible to estimate a lifetime based on the IEC 60216 standard, because it uses breakdown strength as its criterion even though breakdown strength hardly changes in response to hygrothermal aging. In analyzing variations in dielectric loss with aging time, we found that significant increases in dielectric loss correlated well with lifetime prediction based on the mechanical strength of the material, as described in the IEC 60216 standard. Accordingly, we propose an alternative lifetime prediction criterion by which a material is deemed to reach its end of life when its dielectric loss reaches 3 and 6–8 times the unaged value at 50 Hz and low frequencies, respectively.
Control of Particle Properties in Thermally-Induced Precipitation of Polyetherimide
Authors: Unger Laura , Fischer Sybille , Sesseg Jens P. W. , Pfister Andreas , Schmidt Jochen , Bück Andreas
Published: April 2023

The feasibility of thermally-induced phase separation and crystallization for the production of semi-crystalline polyetherimide (PEI) microparticles from an amorphous feedstock has been reported recently. Here, we investigate process parameter dependencies for designing and control of particle properties. A stirred autoclave was used to extend the process controllability, as the applied process parameters, e.g., stirring speed and cooling rate, were adjusted. By increasing the stirring speed, the particle size distribution was shifted to larger values (correlation factor ρ = 0.77). Although, the enhanced droplet breakup, induced by the higher stirring speed, led to the formation of smaller particles (ρ = −0.68), broadening the particle size distribution. The cooling rate showed a significant influence on the melting temperature, reducing it with a correlation factor of ρ = −0.77, as confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry. Lower cooling rates led to larger crystalline structures and enhanced the degree of crystallinity. The polymer concentration mainly affected the resulting enthalpy of fusion, as an increased polymer fraction enhanced the latter (correlation factor ρ = 0.96). In addition, the circularity of the particles was positively correlated to the polymer fraction (ρ = 0.88). The structure assessed via X-ray diffraction, was not affected.
Fatigue Performance of a Step-Lap Joint under Tensile Load: A Numerical Study
Authors: Demiral Murat , Mamedov Ali
Published: April 2023

In many technical domains, adhesively bonded joints have been employed extensively. These joints perform poorly against peel stresses despite having good shear characteristics. A step-lap joint (SLJ) is one of the techniques used to reduce the peel stresses at the edges of the overlap area to avoid damages. In these joints, the butted laminations of each layer are successively offset in succeeding layers in the same direction. Bonded joints are subjected to cyclic loadings in addition to static loads. It is difficult to predict their fatigue life accurately; however, this information must be clarified to explain their failure characteristics. To this end, the fatigue response of an adhesively bonded step-lap joint subjected to tensile loading was investigated with the developed finite-element (FE) model. In the joint, toughened type DP 460 and A2024-T3 aluminium alloys were used for the adhesive layer and adherends, respectively. The cohesive zone model with static and fatigue damages were linked to each other and were used to represent the response of the adhesive layer. The model was implemented using an ABAQUS/Standard user-defined UMAT subroutine. Experiments found in the literature served as a basis for validating the numerical model. The fatigue performance of a step-lap joint for various configurations subjected to tensile loading was examined thoroughly.
Review of Synthesis and Separation Application of Metal-Organic Framework-Based Mixed-Matrix Membranes
Authors: Wang Lu , Huang Jingzhe , Li Zonghao , Han Zhiwu , Fan Jianhua
Published: April 2023

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are porous crystalline materials assembled from organic ligands and metallic secondary building blocks. Their special structural composition gives them the advantages of high porosity, high specific surface area, adjustable pore size, and good stability. MOF membranes and MOF-based mixed-matrix membranes prepared from MOF crystals have ultra-high porosity, uniform pore size, excellent adsorption properties, high selectivity, and high throughput, which contribute to their being widely used in separation fields. This review summarizes the synthesis methods of MOF membranes, including in situ growth, secondary growth, and electrochemical methods. Mixed-matrix membranes composed of Zeolite Imidazolate Frameworks (ZIF), University of Oslo (UIO), and Materials of Institute Lavoisier (MIL) frameworks are introduced. In addition, the main applications of MOF membranes in lithium–sulfur battery separators, wastewater purification, seawater desalination, and gas separation are reviewed. Finally, we review the development prospects of MOF membranes for the large-scale application of MOF membranes in factories.
Potential Additives in Natural Rubber-Modified Bitumen: A Review
Authors: Rohayzi Nurul Farhana , Katman Herda Yati Binti , Ibrahim Mohd Rasdan , Norhisham Shuhairy , Rahman Noorhazlinda Abd
Published: April 2023

Conventional bitumen pavement is no longer suitable for handling increasing loads and weather variations, which cause road deterioration, Thus, the modification of bitumen has been suggested to counter this issue. This study provides a detailed assessment of various additives for modifying natural rubber-modified bitumen used in road construction. This work will focus on the use of additives with cup lump natural rubber (CLNR), which has recently started to gain attention among researchers, especially in rubber-producing countries such as Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. Furthermore, this paper aims to briefly review how the addition of additives or modifiers helps elevate the performance of bitumen by highlighting the significant properties of modified bitumen after the addition of modifiers. Moreover, the amount and method of application of each additive are discussed further to obtain the optimum value for future implementation. On the basis of past studies, this paper will review the utilisation of several types of additives, including polyphosphoric acid, Evotherm, mangosteen powder, trimethyl-quinoline and sulphur, and the application of xylene and toluene to ensure the homogeneity of the rubberised bitumen. Numerous studies were conducted to verify the performance of various types and compositions of additives, particularly in terms of physical and rheological properties. In general, additives enhance the properties of conventional bitumen. Future research should investigate CLNR because studies on its utilisation are limited.
Methods for Detecting and Classifying Weeds, Diseases and Fruits Using AI to Improve the Sustainability of Agricultural Crops: A Review
Authors: Corceiro Ana , Alibabaei Khadijeh , Assunção Eduardo , Gaspar Pedro D. , Pereira Nuno
Published: April 2023

The rapid growth of the world’s population has put significant pressure on agriculture to meet the increasing demand for food. In this context, agriculture faces multiple challenges, one of which is weed management. While herbicides have traditionally been used to control weed growth, their excessive and random use can lead to environmental pollution and herbicide resistance. To address these challenges, in the agricultural industry, deep learning models have become a possible tool for decision-making by using massive amounts of information collected from smart farm sensors. However, agriculture’s varied environments pose a challenge to testing and adopting new technology effectively. This study reviews recent advances in deep learning models and methods for detecting and classifying weeds to improve the sustainability of agricultural crops. The study compares performance metrics such as recall, accuracy, F1-Score, and precision, and highlights the adoption of novel techniques, such as attention mechanisms, single-stage detection models, and new lightweight models, which can enhance the model’s performance. The use of deep learning methods in weed detection and classification has shown great potential in improving crop yields and reducing adverse environmental impacts of agriculture. The reduction in herbicide use can prevent pollution of water, food, land, and the ecosystem and avoid the resistance of weeds to chemicals. This can help mitigate and adapt to climate change by minimizing agriculture’s environmental impact and improving the sustainability of the agricultural sector. In addition to discussing recent advances, this study also highlights the challenges faced in adopting new technology in agriculture and proposes novel techniques to enhance the performance of deep learning models. The study provides valuable insights into the latest advances and challenges in process systems engineering and technology for agricultural activities.
Robustness Prediction in Dynamic Production Processes—A New Surrogate Measure Based on Regression Machine Learning
Authors: Grumbach Felix , Müller Anna , Reusch Pascal , Trojahn Sebastian
Published: April 2023

This feasibility study utilized regression models to predict makespan robustness in dynamic production processes with uncertain processing times. Previous methods for robustness determination were computationally intensive (Monte Carlo experiments) or inaccurate (surrogate measures). However, calculating robustness efficiently is crucial for field-synchronous scheduling techniques. Regression models with multiple input features considering uncertain processing times on the critical path outperform traditional surrogate measures. Well-trained regression models internalize the behavior of a dynamic simulation and can quickly predict accurate robustness (correlation: r>0.98). The proposed method was successfully applied to a permutation flow shop scheduling problem, balancing makespan and robustness. Integrating regression models into a metaheuristic model, schedules could be generated that have a similar quality to using Monte Carlo experiments. These results suggest that employing machine learning techniques for robustness prediction could be a promising and efficient alternative to traditional approaches. This work is an addition to our previous extensive study about creating robust stable schedules based on deep reinforcement learning and is part of the applied research project, Predictive Scheduling.
Lightweight Target Detection for Coal and Gangue Based on Improved Yolov5s
Authors: Cao Zhenguan , Fang Liao , Li Zhuoqin , Li Jinbiao
Published: April 2023

The detection of coal and gangue is an essential part of intelligent sorting. A lightweight coal and gangue detection algorithm based on You Only Look Once version 5s (Yolov5s) is proposed for the current coal and gangue target detection algorithm with the low accuracy of small target detection, high model complexity, and sizeable computational memory consumption. Firstly, we build a new convolutional block based on the Funnel Rectified Linear Unit (FReLU) activation function and apply it to the original Yolov5s network so that the model adaptively captures local contextual information of the image. Secondly, the neck of the original network is redesigned to improve the detection accuracy of small samples by adding a small target detection head to achieve multi-scale feature fusion. Next, some of the standard convolution modules in the original network are replaced with Depthwise Convolution (DWC) and Ghost Shuffle Convolution (GSC) modules to build a lightweight feature extraction network while ensuring the model detection accuracy. Finally, an efficient channel attention (ECA) module is embedded in the backbone of the lightweight network to facilitate accurate localization of the prediction region by improving the information interaction of the model with the channel features. In addition, the importance of each component is fully demonstrated by ablation experiments and visualization analysis comparison experiments. The experimental results show that the mean average precision (mAP) and the model size of our proposed model reach 0.985 and 4.9 M, respectively. The mAP is improved by 0.6%, and the number of parameters is reduced by 72.76% compared with the original Yolov5s network. The improved algorithm has higher localization and recognition accuracy while significantly reducing the number of floating-point calculations and of parameters, reducing the dependence on hardware, and providing a specific reference basis for deploying automated underground gangue sorting.
Group Technology Scheduling with Due-Date Assignment and Controllable Processing Times
Authors: Liu Weiguo , Wang Xuyin
Published: April 2023

This paper investigates common (slack) due-date assignment single-machine scheduling with controllable processing times within a group technology environment. Under linear and convex resource allocation functions, the cost function minimizes scheduling (including the weighted sum of earliness, tardiness, and due-date assignment, where the weights are position-dependent) and resource-allocation costs. Given some optimal properties of the problem, if the size of jobs in each group is identical, the optimal group sequence can be obtained via an assignment problem. We then illustrate that the problem is polynomially solvable in O(℘3) time, where ℘ is the number of jobs.
Thermal Processing of Acidified Vegetables: Effect on Process Time-Temperature, Color and Texture
Authors: Singh Harsimar , Ramaswamy Hosahalli S.
Published: April 2023

The objective of this study was to compare the quality of low-acid vegetables conventionally thermal processed with those subjected to modified thermal processing following acidification to pH < 4.6. For conventional processing, a process lethality (Fo value) equivalent of 5 min at 121.1 °C (commercially sterilization) was used, while those that are acidified were pasteurized, such as acidic foods, to a lethality value of 10 min at 90 °C. Acidification was performed with citric acid by immersion of vegetables in an ultrasonic bath. The quality of raw, blanched, acidified, pasteurized and sterilized products were compared for color and textural characteristics. The acidified thermal processing yielded significantly better retained color and textural properties, almost similar to blanched vegetables, while those subjected to the conventional processing resulted in significant texture loss. The process temperatures were significantly lower, and corresponding process intensities were significantly less severe with the acidified thermal process, providing significant energy saving opportunities. The absorbed acid could easily be leached out by heating/holding the vegetables in tap water, if it was desired, to reduce the acidity level in the processed vegetables. There is significant current interest in acidified thermal processing of low acid- foods with quality retention being the main focus. While it is possible that some meat products may suffer quality loss, for vegetables, in general, the negative influence is significantly low, and the positive potential for quality retention, energy savings and process efficiency are very high.