bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of the Text Neck Posture on the Static Dental Occlusion
Authors: Stoica Eniko , Marcauteanu Corina , Tudor Anca , Duma Virgil-Florin , Amaricai Elena , Onofrei Roxana , Suciu Oana , Negrutiu Meda , Sinescu Cosmin
Published: September 2022

Background and Objectives: The excessive use of smartphones for various tasks led to a new adverse postural phenomenon called text neck. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the text neck posture (TNP) on static occlusion by using the T-Scan III occlusal diagnostic system. Materials and Methods: Nineteen subjects (aged 20 to 24 years) were considered for this research. They had normal values for anterior overbite and overjet, Angle Class I occlusion, no posterior crossbite, and no signs or symptoms of cervical or temporo-mandibular disorders. Occlusal registrations were performed with the T-Scan III system in a normal, neutral head posture (NHP), as well as in the TNP. The investigated parameters were: occlusion time (OT), asymmetry index of the occlusal force (AOF), percent of the maximum movie force (%MMF), and the time elapsed from the last occlusal contact until the maximum intercuspation (MAT-OTB). The last three parameters were analyzed in the maximum area frame (MA) of the registrations. For the statistical analysis of the recorded data, the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test and the Spearman’s correlation coefficient were used. Results: The following values were obtained in NHP and in TNP: for AOF, 14.88 ± 10.39% and 18.04 ± 12.83%, respectively; for OT, 1.34 ± 1.84 s and 1.32 ± 1.8 s, respectively; for the %MMF, 97.5 ± 2.83% and 96.31 ± 3.17%, respectively; for MAT-OTB, 2.08 ± 1.82 s and 1.45 ± 2.3 s, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between the static occlusal parameters measured in NHP and those in TNP. However, the high values of the AOF and OT in NHP revealed an imbalance of the occlusal force distribution between the right and left side in maximum intercuspation (MI), as well as a lack of simultaneity of static occlusal contacts. Furthermore, there was a significant, direct, and strong correlation between OT and AOF in NHP. Conclusions: The NHP should not be used as the starting position in TNP simulations in T-Scan studies, so as to avoid statistically insignificant differences between static occlusion in NHP and TNP. The healthy standing subjects, with normal occlusal relationships from the clinical point of view, revealed an occlusal instability in NHP when examined with the T-Scan.
Clinical Outcomes of Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy for All Stages of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer; Definitive versus Consolidative
Authors: Kim Hakyoung , Kim Sun Myung , Yang Dae Sik , Lee Kyung Hwa , Kim Young Bum
Published: September 2022

Background and Objectives: Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) is not confined to early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and has a potential role in stage IV disease. We aimed to evaluate the effect of SABR on local control rates and survival outcomes in patients with all stages of NSCLC according to the treatment aim. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 88 patients with NSCLC who received SABR at the Korea University Guro Hospital between January 2015 and March 2021. Among these, 64 patients with stage I–II NSCLC ineligible for surgery were treated with a definitive aim. Twenty-four patients with stage IV limited metastatic NSCLC showing a favorable response to prior systemic therapy were treated with a consolidative aim. Results: The median follow-up time was 34 (range: 5–88) months. Thirty-one patients developed recurrence (35.2%), with distant metastasis being the most common (25/31, 80.6%). In-field local recurrence occurred in four patients (4/88 patients, 4.5%). For patients treated with definitive SABR, the 3-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 91.8% and 58.6%, respectively. In patients treated with consolidative SABR, the 3-year OS and DFS rates were 86.7% and 53.8%, respectively. With respect to treatment-related pulmonary toxicity, grade 3 radiation pneumonitis incidence requiring hospitalization was 2.3% (2/88). Conclusions: Definitive SABR is appropriate for medically inoperable or high surgical risk patients with early stage NSCLC with acceptable treatment-related toxicities. Consolidative SABR improves local control rates and helps achieve long-term survival in patients with limited metastatic NSCLC.
Synthesis and Characterization of Silica–Tantala Microporous Membranes for Gas Separations Fabricated Using Chemical Vapor Deposition
Authors: Lundin Sean-Thomas B. , Wang Hongsheng , Oyama S. Ted
Published: September 2022

Composite membranes consisting of microporous tantalum-doped silica layers supported on mesoporous alumina substrates were fabricated using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) in both thermal decomposition and counter-flow oxidative deposition modes. Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) was used as the silica precursor and tantalum (V) ethoxide (TaEO) as the tantalum source. Amounts of TaEO from 0 mol% to 40 mol% were used in the CVD gas mixture and high H2 permeances above 10−7 mol m−2 s−1 Pa−1 were obtained for all conditions. Close examination was made of the H2/CH4 and O2/CH4 selectivities due to the potential use of these membranes in methane reforming or partial oxidation of methane applications. Increasing deposition temperature correlated with increasing H2/CH4 selectivity at the expense of O2/CH4 selectivity, suggesting a need to optimize membrane synthesis for a specific selectivity. Measured at 400 °C, the highest H2/CH4 selectivity of 530 resulted from thermal CVD at 650 °C, whereas the highest O2/CH4 selectivity of 6 resulted from thermal CVD at 600 °C. The analysis of the membranes attempted by elemental analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy revealed that Ta was undetectable because of instrumental limitations. However, the physical properties of the membranes indicated that the Ta must have been present at least at dopant levels. It was found that the pore size of the resultant membranes increased from 0.35 nm for pure Si to 0.37 nm for a membrane prepared with 40 mol% Ta. Similarly, an increase in Ta in the feed resulted in an increase in O2/CH4 selectivity at the expense of H2/CH4 selectivity. Additionally, it resulted in a decrease in hydrothermal stability, with the membranes prepared with higher Ta suffering greater permeance and selectivity declines during 96 h of exposure to 16 mol% H2O in Ar at 650 °C.
Influences of Anisotropic Equivalent Field and Magnetic Damping Coefficient on Giant Magnetoimpedance Effect of Cylindrical Alloy Fibers: Theoretical Magnetoimpedance Calculations
Authors: Wang Tao , Zhang Yingjie , Lei Jingtao , Wang Qiuyuan , Chen Jinbo , Li Hengyu , Wu Zhizheng , Cui Ze , Liu Mei , Rao Jinjun
Published: September 2022

In this paper, the giant magneto-impedance (GMI) model of a cylindrical alloy fiber was established by the Maxwell equation and Landau–Lifshitz equation to simulate the influence of physical parameters of cylindrical alloy fiber on GMI under different control parameters. MATLAB was employed to calculate the magneto-impedance of cylindrical fibers and draw its curves. We found that when the anisotropic equivalent field of the fiber changes from 10Oe to 50Oe, the peak position of the GMI ratio also moves from about 10Oe to 50Oe, and the peak value gradually increases from 100% to 300%. The GMI ratio increased rapidly with the decrease in the magnetization damping coefficient. Our findings could further guide the design of supersensitive micro GMI sensors by optimally regulating the magnetic damping coefficient, the angle between the external magnetic field and easy axis and the anisotropic equivalent field of cylindrical alloy fibers.
Enhanced Separation Behavior of Metals from Simulated Printed Circuit Boards by Supergravity
Authors: Meng Long , Liu Yudong , Guo Zhancheng
Published: September 2022

Printed circuit boards (PCBs) contain valuable metals, epoxy resin, and glass fiber, resulting in them being considered as attractive secondary sources of metals. Due to the complex metal compositions in PCBs, it is difficult to clarify the mechanism of metal separation behavior in the pyrometallurgical recovery process. In this paper, pure Pb, Sn and Cu were used to simulate the effects of temperature, time, particle size and shape on the reaction and separation process. With the increase of temperature and time, the thickness of the interface reaction layer was improved. Under the same temperature and time, the reaction degree of Cu with Sn was greater than that of Cu with Pb. In the separation process, reducing temperature, time and increasing Cu particle size were conducive to the separation and recovery of Pb-Sn alloy by supergravity. Under the same or similar particle size, the recovery of Pb-Sn alloy in irregular Cu particles was lower than that in regular Cu spheres. Improving the gravity coefficient benefited the recoveries of Pb and Sn. The results will provide technical guidance for the separation and recovery of Pb, Sn and Cu from real PCBs.
Characterization of Stainless Steel Spent Pickling Sludge and Prospects for Its Valorization
Authors: Castro Fernando , Tavares Pedro B. , Cristelo Nuno , Teixeira Tiago , Garcia Joana F. , Parreira Nuno M. G.
Published: September 2022

Fluorspar is considered a critical raw material for the European Union, due to its industrial uses and lack of sufficient extraction in European countries. It is a source for hydrofluoric acid manufacture, this latter chemical being employed, among other uses, in the pickling of stainless steels. From this latter activity, sludge is generated due to the need for used water treatment. In this article, we report a full characterization of this residue, obtained in an industrial plant in Vieira de Leiria, Portugal. Its chemical and mineralogical characteristics were determined, showing that it is mostly a mixture of calcium fluoride and calcium sulfate with some heavy metals content. Thermal behavior allowed us to determine that the material melts at around 950 °C. The influence of calcining operation on the residue was determined, especially concerned with the leachability of some elements. Taking into account the results of the characterization of this residue, some considerations are presented about the potential for the valorization of this industrial residue.
Magnetic Properties of the Mn55Bi45/Nd2Fe14B Hybrid Magnetic Alloys
Authors: Lu Shunda , Yang Yang , Chen Linfeng , Xiang Zhen , Lu Wei
Published: September 2022

The (Mn55Bi45)100−x/(Nd2Fe14B)x hybrid magnetic alloys were prepared by the ball milling of the combined annealed Mn55Bi45 powders and Nd2Fe14B powders. The magnetic properties at room temperature and elevated temperature were investigated. It was found that the saturation magnetization and the coercivity at room temperature increased significantly with the increasing Nd2Fe14B content. The enhanced energy product of 10.8 MGOe and 11.5 MGOe were obtained in (Mn55Bi45)40/(Nd2Fe14B)60 and (Mn55Bi45)20/(Nd2Fe14B)80. At elevated temperatures (350 K), the coercivities of 16.6 kOe and 16.1 kOe were obtained with Nd2Fe14B content of 20 wt.% and 40 wt.%, which were higher than those at room temperature. The temperature coefficients of coercivity of (Mn55Bi45)80/(Nd2Fe14B)20 and (Mn55Bi45)60/(Nd2Fe14B)40 were calculated to be positive, owing to the coercivity temperature characteristics of MnBi alloy. Finally, the energy products remained 10.5 MGOe and 10.1 MGOe in (Mn55Bi45)40/(Nd2Fe14B)60 and (Mn55Bi45)20/(Nd2Fe14B)80 at 350 K, which exhibited potential for high temperature applications.
Smart Manufacturing Processes of Low-Tortuous Structures for High-Rate Electrochemical Energy Storage Devices
Authors: Kang Chun-Yang , Su Yu-Sheng
Published: September 2022

To maximize the performance of energy storage systems more effectively, modern batteries/supercapacitors not only require high energy density but also need to be fully recharged within a short time or capable of high-power discharge for electric vehicles and power applications. Thus, how to improve the rate capability of batteries or supercapacitors is a very important direction of research and engineering. Making low-tortuous structures is an efficient means to boost power density without replacing materials or sacrificing energy density. In recent years, numerous manufacturing methods have been developed to prepare low-tortuous configurations for fast ion transportation, leading to impressive high-rate electrochemical performance. This review paper summarizes several smart manufacturing processes for making well-aligned 3D microstructures for batteries and supercapacitors. These techniques can also be adopted in other advanced fields that require sophisticated structural control to achieve superior properties.
Post-Electric Current Treatment Approaching High-Performance Flexible n-Type Bi2Te3 Thin Films
Authors: Ao Dongwei , Liu Wei-Di , Ma Fan , Bao Wenke , Chen Yuexing
Published: September 2022

Inorganic n-type Bi2Te3 flexible thin film, as a promising near-room temperature thermoelectric material, has attracted extensive research interest and application potentials. In this work, to further improve the thermoelectric performance of flexible Bi2Te3 thin films, a post-electric current treatment is employed. It is found that increasing the electric current leads to increased carrier concentration and electric conductivity from 1874 S cm−1 to 2240 S cm−1. Consequently, a high power factor of ~10.70 μW cm−1 K−2 at room temperature can be achieved in the Bi2Te3 flexible thin films treated by the electric current of 0.5 A, which is competitive among flexible n-type Bi2Te3 thin films. Besides, the small change of relative resistance <10% before and after bending test demonstrates excellent bending resistance of as-prepared flexible Bi2Te3 films. A flexible device composed of 4 n-type legs generates an open circuit voltage of ~7.96 mV and an output power of 24.78 nW at a temperature difference of ~35 K. Our study indicates that post-electric current treatment is an effective method in boosting the electrical performance of flexible Bi2Te3 thin films.
Kinematic Properties of a Twisted Double Planetary Chaotic Mixer: A Three-Dimensional Numerical Investigation
Authors: Mostefa Telha , Eddine Aissaoui Djamel , Tayeb Naas Toufik , Hossain Shakhawat , Rahman Arifur , Mohamed Bachiri , Kim Kwang-Yong
Published: September 2022

In this study, a numerical investigation based on the CFD method is carried out to study the unsteady laminar flow of Newtonian fluid with a high viscosity in a three-dimensional simulation of a twisted double planetary mixer, which is composed of two agitating rods inside a moving tank. The considered stirring protocol is a “Continuous sine squared motion” by using the dynamic mesh model and user-defined functions (UDFs)to define the velocity profiles. The chaotic advection is obtained in our active mixers by the temporal modulation of rotational velocities of the moving walls in order to enhance the mixing of the fluid for a low Reynolds number and a high Peclet number. For this goal, we applied the Poincaré section and Lyapunov exponent as reliable mathematic tools for checking mixing quality by tracking a number of massless particles inside the fluid domain. Additionally, we investigated the development of fluid kinematics proprieties, such as vorticity, helicity, strain rate and elongation rate, at various time periods in order to view the impact of temporal modulation on the flow properties. The results of the mentioned simulation showed that it is possible to obtain a chaotic advection after a relatively short time, which can deeply enhance mixing fluid efficiency.
Single/Dual/Triple Broadband Metasurface Based Polarisation Converter with High Angular Stability for Terahertz Applications
Authors: Pati Shyam Sundar , Sahoo Swaroop
Published: September 2022

This paper presents design and characterisation of a new compact metasurface based linear polarisation converter for terahertz applications. The metasurface unit cell with periodicity of 0.292λ0 consists of an asymmetrically oriented planar double semicircular goblet-shaped resonators. It is printed on a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) dielectric substrate backed by a gold layer that acts as a ground plane. This metasurface structure exhibits a broadband cross-polarisation conversion in the frequency range of 0.72–0.99 THz with a polarisation conversion ratio (PCR) > 95% and angular stability > 40∘ for both TE and TM modes. However, the PCR for the single band is >99% at resonant frequencies of 0.755 and 0.94 THz, while the optimised design shows 100% PCR over a BW of 95 GHz. Furthermore, slight modification and optimisation of the broadband design results in quad-ring and slotted DSGRs that produce dual and triple broadband polarisation conversion, respectively. The quad-ring DSGR performs polarisation conversion for frequency range of 0.70–1.08 and 1.61–1.76 THz while the slotted DSGR shows the triple broadband cross-conversion for frequency range of 0.67–0.85, 1.04–1.11, and 1.62–1.76 THz with PCR > 95%. This design is simple, easy to modify to implement single and multi broadband polarisation conversion with high PCR at terahertz regime. In addition to that, it is easy to fabricate and integrate with other components like multiple-input multiple-output terahertz antennas for mutual coupling reduction.
Respiratory Tract Infections and Laboratory Diagnostic Methods: A Review with A Focus on Syndromic Panel-Based Assays
Authors: Calderaro Adriana , Buttrini Mirko , Farina Benedetta , Montecchini Sara , De Conto Flora , Chezzi Carlo
Published: September 2022

Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are the focus of developments in public health, given their widespread distribution and the high morbidity and mortality rates reported worldwide. The clinical spectrum ranges from asymptomatic or mild infection to severe or fatal disease. Rapidity is required in diagnostics to provide adequate and prompt management of patients. The current algorithm for the laboratory diagnosis of RTIs relies on multiple approaches including gold-standard conventional methods, among which the traditional culture is the most used, and innovative ones such as molecular methods, mostly used to detect viruses and atypical bacteria. The implementation of molecular methods with syndromic panels has the potential to be a powerful decision-making tool for patient management despite requiring appropriate use of the test in different patient populations. Their use radically reduces time-to-results and increases the detection of clinically relevant pathogens compared to conventional methods. Moreover, if implemented wisely and interpreted cautiously, syndromic panels can improve antimicrobial use and patient outcomes, and optimize laboratory workflow. In this review, a narrative overview of the main etiological, clinical, and epidemiological features of RTI is reported, focusing on the laboratory diagnosis and the potentialities of syndromic panels.
Strong Biofilm Formation and Low Cloxacillin Susceptibility in Biofilm-Growing CC398 Staphylococcus aureus Responsible for Bacteremia in French Intensive Care Units, 2021
Authors: van der Mee-Marquet Nathalie , Dos Santos Sandra , Diene Seydina M. , Duflot Isabelle , Mereghetti Laurent , Valentin Anne-Sophie , François Patrice ,   on behalf of the SPIADI Collaborative Group
Published: September 2022

A prospective 3-month study carried out in 267 ICUs revealed an S. aureus nosocomial bacteremia in one admitted patient out of 110 in adult and pediatric sectors, and in one out of 230 newborns; 242 S. aureus bacteremias occurred during the study, including 7.9% MRSA-bacteremias. In one ICU out of ten, the molecular characteristics, antimicrobial susceptibility profiles and biofilm production of the strains responsible for S. aureus bacteremia were studied. Of the 53 strains studied, 9.4% were MRSA and 52.8% were resistant to erythromycin. MLST showed the predominance of CC398 (37.7% of the strains) followed by CC8 (17.0%), CC45 (13.2%) and CC30 (9.4%). The lukF/S genes were absent from our isolates and tst-1 was found in 9.4% of the strains. Under static conditions and without exposure to glucose, biofilm production was rare (9.4% of the strains, without any CC398). The percentage increased to 62.3% for strains grown in broth supplemented with 1% glucose (including 7 out of 9 CC8 and 17 out of the 20 CC398). Further study of the CC398, including whole genome sequencing, revealed (1) highly frequent patient death within seven days after CC398 bacteremia diagnosis (47.4%), (2) 95.0% of the strains producing biofilm when exposed to sub-inhibitory concentrations of cloxacillin, (3) a stronger biofilm production following exposure to cloxacillin than that observed in broth supplemented with glucose only (p < 0.001), (4) a high minimum biofilm eradication concentration of cloxacillin (128 mg/L) indicating a low cloxacillin susceptibility of biofilm-growing CC398, (5) 95.0% of the strains carrying a ϕSa-3 like prophage and its particular evasion cluster (i.e., yielding chp and scin genes), and (6) 30.0% of the strains carrying a ϕMR11-like prophage and yielding a higher ability to produce biofilm. Our results provide evidence that active surveillance is required to avoid spreading of this virulent staphylococcal clone.
Bovine Immunity and Vitamin D3: An Emerging Association in Johne’s Disease
Authors: Wherry Taylor L. T. , Stabel Judith R.
Published: September 2022

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) is an environmentally hardy pathogen of ruminants that plagues the dairy industry. Hallmark clinical symptoms include granulomatous enteritis, watery diarrhea, and significant loss of body condition. Transition from subclinical to clinical infection is a dynamic process led by MAP which resides in host macrophages. Clinical stage disease is accompanied by dysfunctional immune responses and a reduction in circulating vitamin D3. The immunomodulatory role of vitamin D3 in infectious disease has been well established in humans, particularly in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. However, significant species differences exist between the immune system of humans and bovines, including effects induced by vitamin D3. This fact highlights the need for continued study of the relationship between vitamin D3 and bovine immunity, especially during different stages of paratuberculosis.
Characteristics of the Gut Bacterial Composition in People of Different Nationalities and Religions
Authors: Syromyatnikov Mikhail , Nesterova Ekaterina , Gladkikh Maria , Smirnova Yuliya , Gryaznova Mariya , Popov Vasily
Published: September 2022

High-throughput sequencing has made it possible to extensively study the human gut microbiota. The links between the human gut microbiome and ethnicity, religion, and race remain rather poorly understood. In this review, data on the relationship between gut microbiota composition and the nationality of people and their religion were generalized. The unique gut microbiome of a healthy European (including Slavic nationality) is characterized by the dominance of the phyla Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Fusobacteria, and Verrucomicrobia. Among the African population, the typical members of the microbiota are Bacteroides and Prevotella. The gut microbiome of Asians is very diverse and rich in members of the genera Prevotella, Bacteroides Lactobacillus, Faecalibacterium, Ruminococcus, Subdoligranulum, Coprococcus, Collinsella, Megasphaera, Bifidobacterium, and Phascolarctobacterium. Among Buddhists and Muslims, the Prevotella enterotype is characteristic of the gut microbiome, while other representatives of religions, including Christians, have the Bacteroides enterotype. Most likely, the gut microbiota of people of different nationalities and religions are influenced by food preferences. The review also considers the influences of pathologies such as obesity, Crohn’s disease, cancer, diabetes, etc., on the bacterial composition of the guts of people of different nationalities.
Numerical Simulation Study on the Relationships between Mineralized Structures and Induced Polarization Properties of Seafloor Polymetallic Sulfide Rocks
Authors: Wu Caowei , Zou Changchun , Peng Cheng , Liu Yang , Wu Tao , Zhou Jianping , Tao Chunhui
Published: September 2022

The induced polarization (IP) method plays an important role in the detection of seafloor polymetallic sulfide deposits. Numerical simulations based on the Poisson–Nernst–Planck equation and the Maxwell equation were performed. The effects of mineralized structures on the IP and electrical conductivity properties of seafloor sulfide-bearing rocks were investigated. The results show that total chargeability increases linearly as the volume content of disseminated metal sulfides increases when the volume content is below 20%. However, total chargeability increases nonlinearly with increasing volume content in vein and massive metal sulfides when the volume content is below 30%. The electrical resistivity of disseminated metal sulfides mainly depends on the conductivity of pore water. The electrical resistivity of vein and massive sulfides mainly depends on the volume content and the length of sulfides. Increase in the aspect ratio (0.36 to 0.93) of seafloor massive sulfides causes relaxation time constants and total chargeability to decrease. Relaxation time constants and total chargeability also decrease with increase in the tortuosity of seafloor vein sulfides from 1.0 to 1.38. This study is of great value for the electrical survey of seafloor polymetallic sulfide deposits.
Three-Dimensional Mineral Prospectivity Modeling for Delineation of Deep-Seated Skarn-Type Mineralization in Xuancheng–Magushan Area, China
Authors: Meng Fandong , Li Xiaohui , Chen Yuheng , Ye Rui , Yuan Feng
Published: September 2022

The Middle–Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt is an important copper and iron polymetallic metallogenic belt in China. Today’s economic development is inseparable from the support of metal mineral resources. With the continuous exploitation of shallow and easily identifiable mines in China, the prospecting work of deep and hidden mines is very important. Mineral prospectivity modeling (MPM) is an important means to improve the efficiency of mineral exploration. With the increase in resource demands and exploration difficulty, the traditional 2DMPM is often difficult to use to reflect the information of deep mineral deposits. More large-scale deposits are needed to carry out 3DMPM research. With the rise of artificial intelligence, the combination of machine learning and geological big data has become a hot issue in the field of 3DMPM. In this paper, a case study of 3DMPM is carried out based on the Xuancheng–Magushan area’s actual data. Two machine learning methods, the random forest and the logistic regression, are selected for comparison. The results show that the 3DMPM based on random forest method performs better than the logistic regression method. It can better characterize the corresponding relationship between the geological structure combination and the metallogenic distribution, and the accuracy in the test set reaches 96.63%. This means that the random forest model could provide more effective and accurate support for integrating predictive data during 3DMPM. Finally, five prospecting targets with good metallogenic potential are delineated in the deep area of the Xuancheng–Magushan area for future exploration.
Correction: Chen et al. Secondary Metabolites with Anti-Inflammatory from the Roots of Cimicifuga taiwanensis. Molecules 2022, 27, 1657
Authors: Chen Jih-Jung , Cheng Ming-Jen , Lee Tzong-Huei , Kuo Yueh-Hsiung , Lu Chao-Tsen
Published: September 2022

The authors wish to make the following changes to their paper [...]
Fabrication and Characterization of the Egg-White Protein Chitosan Double-Layer Emulsion
Authors: Pan Qingmei , Zhang Zhipeng , Wu Ruifang , Guo Danjun , Xu Wei , Wang Hongxun , Yi Yang
Published: September 2022

Egg-white protein has an abundance of hydrophobic amino acids and could be a potential emulsifier after modification. Here, egg-white protein was modified via ultrasonic and transglutaminase treatments to destroy the globular structure. The egg-white protein gel particles (EWP-GPs) were prepared and then a novel highly stable EWP-chitosan double-layer emulsion was constructed. When ultrasonic treatment was applied at 240 W and TGase (20 U/g EWP) treatment, the EWP-GPs had a low particle size and good emulsification performance. The particle size of EWP-GPs was a minimum of 287 nm, and the polymer dispersity index (PDI) was 0.41. The three-phase contact angle (θo/w) of EWP-GPs was 79.6° (lower than 90°), performing with good wettability. Based on these results, the EWP-chitosan double-layer emulsion was prepared through the EWP-GPs being treated with 240 W ultrasound, TGase, and chitosan in this study. When the double-layer emulsion had 0.6% (v/v) chitosan, the zeta potential of the double-layer emulsion was −1.1 mV and the double-layer emulsion had a small particle size (56.87 µm). The creaming index of double-layer emulsion at 0.6% (v/v) chitosan was 16.3% and the droplets were dispersed uniformly. According to the rheological results, the storage modulus (G′) was larger than the loss modulus (G″) in the whole frequency, indicating the formation of an elastic gel network structure in the emulsion. It is hoped to develop a novel food-grade stabilizer and a stable double-layer emulsion, providing new environment-friendly processing in hen egg products and delivery systems.
A Comprehensive Review of Daridorexant, a Dual-Orexin Receptor Antagonist as New Approach for the Treatment of Insomnia
Authors: Ziemichód Wojciech , Grabowska Karolina , Kurowska Antonina , Biała Grażyna
Published: September 2022

Insomnia affects 4.4–4.8% of the world’s population, but because the effect of hypnotic drugs is limited and may cause harmful side-effects, scientists are turning their attention to developing drugs that act on the orexin system. Daridorexant, a selective dual-orexin receptor antagonist (DORA), has exhibited promising results in both animal and human studies. Its activity was evaluated based on the physiology-based pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic model. The use of daridorexant is considered safe, with no clinically significant side-effects including deprivation of next-morning residual effects. In this manuscript we conducted a comprehensive review of daridorexant including pharmacodynamics, animal and human research, pharmacokinetics and safety.
Deep Learning Combined with Hyperspectral Imaging Technology for Variety Discrimination of Fritillaria thunbergii
Authors: Kabir Muhammad Hilal , Guindo Mahamed Lamine , Chen Rongqin , Liu Fei , Luo Xinmeng , Kong Wenwen
Published: September 2022

Traditional Chinese herbal medicine (TCHM) plays an essential role in the international pharmaceutical industry due to its rich resources and unique curative properties. The flowers, stems, and leaves of Fritillaria contain a wide range of phytochemical compounds, including flavonoids, essential oils, saponins, and alkaloids, which may be useful for medicinal purposes. Fritillaria thunbergii Miq. Bulbs are commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine as expectorants and antitussives. In this paper, a feasibility study is presented that examines the use of hyperspectral imaging integrated with convolutional neural networks (CNN) to distinguish twelve (12) Fritillaria varieties (n = 360). The performance of support vector machines (SVM) and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) was compared with that of convolutional neural network (CNN). Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to assess the presence of cluster trends in the spectral data. To optimize the performance of the models, cross-validation was used. Among all the discriminant models, CNN was the most accurate with 98.88%, 88.89% in training and test sets, followed by PLS-DA and SVM with 92.59%, 81.94% and 99.65%, 79.17%, respectively. The results obtained in the present study revealed that application of HSI in conjunction with the deep learning technique can be used for classification of Fritillaria thunbergii varieties rapidly and non-destructively.
Correction: Wu et al. Secondary Metabolites with Antimicrobial Activities from Chamaecyparis obtusa var. formosana. Molecules 2022, 27, 429
Authors: Wu Ming-Der , Cheng Ming-Jen , Chen Jih-Jung , Khamthong Nanthaphong , Lin Wen-Wei , Kuo Yueh-Hsiung
Published: September 2022

The authors wish to make the following changes to their paper [...]
Neuroprotective Effects of a New Derivative of Chlojaponilactone B against Oxidative Damaged Induced by Hydrogen Peroxide in PC12 Cells
Authors: Ye Shaoxia , Wen Qiyin , Zhu Longping , Qian Chunguo , Yang Depo , Zhao Zhimin
Published: September 2022

A new sesquiterpenoid (1) was obtained by hydrogenating Chlojaponilactone B. The structure of 1 was elucidated according to a combination of NMR, HRESIMS, and NOE diffraction data. The treatment of H2O2 in a PC12 cell model was used to evaluate the antioxidant activity of 1. An MMT assay showed that 1 had no cytotoxicity to the PC12 cell and rescued cell viability from the oxidative damage caused by H2O2. The treatment of 1 stabilized the mitochondria membrane potential (MMP), which decreased the intracellular ROS level and reduced cell apoptosis in the oxidative stress model. The activities of antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and the content of intracellular glutathione (GSH) were significantly enhanced after the treatment of 1. In addition, the results of qRT-PCR showed that 1 treatment minimized the cell injury by H2O2 via the up-regulation of the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2 (Nrf2) and its downstream enzymes Heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), glutamate cysteine ligase-modifier subunit (GCLm), and NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 (Nqo1). Based on the antioxidant activity of 1, we speculated its potential as a therapeutic agent for some diseases induced by oxidative damage.
Sonoluminescence Spectra in the First Tens of Seconds of Sonolysis of [BEPip][NTf2], at 20 kHz under Ar
Authors: Pflieger Rachel , Lejeune Manuel , Draye Micheline
Published: September 2022

Following recent works on the sonochemical degradation of butyl ethyl piperidinium bis-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([BEPip][NTf2]), monitoring of sonoluminescence (SL) spectra in the first tens of seconds of sonolysis was needed to better characterize the formed plasma and to question the correlation of the SL spectra with the viscosity. A very dry [BEPip][NTf2] ionic liquid (IL) and a water-saturated liquid are studied in this paper. In both cases, IL degradation is observed as soon as SL emission appears. It is confirmed that the initial evolution of the SL intensity is closely linked to the liquid viscosity that impacts the number of bubbles; however, other parameters can also play a role, such as the presence of water. The water-saturated IL shows more intense SL and faster degradation. In addition to the expected bands, new emission bands are detected and attributed to the S2 B-X emission, which is favored in the water-saturated ionic liquid.
Determination of Apoptotic Mechanism of Action of Tetrabromobisphenol A and Tetrabromobisphenol S in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells: A Comparative Study
Authors: Barańska Anna , Bukowska Bożena , Michałowicz Jaromir
Published: September 2022

Background: Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is the most commonly used brominated flame retardant (BFR) in the industry. TBBPA has been determined in environmental samples, food, tap water, dust as well as outdoor and indoor air and in the human body. Studies have also shown the toxic potential of this substance. In search of a better and less toxic BFR, tetrabromobisphenol S (TBBPS) has been developed in order to replace TBBPA in the industry. There is a lack of data on the toxic effects of TBBPS, while no study has explored apoptotic mechanism of action of TBBPA and TBBPS in human leukocytes. Methods: The cells were separated from leucocyte-platelet buffy coat and were incubated with studied compounds in concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 50 µg/mL for 24 h. In order to explore the apoptotic mechanism of action of tested BFRs, phosphatidylserine externalization at cellular membrane (the number of apoptotic cells), cytosolic calcium ion and transmembrane mitochondrial potential levels, caspase-8, -9 and -3 activation, as well as PARP-1 cleavage, DNA fragmentation and chromatin condensation in PBMCs were determined. Results: TBBPA and TBBPS triggered apoptosis in human PBMCs as they changed all tested parameters in the incubated cells. It was also observed that the mitochondrial pathway was mainly involved in the apoptotic action of studied compounds. Conclusions: It was found that TBBPS, and more strongly TBBPA, triggered apoptosis in human PBMCs. Generally, the mitochondrial pathway was involved in the apoptotic action of tested compounds; nevertheless, TBBPS more strongly than TBBPA caused intrinsic pathway activation.
Synthesis of Porous Carbon Nitride Nanobelts for Efficient Photocatalytic Reduction of CO2
Authors: Jiang Zhiqiang , Shen Yirui , You Yujing
Published: September 2022

Sustainable conversion of CO2 to fuels using solar energy is highly attractive for fuel production. This work focuses on the synthesis of porous graphitic carbon nitride nanobelt catalyst (PN-g-C3N4) and its capability of photocatalytic CO2 reduction. The surface area increased from 6.5 m2·g−1 (graphitic carbon nitride, g-C3N4) to 32.94 m2·g−1 (PN-g-C3N4). C≡N groups and vacant N2C were introduced on the surface. PN-g-C3N4 possessed higher absorbability of visible light and excellent photocatalytic activity, which was 5.7 and 6.3 times of g-C3N4 under visible light and simulated sunlight illumination, respectively. The enhanced photocatalytic activity may be owing to the porous nanobelt structure, enhanced absorbability of visible light, and surface vacant N-sites. It is expected that PN-g-C3N4 would be a promising candidate for CO2 photocatalytic conversion.
Insights into Two Novel Orthopalladated Chromophores with Antimicrobial Activity against Escherichia coli
Authors: Diana Rosita , Gentile Francesco Silvio , Carella Antonio , Di Costanzo Luigi , Panunzi Barbara
Published: September 2022

Advanced chromophoric tools, besides being biologically active, need to meet the expectations of the technological demands including stability, colour retention, and proper solubility for their target. Many coordination compounds of conjugated ligands are antibacterial dyes, able to combine a strong dyeing performance with a useful biological activity. Specifically, palladium (II) complexes of Schiff base ligands are known for their relevant activity against common bacteria. In this article, we report the synthesis and comprehensive experimental and theoretical characterization of two novel Pd(II) chromophore complexes obtained from a cyclopalladated Schiff base as two different chelating azo dyes. The antibacterial response of these two novel complexes was tested against the ubiquitous Escherichia coli bacterium in an aqueous medium and revealed a noteworthy antimicrobial activity, higher than when compared with their uncoordinated biologically active ligands.
Effects of Auricularia auricula Polysaccharides on Gut Microbiota Composition in Type 2 Diabetic Mice
Authors: Liu Nannan , Chen Mengyin , Song Juanna , Zhao Yuanyuan , Gong Pin , Chen Xuefeng
Published: September 2022

In previous studies, Auriculariaauricula polysaccharides (AAP) has been found to improve type 2 diabetes mellitus, but its mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we sought to demonstrate that AAP achieves remission by altering the gut microbiota in mice with type 2 diabetes. We successfully constructed a type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) model induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) combined with streptozotocin (STZ), following which fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels and oral glucose tolerance test (OTGG) were observed to decrease significantly after 5 weeks of AAP intervention. Furthermore, AAP enhanced the activities of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and reduced the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) to alleviate the oxidative stress injury. AAP-M (200 mg/kg/d) displayed the best improvement effect. Moreover, 16S rRNA results showed that AAP decreased the abundance of Firmicutes and increased that of Bacteroidetes. The abundance of beneficial genera such as Faecalibaculum, Dubosiella, Alloprevotella, and those belonging to the family Lachnospiraceae was increased due to the intake of AAP. AAP could reduced the abundance of Desulfovibrio, Enterorhabdus, and Helicobacter. In all, these results suggest that AAP can improve the disorders of glucose and lipid metabolism by regulating the structure of the gut microbiota.
A New Photoacoustic Soot Spectrophone for Filter-Free Measurements of Black Carbon at 880 nm
Authors: Abichou Goufrane , Ngagine Soulemane H. , Ba Tong N. , Wang Gaoxuan , Flament Pascal , Deboudt Karine , Dusanter Sébastien , Sigrist Markus W. , Tomas Alexandre , Chen Weidong
Published: September 2022

A new photoacoustic soot spectrometer (PASS) operating at 880 nm was developed, for the first time, for filter-free measurements of black carbon (BC). The performance of the developed PASS was characterized and evaluated using a reference aethalometer AE51 on incense smoke in the air. An excellent correlation on the measurement of incense smoke was found between the two instruments in comparison with a regression coefficient of 0.99. A 1 σ detection limit of 0.8 µg m−3 was achieved for BC measurement at a time resolution of 1 s. It can be further reduced to 0.1 µg m−3, using a longer integration time of 1 min.
Using Collisional Electron Spectroscopy to Detect Gas Impurities in an Open Environment: CH4-Containing Mixtures
Authors: Zhou Chen , Yao Jingfeng , Zhan Lezhi , Yuan Chengxun , Kudryavtsev Anatoly , Saifutdinov Almaz , Wang Ying , Yu Zhi , Zhou Zhongxiang
Published: September 2022

The collisional electron spectroscopy method for analyzing and determining gaseous impurities was further developed to realize the operation in an open environment. In addition, the method not only facilitates the registration of the impurity components, but also the reactive radicals generated from the discharge reaction. The sandwich-like discharge structure was used to generate a stable, non-local, negative glow equipotential plasma in an open environment, and the I–V characteristic curve of the plasma was collected using an additional sensor electrode. The collisional electron spectroscopy was obtained from the first derivative of the probe current I with respect to the probe potential V by adding a diffusion function to correct it. In addition, our experiment verifies the reliability of the sink theory.
Water as a Probe for Standardization of Near-Infrared Spectra by Mutual–Individual Factor Analysis
Authors: Cui Xiaoyu
Published: September 2022

The standardization of near-infrared (NIR) spectra is essential in practical applications, because various instruments are generally employed. However, standardization is challenging due to numerous perturbations, such as the instruments, testing environments, and sample compositions. In order to explain the spectral changes caused by the various perturbations, a two-step standardization technique was presented in this work called mutual–individual factor analysis (MIFA). Taking advantage of the sensitivity of a water probe to perturbations, the spectral information from a water spectral region was gradually divided into mutual and individual parts. With aquaphotomics expertise, it can be found that the mutual part described the overall spectral features among instruments, whereas the individual part depicted the difference of component structural changes in the sample caused by operation and the measurement conditions. Furthermore, the spectral difference was adjusted by the coefficients in both parts. The effectiveness of the method was assessed by using two NIR datasets of corn and wheat, respectively. The results showed that the standardized spectra can be successfully predicted by using the partial least squares (PLS) models developed with the spectra from the reference instrument. Consequently, the MIFA offers a viable solution to standardize the spectra obtained from several instruments when measurements are affected by multiple factors.
Functionalized 10-Membered Aza- and Oxaenediynes through the Nicholas Reaction
Authors: Danilkina Natalia A. , Khmelevskaya Ekaterina A. , Lyapunova Anna G. , D’yachenko Alexander S. , Bunev Alexander S. , Gasanov Rovshan E. , Gureev Maxim A. , Balova Irina A.
Published: September 2022

The scope and limitations of the Nicholas-type cyclization for the synthesis of 10-membered benzothiophene-fused heterocyclic enediynes with different functionalities were investigated. Although the Nicholas cyclization through oxygen could be carried out in the presence of an ester group, the final oxaenediyne was unstable under storage. Among the N-type Nicholas reactions, cyclization via an arenesulfonamide functional group followed by mild Co-deprotection was found to be the most promising, yielding 10-membered azaendiynes in high overall yields. By contrast, the Nicholas cyclization through the acylated nitrogen atom did not give the desired 10-membered cycle. It resulted in the formation of a pyrroline ring, whereas cyclization via an alkylated amino group resulted in a poor yield of the target 10-membered enediyne. The acylated 4-aminobenzenesulfonamide nucleophilic group was found to be the most convenient for the synthesis of functionalized 10-membered enediynes bearing a clickable function, such as a terminal triple bond. All the synthesized cyclic enediynes exhibited moderate activity against lung carcinoma NCI-H460 cells and had a minimal effect on lung epithelial-like WI-26 VA4 cells and are therefore promising compounds in the search for novel antitumor agents that can be converted into conjugates with tumor-targeting ligands.
The Influence of Magnetic Composite Capsule Structure and Size on Their Trapping Efficiency in the Flow
Authors: Verkhovskii Roman , Ermakov Alexey , Grishin Oleg , Makarkin Mikhail A. , Kozhevnikov Ilya , Makhortov Mikhail , Kozlova Anastasiia , Salem Samia , Tuchin Valery , Bratashov Daniil
Published: September 2022

A promising approach to targeted drug delivery is the remote control of magnetically sensitive objects using an external magnetic field source. This method can assist in the accumulation of magnetic carriers in the affected area for local drug delivery, thus providing magnetic nanoparticles for MRI contrast and magnetic hyperthermia, as well as the magnetic separation of objects of interest from the bloodstream and liquid biopsy samples. The possibility of magnetic objects’ capture in the flow is determined by the ratio of the magnetic field strength and the force of viscous resistance. Thus, the capturing ability is limited by the objects’ magnetic properties, size, and flow rate. Despite the importance of a thorough investigation of this process to prove the concept of magnetically controlled drug delivery, it has not been sufficiently investigated. Here, we studied the efficiency of polyelectrolyte capsules’ capture by the external magnetic field source depending on their size, the magnetic nanoparticle payload, and the suspension’s flow rate. Additionally, we estimated the possibility of magnetically trapping cells containing magnetic capsules in flow and evaluated cells’ membrane integrity after that. These results are required to prove the possibility of the magnetically controlled delivery of the encapsulated medicine to the affected area with its subsequent retention, as well as the capability to capture magnetically labeled cells in flow.