bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Radiographic Progression-Free Survival and PSA Response on Sequential Treatment Using Abiraterone and Enzalutamide for Newly Diagnosed Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: A Propensity Score Matched Analysis from Multicenter Cohort
Authors: Komura Kazumasa , Fujiwara Yuya , Uchimoto Taizo , Saito Kenkichi , Tanda Naoki , Matsunaga Tomohisa , Ichihashi Atsushi , Tsutsumi Takeshi , Tsujino Takuya , Yoshikawa Yuki , Nishimoto Yudai , Takai Tomoaki , Minami Koichiro , Taniguchi Kohei , Tanaka Tomohito , Uehara Hirofumi , Hirano Hajime , Nomi Hayahito , Ibuki Naokazu , Takahara Kiyoshi , Inamoto Teruo , Azuma Haruhito
Published: August 2019

Background: There is emerging evidence that radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) is highly correlated with overall survival (OS), potentially serving as an indicator of treatment outcome for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). The objective of this study is to assess rPFS and prostate specific antigen (PSA) response in sequential treatment using androgen signaling inhibitors (ASIs) including abiraterone and enzalutamide in newly diagnosed CRPC. Methods: Propensity score matching was performed to reduce bias by confounding factors between first-line ASIs. The primary endpoints of the study included rPFS, time to PSA progression (TTPP), and PSA response. Results: A paired-matched group of 184 patients were identified. From the initiation of first-line ASIs, there was no significant difference in rPFS, TTPP, and PSA response between treatment arms. From the initiation of second-line ASIs, enzalutamide following abiraterone consistently exhibited longer rPFS (median: 7 and 15 months, p = 0.04), TTPP, and better PSA response compared to the reverse, whereas OS did not reach significance (median: 14 and 23 months, p = 0.35). Conclusion: Although the effect of ASIs as the first line was similar, the extent of cross-resistance might differ towards less resistance in enzalutamide following abiraterone than the reverse.
Multi-Omics Characterization of the Spontaneous Mesenchymal–Epithelial Transition in the PMC42 Breast Cancer Cell Lines
Authors: Bhatia Sugandha , Monkman James , Blick Tony , Duijf Pascal HG , Nagaraj Shivashankar H. , Thompson Erik W.
Published: August 2019

Epithelial–mesenchymal plasticity (EMP), encompassing epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and mesenchymal–epithelial transition (MET), are considered critical events for cancer metastasis. We investigated chromosomal heterogeneity and chromosomal instability (CIN) profiles of two sister PMC42 breast cancer (BC) cell lines to assess the relationship between their karyotypes and EMP phenotypic plasticity. Karyotyping by GTG banding and exome sequencing were aligned with SWATH quantitative proteomics and existing RNA-sequencing data from the two PMC42 cell lines; the mesenchymal, parental PMC42-ET cell line and the spontaneously epithelially shifted PMC42-LA daughter cell line. These morphologically distinct PMC42 cell lines were also compared with five other BC cell lines (MDA-MB-231, SUM-159, T47D, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-468) for their expression of EMP and cell surface markers, and stemness and metabolic profiles. The findings suggest that the epithelially shifted cell line has a significantly altered ploidy of chromosomes 3 and 13, which is reflected in their transcriptomic and proteomic expression profiles. Loss of the TGFβR2 gene from chromosome 3 in the epithelial daughter cell line inhibits its EMT induction by TGF-β stimulus. Thus, integrative ‘omics’ characterization established that the PMC42 system is a relevant MET model and provides insights into the regulation of phenotypic plasticity in breast cancer.
Oral Health in Adults with Congenital Heart Disease
Authors: Folwaczny Matthias , Wilberg Saskia , Bumm Caspar , Hollatz Stefan , Oberhoffer Renate , Neidenbach Rhoia Clara , Kaemmerer Harald , Frasheri Iris
Published: August 2019

Oral bacteria and odontogenic oral infections are responsible for a high portion of cases with infective endocarditis. Hence, oral health in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) gains particular importance. This case-control study compared the oral health status in 112 adults with CHD and 168 healthy control subjects. In addition, the patient group was stratified according to the complexity of the heart defect and the recommendation for antibiotic prophylaxis during invasive dental procedures. Considering caries experience, a significantly lower mean DMFT (decayed missing filled teeth) score (7.91 ± 6.63 vs. 13.6 ± 8.15; p < 0.0001) was found in patients with CHD compared to healthy controls. Healthy controls had a higher average number of decayed teeth (0.33 ± 0.76 vs. 1.76 ± 2.61; p < 0.0001). In female subjects a significant lower relative amount of teeth with apical periodontitis was found among CHD patients (3.4% ± 0.9%) as compared to healthy controls (5.6% ± 1.9%) (p = 0.053). Regarding periodontal health, patients with CHD had lower rate of sulcus bleeding (0.32 ± 0.65 vs. 0.71 ± 0.60; p < 0.0001) and less alveolar bone loss than heart healthy individuals (% root length: multi rooted teeth: 8.97 ± 10.64 vs. 23.22 ± 20.70; p < 0.0001; single rooted teeth: 5.59 ± 6.25 vs. 17.30 ± 17.17; p = 0.003). On the contrary, CHD patients presented with higher amount of plaque in comparison to healthy controls (Quigley & Hein index: 2.22 ± 0.67 vs. 1.25 ± 0.72; p < 0.0001). Based on the current results, it can be concluded that adults with CHD have better oral health than heart healthy individuals.
Low Muscle Mass as a Prognostic Factor for Early Postoperative Outcomes in Pediatric Patients Undergoing the Fontan Operation: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Oh Jimi , Shin Won-Jung , Jeong DaUn , Yun Tae-Jin , Park Chun , Choi Eun , Choi Jae , Gwak Mijeung , Song In-Kyung
Published: August 2019

The impact of low muscle mass on pediatric cardiac patients remains unclear. We investigated the impact of low muscle mass on early postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing the Fontan operation. The electronic medical records of 74 patients (aged <18 years) who underwent the Fontan operation were retrospectively reviewed. The cross-sectional areas of the erector spinae and pectoralis muscles were measured using preoperative chest computed tomography (CT), normalized to the body surface area, and combined to obtain the total skeletal muscle index (TSMI). Low muscle mass was defined as a TSMI value lower than the median TSMI for the second quintile. The incidence of major postoperative complications was higher in patients with low muscle mass than in those with high muscle mass (48% (15/31) versus 14% (6/43); P = 0.003). Multivariable analyses revealed that a higher TSMI was associated with a lower likelihood of an increased duration of intensive care unit (>5 days) and hospital stay (>14 days) (odds ratio (OR) 0.86; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.77–0.96; P = 0.006 and OR 0.92; 95% CI 0.85–0.99; P = 0.035 per 1 cm2/m2 increase in TSMI) and incidence of major postoperative complications (OR 0.90; 95% CI 0.82–0.99; P = 0.039 per 1 cm2/m2 increase in TSMI). Preoperative low muscle mass was associated with poor early postoperative outcomes in pediatric patients undergoing the Fontan operation.
On the Information Advantage of Sidescan Sonar Three-Frequency Colour over Greyscale Imagery
Authors: Tamsett Duncan , McIlvenny Jason , Baxter James , Gois Paulo , Williamson Benjamin
Published: August 2019

A prototype three-frequency (114, 256, and 410 kHz) colour sidescan sonar system, built by Kongsberg Underwater Mapping Ltd. (Great Yarmouth, UK), was previously described, and preliminary results presented, in Tamsett, McIlvenny, and Watts. The prototype system has subsequently been modified, and in 2017, new data were acquired in a resurvey of the Inner Sound of the Pentland Firth, North Scotland. An image texture characterisation and image classification exercise demonstrates considerably greater discrimination between different seabed classes in a three-frequency colour sonar image of the seabed, than in a multi-frequency colour image reduced to greyscale display, or in a single-frequency greyscale image, with readily twice the number of classes of seabed discriminated between, in the colour image. The information advantage of colour acoustic imagery over greyscale acoustic imagery is analogous to the information advantage of colour television images over black-and-white television images. A three-frequency colour sonar image contains a theoretical maximum of a factor of 3 times the information in a corresponding greyscale image, for independent seabed responses at the three frequencies. Estimates of the average information per pixel (information entropy) in the colour image, and in corresponding greyscale images, reveal an actual information advantage of colour sonar imagery over greyscale, to be in practice approximately a factor of 2.5, empirically confirming the greater information based utility of three-frequency colour sonar over greyscale sonar. Reference: Tamsett, D.; McIlvenny, J.; Watts, A. J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2016, 4(26).
Mechanical Properties of High-Volume Fly Ash Strain Hardening Cementitious Composite (HVFA-SHCC) for Structural Application
Authors: Jin Chenhua , Wu Chang , Feng Chengcheng , Zhang Qingfang , Shangguan Ziheng , Pan Zuanfeng , Meng Shaoping
Published: August 2019

Strain-hardening cementitious composite (SHCC) is a kind of construction material that exhibits multiple cracking and strain-hardening behaviors. The partial replacement of cement with fly ash is beneficial to the formation of the tensile strain-hardening property of SHCC, the increase of environmental greenness, and the decrease of hydration heat, as well as the material cost. This study aimed to develop a sustainable construction material using a high dosage of fly ash (no less than 70% of the binder material by weight). Based on the micromechanics analysis and particle size distribution (PSD) optimization, six mixes with different fly ash to cement ratios (2.4–4.4) were designed. The mechanical properties of the developed high-volume fly ash SHCCs (HVFA-SHCCs) were investigated through tensile tests, compressive tests, and flexural tests. Test results showed that all specimens exhibited multiple cracking and strain-hardening behaviors under tension or bending, and the compressive strength of the designed mixes exceeded 30MPa at 28 days, which is suitable for structural applications. Fly ash proved to be beneficial in the improvement of tensile and flexural ductility, but an extremely high volume of fly ash can provide only limited improvement. The HVFA-SHCC mix FA3.2 (with fly ash to binder ratio of about 76% by weight) designed in this study is suggested for structural applications.
Combined Effects of Color and Elastic Modulus on Antifouling Performance: A Study of Graphene Oxide/Silicone Rubber Composite Membranes
Authors: Jin Huichao , Bing Wei , Tian Limei , Wang Peng , Zhao Jie
Published: August 2019

Biofouling is a significant maritime problem because the growth of fouling organisms on the hulls of ships leads to very high economic losses every year. Inspired by the soft skins of dolphins, we prepared graphene oxide/silicone rubber composite membranes in this study. These membranes have low surface free energies and adjustable elastic moduli, which are beneficial for preventing biofouling. Diatom attachment studies under static conditions revealed that color has no effect on antifouling behavior, whereas the studies under hydrodynamic conditions revealed that the combined effects of color and elastic modulus determine the antifouling performance. The experimental results are in accordance with the “harmonic motion effect” theory proposed by us, and we also provide a supplement to the theory in this paper. On the basis of the diatom attachment test results, the membrane with 0.36 wt % of graphene oxide showed excellent antifouling performance, and is promising in practical applications. The results confirmed that the graphene oxide and graphene have similar effect to enhance silicone rubber antifouling performance. This study provides important insight for the design of new antifouling coatings; specifically, it indicates that lighter colors and low Young’s moduli provide superior performance. In addition, this study provides a reference for the application of graphene oxide as fillers to enhance the composite antifouling performance.
Magnesium-Based Bioactive Composites Processed at Room Temperature
Authors: Castro Moara M. , Lopes Debora R. , Soares Renata B. , dos Santos Diogo M. M. , Nunes Eduardo H. M. , Lins Vanessa F. C. , Pereira Pedro Henrique R. , Isaac Augusta , Langdon Terence G. , Figueiredo Roberto B.
Published: August 2019

Hydroxyapatite and bioactive glass particles were added to pure magnesium and an AZ91 magnesium alloy and then consolidated into disc-shaped samples at room temperature using high-pressure torsion (HPT). The bioactive particles appeared well-dispersed in the metal matrix after multiple turns of HPT. Full consolidation was attained using pure magnesium, but the center of the AZ91 disc failed to fully consolidate even after 50 turns. The magnesium-hydroxyapatite composite displayed an ultimate tensile strength above 150 MPa, high cell viability, and a decreasing rate of corrosion during immersion in Hank’s solution. The composites produced with bioactive glass particles exhibited the formation of calcium phosphate after 2 h of immersion in Hank’s solution and there was rapid corrosion in these materials.
DFT Study of N2O Adsorption onto the Surface of M-Decorated Graphene Oxide (M = Mg, Cu or Ag)
Authors: Liu Zhong , Cheng Xi-ren , Yang Yi-min , Jia Hong-zhang , Bai Bao-quan , Zhao Li
Published: August 2019

In order to reduce the harm of nitrous oxide (N2O) on the environment, it is very important to find an effective way to capture and decompose this nitrous oxide. Based on the density functional theory (DFT), the adsorption mechanism of N2O on the surfaces of M-decorated (M = Mg, Cu or Ag) graphene oxide (GO) was studied in this paper. The results show that the effects of N2O adsorbed onto the surfaces of Mg–GO by O-end and Cu–GO by N-end are favorable among all of the adsorption types studied, whose adsorption energies are −1.40 eV and −1.47 eV, respectively. Both adsorption manners belong to chemisorption. For Ag–GO, however, both the adsorption strength and electron transfer with the N2O molecule are relatively weak, indicating it may not be promising for N2O removal. Moreover, when Gibbs free energy analyses were applied for the two adsorption types on Mg–GO by O-end and Cu–GO by N-end, it was found that the lowest temperatures required to undergo a chemisorption process are 209 °C and 338 °C, respectively. After being adsorbed onto the surface of Mg–GO by O-end, the N2O molecule will decompose into an N2 molecule and an active oxygen atom. Because of containing active oxygen atom, the structure O–Mg–GO has strong oxidizability, and can be reduced to Mg–GO. Therefore, Mg–GO can be used as a catalyst for N2O adsorption and decomposition. Cu–GO can be used as a candidate material for its strong adsorption to N2O.
Piezoresistive Behaviour of Additively Manufactured Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube/Thermoplastic Polyurethane Nanocomposites
Authors: Kim Myoungsuk , Jung Jaebong , Jung Sungmook , Moon Young Hoon , Kim Dae-Hyeong , Kim Ji Hoon
Published: August 2019

To develop highly sensitive flexible pressure sensors, the mechanical and piezoresistive properties of conductive thermoplastic materials produced via additive manufacturing technology were investigated. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) dispersed in thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), which is flexible and pliable, were used to form filaments. Specimens of the MWCNT/TPU composite with various MWCNT concentrations were printed using fused deposition modelling. Uniaxial tensile tests were conducted, while the mechanical and piezoresistive properties of the MWCNT/TPU composites were measured. To predict the piezoresistive behaviour of the composites, a microscale 3D resistance network model was developed. In addition, a continuum piezoresistive model was proposed for large-scale simulations.
Electrochemical Corrosion Behavior of Ni-Fe-Co-P Alloy Coating Containing Nano-CeO2 Particles in NaCl Solution
Authors: Fu Xiuqing , Ma Wenke , Duan Shuanglu , Wang Qingqing , Lin Jinran
Published: August 2019

In order to study the effect of nano-CeO2 particles doping on the electrochemical corrosion behavior of pure Ni-Fe-Co-P alloy coating, Ni-Fe-Co-P-CeO2 composite coating is prepared on the surface of 45 steel by scanning electrodeposition. The morphology, composition, and phase structure of the composite coating are analyzed by means of scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The corrosion behavior of the coatings with different concentrations of nano-CeO2 particles in 50 g/L NaCl solution is studied by Tafel polarization curve and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The corrosion mechanism is discussed. The experimental results show that the obtained Ni-Fe-Co-P-CeO2 composite coating is amorphous, and the addition of nano-CeO2 particles increases the mass fraction of P. With the increase of the concentration of nano-CeO2 particles in the plating solution, the surface flatness of the coating increases. The surface of Ni-Fe-Co-P-1 g/L CeO2 composite coating is uniform and dense, and its self-corrosion potential is the most positive; the corrosion current and corrosion rate are the smallest, and the charge transfer resistance is the largest, showing the best corrosion resistance.
Active Adjustment of Surface Accuracy for a Large Cable-Net Structure by Shape Memory Alloy
Authors: Jiang Xiangjun , Pan Fengqun , Fan Yesen , Du Jingli , Zhu Mingbo , Chen Zhen
Published: August 2019

The high surface accuracy design of a cable-net antenna structure under the disturbance of the extremely harsh space environment requires the antenna to have good in-orbit adjustment ability for surface accuracy. A shape memory cable-net (SMC) structure is proposed in this paper and believed to be able to improve the in-orbit surface accuracy of the cable-net antenna. Firstly, the incremental stiffness equation of a one-dimensional bar element of the shape memory alloy (SMA) to express the relationship between the force, temperature and deformation was effectively constructed. Secondly, the finite element model of the SMC antenna structure incorporated the incremental stiffness equation of a SMA was established. Thirdly, a shape active adjustment procedure of surface accuracy based on the optimization method was presented. Finally, a numerical example of the shape memory cable net structure applied to the parabolic reflectors of space antennas was analyzed.
A Planar Model of an Ankle Joint with Optimized Material Parameters and Hertzian Contact Pairs
Authors: Borucka Aleksandra , Ciszkiewicz Adam
Published: August 2019

The ankle is one of the most complicated joints in the human body. Its features a plethora of elements with complex behavior. Their functions could be better understood using a planar model of the joint with low parameter count and low numerical complexity. In this study, an accurate planar model of the ankle with optimized material parameters was presented. In order to obtain the model, we proposed an optimizational approach, which fine-tuned the material parameters of two-dimensional links substituting three-dimensional ligaments of the ankle. Furthermore, the cartilage in the model was replaced with Hertzian contact pairs. The model was solved in statics under moment loads up to 5 Nm. The obtained results showed that the structure exhibited angular displacements in the range of the ankle joint and that their range was higher in dorsiflexion than plantarflexion. The structure also displayed a characteristic ramp up of the angular stiffness. The results obtained from the optimized model were in accordance with the experimental results for the ankle. Therefore, the proposed method for fine-tuning the material parameters of its links could be considered viable.
Effect of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes on Improving the Toughness of Reactive Powder Concrete
Authors: Liu Jintao , Jin Hang , Zhao Xin , Wang Cheng
Published: August 2019

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have great potential to improve the strength and microstructure of traditional cement-based materials. In this research, different aspect ratios of MWCNTs (F-type and L-type) were dispersed into water using surfactants, and then incorporated into reactive powder concrete (RPC) for improving mechanical and microstructure properties. With the addition of 0.025 wt.% F-MWCNTs, the 28 days compressive strength and initial-cracking flexural strength increased by 7.2% and 36%, respectively. Moreover, the first-cracking tensile strengths of the composites containing L-MWCNTs were improved by 16%. Energy absorption capability indices were formulated based on tensile load–displacement curves, and results showed that the energy absorption capabilities of RPC at initial cracking improved as a result of the incorporation of MWCNTs. Furthermore, microscopic analysis indicated that MWCNTs decelerate crack development at the nanoscale and improve the initial-cracking tensile strength of RPC.
Cell Responses to Electrical Pulse Stimulation for Anticancer Drug Release
Authors: Puiggalí-Jou Anna , del Valle Luis J. , Alemán Carlos
Published: August 2019

Electrical stimulation is an attractive approach to tune on-demand drug release in the body as it relies on simple setups and requires typically 1 V or less. Although many studies have been focused on the development of potential smart materials for electrically controlled drug release, as well as on the exploration of different delivery mechanisms, progress in the field is slow because the response of cells exposed to external electrical stimulus is frequently omitted from such investigations. In this work, we monitor the behavior of prostate and breast cancer cells (PC-3 and MCF7, respectively) exposed to electroactive platforms loaded with curcumin, a hydrophobic anticancer drug. These consist in conducting polymer nanoparticles, which release drug molecules by altering their interactions with polymer, and electrospun polyester microfibres that contain electroactive nanoparticles able to alter the porosity of the matrix through an electro-mechanical actuation mechanism. The response of the cells against different operating conditions has been examined considering their viability, metabolism, spreading and shape. Results have allowed us to differentiate the damage induced in the cell by the electrical stimulation from other effects, as for example, the anticancer activity of curcumin and/or the presence of curcumin-loaded nanoparticles or fibres, demonstrating that these kinds of platforms can be effective when the dosage of the drug occurs under restricted conditions.
Enamel Matrix Derivative and Autogenous Bone Graft for Periodontal Regeneration of Intrabony Defects in Humans: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Annunziata Marco , Piccirillo Angelantonio , Perillo Francesco , Cecoro Gennaro , Nastri Livia , Guida Luigi
Published: August 2019

The combination of enamel matrix derivative (EMD) with an autogenous bone graft in periodontal regeneration has been proposed to improve clinical outcomes, especially in case of deep non-contained periodontal defects, with variable results. The aim of the present systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the efficacy of EMD in combination with autogenous bone graft compared with the use of EMD alone for the regeneration of periodontal intrabony defects. A literature search in PubMed and in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials was carried out on February 2019 using an ad-hoc search string created by two independent and calibrated reviewers. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing a combination of EMD and autogenous bone graft with EMD alone for the treatment of periodontal intrabony defects were included. Studies involving other graft materials were excluded. The requested follow-up was at least 6 months. There was no restriction on age or number of patients. Standard difference in means between test and control groups as well as relative forest plots were calculated for clinical attachment level gain (CALgain), probing depth reduction (PDred), and gingival recession increase (RECinc). Three RCTs reporting on 79 patients and 98 intrabony defects were selected for the analysis. Statistical heterogeneity was detected as significantly high in the analysis of PDred and RECinc (I2 = 85.28%, p = 0.001; I2 = 73.95%, p = 0.022, respectively), but not in the analysis of CALgain (I2 = 59.30%, p = 0.086). Standard difference in means (SDM) for CALgain between test and control groups amounted to −0.34 mm (95% CI −0.77 to 0.09; p = 0.12). SDM for PDred amounted to −0.43 mm (95% CI −0.86 to 0.01; p = 0.06). SDM for RECinc amounted to 0.12 mm (95% CI −0.30 to 0.55. p = 0.57). Within their limits, the obtained results indicate that the combination of enamel matrix derivative and autogenous bone graft may result in non-significant additional clinical improvements in terms of CALgain, PDred, and RECinc compared with those obtained with EMD alone. Several factors, including the surgical protocol used (e.g. supracrestal soft tissue preservation techniques) could have masked the potential additional benefit of the combined approach. Further well-designed randomized controlled trials, with well-defined selection criteria and operative protocols, are needed to draw more definite conclusions.
Ceramic Mineral Waste-Forms for Nuclear Waste Immobilization
Authors: Orlova Albina I. , Ojovan Michael I.
Published: August 2019

Crystalline ceramics are intensively investigated as effective materials in various nuclear energy applications, such as inert matrix and accident tolerant fuels and nuclear waste immobilization. This paper presents an analysis of the current status of work in this field of material sciences. We have considered inorganic materials characterized by different structures, including simple oxides with fluorite structure, complex oxides (pyrochlore, murataite, zirconolite, perovskite, hollandite, garnet, crichtonite, freudenbergite, and P-pollucite), simple silicates (zircon/thorite/coffinite, titanite (sphen), britholite), framework silicates (zeolite, pollucite, nepheline /leucite, sodalite, cancrinite, micas structures), phosphates (monazite, xenotime, apatite, kosnarite (NZP), langbeinite, thorium phosphate diphosphate, struvite, meta-ankoleite), and aluminates with a magnetoplumbite structure. These materials can contain in their composition various cations in different combinations and ratios: Li–Cs, Tl, Ag, Be–Ba, Pb, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Cd, B, Al, Fe, Ga, Sc, Cr, V, Sb, Nb, Ta, La, Ce, rare-earth elements (REEs), Si, Ti, Zr, Hf, Sn, Bi, Nb, Th, U, Np, Pu, Am and Cm. They can be prepared in the form of powders, including nano-powders, as well as in form of monolith (bulk) ceramics. To produce ceramics, cold pressing and sintering (frittage), hot pressing, hot isostatic pressing and spark plasma sintering (SPS) can be used. The SPS method is now considered as one of most promising in applications with actual radioactive substances, enabling a densification of up to 98–99.9% to be achieved in a few minutes. Characteristics of the structures obtained (e.g., syngony, unit cell parameters, drawings) are described based upon an analysis of 462 publications.
Fabrication of Micro-Punch Array by Plasma Printing for Micro-Embossing into Copper Substrates
Authors: Shiratori Tomomi , Aizawa Tatsuhiko , Saito Yasuo , Dohda Kuniaki
Published: August 2019

Copper substrates were wrought to have micro-grooves for packaging by micro-stamping with use of a AISI316 stainless steel micro-punch array. The micro-texture of this arrayed punch was first tailored and compiled into CAD data. A screen film was prepared to have the tailored micro-pattern in correspondence to the CAD data. A negative pattern to this screen was printed directly onto the AISI316 die substrate. This substrate was plasma nitrided at 673 K for 14.4 ks. The unprinted die surfaces were selectively nitrogen super-saturated to have sufficiently high corrosion toughness and hardness; other surfaces were masked by the prints. The two-dimensional micro-pattern on the screen was transformed into a three-dimensional nitrogen supersaturated micro-texture embedded in the AISI316 die. The printed surfaces were selectively sand-blasted to fabricate the micro-textured punch array for micro-embossing. A uniaxial compression testing machine was utilized to describe the micro-embossing behavior in copper substrates and to investigate how the micro-texture on the die was transcribed to the copper. The micro-punch array in this study consisted of three closed loop heads with a width of 75 µm and a height of 120 µm after plasma nitriding and sand-blasting. Since the nitrogen supersaturated heads had sufficient hardness against the blasting media, the printed parts of AISI316 die were removed. The micro-embossing process was described by comparison of the geometric configurations between the multi-punch array and the embossed copper plate.
Multiple Solutions for Nonlocal Elliptic Systems Involving p(x)-Biharmonic Operator
Authors: Miao Qing
Published: August 2019

This paper analyzes the nonlocal elliptic system involving the p(x)-biharmonic operator. We give the corresponding variational structure of the problem, and then by means of Ricceri’s Variational theorem and the definition of general Lebesgue-Sobolev space, we obtain sufficient conditions for the infinite solutions to this problem.
New Linear Precursors of cIDPR Derivatives as Stable Analogs of cADPR: A Potent Second Messenger with Ca2+-Modulating Activity Isolated from Sea Urchin Eggs
Authors: D’Errico Stefano , Basso Emy , Falanga Andrea Patrizia , Marzano Maria , Pozzan Tullio , Piccialli Vincenzo , Piccialli Gennaro , Oliviero Giorgia , Borbone Nicola
Published: August 2019

Herein, we report on the synthesis of a small set of linear precursors of an inosine analogue of cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR), a second messenger involved in Ca2+ mobilization from ryanodine receptor stores firstly isolated from sea urchin eggs extracts. The synthesized compounds were obtained starting from inosine and are characterized by an N1-alkyl chain replacing the “northern” ribose and a phosphate group attached at the end of the N1-alkyl chain and/or 5′-sugar positions. Preliminary Ca2+ mobilization assays, performed on differentiated C2C12 cells, are reported as well.
Enhancing Corrosion Resistance of High-Carbon Steel by Formation of Surface Layers Using Wastes as Input
Authors: Handoko Wilson , Pahlevani Farshid , Sahajwalla Veena
Published: August 2019

Series of super-hard ceramic layers have been successfully developed on high carbon steels, with a significant improvement of corrosion resistance and hardness, without changing the original properties, which were derived from mixtures of slag (electric arc furnace), waste glass (bottles), and automotive shredder residue (ASR) plastics (polypropylene) via the single step surface modification technique. Microstructural analysis by laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM), crystallography analysis by X-ray diffraction (XRD), micro-level chemical analysis by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM and EDS), and depth profile surface analysis with three-dimensional chemical mapping by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS), followed by electrochemical corrosion test by the Tafel method and hardness test—Vickers hardness measurement. Three areas have been classified, modified surface, interface, and main substrate areas as the synthesis of ceramic layers into surface of the steels that thermodynamically formed during the heat treatment process. Chemical composition analyses have revealed that generated layers consisting of chromium (Cr)- and magnesium (Mg)-based compound have shown an improved corrosion resistance to 52% and hardness to 70% without modifying the initial volume fraction of constituent phases–martensite and retained austenite. These findings have substantially highlighted to the potential use of waste-integrated inputs as raw materials for production in cost-effective way, concurrently decreasing the demand on new resource for coating, alleviating the disadvantageous impact to the environment from waste disposal in landfills.
Influence of Heat Treatment on the Workability of Modified 9Cr-2W Steel with Higher B Content
Authors: Heo Hyeong Min , Kim Jun Hwan , Kim Sung Ho , Kim Jong Ryoul , Moon Won Jin
Published: August 2019

In this study, the effect of heat treatment on the fracture behavior of alloy B steel with boron (B) contents as high as 130 ppm was investigated. The Alloy B are derived from Gr.92 steel with outstanding creep characteristics. The amounts of minor alloying elements such as B, N, Nb, Ta, and C were optimized to achieve better mechanical properties at high temperatures. Hence, workability of the alloy B and Gr.92 were compared. An increase in the B content affected the phase transformation temperature and texture of the steel. The development of the {111} components in γ-fibers depended on the austenite fraction of the steel after the phase transformation. An increase in the B content of the steel increased its α-to-γ phase transformation temperature, thus preventing the occurrence of sufficient transformation under the normalizing condition. Cracks occurred at the point of the elastic-to-plastic deformation transition in the normal direction during the rolling process, thereby resulting in failure. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid intermediate heat treatment conditions, in which γ-fibers do not fully develop, i.e., to avoid an imperfect normalization.
A new Dynamic Plasticity and Failure Model for Metals
Authors: Zhou Lin , Wen Heming
Published: August 2019

A new plasticity and failure model is developed herein for metallic materials subjected to dynamic loadings on the basis of the analysis of some available material test data and previous work. The new model consists of two parts: a strength model and a failure criterion. The strength model takes into consideration both tension and shear stress-strain relationships, as well as the effect of Lode angle, while the failure criterion takes into account both the effects of stress triaxiality and Lode angle. Furthermore, the effects of strain rate and temperature are also catered for in the model. In particular, new non-linear functions are suggested for the effects of strain rate and temperature in the strength model in order to describe accurately the mechanical behavior of metallic materials at very high loading rates and temperature. The new model is compared with available material test data for 2024-T351 aluminum alloy, 6061-T6 aluminum alloy, oxygen free high conductivity (OFHC) copper, 4340 steel, Ti-6Al-4V alloys, and Q235 mild steel in terms of stress–strain curves in both tension and shear, strain rate effect, temperature effect and fracture under different loading conditions. The new model is also compared with the JC constitutive model with the respective JC and BW fracture criteria by conducting numerical simulations of quasi-static smooth and notched bar tensile tests and ballistic perforation tests on 2024-T351 aluminum alloy in terms of cup and cone failure pattern, ballistic limit, residual velocity and failure mode. It transpires that the new plasticity and failure model can be used to predict the response and failure of metallic materials and structures under different loading conditions. It also transpires that the new model is advantageous over the existing models.
Processing–Structure–Property Relationships in Metals
Authors: Montanari Roberto , Varone Alessandra
Published: August 2019

The increasing demand for advanced materials in construction, transportation, communications, medicine, energy production, as well as in several other fields, is the driving force for investigating the processing–structure–property relationships [...]
Far-Red Light Acclimation for Improved Mass Cultivation of Cyanobacteria
Authors: Silkina Alla , Kultschar Bethan , Llewellyn Carole A.
Published: August 2019

Improving mass cultivation of cyanobacteria is a goal for industrial biotechnology. In this study, the mass cultivation of the thermophilic cyanobacterium Chlorogloeopsis fritschii was assessed for biomass production under light-emitting diode white light (LEDWL), far-red light (FRL), and combined white light and far-red light (WLFRL) adaptation. The induction of chl f was confirmed at 24 h after the transfer of culture from LEDWL to FRL. Using combined light (WLFRL), chl f, a, and d, maintained the same level of concentration in comparison to FRL conditions. However, phycocyanin and xanthophylls (echinone, caloxanthin, myxoxanthin, nostoxanthin) concentration increased 2.7–4.7 times compared to LEDWL conditions. The productivity of culture was double under WLFRL compared with LEDWL conditions. No significant changes in lipid, protein, and carbohydrate concentrations were found in the two different light conditions. The results are important for informing on optimum biomass cultivation of this species for biomass production and bioactive product development.
Selective Carbon Material Engineering for Improved MEMS and NEMS
Authors: Neuville Stephane
Published: August 2019

The development of micro and nano electromechanical systems and achievement of higher performances with increased quality and life time is confronted to searching and mastering of material with superior properties and quality. Those can affect many aspects of the MEMS, NEMS and MOMS design including geometric tolerances and reproducibility of many specific solid-state structures and properties. Among those: Mechanical, adhesion, thermal and chemical stability, electrical and heat conductance, optical, optoelectronic and semiconducting properties, porosity, bulk and surface properties. They can be affected by different kinds of phase transformations and degrading, which greatly depends on the conditions of use and the way the materials have been selected, elaborated, modified and assembled. Distribution of these properties cover several orders of magnitude and depend on the design, actually achieved structure, type and number of defects. It is then essential to be well aware about all these, and to distinguish and characterize all features that are able to affect the results. For this achievement, we point out and discuss the necessity to take into account several recently revisited fundamentals on carbon atomic rearrangement and revised carbon Raman spectroscopy characterizing in addition to several other aspects we will briefly describe. Correctly selected and implemented, these carbon materials can then open new routes for many new and more performing microsystems including improved energy generation, storage and conversion, 2D superconductivity, light switches, light pipes and quantum devices and with new improved sensor and mechanical functions and biomedical applications.
Resistive Switching Memory Devices Based on Body Fluid of Bombyx mori L.
Authors: Wang Lu , Wen Dianzhong
Published: August 2019

Resistive switching memory devices are strong candidates for next-generation data storage devices. Biological memristors made from renewable natural biomaterials are very promising due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and ecological benignity. In this study, a nonvolatile memristor was fabricated using the body fluid of Bombyx mori as the dielectric layer. The developed Al/Bombyx mori body fluid film/indium tin oxide (ITO) biomemristor exhibited bipolar resistive switching characteristics with a maximum on/off current ratio greater than 104. The device showed a retention time of more than 1 × 104 s without any signs of deterioration, thus proving its good stability and reliability. The resistive switching behavior of the Al/Bombyx mori body fluid film/ITO biological memristor is driven by the formation and breakage of conductive filaments formed by the migration of oxygen ions. This study confirms that Bombyx mori body fluid, a 100% natural, inexpensive, and abundant material, is a potential candidate as a nonvolatile biomemristor material with broad application prospects.
A Compact, Syringe-Assisted, Vacuum-Driven Micropumping Device
Authors: Wang Anyang , Koh Domin , Schneider Philip , Breloff Evan , Oh Kwang W.
Published: August 2019

In this paper, a simple syringe‑assisted pumping method is introduced. The proposed fluidic micropumping system can be used instead of a conventional pumping system which tends to be large, bulky, and expensive. The micropump was designed separately from the microfluidic channels and directly bonded to the outlet of the microfluidic device. The pump components were composed of a dead‑end channel which was surrounded by a microchamber. A syringe was then connected to the pump structure by a short tube, and the syringe plunger was manually pulled out to generate low pressure inside the microchamber. Once the sample was loaded in the inlet, air inside the channel diffused into the microchamber through the PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) wall, acting as a dragging force and pulling the sample toward the outlet. A constant flow with a rate that ranged from 0.8 nl · s − 1 to 7.5 nl · s − 1 was achieved as a function of the geometry of the pump, i.e., the PDMS wall thickness and the diffusion area. As a proof-of-concept, microfluidic mixing was demonstrated without backflow. This method enables pumping for point-of-care testing (POCT) with greater flexibility in hand-held PDMS microfluidic devices.
Green Bio-Assisted Synthesis, Characterization and Biological Evaluation of Biocompatible ZnO NPs Synthesized from Different Tissues of Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum)
Authors: Abbasi Bilal Haider , Shah Muzamil , Hashmi Syed Salman , Nazir Munazza , Naz Sania , Ahmad Waqar , Khan Inam Ullah , Hano Christophe
Published: August 2019

The purpose of the current study was green synthesis of ZnO-nanoparticles (NPs) from different tissues of Silybum marianum (L.) Gaernt. (i.e., seeds, wild plant, in vitro derived plantlets and callus cultures) followed by extensive characterization and evaluation of their biological potency. ZnO-NPs thus synthesized were subjected to characterization using standard techniques such as XRD, FTIR and SEM. Thermal stability of synthesized NPs was also evaluated using thermo-gravimetric analysis. Highly stable crystalline NPs with size ranging between 30.8 and 46.0 nm were obtained from different tissues of S. marianum. These NPs have revealed a wide range of biological applications showing antioxidant, moderate α-amylase inhibitor, antibacterial and cytotoxic potencies. The highest antibacterial activity (20 ± 0.98 mm) was shown by seed extract-mediated ZnO NPs against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC-6538). Seed extract-mediated ZnO NPs also showed the most potent antioxidant activity (27.7 ± 0.9 µgAAE/mg, 23.8 ± 0.7 µgAAE/mg and 12.7 ± 1.9% total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total reducing power (TRP) and DPPH-free radical scavenging assay (FRSA), respectively). All of the synthesized ZnO NPs also showed cytotoxic activity against the hepato-cellular carcinoma (HepG2) human cells. Interestingly, these ZnO NPs were also highly biocompatible, as evidenced by the brine shrimp lethality and human red blood cells hemolytic assays. Among all of the NPs synthesized and used, the effect of seed extract-mediated NPs was found to be most promising for future applications.
Preparation of TiO2 and Fe-TiO2 with an Impinging Stream-Rotating Packed Bed by the Precipitation Method for the Photodegradation of Gaseous Toluene
Authors: Zeng Guangping , Zhang Qiaoling , Liu Youzhi , Zhang Shaochuang , Guo Jing
Published: August 2019

Nano-TiO2 has always been one of the most important topics in the research of photocatalysts due to its special activity and stability. However, it has always been difficult to obtain nano-TiO2 with high dispersion, a small particle size and high photocatalytic activity. In this paper, nano-TiO2 powder was prepared by combining the high-gravity technique and direct precipitation method in an impinging stream-rotating packed bed (IS-RPB) reactor followed by Fe3+ in-situ doping. TiOSO4 and NH3·H2O solutions were cut into very small liquid microelements by high-speed rotating packing, and the mass transfer and microscopic mixing of the nucleation and growth processes of nano-TiO2 were strengthened in IS-RPB, which was beneficial to the continuous production of high quality nano-TiO2. Pure TiO2 and iron-doped nano-TiO2 (Fe-TiO2) were obtained in IS-RPB and were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, which found that pure TiO2 had a particle size of about 12.5 nm, good dispersibility and a complete anatase crystal at the rotating speed of packing of 800 rpm and calcination temperature of 500 °C. The addition of Fe3+ did not change the crystalline structure of TiO2. Iron was highly dispersed in TiO2 without the detection of aggregates and was found to exist in a positive trivalent form by XPS. With the increase of iron doping, the photoresponse range of TiO2 to visible light was broadened from 3.06 eV to 2.26 eV. The degradation efficiency of gaseous toluene by Fe-TiO2 under ultraviolet light was higher than that of pure TiO2 and commercial P25 due to Fe3+ effectively suppressing the recombination of TiO2 electrons and holes; the highest efficiency produced by 1.0% Fe-TiO2 was 95.7%.
Food Additive Titanium Dioxide and Its Fate in Commercial Foods
Authors: Hwang Ji-Soo , Yu Jin , Kim Hyoung-Mi , Oh Jae-Min , Choi Soo-Jin
Published: August 2019

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is one of the most extensively utilized food additives (E171) in the food industry. Along with nanotechnology development, the concern about the presence of nanostructured particles in E171 TiO2 and commercial food products is growing. In the present study, the physicochemical properties of commercially available E171 TiO2 particles, including particle size distribution, were investigated, followed by their cytotoxicity and intestinal transport evaluation. The fate determination and quantification of E171 TiO2 in commercial foods were carried out based on the analytical procedure developed using simulated foods. The results demonstrated that TiO2 is a material mainly composed of particles larger than 100 nm, but present as an agglomerated or aggregated particle in commercial foods with amounts of less than 1% (wt/wt). Titanium dioxide particles generated reactive oxygen species and inhibited long-term colony formation, but the cytotoxicity was not related to particle size distribution or particle type (food- or general-grade). All TiO2 particles were mainly transported by microfold (M) cells, but also by intestinal tight junction. These findings will be useful for TiO2 application in the food industry and predicting its potential toxicity.