bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Response of Biological Gold Nanoparticles to Different pH Values: Is It Possible to Prepare Both Negatively and Positively Charged Nanoparticles?
Authors: Pourali Parastoo , Benada Oldřich , Pátek Miroslav , Neuhöferová Eva , Dzmitruk Volha , Benson Veronika
Published: December 2021

The mycelium-free supernatant (MFS) of a five-day-old culture medium of Fusarium oxysporum was used to synthesize gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The experimental design of the study was to answer the question: can this production process of AuNPs be controllable like classical chemical or physical approaches? The process of producing AuNPs from 1 mM tetrachloroauric (III) acid trihydrate in MFS was monitored visually by color change at different pH values and quantified spectroscopically. The produced AuNPs were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The presence of capping agents was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Two AuNP samples with acidic and alkaline pH were selected and adjusted with the pH gradient and analyzed. Finally, the size and zeta potential of all samples were determined. The results confirmed the presence of the proteins as capping agents on the surface of the AuNPs and confirmed the production of AuNPs at all pH values. All AuNP samples exhibited negative zeta potential, and this potential was higher at natural to alkaline pH values. The size distribution analysis showed that the size of AuNPs produced at alkaline pH was smaller than that at acidic pH. Since all samples had negative charge, we suspect that there were other molecules besides proteins that acted as capping agents on the surface of the AuNPs. We conclude that although the biological method of nanoparticle production is safe, green, and inexpensive, the ability to manipulate the nanoparticles to obtain both positive and negative charges is limited, curtailing their application in the medical field.
Reliability Modeling and Analysis of Multi-Degradation of Momentum Wheel Based on Copula Function
Authors: Li Yan-Feng , Huang Ming , Bai Song , Chen Yuan , Huang Hong-Zhong
Published: December 2021

The momentum wheel is a key component of the satellite attitude control system and has a direct impact on the reliability and overall life of the satellite. The momentum wheel has the characteristics of a high reliability, long life, and complex failure mechanics, which leads to expensive maintenance and a low reliability of the test sample. Therefore, it is challenge to implement an accelerated life test. The traditional life data statistical method has great difficulty in solving the reliability analysis of the momentum wheel. A reliability calculation method based on copula function for multi-degradation is proposed. Firstly, the key factors affecting the reliability of the momentum wheel are analyzed, and the lubricant residual quantity and current are selected as the degradation quantity. Secondly, the wiener process is used to model the degradation of a single degradation quantity, and the edge distribution function of the momentum wheel reliability is obtained. Considering that the correlation between multiple degradation quantities has a non-negligible influence on the reliability analysis result, the copula function is introduced to describe the correlation, and the edge distributions are fused to obtain the joint distribution function of the momentum wheel reliability.
Average Intensity of Low-Frequency Sound and Its Fluctuations in a Shallow Sea with a Range-Dependent Random Impedance of the Liquid Bottom
Authors: Zhu Fengqin , Gulin Oleg E. , Yaroshchuk Igor O.
Published: December 2021

In this study, the problem of the influence of a horizontally inhomogeneous liquid bottom impedance, given by random Gaussian function of the speed of sound and by density, on the propagation of low-frequency sound in a shallow-water waveguide is considered. The model parameters are referenced to the conditions of sound propagation in the regions of the seas of the Russian Arctic shelf. By the example of statistical modeling of the sound field intensity, we show that sound speed fluctuations in the bottom lead to similar effects that were previously established for volumetric fluctuations of the speed of sound in the water layer. With the distance from the source, the decrease in the average intensity slows down in comparison with a deterministic medium in which there are no fluctuations. This deceleration of the decay of the intensity in a random waveguide can be significant already at short distances. Changes in the law of decay of intensity at a fixed frequency are mainly determined by the correlation radius of inhomogeneities and the average penetrability of the bottom, which leads to attenuation of sound propagating in the waveguide.
Synthetic Approaches, Modification Strategies and the Application of Quantum Dots in the Sensing of Priority Pollutants
Authors: Maluleke Rodney , Oluwafemi Oluwatobi Samuel
Published: December 2021

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nitro-aromatic compounds (NACs) are two classifications of environmental pollutants that have become a source of health concerns. As a result, there have been several efforts towards the development of analytical methods that are efficient and affordable that can sense these pollutants. In recent decades, a wide range of techniques has been developed for the detection of pollutants present in the environment. Among these different techniques, the use of semiconductor nanomaterials, also known as quantum dots, has continued to gain more attention in sensing because of the optical properties that make them useful in the identification and differentiation of pollutants in water bodies. Reported studies have shown great improvement in the sensing of these pollutants. This review article starts with an introduction on two types of organic pollutants, namely polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and nitro-aromatic explosives. This is then followed by different quantum dots used in sensing applications. Then, a detailed discussion on different groups of quantum dots, such as carbon-based quantum dots, binary and ternary quantum dots and quantum dot composites, and their application in the sensing of organic pollutants is presented. Different studies on the comparison of water-soluble quantum dots and organic-soluble quantum dots of a fluorescence sensing mechanism are reviewed. Then, different approaches on the improvement of their sensitivity and selectivity in addition to challenges associated with some of these approaches are also discussed. The review is concluded by looking at different mechanisms in the sensing of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and nitro-aromatic compounds.
Halophyte Plants Cultured in Aquaponics Hold the Same Potential for Valorization as Wild Conspecifics from Donor Sites
Authors: Marques Bruna , Maciel Elisabete , Domingues Maria Rosário , Calado Ricardo , Lillebø Ana Isabel
Published: December 2021

Halophytes have gradually been introduced in marine integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) systems due to their capacity to bioremediate nutrient-rich marine effluents and their potential use for human consumption due to their content of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids (FA). To foster the valorization of halophytes produced using an IMTA framework for human consumption, it is important that culture conditions keep or enhance their FA profile, when compared to that displayed by conspecifics in the wild. The main objective of the present study was to compare the FA profiles of three halophyte species (Halimione portulacoides, Salicornia ramosissima and Sarcocornia perennis) cultured in aquaponics coupled to an IMTA system with that of wild conspecifics retrieved from donor sites. The FA profiles were compared considering different plant organs (edible parts and roots) and sampling dates (spring, summer and autumn). Results show that the FA profiles of specimens cultured in aquaponics were significantly different from that of wild conspecifics, displaying a high content of omega-3 FAs in edible parts, particularly during summer, and mostly in the form of α-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3n-3). In more detail, for the specimens cultured in aquaponics, ALA concentration in the edible parts of each species ranged from 5.10 to 7.11 μg mg−1 DW in H. portulacoides, from 5.66 to 9.19 μg mg−1 DW in S. ramosissima and from 5.49 to 7.20 μg mg−1 DW in S. perennis. Concerning the omega-6 linoleic acid (LA, 18:2n-6) identified in edible parts, the concentrations ranged from 2.25 to 2.46 μg mg−1 DW in H. portulacoides, from 3.26 to 4.84 μg mg−1 DW in S. ramosissima, and from 2.17 to 3.06 μg mg−1 DW in S. perennis. The nutritional quality was assessed through the ratio of PUFA/SFA, for both wild and cultured plants, and revealed values well above the threshold (0.45), the threshold value indicative of good nutritional quality. Overall, the culture conditions tested in the present work reinforce the potential of aquaponics coupled to marine IMTA to produce high-quality halophytes suitable for human consumption.
A Robust Face Recognition Algorithm Based on an Improved Generative Confrontation Network
Authors: Ge Huilin , Dai Yuewei , Zhu Zhiyu , Wang Biao
Published: December 2021

Objective: In practical applications, an image of a face is often partially occluded, which decreases the recognition rate and the robustness. Therefore, in response to this situation, an effective face recognition model based on an improved generative adversarial network (GAN) is proposed. Methods: First, we use a generator composed of an autoencoder and the adversarial learning of two discriminators (local discriminator and global discriminator) to fill and repair an occluded face image. On this basis, the Resnet-50 network is used to perform image restoration on the face. In our recognition framework, we introduce a classification loss function that can quantify the distance between classes. The image generated by the generator can only capture the rough shape of the missing facial components or generate the wrong pixels. To obtain a clearer and more realistic image, this paper uses two discriminators (local discriminator and global discriminator, as mentioned above). The images generated by the proposed method are coherent and minimally influence facial expression recognition. Through experiments, facial images with different occlusion conditions are compared before and after the facial expressions are filled, and the recognition rates of different algorithms are compared. Results: The images generated by the method in this paper are truly coherent and have little impact on facial expression recognition. When the occlusion area is less than 50%, the overall recognition rate of the model is above 80%, which is close to the recognition rate pertaining to the non-occluded images. Conclusions: The experimental results show that the method in this paper has a better restoration effect and higher recognition rate for face images of different occlusion types and regions. Furthermore, it can be used for face recognition in a daily occlusion environment, and achieve a better recognition effect.
The Impact of the Second Wave of COVID-19 on Outcomes in Hip Fracture Patients: An Observational Study
Authors: Morri Mattia , Forni Cristiana , Evangelista Andrea , Broggian Tania , Ambrosi Elisa , Orlandi Antonella Magli , Mingazzini Annella
Published: December 2021

The aim of this work was to measure the healthcare outcomes for patients undergoing surgery for femur fractures during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic within a context of orthopaedic surgery units and living with the pandemic and compare them with pre-pandemic outcomes. A retrospective observational study was conducted. The incidence of pressure ulcers and deambulation recovery time were the main outcome. The pre-pandemic group consisted of 108 patients and the second wave pandemic group included 194 patients. The incidence of pressure ulcers increased from 10% in the pre-pandemic period to 21% in the second wave (p = 0.016) and the crude relative risk (RR) was 2.06 (p = 0.023). The recovery of deambulation showed no significant difference in the recovery time in terms of days needed to walk the first time (3 days vs. 2 days; p = 0.44). During the second wave of COVID-19, the risk of pressure ulcers for patients undergoing femur fracture surgery increased significantly. This variation could be explained by the absence of a caregiver for these patients and the increased average complexity of the patients managed in the orthopaedic setting. The hospital management should take into account these aspects when restoring the hospital’s normal surgical activities.
An Analysis of the Performance and Configuration Features of MySQL Document Store and Elasticsearch as an Alternative Backend in a Data Replication Solution
Authors: Zmaranda Doina R. , Moisi Cristian I. , Győrödi Cornelia A. , Győrödi Robert Ş. , Bandici Livia
Published: December 2021

In recent years, with the increase in the volume and complexity of data, choosing a suitable database for storing huge amounts of data is not easy, because it must consider aspects such as manageability, scalability, and extensibility. Nowadays, the NoSQL databases have gained immense popularity for their efficiency in managing such datasets compared to relational databases. However, relational databases also exhibit some advantages in certain circumstances, therefore many applications use a combined approach: relational and non-relational. This paper performs a comparative evaluation of two popular open-source DBMSs: MySQL Document Store and Elasticsearch as non-relational DBMSs; this comparison is based on a detailed analysis of CRUD operations for different amounts of data showing how the databases could be modeled and used in an application. A case-study application was developed for this purpose in Java programming language and Spring framework using for data storage both relational MySQL and non-relational Elasticsearch and MySQL Document Store. To model the real situation encountered in several developed applications that use both relational and non-relational databases, a data replication solution that imports data from the primary relational MySQL database into Elasticsearch and MySQL Document Store as possible alternatives for more efficient data search was proposed and implemented.
Vision Transformer-Based Tailing Detection in Videos
Authors: Lee Jaewoo , Lee Sungjun , Cho Wonki , Siddiqui Zahid Ali , Park Unsang
Published: December 2021

Tailing is defined as an event where a suspicious person follows someone closely. We define the problem of tailing detection from videos as an anomaly detection problem, where the goal is to find abnormalities in the walking pattern of the pedestrians (victim and follower). We, therefore, propose a modified Time-Series Vision Transformer (TSViT), a method for anomaly detection in video, specifically for tailing detection with a small dataset. We introduce an effective way to train TSViT with a small dataset by regularizing the prediction model. To do so, we first encode the spatial information of the pedestrians into 2D patterns and then pass them as tokens to the TSViT. Through a series of experiments, we show that the tailing detection on a small dataset using TSViT outperforms popular CNN-based architectures, as the CNN architectures tend to overfit with a small dataset of time-series images. We also show that when using time-series images, the performance of CNN-based architecture gradually drops, as the network depth is increased, to increase its capacity. On the other hand, a decreasing number of heads in Vision Transformer architecture shows good performance on time-series images, and the performance is further increased as the input resolution of the images is increased. Experimental results demonstrate that the TSViT performs better than the handcrafted rule-based method and CNN-based method for tailing detection. TSViT can be used in many applications for video anomaly detection, even with a small dataset.
The DEMO Water-Cooled Lead–Lithium Breeding Blanket: Design Status at the End of the Pre-Conceptual Design Phase
Authors: Arena Pietro , Del Nevo Alessandro , Moro Fabio , Noce Simone , Mozzillo Rocco , Imbriani Vito , Giannetti Fabio , Edemetti Francesco , Froio Antonio , Savoldi Laura , Siriano Simone , Tassone Alessandro , Roca Urgorri Fernando , Di Maio Pietro Alessandro , Catanzaro Ilenia , Bongiovì Gaetano
Published: December 2021

The Water-Cooled Lead–Lithium Breeding Blanket (WCLL BB) is one of the two blanket concept candidates to become the driver blanket of the EU-DEMO reactor. The design was enacted with a holistic approach. The influence that neutronics, thermal-hydraulics (TH), thermo-mechanics (TM) and magneto-hydro-dynamics (MHD) may have on the design were considered at the same time. This new approach allowed for the design team to create a WCLL BB layout that is able to comply with different foreseen requirements in terms of integration, tritium self-sufficiency, and TH and TM needs. In this paper, the rationale behind the design choices and the main characteristics of the WCLL BB needed for the EU-DEMO are reported and discussed. Finally, the main achievements reached during the pre-conceptual design phase and some remaining open issues to be further investigated in the upcoming conceptual design phase are reported as well.
Test-Driven Development of a Substructuring Technique for the Analysis of Electromagnetic Finite Periodic Structures
Authors: Martínez-Fernández Ignacio , Amor-Martin Adrian , Garcia-Castillo Luis E.
Published: December 2021

In this paper, we follow the Test-Driven Development (TDD) paradigm in the development of an in-house code to allow for the finite element analysis of finite periodic type electromagnetic structures (e.g., antenna arrays, metamaterials, and several relevant electromagnetic problems). We use unit and integration tests, system tests (using the Method of Manufactured Solutions—MMS), and application tests (smoke, performance, and validation tests) to increase the reliability of the code and to shorten its development cycle. We apply substructuring techniques based on the definition of a unit cell to benefit from the repeatability of the problem and speed up the computations. Specifically, we propose an approach to model the problem using only one type of Schur complement which has advantages concerning other substructuring techniques.
Asymmetric Lineshapes of Efimov Resonances in Mass-Imbalanced Ultracold Gases
Authors: Giannakeas Panagiotis , Greene Chris H.
Published: December 2021

The resonant profile of the rate coefficient for three-body recombination into a shallow dimer is investigated for mass-imbalanced systems. In the low-energy limit, three atoms collide with zero-range interactions, in a regime where the scattering lengths of the heavy–heavy and the heavy–light subsystems are positive and negative, respectively. For this physical system, the adiabatic hyperspherical representation is combined with a fully semi-classical method and we show that the shallow dimer recombination spectra display an asymmetric lineshape that originates from the coexistence of Efimov resonances with Stückelberg interference minima. These asymmetric lineshapes are quantified utilizing the Fano profile formula. In particular, a closed-form expression is derived that describes the width of the corresponding Efimov resonances and the Fano lineshape asymmetry parameter q. The profile of Efimov resonances exhibits a q-reversal effect as the inter- and intra-species scattering lengths vary. In the case of a diverging asymmetry parameter, i.e., |q|→∞, we show that the Efimov resonances possess zero width and are fully decoupled from the three-body and atom–dimer continua, and the corresponding Efimov metastable states behave as bound levels.
Selective Inhibition of HDAC Class I Sensitizes Leukemia and Neuroblastoma Cells to Anticancer Drugs
Authors: Vagapova Elmira , Kozlov Maxim , Lebedev Timofey , Ivanenko Karina , Leonova Olga , Popenko Vladimir , Spirin Pavel , Kochetkov Sergey , Prassolov Vladimir
Published: December 2021

The acquired resistance of neuroblastoma (NB) and leukemia cells to anticancer therapy remains the major challenge in the treatment of patients with these diseases. Although targeted therapy, such as receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) inhibitors, has been introduced into clinical practice, its efficacy is limited to patients harboring mutant kinases. Through the analysis of transcriptomic data of 701 leukemia and NB patient samples and cell lines, we revealed that the expression of RTK, such as KIT, FLT3, AXL, FGFR3, and NTRK1, is linked with HDAC class I. Although HDAC inhibitors have antitumor activity, they also have high whole-body toxicity. We developed a novel belinostat derivative named hydrazostat, which targets HDAC class I with limited off-target effects. We compared the toxicity of these drugs within the panel of leukemia and NB cell lines. Next, we revealed that HDAC inhibition with hydrazostat reactivates NTRK1, FGFR3, ROR2, KIT, and FLT3 expression. Based on this finding, we tested the efficacy of hydrazostat in combination with RTK inhibitor imatinib. Additionally, we show the ability of hydrazostat to enhance venetoclax-induced apoptosis. Thus, we reveal the connection between HDACs and RTK and describe a useful strategy to overcome the complications of single-agent therapies.
Hypothetical Mechanism of Exercise-Induced Acute Kidney Injury Associated with Renal Hypouricemia
Authors: Hosoyamada Makoto
Published: December 2021

Renal hypouricemia (RHUC) is a hereditary disease that presents with increased renal urate clearance and hypouricemia due to genetic mutations in the urate transporter URAT1 or GLUT9 that reabsorbs urates in the renal proximal tubule. Exercise-induced acute kidney injury (EIAKI) is known to be a complication of renal hypouricemia. In the skeletal muscle of RHUC patients during exhaustive exercise, the decreased release of endothelial-derived hyperpolarization factor (EDHF) due to hypouricemia might cause the disturbance of exercise hyperemia, which might increase post-exercise urinary urate excretion. In the kidneys of RHUC patients after exhaustive exercise, an intraluminal high concentration of urates in the proximal straight tubule and/or thick ascending limb of Henle’s loop might stimulate the luminal Toll-like receptor 4–myeloid differentiation factor 88–phosphoinositide 3-kinase–mammalian target of rapamycin (luminal TLR4–MyD88–PI3K–mTOR) pathway to activate the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and may release interleukin-1β (IL-1β), which might cause the symptoms of EIAKI.
Gold(I) Complexes Bearing Alkylated 1,3,5-Triaza-7-phosphaadamantane Ligands as Thermoresponsive Anticancer Agents in Human Colon Cells
Authors: Quero Javier , Ruighi Francesco , Osada Jesús , Gimeno M. Concepción , Cerrada Elena , Rodriguez-Yoldi Maria Jesús
Published: December 2021

Overheating can affect solubility or lipophilicity, among other properties, of some anticancer drugs. These temperature-dependent changes can improve efficiency and selectivity of the drugs, since they may affect their bioavailability, diffusion through cell membrane or activity. One recent approach to create thermosensitive molecules is the incorporation of fluorine atoms in the chemical structure, since fluor can tune some chemical properties such as binding affinity. Herein we report the anticancer effect of gold derivatives with phosphanes derived from 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA) with long hydrocarbon chains and the homologous fluorinated chains. Besides, we analysed the influence of temperature in the cytotoxic effect. The studied gold(I) complexes with phosphanes derived from PTA showed antiproliferative effect on human colon carcinoma cells (Caco-2/TC7 cell line), probably by inhibiting cellular TrxR causing a dysfunction in the intracellular redox state. In addition, the cell cycle was altered by the activation of p53, and the complexes produce apoptosis through mitochondrial depolarization and the consequent activation of caspase-3. Furthermore, the results suggest that this cytotoxic effect is enhanced by hyperthermia and the presence of polyfluorinated chains.
Essential Role of Rho-Associated Kinase in ABO Immune Complex-Mediated Endothelial Barrier Disruption
Authors: McRae Hannah L. , Millar Michelle Warren , Slavin Spencer A. , Blumberg Neil , Rahman Arshad , Refaai Majed A.
Published: December 2021

ABO immune complexes (ABO-IC) formed by ABO-incompatible antigen-antibody interaction are associated with hemolysis and platelet destruction in patients transfused with ABO-nonidentical blood products. However, the effects of ABO-IC on endothelial cells (EC) are unclear. ABO-IC were formed in vitro from normal donor-derived plasma and serum. Human pulmonary artery EC (HPAEC) were cultured and treated with media, ABO-identical and –non-identical plasma, and ABO-IC. EC barrier integrity was evaluated using transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin and phalloidin staining, and Rho-associated Kinase (ROCK) inhibitor treatment. TEER revealed significant/irreversible barrier disruption within 1–2 h of exposure to ABO non-identical plasma and ABO-IC; this occurred independently of EC ABO type. Treatment with ABO-IC resulted in decreased VE-cadherin staining and increased phalloidin staining in a time-dependent manner, suggesting that the resultant increased EC barrier permeability is secondary to actin stress fiber formation and loss of cell surface VE-cadherin. Inhibition of ROCK was effective in protecting against IC-induced barrier disruption even two hours after ABO-IC exposure. ABO-IC causes increased EC barrier permeability by decreasing cell surface VE-cadherin and promoting stress fiber formation, which is preventable by inhibiting ROCK activation to protect against EC contraction and gap formation.
The Local Neuropeptide System of Keratinocytes
Authors: Cirillo Nicola
Published: December 2021

Neuropeptides have been known for over 50 years as chemical signals in the brain. However, it is now well established that the synthesis of this class of peptides is not restricted to neurons. For example, human skin not only expresses several functional receptors for neuropeptides but, also, can serve as a local source of neuroactive molecules such as corticotropin-releasing hormone, melanocortins, and β-endorphin. In contrast, an equivalent of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis in the oral mucosa has not been well characterized to date. In view of the differences in the morphology and function of oral mucosal and skin cells, in this review I surveyed the existing evidence for a local synthesis of hypothalamic-pituitary, opiate, neurohypophyseal, and neuroendocrine neuropeptides in both epidermal and oral keratinocytes.
TMEM176B Regulates AKT/mTOR Signaling and Tumor Growth in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Kang Chifei , Rostoker Ran , Ben-Shumel Sarit , Rashed Rola , Duty James Andrew , Demircioglu Deniz , Antoniou Irini M. , Isakov Lika , Shen-Orr Zila , Bravo-Cordero Jose Javier , Kase Nathan , Cuajungco Math P. , Moran Thomas M. , LeRoith Derek , Gallagher Emily Jane
Published: December 2021

TMEM176B is a member of the membrane spanning 4-domains (MS4) family of transmembrane proteins, and a putative ion channel that is expressed in immune cells and certain cancers. We aimed to understand the role of TMEM176B in cancer cell signaling, gene expression, cell proliferation, and migration in vitro, as well as tumor growth in vivo. We generated breast cancer cell lines with overexpressed and silenced TMEM176B, and a therapeutic antibody targeting TMEM176B. Proliferation and migration assays were performed in vitro, and tumor growth was evaluated in vivo. We performed gene expression and Western blot analyses to identify the most differentially regulated genes and signaling pathways in cells with TMEM176B overexpression and silencing. Silencing TMEM176B or inhibiting it with a therapeutic antibody impaired cell proliferation, while overexpression increased proliferation in vitro. Syngeneic and xenograft tumor studies revealed the attenuated growth of tumors with TMEM176B gene silencing compared with controls. We found that the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway was activated or repressed in cells overexpressing or silenced for TMEM176B, respectively. Overall, our results suggest that TMEM176B expression in breast cancer cells regulates key signaling pathways and genes that contribute to cancer cell growth and progression, and is a potential target for therapeutic antibodies.
Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Bunnell Bruce A.
Published: December 2021

The long-held belief about adipose tissue was that it was relatively inert in terms of biological activity. It was believed that its primary role was energy storage; however, that was shattered with the discovery of adipokines. Scientists interested in regenerative medicine then reported that adipose tissue is rich in adult stromal/stem cells. Following these initial reports, adipose stem cells (ASCs) rapidly garnered interest for use as potential cellular therapies. The primary advantages of ASCs compared to other mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) include the abundance of the tissue source for isolation, the ease of methodologies for tissue collection and cell isolation, and their therapeutic potential. Studies conducted both in vitro and in vivo have demonstrated that ASCs are multipotent, possessing the ability to differentiate into cells of mesodermal origins, including adipocytes, chondrocytes, osteoblast and others. Moreover, ASCs produce a broad array of cytokines, growth factors, nucleic acids (miRNAs), and other macromolecules into the surrounding milieu by secretion or in the context of microvesicles. The secretome of ASCs has been shown to alter tissue biology, stimulate tissue-resident stem cells, change immune cell activity, and mediate therapeutic outcomes. The quality of ASCs is subject to donor-to-donor variation driven by age, body mass index, disease status and possibly gender and ethnicity. This review discusses adipose stromal/stem cell action mechanisms and their potential utility as cellular therapeutics.
Aromaticity of Heterocirculenes
Authors: Karaush-Karmazin Nataliya N. , Baryshnikov Glib V. , Minaev Boris F.
Published: December 2021

This review summarizes the results on the aromaticity of a series of synthesized and hypothetical neutral heterocirculene molecules and their double charged ions. The aromaticity of heterocirculenes is a direct reflection of their electronic structure responsible for the specific optoelectronic and photophysical properties. We show how the presence of a heteroatom in the outer macrocycle affects the aromaticity of hetero[8]circulenes. In addition, we also describe the change in aromaticity and strain energy for a series of the “lower” (n < 8) and “higher” (n > 8) hetero[n]circulenes. It was demonstrated that the loss of planarity with increased strain leads to an increased antiaromaticity of the lower hetero[n]circulenes, whereas higher hetero[n]circulenes demonstrate a more pronounced aromatic nature because of the small departure from planarity of each heteroarene ring in hetero[n]circulene molecule. Finally, we discuss the aromatic nature of the first examples of π-extended hetero[8]circulenes.
Occurrence of Marine Ingredients in Fragrance: Update on the State of Knowledge
Authors: Riad Nacera , Zahi Mohamed Reda , Bouzidi Naima , Daghbouche Yasmina , Touafek Ouassila , El Hattab Mohamed
Published: December 2021

The fragrance field of perfumes has attracted considerable scientific, industrial, cultural, and civilizational interest. The marine odor is characterized by the specific smell of sea breeze, seashore, algae, and oyster, among others. Marine odor is a more recent fragrance and is considered as one of the green and modern fragrances. The smells reproducing the marine environment are described due to their content of Calone 1951 (7-methyl-2H-1,5-benzodioxepin-3(4H)-one), which is a synthetic compound. In addition to the synthetic group of benzodioxepanes, such as Calone 51 and its derivatives, three other groups of chemical compounds seem to represent the marine smell. The first group includes the polyunsaturated cyclic ((+)-Dictyopterene A) and acyclic (giffordene) hydrocarbons, acting as pheromones. The second group corresponds to polyunsaturated aldehydes, such as the (Z,Z)-3,6-nonadienal, (E,Z)-2,6-nonadienal, which are most likely derived from the degradation of polyunsaturated fatty acids. The third group is represented by small molecules such as sulfur compounds and halogenated phenols which are regarded as the main flavor compounds of many types of seafood. This review exposes, most notably, the knowledge state on the occurrence of marine ingredients in fragrance. We also provide a detailed discussion on several aspects of essential oils, which are the most natural ingredients from various marine sources used in fragrance and cosmetics, including synthetic and natural marine ingredients.
Fully Biobased Reactive Extrusion of Biocomposites Based on PLA Blends and Hazelnut Shell Powders (HSP)
Authors: Panariello Luca , Coltelli Maria-Beatrice , Vannozzi Alessandro , Bonacchi Daniele , Aliotta Laura , Lazzeri Andrea
Published: December 2021

The production of biocomposites based on natural fiber waste and biopolymers is constantly increasing because of their renewability, biodegradability, and the accordance with the circular economy principles. The aim of this work is to contrast the disadvantages in the production of biocomposites, such as reduction of molecular weight through the use of biobased chain extenders. For this purpose, epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) and dicarboxylic acids (DCAs) were used to contrast the slight chain scission observed in a poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PBSA) binary blend caused by the melt mixing with hazelnut shell powder (HSP). Two different dimensions of HSPs were considered in this study as well as different concentrations of the ESO/DCA system, comparing succinic acid and malic acid as dicarboxylic acids. Melt viscosity parameters, such as torque and melt volume rate (MVR), were measured to investigate the chain extender effect during the extrusion. In addition, the reactivity of the ESO/DCA system was investigated through infrared spectroscopy. The effect of chain extenders on thermal properties, in particular on the crystallinity of PLA, and on mechanical properties of final biocomposites was investigated to understand their potentialities in industrial application. Results of this study evidenced a modest increase in melt viscosity due to ESO/malic acid chain extension system, but only for the HSP with the lower dimension (so the higher surface area) and adding 0.5 wt.% of ESO/malic acid. Thus, the slight chain scission of polyesters, not significantly affecting the final properties of these biocomposites, is the most relevant effect that was revealed in this complex reactive system.
Maternal Perinatal Depression and Risk of Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Offspring: Preliminary Results from the SOS MOOD Project
Authors: Siracusano Martina , Riccioni Assia , Gialloreti Leonardo , Carloni Elisa , Baratta Antonia , Ferrara Marialaura , Arturi Lucrezia , Lisi Giulia , Adulti Ilaria , Rossi Rodolfo , Lucaselli Alessia , Rossi Alessandro , Niolu Cinzia , Mazzone Luigi
Published: December 2021

The latest research is attempting to define whether there may be an association between maternal Perinatal Depression (PD), the use of psychotropic medications during pregnancy, and a higher risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). A better understanding of the relation between PD and ASD is a key element to develop early interventions. This study has been developed in the context of the SOS MOOD project. Its aim is to evaluate the possible impact of maternal PD on the child’s cognitive and behavioral phenotype with a focus on ASD. Women included in the project were screened during pregnancy (1st, 2nd trimester) for PD—categorized as affected or not—and if necessary were prescribed pharmacological therapy; offspring of both groups of women underwent at a mean age of 43 months a standardized neuropsychiatric evaluation of developmental and cognitive skills, behavioral problems, autism symptoms and parental stress. Preliminary results on 59 women and 59 children do not suggest significant long-term effects of maternal PD on offspring’s development and behavior. Nonetheless further studies on wider samples are necessary in order to confirm such results and disentangle the role of possible confounding factors associated to the maternal illness.
A Comparative Study on the Effect of Class C and Class F Fly Ashes on Geotechnical Properties of High-Plasticity Clay
Authors: Shirkhanloo Salar , Najafi Mohammad , Kaushal Vinayak , Rajabi Mehrdad
Published: December 2021

Clays generally have a low strength and capacity, and additives are usually used to stabilize them. In recent years, using fly ash to stabilize soil has decreased environmental pollution while also having an economic benefit. The objective of this study is to perform a comparative investigation on the effect of class C and class F fly ashes on geotechnical properties of high-plasticity clay using the Atterberg’s limit, compaction, California Bearing Ratio (CBR), and unconfined compressive strength tests. The results showed that with an increase in the amount of fly ash, there was a decrease in the maximum dry density and an increase in the optimum moisture content. Moreover, an addition of fly ashes of up to 25% caused a reduction of the liquid limit and plasticity index, and an increase in the maximum unconfined compressive strength and CBR. Lengthening the curing time had a positive impact on the unconfined compressive strength of the soil. The soil samples with class C fly ash were seen to possess more efficient geotechnical properties as compared to class F fly ash.
Aggressiveness of Different Ageing Conditions for Three Thick Marine Epoxy Systems
Authors: Renaud Alexis , Pommier Victor , Garnier Jérémy , Frappart Simon , Florimond Laure , Koch Marion , Grolleau Anne-Marie , Puente-Lelièvre Céline , Sebastien Touzain
Published: December 2021

Three different coated steel systems were aged in natural or artificial seawater, in neutral salt spray (NSS), and using alternate immersion tests in order to evaluate the aggressiveness of the different ageing conditions. Commercial epoxy coatings were applied onto steel (S355NL), hot-galvanized steel (HDG), and Zn-Al15 thermal spraying coated steel. The defect-free systems were immersed in artificial seawater at 35 °C for 1085 days and in natural seawater for 1200 days and were characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Panels with artificial defects were immersed for 180 days in artificial seawater and, regarding adhesion, were evaluated according to ISO 16276-2. In parallel, the three coated systems were submitted to cyclic neutral salt spray (NSS) for 1440 h: defect-free panels were regularly evaluated by EIS, while the degree or corrosion was measured onto panels with artificial defect. After NSS, defect-free panels were immersed in artificial seawater at 35 °C for further EIS investigations. Finally, alternate immersion tests were performed for 860 days for the three defect-free coated systems and for 84 days for panels with a defect. The results showed that, for defect-free panels, immersions in natural or artificial seawater and NSS did not allowed us to distinguish the three different systems that show excellent anticorrosion properties. However, during the alternate immersion test, the organic coating system applied onto HDG presented blisters, showing a greater sensitivity to this test than the two other systems. For panels with a defect, NSS allowed to age the coatings more rapidly than monotone conditions, and the coating system applied onto steel presented the highest degree of corrosion. Meanwhile, the coating systems applied onto HDG and the thermal spray metallic coating showed similar behavior. During the alternate immersion test, the three coated systems with a defect showed clearly different behaviors, therefore it was possible to rank the three systems. Finally, it appeared that the alternate immersion test was the most aggressive condition. It was then proposed that a realistic thermal cycling and an artificial defect are needed when performing ageing tests of thick marine organic coating systems in order to properly rank/evaluate the different systems.
Rice Resistance Buffers against the Induced Enhancement of Brown Planthopper Fitness by Some Insecticides
Authors: Horgan Finbarr G. , Peñalver-Cruz Ainara , Almazan Maria Liberty P.
Published: December 2021

The brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål)[BPH], is a damaging pest of rice in Asia. Insecticides and rice varietal resistance are widely implemented BPH management practices. However, outbreaks of BPH have been linked to excessive insecticide use—challenging the compatibility of these two management practices. IR62 is a variety with resistance against BPH, the whitebacked planthopper, Sogatella furcifera Horváth [WBPH], and the green leafhopper, Nephotettix virescens (Distant)[GLH]. We compared BPH responses to IR62 and to the susceptible variety IR64 treated with buprofezin, carbofuran, cartap hydrochloride, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, fipronil, or thiamethoxam + chlorantraniliprole. In greenhouse bioassays, cypermethrin, fipronil and thiamethoxam + chlorantraniliprole reduced egg laying on both varieties, and, together with buprofezin, reduced nymph survival to zero. Buprofezin, carbofuran, and cartap hydrochloride stimulated egg laying, and carbofuran increased nymph biomass, but these effects were reduced on IR62. Planthopper populations were ten times higher on deltamethrin-treated rice than untreated rice in a screenhouse experiment. Host resistance failed to buffer against this insecticide-induced resurgence in BPH and WBPH. However, IR62 reduced the effect in GLH. Rice treated with cypermethrin and fipronil had reduced yields compared to untreated controls, suggesting possible phytotoxic effects. We found little evidence of synergies between the two management practices; but host resistance did buffer against the undesirable effects of some insecticides.
Effect of Sn and Mo on Microstructure and Electrochemical Property of TiZrTaNb High Entropy Alloys
Authors: Li Qiaoyu , Ma Tengfei , Jin Yuliang , Wang Xiaohong , Dong Duo , Zhu Dongdong
Published: December 2021

The effects of Sn and Mo alloying elements on the microstructure and electrochemical properties of TiZrTaNb high entropy alloys were studied by optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electrochemistry. TiZrTaNb, TiZrTaNbMo and TiZrTaNbSn alloys with equal atomic ratio were prepared by the arc melting method. The results showed that the microstructure of the high entropy alloys was dendritic structure with single BCC structure. The addition of Mo and Sn elements promoted the growth of the dendritic structure and accelerated the interdendritic segregation of the TiZrTaNb alloy. The TiZrTaNbMo alloy exhibited excellent corrosion properties compared to TiZrTaNb and TiZrTaNbSn alloys based on corrosion parameters Icorr, φcorr, Ipass. The corrosion mechanism is discussed based on the corrosion morphology. The alloying elements have an important effect on the microstructure and electrochemical properties of a high entropy alloy.
Combining Macro- and Mesoscale Optimization: A Case Study of the General Electric Jet Engine Bracket
Authors: Tyflopoulos Evangelos , Steinert Martin
Published: December 2021

Topology optimization (TO) is a mathematical method that optimizes the material layout in a pre-defined design domain. Its theoretical background is widely known for macro-, meso-, and microscale levels of a structure. The macroscale TO is now available in the majority of commercial TO software, while only a few software packages offer a mesoscale TO with the design and optimization of lattice structures. However, they still lack a practical simultaneous macro–mesoscale TO. It is not clear to the designers how they can combine and apply TO at different levels. In this paper, a two-scale TO is conducted using the homogenization theory at both the macro- and mesoscale structural levels. In this way, the benefits of the existence and optimization of mesoscale structures were researched. For this reason, as a case study, a commercial example of the known jet engine bracket from General Electric (GE bracket) was used. Different optimization workflows were implemented in order to develop alternative design concepts of the same mass. The design concepts were compared with respect to their weight, strength, and simulation time for the given load cases. In addition, the lightest design concept among them was identified.
Cutting out Cholecystectomy on Index Hospitalization Leads to Increased Readmission Rates, Morbidity, Mortality and Cost
Authors: Gangu Karthik , Bobba Aniesh , Chela Harleen Kaur , Basar Omer , Min Robert W. , Tahan Veysel , Daglilar Ebubekir
Published: December 2021

Biliary tract diseases that are not adequately treated on index hospitalization are linked to worse outcomes, including high readmission rates. Delays in care for conditions such as choledocholithiasis, gallstone pancreatitis, and cholecystitis often occur due to multiple reasons, and this delay is under-appreciated as a source of morbidity and mortality. Our study is based on the latest Nationwide Readmissions Database review and evaluated the effects of postponing definitive management to a subsequent visit. The study shows a higher 30-day readmission rate in addition to increased mortality rate, intubation rate, vasopressor use in this patient population and significantly added financial burden.
Large Intra-Age Group Variation in Chromosome Abnormalities in Human Blastocysts
Authors: Sawarkar Sarthak , Griffin Darren K. , Ribustello Lia , Munné Santiago
Published: December 2021

Research Question: Is maternal age only a gross predictor of chromosome abnormalities in human embryos? Design: Here, we evaluated the less-studied variation in chromosome abnormality rates in embryos of patients within the same age group. Patients undergoing IVF and PGD for chromosomal abnormalities in ~127 different IVF clinics were included. PGT-A analysis was performed by a single reference laboratory using array CGH or NGS. To get an estimate of the range of abnormalities observed, the aCGH and NGS data were studied both independently and together. Results: The overall results showed the typical increase in aneuploidy rates with advancing maternal age (AMA) but extensive variability within each age group. Conclusions: Increasing aneuploidy with maternal age has been demonstrated in live births, unborn fetuses, IVF embryos and oocytes. In contrast, post-meiotic and other abnormalities that might lead to mosaicism, polyploidy and haploidy, are commonplace (around 30%), regardless of maternal age. Here we conclude that age is only a gross predictor of chromosome abnormalities in IVF embryos. In contrast to the existing standard of offering PGT-A to AMA patients, the high rate and extreme variation of chromosomal abnormalities in human embryos may warrant PGT-A for further IVF cycles even in younger age groups, especially if a history of increased levels of aneuploidy is evident. Furthermore, better indicators are needed to determine which patients are at a higher risk of producing increased levels of aneuploid embryos.