bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reinforced Spun Concrete Poles—Case Study of Using Chemical Admixtures
Authors: Kliukas Romualdas , Jaras Arūnas , Lukoševičienė Ona
Published: January 2020

The current research paper is focused on the experimental investigation of features of chemical admixtures (superplasticizers C-3, ‘Dofen’ and formaldehyde resin ACF-3M) utilizing in reinforced spun concrete structures. For the sake of comparison, the results of studying the effects of chemical admixtures on physical and mechanical properties on vibrated and spun concrete are provided. As a separate part of spun concrete products, the supporting poles of overhead power lines are introduced. The results obtained indicate, that the positive effect of chemical admixtures for spun and vibrated concrete is most pronounced at an early age of concrete. The effective amount of chemical admixtures for spun concrete is 0.15% of cement mass when formaldehyde resin ACF-3M and 1% of cement mass when superplasticizers C-3 and ‘Dofen’ are used. Moreover, the brief review about the reinforced spun concrete members is provided.
Prediction of the Weld Pool Stability by Material Flow Behavior of the Perforated Weld Pool
Authors: Lang Ruiqing , Han Yongquan , Bai Xueyu , Hong Haitao
Published: January 2020

This article presents the application of a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) finite volume method (FVM) model for a thermo-mechanical coupling simulation of the weld pool used in variable polarity plasma arc welding (VPPAW). Based on the mechanism of the additional pressure produced through self-magnetic arc compression and the jet generated from mechanical plasma arc compression, and considering the influence of arc height and keyhole secondary compression on arc pressure, a three-dimensional transient model of variable polarity plasma arc (VPPA) arc pressure was established. The material flow behaviors of the perforated weld pools were studied. The results show that three kinds of flow behavior existed in the perforation weld pools and it is feasible to predict the weld pool stability by the material flow behaviors of the perforated weld pools. The weld pools can exist stably if the material flow in the bottom of the perforated weld pools can form confluences with moderate flow velocities of 0.45 m/s, 0.55 m/s and 0.60 m/s. The weld pools were cut when the material flowed downward and outward with the maximum velocity of 0.70 m/s, 0.80 m/s. When the maximum material flow velocity was 0.40 m/s, the weld pool collapsed downward under the action of larger gravity. The thermo-mechanical coupling model was verified by the comparison of the simulation and experimental results.
Preparation and Thermal Properties of Modified Cu2O/Polypropylene (PP) Composite
Authors: Wu Yurong , Xu Longshan , Jiang Yanying
Published: January 2020

A uniform, monodispersed superfine cuprous oxide (Cu2O) sphere with a mean diameter of 850 nm has been synthesized by solution reduction. The study reported the synthesis and thermal properties of Cu2O/PP composites for the first time. The surface modification of the superfine Cu2O sphere was carried out by using a silane coupling agent KH-570. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) curve revealed that the Cu2O had been successfully modified by silane coupling agent KH570. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) shows that the modified Cu2O can be uniformly dispersed in the polypropylene (PP) matrix, because through surface modification, there are some active functional groups on its surface, such as the ester group, which improves its compatibility with the PP matrix. The thermal stability of Cu2O/PP composites was improved by adding a small amount of Cu2O (1 wt % of PP). Therefore, based on the potential bacteriostasis of cuprous oxide, the low cost of PP and the results of this study, it is predicted that Cu2O/PP composites can be used in infant preparation (such as milk bottles) with low cost and good thermal stability in the near future.
Hot Deformation Behaviors of the Mg-3Sn-2Al-1Zn Alloy: Investigation on its Constitutive Equation, Processing Map, and Microstructure
Authors: Guo Yuhang , Xuanyuan Yaodong , Ly Xuannam , Yang Sen
Published: January 2020

In this work, the Mg-3Sn-2Al-1Zn (TAZ321, wt. %) alloy with excellent high temperature resistance was compressed using a Gleeble-3500 thermo-mechanical simulator at a wide temperature and the strain rate range. The kinetics analyses showed that the dominant deformation mechanism was likely caused by the cross slipping of dislocations. A constitutive equation which expressed the relationship between the flow stress, deformation temperature, and strain rate was established, and the average activation energy Q was calculated to be 172.1 kJ/mol. In order to delineate the stability and instability working domains, as well as obtain the optimum hot working parameters of the alloy, the hot processing maps in accordance with Prassad’s criterion are constructed at the true strain of 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8, respectively. Based on the hot processing map and microstructure observation, the optimum hot working parameter was determined to be 350 °C/1 s−1. The continuous fine dynamic recrystallization (CDRX) grains occurred in the optimum deformation zone. The predicted instability domains was identified as T = 200–300 °C, ε ˙ = 10−2–1 s−1, which corresponded to the microstructure of deformation twinning and micro cracks at the intersection of grain boundaries.
Energy Conversion Capacity of Barium Zirconate Titanate
Authors: Binhayeeniyi Nawal , Sukwisute Pisan , Nawae Safitree , Muensit Nantakan
Published: January 2020

In this study, we investigated the effect of zirconium content on lead-free barium zirconate titanate (BZT) (Ba(ZrxTi1−x)O3, with x = 0.00, 0.01, 0.03, 0.05, and 0.08), which was prepared by the sol–gel method. A single-phase perovskite BZT was obtained under calcination and sintering conditions at 1100 °C and 1300 °C. Ferroelectric measurements revealed that the Curie temperature of BaTiO3 was 399 K, and the transition temperature decreased with increasing zirconium content. At the Curie temperature, Ba(Zr0.03Ti0.97)O3 with a dielectric constant of 19,600 showed the best performance in converting supplied mechanical vibration into electrical power. The experiments focused on piezoelectric activity at a low vibrating frequency, and the output power that dissipated from the BZT system at 15 Hz was 2.47 nW (30 MΩ). The prepared lead-free sol–gel BZT is promising for energy-harvesting applications considering that the normal frequencies of ambient vibration sources are less than 100 Hz.
Study of the Structure, Electronic and Optical Properties of BiOI/Rutile-TiO2 Heterojunction by the First-Principle Calculation
Authors: Qu Zhan , Su Yali , Sun Li , Liang Feng , Zhang Guohe
Published: January 2020

Using the first-principle calculation that is based on the density functional theory (DFT), our group gains some insights of the structural, electronic and optical properties of two brand new types of BiOI/TiO2 heterojunctions: 1I-terminated BiOI {001} surface/TiO2 (1I-BiOI/TiO2) and BiO-terminated BiOI {001} surface/TiO2 (BiO-BiOI/TiO2). The calculation illustrates that BiOI/TiO2 heterojunction has excellent mechanical stability, and it shows that there is a great possibility for the BiOI/TiO2 heterojunction to be used in visible-light range, hence the photocatalytic ability can be enhanced dramatically. Especially, from the calculation, we discovered that there are two specific properties: the band-gap of 1I-BiOI/TiO2 heterojunction reduces to 0.28 eV, and the BiO-BiOI/TiO2 semiconductor material changes to n-type. The calculated band offset (BOs) for 1I-BiOI/TiO2 heterojunction indicates that the interfacial structure contributes a lot to a suitable band alignment which can disperse the photo-generated carriers into the opposite sides of the interface, so this could effectively weaken the electron-hole recombination. Meanwhile, the built-in potential around the interface accelerates the movement of the photo-generated electron-hole pairs. We believe this is the reason that the BiOI/TiO2 material shows perfect photocatalytic performance. This paper can provide theoretical support for the related research, especially the further research of the BiOI-based material.
Bayesian Derivative Order Estimation for a Fractional Logistic Model
Authors: Ariza-Hernandez Francisco J. , Arciga-Alejandre Martin P. , Sanchez-Ortiz Jorge , Fleitas-Imbert Alberto
Published: January 2020

In this paper, we consider the inverse problem of derivative order estimation in a fractional logistic model. In order to solve the direct problem, we use the Grünwald-Letnikov fractional derivative, then the inverse problem is tackled within a Bayesian perspective. To construct the likelihood function, we propose an explicit numerical scheme based on the truncated series of the derivative definition. By MCMC samples of the marginal posterior distributions, we estimate the order of the derivative and the growth rate parameter in the dynamic model, as well as the noise in the observations. To evaluate the methodology, a simulation was performed using synthetic data, where the bias and mean square error are calculated, the results give evidence of the effectiveness for the method and the suitable performance of the proposed model. Moreover, an example with real data is presented as evidence of the relevance of using a fractional model.
Combination of Ensembles of Regularized Regression Models with Resampling-Based Lasso Feature Selection in High Dimensional Data
Authors: Patil Abhijeet R , Kim Sangjin
Published: January 2020

In high-dimensional data, the performances of various classifiers are largely dependent on the selection of important features. Most of the individual classifiers with the existing feature selection (FS) methods do not perform well for highly correlated data. Obtaining important features using the FS method and selecting the best performing classifier is a challenging task in high throughput data. In this article, we propose a combination of resampling-based least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) feature selection (RLFS) and ensembles of regularized regression (ERRM) capable of dealing data with the high correlation structures. The ERRM boosts the prediction accuracy with the top-ranked features obtained from RLFS. The RLFS utilizes the lasso penalty with sure independence screening (SIS) condition to select the top k ranked features. The ERRM includes five individual penalty based classifiers: LASSO, adaptive LASSO (ALASSO), elastic net (ENET), smoothly clipped absolute deviations (SCAD), and minimax concave penalty (MCP). It was built on the idea of bagging and rank aggregation. Upon performing simulation studies and applying to smokers’ cancer gene expression data, we demonstrated that the proposed combination of ERRM with RLFS achieved superior performance of accuracy and geometric mean.
Association of Serum Albumin and Severity of Pulmonary Embolism
Authors: Omar Hesham R. , Mirsaeidi Mehdi , Rashad Rania , Hassaballa Hatem , Enten Garett , Helal Engy , Mangar Devanand , Camporesi Enrico M.
Published: January 2020

Background and Objectives: Inflammation is considered a risk factor for venous thromboembolism. The association between inflammatory markers and the severity of acute pulmonary embolism (APE) has not been explored. Methods: We studied the association between two crude markers of inflammation, serum albumin, and red cell distribution width (RDW) and massive versus non-massive APE. Results: Among 552 consecutive cases of CT-angiogram-confirmed APE, a total of 46 cases (8.3%) had massive APE. Despite similar demographics and comorbidities, patients with massive APE had higher frequency of acute kidney injury (P = 0.005), higher lactic acid (P = 0.011), higher troponin (P = 0.001), higher BNP (P < 0.001), higher frequency of RV dilation (P = 0.017) and hypokinesis (P = 0.003), and higher in-hospital mortality (15.2% vs. 2%, P < 0.001). Patients with massive APE had significantly lower albumin level (median (IQR): 2.8 (2.2, 3.0) vs. 3.2 (2.8, 3.6) gm/dL, P < 0.001) and higher RDW (median (IQR): 14.7 (13.8, 17.1) vs. 14.2 (13.3, 15.6), P = 0.006) compared with non-massive APE. ROC curves showed that albumin and RDW had an AUC of 0.750 (P < 0.001) and 0.621 (P = 0.006) in predicting a massive APE, respectively. The optimal cutoff values for albumin and RDW that had the highest combined sensitivity and specificity for predicting APE was ≤3 gm/dL and >14, for albumin and RDW, respectively. Restricted cubic splines showed a significant association between albumin (P = 0.0002) and RDW (P = 0.0446) and the occurrence of massive APE. After adjustment for patients’ age, body mass index, white blood cell count, the requirement of antibiotics during hospitalization, diabetes, RDW, and peak creatinine, serum albumin was independently associated with massive APE (OR 0.234, 95% CI 0.129–0.4242, P < 0.001). Conclusion: low serum albumin is associated with massive APE. This association is likely a proxy for higher inflammatory state in massive compared with non-massive APE.
The Role of Cardiac T-Cadherin in the Indicating Heart Failure Severity of Patients with Non-Ischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Baltrūnienė Vaida , Rinkūnaitė Ieva , Bogomolovas Julius , Bironaitė Daiva , Kažukauskienė Ieva , Šimoliūnas Egidijus , Ručinskas Kęstutis , Puronaitė Roma , Bukelskienė Virginija , Grabauskienė Virginija
Published: January 2020

Background and objectives: T-cadherin (T-cad) is one of the adiponectin receptors abundantly expressed in the heart and blood vessels. Experimental studies show that T-cad sequesters adiponectin in cardiovascular tissues and is critical for adiponectin-mediated cardio-protection. However, there are no data connecting cardiac T-cad levels with human chronic heart failure (HF). The aim of this study was to assess whether myocardial T-cad concentration is associated with chronic HF severity and whether the T-cad levels in human heart tissue might predict outcomes in patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NI-DCM). Materials and Methods: 29 patients with chronic NI-DCM and advanced HF were enrolled. Patients underwent regular laboratory investigations, echocardiography, coronary angiography, and right heart catheterization. TNF-α and IL6 in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Additionally, endomyocardial biopsies were obtained, and the levels of T-cad were assessed by ELISA and CD3, CD45Ro, CD68, and CD4- immunohistochemically. Mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) was used as a marker of HF severity, subdividing patients into two groups: mean PCWP > 19 mmHg vs. mean PCWP < 19 mmHg. Patients were followed-up for 5 years. The study outcome was composite: left ventricular assist device implantation, heart transplantation, or death from cardiovascular causes. Results: T-cad shows an inverse correlation with the mean PCWP (rho = −0.397, p = 0.037). There is a tendency towards a lower T-cad concentration in patients with more severe HF, as indicated by the mean PCWP > 19 mmHg compared to those with mean PCWP ≤ 19 mmHg (p = 0.058). Cardiac T-cad levels correlate negatively with myocardial CD3 cell count (rho = −0.423, p = 0.028). Conclusions: Univariate Cox regression analysis did not prove T-cad to be an outcome predictor (HR = 1, p = 0.349). However, decreased T-cad levels in human myocardium can be an additional indicator of HF severity. T-cad in human myocardium has an anti-inflammatory role. More studies are needed to extend the role of T-cad in the outcome prediction of patients with NI-DCM.
A Review on Optoelectrokinetics-Based Manipulation and Fabrication of Micro/Nanomaterials
Authors: Liang Wenfeng , Liu Lianqing , Wang Junhai , Yang Xieliu , Wang Yuechao , Li Wen , Yang Wenguang
Published: January 2020

Optoelectrokinetics (OEK), a fusion of optics, electrokinetics, and microfluidics, has been demonstrated to offer a series of extraordinary advantages in the manipulation and fabrication of micro/nanomaterials, such as requiring no mask, programmability, flexibility, and rapidness. In this paper, we summarize a variety of differently structured OEK chips, followed by a discussion on how they are fabricated and the ways in which they work. We also review how three differently sized polystyrene beads can be separated simultaneously, how a variety of nanoparticles can be assembled, and how micro/nanomaterials can be fabricated into functional devices. Another focus of our paper is on mask-free fabrication and assembly of hydrogel-based micro/nanostructures and its possible applications in biological fields. We provide a summary of the current challenges facing the OEK technique and its future prospects at the end of this paper.
Bacterial Biodiversity of Extra Virgin Olive Oils and Their Potential Biotechnological Exploitation
Authors: Fancello Francesco , Multineddu Chiara , Santona Mario , Deiana Pierfrancesco , Zara Giacomo , Mannazzu Ilaria , Budroni Marilena , Dettori Sandro , Zara Severino
Published: January 2020

Bacterial diversity of 15 extra virgin olive oils, obtained from different Italian varieties, including Frantoio, Coratina, Bosana, and Semidana, was analyzed in this study. All bacterial isolates were genotyped using RAPD and REP-PCR method and grouped by means of cluster analyses. Sequencing of 16S rDNA of 51 isolates, representative of 36 clusters, led to the identification of Bacillus spp., Brevibacillus spp., Micrococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Pantoea spp., Kocuria spp., Lysinbacillus spp., and Lactobacillus spp., most of which reported for first time in olive oils. Phenotypic characterization of the 51 isolates, some of which ascribed to potentially probiotic species, indicate that two of them have beta-glucosidase activity while 37% present lipolytic activity. Preliminary evaluation of probiotic potential indicates that 31% of the isolates show biofilm formation ability, 29% acidic pH resistance, and 25% bile salt resistance. Finally, 29% of the isolates were sensitive to antibiotics while the remaining 71%, that include bacterial species well-recognized for their ability to disseminate resistance genes in the environment, showed a variable pattern of antibiotic resistance. The results obtained underline that microbial diversity of extra virgin olive oils represents an unexpected sink of microbial diversity and poses safety issues on the possible biotechnological exploitation of this microbial biodiversity.
Thymol Inhibits Biofilm Formation, Eliminates Pre-Existing Biofilms, and Enhances Clearance of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in a Mouse Peritoneal Implant Infection Model
Authors: Yuan Zhongwei , Dai Yuyun , Ouyang Ping , Rehman Tayyab , Hussain Sajjad , Zhang Tianyi , Yin Zhongqiong , Fu Hualin , Lin Juchun , He Changliang , Lv Cheng , Liang Xiaoxia , Shu Gang , Song Xu , Li Lixia , Zou Yuanfeng , Yin Lizi
Published: January 2020

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a common human pathogen that causes several difficult-to-treat infections, including biofilm-associated infections. The biofilm-forming ability of S. aureus plays a pivotal role in its resistance to most currently available antibiotics, including vancomycin, which is the first-choice drug for treating MRSA infections. In this study, the ability of thymol (a monoterpenoid phenol isolated from plants) to inhibit biofilm formation and to eliminate mature biofilms, was assessed. We found that thymol could inhibit biofilm formation and remove mature biofilms by inhibiting the production of polysaccharide intracellular adhesin (PIA) and the release of extracellular DNA (eDNA). However, cotreatment with thymol and vancomycin was more effective at eliminating MRSA biofilms, in a mouse infection model, than monotherapy with vancomycin. Comparative histopathological analyses revealed that thymol reduced the pathological changes and inflammatory responses in the wounds. Assessments of white blood cell counts and serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels showed reduced inflammation and an increased immune response following treatment with thymol and vancomycin. These results indicate that combinatorial treatment with thymol and vancomycin has the potential to serve as a more effective therapy for MRSA biofilm-associated infections than vancomycin monotherapy.
Tectonic History of the South Tannuol Fault Zone (Tuva Region of the Northern Central Asian Orogenic Belt, Russia): Constraints from Multi-Method Geochronology
Authors: Vetrov Evgeny , De Grave Johan , Vetrova Natalia , Zhimulev Fedor , Nachtergaele Simon , Van Ranst Gerben , Mikhailova Polina
Published: January 2020

In this study, we present zircon U/Pb, plagioclase and K-feldspar 40Ar/39Ar and apatite fission track (AFT) data along the South Tannuol Fault Zone (STFZ). Integrating geochronology and multi-method thermochronology places constraints on the formation and subsequent reactivation of the STFZ. Cambrian (~510 Ma) zircon U/Pb ages obtained for felsic volcanic rocks date the final stage of STFZ basement formation. Ordovician (~460–450 Ma) zircon U/Pb ages were obtained for felsic rocks along the structure, dating their emplacement and marking post-formational local magmatic activity along the STFZ. 40Ar/39Ar stepwise heating plateau-ages (~410–400 Ma, ~365 and ~340 Ma) reveal Early Devonian and Late Devonian–Mississippian intrusion and/or post-magmatic cooling episodes of mafic rocks in the basement. Permian (~290 Ma) zircon U/Pb age of mafic rocks documents for the first time Permian magmatism in the study area creating prerequisites for revising the spread of Permian large igneous provinces of Central Asia. The AFT dating and Thermal history modeling based on the AFT data reveals two intracontinental tectonic reactivation episodes of the STFZ: (1) a period of Cretaceous–Eocene (~100–40 Ma) reactivation and (2) the late Neogene (from ~10 Ma onwards) impulse after a period of tectonic stability during the Eocene–Miocene (~40–10 Ma).
Ab Initio Thermoelasticity of Liquid Iron-Nickel-Light Element Alloys
Authors: Ichikawa Hiroki , Tsuchiya Taku
Published: January 2020

The earth’s core is thought to be composed of Fe-Ni alloy including substantially large amounts of light elements. Although oxygen, silicon, carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and hydrogen have been proposed as candidates for the light elements, little is known about the amount and the species so far, primarily because of the difficulties in measurements of liquid properties under the outer core pressure and temperature condition. Here, we carry out massive ab initio computations of liquid Fe-Ni-light element alloys with various compositions under the whole outer core P, T condition in order to quantitatively evaluate their thermoelasticity. Calculated results indicate that Si and S have larger effects on the density of liquid iron than O and H, but the seismological reference values of the outer core can be reproduced simultaneously by any light elements except for C. In order to place further constraints on the outer core chemistry, other information, in particular melting phase relations of iron light elements alloys at the inner core-outer core boundary, are necessary. The optimized best-fit compositions demonstrate that the major element composition of the bulk earth is expected to be CI chondritic for the Si-rich core with the pyrolytic mantle or for the Si-poor core and the (Mg,Fe)SiO3-dominant mantle. But the H-rich core likely causes a distinct Fe depletion for the bulk Earth composition.
Multivariate Statistical Analysis of Trace Elements in Pyrite: Prediction, Bias and Artefacts in Defining Mineral Signatures
Authors: Dmitrijeva Marija , Cook Nigel J. , Ehrig Kathy , Ciobanu Cristiana L. , Metcalfe Andrew V. , Kamenetsky Maya , Kamenetsky Vadim S. , Gilbert Sarah
Published: January 2020

Pyrite is the most common sulphide in a wide range of ore deposits and well known to host numerous trace elements, with implications for recovery of valuable metals and for generation of clean concentrates. Trace element signatures of pyrite are also widely used to understand ore-forming processes. Pyrite is an important component of the Olympic Dam Cu–U–Au–Ag orebody, South Australia. Using a multivariate statistical approach applied to a large trace element dataset derived from analysis of random pyrite grains, trace element signatures in Olympic Dam pyrite are assessed. Pyrite is characterised by: (i) a Ag–Bi–Pb signature predicting inclusions of tellurides (as PC1); and (ii) highly variable Co–Ni ratios likely representing an oscillatory zonation pattern in pyrite (as PC2). Pyrite is a major host for As, Co and probably also Ni. These three elements do not correlate well at the grain-scale, indicating high variability in zonation patterns. Arsenic is not, however, a good predictor for invisible Au at Olympic Dam. Most pyrites contain only negligible Au, suggesting that invisible gold in pyrite is not commonplace within the deposit. A minority of pyrite grains analysed do, however, contain Au which correlates with Ag, Bi and Te. The results are interpreted to reflect not only primary patterns but also the effects of multi-stage overprinting, including cycles of partial replacement and recrystallisation. The latter may have caused element release from the pyrite lattice and entrapment as mineral inclusions, as widely observed for other ore and gangue minerals within the deposit. Results also show the critical impact on predictive interpretations made from statistical analysis of large datasets containing a large percentage of left-censored values (i.e., those falling below the minimum limits of detection). The treatment of such values in large datasets is critical as the number of these values impacts on the cluster results. Trimming of datasets to eliminate artefacts introduced by left-censored data should be performed with caution lest bias be unintentionally introduced. The practice may, however, reveal meaningful correlations that might be diluted using the complete dataset.
Exploring the Multi-Target Performance of Mitochondriotropic Antioxidants against the Pivotal Alzheimer’s Disease Pathophysiological Hallmarks
Authors: Benfeito Sofia , Fernandes Carlos , Vilar Santiago , Remião Fernando , Uriarte Eugenio , Borges Fernanda
Published: January 2020

Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease featuring progressive and degenerative neurological impairments resulting in memory loss and cognitive decline. The specific mechanisms underlying AD are still poorly understood, but it is suggested that a deficiency in the brain neurotransmitter acetylcholine, the deposition of insoluble aggregates of fibrillar β-amyloid 1–42 (Aβ42), and iron and glutamate accumulation play an important role in the disease progress. Despite the existence of approved cholinergic drugs, none of them demonstrated effectiveness in modifying disease progression. Accordingly, the development of new chemical entities acting on more than one target is attracting progressively more attention as they can tackle intricate network targets and modulate their effects. Within this endeavor, a series of mitochondriotropic antioxidants inspired on hydroxycinnamic (HCA’s) scaffold were synthesized, screened toward cholinesterases and evaluated as neuroprotectors in a differentiated human SH-SY5Y cell line. From the series, compounds 7 and 11 with a 10-carbon chain can be viewed as multi-target leads for the treatment of AD, as they act as dual and bifunctional cholinesterase inhibitors and prevent the neuronal damage caused by diverse aggressors related to protein misfolding and aggregation, iron accumulation and excitotoxicity.
The Influence of Ionic Liquids on the Effectiveness of Analytical Methods Used in the Monitoring of Human and Veterinary Pharmaceuticals in Biological and Environmental Samples—Trends and Perspectives
Authors: Treder Natalia , Bączek Tomasz , Wychodnik Katarzyna , Rogowska Justyna , Wolska Lidia , Plenis Alina
Published: January 2020

Recent years have seen the increased utilization of ionic liquids (ILs) in the development and optimization of analytical methods. Their unique and eco-friendly properties and the ability to modify their structure allows them to be useful both at the sample preparation stage and at the separation stage of the analytes. The use of ILs for the analysis of pharmaceuticals seems particularly interesting because of their systematic delivery to the environment. Nowadays, they are commonly detected in many countries at very low concentration levels. However, due to their specific physiological activity, pharmaceuticals are responsible for bioaccumulation and toxic effects in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems as well as possibly upsetting the body’s equilibrium, leading to the dangerous phenomenon of drug resistance. This review will provide a comprehensive summary of the use of ILs in various sample preparation procedures and separation methods for the determination of pharmaceuticals in environmental and biological matrices based on liquid-based chromatography (LC, SFC, TLC), gas chromatography (GC) and electromigration techniques (e.g., capillary electrophoresis (CE)). Moreover, the advantages and disadvantages of ILs, which can appear during extraction and separation, will be presented and attention will be given to the criteria to be followed during the selection of ILs for specific applications.
Visible-Light Active Titanium Dioxide Nanomaterials with Bactericidal Properties
Authors: Liao Chengzhu , Li Yuchao , Tjong Sie Chin
Published: January 2020

This article provides an overview of current research into the development, synthesis, photocatalytic bacterial activity, biocompatibility and cytotoxic properties of various visible-light active titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) and their nanocomposites. To achieve antibacterial inactivation under visible light, TiO2 NPs are doped with metal and non-metal elements, modified with carbonaceous nanomaterials, and coupled with other metal oxide semiconductors. Transition metals introduce a localized d-electron state just below the conduction band of TiO2 NPs, thereby narrowing the bandgap and causing a red shift of the optical absorption edge into the visible region. Silver nanoparticles of doped TiO2 NPs experience surface plasmon resonance under visible light excitation, leading to the injection of hot electrons into the conduction band of TiO2 NPs to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) for bacterial killing. The modification of TiO2 NPs with carbon nanotubes and graphene sheets also achieve the efficient creation of ROS under visible light irradiation. Furthermore, titanium-based alloy implants in orthopedics with enhanced antibacterial activity and biocompatibility can be achieved by forming a surface layer of Ag-doped titania nanotubes. By incorporating TiO2 NPs and Cu-doped TiO2 NPs into chitosan or the textile matrix, the resulting polymer nanocomposites exhibit excellent antimicrobial properties that can have applications as fruit/food wrapping films, self-cleaning fabrics, medical scaffolds and wound dressings. Considering the possible use of visible-light active TiO2 nanomaterials for various applications, their toxicity impact on the environment and public health is also addressed.
Visible Light Photodegradation of Formaldehyde over TiO2 Nanotubes Synthesized via Electrochemical Anodization of Titanium Foil
Authors: Sahrin Nurul Tasnim , Nawaz Rab , Fai Kait Chong , Lee Siew Ling , Wirzal Mohd Dzul Hakim
Published: January 2020

In this study, a series of TiO2 nanotubes (NTs) were synthesized employing electrochemical anodization of titanium foil in an ionic liquid solution containing a mixture of glycerol and choline chloride, acting as electrolyte. The as-synthesized TiO2 NTs were calcined at 350, 450, or 550 °C for a 2 h duration to investigate the influence of calcination temperature on NTs formation, morphology, surface properties, crystallinity, and subsequent photocatalytic activity for visible light photodegradation of gaseous formaldehyde (HCHO). Results showed that the calcination temperature has a significant effect on the structure and coverage of TiO2 NTs on the surface. Freshly synthesized TiO2 NTs showed better-ordered structure compared to calcined samples. There was significant pore rupture with increasing calcination temperature. The transformation from anatase to rutile phase appeared after calcination at 450 °C and the weight fraction of the rutile phase increased from 19% to 36% upon increasing the calcination temperature to 550 °C. The band gaps of the TiO2 NTs were in the range from 2.80 to 2.74 eV, shifting the active region of the materials to visible light. The presence of mixed anatase–rutile TiO2 phases in the sample calcined at 450 °C showed enhanced photoactivity, which was confirmed by the 21.56 mg∙L−1∙g−1 removal of gaseous formaldehyde under 120 min of visible light irradiation and displayed enhanced quantum yield, ∅HCHO of 17%.
Influence of Diabetes during Pregnancy on Human Milk Composition
Authors: Peila Chiara , Gazzolo Diego , Bertino Enrico , Cresi Francesco , Coscia Alessandra
Published: January 2020

Human milk (HM) is a unique nourishment believed to contain biological factors contributing to both short and long-term benefits. Considering that a mother’s own milk is often considered the first choice for nutrition of neonates, an aspect of increased interest is the possible effect of diabetes on the mammary gland and therefore on breast milk composition. This article aims to review the published literature on this topic, and to offer additional insights on the role of this disease on the composition of HM. This review was performed by searching the MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINHAL and Cochrane Library databases. A total of 50 articles were selected, focused specifically on one of the two types of diabetes: gestational diabetes mellitus (21 studies) and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (8 studies). Overall, the findings from the literature suggest that diabetes can alter the composition of HM. Nevertheless, the studies in this field are scarce, and the related protocols present some limitations, e.g., evaluating the variability of just a few specific milk biochemical markers in association with this syndrome.
Assessment of Malnutrition, Sarcopenia and Frailty in Patients with Cirrhosis: Which Tools Should We Use in Clinical Practice?
Authors: Buchard Benjamin , Boirie Yves , Cassagnes Lucie , Lamblin Géraldine , Coilly A. , Abergel Armando
Published: January 2020

Malnutrition is a common comorbidity in patients with cirrhosis. Its prognostic value is indisputable as it greatly affects the evolution of liver diseases. It has a major impact on both morbi-mortality before and after liver transplantation. Being now integrated in the definition of malnutrition and recognized as a new entity in the international classification of diseases, physicians have taken great interest in sarcopenia. Its negative consequences on the fate of patients with cirrhosis are well-demonstrated. The concept of frailty has recently been enlarged to chronic liver diseases as symptoms of impaired global physical functioning. In this article, we will discuss the definitions of malnutrition and emphasize its links with sarcopenia and frailty. We will show the relevance of frailty and sarcopenia in the course of liver diseases. The emerging role of muscle depletion on the cardiorespiratory system will also be highlighted. The importance of body composition will be demonstrated and the main tools reviewed. Finally, we adapted the definition of malnutrition to patients with cirrhosis based on the assessment of sarcopenia together with reduced food intakes.
Association of Blood Mercury Level with the Risk of Depression According to Fish Intake Level in the General Korean Population: Findings from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2008–2013
Authors: Kim Kyung Won , Sreeja Sundara Raj , Kwon Minji , Yu Ye Lee , Kim Mi Kyung
Published: January 2020

Mercury is a cumulative neurotoxic agent, exposure to high levels of which may increase the risk of psychiatric symptoms. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between blood mercury and depression risk in Korean adults. We analyzed the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) with 11,754 participants (male: 5834 female: 5920) aged ≥19 years from 2008 to 2013. The associations of blood mercury with risk of depression were estimated using multivariate logistic regression after adjustment for potential confounders. We found a significantly increased risk of depression in the highest quintile for blood mercury (multivariate OR = 2.05; 95% CI = 1.20–3.48; p trend = 0.03) among female, but not male. A stratification analysis by fish intake showed that the association between depression and blood mercury was strengthened (OR = 4.00; 95% CI = 1.51–10.6; p trend = 0.015) among females with the lowest tertile of fish intake. The results of this study suggest that higher levels of blood mercury, especially in cases of lower fish intake, are positively associated with the risk of depression in Korean women.
Development of Bio-Active Patches Based on Pectin for the Treatment of Ulcers and Wounds Using 3D-Bioprinting Technology
Authors: Andriotis Eleftherios G. , Eleftheriadis Georgios K. , Karavasili Christina , Fatouros Dimitrios G.
Published: January 2020

Biodegradable 3D-printable inks based on pectin have been developed as a system for direct and indirect wound-dressing applications, suitable for 3D printing technologies. The 3D-printable inks formed free-standing transparent films upon drying, with the latter exhibiting fast disintegration upon contact with aqueous media. The antimicrobial and wound-healing activities of the inks have been successfully enhanced by the addition of particles, comprised of chitosan and cyclodextrin inclusion complexes with propolis extract. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was applied for the optimization of the inks (extrusion-printing pressure, shrinkage minimization over-drying, increased water uptake and minimization of the disintegration of the dry patches upon contact with aqueous media). Particles comprised of chitosan and cyclodextrin/propolis extract inclusion complexes (CCP), bearing antimicrobial properties, were optimized and integrated with the produced inks. The bioprinted patches were assessed for their cytocompatibility, antimicrobial activity and in vitro wound-healing properties. These studies were complemented with ex vivo skin adhesion measurements, a relative surface hydrophobicity and opacity measurement, mechanical properties, visualization, and spectroscopic techniques. The in vitro wound-healing studies revealed that the 3D-bioprinted patches enhanced the in vitro wound-healing process, while the incorporation of CCP further enhanced wound-healing, as well as the antimicrobial activity of the patches.
Special Issue on Designing Hydrogels for Controlled Drug Delivery: Guest Editors’ Introduction
Authors: Trombino Sonia , Cassano Roberta
Published: January 2020

Hydrogels have received growing attention in recent years as materials for drug delivery systems (DDS), because they are biocompatible and nontoxic [...]
Polymer Cancerostatics Containing Cell-Penetrating Peptides: Internalization Efficacy Depends on Peptide Type and Spacer Length
Authors: Böhmová Eliška , Pola Robert , Pechar Michal , Parnica Jozef , Machová Daniela , Janoušková Olga , Etrych Tomáš
Published: January 2020

Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are commonly used substances enhancing the cellular uptake of various cargoes that do not easily cross the cellular membrane. CPPs can be either covalently bound directly to the cargo or they can be attached to a transporting system such as a polymer carrier together with the cargo. In this work, several CPP–polymer conjugates based on copolymers of N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (pHPMA) with HIV-1 Tat peptide (TAT), a minimal sequence of penetratin (PEN), IRS-tag (RYIRS), and PTD4 peptide, and the two short hydrophobic peptides VPMLK and PFVYLI were prepared and characterized. Moreover, the biological efficacy of fluorescently labeled polymer carriers decorated with various CPPs was compared. The experiments revealed that the TAT–polymer conjugate and the PEN–polymer conjugate were internalized about 40 times and 15 times more efficiently than the control polymer, respectively. Incorporation of dodeca(ethylene glycol) spacer improved the cell penetration of both studied polymer–peptide conjugates compared to the corresponding spacer-free polymer conjugates, while the shorter tetra(ethylene glycol) spacer improved only the penetration of the TAT conjugate but it did not improve the penetration of the PEN conjugate. Finally, a significantly improved cytotoxic effect of the polymer conjugate containing anticancer drug pirarubicin and TAT attached via a dodeca(ethylene glycol) was observed when compared with the analogous polymer–pirarubicin conjugate without TAT.
Study of Ecophysiological Responses of the Antarctic Fruticose Lichen Cladonia borealis Using the PAM Fluorescence System under Natural and Laboratory Conditions
Authors: Cho Sung , Lee Hyoungseok , Hong Soon , Lee Jungeun
Published: January 2020

Antarctic lichens have been used as indicators of climate change for decades, but only a few species have been studied. We assessed the photosynthetic performance of the fruticose lichen Cladonia borealis under natural and laboratory conditions using the PAM fluorescence system. Compared to that of sun-adapted Usnea sp., the photosynthetic performance of C. borealis exhibits shade-adapted lichen features, and its chlorophyll fluorescence does not occur during dry days without rain. To understand its desiccation-rehydration responses, we measured changes in the PSII photochemistry in C. borealis under the average light intensity of dawn light and daylight and the desiccating conditions of its natural microclimate. Interestingly, samples under daylight and rapid-desiccation conditions showed a delayed reduction in Fv’/Fm’ and rETRmax, and an increase in Y(II) and Y(NPQ) levels. These results suggest that the photoprotective mechanism of C. borealis depends on sunlight and becomes more efficient with improved desiccation tolerance. Amplicon sequencing revealed that the major photobiont of C. borealis was Asterochloris irregularis, which has not been reported in Antarctica before. Collectively, these results from both field and laboratory could provide a better understanding of specific ecophysiological responses of shade-adapted lichens in the Antarctic region.
Water Deficit Transcriptomic Responses Differ in the Invasive Tamarix chinensis and T. ramosissima Established in the Southern and Northern United States
Authors: Swaminathan Padmapriya , Ohrtman Michelle , Carinder Abigail , Deuja Anup , Wang Cankun , Gaskin John , Fennell Anne , Clay Sharon
Published: January 2020

Tamarix spp. (saltcedar) were introduced from Asia to the southern United States as windbreak and ornamental plants and have spread into natural areas. This study determined differential gene expression responses to water deficit (WD) in seedlings of T. chinensis and T. ramosissima from established invasive stands in New Mexico and Montana, respectively. A reference de novo transcriptome was developed using RNA sequences from WD and well-watered samples. Blast2GO analysis of the resulting 271,872 transcripts yielded 89,389 homologs. The reference Tamarix (Tamaricaceae, Carophyllales order) transcriptome showed homology with 14,247 predicted genes of the Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris (Amaranthaceae, Carophyllales order) genome assembly. T. ramosissima took longer to show water stress symptoms than T. chinensis. There were 2068 and 669 differentially expressed genes (DEG) in T. chinensis and T. ramosissima, respectively; 332 were DEG in common between the two species. Network analysis showed large biological process networks of similar gene content for each of the species under water deficit. Two distinct molecular function gene ontology networks (binding and transcription factor-related) encompassing multiple up-regulated transcription factors (MYB, NAC, and WRKY) and a cellular components network containing many down-regulated photosynthesis-related genes were identified in T. chinensis, in contrast to one small molecular function network in T. ramosissima.
Mn/Ce Oxides Decorated Polyphenylene Sulfide Needle-Punching Fibrous Felts for Dust Removal and Denitration Application
Authors: Chen Ying , He Hongwei , Wu Shaohua , Ning Xin , Chen Fuxing , Lv Yanru , Yu Juan , Zhou Rong
Published: January 2020

Development of a novel filter material is urgently required for replacing the high-cost flue gas purification technology in the simultaneous removal of both fine dust and Nitrogen oxides (NOx). In this study; polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) needle-punching fibrous felts (NPFF) were employed as the filter material to remove the fine dust; and in the meanwhile; Mn and Ce oxides were loaded onto the PPS NPFF as the catalyst for selective catalytic reduction of NOx with NH3. Two different pretreatment methods; i.e., sodium alginate (SA) deposition and plasma treatment; were employed to modify the PPS NPFF before the traditional impregnation and thermal treatment processes during the catalyst loading. The results showed that these two pretreatment methods both afforded the PPS NPFF with the enhanced loading rate and stability of Mn/Ce oxides compared to those without any pretreatments; which were significantly beneficial for the denitration application. Moreover; we found that both SA deposition and plasma pre-treated samples presented excellent dust-removal properties; and the filtration efficiency could reach 100% when the particle size of the fine particulates was above 4 μm. This study demonstrated that our Mn/Ce oxides decorated PPS NPFF have great potential to be applied in the fuel gas purification field; due to their stable structure; handling convenience; and excellent filtration efficiency; as well as high denitration performance.
Improving Mildew Resistance of Soy Meal by Nano-Ag/TiO2, Zinc Pyrithione and 4-Cumylphenol
Authors: Li Wenping , Chen Mingsong , Li Yanchen , Sun Jingmeng , Liu Yi , Guo Hongwu
Published: January 2020

As a byproduct from the soybean oil industry, soy meal can be reproduced into value-added products to replace formaldehyde as a plywood adhesive. However, the use of soy meal has been limited by its poor antifungal and antiseptic properties. In this work, three kinds of material, namely nano-Ag/TiO2, zinc pyrithione, and 4-cumylphenol were applied to enhance the mildew resistance of soy meal via breakdown of the cellular structure of mildew. The fungi and mold resistance, morphology, thermal properties, and mechanism of the modified soy meal were evaluated. The success of the antifungal and antiseptic properties was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that all three kinds of material improved the fungi and mold resistance of soy meal, and sample B, which was modified with a compound of nano-Ag/TiO2 and zinc pyrithione, was the effective antifungal raw material for the soy-based adhesives. FTIR indicated that the great improvement of antifungal properties of soy meal modified with 4-cumylphenol might be caused by the reaction between COO– groups of soy protein. This research can help understand the effects of the chemical modification of nano-Ag/TiO2, zinc pyrithione, and 4-cumylphenol on soy meal, and the modified soy meal exhibits potential for utilization in the plywood adhesive industry.