bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Direct Characterization of the Relation between the Mechanical Response and Microstructure Evolution in Aluminum by Transmission Electron Microscopy In Situ Straining
Authors: Ii Seiichiro , Enami Takero , Ohmura Takahito , Tsurekawa Sadahiro
Published: March 2021

Transmission electron microscopy in situ straining experiments of Al single crystals with different initial lattice defect densities have been performed. The as-focused ion beam (FIB)-processed pillar sample contained a high density of prismatic dislocation loops with the <111> Burgers vector, while the post-annealed specimen had an almost defect-free microstructure. In both specimens, plastic deformation occurred with repetitive stress drops (∆σ). The stress drops were accompanied by certain dislocation motions, suggesting the dislocation avalanche phenomenon. ∆σ for the as-FIB Al pillar sample was smaller than that for the post-annealed Al sample. This can be considered to be because of the interaction of gliding dislocations with immobile prismatic dislocation loops introduced by the FIB. The reloading process after stress reduction was dominated by elastic behavior because the slope of the load–displacement curve for reloading was close to the Young’s modulus of Al. Microplasticity was observed during the load-recovery process, suggesting that microyielding and a dislocation avalanche repeatedly occurred, leading to intermittent plasticity as an elementary step of macroplastic deformation.
On Relationships between Gas-Phase Chemistry and Reactive Ion Etching Kinetics for Silicon-Based Thin Films (SiC, SiO2 and SixNy) in Multi-Component Fluorocarbon Gas Mixtures
Authors: Efremov Alexander , Lee Byung Jun , Kwon Kwang-Ho
Published: March 2021

This work summarizes the results of our previous studies related to investigations of reactive ion etching kinetics and mechanisms for widely used silicon-based materials (SiC, SiO2, and SixNy) as well as for the silicon itself in multi-component fluorocarbon gas mixtures. The main subjects were the three-component systems composed either by one fluorocarbon component (CF4, C4F8, CHF3) with Ar and O2 or by two fluorocarbon components with one additive gas. The investigation scheme included plasma diagnostics by Langmuir probes and model-based analysis of plasma chemistry and heterogeneous reaction kinetics. The combination of these methods allowed one (a) to figure out key processes which determine the steady-state plasma parameters and densities of active species; (b) to understand relationships between processing conditions and basic heterogeneous process kinetics; (c) to analyze etching mechanisms in terms of process-condition-dependent effective reaction probability and etching yield; and (d) to suggest the set gas-phase-related parameters (fluxes and flux-to-flux ratios) to control the thickness of the fluorocarbon polymer film and the change in the etching/polymerization balance. It was shown that non-monotonic etching rates as functions of gas mixing ratios may result from monotonic but opposite changes in F atoms flux and effective reaction probability. The latter depends either on the fluorocarbon film thickness (in high-polymerizing and oxygen-less gas systems) or on heterogeneous processes with a participation of O atoms (in oxygen-containing plasmas). It was suggested that an increase in O2 fraction in a feed gas may suppress the effective reaction probability through decreasing amounts of free adsorption sites and oxidation of surface atoms.
Micro-/Nano-Structured Ceramic Scaffolds That Mimic Natural Cancellous Bone
Authors: Díaz-Arca Anabel , Ros-Tárraga Patricia , Tomé María J. Martínez , De Aza Antonio H. , Meseguer-Olmo Luis , Mazón Patricia , De Aza Piedad N.
Published: March 2021

Micro-/nano-structured scaffolds with a weight composition of 46.6% α-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP)—53.4% silicocarnotite (SC) were synthesized by the polymer replica method. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of the scaffolds and natural cancellous bone was performed for comparison purposes. Scaffolds were obtained at three cooling rates via the eutectoid temperature (50 °C/h, 16.5 °C/h, 5.5 °C/h), which allowed the surface nanostructure and mechanical strength to be controlled. Surface nanostructures were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Raman analysis. Both phases α-TCP and SC present in the scaffolds were well-identified, looked compact and dense, and had neither porosities nor cracks. The non-cytotoxic effect was evaluated in vitro by the proliferation ability of adult human mesenchymal stem cells (ah-MSCs) seeded on scaffold surfaces. There was no evidence for cytotoxicity and the number of cells increased with culture time. A dense cell-hydroxyapatite layer formed until 28 days. The SEM analysis suggested cell-mediated extracellular matrix formation. Finally, scaffolds were functionalized with the alkaline phosphatase enzyme (ALP) to achieve biological functionalization. The ALP was successfully grafted onto scaffolds, whose enzymatic activity was maintained. Scaffolds mimicked the micro-/nano-structure and chemical composition of natural cancellous bone by considering cell biology and biomolecule functionalization.
Modelling of Corrosion-Induced Concrete Cover Cracking Due to Chloride Attacking
Authors: Lun Pei-Yuan , Zhang Xiao-Gang , Jiang Ce , Ma Yi-Fei , Fu Lei
Published: March 2021

The premature failure of reinforced concrete (RC) structures is significantly affected by chloride-induced corrosion of reinforcing steel. Although researchers have achieved many outstanding results in the structural capacity of RC structures in the past few decades, the topic of service life has gradually attracted researchers’ attention. In this work, based on the stress intensity, two models are developed to predict the threshold expansive pressure, corrosion rate and cover cracking time of the corrosion-induced cracking process for RC structures. Specifically, in the proposed models, both the influence of initial defects and modified corrosion current density are taken into account. The results given by these models are in a good agreement with practical experience and laboratory studies, and the influence of each parameter on cover cracking is analyzed. In addition, considering the uncertainty existing in the deterioration process of RC structures, a methodology based on the third-moment method in regard to the stochastic process is proposed, which is able to evaluate the cracking risk of RC structures quantitatively and predict their service life. This method provides a good means to solve relevant problems and can prolong the service life of concrete infrastructures subjected to corrosion by applying timely inspection and repairs.
Effects of Silicon, Chromium, and Copper on Kinetic Parameters of Precipitation during Tempering of Medium Carbon Steels
Authors: Gokhman Aleksandr , Nový Zbyšek , Salvetr Pavel , Ryukhtin Vasyl , Strunz Pavel , Motyčka Petr , Zmeko Jan , Kotous Jakub
Published: March 2021

Understanding the tempering behavior of medium carbon steels is mandatory if their mechanical properties are to be improved. For an optimal technology to be developed for this purpose, a substantial experimental basis is needed to extract quantitative information on the microstructure of the tempered material. This paper reports on the characterization of microstructural changes induced by tempering in medium-carbon steels alloyed with Si, Cr, Cu, and Mn using state-of-the-art experimental techniques. Complementarities among these techniques are highlighted. The evolution of transition carbides, cementite, and copper precipitates is described using data from X-ray diffraction, small and ultra-small angle neutron diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and dilatometry observation. The effects of silicon, chromium, and copper on the mechanism of carbide and copper precipitation are discussed. The considerable changes found in the size and volume of copper precipitates correlate well with the difference in the yield stress between tempered steels with and without copper.
Influence of Nano-SiO2 on the Mechanical Properties of Recycled Aggregate Concrete with and without Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) Fiber
Authors: Wang Shenglin , Zhu Baolong
Published: March 2021

In recent years, recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) has become a research hotspot in the field of urban construction because of its resource utilization of construction waste. However, compared with original concrete, its strength is still low, which requires additional nano-SiO2 (NS) and fiber. In order to study the mechanism of strength improvement of RAC, this paper takes NS and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber as variable parameters; uniaxial and triaxial compression tests were carried out on RAC with PVA fiber and NS, and the mechanical properties of RAC were investigated The result shows that within the range of 3% NS content, an increase in the NS substitution rate causes the mechanical properties of RAC to improve significantly. The compressive strength of RAC increases again after adding PVA fiber; through a SEM (scanning electron microscopy) analysis of the specimen, it was found that the NS filled the micro-pores and micro-cracks in the RAC, and the PVA fiber changed the contact range between recycled aggregate and mortar, so the microstructure of the material was more compact. The mechanism of RAC strength improvement is explained in the microcosmic view.
Study on the Impact-Induced Energy Release Characteristics of Zr68.5Cu12Ni12Al7.5 Amorphous Alloy
Authors: Tu Jian , Qiao Liang , Shan Yu , Xin Chunliang , Liu Jiayun
Published: March 2021

As a new kind of multifunctional energetic structural material (MESM), amorphous alloy will undergo a chemical reaction and release energy under impact load. In this paper, an analysis method for the impact-induced reaction parameters of solid materials was derived based on a three-term equation of state and Avrami–Erofeev equation. The relation between the degree of reaction, pressure, and temperature of Zr68.5Cu12Ni12Al7.5 amorphous alloy was obtained. The influence of participation of an oxidizing reaction on the material energy release efficiency was analyzed. The relation between the energy release efficiency and impact velocity was achieved by an experiment in which Zr68.5Cu12Ni12Al7.5 amorphous alloy fragments impact a steel plate. The variations of pressure and temperature during the impact process were obtained. In the end, a reaction kinetic model was modified, and the kinetic parameters for the impact-induced reaction of materials in an air environment were obtained.
A Two-Stage Filter Split-Optimization Approach for Obtaining Multiple Solutions with Identical Objective Value
Authors: Zou Pan , Rajora Manik , Lin Chiu-Feng , Lu Ying-Cheng , Ma MingYou , Fan ZhiWen , Chen HungYi , Wu Wen Chieh , Liang Steven Y.
Published: March 2021

A tremendous amount of work has been done in the recent years in the optimization of input parameters, however, current optimization techniques can only provide a single optimal input process parameter combination. Although alternative techniques have been developed to provide multiple solutions with identical objective values, these techniques have low efficiency when searching for multiple solutions. In this paper, a two-stage filter split-optimization approach is proposed to obtain multiple solutions, at a higher efficiency than for a single-objective optimization problem. The aforementioned tasks are accomplished by first performing an initial split-optimization and then performing a second optimization after excluding input parameters from having their range split into sub-ranges based on the results of the initial optimization. The proposed approach enables the algorithm to explore input parameters that have a more significant impact on the objective function, thereby enabling it to find multiple optimal solutions more efficiently. The proposed approach was validated by using it to optimize the input process parameters of an electrochemical machining problem with five input parameters. The results from the case study show that though the proposed approach provided fewer optimal solutions it was able to obtain them at twice the efficiency when compared to the original method.
Consideration of Magnetic Measurements for Characterisation of Ferrite–Martensite Commercial Dual-Phase (DP) Steel and Basis for Optimisation of the Operating Magnetic Field for Open Loop Deployable Sensors
Authors: Aghadavoudi Jolfaei Mohsen , Zhou Lei , Davis Claire
Published: March 2021

The magnetic properties of commercial dual-phase (DP) steels (DP600, DP800 and DP1000 grades) were evaluated using initial permeability, incremental permeability and coercivity and correlated with the key microstructural differences between the grades. The ferrite grain sizes and ferrite fractions have been compared with the magnetic parameters obtained from minor and major magnetisation loops within each DP grade. It has been revealed that the incremental permeability increases with the applied magnetic field amplitude to reach a peak and then drops at a higher magnetic field, with the values being different for the three DP grades at a lower field and converging to a similar permeability value at the high field. The effects of ferrite grain size and phase fraction on the incremental permeability are considered, and it has been shown that the influence of ferrite grain boundaries on magnetic permeability is more dominant than the effect of ferrite fraction in commercial DP steel samples. An analysis of the correlation between coercivity and initial permeability with tensile strength shows that the initial permeability provides a slightly better prediction of strength for the steels examined, which is believed to be due to the fact that a combination of reversible and irreversible domain components affect the coercivity value, while the initial permeability is predominantly affected by reversible domain movements. Based on the trend between incremental permeability and applied magnetic field and the commercial EM sensor (EMspec) operating parameters, the effect of lift-off and hence magnetic field strength on the sensitivity to DP steel properties can be assessed.
Austenitic Stainless-Steel Reinforcement for Seawater Sea Sand Concrete: Investigation of Stress Corrosion Cracking
Authors: Yu Xiang , Al-Saadi Saad , Kohli Isha , Zhao Xiao-Ling , Singh Raman R. K.
Published: March 2021

Seawater and sea sand concrete (SWSSC) is a highly attractive alternative to normal concrete (NC) that requires huge amounts of fresh water and river sand. However, reinforcements of stainless steel (instead of mild steel that is used in NC) may be required for SWSSC. This article reports investigation of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of AISI 316 stainless steel (SS) in simulated SWSSC and NC environments, with and without addition of silica to SWSSC and NC, employing slow strain rate testing (SSRT) at 25 and 60 °C. For the purpose of comparison, SCC of SS was also investigated in simulated seawater (SW) solution. SS showed no SCC at 25 °C in any of the test solutions. Indications of SCC were seen in SW at 60 °C, but no features of SCC in SWSSC and NC at 60 °C, as suggested by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) fractographs. While the absence of SCC in SWSSC and NC is attributed to the highly passivating alkaline condition, its absence in SWSSC also indicates the role of alkalinity to predominate the deleterious role of chloride content of SWSSC. However, the addition of silicate to SWSSC or NC triggers transgranular SCC to SS at 60 °C, as evidenced by the fractography.
Characterization of Shock Wave Damages in Explosion Welded Mo/Cu Clads
Authors: Parchuri Pradeep Kumar , Kotegawa Shota , Ito Kazuhiro , Yamamoto Hajime , Mori Akihisa , Tanaka Shigeru , Hokamoto Kazuyuki
Published: March 2021

The shock wave damage during explosive welding has not been reported in a flyer Mo plate of the Mo/Cu clads. However, it would be an inevitable problem in group VI elements. This study was aimed to characterize the shock wave damage in the Mo plate, that is less brittle than a W plate, of explosive welded Mo/Cu clads. Cladding at low horizontal collision velocities leading to high collision angles was expected to enhance the shock wave damage, and the clads resulted in less elongation in bending tests. On the other hand, in the clads obtained at high horizontal collision velocities (HCVs) with low collision angles, their bending elongation increased significantly. The shock wave damage penetrated from the surface of a Mo plate to the Mo/Cu interface, and thus reducing thickness of a Mo plate of bending specimens increased bending plastic strain. The shock wave damage is associated with kinetic energy imparted to the flyer Mo plate, and thus loss of kinetic energy due to formation of an intermediate layer at the interface and reducing thickness of a flyer Mo plate would be very helpful for decrease of shock wave damage.
Applied Research of Applicability of High-Strength Steel for a Track of a Demining Machine in Term of Its Tribological Properties
Authors: Blatnický Miroslav , Dižo Ján , Sága Milan , Kopas Peter
Published: March 2021

Even today, there are countries that are affected by war and its pitfalls. The authors have decided to present a part of the accompanying research results in this article. This research precedes the design of a demining machine Božena 5. The main goal of the authors’ activities was to design optimal material and geometry for a track of this machine. To achieve this goal, the authors conducted research to evaluate the microstructure of the material S960QL and its tribological lifetime. As the track of the demining machine is a welded component, the authors also investigated the influence of different welding technologies on the given parameters. The tribological research was performed on an original test device. The obtained results show that welding joints have the typical microstructure of martensitic high-strength steels and that mechanical properties can be influenced by individual welding technologies. Meanwhile, the use of the electron beam significantly extends the adhesive-abrasive lifespan compared with the MAG (metal active gas) conventional method as well as to the base material. It is interesting that the absolute value of material loss over time reached the identity for both the laser beam and the electron beam. The obtained data provide changes to apply the proposed material for the production of the solved component.
Rapid Evaporative Ionization Mass Spectrometry: A Review on Its Application to the Red Meat Industry with an Australian Context
Authors: Barlow Robert S. , Fitzgerald Adam G. , Hughes Joanne M. , McMillan Kate E. , Moore Sean C. , Sikes Anita L. , Tobin Aarti B. , Watkins Peter J.
Published: March 2021

The red meat supply chain is a complex network transferring product from producers to consumers in a safe and secure way. There can be times when fragmentation can arise within the supply chain, which could be exploited. This risk needs reduction so that meat products enter the market with the desired attributes. Rapid Evaporative Ionisation Mass Spectrometry (REIMS) is a novel ambient mass spectrometry technique originally developed for rapid and accurate classification of biological tissue which is now being considered for use in a range of additional applications. It has subsequently shown promise for a range of food provenance, quality and safety applications with its ability to conduct ex vivo and in situ analysis. These are regarded as critical characteristics for technologies which can enable real-time decision making in meat processing plants and more broadly throughout the sector. This review presents an overview of the REIMS technology, and its application to the areas of provenance, quality and safety to the red meat industry, particularly in an Australian context.
Heat Transfer Scale Effect Analysis and Parameter Measurement of an Electrothermal Microgripper
Authors: Lin Lin , Wu Hao , Xue Liwei , Shen Hao , Huang Haibo , Chen Liguo
Published: March 2021

An electrothermal microgripper is an important actuator in microelectromechanical and micro-operating systems, and its temperature field analysis is the core problem in research and design. Because of the small size of an electrothermal microgripper, its microscale heat transfer characteristics are different from those of the macrostate. At present, only a few studies on the heat transfer scale effect in electrothermal microgrippers have been conducted, and the heat transfer analysis method under the macrostate is often used directly. The temperature field analysed and simulated is different from the actual situation. In the present study, the heat transfer mechanism of an electrothermal microgripper in the microscale was analysed. The temperature field of a series of microscale heating devices was measured using microthermal imaging equipment, and the heat transfer parameters of the microscale were fitted. Results show that the natural convective heat transfer coefficient of air on the microscale can reach 60–300 times that on the macroscale, which is an important heat transfer mode affecting the temperature field distribution of the electrothermal microgripper. Combined with the finite element simulation software, the temperature field of the electrothermal microgripper could be accurately simulated using the experimental microscale heat transfer parameters measured. This study provides an important theoretical basis and data support for the optimal design of the temperature controller of the electrothermal microgripper.
Protocol for the pBDG2 Study: Prospective Evaluation of 1.3-β-D-Glucan in the Peritoneal Fluid for the Diagnosis of Intra-Abdominal Candidiasis in Critically Ill Patients
Authors: Novy Emmanuel , Laithier François-Xavier , Riviere Jeremie , Remen Thomas , Losser Marie-Reine , Guerci Philippe , Machouart Marie
Published: March 2021

Background: The delayed diagnosis of the presence of Candida in severe intra-abdominal infections exposes patients to an increased risk of mortality. The prevalence of intra-abdominal candidiasis (IAC) varies with the type of intra-abdominal infection, the underlying conditions and the presence of risk factors for Candida infection. This study aims to evaluate the interest of the measure of 1.3-β-D-glucan (BDG) in the peritoneal fluid for the early diagnosis of IAC. Methods and analysis: This is a prospective multicenter (n = 5) non-interventional study, focusing on all critically ill patients with an intra-abdominal infection requiring intra-abdominal surgery. The primary objective is to assess the diagnostic performance of the BDG measured in the peritoneal fluid for the early detection of IAC using the Candida culture as the gold standard. The secondary objective is to report the prevalence of IAC in the selected population. This study aims to enroll 200 patients within 48 months. By estimating the prevalence of IAC in the selected population at 30%, 50 patients with IAC (cases) are expected. These 50 IAC cases will be matched with 50 non-IAC patients (as a control group). The peritoneal BDG will be measured a posteriori in all of these 100 selected patients. This article presents the protocol and the current status of the study. Only the prevalence of IAC is reported as preliminary result.
Influence of Materials Properties on Bio-Physical Features and Effectiveness of 3D-Scaffolds for Periodontal Regeneration
Authors: d’Avanzo Nicola , Bruno Maria Chiara , Giudice Amerigo , Mancuso Antonia , Gaetano Federica De , Cristiano Maria Chiara , Paolino Donatella , Fresta Massimo
Published: March 2021

Periodontal diseases are multifactorial disorders, mainly due to severe infections and inflammation which affect the tissues (i.e., gum and dental bone) that support and surround the teeth. These pathologies are characterized by bleeding gums, pain, bad breath and, in more severe forms, can lead to the detachment of gum from teeth, causing their loss. To date it is estimated that severe periodontal diseases affect around 10% of the population worldwide thus making necessary the development of effective treatments able to both reduce the infections and inflammation in injured sites and improve the regeneration of damaged tissues. In this scenario, the use of 3D scaffolds can play a pivotal role by providing an effective platform for drugs, nanosystems, growth factors, stem cells, etc., improving the effectiveness of therapies and reducing their systemic side effects. The aim of this review is to describe the recent progress in periodontal regeneration, highlighting the influence of materials’ properties used to realize three-dimensional (3D)-scaffolds, their bio-physical characteristics and their ability to provide a biocompatible platform able to embed nanosystems.
Anti-Cancer Effects of Carnosine—A Dipeptide Molecule
Authors: Prakash Monica D. , Fraser Sarah , Boer Jennifer C. , Plebanski Magdalena , de Courten Barbora , Apostolopoulos Vasso
Published: March 2021

Background: Carnosine is a dipeptide molecule (β-alanyl-l-histidine) with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-glycation, and chelating properties. It is used in exercise physiology as a food supplement to increase performance; however, in vitro evidence suggests that carnosine may exhibit anti-cancer properties. Methods: In this study, we investigated the effect of carnosine on breast, ovarian, colon, and leukemic cancer cell proliferation. We further examined U937 promonocytic, human myeloid leukemia cell phenotype, gene expression, and cytokine secretion to determine if these are linked to carnosine’s anti-proliferative properties. Results: Carnosine (1) inhibits breast, ovarian, colon, and leukemic cancer cell proliferation; (2) upregulates expression of pro-inflammatory molecules; (3) modulates cytokine secretion; and (4) alters U937 differentiation and phenotype. Conclusion: These effects may have implications for a role for carnosine in anti-cancer therapy.
Low-Temperature Synthesis of Solution Processable Carbon Nitride Polymers
Authors: Li Junyi , Karjule Neeta , Qin Jiani , Wang Ying , Barrio Jesús , Shalom Menny
Published: March 2021

Carbon nitride materials require high temperatures (>500 °C) for their preparation, which entails substantial energy consumption. Furthermore, the high reaction temperature limits the materials’ processability and the control over their elemental composition. Therefore, alternative synthetic pathways that operate under milder conditions are still very much sought after. In this work, we prepared semiconductive carbon nitride (CN) polymers at low temperatures (300 °C) by carrying out the thermal condensation of triaminopyrimidine and acetoguanamine under a N2 atmosphere. These molecules are isomers: they display the same chemical formula but a different spatial distribution of their elements. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) experiments and electrochemical and photophysical characterization confirm that the initial spatial organization strongly determines the chemical composition and electronic structure of the materials, which, thanks to the preservation of functional groups in their surface, display excellent processability in liquid media.
Exopolysaccharide from Lactobacillus plantarum HY7714 Protects against Skin Aging through Skin–Gut Axis Communication
Authors: Lee Kippeum , Kim Hyeon Ji , Kim Soo A , Park Soo-Dong , Shim Jae-Jung , Lee Jung-Lyoul
Published: March 2021

Skin aging occurs inevitably as a natural result of physiological changes over time. In particular, solar exposure of the skin accounts for up to 90% of skin damage. Numerous studies have examined the ability of dietary constituents to prevent skin aging, and recent research has emphasized the role of functional probiotics in intestinal function and skin aging. However, the mechanism of the interactions between aging and probiotics has not been elucidated yet. The aim of this study was to determine the role of exopolysaccharides (EPS) produced by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) identified as Lactobacillus plantarum HY7714 in regulating tight junctions in intestinal epithelial cells and increasing moisture retention in human dermal fibroblasts cells. We observed that HY7714 EPS controlled intestinal tight junctions in Caco-2 cells by upregulating the genes encoding occludin-1 (OCL-1) and zonula occluden-1 (ZO-1). In addition, HY7714 EPS effectively improved UVB-induced cytotoxicity and hydration capacity in HS68 cells by downregulating production of metalloproteinases (MMPs) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). In summary, HY7714 EPS is an effective anti-aging molecule in skin and may have therapeutic potential against skin diseases and UVB-induced damage. Therefore, HY7714 EPS serves as a functional substance in skin–gut axis communication.
Synthesis of Piperidine Nucleosides as Conformationally Restricted Immucillin Mimics
Authors: De Fenza Maria , Esposito Anna , D’Alonzo Daniele , Guaragna Annalisa
Published: March 2021

The de novo synthesis of piperidine nucleosides from our homologating agent 5,6-dihydro-1,4-dithiin is herein reported. The structure and conformation of nucleosides were conceived to faithfully resemble the well-known nucleoside drugs Immucillins H and A in their bioactive conformation. NMR analysis of the synthesized compounds confirmed that they adopt an iminosugar conformation bearing the nucleobases and the hydroxyl groups in the appropriate orientation.
Clinoptilolite Microparticles as Carriers of Catechin-Rich Acacia catechu Extracts: Microencapsulation and In Vitro Release Study
Authors: Yaneva Zvezdelina , Ivanova Donika , Popov Nikolay
Published: March 2021

The main goal of the present study was to investigate the microencapsulation, in vitro release capacity and efficiency of catechin-rich Acacia catechu extract by Clinosorbent-5 (CLS-5) microparticles by in-depth detailed analyses and mathematical modelling of the encapsulation and in vitro release kinetics behaviour of the polyphenol-mineral composite system. The bioflavanol encapsulation and release efficiency on/from the mineral matrix were assessed by sorption experiments and interpretative modelling of the experimental data. The surface and spectral characteristics of the natural bioactive substance and the inorganic microcarrier were determined by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Ultraviolet/Visible (UV/Vis) spectrophotometric analyses. The maximum extent of catechin microencapsulation in acidic medium was 32%. The in vitro release kinetics study in simulated enzyme-free gastric medium (pH = 1.2) approved 88% maximum release efficiency achieved after 24 h. The in vitro release profile displayed that the developed bioflavanol/clinoptilolite microcarrier system provided sustained catechin in vitro release behaviour without an initial burst effect. Thus, the results from the present study are essential for the design and development of innovative catechin-CLS-5 microcarrier systems for application in human and veterinary medicine.
Development and Validation of 2-Azaspiro [4,5] Decan-3-One (Impurity A) in Gabapentin Determination Method Using qNMR Spectroscopy
Authors: Kuz’mina Nataliya E. , Moiseev Sergey V. , Khorolskiy Mikhail D. , Lutceva Anna I.
Published: March 2021

The authors developed a 1H qNMR test procedure for identification and quantification of impurity A present in gabapentin active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and gabapentin products. The validation studies helped to determine the limit of quantitation and assess linearity, accuracy, repeatability, intermediate precision, specificity, and robustness of the procedure. Spike-and-recovery assays were used to calculate standard deviations, coefficients of variation, confidence intervals, bias, Fisher’s F test, and Student’s t-test for assay results. The obtained statistical values satisfy the acceptance criteria for the validation parameters. The authors compared the results of impurity A quantification in gabapentin APIs and capsules by using the 1H qNMR and HPLC test methods.
Anticancer Mechanism of Curcumin on Human Glioblastoma
Authors: Wong Shu Chyi , Kamarudin Muhamad Noor Alfarizal , Naidu Rakesh
Published: March 2021

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most malignant brain tumor and accounts for most adult brain tumors. Current available treatment options for GBM are multimodal, which include surgical resection, radiation, and chemotherapy. Despite the significant advances in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, GBM remains largely resistant to treatment, with a poor median survival rate between 12 and 18 months. With increasing drug resistance, the introduction of phytochemicals into current GBM treatment has become a potential strategy to combat GBM. Phytochemicals possess multifarious bioactivities with multitarget sites and comparatively marginal toxicity. Among them, curcumin is the most studied compound described as a potential anticancer agent due to its multi-targeted signaling/molecular pathways properties. Curcumin possesses the ability to modulate the core pathways involved in GBM cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, autophagy, paraptosis, oxidative stress, and tumor cell motility. This review discusses curcumin’s anticancer mechanism through modulation of Rb, p53, MAPK, P13K/Akt, JAK/STAT, Shh, and NF-κB pathways, which are commonly involved and dysregulated in preclinical and clinical GBM models. In addition, limitation issues such as bioavailability, pharmacokinetics perspectives strategies, and clinical trials were discussed.
Efficacy of Functional Foods, Beverages, and Supplements Claiming to Alleviate Air Travel Symptoms: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Chan Virginia , Wang Leanne , Allman-Farinelli Margaret
Published: March 2021

Airline passengers experience a range of symptoms when travelling on long flights. This review evaluated the efficacy of functional foods, beverages, and supplements claiming to address the effects of air travel for healthy adults. Products were identified in a scoping review of electronic databases, search engines, and grey literature (March to August 2019). A systematic review of the efficacy of product ingredients was conducted using five electronic databases from inception to February 2021. Articles were screened, data extracted, and assessed for risk of bias by two researchers independently. Meta-analysis was performed. Of the 3842 studies identified, 23 met selection criteria: melatonin (n = 10), Pycnogenol (n = 4), various macronutrients (n = 2), caffeine (n = 2), Centella asiatica (n = 1), elderberry (n = 1), Echinacea (n = 1), fluid (n = 1), and Pinokinase (n = 1). Meta-analysis (random effects model) indicated melatonin reduced self-reported jetlag following eastbound (n = 5) and westbound (n = 4) flights: standard mean difference −0.76 (95% CI = −1.06 to −0.45, I2 0%, p < 0.00001) and −0.66 (95% CI = −1.07 to −0.26, I2 45%, p = 0.001), respectively. Pycnogenol also reduced edema scores (n = 3), standard mean −4.09 (95% CI = −6.44 to −1.74), I2 98%, p = 0.0006). Overall, 12 of 183 ingredients contained in 199 products had evidence to support claims.
Characterisation of a G2P[4] Rotavirus Outbreak in Western Australia, Predominantly Impacting Aboriginal Children
Authors: Donato Celeste , Pingault Nevada , Demosthenous Elena , Roczo-Farkas Susie , Bines Julie
Published: March 2021

In May, 2017, an outbreak of rotavirus gastroenteritis was reported that predominantly impacted Aboriginal children ≤4 years of age in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. G2P[4] was identified as the dominant genotype circulating during this period and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed the majority of samples exhibited a conserved electropherotype. Full genome sequencing was performed on representative samples that exhibited the archetypal DS-1-like genome constellation: G2-P[4]-I2-R2-C2-M2-A2-N2-T2-E2-H2 and phylogenetic analysis revealed all genes of the outbreak samples were closely related to contemporary Japanese G2P[4] samples. The outbreak samples consistently fell within conserved sub-clades comprised of Hungarian and Australian G2P[4] samples from 2010. The 2017 outbreak variant was not closely related to G2P[4] variants associated with prior outbreaks in Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory. When compared to the G2 component of the RotaTeq vaccine, the outbreak variant exhibited mutations in known antigenic regions; however, these mutations are frequently observed in contemporary G2P[4] strains. Despite the level of vaccine coverage achieved in Australia, outbreaks continue to occur in vaccinated populations, which pose challenges to regional areas and remote communities. Continued surveillance and characterisation of emerging variants are imperative to ensure the ongoing success of the rotavirus vaccination program in Australia.
Itchy Capillary Malformations: Unusual Appearance of Meyerson Phenomenon, a Case Series
Authors: Sanchez-Diaz Manuel , Montero-Vilchez Trinidad , Salvador-Rodriguez Luis , Molina-Leyva Alejandro , Arias-Santiago Salvador , Tercedor-Sanchez Jesús
Published: March 2021

Meyerson phenomenon, also known as “halo-eczema,” has been widely described over melanocytic and non-melanocytic lesions. However, its appearance over vascular anomalies is rarely observed and could lead to diagnostic errors. A case study of five patients aged between four months and two years is reported. These patients developed unique erythematous and pruritic scaly patches, being diagnosed and treated as fungal infections. Due to the lack of response to the treatment, they were referred to the pediatric dermatology practice, where the diagnosis of Meyerson phenomenon over capillary malformations was made. Topical treatment with corticosteroids led to improvement in all cases. Although Meyerson phenomenon developing over vascular anomalies is a rare condition, it is important for pediatricians and dermatologists to assess it as a part of the differential diagnosis when treating a patient with skin lesions. Recognizing this phenomenon will prevent diagnostic and therapeutic errors.
Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Potentials of Ficus glumosa and Its Bioactive Polyphenol Metabolites
Authors: Mutungi Moses Mutuse , Muema Felix Wambua , Kimutai Festus , Xu Yong-Bing , Zhang Hui , Chen Gui-Lin , Guo Ming-Quan
Published: March 2021

Ficus glumosa Delile (Moraceae), a reputed plant that is used in herbal medicine, is of high medicinal and nutritional value in local communities primarily ascribed to its phytochemical profile. Currently, there are hardly any fine details on the chemical profiling and pharmacological evaluation of this species. In this study, the flavonoids and phenolics contents of the ethanol extracts and four extracted fractions (petroleum ether (PE), ethyl acetate (EA), n-butanol, and water) of the stem bark of Ficus glumosa were firstly quantified. Further, their antioxidant and antiproliferative potentials were also evaluated. The quantitative determination indicated that the EA and n-butanol fractions possessed the highest total flavonoids/phenolics levels of 274.05 ± 0.68 mg RE/g and 78.87 ± 0.97 mg GAE/g, respectively. Similarly, for the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, the EA fraction exhibited high potency in both DPPH and ABTS+ scavenging activities with IC50 values of 0.23 ± 0.03 mg/mL, 0.22 ± 0.03 mg/mL, and FRAP potential of 2.81 ± 0.01 mg Fe2+/g, respectively. Furthermore, the EA fraction displayed high cytotoxicity against human lung (A549) and colon (HT-29) cancer cells. Additionally, the liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) was employed in order to characterize the chemical constituents of the EA fraction of Ficus glumosa stem bark. Our findings revealed 16 compounds from the EA fraction that were possibly responsible for the strong antioxidant and anti-proliferative properties. This study provides edge-cutting background information on the exploitation of Ficus glumosa as a potential natural antioxidant and anti-cancer remedy.
Accelerating Development of Benziamidazole-Class Proton Pump Inhibitors: A Mechanism-Based PK/PD Model to Optimize Study Design with Ilaprazole as a Case Drug
Authors: Jia Ranran , Zhang Fan , Wu Ni , Xu Wen , Gao Huitao , Liu Bo , Wang Hongyun
Published: March 2021

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the mainstay for treatment of acid-related diseases. This study developed a mechanism-based pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) model with ilaprazole as case drug, so as to support and accelerate the development of novel PPIs. The model was established and verified using the PK and PD data from 26 subjects receiving 5 to 30 mg of ilaprazole and 22 subjects receiving the loading dose of ilaprazole 20 mg followed by 10 mg once daily for 2 days. The nonlinear mixed-effects modeling approach was performed for the PK/PD model. A two-compartment model with linear elimination and covariates (body weight and gender) described the observed data well. The relationship between plasma concentrations of ilaprazole and gastric acid pH was well quantified with individual variability, in which the synthesis and degradation of H+/K+-ATPase, the food effect, the circular rhythms of gastric acid secretion, and the irreversible inhibition of H+/K+-ATPase by ilaprazole were integrated. This PK/PD model well predicted the PK and PD profile of ilaprazole in healthy subjects and patients with duodenal ulcers receiving wide range dose regimens. The mechanism-based PK/PD model provided a potential strategy to accelerate the development of novel PPIs by waiving the unnecessary clinical trials.
Land Subsidence Induced by Rapid Urbanization in Arid Environments: A Remote Sensing-Based Investigation
Authors: Aljammaz Abdulaziz , Sultan Mohamed , Izadi Moein , Abotalib Abotalib Z. , Elhebiry Mohamed S. , Emil Mustafa Kemal , Abdelmohsen Karem , Saleh Mohamed , Becker Richard
Published: March 2021

The rapid increase in the population of many of the older major cities within the countries of the Saharan-Arabian Desert is steering vast and disorganized urban expansion and in many cases introducing adverse environmental impacts such as soil erosion, rise in groundwater levels, and contamination of shallow aquifers, as well as development of deformational features including land subsidence. Using the rapidly growing city of Riyadh (1992: 467 km2; 2018: 980 km2), the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a test site, we utilized Small Baseline Subset (SBAS) interferometric analyses of 2016 to 2018 Sentinel-1 images together with multi-temporal high-resolution images viewable on Google Earth, GPS, field, land use land cover (LULC), and geological data to assess the distribution and rates of land subsidence and their causal effects. Three main causes of subsidence were identified and assessed: (1) discharge of wastewater effluents from septic systems in newly urbanized areas that lead to an increase in soil moisture, rise in groundwater levels, waterlogging, and wetting and hydrocompaction of dry alluvium loose sediments causing land subsidence (up to −20 mm/y) in wadis and lowlands; (2) the subsurface dissolution of karst formation by wastewater effluents and the collapse of voids and cavities at depth under stresses introduced by heavy construction machinery, causing sagging and land subsidence (up to −5 mm/y); and (3) leveling, compaction, and degradation of municipal and building waste materials in organized landfills and disorganized dump sites that resulted in significant land subsidence (up to −21 mm/y) and differential settling that could jeopardize the stability of structures erected over these sites. Our findings highlight the potential use of the advocated integrated approach to assess the nature and extent of land deformation associated with rapid urban growth in arid lands, and to identify areas most impacted for the purpose of directing and prioritizing remediation efforts.
Global Aerosol Classification Based on Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) and Satellite Observation
Authors: Lin Jianyu , Zheng Yu , Shen Xinyong , Xing Lizhu , Che Huizheng
Published: March 2021

The particle linear depolarization ratio (PLDR) and single scatter albedo (SSA) in 1020 nm from the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) level 2.0 dataset was utilized among 52 stations to identify dust and dust dominated aerosols (DD), pollution dominated mixture (PDM), strongly absorbing aerosols (SA) and weakly absorbing aerosols (WA), investigate their spatial and temporal distribution, net radiative forcing and radiative forcing efficiency in global range, and further compare with VIIRS Deep Blue Production. The conclusion about net radiative forcing suggests that the high values of radiative forcing from dust and dust dominated aerosols, pollution dominated mixture both mainly come from western Africa. Strongly absorbing aerosols in South Africa and India contribute greatly to the net radiative forcing and the regions with relative high values of weakly absorbing aerosols are mainly located at East Asia and India. Lastly, the observation of VIIRS Deep Blue satellite monthly averaged products depicts the characteristics about spatial distribution of four kinds of aerosol well, the result from ground-based observation presents great significant to validate the measurements from remote sensing technology.
Deep Learning-Based Congestion Detection at Urban Intersections
Authors: Yang Xinghai , Wang Fengjiao , Bai Zhiquan , Xun Feifei , Zhang Yulin , Zhao Xiuyang
Published: March 2021

In this paper, a deep learning-based traffic state discrimination method is proposed to detect traffic congestion at urban intersections. The detection algorithm includes two parts, global speed detection and a traffic state discrimination algorithm. Firstly, the region of interest (ROI) is selected as the road intersection from the input image of the You Only Look Once (YOLO) v3 object detection algorithm for vehicle target detection. The Lucas-Kanade (LK) optical flow method is employed to calculate the vehicle speed. Then, the corresponding intersection state can be obtained based on the vehicle speed and the discrimination algorithm. The detection of the vehicle takes the position information obtained by YOLOv3 as the input of the LK optical flow algorithm and forms an optical flow vector to complete the vehicle speed detection. Experimental results show that the detection algorithm can detect the vehicle speed and traffic state discrimination method can judge the traffic state accurately, which has a strong anti-interference ability and meets the practical application requirements.
Fingerprint Presentation Attack Detection Utilizing Spatio-Temporal Features
Authors: Husseis Anas , Liu-Jimenez Judith , Sanchez-Reillo Raul
Published: March 2021

This paper presents a novel mechanism for fingerprint dynamic presentation attack detection. We utilize five spatio-temporal feature extractors to efficiently eliminate and mitigate different presentation attack species. The feature extractors are selected such that the fingerprint ridge/valley pattern is consolidated with the temporal variations within the pattern in fingerprint videos. An SVM classification scheme, with a second degree polynomial kernel, is used in our presentation attack detection subsystem to classify bona fide and attack presentations. The experiment protocol and evaluation are conducted following the ISO/IEC 30107-3:2017 standard. Our proposed approach demonstrates efficient capability of detecting presentation attacks with significantly low BPCER where BPCER is 1.11% for an optical sensor and 3.89% for a thermal sensor at 5% APCER for both.