bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integrating mid‐infrared spectroscopy, machine learning, and graphical bias correction for fatty acid prediction in water buffalo milk
Authors: Yao Zhiqiu , Zou Wenna , Zhang Xinxin , Nie Pei , Lv Haimiao , Wang Wei , Zhao Xuhong , Yang Ying , Yang Liguo
Published: March 2024

BACKGROUND

Buffalo milk, constituting 15% of global production, has higher fatty acids content than Holstein milk. Fourier‐transform mid‐infrared (FT‐MIR) spectroscopy is widely used for dairy analysis, but its application to buffalo milk, with larger fat globules, remains understudied. The ultimate goal of this study is to develop machine learning models based on FT‐MIR spectroscopy for predicting fatty acids in buffalo milk and to assess the accuracy of commercial milk analyzers. This research provides a convenient, fast, and environmentally friendly method for detecting the fatty acid composition in buffalo milk.

RESULTS

We employed six machine learning algorithms to establish a detection model for 34 fatty acids in buffalo milk. The predictive models demonstrated robust capabilities for high‐content fatty acids [C14:0, C15:0, C16:0, C17:0, C18:0, C18:1, saturated fatty acid (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA)], with errors within a 15% range. Traditional FT6000 detection methods exhibited limitations in measuring SFAs and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Implementing a mean difference correction of 0.21 for MUFAs and applying regression equations (SFA × 1.0639 + 0.0705; PUFA × 0.5472 + 0.0047) significantly improved measurement accuracy.

CONCLUSION

This study successfully developed a predictive model for fatty acids in Mediterranean buffalo milk based on FT‐MIR spectroscopy. Additionally, a correction was applied to the existing measurement device, FT6000, enabling more accurate measurements of fatty acids in buffalo milk. The findings have practical implications for the food industry, offering a faster and more reliable approach to assess and monitor fatty acid composition in buffalo milk, potentially influencing product development and quality control processes. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
BPD Compass: Using a dimensional model of psychopathology to treat co‐occurring borderline personality disorder and posttraumatic stress symptoms
Authors: Hood Caitlyn O. , Southward Matthew W. , Badour Christal L. , Sauer‐Zavala Shannon
Published: March 2024

BPD Compass is a transdiagnostic psychotherapy that includes cognitive, behavioral, and mindfulness skills targeting the personality dimensions of negative affectivity, disinhibition, and antagonism. Given considerable symptom comorbidity and overlap in etiology between borderline personality disorder (BPD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), this study investigated whether BPD Compass holds promise as an integrated approach to simultaneously treating co‐occurring BPD features and PTSD symptoms. Participants included 84 trauma‐exposed adults who participated in a two‐phase clinical trial (Phase 1: randomized controlled trial of BPD Compass vs. waitlist [n = 43]; Phase 2: open trial of BPD Compass [n = 41]). Compared to waitlist, BPD Compass led to medium‐to‐large–sized, significant improvements in BPD features, βs = −.57 −.44, and facets of neuroticism, βs < −.55–−.73, as well as small, nonsignificant improvements in self‐reported, β = −.20, and clinician‐rated PTSD symptom severity, β = −.19. During treatment, within‐person improvements in PTSD symptoms predicted subsequent improvements in BPD features, β = .13, but not vice versa, β = .07. Within‐person PTSD symptom reduction also predicted subsequent improvement in all personality dimensions, whereas only within‐person improvement in despondence, β = .12, affective dysregulation, β = .11, and dissociative tendencies, β = .12, predicted PTSD symptom reductions. Findings offer preliminary support for the potential of BPD Compass to target BPD features and aspects of neuroticism and agreeableness among trauma‐exposed adults. Moreover, PTSD symptom change predicting subsequent improvement in BPD features runs counter to current stage‐based treatment models that emphasize BPD feature stabilization before engaging in trauma‐focused therapy.
Impact of Procedural Variation in Endoscopic Dilation for Idiopathic Subglottic Stenosis
Authors: Santapuram Pooja , Tierney William S. , Huang Li‐Ching , Chen Sheau‐Chiann , Berry Lynn D. , Francis David O. , Gelbard Alexander
Published: March 2024

Objectives

A small number of Idiopathic subglottic stenosis (iSGS) patients are treated at institutions across the country. Divergence in operative techniques for endoscopic dilation (ED) of iSGS has been anecdotally recognized but not formally characterized. Additionally, the relationship between procedural variation and clinical outcome has not been studied.

Methods

Secondary analysis of the NoAAC iSGS1000 cohort investigated variation in procedural techniques and treatment outcomes in patients treated with ED across high‐enrolling treatment centers (enrolled >10 patients in PR‐02 trial).

Results

Thirteen NoAAC centers each enrolled >10 patients treated with ED for a total of 281 subjects. There was significant variation in procedural details and rate of recurrence among institutions. Hierarchal cluster analysis revealed significant heterogeneity among institutions and clusters in all procedural variables. However, analysis demonstrated a transient delay in disease recurrence in cluster 2 which disappeared with longer longitudinal follow‐up. Patient‐reported outcome and peak expiratory flow data supported the potential benefit of the technical variation in Cluster 2. Distinct to cluster 2, however, was routine use of adjuvant triple medical therapy (proton pump inhibitor (PPI), antibacterial agent, and steroid inhaler).

Conclusions

Both outcome and procedural technique vary among centers employing ED to treat iSGS. A transient delay in recurrence was observed among centers that routinely prescribed adjuvant medical therapy (antibiotic, inhaled corticosteroid, and PPI) to iSGS patients after endoscopic dilation, which was further supported by patient‐reported data and peak expiratory flow data. Prospective studies are needed to understand the effects of adjuvant medical therapy on recurrence after endoscopic dilation.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 134:3260–3266, 2024
Polydopamine as a Materials Platform to Promote Strong and Durable Interfaces in Thermoplastic Polymer‐Titanium Joints
Authors: Kafkopoulos Georgios , Duvigneau Joost , Vancso G. Julius
Published: March 2024

Joining thermoplastic polymers (TPMs) and metals to form lightweight hybrid structures is of growing industrial and commercial importance. The performance of such materials relies on the bonding strength and endurance of the formed TPM–metal interfaces. The available joining technologies and the mechanisms that govern interfacial adhesion are reviewed in this contribution, highlighting thermal bonding as a commercially attractive joining method. By focusing on molecular interactions to optimize interfacial adhesion, the use of dopamine as a building block to form polydopamine (PDA) based adhesive interlayers in such interfaces is discussed. This work also highlights the potential of PDA to be applied as a load‐bearing adhesive—a notion considered to date unfeasible.
Deep‐subwavelength characteristics of focused vector double‐petal linear edge dislocation beams
Authors: Su Yu , Yang Chen , Yin Xiaojin , Guo Shanlong , Shi Pengbo , Li Jinhong
Published: March 2024

Recently, vector beams with special intensity and phase distribution have received much attention due to their unique properties. In this paper, we construct the double‐petal linear edge dislocation (DPLED) beams based on Gaussian vortex beams. The distribution of intensity, polarization, and spin angular momentum (SAM) of the DPLED beams is analyzed in tightly focused based on the Richards‐Wolf vector diffraction theory. The significant difference is occurred in light field, polarization SAM, and polarization distributions before and after focusing of DPLED beams. It's of certain importance for expanding the application of vector beams in optical control, optical imaging, and other fields.
The effective perospirone augmentation with clonazepam for treatment‐resistant burning mouth syndrome: A case report
Authors: Watanabe Motoko , Takao Chihiro , Maeda Chizuko , Nayanar Gayatri , Tominaga Risa , Kimura Yasuyuki , Tu Trang Thi Huyen , Nagamine Takahiko , Toyofuku Akira
Published: March 2024

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is characterized by burning sensations in the oral region without corresponding abnormalities and is often accompanied by uncomfortable sensations. Herein, we present cases of BMS in which the remaining uncomfortable sensations improved with perospirone augmentation with clonazepam. Case 1: A 61‐year‐old man complained of a burning pain in his tongue, a sensation of dryness and discomfort as if his tongue was sticking to a palatal plate. With the diagnosis of BMS, psychopharmacotherapy was initiated with amitriptyline. At the dose of amitriptyline 50 mg, the pain lessened but uncomfortable sensations persisted. Further attempts to alleviate symptoms by combining aripiprazole with amitriptyline, aripiprazole with mirtazapine, or aripiprazole with clonazepam were limited; however, nearly all symptoms were relieved by a combination of perospirone 8.0 mg with clonazepam 1.5 mg. Case 2: A 51‐year‐old woman complained of a burning sensation along with oral dryness and crumb‐like feeling on her tongue. She was diagnosed with BMS and began treatment with amitriptyline. Her burning sensation improved at the dose of 25 mg, but uncomfortable sensations persisted. Augmentation of amitriptyline with aripiprazole, aripiprazole either with valproate, mirtazapine, or clonazepam failed to produce a significant improvement. However, a regimen of perospirone 6.0 mg and clonazepam 1.5 mg relieved the crumb‐like sensation and pain and culminated in a stabilized condition. The reported cases suggested that multiple approaches targeting the dopaminergic circuit in basal ganglia involving the serotoninergic and GABA systems, through the administration of perospirone with clonazepam is an effective adjunctive treatment for the remaining uncomfortable sensations in patients with BMS.
Enhancing frequency regulation in multi‐area interconnected MPS with virtual inertia using MPC + PIDN controller
Authors: Vidyarthi Prabhat Kumar , Kumar Ashiwani
Published: March 2024

The challenge of controlling frequency deviation becomes more difficult as the complexity of a power network increases. The robustness of the controller has a major impact on the stability of a Modern Power system (MPS). Due to the hybridization of MPS basic AGC controllers (PID, FOPID, and TID) are insufficient to give optimal performance of a plant. This requires a robust controller. So, a novel MPC + PIDN controller has been proposed and evaluated by comparing it with several existing controllers, which gives optimal performance in terms of overshoot, undershoot, and settling time. A new modified Opposition‐based Sea‐horse Optimization (OSHO) method has been suggested to optimize the various controller settings. To demonstrate the OSHO's superiority, it is compared with a few popular, existing meta‐heuristic optimizations. The higher penetration levels of RESs reduced system inertia which further deteriorate frequency response in MPS. To overcome these challenges virtual inertia (VI) is implemented with MPC. VI is applied to improve the performance of the AGC of the interconnected MPS along with emphasizing the nature of intermittent renewable energy sources (RESs) of PV and wind energy. To determine the reliability and flexibility of the proposed controller, analysis has been done under a different situation, including step, random disturbances, and modified IEEE‐39 bus. Finally, the stability analysis is performed on a bode plot and the proposed results are compared with previously published literature. The extensive study demonstrates strong evidence that the suggested control approach is efficient and effective.
The Value of the Nutritional Indicators in Predicting Free Flap Failure From a Multicentre Database
Authors: Yen Yuan‐Hao , Luo Sheng‐Dean , Chen Wei‐Chih , Li Chung‐Yi , Chiu Tai‐Jan , Wang Yu‐Ming , Wu Shao‐Chun , Yang Yao‐Hsu , Chen Yung‐Hsuan , Wu Ching‐Nung
Published: March 2024

Objective

Nutritional and inflammatory statuses have been associated with complications in microvascular‐free flaps during head and neck surgeries. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of nutritional indicators in predicting postoperative free flap complications.

Study Design

We conducted a 20‐year retrospective, case‐control study within a defined cohort.

Setting

The study involved head and neck cancer patients from the Chang Gung Research Database who underwent simultaneous tumor ablation and free flap wound reconstruction between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2019.

Methods

We employed logistic regression and stratified analysis to assess the risk of free flap complications and the subsequent need for flap revision or redo in relation to nutritional indicators and other clinical variables.

Results

Of the 8066 patients analyzed, 687 (8.5%) experienced free flap complications. Among these, 197 (2.4%) had free flap failures necessitating a redo of either a free flap or a pedicled flap. Beyond comorbidities such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, end‐stage renal disease, and a history of prior radiotherapy, every 10‐unit decrease in the preoperative prognostic nutritional index (PNI) was consistently associated with an increased risk of both free flap complications and failure. The covariate‐adjusted odds ratios were 1.90 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.42‐2.54) and 1.89 (95% CI: 1.13‐3.17), respectively.

Conclusion

A lower preoperative PNI suggests a higher likelihood of microvascular free flap complications in head and neck surgeries. Further randomized controlled trial designs are required to establish causality.
Fabrication of hyaluronic acid‐based nanoparticles and studies on their radical scavenging activity
Authors: Zhu Huiqing , Xu Suyue , Shang Guoshuo , Pan Xiaofei , Zhao Jingya , Zhao Bingqian , Sun Zeyu , Yang Xue , He Sisi , Xue Jintao
Published: March 2024

The purpose of this paper is to study the stability, radical scavenging activities, and bio‐safety of cysteine‐conjugated hyaluronic acid nanoparticles (Cys‐conj‐HA NPs). Additionally, the feasibility of utilizing these NPs as drug delivery systems is discussed. The structures of synthesized Cys‐conj‐HA polymers were analyzed using 1H nuclear magnetic spectrum (1H NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra. The stability, radical scavenging activity, and bio‐safety of fabricated Cys‐conj‐HA NPs were investigated. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) photograph illustrated that Cys‐conj‐HA NPs possessed spherical shapes with an average diameter of approximately 230 nm. Furthermore, these NPs exhibited high stability at temperatures of 4, 25, and 37°C. Notably, Cys‐conj‐HA NPs demonstrated significant free radical scavenging capabilities. The high cell viability observed indicated the absence of cytotoxicity from Cys‐conj‐HA NPs. Additionally, bio‐safety studies revealed that these NPs did not induce acute toxicity in the blood and viscera of cargo‐free NPs treated mice. Elisa assays indicated that there was no significant difference in the concentrations of interferon‐γ (INF‐γ) and tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) between Cys‐conj‐HA NPs and normal saline (NS) treated mice (ns, p > 0.05), suggesting the absence of an inflammatory reaction caused by these NPs. Consequently, it can be concluded that Cys‐conj‐HA NPs are sufficiently safe to be employed as a vehicle for delivering oxidizing drugs.
Thrombin‐targeted screening of anticoagulant active components from Polygonum amplexicaule D. Don var. sinense Forb by affinity ultrafiltration coupled with UPLC‐Q‐TOF‐MS
Authors: Huang Shiyi , He Xiangchang , Huang Chencun , He Weihe , Zhao Hongqing , Dai Jie , Xu Guangming
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Polygonum amplexicaule D. Don var. sinense Forb (PAF), a medicinal plant, has the effect of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. However, the active compounds and targets of its anticoagulant effect are still unclear.

Objectives

This study aims to establish an effective reversely thrombin‐targeted screening method for anticoagulant active components in PAF by affinity ultrafiltration (AUF) coupled with ultrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectroscopy (UPLC‐Q‐TOF‐MS).

Methods

Different polar parts of PAF were screened for potential thrombin ligands by AUF‐HPLC and identified by UPLC‐Q‐TOF‐MS. After studying the affinity between ligands and thrombin by molecular docking, the antithrombotic activity of ligands was detected in vivo by zebrafish thrombus model, and in vitro by chromogenic substrate method. The mechanism of such ligands on thrombin was further studied by coagulation factor assay.

Results

Eleven potential thrombin ligands from PAF were screened by the AUF‐UPLC‐Q‐TOF‐MS method, and two compounds (butyl gallate and β‐sitosterol) with significant anticoagulant activity were discovered via in vitro and in vivo activity testing.

Conclusion

A method system based on AUF‐UPLC‐Q‐TOF‐MS, molecular docking and in vivo and in vitro experiments also provided a powerful tool for further exploration of anticoagulant active components in PAF.
Wearable and ingestible technology to evaluate and prevent exertional heat illness: A narrative review
Authors: Hintz Courtney N. , Butler Cody R.
Published: March 2024

Exertional heat illness remains a constant threat to the athlete, military service member, and laborer. Recent increases in the number and intensity of environmental heat waves places these populations at an ever increasing risk and can be deadly if not recognized and treated rapidly. For this reason, it is extremely important for medical providers to guide athletes, service members, and laborers in the implementation of awareness, education, and measures to reduce or mitigate the risk of exertional heat illness. Within the past 2 decades, a variety of wearable technology options have become commercially available to track an estimation of core temperature, yet questions continue to emerge as to its use, effectiveness, and practicality in athletics, the military, and the workforce. There is a paucity of data on the accuracy of many of these newer devices in the setting of true heat stroke physiology, and it is important to avoid overreliance on new wearable technology. Further research and improvement of this technology are critical to identify accuracy in the diagnosis and prevention of EHI.
Examination of changes in the breathing intolerance index to determine the respiratory support needs of very low birth weight infants
Authors: Mizogami Masae , Hasegawa Hisaya , Yamada Yosuke , Wasa Masanori , Ikeda Kenta
Published: March 2024

Background

The breathing intolerance index (BITI) is used to evaluate respiratory muscle tolerance. The higher the ratio of the inspiratory time to the total breathing time and the ratio of the tidal volume to the vital capacity, the more easily the respiratory muscles become fatigued. The BITI is high with chronic respiratory failure, and values of 0.15 or more indicate the need for assisted ventilation.

Objective

This study aimed to examine the changes in the BITI of very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs) and determine whether it is possible to use the BITI as an objective indicator of the timing of noninvasive respiratory support (NRS) withdrawal.

Methods

VLBWIs admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit between July 2020 and July 2022 under NRS at 36 weeks’ postmenstrual age (PMA). If the BITI was less than 0.15, then we attempted to determine whether NRS could be withdrawn.

Results

Sixteen infants with a median gestational age and birth weight of 30.9 weeks and 1249 g, respectively, were eligible. The median PMA at the time of the first examination was 36.6 weeks. The BITI of two VLBWIs was less than 0.15. For 11 of the other VLBWIs, the BITI decreased over time to less than 0.15 at 39 weeks’ PMA. After confirming that the BITI was less than 0.15, weaning from NRS was attempted. Weaning from NRS was possible except one VLBWI.

Conclusion

The BITI can help evaluate respiratory tolerance and could be an objective indicator of the timing of NRS withdrawal.
Detection of insulin oligomeric forms by a novel surface plasmon resonance‐diffusion coefficient based approach
Authors: Calcagno Damiano , Perina Maria Luisa , Zingale Gabriele Antonio , Pandino Irene , Tuccitto Nunzio , Oliveri Valentina , Parravano Maria Cristina , Grasso Giuseppe
Published: March 2024

Insulin is commonly used to treat diabetes and undergoes aggregation at the site of repeated injections in diabetic patients. Moreover, aggregation is also observed during its industrial production and transport and should be avoided to preserve its bioavailability to correctly adjust glucose levels in diabetic patients. However, monitoring the effect of various parameters (pH, protein concentration, metal ions, etc.) on the insulin aggregation and oligomerization state is very challenging. In this work, we have applied a novel Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR)‐based experimental approach to insulin solutions at various experimental conditions, monitoring how its diffusion coefficient is affected by pH and the presence of metal ions (copper and zinc) with unprecedented sensitivity, precision, and reproducibility. The reported SPR method, hereby applied to a protein for the first time, besides giving insight into the insulin oligomerization and aggregation phenomena, proved to be very robust for determining the diffusion coefficient of any biomolecule. A theoretical background is given together with the software description, specially designed to fit the experimental data. This new way of applying SPR represents an innovation in the bio‐sensing field and expanding the potentiality of commonly used SPR instruments well over the canonical investigation of biomolecular interactions.
Ferroelectric Hysteresis Measurement in the Lithium Niobate‐Lithium Tantalate Single‐Crystalline Family: Prospects for Lithium Niobate‐Tantalate
Authors: Koppitz Boris , Ganschow Steffen , Rüsing Michael , Eng Lukas M.
Published: March 2024

Poling and structuring of ferroelectric domains form the basis for developing prospective applications using materials from the lithium‐niobate (LN) family. Applications range from second harmonic generation to electro‐optic modulators or surface acoustic wave devices. In the work presented here, hysteresis measurements are used as a standard method to quantitatively determine the poling properties of these ferroelectrics, including their spontaneous polarization Ps as well as their forward and reverse coercive fields Ec,+ and Ec,−. Systematic measurements that depend on parameters such as the ramp rate R of the applied poling voltage and the waiting time twait between domain inversions are investigated and compared between the congruent variants of LN, lithium tantalate (LT), their magnesium‐doped analogues, and stoichiometric LN. For bulk magnesium‐doped LN, for example, it is found that the resulting coercive field strongly depends on the speed of the voltage ramp, with values ranging from 11 to 21 kV mm−1. These investigations are used as fundamental input for poling ferroelectric lithium niobate‐tantalate solids (LNT), a system that offers a high potential for tuning the material parameters beyond what is possible for LN or LT.
Effect of Alloying Elements on the Microstructure and Magnetic Properties of Mechanically Alloyed AlNiCo‐Based High‐Entropy Alloys
Authors: Kulkarni Raghavendra , Kaushik Garikapati Nischay , Murty Budaraju Srinivasa , Srinivas Veeturi
Published: March 2024

Herein, the effect of addition of Cu, Fe, and CuFe on microstructure and magnetic properties of equiatomic ternary AlNiCo alloy is reported. This addition of Cu, Fe, and CuFe to AlNiCo results in L12, B2, and mixed α + B2 phases, respectively, during the mechanical alloying (MA) and subsequent annealing process. The low‐temperature magnetic properties show that the addition of nonmagnetic Cu to AlNiCo enhances the coercivity, while Fe enhances the saturation magnetization value. Further from the study of magnetic properties, it is suggested that the phase segregation effects are minimum in MA process compared to melt process. It is also shown that the disorder plays a significant role in controlling the magnetic properties. The observed anomalous magnetic behavior is discussed in terms of modifications in exchange interactions between constituent elements due to chemical and structural disorder.
Non‐turbulent motion identified from properties of transport and its influence on the calculation of turbulent flux
Authors: Liu Zihan , Zhang Hongsheng , Wei Wei , Cai Xuhui , Song Yu , Zhang Xiaoye
Published: March 2024

Turbulent fluxes play a critical role in atmospheric science and are usually calculated from the eddy covariance system. However, the presence of motions of larger scale and the bias from observational instruments often affects the procurement of turbulent fluxes. Based on the Hilbert–Huang transform, the properties of transport can be defined and used to distinguish non‐turbulent motions from the observational data, and a new way of decomposing the variables is thereby put forward to reconstruct the turbulent flux series. To quantify the influence of non‐turbulent motions on the calculation of turbulent flux, the non‐turbulent motions extracted from the five‐level turbulence data of the Tianjin 255‐m meteorological tower from July 1 to August 31, 2017 are examined. The results reveal that the presence of non‐turbulent motion can lead to a universal overestimation of turbulent flux, and the degree of overestimation increases with the complexity and the intensity of non‐turbulent motion. According to the consequences above, an empirical relationship, together with the corresponding coefficients, is given to provide a guidance on the correction of turbulent fluxes in practical use, such as the simulation of atmospheric turbulence and the parameterization in meteorological and climate models.
A pitfall in chest imaging
Authors: Hamakawa Masamitsu , Arita Machiko , Toyota Yuji , Ishida Tadashi
Published: March 2024

Key message

The key feature of Poland syndrome is asymmetry in the chest wall. Clinicians should be alert to abnormalities of the chest wall as well as the lungs if there is abnormal chest radiograph lucency.
Large malignant tracheo‐oesophageal fistula with lung abscesses
Authors: Tan Kang Xiang , Aukes John
Published: March 2024

Key message

Tracheo‐oesophageal fistula (TOF) can arise as a rare complication of malignancy (especially oesophageal or lung cancers) and pose difficult diagnostic and management dilemmas. We explore a challenging case of large malignant TOF below.
“Enhancing Fruit Preservation: Fungal Growth Inhibition with Grape Seed‐Mediated Ag@AgCl Nanoparticles through Desirability‐Based Optimization”
Authors: Prakash Sankar Hari , Rajeshkumar S. , Khan Mohammad Ahmed , Prabu C. Sathesh , Khan Maksudur Rahman , Arunkumar E. , Mohana Roopan Selvaraj
Published: March 2024

Biological processes were used to create Ag@AgCl nanoparticles in an eco‐friendly manner. Grape seed extracts were used to create Ag@AgCl nanoparticles for this study. The antifungal activity of nanoparticles was tested using fruit‐rotting fungi. UV‐Vis spectrophotometry was used to analyze the nanoparticles to determine the extent of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band formation. The phytochemicals employed in nanoparticle synthesis were studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR). X‐ray diffraction (XRD) studies revealed that the Ag@AgCl nanoparticles were crystalline. Field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM) was used to determine the morphological structure of the nanoparticles. FE‐SEM images determined the average particle size of Ag@AgCl. Energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDAX was used to examine the elemental composition. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were employed. Fungi that cause fruit deterioration have been isolated from bananas and papaya fruits. The Ag@AgCl nanoparticles were evaluated for fungal activity against Rhizopus stolonifer, Alternaria species, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Fusarium oxosporum. An agar‐well diffusion study indicated that these nanoparticles had good antifungal sensitivity against fungal infections. However, this study was adequate to allow the inhibitory activity to proceed to the optimization phase, where we dealt with RSM‐based desirability function prediction. The results also demonstrate that the model performs well, implying that it can provide an accurate estimate of output. usingthe impact,the desirability of each factorzoneson
Design, Synthesis, Antibacterial and Antitubercular Studies of Some New Benzimidazoles. A Combined Experimental and Computational Approach
Authors: Mohapatra Tushar Ranjan , Ganguly Swastika
Published: March 2024

A novel series of seventeen 2‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐1H‐benzo[d]imidazole‐N‐aryl acetamides derivatives 3(a–q) were synthesized by nucleophilic substitution of 2‐chloro‐N‐(aryl)‐acetamides 2(a–q) with 2‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐1H‐benzo[d]imidazole (1) in N,N‐Dimethylformamide. The literature indicates that the primary compound, 2‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐1H‐benzo[d]imidazole (1), not only serves as a synthetic precursor but also exhibit anthelmintic, antiviral, and antifungal activities. The synthesized compounds were estimated for their structures through elemental analysis and spectral data examination. All the compounds be subjected to evaluation for their antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis (NCIM 2920), Staphylococcus aureus (NCIM 2901), Escherichia coli (NCIM 2810), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (NCIM 5223), and antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium smegmatis (ATCC607). Compound 3 m, exhibit the highest antibacterial activity with a MIC value of 1.562 μg/ml against all tested bacterial strains and compound 3 k, exhibited the highest antimycobacterial activity with a MIC value of 3.96 μg/ml. Additionally, we performed docking investigations of the most active compounds within the active binding site of the co‐crystallized structure of Glucosamine‐6‐phosphate synthase (PDB ID: 2VF5) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (PDB ID: 2X22).
Process Optimization Using Box‐Behnken Design for the Solvent Extraction and Separation of Iron, Cobalt, and Nickel from Simulated Crud Solution
Authors: Panda Pratyasha , Mishra Sujata
Published: March 2024

The corrosion product deposit (crud) found on the surface of the fuel rod of the pressurized water reactors (PWRs) chiefly made up of nickel ferrite. Fe, Co, Ni and Cr are the major elements exist in PWR crud. Ascribable to the simplicity in execution, handling, and option for recyclability, solvent extraction technique has been broadly used in nuclear energy sector. In the present investigation, the recovery of iron, cobalt, and nickel has been studied from simulated crud solution in nitrate medium using a novel hydrophobic menthol‐decanoic acid‐based deep eutectic solvent. Process parameters such as pH, DES concentration and shaking time were considered as input variables, and concentration of Fe, Co, and Ni as response variables for the design of experiments. Response surface methodology via Box‐Behnken design using polynomial quadratic model was selected for optimization of solvent extraction experiments. A total of 17 runs were conducted and the results were used for optimization purpose. Complete separation of Co/Fe and Co/Ni is achievable under various extraction conditions. As per the BBD analysis, the optimization conditions obtained were pH=1.9, [DES]=2.99 mol/L and shaking duration=18.27 min. Under these conditions,the amount of Fe, Co and Ni extracted were found as 32.29 g/L, 0.2111 g/L, and 19.83 g/L, respectively.
A Bioengineered Stable Protein 1‐Hemin Complex with Enhanced Peroxidase‐Like Catalytic Properties
Authors: Zeibaq Yara , Bachar Oren , Sklyar Jenia , Adir Noam , Yehezkeli Omer
Published: March 2024

Enzymes have gained their unique efficiency and catalytic activity through billions of years of evolution, perfecting their active site to a desired reaction. Inspired by nature, a novel enzyme‐mimicking platform is designed based on stable protein 1 (SP1) to create a nano‐compartment that mimics peroxidase activity. The biohybrid reveals enhanced activity over the hemin cofactor alone and improved stability in organic solvents in comparison to native peroxidase. Furthermore, the utilization of the obtained biohybrid in an optical glucose biosensing platform is shown. The biohybrid crystallographic structure is solved, indicating that the SP1 structure is not affected by the hemin coordination. This work opens the path for developing new cofactor binding centers in engineered protein scaffolds for various artificial catalytic processes.
Synthesis of P‐(NiCo)CO3/TiO2/Ti Self‐Supported Electrode with High Catalytic Activity and Stability for Hydrogen Evolution
Authors: Cheng Shaoan , Wu Wei , Li Longxin , Su Yuqing , Jin Beichen , Li Yangxi , Yu Zhen , Gu Ruonan
Published: March 2024

Hydrogen is considered an ideal clean energy due to its high mass‐energy density, and only water is generated after combustion. Water electrolysis is a sustainable method of obtaining a usable amount of pure hydrogen among the various hydrogen production methods. However, its development is still limited by applying expensive noble metal catalysts. Here, the dissolution‐recrystallization process of TiO2 nanotube arrays in water with the hydrothermal reaction of a typical nickel‐cobalt hydroxide synthesis process followed by phosphating to prepare a self‐supported electrode with (NiCo)CO3/TiO2 heterostructure named P‐(NiCo)CO3/TiO2/Ti electrode is combined. The electrode exhibits an ultra‐low overpotential of 31 mV at 10 mA  cm−2 with a Tafel slope of 46.2 mV dec−1 in 1 m KOH and maintained its stability after running for 500 h in 1 m KOH. The excellent catalytic activity can be attributed to the structure of nanotube arrays with high specific surface area, superhydrophilicity, and super aerophobicity on the electrode surface. In addition, the uniform (NiCo)CO3/TiO2 heterostructure also accelerates the electron transfer on the electrode surface. Finally, DFT calculations demonstrate that phosphating also improves the ΔGH* and ΔGH2O of the electrode. The synthesis strategy also promotes the exploration of catalysts for other necessary electrocatalytic fields.
Preparation of 1,3‐Diglyceride Microcapsules with Low Glycemic Index
Authors: Xu Rui , Qian Fenghua , Zong Aizheng , Xu Zhixiang , Du Fangling , Jia Min , Xu Tongcheng
Published: March 2024

A large number of animal and clinical experiments show that 1,3‐diglyceride (1,3‐DAG) can significantly ameliorate obesity by improving blood lipid and glucose metabolism. After microencapsulation, it cannot only be used to prepare full‐nutrient food that meets the nutritional requirements of specific patients, but also improve the storage stability of oils. In this study, 1,3‐DAG microcapsules are prepared by using high‐amylose corn starch, resistant dextrin, and sodium caseinate as composite wall materials, and 1,3‐DAG with a purity of 80% as core material.

Firstly, the water phase and oil phase are mixed evenly, and then the uniform emulsion is prepared by two steps of high‐speed shearing and high‐pressure homogenization. The prepared emulsion is desiccated by a spray dryer to prepare microcapsules. Taking the encapsulation rate as the judging criteria, five gradients of core and wall material are designed to obtain the optimal formula.

The results show that when the amount of core material is 28% and the wall material is 70%, the encapsulation rate of 99.51% is the highest. The prepared 1,3‐DAG microcapsules have water content of 1.9% and solubility of 98.05%, the average particle size is 2.921 µm. The particles are uniform and stable, with fine color and texture, and a high oil content.
Comparative study on flexural performance of ultra‐high performance concrete beams reinforced with steel rebar and steel plate
Authors: Yan Banfu , Chen Qiuyan , Qiu Minghong , Zhu Yanping , Tu Bing , Shao Xudong
Published: March 2024

To enhance the mechanical and constructional performance of the ultra‐high performance concrete (UHPC) beams, the steel plate placed at the bottom surface of the UHPC beam is utilized to replace the ordinary steel rebars. In this paper, four 3.2 m UHPC T‐shaped beams with different reinforcement patterns of ordinary steel rebars and external steel plate were fabricated and comparatively tested under flexure loading. Their damage patterns, load versus deflection behavior, flexural capacity, load versus strain behavior, moment versus curvature behavior, stiffness, and crack development were investigated. The flexural experiments indicated that the external steel plate, positioned at the bottom surface of the UHPC members, could resolve the difficulty of installing ordinary steel rebars in slender UHPC components and improve its constructional performance. Compared with the inside steel rebar reinforcement, the employment of the steel plate at the bottom surface of the UHPC beam can effectively increase the distance from the neutral axis to the tensile reinforcement at the serviceability and ultimate states, thereby improving its flexural capacity and stiffness. Additionally, the configuration of the external steel plate was beneficial to reduce the tensile stress level of the tensile reinforcement and limit the opening of UHPC crack width, and thus their crack resistance can be effectively enhanced. Moreover, increasing the thickness of the steel plate or rebar ratio can also significantly improve the flexural capacity, stiffness, and cracking resistance of UHPC beams.
Epitypification of the Linnaean Statice echioides (Plumbaginaceae) and notes on Smith's concepts of S. aristata and S. rorida
Authors: Iamonico Duilio
Published: March 2024

The typification of the Linnaean name Statice echioides (currently Limonium echioides) is discussed. An illustration from Magnol's Botanicum Monspeliense (“Limonium minus annuum bullatis foliis vel echioides”) was correctly designated as lectotype by Erben in 1978 according to Art. 7.11 of Shenzhen Code. However, this image lacks some of the important flower characters required for a critical identification of the species. An epitype (plate no. 299 in Sibthorp & Smith's Flora Graeca) is selected to serve as an interpretative type of the lectotype of S. echioides (Art. 9.6). In addition, the name S. aristata, published in Sibthorp & Smith's Flora Graecae prodromus, is discussed in depth and lectotypified on the above‐mentioned Magnol illustration, making this name homotypic with the Linnaean one. Finally, the concept of S. echioides, as described in Flora Graecae prodromus, is discussed, concluding that it refers to the currently recognized Limonium roridum (≡ S. rorida, as originally published in Flora Graeca).
Addressing health disparities between men and women
Authors: Kirby Roger
Published: March 2024

In this editorial, Professor Roger Kirby, Editor‐in‐Chief of Trends in Urology and Men's Health, considers the disparities in health outcomes between men and women, and the potential solutions.
Self‐discharge in supercapacitors. PartII: Factors influencing it and mitigation
Authors: Nimmakayala Deeksha , Srivastava Shaswat , Kumar Sanjeev
Published: March 2024

Supercapacitors have emerged as drivers for the advancement of green energy technologies in energy storage systems and energy‐efficient devices. Their ability to rapidly acquire and deliver charge at high current densities and long cycle life is key. However, their high self‐discharge rate prevents their potential use in a wide range of applications, especially when utilizing commonly available activated carbon electrodes. Addressing this bottleneck is hindered by the lack of a comprehensive understanding of the discharge process. In this review, we delve into a comprehensive review of factors (temperature, initial voltage, charging conditions, history, functional groups, pore geometry, and the impurities present) that influence self‐discharge in supercapacitors and attempts made in the literature on its mitigation (electrode, electrolyte, and separator modification).

This article is categorized under:

Emerging Technologies > Energy Storage
A quantitative review of nanotechnology‐based therapeutics for kidney diseases
Authors: Cheng Hui‐Teng , Ngoc Ta Yen‐Nhi , Hsia Tiffaney , Chen Yunching
Published: March 2024

Kidney‐specific nanocarriers offer a targeted approach to enhance therapeutic efficacy and reduce off‐target effects in renal treatments. The nanocarriers can achieve organ or cell specificity via passive targeting and active targeting mechanisms. Passive targeting capitalizes on the unique physiological traits of the kidney, with factors like particle size, charge, shape, and material properties enhancing organ specificity. Active targeting, on the other hand, achieves renal specificity through ligand‐receptor interactions, modifying nanocarriers with molecules, peptides, or antibodies for receptor‐mediated delivery. Nanotechnology‐enabled therapy targets diseased kidney tissue by modulating podocytes and immune cells to reduce inflammation and enhance tissue repair, or by inhibiting myofibroblast differentiation to mitigate renal fibrosis. This review summarizes the current reports of the drug delivery systems that have been tested in vivo, identifies the nanocarriers that may preferentially accumulate in the kidney, and quantitatively compares the efficacy of various cargo‐carrier combinations to outline optimal strategies and future research directions.

This article is categorized under:

Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies
2D Zn (II) Metal‐Organic Framework as a Highly Sensitive Luminescent Sensor for Detection of the Cr2O72− and Fe3+
Authors: Shi Yi‐Xuan , Li Teng , Yang Qing‐Yun , Guo Qiang , Wang Yan‐Lan , Ru Jing
Published: March 2024

In this work, NH2‐containing organic ligand 5‐Aminoisophthalic acid (AIPA), and trans‐1,2‐bis(4‐pyridyl)ethene (bpe) were selected as organic ligands to construct a new two‐dimensional luminescent Zn(II) metal‐organic framework [Zn(AIPA)(bpe)1/2]⋅named MOF‐1. It is worth noting that MOF‐1 exhibited excellent thermal stability and chemical stability in common solvents and different pH aqueous solution. As we expected, the luminescence sensing investigations demonstrated that MOF‐1 could be deemed as a multifunctional fluorescence sensor toward Cr2O72− and Fe3+ via a “turn‐off” effect. Notably, MOF‐1 had high selectivity and sensitivity for Fe3+ and Cr2O72− with low detection limits of 9.72×10−5 M and 1.95×10−5 M, respectively. Furthermore, the possible quenching mechanisms were also explored in detail.
Monitoring Memory B Cells by Next-Generation ImmunoSpot® Provides Insights into Humoral Immunity that Measurements of Circulating Antibodies Do Not Reveal
Authors: Lehmann Paul V. , Liu Zhigang , Becza Noémi , Valente Alexis V. , Wang Junbo , Kirchenbaum Greg A.
Published: March 2024

Memory B cells (Bmem) provide the second wall of adaptive humoral host defense upon specific antigen rechallenge when the first wall, consisting of preformed antibodies originating from a preceding antibody response, fails. This is the case, as recently experienced with SARS-CoV-2 infections and previously with seasonal influenza, when levels of neutralizing antibodies decline or when variant viruses arise that evade such. While in these instances, reinfection can occur, in both scenarios, the rapid engagement of preexisting Bmem into the recall response can still confer immune protection. Bmem are known to play a critical role in host defense, yet their assessment has not become part of the standard immune monitoring repertoire. Here we describe a new generation of B cell ELISPOT/FluoroSpot (collectively ImmunoSpot®) approaches suited to dissect, at single-cell resolution, the Bmem repertoire ex vivo, revealing its immunoglobulin class/subclass utilization, and its affinity distribution for the original, and for variant viruses/antigens. Because such comprehensive B cell ImmunoSpot® tests can be performed with minimal cell material, are scalable, and robust, they promise to be well-suited for routine immune monitoring.
Reagent Tracker™ Platform Verifies and Provides Audit Trails for the Error-Free Implementation of T-Cell ImmunoSpot® Assays
Authors: Lehmann Alexander A. , Roen Diana R. , Megyesi Zoltán , Lehmann Paul V.
Published: March 2024

ELISPOT and FluoroSpot assays, collectively called ImmunoSpot assays, permit to reliable detection of rare antigen-specific T cells in freshly isolated cell material, such as peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Establishing their frequency within all PBMC permits to assess the magnitude of antigen-specific T-cell immunity; the simultaneous measurement of their cytokine signatures reveals these T-cells’ lineage and effector functions, that is, the quality of T-cell-mediated immunity. Because of their unparalleled sensitivity, ease of implementation, robustness, and frugality in PBMC utilization, T-cell ImmunoSpot assays are increasingly becoming part of the standard immune monitoring repertoire. For regulated workflows, stringent audit trails of the data generated are a requirement. While this has been fully accomplished for the analysis of T-cell ImmunoSpot assay results, such are missing for the wet laboratory implementation of the actual test performed. Here we introduce a solution for enhancing and verifying the error-free implementation of T-cell ImmunoSpot assays.
Development of Crosspoint Memory Arrays for Neuromorphic Computing
Authors: Ricci Saverio , Mannocci Piergiulio , Farronato Matteo , Milozzi Alessandro , Ielmini Daniele
Published: March 2024

Memristor-based hardware accelerators play a crucial role in achieving energy-efficient big data processing and artificial intelligence, overcoming the limitations of traditional von Neumann architectures. Resistive-switching memories (RRAMs) combine a simple two-terminal structure with the possibility of tuning the device conductance. This Chapter revolves around the topic of emerging memristor-related technologies, starting from their fabrication, through the characterization of single devices up to the development of proof-of-concept experiments in the field of in-memory computing, hardware accelerators, and brain-inspired architecture. Non-volatile devices are optimized for large-size crossbars where the devices’ conductance encodes mathematical coefficients of matrices. By exploiting Kirchhoff’s and Ohm’s law the matrix–vector-multiplication between the conductance matrix and a voltage vector is computed in one step. Eigenvalues/eigenvectors are experimentally calculated according to the power-iteration algorithm, with a fast convergence within about 10 iterations to the correct solution and Principal Component Analysis of the Wine and Iris datasets, showing up to 98% accuracy comparable to a floating-point implementation. Volatile memories instead present a spontaneous change of device conductance with a unique similarity to biological neuron behavior. This characteristic is exploited to demonstrate a simple fully-memristive architecture of five volatile RRAMs able to learn, store, and distinguish up to 10 different items with a memory capability of a few seconds. The architecture is thus tested in terms of robustness under many experimental conditions and it is compared with the real brain, disclosing interesting mechanisms which resemble the biological brain.