bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Immunotoxicity and Anti-Inflammatory Characterizations of Prenylated Flavonoids—The Lipophilic 7-O-Terpenylated Wogonin
Authors: Wu Jin-Yi , Chen Lih-Geeng , Hu Chia-Wen , Chiu Kuan-Chi , Lin Wenhsin , Ho Pei-Chun , Weng Brian Bor-Chun
Published: December 2022

Wogonin, one of the exceptional bioactive flavonoids found abundant in the roots of Huang-Qin (Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi), is a popular health-preserving Chinese medicine. The therapeutic applications can be expanded by improving its bioavailability. The 7-O-terpenylated wogonin consisting one to three prenyl units are chemically synthesized for increasing lipophilic nature for efficient uptake, and also an attempt in mimicry of naturally scarce terpenylated flavonoids found in limited plant families and bee propolis. Wogonin (W) and its lipophilic nature prenyl wogonin (W5), geranyl wogonin (W10), and farnesyl wogonin (W15) were comparatively studied with structure-relationship in immunotoxicity of cell livability on lymphoid, myeloid, and somatic origins cell lines. Anti-inflammatory functions characterized with nitric oxide inhibition and intracellular ROS level of LPS-activated murine macrophage RAW264.7 were assessed. Wogonin and its terpenylated derivatives have selectively influenced livability of lymphoid origin cells but not myeloid and somatic origin cells. The mitotic protein survivin gene expressions analysis further supported the selective suppressions on lymphoid origin YAC-1 cells by wogonin and geranyl wogonin, while oppositely boosted survivin expressions in LPS-activated macrophages. Moreover, wogonin exhibits dose-dependent inhibition on the nitric oxide (NO) production and iNOS gene expressions of LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells. Terpenylated wogonin exhibits profoundly superior control in intracellular ROS level and a sustained action with sound cell integrity than the wogonin. The enhanced cellular uptake with higher lipophilicity to membrane of 7-O-terpenylated wogonin may pose an important biological nature in facilitating better bioavailability and specific immunomodulatory actions of the category of terpenylated flavonoids. The 7-O-terpenylated wogonin having biological merit of fast membrane lipid bilayer integration, lower effective concentration, and better preserving immune cells functions and livability deserved further in-depth investigations and their broadly therapeutic applications.
Method for Accurate Detection of Amino Acids and Mycotoxins in Planetary Atmospheres
Authors: Madzunkova Sigrid , Nikolić Dragan
Published: December 2022

We present a systematic analysis of a large number of mass spectra accumulated as the number of ion fragments recorded in unit mass-to-charge detector channels. The method retrieves the abundances of detected species using an efficient deconvolution algorithm, which relies on fragment pattern recognition, mass calibration, and background correction. The abundance analysis identifies target species, amino acids, and mycotoxins through their characteristic fragmentation patterns in the presence of an increasing number of interfering species. The method offered robust and efficient retrieval of abundances of metabolic molecules in complex mixtures obscured by a wide range of toxic compounds.
Thermal Characterizations of Waste Cardboard Kraft Fibres in the Context of Their Use as a Partial Cement Substitute within Concrete Composites
Authors: Haigh Robert , Joseph Paul , Sandanayake Malindu , Bouras Yanni , Vrcelj Zora
Published: December 2022

The building and construction industry consumes a significant amount of virgin resources and minimizing the demand with alternative waste materials can provide a contemporary solution. In this study, thermal components of kraft fibres (KFs) derived from waste cardboard are investigated. The mechanical properties containing KFs within concrete composites are evaluated. Metakaolin (MK) and KFs were integrated into concrete samples as a partial substitute for cement. Silica Fume (SF) was applied to the KF (SFKFs) with a view to enhancing the fibre durability. The results indicated that there was a reduction in compressive strength of 44 and 56% when 10% raw and modified KFs were integrated, respectively. Raw, fibre and matrix-modified samples demonstrated a 35, 4 and 24% flexural strength reduction, respectively; however, the tensile strength improved by 8% when the matrix was modified using MK and SFKF. The morphology of the fibres was illustrated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), with an energy dispersion X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) provision and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) employed to gain insights into their chemical nature. The thermal, calorimetric and combustion attributes of the fibres were measured using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and pyrolysis combustion flow calorimetry (PCFC). SFKFs showed a lower heat release capacity (HRC), demonstrating a lower combustion propensity compared to raw KFs. Furthermore, the 45% decreased peak heat release rate (pHRR) of SFKFs highlighted the overall reduction in the fire hazards associated with these materials. TGA results also confirmed a lower mass weight loss of SFKFs at elevated temperatures, thus corroborating the results from the PCFC runs.
Determination of Two-Stage Heat Treatment Parameters in Industrial Conditions in Order to Obtain a TRIP Structure in Low-Alloy Carbon Steel Wires
Authors: Wiewiórowska Sylwia , Siemiński Marek , Śleboda Tomasz , Łukaszek-Sołek Aneta , Dyl Tomasz , Koczurkiewicz Bartosz
Published: December 2022

The research presented in this article aimed to obtain a semi-finished product in the form of TRIP wires, which in further research will be used to produce fasteners in the form of KPS-6 screws used in the construction industry. At present, the process of manufacturing this type of fastener (from wire rod to the finished product) involves two technological lines: one for carrying out the drawing process and obtaining a semi-finished product in the form of a wire with appropriate properties, and the other for the production of fasteners. Semi-finished product wires with a ferritic-perlitic structure obtained after the drawing process are the starting product for the production of fasteners, the tensile strength of which is approximately 450 MPa. In order to be able to obtain fasteners characterized by an increased level of properties in 8.8 grade, after the screw manufacturing process, heat treatment should be carried out by hardening and tempering. The new technology proposed in the article includes: a drawing wire rod with a semi-finished product diameter, two-stage heat treatment on the line for pass-through heating and cooling, ensuring the obtaining of a TRIP-type structure in drawn wires, and calibration drawing. The product of this process was a wire whose tensile strength was in the range of 700–800 MPa with a TRIP structure. Thanks to obtaining a TRIP-type structure with the assumed amount of retained austenite, we obtained wires with higher strength properties and very high plasticity in relation to wires with the same chemical composition and ferritic and perlitic structure. The research carried out in the article also allowed us to obtain, in the semi-finished product wires, a favourable relationship between the strength properties and plasticity of the material, expressed by the value of the Re/Rm coefficient (yield strength/tensile strength) and the so-called yield ratio, which determines the material′s susceptibility to cold deformation; the smaller these coefficients, the greater the yield strength. The subsequent stages of the research will include the development of forming fasteners in the form of KPS-6 screws used in the steel construction industry with TRIP structures, with increased properties of products in the 8.8 property class, without conducting heat treatment by hardening and tempering. It is assumed that the resulting product will have an additional usable feature: preserving a certain amount of retained austenite in the structure of the finished fasteners, which will be transformed into martensite during operation, and thus affect the longevity of the fasteners.
Synthesis and Oxygen Storage Capacities of Yttrium-Doped CeO2 with a Cubic Fluorite Structure
Authors: Xu Yaohui , Gao Liangjuan , Ding Zhao
Published: December 2022

Doping CeO2 with Y cations was achieved in this study using three strategies: doping only during the hydrothermal process (H-Y-doped CeO2), doping only during the impregnation process (I-Y-doped CeO2), and doping during both the hydrothermal and impregnation processes (H/I-Y-doped CeO2). During the three synthesis strategies of Y-doped CeO2, these Y ions could be incorporated into the CeO2 lattice in the +3 state while holding the cubic fluorite structure, and no impurity phases were detected. Pure CeO2 crystal itself contained a certain number of intrinsic VO defects, and Y-doping was beneficial for the creation of extrinsic VO defects. The relative concentrations of VO defects were quantified by the values of A592/A464 obtained from Raman spectra, which were 1.47, 0.93, and 1.16 for the H-Y-, I-Y-, and H/I-Y-doped CeO2, respectively, and were higher than that of the undoped one (0.67). Moreover, the OSCs of the three Y-doped CeO2 were enhanced, and the sequence of OSCs was: H-Y-doped CeO2 (0.372 mmol/g) > H/I-Y-doped CeO2 (0.353 mmol/g) > I-Y-doped CeO2 (0.248 mmol/g) > Undoped CeO2 (0.153 mmol/g); this result was in good agreement with the Raman spectroscopy results.
Multifunctional Nanocarriers Based on Chitosan Oligomers and Graphitic Carbon Nitride Assembly
Authors: Santiago-Aliste Alberto , Sánchez-Hernández Eva , Langa-Lomba Natalia , González-García Vicente , Casanova-Gascón José , Martín-Gil Jesús , Martín-Ramos Pablo
Published: December 2022

In this study, a graphitic carbon nitride and chitosan oligomers (g-C3N4–COS) nanocarrier assembly, which was obtained by cross-linking with methacrylic anhydride (MA), was synthesized and characterized. Its characterization was carried out using infrared spectroscopy, elemental and thermal analyses, and transmission electron microscopy. The new nanocarriers (NCs), with an average particle size of 85 nm in diameter and a 0.25 dispersity index, showed photocatalytic activity (associated with the g-C3N4 moiety), susceptibility to enzymatic degradation (due to the presence of the COS moiety), and high encapsulation and moderate-high release efficiencies (>95% and >74%, respectively). As a proof of concept, the visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity of the NCs was tested for rhodamine B degradation and the reduction of uranium(VI) to uranium(IV). Regarding the potential of the nanocarriers for the encapsulation and delivery of bioactive products for crop protection, NCs loaded with Rubia tinctorum extracts were investigated in vitro against three Vitis vinifera phytopathogens (viz. Neofusicoccum parvum, Diplodia seriata, and Xylophilus ampelinus), obtaining minimum inhibitory concentration values of 750, 250, and 187.5 µg·mL−1, respectively. Their antifungal activity was further tested in vivo as a pruning wound protection product in young ‘Tempranillo’ grapevine plants that were artificially infected with the two aforementioned species of the family Botryosphaeriaceae, finding a significant reduction of the necrosis lengths in the inner woody tissues. Therefore, g-C3N4-MA-COS NCs may be put forward as a multifunctional platform for environmental and agrochemical delivery applications.
Elastostatic Stiffness Modeling and Performance Evaluation of a 2UPR–2PRU Redundantly Actuated Parallel Manipulator
Authors: Chai Xinxue , Ye Wei , Li Qinchuan , Xu Lingmin
Published: December 2022

Redundantly actuated parallel manipulators (PMs) have attracted a great deal of attention since they generally have better stiffness than non-redundantly actuated ones. This paper presents an analytical elastostatic stiffness modeling and performance study of a 2UPR–2PRU PM with actuation redundancy, which has two rotational and one translational degrees of freedom (U: universal joint; P: prismatic joint; R: revolute joint). First, the inverse displacement is reviewed and verified briefly. Second, the stiffness matrices of UPR and PRU limbs are deduced by using the principle of strain energy, followed by the overall stiffness matrix of the 2UPR–2PRU PM. Combined with the ANSYS software, the finite element analysis method is then used to verify the correctness and universality of the stiffness models by calculating the deformations of four selected configurations. Finally, the stiffness index based on the virtual work is used to evaluate the performance of the 2UPR–2PRU PM, and the influence of different external loads and operational heights on the stiffness performance is discussed. The relationship between singular configurations and the stiffness index is also presented. The stiffness models and performance distributions of the 2UPR–2PRU PM with actuation redundancy can provide references for the actual applications.
Minimizing Misalignment and Frame Protrusion of Shoulder Exoskeleton via Optimization for Reducing Interaction Force and Minimizing Volume
Authors: Yoon Jihwan , Kim Sumin , Moon Junyoung , Kim Jehyeok , Lee Giuk
Published: December 2022

Although industrial shoulder exoskeletons have undergone rapid advancement, their acceptance by industrial workers is limited owing to the misalignment and interference between the exoskeletal frame and the wearer’s body and bulkiness of the frames. Several joint mechanisms have been developed to offset misalignments; however, none of the existing systems can simultaneously alleviate the interference and bulkiness problems. Furthermore, the reduction in the misalignments in terms of forces generated at the human–robot interface has not been experimentally verified. Therefore, in this study, design optimization was performed to address the various factors that limit the use of the existing industrial shoulder exoskeletons. Upper body motions were captured and converted into a target trajectory for the exoskeleton to follow. The optimal prismatic–revolute–revolute joint configuration was derived and used to manufacture a skeletal mock-up, which was used to perform experiments. The misalignments of the optimized configuration in the considered motions were 67% lower than those for the conventional joint configuration. Furthermore, the interaction forces were negligible (1.35 N), with a maximum reduction of 61.8% compared to those of conventional configurations.
A Novel Combination Neural Network Based on ConvLSTM-Transformer for Bearing Remaining Useful Life Prediction
Authors: Deng Feiyue , Chen Zhe , Liu Yongqiang , Yang Shaopu , Hao Rujiang , Lyu Litong
Published: December 2022

A sensible maintenance strategy must take into account the remaining usable life (RUL) estimation to maximize equipment utilization and avoid costly unexpected breakdowns. In view of some inherent drawbacks of traditional CNN and LSTM-based RUL prognostics models, a novel combination model of the ConvLSTM and the Transformer, which is based on the idea of “Extracting spatiotemporal features and applying them to RUL prediction”, is proposed for RUL prediction. The ConvLSTM network can directly extract low-dimensional spatiotemporal features from long-time degradation signals. The Transformer, based entirely on attention mechanisms, can deeply explore the mapping law between deep-level nonlinear spatiotemporal feature information and equipment service performance degradation. The proposed approach is validated with the whole-life degradation dataset of bearings from the PHM 2012 Challenge dataset and the XJTU-SY public dataset. The detailed comparative analysis shows that the proposed method has higher RUL prediction accuracy and outstanding comprehensive prediction performance.
Model-Based Field Winding Interturn Fault Detection Method for Brushless Synchronous Machines
Authors: Mahtani Kumar , Guerrero José M. , Beites Luis F. , Platero Carlos A.
Published: December 2022

The lack of available measurements makes the detection of electrical faults in the rotating elements of brushless synchronous machines particularly challenging. This paper presents a novel and fast detection method regarding interturn faults at the field winding of the main machine, which is characterized because it is non-intrusive and because its industrial application is straightforward as it does not require any additional equipment. The method is built upon the comparison between the theoretical and the measured exciter field currents. The theoretical exciter field current is computed from the main machine output voltage and current magnitudes for any monitored operating point by means of a theoretical healthy brushless machine model that links the main machine with the exciter. The applicability of the method has been verified for interturn faults at different fault severity levels, both through computer simulations and experimental tests, delivering promising results.
Evaluation of the Waiting Time in a Finite Capacity Queue with Bursty Input and a Generalized Push-Out Strategy
Authors: Blondia Chris
Published: December 2022

In this paper, we study a finite capacity queue where the arrival process is a special case of the discrete time Markov modulated Poisson process, the service times are generally distributed, and the server takes repeated vacations when the system is empty. The buffer acceptance strategy is based on a generalized push-out scheme: when the buffer is full, an arriving customer pushes out the Nth customer in the queue, where N takes values between 2 and the capacity of the system, and the arriving customer joins the end of the queue. Such a strategy is important when, as well as short waiting times for served customers, the time a pushed-out customer occupies a buffer space is also an important performance measure. The Laplace transform of the waiting time of a served customer is determined. Numerical examples show the influence of the bustiness of the input process and also the trade-off between the average waiting time of served customers and the occupancy of the buffer space of pushed-out customers.
A Liquid Launch Vehicle Safety Assessment Model Based on Semi-Quantitative Interval Belief Rule Base
Authors: Cheng Xiaoyu , Qian Guangyu , He Wei , Zhou Guohui
Published: December 2022

As the propulsion part of a space launch vehicle and nuclear weapon missile, the health status of the liquid rocket determines whether the space launch vehicle and nuclear weapon missile can function normally. Therefore, it is of great significance to evaluate the health status of the liquid rocket. As the structure of the liquid rocket is becoming increasingly sophisticated, subjective judgment alone can no longer meet the needs of the actual system. As an expert system and a gray-box model, the belief rule base (BRB) can process both qualitative and quantitative information. The expert knowledge base is used in the safety assessment of a liquid rocket. However, in practical applications, the traditional BRB model still has two problems, which are that (1) when there are too many premise attributes, it easily leads to the explosion of combination rules, and (2) the reliability of rules is not considered in the process of model reasoning. Therefore, this paper proposes the BRB model with intervals (intervals-BRB) on the basis of traditional BRB. The interval-BRB retains the advantage of the traditional BRB, which can handle semi-quantitative information. In addition, the proposed model changes the reference point of the prerequisite attribute to the reference interval and changes the rule combination. This solves the problem of the traditional BRB explosive combination rule. The ER-rule (evidential reasoning rule) is introduced into the reasoning procedure, and the weight of the rule and the reliability of the rule are considered at the same time, which solves the shortcoming of the traditional BRB, which does not consider the reliability of the rule in reasoning. Finally, the CMAES optimization algorithm is used to optimize the initial model to obtain better performance. Finally, the model is verified by the actual data set of a liquid rocket, and the experimental results show that the model can achieve good experimental results.
Bayes and Maximum Likelihood Estimation of Uncertainty Measure of the Inverse Weibull Distribution under Generalized Adaptive Progressive Hybrid Censoring
Authors: Lee Kyeongjun
Published: December 2022

The inverse Weibull distribution (IWD) can be applied to a various situations, including applications in reliability and medicine. In a reliability and medicine test, it is generally known that the results of test units may not be recorded. Recently, the generalized adaptive progressive hybrid censoring (GAPHC) scheme was introduced. In this paper, therefore, we consider the classical estimators (maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) and maximum product spacings estimator (MPSE)) and Bayes estimators (BayEsts) of the uncertainty measure of the IWD under GAPHC scheme. We derive the BayEsts of the uncertainty measure based on flexible (symmetrical and asymmetrical) priors. Additionally, we derive the Bayes estimators using the Tierney and Kadane approximation (TiKa) and importance sampling methods. In particular, the importance sampling method is used to obtain the credible interval for the uncertainty measure of the IWD under the GAPHC scheme. To compare the proposed estimators (classical and BayEsts), the Monte Carlo simulation method is conducted. Finally, the real dataset based on GAPHC scheme is analyzed.
Adaptive Distributed Parallel Training Method for a Deep Learning Model Based on Dynamic Critical Paths of DAG
Authors: Zeng Yan , Wang Wei , Ding Yong , Zhang Jilin , Ren Yongjian , Yi Guangzheng
Published: December 2022

AI provides a new method for massive simulated data calculations in molecular dynamics, materials, and other scientific computing fields. However, the complex structures and large-scale parameters of neural network models make them difficult to develop and train. The automatic parallel technology based on graph algorithms is one of the most promising methods to solve this problem, despite the low efficiency in the design, implementation, and execution of distributed parallel policies for large-scale neural network models. In this paper, we propose an adaptive distributed parallel training method based on the dynamic generation of critical DAG (directed acyclic graph) paths, called FD-DPS, to solve this efficiency problem. Firstly, the proposed model splits operators with the dimension of the tensor, which can expand the space available for model parallelism. Secondly, a dynamic critical path generation method is employed to determine node priority changes in the DAG of the neural network models. Finally, the model implements the optimal scheduling of critical paths based on the priority of the nodes, thereby improving the performance of parallel strategies. Our experiments show that FD-DPS can achieve 12.76% and 11.78% faster training on PnasNet_mobile and ResNet_200 models, respectively, compared with the MP-DPS and Fast methods.
Routine Detachment of the Anterior and Septal Tricuspid Leaflets Simplifies VSD Closure and Improves the Outcomes
Authors: Sandoval Boburg Rodrigo , Schlensak Christian , Hofbeck Michael , Magunia Harry , Berger Rafal , Jost Walter , Mustafi Migdat
Published: December 2022

Background and Objectives: The closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects (VSDs) is one of the most common surgeries performed in infancy. The technique of detachment of the anterior and septal leaflets of the tricuspid valve (TV) with subsequent leaflet augmentation is frequently used for isolated as well as non-isolated VSD closure. In this study, we compared the incidence of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in patients who underwent a VSD repair with and without detachment of the TV in the short- and long-term follow-up. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study that included 140 patients who underwent perimembranous VSD closure at our center from 2011–2016, where 102 of these patients underwent the procedure with detachment of the TV, was performed. The follow-up data were obtained from postoperative echocardiography performed in the follow-up visits. A total of 62 patients underwent follow-up at our center, where the follow-up time ranged from 1 to 9 years, with a mean of 71 ± 2.47 months. Results: Regarding patients who underwent a VSD repair with a detachment of the TV, 98.1% of the patients had none to mild TR, compared to 94.7% in patients without intraoperative TV detachment at the time of discharge. There were no reported cases of moderate to severe TR, atrioventricular blocks, aortic insufficiency, or deaths. A total of 98.1% of patients who underwent follow-up at our center with a TV detachment had none to mild TR compared to 94.7% in the group without TV detachment. Conclusion: TV detachment with leaflet augmentation for VSD closure is safe and effective and does not increase the incidence of TR in the short- and long-term follow-up.
Characteristics and Future Direction of Tibialis Posterior Tendinopathy Research: A Scoping Review
Authors: Rhim Hye Chang , Dhawan Ravi , Gureck Ashley E. , Lieberman Daniel E. , Nolan David C. , Elshafey Ramy , Tenforde Adam S.
Published: December 2022

Background and Objectives: Tibialis posterior tendon pathologies have been traditionally categorized into different stages of posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD), or adult acquired flatfoot deformity (AAFD), and more recently to progressive collapsing foot deformity (PCFD). The purpose of this scoping review is to synthesize and characterize literature on early stages of PTTD (previously known as Stage I and II), which we will describe as tibialis posterior tendinopathy (TPT). We aim to identify what is known about TPT, identify gaps in knowledge on the topics of TPT, and propose future research direction. Materials and Methods: We included 44 studies and categorized them into epidemiology, diagnosis, evaluation, biomechanics outcome measure, imaging, and nonsurgical treatment. Results: A majority of studies (86.4%, 38 of 44 studies) recruited patients with mean or median ages greater than 40. For studies that reported body mass index (BMI) of the patients, 81.5% had mean or median BMI meeting criteria for being overweight. All but two papers described study populations as predominantly or entirely female gender. Biomechanical studies characterized findings associated with TPT to include increased forefoot abduction and rearfoot eversion during gait cycle, weak hip and ankle performance, and poor balance. Research on non-surgical treatment focused on orthotics with evidence mostly limited to observational studies. The optimal exercise regimen for the management of TPT remains unclear due to the limited number of high-quality studies. Conclusions: More epidemiological studies from diverse patient populations are necessary to better understand prevalence, incidence, and risk factors for TPT. The lack of high-quality studies investigating nonsurgical treatment options is concerning because, regardless of coexisting foot deformity, the initial treatment for TPT is typically conservative. Additional studies comparing various exercise programs may help identify optimal exercise therapy, and investigation into further nonsurgical treatments is needed to optimize the management for TPT.
Breast Reconstruction: Economic Impact Swiss Health Insurance System
Authors: Martin Jeanne , di Summa Pietro G. , Raffoul Wassim , Koch Nathalie
Published: December 2022

Background: Considering present concerns about healthcare costs and the lack of evidence and published articles on breast reconstruction costs in Switzerland, we retrospectively investigated charges to the Swiss healthcare system for different breast reconstruction procedures at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois. Methods: We selected all hospitalized patients at the University Hospital who underwent a “total” delayed breast reconstruction from January 2012 to December 2015. Analysis included 72 women who underwent autologous or implant-based reconstructions. Three main breast reconstruction techniques were included: Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator (n = 46) autologous flap reconstruction, Tissue Expander followed by Implant (n = 12) and pedicled Latissimus Dorsi (n = 12) flap with or without tissue expander and implant (n = 7). For all different groups, the global costs of reconstruction and total number of required operations were statistically compared. Results: Global costs for Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator reconstruction were 29,728 ± 1892 CHF (avg ± Std. Error of Mean), while Tissue Expander reconstruction showed a significantly higher global cost, reaching an average of 44,313 ± 5553 CHF (avg ± Std. Error of Mean). LD showed a similar cost, compared to the Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator reconstruction (29,813 ± 3637 CHF), increasing when including an implant (37,688 ± 4840 CHF). No significant differences in the number of interventions were detected. Conclusion: These data show that autologous breast reconstruction (DIEP) delivers the best cost ratio, with lower overall costs. Implant-based reconstructions showed a greater likelihood of complications and re-intervention, globally creating superior costs when compared to autologous reconstructions.
Incipience of Plastic Flow in Aluminum with Nanopores: Molecular Dynamics and Machine-Learning-Based Description
Authors: Mayer Alexander E. , Mayer Polina N. , Lekanov Mikhail V. , Panchenko Boris A.
Published: December 2022

Incipience of plastic flow in nanoporous metals under tension is an important point for the development of mechanical models of dynamic (spall) fracture. Here we study axisymmetric deformation with tension of nanoporous aluminum with different shapes and sizes of nanopores by means of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Random deformation paths explore a sector of tensile loading in the deformation space. The obtained MD data are used to train an artificial neural network (ANN), which approximates both an elastic stress–strain relationship in the form of tensor equation of state and a nucleation strain distance function. This ANN allows us to describe the elastic stage of deformation and the transition to the plastic flow, while the following plastic deformation and growth of pores are described by means of a kinetic model of plasticity and fracture. The parameters of this plasticity and fracture model are identified by the statistical Bayesian approach, using MD curves as the training data set. The present research uses a machine-learning-based approximation of MD data to propose a possible framework for construction of mechanical models of spall fracture in metals.
Effect of Microstructure on the Mechanical Response of Hydrogen-Charged Pure Iron
Authors: Yanachkov Boris , Lyutov Lyudmil , Katzarov Ivaylo , Drenchev Ludmil , Kolev Krasimir
Published: December 2022

In this paper, we investigate how two different microstructures in pure iron affect the dislocation mobility in hydrogen-charged and non-charged samples by conducting stress-relaxation tests. The effective activation volume of the pure iron for both types of microstructures (cold-rolled and annealed samples) has been determined for both H-charged and uncharged material. Information about the dislocation structures formed during stress relaxation is provided by conducting TEM analysis. We employ a self-consistent kinetic Monte-Carlo (SCkMC) model of the ½ [111] screw dislocation in Fe to investigate how hydrogen affects the mobility and behavior of the dominant mobile dislocation in Fe at different stresses and H concentrations. The results from our simulations show the following: (i) at low stresses the deviation from the primary slip plane in the presence of H is lower than the deviation in the uncharged Fe. The deviation angle decreases with increasing H concentration; (ii) at higher shear stresses, the higher probability for kink-pair formation in the secondary (110) planes in the presence of H, leads to an enhanced deviation from the primary slip plane, which increases with increasing H concentration. We use the results of stress-relaxation tests and SCkMC simulations to propose an explanation for the formation of dislocation cell structures in pure and hydrogen charged Fe in the cold-rolled and annealed samples.
Comparative Study and Multi-Objective Crashworthiness Optimization Design of Foam and Honeycomb-Filled Novel Aluminum Thin-Walled Tubes
Authors: Tao Yi , Wang Yonghui , He Qiang , Xu Daoming , Li Lizheng
Published: December 2022

Due to their lightweight, porous and excellent energy absorption characteristics, foam and honeycomb materials have been widely used for filling energy absorbing devices. For further improving the energy absorption performance of the novel tube proposed in our recent work, the nonlinear dynamics software Abaqus was firstly used to establish and verify the simulation model of aluminum-filled tube. Then, the crashworthiness of honeycomb-filled tubes, foam-filled tubes and empty tube under axial load was systematically compared and analyzed. Furthermore, a comparative analysis of the mechanical behavior of filled tubes subjected to bending load was carried out based on the study of dynamic response curve, specific energy absorption and deformation mechanism, the difference in energy absorption performance between them was also revealed. Finally, the most promising filling structure with excellent crashworthiness under lateral load was optimized. The research results show that the novel thin-walled structures filled with foam or honeycomb both show better energy absorption characteristics, with an increase of at least 8.8% in total absorbed energy. At the same time, the mechanical properties of this kind of filled structure are closely related to the filling styles. Foam filling will greatly damage the weight efficiency of the novel thin-walled tube. However, honeycomb filling is beneficial to the improvement of SEA, which can be improved by up to 18.2%.
TLR4/CD14/MD2 Revealed as the Limited Toll-like Receptor Complex for Chlamydia trachomatis-Induced NF-κB Signaling
Authors: Klasinc Romana , Battin Claire , Paster Wolfgang , Reiter Michael , Schatzlmaier Philipp , Rhein Peter , Spittler Andreas , Steinberger Peter , Stockinger Hannes
Published: December 2022

Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) is the most common cause of genital tract infections as well as preventable blindness worldwide. Pattern recognition receptors such as toll-like receptors (TLRs) represent the initial step in recognizing pathogenic microorganisms and are crucial for the initiation of an appropriate immune response. However, our understanding of TLR-signaling in Chlamydia-infected immune cells is incomplete. For a better comprehension of pathological inflammatory responses, robust models for interrogating TLR-signaling upon chlamydial infections are needed. To analyze the TLR response, we developed and utilized a highly sensitive and selective fluorescent transcriptional cellular reporter system to measure the activity of the transcription factor NF-κB. Upon incubation of the reporter cells with different preparations of Ct, we were able to pinpoint which components of TLRs are involved in the recognition of Ct. We identified CD14 associated with unique characteristics of different serovars as the crucial factor of the TLR4/CD14/MD2 complex for Ct-mediated activation of the NF-κB pathway. Furthermore, we found the TLR4/CD14/MD2 complex to be decisive for the uptake of Ct-derived lipopolysaccharides but not for infection and replication of Ct. Imaging flow cytometry provided information about inclusion formation in myeloid- as well as lymphocytic cells and was highest for Ct L2 with at least 25% of inclusion forming cells. Ct E inclusion formation was eminent in Jurkat cells without CD14 expression (11.1%). Thus, our model enables to determine Ct uptake and signal induction by pinpointing individual components of the recognition and signaling pathways to better understand the immune response towards infectious pathogens.
Effects of Helicobacter pylori and Nitrate-Reducing Bacteria Coculture on Cells
Authors: Ojima Hinako , Kuraoka Sakiko , Okanoue Shyoutarou , Okada Hiroyuki , Gotoh Kazuyoshi , Matsushita Osamu , Watanabe Akari , Yokota Kenji
Published: December 2022

Helicobacter pylori infection is an important risk factor for developing gastric cancer. However, only a few H. pylori-infected people develop gastric cancer. Thus, other risk factors aside from H. pylori infection may be involved in gastric cancer development. This study aimed to investigate whether the nitrate-reducing bacteria isolated from patients with atrophic gastritis caused by H. pylori infection are risk factors for developing atrophic gastritis and gastric neoplasia. Nitrate-reducing bacteria were isolated from patients with atrophic gastritis caused by H. pylori infection. Among the isolated bacteria, Actinomyces oris, Actinomyces odontolyticus, Rothia dentocariosa, and Rothia mucilaginosa were used in the subsequent experiments. Cytokine inducibility was evaluated in monocytic cells, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity and cell cycle were assessed in the gastric epithelial cells. The cytotoxicities and neutrophil-inducing abilities of the Actinomyces and Rothia species were enhanced when cocultured with H. pylori. Th1/Th2-related cytokines were also expressed, but their expression levels differed depending on the bacterial species. Moreover, H. pylori and Actinomyces activated MAPK (ERK and p38) and affected cell cycle progression. Some nitrate-reducing bacteria cocultured with H. pylori may promote inflammation and atrophy by inducing cytokine production. In addition, the MAPK activation and cell cycle progression caused by these bacteria can contribute to gastric cancer development.
Chemical Constituents and Anti-Angiogenic Principles from a Marine Algicolous Penicillium sumatraense SC29
Authors: Hsi Hsiao-Yang , Wang Shih-Wei , Cheng Chia-Hsiung , Pang Ka-Lai , Leu Jyh-Yih , Chang Szu-Hsing , Lee Yen-Tung , Kuo Yueh-Hsiung , Huang Chia-Ying , Lee Tzong-Huei
Published: December 2022

In this study, a marine brown alga Sargassum cristaefolium-derived fungal strain, Penicillium sumatraense SC29, was isolated and identified. Column chromatography of the extracts from liquid fermented products of the fungal strain was carried out and led to the isolation of six compounds. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and supported by single-crystal X-ray diffraction as four previously undescribed (R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid and glycolic acid derivatives, namely penisterines A (1) and C–E (3–5) and penisterine A methyl ether (2), isolated for the first time from natural resources, along with (R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid (6). Of these compounds identified, penisterine E (5) was a unique 6/6/6-tricyclic ether with an acetal and two hemiketal functionalities. All the isolates were subjected to in vitro anti-angiogenic assays using a human endothelial progenitor cell (EPCs) platform. Among these, penisterine D (4) inhibited EPC growth, migration, and tube formation without any cytotoxic effect. Further, in in vivo bioassays, the percentages of angiogenesis of compound 3 on Tg (fli1:EGFP) transgenic zebrafish were 54% and 37% as the treated concentration increased from 10.2 to 20.4 µg/mL, respectively, and the percentages of angiogenesis of compound 4 were 52% and 41% as the treated concentration increased from 8.6 to 17.2 µg/mL, respectively. The anti-angiogenic activity of penisterine D (4) makes it an attractive candidate for further preclinical investigation.
Unsymmetrical Strategy on α-Diimine Nickel and Palladium Mediated Ethylene (Co)Polymerizations
Authors: Ma Xin , Zhang Yixin , Jian Zhongbao
Published: December 2022

Among various catalyst design strategies used in the α-diimine nickel(II) and palladium(II) catalyst systems, the unsymmetrical strategy is an effective and widely utilized method. In this contribution, unsymmetrical nickel and palladium α-diimine catalysts (Ipty/iPr-Ni and Ipty/iPr-Pd) derived from the dibenzobarrelene backbone were constructed via the combination of pentiptycenyl and diisopropylphenyl substituents, and investigated toward ethylene (co)polymerization. Both of these catalysts were capable of polymerizing ethylene in a broad temperature range of 0–120 °C, in which Ipty/iPr-Ni could maintain activity in the level of 106 g mol−1 h−1 even at 120 °C. The branching densities of polyethylenes generated by both nickel and palladium catalysts could be modulated by the reaction temperature. Compared with symmetrical Ipty-Ni and iPr-Ni, Ipty/iPr-Ni exhibited the highest activity, the highest polymer molecular weight, and the lowest branching density. In addition, Ipty/iPr-Pd could produce copolymers of ethylene and methyl acrylate, with the polar monomer incorporating both on the main chain and the terminal of branches. Remarkably, the ratio of the in-chain and end-chain polar monomer incorporations could be modulated by varying the temperature.
Target Identification of 22-(4-Pyridinecarbonyl) Jorunnamycin A, a Tetrahydroisoquinoline Derivative from the Sponge Xestospongia sp., in Mediating Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Cell Apoptosis
Authors: Iksen Iksen , Sinsook Suwimon , Wattanathamsan Onsurang , Buaban Koonchira , Chamni Supakarn , Pongrakhananon Varisa
Published: December 2022

A dysregulation of the cell-death mechanism contributes to poor prognosis in lung cancer. New potent chemotherapeutic agents targeting apoptosis-deregulating molecules have been discovered. In this study, 22-(4-pyridinecarbonyl) jorunnamycin A (22-(4′py)-JA), a synthetic derivative of bistetrahydroisoquinolinequinone from the Thai blue sponge, was semisynthesized by the Steglich esterification method, and its pharmacological mechanism in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was elucidated by a network pharmacology approach. All predicted targets of 22-(4′py)-JA and genes related to NSCLC were retrieved from drug-target and gene databases. A total of 78 core targets were identified, and their associations were analyzed by STRING and Cytoscape. Gene ontology and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses revealed that molecules in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling were potential targets of 22-(4′py)-JA in the induction of NSCLC apoptosis. In silico molecular docking analysis displayed a possible interaction of ERK1/2 and MEK1 with 22-(4′py)-JA. In vitro anticancer activity showed that 22-(4′py)-JA has strong cytotoxic and apoptosis-inducing effects in H460, H292 and A549 NSCLC cells. Furthermore, immunoblotting confirmed that 22-(4′py)-JA induced apoptotic cell death in an ERK/MEK/Bcl-2-dependent manner. The present study demonstrated that 22-(4′py)-JA exhibited a potent anticancer effect that could be further developed for clinical application and showed that network pharmacology approaches are a powerful tool to illustrate the molecular pathways of new drugs or compounds.
Valorization of Citrus Reticulata Peels for Flavonoids and Antioxidant Enhancement by Solid-State Fermentation Using Aspergillus niger CGMCC 3.6189
Authors: Mamy Daniel , Huang Yuanyuan , Akpabli-Tsigbe Nelson Dzidzorgbe Kwaku , Battino Maurizio , Chen Xiumin
Published: December 2022

The bioactive components and bioactivities of citrus peel can be enhanced with microbial fermentation. Accordingly, this study investigated the ability of Aspergillus niger CGMCC3.6189 to accumulate flavonoids in Citrus reticulata peel powder (CRPP) by solid-state fermentation (SSF). Under the optimal SSF conditions including 80% moisture, 30 °C, pH 4.0, 4 × 107 spores/g d.w. CRPP, and 192 h, the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) scavenging activities of fermented CRPP significantly increased by 70.0, 26.8, 64.9, and 71.6%, respectively. HPLC analysis showed that after fermentation, the contents of hesperidin, nobiletin, and tangeretin were significantly increased from 19.36, 6.31, and 2.91 mg/g to 28.23, 7.78, and 3.49 mg/g, respectively, while the contents of ferulic acid and narirutin were decreased under the optimal fermentation conditions. Fermentation time is one of the most important factors that affect the accumulation of flavonoids and antioxidant activity; however, extended fermentation time increased the darkness of CRPP color. Therefore, our study provides a feasible and effective SSF method to increase the bioactive components and the antioxidant activity of CRPP that may be used in food, nutraceutical, and medicinal industries.
Effect of Organic Cation on Optical Properties of [A]Mn(H2POO)3 Hybrid Perovskites
Authors: Stefańska Dagmara
Published: December 2022

Hybrid organic–inorganic compounds crystallizing in a three-dimensional (3D) perovskite-type architecture have attracted considerable attention due to their multifunctional properties. One of the most intriguing groups is perovskites with hypophosphite linkers. Herein, the optical properties of six hybrid hypophosphite perovskites containing manganese ions are presented. The band gaps of these compounds, as well as the luminescence properties of the octahedrally coordinated Mn2+ ions associated with the 4T1g(G) → 6A1g(S) transition are shown to be dependent on the organic cation type and Goldschmidt tolerance factor. Thus, a correlation between essential structural features of Mn-based hybrid hypophosphites and their optical properties was observed. Additionally, the broad infrared luminescence of the studied compounds was examined for potential application in an indoor lighting system for plant growth.
Ranolazine Interacts Antagonistically with Some Classical Antiepileptic Drugs—An Isobolographic Analysis
Authors: Borowicz-Reutt Kinga , Banach Monika
Published: December 2022

Ranolazine, an antianginal and antiarrhythmic drug blocking slow inactivating persistent sodium currents, is described as a compound with anticonvulsant potential. Since arrhythmia often accompanies seizures, patients suffering from epilepsy are frequently co-treated with antiepileptic and antiarrhythmic drugs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ranolazine on maximal-electroshock (MES)-induced seizures in mice as well as interactions between ranolazine and classical antiepileptic drugs in this model of epilepsy. Types of pharmacodynamic interactions were established by isobolographic analysis of obtained data. The main findings of the study were that ranolazine behaves like an antiseizure drug in the MES test. Moreover, ranolazine interacted antagonistically with carbamazepine, phenytoin, and phenobarbital in the proportions of 1:3 and 1:1. These interactions occurred pharmacodynamic, since ranolazine did not change the brain levels of antiepileptic drugs measured in the fluorescence polarization immunoassay. Ranolazine and its combinations with carbamazepine, phenytoin, and phenobarbital did not impair motor coordination evaluated in the chimney test. Unfortunately, an attempt to conduct a passive avoidance task (evaluating long-term memory) resulted in ranolazine-induced delayed lethality. In conclusion, ranolazine exhibits clear-cut anticonvulsant properties in the MES test but interacts antagonistically with some antiepileptic drugs. The obtained results need confirmation in clinical studies. The mechanisms of ranolazine-induced toxicity require specific explanation.