bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Breakfast Consumption May Improve Fasting Insulin, HOMA-IR, and HbA1c Levels in Predominately Low-Income, Hispanic Children 7–12 Years of Age
Authors: Jeans Matthew R. , Vandyousefi Sarvenaz , Landry Matthew J. , Leidy Heather J. , Gray Megan J. , Bray Molly S. , Widen Elizabeth M. , Davis Jaimie N.
Published: June 2022

Children from low-income households and minority families have high cardiometabolic risk. Although breakfast consumption is known to improve cardiometabolic health in children, limited randomized control trials (RCT) have explored this association in low-income and racial/ethnic U.S. minority families. This study conducted secondary analyses from TX Sprouts, a school-based gardening, cooking, and nutrition education RCT, to examine the intervention effect on breakfast consumption and how changes in breakfast consumption impact cardiometabolic risk in predominately low-income, multi-ethnic children. TX Sprouts consisted of 16 schools (8 intervention; 8 control) in greater Austin, TX. A total of 18 lessons were taught, including topics on breakfast consumption benefits and choosing healthy food options at school. Children completed clinical measures (e.g., anthropometrics, body composition via bioelectrical impedance), and the number of breakfast occasions (BO) per week (at home and school) was captured via validated survey at baseline and post-intervention. Post-study—Baseline changes in breakfast consumption were used to categorize students as: maintainers (BO −1 to 1 day/week), decreasers (BO ≤−2 day/week), and increasers (BO ≥2 day/week). Optional fasting blood draws were performed on a subsample. Generalized weighted linear mixed modeling tested differences between intervention and control, with schools as random clusters. Analysis of covariance and linear regression examined changes in breakfast consumption on cardiometabolic outcomes, controlling for age, sex, race/ethnicity, free and reduced-price school meal participation (FRL), school site, breakfast location, physical activity, baseline cardiometabolic measures, and BMI z-score. This study included 1417 children (mean age 9 years; 53% male; 58% Hispanic, 63% FRL; breakfast consumption patterns: 63% maintainers, 16% decreasers, and 21% increasers). There was no intervention effect on changes in breakfast consumption. Compared to decreasers, increasers had an increase in insulin (−0.3 µIU/mL vs. +4.1 µIU/mL; p = 0.01) and a larger increase in HOMA-IR (+0.4 vs. +1.5; p < 0.01). Every one-day increase in breakfast consumption decreased fasting insulin by 0.44 µIU/mL, HOMA-IR by 0.11, and hemoglobin A1c by 0.01% (p ≤ 0.03). Increased breakfast consumption was linked to improved glucose control, suggesting breakfast can mitigate risk in a high-risk population. To better understand underlying mechanisms linking breakfast consumption to improved metabolic health, RCTs focusing on breakfast quality and timing are warranted.
Health-Related Quality of Life in Spanish Schoolchildren and Its Association with the Fitness Status and Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet
Authors: Pastor Rosario , Bouzas Cristina , Albertos Irene , García Carolina , García Ángela , Prieto Teresa , Velázquez Jorge , Sánchez-Jiménez Elena , Rodríguez Rocío , Martín Francisco Javier , Campón Angélica María , Tur Josep A.
Published: June 2022

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) allows knowing the subject’s feelings in distress and well-being, as well as perception of current and future health. Objective: To assess associations between health-related quality of life, fitness status, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet in Spanish children and adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in a sample of 305 (47.2% women) children and adolescents aged between 8 and 16 years, in the primary and secondary schools of the province of Ávila (central Spain) (NCT05380674). Subjects were classified according to their quality of life: group 1 (highest quality of life) > group 2 (medium quality of life) > group 3 (lowest quality of life). Results: More participants in group 1 showed higher adherence to Mediterranean diet (70.8%) than other groups (group 2: 55.0%; group 3: 43.4%). It was less likely to find optimal levels of muscle strength as quality of life decreased (OR; 95% CI: group 2: 0.535; 0.303–0.955; and group 3: 0.424; 0.234–0.768). Similar trends were found for speed and agility, but only group 3 showed significant results (OR; 95% CI: group 3: 0.297; 0.162–0.545). Flexibility was also the worst in groups 2 and 3 (OR; 95% CI: G2: 0.403; 0.213–0.762; and group 3: 0.520; 0.282–0.958). Conclusion: High fitness status and adherence to the Mediterranean diet were associated with improved health-related quality of life in schoolchildren of central Spain.
Health Safety Assessment of Ready-to-Eat Products Consumed by Children Aged 0.5–3 Years on the Polish Market
Authors: Żmudzińska Anita , Puścion-Jakubik Anna , Bielecka Joanna , Grabia Monika , Soroczyńska Jolanta , Mielcarek Konrad , Socha Katarzyna
Published: June 2022

Toxic elements have a negative impact on health, especially among infants and young children. Even low levels of exposure can impair the normal growth and development of children. In young children, all organs and metabolic processes are insufficiently developed, making them particularly vulnerable to the effects of toxic elements. The aim of this study is to estimate the concentration of toxic elements in products consumed by infants and young children. The health risk of young children due to consumption of ready-made products potentially contaminated with As (arsenic), Cd (cadmium), Hg (mercury), and Pb (lead) was also assessed. A total of 397 samples (dinners, porridges, mousses, snacks “for the handle”, baby drinks, dairy) were analyzed for the content of toxic elements. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to assess As, Cd, and Pb concentration. The determination of Hg was performed by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). In order to estimate children’s exposure to toxic elements, the content of indicators was also assessed: estimated daily intake (EDI), estimated weekly intake (EWI), provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI), provisional tolerable monthly intake (PTMI), the benchmark dose lower confidence limit (BMDL), target hazard quotient (THQ), hazard index (HI), and cancer risk (CR). The average content of As, Cd, Hg, and Pb for all ready-made products for children is: 1.411 ± 0.248 µg/kg, 2.077 ± 0.154 µg/kg, 3.161 ± 0.159 µg/kg, and 9.265 ± 0.443 µg/kg, respectively. The highest content As was found in wafer/crisps (84.71 µg/kg); in the case of Cd, dinners with fish (20.15 µg/kg); for Hg, dinners with poultry (37.25 µg/kg); and for Pb, fruit mousse (138.99 µg/kg). The results showed that 4.53% of the samples attempted to exceed Pb, and 1.5% exceeded levels of Hg. The highest value of THQ was made in the case of drinks, for Cd and Pb in mousses for children, and Hg for dairy products. The THQ, BMDL, and PTWI ratios were not exceeded. The analyzed ready-to-eat products for children aged 0.5–3 years may contain toxic elements, but most of them appear to be harmless to health.
Oxidative Balance Score during Pregnancy Is Associated with Oxidative Stress in the CANDLE Study
Authors: Tylavsky Frances A. , Han Luhang , Sims Taylor Lauren M. , Mason W. Alex , Carroll Kecia N. , Bush Nicole R. , LeWinn Kaja Z. , Melough Melissa M. , Hartman Terryl J. , Zhao Qi
Published: June 2022

The objective of this study was to calculate an oxidative balance score (OBS) utilizing diet and lifestyle information collected from 1322 women during the second trimester of pregnancy in the Conditions Affecting Neurocognitive Development and Learning in Early Childhood study. An energy-adjusted OBS was calculated using nutrient information from a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), lifestyle measures, and plasma folate and vitamin D levels. Using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator method, 91 food items from the FFQ were selected and they accounted for 82% of the variance in the OBS, with cruciferous vegetables, citrus fruits, fruit juice, and coffee being among the highest anti-oxidant predictors, and red meats and alcohol among the highest pro-oxidant contributors. Urinary F2-isoprostane, an objective indicator of oxidative stress, was lower with increasing OBS quintiles in a stairstep manner (p for trend = 0.0003), suggesting the possible utility of the OBS as an indicator of oxidative stress. The OBS was moderately correlated with the Healthy Eating Index (correlation coefficient = 0.6076), suggesting it provides a distinct measure of a healthy diet. In conclusion, the OBS may serve as a valid reflective indicator of urinary F2-isoprostanes and an epidemiological tool to inform intervention studies, in order to minimize oxidative stress during pregnancy.
Additional Fruit and Vegetable Vouchers for Pregnant WIC Clients: An Equity-Focused Strategy to Improve Food Security and Diet Quality
Authors: Ridberg Ronit A. , Levi Ronli , Marpadga Sanjana , Akers Melissa , Tancredi Daniel J. , Seligman Hilary K.
Published: June 2022

Women with low household income and from racial/ethnic minority groups are at elevated risk of food insecurity. Food insecurity during pregnancy is associated with overall less healthy diets, lower intake of the pregnancy-supportive nutrients iron and folate, and significant variations in diet across the course of a month. The goal of this study was to explore the impact of an ongoing $40/month supplement for fruits and vegetables (F&Vs) provided to pregnant people enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women and Children (WIC). Our primary outcome was food insecurity using the USDA 6-item survey, and our secondary outcome was dietary intake of F&Vs based on the 10-item Dietary Screener Questionnaire. Participants in intervention and comparison counties completed surveys at enrollment and approximately three months later (n = 609). Mean ± SD food insecurity at baseline was 3.67 ± 2.79 and 3.47 ± 2.73 in the intervention and comparison groups, respectively, and the adjusted between-group change from baseline to follow-up in food insecurity was 0.05 [95% CI: −0.35, 0.44] (p > 0.05). F&V intake (in cup equivalents) was 2.56 ± 0.95 and 2.51 ± 0.89 at baseline in the two groups, and the adjusted mean between-group difference in changes from baseline was −0.06 [−0.23, 0.11] (p > 0.05). Recruitment and data collection for this study coincided with the most intensive of America’s COVID relief efforts. Our results may indicate that small increases in highly targeted food resources make less of a difference in the context of larger, more general resources being provided to individuals and households in need.
New Mechanisms of Bromelain in Alleviating Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease-Induced Deregulation of Blood Coagulation
Authors: Hu Po-An , Wang Sz-Han , Chen Chia-Hui , Guo Bei-Chia , Huang Jenq-Wen , Lee Tzong-Shyuan
Published: June 2022

Bromelain, an enzyme extracted from the stems of pineapples, exerts anticoagulant effects; however, the regulatory mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, we aimed to investigate the effects of bromelain on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-induced deregulation of blood coagulation and the underlying molecular mechanisms. C57BL/6 mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD), with or without bromelain (20 mg/kg/day) administration, for 12 weeks. Treatment with bromelain decreased thrombus formation in the liver and prolonged HFD-induced shortened prothrombin, activated partial thromboplastin, and fibrinogen times. Moreover, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry and Western blot analysis showed that bromelain inhibited NAFLD-induced activation of the intrinsic, extrinsic, and common pathways by upregulating the protein expression of antithrombin III, serpin family G member 1, and α1-antitrypsin, and downregulating the protein expression of fibrinogen in the liver and plasma. Bromelain also upregulated the level of plasminogen and downregulating factor XIII expression in the liver and plasma. Collectively, these findings suggest that bromelain exerts anticoagulant effects on NAFLD-induced deregulation of coagulation by inhibiting the activation of the coagulation cascade, decreasing the stability of clots, and promoting fibrinolytic activity. The present study provides new insights into the potential therapeutic value of bromelain for the prevention and treatment of thrombosis-related diseases.
Safe Medication Management for Polymedicated Home-Dwelling Older Adults after Hospital Discharge: A Qualitative Study of Older Adults, Informal Caregivers and Healthcare Professionals’ Perspectives
Authors: Pereira Filipa , Bieri Marion , Martins Maria Manuela , del Río Carral María , Verloo Henk
Published: June 2022

Safe medication management is particularly challenging among polymedicated home-dwelling older adults after hospital discharge. This study aimed to identify and categorise the stressors experienced and reconstitution strategies adopted by older adults, their informal caregivers, and healthcare professionals as they manage older adults’ medications after hospital discharge. A primary study collected the perspectives of 28 older adults, 17 informal caregivers, and 13 healthcare professionals using a qualitative descriptive design. The Neuman Systems Model was used as the basis for a secondary deductive content analysis. Findings revealed that post-discharge medication management at home involved numerous stressors, often including dysfunctions in communication, collaboration, and coordination between the multiple stakeholders involved. Reconstitution strategies for safe medication management were not always successful or satisfactory and were sometimes identified as stressors themselves. Older adults, informal caregivers, and healthcare professionals’ perspectives highlighted several potential opportunities for improving safe medication management through nurse-led, interprofessional, patient-centred practices.
ATM Pathway Is Essential for HPV–Positive Human Cervical Cancer-Derived Cell Lines Viability and Proliferation
Authors: Abjaude Walason , Prati Bruna , Munford Veridiana , Montenegro Aline , Lino Vanesca , Herbster Suellen , Rabachini Tatiana , Termini Lara , Menck Carlos Frederico Martins , Boccardo Enrique
Published: June 2022

Infection with some mucosal human papillomavirus (HPV) types is the etiological cause of cervical cancer and of a significant fraction of vaginal, vulvar, anal, penile, and head and neck carcinomas. DNA repair machinery is essential for both HPV replication and tumor cells survival suggesting that cellular DNA repair machinery may play a dual role in HPV biology and pathogenesis. Here, we silenced genes involved in DNA Repair pathways to identify genes that are essential for the survival of HPV-transformed cells. We identified that inhibition of the ATM/CHK2/BRCA1 axis selectively affects the proliferation of cervical cancer-derived cell lines, without altering normal primary human keratinocytes (PHK) growth. Silencing or chemical inhibition of ATM/CHK2 reduced the clonogenic and proliferative capacity of cervical cancer-derived cells. Using PHK transduced with HPV16 oncogenes we observed that the effect of ATM/CHK2 silencing depends on the expression of the oncogene E6 and on its ability to induce p53 degradation. Our results show that inhibition of components of the ATM/CHK2 signaling axis reduces p53-deficient cells proliferation potential, suggesting the existence of a synthetic lethal association between CHK2 and p53. Altogether, we present evidence that synthetic lethality using ATM/CHK2 inhibitors can be exploited to treat cervical cancer and other HPV-associated tumors.
Soil-Borne Nematodes: Impact in Agriculture and Livestock and Sustainable Strategies of Prevention and Control with Special Reference to the Use of Nematode Natural Enemies
Authors: Mendoza-de Gives Pedro
Published: June 2022

Soil-borne parasitic nematodes cause severe deterioration in the health of crops and supply animals, leading to enormous economic losses in the agriculture and livestock industry worldwide. The traditional strategy to control these parasites has been based on chemically synthesised compounds with parasiticidal activity, e.g., pesticides and anthelmintic drugs, which have shown a negative impact on the environment. These compounds affect the soil’s beneficial microbiota and can also remain as toxic residues in agricultural crops, e.g., fruits and legumes, and in the case of animal products for human consumption, toxic residues can remain in milk, meat, and sub-products derived from the livestock industry. Other alternatives of control with much less negative environmental impact have been studied, and new strategies of control based on the use of natural nematode enemies have been proposed from a sustainable perspective. In this review, a general view of the problem caused by parasitic nematodes affecting the agriculture and livestock industry, traditional methods of control, and new strategies of control based on eco-friendly alternatives are briefly described, with a special focus on a group of natural nematode antagonists that have been recently explored with promising results against plagues of importance for agricultural and livestock production systems.
Analytical Performance Evaluation of New DESI Enhancements for Targeted Drug Quantification in Tissue Sections
Authors: Fresnais Margaux , Liang Siwen , Breitkopf Marius , Lindner Joshua Raoul , Claude Emmanuelle , Pringle Steven , Levkin Pavel A. , Demir Konstantin , Benzel Julia , Sundheimer Julia , Statz Britta , Pajtler Kristian W. , Pfister Stefan M. , Haefeli Walter E. , Burhenne Jürgen , Longuespée Rémi
Published: June 2022

Desorption/ionization (DI)-mass spectrometric (MS) methods offer considerable advantages of rapidity and low-sample input for the analysis of solid biological matrices such as tissue sections. The concept of desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) offers the possibility to ionize compounds from solid surfaces at atmospheric pressure, without the addition of organic compounds to initiate desorption. However, severe drawbacks from former DESI hardware stability made the development of assays for drug quantification difficult. In the present study, the potential of new prototype source setups (High Performance DESI Sprayer and Heated Transfer Line) for the development of drug quantification assays in tissue sections was evaluated. It was demonstrated that following dedicated optimization, new DESI XS enhancements present promising options regarding targeted quantitative analyses. As a model compound for these developments, ulixertinib, an inhibitor of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1 and 2 was used.
Imaging of Clear Cell Renal Carcinoma with Immune Checkpoint Targeting Aptamer-Based Probe
Authors: Malicki Stanisław , Pucelik Barbara , Żyła Edyta , Benedyk-Machaczka Małgorzata , Gałan Wojciech , Golda Anna , Sochaj-Gregorczyk Alicja , Kamińska Marta , Encarnação João Crispim , Chruścicka Barbara , Marti Hans-Peter , Chen Tony Jialiang , Magiera-Mularz Katarzyna , Zięba Bartosz , Holak Tad A. , Dąbrowski Janusz M. , Czarna Anna , Kozieł Joanna , Mydel Piotr , Dubin Grzegorz
Published: June 2022

Immune checkpoint targeting immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of certain cancers in the recent years. Determination of the status of immune checkpoint expression in particular cancers may assist decision making. Here, we describe the development of a single-stranded aptamer-based molecular probe specifically recognizing human PD-L1. Target engaging aptamers are selected by iterative enrichment from a random ssDNA pool and the binding is characterized biochemically. Specificity and dose dependence is demonstrated in vitro in the cell culture using human kidney tumor cells (786-0), human melanoma cells (WM115 and WM266.4) and human glioblastoma LN18 cancer cells. The utility of the probe in vivo is demonstrated using two mouse tumor models, where we show that the probe exhibits excellent potential in imaging. We postulate that further development of the probe may allow universal imaging of different types of tumors depending on their PD-L1 status, which may find utility in cancer diagnosis.
Characterization of Drug Release from Mesoporous SiO2-Based Membranes with Variable Pore Structure and Geometry
Authors: Baumann Frank , Paul Theresa , Wassersleben Susan , Regenthal Ralf , Enke Dirk , Aigner Achim
Published: June 2022

Transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDSs) play important roles in therapy due to distinct advantages over other forms and types of drug application. While common TDDS patches mainly consist of polymeric matrices so far, inorganic carriers show numerous advantages such as high mechanical stability, possible re-use and re-loading of drugs, and a broad chemical compatibility with therapeutically relevant compounds and chemical enhancers. Mesoporous glasses can be prepared in different monolithic shapes, and offer a particularly wide range of possible pore volumes, pore diameters, and specific surface areas. Further, they show high loading capacities and favorable physical, technical, and biological properties. Here, we explored for the first time monolithic SiO2-based carriers as sustained release systems of therapeutic drugs. In an ideally stirred vessel as model system, we systematically analyzed the influence of pore diameter, pore volume, and the dimensions of glass monoliths on the loading and sustained release of different drugs, including anastrozole, xylazine, imiquimod, levetiracetam, and flunixin. Through multilinear regression, we calculated the influence of different parameters on drug loading and diffusion coefficients. The systematic variation of the mesoporous glass properties revealed pore volumes and drug loading concentrations, but not pore diameter or pore surface area as important parameters of drug loading and release kinetics. Other relevant effectors include the occurrence of lateral diffusion within the carrier and drug-specific properties such as adsorption. The structure–property relationships derived from our data will allow further fine-tuning of the systems according to their desired properties as TDDS, thus guiding towards optimal systems for their use in transdermal drug applications.
Drug Delivery Systems in the Development of Novel Strategies for Glioblastoma Treatment
Authors: El Kheir Wiam , Marcos Bernard , Virgilio Nick , Paquette Benoit , Faucheux Nathalie , Lauzon Marc-Antoine
Published: June 2022

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a grade IV glioma considered the most fatal cancer of the central nervous system (CNS), with less than a 5% survival rate after five years. The tumor heterogeneity, the high infiltrative behavior of its cells, and the blood–brain barrier (BBB) that limits the access of therapeutic drugs to the brain are the main reasons hampering the current standard treatment efficiency. Following the tumor resection, the infiltrative remaining GBM cells, which are resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, can further invade the surrounding brain parenchyma. Consequently, the development of new strategies to treat parenchyma-infiltrating GBM cells, such as vaccines, nanotherapies, and tumor cells traps including drug delivery systems, is required. For example, the chemoattractant CXCL12, by binding to its CXCR4 receptor, activates signaling pathways that play a critical role in tumor progression and invasion, making it an interesting therapeutic target to properly control the direction of GBM cell migration for treatment proposes. Moreover, the interstitial fluid flow (IFF) is also implicated in increasing the GBM cell migration through the activation of the CXCL12-CXCR4 signaling pathway. However, due to its complex and variable nature, the influence of the IFF on the efficiency of drug delivery systems is not well understood yet. Therefore, this review discusses novel drug delivery strategies to overcome the GBM treatment limitations, focusing on chemokines such as CXCL12 as an innovative approach to reverse the migration of infiltrated GBM. Furthermore, recent developments regarding in vitro 3D culture systems aiming to mimic the dynamic peritumoral environment for the optimization of new drug delivery technologies are highlighted.
Genetic Mapping and Analysis of a Compact Plant Architecture and Precocious Mutant in Upland Cotton
Authors: Chao Lei , Pan Zhenyuan , Wang Jing , Wu Yuanlong , Shui Guangling , Aini Nurimanguli , Tang Binghui , Guo Chunping , Han Peng , Shao Panxia , Tian Xiaomin , Chang Xinyi , An Qiushuang , Ma Chunmei , You Chunyuan , Zhu Longfu , Nie Xinhui
Published: June 2022

With the promotion and popularization of machine cotton-picking, more and more attention has been paid to the selection of early-maturity varieties with compact plant architecture. The type of fruit branch is one of the most important factors affecting plant architecture and early maturity of cotton. Heredity analysis of the cotton fruit branch is beneficial to the breeding of machine-picked cotton. Phenotype analysis showed that the types of fruit branches in cotton are controlled by a single recessive gene. Using an F2 population crossed with Huaxin102 (normal branch) and 04N-11 (nulliplex branch), BSA (Bulked Segregant Analysis) resequencing analysis and GhNB gene cloning in 04N-11, and allelic testing, showed that fruit branch type was controlled by the GhNB gene, located on chromosome D07. Ghnb5, a new recessive genotype of GhNB, was found in 04N-11. Through candidate gene association analysis, SNP 20_15811516_SNV was found to be associated with plant architecture and early maturity in the Xinjiang natural population. The GhNB gene, which is related to early maturity and the plant architecture of cotton, is a branch-type gene of cotton. The 20_15811516_SNV marker, obtained from the Xinjiang natural population, was used for the assisted breeding of machine-picked cotton varieties.
Antiphotoaging Effects of Damiana (Turnera diffusa) Leaves Extract via Regulation AP-1 and Nrf2/ARE Signaling Pathways
Authors: Kim Minseon , Ha Lee-Keun , Oh Sarang , Fang Minzhe , Zheng Shengdao , Bellere Arce D. , Jeong Jeehaeng , Yi Tae-Hoo
Published: June 2022

Damiana (Turnera diffusa), of the family Passifloraceae, has been widely studied for its pharmacological effects, especially for antioxidant and antibacterial actions. However, there are limited scientific findings describing its antiphotoaging effects on the skin. In the present study, the underlying molecular mechanisms of the protective effect of Damiana were investigated in keratinocytes (HaCaTs) and normal human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) subject to UVB irradiation. The mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and procollagen type I was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The protein expression of antiphotoaging-related signaling molecules in the activator protein-1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2)/antioxidant response element (ARE) pathways was assessed by Western blotting. We observed that Damiana blocked the upregulated production of reactive oxygen species induced in UVB-irradiated HaCaTs and HDFs in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with Damiana also significantly ameliorated the mRNA expression of MMPs and procollagen type I. In addition, the phosphorylation level of c-Jun and c-Fos was also decreased through the attenuated expression of p-38, p-ERK, and p-JNK after treatment with Damiana. Furthermore, the treatment of cells with Damiana resulted in the inhibition of Smad-7 expression in the TGF-β/Smad pathway and upregulated the expression of the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway. Hence, the synthesis of procollagen type I, a precursor of collagen I, was promoted. Collectively, these results provide us with the novel insight that Damiana is a potential source of antiphotoaging compounds.
DMA Investigation of the Factors Influencing the Glass Transition in 3D Printed Specimens of Shape Memory Recycled PET
Authors: Pricop Bogdan , Sava Ștefan Dumitru , Lohan Nicoleta-Monica , Bujoreanu Leandru-Gheorghe
Published: June 2022

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is used worldwide for packing, and for this reason, it is the main material in plastic waste. The paper uses granules of recycled PET (R-PET) as raw material for producing filaments for 3D printing, subsequently used for printing the test specimens in different ways: longitudinally and at angles between 10° and 40° in this direction. Both the filaments and the printed specimens experience thermally driven shape memory effect (SME) since they have been able to recover their straight shape during heating, after being bent to a certain angle, at room temperature (RT). SME could be reproduced three times, in the case of printed specimens, and was investigated by cinematographic analysis. Then, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used, in R-PET granules, filaments and 3D printed specimens, to emphasize the existence of glass transition, which represents the governing mechanism of SME occurrence in thermoplastic polymers, as well as a recrystallization reaction. Subsequently, the paper investigated the 3D printed specimens by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) using a dual cantilever specimen holder. Temperature (DMA-TS) and isothermal scans (DMA-Izo) were performed, with the aim to discuss the variations of storage modulus and loss modulus with temperature and time, respectively.
Study on the Effect of Salt Solution on Durability of Basalt-Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Joints in High-Temperature Environment
Authors: Fan Yisa , Wang Xiaopeng , Liu Ye , Liu Zhen , Xi Gaolei , Shangguan Linjian
Published: June 2022

Due to the low price and good comprehensive properties, FRP composite material has become a new type of civil application material in recent years. In this paper, Araldite® 2012 adhesive was used to bond basalt-fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP), and the durability of its bonded joints was investigated. Experiments were carried out at 80 °C/DI water (deionized water), 80 °C/3.5% NaCl solution (3.5% SS), and 80 °C/5.0% NaCl solution (5.0% SS) at 0- (unaged), 10-, 20-, and 30-day aging. The specimen and BFRP in the environment of 80 °C/DI water, 80 °C/3.5% SS, and 80 °C/5.0% SS found salt solution under the condition of all sample water absorption decreases, and the activity of salt solution chemistry was weaker compared with deionized water. The load–displacement curve of the joint failure was obtained through quasi-static tensile experiments, and it was found that the adhesive would undergo a post-curing reaction that had a positive impact on the stiffness of the joint in a high-temperature environment. At the same time, it was found that the joint failure strength decreased less in the salt solution environment, and deionized water was more destructive than the salt solution. Referring to the change in water absorption, it was found that the change in the mechanical properties of the joint was mainly related to the permeation effect of the polymer. The change in the Tg of adhesive was measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). It was found that Tg would decrease after aging, and the change in Tg was mainly related to the mobility of the molecular chain. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to analyze the thermal behavior of the epoxy resin and some organic matter, and the main weight loss stage was 340–450 °C, which was the complete degradation of epoxy resin and some organic matter. Macro visual and microscopic scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) were used to analyze the failure section, and it can be concluded that the failure mode of joint tear failure transitioned to cohesion in the late–mixed interface failure, at the visible interface between the fiber and the resin matrix.
Silk Fibroin as Adjuvant in the Fabrication of Mechanically Stable Fibrin Biocomposites
Authors: El Maachi Ikram , Kyriakou Stavroula , Rütten Stephan , Kopp Alexander , Köpf Marius , Jockenhoevel Stefan , Fernández-Colino Alicia
Published: June 2022

Fibrin is a very attractive material for the development of tissue-engineered scaffolds due to its exceptional bioactivity, versatility in the fabrication, affinity to cell mediators; and the possibility to isolate it from blood plasma, making it autologous. However, fibrin application is greatly limited due to its low mechanical properties, fast degradation, and strong contraction in the presence of cells. In this study, we present a new strategy to overcome these drawbacks by combining it with another natural polymer: silk fibroin. Specifically, we fabricated biocomposites of fibrin (5 mg/mL) and silk fibroin (0.1, 0.5 and 1% w/w) by using a dual injection system, followed by ethanol annealing. The shear elastic modulus increased from 23 ± 5 Pa from fibrin alone, to 67 ± 22 Pa for fibrin/silk fibroin 0.1%, 241 ± 67 Pa for fibrin/silk fibroin 0.5% and 456 ± 32 Pa for fibrin/silk fibroin 1%. After culturing for 27 days with strong contractile cells (primary human arterial smooth muscle cells), fibrin/silk fibroin 0.5% and fibrin/silk fibroin 1% featured minimal cell-mediated contraction (ca. 15 and 5% respectively) in contrast with the large surface loss of the pure fibrin scaffolds (ca. 95%). Additionally, the composites enabled the formation of a proper endothelial cell layer after culturing with human primary endothelial cells under standard culture conditions. Overall, the fibrin/silk fibroin composites, manufactured within this study by a simple and scalable biofabrication approach, offer a promising avenue to boost the applicability of fibrin in tissue engineering.
Quebracho Tannin Bio-Based Adhesives for Plywood
Authors: Jorda Johannes , Cesprini Emanuele , Barbu Marius-Cătălin , Tondi Gianluca , Zanetti Michela , Král Pavel
Published: June 2022

Wood-based products are traditionally bonded with synthetic adhesives. Resources availability and ecological concerns have drawn attention to bio-based sources. The use of tannin-based adhesives for engineered wood products has been known for decades, however, these formulations were hardly used for the gluing of solid wood because their rigidity involved low performance. In this work, a completely bio-based formulation consisting of Quebracho (Schinopsis balancae) extract and furfural is characterized in terms of viscosity, gel time, and FT-IR spectroscopy. Further, the usability as an adhesive for beech (Fagus sylvatica) plywood with regard to press parameters (time and temperature) and its influence on physical (density and thickness) and mechanical properties (modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture and tensile shear strength) were determined. These polyphenolic adhesives presented non-Newtonian behavior but still good spreading at room temperature as well as evident signs of crosslinking when exposed to 100 °C. Within the press temperature, a range of 125 °C to 140 °C gained suitable results with regard to mechanical properties. The modulus of elasticity of five layered 10 mm beech plywood ranged between 9600 N/mm2 and 11,600 N/mm2, respectively, with 66 N/mm2 to 100 N/mm2 for the modulus of rupture. The dry state tensile shear strength of ~2.2 N/mm2 matched with other tannin-based formulations, but showed delamination after 24 h of water storage. The proposed quebracho tannin-furfural formulation can be a bio-based alternative adhesive for industrial applicability for special plywood products in a dry environment, and it offers new possibilities in terms of recyclability.
Self-Healable and Recyclable Dual-Shape Memory Liquid Metal–Elastomer Composites
Authors: Deng Xiaobo , Chen Guokang , Liao Yifan , Lu Xi , Hu Shuangyan , Gan Tiansheng , Handschuh-Wang Stephan , Zhang Xueli
Published: June 2022

Liquid metal (LM)–polymer composites that combine the thermal and electrical conductivity of LMs with the shape-morphing capability of polymers are attracting a great deal of attention in the fields of reconfigurable electronics and soft robotics. However, investigation of the synergetic effect between the shape-changing properties of LMs and polymer matrices is lacking. Herein, a self-healable and recyclable dual-shape memory composite, comprising an LM (gallium) and a Diels–Alder (DA) crosslinked crystalline polyurethane (PU) elastomer, is reported. The composite exhibits a bilayer structure and achieves excellent shape programming abilities, due to the phase transitions of the LM and the crystalline PU elastomers. To demonstrate these shape-morphing abilities, a heat-triggered soft gripper, which can grasp and release objects according to the environmental temperature, is designed and built. Similarly, combining the electrical conductivity and the dual-shape memory effect of the composite, a light-controlled reconfigurable switch for a circuit is produced. In addition, due to the reversible nature of DA bonds, the composite is self-healable and recyclable. Both the LM and PU elastomer are recyclable, demonstrating the extremely high recycling efficiency (up to 96.7%) of the LM, as well as similar mechanical properties between the reprocessed elastomers and the pristine ones.
Self-Healing Polymers
Authors: Novikov Alexander S.
Published: June 2022

Self-healing polymers are synthetic or artificially-created substances that have the built-in ability to automatically repair damages to themselves without any external diagnosis of the problem or human intervention [...]
Natural Rubber Blend Optimization via Data-Driven Modeling: The Implementation for Reverse Engineering
Authors: Román Allen Jonathan , Qin Shiyi , Rodríguez Julio C. , González Leonardo D. , Zavala Victor M. , Osswald Tim A.
Published: June 2022

Natural rubber formulation methodologies implemented within industry primarily implicate a high dependence on the formulator’s experience as it involves an educated guess-and-check process. The formulator must leverage their experience to ensure that the number of iterations to the final blend composition is minimized. The study presented in this paper includes the implementation of blend formulation methodology that targets material properties relevant to the application in which the product will be used by incorporating predictive models, including linear regression, response surface method (RSM), artificial neural networks (ANNs), and Gaussian process regression (GPR). Training of such models requires data, which is equal to financial resources in industry. To ensure minimum experimental effort, the dataset is kept small, and the model complexity is kept simple, and as a proof of concept, the predictive models are used to reverse engineer a current material used in the footwear industry based on target viscoelastic properties (relaxation behavior, tanδ, and hardness), which all depend on the amount of crosslinker, plasticizer, and the quantity of voids used to create the lightweight high-performance material. RSM, ANN, and GPR result in prediction accuracy of 90%, 97%, and 100%, respectively. It is evident that the testing accuracy increases with algorithm complexity; therefore, these methodologies provide a wide range of tools capable of predicting compound formulation based on specified target properties, and with a wide range of complexity.
Correction: Gostev et al. In Vivo Stability of Polyurethane-Based Electrospun Vascular Grafts in Terms of Chemistry and Mechanics. Polymers 2020, 12, 845
Authors: Gostev Alexander A. , Shundrina Inna K. , Pastukhov Vitaliy I. , Shutov Alexey V. , Chernonosova Vera S. , Karpenko Andrey A. , Laktionov Pavel P.
Published: June 2022

The authors wish to make a change to the published paper [...]
Can Early Environmental Enrichment Buffer Stress from Commercial Hatchery Processing in Laying Hens?
Authors: Hedlund Louise , Van Poucke Enya , Jensen Per
Published: June 2022

Under commercial conditions, laying hen chicks are exposed to a range of stressful events immediately after hatch. Here, we studied whether environmental enrichment was able to reduce the stress sensitivity of these chicks. A total of 50 hatchery chicks (HC) and 50 control chicks (CC) were raised in enriched pens (E), while 53 HC + 53 CC were raised in standard non-enriched floor pens (NE). HC weighed less on day one, but there was no effect of hatchery treatment at later ages. HC were more pessimistic in a cognitive judgement bias test and emitted more distress calls when socially isolated, indicating that hatchery stress affected behaviour and stress sensitivity. However, enrichment did not affect the behaviour in any of these tests. We found no effects of hatchery stress in a novel environment, but indications that enrichment may have increased fearfulness of HC. The sensitivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis was reduced in HC-E compared to HC-NE, indicating that enrichment buffered the physiological stress sensitivity in HC; however, the opposite pattern was found in CC. In conclusion, our results show complex and somewhat contradictory effects on the ability of enrichment to buffer the consequences of stress in commercial hatcheries.
Modeling Stakeholders Openness to Sustainable Logistics Measures Using a Data Analysis Approach
Authors: Matusiewicz Maria
Published: June 2022

The last mile constitutes the most expensive and difficult part of the supply chain. This fact results from the density of buildings and from traffic congestion. The implemented programs that aim at increasing the effectiveness of city logistics do not always bring about the expected results, the reason being the lack of consultations with stakeholders prior to their implementation. Such consultations could help to recognize the expectations, aims and fears of each of the agent/actor groups using the urban space. The purpose of this article is to recognize the attitude of one of the groups of stakeholders (recipients/businesses located in the area) in the Polish neighboring agglomerations of Gdańsk and Gdynia, towards chosen city logistic measures. The research consisted in searching for a correlation between the attitude towards a particular city logistics measure and the size of the business, as well as between the attitude towards the given city logistics measure and the difficulty of its implementation. The results showed that there is a relationship between the difficulty of implementing a given city logistics measure and the tendency to implement it and that the number of employees influence the tendency towards openness to the new logistics measures; the bigger the enterprise, the greater the openness to new logistic solutions.
Special Issue on “Advancement in Computational Fluid Mechanics and Optimization Methods”
Authors: Rogowski Krzysztof , Lichota Piotr
Published: June 2022

In recent years, CFD methods have become a universal engineering tool for modeling many classes of flows [...]
Simulation and Analysis of the Working Process of Soil Covering and Compacting of Precision Seeding Units Based on the Coupling Model of DEM with MBD
Authors: Xu Tianyue , Zhang Ruxin , Wang Yang , Jiang Xinming , Feng Weizhi , Wang Jingli
Published: June 2022

In precision seeding, the final displacements of the seeds are determined as a working result of the profiling mechanism, opener, seed-metering device, covering apparatus and compacting machine. For a better understanding of the disturbance of seed displacement during soil covering and compaction in the actual working process, experiments and simulations have been performed. In this paper, a type of soybean seeding monomer was taken as the research object, and a soil bin test of soil covering and compacting was executed. The experimental results showed that the traction velocity and the open angle of the covering discs had a significant influence on the changes in the horizontal and vertical displacements of seeds during the soil covering processing. With an increasing traction velocity, the vertical displacements of seeds increased after soil covering; in contrast, the horizontal displacements decreased. When the covering apparatus had a larger open angle it had a smaller disturbance influence on the soil. Therefore, with an increase in the opening angle, the changes in the vertical and horizontal displacements of seeds showed a decreasing trend. Inversely, in the process of compacting, the forward velocity had little effect on the three-dimensional displacement change in the seeds after compacting. The analysis model of the precision seeding unit was established based on the coupling model of the DEM (discrete element method) with MBDs (multi-body dynamics). The process of soil covering and compacting was simulated and analyzed. The comparison between the experimental results and the simulated results showed that the trend was similar, and the two results were close. Thus, the feasibility and applicability of the coupling method were verified. It also provided a new method for the design and optimization of covering and compacting components of a precise seeding monomer.
Numerical Study on Thermal Management of Air-Cooling Model for Diamond, Triangular and Rectangular Lithium-Ion Batteries of Electric Vehicles
Authors: Gao Yun , Ji Wujun , Chen Xiaoqiang
Published: June 2022

To improve the safety of electric vehicles, this paper analyzes the way of cooling lithium-ion batteries of electric vehicles and proposes an air-cooling scheme. First, a heat-generation model for the lithium-ion battery is prepared for numerical simulation and a finned air-cooling model is designed, which combines cold air with fins to lower the temperature of lithium-ion batteries. Through feasibility analysis, it is proved that the heat-generation model can reflect the actual heat generation of lithium-ion batteries. The cooling effect of the finned air-cooling model is also evaluated. The temperature can be 23.6 °C lower than the maximum compared with lithium-ion batteries without cooling. The cooling effect is desirable for diamond, triangle and rectangular lithium-ion battery packs, among which the rectangular battery pack achieves the most desirable effect. To conclude, to ensure the safe operation of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles, air cooling can be used to control their temperature, with the cooling effect in the rectangular lithium-ion battery pack being the most desirable.