bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nephrolithiasis: A Red Flag for Cardiovascular Risk
Authors: Gambaro Alessia , Lombardi Gianmarco , Caletti Chiara , Ribichini Flavio Luciano , Ferraro Pietro Manuel , Gambaro Giovanni
Published: September 2022

Epidemiological evidence shows that nephrolithiasis is associated with cardiovascular (CV) morbidities. The association between nephrolithiasis and CV disease is not surprising because both diseases share conditions that facilitate their development. Metabolic conditions, encompassed in the definition of metabolic syndrome (MS), and habits that promote nephrolithiasis by altering urine composition also promote clinical manifestations of CV disease. By inducing oxidative stress, these conditions cause endothelial dysfunction and increased arterial stiffness, which are both well-known predictors of CV disease. Furthermore, the subtle systemic metabolic acidosis observed in stone formers with CV disease may have a pathogenic role by increasing bone turnover and leading to reduced mineral content and osteoporosis/osteopenia. Heart valves and/or coronary artery and aortic calcifications are frequently associated with reduced mineral density. This is known as the ‘calcification paradox’ in osteoporosis and has also been observed in subjects with calcium nephrolithiasis. Evidence supports the hypothesis that osteoporosis/osteopenia is an independent risk factor for the development of CV calcifications. In the long term, episodes of renal stones may occur from the onset of metabolic derangements/MS to arterial stiffness/atherosclerosis and CV morbidities. These episodes should be considered a warning sign of an ongoing and silent atherosclerotic process. The evaluation of cardiometabolic risk factors and MS components should be routine in the assessment of renal stone formers. This would allow for treatment and prevention of the development of CV complications, which are much more severe for the patient and for public health.
Sleep Deprivation Influences Trial-to-Trial Transfer but Not Task Performance
Authors: Shen Bingyao , Tian Zhiqiang , Li Jiajia , Sun Yu , Xiao Yi , Tang Rixin
Published: September 2022

Previous research has shown that sleep deprivation can affect emotions and some cognitive functions. However, research on how sleep deprivation influences the visuomotor memory have rarely been reported. In the current study, a Fitts’ Law task was used to investigate how movement and the visuomotor memory are affected under the condition of sleep deprivation. Experiment 1 had 36 participants (15 males, mean age = 21.61 years) complete the same Fitts’ Law task 10 days apart under standard conditions. Experiment 2 had five participants (three males, mean age = 27.2 years) complete the task after 7 days of sleep deprivation, then complete it again after 10 days without sleep deprivation. Experiment 1 demonstrated the stability of the trial-to-trial effects. Experiment 2 showed that the previous trial (n) exerted no effect on the current trial (n + 1) under the conditions of sleep deprivation (p = 0.672). However, the effect was observed after 10 days without sleep deprivation (p = 0.013). This suggests that sleep deprivation did not affect task performance but influenced the transfer of the trial history. Future studies are required to investigate the effect of sleep deprivation with more participants.
Extracellular Vesicles and Membrane Protrusions in Developmental Signaling
Authors: Gustafson Callie M. , Gammill Laura S.
Published: September 2022

During embryonic development, cells communicate with each other to determine cell fate, guide migration, and shape morphogenesis. While the relevant secreted factors and their downstream target genes have been characterized extensively, how these signals travel between embryonic cells is still emerging. Evidence is accumulating that extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are well defined in cell culture and cancer, offer a crucial means of communication in embryos. Moreover, the release and/or reception of EVs is often facilitated by fine cellular protrusions, which have a history of study in development. However, due in part to the complexities of identifying fragile nanometer-scale extracellular structures within the three-dimensional embryonic environment, the nomenclature of developmental EVs and protrusions can be ambiguous, confounding progress. In this review, we provide a robust guide to categorizing these structures in order to enable comparisons between developmental systems and stages. Then, we discuss existing evidence supporting a role for EVs and fine cellular protrusions throughout development.
Characteristics of Patients with Unrecognized Sleep Apnea Requiring Postoperative Oxygen Therapy
Authors: Seet Edwin , Waseem Rida , Chan Matthew T. V. , Wang Chew Yin , Liao Vanessa , Suen Colin , Chung Frances
Published: September 2022

Surgical patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have increased risk of perioperative complications. The primary objective is to determine the characteristics of surgical patients with unrecognized OSA requiring oxygen therapy for postoperative hypoxemia. The secondary objective is to investigate the characteristics of patients who were responsive to oxygen therapy. This was a post-hoc multicenter study involving patients with cardiovascular risk factors undergoing major non-cardiac surgery. Patients ≥45 years old underwent Type 3 sleep apnea testing and nocturnal oximetry preoperatively. Responders to oxygen therapy were defined as individuals with ≥50% reduction in oxygen desaturation index (ODI) on postoperative night 1 versus preoperative ODI. In total, 624 out of 823 patients with unrecognized OSA required oxygen therapy. These were mostly males, had larger neck circumferences, higher Revised Cardiac Risk Indices, higher STOP-Bang scores, and higher ASA physical status, undergoing intraperitoneal or vascular surgery. Multivariable regression analysis showed that the preoperative longer cumulative time SpO2 < 90% or CT90% (adjusted p = 0.03), and lower average overnight SpO2 (adjusted p < 0.001), were independently associated with patients requiring oxygen therapy. Seventy percent of patients were responders to oxygen therapy with ≥50% ODI reduction. Preoperative ODI (19.0 ± 12.9 vs. 14.1 ± 11.4 events/h, p < 0.001), CT90% (42.3 ± 66.2 vs. 31.1 ± 57.0 min, p = 0.038), and CT80% (7.1 ± 22.6 vs. 3.6 ± 8.7 min, p = 0.007) were significantly higher in the responder than the non-responder. Patients with unrecognized OSA requiring postoperative oxygen therapy were males with larger neck circumferences and higher STOP-Bang scores. Those responding to oxygen therapy were likely to have severe OSA and worse preoperative nocturnal hypoxemia. Preoperative overnight oximetry parameters may help in stratifying patients.
Effect of COVID-19 Italian Lockdown on Maxillofacial Trauma Related to Domestic Violence: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Ferragina Francesco , Barca Ida , Sorrentino Alfonso , Kallaverja Elvis , Piloni Sara , Arrotta Antonella , Cristofaro Maria Giulia
Published: September 2022

Background: This retrospective study aims to identify the potential reasons for the increase in maxillofacial trauma from domestic violence in the first COVID-19 lockdown and propose some strategies that could be effective in fighting it during any future pandemic events. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on patients with maxillofacial trauma who arrived at the Maxillofacial Unit of the Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro from 9 March to 3 May 2020, who were compared with those registered in the same period in 2019. Inclusion criteria were: patients of both sexes and admission diagnosed with maxillofacial trauma with or without bone fracture. Exclusion criteria were: patients less than 7 years of age, maxillofacial trauma that occurred outside the established period, and patients unconscious or with unclear clinical history. Patients were divided into two groups according to the mechanism of injury (MOI): “domestic” and “non-domestic” trauma. Both descriptive and regressive statistical analysis was conducted using a Student’s t-test with a significance level set at p < 0.05. Results: The total number of maxillofacial fractures in 2020 was similar to 2019 (31 pcs in 2020 vs. 38 pcs in 2019). Before the lockdown, most of the trauma occurred in non-domestic settings (25% in 2020 vs. 76.67% in 2019), especially in road accidents (4.17% in 2020 vs. 20% in 2019). During the lockdown, most of the trauma occurred in a domestic setting (75% in 2020 vs. 23.33% in 2019), especially interpersonal violence (31.58% in 2020 vs. 14.28% in 2019). There were 7 cases of interpersonal violence recorded in 2020 (1 male and 6 female), compared to only one case (female) recorded in 2019, with a statistically significant p-Value (0.0475). Conclusions: The first COVID-19 lockdown has provided the opportunity to study the aetiology of domestic trauma due to interpersonal violence attributable to economic and social problems, all of which were aggravated by the impediment to requesting help due to the difficulty of contacting the services and the general slowdown in the ways out of violence. The analysis conducted and compared with data in the literature suggests the adoption of a proactive (and non-reactive) approach to combat domestic violence during pandemic events.
The Correlation of Short-Chain Fatty Acids with Peripheral Arterial Disease in Diabetes Mellitus Patients
Authors: Muradi Akhmadu , Jasirwan Chyntia Olivia Maurine , Simanjuntak Charley D. , Pratama Dedy , Suhartono Raden , Darwis Patrianef , Kekalih Aria
Published: September 2022

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a significant risk factor for peripheral arterial disease (PAD). PAD affects 20% of DM patients over 40 and has increased by 29% in the last 50 years. The gut microbiota produces short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that affect atherosclerosis. SCFA inhibits inflammation, which contributes to atherosclerosis. This study tried to link feces SCFA levels to atherosclerosis in people with diabetes with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). The study included 53 people with diabetes and PAD: gas chromatography-mass spectrometry measured acetate, butyrate, and propionate levels in feces samples (GC-MS). There was a positive correlation between random blood glucose (RBG) levels, peak systolic velocity (PSV), volume flow (VF), plaque, relative and absolute acetate, relative valerate, butyrate, and propionate. This supports the idea that elevated SCFA levels in type 2 diabetic (T2D) patients reduce adipose tissue inflammation and cholesterol metabolism, contributing to atherosclerosis pathogenesis. We conclude that increased fecal SCFA excretion is linked to cardiovascular disease. To determine the causal effect correlation of the SCFA with clinical and laboratory parameters for PAD in DM patients, compare the SCFA in plasma and feces, and account for confounding variables, a specific method with larger sample sizes and more extended follow-up periods is required.
Significance of Thermophoretic Particle Deposition, Arrhenius Activation Energy and Chemical Reaction on the Dynamics of Wall Jet Nanofluid Flow Subject to Lorentz Forces
Authors: Khan Umair , Zaib Aurang , Ishak Anuar , Waini Iskandar , Raizah Zehba , Boonsatit Nattakan , Jirawattanapanit Anuwat , Galal Ahmed M.
Published: September 2022

The need for effective heating and cooling systems in the automotive, chemical, and aerospace industries is driving a rapid proliferation of heat-transfer technology. In recent times, GO (Graphene Oxide) has been emerging as one of the most promising nanoparticles because of its uninterrupted behavior of electrical conductivity even at a minimum carrier concentration. Due to this incentive, the behavior of jet flow with heat and mass transfer features of electrically conducting based kerosene oil (KO) fluid dispensed by graphene nanoparticles was studied. In addition, the activation energy, irregular heat source/sink, thermophoretic particle deposition, and chemical reaction are also provoked. In order to provide numerical results, the boundary value problem of fourth-order (bvp4c) solver was used. The graphs were used to illustrate the effects of relevant parameters on the fluid flow, heat, and mass transfer rates. The incorporation of graphene nanoparticles significantly improves heat conductivity. Additionally, the nanoparticle volume fraction augments the temperature and concentration profile while the velocity profile declines. Moreover, the temperature enhances due to the heat source, whilst the contrary behavior is observed in the presence of the heat sink. Furthermore, the shear stress increases up to 12.3%, the Nusselt number increases up to 0.119%, and the Sherwood number increases up to 0.006% due to the presence of nanofluid. Finally, we can conclude that the latest work will be useful for thermal cooling systems, including cooling for engines and generators, nuclear systems, aviation refrigeration systems, and other systems.
Numerical and Field Investigations of Acoustic Emission Laws of Coal Fracture under Hydro-Mechanical Coupling Loading
Authors: Song Jie-Fang , Lu Cai-Ping , Zhan Zhao-Wei , Cui Hai-Feng , Wang Yan-Min , Wang Jian-Hua
Published: September 2022

Taking coal under hydro-mechanical coupling as the research object, the discrete element software PFC3D (particle flow code) was used to analyze the relationships among the force, acoustic emission (AE), and energy during coal fracture. Based on the moment tensor (MT) inversion, we revealed the AE event distribution and source type during crack initiation and propagation until the final failure of coal. Meanwhile, we examined the relationships among the stress, number and type of cracks, magnitude, KE, and b value of AE under different water and confining pressures. The results show that the numerical simulation can effectively determine the microscopic damage mechanism of coal under different conditions. Moreover, the rupture type of the numerical simulation is consistent with the field investigations, which verifies the rationality of the simulation. These research results can provide reference for safety production evaluation of water inrush mines.
Parametric Study towards Optimization of a Short Duration Carbonation Process of Recycled Cement Paste
Authors: Silva André , Nogueira Rita , Bogas Alexandre , Wawrzyńczak Dariusz , Ściubidło Aleksandra , Majchrzak-Kucęba Izabela
Published: September 2022

The recycling process of concrete originates a byproduct, cement paste powder (CPP), which is a material composed mainly of hydrated cement. This cementitious material has demonstrated promising results when applied as a binder in new concrete batches, provided it has been subjected to a previous carbonation process. One of the obstacles to the industrial application of this strategy is the long duration of the typical carbonation process, which requires from 3 to 28 days. Recently, the authors have developed a short two-hour carbonation process and thoroughly analysed it over its entire extension. In this paper, a parametric analysis of the carbonation process is performed towards CO2 uptake maximization, aiming to increase the feasibility of its short duration. CO2 uptake is evaluated using the ignition by furnace method and thermogravimetric analysis. Among the parameters considered, the initial water content and the CPP thickness present the highest impact on CO2 uptake. The investigation of different CO2 concentrations inside the carbonation chamber showed that the maximum CO2 uptake does not occur for the highest concentration value. Moreover, a minimum resident time for the forced carbonation of CPP in industrial contexts is presented, and is found to be highly dependent on the CO2 concentration. The particle size and purity degree of CPP revealed a limited influence on the CO2 uptake achieved. Additionally, this paper provides further insight into the mechanisms involved in the carbonation of mature cement paste while increasing the feasibility of our recently proposed short duration carbonation process.
Optimization of Micro-Texturing Process Parameters of TiAlN Coated Cutting Tools by Femtosecond Laser
Authors: Wu Xuefeng , Zhan Jinming , Mei Sanlin
Published: September 2022

Coated cemented carbide currently represents most of all cutting tool inserts due to its unique combination of wear resistance and toughness. Surface texturing technology can give additional performance to reduce the tool’s wear and energy consumption. Using TiAlN-coated cemented carbide tools as the research object, the effects of femtosecond laser parameters (laser energy, scanning speed, scanning times) on the groove morphology of TiAlN-coated tools and the bonding state of coating and substrate were discussed. The study found that when the laser energy was 10 μJ, the scanning speed was 0.7 mm/s, and the number of scans was 5, the groove morphology was ideal, and the coating and the substrate combination remained unchanged. The influence of micro-groove texture on the tool wear mechanism was investigated by cutting test using the micro-groove texture tool produced by this group of process parameters. The flank wear value of inserts with micro-grooved texture decreased significantly by around 25%. This work provides practical data to support the femtosecond laser processing of TiAlN-coated tools. It is helpful to understand further the processing mechanism of a femtosecond laser on the micro-texture of coated tools.
Chitosan Nanoparticles: A Versatile Platform for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Bashir Showkeen Muzamil , Ahmed Rather Gulzar , Patrício Ana , Haq Zulfiqar , Sheikh Amir Amin , Shah Mohd Zahoor ul Haq , Singh Hemant , Khan Azmat Alam , Imtiyaz Sofi , Ahmad Sheikh Bilal , Nabi Showket , Rakhshan Rabia , Hassan Saqib , Fonte Pedro
Published: September 2022

Chitosan is a biodegradable and biocompatible natural polymer that has been extensively explored in recent decades. The Food and Drug Administration has approved chitosan for wound treatment and nutritional use. Furthermore, chitosan has paved the way for advancements in different biomedical applications including as a nanocarrier and tissue-engineering scaffold. Its antibacterial, antioxidant, and haemostatic properties make it an excellent option for wound dressings. Because of its hydrophilic nature, chitosan is an ideal starting material for biocompatible and biodegradable hydrogels. To suit specific application demands, chitosan can be combined with fillers, such as hydroxyapatite, to modify the mechanical characteristics of pH-sensitive hydrogels. Furthermore, the cationic characteristics of chitosan have made it a popular choice for gene delivery and cancer therapy. Thus, the use of chitosan nanoparticles in developing novel drug delivery systems has received special attention. This review aims to provide an overview of chitosan-based nanoparticles, focusing on their versatile properties and different applications in biomedical sciences and engineering.
XANES, EXAFS, Voltammetric, and Microhardness Studies of Manganese Dioxide–Lead–Lead Dioxide Vitroceramics
Authors: Rada S. , Unguresan M. , Zhang Jing
Published: September 2022

In this work we investigated the electrochemical performances and mechanical behavior of the manganese dioxide–lead dioxide–lead vitreous system. The structural and electrochemical properties of vitroceramics were investigated by the analysis of X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and measurements of cyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammetry. The mechanical properties of the studied samples were determined by Vickers hardness values using the indentation method. The analysis of X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) data for the L3 edge of the lead and the radial distribution function data for the PbO2 and Pb model indicate the modification of Pb-O interatomic distances by the doping process. The voltammetric study reveals the vitroceramic with x = 90 mol% Pb as the most suitable for application as a lead acid battery electrode.
Incorporation of Mixing Microbial Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) with Pretreatment Procedure for Road Soil Subgrade Stabilization
Authors: Hu Xiaodi , Fu Xiongzheng , Pan Pan , Lin Lirong , Sun Yihan
Published: September 2022

Microbial induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) provides an alternative method to stabilize the soil. To further improve the reinforcement effect, this study aims to propose a strategy by incorporating the mixing MICP method with pretreatment procedure. A series of laboratory tests were performed to investigate the preparation parameters (including the moisture content and dry density of the soil, the concentration of urea and CaCl2 in cementation solution), the engineering properties, the CaCO3 distribution as well as the mineralogical and micro structural characteristics of pretreatment-mixing MICP reinforced soil (PMMRS). Based on the orthogonal experiment results, the optimum preparation parameters for PMMRS were determined. The UCS of PMMRS was more strongly dependent on the moisture content and concentration of CaCl2 than the concentration ratio of CaCl2 to urea. Moreover, it was testified that incorporation of pretreatment procedure improved the stabilization effect of traditional mixing MICP method on the clayed sand (CLS). The UCS of PMMRS specimen was increased by 198% and 78% for the pure CLS and the simple mixing MICP reinforced soil, respectively. Furthermore, the CaCO3 products generated consisted of the aragonite, calcite and vaterite, which distributed unevenly inside the specimen no matter the lateral or vertical direction. The reason for the uneven distribution might be that oxygen content varied with the regions in different directions, and hence affected the mineralization reaction. In addition, the mineralization reaction would affect the pore structure of the soil, which was highly related to the stabilization effect of MICP reinforced soil.
Resource Allocation in V2X Communications Based on Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning with Attention Mechanism
Authors: Ding Yuanfeng , Huang Yan , Tang Li , Qin Xizhong , Jia Zhenhong
Published: September 2022

In this paper, we study the joint optimization problem of the spectrum and power allocation for multiple vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) users in cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) communication, aiming to maximize the sum rate of V2I links while satisfying the low latency requirements of V2V links. However, channel state information (CSI) is hard to obtain accurately due to the mobility of vehicles. In addition, the effective sensing of state information among vehicles becomes difficult in an environment with complex and diverse information, which is detrimental to vehicles collaborating for resource allocation. Thus, we propose a framework of multi-agent deep reinforcement learning based on attention mechanism (AMARL) to improve the V2X communication performance. Specifically, for vehicle mobility, we model the problem as a multi-agent reinforcement learning process, where each V2V link is regarded an agent and all agents jointly intercommunicate with the environment. Each agent allocates spectrum and power through its deep Q network (DQN). To enhance effective intercommunication and the sense of collaboration among vehicles, we introduce an attention mechanism to focus on more relevant information, which in turn reduces the signaling overhead and optimizes their communication performance more explicitly. Experimental results show that the proposed AMARL-based approach can satisfy the requirements of a high rate for V2I links and low latency for V2V links. It also has an excellent adaptability to environmental change.
An Algebraic Characterization of Prefix-Strict Languages
Authors: Tian Jing , Chen Yizhi , Xu Hui
Published: September 2022

Let Σ+ be the set of all finite words over a finite alphabet Σ. A word u is called a strict prefix of a word v, if u is a prefix of v and there is no other way to show that u is a subword of v. A language L⊆Σ+ is said to be prefix-strict, if for any u,v∈L, u is a subword of v always implies that u is a strict prefix of v. Denote the class of all prefix-strict languages in Σ+ by P(Σ+). This paper characterizes P(Σ+) as a universe of a model of the free object for the ai-semiring variety satisfying the additional identities x+yx≈x and x+yxz≈x. Furthermore, the analogous results for so-called suffix-strict languages and infix-strict languages are introduced.
Is the Increased Transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 Variants Driven by within or Outside-Host Processes?
Authors: Arav Yehuda , Fattal Eyal , Klausner Ziv
Published: September 2022

Understanding the factors that increase the transmissibility of the recently emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2 can aid in mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic. Enhanced transmissibility could result from genetic variations that improve how the virus operates within the host or its environmental survival. Variants with enhanced within-host behavior are either more contagious (leading infected individuals to shed more virus copies) or more infective (requiring fewer virus copies to infect). Variants with improved outside-host processes exhibit higher stability on surfaces and in the air. While previous studies focus on a specific attribute, we investigated the contribution of both within-host and outside-host processes to the overall transmission between two individuals. We used a hybrid deterministic-continuous and stochastic-jump mathematical model. The model accounts for two distinct dynamic regimes: fast-discrete actions of the individuals and slow-continuous environmental virus degradation processes. This model produces a detailed description of the transmission mechanisms, in contrast to most-viral transmission models that deal with large populations and are thus compelled to provide an overly simplified description of person-to-person transmission. We based our analysis on the available data of the Alpha, Epsilon, Delta, and Omicron variants on the household secondary attack rate (hSAR). The increased hSAR associated with the recent SARS-CoV-2 variants can only be attributed to within-host processes. Specifically, the Delta variant is more contagious, while the Alpha, Epsilon, and Omicron variants are more infective. The model also predicts that genetic variations have a minimal effect on the serial interval distribution, the distribution of the period between the symptoms’ onset in an infector–infectee pair.
Total Syntheses of the Proposed Structure of Iriomoteolide-1a, -1b and Synthesis of Three Derivatives for Structural Studies
Authors: Ghosh Arun K. , Yuan Hao
Published: September 2022

Iriomoteolide-1a and iriomoteolide-1b are very potent cytotoxic agents, isolated from marine dinoflagellates. We carried out the enantioselective syntheses of the proposed structures of these natural products. However, our analysis of the NMR spectra of the synthetic iriomoteolide-1a and the natural products revealed that the structures of iriomoteolide-1a and iriomoteolide-1b were assigned incorrectly. Based upon our detailed analysis of the spectral data of the synthetic iriomoteolide-1a and the natural products, we rationally designed three diastereomers of the proposed structure of 1 in an effort to assign the correct structures. The key steps of our syntheses of the proposed structures of iriomoteolides involved a highly diastereoselective ene reaction, a carbocupration that utilized a Gilman reagent, a Julia–Kocienski olefination to couple fragments, and Yamaguchi macrolactonization to form the target macrolactone. This synthetic route was then utilized to carry out syntheses of three diastereomers to the proposed structure of 1. These diastereomeric structures show close similarities to natural iriomoteolide-1a; however, there were differences in their spectral data. While natural iriomoteolides exhibited potent cytotoxicies, our preliminary biological evaluation of synthetic iriomoteolide-1a, iriomoteolide-1b, and all three synthetic derivatives did not show any appreciable cytotoxic properties.
Morphology of Inclusions and Its Refinement Mechanism in the New P91 Heat-Resistant Pipeline Steel
Authors: Chen Xiaohua , Liang Shenghui , Wang Yanlin , Wang Zidong , Fan Weijie , Yu Xinning , Yang Jian
Published: September 2022

A new type of P91 heat-resistant pipeline steel ingot was prepared by feeding Al twisted wire into a steel melt through a multi-point regional micro-supply method, combined with electromagnetic stirring. The type, shape, and size of inclusions in the new P91 steel after forging were then analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The results showed that four types of inclusions were detected in the P91 steel, including: spherical independent Al2O3 inclusions, irregular Al2O3-SiO2 composite inclusions, nearly spherical MgO-Al2O3 composite inclusions, and spherical (Ca, Mg, Al) (O) composite inclusions. Compared with traditional P91 steel, the inclusions in the new P91 steel were significantly refined. Refining mechanisms of inclusion showed that Al2O3 oxide particles distributed dispersedly with fine sizes could be obtained through a multi-point regional micro-supply method. Further, Al2O3 particles act as the nucleation core to form a “core-shell” structure and play the role of a heterogeneous nucleation to refine SiO2, MgO, (Ca, Mg) (O), and other inclusions in the steel.
High-Pressure Cold Spray Coatings for Aircraft Brakes Application
Authors: Granata Marco , Gautier di Confiengo Giovanna , Bellucci Francesco
Published: September 2022

This paper addresses the potential use of high-pressure cold spray (HP-CS) technology to produce a film of friction material onto a low-carbon steel substrate to allow its use as potential composite material for the stators and rotors of aircraft brake units. Namely, WC-Cr3C2-Ni, WC-Ni, WC-Co-Cr, Cr3C2-NiCr and WC-Co coatings were deposited by using HP-CS, for the purpose of creating high friction and wear resistance composite coatings onto a low-carbon steel substrate. Tribological (friction coefficient and wear rate) and thermal properties as well as coating hardness and adhesion to the low-carbon steel substrate were evaluated to assess the potential use of the coatings as brake surface materials. The tribological and adhesion properties were evaluated by using a pin-on-disk high-temperature tribometer at 450 °C and a scratch test, respectively, whereas coatings hardness was evaluated with a Rockwell C hardness tester. Results obtained show that all coatings exhibit high friction coefficients and low wear rates compared to the low-carbon steel substrate, good adhesion, and elevated microhardness. Furthermore, the WC-Co coating shows better microhardness and thermal properties, while the WC-Co-Cr coating exhibited a better friction coefficient. Unfortunately, it was not possible to quantify the wear resistance due to the elevated roughness of the coatings, but from the analysis carried out on the alumina counterpart of the tribometer, it can be concluded that all the coatings exhibited a very low wear rate. In fact, after the tribological tests, it emerged that the alumina counterpart was more abraded than the investigated coatings.
Local Structure and Protons in Non-Stoichiometric Pseudo-Cubic Pollucite Mineral by Multinuclear NMR
Authors: Sánchez-Muñoz Luis , Santos José-Ignacio , Simmons William B. , Florian Pierre
Published: September 2022

The pollucite structure is considered as a candidate ceramic crystalline matrix for the ceramic immobilization and long-term storage of 135Cs and 137Cs fission products, and thus, their structural characteristics have particular importance. However, its local structure has not been fully resolved from reciprocal-space techniques and infrared spectroscopy, and important discrepancies exist in the available literature. Two birefringent and non-stoichiometric pollucite specimens from Tanco pegmatite (Cs0.83Na0.20Al1.13Si2.56O6) and from Mt. Mica pegmatite (Cs0.94Na018Al1.23Si2.78O6), with powder X-ray diffraction patterns fully consistent with the cubic Ia-3d space-group symmetry, and with a very different degree of hydrothermal alteration, were used in this work. High-resolution magic-angle spinning multinuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR) spectroscopy, including 29Si, 27Al, 23Na, 133Cs, and 1H spectra at 9.4 T, as well as 1H, 27Al, 27Al{1H} dipolar evolutions and 27Al{29Si} Heteronuclear Multiple Quantum Coherence (HMCQ) spectra at 17.6 T, has been used to investigate the local structure of pollucite and the role of protons. The 29Si spectra suggest a local structure with a disordered Si/Al distribution in only one tetrahedral T site, but with a preference of Si atoms for Q41 (3Si,1Al) and Q42 (2Si,2Al) environments, in comparison with random and Loewenstein distributions, due to charge dispersion effects. However, the 27Al{1H} dipolar evolutions suggest two spectroscopically distinct T sites for Al atoms. The 23Na and 133Cs spectra indicate broad site distributions for these cavity cations. The anisotropic character of the long-range disordered pollucite structure, with a pseudo-cubic symmetry and lack of strict periodicity, can be explained from an incipient displacive transition to lower symmetry. These pollucite specimens are essentially anhydrous minerals despite the 1H and the cross-polarization experiments suggesting that some protons exist in the structure as -OH groups, whereas water molecules were only found in relation to the phyllosilicate impurities from alteration in specimen Tanco and perhaps also as liquid water in fluid inclusions.
β-Caryophyllene: A Therapeutic Alternative for Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction Caused by Obesity
Authors: Rodríguez-Mejía Uriel Ulises , Viveros-Paredes Juan Manuel , Zepeda-Morales Adelaida Sara Minia , Carrera-Quintanar Lucrecia , Zepeda-Nuño José Sergio , Velázquez-Juárez Gilberto , Delgado-Rizo Vidal , García-Iglesias Trinidad , Camacho-Padilla Luisa Guadalupe , Varela-Navarro Elizabeth , Anguiano-Sevilla Luis Alberto , Franco-Torres Esmeralda Marisol , López-Roa Rocio Ivette
Published: September 2022

Obesity is an excessive accumulation of fat that exacerbates the metabolic and inflammatory processes. Studies associate these processes with conditions and dysregulation in the intestinal tract, increased concentrations of lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) in the blood, differences in the abundance of intestinal microbiota, and the production of secondary metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids. β-Caryophyllene (BCP) is a natural sesquiterpene with anti-inflammatory properties and with the potential purpose of fighting metabolic diseases. A diet-induced obesity model was performed in 16-week-old C57BL/6 mice administered with BCP [50 mg/kg]. A reduction in the expression of Claudin-1 was observed in the group with a high-fat diet (HFD), which was caused by the administration of BCP; besides BCP, the phylaAkkermansia and Bacteroidetes decreased between the groups with a standard diet (STD) vs. HFD. Nevertheless, the use of BCP in the STD increased the expression of these phyla with respect to fatty acids; a similar effect was observed, in the HFD group that had a decreasing concentration that was restored with the use of BCP. The levels of endotoxemia and serum leptin increased in the HFD group, while in the HFD + BCP group, similar values were found to those of the STD group, attributing the ability to reduce these in conditions of obesity.
Safety Assessment of Foods and Drinks Consumed by People on a Gluten-Free Diet
Authors: Przybylska Anna , Chrustek Agnieszka , Sperkowska Beata , Koba Marcin , Olszewska-Słonina Dorota
Published: September 2022

Naturally gluten-free foods and processed foods that do not contain information about the potential presence of gluten in them pose a hypothetical threat to people with food allergies and celiac disease. Patients who should follow a strict gluten-free diet do not always do so. Therefore, the aim of this research was to analyze certified “gluten-free” and naturally gluten-free products without labeled “may contain gluten” information in terms of their content of gluten proteins. The enzyme immunoassay AgraQuant Gluten G12 ELISA test kit was used for the analysis. Of all the products used in the research, only 5.8% were found to contain gluten above 20 ppm. Only one product labeled “gluten-free” was contaminated with gluten at 79.3 ppm (cider cake). In addition, our research also examined the gluten content of commercial beers containing barley malt not labeled as “gluten-free”. Research has shown that 60% of samples are not safe for those on a strict gluten-free diet. Our research clearly shows that many manufacturers, although they do not monitor their products for the presence of gluten in them, offer safe products, although they cannot be recommended in a gluten-free diet. Therefore, there is a strong need to increase the frequency of testing by food manufacturers for the presence of gluten in their products, so that the number of products approved for people on a gluten-free diet continues to increase.
From Myricetin to the Discovery of Novel Natural Human ENPP1 Inhibitors: A Virtual Screening, Molecular Docking, Molecular Dynamics Simulation, and MM/GBSA Study
Authors: Song Shaohan , Shao Zhiyu
Published: September 2022

It was recently revealed that naturally occurring myricetin can inhibit ectonucleotidase ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1 (ENPP1), which, in turn, can treat ischemic cardiac injury. However, due to myricetin’s poor druggability, its further developments are relatively limited, which necessitates the discovery of novel ENPP1-inhibiting myricetin analogs as alternatives. In this study, the binding model of myricetin with ENPP1 was elucidated by molecular docking and molecular dynamics studies. Subsequently, virtual screening on the self-developed flavonoid natural product database (FNPD), led to the identification of two flavonoid glycosides (Cas No: 1397173-50-0 and 1169835-58-8), as potential ENPP1 inhibitors. Docking scores and MM/GBSA binding energies predicted that they might have higher inhibitory effects than myricetin. This study provides a strong foundation for the future development of ischemic cardiac injury drugs.
Reply to Kuo et al. Comment on “Du et al. Gender Differences in the Relationships between Perceived Stress, Eating Behaviors, Sleep, Dietary Risk, and Body Mass Index. Nutrients 2022, 14, 1045”
Authors: Du Chen , Adjepong Mary , Zan Megan Chong Hueh , Cho Min Jung , Fenton Jenifer I. , Hsiao Pao Ying , Keaver Laura , Lee Heesoon , Ludy Mary-Jon , Shen Wan , Swee Winnie Chee Siew , Thrivikraman Jyothi , Amoah-Agyei Felicity , Kanter Emilie de , Wang Wenyan , Tucker Robin M.
Published: September 2022

We thank Kuo et al. for their comments [...]
Randomized Trial of Early Enhanced Parenteral Nutrition and Later Neurodevelopment in Preterm Infants
Authors: Morris Erin E. , Miller Neely C. , Marka Nicholas A. , Super Jennifer L. , Nagel Emily M. , Gonzalez Juan David , Demerath Ellen W. , Ramel Sara E.
Published: September 2022

Retrospective studies indicate that the parenteral provision of calories, proteins, and lipids in the first week of life is associated with improved later neurodevelopment. We aimed to determine whether infants randomized to an enhanced parenteral nutrition protocol had improved developmental outcomes at 4, 12, or 24 months corrected age (CA). In total, 90 preterm infants (<32 weeks gestational age and <1500 g) were randomized to receive enhanced parenteral nutrition (PN) or standard PN during the first week of life. The enhanced group received a higher glucose infusion rate and intralipids. Neurodevelopmental outcomes included pattern-reversal visually evoked potentials (VEP) at 4 months CA (n = 33) and the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID) at 12 (n = 46) and 24 (n = 29) months CA. P100 latency was longer in the intervention group, indicating slower processing speed (145 vs. 178 ms, p = 0.01). This association did not hold in multivariable analysis adjusting for potentially confounding variables. BSID scores were not associated with enhanced PN. Higher enteral energy and protein intake regardless of randomization group were associated with faster processing speed at 4 months CA (p ≤ 0.02 for both). Enhanced early PN was not associated with improved neurodevelopment; however, first-week enteral caloric and protein intake were associated with improved speed of processing.
Multifunctional Polydopamine-Based Nanoparticles for Dual-Mode Imaging Guided Targeted Therapy of Lupus Nephritis
Authors: Li Mifang , Wang Yeying , Han Xinai , Liu Yibiao , Ma Mingliang , Zhang Lingyan
Published: September 2022

Lupus nephritis (LN) is a common and refractory inflammation of the kidneys caused by systemic lupus erythematosus. Diagnosis and therapies at this stage are inefficient or have severe side effects. In recent years, nanomedicines show great potential for imaging diagnosis and controlled drug release. Herein, we developed a polydopamine (PDA)-based nanocarrier modified with Fe3O4 and Pt nanoparticles and loaded with necrostatin-1 (Nec-1) for the bimodal imaging and therapy of LN. Results demonstrate that Nec-1/PDA@Pt-Fe3O4 nanocarrier exhibits good biocompatibility. Nec-1, as an inhibitor of receptor-interacting protein 1 kinase, can be used to inhibit receptor-interacting protein 1 kinase activity and then reduces inflammation due to LN. Experiments in vitro and in the LN mouse model confirmed that the nanocarrier can reduce neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) production by RIPK1 and alleviate the progression of inflammation. Previous studies proved that Pt nanoparticles can catalyze H2O2 to produce oxygen. A blood oxygen graph of mouse photoacoustic tomography confirmed that Nec-1/PDA@Pt-Fe3O4 can generate oxygen to fight against the hypoxic microenvironment of LN. PDA and Fe3O4 are used as photographic developers for photoacoustic or magnetic resonance imaging. The preliminary imaging results support Nec-1/PDA@Pt-Fe3O4 potential for photoacoustic/magnetic resonance dual-mode imaging, which can accurately and non-invasively monitor microscopic changes due to diseases. Nec-1/PDA@Pt-Fe3O4 combining these advantages exhibited outstanding performance in LN imaging and therapy. This work offers valuable insights into LN diagnosis and therapy.
Modulation of the Translation Efficiency of Heterologous mRNA and Target Protein Stability in a Plant System: The Case Study of Interferon-αA
Authors: Tyurin Alexander A. , Mustafaev Orkhan , Suhorukova Aleksandra V. , Pavlenko Olga S. , Fridman Viktoriia A. , Demyanchuk Ilya S. , Goldenkova-Pavlova Irina V.
Published: September 2022

A broad and amazingly intricate network of mechanisms underlying the decoding of a plant genome into the proteome forces the researcher to design new strategies to enhance both the accumulation of recombinant proteins and their purification from plants and to improve the available relevant strategies. In this paper, we propose new approaches to optimize a codon composition of target genes (case study of interferon-αA) and to search for regulatory sequences (case study of 5′UTR), and we demonstrated their effectiveness in increasing the synthesis of recombinant proteins in plant systems. In addition, we convincingly show that the approach utilizing stabilization of the protein product according to the N-end rule or a new protein-stabilizing partner (thermostable lichenase) is sufficiently effective and results in a significant increase in the protein yield manufactured in a plant system. Moreover, it is validly demonstrated that thermostable lichenase as a protein-stabilizing partner not only has no negative effect on the target protein activity (interferon-αA) integrated in its sequence, but rather enhances the accumulation of the target protein product in plant cells. In addition, the retention of lichenase enzyme activity and interferon biological activity after the incubation of plant protein lysates at 65 °C and precipitation of nontarget proteins with ethanol is applicable to a rapid and inexpensive purification of fusion proteins, thereby confirming the utility of thermostable lichenase as a protein-stabilizing partner for plant systems.
Antioxidants from Galium verum as Ingredients for the Design of New Dermatocosmetic Products
Authors: Turcov Delia , Barna Ana Simona , Trifan Adriana , Blaga Alexandra Cristina , Tanasă Alexandra Maria , Suteu Daniela
Published: September 2022

The aim of this study was to use plant extracts from spontaneous flora of Moldova (Rediu-Iasi area, Romania) as polyphenols and flavonoids source in order to obtain new dermato-cosmetic formulas to prevent the actions of oxidative stress on skin. Plant extracts (from raw and dried Galium verum sp.) were obtained by: cold classical maceration (M), heat reflux extraction (HTE) and ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE). The extracts were characterized by spectrophotometric method (for polyphenols and flavonoids content and for DPPH antioxidant activity evaluation). In order to evaluate the combating and/or attenuating effects of oxidative stress on skin, the study was continued with the elaboration of emulsions that incorporate one of these extracts. The emulsions were preliminarily characterized by determining the stability over time. The obtained results encourage research in the direction of deeper characterization of these emulsions to determine the microbiological stability and dermatological tests performed on the skin treated with these new products.
Proteomic Changes in Paspalum fasciculatum Leaves Exposed to Cd Stress
Authors: Salas-Moreno Manuel , Castillejo María Ángeles , Rodríguez-Cavallo Erika , Marrugo-Negrete José , Méndez-Cuadro Darío , Jorrín-Novo Jesús
Published: September 2022

(1) Background: Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal that is widely distributed in water, soil, and air. It is present in agrochemicals, wastewater, battery waste, and volcanic eruptions. Thus, it can be absorbed by plants and enter the trophic chain. P. fasciculatum is a plant with phytoremediation capacity that can tolerate Cd stress, but changes in its proteome related to this tolerance have not yet been identified. (2) Methods: We conducted a quantitative analysis of the proteins present in P. fasciculatum leaves cultivated under greenhouse conditions in mining soils doped with 0 mg kg−1 (control), 30 mg kg−1, or 50 mg kg−1. This was carried out using the label-free shotgun proteomics technique. In this way, we determined the changes in the proteomes of the leaves of these plants, which allowed us to propose some tolerance mechanisms involved in the response to Cd stress. (3) Results: In total, 329 variable proteins were identified between treatments, which were classified into those associated with carbohydrate and energy metabolism; photosynthesis; structure, transport, and metabolism of proteins; antioxidant stress and defense; RNA and DNA processing; and signal transduction. (4) Conclusions: Based on changes in the differences in the leaf protein profiles between treatments, we hypothesize that some proteins associated with signal transduction (Ras-related protein RABA1e), HSPs (heat shock cognate 70 kDa protein 2), growth (actin-7), and cellular development (actin-1) are part of the tolerance response to Cd stress.
The Effect of Welding Defects on the Long-Term Performance of HDPE Pipes
Authors: Lai Huansheng , Fan Dengshuai , Liu Kanglin
Published: September 2022

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes are the preferred pipes of water systems in nuclear power plants because they are durable, corrosion-free, easy to install, and not subject to fouling. However, their long-term performance can be affected by welding defects. In this paper, the effect of welding defects on the long-term performance of HDPE pipe butt fusion joints was studied using a creep test. A welding defect with a hole or inclusion in the joint was simulated by artificially inserting a copper ball during butt fusion welding. The test results showed that the creep life of the joint decreased with increased defect size. An expression describing the creep life and the defect ratio was obtained according to the test results. In addition, the test results showed that the creep life of the joint without a welding bead was about 50% of that in a joint with a welding bead.