bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does Microbial and Faunal Pattern Correspond to Dynamics in Hydrogeology and Hydrochemistry? Comparative Study of Two Isolated Groundwater Ecosystems in Münsterland, Germany
Authors: Alqaragholi Sura Abdulghani , Kanoua Wael , Strauss Harald , Göbel Patricia
Published: May 2023

The objective of this study was to assess the temporal and spatial variability of aquatic invertebrates and microbial parameters (biomass and activity) with environmental data in springs, and to determine the impact of key parameters on the ecological situation of a groundwater system. Eight springs in the two study areas of Baumberge and Schöppinger Berg (W-NW of Münster, North Rhine Westphalia, Germany) were sampled at three sampling campaigns between 2018 and 2019. Physicochemical parameters of the spring samples and abundances of aquatic invertebrates were determined at each sampling event. Samples for hydro(geo)chemical and microbial analyses were collected during each sampling campaign in the springs. Spearman correlation and principal component analysis were used to identify the key parameters. The abundance of aquatic invertebrates and microbial activity were significantly positively correlated with groundwater table fluctuation. The abundance of stygobite individuals was significantly positively correlated with the Groundwater-Fauna-Index and phosphate in Baumberge, and negatively correlated with chloride in Schöppinger Berg. Most notably, the stable isotopes of water and microbial activity were significantly inversely correlated. The hydro(geo)chemical results showed no significant spatial differences in groundwater in both groundwater systems. Stable isotopes of water indicate a meteoric origin, with an effect of evaporation for two months, even though the downward percolation and groundwater recharge rates are high. The nitrate concentration was higher than 50 mg/L only in SB due to the agricultural activities. Nitrate input into groundwater comes from two sources in Baumberge, while it comes from one source in Schöppinger Berg. There was no evidence of denitrification in both areas. Secondary gypsum is assumed to be the source of sulfate in groundwater in Schöppinger Berg, but anaerobic oxidation of pyrite in the deeper part of the groundwater system as a source of sulfate cannot be excluded.
Joint Response to Exercise Is Affected by Knee Osteoarthritis: An Infrared Thermography Analysis
Authors: De Marziani Luca , Boffa Angelo , Orazi Simone , Andriolo Luca , Di Martino Alessandro , Zaffagnini Stefano , Filardo Giuseppe
Published: May 2023

Infrared thermography can be used to evaluate the inflammation characterizing the joint environment of OA knees, but there is limited evidence on the response to physical exercise. Identifying the response to exercise of OA knees and the influencing variables could provide important information to better profile patients with different knee OA patterns. Sixty consecutive patients (38 men/22 women, 61.4 ± 9.2 years) with symptomatic knee OA were enrolled. Patients were evaluated with a standardized protocol using a thermographic camera (FLIR-T1020) positioned at 1 m with image acquisition of an anterior view at baseline, immediately after, and at 5 min after a 2-min knee flexion–extension exercise with a 2 kg anklet. Patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics were documented and correlated with the thermographic changes. This study demonstrated that the temperature response to exercise in symptomatic knee OA was affected by some demographic and clinical characteristics of the assessed patients. Patients with a poor clinical knee status presented with a lower response to exercise, and women showed a greater temperature decrease than men. Not all evaluated ROIs showed the same trend, which underlines the need to specifically study the different joint subareas to identify the inflammatory component and joint response while investigating knee OA patterns.
In-Pipeline Processor Protection against Soft Errors
Authors: Mach Ján , Kohútka Lukáš , Čičák Pavel
Published: May 2023

The shrinking of technology nodes allows higher performance, but susceptibility to soft errors increases. The protection has been implemented mainly by lockstep or hardened process techniques, which results in a lower frequency, a larger area, and higher power consumption. We propose a protection technique that only slightly affects the maximal frequency. The area and power consumption increase are comparable with dual lockstep architectures. A reaction to faults and the ability to recover from them is similar to triple modular redundancy architectures. The novelty lies in applying redundancy into the processor’s pipeline and its separation into two sections. The protection provides fast detection of faults, simple recovery by a flush of the pipeline, and allows a large prediction unit to be unprotected. A proactive component automatically scrubs a register file to prevent fault accumulation. The whole protection scheme can be fully implemented at the register transfer level. We present the protection scheme implemented inside the RISC-V core with the RV32IMC instruction set. Simulations confirm that the protection can handle the injected faults. Synthesis shows that the protection lowers the maximum frequency by only about 3.9%. The area increased by 108% and power consumption by 119%.
Three-Dimensional Printed Knee Implants: Insights into Surgeons’ Points of View
Authors: Le Stum Mathieu , Bertin Thomas , Le Goff-Pronost Myriam , Apremont Claire , Dardenne Guillaume , Rolland-Lozachmeur Ghislaine , Stindel Eric
Published: May 2023

Three-dimensional printing is a technology that has been developed and applied in several medical specialties, especially orthopedic surgery. Knee arthroplasty is the most commonly performed procedure. To fit the morphology of each knee, surgeons can choose between different standardized off-the-shelf implant sizes or opt for customized 3D-printed implants. However, routine adoption of the latter has been slow and faces several barriers. Existing studies focus on technical improvements or case studies and do not directly address the surgeon’s perspective. Our study invited surgeons to express themselves freely and answer the question “What do you think about the manufacture of a prosthesis by 3D printing?”. The questionnaire was completed by 90 surgeons. On average, they had more than 10 years of experience (52, 57.8% ± 10.2%), worked in public hospitals (54, 60% ± 10.1%), and performed between 0 and 100 prostheses per year (60, 66.7% ± 9.7%). They also reported not using planning software (47, 52.2% ± 9.7%), navigation systems, or robots (62, 68.9% ± 9.6%). Regarding the use of technological innovation, they agreed on the extra surgical time needed (67, 74.4% ± 9.0%). The answers obtained were classified according to two criteria: (i) opinions, and (ii) motivations. Among the respondents, 51 (70% ± 9.5%) had positive and 22 (30% ± 9.5%) had negative opinions about 3D printing. The motivations were distributed among seven categories (surgery, materials, costs, logistics, time, customization, and regulatory) and mainly related to “pre-surgery” and “post-surgery” concerns. Finally, the results showed that the use of navigation systems or robots may be associated with a more positive view of 3DP. The purpose of our study was to examine knee surgeons’ perceptions of 3DP at a time of significant expansion of this technology. Our study showed that there was no opposition to its implementation, although some surgeons indicated that they were waiting for validated results. They also questioned the entire supply chain, including hospitals, insurance companies, and manufacturers. Although there was no opposition to its implementation, 3D printing is at a crucial point in its development and its full adoption will require advances in all areas of joint replacement.
Critical Analysis of Policy Integration Degrees between Heritage Conservation and Spatial Planning in Amsterdam and Ballarat
Authors: Tarrafa Silva Ana , Pereira Roders Ana , Cunha Ferreira Teresa , Nevzgodin Ivan
Published: May 2023

The growing complexity of managing the sustainable development of cities stresses the need for interdisciplinary approaches, with a stronger articulation between different fields. The integration between heritage conservation and spatial planning has already been addressed in recent literature, ranging from a traditional sectorial perspective towards more cooperative and coordinated initiatives, occasionally resulting in integrated policies. Nevertheless, the lack of institutional and policy articulation remains among the most frequent critical governance issues unsolved. This paper unveils the integration degrees between heritage conservation and spatial planning policies in Amsterdam (The Netherlands) and Ballarat (Australia), acknowledged for local and upper governmental initiatives, such as the Belvedere Memorandum and the Imagine Ballarat project, placing both at the forefront of the roadmap to this policy integration. In-depth semi-structured interviews with municipal officials in both cities reveal that, while policy integration is aimed at, implementation remains challenging. Both cities’ heritage conservation and spatial planning fields keep operating in parallel, often in conflict, and with different perspectives on the cultural heritage commonly managed. By identifying local technicians’ challenges, this research demonstrates that policy integration between heritage conservation and spatial planning is an ongoing process that demands more effective articulation towards more sustainable and resilient cities.
T-Wave Analysis on the 24 h Holter ECG Monitoring as a Predictive Assessment of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Myocardial Infarction: A Literature Review and Future Perspectives
Authors: Duca Ștefania-Teodora , Roca Mihai , Costache Alexandru-Dan , Chetran Adriana , Afrăsânie Irina , Miftode Radu-Ștefan , Tudorancea Ionuț , Matei Iulian , Ciorap Radu-George , Mitu Ovidiu , Bădescu Minerva Codruța , Iliescu-Halitchi Dan , Halițchi-Iliescu Codruța-Olimpiada , Mitu Florin , Lionte Cătălina , Costache Irina-Iuliana
Published: May 2023

Myocardial ischemia is a pathophysiological state characterized by inadequate perfusion of the myocardium, resulting in an imbalance between myocardial oxygen demand and supply. It is most commonly caused by coronary artery disease, in which atherosclerotic plaques lead to luminal narrowing and reduced blood flow to the heart. Myocardial ischemia can manifest as angina pectoris or silent myocardial ischemia and can progress to myocardial infarction or heart failure if left untreated. Diagnosis of myocardial ischemia typically involves a combination of clinical evaluation, electrocardiography and imaging studies. Electrocardiographic parameters, as assessed by 24 h Holter ECG monitoring, can predict the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with myocardial ischemia, independent of other risk factors. The T-waves in patients with myocardial ischemia have prognostic value for predicting major adverse cardiovascular events, and their electrophysiological heterogeneity can be visualized using various techniques. Combining the electrocardiographic findings with the assessment of myocardial substrate may offer a better picture of the factors that can contribute to cardiovascular death.
Biochemical and Epigenetic Modulations under Drought: Remembering the Stress Tolerance Mechanism in Rice
Authors: Kumar Suresh , Seem Karishma , Mohapatra Trilochan
Published: May 2023

A plant, being a sessile organism, needs to modulate biochemical, physiological, and molecular responses to the environment in a quick and efficient manner to be protected. Drought stress is a frequently occurring abiotic stress that severely affects plant growth, development, and productivity. Short- and long-term memories are well-known phenomena in animals; however, the existence of such remembrance in plants is still being discovered. In this investigation, different rice genotypes were imposed with drought stress just before flowering and the plants were re-watered for recovery from the stress. Seeds collected from the stress-treated (stress-primed) plants were used to raise plants for the subsequent two generations under a similar experimental setup. Modulations in physio-biochemical (chlorophyll, total phenolics and proline contents, antioxidant potential, lipid peroxidation) and epigenetic [5-methylcytosine (5-mC)] parameters were analyzed in the leaves of the plants grown under stress as well as after recovery. There was an increase in proline (>25%) and total phenolic (>19%) contents, antioxidant activity (>7%), and genome-wide 5-mC level (>56%), while a decrease (>9%) in chlorophyll content was recorded to be significant under the stress. Interestingly, a part of the increased proline content, total phenolics content, antioxidant activity, and 5-mC level was retained even after the withdrawal of the stress. Moreover, the increased levels of biochemical and epigenetic parameters were observed to be transmitted/inherited to the subsequent generations. These might help in developing stress-tolerant crops and improving crop productivity under the changing global climate for sustainable food production and global food security.
Morphological Changes of the Suboccipital Musculature in Women with Myofascial Temporomandibular Pain: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Ulman-Macón Daniel , Fernández-de-las-Peñas César , Angulo-Díaz-Parreño Santiago , Arias-Buría José L. , Mesa-Jiménez Juan A.
Published: May 2023

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is an umbrella term including pain problems involving the cranio-cervical region. It has been suggested that patients with TMD also exhibit cervical spine disturbances. Evidence suggests the presence of morphological changes in the deep cervical muscles in individuals with headaches. The objective of this study was to compare the morphology of the suboccipital muscles between women with TMD and healthy controls. An observational, cross-sectional case-control study was conducted. An ultrasound examination of the suboccipital musculature (rectus capitis posterior minor, rectus capitis posterior major, oblique capitis superior, oblique capitis inferior) was conducted in 20 women with myofascial TMD and 20 matched controls. The cross-sectional area (CSA), perimeter, depth, width, and length of each muscle were calculated by a blinded assessor. The results revealed that women with myofascial TMD pain exhibited bilaterally reduced thickness, CSA, and perimeter in all the suboccipital muscles when compared with healthy women. The width and depth of the suboccipital musculature were similar between women with myofascial TMD and pain-free controls. This study found morphological changes in the suboccipital muscles in women with myofascial TMD pain. These changes can be related to muscle atrophy and are similar to those previously found in women with headaches. Future studies are required to investigate the clinical relevance of these findings by determining if the specific treatment of these muscles could help clinically patients with myofascial TMD.
Effects of Foot-Toe Orthoses on Moment and Range of Motion of Knee Joint in Individuals with Hallux Valgus
Authors: Kim Yongwook
Published: May 2023

Although various types of hallux valgus (HV) orthoses have been used to manage hallux valgus deformity, few previous studies have determined the biomechanical effects of applying a foot-toe orthosis as a therapeutic intervention for HV deformity on the kinetics and kinematics of the knee joint. Biomechanical variables were collected from 24 patients with HV. A three-dimensional motion capture system and force platforms were used to analyze the kinetic and kinematic variables in HV orthosis conditions during gait. To determine the biomechanical effect of each orthosis for HV on knee kinetic and kinematic values, repeated-measures ANOVA was used. The knee adduction moment was significantly decreased under a hard plastic orthosis (HPO) condition compared to that under a without foot-toe orthosis (WTO) condition (p = 0.004). There was a significant decrease in maximal external rotation of the knee joint in HPO than in WTO at the stance phase during gait (p = 0.021). All of the kinetic and kinematic data showed no significant differences between WTO and soft silicone orthosis conditions (p > 0.05). This study indicates that a stronger foot-toe orthosis, such as HPO, to correct HV deformity has a positive effect on the moment and joint motion occurring in the knee joint during walking. In particular, the application of this type of HV orthosis can reduce knee adduction moments associated with the development and progression of knee OA.
Diffusion Barriers Minimizing the Strength Degradation of Reactive Air Brazed Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-δ Membranes during Aging
Authors: Herzog Simone , Kaletsch Anke , Broeckmann Christoph
Published: May 2023

The separation of oxygen from air by means of inorganic ceramic membranes requires gas-tight ceramic–metal joints that enable reliable permeation operation in the oxygen partial pressure gradient at 850 °C. Reactive air brazing is a promising method to solve this challenge. However, reactive air brazed BSCF membranes suffer from a significant strength degradation that is caused by unhindered diffusion from the metal component during aging. In this study, we investigated how diffusion layers applied on the austenitic steel AISI 314 influence the bending strength of BSCF-Ag3CuO-AISI314 joints after aging. Three different approaches were compared as diffusion barriers: (1) aluminizing via pack cementation, (2) spray coating with NiCoCrAlReY, and (3) spray coating with NiCoCrAlReY and an additional 7YSZ top layer. Coated steel components were brazed to bending bars and aged for 1000 h at 850 °C in air prior to four-point bending and subsequent macroscopic as well microscopic analyses. In particular, coating with NiCoCrAlReY showed low-defect microstructures. The characteristic joint strength was raised from 17 MPa to 35 MPa after 1000 h aging at 850 °C. In addition, the dominant delamination fracture between the steel and the mixed oxide layer, observed in the reference series with uncoated steel, could be replaced by mixed and ceramic fractures of higher strength. The effect of residual joint stresses on the crack formation and path is analyzed and discussed. Chromium poisoning could no longer be detected in the BSCF, and interdiffusion through the braze was effectively reduced. Since the strength degradation of reactive air brazed joints is mainly caused by the metallic joining partner, the findings on the effect of the diffusion barriers in BSCF joints might be transferred to numerous other joining systems.
Foaming Behavior of Microsized Aluminum Foam Using Hot Rolling Precursor
Authors: Wang Fang , Bian Yuqing , Wang Lucai , Huang Wenzhan
Published: May 2023

Aluminum foam that is lightweight with high specific strength, high energy absorption and other characteristics can be used in aerospace, transportation, machinery manufacturing and other fields. The PCM method is usually used to prepare closed-cell aluminum foams. The microsized aluminum foams made by this process can solve the non-uniform pore structures caused by liquid drainage during the foaming process of large aluminum foams. The surface morphology and internal pore structure of microsized aluminum foams are affected by the quality of the precursor used for foaming. In this paper, foamable precursors were obtained via either hot rolling or hot extrusion and subsequently foamed. By analyzing the micromorphology and foaming process of the precursor, the influence of the technological method on the macroscopic pore structure of the final aluminum foam was studied. The results show that the aluminum powder particles in the precursor prepared with the hot rolling method had metallurgical bonding, and the outer surface was dense, with almost no porosity and holes in the interior. The microsized aluminum foam obtained after foaming was smooth in appearance, and the internal pore structure was round and uniform. The reason is that during the foaming process of microsize aluminum foam, the foaming agent was evenly distributed in the precursor of the hot rolling process because of its compact structure. During the foaming process, the decomposed gas of the foaming agent will not escape, and the evenly distributed foaming agent tends to nucleate in situ. In the process of rapid foaming, the pressure in the bubble is enough to resist the liquid drainage phenomenon caused by gravity, and the growth direction of the gas core is isotropic, which promotes the foam structure to be more rounded and uniform.
Transformations of the Microstructure and Phase Compositions of Titanium Alloys during Ultrasonic Impact Treatment Part III: Combination with Electrospark Alloying Applied to Additively Manufactured Ti-6Al-4V Titanium Alloy
Authors: Panin Alexey , Kazachenok Marina , Krukovskii Konstantin , Buslovich Dmitry , Kazantseva Lyudmila , Martynov Sergey , Sklyarova Elena
Published: May 2023

Scanning electron microscopy, 3D optical surface profilometry, as well as X-ray diffraction and electron backscatter diffraction analysis were implemented for studying the effects of both ultrasonic impact treatment (UIT) and ultrasonic impact electrospark treatment (UIET) procedures on the microstructure, phase composition, as well as the mechanical and tribological properties of Ti-6Al-4V samples fabricated by wire-feed electron beam additive manufacturing. It was shown that he UIET procedure with the WC-6%Co striker enabled to deposit the ~10 µm thick coating, which consists of fine grains of both tungsten and titanium-tungsten carbides, as well as titanium oxide. For the UIET process, the effect of shielding gas on the studied parameters was demonstrated. It was found that the UIET procedure in argon resulted in the formation of a dense, continuous and thick (~20 µm) coating. After the UIET procedures in air and argon, the microhardness levels were 26 and 16 GPa, respectively. After tribological tests, wear track surfaces were examined on the as-built sample, as well as the ones subjected to the UIT and UIET procedures. It was shown that the coating formed during UIET in air had twice the wear resistance compared to the coating formed in argon. The evidence showed that the multiple impact of a WC-Co striker with simultaneous electrical discharges was an effective way to improve wear resistance of the Ti-6Al-4V sample.
Dietary Coated Sodium Butyrate Ameliorates Hepatic Lipid Accumulation and Inflammation via Enhancing Antioxidative Function in Post-Peaking Laying Hens
Authors: Miao Sasa , Li Yan , Mu Tianming , Wang Xiaoming , Zhao Wenyan , Li Ru , Dong Xinyang , Zou Xiaoting
Published: May 2023

During the aging process of laying hens, hepatic oxidative stress damage and lipid accumulation are prone to occur, leading to the deterioration of egg quality and a decline in production properties. This research was designed to explore the effects of different levels of coated sodium butyrate (CSB) addition on oxidation resistance, inflammatory reaction, lipid metabolism and hepatic oxidative damage-related gene expression in aged laying hens. A total of 720 healthy 52 weeks old Huafeng laying hens were arbitrarily divided into 5 groups of 6 replicates with 24 birds each and fed a basal diet supplemented with 0, 250, 500, 750 and 1000 mg/kg CSB for 8 weeks, respectively. The CSB quadratically upgraded GSH-Px activities and downgraded MDA content in the liver and serum. The LDL-C, NEFA and TG contents decreased quadratically in CSB groups and significantly reduced the fatty vacuoles as well as the formation of fat granules in the liver (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the CSB quadratically upregulated the gene expression of IL-10, Nrf2 and HO1, but downregulated the gene expression of IFN-γ, TNF-α and Keap1 in a quadratic manner (p < 0.05). Moreover, the CSB quadratically degraded the mRNA level of fatty acid synthesis but increased the gene level of key enzymes of fatty acid catabolism (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary CSB supplementation has a favorable effect in protecting against liver injury and alleviating lipid accumulation and inflammation by enhancing hepatic antioxidative function in aged laying hens.
Use of Oral Corticosteroids to Treat HTLV-1-Associated Myelopathy (HAM) in São Paulo, Brazil
Authors: Dahy Flavia Esper , Assone Tatiane , Marcusso Rosa M. N. , de Moura João V. Luisi , Haziot Michel E. J. , Vidal Jose E. , Smid Jerusa , de Oliveira Augusto C. Penalva , Casseb Jorge
Published: May 2023

Background: During the development of human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV-1)-associated myelopathy (HAM), the inflammatory phenomenon is very prominent and is a major factor in the outcome of the disease. The use of corticosteroids can modify their natural history, and in this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of using daily low-dose prednisone. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using data collected by physicians monitoring patients with HAM at the Institute of Infectious Diseases “Emilio Ribas”, the main referral center for patients with infectious diseases in São Paulo, Brazil. The objective was to determine if daily low-dose oral prednisone would be able to stabilize the progression of HAM. The outcome measure was a change in the Osame Motor Disability Score (OMDS). Results: Fifty-four patients used treatment with oral prednisone, 5 milligrams daily. Nine cases were excluded from the study because they did not have at least two rating scales within a minimum interval of one year, and six were excluded for being co-infected with HIV and/or HCV. Thirty-nine patients met this criterion and were included for analysis. The majority were women (71.8%), the mean age was 56.51 years old (SD ± 9.74), and the median time of use of prednisone was 16 months. Thirty-two patients (82.05%) maintained the same OMDS, 5/39 (12.82%) had clinical worsening, and 2/39 (5.13%) improved. Conclusions: There was a trend toward clinical stability with the use of oral corticosteroids. However, randomized controlled trials are necessary to evaluate the use in clinical practices in all stages of HAM.
Geochemical Characterization of Rock Samples from Selected Fiji Mine Sites to Evaluate On-Site Environmental Vulnerabilities
Authors: Soro Apete Tuiyaro , Mufalo Walubita , Arima Takahiko , Tabelin Carlito Baltazar , Igarashi Toshifumi
Published: May 2023

Although mining contributes to about 1.4% of Fiji’s gross domestic product (GDP), the excavated rocks from mining may have detrimental effects on the environment. In this study, rock samples from five Fiji mine sites were selected to assess their geochemical characteristics from an environmental point of view. The mineralogical and chemical constituents, release and retention mechanisms of hazardous elements, and acid/neutralization potential of the rock samples were investigated to understand their environmental impacts on-site. The results showed that sulfide minerals typically found in the rock samples, such as pyrite, chalcopyrite, and sphalerite were responsible for the release of hazardous elements such as Cu, Pb, and Zn via oxidation. Leachates of rock samples from Mt Kasi, Nukudamu, and Wainivesi exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) regulatory limit for Cu (2 mg/L), Pb (0.01 mg/L), and Zn (3 mg/L) in drinking water. In contrast, no hazardous elements were leached from the Tuvatu and Vatukoula rock samples, which could be attributed to the dissolution of calcite and dolomite that buffered the pH and limited heavy metal mobility. The acid–base accounting (ABA) and accelerated weathering test by hydrogen peroxide indicated that most of the rock samples containing sulfide minerals were likely to generate acidity. Furthermore, the results highlighted that once carbonate minerals are depleted in the rock samples, acid mine drainage (AMD) generation is inevitable. These findings reaffirm the need for committed effort in environmental management of the mine sites to prevent environmental issues associated with AMD.
Analysis of Chlorophylls/Chlorophyllins in Food Products Using HPLC and HPLC-MS Methods
Authors: Mandal Badal Kumar , Ling Yong-Chien
Published: May 2023

Of the different quality parameters of any food commodity or beverage, color is the most important, attractive and choice-affecting sensory factor to consumers and customers. Nowadays, food industries are interested in making the appearance of their food products attractive and interesting in order to appeal to consumers/customers. Natural green colorants have been accepted universally due to their natural appeal as well as their nontoxic nature to consumers. In addition, several food safety issues mean that natural green colorants are preferable to synthetic food colorants, which are mostly unsafe to the consumers but are less costly, more stable, and create more attractive color hues in food processing. Natural colorants are prone to degradation into numerous fragments during food processing, and thereafter, in storage. Although different hyphenated techniques (especially high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), LC-MS/HRMS, and LC/MS-MS are extensively used to characterize all these degradants and fragments, some of them are not responsive to any of these techniques, and some substituents in the tetrapyrrole skeleton are insensitive to these characterization tools. Such circumstances warrant an alternative tool to characterize them accurately for risk assessment and legislation purposes. This review summarizes the different degradants of chlorophylls and chlorophyllins under different conditions, their separation and identification using various hyphenated techniques, national legislation regarding them, and the challenges involved in their analysis. Finally, this review proposes that a non-targeted analysis method that combines HPLC and HR-MS assisted by powerful software tools and a large database could be an effective tool to analyze all possible chlorophyll and chlorophyllin-based colorants and degradants in food products in the future.
Conformational Distributions of Phenyl β-D-Glucopyranoside and Gastrodin in Solution by Vibrational Optical Activity and Theoretical Calculations
Authors: Alshalalfeh Mutasem , Sun Ningjie , Moraes Amanda Hanashiro , Utani Alexandra Paola Aponte , Xu Yunjie
Published: May 2023

The conformational landscapes of two highly flexible monosaccharide derivatives, namely phenyl β-D-glucopyranoside (ph-β-glu) and 4-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl β-D-glucopyranoside, also commonly known as gastrodin, were explored using a combined experimental and theoretical approach. For the infrared, Raman, and the associated vibrational optical activity (VOA), i.e., vibrational circular dichroism and Raman optical activity, experiments of these two compounds in DMSO and in water were carried out. Extensive and systematic conformational searches were performed using a recently developed conformational searching tool called CREST (conformer-rotamer ensemble sampling tool) in the two solvents. Fourteen and twenty-four low-energy conformers were identified at the DFT level for ph-β-glu and gastrodin, respectively. The spectral simulations of individual conformers were done at the B3LYP-D3BJ/def2-TZVPD level with the polarizable continuum model of the solvents. The VOA spectral features exhibit much higher specificity to conformational differences than their parent infrared and Raman. The excellent agreements achieved between the experimental and simulated VOA spectra allow for the extraction of experimental conformational distributions of these two carbohydrates in solution directly. The experimental percentage abundances based on the hydroxymethyl (at the pyranose ring) conformations G+, G-, and T for ph-β-glu were obtained to be 15%, 75%, and 10% in DMSO and 53%, 40%, and 7% in water, respectively, in comparison to the previously reported gas phase values of 68%, 25%, and 7%, highlighting the important role of solvents in conformational preferences. The corresponding experimental distributions for gastrodin are 56%, 22%, and 22% in DMSO and 70%, 21%, and 9% in water.
PROTACs: Emerging Targeted Protein Degradation Approaches for Advanced Druggable Strategies
Authors: Sincere Nuwayo Ishimwe , Anand Krishnan , Ashique Sumel , Yang Jing , You Chongge
Published: May 2023

A potential therapeutic strategy to treat conditions brought on by the aberrant production of a disease-causing protein is emerging for targeted protein breakdown using the PROTACs technology. Few medications now in use are tiny, component-based and utilize occupancy-driven pharmacology (MOA), which inhibits protein function for a short period of time to temporarily alter it. By utilizing an event-driven MOA, the proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) technology introduces a revolutionary tactic. Small-molecule-based heterobifunctional PROTACs hijack the ubiquitin–proteasome system to trigger the degradation of the target protein. The main challenge PROTAC’s development facing now is to find potent, tissue- and cell-specific PROTAC compounds with favorable drug-likeness and standard safety measures. The ways to increase the efficacy and selectivity of PROTACs are the main focus of this review. In this review, we have highlighted the most important discoveries related to the degradation of proteins by PROTACs, new targeted approaches to boost proteolysis’ effectiveness and development, and promising future directions in medicine.
Updates on Plant-Based Protein Products as an Alternative to Animal Protein: Technology, Properties, and Their Health Benefits
Authors: Xiao Xiao , Zou Peng-Ren , Hu Fei , Zhu Wen , Wei Zhao-Jun
Published: May 2023

Plant-based protein products, represented by “plant meat”, are gaining more and more popularity as an alternative to animal proteins. In the present review, we aimed to update the current status of research and industrial growth of plant-based protein products, including plant-based meat, plant-based eggs, plant-based dairy products, and plant-based protein emulsion foods. Moreover, the common processing technology of plant-based protein products and its principles, as well as the emerging strategies, are given equal importance. The knowledge gap between the use of plant proteins and animal proteins is also described, such as poor functional properties, insufficient texture, low protein biomass, allergens, and off-flavors, etc. Furthermore, the nutritional and health benefits of plant-based protein products are highlighted. Lately, researchers are committed to exploring novel plant protein resources and high-quality proteins with enhanced properties through the latest scientific and technological interventions, including physical, chemical, enzyme, fermentation, germination, and protein interaction technology.
Phytochemical Analysis and Evaluation of the Antioxidant, Antiproliferative, Antibacterial, and Antibiofilm Effects of Globularia alypum (L.) Leaves
Authors: Nouir Sahar , Dbeibia Amal , Bouhajeb Rim , Haddad Houda , Khélifa Amani , Achour Lotfi , Ghardallou Mariem , Zaïri Amira
Published: May 2023

Globularia alypum L. (GA) is a Mediterranean plant of the Globulariaceae family which is widely used in traditional Tunisian medicine. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the phytochemical composition, antioxidant, antibacterial, and antibiofilm activities, and the antiproliferative potential of different extracts of this plant. The identification and the quantification of the different constituents of extracts were determined using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The antioxidant activities were evaluated using spectrophotometric methods and chemical tests. The antiproliferative study was based on the use of colorectal cancer SW620 cells, including an antibacterial assessment with the microdilution method and analysis of the antibiofilm effects via the crystal violet assay. All extracts presented several components, mainly sesquiterpenes, hydrocarbon, and oxygenated monoterpenes. The results revealed that the maceration extract had the most important antioxidant effect (IC50 = 0.04 and 0.15 mg/mL), followed by the sonication extract (IC50 = 0.18 and 0.28 mg/mL). However, the sonication extract demonstrated significant antiproliferative (IC50 = 20 µg/mL), antibacterial (MIC = 6.25 mg/mLand MBC > 25 mg/mL), and antibiofilm (35.78% at 25 mg/mL) properties against S. aureus. The results achieved confirm the important role of this plant as a source of therapeutic activities.
Highly Active Manganese Oxide from Electrolytic Manganese Anode Slime for Efficient Removal of Antibiotics Induced by Dissociation of Peroxymonosulfate
Authors: Zhang He , Xiong Ruixue , Peng Shijie , Xu Desheng , Ke Jun
Published: May 2023

In this paper, high-activity manganese oxide was prepared from electrolytic manganese anode slime to realize the efficient removal of antibiotics. The effects of sulfuric acid concentration, ethanol dosage, liquid–solid ratio, leaching temperature and leaching time on the leaching of manganese from electrolytic manganese anode slime were systematically studied. Under the optimal conditions, the leaching rate of manganese reached 88.74%. In addition, a Mn3O4 catalyst was synthesized and used to activate hydrogen persulfate (PMS) to degrade tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH). The synthesized Mn3O4 was characterized by XRD, XPS, Raman, SEM and HRTEM. As a result, the prepared Mn3O4 is spherical, with high purity and crystallinity. The catalytic activity of Mn3O4 for PMS to degrade TCH was increased to 82.11%. In addition, after four cycles, the performance remained at 78.5%, showing excellent stability and recyclability. In addition, O2− and 1O2 are the main active species in the degradation reaction. The activity of Mn3O4 is attributed to it containing Mn(II) and Mn(III) at the same time, which can quickly realize the transformation of high-valence and low-valence manganese, promote the transfer of electrons and realize the degradation of organic pollutants.
Tuning Magnetoconductivity in LaMnO3 NPs through Cationic Vacancy Control
Authors: Hernando Antonio , Ruiz-González M. Luisa , Diaz Omar , Alonso José M. , Martínez José L. , Ayuela Andrés , González-Calbet José M. , Cortés-Gil Raquel
Published: May 2023

The inclusion of La-Mn vacancies in LaMnO3 nanoparticles leads to a noticeable change in conductivity behavior. The sample retains its overall insulator characteristic, with a typical thermal activation mechanism at high temperatures, but it presents high magnetoconductivity below 200 K. The activation energy decreases linearly with the square of the reduced magnetization and vanishes when the sample is magnetized at saturation. Therefore, it turns out that electron hopping between Mn3+ and Mn4+ largely contributes to the conductivity below the Curie temperature. The influence of the applied magnetic field on conductivity also supports the hypothesis of hopping contribution, and the electric behavior can be explained as being due to an increase in the hopping probability via spin alignment.
Recent Advances and Perspectives of Nanomaterials in Agricultural Management and Associated Environmental Risk: A Review
Authors: Tripathi Sneha , Mahra Shivani , J Victoria , Tiwari Kavita , Rana Shweta , Tripathi Durgesh Kumar , Sharma Shivesh , Sahi Shivendra
Published: May 2023

The advancement in nanotechnology has enabled a significant expansion in agricultural production. Agri-nanotechnology is an emerging discipline where nanotechnological methods provide diverse nanomaterials (NMs) such as nanopesticides, nanoherbicides, nanofertilizers and different nanoforms of agrochemicals for agricultural management. Applications of nanofabricated products can potentially improve the shelf life, stability, bioavailability, safety and environmental sustainability of active ingredients for sustained release. Nanoscale modification of bulk or surface properties bears tremendous potential for effective enhancement of agricultural productivity. As NMs improve the tolerance mechanisms of the plants under stressful conditions, they are considered as effective and promising tools to overcome the constraints in sustainable agricultural production. For their exceptional qualities and usages, nano-enabled products are developed and enforced, along with agriculture, in diverse sectors. The rampant usage of NMs increases their release into the environment. Once incorporated into the environment, NMs may threaten the stability and function of biological systems. Nanotechnology is a newly emerging technology, so the evaluation of the associated environmental risk is pivotal. This review emphasizes the current approach to NMs synthesis, their application in agriculture, interaction with plant-soil microbes and environmental challenges to address future applications in maintaining a sustainable environment.
Modeling and Experiments of Droplet Evaporation with Micro or Nano Particles in Coffee Ring or Coffee Splat
Authors: Xiong Hongbing , Wang Qichao , Yuan Lujie , Liang Junkai , Lin Jianzhong
Published: May 2023

Experimental and numerical experiments were carried out to study the coffee rings or coffee splats formed by droplet evaporation with micro or nano polystyrene sphere particles (Dp = 10 μm or 100 nm). Particle image velocimetry (PIV) and a high-resolution camera were used in this experiment, along with a temperature-controlled heater and a data-acquisition computer. The results showed that a nano particle could form a homogeneous coffee splat, instead of the common coffee ring formed when using micro particles. In order to account for this phenomenon, this paper developed a complex multiphase model, one which included the smooth particle hydrodynamics (SPH) fluid model coupled with the van der Waals equation of state for droplet evaporation, the rigid particle model of finite-size micro particles, and the point–particle model of the nanometer particles. The numerical simulation was operated on a GPU-based algorithm and tested by four validation cases. A GPU could calculate 533 times the speed of a single-core CPU for about 300,000 particles. The results showed that, for rigid solid particles, the forms emerged spontaneously on the wall, and their structure was mainly affected by the boundary wettability, and less affected by the fluid flow and thermal condition. When the wall temperature was low, it was easier for the particles to be deposited on the contact line. At high wall temperature, the coffee ring effect would be weakened, and the particles were more likely to be deposited in the droplet center. The hydrophilic surface produced a larger coffee ring compared to the hydrophobic surface. The experimental and numerical results proved that particle size could play a significant role during the particle deposition, which may be a possible route for producing uniform-distributed and nano-structure coatings.
Tunning the Zeolitic Imidazole Framework (ZIF8) through the Wet Chemical Route for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Rabani Iqra , Patil Supriya , Tahir Muhammad , Afzal Fatima , Lee Je-Won , Im Hyunsik , Seo Young-Soo , Shrestha Nabeen
Published: May 2023

Utilizing zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) poses a significant challenge that demands a facile synthesis method to produce uniform and nanometer-scale materials with high surface areas while achieving high yields. Herein, we demonstrate a facile and cost-effective strategy to systematically produce ZIF8 nanocrystals. Typically, ZIF8 nanocrystal synthesis involves a wet chemical route. As the reaction time decreased (150, 120, and 90 min), the size of the ZIF8 crystals decreased with uniform morphology, and productivity reached as high as 89%. The composition of the product was confirmed through XRD, FE-SEM, TEM, EDS, and Raman spectroscopy. The ZIF8 synthesized with different reaction time was finally employed for catalyzing the electrochemical hydrogen evaluation reaction (HER). The optimized ZIF8-3 obtained at 90 min of reaction time exhibited a superior catalytic action on the HER in alkaline medium, along with a remarkably long-term stability for 24 h compared with the other ZIF8 nanocrystals obtained at different reaction times. Specifically, the optimized ZIF8-3 sample revealed an HER overpotential of 172 mV and a Tafel slope of 104.15 mV·dec−1. This finding, thus, demonstrates ZIF8 as a promising electrocatalyst for the production of high-value-added green and sustainable hydrogen energy.
A Novel Approach of Sea Urchin-like Fe-Doped Co3O4 Microspheres for Li-S Battery Enables High Energy Density and Long-Lasting
Authors: Yan Nannan , Zhuang Xuan , Zhang Hua , Lu Han
Published: May 2023

The poor cycle stability caused by the shuttle effect of polysulfides which have been key scientific issue in the development of high-efficiency lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries. In this work, the authors report a Fe-doped Co3O4 (named FCO) that was used as a sulfur-loaded host material for Li–S batteries. We demonstrate the important roles of well-designed Co3O4 particles and Fe atoms in regulating polysulfide conversion due to the strong adsorption of polysulfides by polar Co3O4, whereas Fe atoms and Co3O4 catalyze polysulfide conversion. Therefore, the LiS batteries with FCO-180 (When the hydrothermal temperature is 180 °C) sea urchinlike composites exhibited a high superior energy density (992.7 mAh g−1 at 0.2 C, after 100 cycles) and long-term cyclability (649.4 mAh g−1 at 1 C, 300 cycles) with high sulfur loading (75 wt%). This work confirms that the FCO-180 sea urchinlike increases not only the capacity of high-rate but also a generic and feasible strategy to construct practical Li–S batteries for emerging energy-storage applications.
Use of In-Clinic Diagnostic Kits for the Detection of Seropositivity to Leishmania infantum and Other Major Vector-Borne Pathogens in Healthy Dogs
Authors: Morelli Simone , Diakou Anastasia , Frangipane di Regalbono Antonio , Colombo Mariasole , Simonato Giulia , Di Cesare Angela , Passarelli Alessandra , Pezzuto Carlo , Tzitzoudi Zoe , Barlaam Alessandra , Beall Melissa , Chandrashekar Ramaswamy , Pantchev Nikola , Traversa Donato
Published: May 2023

Canine Vector-Borne Diseases (CVBDs) are widespread in Europe and enzootic in many other countries. Though severe illnesses may occur, dogs living in enzootic areas often show vague or no clinical signs of CVBDs. Undiagnosed infections/co-infections in subclinically infected animals favor the spread of CVBDs and increase the risk of transmission to other animals and, in some cases, humans. This study has evaluated the exposure of dogs living in key enzootic countries, i.e., Italy and Greece, to major CVBDs via the use of in-clinic diagnostic kits. Overall, 300 privately owned dogs without/with single mild clinical signs living in different regions of Italy (n. 150) and Greece (n. 150) were included in the study. As part of a clinical examination, a blood sample was collected from each dog and subjected to two serological rapid tests, i.e., the SNAP® 4Dx®Plus (IDEXX Laboratories Inc.) for the detection of antibodies against Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp., Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. and Dirofilaria immitis antigen and the SNAP® Leishmania (IDEXX Laboratories Inc.) for the detection of antibodies against Leishmania infantum. In all, 51 dogs (17%; 95% CI 12.9–21.7) were seropositive to at least 1 pathogen, i.e., 4 in Italy (2.7%; 95% CI 1.4–13.1) and 47 in Greece (31.3%; 95% CI 24–39.4). Dirofilaria immitis antigens were found in 39 dogs (13%; 95% CI 9.4–17.3), while antibodies against Ehrlichia, Anaplasma and Leishmania were detected in 25 (8.3%; 95% CI 5.5–12.1), 8 (2.7%; 95% CI 1.2–5.2) and 5 (1.7%; 95% CI 0.5–3.8) dogs, respectively. None of the dogs tested seropositive for B. burgdorferi s.l. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate associations between exposure to CVBDs and possible risk factors. The present results indicate that dogs living in enzootic areas may be seropositive for one or more CVBDs in absence of clinical signs. Rapid kits are among first line tools for the detection of CVBDs in clinical settings, as they are cost-effective, straightforward and quick to use. Also, in-clinic tests used herein allowed detection of co-exposure to CVBDs investigated.