bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Translational Implications for Radiosensitizing Strategies in Rhabdomyosarcoma
Authors: Pomella Silvia , Porrazzo Antonella , Cassandri Matteo , Camero Simona , Codenotti Silvia , Milazzo Luisa , Vulcano Francesca , Barillari Giovanni , Cenci Giovanni , Marchese Cinzia , Fanzani Alessandro , Megiorni Francesca , Rota Rossella , Marampon Francesco
Published: November 2022

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma of childhood and adolescence that includes FP-RMS, harboring the fusion oncoprotein PAX3/7-FOXO1 and FN-RMS, often mutant in the RAS pathway. Risk stratifications of RMS patients determine different prognostic groups and related therapeutic treatment. Current multimodal therapeutic strategies involve surgery, chemotherapy (CHT) and radiotherapy (RT), but despite the deeper knowledge of response mechanisms underpinning CHT treatment and the technological improvements that characterize RT, local failures and recurrence frequently occur. This review sums up the RMS classification and the management of RMS patients, with special attention to RT treatment and possible radiosensitizing strategies for RMS tumors. Indeed, RMS radioresistance is a clinical problem and further studies aimed at dissecting radioresistant molecular mechanisms are needed to identify specific targets to hit, thus improving RT-induced cytotoxicity.
Enhanced Water Solubility and Anti-Tumor Activity of Oleanolic Acid through Chemical Structure Modification
Authors: Gu Zhicheng , Lin Shuxian , Yan Wanli , Chen Di , Zeng Ziwei , Chen Lei , Li Yan , He Bin
Published: November 2022

Cancer has been a major health problem in the world in the past decades. It is urgent to develop new, effective and safe drugs for the treatment of cancer. There are many pentacyclic triterpenoids with positive anti-tumor activity and safety in nature. Oleanolic acid (OA), as one of the pentacyclic triterpenoids, also has broad biological activities including liver protection, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, antiviral and anti-tumor. Therefore, to investigate its anti-tumor activity and mechanism, many OA derivatives have been developed. Some derivatives are less toxic to normal hepatocytes, which may be due to the strong liver protection ability of OA. However, the poor water solubility of OA is one of the main reasons for the weak anti-tumor activity. It is reported that some OA derivatives could enhance solubility by chemically linking some hydrophilic groups to improve anti-tumor activity. This review not only summarizes the highly water-soluble OA derivatives that can improve anti-tumor activity reported in recent years, but also introduces their possible anti-tumor mechanisms.
Naphthoquinones Oxidize H2S to Polysulfides and Thiosulfate, Implications for Therapeutic Applications
Authors: Olson Kenneth R. , Clear Kasey J. , Derry Paul J. , Gao Yan , Ma Zhilin , Cieplik Nathaniel M. , Fiume Alyssa , Gaziano Dominic J. , Kasko Stephen M. , Narloch Kathleen , Velander Cecilia L. , Nwebube Ifeyinwa , Pallissery Collin J. , Pfaff Ella , Villa Brian P. , Kent Thomas A. , Wu Gang , Straub Karl D.
Published: November 2022

1,4-Napththoquinones (NQs) are clinically relevant therapeutics that affect cell function through production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and formation of adducts with regulatory protein thiols. Reactive sulfur species (RSS) are chemically and biologically similar to ROS and here we examine RSS production by NQ oxidation of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) using RSS-specific fluorophores, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, UV-Vis absorption spectrometry, oxygen-sensitive optodes, thiosulfate-specific nanoparticles, HPLC-monobromobimane derivatization, and ion chromatographic assays. We show that NQs, catalytically oxidize H2S to per- and polysulfides (H2Sn, n = 2–6), thiosulfate, sulfite and sulfate in reactions that consume oxygen and are accelerated by superoxide dismutase (SOD) and inhibited by catalase. The approximate efficacy of NQs (in decreasing order) is, 1,4-NQ ≈ juglone ≈ plumbagin > 2-methoxy-1,4-NQ ≈ menadione >> phylloquinone ≈ anthraquinone ≈ menaquinone ≈ lawsone. We propose that the most probable reactions are an initial two-electron oxidation of H2S to S0 and reduction of NQ to NQH2. S0 may react with H2S or elongate H2Sn in variety of reactions. Reoxidation of NQH2 likely involves a semiquinone radical (NQ·−) intermediate via several mechanisms involving oxygen and comproportionation to produce NQ and superoxide. Dismutation of the latter forms hydrogen peroxide which then further oxidizes RSS to sulfoxides. These findings provide the chemical background for novel sulfur-based approaches to naphthoquinone-directed therapies.
Short-Term Gaseous Treatments Improve Rachis Browning in Red and White Table Grapes Stored at Low Temperature: Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Its Beneficial Effect
Authors: Romero Irene , Rosales Raquel , Escribano M. Isabel , Merodio Carmen , Sanchez-Ballesta M. Teresa
Published: November 2022

Short-term gaseous treatments improve rachis quality during table grape postharvest, but little is known about the mechanisms involved. In this work, we observed that the application of a 3-day CO2 treatment at 0 °C improved rachis browning of Superior Seedless and Red Globe bunches, affecting the non-enzymatic antioxidant system by reducing the total phenolic content, the antioxidant activity and the expression of different stilbene synthase genes. Lipid peroxidation levels revealed lower oxidative stress in CO2-treated rachis of both cultivars linked to the activation of the enzymatic antioxidant system. Furthermore, whereas a positive correlation was denoted between rachis browning and the accumulation of key ABA regulatory genes in Red Globe bunches, this effect was restricted to ACS1, a key synthetic ethylene gene, in Superior Seedless clusters. This work also corroborated the important role of ethylene-responsive factors in the beneficial effect of the gaseous treatment, not only in the berries but also in the rachis. Finally, the application of the gaseous treatment avoided the induction of cell wall-degrading enzyme-related genes in both cultivars, which could favor the maintenance of rachis quality. This work provides new insight into specific responses modulated by the gaseous treatment focused on mitigating rachis browning independently of the cultivar.
SIRT4 Expression Ameliorates the Detrimental Effect of Heat Stress via AMPK/mTOR Signaling Pathway in BMECs
Authors: Ding Qiang , Wang Yue , Xia Shu-Wen , Zhao Fang , Zhong Ji-Feng , Wang Hui-Li , Chen Kun-Lin
Published: November 2022

Sirtuin 4 (SIRT4), a member of the SIRT family, has been reported to be a key factor involved in antioxidant defense in mitochondria. This study aimed to explore the potential molecular mechanism via which SIRT4 regulates heat stress-induced oxidative stress and lactoprotein synthesis in bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs). Our results showed that SIRT4 was significantly decreased in heat stressed mammary tissue. Depletion of SIRT4 in BMECs induced the generation of ROS, which, as exhibited by the decreased activity of antioxidant enzymes, changed mitochondrial morphology through mediating protein and mRNA levels related to mitochondrial fission and fusion. Moreover, we found that depletion of SIRT4 or stress conditions inhibited the expression of milk proteins, as well as lipid and glucose synthesis-related genes, and activated the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway. Increased SIRT4 expression was found to have the opposite effect. However, blocking the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway could inhibit the regulatory function of SIRT4 in milk synthesis-related gene expression. In summary, our results suggest that SIRT4 may play critical roles in maintaining mammary gland function by regulating the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway in dairy cows, indicating that SIRT4 may be a potential molecular target for curing heat stress-induced BMEC injury and low milk production in dairy cows.
Species Distribution Modeling of the Breeding Site Distribution and Conservation Gaps of Lesser White-Fronted Goose in Siberia under Climate Change
Authors: Fan Rong , Lei Jialin , Wu Entao , Lu Cai , Jia Yifei , Zeng Qing , Lei Guangchun
Published: November 2022

Climate change has become an important cause of the loss of bird habitat and changes in bird migration and reproduction. The lesser white-fronted goose (Anser erythropus) has a wide range of migratory habits and is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List. In this study, the distribution of suitable breeding grounds for the lesser white-fronted goose was assessed in Siberia, Russia, using a combination of satellite tracking and climate change data. The characteristics of the distribution of suitable breeding sites under different climate scenarios in the future were predicted using the Maxent model, and protection gaps were assessed. The analysis showed that under the background of future climate change, temperature and precipitation will be the main climatic factors affecting the distribution of breeding grounds, and the area associated with suitable breeding habitats will present a decreasing trend. Areas listed as an optimal habitat only accounted for 3.22% of the protected distribution; however, 1,029,386.341 km2 of optimal habitat was observed outside the protected area. Obtaining species distribution data is important for developing habitat protection in remote areas. The results presented here can provide a basis for developing species-specific habitat management strategies and indicate that additional attention should be focused on protecting open spaces.
Effective Stiffness of Thin-Walled Beams with Local Imperfections
Authors: Staszak Natalia , Gajewski Tomasz , Garbowski Tomasz
Published: November 2022

Thin-walled beams are increasingly used in light engineering structures. They are economical, easy to manufacture and to install, and their load capacity-to-weight ratio is very favorable. However, their walls are prone to local buckling, which leads to a reduction of compressive, as well as flexural and torsional, stiffness. Such imperfections can be included in such components in various ways, e.g., by reducing the cross-sectional area. This article presents a method based on the numerical homogenization of a thin-walled beam model that includes geometric imperfections. The homogenization procedure uses a numerical 3D model of a selected piece of a thin-walled beam section, the so-called representative volume element (RVE). Although the model is based on the finite element method (FEM), no formal analysis is performed. The FE model is only used to build the full stiffness matrix of the model with geometric imperfections. The stiffness matrix is then condensed to the outer nodes of the RVE, and the effective stiffness of the cross-section is calculated by using the principle of the elastic equilibrium of the strain energy. It is clear from the conducted analyses that the introduced imperfections cause the decreases in the calculated stiffnesses in comparison to the model without imperfections.
Relationship between Fractal Dimension and Properties of Engineered Cementitious Composites with Different Aggregates
Authors: Xia Duotian , Chen Ruilin , Zhang Duo , Cheng Jianjun
Published: November 2022

In this study, the effects of different fine aggregates on the properties of polyethylene fiber engineered cementitious composite (PE-ECC) were systematically investigated. The PE-ECCs were prepared with four fine aggregates, respectively. Furthermore, their flowability, compressive strength, and uniaxial tensile properties were studied experimentally and comparatively analyzed by microscopic techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). The results showed that all the different types of fine aggregates exhibited little effect on the flowability of PE-ECC, but a greater effect on the compressive strength, uniaxial tensile strength, and ultimate tensile strain. PE-ECC prepared from untreated desert sand showed the best comprehensive performance, with compressive strength, uniaxial tensile strength, and ultimate tensile strain of 47.92 MPa, 6.26 MPa, and 3.638%, respectively. Moreover, it was found that the ultra-fine particles in the desert sand promoted the hydration reaction of cement and produced more C–S–H gels. The pore structures of ECC prepared with different aggregates exhibited obvious fractal characteristics, and the fractal dimension ranged from 2.8 to 2.9. The fractal dimension showed a strong correlation with parameters including ultimate tensile strain and pore structure, and the larger the fractal dimension, the smaller the ultimate tensile strain, porosity, and average pore size of ECC.
Effect of Fe-Doping on Thermal Expansion and Stability of Bismuth Magnesium Tantalate Pyrochlorere
Authors: Zhuk Nadezhda A. , Krzhizhanovskaya Maria G. , Nekipelov Sergey V. , Sivkov Viktor N. , Sivkov Danil V.
Published: November 2022

A continuous series of solid solutions (Bi1.5Mg0.75−xFexTa1.5O7±Δ (x = 0–0.75)) with the pyrochlore structure were synthesized with the solid-phase method. It was shown that iron, like magnesium, is concentrated in the structure in the octahedral position of tantalum. Doping with iron atoms led to an increase in the upper limit of the thermal stability interval of magnesium-containing pyrochlore from 1050 °C (x = 0) up to a temperature of 1140 °C (x = 1). The unit cell constant a and thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) increase uniformly slightly from 10.5018 Å up to 10.5761 Å and from 3.6 up to 9.3 × 10−6 °C−1 in the temperature range 30–1100 °C. The effect of iron(III) ions on the thermal stability and thermal expansion of solid solutions was revealed. It has been established that the thermal stability of iron-containing solid solutions correlates with the unit cell parameter, and the lower the parameter, the more stable the compound. The TEC value, on the contrary, is inversely proportional to the cell constant.
Investigation of Efficient Optimization Approach to the Modernization of Francis Turbine Draft Tube Geometry
Authors: Lučin Ivana , Sikirica Ante , Šiško Kuliš Marija , Čarija Zoran
Published: November 2022

The installation of new and revitalization of existing hydropower requires the optimal design of hydraulic turbine parts, which were previously mostly based on simplified analytical methods and engineering practices. With the increase in computational power, optimization methods now present an effective approach to the improvement of the geometry of turbine parts, thus enabling fine geometry-tuning adjustments of site specifics. However, despite continually increasing computational power, such numerical optimizations still require substantial resources and time. Therefore, in the proposed paper, extensive analysis of different numerical simplifications was conducted to determine the best trade-off between accuracy and the required computational resources for draft tube optimization. Additionally, the influence of geometry parametrization in terms of greater geometry flexibility, different goal functions, and optimization parameters was investigated. Within the considered constraints, a novel draft tube geometry was obtained, with the elbow displacements toward the draft tube exit, a shape that could not be obtained with the usual draft tube parametrization. It was also observed that geometry improvements for a single operating point did not provide improvements for other operating points. The obtained findings regarding the numerical and optimization setup can be used as guidelines for future optimization research, where multiobjective optimization for multiple operating points should be further investigated.
Convergence of the Boundary Parameter for the Three-Dimensional Viscous Primitive Equations of Large-Scale
Authors: Guo Zhanwei , Shi Jincheng , Ding Danping
Published: November 2022

The main objective of this paper is concerned with the convergence of the boundary parameter for the large-scale, three-dimensional, viscous primitive equations. Such equations are often used for weather prediction and climate change. Under the assumptions of some boundary conditions, we obtain a prior bounds for the solutions of the equations by using the differential inequality technology and method of the energy estimates, and the convergence of the equations on the boundary parameter is proved.
Mathematical Model of the Process of Non-Equilibrium Hydrate Formation in a Porous Reservoir during Gas Injection
Authors: Khasanov Marat K. , Kildibaeva Svetlana R. , Stolpovsky Maxim V. , Musakaev Nail G.
Published: November 2022

Increasing the efficiency of natural gas storage in geological formations is possible by transferring gas from a free state to a gas hydrate state, since gas hydrates have a number of unique properties. For example, 1 m3 of methane hydrate contains 164 m3 of gas under normal conditions. It is possible to store a sufficiently large amount of gas in a small volume at a relatively low pressure. To study the regularities of the process of formation of underground gas hydrate gas storage, this article presents a mathematical model of the process of methane injection into a natural reservoir saturated with methane and water, accompanied by the formation of gas hydrate. Unlike previous works, the constructed mathematical model additionally takes into account a number of factors: the filtration flow of water, the real gas properties, the Joule–Thomson effects and adiabatic compression. The process of gas hydrate formation is considered as a non-equilibrium phase transition. Numerical solutions of the problem are constructed that describe the distributions of parameters (temperature, pressure, phase saturations) in a reservoir. Dependences are obtained that reveal the regularities of the process of non-equilibrium formation of gas hydrate in a natural reservoir during gas injection. The influence of gas injection pressure and temperature, as well as reservoir porosity and permeability, on the distributions of pressure, temperature, water saturation and hydrate saturation in the reservoir, as well as on the dynamics of changes in these parameters and the mass of gas hydrate formed in the reservoir over time, are analyzed.
Postpartum Spinal Cord Infarction: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Hsu Jung-Lung , Chin Shy-Chyi , Cheng Ming-Huei , Wu Yih-Ru , Ro Aileen , Ro Long-Sun
Published: November 2022

Background: Postpartum spinal cord infarction is a very rare disease. Only two cases have been reported in the English literature. Methods: We reported a 26 year old female who received second doses of the mRNA-1273 vaccine 52 days before delivery. She presented as sudden onset of paraplegia, sensory level, and sphincter incontinence at postpartum period. No history of heparin exposure was noted. Imaging findings confirmed the T10-11 level infarction and her anti–human heparin platelet factor 4 (anti-PF4) antibody was positive. After 7 days of dexamethasone therapy, her paraplegia and urinary incontinence gradually improved. Results: The CT angiography (CTA) of the artery of Adamkiewicz (Aka) showed tandem narrowing, most conspicuous at the T10-11 level, which was presumably due to partial occlusion of the arteriolar lumen. The thoracolumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging with contrast medium showed owl’s eyes sign at the T10 and T11 levels. We compared our case with two other case reports from the literature. Conclusions: Post-partum spinal cord infarction with positive anti-PF4 antibody and relatively thrombocytopenia are the characteristics of our case.
Roles of Aerotolerance, Biofilm Formation, and Viable but Non-Culturable State in the Survival of Campylobacter jejuni in Poultry Processing Environments
Authors: Pokhrel Diksha , Thames Hudson T. , Zhang Li , Dinh Thu T. N. , Schilling Wes , White Shecoya B. , Ramachandran Reshma , Theradiyil Sukumaran Anuraj
Published: November 2022

Campylobacter jejuni is one of the most common causes of foodborne human gastroenteritis in the developed world. This bacterium colonizes in the ceca of chickens, spreads throughout the poultry production chain, and contaminates poultry products. Despite numerous on farm intervention strategies and developments in post-harvest antimicrobial treatments, C. jejuni is frequently detected on broiler meat products. This indicates that C. jejuni is evolving over time to overcome the stresses/interventions that are present throughout poultry production and processing. The development of aerotolerance has been reported to be a major survival strategy used by C. jejuni in high oxygen environments. Recent studies have indicated that C. jejuni can enter a viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state or develop biofilm in response to environmental stressors such as refrigeration and freezing stress and aerobic stress. This review provides an overview of different stressors that C. jejuni are exposed to throughout the poultry production chain and the genotypic and phenotypic survival mechanisms, with special attention to aerotolerance, biofilm formation, and development of the VBNC state.
“One-Pot” CuCl2-Mediated Condensation/C–S Bond Coupling Reactions to Synthesize Dibenzothiazepines by Bi-Functional-Reagent N, N′-Dimethylethane-1,2-Diamine
Authors: Wang Dehe , Lu Qichao , Li Zhanjun , Fang Chen , Liu Ran , Yang Bingchuan , Shen Guodong
Published: November 2022

The efficient “One-pot” CuCl2-catalyzed C–S bond coupling reactions were developed for the synthesis of dibenzo[b,f][1,4]thiazepines and 11-methy-ldibenzo[b,f][1,4]thiazepines via 2-iodobenzaldehydes/2-iodoacetophenones with 2-aminobenzenethiols/2,2′-disulfanediyldianilines by using bifunctional-reagent N, N′-dimethylethane-1,2-diamine (DMEDA), which worked as ligand and reductant. The reactions were compatible with a range of substrates to give the corresponding products in moderate to excellent yields.
Pectin: A Bioactive Food Polysaccharide with Cancer Preventive Potential
Authors: Emran Talha Bin , Islam Fahadul , Mitra Saikat , Paul Shyamjit , Nath Nikhil , Khan Zidan , Das Rajib , Chandran Deepak , Sharma Rohit , Lima Clara Mariana Gonçalves , Awadh Ahmed Abdullah Al , Almazni Ibrahim Abdullah , Alhasaniah Abdulaziz Hassan , Guiné Raquel P. F.
Published: November 2022

Pectin is an acidic heteropolysaccharide found in the cell walls and the primary and middle lamella of land plants. To be authorized as a food additive, industrial pectins must meet strict guidelines set forth by the Food and Agricultural Organization and must contain at least 65% polygalacturonic acid to achieve the E440 level. Fruit pectin derived from oranges or apples is commonly used in the food industry to gel or thicken foods and to stabilize acid-based milk beverages. It is a naturally occurring component and can be ingested by dietary consumption of fruit and vegetables. Preventing long-term chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease is an important role of dietary carbohydrates. Colon and breast cancer are among the diseases for which data suggest that modified pectin (MP), specifically modified citrus pectin (MCP), has beneficial effects on the development and spread of malignancies, in addition to its benefits as a soluble dietary fiber. Cellular and animal studies and human clinical trials have provided corroborating data. Although pectin has many diverse functional qualities, this review focuses on various modifications used to develop MP and its benefits for cancer prevention, bioavailability, clinical trials, and toxicity studies. This review concludes that pectin has anti-cancer characteristics that have been found to inhibit tumor development and proliferation in a wide variety of cancer cells. Nevertheless, further clinical and basic research is required to confirm the chemopreventive or therapeutic role of specific dietary carbohydrate molecules.
Radical-Induced Cascade Annulation/Hydrocarbonylation for Construction of 2-Aryl-4H-chromen-4-ones
Authors: He Xinwei , Xu Keke , Liu Yanan , Wang Demao , Tang Qiang , Hui Wenjie , Chen Haoyu , Shang Yongjia
Published: November 2022

A robust metal- and solvent-free cascade radical-induced C-N cleavage/intramolecular 6-endo-dig annulation/hydrocarbonylation for the synthesis of the valuable 2-aryl-4H-chromen-4-ones is described. This practical synthesis strategy utilizes propargylamines and air as the oxygen source and green carbonylation reagent, in which propargylamines are activated by the inexpensive and available dimethyl 2,2′-azobis(2-methylpropionate) (AIBME) and (PhSe)2 as the radical initiators. This simple and green protocol features wide substrate adaptability, good functional group tolerance, and amenability to scaling up and derivatizations.
Labeling Microplastics with Fluorescent Dyes for Detection, Recovery, and Degradation Experiments
Authors: Gao Zhiqiang , Wontor Kendall , Cizdziel James V.
Published: November 2022

Staining microplastics (MPs) for fluorescence detection has been widely applied in MP analyses. However, there is a lack of standardized staining procedures and conditions, with different researchers using different dye concentrations, solvents, incubation times, and staining temperatures. Moreover, with the limited types and morphologies of commercially available MPs, a simple and optimized approach to making fluorescent MPs is needed. In this study, 4 different textile dyes, along with Nile red dye for comparison, are used to stain 17 different polymers under various conditions to optimize the staining procedure. The MPs included both virgin and naturally weathered polymers with different sizes and shapes (e.g., fragments, fibers, foams, pellets, beads). We show that the strongest fluorescence intensity occurred with aqueous staining at 70 °C for 3 h with a dye concentration of 5 mg/mL, 55 mg/mL, and 2 µg/mL for iDye dyes, Rit dyes, and Nile red, respectively. Red fluorescent signals are stronger and thus preferred over green ones. The staining procedure did not significantly alter the surface, mass, and chemical characteristics of the particles, based on FTIR and stereomicroscopy. Stained MPs were spiked into freshwater, saltwater, a sediment slurry, and wastewater-activated sludge; even after several days, the recovered particles are still strongly fluoresced. The approach described herein for producing customized fluorescent MPs and quantifying MPs in laboratory-controlled experiments is both straightforward and simple.
Associations between Orthorexia Nervosa, Body Self-Image, Nutritional Beliefs, and Behavioral Rigidity
Authors: Elias Marina Couceiro , Gomes Daniela Lopes , Paracampo Carla Cristina Paiva
Published: November 2022

Possible correlations between orthorexic self-reports, unhealthy nutritional beliefs, behavioral rigidity related to following rules, and distortion of body self-image were investigated. In total, 246 university students of both sexes, from different areas of knowledge, answered a sociodemographic form, the Ortho-15, the Body Shape Questionnaire, the Rigidity Scale, and a Nutritional Beliefs Form. Orthorexic self-reports were observed in 73 men and 106 women. A positive correlation was found between females and orthorexic self-reports (p = 0.036), and severe distortion of body self-image (p = 0.002) and between the latter, the behavioral rigidity scale (p2 = 0.189; p = 0.001), and female sex (p2 = 0.245; p < 0.000). In the logistic regression, women were 1.83 times more likely to present orthorexic behaviors than men. The creation of prevention and treatment strategies aimed at women is suggested and it recommended that studies investigating whether the presence of orthorexic self-reports is a risk factor for the development of eating disorders are carried out.
Vasorelaxant Effects of Syzygium samarangense (Blume) Merr. and L.M.Perry Extract Are Mediated by NO/cGMP Pathway in Isolated Rat Thoracic Aorta
Authors: Hassan Noura A. , Abdelfattah Mohamed A. O. , Mandour Yasmine M. , El-Shazly Assem M. , Sobeh Mansour , Mahmoud Mona F.
Published: November 2022

Syzygium samarangense (Blume) Merr. and L.M.Perry is utilized widely in traditional medicine. We have reported previously a wide array of pharmacological properties of its leaf extract, among them anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, antiulcer, and antitrypanosomal activities. We also annotated its chemical composition using LC-MS/MS. Here, we continue our investigations and evaluate the vasorelaxant effects of the leaf extract on aortic rings isolated from rats and explore the possible underlying mechanisms. S. samarangense extract induced a concentration dependent relaxation of the phenylephrine-precontracted aorta in the rat model. However, this effect disappeared upon removing the functional endothelium. Pretreating the aortic tissues either with propranolol or NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester inhibited the relaxation induced by the extract; however, atropine did not affect the extract-induced vasodilation. Meanwhile, adenylate cyclase inhibitor, MDL; specific guanylate cyclase inhibitor, ODQ; high extracellular KCl; and indomethacin as cyclooxygenase inhibitor inhibited the extract-induced vasodilation. On the other hand, incubation of S. samarangense extract with aortae sections having their intact endothelium pre-constricted using phenylephrine or KCl in media free of Ca2+ showed no effect on the constriction of the aortae vessels induced by Ca2+. Taken together, the present study suggests that S. samarangense extract dilates isolated aortic rings via endothelium-dependent nitric oxide (NO)/cGMP signaling. The observed biological effects could be attributed to its rich secondary metabolites. The specific mechanisms of the active ingredients of S. samarangense extract await further investigations.
Biomimetic Magnetic Particles for the Removal of Gram-Positive Bacteria and Lipoteichoic Acid
Authors: Friedrich Bernhard , Eichermüller Julia , Bogdan Christian , Cunningham Sarah , Hackstein Holger , Strauß Richard , Alexiou Christoph , Lyer Stefan , Tietze Rainer
Published: November 2022

Gram+ bacteria are very common in clinical medicine and responsible for a large number of infectious diseases. For example, Gram+ bacteria play a major role in causing bloodstream infections and sepsis. Therefore, the detection of Gram+ bacteria is of great importance for the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. Furthermore, these bacteria are often present in biofilms that cover implants. Recent research work has mainly focused on the biologic activity and removal of Gram-negative bacteria or bacterial components such as lipopolysaccharides (LPS). In contrast, the effects of lipoteichoic acid (LTA) have been less well studied so the relevance of their removal from body fluids is possibly underestimated. To address this topic, we evaluated superparamagnetic iron oxide particles (SPION) carrying different peptides derived from the innate immune receptor (GP-340) for their ability to bind and remove Gram+ bacteria and LTA from different media. Our results show that, beyond S. aureus, effective agglutinating and removing of S. pneumoniae was possible. Furthermore, we were able to show for the first time that this was possible with LTA alone and that the magnetic removal of bacteria was also efficient under flow conditions. We also found that this method was able to capture Stapyhylococcus aureus from platelet concentrates, which can help to enhance the sensitivity of microbiological diagnostics, quality control measures, and blood product safety.
Direct Current Electrical Performances of Cable Accessory Insulation EPDM Modified by Grafting Polar-Group Compound
Authors: Li Zhong-Yuan , Sun Wei-Feng , Zhang Jian , Liang Jian-Quan , Wang Lei , Zhang Ke-Xin
Published: November 2022

In order to improve electrical matching between ethylene-propylene-diene misch-polymere (EPDM) reinforce insulation and crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) main insulation in direct current (DC) cable accessories, the glyceryl monooleate (GMO) organic compound composed of several polar-groups and one long carbon chain is employed for chemical graft modification on EPDM to ameliorate DC electrical performances. Charge trap characteristics are analyzed by testing thermal stimulation current (TSC) and verified by calculating first-principles electronic properties to elucidate the GMO-graft-modified charge trapping mechanism accounting for DC electric conductance and dielectric breakdown. The grafted GMO molecules introduce substantial shallow charge traps that lead to nonlinear profiles of electric conduction versus electric field and cause hopping transports of percolation conductance. Electric conductance of EPDM is significantly improved by GMO graft for electrical matching with XLPE, while a high level of dielectric breakdown strength is retained sufficiently for reinforce insulation in cable accessories. Shallow charge traps introduced by GMO graft are capable of capturing charge carriers to form homocharge layers near electrodes which can scatter the transporting charge carriers and exclude further charge injections, thus to mitigate the dielectric breakdown strength reduction caused by electric conductivity improvement. Electric field finite-element simulations demonstrate that the electric field in DC cable terminals can be evidently homogenized by using GMO-grafted EPDM as reinforce insulation.
Recent Advances in Multi-Material 3D Printing of Functional Ceramic Devices
Authors: Chen Hui , Guo Liang , Zhu Wenbo , Li Chunlai
Published: November 2022

In recent years, functional ceramic devices have become smaller, thinner, more refined, and highly integrated, which makes it difficult to realize their rapid prototyping and low-cost manufacturing using traditional processing. As an emerging technology, multi-material 3D printing offers increased complexity and greater freedom in the design of functional ceramic devices because of its unique ability to directly construct arbitrary 3D parts that incorporate multiple material constituents without an intricate process or expensive tools. Here, the latest advances in multi-material 3D printing methods are reviewed, providing a comprehensive study on 3D-printable functional ceramic materials and processes for various functional ceramic devices, including capacitors, multilayer substrates, and microstrip antennas. Furthermore, the key challenges and prospects of multi-material 3D-printed functional ceramic devices are identified, and future directions are discussed.
Implications of the Circular Economy in the Context of Plastic Recycling: The Case Study of Opaque PET
Authors: León Albiter Noel , Santana Pérez Orlando , Klotz Magali , Ganesan Kishore , Carrasco Félix , Dagréou Sylvie , Maspoch Maria Lluïsa , Valderrama César
Published: November 2022

The use of recycled opaque PET (r-O-PET, with TiO2) as a reinforcement for the recycled polypropylene matrix (r-PP) was evaluated through the life cycle assessment according to different scenarios corresponding to two different recycled blends and considered two virgin raw plastic material as reference materials when comparing the environmental performance of the proposed treatments. The results indicate that the environmental performance was quite different for each blend, since the additional extrusion process required in scenario 2 (blend with TiO2) causes all impact categories analysed to report higher values when compared with scenario 1 (blend without TiO2). The stage that contributes the most corresponds to the different extrusion processes included in both recycling blends, representing at least 80% of the total for global warming. Compared with virgin raw materials, the blend with TiO2 showed better performance in all the impact categories analysed in comparison with virgin PA66, while the blend without TiO2 showed the opposite trend when compared to PP. Furthermore, the fact that the upcycling treatment was carried out on a pilot scale provides room for improvement when implemented on a full scale. It is worth noting the high energy consumption of the treatment processes and their associated cost, in addition to the market cost of virgin raw materials, however, when considering the environmental cost of raw materials, it is observed that when substituting virgin materials PP and PA66 for the blends evaluated in this study results in a reduction of the environmental price of up to 2.5 times.
Influence of Type and Concentration of Biopolymer on β-Carotene Encapsulation Efficiency in Nanoemulsions Based on Linseed Oil
Authors: Santos Jenifer , Trujillo-Cayado Luis A. , Barquero Marina , Calero Nuria
Published: November 2022

Many lipophilic active substances, such as β-carotene, are sensitive to chemical oxidation. A strategy to protect these ingredients is encapsulation using nanoemulsions. This work analyzes the relationship between the physical stability and encapsulation efficiency of nanoemulsions based on linseed oil. The role of two different polysaccharides, Advanced Performance xanthan gum (APXG) or guar gum (GG) as stabilizers at different concentrations were studied to reach the required physical stability of these systems. This was investigated by means of droplet size distributions, steady-state flow curves, small amplitude oscillatory shear tests, multiple light scattering, and electronic microscopy. The overall results obtained reveal a depletion flocculation mechanism in all the APXG nanoemulsions, regardless of the concentration, and above 0.3 wt.% for GG nanoemulsions. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that enhanced physical stability is directly related to higher values of encapsulation efficiency. Thus, the nanoemulsion formulated with 0.2 wt.% GG, which presented the lowest creaming degree conditioned by depletion flocculation, showed a relative β-carotene concentration even above 80% at 21 days of aging time. In conclusion, the adequate selection of polysaccharide type and its concentration is a key point for the application of stable nanoemulsions as vehicles for active ingredients.
Progressive Trends in Hybrid Material-Based Chemiresistive Sensors for Nitroaromatic Compounds
Authors: Awasthi Gaurav , Sharma Ritika , Sundarrajan Subramanian , Ramakrishna Seeram , Kumar Pawan
Published: November 2022

In the last decades, development of hybrid materials, especially inorganic–organic materials, coordination polymers, conducting polymers, carbon materials, and many more, has produced breakthroughs in diverse applications. Various advance materials have been reported in the literature using metal organic frameworks (MOFs), which compensate for the limitations of sensors. Diverse combinations of HMs not only offer excellent features, but also give a ray of hope for unprecedented advances in materials in different research areas, such as sensing, energy storage, catalysis, non-linear optics, drug-delivery systems, gas storage, etc. Chemiresistor sensors are a core enabling sensor technology and have led to much progress in the field of material science. Here, we have reviewed the recent progress in chemiresistive sensors based on HMs for nitroaromatic compounds, which could be beneficial for researchers that explore this field further. We have put emphasis on sensing mechanisms and the performance of diverse HMs for nitroaromatic sensing applications including pesticides, pollutants, explosives, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and persistent organic pollutants (POPs). In the end, we explored opportunities, challenges, and future perspectives in this emerging field.
Influence of the Nanostitch Sensor Embedment on the Fibrous Microstructure of Glass Fiber Prepreg Laminates
Authors: Lomov Stepan V. , Abaimov Sergey G.
Published: November 2022

Changes in the fibrous microstructure in glass fiber/epoxy prepreg quasi-isotropic laminates after the introduction of embedded sensors in the form of “nanostitch” as interleaves are investigated using 3D imaging with synchrotron radiation computer tomography (SRCT). Nanostitch interfaces are created by aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with two different morphologies. The laminates are fabricated using an autoclave. The investigated microstructural features include: thickness variability of the plies and laminate, resin rich gaps at the interfaces, presence of voids, and misorientation of plies and misalignment of fibers deep inside the plies and close to the ply interfaces. The analysis of the SRCT images, at a resolution of 0.65 µm, shows the following: (1) the laminate preserves its thickness, with a resin/CNT-rich gap of ~5 µm created at the interface and the plies compacted by nano-capillarity; (2) there are no voids with sizes over 1–2 µm both in the baseline and nanostitched laminates; (3) the misorientation of plies (the in-plane difference of the average fiber direction from the nominal ply angle) is under 2°; (4) the misalignment (standard deviation of fiber orientations) has the same characteristics in the baseline and nanostitched laminates: it is in the range of 1.5°–3° in-plane and 2°–4° out-of-plane; the misalignment close to interfaces is increased in comparison with the misalignment deep within plies by ~1°. We conclude that the embedment of the nanostitch sensor does not alter the microstructural parameters of the laminate.
Polymer Hydrogel Supported Ni/Pd Alloys for Hydrogen Gas Production from Hydrolysis of Dimethylamine Borane with a Long Recyclable Lifetime
Authors: Cai Hao-Kun , Jiang Zhong-Yi , Xu Siyuan , Xu Ying , Lu Ping , Dong Jian
Published: November 2022

Hydrogen gas production can be produced from dimethylamine borane by the catalytic effect of metal nanoparticles. Past research efforts were heavily focused on dehydrogenation in organic solvents. In this study, hydrolysis of the borane in aqueous solutions was investigated, which bears two significant advantages: that two-thirds of the hydrogen generated originate from water and that the hydrogen storage materials are non-flammable. Polymer hydrogels serve as good carriers for metal particles as catalysts in aqueous solutions. Kinetic analysis of hydrogen production was performed for Ni/Pd bimetallic nanoclusters dispersed in a polymer hydrogel with a 3-D network structure. The reaction catalyzed by the bimetallic nanoclusters has an activation energy of only 34.95 kJ/mol, considerably lower than that by Ni or other metal catalysts reported. A significant synergistic effect was observed in the Ni/Pd bimetallic catalysts (Ni–Pd = 20/1) with a higher activity than Pd or Ni alone. This proves the alloy nature of the nanoparticles in the borane hydrolysis and the activation of water and borane by both metals to break the O–H and B–H bonds. The hydrogel with the Ni/Pd metal can be recycled with a much longer lifetime than all the previously prepared catalysts. The aqueous borane solutions with a polymer hydrogel can become a more sustainable hydrogen supplier for long-term use.
Optimization and Control for Separation of Ethyl Benzene from C8 Aromatic Hydrocarbons with Extractive Distillation
Authors: Pan Jincheng , Ding Jiahai , Zhang Chundong , Wan Hui , Guan Guofeng
Published: November 2022

Extractive distillation has great significance for the separation of ethylbenzene from C8 aromatic hydrocarbons. Herein, a distillation process for the separation of ethylbenzene was designed using methyl phenylacetate as an extractant. A genetic algorithm (GA) was used to evaluate the economic and environmental factors of the process, and Aspen Dynamic was used to assess the dynamic performance. The sequential optimization method was used to obtain the initial process parameters. Then, the total annual cost and CO2 emissions were minimized by NSGA-III to increase the economic and environmental benefits. To enhance the search performance of GA, the mutation probability and crossover probability were studied and adjusted. The optimal total annual cost and CO2 emissions were 11.7% and 23.7% lower than those of the initial process. Based on a steady process, two control strategies, which were the flow rate of the recycling solvent controlled by entrainer makeup flow rate (CS1) and the bottom flow rate of the extractant recovery column (CS2), were designed. The results showed that the temperature deviation of CS2 was smaller than that of CS1, and the temperature of the process was more stable under the control of CS2.
Transfer-Learning-Based Approach for Yield Prediction of Winter Wheat from Planet Data and SAFY Model
Authors: Zhao Yu , Han Shaoyu , Meng Yang , Feng Haikuan , Li Zhenhai , Chen Jingli , Song Xiaoyu , Zhu Yan , Yang Guijun
Published: November 2022

Crop production is one of the major interactions between humans and the natural environment, in the process, carbon is translocated cyclically inside the ecosystem. Data assimilation algorithm has advantages in mechanism and robustness in yield estimation, however, the computational efficiency is still a major obstacle for widespread application. To address the issue, a novel hybrid method based on the combination of the Crop Biomass Algorithm of Wheat (CBA-Wheat) to the Simple Algorithm For Yield (SAFY) model and the transfer learning method was proposed in this paper, which enables winter wheat yield estimation with acceptable accuracy and calculation efficiency. The transfer learning techniques learn the knowledge from the SAFY model and then use the knowledge to predict wheat yield. The main results showed that: (1) The comparison using CBA-Wheat between measured AGB and predicted AGB all reveal a good correlation with R2 of 0.83 and RMSE of 1.91 t ha−1, respectively; (2) The performance of yield prediction was as follows: transfer learning method (R2 of 0.64, RMSE of 1.05 t ha−1) and data assimilation (R2 of 0.64, RMSE of 1.01 t ha−1). At the farm scale, the two yield estimation models are still similar in performance with RMSE of 1.33 t ha−1 for data assimilation and 1.13 t ha−1 for transfer learning; (3) The time consumption of transfer learning with complete simulation data set is significantly lower than that of the other two yield estimation tests. The number of pixels to be simulated was about 16,000, and the computational efficiency of the data assimilation algorithm and transfer learning without complete simulation datasets. The transfer learning model shows great potential in improving the efficiency of production estimation.