bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thermoplastic Composites: Modelling Melting, Decomposition and Combustion of Matrix Polymers
Authors: Ndiaye Mamadou , Myler Peter , Kandola Baljinder K.
Published: January 2022

In thermoplastic composites, the polymeric matrix upon exposure to heat may melt, decompose and deform prior to burning, as opposed to the char-forming matrices of thermoset composites, which retain their shape until reaching a temperature at which decomposition and ignition occur. In this work, a theoretical and numerical heat transfer model to simulate temperature variations during the melting, decomposition and early stages of burning of commonly used thermoplastic matrices is proposed. The scenario includes exposing polymeric slabs to one-sided radiant heat in a cone calorimeter with heat fluxes ranging from 15 to 35 kW/m2. A one-dimensional finite difference method based on the Stefan approach involving phase-changing and moving boundary conditions was developed by considering convective and radiative heat transfer at the exposed side of the polymer samples. The polymers chosen to experimentally validate the simulated results included polypropylene (PP), polyester (PET), and polyamide 6 (PA6). The predicted results match well with the experimental results.
Relevant Biomarkers in Medical Practices: An Analysis of the Needs Addressed by an International Survey
Authors: Abensur Vuillaume Laure , Leichle Thierry , Le Borgne Pierrick , Grajoszex Mathieu , Goetz Christophe , Voss Paul L , Ougazzaden Abdallah , Salvestrini Jean-Paul , d’Ortho Marie-Pia
Published: January 2022

(1) Backround: Technological advances should foster gains in physicians’ efficiency. For example, a reduction of the medical decision time can be enabled by faster biological tests. The main objective of this study was to collect responses from an international panel of physicians on their needs for biomarkers and also to convey the improvement in the outcome to be made possible by the potential development of fast diagnostic tests for these biomarkers. (2) Methods: we distributed a questionnaire on the Internet to physicians. (3) Results: 508 physicians participated in this survey. The mean age was 38 years. General practice and emergency medicine were heavily represented, with 95% CIs of 44% (39.78, 48.41) and 32% (27.84, 35.94)), respectively. The two most represented countries were France (95% CI: 74% (70.20, 77.83)) and the USA (95% CI: 11% (8.65, 14.18)). Ninety-eight percentages of the physicians thought that obtaining cited biomarkers more quickly would be beneficial to their practice and to patient’s care. The main biomarkers of interest identified by our panel were troponin (95% CI: 51% (46.24, 54.94)), C-reactive protein (95% CI: 42% (38.03, 46.62)), D-dimer (95% CI: 29% (24.80, 32.68)), and brain natriuretic peptide (95% CI: 13% (10.25, 16.13)). (4) Conclusions: Our study highlights the real technological need for fast biomarker results, which could be provided by biosensors. The relevance of some answers such as troponin is questionable.
Do You Ever Get Off Track in a Conversation? The Conversational System’s Anatomy and Evaluation Metrics
Authors: Yadav Sargam , Kaushik Abhishek
Published: January 2022

Conversational systems are now applicable to almost every business domain. Evaluation is an important step in the creation of dialog systems so that they may be readily tested and prototyped. There is no universally agreed upon metric for evaluating all dialog systems. Human evaluation, which is not computerized, is now the most effective and complete evaluation approach. Data gathering and analysis are evaluation activities that need human intervention. In this work, we address the many types of dialog systems and the assessment methods that may be used with them. The benefits and drawbacks of each sort of evaluation approach are also explored, which could better help us understand the expectations associated with developing an automated evaluation system. The objective of this study is to investigate conversational agents, their design approaches and evaluation metrics. This approach can help us to better understand the overall process of dialog system development, and future possibilities to enhance user experience. Because human assessment is costly and time consuming, we emphasize the need of having a generally recognized and automated evaluation model for conversational systems, which may significantly minimize the amount of time required for analysis.
Land as a Basis for Recent Progress in the Study of Urbanization Dynamics
Authors: Cieślak Iwona , Biłozor Andrzej , Salvati Luca
Published: January 2022

Urbanization is one of the most dynamic processes occurring on the Earth [...]
Viroids and Viroid-like Circular RNAs: Do They Descend from Primordial Replicators?
Authors: Lee Benjamin D. , Koonin Eugene V.
Published: January 2022

Viroids are a unique class of plant pathogens that consist of small circular RNA molecules, between 220 and 450 nucleotides in size. Viroids encode no proteins and are the smallest known infectious agents. Viroids replicate via the rolling circle mechanism, producing multimeric intermediates which are cleaved to unit length either by ribozymes formed from both polarities of the viroid genomic RNA or by coopted host RNAses. Many viroid-like small circular RNAs are satellites of plant RNA viruses. Ribozyviruses, represented by human hepatitis delta virus, are larger viroid-like circular RNAs that additionally encode the viral nucleocapsid protein. It has been proposed that viroids are direct descendants of primordial RNA replicons that were present in the hypothetical RNA world. We argue, however, that much later origin of viroids, possibly, from recently discovered mobile genetic elements known as retrozymes, is a far more parsimonious evolutionary scenario. Nevertheless, viroids and viroid-like circular RNAs are minimal replicators that are likely to be close to the theoretical lower limit of replicator size and arguably comprise the paradigm for replicator emergence. Thus, although viroid-like replicators are unlikely to be direct descendants of primordial RNA replicators, the study of the diversity and evolution of these ultimate genetic parasites can yield insights into the earliest stages of the evolution of life.
Study of the Layer-Type BST Thin Film with X-ray Diffraction and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy
Authors: Lisińska-Czekaj Agata , Czekaj Dionizy
Published: January 2022

In the present paper, results of X-ray photoelectron studies of electroceramic thin films of barium strontium titanate, Ba1−xSrxTiO3 (BST), composition deposited on stainless-steel substrates are presented. The thin films were prepared by the sol-gel method. A spin-coating deposition of BST layers with different chemical compositions was utilized so the layer-type structure of (0-2) connectivity was formed. After the deposition, the thin-film samples were heated in air atmosphere at temperature T = 700 °C for 1 h. The surfaces of BST thin films subjected to thermal treatment were studied by X-ray diffraction. X-ray diffraction measurements confirmed the perovskite-type phase for all grown thin-film samples. The oxidation states of the elements were examined by the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy method. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy survey spectra as well as high-resolution spectra (photo-peaks) of the main metallic elements, such as Ti, Ba, and Sr, were compared for the layer-type structures, differing in the deposition sequence of the barium strontium titanate layers constituting the BST thin film.
RETRACTED: Zhang et al. Functionalized Biomass Carbon-Based Adsorbent for Simultaneous Removal of Pb2+ and MB in Wastewater. Materials 2021, 14, 3537
Authors: Zhang Nannan , Cheng Nan , Liu Qing
Published: January 2022

The journal retracts the article “Functionalized Biomass Carbon-Based Adsorbent for Simultaneous Removal of Pb2+ and MB in Wastewater” [...]
Recycling of Mining Waste in the Production of Masonry Units
Authors: Cobîrzan Nicoleta , Muntean Radu , Thalmaier Gyorgy , Felseghi Raluca-Andreea
Published: January 2022

Masonry units made of clay or Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) are widely used in constructions from Romania and other countries. Masonry units with superior mechanical and thermal characteristics can improve the energy efficiency of buildings, especially when they are used as the main solutions for building envelope construction. Their production in recent years has increased vertiginously to meet the increased demand. Manufactured with diversified geometries, different mechanical and/or thermal characteristics have a high volume in the mass of the building and a major influence in their carbon footprint. Starting from the current context regarding the target imposed by the long-term strategy of built environment decarbonization, the aim of the paper is to analyze the potential of reusing mining waste in the production of masonry units. Mining waste represents the highest share of waste generated at national level and may represent a valuable resource for the construction industry, facilitating the creation of new jobs and support for economic development. This review presents the interest in integrating mining wastes in masonry unit production and the technical characteristics of the masonry units in which they have been used as raw materials in different percentages. Critical assessment framework using SWOT analysis highlights the key sustainability aspects (technical, environmental, social, economic) providing a comprehensive and systematic analysis of the advantages and disadvantages regarding the integration of mining waste as secondary raw materials into masonry units production.
Investigation of SiC Trench MOSFETs’ Reliability under Short-Circuit Conditions
Authors: Zou Yuan , Wang Jue , Xu Hongyi , Wang Hengyu
Published: January 2022

In this paper, the short-circuit robustness of 1200 V silicon carbide (SiC) trench MOSFETs with different gate structures has been investigated. The MOSFETs exhibited different failure modes under different DC bus voltages. For double trench SiC MOSFETs, failure modes are gate failure at lower dc bus voltages and thermal runaway at higher dc bus voltages, while failure modes for asymmetric trench SiC MOSFETs are soft failure and thermal runaway, respectively. The shortcircuit withstanding time (SCWT) of the asymmetric trench MOSFET is higher than that of the double trench MOSFETs. The thermal and mechanical stresses inside the devices during the short-circuit tests have been simulated to probe into the failure mechanisms and reveal the impact of the device structures on the device reliability. Finally, post-failure analysis has been carried out to verify the root causes of the device failure.
Structure Refinement and Fragmentation of Precipitates under Severe Plastic Deformation: A Review
Authors: Straumal Boris B. , Kulagin Roman , Klinger Leonid , Rabkin Eugen , Straumal Petr B. , Kogtenkova Olga A. , Baretzky Brigitte
Published: January 2022

During severe plastic deformation (SPD), the processes of lattice defect formation as well as their relaxation (annihilation) compete with each other. As a result, a dynamic equilibrium is established, and a steady state is reached after a certain strain value. Simultaneously, other kinetic processes act in opposite directions and also compete with each other during SPD, such as grain refinement/growth, mechanical strengthening/softening, formation/decomposition of solid solution, etc. These competing processes also lead to dynamic equilibrium and result in a steady state (saturation), albeit after different strains. Among these steady-state phenomena, particle fragmentation during the second phase of SPD has received little attention. Available data indicate that precipitate fragmentation slows down with increasing strain, though saturation is achieved at higher strains than in the case of hardness or grain size. Moreover, one can consider the SPD-driven nanocrystallization in the amorphous phase as a process that is opposite to the fragmentation of precipitates. The size of these crystalline nanoprecipitates also saturates after a certain strain. The fragmentation of precipitates during SPD is the topic of this review.
D3 Dihedral Logistic Map of Fractional Order
Authors: Danca Marius-F. , Kuznetsov Nikolay
Published: January 2022

In this paper, the D3 dihedral logistic map of fractional order is introduced. The map presents a dihedral symmetry D3. It is numerically shown that the construction and interpretation of the bifurcation diagram versus the fractional order requires special attention. The system stability is determined and the problem of hidden attractors is analyzed. Furthermore, analytical and numerical results show that the chaotic attractor of integer order, with D3 symmetries, looses its symmetry in the fractional-order variant.
Numerical Studies of Statistical Management Decisions in Conditions of Stochastic Chaos
Authors: Musaev Alexander , Grigoriev Dmitry
Published: January 2022

The research presented in this article is dedicated to analyzing the acceptability of traditional techniques of statistical management decision-making in conditions of stochastic chaos. A corresponding example would be asset management at electronic capital markets. This formulation of the problem is typical for a large number of applications in which the managed object interacts with an unstable immersion environment. In particular, this issue arises in problems of managing gas-dynamic and hydrodynamic turbulent flows. We highlight the features of observation series of the managed object’s state immersed in an unstable interaction environment. The fundamental difference between observation series of chaotic processes and probabilistic descriptions of traditional models is demonstrated. We also present an additive observation model with a chaotic system component and non-stationary noise which provides the most adequate characterization of the original observation series. Furthermore, we suggest a method for numerically analyzing the efficiency of conventional statistical solutions in the conditions of stochastic chaos. Based on numerical experiments, we establish that techniques of optimal statistical synthesis do not allow for making effective management decisions in the conditions of stochastic chaos. Finally, we propose several versions of compositional algorithms focused on the adaptation of statistical techniques to the non-deterministic conditions caused by the specifics of chaotic processes.
Analysis and Detection of Erosion in Wind Turbine Blades
Authors: Enríquez Zárate Josué , Gómez López María de los Ángeles , Carmona Troyo Javier Alberto , Trujillo Leonardo
Published: January 2022

This paper studies erosion at the tip of wind turbine blades by considering aerodynamic analysis, modal analysis and predictive machine learning modeling. Erosion can be caused by several factors and can affect different parts of the blade, reducing its dynamic performance and useful life. The ability to detect and quantify erosion on a blade is an important predictive maintenance task for wind turbines that can have broad repercussions in terms of avoiding serious damage, improving power efficiency and reducing downtimes. This study considers both sides of the leading edge of the blade (top and bottom), evaluating the mechanical imbalance caused by the material loss that induces variations of the power coefficient resulting in a loss in efficiency. The QBlade software is used in our analysis and load calculations are preformed by using blade element momentum theory. Numerical results show the performance of a blade based on the relationship between mechanical damage and aerodynamic behavior, which are then validated on a physical model. Moreover, two machine learning (ML) problems are posed to automatically detect the location of erosion (top of the edge, bottom or both) and to determine erosion levels (from 8% to 18%) present in the blade. The first problem is solved using classification models, while the second is solved using ML regression, achieving accurate results. ML pipelines are automatically designed by using an AutoML system with little human intervention, achieving highly accurate results. This work makes several contributions by developing ML models to both detect the presence and location of erosion on a blade, estimating its level and applying AutoML for the first time in this domain.
AutoML for Feature Selection and Model Tuning Applied to Fault Severity Diagnosis in Spur Gearboxes
Authors: Cerrada Mariela , Trujillo Leonardo , Hernández Daniel E. , Correa Zevallos Horacio A. , Macancela Jean Carlo , Cabrera Diego , Vinicio Sánchez René
Published: January 2022

Gearboxes are widely used in industrial processes as mechanical power transmission systems. Then, gearbox failures can affect other parts of the system and produce economic loss. The early detection of the possible failure modes and their severity assessment in such devices is an important field of research. Data-driven approaches usually require an exhaustive development of pipelines including models’ parameter optimization and feature selection. This paper takes advantage of the recent Auto Machine Learning (AutoML) tools to propose proper feature and model selection for three failure modes under different severity levels: broken tooth, pitting and crack. The performance of 64 statistical condition indicators (SCI) extracted from vibration signals under the three failure modes were analyzed by two AutoML systems, namely the H2O Driverless AI platform and TPOT, both of which include feature engineering and feature selection mechanisms. In both cases, the systems converged to different types of decision tree methods, with ensembles of XGBoost models preferred by H2O while TPOT generated different types of stacked models. The models produced by both systems achieved very high, and practically equivalent, performances on all problems. Both AutoML systems converged to pipelines that focus on very similar subsets of features across all problems, indicating that several problems in this domain can be solved by a rather small set of 10 common features, with accuracy up to 90%. This latter result is important in the research of useful feature selection for gearbox fault diagnosis.
Experimental and Emerging Free Fatty Acid Receptor Agonists for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Patti Angelo Maria , Giglio Rosaria Vincenza , Papanas Nikolaos , Serban Dragos , Stoian Anca Pantea , Pafili Kalliopi , Al Rasadi Khalid , Rajagopalan Kanya , Rizvi Ali A. , Ciaccio Marcello , Rizzo Manfredi
Published: January 2022

The current management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) includes incretin-based treatments able to enhance insulin secretion and peripheral insulin sensitivity as well as improve body mass, inflammation, plasma lipids, blood pressure, and cardiovascular outcomes. Dietary Free Fatty Acids (FFA) regulate metabolic and anti-inflammatory processes through their action on incretins. Selective synthetic ligands for FFA1-4 receptors have been developed as potential treatments for T2DM. To comprehensively review the available evidence for the potential role of FFA receptor agonists in the treatment of T2DM, we performed an electronic database search assessing the association between FFAs, T2DM, inflammation, and incretins. Evidence indicates that FFA1-4 agonism increases insulin sensitivity, induces body mass loss, reduces inflammation, and has beneficial metabolic effects. There is a strong inter-relationship between FFAs and incretins. FFA receptor agonism represents a potential target for the treatment of T2DM and may provide an avenue for the management of cardiometabolic risk in susceptible individuals. Further research promises to shed more light on this emerging topic.
Targeted Delivery of Exosomes Armed with Anti-Cancer Therapeutics
Authors: Choi Hojun , Yim Hwayoung , Park Cheolhyoung , Ahn So-Hee , Ahn Yura , Lee Areum , Yang Heekyoung , Choi Chulhee
Published: January 2022

Among extracellular vesicles, exosomes have gained great attention for their role as therapeutic vehicles for delivering various active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Exosomes “armed” with anti-cancer therapeutics possess great potential for an efficient intracellular delivery of anti-cancer APIs and enhanced targetability to tumor cells. Various technologies are being developed to efficiently incorporate anti-cancer APIs such as genetic materials (miRNA, siRNA, mRNA), chemotherapeutics, and proteins into exosomes and to induce targeted delivery to tumor burden by exosomal surface modification. Exosomes can incorporate the desired therapeutic molecules via direct exogenous methods (e.g., electroporation and sonication) or indirect methods by modifying cells to produce “armed” exosomes. The targeted delivery of “armed” exosomes to tumor burden could be accomplished either by “passive” targeting using the natural tropism of exosomes or by “active” targeting via the surface engineering of exosomal membranes. Although anti-cancer exosome therapeutics demonstrated promising results in preclinical studies, success in clinical trials requires thorough validation in terms of chemistry, manufacturing, and control techniques. While exosomes possess multiple advantages over synthetic nanoparticles, challenges remain in increasing the loading efficiency of anti-cancer agents into exosomes, as well as establishing quantitative and qualitative analytical methods for monitoring the delivery of in vivo administered exosomes and exosome-incorporated anti-cancer agents to the tumor parenchyma.
Kinetic Study of Oxide Growth at High Temperature in Low Carbon Steel
Authors: Arreola-Villa Sixtos Antonio , Vergara-Hernández Héctor Javier , Solorio-Diáz Gildardo , Pérez-Alvarado Alejandro , Vázquez-Gómez Octavio , Chávez-Campos Gerardo Marx
Published: January 2022

High-temperature surface oxidation kinetics were determined for low-carbon steel using a Joule heating device on hollow cylindrical specimens. The growth of the oxide layer was measured in situ between 800 and 1050 ∘C under isothermal oxidation conditions and in an air laboratory atmosphere (O2 = 20.3% and humidity = 42%). Through a laser and infrared measuring system, the expansion and temperature were measured continuously. From the data acquired, the oxidation kinetic parameters were obtained at different temperatures with a parabolic-type growth model to estimate the rate of oxide layer generation. The convergence degree of the data fitted with the oxidation model was acceptable and appropriately correlated with the experimental data. Finally, comparisons were made between the estimated kinetic parameters and those reported in the literature, observing that the activation energy values obtained are in the range of the reported values.
Aerobic Glycolysis: A DeOxymoron of (Neuro)Biology
Authors: Schurr Avital , Passarella Salvatore
Published: January 2022

The term ‘aerobic glycolysis’ has been in use ever since Warburg conducted his research on cancer cells’ proliferation and discovered that cells use glycolysis to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP) rather than the more efficient oxidative phosphorylation (oxphos) pathway, despite an abundance of oxygen. When measurements of glucose and oxygen utilization by activated neural tissue indicated that glucose was consumed without an accompanied oxygen consumption, the investigators who performed those measurements also termed their discovery ‘aerobic glycolysis’. Red blood cells do not contain mitochondria and, therefore, produce their energy needs via glycolysis alone. Other processes within the central nervous system (CNS) and additional organs and tissues (heart, muscle, and so on), such as ion pumps, are also known to utilize glycolysis only for the production of ATP necessary to support their function. Unfortunately, the phenomenon of ‘aerobic glycolysis’ is an enigma wherever it is encountered, thus several hypotheses have been produced in attempts to explain it; that is, whether it occurs in cancer cells, in activated neural tissue, or during postprandial or exercise metabolism. Here, it is argued that, where the phenomenon in neural tissue is concerned, the prefix ‘aerobic’ in the term ‘aerobic glycolysis’ should be removed. Data collected over the past three decades indicate that L-lactate, the end product of the glycolytic pathway, plays an essential role in brain energy metabolism, justifying the elimination of the prefix ‘aerobic’. Similar justification is probably appropriate for other tissues as well.
Untargeted Metabolomics Combined with Solid Phase Fractionation for Systematic Characterization of Bioactive Compounds in Hemp with Methane Mitigation Potential
Authors: Jensen Rikke Hald , Rønn Marie , Thorsteinsson Mirka , Olijhoek Dana W. , Nielsen Mette Olaf , Nørskov Natalja P.
Published: January 2022

This study systematically evaluates the presence of methane mitigating metabolites in two hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) varieties, Futura 75 and Finola. Hemp metabolites were extracted with methanol and fractionated using Solid Phase Extraction (SPE). Extracts, fractions, and the remaining pulp were screened for their methane mitigating potential using an in vitro model of rumen fermentation. The bioactive metabolites were identified with Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS). When incubated with a standard feed (maize silage), the extract of Futura 75 significantly reduced methane production compared to that of control (without added extract) and without negative effects on feed degradability and volatile fatty acid patterns. The compounds responsible for the methane mitigating effect were assigned to flavonoid glycosides. However, none of the fractions of Futura 75 or the pulp exhibited similar effect on methane emission. Butyric acid concentration in the fermentation inoculum was significantly increased, which could indicate why methane production was higher, when incubated with the fractions and the pulp. The extract of Finola did not show a similar significant effect, however, there was a numerical tendency towards lower methane production. The difference in methane mitigating properties between Cannabis sativa L. Futura 75 and Finola, could be related to the content of bioactive flavonoids.
A Novel Distribution for Representation of 6D Pose Uncertainty
Authors: Zhang Lei , Shang Huiliang , Lin Yandan
Published: January 2022

The 6D Pose estimation is a crux in many applications, such as visual perception, autonomous navigation, and spacecraft motion. For robotic grasping, the cluttered and self-occlusion scenarios bring new challenges to the this field. Currently, society uses CNNs to solve this problem. The CNN models will suffer high uncertainty caused by the environmental factors and the object itself. These models usually maintain a Gaussian distribution, which is not suitable for the underlying manifold structure of the pose. Many works decouple rotation from the translation and quantify rotational uncertainty. Only a few works pay attention to the uncertainty of the 6D pose. This work proposes a distribution that can capture the uncertainty of the 6D pose parameterized by the dual quaternions, meanwhile, the proposed distribution takes the periodic nature of the underlying structure into account. The presented results include the normalization constant computation and parameter estimation techniques of the distribution. This work shows the benefits of the proposed distribution, which provides a more realistic explanation for the uncertainty in the 6D pose and eliminates the drawback inherited from the planar rigid motion.
Buckling Electrothermal NEMS Actuators: Analytic Design for Very Slender Beams
Authors: Syms Richard , Liu Dixi
Published: January 2022

Analytic approximations are presented for the response of buckling-mode electrothermal actuators with very slender beams with a width-to-length ratio of W/L≤0.001 of the type found in nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS). The results are found as closed-form solutions to the Euler beam bending theory rather than by an iterative numerical solution or a time-consuming finite element analysis. Expressions for transverse deflections and stiffness are presented for actuators with the common raised cosine and chevron pre-buckled shapes. The approximations are valid when the effects of bending dominate over those of axial compression. A few higher-order approximations are also presented for less slender beams with 0.001≤W/L≤0.01.
Sustainable Amelioration of Heavy Metals in Soil Ecosystem: Existing Developments to Emerging Trends
Authors: Awasthi Garima , Nagar Varad , Mandzhieva Saglara , Minkina Tatiana , Sankhla Mahipal Singh , Pandit Pritam P. , Aseri Vinay , Awasthi Kumud Kant , Rajput Vishnu D. , Bauer Tatiana , Srivastava Sudhakar
Published: January 2022

The consequences of heavy metal contamination are progressively degrading soil quality in this modern period of industry. Due to this reason, improvement of the soil quality is necessary. Remediation is a method of removing pollutants from the root zone of plants in order to minimize stress and increase yield of plants grown in it. The use of plants to remove toxins from the soil, such as heavy metals, trace elements, organic chemicals, and radioactive substances, is referred to as bioremediation. Biochar and fly ash techniques are also studied for effectiveness in improving the quality of contaminated soil. This review compiles amelioration technologies and how they are used in the field. It also explains how nanoparticles are becoming a popular method of desalination, as well as how they can be employed in heavy metal phytoremediation.
Effect of Stabilizer on Gold Leaching with Thiourea in Alkaline Solutions
Authors: Li Wenjuan , Shang He , Zhou He , Song Yongsheng , Zheng Shuilin , Yang Xinlong
Published: January 2022

The present work investigated the comparison of the effects of Na2SO3 and Na2SiO3 on thiourea stabilization, and a systematic study was undertaken to establish the effects of these stabilizers on the stability of alkaline thiourea, both qualitatively and quantitatively. The effects of these stabilizers on the activation energy of alkaline thiourea gold leaching was also studied. The results showed that sodium silicate was more suitable as a stabilizer in this system than sodium sulfite because the peak current of gold dissolution with sodium sulfite was higher than that with sodium silicate, but the inhibition of thiourea decomposition by the former was less obvious than that of sodium silicate in the cyclic voltammetry curve. The quartz crystal microbalance results showed that the quality decreased to about 100 ng cm2 in the presence of a stabilizer, while it increased to 300 ng cm2 in the absence of the stabilizer. It is inferred that gold can be dissolved by alkaline thiourea in the presence of a stabilizer, while it cannot without a stabilizer because of the decomposition of thiourea. This assumption was confirmed by atomic force microscopy measurements. The surface activation energy of Au dissolution decreased from 183.76 to 98.07 kJ/moL with the addition of sodium silicate, indicating that Au dissolution was promoted with the chemical.
A Kinetic Study on Enhanced Cementation of Gold Ions by Galvanic Interactions between Aluminum (Al) as an Electron Donor and Activated Carbon (AC) as an Electron Mediator in Ammonium Thiosulfate System
Authors: Jeon Sanghee , Bright Sharrydon , Park Ilhwan , Kuze Akuru , Ito Mayumi , Hiroyoshi Naoki
Published: January 2022

The enhanced cementation technique by galvanic interaction of aluminum (Al; electron donor) and activated carbon (AC; electron mediator) to recover gold (Au) ions from the ammonium thiosulfate solution is a promising technique to eliminate the challenges of poor recovery in the system. This study presents the kinetics of Au ion cementation in an ammonium thiosulfate lixiviant as functions of initial Au concentration, size/amount of Al and AC, temperature, and shaking speed. The recovery results basically followed first order kinetics and showed that the cementation rate increased with a higher initial concentration of Au, smaller electron donor size, greater both electron donor and mediator quantity, decrease in temperature, and higher shaking speed in the system, while size of electron mediator did not significantly affect Au recovery.
Bioactive Properties of a Novel Antibacterial Dye Obtained from Laccase-Mediated Oxidation of 8-Anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonic Acid
Authors: Polak Jolanta , Grąz Marcin , Wlizło Kamila , Szałapata Katarzyna , Kapral-Piotrowska Justyna , Paduch Roman , Jarosz-Wilkołazka Anna
Published: January 2022

Fungal laccase obtained from a Cerrena unicolor strain was used as an effective biocatalyst for the transformation of 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid into a green-coloured antibacterial compound, which can be considered as both an antimicrobial agent and a textile dye, simultaneously. The process of biosynthesis was performed in buffered solutions containing methanol as a co-solvent, allowing better solubilisation of substrate. The transformation process was optimised in terms of the buffer pH value, laccase activity, and concentrations of the substrate and co-solvent. The crude product obtained exhibited low cytotoxicity, antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, and antioxidant properties. Moreover, the synthesised green-coloured compound proved non-allergenic and demonstrated a high efficiency of dyeing wool fibres.
Potential COVID-19 Drug Candidates Based on Diazinyl-Thiazol-Imine Moieties: Synthesis and Greener Pastures Biological Study
Authors: Abu-Melha Sraa , Edrees Mastoura Mohamed , Said Musa A. , Riyadh Sayed M. , Al-Kaff Nadia S. , Gomha Sobhi M.
Published: January 2022

A novel series of 1-aryl-N-[4-phenyl-5-(arylazo)thiazol-2-yl)methanimines has been synthesized via the condensation of 2-amino-4-phenyl-5-arylazothiazole with various aromatic aldehydes. The synthesized imines were characterized by spectroscopic techniques, namely 1H and 13C-NMR, FTIR, MS, and Elemental Analysis. A molecular comparative docking study for 3a–f was calculated, with reference to two approved drugs, Molnupiravir and Remdesivir, using 7BQY (Mpro; PDB code 7BQY; resolution: 1.7 A°) under identical conditions. The binding scores against 7BQY were in the range of −7.7 to −8.7 kcal/mol for 3a–f. The high scores of the compounds indicated an enhanced binding affinity of the molecules to the receptor. This is due to the hydrophobic interactions and multi-hydrogen bonds between 3a–f ligands and the receptor’s active amino acid residues. The main aim of using in silco molecular docking was to rank 3a–f with respect to the approved drugs, Molnupiravir and Remdesivir, using free energy methods as greener pastures. A further interesting comparison presented the laydown of the ligands before and after molecular docking. These results and other supporting statistical analyses suggested that ligands 3a–f deserve further investigation in the context of potential therapeutic agents for COVID-19. Free-cost, PASS, SwissADME, and Way2drug were used in this research paper to determine the possible biological activities and cytotoxicity of 3a–f.
In Vitro and Clinical Evaluation of Cannabigerol (CBG) Produced via Yeast Biosynthesis: A Cannabinoid with a Broad Range of Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Health-Boosting Properties
Authors: Perez Eduardo , Fernandez Jose R. , Fitzgerald Corey , Rouzard Karl , Tamura Masanori , Savile Christopher
Published: January 2022

Cannabigerol (CBG) is a minor non-psychoactive cannabinoid present in Cannabis sativa L. (C. sativa) at low levels (<1% per dry weight) that serves as the direct precursor to both cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Consequently, efforts to extract and purify CBG from C. sativa is both challenging and expensive. However, utilizing a novel yeast fermentation technology platform, minor cannabinoids such as CBG can be produced in a more sustainable, cost-effective, and timely process as compared to plant-based production. While CBD has been studied extensively, demonstrating several beneficial skin properties, there are a paucity of studies characterizing the activity of CBG in human skin. Therefore, our aim was to characterize and compare the in vitro activity profile of non-psychoactive CBG and CBD in skin and be the first group to test CBG clinically on human skin. Gene microarray analysis conducted using 3D human skin equivalents demonstrates that CBG regulates more genes than CBD, including several key skin targets. Human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) and normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs) were exposed in culture to pro-inflammatory inducers to trigger cytokine production and oxidative stress. Results demonstrate that CBG and CBD reduce reactive oxygen species levels in HDFs better than vitamin C. Moreover, CBG inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokine (Interleukin-1β, -6, -8, tumor necrosis factor α) release from several inflammatory inducers, such as ultraviolet A (UVA), ultraviolet B (UVB), chemical, C. acnes, and in several instances does so more potently than CBD. A 20-subject vehicle-controlled clinical study was performed with 0.1% CBG serum and placebo applied topically for 2 weeks after sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)-induced irritation. CBG serum showed statistically significant improvement above placebo for transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and reduction in the appearance of redness. Altogether, CBG’s broad range of in vitro and clinical skin health-promoting activities demonstrates its strong potential as a safe, effective ingredient for topical use and suggests there are areas where it may be more effective than CBD.
Can Artemisia herba-alba Be Useful for Managing COVID-19 and Comorbidities?
Authors: Hasan Anamul , Biswas Partha , Bondhon Tohmina Afroze , Jannat Khoshnur , Paul Tridib K. , Paul Alok K. , Jahan Rownak , Nissapatorn Veeranoot , Mahboob Tooba , Wilairatana Polrat , Hasan Md Nazmul , de Lourdes Pereira Maria , Wiart Christophe , Rahmatullah Mohammed
Published: January 2022

The focus of this roadmap is to evaluate the possible efficacy of Artemisia herba-alba Asso. (Asteraceae) for the treatment of COVID-19 and some of its symptoms and several comorbidities using a combination of in silico (molecular docking) studies, reported ethnic uses, and pharmacological activity studies of this plant. In this exploratory study, we show that various phytochemicals from Artemisia herba-alba can be useful against COVID-19 (in silico studies) and for its associated comorbidities. COVID-19 is a new disease, so reports of any therapeutic treatments against it (traditional or conventional) are scanty. On the other hand, we demonstrate, using Artemisia herba-alba as an example, that through a proper search and identification of medicinal plant(s) and their phytochemicals identification using secondary data (published reports) on the plant’s ethnic uses, phytochemical constituents, and pharmacological activities against COVID-19 comorbidities and symptoms coupled with the use of primary data obtained from in silico (molecular docking and molecular dynamics) studies on the binding of the selected plant’s phytochemicals (such as: rutin, 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, and schaftoside) with various vital components of SARS-CoV-2, it may be possible to rapidly identify plants that are suitable for further research regarding therapeutic use against COVID-19 and its associated symptoms and comorbidities.
Mathematical Modelling of Glyphosate Molecularly Imprinted Polymer-Based Microsensor with Multiple Phenomena
Authors: Zouaoui Fares , Bourouina-Bacha Saliha , Bourouina Mustapha , Zine Nadia , Errachid Abdelhamid , Jaffrezic-Renault Nicole
Published: January 2022

The massive and careless use of glyphosate (GLY) in agricultural production raises many questions regarding environmental pollution and health risks, it is then important to develop simple methods to detect it. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is an effective analytical tool for characterizing properties at the electrode/electrolyte interface. It is useful as an analytical procedure, but it can also help in the interpretation of the involved fundamental electrochemical and electronic processes. In this study, the impedance data obtained experimentally for a microsensor based on molecularly imprinted chitosan graft on 4-aminophenylacetic acid for the detection of glyphosate was analyzed using an exact mathematical model based on physical theories. The procedure for modeling experimental responses is well explained. The analysis of the observed impedance response leads to estimations of the microscopic parameters linked to the faradic and capacitive current. The interaction of glyphosate molecules with the imprinted sites of the CS-MIPs film is observed in the high frequency range. The relative variation of the charge transfer resistance is proportional to the log of the concentration of glyphosate. The capacitance decreases as the concentration of glyphosate increases, which is explained by the discharging of the charged imprinted sites when the glyphosate molecule interacts with the imprinted sites through electrostatic interactions. The phenomenon of adsorption of the ions in the CMA film is observed in the low frequency range, this phenomenon being balanced by the electrostatic interaction of glyphosate with the imprinted sites in the CS-MIPs film.
Preservation of Mimosa tenuiflora Antiaflatoxigenic Activity Using Microencapsulation by Spray-Drying
Authors: Hernandez Christopher , Cadenillas Laura , Mathieu Céline , Bailly Jean-Denis , Durrieu Vanessa
Published: January 2022

Mimosa tenuiflora aqueous extract (MAE) is rich in phenolic compounds. Among them, condensed tannins have been demonstrated to exhibit a strong antioxidant and antiaflatoxin B1 activities in Aspergillus flavus. Since antioxidant capacity can change with time due to environmental interactions, this study aimed to evaluate the ability of encapsulation by spray-drying of Mimosa tenuiflora aqueous extract to preserve their biological activities through storage. A dry formulation may also facilitate transportation and uses. For that, three different wall materials were used and compared for their efficiency. Total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, antifungal and antiaflatoxin activities were measured after the production of the microparticles and after one year of storage at room temperature. These results confirmed that encapsulation by spray-drying using polysaccharide wall materials is able to preserve antiaflatoxin activity of Mimosa tenuiflora extract better than freezing.
Hybrid Cements: Mechanical Properties, Microstructure and Radiological Behavior
Authors: Moreno de los Reyes Ana María , Suárez-Navarro José Antonio , Alonso María del Mar , Gascó Catalina , Sobrados Isabel , Puertas Francisca
Published: January 2022

The use of more eco-efficient cements in concretes is one of the keys to ensuring construction industry sustainability. Such eco-efficient binders often contain large but variable proportions of industrial waste or by-products in their composition, many of which may be naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs). This study explored the application of a new gamma spectrometric method for measuring radionuclide activity in hybrid alkali-activated cements from solid 5 cm cubic specimens rather than powder samples. The research involved assessing the effect of significant variables such as the nature of the alkaline activator, reaction time and curing conditions to relate the microstructures identified to the radiological behavior observed. The findings showed that varying the inputs generated pastes with similar reaction products (C-S-H, C-A-S-H and (N,C)-A-S-H) but different microstructures. The new gamma spectrometric method for measuring radioactivity in solid 5 cm cubic specimens in alkaline pastes was found to be valid. The variables involved in hybrid cement activation were shown to have no impact on specimen radioactive content. The powder samples, however, emanated 222Rn (a descendent of 226Ra), possibly due to the deformation taking place in fly ash structure during alkaline activation. Further research would be required to explain that finding.
Production of COx-Free Hydrogen and Few-Layer Graphene Nanoplatelets by Catalytic Decomposition of Methane over Ni-Lignin-Derived Nanoparticles
Authors: Yan Qiangu , Ketelboeter Timothy , Cai Zhiyong
Published: January 2022

Nickel (Ni)-lignin nanocomposites were synthesized from nickel nitrate and kraft lignin then catalytically graphitized to few-layer graphene-encapsulated nickel nanoparticles (Ni@G). Ni@G nanoparticles were used for catalytic decomposition of methane (CDM) to produce COx-free hydrogen and graphene nanoplatelets. Ni@G showed high catalytic activity for methane decomposition at temperatures of 800 to 900 °C and exhibited long-term stability of 600 min time-on-stream (TOS) without apparent deactivation. The catalytic stability may be attributed to the nickel dispersion in the Ni@G sample. During the CDM reaction process, graphene shells over Ni@G nanoparticles were cracked and peeled off the nickel cores at high temperature. Both the exposed nickel nanoparticles and the cracked graphene shells may participate the CDM reaction, making Ni@G samples highly active for CDM reaction. The vacancy defects and edges in the cracked graphene shells serve as the active sites for methane decomposition. The edges are continuously regenerated by methane molecules through CDM reaction.
Nanotechnologies in Delivery of DNA and mRNA Vaccines to the Nasal and Pulmonary Mucosa
Authors: Tang Jie , Cai Larry , Xu Chuanfei , Sun Si , Liu Yuheng , Rosenecker Joseph , Guan Shan
Published: January 2022

Recent advancements in the field of in vitro transcribed mRNA (IVT-mRNA) vaccination have attracted considerable attention to such vaccination as a cutting-edge technique against infectious diseases including COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2. While numerous pathogens infect the host through the respiratory mucosa, conventional parenterally administered vaccines are unable to induce protective immunity at mucosal surfaces. Mucosal immunization enables the induction of both mucosal and systemic immunity, efficiently removing pathogens from the mucosa before an infection occurs. Although respiratory mucosal vaccination is highly appealing, successful nasal or pulmonary delivery of nucleic acid-based vaccines is challenging because of several physical and biological barriers at the airway mucosal site, such as a variety of protective enzymes and mucociliary clearance, which remove exogenously inhaled substances. Hence, advanced nanotechnologies enabling delivery of DNA and IVT-mRNA to the nasal and pulmonary mucosa are urgently needed. Ideal nanocarriers for nucleic acid vaccines should be able to efficiently load and protect genetic payloads, overcome physical and biological barriers at the airway mucosal site, facilitate transfection in targeted epithelial or antigen-presenting cells, and incorporate adjuvants. In this review, we discuss recent developments in nucleic acid delivery systems that target airway mucosa for vaccination purposes.