bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Feasibility Study of Grinding Circulating Fluidized Bed Ash as Cement Admixture
Authors: Du Xingquan , Huang Zhong , Ding Yi , Xu Wei , Zhang Man , Wei Lubin , Yang Hairui
Published: August 2022

With the widespread application of circulating fluidized bed (CFB) combustion technology, the popularity of CFB ash (CFBA) has increased dramatically and its production and large-scale utilization have become increasingly important. In the context of carbon neutrality peaking, using CFBA as a cement admixture as an effective method of resource utilization not only reduces the pressures caused by carbon emissions in the cement industry but also solves the environmental problems caused by CFBA depositing. However, the formation conditions of CFBA are worse than those of traditional pulverized coal boilers. CFB ash is the combustion product of coal at 850 °C–950 °C, and the characteristics of CFBA usually include a loose and porous structure with many amorphous substances. Furthermore, it has the disadvantages of large particle size, high water-demand ratio, and low activity index when it is directly used as a cement admixture. In this study, CFBA (including fly ash (CFBFA) and bottom ash (CFBBA)) produced by a CFB boiler without furnace desulfurization with limestone was used as a cement admixture material, and the effect of grinding on the fineness, water-demand ratio, and activity index of CFBA were studied. The experimental results showed that the grinding effect could significantly reduce the fineness and water-demand ratio of CFBA as a cement mixture and improve the activity index. With the increase in the grinding time, the water-demand ratio of CFBA first decreased and then increased. CFBBA ground for 10 min and CFBFA ground for 4 min can reduce the water-demand ratio of CFBA by up to 105% and increase the compressive strength of 28-day-old CFBA cement by 7.05%. The grinding process can ensure that CFBA meets the Chinese standards for a cement admixture and realize the resource utilization of CFBA.
Forming Quality Research on the Variable-Diameter Section of the Hollow Axle in Three-Roll Skew Rolling
Authors: Xia Yingxiang , Shu Xuedao , Shi Jianan , Wang Ying , Pater Zbigniew , Wang Jitai
Published: August 2022

The hollow axle is the key component of the high-speed train, and the realization of high-quality forming is the key to ensure the safety of train operation. In this paper, the specimen of the variable-diameter section of the hollow axle is taken as the research object, and the generation mechanism of surface spiral mark defects and the formula of spiral mark depth of variable-diameter section in the TRSR (three-roll skew rolling) process with variable roll spacing are explored. The external roundness error and the function C to measure the wall thickness uniformity of the cross-section were taken as the evaluation indexes and the single-factor simulation experiment was established and simulated in the software Simufact.forming16.0 to obtain the influence law of each process parameter on the external roundness error and wall thickness uniformity of the rolled piece. Orthogonal tests were designed and the order and optimal combination of process parameters on the forming quality were obtained by range analysis and ANOVA analysis. The research results provide theoretical guidance for improving the forming quality of the variable-diameter section of the hollow axle in three-roll skew rolling, and promote the transformation of the TRSR process to high performance and accurate forming.
WSSe Nanocomposites for Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution and Methylene Blue Removal under Visible-Light Irradiation
Authors: Tien Tsung-Mo , Chung Yu-Jen , Huang Chen-Tang , Chen Edward L.
Published: August 2022

In this study, a novel tungsten disulfide diselenide (WSSe) nanocomposite by a facile hydrothermal process with great capable photocatalytic efficiency for hydrogen evolution from water and organic compound removal was discussed. The WSSe nanocomposites form heterojunctions in order to inhibit the quick recombination rate of photo-induced electrons and holes. This is considered to be a useful method in order to enhance the capability of photocatalytic hydrogen production. The hydrogen production rate of the WSSe nanocomposites approaches 3647.4 μmol/g/h, which is 12 and 11 folds the rates of the bare WS2 and WSe2, respectively. Moreover, the excellent photocatalytic performance for Methylene blue (MB) removal (88%) was 2.5 and 1.8 times higher than those of the bare WS2 and WSe2, respectively. The great photocatalytic efficiency was owing to the capable electrons and holes separation of WSSe and the construction of the heterostructure, which possessed vigorous photocatalytic oxidation and reduction potentials. The novel one-dimensional structure of the WSSe heterojunction shortens the transport pathway of the photo-induced electrons and holes. It possesses the great capable photocatalytic efficiency of the hydrogen production and organic dye removal. This study offers an insight into the route of interfacial migration and separation for induced charge carriers in order to generate clean hydrogen energy and to solve the issue of environmental pollution.
Importance of Build Design Parameters to the Fatigue Strength of Ti6Al4V in Electron Beam Melting Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Ghods Sean , Schur Reid , Montelione Alex , Schleusener Rick , Arola Dwayne D. , Ramulu Mamidala
Published: August 2022

The fatigue properties of metals resulting from Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) is critically important for safety-critical applications. Here, the fatigue life of Grade 5 Ti6Al4V from Electron Beam PBF was investigated with respect to several build and component design parameters using a design of experiments (DOE). Part size (i.e., diameter), part proximity, and part location within the build envelope were considered. Overall, metal in the as-built condition (i.e., no post-process machining) exhibited a significantly lower fatigue life than the machined surface condition. In both conditions, the fatigue life decreased significantly with the decreasing part diameter and increasing radial distance; height was not a significant effect in the machined condition. Whereas the surface topography served as the origin of failure for the as-built condition, the internal lack of fusion (LOF) defects, exposed surface LOF defects, and rogue defects served as the origins for the machined condition. Porosity parameters including size, location, and morphology were determined by X-ray micro-computed tomography (XCT) and introduced within regression models for fatigue life prediction. The greatest resistance to fatigue failure is obtained when parts are placed near the center of the build plane to minimize the detrimental porosity. Machining can improve the fatigue life, but only if performed to a depth that minimizes the underlying porosity.
Effects of Different Natural Factors on Rheological Properties of SBS Modified Asphalt
Authors: Song Shanglin , Liang Meichen , Wang Linbing , Li Dongna , Guo Meng , Yan Luchun , Zhang Xingjun , Ding Weixun
Published: August 2022

Typical climatic environments such as UV radiation, high temperature and strong wind in cold and arid regions have a significant effect on asphalt aging. The intent of this work is to reveal the evolution law of natural aging of SBS-modified asphalt under the complex adverse climate environment in cold and arid regions. Furthermore, the contribution rate of various environmental factors of natural aging of asphalt in cold and arid regions was analyzed. Based on rheological parameters, this paper characterized the influence of natural aging on the viscoelastic properties, rutting resistance at a high temperature, fatigue resistance and cracking resistance at a low temperature of SBS-modified asphalt. The evolution law of natural aging performance of SBS-modified asphalt was revealed. A quantitative evaluation index (CIi) of natural aging contribution rate of asphalt was put forward and the contribution rate of various environmental factors to asphalt natural aging was analyzed. The results showed that the effects of simulated aging and natural aging on asphalt properties were similar. After aging, the viscoelastic properties of asphalt were deteriorated, and the risk of fatigue cracking and low temperature cracking was increased. It also enhanced the deformation resistance of asphalt and increased the rutting resistance at high temperature. The aging contribution index CIi obtained based on rheological parameters such as complex modulus and rutting factor could directly reflect the influence of different natural factors on the performance of asphalt during aging. Among them, the effect of thermal oxygen was more obvious on the natural aging of SBS-modified asphalt.
Scientometric Analysis and Research Mapping Knowledge of Coconut Fibers in Concrete
Authors: Gu Mingli , Ahmad Waqas , Alaboud Turki M. , Zia Asad , Akmal Usman , Awad Youssef Ahmed , Alabduljabbar Hisham
Published: August 2022

Biodegradable materials are appropriate for the environment and are gaining immense attention worldwide. The mechanical properties (such as elongation at break, density, and failure strain) of some natural fibers (such as Coir, Hemp, Jute, Ramie, and Sisal) are comparable with those of some synthetic fibers (such as E glass, aramid, or Kevlar). However, the toughness of coconut fibers is comparatively more than other natural fibers. Numerous studies suggest coconut fibers perform better to improve the concrete mechanical properties. However, the knowledge is dispersed, making it difficult for anyone to evaluate the compatibility of coconut fibers in concrete. This study aims to perform a scientometric review of coconut fiber applications in cementitious concrete to discover the various aspects of the literature. The typical conventional review studies are somehow limited in terms of their capacity for linking different literature elements entirely and precisely. Science mapping, co-occurrence, and co-citation are among a few primary challenging points in research at advanced levels. The highly innovative authors/researchers famous for citations, the sources having the highest number of articles, domains that are actively involved, and co-occurrences of keywords in the research on coconut-fiber-reinforced cementitious concrete are explored during the analysis. The bibliometric database with 235 published research studies, which are taken from the Scopus dataset, are analyzed using the VOSviewer application. This research will assist researchers in the development of joint ventures in addition to sharing novel approaches and ideas with the help of a statistical and graphical description of researchers and countries/regions that are contributing. In addition, the applicability of coconut fiber in concrete is explored for mechanical properties considering the literature, and this will benefit new researchers for its use in concrete.
An Iterative Modified Adaptive Chirp Mode Decomposition Method and Its Application on Fault Diagnosis of Wind Turbine Bearings
Authors: Ding Ao , Tang Guiji , Wang Xiaolong , He Yuling , Fan Shiyan
Published: August 2022

Wind turbine bearings usually work with strong background noise, making the faulty properties difficult to extract and detect. To accurately diagnose the faults of rolling bearings in wind turbines, an iterative modified adaptive chirp mode decomposition (IMACMD) method is proposed in this paper. Firstly, an envelope interpolation method is employed to preliminarily determine the iterative mode number and guide the potentially initial frequency selection. Secondly, the upper limits of the iterative mode number and the initial frequency are further determined through correlation analysis. During the iteration process, the optimal weight factor of the reconstructive input signal, which is the residual signal of the previous iterative decomposition, is determined according to the new designed ensemble L-Kurtosis index. Experimental and engineering signals are used to validate the proposed IMACMD method. Comparisons with the conventional methods demonstrate the superiority of this proposed method. It is shown that this method can not only identify the weak features for single faults but also separate the multiple features for compound faults.
Highly Dispersive Optical Solitons in Fiber Bragg Gratings with Kerr Law of Nonlinear Refractive Index
Authors: Zayed Elsayed M. E. , Alngar Mohamed E. M. , Shohib Reham M. A. , Biswas Anjan , Yıldırım Yakup , Khan Salam , Moraru Luminita , Moldovanu Simona , Iticescu Catalina
Published: August 2022

This paper obtains highly dispersive optical solitons in fiber Bragg gratings with the Kerr law of a nonlinear refractive index. The generalized Kudryashov’s approach as well as its newer version makes this retrieval possible. A full spectrum of solitons is thus recovered.
Effect of Cu Content on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties for High-Strength Deposited Metals Strengthened by Nano-Precipitation
Authors: Wang Jiamei , Li Chengning , Di Xinjie , Wang Dongpo
Published: August 2022

With the rapid development of low-carbon high strength steel, higher requirements are put forward for the matching welding consumables. The deposited metals with 0.62–2.32% Cu addition was prepared by tungsten inert gas welding via metal cored wire. The effect of Cu element on microstructure and mechanical properties of deposited metals were investigated. The multiphase microstructure of deposited metals consists of bainite, martensite, residual austenite, and martensite-austenite constituents. It is found that Cu decreases the start temperature of martensite (Ms) and enlarges the temperature range of bainite from 372 K to 416 K, improving the formation of bainite. With the increase of Cu content, the fraction of martensite decreases and the shape of M-A constituents changes from strip into granular. There are BCC and FCC Cu precipitates in deposited metals. The diameter of Cu precipitates is 14–28 nm, and the volume fraction of it increases with the increase of Cu content. Meanwhile, the deposited metals with 1.79% Cu can achieve a 10% enhancement in strength (yield strength, 873–961 MPa, ultimate tensile strength, 1173–1286 MPa) at little expense of impact toughness (64.56–56.39 J at −20 °C). Cu precipitation can effectively improve the strength of the deposited metals, but it degrades toughness because of lower crack initiation energy. The deposited metal with 1.79% Cu addition shows an excellent strength-toughness balance.
Study on Preparation of Nano-ZnO by Zinc Hypoxide in Rotary Hearth Furnace
Authors: Wang Zhongxue , He Yun , Wang Weian , Yang Yongkun , Qiu Guoxing , Li Xiaoming
Published: August 2022

To realize the high value-added utilization of zinc hypoxide in a rotary hearth furnace, nano-ZnO was prepared by H2SO4 wet leaching combined with the Na2CO3 precipitation process. The effects of different process conditions on the leaching rate of Zn were analyzed, and the feasibility of preparing nano-ZnO from zinc hypoxide was discussed. The results showed that the optimal process conditions for H2SO4 leaching of zinc hypoxide in a rotary hearth furnace were as follows: H2SO4 concentration 2.0 mol·L−1, leaching temperature 60 °C, leaching time 90 min, and liquid-solid ratio 8:1. Under these conditions, the leaching rate of Zn reached 95%. The calculation results of leaching kinetics showed that the restrictive link of the H2SO4 leaching process was a chemical reaction process; the apparent activation energy was 14.45 kJ·mol−1; and the reaction order was 0.6. The precursor obtained by Na2CO3 precipitation treatment was Zn5(OH)6(CO3)2. After calcination at 400 °C, the nano-ZnO with a diameter of less than 100 nm and length greater than 1 μm was obtained. H2SO4 leaching combined with the Na2CO3 precipitation process provided a new approach for high value-added utilization of zinc hypoxide in a rotary hearth furnace.
SRAM Cell Design Challenges in Modern Deep Sub-Micron Technologies: An Overview
Authors: Gul Waqas , Shams Maitham , Al-Khalili Dhamin
Published: August 2022

Microprocessors use static random-access memory (SRAM) cells in the cache memory design. As a part of the central computing component, their performance is critical. Modern system-on-chips (SoC) escalate performance pressure because only 10–15% of the transistors accounts for logic, while the remaining transistors are for the cache memory. Moreover, modern implantable, portable and wearable electronic devices rely on artificial intelligence (AI), demanding an efficient and reliable SRAM design for compute-in-memory (CIM). For performance benchmark achievements, maintaining reliability is a major concern in recent technological nodes. Specifically, battery-operated applications utilize low-supply voltages, putting the SRAM cell’s stability at risk. In modern devices, the off-state current of a transistor is becoming comparable to the on-state current. On the other hand, process variations change the transistor design parameters and eventually compromise design integrity. Furthermore, sensitive information processing, environmental conditions and charge emission from IC packaging materials undermine the SRAM cell’s reliability. FinFET-SRAMs, with aggressive scaling, have taken operation to the limit, where a minute anomaly can cause failure. This article comprehensively reviews prominent challenges to the SRAM cell design after classifying them into five distinct categories. Each category explains underlying mathematical relations followed by viable solutions.
Sulfur Isotopic Composition of Gypsum from Paleocene, Northwest China: Implications for the Evolution of Eastern Paratethys Seawater
Authors: Wang Jun , Cao Yangtong
Published: August 2022

The sulfate isotope record of marine sedimentary sulfate through time has been used successfully to determine global variations in the composition of seawater sulfate. The variations in the sulfur isotope composition of marine sulfate reflect changes in the global sulfur cycle and are also closely related to changes in the atmospheric oxygen cycles. However, data for the Paleocene are very sparse and the stratigraphic evolution of the sulfur isotope composition of seawater is poorly constrained due to the small number of samples analyzed. The Yarkand Basin, as a northeastern part of the eastern Paratethys ocean with the trumpet-shaped bay, in which a suite of evaporitic sequences named the Aertashen Formation was continuously developed in the Paleocene and was principally composed of massive gypsum interbedded fragmental rocks. The values of sulfur isotopic composition are from 12.2‰ to 20.6‰ (δ34 SCDT or δ34 SVCDT) and the mean is 17.7‰ in 97 gypsum samples in the basin. Three gradually increasing trends of sulfur isotopic curves reflect that enrichment of δ34 S occurred in seawater sulfate, and indicate oxidation of seawater sulfide. These may hint to at least three oxidation events or the bacterial reduction of seawater sulfide that occurred in the Paleocene, and that three oxygen-enriched events or the biological sulfur cycle might exist in this epoch. The sulfur isotopic composition (δ34 SCDT or δ34 SVCDT) in the seawater of the northeastern part of the eastern Paratethys ocean was about 15.0‰ to 20.6‰, and averaged 17.9‰ in the Paleocene. Combined with the previous global sulfur isotopic composition of seawater, the final range of global sulfur isotopic composition of seawater might be from 15.0‰ to 21.0‰, with 17.9‰–18.3‰ the average in the Paleocene, so the variations in the sulfur isotope composition of Paleocene seawater sulfate are reconstructed and supplemented.
Geochemical Data Mining by Integrated Multivariate Component Data Analysis: The Heilongjiang Duobaoshan Area (China) Case Study
Authors: Zhao Zhonghai , Qiao Kai , Liu Yiwen , Chen Jun , Li Chenglu
Published: August 2022

The Heilongjiang Duobaoshan area is located at the confluence of the Great Xing’an Range and the Lesser Xing’an Range, and the area has undergone a complex magmatic and tectonic evolutionary history resulting in a complex and diverse geological background for mineralization. As a result of this geological complexity and the multi-period nature of mineralization, the geochemical data of the area are usually not satisfied with a single statistical distribution form, so traditional statistical methods cannot adequately explore and identify the distribution of deep-seated information in the geochemical data. Based on the above problems, this paper adopts a multivariate component data analysis method to process 14 mass fraction data elements, namely Ag, As, Au, Bi, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, W, and Zn, in the 1:50,000 soil geochemical data from the Duobaoshan area of Heilongjiang. The spatial distribution and internal structural characteristics of raw, logarithmic transformation and isometric logarithmic ratio (ILR) transformed data were compared using exploratory data analysis (EDA); robust principal component analysis (RPCA) was applied to obtain the PC1 and PC2 principal component combinations associated with mineralization, and a spectrum–area (S–A) fractal model was further used to decompose the geochemical anomalies of the PC1 and PC2 principal component combinations as composite anomalies. The results show the following: (i) The data transformed by the isometric logarithmic ratio (ILR) eliminate the influence of the original data closure effect, and the spatial scale of the data is more uniform; the data are approximately normally distributed, based on which RPCA can be applied to better explore the correlation between elements and the pattern of co-associated combinations. (ii) The S–A method was further used to decompose the composite anomalies of the PC1 and PC2 principal component combination in the study area. The anomalous and background fields of the screened-out PC1 and PC2 principal component combinations reflect anomalous information on mineralization dominated by Au mineralization. Moreover, the anomaly and background information after extraction were in good agreement with the known Au deposits (points), and many geochemical anomalies with prospecting potential were obtained in the periphery, providing a theoretical basis and exploration focus for the next step in the searching and exploring of the study area.
Sesquiterpenoids from Inula britannica and Their Potential Effects against Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Qi Ruo-Yu , Guo Cong , Peng Xiao-Na , Tang Jiang-Jiang
Published: August 2022

Flowers of Inula britannica commercially serve as pharmaceutical herbs in the manufacturing of medicinal products. In the current study, sesquiterpenoids of I. britannica flowers’ extract and their potential effects against triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells were investigated. Eight structurally diverse sesquiterpenoids, including one sesquiterpenoid dimer (1) and seven sesquiterpenoid monomers (2–8) were isolated from this source. The structures of all compounds were elucidated by 1D/2D NMR data, and their absolute configurations were discerned by single crystal X-ray diffraction. All of the compounds were tested for their potential effects against TNBC. Specifically, 5 displayed strong antiproliferative potency against TNBC cells with a high selective index (SI) on MCF-7 cells (SI > 4 of IC50 on MDA-MB-468/IC50 on MCF-7), and dimer 1 (IC50 = 8.82 ± 0.85 μM) showed better antiproliferative potency against MCF-7 cells than the other monomers did (2–8) (IC50 > 20 μM). To our best knowledge, compound 5 is the first sesquiterpenoid targeting TNBC cells.
Influence of Age and Dose on the Effect of Resveratrol for Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: García-Martínez Beatriz Isabel , Ruiz-Ramos Mirna , Pedraza-Chaverri José , Santiago-Osorio Edelmiro , Mendoza-Núñez Víctor Manuel
Published: August 2022

Background: Several clinical trials have suggested that resveratrol has hypoglycemic properties; however, there are other studies in which such an effect has not been observed. Methods: We carried out a systematic search in several databases; seventeen studies were selected for the systematic review and fifteen were included in the meta-analysis. Results: Resveratrol decreases glucose levels in subjects aged 45–59 years at doses <250 mg/day (−8.64 mg/dL, p < 0.00001), 250–500 mg/day (−22.24 mg/dL, p = 0.0003), and 500–1000 mg/day (−28.40 mg/dL, p = 0.0008), while in subjects older than 60 years, it only decreases with doses of 250–500 mg/day. Likewise, HbA1c improved in subjects aged 45–59 years with doses of 250–500 mg (−0.60%, p < 0.00001), but not in subjects older than 60 years. Insulin levels improved in subjects aged 45–59 years with doses < 250 mg/day (−0.80 mIU/L, p = 0.0003) and doses of 250–500 mg/day (−5.0 mIU/L, p = 0.0003), although in subjects older than 60 years, they only improved with doses of 250–500 mg/day (−1.79 mIU/L, p = 0.01). On the other hand, HOMA-IR only improved in subjects older than 60 years with doses of 250–500 mg/day (−0.40, p = 0.01). Conclusions: Resveratrol has a statistically significant dose–response effect on glucose concentrations, HbA1c, and insulin levels; however, there is not enough scientific evidence to propose a therapeutic dose.
Synthesis, Anticancer Activities and Molecular Docking Studies of a Novel Class of 2-Phenyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroimidazo [1,2-b]pyridazine Derivatives Bearing Sulfonamides
Authors: Bourzikat Otmane , El Abbouchi Abdelmoula , Ghammaz Hamza , El Brahmi Nabil , El Fahime Elmostfa , Paris Arnaud , Daniellou Richard , Suzenet Franck , Guillaumet Gérald , El Kazzouli Saïd
Published: August 2022

In the present study, new 2-phenyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroimidazo [1,2-b]pyridazines bearing sulfonamides were synthesized, characterized and evaluated for their anticancer activities. The structures of these derivatives were elucidated by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, infrared and high-resolution mass spectrometry for further validation of the target compound structures. The anticancer activities of the new molecules were evaluated against five human cancer cell lines, including A-549, Hs-683, MCF-7, SK-MEL-28 and B16-F10 cell lines using 5-fluorouracil and etoposide as the reference drugs. Among the tested compounds, 4e and 4f exhibited excellent activities in the same range of the positive controls, 5-fluorouracil and etoposide, against MCF-7 and SK-MEL-28 cancer cell lines, with IC50 values ranging from 1 to 10 μM. The molecular docking studies of 4e and 4f showed a strong binding with some kinases, which are linked to MCF-7 and SK-MEL-28 cancer cell lines.
Cytotoxic Activity of Polyphenol Extracts from Three Oregano Species: Hedeoma patens, Lippia graveolens and Lippia palmeri, and Antiproliferative Potential of Lippia graveolens against Two Types of Breast Cancer Cell Lines (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7)
Authors: Criollo-Mendoza Marilyn S. , Ramos-Payán Rosalío , Contreras-Angulo Laura A. , Gutiérrez-Grijalva Erick P. , León-Félix Josefina , Villicaña Claudia , Angulo-Escalante Miguel A. , Heredia J. Basilio
Published: August 2022

Oregano infusions have traditionally been used to treat some diseases related to inflammation and cancer; also, some species have shown antiproliferative activity on cancer cell lines, for example, colon and liver, and this has been attributed to its phytochemical profile, mainly its phenolic compounds. This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity and antiproliferative potential of the polyphenols-rich extracts (PRE) of the oregano species H. patens, L. graveolens, and L. palmeri on breast cancer cell lines. The PRE of the three oregano species were obtained from dried leaves. The extract was characterized by determining antioxidant activity, total phenols content, and identifying the profile of phenolic acids and flavonoids by chromatography UPLC-MS/MS. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of the extracts was evaluated in vitro on a non-cancer cell line of fibroblast NIH3T3 and the antiproliferative potential on the breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7. L. graveolens showed the highest antioxidant capacity and significantly inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells at non-cytotoxic concentrations in normal cells, with a similar effect to that cisplatin in MDA-MB-231 cells. Therefore, the polyphenol-rich extract from L. graveolens showed the greatest potential to guide future research on the antiproliferative mechanism of action.
Hypericum Essential Oils—Composition and Bioactivities: An Update (2012–2022)
Authors: Grafakou Maria-Eleni , Barda Christina , Karikas George Albert , Skaltsa Helen
Published: August 2022

Hypericum genus, considered to comprise over 500 species that exhibit cosmopolitan distribution, has attracted human interest since ancient times. The present review aims to provide and summarize the recent literature (2012–2022) on the essential oils of the title genus. Research articles were collected from various scientific databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, Reaxys, and Google Scholar. Scientific reports related to the chemical composition, as well as the in vitro and in vivo pharmacological activities, are presented, also including a brief outlook of the potential relationship between traditional uses and Hypericum essential oils bioactivity.
Exhaled Aldehydes as Biomarkers for Lung Diseases: A Narrative Review
Authors: Floss Maximilian Alexander , Fink Tobias , Maurer Felix , Volk Thomas , Kreuer Sascha , Müller-Wirtz Lukas Martin
Published: August 2022

Breath analysis provides great potential as a fast and non-invasive diagnostic tool for several diseases. Straight-chain aliphatic aldehydes were repeatedly detected in the breath of patients suffering from lung diseases using a variety of methods, such as mass spectrometry, ion mobility spectrometry, or electro-chemical sensors. Several studies found increased concentrations of exhaled aldehydes in patients suffering from lung cancer, inflammatory and infectious lung diseases, and mechanical lung injury. This article reviews the origin of exhaled straight-chain aliphatic aldehydes, available detection methods, and studies that found increased aldehyde exhalation in lung diseases.
Transparent Heat Shielding Properties of Core-Shell Structured Nanocrystalline CsxWO3@TiO2
Authors: Chao Luomeng , Sun Changwei , Li Jiaxin , Sun Miao , Liu Jia , Ma Yonghong
Published: August 2022

Nanocrystalline tungsten bronze is an excellent near-infrared absorbing material, which has a good potential application in the field of transparent heat shielding materials on windows of automobiles or buildings, but it exhibits serious instability in the actual environment, which hinders its further application. In this paper, we coated the CsxWO3 nanoparticles with TiO2 to prepare core-shell structured CsxWO3@TiO2, and its crystal structure and optical properties were studied. The results show that the surface of CsxWO3 nanoparticles is coated with a layer of TiO2 particles with the size of several nanometers, and the shell thickness can be adjusted by the amount of Ti source. The measurement of optical properties illustrates that TiO2-coated CsxWO3 exhibits good stability in actual environment, and its transparent heat shielding performance will decrease with the increase in TiO2 shell thickness. This work provides a new route to promote the applications of tungsten bronze as heat shielding materials.
Biogenic Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Evaluation of Pristine and Graphene-Loaded Zn50Mg50O Nanocomposites for Organic Dyes Removal
Authors: Pachiyappan Jayakaran , Nirmala Gnanasundaram , Sivamani Selvaraju , Govindasamy Rajakumar , Thiruvengadam Muthu , Derkho Marina , Burkov Pavel , Popovich Aleksey , Gribkova Vera
Published: August 2022

Algal biomass synthesised nanocomposites have a higher surface area and reusability advantages. This study aimed to synthesise and characterise ZnMgO and silica-supported graphene with ZnMgO (G-ZnMgO) nanocomposites from Kappaphycusalvarezii and evaluate their potential in the application of photocatalysis to remove Rhodamine-B (RhB) and methylene blue (MB) dyes from their aqueous medium by maximising the percentage removal using response surface methodology (RSM) modelling. Nanocomposites were synthesised and characterised by biogenic and instrumental (Powder X-ray diffraction (P-XRD), electron microscopic analysis (SEM and TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Energy dispersive analysis of X-rays (EDAX). and UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS)) methods, respectively; modelling predicted the optimal conditions to be photocatalyst dosage and contact time of 1 g/L and 90 min, respectively, to obtain maximum MB dye removal of 80% using G-ZnMgO. The results showed the best fit between experimental and RSM predicted values. Thus, the obtained results conclude that the algal biomass synthesised nanocomposites were found to be one of the potential photocatalysts for the removal of RhB and MB dyes from their aqueous solution.
Versatile Integrated Polarizers Based on Geometric Metasurfaces
Authors: Yue Zhiyuan , Xu Jilian , Lu Peiyao , Teng Shuyun
Published: August 2022

We propose versatile integrated polarizers based on geometric metasurfaces. Metasurface polarizer consists of an L-shaped hole array etched on a silver film, and it can simultaneously generate several polarization states, including linear polarization, circular polarization, elliptical polarization, or even hybrid polarization. Meanwhile, the combination of output polarization states changes with the illumination polarization type. The theoretical analysis provides a detailed explanation for the generation of the integrated polarization states. The well-designed metasurface polarizers may generate more complex polarization modes, including vector beams and vector vortex beams. The theoretical and simulated results confirm the polarization performance of the proposed integrated metasurface polarizers. The compact design of metasurface polarizers and the controllable generation of versatile polarization combinations are a benefit to the applications of polarization light in optical imaging, biomedical sensing, and material processing.
Nanoparticle-Based Therapeutics to Overcome Obstacles in the Tumor Microenvironment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Lu Yuanfei , Feng Na , Du Yongzhong , Yu Risheng
Published: August 2022

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still a main health concern around the world, with a rising incidence and high mortality rate. The tumor-promoting components of the tumor microenvironment (TME) play a vital role in the development and metastasis of HCC. TME-targeted therapies have recently drawn increasing interest in the treatment of HCC. However, the short medication retention time in TME limits the efficiency of TME modulating strategies. The nanoparticles can be elaborately designed as needed to specifically target the tumor-promoting components in TME. In this regard, the use of nanomedicine to modulate TME components by delivering drugs with protection and prolonged circulation time in a spatiotemporal manner has shown promising potential. In this review, we briefly introduce the obstacles of TME and highlight the updated information on nanoparticles that modulate these obstacles. Furthermore, the present challenges and future prospects of TME modulating nanomedicines will be briefly discussed.
Does Allulose Appeal to Consumers? Results from a Discrete Choice Experiment in Germany
Authors: Jürkenbeck Kristin , Haarhoff Theresa , Spiller Achim , Schulze Maureen
Published: August 2022

Reducing the sugar content in food is an important goal in many countries in order to counteract obesity and unhealthy eating. Currently, many consumers eat a number of foods with too much sugar content. However, mankind has an innate preference for sweet foods, and thus one strategy is to have food products which taste sweet but consist of a reduced calorie and sugar content. Allulose is a rare monosaccharide and is considered a safe ingredient in foods, for example in the US, Japan, Singapore, and Mexico, while in Europe, it is in the approval process as a novel food. Thus, it is relevant to find out how consumers perceive the different attributes of allulose in comparison to other sweeteners. Therefore, an online survey consisting of a choice experiment was conducted in Germany to find out consumer preferences of sweeteners. The survey data were analyzed using a mixed logit model. The results reveal that taste is the most important attribute for sweeteners, which explains about 40% of the choice. In the attribute level, a typical sugar taste is preferred. As allulose has a typical sugar taste, the likelihood that it appeals to consumers is high. The second most important attribute is the base product.
Managing Female Athlete Health: Auditing the Representation of Female versus Male Participants among Research in Supplements to Manage Diagnosed Micronutrient Issues
Authors: Smith Ella S. , McKay Alannah K. A. , Kuikman Megan , Ackerman Kathryn E. , Harris Rachel , Elliott-Sale Kirsty J. , Stellingwerff Trent , Burke Louise M.
Published: August 2022

Micronutrient deficiencies and sub-optimal intakes among female athletes are a concern and are commonly prevented or treated with medical supplements. However, it is unclear how well women have been considered in the research underpinning current supplementation practices. We conducted an audit of the literature supporting the use of calcium, iron, and vitamin D. Of the 299 studies, including 25,171 participants, the majority (71%) of participants were women. Studies with exclusively female cohorts (37%) were also more prevalent than those examining males in isolation (31%). However, study designs considering divergent responses between sexes were sparse, accounting for 7% of the literature. Moreover, despite the abundance of female participants, the quality and quantity of the literature specific to female athletes was poor. Just 32% of studies including women defined menstrual status, while none implemented best-practice methodologies regarding ovarian hormonal control. Additionally, only 10% of studies included highly trained female athletes. Investigations of calcium supplementation were particularly lacking, with just two studies conducted in highly trained women. New research should focus on high-quality investigations specific to female athletes, alongside evaluating sex-based differences in the response to calcium, iron, and vitamin D, thus ensuring the specific needs of women have been considered in current protocols involving medical supplements.
Usefulness of Muscle Ultrasonography in the Nutritional Assessment of Adult Patients with Cystic Fibrosis
Authors: Sánchez-Torralvo Francisco José , Porras Nuria , Ruiz-García Ignacio , Maldonado-Araque Cristina , García-Olivares María , Girón María Victoria , Gonzalo-Marín Montserrat , Olveira Casilda , Olveira Gabriel
Published: August 2022

Background: Muscle ultrasonography of the quadriceps rectus femoris (QRF) is a technique on the rise in the assessment of muscle mass in application of nutritional assessment. The aim of the present study is to assess the usefulness of muscle ultrasonography in patients with cystic fibrosis, comparing the results with other body composition techniques such as anthropometry, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and handgrip strength (HGS). At the same time, we intend to assess the possible association with the nutritional and respiratory status. Methods: This was a prospective observational study in adult patients with cystic fibrosis in a clinically stable situation. Muscle ultrasonography of the QRF was performed, and the results were compared with other measures of body composition: anthropometry, BIA, and DXA. HGS was used to assess muscle function. Respiratory parameters were collected, and nutritional status was assessed using Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria. Results: A total of 48 patients were included, with a mean age of 34.1 ± 8.8 years. In total, 24 patients were men, and 24 patients were women. Mean BMI was 22.5 ± 3.8 kg/m2. Mean muscular area rectus anterior (MARA) was 4.09 ± 1.5 cm2, and mean muscular circumference rectus was 8.86 ± 1.61 cm. A positive correlation was observed between the MARA and fat-free mass index (FFMI) determined by anthropometry (r = 0.747; p < 0.001), BIA (r = 0.780; p < 0.001), and DXA (r = 0.678; p < 0.001), as well as muscle function (HGS: r = 0.790; p < 0.001) and respiratory parameters (FEV1; r = 0.445, p = 0.005; FVC: r = 0.376, p = 0.02; FEV1/FVC: r = 0.344, p = 0.037). A total of 25 patients (52.1%) were diagnosed with malnutrition according to GLIM criteria. Differences were observed when comparing the MARA based on the diagnosis of malnutrition (4.75 ± 1.65 cm2 in normo-nourished vs. 3.37 ± 1.04 in malnourished; p = 0.014). Conclusions: In adults with cystic fibrosis, the measurements collected by muscle ultrasound of the QRF correlate adequately with body composition techniques such as anthropometry, BIA, DXA, and handgrip strength. Muscle ultrasound measurements, particularly the MARA, are related to the nutritional status and respiratory function of these patients.
Artificial Diets Based on Selective Amino Acid Restriction versus Capecitabine in Mice with Metastatic Colon Cancer
Authors: Jiménez-Alonso Julio José , Guillén-Mancina Emilio , Calderón-Montaño José Manuel , Jiménez-González Víctor , Díaz-Ortega Patricia , Burgos-Morón Estefanía , López-Lázaro Miguel
Published: August 2022

New therapies are needed to improve the low survival rates of patients with metastatic colon cancer. Evidence suggests that amino acid (AA) restriction can be used to target the altered metabolism of cancer cells. In this work, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of selective AA restriction in colon cancer. After observing anticancer activity in vitro, we prepared several artificial diets and evaluated their anticancer activity in two challenging animal models of metastatic colon cancer. These models were established by injecting CT26.WT murine colon cancer cells in the peritoneum (peritoneal dissemination) or in the tail vein (pulmonary metastases) of immunocompetent BALB/cAnNRj mice. Capecitabine, which is a first-line treatment for patients with metastatic colon cancer, was also evaluated in these models. Mice fed diet TC1 (a diet lacking 10 AAs) and diet TC5 (a diet with 6% casein, 5% glutamine, and 2.5% leucine) lived longer than untreated mice in both models; several mice survived the treatment. Diet TC5 was better than several cycles of capecitabine in both cancer models. Cysteine supplementation blocked the activity of diets TC1 and TC5, but cysteine restriction was not sufficient for activity. Our results indicated that artificial diets based on selective AA restriction have therapeutic potential for colon cancer.
Home Parenteral Nutrition in Patients with Advanced Cancer: Quality Outcomes from a Centralized Model of Care Delivery
Authors: Kopczynska Maja , Teubner Antje , Abraham Arun , Taylor Michael , Bond Ashley , Clamp Andrew , Wight Rebecca , Salih Zena , Hasan Jurjees , Mitchell Claire , Jayson Gordon C. , Lal Simon
Published: August 2022

Lack of expertise in home parenteral nutrition (HPN) management has been reported as a barrier to its initiation in patients with advanced cancer (AC), and there are limited data describing hospital readmissions and HPN-related complications. We aimed to assess a centralized approach for managing HPN in AC and evaluate associated outcomes, including hospital readmissions and HPN-related complications. This was a cohort study of adults with AC requiring palliative HPN between 2010–2018 at a tertiary intestinal failure (IF) center, primarily utilizing a centralized model of HPN oversight to discharge patients remotely from an oncology center to their homes over a wide geographic area. A total of 126 patients were included, with a median distance between the patient’s home and the IF center of 17.5 km (IQR 10.9–39.1; maximum 317.4 km). A total of 28 (22%) patients experienced at least one HPN-related complication, the most common being a central venous catheter (CVC) occlusion and electrolyte abnormalities. The catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) rate was 0.49/1000 catheter days. The CVC type, administration of concomitant chemotherapy via a distinct CVC lumen separate from PN, venting gastrostomy and distance between the patient’s home and the IF center were not associated with CRBSI or mechanical CVC complications. A total of 82 (65.1%) patients were readmitted while on HPN, but only 7 (8.5%) of these readmissions were HPN-related. A total of 44 (34.9%) patients died at home, 41 (32.5%) at a hospice and 41 (32.5%) in a hospital. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that a centralized approach to IF care can provide HPN to patients over a large geographical area while maintaining low HPN-related complications that are comparable to patients requiring HPN for benign conditions and low hospital readmission rates.
A Recombinant Vaccine-like Strain of Lumpy Skin Disease Virus Causes Low-Level Infection of Cattle through Virus-Inoculated Feed
Authors: Shumilova Irina , Nesterov Alexander , Byadovskaya Olga , Prutnikov Pavel , Wallace David B. , Mokeeva Maria , Pronin Valeriy , Kononov Aleksandr , Chvala Ilya , Sprygin Alexander
Published: August 2022

Since 1989, lumpy skin disease of cattle (LSD) has spread out of Africa via the Middle East northwards and eastwards into Russia, the Far East and South-East Asia. It is now threatening to become a worldwide pandemic, with Australia possibly next in its path. One of the research gaps on the disease concerns its main mode of transmission, most likely via flying insect vectors such as biting flies or mosquitoes. Direct or indirect contact transmission is possible, but appears to be an inefficient route, although there is evidence to support the direct contact route for the newly detected recombinant strains first isolated in Russia. In this study, we used experimental bulls and fed them via virus-inoculated feed to evaluate the indirect contact route. To provide deeper insights, we ran two parallel experiments using the same design to discover differences that involved classical field strain Dagestan/2015 LSDV and recombinant vaccine-like Saratov/2017. Following the attempted indirect contact transmission of the virus from the inoculated feed via the alimentary canal, all bulls in the Dagestan/2015 group remained healthy and did not seroconvert by the end of the experiment, whereas for those in the Saratov/2017 recombinant virus group, of the five bulls fed on virus-inoculated feed, three remained clinically healthy, while two displayed evidence of a mild infection. These results provide support for recombinant virus transmission via the alimentary canal. In addition, of particular note, the negative control in-contact bull in this group exhibited a biphasic fever at days 10 and 20, developed lesions from day 13 onwards, and seroconverted by day 31. Two explanations are feasible here: one is the in-contact animal was somehow able to feed on some of the virus-inoculated bread left over from adjacent animals, but in the case here of the individual troughs being used, that was not likely; the other is the virus was transmitted from the virus-fed animals via an airborne route. Across the infected animals, the virus was detectable in blood from days 18 to 29 and in nasal discharge from days 20 to 42. Post-mortem and histological examinations were also indicative of LSDV infection, supporting further evidence for rapid, in F transmission of this virus. This is the first report of recombinant LSDV strain transmitting via the alimentary mode.