bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating the Feasibility of Preparing Metal–Ceramic Multi-Layered Composites Using Only the Aerosol-Deposition Technique
Authors: Sadl Matej , Tomc Urban , Ursic Hana
Published: August 2021

The preparation of metal–ceramic layered composites remains a challenge due to the incompatibilities of the materials at the high temperatures of the co-firing process. For densification, the ceramic thick-film materials must be subjected to high-temperature annealing (usually above 900 °C), which can increase the production costs and limit the use of substrate or co-sintering materials with a low oxidation resistance and a low melting point, such as metals. To overcome these problems, the feasibility of preparing dense, defect-free, metal–ceramic multilayers with a room-temperature-based method should be investigated. In this study, we have shown that the preparation of ceramic–metal Al2O3/Al/Al2O3/Gd multilayers using aerosol deposition (AD) is feasible and represents a simple, reliable and cost-effective approach to substrate functionalisation and protection. Scanning electron microscopy of the multilayers showed that all the layers have a dense, defect-free microstructure and good intra-layer connectivity. The top Al2O3 dielectric layer provides excellent electrical resistance (i.e., 7.7 × 1012 Ω∙m), which is required for reliable electric field applications.
Life Cycle Assessment of Two Alternative Plastics for Bottle Production
Authors: Bałdowska-Witos Patrycja , Piasecka Izabela , Flizikowski Józef , Tomporowski Andrzej , Idzikowski Adam , Zawada Marcin
Published: August 2021

The article characterizes selected issues related to the method of performing environmental impact analyses. Particular attention was paid to the need for identifying environmental effects associated with the process of shaping beverage bottles. This study concerns the analysis of selected stages of the machine’s life cycle environmental impact in the specific case of the blow molding machine used in the production of bottles. Life cycle assessment analysis was performed using the SimaPro 8.4.0 software (The Dutch Company Pre Consultants). The CML 2 and ReCiPe2016 methods were chosen to interpret the lists of chemical emissions. Impact categories specific to the CML 2 model are: abiotic depletion, acidification, eutrophication, global warming, ozone layer depletion, human toxicity, fresh water aquatic ecotoxicity, marine aquatic ecotoxicity, terrestrial ecotoxicity, and photochemical oxidation. Among all the considered impact categories, marine aquatic ecotoxicity was characterized by the highest level of potential harmful effects occurring during the bottle production process. A new aspect of the research is to provide updated and more detailed geographic data on Polish bottle production.
Hybrid Fruit-Fly Optimization Algorithm with K-Means for Text Document Clustering
Authors: Bezdan Timea , Stoean Catalin , Naamany Ahmed Al , Bacanin Nebojsa , Rashid Tarik A. , Zivkovic Miodrag , Venkatachalam K.
Published: August 2021

The fast-growing Internet results in massive amounts of text data. Due to the large volume of the unstructured format of text data, extracting relevant information and its analysis becomes very challenging. Text document clustering is a text-mining process that partitions the set of text-based documents into mutually exclusive clusters in such a way that documents within the same group are similar to each other, while documents from different clusters differ based on the content. One of the biggest challenges in text clustering is partitioning the collection of text data by measuring the relevance of the content in the documents. Addressing this issue, in this work a hybrid swarm intelligence algorithm with a K-means algorithm is proposed for text clustering. First, the hybrid fruit-fly optimization algorithm is tested on ten unconstrained CEC2019 benchmark functions. Next, the proposed method is evaluated on six standard benchmark text datasets. The experimental evaluation on the unconstrained functions, as well as on text-based documents, indicated that the proposed approach is robust and superior to other state-of-the-art methods.
Goodness-of-Fit of Logistic Regression of the Default Rate on GDP Growth Rate and on CDX Indices
Authors: Hu Kuang-Hua , Lin Shih-Kuei , Ching Yung-Kang , Hung Ming-Chin
Published: August 2021

Under the Basel II and Basel III agreements, the probability of default (PD) is a key parameter used in calculating expected credit loss (ECL), which is typically defined as: PD × Loss Given Default × Exposure at Default. In practice or in regulatory requirements, gross domestic product (GDP) has been adopted in the PD estimation model. Due to the problem of excessive fluctuation and highly volatile ECL estimation, models that produce satisfactory PD and thus ECL estimations in the context of existing risk management techniques are lacking. In this study, we explore the usage of the credit default swap index (CDX), a market’s expectation of future PD, as a predictor of the default rate (DR). By comparing the goodness-of-fit of logistic regression, several conclusions are drawn. Firstly, in general, GDP has considerable explanatory power for the default rate which is consistent with current models in practice. Secondly, although both GDP and CDX fit the DR well for rating B class, CDX has a significantly better fit of DR for ratings [A, Baa, Ba]. Thirdly, compared with low-rated companies, the relationship between the DR and GDP is relatively weak for rating A. This phenomenon implies that, in addition to using macroeconomic variables and firm-specific explanatory variables in the PD estimation model, high-rated companies exhibit a greater need to use market supplemental information, such as CDX, to capture the changes in the DR.
The Effectiveness of Biostimulation, Bioaugmentation and Sorption-Biological Treatment of Soil Contaminated with Petroleum Products in the Russian Subarctic
Authors: Myazin Vladimir A. , Korneykova Maria V. , Chaporgina Alexandra A. , Fokina Nadezhda V. , Vasilyeva Galina K.
Published: August 2021

The effectiveness of different bioremediation methods (biostimulation, bioaugmentation, the sorption-biological method) for the restoration of soil contaminated with petroleum products in the Russian Subarctic has been studied. The object of the study includes soil contaminated for 20 years with petroleum products. By laboratory experiment, we established five types of microfungi that most intensively decompose petroleum hydrocarbons: Penicillium canescens st. 1, Penicillium simplicissimum st. 1, Penicillum commune, Penicillium ochrochloron, and Penicillium restrictum. One day after the start of the experiment, 6 to 18% of the hydrocarbons decomposed: at 3 days, this was 16 to 49%; at 7 days, 40 to 73%; and at 10 days, 71 to 87%. Penicillium commune exhibited the greatest degrading activity throughout the experiment. For soils of light granulometric composition with a low content of organic matter, a more effective method of bioremediation is sorption-biological treatment using peat or granulated activated carbon: the content of hydrocarbons decreased by an average of 65%, which is 2.5 times more effective than without treatment. The sorbent not only binds hydrocarbons and their toxic metabolites but is also a carrier for hydrocarbon-oxidizing microorganisms and prevents nutrient leaching from the soil. High efficiency was noted due to the biostimulation of the native hydrocarbon-oxidizing microfungi and bacteria by mineral fertilizers and liming. An increase in the number of microfungi, bacteria and dehydrogenase activity indicate the presence of a certain microbial potential of the soil and the ability of the hydrocarbons to produce biochemical oxidation. The use of the considered methods of bioremediation will improve the ecological state of the contaminated area and further the gradual restoration of biodiversity.
Two-Stage Fermentation of Lipomyces starkeyi for Production of Microbial Lipids and Biodiesel
Authors: Zhang Le , Lim Ee , Loh Kai-Chee , Dai Yanjun , Tong Yen
Published: August 2021

The high operating cost is currently a limitation to industrialize microbial lipids production by the yeast Lipomyces starkeyi. To explore economic fermentation technology, the two-stage fermentation of Lipomyces starkeyi using yeast extract peptone dextrose (YPD) medium, orange peel (OP) hydrolysate medium, and their mixed medium were investigated for seven days by monitoring OD600 values, pH values, cell growth status, C/N ratios, total carbon concentration, total nitrogen concentration, residual sugar concentration, lipid content, lipid titer, and fatty acids profiles of lipids. The results showed that two-stage fermentation with YPD and 50% YPD + 50% OP medium contributed to lipid accumulation, leading to larger internal lipid droplets in the yeast cells. However, the cells in pure OP hydrolysate grew abnormally, showing skinny and angular shapes. Compared to the one-stage fermentation, the two-stage fermentation enhanced lipid contents by 18.5%, 27.1%, and 21.4% in the flasks with YPD medium, OP medium, and 50%YPD + 50%OP medium, and enhanced the lipid titer by 77.8%, 13.6%, and 63.0%, respectively. The microbial lipids obtained from both one-stage and two-stage fermentation showed no significant difference in fatty acid compositions, which were mainly dominated by palmitic acid (33.36–38.43%) and oleic acid (46.6–48.12%). Hence, a mixture of commercial medium and lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysate could be a promising option to balance the operating cost and lipid production.
Descriptive Study of Gut Microbiota in Infected and Colonized Subjects by Clostridiodes difficile
Authors: Sánchez-Pellicer Pedro , Navarro-López Vicente , González-Tamayo Ruth , Llopis-Ruiz Coral , Núñez-Delegido Eva , Ruzafa-Costas Beatriz , Navarro-Moratalla Laura , Agüera-Santos Juan
Published: August 2021

Clostridiodes difficile can lead to a range of situations from the absence of symptoms (colonization) to severe diarrhea (infection). Disruption of gut microbiota provides an ideal environment for infection to occur. Comparison of gut microbiota of infected and colonized subjects could provide relevant information on susceptible groups or protectors to the development of infection, since the presence of certain genera could be related to the inhibition of transition from a state of colonization to infection. Through high-throughput sequencing of 16S rDNA gene, we performed alpha and beta diversity and composition studies on 15 infected patients (Group CDI), 15 colonized subjects (Group P), and 15 healthy controls (Group CTLR). A loss of alpha diversity and richness and a different structure have been evidenced in the CDI and P groups with respect to the CTRL group, but without significant differences between the first two. In CDI and P groups, there was a strong decrease in phylum Firmicutes and an expansion of potential pathogens. Likewise, there was a loss of inhibitory genus of C. difficile germination in infected patients that were partially conserved in colonized subjects. Therefore, infected and colonized subjects presented a gut microbiota that was completely different from that of healthy controls, although similar to each other. It is in composition where we found that colonized subjects, especially in minority genera, presented differences with respect to those infected.
Sequential Extraction and Risk Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements in River Sediments
Authors: Matabane Dithobolong L. , Godeto Taddese W. , Mampa Richard M. , Ambushe Abayneh A.
Published: August 2021

In this study, the sequential extraction method was applied to extract selected potentially toxic elements (PTEs) (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn) in river sediments collected from the Blood River situated in Seshego area, Limpopo Province, South Africa. The study aimed to assess a possible trend of mobilisation of these elements from sediment to water. The accuracy of the sequential extraction method was confirmed by analysing sediment-certified reference material, and quantitative percentage recoveries ranging from 86 to 119%, 81 to 111% and 77 to 119% were achieved for exchangeable, reducible and oxidisable fractions, respectively. The potential risk of the PTEs in sediments was evaluated. The calculated values of contamination factor (CF) as well as risk assessment code (RAC) for Cd, Cu, Ni and Pb revealed the mobility of these elements. The PTEs in river sediments are at a high toxicity-risk level and could therefore cause a threat to organisms dwelling in sediments and humans via consumption of crops irrigated with the polluted river water.
The Growth Characteristics and Kinetics of Metallic Iron in Coal-Based Reduction of Jinchuan Ferronickel Slag
Authors: Yu Jianwen , Qin Yonghong , Gao Peng , Sun Yongsheng , Ma Songbo
Published: August 2021

As the fourth-largest industry waste residue, after iron slag, steel slag, and red mud, in China, the comprehensive utilization of nickel slag is imminent. Coal-based reduction combined with magnetic separation was considered an efficient method to extract iron from nickel slag. During the coal-based reduction of Jinchuan ferronickel slag, the growth characteristics and kinetics of metallic iron were investigated in this paper. The metallisation rate and metal iron grain size gradually increased with the reduction temperature or the reaction time, and the coal-based reduction process was divided into the rapid formation period and the aggregation growth period of the metallic phase. The granularity distribution of metallic iron obeyed the Doseresp sigmoidal function, and the activation energy of grain growth at different stages were 52.482 ± 4.448 kJ·mol−1 and 26.426 ± 3.295 kJ·mol−1, respectively. Meanwhile, a mathematical growth model of the metallic iron grains was also established.
Effectiveness of Specialized Nutritious Foods and Social and Behavior Change Communication Interventions to Prevent Stunting among Children in Badakhshan, Afghanistan: Protocol for a Quasi-Experimental Study
Authors: Soofi Sajid Bashir , Khan Gul Nawaz , Ariff Shabina , Rizvi Arjumand , Hussainyar Mohammad Asif , Garzon Cecilia , Ahimbisibwe Martin , Sadeed Rafiullah , Reshad Ahmad
Published: August 2021

Stunting predominantly occurs during the first 1000 days of life and continues to the age of five years. We will aim to assess the effectiveness of specialized nutritious foods (SNF)and social and behavior change communication (SBCC) strategies during the first 1000 days of life to prevent stunting among children in two rural districts of Badakhshan, Afghanistan. This will be a quasi-experimental pre-post study with the control group utilizing qualitative and quantitative methods. Before launching the program, formative research will be conducted on the acceptability, appropriate use and SBCC strategies needed to support the introduction of intervention package. Repeated cross-sectional baseline and endline surveys will be conducted in both the intervention and the control districts. After the formative research and baseline household survey, an intervention focusing on the provision of SNF, targeting pregnant and lactating women and children 6–23 months, and SBCC strategies will be implemented for at least 12 months. The primary outcome will be a reduction in the prevalence of stunting among children under two years in the intervention group compared to the control group. We will aim to compare the intervention and control group between the pre- and post-intervention assessments to isolate the effect of the intervention by difference-in-differences estimates. The program monitoring and evaluation component will examine the quality of implementation, acceptability of intervention, identification of potential barriers and to learn how to enhance the program’s effectiveness through ongoing operational improvements. The results will be beneficial to design interventions to prevent stunting within Afghanistan and other low–middle-income countries.
Association between Irregular Meal Timing and the Mental Health of Japanese Workers
Authors: Tahara Yu , Makino Saneyuki , Suiko Takahiko , Nagamori Yuki , Iwai Takao , Aono Megumi , Shibata Shigenobu
Published: August 2021

Breakfast skipping and nighttime snacking have been identified as risk factors for obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. However, the effects of irregularity of meal timing on health and daily quality of life are still unclear. In this study, a web-based self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted involving 4490 workers (73.3% males; average age = 47.4 ± 0.1 years) in Japan to investigate the association between meal habits, health, and social relationships. This study identified that irregular meal timing was correlated with higher neuroticism (one of the Big Five personality traits), lower physical activity levels, and higher productivity loss. Irregular meal timing was also associated with a higher incidence of sleep problems and lower subjective health conditions. Among health outcomes, a high correlation of irregular meal timing with mental health factors was observed. This study showed that irregularity of meal timing can be explained by unbalanced diets, frequent breakfast skipping, increased snacking frequency, and insufficient latency from the last meal to sleep onset. Finally, logistic regression analysis was conducted, and a significant contribution of meal timing irregularity to subjective mental health was found under adjustment for other confounding factors. These results suggest that irregular meal timing is a good marker of subjective mental health issues.
Metabolic, Affective and Neurocognitive Characterization of Metabolic Syndrome Patients with and without Food Addiction. Implications for Weight Progression
Authors: Camacho-Barcia Lucía , Munguía Lucero , Lucas Ignacio , de la Torre Rafael , Salas-Salvadó Jordi , Pintó Xavier , Corella Dolores , Granero Roser , Jiménez-Murcia Susana , González-Monje Inmaculada , Esteve-Luque Virginia , Cuenca-Royo Aida , Gómez-Martínez Carlos , Paz-Graniel Indira , Forcano Laura , Fernández-Aranda Fernando
Published: August 2021

According to the food addiction (FA) model, the consumption of certain types of food could be potentially addictive and can lead to changes in intake regulation. We aimed to describe metabolic parameters, dietary characteristics, and affective and neurocognitive vulnerabilities of individuals with and without FA, and to explore its influences on weight loss progression. The sample included 448 adults (55–75 years) with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome from the PREDIMED-Plus cognition sub-study. Cognitive and psychopathological assessments, as well as dietary, biochemical, and metabolic measurements, were assessed at baseline. Weight progression was evaluated after a 3-year follow up. The presence of FA was associated with higher depressive symptomatology, neurocognitive decline, low quality of life, high body mass index (BMI), and high waist circumference, but not with metabolic comorbidities. No differences were observed in the dietary characteristics except for the saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids consumption. After three years, the presence of FA at baseline resulted in a significantly higher weight regain. FA is associated with worse psychological and neurocognitive state and higher weight regain in adults with metabolic syndrome. This condition could be an indicator of bad prognosis in the search for a successful weight loss process.
Withdrawal of Colistin Reduces Incidence of mcr-1-Harboring IncX4-Type Plasmids but Has Limited Effects on Unrelated Antibiotic Resistance
Authors: Tu Zunfang , Gu Ju , Zhang Haoyu , Liu Jinxin , Shui Junrui , Zhang Anyun
Published: August 2021

The global dissemination of plasmid-mediated colistin resistance gene mcr and its variants have posed a great threat to public health. Therefore, the Chinese government banned the use of colistin as a feed additive in livestock in April 2017. To explore the dynamic changes of overall antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and phylogenetic relationship of bacteria from a single pig farm before and after the withdrawal of colistin, fecal swab samples were collected from a large-scale pig farm before (n = 32; 2 months pre-withdrawal of colistin) and after withdrawal of colistin (n = 30; 13 months post-withdrawal of colistin). Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were isolated. Whole-genome sequencing (Illumina, MiSeq) was performed to examine ARGs, plasmids and the genetic relationship of the isolates. The overall SNP results indicated all isolates had high genetic diversity, and the evolutionary relationship across isolates was not influenced by the ban of colistin. However, the prevalence of mcr-1.1 (5.6%, p < 0.01) was significantly lower than before the ban (86.4%). Plasmid profiling analysis showed that 17 of 20 (85.0%) observed mcr-1.1 genes reside on IncX4-type plasmids, 16 of which (94.1%) were from isolates before the ban. On the contrary, the presence of blaCTX-M gene was significantly increased (p = 0.0215) post-withdrawal of colistin. Our results showed that withdrawal of colistin reduced the incidence of mcr-1-harboring IncX4-type plasmids, but had limited influences on unrelated ARGs.
Prevalence of IncFIB Plasmids Found among Salmonella enterica Serovar Schwarzengrund Isolates from Animal Sources in Taiwan Using Whole-Genome Sequencing
Authors: Li I-Chen , Wu Hsiu-Hui , Chen Zeng-Weng , Chou Chung-Hsi
Published: August 2021

Salmonella enterica serovar Schwarzengrund is one of the most frequently isolated Salmonella serotypes responsible for human and poultry infections in Taiwan, and it has raised public health concerns. To better facilitate the understanding of transmission patterns and the dynamics of epidemics, sharing molecular data on pathogen profiles is urgently needed. The objectives of the current study were to determine and establish baseline data of S. enterica serovar Schwarzengrund isolates from 23 epidemiologically unrelated sources from year 2000 to 2018 and examine their phenotypic and genotypic characteristics. Genomic DNA of the Salmonella isolates was extracted and subjected to whole-genome sequencing using an Illumina platform. Results showed that all selected isolates exhibited multidrug resistance, and six of those were resistant to ciprofloxacin phenotypically. Genotypically, these isolates carried genes resistant to aminoglycoside (100%), phenicol (91.3%), β-lactams (69.5%), folate pathway antagonist (100%), tetracycline (82.6%), and fluoroquinolone (4.3%). Moreover, these isolates harbor integrons with five different gene cassettes identified for the first time, which are associated with resistance to trimethoprim, streptomycin, tetracycline, sulfonamide, chloramphenicol, and gentamicin. Furthermore, prevalence of IncFIB plasmid was found among studied isolates, which may increase its ability to colonize the chicken cecum and cause extra-intestinal disease. Salmonella pathogenicity islands SPI-1 to SPI-5, SPI-13, and SPI-14, as well as C63PI locus, were also detected in all isolates. This study demonstrated that a considerable high antimicrobial resistance with high virulence levels of Salmonella were found from animal sources. Sharing data on these pathogen profiles can not only help increase the reproducibility and accessibility of genomic analysis but can also support surveillance and epidemiological investigations for salmonellosis in the region.
IRF2BP2 Mutation Is Associated with Increased STAT1 and STAT5 Activation in Two Family Members with Inflammatory Conditions and Lymphopenia
Authors: Palmroth Maaria , Viskari Hanna , Seppänen Mikko R. J. , Keskitalo Salla , Virtanen Anniina , Varjosalo Markku , Silvennoinen Olli , Isomäki Pia
Published: August 2021

Interferon regulatory factor 2 binding protein 2 (IRF2BP2) is a transcriptional coregulator that has an important role in the regulation of the immune response. IRF2BP2 has been associated with the Janus kinase (JAK)—signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) pathway, but its exact role remains elusive. Here, we identified a novel clinical variant, IRF2BP2 c.625_665del, from two members of a family with inflammatory conditions and investigated the function of IRF2BP2 and c.625_665del mutation in JAK–STAT pathway activation and inflammatory signaling. The levels of constitutive and cytokine-induced phosphorylation of STATs and total STAT1 in peripheral blood monocytes, T cells, and B cells from the patients and four healthy controls were measured by flow cytometry. Inflammation-related gene expression was studied in peripheral blood mononuclear cells using direct digital detection of mRNA (NanoString). Finally, we studied the relationship between IRF2BP2 and STAT1 activation using a luciferase reporter system in a cell model. Our results show that patients having the IRF2BP2 c.625_665del mutation presented overexpression of STAT1 protein and increased constitutive activation of STAT1. In addition, interferon-induced JAK–STAT signaling was upregulated, and several interferon-inducible genes were overexpressed. Constitutive phosphorylation of STAT5 was also found to be upregulated in CD4+ T cells from the patients. Using a cell model, we show that IRF2BP2 was needed to attenuate STAT1 transcriptional activity and that IRF2BP2 c.625_665del mutation failed in this. We conclude that IRF2BP2 has an important role in suppressing immune responses elicited by STAT1 and STAT5 and suggest that aberrations in IRF2BP2 can lead to abnormal function of intrinsic immunity.
Genetic Modifiers and Phenotype of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Pascual-Morena Carlos , Cavero-Redondo Iván , Saz-Lara Alicia , Sequí-Domínguez Irene , Lucerón-Lucas-Torres Maribel , Martínez-Vizcaíno Vicente
Published: August 2021

The transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) pathway could modulate the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) phenotype. This meta-analysis aims to estimate the association of genetic variants involved in the TGFβ pathway, including the latent transforming growth factor beta binding protein 4 (LTBP4) and secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1) genes, among others, with age of loss of ambulation (LoA) and cardiac function in patients with DMD. Meta-analyses were conducted for the hazard ratio (HR) of LoA for each genetic variant. A subgroup analysis was performed in patients treated exclusively with glucocorticoids. Eight studies were included in the systematic review and four in the meta-analyses. The systematic review suggests a protective effect of LTBP4 haplotype IAAM (recessive model) for LoA. It is also suggested that the SPP1 rs28357094 genotype G (dominant model) is associated with early LoA in glucocorticoids-treated patients. The meta-analysis of the LTBP4 haplotype IAAM showed a protective association with LoA, with an HR = 0.78 (95% CI: 0.67–0.90). No association with LoA was observed for the SPP1 rs28357094. The LTBP4 haplotype IAAM is associated with a later LoA, especially in the Caucasian population, while the SPP1 rs28357094 genotype G could be associated with a poor response to glucocorticoids. Future research is suggested for SPP1 rs11730582, LTBP4 rs710160, and THBS1 rs2725797.
Structure and Glass Transition Temperature of Amorphous Dispersions of Model Pharmaceuticals with Nucleobases from Molecular Dynamics
Authors: Červinka Ctirad , Fulem Michal
Published: August 2021

Glass transition temperature (Tg) is an important material property, which predetermines the kinetic stability of amorphous solids. In the context of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), there is motivation to maximize their Tg by forming amorphous mixtures with other chemicals, labeled excipients. Molecular dynamics simulations are a natural computational tool to investigate the relationships between structure, dynamics, and cohesion of amorphous materials with an all-atom resolution. This work presents a computational study, addressing primarily the predictions of the glass transition temperatures of four selected API (carbamazepine, racemic ibuprofen, indomethacin, and naproxen) with two nucleobases (adenine and cytosine). Since the classical non-polarizable simulations fail to reach the quantitative accuracy of the predicted Tg, analyses of internal dynamics, hydrogen bonding, and cohesive forces in bulk phases of pure API and their mixtures with the nucleobases are performed to interpret the predicted trends. This manuscript reveals the method for a systematic search of beneficial pairs of API and excipients (with maximum Tg when mixed). Monitoring of transport and cohesive properties of API–excipients systems via molecular simulation will enable the design of such API formulations more efficiently in the future.
Roflumilast Powders for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Formulation Design and the Influence of Device, Inhalation Flow Rate, and Storage Relative Humidity on Aerosolization
Authors: Momin Mohammad A. M. , Adhikari Bishal Raj , Sinha Shubhra , Larson Ian , Das Shyamal C.
Published: August 2021

Roflumilast is currently administered orally to control acute exacerbations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, side effects such as gastrointestinal disturbance and weight loss have limited its application. This work aimed to develop an inhalable roflumilast formulation to reduce the dose and potentially circumvent the associated toxicity. Roflumilast was cospray-dried with trehalose and L-leucine with varied feed concentrations and spray-gas flow rates to produce the desired dry powder. A Next-Generation Impactor (NGI) was used to assess the aerosolization efficiency. In addition, different devices (Aerolizer, Rotahaler, and Handihaler) and flow rates were used to investigate their effects on the aerosolization efficiency. A cytotoxicity assay was also performed. The powders produced under optimized conditions were partially amorphous and had low moisture content. The powders showed good dispersibility, as evident by the high emitted dose (>88%) and fine particle fraction (>52%). At all flow rates (≥30 L/min), the Aerolizer offered the best aerosolization. The formulation exhibited stable aerosolization after storage at 25 °C/15% Relative Humidity (RH) for one month. Moreover, the formulation was non-toxic to alveolar basal epithelial cells. A potential inhalable roflumilast formulation including L-leucine and trehalose has been developed for the treatment of COPD. This study also suggests that the choice of device is crucial to achieve the desired aerosol performance.
Three-Dimensional Stitching of Binocular Endoscopic Images Based on Feature Points
Authors: Zhou Changjiang , Yu Hao , Yuan Bo , Wang Liqiang , Yang Qing
Published: August 2021

There are shortcomings of binocular endoscope three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction in the conventional algorithm, such as low accuracy, small field of view, and loss of scale information. To address these problems, aiming at the specific scenes of stomach organs, a method of 3D endoscopic image stitching based on feature points is proposed. The left and right images are acquired by moving the endoscope and converting them into point clouds by binocular matching. They are then preprocessed to compensate for the errors caused by the scene characteristics such as uneven illumination and weak texture. The camera pose changes are estimated by detecting and matching the feature points of adjacent left images. Finally, based on the calculated transformation matrix, point cloud registration is carried out by the iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm, and the 3D dense reconstruction of the whole gastric organ is realized. The results show that the root mean square error is 2.07 mm, and the endoscopic field of view is expanded by 2.20 times, increasing the observation range. Compared with the conventional methods, it does not only preserve the organ scale information but also makes the scene much denser, which is convenient for doctors to measure the target areas, such as lesions, in 3D. These improvements will help improve the accuracy and efficiency of diagnosis.
Multi-View 3D Integral Imaging Systems Using Projectors and Mobile Devices
Authors: Petrov Nikolai , Khromov Maksim , Sokolov Yuri
Published: August 2021

Glassless 3D displays using projectors and mobile phones based on integral imaging technology have been developed. Three-dimensional image files are created from the 2D images captured by a conventional camera. Large size 3D images using four HD and Ultra HD 4K projectors are created with a viewing angle of 35 degrees and a large depth. Three-dimensional images are demonstrated using optimized lenticular lenses and mobile smartphones, such as LG and Samsung with resolution 2560 × 1440, and 4K Sony with resolution 3840 × 2160.
Scaling Conjecture Regarding the Number of Unknots among Polygons of N≫1 Edges
Authors: Grosberg Alexander Y.
Published: August 2021

The conjecture is made based on a plausible, but not rigorous argument, suggesting that the unknot probability for a randomly generated self-avoiding polygon of N≫1 edges has only logarithmic, and not power law corrections to the known leading exponential law: Punknot(N)∼exp−N/N0+o(lnN) with N0 being referred to as the random knotting length. This conjecture is consistent with the numerical result of 2010 by Baiesi, Orlandini, and Stella.
Ethephon-Induced Ethylene Enhances Starch Degradation and Sucrose Transport with an Interactive Abscisic Acid-Mediated Manner in Mature Leaves of Oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.)
Authors: Lee Bok-Rye , Zaman Rashed , La Van Hien , Bae Dong-Won , Kim Tae-Hwan
Published: August 2021

The leaf senescence process is characterized by the degradation of macromolecules in mature leaves and the remobilization of degradation products via phloem transport. The phytohormone ethylene mediates leaf senescence. This study aimed to investigate the ethephon-induced ethylene effects on starch degradation and sucrose remobilization through their interactive regulation with other hormones. Ethephon (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid) was used as an ethylene-generating agent. Endogenous hormonal status, carbohydrate compounds, starch degradation-related gene expression, sucrose transporter gene expression, and phloem sucrose loading were compared between the ethephon-treated plants and controls. Foliar ethephon spray enhanced the endogenous ethylene concentration and accelerated leaf senescence, as evidenced by reduced chlorophyll content and enhanced expression of the senescence-related gene SAG12. Ethephon-enhanced ethylene prominently enhanced the endogenous abscisic acid (ABA) level. accompanied with upregulation of ABA synthesis gene 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED3), ABA receptor gene pyrabactin resistance 1 (PYR1), and ABA signaling genes sucrose non-fermenting 1 (Snf1)-related protein kinase 2 (SnRK2), ABA-responsive element binding 2 (AREB2), and basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor (MYC2).) Ethephon treatment decreased starch content by enhancing expression of the starch degradation-related genes α-amylase 3 (AMY3) and β-amylase 1 (BAM1), resulting in an increase in sucrose content in phloem exudates with enhanced expression of sucrose transporters, SUT1, SUT4, and SWEET11. These results suggest that a synergistic interaction between ethylene and ABA might account for sucrose accumulation, mainly due to starch degradation in mature leaves and sucrose phloem loading in the ethephon-induced senescent leaves.
Bioethanol Production and Alkali Pulp Processes as Sources of Anionic Lignin Surfactants
Authors: Álvarez-Barajas Rodrigo , Cuadri Antonio A. , Navarro Francisco J. , Martínez-Boza Francisco J. , Partal Pedro
Published: August 2021

Lignin is an abundant biopolymer with potential value-added applications that depend on biomass source and fractioning method. This work explores the use as emulsifiers of three native lignin-rich product coming from industrial bioethanol production and alkali or Kraft pulping. In addition to their distinctive characteristics, the different molecular organization induced by emulsification pH is expected to interact in various ways at the water-oil interface of the emulsion droplets. Initially, model oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions of a silicone oil will be studied as a function of lignin source, disperse phase concentration and emulsification pH. Once stablished the effect of such variables, emulsion formulations of three potential bitumen rejuvenators (waste vegetable cooking oil, recycled lubricating oil and a 160/220 penetration range soft bitumen). Droplet size distribution, Z-potential and viscous tests conducted on model emulsions have shown that emulsification pH strongly affects stabilization ability of the lignins tested. Regarding bitumen rejuvenators, lignin emulsification capability will be affected by surfactant source, pH and, additionally, by the dispersed phase characteristics. Lower Z-potential values shown by KL at pH 9 and 11 seem to facilitate emulsification of the less polar disperse phases formed by RLUB and bitumen. In any case, lower particle size and higher yield stress values were found for both bioethanol-derived lignins emulsifying RVO and RLUB at pH 13, which are expected to exhibit a longer stability.
Thermosensitive Interfacial Migration of 5-FU in the Microenvironment of Pluronic Block Copolymers
Authors: Lin Tz-Feng , Yeh Shih-Hsuan
Published: August 2021

Chemotherapy is one of the most important ways to treat cancer. At present, chemotherapy medicines are mainly administered by intravenous injection or oral administration. However, systemic medical care requires the dosage of high concentrations of drugs to defeat the malignant tumor growth. In recent years, the use of polymer composites for local and sustained drug release has become an important field of research to minimize side effects due to high-concentration chemotherapy drugs. Here, 19F-{1H} heteronuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy (HOESY) was used to study the micellular environment of the F-containing chemotherapeutic drug 5-FU in Pluronic F127, Pluronic L121, and F127/L121 binary blending composites. The distribution of 5-FU in micelles is related to the PEO and PPO segment length of Pluronic polymers and the environmental temperature. The drug release tests further confirm that if 5-FU medicines were loaded in the PPO segment inside the micelles, the purpose of the prolonged drug release carrier is achieved.
Chemical Modification of Poly(butylene trans-1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate) by Camphor: A New Example of Bio-Based Polyesters for Sustainable Food Packaging
Authors: Guidotti Giulia , Burzotta Gianfranco , Soccio Michelina , Gazzano Massimo , Siracusa Valentina , Munari Andrea , Lotti Nadia
Published: August 2021

Among the several actions contributing to the development of a sustainable society, there is the eco-design of new plastic materials with zero environmental impact but that are possibly characterized by properties comparable to those of the traditional fossil-based plastics. This action is particularly urgent for food packaging sector, which involves large volumes of plastic products that quickly become waste. This work aims to contribute to the achievement of this important goal, proposing new bio-based cycloaliphatic polymers based on trans-1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid and containing different amount of camphoric acid (from 0 to 15 mol %), a cheap and bio-based building block. Such chemical modification was conducted in the melt by avoiding the use of solvents. The so-obtained polymers were processed in the form of films by compression molding. Afterwards, the new and successfully synthesized random copolymers were characterized by molecular (NMR spectroscopy and GPC analysis), thermal (DSC and TGA analyses), diffractometric (wide angle X-ray scattering), mechanical (through tensile tests), and O2 and CO2 barrier point of view together with the parent homopolymer. The article aims to relate the results obtained with the amount of camphoric moiety introduced and to present, the different microstructure in the copolymers in more detail; indeed, in these samples, a different crystalline form developed (the so-called β-PBCE). This latter form was the kinetically favored and less packed one, as proven by the lower equilibrium melting temperature determined for the first time by Baur’s equation.
Thermogravimetric Analysis Properties of Cellulosic Natural Fiber Polymer Composites: A Review on Influence of Chemical Treatments
Authors: Nurazzi N. M. , Asyraf M. R. M. , Rayung M. , Norrrahim M. N. F. , Shazleen S. S. , Rani M. S. A. , Shafi A. R. , Aisyah H. A. , Radzi M. H. M. , Sabaruddin F. A. , Ilyas R. A. , Zainudin E. S. , Abdan K.
Published: August 2021

Natural fiber such as bamboo fiber, oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fiber, kenaf fiber, and sugar palm fiber-reinforced polymer composites are being increasingly developed for lightweight structures with high specific strength in the automotive, marine, aerospace, and construction industries with significant economic benefits, sustainability, and environmental benefits. The plant-based natural fibers are hydrophilic, which is incompatible with hydrophobic polymer matrices. This leads to a reduction of their interfacial bonding and to the poor thermal stability performance of the resulting fiber-reinforced polymer composite. Based on the literature, the effect of chemical treatment of natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites had significantly influenced the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) together with the thermal stability performance of the composite structure. In this review, the effect of chemical treatments used on cellulose natural fiber-reinforced thermoplastic and thermosetting polymer composites has been reviewed. From the present review, the TGA data are useful as guidance in determining the purity and composition of the composites’ structures, drying, and the ignition temperatures of materials. Knowing the stability temperatures of compounds based on their weight, changes in the temperature dependence is another factor to consider regarding the effectiveness of chemical treatments for the purpose of synergizing the chemical bonding between the natural fiber with polymer matrix or with the synthetic fibers.
Effect of Salinity on Cr(VI) Bioremediation by Algal-Bacterial Aerobic Granular Sludge Treating Synthetic Wastewater
Authors: Nguyen Bach Van , Yang Xiaojing , Hirayama Shota , Wang Jixiang , Zhao Ziwen , Lei Zhongfang , Shimizu Kazuya , Zhang Zhenya , Le Sinh Xuan
Published: August 2021

Heavy metal-containing wastewater with high salinity challenges wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) where the conventional activated sludge process is widely applied. Bioremediation has been proven to be an effective, economical, and eco-friendly technique to remove heavy metals from various wastewaters. The newly developed algal-bacterial aerobic granular sludge (AGS) has emerged as a promising biosorbent for treating wastewater containing heavy metals, especially Cr(VI). In this study, two identical cylindrical sequencing batch reactors (SBRs), i.e., R1 (Control) and R2 (with 1% additional salinity), were used to cultivate algal-bacterial AGS and then to evaluate the effect of salinity on the performance of the two SBRs. The results reflected that less filamentation and a rougher surface could be observed on algal-bacterial AGS when exposed to 1% salinity, which showed little influence on organics removal. However, the removals of total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) and total phosphorus (TP) were noticeably impacted at the 1% salinity condition, and were further decreased with the co-existence of 2 mg/L Cr(VI). The Cr(VI) removal efficiency, on the other hand, was 31–51% by R1 and 28–48% by R2, respectively, indicating that salinity exposure may slightly influence Cr(VI) bioremediation. In addition, salinity exposure stimulated more polysaccharides excretion from algal-bacterial AGS while Cr(VI) exposure promoted proteins excretion.
Transport Performance Improvement of a Multiphase Pump for Gas–Liquid Mixture Based on the Orthogonal Test Method
Authors: Shi Guangtai , Li Helin , Liu Xiaobing , Liu Zongku , Wang Binxin
Published: August 2021

To improve the transport performance of a rotodynamic multiphase pump for a gas–liquid mixture, we took the head and efficiency index at rated flow rate with 15% inlet gas volume fraction as the indices, and used the orthogonal test design method and CFD technology to optimize. We selected the blade shroud angles at the leading edge and trailing edge, and axial length of the impeller, as well as the inlet incidence angle and blade number of the diffuser, and a total of five factors were used for the orthogonal test. The weight function was used to determine the final trial protocol. The results showed that the blade shroud angle at the trailing edge had the greatest influence on the head and efficiency indices. Under the rated flow rate with a 15% inlet gas volume fraction, the head and efficiency of the optimized pump were increased by 2.81 m and 5.6%, respectively, in comparison to the base pump. After the optimization, the partial fast-speed regions at the inlet of the impeller passage and the partial low-pressure regions on the blade suction side of the impeller disappeared, the accumulation of the gas phase on the blade suction side at the impeller outlet was suppressed, and the pumping performance of the impeller using the gas–liquid mixture was improved greatly. This study provides an important theoretical basis for the optimization and design of a multiphase pump.
Why Open Access: Economics and Business Researchers’ Perspectives
Authors: López-Vergara Carmen , Flores Asenjo Pilar , Rosa-García Alfonso
Published: August 2021

Public research policies have been promoting open-access publication in recent years as an adequate model for the dissemination of scientific knowledge. However, depending on the disciplines, its use is very diverse. This study explores the determinants of open-access publication among academic researchers of economics and business, as well as their assessment of different economic measures focused on publication stimulus. To do so, a survey of Spanish business and economics researchers was conducted. They reported an average of 19% of their publications in open-access journals, hybrids or fully Gold Route open access. Almost 80% of the researchers foresee a future increase in the volume of open-access publications. When determining where to publish their research results, the main criterion for the selection of a scientific journal is the impact factor. Regarding open access, the most valued aspect is the visibility and dissemination it provides. Although the cost of publication is not the most relevant criterion in the choice of a journal, three out of four researchers consider that a reduction in fees and an increase in funding are measures that would boost the open-access model.
Wearing the Good: A Kierkegaardian Exploration of “Messaged” Apparel
Authors: Kealty Céire
Published: August 2021

What might it mean to “wear the good?” This question arises from a dominating trend in contemporary spaces where objects such as clothing are employed to communicate desires and demonstrate ethical commitments to social causes, political institutions, beliefs, and ideologies. This paper explores the use of garments to convey messages, ethical stances, and even public virtues. It specifically attends to how “messaged” garments, or clothing items that bear images, symbols, and phrases, achieve these ends. Fashion theorist Malcom Barnard rightly intuits that “we have to use things to stand for our thoughts.” Yet the use of these garments warrants concern. This paper explores how such garments are enmeshed in the fashion industry and marketplace, identifying specific troubles that arise therein. Engaging the writings of Søren Kierkegaard, this paper attends to the ethical and spiritual complexities of “messaged” apparel, revealing their failure to supersede ambiguities, and ultimately collapsing ethical desires into aesthetic paralysis. The paper argues that a Kierkegaardian conception of hope can effectively guide those who wear such garments, countering the inadequacy of these wares to sustain personal and communal commitments. Hope directs the “worn” person beyond politicized and ethically “messaged” apparel towards new ways of dressing: adorned in finitude, humility, and an absurd perseverance towards the good.