bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative Study of the Adsorption of Acid Blue 40 on Polyaniline, Magnetic Oxide and Their Composites: Synthesis, Characterization and Application
Authors: Muhammad Amir , Shah Anwar ul Haq Ali , Bilal Salma
Published: September 2019

Conducting polymers (CPs), especially polyaniline (PANI) based hybrid materials have emerged as very interesting materials for the adsorption of heavy metals and dyes from an aqueous environment due to their electrical transport properties, fascinating doping/de-doping chemistry and porous surface texture. Acid Blue 40 (AB40) is one of the common dyes present in the industrial effluents. We have performed a comparative study on the removal of AB40 from water through the application of PANI, magnetic oxide (Fe3O4) and their composites. Prior to this study, PANI and its composites with magnetic oxide were synthesized through our previously reported chemical oxidative synthesis route. The adsorption of AB40 on the synthesized materials was investigated with UV-Vis spectroscopy and resulting data were analyzed by fitting into Tempkin, Freundlich, Dubinin–Radushkevich (D–R) and Langmuir isotherm models. The Freundlich isotherm model fits more closely to the adsorptions data with R2 values of 0.933, 0.971 and 0.941 for Fe3O4, PANI and composites, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity of Fe3O4, PANI and composites was, respectively, 130.5, 264.9 and 216.9 mg g−1. Comparatively good adsorption capability of PANI in the present case is attributed to electrostatic interactions and a greater number of H-bonding. Effect of pH of solution, temperature, initial concentration of AB40, contact time, ionic strength and dose of adsorbent were also investigated. Adsorption followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. The activation energy of adsorption of AB40 on Fe3O4, PANI and composites were 30.12, 22.09 and 26.13 kJmol−1 respectively. Enthalpy change, entropy change and Gibbs free energy changes are −6.077, −0.026 and −11.93 kJ mol−1 for adsorption of AB40 on Fe3O4. These values are −8.993, −0.032 and −19.87 kJ mol−1 for PANI and −10.62, −0.054 and −19.75 kJ mol−1 for adsorption of AB40 on PANI/Fe3O4 composites. The negative sign of entropy, enthalpy and Gibbs free energy changes indicate spontaneous and exothermic nature of adsorption.
Polarized Catalytic Polymer Nanofibers
Authors: Lolla Dinesh , Abutaleb Ahmed , Kashfipour Marjan A. , Chase George G.
Published: September 2019

Molecular scale modifications were achieved by spontaneous polarization which is favored in enhancements of β-crystallization phase inside polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanofibers (NFs). These improvements were much more effective in nano and submicron fibers compared to fibers with relatively larger diameters. Metallic nanoparticles (NPs) supported by nanofibrous membranes opened new vistas in filtration, catalysis, and serving as most reliable resources in numerous other industrial applications. In this research, hydrogenation of phenol was studied as a model to test the effectiveness of polarized PVDF nanofiber support embedded with agglomerated palladium (Pd) metallic nanoparticle diameters ranging from 5–50 nm supported on polymeric PVDF NFs with ~200 nm in cross-sectional diameters. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and other analytical analysis revealed both molecular and surface morphological changes associated with polarization treatment. The results showed that the fibers mats heated to their curie temperature (150 °C) increased the catalytic activity and decreased the selectivity by yielding substantial amounts of undesired product (cyclohexanol) alongside with the desired product (cyclohexanone). Over 95% phenol conversion with excellent cyclohexanone selectivity was obtained less than nine hours of reaction using the polarized PVDF nanofibers as catalytic support structures.
Duration of Immersion and Type of Immersion Solution Distort the Outcome of Push-Out Bond Strength Testing Protocols
Authors: Donnermeyer David , Göbell Lena , Bürklein Sebastian , Dammaschke Till , Schäfer Edgar
Published: September 2019

This study aimed to investigate the influence of immersion duration and the type of immersion solution on the outcome of push-out bond strength (POBS) tests. Root canals of 120 straight single-rooted teeth were instrumented to a diameter of 1.5 mm and irrigated with 5 mL of 3% NaOCl. Four horizontal slices with a thickness of 1 mm were cut, representing the mid-portion of the root. The specimens (n = 480) were irrigated with 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid(EDTA) for 60 seconds, then twice with distilled water (DW) for 30 s each. The canals were filled with either AH Plus (Dentsply Sirona, Konstanz, Germany) or BioRoot RCS (Septodont, St. Maur-des-Fossés, France) (n = 240). Separated into four groups per type of sealer (n = 60), the specimens were incubated at 37 °C covered with gauze moistened in DW or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) for either one or eight weeks. Dislodgement resistance was measured and POBS was calculated. Statistical analysis was performed using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) test and the Student–Newman–Keuls test (p = 0.05). AH Plus showed higher POBS when stored in PBS compared to DW, irrespective of the incubation period (p < 0.05). BioRoot RCS displayed higher POBS when stored in DW compared to PBS after eight weeks of incubation (p < 0.05). No difference was found after one week of incubation (p > 0.05). Irrespective of the sealer or the immersion solution, POBS decreased from one week to eight weeks (p < 0.05). Mixed failure modes were found in all groups irrespective of sealer, immersion medium, or immersion period. POBS decreased after a longer incubation time in both immersion solutions. Duration of immersion and the type of immersion solution had a significant impact on the outcome of the POBS testing protocol.
Effect of Quenching Tempering-Post Weld Heat Treatment on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Laser-Arc Hybrid-Welded Boron Steel
Authors: Lee Ho Won , Yoo Kwang Jae , Tran Minh Tien , Moon In Yong , Oh Young-Seok , Kang Seong-Hoon , Kim Dong-Kyu
Published: September 2019

In the present study, we have investigated the effect of post-welding heat treatment (PWHT) of quenching and tempering (QT) on the microstructure and mechanical properties of welded boron steel joints processed using laser-arc hybrid welding on two commercial filler materials, SM80 (Type-I) and ZH120 (Type-II). The microstructure and mechanical properties of the weld joints were characterized via optical microscopy, Vickers microhardness, and the uniaxial tensile test. The macrostructure of the weld joint was composed of a fusion zone (FZ), heat-affected zone (HAZ), and base metal zone (BMZ). After the QT-PWHT, the QT specimens revealed the V-shape hardness distribution across the weld joint, while the as-welded specimen exhibited the M-shape hardness distribution. As a result, the QT specimens revealed the premature fracture with little reduction in the area at the interface between the HAZ and FZ, while the as-welded specimen exhibited the local necking and rupture in the BMZ. In addition, the Type-II filler material with a greater value of equivalent carbon content was rarely influenced by the tempering, maintaining its hardness in the as-quenched status, while the Type-I filler material showed a gradual decrease in hardness with the tempering time. The results demonstrate that the Type-II weld joint outperformed the Type-I weld joint in terms of the structural integrity of welded parts.
Cervical Cancer Prevention in Racially Disparate Rural Populations
Authors: Olusola Patti , Ousley Kia , Ndetan Harrison , Singh Karan P. , Banerjee Hirendra Nath , Dasgupta Santanu
Published: September 2019

Background: Undergoing a timely Pap smear, high-risk human papilloma virus (HPV)- and colposcopy-based testing can reduce HPV-associated cervical cancer (CC) development in women. However, in rural areas, women and minorities without insurance do not undergo periodic assessment and remain at greater risk of HPV infection and CC. Methods: In this study, 173 women from rural East Texas with various ethnic backgrounds were examined thorough HPV/Pap-based testing and colposcopic assessment. Results: Of the 113 informative cases, 77% (87/113) were positive for high-risk HPV infection and 23% of subjects (26/113) were negative. Associations between HPV positivity with young age (p = 0.002), and a low number of pregnancy (p = 0.004) and births (p = 0.005) were evident. Women with long-term use of contraceptives (OR 1.93, 95% CI, 0.80–4.69) were associated with increased risk of HPV infection. African-American women had a higher risk of abnormal Pap outcome compared to Caucasians (OR 5.31, 95% CI, 0.67–42.0). HPV seemed to be a predictor of abnormal Pap outcome (OR 1.77, 95% CI, 0.48–6.44) in these subjects. Unmarried/widowed/divorced women had an increased abnormal Pap test outcome compared to married women or women living with a partner (p = 0.01), with over 278% increased odds (OR 3.78 at 95% CI, 1.29–11.10). Insured women undergoing periodic checkups were detected early with high-risk HPV infection and abnormal Pap test/colposcopic outcome. Conclusions: Comprehensive and timely screening of uninsured women and minorities in rural East Texas are warranted, which could potentially prevent the onset of HPV-associated CC.
Nickel Laterite Smelting Processes and Some Examples of Recent Possible Modifications to the Conventional Route
Authors: Keskinkilic Ender
Published: September 2019

The treatment of laterites has been a research hotspot in extractive metallurgy over the past decades. Industrially, the pyrometallurgical treatment of laterites is mostly accomplished with a well-established method, namely, the rotary kiln–electric arc furnace (RKEF) process, which includes three main operations—calcination, prereduction, and smelting—followed by further refining for the removal of impurities from the raw ferro-nickel. As indicated in many studies of the RKEF process, the major downside of this method is its high energy consumption. Efforts have been made to lower this consumption. Furthermore, several new processes have been proposed. Among these, low-grade ferro-nickel production is regarded as the most widely and industrially used process after traditional RKEF operation. Although not widespread, other alternative processes of industrial scale have been generated since the start of the millennium. Recently, certain innovative processes have been tested either in the laboratory or at pilot-scale. In this paper, a literature review related to the smelting of laterites is made, and an emphasis on new processes and some examples of new developments in the RKEF process are presented.
Non-Targeted UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS-Based Metabolomics Reveals a Metabolic Shift from Glucose to Glutamine in CPB Cells during ISKNV Infection Cycle
Authors: Fu Xiaozhe , Guo Xixi , Wu Shiwei , Lin Qiang , Liu Lihui , Liang Hongru , Niu Yinjie , Li Ningqiu
Published: September 2019

Infectious spleen and kidney necrosis virus (ISKNV) has caused serious economic losses in the cultured mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi) industry in China. Host metabolism alteration induced by disease infection may be the core problem of pathogenesis. However, to date, little is known about the disease-induced fish metabolism changes. In this study, we first reported ISKNV, the fish virus, induced metabolism alteration. The metabolomics profiles of Chinese perch brain cells (CPB) post-ISKNV infection at progressive time points were analyzed using the UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS technique. A total of 98 differential metabolites were identified. In the samples harvested at 24 hours post-infection (hpi; the early stage of ISKNV infection), 49 differential metabolites were identified comparing with control cells, including 31 up-regulated and 18 down-regulated metabolites. And in the samples harvested at 72 hpi (the late stage of ISKNV infection), 49 differential metabolites were identified comparing with control cells, including 27 up-regulated and 22 down-regulated metabolites. These differential metabolites were involved in many pathways related with viral pathogenesis. Further analysis on the major differential metabolites related to glucose metabolism and amino acid metabolism revealed that both glucose metabolism and glutamine metabolism were altered and a metabolic shift was determined from glucose to glutamine during ISKNV infection cycle. In ISKNV-infected cells, CPB cells prefer to utilize glucose for ISKNV replication at the early stage of infection, while they prefer to utilize glutamine to synthetize lipid for ISKNV maturation at the late stage of infection. These findings may improve the understanding of the interaction between ISKNV and host, as well as provide a new insight for elucidating the ISKNV pathogenic mechanism.
Effect of Chlorogenic Acid on the Physicochemical and Functional Properties of Coregonus Peled Myofibrillar Protein through Hydroxyl Radical Oxidation
Authors: Guo Xin , Qiu Hengheng , Deng Xiaorong , Mao Xiaoying , Guo Xiaobing , Xu Chengjian , Zhang Jian
Published: September 2019

The effects of chlorogenic acid (CA) (6, 30, and 150 μM/g protein) on the physicochemical and functional properties of Coregonus peled myofibrillar protein (MP) through oxidation using a hydroxyl radical oxidation system (0.01 mM FeCl3, 0.01 mM Asc, and 1 mM H2O2) were investigated. The result showed that CA inhibited the increase in protein carbonyl content but did not prevent losses in sulfhydryl and free amine contents caused by oxidation. The presence of CA also increased conformational changes in the secondary and tertiary structures of oxidized MP. Oxidized MP containing 6 μM/g CA had superior functional properties (solubility, emulsifying, foaming, and gel properties), while oxidized MP containing 150 μM/g CA aggregated, resulting in insolubility and a poor gel network.
Multi-Armed 1,2,3-Selenadiazole and 1,2,3-Thiadiazole Benzene Derivatives as Novel Glyoxalase-I Inhibitors
Authors: Al-Balas Qosay A. , Al-Smadi Mousa L. , Hassan Mohammad A. , Al Jabal Ghazi A. , Almaaytah Ammar M. , Alzoubi Karem H.
Published: September 2019

Glyoxalase-I (Glo-I) enzyme was established to be a valid target for anticancer drug design. It performs the essential detoxification step of harmful byproducts, especially methylglyoxal. A robust computer-aided drug design approach was used to design and validate a series of compounds with selenium or sulfur based heterorings. A series of in-house multi-armed 1,2,3-selenadiazole and 1,2,3-thiadiazole benzene derivatives were tested for their Glo-I inhibitory activity. Results showed that these compounds bind Glo-I active sites competitively with strong potential to inhibit this enzyme with IC50 values in micro-molar concentration. Docking poses revealed that these compounds interact with the zinc atom at the bottom of the active site, which plays an essential role in its viability.
The Profile of Carotenoids and Other Bioactive Molecules in Various Pumpkin Fruits (Cucurbita maxima Duchesne) Cultivars
Authors: Kulczyński Bartosz , Gramza-Michałowska Anna
Published: September 2019

Bioactive compounds are significant to human nutrition. They are beneficial to health as they inhibit the development of numerous diseases of affluence. Scientists continuously search for natural sources of these components. At present, the chemical composition of various plants is under investigation. Many researchers are interested in pumpkin (Cucurbita L. spp.). Different organs of this plant (pulp, seeds, flowers, leaves, shoots, roots) are consumed almost all over the world. They contain large amounts of bioactive compounds. Pumpkin pulp is used to prepare various dishes. It is also widely used in the food industry for the production of pastries, baked goods, juices, jams, marinades, and baby food. The content of carotenoids in the pumpkin has been documented in a large number of publications. However, so far there has been no complex analysis of the profile of other bioactive compounds. This article analyses 11 pumpkin cultivars of the Cucurbita maxima Duchesne species. It compares the chemical composition of the pulp and analyses the content of bioactive compounds such as carotenoids, polyphenols (flavonols and phenolic acids), tocopherols, minerals (K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn), vitamins (C, B1, folates). In view of available information, the study provides an innovative approach. The analysis showed high diversity in the concentration of individual components between the cultivars. The research proved that pumpkin pulp was not only a source of carotenoids but also other bioactive compounds.
Comparative Theoretical Studies on a Series of Novel Energetic Salts Composed of 4,8-Dihydrodifurazano[3,4-b,e]pyrazine-based Anions and Ammonium-based Cations
Authors: Duan Binghui , Liu Ning , Wang Bozhou , Lu Xianming , Mo Hongchang
Published: September 2019

4,8-Dihydrodifurazano[3,4-b,e]pyrazine (DFP) is one kind of parent compound for the synthesis of various promising difurazanopyrazine derivatives. In this paper, eleven series of energetic salts composed of 4,8-dihydrodifurazano[3,4-b,e]pyrazine-based anions and ammonium-based cations were designed. Their densities, heats of formation, energetic properties, impact sensitivity, and thermodynamics of formation were studied and compared based on density functional theory and volume-based thermodynamics method. Results show that ammonium and hydroxylammonium salts exhibit higher densities and more excellent detonation performance than guanidinium and triaminoguanidinium salts. Therein, the substitution with electron-withdrawing groups (–NO2, –CH2NF2, –CH2ONO2, –C(NO2)3, –CH2N3) contributes to enhancing the densities, heats of formation, and detonation properties of the title salts, and the substitution of –C(NO2)3 features the best performance. Incorporating N–O oxidation bond to difurazano[3,4-b,e]pyrazine anion gives a rise to the detonation performance of the title salts, while increasing their impact sensitivity meanwhile. Importantly, triaminoguanidinium 4,8-dihydrodifurazano[3,4-b,e]pyrazine (J4) has been successfully synthesized. The experimentally determined density and H50 value of J4 are 1.602 g/cm3 and higher than 112 cm, which are consistent with theoretical values, supporting the reliability of calculation methods. J4 proves to be a thermally stable and energetic explosive with decomposition peak temperature of 216.7 °C, detonation velocity 7732 m/s, and detonation pressure 25.42 GPa, respectively. These results confirm that the derivative work in furazanopyrazine compounds is an effective strategy to design and screen out potential candidates for high-performance energetic salts.
Leishmania mexicana Trypanothione Reductase Inhibitors: Computational and Biological Studies
Authors: Matadamas-Martínez Félix , Hernández-Campos Alicia , Téllez-Valencia Alfredo , Vázquez-Raygoza Alejandra , Comparán-Alarcón Sandra , Yépez-Mulia Lilián , Castillo Rafael
Published: September 2019

Leishmanicidal drugs have many side effects, and drug resistance to all of them has been documented. Therefore, the development of new drugs and the identification of novel therapeutic targets are urgently needed. Leishmania mexicana trypanothione reductase (LmTR), a NADPH-dependent flavoprotein oxidoreductase important to thiol metabolism, is essential for parasite viability. Its absence in the mammalian host makes this enzyme an attractive target for the development of new anti-Leishmania drugs. Herein, a tridimensional model of LmTR was constructed and the molecular docking of 20 molecules from a ZINC database was performed. Five compounds (ZINC04684558, ZINC09642432, ZINC12151998, ZINC14970552, and ZINC11841871) were selected (docking scores −10.27 kcal/mol to −5.29 kcal/mol and structurally different) and evaluated against recombinant LmTR (rLmTR) and L. mexicana promastigote. Additionally, molecular dynamics simulation of LmTR-selected compound complexes was achieved. The five selected compounds inhibited rLmTR activity in the range of 32.9% to 40.1%. The binding of selected compounds to LmTR involving different hydrogen bonds with distinct residues of the molecule monomers A and B is described. Compound ZINC12151998 (docking score −10.27 kcal/mol) inhibited 32.9% the enzyme activity (100 µM) and showed the highest leishmanicidal activity (IC50 = 58 µM) of all the selected compounds. It was more active than glucantime, and although its half-maximal cytotoxicity concentration (CC50 = 53 µM) was higher than that of the other four compounds, it was less cytotoxic than amphotericin B. Therefore, compound ZINC12151998 provides a promising starting point for a hit-to-lead process in our search for new anti-Leishmania drugs that are more potent and less cytotoxic.
Moringin Pretreatment Inhibits the Expression of Genes Involved in Mitophagy in the Stem Cell of the Human Periodontal Ligament
Authors: Chiricosta Luigi , Gugliandolo Agnese , Diomede Francesca , Pizzicannella Jacopo , Trubiani Oriana , Iori Renato , Tardiolo Giuseppe , Guarnieri Simone , Bramanti Placido , Mazzon Emanuela
Published: September 2019

Moringin [4-(α-L-rhamnosyloxy) benzyl isothiocyanate] is an isothiocyanate extracted from Moringa oleifera seeds. It is an antioxidant known for several biological properties useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Several neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases are linked to dysfunctional mitochondria due to the resulting increase of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). Stem cell-based therapeutic treatments in neurodegenerative diseases provide an alternative strategy aimed to replace the impaired tissue. In this study were investigated the deregulated genes involved in mitophagy in the human periodontal ligament stem cells pretreated with moringin. The RNA-seq study reveals the downregulation of PINK1, with a fold change (FC) of −0.56, such as the genes involved in the phagophore formation (MAP1LC3B FC: −0.73, GABARAP FC: −0.52, GABARAPL1 FC: −0.70, GABARAPL2 FC: −0.39). The moringin pretreatment downregulates the pro−apoptotic gene BAX (−0.66) and upregulates the anti-apoptotic genes BCL2L12 (FC: 1.35) and MCL1 (FC: 0.36). The downregulation of the most of the caspases (CASP1 FC: −1.43, CASP4 FC: −0.18, CASP6 FC: −1.34, CASP7 FC: −0.46, CASP8 FC: −0.65) implies the inactivation of the apoptotic process. Our results suggest that mitochondrial dysfunctions induced by oxidative stress can be inhibited by moringin pretreatment in human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs).
New Isoflavanes from Spatholobus suberectus and Their Cytotoxicity against Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines
Authors: Peng Fu , Zhu Huan , Meng Chun-Wang , Ren Yan-Rui , Dai Ou , Xiong Liang
Published: September 2019

The rattans of Spatholobus suberectus Dunn are a traditional Chinese medicine activating blood circulation and removing stasis. They have often been used for the traditional Chinese medicinal treatment of breast cancer in modern China. In this study, four novel isoflavanes (1–3 and 5) and four known analogues (4 and 6–8) were isolated from an ethanolic extract of the rattans of S. suberectus. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses and electronic circular dichroism studies. MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell lines were used to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of the isolates. Interestingly, compounds 1 and 2 only inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cells, while compound 6 showed a selective cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 cells. However, compound 4 had significant cytotoxicity against both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines.
Quality Evaluation of Ophiopogonis Radix from Two Different Producing Areas
Authors: Tan Mengxia , Chen Jiali , Wang Chengcheng , Zou Lisi , Chen Shuyu , Shi Jingjing , Mei Yuqi , Wei Lifang , Liu Xunhong
Published: September 2019

Ophiopogonis Radix, also known as Mai-dong in Chinese, was a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and functional health food. Two products of Ophiopogonis Radix are largely produced in the Sichuan and Zhejiang province, which are called “Chuan maidong (CMD)” and “Zhe maidong (ZMD)” respectively. To distinguish and evaluate the quality of CMD and ZMD, an analytical method based on ultra-fast performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole-linear ion trap mass spectrometry (UFLC-QTRAP-MS/MS) was established for simultaneous determination of 32 constituents including 4 steroidal saponins, 3 homisoflavonoids, 15 amino acids, and 10 nucleosides in 27 Mai-dong samples from Sichuan and Zhejiang. Furthermore, principal components analysis (PCA), partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), t-test, and grey relational analysis (GRA) were applied to discriminate and evaluate the samples from Sichuan and Zhejiang based on the contents of 32 constituents. The results demonstrated that the bioactive constituents in CMD and ZMD were significantly different, and CMD performed better in the quality assessment than ZMD. This study not only provides a basic information for differentiating CMD and ZMD, but offers a new insight into comprehensive evaluation and quality control of Ophiopogonis Radix from two different producing areas.
Osteopathic Manipulation Treatment Improves Cerebro–splanchnic Oximetry in Late Preterm Infants
Authors: Marinelli Benedetta , Pluchinotta Francesca , Cozzolino Vincenzo , Barlafante Gina , Strozzi Maria Chiara , Marinelli Eleonora , Franchini Simone , Gazzolo Diego
Published: September 2019

Background: To evaluate the effectiveness/side-effects of osteopathic manipulation treatment (OMT) performed on the 7th post-natal day, on cerebro–splanchnic oximetry, tissue activation and hemodynamic redistribution in late preterm (LP) infants by using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Methods: Observational pretest-test study consisting in a cohort of 18 LPs who received OMT on the 7th post-natal day. NIRS monitoring was performed at three different time-points: 30 min before (T0), (30 min during (T1) and 30 min after OMT (T2). We evaluated the effects of OMT on the following NIRS parameters: cerebral (c), splanchnic (s) regional oximetry (rSO2), cerebro–splanchnic fractional tissue oxygen extraction (FTOE) and hemodynamic redistribution (CSOR). Results: crSO2 and cFTOE significantly (P < 0.001) improved at T0-T2; srSO2 significantly (P < 0.001) decreased and sFTOE increased at T0-T1. Furthermore, srSO2 and sFTOE significantly improved at T1-T2. Finally, CSOR significantly (P < 0.05) increased at T0-T2. Conclusions: The present data show that OMT enhances cerebro–splanchnic oximetry, tissue activation and hemodynamic redistribution in the absence of any adverse clinical or laboratory pattern. The results indicate the usefulness of further randomized studies in wider populations comparing the effectiveness of OMT with standard rehabilitation programs.
Ionic Liquids Enhanced Alkynyl Schiff Bases Derivatives of Fipronil Synthesis and Their Cytotoxicity Studies
Authors: Liu Xiu , Huang Linya , Chen Hongjun , Li Na , Yan Chao , Jin Chenzhong , Xu Hanhong
Published: September 2019

To obtain highly selective toxic derivatives of fipronil, a series of Schiff bases with an alkynyl group (3a–3k) were designed and synthesized from 4-ethynylbenzaldehyde (2) and 4-substituted 5-amino-N-arylpyrazole (1a–1k) via a nucleophilic addition elimination reaction in ionic liquids. Utilization of ionic liquids was demonstrated to endow the yield of each compound beyond 50%, which was enhanced over 1.5 times of the synthetic productive rates comparing the conventional method by which longer reactive time was consumed. The derivatives were characterized via nuclear magnetic resonance hydrogen spectroscopy (1H-NMR), carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (13C-NMR), and electrospray ionization high resolution mass spectrometry (ESI-HRMS). The cytotoxicity of these derivatives on Trichoplusia ni (Hi-5) cell and Spodoptera litura cell (SL cell) was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) bioassays. The results indicated that several compounds had potential cytotoxicity on Hi-5 cell, especially a 4-ethyl substituted alkynyl Schiff base derivative (3f) that was demonstrated to possess high selective toxicity to the Hi-5 cell than the SL cell. In addition, 3f exhibited comparable toxic activity to commercial fipronil on a Hi-5 cell while a little toxic effect on the SL cell, which satisfied the expectation for selective toxicity screening.
A Self-Healing and Shape Memory Polymer that Functions at Body Temperature
Authors: Lai Hui-Ying , Wang Hong-Qin , Lai Jian-Cheng , Li Cheng-Hui
Published: September 2019

Dual-functional polymeric system combining shape memory with self-healing properties has attracted increasingly interests of researchers, as both of these properties are intelligent and promising characteristics. Moreover, shape memory polymer that functions at human body temperature (37 °C) are desirable because of their potential applications in biomedical field. Herein, we designed a polymer network with a permanent covalent crosslinking and abundant weak hydrogen bonds. The former introduces elasticity responsible and maintain the permanent shape, and the latter contributes to the temporary shape via network rearrangement. The obtained PDMS-COO-E polymer films exhibit excellent mechanical properties and the capability to efficiently self-heal for 6 h at room temperature. Furthermore, the samples turn from a viscous state into an elastic state at 37 °C. Therefore, this polymer has shape memory effects triggered by body temperature. This unique material will have a wide range of applications in many fields, containing wearable electronics, biomedical devices, and 4D printing.
Inhibition of Pancreatic α-amylase by Resveratrol Derivatives: Biological Activity and Molecular Modelling Evidence for Cooperativity between Viniferin Enantiomers
Authors: Mattio Luce M. , Marengo Mauro , Parravicini Chiara , Eberini Ivano , Dallavalle Sabrina , Bonomi Francesco , Iametti Stefania , Pinto Andrea
Published: September 2019

To improve the current understanding of the role of stilbenoids in the management of diabetes, the inhibition of the pancreatic α-amylase by resveratrol derivatives was investigated. To approach in a systematic way, the mechanistic and structural aspects of the interaction, potential bioactive agents were prepared as single molecules, that were used for the biological evaluation of the determinants of inhibitory binding. Some dimeric stilbenoids—in particular, viniferin isomers— were found to be better than the reference drug acarbose in inhibiting the pancreatic α-amylase. Racemic mixtures of viniferins were more effective inhibitors than the respective isolated pure enantiomers at an equivalent total concentration, and displayed cooperative effects not observed with the individual enantiomers. The molecular docking analysis provided a thermodynamics-based rationale for the measured inhibitory ability and for the observed synergistic effects. Indeed, the binding of additional ligands on the surface of the alpha-amylase was found to decrease the dissociation constant of inhibitors bound to the active site of the enzyme, thus providing a mechanistic rationale for the observed inhibitory synergies.
Regulation of the Metal Transporters ZIP14 and ZnT10 by Manganese Intake in Mice
Authors: Felber Danielle M. , Wu Yuze , Zhao Ningning
Published: September 2019

The metal transporters ZIP14 and ZnT10 play key physiological roles in maintaining manganese (Mn) homeostasis. However, in vivo regulation of these two transporters by Mn is not understood. Here, we examined how dietary Mn intake regulates ZIP14 and ZnT10 by feeding mice a low-Mn diet, a control diet, or a high-Mn diet for 6 weeks. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to measure Mn and iron (Fe) levels. ZIP14 and ZnT10 protein levels were measured by western blot analysis. While mice on the high-Mn diet exhibited significantly higher levels of Mn in the blood, liver, and brain, the low-Mn diet group did not display matching reductions, indicating that high Mn intake is more effective in disrupting Mn homeostasis in mice. Additionally, Fe levels were only slightly altered, suggesting independent transport mechanisms for Mn and Fe. In the high-Mn diet group, ZIP14 and ZnT10 were both upregulated in the liver, as well as in the small intestine, indicating a coordinated role for these transporters in Mn excretion. Unexpectedly, this upregulation only occurred in male mice, with the exception of hepatic ZIP14, providing new insight into mechanisms behind widely observed sex differences in Mn homeostasis.
Correction: Nguyen et al. “Monobutyrin Reduces Liver Cholesterol and Improves Intestinal Barrier Function in Rats Fed High-Fat Diets” Nutrients 2019, 11, 308
Authors: Nguyen Thao Duy , Prykhodko Olena , Hållenius Frida F. , Nyman Margareta
Published: September 2019

The authors wish to make a correction to the published version of their paper [...]
Polymeric Nanomaterials for Nanotherapeutics. Ed. C. Vasile, Elsevier, 1st Edition. 2018. Series Volume Editors: Cornelia Vasile, eBook ISBN: 9780128139332; Paperback ISBN: 9780128139325: Elsevier, Published Date: 2nd November 2018; 558 pages. In Micro and Nano Technologies Series
Authors: Kozlowski Marek
Published: September 2019

In the book “Polymeric Nanomaterials in Nanotherapeutics” (2018) edited by prof [...]
The Use of Ground Penetrating Radar and Microwave Tomography for the Detection of Decay and Cavities in Tree Trunks
Authors: Alani Amir M. , Soldovieri Francesco , Catapano Ilaria , Giannakis Iraklis , Gennarelli Gianluca , Lantini Livia , Ludeno Giovanni , Tosti Fabio
Published: September 2019

Aggressive fungal and insect attacks have reached an alarming level, threatening a variety of tree species, such as ash and oak trees, in the United Kingdom and beyond. In this context, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) has proven to be an effective non-invasive tool, capable of generating information about the inner structure of tree trunks in terms of existence, location, and geometry of defects. Nevertheless, it had been observed that the currently available and known GPR-related processing and data interpretation methods and tools are able to provide only limited information regarding the existence of defects and anomalies within the tree inner structure. In this study, we present a microwave tomographic approach for improved GPR data processing with the aim of detecting and characterising the geometry of decay and cavities in trees. The microwave tomographic approach is able to pinpoint explicitly the position of the measurement points on the tree surface and thus to consider the actual geometry of the sections beyond the classical (circular) ones. The robustness of the microwave tomographic approach with respect to noise and data uncertainty is tackled by exploiting a regularised scheme in the inversion process based on the Truncated Singular Value Decomposition (TSVD). A demonstration of the potential of the microwave tomography approach is provided for both simulated data and measurements collected in controlled conditions. First, the performance analysis was carried out by processing simulated data achieved by means of a Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) in three scenarios characterised by different geometric trunk shapes, internal trunk configurations and target dimensions. Finally, the method was validated on a real trunk by proving the viability of the proposed approach in identifying the position of cavities and decay in tree trunks.
AdTree: Accurate, Detailed, and Automatic Modelling of Laser-Scanned Trees
Authors: Du Shenglan , Lindenbergh Roderik , Ledoux Hugo , Stoter Jantien , Nan Liangliang
Published: September 2019

Laser scanning is an effective tool for acquiring geometric attributes of trees and vegetation, which lays a solid foundation for 3-dimensional tree modelling. Existing studies on tree modelling from laser scanning data are vast. However, some works cannot guarantee sufficient modelling accuracy, while some other works are mainly rule-based and therefore highly depend on user inputs. In this paper, we propose a novel method to accurately and automatically reconstruct detailed 3D tree models from laser scans. We first extract an initial tree skeleton from the input point cloud by establishing a minimum spanning tree using the Dijkstra shortest-path algorithm. Then, the initial tree skeleton is pruned by iteratively removing redundant components. After that, an optimization-based approach is performed to fit a sequence of cylinders to approximate the geometry of the tree branches. Experiments on various types of trees from different data sources demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of our method. The overall fitting error (i.e., the distance between the input points and the output model) is less than 10 cm. The reconstructed tree models can be further applied in the precise estimation of tree attributes, urban landscape visualization, etc. The source code of this work is freely available at https://github.com/tudelft3d/adtree.
Spatio-Temporal Data Fusion for Satellite Images Using Hopfield Neural Network
Authors: Fung Che Heng , Wong Man Sing , Chan P. W.
Published: September 2019

Spatio-temporal data fusion refers to the technique of combining high temporal resolution from coarse satellite images and high spatial resolution from fine satellite images. However, data availability remains a major limitation in algorithm development. Existing spatio-temporal data fusion algorithms require at least one known image pair between the fine and coarse resolution image. However, data which come from two different satellite platforms do not necessarily have an overlap in their overpass times, hence restricting the application of spatio-temporal data fusion. In this paper, a new algorithm named Hopfield Neural Network SPatio-tempOral daTa fusion model (HNN-SPOT) is developed by utilizing the optimization concept in the Hopfield neural network (HNN) for spatio-temporal image fusion. The algorithm derives a synthesized fine resolution image from a coarse spatial resolution satellite image (similar to downscaling), with the use of one fine resolution image taken on an arbitrary date and one coarse image taken on a predicted date. The HNN-SPOT particularly addresses the problem when the fine resolution and coarse resolution images are acquired from different satellite overpass times over the same geographic extent. Both simulated datasets and real datasets over Hong Kong and Australia have been used in the evaluation of HNN-SPOT. Results showed that HNN-SPOT was comparable with an existing fusion algorithm, the spatial and temporal adaptive reflectance fusion model (STARFM). HNN-SPOT assumes consistent spatial structure for the target area between the date of data acquisition and the prediction date. Therefore, it is more applicable to geographical areas with little or no land cover change. It is shown that HNN-SPOT can produce accurate fusion results with >90% of correlation coefficient over consistent land covers. For areas that have undergone land cover changes, HNN-SPOT can still produce a prediction about the outlines and the tone of the features, if they are large enough to be recorded in the coarse resolution image at the prediction date. HNN-SPOT provides a relatively new approach in spatio-temporal data fusion, and further improvements can be made by modifying or adding new goals and constraints in its HNN architecture. Owing to its lower demand for data prerequisites, HNN-SPOT is expected to increase the applicability of fine-scale applications in remote sensing, such as environmental modeling and monitoring.
SINS/CNS/GNSS Integrated Navigation Based on an Improved Federated Sage–Husa Adaptive Filter
Authors: Xu Shuqing , Zhou Haiyin , Wang Jiongqi , He Zhangming , Wang Dayi
Published: September 2019

Among the methods of the multi-source navigation filter, as a distributed method, the federated filter has a small calculation amount with Gaussian state noise, and it is easy to achieve global optimization. However, when the state noise is time-varying or its initial estimation is not accurate, there will be a big difference with the true value in the result of the federated filter. For the systems with time-varying noise, adaptive filter is widely used for its remarkable advantages. Therefore, this paper proposes a federated Sage–Husa adaptive filter for multi-source navigation systems with time-varying or mis-estimated state noise. Because both the federated and the adaptive principles are different in updating the covariance of the state noise, it is required to weight the two updating methods to obtain a combined method with stability and adaptability. In addition, according to the characteristics of the system, the weighting coefficient is formed by the exponential function. This federated adaptive filter is applied to the SINS/CNS/GNSS integrated navigation, and the simulation results show that this method is effective.
Multi-sensor Fusion Road Friction Coefficient Estimation During Steering with Lyapunov Method
Authors: Gao Letian , Xiong Lu , Lin Xuefeng , Xia Xin , Liu Wei , Lu Yishi , Yu Zhuoping
Published: September 2019

The road friction coefficient is a key parameter for autonomous vehicles and vehicle dynamic control. With the development of autonomous vehicles, increasingly, more environmental perception sensors are being installed on vehicles, which means that more information can be used to estimate the road friction coefficient. In this paper, a nonlinear observer aided by vehicle lateral displacement information for estimating the road friction coefficient is proposed. First, the tire brush model is modified to describe the tire characteristics more precisely in high friction conditions using tire test data. Then, on the basis of vehicle dynamics and a kinematic model, a nonlinear observer is designed, and the self-aligning torque of the wheel, lateral acceleration, and vehicle lateral displacement are used to estimate the road friction coefficient during steering. Finally, slalom tests and DLC (Double Line Change) tests in high friction conditions are conducted to verify the proposed estimation algorithm. Test results showed that the proposed method performs well during steering and the estimated road friction coefficient converges to the reference value rapidly.
A Fast Image Deformity Correction Algorithm for Underwater Turbulent Image Distortion
Authors: Zhang Min , Chen Yuzhang , Pan Yongcai , Zeng Zhangfan
Published: September 2019

An algorithm correcting distortion based on estimating the pixel shift is proposed for the degradation caused by underwater turbulence. The distorted image is restored and reconstructed by reference frame selection and two–dimensional pixel registration. A support vector machine-based kernel correlation filtering algorithm is proposed and applied to improve the speed and efficiency of the correction algorithm. In order to validate the algorithm, laboratory experiments on a controlled simulation system of turbulent water and field experiments in rivers and oceans are carried out, and the experimental results are compared with traditional, theoretical model-based and particle image velocimetry-based restoration and reconstruction algorithms. Using subjective visual evaluation, image distortion has been effectively suppressed; based on an objective performance statistical analysis, the measured values are better than the traditional and formerly studied restoration and reconstruction algorithms. The method proposed in this paper is also much faster than the other algorithms. It can be concluded that the proposed algorithm can effectively improve the de-distortion effect of the underwater turbulence degraded image, and provide potential techniques for the accurate operation of underwater target detection in real time.
An Out-of-Plane Operated Soft Engine Driving Stretchable Zone Plate for Adjusting Focal Point of an Ultrasonic Beam
Authors: Feng Guo-Hua , Liu Hong-Yu
Published: September 2019

This paper presents a soft engine which performs up-and-down motion with four planar film-structured ionic polymer—metal composites (IPMC) actuators. This soft engine assembled with a stretchable Fresnel zone plate is capable of tuning the focus of ultrasonic beam. Instead of conventional clamps, we employ 3D printed frame pairs with magnets and a conductive gold cloth to provide an alternative solution for securing the IPMC actuators during assembly. The design and analysis of the zone plate are carefully performed. The zone plate allows the plane ultrasonic wave to be effectively focused. The motion of IPMC actuators stretch the metal-foil-made zone plate to tune the focal range of the ultrasonic beam. The zone plate, 3D frames and IPMC actuators were fabricated, assembled and tested. The stiffness normal to the stretchable zone plate with varied designs was investigated and the seven-zone design was selected for our experimental study. The force responsible for clamping the IPMC actuators, controlled by the magnetic attraction between the fabricated frames, was also examined. The driving voltage, current and resulting displacement of IPMC actuation were characterized. The developed soft engine stretching the zone plate to tune the focal point of the ultrasonic beam up to 10% was successfully demonstrated.
Influence of Tuning Fork Resonance Properties on Quartz-Enhanced Photoacoustic Spectroscopy Performance
Authors: Zheng Huadan , Lin Haoyang , Dong Lei , Liu Yihua , Patimisco Pietro , Zweck John , Mozumder Ali , Sampaolo Angelo , Spagnolo Vincenzo , Huang Bincheng , Tang Jieyuan , Dong Linpeng , Zhu Wenguo , Yu Jianhui , Chen Zhe , Tittel Frank
Published: September 2019

A detailed investigation of the influence of quartz tuning forks (QTFs) resonance properties on the performance of quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy (QEPAS) exploiting QTFs as acousto-electric transducers is reported. The performance of two commercial QTFs with the same resonance frequency (32.7 KHz) but different geometries and two custom QTFs with lower resonance frequencies (2.9 KHz and 7.2 KHz) were compared and discussed. The results demonstrated that the fundamental resonance frequency as well as the quality factor and the electrical resistance were strongly inter-dependent on the QTF prongs geometry. Even if the resonance frequency was reduced, the quality factor must be kept as high as possible and the electrical resistance as low as possible in order to guarantee high QEPAS performance.
Board Power Hierarchy, Corporate Mission, and Green Performance
Authors: Dong Feiran , Xie Yongzhen , Cao Linjun
Published: September 2019

Green governance is the only way to build a community for humankind with a shared future. Existing research has concentrated more on the macro level rather than the micro level of green governance—the power hierarchy of the governance subjects and its influence on decision-making and the implementation of green governance. The board of directors is the main green governance body, and the consciousness and conducts of the green governance of board members are determined by corporate mission. As a result, we explored the mechanism of the impact of board power hierarchy on green governance performance through the influence of green governance conduct. To interpret this mechanism, we introduced relational contract theory and conducted an empirical analysis. The results show that board power hierarchy negatively affects green governance conduct. Corporate mission restrains the board power hierarchy’s negative influence on green governance conduct, showing that board power structure has a significantly positive effect on green governance performance through the mediator of green governance conduct. Therefore, the positive role of corporate mission is identified.