bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Environmentally Safe Biosynthesis of Gold Nanoparticles Using Plant Water Extracts
Authors: Hassanisaadi Mohadeseh , Bonjar Gholam Hosein Shahidi , Rahdar Abbas , Pandey Sadanand , Hosseinipour Akbar , Abdolshahi Roohollah
Published: August 2021

Due to their simplicity of synthesis, stability, and functionalization, low toxicity, and ease of detection, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are a natural choice for biomedical applications. AuNPs’ unique optoelectronic features have subsequently been investigated and used in high-tech applications such as organic photovoltaics, sensory probes, therapeutic agents, the administration of drugs in biological and medical applications, electronic devices, catalysis, etc. Researchers have demonstrated the biosynthesis of AuNPs using plants. The present study evaluates 109 plant species used in the traditional medicine of Middle East countries as new sources of AuNPs in a wide variety of laboratory environments. In this study, dried samples of bark, bulb, flower, fruit, gum, leaf, petiole, rhizome, root, seed, stamen, and above-ground parts were evaluated in water extracts. About 117 plant parts were screened from 109 species in 54 plant families, with 102 extracts demonstrating a bioreduction of Au3+ to Au0, revealing 37 new plant species in this regard. The color change of biosynthesized AuNPs to gray, violet, or red was confirmed by UV-Visible spectroscopy, TEM, FSEM, DLS, and EDAX of six plants. In this study, AuNPs of various sizes were measured from 27 to 107 nm. This study also includes an evaluation of the potency of traditional East Asian medicinal plants used in this biosynthesis of AuNPs. An environmentally safe procedure such as this could act as a foundation for cosmetic industries whose quality assessment systems give a high priority to non-chemically synthesized products. It is crucial that future optimizations are adequately documented to scale up the described process.
Association between Emotional Eating and Frequency of Unhealthy Food Consumption among Taiwanese Adolescents
Authors: Bui Chung , Lin Li-Yin , Wu Chih-Yi , Chiu Ya-Wen , Chiou Hung-Yi
Published: August 2021

Emotional eating is one factor that increases the consumption of unhealthy food. This study aimed to investigate the association between emotional eating and frequencies of consuming fast food, high-fat snacks, processed meat products, dessert foods, and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in adolescents. The baseline survey data (2015) from the Taiwan Adolescent to Adult Longitudinal Study (TAALS) were fitted into multivariate logistic regression models adjusted for sex, school type, Body Mass Index (BMI), eating while doing something, nutrition label reading, skipping breakfast, smoking, binge drinking, sedentary lifestyle, physical activity, peer and school support, and parental education level. Among the 18,461 participants (48.5% male and 51.5% female), those exhibiting emotional eating were more likely to consume fast food (Odds ratio (OR) = 2.40, 95% Confidence interval (CI): 2.18–2.64), high-fat snacks (OR = 2.30, 95% CI: 2.12–2.49), processed meat products (OR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.78–2.08), dessert foods (OR = 2.49, 95% CI: 2.31–2.69), and sugar-sweetened beverages (OR = 1.83, 95% CI: 1.70–1.98). Factors that were positively associated with unhealthy food consumption included eating while doing other activities, binge drinking, smoking, and sedentary lifestyle. Among all the covariates, nutrition label reading was the only factor that was inversely associated with frequent unhealthy food consumption. Sex and school type may moderate the effect of emotional eating on the frequent consumption of specific unhealthy food groups. In conclusion, adolescents with high emotional eating were more likely to report frequent consumption of unhealthy foods in Taiwan. Our findings showed that male participants appeared to consume fast foods, high-fat snacks, processed meat, and SSBs more often and dessert foods less often than females. Future longitudinal studies are recommended for understanding the causal relationship between emotional eating and unhealthy food consumption.
Changes in Selected Food Groups Consumption and Quality of Meals in Japanese School Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Horikawa Chika , Murayama Nobuko , Kojima Yui , Tanaka Hisako , Morisaki Naho
Published: August 2021

In 2020, a state of emergency was declared to control the devastating impact of coronavirus, leading to temporary school closures in Japan, meaning that school lunches were not provided to the majority of schoolchildren. Using questionnaires completed by participants’ guardians, we examined the relationship between household income and the quality of meals in Japanese schoolchildren before, during, and after the state of emergency. Participants (1111 children, 10–14 years old) were chosen to form a nationally representative sample of the Japanese population. “Well-balanced dietary intake” was defined as the intake of (i) meat, fish, or eggs and (ii) vegetables. The desired prevalence was defined as equal to or more than twice a day. Household income was divided into quartiles. “Well-balanced dietary intake” was lower in all households during the state of emergency compared with before. The proportion of those with a “well-balanced dietary intake” at least twice a day was notably low in both Q3 and Q4 during the state of emergency compared with before the declared state of emergency; relative risk increase (95% CI) were Q1: −19.0% (−19.6% to −18.4%), p < 0.001, Q2: −21.3% (−22.1% to −20.6%) p < 0.001, Q3: −25.4% (−26.1% to −24.7%), p < 0.001, and Q4: −34.8% (−35.6% to −34.0%), p < 0.001. The interaction p (vs. Q1) of Q2, Q3, and Q4 were all <0.001. Guardians from low-income households had significantly higher rates of having less: time, psychological room, and financial position to prepare meals during the state of emergency. Our results suggest that schoolchildren’s quality of meals worsened during the state of emergency, especially in low-income households, because school lunches were not provided.
Four Tick-Borne Microorganisms and Their Prevalence in Hyalomma Ticks Collected from Livestock in United Arab Emirates
Authors: Perveen Nighat , Muzaffar Sabir Bin , Al-Deeb Mohammad Ali
Published: August 2021

Ticks and associated tick-borne diseases in livestock remain a major threat to the health of animals and people worldwide. However, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), very few studies have been conducted on tick-borne microorganisms thus far. The purpose of this cross-sectional DNA-based study was to assess the presence and prevalence of tick-borne Francisella sp., Rickettsia sp., and piroplasmids in ticks infesting livestock, and to estimate their infection rates. A total of 562 tick samples were collected from camels, cows, sheep, and goats in the Emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah from 24 locations. DNA was extracted from ticks and PCR was conducted. We found that Hyalomma dromedarii ticks collected from camels had Francisella sp. (5.81%) and SFG Rickettsia (1.36%), which was 99% similar to Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae and uncultured Rickettsia sp. In addition, Hyalomma anatolicum ticks collected from cows were found to be positive for Theileria annulata (4.55%), whereas H. anatolicum collected from goats were positive for Theileria ovis (10%). The widespread abundance of Francisella of unknown pathogenicity and the presence of Rickettsia are a matter of concern. The discovery of T. ovis from relatively few samples from goats indicates the overall need for more surveillance. Increasing sampling efforts over a wider geographical range within the UAE could reveal the true extent of tick-borne diseases in livestock. Moreover, achieving successful tick-borne disease control requires more research and targeted studies evaluating the pathogenicity and infection rates of many microbial species.
Comparative Effectiveness of Injection Therapies for Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain in Stroke: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis
Authors: Chiu Yi-Hsiang , Chang Ke-Vin , Wu Wei-Ting , Hsu Po-Cheng , Özçakar Levent
Published: August 2021

Hemiplegic shoulder pain (HSP) hampers post-stroke functional recovery and is not well managed with conservative treatments. This systematic review aimed to examine the various injection therapies for HSP and investigate their effectiveness at different time points. The protocol of this meta-analysis was registered on INPLASY with a registration number of INPLASY202180010. PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus were searched from their inception to 4 August 2021 for the clinical studies investigating comparative effectiveness of different injection regimens for treating hemiplegic shoulder pain in patients with stroke. The primary outcome was the weighted mean difference (WMD) on the visual analog scale (VAS) of pain reduction in the fourth-week and between the fourth and twenty-fourth weeks. Ranking probabilities of the WMD for each treatment were obtained using simulations. Seventeen studies with 595 participants were included. The network meta-analysis showed that at the fourth-week, intra-muscular botulinum toxin (BoNT) injections and suprascapular nerve blocks (SSNB) were superior to a placebo, with WMDs of 1.55 (95% CI, 0.09 to 3.01) and 1.44 (95% CI, 0.07 to 2.80), respectively. SSNB possessed the highest probability (53.3%) and appeared to be the best treatment in the fourth-week, followed by intra-muscular BoNT injections (42.6%). Intramuscular BoNT injections were better than the placebo, with a WMD of 1.57 (95% CI, 0.30 to 2.84) between the 4th and 24th weeks. Intramuscular BoNT injections had the highest probability (79.8%) as the best treatment between the 4th and 24th weeks. SSNB was likely to rank first in relieving HSP at the fourth post-treatment week, whereas intra-muscular BoNT injections had the highest probability to achieve the best treatment effectiveness in the post-injection period between the fourth and twenty-fourth weeks. However, as some of the included studies used a non-randomized controlled design, more randomized controlled trials are needed in the future to validate and better understand the short- and long-term efficacy of different injection therapies for management of HSP.
Heme Oxygenase-1 Exerts Antiviral Activity against Hepatitis A Virus In Vitro
Authors: Kim Dong-Hwi , Ahn Hee-Seop , Go Hyeon-Jeong , Kim Da-Yoon , Kim Jae-Hyeong , Lee Joong-Bok , Park Seung-Yong , Song Chang-Seon , Lee Sang-Won , Choi In-Soo
Published: August 2021

Hepatitis A virus (HAV), the causative pathogen of hepatitis A, induces severe acute liver injuries in humans and is a serious public health concern worldwide. However, appropriate therapeutics have not yet been developed. The enzyme heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) exerts antiviral activities in cells infected with several viruses including hepatitis B and C viruses. In this study, we demonstrated for the first time the suppression of virus replication by HO-1 in cells infected with HAV. Hemin (HO-1 inducer) induced HO-1 mRNA and protein expression, as expected, and below 50 mM, dose-dependently reduced the viral RNA and proteins in the HAV-infected cells without cytotoxicity. Additionally, HO-1 protein overexpression using a protein expression vector suppressed HAV replication. Although ZnPP-9, an HO-1 inhibitor, did not affect HAV replication, it significantly inhibited hemin-induced antiviral activity in HAV-infected cells. Additionally, FeCl3, CORM-3, biliverdin, and the HO-1 inducers andrographolide and CoPP inhibited HAV replication in the HAV-infected cells; andrographolide and CoPP exhibited a dose-dependent effect. In conclusion, these results suggest that HO-1 effectively suppresses HAV infection in vitro, and its enzymatic products appear to exert antiviral activity. We expect that these results could contribute to the development of a new antiviral drug for HAV.
In Vitro Evaluation of Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) In Situ Forming Gels for Bedaquiline Fumarate Salt and Pharmacokinetics Following Subcutaneous Injection in Rats
Authors: Van Hemelryck Sandy , Wens Rani , van Poppel Hannelore , Luijks Milou , Shahidi Koosha , Marczak Marcin , Kahnt Ariane , Holm René , Mannaert Erik , Langguth Peter
Published: August 2021

This study evaluated in vitro and in vivo drug release of bedaquiline from in situ forming gels (ISGs) containing 200 mg eq./g bedaquiline fumarate salt prepared with four different grades of poly(d,l-lactide) (PDLLA) or poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) with a lactide/glycolide ratio of 50/50 or 75/25 and acid (A) or ester (E) end-capping in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone at a polymer/solvent ratio of 20/80% (w/w). Mean in vitro drug release in 0.05 M phosphate buffer pH 7.4 with 1% (w/v) sodium lauryl sulphate was 37.3, 47.1, 53.3, and 62.3% within 28 days for ISGs containing PLGA5050A, PDLLA, PLGA7525A, and PLGA7525E, respectively. The data suggested that drug release was primarily controlled by precipitated drug redissolving, rather than polymer erosion. In vivo pharmacokinetic profiles after subcutaneous injections in rats were comparable for all ISGs (mean half-lives (t1/2) ranged from 1411 to 1695 h) and indicated a sustained drug release when compared to a solution of bedaquiline fumarate salt in polyethylene glycol 400/water 50/50% (v/v) (mean t1/2 of 895 h). In conclusion, PLGA or PDLLA-based ISGs have shown potential for parenteral sustained delivery of bedaquiline, suggesting further preclinical and clinical studies. From a formulation point of view, this case example highlights the importance of the interplay between drug solubility in biological media and dissolution of drug precipitates, which, in addition to the incorporation of diffusion controlling polymers, governs the release of the active drug.
Volatiles and Antioxidant Activity of Citrus Fiber/Blackberry Gels: Influence of Sucrose and Trehalose
Authors: Kopjar Mirela , Ivić Ivana , Buljeta Ivana , Ćorković Ina , Vukoja Josipa , Šimunović Josip , Pichler Anita
Published: August 2021

Citrus fiber/blackberry gels (CBg) can be used for the preparation of various bakery products as well as confectioneries. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of the type of disaccharides (sucrose or trehalose) and their percentages (10% or 20%) on volatile compounds as well as phenolics, antioxidant activity and color of formulated CBg. Additionally, CBg were stored at room temperature for 3 months to evaluate their stability. Both disaccharides type and their percentage affected the investigated parameters. Sucrose had a higher positive impact on volatiles after formulation and storage of CBg, while trehalose had a higher positive impact on total phenolics. Amounts of phenolics increased with the increase of disaccharides amount, while the behavior of volatiles also depended on volatiles’ properties. Results of this study emphasized the importance of the adequate choice of ingredients for the formulation of high-quality fruit products.
Scopolia carniolica var. hladnikiana: Alkaloidal Analysis and Potential Taxonomical Implications
Authors: Fatur Karsten , Ravnikar Matjaž , Kreft Samo
Published: August 2021

The present research sought to compare the content of hyoscyamine/atropine and scopolamine in Scopolia carniolica and its contested variety, S. carniolica var. hladnikiana, with the aim of investigating differences that may be of taxonomical significance. A multi-phase liquid extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography were used to extract and analyse these alkaloids in different organs from plants collected over two years at three sites. Our results showed that hyoscyamine was almost twice as prevalent as scopolamine across our 87 samples. The differences between organ types were large, but so too were intra-organ differences; differences due to organs proved to be significant for hyoscyamine, while they were only marginally significant for scopolamine. The collection site also proved to have a significant influence, but only on hyoscyamine content. The year of collection and the variety proved to not be significant. Our results support the theory that these two varieties are likely one, a view argued by many others, though more work is needed to draw concrete taxonomical conclusions.
Isolation and Characterization of APETALA3 Orthologs and Promoters from the Distylous Fagopyrum esculentum
Authors: Zeng Lingtian , Zhang Jiao , Wang Xuan , Liu Zhixiong
Published: August 2021

Common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) produces distylous flowers with undifferentiated petaloid tepals, which makes it obviously different from flowers of model species. In model species Arabidopsis, APETALA3 (AP3) is expressed in petal and stamen and specifies petal and stamen identities during flower development. Combining with our previous studies, we found that small-scale gene duplication (GD) event and alternative splicing (AS) of common buckwheat AP3 orthologs resulted in FaesAP3_1, FaesAP3_2 and FaesAP3_2a. FaesAP3_2 and FaesAP3_2a were mainly expressed in the stamen of thrum and pin flower. Promoters functional analysis suggested that intense GUS staining was observed in the whole stamen in pFaesAP3_2::GUS transgenic Arabidopsis, while intense GUS staining was observed only in the filament of stamen in pFaesAP3_1::GUS transgenic Arabidopsis. These suggested that FaesAP3_1 and FaesAP3_2 had overlapping functions in specifying stamen filament identity and work together to determine normal stamen development. Additionally, FaesAP3_2 and FaesAP3_2a owned the similar ability to rescue stamen development of Arabidopsis ap3-3 mutant, although AS resulted in a frameshift mutation and consequent omission of the complete PI-derived motif and euAP3 motif of FaesAP3_2a. These suggested that the MIK region of AP3-like proteins was crucial for determining stamen identity, while the function of AP3-like proteins in specifying petal identity was gradually obtained after AP3 Orthologs acquiring a novel C-terminal euAP3 motif during the evolution of core eudicots. Our results also provide a clue to understanding the early evolution of the functional specificity of euAP3-type proteins involving in floral organ development in core eudicots, and also suggested that FaesAP3_2 holds the potential application for biotechnical engineering to develop a sterile male line of F. esculentum.
Marine Litter Stormy Wash-Outs: Developing the Neural Network to Predict Them
Authors: Fetisov Sergei , Chubarenko Irina
Published: August 2021

Observations show that after stormy events, anthropogenic litter is washed ashore for short periods of time, providing the opportunity to collect and remove it from the environment. However, water dynamics in sea coastal zones during and after storms are very complicated, and the transport properties of litter items are very diverse; thus, predicting litter wash-outs using classical numerical models is challenging. We analyze meteorological and hydrophysical conditions in the Baltic Sea coastal zone to further use the obtained data as a training sequence for an artificial neural network (ANN). Analysis of the physical processes behind large litter wash-outs links open-source meteorological (wind speed and direction) and hydrodynamic reanalysis (surface wave parameters) data to the time and location of these wash-outs. A detailed analysis of 25 cases of wash-outs observed at the shore of the Sambian Peninsula was performed. The importance of the duration of the storm and its subsiding phase was revealed. An ANN structure is proposed for forecasting marine debris wash-outs as the first step in the creation of a neural network-based tool for managers and beach cleaners, helping to plan effective measures to remove plastics and other anthropogenic contaminants from the marine environment.
Manufacturing a First Upper Molar Dental Forceps Using Continuous Fiber Reinforcement (CFR) Additive Manufacturing Technology with Carbon-Reinforced Polyamide
Authors: Told Roland , Marada Gyula , Rendeki Szilard , Pentek Attila , Nagy Balint , Molnar Ferenc Jozsef , Maroti Peter
Published: August 2021

3D printing is an emerging and disruptive technology, supporting the field of medicine over the past decades. In the recent years, the use of additive manufacturing (AM) has had a strong impact on everyday dental applications. Despite remarkable previous results from interdisciplinary research teams, there is no evidence or recommendation about the proper fabrication of handheld medical devices using desktop 3D printers. The aim of this study was to critically examine and compare the mechanical behavior of materials printed with FFF (fused filament fabrication) and CFR (continuous fiber reinforcement) additive manufacturing technologies, and to create and evaluate a massive and practically usable right upper molar forceps. Flexural and torsion fatigue tests, as well as Shore D measurements, were performed. The tensile strength was also measured in the case of the composite material. The flexural tests revealed the measured force values to have a linear correlation with the bending between the 10 mm (17.06 N at 5000th cycle) and 30 mm (37.99 N at 5000th cycle) deflection range. The findings were supported by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. Based on the results of the mechanical and structural tests, a dental forceps was designed, 3D printed using CFR technology, and validated by five dentists using a Likert scale. In addition, the vertical force of extraction was measured using a unique molar tooth model, where the reference test was carried out using a standard metal right upper molar forceps. Surprisingly, the tests revealed there to be no significant differences between the standard (84.80 N ± 16.96 N) and 3D-printed devices (70.30 N ± 4.41 N) in terms of extraction force in the tested range. The results also highlighted that desktop CFR technology is potentially suitable for the production of handheld medical devices that have to withstand high forces and perform load-bearing functions.
Synergetic Effects of Graphene Nanoplatelets/Tapioca Starch on Water-Based Drilling Muds: Enhancements in Rheological and Filtration Characteristics
Authors: Ahmad Maqsood , Ali Imtiaz , Bins Safri Muhammad Syahmi , Bin Mohammad Faiz Mohammad Arif Izzuddin , Zamir Asif
Published: August 2021

Several borehole problems are encountered during drilling a well due to improper mud design. These problems are directly associated with the rheological and filtration properties of the fluid used during drilling. Thus, it is important to investigate the mud rheological and filtration characteristics of water-based drilling muds (WBMs). Several materials have been examined but due to the higher temperature conditions of wells, such materials have degraded and lost their primary functions. In this research, an attempt was made to prepare a water-based mud by utilizing graphene nano platelets (GNP) in addition to the native tapioca starch at different ratios. The combined effect of starch and graphene nano platelets has been investigated in terms of mud’s rheological and filtration parameters, including its plastic viscosity (PV), yield point (YP), fluid loss volume (FLV) and filtercake thickness (FCT). The morphological changes in the filtercake have also been observed using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) micrographs. Plastic viscosity was increased from 18–35 cP, 22–31 cP and 21–28 cP for 68 °F, 250 °F and 300 °F, respectively. The yield point was also enhanced from 22–37 lb/100ft2, 26–41 lb/100ft2 and 24–31 lb/100ft2 at the studied range. The fluid loss was dramatically reduced from 14.5–6.5 mL, 17.3–7.5 mL and 36–9.5 mL at 68 °F, 250 °F and 300 °F respectively. Similarly, filtercake thickness was also reduced which was further illustrated by filtercake morphology.
Effect of Polymerization Time on the Binding Properties of Ciprofloxacin-Imprinted nanoMIPs Prepared by Solid-Phase Synthesis
Authors: Chiarello Matteo , Anfossi Laura , Cavalera Simone , Di Nardo Fabio , Artusio Fiora , Pisano Roberto , Baggiani Claudio
Published: August 2021

An innovative approach to imprinted nanoparticles (nanoMIPs) is represented by solid-phase synthesis. Since the polymeric chains grow over time and rearrange themselves around the template, the binding properties of nanoMIPs could depend on the polymerization time. Here we present an explorative study about the effect of different polymerization times on the binding properties of ciprofloxacin-imprinted nanoMIPs. The binding properties towards ciprofloxacin were studied by measuring the binding affinity constants (Keq) and the kinetic rate constants (kd, ka). Furthermore, selectivity and nonspecific binding were valued by measuring the rebinding of levofloxacin onto ciprofloxacin-imprinted nanoMIPs and ciprofloxacin onto diclofenac-imprinted nanoMIPs, respectively. The results show that different polymerization times produce nanoMIPs with different binding properties: short polymerization times (15 min) produced nanoMIPs with high binding affinity but low selectivity (Keq > 107 mol L−1, α ≈ 1); medium polymerization times (30 min–2 h) produced nanoMIPs with high binding affinity and selectivity (Keq ≥ 106 mol L−1, α < 1); and long polymerization times (>2 h) produced nanoMIPs with low binding affinity, fast dissociation kinetics and low selectivity (Keq ≤ 106 mol L−1, kdis > 0.2 min−1, α ≈ 1). The results can be explained as the combined effect of rearrangement and progressive stiffening of the polymer chains around the template molecules.
Expanded Polystyrene Beads Coated with Intumescent Flame Retardant Material to Achieve Fire Safety Standards
Authors: Bhoite Sangram P. , Kim Jonghyuck , Jo Wan , Bhoite Pravin H. , Mali Sawanta S. , Park Kyu-Hwan , Hong Chang-Kook
Published: August 2021

The compatibility and coating ratio between flame retardant materials and expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam is a major impediment to achieving satisfactory flame retardant performance. In this study, we prepared a water-based intumescent flame retardant system and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI)-coated expandable polystyrene microspheres by a simple coating approach. We investigated the compatibility, coating ratio, and fire performance of EPS- and MDI-coated EPS foam using a water-based intumescent flame retardant system. The microscopic study revealed that the water-based intumescent flame retardant materials were successfully incorporated with and without MDI-coated EPS microspheres. The cone calorimeter tests (CCTs) of the MDI-coated EPS containing water-based intumescent flame retardant materials exhibited better flame retardant performance with a lower total heat release (THR) 7.3 MJ/m2, peak heat release rate (PHRR) 57.6 kW/m2, fire growth rate (FIGRA) 2027.067 W/m2.s, and total smoke production (TSP) 0.133 m2. Our results demonstrated that the MDI-coated EPS containing water-based intumescent flame retardant materials achieved flame retarding properties as per fire safety standards.
Preparation, Properties and Potential of Carrageenan-Based Hard Capsules for Replacing Gelatine: A Review
Authors: Fauzi Muhammad Al Rizqi Dharma , Pudjiastuti Pratiwi , Wibowo Arief Cahyo , Hendradi Esti
Published: August 2021

Intense efforts to develop alternative materials for gelatine as a drug-delivery system are progressing at a high rate. Some of the materials developed are hard capsules made from alginate, carrageenan, hypromellose and cellulose. However, there are still some disadvantages that must be minimised or eliminated for future use in drug-delivery systems. This review attempts to review the preparation and potential of seaweed-based, specifically carrageenan, hard capsules, summarise their properties and highlight their potential as an optional main component of hard capsules in a drug-delivery system. The characterisation methods reviewed were dimensional analysis, water and ash content, microbial activity, viscosity analysis, mechanical analysis, scanning electron microscopy, swelling degree analysis, gel permeation chromatography, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis. The release kinetics of the capsule is highlighted as well. This review is expected to provide insights for new researchers developing innovative products from carrageenan-based hard capsules, which will support the development goals of the industry.
Investigations at the Product, Macromolecular, and Molecular Level of the Physical and Chemical Properties of a γ-Irradiated Multilayer EVA/EVOH/EVA Film: Comprehensive Analysis and Mechanistic Insights
Authors: Gaston Fanny , Dupuy Nathalie , Girard-Perier Nina , Marque Sylvain R. A. , Dorey Samuel
Published: August 2021

Chemically and biologically safe storage of solutions for medical uses is a daily concern for industry since decades and it appeared even more dramatic during the last two years of pandemia. Biological safety is readily reached by sterilization using γ-irradiation process. However, such a type of irradiation induces the degradation and the release of chemicals able to spoil the biological solutions. Surprisingly, there are no investigations on multi-layer films combining multi-technique and multi-method approaches to unveil the events occurring during γ-irradiation. Furthermore, our investigations are focuses on properties/events occurring at product, macromolecular, and molecular levels.
Analysis of Channel Vortex and Cavitation Performance of the Francis Turbine under Partial Flow Conditions
Authors: Guo Tao , Zhang Jinming , Luo Zhumei
Published: August 2021

To realize a multienergy complementary system involving hydropower and other energy sources, hydraulic turbines frequently run under partial flow conditions in which a unique flow phenomenon, the channel vortex, occurs in the runner, causing fatigue failure and even cavitation to the turbine blade. Cavitation severely shortens the service life of the unit and terribly limits the output of the turbine under partial flow conditions. In this paper, a numerical model of a Francis turbine was created with tetrahedral grids; the large eddy simulation (LES) method based on the WALE subgrid scale model and the Schnerr–Sauer cavitation model was adopted to carry out numerical simulation of the Francis turbine; and a vortex identification method based on the Q criterion was used to capture and analyze the channel vortex. The calculation results showed that a negative impact angle at the inlet of the runner occurred when the turbine ran under partial flow conditions, leading to three different types of channel vortexes in the blade channel. Also, different channel vortexes caused cavitation on different positions on the runner, and the volume change of cavitation showed periodic properties.
How Do Operational and Design Parameters Effect Biomass Productivity in a Flat-Panel Photo-Bioreactor? A Computational Analysis
Authors: Loomba Varun , von Lieres Eric , Huber Gregor
Published: August 2021

Optimal production of microalgae in photo-bioreactors (PBRs) largely depends on the amount of light intensity received by individual algal cells, which is affected by several operational and design factors. A key question is: which process parameters have the highest potential for the optimization of biomass productivity? This can be analyzed by simulating the complex interplay of PBR design, hydrodynamics, dynamic light exposure, and growth of algal cells. A workflow was established comprising the simulation of hydrodynamics in a flat-panel PBR using computational fluid dynamics, calculation of light irradiation inside the PBR, tracing the light exposure of individual cells over time, and calculation the algal growth and biomass productivity based on this light exposure. Different PBR designs leading to different flow profiles were compared, and operational parameters such as air inlet flowrate, microalgal concentration, and incident light intensity were varied to investigate their effect on PBR productivity. The design of internal structures and lighting had a significant effect on biomass productivity, whereas air inlet flowrate had a minimal effect. Microalgal concentration and incident light intensity controlled the amount of light intensity inside the PBR, thereby significantly affecting the overall productivity. For detailed quantitative insight into these dependencies, better parameterization of algal growth models is required.
The Incarnation of the Word: Andrea Della Robbia’s Annunciation and Adoration Altarpieces at La Verna
Authors: Miller Stephanie R.
Published: August 2021

On the mountainous crest of the Apennines are several buildings comprising the monastic site of La Verna where St. Francis received his stigmata in 1224. Described in 1493 as another Jerusalem in the West, the monastery’s Chiesa Maggiore, Santa Maria degli Angeli, and the Chapel of the Stigmata house its most prominent images, Andrea della Robbia’s five altarpieces (c. 1476-c. 1493). This essay explores the beholder’s experiences before Andrea’s earliest two altarpieces at the Observant Franciscan monastery, the Annunciation and Adoration. The history and function of this monastery are considered in light of the themes of these altarpieces and their theological significance. Of relevance are the inscriptions on the altarpieces, which rather than simply identifying the accompanying images, propose interesting interpretations and influences for the altarpieces and which suggest interactive involvement between beholder and the altarpieces in the monastic spaces. Taken together, these works reveal a sensitivity to the specific needs of the Franciscan audience, context, and location and an awareness of Renaissance devotional practices.
When Bodies Speak Differently: Putting Judith Butler in Conversation with Mahatma Gandhi on Nonviolent Resistance
Authors: Du Toit Louise , Vosloo Jana
Published: August 2021

This article puts political philosopher Judith Butler in conversation with Gandhi, on the topic of nonviolent resistance. More particularly, we compare them on a systematic philosophical level. Although we focus on Gandhi’s more activist side, by delving into the ontological presuppositions that Butler and Gandhi share, we can do some justice to how his activism is firmly rooted in a faith-based understanding of the world. We discuss four themes in each of which they complement each other: namely, the ontological roots of the nonviolent imperative; their rejection of an instrumental view of violence; nonviolent resistance seen as communicative action; and nonviolence viewed as a way of life. This discussion shows that while they have very different starting points and vocabularies, and while some tensions remain, there is much scope for cooperation, solidarity and alliance between religious and nonreligious practitioners of nonviolent resistance.
The “Tempered Radical” Revolution: Multifocal Strategies of Religious-Zionist Feminism in Israel
Authors: Zion-Waldoks Tanya
Published: August 2021

Agunah activism, a flagship struggle of Religious-Zionist feminism, links gender politics, Jewish-Orthodox politics, and national Israeli politics. This qualitative study focuses on agunah activists’ strategies and conceptions of change, highlighting the complex ways religious women radically transform conservative contexts, complicated by intersections of religion, gender, and state. It examines dynamic boundary-work and how activists deploy the inner workings of “the Halakhic framework” to shift creatively between social positioning, ideological or cultural positioning, and a political positioning to create “change from within”. My case study troubles the premise that religion and feminism are antithetical, and that distinct identities or set social locations predetermine social movements’ frames or actions. I expand upon the term “tempered radicals” which challenges reformist/revolutionary and conservative/radical binaries. “Tempered radical” strategies are two-pronged: a tempered mode of modulation and moderation to rock the boat without falling out (avoid the red lines, find “the right way”) and a radical mode of stirring the sea and creating horizons (arrive there, one way or another). Dynamically holding both modes together, through a “multifocal lens”—the world-as-it-is and the world-as-it-should-be—enables their strategic maneuverings. They remain “within” while radically transforming individuals, communities, Jewish law, Orthodox society and the Israeli public sphere. This study demonstrates how religious and gendered structures are at once constitutive and mutable.
Engaging with Dewey’s Valuation in Religious Education to Enhance Children’s Spirituality for Democratic Life
Authors: Statham Audrey , Webster R. Scott
Published: August 2021

In this paper, we want to address how the educative growth of children’s spirituality within religious education can be better understood through Dewey’s theory of valuation. We would like to draw attention to the link between an education for authentic spirituality and the pursuit of a genuine democratic life, because education, even religious education, is always political. In doing so, we point to the urgency and importance of fostering spiritual education for children in the face of the current rise of authoritarianism throughout the world and the demise of authentic democratic life. In order for genuine democracies to survive and thrive, their citizens must be educated. Unlike indoctrination and propaganda, which control populations through manufacturing public opinion by which individuals are compelled to comply to an officially approved consensus, education is emancipatory by offering opportunity for dissensus. Emancipatory education enables individual citizens to initiate and participate in activities at the grass-roots level that pursue public and global goods, without waiting to be led by various authorities. Such an educated way of being, which is essential for democratic life, requires young people to be educated spiritually so that they are able to transcend the pressures to conform to public consensus and the will of authoritarianism, and instead to actively live their spirituality by undertaking activities that pursue the good, even when such activities are deemed to dissent from public opinion.
Identifying Geomorphological Changes of Coastal Cliffs through Point Cloud Registration from UAV Images
Authors: Kong Xiangxiong
Published: August 2021

Cliff monitoring is essential to stakeholders for their decision-making in maintaining a healthy coastal environment. Recently, photogrammetry-based technology has shown great successes in cliff monitoring. However, many methods to date require georeferencing efforts by either measuring geographic coordinates of the ground control points (GCPs) or using global navigation satellite system (GNSS)-enabled unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), significantly increasing the implementation costs. In this study, we proposed an alternative cliff monitoring methodology that does not rely on any georeferencing efforts but can still yield reliable monitoring results. To this end, we treated 3D point clouds of the cliff from different periods as geometric datasets and further aligned them into the same coordinate system using a rigid registration protocol. We examined the performance of our approach through a few small-scale experiments on a rock sample as well as a full-scale field validation on a coastal cliff. The findings of this study would be particularly valuable for underserved coastal communities, where high-end GPS devices and GIS specialists may not be easily accessible resources.
Land Use Scenario Simulation and Ecosystem Service Management for Different Regional Development Models of the Beibu Gulf Area, China
Authors: Zhao Dengyue , Xiao Mingzhu , Huang Chunbo , Liang Yuan , Yang Zitao
Published: August 2021

Land use change is an important way for human activities to affect ecosystems. Based on the land use demands and policies, the simulation of future land use changes under different scenarios can test the rationality of socio-economic and policy-oriented land use changes. In this study, we set three scenarios of regular growth, ecological protection, and ecotourism development in 2030 for the Beibu Gulf area, China. We simulated the spatial distribution and evolution characteristics of the future landscape pattern using the Scenario Generator Rule Based Module of InVEST. Meanwhile, the ecosystem service value (ESV) was estimated by the improved unit area value equivalent method to reveal the trend of ESVs under different regional development models. The results indicated that the land use changes in the Beibu Gulf during 1999–2014 showed significant spatial heterogeneity. The farmland was mainly distributed in Beihai, the forestland was located in Fangchenggang, while the orchard was concentrated on Qinzhou. Due to economic construction and urban expansion, construction land and aquaculture land were gradually growing, while farmland and mud flat continued to decrease. Between 2014 and 2030, the total ESV decreased in the regular growth scenario and gradually increased in the ecological protection scenario and ecotourism development scenario. In addition, by comparing the three scenarios, the ecotourism development scenario is a more reasonable model for Guangxi Beibu Gulf area, which realized the trade-off between tourism development and resource conservation. Therefore, regional planners should not only consider maximizing ESVs when planning for ecosystem services, but also strive to maintain a reasonable structure of ecosystem services. Some suggestions were provided in this paper at the macro level and the local development model level respectively, which offered some references for the rational allocation of land resources, ecological environmental protection and ecotourism development in the coastal area of Beibu Gulf.
Unsupervised Reconstruction of Sea Surface Currents from AIS Maritime Traffic Data Using Trainable Variational Models
Authors: Benaïchouche Simon , Legoff Clément , Guichoux Yann , Rousseau François , Fablet Ronan
Published: August 2021

The estimation of ocean dynamics is a key challenge for applications ranging from climate modeling to ship routing. State-of-the-art methods relying on satellite-derived altimetry data can hardly resolve spatial scales below ∼100 km. In this work we investigate the relevance of AIS data streams as a new mean for the estimation of the surface current velocities. Using a physics-informed observation model, we propose to solve the associated the ill-posed inverse problem using a trainable variational formulation. The latter exploits variational auto-encoders coupled with neural ODE to represent sea surface dynamics. We report numerical experiments on a real AIS dataset off South Africa in a highly dynamical ocean region. They support the relevance of the proposed learning-based AIS-driven approach to significantly improve the reconstruction of sea surface currents compared with state-of-the-art methods, including altimetry-based ones.
Assessing Site Specificity of Osteoarthritic Gait Kinematics with Wearable Sensors and Their Association with Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs): Knee versus Hip Osteoarthritis
Authors: Nüesch Corina , Ismailidis Petros , Koch David , Pagenstert Geert , Ilchmann Thomas , Eckardt Anke , Stoffel Karl , Egloff Christian , Mündermann Annegret
Published: August 2021

There is a great need for quantitative outcomes reflecting the functional status in patients with knee or hip osteoarthritis (OA) to advance the development and investigation of interventions for OA. The purpose of this study was to determine if gait kinematics specific to the disease—i.e., knee versus hip OA—can be identified using wearable sensors and statistical parametric mapping (SPM) and whether disease-related gait deviations are associated with patient reported outcome measures. 113 participants (N = 29 unilateral knee OA; N = 30 unilateral hip OA; N = 54 age-matched asymptomatic persons) completed gait analysis with wearable sensors and the Knee/Hip Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS/HOOS). Data were analyzed using SPM. Knee and hip kinematics differed between patients with knee OA and patients with hip OA (up to 14°, p < 0.001 for knee and 8°, p = 0.003 for hip kinematics), and differences from controls were more pronounced in the affected than unaffected leg of patients. The observed deviations in ankle, knee and hip kinematic trajectories from controls were associated with KOOS/HOOS in both groups. Capturing gait kinematics using wearables has a large potential for application as outcome in clinical trials and for monitoring treatment success in patients with knee or hip OA and in large cohorts representing a major advancement in research on musculoskeletal diseases.
UHF RFID Conductive Fabric Tag Design Optimization
Authors: Byondi Franck Kimetya , Chung Youchung
Published: August 2021

This paper presents the design of a 920 MHz Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band radio frequency identification (RFID) conductive fabric tag antenna. The DC (Direct Current) resistance and impedance of the conductive fabric are measured by a DC multimeter and by a network analyzer at a UHF frequency band. The conductivities of the fabrics are calculated with their measured DC resistance and impedance values, respectively. The conductivities of the fabric are inserted into the CST simulation program to simulate the fabric tag antenna designs, and the results of the tag designs with two conductivities are compared. Two fabric UHF RFID tag antennas with a T-Matching structure, one with the name-tag size of 80 × 40 mm, and another with 40 × 23 are simulated and measured the characteristics of tag antennas. The simulated and measured results are compared by reflection coefficient S11, radar cross-section and reading range. The reading range of the 80 × 40 mm fabric tag antenna is about 4 m and 0.5 m for the 40 × 23 size tag. These fabric tags can be easily applied to an entrance control system as they can be attached to other fabrics and clothes.
Classification and Visualisation of Normal and Abnormal Radiographs; A Comparison between Eleven Convolutional Neural Network Architectures
Authors: Ananda Ananda , Ngan Kwun Ho , Karabağ Cefa , Ter-Sarkisov Aram , Alonso Eduardo , Reyes-Aldasoro Constantino Carlos
Published: August 2021

This paper investigates the classification of radiographic images with eleven convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures (GoogleNet, VGG-19, AlexNet, SqueezeNet, ResNet-18, Inception-v3, ResNet-50, VGG-16, ResNet-101, DenseNet-201 and Inception-ResNet-v2). The CNNs were used to classify a series of wrist radiographs from the Stanford Musculoskeletal Radiographs (MURA) dataset into two classes—normal and abnormal. The architectures were compared for different hyper-parameters against accuracy and Cohen’s kappa coefficient. The best two results were then explored with data augmentation. Without the use of augmentation, the best results were provided by Inception-ResNet-v2 (Mean accuracy = 0.723, Mean kappa = 0.506). These were significantly improved with augmentation to Inception-ResNet-v2 (Mean accuracy = 0.857, Mean kappa = 0.703). Finally, Class Activation Mapping was applied to interpret activation of the network against the location of an anomaly in the radiographs.