bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on Dynamic Crack Expansion and Size Effect of Back–Filling Concrete under Uniaxial Compression
Authors: Gao Xicai , Xia Huan , Fan Kai , Yi Leilei , Yin Jianhui
Published: December 2023

With the continuous expansion of the application range of gob–side entry retaining technology, the depth, height, and advancing speed of coal seams also increase, which brings great problems to the stability control of surrounding rock structures of gob–side entry retaining. As one of the main bearing structures of the surrounding rock, the stability of the roadway–side support body is a key factor for the success of gob–side entry retaining. In order to study the deformation characteristics and instability mechanism of roadway-side support body, based on the roadway–side support materials of gob-side entry retaining, the dynamic expansion test of back–filling concrete cracks under uniaxial compression was carried out. The YOLOv5 algorithm was applied to establish the fine identification and quantitative characterization method of macroscopic cracks of the samples, and the dynamic expansion rule of roadway-side support body cracks and its dimensional effect were revealed by combining the fractal theory. The results show that the F1 value and average precision mean of the intelligent dynamic crack identification model reached 75% and 71%, respectively, the GIoU loss value tends to fit around 0.038, and the model reached the overall optimal solution. During the uniaxial compression process, micro cracks on the surface of the back–filling concrete first initiated at the end, and after reaching the yield stress, the macroscopic cracks developed significantly. Moreover, several secondary cracks expanded, pooled, and connected from the middle of the specimen to the two ends, inducing the overall instability of the specimen. The surface crack expansion rate, density, and fractal dimension all show stage change characteristics with the increase in stress, and the main crack expansion rate has obvious precursor characteristics. With the increase in the size, the decrease in crack density after back–filling concrete failures gradually decreases from 93.19% to 4.08%, the surface crack network develops from complex to simple, and the failure mode transits from tensile failure to shear failure. The above research results provide a basic experimental basis for design optimization and instability prediction of a roadway–side support body for engineering-scale applications.
Extending the Structural Diversity of Labdane Diterpenoids from Marine-Derived Fungus Talaromyces sp. HDN151403 Using Heterologous Expression
Authors: Zhang Falei , Ma Chuanteng , Che Qian , Zhu Tianjiao , Zhang Guojian , Li Dehai
Published: December 2023

Heterologous biosynthesis has become an effective means to activate fungal silent biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) and efficiently utilize fungal genetic resources. Herein, thirteen labdane diterpene derivatives, including five undescribed ones named talarobicins A–E (3–7), were discovered via heterologous expression of a silent BGC (labd) in Aspergillus nidulans. Their structures with absolute configurations were elucidated using extensive MS and NMR spectroscopic methods, as well as electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. These labdanes belong to four skeleton types, and talarobicin B (4) is the first 3,18-dinor-2,3:4,18-diseco-labdane diterpene with the cleavage of the C2–C3 bond in ring A and the decarboxylation at C-3 and C-18. Talarobicin B (4) represents the key intermediate in the biosynthesis of penioxalicin and compound 13. The combinatorial heterologous expression and feeding experiments revealed that the cytochrome P450 enzymes LabdC, LabdE, and LabdF were responsible for catalyzing various chemical reactions, such as oxidation, decarboxylation, and methylation. All of the compounds are noncytotoxic, and compounds 2 and 8 displayed inhibitory effects against methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRCNS) and Bacillus cereus.
Amentoflavone Mitigates Cyclophosphamide-Induced Pulmonary Toxicity: Involvement of -SIRT-1/Nrf2/Keap1 Axis, JAK-2/STAT-3 Signaling, and Apoptosis
Authors: Balaha Mohamed F. , Alamer Ahmed A. , Aldossari Rana M. , Aodah Alhussain H. , Helal Azza I. , Kabel Ahmed M.
Published: December 2023

Background and objectives: Cyclophosphamide (CPA) is an alkylating agent that is used for the management of various types of malignancies and as an immunosuppressive agent for the treatment of immunological disorders. However, its use is limited by its potential to cause a wide range of pulmonary toxicities. Amentoflavone (AMV) is a flavonoid that had proven efficacy in the treatment of disease states in which oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis may play a pathophysiologic role. This study investigated the potential ameliorative effects of the different doses of AMV on CPA-induced pulmonary toxicity, with special emphasis on its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and apoptosis-modulating effects. Materials and methods: In a rat model of CPA-induced pulmonary toxicity, the effect of AMV at two dose levels (50 mg/kg/day and 100 mg/kg/day) was investigated. The total and differential leucocytic counts, lactate dehydrogenase activity, and levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were estimated. Also, the levels of oxidative stress parameters, sirtuin-1, Keap1, Nrf2, JAK2, STAT3, hydroxyproline, matrix metalloproteinases 3 and 9, autophagy markers, and the cleaved caspase 3 were assessed in the pulmonary tissues. In addition, the histopathological and electron microscopic changes in the pulmonary tissues were evaluated. Results: AMV dose-dependently ameliorated the pulmonary toxicities induced by CPA via modulation of the SIRT-1/Nrf2/Keap1 axis, mitigation of the inflammatory and fibrotic events, impaction of JAK-2/STAT-3 axis, and modulation of the autophagic and apoptotic signals. Conclusions: AMV may open new horizons towards the mitigation of the pulmonary toxicities induced by CPA.
Swallowing Exercise Evaluated Using High-Density Surface Electromyography in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer: Supplementary Analysis of an Exploratory Phase II Trial
Authors: Yoshikawa Kohei , Hamamoto Takao , Sato Yuki , Yumii Kohei , Chikuie Nobuyuki , Taruya Takayuki , Ishino Takashi , Horibe Yuichiro , Takemoto Kota , Nishida Manabu , Kawasumi Tomohiro , Ueda Tsutomu , Nishikawa Yuichi , Mikami Yukio , Takeno Sachio
Published: December 2023

Background and Objectives: Muscle strength evaluation using high-density surface electromyography (HD-sEMG) was recently developed for the detailed analysis of the motor unit (MU). Detection of the spatial distribution of sEMG can detect changes in MU recruitment patterns resulting from muscle-strengthening exercises. We conducted a prospective study in 2022 to evaluate the safety and feasibility of transcutaneous electrical sensory stimulation (TESS) therapy using an interferential current device (IFCD) in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) undergoing chemoradiotherapy (CRT), and reported the safety and feasibility of TESS. We evaluated the efficacy of swallowing exercises in patients with HNSCC undergoing CRT and determined the significance of sEMG in evaluating swallowing function. Materials and Methods: In this supplementary study, the patients performed muscle-strengthening exercises five days a week. The association of the effects of the exercises with body mass index, skeletal muscle mass index, HD-sEMG, tongue muscle strength, and tongue pressure were evaluated. Results: We found significant correlations between the rate of weight loss and skeletal muscle mass index reduction and the rate of change in the recruitment of the MU of the suprahyoid muscle group measured using HD-sEMG. Conclusions: We believe that nutritional supplementation is necessary in addition to muscle strengthening during CRT.
Investigation of CO2 Absorption Rate in Gas/Liquid Membrane Contactors with Inserting 3D Printing Mini-Channel Turbulence Promoters
Authors: Ho Chii-Dong , Chen Luke , Tu Jr-Wei , Lin Yu-Chen , Lim Jun-Wei , Chen Zheng-Zhong
Published: December 2023

The CO2 absorption by Monoethanolamine (MEA) solutions as chemical absorption was conducted in the membrane gas absorption module with inserting 3D mini-channel turbulence promoters of the present work. A mathematical modeling of CO2 absorption flux was analyzed by using the chemical absorption theory based on mass-transfer resistances in series. The membrane absorption module with embedding 3D mini-channel turbulence promoters in the current study indicated that the CO2 absorption rate improvement is achieved due to the diminishing concentration polarization effect nearby the membrane surfaces. A simplified regression equation of the average Sherwood number was correlated to express the enhanced mass-transfer coefficient of the CO2 absorption. The experimental results and theoretical predictions showed that the absorption flux improvement was significantly improved with implementing 3D mini-channel turbulence promoters. The experimental results of CO2 absorption fluxes were performed in good agreement with the theoretical predictions in aqueous MEA solutions. A further absorption flux enhancement up to 30.56% was accomplished as compared to the results in the previous work, which the module was inserted the promoter without mini channels. The influences of the MEA absorbent flow rates and inlet CO2 concentrations on the absorption flux and absorption flux improvement are also illustrated under both concurrent- and countercurrent-flow operations.
Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Friction Stir Lap Welding Joint of Al/CU Dissimilar Metals
Authors: Jiang Fan , Wang Wenquan , Zhang Xinge , Gong Wenbiao
Published: December 2023

In this paper, 5083 aluminum alloy and T2 copper were selected for the friction stir lap welding test. The effect of intermetallic compounds on the microstructure and properties of Al/Cu dissimilar metal lap joints was studied. The results showed that the circulating Al/Cu composite structure was formed on the advancing side of the lap joint, and the Al/Cu staggered hook-like structure and copper-rich region were generated on the retreating side. There was no typical ‘onion ring’ structure in the joint. Element diffusion occurred at the interface of the joint, forming a thin and uniform interfacial layer of Al/Cu intermetallic compounds, thus achieving a well-metallurgical bond at the Al/Cu interface. There were the intermetallic compounds Al2Cu and Al4Cu9, without AlCu, in the lap joint. In addition, dynamic recrystallization occurred in the nugget zone, and higher dislocation density and dislocation entanglement were generated, which enhanced the deformation resistance in the nugget zone and increased the joint strength. The tensile test showed that the ductile–brittle mixed fracture occurred in the heat-affected zone on the advancing side of the aluminum plate, and the fracture had necking. The failure load of the lap joint was 4350 ± 30 N, about 80% of the aluminum base metal. The elongation of the Al/Cu dissimilar lap joint tensile specimen was 2.5%.
Forming and Microstructure Evolution Mechanism of Asymmetric Molten Pool in Laser Cladding
Authors: Wang Hong , Zhang Xiaofeng , Wang Yunfei , Zhou Jiali , Ma Kai , Ma Fuwen , Cheng Yanhai , Gao Chuwei
Published: December 2023

This study aimed to investigate the impact of substrate tilt angle and different scanning methods on powder utilization, morphology profile parameters, and microstructure evolution in laser cladding single-track experiments. The results revealed several key findings. Firstly, as the substrate tilt angle increased, the laser spot projected on the tilted substrate transformed from circular to elliptical, and the substrate heat input decreased proportionally with the tilt angle. Secondly, regardless of the scanning method employed, powder utilization decreased with higher substrate tilt angles due to increased powder asymmetry, leading to more collisions and rebounds between the powder particles and the substrate. Moreover, the trends of morphology profile parameters in longitudinal upward and downward scanning methods were similar to the transverse scanning, except for the clad width, which exhibited an opposite trend. Notably, the longitudinal downward scanning method demonstrated superior stability and higher powder utilization. These findings offer valuable insights for optimizing laser cladding processes, with the ultimate goal of enhancing the quality and efficiency of the fabricated components.
Novel Bioformulations with Trichoderma lixii to Improve the Growth Dynamics and Biocontrol of the Cowpea Damping-Off Disease
Authors: Omara Alaa El-Dein , El-maghraby Fatma M.
Published: December 2023

Because agricultural wastes are abundant in biologically active substances, they can be used as a substitute source to produce highly valuable products while lowering pollution levels in the environment. Therefore, we aimed at determining the best agricultural wastes to increase the biomass production rate and the effectiveness of the biocontrol strain Trichoderma lixii SARS 111 in a solid-state fermentation system. The potential for its use in enhancing growth dynamics and controlling the Fusarium oxysporum NCAIM-F-00779-caused damping-off disease of cowpea plants grown in greenhouse conditions was also studied. Using a one-factor-at-a-time experiment, five cheap agricultural waste substrates (faba bean, cowpea, sweet potato, pumpkin, and cassava) were studied using the Plackett–Burman design (PBD) and the central composite design (CCD) to optimize the nutritional and growth conditions to maximize the production of Trichoderma conidia. The findings demonstrated that increasing Candida production quantitatively required the use of 3 g of sweet potato, 3 g of cassava, pH 6, 25 °C, and pre-treatment with dH2O. The shelf life and viability of T. lixii strain were measured as log10 CFU g−1 per substrate at room temperature (RT, 25 °C) at the beginning of month 0 and subsequently at 2-month intervals for 12 months. Data showed that the fungal counts increased with the use of 4 g of sweet potato + 2 g of cassava up to 7 months and then sharply decreased, lasting up to 12 months. Additionally, this bioformulation was applied to cowpea plants in a greenhouse experiment, where a significantly higher level of plant growth traits, photosynthetic pigments, antioxidant enzymes, and chemical content in the leaves, as well as lower incidence of the damping-off disease, were noted. Accordingly, it is possible to suggest 4 g of sweet potato and 2 g of cassava as a suitable bioformulation for the industrial-scale production of the T. lixii strain, which may be a potential biocontrol agent for preventing the cowpea damping-off disease caused by F. oxysporum and improving the growth dynamics.
Effects of Sodium Nanoalginate and Lime on Swelling Properties of Expansive Soils
Authors: Mousavi Fatemeh , Abdi Ehsan , Taheri Abbas
Published: December 2023

The findings revealed that the addition of nanoalginate and lime had distinct effects on various soil properties. Specifically, the liquid limit (LL) and plastic limit (PL) decreased when sodium nanoalginate and lime were added, while the plasticity index (PI) and shrinkage limit (SL) increased. Furthermore, the soil classification was altered when sodium alginate and lime were introduced to the control soil. Regarding the standard Proctor test, it was observed that adding sodium nanoalginate increased the maximum dry density and reduced the optimal moisture content, whereas lime had the opposite effect by decreasing the maximum dry density and increasing the optimal moisture content. The free swelling and swelling pressure tests indicated that the incorporation of sodium nanoalginate and lime reduced both free swelling and swelling pressure. The most significant reduction was observed in the sample containing 7% sodium nanoalginate and 5% lime. Additionally, the study highlighted the influence of processing time, showing that an increase in the curing time led to a decrease in free swelling and swelling pressure in samples mixed with 3% sodium nanoalginate and lime. The XRD test showed that adding sodium nanoalginate reduced primary minerals, forming SAH, while lime reduced quartz and calcite, creating CSH. Overall, the results suggest that sodium nanoalginate can be a more environmentally friendly alternative to lime for soil stabilization projects.
Enrichment of Se-Te-Au in the Jilongshan Au-Cu Skarn Deposit, Hubei Province: Insight from Pyrite Texture and Composition
Authors: Nan Guizhou , Xu Jing , Liu Wenyuan , Chen Suyu , Cen Zhihui , Jiang Jichen
Published: December 2023

Selenium and Te are two important critical metals, which are often produced as by-products in Au-Cu deposits related to magmatic–hydrothermal systems, such as porphyry and skarn deposits. The Jilongshan Au-Cu deposit is a typical skarn deposit located in the middle and lower parts of the Yangtze River metallogenic belt. Previous studies show that it has valuable Se and Te resources, but their occurrence, particularly the relationship between the texture and composition of pyrite, and the enrichment mechanism of Se, Te, and Au remain unclear. Here, the textures and the major and trace elements of the Jilongshan pyrites were studied by using an optical microscope, EMPA, and LA-ICP-MS to reveal the occurrence of Se, Te, and Au in pyrite, as well as their genetic links with the pyrite mineralogical signature. The results show that there are three types of ores in the Jilongshan deposit, including granite porphyry-hosted, skarn-hosted, and carbonate-hosted ores. All of these ores contain major amounts of pyrite, which can be divided into four different generations. The first generation of pyrite (Py1) belongs to sedimentary genesis with a typical framboid texture and its Co/ Ni ratios are less than 1, whereas Py2, Py3, and Py4 belong to hydrothermal genesis and their Co/ Ni ratios are between 1.0 and 30.2. Selenium concentrations in Py2 and Py3 are relatively high (median, 138 ppm and 344 ppm, respectively), which are mainly present as isomorphism and a small amount as selenite in pyrite. Compared with granite porphyry-hosted and skarn-hosted ores, pyrite from carbonate-hosted ores has the highest Se concentrations. The latest generation of pyrite (Py4) contains the highest concentrations of Te (average, 140 ppm) and Au (average, 12 ppm) among the hydrothermal pyrites. Therefore, the precipitation of Se mainly occurs in pyrite during the early high-temperature stage, whereas higher concentrations of Te and Au are mainly enriched in pyrite during the late stage with low temperatures.
A New Approach to Predicting Vertical Permeability for Carbonate Rocks in the Southern Mesopotamian Basin
Authors: Al-Khdheeawi Emad A. , Allawi Raed H. , Al-Rubaye Wisam I. , Iglauer Stefan
Published: December 2023

Reservoir performance depends on many factors, and the most important one is permeability anisotropy. In addition, with high heterogeneity, it is essential to find unique relationships to predict permeability. Therefore, this study aims to predict vertical permeability based on horizontal permeability and porosity and to find new equations for carbonate reservoirs. This work relied on the 398 measured points of cores data collected from several wells in carbonate reservoirs. A new correlation for predicting vertical permeability for the whole data (369 samples) as a function of horizontal permeability and porosity has been developed. The results indicate that this new correlation can estimate the vertical permeability with correlation coefficients (RSQ) of 0.853. Then, the used data were divided into four groups depending on the Kv/Kh values: less than 0.1, 1–0.1, 1–10, and more than 10, and a new correlation for permeability prediction for each group has been developed with good RSQ values of 0.751, 0.947, 0.963, and 0.826, respectively. The previous studies lack the correlations to predict vertical permeability in carbonate reservoirs, so this study can be considered as a reference for similar cases.
A Facile and General Oxidative Hydroxylation of Organoboron Compounds: Citric Acid as an Efficient Catalyst in Water to Access Phenolic and Alcoholic Motifs
Authors: Zhou Jia-Hui , Chen Xia , Yang Dan , Liu Chun-Yan , Zhou Xiao-Yu
Published: December 2023

An efficient and convenient method for the synthesis of phenols and aliphatic alcohols is described in this paper. The oxidative hydroxylation reaction of various organoboron compounds proceeded smoothly by employing H2O2 as the oxidant and citric acid as the catalyst in water at room temperature to produce phenols and aliphatic alcohols in satisfactory to excellent yields (up to 99% yield). Various synthetically useful functional groups, such as halogen atom, cyano, and nitro groups, remain intact during the oxidative hydroxylation. The developed catalytic system also could accommodate phenylboronic pinacol ester and potassium phenyltrifluoroborate to give the target product good yields.
Recent Advances on Electrochemical Sensors for Detection of Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs)
Authors: Gibi Chinchu , Liu Cheng-Hua , Anandan Sambandam , Wu Jerry J.
Published: December 2023

Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs), a new category of contaminants currently in the limelight, are a major issue of global concern. The pervasive nature of CECs and their harmful effects, such as cancer, reproductive disorders, neurotoxicity, etc., make the situation alarming. The perilous nature of CECs lies in the fact that even very small concentrations of CECs can cause great impacts on living beings. They also have a nature of bioaccumulation. Thus, there is a great need to have efficient sensors for the detection of CECs to ensure a safe living environment. Electrochemical sensors are an efficient platform for CEC detection as they are highly selective, sensitive, stable, reproducible, and prompt, and can detect very low concentrations of the analyte. Major classes of CECs are pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs, personal care products, endocrine disruptors, newly registered pesticides, and disinfection by-products. This review focusses on CECs, including their sources and pathways, health effects caused by them, and electrochemical sensors as reported in the literature under each category for the detection of major CECs.
Facile Synthesis of Nd2Fe14B Hard Magnetic Particles with Microwave-Assisted Hydrothermal Method
Authors: Wang Ling , Xu Xiaofen
Published: December 2023

The synthesis of Nd-Fe-B magnetic powders via chemical techniques presents significant promise, but poses challenges due to their inherent chemical instability. In this investigation, Nd-Fe-B hard magnetic particles were synthesized utilizing an eco-friendly and simple microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthetic method. The technique involves the synthesis of the Nd-Fe-B oxide precursor using the microwave-assisted hydrothermal method, followed by reduction–diffusion using CaH2. The microwave-assisted hydrothermal technique presents a viable approach for preparing Nd-Fe-B precursor particles, offering advantages such as time and energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. The synthesized Nd-Fe-B particles demonstrated a coercivity of up to 2.3 kOe. These magnetic particles hold significant potential for use in high-performance permanent magnets, and can effectively contribute to developing high-energy density exchange-coupled nanocomposite magnets. This study also offers valuable insights into the design and synthesis of additional magnetic materials based on rare earth elements.
Deep Learning-Based Metasurface Design for Smart Cooling of Spacecraft
Authors: Negm Ayman , Bakr Mohamed H. , Howlader Matiar M. R. , Ali Shirook M.
Published: December 2023

A reconfigurable metasurface constitutes an important block of future adaptive and smart nanophotonic applications, such as adaptive cooling in spacecraft. In this paper, we introduce a new modeling approach for the fast design of tunable and reconfigurable metasurface structures using a convolutional deep learning network. The metasurface structure is modeled as a multilayer image tensor to model material properties as image maps. We avoid the dimensionality mismatch problem using the operating wavelength as an input to the network. As a case study, we model the response of a reconfigurable absorber that employs the phase transition of vanadium dioxide in the mid-infrared spectrum. The feed-forward model is used as a surrogate model and is subsequently employed within a pattern search optimization process to design a passive adaptive cooling surface leveraging the phase transition of vanadium dioxide. The results indicate that our model delivers an accurate prediction of the metasurface response using a relatively small training dataset. The proposed patterned vanadium dioxide metasurface achieved a 28% saving in coating thickness compared to the literature while maintaining reasonable emissivity contrast at 0.43. Moreover, our design approach was able to overcome the non-uniqueness problem by generating multiple patterns that satisfy the design objectives. The proposed adaptive metasurface can potentially serve as a core block for passive spacecraft cooling applications. We also believe that our design approach can be extended to cover a wider range of applications.
Chrono-Nutritional Patterns, Medical Comorbidities, and Psychological Status in Patients with Severe Obesity
Authors: Bettini Silvia , Schiff Sami , Carraro Enrico , Callegari Chiara , Gusella Beatrice , Pontesilli Giulia Maria , D’Angelo Matteo , Baldan Valeria , Zattarin Alessandra , Romanelli Giulia , Angeli Paolo , Girardi Paolo , Spinella Paolo , Vettor Roberto , Busetto Luca
Published: December 2023

Chrono-nutrition studies dietary habits and their role in the onset of metabolic diseases. The aim of this study is to describe chrono-nutritional patterns based on the analysis of the eating habits of patients with severe obesity during the 24-h cycle and investigate a possible relationship between these profiles, the comorbidities, and the psychological status. From the overall evaluation of the chrono-nutritional profiles of 173 patients with severe obesity, four predominant eating patterns were obtained with a refined statistical model. A regression analysis was performed to determine the relationship between chrono-nutritional patterns, medical comorbidities, and psychological status. Profile 1 was the most frequent (46.2%) and characterised by the regular presence of the three main meals. The distribution of the chrono-nutritional profiles did not vary with BMI. Chrono-nutritional profiles affected predominantly psychological variables, with lower performances among chrono-nutritional profiles 3 (to eat during all the 24-h, with nibbling and snacking also during the night) and 4 (like the fourth but without night-eating). This finding could be useful in the assessment and treatment of patients with obesity, allowing the identification of patients with a higher probability of suffering from a psychopathological condition simply by knowing the patients’ dietary profiles.
The Beneficial Effects of Dietary Interventions on Gut Microbiota—An Up-to-Date Critical Review and Future Perspectives
Authors: Purdel Carmen , Margină Denisa , Adam-Dima Ines , Ungurianu Anca
Published: December 2023

Different dietary interventions, especially intermittent fasting, are widely used and promoted by physicians; these regimens have been studied lately for their impact on the gut microbiota composition/function and, consequently, on the general physiopathological processes of the host. Studies are showing that dietary components modulate the microbiota, and, at the same time, the host metabolism is deeply influenced by the different products resulting from nutrient transformation in the microbiota compartment. This reciprocal relationship can potentially influence even drug metabolism for chronic drug regimens, significantly impacting human health/disease. Recently, the influence of various dietary restrictions on the gut microbiota and the differences between the effects were investigated. In this review, we explored the current knowledge of different dietary restrictions on animal and human gut microbiota and the impact of these changes on human health.
Development and Functionality of a Parsimonious Digital Food Frequency Questionnaire for a Clinical Intervention among an Indigenous Population
Authors: Abu-Saad Kathleen , Accos Moran , Ziv Arnona , Collins Fiona , Shepherd Carrington , Eades Sandra , Kalter-Leibovici Ofra
Published: December 2023

Nutrition-related chronic diseases are a major problem among Indigenous populations. Appropriate dietary intake assessment tools are needed for nutritional surveillance and intervention; however, tools designed to measure the habitual dietary intake of Indigenous persons are largely lacking. We developed a digital food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to measure habitual consumption among Australian Aboriginal adults and support personalized nutrition counseling. The primary contributors to energy, select nutrients, and inter-person variation (83 food groups) were identified from nationally representative 24 h recall (24HR) data, and they accounted for >80% of the total intake and inter-person variation of the nutrients of interest. Based on community input, a meal-based FFQ format was adopted, with a main food/beverage list of 81 items and the capacity to report on >300 additional items via the digital platform. The nutrient database was based on the Australian Food and Nutrient Database. Data for the first 60 study participants (70% female; median age: 48 years) were used to assess the FFQ’s utility. The participants’ median [IQR] reported energy intake (10,042 [6968–12,175] kJ/day) was similar to their median [IQR] estimated energy expenditure (10,197 [8636–11,551] kJ/day). Foods/beverages on the main FFQ list accounted for between 66% and 90% of the participants’ reported energy and nutrient intakes; the remainder came from participant-selected extra items. The digital FFQ platform provides a potentially valuable resource for monitoring habitual dietary intake among Aboriginal adults and supporting chronic disease prevention and management interventions.
Modelling Meningioma Using Organoids: A Review of Methodologies and Applications
Authors: López Vásquez Clara Elena , Gray Clint , Henry Claire , Munro Matthew J.
Published: December 2023

Meningiomas are the most common tumours of the central nervous system. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this disease is classified into three different grades: 80% of meningioma patients present with benign grade I tumours, while less than 2% present with malignant grade III meningiomas. Despite affecting thousands of people worldwide, much remains unknown about this disease, and the development of systemic treatments is still far behind in comparison to other types of tumours. Therefore, forming 3D structures (spheroids and organoids) could facilitate research on the mechanisms of formation, proliferation, migration, and invasion of these, for the most part, benign tumours, while also helping in the process of drug development. To date, there are three published methods for the formation of meningioma organoids primarily derived from patient tissue samples. Organoids offer many advantages in the development of treatments because they recapitulate the cellular complexity within tumours. These new methodological advances could open a substantial number of possibilities for the further characterisation and treatment of meningiomas. This review includes an overview of the disease and a description and comparison of established protocols for meningioma organoid formation.
Photodynamic Therapy Supported by Antitumor Lipids
Authors: Korbelik Mladen
Published: December 2023

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) destroys tumors by generating cytotoxic oxidants that induce oxidative stress in targeted cancer cells. Antitumor lipids developed for cancer therapy act also by inflicting similar stress. The present study investigated whether tumor response to PDT can be improved by adjuvant treatment with such lipids using the prototype molecule edelfosine. Cellular stress intensity following Photofrin-based PDT, edelfosine treatment, or their combination was assessed by the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) on the surface of treated SCCVII tumor cells by FITC-conjugated anti-HSP70 antibody staining and flow cytometry. Surface HSP70 levels that became elevated after either PDT or edelfosine rose much higher after their combined treatment. The impact of Photofrin-PDT-plus-edelfosine treatment was studied with three types of tumor models grown in syngeneic mice. With both SCCVII squamous cell carcinomas and MCA205 fibrosarcoma, the greatest impact was with edelfosine peritumoral injection at 24 h after PDT, which substantially improved tumor cure rates. With Lewis lung carcinomas, edelfosine was highly effective in elevating PDT-mediated tumor cure rates even when injected peritumorally immediately after PDT. Edelfosine used before PDT was ineffective as adjuvant with all tumor models. The study findings provide proof-in-principle for use of cancer lipids with tumor PDT.
Physiologically Based Biopharmaceutics Model (PBBM) of Minimally Absorbed Locally Acting Drugs in the Gastrointestinal Tract—Case Study: Tenapanor
Authors: Stamatopoulos Konstantinos , Mistry Nena , Fotaki Nikoletta , Turner David B. , Swift Brandon
Published: December 2023

A physiologically based biopharmaceutics model (PBBM) was developed to predict stool and urine sodium content in response to tenapanor administration in healthy subjects. Tenapanor is a minimally absorbed small molecule that inhibits the sodium/hydrogen isoform 3 exchanger (NHE3). It is used to treat irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C). Its mode of action in the gastrointestinal tract reduces the uptake of sodium, resulting in an increase in water secretion in the intestinal lumen and accelerating intestinal transit time. The strategy employed was to perform drug–drug interaction (DDI) modelling between sodium and tenapanor, with sodium as the “victim” administered as part of daily food intake and tenapanor as the “perpetrator” altering sodium absorption. Food effect was modelled, including meal-induced NHE3 activity using sodium as an inducer by normalising the induction kinetics of butyrate to sodium equivalents. The presented model successfully predicted both urine and stool sodium content in response to tenapanor dosed in healthy subjects (within 1.25-fold error) and provided insight into the clinical observations of tenapanor dosing time relative to meal ingestion. The PBBM model was applied retrospectively to assess the impact of different forms of tenapanor (free base vs. HCl salt) on its pharmacodynamic (PD) effect. The developed modelling strategy can be effectively adopted to increase confidence in using PBBM models for the prediction of the in vivo behaviour of minimally absorbed, locally acting drugs in the gastrointestinal tract, when other approaches (e.g., biomarkers or PD data) are not available.
Post-Emergence Water-Dispersal Application Provides Equal Herbicidal Activity against Echinochloa crus-galli and Rice Safety as Foliar Spraying of Penoxsulam
Authors: Sun Jinqiu , Yu Xiaoyue , Xu Hongxing , Yang Yongjie , Liu Mengjie , Zhang Yanchao , Lu Yongliang , Tang Wei
Published: December 2023

Penoxsulam is an acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicide usually applied by post-emergence foliar spraying (PFS) for the control of Echinochloa crus-galli and numerous annual weeds in paddy fields. Herbicides applied by foliar spraying can have negative impacts on the environment, ecosystems, and human health. In this study, the response of E. crus-galli and rice to the PFS and post-emergence water-dispersal (PWD) applications of penoxsulam, and the differences in the detoxification displayed by them between the two treatment methods were compared. The results showed that the PWD application of penoxsulam provides a similar control efficacy against E. crus-galli as PFS at the 1-, 3-, and 5-leaf stages. Meanwhile, the PWD application had a higher safety for the rice. After being treated with 30 g a.i. ha−1 penoxsulam, residues were not detected in the rice treated by the PWD application method, whereas, with the PFS treatment, there was 59.0 µg/kg penoxsulam remaining. With the PFS application, there were many more residues of penoxsulam in the E. crus-galli than with the PWD method; the amount of residues was 32-fold higher 12 h after treatment. The in vitro enzyme activity assays revealed that the activities of ALS, glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450) were increased in the PWD treatments, and were 1.5-, 1.3-, and 2.3-fold higher than with PFS 72 h after treatment. The real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) revealed that the GST1 and P450 genes, CYP81A14, CYP81A12, CYP81A18, and CYP81A21 were upregulated with the PWD application versus PFS in the E. crus-galli. In summary, these results demonstrate that the herbicidal activity was not affected by the upregulation of target and metabolic enzyme activities with the PWD application of penoxsulam. This research could contribute to application strategies reducing the risk of rice injury and environmental impacts by using water-dispersal formulations of penoxsulam.
Optimum Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium Fertilizer Application Increased Chrysanthemum Growth and Quality by Reinforcing the Soil Microbial Community and Nutrient Cycling Function
Authors: Fang Xinyan , Yang Yanrong , Zhao Zhiguo , Zhou Yang , Liao Yuan , Guan Zhiyong , Chen Sumei , Fang Weimin , Chen Fadi , Zhao Shuang
Published: December 2023

Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) are three macronutrients that are crucial in plant growth and development. Deficiency or excess of any or all directly decreases crop yield and quality. There is increasing awareness of the importance of rhizosphere microorganisms in plant growth, nutrient transportation, and nutrient uptake. Little is known about the influence of N, P, and K as nutrients for the optimal production of Chrysanthemum morifolium. In this study, a field experiment was performed to investigate the effects of N, P, and K on the growth, nutrient use efficiency, microbial diversity, and composition of C. morifolium. Significant relationships were evident between N application rates, C. morifolium nutrient use, and plant growth. The N distribution in plant locations decreased in the order of leaf > stem > root; the distributions were closely related to rates of N application. Total P fluctuated slightly during growth. No significant differences were found between total P in the roots, stems, and leaves of C. morifolium vegetative organs. Principle component analysis revealed that combinations of N, P, and K influenced soil nutrient properties through their indirect impact on operational taxonomic units, Shannon index, and abundance of predominant bacterial taxa. Treatment with N, P, and K (600, 120, and 80 mg·plant−1, respectively) significantly improved plant growth and quality and contributed to the bacterial richness and diversity more than other concentrations of N, P, and K. At the flowering time, the plant height, leaf fresh weight, root dry weight, stem and leaf dry weight were increased 10.6%, 19.0%, 40.4%, 27% and 34.0%, respectively, when compared to the CK. The optimal concentrations of N, P, and K had a positive indirect influence on the available soil nutrient content and efficiency of nutrient use by plants by increasing the abundance of Proteobacteria, decreasing the abundance of Actinobacteria, and enhancing the potential functions of nitrogen metabolism pathways. N, P, and K fertilization concentrations of 600, 120, and 80 mg·plant−1 were optimal for C. morifolium cultivation, which could change environmental niches and drive the evolution of the soil microbial community and diversity. Shifts in the composition of soil microbes and functional metabolism pathways, such as ABC transporters, nitrogen metabolism, porphyrin, and the metabolism of chlorophyll II, glyoxylate, and dicarboxylate, greatly affected soil nutrient cycling, with potential feedback on C. morifolium nutrient use efficiency and growth. These results provide new insights into the efficient cultivation and management of C. morifolium.
Genome-Wide Identification and Analysis of ZF-HD Gene Family in Moso Bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis)
Authors: Huang Feiyi , Wang Jiaxin , Tang Chao
Published: December 2023

Zinc finger-homeodomain (ZF-HD) proteins play essential roles in plant growth, development and stress responses. However, knowledge of the expression and evolutionary history of ZF-HD genes in moso bamboo remains limited. In this study, a total of 24 ZF-HD genes were found unevenly distributed on 12 chromosomes in moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis). Phylogenetic analysis indicated that PeZF-HDs were divided into two subfamilies: ZHD and MIF. The ZHD subfamily genes were further classified into seven groups according to their orthologous relationships among the rice and Arabidopsis ZF-HD gene family. The gene structures and conserved motifs of PeZF-HDs were analyzed. Whole-genome duplication (WGD) or segmental duplication promoted the evolution and expansion of the moso bamboo ZF-HD gene family. Ka/Ks ratios suggested that the twenty-four duplication pairs had undergone purifying selection. Promoter analysis showed that most PeZF-HDs contained cis-elements associated with stress responses and hormones. Expression analysis demonstrated that many PeZF-HDs were responsive to abiotic stress treatment. Overall, this work investigated PeZF-HD genes in moso bamboo using bioinformatic approaches. The evolutionary research on gene structure, motif distribution and cis-regulatory elements indicated that PeZF-HDs play distinct roles in biological processes, which provides a theoretical basis for exploring the physiological functions of ZF-HDs and selecting candidate stress-related genes in moso bamboo.
Machine Learning Models in Drilling of Different Types of Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites
Authors: Biruk-Urban Katarzyna , Bere Paul , Józwik Jerzy
Published: December 2023

The aim of the research presented in this paper was to simulate the relationship between selected technological drilling parameters (cutting speed, vc, and feed per tooth, fz) and cutting forces and the delamination in machining of a new glass-fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite. Four different types of new materials were manufactured with the use of a specially designed pressing device and differed in the fiber type (plain and twill woven materials) and weight fraction (wf) ratio, but they had the same number of layers and the same stacking sequence. A vertical machining center Avia VMC800HS was used for drilling holes with a two-edge carbide diamond coated drill. Measurements of the cutting force Fz in the drilling process conducted with variable technological parameters were carried out on a special test stand, 9257B, from Kistler. The new ink penetration method, involving covering the drilled hole surface with a colored liquid that spreads over the inner surface of the hole showing damage, was used to determine the delamination area. The cause-and-effect relationship between the drilling parameters was simulated with the use of five machine learning (ML) regression models (Linear Regression; Decision Tree Regressor; Decision Tree Regressor with Ada Boost; XGBRF Regressor; Gradient Boosting Regressor). Gradient Boosting Regressor results showed that the feed per tooth had the greatest impact on delamination—the higher the feed was, the greater the delamination became. Push-out delamination factors had higher values for materials that were made of plain woven fibers. The lowest amplitude of the cutting force component Fz was obtained for the lowest tested feed per tooth of 0.04 mm for all tested materials, with the lowest values obtained for the materials with twill fibers.
Poly(Vinyl Alcohol)/Bovine Serum Albumin Hybrid Hydrogels with Tunable Mechanical Properties
Authors: Bercea Maria , Plugariu Ioana-Alexandra , Dinu Maria Valentina , Pelin Irina Mihaela , Lupu Alexandra , Bele Adrian , Gradinaru Vasile Robert
Published: December 2023

In this study, a new strategy was adopted for obtaining polymer/protein hybrid hydrogels with shape stability and tunable mechanical or rheological characteristics by using non-toxic procedures. A chemical network was created using a poly(vinyl alcohol)(PVA)/bovine serum albumin (BSA) mixture in aqueous solution in the presence of genipin and reduced glutathione (GSH). Then, a second physical network was formed through PVA after applying freezing/thawing cycles. In addition, the protein macromolecules formed intermolecular disulfide bridges in the presence of GSH. In these conditions, multiple crosslinked networks were obtained, determining the strengthening and stiffening into relatively tough porous hydrogels with tunable viscoelasticity and a self-healing ability. A SEM analysis evidenced the formation of networks with interconnected pores of sizes between 20 μm and 50 μm. The mechanical or rheological investigations showed that the hydrogels’ strength and response in different conditions of deformation were influenced by the composition and crosslinking procedure. Thus, the dynamics of the hybrid hydrogels can be adjusted to mimic the viscoelastic properties of the native tissues. The dynamic water vapor-sorption ability, swelling behavior in an aqueous environment, and bioadhesive properties were also investigated and are discussed in this paper. The hybrid hydrogels with tunable viscoelasticity can be designed on request, and they are promising candidates for tissue engineering, bioinks, and wound dressing applications.
A Comparative Study on Crystallisation for Virgin and Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET): Multiscale Effects on Physico-Mechanical Properties
Authors: Viora Laurianne , Combeau Marie , Pucci Monica Francesca , Perrin Didier , Liotier Pierre-Jacques , Bouvard Jean-Luc , Combeaud Christelle
Published: December 2023

Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) (PET) is one of the most used polymers for packaging applications. Modifications induced by service conditions and the means to make this matter circular have to be understood to really close the loop (from bottle to bottle for example). Physico-chemical properties, crystalline organisation, and mechanical behaviour of virgin PET (vPET) are compared with those of recycled PET (rPET). Using different combined experimental methods (Calorimetry, Small Angle X-ray Scattering [SAXS], Atomic Force Microscopy [AFM], Dynamic Mechanical Analysis [DMA], and uniaxial tensile test), it has been proven that even if there is no change in the crystallinity of PET, the crystallisation process shows some differences (size and number of spherulites). The potential impact of these differences on local mechanical characterisation is explored and tends to demonstrate the development of a homogeneous microstructure, leading to well-controlled and relevant local mechanical property characterisation. The main contribution of the present study is a better understanding of crystallisation of PET and recycled PET during forming processes such as thermoforming or Injection Stretch Blow Moulding (ISBM), during which elongation at the point of breaking can depend on the microstructure conditioned by the crystallisation process.