bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Theranostic Cancer Treatment Using Lentinan-Coated Selenium Nanoparticles and Label-Free CEST MRI
Authors: Liu Guanfu , Ling Jiabao , He Lizhen , Xu Yuan , Chen Tianfeng , Shi Changzheng , Luo Liangping
Published: December 2022

Selenium nanoparticle (SeNP)-based nanotherapeutics have become an emerging cancer therapy, while effective drug delivery remains a technical hurdle. A theranostic approach, through which imaging companions are integrated with SeNPs, will allow image-guided drug delivery and, therefore, is highly desirable. Traditional methods require the chemical conjugation of imaging agents to the surface of nanoparticles, which may impede the later clinical translation. In this study, we developed a label-free strategy in which lentinan-functionalized SeNPs (LNT-SeNPs) are detected using MRI by the hydroxyl protons carried on LNT molecules. The in vitro phantom study showed that LNT and LNT-SeNPs have a strong CEST signal at 1.0 ppm apart from the water resonance, suggesting an in vivo detectability in the µM concentration range. Demonstrated on CT26 colon tumor cells, LNT-SeNPs exert a strong anticancer effect (IC50 = 4.8 μM), prominently attributed to the ability to generate intracellular reactive oxygen species. However, when testing in a mouse model of CT26 tumors, administration of LNT-SeNPs alone was found unable to deliver sufficient drugs to the tumor, leading to poor treatment responses. To improve the drug delivery, we co-injected LNT-SeNPs and TNF-α, a previously reported drug that could effectively damage the endothelial cells in the tumor vasculature, thereby increasing drug delivery to the tumor. Our results revealed a 75% increase in the intratumoral CEST MRI signal, indicating a markedly increased delivery efficiency of LNT-SeNPs when combined with TNF-α. The combination therapy also resulted in a significantly enhanced treatment outcome, as revealed by the tumor growth study. Taken together, our study demonstrates the first label-free, SeNP-based theranostic system, in which LNT was used for both functional surface coating and CEST MRI signal generating. Such a theranostic LNT-SeNP system is advantageous because it requires chemical labeling and, therefore, has high biocompatibility and low translatable barriers.
Current Treatments and Innovations in Diabetic Retinopathy and Diabetic Macular Edema
Authors: Gonzalez-Cortes Jesus H. , Martinez-Pacheco Victor A. , Gonzalez-Cantu Jesus E. , Bilgic Alper , de Ribot Francesc March , Sudhalkar Aditya , Mohamed-Hamsho Jesus , Kodjikian Laurent , Mathis Thibaud
Published: December 2022

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. Multiple treatment options have been used over time to attempt to modify the natural progression of the disease in both proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and diabetic macular edema (DME). These two retinal complications are the result of microvascular occlusions and vascular hyperpermeability and are considered one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness in patients of working age. It is now well demonstrated that PDR and DME are associated with increased levels of inflammatory and pro-angiogenic factors in the ocular compartment. To date, laser photocoagulation, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors, and corticosteroids have demonstrated efficacy in their treatment in large randomized controlled trials and in real-life observational studies. This manuscript aims to provide a comprehensive review of current treatments, including the main drugs used in diabetic pathologic manifestations, as well as new therapeutic alternatives, such as extended-release intraocular devices.
Stability and Antibiotic Potency Improvement of Levofloxacin by Producing New Salts with 2,6- and 3,5-Dihydroxybenzoic Acid and Their Comprehensive Structural Study
Authors: Nugrahani Ilma , Sulaiman Muhammad Ramadhan , Eda Chiaki , Uekusa Hidehiro , Ibrahim Slamet
Published: December 2022

Recently, solid-state engineering has become a promising approach to improving the stability and potency of antibiotics. Levofloxacin (LF) is a broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone antibiotic marketed in solid and solution dosage forms. However, this substance forms solid hydrates under ambient conditions and degrades due to lighting, which may change its solid properties and dose. In addition, resistance cases have been reported due to long-time antibiotic usage. This research aims to allow LF to react with antioxidant dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA), which has low antimicrobial activity, to produce a more stable compound under water and lighting conditions and improve LF’s potency. The experiment begins with a screening to select potential DHBA isomers that can react with LF and predict the stoichiometric ratio using phase diagrams, which show that 2,6-DHBA and 3,5-DHBA are prospective antioxidants that can react with LF in a (1:1) molar ratio. Multicomponent systems are prepared by dissolving the LF–DHBA mixture in (1:1) ethanol–methanol (95% grade) and evaporating it. Then, the new solid phase formation is confirmed by thermal analysis and powder X-ray diffractometry. Next, infrared spectrophotometry and neutron magnetic resonance analyses are used to identify the LF–DHBA’s interactions. Finally, single-crystal X-ray diffractometry is used to solve the three-dimensional structure of the multicomponent system. We then conduct a hygroscopicity and stability test followed by a lighting and potency test using the microdilution method. Our data reveal that both reactions produce salts, which are named LF-26 and LF-35, respectively. Structurally, LF-26 is found in an anhydrous form with a triclinic crystal packing, while LF-35 is a hemihydrate in a monoclinic system. Afterward, both salts are proven more stable regarding water adsorption and UV lighting than LF. Finally, both multicomponent systems have an approximately two-fold higher antibiotic potency than LF. LF-26 and LF-35 are suitable for further development in solid and liquid dosage formulations, especially LF-35, which has superior stability compared with LF-26.
Study of Cytotoxicity and Internalization of Redox-Responsive Iron Oxide Nanoparticles on PC-3 and 4T1 Cancer Cell Lines
Authors: Nizamov Timur R. , Iliasov Artem R. , Vodopyanov Stepan S. , Kozhina Irina V. , Bordyuzhin Igor G. , Zhukov Dmitry G. , Ivanova Anna V. , Permyakova Elizaveta S. , Mogilnikov Pavel S. , Vishnevskiy Daniil A. , Shchetinin Igor V. , Abakumov Maxim A. , Savchenko Alexander G.
Published: December 2022

Redox-responsive and magnetic nanomaterials are widely used in tumor treatment separately, and while the application of their combined functionalities is perspective, exactly how such synergistic effects can be implemented is still unclear. This report investigates the internalization dynamics of magnetic redox-responsive nanoparticles (MNP-SS) and their cytotoxicity toward PC-3 and 4T1 cell lines. It is shown that MNP-SS synthesized by covalent grafting of polyethylene glycol (PEG) on the magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) surface via SS-bonds lose their colloidal stability and aggregate fully in a solution containing DTT, and partially in conditioned media, whereas the PEGylated MNP (MNP-PEG) without S-S linker control remains stable under the same conditions. Internalized MNP-SS lose the PEG shell more quickly, causing enhanced magnetic core dissolution and thus increased toxicity. This was confirmed by fluorescence microscopy using MNP-SS dual-labeled by Cy3 via labile disulfide, and Cy5 via a rigid linker. The dyes demonstrated a significant difference in fluorescence dynamics and intensity. Additionally, MNP-SS demonstrate quicker cellular uptake compared to MNP-PEG, as confirmed by TEM analysis. The combination of disulfide bonds, leading to faster dissolution of the iron oxide core, and the high-oxidative potential Fe3+ ions can synergically enhance oxidative stress in comparison with more stable coating without SS-bonds in the case of MNP-PEG. It decreases the cancer cell viability, especially for the 4T1, which is known for being sensitive to ferroptosis-triggering factors. In this work, we have shown the effect of redox-responsive grafting of the MNP surface as a key factor affecting MNP-internalization rate and dissolution with the release of iron ions inside cancer cells. This kind of synergistic effect is described for the first time and can be used not only in combination with drug delivery, but also in treatment of tumors responsive to ferroptosis.
Developments in Combining Targeted Radionuclide Therapies and Immunotherapies for Cancer Treatment
Authors: Kerr Caroline P. , Grudzinski Joseph J. , Nguyen Thanh Phuong , Hernandez Reinier , Weichert Jamey P. , Morris Zachary S.
Published: December 2022

Targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT) and immunotherapy are rapidly growing classes of cancer treatments. Basic, translational, and clinical research are now investigating therapeutic combinations of these agents. In comparison to external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), TRT has the unique advantage of treating all disease sites following intravenous injection and selective tumor uptake and retention—a particularly beneficial property in metastatic disease settings. The therapeutic value of combining radiation therapy with immune checkpoint blockade to treat metastases has been demonstrated in preclinical studies, whereas results of clinical studies have been mixed. Several clinical trials combining TRT and immune checkpoint blockade have been initiated based on preclinical studies combining these with EBRT and/or TRT. Despite the interest in translation of TRT and immunotherapy combinations, many questions remain surrounding the mechanisms of interaction and the optimal approach to clinical implementation of these combinations. This review highlights the mechanisms of interaction between anti-tumor immunity and radiation therapy and the status of basic and translational research and clinical trials investigating combinations of TRT and immunotherapies.
LSTM-Based DWBA Prediction for Tactile Applications in Optical Access Network
Authors: Ganesan Elaiyasuriyan , Liem Andrew Tanny , Hwang I-Shyan , Ab-Rahman Mohammad Syuhaimi , Taju Semmy Wellem , Sheikh Mohammad Nowsin Amin
Published: December 2022

Historically, the optical access network (OAN) plays a crucial role of supporting emerging new services such as 4 k, 8 k multimedia streaming, telesurgery, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) applications in the context of Tactile Internet (TI). In order to prevent losing connectivity to the current mobile network and Tactile Internet, the OAN must expand capacity and improve the quality of Services (QoS) mainly for the low latency of 1 ms. The optical network has adopted artificial intelligence (AI) technology, such as deep learning (DL), in order to classify and predict complex data. This trend mainly focuses on bandwidth prediction. The software-defined network (SDN) and cloud technologies provide all the essential capabilities for deploying deep learning to enhance the performance of next-generation ethernet passive optical networks (NG-EPONs). Therefore, in this paper, we propose a deep learning long-short-term-memory model-based predictive dynamic wavelength bandwidth allocation (DWBA) mechanism, termed LSTM-DWBA in NG-EPON. Future bandwidth for the end-user is predicted based on NG-EPON MPCP control messages exchanged between the OLT and ONUs and cycle times. This proposed LSTM-DWBA addresses the uplink control message overhead and QoS bottleneck of such networks. Finally, the extensive simulation results show the packet delay, jitter, packet drop, and utilization.
Identification of Genetic Markers and Genes Putatively Involved in Determining Olive Fruit Weight
Authors: Moret Martín , Ramírez-Tejero Jorge A. , Serrano Alicia , Ramírez-Yera Elena , Cueva-López María D. , Belaj Angjelina , León Lorenzo , de la Rosa Raúl , Bombarely Aureliano , Luque Francisco
Published: December 2022

The fruit size of a cultivated olive tree is consistently larger than its corresponding wild relatives because fruit size is one of the main traits associated with olive tree domestication. Additionally, large fruit size is one of the main objectives of modern olive breeding programs. However, as the long juvenile period is one main hindrance in classic breeding approaches, obtaining genetic markers associated with this trait is a highly desirable tool. For this reason, GWAS analysis of both genetic markers and the genes associated with fruit size determination, measured as fruit weight, was herein carried out in 50 genotypes, of which 40 corresponded to cultivated and 10 to wild olive trees. As a result, 113 genetic markers were identified, which showed a very high statistically significant correlation with fruit weight variability, p < 10−10. These genetic markers corresponded to 39 clusters of genes in linkage disequilibrium. The analysis of a segregating progeny of the cross of “Frantoio” and “Picual” cultivars allowed us to confirm 10 of the 18 analyzed clusters. The annotation of the genes in each cluster and the expression pattern of the samples taken throughout fruit development by RNAseq enabled us to suggest that some studied genes are involved in olive fruit weight determination.
Comparison of the Phenotypic Performance, Molecular Diversity, and Proteomics in Transgenic Rice
Authors: Sun Yue , Zhao Huan , Chen Zhongkai , Chen Huizhen , Li Bai , Wang Chunlei , Lin Xiaoli , Cai Yicong , Zhou Dahu , Ouyang Linjuan , Zhu Changlan , He Haohua , Peng Xiaosong
Published: December 2022

The extent of molecular diversity and differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in transgenic lines provide valuable information to understand the phenotypic performance of transgenic crops compared with their parents. Here, we compared the differences in the phenotypic variation of twelve agronomic and end-use quality traits, the extent of microsatellite diversity, and DEPs of a recurrent parent line with three transgenic rice restorer lines carrying either CRY1C gene on chromosome 11 or CRY2A gene on chromosome 12 or both genes. The three transgenic lines had significantly smaller stem borer infestation than the recurrent parent without showing significant differences among most agronomic traits, yield components, and end-use quality traits. Using 512 microsatellite markers, the three transgenic lines inherited 2.9–4.3% of the Minghui 63 donor genome and 96.3–97.1% of the CH891 recurrent parent genome. As compared with the recurrent parent, the number of upregulated and down-regulated proteins in the three transgenic lines varied from 169 to 239 and from 131 to 199, respectively. Most DEPs were associated with the secondary metabolites biosynthesis transport and catabolism, carbohydrate transport and metabolism, post-translational modification, and signal transduction mechanisms. Although several differentially expressed proteins were observed between transgenic rice and its recurrent parent, the differences may not have been associated with grain yield and most other phenotypic traits in transgenic rice.
Development of SNP Markers for Original Analysis and Germplasm Identification in Camellia sinensis
Authors: Wang Liubin , Xun Hanshuo , Aktar Shirin , Zhang Rui , Wu Liyun , Ni Dejiang , Wei Kang , Wang Liyuan
Published: December 2022

Tea plants are widely grown all over the world because they are an important economic crop. The purity and authenticity of tea varieties are frequent problems in the conservation and promotion of germplasm resources in recent years, which has brought considerable inconvenience and uncertainty to the selection of parental lines for breeding and the research and cultivation of superior varieties. However, the development of core SNP markers can quickly and accurately identify the germplasm, which plays an important role in germplasm identification and the genetic relationship analysis of tea plants. In this study, based on 179,970 SNP loci from the whole genome of the tea plant, all of 142 cultivars were clearly divided into three groups: Assam type (CSA), Chinese type (CSS), and transitional type. Most CSA cultivars are from Yunnan Province, which confirms that Yunnan Province is the primary center of CSA origin and domestication. Most CSS cultivars are distributed in east China; therefore, we deduced that east China (mainly Zhejiang and Fujian provinces) is most likely the area of origin and domestication of CSS. Moreover, 45 core markers were screened using strict criteria to 179,970 SNP loci, and we analyzed 117 well-Known tea cultivars in China with 45 core SNP markers. The results were as follows: (1) In total, 117 tea cultivars were distinguished by eight markers, which were selected to construct the DNA fingerprint, and the remaining markers were used as standby markers for germplasm identification. (2) Ten pairs of parent and offspring relationships were confirmed or identified, and among them, seven pairs were well-established pedigree relationships; the other three pairs were newly identified. In this study, the east of China (mainly Zhejiang and Fujian provinces) is most likely the area of origin and domestication of CSS. The 45 core SNP markers were developed, which provide a scientific basis at the molecular level to identify the superior tea germplasm, undertake genetic relationship analysis, and benefit subsequent breeding work.
Kukoamine B from Lycii Radicis Cortex Protects Human Keratinocyte HaCaT Cells through Covalent Modification by Trans-2-Nonenal
Authors: Kim Hye Mi , Kim Jae Yong , Kim Ji Hoon , Kim Chul Young
Published: December 2022

The unsaturated aldehyde trans-2-nonenal is known to be generated by lipid peroxidation at the surface of the skin in an aging-related manner and has harmful effects on keratinocytes in the skin. In this study, the protective effect of a Lycii Radicis Cortex (LRC) extract against trans-2-nonenal-induced cell damage on human keratinocyte cell lines (HaCaT) was investigated. Notably, treatment with the LRC extract resulted in an increase in cell survival, while trans-2-nonenal decreased the viability of HaCaT cells. For identification of interaction between the LRC extract and trans-2-nonenal, this mixture was incubated in simulated physiological conditions, showing a strong decrease in the amount of trans-2-nonenal by the LRC extract. Subsequent LC-ESI-MS analysis revealed that kukoamine B (KB) formed Schiff base-derived pyridinium adducts with trans-2-nonenal. Thus, these results suggest that KB could be a potential agent that may protect HaCaT cells by forming new products with trans-2-nonenal.
Ecological Features and Conservation of Urtica rupestris Guss. (Urticaceae): A Narrow Endemic Species of Sicily
Authors: Sciandrello Saverio , Cambria Salvatore , Giusso del Galdo Gianpietro , Minissale Pietro , Puglisi Marta , Tavilla Gianmarco , Tomaselli Valeria
Published: December 2022

The conservation actions of endangered plant species require a clear knowledge of their habitats. Urtica rupestris Guss. (Urticaceae) is a rare endemic plant species occurring on shady cliffs in the southern-eastern part of Sicily. In the last century, the extreme anthropogenic alterations of Hyblaean plateau have caused the continuous and unrestrained fragmentation of natural habitats and consequently the reduction and disappearance of some plant species. A total of 52 vegetation plots, of which 34 are unpublished, were analyzed in order to characterize the floristic composition of the U. rupestris community. All the relevés were classified using classification and ordination methods. The species is mainly linked to shady and wet rock habitats, and only secondarily colonizes the undergrowth shrubs. According to IUCN criteria, we propose a new risk status for this species and the establishment of a new habitat (92/43CEE) for correct long-term conservation. Finally, a new association, Urtico rupestris-Adiantetum capilli-veneris, which falls within the Polysticho setiferi-Phyllitidion scolopendrii alliance (Adiantetea capilli-veneris class), was described. This study can provide useful information for the management and conservation of U. rupestris.
Time of Day Analysis over a Field Grown Developmental Time Course in Rice
Authors: Michael Todd P.
Published: December 2022

Plants integrate time of day (TOD) information over an entire season to ensure optimal growth, flowering time, and grain fill. However, most TOD expression studies have focused on a limited number of combinations of daylength and temperature under laboratory conditions. Here, an Oryza sativa (rice) expression study that followed TOD expression in the field over an entire growing season was re-analyzed. Similar to Arabidopsis thaliana, almost all rice genes have a TOD-specific expression over the developmental time course. As has been suggested in other grasses, thermocycles were a stronger cue for TOD expression than the photocycles over the growing season. All the core circadian clock genes display consistent TOD expression over the season with the interesting exception that the two grass paralogs of EARLY FLOWERING 3 (ELF3) display a distinct phasing based on the interaction between thermo- and photo-cycles. The dataset also revealed how specific pathways are modulated to distinct TOD over the season consistent with the changing biology. The data presented here provide a resource for researchers to study how TOD expression changes under natural conditions over a developmental time course, which will guide approaches to engineer more resilient and prolific crops.
Interference of Past Soil Contaminations in the Biomonitoring of PCB Emissions from a Recovered Derived Fuels (RDFs) Co-Powered Cement Plant
Authors: Fortuna Lorenzo , Tretiach Mauro
Published: December 2022

Although the intentional production of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) has totally been banned, these pollutants are still released into the atmosphere by industrial and domestic burning processes and by volatilization from soils locally contaminated by PCB spill-overs. The present work aims at identifying the PCB sources in a mixed land use area of northeastern Italy around a cement plant co-powered with recovered derived fuels (RDFs) from 2018. Leaves of Robinia pseudoacacia trees were systematically sampled over c. 40 km2 in 37 sites and analyzed for 12 dioxin-like and 20 non-dioxin-like congeners. The samples of most sampling sites had a PCB content < LOD, whereas those with higher content were located in urban sites. The spatial distribution of PCB leaf content was not centered on the purported emission sources. The samples of three spatially unrelated sites had high contents of 2, 12 and 18 PCB congeners, with the last two having combinations fully compatible with past commercial mixtures traded under different names. Comparison of these results with those of previous (bio-)monitoring surveys supports the hypothesis that the area has been subjected to punctiform PCB spill-overs, which overwhelm the contribution from present day industrial emissions, comprised of those actually derived from the use of RDFs.
A Scalable Heat Pump Film with Zero Energy Consumption
Authors: Meng Zhenghua , Cao Boyu , Guo Wei , Zhong Yetao , Li Bin , Chen Changhao , Hu Hengren , Wu Shigang , Xia Zhilin
Published: December 2022

Radiative cooling is an effective technology with zero energy consumption to alleviate climate warming and combat the urban heat island effect. At present, researchers often use foam boxes to isolate non-radiant heat exchange between the cooler and the environment through experiments, so as to achieve maximum cooling power. In practice, however, there are challenges in setting up foam boxes on a large scale, resulting in coolers that can be cooled below ambient only under low convection conditions. Based on polymer materials and nano-zinc oxide (nano-ZnO, refractive index > 2, the peak equivalent spherical diameter 500 nm), the manufacturing process of heat pump film (HPF) was proposed. The HPF (4.1 mm thick) consists of polyethylene (PE) bubble film (heat transfer coefficient 0.04 W/m/K, 4 mm thick) and Ethylene-1-octene copolymer (POE) cured nano-ZnO (solar reflectance ≈94% at 0.075 mm thick). Covering with HPF, the object achieves 7.15 °C decreasing in normal natural environment and 3.68 °C even under certain circumstances with high surface convective heat transfer (56.9 W/m2/K). HPF has advantages of cooling the covered object, certain strength (1.45 Mpa), scalable manufacturing with low cost, hydrophobic characteristics (the water contact angle, 150.6°), and meeting the basic requirements of various application scenarios.
Superabsorbent Polymers as a Soil Amendment for Increasing Agriculture Production with Reducing Water Losses under Water Stress Condition
Authors: Malik Shweta , Chaudhary Kautilya , Malik Anurag , Punia Himani , Sewhag Meena , Berkesia Neelam , Nagora Mehak , Kalia Sonika , Malik Kamla , Kumar Deepak , Kumar Pardeep , Kamboj Ekta , Ahlawat Vishal , Kumar Abhishek , Boora Kavita
Published: December 2022

With an increasing population, world agriculture is facing many challenges, such as climate change, urbanization, the use of natural resources in a sustainable manner, runoff losses, and the accumulation of pesticides and fertilizers. The global water shortage is a crisis for agriculture, because drought is one of the natural disasters that affect the farmers as well as their country’s social, economic, and environmental status. The application of soil amendments is a strategy to mitigate the adverse impact of drought stress. The development of agronomic strategies enabling the reduction in drought stress in cultivated crops is, therefore, a crucial priority. Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) can be used as an amendment for soil health improvement, ultimately improving water holding capacity and plant available water. These are eco-friendly and non-toxic materials, which have incredible water absorption ability and water holding capacity in the soil because of their unique biochemical and structural properties. Polymers can retain water more than their weight in water and achieve approximately 95% water release. SAP improve the soil like porosity (0.26–6.91%), water holding capacity (5.68–17.90%), and reduce nitrogen leaching losses from soil by up to 45%. This review focuses on the economic assessment of the adoption of superabsorbent polymers and brings out the discrepancies associated with the influence of SAPs application in the context of different textured soil, presence of drought, and their adoption by farmers.
H2 Uptake and Diffusion Characteristics in Sulfur-Crosslinked Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer Polymer Composites with Carbon Black and Silica Fillers after High-Pressure Hydrogen Exposure Reaching 90 MPa
Authors: Jung Jae Kap , Lee Ji Hun , Jeon Sang Koo , Baek Un Bong , Lee Si Hyeon , Lee Chang Hoon , Moon Won Jin
Published: December 2022

We investigated the influence of two fillers—CB (carbon black) and silica—on the H2 permeation of EPDM polymers crosslinked with sulfur in the pressure ranges 1.2–90 MPa. H2 uptake in the CB-blended EPDM revealed dual sorption (Henry’s law and Langmuir model) when exposed to pressure. This phenomenon indicates that H2 uptake is determined by the polymer chain and filler-surface absorption characteristics. Moreover, single sorption characteristics for neat and silica-blended EPDM specimens obey Henry’s law, indicating that H2 uptake is dominated by polymer chain absorption. The pressure-dependent diffusivity for the CB-filled EPDM is explained by Knudsen and bulk diffusion, divided at the critical pressure region. The neat and silica-blended EPDM specimens revealed that bulk diffusion behaviors decrease with decreasing pressure. The H2 diffusivities in CB-filled EPDM composites decrease because the impermeable filler increases the tortuosity in the polymer and causes filler–polymer interactions; the linear decrease in diffusivity in silica-blended EPDM was attributed to an increase in the tortuosity. Good correlations of permeability with density and tensile strength were observed. From the investigated relationships, it is possible to select EPDM candidates with the lowest H2-permeation properties as seal materials to prevent gas leakage under high pressure in H2-refueling stations.
Application of Multi-Layered Temperature-Responsive Polymer Brushes Coating on Titanium Surface to Inhibit Biofilm Associated Infection in Orthopedic Surgery
Authors: Choi Sookyung , Lee Hyeonjoon , Hong Ran , Jo Byungwook , Jo Suenghwan
Published: December 2022

Infection associated with biomedical implants remains the main cause of failure, leading to reoperation after orthopedic surgery. Orthopedic infections are characterized by microbial biofilm formation on the implant surface, which makes it challenging to diagnose and treat. One potential method to prevent and treat such complications is to deliver a sufficient dose of antibiotics at the onset of infection. This strategy can be realized by coating the implant with thermoregulatory polymers and triggering the release of antibiotics during the acute phase of infection. We developed a multi-layered temperature-responsive polymer brush (MLTRPB) coating that can release antibiotics once the temperature reaches a lower critical solution temperature (LCST). The coating system was developed using copolymers composed of diethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate by alternatively fabricating monomers layer by layer on the titanium surface. LCST was set to the temperature of 38–40 °C, a local temperature that can be reached during infection. The antibiotic elution characteristics were investigated, and the antimicrobial efficacy was tested against S. aureus species (Xen29 ATCC 29 213) using one to four layers of MLTRPB. Both in vitro and in vivo assessments demonstrated preventive effects when more than four layers of the coating were applied, ensuring promising antibacterial effects of the MLTRPB coating.
Properties of Table Tennis Blade from Sorghum Bagasse Particleboard Bonded with Maleic Acid Adhesive at Different Pressing Temperatures and Times
Authors: Sutiawan Jajang , Hartono Rudi , Hermawan Dede , Hadi Yusuf Sudo , Nawawi Deded Sarip , Abdillah Imam Busyra , Syahfitri Alifah , Kusumah Sukma Surya , Adi Danang Sudarwoko , Kusumaningrum Wida Banar , Lubis Muhammad Adly Rahandi
Published: December 2022

This physical and mechanical properties of a table tennis blade made from sorghum bagasse particleboard (TTBSB-particleboard) bonded maleic acid adhesive was investigated under pressing temperature and time variations. The TTBSB-particleboard was produced via a two-stage process in this study. A pressing temperature of 170–200 °C was used to prepare the first stage for 10 min. Following this, the second stage of the TTBSB-particleboard was produced with a different pressing time of 5–20 min. The TTBSB-particleboard had a specified target density of 0.6 g/cm3 and a size of 30 cm × 30 cm × 0.6 cm, respectively. For references concerning the tested quality of TTBSB-particleboard, the JIS A 5908-2003 standard has been used. For comparison, the commercial blades of Yuguan Wooden 1011 and Donic Original Carbo Speed were tested under the same conditions. The quality of the TTBSB-particleboard was successfully enhanced by increasing the pressing temperature (170 to 200 °C) and time (5 to 20 min). As a result, the pressing condition of 200 °C and 20 min were effective in this study. The TTBSB-particleboard in this study has a greater weight than the commercial blades of Yuguan and Donic. However, the TTBSB-particleboard in this study had a ball rebound comparable to that of the Donic blade.
pH and Thermoresponsive PNIPAm-co-Polyacrylamide Hydrogel for Dual Stimuli-Responsive Controlled Drug Delivery
Authors: Thirupathi Kokila , Phan Thi Tuong Vy , Santhamoorthy Madhappan , Ramkumar Vanaraj , Kim Seong-Cheol
Published: December 2022

The therapeutic delivery system with dual stimuli-responsiveness has attracted attention for drug delivery to target sites. In this study, we used free radical polymerization to develop a temperature and pH-responsive poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide)-co-poly(acrylamide) (PNIPAM-co-PAAm). PNIPAm-co-PAAm copolymer by reacting with N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAm) and acrylamide (Am) monomers. In addition, the synthesized melamine-glutaraldehyde (Mela-Glu) precursor was used as a cross-linker in the production of the melamine cross-linked PNIPAm-co-PAAm copolymer hydrogel (PNIPAm-co-PAAm-Mela HG) system. The temperature-responsive phase transition characteristics of the resulting PNIPAM-co-PAAm-Mela HG systems were determined. Furthermore, the pH-responsive drug release efficiency of curcumin was investigated under various pH and temperature circumstances. Under the combined pH and temperature stimuli (pH 5.0/45 °C), the PNIPAm-co-PAAm-Mela HG demonstrated substantial drug loading (74%), and nearly complete release of the loaded drug was accomplished in 8 h. Furthermore, the cytocompatibility of the PNIPAm-co-PAAm-Mela HG was evaluated on a human liver cancer cell line (HepG2), and the findings demonstrated that the prepared PNIPAm-co-PAAm-Mela HG is biocompatible. As a result, the PNIPAm-co-PAAm-Mela HG system might be used for both pH and temperature-stimuli-responsive drug delivery.
Recycling Carbon Fiber from Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer and Its Reuse in Photocatalysis: A Review
Authors: Wu Jie , Gao Xing , Wu Yueting , Wang Yutong , Nguyen Tat Thang , Guo Minghui
Published: December 2022

Driven by various environmental and economic factors, it is emerging to adopt an efficient and sustainable strategy to recycle carbon fibers (rCFs) from carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) wastes and reuse them in high-value applications. This review summarized the latest progress of CFRP waste recycling methods (including mechanical, chemical, and thermal methods), discussed their advantages and disadvantages, influence parameters and possible environmental effects, and their potential effects on the mechanical and surface chemical properties of rCFs. In addition, the latest optimization schemes of leading recycling technologies were detailed. According to the literature, CFs are the key points in the structural support of semiconductor-based recyclable photocatalytic systems and the enhancement of performance, which means that rCFs have high reuse potential in sustainable photocatalysis. Therefore, this paper also emphasized the possibility and potential value of reusing recovered fibers for developing recyclable photocatalytic products, which may be a new way of reuse in environmental purification often ignored by researchers and decision-makers in the field of CFs.
Geopolymer Concrete with Lightweight Fine Aggregate: Material Performance and Structural Application
Authors: Youssf Osama , Mills Julie E. , Elchalakani Mohamed , Alanazi Fayez , Yosri Ahmed M.
Published: December 2022

Limited information and data are available on the material and structural performance of GC incorporating lightweight fine aggregate. In this research, three types of lightweight fine materials were utilized to partially replace sand volume of GC. These lightweight materials were rubber, vermiculite, or lightweight expanded clay aggregate (LECA) and they were used in contents of 20%, 40%, 60%, and 100%. The variables were applied to better investigate the efficiency of each lightweight material in GC and to recommend GC mixes for structural applications. The concrete workability, compressive strength, indirect tensile strength, freezing and thawing performance, and impact resistance were measured in this study. In addition, three reinforced concrete slabs were made from selected mixes with similar compressive strength of 32 MPa and then tested under a 4-point bending loading regime. The results showed that using LECA as sand replacement in GC increased its compressive strength at all ages and all replacement ratios. Compared with the control GC mix, using 60% LECA increased the compressive strength by up to 44%, 39%, and 27%, respectively at 3, 7, and 28 days. The slabs test showed that partial or full replacement of GC sand adversely affected the shear resistance of concrete and caused premature failure of slabs. The slab strength and deflection capacities decreased by 9% and 30%, respectively when using rubber, and by 23% and 59%, respectively when using LECA, compared with control GC slab. The results indicated the applicability of GC mix with 60% LECA in structures subjected to axial loads. However, rubber would be the best lightweight material to recommend for resisting impact and flexural loads.
Effects of Fly Ash and Hexadecyltrimethoxysilane on the Compressive Properties and Water Resistance of Magnesium Oxychloride Cement
Authors: Guan Bowen , He Zhenqing , Wei Fulu , Wang Faping , Yu Jincheng
Published: December 2022

The application of magnesium oxychloride cement (MOC) is promising, but its poor water resistance seriously hinders its development and application. In this paper, we describe a new type of MOC with excellent water resistance, prepared using fly ash and hexadecyltrimethoxysilane (HDTMS). SEM, XRD, FTIR, TG/DSC, and other microscopic-scale studies were conducted to investigate the mechanism underlying the water-resistance enhancement of the new MOC. It was found that adding 20% fly ash and 3% HDTMS can strengthen the water resistance of MOC while retaining high mechanical properties. In particular, the residual coefficient remained at 0.91 after 7 days of immersion. This is because these two additives, when used together, can increase the content of the gelling 5-phase of MOC, as well as optimize the pore structure of MOC.
A Measurement Method for the Pore Structure of Coal Slime Filter Cake
Authors: Liu Libo , Zhuo Qiming , Xu Hongxiang , Wang Donghui
Published: December 2022

The accurate determination of the coal slime filter cake pore structure has always been a problem in the field of solid–liquid separation. An innovative measurement method for the pore structure of filter cake after filtration dehydration of coal slime water, including the preparation of coal slime filter cake, the solidification of the filter cake, and the preparation and measurement of test filter cake, was established in this paper. Epoxy resin and curing agent can ensure the strength of the filter cake, and red colorant can realize the accurate separation of coal particles and pores. The most suitable perfusate consists of epoxy resin, red colorant, and curing reagent, and the optimal ratio is 12:3:5. The application of the method to the study of the effect of filtration time on the coal slime filter cake pores shows that the modified method is effective. At the initial stage of filtration, intergranular pores formed by coarse particles are the main pores. With increasing filtration time, the macropores formed by the coarse particles are mainly filled with fine particles, and the pore size of the filter cake rapidly decreases. These measuring results and rules are accurate. This method can be conveniently used to study the microstructure of filter cake, pore channel regulation, filtration dehydration mechanisms, etc.
Special Issue “Modelling and Optimal Design of Complex Biological Systems”
Authors: Harmand Jérôme , Rapaport Alain , Dimitrova Neli , Simeonov Ivan
Published: December 2022

At present, complex biological processes are used in many industrial areas [...]
A Case of Extramedullary Plasmacytoma of the Biliary Tract with a Poor Prognosis
Authors: Sakurai Eiko , Nakaoka Kazunori , Yamada Seiji , Goto Naoe , Tomita Akihiro , Hirooka Yoshiki , Tsukamoto Tetsuya
Published: December 2022

Extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP) is a rare disease consisting of the presence of monoclonal plasma cells in tissues other than the bone. Most EMPs are located in the head and neck region. We present an extremely rare case of an EMP originating from the biliary tract in a 76-year-old male. This is the fifth report of a primary EMP arising from the biliary tract. He was diagnosed with jaundice, and he was referred for an additional examination. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed a tumor in the gallbladder and bile ducts, and a bile duct biopsy was performed via endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA). The pathological and immunohistochemical examination revealed that the tumor was a plasmacytoma originating in the biliary tract. Although endoscopic biliary drainage was performed, the bile duct infection was not well controlled due to obstructive jaundice caused by the tumor. Furthermore, the bleeding from the tumor during chemotherapy was uncontrolled. Pancreaticoduodenectomy and cholecystectomy were performed to control the infection and bleeding. Although chemotherapy was continued after surgery, the tumor of the intrahepatic bile duct enlarged. He died seven months after the diagnosis because of the treatment-resistant tumor.
Classifying Sub-Parcel Grassland Management Practices by Optical and Microwave Remote Sensing
Authors: De Vroey Mathilde , Radoux Julien , Defourny Pierre
Published: December 2022

Grassland management practices and intensities are key factors influencing the quality and balance of their provisioning and regulating ecosystem services. Most European temperate grasslands are exploited through mowing, grazing, or a combination of both in relatively small management units. Grazing and mowing can however not be considered equivalent because the first is gradual and selective and the second is not. In this study, the aim is to differentiate grasslands in terms of management practices and to retrieve homogeneous management units. Grasslands are classified hierarchically, first through a pixel-based supervised classification to differentiate grazed pastures from mown hay meadows and then through an object-based mowing detection method to retrieve the timing and frequency of mowing events. A large field dataset was used to calibrate and validate the method. For the classification, 18 different input feature combinations derived from Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 were tested for a random forest classifier through a cross-validation scheme. The best results were obtained based on the Leaf Area Index (LAI) times series with cubic spline interpolation. The classification differentiated pastures (grazed) from hay meadows (mown) with an overall accuracy of 88%. The classification is then combined with the existing parcel delineation and high-resolution ancillary data to retrieve the homogeneous management units, which are used for the object-based mowing detection based on the Sentinel-1 coherence and Sentinel-2 NDVI. The mowing detection performances were increased thanks to the grassland mask, the management unit delineation, and the exclusion of pastures, reaching a precision of 93% and a detection rate of 82%. This hierarchical grassland classification approach allowed to differentiate three types of grasslands, namely pastures, and meadows (including mixed practices) with an early first mowing event and with a late first mowing event, with an overall accuracy of 79%. The grasslands could be further differentiated by mowing frequency, resulting in five final classes.
A Multiscale Spatiotemporal Fusion Network Based on an Attention Mechanism
Authors: Huang Zhiqiang , Li Yujia , Bai Menghao , Wei Qing , Gu Qian , Mou Zhijun , Zhang Liping , Lei Dajiang
Published: December 2022

Spatiotemporal fusion is an effective and cost-effective method to obtain both high temporal resolution and high spatial resolution images. However, existing methods do not sufficiently extract the deeper features of the image, resulting in fused images which do not recover good topographic detail and poor fusion quality. In order to obtain higher quality spatiotemporal fusion images, a novel spatiotemporal fusion method based on deep learning is proposed in this paper. The method combines an attention mechanism and a multiscale feature fusion network to design a network that more scientifically explores deeper features of the image for different input image characteristics. Specifically, a multiscale feature fusion module is introduced into the spatiotemporal fusion task and combined with an efficient spatial-channel attention module to improve the capture of spatial and channel information while obtaining more effective information. In addition, we design a new edge loss function and incorporate it into the compound loss function, which helps to generate fused images with richer edge information. In terms of both index performance and image details, our proposed model has excellent results on both datasets compared with the current mainstream spatiotemporal fusion methods.
Satellite-Based Analysis of Spatiotemporal Wildfire Pattern in the Mongolian Plateau
Authors: Bao Yulong , Shinoda Masato , Yi Kunpeng , Fu Xiaoman , Sun Long , Nasanbat Elbegjargal , Li Na , Xiang Honglin , Yang Yan , DavdaiJavzmaa Bulgan , Nandintsetseg Banzragch
Published: December 2022

Burned area is a critical input to biomass burning carbon emissions algorithms and for understanding variability in fire activity due to climate change. This study presents the spatial and temporal patterns of wildland fires in the Mongolian Plateau (MP) using Collection 6 NASA MCD64A1 500 m global Burned Area product from 2001 to 2021. Both inter- and intra-annual fire trends and variations in two subregions, Mongolia and China’s Inner Mongolia, were analyzed. The results indicated that an average area of 1.3 × 104 km2 was consumed by fire per year in the MP. The fire season has two peaks: spring (March, April, and May) and autumn (September, October, and December). The profiles of the burnt area for each subregion exhibit distinct seasonality. The majority of wildfires occurred in the northeastern and southwestern regions of the MP, on the border between Mongolia and China. There were 2.7 × 104 km2 of land burned by wildfires in the MP from 2001 to 2021, 57% of which occurred in spring. Dornod aimag (province) of Mongolia is the most fire-prone region, accounting for 51% of the total burned area in the MP, followed by Hulunbuir, at 17%, Sukhbaatar, at 9%, and Khentii at 8%. The changing patterns of spatiotemporal patterns of fire in the MP were analyzed by using a spatiotemporal cube analysis tool, ArcGIS Pro 3.0.2. The results suggested that fires showed a decreasing trend overall in the MP from 2001 to 2021. Fires in the southern region of Dornod aimag and eastern parts of Great Xing’an Mountain showed a sporadic increasing trend. Therefore, these areas should be priorities for future fire protection for both Mongolia and China.
Blending Sea Surface Winds from the HY-2 Satellite Scatterometers Based on a 2D-Var Method
Authors: Lv Sirui , Lin Wenming , Wang Zhixiong , Zou Juhong
Published: December 2022

The launch of the Haiyang-2 (HY-2) satellite constellation fosters the quick acquisition of global sea surface vector winds from the perspective of remote sensing. This study intends to develop a six-hourly mesoscale analysis of sea surface winds based on the microwave scatterometers onboard the HY-2 satellite series, with the objective of meeting the considerable demand for accurate and gap-free ocean wind forcing products. First, the accuracy of HY-2 scatterometers (HSCATs) in measuring wind is evaluated. In particular, the standard deviation (SD) errors of HSCATs data are assessed using the collocated buoy measurements with different temporal windows in order to account for the temporal representativeness errors in the blending analysis. Afterwards, a two-dimensional variational (2D-Var) method is implemented to blend the HSCATs measured winds and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) reanalysis winds over the global ocean surface. This approach is different from existing methods in that it takes both wind error and background error correlation into account. The results show that the blended wind product is of a promising quality compared with independent wind references. Interestingly, the blended winds derived from 2D-Var in combination with an empirical background error correlation show smaller SD errors than those using a Gaussian error correlation function. Overall, the blended wind product should be valuable for forcing global ocean models or describing air-sea interaction processes on a scale close to the scatterometer measurements.