bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental Research on Mechanical Properties of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Reactive Powder Concrete after Exposure to Cryogenic Temperatures
Authors: Wang Li , Cheng Donghui , Wang Xiaoting
Published: June 2022

This study aims to evaluate the mechanical properties of carbon fiber-reinforced reactive powder concrete (CFRPC) after exposure to cryogenic temperature. The mechanical properties of plain RPC and CFRPC with carbon fiber volume contents of 0, 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% were examined after exposure to 20 °C, −5 °C, −15 °C, and −25 °C for 72 h. The effect of fiber contents and exposure temperatures on the cubic and axial compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, elastic modulus, and peak strain were systematically reported and analyzed. The results showed adding carbon fiber to RPC could significantly enhance the strength and slightly improve ductility performance. Additionally, CFRPC with 1.0% fiber content showed the best mechanical properties. The maximum increases in cubic and axial compressive strength and tensile strength were 26.0%, 25.7%, and 21.8%, the elastic modulus was 13.2%, and the peak strain was 13.0% over the plain RPC. Additionally, all mechanical properties continued to degrade with decreasing temperature. After exposure to −25 °C, the cubic, axial compressive strength, and tensile strength of CFRPC degraded to 82.2–84.9%, 80.7–87.5%, and 72.7–73.7% of the normal temperature strength, respectively. In addition, the linear relationship equation between the discount factor of each mechanical property and the temperature was established. Finally, the equation for the stress–strain ascending curve of CFRPC described by a quadratic polynomial was proposed, which fitted well with the experimental results.
Joining of SiC Ceramic by Si–C Reaction Bonding Using Organic Resin as Carbon Precursor
Authors: Wu Xishi , Huang Qing , Zhu Yunzhou , Huang Zhengren
Published: June 2022

In this study, the joining of silicon carbide (SiC) ceramics was achieved via a Si–C reaction bonding method using the phenolic resin (PF)–MgCl2 system as the carbon precursor. Specifically, by adding MgCl2 to the phenolic resin mixture, the average pore size of the product of carbonization of the PF resin mixture increased from 14 ± 5 nm to 524 ± 21 nm, which was beneficial for the infiltration of molten silicon at high temperature. The microstructure of the joined specimens and the effect of the inert filler on the joint strength were investigated. It was demonstrated that SiC–SiC joints with strong interfacial bonding and high flexural strength could be obtained by the Si–C reaction bonding method using a phenol formaldehyde resin/alcohol sol-gel system as the carbon precursor. The flexural strength of the joined specimens reached the highest value, i.e., 308 ± 27 MPa when the solid loading of the inert filler was 26%. Overall, stable joining of silicon carbide ceramics was achieved by the proposed method, which has significance for realizing the preparation of complex-shaped or large silicon carbide ceramic parts.
Microstructural Evolution, Tensile Failure, Fatigue Behavior and Wear Properties of Al2O3 Reinforced Al2014 Alloy T6 Heat Treated Metal Composites
Authors: Bharath V. , Auradi V. , Kumar G. , Nagaral Madeva , Chavali Murthy , Helal Mahmoud , Sami Rokayya , Aljuraide NI , Hu Jong , Galal Ahmed
Published: June 2022

The paper focused on an experimental study on the microstructural, mechanical, and wear characteristics of 15 wt.% alumina (Al2O3) particulates with an average particle size of 20 µm, reinforced in Al2014 alloy matrix composite as-cast and heat-treated samples. The metal matrix composite (MMC)samples were produced via a novel two-stage stir-casting technique. The fabricated composite samples were subjected to evaluate hardness, tensile strength, fatigue behavior and wear properties for both as cast and T6 heat-treated test samples. The Al2014 alloy and Al2014-15 wt.% Al2O3 MMCs were in solution for 1 h at a temperature of 525 °C, quenched instantly in cold water, and then artificially aged for 10 h at a temperature of 175 °C. SEM and X-ray diffraction analyses were used to investigate the microstructure and dispersion of the reinforced Al2O3 particles in the composite and the base alloy Al2014. The obtained results indicated that the hardness, tensile and fatigue strength and wear resistance increased when an amount of Al2O3 particles was added, compared to the as-cast Al2014 alloy and it was observed that after subjecting the same composite samples to heat treatment, there was further enhancement in the mechanical and wear properties in the Al2014 matrix alloy and Al2014-15 wt.% Al2O3 composite samples.
Vibration Characteristics of a Laminated Composite Double-Cylindrical Shell System Coupled with a Variable Number of Annular Plates
Authors: Zhang Ying , Shi Dongyan , He Dongze
Published: June 2022

A vibration characteristic analysis model of a laminated composite double cylindrical shell system (LCDCSS) coupled with several annular plates under general boundary conditions is established. Artificial springs are used to simulate the coupling relationship between substructures to ensure the continuity of displacement both at ends of the shells and coupling boundaries. The variable number of annular plates can be distributed unevenly and coupled elastically. Displacement functions of LCDCSS are expressed with improved Fourier series. Based on the principle of energy, obtain the unknown coefficients of the displacement components by using the Rayleigh–Ritz method. The convergence and effectiveness of the proposed method are verified by comparing with the results with literature and FEM, and then carried out parametric investigation to study the free and steady-state response vibration characteristics of LCDCSS. Rapid prediction of free vibration and response vibration of a double-layer cylindrical shell system with various structures and scales is realized by exploiting the model, and some new results of double-layer cylindrical shell system are explored, which can provide reference for further research.
Performance Prediction of Cement Stabilized Soil Incorporating Solid Waste and Propylene Fiber
Authors: Zhang Genbao , Ding Zhiqing , Wang Yufei , Fu Guihai , Wang Yan , Xie Chenfeng , Zhang Yu , Zhao Xiangming , Lu Xinyuan , Wang Xiangyu
Published: June 2022

Cement stabilized soil (CSS) yields wide application as a routine cementitious material due to cost-effectiveness. However, the mechanical strength of CSS impedes development. This research assesses the feasible combined enhancement of unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and flexural strength (FS) of construction and demolition (C&D) waste, polypropylene fiber, and sodium sulfate. Moreover, machine learning (ML) techniques including Back Propagation Neural Network (BPNN) and Random Forest (FR) were applied to estimate UCS and FS based on the comprehensive dataset. The laboratory tests were conducted at 7-, 14-, and 28-day curing age, indicating the positive effect of cement, C&D waste, and sodium sulfate. The improvement caused by polypropylene fiber on FS was also evaluated from the 81 experimental results. In addition, the beetle antennae search (BAS) approach and 10-fold cross-validation were employed to automatically tune the hyperparameters, avoiding tedious effort. The consequent correlation coefficients (R) ranged from 0.9295 to 0.9717 for BPNN, and 0.9262 to 0.9877 for RF, respectively, indicating the accuracy and reliability of the prediction. K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN), logistic regression (LR), and multiple linear regression (MLR) were conducted to validate the BPNN and RF algorithms. Furthermore, box and Taylor diagrams proved the BAS-BPNN and BAS-RF as the best-performed model for UCS and FS prediction, respectively. The optimal mixture design was proposed as 30% cement, 20% C&D waste, 4% fiber, and 0.8% sodium sulfate based on the importance score for each variable.
Deep Transfer Learning for Ni-Based Superalloys Microstructure Recognition on γ′ Phase
Authors: Li Wenyi , Li Weifu , Qin Zijun , Tan Liming , Huang Lan , Liu Feng , Xiao Chi
Published: June 2022

Ni-based superalloys are widely used to manufacture the critical hot-end components of aviation jet engines and various industrial gas turbines. The analysis of Ni-based superalloys microstructures is an important research task during the design and development of superalloys. The material microstructure information can only be understood by experts in the long history. Image segmentation and recognition are developing techniques for accelerating the microstructure analysis automatically. Although deep learning techniques have achieved satisfactory performance, they usually suffer from generalization, i.e., performing worse on a new dataset. In this paper, a deep transfer learning method which just needs a small number of labeled images is proposed to perform the microstructure recognition on γ′ phase. To evaluate the effectiveness, we homely prepare two Ni-based superalloys at temperatures 900 °C and 1000 °C, and manually annotate two datasets named as W-900 and W-1000. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method only needs 3 and 5 labeled images to achieve state-of-the-art segmentation accuracy during the transfer from W-900 to W-1000 and the transfer from W-1000 to W-900, while enjoying the advantage of fast convergence. In addition, a simple and effective software for the Ni-based superalloys microstructure recognition on γ′ phase is developed to improve the efficiency of materials experts, which will greatly facilitate the design of new Ni-base superalloys and even other multicomponent alloys.
A Novel Microshear Geometry for Exploring the Influence of Void Swelling on the Mechanical Properties Induced by MeV Heavy Ion Irradiation
Authors: Gigax Jonathan G. , Chancey Matthew R. , Xie Dongyue , Kim Hyosim , Wang Yongqiang , Maloy Stuart A. , Li Nan
Published: June 2022

Small disks are often the specimen of choice for exposure in nuclear reactor environments, and this geometry invariably limits the types of mechanical testing that can be performed on the specimen. Recently, shear punch testing has been utilized to evaluate changes arising from neutron irradiation in test reactor environments on these small disk specimens. As part of a broader effort to link accelerated testing using ion irradiation and conventional neutron irradiation techniques, a novel microshear specimen geometry was developed for use with heavy-ion irradiated specimens. The technique was demonstrated in pure Cu irradiated to 11 and 110 peak dpa with 10 MeV Cu ions. At 11 peak dpa, the Cu specimen had a high density of small voids in the irradiated region, while at 110 peak dpa, larger voids with an average void swelling of ~20% were observed. Micropillar and microshear specimens both exhibited hardening at 11 dpa, followed by softening at 110 dpa. The close alignment of the new microshear technique and more conventional micropillar testing, and the fact that both follow intuition, is a good first step towards applying microshear testing to a wider range of irradiated materials.
Effects of Substrate Roughness on Microstructure and Fatigue Behavior of Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation-Coated Ti-6Al-4V Alloy
Authors: Xi Fangquan , Huang Yong , Zhao Yahui , Liu Yang , Dai Weibing , Tian Yanzhong
Published: June 2022

Ceramic coatings were prepared by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) on four different surface roughness’ of Ti-6Al-4V alloys. The effects of substrate roughness on the microstructure and fatigue behavior were investigated. Microstructural characterization was carried out by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a laser scanning confocal microscope. In addition, an X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and a U-X360 stress meter were used to analyze the phase composition and residual stress properties of the coatings. The microstructure of coatings revealed the growth mechanism of the coatings. The larger and deeper grooves of the substrate promoted the nucleation and growth of the PEO coating, but the defects (cracks and pores) of the oxide layer became more serious. The fatigue test indicated a significant influence of substrate roughness on the fatigue life under low cyclic stress. The fatigue damage of PEO coatings decreases as the surface roughness of substrates decreases because of the synergistic effect of the coating surface defects and coating/substrate interface roughness. Substrate roughness influences the quality and fatigue performance of the oxide layer.
Deformation, Failure, and Acoustic Emission Characteristics under Different Lithological Confining Pressures
Authors: Wu Shuo , Qin Guangpeng , Cao Jing
Published: June 2022

When a temporary support is used to control new surrounding rock in a deep mining roadway, the new surrounding rock is supported by the working resistance of the temporary support. In this study, the influence of deep well boring roadway deformation and rock failure characteristics under different surrounding pressure was investigated. In this paper, for each confining pressure, we experimentally identified the stress-strain, strength, and acoustic emission characteristics of the rocks. The results show that: the surrounding pressure has a significant effect on the damage deformation characteristics of the rock, and the change of the surrounding pressure directly affects the strength, damage form and elastic modulus of the rock; the strength limit of the rock increases with the surrounding pressure, and the damage form of the rock gradually changes to ductile damage with increase of the surrounding pressure; the elastic modulus of the rock increases non-linearly with the increase of the surrounding pressure. The acoustic emission signal of a rock can be divided into three stages: calm, sudden increase, and destruction. The acoustic emission ringing count rate increases suddenly and reaches a peak before the main fracture. Therefore, a sudden increase in the acoustic emission value can be considered a precursor to rock destruction.
Applications of Chitosan in Surgical and Post-Surgical Materials
Authors: Notario-Pérez Fernando , Martín-Illana Araceli , Cazorla-Luna Raúl , Ruiz-Caro Roberto , Veiga María
Published: June 2022

The continuous advances in surgical procedures require continuous research regarding materials with surgical applications. Biopolymers are widely studied since they usually provide a biocompatible, biodegradable, and non-toxic material. Among them, chitosan is a promising material for the development of formulations and devices with surgical applications due to its intrinsic bacteriostatic, fungistatic, hemostatic, and analgesic properties. A wide range of products has been manufactured with this polymer, including scaffolds, sponges, hydrogels, meshes, membranes, sutures, fibers, and nanoparticles. The growing interest of researchers in the use of chitosan-based materials for tissue regeneration is obvious due to extensive research in the application of chitosan for the regeneration of bone, nervous tissue, cartilage, and soft tissues. Chitosan can serve as a substance for the administration of cell-growth promoters, as well as a support for cellular growth. Another interesting application of chitosan is hemostasis control, with remarkable results in studies comparing the use of chitosan-based dressings with traditional cotton gauzes. In addition, chitosan-based or chitosan-coated surgical materials provide the formulation with antimicrobial activity that has been highly appreciated not only in dressings but also for surgical sutures or meshes.
Twin Research and Imaging
Authors: Tarnoki David Laszlo , Tarnoki Adam Domonkos
Published: June 2022

Twins have been the focus of scientific research for more than a century [...]
Deviating from the Recommended Torque on Set Screws Can Reduce the Stability and Fatigue Life of Pedicle Screw Fixation Devices
Authors: Wu Lien-Chen , Hsieh Yueh-Ying , Tsuang Fon-Yih , Chiang Yueh-Feng , Chiang Chang-Jung
Published: June 2022

Background and Objectives: Using an appropriate torque to tighten set screws ensures the long-term stability of spinal posterior fixation devices. However, the recommended torque often varies between different devices and some devices do not state a recommended torque level. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of set screw torque on the overall construct stability and fatigue life. Materials and Methods: Two commercial pedicle screw systems with different designs for the contact interface between the set screw and rod (Group A: plane contact, Group B: line contact) were assembled using torque wrenches provided with the devices to insert the set screws and tighten to the device specifications. The axial gipping capacity and dynamic mechanical stability of each bilateral construct were assessed in accordance with ASTM F1798 and ASTM F1717. Results: Increasing or decreasing the torque on the set screw by 1 Nm from the recommended level did not have a significant effect on the axial gripping capacity or fatigue strength of Group A (p > 0.05). For Group B, over-tightening the set screw by 1 Nm did cause a significant reduction in the fatigue strength. Conclusions: Excessive torque can damage the rod surface and cause premature failure. When insertion using a manual driver is preferred, a plane contact interface between the set screw and rod can reduce damage to the rod surface when the set screw is over-torqued.
Effect of Ta Content on Scratching Behavior of Ti-Al-Ta-N Coatings on Titanium Substrate
Authors: Shugurov Artur , Kuzminov Evgenii
Published: June 2022

The effect of Ta alloying on the structure, mechanical properties and scratching behavior of Ti-Al-N-based coatings deposited on Ti substrates by reactive direct-current magnetron sputtering is studied. It was found that increasing the Ta content in the Ti1-x-yAlxTayN coatings from y = 0 to y = 0.65 led to a decrease in hardness and Young’s modulus but an increase in the hardness-to-modulus ratio. This resulted in the reduction of the load-bearing capacity of the Ta-alloyed coatings and enhancement of their toughness. The competition among these trends determined the improved crack resistance and adhesion of the Ti0.31Al0.34Ta0.35N coating under scratching.
Investigating Potential GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in Cyclopeptides from Pseudostellaria heterophylla, Linum usitatissimum, and Drymaria diandra, and Peptides Derived from Heterophyllin B for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes: An In Silico Study
Authors: Liao Hui-Jun , Tzen Jason T. C.
Published: June 2022

GLP-1 receptor agonists stimulate GLP-1R to promote insulin secretion, whereas DPP4 inhibitors slow GLP-1 degradation. Both approaches are incretin-based therapies for T2D. In addition to GLP-1 analogs, small nonpeptide GLP-1RAs such as LY3502970, TT-OAD2, and PF-06882961 have been considered as possible therapeutic alternatives. Pseudostellaria heterophylla, Linum usitatissimum, and Drymaria diandra are plants rich in cyclopeptides with hypoglycemic effects. Our previous study demonstrated the potential of their cyclopeptides for DPP4 inhibition. Reports of cyclic setmelanotide as an MC4R (GPCR) agonist and cyclic α-conotoxin chimeras as GLP-1RAs led to docking studies of these cyclopeptides with GLP-1R. Heterophyllin B, Pseudostellarin B, Cyclolinopeptide B, Cyclolinopeptide C, Drymarin A, and Diandrine C are abundant in these plants, with binding affinities of −9.5, −10.4, −10.3, −10.6, −11.2, and −11.9 kcal/mol, respectively. The configuration they demonstrated established multiple hydrogen bonds with the transmembrane region of GLP-1R. DdC:(cyclo)-GGPYWP showed the most promising docking score. The results suggest that, in addition to DPP4, GLP-1R may be a hypoglycemic target of these cyclopeptides. This may bring about more discussion of plant cyclopeptides as GLP-1RAs. Moreover, peptides derived from the HB precursor (IFGGLPPP), including IFGGWPPP, IFPGWPPP, IFGGYWPPP, and IFGYGWPPPP, exhibited diverse interactions with GLP-1R and displayed backbones available for further research.
Multi-Label Fundus Image Classification Using Attention Mechanisms and Feature Fusion
Authors: Li Zhenwei , Xu Mengying , Yang Xiaoli , Han Yanqi
Published: June 2022

Fundus diseases can cause irreversible vision loss in both eyes if not diagnosed and treated immediately. Due to the complexity of fundus diseases, the probability of fundus images containing two or more diseases is extremely high, while existing deep learning-based fundus image classification algorithms have low diagnostic accuracy in multi-labeled fundus images. In this paper, a multi-label classification of fundus disease with binocular fundus images is presented, using a neural network algorithm model based on attention mechanisms and feature fusion. The algorithm highlights detailed features in binocular fundus images, and then feeds them into a ResNet50 network with attention mechanisms to extract fundus image lesion features. The model obtains global features of binocular images through feature fusion and uses Softmax to classify multi-label fundus images. The ODIR binocular fundus image dataset was used to evaluate the network classification performance and conduct ablation experiments. The model’s backend is the Tensorflow framework. Through experiments on the test images, this method achieved accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 values of 94.23%, 99.09%, 99.23%, and 99.16%, respectively.
Metal Lability and Mass Transfer Response to Direct-Planting Phytostabilization of Pyritic Mine Tailings
Authors: Hammond Corin M. , Root Robert A. , Maier Raina M. , Chorover Jon
Published: June 2022

Understanding the temporal effects of organic matter input and water influx on metal lability and translocation is critical to evaluate the success of the phytostabilization of metalliferous mine tailings. Trends of metal lability, e.g., V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb, were investigated for three years following a direct-planting phytostabilization trial at a Superfund mine tailings site in semi-arid central Arizona, USA. Unamended tailings were characterized by high concentrations (mmol kg−1) of Fe (2100), S (3100), As (41), Zn (39), and Pb (11), where As and Pb greatly exceeded non-residential soil remediation levels established by Arizona. Phytostabilization treatments included a no-compost control, 100 g kg−1 compost with seed, and 200 g kg−1 compost with and without seed to the top 20 cm of the tailings profile. All plots received supplemental irrigation, effectively doubling the mean annual precipitation. Tailings cores up to 90 cm were collected at the time of planting and every summer for 3 years. The cores were sub-sectioned at 20 cm increments and analyzed via total digestion and an operationally defined sequential extraction for elemental analysis and the calculation of a mass transfer coefficient normalized to Ti as an assigned immobile element. The results indicate that Pb was recalcitrant and relatively immobile in the tailings environment for both the uncomposted control and composted treatments with a maximum variation in the total concentration of 9–14 mmol kg−1 among all samples. Metal lability and translocation above the redox boundary (ca. 30 cm depth) was governed by acid generation, where surficial pH was measured as low as 2.7 ± 0.1 in year three and strongly correlated with the increased lability of Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn. There was no significant pH effect on the lability of V, Cr, or Pb. Translocation to depths was greatest for Mn and Co; however, Zn, Ni, Cr, and Cu were also mobilized. The addition of organic matter enhanced the mobilization of Cr from the near surface to 40–60 cm depth (pH > 6) over the three-year phytostabilization study compared to the control. The increased enrichment of some metals at 60–90 cm indicates that the long-term monitoring of elemental translocation is necessary to assess the efficacy of phytostabilization to contain subsurface metal contaminants and thereby protect the surrounding community from exposure.
Geology and Mining: A Symbiotic Cooperation?!
Authors: Wellmer Friedrich-W.
Published: June 2022

The challenge to maximize resource efficiency requires the optimal use of all products leaving a mine—not only ore but also waste products—and calls for contributions from and cooperation with every discipline involved as efficiently as possible. These interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary interactions between practitioners and scientists are also an act of learning and take time. They should be initiated at the start of the exploration phase and continue to the postmining stage. This paper focuses on the interactions of geologists and mining engineers, with examples in the exploration phase (preliminary economic evaluations at milestones using the rule of thumb), the feasibility and mine-design stage (bulk testing, test mining, mine design to minimize dilution and losses), the mining stage (grade control, selective mining, especially in smaller-scale deposit mining, and further exploration to extend a mine’s life), waste management during the lifecycle of a mine, and the postmining closure and land-use stage. An additional section addresses the beneficial cooperation in helping small-scale and artisanal miners in developing nations to meet obligations under new laws in industrialized nations regarding due diligence in supply chains and, thereby, support them in retaining their markets and incomes.
Controlling the Deposition Process of Nanoarchitectonic Nanocomposites Based on {Nb6−xTaxXi12}n+ Octahedral Cluster-Based Building Blocks (Xi = Cl, Br; 0 ≤ x ≤ 6, n = 2, 3, 4) for UV-NIR Blockers Coating Applications
Authors: Lebastard Clément , Wilmet Maxence , Cordier Stéphane , Comby-Zerbino Clothilde , MacAleese Luke , Dugourd Philippe , Hara Toru , Ohashi Naoki , Uchikoshi Tetsuo , Grasset Fabien
Published: June 2022

The antagonism between global energy needs and the obligation to slow global warming is a current challenge. In order to ensure sufficient thermal comfort, the automotive, housing and agricultural building sectors are major energy consumers. Solar control materials and more particularly, selective glazing are part of the solutions proposed to reduce global energy consumption and tackle global warming. In this context, these works are focused on developing new highly ultraviolet (UV) and near-infrared (NIR) absorbent nanocomposite coatings based on K4[{Nb6-xTaxXi12}Xa6]. (X = Cl, Br, 0 ≤ x ≤ 6) transition metal cluster compounds. These compounds contain cluster-based active species that are characterized by their strong absorption of UV and NIR radiations as well as their good transparency in the visible range, which makes them particularly attractive for window applications. Their integration, by solution processes, into a silica-polyethylene glycol or polyvinylpyrrolidone matrices is discussed. Of particular interest is the control and the tuning of their optical properties during the integration and shaping processes. The properties of the solutions and films were investigated by complementary techniques (UV-Vis-NIR spectrometry, ESI-MS, SEM, HRTEM, etc.). Results of these works have led to the development of versatile solar control coatings whose optical properties are competitive with commercialized material.
Self-Assembly Vertical Graphene-Based MoO3 Nanosheets for High Performance Supercapacitors
Authors: Cheng Ao , Shen Yan , Hong Tianzeng , Zhan Runze , Chen Enzi , Chen Zengrui , Chen Guowang , Liang Muyuan , Sun Xin , Wang Donghang , Xu Linchen , Zhang Yu , Deng Shaozhi
Published: June 2022

Supercapacitors have been extensively studied due to their advantages of fast-charging and discharging, high-power density, long-cycling life, low cost, etc. Exploring novel nanomaterial schemes for high-performance electrode materials is of great significance. Herein, a strategy to combine vertical graphene (VG) with MoO3 nanosheets to form a composite VG/MoO3 nanostructure is proposed. VGs as transition layers supply rich active sites for the growth of MoO3 nanosheets with increasing specific surface areas. The VG transition layer further improves the electric contact and adhesion of the MoO3 electrode, simultaneously stabilizing its volume and crystal structure during repeated redox reactions. Thus, the prepared VG/MoO3 nanosheets have been demonstrated to exhibit excellent electrochemical properties, such as high reversible capacitance, better cycling performance, and high-rate capability.
Surface Plasmon-Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Sensor Based on Au Modified TiO2 Nanotubes
Authors: Liu Wanqing , Duan Wei , Jia Liqun , Wang Siyu , Guo Yuan , Zhang Guoqing , Zhu Baolin , Huang Weiping , Zhang Shoumin
Published: June 2022

Based on the enhanced charge separation efficiency of the one-dimensional structure and strong surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of gold, a gold modified TiO2 nanotube (Au/TiO2NTs) glucose photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensor was prepared. It could be activated by visible red light (625 nm). Under optimal conditions, the Au/TiO2NTs sensor exhibited a good sensitivity of 170.37 μA·mM−1·cm−2 in the range of 1–90 μM (R2 = 0.9993), and a detection limit of 1.3 μM (S/N = 3). Due to its high selectivity, good anti-interference ability, and long-term stability, the fabricated Au/TiO2NTs sensor provides practical detection of glucose. It is expected to be used in the construction of non-invasive PEC biosensors.
Cruciferous Vegetable Intake and Bulky DNA Damage within Non-Smokers and Former Smokers in the Gen-Air Study (EPIC Cohort)
Authors: Peluso Marco , Munnia Armelle , Russo Valentina , Galli Andrea , Pala Valeria , Schouw Yvonne T. van der , Schulze Matthias B. , Weiderpass Elisabete , Tumino Rosario , Saieva Calogero , Exezarreta Pilar Amiano , Aune Dagfinn , Heath Alicia K. , Aglago Elom , Agudo Antonio , Panico Salvatore , Petersen Kristina Elin Nielsen , Tjønneland Anne , Cirera Lluís , Rodriguez-Barranco Miguel , Katzke Verena , Kaaks Rudolf , Ricceri Fulvio , Milani Lorenzo , Vineis Paolo , Sacerdote Carlotta
Published: June 2022

Epidemiologic studies have indicated that cruciferous vegetables can influence the cancer risk; therefore, we examined with a cross-sectional approach the correlation between the frequent consumption of the total cruciferous vegetables and the formation of bulky DNA damage, a biomarker of carcinogen exposure and cancer risk, in the Gen-Air study within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort. DNA damage measurements were performed in the peripheral blood of 696 of those apparently healthy without cancer controls, including 379 never-smokers and 317 former smokers from seven European countries by the 32P-postlabeling assay. In the Gen-Air controls, the median intake of cruciferous vegetables was 6.16 (IQR 1.16–13.66) g/day, ranging from 0.37 (IQR 0–6.00) g/day in Spain to 11.34 (IQR 6.02–16.07) g/day in the UK. Based on this information, participants were grouped into: (a) high consumers (>20 g/day), (b) medium consumers (3–20 g/day) and (c) low consumers (<3.0 g/day). Overall, low cruciferous vegetable intake was correlated with a greater frequency of bulky DNA lesions, including benzo(a)pyrene, lactone and quinone-adducts and bulky oxidative lesions, in the adjusted models. Conversely, a high versus low intake of cruciferous vegetables was associated with a reduction in DNA damage (up to a 23% change, p = 0.032); this was particularly evident in former smokers (up to a 40% change, p = 0.008). The Generalized Linear Regression models indicated an overall Mean Ratio between the high and the low consumers of 0.78 (95% confidence interval, 0.64–0.97). The current study suggests that a higher intake of cruciferous vegetables is associated with a lower level of bulky DNA adducts and supports the potential for cancer prevention strategies through dietary habit changes aimed at increasing the consumption of cruciferous vegetables.
Plasma Nitrate and Nitrite Kinetics after Single Intake of Beetroot Juice in Adult Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis and in Healthy Volunteers: A Randomized, Single-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study
Authors: Heredia-Martinez Agustina , Rosa-Diez Guillermo , Ferraris Jorge R. , Sohlenius-Sternbeck Anna-Karin , Nihlen Carina , Olsson Annika , Lundberg Jon O. , Weitzberg Eddie , Carlström Mattias , Krmar Rafael T.
Published: June 2022

Nitric oxide (NO) contributes to maintaining normal cardiovascular and renal function. This bioactive signalling molecule is generally formed enzymatically by NO synthase in the vascular endothelium. NO bioactivity can also be attributed to dietary intake of inorganic nitrate, which is abundant in our diet, especially in green leafy vegetables and beets. Ingested nitrate is reduced to nitrite by oral commensal bacteria and further to NO systemically. Previous studies have shown that dialysis, by means of removing nitrate and nitrite from the body, can reduce NO bioactivity. Hence, dietary intervention approaches aimed to boost the nitrate–nitrite–NO pathway may be of benefit in dialysis patients. The purpose of this study was to examine the kinetics of plasma nitrate and nitrite after a single intake of nitrate-rich concentrated beetroot juice (BJ) in adult hemodialysis (HD) patients and in age-matched healthy volunteers (HV). Eight HD patients and seven HV participated in this single center, randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Each participant received a sequential single administration of active BJ (70 mL, 400 mg nitrate) and placebo BJ (70 mL, 0 mg nitrate) in a random order separated by a washout period of seven days. For the kinetic analysis, blood samples were collected at different time-points before and up to 44 h after BJ intake. Compared with placebo, active BJ significantly increased plasma nitrate and nitrite levels both in HD patients and HV. The area under the curve and the maximal concentration of plasma nitrate, but not of nitrite, were significantly higher in HD patients as compared with HV. In both groups, active BJ ingestion did not affect blood pressure or plasma potassium levels. Both BJs were well tolerated in all participants with no adverse events reported. Our data provide useful information in planning dietary nitrate supplementation efficacy studies in patients with reduced NO bioactivity.
Effects of Lactobacillus curvatus HY7601 and Lactobacillus plantarum KY1032 on Overweight and the Gut Microbiota in Humans: Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Mo Sung-Joon , Lee Kippeum , Hong Hyoung-Ju , Hong Dong-Ki , Jung Seung-Hee , Park Soo-Dong , Shim Jae-Jung , Lee Jung-Lyoul
Published: June 2022

Obesity and overweight are closely related to diet, and the gut microbiota play an important role in body weight and human health. The aim of this study was to explore how Lactobacillus curvatus HY7601 and Lactobacillus plantarum KY1032 supplementation alleviate obesity by modulating the human gut microbiome. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted on 72 individuals with overweight. Over a 12-week period, probiotic groups consumed 1 × 1010 colony-forming units of HY7601 and KY1032, whereas the placebo group consumed the same product without probiotics. After treatment, the probiotic group displayed a reduction in body weight (p < 0.001), visceral fat mass (p < 0.025), and waist circumference (p < 0.007), and an increase in adiponectin (p < 0.046), compared with the placebo group. Additionally, HY7601 and KY1032 supplementation modulated bacterial gut microbiota characteristics and beta diversity by increasing Bifidobacteriaceae and Akkermansiaceae and decreasing Prevotellaceae and Selenomonadaceae. In summary, HY7601 and KY1032 probiotics exert anti-obesity effects by regulating the gut microbiota; hence, they have therapeutic potential for preventing or alleviating obesity and living with overweight.
Dietary Glycemic Load and Plasma Amyloid-β Biomarkers of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Gentreau Mélissa , Raymond Michel , Samieri Cécilia , Chuy Virginie , Féart Catherine , Berticat Claire , Artero Sylvaine
Published: June 2022

Previous studies have highlighted links between a high-glycemic-load (GL) diet and Alzheimer’s disease in apolipoprotein E ε4 (APOE4) carriers. However, the impact of high-GL diet on plasma amyloid-β (Aβ), an Alzheimer’s disease hallmark that can be detected decades before clinical symptomatology, is unknown. This study examined the association between plasma Aβ peptides (Aβ40, Aβ42 concentration and Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio) and GL. The influence of the GL of four meal types (breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, and dinner) was also determined. From the prospective Three-City study, 377 participants with plasma Aβ measurements, and who completed the Food Frequency Questionnaire, were selected. The association between plasma Aβ and GL was tested using an adjusted linear regression model. Lunch GL was associated with a lower plasma Aβ42 concentration (β = −2.2 [CI = −4.27, −0.12], p = 0.038) and lower Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio (β = −0.009 [CI = −0.0172, −0.0007], p = 0.034) in the model adjusted for center, age, sex, education level, APOE4 status, energy intake, serum creatinine, total cholesterol, and Mediterranean-like diet. No significant association was found with the GL of the other meal types. These results suggest that dietary GL may independently modulate the plasma Aβ of the APOE4 status. The mechanism underlying diet, metabolic response, and Aβ peptide regulation must be elucidated.
Gluten Induces Subtle Histological Changes in Duodenal Mucosa of Patients with Non-Coeliac Gluten Sensitivity: A Multicentre Study
Authors: Rostami Kamran , Ensari Arzu , Marsh Michael N. , Srivastava Amitabh , Villanacci Vincenzo , Carroccio Antonio , Asadzadeh Aghdaei Hamid , Bai Julio C. , Bassotti Gabrio , Becheanu Gabriel , Bell Phoenix , Di Bella Camillo , Bozzola Anna Maria , Cadei Moris , Casella Giovanni , Catassi Carlo , Ciacci Carolina , Apostol Ciobanu Delia Gabriela , Cross Simon S. , Danciu Mihai , Das Prasenjit , Del Sordo Rachele , Drage Michael , Elli Luca , Fasano Alessio , Florena Ada Maria , Fusco Nicola , Going James J. , Guandalini Stefano , Hagen Catherine E. , Hayman David T. S. , Ishaq Sauid , Jericho Hilary , Johncilla Melanie , Johnson Matt , Kaukinen Katri , Levene Adam , Liptrot Sarah , Lu Laura , Makharia Govind K. , Mathews Sherly , Mazzarella Giuseppe , Maxim Roxana , La Win Myint Khun , Mohaghegh-Shalmani Hamid , Moradi Afshin , Mulder Chris J. J. , Ray Ronnie , Ricci Chiara , Rostami-Nejad Mohammad , Sapone Anna , Sanders David S. , Taavela Juha , Volta Umberto , Walker Marjorie , Derakhshan Mohammad
Published: June 2022

Background: Histological changes induced by gluten in the duodenal mucosa of patients with non-coeliac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) are poorly defined. Objectives: To evaluate the structural and inflammatory features of NCGS compared to controls and coeliac disease (CeD) with milder enteropathy (Marsh I-II). Methods: Well-oriented biopsies of 262 control cases with normal gastroscopy and histologic findings, 261 CeD, and 175 NCGS biopsies from 9 contributing countries were examined. Villus height (VH, in μm), crypt depth (CrD, in μm), villus-to-crypt ratios (VCR), IELs (intraepithelial lymphocytes/100 enterocytes), and other relevant histological, serologic, and demographic parameters were quantified. Results: The median VH in NCGS was significantly shorter (600, IQR: 400–705) than controls (900, IQR: 667–1112) (p < 0.001). NCGS patients with Marsh I-II had similar VH and VCR to CeD [465 µm (IQR: 390–620) vs. 427 µm (IQR: 348–569, p = 0·176)]. The VCR in NCGS with Marsh 0 was lower than controls (p < 0.001). The median IEL in NCGS with Marsh 0 was higher than controls (23.0 vs. 13.7, p < 0.001). To distinguish Marsh 0 NCGS from controls, an IEL cut-off of 14 showed 79% sensitivity and 55% specificity. IEL densities in Marsh I-II NCGS and CeD groups were similar. Conclusion: NCGS duodenal mucosa exhibits distinctive changes consistent with an intestinal response to luminal antigens, even at the Marsh 0 stage of villus architecture.
Effect of Enamel Bleaching on the Bond Strength of Ceramic—A Systematic Review
Authors: Seto Tsz , Grymak Anastasiia , Mudliar Vidya , Choi Joanne
Published: June 2022

The increase in aesthetic demands has increased the use of ceramic dental restorations in dentistry. Ceramic restorations are bonded to the tooth structure using adhesives. There is a lack of standard guidelines in terms of post-bleaching time intervals and bond strengths of ceramic restorations. Bleaching products have also been stated to affect the morphology of enamel. Therefore, the purpose of this systematic review is to evaluate the bond strength between ceramic and enamel and the changes in the surface roughness of enamel post teeth bleaching. An electronic search was performed in the databases PubMed, OVID MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science with MESH terms: “adhesion OR bonding”, “ceramic OR ceramics OR dental porcelain”, “tooth bleaching OR teeth bleaching OR tooth whitening OR teeth whitening” and “enamel OR dental enamel OR enamels OR dental enamels”. The articles were screened, and the final selection of articles was obtained by using the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Of the 170 studies identified from the search, only 12 studies met the inclusion criteria and were selected for full-text review. A further search by hand was performed, and additional 48 studies were selected. From the 60 full-text studies, 18 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included for data extraction. The results were based on a descriptive analysis of the effect on bond strength of ceramic to enamel after a bleaching protocol and the changes in the surface roughness of enamel post bleaching protocol. In conclusion, bleaching protocols alter the surface roughness of enamel and, thus, the shear bond strength between ceramic and enamel. Bleaching treatments with a higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide reduce the bond strength between ceramic and enamel. Delaying bonding after bleaching for up to 7 days increases the bond strength between ceramic and enamel.
Oral and Intragastric: New Routes of Infection by Leishmania braziliensis and Leishmania infantum?
Authors: Reimann Mayra M. , Torres-Santos Eduardo Caio , Souza Celeste S. F. de , Andrade-Neto Valter V. , Jansen Ana Maria , Brazil Reginaldo P. , Roque André Luiz R.
Published: June 2022

Although Leishmania transmission in nature is associated with the bite of an infected sandfly vector, other possible transmission routes are speculated to occur, such as the oral route. We evaluated the possibility of infection by this route in golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) using Leishmania braziliensis (Lb) and Leishmania infantum (Li). Hamsters were exposed to experimental oral or intragastrical infection with axenic promastigotes, besides oral ingestion of a suspension of cultivated macrophages infected with amastigotes, lesion-fed Lutzomyia longipalpis, skin lesion or infective spleen fragment. The parasite’s isolation, besides a positive PCR and IFAT, confirmed the intragastric infection by promastigote parasites. The oral ingestion of macrophages infected with L. braziliensis amastigotes was also infective. These results confirmed that Leishmania parasites could infect mammals by the intragastric route through the ingestion of promastigote forms (what can happen after a sandfly ingestion) and by the oral ingestion of infected macrophages (what can happen in nature in a predator–prey interaction). The better understanding of these alternative routes is essential to understand their transmission dynamics in nature. As far as we know, this is the first time that oral and intragastric Leishmania transmission has been experimentally demonstrated, constituting new infection routes, at least for L. infantum and L. braziliensis.
Application of In Silico Filtering and Isothermal Titration Calorimetry for the Discovery of Small Molecule Inhibitors of MDM2
Authors: Alali Hen , Bloch Itai , Rapaport Irena , Rodrigues Luisa , Sher Inbal , Ansbacher Tamar , Gal Maayan
Published: June 2022

The initial discovery phase of protein modulators, which consists of filtering molecular libraries and in vitro direct binding validation, is central in drug discovery. Thus, virtual screening of large molecular libraries, together with the evaluation of binding affinity by isothermal calorimetry, generates an efficient experimental setup. Herein, we applied virtual screening for discovering small molecule inhibitors of MDM2, a major negative regulator of the tumor suppressor p53, and thus a promising therapeutic target. A library of 20 million small molecules was screened against an averaged model derived from multiple structural conformations of MDM2 based on published structures. Selected molecules originating from the computational filtering were tested in vitro for their direct binding to MDM2 via isothermal titration calorimetry. Three new molecules, representing distinct chemical scaffolds, showed binding to MDM2. These were further evaluated by exploring structure-similar chemical analogues. Two scaffolds were further evaluated by de novo synthesis of molecules derived from the initial molecules that bound MDM2, one with a central oxoazetidine acetamide and one with benzene sulfonamide. Several molecules derived from these scaffolds increased wild-type p53 activity in MCF7 cancer cells. These set a basis for further chemical optimization and the development of new chemical entities as anticancer drugs.
Effects of Flow Hydrodynamics and Eye Movements on Intraocular Drug Clearance
Authors: Velentza-Almpani Angeliki , Ibeanu Nkiruka , Liu Tianyang , Redhead Christopher , Tee Khaw Peng , Brocchini Steve , Awwad Sahar , Bouremel Yann
Published: June 2022

New in vitro prototypes (PK-Eye™) were tested with and without eye movement to understand diffusion and convection effects on intraocular clearance. Port placement in front ((i) ciliary inflow model) and behind the model lens ((ii) posterior inflow model) was used to study bevacizumab (1.25 mg/50 µL) and dexamethasone (0.1 mg/100 µL) in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.4) and simulated vitreal fluid (SVF). Dexamethasone was studied in a (iii) retinal-choroid-sclera (RCS) outflow model (with ciliary inflow and two outflow pathways). Ciliary vs. posterior inflow placement did not affect the half-life for dexamethasone at 2.0 µL/min using PBS (4.7 days vs. 4.8 days) and SVF (4.9 days with ciliary inflow), but it did decrease the half-life for bevacizumab in PBS (20.4 days vs. 2.4 days) and SVF (19.2 days vs. 10.8 days). Eye movement only affected the half-life of dexamethasone in both media. Dexamethasone in the RCS model showed approximately 20% and 75% clearance from the RCS and anterior outflows, respectively. The half-life of the protein was comparable to human data in the posterior inflow model. Shorter half-life values for a protein in a ciliary inflow model can be achieved with other eye movements. The RCS flow model with eye movement was comparable to human half-life data for dexamethasone.