bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Magnetoelectric Plasma Preparation of Silicon-Carbon Nanocomposite as Anode Material for Lithium Ion Batteries
Authors: Wang Fangfang , Gao Maochuan , Hong Ruoyu , Lu Xuesong
Published: April 2020

A high-performance silicon-carbon nanocomposite facilely prepared by one-step magnetoelectric plasma pyrolysis of the mixture of methane, silane, and hydrogen is proposed for lithium-ion batteries. The ratio of silane, methane, and hydrogen was studied to optimize the properties of the composite. When the ratio of hydrogen/silane/methane is 1:1:3, the composite is composed of spherical Si nanoparticles that uniformly attach to the surface of the tremelliform carbon nanosheets framework, in which the tremelliform carbon nanosheets can effectively resist the volumetric change of the Si nanoparticles during the cycles and serve as electronic channels. The silicon-carbon nanocomposite exhibits a high reversible capacity (1007 mAh g−1 after 50 cycles), a low charge transfer resistance, and an excellent rate performance. In addition, the proposed process for synthesizing silicon-carbon nanocomposite without expensive materials or toxic reagents is an environmentally friendly and cost-effective method for mass production.
Superhydrophobic Surfaces Enabled by Femtosecond Fiber Laser-Written Nanostructures
Authors: Liu Erin , Lee Hyeong Jae , Lu Xuejun
Published: April 2020

Inspired by the self-cleaning and water-repellent lotus leaf, we have developed an efficient process to create superhydrophobic metal surfaces using a femtosecond fiber laser and have investigated the mechanisms of the structured metal surfaces in relation to their hydrophobicity. The at will feature of femtosecond fiber lasers can write versatile patterns of hydrophobicity with nanoscale precision on any metal. The results show that the homogeneously distributed hierarchical structures exhibit multifunctional properties, including superhydrophobicity, self-cleaning, and light-trapping. By optimizing the fabrication conditions, we have achieved a contact angle as high as 171° and a rolling angle of less than 3°. The structure is also resistant to an extreme temperature range of −40 °C to 71 °C and temperature shocks from 20 °C to −40 °C. This research highlights the exciting potential applications of superhydrophobic metals in the aviation, biomedical, and solar energy industries and beyond.
Encapsulation and Release Control of Fish Pathogen Utilizing Cross-Linked Alginate Networks and Clay Nanoparticles for Use with a Potential Oral Vaccination
Authors: Lee Su-Bin , Kim Ji-Yeon , Kim Kyusik , Ahn Kyoung-Jin , Kim Tae-il , Oh Jae-Min
Published: April 2020

Streptococcus parauberis is utilized as an oral vaccine by first inactivating the cells with formalin to produce formalin- killed cells (FKC) and then encapsulating them with polymer beads consisting of a cross-linked alginate-Ca2+ network. The encapsulation efficiency and media-dependent release are controlled by pre-treating the FKC with two types of clay nanoparticles: kaolinite (KA) and layered double hydroxide (LDH). The addition of LDH induced large agglomerates of FKC, and the KA enhanced the dispersion of FKC. The differences in the dispersibility of the FKC upon the use of clay nanoparticles was determined to strongly affect the encapsulation efficiency and release properties. The FKC + LDH mixture exhibited a slightly reduced encapsulation efficiency compared to the FKC alone. However, FKC + KA exhibited a dramatically improved encapsulation efficiency. In terms of the media-dependent release, the alginate beads were found to be fairly stable under gastric conditions and in deionized water with or without clay nanoparticles, preserving most of the encapsulated FKC. The intestine was the final target organ for FKC vaccination, and release at the site varied according to the use of clay nanoparticles. Both clays seemed to enhance the release of FKC, the cumulative amount being 3.6 times and 1.3 times larger for LDH and KA, respectively, than was shown with only FKC encapsulated beads.
Photo-Thermoelectric Conversion of Plasmonic Nanohole Array
Authors: Miwa Kaito , Ebihara Hiroki , Fang Xu , Kubo Wakana
Published: April 2020

Plasmonic photo-thermoelectric conversion offers an alternative photodetection mechanism that is not restricted by semiconductor bandgaps. Here, we report a plasmonic photodetector consisting of an ultra-thin silver film with nanohole array, whose photodetection mechanism is based on thermoelectric conversion triggered by plasmonic local heating. The detector exhibits a maximum photocurrent at the wavelength of the surface plasmon polaritons, determined by the periodicity of the nanoholes. Hence, the response wavelength of the detector can be controlled via the morphological parameters of the nanohole pattern. The contribution of plasmonic local heating to thermoelectric conversion is verified experimentally and numerically, enabling discussion on the mechanisms governing light detection. These results provide a starting point for the development of other nanoscale photodetectors.
Effects of Infusion and Storage on Antioxidant Activity and Total Phenolic Content of Black Tea
Authors: Chang Min-Yun , Lin Yin-Yi , Chang Yu-Chia , Huang Wen-Ying , Lin Wen-Shin , Chen Cheng-You , Huang Shu-Ling , Lin Yung-Sheng
Published: April 2020

This study determined antioxidant activity in terms of the 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging ability and total phenolic content of black tea under different infusion and storage conditions. High performance liquid chromatography analysis identified caffeine, (−)-epigallocatechin, (−)-epicatechin-3-gallate, (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate and (−)-gallocatechin-3-gallate in the tea sample. The water–tea leaves weight ratio did not affect the DPPH scavenging ability. However, infusion temperature affected the DPPH scavenging activity and the total phenolic content. In the present study, the 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) for DPPH of black tea infused at 60 to 100 °C ranged from 100.0 ± 13.7 to 28.4 ± 4.8 μg/mL. The total phenolic content of black tea steeped at 60 to 100 °C ranged from 50.4 ± 5.2 to 178.6 ± 16.4 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry leaf. Black tea exhibited increased antioxidant activity when the infusion temperature was increased. Regarding short-term storage, the DPPH scavenging ability and total phenolic content of black tea did not significantly change within 15 days. This result was consistent for storage temperatures of 4, 9, and 25 °C.
Filtration Efficiency of Electret Air Filters Reinforced by Titanium Dioxide
Authors: Lou Ching-Wen , Shih Ying-Huei , Huang Chen-Hung , Lee Shu-An , Chen Yueh-Sheng , Lin Jia-Horng
Published: April 2020

In this study, titanium dioxide (TiO2), a mineral with a potential and supercapacitor, is used as the reinforcing material to improve the filtration efficacy of electret melt-blown fabrics. Next, the electret melt-blown fabrics are evaluated in terms of surface voltage and filtration efficiency, thereby examining the influences of the TiO2 ratio and electric field intensity. The test results indicate that the filtration efficiency is proportional to the ratio of TiO2 and electric field intensity. In particular, with a TiO2 ratio of 3 wt% and an electric field intensity of 2.5 kV/cm, the electret melt-blown fabrics demonstrate a maximal filtration efficiency of 96.32%, a lowest pressure drop of 40 Pa, and an optimal quality factor of 0.083 Pa−1.
Glycan-Dependent and -Independent Dual Recognition between DC-SIGN and Type II Serine Protease MSPL/TMPRSS13 in Colorectal Cancer Cells
Authors: Nonaka Motohiro , Matsumoto Shogo , Ma Bruce Yong , Kido Hiroshi , Kawasaki Nana , Kawasaki Nobuko , Kawasaki Toshisuke
Published: April 2020

A class of glycoproteins such as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)/CEA-related cell adhesion molecule 1(CEACAM1), CD26 (DPPIV), and mac-2 binding protein (Mac-2BP) harbor tumor-associated glycans in colorectal cancer. In this study, we identified type II transmembrane mosaic serine protease large-form (MSPL) and its splice variant transmembrane protease serine 13 (TMPRSS13) as ligands of Dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3-grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN) on the colorectal cancer cells. DC-SIGN is a C-type lectin expressed on dendritic cells, serves as a pattern recognition receptor for numerous pathogens such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and M. tuberculosis. DC-SIGN recognizes these glycoproteins in a Ca2+ dependent manner. Meanwhile, we found that MSPL proteolytically cleaves DC-SIGN in addition to the above glycan-mediated recognition. DC-SIGN was degraded more efficiently by MSPL when treated with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), suggesting that glycan-dependent interaction of the two molecules partially blocked DC-SIGN degradation. Our findings uncovered a dual recognition system between DC-SIGN and MSPL/TMPRSS13, providing new insight into the mechanism underlying colorectal tumor microenvironment.
Sufficient Conditions for Oscillation of Fourth-Order Neutral Differential Equations with Distributed Deviating Arguments
Authors: Bazighifan Omar , Minhos Feliz , Moaaz Osama
Published: April 2020

Some new sufficient conditions are established for the oscillation of fourth order neutral differential equations with continuously distributed delay of the form r t N x ‴ t α ′ + ∫ a b q t , ϑ x β δ t , ϑ d ϑ = 0 , where t ≥ t 0 and N x t : = x t + p t x φ t . An example is provided to show the importance of these results.
Non-Associative Structures and Other Related Structures
Authors: Nichita Florin F.
Published: April 2020

In January 2019, MDPI published a book titled Hopf Algebras, Quantum Groups and Yang–Baxter Equations, based on a successful special issue [...]
Impact of Dual Cell Co-culture and Cell-conditioned Media on Yield and Function of a Human Olfactory Cell Line for Regenerative Medicine
Authors: Wood Rachael , Durali Pelin , Wall Ivan
Published: April 2020

Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) are a promising candidate therapy for neuronal tissue repair. However, appropriate priming conditions to drive a regenerative phenotype are yet to be determined. We first assessed the effect of using a human fibroblast feeder layer and fibroblast conditioned media on primary rat olfactory mucosal cells (OMCs). We found that OMCs cultured on fibroblast feeders had greater expression of the key OEC marker p75NTR (25.1 ± 10.7 cells/mm2) compared with OMCs cultured on laminin (4.0 ± 0.8 cells/mm2, p = 0.001). However, the addition of fibroblast-conditioned media (CM) resulted in a significant increase in Thy1.1 (45.9 ± 9.0 cells/mm2 versus 12.5 ± 2.5 cells/mm2 on laminin, p = 0.006), an undesirable cell marker as it is regarded to be a marker of contaminating fibroblasts. A direct comparison between human feeders and GMP cell line Ms3T3 was then undertaken. Ms3T3 cells supported similar p75NTR levels (10.7 ± 5.3 cells/mm2) with significantly reduced Thy1.1 expression (4.8 ± 2.1 cells/mm2). Ms3T3 cells were used as feeder layers for human OECs to determine whether observations made in the rat model were conserved. Examination of the OEC phenotype (S100β expression and neurite outgrowth from NG108-15 cells) revealed that co-culture with fibroblast feeders had a negative effect on human OECs, contrary to observations of rat OECs. CM negatively affected rat and human OECs equally. When the best and worst conditions in terms of supporting S100β expression were used in NG108-15 neuron co-cultures, those with the highest S100β expression resulted in longer and more numerous neurites (22.8 ± 2.4 μm neurite length/neuron for laminin) compared with the lowest S100β expression (17.9 ± 1.1 μm for Ms3T3 feeders with CM). In conclusion, this work revealed that neither dual co-culture nor fibroblast-conditioned media support the regenerative OEC phenotype. In our case, a preliminary rat model was not predictive of human cell responses.
Seminal Plasma Anti-Müllerian Hormone: A Potential AI-Boar Fertility Biomarker?
Authors: Barranco Isabel , Fernandez-Fuertes Beatriz , Padilla Lorena , Delgado-Bermúdez Ariadna , Tvarijonaviciute Asta , Yeste Marc
Published: April 2020

The anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), a Sertoli cell-secreted glycoprotein that is present in seminal plasma (SP), is considered as a marker of spermatogenesis in humans. This study aimed to evaluate the presence of this hormone in boar SP, together with its putative relationship with sperm quality, function, and in vivo fertility parameters in liquid-stored semen samples. The concentration of SP-AMH was assessed in 126 ejaculates from artificial insemination (AI)-boars (n = 92) while using a commercial Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) kit with monoclonal antibodies specific for Sus scrofa AMH (CEA228Po, Cloud-clone). Sperm quality (concentration, motility, viability, and acrosome damage) and functionality (membrane lipid disorder and intracellular H2O2 generation) were assessed in semen samples at 0 and 72 h of liquid-storage. In addition, fertility parameters from 3113 sows inseminated with the AI-boars were recorded in terms of farrowing rate, litter size, number of stillbirths per litter, and the duration of pregnancy over a 12-month period. The results revealed that the SP-AMH concentration varied widely among boar ejaculates, with no differences among breeds. Moreover, the SP-AMH concentration proved to be a good predictive biomarker for sperm concentration (p ˂ 0.05), but poor for other sperm quality, functionality, and in vivo fertility parameters of liquid-stored semen samples from AI-boars.
PBA Preferentially Impairs Cell Survival of Glioblastomas Carrying mutp53 by Reducing Its Expression Level, Stabilizing wtp53, Downregulating the Mevalonate Kinase and Dysregulating UPR
Authors: Romeo Maria Anele , Gilardini Montani Maria Saveria , Benedetti Rossella , Garufi Alessia , D’Orazi Gabriella , Cirone Mara
Published: April 2020

Phenylbutyrate (PBA) is a derivative of Butyric Acid (BA), which has the characteristics of being a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor and acting as a chemical chaperone. It has the potential to counteract a variety of different diseases, from neurodegeneration to cancer. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxic effect of PBA against glioblastoma cells carrying wt or mutant (mut) p53 and found that it exerted a higher cytotoxic effect against the latter in comparison with the former. This could be due to the downregulation of mutp53, to whose pro-survival effects cancer cells become addicted. In correlation with mutp53 reduction and wtp53 activation, PBA downregulated the expression level of mevalonate kinase (MVK), a key kinase of the mevalonate pathway strongly involved in cancer cell survival. Here we differentiated the chaperoning function of PBA from the others anti-cancer potentiality by comparing its effects to those exerted by NaB, another HDACi that derives from BA but, lacking the phenyl group, cannot act as a chemical chaperone. Interestingly, we observed that PBA induced a stronger cytotoxic effect compared to NaB against U373 cells as it skewed the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) towards cell death induction, upregulating CHOP and downregulating BIP, and was more efficient in downregulating MVK. The findings of this study suggest that PBA represents a promising molecule against glioblastomas, especially those carrying mutp53, and its use, approved by FDA for urea cycle disorders, should be extended to the glioblastoma anticancer therapy.
Reductive Evolution and Diversification of C5-Uracil Methylation in the Nucleic Acids of Mollicutes
Authors: Sirand-Pugnet Pascal , Brégeon Damien , Béven Laure , Goyenvalle Catherine , Blanchard Alain , Rose Simon , Grosjean Henri , Douthwaite Stephen , Hamdane Djemel , de Crécy-Lagard Valérie
Published: April 2020

The C5-methylation of uracil to form 5-methyluracil (m5U) is a ubiquitous base modification of nucleic acids. Four enzyme families have converged to catalyze this methylation using different chemical solutions. Here, we investigate the evolution of 5-methyluracil synthase families in Mollicutes, a class of bacteria that has undergone extensive genome erosion. Many mollicutes have lost some of the m5U methyltransferases present in their common ancestor. Cases of duplication and subsequent shift of function are also described. For example, most members of the Spiroplasma subgroup use the ancestral tetrahydrofolate-dependent TrmFO enzyme to catalyze the formation of m5U54 in tRNA, while a TrmFO paralog (termed RlmFO) is responsible for m5U1939 formation in 23S rRNA. RlmFO has replaced the S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM)-enzyme RlmD that adds the same modification in the ancestor and which is still present in mollicutes from the Hominis subgroup. Another paralog of this family, the TrmFO-like protein, has a yet unidentified function that differs from the TrmFO and RlmFO homologs. Despite having evolved towards minimal genomes, the mollicutes possess a repertoire of m5U-modifying enzymes that is highly dynamic and has undergone horizontal transfer.
System Approach for Building of Calcium-Binding Sites in Proteins
Authors: Denesyuk Alexander I. , Permyakov Sergei E. , Johnson Mark S. , Denessiouk Konstantin , Permyakov Eugene A.
Published: April 2020

We introduce five new local metal cation (first of all, Ca2+) recognition units in proteins: Clampn,(n−2), Clampn,(n−1), Clampn,n, Clampn,(n+1) and Clampn,(n+2). In these units, the backbone oxygen atom of a residue in position “n” of an amino acid sequence and side-chain oxygen atom of a residue in position “n + i” (i = −2 to +2) directly interact with a metal cation. An analysis of the known “Ca2+-bound niches” in proteins has shown that a system approach based on the simultaneous use of the Clamp units and earlier proposed One-Residue (OR)/Three-Residue (TR) units significantly improves the results of constructing metal cation-binding sites in proteins.
New Opportunities for Endometrial Health by Modifying Uterine Microbial Composition: Present or Future?
Authors: Molina Nerea , Sola-Leyva Alberto , Saez-Lara Maria , Plaza-Diaz Julio , Tubić-Pavlović Aleksandra , Romero Barbara , Clavero Ana , Mozas-Moreno Juan , Fontes Juan , Altmäe Signe
Published: April 2020

Current knowledge suggests that the uterus harbours its own microbiota, where the microbes could influence the uterine functions in health and disease; however, the core uterine microbial composition and the host-microbial relationships remain to be fully elucidated. Different studies are indicating, based on next-generation sequencing techniques, that microbial dysbiosis could be associated with several gynaecological disorders, such as endometriosis, chronic endometritis, dysfunctional menstrual bleeding, endometrial cancer, and infertility. Treatments using antibiotics and probiotics and/or prebiotics for endometrial microbial dysbiosis are being applied. Nevertheless there is no unified protocol for assessing the endometrial dysbiosis and no optimal treatment protocol for the established dysbiosis. With this review we outline the microbes (mostly bacteria) identified in the endometrial microbiome studies, the current treatments offered for bacterial dysbiosis in the clinical setting, and the future possibilities such as pro- and prebiotics and microbial transplants for modifying uterine microbial composition.
Thymus algeriensis and Thymus fontanesii: Chemical Composition, In Vivo Antiinflammatory, Pain Killing and Antipyretic Activities: A Comprehensive Comparison
Authors: Sobeh Mansour , Rezq Samar , Cheurfa Mohammed , Abdelfattah Mohamed A.O. , Rashied Rasha M.H. , El-Shazly Assem M. , Yasri Abdelaziz , Wink Michael , Mahmoud Mona F.
Published: April 2020

This study aimed to investigate the chemical composition, and evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, and the analgesic properties of methanol extracts from the leaves of Thymus algeriensis and Thymus fontanesii (Lamiaceae). Thirty-five secondary metabolites were characterized in both extracts using HPLC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS. Phenolic acids, mainly rosmarinic acid and its derivatives, dominated the T. algeriensis extract, while the phenolic diterpene carnosol and the methylated flavonoid salvigenin, prevailed in T. fontanesii extract. Molecular docking study was carried out to estimate the anti-inflammatory potential and the binding affinities of some individual secondary metabolites from both extracts to the main enzymes involved in the inflammation pathway. In vitro enzyme inhibitory assays and in vivo assays were used to investigate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the extracts. Results revealed that both studied Thymus species exhibited antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic effects. They showed to be a more potent antioxidant than ascorbic acid and more selective against cyclooxygenase (COX-2) than diclofenac and indomethacin. Relatively, the T. fontanesii extract was more potent as COX-2 inhibitor than T. algeriensis. In conclusion, Thymus algeriensis and Thymus fontanesii may be interesting candidates for the treatment of inflammation and oxidative stress-related disorders.
Functional Interactomes of Genes Showing Association with Type-2 Diabetes and Its Intermediate Phenotypic Traits Point towards Adipo-Centric Mechanisms in Its Pathophysiology
Authors: Saxena Aditya , Wahi Nitin , Kumar Anshul , Mathur Sandeep Kumar
Published: April 2020

The pathogenic mechanisms causing type 2 diabetes (T2D) are still poorly understood; a greater awareness of its causation can lead to the development of newer and better antidiabetic drugs. In this study, we used a network-based approach to assess the cellular processes associated with protein–protein interaction subnetworks of glycemic traits—HOMA-β and HOMA-IR. Their subnetworks were further analyzed in terms of their overlap with the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in pancreatic, muscle, and adipose tissue in diabetics. We found several DEGs in these tissues showing an overlap with the HOMA-β subnetwork, suggesting a role of these tissues in β-cell failure. Many genes in the HOMA-IR subnetwork too showed an overlap with the HOMA-β subnetwork. For understanding the functional theme of these subnetworks, a pathway-to-pathway complementary network analysis was done, which identified various adipose biology-related pathways, containing genes involved in both insulin secretion and action. In conclusion, network analysis of genes showing an association between T2D and its intermediate phenotypic traits suggests their potential role in beta cell failure. These genes enriched the adipo-centric pathways and were expressed in both pancreatic and adipose tissue and, therefore, might be one of the potential targets for future antidiabetic treatment.
Expression Profile and Prognostic Significance of EPHB3 in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Jang Bo , Kim Hye , Bae Jeong , Kim Woo , Hyun Chang , Kang Gyeong
Published: April 2020

The protein tyrosine kinase Ephrin type-B receptor 3 (EPHB3) is expressed in cells at the base of intestinal crypts, acting as a cellular guide in the maintenance of intestinal crypt architecture. We aimed to investigate the expression profile of EPHB3 in colorectal precancerous lesions and colorectal cancers (CRCs), and assess its prognostic value. EPHB3 expression was higher in CRCs than in normal mucosa and was associated with the intestinal stem cell markers EPHB2, OLFM4, LRIG1, and a proposed cancer stem cell marker, CD44. Enhanced EPHB3 expression significantly declined during the transformation from adenoma to carcinoma and as the tumor invaded into deeper tissue layers. Namely, a substantial reduction of EPHB3 expression was observed in the budding cancer cells at the invasive tumor fronts, which was more extensive than E-cadherin downregulation. In an azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium-induced, colitis-associated, CRC model, EPHB3 expression increased along with tumor development. In a large cohort of CRC patients, EPHB3 positivity was observed in 24% of 610 CRCs and was negatively correlated with tumor differentiation, lympho-vascular invasion, and tumor, node, and metastasis stages. EPHB3 was positively associated with microsatellite instability but was associated with neither CpG island methylation, nor with KRAS and BRAF mutations. Notably, EPHB3 positivity was associated with better clinical outcomes, although it was not an independent prognostic marker. Overexpression of EPHB3 in the colon cancer cell line, DLD1, led to decreased cell growth and migration and reduced mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling. Taken together, our data demonstrate the suppressive role of EPHB3 in CRC progression.
The Pharmacological Activity of Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze on Metabolic and Endocrine Disorders: A Systematic Review
Authors: Sánchez Marta , González-Burgos Elena , Iglesias Irene , Lozano Rafael , Gómez-Serranillos M. Pilar
Published: April 2020

Tea made from Camellia sinensis leaves is one of the most consumed beverages worldwide. This systematic review aims to update Camellia sinensis pharmacological activity on metabolic and endocrine disorders. Inclusion criteria were preclinical and clinical studies of tea extracts and isolated compounds on osteoporosis, hypertension, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypercholesterolemia, and obesity written in English between 2014 and 2019 and published in Pubmed, Science Direct, and Scopus. From a total of 1384 studies, 80 reports met inclusion criteria. Most papers were published in 2015 (29.3%) and 2017 (20.6%), conducted in China (28.75%), US (12.5%), and South Korea (10%) and carried out with extracts (67.5%, especially green tea) and isolated compounds (41.25%, especially epigallocatechin gallate). Most pharmacological studies were in vitro and in vivo studies focused on diabetes and obesity. Clinical trials, although they have demonstrated promising results, are very limited. Future research should be aimed at providing more clinical evidence on less studied pathologies such as osteoporosis, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome. Given the close relationship among all endocrine disorders, it would be of interest to find a standard dose of tea or their bioactive constituents that would be beneficial for all of them.
N,Fe-Doped Carbon Dot Decorated Gear-Shaped WO3 for Highly Efficient UV-Vis-NIR-Driven Photocatalytic Performance
Authors: Ni Tianjun , Li Qiansheng , Yan Yunhui , Wang Fengliang , Cui Xuhui , Yang Zhibin , Wang Yingling , Yang Zhijun , Chang Kaiwen , Liu Guoguang
Published: April 2020

The development of efficient and non-toxic photocatalysts with a full spectrum response is a primary strategy in the area of photocatalytically mediated pollutant elimination. Herein, we report the preparation of novel nitrogen and iron co-doped carbon dots/gear-shaped WO3 (N,Fe-CDs/G-WO3) with significantly improved broad-spectrum utilization. Characterization results demonstrated that the gear-shaped G-WO3, decorated by N,Fe-CDs with excellent electron transfer/reservoir properties, possessed abundant oxygen vacancies, had large specific surface areas, had multiple light-reflections and had a narrow band gap. As a result, the N,Fe-CDs/G-WO3 composite exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity towards the degradation of water contaminants under full spectrum irradiation. For example, the photodegradative efficiencies of rhodamine B (RhB) reached 81.4%, 97.1%, and 75% in 2 h, under ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared (UV, vis, and NIR) light irradiation, respectively. Moreover, the N,Fe-CDs/G-WO3 composite also exhibited an outstanding photocatalytic degradation efficiency for other dyes, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products (PPCPs) like methylene blue (MB), ciprofloxacin (CIP), tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH), and oxytetracycline (OTC) (91.1%, 70.5%, 54.5%, and 47.8% in 3 h, respectively). The radical trapping experiments indicated that h+ and ·OH were the main reactive oxidative species (ROS), and the conversion between Fe (III) and Fe (II) played a key role in the photocatalytic reactions. Such a N,Fe-CD decorated material with brilliant photocatalytic activity has tremendous potential for application in environmental remediation.
Novel Low Temperature Route to Produce CdS/ZnO Composite Nanofibers as Effective Photocatalysts
Authors: Al-Enizi Abdullah M. , El-Halwany M. M. , A. Al-Abdrabalnabi Mohammed , Bakrey Mahmoud , Ubaidullah Mohd , Yousef Ayman
Published: April 2020

In this work, CdS/ZnO composite nanofibers (NFs) were prepared by the electrospinning of a sol–gel comprised of poly(caprolactone), zinc acetate dihydrate, cadmium acetate dihydrate, and ammonium sulfide. The electrospun NF mats were calcined under vacuum in an argon (Ar) atmosphere at 200 °C for 1 h. Standard physiochemical analysis techniques demonstrated the formation of the crystalline hexagonal phase of CdS and ZnO. Composite NFs showed good photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye under visible light irradiation compared to their counterparts. CdS nanoparticles, ZnO nanofibers, and composite NFs photodegraded 35.5%, 47.3%, and 90% of the MB dye, respectively, within 100 min. The reaction kinetics of MB photodegradation using the composite NFs followed the pseudo-first-order relation. Owing to their facile preparation and good photodegradation ability, the proposed method can be used to prepare various photocatalysts for wastewater treatment.
Propane Oxidative Dehydrogenation on Vanadium-Based Catalysts under Oxygen-Free Atmospheres
Authors: Rostom Samira , de Lasa Hugo
Published: April 2020

Catalytic propane oxidative dehydrogenation (PODH) in the absence of gas phase oxygen is a promising approach for propylene manufacturing. PODH can overcome the issues of over-oxidation, which lower propylene selectivity. PODH has a reduced environmental footprint when compared with conventional oxidative dehydrogenation, which uses molecular oxygen and/or carbon dioxide. This review discusses both the stoichiometry and the thermodynamics of PODH under both oxygen-rich and oxygen-free atmospheres. This article provides a critical review of the promising PODH approach, while also considering vanadium-based catalysts, with lattice oxygen being the only oxygen source. Furthermore, this critical review focuses on the advances that were made in the 2010–2018 period, while considering vanadium-based catalysts, their reaction mechanisms and performances and their postulated kinetics. The resulting kinetic parameters at selected PODH conditions are also addressed.
Conformationally Driven Ru(II)-Catalyzed Multiple ortho-C–H Bond Activation in Diphenylpyrazine Derivatives in Water: Where Is the Limit?
Authors: Hrovat Sara , Drev Miha , Grošelj Uroš , Perdih Franc , Svete Jurij , Štefane Bogdan , Požgan Franc
Published: April 2020

Ru(II)/carboxylate/PPh3 catalyst system enabled the preparation of highly conjugated pyrazine derivatives in water under microwave irradiation. Both nitrogen atoms efficiently dictated cleavage of the ortho-C–H bonds in both benzene rings of 2,3-diphenylpyrazine substrates through chelation assistance. In conformationally more flexible diphenyldihydropyrazine 1, the arylation of four ortho-C–H bonds was possible, while in the aromatic analog 2, the triarylation was the limit.
The Endothelium as a Driver of Liver Fibrosis and Regeneration
Authors: Lafoz Erica , Ruart Maria , Anton Aina , Oncins Anna , Hernández-Gea Virginia
Published: April 2020

Liver fibrosis is a common feature of sustained liver injury and represents a major public health problem worldwide. Fibrosis is an active research field and discoveries in the last years have contributed to the development of new antifibrotic drugs, although none of them have been approved yet. Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSEC) are highly specialized endothelial cells localized at the interface between the blood and other liver cell types. They lack a basement membrane and display open channels (fenestrae), making them exceptionally permeable. LSEC are the first cells affected by any kind of liver injury orchestrating the liver response to damage. LSEC govern the regenerative process initiation, but aberrant LSEC activation in chronic liver injury induces fibrosis. LSEC are also main players in fibrosis resolution. They maintain liver homeostasis and keep hepatic stellate cell and Kupffer cell quiescence. After sustained hepatic injury, they lose their phenotype and protective properties, promoting angiogenesis and vasoconstriction and contributing to inflammation and fibrosis. Therefore, improving LSEC phenotype is a promising strategy to prevent liver injury progression and complications. This review focuses on changes occurring in LSEC after liver injury and their consequences on fibrosis progression, liver regeneration, and resolution. Finally, a synopsis of the available strategies for LSEC-specific targeting is provided.
Single-Cell Probe Force Studies to Identify Sox2 Overexpression-Promoted Cell Adhesion in MCF7 Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Iturri Jagoba , Weber Andreas , Vivanco María d.M. , Toca-Herrera José L.
Published: April 2020

The replacement of the cantilever tip by a living cell in Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) experiments permits the direct quantification of cell–substrate and cell–cell adhesion forces. This single-cell probe force measurement technique, when complemented by microscopy, allows controlled manipulation of the cell with defined location at the area of interest. In this work, a setup based on two glass half-slides, a non-fouling one with bacterial S-layer protein SbpA from L. sphaericus CMM 2177 and the second with a fibronectin layer, has been employed to measure the adhesion of MCF7 breast cancer cells to fibronectin films (using SbpA as control) and to other cells (symmetric vs. asymmetric systems). The measurements aimed to characterize and compare the adhesion capacities of parental cells and cells overexpressing the embryonic transcription factor Sox2, which have a higher capacity for invasion and are more resistant to endocrine therapy in vivo. Together with the use of fluorescence techniques (epifluorescence, Total Internal Fluorescence Microscopy (TIRF)), the visualization of vinculin and actin distribution in cells in contact with fibronectin surfaces is enabled, facilitating the monitoring and quantification of the formation of adhesion complexes. These findings demonstrate the strength of this combined approach to assess and compare the adhesion properties of cell lines and to illustrate the heterogeneity of adhesive strength found in breast cancer cells.
Nickel Nanofibers Manufactured via Sol-Gel and Electrospinning Processes for Electrically Conductive Adhesive Applications
Authors: Aussawasathien Darunee , Sancaktar Erol
Published: April 2020

The electrospun fibers of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP)-nickel acetate (Ni(CH3COO)2·4H2O) composite were successfully prepared by using sol-gel processing and electrospinning technique. Nickel oxide (NiO) nanofibers were obtained afterwards by high temperature calcinations of the precursor fibers, PVP/Ni acetate composite nanofibers, at 700 °C for 10 h. Following with the reduction of NiO nanofibers at 400 °C using hydrogen gas (H2) under inert atmosphere, the metallic nickel (Ni) nanofibers were subsequently produced. In addition, as-prepared Ni nanofibers were chemically coated with silver (Ag) nanoparticles to enhance their electrical property and prevent the surface oxidation. The characteristics of as-prepared fibers, such as surface morphology, fiber diameters, purity, the amount of NiO nanofibers, and metal crystallinity, were determined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR), a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), and a wide-angle x-ray diffractometer (WAXD). The volume resistivity of epoxy nanocomposite filled with Ag-coated short Ni nanofibers was lower than the one containing short Ni nanofibers with no coating due to the synergetic effect of Ag nanoparticles created during the coating process. We also demonstrated that the volume resistivity of epoxy nanocomposite filled with Ni nanofibers could be dramatically decreased by using Ni nanofibers in the non-woven mat form due to their small fiber diameter and high fiber aspect ratio, which yield a high specific surface area, and high interconnecting network.
Accuracy of the GENEActiv Device for Measuring Light Exposure in Sleep and Circadian Research
Authors: Stone Julia E. , McGlashan Elise M. , Facer-Childs Elise R. , Cain Sean W. , Phillips Andrew J. K.
Published: April 2020

Light is a variable of key interest in circadian rhythms research, commonly measured using wrist-worn sensors. The GENEActiv Original is a cost-effective and practical option for assessing light in ambulatory settings. With increasing research on health and well-being incorporating sleep and circadian factors, the validity of wearable devices for assessing light environments needs to be evaluated. In this study, we tested the accuracy of the GENEActiv Original devices (n = 10) for recording light under a range of ecologically relevant lighting conditions, including LED, fluorescent, infrared, and outdoor lighting. The GENEActiv output had a strong linear relationship with photopic illuminance. However, the devices consistently under-reported photopic illuminance, especially below 100 lux. Accuracy below 100 lux depended on the light source, with lower accuracy and higher variability under fluorescent lighting. The device’s accuracy was also tested using light sources of varying spectral composition, which indicated that the device tends to under-report photopic illuminance for green light sources and over-report for red light sources. Furthermore, measures of photopic illuminance were impacted by infrared light exposure. We conclude that the GENEActiv Original is suitable for mapping light patterns within an individual context, and can reasonably differentiate indoor vs. outdoor lighting, though the accuracy is variable at low light conditions. Given the human circadian system’s high sensitivity to light levels below 100 lux, if using the GENEActiv Original, we recommend also collecting light source data to better understand the impact on the circadian system, especially where participants spend prolonged periods in dim lighting.
Effects of Al Sputtering Film on the Oxidation Behavior of NiCrAlY Bondcoat
Authors: Zhang Yong , Zhang Gengfei , Yang Qiang , Cao Weicheng , Pu Jian , Zhu Chao
Published: April 2020

In this study, the oxidation behavior of Al coated NiCrAlY bondcoat is investigated. It is known that many methods are applied to improve the lifetime of bondcoat in thermal barrier coatings. Herein, the Al sputtering method is selected to increase the Al content, which does not change the structure of bondcoat. Thin Al film of ~2 µm was sputtered on the surface of bondcoat, which improved the oxidation resistance of NiCrAlY bondcoat. Experimental results showed that, after oxidation for 200 h at 1200 °C, the formation of a dense and continuous α-Al2O3/Cr2O3 multilayer was observed on the Al coated bondcoat surface. In contrast, a mixed oxides (NiO, Cr2O3 and spinel oxides) layer formed on the surface of the as-sprayed bondcoat samples. Results of the cyclic oxidation at 1050 °C within 204 h indicated that the Al sputtering method can improve the oxidation resistance of bondcoat. This study offers a potential way to prolong the lifetime of thermal barrier coatings and provides analysis of the oxidation mechanism.
Fabrication of Zinc Substrate Encapsulated by Fluoropolyurethane and Its Drag-Reduction Enhancement by Chemical Etching
Authors: Li Yuanzhe , Cui Zhe , Zhu Qiucheng , Narasimalu Srikanth , Dong Zhili
Published: April 2020

A fluoropolyurethane-encapsulated process was designed to rapidly fabricate low-flow resistance surfaces on the zinc substrate. For the further enhancement of the drag-reduction effect, Cu2+-assisted chemical etching was introduced during the fabrication process, and its surface morphology, wettability, and flow-resistance properties in a microchannel were also studied. It is indicated that the zinc substrate with a micro-nanoscale roughness obtained by Cu2+-assisted nitric acid etching was superhydrophilic. However, after the etched zinc substrate is encapsulated with fluoropolyurethane, the superhydrophobic wettability can be obtained with a contact angle of 154.8° ± 2.5° and a rolling angle of less than 10°. As this newly fabricated surface was placed into a non-standard design microchannel, it was found that with the increase of Reynolds number, the drag-reduction rate of the superhydrophobic surface remained basically unchanged at 4.0% compared with the original zinc substrate. Furthermore, the prepared superhydrophobic surfaces exhibited outstanding reliability in most liquids.
GLAD Magnetron Sputtered Ultra-Thin Copper Oxide Films for Gas-Sensing Application
Authors: Rydosz Artur , Dyndał Katarzyna , Andrysiewicz Wojciech , Grochala Dominik , Marszałek Konstanty
Published: April 2020

Copper oxide (CuO) ultra-thin films were obtained using magnetron sputtering technology with glancing angle deposition technique (GLAD) in a reactive mode by sputtering copper target in pure argon. The substrate tilt angle varied from 45 to 85° and 0°, and the sample rotation at a speed of 20 rpm was stabilized by the GLAD manipulator. After deposition, the films were annealed at 400 °C/4 h in air. The CuO ultra-thin film structure, morphology, and optical properties were assessed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray reflectivity (XRR), and optical spectroscopy. The thickness of the films was measured post-process using a profilometer. The obtained copper oxide structures were also investigated as gas-sensitive materials after exposure to acetone in the sub-ppm range. After deposition, gas-sensing measurements were performed at 300, 350, and 400 °C and 50% relative humidity (RH) level. We found that the sensitivity of the device is related to the thickness of CuO thin films, whereas the best results are obtained with an 8 nm thick sample.
Cognification of Program Synthesis—A Systematic Feature-Oriented Analysis and Future Direction
Authors: Subahi Ahmad F.
Published: April 2020

Program synthesis is defined as a software development step aims at achieving an automatic process of code generation that is satisfactory given high-level specifications. There are various program synthesis applications built on Machine Learning (ML) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) based approaches. Recently, there have been remarkable advancements in the Artificial Intelligent (AI) domain. The rise in advanced ML techniques has been remarkable. Deep Learning (DL), for instance, is considered an example of a currently attractive research field that has led to advances in the areas of ML and NLP. With this advancement, there is a need to gain greater benefits from these approaches to cognify synthesis processes for next-generation model-driven engineering (MDE) framework. In this work, a systematic domain analysis is conducted to explore the extent to the automatic generation of code can be enabled via the next generation of cognified MDE frameworks that support recent DL and NLP techniques. After identifying critical features that might be considered when distinguishing synthesis systems, it will be possible to introduce a conceptual design for the future involving program synthesis/MDE frameworks. By searching different research database sources, 182 articles related to program synthesis approaches and their applications were identified. After defining research questions, structuring the domain analysis, and applying inclusion and exclusion criteria on the classification scheme, 170 out of 182 articles were considered in a three-phase systematic analysis, guided by some research questions. The analysis is introduced as a key contribution. The results are documented using feature diagrams as a comprehensive feature model of program synthesis showing alternative techniques and architectures. The achieved outcomes serve as motivation for introducing a conceptual architectural design of the next generation of cognified MDE frameworks.
Two- and Three-Dimensional Superconducting Phases in the Weyl Semimetal TaP at Ambient Pressure
Authors: van Delft Maarten R. , Pezzini Sergio , König Markus , Tinnemans Paul , Hussey Nigel E. , Wiedmann Steffen
Published: April 2020

The motivation to search for signatures of superconductivity in Weyl semi-metals and other topological phases lies in their potential for hosting exotic phenomena such as nonzero-momentum pairing or the Majorana fermion, a viable candidate for the ultimate realization of a scalable quantum computer. Until now, however, all known reports of superconductivity in type-I Weyl semi-metals have arisen through surface contact with a sharp tip, focused ion-beam surface treatment or the application of high pressures. Here, we demonstrate the observation of superconductivity in single crystals, even an as-grown crystal, of the Weyl semi-metal tantalum phosphide (TaP), at ambient pressure. A superconducting transition temperature, T c , varying between 1.7 and 5.3 K, is observed in different samples, both as-grown and microscopic samples processed with focused ion beam (FIB) etching. Our data show that the superconductivity present in the as-grown crystal is inhomogeneous yet three-dimensional. For samples fabricated with FIB, we observe, in addition to the three-dimensional superconductivity, a second superconducting phase that resides on the sample surface. Through measurements of the characteristic fields as a function of temperature and angle, we are able to confirm the dimensionality of the two distinct superconducting phases.
Initial Growth and Crystallization Onset of Plasma Enhanced-Atomic Layer Deposited ZnO
Authors: Perrotta Alberto , Pilz Julian , Resel Roland , Werzer Oliver , Coclite Anna Maria
Published: April 2020

Direct plasma enhanced-atomic layer deposition (PE-ALD) is adopted for the growth of ZnO on c-Si with native oxide at room temperature. The initial stages of growth both in terms of thickness evolution and crystallization onset are followed ex-situ by a combination of spectroscopic ellipsometry and X-ray based techniques (diffraction, reflectivity, and fluorescence). Differently from the growth mode usually reported for thermal ALD ZnO (i.e., substrate-inhibited island growth), the effect of plasma surface activation resulted in a substrate-enhanced island growth. A transient region of accelerated island formation was found within the first 2 nm of deposition, resulting in the growth of amorphous ZnO as witnessed with grazing incidence X-ray diffraction. After the islands coalesced and a continuous layer formed, the first crystallites were found to grow, starting the layer-by-layer growth mode. High-temperature ALD ZnO layers were also investigated in terms of crystallization onset, showing that layers are amorphous up to a thickness of 3 nm, irrespective of the deposition temperature and growth orientation.
Influence of Ruthenium Doping on the Crystal Structure and Magnetic Properties of Pr0.67Ba0.33Mn1–xRuxO3 Manganites
Authors: Mohamed Zakiah , Shahron Intan Syazwani , Ibrahim Norazila , Maulud Mohd Fauzi
Published: April 2020

This study reports the structural, morphological, and magnetic properties of ruthenium doping at the manganese site in Pr0.67Ba0.33MnO3 manganites. Rietveld refinement X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) data show that Pr0.67Ba0.33MnO3 and Pr0.67Ba0.33Mn0.9Ru0.1O3 crystallize in an orthorhombic perovskite structure with the Pnma space group. Doping with Ru yields an increment in the lattice parameter and unit cell volume. In addition, small changes in the Mn–O–Mn bond angle and bond distance are observed. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) is used to examine the surface morphology of the samples. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) reveals that the Mn–O and metal–oxygen bonds appear at the 600 and 900 cm−1 bands, respectively. The AC magnetic susceptibility measurement studies confirm that a paramagnetic (PM) to ferromagnetic (FM) transition exists at 130 and 153 K for the Pr0.67Ba0.33MnO3 and Pr0.67Ba0.33Mn0.9Ru0.1O3 samples, respectively.