bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dietary Fat Effect on the Gut Microbiome, and Its Role in the Modulation of Gastrointestinal Disorders in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Kittana Monia , Ahmadani Asma , Al Marzooq Farah , Attlee Amita
Published: October 2021

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) report a higher frequency and severity of gastrointestinal disorders (GID) than typically developing (TD) children. GID-associated discomfort increases feelings of anxiety and frustration, contributing to the severity of ASD. Emerging evidence supports the biological intersection of neurodevelopment and microbiome, indicating the integral contribution of GM in the development and function of the nervous system, and mental health, and disease balance. Dysbiotic GM could be a contributing factor in the pathogenesis of GID in children with ASD. High-fat diets may modulate GM through accelerated growth of bile-tolerant bacteria, altered bacterial ratios, and reduced bacterial diversity, which may increase the risk of GID. Notably, saturated fatty acids are considered to have a pronounced effect on the increase of bile-tolerant bacteria and reduction in microbial diversity. Additionally, omega-3 exerts a favorable impact on GM and gut health due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Despite inconsistencies in the data elaborated in the review, the dietary fat composition, as part of an overall dietary intervention, plays a role in modulating GID, specifically in ASD, due to the altered microbiome profile. This review emphasizes the need to conduct future experimental studies investigating the effect of diets with varying fatty acid compositions on GID-specific microbiome profiles in children with ASD.
Diet and Lifestyle Factors and Risk of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease—A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Acosta Stefan , Johansson Anna , Drake Isabel
Published: October 2021

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ACVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the association between diet and lifestyle factors, beyond traditional risk factors, and the risk of incident ACVD. The Malmö Diet and Cancer study included 30,446 middle-aged individuals. Baseline examinations including a dietary assessment, questionnaire and interviews, were performed between 1991–1996. After excluding individuals with prevalent cardiovascular disease and atrial fibrillation or flutter, 26,990 participants remained. In a previously developed diet quality index, adherence to recommended intake of saturated fat (SFA), polyunsaturated fat (PUFA), fish and shellfish, fiber, vegetables and fruit, and sucrose results in one point per dietary component, with a maximum diet score of six points. Diagnosis of incident ACVD was based on validated diagnoses of coronary artery disease, atherothrombotic ischemic stroke, carotid artery disease or peripheral artery disease. Multivariable Cox regression analysis adjusting for established risk factors was performed to assess hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). After a median follow-up of 21.1 years, 5858 (21.7%) individuals diagnosed with ACVD unrelated to atrial fibrillation or flutter were identified. Higher diet score (HR 0.94/point increase; 95% CI 0.91–0.97; p < 0.001), intake of fish and shellfish (HR 0.95/standard deviation (SD) increment, 95% CI 0.93–0.98), fiber (HR 0.93/SD increment, 95% CI 0.89–0.98) and SFA (HR 0.96/SD increment, 95% CI 0.92–0.99) consumption were associated with decreased risk for incident ACVD. High leisure-time physical activity (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.74–0.91) was associated with reduced risk and obesity (HR 1.17, 95% CI 1.08–1.27) with increased risk of incident ACVD. The present study strengthens current recommendations of improving diet quality and increasing physical activity in preventing ACVD.
Impact of Dietary Modifications on Plasma Sirtuins 1, 3 and 5 in Older Overweight Individuals Undergoing 12-Weeks of Circuit Training
Authors: Wasserfurth Paulina , Nebl Josefine , Rühling Miriam Rebekka , Shammas Hadeel , Bednarczyk Jolanthe , Koehler Karsten , Boßlau Tim Konstantin , Krüger Karsten , Hahn Andreas , Das Anibh Martin
Published: October 2021

Sirtuins are nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)-dependent deacetylases that regulate numerous pathways such as mitochondrial energy metabolism in the human body. Lower levels of these enzymes were linked to diseases such as diabetes mellitus and were also described as a result of aging. Sirtuins were previously shown to be under the control of exercise and diet, which are modifiable lifestyle factors. In this study, we analyzed SIRT1, SIRT3 and SIRT5 in blood from a subset of healthy elderly participants who took part in a 12-week randomized, controlled trial during which they performed, twice-weekly, resistance and aerobic training only (EX), the exercise routine combined with dietary counseling in accordance with the guidelines of the German Nutrition Society (EXDC), the exercise routine combined with intake of 2 g/day oil from Calanus finmarchicus (EXCO), or received no treatment and served as the control group (CON). In all study groups performing exercise, a significant increase in activities of SIRT1 (EX: +0.15 U/mg (+0.56/−[−0.16]), EXDC: +0.25 U/mg (+0.52/−0.06), EXCO: +0.40 U/mg (+0.88/−[−0.12])) and SIRT3 (EX: +0.80 U/mg (+3.18/−0.05), EXDC: 0.95 U/mg (+3.88/−0.55), EXCO: 1.60 U/mg (+2.85/−0.70)) was detected. Group comparisons revealed that differences in SIRT1 activity in EXCO and EXDC differed significantly from CON (CON vs. EXCO, p = 0.003; CON vs. EXDC, p = 0.010). For SIRT3, increases in all three intervention groups were significantly different from CON (CON vs. EX, p = 0.007; CON vs. EXDC, p < 0.001, CON vs. EXCO, p = 0.004). In contrast, differences in SIRT5-activities were less pronounced. Altogether, the analyses showed that the activity of SIRT1 and SIRT3 increased in response to the exercise intervention and that this increase may potentially be enhanced by additional dietary modifications.
Glycogen Storage Disease Type Ia: Current Management Options, Burden and Unmet Needs
Authors: Derks Terry G. J. , Rodriguez-Buritica David F. , Ahmad Ayesha , de Boer Foekje , Couce María L. , Grünert Sarah C. , Labrune Philippe , López Maldonado Nerea , Fischinger Moura de Souza Carolina , Riba-Wolman Rebecca , Rossi Alessandro , Saavedra Heather , Gupta Rupal Naik , Valayannopoulos Vassili , Mitchell John
Published: October 2021

Glycogen storage disease type Ia (GSDIa) is caused by defective glucose-6-phosphatase, a key enzyme in carbohydrate metabolism. Affected individuals cannot release glucose during fasting and accumulate excess glycogen and fat in the liver and kidney, putting them at risk of severe hypoglycaemia and secondary metabolic perturbations. Good glycaemic/metabolic control through strict dietary treatment and regular doses of uncooked cornstarch (UCCS) is essential for preventing hypoglycaemia and long-term complications. Dietary treatment has improved the prognosis for patients with GSDIa; however, the disease itself, its management and monitoring have significant physical, psychological and psychosocial burden on individuals and parents/caregivers. Hypoglycaemia risk persists if a single dose of UCCS is delayed/missed or in cases of gastrointestinal intolerance. UCCS therapy is imprecise, does not treat the cause of disease, may trigger secondary metabolic manifestations and may not prevent long-term complications. We review the importance of and challenges associated with achieving good glycaemic/metabolic control in individuals with GSDIa and how this should be balanced with age-specific psychosocial development towards independence, management of anxiety and preservation of quality of life (QoL). The unmet need for treatment strategies that address the cause of disease, restore glucose homeostasis, reduce the risk of hypoglycaemia/secondary metabolic perturbations and improve QoL is also discussed.
Do Older Women of Reproductive Age Have Better Diet Quality than Younger Women of Reproductive Age?
Authors: Habibi Nahal , Livingstone Katherine M. , Edwards Suzanne , Grieger Jessica A.
Published: October 2021

There is increasing recognition of the importance of nutrition for reproductive health, but little is known regarding the diet quality of younger vs. older reproductive aged women, and how their intakes relate to dietary recommendations. The purpose of the study was to examine the diets of younger (19–35 years old) compared to older (35–50 years old) reproductive aged women, and how they align with dietary recommendations. Women aged 19–50 years from the 2011–13 Australian National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey were included (n = 2323). Dietary intakes were assessed by a single 24-h dietary recall and were compared to (i) Australian Dietary Guidelines; (ii) Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution for protein, carbohydrates, and fat; and (iii) Dietary Guideline Index (DGI). Regression analyses comparing younger and older women against recommendations were undertaken, with confounders determined a priori. There was no difference between older and younger women in meeting food group recommendations, with 26% of all women meeting recommendations for fruit, and meat and alternatives, and <20% meeting recommendations for vegetables and alternatives, grains, and dairy. Although there was no difference between older and younger women in total DGI score (mean (SE) 75.6 (1.7) vs. 74.5 (2.5), p > 0.05), older women had higher component scores in limiting saturated fat, consuming low-fat milk, and limiting adding salt during cooking. Continued health promotion for women of reproductive age should be a key priority to improve their own health and that of future generations.
The Effects of Human Milk Oligosaccharides on Gut Microbiota, Metabolite Profiles and Host Mucosal Response in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Authors: Iribarren Cristina , Magnusson Maria K. , Vigsnæs Louise K. , Aziz Imran , Amundsen Ingvild Dybdrodt , Šuligoj Tanja , Juge Nathalie , Patel Piyush , Sapnara Maria , Johnsen Lea , Sørensen Nikolaj , Sundin Johanna , Törnblom Hans , Simrén Magnus , Öhman Lena
Published: October 2021

Background: Human milk oligosaccharide supplementation safely modulates fecal bifidobacteria abundance and holds the potential to manage symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Here, we aimed to determine the role of a 4:1 mix of 2′-O-fucosyllactose and lacto-N-neotetraose (2′FL/LNnT) on the modulation of the gut microbiota composition and host mucosal response, as well as the link between the bifidobacteria abundance and metabolite modulation, in IBS patients. Methods: Biological samples were collected from IBS patients (n = 58) at baseline and week 4 post-supplementation with placebo, 5 g or 10 g doses of 2′FL/LNnT. The gut microbiota composition, metabolite profiles and expression of genes related to host mucosal response were determined. Results: Moderate changes in fecal, but not mucosal, microbial composition (β-diversity) was observed during the intervention with higher dissimilarity observed within individuals receiving 10g 2′FL/LNnT compared to placebo. Both fecal and mucosal Bifidobacterium spp. increased after 2′FL/LNnT intake, with increased proportions of Bifidobacterium adolescentis and Bifidobacterium longum. Moreover, the intervention modulated the fecal and plasma metabolite profiles, but not the urine metabolite profile or the host mucosal response. Changes in the metabolite profiles were associated to changes in bifidobacteria abundance. Conclusion: Supplementation with 2′FL/LNnT modulated the gut microbiota, fecal and plasma metabolite profiles, but not the host mucosal response in IBS. Furthermore, the bifidogenic effect was associated with metabolite modulation. Overall, these findings support the assertion that 2′FL/LNnT supplementation modulate the intestinal microenvironment of patients with IBS, potentially related to health.
Halved Incidence of Scrub Typhus after Travel Restrictions to Confine a Surge of COVID-19 in Taiwan
Authors: Lin En-Cheng , Tu Hung-Pin , Hong Chien-Hui
Published: October 2021

Scrub typhus is a rickettsial disease that is usually transmitted by mite exposure. Infected patients may present with a fever, fatigue, headache, and muscle pain. A blackish skin lesion, called eschar, is pathognomic. The mortality rate in untreated cases is high. The first case of scrub typhus in Taiwan was reported in 1908 during the Japanese colonization. In this article, using the National Infectious Disease Statistics System (NIDSS) from the Taiwan CDC, we analyzed the dynamic incidence of scrub typhus from 2016 to 2021, both seasonally and geographically. In addition, we asked whether the recent travel restrictions and social distancing policy in Taiwan (19 May to 27 July 2021), implemented due to the COVID-19 outbreak, would change the incidence of scrub typhus. The results showed that scrub typhus was most common in summer, with an incidence almost twofold greater than that in winter or spring. Most cases were identified in rural regions. Interestingly, there was a significant 52% reduction in the summer incidence in 2021, compared to the average summer incidence of the past 5 years. This reduction coincided with the countrywide lockdown measures and travel restrictions. The restricted measures for outdoor activities may have contributed to the reduced incidence of scrub typhus.
The Persistence of Bacterial Pathogens in Surface Water and Its Impact on Global Food Safety
Authors: Bell Rebecca L. , Kase Julie A. , Harrison Lisa M. , Balan Kannan V. , Babu Uma , Chen Yi , Macarisin Dumitru , Kwon Hee Jin , Zheng Jie , Stevens Eric L. , Meng Jianghong , Brown Eric W.
Published: October 2021

Water is vital to agriculture. It is essential that the water used for the production of fresh produce commodities be safe. Microbial pathogens are able to survive for extended periods of time in water. It is critical to understand their biology and ecology in this ecosystem in order to develop better mitigation strategies for farmers who grow these food crops. In this review the prevalence, persistence and ecology of four major foodborne pathogens, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), Salmonella, Campylobacter and closely related Arcobacter, and Listeria monocytogenes, in water are discussed. These pathogens have been linked to fresh produce outbreaks, some with devastating consequences, where, in a few cases, the contamination event has been traced to water used for crop production or post-harvest activities. In addition, antimicrobial resistance, methods improvements, including the role of genomics in aiding in the understanding of these pathogens, are discussed. Finally, global initiatives to improve our knowledge base of these pathogens around the world are touched upon.
Mycobacterium intracellulare subsp. chimaera from Cardio Surgery Heating-Cooling Units and from Clinical Samples in Israel Are Genetically Unrelated
Authors: Rubinstein Mor , Grossman Rona , Nissan Israel , Schwaber Mitchell J. , Carmeli Yehuda , Kaidar-Shwartz Hasia , Dveyrin Zeev , Rorman Efrat
Published: October 2021

Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are opportunistic pathogens that cause illness primarily in the elderly, in the immunocompromised or in patients with underlying lung disease. Since 2013, a global outbreak of NTM infection related to heater-cooler units (HCU) used in cardio-thoracic surgery has been identified. This outbreak was caused by a single strain of Mycobacterium intracellulare subsp. chimaera. In order to estimate the prevalence of this outbreak strain in Israel, we sampled Mycobacterium intracellulare subsp. chimaera from several HCU machines in Israel, as well as from patients, sequenced their genomes and compared them to the outbreak strain. The presence of mixed mycobacteria species in the samples complicated the analysis of obtained sequences. By applying a metagenomic binning strategy, we were able to obtain, and characterize, genomes of single strains from the mixed samples. Mycobacterium intracellulare subsp. chimaera strains were compared to each other and to previously reported genomes from other countries. The strain causing the outbreak related to the HCU machines was identified in several such machines in Israel but not in any clinical sample.
P-Glycoprotein (ABCB1/MDR1) and BCRP (ABCG2) Limit Brain Accumulation and Cytochrome P450-3A (CYP3A) Restricts Oral Exposure of the RET Inhibitor Selpercatinib (RETEVMO)
Authors: Wang Yaogeng , Sparidans Rolf W. , Potters Sander , Şentürk Rahime , Lebre Maria C. , Beijnen Jos H. , Schinkel Alfred H.
Published: October 2021

Selpercatinib is a targeted, FDA-approved, oral, small-molecule inhibitor for the treatment of rearranged during transfection (RET) proto-oncogene mutation-positive cancer. Using genetically modified mouse models, we investigated the roles of the multidrug efflux transporters ABCB1 and ABCG2, the OATP1A/1B uptake transporters, and the drug-metabolizing CYP3A complex in selpercatinib pharmacokinetics. Selpercatinib was efficiently transported by hABCB1 and mAbcg2, but not hABCG2, and was not a substrate of human OATP1A2, -1B1 or -1B3 in vitro. In vivo, brain and testis penetration were increased by 3.0- and 2.7-fold in Abcb1a/1b-/- mice and by 6.2- and 6.4-fold in Abcb1a/1b;Abcg2-/- mice, respectively. Oatp1a/1b deficiency did not alter selpercatinib pharmacokinetics. The ABCB1/ABCG2 inhibitor elacridar boosted selpercatinib brain penetration in wild-type mice to the levels seen in Abcb1a/1b;Abcg2-/- mice. Cyp3a-/- mice showed a 1.4-fold higher plasma AUC0–4h than wild-type mice, which was then 1.6-fold decreased upon transgenic overexpression of human CYP3A4 in liver and intestine. In summary, ABCG2, and especially ABCB1, limit brain and testis penetration of selpercatinib. Elacridar coadministration could mostly reverse these effects, without causing acute toxicity. CYP3A-mediated metabolism can limit selpercatinib oral exposure and hence its tissue concentrations. These insights may be useful in the further clinical development of selpercatinib.
Discordance to ASHP Therapeutic Guidelines Increases the Risk of Surgical Site Infection
Authors: Herawati Fauna , Yulia Rika , Wiyono Heru , Massey Firdaus Kabiru , Muliani Nurlina , Kantono Kevin , Soemantri Diantha , Andrajati Retnosari
Published: October 2021

Clean surgery without contamination does not require prophylactic antibiotics, but there are high-risk surgical procedures that may cause infection and/or involve vital organs such as the heart, brain, and lungs, and these indeed require the use of antibiotics. This study aimed to determine the quantity of antibiotic use based on the defined daily dose (DDD) per 100 bed days and the quality of antibiotic use based on the percentage of concordance with The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) therapeutic guidelines (i.e., route of administration, time of administration, selection, dose, and duration). This includes the profiles of surgical site infection (SSI) in surgical patients from January through June 2019. The study subjects were 487 surgical patients from two hospitals who met the inclusion criteria. There were 322 patients out of 487 patients who had a clean surgical procedure. Ceftriaxone (J01DD04) was the most used antibiotic, with a total DDD/100 bed days value in hospitals A and B, respectively: pre-surgery: 14.71, 77.65, during surgery: 22.57, 87.31, and postsurgery: 38.34, 93.65. In addition, 35% of antibiotics were given more than 120 min before incision. The lowest concordance to ASHP therapeutic guideline in hospital A (17.6%) and B (1.9%) was antibiotic selection. Two patients experienced SSI with bacterial growths of Proteus spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Escherichia coli. The usage of prophylactic antibiotics for surgical procedures was high and varied between hospitals. Hospital B had significantly lower concordance to antibiotic therapeutic guidelines, resulting to a higher infection rate, compared with hospital A. ASHP adherence components were then further investigated, after which antibiotic dosing interval and injection time was found to be a significant predictor for positive bacterial growth based on logit–logistic regression. Further interventions and strategies to implement antibiotic stewardship is needed to improve antibiotic prescriptions and their use.
Umbilical Cord-Derived Wharton’s Jelly for Regenerative Medicine Applications: A Systematic Review
Authors: Main Benjamin J. , Maffulli Nicola , Valk Josiah A. , Rodriguez Hugo C. , Gupta Manu , El-Amin Saadiq F. , Gupta Ashim
Published: October 2021

Musculoskeletal ailments affect millions of people around the world and place a high burden on healthcare. Traditional treatment modalities are limited and do not address underlying pathologies. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as an exciting therapeutic alternative and Wharton’s jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJSCs) are some of these. This review reports the clinical and functional outcomes of the applications of WJSCs in orthopedic surgery. A systematic review was conducted utilizing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The studies that used culture-expanded, mesenchymal stem or stromal cells, MSCs and/or connective tissues procured from Wharton’s jelly (WJ), from January 2010 to October 2021, were included. Conventional non-operative therapies and placebos were used as comparisons. Six studies that directly discussed WJSCs use in an animal model or the basic scientific testing using an injury model were identified. Five publications studied cartilage injury, three studied degenerative disc disease, one was related to osteoarthritis, and one was related to osteochondral defects. The results of these studies suggested the benefits of WJSCs in the management of these orthopedic pathologies. To adequately assess the safety and efficacy of WJSCs in orthopedic surgery, further randomized controlled clinical studies are necessary.
Development of Novel Peptides for the Antimicrobial Combination Therapy against Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Infection
Authors: Choi Joonhyeok , Jang Ahjin , Yoon Young Kyung , Kim Yangmee
Published: October 2021

Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) infection has a high mortality rate, making the development of novel effective antibiotic therapeutic strategies highly critical. Antimicrobial peptides can outperform conventional antibiotics regarding drug resistance and broad-spectrum activity. PapMA, an 18-residue hybrid peptide, containing N-terminal residues of papiliocin and magainin 2, has previously demonstrated potent antibacterial activity. In this study, PapMA analogs were designed by substituting Ala15 or Phe18 with Ala, Phe, and Trp. PapMA-3 with Trp18 showed the highest bacterial selectivity against CRAB, alongside low cytotoxicity. Biophysical studies revealed that PapMA-3 permeabilizes CRAB membrane via strong binding to LPS. To reduce toxicity via reduced antibiotic doses, while preventing the emergence of multi-drug resistant bacteria, the efficacy of PapMA-3 in combination with six selected antibiotics was evaluated against clinical CRAB isolates (C1–C5). At 25% of the minimum inhibition concentration, PapMA-3 partially depolarized the CRAB membrane and caused sufficient morphological changes, facilitating the entry of antibiotics into the bacterial cell. Combining PapMA-3 with rifampin significantly and synergistically inhibited CRAB C4 (FICI = 0.13). Meanwhile, combining PapMA-3 with vancomycin or erythromycin, both potent against Gram-positive bacteria, demonstrated remarkable synergistic antibiofilm activity against Gram-negative CRAB. This study could aid in the development of combination therapeutic approaches against CRAB.
Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Secretome for the Treatment of Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases: Latest Trends in Isolation, Content Optimization and Delivery Avenues
Authors: Munoz-Perez Elena , Gonzalez-Pujana Ainhoa , Igartua Manoli , Santos-Vizcaino Edorta , Hernandez Rosa Maria
Published: October 2021

Considering the high prevalence and the complex pharmacological management of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs), the search for new therapeutic approaches for their treatment is vital. Although the immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been extensively studied as a potential therapy in this field, direct MSC implantation presents some limitations that could slow down the clinical translation. Since the beneficial effects of MSCs have been mainly attributed to their ability to secrete a plethora of bioactive factors, their secretome has been proposed as a new and promising pathway for the treatment of IMIDs. Formed from soluble factors and extracellular vesicles (EVs), the MSC-derived secretome has been proven to elicit immunomodulatory effects that control the inflammatory processes that occur in IMIDs. This article aims to review the available knowledge on the MSC secretome, evaluating the advances in this field in terms of its composition, production and application, as well as analyzing the pending challenges in the field. Moreover, the latest research involving secretome administration in IMIDs is discussed to provide an updated state-of-the-art for this field. Finally, novel secretome delivery alternatives are reviewed, paying special attention to hydrogel encapsulation as one of the most convenient and promising strategies.
Natural Biostimulant Attenuates Salinity Stress Effects in Chili Pepper by Remodeling Antioxidant, Ion, and Phytohormone Balances, and Augments Gene Expression
Authors: Abou-Sreea Alaa I. B. , Azzam Clara R. , Al-Taweel Sudad K. , Abdel-Aziz Ranya M. , Belal Hussein E. E. , Rady Mostafa M. , Abdel-Kader Atef A. S. , Majrashi Ali , Khaled Khaled A. M.
Published: October 2021

A biostimulant is any microorganism or substance used to enhance the efficiency of nutrition, tolerance to abiotic stress and/or quality traits of crops, depending on its contents from nutrients. Plant biostimulants like honey bee (HB) and silymarin (Sm) are a strategic trend for managing stressed crops by promoting nutritional and hormonal balance, regulating osmotic protectors, antioxidants, and genetic potential, reflecting plant growth and productivity. We applied diluted honey bee (HB) and silymarin-enriched honey bee (HB- Sm) as foliar nourishment to investigate their improving influences on growth, yield, nutritional and hormonal balance, various osmoprotectant levels, different components of antioxidant system, and genetic potential of chili pepper plants grown under NaCl-salinity stress (10 dS m‒1). HB significantly promoted the examined attributes and HB-Sm conferred optimal values, including growth, productivity, K+/Na+ ratio, capsaicin, and Sm contents. The antioxidative defense components were significantly better than those obtained with HB alone. Conversely, levels of oxidative stress markers (superoxide ions and hydrogen peroxide) and parameters related to membrane damage (malondialdehyde level, stability index, ionic leakage, Na+, and Cl− contents) were significantly reduced. HB-Sm significantly affects inactive gene expression, as a natural biostimulator silencing active gene expression. SCoT primers were used as proof in salt-treated or untreated chili pepper plants. There were 41 cDNA amplicons selected by SCoT-primers. Twenty of them were EcDNA amplicons (cDNA-amplicons that enhanced their genes by one or more treatments) representing 49% of all cDNA amplicons, whereas 7 amplicons for ScDNA (whose genes were silenced in one or more treatments) represented 17%, and 14 McDNA (monomorphic cDNA-amplicons with control) amplicons were represented by 34% from all cDNA amplicons. This indicates the high effect of BH-Sm treatments in expression enhancement of some inactive genes and their silenced effect for expression of some active genes, also confirming that cDNA-SCoT markers succeeded in detection of variable gene expression patterns between the untreated and treated plants. In conclusion, HB-Sm as a natural multi-biostimulator can attenuate salt stress effects in chili pepper plants by remodeling the antioxidant defense system and ameliorating plant productivity.
Influence of Toothbrush Abrasion and Surface Treatments on Roughness and Gloss of Polymer-Infiltrated Ceramics
Authors: Labban Nawaf , Al Amri Mohammad D. , Alnafaiy Sarah M. , Alhijji Saleh M. , Alenizy Mohammad A. , Iskandar Mounir , Feitosa Sabrina
Published: October 2021

The aim of this study was to compare the surface roughness and gloss of polymer-infiltrated ceramics after simulated in vitro toothbrushing in different storage mediums. Four polymer- infiltrated ceramics were evaluated, Lava ultimate (LU), Vita enamic (EN), Shofu (SH), and Crystal ultra (CU). The control group was a feldspathic ceramic, Vita Mark II (VM). One hundred and twenty specimens (12 × 14 × 2.5 mm) were prepared using a precision saw. For each material (n = 24), the specimens were allocated into two groups, polished and stained. The specimens of each group were stored (for 7 days) in either citric acid (0.2N) or distilled water. Data for surface gloss (ΔE*SCE-SCI) and roughness (Ra) were evaluated before (baseline) and after simulated toothbrushing. For toothbrushing simulation, a toothpaste slurry containing a toothpaste of 100 relative dentin abrasion (RDA) and 0.3 ml distilled water was used for 3650 cycles (7300 strokes) for each specimen. Data were analyzed using t-test and ANOVA. A p-value of ≤ to 0.05 was considered significant. The highest mean value of surface gloss was identified in CU (stained—water) (4.3 (0.47)) (ΔE*) and EN (stained—acid) (4.3 (1.00)) (ΔE*) specimens, whereas the lowest mean value was shown by SH (stained—acid) (2.04 (0.42)) (ΔE*) samples. The highest mean value of surface roughness was observed in SH (0.40 (0.99)) Ra (stained—acid) whereas the lowest in VM (0.13 (0.039)) Ra (polished— water). A significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed in surface roughness and gloss between the materials with simulated toothbrushing, except in VM and LU, respectively. Therefore, it can be concluded that simulated toothbrushing impacts on surface roughness and gloss, irrespective of the storage medium.
Humidity-Responsive Photonic Films and Coatings Based on Tuned Cellulose Nanocrystals/Glycerol/Polyethylene Glycol
Authors: Babaei-Ghazvini Amin , Acharya Bishnu
Published: October 2021

It has been extensively reported that cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) can represent structural colors due to their unique chiral-nematic self-assembly. However, the application of this remarkable structure does need further investigation. It has been challenging to keep the selective reflection band (SRB) resulting from the CNC structure in the visible spectrum. Herein, composition of CNC colloidal suspensions with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and glycerol (Gly) have been studied to develop humidity-responsive sensors in the form of coatings and films. The fabricated samples were characterized for their mechanical properties, optical properties, water uptake capacity, water contact angle, and surface roughness. Additionally, the chemical structure of the samples was studied with FTIR spectroscopy. The produced humidity indicators on microbial glass slides were maintained and tested in a different relative humidity range from 20% to 98% with a different color response from blue to red, respectively. The color change of the humidity sensors was reversible for several cycles. It should be noted that the color change can be detected easily by the naked eye. The water uptake test showed that pure CNC and CNC/Gly had the lowest (34%) and highest (83%) water absorption levels. The mechanical tests for CNC/PEG composites showed the highest tensile strength (40.22 MPa). Moreover, microstructural characterizations confirmed the CNC pitch formation in all the samples. Addition of the fillers increased the CNC pitch, resulting in a mesoporous film formation. These produced humidity sensors are promising candidates in food and drug packaging due to their biodegradability, biocompatibility, and cost-effectiveness.
Radiation Shielding of Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites Incorporating Lead Nanoparticles—An Empirical Approach
Authors: A. Abu Saleem Rabie , Abdelal Nisrin , Alsabbagh Ahmad , Al-Jarrah Maram , Al-Jawarneh Fatima
Published: October 2021

In the present work, an empirical approach based on a computational analysis is performed to study the shielding properties of epoxy/carbon fiber composites and epoxy/glass fiber composites incorporating lead nanoparticle (PbNPs) additives in the epoxy matrix. For this analysis, an MCNP5 model is developed for calculating the mass attenuation coefficients of the two fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites incorporating lead nanoparticles of different weight fractions. The model is verified and validated for different materials and different particle additives. Empirical correlations of the mass attenuation coefficient as a function of PbNPs weight fraction are developed and statistically analyzed. The results show that the mass attenuation coefficient increases as the weight fraction of lead nanoparticles increases up to a certain threshold (~15 wt%) beyond which the enhancement in the mass attenuation coefficient becomes negligible. Furthermore, statistical parameters of the developed correlations indicate that the correlations can accurately capture the behavior portrayed by the simulation data with acceptable root mean square error (RMSE) values.
Antibacterial and Hemocompatible pH-Responsive Hydrogel for Skin Wound Healing Application: In Vitro Drug Release
Authors: Khan Muhammad Umar Aslam , Razaq Saiful Izwan Abd , Mehboob Hassan , Rehman Sarish , Al-Arjan Wafa Shamsan , Amin Rashid
Published: October 2021

The treatment of successive skin wounds necessitates meticulous medical procedures. In the care and treatment of skin wounds, hydrogels produced from natural polymers with controlled drug release play a crucial role. Arabinoxylan is a well-known and widely available biological macromolecule. We produced various formulations of blended composite hydrogels (BCHs) from arabinoxylan (ARX), carrageenan (CG), and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) using and cross-linked them with an optimal amount of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS). The structural, morphological, and mechanical behavior of the BCHs samples were determined using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), mechanical testing, and wetting, respectively. The swelling and degradation assays were performed in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution and aqueous media. Maximum swelling was observed at pH 7 and the least swelling in basic pH regions. All composite hydrogels were found to be hemocompatible. In vitro, silver sulfadiazine release profile in PBS solution was analyzed via the Franz diffusion method, and maximum drug release (87.9%) was observed in 48 h. The drug release kinetics was studied against different mathematical models (zero-order, first-order, Higuchi, Hixson–Crowell, Korsmeyer–Peppas, and Baker–Lonsdale models) and compared their regression coefficient (R2) values. It was observed that drug release follows the Baker–Lonsdale model, as it has the highest value (0.989) of R2. Hence, the obtained results indicated that, due to optimized swelling, wetting, and degradation, the blended composite hydrogel BCH-3 could be an essential wound dressing biomaterial for sustained drug release for skin wound care and treatment.
Perspective on Nanofiber Electrochemical Sensors: Design of Relative Selectivity Experiments
Authors: Feeney Stanley G. , LaFreniere Joelle M. J. , Halpern Jeffrey Mark
Published: October 2021

The use of nanofibers creates the ability for non-enzymatic sensing in various applications and greatly improves the sensitivity, speed, and accuracy of electrochemical sensors for a wide variety of analytes. The high surface area to volume ratio of the fibers as well as their high porosity, even when compared to other common nanostructures, allows for enhanced electrocatalytic, adsorptive, and analyte-specific recognition mechanisms. Nanofibers have the potential to rival and replace materials used in electrochemical sensing. As more types of nanofibers are developed and tested for new applications, more consistent and refined selectivity experiments are needed. We applied this idea in a review of interferant control experiments and real sample analyses. The goal of this review is to provide guidelines for acceptable nanofiber sensor selectivity experiments with considerations for electrocatalytic, adsorptive, and analyte-specific recognition mechanisms. The intended presented review and guidelines will be of particular use to junior researchers designing their first control experiments, but could be used as a reference for anyone designing selectivity experiments for non-enzymatic sensors including nanofibers. We indicate the importance of testing both interferants in complex media and mechanistic interferants in the selectivity analysis of newly developed nanofiber sensor surfaces.
Advanced Functional Materials for Intelligent Thermoregulation in Personal Protective Equipment
Authors: Saidi Alireza , Gauvin Chantal , Ladhari Safa , Nguyen-Tri Phuong
Published: October 2021

The exposure to extreme temperatures in workplaces involves physical hazards for workers. A poorly acclimated worker may have lower performance and vigilance and therefore may be more exposed to accidents and injuries. Due to the incompatibility of the existing standards implemented in some workplaces and the lack of thermoregulation in many types of protective equipment that are commonly fabricated using various types of polymeric materials, thermal stress remains one of the most frequent physical hazards in many work sectors. However, many of these problems can be overcome with the use of smart textile technologies that enable intelligent thermoregulation in personal protective equipment. Being based on conductive and functional polymeric materials, smart textiles can detect many external stimuli and react to them. Interconnected sensors and actuators that interact and react to existing risks can provide the wearer with increased safety, protection, and comfort. Thus, the skills of smart protective equipment can contribute to the reduction of errors and the number and severity of accidents in the workplace and thus promote improved performance, efficiency, and productivity. This review provides an overview and opinions of authors on the current state of knowledge on these types of technologies by reviewing and discussing the state of the art of commercially available systems and the advances made in previous research works.
Research on Variable-Universe Fuzzy Control Technology of an Electro-Hydraulic Hitch System
Authors: Xu Jikang , Li Ruichuan , Li Yanchao , Zhang Yisheng , Sun Huilai , Ding Xinkai , Ma Yong
Published: October 2021

To improve the quality and control accuracy of the farming tractor electro-hydraulic hitch system, a variable-universe fuzzy control algorithm is introduced herein based on force–position mixed adjustment. (1) Background: This research sought to improve the operation quality and control precision of the tractor electro-hydraulic suspension operation system by solving the slow response and low precision problems in the target value control of the system. (2) Methods: According to the characteristics of the operating system, the working principle is discussed. The variable-universe fuzzy controller and the control module were designed based on MC9S12XS128. At the same time, we used Matlab/Simulink to study the step response, and field tests were carried out based on the existing test conditions. (3) Results: In the response stage, the variable-universe fuzzy control only needs 5.85 s, and there is no overshoot problem; in the normal tillage stage, the maximum tillage depth difference is only 1.6 cm, and the traction force is 428 N, which is closer to the expected value. (4) Conclusions: The farming quality and efficiency of the operating system were improved. Additionally, the operating system can also provide technical support for intelligent agricultural machinery and the field management mode in the future.
Intensification of Sulfuric Acid Leaching of Altered Ilmenite via Adding Fluoride Activator
Authors: Dubenko Anastasiia V. , Nikolenko Mykola V. , Pasenko Oleksandr O. , Kostyniuk Andrii , Likozar Blaž
Published: October 2021

A new method of altered ilmenite processing has been studied. In this method, sulfuric acid is used as the reaction medium of the process, and fluoride ions are activators of the dissolving process of the rutile part of the ore raw material. The regression model of the sulfate–fluoride leaching process was developed and analyzed by using the response surface method of 23 matrix. The obtained model is adequate and well describes the studied process. The influence of Ti:F molar ratio, temperature, and sulfuric acid concentration on the leaching process are investigated in this work in order to optimize the studied process. It is experimentally proved that leaching at temperatures above 100 °C, at a molar ratio of Ti:F of more than 1:2, and the use of solutions of sulfuric acid with concentrations of more than 85 wt.% is not optimal because the extraction degree of titanium is reduced. The intensification of the process of sulfuric acid leaching by dividing the main stage of chemical dissolution of ilmenite into two stages was proposed. This method allows to leach up to 95.9% of titanium, which is 1.6–1.9 times higher in comparison with the classical technology of leaching altered ilmenite.
Optimization of Roasting Parameters for Recovery of Vanadium and Tungsten from Spent SCR Catalyst with Composite Roasting
Authors: Wang Bo , Yang Qiaowen
Published: October 2021

Every year, large amounts of selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalysts with losing catalytic activity and failing to be regenerated need to be regenerated, which will result in acute pollution. Recycling valuable metals from spent SCR catalysts can not only solve environmental problems, but also save resources. The process of sodium roasting and water leaching is able to effectively extract vanadium (V) and tungsten (W) from spent SCR catalysts. To improve the efficiencies of V and W, different sodium additives were first investigated in the roasting process. The results revealed that the process of NaCl-NaOH composite roasting and water leaching showed superior leaching efficiencies of V and W, which can reach 91.39% and 98.26%, respectively, and simultaneously, it can be found that adding low melting point NaOH promoted mass transfer as compared with the melting points of different sodium additives. Next, a single-factor experiment was conducted to investigate different roasting conditions, such as roasting temperature, roasting time, mass ratio of sodium additive and catalyst, and mass ratio of NaCl and NaOH, on the leaching efficiencies of V and W. Then, a three-level and four-factor orthogonal experiment and a weight matrix analysis were used to optimize the roasting parameters. The results showed that roasting temperature had the most significant effect on the leaching efficiencies of V and W, and the optimal roasting conditions were as follows: the roasting temperature was 750 °C, the roasting time was 2.5 h, the mass ratio of sodium additive and catalyst was 2.5, and the mass ratio of NaCl and NaOH was 1.5. Under the optimal roasting conditions, the leaching efficiencies of V and W were 93.25% and 99.17%, respectively. The results of XRD analysis inferred that VO2 coming from the decomposition of VOSO4 in spent SCR catalysts may first oxidize into V2O5 and then react with sodium additives to produce NaVO3. The formation of titanium-vanadium oxide ((Ti0.5V0.5)2O3) was a part reason of hindering the leaching of vanadium. With the increase of roasting temperature, TiO2 converted into Na2Ti3O7, which indicated that the main structure of the catalyst was destroyed, and simultaneously, more characteristic peaks of sodium metavanadate and sodium tungstate appeared, thus enhancing the leaching of V and W. Finally, it can be seen that the process of NaCl-NaOH roasting and water leaching remained higher leaching efficiencies of V and W and lower roasting temperature by comparing with leaching efficiencies of V and W in different processes of recycling SCR catalyst. The process of NaCl-NaOH composite roasting and water leaching provided a strategy with a highly efficient and clean route to leach V and W from spent SCR catalyst. The orthogonal experiment and weight matrix analysis in our study can be used as a reference to optimize the reaction conditions of a multiple indexes experiment.
Prediction of Forest Fire Spread Rate Using UAV Images and an LSTM Model Considering the Interaction between Fire and Wind
Authors: Li Xingdong , Gao Hewei , Zhang Mingxian , Zhang Shiyu , Gao Zhiming , Liu Jiuqing , Sun Shufa , Hu Tongxin , Sun Long
Published: October 2021

Modeling forest fire spread is a very complex problem, and the existing models usually need some input parameters which are hard to get. How to predict the time series of forest fire spread rate based on passed series may be a key problem to break through the current technical bottleneck. In the process of forest fire spreading, spread rate and wind speed would affect each other. In this paper, three kinds of network models based on Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) are designed to predict fire spread rate, exploring the interaction between fire and wind. In order to train these LSTM-based models and validate their effectiveness of prediction, several outdoor combustion experiments are designed and carried out. Process data sets of forest fire spreading are collected with an infrared camera mounted on a UAV, and wind data sets are recorded using a anemometer simultaneously. According to the close relationship between wind and fire, three progressive LSTM based models are constructed, which are called CSG-LSTM, MDG-LSTM and FNU-LSTM, respectively. A Cross-Entropy Loss equation is employed to measure the model training quality, and then prediction accuracy is computed and analyzed by comparing with the true fire spread rate and wind speed. According to the performance of training and prediction stage, FNU-LSTM is determined as the best model for the general case. The advantage of FNU-LSTM is further demonstrated by doing comparison experiments with the normal LSTM and other LSTM based models which predict both fire spread rate and wind speed separately. The experiment has also demonstrated the ability of the model to the real fire prediction on the basis of two historical wildland fires.