bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design Strategies for Forward Osmosis Membrane Substrates with Low Structural Parameters—A Review
Authors: Piash KmProttoy Shariar , Sanyal Oishi
Published: January 2023

This article reviews the many innovative strategies that have been developed to specifically design the support layers of forward osmosis (FO) membranes. Forward osmosis (FO) is one of the most viable separation technologies to treat hypersaline wastewater, but its successful deployment requires the development of new membrane materials beyond existing desalination membranes. Specifically, designing the FO membrane support layers requires new engineering techniques to minimize the internal concentration polarization (ICP) effects encountered in cases of FO. In this paper, we have reviewed several such techniques developed by different research groups and summarized the membrane transport properties corresponding to each approach. An important transport parameter that helps to compare the various approaches is the so-called structural parameter (S-value); a low S-value typically corresponds to low ICP. Strategies such as electrospinning, solvent casting, and hollow fiber spinning, have been developed by prior researchers—all of them aimed at lowering this S-value. We also reviewed the quantitative methods described in the literature, to evaluate the separation properties of FO membranes. Lastly, we have highlighted some key research gaps, and provided suggestions for potential strategies that researchers could adopt to enable easy comparison of FO membranes.
Wettability Studies of Capillary PTFE Membranes Applied for Membrane Distillation
Authors: Woźniak Piotr , Gryta Marek
Published: January 2023

In the present study, the membrane distillation (MD) process was studied with the use of commercial polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) capillary membranes. For this purpose, both solutions with NaCl concentrations up to 300 g/L and brines contaminated with oil (70–120 mg/L) were used as feeds. The membrane’s wetting resistance was tested by conducting long-term experiments for over 3500 h. Using detailed studies, it has been shown that increasing the salt concentration from 35 to 300 g/L resulted in a 50% reduction in the permeate flux. Nevertheless, the membranes retained 100% of the salt rejection after 2000 h of the module’s operation. Moreover, it has been found that performing the MD process with brines contaminated with oil (120 mg/L) led to the wetting of some membranes pores, which it turn resulted in an increase in the distillate’s conductivity to 450 µS/cm after 700 h running the process. The mechanism of pore wetting by oil droplets adsorbed on the membrane’s surface was presented. Finally, the proposed method of membrane cleaning with the use of a solvent allowed restoring the initial MD module’s performance. Consequently, both the permeate flux and distillate conductivity were stable during the MD of the feed containing 35 g/L of NaCl over the next 280 h.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Working Women with Caring Responsibilities: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis
Authors: Thompson Randal Joy
Published: January 2023

Working women forced to quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown often faced additional unpaid care responsibilities, requiring a “second or even a third shift”, such as educating their children in addition to caring for them while working. The purpose of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of a sample of working women with care responsibilities in order to derive recommendations for post-COVID working structures and arrangements. The study explored the unique experiences of four women from the United States, Latin America, and Africa, across a range of personal and organizational contexts. The study employed Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to understand and interpret the lived experiences and meaning-making of these women during the pandemic lockdown. The IPA was supplemented by the visual data gathering techniques of “a special object” and “the River of Experience” to give voice to participants’ more metaphoric thinking. The study concluded that participants’ experiences reflected the superordinate themes of: (1) a deep sense of loss of “the normal”; (2) psychological reboot and seeing the world with new eyes; (3) emerging women’s community and connection; and (4) redefining the world of work for women. Each superordinate theme was supported by several subthemes. Recognizing that the 9-to-5 work world has been remodeled to a certain extent, the participants recommended more flexible work arrangements and more support for human needs by employers and society as essential elements of the postpandemic workplace.
Finite Element Simulation of Bending Thin-Walled Parts and Optimization of Cutting Parameters
Authors: Hailong Ma , Aijun Tang , Shubo Xu , Tong Li
Published: January 2023

Aiming at the problems of large elastic deformation and low machining accuracy in cutting titanium alloy thin-walled parts, this paper establishes the finite element model of milling titanium alloy thin-walled parts, and simulates and analyses the milling process of titanium alloy thin-walled parts by the statics analysis module of ANSYS 15.0 software. The maximum deformation point of the workpiece in the milling process is determined. Then the combination of cutting parameters that can minimize the deformation is determined by the orthogonal experiments of four factors and four levels. This paper designs the single factor experiments, which study the distribution of the milling force and the deformation law of the parts in the milling process. Moreover, this paper carries out the optimal design of the cutting parameters by orthogonal experiments, which provides a reference for the selection of the cutting parameters for the bending thin-walled parts of titanium alloy.
Experimental Research of Welding Residual Stress of Butt Welded Joint of Thick Steel Plate
Authors: Lu Wenliang , Sun Jinglong , Su Han , Gao Ce , Zhang Xubin
Published: January 2023

The thickness of steel plates used in the structure has gradually increased to meet the load-bearing capacity requirements of long-span steel bridges. Thick steel plate welded by arc welding process will result in considerable welding residual stress with complex distribution. Large welding residual stress will significantly impact the performance of steel bridges. At present; residual welding stress of thick steel plates is not considered enough in bridge engineering; which could lead to potential dangers in safety. In this paper; a butt welded joint with a thickness of 80 mm was designed; the residual welding stress was measured by X-ray diffraction method; and the distribution of residual stress in the direction perpendicular to the weld seam and along the direction of the weld seam is analyzed; and the distribution pattern of welding residual stress in thick steel plate is systematically studied. It is found that in the area near the weld; the stress in the direction along the weld seam is more significant than that in the perpendicular direction; the peak stress in the direction perpendicular to the weld seam usually appears in the weld seam and the heat-affected zone; and the maximum value tends to appear close to the last weld bead on the surface; on the path perpendicular to the weld seam; the stress in the direction perpendicular to the weld seam is distributed in a “Π” shape; the stress in the direction along the weld seam is distributed in an “M” shape; and the stresses in the direction along and perpendicular to the weld seam are symmetrically distributed; however the axis of symmetry may appear anywhere in and around the weld seam. The results could serve as a reference for welding residual stress analysis and guide optimization design of steel bridges made of thick steel plates.
Supersonic Shrouding Methane Mixtures for Supersonic Combustion Coherent Jets
Authors: Zhao Fei , Di Tianhao , Zhu Rong , Wang Wenrui
Published: January 2023

A coherent jet oxygen supply plays a key role in the process of electric arc furnace steelmaking: it provides the necessary oxygen for the smelting of molten steel and promotes the flow of the molten pool. Compared with coherent jets in current use, the supersonic combustion coherent jet shrouded in supersonic methane gas could improve the impact capacity and stirring intensity of the molten pool. In order to reduce the smelting cost, the characteristics of the supersonic combustion coherent jet shrouding the supersonic methane and nitrogen mixtures must be studied. Computational fluid dynamics software is used to simulate the supersonic combustion coherent jet under various methane–nitrogen mixing conditions. The six-component combustion mechanism of methane and the Eddy Dissipation Concept combustion reaction model are selected. In agreement with thermal experiments, the simulation results show that the inclusion of a small amount of nitrogen has little effect on the combustion of supersonic shrouding methane gas. However, as the nitrogen content increases, the combustion region of supersonic shrouding gas becomes shorter in length, resulting in decreases in the lengths of the high-temperature, low-density region, and the high-turbulence-intensity region. These effects weaken the ability of the shrouding gas to envelop the main oxygen jet. The potential core length of the main oxygen jet decreases significantly; this decrease first accelerates and then decelerates. These results demonstrate the feasibility of including a small amount of nitrogen (about 10 wt%) in the supersonic shrouding methane gas without substantial negative impacts on the characteristics of the supersonic combustion coherent jet.
Research Progress of Laser Additive Manufacturing Nickel-Based Alloy Metal Matrix Composites
Authors: Wang Zhiqiang , Gao Shuang , Li Shuijin , Zhang Weiguang , Lan Liang , Jiang Yifu , He Bo
Published: January 2023

Nickel-based alloy metal matrix composite (NAMMC) is a new type of composite material which is expected to replace traditional Nickel-base superalloy used in the manufacture of important hot-end components in aerospace, naval ships and industrial gas turbine engines due to its excellent high temperature strength, superior thermal fatigue resistance, high oxidation resistance and thermal corrosion resistance. However, these outstanding properties make it hard to process these materials with conventional manufacturing methods such as forging and machining owing to posing problems of high cost and energy consumptions. Laser additive manufacturing (AM) with a high degree of machining freedom and a high-energy-density laser beam as heat source has been used for processing NAMMC hot-end components with superior performance and complicated structure. Nevertheless, some manufacturing defects of poor bonding, high residual stress, cracking, pore etc. still exist in laser AM NAMMC parts. Therefore, this paper reviews research progress of laser AM NAMMC at present. The control method of manufacturing defect and the effect of reinforcements on the microstructure and mechanical properties of NAMMC are summarized. In addition, the challenges and prospects of laser AM NAMMC in the future are also discussed.
Production and Tribological Characterization of Advanced Open-Cell AlSi10Mg-Al2O3 Composites
Authors: Kolev Mihail , Drenchev Ludmil , Petkov Veselin , Dimitrova Rositza
Published: January 2023

In this study, advanced open-cell porous AlSi10Mg-Al2O3 composites have been successfully fabricated by replication of NaCl space holders. The tribological behavior under dry sliding conditions at room temperature of composites with different pore sizes was studied via the pin-on-disk method, and wear parameters, such as the coefficient of friction (COF) and mass wear, were determined. Micro-hardness tests have been performed to investigate the change in mechanical properties after the processing of the composite materials. Microstructural observation was conducted by means of light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) along with chemical micro-analysis using an X-ray energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) system. The obtained results revealed that the investigated AlSi10Mg-Al2O3 composites possess lower COF and mass wear than the open-cell porous AlSi10Mg material when subjected to the same test conditions. Furthermore, it was also reported that the effect of pore size is insignificant to the COF, and in relation to mass wear, the composite material with the larger pores shows better results.
The Combined Effect of Licorice Extract and Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Cisplatin-Induced Hepatocellular Damage in Rats
Authors: Mobasher Maysa A. , Ahmed Eman Ibrahim , Hakami Nora Y. , Germoush Mousa O. , Awad Nabil S , Khodeer Dina M.
Published: January 2023

Drug-induced liver damage is a life-threatening disorder, and one major form of it is the hepatotoxicity induced by the drug cisplatin. In folk medicine, Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra (is used for detoxification and is believed to be a potent antioxidant. Currently, the magically self-renewable potential of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) has prompted us to explore their hepatoregenerative capability. The impact of G. glabra extract (GGE) and BM-MSCs alone and, in combination, on protecting against hepatotoxicity was tested on cisplatin-induced liver injury in rats. Hepatic damage, as revealed by liver histopathology and increased levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and malondialdehyde (MDA), was elevated in rats by received 7 mg/kg of cisplatin intraperitoneally. The combination of GGE and BM-MSCs returned the enzyme levels to near the normal range. It also improved levels of liver superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) and reduced MDA levels. Additionally, it was found that when GGE and BM-MSCs were used together, they significantly downregulated caspase9 (Casp9), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kB), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), which are involved in severe proinflammatory and apoptotic signaling cascades in the liver. Moreover, combining GGE and BM-MSCs led to the normal result of hepatocytes in several examined liver histological sections. Therefore, our findings suggest that GGE may have protective effects against oxidative liver damage and the promising regenerative potential of BM-MSCs.
Identification of Protective Amino Acid Metabolism Events in Nursery Pigs Fed Thermally Oxidized Corn Oil
Authors: Guo Yue , Wang Lei , Hanson Andrea , Urriola Pedro E. , Shurson Gerald C. , Chen Chi
Published: January 2023

Feeding thermally oxidized lipids to pigs has been shown to compromise growth and health, reduce energy digestibility, and disrupt lipid metabolism. However, the effects of feeding oxidized lipids on amino acid metabolism in pigs have not been well defined even though amino acids are indispensable for the subsistence of energy metabolism, protein synthesis, the antioxidant system, and many other functions essential for pig growth and health. In this study, oxidized corn oil (OCO)-elicited changes in amino acid homeostasis of nursery pigs were examined by metabolomics-based biochemical analysis. The results showed that serum and hepatic free amino acids and metabolites, including tryptophan, threonine, alanine, glutamate, and glutathione, as well as associated metabolic pathways, were selectively altered by feeding OCO, and more importantly, many of these metabolic events possess protective functions. Specifically, OCO activated tryptophan-nicotinamide adenosine dinucleotide (NAD+) synthesis by the transcriptional upregulation of the kynurenine pathway in tryptophan catabolism and promoted adenine nucleotide biosynthesis. Feeding OCO induced oxidative stress, causing decreases in glutathione (GSH)/oxidized glutathione (GSSG) ratio, carnosine, and ascorbic acid in the liver but simultaneously promoted antioxidant responses as shown by the increases in hepatic GSH and GSSG as well as the transcriptional upregulation of GSH metabolism-related enzymes. Moreover, OCO reduced the catabolism of threonine to α-ketobutyrate in the liver by inhibiting the threonine dehydratase (TDH) route. Overall, these protective metabolic events indicate that below a certain threshold of OCO consumption, nursery pigs are capable of overcoming the oxidative stress and metabolic challenges posed by the consumption of oxidized lipids by adjusting antioxidant, nutrient, and energy metabolism, partially through the transcriptional regulation of amino acid metabolism.
Similarity Downselection: Finding the n Most Dissimilar Molecular Conformers for Reference-Free Metabolomics
Authors: Nielson Felicity F. , Kay Bill , Young Stephen J. , Colby Sean M. , Renslow Ryan S. , Metz Thomas O.
Published: January 2023

Computational methods for creating in silico libraries of molecular descriptors (e.g., collision cross sections) are becoming increasingly prevalent due to the limited number of authentic reference materials available for traditional library building. These so-called “reference-free metabolomics” methods require sampling sets of molecular conformers in order to produce high accuracy property predictions. Due to the computational cost of the subsequent calculations for each conformer, there is a need to sample the most relevant subset and avoid repeating calculations on conformers that are nearly identical. The goal of this study is to introduce a heuristic method of finding the most dissimilar conformers from a larger population in order to help speed up reference-free calculation methods and maintain a high property prediction accuracy. Finding the set of the n items most dissimilar from each other out of a larger population becomes increasingly difficult and computationally expensive as either n or the population size grows large. Because there exists a pairwise relationship between each item and all other items in the population, finding the set of the n most dissimilar items is different than simply sorting an array of numbers. For instance, if you have a set of the most dissimilar n = 4 items, one or more of the items from n = 4 might not be in the set n = 5. An exact solution would have to search all possible combinations of size n in the population exhaustively. We present an open-source software called similarity downselection (SDS), written in Python and freely available on GitHub. SDS implements a heuristic algorithm for quickly finding the approximate set(s) of the n most dissimilar items. We benchmark SDS against a Monte Carlo method, which attempts to find the exact solution through repeated random sampling. We show that for SDS to find the set of n most dissimilar conformers, our method is not only orders of magnitude faster, but it is also more accurate than running Monte Carlo for 1,000,000 iterations, each searching for set sizes n = 3–7 out of a population of 50,000. We also benchmark SDS against the exact solution for example small populations, showing that SDS produces a solution close to the exact solution in these instances. Using theoretical approaches, we also demonstrate the constraints of the greedy algorithm and its efficacy as a ratio to the exact solution.
Architecture Optimization of a Non-Linear Autoregressive Neural Networks for Mackey-Glass Time Series Prediction Using Discrete Mycorrhiza Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Carreon-Ortiz Hector , Valdez Fevrier , Melin Patricia , Castillo Oscar
Published: January 2023

Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN) are basically used for applications with time series and sequential data and are currently being used in embedded devices. However, one of their drawbacks is that RNNs have a high computational cost and require the use of a significant amount of memory space. Therefore, computer equipment with a large processing capacity and memory is required. In this article, we experiment with Nonlinear Autoregressive Neural Networks (NARNN), which are a type of RNN, and we use the Discrete Mycorrhizal Optimization Algorithm (DMOA) in the optimization of the NARNN architecture. We used the Mackey-Glass chaotic time series (MG) to test the proposed approach, and very good results were obtained. In addition, some comparisons were made with other methods that used the MG and other types of Neural Networks such as Backpropagation and ANFIS, also obtaining good results. The proposed algorithm can be applied to robots, microsystems, sensors, devices, MEMS, microfluidics, piezoelectricity, motors, biosensors, 3D printing, etc.
A Readout Circuit for MEMS Gas Sensor
Authors: Ren Shengle , Ren Mingyuan , Xu Honghai
Published: January 2023

In recent years, the application of gas sensors is becoming more and more extensive. Driven by potential applications such as the Internet of Things, its technology development direction begins with miniaturization, integration, modularization, and intelligence. However, there is a bottleneck in the research of interface circuits, which restricts the development of gas sensors in volume, power consumption, and intelligence. To solve this problem, a MEMS gas sensor interface circuit based on ADC technology is proposed in this paper. Under the condition of the Huahong 110 nm process, the working voltage is 3.3 V, the resistance change of 100 Ω~1 MΩ can be detected, the conversion error is in the range of 0.5~1%, and the maximum power consumption is 986 μW. The overall layout area is 0.49 × 0.77 mm2. Finally, the correctness of the circuit function is verified by post-layout simulation.
Low-Grade Thermal Energy Harvesting and Self-Powered Sensing Based on Thermogalvanic Hydrogels
Authors: Zhang Jiedong , Bai Chenhui , Wang Zhaosu , Liu Xiao , Li Xiangyu , Cui Xiaojing
Published: January 2023

Thermoelectric cells (TEC) directly convert heat into electricity via the Seebeck effect. Known as one TEC, thermogalvanic hydrogels are promising for harvesting low-grade thermal energy for sustainable energy production. In recent years, research on thermogalvanic hydrogels has increased dramatically due to their capacity to continuously convert heat into electricity with or without consuming the material. Until recently, the commercial viability of thermogalvanic hydrogels was limited by their low power output and the difficulty of packaging. In this review, we summarize the advances in electrode materials, redox pairs, polymer network integration approaches, and applications of thermogalvanic hydrogels. Then, we highlight the key challenges, that is, low-cost preparation, high thermoelectric power, long-time stable operation of thermogalvanic hydrogels, and broader applications in heat harvesting and thermoelectric sensing.
Study on the Deterioration Mechanism of Pb on TiO2 Oxygen Sensor
Authors: Duan Chao , Zhang Lejun , Wu Zhaoxi , Wang Xu , Meng Meng , Zhang Maolin
Published: January 2023

Previous studies have shown that the pollutants in exhaust gas can cause performance deterioration in air-fuel oxygen sensors. Although the content of Pb in fuel oil is as low as 5 mg/L, the effect of long-term Pb accumulation on TiO2 oxygen sensors is still unclear. In this paper, the influence mechanism of Pb-containing additives in automobile exhaust gas on the response characteristics of TiO2 oxygen sensors was simulated and studied by depositing Pb-containing pollutants on the surface of a TiO2 sensitive film. It was found that the accumulation of Pb changed the surface gas adsorption state and reduced the activation energy of TiO2, thus affecting the steady-state response voltage and response speed of the TiO2-based oxygen sensor.
Input–Output-Improved Reservoir Computing Based on Duffing Resonator Processing Dynamic Temperature Compensation for MEMS Resonant Accelerometer
Authors: Guo Xiaowei , Yang Wuhao , Zheng Tianyi , Sun Jie , Xiong Xingyin , Wang Zheng , Zou Xudong
Published: January 2023

An MEMS resonant accelerometer is a temperature-sensitive device because temperature change affects the intrinsic resonant frequency of the inner silicon beam. Most classic temperature compensation methods, such as algorithm modeling and structure design, have large errors under rapid temperature changing due to the hysteresis of the temperature response of the accelerometer. To address this issue, we propose a novel reservoir computing (RC) structure based on a nonlinear silicon resonator, which is specifically improved for predicting dynamic information that is referred to as the input–output-improved reservoir computing (IOI-RC) algorithm. It combines the polynomial fitting with the RC on the input data mapping ensuring that the system always resides in the rich nonlinear state. Meanwhile, the output layer is also optimized by vector concatenation operation for higher memory capacity. Therefore, the new system has better performance in dynamic temperature compensation. In addition, the method is real-time, with easy hardware implementation that can be integrated with MEMS sensors. The experiment’s result showed a 93% improvement in IOI-RC compared to raw data in a temperature range of −20–60 °C. The study confirmed the feasibility of RC in realizing dynamic temperature compensation precisely, which provides a potential real-time online temperature compensation method and a sensor system with edge computing.
A Questionnaire Integrated with the Digital Medical Record Improved the Coverage of a Control Program for Congenital Chagas Disease in Tuscany, Italy
Authors: Barbiero Anna , Mazzi Martina , Mantella Antonia , Trotta Michele , Rossolini Gian Maria , Antonelli Alberto , Bordonaro Patrizia , Colao Maria Grazia , Speciale Anna Rosa , Di Benedetto Tullio , Di Tommaso Mariarosaria , Mantengoli Elisabetta , Petraglia Felice , Galli Luisa , Pezzati Marco , Dani Carlo , Caldes Pinilla Maria José , Berni Cecilia , Dannaoui Bassam , Albajar Viñas Pedro , Bartoloni Alessandro , Zammarchi Lorenzo
Published: January 2023

The leading route of Chagas disease transmission in nonendemic countries is congenital. However, policies concerning screening, prevention, and management of congenital Chagas disease are rare in these settings. Since 2012, serological screening for Chagas disease should be provided for pregnant women at risk in Tuscany, Italy according to a Regional resolution. Due to difficulties in the implementation, in November 2019, a checklist aimed at identifying pregnant women at risk for Chagas disease was introduced in digital clinical records at Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the “Chagas checklist”, data about the number of deliveries by women at risk and their screening coverage between 2012 and June 2022 were collected. Out of 1348 deliveries by women at risk, 626 (47%) Trypanosoma cruzi serology tests were performed during the study period. The annual screening coverage increased from an average of 40.3% between 2012 and 2019 to 75.7% between 2020 and June 2022, underlining the big impact of the checklist. Four Chagas disease serological tests out of 626 (0.6%) resulted positive, corresponding to 2 affected women. No cases of congenital transmission occurred. The study showed that a simple digital tool led to a tangible improvement in the coverage of the screening program; its application in a setting where digital charts are available will contribute to the control and elimination of congenital Chagas disease.
Amoebic Dysentery Complicated by Hypovolemic Shock and Sepsis in an Infant with Severe Acute Malnutrition: A Case Report
Authors: Dal Canto Giulia , Artaiga Tawaddud Hassan Eisa , Mohamed Abdulrahman Ibrahiem , Hassan Hayat Amin Makki , Adam Doaa Mahmoud , Ahmed Moram Awadalla Ibrahiem , Motwali Jihad , Valenti Manuela , Esposito Susanna
Published: January 2023

Diarrheal disease continues to be a leading cause of death in children under five years old in developing countries, where it is responsible for the death of approximately half a million children each year. Establishing the cause of diarrheal disease can be difficult in developing areas due to the lack of diagnostic tests, and thus empirical therapies are often required. In these settings, the choice of antibiotic (or the choice to not give it) depends on suspected agents, host conditions and local epidemiology. Herein, we report a representative case of a ten-month-old male patient with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) admitted to the Emergency Paediatric Clinic in Port Sudan for amoebic dysentery complicated by hypovolemic shock and sepsis, treated by target therapy for Entamoeba histolytica infection associated with empiric antibiotic therapy. Due to the absence of clinical improvement, Ciprofloxacin was added to the first-line treatment. This case highlights that in low-income countries amoebiasis, especially in children with SAM, may result in life-threatening complications. Although stool microscopy remains the most used diagnostic test in these settings, a novel inexpensive, easy to use and rapid diagnostic test would be warranted to reach a microbiological diagnosis and guide clinical decision. Further studies will be necessary to identify the patterns of antimicrobial resistance in order to appropriately manage these complicated cases.
Viral and Bacterial Respiratory Pathogens during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Israel
Authors: Oster Yonatan , Abu Ahmad Wiessam , Michael-Gayego Ayelet , Rivkin Mila , Levinzon Leonid , Wolf Dana , Nir-Paz Ran , Elinav Hila
Published: January 2023

Background: previous worldwide reports indicated a substantial short-term reduction in various respiratory infections during the early phase of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Aims: exploring the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on respiratory pathogens. Methods: retrospective analysis of bacterial and viral positivity rate in respiratory samples, between 1 January 2017–30 June 2022 in a tertiary hospital in Jerusalem, Israel. Results: A decline in overall respiratory tests and positivity rate was observed in the first months of the pandemic. Respiratory isolations of Hemophilus influenza and Streptococcus pneumoniae were insignificantly affected and returned to their monthly average by November 2020, despite a parallel surge in COVID-19 activity, while Mycoplasma pneumoniae was almost eliminated from the respiratory pathogens scene. Each viral pathogen acted differently, with adenovirus affected only for few months. Human-metapneumovirus and respiratory-syncytial-virus had reduced activity for approximately a year, and influenza A virus resurged in November 2021 with the elimination of Influenza-B. Conclusions: After an immediate decline in non-SARS-CoV-2 respiratory infections, each pathogen has a different pattern during a 2-year follow-up. These patterns might be influenced by intrinsic factors of each pathogen and different risk reduction behaviors of the population. Since some of these measures will remain in the following years, we cannot predict the timing of return to pre-COVID-19 normalcy.
Decoupling Method for the Convective-Dominated Leaching Process of Ion-Adsorption-Type Rare-Earth Ores
Authors: Huang Ying , Long Ping , Wang Guanshi , Luo Sihai
Published: January 2023

Ion-adsorption-type rare-earth ores (IATREOs) that have experienced granite weathering have good permeability, and their leaching process involves the solute transport problem, which is dominated by convection. Because of the oscillation and dispersion errors of existing numerical methods for solving the convective-dominated solute transport equation, the results have low precision in the twin leaching process. In this paper, the convection–dispersion equation is decoupled into the dispersion equation, the convection equation, and the source-sink equation; the Crank–Nicolson and implicit difference methods are used to solve the dispersion equation and the source-sink equation, respectively. The solution of the convection equation is achieved on the basis of its physical interpretation. Therefore, a decoupling method for the convective-dominated solute transport equation is established. In comparison to the two examples with analytical solutions, the calculation errors of the method established in this paper are less than 2.00%, and it can solve the oscillation and dispersion problems. The rationality of the method is further demonstrated through the column leaching experiment of IATREOs. In comparison to the test results, the coefficients of determination of the breakthrough curves of rare-earth ions and ammonium ions calculated by the proposed method are all greater than 0.850, and the peak concentration error of rare-earth ions is less than 7.00%. This indicates that the proposed method can simulate the leaching process well. Furthermore, by combining the multiple/half method and the dichotomy method, an optimization method for determining the leaching agent amount was established to analyze the relationship between the leaching agent and the ratio of dispersion to pillar length. The results can provide a solution that can be used to mine IATREOs from experience to theory.
A Review of Particle Shape Effects on Material Properties for Various Engineering Applications: From Macro to Nanoscale
Authors: Ulusoy Ugur
Published: January 2023

It is well known that most particle technology studies attempting to predict secondary properties based on primary properties such as size and shape begin with particle characterization, which means the process of determining the primary properties of particles in a wide spectrum from macro to nanoscale. It is a fact that the actual shape of engineering particles used in many industrial applications or processes is neglected, as they are assumed to be “homogeneous spheres” with easily understood behavior in any application or process. In addition, it is vital to control the granular materials used in various industries or to prepare them in desired shapes, to develop better processes or final products, and to make the processes practical and economical. Therefore, this review not only covers basic shape definitions, shape characterization methods, and the effect of particle shape on industrial material properties, but also provides insight into the development of the most suitably shaped materials for specific applications or processes (from nanomaterials used in pharmaceuticals to proppant particles used in hydrocarbon production) by understanding the behavior of particles.
Editorial for Special Issue “Petrology and Evolution of the Outer Carpathian Mountains”
Authors: Golonka Jan , Skupien Petr
Published: January 2023

This Special Issue, published 15 years after the monumental volume “The Carpathians and their foreland: Geology and hydrocarbon resources” [...]
Structural Features of K2O-SiO2 Melts: Modeling and High-Temperature Experiments
Authors: Koroleva Olga N. , Shtenberg Mikhail V. , Osipov Armenak A.
Published: January 2023

Despite numerous investigations, the thermodynamic properties of potassium silicates remain apparently contradictory. In situ experiments are complicated by the unstable behavior of a K2O–SiO2 melt in the region of compositions with a high potassium oxide content. In this paper, we study the structure of melts by the method of physicochemical modeling, taking into account the results of high-temperature Raman spectroscopy. To do this, the Raman spectra were curve-fitted, taking into account the second coordination sphere of silicon atoms. From the interpretation of the spectra of K2O–SiO2 glasses and melts having a K2O content of up to 55 mol.%, quantitative characteristics of the system were obtained. Since available information on the thermodynamic properties of potassium silicates is known to be contradictory, coordinated thermodynamic characteristics of potassium silicates, some of which were evaluated, were used as input data for modeling. Structural modeling of glasses and melts of the K2O–SiO2 system was carried out across a range of compositions up to 60 mol.% potassium oxide. The database of structural units of melts of the potassium silicate system, updated according to experimental data, will find practical application in chemistry, geochemistry and engineering fields.
Editorial for Special Issue “Environmentally Sound In Situ Recovery Mining of Uranium”
Authors: Reimus Paul , Clay James
Published: January 2023

This Special Issue features seven articles that cover a range of topics pertaining to the environmentally sound in situ recovery mining of uranium (U ISR) [...]
Petrogenesis of the Helong Granites in Southern Jiangxi Province, China: Constraints from Geochemistry and In Situ Analyses of Zircon U–Pb–Hf Isotopes
Authors: Liu Xinxing , Shi Weixin , Zhang Juan , Zhang Xiaoyan , Yang Junfeng , Li Wei
Published: January 2023

The Jinzhuping and Changkeng granites are related to the Helong W–Sn ore field in southern Jiangxi Province, China. Three different phases can be found in the Jinzhuping pluton, and their LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb ages are 155.2 ± 0.68 Ma, 154.0 ± 0.56 Ma, and 153.4 ± 0.99 Ma, respectively, indicating two types of granitic rocks. All granites in the Helong ore field have similar geochemical characteristics, they have high contents of SiO2 (73.99 wt.%–77.68 wt.%), and total alkali (7.56 wt.%–8.76 wt.%) and are weakly to strongly peraluminous. They are slightly enriched in HREE and depleted in Eu, Ba, Sr, P, and Ti. Zircon εHf(t) values of the Jinzhuping three granites are from −14.4 to −10.4, from −15.3 to −11.4, and from −18.1 to −10.5, and the Hf TDM model ages range from 1.83 to 2.06 Ga, from 1.89 to 2.14 Ga, and from 1.83 to 2.31 Ga, respectively. Whole-rock geochemistry and Hf isotope analysis indicate that the Helong granites experienced a high degree of differentiation and evolution derived by partial melting of the Late Paleoproterozoic crustal materials, and they formed in a backarc caused by low-angle subduction of the Paleopacific plate.
Structural Features of Oxyapatite
Authors: Bulina Natalia V. , Avakyan Leon A. , Makarova Svetlana V. , Orehov Igor B. , Bystrov Vladimir S.
Published: January 2023

One of the most widely known representatives of the apatite family is hydroxyapatite, Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2. This mineral is a part of the human dental and bone tissues, and, therefore, is widely used in medicine. Less known is oxyapatite, Ca10(PO4)6O, which has the same biocompatibility as hydroxyapatite. In this work, it is shown that oxyapatite can be obtained by heating hydroxyapatite powder at 1000 °C in vacuum. IR and NMR spectroscopy proved the absence of the hydroxyl groups in the apatite obtained. In the IR spectrum, the presence of new absorption bands of phosphate groups, indicating a symmetry disorder, was observed. Density functional theory modeling confirmed lowering of symmetry for the oxyapatite structure. Modeling the IR spectrum of oxyapatite made it possible to identify the experimentally observed new absorption bands. According to the modeling, the presence of a vacancy in a hydroxyl channel of the apatite structure lowered the symmetry. Powder X-ray diffraction data confirmed that full dehydroxylation of hydroxyapatite led to a decrease in symmetry to triclinic phase. Comparison of the formation energies showed that formation of the hydroxyapatite phase was more preferable than that of oxyapatite, which explains apatite’s tendency to rehydroxylation. It was shown that the solubility of oxyapatite in water was comparable to that of hydroxyapatite.
Shortwave UV Blue Luminescence of Some Minerals and Gems Due to Titanate Groups
Authors: Vigier Maxence , Fritsch Emmanuel , Cavignac Théo , Latouche Camille , Jobic Stéphane
Published: January 2023

This article reviews blue shortwave-excited luminescence (BSL) in natural minerals and synthetic materials. It also describes in detail the emission of seven minerals and gems displaying BSL, as well as three references in which BSL is caused by titanate groups (TiO6): benitoite, Ti-doped synthetic sapphire and spinel. Emission (under 254 nm shortwave excitation) and excitation spectra are provided, and fluorescence decay times are measured. It is proposed that BSL in beryl (morganite), dumortierite, hydrozincite, pezzotaite, tourmaline (elbaite), some silicates glasses, and synthetic opals is due to titanate groups present at a concentration of 20 ppmw Ti or above. They all share a broad emission with a maximum between 420 and 480 nm (2.95 to 2.58 eV) (thus perceived as blue), and an excitation spectrum peaking in the short-wave range, between 230 and 290 nm (5.39 to 4.27 eV). Furthermore, their luminescence decay time is about 20 microseconds (from 2 to 40). These three parameters are consistent with a titanate emission, and to our knowledge, no other activator.
Residual Behavior and Dietary Risk Assessment of Chlorfenapyr and Its Metabolites in Radish
Authors: Sun Mingna , Yi Xiaotong , Tong Zhou , Dong Xu , Chu Yue , Meng Dandan , Duan Jinsheng
Published: January 2023

Chlorfenapyr, as a highly effective and low-toxicity insect growth regulation inhibitor, has been used to control cross-cruciferous vegetable pests. However, the pesticide residue caused by its application threatens human health. In this paper, the residue digestion and final residue of chlorfenapyr in radish were studied in a field experiment. The results of the dynamic digestion test showed that the half-life of chlorfenapyr in radish leaves ranged from 6.0 to 6.4 days, and the digestion rate was fast. The median residual values of chlorfenapyr in radish and radish leaves at 14 days after treatment were 0.12 and 3.92 mg/kg, respectively. The results of the dietary intake risk assessment showed that the national estimated daily intake (NEDI) of chlorfenapyr in various populations in China were 0.373 and 5.66 µg/(kg bw·d), respectively. The risk entropy (RQ) was 0.012 and 0.147, respectively, indicating that the chronic dietary intake risk of chlorfenapyr in radish was low. The results of this study provided data support and a theoretical basis for guiding the scientific use of chlorfenapyr in radish production and evaluating the dietary risk of chlorfenapyr in vegetables.
Macrophage-Targeted Dextran Sulfate-Dexamethasone Conjugate Micelles for Effective Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Han Jiangfan , Na Ren , Zhao Ningning , Yuan Xiaofeng , Fu Linke , Jing Jianmei , Qian Airong , Ye Weiliang
Published: January 2023

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic immune disease that causes joint affection and even disability. Activated macrophages play an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of RA by producing pro-inflammatory factors. The use of dexamethasone (DXM) is effective in relieving the intractable pain and inflammatory progression of RA. However, long-term use of DXM is strongly associated with increased rates of diabetes, osteoporosis, bone fractures, and mortality, which hinders its clinical use. In this study, the dextran sulfate-cisaconitic anhydride-dexamethasone (DXM@DS-cad-DXM) micelles were prepared to treat RA by selectively recognizing scavenger receptor (SR) on the activated macrophages. The potent targeting property of DXM@DS-cad-DXM micelles to SR was by fluorescence microscope. Additionally, the effective accumulation and powerful anti-inflammatory activity of DXM@DS-cad-DXM micelles were observed in the inflamed joints of adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rats after intravenous administration. Overall, DXM@DS-cad-DXM micelles are a potentially effective nanomedicine for targeted therapy of RA.
Antifungal Potential of Marine Organisms of the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico) against Medically Important Candida spp.
Authors: Pech-Puch Dawrin , Grilo Diana , Calva-Pérez Susana Eunice , Pedras Andreia , Villegas-Hernández Harold , Guillén-Hernández Sergio , Díaz-Gamboa Raúl , Tunjano Mateo Forero , Rodríguez Jaime , Lenis-Rojas Oscar A. , Jiménez Carlos , Pimentel Catarina
Published: January 2023

Invasive fungal infections represent a global health threat. They are associated with high mortality and morbidity rates, partly due to the ineffectiveness of the available antifungal agents. The rampant increase in infections recalcitrant to the current antifungals has worsened this scenario and made the discovery of new and more effective antifungals a pressing health issue. In this study, 65 extracts from marine organisms of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, were screened for antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Candida glabrata, two of the most prevalent fungal species that cause nosocomial invasive fungal infections worldwide. A total of 51 sponges, 13 ascidians and 1 gorgonian were collected from the coral reef and mangrove forest in the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico) and extracted with organic solvents. Nine crude extracts showed potent antifungal activity, of which four extracts from the sponge species Aiolochroia crassa, Amphimedon compressa, Monanchora arbuscula and Agelas citrina had promising activity against Candida spp. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the M. arbuscula extract revealed the remarkable fungicidal activity of some fractions. Analysis of the chemical composition of one of the most active fractions by UHPLC-HRMS and NMR indicated the presence of mirabilin B and penaresidin B, and their contribution to the observed antifungal activity is discussed. Overall, this work highlights marine organisms of the Yucatan Peninsula as important reservoirs of natural products with promising fungicidal activity, which may greatly advance the treatment of invasive fungal infections, especially those afflicting immunosuppressed patients.
X-H Bond Insertion Promoted by Heterogeneous Dirhodium Metal–Organic Cage with Alkynes as Safe Carbene Precursors
Authors: Chen Lianfen , Zhao Chaoyi , Mo Weixian , Li Chunsheng , Lin Xiaoming
Published: January 2023

A facile and efficient methodology for the generation of the C-X (X = Si, B) bond through a carbene insertion process was demonstrated using a dirhodium metal–organic cage, MOC-Rh-1, as a heterogeneous catalyst. A series of functionalized alkynes were utilized as safe carbene precursors to furnish Si-H and B-H insertion products in moderate to excellent yields. These reactions featured a high atom-economy, a broad substrate scope, and mild reaction conditions. Moreover, the as-prepared MOC-Rh-1 catalyst was recovered easily from the reaction system by simple centrifugation and reused for ten runs without a significant loss in activity, which made good use of the valuable precious metal rhodium.
Drug Metabolism of Hepatocyte-like Organoids and Their Applicability in In Vitro Toxicity Testing
Authors: Bouwmeester Manon C. , Tao Yu , Proença Susana , van Steenbeek Frank G. , Samsom Roos-Anne , Nijmeijer Sandra M. , Sinnige Theo , van der Laan Luc J. W. , Legler Juliette , Schneeberger Kerstin , Kramer Nynke I. , Spee Bart
Published: January 2023

Emerging advances in the field of in vitro toxicity testing attempt to meet the need for reliable human-based safety assessment in drug development. Intrahepatic cholangiocyte organoids (ICOs) are described as a donor-derived in vitro model for disease modelling and regenerative medicine. Here, we explored the potential of hepatocyte-like ICOs (HL-ICOs) in in vitro toxicity testing by exploring the expression and activity of genes involved in drug metabolism, a key determinant in drug-induced toxicity, and the exposure of HL-ICOs to well-known hepatotoxicants. The current state of drug metabolism in HL-ICOs showed levels comparable to those of PHHs and HepaRGs for CYP3A4; however, other enzymes, such as CYP2B6 and CYP2D6, were expressed at lower levels. Additionally, EC50 values were determined in HL-ICOs for acetaminophen (24.0–26.8 mM), diclofenac (475.5–>500 µM), perhexiline (9.7–>31.5 µM), troglitazone (23.1–90.8 µM), and valproic acid (>10 mM). Exposure to the hepatotoxicants showed EC50s in HL-ICOs comparable to those in PHHs and HepaRGs; however, for acetaminophen exposure, HL-ICOs were less sensitive. Further elucidation of enzyme and transporter activity in drug metabolism in HL-ICOs and exposure to a more extensive compound set are needed to accurately define the potential of HL-ICOs in in vitro toxicity testing.