bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stereotactic MR-Guided Radiotherapy for Adrenal Gland Metastases: First Clinical Results
Authors: Michalet Morgan , Bettaïeb Ons , Khalfi Samia , Ghorbel Asma , Valdenaire Simon , Debuire Pierre , Aillères Norbert , Draghici Roxana , De Méric De Bellefon Mailys , Charissoux Marie , Boisselier Pierre , Demontoy Sylvain , Marguerit Alexis , Cabaillé Morgane , Cantaloube Marie , Keskes Aïcha , Bouhafa Touria , Farcy-Jacquet Marie-Pierre , Fenoglietto Pascal , Azria David , Riou Olivier
Published: December 2022

Stereotactic MR-guided Radiotherapy (MRgRT) is an interesting treatment option for adrenal gland metastases (AGM). We reviewed data from 12 consecutive patients treated with MRgRT for an AGM in our center between 14 November 2019 and 17 August 2021. Endpoints were tolerance assessment, the impact of adaptive treatment on target volume coverage and organs at risk (OAR) sparing, local control (LC), and overall survival (OS). The majority of patients were oligometastatic (58.3%), with 6 right AGM, 5 left AGM and 1 left and right AGM. The prescribed dose was 35 to 50 Gy in 3 to 5 fractions. The median PTV V95% on the initial plan was 95.74%. The median V95% of the PTVoptimized (PTVopt) on the initial plan was 95.26%. Thirty-eight (69%) fractions were adapted. The PTV coverage was significantly improved for adapted plans compared to predicted plans (median PTV V95% increased from 89.85% to 91.17%, p = 0.0478). The plan adaptation also significantly reduced Dmax for the stomach and small intestine. The treatment was well tolerated with no grade > 2 toxicities. With a median follow-up of 15.5 months, the 1–year LC and OS rate were 100% and 91.7%. Six patients (50%) presented a metastatic progression, and one patient (8.3%) died of metastatic evolution during the follow-up. Adaptation of the treatment plan improved the overall dosimetric quality of MRI-guided radiotherapy. A longer follow-up is required to assess late toxicities and clinical results.
Impacts of Land Use Types, Soil Properties, and Topography on Baseflow Recharge and Prediction in an Agricultural Watershed
Authors: Wei Chong , Dong Xiaohua , Ma Yaoming , Zhao Wenyi , Yu Dan , Tayyab Muhammad , Bo Huijuan
Published: December 2022

Baseflow is an essential component of runoff, which is the dominant water resource for the dry season. To better manage water resources, it is vital to investigate the links between the multiple influencing factors and the baseflow for better prediction in light of global changes. Previous studies have seldom separated these influencing factors in the analysis, making it difficult to determine their effect on the baseflow. In this study, based on the analysis datasets generated by the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model, the control single variables, correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression (MRL) methods were firstly combined to analyze the influences of the chosen factors (land use, topography, and soil type) on the baseflow. The findings revealed that the ability of precipitation to replenish the baseflow was better in areas with a higher slope. The ability of precipitation to recharge the baseflow for different land uses was ranked as “forest land > grass land > agricultural land > urban land”; land use factors should be added to the baseflow prediction equation. The hydrological group is the main property of soil affecting the baseflow recharge. A regression model established using publicly acquired remote sensing data had a good performance (R2 = 0.84) on baseflow prediction on an annual scale. As a result of this information, relevant government officials and environmentalists may better manage water supplies in drought years. In addition, this regression model frame has the potential to be used for a baseflow inquiry inside an ungauged zone for a better ecological assessment.
The Future of Laser Acupuncture—Robot-Assisted Laser Stimulation and Evaluation
Authors: Litscher Gerhard
Published: December 2022

This brief contribution is part of a Special Issue entitled ‘Laser Acupuncture: Past, Present and Future’ and primarily deals with the future of laser acupuncture from the author’s perspective. The procedure from developing the first laser to robot-assisted laser acupuncture is briefly shown. The latter has already become a reality and, in the near future, will be made accessible to a broad group of patients as a home treatment system developed by researchers from Taiwan. The new equipment is based on a smartphone with integrated artificial intelligence methods (e.g., automatic image recognition).
ALS-L1023 from Melissa officinalis Alleviates Liver Fibrosis in a Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Model
Authors: Lee Eun Jeoung , Kim Yun , Kim Ji Eun , Yoon Eileen Laurel , Lee Sung Ryol , Jun Dae Won
Published: December 2022

ALS-L1023 is an ingredient extracted from Melissa officinalis L. (Labiatae; lemon balm), which is known as a natural medicine that suppresses angiogenesis. Herein, we aimed to determine whether ALS-L1023 could alleviate liver fibrosis in the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) model. C57BL/6 wild-type male mice (age, 6 weeks old) were fed a choline-deficient high-fat diet (CDHFD) for 10 weeks to induce NAFLD. For the next 10 weeks, two groups of mice received the test drug along with CDHFD. Two doses (a low dose, 800 mg/kg/day; and a high dose, 1200 mg/kg/day) of ALS-L1023 were selected and mixed with feed for administration. Obeticholic acid (OCA; 10 mg/kg/day) was used as the positive control. Biochemical analysis revealed that the ALS-L1023 low-dose group had significantly decreased alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase. The area of fibrosis significantly decreased due to the administration of ALS-L1023, and the anti-fibrotic effect of ALS-L1023 was greater than that of OCA. RNA sequencing revealed that the responder group had lower expression of genes related to the hedgehog-signaling pathway than the non-responder group. ALS-L1023 may exert anti-fibrotic effects in the NAFLD model, suggesting that it may provide potential benefits for the treatment of liver fibrosis.
Lack of Skeletal Effects in Mice with Targeted Disruptionof Prolyl Hydroxylase Domain 1 (Phd1) Gene Expressed in Chondrocytes
Authors: Xing Weirong , Larkin Destiney , Pourteymoor Sheila , Tambunan William , Gomez Gustavo A. , Liu Elaine K. , Mohan Subburaman
Published: December 2022

The critical importance of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)s in the regulation of endochondral bone formation is now well established. HIF protein levels are closely regulated by the prolyl hydroxylase domain-containing protein (PHD) mediated ubiquitin-proteasomal degradation pathway. Of the three PHD family members expressed in bone, we previously showed that mice with conditional disruption of the Phd2 gene in chondrocytes led to a massive increase in the trabecular bone mass of the long bones. By contrast, loss of Phd3 expression in chondrocytes had no skeletal effects. To investigate the role of Phd1 expressed in chondrocytes on skeletal development, we conditionally disrupted the Phd1 gene in chondrocytes by crossing Phd1 floxed mice with Collagen 2α1-Cre mice for evaluation of a skeletal phenotype. At 12 weeks of age, neither body weight nor body length was significantly different in the Cre+; Phd1flox/flox conditional knockout (cKO) mice compared to Cre−; Phd1flox/flox wild-type (WT) control mice. Micro-CT measurements revealed significant gender differences in the trabecular bone volume adjusted for tissue volume at the secondary spongiosa of the femur and the tibia for both genotypes, but no genotype differences were found for any of the trabecular bone measurements of either femur or tibia. Similarly, cortical bone parameters were not affected in the Phd1 cKO mice compared to control mice. Histomorphometric analyses revealed no significant differences in bone area, bone formation rate or mineral apposition rate in the secondary spongiosa of femurs between cKO and WT control mice. Loss of Phd1 expression in chondrocytes did not affect the expression of markers of chondrocytes (collage 2, collagen 10) or osteoblasts (alkaline phosphatase, bone sialoprotein) in the bones of cKO mice. Based on these and our published data, we conclude that of the three PHD family members, only Phd2 expressed in chondrocytes regulates endochondral bone formation and development of peak bone mass in mice.
Computational Analysis on Antioxidant Activity of Four Characteristic Structural Units from Persimmon Tannin
Authors: Wang Zhongmin , Liu Zhigao , Wu Chenxi , Liu Songlin , Wang Dianhui , Hu Chaohao , Chen Tao , Ran Zhaojin , Gan Weijiang , Li Guiyin
Published: December 2022

Antioxidants are molecules that can prevent the harmful effects of oxygen, help capture and neutralize free radicals, and thus eliminate the damage of free radicals to the human body. Persimmon tannin (PT) has excellent antioxidant activity, which is closely related to its molecular structure. We report here a comparative study of four characteristic structural units from PT (epicatechin gallate (ECG), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), A−type linked ECG dimer (A−ECG dimer), A−type linked EGCG dimer (A−EGCG dimer)) to explore the structure–activity relationship by using the density functional theory. Based on the antioxidation mechanism of hydrogen atom transfer, the most favorable active site for each molecule exerts antioxidant activity is determined. The structural parameters, molecular electrostatic potential, and frontier molecular orbital indicate that the key active sites are located on the phenolic hydroxyl group of the B ring for ECG and EGCG monomers, and the key active sites of the two dimers are located on the phenolic hydroxyl groups of the A and D’ rings. The natural bond orbital and bond dissociation energy of the phenolic hydroxyl hydrogen atom show that the C11−OH in the ECG monomer and the C12−OH in the EGCG monomer are the most preferential sites, respectively. The most active site of the two A−linked dimers is likely located on the D’ ring C20′ phenolic hydroxyl group. Based on computational analysis of quantum chemical parameters, the A−ECG dimer is a more potent antioxidant than the A−EGCG dimer, ECG, and EGCG. This computational analysis provides the structure–activity relationship of the four characteristic units which will contribute to the development of the application of PT antioxidants in the future.
Establish TiNb2O7@C as Fast-Charging Anode for Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Gong Shuya , Wang Yue , Li Meng , Wen Yuehua , Xu Bin , Wang Hong , Qiu Jingyi , Li Bin
Published: December 2022

Intercalation-type metal oxides are promising active anode materials for the fabrication of safer rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, as they are capable of minimizing or even eliminating Li plating at low voltages. Due to the excellent cycle performance, high specific capacity and appropriate working potential, TiNb2O7 (TNO) is considered to be the candidate of anode materials. Despite a lot of beneficial characteristics, the slow electrochemical kinetics of the TNO-based anodes limits their wide use. In this paper, TiNb2O7@C was prepared by using the self-polymerization coating characteristics of dopamine to enhance the rate-performance and cycling stability. The TNO@C-2 particles present ideal rate performance with the discharge capacity of 295.6 mA h g−1 at 0.1 C. Moreover, the TNO@C-2 anode materials exhibit initial discharge capacity of 177.4 mA h g−1, providing 91% of capacity retention after 400 cycles at 10 C. The outstanding electrochemical performance can be contributed to the carbon layer, which builds fast lithium ion paths, enhancing the electrical conductivity of TNO. All these results confirm that TNO@C is a valid methodology to enhance rate-performance and cycling stability and is a new way to provide reliable and quickly rechargeable energy storage resources.
Online System Prognostics with Ensemble Models and Evolving Clustering
Authors: Tseng Fling , Filev Dimitar , Yildirim Murat , Chinnam Ratna Babu
Published: December 2022

An online evolving clustering (OEC) method equivalent to ensemble modeling is proposed to tackle prognostics problems of learning and the prediction of remaining useful life (RUL). During the learning phase, OEC extracts predominant operating modes as multiple evolving clusters (EC). Each EC is associated with its own Weibull distribution-inspired degradation (survivability) model that will receive incremental online modifications as degradation signals become available. Example case studies from machining (drilling) and automotive brake-pad wear prognostics are used to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Nata de Cassava Type of Bacterial Cellulose Doped with Phosphoric Acid as a Proton Exchange Membrane
Authors: Kartika Sari Andarany , Mohamad Yunus Rozan , Majlan Edy Herianto , Loh Kee Shyuan , Wong Wai Yin , Saidin Nur Ubaidah , Alva Sagir , Khaerudini Deni Shidqi
Published: December 2022

This work aims to encourage the use of natural materials for advanced energy applications, such as proton exchange membranes in fuel cells. Herein, a new conductive membrane produced from cassava liquid waste was used to overcome environmental pollution and the global crisis of energy. The membrane was phosphorylated through a microwave-assisted method with different phosphoric acid, (H3PO4) concentrations (10–60 mmol). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), swelling behavior test, and contact angle measurement were carried out on the membrane doped with different H3PO4 levels. The phosphorylated NdC (nata de cassava) membrane doped with 20 mmol (NdC20) H3PO4 was successfully modified and significantly achieved proton conductivity (maximum conductivity up to 7.9 × 10−2 S cm−1 at 80 °C). In addition, the fabricated MEA was assembled using an NdC20 membrane with 60 wt% Pt/C loading of 0.5 mg cm−2 for the anode and cathode. Results revealed that a high power density of 25 mW cm−2 was obtained at 40 °C operating temperature for a single-cell performance test. Thus, this membrane has the potential to be used as a proton exchange membrane because it is environment-friendly and inexpensive for fuel cell applications.
Novel PVDF-PEG-CaCO3 Membranes to Achieve the Objectives of the Water Circular Economy by Removing Pharmaceuticals from the Aquatic Environment
Authors: Szwast Maciej , Polak Daniel , Arciszewska Wiktoria , Zielińska Izabela
Published: December 2022

In the aquatic environment, substances of pharmacological origin are common contaminants. The difficulty of removing them from water is a problem for the implementation of a circular economy policy. When recycling water, an effort should be made to remove, or at least, minimize the presence of these substances in the water. Porous membranes with a new functionality consisting in their adsorption capacity towards pharmaceutical substances have been developed. A Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) membrane with Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) nanoparticles as an adsorbent was prepared. By implementing an integrated filtration-adsorption process using sulphadiazine, as a representative of pharmacological substances, 57 mg/m2 of adsorption capacity has been obtained, which is an improvement in adsorption properties of more than 50 times that of a commercial membrane. At the same time the membrane permeability is 0.29 m3/(h·m2·bar), which means that the membrane’s permeability was improved by 75%.
Ion Transport and Process of Water Dissociation in Electromembrane System with Bipolar Membrane: Modelling of Symmetrical Case
Authors: Melnikov Stanislav
Published: December 2022

A model is proposed that describes the transfer of ions and the process of water dissociation in a system with a bipolar membrane and adjacent diffusion layers. The model considers the transfer of four types of ions: the cation and anion of salt and the products of water dissociation—hydrogen and hydroxyl ions. To describe the process of water dissociation, a model for accelerating the dissociation reaction with the participation of ionogenic groups of the membrane is adopted. The boundary value problem is solved numerically using COMSOL® Multiphysics 5.5 software. An analysis of the results of a numerical experiment shows that, at least in a symmetric electromembrane system, there is a kinetic limitation of the water dissociation process, apparently associated with the occurrence of water recombination reaction at the of the bipolar region. An interpretation of the entropy factor (β) is given as a characteristic length, which shows the possibility of an ion that appeared because of the water dissociation reaction to be removed from the reaction zone without participating in recombination reactions.
Systematic Review: Contribution of the Gut Microbiome to the Volatile Metabolic Fingerprint of Colorectal Neoplasia
Authors: van Vorstenbosch Robert , Cheng Hao Ran , Jonkers Daisy , Penders John , Schoon Erik , Masclee Ad , van Schooten Frederik-Jan , Smolinska Agnieszka , Mujagic Zlatan
Published: December 2022

Colorectal cancer (CRC) has been associated with changes in volatile metabolic profiles in several human biological matrices. This enables its non-invasive detection, but the origin of these volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and their relation to the gut microbiome are not yet fully understood. This systematic review provides an overview of the current understanding of this topic. A systematic search using PubMed, Embase, Medline, Cochrane Library, and the Web of Science according to PRISMA guidelines resulted in seventy-one included studies. In addition, a systematic search was conducted that identified five systematic reviews from which CRC-associated gut microbiota data were extracted. The included studies analyzed VOCs in feces, urine, breath, blood, tissue, and saliva. Eight studies performed microbiota analysis in addition to VOC analysis. The most frequently reported dysregulations over all matrices included short-chain fatty acids, amino acids, proteolytic fermentation products, and products related to the tricarboxylic acid cycle and Warburg metabolism. Many of these dysregulations could be related to the shifts in CRC-associated microbiota, and thus the gut microbiota presumably contributes to the metabolic fingerprint of VOC in CRC. Future research involving VOCs analysis should include simultaneous gut microbiota analysis.
Ray Optics Model for Optical Trapping of Biconcave Red Blood Cells
Authors: Tognato Riccardo , Jones Philip H.
Published: December 2022

Red blood cells (RBCs) or erythrocytes are essential for oxygenating the peripherical tissue in the human body. Impairment of their physical properties may lead to severe diseases. Optical tweezers have in experiments been shown to be a powerful tool for assessing the biochemical and biophysical properties of RBCs. Despite this success there has been little theoretical work investigating of the stability of erythrocytes in optical tweezers. In this paper we report a numerical study of the trapping of RBCs in the healthy, native biconcave disk conformation in optical tweezers using the ray optics approximation. We study trapping using both single- and dual-beam optical tweezers and show that the complex biconcave shape of the RBC is a significant factor in determining the optical forces and torques on the cell, and ultimately the equilibrium configuration of the RBC within the trap. We also numerically demonstrate how the addition of a third or even fourth trapping laser beam can be used to control the cell orientation in the optical trap. The present investigation sheds light on the trapping mechanism of healthy erythrocytes and can be exploited by experimentalist to envisage new experiments.
Solitary and Collective Motion Behaviors of TiO2 Microrobots under the Coupling of Multiple Light Fields
Authors: Fan Xinjian , Hu Qihang , Zhang Xin , Sun Lining , Yang Zhan
Published: December 2022

Due to their fascinating solitary and collective behavior, photochemical microrobots have attracted extensive attention from researchers and have obtained a series of outstanding research progress in recent years. However, due to the limitation of using a single light source, the realization of reconfigurable and controllable motion behaviors of the photochemical microrobot is still facing a series of challenges. To release these restrictions, we reported a multi-light-field-coupling-based method for driving the photochemical microrobot or its swarm in a regulatable manner. Here, we first designed a control system for coupling multiple light sources to realize the programmable application of four light sources in different directions. Then a TiO2-based photochemical microrobot was prepared, with its surface electric field distribution under different lighting conditions estimated by modeling-based simulation, where the feasibility of regulating the microrobot’s motion behavior via the proposed setup was verified. Furthermore, our experimental results show that under the action of the compound light fields, we can not only robustly control the motion behavior of a single TiO2 microrobot but also reconfigure its collective behaviors. For example, we realized the free switching of the single TiO2 microrobots’ movement direction, and the controllable diffusion, aggregation, the locomotion and merging of TiO2 microrobot swarms. Our discovery would provide potential means to realize the leap-forward control and application of photochemical microrobots from individuals to swarms, as well as the creation of active materials and intelligent synthetic systems.
Two-Terminal Nonvolatile Write-Once-Read-Many-Times Memory Based on All-Inorganic Halide Perovskite
Authors: Yu Zhipeng , Zhao Xiaofeng , Ai Chunpeng , Fang Xin , Zhao Xiaohan , Wang Yanchao , Zhang Hongquan
Published: December 2022

Write-once-read-many-times (WORM) memory belonging to an important non-volatile memory type achieves the read-only state after the write operation and is used in the fields of data security storage widely. WORM memory has been developed based on a variety of materials. In recent years, halide perovskites have become the research hotspot material for this memory due to its excellent properties. Here, the all-inorganic CsPbBr3 perovskite thin film was prepared on a FTO substrate by using a two-step method. The prepared CsPbBr3 thin films have the characteristics of densely packed crystal grains and smooth surface. The device, having the FTO/CsPbBr3/Al sandwich structure by evaporating the Al electrode onto the CsPbBr3 thin film, represents the typical WORM behavior, with long data retention time (104 s), a low operation voltage (2.1 V) and a low reading voltage (0.1 V). Additionally, the resistance transition mechanism of the resulting WORM devices was analyzed.
Dual-Band MIMO Antenna with Enhanced Isolation for 5G NR Application
Authors: Xi Shuqi , Cai Jing , Shen Lingrong , Li Qiangjuan , Liu Gui
Published: December 2022

A two-port multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) antenna with dual-band characteristics operating at the fifth-generation (5G) new radio (NR) sub-6 GHz n7/n38/n41/n79 bands is proposed. The proposed MIMO antenna is composed of two symmetric antenna elements and a defected ground plane. The antenna element consists of an incomplete circular patch with two L-shaped branches. By applying the defected ground structure and the slotted stub, the current distribution on the ground plane is changed to reduce the mutual coupling between the antenna elements. The measured −10 dB reflection coefficients cover 2.34–2.71 GHz and 3.72–5.10 GHz, while the measured isolation is larger than 20 dB at the whole operating frequency band. The paper has investigated different performance parameters in terms of the envelope correction coefficient (ECC), diversity gain (DG), radiation patterns, antenna gain, and efficiency. The proposed MIMO antenna is suitable for 5G applications.
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate as a Collector in Cassiterite Flotation
Authors: Peng Zaihua , Sun Lei , Cao Yang , Fan Xiaohui , Sun Wei , Wang Qingqing
Published: December 2022

In this paper, sodium lauroyl glutamate (SLG), a stable and inexpensive green surfactant, was used as a flotation collector for the first time in cassiterite flotation. The micro-flotation tests revealed that SLG could effectively collect cassiterite and have superior selectivity against quartz over a wide pH range, compared with benzohydroxamic acid (BHA). The maximum recovery of cassiterite in the presence of SLG was 93.2%, while the quartz recovery was consistently lower than 8%. The adsorption experiments and zeta potential measurements suggested SLG was chemisorbed onto the cassiterite surface. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses indicated that the polar groups of SLG anions (the carboxyl and amide groups) chelate with the Sn ions on the cassiterite surface to form five-membered rings. This structure made SLG attach firmly to the cassiterite surface, effectively recovering cassiterite. Lastly, a good flotation index was achieved in the bench-scale flotation tests using SLG as the collector, which confirmed its potential economic value in practical application.
Pyridinium Salts of Dehydrated Lanthanide Polychlorides
Authors: Cramer Roger E. , Baca Esteban M. , Boyle Timothy J.
Published: December 2022

The reaction of lanthanide (Ln) chloride hydrates ([Ln(H2O)n(Cl)3]) with pyridine (py) yielded a set of dehydrated pyridinium (py-H) Ln-polychloride salts. These species were crystallographically characterized as [[py-H-py][py-H]2[LnCl6]] (Ln-6; Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd) or [[py-H]2[LnCl5(py)]] ((Ln-5; Ln = Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu). The Ln-6 metal centers adopt an octahedral (OC-6) geometry, binding six Cl ligands. The −3 charge is off-set by two py-H moieties and a di-pyridinium (py-H-py) ion. For the Ln-5 species, an OC-6 anion is formed by the Ln cation binding a single py and five Cl ligands. The remaining −2 charge is offset by two py-H+ cations that H-bond to the anion. Significant H-bonding occurs between the various cation/anion moieties inducing the molecular stability. The change in structure from the Ln-6 to Ln-5 is believed to be due to the Ln-contraction producing a smaller unit cell, which prevents formation of the py-H-py+ cation, leading to the loss of the H-bonding-induced stability. Based on this, it was determined that the Ln-5 structures only exist when the lattice energy is small. While dehydrated polychloride salts can be produced by simply mixing in pyridine, the final structures adopted result from a delicate balance of cation size, Coulombic charge, and stabilizing H-bonding.
Benzothiophene Adsorptive Desulfurization onto trihexYl(tetradecyl)phosphonium Dicyanamide Ionic-Liquid-Modified Renewable Carbon: Kinetic, Equilibrium and UV Spectroscopy Investigations
Authors: Habila Mohamed , ALOthman Zied , ALOthman Monerah , Hassouna Mohammed
Published: December 2022

The negative environmental and industrial impacts of the presence of sulfur compounds such as benzothiophene in fuels have led to a greater interest in desulfurization research. In this work, carbon from palm waste sources was modified with trihexYl(tetradecyl)phosphonium dicyanamide-ionic liquid and characterized by SEM, EDS, XRD and FTIR to assess surface properties. Then, the prepared carbon and carbon modified with ionic liquid were evaluated for the adsorption of benzothiophene by investigating the effects of time. The equilibrium occurred after 120 min, recording adsorption capacities of 192 and 238 mg/g for carbon and carbon modified with ionic liquid, respectively. The effect of the adsorbent dose on the adsorption of benzothiophene was evaluated, indicating that the maximum adsorption capacities were obtained using a dose of 1 g/L for both carbon and carbon modified with ionic liquid. The kinetic investigation for the adsorption of benzothiophene onto carbon and carbon modified with ionic liquid indicated that the second-order kinetic model is well fitted with the adsorption data rather than the first-order kinetic model. The equilibrium investigations for the adsorption of benzothiophene onto carbon and carbon modified with ionic liquid with Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models reveals that the Freundlich model is the most suitable for describing the adsorption process, suggesting a multilayer adsorption mechanism. The desulfurization process showed a high impact on environmental safety due to the possibility of regenerating and reusing the prepared adsorbents with promising results up to five cycles.
Physical Mechanism of Spectra in Carbon Nanobelts under Quantum Size Effect
Authors: Li Ning , Zhang Lei , Lu Chen , Sun Ying , Wang Jingang
Published: December 2022

Since the successful synthesis of [6,6]carbon nanobelt (CNB), [8,8]CNB and [12,12]CNB have been synthesized successively. CNBs with different sizes ([2N,2N]CNB; N = 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8) have quantum size effects and exhibit completely different optical properties. In this work, the linear and nonlinear optical properties and spectral changes of [2N,2N]CNB are studied based on density functional theory (DFT). The molecular volume, pore volume, and stability of [2N,2N]CNB are investigated. The electron transition mechanism of the one-photon absorption (OPA) and two-photon absorption (TPA) spectra of [2N,2N]CNB is explained, and the extrapolation formula between the wavelength of the absorption peak and the absorption coefficient (ε) and size is given. The infrared (IR) and Raman spectra of [2N,2N]CNB are calculated, and the vibrational modes of characteristic peaks are provided. Finally, the nonlinear optical properties of [2N,2N]CNB are studied, which reflect the anisotropy of molecular polarization. The extrapolation formulas for the polarizability (α) and second hyperpolarizability (γ) of [2N,2N]CNB under different external fields are given. The extrapolation formulas given in this work will help to predict the linear and nonlinear optical properties of arbitrary [2N,2N]CNB beyond computational power, laying the foundation for the practical application of [2N,2N]CNB’s theoretical basis.
Novel High-Pressure Nanocomposites for Cathode Materials in Sodium Batteries
Authors: Szpakiewicz-Szatan Aleksander , Starzonek Szymon , Pietrzak Tomasz K. , Garbarczyk Jerzy E. , Rzoska Sylwester J. , Boćkowski Michał
Published: December 2022

A new nanocomposite material was prepared by high pressure processing of starting glass of nominal composition NaFePO4. Thermal, structural, electrical and dielectric properties of the prepared samples were studied by differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS). It was demonstrated that high-pressure–high-temperature treatment (HPHT) led to an increase in the electrical conductivity of the initial glasses by two orders of magnitude. It was also shown that the observed effect was stronger than for the lithium analogue of this material studied by us earlier. The observed enhancement of conductivity was explained by Mott’s theory of electron hopping, which is more frequent in samples after pressure treatment. The final composite consisted of nanocrystalline NASICON (sodium (Na) Super Ionic CONductor) and alluaudite phases, which are electrochemically active in potential cathode materials for Na batteries. Average dimensions of crystallites estimated from XRD studies were between 40 and 90 nm, depending on the phase. Some new aspects of local dielectric relaxations in studied materials were also discussed. It was shown that a combination of high pressures and BDS method is a powerful method to study relaxation processes and molecular movements in solids. It was also pointed out that high-pressure cathode materials may exhibit higher volumetric capacities compared with commercially used cathodes with carbon additions.
The Effect of Vitamin E Supplementation in Postmenopausal Women—A Systematic Review
Authors: Feduniw Stepan , Korczyńska Lidia , Górski Konrad , Zgliczyńska Magdalena , Bączkowska Monika , Byrczak Maciej , Kociuba Jakub , Ali Mohamed , Ciebiera Michał
Published: December 2022

Menopause is a physiological change in any woman. Nevertheless, its symptoms could be difficult to accept, and hormone therapy can be sometimes unattractive or contraindicated. Vitamin E components are phytoestrogens, so they are believed to be useful in some indications including menopause. This review aimed to assess the available evidence on the effectiveness of vitamin E in alleviating menopausal symptoms. The Pubmed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library and Scopus databases were screened. All types of studies that assessed the effectiveness of vitamin E in alleviating menopausal symptoms were included. The PICO question was: “How does vitamin E supplementation affect menopausal symptom occurrence?” The PROSPERO ID number of this review is CRD42022328830. After quality assessment, 16 studies were included in the analysis. The studies were divided into three groups in which the influence of vitamin E on the genital syndrome of menopause, vasomotor symptoms and vascular and metabolic changes were assessed. Vitamin E influences postmenopausal hot flashes, vascular modulation, plasma lipid profile level and vaginal changes. Compared to vitamin E, estrogen administration leads to better clinical effects. Nevertheless, vitamin E might serve as additive to hormone therapy and its alternative in women with contraindications to estrogens. More quality data are necessary to draw final conclusions.
Impact of COVID-19 on the Destiny of Bariatric Patients
Authors: Gualtieri Paola , Marchetti Marco , Renzo Laura Di , De Santis Gemma Lou , Palma Roselisa , Colica Carmela , Frank Giulia , De Lorenzo Antonino , Di Lorenzo Nicola
Published: December 2022

Obese patients reported worse outcomes of COVID-19 related to prothrombotic and low-grade inflammation status. During the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, all non-elective surgeries were postponed, including bariatric surgery (BS). This umbrella review wants to underline obesity as a condition provoking low-grade chronic inflammation, and increasing severe COVID-19 risk; to relaunch the prioritization of BS. The literature search was conducted in March 2022 via Pubmed (MEDLINE) and focused on reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses published in peer-reviewed journals. Terms “bariatric surgery” OR “obesity surgery” OR “metabolic surgery” were analyzed with “COVID-19” OR “SARS-CoV-2” using the AND modifier. Only 13 studies of the 406 screened met the objective. The procrastination of BS over the past two years determined a delay in obesity treatment and severe consequences. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on economic costs. Although BS has high costs, a lifetime cost advantage over conventional weight loss methods was demonstrated. As the pandemic continues, health policies must recognize obesity as a disease-predisposing factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection, considering COVID-19 as a new comorbidity mitigable by BS. Care pathways for obese patients in COVID/post-COVID era should be revitalized and the concept of elective surgery attributed to BS should be reformulated.
Bone Disease in Chronic Kidney Disease and Kidney Transplant
Authors: Bellorin-Font Ezequiel , Rojas Eudocia , Martin Kevin J.
Published: December 2022

Chronic Kidney Disease–Mineral and Bone Disorder (CKD-MBD) comprises alterations in calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone (PTH), Vitamin D, and fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) metabolism, abnormalities in bone turnover, mineralization, volume, linear growth or strength, and vascular calcification leading to an increase in bone fractures and vascular disease, which ultimately result in high morbidity and mortality. The bone component of CKD-MBD, referred to as renal osteodystrophy, starts early during the course of CKD as a result of the effects of progressive reduction in kidney function which modify the tight interaction between mineral, hormonal, and other biochemical mediators of cell function that ultimately lead to bone disease. In addition, other factors, such as osteoporosis not apparently dependent on the typical pathophysiologic abnormalities resulting from altered kidney function, may accompany the different varieties of renal osteodystrophy leading to an increment in the risk of bone fracture. After kidney transplantation, these bone alterations and others directly associated or not with changes in kidney function may persist, progress or transform into a different entity due to new pathogenetic mechanisms. With time, these alterations may improve or worsen depending to a large extent on the restoration of kidney function and correction of the metabolic abnormalities developed during the course of CKD. In this paper, we review the bone lesions that occur during both CKD progression and after kidney transplant and analyze the factors involved in their pathogenesis as a means to raise awareness of their complexity and interrelationship.
Nesfatin-1 in Human Milk and Its Association with Infant Anthropometry
Authors: Honoré Karina D. , Bruun Signe , Jacobsen Lotte N. , Domellöf Magnus , Michaelsen Kim F. , Husby Steffen , Zachariassen Gitte
Published: December 2022

Breastfed infants have different growth patterns to formula-fed infants and are less likely to develop obesity later in life. Nesfatin-1 is an anorexigenic adipokine that was discovered in human milk more than a decade ago, and its role in infant appetite regulation is not clear. Our aim was to describe nesfatin-1 levels in human milk collected 3–4 months postpartum, associations with infant anthropometry, and factors (maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (mBMI), high weight gain during pregnancy, milk fat, and energy content) possibly influencing nesfatin-1 levels. We hypothesized that nesfatin-1 levels in mother’s milk would differ for infants that were large (high weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ)) or small (low WAZ) at the time of milk sample collection. We used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect the nesfatin-1 concentration in milk samples from mothers to high WAZ (n = 50) and low WAZ (n = 50) infants. We investigated associations between nesfatin-1 levels and infant anthropometry at 3–4 months of age and growth since birth, using linear regression adjusted for mBMI, birth weight, infant sex, and exclusivity of breastfeeding. We found no difference in nesfatin-1 levels between the two groups and no association with infant anthropometry, even after adjusting for potential confounders. However, high nesfatin-1 levels were correlated with low mBMI. Future research should investigate serum nesfatin-1 level in both mothers, infants and associations with growth in breastfed children.
Canine Distemper Virus in Endangered Species: Species Jump, Clinical Variations, and Vaccination
Authors: Wilkes Rebecca P.
Published: December 2022

Canine morbillivirus (Canine distemper virus, CDV) is the cause of distemper in a large number of different species, some of which are endangered. The clinical outcome associated with infection is variable and based on many factors, including the host species, the immune response of the individual animal to the infection, and variation in virus tropism and virulence. Unfortunately, the viral characteristics associated with virulence versus attenuation are not fully characterized, nor are the specific mutations that allow this virus to easily move and adapt from one species to another. Due to its wide host range, this virus is difficult to manage in ecosystems that are home to endangered species. Vaccination of the domestic dog, historically considered the reservoir species for this virus, at dog-wildlife interfaces has failed to control virus spread. CDV appears to be maintained by a metareservoir rather than a single species, requiring the need to vaccinate the wildlife species at risk. This is controversial, and there is a lack of a safe, effective vaccine for nondomestic species. This review focuses on topics that are paramount to protecting endangered species from a stochastic event, such as a CDV outbreak, that could lead to extinction.
Advances in Anti-Diabetic Cognitive Dysfunction Effect of Erigeron Breviscapus (Vaniot) Hand-Mazz
Authors: Gu Shanye , Zhou Ziyi , Zhang Shijie , Cai Yefeng
Published: December 2022

Diabetic cognitive dysfunction (DCD) is the decline in memory, learning, and executive function caused by diabetes. Although its pathogenesis is unclear, molecular biologists have proposed various hypotheses, including insulin resistance, amyloid β hypothesis, tau protein hyperphosphorylation hypothesis, oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. DCD patients have no particular treatment options and current pharmacological regimens are suboptimal. In recent years, Chinese medicine research has shown that herbs with multi-component, multi-pathway and multi-target synergistic activities can prevent and treat DCD. Yunnan is home to the medicinal herb Erigeron breviscapus (Vant.) Hand-Mazz. (EBHM). Studies have shown that EBHM and its active components have a wide range of pharmacological effects and applications in cognitive disorders. EBHM’s anti-DCD properties have been seldom reviewed. Through a literature study, we were able to evaluate the likely pathophysiology of DCD, prescribe anti-DCD medication and better grasp EBHM’s therapeutic potential. EBHM’s pharmacological mechanism and active components for DCD treatment were also summarized.
Fabrication, Optimization, and Characterization of Antibacterial Electrospun Shellac Fibers Loaded with Kaempferia parviflora Extract
Authors: Krongrawa Wantanwa , Limmatvapirat Sontaya , Vollrath Mont Kumpugdee , Kittakoop Prasat , Saibua Supachai , Limmatvapirat Chutima
Published: December 2022

This study aimed to develop a Kaempferia parviflora (KP) extract based on electrospun shellac fibers capable of transporting methoxyflavones. This study used a Box–Behnken design to determine the optimal production parameters that influence the fiber diameter and bead-to-fiber ratio responses. The optimization step produced fibers with a small diameter (574 nm) and a lower bead-to-fiber ratio (0.48 beads per fiber) by combining 37.25% w/w shellac and 1.50% w/w KP extract with a solution feed rate of 0.8 mL/h and an electrical voltage of 18 kV. The KP extract was found to be dispersed throughout the electrospun shellac fibers during the characterization study. The results were highly correlated with the theoretical values, indicating that the regression models used to predict the response variables were adequate. A study of in vitro dissolution confirmed that KP extract-loaded electrospun shellac fibers could produce a sustained-release profile within 10 h. Additionally, KP-infused shellac fibers demonstrated antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. This KP loading method combined with shellac properties provided a new delivery system and could be used to explore novel biomedical materials.
Diammonium Glycyrrhizinate-Based Micelles for Improving the Hepatoprotective Effect of Baicalin: Characterization and Biopharmaceutical Study
Authors: Dai Xingxing , Liao Yuyao , Yang Cuiting , Zhang Yingying , Feng Minfang , Tian Yuting , Qu Qingsong , Sheng Mengke , Li Zhixun , Peng Xinhui , Cen Shuai , Shi Xinyuan
Published: December 2022

Saponins are an important class of surface-active substances. When formulated as an active ingredient or co-used with other drugs, the effect of their surface activity on efficacy or safety must be considered. In this paper, diammonium glycyrrhizinate (DG), a clinical hepatoprotective drug that has long been used as a biosurfactant, was taken as the research object to study its combined hepatoprotective effect with baicalin (BAI). Animal experiments proved that the preparation of DG and BAI integrated into micelles (BAI-DG Ms) had a better protective effect on acute liver injury caused by carbon tetrachloride than the direct combined use of the two. From the perspective of biopharmaceutics, the synergistic mechanism of BAI-DG Ms was further explored. The results showed that after forming BAI-DG Ms with DG, the solubility of BAI increased by 4.75 to 6.25 times, and the cumulative percentage release in the gastrointestinal tract also increased by 2.42 times. In addition, the negatively charged BAI-DG Ms were more likely to penetrate the mucus layer and be absorbed by endocytosis. These findings provide support for the rational application of glycyrrhizin, and other saponins.
A Comparative Study between A Protein Based Amorphous Formulation and Other Dissolution Rate Enhancing Approaches: A Case Study with Rifaximin
Authors: Zhuo Xuezhi , Margrethe Brekstad Kjellin Maud , Schaal Zarah , Zhang Tengyu , Löbmann Korbinian , Leng Donglei
Published: December 2022

Amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) based on proteins as co-formers have previously shown promising potential to improve the solubility and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. In particular, whey proteins have shown to be promising co-formers and amorphous stabilizers in ASD formulations, including at high drug loading. In this study, the feasibility of the whey protein β-lactoglobulin (BLG) as a co-former in ASDs was compared to the more traditional ASD co-formers based on synthetic polymers (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate and Eudragit® L) as well as to a nanocrystalline formulation. The poorly water-soluble drug rifaximin (RFX) was chosen as the model drug. All drug/co-former formulations were prepared as fully amorphous ASDs by spray drying at 50% (w/w) drug loading. The BLG-based ASD had the highest glass transition temperature and showed a faster dissolution rate and higher drug solubility in three release media with different pH values (1.2, 4.5, and 6.5) compared to the polymer-based ASDs and the nanocrystalline RFX. In conclusion, BLG is a promising co-former and amorphous stabilizer of RFX in ASD formulations, superior to the selected polymer-based ASD systems or the nanocrystalline formulation.
Multi Omics Analysis Revealed a Resistance Mechanism of Tibetan Barley (Hordeum vulgare L., Qingke) Infected by Ustilago hordei
Authors: Li Juan , Zhang Jixiang , Wu Tao , Liu Pei , Li Pu , Yao Xiaobo , Liu Hechun , Ciren Yangla
Published: December 2022

Tibetan barley (Hordeum vulgare L., qingke) is the principal cereal cultivated on Tibet. Ustilago hordei causing covered smut is a serious disease that limits the yield of qingke. Here, based on multi omics study including metabolome, proteome and transcriptome, we show that during infection, primary metabolisms such as carbohydrate, amino acid, and lipids were significantly changed. Jasmonic acid, which perform as a biotic stress signaler, was significantly repressed, and related genes or proteins also showed different expression in infected qingke. In addition, other defense-related compounds such as riboflavin, ascorbic acid, and protease inhibitors were also detected in omics data. Our results revealed a preliminary biological profile of qingke infected by U. hordei and provide a resource for further research.
Functional Divergence Analysis of AGL6 Genes in Prunus mume
Authors: Wang Lei , Song Jinhai , Han Xu , Yu Yunyan , Wu Qikui , Qi Shuai , Xu Zongda
Published: December 2022

The AGAMOUS-LIKE6 (AGL6) lineage is an important clade of MADS-box transcription factors that play essential roles in floral organ development. The genome of Prunus mume contains two homoeologous AGL6 genes that are replicated as gene fragments. In this study, two AGL6 homologs, PmAGL6-1 and PmAGL6-2, were cloned from P. mume and then functionally characterized. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analyses grouped both genes into the AGL6 lineage. The expression patterns and protein–protein interaction patterns showed significant differences between the two genes. However, the ectopic expression of the two genes in Arabidopsis thaliana resulted in similar phenotypes, including the promotion of flowering, alteration of floral organ structure, participation in the formation of the floral meristem and promotion of pod bending. Therefore, gene duplication has led to some functional divergence of PmAGL6-1 and PmAGL6-2 but their functions are similar. We thus speculated that AGL6 genes play a crucial role in flower development in P. mume.