bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Dietary Flavonols on Central Obesity Parameters in Polish Adults
Authors: Popiolek-Kalisz Joanna
Published: November 2022

Background: Central obesity is defined as the excessive fat tissue located in abdominal region accompanied by systemic inflammation, which drives to cardiovascular disease. Flavonols are antioxidative agents present in food. The aim of this study was investigating the relationship between dietary flavonols intake and central obesity. Methods and results: 80 participants (40 central obese and 40 healthy controls) were administered a food frequency questionnaire dedicated to flavonols intake assessment. Body composition was measured with bioelectrical impedance analysis. The analysis showed significant differences between central obese participants and healthy controls in total flavonol (p = 0.005), quercetin (p = 0.003), kaempferol (p = 0.04) and isorhamnetin (p < 0.001) habitual intake. Among central obese participants, there was a moderate inverse correlation between fat mass (FM) and total flavonol (R = −0.378; 95% CI: −0.620 to −0.071; p = 0.02), quercetin (R = −0.352; 95% CI: −0.601 to −0.041; p = 0.03), kaempferol (R = −0.425; 95% CI: −0.653 to −0.127; p = 0.01) and myricetin intake (R = −0.352; 95% CI: −0.601 to −0.041; p = 0.03). BMI was inversely correlated with total flavonol (R = −0.330; 95% CI: −0.584 to −0.016; p = 0.04) and quercetin intake (R = −0.336; 95% CI: −0.589 to −0.023; p = 0.04). Waist circumference was inversely correlated with total flavonol (R = −0.328; 95% CI: −0.586 to −0.009; p = 0.04), quercetin (R = −0.322; 95% CI: −0.582 to −0.002; p = 0.048) and myricetin intake (R = −0.367; 95% CI: −0.615 to −0.054; p = 0.02). Among flavonols’ dietary sources, there was an inverse correlation between black tea consumption and FM (R: −0.511; 95% CI: −0.712 to −0.233; p < 0.001) and between coffee and waist circumference (R: −0.352; 95% CI: −0.604 to −0.036; p = 0.03) in central obese participants. Conclusions: The higher flavonol intake could play a protective role in abdominal obesity development. What is more, total and selected flavonol dietary intakes are inversely correlated with the parameters used for obesity assessment in central obese participants. The habitual consumption of products rich in flavonols, mainly tea and coffee, could possibly have a preventive role in abdominal obesity development.
Phase Angle Association with Dietary Habits and Metabolic Syndrome in Diabetic Hypertensive Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Bučan Nenadić Dora , Radić Josipa , Kolak Ela , Vučković Marijana , Novak Ivana , Selak Marija , Radić Mislav
Published: November 2022

Phase angle (PhA) levels are often lower than normal because both disease-specific parameters and disease-related inflammatory status, metabolic syndrome (MetS) included, can affect PhA. Therefore, the aim of this cross-sectional study was to compare body composition, metabolic profile and dietary patterns of participants with arterial hypertension (AH), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and MetS with regard to PhA values. A total of 208 participants were included, of whom 53.6% were males. For each participant, data about body composition and anthropometric parameters, clinical and laboratory parameters, as well as food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and Mediterranean Diet Serving Score (MDSS) were obtained. MC-780 Multi Frequency Segmental Body Mass Analyzer (Tanita) was used to assess body composition. Furthermore, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were calculated. The results showed that 75 (36.06%) participants had low PhA values and 133 (63.94%) had high PhA values. Participants with higher PhA values had significantly higher body fat percentage (p = 0.04), fat-free mass (kg; p < 0.001), muscle mass (kg; p < 0.001), skeletal muscle mass (% and kg; p < 0.001), sarcopenic index (SMI; p < 0.001) and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC; p = 0.04), as well as lower fat mass percentage (p = 0.04). Regarding food frequency consumption, significantly higher intakes of red meat (p = 0.003), poultry (p = 0.02) and fast food (p = 0.003) were noticed in participants with higher PhA values. Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MeDi) was exceptionally low in both groups of participants, with significantly higher fish intake noticed in participants with high PhA (p = 0.03). In conclusion, our results showed that body composition could be the indicator of PhA in MetS as well as overall low adherence to the MeDi principles. These findings highlight the importance of adequate nutritional strategies and novel approaches to maintaining optimal body composition and adopting proper eating habits within the framework of one’s disease.
Dietary Patterns, Cardiometabolic and Lifestyle Variables in Greeks with Obesity and Metabolic Disorders
Authors: Amerikanou Charalampia , Kleftaki Stamatia-Angeliki , Valsamidou Evdokia , Tzavara Chara , Gioxari Aristea , Kaliora Andriana C.
Published: November 2022

There is considerable evidence that some dietary patterns contribute to obesity and metabolic disorders but there is less data on diet’s association with different health parameters. We investigated the interaction between different dietary patterns and anthropometric, biochemical, lifestyle, and psychological health parameters in a Greek population with obesity and metabolic disorders. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in Greece with a thorough and holistic approach in analyzing such relationships. For assessing food patterns, revealing underlying structures, and reducing the number of variables we applied exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Principal Component Analysis was chosen as the extraction method using Varimax rotation, and three regression sets were computed. The study involved 146 Greek metabolically unhealthy obese adults, both men and women. Our cohort was categorized into four dietary patterns: “Western type diet”, “Mediterranean-like diet”, “Healthy diet”, and “Animal meat and sauces diet”. Dietary patterns characterized by a high consumption of energy-dense and animal-derived foods were positively associated with anthropometric and biochemical parameters related to metabolic disorders. Plant-based, healthier dietary patterns, on the other hand, were associated with better biochemical and mental health profiles among metabolically unhealthy obese individuals.
In Combo Studies for the Optimization of 5-Aminoanthranilic Acid Derivatives as Potential Multitarget Drugs for the Management of Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Chávez-Gutiérrez Edwin , Martínez-Arellanes Matilda , Murillo-López Montserrat , Medina-Guzmán María Fernanda , Mobarak-Richaud Laila , Pelcastre-Guzmán Karen , Quintana-Romero Osvaldo Javier , Ariza-Castolo Armando , Ayala-Moreno María del Rosario , Salazar Juan Rodrigo , Guerra-Araiza Christian , Rodríguez-Páez Lorena , Pinto-Almazán Rodolfo , Loza-Mejía Marco A.
Published: November 2022

Metabolic syndrome is a set of risk factors that consist of abdominal obesity, arterial hypertension, alterations in the lipid profile, and hyperglycemia. The current therapeutic strategy includes polypharmacy, using three or more drugs to control each syndrome component. However, this approach has drawbacks that could lead to therapeutic failure. Multitarget drugs are molecules with the ability to act on different targets simultaneously and are an attractive alternative for treating complex diseases such as metabolic syndrome. Previously, we identified a triamide derivative of 5-aminoanthranilic acid that exhibited hypoglycemic, hypolipemic, and antihypertensive activities simultaneously. In the present study, we report the synthesis and in combo evaluation of new derivatives of anthranilic acid, intending to identify the primary structural factors that improve the activity over metabolic syndrome-related parameters. We found that substitution on position 5, incorporation of 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl substituents, and having a free carboxylic acid group lead to the in vitro inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase, and simultaneously the diminution of the serum levels of glucose, triglycerides, and cholesterol in a diet-induced in vivo model.
Silencing of the GluN1-NMDA Glutamate Receptor Subunit by Intranasal siRNA Increases the Latency Time for Seizures in the Pilocarpine Rodent Model of Epilepsy
Authors: Perri Raphaela Gonçalves Barros , Mantello Anieli Gaverio , Rosa Daiane Santos , Beleboni Renê Oliveira
Published: November 2022

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most prevalent and treatment-refractory type of epilepsy. Among the different mechanisms associated with epileptogenesis, overstimulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission has been associated with the onset and progression of seizures in TLE. Experimental evidence indicates that blocking the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor or suppressing the expression of its subunit, mainly GluN1, may be effective in preventing epileptic seizures. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) has received attention as a potential therapeutic tool due to the inhibition of gene expression in some diseases. The present work evaluated the potential silencing effect of intranasal administration of an siRNA conjugate against the GluN1 subunit in animals submitted to the pilocarpine model of epilepsy. The results showed that the siRNA conjugate transfection system silences the GluN1 subunit in the hippocampus of rats when administered intranasally. As demonstrated by the RT-qPCR and Western blotting approaches, the silencing of GluN1 was specific for this subunit without affecting the amount of mRNA for other subunits. Silencing increased the latency time for the first tonic–clonic seizure when compared to controls. The overlapping of findings and the validation of the intranasal route as a pharmacological route of siRNA targeting the GluN1 subunit give the work a significant biotechnological interest.
Association between Statin Use and Survival in Cancer Patients with Brain Metastasis: Retrospective Analysis from the Chinese Population
Authors: Min Yu , Liu Zheran , Wei Zhigong , Li Ruidan , Jin Jing , Zhang Yu , Peng Xingchen
Published: November 2022

Brain metastasis predicts a worse clinical outcome in cancer patients. Emerging observational evidence suggests that statin use has a protective role in overall cancer prevention. Whether statin use could also be a supplementary treatment for advanced-stage cancers remains under researched and controversial. Data for cancer patients with brain metastasis were selected from the linked electronic medical care records of the West China Hospital between October 2010 and July 2019. Fisher’s exact chi-square test was used to compare the differences between cohorts. Multivariate Cox analysis was conducted to adjust the potential confounders in evaluating the role of statin use in the overall survival (OS) of cancer patients with brain metastasis. There were 4510 brain metastatic patients included in this retrospective study. The overall statin use rate in our patients was 5.28% (219 cases/4510 cases). Compared with the non-statin use cohort, patients who received statin therapy showed a decreased Karnofsky performance score (KPS, p < 0.001) and lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL, p = 0.020) but higher body mass index (BMI, p = 0.002) and triglyceride (TG, p < 0.001) at admission. There was no association between statin use and the OS of the cancer patients with brain metastasis (Hazard ratio (HR) = 0.90, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.73–1.07, p = 0.213) during the univariate analysis. However, after adjusting for baseline patient characteristics, metabolism indicators, and cancer-specific factors, statin use was shown to have a significant protective role, aiding the survival of the cancer patients with brain metastasis (adjustHR = 0.82, 95%CI: 0.69–0.99, p = 0.034). Our results highlight that statin use shows significant survival benefits in cancer patients with brain metastasis. However, future research is needed to validate our findings.
Targeting the DNA Damage Response Machinery for Lung Cancer Treatment
Authors: Venugopala Katharigatta N.
Published: November 2022

Lung cancer is considered the most commonly diagnosed cancer and one of the leading causes of death globally. Despite the responses from small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients to conventional chemo- and radiotherapies, the current outcomes are not satisfactory. Recently, novel advances in DNA sequencing technologies have started to take off which have provided promising tools for studying different tumors for systematic mutation discovery. To date, a limited number of DDR inhibition trials have been conducted for the treatment of SCLC and NSCLC patients. However, strategies to test different DDR inhibitor combinations or to target multiple pathways are yet to be explored. With the various biomarkers that have either been recently discovered or are the subject of ongoing investigations, it is hoped that future trials would be designed to allow for studying targeted treatments in a biomarker-enriched population, which is defensible for the improvement of prognosis for SCLC and NSCLC patients. This review article sheds light on the different DNA repair pathways and some of the inhibitors targeting the proteins involved in the DNA damage response (DDR) machinery, such as ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein (ATR), DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK), and poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP). In addition, the current status of DDR inhibitors in clinical settings and future perspectives are discussed.
Eriodictyol Suppresses Gastric Cancer Cells via Inhibition of PI3K/AKT Pathway
Authors: Shan Hui , Zhang Xin , Mi Yalu , Jia Jihui , Wang Bo , Yang Qing
Published: November 2022

Gastric cancer (GC) is among the five most common malignancies worldwide. Traditional chemotherapy cannot efficiently treat the disease and faces the problems of side effects and chemoresistance. Polygoni orientalis Fructus (POF), with flavonoids as the main bioactive compounds, exerts anti-cancer potential. In this study, we compared the anti-GC effects of the main flavonoids from POF and investigated the anti-cancer effects of eriodictyol towards GC both in vitro and in vivo. CCK-8 assays were performed to examine the inhibitory effects of common flavonoids from POF on GC cell viability. Colony formation assays were used to determine cell proliferation after eriodictyol treatment. Cell cycle distribution was analyzed using flow cytometry. Induction of apoptosis was assessed with Annexin V/PI staining and measurement of related proteins. Anti-cancer effects in vivo were investigated using a xenograft mouse model. Potential targets of eriodictyol were clarified by network pharmacological analysis, evaluated by molecular docking, and validated with Western blotting. We found that eriodictyol exhibited the most effective inhibitory effect on cell viability of GC cells among the common flavonoids from POF including quercetin, taxifolin, and kaempferol. Eriodictyol suppressed colony formation of GC cells and induced cell apoptosis. The inhibitory effects of eriodictyol on tumor growth were also validated using a xenograft mouse model. Moreover, no obvious toxicity was identified with eriodictyol treatment. Network pharmacology analysis revealed that PI3K/AKT signaling ranked first among the anti-GC targets. The molecular docking model of eriodictyol and PI3K was constructed, and the binding energy was evaluated. Furthermore, efficient inhibition of phosphorylation and activation of PI3K/AKT by eriodictyol was validated in GC cells. Taken together, our results identify eriodictyol as the most effective anti-GC flavonoids from POF and the potential targets of eriodictyol in GC. These findings suggest that eriodictyol has the potential to be a natural source of anti-GC agents.
Extended Applications of Small-Molecule Covalent Inhibitors toward Novel Therapeutic Targets
Authors: Lee Jesang , Park Seung
Published: November 2022

Recently, small-molecule covalent inhibitors have been accepted as a practical tool for targeting previously “undruggable” proteins. The high target selectivity of modern covalent inhibitors is now alleviating toxicity concerns regarding the covalent modifications of proteins. However, despite the tremendous clinical success of current covalent inhibitors, there are still unmet medical needs that covalent inhibitors have not yet addressed. This review categorized representative covalent inhibitors based on their mechanism of covalent inhibition: conventional covalent inhibitors, targeted covalent inhibitors (TCIs), and expanded TCIs. By reviewing both Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs and drug candidates from recent literature, we provide insight into the future direction of covalent inhibitor development.
Mechanism and Antibacterial Activity of Gold Nanoparticles (AuNPs) Functionalized with Natural Compounds from Plants
Authors: Timoszyk Anna , Grochowalska Renata
Published: November 2022

Recently, the biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) has been widely studied and described. In the age of bacterial drug resistance, an intensive search for new agents with antibacterial properties or a new form of antibiotics with effective action is necessary. As a result, the antibacterial activity of AuNPs functionalized with natural compounds is being investigated more frequently. AuNPs biosynthesized with plant extract or functionalized with bioactive compounds isolated from plants could be particularly useful for pharmaceutical applications. The biosynthesized AuNPs are stabilized by an envelope, which may consist of flavonoids, phenolic acids, lipids and proteins as well as carbohydrates and vitamins. The composition of the natural coating affects the size, shape and stability of the AuNPs and is also responsible for interactions with the bacterial cell wall. Recently, several mechanisms of AuNP interactions with bacterial cells have been identified. Nevertheless, they are not yet well understood, due to the large diversity of plants and biosynthesized AuNPs. Understanding the antibacterial mechanisms allows for the creation of pharmaceutical formulations in the most useful form. Utilizing AuNPs functionalized with plant compounds as antibacterial agents is still a new concept. However, the unique physicochemical and biological properties of AuNPs emphasises their potential for a broad range of applications in the future.
Discovery of 1-Benzhydryl-Piperazine-Based HDAC Inhibitors with Anti-Breast Cancer Activity: Synthesis, Molecular Modeling, In Vitro and In Vivo Biological Evaluation
Authors: Ruzic Dusan , Ellinger Bernhard , Djokovic Nemanja , Santibanez Juan F. , Gul Sheraz , Beljkas Milan , Djuric Ana , Ganesan Arasu , Pavic Aleksandar , Srdic-Rajic Tatjana , Petkovic Milos , Nikolic Katarina
Published: November 2022

Isoform-selective histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition is promoted as a rational strategy to develop safer anti-cancer drugs compared to non-selective HDAC inhibitors. Despite this presumed benefit, considerably more non-selective HDAC inhibitors have undergone clinical trials. In this report, we detail the design and discovery of potent HDAC inhibitors, with 1-benzhydryl piperazine as a surface recognition group, that differ in hydrocarbon linker. In vitro HDAC screening identified two selective HDAC6 inhibitors with nanomolar IC50 values, as well as two non-selective nanomolar HDAC inhibitors. Structure-based molecular modeling was employed to study the influence of linker chemistry of synthesized inhibitors on HDAC6 potency. The breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7) were used to evaluate compound-mediated in vitro anti-cancer, anti-migratory, and anti-invasive activities. Experiments on the zebrafish MDA-MB-231 xenograft model revealed that a novel non-selective HDAC inhibitor with a seven-carbon-atom linker exhibits potent anti-tumor, anti-metastatic, and anti-angiogenic effects when tested at low micromolar concentrations.
A Biocompatible Liquid Pillar[n]arene-Based Drug Reservoir for Topical Drug Delivery
Authors: Zhang Yahan , Ma Mengke , Chen Longming , Du Xinbei , Meng Zhao , Zhang Han , Zheng Zhibing , Chen Junyi , Meng Qingbin
Published: November 2022

Advanced external preparations that possess a sustained-release effect and integrate few irritant elements are urgently needed to satisfy the special requirements of topical administration in the clinic. Here, a series of liquid pillar[n]arene-bearing varying-length oligoethylene oxide chains (OEPns) were designed and synthesized. Following rheological property and biocompatibility investigations, pillar[6]arene with triethylene oxide substituents (TEP6) with satisfactory cavity size were screened as optimal candidate compounds. Then, a supramolecular liquid reservoir was constructed from host–guest complexes between TEP6 and econazole nitrate (ECN), an external antimicrobial agent without additional solvents. In vitro drug-release studies revealed that complexation by TEP6 could regulate the release rate of ECN and afford effective cumulative amounts. In vivo pharmacodynamic studies confirmed the formation of a supramolecular liquid reservoir contributed to the accelerated healing rate of a S. aureus-infected mouse wound model. Overall, these findings have provided the first insights into the construction of a supramolecular liquid reservoir for topical administration.
Using a Material Library to Understand the Change of Tabletability by High Shear Wet Granulation
Authors: Wang Yawen , Cao Junjie , Zhao Xiaoqing , Liang Zichen , Qiao Yanjiang , Luo Gan , Xu Bing
Published: November 2022

Understanding the tabletability change of materials after granulation is critical for the formulation and process design in tablet development. In this paper, a material library consisting of 30 pharmaceutical materials was used to summarize the pattern of change of tabletability during high shear wet granulation and tableting (HSWGT). Each powdered material and the corresponding granules were characterized by 19 physical properties and nine compression behavior classification system (CBCS) parameters. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to compare the physical properties and compression behaviors of ungranulated powders and granules. A new index, namely the relative change of tabletability (CoTr), was proposed to quantify the tabletability change, and its advantages over the reworking potential were demonstrated. On the basis of CoTr values, the tabletability change classification system (TCCS) was established. It was found that approximately 40% of materials in the material library presented a loss of tabletability (i.e., Type I), 50% of materials had nearly unchanged tabletability (i.e., Type II), and 10% of materials suffered from increased tabletability (i.e., Type III). With the help of tensile strength (TS) vs. compression pressure curves implemented on both powders and granules, a data fusion method and the PLS2 algorithm were further applied to identify the differences in material properties requirements for direct compression (DC) and HSWGT. Results indicated that increasing the plasticity or porosity of the starting materials was beneficial to acquiring high TS of tablets made by HSWGT. In conclusion, the presented TCCS provided a means for the initial risk assessment of materials in tablet formulation design and the data modeling method helped to predict the impact of formulation ingredients on the strength of compacts.
Prismal View of Ethics
Authors: Isufi Sarah , Poje Kristijan , Vukobratovic Igor , Brcic Mario
Published: November 2022

We shall have a hard look at ethics and try to extract insights in the form of abstract properties that might become tools. We want to connect ethics to games, talk about the performance of ethics, introduce curiosity into the interplay between competing and coordinating in well-performing ethics, and offer a view of possible developments that could unify increasing aggregates of entities. All this is under a long shadow cast by computational complexity that is quite negative about games. This analysis is the first step toward finding modeling aspects that might be used in AI ethics for integrating modern AI systems into human society.
Design of a Multi-Channel High-Power Color-Mixing Optical System Based on RGB LED Arrays
Authors: Chen Yvang , Zhang Yuncui , Xie Xufen , Liu Long , Fan Minjv , Sun Changcheng , Wang Yan , Yan Shuhan
Published: November 2022

This paper presents a design method for a high-power optical system with multiple channels to achieve high-quality color-mixing and uniform lighting. The high-power optical system consists of a multi-channel reflector and a color-mixing component. The optical systems with different parameters are simulated to analyze the color-mixing performance. Simulation results show that the illumination uniformity of all optical systems is greater than 0.77, and the maximum color difference is 0.014. This optical system can be introduced into applications, such as illumination of machine vision, simulating daylight, smart lighting, and so on.
Research on a MEMS Microparticles Vacuum Chamber for Optical Levitation with a Built-In Vacuum Gauge
Authors: Pu Junji , Zeng Kai , Wu Yulie , Xiao Dingbang
Published: November 2022

The vacuum chamber is an important part of microparticle optical levitation technology. The traditional vacuum chamber has a large volume and many peripheral components, which cannot meet the requirements of miniaturization and on-chip optical levitation technology. Therefore, this study proposes a novel microparticle vacuum chamber based on the micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) process. This MEMS microparticle vacuum chamber adopts a “glass-silicon-glass” three-layer vacuum bonding process, with a volume of only 15 mm × 12 mm × 1.2 mm, including particle chamber, cantilever resonator chamber, and getter chamber, which can encapsulate microparticles in a tiny vacuum environment and realize optical levitation of microparticles. At the same time, the air pressure in the micro vacuum chamber is monitored by the cantilever resonator, which can provide a miniaturized microparticle chamber with a more accurate vacuum environment for microparticle optical levitation. The research of this paper has significance for promoting the development of miniaturized optical levitation technology.
Characterization of an In Vitro/Ex Vivo Mucoadhesiveness Measurement Method of PVA Films
Authors: Müller Laura , Rosenbaum Christoph , Krause Julius , Weitschies Werner
Published: November 2022

Transmucosal drug delivery systems can be an attractive alternative to conventional oral dosage forms such as tablets. There are numerous in vitro methods to estimate the behavior of mucoadhesive dosage forms in vivo. In this work, a tensile test system was used to measure the mucoadhesion of polyvinyl alcohol films. An in vitro screening of potential influencing variables was performed on biomimetic agar/mucin gels. Among the test device-specific factors, contact time and withdrawal speed were identified as influencing parameters. In addition, influencing factors such as the sample area, which showed a linear relationship in relation to the resulting work, and the liquid addition, which led to an abrupt decrease in adhesion, could be identified. The influence of tissue preparation was investigated in ex vivo experiments on porcine small intestinal tissue. It was found that lower values of Fmax and Wad were obtained on processed and fresh tissue than on processed and thawed tissue. Film adhesion on fresh, unprocessed tissue was lowest in most of the animals tested. Comparison of ex vivo measurements on porcine small intestinal tissue with in vitro measurements on agar/mucin gels illustrates the inter- and intra-individual variability of biological tissue.
Antibacterial Properties of Honey Nanocomposite Fibrous Meshes
Authors: Matharu Rupy Kaur , Ahmed Jubair , Seo Jegak , Karu Kersti , Golshan Mitra Ashrafi , Edirisinghe Mohan , Ciric Lena
Published: November 2022

Natural substances are increasingly being developed for use in health-related applications. Honey has attracted significant interest, not only for its physical and chemical properties, but also for its antibacterial activity. For the first time, suspensions of Black Forest honeydew honey and manuka honey UMF 20+ were examined for their antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis using flow cytometry. The inhibitory effect of honey on bacterial growth was evident at concentrations of 10, 20 and 30 v/v%. The minimum inhibitory effects of both honey types against each bacterium were also investigated and reported. Electrospray ionisation (ESI) mass spectrometry was performed on both Black Forest honeydew honey and manuka honey UMF 20+. Manuka honey had a gluconic concentration of 2519 mg/kg, whilst Black Forest honeydew honey had a concentration of 2195 mg/kg. Manuka honey demonstrated the strongest potency when compared to Black Forest honeydew honey; therefore, it was incorporated into nanofiber scaffolds using pressurised gyration and 10, 20 and 30 v/v% manuka honey-polycaprolactone solutions. Composite fibres were analysed for their morphology and topography using scanning electron microscopy. The average fibre diameter of the manuka honey-polycaprolactone scaffolds was found to range from 437 to 815 nm. The antibacterial activity of the 30 v/v% scaffolds was studied using S. epidermidis. Strong antibacterial activity was observed with a bacterial reduction rate of over 90%. The results show that honey composite fibres formed using pressurised gyration can be considered a natural therapeutic agent for various medicinal purposes, including wound-healing applications.
A Feynman Path Integral-like Method for Deriving Reaction–Diffusion Equations
Authors: Li Changhao , Li Jianfeng , Yang Yuliang
Published: November 2022

This work is devoted to deriving a more accurate reaction–diffusion equation for an A/B binary system by summing over microscopic trajectories. By noting that an originally simple physical trajectory might be much more complicated when the reactions are incorporated, we introduce diffusion–reaction–diffusion (DRD) diagrams, similar to the Feynman diagram, to derive the equation. It is found that when there is no intermolecular interaction between A and B, the newly derived equation is reduced to the classical reaction–diffusion equation. However, when there is intermolecular interaction, the newly derived equation shows that there are coupling terms between the diffusion and the reaction, which will be manifested on the mesoscopic scale. The DRD diagram method can be also applied to derive a more accurate dynamical equation for the description of chemical reactions occurred in polymeric systems, such as polymerizations, since the diffusion and the reaction may couple more deeply than that of small molecules.
Preparation of Bio-Based Foams with a Uniform Pore Structure by Nanocellulose/Nisin/Waterborne-Polyurethane-Stabilized Pickering Emulsion
Authors: Chen Yiqi , Duan Yujie , Zhao Han , Liu Kelan , Liu Yiqing , Wu Min , Lu Peng
Published: November 2022

Bio-based porous materials can reduce energy consumption and environmental impact, and they have a possible application as packaging materials. In this study, a bio-based porous foam was prepared by using a Pickering emulsion as a template. Nisin and waterborne polyurethane (WPU) were used for physical modification of 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl piperidine-1-oxyl-oxidized cellulose nanocrystals (TOCNC). The obtained composite particles were applied as stabilizers for acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO) Pickering emulsion. The stability of the emulsion was characterized by determination of the rheological properties and microscopic morphology of the emulsion. The emulsion stabilized by composite particles showed better stability compared to case when TOCNC were used. The porous foam was obtained by heating a composite-particles-stabilized Pickering emulsion at 90 °C for 2 h. SEM (scanning electron microscopy) images showed that the prepared foam had uniformly distributed pores. In addition, the thermal conductivity of the foam was 0.33 W/m·k, which was a significant decrease compared to the 3.92 W/m·k of the TOCNC foam. The introduction of nisin and WPU can reduce the thermal conductivity of the foam, and the physically modified, TOCNC-stabilized Pickering emulsion provides an effective means to preparing bio-based porous materials.
Spraying Fluorinated Silicon Oxide Nanoparticles on CuONPs@CF-PVDF Membrane: A Simple Method to Achieve Superhydrophobic Surfaces and High Flux in Direct Contact Membrane Distillation
Authors: Lenac Zivka , Saldías César , Terraza Claudio A. , Leiva Angel , Koschikowski Joachim , Winter Daniel , Tundidor-Camba Alain , Martin-Trasanco Rudy
Published: November 2022

Desalinization of seawater can be achieved by membrane distillation techniques (MD). In MD, the membranes should be resistant to fouling, robust for extended operating time, and preferably provide a superhydrophobic surface. In this work, we report the preparation and characterization of a robust and superhydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride membrane containing fluoroalkyl-capped CuONPs (CuONPs@CF) in the inner and fluorinated capped silicon oxide nanoparticles (SiO2NPs@CF) on its surface. SiO2NPs@CF with a mean diameter of 225 ± 20 nm were prepared by the sol method using 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane as a capping agent. Surface modification of the membrane was carried out by spraying SiO2NPs@CF (5% wt.) dispersed in a mixture of dimethyl formamide (DMF) and ethanol (EtOH) at different DMF/EtOH % v/v ratios (0, 5, 10, 20, and 50). While ethanol dispersed the nanoparticles in the spraying solution, DMF dissolved the PVDF on the surface and retained the sprayed nanoparticles. According to SEM micrographs and water contact angle measurements, the best results were achieved by depositing the nanoparticles at 10% v/v of DMF/EtOH. Under these conditions, a SiO2NPs covered surface was observed with a water contact angle of 168.5°. The water contact angle was retained after the sonication of the membrane, indicating that the modification was successfully achieved. The membrane with SiO2NPs@CF showed a flux of 14.3 kg(m2·h)−1, 3.4 times higher than the unmodified version. The method presented herein avoids the complicated modification procedure offered by chemical step modification and, due to its simplicity, could be scalable to a commercial membrane.
Research and Development of Red Mud and Slag Alkali Activation Light Filling Materials Preparation by Ultra-High Water Content and Analysis of Microstructure Formation Mechanism
Authors: Huang Guodong , Zhang Yuting , Mi Huafeng , Zhang Xukang , Liu Meng , Fang Bin , Wang Chengcheng
Published: November 2022

This paper presents the preparation of alkali-activated red mud (RM) light material by an ultra-high liquid–solid ratio (1.98) based on the super water absorption characteristic of RM particles. Compressive strength, dry density, and water absorption are analyzed over time. Besides, the characteristic distributions of porosity and pore size are measured by mercury injection tests, and the microstructure is further analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the ultra-high liquid–solid ratio can be used to prepare light samples with superior mechanical properties, low water absorption, reasonable pore distribution, and fine microstructures compared with light samples prepared with a foaming agent. The reason is that the significant increase in the free water does not change the dense microstructure of samples and effectively limits the increase in the detrimental pores. This effectively alleviates the sudden decrease in compressive strength and limits the increase in water absorption.
Photocatalytic Treatment of Emerging Contaminants with Ag-Modified Titania—Is There a Risk Arising from the Degradation Products?
Authors: Frankowski Robert , Zgoła-Grześkowiak Agnieszka , Grześkowiak Tomasz , Stanisz Ewa , Werner Justyna , Płatkiewicz Julia
Published: November 2022

Bisphenol A, bisphenol S, and fluconazole are environmental contaminants widely found in surface waters because of their extensive usage and low biodegradability. Therefore, other methods are often considered for the removal of these compounds. The present study aims at their photodegradation with the use of UV light and three different catalysts, ZnO, TiO2, and Ag-TiO2. The results obtained show that photocatalytic removal of these compounds is also problematic and the use of catalysts, such as ZnO and TiO2, at increasing concentrations mostly leads to lower degradation of the tested compounds. The modification of TiO2 with silver increases the degradation of both bisphenols up to 100%, which was achieved in 60 min by bisphenol A and in as little as 10 min by bisphenol S. Nevertheless, the degradation of fluconazole remained at the same level, not exceeding 70% in 60 min, i.e., still much lower than expected. In addition, the degradation products of bisphenols show the hydroxylation and destruction of their phenolic rings, while no degradation products were found during the test with fluconazole. Although the potentially genotoxic bisphenol A degradation product was found, the acute toxicity of the formed compounds differs little in comparison to the parent bisphenols.
Outlet Liquid Material Concentration Prediction of an Evaporation Process Based on Knowledge and Data Information
Authors: Hua Yuyang , Jin Xin , Xie Sen
Published: November 2022

The outlet liquid material concentration is a key production indicator to evaluate the evaporation quality and an important basis to adjust the evaporation operation parameters. However, the online concentration analyzer has strict installation conditions and high prices, and it is difficult to obtain the liquid material concentration in time. Usually, the field works perform imprecise operations according to the time delay information. In addition, the process data contain errors, which affects the accuracy and timeliness of process optimization and control. Therefore, a hybrid prediction model of concentration based on data reconciliation is presented in this paper. First, to obtain the high-quality process data, the data reconciliation method is applied for preprocessing. Moreover, the process mechanistic model is constructed by utilizing the process knowledge and the balance principle. Taking into account the volatility and nonlinearity characteristics, a data-driven model based on autoregressive integrated moving average integrated generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity is established, and then the support vector regression model is built for prediction residual optimization. Furthermore, the prediction results of the mechanistic model and the data-driven model are balanced comprehensively. Finally, an evaporation process is selected for simulation verification. The results demonstrate that the proposed hybrid prediction model has improved the prediction condition and performance.
On Philosophical Meaning of Negative Terms in Laozi: Revolving around “Truthful Words Seem Contrary” (正言若反)
Authors: Wang Yiming
Published: November 2022

Negative terms are widespread in the text of Laozi; however, our understanding of their field, form and philosophical meaning is still unclear. In this paper, I intend to argue that the theoretical meaning of these terms first needs to be understood in terms of the proposition “Truthful words seem contrary”. In this proposition, “contrary” is the accurate meaning of negative terms. I demonstrate that the essence of the “contrary” lies in the critical reaction of xuande (dark virtue) to mingde (brilliant virtue), which is the traditional highest value. Thus, dark virtue is the theoretical foundation of the “contrary” because it is the new highest value. The “contrary” manifests itself in two forms: intuitive words (including adjectives and nouns), which are reflective, and negative words (including negative adverbs and verbs). Intuitive words represent the highest value or Being by means of the states and beings in the empirical world (I make use of the ontological difference between Being and being made by Heidegger, and so I maintain the capitalization of Being). In contrast, negative words more clearly distinguish the highest value or Being from secular values and beings in negative sentences. According to a further analysis of the relationship between affirmative and negative sentences, the latter is the universal expression of the former. All of these propositions reveal a philosophical possibility in which the diverse ways and values of the existence of all beings are affirmed and fulfilled.
Entropy Approximation by Machine Learning Regression: Application for Irregularity Evaluation of Images in Remote Sensing
Authors: Velichko Andrei , Belyaev Maksim , Wagner Matthias P. , Taravat Alireza
Published: November 2022

Approximation of entropies of various types using machine learning (ML) regression methods are shown for the first time. The ML models presented in this study define the complexity of the short time series by approximating dissimilar entropy techniques such as Singular value decomposition entropy (SvdEn), Permutation entropy (PermEn), Sample entropy (SampEn) and Neural Network entropy (NNetEn) and their 2D analogies. A new method for calculating SvdEn2D, PermEn2D and SampEn2D for 2D images was tested using the technique of circular kernels. Training and testing datasets on the basis of Sentinel-2 images are presented (two training images and one hundred and ninety-eight testing images). The results of entropy approximation are demonstrated using the example of calculating the 2D entropy of Sentinel-2 images and R2 metric evaluation. The applicability of the method for the short time series with a length from N = 5 to N = 113 elements is shown. A tendency for the R2 metric to decrease with an increase in the length of the time series was found. For SvdEn entropy, the regression accuracy is R2 > 0.99 for N = 5 and R2 > 0.82 for N = 113. The best metrics were observed for the ML_SvdEn2D and ML_NNetEn2D models. The results of the study can be used for fundamental research of entropy approximations of various types using ML regression, as well as for accelerating entropy calculations in remote sensing. The versatility of the model is shown on a synthetic chaotic time series using Planck map and logistic map.
Study on the Development Law of Mining-Induced Ground Cracks under Gully Terrain
Authors: Zhang Yanjun , Lian Xugang , Yan Yueguan , Zhu Yuanhao , Dai Huayang
Published: November 2022

Coal seam mining in the gully area easily causes ground cracks and even induces landslides, which endanger the safety of mining areas. In this paper, combined with the mining conditions of a mining area in southern Shanxi Province, China, ground crack mapping, crack width dynamic monitoring, and the numerical simulation method are used to study the static and dynamic evolution law and the formation mechanism of ground cracks in the gully area. The research shows that ground cracks mainly include dynamic in-plane cracks and boundary cracks. The dynamic in-plane cracks show the characteristics of “opening first and closing later”. The boundary cracks show the characteristics of “only opening and not closing”. It is found that the closure of the dynamic in-plane cracks will decrease (compared with plain areas). The development of ground cracks experiences three stages: the initial formation stage, the dynamic development stage, and the gradually stable stage. The “goaf–surface” structure model and force chain arch structure model are established to more intuitively analyze the formation mechanism of ground cracks. The research results have a specific reference value for preventing ground disasters caused by underground coal mining and land ecological restoration.
Agricultural Drought Assessment in a Typical Plain Region Based on Coupled Hydrology–Crop Growth Model and Remote Sensing Data
Authors: Zhang Yuliang , Wu Zhiyong , Singh Vijay P. , Jin Juliang , Zhou Yuliang , Xu Shiqin , Li Lei
Published: November 2022

An agricultural drought assessment is the basis for formulating agricultural drought mitigation strategies. Traditional agricultural drought assessment methods reflect agricultural drought degree by using the soil water deficit, e.g., Soil Moisture Anomaly Percentage Index (SMAPI). However, due to varying water demands for different crops, a given soil water deficit results in varying crop water deficits and agricultural droughts. This variation often leads to a misinterpretation of agricultural drought classification when one only considers the soil water deficit. To consider the influence of crop growth, this study proposes an agricultural drought assessment method by coupling hydrological and crop models (variable infiltration capacity-environmental policy integrated climate, VIC-EPIC). Agricultural drought in Jiangsu Province, China was evaluated using the VIC-EPIC model and crop water anomaly percentage index (CWAPI). The validation results based on the actual drought records showed that the correlation coefficients (0.79 and 0.82, respectively) of the statistical values and CWAPI simulated values of light and moderate drought area rates were greater than those for SMAPI (0.72 and 0.81, respectively), indicating that the simulation results of the VIC-EPIC model in Jiangsu Province were highly reasonable. The temporal and spatial variation characteristics of the drought grade in typical large-scale drought events in Jiangsu Province were also analyzed.
Sentinel-2 Detection of Floating Marine Litter Targets with Partial Spectral Unmixing and Spectral Comparison with Other Floating Materials (Plastic Litter Project 2021)
Authors: Papageorgiou Dimitris , Topouzelis Konstantinos , Suaria Giuseppe , Aliani Stefano , Corradi Paolo
Published: November 2022

Large-area, artificial floating marine litter (FML) targets were deployed during a controlled field experiment and data acquisition campaign: the Plastic Litter Project 2021. A set of 22 Sentinel-2 images, along with UAS data and ancillary measurements were acquired. Spectral analysis of the FML and natural debris (wooden planks) targets was performed, along with spectral comparison and separability analysis between FML and other floating materials such as marine mucilage and pollen. The effects of biofouling and submersion on the spectral signal of FML were also investigated under realistic field conditions. Detection of FML is performed through a partial unmixing methodology. Floating substances such as pollen exhibit similar spectral characteristics to FML, and are difficult to differentiate. Biofouling is shown to affect the magnitude and shape of the FML signal mainly in the RGB bands, with less significant effect on the infrared part of the spectrum. Submersion affects the FML signal throughout the range of the Sentinel-2 satellite, with the most significant effect in the NIR part of the spectrum. Sentinel-2 detection of FML can be successfully performed through a partial unmixing methodology for FML concentrations with abundance fractions of 20%, under reasonable conditions.
Degree of Polarization Calculation for Laser Backscattering from Typical Geometric Rough Surfaces at Long Distance
Authors: Shen Shiyang , Zhang Xinyuan , Liu Yifan , Xu Shilong , Fang Jiajie , Hu Yihua
Published: November 2022

Measurement of the degree of polarization of backscattering light from rough surfaces plays an important role in targets-detection applications. The polarization bidirectional reflectance function is the key to establish the relation between the polarization states of incidence and backscattering light. For the purpose of obtaining a polarized bidirectional reflectance distribution function (pBRDF) of a realistic, complicated target, it is decomposed as typical geometric surfaces and analytically calculated as the degree of polarization of the backscattering light, using a microfacet model, under conditions in which the scale of the target is far less than the target distance. In an experiment testing several typical geometric models, the results coincided with the theoretical calculation. The degree of polarization varied substantially as the rotation angle of the target changed, but showed little dependence on the size of target. The results have potential in applications discriminating between targets at different spatial orientations.