bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Manufacturing Conditions for the Direct and Reproducible Formation of Electrospun PCL/Gelatine 3D Structures for Tissue Regeneration
Authors: Howard Chloe Jayne , Paul Aumrita , Duruanyanwu Justin , Sackho Kenza , Campagnolo Paola , Stolojan Vlad
Published: December 2023

Electrospinning is a versatile technique for fabricating nanofibrous scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. However, the direct formation of 3D sponges through electrospinning has previously not been reproducible. We used a Taguchi experimental design approach to optimise the electrospinning parameters for forming PCL and PCL/gelatine 3D sponges. The following parameters were investigated to improve sponge formation: solution concentration, humidity, and solution conductivity. Pure PCL sponges were achievable. However, a much fluffier sponge formed by increasing the solution conductivity with gelatine. The optimal conditions for sponge formation 24 w/v% 80:20 PCL:gelatine on aluminium foil at ≥70% humidity, 15 cm, 22 kV and 1500 µL/h. The resulting sponge had a highly porous structure with a fibre diameter of ~1 µm. They also supported significantly higher cell viability than 2D electrospun mats, dropcast films of the same material and even the TCP positive control. Our study demonstrates that the direct formation of PCL/gelatine 3D sponges through electrospinning is feasible and promising for tissue engineering applications. The sponges have a highly porous structure and support cell viability, which are essential properties for tissue engineering scaffolds. Further studies are needed to optimise the manufacturing process and evaluate the sponges’ long-term performance in vivo.
The Beneficial Outcome of Subsequent Treatment with Anakinra during the Chronic Phase of Febrile Infection-Related Epilepsy Syndrome (FIRES): A Case Report
Authors: Cupane Tina Luize , Strautmanis Jurgis , Setlere Signe , Diriks Mikus , Auzenbaha Madara
Published: December 2023

This case report presents the clinical course of an eight-year-old boy diagnosed with febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES) at the age of four. Following a febrile infection, the patient experienced his initial episode of serial generalized clonic seizures. The severity of his condition led to 11 hospital admissions, totaling 157 days of hospitalization. Anakinra was initially administered during the acute phase in 2019 but was discontinued after 29 days. In 2022, the patient experienced a chronic-phase exacerbation and underwent a second course of anakinra treatment, which demonstrated a positive effect on seizure activity. With a year of anakinra therapy, the patient exhibited significant improvement in both seizure frequency and severity. This report adds to the existing evidence supporting the potential use of anakinra in the treatment of FIRES, highlighting its effectiveness during the chronic phase and suggesting the potential benefits of subsequent administration.
Naturally Bicarbonated Water Supplementation Does Not Improve Anaerobic Cycling Performance or Blood Gas Parameters in Active Men and Women
Authors: Hagele Anthony M. , Boring Johnathan L. , Moon Jessica M. , Sunderland Kyle L. , Mumford Petey W. , Kerksick Chad M.
Published: December 2023

The completion of high-intensity exercise results in robust perturbations to physiologic homeostasis, challenging the body’s natural buffering systems to mitigate the accumulation of metabolic by-products. Supplementation with bicarbonate has previously been used to offset metabolic acidosis, leading to improvements in anaerobic exercise performance. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of ergogenic properties in naturally occurring low-dose bicarbonated water and their effects on anaerobic cycling performance and blood gas kinetics in recreationally active men and women. Methods: Thirty-nine healthy, recreationally active men and women (28.1 ± 8.0 years, 169.8 ± 11.7 cm, 68.9 ± 10.8 kg, 20.1 ± 7.9% fat, V˙O2peak: 42.8 ± 7.6 mL/kg/min) completed two separate testing sessions consisting of 15 cycling sprints (10 s sprint, 20 s active rest) against 7.5% of their body mass. Using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group study design, study participants consumed a 10 mL/kg dose of either spring water (SW) or bicarbonated mineral water (BMW) (delivering ~3 g/day of bicarbonate) for 7 days. Venous blood was collected before, immediately after, and 5 and 10 min after the sprint protocol and was analyzed for lactate and a series of blood gas components. After the completion of 15 cycling sprints, averages of peak and mean power for bouts 1–5, 6–10, and 11–15, along with total work for the entire cycling protocol, were calculated. All performance and blood gas parameters were analyzed using a mixed-factorial ANOVA. Results: pH was found to be significantly higher in the BMW group immediately after (7.17 ± 0.09 vs. 7.20 ± 0.11; p = 0.05) and 10 min post exercise (7.21 ± 0.11 vs. 7.24 ± 0.09; p = 0.04). A similar pattern of change was observed 5 min post exercise wherein pH levels in the SW group were lower than those observed in the BMW group; however, this difference did not achieve statistical significance (p = 0.09). A statistical trend (p = 0.06) was observed wherein lactate in the BMW group tended to be lower than in the SW group 5 min post exercise. No significant main effect for time (p > 0.05) or group × time interactions (p > 0.05) for the total work, average values of peak power, or average values of mean power were observed, indicating performance was unchanged. Conclusion: One week of consuming water with increased bicarbonate (10 mL/kg; ~3 g/day bicarbonate) showed no effect on anaerobic cycling performance. BMW decreased blood lactate concentrations 5 min after exercise and increased blood pH immediately and 10 min after exercise.
A Mediterranean Eating Pattern Combining Energy and Time-Restricted Eating Improves Vaspin and Omentin Concentrations Compared to Intermittent Fasting in Overweight Individuals
Authors: Karras Spyridon N. , Koufakis Theocharis , Popovic Djordje S. , Adamidou Lilian , Karalazou Paraskevi , Thisiadou Katerina , Zebekakis Pantelis , Makedou Kali , Kotsa Kalliopi
Published: December 2023

Athonian Orthodox fasting (AOF) is characterized by energy- and time-restricted eating (TRE) and is based on the Mediterranean diet. We aimed to investigate the impact of AOF compared to another TRE model on vaspin, omentin, nesfatin, and visfatin levels. We included 25 individuals (mean age 50.3 ± 8.6 years, 24% men) who practiced AOF and abstained from animal products, with the exception of seafood and fish. This group adopted a 12 h eating interval (08.00 to 20.00). In total, 12 participants (mean age 47.7 ± 8.7 years, 33.3% men) who practiced 16:8 TRE (eating from 09:00 to 17:00) and were allowed to consume meat served as the controls. Anthropometric and dietary data and adipokine levels were prospectively collected at three time points: at baseline, after the end of the diets (7 weeks), and 5 weeks after the participants returned to their typical eating habits (12 weeks from baseline). Vaspin levels decreased [795.8 (422.1–1299.4) (baseline) vs. 402.7 (203.8–818.9) (7 weeks) pg/mL, p = 0.002] and omentin levels increased [568.5 (437.7–1196.5) (baseline) vs. 659.0 (555.7–1810.8) (12 weeks) pg/mL, p = 0.001] in the AOF group, while none of the analyzed adipokines changed significantly in the TRE group. The variations observed in vaspin and omentin concentrations in the AOF group were independent of age, sex, changes in anthropometry and fat intake. In conclusion, AOF can significantly reduce vaspin and increase omentin, whose levels are known to increase and decrease, respectively, in obesity and type 2 diabetes. The implications of these findings for cardiometabolic health warrant further investigation.
Purple Corn Extract Improves Dry Eye Symptoms in Models Induced by Desiccating Stress and Extraorbital Lacrimal Gland Excision
Authors: Lee Jae-Min , Choi Arin , Lee Hee-Hwan , Park Sang Jae , Kim Byung-Hak
Published: December 2023

Dry eye disease (DED) occurs when there are not enough tears, and the associated symptoms—burns, itching, and a gritty feeling in the eye—can cause great discomfort. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect of purple corn extract (PCE) on DED. Pretreatment with PCE prevented desiccation-stress-induced cell damage in human retinal pigment epithelial cells and primary human corneal epithelial cells. Furthermore, PCE reduced the mRNA expression of inflammatory mediators in the induction of desiccation stress. The therapeutic effects of PCE on DED were evaluated in an animal model with induced unilateral excision of the exorbital lacrimal gland. The administration of PCE was effective at recovering tear production, corneal surface irregularity, and conjunctival goblet cell density, as well as at reducing apoptotic cell death in the outer layer of the corneal epithelium. Collectively, PCE improved dry eye symptoms, and, therefore, it could be a potential agent to ameliorate and/or treat DED.
Comparative Analysis of Dietary and Supplemental Intake of Calcium and Vitamin D among Canadian Older Adults with Heart Disease and/or Osteoporosis in 2004 and 2015
Authors: Vatanparast Hassan , Lane Ginny , Islam Naorin , Patil Rashmi Prakash , Shafiee Mojtaba , Whiting Susan J.
Published: December 2023

Despite the role of calcium and vitamin D in osteoporosis and heart disease, little research has examined changes in the intake of calcium and vitamin D among individuals with these conditions over time. Using data from the 2004 and 2015 Canadian Community Health Surveys, we investigated changes in dietary and supplemental intake of calcium and vitamin D among Canadian older adults aged ≥ 50 years, both with and without heart disease and/or osteoporosis, between 2004 and 2015. Notable declines in dietary calcium intake occurred, particularly among non-supplement users. Surprisingly, individuals with osteoporosis and heart disease, who are at higher nutritional risk, were less likely to use calcium supplements in 2015 compared to 2004. Among calcium supplement users, those with osteoporosis or both conditions experienced significant reductions in their usual calcium intake in 2015, with an increased proportion failing to meet recommended intake levels. Conversely, vitamin D supplement users experienced a substantial rise in vitamin D intake in 2015. In 2015, only a small proportion of supplement users did not meet the recommended vitamin D intake levels. These findings underscore the importance of public health initiatives to facilitate safe increases in calcium and vitamin D intake for older adults, particularly those with heart disease and osteoporosis.
EBV Reactivation in Transplant Recipients following SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Stefanelli Lucia Federica , Alessi Marianna , Di Bella Caterina , Billo Maria Elena , Viola Ludovica , Gnappi Maddalena , Bettin Elisabetta , Cacciapuoti Martina , Calò Lorenzo A.
Published: December 2023

Reactivation and primary infection with a high Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) DNA level in kidney transplant patients could cause severe complications, including the development of Post-Transplantation Lymphoproliferative Disease (PTLD). While in the general population the reactivation of EBV after SARS-CoV-2 infection has been reported, very few data are available in transplant recipients. Our retrospective study aimed to evaluate a possible EBV reactivation in kidney transplant patients following SARS-CoV-2 infection and a possible impairment of the immune system. In addition, the effects of changes in immunosuppressive therapy on EBV DNA reactivation and vaccination were also evaluated. A total of 166 kidney transplant patients followed at the Kidney–Pancreas Transplant Ambulatory Nephrology Unit at Padova University Hospital were retrospectively considered for an observation period of 6 months from January 2020 to April 2023. EBV DNA level was measured by Rt-PCR and evaluated 6 months before and after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients’ serological states were established via quantification of anti-VCA and anti-EBNA (chemiluminescence). Patients’ immune systems were characterized by CD4+/CD8+ lymphocyte ratio (flow cytometry). EBV DNA was reactivated in 50% of the 166 patients with COVID-19 who completed the study. Older patients with more severe forms of COVID-19 had higher EBV reactivation (p < 0.05). EBV reactivation significantly increased in patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection requiring hospitalization compared to patients managed at home (p < 0.001). CD4+/CD8+ lymphocyte ratio was reduced in patients with a younger age of transplant (p < 0.01) and on a higher dose of steroids (p < 0.01). The results of our study confirm the role of immunodepression, especially in recent transplant patients and those on high steroids, in EBV reactivation. These results combined with the few available in the literature might contribute to providing an optimal management of immunosuppressive treatment for these patients in order to obtain an immune state unfavorable to the activation of latent viruses, including EBV.
The Diverse Pathogenicity of Various Babesia Parasite Species That Infect Dogs
Authors: Leisewitz Andrew L. , Mrljak Vladimir , Dear Jonathan D. , Birkenheuer Adam
Published: December 2023

Babesia species infect a very wide range of mammal hosts across the globe, and zoonotic infections are of growing concern. Several species of the Babesia genus infect dogs, and some of these cause significant morbidity and mortality. The Apicomplexan parasite resides within the red cell and infections result in direct damage to the host through intra- and extravascular hemolysis. An exuberant inflammatory response by the host to some species of Babesia parasites also results in significant collateral damage to the host. Canine infections have been the subject of many studies as the well-being of these companion animals is increasingly threatened by the spread of tick vectors and an increasingly mobile dog population. There are currently no widely available and effective vaccines, and effective treatment can be challenging. Understanding disease pathogenesis underlies the development of new treatments. The varying pathogenicity of the various Babesia parasite species that infect dogs offers an opportunity to explore the molecular basis for the wide range of diseases caused by infection with this parasite genus. In this review, we focus on what has been reported about the clinical presentation of Babesia-infected dogs in an attempt to compare the severity of disease caused by different Babesia species.
Next-Generation Sequencing-Based Monitoring of Intestinal Bacteria and Bacteriophages Following Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Authors: Goloshchapov Oleg V. , Shchukina Oksana B. , Kusakin Aleksey V. , Tsai Viktoria V. , Kalinin Roman S. , Eismont Yury A. , Glotov Oleg S. , Chukhlovin Alexei B.
Published: December 2023

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) are associated with persistent intestinal dysfunction preceded by gut bacterial dysbiosis. There are limited data on intestinal bacteriophages in these conditions. The aim of the present work was to detect associations between dominant intestinal bacteria by means of 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and some clinically significant viruses detected with a customized primer panel for NGS-based study. The clinical group included patients with Crohn’s disease (IBD, n = 9), or GVHD (n = 6) subjected to fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from healthy donors. The stool specimens were taken initially, and 5 times post-FMT until day 120. Using NGS approach, we have found a higher abundance of Proteobacterota phylum in GVHD, especially, at later terms post-FMT. Moreover, we found an early increase of Klebsiella and E. coli/Shigella abundance in GVHD, along with decreased relative content of Faecalibacterium. Upon evaluation of intestinal phageome, the relative amount of Caudoviricetes class was higher in GVHD. A significant correlation was found between Proteobacteria and Caudoviricetes, thus suggesting their association during the post-FMT period. Moreover, the relative amounts of five Caudoviricetes phage species showed distinct correlations with Klebsiella and Enterococcus ratios at different terms of FMT. In conclusion, parallel use of 16S rRNA gene sequencing and targeted NGS viral panel is a feasible and useful option for tracing specific viral strains in fecal microbiota. The developed array of viral primers may be extended to detect other phages infecting the clinically relevant bacteria.
Synthesis, Antimalarial, Antileishmanial, and Cytotoxicity Activities and Preliminary In Silico ADMET Studies of 2-(7-Chloroquinolin-4-ylamino)ethyl Benzoate Derivatives
Authors: Gutiérrez Joyce E. , Ramírez Hegira , Fernandez-Moreira Esteban , Acosta María E. , Mijares Michael R. , De Sanctis Juan Bautista , Gurská Soňa , Džubák Petr , Hajdúch Marián , Labrador-Fagúndez Liesangerli , Stella Bruno G. , Díaz-Pérez Luis José , Benaim Gustavo , Charris Jaime E.
Published: December 2023

A series of heterocyclic chloroquine hybrids, containing a chain of two carbon atoms at position four of the quinolinic chain and acting as a link between quinoline and several benzoyl groups, is synthesized and screened in vitro as an inhibitor of β-hematin formation and in vivo for its antimalarial activity against chloroquine-sensitive strains of Plasmodium berghei ANKA in this study. The compounds significantly reduced haeme crystallization, with IC50 values < 10 µM. The values were comparable to chloroquine’s, with an IC50 of 1.50 ± 0.01 µM. The compounds 4c and 4e prolonged the average survival time of the infected mice to 16.7 ± 2.16 and 14.4 ± 1.20 days, respectively. We also studied the effect of the compounds 4b, 4c, and 4e on another important human parasite, Leishmania mexicana, which is responsible for cutaneous leishmaniasis, demonstrating a potential leishmanicidal effect against promasigotes, with an IC50 < 10 µM. Concerning the possible mechanism of action of these compounds on Lesihmania mexicana, we performed experiments demonstrating that these three compounds could induce the collapse of the parasite mitochondrial electrochemical membrane potential (Δφ). The in vitro cytotoxicity assays against mammalian cancerous and noncancerous human cell lines showed that the studied compounds exhibit low cytotoxic effects. The ADME/Tox analysis predicted moderate lipophilicity values, low unbound fraction values, and a poor distribution for these compounds. Therefore, moderate bioavailability was expected. We calculated other molecular descriptors, such as the topological polar surface area, according to Veber’s rules, and except for 2 and 4i, the rest of the compounds violated this descriptor, demonstrating the low antimalarial activity of our compounds in vivo.
Spray-Dried Powder Containing Cannabigerol: A New Extemporaneous Emulgel for Topical Administration
Authors: Picco Alice , Segale Lorena , Miletto Ivana , Pollastro Federica , Aprile Silvio , Locatelli Monica , Bari Elia , Torre Maria Luisa , Giovannelli Lorella
Published: December 2023

Cannabigerol (CBG), a cannabinoid from Cannabis sativa L., recently attracted noteworthy attention for its dermatological applications, mainly due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial effectiveness similar to those of cannabidiol (CBD). In this work, based on results from studies of in vitro permeation through biomimetic membranes performed with CBG and CBD in the presence and in the absence of a randomly substituted methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD), a new CBG extemporaneous emulgel (oil-in-gel emulsion) formulation was developed by spray-drying. The powder (SDE) can be easily reconstituted with purified water, leading to a product with chemical-physical and technological characteristics that are comparable to those of the starting emulgels (E). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), attenuated total reflection-Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), x-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses demonstrated that the spray-drying treatment did not alter the chemical properties of CBG. This product can represent a metered-dosage form for the localized treatment of cutaneous afflictions such as acne and psoriasis.
Innovative Phosphorene Nanoplatform for Light Antimicrobial Therapy
Authors: Passaglia Elisa , Sgarbossa Antonella
Published: December 2023

Over the past few years, antibiotic resistance has reached global dimensions as a major threat to public health. Consequently, there is a pressing need to find effective alternative therapies and therapeutic agents to combat drug-resistant pathogens. Photodynamic therapy (PDT), largely employed as a clinical treatment for several malignant pathologies, has also gained importance as a promising antimicrobial approach. Antimicrobial PDT (aPDT) relies on the application of a photosensitizer able to produce singlet oxygen (1O2) or other cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon exposure to appropriate light, which leads to cell death after the induced photodamage. Among different types of 2D nanomaterials with antimicrobial properties, phosphorene, the exfoliated form of black phosphorus (bP), has the unique property intrinsic photoactivity exploitable for photothermal therapy (PTT) as well as for PDT against pathogenic bacteria.
PLGA Nanoparticles Containing Natural Flavanones for Ocular Inflammation
Authors: Bustos-Salgado Paola , Domínguez-Villegas Valeri , Andrade-Carrera Berenice , Mallandrich Mireia , Calpena Ana , Domènech Oscar , Martínez-Ruiz Sergio , Badía Josefa , Baldomà Laura , Gómez de Aranda Inmaculada , Blasi Juan , Garduño-Ramírez María Luisa
Published: December 2023

Flavanones are natural compounds that display anti-inflammatory activity. The aim of this work was to prepare PLGA nanoparticles (NPs) containing natural flavanones I ((2S)-5,7-dihydroxy-6-methyl-8-(3-methyl-2-buten-1-il)-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-4H-1-Benzopyran-4-one) and II (2S)-5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4′-methoxyphenyl)-6-methyl-8-(3-methyl-2-buten-1-yl)-2,3-dihydro-4H-1-Benzopyran-4-one) (NP I and NP II, respectively) so as to evaluate their potential for topical anti-inflammatory ocular therapy. An in silico study was carried out using the Molinspiration® and PASS Online web platforms before evaluating the in vitro release study and the ex vivo porcine cornea and sclera permeation. The HPLC analytical method was also established and validated. Finally, the in vitro anti-inflammatory efficacy of NPs was studied in the HCE-2 model. The flavanones I and II could be released following a kinetic hyperbolic model. Neither of the two NPs was able to permeate through the tissues. NP I and NP II were found to be respectful of any changes in the tissues’ morphology, as evidenced by histological studies. In HCE-2 cells, NP I and NP II were not cytotoxic at concentrations up to 25 µM. NP I showed higher anti-inflammatory activity than NP II, being able to significantly reduce IL-8 production in LPS-treated HCE-2 cells. In summary, ocular treatment with NP I and NP II could be used as a promising therapy for the inhibition of ocular inflammation.
Simulation Test of The Aerodynamic Environment of A Missile-Borne Pulsed Laser Forward Detection System at High Flight Speed
Authors: Liu Peng , Li Jian , Hua Tuan , Zhang He
Published: December 2023

When a missile-borne pulsed laser forward detection system flies at supersonic speed, the laser beam will be distorted by the uneven outflow field, resulting in a significant reduction in ranging accuracy. In this paper, the impact of high flight speed on a pulsed laser detection system is studied. First, a new ray tracing method with adaptive step size adjustment is proposed, which greatly improves the computational efficiency. Second, the aerodynamic environment of a munition flying at high speed is simulated by an intermittent transonic and supersonic wind tunnel to obtain the schlieren data of the flow field at various Mach numbers. The schlieren data present a shock wave structure similar to that of the simulation. In addition, the variation patterns of the pulsed laser echo waveform of the model under different aerodynamic conditions are studied to evaluate the detectability and operational stability of the laser detection system under static conditions. The test results match the simulation results well, and the two offer relatively consistent shock wave structures, which verifies the correctness and effectiveness of the flow field simulation model. The test echo waveforms are in good agreement with the simulated echo waveforms; the relative errors between the peak values of test and simulated echo waveforms at various Mach numbers do not exceed 20%, and the correlation coefficients between the test and simulated echo waveforms all exceed 0.7, indicating high correlations between the two.
Climate Change Potentially Leads to Habitat Expansion and Increases the Invasion Risk of Hydrocharis (Hydrocharitaceae)
Authors: Yang Jiongming , Fu Zhihao , Xiao Keyan , Dong Hongjin , Zhou Yadong , Zhan Qinghua
Published: December 2023

Climate change is a crucial factor impacting the geographical distribution of plants and potentially increases the risk of invasion for certain species, especially for aquatic plants dispersed by water flow. Here, we combined six algorithms provided by the biomod2 platform to predict the changes in global climate-suitable areas for five species of Hydrocharis (Hydrocharitaceae) (H. chevalieri, H. dubia, H. laevigata, H. morsus-ranae, and H. spongia) under two current and future carbon emission scenarios. Our results show that H. dubia, H. morsus-ranae, and H. laevigata had a wide range of suitable areas and a high risk of invasion, while H. chevalieri and H. spongia had relatively narrow suitable areas. In the future climate scenario, the species of Hydrocharis may gain a wider habitat area, with Northern Hemisphere species showing a trend of migration to higher latitudes and the change in tropical species being more complex. The high-carbon-emission scenario led to greater changes in the habitat area of Hydrocharis. Therefore, we recommend strengthening the monitoring and reporting of high-risk species and taking effective measures to control the invasion of Hydrocharis species.
Effect of Amino-Functionalized Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxanes on Structure-Property Relationships of Thermostable Hybrid Cyanate Ester Resin Based Nanocomposites
Authors: Grigoryeva Olga , Fainleib Alexander , Starostenko Olga , Shulzhenko Diana , Rios de Anda Agustin , Gouanve Fabrice , Espuche Eliane , Grande Daniel
Published: December 2023

Nanocomposites of cyanate ester resin (CER) filled with three different reactive amino-functionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) were synthesized and characterized. The addition of a small quantity (0.1 wt.%) of amino-POSS chemically grafted to the CER network led to the increasing thermal stability of the CER matrix by 12–15 °C, depending on the type of amino-POSS. A significant increase of the glass transition temperature, Tg (DSC data), and the temperature of α relaxation, Tα (DMTA data), by 45–55 °C of the CER matrix with loading of nanofillers was evidenced. CER/POSS films exhibited a higher storage modulus than that of neat CER in the temperature range investigated. It was evidenced that CER/aminopropylisobutyl (APIB)-POSS, CER/N-phenylaminopropyl (NPAP)-POSS, and CER/aminoethyl aminopropylisobutyl (AEAPIB)-POSS nanocomposites induced a more homogenous α relaxation phenomenon with higher Tα values and an enhanced nanocomposite elastic behavior. The value of the storage modulus, E′, at 25 °C increased from 2.72 GPa for the pure CER matrix to 2.99–3.24 GPa for the nanocomposites with amino-functionalized POSS nanoparticles. Furthermore, CER/amino-POSS nanocomposites possessed a higher specific surface area, gas permeability (CO2, He), and diffusion coefficients (CO2) values than those for neat CER, due to an increasing free volume of the nanocomposites studied that is very important for their gas transport properties. Permeability grew by about 2 (He) and 3.5–4 times (CO2), respectively, and the diffusion coefficient of CO2 increased approximately twice for CER/amino-POSS nanocomposites in comparison with the neat CER network. The efficiency of amino-functionalized POSS in improving the thermal and transport properties of the CER/amino-POSS nanocomposites increased in a raw of reactive POSS containing one primary (APIB-POSS) < eight secondary (NPAP-POSS) < one secondary and one primary (AEAPIB-POSS) amino groups. APIB-POSS had the least strongly pronounced effect, since it could form covalent bonds with the CER network only by a reaction of one -NH2 group, while AEAPIB-POSS displayed the most highly marked effect, since it could easily be incorporated into the CER network via a reaction of –NH2 and –NH– groups with –O–C≡N groups from CER.
Hybrid Radiant Disinfection: Exploring UVC and UVB Sterilization Impact on the Mechanical Characteristics of PLA Materials
Authors: Aboamer Mohamed A. , Alsuayri Ahmed S. , Alassaf Ahmad , Alqahtani Tariq M. , Alresheedi Bakheet A. , Saijari Ghazwan N. , Osman Elamir A. , Mohamed Nader A. Rahman
Published: December 2023

This study explores the impact of disinfection techniques on the mechanical properties of poly(lactic acid) (PLA), a crucial material in the production of medical implants, tissue engineering, orthopedic devices and drug delivery systems, owing to its biocompatibility and ease of manufacturing. The focus is on evaluating the effectiveness of ultraviolet (UV) type C (254 nm wavelength) and the combined use of type C and B (310 nm wavelength) disinfection methods. Fifteen tensile test specimens (ASTM D638) and fifteen compression test specimens (ASTM D695) were utilized to assess PLA’s mechanical properties, including yield strength, ultimate strength, and fracture strength. The investigation involved subjecting the specimens to the specified disinfection methods and evaluating these properties both before and after the disinfection process. In the tensile test, a statistically significant difference (p = 0) in yield displacement was observed among the three groups. Additionally, a notable difference (p = 0.047) in fracture displacement was identified between the untreated group and the UVC and UVB combination group. No discernible impact on yield or fracture forces was noted. In the compression test, there was a significant difference (p = 0.04) in yield displacement and a clear difference (p = 0.05) in fracture force between the untreated group and the UVC and UVB combination group. The hybrid combination of UVC and UVB disinfection techniques did not affect yield force in both tensile and compression tests. However, it demonstrated a clear impact on displacement, suggesting its potential as a promising disinfection technique in the medical field.
Morphologies of Comb-like Polyacrylic Acid/Polyacrylate Copolymers as Functions of the Degree of Derivatization with n-C22H45 Side Chains
Authors: Okada Tomoya , Ishii Mizuho , Sato Harumi , Matsuba Go
Published: December 2023

Polymers with crystallizable side chains have numerous applications, and their properties depend on their crystal morphologies and phase separation. Structural analysis on a wide spatial scale plays an important role in controlling the thermal properties and higher-order structures of these polymers. In this study, we elucidated the melting and crystallization processes of copolymers with varying crystallizable side-chain fractions over a wide spatial range. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed that the enthalpies of melting and crystallization increased linearly with increasing crystallizable side-chain fraction. The results of wide-angle X-ray scattering indicated that the crystal lattice was hexagonal. Conversely, spherulite-like higher-order architectures with linear structures and radial spreading were observed in the highly crystallizable components, but no micrometer-scale structures were observed in the less crystallizable components. In situ small-angle X-ray scattering was used to elucidate the phase separation and mixing processes. Lamellar crystallites were observed at crystallizable side-chain fractions of >55 wt.%, whereas small crystallites were observed at fractions of <45 wt.%. At temperatures above the order-disorder transition temperature, density fluctuations caused by correlation holes were observed. These properties have a strong effect on the crystallizable side-chain fraction.
Bioabsorbable Composites Based on Polymeric Matrix (PLA and PCL) Reinforced with Magnesium (Mg) for Use in Bone Regeneration Therapy: Physicochemical Properties and Biological Evaluation
Authors: García-Sobrino Rubén , Muñoz Marta , Rodríguez-Jara Elías , Rams Joaquín , Torres Belén , Cifuentes Sandra C.
Published: December 2023

Improvements in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (TERM)–type technologies have allowed the development of specific materials that, together with a better understanding of bone tissue structure, have provided new pathways to obtain biomaterials for bone tissue regeneration. In this manuscript, bioabsorbable materials are presented as emerging materials in tissue engineering therapies related to bone lesions because of their ability to degrade in physiological environments while the regeneration process is completed. This comprehensive review aims to explore the studies, published since its inception (2010s) to the present, on bioabsorbable composite materials based on PLA and PCL polymeric matrix reinforced with Mg, which is also bioabsorbable and has recognized osteoinductive capacity. The research collected in the literature reveals studies based on different manufacturing and dispersion processes of the reinforcement as well as the physicochemical analysis and corresponding biological evaluation to know the osteoinductive capacity of the proposed PLA/Mg and PCL/Mg composites. In short, this review shows the potential of these composite materials and serves as a guide for those interested in bioabsorbable materials applied in bone tissue engineering.
AKD Emulsions Stabilized by Guar Gel: A Highly Efficient Agent to Improve the Hydrophobicity of Cellulose Paper
Authors: Liu Xiaona , Li Yingpu , Wang Huili , Song Zhaoping , Tan Congping , Li Guodong , Yu Dehai , Liu Wenxia
Published: December 2023

The aim of the present study was to investigate highly efficient alkyl ketene dimer (AKD) emulsions to improve the hydrophobicity of cellulose paper. AKD emulsions stabilized by guar gel were obtained; the guar gel was prepared by hydrogen bond cross-linking sodium tetraborate and guar gum. The cross-linking was confirmed by combining FTIR and SEM. The effect of guar gel on the performance of the AKD emulsions was also studied by testing AKD emulsions stabilized by different guar gel concentrations. The results showed that with increasing guar gel concentration, the stability of the AKD emulsions improved, the droplet diameter decreased, and the hydrophobicity and water resistance of the sized packaging paper were gradually enhanced. Through SEM, the guar gel film covering the AKD emulsion droplet surface and the three-dimensional structure in the aqueous dispersion phase were assessed. This study constructed a scientific and efficient preparation method for AKD emulsions and provided a new method for the application of carbohydrate polymer gels which may avoid the adverse effect of surfactant on paper sizing and environmental problems caused by surfactant bioaccumulation.
Comparative Performance Analysis of Inverse Phase Active Vibration Cancellation Using Macro Fiber Composite (MFC) and Vibration Absorption of Silicone Gel for Vibration Reduction
Authors: Kim Sang-Un , Kim Joo-Yong
Published: December 2023

This study focuses on addressing the issue of unwanted vibrations commonly encountered in various fields by designing an Active Vibration Cancellation (AVC) structure using a flexible piezoelectric composite material macro fiber composite (MFC). A comparative performance analysis was conducted between the AVC and a traditional passive gel that continuously absorbs vibrations. The results showed that AVC was more effective in mitigating vibrations, making it a promising solution for vibration control. The results of this study from extensive vibration–sensing experiments and comparisons revealed that AVC effectively cancels the vibrations and vibration absorption performance of the passive gel. These findings underline the potential of AVC as an efficient method for eliminating and managing undesired vibrations in practical applications. Specifically, AVC demonstrated a high vibration cancellation ratio of approximately 0.96 at frequencies above 10 Hz. In contrast, passive gel exhibited a relatively consistent vibration absorption ratio, approximately 0.70 to 0.75 at all tested frequencies. These quantitative findings emphasize the superior performance of AVC in reducing vibrations to levels below a certain threshold, demonstrating its efficacy for vibration control in real-world scenarios.
The Role of the Faith in Jesus Christ in the Family Experience of Grief
Authors: Kulik Bogdan
Published: December 2023

Mourning is the state of grieving the loss of a close relationship. It manifests itself in multi-sided suffering affecting the mourner’s mental, physical and spiritual sphere. A particularly painful form of mourning is the family experience of grief. Although ways of expressing grief depend on the culture, era and intensity of the interpersonal relationships, it is a universal human experience. This paper aims to answer the question about the role of the mourner’s faith in Jesus Christ in the bereaved family experience, as a work in the field of Roman Catholic dogmatic theology. The method used is the analysis of selected material from psychology and Catholic theology (Christology, anthropology, protology, eschatology), in order to synthetically present theological and practical conclusions. The author also quotes mourners’ testimonies. First, the author shows the elements of the psychology of mourning. However, his emphasis is on the next step, i.e., discussing the relationship between the mourner’s faith in Jesus and the family experience of grief. Furthermore, he deals with theories concerning the relationships between the living and the dead, which are contrary to the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church: annihilation, spiritism and reincarnation. Finally, the important role of the faith in Jesus in the mourning process is presented and completed by indicating possible directions for research on this issue.
Balancing the Poles of the Seesaw: The Parallel Paths of Eckhart and Hindu Vedānta toward Oneness with God/Brahman
Authors: Liu Jianye , Wang Zhicheng
Published: December 2023

The ultimate aim of both Eckhart’s philosophy and Vedānta philosophy is to attain oneness with God/Brahman. Nevertheless, their different philosophical starting points and the conflict between the sublime ideal of the theory and reality means that their philosophies present a structural symmetry. They both have to face two dilemmas: “How can we claim that humans are already one with God?” and “Why is it that humans are not already one with God?”. Eckhart’s inherited tradition emphasizes the distinction between humans and God, while the Vedānta philosophical tradition emphasizes that “I am Brahman”. Each of them starts from one pole of the seesaw of the dilemma and encounters the other’s issue at the other pole. Eventually, they converge at the point of balance, with unity with God/Brahman realized in all human activities. Here, this worldly life becomes significant, all human work expresses the Divinity, and the importance of God is replaced by an impersonal Divinity that combines being and nothingness.
Tree Species Classification from Airborne Hyperspectral Images Using Spatial–Spectral Network
Authors: Hou Chengchao , Liu Zhengjun , Chen Yiming , Wang Shuo , Liu Aixia
Published: December 2023

Tree species identification is a critical component of forest resource monitoring, and timely and accurate acquisition of tree species information is the basis for sustainable forest management and resource assessment. Airborne hyperspectral images have rich spectral and spatial information and can detect subtle differences among tree species. To fully utilize the advantages of hyperspectral images, we propose a double-branch spatial–spectral joint network based on the SimAM attention mechanism for tree species classification. This method achieved high classification accuracy on three tree species datasets (93.31% OA value obtained in the TEF dataset, 95.7% in the Tiegang Reservoir dataset, and 98.82% in the Xiongan New Area dataset). The network consists of three parts: spectral branch, spatial branch, and feature fusion, and both branches make full use of the spatial–spectral information of pixels to avoid the loss of information. In addition, the SimAM attention mechanism is added to the feature fusion part of the network to refine the features to extract more critical features for high-precision tree species classification. To validate the robustness of the proposed method, we compared this method with other advanced classification methods through a series of experiments. The results show that: (1) Compared with traditional machine learning methods (SVM, RF) and other state-of-the-art deep learning methods, the proposed method achieved the highest classification accuracy in all three tree datasets. (2) Combining spatial and spectral information and incorporating the SimAM attention mechanism into the network can improve the classification accuracy of tree species, and the classification performance of the double-branch network is better than that of the single-branch network. (3) The proposed method obtains the highest accuracy under different training sample proportions, and does not change significantly with different training sample proportions, which are stable. This study demonstrates that high-precision tree species classification can be achieved using airborne hyperspectral images and the methods proposed in this study, which have great potential in investigating and monitoring forest resources.
Work–Life Conflict and Job Satisfaction: The Moderating Role of Gender and Household Income in Western Europe
Authors: Mentus Vladimir , Zafirović Jovana
Published: December 2023

Although many potential moderators of the work–life conflict and job satisfaction relationship are well-studied, previous research has often overlooked the potential influence of different income groups on this dynamic. Our aim in this paper is to test this moderation effect within the context of Western Europe. Additionally, we carry out the analysis for men and women separately, as this dynamic may be strongly influenced by gender. Using data from the tenth round of the European Social Survey for twelve countries (Belgium, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and Switzerland), we found a significant positive moderating effect of household income on the relationship between work–life conflict and job satisfaction for women, while for men the moderation effect is not significant. Our results thus suggest that for women, higher household income may serve as a buffer, alleviating the detrimental impact of individual work–life conflict on job satisfaction.
Robust Optimal Scheduling of Microgrid with Electric Vehicles Based on Stackelberg Game
Authors: Hao Jianhong , Huang Ting , Xu Qiuming , Sun Yi
Published: December 2023

With increasing penetration of distributed generators (DG), the uncertainty and intermittence of renewable energy has brought new challenges to the economic dispatch and promotion of environment sustainability of microgrids. Active loads, especially in electric vehicles (EVs), are thought to be an efficient way to deal with the uncertainty and intermittence of renewable energy. One of the most important features of EVs is that their demand will vary in response to the electricity price. How to determine the real-time charging price to guide the orderly charging of EVs and operate with an uncertain renewable energy output represents an important topic for the microgrid operator (MGO). To this end, this paper formulates the optimal pricing and robust dispatch problem of the MGO as a Stackelberg game, in which the upper level minimizes the MGO’s cost, while the lower level minimizes the charging cost of each EV. In the problem, the approximate linear relationship between the node voltage and equivalent load is modeled, and the approximate linear expression of the node voltage security constraint is derived. Using dual optimization theory, the robust optimal dispatch model is transformed into a linear programming model without uncertain variables. Then, the Stackelberg game model is transformed into a mixed integer linear program by using the duality theorem of linear programming. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is proved by simulation within the modified IEEE33-bus system.
Food Security of Urban Agricultural Households in the Area of North Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
Authors: Abdoellah Oekan S. , Suparman Yusep , Safitri Kinanti Indah , Basagevan Rahma Maulia , Fianti Nafa Destri , Wulandari Indri , Husodo Teguh
Published: December 2023

Urban agriculture is crucial in improving food security through the diversity of food produced by urban farmers. However, there have not been many studies that discuss the food security of urban farmers of three types simultaneously, i.e., subsistence, semi-commercial, and commercial. Therefore, this study has the benefit of looking at the food security condition of urban farmer households. This research was conducted in the North Bandung area, West Java, Indonesia. A sequential mixed method was used to collect quantitative and qualitative data to determine the condition of food security in each urban farmer household. A total of 321 households were used as respondents for this study, consisting of 107 subsistence agriculture households, 107 semi-commercial agriculture households, and 107 commercial agriculture households. Our study found that the average calorie adequacy of farmer households in all urban agriculture types (subsistence, semi-commercial, and commercial) was 84.53%. Meanwhile, the proportion of household food expenditure in all urban agriculture averaged 64.78%. In relation to food security, 53.89% of respondents were included in the food-vulnerable category and only 25.86% of the urban farmer households were included in the food-secure category. The highest food security rate was found in commercial urban agriculture households, which reached 28.04%. In general, these data reflect low household food security across all types of urban agriculture. This reality can be caused by various factors, including limited resources, dependence on food purchases, and interference from external parties.