bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Potential In Vitro 3D Cell Model to Study Vascular Diseases by Simulating the Vascular Wall Microenvironment and Its Application
Authors: Xu Yingqian , Deng Jia , Hao Shilei , Wang Bochu
Published: March 2022

Background: Current in vitro vascular models are too simple compared with the real vascular environment. In this research, a novel in vitro 3D vascular disease model that simulated the vascular microenvironment was introduced. Methods: This model was mainly established by low shear stress and co-culture of endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells. Characterization and reproduction of the pathological state of the 3D model were determined. The effect of two clinical drugs was verified in this model. The difference of drug screening between a traditional oxidative-damaged cell model and this 3D model was determined by HPLC. Results: This model presented many disease markers of vascular diseases: abnormal cellular shape, higher endothelial cell apoptotic rate and smooth muscle cell migration rate, decreased superoxide dismutase level, and increased malondialdehyde and platelet-derived growth factor level. The drugs effectively reduced the disease indices and relieved the damage caused by low shear stress. Compared to the traditional oxidative-damaged cell model, this 3D model screened different active components of Salviae Miltiorrhizae extract, and it is closer to clinical studies. Conclusions: These results suggest that the 3D vascular disease model is a more efficient and selective in vitro study and drug screening platform for vascular diseases than previously reported in vitro vascular disease models.
Changes in Envelope Structure and Cell–Cell Communication during Akinete Differentiation and Germination in Filamentous Cyanobacterium Trichormus variabilis ATCC 29413
Authors: Garg Ritu , Luckner Manja , Berger Jürgen , Hipp Katharina , Wanner Gerhard , Forchhammer Karl , Maldener Iris
Published: March 2022

Planktonic freshwater filamentous cyanobacterium Trichormus variabilis ATCC 29413 (previously known as Anabaena variabilis) can differentiate heterocysts and akinetes to survive under different stress conditions. Whilst heterocysts enable diazotrophic growth, akinetes are spore-like resting cells that make the survival of the species possible under adverse growth conditions. Under suitable environmental conditions, they germinate to produce new vegetative filaments. Several morphological and physiological changes occur during akinete formation and germination. Here, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), we found that the mature akinetes had a wrinkled envelope, and the surface of the envelope smoothened as the cell size increased during germination. Thereupon, the akinete envelope ruptured to release the short emerging filament. Focused ion beam–scanning electron microscopy (FIB/SEM) tomography of immature akinetes revealed the presence of cytoplasmic granules, presumably consisting of cyanophycin or glycogen. In addition, the akinete envelope architecture of different layers, the exopolysaccharide and glycolipid layers, could be visualized. We found that this multilayered envelope helped to withstand osmotic stress and to maintain the structural integrity. Furthermore, by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) measurements, using the fluorescent tracer calcein, we found that intercellular communication decreased during akinete formation as compared with the vegetative cells. In contrast, freshly germinating filaments restored cell communication.
In Silico Approaches for Some Sulfa Drugs as Eco-Friendly Corrosion Inhibitors of Iron in Aqueous Medium
Authors: Mrani Soukaina Alaoui , Arrousse Nadia , Haldhar Rajesh , Lahcen Abdellatif Ait , Amine Aziz , Saffaj Taoufiq , Kim Seong-Cheol , Taleb Mustapha
Published: March 2022

This paper addresses the prediction of the adsorption behavior as well as the inhibition capacity of non-toxic sulfonamide-based molecules, also called sulfa drugs, on the surface of mild steel. The study of the electronic structure was investigated through quantum chemical calculations using the density functional theory method (DFT) and the direct interaction of inhibitors with the iron (Fe) metal surface was predicted using the multiple probability Monte Carlo simulations (MC). Then, the examination of the solubility and the environmental toxicity was confirmed using a chemical database modeling environment website. It was shown that the presence of substituents containing heteroatoms able to release electrons consequently increased the electron density in the lowest unoccupied and highest occupied molecular orbitals (LUMO and HOMO), which allowed a good interaction between the inhibitors and the steel surface. The high values of EHOMO imply an ability to donate electrons while the low values of ELUMO are related to the ability to accept electrons thus allowing good adsorption of the inhibitor molecules on the steel surface. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that all sulfonamide molecules adsorb flat on the metal surface conforming to the highly protective Fe (1 1 0) surface. The results obtained from the quantum chemistry and molecular dynamics studies are consistent and reveal that the order of effectiveness of the sulfonamide compounds is P7 > P5 > P6 > P1 > P2 > P3 > P4.
Molecular Dynamics Simulation and Structure Changes of Polyester in Water and Non-Aqueous Solvents
Authors: Zheng Jin , Wang Dongshuang , Zhang Qi , Song Meng , Jiao Mingli , Zhang Zhicheng
Published: March 2022

Studying the changes in the microstructure of polyester (PET) in water and non-aqueous solvents is important to understand the swelling mechanism of PET, which can help to reduce water pollution during the dyeing process. This study uses molecular models of PET, water, and decamethyl-cyclopentasiloxane (D5) and employs molecular dynamics method to simulate the influence of solvents on the microstructure of PET. The results show that the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the pure PET system is close to the experimental value. The Tg of PET decreases with the addition of water and D5 solvents, and the free volume after adding D5 is higher compared to the free volume after adding water. Through molecular dynamics simulation of PET microstructure, it is found that D5 has a better SWELLING effect on PET than water.
Optimal Design of Double-Walled Corrugated Board Packaging
Authors: Mrówczyński Damian , Knitter-Piątkowska Anna , Garbowski Tomasz
Published: March 2022

Designing corrugated board packaging is a real challenge, especially when the packaging material comes from multiple recycling. Recycling itself is a pro-ecological and absolutely necessary process, but the mechanical properties of materials that are processed many times deteriorate with the number of cycles. Manufacturers are trying to use unprecedented design methods to preserve the load-bearing capacity of packaging, even when the material itself is of deteriorating quality. An additional obstacle in the process of designing the structure of paper packaging is the progressive systematic reduction of the grammage (the so-called lightweight process) of corrugated cardboard. Therefore, this research presents a critical look at the process of optimal selection of corrugated cardboard for packaging structures, depending on the paper used. The study utilizes analytical, simplified formulas to estimate the strength of cardboard itself as well as the strength of packaging, which are then analyzed to determine their sensitivity to changes in cardboard components, such as the types of paper of individual layers. In the performed sensitivity analysis, numerical homogenization was used, and the influence of initial imperfections on the packaging mechanics was determined. The paper presents a simple algorithm for the optimal selection of the composition of corrugated cardboard depending on the material used and the geometry of the packaging, which allows for a more conscious production of corrugated cardboard from materials derived, e.g., from multiple recycling.
Retrospective Long-Term Clinical Outcome of Feldspathic Ceramic Veneers
Authors: Mihali Sorin Gheorghe , Lolos Dan , Popa George , Tudor Anca , Bratu Dana Cristina
Published: March 2022

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of feldspathic ceramic laminate veneers over a 7-year period using minimally invasive techniques, such as vertical preparation (without prosthetic finish line), or no preparation (no-prep). A total of 170 feldspathic ceramic veneers were cemented in the anterior region, including 70 maxillary and 100 mandibular veneers, after special conditioning of the teeth and restorations. The veneers were evaluated using the FDI World Dental Federation criteria evaluation kit after recalling all the patients between February and June 2021. In total, 14 feldspathic veneers failed and were replaced with lithium disilicate because of core fracture, and 10 cases of chipping occurred on the ceramic surface and were polished. The overall survival rate was 91.77% for up to 7 years of function, with a failure rate of 8.23%. In this retrospective survival analysis, the failures, including the fracture of veneers and dental hard tissue, occurred both in prep and no-prep teeth. No failures were observed in veneers with a maximum thickness of 0.5 mm compared to those with a maximum thickness of 1 mm, 1.5 mm, 2 mm, and 2.5 mm.
Study on the Properties and Structure of Rotationally Moulded Linear Low-Density Polyethylene Filled with Quartz Flour
Authors: Głogowska Karolina , Pączkowski Przemysław , Samujło Bronisław
Published: March 2022

The objective of this study is to determine selected properties of thin-walled rotationally moulded composite parts. Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) filled with quartz flour (QF, 5–35 wt.%) was tested. High-density polyethylene functionalized with maleic anhydride (HDPE-g-MA) was used as a compatibility agent. Polymer samples were prepared with and without the compatibility agent (2 wt.% in relation to the QF content). The study investigated the effect of QF content and HDPE-g-MA on the properties of rotationally moulded parts, including their melt flow rate (MFR), thermal properties (DSC and TGA), thermomechanical properties (VST), mechanical and physical properties, microstructure, and geometry. Results showed that the properties of LLDPE/QF with HDPE-g-MA were significantly higher than those of LLDPE/QF without HDPE-g-MA. It was also found that the compatibility agent improved the composite material’s thermal stability. This improvement was attributed to interactions occurring between the composite material components due to the use of the compatibility agent. In addition to that, microscopic examination demonstrated that the use of HDPE-g-MA improved miscibility of the composite material components. The composite samples containing HDPE-g-MA had better surface geometry.
Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Ti-25Nb-4Ta-8Sn Alloy Prepared by Spark Plasma Sintering
Authors: Voňavková Ilona , Průša Filip , Kubásek Jiří , Michalcová Alena , Vojtěch Dalibor
Published: March 2022

As the commercially most-used Ti-6Al-4V alloy has a different modulus of elasticity compared to the modulus of elasticity of bone and contains allergenic elements, β-Ti alloy could be a suitable substitution in orthopedics. The spark plasma sintering (SPS) method is feasible for the preparation of materials, with very low porosity and fine-grained structure, leading to higher mechanical properties. In this study, we prepared quaternary Ti-25Nb-4Ta-8Sn alloy using the spark plasma sintering method. The material was also heat-treated in order to homogenize the structure and compare the microstructure and properties in as-sintered and annealed states. The SPS sample had a modulus of elasticity of about 63 ± 1 GPa, which, after annealing, increased to the value of 73 ± 1 GPa. The tensile yield strength (TYS) of the SPS sample was 730 ± 52 MPa, ultimate tensile strength (UTS) 764 ± 10 MPa, and ductility 22 ± 9%. Annealed samples reached higher values of TYS and UTS (831 ± 60 MPa and 954 ± 48 MPa), but the ductility decreased to the value of 3 ± 1%. The obtained results are discussed considering the observed microstructure of the alloy.
Synthesis of Si-Modified Pseudo-Boehmite@kaolin Composite and Its Application as a Novel Matrix Material for FCC Catalyst
Authors: Yuan Chengyuan , Li Zhongfu , Zhou Lei , Ju Guannan
Published: March 2022

Fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) has been the primary processing technology for heavy oil. Due to the inferior properties of heavy oil, an excellent performance is demanded of FCC catalysts. In this work, based on the acid extracting method, Si-modified pseudo-boehmite units (Si-PB) are constructed in situ and introduced into the structure of kaolin to synthesize a Si-PB@kaolin composite. The synthesized Si-PB@kaolin is further characterized and used as a matrix material for the FCC catalyst. The results indicate that, compared with a conventional kaolin matrix, a Si-PB@kaolin composite could significantly improve the heavy oil catalytic cracking performance of the prepared FCC catalyst because of its excellent properties, such as a larger surface area, a higher pore volume, and a good surface acidity. For the fresh FCC catalysts, compared with the FCC catalysts using conventional kaolin (Cat-1), the gasoline yield and total liquid yield of the catalyst containing Si-PB@kaolin (Cat-2) could obviously increase by 2.06% and 1.55%, respectively, with the bottom yield decreasing by 2.64%. After vanadium and nickel contamination, compared with Cat-1, the gasoline yield and total liquid yield of Cat-2 could increase by 1.97% and 1.24%, respectively, with the bottom yield decreasing by 1.80 percentage points.
Mechanical Properties and Gamma Radiation Transmission Rate of Heavyweight Concrete Containing Barite Aggregates
Authors: Badarloo Baitollah , Lehner Petr , Bakhtiari Doost Rooholah
Published: March 2022

The primary objective of this research was to study the transmission of gamma radiation from heavyweight concrete containing barite aggregates. For this purpose, cylindrical and cubic specimens were produced for 10 mix designs. The mix designs containing different percentages of barite aggregates were calculated; five mix designs were also calculated for the compressive strength of 25 MPa, while five of them were designed for the compressive strength of 35 MPa to study the influence of the compressive strength rate on the reduction in gamma radiation transmission. The results indicated that both compressive and tensile strength was decreased by increasing the ratio of barite aggregates. The rate in reduction of compressive strength and especially tensile strength in concrete C35 was less than in concrete C25. The use of barite aggregates increased the attenuation coefficient of concrete. The attenuation coefficient in C35 concrete increased more than that in C25 upon increasing the amount of barite aggregate. By increasing the thickness of concrete with different percentages of barite, the rate of radiation loss in different samples was closer. The difference in the rate of radiation loss at a thickness of 150 mm was not much different from that at a thickness of 100 mm, whereas it was considerably decreased at a thickness of 300 mm. The test results indicated that the reduction in the gamma transmission rate is significantly dependent on the density of concrete.
Analytical Solution for Forced Vibration Characteristics of Rotating Functionally Graded Blades under Rub-Impact and Base Excitation
Authors: Zhao Tianyu , Wang Yuxuan , Cui Xinze , Wang Xin
Published: March 2022

This paper presents an analytical investigation on the forced vibration characteristics of a rotating functionally graded material (FGM) blade subjected to rub-impact and base excitation. Based on the Kirchhoff plate theory, the rotating blade is modelled theoretically. The material properties of the FGM blade are considered to vary continuously and smoothly along the thickness direction according to a volume fraction power-law distribution. By employing Hamilton’s principle, the equations of motion are derived. Then, the Galerkin method and the small parameter perturbation method are utilized to obtain the analytical solution for the composite blade under a combined action of radial force, tangential force and displacement load. Finally, special attention is given to the effects of power-law index, rub-impact location, friction coefficient, base excitation amplitude and blade aspect ratio on the vibration characteristics of the FGM structure. The obtained results can play a role in the design of rotating FGM blades to achieve significantly improved structural performance.
Adsorption of Inositol Phosphate on Hydroxyapatite Powder with High Specific Surface Area
Authors: Minamisawa Hirogo , Kojima Yoshiyuki , Aizawa Mamoru
Published: March 2022

Chelate-setting calcium-phosphate cements (CPCs) have been developed using inositol phosphate (IP6) as a chelating agent. However, the compressive strength of the CPC fabricated from a commercially available hydroxyapatite (HAp) powder was approximately 10 MPa. In this study, we miniaturized HAp particles as a starting powder to improve the compressive strength of chelate-setting CPCs and examined the adsorption properties of IP6 onto HAp powders. An HAp powder with a specific surface area (SSA) higher than 200 m2/g (HApHS) was obtained by ultrasonic irradiation for 1 min in a wet synthesis process, greatly improving the SSA (214 m2/g) of the commercial powder without ultrasonic irradiation. The HApHS powder was found to be a B-type carbonate-containing HAp in which the phosphate groups in apatite were replaced by carbonate groups. Owing to the high SSA, the HApHS powder also showed high IP6 adsorption capacity. The adsorption phenomena of IP6 to our HApHS and commercially available Hap powders were found to follow the Freundlich and Langmuir models, respectively. We found that IP6 adsorbs on the HApHS powder by both physisorption and chemisorption. The fine HapHS powder with a high SSA is a novel raw powder material, expected to improve the compressive strength of chelate-setting CPCs.
The Nature of the Passive Layer (and Spalled Corrosion Products) on Nonferrous Alloys in Aqueous Corrosive Media—Editorial
Authors: Potgieter Herman
Published: March 2022

Mild steel and various stainless steels are the workhorse alloys in construction and process industries, used in a myriad of applications [...]
Techno-Economic and Environmental Analysis of Grid-Connected Electric Vehicle Charging Station Using AI-Based Algorithm
Authors: Bilal Mohd , Alsaidan Ibrahim , Alaraj Muhannad , Almasoudi Fahad M. , Rizwan Mohammad
Published: March 2022

The rapid growth of electric vehicles in India necessitates more power to energize such vehicles. Furthermore, the transport industry emits greenhouse gases, particularly SO2, CO2. The national grid has to supply an enormous amount of power on a daily basis due to the surplus power required to charge these electric vehicles. This paper presents the various hybrid energy system configurations to meet the power requirements of the electric vehicle charging station (EVCS) situated in the northwest region of Delhi, India. The three configurations are: (a) solar photovoltaic/diesel generator/battery-based EVCS, (b) solar photovoltaic/battery-based EVCS, and (c) grid-and-solar photovoltaic-based EVCS. The meta-heuristic techniques are implemented to analyze the technological, financial, and environmental feasibility of the three possible configurations. The optimization algorithm intends to reduce the total net present cost and levelized cost of energy while keeping the value of lack of power supply probability within limits. To confirm the solution quality obtained using modified salp swarm algorithm (MSSA), the popularly used HOMER software, salp swarm algorithm (SSA), and the gray wolf optimization are applied to the same problem, and their outcomes are equated to those attained by the MSSA. MSSA exhibits superior accuracy and robustness based on simulation outcomes. The MSSA performs much better in terms of computation time followed by the SSA and gray wolf optimization. MSSA results in reduced levelized cost of energy values in all three configurations, i.e., USD 0.482/kWh, USD 0.684/kWh, and USD 0.119/kWh in configurations 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Our findings will be useful for researchers in determining the best method for the sizing of energy system components.
Multicriteria Optimization Problem on Prefractal Graph
Authors: Kochkarov Rasul
Published: March 2022

Even among single-criteria discrete problems, there are NP-hard ones. Multicriteria problems on graphs in many cases become intractable. Currently, priority is given to the study of applied multicriteria problems with specific criteria; there is no classification of criteria according to their type and content. There are few studies with fuzzy criteria, both weight and topological. Little attention is paid to the stability of solutions, and this is necessary when modeling real processes due to their dynamism. It is also necessary to study the behavior of solution sets for various general and individual problems. The theory of multicriteria optimization is a rather young branch of science and requires the development of not only particular methods, but also the construction of a methodological basis. This is also true in terms of discrete graph-theoretic optimization. In this paper, we propose to get acquainted with multicriteria problems for a special class of prefractal graphs. Modeling natural objects or processes using graphs often involves weighting edges with many numbers. The author proposes a general formulation of a multicriteria problem on a multi-weighted prefractal graph; defines three sets of alternatives—Pareto, complete and lexicographic; and proposes a classification of individual problems according to the set of feasible solutions. As an example, we consider an individual problem of placing a multiple center with two types of weight criteria and two types of topological ones. An algorithm with estimates of all criteria of the problem is proposed.
Modified Projection Method with Inertial Technique and Hybrid Stepsize for the Split Feasibility Problem
Authors: Suantai Suthep , Kesornprom Suparat , Cholamjiak Watcharaporn , Cholamjiak Prasit
Published: March 2022

We designed a modified projection method with a new condition of the inertial step and the step size for the split feasibility problem in Hilbert spaces. We show that our iterate weakly converged to a solution. Lastly, we give numerical examples and comparisons that could be applied to signal recovery to show the efficiency of our method.
Uniform (Ck, Pk+1)-Factorizations of Kn − I When k Is Even
Authors: Lo Faro Giovanni , Milici Salvatore , Tripodi Antoinette
Published: March 2022

Let H be a connected subgraph of a graph G. An H-factor of G is a spanning subgraph of G whose components are isomorphic to H. Given a set H of mutually non-isomorphic graphs, a uniform H-factorization of G is a partition of the edges of G into H-factors for some H∈H. In this article, we give a complete solution to the existence problem for uniform (Ck,Pk+1)-factorizations of Kn−I in the case when k is even.
Clustering Based on Continuous Hopfield Network
Authors: Xiao Yao , Zhang Yashu , Dai Xiangguang , Yan Dongfang
Published: March 2022

Clustering aims to group n data samples into k clusters. In this paper, we reformulate the clustering problem into an integer optimization problem and propose a recurrent neural network with n×k neurons to solve it. We prove the stability and convergence of the proposed recurrent neural network theoretically. Moreover, clustering experiments demonstrate that the proposed clustering algorithm based on the recurrent neural network can achieve the better clustering performance than existing clustering algorithms.
Comparative Venomics of C. flavidus and C. frigidus and Closely Related Vermivorous Cone Snails
Authors: Himaya S. , Arkhipov Alexander , Yum Wai , Lewis Richard
Published: March 2022

Cone snail venom biodiversity reflects dietary preference and predatory and defensive envenomation strategies across the ≈900 species of Conidae. To better understand the mechanisms of adaptive radiations in closely related species, we investigated the venom of two phylogenetically and spatially related species, C. flavidus and C. frigidus of the Virgiconus clade. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the major superfamily profiles were conserved between the two species, including 68 shared conotoxin transcripts. These shared transcripts contributed 90% of the conotoxin expression in C. frigidus and only 49% in C. flavidus, which showed greater toxin diversification in the dominant O1, I2, A, O2, O3, and M superfamilies compared to C. frigidus. On the basis of morphology, two additional sub-groups closely resembling C. flavidus were also identified from One Tree Island Reef. Despite the morphological resemblance, the venom duct proteomes of these cryptic sub-groups were distinct from C. flavidus. We suggest rapid conotoxin sequence divergence may have facilitated adaptive radiation and the establishment of new species and the regulatory mechanisms facilitating species-specific venom evolution.
Drug-Induced Sexual Dysfunction in Individuals with Epilepsy: Beyond Antiepileptic Compounds
Authors: Calabrò Rocco Salvatore , Cerasa Antonio
Published: March 2022

Sexual dysfunction (SD) is a multifactorial problem, involving neurological, iatrogenic, endocrine, psychiatric, and psychosocial factors, and affects the quality of life of both male and female individuals with epilepsy [...]
Unusual Presentation of Bouveret Syndrome Resulting in Both Gastric Outlet Obstruction and Small Bowel Obstruction with Perforation
Authors: Shelton Jarod , Samad Muhammad Adeel , Juhng James , Terry Shawn M.
Published: March 2022

Our case describes an 83-year-old female who presented with severe abdominal pain, nausea, and bilious emesis of one day’s duration. She had an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with sphincterotomy and percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTCD) one year prior for choledocholithiasis with acute cholangitis in her home country, Scotland. Unfortunately, while visiting family in the United States, her PTCD became dislodged, and she developed progressive worsening abdominal pain. Computerized tomography of her abdomen showed pneumobilia, perigastric inflammation, a contracted gallbladder, small bowl inflammation with a likely transition point at the mid-jejunum, and a probable duodenal mass. The patient underwent an exploratory laparotomy with intraoperative findings of choledochoduodenal fistula with coincident gastric and small bowel obstruction (SBO) secondary to three large, mixed gallstones. One 3 cm gallstone was located at the pylorus and two (2.3 and 3 cm) gallstones were isolated in the mid-jejunum, with one of those causing isolated transmural pressure necrosis with subsequent perforation. Bouveret syndrome is a rare cause of gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) that manifests via an acquired cholecystoenteric fistula. Our patient presented with a concomitant GOO and SBO with perforation of the mid-jejunum. Timely diagnosis of Bouveret syndrome is essential, as most causes require emergent surgical intervention.
Microstructures and Properties of the Low-Density Al15Zr40Ti28Nb12M(Cr, Mo, Si)5 High-Entropy Alloys
Authors: Li Yasong , Liaw Peter , Zhang Yong
Published: March 2022

Low-density materials show promising prospects for industrial application in engineering, and have remained a research hotspot. The ingots of Al15Zr40Ti28Nb12Cr5, Al15Zr40Ti28Nb12Mo5 and Al15Zr40Ti28Nb12Si5 high-entropy alloys were prepared using an arc melting method. With the addition of the Cr, Mo, and Si, the phase structures of these alloys changed to a dual phase. The Cr and Mo promote the formation of the B2 phase, while the Si promotes the formation of a large amount of the silicides. The compression yield strengths of these alloys are ~1.36 GPa, ~1.27 GPa, and ~1.35 GPa, respectively. The addition of Si and Cr significantly reduces the compression ductility, and the Al15Zr40Ti28Nb12SiMo5 high-entropy alloy exhibits excellent comprehensive mechanical properties. This work investigated the influence of Cr, Mo, and Si on the phase structures and properties of the low-density Al-Zr-Ti-Nb high-entropy alloys, providing theoretical and scientific support for the development of advanced low-density alloys.
Effects of the Al Content on the Evolution of Quadruple Basal Textures in Mg-xAl-1Zn-0.1Mn-0.1Ca-0.2Y Alloy Sheets Processed via Cold Rolling and Annealing
Authors: Li Lichao , Go Yohan , Suh Joung Sik , Suh Byeong-Chan , Kim Young Min
Published: March 2022

The effects of the Al content on the texture evolution of Mg-xAl-1Zn-0.1Ca-0.2Y alloy sheets fabricated via hot rolling, cold rolling, and subsequent annealing were systematically investigated. A lower Al content led to a higher number of free Ca solute atoms that contributed to co-segregation with Zn, delaying the recrystallization of the cold-rolled sheets during annealing and changing the basal pole figure shape of the annealed sheets. A quadruple basal texture, in which the positions of the four basal poles were developed at tilt angles of ±25° to the rolling direction (RD) and ±40° to the transverse direction (TD) from the normal direction, was obtained in the annealed Mg sheets. A smaller amount of Al caused an increase in the intensity of the main peaks along the TD but a decrease in the intensity along the RD. As a result, the texture of the annealed sheets gradually changed from RD-split to diamond and TD-split in the (0002) pole figure, as shown by the relative comparison of pole intensities in both directions. This texture change strongly affects the Schmid factor for the basal slip. For the alloys with an off-basal texture investigated in this study, as the maximum intensity of the basal poles increased, the average Schmid factor of the basal planes also increased, making the basal slip easier.
Study on the Mechanical Properties of Monocrystalline Germanium Crystal Planes Based on Molecular Dynamics
Authors: Song Linsen , Song Juncheng , Li Junye , Wang Tiancheng , Zhao Zhenguo
Published: March 2022

Nanoindentation and atomistic molecular dynamics simulations of the loading surface of monocrystalline germanium were used to investigate the evolution of the key structure, the force model, the temperature, the potential, and the deformable layer thickness. The mechanical characteristics of typical crystal planes (001), (110), and (111) of the crystal system were compared under load. It was observed that the hardness and stiffness of the (110) plane were greatest among the three crystal planes, whereas the hardness and stiffness of the (111) plane were lowest. Moreover, the deformation layers at the ends of both planes were basically flat. The processing efficiency of the (111) surface was higher; thus, the (111) surface was considered the best loading surface. It was concluded that the subsurface defects of the monocrystalline germanium (111) plane were smaller and the work efficiency was higher during the processing of monocrystalline germanium, making it ideal for monocrystalline germanium ultra-precision processing.
Bioremediation of Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) by Anaerobic Digestion: Effect of PFAS on Different Trophic Groups and Methane Production Accelerated by Carbon Materials
Authors: Silva Ana Rita , Duarte Maria Salomé , Alves Maria Madalena , Pereira Luciana
Published: March 2022

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are recalcitrant pollutants which tend to persist in soils and aquatic environments and their remediation is among the most challenging with respect to organic pollutants. Anaerobic digestion (AD) supplemented with low amounts of carbon materials (CM), acting as electron drivers, has proved to be an efficient process for the removal of organic compounds from wastewater. This work explores the impact of PFAS on different trophic groups in anaerobic communities, and the effect of carbon nanotubes (CNT), activated carbon (AC), and oxidized AC (AC-HNO3), as electron shuttles on the anaerobic bioremoval of these compounds, based on CH4 production. The inhibition of the specific methanogenic activity (SMA) exerted by perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), at a concentration of 0.1 mg L−1, was below 10% for acetoclastic and below 15%, for acetogenic communities. Hydrogenotrophic methanogens were not affected by the presence of PFAS. All CM reduced the negative impact of PFAS on the CH4 production rate, but AC was the best. Moreover, the methanization percentage (MP) of sewage sludge (SS) increased 41% in the presence of PFOS (1.2 g L−1) and AC. In addition, AC fostered an increase of 11% in the MP of SS+PFOS, relative to the condition without AC. AC promoted detoxification of PFOA- and PFOS-treated samples by 51% and 35%, respectively, as assessed by Vibrio fischeri assays, demonstrating the advantage of bringing AD and CM together for PFAS remediation.
A Simple Method for Quantification of Polyhydroxybutyrate and Polylactic Acid Micro-Bioplastics in Soils by Evolved Gas Analysis
Authors: Fojt Jakub , Románeková Ivana , Procházková Petra , David Jan , Brtnický Martin , Kučerík Jiří
Published: March 2022

Conventional plastics are being slowly replaced by biodegradable ones to prevent plastic pollution. However, in the natural environment, the biodegradation of plastics is usually slow or incomplete due to unfavorable conditions and leads to faster micro-bioplastic formation. Many analytical methods were developed to determine microplastics, but micro-bioplastics are still overlooked. This work presents a simple method for determining poly-3-hydroxybutyrate and polylactic acid micro-bioplastics in soil based on the thermogravimetry–mass spectrometry analysis of low molecular gases evolved during pyrolysis. For the method development, model soils containing different soil organic carbon contents were spiked with micro-bioplastics. Specific gaseous pyrolysis products of the analytes were identified, while the ratio of their amounts appeared to be constant above the level of detection of the suggested method. The constant ratio was explained as a lower soil influence on the evolution of the gaseous product, and it was suggested as an additional identification parameter. The advantages of the presented method are no sample pretreatment, presumably no need for an internal standard, low temperature needed for the transfer of gaseous products and the possibility of using its principles with other, cheaper detectors. The method can find application in the verification of biodegradation tests and in the monitoring of soils after the application of biodegradable products.
A Comparison of Bioactive Metabolites, Antinutrients, and Bioactivities of African Pumpkin Leaves (Momordica balsamina L.) Cooked by Different Culinary Techniques
Authors: Mashiane Petunia , Shoko Tinotenda , Manhivi Vimbainashe , Slabbert Retha , Sultanbawa Yasmina , Sivakumar Dharini
Published: March 2022

Prior to consumption, African pumpkin leaves (Momordica balsamina L.) are generally cooked. In this study, the effects of common household cooking methods (boiling, steaming, microwaving, stir-frying) on bioactive metabolites, carotenoids, antioxidant activity, antinutrients and inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase and α-amylase activities were examined. A set of 14 bioactive metabolites were identified in raw and cooked African leaves using UPLC-QTOF/MS. The results showed that the four different types of household cooking methods had different effects on the bioactive metabolomics profile of African pumpkin leaves. In comparison to raw leaves and leaves cooked in other methods, the concentrations of six phenolic compounds, rutin, cryptochlorogenic acid (4-caffeoylquinic acid), pseudolaroside A, isorhamnetin 3-O-robinoside, quercetin 3-galactoside, and trans-4-feruloylquinic acid, were highest in stir-fried leaves. Of all household cooking methods tested, stir-frying increased the content of lutein, β-carotene, and zeaxanthin by 60.00%, 146.15%, and 123.51%, respectively. Moreover, stir-frying African pumpkin leaves increased the antioxidant activity (DPPH and ABTS) and the inhibition of α-glucosidase and α-amylase. Compared to all four methods of household cooking, stir-frying reduced the antinutritive compounds compared to raw leaves. This work provides useful information to the consumers on the selection of suitable cooking methods for African pumpkin leaves.
Sizes, Components, Crystalline Structure, and Thermal Properties of Starches from Sweet Potato Varieties Originating from Different Countries
Authors: Li Yibo , Zhao Lingxiao , Shi Laiquan , Lin Lingshang , Cao Qinghe , Wei Cunxu
Published: March 2022

Sweet potato is a root tuber crop and an important starch source. There are hundreds of sweet potato varieties planted widely in the world. Starches from varieties with different genotype types and originating from different countries have not been compared for their physicochemical properties. In the research, starches from 44 sweet potato varieties originating from 15 countries but planted in the same growing conditions were investigated for their physicochemical properties to reveal the similarities and differences in varieties. The results showed that the 44 starches had granule size (D[4,3]) from 8.01 to 15.30 μm. Starches had different iodine absorption properties with OD680 from 0.259 to 0.382 and OD620/550 from 1.142 to 1.237. The 44 starches had apparent amylose content from 19.2% to 29.2% and true amylose content from 14.2% to 20.2%. The starches exhibited A-, CA-, CC-, or CB-type X-ray diffraction patterns. The thermograms of 44 starches exhibited one-, two-, or three-peak curves, leading to a significantly different gelatinization temperature range from 13.1 to 29.2 °C. The significantly different starch properties divide the 44 sweet potato varieties into different groups due to their different genotype backgrounds. The research offers references for the utilization of sweet potato germplasm.
Impact of Modular Architecture on Activity of Glycoside Hydrolase Family 5 Subfamily 8 Mannanases
Authors: Møller Marie Sofie
Published: March 2022

Glycoside hydrolase family 5 subfamily 8 (GH5_8) mannanases belong to Firmicutes, Actinomycetia, and Proteobacteria. The presence or absence of carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) present a striking difference. While various GH5_8 mannanases need a CBM for binding galactomannans, removal of the CBM did not affect activity of some, whereas it in other cases reduced the catalytic efficiency due to increased KM. Here, monomodular GH5_8 mannanases from Eubacterium siraeum (EsGH5_8) and Xanthomonas citri pv. aurantifolii (XcGH5_8) were produced and characterized to clarify if GH5_8 mannanases from Firmicutes and Proteobacteria without CBM(s) possess distinct properties. EsGH5_8 showed a remarkably high temperature optimum of 55 °C, while XcGH5_8 had an optimum at 30 °C. Both enzymes were highly active on carob galactomannan and konjac glucomannan. Notably, EsGH5_8 was equally active on both substrates, whereas XcGH5_8 preferred galactomannan. The KM values were comparable with those of catalytic domains of truncated GH5_8s, while the turn-over numbers (kcat) were in the higher end. Notably, XcGH5_8 bound to but did not degrade insoluble ivory nut mannan. The findings support the hypothesis that GH5_8 mannanases with CBMs target insoluble mannans found in plant cell walls and seeds, while monomodular GH5_8 members have soluble mannans and mannooligosaccharides as primary substrates.
The Role of Microglial Purinergic Receptors in Pain Signaling
Authors: Tozaki-Saitoh Hidetoshi , Takeda Hiroshi , Inoue Kazuhide
Published: March 2022

Pain is an essential modality of sensation in the body. Purinergic signaling plays an important role in nociceptive pain transmission, under both physiological and pathophysiological conditions, and is important for communication between both neuronal and non-neuronal cells. Microglia and astrocytes express a variety of purinergic effectors, and a variety of receptors play critical roles in the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain. In this review, we discuss our current knowledge of purinergic signaling and of the compounds that modulate purinergic transmission, with the aim of highlighting the importance of purinergic pathways as targets for the treatment of persistent pain.
Milk Intake in Early Life and Later Cancer Risk: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Gil Hyeonmin , Chen Qiao-Yi , Khil Jaewon , Park Jihyun , Na Gyumi , Lee Donghoon , Keum Nana
Published: March 2022

Dairy consumption in adulthood has been demonstrated to influence cancer risk. Although childhood and adolescence represent critical periods of rapid growth, the relationship between milk intake in early life and later cancer risk is unclear. Thus, we examined this relationship by conducting a meta-analysis of the observational studies. PubMed and Embase were searched for relevant articles that were published throughout December 2021. The summary relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated using the DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model. The summary RR for the highest vs. lowest milk intake was 0.83 (95% CI = 0.69–1.00; p = 0.05; I2 = 60%; seven studies) for breast cancer, 0.98 (95% CI = 0.72–1.32; p = 0.88; I2 = 51%; four studies) for prostate cancer, and 0.90 (95% CI = 0.42–1.93; p = 0.78; I2 = 83%; three studies) for colorectal cancer. No evidence of an association emerged in subgroup analyses of menopausal status, cancer stage, fat content of milk, life stage of milk intake, or study design. Consistent results were observed in the meta-analyses using total dairy intake. In conclusion, milk intake during childhood and adolescence might not be associated with risks of breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer later in life. Given the small number of studies that were included in our meta-analysis, and the high heterogeneity, more studies are warranted for a definitive conclusion.
Endogenous Androgens Diminish Food Intake and Activation of Orexin A Neurons in Response to Reduced Glucose Availability in Male Rats
Authors: Takamata Akira , Nishimura Yuri , Oka Ayano , Nagata Mayuna , Kosugi Natsumi , Eguchi Sayaka , Negishi Hiroko , Morimoto Keiko
Published: March 2022

Sex steroids modify feeding behavior and body weight regulation, and androgen reportedly augments food intake and body weight gain. To elucidate the role of endogenous androgens in the feeding regulation induced by reduced glucose availability, we examined the effect of gonadectomy (orchiectomy) on food intake and orexin A neuron’s activity in the lateral hypothalamic/perifornical area (LH/PFA) in response to reduced glucose availability (glucoprivation) induced by 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2DG) administration in male rats. Rats (7W) were bilaterally orchiectomized (ORX group) or sham operated (Sham group). Seventeen days after the surgery, food intake response to 2DG (400 mg/kg, i.v.) was measured for 4 h after the infusion. The same experiment was performed for the immunohistochemical examination of c-Fos-expressing orexin A neurons in the LH/PFA and c-Fos expression in the arcuate nucleus (Arc). Food intake induced by glucoprivation was greater in the ORX group than the Sham group, and the glucoprivation-induced food intake was inversely correlated with plasma testosterone concentration. Glucoprivation stimulated c-Fos expression of the orexin A neurons at the LH/PFA and c-Fos expression in the dorsomedial Arc. The number and percentage of c-Fos-expressing orexin A neurons in the LH/PFA and c-Fos expression in the dorsomedial Arc were significantly higher in the ORX group than the Sham group. This indicates that endogenous androgen, possibly testosterone, diminishes the food intake induced by reduced glucose availability, possibly via the attenuated activity of orexin A neuron in the LH/PFA and neurons in the dorsomedial Arc.
Association of Frailty Status and Dietary Patterns in a Nationally Representative Sample of United States Adults with Olfactory Dysfunction
Authors: Vohra Varun , Leland Evelyn M. , Schlosser Rodney J. , Kamath Vidyulata , Rowan Nicholas R.
Published: March 2022

Background: Olfactory dysfunction (OD) is a strong, independent predictor of frailty and mortality risk. This study evaluated the association of dietary patterns and frailty status in older adults with OD. Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized the 2013–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Dietary patterns (DPs) characteristic of OD were derived using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Multiple logistic regressions adjusted for demographics and frailty risk factors assessed the association of DPs with two frailty metrics: the frailty index (FI) and physical frailty (PF). Results: EFA yielded six distinct DPs in persons with OD. The protein/selenium (OR 0.82 [95% CI 0.74–0.92], p = 0.041) and β-carotene/vitamin A DPs (OR 0.76 [95% CI 0.66–0.88], p = 0.028) were independently associated with frailty by FI. Only the protein/selenium DP (OR 0.82 [95% CI 0.74–0.92], p = 0.036) was associated with frailty by PF. No DPs were associated with either frailty measure in normosmic persons. Conclusions: Dietary patterns high in protein/selenium and β-carotene/vitamin A are associated with lower frailty prevalence in adults with OD. While the relationship between OD and frailty is likely multifaceted, these findings suggest that dietary patterns are uniquely associated with frailty in older adults with OD.
The Macronutrient Composition of Infant Formula Produces Differences in Gut Microbiota Maturation That Associate with Weight Gain Velocity and Weight Status
Authors: Mennella Julie A. , Li Yun , Bittinger Kyle , Friedman Elliot S. , Zhao Chunyu , Li Hongzhe , Wu Gary D. , Trabulsi Jillian C.
Published: March 2022

This proof-of-principle study analyzed fecal samples from 30 infants who participated in a randomized controlled trial on the effects of the macronutrient composition of infant formula on growth and energy balance. In that study, infants randomized to be fed cow milk formula (CMF) had faster weight-gain velocity during the first 4 months and higher weight-for-length Z scores up to 11.5 months than those randomized to an isocaloric extensive protein hydrolysate formula (EHF). Here we examined associations among infant formula composition, gut microbial composition and maturation, and children’s weight status. Fecal samples collected before and monthly up to 4.5 months after randomization were analyzed by shotgun metagenomic sequencing and targeted metabolomics. The EHF group had faster maturation of gut microbiota than the CMF group, and increased alpha diversity driven by Clostridia taxa. Abundance of Ruminococcus gnavus distinguished the two groups after exclusive feeding of the assigned formula for 3 months. Abundance of Clostridia at 3–4 months negatively correlated with prior weight-gain velocity and body weight phenotypes when they became toddlers. Macronutrient differences between the formulas likely led to the observed divergence in gut microbiota composition that was associated with differences in transient rapid weight gain, a well-established predictor of childhood obesity and other comorbidities.